VOLUME 9 ISSUE 36 by The SUN Newspaper

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

Website: www.suntci.com

VOLUME 9 - No. 36

Email: sun@suntci.com

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MAJOR JOB CUTS AT LIME & FCIB BY HAYDEN BOYCE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

everal employees at LIME and CIBC FCIB in the Turks and Caicos Islands will soon find themselves out of work. Investigations by The SUN revealed that employees from both companies have already been served notice by senior officials of the companies’ intentions to significantly cut staff. According to insiders from both companies, this staff-cutting news is causing severe stress among employees at the bank and the telecommunications company because they are deeply concerned about not being able to find jobs, given the depressed state of the economy and the already high unemployment in the country. Debra King, Director of CIBC FCIB’s head office in Bridgetown, Barbados, confirmed that the bank is looking to cut staff. “We have outlined a plan of offering separation packages and early retirement to employees who qualify and who wish to exercise that option. We will assess any need for further action only after that programme is completed,” King stated. When the SUN contacted LIME’s local communications manager Rachel Harvey for a comment about imminent job cuts, she said she was not in a position to release any information at this time. However, investigations by this newspaper revealed that LIME’s staff in the TCI could be reduced to as low as 20 persons. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Digicel CEO E.J. Saunders makes a presentation to Summer Promotion winner Erica Thomas, while sharing in the occasion is Digicel’s Head of Marketing Ava Fulford. (SEE PAGE 2 FOR FULL STORY)

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MAJOR JOB CUTS AT LIME & FCIB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there is the possibility that LIME will no longer have a CEO based in the TCI, and that its operations here will comprise a very small staff of customer service and sales and a few persons in the accounts department. In May, a report from LIME’s parent company, Cable and Wireless, announced a target cost reduction of US$100 million across the group and plans to improve cash flow in the Caribbean. This, following a revenue loss of 4% in the region, or US$52 million for the year. Over the past few months, the CEOs from three countries where LIME operates have parted with the company. They are Alex McDonald from Barbados, Drexwell Seymour from the Turks and Caicos Islands and Anthony Ritch from the Cayman Islands. Across the Caribbean, LIME has struck a seven-year deal with Ericsson, under which it will outsource its external installation and maintenance services to the global firm. Under the agreement, which took effect on May 20, 2013, Ericsson will manage, install and repair LIME’s fixed, mobile, Internet and

data networks. That means that Ericsson will, for example, install devices in homes, and monitor activity while repairing damage to cell towers. Over the past year, LIME TCI has quietly severed a number of employees who took home some fairly decent ﬁnancial packages.

LETTER FROM FCIB CIBC’S CEO Meantime, the SUN obtained a copy of a letter which was sent to CIBC FCIB staff by CEO Rik Parkhill, outlining the reasons why the bank is being forced to cut jobs. The letter stated: “Colleagues, As we are all aware, the Caribbean has been hard hit by the global recession that began in 2008. The performance of the financial services sector across the region has also been affected. At CIBC FirstCaribbean the recession has had a negative impact on our profitability due to increased loan losses and fewer revenue generating opportunities. Our operating costs have also increased.” “To address these challenges, and to improve our profitability, we have increased our investment in customer service. Enhancements to our customer offer include im-

PREMIER DR. RUFUS EWING UPDATES THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL MATTER REGARDING ATTORNEY GENERAL HUW SHEPHEARD

he following is the full text of a Press Statement by Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding calls by the Government for the removal of Attorney General Huw Shepheard from office. This response relates to the press statement issued yesterday by the Acting Governor Anya Williams concerning the Attorney General Huw Shepheard. According to the Premier, the facts relating to the Attorney General are as follows: “Prior to the September 30, 2013 expiry of the Attorney General’s contract, on February 10, 2013, I wrote to the Secretary of State requesting the immediate recall of the previous CFO, the Governor and the Attorney General, and cited my reasons for making such request. On September 1, 2013 I wrote to the then Governor, Ric Todd, asking him to rescind his decision to reappoint Huw Shepherd as Attorney General, as I continued to strongly oppose the renewal of the Attorney General’s contract and I requested that this be done in the Cabinet meeting of September 4th. At that Cabinet meeting on September 4, at which the Attorney General was absent, the Governor, in response to my further request for the removal of the Attorney General, requested that the Attorney General be afforded an opportunity to defend himself at the next Cabinet meeting by answering the questions posed by us, in an effort to clarify any misunderstandings, and to this I agreed. On September 9, 2013, upon my instructions, the Minister of Finance wrote to the Acting Attorney General and submitted a list of questions for the Attorney General to answer in an effort to ensure that the Government has a full picture of the financial and legal activities of the Attorney General’s Chambers. The Acting Attorney General acknowledged receipt of the correspondence and committed to having the requested information to us within 3 weeks. We are still awaiting receipt of this information. On September 11, 2013, in response to the Minister’s communication and questions sent prior to the Attorney General, the Governor wrote asking me to state specifically, the legal cases that I have concerns with. I remain confused by this request from the Governor, as undoubtedly we have communicated specific questions for the

answers we seek, to the Attorney General and to date, he has failed to provide satisfactory responses to those questions. The questions that remain unanswered, concern no specific legal case and therefore we see the Governor’s letter as a red herring, designed to distract us from the fact that questions remain regarding the decisions and performance of the Attorney General and those questions remain unanswered. In light of the Attorney General’s obvious reluctance to provide clarity, it gives me cause for grave concern and suggests more and more that the truth is perhaps worse than initially suspected. On September 30, 2013, I wrote to the Attorney General reminding him of the questions that had been submitted to him three weeks prior and informed him that I expected him to provide those answers at the Cabinet meeting of October 2, 2013, to which he responded with his commitment to having the information available. At the Cabinet meeting of October 2, 2013 the Attorney General whether intentionally or otherwise, failed to furnish the information to the questions asked by both the Minister of Finance and me. He was also asked several questions, in addition to those that had been previously submitted in writing and to which, contrary to the view of the Acting Governor, his responses were totally unsatisfactory. Those are the facts as it relates to the course of events concerning the Attorney General and leading up to the outcomes of the 21st Meeting of Cabinet and the 10th Sitting of the House of Assembly, held on October 2nd and 3rd 2013, respectively. My Government’s main concern relates to Good Governance and transparency which is also echoed by members of the UK Government, especially those who have made representation on the floor of Parliament concerning the Civil Recovery Team and its expenditure. We, as a Government are being asked to cut expenditure and finding it difficult to provide funding for scholarships for our children, to provide adequate space in our schools and to create jobs for our people, whilst expenditure in the areas of the Attorney General’s responsibility goes unchecked.

proved branches; an expanded ATM network; improved lending decision turnaround times; and an expanded product suite – credit cards, cash management, merchant services and investment products. We have increased training for our staff to build our employees’ skills and knowledge, and this has improved our overall customer experience.” “Throughout these challenging times, we have continued our commitments to the communities and charitable organizations in the territories in which we operate across the Caribbean.” “Yet, there are still issues to address. Spans of control are fragmented and too small. Over the years too many layers of management have been put in place. These layers elevate costs and impede timely decision-making and our responsiveness to our customers. We are therefore undertaking an 18-24 month initiative to improve our overall efﬁciency by simplifying our organizational structure and consolidating our operations.” “Part of this initiative is a reduction in our workforce. We will start by offering a voluntary early retirement programme for eligible employees and a voluntary separation

programme for those employees who may wish to leave the company, but are not eligible for early retirement. Applications received for consideration will be assessed to ensure our ability to deliver continually improving customer service. We will move to decisions on redundant positions only to the extent necessary. We will provide support for those employees leaving CIBC FirstCaribbean and ensure that everyone affected by this process is treated fairly and with the utmost respect.” “This decision to restructure is clearly not one that we have taken lightly, but one that must be taken to enhance the competitiveness and ability of CIBC FirstCaribbean to service its customers better and more efﬁciently, and ultimately to grow. We intend to consult with governments, regulators and our union partners before executing this programme. Our next step is to consult with your individual unions and other relevant stakeholders. We anticipate that it will take approximately three weeks to complete this process. We will share with you the details of the programmes that will be offered thereafter.” CIBC FCIB has branches in 17 Caribbean territories.

FEMALE BANKER IS DIGICEL’S SUMMER PROMOTION TOP PRIZE WINNER

rica Thomas, an employee of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has been declared the main prize winner of the Digicel Summer Promotion 7-day luxurious Sandals/ Beaches stay at any of the Sandals Resorts International properties. The presentation was made to her on Wednesday, October 2, at the Digicel main ofﬁce at Graceway House, located off the Leeward Highway in Providenciales. Digicel’s Chief Executive Ofﬁcer, E. Jay Saunders said that the summer promotion was held in line with the company’s 7th year anniversary in the Turks and Caicos Islands, noting that there were six other winners, who won various prizes. “This year we gave away seven prizes, including phones, Samsung laptops and the grand prize was a trip to any Sandals, which is a couples property and Beaches, which is for family. It was a good way to give back to our customers, who have been supporting us over the years. We celebrated our 7th anniversary on July 7,” Saunders said. Thomas, who became eligible to participate in the promotion by signing up for Digicel’s 4G in-

ternet service. She said that she missed the call from Digicel, to inform her that she was the winner, and it was when she called the unfamiliar number that she was informed by Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Ava Fulford, that she was told the good news. Thomas told reporters that she signed up for the internet service not knowing that there was a promotion taking place, and so, the news that she won such glamorous prized naturally came as a pleasant shock to her. And while Thomas said that she was yet to choose a property that she would be vacationing with her family, one thing for sure, when she makes up her mind, it would be a Beaches destination, since she wants to bring the entire family with her. It (destination of choice) is still up in the air but more than likely I am going to choose Beaches because I want to take my family with me, even though sometimes things change, because I can also take my husband to a Sandals, especially since we recently got married, and so that would be like a second honeymoon for us,” she said.

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LOCAL NEWS

THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT AND THE ISSUE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL HUW SHEPHEARD BY HAYDEN BOYCE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

urks and Caicos Islands Government Ministers backed down from their planned boycott of Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting that was attended by controversial and unpopular Attorney General Huw Shepheard, but Thursday’s sitting of the House of Assembly at which the AG was present, lasted a few minutes and was adjourned suddenly. According to the official post-Cabinet report, all Ministers were present at Cabinet except Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith who is out of the country on official business. Due to disruptions in service at the Grand Turk Airport because of suspected sabotage to a fire truck there, Minister of Border Control Donhue Gardiner and Deputy Premier Amanda Misick did not make it to the island capital but attended the meeting via teleconference. The other Cabinet Ministers are Hon. Washington Misick, Hon. Akierra Missick and Hon. George Lightbourne. Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing had previously indicated that he and his ministers would not be attending any meetings with Shepheard, who has been the subject of scathing criticism from the Government, the Opposition and the general public because of a spate of lost court cases and how he has handled certain national matters. Premier Ewing is on record as saying that he will not work with the Attorney General and has asked for him to be recalled, while Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick said Shepheard should be fired as the Government’s lawyer. No official reason has been given for why the Premier and his Cabinet changed their minds about the Cabinet boycott, but the general perception among members of the public is that it amounts to a sad sign of weak leadership on the part of Premier Ewing and fear and trepidation as far as his ministers are concerned. When the House of Assembly met on Thursday October 3rd, there were prayers by Pastor Oscar Talbot and the Premier, then Speaker Hon. Robert Hall read a scripture. The Premier then adjourned the House until Monday. To many, the PNP’s strategy in dealing with the Attorney General appears, at best, to be murky. Earlier this week, the Premier issued a press release which stated: “As I have stated repeatedly, I have nothing against Huw Shepherd as a person. However, I have questioned the actions taken by him during the period of the Interim Administration and during the period of the elected government. As a government, we will continue to press the Attorney General for the answers to the questions that we have asked of him, and we will continue to apply pressure for his recall by the Governor and the FCO.” PNP insiders and several influential and respected members of the public have regarded the Premier’s latest statement as being somewhat soft and not reflecting the strength or seriousness that should be attached to a matter which, by the Attorney General’s own admission, can have serious implications for the stability of the government and governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Attorney General, on the other hand, has refused to heed strident and incessant calls for him to vacate his post, thus giving the country and the world the impression that he is a man who simply doesn’t know when he is not wanted, and/or that he does not appreciate the fact that if a client no

Turks and Caicos Sun Suite # 5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946-8542 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 Office Manager: Dominique Rigby Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell Design by Design2pro.com 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.

longer requires the services of its lawyer, the latter should graciously and respectfully step aside. Instead, what the public was served by the arrogant, stubborn and belligerent Attorney General Huw Shepheard, is a self-serving press release which clearly shows that he still doesn’t get it, and that he perhaps thinks that he (Huw Shepheard, not the post of Attorney General) is indispensible to the Turks and Caicos Islands. In what was nothing more than a comical and feeble attempt at spin, a press statement from Governor’s spokesman Neil Smith on Shepheard’s behalf said that the AG was “reaching out to those who called for his removal”, in the wake of the public rebuke. The press release stated: “As Attorney General, I have always worked tirelessly in the public interest of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. My appointment was legal, in line with the Constitution, as part of UK Ministers’ commitment to deliver good governance and the rule of law for everyone in the islands.” The AG, who has spent around six months on sick leave and an undisclosed but rather lengthy time being constantly away from office over the past three years, will have a rather difficult time convincing anyone other than himself that he has “worked tirelessly in the public interest”. The evidence simply isn’t there to bear that out. Moreover, despite coming from Bermuda as Crown Counsel and thus being one of most junior and least qualified Attorneys General that the Turks and Caicos Islands has ever had, Shepheard surely must know that although his appointment may have been “legal and in line with the Constitution”, it does not mean that he cannot be dis-appointed. The AG’s press statement added: “I have a tremendous respect for the wide range of responsibilities attached to this esteemed office, and look forward to continuing to work with the Hon Premier, his Ministers, Cabinet and the other key Constitutional institutions and bodies in support of democracy here.” If, indeed, the honorable Attorney General is such a stickler for democracy, then in the interest of the good governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands, he should be guided by the basic principle that in democracies, the majority rules. He should also be mindful that the House of Assem-

bly, which is the people’s house, cannot afford to have its business disturbed simply because he refuses to acknowledge and accept the fact there is essentially a no-confidence motion closing in on him. What is even more interesting and revealing about How Shepheard’s press release is when he stated: “Of course I know about the criticism of me while I have been away. This has been a difficult experience, but it is also potentially enriching for anyone in public office to be given a clear picture of what is thought of them every now and again. Despite the headlines, I hold no grudges. The position of Attorney General in the Turks and Caicos Islands is not a popularity contest; it is far more important than that. It is designed to support the rule of law and the good governance of the Territory, regardless of political office or wealth.” Here, there is empirical evidence of a man who is in total denial; a man who looks in the mirror and sees what he wants to see instead of what actually stares him in the face. The unvarnished reality is that the Attorney General’s press release, in and of itself, sums up all the reasons why his continued presence is not in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands and why his efforts at “reaching out” will inevitably fail. The PNP Government, which celebrates its first year in office next month, is exceedingly unpopular nationally, even among its political base. Analysts and observers have characterised their tenure thus far as being a spectacular failure, with nothing tangible or significant being accomplished. What is needed, and earnestly hoped for, is for the elected government to demonstrate that it collectively has the passion, ability, maturity and desire, to effectively manage the affairs of the Turks and Caicos Islands and continually do what is in the national interest of the country. As of now, they continue to miss or ignore several opportunities to prove themselves s being worthy of being the Government. The manner in which Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing and Cabinet ultimately deal with this rather serious matter involving Attorney General Huw Shepheard is yet another golden opportunity to shine and a stern test of leadership. The public is watching and awaits the results with bated breath.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

No NHIP amnesty BY VIVIAN TYSON

mployers who run into difficulties paying for their staff’s National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) contributions, and are hoping for an amnesty are urged to make greater efforts to pay those arrears because there will be no reprieve, this according to the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) CEO Zaneta Burton. Speaking at a news conference to announce the launch of the NHIB’s month-long fourth anniversary celebrations in the Turks and Caicos Islands, at the board’s office at Salt Mills Plaza in Grace Bay, Burton stated categorically that an amnesty is not on the cards. “That talk (of amnesty) was not in the air, so any employer out there who may not have been paying NHIP, please pay us as quickly as you possibly can within this month,” she said, pointing to two compliance officers at the event, who she said would be enforcing conformity in short order. “All efforts are being made to collect the revenue for the National Insurance. And again, it is not fair for you (employers) to not pay after collecting monies from your employees to not giving it to the NHIP, because that is a person who probably need healthcare,” she said. Burton was not able to say whether or not a merger between NHIB and the National Insurance Board (NIB) was on course. Recently, government said that it would wait on an

Zaneta Burton

actuarial report on both NHIP and NIB to determine whether or not a merger was necessary. “The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has its policies and its mandate and to make adjustments where they see ﬁt as it comes to policy etc. We await directive from

government as it relates to what their desire is. As far as we are aware, we are strutting forward; we are trying to put the NHIP in good stead, and until we are further directed, that is what we are focusing on,” Burton pointed out. In the meantime, Burton said that the feedback from the public has been tremendous, owing to the great deal of individuals the plan has assisted in getting medical care. “We got a lot of praise; I mean a lot of praise. But the noisy persons in the market are going to be heard first, but I must say on a daily basis, we have persons who come in here and say ‘thank you’, because they know for sure had it not been for NHIP they probably would have died or probably would have been severely sick. “Even if you are a rich person, at the end of the day, sickness is something that can basically wipe out every dollar that you have. And if you can think that you don’t have to worry about where you are going to find the money for when your child is sick or when your mother is sick or when your aunt is sick, when you are sick (that is good),” she said. “NHIP is so important not for those who can afford it, it is for that mother who cannot afford it, and who would have probably died and left five children as orphans, and this is why I do this. I want people to understand that NHIP is here for those people who really don’t have the monies to basically pay for their health care, and this is such an important organisation,” said an emotional Burton.

A Spa Tropique Girl?

How Would You Like To Be

Spa Tropique is on the hunt to find best massage therapists, estheticians and nail technicians on island! Wouldn’t you like to work for the best spa company on island? If you have atleast three years experience with a four star spa and have an upbeat and positive personality, we hope you will come and meet with us! Applicants must be able to speak and write English fluently, have a clean driver’s license and their own vehicle. Please email your resume to:

relax@spatropique.com

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LOCAL NEWS

Scotiabank determined to help small businesses in Turks and Caicos Islands, says CEO Cecil Arnold BY VIVIAN TYSON

any small businesses in the Turks and Caicos Islands and across the Caribbean crash because operators failed to separate their business accounts from personal ones and also unable to streamline income and expenditure, this according to Managing Director of Scotiabank in TCI, Cecil Arnold. Arnold was speaking at the unveiling of the bank’s latest product - Scotia Professional Plan - at the Regent Palms Resort, on Grace Bay, Providenciales last Thursday (September 26). “One of the things that troubles us about the small businesses not only here in Turks and Caicos but across the Caribbean is, if you ask most small business owners how much they make per day, per month, per annum; what’s their gross revenue, they have no clue. What’s the expense, how do you make, what’s the cost of doing business? They have no clue, because they don’t keep ﬁnancials. “In most cases, because we don’t pay taxes, we don’t need ﬁnancials. And so we run our business from our pocket books and from our account balances. It is a serious problem for not only here but across the Caribbean,” Arnold said. The local Scotiabank Head said that while statistics shows that 80 percent of established businesses fail even with proper management, much more can be done to ensure that they do not go under. That, he said, takes prudent management.

Cecil Arnold (left) interacts with Dr. Sam Slattery “They failed not because they don’t have great ideas, not because of lack of management; they failed because they run out of money. If they had more money and keep going and manage through the hard times they would survive. I also read another statistic that scares me. It said that even if a small business has 90 percent marketing, 90 percent ﬁnancing, 90 percent of strategies right, the percentage failure is still 47 percent. “That said, I still think there is great opportunities for success, and that comes with partnership. So at Scotiabank, we will invigorate our small business team with the sole purpose and intention is to promote small business in Turks and Caicos Islands – Grand Turk, North Caicos, South Caicos and wherever the business may be,” he said.

Part-Time Receptionist Needed Spa Tropique is looking for a part time receptionist for the upcoming season. The right person will have a very positive, upbeat attitude and a wonderful phone manner with exceptional customer service skills. You need to be available weekends, nights and holidays and have your own vehicle with a clean drivers license. In addition, you must be able to speak and write English fluently and correctly. We are only looking for someone who is not afraid of hard work, has the ability to multi task and aspires to be the best at what they do! Turks Islanders or PRC holders need only apply. Pay is based on experience. Please send your resume to:

relax@spatropique.com

In the meantime, the bank said that the new small business financing product will cater to professionals already in business and those thinking about starting new ones. Jarelle Laporte, Assistant Manager for Small Business at the bank, told attendees that the product spans many areas of professions, including law, medicine, engineering, accounting and architecture. He said that the product is embedded with flexible financial packages, and what he referred to as other customized lending solutions designed to fit low risk business profiles and to meet their unique needs. He noted that under the Scotia Professional Plan scheme, professionals are able to access term loans, credit lines for businesses, and business credit cards with special rewards, chequing accounts with a non-interest feature, as well as savings accounts for their businesses. The bank said that benefits offered include no application fees, 50 percent discount on commitment fees, no fees for renewal of loans upon anniversary dates, special lending conditions such as higher credit limits, adding that interest rates are at least two points lower than regular small business loans. The event was also attended by Deputy Premier Hon. Akierra Missick, and Peter Savory, Chairman of the Financial Industries Association (FIA). Missick brought greetings on behalf of her Government, while Savory spoke on behalf of the FIA.

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LOCAL NEWS

Government to grant 200 investment PRCs BY VIVIAN TYSON

tarting sometime in October, the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing administration will grant Permanent Residency Certificates (PRCs) to certain categories of investors, as long as they provide employment for a certain number of Turks and Caicos Islanders through their investments. The practice, which is to woo especially certain categories of investors was done under the former Michael Misick administration, but was halted during the British Government reign through the Interim Administration. Minister for Border Control and Labour Hon. Don-Hue Gardiner, Speaking at the Post Cabinet media briefing on Friday (September 20) at the Premier’s Office on the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales, said that government would initially grant 200 immigration statuses. He said that the measure was approved by cabinet at its sitting on Wednesday (September 18). He said that the issuance of the PRCs would be served out in two categories – construction of a home and opening of a business. “There are two new categories. One is for investing in a home, and that is a new home. It has to be something that you have to construct – not something that you can go and buy today that is al-

Minister Don-Hue Gardiner ready built – thereby creating new job opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders in the construction industry. “And the second aspect is for persons who would want to invest in a business, and if you are investing in a business that hires a certain percentage of Turks and Caicos Islanders, then we are prepared to give you the PRC as well,” Minister Gardiner said. He announced that the expressions of interest have been encouraging even from the time of government’s intent of the policy.

“Over the last several weeks when the initiative was ﬁrst voiced, persons have actually said that investors or potential investors have been looking at the idea. I believe that there is considerable amount of interests out there, and so we would want to see what that would bring,” he said. Minister Gardiner said that the close-ended number has been designed to give government the opportunity to analyze its workings, thereby providing satisfactorily regulating policies. “At present it is not necessarily a cap on the numbers. What we would wish to do is to see is how fast the uptick is. But we have initially put a cap, so to speak, of 200, and we will hope that as time goes on and we see what the uptick is and what the impact may be over the next short while, we would decide whether to open it wider or perhaps reduce it, but as a starting point, not to leave it open-ended,” he said. He said that the regulation would come into effect sometime in October. “Sometime early next month the regulation will become law. Once that has happened, leading in up to that, there will be certain marketing on behalf of government and from certain persons in the private practice, who see this as a viable vehicle for attracting new investment into

their own businesses and into the islands generally,” Minister Gardiner said. He said the idea of reintroducing the measure is to make the Turks and Caicos Islands more attractive to all investors. “There are international conferences where people deal with taxation and immigration matters. And there are business conferences around the world where people market their jurisdictions as a good place to do business. I think that by adding the potential for a permanent residency here gives us another march, really, that would make us better able to sell potential investors on,” he noted. Minister Gardiner said that PRC for investors would go through the regular channel as PRCs, with the usual vetting and background checking. “The programme will be dealt with the way other PRCs are handled. A person who may wish to invest would submit their applications in the usual course. They would be vetted in the ministry, and once they have been vetted and the person would have met all the other requirements for the grant of a PRC, we will give them an undertaking, that on completion of their development that we would give them a Permanent Residency Certiﬁcate,” the minister noted.

MILLER • SIMONS O’SULLIVAN & M&S TRUST COMPANY LIMITED are moving office.

Effective Monday, 30th September we are relocating to Regent House West, Regent Village, Grace Bay. Contact information remains unchanged. Tel: 946-4650. Fax: 946-4663. E-mail: mslaw@tciway.tc

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LOCAL NEWS REMOVING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL BE COSTLY, SAYS ACTING GOVERNOR HON. ANYA WILLIAMS

cting Governor Hon. Anya Williams says it will be very costly for the Turks and Caicos Islands to remove Attorney General Huw Shepheard. “This is a very serious matter which must be proceeded upon with caution, as I have advised the Premier (Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing) without proof and proper justiﬁcation this could result in serious legal and ﬁnancial implications against the government for wrongful or constructive dismissal,” Hon. Williams said in a press statement. She added: “The Attorney General was appointed legally in line with Section 91 of the Constitution and cannot have his contract terminated without cause by the Secretary of State unless there is strong evidence of misconduct or incompetence. Thus far, this has not been provided and the AG has been largely challenged only on the criminal and civil investigations.” The Acting Governor said the Attorney General participated normally in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, providing advice and guidance to the Premier and his ministers on the legal aspects of their policies throughout the day. She noted that in line with the Governor’s previous correspondence to the Premier and also at the Premier’s request, the Premier engaged

ATTORNEY GENERAL HUW SHEPHEARD TO BE SWORN IN AS ACTING GOVERNOR NEXT WEEK

mbattled Attorney General Huw Shepheard will be sworn in as Acting Governor for the period October 4th to October 9th, until Governor designate Peter Beckingham ofﬁcially takes the Oath of Allegiance. A Government press release said that Acting Governor the Hon Anya Williams will lead a ‘best practice’ workshop when she joins all heads of public service from every UK

Overseas Territory in London next week, from October 7th to 9th 2013. The most senior civil servants from each Territory will gather together in the Foreign and Commonwealth Ofﬁce in Whitehall to discuss how they can better work together to improve public services. During the seminar, Hon. Williams will lead a workshop on ‘Efﬁcient Government and Investment Policy.

PNP and PDM parties meet on AG Acting Governor Hon. Anya Williams the AG on queries he had pertaining to his role in relation to SIPT, Civil Recovery and Crown Land. The AG answered each of these questions satisfactorily in turn, she added. “The Premier was asked in Cabinet on the 4 and 18 September 2013, and in writing by Governor Todd on 11 September, to provide a written account of why he thinks that the AG’s appointment should be rescinded, in order that the AG is properly given a right to reply. Cabinet could then properly discuss the matter. However, despite three requests, the correspondence from the Premier has not been forthcoming,” the Acting Governor continued.

TCI Middle School PO Box 1139, 48 Richmond Hill Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies Tel 649 231 1519 Email: principal@tcimiddleschool.com

TCI Middle School requires for January 2014 part time Spanish and PE teachers for this expanding school.

Applicants will need to be dynamic, enthusiastic and creative teachers with an excellent working knowledge of the National Curriculum for England and Wales Guidelines with at least 2 years teaching experience in the UK. They need to be flexible and adaptable in their approach to learning. The initial teaching contract will be for a period of one year. Salary will be negotiable according to experience.

Closing date 30th September 2013 Please Email CV or letter of application with a recent photograph and contact phone number together with the names and phone numbers of referees to: Mark Dunbavand at the above address.

Insurance Manager needed for on island insurance brokerage company. Must be a college graduate, demonstrate competency in the daily management, supervision, coordination and completion of underwriting surveying and claims. Position requires significant administrative and financial responsibilities. Must be an excellent communicator with good computer, planning and administration skills. Salary begins at $50K but will be commensurate with experience. Please submit applications to The Manager P.O. Box 97, Caribbean Place, Providenciales Fax 649 946 4564, with a copy to Department of Labour, Providenciales Email resume to: johannefreeman@gmail.com

he Opposition People’s Democratic Movement and the ruling Progressive National Party Government met on Wednesday October 3rd to discuss Government’s concerns regarding the Attorney General along with other national issues. Opposition Leader Sharlene Robinson said in a press release that she and her deputy Sean Astwood agreed to attend the meeting to hear the Government’s position, since the PDM was lacking information in this regard. Hon. Robinson said PDM members traveled to Grand Turk as usual to attend a House of Assembly Meeting and they came prepared to meet for a two-day session.

She said that during the meeting with the Premier, he informed the PDM of his intention to adjourn the House’s Meeting. The Opposition Leader said she is pleased that the Government is prepared to move forward on a Motion that was passed on May 15th 2013, which was moved by the Hon Goldray Ewing, calling for a National Summit to discuss major issues of national concerns and to agree on a way forward. Hon. Robinson said the PDM remains committed to working together in the best interest of the people, and to ensure that all resources can be utlised to efﬁciently and effectively advance the Turks and Caicos Islands.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

Alleged firefighting equipment sabotage shuts down JAGS McCartney airport BY VIVIAN TYSON

eckless – that’s how John Smith, Chief Executive Officer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authorities (TCIAA) described the apparent sabotaging of fire the fire truck that serves the JAGS McCartney International Airport’s fire station and the wider Grand Turk. The vandalism of the fire tender caused the airport to shut down temporarily on Wednesday (October 2), leaving passengers, including Members of Parliament, stranded. Smith declared that the vandalism of the property not only caused the country and other businesses to lose money, but also put lives at risk. Smith said that if and when the culpable parties are identified, no efforts would be spared to bring them to justice. While not pointing fingers as to the direct individuals who may have carried out the damage, Smith said that there are those within the service that are not happy with the fire service on Grand Turk changing hands from government control to the TCIAA, since anomalies committed in the past have now been corrected much to their chagrin. “When we took over the fire service we knew we were going to have some challenges because of element of neglect. We can’t operate an aerodrome without a fire service, it is critical to the safety and security of flight operations. But we didn’t envisage that we would

CEO of TCIAA John Smith end up with some of the challenges that we have experienced as it relate to the behavior of some of the personnel, not all. “We have faced with challenges along the lines (such as employees) filing excessive sick leaves, falsification of overtime, abuse of equipment and vandalizing of equipment as well, and up until recently, some element of apparent sabotage. I say sabotage because there is a deliberate destruction of parts of the fire tender that landed it incapable of performing. These individuals must have some knowledge of how to disable it,” he said.

Smith said that of the series of apparent sabotage, the disabling of fire tender has been the most brazen. “We have been experiencing a few challenges along the way and as a result of that we have to try and mitigate it, in a bid to facilitate rapid response, and so far the rapid response has worked well. But it seems they (vandals) have taken it (destruction of the fire tender) a step further to disable it in such a way that it took a much longer time (to repair),” he pointed out. The TCIAA CEO revealed that firefighting equipment are some of the most expensive, and so, each time that a piece is destroyed by vandals, a deeper hole is burnt in the pockets of the TCIAA to repair or replace it. He said, too, that on a wider scale, it affects the economy negatively. “Unfortunately the cost associated with this is fairly high. Fire tenders are not cheap. We are looking well over a million dollars for one of them. But it is even more costly when one takes into consideration the impact it has on the economy, when individuals are not able to move as freely as they ought to able to move. We had a situation where members of the government were stranded and not able to access Grand Turk as they ought to. That has a profound impact on the image of the country as a whole,” he said. He added: “In the wider scheme of things, when you consider if your cabinet, your police force, or any member

of the public are not able to travel to a meeting that they may very well result in development in the Turks and Caicos because of this; that is bad for business. “What’s the extent of the impact? I am not best to say, but I can say one thing, when you shut down an aerodrome, it can cost us a fair amount directly and indirectly, because you are affecting the ability of people to move freely, businesses to conduct their business freely and in an inhibited manner. So that behavior is extremely reckless and we cannot and will not condone it.” Explaining the reason the airport was shut down for some time on Wednesday, Smith said it is international standard not to open an airport if the fire service is disabled. “We will not operate unless it is safe to do so, in addition, we cannot and will not condone behaviors that are not proper behaviors, that are not conducive to development and behaviors that are not conducive to compliance,” he said. He said that the TCIAA is working closely with the police to reach the bottom of the criminal act. “I don’t want to jump to conclusion; the outcome of the investigations would determine what it is. As we know, it is not that easy sometimes to find or identify the individuals or the culprits, who have inflicted the damage. We are working closely with the police on the matter,” he said.

GOVERNMENT VACANCY JOB TITLE: PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE DEPARTMENT: Primary Health Care

MINISTRY: Health and Human Services

JOB SUMMARY:

The successful candidate in this position will be required to deliver eﬀective comprehensive primary health care services focused on disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance in the clinic, homes and communities through the utilization of the nursing process.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists the Director of Health Services (DHS)/CMO in the development and or revision of national drug policies with the input of stakeholders and for consideration by political directorates. • Assists the DHS/CMO or the Director of the Health Regulatory Authority and any such other agency or agents tasked with the responsibility for the enforcement of pharmacy regulations. • Prepares all documents for the DHS/CMO for submission to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) relating to import, export, consumption and estimates of narcotic and psychotropic substances. • Conducts and supervises health care delivery services in clinics, communities and schools, including the delivery of educational programs. • Conducts child health clinic sessions, including the administration of immunizations (EPI vaccines). • Conducts and or supervises antenatal clinic sessions. • Conducts home visits to determine clients’ needs including physical assessment and interview to determine current and past health problems. • Conducts health assessments in clinics, including: physical assessments, obtaining blood pressure and temperature measurements and other data and developing information on health history, diet history, and family health status. • Conducts surveillance, investigates and monitors reports of communicable diseases such as measles, hepatitis, norovirus, dengue, sexually transmitted disease, and tuberculosis; collects Applications should be addressed to the Oﬃce of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov.tc with the subject line being Public Health Nurse Application. Applications sent by post or brought by hand should have the subject: Public Health Nurse Application clearly marked on the envelopes. Successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance.

LOCATION: Turks and Caicos Islands

data on communicable diseases and makes reports available to authorized Bodies. • Administers treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clients and educates clients on potential side eﬀects, and monitors for adverse reaction. • Accurately document patient care services by charting in patient and department records. • Ensures eﬀective operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements notifying the relevant personnel for repairs; maintains equipment inventories; evaluates new equipment and techniques. • Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications and becoming a member of the Health Professions Board.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: • A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Nursing, with a certiﬁcate or diploma in Registered Nursing. • Post graduate education and training in Midwifery and Public Health/Community Health Nursing. • A minimum of (2) years experience in Public Health Nursing.

COMPENSATION: • SALARY: TNF 14 – TNF 19 $25,200.00 - $27,060.00 per annum plus allowances

Serving Officers must apply thru’ their Heads of Department Qualified Belongers will be given first consideration. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 14th October, 2013.

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OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

Leroy Brooks appeals for medical internship for his son BY VIVIAN TYSON

eroy Brooks’ is a father who wants his children to do well and achieve, and if he is prepared to legally and morally go out on a limb to realize such accomplishment. Brooks, an enforcement officer with the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), is now appealing to the conscience of government and the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre to give his son – Leroy Brooks Jr., a recent graduate of the Maranatha High School, some well-needed entry into the field radiology, especially in the areas of ultrasound and x-ray, while he (Brooks Sr.) prepares funding for his medical school expenses. Brooks explained that he hopes to send his son off to college next year. And so, in the interim he would love for him to be occupied at the hospital by being introduced to the field he eventually wants to have as a career. However, he does not believe his son would be able to get that opportunity unless the government or the management of the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre gives

Leroy Brooks Sr. the green light for the generous gesture to take place. “So, I would like if the government and the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre would give some consideration for taking him on for that period. He is well dedicated to his study. He is much disciplined towards his work and generally he loves science,” he said. Brooks noted that the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre would do a world of good for his son, if the management there allows him to

hone his skills, so that when he goes off to college, he would already have a foundation on which to build his career. “If the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre or the government gives him this opportunity of internship, I would be very grateful. This would mean so much to him, and would be good for his development, so that when he goes off to college, hopefully next year, he would already have some idea as how to approach his study with

much better understanding and conﬁdence,” Brooks said. Brooks emphasized that his son is not seeking any monetary compensation for the internship from the hospital, since the experience that he would gain at the facility would be pay enough for him. He stressed that owing to its state-ofthe-art disposition, the Cheshire Medical Centre would be the best place for his son to get the well-needed entry into the ﬁeld that he adores and wants to make a career. “From what I understand, and from what I have seen went I went there, the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre could be the best in the Caribbean, that is a good place for him to begin his career. This would mean so much to my son, and if he gets this opportunity it would be very good for all of us. “I can be contacted at telephone number 649-345-3447. I am not asking for him to be paid, but to be given some experience. I am working on funding for him to go to college next year, but in the meantime, I would like for him to get some practical experience, so I would love if they could take him on for some experience,” Brooks reiterated.

GOVERNMENT VACANCY JOB TITLE: CLINICAL NURSE DEPARTMENT: Wellness Center MINISTRY: Ministry of Health LOCATION: Grand Turk JOB SUMMARY: This is a professional nursing position with basic level responsibility for patient /client health care in the Wellness Centre/Special Needs Unit on Grand Turk. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Responsible for the day –to-day clinic care and activities of patients/clients in the institution. • Conducts initial and ongoing assessment, planning and implementation and evaluation of client care. • Maintains accurate client care records and an efficient and effective reporting system. • Assists in the maintaining and conserving of materials and equipment. • Participates in the development and review of unit goals and objectives. • Any other related tasks which may be assigned by the job holders Supervisor. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: • Graduate from an approved institution with a certificate in Clinical Nursing • Certificate in other post basic training such as Geriatric Nursing, psychiatry and emergency room nursing SALARY: TNF 8 – TNF 13 $22,140.00 - $24,720.00 per annum. APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov.tc with the subject line Clinical Nurse Application. Applications sent by post or brought by hand should have the subject Clinical Nurse Application clearly marked on the envelopes. Serving Officers must apply thru’ their Heads of Department. Qualified Belongers will be given first consideration. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 14th October, 2013.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

Provo Post Office crumbling BY VIVIAN TYSON

he age-old Providenciales Post Office building is literally caving in on the staff, who The SUN understands are afraid to venture to certain areas of the structure for fear of not only it collapsing on them, but also to avoid confrontation with rats, wasps, roaches and other critters. The building, this newspaper understands, is approximately 40 years old, having been the first hospital on Providenciales. Concerned citizens said that the building, if inspected, could be placed in the crosshairs for demolition, since it is in an extremely dilapidated state and its general structure has long past its twilight years. It is understood that the inside of the post office building is overrun by huge rats, termites, roaches and lizards. Workers are careful whenever venturing to certain sections of the outside, since wasp nests are almost everywhere. It is understood that the condition of the building has been relayed to government and also government technocrats, who promised to visit and assess its wretched state. At press time, though, our queries revealed that those visits were not realized. The SUN visited the post office after it came to light that it suffered a burglary on September 20, where thieves made off with approximately $1,200 worth of $10 stamps. It understood that hoodlums gained entry to the building by forcing open a door next to its main entrance. Since government employees generally are not allowed to speak with the media, staff members at the post office were tightlipped about divulging any information relating to the condition of the post office. But investigations revealed that they have been working under adverse conditions for some time now.

This section of the roof covers the foyer of the post office It is said that customers often complain that bits of rotting timbers and droppings from crawling insects often fall from the ceiling on them while doing business at the post ofﬁce. It is understood that sections of the roof are near caving in. As a matter of fact, there are clear signs that parts of the roof have already caved in, as gaping holes could be seen in the foyer area of the building. Further venturing of the general compound revealed conspicuous proof that the building had not been worked on for some time. In addition to the paint peeling off the walls and parts of the roof showing signs of disintegration, the building is decked with wasp nests and termites and other insects. Additionally, it appears that the ground, especially the backside of the property, is used as a garbage dump by unscrupulous persons, as garbage could be strewn all over the property. As a result of the break-in the thick shrubs which camouﬂage the building were cut down last week, making the area much lighter.

NOTICE OF TENDER The Turks and Caicos Islands Ports Authority is in the process of inviting tenders to conduct a financial audit of the Authority for the financial years 2010/11 through 2012/13. Locally based audit firms in good standing that may be interested in undertaking such an audit should contact the Financial Controller, Turks and Caicos Islands Ports Authority, South Dock, Providenciales Telephone No. (649) or email: slewis@ports.tc

941 3662

for further details

The closing date for the tender is 12:00 noon on Friday, October 25, 2013.

SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION

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

TITLE DESCRIPTION REGISTERED 60802/207 A single storey dwelling house PROPRIETOR The Bight and with a one-bedroom annex and Thomas Stubbs Providenciales

two porches (approx. 2,200 sq ft). Terrance Adams The house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, kitchen, kitchenette, living and dining area.

A socket that was intended for flood lights at the back of the building now occupies by wasps. In the meantime, some staff members, this newspaper understands, would rather relocate to a new environment rather than having the building repaired, because they believe that it is not structurally sound. Meanwhile, while the crooks stole a number of the philatelic materials, they were unable to get to the cache of stamps, which this newspaper understands was locked away in a safe. The thieves did not get any cash, since the post ofﬁce passes on the cash to the treasury at the end of each working day.

SAUNDERS & CO. ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY WITH A MINIMUM OF AT LEAST 30 YEARS POST - QUALIFI CATION EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES: • Admission to the Turks & Caicos Bar, • A minimum of 7 years practicing in the Turks & Caicos Islands, • Extensive experience in conveyancing, commercial, residential development work and corporate law; • Hard working with a willingness to work long hours including weekends and holidays; and • A preference will be given to those applicants with an existing base and knowledge of local legislation. LITIGATION ATTORNEY WITH A MINIMUM OF AT LEAST 15 YEARS POST - QUALIFICATION EXPERIENCE WITH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES:• Admission to the Turks & Caicos Bar, • A minimum of 15 years experience in commercial litigation and commercial arbitration at all courts levels, • Qualified and experienced as an arbitrator in the areas of insurance and banking disputes; • Hard working with a willingness to work long hours including weekends and holidays; and • Fluent French and Spanish are essential. Salary will commensurate with experience, minimum starting rate is $300.00 per hour. Interested parties should send a cover letter and resume to

The auction will be held on Wednesday 10th October, 2013 at 10:00am at the offices of the British Caribbean Bank Limited, Governor’s Road, Leeward, Providenciales. Conditions of sale may be obtained from the British Caribbean Bank Limited @ 1-649-941-5028. ALL SALES ARE SUBJECT TO RESERVE; 10% DEPOSIT REQUIRED AFTER SUCCESSFUL BID.

Saunders & Co., Attention: Office Manager – via Fax: 941-4533 or Email: info@saunders.tc

Page 14

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

Tropical Imaging is looking for the following talented people.

Professional Photographer

ORPHA PIERRE SEEKS

1WORKER DOMESTIC

H&C

SEEKS 1 LABOURER

Salary: $5.00

Experienced in all aspects of high end digital photography and workflow, plus several years practice in creative wedding, portrait and commercial photography, Self-motivated, willing to work weekends and holidays you must also be a customer service fanatic.

Email all resumes/link to

ceo@tropicalimaging.com

ISLAND CLOTHING SEEKS

1 SALES CLERK

per hour 5 days per week

Salary $5.00

Contact

346 - 5909 ANNIE DELANCY SEEKS 1 Domestic Worker Salary $150 per week Mon-Sat

per hour

Contact 244-1821

Elegant Beauty Salon SEEKS 1 HAIRDRESSER Salary $5.00 per hour

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Male student stabbed at Clement Howell High School

male Form 5 student from the Clement Howell High School had to be taken to the hospital after he was stabbed during an incident at that school on Tuesday October 1st. Government officials said the stab wound is not life threatening, and the student is responding well to the treatment and care he is receiving. According to reports, the male student was stabbed by another student while waiting near the school’s auditorium for the school bus to arrive. The Ministry has been notified that 4 students from the school were involved in the fight. Some members of the academic staff who observed the incident, accompanied the injured student to the Blue Hills Clinic for medical atten-

tion. He was later transferred to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. As a result of the stabbing incident, the school’s Critical Incident Management Plan has been activated. The Ministry of Education said in a statement that it takes these occurrences very seriously and will not tolerate behavior that puts the student population and the staff at risk. The Ministry added that all efforts will be made to cooperate with the Police to ensure that law and order is maintained, and that students whose aim is to disrupt security on and around the school, will be held fully accountable. The Police Force is also continuing its own investigation into the matter.

CUBAN MAN FOUND DEAD IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Salary $5.00 per hour Mon-Fri

Contact

342-0275

TCI FISHERIES FISHERIES TCI Looking for Looking for

Contact 243-5310 Island Construction Services Seeks

1 PAINTER

Seasoned 55 Seasoned Fishermen

$7.00 per hour - $5.00 per hour

Fishermen 1 GARDENER

Must be able to stay out at sea for days at a out time. Must be5-8 able to stay at Must have deep sea fishing sea for 5-8 days at a time. experience. Must have deep sea fishing Pay is determined by experience. percentage only. Pay is for determined Call interviewby

percentage only. Call for interview

649241-8859

To work six days per week

Contact

244-3572

Domestic Helper

Salary

ALL ABOUT $5.00 YOU LTD per hour

1S SALES SC CLERK To work 6 days per week Salary $200 per week Interested person should

contact 231-3892

6 days per week – must be able to perform sewage system maintenance, irrigation design and maintenance, painting, masonry and carpentry for 18 unit development Contact Management at

Interested persons should

WANTED

SEEKS

Contact 241-4404

Normally 3 days per week Contact Contact Mahala Mahala Wynns Wynns

Tel: Tel: 231-7188

WANTED 1 Caretaker 649-241-8859

6 days per week Salary $150.00 per week

Contact 241-6808

941- 3312 The Grandview on Grace Bay

54-year-old Cuban man was found dead in bushes near Millennium Heights, North West Point, on the island of Providenciales, on Friday, September 27th.

It was around 4:30 p.m when Augustin Perez was found lifeless on his back, and with a small cut to his forehead, in a bushy area near phase two of the low cost housing development. According to police spokesman Kevin Clarke, a witness said that he and Perez were in the bushes doing some work, when he left the Cuban alone and went to go get something for both of them to eat. On his return he found Perez unresponsive. Perez was pronounced dead at 5pm by Dr. Bernardo. An autopsy will be conducted to determined the cause of death.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

Temporary closure of Beaches Resort affecting Turks and Caicos Islands economy BY VIVIAN TYSON

he closure of Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa – the country’s largest hotel – has ignited a great deal of anguish to TCI businesses, causing some of them to shut their doors and triggered a taxi operators’ rat race for the shrunken tourism pot. One businessman, who did not want to be named, said that one would be foolhardy to think that the closure or Beaches would not affect commerce in the TCI. “It affects supermarket sales, it affects restaurant sales, it affects commerce in general. Those workers who have been laid off for the six weeks that Beaches is closed for, have to be stingy with their funds, and so, things that they used to buy, they would be holding back and spend more on essential things. So, I don’t know who would believe that Beaches closure would not affect businesses in the Turks and Caicos,’ the businessman said. That view has been supported by Allan Hutchinson, operator of Chinson’s Grill Shack, located along the Leeward Highway. Hutchinson said that he was forced to close his doors for one month, opening on Monday, September 30, mainly because of the Beaches closure.

Allan Hutchinson He said that his restaurant, which is a popular spot, especially on the weekend, is patronized a great deal by Beaches employees, and so, after the hotel closed its doors, he decided to shut down for a month. “It is undeniable that the closure of Beaches Resort would have a very negative impact on the businesses locally, because a part from it being the largest employer second to government, it is also one of the largest properties, and tourism being one of the mainstays, the closure of Beaches would mean that you would have less airlift coming into the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fewer airlifts means that there would be fewer seats available for other hotels to piggyback on, and as a result, they, too, would be impacted,” Hutchinson surmised. The businessman said that the Beaches closure coupled with the ever increasing operational cost became

The Alexandra Resort & Spa is inviting applications for the following positions: Applications are invited for the position of Hospitality Support Analyst To provide support analysis and management and assist in the planning, developing, installing, configuring, maintaining and supporting hardware, software and communication systems in order to maintain the stable operation of the information systems and networks of our Hospitality Group. Job Description • Assist in analyzing the IT needs of the Group and in determining the immediate and long-range software and hardware requirements • Maintain, secure, troubleshoot and administer Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Internet (Cable / DSL / Wi-Fi connection) and IPTV • Maintain & evaluate computer hardware, communication equipment, networking software, operating system and application software; • Network administration and management • Maintain control records, implement & secure network traffic and optimize server performance; • Perform & ensure System / Data back-ups and its recovery operations; • Provide problem-solving services and assist network users on systems & software such as PMS, POS Software and Telephone Billing System; • Interact and negotiate with vendors, outsourcers and contractors to seek products and services; • Provide on-call technical support;

Job Requirements: • Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or Information Technology • 10 years Working Experience in IT • Knowledge of VLAN and switch management technology • Strong customer service orientation • Microsoft Server Administrator, Microsoft Exchange

and Microsoft SharePoint Other Skills/Abilities • Highly self motivated and directed • Keen attention to details • Knowledge of Apple Macintosh Operating System Knowledge of IQware and/or Visual One would be a distinct advantage

SOCIAL MEDIA CO-ORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITES

• Monitor and expand the use of a multitude of social and online media platforms to connect with and engage prospective guest and customers. • Create a comprehensive social media strategy to increase visibility, awareness and traffic across all social and online media platforms. • Develop creative and dynamic text for emails, publications and websites to support the resorts marketing plan. • Research and present new ideas and a business case focused on the organization’s targets • Collaborate with internal departments and external vendors to generate appropriate target-marketed audience groups, deploy print and email campaigns, and prepare reports and presentations for internal and external use. • Monitor trends in social media tools and applications and appropriately apply that knowledge to attract potential guest. • Develop an in-depth understanding of current trends and best practices for the use of social media within the hospitality field. • Other duties as assigned. REQUIREMENTS:

• A degree from an accredited institute in relative field. • One to two years related experience and/or training.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. • Ability to write reports and business correspondence. • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. • Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Salary range for the above listed position is $8.50 - $10.00 per hour

Please Submit Applications to: hr@alexandraresort.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than October 5th 2013 Belongers need only apply.

the deciding factor for his business’s closure. “But apart from that the economy was very, very slow, and the cost of doing business increasing very frequently. When we did the calculation, it would have been cheaper for me to close – the ﬁrst time in 15 years of operation. It was cheaper for me to close than keeping it open because the carrying cost far exceeded what was generating on a daily basis. “The impact from Beaches’ closure had an impact on us closing. A lot of people left the country for vacation, and it would have been cheaper for them to go home, where they could mitigate their cost of living than to stay here and have to buy food, so I look forward to their reopening,” he said. When The SUN visited the Providenciales International Airport to get the views of taxi operators on the Beaches closure, not many of them wanted to go on record. One of them said that speaking on the matter would give Beaches credence to the impact of the closure, and so he would not speak on the matter to give Beaches such relevance. But another taxi operator stated that the Beaches relevance manifests itself as early as 5am every day when the taxi operator jostle in rat

race fashion to get their names on the charts so they would be able to get their names on the roster to make pick up from the tiny tourist pool, later in the day. In the meantime, Hutchinson has called for diversifying of the economy, so as to create a cushion in the event the tourism sector is hard hit. “We can’t just depend on tourism. For example, there are small businesses like myself that are into manufacturing. I have a bakery. I would like to open a commercial bakery one day, so that we don’t have to rely on imports, everything can be made fresh here. And it also contributes to food security. “The little farmers that have their backyard gardens should be encouraged. Government should provide incentives. Myself, as a light manufacturer, I should be given some incentives to buy raw material because this is a classic example. If the mainstay of our economy, which is tourism, if for whatever act of God, or whatever grave eventually they are affected, this what is going to happen to us. “So small businesses, like myself, need to be given some form of concession or need to be encouraged to develop our businesses so that we can continue to employ people,” Hutchinson said.

Page 16

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Blue Haven Marina poised to make TCI a yachting destination BY VIVIAN TYSON

he renovated Blue Haven Marina in Leeward, Providenciales could provide tremendous dividends for the country in the near future, by bolstering the Turks and Caicos Islands drive to becoming yachting destination. The facility once called the Leeward Marina, which was open to complement the resort next door, which then carried the Nikki Beach Brand. Nikki Beach Resort, which was later closed after going into foreclosure, has reopened under the name Blue Haven Resort. The Blue Haven Marina, which is the ďŹ rst of its kind in the TCI, is a ďŹ&#x201A;oating dock system, which adjusts with the tide, and is regarded as the best marina system in the world. Such system is the preferred type in places renowned for yachting like Singapore, New Zealand and Mexico. The marina has the capacity to hold 78 yachts at one given time. Marinas generally earn their money by renting space and selling fuel. Adam Foster, general manager of the Blue Haven Marina, said that last year an entity called WIHL, decided to take control of the facility and the resort. He said approximately a little

A section of Blue Haven Marina over $2million was expended on the marina to get it up to international standard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We spent over a six to eightmonth period renovating the structure, and we ďŹ nished about March of this year and opened in April. The ďŹ rst month was to train our new staff, most of them except for one are new to the marina industry, and so, it was a really exciting time for them,â&#x20AC;? Foster said. He said that, as business picks up, it is expected that the staff complement would grow from its current number of seven. Foster said that things at the marina is a bit qui-

et at the moment, but expects that after completion of its campaign blitz, upon which it has already embarked, the marina should expect much more activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole island is quite in general, but come January, we hope that this place will be full, and we deďŹ nitely will be taking on a few more people, start training more people when we get busy,â&#x20AC;? Foster said. In the meantime, the Blue Haven general manager said that the marina, which can accommodate larger boats than other similar facilities in the TCI, is not geared to compete against other marinas on Providen-

ciales, but instead will complement them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a great feeling knowing that we are really opening the doors to a completely new industry here with larger vessels, which previously have not been able to get in. It is really exciting. There will be a lot of people that will have the ability to learn and earn from this industry both directly - whether you are working for a marina or a marine engineers - (or indirectly such as) ďŹ&#x201A;orists and supermarkets. Tthere is a lot of opportunities that the islands havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen yet that remain untapped,â&#x20AC;? Foster said. He said that the operators of the Blue Haven Marina have been busy attending almost every boat show across the world in their effort to sell the marina and by extension the country as a yachting destination. And Foster believes that the effort would bear fruit shortly. Some of the boat shows attended including Monaco, Miami and Antigua. The Blue Haven Marina also operates a bar a grill called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bar Salt Grill. In the meantime, the Blue Haven Resort plans to ofďŹ cially open on December 5, after being fully renovated. It has a soft open recently. When it ofďŹ cially opens, there will be two new bars, a new restaurant and a plethora of water sports activities.

STAFF VACANCY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DIRECTOR, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY "QQMJDBUJPOT BSF JOWJUFE GSPN JOUFSFTUFE BOE TVJUBCMZ RVBMJĂśFE JOEJWJEVBMT GPS UIF QPTJUJPO PG Director, Information Technology, FortisTCI, 1SPWJEFODJBMFT 5VSLT BOE $BJDPT *TMBOET Description The Information Technology (IT) Directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role is to provide vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives. The IT Director directs the planning and implementation of FortisTCI Limited systems in support of business operations in order to improve cost effectiveness, service quality, and business development. This individual is responsible for all aspects of the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s information technology and systems while under the supervision of the Vice President Business Systems and CIO. Main Duties t 1BSUJDJQBUF JO TUSBUFHJD BOE PQFSBUJPOBM HPWFSOBODF QSPDFTTFT PG UIF PSHBOJ[BUJPO BT B NFNCFS PG UIF senior management team. t -FBE *5 TUSBUFHJD BOE PQFSBUJPOBM QMBOOJOH UP BDIJFWF CVTJOFTT HPBMT CZ GPTUFSJOH JOOPWBUJPO prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the organization. t %FWFMPQ BOE NBJOUBJO BO BQQSPQSJBUF *5 PSHBOJ[BUJPOBM TUSVDUVSF UIBU TVQQPSUT UIF OFFET PG UIF business. t &TUBCMJTI *5 EFQBSUNFOUBM HPBMT PCKFDUJWFT BOE PQFSBUJOH QSPDFEVSFT BMJHOFE XJUI UIF PSHBOJ[BUJPOBM strategic goals. t "DU BT BO BEWPDBUF GPS UIF PSHBOJ[BUJPO T *5 WJTJPO WJB SFHVMBS XSJUUFO BOE JO QFSTPO DPNNVOJDBUJPOT with the executives, department heads, and end users. t *EFOUJGZ PQQPSUVOJUJFT GPS UIF BQQSPQSJBUF BOE DPTU FĂ˛FDUJWF JOWFTUNFOU PG ĂśOBODJBM SFTPVSDFT JO *5 systems and resources, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing, and in-house development. t %FWFMPQ USBDL BOE DPOUSPM UIF JOGPSNBUJPO UFDIOPMPHZ BOOVBM PQFSBUJOH BOE DBQJUBM CVEHFUT t %FWFMPQ CVTJOFTT DBTF KVTUJĂśDBUJPOT BOE DPTU CFOFĂśU BOBMZTFT GPS *5 TQFOEJOH BOE JOJUJBUJWFT t $PPSEJOBUF BOE GBDJMJUBUF DPOTVMUBUJPO XJUI NBOBHFNFOU BOE TUBĂ˛ UP EFĂśOF CVTJOFTT BOE TZTUFNT requirements for new technology implementations. t &OTVSF DPOUJOVPVT EFMJWFSZ PG *5 TFSWJDFT UISPVHI PWFSTJHIU PG TUBĂ˛ VTBHF BOE NPOJUPSJOH PG *5 systems performance. t %FĂśOF BOE DPNNVOJDBUF DPNQBOZ T QMBOT QPMJDJFT BOE TUBOEBSET GPS UIF PSHBOJ[BUJPO GPS BDRVJSJOH implementing, and operating IT systems. t %JSFDU EFWFMPQNFOU BOE FYFDVUJPO PG B DPNQBOZ XJEF EJTBTUFS SFDPWFSZ BOE CVTJOFTT DPOUJOVJUZ QMBO t 1SJPSJUJ[F BOE DPOUSPM QSPKFDUT BOE UIF QSPKFDU QPSUGPMJP BT UIFZ SFMBUF UP UIF TFMFDUJPO BDRVJTJUJPO EFWFMPQNFOU BOE JOTUBMMBUJPO PG NBKPS JOGPSNBUJPO TZTUFNT t 3FWJFX IBSEXBSF BOE TPGUXBSF BDRVJTJUJPO BOE NBJOUFOBODF DPOUSBDUT t "TTFTT BOE NBLF SFDPNNFOEBUJPOT PO UIF JNQSPWFNFOU PS SF FOHJOFFSJOH PG UIF *5 QSPHSBN t ,FFQ DVSSFOU XJUI USFOET BOE JTTVFT JO UIF *5 JOEVTUSZ JODMVEJOH DVSSFOU UFDIOPMPHJFT BOE QSJDFT "EWJTF DPVOTFM BOE FEVDBUF NBOBHFNFOU PO UIFJS DPNQFUJUJWF PS ĂśOBODJBM JNQBDU t 1SPNPUF BOE PWFSTFF TUSBUFHJD SFMBUJPOTIJQT CFUXFFO JOUFSOBM *5 SFTPVSDFT BOE FYUFSOBM FOUJUJFT including government, vendors, and partner organizations. t 4VQFSWJTF SFDSVJUNFOU EFWFMPQNFOU SFUFOUJPO BOE PSHBOJ[BUJPO PG BMM *5 TUBĂ˛ JO BDDPSEBODF XJUI DPSQPSBUF CVEHFUBSZ PCKFDUJWFT BOE QFSTPOOFM QPMJDJFT t #F BWBJMBCMF GPS MPDBM BOE PVU PG UIF BSFB USBWFM BT SFRVJSFE GPS KPC SFMBUFE USBJOJOH 4IBMM BUUFOE BMM required meetings and functions as requested. t &OTVSF *5 TZTUFN PQFSBUJPO BEIFSFT UP BQQMJDBCMF MBXT BOE SFHVMBUJPOT t 0UIFS KPC SFMBUFE EVUJFT BT BTTJHOFE

Minimum Requirements: t " EFHSFF JO $PNQVUFS 4DJFODF PS JO BO BQQSPQSJBUF SFMBUFE FOHJOFFSJOH PS UFDIOJDBM ĂśFME " #VTJOFTT "ENJOJTUSBUJPO PS .BTUFS T EFHSFF JO POF PG UIFTF ĂśFMET JT B EFTJSFE QMVT t 4FWFO UP UFO ZFBST FYQFSJFODF NBOBHJOH BOE PS EJSFDUJOH BO *5 PQFSBUJPO t 4FWFO UP UFO XPSLJOH JO UIF JOGPSNBUJPO UFDIOPMPHZ JOEVTUSZ t &YQFSJFODF JO TUSBUFHJD QMBOOJOH BOE FYFDVUJPO t $POTJEFSBCMF LOPXMFEHF PG CVTJOFTT UIFPSZ CVTJOFTT QSPDFTTFT NBOBHFNFOU CVEHFUJOH BOE business office operations. t 4VCTUBOUJBM FYQPTVSF UP EBUB QSPDFTTJOH IBSEXBSF QMBUGPSNT FOUFSQSJTF TPGUXBSF BQQMJDBUJPOT BOE outsourced systems. t (PPE VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG DPNQVUFS TZTUFNT DIBSBDUFSJTUJDT GFBUVSFT BOE JOUFHSBUJPO DBQBCJMJUJFT t &YQFSJFODF XJUI TZTUFNT EFTJHO BOE EFWFMPQNFOU GSPN CVTJOFTT SFRVJSFNFOUT BOBMZTJT UISPVHI UP day-to-day management. t 1SPWFO FYQFSJFODF JO *5 QMBOOJOH PSHBOJ[BUJPO BOE EFWFMPQNFOU t &YDFMMFOU VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG QSPKFDU NBOBHFNFOU QSJODJQMFT t 4VQFSJPS VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG UIF PSHBOJ[BUJPO T HPBMT BOE PCKFDUJWFT t %FNPOTUSBUFE BCJMJUZ UP BQQMZ *5 JO TPMWJOH CVTJOFTT QSPCMFNT t *O EFQUI LOPXMFEHF PG BQQMJDBCMF MBXT BOE SFHVMBUJPOT BT UIFZ SFMBUF UP *5 t 4USPOH VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG IVNBO SFTPVSDF NBOBHFNFOU QSJODJQMFT QSBDUJDFT BOE QSPDFEVSFT t .VTU BEIFSF UP DPOĂśEFOUJBMJUZ QPMJDZ t .VTU TVDDFTTGVMMZ QBTT B QSF FNQMPZNFOU ESVH BOE BMDPIPM TDSFFOJOH UFTU BOE CF XJMMJOH UP TVCNJU UP B DSJNJOBM CBDLHSPVOE DIFDL t .VTU CF BWBJMBCMF GPS PO DBMM BWBJMBCJMJUZ BOE QFSJPEJD PWFSUJNF t 1SPWFO MFBEFSTIJQ BCJMJUZ t "CJMJUZ UP TFU BOE NBOBHF QSJPSJUJFT KVEJDJPVTMZ t &YDFMMFOU XSJUUFO BOE PSBM DPNNVOJDBUJPO TLJMMT t &YDFMMFOU JOUFSQFSTPOBM TLJMMT t 4USPOH OFHPUJBUJOH TLJMMT t "CJMJUZ UP QSFTFOU JEFBT JO CVTJOFTT GSJFOEMZ BOE VTFS GSJFOEMZ MBOHVBHF t &YDFQUJPOBMMZ TFMG NPUJWBUFE BOE EJSFDUFE XJUI B LFFO BUUFOUJPO UP EFUBJM t 4VQFSJPS BOBMZUJDBM FWBMVBUJWF BOE QSPCMFN TPMWJOH BCJMJUJFT t &YDFQUJPOBM TFSWJDF PSJFOUBUJPO t "CJMJUZ UP NPUJWBUF JO B UFBN PSJFOUFE DPMMBCPSBUJWF FOWJSPONFOU t "CJMJUZ UP XPSL FĂ˛FDUJWFMZ JO DVMUVSBMMZ EJWFSTF FOWJSPONFOUT t "CJMJUZ UP NBOBHF UJNF XFMM BOE XPSL VOEFS TUSFTTGVM DPOEJUJPOT XJUI BO FWFO UFNQFSBNFOU t "CJMJUZ UP VOEFSTUBOE BOE GPMMPX PSBM BOE XSJUUFO JOTUSVDUJPOT t "CJMJUZ UP FTUBCMJTI BOE NBJOUBJO IBSNPOJPVT XPSLJOH SFMBUJPOTIJQT XJUI PUIFS FNQMPZFFT BOE UIF QVCMJD t "CJMJUZ UP EFMJWFS UP TUSJDU EFBEMJOFT BOE UP XPSL VOEFS QSFTTVSF t 4FMG NPUJWBUFE Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications Deadline for submission of applications is October 11, 2013 to: Director, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com fax: 649-941-4304

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GOVERNMENT VACANCY JOB TITLE: PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE DEPARTMENT: Environment al Health MINISTRY: Health & Human Services LOCATION: Providenciales

JOB SUMMARY:

SALARY:

The incumbent in this post will be responsible for the control of disease-carrying mosquitoes and other vectors that pose a threat to public health within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

T1 – T 9 $15,720.00 - $18,600.00 per annum. Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov.tc with the subject line being Vector Control Officer Application. Applications sent by post or brought by hand should have the subject Vector Control Officer Application clearly marked on the envelopes. Successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conducts surveillance and monitoring activities of disease vectors occurring within the Turks and Caicos Islands. • Conducts health education programmes on the control and management of disease vectors and nuisance pests occurring within Turks and Caicos Islands. • Conducts routine premises inspection within communities in the Turks and Caicos Islands to ascertain status of disease vector and nuisance pest infestation. • Conducts regular maintenance of all equipment used in disease vector control activities. • Inspects cargo and other vessels for disease Serving Officers must apply thru’ their vector infestations. Heads of Department • Maintains accurate records of all data comQualified Belongers will be given first conpiled from field activities. sideration.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or equivalent ( CXC passes in English, Mathematics, and Science would be an asset)

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

14th October, 2013

Sunrise Airways Ltd. is looking to recruit a qualified

Station Administrator The candidate must have the following: • Airport /airline Industry background • Significant experience in Customer Service • Solid experience in marketing, B2B sales and publics relations • Excellent communication skills in Creole and English (both verbally and in writing) , • Strong knowledge of Sky Vantage and Radixx or similar software • Social and interpersonal skills in dealing with customers • Excellent phone skills • Superior Knowledge of Social media • High degree of personal integrity and personal accountability • Fluency in French or Spanish would be an asset • Organization and time management skills with the ability to multi-task • Able to work autonomously while possessing strong interpersonal skills

Interested persons please send resume to

hr@sunriseairways.net

The Alexandra Resort is also looking to fill the following line positions: Gardeners, Housemen, Janitors, Labourers and Room Attendants…to qualify for these positions you should be able to push/pull carts weighing up to 150 lbs. Must be able to ensure the cleanliness of all areas assigned, which may include guest rooms, public areas, linen closets, walls, floors, gardens and grounds. Must be able to stand for long periods of time and also have the ability to climb several stairs several times each day. Salaries for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Resumes along with references should be delivered in person or emailed to hr@alexandraresort.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than October 18th, 2013 While we would like to thank, every applicant for their interest in the Alexandra Resort & Spa, only short-listed persons will be contacted. At that time a complete compensation package and job description will be discussed.

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AMANYARA PROVIDENCIALES TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS WELLNESS MANAGER Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar position. Professionally trained in massage therapy or other spa/wellness disciplines and able to train therapists in all massage and beauty treatments. Good leadership qualities and the ability to train motivate and mentor multi-cultural staff. Must be creative and able to implement and market new treatments. Also possess a polite, professional demeanor, able to converse confidently with guests on all levels of spa experience. Immaculate presentation and grooming required along with strong administrative & computer skills.

EXECUTIVE CHEF Oversee the culinary program and all kitchen operations of this 5 star luxury resort. At least 10 years previous experience in a similar role. International culinary diploma required along with formal European training and an extensive knowledge of Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. Position requires overseeing event operations along with supervising 20 private villa chefs.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING SPECIALIST Amanyara Resort is looking for an Employee Training Specialist. The position will be responsible for managing the training function as well as conducting training for all levels in the organization. Key Responsibilities will be: Developing Company Training covering all mandatory support; also Amanyara resort-specific Employee Handbook, outlining all rules and regulations for employees, plus behavioral standards. A must experience in Conducting Aman’s Orientation course for all new employees during their commencement of employment. Adding to the existing core training programs and developing new course as needs are identified. Excellent communication skills, problem solving, motivating and training abilities. Minimum (3) years’ experience as a Trainer or Training Manager at a 5Star Resort and a Second Language a must.

SPA THERAPIST/ SUPERVISOR Minimum 3 years previous experience with working in a spa, preferably in a 5-star resort, providing massage and beauty treatments as well as manicures and pedicures. Must be physically fit and in good health. Immaculate presentation and fluency in English is also required.

VILLA F & B SUPERVISOR Minimum (2) years’ experience as a Senior F & B average supervisor in a 5-star/luxury resort. Must have good organizational and communication skills and be detail orientated. Friendly, outgoing, professional demeanor and immaculate presentation. Solid experience in managing and con-

trolling inventories and good computer skills. Must have proven experience in training F & B service staff and organizing special events/functions. A hands-on leadership approach is required along with a sound knowledge of wines and spirits. This position requires working extended hours including all holiday periods.

GUEST ASSISTANT Minimum 2 year’s previous experience working at the Front Desk or Guest Relations team of a luxury/5 star resort. Well organized, detail oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Must be pleasant, outgoing and with a professional demeanor. A team player to work under pressure and multi-task, speak English as a second or preferably a third language used by our guests to include French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian or German with good computer skills; requires and previous knowledge of Opera beneficial. Must be flexible to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

WAIT STAFF / BARTENDER Minimum 2 year’s previous food and beverage service experience in a luxury/5 star resort. Excellent verbal communication skills, immaculate presentation and friendly, professional demeanor. Micros skills advantageous. Must be a team player and able to work under pressure. Must be able to work a flexible schedule including weekends, holidays and evenings.

VILLA COOKS/ CHEFS Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Chef de Partie, Demi Chef, Commis Chef and Pastry Chef in a luxury resort, cruise ship, private estate or 5-star restaurant. Should possess a working knowledge of Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. This is a live-in position. Extended working hours required when villa is occupied.

VILLA HOUSEKEEPER/ HOST Minimum 2 years’ experience working in a 5-star resort, private estate or luxury motor yacht with solid food and beverage service experience. Must be immaculately presented, fluent in English and possess the confidence to communicate directly with villa owners and renters. A friendly, outgoing yet professional demeanor is required. Must be self-motivated, disciplined, flexible and hard-working. This is a live-in position and extended working hours are required when villa is occupied.

ASSTIANT NATURALIST The Assistant Naturalist will work with the Youth Coordinator and Manager/ Naturalist to create organize and run various Nature programs at

All positions require a flexible schedule (which may include holidays, weekends and evenings) and extended hours on occasion. Salaries based on experience and qualifications.

Amanyara. These include Eco Hikes, Snorkel Trips, Presentations, Guest Speaker Events, and Education. The Assistant Naturalist also helps to keep the Nature Discovery Centre clean and organized. Regular maintenance of Touch Tank, Terrarium and other equipment within the Nature Centre are included but not limited to the tasks the Assistant Naturalist. Must have a passion for the outdoors and a desire to learn more about the natural environment of the T.C.I.; a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Science or related field; enjoys working with children/teens of all ages is requirement. Must be a strong swimmer and enjoy snorkeling or diving, have first aid training, CPR and AED; additional skills requested but not required. Dive Certification, Water Safety Training, experience working with children of all ages; Bilingual, Guest & Sales Services experience.

LABOURER Must have at least 2 years’ experience, reliable, strong, able to help clean ponds and swimming pools, hard working and willing to work under the sun all day. Should be able to speak reasonable English. Previous experience beneficial.

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN At least five year experience in a Resort with knowledge of A/C and Refrigeration systems repair and maintenance, sound knowledge of Plumbing and electrical systems. Kitchen Equipment and Laundry machines repairs.

LAUNDRY ATTENDANT Must have a least 2 years’ experience as a Laundry Attendant, responsible for collecting and washing the used and dirty linens from guest, rooms and other parts of the hotels. Maintain hygiene of the working equipment and laundry cart, also should be able to respond to the requests supervisors, and management in an efficient and timely manner

BEACH ATTENDANT/TENNIS KNOCKER & GYM ATTENDANT Experience in one or more of the following areas: Sailing (hobby boats), club-level tennis playing ability, operation of gym equipment and personal training. Must be a good swimmer and able to teach snorkeling. Well presented with good communication skills and friendly yet professional demeanor. Willing to work outside in the sun. Recent CPR, First Aid or Life

BELONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY. Interest applications should email resume and reference letters to HR Manager at mstubbs@amanresorts.com Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

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BRANCH MANAGER (Scotia Centre, Cherokee Road, Providenciales)

NOTICE The general public is hereby notified that MR. KWASI INGHAM is no longer employedwith the Turks & Caicos Islands National Health Insurance Board and is not authorized to act as anagent, or conduct any transactions on behalf of the Turks & Caicos Islands National Health Insurance Board. MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BOARD.

NOTICE REGULATION 7 OF THE PHYSICAL PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION) Regulations, 1990

An Application, REGISTERED GT 4495, by DCTCI LTD. For the development of a Dolphin Lagoon & Related Development, has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Development Permission on PARCEL 10101/1, North Creek, Grand Turk. Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Downtown, Town Center Mall, Providenciales, within twenty eight (28) days of publication of this Notice.

Job Grade: A82 Annual Salary: $67,150 - $83,900 - $100,700 This senior leader will be accountable for the overall effectiveness, efficiency and success of their team. Reporting to the Senior Sales Leader, you will achieve negotiated financial results by planning, monitoring and taking action on all aspect of branch activities, e.g., sales, customer service, staff performance, operations compliance, controls and related actives. Required Qualifications: • University degree in business administration or related discipline, MBA preferred. • 3-5 years progressive leadership experience in a similar capacity. • Knowledge of financial software packages as well as Microsoft applications e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. • Knowledge of sales management, coaching and business development techniques. • Knowledge of expense control and revenue generating requirements. • Ability to think analytically, strategically and innovatively. • Strong communications, interpersonal and organizational abilities. • Ability to conceptualize, design and implement change initiatives. • Strong commitment to self-development. • Strong ability to lead, achieve results and motivate staff. • Valid driver’s license and transportation required (mileage allowance to be paid). Complimentary Qualifications: • Knowledge of customer life cycle needs and current economic and political events. • Knowledge of retail lending, investment, deposit and transaction services, product features, benefits, self-servicing channels, and related pricing policies and procedures. • Knowledge of commercial banking products as well as packaged products for small business lending, independent business and related policies and procedures. • Understanding of loan limits, application requirements, risk analysis techniques and credit adjudications. • Knowledge of the sales and service management process as well as merchandising guidelines. • Working knowledge of key products and services offered by other financial institutions and alternative sources of financing. • Knowledge of operations and human resource policies and procedures with special emphasis on compliance and performance. • Knowledge of retail collection policies and techniques. Key accountabilities include: – Participate in the growth of retail deposit business and contribute to Bank profitability – Develop and implement measures to ensure customer service is consistent with the Bank’s standards. – Contributes to the maximization of the Bank’s profitability – Contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of the Bank’s image in the communities served by personal involvement in the social and professional life of the community and ensuring other senior officers do likewise. – Maximizing profitability by effectively controlling branch operations/expenditures. – Effectively managing and control the loan portfolios at an acceptable level of risk. – Ensuring that national and international compliance laws/requirements are implemented and sustained.

Scotiabank offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package with tremendous opportunities for personal and professional growth to the successful candidate. Please submit applications no later than, September 30, 2013 to: Lynette Grant-Higgs – Manager, Human Resources Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Ltd Providenciales, TCI E-mail: lynette.grant-higgs@scotiabank.com

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BOARD VACANCY FOR THE POSITION OF COMPLIANCE OFFICER - PROVIDENCIALES Job Purpose: The Compliance Officer would provide financial and administrative support in order to ensure an effective, efficient, accurate and timely financial and administrative operation.

SCOPE The Compliance Officer reports to the Compliance Supervisor/Legal Officer and is responsible for providing financial, administrative and clerical services. This includes ensuring compliance with the National Health Insurance Board Laws and Regulations. Providing these services in an effective and efficient manner will ensure that municipal finances are accurate and up to date and that delinquent accounts for Employers and Self Employed persons are settled in a timely manner. Duties and Responsibilities: • Contact Employers in relation to the submission of Contribution Statements. • Prepare spreadsheets illustrating debt owed by Employers and the Self Employed. • Assess, Negotiate and Prepare Payment plans on delinquent accounts. • Conduct field visits to Employer/Self-Employed Establishments, to inspect their books. • Monitor all signed payment plans. • Travel to the other Islands to meet with Employer/Self Employed in relation to collection of arrears and other compliance issues. • Draft daily reports on compliance activities conducted. • Report all compliance activities directly to the Compliance Supervisor/Legal Officer. • Ensure all agreed targets are conscientiously pursued and realized • Provide administrative support in order to ensure effective and efficient office operations

o Ensure that all supporting documents are accessible and filed appropriately o Ensure the confidentiality and security of all financial files • Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by immediate supervisor or person authorized to give instructions or assignments. Person specification • Excellent knowledge of the Turks and Caicos Islands Legal Procedures • Excellent working knowledge of Information Systems • General book-keeping knowledge • Minimum of 5yrs working experience • Ability to write reports and business correspondence • Demonstrate a high level of integrity and professionalism • Ability to work as a team • Very detail oriented with the ability to multi-task • Show initiative • Time management skills • Ability to be able to work efficiently with little or no supervision Salary Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience Deadline for Submission is October 18, 2013. All Applications should be addressed to:

Chief Executive Officer National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza

Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc

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THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

"With these hearts, with this mind, I can Do Anything"

QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN 0-5 YEARS

Discount Referral Program!! INFANT DAYCARE (6+ WEEKS) TODDLER DAYCARE (12+ MONTHS) EARLY PRESCHOOL DAYCARE (2-3 YEARS) PRESCHOOL (3-5 YEARS)

y a l n P r Learough Read n a C th aby B r u o Y lay P e d i s t u O Abeka ulum Curric

Mondays to Fridays Daycare: 7:30am to 6:00pm Preschool: 8:00am - 2:30pm

WHY CHOOSE US?

Introduction To computers

BEST PRICES ON ISLAND! Daycare 7:30 am - 5:30 PM Payment must be made weekly/Monthly per calendar

Pre-school 8:00AM - 2:30 PM Weekly $65 $75 Monthly $250 $290

• Warm and nurturing atmosphere • A clean, safe environment • Nutritious meals and snacks • Degreed teachers • Small groups • Bilingual staff • Air Conditioned • Affordable rates

t/ s a f k a e r B lunch *20 PER WEEK MEAL PLAN SMALLEST TEACHER TO CHILD RATIO

Find us on facebook!

Airport Plaza, Airport Road, Providenciales Tel:649-339-5878 to call for appointment or just stop by Tel:649-231-0013 email: tumbletotz@gmail.com Tel:649-332-0013

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ION T ts C e U s s A A C nt BLI a r U u P : a t e Notic gs, and Res din l i u B , tate

Real E

Beach Hut Holdings Ltd., as holder of a registered first Charge under the Registered Land Ordinance and of two registered Debentures and other collateral security, hereby gives notice of its intention to cause the following property to be sold by Public Auction: 1. Parcel 60504/141, Blue Hills & Stamers Run, Providenciales, formerly the Horse-Eye Jack’s restaurant, being an oceanfront property of .73 Acres with approximately 220 feet of ocean frontage, and comprising five (5) building structures and expansive deck areas and board walks. 2. Restaurant equipment, furnishings & other non-real estate assets of Fuzzi Moon Ltd. 3. Restaurant appliances, furnishings & other non-real estate assets of Beach Bar Ltd. The Auction will be held at Bay Bistro Restaurant in Grace Bay on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, at 10:00 AM. For further particulars, please call (649) 342-8378, or send an email to Twa Marcelin Wolf, at tmw@tmwlaw.tc, with the reference code “Auction” in the heading. All sales will be subject to: (1) bids reaching the reserve set by the seller in its discretion; and (2) the successful bidder (a) paying a deposit of 10% of the sale price at the time the bid is accepted, and (b) agreeing to the terms and conditions of sale set by the seller.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Thank You for your Partnership

OCT 31 - NOV 2 - 2013

3rd ANNUAL

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ISLAND

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2013 CARIBBEAN FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL ITINERARY OCT 31st WINE TASTING: ,- oal` :glld]':ggc ka_faf_ Yl B9A K :gmlaim]$ /2(( HE NOV 1st OGE=F G> OAF= DMF;@=GF2 -( Yl :]Y[` @gmk]$ )2(( HE WINE TASTING: ,- oal` :glld]':ggc ka_faf_ Yl H]da[Yf :Yq$ /2+( HE NOV 2nd ISLAND STREET FOOD FAIR: *- 9\mdlk$ )( ;`ad\j]f$ +2(( HE FEATURING

ON GRACE BAY ROAD OPPOSITE JAI’S

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P: (649)-946-5050 ext 1035 E: info@caribbeanfoodandwinefestivaltci.com

ISLAND FOOD FAIR TICKETS AVAILABLE WWW.CARIBBEANFOODANDWINEFESTIVALTCI.COM

TIFFANY DERRY L a ^ ^ Y fq a k Y k m [ [ ] k k ^ m d j ] k l Y m j Y l ] m j$ [ ] d ] Z j Y l ] \ E Y k l ] j ; ` ] ^ Z ] k l c f g o f Y k Y [ g f l ] k l Y f l g f l ` ] k ` g o

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

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CARIBBEAN SECURITY SERVICES LTD 1105 LEEWARD HIGHWAY, PROVIDENCIALES

SEEKS

SECURITY OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS: Minimum of 4 years military/police experience or 5-6 years security officer experience Must have basic personal safety and other security training certificate Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills (English) Can follow instructions and write comprehensive reports Must be an excellent team-player Must have valid TCI Driver’s License Salary starts $6.00 per hour

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL POSITIONS ABOVE: Comprehensive resume w/2ID photos Employment certificates from previous employers, Diploma & Training certificates Police & fingerprint records, copies of NHIP,NIB, Drivers License Copies of legal status & / passport

HOW TO APPLY: 1. Submit resume with application letter and all documents stated above to Caribbean Security Services Ltd office 2. Complete documents should be provided within 1 week of the date of application to be considered 3. Wait for Caribbean Security personnel to call you for an interview Interested applicants should send resume and applicable certificates address to:

The HR Manager Caribbean Security Services Ltd Leeward Highway Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands 941-3027

BUTTERFIELD GOLD BUTTERFIELD GOLD GROUP GROUP OF COMPANIES COMPANIES OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE AVAILABLE POSITIONS Island Pride Supermarket One (2) Labourers 1) General cleaning of the supermarket and collecting grocery trolley. 2) Physical able-bodied individuals capable of lifting heavy loads Wages from $6.00 per hour Rosie’s Delight Restaurant One (1) Domestic Worker Washing Pots & dishes and general cleaning Wages from $6.00 per hour Island Pride Fuel One (1) Labourer General cleaning & Relief Gas Attendant Wages from $6.00 per hour

Submit applications to by October 17, 2013 to: Butterfield Gold Ltd., Human Resource Department Town Center Mall Providenciales Tel: 649-946-4211

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION TOLCO LTD. c/o Karam & Missick, Suites A 201-203, Regent Village East, Grace Bay 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 60715/23 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales, The property comprised is a lot of land .48 acre upon which 2# two storey apartment buildings have been constructed, one comprising 8# one bedroom apartments and the other 4# one bedroom apartments, together with surrounding parking areas. Registered Proprietor: Thomas Chalmers Misick ____________________________________________________________________ 2. Parcel 51105/32 Bottle Creek, North Caicos, The property comprised is a lot of land .74 acre, upon which a two storey block of 5# one bedroom apartments (3# ground floor and 2# first floor) has been constructed. Registered Proprietor: Elizabeth Tamer Gardiner ____________________________________________________________________ 3. Parcel 60811/90 The Bight & Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales, The property comprised is a lot of land .27 acre and upon which has been constructed a single storey residence. Registered Proprietors: Andrew Alexandra Ewing and Annie Elizabeth Ewing ____________________________________________________________________ 4. Parcel 60900/279 TCI Mini Golf & Leeward Going Through, Providenciales, The property comprised is a lot of land 1.43 acre which fronts onto the northern boundary of Leeward Highway in the Leeward Going Through subdivision in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Upon the land has been constructed the TCI Mini Golf facility which comprises an 18 hole miniature golf course, club house with bar/restaurant, covered seating area, open decks, kitchen, office and restrooms together with associated apparatus external works. Registered Proprietor: David Earl Been ____________________________________________________________________ 5. Parcel 60611/42 Norway & Five Cays, Providenciales, The property comprised is a lot of land .22 acre and upon which has been constructed a single storey building which comprises of several apartment units in the Norway & Five Cays subdivision of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Registered Proprietor: Kimberley Laverne Rolle ____________________________________________________________________ 6. Parcel 60900/104 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales, The property comprised is an inland lot of land .65 acre and upon which a main residence, guesthouse and part complete guesthouse have been constructed upon the land in the Leeward Palms settlement in the Leeward Going Through subdivision of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Registered Proprietor: Alicia Kaye Swann ____________________________________________________________________ The auction will be held outside the offices of Karam & Missick, Suites A 201-203 Regent Village East, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales at 10:00 a.m. on Friday 18 October, 2013. A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids. Draft Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from TOLCO Ltd.

(649) 333-4000 or admin@tolcoltd.com

Londolozi Ltd.

is inviting suitable applications for the following positions: NIGHT AUDITOR Londolozi Ltd. is currently seeking a dynamic, experienced and motivated individual for the position of Night Auditor. The position requires a high level of professionalism, excellent organization, communication skills, strong leadership capabilities and detail orientation. To be successful you must possess excellent customer service, organizational and time management skills. RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensuring that all charges and credits are posted accurately to guest accounts; that the telephone call accounting system reporting has been completed and system is functional • Balancing all credit card charges to cashiers reports and hard and soft copies are balanced with credit card folios • Organizing the night audit work in an orderly manner for distribution to the accounts department • Closing out of accounts and resetting the system for the next days operation • Conducts analytical review of all daily Front Office and Room transactions reports and to rectify and discrepancies. • Acting as Manager on Duty and maintain an open line of communication between guests, team members and management. • Performing Front Office duties, processing express checkouts and assisting guests as needed during the shift JOB REQUIREMENTS • Must have 8-10 years previous experience as a Night Auditor/Accountant in a resort or condominium environment • Proficient in QuickBooks and Visual one is a MUST • Clear communications skills (written and oral) • Must be able to work nights, weekends and holidays • MUST be Knowledgeable of economic and accounting principles and practices, Bookkeeping, Auditing, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data PASTRY CHEF RESPONSIBILITIES • Planning all pastry production according to menus and event orders. • Preparing detailed production lists to ensure efficient and accurate pastry production. • Participates in preparing desserts and setting up dessert buffets and stations. • Ability to work independently, multi-task and organize

work to manage time effectively and meet deadlines. • Implementing new recipes and pastry procedures to meet and exceed customers’ expectations for variety, quality and creativity. • Implementing new items that meet current dietary trends such as gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, etc. • Requisitioning of supplies and equipment. • Maintaining highest level of sanitation standards at all times. Adheres to all local health and safety regulations. • Ensuring that all work areas are safe and secure; reports any unsafe conditions to supervisor. JOB REQUIREMENTS • The Pastry Chef must have a minimum 3-5 years of Pastry Culinary experience in a resort/hotel environment. • Culinary Arts or Bachelor’s Degree preferred. • MUST have experience in a high-volume, quality pastry kitchen with strong supervisory skills. • Our working chef will be responsible for the supervision, coordination and preparation of house-made desserts, pastries and confections. CHEF DE PARTIE RESPONSIBILITIES • Working with the Head Chef and the kitchen team to maintain high standards in the quality of food both as to its preparation and its presentation • Working in all areas of the kitchen depending on the daily needs of Head Chef. • To observe all Company Food Hygiene and Health and Safety policy • To assist the Head Chef, to check the completeness of all food and kitchen equipment sent to each function • To assist the Head Chef to check the completeness of all suppliers’ deliveries and the correctness of their invoices • To set out, maintain and monitor high standards of cooking and presentation • To be aware of current food trends with regard to presentation and style and help with new menu ideas and menu design • Ensuring the venue kitchen is left spotlessly clean and tidy and that all equipment and un-used food is packed ready for transportation JOB REQUIREMENTS • Must have 2-3 or more years previous culinary experience in a resort or condominium environment • Must have leadership skills • Clear communications skills (written and oral) • Hospitality Culinary diploma or • A foundation degree in culinary arts • Health and safety and food hygiene course certifications

Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Belongers need only apply.

Please Submit Applications to: hr@alexandraresort.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than October 18th, 2013 Turks and Caicos Islanders need only apply.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

FOR REAL NEWS AS IT HAPPENS, LOG ON TO SUNTV AT WWW.SUNTCI.COM. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST, EMAIL US AT SUN@SUNTCI.COM

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

News

CARIBBEAN

Caribbean Court of Justice orders Jamaican Shanique Myrie to be awarded J$3.6m for Barbados airport assault

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled that Jamaican Shanique Myrie be awarded a total of Bds$75,000 or $3.6m Jamaican dollars. The ruling by the six-member panel was delivered via a video conference in the Supreme Court. The court declared that the Barbados government breached Myrie’s right to enter the country under article 5 of the revised treaty of Chaguaramas. Myrie took the Barbados Government to the CCJ alleging that she was discriminated against because of her nationality when she arrived in Barbados on March 14, 2011. The 25-year-old also claims she was subjected to a body-cavity search in unsanitary and demeaning conditions before being detained and deported the next day to Jamaica. The Barbados Government denied the claims and argued at the hearing that the Jamaican woman had been untruthful to Immigration Department ofﬁcials. Its lawyers also contended that her testimony was contrary to what she had provided in statements to the Barbadian police. Myrie wanted the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment for CARICOM citizens moving within the region under the Revised

Shanique Myrie Treaty of Chaguaramas. Myrie had asked the CCJ to award her almost US$500,000 in punitive damages for the treatment she received on her visit to Barbados. She also wanted the regional court to award costs and special damages.

THE MYRIE CASE TIMELINE March 14, 2011 – Myrie travels to Barbados and was deinied entry after reported inhumane cavity search.

January 12, 2012 – Application filed to Caribbean Court of Justice after Jamaican and Barbadian authorities failed to arrive at a settlement. February 17, 2012 – First case management hearing by video link from the Supreme Court to ensure all relevant documents were filed and the way the case should proceed. April 20, 2012 – CCJ ruled that there was sufficient grounds for Myrie’s case to be heard. September 27, 2012 – Jamaican government given permission by the CCJ to intervene in the hearing. December 12, 2012 - During a case management conference by video link at the Supreme Court a trial date was set for the hearing to start March 4, 2013 in Jamaica to reduce expenses for Myrie. March 4-6, 2013 – CCJ sits at Jamaica Conference Centre, Kingston, Jamaica to hear Myrie’s testimony. March 18 and 19, 2013 – case resumes in Barbados where the Barbadian government presented its case. April 8 and 9, 2013 – Final hearing at which the lawyers made submissions before the CCJ at its Headquarters in Trinidad. October 4, 2013 – CCJ ruling handed down.

Cuban jailed for breaking embargo M

IAMI – A United States federal district court has sentenced a Cuban national to 12 months for selling goods to Cuba in violation of the US trade and economic embargo on the island. Pedro Adriano Borges, 68, will spend six months in prison, six in home detention and pay a US$1,000 fine. He will also serve four months for parole violation. Borges and four other men were indicted in 1997 on charges of sending 18 shipping containers from Miami to Cuba from 1993 to 1996, via third countries.

They carried US $93,000 worth of foodstuffs, light bulbs, diapers and other goods, according to the Miami Herald. Three of the defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 18 months each, including Javier Ferreiro Parga, a Spanish businessman living in Havana, who was the importer of the goods. A fourth elected to go to trial and was acquitted. The Miami Herald reoports that Borges could have been sent to jail for 35 years — 10 for violating the Trading With the Enemy

Act and other embargo laws, 20 for helping to launder the money that Cuba paid for the goods and five for conspiracy to launder money. He had just finished serving a 39-month prison sentence in New Jersey on a separate money-laundering charge — but still had three years of parole to serve. According to court documents, Borges received permission on July 31, 1995 for a 21-day business trip to Costa Rica but never returned to the United States.

“Instead, he faxed his Cuban-American parole officer a string of excuses for his absence,” the Herald reports. One fax claimed he was helping Cubans “to win their liberty,” hinting that he was somehow involved in anti-Castro activities. Court officials say Borges is expected to return to Costa Rica after completing his home detention. He has a wife and property worth US $1.2 million in the Central American nation, as well as Costa Rican citizenship

Chinese company to build thousands of middle-income houses in Grenada S

T. GEORGE’S, Grenada– Grenada has signed an agreement with a Chinese company for the construction of over 2,000 middle-income housing units over the next ﬁve years. Social Development and Housing Minister Delma Thomas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese real estate, construction and development company, Gao Zhen. “Today’s signing signiﬁes that we are taking a step in the next direction to assist middle-income earners in having their own homes,” Thomas said, adding “we are happy to sign this agreement and look forward to seeing the con-

struction phase begin, as we strive to provide housing for persons in the middle-income bracket”. Gao Zhen, which proposes to construct high quality, storm and earthquake safe, affordable houses in Grenada on a build and transfer basis, commits to the construction of a minimum of 500 units in the ﬁrst year and an additional 500 units for the next ﬁve years, without any capital input from the Grenada government or the Housing Authority of Grenada. “We’ll do our best to support the Government to providing the best quality, affordable houses possible. Our Government supports

us and I can assure you that we will do good things in Grenada. We have a great team to do this,” said the company’s chief executive officer, Wuyan Shen. Thomas said that the government is also holding talks with Gao Zhen regarding a collaboration for provision of housing units for lower-income owners. “We are committed to working with Gao Zhen to bring that benefit to people who are in need of housing assistance at this time.” Construction work on the first 500 middle-income housing units are expected to begin by January 2014.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Haiti disagrees with court ruling on migrants in Dominican Republic P

ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haitian officials on Saturday expressed strong disagreement with a Dominican Republic court ruling that denies citizenship to children of Haitian migrants. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deeply regrets that Haitians and their Dominican descendants who have contributed significantly to the current progress of the Dominican Republic for their work and sacrifice are now treated as foreigners in transit,” said the Haitian foreign ministry in a brief statement. It said the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court ruling violates several international laws, agreements and covenants, including a 2005 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling. The Haitian Foreign Ministry has urged the Dominican Republic to address in an “objective and fair manner” the role of Dominicans of Haitian descent in the country. Last week, the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court ruled that the children of undocumented migrants, who have been in the Dominican Republic and registered as Dominicans as far back as 1929, cannot have Dominican nationality as their parents are considered to be “in transit”. The decision has been strongly condemned by the United Nations, with UN the human rights office in Geneva calling on the Dominican Republic

to take all necessary measures to ensure that citizens of Haitian origin were not deprived of their right to nationality. “We are extremely concerned that a ruling of the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court may deprive tens of thousands of people of nationality, virtually all of them of Haitian descent, and have a very negative impact on their other rights,” said Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the United Nations Ofﬁce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR). The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has also expressed deep concern over the court ruling, even as Secretary General Irwin La Rocque seeks further information, saying that anything that affects any member state of the regional grouping would be of concern to the region. But he told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that, given the fact that the ruling of the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court is ﬁnal, “it raises a serious question about the status of the numerous people. “I gather there are more than 20,000 Dominican Republic nationals of Haitian extract who would be affected”, he said. In a major speech on Thursday to the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) Executive Committee, the agency’s Director of International Protection,

Volker Türk called for stronger protection of refugees, stateless and internally displaced people (IDPs) in ensuring they enjoy their full human rights. He said, ﬁrst and foremost, those individuals must be “able to enjoy the widest possible array of human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination.” While noting that such a focus is “challenging,” Türk said that it must “permeate all our interactions with persons of concern.” He said UNHCR’s focus on protection of individuals must be incorporated in every aspect of its work, from providing education to ensuring refugee camps are located away from threatening borders and designed so women do not face dangerous routes to collect water. “To be effective, we need to understand their particular needs, not as homogenous groups, but as individuals with speciﬁc backgrounds, aspirations and hopes,” he said. Türk also called for more efforts to end the problem of stateless people, which affects an estimated 10 million people. “Would it not be a major achievement if in a decade from now statelessness was but a faint memory of a bygone era and our mandate rendered redundant?” he asked.

US Coast Guard repatriates 63 migrants to Cuba 4 hours 9 minutes ago

IAMI- The United States Coast Guard says it repatriated 63 Cuban migrants to Cuba following ﬁve separate migrant interdictions last month. “Through a coordinated effort involving aircrews with Customs Border and Protection and Coast Guard Air Station Miami, crewmembers aboard several Coast Guard Cutters interdicted the migrants attempting to illegally migrate to the United States,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

It said the maritime patrol aircraft “detected and vectored in Coast Guard crews after observing several unseaworthy and overloaded rustic vessels in the Florida Straits”. The Coast Guard said the migrants were later transferred to the cutter Margaret Norvell for repatriation. “The Coast Guard and our partner agencies continue to diligently patrol the waters around the United States to deter illegal migrant activity,” said Captain

Mark Fedor, chief of response enforcement for the Seventh Coast Guard District here. “Our main concern is the safety of life at sea. When migrants put their lives in the hands of smugglers, or take to the sea aboard unseaworthy vessels, they put their lives at grave risk,” he added. The Coast Guard said the Cubans were repatriated on Thursday after the migrants were detained between September 25-29

CARIBBEAN TO INTENSIFY REPARATIONS EFFORTS AGAINST EUROPE EARLY NEXT YEAR

EW YORK – St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says he plans to intensify efforts in addressing the issue of Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery when he assumes the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) early in the new year. “When I take over the chairmanship of CARICOM in January I hope to get letters to Europe,” Gonsalves, who is here for the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Debate, told a standing-room-only town hall meeting in Brooklyn late Saturday. “We’re going for reparations because of state-sponsored genocide and state-sponsored slavery”, he added. “Europe, by engaging us in this matter, can make us more free,” he continued. “We need reparations, but we need available resources.” The Vincentian leader, who has been taking the lead in CARICOM on the issue, said efforts at seeking reparations from Europe are “not a conversation about protests. “This is a serious conversation to see what is the legacy,” he said. “I’m not a little boy holding up a placard. I’m the Prime Minister of an independent country.” Gonsalves warned that, as the reparations issue gains ground, European governments and their “agencies” are already “ﬁnding means to divide the Reparations Movement,” adding that “Reparations is for all of us.” He noted that when former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide ﬁrst

raised the issue of reparations, in the early 2000s, from France, “the French Government organized for Aristide to – let me put it nicely – to go into voluntary exile.” Gonsalves said some European governments and diplomats have stated that the reparations matter should not be adopted by governments but by the people.“But I represent the people, I speak for them,” Gonsalves retorted. “Reparations are to repair the consequences,” he added. “The British carried out and killed 80 percent of the Callinago (St Vincent and the Grenadines’ indigenous people). “We’re looking at the legacy – the problems in education, in health,” he continued. “In the Caribbean, people of African descent have higher incident of diabetes and high blood pressure than elsewhere. How come in West Africa you don’t have that?” Gonsalves said his country’s hosting of the recent, ﬁrst-ever Regional Conference on Reparations for Native Genocide and Slavery was the ﬁrst step in the Caribbean’s quest to “address and redress a psychic, historical, socio-economic, and developmental wound that is, for CARICOM, 14 nations wide and 400 years deep. “The genocidal oppression and suffering of my country’s indigenous Callinago, the Garifuna, and enchained Africans have been rightly adjudged to have been a horrendous crime against humanity,” he told the UN General Assembly last week. “Accordingly, the collective voice of

our Caribbean civilisation ought justly to ring out for reparations for native genocide and African slavery from the successor states of the European countries, which committed organised state-sponsored native genocide and African enslavement. The awful legacy of these crimes against humanity – a legacy which exists today in our Caribbean – ought to be repaired for the developmental beneﬁt of our Caribbean societies and all our peoples,” he added. “The historic wrongs of native genocide and African slavery, and their continuing contemporary consequences, must be righted, must berepaired, in the interest of our people’s humanization,” he continued. Gonsalves urged European nations to “partner in a focused, especial way with” the Caribbean in executing this “repairing.” “Thus, the demand for reparations is the responsibility not only of the descendants, in today’s Caribbean, of the Callinago, the Garifuna, the Amerindian, and the African. It is undoubtedly an agenda for all of us to advance, to promote, to concretise, and to execute,” he said. The Vincentian leader said the struggle for reparations represents, immediately, a deﬁning issue for the Caribbean in this 21st century, stating that it promises to make both Europe and the Caribbean “more free, more human, more good-neighbourly.” Recently, CARICOM decided to place the quest for reparations at the

centre of its developmental agenda. St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas told the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly that he was joining with CARICOM Member States in supporting the case for reparation associated with the atrocities of slavery. Douglas said that though the repercussions of slavery “on the lives of those of our ancestors cannot be quantiﬁed, we are convinced that the deleterious effects which, even now, are translated into much hardship and poverty for the descendents of our ancestors, must be resolved.” While speaking on the erection of a memorial at the UN in honor of the victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller also said she was supportive of the call for an international discussion on the issue but in a “non-confrontational manner.” “We fully support the initiative for a declaration of a Decade for Persons of African Descent,” she declared. Jose Francisco Avila, the Honduran-born chairman of the the Bronx, New York-based Garifuna Coalition, USA, Inc., who attended the town hall meeting with Prime Minister Gonsalves, said he looks forward to working with the CARICOM Reparations Commission, along with Garifuna representatives from the Diaspora, “in seeking justice for the crime of genocide committed against our ancestors by the British

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

CARIBBEAN NEWS

St Lucia opposition parties want report card on VAT C

ASTRIES, St. Lucia– The St. Lucia government is being asked to provide a report to the country on the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) one year after it was implemented. The main opposition United Workers Party and the minority Lucian Peoples Movement (LPM) have called on the Kenny Anthony administration to indicate what effect the VAT has had on the economic performance of the island. The UWP said it wanted the government to inform the country of the “revenue generated from VAT over the past year, how has that revenue being utilized to beneﬁt the citizenry”. The party said it also wants to know the effects of the 1.5 per cent increase on the hospitality sector and whether or not VAT has “had a positive impact on investments and the manufacturing sector, how is the revenue from VAT being used to reduce the spiralling unemployment problem

which is manifested by an increase of three per cent in 2012 over 2011”. The party is calling for the removal of VAT on medicine and also wants a reduction from the 15 per cent rate “to enable greater disposable income and to stimulate economic activities. “Government is called upon to address repeated calls by the St. Lucia Manufacturing Association for adjustment in the collection of VAT charges to a post production regime. It is our hope that the government of St. Lucia will use this juncture one year after the imposition of the Value Added Tax to reﬂect on the negative impacts and to initiate a process to effect the necessary positive adjustments,” the UWP added. The LPM said it was time for the government to stop ignoring the economy and the other pressing issues facing the country, and support a broad plan of civic engagement in business and industry to create jobs and economic growth.

“With approximately 24,000 Saint Lucians out of work, the minister of ﬁnance and his administration are out to sea, and missing in action. Meanwhile, proclaiming that the country is ‘on course,” the LPM said, adding that most St. Lucians know that the country is ‘off course’ with an SLP administration that is unable to create new and sustainable employment, and to allow the people and their families to keep more of their hard- earned money. “The SLP administration must ﬁrst desist from its economic policy of high taxes that encourage job losses and a stagnant economy, and embrace the realism that agriculture is the economy, it speaks to every aspect of the economy, from employment, exports, foreign exchange, health care cost, food and nutrition, poverty alleviation, through to rural service improvement, farm technology and strengthening of the rural economy, into the middle class.”

US warns of increased drug trafficking in the Caribbean

AN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has warned about increased drug trafficking in the Caribbean, saying that more cocaine is being smuggled into the United States after passing through the region. The DEA said the heightened trafficking represents a major shift in the route after the region was largely abandoned decades ago. The agency said 14 percent of cocaine bound for the United States was trafficked through the Caribbean in the first half of this year, doubling the 7 percent that came through the region during the corresponding period last year. “What we’re seeing is that traffickers are increasing the amount of cocaine in each” shipment, said Vito S. Guarino, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Caribbean division. “This is a shift toward the Caribbean,” he told reporters. “And the picture we’re looking at right now will be the picture for the next few years.” In this light, the FBI said it had

dismantled one of the most powerful gangs to operate in the Caribbean over the past two decades. The law enforcement agency said the Puerto Rico-based drug trafficking group allegedly moved drugs from the Dominican Republic to users in the US, earning more than US$100 million along the way. Twenty-seven suspects were arrested. Daurius Figueira, a Trinidad and Tobago-based researcher and author of Cocaine Trafficking in the Caribbean and West Africa in the Era of the Mexican Cartel, said criminal organizations are “establishing a series of trafficking points in the Caribbean to move products both to North America and to Europe – directly or via West Africa.” “In the Caribbean, there have been two strategies in response: The first is total denial and suppression of reality,” he told the Miami Herald. “The second is to simply sit and wait for their territory to be ‘switched on.’” Last month, William R. Brownfield, assistant secretary of state for

international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, said the Caribbean trafﬁcking corridor of the 1970s and 1980s is “still around and will begin to look more attractive” to criminal organizations as they search for an alternative to Central America and Mexico. According to the DEA, the Dominican Republic — regarded as the largest transshipment point in the Caribbean — received 27 metric tons of cocaine in 2013, an increase from 22 tons a year earlier. The increase in the Caribbean came even amid an overall drop in the amount of cocaine shipped in the hemisphere, suggesting smugglers are conﬁdent they can take advantage of weak security in the region, the Herald said. Guarino said South American and Mexican criminal groups are using the Caribbean’s largely unguarded coasts as landing points for high-speed boats carrying bundles of cocaine. Once on land, he said the drugs are moved on to the United States and Europe through shipping con-

tainers, mules (drug-carrying individuals) or by boat through Puerto Rico. “We’re starting to see 1,000-kilo [2,200-pound] loads off the coast of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands,” he said. “It suggests that, the capability to move those size shipments is there, and the [traffickers] are more confident.” The DEA said agents in the Caribbean and Bogotá, Colombia have “intelligence obtained throughout numerous investigations [indicating] that go-fast vessels departing Venezuela and Colombia were heading straight to Puerto Rico and Haiti.” The US federal government has already increased aid to the region, providing military training and other assistance, such as tracking drug boats by radar from Key West, Florida, the Herald said. In 2010, Washington launched the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, which dedicates at least US$200 million to Caribbean countries over three years to fight drug trafficking.

WORLD BANK TO INVEST US$700 MILLION TO IMPROVE WOMEN, CHILDREN’S HEALTH IN CARIBBEAN

ASHINGTON– World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has announced that the lending agency plans to invest at least US$700 million through the end of 2015 to help developing countries, including the Caribbean reach the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and children’s health. Kim said this new funding from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries, will enable “national scale-ups” of successful pilot reproductive, maternal, and child health projects that were made possible by support from the Bank Group’s Health Results Innovation Trust Fund (HRITF) and IDA. The announcement follows Kim’s September 2012 commitment to help scale up funding for MDGs 4 and 5 as part of the UN Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child global partnership. “We need to inject greater urgency into our collective efforts to save more women and children’s lives, and evidence shows that results-based ﬁnancing has

significant impact,” said Kim in a statement issued here. “The World Bank Group is committed to using evidence-based approaches to help ensure that every woman and every child can get the affordable, quality health care necessary to survive and live a healthy, productive life,” he added. The US $700 million announcement comes on top of a September 2010 World Bank pledge to provide US$600 million in IDA results-based financing for MDGs 4 and 5 by 2015.The World Bank said it has delivered on that pledge two years ahead of schedule. “This support has contributed to global declines in maternal and child mortality and expanded access to health care for poor women and children,” the statement said. Through results-based financing, the World Bank said it is working with countries to shift the focus from paying for inputs to paying for results. It said payment to health service providers is explicitly tied to the successful delivery and indepen-

dent verification of pre-agreed results. The World Bank said further progress on women and children’s health will require a “comprehensive approach to strengthening health systems, including investments beyond the health sector in critical areas such as water and sanitation, education systems, and labor markets.” It said the IDA’s country-based approach reinforces national health strategies and priorities while building on the bank’s areas of comparative advantage in providing a “multi-sectoral and systems-based approach to improving health.” During the past decade from 2003 to 2013, the World Bank said financing support through IDA has resulted in the immunisation of close to 600 million children; more than 194 million pregnant women provided with antenatal care; more than 29 million births attended by skilled health personnel; and more than 210 million pregnant/lactating women, adolescent girls, and/or children under age five reached by basic nutrition services.

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US captures al Qaeda leader in Libya and raids Somalia W ASHINGTON - U.S. forces launched raids in Libya and Somalia on Saturday, two weeks after the deadly Islamist attack on a Nairobi shopping mall, capturing a top al Qaeda figure wanted for the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, U.S. officials said. The Pentagon said senior al Qaeda figure Anas al Liby was seized in the raid in Libya, but a U.S. official said the raid on the Somali town of Barawe failed to capture or kill the intended target from the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab movement. Liby, believed to be 49, has been under U.S. indictment for his alleged role in the East Africa embassy bombings that killed 224 people. The U.S. government has also been offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture, under the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program. “As the result of a U.S. counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al Liby is currently lawfully detained by the U.S. military in a secure location outside of Libya,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said without elaborating. Liby, also known as Nazih alRagye, was arrested at dawn in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, as he was heading home after morning prayers, a neighbor and militia sources said.

Terrorist leader Anas al Liby was captured by US forces

AL-Shabab fighters march with their weapons during military exercises on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia. Foreign military forces carried out a pre-dawn strike on Saturday October 5th, 2013 against foreign militant fighters in the same southern Somalia village where US Navy Seals four years ago killed a most-wanted al-Qaida operative.

“As I was opening my house door, I saw a group of cars coming quickly from the direction of the house where al-Ragye lives. I was shocked by this movement in the early morning,” said one of his neighbors, who did not give his name, “They kidnapped him. We do not know who are they.” Two Islamist militia sources conﬁrmed the incident. CNN reported in September last year that Liby had been seen Tripoli. It quoted Western intelligence sources as saying there was concern that he may have been tasked with

establishing an al Qaeda network in Libya. That CNN report quoted counterterrorism analysts as saying that Liby may not have been apprehended then because of the delicate security situation in much of the country, where former jihadists hold sway. It quoted one intelligence source as saying that Liby appeared to have arrived in Libya in the spring of 2011, during the country’s civil war. The Pentagon conﬁrmed U.S. military personnel had been involved in an operation against what it called “a known al Shabaab terrorist,” in

Syria chemical arms removal begins D

isarmament experts from the international chemical weapons watchdog have begun destroying Syria’s arsenal, a monitoring official has said. The operation is being carried out by a team from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The mission was established under a UN resolution passed after agreement between Russia and the US. The resolution followed international outrage at a chemical weapons attack near Damascus in August. In an interim report, UN chemical weapons inspectors confirmed that the nerve agent sarin had been used in the attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of the city on August 21. It was estimated to have killed hundreds of people and was blamed by the United States and other Western powers on the regime of Bashar al-Assad. But he accuses Syrian rebels of being behind it. “Today is the first day of destruction, in which heavy vehicles are going to run over and thus destroy missile warheads, aerial chemical bombs and mobile and static mixing and filling units,”

a source with the inspection operation told the French AFP news agency. It is not clear at which of the 19 chemical weapons sites declared by the government Sunday’s operation is taking place. Destruction of the stockpile is not expected to be straightforward as some sites are in combat zones as Syria is still ravaged by civil war. It is the ﬁrst time the OPCW - based in the Hague - has been asked to destroy a chemical weapons armoury during a conﬂict. The Syrian government gave details of its chemical weapons arsenal last month to the OPCW under the Russia-US agreement which also provided for Damascus to join the Chemical Weapons Convention. That arsenal is thought to include more than 1,000 tonnes of sarin and the blister agent sulphur mustard among other banned chemicals. Peace conference Under the terms of the agreement between the US and Russia Syria’s chemical weapons capability should be removed by the middle of 2014. The speed with which the team has been able to reach the sites and

start the process of destruction underlines the urgency of the mission, says the BBC’s Anna Holligan in the Hague. It was hoped that the new climate of co-operation would help bring about a wider conference in Geneva on ending the Syrian conﬂict. UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was quoted on French media on Sunday as saying he was encouraging all parties to come to Geneva in the second half of November but that peace talks were not a certainty. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has meanwhile suggested Germany could mediate to try to end the 30-monthlong civil war. Speaking to Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine in an interview to be published on Monday, Mr Assad said he “would be delighted if envoys came from Germany”. But he stressed that Damascus would not negotiate with rebels unless they laid down their weapons. Mr Assad again repeated his denial that his troops had used chemical weapons, blaming the rebels instead. More than 100,000 people have died since the uprising began in 2011 and millions more have ﬂed Syria.

Somalia, but gave no more details. One U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the al Shabaab leader targeted in the operation was neither captured nor killed. U.S. officials did not identify the target. They said U.S. forces, trying to avoid civilian casualties, disengaged after inflicting some al Shabaab casualties. They said no U.S. personnel were wounded or killed in the operation, which one U.S. source said was carried out by a Navy SEAL team. In 2009, helicopter-borne U.S. special forces killed senior al Qaeda militant Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in a raid in southern Somalia. Nabhan was suspected of building the bomb that killed 15 people at an Israeli-owned hotel on the Kenyan coast in 2002. The United States has used drones to kill fighters in Somalia in the past. In January 2012, members of the elite U.S. Navy SEALs rescued two aid workers after killing their nine kidnappers. Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu al-Zubayr, has described the Nairobi mall attack as retaliation for Kenya’s incursion in October 2011 into southern Somalia to crush the insurgents. It has raised concern in the West over the operations of Shabaab in the region.

MAN WHO SET HIMSELF ON FIRE NEAR MONUMENTS IN WASHINGTON DIES

ASHINGTON - A man who set himself on fire in the heart of the U.S. capital as tourists and joggers watched in horror has died from his injuries, a Washington police spokesman said on Saturday. The man who set himself on fire on Friday afternoon died that night, D.C. police spokesman Araz Alali said. “Due to the severity and the nature of his injuries, he’s not been identified,” Alali said. Police responded to an emergency call on Friday on the National Mall, which is lined with Washington’s famed Smithsonian museums and national monuments. Bystanders used their shirts to tamp down the flames on the man, police and witnesses said. The man was conscious when he was taken to Washington Hospital Center. A helicopter landed in the middle of the Mall to transport him. The apparent self-immolation in the heart of Washington’s tourist area rattled the city a day after a car chase that began at the White House ended in a fatal shooting outside the U.S. Capitol.

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British PM faces demand for 2014 European Union referendum L

ondon - British Prime Minister David Cameron faced a challenge from one of his party’s lawmakers to hold a referendum on EU membership in October 2014, three years earlier than currently planned. Adam Afriyie, an outspoken member of Cameron’s Conservative party, told the Mail on Sunday newspaper he would on Monday launch a bid to force a parliamentary vote in coming weeks, which would then entail a referendum next year. He said voters did not trust Cameron’s pledge to win back some powers from Brussels and then put the new terms of Britain’s membership of the European Union to the public in an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. Cameron, who leads a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, is seek-

British Prime Minister David Cameron ing a majority in the 2015 general election but faces pressure on the right from the anti-EU UK Independence Party. Afriyie, a businessman who has been linked to speculation about a Conservative leadership bid in the past, wrote in the Mail on Sunday that it was in Britain’s “national interest” to hold an early vote. “In reality, the British people are unsure whether the Conservative leadership would be able to stick

to its promise of holding a referendum after the election, especially if in coalition once again,” he said. “Only by setting an early date can we kick-start EU renegotiation talks and give the British people what they so clearly want -- a say on our countryâ€™s future with Europe.” “Thatâ€™s why (on Monday) I will be tabling an amendment to the European Union (Referendum) Bill to bring the date of the referendum forward to October 2014.” Afriyie’s plan involves tabling an amendment to legislation already being considered by the British parliament, which ofﬁcially paves the way for the promised vote in 2017. Cameron’s Downing Street said ofﬁce said the amendment would not be allowed to pass “in any circumstances”. “The PM will not let it stand,” a spokesman said.

The issue of Europe has plagued Cameron, who leads a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, just as it has every other Conservative leader since the late Margaret Thatcher. Afriyie’s challenge is the latest in a series that Cameron has faced on Europe from his own party since he ﬁrst announced his plans for a renegotiation and referendum in January after months of speculation. Sceptical right-wingers in the party in July forced him into backing legislation guaranteeing a vote instead of leaving it open ended. That is the legislation that Afriyie now wants to amend. The challenge comes just days after Cameron told the annual Conservative conference that he had won European allies in his campaign to reform the EU, although he did not name them.

Parents of missing British girl encouraged by new inquiry

ondon - The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann said on Sunday they were “greatly encouraged” by new information about the disappearance of their daughter on holiday in Portugal in 2007. Kate and Gerry McCann said they were hopeful there would be developments from a major appeal based on “substantive” new information which is to be broadcast on a BBC television programme on October 14. “We are greatly encouraged by new information coming to light with pieces of the jigsaw now ﬁtting together,” the McCanns said in a statement. “We are really hopeful that the forthcoming appeal on Crimewatch will bring further new evidence which will take us a step closer to ﬁnding Madeleine and to bringing those responsible for her abduction to justice.” A three-year-old actress will play Madeleine

in the reconstruction on the Crimewatch programme. British police said Friday that analysis of mobile phone data from thousands of people who were in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz when Madeleine McCann disappeared could provide a new lead. They are also investigating 41 potential suspects, although no arrests have been made. Madeleine’s parents have never abandoned their campaign to ﬁnd their daughter, who was just about to turn four when she disappeared as she slept in the family’s holiday apartment on May 3, 2007. Her parents were dining with friends in a nearby restaurant at the time. Portuguese authorities closed their investigation in 2008. But London’s Metropolitan Police spent two years reviewing the evidence and announced in July that they were launching an in-

Parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann, Kate and Gerry McCann, pose with an artist’s impression of how their daughter might look now. vestigation into Madeleine’s disappearance. British police are working with senior detectives from Faro, in the Algarve.

IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER MOSTLY PLEASED WITH NEW PRESIDENT ROUHANI’S US TRIP

EHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday publicly endorsed President Hassan Rouhani’s efforts to reconcile with archenemy Washington, but indicated his displeasure with some events during Rouhani’s high-proﬁle visit late last month to the United Nations. “We support the government’s diplomatic drive, including the New York trip, because we trust the administration, which is dedicated to serving [the people], and we are optimistic about it,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at a ceremony here Saturday in a speech quoted by Iran’s Press TV news service. The comments from Iran’s ultimate authority were viewed as an important sign that the nation’s conservative leadership stood behind the new president’s conciliatory approach, despite the deep misgivings of hard-liners in Iran. However, Khamenei said, “Some of the things that happened during the New York trip were not appropriate, because we believe that the U.S. government is untrustworthy, arrogant and irrational, and one that reneges on its promises.” Iran’s top leader did not specify

what irked him, but observers said he was probably referring to the trip’s deﬁning moment: a dramatic telephone call from President Obama to Rouhani. The 15-minute chat was the highest-level contact between two nations since the 1979 Islamic revolution overthrew the U.S.-backed monarchy. Rouhani promptly blogged news of the call on Twitter, generating headlines around the globe about a possible detente in long-acrimonious U.S.-Iranian relations. The supreme leader’s carefully chosen remarks Saturday, analysts said, probably reﬂect twin goals: to back the Iranian president while mollifying sectors of the country’s power structure deeply suspicious of Washington, mistrustful of Rouhani and opposed to any move toward reconciliation. “It is obvious that the supreme leader, on the whole, approves of President Rouhani’s overtures to the West, but he must also satisfy his ‘principalist’ [hard-liner] constituency that Iran is not going to cave in,” said Nader Karimi, chief editor of the World of Industry, a moderate newspaper geared to Iran’s entrepreneurial sector. Just as many U.S. lawmakers and of-

ficials are skeptical about any prospective rapprochement with Tehran, so are many conservatives in Iran dubious about a possible reconciliation with Washington. The hard-liners in both nations are widely seen as major obstacles to any significant thaw in U.S.-Iranian relations. Last week, the commander of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard, a mainstay of the nation’s leadership hierarchy, called the Rouhani-Obama conversation premature. Upon his return to Tehran, Rouhani was met at the airport by both enthusiastic supporters and outraged critics. The latter pelted his motorcade with shoes and eggs and shouted “Death to the USA!” Still, observers here said the supreme leader’s remarks reflect a clear official stance in favor of Rouhani’s policy of reconciliation, and a sharp turn from the polemical broadsides of his predecessor, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. “The supreme leader is apparently not happy with the phone call between Rouhani and Obama, but in general he is pleased with the overtures of Rouhani,” said Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a former parliamentary vice president.

Rouhani, a cleric and longtime Islamic Republic insider, was elected in a surprise landslide victory in June with vows to improve Iran’s stagnant economy, battered by Western-led sanctions tied to the nation’s controversial nuclear program. Rouhani has pledged to do his utmost to reverse the sanctions regimen that has made it difficult for Iran to sell oil, its chief export, and severely restricted access to the international banking system. Iran is scheduled to resume talks on the disputed nuclear issue with six world powers, including the United States, on Oct. 15 and 16 in Geneva. Iran says its program is strictly for energy-generation and other peaceful purposes, but Washington suspects a hidden agenda to reach nuclear-weapons capability. Khamenei would have to approve any deal crafted by the new president’s nuclear negotiating team. In an interview with the Associated Press released Saturday, Obama said Iran is a year or more away from being able to produce a nuclear weapon, an assessment that conflicts with Israeli estimates that Iran could build a bomb in a few months. Israeli officials have dismissed Rouhani’s conciliatory gestures as public relations maneuvers.

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Over 100 dead as packed illegal immigrant boat sinks off coast of Italy R

OME — More than 100 people drowned and over 200 were unaccounted for after a boat packed with African migrants caught fire and sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday. The disaster occurred when the boat’s motor stopped working and the vessel began to take on water, Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said. People on board burned a sheet to attract the attention of rescuers, starting a fire on board. “Once the fire started, there was a concern about the boat sinking and everyone moved to one side, causing the boat to go down,” he told a news conference. The 66-foot vessel, believed to be carrying around 500 people, sank no more than half a mile from shore. Bodies pulled from the water were laid out along the quayside as the death toll rose in what looked like one of the worst disasters to hit the perilous route for migrants seeking to reach Europe from Africa. “It’s horrific, like a cemetery, they are still bringing them out,” Lampedusa Mayor Giusi Nicolini told reporters. After 94 bodies were recovered from the surface, divers inspecting the wreck, sunk in 40 meters of water, saw dozens of bodies, bringing the total of known dead to well over 100 with more than 200 still unaccounted for, coast guard official Floriana Segreto said. Alfano said three children and two pregnant women were among the victims. The disaster happened four days after 13 migrants drowned off eastern Sicily. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said action was needed by the European Union to stem “a succession of massacres of innocent people”.

Some of the victims who were recovered from the wreck Last year, almost 500 people were reported dead or missing on the crossing from Tunisia to Italy, the U.N. refugee office UNHCR says. Syrians fleeing civil war have added to the numbers. The crew of a fishing boat raised the alarm at around 1:20 a.m. ET and began pulling people out of the water before coastguard vessels arrived on the scene. The coastguard said 151 people had been rescued. Between 450 and 500 people, most either Eritreans or Somalis, appeared to have been on board the boat, which had come from Misrata in Libya, Alfano said. “If they had been able to use a telephone, they could have been saved,” he said. The search for survivors and victims continued within a four nautical mile radius, in water around 30-45 meters deep. Rescuers planned to widen the operation later in the day, in case bodies had been pulled away by the tides, he said. Antonio Candela, director of rescue operations at the local health authority ASP Palermo, said many of those pulled out of the sea alive had been suffering from hypothermia and dehydra-

Switzerland to vote on $2800 monthly basic income for adults

ERNE - Switzerland will hold a vote on whether to introduce a basic income for all adults, in a further sign of growing public activism over pay inequality since the financial crisis. A grassroots committee is calling for all adults in Switzerland to receive an unconditional income of 2,500 Swiss francs ($2,800) per month from the state, with the aim of providing a financial safety net for the population. Organizers submitted more than the 100,000 signatures needed to call a referendum on Friday and tipped a truckload of 8 million five-rappen coins outside the parliament building in Berne, one for each person living in Switzerland. Under Swiss law, citizens can organize popular initiatives that allow the channeling of public anger into direct political action. The country usually holds several referenda a year. In March, Swiss voters backed some of the world’s strictest controls on executive pay, forcing public companies to give shareholders a binding vote on compensation. A separate proposal to limit monthly executive pay to no more than what the company’s

Committee members use brooms to spread out five cent coins over the Federal Square during and event organised by the Committee for the Initiative “2500 Monthly for Everyone” in Bern, on October 4th 2013. lowest-paid staff earn in a year, the so-called 1:12 initiative, faces a popular vote on November 24. The initiative’s organizing committee said the basic income could partly be financed through money from social insurance systems in Switzerland. The timing of the vote has yet to be announced, pending official guidance from the government. In a public display of support, advocates tipped over a truck full of 8 million five-cent coins in front of the Swiss capital on Friday, one coin for each of the country’s citizens.

tion but were otherwise not seriously hurt. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres praised the rescue effort, but said: “I am dismayed at the rising global phenomenon of migrants and people fleeing conflict or persecution and perishing at sea.” African migrants frequently head for Lampedusa, just 70 miles from the coast of Tunisia, and are often picked up at sea in dangerously overcrowded boats by the Italian coastguard. The previous night 463 refugees from Syria were rescued, Candela told SkyTG24 television. Pope Francis, who visited the island in July on his first papal trip outside Rome, said he felt “great pain” for the “many victims of the latest tragic shipwreck today off Lampedusa”. “The word that comes to mind is ‘shame’,” Francis said in unscripted remarks after a speech in the Vatican. “Let us unite our strengths so that such tragedies never happen again.” The stream of migrants is a humanitarian and political problem for the Italian government. About 15,000 reached Italy and Malta - 13,200 and 1,800 respectively - by sea last year, the UNHCR says. Thousands more have arrived this year. Migrants who arrive in Italy are allowed to apply for asylum. Many are ordered to leave the country but slip away to become illegal immigrants in Italy or elsewhere in the European Union. Italy has pressed the European Union for more help to fight the crisis, which it says concerns the whole bloc. “This is not an Italian drama, this is a European drama,” Alfano said. “Lampedusa has to be considered the frontier of Europe, not the frontier of Italy.”

IRELAND REJECTS PLAN TO SCRAP SENATE

ublin - Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny vowed to push forward with reform of the upper house of parliament after voters rejected his plan to abolish the senate to save the bailed-out eurozone nation money. In a surprise blow for Kenny after he personally led the campaign to ditch the senate, voters in a referendum on Friday narrowly opted to keep the 60-member house, according to results announced late Saturday. Final results revealed that 51.7 percent voted in favour of keeping the senate, or Seanad Eireann, while 48.3 percent wanted to scrap it. Turnout was just 39.2 percent with about 1.2 million voters. “Sometimes in politics you get a wallop in the electoral process. I accept the verdict of the people,” Kenny told reporters outside Dublin Castle after the result was announced. “The process of change in politics is something that we want to continue with. “And now that the people have given a very clear decision in respect of the Senate, I think it’s important to assess how best the Senate can contribute effectively to that process of reform and I’ll reﬂect on that over the period ahead.” Opinion polls had suggested voters would likely back Kenny’s pro-

posal to scrap the senate, which had the support of the coalition government parties and some of the opposition. The prime minister had described the upper house as elitist and undemocratic, saying its closure could save the nation 20 million euros ($27 million) a year. Opponents said the senate, which was created in 1937, should be reformed instead of abolished. Micheal Martin, leader of the opposition Fianna Fail party, urged Kenny to press on with “real reform of our parliament and government”. “This result is complete rejection of the Government’s strategy of talking about reform but simply increasing their own power,” he said in a statement. Many Irish blame their country’s politicians for failing to properly manage the “Celtic Tiger” economic boom, which ended in Dublin entering a European Union-International Monetary Fund bailout in November 2010 after a decade of growth collapsed. Voters also backed the creation of a new Court of Appeal in a separate referendum Friday. It passed by 65.2 percent in favour to 34.8 percent against. Dublin hopes the new court will alleviate the pressure on the heavily backlogged Supreme Court

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National Security Agency maps out a person’s social connections W

ASHINGTON — For almost three years the National Security Agency has been tapping the data it collects to map out some Americans’ social connections, allowing the government to identify their associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and other personal information, The New York times reported. Citing documents provided by former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden, the Times reported that the NSA began allowing the analysis of phone call and e-mail logs in November 2010 to examine some Americans’ networks of associations for foreign intelligence purposes after NSA ofﬁcials lifted restrictions on the practice. The newspaper posted the report on its website Saturday. A January 2011 memorandum from the spy agency indicated that the policy shift was in-

tended to help the agency “discover and track” connections between intelligence targets overseas and people in the United States, the Times reported. The documents Snowden provided indicated that the NSA can augment the communications data with material from public, commercial and other sources, including bank codes, insurance information, Facebook profiles, passenger manifests, voter registration rolls and GPS location information, as well as property records and unspecified tax data, the paper reported. NSA officials declined to say how many Americans have been caught up in the effort, including people involved in no wrongdoing, the Times reported. The documents do not describe what has resulted from the scrutiny, which links phone numbers and e-mails in a “contact

chain” tied directly or indirectly to a person or organization overseas that is of foreign intelligence interest, the paper reported. The documents provided by Snowden don’t specify which phone and e-mail databases are used to create the social network diagrams, the Times reported, and NSA ofﬁcials wouldn’t identify them. However, NSA ofﬁcials said the large database of Americans’ domestic phone call records revealed in June was not used, the paper reported. Disclosures from documents leaked by Snowden earlier this year have sparked debate over the government’s surveillance activities and concerns that Americans’ civil liberties have been violated by the data collection. Russia has granted temporary asylum to Snowden, considered a fugitive from justice in the U.S., and his whereabouts remain secret.

Illegal immigrants allowed to practise law in California

llegal immigrants can be licensed to practice law in California under one of eight bills expanding immigrant rights that were signed by Governor Jerry Brown. The California Supreme Court, which finalizes requests of applicants to be licensed as a lawyer in California, is now authorized to approve qualified applicants regardless of their immigration status. Other new laws prohibit law enforcement officials from detaining immigrants based on federal government instructions except in cases of serious crimes or convictions, and make it illegal for employers to retaliate against workers on the basis of their citizenship. “While Washington waffles on immigration, California’s forg-

ing ahead,” Brown said in a statement. “I’m not waiting.” The new laws, including the one letting undocumented immigrants become lawyers, could set a precedent for the nation. They are part of a push to increase immigrant rights in the strongly Democratic state. About 38 percent of California’s population of 38 million is of Hispanic descent. On Thursday, Brown signed a law making undocumented immigrants eligible to apply for drivers licenses. California, which will join at least nine other states when the law takes effect in 2015, expects 1.4 million people to apply for licenses over three years. A study by the University of Southern California has found that more than 2.6 million people, most of them Latinos, lack legal status in the state.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, a Democrat from Watsonville, said the new laws illustrate the change in California over the last 20 years. “The bills that were signed by the governor today show that California is bucking the trend that we’ve seen in other states over the last few years - Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, all states that have enacted legislation that really restricted or attacked immigrants in those states,” Alejo said. California is doing what it can at the state level in the absence of immigration reform by the U.S. Congress, he said. Earlier this year, the Democratic-led U.S. Senate approved a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the United States illegally, but the Republican-controlled House of Repre-

sentatives is unlikely to follow suit. The California law that allows illegal immigrants to practice law grew out of a case of an undocumented Mexican immigrant, Sergio Garcia, who was brought to the United States as a baby and later graduated from a California law school. He has received the support of the State Bar of California and the state attorney general. Critics of Garcia’s bid to gain admission to the California bar included the U.S. Justice Department, which opposed it in a brief ﬁled with the state’s Supreme Court last year. While Garcia may now be admitted to the California bar, two other Mexican immigrants — one in New York and another in Florida — are pursuing similar cases.

LONDON STEALS TITLE OF BEST CITY IN THE WORLD FROM PARIS

aybe it’s the city’s growing reputation for harboring increasingly aggressive pickpockets and petty thieves. Or its reputation for rudeness. But the City of Light, one of the most visited cities in the world, has been knocked off its perch as “best city in the world” by London and Sydney in a new index released this week. According to the latest edition of the Anholt-GfK City Brands Index which measures a city’s brand image, power and appeal, London’s stock has gone up in the world as it took the top spot in the biennial ranking. Possible reasons could include the fact that the city continues to bask in the afterglow of a successful Summer Olympic Games and has maintained a presence in the international spotlight with a string of historic milestones that include the Queen’s Coronation ceremony and the highly anticipated birth of a new royal with the arrival of Prince George. London also took the top spot as the city where individual cultures are appreciated and where foreigners can “easily ﬁt in.” The Aussie capital of Sydney, meanwhile, en-

joys a stellar reputation around the world for being the safest and friendliest city. The City Brands index measures the value of a city’s international reputation across six dimensions: its international status and standing; esthetic; a category called “pre-requisites” such as affordable accommodations and the standard of public amenities; people; pulse (interesting things to do) and its economic and educational potential. More than 5,140 interviews were conducted in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Russia, South Korea, the US and the UK for the index. And while Paris was able to take the top spot in the category of Pulse, where the city failed to crack the top 10 ranking was in categories such as Friendly People and Safety. This summer, in a bid to shed their longstanding image of being rude and surly, the city’s chamber of commerce published an etiquette manual for Parisian restaurateurs, taxi drivers and sales staff on how to welcome international tourists.

“...despite its indisputable charm, the capital has work to do when it comes to welcoming visitors,” the chamber admits. And earlier this year, high-proﬁle muggings of Chinese tourists robbed of their passports, plane tickets and cash shortly after landing in Paris tarnished the city’s image, as did footage broadcast worldwide of soccer-related riots which broke out not far from the Eiffel Tower. Meanwhile, other notable movements on the index include Tokyo, which suffered a 7-spot drop from tenth place in 2011 to 17th place in 2013. Amsterdam, meanwhile, shot up the ranks from 17th spot to 11th position this year. And while Rio de Janeiro was ranked the third friendliest city on the list, the city fell to the bottom of the heap when it comes to safety (47 out of 50) -- a particular concern given it’s set to host the World Cup and the Summer Olympics, the report points out. Here are the top 10 “best cities” for 2013: 1. London 2. Sydney 3. Paris 4. New York 5. Rome 6. Washington D.C. 7. Los Angeles 8. Toronto 9. Vienna 10. Melbourne

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usiness B AND

TNew iPadOmini with Retina coming soon ECHN

LOGY

he good news: Apple is likely to announce an iPad mini with Retina display soon. The bad news: There won’t be many available. A Reuters report Wednesday said the device is in the works but that Apple is struggling with supply constraints, which could limit the iPad mini’s availability or even delay its release until early next year. According to the report’s unnamed sources in Apple’s supply chain, Retina screens for the iPad mini are “only

Top 11 hidden, cool features in Apple’s iOS 7

now” going into production. The report says it is unclear why the start of production was delayed but that it may be because Apple’s supply partners had a tough time meeting the company’s strict speciﬁcations for the Retina display, including stringent “power-saving requirements.” With Retina display now a standard on the iPhone and the larger-sized iPad, users are expecting the iPad mini to come with the technology too.

Apple, which has not spoken on the matter, has not yet announced a media event for the iPad mini or any other product, but one report says the company is pinpointing Oct. 15 as the day it will unveil its new devices. New iPads are expected among those gadgets. Last year, the company unveiled its latest line of iPads, including the ﬁrst iPad mini, in late October before beginning to sell the tablets in November.

Treasury warns US Government default could cause worse financial crisis than 2008 W

ASHINGTON -- A federal government default caused by a failure to raise the debt limit could trigger a worse financial crisis than in 2008, the Treasury Department said Thursday in a report designed to pressure Congress to act before the Oct. 17 deadline. “A default would be unprecedented and has the potential to be catastrophic: credit markets could freeze, the value of the dollar could plummet, U.S. interest rates could skyrocket, the negative spillovers could reverberate around the world, and there might be a financial crisis and recession that could echo the events of 2008 or worse,” Treasury said in the six-page report on the potential effects of a debt ceiling showdown on the economy. Even the growing prospect of a default amid political bickering in Washington is harmful to the still-fragile economy, said Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew. A stalemate on fiscal issues between President Obama and congressional Republicans has led to a partial government shutdown and caused worries that the $16.7-trillion debt limit won’t be raised in time to ensure the Treasury has enough money to pay the nation’s bills. After meeting with Obama Wednesday, Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein and Bank of America Chief Executive Brian Moynihan

warned of the severe economic consequences of a default. The federal government has never defaulted on its payments, so the closest historical comparison is the debt limit fight in 2011, the Treasury report said. That was resolved at the last minute but led to a sharp drop in financial markets and consumer and business confidence. Credit rating company Standard & Poor’s said the brinkmanship was a major factor in its decision at the time to downgrade the U.S. AAA rating -- the first downgrade in the nation’s history. “As we saw two years ago, prolonged uncertainty over whether our nation will pay its bills in full and on time hurts our economy,” Lew said. “Postponing a debt ceiling increase to the very last minute is exactly what our economy does not need – a self-inflicted wound harming families and businesses,” he said. “Our nation has worked hard to recover from the 2008 financial crisis, and Congress must act now to lift the debt ceiling before that recovery is put in jeopardy.” House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said a debt-limit hike must include spending or fiscal reforms at least equal to the amount of the increase. Obama has said he will not negotiate on the debt limit because Congress has the responsibility to pay for spending it already authorized. The federal government is spending less mon-

ey because of the partial shutdown. But that won’t delay the Oct. 17 deadline unless the shutdown is lengthy, senior Treasury officials said. On that date, the U.S. will be at risk fo default because it will be out of borrowing authority and only have $30 billion on hand to pay bills that could be as much as $60 billion on any given day. It’s unclear when an actual default would take place after that date. But Obama administration officials have warned that just getting close to that date could spook financial markets and cause damage to a tepid economic recovery already dealing with the effects of the shutdown. The report noted that private economists have estimated a week-long shutdown could reduce economic output by about 0.25 percentage points, with a longer shutdown having a greater effect. “If such projections prove accurate, the weaker-than-expected economic expansion would be even more susceptible to the adverse effects from a debt ceiling impasse than prior to the shutdown,” the report said. The shutdown and concerns about a default haven’t yet caused a sharp market sell-off. But the report said that yields on U.S. Treasury bills that mature at the end of October are higher than those maturing just before or after Oct. 17, indicating some investor concern that those won’t be repaid.

TWITTER WANTS TO RAISE $1BN IN ITS STOCK MARKET DEBUT

ocial networking company Twitter has said it plans to raise $1bn (£619m) in its stock market debut in documents filed with US regulators. In the filing, revealed on Thursday, the seven-year-old company said that it now has 218 million monthly users and that 500 million tweets are sent a day. It made a loss of $69m in the first six months of 2013, on revenues of $254m. It will be the largest Silicon Valley stock offering since Facebook’s listing in 2012. Analysts said that the offering was likely to get a good response. “Social media is red hot,” said Internet analyst Lou Kerner. “Twitter is front and centre benefiting from market enthusiasm for all things social, and remarkably strong metrics.” The filing also

revealed Twitter’s finances for the first time. While the company has never made a profit, its revenue has grown from just $28m in 2010 to $317m by the end of 2012. Around 85% of Twitter’s revenue last year came from ad sales; the rest was from licensing its data. The company takes in a significant portion of its ad revenue from mobile devices, an important metric often tracked by analysts. As of 2013, over 65% of the company’s advertising revenue was generated from mobile devices. More than 75% of Twitter users accessed the site from their mobile phone during that same time period. Some analysts said that the decision by the firm to raise capital indicated that it was keen on improving the way peo-

ple enjoy content on its platform and how advertisers connect with its users. “Users should be happy about this,” said Zachary Reiss-Davis, an analyst with Forrester. “It looks like Twitter is looking at how to enrich the experience and it understands that to build a successful service, they have to create something people like and want to come back to and spend time on.” Peter Esho from Sydney-based Invast Financial Services, added that Twitter’s ease to use had seen it increase its user base, making it an attractive option for advertisers. “I think what Twitter has working in its favour is that it’s very easy to use: it doesn’t eat up too much bandwidth for the average user in places where broad-

band penetration is low,” he said. The filing also revealed that two of the company’s co-founders, Evan Williams and Jack Dorsey, own significant stakes in Twitter, and could stand to take in significant sums from the company’s stock market listing. Mr Williams owns 12% of shares in the company, while Mr Dorsey owns 4.9%. Benchmark Capital’s Peter Fenton, an early investor in the company, is the second-biggest shareholder, with 6.7% of shares. Advantage Nasdaq? Twitter indicated three weeks earlier that it had filed for a public stock market offering. However, under a new law passed by Congress in 2012, it did not have to reveal its financial documents because it had revenue of less than $1bn.

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BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

Plan to ease electronics restrictions on planes delayed I

f you were looking forward to the day airlines eased the restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices on planes, you will have to wait a bit longer. A panel of representatives from the aviation and electronics industries submitted a plan Monday to the Federal Aviation Administration for lifting the limits on when you can power up electronic readers, tablets and other gadgets during commercial ﬂights. But the FAA says it can’t begin to work on adopting the recommendations because key FAA staff have been furloughed by the partial government shutdown. “The FAA staff that would advise the Administrator on this report, as well as work on the potential execution or implementation of

The government shutdown has delayed the FAA from considering a plan to ease restrictions on electronics in planes. the guidance, are furloughed, with remaining staff, including the Administrator, focusing their time during the shutdown on issues related to life and safety,” the agency said in a statement.

The FAA created the panel in January in response to the growing use of portable electronic devices and increasing calls from passengers to power up such gadgets when planes are taxiing, taking off and landing. Regardless of the panel’s recommendations, the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission will continue to ban cellphone calls and text messages from planes. The panel’s report has not been released but some media outlets have reported that it recommends lifting the restrictions that ban passengers from powering up some electronic devices during takeoff and landings. “We will post the report and issue guidelines when the lapse in funding is resolved,” the FAA said in its statement.

Instagram to start allowing ads in photo feeds T

he legions of people who use Instagram will start to see advertising in their photo sharing feed in the next couple of months. The popular photo-based social network, snapped up by Facebook Inc, will roll out advertising in the United States in a bid to become a “sustainable business,” Instagram said in a blog post on Thursday. Instagram acknowledged the transi-

tion would be delicate since its 150 million users are not used to ads peppering photo streams of family and vacations, and might be alienated by the effort. “Seeing photos and videos from brands you don’t follow will be new, so we’ll start slow,” the blog post said. “If you see an ad you don’t like, you’ll be able to hide it and provide feedback about what didn’t feel right. We’re relying on your input to help us

continually improve the Instagram experience.” Instagram is the latest social media network to turn to advertising to capitalize on its millions of users. Advertisers are projected to spend close to $10 billion on social network ads worldwide this year, according to research ﬁrm eMarketer. Worldwide spending on mobile advertising, which could ﬁt nicely with

Instagram since people use the app on the go, is forecast by eMarketer to reach $8.8 billion this year. When Facebook acquired Instagram last year, it paid an eye-popping $1 billion in cash for the app-maker, which had scant revenue. Facebook too has been ramping up its efforts to seize more ad dollars especially those earmarked for smartphones and other mobile devices.

SAMSUNG SAYS IT WAS FIRST WITH GOLD PHONE, NOT APPLE

t sure seems like Samsung is clearly annoyed by the fact that rival Apple is getting all the credit for rolling out a gold smartphone. The electronics company took to its blog to argue that it was ﬁrst with a gold phone and that it wasn’t following Apple’s move. Since Apple rolled out the gold version of the iPhone 5s Sept. 10, it has been hugely popular and sold out at many stores as soon as it was released. Samsung said it launched the gold version of

its ﬂagship smartphone in the United Arab Emirates back on Aug. 27. It started selling the devices in stores on Sept. 8 and later took the device to Kuwait and Qatar too. “On 8th September 2013, the ﬁrst Samsung #GalaxyS4 Gold Edition was already available in stores. The 8th comes before the 10th,” Samsung said on a caption for a picture posted on Facebook on Sept. 26, referencing the iPhone 5s announcement date.

To further drive the point that Samsung is not an Apple copycat, the company lists eight other gold cell phones it has released since 2004. “See below to check out some of the phones we’ve released in gold in the past (just off the top of my head),” Samsung said on its blog. It’s doubtful Apple will get in on this whowas-ﬁrst ﬁght, but we’ve reached out to the Cupertino, Calif., tech company just in case.

Petronas to build $35billion LNG plant in Canada K

uala Lumpur - Petronas will embark on a $35 billion liquid natural gas (LNG) project in Canada following the reversal of Ottawa’s decision to block the Malaysian national oil company’s purchase of Canadian gas producer Progress Energy Resources. At a joint press conference Sunday with his Canadian counterpart, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said this followed from the “approval principally” given for the state energy ﬁrm’s $5.5 billion purchase.

Najib announced that Petronas will spend CAD$36 billion to build “all the facilities upstream including investment in a pipeline” which he said was the “largest foreign direct investment in Canada by any country”. “We believe this project will be mutually beneﬁcial because it will open up Canadian energy to new markets, principally East Asia,” he added of the “gargantuan investment”. Petronas’ bid for Progress was ini-

tially blocked in October last year, raising questions over Canada’s openness to foreign investment, before Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper reversed the decision in December. Harper batted away concerns over Canada’s foreign investment policy Sunday, saying that total FDI “has continued to increase over the past year and has increased very rapidly. I’m told it’s up by almost a third”. “We view the Petronas invest-

CHINA EMPLOYS TWO MILLION PEOPLE TO MONITOR THE INTERNET

eijing - China is employing two million people to keep tabs on people’s Internet use, according to state media, in a rare glimpse into the secret world of Beijing’s vast online surveillance operation. Many of the employees are simply performing keyword searches to monitor the tens of millions of messages being posted daily on popular social media and microblogging sites, the Beijing News said. The exact number of people employed to trawl through the Internet in a bid to prevent social unrest and limit criticism of the ruling Community party has long been the subject of speculation. The “web police” are employed by the government’s propaganda arm, as well as by commercial sites, the Bei-

jing News said. It said that despite their large number, the monitors are not always able to prevent comments that are deemed by the government to be undesirable from being published and reposted. China’s censorship authorities tightly control online content for fear of political or social unrest that could challenge the Communist party’s grip on power. Authorities in recent years banned the popular social media sites Facebook and Twitter, which were instrumental in the wave of uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa from late 2010 in what became known as the Arab Spring. Last year authorities blocked The New York Times af-

ments very positively and all the indications I have is that Petronas is looking at further investments. Obviously our policy involves the use of discretion when it comes to stateowned enterprise,” he said. Harper added that each investment would be judged on its own merit and whether it serves the interests of Canada’s economy, while Najib also pointed out that the pipeline deal in the Petronas LNG project has been awarded to a Canadian ﬁrm.

ter it cited ﬁnancial records showing relatives of former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had controlled assets worth at least $2.7 billion -- a report China branded a smear. In recent months authorities have ramped up already strict censoring of domestic social media sites such as the popular microblog service Sina Weibo. They have detained hundreds of people for spreading “rumours” online, and warned high-proﬁle bloggers with millions of followers to post more positive comments. The Supreme Court said this month that Internet users could face three years in jail if “slanderous” information spread online is viewed more than 5,000 times or forwarded more than 500 times. China has more than 500 million Internet users, making it the world’s largest online population.

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OCTOBER 7TH - OCTOBER 12TH, 2013

GOVERNMENT VACANCY JOB TITLE: MEDICAL OFFICER DEPARTMENT: Primary Health Care MINISTRY: Health and Human Services LOCATION: Turks and Caicos Islands JOB SUMMARY: The successful candidate will provide a high standard of primary health care to patients in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The incumbent will be expected to provide emergency care to clients in assigned health districts. The incumbent will also provide public health leadership within an island district.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Assumes overall responsibility for the provision of clinical and public health services within an island district • Administrates an island district in collaboration with the Public Health Nurse in charge of an island district • Prepares an annual budget for the provision of primary health care services within the island district in collaboration with the Public Health Nurse, Primary Health Manager and Director of Health Services • Develops, implements and reviews policies, protocols and guidelines to ensure the delivery of high quality primary health care services • Assumes responsibility for clinical governance issues within the assigned island district clinic • Conducts preventative and curative clinics within the assigned island district clinic as appropriate • Provides emergency medical services at the clinics in within the assigned island clinics in districts without a hospital • Prepares emergency and non-emergency patients for referral to the hospital based specialists or secondary care services • Assists in the implementation of health education programmes • Engages in telemedicine consultation with specialist physicians on hospital based islands as available • Participates in training activities, continuing medical education, workshops and conferences that are recommended for professional development and the advancement of primary health care services • Provides relief and supports to other Medical Officers as directed by Director of Health Services • Provides clinical support to the district nurses manning the community nursing programmes • Provides clinical support to government social institutions (Prison, Children’s home, geriatric programme and special needs programme) where necessary • Initiates, leads and actively participates in the investigation of communicable diseases outbreaks • Works with Emergency Medical Technicians as required • Participates in Migrant Health Evaluation Programme through the evaluation of reports submitted by examining physicians • Assists primary health care nursing staff in the collection of blood samples for the residents requiring immigration certificates • Participates in management of mass casualty incidents and other health emergencies as directed by the Director of Health Services and Health Disaster Coordinator • Performs initial post-mortem examination for deaths in the community classified as Coroner’s cases as mandated by the Coroner’s ordinance • Oversees and actively participate in the implementation and management of a quality assurance programme focusing on continuous quality improvement • Prepares medical reports for patients when required • Maintains patient confidence and protects the Department by keeping information confidential.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: • Medical degree, MBBS, MD or equivalent • Post graduate degree in Family Medicine preferred • Advanced Cardiac Life Support • Advanced Trauma Life Support • Masters of Public Health desirable (MPH) or certiﬁcation in public health programme components • Successful completion of a two (2) years internship, and at least an additional three (3) years clinical experience in community medicine.

COMPENSATION: SALARY: T 39 – T43 $44,400.00 – $48,000.00 per annum (plus allowance)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov.tc with the subject line being Medical Officer Application. Applications sent by post or brought by hand should have the subject: Medical Officer Application clearly marked on the envelopes. Successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance. Serving Officers must apply through their Heads of Department. Qualified Belongers will be considered for this position. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 14th October, 2013.

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Sports

CARIBBEAN

Miami Heat Training Camp Gives The Bahamas Sports Tourism Boost

he Miami Heat training camp, which was hosted at the Atlantis resort, gives the Bahamas an opportunity to show the world what the Bahamas can offer with its sports tourism programme, says Greg Rolle, a representative of the Bahamas’ sports tourism marketing team in South Florida. According to the Nassau Tribune newspaper, Mr Rolle said the camp showcased The Bahamas as more than sun, sand and sea and is a big move in the right direction on the part of the Bahamian government. “One of the things the Ministry of Tourism has put together is a programme where we want to tell the world about what the Bahamas has with its sports tourism programme. It’s vibrant, impactful and it’s bold. The ministry started last year with the Super Bowl ads, telling the world that the Bahamas not only offers sun, sand and sea as a vacation destination, but we are a sports tourism destination and those are the elements that we want to put in place through this initiative,” he said. “Booking the Heat, it’s a huge achievement and it goes back to the vision of our minister. He told me that he needed some bold initiatives mandated. At the end of the day he said he wants the world to know the Bahamas has a sports tourism initiative and right now we are intent on making that happen.” The Heat conducted a two-a-day practice session in the Imperial Ballroom at the Atlantis Conference Centre October 1-4. Mr Rolle said because of the relationship the Bahamas has developed with this team, they were able to share ideas and make this “rare opportunity” a reality. However, he said because it is a business trip there are limits to what can be offered to

the public as well as the press. “It’s the first time the Heat have gone internationally for a training camp, they have done a preseason game but never a training camp, so it’s a great privilege on the Bahamas. The Miami Heat has a roster of 15 players, they are bringing 20. All the coaches, all the players, all the executives. So we are going to have the entire Miami squadron here on the island,” he said. “The main thing we want to do is make sure it is done right. The Miami Heat want to focus basically on training so this is very important to them and it is all business. If they go on to win a third straight NBA championship they will say it all started here in the Bahamas. Because of the sensitive nature of the trip, we are walking a fine line in terms of Bahamian access. But they just want to focus on training camp. “The Miami Heat loves the Bahamas and they love the Bahamian people, but because of the added focus on the team they really want to stay focused on what they came here to do and that is train and put the final touches on preparing for the season. Perhaps another time they will come

back and we can showcase the Bahamas and interact with the Bahamian people. We know this is something that they want to do.” The Heat is slated to depart for Miami October 4 and will begin their pre-season on October 7 when they host the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Arena. Their pre-season will end on October 25 in Miami. The Heat’s regular season is all set to open on October 29 against the Chicago Bulls in Miami televised on TNT. Coached by Erik Spoelstra, the Heat became the sixth team in NBA history to win consecutive champions, joining the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets when they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the decisive game seven in the American Airlines Arena, in Miami, Florida. Making up the championship team were Ray Allen, Chris Andersen, Joel Anthony, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem, Juwan Howard, LeBron James, James Jones, Rashad Lewis, Mike Miller, Jarvis Varnado and Dwayne Wade. The Heat’s current roster has been changed slightly with Miller being waived via the NBA’s Amnesty provision. He’s been replaced by seven-foot center Greg Oden, who last appeared in a game during the 2009-10 season after going down with an injury. They also signed rookie forward Eric Grifﬁn, center Justin Hamilton and guard Larry Drew II as well as reacquired the service of forward Michael Beasley, who they originally drafted in 2008. The Heat’s camp comes just before the resort gets set to host its fourth Battle 4 Atlantis collegiate basketball tournament November 28-30.

Puma makes a multimillion dollar bet on a slower Usain Bolt

his week, Puma increased its contract with Usain Bolt for an undisclosed sum, although the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph puts the terms of the new deal in the stratosphere, at least for a track-and-ﬁeld athlete: $10 million a year through 2016, an “extra $10 million” if Bolt competes in the world championships in London in 2017, and an additional $4 million annual salary to serve as a “Puma ambassador” on retirement. The deal follows the sprinter’s announcement on Sept. 4 that he will retire after the 2016 games, though he has since intimated that he might not hang up the spikes quite so soon—perhaps an extra $10 million changed his mind. If the Daily Mail has it right, that’s even more generous than his previous, $9 million-per-year contract with Puma and on a par with Rafael Nadal’s yearly payout from Nike. Is Puma getting its money’s worth? Maybe so, says Nigel Currie, managing director of the British compa-

ny Brandrapport. “The impact he’s had for Puma can’t be overstated,” he says. “It’s certainly given Puma the credibility and the step up that it needed to be seen as a major player—that life isn’t all about Adidas and Nike.” According to the data firm Repucom, which measures “consumer perceptions of celebrities,” Bolt ranks 36th worldwide in influence, which the firm defines as the measure to which a celebrity can affect “brand consideration” and “purchase intent.” That puts him in league with Peyton Manning and LeBron James (although Bolt’s worldwide ranking as an endorser is lower). According to Repucom product manager Kathy Gardner, Tom Brady and Derek Jeter are Bolt analogues in the U.S.; internationally Bolt is in a league with Rafael Nadal and Michael Phelps. “He generates the highest endorsement score in Mexico, with the U.S. in the mid-

dle of the pack and Germany at the bottom,” Gardner says. “Even in his worst-scoring markets, he’s well above the median endorser.” (Who’s a median endorser? The Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Rice, for one, or the New York Yankees’ Jorge Posada.) After resigning Bolt in 2010, Puma also expanded its roster of European soccer stars. In May, the company secured a ﬁve-year deal with the London-based Premier League team Arsenal F.C., valued at roughly $270 million (£170 million). The deal will go into effect in time for the 2014 season and end a two-decade partnership between the Gunners and Nike. According to the Daily Mail, Puma beat Adidas to the punch. “Adidas had also reportedly targeted the Gunners in a way which has been described as a ‘strategic decision to own London.’” It is the highest-proﬁle team to wear Puma gear yet. The company also sponsors Borussia Dortmund in Germany, in addition to Newcastle

United in England and F.C. Girondins de Bordeaux in France. On the track, Bolt is showing some signs of mortality. Over the course of this year, his best time in the 200 meters represented his slowest season-best performance since 2007. In the 100 meters—Bolt’s main event—his quickest sprint clocked in at 9.77-seconds. According to ESPN, that “was still the Jamaican’s slowest season-best time since 2010, when his fastest was 9.82.” He is still faster than everyone else. He won this year’s world championships, then closed out the season on Sept. 6 with a victory in the 100 meters at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels. He still holds the title of “fastest man in the world.” As the Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay observed in 2012: “The most satisfying part of Bolt—even more than his brilliant runs—is how much he demolishes the myth that the world wants humble athletes.” Or, for that matter, poor ones.

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Sports W

RLD

Miami Heat break camp in The Bahamas with renewed focus on defence P

ARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas -- Defense is the primary focus of everything the Miami Heat does, and it’s been that way since Pat Riley arrived. It might be more than a mantra this year. Miami started the season playing defense at a level that made no one in the organization happy last season, allowing 100.6 points per game, ranking only 23rd-best league-wide after 17 games. In the 65 games that followed, they gave up just 93.6 points per game, the fourth-best rate in the NBA over that span. Playing defense better from the start of the season has emerged as a top priority for the Heat, who left the Bahamas on Friday after wrapping up six practices of training camp that were devoted almost entirely to that end of the floor. “We knew we didn’t start off the season like we wanted to defensively,” said Heat forward LeBron James, the league’s two-time reigning MVP and a four-time winner of the award overall. “But we knew. I think when you have a problem and you face it, it’s very correctable, and we knew that. So one thing we talked about was defending and finishing.” Training camp officially ended just before 1 p.m. Friday, though the way James sees it, camp actually lasts until Oct. 28, the day before Miami hoists its second straight championship banner and opens a new season against the Chicago Bulls. There’s a ton of things for the team to do in the

next 3½ weeks, including play eight preseason games, but continuing to hone that defense-first approach will remain paramount. They remember how frustrating it was to have an almost porous-looking defense for the first few weeks of last season, a year where the Heat wound up winning 66 regular-season games, 27 straight in one stretch. “Sharpen. Sharpen the sword,” Heat forward Shane Battier said. “We won games early last year and didn’t look good. We dropped a few that, looking back at it, we should have won. We know the Eastern Conference is highly competitive. Not that we can’t afford to get off to a slow start ... but we can’t afford to get off to a slow start.” Chicago will be better, with Derrick Rose healthy again. Indiana figures to be better. Brooklyn has eyes on a title. It’s clear that Miami will not have an easy time in the East, and the Heat remember how vital getting that No. 1 seed was a year ago. It gave them the right to play Game 7 in the conference finals against Indiana at home, along with Game 7 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio. “We know the competition got better,” Battier said. “We scraped by to get out of the Eastern Conference last year. Obviously, we want to play our best basketball at the end. That doesn’t mean we can’t start at a higher level and build toward that.” Even though the background was paradise -sun, sand, tropical music and water slides -- the

ballroom where the Heat did the bulk of their work on this trip was hardly a vacation destination. James posted a photo of himself, grimacing in a chest-deep ice bath, to his social media accounts. Ray Allen said he dealt with some mild foot soreness while waking up muscles that had not been used since last June. Michael Beasley described camp as exhausting. Udonis Haslem said he was originally excited to spend some free time in the casino, then quickly realized that he would better serve himself by getting off his feet. Point guard Mario Chalmers said this was a camp unlike any of his first five with the Heat, mainly because he didn’t recall a camp where everyone arrived in such good shape. “Last year I think we had a little hangover coming off that first championship,” Chalmers said. “Maybe we celebrated a little bit too much. We didn’t come into camp as focused and ready as we did last year. You can tell right now, everybody’s hungry for that threepeat.” Which, the Heat know, will start at the defensive end. “I would probably say 70 percent of our camp was defense, other than player development,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That makes me a little bit uneasy. While we have corporate knowledge of our offense, we will need to spend a lot more time on it next week. And we will. We’ll address that.”

Djokovic thumps Nadal for fourth China Open crown

ovak Djokovic won his fourth China Open title in five years on Sunday, prevailing 6-3 6-4 in the final against Rafael Nadal who replaced him as the men’s world number one on Monday. The Serb continued his love affair in Beijing, improving his tournament record to 19-0 after brushing aside Nadal to halt his run of three defeats against the Spaniard. Nadal had to reach the final in the tournament to displace Djokovic from the top ranking and the issue was put to rest on Saturday when Tomas Berdych retired with a back injury in his semi-final against the Spaniard. “I needed this win today,” Djokovic told reporters. “I really wanted to get my hands on the trophy and win against Nadal, who has been the best player so far in 2013. “It’s very important for my confidence. It’s very important mentally and emotionally for me.” The 26-year-old Djokovic stamped his authority on the title match early, racing to a 3-0 lead and never allowing the Spaniard, who went into the match unbeat-

“I needed this win today,” Djokovic told reporters. “I really wanted to get my hands on the trophy and win against Nadal.” en on hard courts this year, to stage a comeback. The Serb broke Nadal, who has won 10 tournaments and added over $10 million in prize money in 2013, in the first game of the second set - hitting winners almost at will. Since winning the Monte-Carlo Masters in April against Nadal, Djokovic had lost to the left-handed Spaniard in the French Open semi-finals, the Rogers Cup semi-finals and the final of the U.S. Open. “I managed to stay tough and not drop my concentration, which I think (happened) in both Montreal and at the U.S. Open in the important moments,” Djokovic said.

“I learned my lesson. It was a few very tough and close matches that I lost against Rafa on hard courts, especially the last one in the U.S. Open ﬁnal.” Such was Djokovic’s domination that the 27-year-old Nadal, who boosted his grand slam singles tally to 13 this year by winning the French and U.S. Opens, failed to create a single break point opportunity in the whole match. “I didn’t see the way to stop him this afternoon,” Nadal said. “This afternoon he was too strong for me. I didn’t play my best match, but he played at a very high level with his serve. “I was not able to have any chance when I was returning during the whole match. He had the ball staying very low. It was very difﬁcult to create spin on this ball. “He was able to hit all the balls where he wanted. When that’s happening against a player like Novak, you are dead. You don’t have not one chance.” Djokovic also won the China Open in 2009, 2010 and 2012, while missing out in 2011 through injury.

DEADLY MONSTER TRUCK CRASH IN MEXICO

t least six people were killed and dozens injured at a show in Mexico when a modiﬁed pickup known as a monster truck crashed into spectators. At least one child was said to be among the dead. The monster truck - with tyres said to be 1.5 metres (nearly 5ft) high - was reported to have ploughed into a stand. The vehicle was taking part in a demonstration at an annual air show attended by thousands in the northern city of Chihuahua on Saturday evening. The monster truck was performing a demolition stunt which involved crushing smaller vehicles beneath its huge tyres. A spokesman for the Chihuahua state prosecutors’ ofﬁce said the driver appeared to have lost control of the truck after leaping an obstacle, AP news agency reported. Carlos Gonzalez said prosecutors were looking at the possibility that mechanical failure meant the driver was unable to disengage the accelerator.

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Alex Rodriguez sues Major League Baseball N

EW YORK - New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez has sued Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig and accused them of trying to destroy his reputation and his career. The embattled third baseman also ﬁled an additional malpractice lawsuit against the Yankees team doctor Chris Ahmad and a New York hospital for misdiagnosing a hip injury, according to MLB. com. Rodriguez, who was suspended for 211 games for his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs, claims the league and commissioner are engaged in “vigilante justice” and are interfering with his lucrative contracts and business relationships. MLB and Selig are trying to make an example of Rodriguez, the lawsuit said, “to gloss over Commissioner Self’s past inaction and tacit approval of the use of performance enhancing substances in baseball ... and in an attempt to secure his legacy as the ‘savior’ of America’s past time.” Filed in the state Supreme Court in Manhattan on Thursday, the lawsuit seeks unspeciﬁed damages. MLB responded to the lawsuit by issuing their own statement, denying the allegations made by Rodriguez and accusing him of trying to circumvent the grievance process of the league and its players.

Alex Rodriguez “For the more than four decades that we have had a collective bargaining relationship with the Major League Baseball Players Association, every player and club dispute has gone through the jointly agreed upon grievance process,” MLB said. “This lawsuit is a clear violation of the conﬁdentiality provisions of our drug program, and it is nothing more than a desperate attempt to circumvent the Collective Bargaining Agreement.” In August, MLB suspended Rodriguez through to the end of the 2014 season. He was one of 13 players suspended for alleged links with the now-defunct Biogenesis clinic in Florida that is accused of supplying players with performance-enhancing drugs. Rodriguez, 38, has denied wrongdoing and appealed the ruling. He continued to play - to cheers and jeers - for the rest of the season,

which ended for the Yankees last week when the team failed to make the playoff. Rodriguez’s publicist responded to the MLB statement, saying: “Mr. Rodriguez’s ﬁnancial damages lawsuit against Commissioner Selig and Major League Baseball in no way violates the conﬁdentiality provisions of the Joint Drug Agreement. That accusation is preposterous. “As for the Collective Bargaining Agreement’s discipline appeal process, Mr. Rodriguez respects the process.” Hearings on Rodriguez’s appeal began this week, but a decision is not expected until later this month or next. The lawsuit claimed MLB also improperly collected evidence against Rodriguez, including buying what were described as stolen Biogenesis-related documents for $150,000. A 14-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, Rodriguez is the only player challenging his penalty. He claimed in the lawsuit that by publicly leaking information into its investigation, MLB has prejudiced his appeal, tarnished his character and damaged his efforts to land lucrative endorsement contracts. “MLB’s public persecution of Mr. Rodriguez has known no bounds,” the lawsuit said. “MLB has permanently harmed Mr. Rodriguez’s reputation.”

The other players accepted offers of 50-game bans, but the player known widely as A-Rod received a stiffer punishment because he was accused of other offenses, including lying to the investigators. “While we vehemently deny the allegations in the complaint, none of those allegations is relevant to the real issue,” MLB said in their statement on Friday. “Whether Mr. Rodriguez violated the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by using and possessing numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years and whether he violated the Basic Agreement by attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Ofﬁce of the Commissioner’s investigation.” Geoffrey Rapp, a University of Toledo professor who specializes in torts and sports law, said Rodriguez is claiming tortious interference, which the MLB also claimed in a separate suit against Biogenesis, but may face a tough challenge winning the case. “It is ironic that he’s trying to use the same sort of legal weapon that baseball used in its suit, but I would say (Rodriguez) faces a steeper uphill burden in proving the claim,” Rapp said.

Klitschko retains world titles with points win V

ladimir Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles with a unanimous points victory over Russian Alexander Povetkin at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium on Saturday. The 37-year-old Ukrainian, who took his record to 61 wins and three defeats, knocked Povetkin down four times on the way to retaining his WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO crowns. Klitschko’s older brother Vitali holds the WBC belt. “Alexander is a ﬁghter and it was hard for him because I hurt him. But he stuck in there because he has a big heart,” said Vladimir in a ringside interview. “I wanted to ﬁnish it earlier. I wanted to land that one big punch and I think I could have done better.”

Vladimir Klitschko With 14,000 fans ﬁring up the Russian, Klitschko stuck to his tried and tested game plan by chipping away at his opponent’s defense with a relentless series of left jabs.

Standing 10 centimeters taller than the challenger and with a longer reach, the Ukrainian floored the 34-year-old with a wicked left hook in the second round. Povetkin, who had never been knocked down and was undefeated in his 26 previous fights, went down three more times in round seven but somehow managed to survive the onslaught. Apart from the occasional big right, the bruised Povetkin had little to offer going forward. “I will train harder and become stronger,” he said. “Sometimes it did not work what I wanted to do. I put everything in out there. “I never give up. I fight until the very end. Klitschko was stronger, he is the best in the world at the moment.”

OBAMA WADES INTO DEBATE OVER NFL WASHINGTON REDSKINS’ NAME

resident Barack Obama, already embroiled in a battle over a government shutdown, jumped into another dispute on Saturday - a long-running ﬁght over the name of the Washington Redskins NFL team. Obama said that if he owned the team, he would consider changing the name, which American Indians and others have long pilloried as racist. “I’ve got to say if I were the owner of the team and I knew that the name of my team, even if they’ve had a storied history, that was of-

fending a sizeable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” Obama said in an interview with the Associated Press. Native American groups have fought the name in court and through advertising campaigns. On Monday, the Oneida Indian Nation of New York plans to protest a National Football League meeting in Washington. The group called Obama’s comments “historic” and said they added momentum to its campaign to urge a name change. “The use of such an offensive

term has negative consequences for the Native American community when it comes to issues of self-identity and imagery,” said Oneida Indian Nation representative Ray Halbritter. The Redskins name remains popular with fans. Polling by the Washington Post over the summer found more than 66 percent of people did not want to see it changed. In May, team owner Dan Snyder was adamant in an interview with USA Today that the name would stick.

“We’ll never change the name,” Snyder told the newspaper. “It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.” Lanny Davis, a lawyer for the club, said the team and its fans mean no offense to Native Americans. “The name ‘Washington Redskins’ is 81 years old - it’s history and legacy and tradition,” Davis said in a statement in response to Obama’s comments. “The Redskins fans sing ‘Hail to the Redskins’ every Sunday as an expression of honor, not disparagement,” he said.

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