VOLUME 9 ISSUE 38 by The SUN Newspaper

OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

Website: www.suntci.com

VOLUME 9 - No. 38

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NO TO NEW TAXES By Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

he hotel association and the Chamber of Commerce have joined with the opposition People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) in objecting to new tax increases that are being imposed by the Progressive National Party (PNP) government which they said will have devastating effects on local businesses as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands’ economy. The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association and the Turks and Caicos Islands Chamber of Commerce, both major TCI stakeholders, said they are “shocked by Government’s alleged decision to increase the country’s Customs Processing Fee (CPF)”. This, the two organisations said, is “a move that will undermine the tourism and hospitality industry and ultimately threaten the destination’s development”. Former Chief Minister and Shadow Minister of Finance Hon. Derek Taylor, strongly criticised the move to increase the CPF, saying, “the shortsighted approach of this (Progressive National Party) Administration is shrinking our economy and they are putting more and more pressure on the already overtaxed residents”. The Cabinet, at its 21st meeting on Wednesday 2nd October 2013, received and discussed a report from the Minister of Finance providing the results of a mid-term budget review that showed projected deviations from ﬁnancial targets as a result of additional non-discretionary expenditures arising. The Ministry of Finance said in a

Gov. Beckingham gets warm welcome from Chamber of Commerce

IN THE PINK RAISES $25,000: The annual In The Pink cancer fundraiser, which was held at The Regent Palms on October 12, had its presentation on Wednesday, October 23. This year’s event raised its intended target of $25,000. Karen Whitt, the main individual behind the event, said that sponsorship this year was tremendous, and thanked all who pitched in to make the event a success. The cheque was presented to the National Cancer Society through Rosemarie Jolly (second left). Sharing in the moment are In the Pink Committee Members Karen Whitt (extreme left); Jenny Capili (third left); Lisa Hall (fourth left) Yadiviga Dzieduzzynska (ﬁfth left); Deputy Speaker Hon. Josephine Connolly (sixth left); Hazel Rush (seventh from left); Foluso Ladejobi(eight left); and Lisa Chattergoon at right.

statement that “after much deliberation and consideration of the various options to increase revenue, Cabinet concluded that the most equitable option” was to increase the Customs Processing Fee by 1.5% from 6% to 7.5% to take effect on November 1, 2013.

The CPF applies to all importers, the ministry said, adding that it is expected that once the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission are introduced the CPF will return to its current level of 6%. The Ministry of Finance said that while the CPF is broad-based, its ul-

timate effect on prices to consumers should be minimal, adding that any price increases should not be applied until inventories that were imported prior to the increase, are exhausted.

Conrad Higgs dies after boat accident

Plane crash lands in Grand Turk

Bandits rob school

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NO TO NEW TAXES Taylor said: “The shortsighted approach of this Administration is shrinking our economy and they are putting more and more pressure on the already overtaxed residents. I am calling on the Government to study its approach and the effects of its decisions. I am sure that they will realize that they are doing more harm than good.”

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However, in a press release, the TCHTA and the Chamber of Commerce expressed outrage about the CPF increase along with a proposed 12% tax on other services such as spas, water sports and excursions such as diving, fishing, charters etc. “It is our collective belief that this proposed Customs Processing Fee increase will not only damage the country’s major sectors but will be detrimental to the overall growth of the nation, setting back the destination’s development by at least a decade,” the two organisations said. The TCHTA and the Chamber of Commerce added: “The lack of consultation with the public and businesses, shall result in the soon to be implemented Customs Processing Fee and other new taxes having a significant adverse effect on businesses which (all) rely heavily on imports to carry out their operations.” The TCHTA’s Board expressed their deep disappointment with Government’s decision stating: “What is worrisome is that these taxes will negatively affect all residents of the Turks and Caicos, all tourists and will also put an increased strain on the already fragile economy. These alleged taxes definitely came as a surprise to our members and businesses in general and we all wish TCI’s policy makers would have consulted with us before making decisions which will negatively impact the tourism and hospitality sector which we collectively represent. No consultation with the sector especially with the largest Associations like TCHTA and Chamber of Commerce is considered very much unacceptable and is not in the spirit of working together in a Public, Private Partnership as is the rhetoric of the Government. This is not the way to do business or promote symbiotic relationship.” The Board added: “Businesses and residents alike have to live with an unpredictable taxation environment which only serves to undermine confidence in the policy makers and creates a very unstable economy. In the absence of manufacturing and ag-

Hon. Derek Taylor

Hon. Sean Astwood

riculture sectors in TCI, businesses have no other alternative but to import 90% of their inventory, be it furnishings to outﬁt their properties or food for their Restaurants, in order to keep their businesses aﬂoat. These taxes will force businesses to reconsider their budgeting strategies going forward, which may impact employment, resulting in sector lay-offs. Businesses want to maintain and grow their operations in TCI and higher taxes will not encourage them to do this effectively especially with the repressed economy. This new proposed increase along with other proposed changes in the tax regime will have consequences which undermine the desire of our members and businesses to stimulate the economy. We foresee that there will be an inability for small businesses in particular to regain the taxes and fees we are forced to pay the Government.” The Chamber of Commerce and the TCHTA said that in the past three years businesses saw two accommodation tax increases from 10% to 11%, then again from 11% to 12%. In 2011, Customs Processing Fees also increased to 6%, six months after being reintroduced. They also noted that NHIP employee and employer contributions increased from 2.5% to 3% each, a 1% Insurance tax on premiums was introduced along with a 1% Banking tax on fees and wire transfers. Other increases or new taxes in the three year period included an increase in the importation tax on alcoholic beverages, an increased Fuel tax by $0.75 per gallon, a 30% increase in power rate for large hotels, a 15% tax on freight and

Hon. Washington Misick

insurance on all imported good with the exception for building materials and a stamp duty on real estate went from 9% to 10% for real estate sales over $500K, the organisations said, adding that another recent increase which is yet to be conﬁrmed by Government is an increase in work permit fees, which already saw a 35% increase in 2011.

MORE PRESSURE ON THE OVERTAXED Meantime, Shadow Minister of Finance Hon. Derek Taylor said in a media statement: “We cannot live appropriately today with the shortsightedness of a Government who less than a year in office, continue to shower, what they refer to as “a number of temporary tax measures” that has brought about hyperinflation here in these Turks and Caicos Islands.” He added: “This behavior has affected the purchasing power of the dollar, not only today but also for tomorrow. Statistics would show that the Turks and Caicos has, since this Government came to office, eleven plus months ago, the highest cost of living in the Region, and may be in the world, and they continue to heap coals of fire on the heads of the people with taxes and more taxes. If this Government would roll back taxes and view the multiplying factor, then and only then will this economy grow. The month of November marks one year in Office and for the third time this year, the Country will face increases in the Customs Processing Fee and other charges to mark the P N P Government’s First Year Anniversary.”

SEAN ASTWOOD CALLS FOR TRADE POLICY Deputy PDM Leader Hon. Sean Astwood, expressed his concern about the ﬁnancial and economic issues facing the country, saying that the Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade’s (Hon. Washington Misick) response to question posed to him during the sitting of the last House of Assembly conﬁrms his (Astwood’s) belief that the country does not have a sound trade policy in place. Hon. Astwood added: “Based on my observation, it appears that our three major trading partners are The United States, The Bahamas and Panama. We import most of our goods from The United States, our fuel from The Bahamas and Panama supplies many of our larger retail stores with their resale products. Therefore, I must question the wisdom of using public funds to embark on a trade mission to a country, according to the Minister, with which we do the least amount of trade. Prioritizing where we direct our trade and investment efforts is imperative as the Government claims that there are minimum funds available.” He added: “As the government tries to increase its revenue, it must abandon its strategy of taxation and really begin to focus on those elements that drive our economy. Inward investment is only one of them - trade, manufacturing, relief and incentive packages for small businesses must become a part of the strategy. Therefore, I am calling on the Government to hasten its trade policy and its manufacturing policy. Also, a number of relief and incentive packages for small businesses should be created and rolled out before the end of the year.”

Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos seizes more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana

joint task force from Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) seized 3,150 pounds of marijuana with an estimated wholesale value of over $3 million in the vicinity of Hatchet Point on Eleuthera Island, in The Bahamas, on Thursday October 24th. The OPBAT task force was comprised of elements from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Bahamas Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), a division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). While on patrol, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aircraft crew observed a 35-foot go-fast vessel with two outboard engines dropping off an unknown number of suspected contraband packages in the vicinity of Hatchet Point on Eleuthera Island. An MH-60T helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., deployed to At-

lantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), launched to transport DEA and DEU agents to investigate. Upon arrival to the location on the island, the agents were able to locate 45 bales of marijuana totaling approximately 1,500 pounds and make three arrests. The go-fast vessel departed the scene on a course for Nassau, Bahamas, but eventually ran out of fuel. A second vessel was then observed attempting to bring fuel to the disabled go-fast. DEA and DEU agents were able to pursue both targets by boat. The refueling vessel was caught and four suspects who are believed to be involved in the smuggling operation were arrested. The go-fast vessel was interdicted soon after with an additional 2,150lbs of marijuana and two suspected smugglers. The go-fast vessel and its contraband were eventually escorted to Nassau, Bahamas. The remaining suspected smugglers and contraband were trans-

ported to Nassau, Bahamas by Coast Guard helicopter. “I continue to be impressed by the high level of coordination, teamwork and professionalism exhibited from our OPBAT members,” said Lt. Matthew Lam, Coast Guard OPBAT Deputy Director. “The partnership between U.S. and Bahamian forces was critical to the success of this seizure and we are extremely proud of our accomplishments thus far.” OPBAT is a combined DEA, Coast Guard, and Government of Bahamas partnership to combat drug smuggling to and from the Bahamas. The OPBAT Operations Center is responsible for initiating and prosecuting law enforcement cases in the Bahamian and Turks and Caicos area of responsibility (AOR). In addition, OPBAT assets regularly assist with prosecuting human smuggling and search and rescue cases throughout the AOR

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LOCAL NEWS

Speech by E. Jay Saunders Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Turks and Caicos Islands, at the Chamber of Commerce Welcome Party for Governor Peter Beckingham.

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

is Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham; Premier, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing; Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson; Ministers of Government; Members of the Opposition; the Chairman and CEO of Sandals Resort International – parent company of Beaches Turks & Caicos, Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart and Mr. Adam Stewart; Members of the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce; invited guest; members of the media. It gives me great pleasure to be able to welcome you to the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce Welcome Reception for Governor Beckingham – sponsored by Beaches Turks & Caicos. Before I go into my welcome address I would like to personally thank Beaches’ management and staff, and the Stewart family for allowing us to host this event at their Key West Village. All I had to do was make the suggestion that this would be a great location and I had a “yes” from the Beaches’ team. The fact that both Mr. Butch Stewart and Adam Stewart made themselves available to be here tonight – especially considering the 2 hotel deal they just signed in Barbados – shows their commitment and support for the Turks & Caicos. They could have been anywhere, but they are here with us tonight. To the Stewart family, we would not have been here tonight without you and I thank you for lending us your resort. Can I have a round of applause for the Stewarts!!! Governor Beckingham, when I was thinking about my speech tonight, the ﬁrst thing that came to mind was “Nothing”. And while it seems at ﬁrst like jest, this “Nothing” has more to do with the fact that there are most within the local business community who strongly believe that there was a time when many of us had something, but that we’re quickly getting to a point when we will have “Nothing.” On the face of it, I’m sure this sounds like hyperbole – even when writing this speech it felt like hyperbole, and while diplomacy and protocol would dictate that I shouldn’t address this topic at a Welcome Reception I beg your forgiveness, because it wouldn’t do the lady justice who called me today and said “E. Jay, I need your Help! My husband and I haven’t worked for years. Our current is off. We had to sell our car last month to pay rent. I have Nothing left, not even pride.” Governor Beckingham, I stand here today welcoming you to the Turks & Caicos Islands on behalf of the business community, and we do so with the “hand of partnership” extended. There is probably nothing more that we can add to what you’ve already heard about our ailing economy, but what I would like to say is that the private sector is prepared to help out. We are prepared to partner with the government to give it the necessary support to make the bold decisions to get the economy growing again. And by all indications, sustained growth will only come by creating an environment for business to thrive and not just survive. In short, the Government needs to leave enough on the table so companies can have enough to re-invest. For every dollar invested in the country, it generates 4 additional dollars. Maybe more, but I can’t get the stats to verify that claim. The point Governor Beckingham is that while the business community is prepared to work with the Govern-

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.

Insert E. Jay Saunders ment, there is much that needs to be done – even on the side of the British Government. Getting back to the topic of “Nothing”. When I think of an object that symbolizes the word “Nothing” I think of The Chalk Board Eraser. Its role is to wipe everything away and bring you back to “Nothing”. Governor Beckingham, there are many in the country that feels like that is what has happened to us over the last few years. However, the business community is prepared to take a different view. We believe that getting back to “nothing” signiﬁes a new beginning, a fresh start! A chance to start anew! A chance to re-look at

everything, to do that soul-searching, to see what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we can do better on. The business community stand here tonight prepared to enter into a PPP – a Private Public Partnership with the Government. But do remember that there are 3 P’s. 1 P represents the Private Sector, 1 represents the local Government, and 1 represents the British Government. We’re all in this together and we all need each other to get out of it. Governor Beckingham, when I asked my father – who happens to be one of the longest serving MP’s in the Caribbean – about you, he said that you are from the Diplomatic Core. I didn’t know the significance of that, but he summed it up by saying that he expects you will be better than the last few governors. That you will have more of a listening ear. In short, that you will be a better partner!!! With that Governor Beckingham, the business community welcomes you to the Turks & Caicos Islands and we extend to you the hand of partnership. Welcome and we wish you God’s blessings on your tenure in this “Beautiful by Nature” country of ours. Thank you.

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LOCAL NEWS

Community College Foundation on massive fund-raising drive BY VIVIAN TYSON

ecil Arnold, Treasurer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Foundation revealed that a holiday home owner and investor in the TCI has pledged to put up $20,000 towards the college as matching grant from proceeds raised from that Foundation’s annual gala banquet to be held on November 8 at the Regent Palms Resort. However, Arnold, who is also the Managing Director for Scotiabank Turks and Caicos Islands, said that the investor would make the matching donation only if $20,000 is raised by the Foundation from a fundraising banquet. Arnold made the disclosure while addressing news conference at the Provo campus on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, which was held to introduce the Foundation’s new executive and to unveil some of its fundraising plans for the coming weeks and months. “As it relates to this current fundraiser, we have found a benefactor, who will match $20,000. This is a very important ﬁrst event for us, and we are asking for support, because we have to have a net of $20,000, so that that person could be able to match that $20,000US for us,” Arnold revealed. As a result Arnold is calling for strong public support for the event, saying that failure to do so, could see the college missing out on receiving the well-needed funds. “Turks and Caicos, this is your college, and so, it has to be given attention by all – politicians, business people, and high school principals. This is our institution. It is here and we can make it work,” Arnold said. He added: “As an employer of Turks and Caicos Islanders, I personally see the Community College as a vehicle here (for higher learning). And we hear the conversation regularly that locals are not being employed. This is the only institution of higher learning in the TCI - and it is our opinion that is it not being utilized. “One of the Foundation’s positions is to try to get that focus via high schools or other means. What we

From left – Karen Whitt – Secretary; Lee Ingham – President of the Community College; Claudette Clare - Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College; Lillian Boyce – Member of the Board; Cecil Arnold – Treasurer of the Board; and Samuel Forbes – Vice President of the College and member of the board. should realize is that there is a vehicle here (for higher learning), and we are willing to ﬁnd the energy and strategy to make it work.” For her part, Claudette Clare, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Foundation, said that now that a new executive body is in place, it plans to be much more visible as it seeks to ramp up support from the college. Clare said that the Foundation plans to embark on a campaign to make the higher education institution more attractive to students leaving high school, while seeking to solicit support from the community to grant deserving students scholarships. She said the body was established some 10 years ago, but went dormant sometime ago. But recently it has reemerged from the ashes and plans to create bright sparks out of the children of the Turks and Caicos Islands. “Among its goals is to further the ideals of education as it relates to the college. With respect to the higher ideals, we think about scholarships for deserving students and just to help in any educational activity that the college may have,” she said. Meanwhile, Professor Lee Ingham, President for the Community College and Principal for the Grand Turk Campus, said that innovative ways are need-

ed to address the ﬁnancial woes of the institution, since government, at this time, is unable to support it as it did in the past, due to economic reasons. “Everybody knows right now that the government is in a state of austerity, so we have to do some things if we want to expand the offerings of the campuses; we have to do some things if we want to attract students in coming to the college. So we are going to need money for those things. “Those monies are not readily available. And we are thinking that the

Foundation is going to help us signiﬁcantly, to raise money and offer deserving students scholarships, and to expand the programmes that we have now and to improve upon some of the things that we have to do to give education to our students of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” he said. He said that the colleges need among other things, computers, labs, sporting equipment and infrastructure. In the meantime, Samuel Forbes, Vice President of the Community College and Principal for the Provo Campus, said that steps are being taken to get the Community College into the wider world. He said that a website was being constructed, to complement its already established Facebook page. He said that while the college has not set up a Twitter or Instagram site as yet, consideration would be given to make such establishments. Secretary of the Foundation and hotelier Karen Whitt, told the news conference that the organization has been receiving a great of positive feedbacks, especially from the November 8 fundraiser. “A lot of persons are interested, and you ﬁnd that a lot of people are receptive, but probably because there was not that great intensity in the past, you do not realize that persons in the community want to help,” she said.

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Former TCInvest boss Conrad Higgs dies after boating accident BY VIVIAN TYSON

he Turks and Caicos Islands has been plunged into mourning following the sudden death of one of its most beloved sons Conrad Higgs, who died during a boat mishap off the coast of North Caicos on Thursday (Thursday, October 24). Higgs is a former CEO for now dissolved government investment agency â&#x20AC;&#x201C; TCInvest. The SUN understands that during his longstanding tenure at TCInvest, Higgs oversaw the creation of a great deal of local businesses by Turks and Caicos Islanders, who went to that agency for start-up funds. Family members said that Higgs and two brothers were diving conchs when the boat in which they were travelling capsized a few hundred feet off the North Caicos shore. The scene outside the morgue on Providenciales near the Cheshire Hall Medical Center, where Higgsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; body was brought, was one of gloom, as family members, including brother and Director of Tourism, Ralph Higgs, and other well-wishers, sought comfort in each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arms. Some cried uncontrollably. The police said that that the incident took place shortly after 10:a.m., but it was two hour after that the men with him were able to seek assistance. A statement from the police indicated that a report of a capsizing boat off Rock Cut shore was made approximately 12:01p.m., on Thursday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;According to preliminary investigations, the victim and two another men, were out ďŹ shing when the boat they were on capsized in waters off Rock Cut shore, North Caicos. The incident occurred sometime after 10a.m., but the men were unable to call for help until sometime after 12 noon,â&#x20AC;? a state-

Family gathered outside the morgue on Providenciales, where Higgsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; body was taken

Conrad Higgs in happier times with Prime Minister for St. Lucia, Dr. Kenny Anthony

ment from Police Liaison OfďŹ cer, Special Constable Audley Astwood said. Astwood stated that the boat that the men were in capsized and all three began swimming ashore after failing to turn the boat back over. He said during the quest to swim to shore Higgs encountered difďŹ culty and had to be helped by the two men who carried him to shore. He said the men carrying Higgs observed he was no breathing, and upon reaching shore one of them went on foot to seek help. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another man sometime later in another boat observed two men on Rock Cut shore and called 911 at approximately 12:51PM. It was at this time that 911 operators were speaking to one of the men involved in the incident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The victim was pronounced dead by a doctor in North Caicos before being transported to Providenciales and that the body was currently at the morgue,â&#x20AC;? Astwood said. Initial reports from the police suggested that Higgs may have died due to drowning, but family

members believe he may have suffered a heart attack. The deceased manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nephew Alanso Higgs, told the throng of media personnel gathered outside the morgue on Providenciales that from reports from his brothers, it is apparent that complication was the cause of death. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were couple hundred feet off shore, they were diving conchs. It seems that on their way back he panicked and had a heart attack â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that is how it seemed. He wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drowned. One of the two men who were carrying him said that about 30 feet from the shore his eyes just rolled back. They got in and tried mouth to mouth, but nothing. So from the looks of it, it may appear as if he had a heart attack but he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t drown,â&#x20AC;? Alanso Higgs said. Higgs, ofďŹ cially left government in April last year after TCInvest closed down by the former Interim Administration. He moved to North Caicos shortly after retiring. Higgs is survived by two children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a boy and a girl.

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Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from Scotiabank Collections Department (649) 339-7100.

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LOCAL NEWS National Stadium resolution could be reached soon BY VIVIAN TYSON

t appears that a deal could soon be reached between Government and the Turks and Caicos Islands Education Foundation on the protracted National Stadium dispute. However, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing was unable to say whether or not Government would be going for full ownership or joint tenure with the Foundation. A portion of the land on which the National Stadium sits is owned by the Foundation. The National Stadium was built in 2007 to facilitate the Carifta Championships, for which the TCI had bid a few years before. During the time of construction the original land space was not enough to facilitate the architecture, and so the then Michael Misick administration approached the Education Foundation about making adjacent land available to accommodate construction of the sporting arena. The Foundation, which runs the British West Indies Collegiate, responded favourably, providing that it was compensated in some form for the piece of land. But following the games it appeared that the agreed deal had broken down. And so, in 2010, during the reign of the former Interim Administration, the Foundation seized control of the facility, after what it claimed was government’s lack of following through on its commitment. The seizure sparked demonstrations by members of the public, and

included ex-premier Michael Misick and almost all the former members of his cabinet. The group held a vigil at on site while demanding that the Foundation public access to the facility. The Foundation later granted public access to the property providing that government opens the negotiation channel. Negotiations, The SUN understands, began only after the country returned to local rule through the Progressive National Party (PNP), with Ewing as Premier and Hon. Akierra Missick as Minister of Education. Addressing government’s bi-monthly post cabinet press briefing on Thursday, October 17, Premier Ewing informed the media that negotiations between his administration and the Education Foundation has been progressing in a satisfactory way, and that a resolution could be reached soon. “The Minister of Education gave cabinet an update as it relates to the National Stadium. We note that discussions continue to he held with the Education Foundation with the matter of the National Stadium, and I can say that we are making signiﬁcant progress in reaching a resolution to that particular stadium issue,” he said. However, the premier stressed that the ﬁnal outcome would rest on a decision by the House of Assembly, which the matter is expected to go before possibly in the near future.

“The final decision with regards to the payments that will be made will have to be decided by the House of Assembly thereafter,” Premier Ewing said. Minister Missick, weighing in on the subject, said that a final figure that government should pay the Foundation could be reached in time for it to be presented to the House at its next setting, which is scheduled before the end of the month. “This matter has been going on for a while, and while without prejudicing the fact that it is under active litigation, we can say that the government and the TCI Education Foundation are one step closer to settling all the claims that have arisen during the development of the stadium and subsequent use of the stadium and operation by government. And so, I believe that both sides will now be happy once our lawyers have communicated with the Foundation’s lawyers. “The resolution will be swift, depending on the next sitting of the House, where any sort of funding, in order to pay arrears or rent etcetera, has to be approved by the House and the supplementary appropriation. So we will take it as far as we can, as the government, and then we are at the mercy of the House of Assembly to ensure that we can settle the claims,” Missick said. The law firm Savory and Co., is litigating on behalf of the Education Foundation, while the Attorney General Chambers is proceeding on behalf of the government.

LOBSTER HABITAT STUDY SECURES FCO FUNDING

he Department for the Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) has been successful in its application to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office for $65,000 of funding to carry out a project to improve the habitat for spiny lobsters in TCI waters. Catch numbers for the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) have been in decline in the TCI over the past 5 years, and it is believed locally that one cause of this is the reduction in the quality and quantity of lobster habitat. This has primarily been caused by damage inflicted by hurricanes Hannah and Ike in 2008. To try and address this, DEMA will host a number of workshops with the local fisherfolk community that will teach them how to construct and deploy artificial lobster habitats (‘casitas.’) In addition, a full biological assessment of traditional fishing areas to determine the health and number of existing habitats will be carried out. The project will last for up to a year, with monitoring of the habitat’s progress undertaken for a further three years. “This project represents an excellent opportunity for us to try and improve spiny lobster habitat in TCI waters,” said Director of DEMA, Kathleen Wood. “Numerous studies have indicated that artificial habitats increase the abundance and biomass of lobsters in areas where habitat is limited, and we are hopeful that we will see such results here. We are grateful to the FCO for funding the work.” Commenting on the grant of the funding, Governor Peter Beckingham said: “The lobster fishing industry is important to TCI, and I am delighted that the FCO has been able to fund this project. The grant highlights both the commitment of the UK to assisting TCI’s local communities and the excellent work of DEMA in their continuing efforts to protect and enhance TCI’s natural environment.”

Page 10

OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

LOCAL NEWS Full American Airlines flight makes emergency at Provo Airport

3 SURVIVE GT PLANE CRASH-LANDING BY VIVIAN TYSON

T American Airlines Plane

n American Airlines Flight 757 which was traveling from Port of Spain Trinidad &Tobago and destined for Miami, Florida, made an emergency landing at the Providenciales International Airport at about 10:30a.m., on Tuesday (October 22). The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Airports Authority told The SUN that they received a distress call from the pilots that they detected smoke emanating from the cockpit and requested clearance for landing. The ﬂight, which The SUN understands was full, landed safely. American Airlines conﬁrmed

that the plane was making its way to Miami from Ports of Spain. The emergency landing triggered rapid responses from both the aviation as well as the domestic fire services with the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in tow. It appeared that after landing, something either leaked or fell from the plane, as fire fighters were seen hosing away substances from a section the runway where the craft had come to a stop. The plane was later towed away to the airport’s gate, but at the time of penning this article, passengers were still on board.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

hree persons escaped physical injuries when a light private aircraft in which they were travelling crash-landed at the JAGS McCartney International Airport in Grand Turk on Wednesday, October 23. The Department Disaster and Emergency Management and Emergency (DDME) on Grand Turk reported that the incident took place about 10:20a.m. The agency said that it understands that the landing gear crumpled during landing. “The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) Grand Turk Ofﬁce received a call from 911 informing the department that a landing gear on a 5 (to) 6 -seater light weight air craft collapsed after landing. There were three persons on board. There were no injuries or fatalities reported,” the DDME said in a statement. The DDME said that ﬁrst responders, including the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire & Rescue Services and the police responded quickly on the scene, but said there since they occupants of the craft all walked away from the crash, there was no need to activate an emergency response

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

PDM not joining with PNP to have AG Huw Shepheard removed.

s the controversial matter between Attorney General Huw Shepheard and Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing heads to court, the opposition People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) issued a statement saying “t this time we are not undertaking any joint initiative with the PNP seeking to have the Attorney General removed”. The statement from Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson said: “Within recent months, we in the Opposition have heard “rumblings” from within the governing Party suggesting that there is dissatisfaction with the Person of the Attorney General. What began as an inaudible rumble became clearer AFTER the Acting Attorney General followed through to confiscate the PNP Headquarters on the Airport Road.” She added: “Following the loss of their Headquarters, the Premier and Ministers cannot seem to separate their role as “GOVERNMENT” from that as leader and members of the PNP party. There is a clear distinction. The PNP find themselves in a fight with the Government over the loss of their Headquarters that was built illegally on Crown land.” The statement continued: “There is NOT a joint campaign between the PDM and the PNP elected members to request or demand the recall of the Attorney General. The Premier has not defined or disclosed the grounds for the recall of the Attorney General to his own Party. This is evident from the email from former Leader of PNP Mr. Clayton Greene that made front page of the Turks and Caicos Sun newspaper. Based on an informal meeting with the Premier after he adjourned the House on Thursday, October 3rd, it became clear to us that the Premier has not thought this matter through based on his responses to The Leader of the Opposition AND experienced members of his own Party. His wish lacks a considered plan that will produce results. We, in the PDM, are not persuaded by hype or emotions. We cannot and will not follow a drumbeat that is un-

INTERHEALTH CANADA APPOINTS COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HOSPITALS

Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson

Attorney General Huw Shepheard

clear in its message or direction. The Position of the Attorney General is a Constitutional position that is entrenched. There are provisions for the qualifications and appointment of a person to that office by FCO on behalf of HMG to serve at their pleasure. There are also grounds for the demitting of office of such a person in the Office of the Attorney. Not liking the Attorney General’s attitude is not grounds for his dismissal from office.” The PDM statement added: “We have our issues with him but we have to find the proper grounds for a request for his recall from Office. We have demonstrated in the House that we do not flinch in the face of the Attorney General when we feel he is acting out side of the rules. As it stands, the grounds for objecting to the person of the Attorney General is known only to the Premier. Whether he is deliberate in his not wanting to tell us what the grounds are, or whether he is bound by convention to keep matters of Cabinet a secret, he has remained silent.”

AMBERGRIS CAY SERVICES LTD. (IN RECEIVERSHIP)

SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT POSITION Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) is seeking to ﬁll a temporary post on Ambergris Cay for the period 15th December 2013 to 7th January 2014. The available position is for a

SPECIAL EVENTS SOUS CHEF. JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for assisting in the management of all facets of the day-to-day operation of the Restaurant Facility on Ambergris Cay, providing exemplary food and beverage service to visitors to the Cay over the Christmas and New Year period. This very demanding job requires high skill levels, assisting in planning, coordination, organization and monitoring of all Restaurant activities, as well as hands-on preparation of a wide range of high quality and creative dishes for a discerning clientele. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Assist in planning, preparation and presentation of all meals for guests on Ambergris Cay. 2. Delivery of outstanding food services to a professional standard. 3. Excellent hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of local and international cuisines. 4. Assist in the direct supervision and coordination of all kitchen activities. 5. Assist in all other duties as required by the Lead Chef. 6. Must be able to work irregular hours, to include nights, weekends, and holidays. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS: 1. 10 years relevant experience, including 5 years as Sous / Events Chef, operating in a high quality and high pressure environment, providing ﬁne-dining in an international environment. 2. International experience of working on special event arrangements; 3. Excellent communication skills and a pleasant, professional demeanor. 4. A resourceful personality. 5. Must work and reside on Ambergris Cay for the indicated period. 6. Excellent references are essential Salary: Commensurate with experience. Closing date for applications: Thursday, 31st October, 2013. Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, • E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com • Tel: (649)-941-3777; Fax: (649)-941-3778 •

EO of InterHealth Canada Jill Magri is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Dawn O’Sullivan to a newly created role of Community Liaison for Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital. Magri said “In this capacity Dr. O’Sullivan will be responsible for helping us enhance our outreach to our valued Turks and Caicos Islands Community. She will be involved in creating links with our key healthcare partners will assist InterHealth Canada in identifying and responding to community needs and will help promote the Hospital through positive representation and communication of it services. She may also be involved in the coordination and promotion of health education and screening programs as needed.” DR. Dawn O’Sullivan is described as a superb candidate for this position, since she worked previously with the Government , is a former community private practitioner, has a great love of education and is a ﬁfteen year resident of the TCI community. CEO Magri explained that Dr. O’Sullivan will still continue working in her Family Practice position at Cheshire Hall Medical Center reporting to Dr. Henry Blythe, but as the Community Liaison, she will share a reporting responsibility to the Chief Executive Ofﬁcer. The new role becomes effective immediately.

AMBERGRIS CAY SERVICES LTD. (IN RECEIVERSHIP) SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT POSITION Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) is seeking to ﬁll a temporary post on Ambergris Cay for the period 15th December 2013 to 7th January 2014. The available position is for a RESTAURANT HOST/ MAITRE’D.

JOB SUMMARY: Work alongside with the Lead Chef and Sous Chef to organize and direct the activities of all the Food and Beverage department of the restaurant facility on Ambergris Cay to ensure an exceptional level of customer service and satisfaction. Providing exemplary food and beverage service to visitors to the Cay over the Christmas and New Year period. This very demanding job requires high skill levels, assisting in monitoring of all Restaurant front house activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Supervising of the waiting staﬀ, welcoming guests and assigning them to tables, taking reservations, and ensuring that guests are satisﬁed. 1. Assist in presentation of all meals to guests using the restaurant facility on Ambergris Cay. 2. Delivery of outstanding services to a professional standard. 3. Excellent knowledge of a wide variety of local and international cuisines. 4. Assist in all other duties as required by the Lead Chef & or Sous Chef. 5. Must be able to work irregular hours, to include nights, weekends, and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS: 1. 5 years relevant experience operating in a high quality environment, providing a ﬁne-dining experience in an international environment. 2. International experience of working on special event arrangements; 3. Excellent communication skills and a pleasant, professional demeanor. 4. A resourceful personality. 5. Must work and reside on Ambergris Cay for the indicated period. 6. Excellent references are essential

Salary: Commensurate with experience. Closing date for applications: Thursday, 31st October, 2013.

Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 ; Fax: (649)-941-3778.

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

Governor Beckingham gets overwhelming welcome from Provo business community BY VIVIAN TYSON

he business community on Providenciales turned out in droves to welcome new governor His Excellency Peter Beckingham, during a cocktail reception staged by the Providenciales Chambers of Commerce at the newly opened Key West Village, Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa. There was a wide cross-section of the business community that turned out at the event, such as the financial, hospitality (including Sandals Chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart and his son and CEO Adam Stewart), telecommunication, goods store and the legal fraternities. President for the Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive Officer for Digicel TCI E. Jay Saunders, while welcoming Governor Beckhingham, said that the business sector in the Turks and Caicos Islands is hoping for reciprocal relationship that would foster greater growth, and not a relationship that would stifle further development. Saunders said that based on the governor’s background, he is expecting him to make a dent in the economy, to get it back on track,

Governor Beckingham (second right) mingles with members of the business community during a reception by the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce to officially welcome him. and set the country on a path to growth. Similar sentiments were shared by businessman and owner of the Chinson Grill Shack, Allan Hutchinson, who is a former President of the Chamber. He, too, bemoaned the arid climate which he said exists in the Turks and Caicos Islands economy, and asked the governor to work closely with the business sector to improve those conditions.

For his part, Governor Beckingham said that he has already met with investors interested in pumping money into the TCI economy, and introduced at least one of them to Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing. He said that in the coming months he intends to explore more possibilities for investment, while working closely with Rufus Ewing administration and the business sector in those endeavors.

He said too, that he is hoping for a fertile partnership with members of the local business community, to get the Turks and Caicos Islands economy to the level that is satisfactory, and one that many would be proud of. In the meantime, the premier told journalists that so far, although it is early days yet, he and his cabinet have been enjoying the relationship with governor Beckingham. Premier Ewing said that based on the relationship between himself and Governor Beckingham, there is reason at this stage for optimism. He said that the governor, at this stage, strikes him as genuine in his words. He stated also that he will be holding the governor to his words when he said that he would allow the elected government more latitude to work on behalf of the people, who put them in ofﬁce. Governor Beckingham arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands on October 8, and was sworn in on October 9, at the NJS Francis Building in the country’s capital Grand Turk, in an event of pomp and pageantry. Governor Beckingham was accompanied at the welcome event by his wife, Jill.

New Resort Restaurant... Positions Available

Grand Turk Cruise Center is currently accepting applications for motivated individuals interested in being part of diverse team. Mechanical Technician & Pool Maintenance: Applicant Must have at lease five years Chemical Controller and Autopilot Purification Systems experience chemical, and working knowledge of single phase 110/220 volt and 240/480 three-phase electrical systems. Applicants must have knowledge of PPE usage and MSDS data sheets. Pool Technician certificate and or AFO certificate required. Proficiency in the maintenance and repair of all motors, pumps, filters and chemical systems is also required. Large volume commercial pool system background is preferred.

Security Officers: Must have training in CPR and First responder. Ensure the safety and security of passengers, tenants and their employees, personnel and guest at the GTCC. Direct traffic to the appropriate parking areas. Secure / prevent access to restricted areas by unauthorized persons.

General Maintenance: This position requires general maintenance skills such as painting and masonry, to facilitate maintenance of all buildings and public areas in optimum condition. Knowledge of pool and fountain maintenance would be an asset. Assisting in line handling for docking cruise ships as needed. Assisting in any various tasks, necessary to keep GTCC operating to the highest standard.

Applicants must be able to lift minimum 50lbs and willing to work flexible hours including nights, weekends and holidays. WAGES BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.

Interested parties are encouraged to send resume to: Grand Turk Cruise Center Human Resources Phone: 946-1040 Fax: 946-1041 E-Mail: admin@grandturkcc.com

ONLY BELONGERS NEED APPLY

Executive Chef: We are looking for a true leader to help motivate and educate our new dynamic culinary team. Must have the following experience: • To participate in preparation and implementation of the strategic planning • To plan the yearly food revenue and profit targets • Operations and Product Quality experince • Analyze local-market needs and trends, and then lead the definition of the company’s overall Food & Beverage offering • Manage menu preparation and pricing in line with the stated F&B objectives of the company • Develop new menus and food items to meet the taste and dining requirements of the guests • Manage the preparation and presentation of food products to ensure quality at all times • Ensure standards of presentation and preparation of food items meet the company standards • Direct and coordinate the daily activities of the kitchen • Coach and guide new members of the team, putting in place proper orientation training and ongoing training and development for team members • Recruitment and interviewing of new staff members • Control payroll and business expenses of the department • Manage relationships and contracts with suppliers • Maintain the highest standards of Food Hygiene, and adherence with all Health and Safety standards • International especially Caribbean experience a must. Multi Language a must, Spanish/English/French. At least 15 years as an Executive Chef, Michelin Star and 5 star Resort experience is required. Computer skills with POS systems, QuickBooks, Inventory Management, P&L’s, Payroll systems and Menu Tracking back of the house experience are required Head Chef: Will manage employee performance, through training, coaching, or corrective action as required. Support a safe working environment by ensuring all staff are working in compliance with the health and safety regulations and practices. Support and promote environmental practices and programs. Ensure the proper rotation of foods and red flag any items that need to be inserted into production to avoid any losses. Will be responsible for kitchen operation and maintaining departmental standards in accordance with the company standards .Ensure effective co-operation between outlets and the kitchen .Create memorable dining experiences for all guests. Assist with goal development and follow-up, departmental initiatives. Create menu and daily specials so must have initiative and creative mind. Proven track record in a 5 star luxury property with multi out-let experience. Also required to have a 5 year min experience as Executive Sous Chef or Head Chef. International especially Caribbean experience a must Restaurant Manager: To cater to our upscale restaurant clientele. The ideal candidate would have perfect English language skills and be fluent in another language preferably French. Strong Food & Beverage and especially wine expertise is key as well as being able to manage a diverse service team. Being able to work long hours, holidays and Sundays is essential, and a minimum of 10 years of management experience in a five star environment is required. Computer skills with POS systems, QuickBooks, Inventory Management, P&L’s, Payroll systems and Menu Tracking back of the house experience are required. Additional cleaning and restocking duties are integral to this position. To provide and manage a comprehensive wine and beverage list in order to maximize guest satisfaction. To ensure that a courteous, professional and efficient service is being offered, consistent with our standards. To collate and maintain a wine list for The Dining Room. International especially Caribbean experience a must Assistant Restaurant Manager: To assist the Restaurant manager in the dining areas of our upscale restaurants. The ideal candidate would have perfect English language skill. Strong Food & Beverage knowledge and be able to manage a diverse service team. Being able to work long hours, holidays and Sundays is essential, and a minimum of 5 years of management experience in a five star environment is required. Additional cleaning and restocking duties are integral to this position. International especially Caribbean experience a must. Chef De Partie: Prepares all food items, sauces, soups and hot entrees in accordance with recipes, menus, portions and presentation specifications. Prepares and properly garnishes all pantry items, including salads, sandwiches, desserts and specialty plates in accordance with menu specifications. Ensures the highest quality of food preparation and presentation. Coordinates completion of menu items with server. Coordinates all hot and cold food preparation for banquets when necessary. Works floor for special events, carving meats for guests, working pasta stations and doing omelet stations. Assists in overseeing all kitchen operational areas. Required to have at least 3 year min experience in 5 star luxury property, knowledge of 5 star cuisine. Pastry Chef: Oversees the Pastry operational area. Design and create the dessert menu for all outlets. Also required to have at least 3 year min experience in 5 star luxury property, knowledge of 5 star cuisine. Train and supervise team members in your department. Proven track record in luxury property with multi out-let experience. Able to organize the pastry department and have leadership qualities. Diploma in pastry and International 5 star Resort and Caribbean experience a must. Michelin Star and experience in French desserts, bread making is a definite must. Servers & Bartenders: Seeking Waiters and Bartenders to cater to our upscale restaurant clientele. If you have at least 3 years of experience, willing to show your skills as well as learning new ones, can work split shifts, holidays, Sundays and willing to work in a fast paced environment, this is the job for you. Computer skills and POS experience is a must. Ideal candidates speaks English and working knowledge of French or Spanish. You must understand that this type of work is sales oriented and requires you to perform your duties throughout the resort, including the beach. For Bartenders - Mixology experience is essential, and great guest service is key. Food Runners: Seeking food runners to cater to our upscale restaurant clientele. English is a must and the ability to work split shifts, holidays and Sundays is essential. Hostess: Seeking hostesses to cater to our upscale restaurant clientele. A winning attitude and the ability to work well under pressure is key. 2 year Restaurant experience with guest interaction and communication is essential and fluency in English along with a second main language such as French or Spanish is required. Qualified Belongers need only apply e-mail: resortjobstci@gmail.com

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

Haiti to forge tourism link with Turks and Caicos Islands BY VIVIAN TYSON

ur French-speaking neighbours Haiti, is burning its tourism product and it wants utilize the Turks and Caicos Islands as a launch pad. That government’s tourism department has kick-started a robust campaign to dovetail its tourism into that of the Turks and Caicos by marketing it to vacationers that come to the TCI, as an extended package. On Thursday, October 17, representatives from the Ministry of Tourism in Haiti, particularly from the northern region, described as the North, visited the Turks and Caicos Islands at the invitation of the local consulate, to pitch its tourism product for that region, which includes Cap Haitien. The croup’s visit serves as a precursor to a planned visit by the Haitian Tourism Minister, Stephanie Villedrouin, scheduled for November. The group comprised, Dienudonne Etienne, Director for the Northern Region; Pascale Hillaire, from the Ofﬁce of the Minister of Tourism with responsibility for Special Projects and David Toussaint, who is in charge of Communication. Last week the delegation met with Deputy Premier Hon. Akierra Missick and the Turks and Caicos Islands Hotel and Tourism Association, in a bid to forge what it described as “a multi-destination partnership” that would lure visitors from the TCI to that region, as well as to have

From left: Cindy Blaise – Vice Consul; Dominque Doival – Special Projects Director for the Haitian Ministry of Tourism; Stephanie Alexandre; Margarettte Lemaire – Second Consul in Charge of Commerce and Culture; Dieudonne Etienne – Director of Tourism for Haitian’s Northern Region; Palcale Hillaire – in charge of Special Projects in the Office of the Prime Minister; Karlo Pellissier – Consul for the Turks and Caicos; Carline Gustama, Vice Consul; and David Toussaint – Head of Communication for the Haitian Government. touristS to Haiti visit the TCI. “Haiti has a story to tell,” said Margaret Lemaire, the Haitian Second Consul to the Turks and Caicos in charge of Commerce and Culture. “We have the Citadel, which tourists would be interested in. So a tourism package (between the Turks and Caicos Islands and Haiti) could be an interesting thing.” The Haitian citadel is regarded as the largest last line of defense tower in the Western Hemisphere. Hillaire told The SUN that the Haitian

Blue Haven Resort

is inviting suitable applications for the following positions: Director of Food and Beverage Reporting to the General Manager, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: t Consistently offer professional, friendly and engaging service. t Lead and manage the day to day operations of the Food & Beverage Division ensuring all service standards are followed. t Drive innovative promotions, menus and concepts; creating a destination of choice for both Hotel and external guests. t Lead and support all Food & Beverage departments in the achievement of their financial and operational targets. t Prepare annual budgets and administer in a fiscally responsible manner. t Implement effective control of food, beverage, labor and operating expenses throughout the F&B division. t Assist in the preparation of the annual strategic plan and achieve the goals and targets therein. t Ensure the implementation of standards in guest service and constantly seek out ways to improve product and service as well as increase volumes and profits. t Follow department policies, procedures and service standards. t Follow all safety policies REQUIREMENTS: t Minimum of 5 years of previous Food and Beverage international experience in a senior leadership role t University/College degree t Computer literate in Microsoft Window applications required t Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities t Highly responsible & reliable with the ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced environment t Ability to work cohesively as part of a team t Ability to focus attention on guest needs, remaining calm and courteous at all times

Chef Baker & Pastries Reporting to the Corporate Executive Chef, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: RESPONSIBILITIES t Planning all baking production according to menus and event orders. t Preparing detailed production lists to ensure efficient and accurate bread and pastry production. t Participates in preparing breads, desserts and setting up buffets and stations. t Ability to work independently, multi-task and organize work to manage time effectively and meet deadlines. t Implementing new recipes and baking/pastry procedures to meet and exceed customers’ expectations for variety, quality and creativity. t Implementing new items that meet current dietary trends. t Maintaining highest level of sanitation standards at all times. Adheres to all local health and safety regulations. t Ensuring that all work areas are safe and secure; reports any unsafe conditions to manager. JOB REQUIREMENTS t The Chef Baker & Pastries must have a minimum 3-5 years of Chef/Baker Pastry experience in a hotel or market environment. t Must have a minimum of 12-15 years solid bakery and pastries Management experience preferably in both high volume multi outlets and quality operations business. t Culinary Arts or Bachelor’s Degree preferred. t MUST have experience in a high-volume, quality baking and pastry kitchen with strong supervisory skills. t Must be willing to work weekends and holiday t Vast Experience in international breads and pastries. t Skilled in decorating and plating various breads, pastries and desserts

Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please Submit Applications to: hr@alexandraresort.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than November 4th, 2013 Turks and Caicos Islanders need only apply.

Government has been working for more than a year now to develop the northern part of Haiti for tourism, since that section has some of the richest history. “Right now, we started a package for Canada, and from Montreal, we receive each month around 30 passengers,” Hillaire said. “We are starting slowly because we want to put Haiti back on the tourism map. And I have to tell you that since January, we have had a lot of success. Everybody that comes to Haiti, they can’t believe the richness it has.

She continued: “We need the support of the press to showcase Haiti differently, and that is why we are here today, because we need to sell the tourism differently – as a multi-destination, so that the tourists that come here can come to Haiti. It is only 30 minutes by plane.” She said also that a reciprocal tourism regime could be established where Turks and Caicos Islanders could travel to Haiti as tourists and vise-versa. She said that the Haitian Tourism Department would begin a one-day excursion from Turks and Caicos to Haiti to spend the day at the Citadel, which she said will be all inclusive. “We have a one-day excursion. We leave Turks and Caicos in the morning and spend the day at La Citadel – everything included. And then we also have a one night and a two night (excursions). We start at this level to see how the markets would react,” she said. Etienne said that the Tourism Minister, Stephanie Villedrouin, is expected to sign a tourism MoU with Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing on her visit next month, and so, their visit was to lay the ground work. “She will meet with the premier sign the MoU on tourism development,” she said. In the meantime, Head of Haitian Consul for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Karlo Pellissier, said that the Michel Martelly presidency is putting out a great deal of effort to get Haitians back to work, hence pursuing all avenue, including forging tourism alliance with the TCI.

Londolozi Ltd. is inviting suitable applications for the following positions: EXECUTIVE CHEF Are you an outgoing, dynamic individual, passionate about great food and incredible hospitality? We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated Executive Chef to join our team and make a real difference in our guest’s experience! This position is the perfect opportunity for a confident experienced individual with a great understanding of how to deliver fantastic hospitality and an unbelievable culinary experience! We are seeking a team player who is ready to go the extra mile on every occasion to delight and astound our guests, and someone who will always look for opportunities to improve our service. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES t Candidate must demonstrate a proven track record of successfully leading/managing in an upscale Food & Beverage environment; with strong culinary experience and training. t Responsible for the execution of all company policies and procedures, ensuring that all services provided achieve the established standards within the agreed budgetary controls. t Advise the Corporate Executive Chef on all matters relating to the kitchen area and ensure a high standard of cleanliness and hygienic practice throughout the kitchen. t To assist the Corporate Executive Chef in budgeting i.e. food cost/payroll/etc. t Ensure guest satisfaction with the smooth and effective running of the day-to-day operation. t Assist in training and development of Culinary staff members. t To maintain control of the standards for purchasing and receiving items. t To test and evaluate products for quality, paying particular attention to yield/holding qualities/market price/wastage usage of leftovers. t Constantly inspect all food service sections during service time to ensure that the correct standards are maintained. t Responsible for control of equipment and scheduling maintenance

REQUIREMENTS: t Minimum of 5 years of previous Food and Beverage international experience in a senior leadership role t University/College degree t Computer literate in Microsoft Window applications required t Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities t Developed proficiency with forecasting, cost controls and scheduling through related experience. t Dynamic, enthusiastic, creative leader who thrives under pressure and is able to perform multiple functions and troubleshoot when needed. t Highly responsible & reliable with the ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced environment t Ability to work cohesively as part of a team t Ability to focus attention on guest needs, remaining calm and courteous at all times t The ability to stand and/or walk for long periods of time, lift up to 40lbs and /push/pull up to 50lbs. t Must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TCIG ANNOUNCES REVISED PROCEDURES AND FEES, FOR VISAS, WORK PERMITS

he Ministry for Border Control and Labour today Tuesday October 22, 2013 announced revised and new fees and procedures for several categories of Visas and Permits. Effective November 1, 2013 the following will apply:

VISAS

Cairsea Services Limited Require one (1) Laborer Salary: $5.00 per hour Must be reliable, hardworking & honest Hours: 8-5 and some weekends & holidays Apply in person

tel:xxx-xx-xx TRULY NOLEN Is looking for four (4) experience person in the pest control service industry.

PALM VENTURE SEEKS SEEK

LABOU LABOURER URER U URE UR RE R E ƫȯȺȯɀɇΎ̴͘˷̯̯ ȾȳɀΎȶȽɃɀ

Mon-Sat 9-5 For further information please contact:

946 4272 or 231 0195 Elegant Beauty Salon SEEKS 1 HAIRDRESSER Salary $5.00 per hour

Contact 241-4404

Air and Sea Agency NEEDS 1 TRUCK DRIVER with 5 years experience in driving. Hourly rate: $10.00 per hour

Contact person: airseaagency@gmail.com

ƛȽȼɂȯȱɂΎ331-0221

The following provisions and fees shall now apply for: • a single entry visitor’s visa -$150 • a one year multiple entry business visa - $500 • a student visa - $300 In addition a non-fundable application fee of $100 is now payable. There is also now provision for: • a seaman’s visa - $300 • and a person for a visa to attend a charitable, sporting or religious event -$25 All applicants must satisfy the Department of Immigration that they are genuine visitors, that they will not engage in an occupation and that they will leave the Islands at the end of the stipulated period. Endorsement of Spouse and/or Child on Work Permits • for a spouse - $500 • for each child - $500 Residence Permit for Spouse of a Turks and Caicos Islander (Belonger) • for the spouse - $500 • for the endorsement of each child -$300 Temporary Work Permits • For groups performing at commercial entertainment events - $250 per member • For groups performing at religious, charitable or civic events - $25 processing feeing • In all other cases the fee remains $700 Employed and Self Employed Work Permits • To apply for an extension or renewal of a work permit by a self- employed person or employed person, regulations have been introduced to require that such applications must be made at least 30 days before the expiration of the existing permit. • If the application is made after the expiry of the work permit, a penalty fee of $250 shall apply. • Where a request is made for the processing of an application for a work permit within 7 days of making the application, a fee of $500 is payable. Passports • Passport fee for British Overseas Territory Citizens 75 years and older – Free

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

Thieves strip Alpha Christian Academy of over $10,000 in computers BY VIVIAN TYSON

he words of a part of John 10 verse 10, which states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thieves come to kill and destroyâ&#x20AC;?, bears true for students and teachers at the Alpha Christian Academy, located upstairs the Kishco Building in Providenciales, whose school was robbed of its computers and other equipment by burglars last weekend. The children, who turned up on Monday, October 21, were reduced to tears after realizing that hoodlums had cleared the computer room of eight laptops and relieving the administrative ofďŹ ce of its desktop computer and printer. Principal for school, Nicola Hanna, said that the children were distraught after returning from their midterm break to ďŹ nd their recently established computer room outďŹ tted with e-machine laptop computers, which they used on daily basis, voided of its equipment, and the Dell desktop computer along with an HP printer were ripped from the administrative ofďŹ ce. They thieves also stripped the school of its computersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; electrical cords and cables. The administrative ofďŹ ce was ransacked, a telltale sign that the culprits were also searching for cash. Hanna said that one heart-wrenching aspect of burglary was that the

Nicola Hanna, Principal for Alpha Christian Academy points to the empty computer, which a week ago was outfitted with eight laptop computers school, with the assistance of parents, spent two years trying to set-up the computer room, which was ďŹ nally completed over the summer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And so, this is October, so the students had access to a full service computer room for just a month and a half,â&#x20AC;? Hanna bemoaned. When The SUN turned up at the institution earlier this week, the empty work stations in the computer room carved a grim tale as to how far some undesirables in our society would go to make the lives of others miserable regardless as to whether or not they are children. Hanna revealed that the haul by the criminals exceeded $10,000, which she said did not include computer software and other items. She said the crooks

Photo shows the cut grill through which the thieves gained entry to the building) also made off with the wireless modem, rendering the one laptop that the vice principal had taken home for the weekend, unable to access the internet. Hanna, who described the robbery of â&#x20AC;&#x153;very heartbreakingâ&#x20AC;?, said that that the wrongdoers gained entry to the building by ďŹ ling away a section of the metal grille-like shutter. She said both her and the children felt violated by the act. Hanna said that she discovered the break-in on Saturday, October 19, while on a visit to the school. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On Saturday afternoon (October 19) I was on a visit at the school. There was a break-in downstairs that was reported earlier in the day, but there was no indication that anyone had entered the school. But upon coming upstairs we discovered that the school too was burglarized.

They entered into all three of the classrooms, and nine laptop computers, including the ofďŹ ce computers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all electronics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; were stolen from the school,â&#x20AC;? a distraught Hanna said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a gate that comes down, and so, they actually cut the gate open, squeezed through, and then picked the locks and came inside the classrooms,â&#x20AC;? continued. Hanna said that returning to school should have been a celebratory moment for the administration and the children, since one of their pupils was announced as the winner of the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) National Essay Competition, but instead, but instead the celebration was shuttered. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was supposed to be our celebration day but instead it was dampened because we have to explain to the students that equipment that they need to work with is no longer here. And children, just like adults, they have feelings too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a very sad day for us, and it has put the school at a great disadvantage, because this is all of our records â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just day-to-day activities that we need (that were stolen). And the computer classes that we are not able to house because we do not have the equipment anymore to work with, just leaves you (feeling) violated, very violated,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Job title: Filipino Community Liaison Officer / Operations Supervisor DUTY MANAGER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MULTI-LINGUAL The Duty Manager role is an important function for the resort and it provides 24-hour coverage for our guests. The selected individual will assist with ensuring the smooth operation of the resort. In the absence of department heads and/or executive management, the DM upholds quality standards, resolves guest and employee issues, complaints and conflicts, and enforces policies and procedures. The successful candidate will: t .BYJNJTF IPUFM PDDVQBODZ UPUBM SFWFOVF BOE BWFSBHF SBUF BT XFMM BT NJOJNJTF HVFTU complaints. t "TTJTU XJUI UIF QSFQBSBUJPO PG XPSL TDIFEVMFT t %FWFMPQ BOE GBDJMJUBUF USBJOJOH QSPHSBNT GPS GSPOU PĂłDF TUBĂ˛ t )BOEMF FNFSHFODZ TJUVBUJPOT BOE FOTVSF TUBĂ˛ BSF DPOWFSTBOU JO BMM FNFSHFODZ BOE ĂśSF procedures. t "TTFTT BOE QSPNQUMZ BEESFTT HVFTU QSPCMFNT DPNQMBJOUT PS TJUVBUJPOT BOE FOTVSF UIF best possible satisfaction is delivered to our guests. t .BJOUBJO UIF DPOĂśEFOUJBMJUZ BOE EJTDSFUJPO PG BMM HVFTUT t ,FFQ VQ UP EBUF LOPXMFEHF PG MPDBM BDUJWJUJFT FWFOUT FOUFSUBJONFOU FUD t .BJOUBJO B %VUZ .BOBHFS -PH #PPL SFWJFXJOH OPUFT GSPN QSFDFEJOH TIJGU BOE UBLJOH necessary action where necessary. t .POJUPS 7*1 HVFTU SPPN DIFDLT BOE UBLF BQQSPQSJBUF BDUJPO XIFSF OFDFTTBSZ J F SFQBJST FUD t 5PVS UIF QSPQFSUZ EBJMZ JODMVEJOH MPCCJFT BOE QVCMJD BSFBT QPPM TUBĂ˛ DBOUFFO LJUDIFO HBSBHF BSFBT BMM GPPE CFWFSBHF PVUMFUT 'SPOU 0ĂłDF FUD NBLJOH OPUF PG BSFBT SFRVJSJOH BUUFOUJPO BOE UBLJOH BDUJPO XIFSF BQQSPQSJBUF t *O UIF BCTFODF PG 4FOJPS .BOBHFNFOU UIF %VUZ .BOBHFS BTTJTUT EFQBSUNFOUT XJUI monitoring employees, resolving problems, and lending additional assistance where short-handed. t .BJOUBJO LOPXMFEHF PG JO IPVTF HSPVQT DPOWFOUJPOT UPVST DPSQPSBUF CVTJOFTT FUD 0WFSTFFT UIF IBOEMJOH PG 7*1 (VFTU 4FSWJDFT t 1SFQBSFT SFQPSUT BOE IBOEMFT TQFDJBM QSPKFDUT Requirements t "OZ DPNCJOBUJPO PG FEVDBUJPO MVYVSZ SFTPSU FYQFSJFODF UIBU XJMM QSPWJEF UIF SFRVJSFE LOPXMFEHF TLJMM BOE BCJMJUZ UP QFSGPSN UIJT KPC TVDDFTTGVMMZ t .JOJNVN ZFBST EFNPOTUSBUFE TVQFSWJTPSZ TVDDFTT t 'SJFOEMZ EFNFBOPS XJUI FYDFMMFOU JOUFSQFSTPOBM BOE DPNNVOJDBUJPO TLJMMT t "CJMJUZ UP NVMUJ UBTL JO B CVTZ FOWJSPONFOU XJUI NJOJNBM TVQFSWJTJPO t "CJMJUZ UP TQFBL SFBE BOE XSJUF Ă¸VFOUMZ JO UIF &OHMJTI MBOHVBHF â&#x20AC;˘ Multi-lingual communication skills with emphasis on Spanish, French and Portuguese t "CJMJUZ UP XPSL Ă¸FYJCMF TDIFEVMF JODMVEJOH FBSMZ NPSOJOHT MBUF FWFOJOHT XFFLFOET BOE holidays t $MFBO QPMJDF SFDPSE BOE QSPGFTTJPOBM SFGFSFODFT SFRVJSFE CLOSING DATE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED APPLY TO: Seven Stars hr@sevenstarsgracebay.com NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Function â&#x20AC;˘ Actively participate in community social events and major community activities involving the company. â&#x20AC;˘ Makes frequent presentations to Filipino groups to develop knowledge and awareness of companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products and services â&#x20AC;˘ Maintains contact with clients in the market area to ensure high levels of client satisfaction â&#x20AC;˘ Monitors branch staffing, provide coverage and training â&#x20AC;˘ Ensure the necessary resources and tools are available for quality customer service delivery â&#x20AC;˘ Handle complex and escalated customer service issues and track customer complaint resolution â&#x20AC;˘ Oversee the achievement and maintenance of agreed customer service levels and standards at the assigned unit; Identifies strategies to improve quality of service, productivity and profitability The successful candidate must: â&#x20AC;˘ Have AML/CFT training certification â&#x20AC;˘ Be fluent in English and Tagalog. â&#x20AC;˘ Have a strong understanding of customer and remittance market dynamics and requirements â&#x20AC;˘ Have at least two (2) years working experience in a financial intuition with Core Banking Systems or Remittance Systems familiarity and knowledge â&#x20AC;˘ Possess a minimum Associate Degree from a recognized institution â&#x20AC;˘ Be flexible to work rotated shifts between 7:00 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:00pm daily including weekends and public holidays at various locations â&#x20AC;˘ Be willing and available to work at all islands in TCI â&#x20AC;˘ Be conversant with computer application â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ability to handle up to five (5) different applications â&#x20AC;˘ Have very strong hardware and software problem solving abilities â&#x20AC;˘ Have proven excellent inter-personal skills in interacting with customers, staff and management. A keen awareness of the environment and the needs and safety of clients and staff is required to perform well on the job. â&#x20AC;˘ Wage: $1,200 - $1,800 / per month â&#x20AC;&#x201C; commensurate with qualification and experience. Please submit application letter and resume to The General Manager, tcihrstaff@gmail.com. The application deadline is November 15, 2013. Suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview. The position is immediately available.

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS BACK IN BUSINESS BIGGER AND BETTER! T

he Caribbean’s Leading Family Resort Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa has successfully reopened after completing an extensive programme of enhancements. The resort had closed for almost seven weeks at the beginning of September in order to facilitate a wide variety of upgrades that have successfully merged the recently launched Key West Village with the existing Caribbean, French and Italian Villages to form one of most comprehensive vacation experiences in the region boasting an additional 150 suites and villas, three gourmet restaurants, private pools and much, much more. Guests to the award-winning resort will now be treated to an expanded waterpark featuring an exciting new ‘Sky Slide’, upgrades to the 20 existing gourmet restaurants and many other Front-of-House areas. Additionally, many improvements were undertaken in the resort’s ‘back-of-house’ in order to take the resort’s service delivery to even greater heights and further cement the Turks and Caicos Islands’ reputation as one of greatest destinations in the world. Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts International commented, “The growth of this resort is extremely important to us and its ability sustain the level of excellence that the guests have come to expect is rooted in improvements like this. While our guests will be excited to see the many aesthetic enhancements and stateof-the-art amenities, the back-of-house improvements we have undertaken will add even greater

The popular Arizona pool being repainted value to the product we are offering. Many of the upgrades will not be seen by our guests but they will feel them the best possible way.” Some of the improved features include an expanded laundry, RO and kitchen facilities and new pool cabanas. One of the highlights of the extensive developments is the creation of a promenade that will connect the Italian Village and the Key West Village. “It’s often the little details that make all the difference and during this period, we’ve taken care of all the things that one might take for granted such regrouting pools and replacing kitchen equipment – we even replaced the ﬂagpoles. We’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of things.”

“I must pay great tribute to our resort and projects team for a job really well done. Whilst we were closed, we offered work for anyone who wanted it and we were delighted by the response. Bar hurricanes, it is the ﬁrst time we’ve ever closed for renovations and I’m proud to say that our team worked tirelessly to ensure we reopened as quickly as possible. I believe a refreshed resort and workforce at Beaches Turks and Caicos will affect the entire country. I’d like to say it’s ‘business as usual’ but it’s even better than usual! ” Stewart added. With three spectacular locations in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica, Beaches Resorts is the ultimate getaway for every member of the family. With outrageous waterparks, XBOX® Play Lounge, the Scratch DJ Academy, exclusive Kids Camps, teen nightclubs, Certified Nannies, Butler service, and Red Lane® Spas, Beaches Resorts provides an unrivaled experience in the Caribbean. As a proud sponsor of Sesame Street, Beaches Resorts also offers the Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street®, where kids can spend their vacation with their favorite friends from the Sesame Street gang with daily activities and weekly stage shows. Beaches Resorts are also the perfect destination wedding and vow renewal venue, offering unrivaled choices for your most special day and the opportunity for the whole family to celebrate together with FamilyMoons.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

LOCAL NEWS

Constitution Commission one member away from reality BY VIVIAN TYSON

he vow by government to institute a constitution commission with the intention of stripping the 2012 Constitution an d replace it with a more progressive one, is just one member away to be agreed upon by the government and the opposition. At a post cabined press brieﬁng on Thursday, October 17, in Providenciales, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing stated that the much-touted constitution commission that the government is assembling should go in place before the next sitting of the House of Assembly, which is before the end of October. “We are just about putting in all our membership together, and once the memberships are conﬁrmed, the committee will then meet. I think there is one more member that is supposed to be co-opted jointed between the two parties (the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). “Both parties have submitted the members they want as part of the committee. And we also have to have one joint member. Once that is settled, we expect that that commission would then start their business

in reviewing the Constitution,” the premier said. The Premier however, did not reveal the name of the individual that both parties would be agreeing on. Asked as to whether he has a time line in mind for the committee to form, Premier Ewing said that he would love for it to have its first meeting before the next House of Assembly sitting. “I would like for them to meet before the next sitting of the House, which is hopefully scheduled for the end of this month,” he said. Both the ruling PNP government and the opposition PDM have voiced their disapproval of the new constitution, which they said gives the governor and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) too much power, especially over the duly elected government. Under the new Constitution, the governor can override laws passed by the House of Assembly if he does not believe such laws are in the best interest of the country. Also under the Constitution, the CFO has the final say on certain key monetary issues over the minister of finance, including signing off on the budget. From its release on October 15, 2012, the Constitution has been receiving broadsides from both the

PNP and the PDM. Both described the Constitution as an insult to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. They say, among other things, it was designed to rob elected politicians of their conventional right to serve the people who elected them. They argue that while the new Constitution contained a number of beneﬁcial clauses, conversely it contained a great deal of features designed to stymie the advancement of the country. The parties argued that Section 5(2) of the Constitution affords the governor, by regulations, the freehand to change any law within 12 months to update any laws to bring them in line with Constitution. The Constitution also makes provision for the continuance of the CFO in Section (7) and empowers the Governor to alter his role and to maintain his post until the governor sees ﬁt to end it. They argue that the role of CFO is protected under the Constitution, which is wrong. The government and opposition said that the Constitution in general was regressive and does not foster the avenue for progress. And so, Ewing pledged to institute a commission to review the Constitution, with the hope that at the end of the day it is overhauled.

GOVERNMENT TO THE FLOODING OF ROADWAYS IN PROVIDENCIALES

he Ministry of Government Support Services (GSS) is working on measures that are expected to reduce flooding along the roadways in Providenciales. In light of the recent heavy rains and subsequent flooding, Ministry Officials have reviewed the problem areas and historical records with a view to designing and implementing preventative measures in the affected areas. The Ministry notes that there have been some recent improvements with the installation of a number of wells, but acknowledges that there is much more to be done to improve the situation. A number of new and innovative ideas are under consideration and short term measures will be undertaken in house by the Public Works Department team. In addition, the Ministry recently concluded a competitive tender for consultant engineers in a project being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. The Project will; map the levels of risk with an analysis on risk reduction; identify and evaluate flood management options; undertake community vulnerability assessments; identify cost-effective drainage improvement measures; develop drainage policy and plans, as well as enhance the capacity of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands to better manage flood hazards. The project will also assess the impact of projected sea level rises and other effects of climate change. The Consultancy is expected to start within the next three months with the objective of developing a strategy and plan for Capacity Strengthening, Emergency Flood Response and Flood Risk Mitigation for the Turks and Caicos.

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

PDM ANNOUNCES MEMBERS FOR CONSTITUTION REVIEW COMMITTEE AND CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO STATE ITS POSITION

few weeks ago, the Premier brought a motion to the House of Assembly to establish a House Committee on Constitutional Review. It was subsequently agreed that both Parties would select two Parliamentary Members and a non Parliamentary Member. We are pleased to announce that the following persons have been selected to represent the Party and to lend experience to the work of the Constitution Review Committee. Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has served as a member of the then Legislative Council between 1999 – 2003. Whilst serving, she chaired the Select Committee on the White Paper for Prosperity through Partnership and served on several Oversight Committees. She was a member of the Constitution Review and Modernization Committee of 2002 and 2006 whose work formed the basis of the 2006 Constitution. She is one of the few Turks and Caicos Islanders that made a written (17 Page) Submission to UK Constitutional Adviser, Kate Sullivan on Constitutional Improvements. A trained Attorney at Law, she is currently the Party’s Leader, All Island 1st elected member and the serving Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Hon Sean Astwood is a former Minister of Government and Mem-

Sean Astwood ber of Parliament for Five Cays, Providenciales who was ﬁrst elected in 2003. Sean has served on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Immigration: aspects of which now feature in the 2012 Constitution. He is the successful owner of the Pelican Group of Companies and serves as Vice President of the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as the Party’s Deputy Leader and elected member for Five Cays, Providenciales. Ashwood Forbes is a former Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament from 1999 – 2003 for North Caicos East. Whilst serving in the then

Sharlene Carthwright Robinson Legislative Council, he has served as a member of the Select Committee on the White Paper for Prosperity through Partnership amongst other important Select Committees and Oversight Committees. He is an Attorney At Law and therefore has practical experience in all aspects of the Constitution. He currently serves the Party as seat caretaker for North and Middle Caicos. “We are aware that the Government has named the Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Labour who are both local Attorneys. We await the Government’s submission on the other members

Ashwood Forbes and we look forward to beginning the work of this important Committee. PDM believes that the country’s Constitution should remain under review at all times and that every effort must be made to strengthen and improve upon its contents. As we are looking at the “workings” of the current Constitution, it is important to know the areas that the Government ﬁnds particularly troublesome sitting in Cabinet. This is crucial going forward. We are therefore once again calling on the Government to document its Position ahead of “Public Consultation” says Leader of the Opposition.

Blue Haven Resort is inviting suitable applications for the following positions:

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING

We are seeking to employ an experience Director of Engineering who will be reporting to the General Manager and Corporate General Manager. Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: Ɣ Oversee and supervise engineering & maintenance staff including staffing, training, coaching/counseling, and performance management to insure their work productivity and quality meets standards and deadlines. Complete weekly work schedule for department Ɣ Develop & manages department & capital budget and projects. Ɣ Assumes responsibility to insure departmental spending and payroll remains within budgeted guidelines. Ɣ Control utility consumption and ensure compliance with all codes and regulations. Maintains hotel’s special permits and licenses as required by local authorities. Ɣ Establish and maintains a preventative maintenance program Ɣ Develop, maintain, monitor all safety policies, procedures, and programs for the property. Coordinates with other departments all work necessary to maintain general conditions, safety and health standards & training set form by hotel policies and other legal requirements. Ɣ Inspect facilities, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards. Ɣ Oversee ongoing and emergency repairs required to keep the hotel facilities in a marketable condition at all times. Ɣ Negotiate contracts for property operations. Ɣ Interact as needed with guests, contractors, vendors, and corporate executives Ɣ Assist department staff with all of their tasks as needed to include trouble shooting, regular maintenance and repairs. Ɣ Conduct regular inspections via walk-throughs of public areas, back of the house areas, guest rooms and exterior areas. Ɣ Compile and prepares reports for upper management’s review and use Qualifications: Ɣ Engineering Degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university Ɣ 10 years previous Engineering / Facilities Management Experience Ɣ Must be able to read and interpret documents to include: blueprints/schematics, procedural manuals, budgets/financial statements. Ɣ Ability to troubleshoot/repair and/or maintain: physical building including all FF&E, AC and refrigeration equipment, electrical systems, mechanical equipment (motors, starters, pumps, fans, etc.), plumbing and drains, fire alarm and life safety equipment. Ɣ Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Ɣ Demonstrated leadership - Proven ability to effectively lead and train a diverse workforce. Ɣ Demonstrated analytical ability and financial acumen and reporting writing skills Ɣ Comprehensive knowledge of equipment and facility maintenance programs, procedures and safety principles and practices Ɣ Considerable knowledge in the use of personal computer systems and o present facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written form Ɣ Considerable analytical and mathematical ability Ɣ Ability to identify and recognize unsafe conditions or work practices Ɣ Ability to plan, organize, and delegate work to achieve desired results

Ɣ Ability to make effective and persuasive presentations to senior management, public groups, and boards of directors

ASSISTANT RESTAURANT MANAGER

Ɣ Supervises and coordinates the production of food according to menu specifications. Ɣ Assists the Chefs and Cooks in preparation of specific cuisine. Ɣ Inspects quality of food products used to prepare cuisine. Informs Reporting to the Restaurant Manager, responsibilities and essential job Executive Chef when quality is not acceptable. functions include but are not limited to the following: Reporting to the Director of Finance and Corporate General Manager, Ɣ Ensures all cuisine served to guests follow establish guidelines for responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to quantity, quality, appearance, and palatability. Ɣ Consistently offer professional, friendly, hospitable service the following: Ɣ Checks physical cleanliness of operations. Ensures all staff practice Ɣ Oversee restaurant operations ensuring compliance with Ɣ Ensure that all purchase order requests are properly completed and “clean as you go” techniques. departmental standards and meeting / exceeding guest expectations approved before a purchase order is prepared and the items are Ɣ Insures that staff is following all safe serve and health inspection Ɣ Knowledgeable of all food and beverage products purchased. standards. Ɣ Ensure proper staffing and scheduling in accordance to productivity Ɣ Negotiate prices, place orders based on requirements, and ensure Ɣ Maintains proper working order of all equipment. Inspects ovens, guidelines prompt delivery. burners, water faucets, and refrigerators. Reports deficiencies to Ɣ Communicate through pre-shift briefings, and departmental meetings Ɣ Assist management with obtaining competitive price quotations and Engineering Department. all necessary information to support the operation confirm purchase availabilities. Ɣ Train Team members in all job aspects – service, product knowledge Ɣ Ensure that the department works closely with the Corporate Requirements: and technical skills Executive Chef, Food & Beverage Manager and Retail Manager to Ɣ Graduate culinary art or Culinary degree strongly preferred Ɣ Cash handling and daily accounting purchase the highest quality product while constantly searching for the Ɣ 4-6 or more years previous experience as a cook Ɣ Capitalize on revenues by upselling and controlling expenses lowest price. Ɣ 1 year as sous chef trainee Ɣ Handle guest concerns in a timely and professional manner Ɣ Co-ordinate freight forwarding, shipping, and customs for products Ɣ Full knowledge of ordering work schedule. Ɣ Follow resort policies, procedures and service standards sourced internationally. Ɣ Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety policies Ɣ Provide the Controller with a monthly summary of outstanding Physical Aspects: (include but are not limited to): purchase orders for goods and services received. Ɣ Constant standing and walking throughout shift Ɣ Participate as required in the monthly count of food and beverage Requirements: Ɣ Lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. inventories. Ɣ Previous Food and Beverage Supervisory experience Ɣ Pushing, pulling, lifting Ɣ Ensure that there are sufficient expendable operating supplies on Ɣ Degree or Diploma in Hospitality Management desirable hand for each department by coordinating regular inventories with the Ɣ Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and storeroom personnel and /or department heads. leadership skills Ɣ Assist the Accounts Payable Clerk in researching any discrepancies on Ɣ Fluency in English Reporting to the Restaurant Manager, responsibilities and essential job invoices. Ɣ Ability to work independently, multi task and prioritize responsibilifunctions include but are not limited to the following: Ɣ Coordinate the corporate annual OS&E requirements with the ties appropriate Hotel Managers. Ɣ Strong guest service orientation and training skills background Ɣ Consistently offer professional, friendly, hospitable service Ɣ Coordinate purchases related for capital projects. Ɣ POS experience Ɣ Oversee operations of designated station ensuring compliance with Ɣ Follow all health and safety policies ensuring best practice. Ɣ Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office departmental standards and meeting / exceeding guest expectations Ɣ Additional duties as assigned. Ɣ Knowledgeable of all food and beverage products Requirements: Ɣ Train Team members in all job aspects – service, product knowledge Ɣ Previous Purchasing Manager experience – 4 Years or more. and technical skills Ɣ University accounting qualification. Reporting to the Executive Sous Chef, responsibilities and essential job Ɣ Capitalize on revenues by upselling and controlling expenses Ɣ Related hotel background is preferred. functions include but are not limited to the following: Ɣ Handle guest concerns in a timely and professional manner, and Physical: report issues to Supervisor and Manger when necessary Ɣ Lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. Ɣ Assists in conducting periodic food inventories. Ɣ Follow resort policies, procedures and service standards Ɣ Pushing and pulling heavy equipment up to 500lbs. Ɣ Assists the Executive Chef with departmental human resource Ɣ Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety policies Ɣ Ascending or descending ladders and stairs. functions. Ɣ Other duties as assigned Ɣ Initiates and oversees ordering of food and kitchen supplies.

PURCHASING MANAGER

LEAD SERVERS

SOUS CHEFS

Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please Submit Applications to: hr@alexandraresort.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than November 11th, 2013 Turks and Caicos Islanders need only apply.

Requirements: Ɣ Previous Food and Beverage Supervisory experience Ɣ Excellent written and verbal communication Ɣ Fluency in English Ɣ Ability to work independently, multi task and prioritize responsibilities Ɣ Strong guest service orientation and training skills background Ɣ POS experience – (IQ Ware desirable) Physical Aspects: (include but are not limited to): Ɣ Constant standing and walking throughout shift Ɣ Lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. Ɣ Pushing, pulling, lifting

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FortisTCI SmartConnect Raffle Winners Announced

eld in part to help promote energy conservation through the recently launched FTCI SmartConnect Program, last month an Energy Star model refrigerator, valued at almost $2000, was up for rafﬂe throughout FortisTCI service territories. On Thursday, October 17, 2013, the winners were announced as Matthew and Marlene Williams of Providenciales. FortisTCI congratulates the winners. The randomly selected couple was surprised by the win and very excited by the announcement initially made by phone call. Matthew Williams said with smile, “Our luck usually isn’t this good! We needed a new refrigerator.” The Vice President of Customer and Corporate Services, Allan Robinson, elaborated on energy conservation education and why partnering with the utility company can help customers to better manage their consumption. Mr. Robinson said, “We decided to launch The SmartConnect Program as a solution

Fortis TCI Director of Customer Service, Aisha Laporte, Marlene Williams, Matthew Williams, Corporate Communications Manager, Talisha Simons to some of the concerns being voiced by our customers. While we cannot control the fuel factor, we are making every effort to educate our customers on ways they can save on their energy costs.” The FortisTCI SmartConnect Program is an information sharing and relationship building initiative that the Company has launched to focus on its customers’ needs. SmartConnect, paves the way for FortisTCI cus-

tomers to learn about their utility company and about the smart use of energy at home and in their businesses. One way to learn more about this program is by signing up for a Connecting with You Customer Information Sessions held by request. If you have a group interested in hosting one of these sessions, please contact us by emailing corpcomm@fortistci. com. Details can also be found at www.fortistci. com.

LIME SHARES WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS.

IME Turks & Caicos Islands will begin giving gifts to its customers very early for Christmas this year! October 15 marked the beginning of our pre-Christmas promotion at LIME Turks & Caicos Islands and we are happy to announce our special promotion under our Share The Connection pre-Christmas campaign. Our sharing begins today with our broadband internet offer. New residential subscribers to LIME ﬁxed broadband can sign up for internet for as low as $29.99 and they will receive one (1) FREE WIFI modem and FREE installation. LIME Turks & Caicos Islands’ Acting General Manager, Lacal Palmer, said “This is truly a time to share with our customers as we create an affordable platform which would allow them to share with their family during the Christmas season.” Ms. Palmer also said that the pre-Christmas broadband internet offer highlights LIME TCI’s continued commitment towards and interest in the growth of internet usage on the island. “When we plan promotions for our market, especially during Christmas, we want it to be extraordinary and we also want these offers to have a favorable impact on the daily lives of our customers and therefore this particular internet offer. In the Turks & Caicos Islands, broadband internet is an important and useful telecommunication tool and we are delighted to offer these tidings to our customers.” The Share The Connection Christmas campaign, which runs 15th October – 15TH November, 2013, provides new and existing customers with many ways to get connected and stay connected with LIME. Christmas has started at LIME and we want to be ﬁrst to share the best gifts to all our existing and new customers! LIME is the Caribbean’s largest telecommunications company with a proud history in the region, and which is always working to improve life in the Caribbean. LIME delivers the very best communication services to governments, businesses and families in 13 Caribbean countries with one unifying promise—building, connecting and serving communities. LIME is part of Cable & Wireless Communications PLC, one of the world’s leading communications companies.

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OCTOBER 28TH - NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013

ION T C U sets s A A C t I L n ura PUB : a t e s c i e t R No nd a , s g n ildi u B , e t a eal Est

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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Time to reward yourself effortlessly

ÂŽ

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THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

"With these hands, with this heart, with this mind, I can do anything"

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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

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Introduction To computers

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Under the Patronage of The Honorable Minister of Education: Akierra Mary Deanne Missick

You are cordially invited to The TCI Community College Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

1ST ANNUAL FUNDRAISING GALA

Step By Step: A Journey in Education Growth Friday November 8, 2013 Regent Palms / Messel Ballroom Dinner and Programme 7:00 PM Tickets $100 / Cash Bar RSVP: 941.3210 / Fax: 941.8380 241.4111 / 245.6827

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Administrative Assistant An Insurance Agency and Brokerage is seeking a dynamic, outgoing proactive person, with a background in Administration and Customer Service with a minimum of 5 years experience in General & Motor Insurance. Job entails the processing of applications, policy documents, client renewals, supervision and assistance with claims. Secondary languages will be an asset along with any accounting knowledge or computer training with Folio or TAM Software Systems. Kindly send resumes to: Human Resource Manager P.O. Box 355 Providenciales

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! ! "#$ "

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News

CARIBBEAN

Amnesty International condemns Dominican Republic’s position on Haitians

ONDON – The London-based human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, has joined a chorus of condemnation and calls for the Dominican Republic to retract a Constitutional Court ruling that primarily strips Dominicans of Haitian descent of citizenship. Amnesty International on Friday urged the Dominican Republic not to implement the court ruling “that could leave hundreds of thousands of Dominicans of foreign descent stateless.” Under aspects of the ruling, individuals of foreign descent – the vast majority of Dominicans of Haitian origin- could be deprived of their nationality, forced to leave and ordered to apply for citizenship from scratch, Amnesty International said. “The full implementation of this ruling will have a devastating impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people whose identity documents would be cancelled and, therefore, would see many of their human rights – freedom of movement, education, work and access to healthcare – totally denied,” said Chiara Liguori, Amnesty International researcher on the Caribbean. Last month ,the Dominican Republic Constitutional Court ruled that Juliana Deguis, who was born in the Dominican Republic in 1984 to Haitian parents, had been wrongly registered as Dominican at her birth. “The case could have wide-reaching discriminatory effects, particularly for Dominicans of Haitian descent,” Liguori said. The court also ordered the Central Electoral Board to search all birth registries from 1929 onwards for people who had been supposedly wrongly registered and recognized as Dominican

citizens. It said their cases should be treated the same as Deguis’. Liguori said some parts of the ruling have already started to be implemented. Deguis has been allowed to stay in the Dominican Republic pending a National Regularization Plan that will decide the fate of those deemed to be residing illegally in the country, Liguori said. “I want to work, but I can’t,” Deguis told Amnesty International. “I have four kids, but they cannot go to school. We were born here, and we are from here, but we suffer a lot of discrimination.” If implemented in this way, Amnesty International said the ruling would violate the Dominican Republic’s human rights obligations. The human rights watchdog also said that the ruling contravenes a 2005 landmark decision of the Inter-American Court for Human Rights and breaks a basic principle of law, explicitly stated in the Dominican Republic Constitution, which prohibits retroactive application of the law. The Constitutional Court ruling is the last of a number of administrative, legislative and judicial decisions that since the early 2000s have had the effect of retroactively depriving Dominicans of Haitian descent of their Dominican nationality, Amnesty International said. “This latest move could completely destroy the lives of Dominican citizens of Haitian origin, especially if they are forced to leave the country by the National Regularization Plan,” Liguori said. “It is totally unfair to say that people who have been living as Dominicans for decades no longer belong in the country or have any rights within it,” he added.

Jamaica Government suspends importation of jet skis

INGSTON, Jamaica– The Jamaica government has placed a six month suspension on the importation of jet skis into the country as it moves to regulate the industry. Tourism and Entertainment Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeil said that Cabinet had agreed to new iniatives that should result in a reduction of jet skiing accidents at marine recreational areas, and a clamp down on illegal commercial operators. He said in addition to the six-month suspension on the importation of all jet skis for commercial use, the government is consulting with the marine police and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard, to conduct enforcement activities to seize and detain the illegal vessels. McNeill said that there would be strengthening of

regulations for the safe use of jet skis in harbours and bays. In consultation with the maritime authority, it has been decided that activities in all resort areas will be done beyond swimming areas, and away from ships and piers. Additionally, the government said jet ski operators would not be allowed within a certain distance from shore, and that three ski zones, a minimum of 30 metres apart, will be introduced. “The non motorised zone would be an effective buffer for swimmers…the recommendations will be implemented on a trial basis as agreed by all parties. It is a matter of safety…this was not arrived at lightly,” McNeil said, citing two jet ski accidents last month resulting in the death of one person and injury to four others.

He said there were other concerns, such as solicitation, harassment, and drug peddling by illegal operators, as well as oil discharge from the jet skis, and the noise pollution associated with them. McNeill pointed out that the concerns go as far back as 1995 and the government responded with a moratorium agreed on by a number of agencies, to regulate commercial water sport operations. Under the new regime, the maritime authority will introduce specialised training and certiﬁcation courses for commercial operators; and ensure that all commercial jet skis have visible identiﬁcation. Operators will be required to display their licences, and no person under 18 years of age will be allowed to operate commercial jet skis, without an accompanying adult.

It is unclear how many people are affected by the ruling of the Constitutional Court. A recent survey conducted by the Dominican Republic National Statistics Ofﬁce found that 244,151 people were the children of “foreign” parents. Of those, 86 percent were of Haitian origin. “The Dominican authorities should take all necessary measures to guarantee Juliana Deguis and other Dominicans of foreign descent access to their identity documents in order for them to restore the rights they enjoyed when they were recognized as Dominican citizens”, Liguori said. According to Amnesty International, Deguis initiated a constitutional review in 2008 after her birth certiﬁcate was seized by the Central Electoral Board when she applied for an identity card, on the basis that her name was ”Haitian”. On September 23, the Dominican Constitutional Court ruled against her, stating that her rights had not been violated by the Central Electoral Board. According to the ruling, Deguis, who was born in the Dominican Republic in 1984 to Haitian parents, had been wrongfully registered as Dominican at her birth. Her parents were considered “foreigners in transit” because they could not prove their legal status in the Dominican Republic, Amnesty International said. Therefore, Deguis should have never had Dominican nationality and must now be stripped of it, according to the court ruling. Amnesty International said there are at least 40 similar cases awaiting a decision from the Constitutional Court.

SIX CARIBBEAN NATIONALS ARRESTED FOLLOWING DEADLY SMUGGLING TRIP

IAMI, United States- United States law enforcement authorities confirmed Friday that six of the 11 Caribbean migrants, who survived a deadly smuggling trip that ended when a motorboat capsized seven miles off Miami Beach, have been arrested. Law enforcement and immigration authorities said those arrested include the Bahamian-born captain of the 25 feet boat, Naaman Davis and Jamaican-born crewman George Lewis. The arrest comes as authorities investigated the boat accident involving Haitian, Jamaican and Bahamian migrants. The US Coast Guard said four people were killed and 11 rescued after the boat carrying the Caribbean migrants capsized early Wednesday. Officials said the six people arrested were previously deported from the US, and that most of them had been convicted of serious crimes. Lewis faces a charge of attempted smuggling of the migrants, officials said.

The fatal voyage reportedly began in the Bahamas, and ended at about 2:00 a.m. (local time) Wednesday when US Coast Guard crews rescued the survivors. The criminal complaint said six of the Caribbean migrants interviewed by the US Department of Homeland Security identified Davis and Lewis as the alleged smugglers. “Another one of the migrants interviewed stated that prior to their being brought ashore, Lewis had directed them all to tell the Coast Guard that the vessel captain swam away and never came back,” according to the complaint. The Miami Herald newspaper reported that Lewis was deported on May 13 over a drug-trafficking conviction, and that Davis was deported on March 7. The other four men arrested have been identified as Sean Gaynor, Kenard Hagigal, Matthew Williams and Everton Jones, who is also known as Everton Bryce. All six face charges of entering the US illegally after being deported.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Rihanna asked to leave mosque after controversial photographs A

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Barbados’ pop princess Rihanna was given the right royal boot at the weekend when she was asked to leave the site of a mosque in Abu Dhabi after posting photographs of herself posing in areas of the mosque that are off-limit to visitors. The Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque subsequently issued a statement saying that while it is open to visitors of all faiths and allows pictures, the singer’s images were inappropriate, violated the sanctity of the mosque and disrespected the religious nature of the location, according to a Gulf News report. The pictures, which showed the Unapologetic girl striking various poses in an all-black hooded jumpsuit, were posted to her Instagram account accompanied by characteristic Rihanna comments. One photograph of the Diamonds star looking at a group of local women wearing traditional head scarves and full body garments bore the caption: “B*tch stole my look.” Another shot depicted the singer lying on her back in the sun with the comment “#NoTanLines.” Others show her posing with bright red lipstick and ﬁngernails and dripping bling in front of restricted areas of the largest mosque in the UAE, which can accommodate over 40,000 worshippers. The statement released by the mosque does not name Rihanna, but refers to “a recent incident involving a singer.” “In the event of behaviour that violates the moral codes of access to the mosque, or other vis-

Rihanna it regulations – such as taking inappropriate pictures, posing in ways that are improper in the context of sacred place, talking loudly, or eating – the violators are directed in a polite manner that reﬂects the civilizational and tolerant attributes of Islam,” the statement read. “Here, the Centre refers to a recent incident, involving a singer who came for a private visit to the mosque, at a gate that is not reserved for visitors, without prior coordination with the Centre’s management and without identifying herself,” it continued. The statement added that the singer “left without entering the mosque, after being asked to do so, due to the fact that she had taken some pictures that do not conform with the conditions and regulations put in place by the Centre’s management to regulate visits in a way that takes the

status and sanctity of the mosque into consideration.” The photographs, which have since appeared on websites around the world, have been greeted with mixed reactions. EmilyNovember wrote: “Are these photos serious? I can’t believe she is this wrapped up into her own ‘looks’ that she poses at a place like this. A place which represents the opposite of what she represents.” Ali Al Saloom, the founder of AskAli.com, added: “I feel disappointed that she shared photos on Instagram that are inappropriate to the values of our religion and our Arab tradition, which values modesty and respect to the most important venue that has our father of the nation HH Sheikh Zayed’s graveyard. A mosque is not to be seen as a fun place, nor is it a place for ﬁlming fashion.” Nasif Kayed from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Understanding nevertheless pointed out: “In all of the pics she is dressed from head to toe. What is offensive about them? I’m sure that she was given the permission to be photographed in the manner in which she was. While each and all has their own opinion, in my opinion nothing in the photos is offensive.” Meanwhile, @mila_iggy responded to the images by writing: “I don’t see how Rihanna posing adjacent to a mosque in Abu Dhabi is disrespectful. If anything she’s showing respect by supporting the hijab.” The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a major tourist site in the United Arab Emirates.

Caribbean private sector urged to contribute to development of tourism industry F

ORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique– The Caribbean private sector is being urged to lend support to initiatives aimed at promoting the Caribbean as a tourist destination amid calls for the political will to move the marketing thrust forward. “We have faced many challenges, from slow growth, unpredictable airlift and onerous taxation, both external and internal, which impacts the cost of vacations to our region,” said the Chairman of the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “ And we have also lacked the political will to move our regional marketing program along fast enough to ensure we remain competitive as the most sought-after warm weather destination,” she told the opening ceremony of the CTO’s State of the Industry Conference (STOIC) here on Wednesday night. Nicholson-Doty told the delegates that a vibrant tourism sector requires a firm, yet flexible and astute partnership between the public and private sectors. “Many of our governments have invested significant resources into improving our public infrastructure, and we now need the continued help of our private sector partners to upgrade and enhance our tourism product which is critical to

maintaining our competitive position in the global marketplace. “We also need your marketing resources to help drive our tourism offerings, this can be either in cash or in-kind contributions. “Our competitors may not be able to match our destinations’ natural beauty, but many of them have the resources and the sheer will to make reaching our goals even more difficult,” she said. Figures released by the CTO indicate that the region as a whole has regained ground lost following the impact of the global economic depression in 2008-2009. Last year, the Caribbean welcomed nearly 25 million tourists, a 5.4 per cent increase over the 2011 figures and the largest number of stayover visitors in five years. The CTO said that this rate of growth outpaced the rest of the world which saw arrivals increase by four per cent. But Nicholson-Doty told delegates that the slogan “One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean” cannot be just a feel good one or a tagline that is embraced when tourism stakeholders meet a few times a year. “But it must be the strategic marketing reality of our region if we are to survive the aggressive marketing efforts of major destinations around the world,” she said, adding

“while the Caribbean is blessed by a bounty of natural resources, we are in no short supply of creativity, energy, vision and enthusiasm”. Nicholson-Doty, who is also Commissioner of Tourism in the United States Virgin Islands, said despite these attributes, she remained concern because as a ‘ region we are great debaters, we’re big on lyrics but slow on implementation”. She gave an example of the United States being able to successfully re-brand itself ahead of the Caribbean even though the region had been discussing the concept for more than a decade. “Brand USA has the data that shows the increased travel to the US since the program’s implementation. And we have the proof, that when we’ve implemented a cohesive marketing program our visitor arrivals have increased. Unfortunately, we seem only to have the will to truly work together when there is a crisis,” she said, adding “it’s time to take the blinders off. It time to wake up to today’s realities. It’s time to seize the moment”. The CTO chairman said that tourism remains the region’s primary economic earner and it was therefore necessary for all stakeholders to get more fully involved. “The global market is growing so rapidly that if we fall behind it

is going to be so much more difﬁcult and much more expensive, to catch up,” she said warning member governments that failure to honour their commitments would also have a disastrous effect on the sector. “It is time for all of us, both public and private sectors, to walk the talk of product development, and of course, regional marketing. We are not asking for charity, support for regional marketing is a solid investment in the economic development of our countries.” She said the region stakeholders should not feel comfortable meeting a few times annually “and return home only to forget the beneﬁts of regional branding of the Caribbean a few days later. “We have a 60-year history. What will be said of us in the next 60 years? Are we prepared to play hard or go home? Change isn’t just coming, it’s all around us – have we changed? Do we run off to the next event without the end goal in mind or are we playing to win? because the rest of the world is.” The three-day STOIC is being held with the theme “Perfecting the Experience, Delivering Authenticity” and Nicholson-Doty said it was important for the region to address the challenges of the most tourism dependent region in the world.

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News W

RLD

European leaders upset about US spying allegations

RUSSELS — European leaders united in anger as they attended a summit overshadowed by reports of widespread U.S. spying on its allies — allegations German Chancellor Angela Merkel said had shattered trust in the Obama administration and undermined the crucial trans-Atlantic relationship. The latest revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency swept up more than 70 million phone records in France and may have tapped Merkel’s own cellphone brought denunciations from the French and German governments. Merkel’s unusually stern remarks Thursday as she arrived at the European Union gathering indicated she wasn’t placated by a phone conversation she had Wednesday with President Barack Obama, or his personal assurances that the U.S. is not listening in on her calls now. “We need trust among allies and partners,” Merkel told reporters in Brussels. “Such trust now has to be built anew. This is what we have to think about.” “The United States of America and Europe face common challenges. We are allies,” the German leader said. “But such an alliance can only be built on trust. That’s why I repeat again: spying among friends, that cannot be.” The White House may soon face other irked heads of state and government. The British newspaper The Guardian said Thursday it obtained a conﬁdential memo suggesting the NSA was able to monitor 35 world leaders’ communications in 2006. The memo said the NSA encouraged senior ofﬁcials at the White House, Pentagon and other agencies to share their contacts so the spy agency could add foreign leaders’ phone numbers to its surveillance systems, the report said. The Guardian did not identify who reportedly was eavesdropped on, but said the memo termed the payoff very meager: “Little reportable intelligence” was obtained, it said. Other European leaders arriving for the 28-nation meeting echoed Merkel’s displeasure. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt called it “complete-

German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with President Obama in the White House in 2009 ly unacceptable” for a country to eavesdrop on an allied leader. If reports that Merkel’s cellphone had been tapped are true, “it is exceptionally serious,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told national broadcaster NOS. “We want the truth,” Italian Premier Enrico Letta told reporters. “It is not in the least bit conceivable that activity of this type could be acceptable.” Echoing Merkel, Austria’s foreign minister, Michael Spindelegger, said, “We need to re-establish with the U.S. a relationship of trust, which has certainly suffered from this.” France, which also vocally objected to allies spying on each other, asked that the issue of reinforcing Europeans’ privacy in the digital age be added to the agenda of the two-day summit. Before ofﬁcial proceedings got underway, Merkel held a brief one-onone with French President Francois Hollande, and discussed the spying controversy. After summit talks that lasted until after 1 a.m. Friday, Herman Van Rompuy, European Council president, announced at a news conference that France and Germany were seeking bilateral talks with the United States to resolve the dispute over electronic spying by “secret services” by the end of this year.

“What is at stake is preserving our relations with the United States,” Hollande told reporters at his own early-morning news conference. “They should not be changed because of what has happened. But trust has to be restored and reinforced.” “It’s become clear that for the future, something must change — and significantly,” Merkel said. “We will put all efforts into forging a joint understanding by the end of the year for the cooperation of the (intelligence) agencies between Germany and the U.S., and France and the U.S., to create a framework for the cooperation.” Without a partnership of “respect and trust,” intelligence agencies of the European nations cannot cooperate fully with the Americans in fighting terrorism, Van Rompuy said. The Europeans’ statements and actions indicated that they hadn’t been satisfied with assurances from Washington. On Wednesday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama personally assured Merkel that her phone is not being listened to now and won’t be in the future. “I think we are all outraged, across party lines,” Wolfgang Bosbach, a prominent German lawmaker from Merkel’s party, told Deutschlandfunk radio. “And that also goes for the response that the chancellor’s cellphone is not being monitored — because this sentence says nothing about whether the chancellor was monitored in the past.” “This cannot be justified from any point of view by the fight against international terrorism or by averting danger,” Bosbach said. Asked Thursday whether the Americans had monitored Merkel’s previous communications, White House spokesman Carney wouldn’t rule it out. “We are not going to comment publicly on every specified alleged intelligence activity,” he said. But while the White House was staying publicly mum, Carney said the Obama administration was discussing Germany’s concerns “through diplomatic channels at the highest level,” as it was with other U.S. allies worried about the alleged spying.

Financier George Soros backs Hillary Clinton for U.S. president

illionaire ﬁnancier George Soros, a major Democratic donor, is backing an effort to persuade former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016, a spokesman said on Thursday. Soros, 83, has pledged $25,000 to political action committee Ready For Hillary, the largest and best-funded independent group backing a potential Clinton candidacy. The wife of former President Bill Clinton would be widely viewed as the favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination if she decides to run. “His support for Ready for Hillary is an extension of his long-held belief in the power of grassroots organizing,” said Soros spokesman Michael Vachon. Soros’ pledge puts him on the PAC’s National Finance Council, along with several other major Democratic donors and ofﬁcials, the group said.

But symbolically, Soros’ support could mean much more - particularly at a time when Clinton’s supporters are seeking to ward off potential challengers to her in Democratic presidential primaries. Soros was a huge ﬁnancial backer of Democrats during the 2004 election cycle, donating an estimated $27.5 million. He also contributed heavily to Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. Clinton lost the Democratic nomination to Obama that year. During last year’s election, however, Soros largely stayed on the sidelines, expressing a distaste for new election laws that allowed unlimited fundraising and spending by new “Super PACs” and non-proﬁt groups. Soros eventually supported some independent Democratic groups during the November election. Clinton, 65, a former U.S. senator from New York whose four-year run as

secretary of state ended in February, has acknowledged that she is considering another run for president but has said she likely will not decide until next year. In the meantime, she has begun to look like a candidate - staying in the spotlight by appearing at a series of paid speeches and fundraisers. Last weekend she publicly endorsed family friend Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic nominee for Virginia governor. Ready For Hillary, which is not ofﬁcially afﬁliated with Clinton, was founded this year by a former aide in Clinton’s unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. The group had raised $1.25 million by July and now claims to have more than 20,000 donors, including many longtime Democratic fundraisers and Obama supporters. Members of Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign also have signed on.

Besides Soros, Democratic donors Amber and Steve Mostyn and Clinton friend Susie Tompkins Buell are among the major donors to Ready For Hillary. Democratic lawmakers such as U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York have publicly urged Clinton to run for president. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll in mid-September showed Clinton nearly 40 percentage points ahead of her nearest potential challenger in a Democratic presidential campaign, Vice President Joe Biden. Reuters/Ipsos polling also showed her to be Americans’ top choice for president, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as her closet potential challenger among Republicans. Americans preferred Clinton over Christie by 19 points, the September poll said.

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Portugal reopens case of missing British girl Madeleine McCann P

ortuguese prosecutors on Thursday ordered police to reopen their investigation of the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the 3-year-old British girl who went missing from a resort in the Algarve, local and British media reported. British investigators reopened their official probe of the child’s disappearance in July. After distributing computer-generated images of two men wanted for questioning, they received more than 2,400 phone calls and emails with tips and fresh leads. Portuguese authorities had declined to reopen their investigation, which was closed in 2008 without charges being brought against any suspects. On Thursday, the Portuguese attorney general’s office announced “new indications” in the case that justified fresh investigation, the Algarve Resident newspaper reported. Portuguese police initially considered the girl’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, to have been involved in her disappearance from a vacation rental apartment in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007. Madeleine and her younger twin siblings had been left sleeping in the apartment while the McCanns dined with a group of friends at a nearby tapas bar. Kate McCann said she discovered her daughter missing when she

Kate and Gerry McCann’s daughter Madeleine disappeared from a vacation rental apartment in Portugal’s Algarve region in 2007. Above, they are shown last year holding a computer-generated image of how Madeleine would likely look at age 9. looked in on the children around 10 p.m. that evening, less than an hour after her husband had made a similar check. The McCanns were eventually allowed to leave the Algarve resort more than three months after Madeleine’s disappearance to return to their home in Leicestershire. A public campaign to ﬁnd the missing child continued to dominate British tabloid headlines for months, and new inquiries were opened in Britain in 2011.

Pirates kidnap two US sailors off Nigerian coast

irates attacked an oil supply vessel off the Nigerian coast and kidnapped the captain and chief engineer, both U.S. citizens, an American defense official and security sources said on Thursday. Pirate attacks off Nigeria’s coast have jumped by a third this year as ships passing through West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a major commodities route, have come under threat from gangs wanting to snatch cargoes and crews. The U.S.-flagged, C-Retriever, a 222-foot (67 meter) vessel owned by U.S. marine transport group Edison Chouest Offshore, was attacked early Wednesday, UK-based security firm AKE and two security sources said. The company was not immediately available for comment. A U.S. defense official said the State Department and FBI were leading the American response to the incident. A second defense official said the U.S. Marine Corps has a small training unit in the region but it was not clear if it would get involved. U.S. Navy officials have grown increasingly concerned about piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and are working with local authorities there to strengthen their ability to patrol the region and better

share information. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus called the region a potential “hot spot” after a visit to four countries surrounding the gulf in August. He told Defense News in September the Navy was working closely with Gabon, Senegal, Sao Tome and Ghana to help ﬁght an increase in illegal trafﬁcking of drugs, people and arms. “The piracy threat is spreading even further through the waters of West Africa, and the attacks have been mounting, even as global rates of reported piracy are at their lowest since 2006,” said Michael Frodl of U.S.-based consultancy C-Level Maritime Risks. Unlike the dangerous waters off Somalia and the Horn of Africa on the east coast of Africa, through which ships now speed with armed guards on board, many vessels have to anchor to do business off West African countries, with little protection. This makes them a target for criminals and jacks up insurance costs. Kidnapped sailors and oil workers taken in Nigerian waters are usually released after a ransom is paid. In a separate incident, three Nigerian soldiers were killed on Tuesday when armed robbers attacked a vessel carrying construction workers in the creeks of oil-producing

Review of new evidence and leads this past summer prompted Scotland Yard to produce and publicize digital images of the two men wanted for questioning. One of the persons of interest had been seen soliciting for a charity near the vacation rental on the day of Madeleine’s disappearance, and the other facial image was based on information from a witness who reported seeing a man carrying a blond child away from the area, the BBC reported in its time-line of the case.

“This is a welcome development, but both sides of the investigation are at relatively early stages, with much work remaining to be done,” London Metropolitan Police said in a statement after the Portuguese decision to resume the hunt for Madeleine or information about her fate. “This new momentum is encouraging, but we still have a way to go, and as with all major investigations, not all lines of inquiry that look promising will yield results.” Kate and Gerry McCann, both physicians, also issued a statement saying they were “very pleased” by the Portuguese move to reopen Madeleine’s case. “We hope that this will ﬁnally lead to her being found and to the discovery of whoever is responsible for this crime,” the couple said, according to the Associated Press. The fate of long-missing children has received renewed attention in recent days with the discovery in central Greece of a young blond girl living with a Roma couple who claimed to be her parents until DNA testing proved she was no relation. Two other fair-skinned children were found with Roma, or Gypsy, parents in Ireland this week and initially taken away by child protective authorities. Genetic testing in both of those cases, though, showed the parents and children were related and the families were reunited.

ITALIAN COAST GUARDS RESCUE 700 MIGRANTS AS EU LEADERS PROMISE ACTION -- Italian coast guards rescued nearly 700 people in five separate operations overnight around the island of Lampedusa, they said Friday. News of the rescue operations came as European Union leaders were meeting in Brussels, Belgium, for a summit at which the issue of migration was high on the agenda. The deaths of more than 300 African migrants in a shipwreck off Lampedusa on October 3 shocked Italy and the world, and led to calls for EU lawmakers to review their migration policies. The European Council meeting was largely overshadowed by controversy over claims the United States has been spying on its European allies. But in a statement of its conclusions, the EU leaders expressed “deep sadness” over the recent migrant deaths in the Mediterranean and pledged action to tackle the issue. “Based on the imperative of prevention and protection and guided by the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, determined action should be taken in order to prevent the loss of lives at sea and to avoid that such human tragedies happen again,” it said. The EU leaders said they would work with migrants’ countries of origin and international organizations such as the U.N. refugee agency to try to address the root causes of migration. They also called for “the fight against trafficking and smuggling of

human beings to be stepped up” in the European Union and countries that migrants originate from or pass through. The European Union is setting up a new border surveillance system and Mediterranean task force to bolster its efforts and will review its asylum immigration policies next summer, it said. Read more: Mediterranean ‘becoming immigrants’ cemetery’ Because of its location as the closest Italian island to Africa, Lampedusa is a frequent destination for African refugees seeking to enter European Union countries, and shipwrecks off its shores are common. But despite the dangers, migrants keep on coming. Within days of the October 3 sinking, another 34 people died when their boat capsized. Hundreds more have been rescued from often unseaworthy vessels. Many of the migrants are from African nations, while others have ﬂed war-torn Syria, ofﬁcials say. U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has called for an international process to consider refugees’ medical needs and asylum requests and help them settle in Europe or elsewhere. The Italian coast guards said Friday they led the rescue of four boats with 219, 201, 95, and 91 people on board, and helped with a Maltese rescue of another vessel carrying 91 people -- a total of 697 people.

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Pope Francis Suspends ‘Bishop of Bling’ P

ope Francis has suspended the free spending German Bishop Franz Peter Tebartz-van Elst -- known derisively as Bishop Deluxe or the Bishop of Bling -- and ordered him to vacate the Diocese of Limburg, at least temporarily. The pope, who has declined to live in the Vatican’s opulent papal residence, has been urging prelates to adopt a more humble lifestyle and today’s actions were the strongest yet to reenforce that message. The pope’s decision was released in a short statement from the Vatican press office stating that the actions of the bishop had created a situation “where in the present moment he cannot exercise his Episcopal ministry.” “Pending the results of this examination and the related investigations on the responsibilities in this regard, the Holy See considers it appropriate to authorize Bishop Franz -Peter Tebartz-van Elst a period of stay outside the Diocese,” the statement said. The pope’s decision to expel the “Bishop of Bling” – as he has been dubbed in the international media – takes effect immediately. A final decision on the future of the big spending priest will be determined only after the German Bishop Conference has finished a detailed report on the cost of the construction remodel-

Bishop Franz Peter Tebartz-van Elst -- known derisively as Bishop Deluxe or the Bishop of Bling ling of the bishop’s official residence. The pope was reportedly told last week that the final costs may reach $55 million, $13 million over the already substantial price tag. After a week of waiting, Bishop Tebartz-van Elst met with Pope Francis in a 20 minute closed door meeting last Monday. No official statement was released, but German media reports that after the discussion the bishop was upbeat, calling it “an encouraging conversation.” He has not been seen in public since the meeting. The bishop continues to insist that the cost were in part because of the need for historical preservation of the 10 buildings on the property.

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst also is under investigation for false claims in the use of church money for travel to India. A prosecutor’s ofﬁce is deciding whether to pursue perjury charges. The Limburg diocese has about 650,000 members. Some have taken to protest daily in front to the area’s main cathedral. Last summer, before the news of the spending scandal, 4,000 people in diocese had signed an open letter to complain about the bishop’s leadership. In Germany, the family of the ostracized bishop have reportedly been intimidated, according to media outlets. “We get daily death threats by phone or in letters,” the brother of the priest, Johannes, told the Bunte newspaper. His 87-year-old mother told the same paper that family is standing behind her son despite of the criticism. It could take up to three months to ﬁnalize the Bishop Conference report. In the meantime the Diocese will be run by a substitute vicar general. One of the most senior members of the German church had already suggested that the bishop should use this time to examine his conscience over the crisis he has caused. “I am convinced that the bishop of Limburg... will confront this situation in a spirit of self-criticism,” Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, head of the German bishops’ conference last week.

Proud parents show off Prince George at royal christening

ondon - Baby Prince George was christened in a private ceremony, with his proud parents Prince William and Catherine giving the world a rare glimpse of the three-month-old boy. Wearing a frilly cream lace gown, the third in line to the throne was carried into the Chapel Royal of St James’s palace by his father, his mother Kate close by, elegant in a cream Alexander McQueen outﬁt. Queen Elizabeth and the couple’s parents and siblings, including William’s younger brother Prince Harry, were among just 22 guests at the ceremony, including seven newly-named godparents. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby performed the baptism, which involves pouring holy water from the River Jordan on the baby’s head. Television pictures showed the light-haired George Alexander Louis appearing wide awake and calm. He even gave the semblance of waving at the 87-year-old queen, his great-grandmother, when his father moved his arm up and down. He’s all ready,” William, 31, told the assembled party, which included the baby’s grandfather Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, adding: “So far so good.” Photographs of the gurgling prince were splashed across Thursday newspapers, which were charmed by his serene performance. The Sun ran the headline “Georgeous -- Prince is good as gold on big day”, while the Daily Telegraph carried a front-page photograph of him in his mother’s arms under the words “the perfect prince”. Inside, the Telegraph said the baby showed “regal calm”, while the Daily Mail and Times both released souvenir editions celebrating “Gorgeous George”. The low-key ceremony reﬂects the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want their son to have a relatively normal upbringing and have closely guarded his privacy. He has only appeared in public once before, when they left hospital after his birth on July 22. The couple broke with tradition by naming

commit to providing Prince George with guidance as he grew up. Besides Zara Phillips, pregnant with her ﬁrst child with rugby player husband Mike Tindall, they include William’s childhood friends William van Cutsem and Earl Hugh Grosvenor; Julia Samuel, who was close to William’s mother Diana; and Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to the private Marlborough College with Kate. A handful of royal fans camped overnight outside the palace hoping for a glimpse of the queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and baby George. “This is a very special moment. We will see three kings in the making,” said John Loughrey, a 58-year-old fan wearing a raincoat bearing the pattern of the Union ﬂag. In the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron urged MPs to “join me in celebrating” the event.

Prince William holds his son Prince George while his wife Princess Kate looks on. only one royal, William’s cousin and champion horse-rider Zara Philips, among the godparents, with the others being childhood, university and work friends. The ceremony welcomes Prince George into the Church of England, which he is destined to lead as future king and “Defender of the Faith”. During his address, Welby spelt out George’s responsibilities as a Christian, saying he “is to share the life of Christ”. “That sharing may be in words, or generous actions -- most likely both -- but it will be both very costly and inﬁnitely rewarding,” he added. Harry and Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton both read passages from the Bible. Each of the seven godparents was asked to

The christening was in sharp contrast to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s lavish 2011 wedding, which was broadcast live on televisions across the world, and to the media frenzy surrounding the birth of their first child. Just six members of the royal family attended, along with Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton and her siblings James and Pippa. The service was conducted behind closed doors although an official photograph by celebrity snapper Jason Bell will be released to the public on Thursday. Afterwards the guests were invited for tea at Charles’s official London residence, Clarence House, where, following tradition, a portion of William and Kate’s wedding cake was to be served. The official photos are expected to gain iconic status, the first time four generations of monarchs have been pictured together since 1894, at the christening of the future king Edward VIII. Patrick Jephson, Diana’s former private secretary, said the christening sent a strong message about the royal family’s durability as a dynasty. “It reinforces the public perception that the British royal family is going to be around for a long time to come,” he told AFP.

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Women gain as gender gap narrows T

he gap between men and women has narrowed slightly in the past year in most countries, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) report. Iceland, Finland and Norway top the list of 136 nations, based on political participation, economic equality and rights like education and health. The Middle East and North Africa were the only regions not to improve in the past year, with Yemen at the bottom. The Philippines and Nicaragua both feature in the top 10. The WEF has produced the report annually for the past eight years. The release of this year’s edition comes as the BBC rounds off a month-long focus on women and gender around the world with a major event at Broadcasting House in London. One hundred women from all around the world are gathering for a day of debate and discussion as the 100 Women season comes to an end Iceland’s position at the top of the WEF rankings was the ﬁfth year in a row the country has been named the world’s most equal. Report founder and co-author Saadia Zahidi told the BBC that

since the WEF began compiling the index in 2006, 80% of countries had made progress. “What’s worrying though is that 20% of countries have made no progress or are falling behind,” she said. She singled out the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as countries that had invested in education and health, but had not integrated women into the economy. Nadia al-Sakkaf, editor of the English-language Yemen Times, in London for the 100 Women conference, told the BBC that she had stopped counting the years her country had languished at the bottom of the equality list. “It comes down to everyday life. We had three women running for president in 2006. We have lots of women in senior positions,” she said. “But our levels of maternal mortality are very high, and 35% of girls aged 6-14 years old are not in school.” Human capital Saadia Zahidi of the WEF said that by contrast many sub-Saharan countries had not invested in women, but through necessity they played a major role in the economy.

Nordic countries continued to lead the way because they had a long history of investing in people, she said. “They are small economies with small populations; they recognise that talent matters, and that talent has to be men and women. Overall, the report, entitled Global Gender Gap Report 2013, found Iceland to be the most advanced country in the world in terms of gender equality for the ﬁfth year running. Iceland, Finland (second), Norway (third) and Sweden (fourth) had all closed over 80% of the gender gap, where 100% would represent full equality. The highest-ranked Asian nation was the Philippines (ﬁfth), praised for its success in health, education and economic participation. Asia’s major economies performed poorly, with China in 69th place and Japan 105th. Nicaragua in 10th place was the highest positioned country in North and South America, and was praised for a “strong performance” in terms of political empowerment. Among major world economies Germany ranked 14th (down one), the UK held its position at 18, with

Canada at 20 and the United States 23rd. On matters of health and survival, the report ﬁnds that 96% of the gap has now closed. In terms of education, the global gender gap is 93% closed, with 25 countries now judged to deliver equal treatment to boys and girls at school. It is a different picture on the core issue of economic equality, where the gender gap has closed by 60%. In developing and developed countries alike, women’s presence in economic leadership positions is limited. And while women have made small gains in political representation - 2% this year - only 21% of that global gender gap has closed Ms Zahidi said the idea of the report was not to remind poor countries that they had fewer opportunities than rich countries, but to give them a tool to improve the situation. “Women make up one half of the human capital available to any economy and any company; if that talent isn’t integrated, that is going to be a loss for both women and men,” she said.

Iran may be month from a nuclear bomb I

ran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium to build a nuclear bomb in as little as a month, according to a new estimate by one of the USA’s top nuclear experts. The new assessment comes as the White House invited Senate staffers to a brieﬁng on negotiations with Iran as it is trying to persuade Congress not to go ahead with a bill to stiffen sanctions against Iran. “Shortening breakout times have implications for any negotiation with Iran,” stated the report by the Institute for Science and In-

ternational Security. “An essential ﬁnding is that they are currently too short and shortening further.” David Albright, president of the institute and a former inspector for the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency, said the estimate means that Iran would have to eliminate more than half of its 19,000 centrifuges to extend the time it would take to build a bomb to six months. The Obama administration has said Iran is probably a year away from having enough enriched uranium to make a bomb. Requests for comment from the National

Security Council and the State Department were not answered. In the report, Albright said negotiations with Iran should focus on so-called “breakout” times, or the time required to convert low-enriched uranium to weapons-grade. Albright, who has testiﬁed before Congress, said the negotiators should try to ﬁnd ways to lengthen the breakout times and shorten the time that inspectors could detect breakout. ISIS’ analysis is based on the latest Iranian and United Nations reports on Iran’s centrifuge equipment for producing nuclear fuel and its nuclear fuel stockpiles.

Iran’s stockpile of highly-enriched uranium has nearly doubled in a year’s time and its number of centrifuges has expanded from 12,000 in 2012 to 19,000 today. Sen. Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican whose Senate Banking Committee is considering legislation to tighten Iran sanctions, said the report shows that Iran is expanding its nuclear capabilities under the cover of negotiations. “The Senate should move forward immediately with a new round of sanctions to prevent Iran from acquiring an undetectable breakout capability,” he said.

CALIFORNIA BOY WITH FAKE GUN FATALLY SHOT BY DEPUTIES

13-year-old California boy carrying a replica of an assault riﬂe was shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies who apparently believed the gun was real, family members and authorities said. The incident took place in the northern California community of Santa Rosa on Tuesday, a day after a 12-year-old boy killed a teacher at a Nevada middle school with a gun he also used to take his own life. Although authorities declined to identify the child killed in the California incident, the boy’s father, Rodrigo Lopez, said he was 13-year-old Andy Lopez, who was on his way to a friend’s house with a pellet gun left at the family home over the weekend. Pellet guns, which use compressed air or other gases to ﬁre pellets or spherical balls, are sometimes made to resemble assault weapons.

The fake pellet gun which cost a teenager his life. Andy, according to friends and family, had a good sense of humor, and liked to tease his friend Luis’ older sister, Ana. He played saxophone and enjoyed basketball and boxing. But he also appeared to have had some difﬁculties. According to his father, he was expelled from Lawrence Cook Middle School in Santa Rosa “for little things.”

On Tuesday, Andy had been sent home early from his new alternative school, for what his parents described as lingering too long at a local store during a break. Later in the afternoon, his father said, Andy took the pellet gun, which had been left by another child, and made plans to see Luis. But when Andy did not return home later in the day, the family called the Diaz home and learned that he had not arrived there. Rodrigo Lopez said he then stepped outside, noting the police cars and commotion, but not realizing for some time that the unmoving body on the ground was that of his son. The sheriff’s department said the deputies involved had been patrolling in Santa Rosa, about 55 miles north of San Francisco, on Tuesday afternoon when they

saw someone who appeared to be holding an assault weapon. “The two deputies repeatedly ordered the subject to drop the rifle and at some point immediately thereafter, the deputies fired several rounds from their handguns at the subject striking him several times,” the department said. “The subject fell to the ground and landed on top of the rifle he was carrying.” After securing the area, deputies realized that the weapon was a replica, the press release said. They also found a plastic handgun. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure, and the incident is being investigated by the Santa Rosa Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, officials said.

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usiness B AND

T O

ECHN LOGY Apple unveils iPad Air, new Macs for holidays

pple Inc on Tuesday offered free upgrades for life on its operating system and business software, and unveiled thinner iPads and faster Mac computers ahead of a competitive holiday shopping season. The debut of the one-pound iPad Air and MacBook Pro with sharper ‘retina’ display repeats a pattern of recent launches with improvements in existing lines rather than totally new products, and Apple shares fell 0.3 percent for the day. Apple said upgrades to its Mac operating system and iWork software suite, which compete with Microsoft Corp’s Excel, Word and other applications, will now be offered for all MacBooks and Mac computers. That brings Apple’s model of free system software upgrades on phones and tablets to the computer market, where Apple is still the underdog to Microsoft’s Windows. Apple may be trying to safeguard its grip on mobile software as Microsoft revs up its Windows-powered Surface Pro, which runs applications, such as Word or Excel, that are the standard for business customers, analysts said. “We are turning the industry on its ear, but this is not why we’re doing it,” Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook told media and technology executives at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center. “We want our customers to have our latest software.” The market is awash in inexpensive tablets running Google Inc’s Android software, but the company may be focused on fending off a

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook with the new ipad Air

The new Apple Mac Pro

threat from the high end. “In the tablet PC market, they do think Microsoft is a bigger threat than Android,” said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi. “The iPad Air will compete with Surface Pro, not some rinky-dink Android tablet.” Gartner estimates that Apple’s share of the global tablet market will slip to 47.2 percent in 2014, with Android-based tablets just overtaking Apple’s this year. The IT research outfit expects Microsoft tablets to grab 3.4 percent of the market this year, double the 1.7 percent forecast for 2013. Microsoft gets 65 percent of its Windows revenue, which totaled $19.2 billion last fiscal year, from PC manufacturers which put the system on its machines, and 35 percent from other sources, chiefly people and businesses buying its software separately to install themselves. The latest version of Windows, when bought separately to install on an old computer, starts at $120 for a home version and goes up to $200 for the full ‘Pro’ version. The latest Windows 8.1 upgrade was free for

customers running Windows 8. Apple’s product launches on Tuesday were evolutionary, with the new iPads equipped with faster processors and better screens. Cook, at an industry conference in May, had hinted at “several more game changers” from Apple which could include wearable computers, but had not given a time frame. “As always with Apple, expectations on systematic breakthrough hardware innovations are irrational,” said Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said. “Apple is good at inventing new products and at maximizing proﬁtability of its product range over time through software innovations and clever marketing.” Apple’s new iPad Air - its full-size tablet - is about 20 percent thinner than the previous generation of tablets, weighs one pound and starts at $499. It will go on sale on November 1. The iPad mini now has a “retina” high-resolution screen and starts at $399, compared with $329 for the previous mini model. The two new tablets would face stiff competition,

BARCLAYS FOUND LIABLE IN $300 MILLION DISPUTE WITH BLACK DIAMOND

arclays Plc breached a derivative agreement with a Black Diamond Capital Management unit and must return an estimated $297 million in collateral to the hedge fund, a divided New York state appeals court ruled on Thursday. The Connecticut-based fund’s BDC Finance LLC ﬁled a lawsuit against the bank in 2008, claiming Barclays had defaulted on a $40 million collateral call made at the height of the ﬁnancial crisis. Barclays disagreed with that amount, asserting that it owed only $5 million, which it remitted to Black Diamond two days after the call was made. Black Diamond then declared Barclays in default. Last year, Justice Eileen Bransten in state Supreme Court in Manhattan dismissed Black Diamond’s breach of contract claim. However, the

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, a midlevel appeals court, reversed that ruling in a 3-2 decision on Thursday. The court found Barclays breached the contract both by not making the $5 million payment on time and by failing to follow the contract’s procedures for disputing a collateral call, which required the bank to pay the full $40 million amount before disputing it. “The evidence in the record undeniably shows that Barclays failed to pay the undisputed amount by the deadline, and establishes as a matter of law that Barclays did not comply with the (contract’s) dispute resolution process,” the three-judge majority wrote. With Barclays in default, Black Diamond had the right to terminate the agreement and demand

with Microsoft, Nokia and Amazon. com Inc all plugging rival devices in coming months. Apple also showed off a new Mac Pro, a premium and high-powered cylindrical desktop computer that will be assembled in United States. It had shown the computer at a previously event. For the ﬁrst, Apple will launch the new iPads simultaneously in the United States and China, its biggest market, which is also a key growth region. Apple, which jumpstarted the tablet computing market in 2010 with the ﬁrst iPad, has already come under increasing pressure from cheaper devices ranging from Amazon’s Kindle Fire to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd’s Note. But while Apple is ceding market share to rivals, its superior library of apps and content should safeguard its lead for years to come, analysts say. Longer term however, investors hope to see real device innovation from a company that has not unveiled a new breakthrough product in years. Cook on Tuesday dismissed the competition as directionless. “Our competition is different: they’re confused,” he said. “Now they’re trying to make PCs into tablets and tablets into PCs. Who knows what they’ll do next?” “We have a very clear direction and a very ambitious goal. We still believe deeply in this category and we’re not slowing down on our innovation.”

a return of its entire collateral, which the fund has estimated at $297 million, the court said. Two judges, however, dissented from the court’s opinion, arguing that there are questions of fact over whether Barclays disputed the $40 million call in a timely fashion. Barclays did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment outside of regular U.S. business hours. The bank can seek to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court. Craig Newman, a lawyer for Black Diamond, declined to comment. The deal at issue was signed in 2005. The total return swap transferred the beneﬁts and risks of an investment in a Barclays-held portfolio of corporate debt instruments to Black Diamond in exchange for ﬁnancing fees paid to the bank. The contract allowed each side to make collateral demands on the other based on changes to the value of the underlying loans.

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BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

Singapore named best country in the world to do business for 7th year running F

OR the seventh year running, Singapore has been ranked the easiest place to do business in the world, according to a new World Bank report. Some of the other countries with similar business friendly regulations include Hong Kong, China, New Zealand and Korea. The report entitled Doing Business 2013: Smarter Regulations for Small and Medium Size Enterprises also found that the ease of doing business in developing countries is at a 10-year high. Sweeping regulatory reforms implemented by 180 economies in the past decade have yielded these results. For example, the average time needed to start a business has fallen from 50 days to 30 days in the past ﬁve years. In the past year, Eastern Europe and Central Asia were where the largest share of the 201 regulatory reforms undertaken by 108 economies occurred. Singapore has one of the most stable political environments in Southeast Asia, offering entrepreneurs and investors a strong sense of security and comfort. The judicial system of Singapore has been recognized as one of the most efﬁcient in Asia, enforcing anti-corruption laws that investors can conduct business without fear of bureaucratic malaise. Moreover, through strict law enforcement, Singapore has a persistently low crime rate and offers residents a high degree of personal safety. In the event of cross-border disputes, businesses can rely on Singapore’s reputation as a worldclass arbitration facility. Singapore’s business environment has been recognized by a long list of accolades and international rankings such as World Bank’s Doing Business Report, the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report and Global Information

Technology Report as well as Economist Intelligence Unit’s Country Forecasts Report. These rankings are testament to the quality of Singapore’s capabilities and infrastructure. As a result, Singapore has attracted thousands of multinational corporations (MNCs), many of which have chosen Singapore as their Asia Pacific headquarters, says Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI). Singapore is home to the world’s top players across all industries, in part, due to its location in the heart of Southeast Asia and close proximity to surrounding emerging markets. This then places it well to straddle developed and developing markets around it. Furthermore, it has over 20 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 27 economies as well as 69 comprehensive Avoidance of Double Tax Agreements (DTAs) under its belt. These agreements facilitate business and trading across borders and make it less costly for Singapore firms to expand their operations internationally. Singapore facilitates trade through a dynamic supply chain management as well as efficient logistics infrastructure. The Singapore Changi International Airport serves over 80 international airlines and connects people to more than 190 cities in 160 countries daily. The airport also handled a record 51.2 million passengers in 2012 and 2.1 million tonnes of air freight annually, according to data from SATS, Singapore’s gateway services provider. It is also home to many leading logistics firms such as UPS and FedEx. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2011 - 2012, Singapore offers the best IP protection, infrastructure and incentives in Asia. It also comes a close second in that ranking globally, next to Finland.

Singapore is a vibrant nerve center to 123 commercial banks, 154 fund managers and 291 capital markets services license holders. It is not only a hub for wealth management and investments in Asia, but has the fourth largest forex trading center,the Singapore Exchange (SGX). As a result, successful entrepreneurs are in good stead to have access to a combination of private and commercial banking services to fund the expansion of their business and at rates as low as 1% per annum. The Singapore personal tax structure is progressive. Marginal rates range from 0-20% and the framework allows residents to tap various reliefs, thereby lowering their effective payments. In addition, Singapore offers the Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) Scheme. It grants a favorable ﬁve-year tax treatment for qualifying individuals working in Singapore. Such individuals are employees of a Singapore registered company, earn at least S$160,000 per annum and spend at least 90 days per year outside Singapore for work purposes. As such, IRAS will not tax the individual on the income of the duration spent outside Singapore for business. Besides its vast network of free trade and tax treaties, Singapore also offers one of the most attractive corporate tax structures in the world. Although its marginal rate is the third lowest in the world, its effective rate is even lower. Rikvin’s Singapore Corporate Tax Calculator is made available online to help entrepreneurs estimate their corporate tax rates when they do business in Singapore. Through its enhanced Productivity and Innovation Credit Scheme, the Singapore government has made it possible for a ﬁrm to not pay corporate taxes even if it earns S$28m.

US sets extremely tough liquidity plan for banks

.S. regulators unveiled a plan on Thursday for banks to hold enough assets they can easily sell to survive a credit crunch, calling on U.S. banks to meet new liquidity standards two years before most foreign banks must comply. The proposal, which tells banks to hold enough liquid assets to meet their cash needs for 30 days, is a key plank of the Basel III capital rules agreed globally to make banks safer after the 200709 credit crisis. Federal Reserve officials voted unanimously to propose U.S. rules with a shorter transition timeline than Basel calls for, and a stricter standard for how banks calculate their liquid asset needs. “Since financial crises usually begin with a liquidity squeeze that further weakens the capital position of vulnerable firms, it is essential that we adopt liquidity regulations,” Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said at a meeting on Thursday. Regulators said the liquidity rules would ensure that, in a crunch, banks would have enough government debt and other easyto-sell assets on hand to cope with customer withdrawals, post collateral and meet other needs. Banks with $250 billion or

more in assets, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), must meet the full requirement, while banks with less than $50 billion would be exempt. Mid-sized banks that fall in between would be subject to a less stringent liquidity requirement. Fed staff estimated a rough shortfall of about $200 billion in liquid assets across all institutions as a result of the rule, a gap the banks would have until 2017 to address. The international version gave banks until 2019 to fully comply because of concerns that a quick transition would hamper economic growth. “It’s clear that the other guys won’t have to have that money squirreled away for several more years after our guys,” said Bill Sweet, a partner with the law ﬁrm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Fed ofﬁcials said they decided on the shorter timeframe because U.S. banks already appeared to be close to complying. JPMorgan (JPM.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) all have said previously that they had enough liquid assets stockpiled to meet the Basel requirements.

None commented specifically on the new rules. TOUGHER VERSION Under the Basel rule, banks would calculate their expected obligations and hold enough liquid assets to cover net cash expenditures at the end of a 30-day period. In a twist, the Fed’s rule calls for banks to calculate liquidity ratios based on the particular day when cash outflows are the highest. That could mean U.S. banks need more liquid assets than they would under the international rule, said Oliver Ireland, a partner at the law firm Morrison Foerster who also has worked at the Fed. “Essentially, what they’ve done is they’ve created a higher ratio,” he said. “You could have real volatility in liquidity during a period because of just cash flow issues generally, how they shape up, and so this could be a very big deal,” said Ireland, who also expected banks to push back against the change. Banks will have 90 days to submit comments after which regulators will decide whether to make the plan final. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are expected to propose similar rules.

BANK OF AMERICA LIABLE FOR COUNTRYWIDE MORTGAGE FRAUD

ank of America Corp was found liable for fraud on Wednesday over defective mortgages sold by its Countrywide unit, a major win for the U.S. government in one of the few trials stemming from the financial crisis. After a four-week trial, a federal jury in New York found the bank liable on one civil fraud charge. Countrywide originated shoddy home loans in a process called “Hustle” and sold them to government mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government said. The four men and six women on the jury also found former Countrywide executive Rebecca Mairone liable on the one fraud charge she faced. The U.S. Justice Department has said it would seek up to $848.2 million, the gross loss it said Fannie and Freddie suffered on the loans. But it will be up to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff to decide on the penalty. Arguments on how the judge will assess penalties are set for December 5. Any penalty would add to the more than $40 billion Bank of America has spent on disputes stemming from the 2008 financial crisis. “The jury’s decision concerned a single Countrywide program that lasted several months and ended before Bank of America’s acquisition of the company,” Bank of America spokesman Lawrence Grayson said. “We will evaluate our options for appeal.” Marc Mukasey, a lawyer for Mairone, called his client a “woman of integrity, ethics and honesty,” adding they would fight on. “She never engaged in fraud, because there was no fraud,” he said.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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The Winter Season is soon here, come and join our winning team!!! Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions. Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends. The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview

Rooms Division Department Requires:

Photoshop Department requires:

t $PODJFSHF .BOBHFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - Three years managing or assisting with the management of two or more Concierge desk - Excellent customer service skills - Ability to multitask and give the guest more than he or she expects 5IF TBMBSZ GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF SBOHFT GSPN UP

t 1IPUPHSBQIFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - 2 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in field - Ability to sell and make quotas 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

Administration Department requires: t "TTJTUBOU %JSFDUPS PG 0QFSBUJPOT Requirements include but are not limited to: - Experience managing an operations portfolio for a property over 400 rooms - Experience in the following areas F & B and Rooms Division 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF JT OFHPUJBCMF

The Sales Department requires: t 4PPO $PNF #BDL -JBJTPO "HFOU Requirements include but are not limited to: - Knowledge of rooms and categories - Ability to up sell - Ability to meet sales target - Manage the loyalty portfolio 5IF IPVSMZ SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF SBOHFT GSPN UP QFS IS

Engineering Department requires: t &MFDUSJDJBO t 3FGSJHFSBUJPO 5FDIOJDJBOT Requirements include but are not limited to: - Knowledgeable of in related fields both in theory and practical 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS t -BCPVS 3FRVJSFNFOUT JODMVEF CVU BSF OPU MJNJUFE UP - Physically Fit - Ability to carry out labour intensive task 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS t %JTQBUDIFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - Knowledgeable of inventory and stock - Experience in scheduling and assigning work orders 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

Dining Room Department requires: Laundry Department requires: t 4IJGU -FBEFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - Previous supervisory experience in commercial Laundry - Physically fit )PVSMZ SBUF GPS UIF BCPWF NFOUJPOFE QPTJUJPO SBOHF GSPN UP

Housekeeping Department requires: t 3PPN "UUFOEBOUT %PNFTUJD 8PSLFS t )PVTFNFO t 1VCMJD "SFB "UUFOEBOUT $MFBOFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - One yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience in a hotel environment an asset. - Physically fit 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

Stewarding Department Requires: t 4UFXBSE Requirements include but are not limited to: - Physically Fit - Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

Food and Beverage Department requires: t )PTUFTT t 4FSWFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - One yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience in a restaurant with seating for over 100 persons an asset. - No allergies to any foods - Physically fit t #BS 1PSUFS t #BSUFOEFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - Excellent customer service skills - Knowledge of wines mixing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

t %JSFDUPS PG 'PPE BOE #FWFSBHF t 'PPE BOE #FWFSBHF .BOBHFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - 10 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in F/B Management, - Knowledge of restaurant, bar/lounge, banquets, room service and kitchen operational experience. - Knowledge of OSHA standards. 5IF TBMBSZ GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT OFHPUJBCMF

Human Resources Department Requires: t "TTJTUBOU 5SBJOJOH .BOBHFS Requirements include but are not limited to: - A first Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management or Training and Development or any other related discipline - Minimum two yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work experience in a leadership position - Experience in Adult learning theories and instructional methodologies 5IF TBMBSZ GPS UIF QPTJUJPO MJTUFE BCPWF SBOHFT GSPN UP

Rooms Division Department Requires: t 3FDFQUJPOJTU 'SPOU 0ĂłDF "HFOU t $PODJFSHF "HFOU t "JSQPSU 3FQSFTFOUBUJWF Requirements include but are not limited to: - Background in customer service - Ability to go above and beyond for guest

- Ability to sing and dance 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

Grounds Departments requires: t 4VQFSWJTPS - Experience managing a grounds team t *SSJHBUJPO 5FDIOJDJBO - Knowledge of water/ Irrigation systems - Ability to trouble shoot Irrigation Line problems t (SPVOETNBO MBEZ Requirements include but are not limited to: - Physically fit - Ability to carry out labour intensive task 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

The Watersports Department requires: t #PBU $BQUBJO Requirements include but are not limited to: - Boat License - Experience with a crew over 7persons t 4DVCB %JWF *OTUSVDUPS Requirements include but are not limited to: - Physically Fit - Certified in first aid - PADI Certified t #FBDI BOE 1PPM "UUFOEBOUT Requirements include but are not limited to: - Keep the pool /beach area tidy and clean - First Aid qualification an asset "MM QFSTPOT JO UIF 8BUFSTQPSUT %FQBSUNFOU NVTU IBWF UIF BCJMJUZ UP TXJN BOE QBTT B TXJN FOEVSBODF UFTU )PVSMZ SBUF GPS UIF BCPWF NFOUJPOFE QPTJUJPOT SBOHF GSPN UP

Spa Department Requires: t 4QB "UUFOEBOU t $PTNFUPMPHJTU t 4QB 5IFSBQJTU t )BJS #SBJEFS The ideal candidate must satisfy the following criteria: - Certification in one or more of the following areas: Massage, Esthetics, Body treatments, Hair services, Tattoos and Nail services. Remuneration: Bi-weekly base pay plus commission

The Gift Shop Department requires: t IPQ "UUFOEBOU Requirements include but are not limited to: - Two years sales experience a must

t #FMMNBO t .JOJCBS 4UPDLFS "UUFOEBOU Requirements include but are not limited to: - Physically Fit - Outgoing and friendly attitude 5IF SBUF GPS UIF QPTJUJPOT MJTUFE BCPWF JT UP BO IPVS

Entertainment Department requires: t 'VO QBMT 1MBZFST %BODFST $MPXOT Requirements include but are not limited to: - An outgoing personality required

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

and

The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than November 9th 2013. Otherwise, please call anytime for an appointment

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Sports

CARIBBEAN

Jeff Webb pushing for professional Caribbean soccer league

ORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — CONCACAF is expected to announce in a couple of days a task force to examine the proposal of a Caribbean professional league. Confederation boss Jeffrey Webb said the working group will be charged with the broadbased responsibility of developing a model for such a league. I will be announcing a task force to examine and create a proposal and a business model as to what will be the strategies that need to take place for a Caribbean professional league,” the Caymanian said. Webb, who on Tuesday hosted representatives from governments from across the confederation and the corporate world at a summit in his native Cayman Islands, said young players must be provided with the opportunity for advancement within their own territory, and a professional league within the Caribbean is one way to achieve this. “Right now we don’t have a top professional league in the region where our youth can aspire to play in, a league like most in the world that everyone wants to play in, and the reality is everyone wants to go to England and Spain because you want to test your skills with the best in the world, but you know what, we lack that professional league in the region and that is one of the objectives that have come out of this summit,” he noted. The FIFA vice-president and chairman of FIFA’s high-proﬁle Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task Force, said CONCACAF has a responsibility to drive its own development, and the proposed Caribbean professional league to be played by top

Jeff Webb of the Cayman Islands, is the head of CONCACAF clubs regionwide is one such initiative. “We believe that we have to have our own development within our confederation, development can’t only be the responsibility of FIFA. I believe we must control and decide our own destiny and we should decide what that development programme should be,” noted Webb, who remains president of the Cayman Islands Football Association. Former Manchester United star and Trinidad and Tobago international Dwight Yorke likes the idea of a regional club league, saying “it can work and I will support it”. At best, club football in the Caribbean is at a semi-professional level. He added that the recent CONCACAF Under-15 championship for boys held in the Cayman Islands is another major thrust towards the development process, and the football executive said he took particular pride in seeing the ﬁrst ball kicked in this grass-roots event.

“The Under-15 competition is very important, especially for the Caribbean to kick-start the youngsters’ development and will serve as the first introduction to international football... playing an Under-17 World Cup qualifier should not be a youngster’s first taste of international football, as a confederation we should have more expansion with the same thing with the girls, starting them at the Under-15 level,” Webb said. He said the proposal is also on the table for CONCACAF to “to look at having its own Under-21 competition”. Tuesday’s CONCACAF Sports Summit under the inspirational theme “Transformation through Partnership”, which brought all stakeholders of football together for opening channels of dialogue and co-operation was deemed a success. “I am very happy and I believe that we have restarted the dialogue and we have now commenced the collaboration between the political and football authorities and we hope of course that both entities can now start developing and building the strategies to move football forward in their own territories,” said Webb. The CONCACAF president said while all the presentations at the inaugural forum were informative and constructive, he said the “uplifting” delivery from Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was deserving of the standing ovation she got at the end. “I thank her from the depth of my heart for coming here to deliver the message to us that as a region that will certainly lift us and inspire us,” Webb said.

The Bahamas making sure it is ready to host IAAF World Relays

he National Sports Authority is making sure that the Bahamas is ready to take on the 20-plus countries expected here to participate in the inaugural International Amateur Athletic Federation’s World Relays at the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. #The relays are scheduled for May 24-25, 2014 and according to NSC’s deputy chairman Jeff Beckles, both the athletes and the fans will enjoy the tremendous formation that will take place between the original and the new TAR stadium with more than 1,000 athletes competing in the 4?100 metres, 4?200m, 4?400m, 4?800m and the 4?1500m relays with a total prize fund of $1.4 million. “The NSA will be leading the effort to completely ﬁt out the national stadium and the Thomas A Robinson track for the event,” he said. “That would include a signiﬁcant upgrade to the old TAR stadium and the national stadium, including refurbishing the track, and giving the entire area around the two complexes a facelift. “We have gotten the full support

from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, which recognises that his mandate was to create facilities where young Bahamian athletes could be developed. So he’s (the minister) given us great support in ensuring that the funding is in place to do what we have to do.” While the work will be carried over in two phases - the ﬁrst to take place over the next 20 weeks in order to get ready for the initial relays in 2014, the ﬁnal phase will be staged leading up to the second relays that will follow in 2015. When completed, Beckles said the Bahamian public will be pleasantly surprised and impressed with the way the stadium will look. Additionally, Beckles said the NSA will ensure that the shortcomings that occurred with the international media for the CARIFTA Games and the initial Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational in April will not repeat itself. “We have looked into the allocation of space within the bleachers stand to accommodate the media and we have

already identiﬁed a spot that will also enable us to put together a mixed zone, which would allow them to carry out their jobs without the hassle that you all experienced in the past,” Beckles said. “And we have also looked at ways that we can work with the host broadcasting and the ofﬁcial IAAF broadcasting teams to ensure that they can function because we realise that their work is entirely different from the media. So we have to make sure that they are properly accommodated.” The access and the safety of patrons is also paramount and Beckles said they have devised a plan that will ensure that they can traverse without any problems because of the transformation that will take place around the perimeter of the two stadiums over the course of the next two years. And the VIP segment of the stadium will also be upgraded. Beckles said they intend to work with Seiko, who provides state-of-theart timing and measurement equipment, designed especially for athletics

at the highest level, including false start detection systems, electronic distance measurement devices and transponder timing systems for both track and out-of-stadium races. And they will also have the presence of Deltatre, which produces information in computers around the stadium that include events schedule, official results, real-time results, flash quotes, news, photos and videos, medals and records information, athletes’ bios, customisable medal alerts and event calendar synchronisation. BTC, according to Beckles, will be engaged to provide the Internet and wireless telephone, especially to the visiting media, athletes, officials and fans, which is customary for any and all of the IAAF sanctioned events around the world. “When we are finished, we believe that the media, the athletes and the general public will be very pleased with the work that we would have done to get the national stadium and the TAR stadium ready for the relays,” he said. “This is going to be very exciting for us.”

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