VOLUME 10 - No. 21
JUNE 14TH – JUNE 21ST, 2014
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PDM MUST PURGE
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Oswald Skippings
Former leader says party needs to cleanse itself F
by Vivian Tyson
ormer Chief Minister and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM)Oswald Skippings is not ruling out returning to elective politics, but the says the party needs to cleanse itself of some of its current members. The erudite politician, who is also a founder of the PDM, made the statement while giving an interview to The SUN this past week to highlight his decision to return to his first love outside of gospel ministry – community activism. He however, would not be drawn
into whether or not those who he would like to see purged from the party are included in the leadership. “I think that both parties have a few good people and some undesirables, and if I were to ever be on the PDM platform again, it would only be after a purging has taken place,” the former party leader elicited. Skippings, who told The SUN that he has secured leave from his church to start the organization which he is in no hurry to give a name, said that he was compelled to make the move on the grounds that he believes the country is heading in the wrong direction, and the that the opposing voices are
insufficient. “I still believe that Turks and Caicos Islanders should have a job, and that should be a priority over everybody else once they are qualified to work. I still believe that from a population standpoint, we have to control that growth and decide who we want here and how many we want here. “These fundamental commitments seem to no longer have place with the PDM, and to that extent, people meet me every day and said that the people you were campaigning with and some of the people you were campaigning for were telling us not to support you,” he said revealed.
He added: “One of the reasons why I left politics is because the PDM has outgrown me; I still believe that the people come first and I still believe that we have to be committed to building the country first instead of building ourselves as politicians.” He said that one of the reasons he was pushed out of the PDM was due to the stand he took during the 2012 general elections, when he even refused donations from some people who he believes are bad for Turks and Caicos and its people. Continued on Page 2
OPERATION BAHAMAS. Governor Peter Beckingham, Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar and Mrs. Clara Gardiner, Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Border Control and
Labour visited the Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) team in Great Inagua, The Bahamas on Wednesday to find out more about joint US/Bahamas/TCI operations to stop the illegal movement of people, drugs and weapons across the region. In the photo, TCI officials are seen with representatives from The Bahamas and the US Coast Guard.
Sailrock development gets 999 year lease – Page 2
Judge eases media reporting restrictions – Page 8
Man sentenced to life again for killing girlfriend – Page 9
$500 to fast-track work permits – Page 7
2014 FIFA World Cup Match Plan – Page 46
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
PDM must purge
Continued from Page 1
“I know where they came from and why it (pushing him out of the party) came. It goes back to the same problem we have now, in that, the power that be, who are not being targeted (for SIPT prosecution), who have money and power, understand that if I become the government I would take the people’s interest at heart as opposed to serving their interest. I could never be held on the end of a yoyo string – some of those people’s money I refuse during the campaign,” Skippings said. I believe that there is a time when everybody has expired, and I am not afraid to exit when that time comes. I believe that you ought to have succession plan; if you are a leader, you have to train people to lead. There are a lot of brilliant young people who are behind and I am not opposed to them taking their rightful place.
NO THIRD PARTY Skippings quickly dismissed claims that the group that he is forming is a gateway to the third party, telling The SUN that he has not such interest. “It is not a formation of a party or anything like that, but a group that is willing to find, go out there and organize and sensitize people as to the issues and push the government to do the right stuff,” he said. He was also quick to point out that his initiative should not be mistaken as a PDM idea, pointing out that there is daylight between his intentions and those of the PDM. “I would like for people to understand that everyone knows I am not part of the PDM, so this is not a PDM initiative; this is a people’s initiative. And if they look at the last elections you would see that there is a difference
between the current PDM and Oswald gross inaction of both the government and the opposition. Skippings,” he said. Skippings believes that Turks and Caicos Islanders are being stripped of ‘TOTAL DISRESPECT FOR not only their country, but also their TURKS AND CAICOS dignity and respect, and not enough is being done by parliamentarians to ISLANDERS’ change course. Skippings said he is even more con“There is a total disrespect for Turks cerned that the PDM leadership has and Caicos Islanders, and in fact, not been forceful enough to unambigu- we are being treated like imbeciles ously bringing the issue to people. with the utmost contempt. And the His new organization will be organ- disheartening thing about that is izing the community and to push for that the elected officials are passively greater representation. toeing the line. “Here I am now, making myself “This couldn’t happen in 2007 available with those who have and before. If I was a member expressed interest and asking anybody of government, then the British that is interested in contributing to Government would have known in a force to right what’s wrong in this no uncertain terms that that it is country to come on board,” Skippings unacceptable. If I was a member of the said. opposition, the government and the He said that the organization would British Government would have been be using a variety of modes to get its challenged and exposed in the House message across to the powers that be, of Parliament. And anyone who knows and while numbers will not be the me knows that’s the case,” he said. primary focus, he would want to know Skippings was especially not that it attracts many people. pleased with the way the hospitals’ “There are going to be times when deal is panning out. He said that the you need a demonstration, and a deal has been a financial albatross to demonstration is more effective with the people of the country with no end 100 people than 10 people or 1,000 in sight. than 200 people. It doesn’t mean that “That include the loan and you have to have an organization with construction contract, and now we are 200 people to demonstrate; you can talking about all the monies that are have a group of five people,” Skippings being paid. We don’t know how much argued. we are paying, we don’t know what we Asked if the organization will have are paying for, we don’t know who we a name, the veteran politician said are paying to, and why we are paying that he does not envision that it would, it and we don’t know whether or not it but could have one in the future. is legal that we are paying it. Skippings walked off into the “But strangely enough the budget political sunset after narrowly losing was passed last year by the House. to the Dr. Rufus Ewing-led Progressive All the elected officials voted – both National Party (PNP) in the 2012 government and the opposition. I general elections and took up full time don’t know that everybody supported ministry thereafter. He explained that the budget but they supported heading his return to public was sparked by the in the budget that provides for the
Sailrock resort development gets 999 year land lease Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee Brathwaite Knowles told the House of Assembly this past week that CMK, the holding company for the South Caicos resort development – Sailrock – has been given a nine hundred and ninety-nine (999 )year lease on the property at an agreement cost of $690,725.06. The attorney general was responding to questions posed by Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson. The area of land issued under the agreement is 1,056 acres. She told the House that existing buildings on the land have been included in the lease agreement. The majority of the buildings, the attorney general said, are with sturdy structures, while one of them has been abandoned. Brathwaite-Knowles also told the house that three leases have been completed under the agreement, two of which have been granted, while the third is currently in negotiation through the Civil Recovery Team because of monetary dispute. “The general terms provide for 999 year lease at a peppercorn rate. The purpose of the lease is at the cost to the developer, to restore, maintain and protect
Brathwaite-Knowles told the House that the lease, which is held up is to a dispute involving the amount of rent being charged, and as a result, the Civil Recovery Team has been drawn in to assist with hammering out the disagreement. “In respect of the second lease, the lease which is contemplated but has not yet been granted, calls for a rent of $73,374.34, which is the issue in dispute,” she said. Questioned by the opposition as to whether it is common practice for the Turks and Caicos Islands to Issue such long term leases, the attorney general answered in the affirmative. Ground broke for the Sailrock – the Villas at Great House South Caicos on March 8 (2014). The first phase of low density resort Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee will comprise beach-front villas, Brathwaite-Knowles ridge-top villas and the great the existing structures on the house. Construction of that demised premises from further phase is to complete by 2015. deterioration, including securing The units comprise fully and rebuilding from any damage furnished two, three and foursustained from any event, bedroom beach villas starting at including natural or unnatural $895,000, while ridge-top villas events. And the lessee has a will start at $300,000. Sited right of first refusal for the at elevations ranging from 30 freehold interest in the demised to 50 feet above sea-level, all premises,” the attorney general residences command spectacular informed the House. ocean views.
funding of the hospital. “The budget is on its way again to the House this year and the people have absolutely no indication from the elected officials that they will not support this abominable, atrocious, exploitation and disrespect again. Who can believe that this can be happening in a 21st century democracy, 600 miles from the United States, which is the bastion of democracy, and a British Overseas Territory? He said. He said even though it is TCIG that is paying over the funds on behalf of the people, it does not know the nittygritty of the area that the funds were being channeled. “It is being held from government where their funds are going, why are they going there, who they are going to. (They are treating us) like we are Cavemen (as if) we don’t have sense, we don’t education,” he said, hinting that he is most disappointed in the PDM parliamentarians. “And there are elected officials in the House of Parliament who are from the Peoples Democratic Movement, who call on the name of JAGS (National Hero, founder of the PDM and first Chief Minister of the TCI), and who are called by the name of JAGS the fact that they are PDM, and are supporting something like this, which is totally against the principles that we have been taught by JAGS; totally against the principles for which the PDM was formed (and that is) to make changes, to represent the people, to ensure that democracy is in place,” he said. He further noted: “While there are people in Parliament that are corrupt, there are people in parliament that are not implicated in compromise, and we expect these people to stand up and tender their individual votes on behalf of the people who voted for them, to represent them – the exploited people.”
Payroll tax to be debated next house sitting The controversial payroll tax is to be debated in the House of Assembly when it reconvenes on June 23. The SUN understands the tax was to have been debated in the House this past week, but has been deferred to the next sitting. The payroll tax has been included in the 2014/2015 budget document, which was sent to the United Kingdom for its approval. Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick told journalists recently that he had removed a number of tax measures from the budget but decided to allow payroll tax to stay. He said that the decision was spurred by his government’s series of consultations with the public, pointing out that Britain has been very forceful and determined that government would not be allowed to make certain fiscal decisions until $260 million loan guarantee is lifted. The guarantee would be lifted only after the funds are repaid. He said that as long as the guarantee stays in place, the local government will be dictated to by the United Kingdom government. Government, during its series of town hall meetings, said that payroll tax was its preferred revenue-raising mechanism, explain that other methods looked at included land tax. He promised at the time that after the document returns from the United Kingdom, he would take the payroll tax aspect of it to parliament to have it debated. “It will come to the House. It will be up to the House to pass the document. I am hoping that it would be back sometime within the next month. So I expected that the budget will be passed and presented to the House in late June. We have until the end of July (to debate and pass the budget). So we can go into July, we can’t go into August,” he said at the time.
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LOCAL NEWS
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
$500 to fast-track work permits
Minister of Border Control and Labour Hon. Ricardo Don-Hue Gardiner told the House of Assembly that the ministry has implemented a work permit fast-track regime, which would see first time applications as well as renewals having a one-week turnaround time. To accommodate the initiative, the minister said that the Immigration Board meets one per week to review the applications. He said the new scheme is a much more enterprising regime than the 50 days it takes to process work permits on a regular basis. He said though that the fast-track work permit
application attracts an additional $500 in addition to the category cost. He said the $500 is non-refundable. “The Immigration Board meets Wednesday of every week to review fast-track applications, a process with a completion time of seven days. The fee for the service is 500 American dollars. First time work permits and work permit renewal applications takes an average of 50 days to process, assuming the application is complete and additional information is not required by the immigration board in order to make the decision,” Minister Gardiner said. In the meantime, the Minister said
that government is looking to bring a work permit bill to the house to overall the current one. He said that the bill has already been drafted, approved by cabinet and sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for their perusal. “It is the intention of the ministry to bring to this House as soon as we are physically able, a bill to repeal and replace the current legislative framework for the grant of work permits. That bill that has already been approved by the Cabinet has been forwarded to the Foreign Office for their review before we are able to bring it to the House. “Once we are able to, and the House
gives its consent to it, we would then be able to progress with the framework to speed up the process,” the minister said. The said that government expects to pilot the bill through the House before the end of the summer. “It is hoped that we should be in a position to do so at some point during the summer,” the minister said. He said sending the bill to the Foreign Office was done out of courtesy and not out of requirement by the Foreign Office. He said that Cabinet has not yet allowed him to put the document to the public for consultation, but would do so as soon as he is given the green light.
Sandals Foundation announces partnership with NBA Champion Dwyane Wade and Wade’s World Foundation Celebrating its 5th anniversary, The Sandals Foundation, the official philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), has announced a three-year premiere partnership with NBA Champion Dwyane Wade, and his charitable organization, Wade’s World Foundation. Together, the two non-profit foundations will launch programs and initiatives to benefit youth in underserved communities in the Caribbean and Miami.
Adam Stewart, President of The World Foundation (WWF) in 2003 Sandals Foundation and CEO of to highlight the education of youth, Sandals Resorts International, proudly literacy, health and fatherhood. “We couldn’t think of a more perfect takes this step towards fulfilling his commitment to “changing lives, partner for our foundation than shaping futures, and uplifting spirits” Dwyane Wade,” said Adam Stewart, throughout the Caribbean. It is both President of the Sandals Foundation. Stewart’s mission and passion to elevate “His commitment to changing the game, youth development in this region. This both on and off the court, is iconic. We passion is shared by NBA Champion know that working together we can and Team USA Olympic Gold medalist, make a real difference by implementing Dwyane Wade, who founded Wade’s programs that will have a positive
effect amongst children and within the community. Commenting about the collaboration with the Sandals Foundation, Dwyane Wade said “This partnership was a natural fit for my Wade’s World Foundation as we both share the same mission to provide today’s youth with the building blocks for success. I look forward to extending our reach internationally to make a positive impact in the lives of children.”
JAMAICA AND COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS 2015 Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for two (2) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS to be awarded as follows: (a)
The Jamaica Rhodes Scholarship available to candidates from Jamaica only; and
(b)
The Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship, available to all Caribbean candidates, including Jamaicans (at the Committee’s discretion).
Candidates must have undertaken academic training sufficiently advanced to assure thecompletion of a Bachelor’s degree by 1st October, 2015. Married candidates can now apply. The criteria for selection by the Committees are as follows:Proven Intellectual and Academic Achievement of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants, but they will also be required to show integrity of character, sympathy for and protection of the weak, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talent to the full. The closing date for Jamaican and Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarships 2015 application is September 30, 2014 by which date all completed entry forms must be received by the Secretary. The Memorandum which contains Details of the Scholarships as well as the Application Form may be obtained from:THE SECRETARY RHODES SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE 21 East Street Kingston, Jamaica Te/: 876-922-5960 or from
www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
Margaritaville seeks to identify: DINING ROOM CAPTAIN and more. SUMMARY: Oversees the duties and responsibilities of the service staff and has responsibility for maintaining an efficient operation. Coordinates and monitors the activities of the overall restaurant floor operation including the service employees, staff performance, quality of service, troubleshooting and expediting as needed to ensure a positive guest experience. Provides service standards training and ensure compliance of standards. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Associates or Bachelors’ degree preferred; three years prior server, at least 3 years supervisory, management experience in a recognized high-volume food and beverage industry preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience; HACCP training and proper food handling techniques would be a plus REQUIREMENTS: - Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) - Able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Able to write simple correspondence. - Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. - Must be physically able to stand for periods of up to 8 hours or longer - Able to work flexible hours including, weekends, night shift and public holidays - Energetic & people oriented, reliable with problem solving skills We are also accepting applications for the following positions for the upcoming season in October 2014: Bartenders, Servers, Stilt Walker and Kitchen Helpers. APPLICATION PROCESS:
Application along with resume must be submitted by 7th April, 2014 to the office of :
Margaritaville Grand Turk Grand Turk Cruise Center South Base, White Sands Beach Grand Turk, T.C.I. B.W.I Belongers only, need apply. While we welcome and appreciate all applicants, only persons short-listed for an interview will be contacted.
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LOCAL NEWS
Armed, dangerous Dominican poachers depleting TCI fish stock by Vivian Tyson Armed and dangerous poachers from the Dominican Republic are wreaking havoc on the Turks and Caicos Islands fishing industry, and the most effective way they can be stopped in the short term is only if a United Kingdom military vessel is dispatched full time in our waters. The plea was made by Director of the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), Kathleen Wood. She said that DEMA officers have been shot at with spear guns and purportedly with live rounds by the Dominican poachers. “We have had violence against officers from poachers in the past. Poaching by Dominican fishermen is rampant in Turks and Caicos Islands waters,” Wood revealed. The DEMA Director said that
poaching by Dominican fishermen, Caicos Islands law. In addition, deep which has been taking place for some water marine life such as conch is the time now due to TCI’s open borders, is one that replenish the overall stock, beginning to have a telling effect on and when they are removed, the stock the local fishing industry, as there has depletes. She said that local fishermen are been a noticeable decline in some of our required by law to dive conch and more popular marine products. She said that the illegal poaching by lobster without scuba gear, and so, they the Dominican fishermen has robbed do not engage in deep water fishing. “They [Dominican fishermen] use the Turks and Caicos Islands millions scuba gear, which is illegal as well in of dollars each year. “You have to consider that millions this country, to get deep water conch. and millions of dollars worth of fisheries And those are the breeding stocks; those products are being stolen from TCI conchs that are in deep water supply every year. We are seeing a decline in our entire conch industry because our conch; we are seeing declines lobsters; laws are such that you cannot get them. “Our local fishermen have to dive for and we are seeing a decline in fin fish. The poaching is obviously having a conch, they are not allowed to use scuba negative effect on our fisheries stock,” gear, and so, those are the breeding stock for the entire fishery, and if we she said. Wood noted that the illegal lose those, we lose everything,” she fishermen use scuba gear to conduct cautioned. The DEMA head said that while the deep water diving, which she explained is illegal under Turks and the matter needs to be resolved with
urgency, the lack of funds to source policing equipment and manpower is making the effort prohibitive. As a result, she is calling on the United Kingdom Government, which is responsible for security for its Overseas Territories, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, to provide a stable military presence in our waters, to save our fishing industry, and also address the serious immigration problem. “Again, it is resources. We do not have the boat so that we can go out. Our officers are unarmed, which is not a bad thing. But these poachers are violent, they are armed and they are dangerous. “In order to effectively deal with that problem and the immigration problem as well, trained military staff and a military vessel from the UK could be here fulltime patrolling the waters, that would make a big difference,” Wood suggested.
Judge changes court order restricting Turks and Caicos Islands media High Court Judge Sir Bruce Robertson on Wednesday changed his court order which had clearly restricted media houses in the Turks and Caicos Islands from reporting the charges against two prominent lawyers. The eminent New Zealand Judge who was imported specially to hear the case against 57-year-old Timothy Patrick O’Sullivan of the law firm Miller, Simons, O’Sullivan and 52-year-old Gordon William Kerr of the law firm Misick and Stanbrook, made an amendment to his original order which expressly stated that the media could only print “the identity of the parties, the name of the judge and of counsel representing the parties and the date of any future hearings”. The judge ordered that the media can now carry the charges which he agreed were already in the public domain. O’Sullivan and Kerr are charged with cheating the public revenue, conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to false account. Their cases have been adjourned until June 1, 2015. When the court sat on Wednesday June 11th, the judge heard submissions from Andrew Mitchell, QC, the lead counsel for the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Team (SIPT), Andrew Radcliffe, QC, the lawyer for Kerr, Jim Sturman, QC, the lawyer for O’Sullivan. Hayden Boyce, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Turks and Caicos SUN, who was in the court to monitor the proceedings, took the opportunity to make representations to the court on behalf of his newspaper and the local media. Boyce was in the process of formally filing an application
High Court Judge Sir Bruce Robertson. to the Supreme Court to vary or discharge the original court order, but he aborted the action after the judge made the amendment in open court. “The fact that the judge changed his order to make it pellucidly clear that the media can now print the charges against the two lawyers, is, I think a rather significant victory for press freedom in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Boyce said. “It also in some measure allays certain concerns which many observers have had about the justice system because, as I said before, it was starting to look like there was apartheid in the Turks and Caicos Islands judicial system, where there was seemingly one set of rules for certain persons and completely different conditions for others. So we should all be quite satisfied that the matter was resolved.” The other lawyers in the case are Kennedy Talbot and Leonard Frankly for the Crown, Conrad Griffiths, QC, for Kerr and Peter Cadman and Jonathan Katan for O’Sullivan. The original court order stated: “If you disobey this order you may be found guilty of contempt of court and may be sent to prison, be fined
or, in the case of a corporate entity, have your assets sequestrated.” The document added: “The interest of justice require that there is no publication of facts and matters that might result in a real prejudice to the public interest, particularly fair trial rights.” When the order was first made Boyce said he was astounded by the judge’s order, adding that he was very concerned about its implications for press freedom in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “I’ve been practising journalism all of my adult life and I can’t think of any case in which the media was ever barred from at least
reporting the charges against restrictions on reporting their individuals, no matter how charges. The SUN publisher added: serious those charges are,” Boyce said. “This court order “The SIPT has a website is completely beyond ordinary that lists the names of a comprehension and it really number of individuals, their makes you wonder about charges and the background freedom of the press in the to those charges. The SIPT and the Governor’s office Turks and Caicos Islands.” British lawyers from the have routinely sent out press Helen Garlick-led Special releases to local, regional and Investigation and Prosecution international media houses Team (SIPT) are prosecuting listing charges against those O’Sullivan and Kerr, and they said individuals. What is are separately prosecuting a so difference about this number of other high-profile particular case?” Boyce added: “Much care lawyers and former politicians and caution must be taken to on allegations of corruption. Boyce said it is highly ensure that the impression ironic that in the other does not go forth that there high-profile cases involving is apartheid in the judicial the former politicians and system of the Turks and lawyers, there have been no Caicos Islands.”
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LOCAL NEWS
Girlfriend killer sentenced to life . . . again
Mark Thompson, the man who brutally knifed his ex-lover Keisha Parnell to death on September 10, 2008, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the conclusion of the two-week murder trial in the Grand Turk Supreme Court before Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough. This was the second time that Thompson was being sentenced for Parnell’s death. He received similar punishment on Friday, May 27, 2011 by then chief justice Gordon Ward. But his legal team successfully argued that the trial was unconstitutional. The ordinance indicated that a murder trial should be deliberated by a 12-member jury, but instead a seven member jury was used for that trial. The case which lasted for two weeks saw approximately 20 persons, including five doctors, some of them psychiatrists, giving statements. Thompson was said to have been suffering from mental problems long before the first trial took place, resulting in protracted delay in the trial getting off the ground. Parnell’s 17-year-old daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mother’s murder, also gave evidence. The jury took less than three hours to decide Thompson fate. Parnell was stabbed to death hours before dawn on September 10, 2008, a few days after Hurricane Ike, at an apartment in Glass Shack, Providenciales, after a man, who was later identified as Thompson, broke into the building she shared with her brother. She was killed while sleeping beside her two children. The slain woman’s brother – Stephen Parnell -, who was sleeping in another section of the apartment, woke up by his sister’s blood-curdling screams. He chased the attacker along the road but he managed to escape.
Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Office Manager: Dominique Rigby Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell 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.
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Mark Thompson in a SUN file photo being led away from the courtroom in cuffs by prison guard personnel. Inset, Keisha Parnell. Members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force picked up Thompson at his mother’s house later that morning and charged him almost a week later. Both were involved in a relationship which later became abusive. It was reported that Parnell decided to opt of out of the affair after it apparently became unbearable. After leaving the
Gun robber sentenced
One of two armed men accused of botched robbery of two members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in an open lot in the vicinity of the Wine Cellar along Leeward Highway on October 22, 2012, will spend at least the next six years at Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk. Innocent Inozaire Calixte, 29, who entered the Turks and Caicos Islands illegally from Haiti, was sentenced to six years by High Court Judge Madame Justice Joan Joyner, for assault with intent to rob; five years for possession of ammunition and eight years for using gun to endanger life. The sentences are to run concurrently, with time already spent in custody – two years – to be taken into consideration. Calixte is also ordered deported when the sentence is completed and the gun used in the matter ordered destroyed. It was reported that Calixte and other man held-up two plain clothes police officers at gunpoint and tried to rob them. The lawmen resisted the attack and overpowered one of the criminals who later turned out to be Calixte. They disarmed him and held him until back-up came. His crime partner however managed to escape in
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
the process. Calixte was found guilty by a12member jury on Friday (June 6, 2014) in the Providenciales Supreme Court, and Monday (June 9, 2014) was set as the date for sentencing. Arguing mitigation, Oliver Smith, Calixte’s attorney, said that his client had two young boys - a 14 and eightyear-old - back home in Haiti, and that staying away a long time from them through incarceration would not be good for their upbringing. He further argued that other than finding his way back to the Turks and Caicos Islands after he was deported, his client had no prior conviction akin to the attempted gun robbery. Smith said that a not-too-lengthy sentence and subsequent deportation would be the best option for his client, since a protracted incarceration would put further strain on the country’s treasury to keep him in prison. He also pleaded with Joyner to apply the mandatory minimum firearm sentences, also urging the judge to consider time already spent in custody. Latisha Williams of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution represented the Crown in the matter.
house shared with Thompson and her two daughters, Parnell moved to her brother’s rented apartment in Glass Shack. However, it was reported that Thompson began stalking her, as neighbours reported that they often saw a suspicious-looking man, who later turned out to be the convicted man mapping out the apartment on several occasions. Some said that they thought he was an illegal immigrant seeking something to steal something. At the time of her death, Parnell was working at the Island Pride Supermarket as cashier. Courtany Barnett represented Thompson, while Samantha WilliamsGlinton prosecutor the case on behalf of the Crown. Barnett and WilliamsGlinton led the defense and prosecution respectively in the first trial also.
Contact 331-0221 Turtle Cove Marina Seeks
SHIPWRIGHT/ Wood work maintenance Man Salary paid $10/hour
Required to work 7 days/week (Weekends and Holidays may also be required) Applicant must have his own tools and at least 10 years experience All applicants must apply by June 27th, 2014 Contact 243-9968
Silly Creek Water Sports
is a small start up business looking for an assistant manager whom will be able to assist in all roles: Qualifications: must have experience in web design, social media, Excel, Word, marketing and creating promotional material, book keeping, sales and customer relations • licensed boat captain, wake board instructor, first aid/CPR, experienced and competent swimmer • a self starter with an outgoing personality able to cold call and promote business • food preparation • boat and equipment maintenance • valid driver’s licence and experienced in trailering boats • experience in teaching water sports and driving boats • must speak and write fluent English Responsibilities include: answering phone, coordinating and booking excursions, promoting business through social and print media, identifying and targeting potential business opportunities, book keeping, assisting in food preparation, cleaning and maintenance of equipment and boat, assisting in excursions, teaching snorkelling and water sports Please contact Silly Creek Water Sports at 432-9455 or email info@ sillycreekwatersports.com
Page 10
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
$5 million more expected from cruise passengers by 2015 of $6,593,700. That is the discounted and revenue collected from it. “Over the years, the government value of the guarantee and that is to be has realized continuous increase paid over what it called the guarantee from the revenues collected from the period, which is between January 1st, Cruise Passenger Head Tax at the 2007, and the end of December 2015 Grand Turk Cruise Centre. Based on – over a nine-year period. Over that previous performance, the government arrangement, the head tax generated is projecting to collect approximately from the first 300,000 passengers was $2.4 million from Cruise Passenger to be utilized to reduce that advance,” Head Tax for the year 2014/2015,” the the minister said. The opposition Peoples Democratic minister pointed out. “Under the agreement with Carnival, Movement (PDM) has been knocking the Grand Turk Cruise Terminal the deal since it has been struck, saying advanced the government Cruise that it has been robbing the country of Passenger Head Tax in the amount well-needed revenue, and that such a
Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick said that government hopes to collect almost $5 million in Cruise Passenger Head Tax from passengers who berth on Carnival Cruise ships at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre between this year and the end of next year. The minister made the disclosure while responding to queries from Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sharelene Cartwright Robinson in the House of Assembly this past week. Minister Misick said that the projection is based on robust numbers of visitors to our shores via cruise ships
deal should not have been agreed to by the government. Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson said that after December 31st, 2015, the agreement is expired, the country will reap the full benefit of the head tax. “When the agreement expires next year, we will start receiving the full head tax, which is millions of dollars that we weren’t getting. It was a bad deal; we forego about $9 million in head tax for a six million dollars advance, but next year we will see the full effects of the head tax from all of the cruise passengers,” the opposition leader said.
Hon. Sean Astwood Partners with DDME for Clean-up Campaign
In an on going effort to keep his community clean and environmentally friendly, Hon. Sean Astwood partnered with the Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies (DDME) to conduct a clean-up campaign in preparation for hurricane season. On Saturday, June 7, 2014, home owners were encouraged to clean up their surroundings and deposit bags of garbage, old appliances and scrape materials at the side of the road for collection. The Department
of Environmental Health was instrumental in identifying derelict vehicles that needed removal. What was intended to be a three hour exercise turned into a full day of work. Says Hon. Astwood, “On behalf of the community of Five Cays, I would like to thank all who participated in the Hurricane Preparedness Cleanup Campaign. One of my missions is to provide my community with a facelift and cleaning it up is a huge part of that. I want to specifically thank Mr. Desmond Lightbourne, and the
Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies (DDME), Department of Environmental Health, members of the Enid Capron Primary School, E & V Equipment, Projetech and members of our community that stepped up and helped out. “To achieve my goal of keeping Five Cays clean, I will need each resident of Five Cays to do their part in keeping their surroundings clean. “Anyone wanting to assist in future initiatives please contact me. Your Hon. Sean Astwood. assistance will be greatly appreciated.”
PROVO AIR CENTER Is seeking:
TWO DRIVERS
Five (5) years or more experience in this position. willing to work long, hours weekends and holidays. Valid TCI drivers licence. Any experience in aviation would be an asset. Salary commensurate with experience.
TWO GROUND MECHANIC
Five (5) years experience in repair and maintenance of the Airline ground service equipment gas /diesel engine ect. Ability to drive trucks, towing vehicles. Belongers need to apply. Interest person should be apply at HR@ intercaibbean.com or fax via to HR department 649-946-4040.no phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview.
FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION EQUITY LTD. Pursuant to the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice that it will cause to be sold by public auction, the following property: Title 60900/194, Chalk Sound, Providenciales, being comprised of a 0.73 acre parcel of land fronting on Chalk Sound on which is situated a three storey, 6200 square feet single family residence with 3 bedrooms and studio unit with bedroom, service elevator, swimming pool, plunge pool, dock and other attractive features, landscaping and brick driveway. Registered Proprietor: MAXWELL EARL HAMILTON The auction will be held at the offices of TWA, Marcelin, Wolf, 1276 Leeward Highway, Providenciales on Thursday July 3rd, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. For further particulars please contact Twa, Marcelin, Wolf at 649-946-4261 or at twa@twmlaw.tc.
Londolozi Ltd.
POSITION AVAILABLE
is inviting suitable applications for the following position:
[1] MARKETING COORDINATOR
Gardener To qualify for this position you should be able to push/pull carts weighing up to 150 lbs. You must be able to ensure the cleanliness of all areas assigned, which may include, walls, floors, gardens and grounds. You must be able to stand for long periods of time and also have the ability to climb several stairs several times each day.
Salaries for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please Submit Applications to: cgibbons@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than June 20th, 2014 Turks and Caicos Islanders need only apply. While we would like to thank, every applicant for their interest in Londolozi, only short-listed persons will be contacted. At that time a complete compensation package and job description will be discussed.
Responsibilities include: • Assisting Marketing Manager in coordinating various integrated communication and marketing activities. • Interface between customer’s events and software update with head office support department. • Coordinating in production of a wide range of marketing communications. • Providing product positioning materials as well as training for customer service and sales. • Implementing project management system for documenting and tracking activities. • Developing lead generation plans with targets, measures, and objectives. • Executing and analyzing results of advertisement and marketing campaigns. Applicants must have a minimum of 10 years experience in the relevant area. Salary starts at $30,000.00 per annum. Applicants must be fully qualified with the ability to work with little or no supervision. Interested persons should fax their CV’s to Fax: 941-4533 Between the hours of 8am – 5pm
JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 11
LOCAL NEWS
Deforestation, illegal shacks big problems for TCI If something is not done urgently to tackle the rapid deforestation for coal-burning and illegal housing on Providenciales ostensibly by undocumented migrants from Haiti, a large part of that island will be denuded of its vegetation, according to Kathleen Wood, Head of the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs. According to Wood, Northwest Point, Blue Hills and Kew Town are the most affected areas of deforestation. It has been reported that the widespread deforestation of Haiti has caused deadly flooding each year, especially during the time hurricane season. And although the TCI is not a hilly terrain like Haiti, there is still the fear that a significant level of soil erosion can take place that would cause substantial damage to life and property if our trees continued to be felled by those illegal migrants. “From the Haitian side, the desperation of the Haitian people has caused them to come over here in droves, as everybody knows, and they are actually deforesting the county with illegal development and charcoal manufacturing, in additional to destructive fishing practices that
they employ because they are basically starving,” she said. Wood noted that while both the deforestation and illegal development are equally destructive to the future of the TCI, the latter is more dangerous because majority of the structures are permanent. “It [coal-burning] is completely devastating, and in fact the illegal development is associated with it is devastating as well. The squatting – the building of illegal shacks – is almost more devastating than the charcoal burning because once a house is there it is permanent. Because they have to clear vegetation to put these illegal houses in, and there are very, very large areas, off of Kew Town, in Blue Hills, sort of going out to Northwest Point – there are whole villages that have already come up,” she said. Wood said that the glaring destruction of the trees is most evident from above, saying that the real evidence of the destruction is not as noticeable from the ground. “They cut down everything and then they burn it, and so it ruins the entire landscape. If you get into a helicopter and you fly over Northwest Point you would
see the vast area of land that have been denuded by charcoal manufacturing. You can’t see it from the ground; you have to get up and over it to see it,” she said, noting that urgent steps need to be taken to stem the deforestation tide. “I would estimate at the current rate of destruction that if it continues within a period of five years there wouldn’t be anything left out there. The most affected area of charcoal manufacturing is in Northwest Point,” he said. She calls on the United Kingdom government to assist in eradicating the problem, since the TCI does not have the resources to do so. “The TCI obviously does not have the resources to be able to cope with the problem of this international scale,” she said. “The United States is coping with a similar problem; they have the United States Coastguard to assist them, and they still have problem with illegal migrants. We need help from our UK partners; we need the British Government to take this problem seriously, and to assist us with it because the TCI Government just does not have the funds to make that Kathleen Wood, Head of the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs. happen,” she said.
HERTZ/ MYSTIQUE CAR RENTAL TEL # 649-941-3910
VEHICLES FOR SALE Make /model
Year
License #
Color
Price
Make /model
Year
License #
Color
Price
Nissan March
2007
7724
silver
$6500.00
Daihatsu Terios
2008
7332
white
$9200.00
Nissan March
2007
7725
silver
$6700.00
Nissan March
2009
6116
purple
$9000.00
Nissan March
2007
7727
silver
$6800.00
Nissan March
2009
7336
white
$8800.00
Nissan March
2007
7728
silver
$6800.00
Nissan March
2009
7404
blue
$9300.00
Toyota vitz
2007
7738
silver
$7100.00
Toyota passo
2009
7011
black
$10900.00
Toyota Vitz
2007
7740
silver
$7400.00
Daihatsu sirion
2009
7326
black
$8500.00
Toyota Vitz
2007
7742
blue
$7400.00
Daihatsu sirion
2009
7328
yellow
$8500.00
Toyota Vitz
2007
7743
silver
$7300.00
Mazda Demio
6599
white
$9600.00
Ford Escape
2007
7012
tan
$10000.00
Nissan note
2009
6894
silver
$9000.00
Nissan March
2008
7726
silver
$6800.00
Nissan note
2009
6895
silver
$8700.00
Nissan March
2008
7729
silver
$8300.00
Mazda Demio
2009
6775
navy blue
$9800.00
Nissan March
2008
7730
green
$7300.00
Mazda Demio
2009
6784
silver
$10600.00
Toyota Passo
2008
7010
white
$9400.00
Hyundai accent
2009
7501
dark grey
$7500.00
Toyota Vitz
2008
7014
ocean green
$10700.00
Hyundai accent
2009
7651
dark blue
$8500.00
Toyota Vitz
2008
7016
silver
$10300.00
Hyundai accent
2009
7652
dark grey
$8500.00
Toyota Vitz
2008
7435
blue
$10500.00
Hyundai accent
2009
7653
silver
$8500.00
Toyota Vitz
2008
7655
grey
$10500.00
Hyundai accent
2009
7654
silver
$8500.00
Daihatsu Sirion
2008
7329
yellow
$8500.00
Hyundai accent
2009
7656
dark blue
$8500.00
Daihatsu sirion
2008
7330
green
$8500.00
Hyundai accent 2009
7657
dark grey
$8500.00
Mazda Demio
2008
6759
silver
$9900.00
Hyundai accent 2009
7658
dark blue
$8500.00
Mazda Demio
2008
7441
navy blue
$9400.00
Ford explorer
2009
7593
silver
$22000.00
Mazda Demio
2008
7731
green
$7800.00
Suburban
2009
7529
white
$36000.00
Mazda Demio
2008
7733
navy blue
$7800.00
Ford pickup
2009
7703
silver
$25000.00
Mazda Demio
2008
7737
silver
$7400.00
Ford pickup
2009
7720
white
$24000.00
Jeep wrangler
2008
7704
grey
$19000.00
Town & Country
2006
6789
blue
$8500.00
Jeep wrangler
2008
7705
grey
$19000.00
2009
PLEASE CALL US FOR NEWER VEHICLES 649-941-3910
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 12
JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Unemployment list gets smaller
number, but this goes back to a time when the person was The Minister of Border Control initially asked. At that time and Labour Hon. Ricardo Don- the numbers would have been Hue Gardiner, told the House of 169 persons registered as Assembly that the 169 number unemployed,” he said. of persons listed as unemployed He said that the list was last year has been reduced since compiled by the Employment some have obtained jobs and Services Department courtesy of others could not be contacted to scheduled registration drives. He be given available employment. told the House that he did not He noted however, that the have updated list but promised current system of data collection to furnish it in subsequent House is not the most efficient, therefore meetings. steps would be made to overhaul “I don’t have the information the regime for a more accurate as to how many have come off the one. list, but what I can say, during “During the month of October this purging exercise; a number 2013, the Employment Services of persons the department knew Department embarked on a were placed, and the department courtesy call project to encourage called and they were placed, were the database containing removed from the list. data of persons registered as “Persons who could no longer unemployed and by extension be contacted because the number persons who are seeking the they had given were not working department’s assistance with job or they didn’t reply to emails that placements. they had given; those persons “Names of persons who could were removed as well because either not be contacted because they could not be contacted,” he phone numbers were no longer said. valid or operational or persons “And so, what we are hoping to who were successful in finding do is to come up with a database employment were eliminated that is current and one that is from the database,” the minister more reliable, because in the past said. in trying to place people who had “I don’t have the updated been registered as unemployed,
by Vivian Tyson
when we made recommendations for them to employed we found out that we are not able to contact them because either the information that we had on file for them is no longer useful or that they were already in positions. “And so, this exercise that we are going through now, I hope to be able in a position to give the House an updated count at subsequent meetings,” he said. He told the House that the data collection for the current system is collected by island, but did not have the figures at the time, but promised to deliver it next time. “The information is available by island, because I believe we were going around to the various islands and conducting these drives, and so, that information may very well be available by island. Certainly it is the intention that it would be. However, I cannot say now. “But what I can do is to say that once I have a better understanding as to where we are in the collection of the data I will make the global numbers, as they are available, to the House, and as they are available, by The Minister of Border Control and Labour Hon. Ricardo Don-Hue Gardiner. island as well,” the minister said.
AVAILABLE POSITIONS RESTAURANT AND BARS MANAGER
The Restaurants and Bars Manager will oversee the daily operation of P23 fine dining restaurant; Plunge casual outdoor restaurant and bar, Green Flamingo bar and In-room Dining. Requirements: • Minimum of 7 years management experience in luxury setting in at least 2 international locations. • Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience. • Strong knowledge of a variety of cuisines and wines/beverage. • Strong understanding and proven track record of operational controls and sales • Proven ability to train and develop team members. • Ability to take initiative while working effectively in a team environment • Excellent organizational skills. • Passion for luxury food and beverage service; positive and cheerful attitude with high energy. • Computer skills at advanced level (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) • Must be able to work all shifts and days Duties include: • Supervises, trains and coaches staff to meet Regent standard of luxury and ensure The Regent Experience for guests. • Develops business strategies for food & beverage outlets aligned with business objectives for maximizing revenue and guest satisfaction. • Participates in development of budgets and monitors status regularly to ensure achievement of financial targets. • Assists in developing and implementing marketing and promotions to increase business and revenue. • Works closely with culinary team to create and implement menus consistent with guest expectations and Regent standards of luxury and quality. Starting salary $40,000 per annum, not including service charge.
Executive Chef
Requirements: • 10 years experience as an executive chef in luxury resort • Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience • Formal culinary degree, or formal apprenticeship • Proven managerial experience in a fine dining environment • Practical creativity to provide innovative entrees and developing new, unusual market driven menus while meeting profit goals of property, and menu engineering. • Previous responsibility for food purchasing, including negotiating prices.
• Prior experience standardizing recipes, plating instructions, and costing. • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Duties Include: • Participate in the development and implementation of business strategies for Food and Beverage including development of annual budget, monitoring actual versus budgeted expenses and recommending menu pricing • Develop and implement menu and dining strategies • Prepare reports summarizing food and beverage profitability, customer satisfaction, etc. • Lead monthly staff meetings Salary $55,000/Commensurate with qualification and experience
Food & Beverage Manager
Requirements: • 10 years experience in Food & Beverage Management in luxury hospitality with at least 2-3 years experience as F & B Manager • Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience • Strong track record of maintaining consistent standards, continually training outlet staffs and promoting an atmosphere of teamwork. • Strong financial skills and experience developing and maintaining operational and Capex budgets for multi unit operation • Track record of building/increasing outlet revenue and average cheques. • Experience developing and implementing new F&B concepts for the luxury market. • Exceptional knowledge of different types of cuisine and wine including how menus are developed, pricing guidelines and how to improve results. • Willingness to work varying schedules, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays to reflect the business needs of the hotel. • Experience managing and developing high level talents • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Duties Include: • Oversee and direct the Restaurants, Bars, Room Service and Banquets, as appropriate, in order to achieve guest satisfaction, quality service, and compliance with corporate/brand policies and procedures while meeting/exceeding financial goals • Develop and implement special promotions and employee incentives • Create department budget and financial reports, and monitor status to adjust as appropriate Salary $50,000 per annum not including service charge
Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to marjorei.dorsett@regenthotels.com no later than June 27, 2014
JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 13
LOCAL NEWS
Shameful garbage situation in TCI – Governor
Governor for the Turks and Caicos Islands His Excellency Peter Beckingham has underscored the serious threat to the environment if certain developmental, garbage disposal and wildlife issues are not addressed. The governor made the statement as he officially opened the Wise-Water-Use Garden and the launch of the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum’s TCI National Museum’s guide booklet – TCI Birding Paradise – at the National Museum of the TCI’s site at the Village, Grace Bay. The governor told the small gathering that the level of litter around the islands is something to be ashamed of. He said that dredging – the clean out the bed of (a harbour, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish with a dredge – in sensitive areas of the country is also something to concern the country. “ . . . The issue of dredging plays a major role in [the environmental concerns]. And there are other issues involving wildlife, which we will have to confront in the next years,” the governor said.
Governor Peter Beckingham cuts the ribbon to officially open the Wise-Water-Use Garden and the launch of the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum’s TCI National Museum’s guide booklet – TCI Birding Paradise - at the National Museum of the TCI’s site at the Village, Grace Bay. Sharing in the moment are (from left), Sandra Foster – General Manager of Royal Bank of Canada, which funded the Wise-WaterUse project; Patricia Saxton, Director of the TCI National Museum Foundation; and Mike Pienkowski of the UKOTCF.
Expanding further on the Governor’s pronouncements, Director for the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) Kathleen Wood said that uncontrolled developments in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including
resort ones, are running amok, since the country has no not official development plan. “We have uncontrolled development of all kinds, that includes destructive practices like dredging, but it also includes regular tourism
development. There is no development plan for this country so anything goes. The uncontrolled development; the lack of development plan has led to the loss of some significant areas,” she said. Wood said that uncontrolled development has already caused significant ecological losses to the Turks and Caicos Islands, and if nothing is done urgently to combat the practice, more will be lost. “The original Leeward dredging project destroyed a large portion of a very critical conch nursery habitat, and we have obviously seen declines in conch since then. “A development plan would allow us to mark out areas like that for conservation, and so, if somebody came said ‘we want to dredge’, we could say, ‘no, that’s a critical conch habitat’. “There is another one [ecological area] in North Creek in Grand Turk, which is slated for another marine development there. These types of issues are popping up every single day because we do not have any development plan in this country. And so, everything is at risk,” she said. She said that land mapping has already been done, and
now funding is being sought for marine mapping. “What that [marine mapping] would do is seek to map out areas that are critical habitats. The next step, when we have that information, would then be to work with the Department of Planning to development a national development plan, to mark out areas for conservation and other areas for different types of developments. So you know exactly, if you want to do something in an industry, where you can develop that, or you know where tourism development should go and you know where residential should go. Everything would have a plan,” she said. She noted though that the project would cost about $250,000 to undertake, which could have been the reason it has not yet been done. “We have been seeking funding from outside sources, but you know that money is scarce, that’s the problem,” she said. In the meantime, Governor Beckingham pointed out that the Turks and Caicos Islands has made great environmental strides which the country should be proud of.
Career Opportunities Grace Bay Club is looking for candidates that have the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner. They love to work with different types of people, meet CHIEF ACCOUNTANT CHIEF • To actively engage and participate in effective Reporting To: Director of Finance challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization. TheirACCOUNTANT Reporting To: Director of Finance Executive Assistant Function: Assists in the supervision of the general accounting functions of the hotel including the timely preparation of financial and communications within the preparation resort of financial and Function: Assists in the supervision of the general accounting functions of the hotel including the timely management style is one that balances a commitment to people and their development with operating reports and statistics and all balance sheet reconciliations. Audits internal controls when necessary operating reports and statistics and all balance sheet reconciliations. Audits internal controls when necessary Manager – Food & Beverage • To adhere to all the resort standards and Skills Required: 13. Establishes high standards of behavior in all dealings with guests 9. Respond to and follow through on guest requests, concerns and Skills Required: 13. Establishes high standards of behavior in all dealings with guests 9. Respond to and follow through on guest requests, concerns and business/financial accountability and delivers an exceptional guest experience. • Excellent Communication Skills staff. Performs duties with a high level of professional work ethics problems to the guest’s satisfaction Provides functional assistance andanddirection • Excellent Communication Skills and staff. Performs duties with a high level of professional work at ethicsany problems to the guest’s procedures given timesatisfaction and be Pool supportive and loyal to the company to the Food and Beverage operation, 15. Other such duties as determined by the company from time to time and Beach operation and interactsASSISTANT with resort MANAGER – HOUSEKEEPING members and individuals outside the Resort Position Overview: Duties: The Assistant Manager – Housekeeping in the managing and including, but not limited to suppliers, competitors and assists other 1. Assists with plans, supervises and evaluates the daily operations and directing of the day to day operations of all Housekeeping and laundry activities of the accounting functions. Provides supportfor to the coordinating Executive Housekeeper in all areas of members of department the local community. Responsible 2. Plans, schedules and oversees the daily work of accounting staff the Housekeeping operation, such as staff training, coaching and functions including training, and establishing counseling and consistentlyas inspects and enforces adherence to the functions andcounseling activities with monitoring department heads appropriate. EAM goals Grace Bay Club standards of excellence. Participates in and enforces Assigns duties examines work for exactness and conformance to quality assurance for Housekeeping Departmentof andFood department cost –3.policies Food &andBeverage will be responsible for the Operations and procedures. control measures. Makes certain the required LHW Brand Standards 4.& Assists in preparing andand supervising the timely of all Departments, are achieved. Beverage Pool andpreparation Beach as well as the VIP balance sheet reconciliations. Follow up and resolve all reconcilable items within a timelybehind limit Essential Duties & Responsibilities facilities the scenes management. 5. Assists in managing the company’s bank and cash balances in line 1. Attend or conduct pre-shift brief meeting at 9am daily • Very Good Leadership Skills • Must be Computer Literate • Excellent at working and applying mathematical concepts • Must be very good at analyzing and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals or governmental regulations • Excellent Audit Skills
14. Co-operates and forms a team with other members of Management 10. Delegate assignments and supervise all staff, room attendants, housemen , public area attendants 11. Monitor and perform inventories weekly/monthly. Ensure enough guest supplies, linen supplies and uniforms are available 12. Manage operating expenses to minimize costs while still maintaining excellent guest services 13. Assist with budgeting, forecasting and financial planning of the department 14. Assist with scheduling and payroll cost controls, such as edit of daily employee time card and enter employee schedule in the system weekly 15. Supervise and conduct daily detailed inspection of guest rooms, public areas, back of house and surrounding hotel areas. Ensures compliance with the hotel’s standards of excellence, health/sanitation standards and regulations 16. Any other duties which may be assigned by the Executive Housekeeper
• Very Good Leadership Skills • Must be Computer Literate • Excellent at working and applying mathematical concepts • Must be very good at analyzing and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals or governmental regulations • Excellent Audit Skills
• Ensure that all Standards are being adhered to, by training all personnel and monitoring their
14. Co-operates and forms a team with other members of Management 10. Delegate assignments and supervise all staff, room attendants, and be supportive and loyal to the company housemen , public area attendants 15. Other such duties as determined by the company from time to time 11. Monitor and perform inventories weekly/monthly. Ensure enough guest supplies, linen supplies and uniforms are available ASSISTANT MANAGER – HOUSEKEEPING 12. Manage operating expenses to minimize costs while still maintaining excellent guest services Position Overview: 13. Assist with budgeting, forecasting and financial planning of the The Assistant Manager – Housekeeping assists in the managing and department directing of the day to day operations of all Housekeeping and laundry 14. Assist with scheduling and payroll cost controls, such as edit of daily functions. Provides support to the Executive Housekeeper in all areas of employee time card and enter employee schedule in the system weekly the Housekeeping operation, such as staff training, coaching and 15. Supervise and conduct daily detailed inspection of guest rooms, counseling and consistently inspects and enforces adherence to the public areas, back of house and surrounding hotel areas. Ensures Grace Bay Club standards of excellence. Participates in and enforces compliance with the hotel’s standards of excellence, health/sanitation quality assurance for Housekeeping Department and department cost standards and regulations control measures. Makes certain the required LHW Brand Standards 16. Any other duties which may be assigned by the Executive are achieved. Housekeeper
Budgeting & Costing compliance • To delegate and control the departmental expense budget Duties: 1. Assists with plans, supervises and evaluates the daily operations and throughout the year activities of the accounting department ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS 2. Plans, and oversees the daily work of accounting staff • Control Payroll and Business Expenses of schedules P&B and F&B functions including training, counseling and establishing monitoring• Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality or in Business Administration, from goals Departments 3. Assigns duties and examines work for exactness and conformance to a highly reputed university policies and procedures. • To prepare and derive the required operational cost for F&B and 4. Assists in preparing and supervising the timely preparation of all• Post graduate studies in similar subjects are highly recommended balance sheet reconciliations. Follow up and resolve all reconcilable P&B Departments for the year Qualifications: items within a timely limit Essentialyears Duties & Responsibilities Qualifications: • 15+ of experience in the hospitality sector • Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management Assists in managing the company’s bank and cash balances in line 1. Attend or conduct pre-shift brief meeting at 9am daily • Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management • To5 years oversee budget preparation for the5.withyear with policies set by the Director of Finance 2. Maintain clear and efficient communication and coordination with the • Minimum of Housekeeping Management experience in a • At least of experience role, preferably policies set by the Director of Finance 2. Maintain clear5 andyears efficient communication and coordination in with a the management • Minimum 5 years of Housekeeping Management experience in a 6. Assists in overseeing income audit and ensures proper accounting of Front Office and other departments of the hotel Luxury 5 Star Resort 6. Assists in overseeing income audit and ensures proper accounting of Front Office and other departments of the hotel Luxury 5 Star Resort • Toknowledge ensure the Upholstery, preparation of management team duties revenues and rebates of Chemicals, Floor Maintenance KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 3. To attract, motivate and retain staff. Provide leadership support and •andExtensive within well-reputed 5* leadership exclusive resort/ country-club revenues and rebates 3. To attract,amotivate and retain staff. Provide support and • Extensiveluxury knowledge of Chemicals, Upholstery, Floor Maintenance 7. Assists in managing General Cashier and ensures proper accounting is readily accessible to staff. Cleaning Solutions. 7. Assistsand in managing General Cashier and ensures proper accounting is readily accessible to staff. and Cleaning Solutions. • Toknowledge implement methods to control wastage over production cash and deposits to and include float counts Conduct performance, salary reviews and progressive discipline of Laundry Operations Planning Organizing - To plan4.all operational procedures, to plan• Extensive • Strong command ofandthe operations of restaurants and cash and deposits to include float counts 4. Conduct performance, salary reviews progressive discipline • Extensive knowledge of Laundry Operations 8. Ensures that all accounting operations are in compliance with 5. Assist in interviewing, scheduling, training, development, • Experience managing a diverse team of minimum 35 persons 8. Ensures that all accounting operations are in compliance with 5. Assist in interviewing, scheduling, training, development, • Experience managing a diverse team of minimum 35 persons • To select suppliers with growth the and most competent prices company policies and practicesall recruitment, growempowerment, coaching and counseling of staff • Demonstrated results showing continuous personal and organize revenue of the F&B Department accommodations facilities company policies and practices empowerment, coaching and counseling of staff • Demonstrated results showing continuous personal growth and 9. Ensures compliance and development of internal controls to protect 6. Train staff by following hotel guidelines for the safe handling of all development. 9. Ensures compliance and development of internal controls to protect 6. Train staff by following hotel guidelines for the safe handling of all development. • ToLiteracy ensure that the payroll doesn’t exceed the budget company housekeeping chemicals and equipment in Excel, Opera and Microsoft Word and assets Pool and Beach Department and to improve service and quality. • Computer • Good understanding functions, pricing as company assets housekeeping chemicals and equipment of procurement • Computer Literacy in Excel, Opera andstrategies Microsoft Word 10. Liaises with other departments as the need arises 7. Review and monitor daily schedule to ensure enough coverage for • Full competence and ability to read and write and communicate 10. Liaises with other departments as the need arises 7. Review and monitor daily schedule to ensure enough coverage for • Full competence and ability to read and write and communicate • To set the profit margin targets and achieve them 11. Assist in managing accounts payable and ensures good relations that day effectively in English. 11. Assist in managing accounts payable and ensures good relations well that dayas sales & marketing methods effectively in English. with suppliers including keeping supplier account reconciliations current 8. Refer and follow up on maintenance/equipment issues with • Must be able to work as part of a team and demonstrate a Service with suppliers including keeping supplier account reconciliations current 8. Refer and follow up on maintenance/equipment issues with • Must be able to work as part of a team and demonstrate a Service analyze potential costs Attends meetings when the need arises Engineering. Work closely with Engineering for simple and quick repairs Attitude• toTo all persons. •12.To coordinate with the heads of P&B and F&B departments to 12. Attends meetings when the need arises Engineering. Work closely with Engineering for simple and quick repairs Attitude to all persons. • To consider aspects of re-investment Email: humanresources@gracebayclub.com ensure adequate coordination and operations implementation Fax: (649) 946-5758 Domestic Worker/Housekeeper Email: humanresources@gracebayclub.com Fax: (649) 946-5758 P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British• West Indies To co-ordinate and manage pricing strategies P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies • Implement departmental strategies and action plans in accordance Job Requirements: • To analyze the market needs and trends with the resort’s strategic and sales plans • Ensure the cleanliness of all hotel areas • To contribute to Sales improvement • To plan the yearly revenue target • Assist in all Housekeeping responsibilities, cleaning of all guest • To plan and get the desired cost price for products sold by the resort • To ensure improvement in productivity across the resort rooms, stocking amenities and linens • To carry out the duty managers shift in order to meet management • To plan on upgrading the standards within the Resort • physical stamina and mobility including ability to reach, kneel and requirements • To liaise with the sales & marketing manager to set the strategy for bend • Manage the functioning of all employees, facilities, sales and costs, • ability to lift, push and pull required load (usually about 30lbs) the F&B department to ensure maximum departmental profit is achieved • To organize and conduct interviews • Ensure inventory is used properly and in supply at all times • Ensure regular upgrades of the resources of the F&B and P & B • To project business opportunities in order to increase revenue • Possess knowledge of proper cleaning supplies and chemical departments • To plan, develop and implement formal training plans for personnel handling • To oversee the preparation, presentation and service of food • To participate in preparation of the Resort strategic plan, marketing Qualified Belongers need only to apply products to ensure the highest quality at all times plan and goals program Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and • To maintain good will, sense of fairness and an open door policy • To regularly update the General Manager on all operations experience towards employees achievements and key issues • To operate an efficient and accurate administration process in order • To monitor and check resort members satisfaction Kid’s Town Coordinator: • To control operating and merchandising costs to meet statutory, legal and internal requirements • Must have basic First Aid • To maintain highest standards of Hygiene • To conduct daily briefings to ensure that all departments receive • Must be able to swim proficiently and perform basic water rescue • To maintain good Health and Safety Standards updated information • Must enjoy the outdoors and water sports and be willing to teach • Implement a daily and monthly checklist for all departments. Ensure • To conduct weekly briefings to improve all aspects of the resort and demonstrate activities effectively and with enthusiasm proper follow-up to attain maximum quality and efficiency • To attend all other meetings as required by the senior leaders team • Must be willing to work weekends and holidays and some evenings • To coordinate all sales activities which are conducted in area of • To ensure and maintain good relations with members and suppliers • Minimum 3 years experience with 5 star property responsibility
Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department no later than June 30th 2014 @ (649) 946-5050 Ext. 1050 Email: veronica.clare@gracebayclub.com Fax: (649) 946-5758 P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies
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LOCAL NEWS
Wise water garden opens at TCI National Museum’s Provo site
The people and businesses of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are being invited to relearn the efficient water conservation techniques used for hundreds of years in the Islands by a new working exhibit at the Island’s National Museum site in Providenciales. The new wise water initiative demonstrates rainwater harvesting from roofs, garden irrigation and use of native and other medicinal plants adapted to local conditions at the TCI National Museum’s historically accurate recreation of a typical 1800s Caicos family dwelling. The project aims to help the TCI decrease dependence on water that is reduced by expensive and environmentally costly diesel-powered desalination and promote awareness of the environment. Interpretive signage explains the natural water systems in TCI, how the wise water use garden works, and everyone can help conserve water. The project is linked to the ‘Wonderful Water’ curriculum and course developed by UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) with the TCI Education Department already in use in the Islands’ schools. Visitors to the site will be able to find out about the use of the ‘threesisters’ crop systems used by both the
The Turks & Caicos National Museum.
original Taino Indian inhabitants and again in the post-plantation era. This was centred on beans to capture nitrogen so avoiding the need for artificial fertilizers, corn which also provided support for the beans, and sweet potato or pumpkin, also to provide ground cover minimising water-loss. The water wise garden is a joint initiative by RBC Royal Bank, Turks & Caicos National Museum, and UK
GOOD HANDS AGENCY is looking for
TURKS & CAICOS AIRPORT HOTEL
4 LABOURERS 5 DOMESTIC WORKERS 1 Sales person
1 MAID
Salary $5.00 per hour
Salary $5.00 per hour
Mon – Sat 244-0277 or 946-3437
Trevor Musgrove is seeking a
Painter
seeks
6 days per week Interested persons should contact 946-4701
D BELL BEAUTY SALON SEEKS
Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF). Officially opening the garden Governor Peter Beckingham said: “This illustrates the fascinating gardening practices which were traditional in the Caicos Islands for hundreds of years. Given how relevant these still are today, I welcome this collaboration between a local non-profit, its UK-based non-profit partner, and an internation-
Submit applications by June 20 to: Butterfield Gold Ltd., Human Resource Department Town Center Mall, Providenciales Tel: 649-946-4211
AGNES SWANN SEEKS
Interested persons should Contact 231 4336
1 Hairdresser
6 days per week
Salary commensurate with experience.
Salary $5.00 per hour 6 days per week Contact 342-7335
Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 246-4769
LAND M CRAFT MARKET SEEKS
LABOURER
WANTED
ONE MAINTENANCE MAN
Front Office Agent
• Cashier • Pumping gas • Reconciliation of end of day report • Changing nozzle, hose & filters for pump/General pump maintenance • Any other assigned duty
One Labourer
Must be able to work weekends and holidays.
Turks & Caicos Airport Hotel Seeks
Island Pride Fuel
Two (2) Gas Attendants
al commercial organisation.” Mrs Sanfra Foster, RBC Royal Bank Turks and Caicos Branch Manager, said: “RBC has a longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and has chosen to focus on the conservation of the world’s most precious natural resource - water. We believe that access to water will be one of the most significant environmental and economic issues facing the world in the coming decades.” Patricia Saxton, Director of the Turks & Caicos National Museum Foundation expressed her appreciation to RBC and the project partners: “The Turks and Caicos National Museum is focused on historical and environmental conservation. In our Grand Turk branch, the Museum, the Botanical Garden and the Science Building rely only on rainwater harvesting and air conditioning run-off to power the operation.” Dr Mike Pienkowski, Honorary Executive Director of the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum said: “The Wise Water Use for Gardens Project will raise awareness of watersupply issues, encourage water-saving measures, and demonstrate the use of rainwater-harvesting for food-crops and of native plants in landscaping as significant measures to save water.”
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
To work Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Must be fluent in verbal and written English. Excellent computer and typing skills are required. Excel and Word proficiency desired. Excellent listening and comprehension skills required
Salary $5.50 per hour Interested persons should contact 946-4701 Samuel Pierre Is seeking to employ
A Domestic Worker
5 days per week Contact 342-5960
Fluent in English and French Salary is negotiable Contact 342-4701
ONE MAINTENANCE MAN Applicants must be honest, reliable and hardworking also fluent in English & French
Applicant must be honest, reliable & hardworking
Salary $5.00 per hour
WANTED
Salary $300 per week Please forward resume and contact information to samuelpierre87@gmail.com
Salary $5.00 per hour Interested persons should contact Yadley Leganeur S Dorvil at 332-5699
JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
ISLANDCOM Battle Of The Bands set for June 21st The stage is set and the lights are on for the Islandcom Battle of the Bands competition. This year is sure to be a crowd pleaser with seven competing bands and special performances from talented artistes. “We are very excited about this year’s event,” says Islandcom Marketing Exec Chandra Craigg. “We have more bands this year that was interested in joining the competition so we had to squeeze the schedule really tight this year.” The event, co-sponsored by the Wine Cellar will take place June 21st at the Turtle Cove Marina. Events for the competition will kick off on Friday night, June 20th, with a Battle of the Bands pre-party at Zanzi Bar Lounge in Providenciales. The pre-party will feature hot DJs such as DJ Shakes, DJ Hoodie, Prime DJs and a special guest. Then on Saturday, the 21st, all roads will lead to Turtle Cove Marina for the main event.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. and feature special performances from local artistes such as Kew Band Links, Tiffany Thomas, and TESS. Immediately after the event will be an after party session across from the Marina at Royal Flush Casino. The after party, hosted by Prime DJ’s themselves, will feature three top DJs and will celebrate the winners of the event.
Last year’s Battle of the Bands featured a stellar performance from newcomer TESS (Chrystal Charles) as she wowed the crowd with a medley of R&B and pop music; singing and dancing to hits such as Crazy in Love by Beyonce and Where Have You Been by Rihanna. Her performance this year is expected to rock the stage. This year’s event will feature an appearance by local
favourite Tiffany Thomas. Tiffany is a talented singer, songwriter, and performer and hails from the island of South Caicos. As the female lead vocalist of Caribbean Music Farm she has performed around the world in numerous countries. A sure crowd favourite, we expect her to shut down the show. In the competition are seven of TCI’s top bands competing for the number one spot. First place winners will receive $5,000.00 cash and Samsung phones; 2nd place winners will receive $2,500.00 and Samsung S4 Minis; and 3rd place winners will receive $1,000.00. All winners will also receive gift certificates courtesy of The Wine Cellar. This year’s competition will feature a few up and coming bands. Competing will be: Karib Band, Island Vibes,
Blue Haven Resort is inviting suitable applications for the position of
Spa Therapist Job Requirements/responsibilities:• Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a luxury resort and spa. • Graduate from an accredited school of massage and esthetics with a massage certification and esthetic certification. • The ideal candidate needs to be qualified in Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, Hot Stone Massage, Prenatal massage and Reflexology. Esthetic treatments such as facials, body scrubs and wraps. • Must possess excellent communication skills. • Must be a team player. • Must have a keen desire to serve the public. • Training and experience in recognized professional product modalities welcomed. • You will be required to work weekends and public holidays. • Candidate will be required to perform mobile services on board yachts, location and in room treatments. • Reception and treatment booking experience required. • Serve as a catalyst to promote spa services to hotel guests. • The position is commission based.
Please Submit Applications to: cgibbons@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than June 20th, 2014 Turks and Caicos Islanders need only apply. While we would like to thank, every applicant for their interest in the Blue Haven Spa, only short-listed persons will be contacted. At that time a complete compensation package and job description will be discussed.
Grand Land Band, Island Boys, Harbour Catch, Band Boys, and Obstak. The bands represent different islands and cultures of the Turks and Caicos. “What I love most about the Battle of the Bands is that it accomplishes so many things. It displays TCI culture, raises money for charity, and it marks the Anniversary of Islandcom network,” says Niamh Burns, Islandcom’s CEO. The charities sponsored in this year’s event focus on children and sports. There will be four TCI non-profit organizations represented this year. The four charities are Trailblazers Academy, the Provo Amateur Basketball Association, the TCI Softball Federation, and the Provo Children’s Home. Money for the charities will be raised from the sales of t-shirts, raffle tickets, concert items, and beverages on the night of the event. The event is free to enter. For VIP seating contact marketing@islandcom.tc for more information.
H.A.B. MANAGEMENT LTD. H.A.B. Management Limited is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following opening:
Waitress
Main Duties
• Applicants will be required to greet and take food and beverages orders from restaurant guest, serve the orders and accommodate guest requests. • Applicants will be required to serve guests’ promptly and according to established restaurant standards, policies and procedures.
Requirements
• Must have a minimum of three years experience working in a restaurant. • Must have a strong working knowledge of dining room procedures, policies and EPOS System. • Applicants must be a customer service advocate, maintaining a high level of customer service standards. • Maintain a friendly, cheerful and courteous demeanor at all times. • Perform other duties as assigned, requested or deemed necessary by management. • Applicants must be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required by management. • Applicants will be required to work on a full time basis. • Must be able to walk, stand or stoop for the duration of shift (at least 8 hours). • Applicants must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. All applicants must be hardworking team players. • Wages for this position is commensurate with experience and training. • Wages starts at $6.00 per hour.
Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by June 23, 2014 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Health Ministry advises FIFA World Cup travelers to get vaccinated The Primary Health Care De- asked to do the following: o Actively search for cases of partment, Ministry of Health and Human Services is reminding indi- measles and rubella in institutions viduals who intend to travel to Bra- and communities during the period zil during the period June 12 to July June to August, to document the ab13 for the FIFA World Cup compe- sence of measles and rubella cases tition, to vaccinate against Measles and/or the timely detection of any and Rubella. The Department has cases. o Fully immunize personnel in begun immunizations and a media the health, tourism, transportation campaign to encourage vaccination. The Department aims to promote and media sectors against Measles the importance of Measles, Mumps and Rubella. o Ensure that persons traveling and Rubella (MMR) vaccination for travelers and all others who are not to Brazil for the World Cup games sure of their Measles and Rubella are protected from Measles and Rubella by providing immunization status. Of the 32 countries participating to those people who have not been in the World Cup, 19 have reported immunized or who are uncertain of cases of measles. Therefore, it is an- their Measles and Rubella immuniticipated that the 500,000 – 600,000 zation status. Measles is a respiratory disease visitors expected in Brazil during the World Cup will significantly in- caused by a virus of the same name. crease the potential for the trans- The virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat mission of the measles. All residents of the Americas -in- and lungs. Measles is contagious cluding TC Islanders- who are trav- and spreads easily through the air elling to the 2014 FIFA World Cup by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. in Brazil should be fully vaccinat- Anyone who is exposed to the virus ed against measles and rubella at and is not immune will could get the least two weeks prior to their trav- disease. Symptoms include fever; el. Within the context of the World runny nose; red, watery eyes; cough; Cup period, countries including the and a rash all over the body. MeaTurks and Caicos Islands have been sles can cause death.
The Department is advising the public that the best way to protect oneself and loved ones from measles is by getting vaccinated. Anyone who cannot show that they were vaccinated as children and who have never had measles should contact their health professionals to be vaccinated. Please note that MMR vaccination continues for infants and children during routine child health visits. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of measles or rubella in the Turks and Caicos Islands; however, travelers are being urged to watch your health for 3 weeks after they return from traveling. Should you or your loved one fall sick with a rash and fever, call your doctor and be sure to tell your doctor where you traveled. A travel history will help the doctor think of diseases that might not normally occur in the TCI. FIFA World Cup travelers, if you have not been vaccinated, get vaccinated today. Don’t let Measles be your travel souvenir. Contact your local Government Primary Health Care Clinic for more information. In Providenciales call 941-2800 and in Grand Turk call 941-2900.
Minister of Government Support Services tours new Government buildings On Tuesday 10th June, 2014 Minister of Government Support Services Hon. George Lightbourne toured government buildings on Grand Turk which have been or are close to completion. These buildings, four in total, fall under the remit of GSS Ministry’s Estate Management Department and are either muchneeded replacements or additional facilities. They include: •The Ona Glinton Primary School classroom block. Construction works commenced on July 1, 2013 and is scheduled to be completed on 30th June, this year. •The H.J. Robinson High School administration block, which was completed on 24th September 2013. •The Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant. The building and other ancillary works which included transferring the old plant into the new building, were completed on 30th January, 2013. Installation and commissioning of the new plant ended in August of 2013. •The Customs Warehouse which was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008 has been rebuilt. Construction on the new warehouse started on 8th November 2013 and was completed on 28th February this year. “It brings me great joy and a sense of purpose to see these new facilities” Minister Lightbourne said. “I am looking forward to the completion of other capital projects in the very near future and the commencement of works of other projects throughout the islands.”
HAB MANAGEMENT LTD HAB Management Limited is a seeking suitably qualified individual to fill the following opening. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.
SECURITY GUARD Job Description Responsible for implementing and enforcing security measures in order to provide maximum protection to the lives and properties of the company, employees and guests. Responsible to guard, patrol and monitor company premises to prevent theft, violence or infractions of rules.
Main Duties
• Maintaining a safe and secure environment for all guests and employees. • Must be trained in self defense and security operations. • Document reports of daily activities and irregularities that occur on premises in logbook. • Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment and machinery to ensure operational use. • Responding quickly to emergency situation.
Requirements
• Must have five years or more experience as a Security Officer. Law enforcement/security experience preferred. • Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. • Must be computer literate and have working knowledge of CCTV systems and software. • Must be willing to work a variety of day/night and weekend shifts. • Able to be on feet for long periods of time. • Excellent people skills. • Professional, neat, clean cut appearance is necessary. • Clean driver’s license.
The salary for this position is $15,000.00 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should email resumes by June 23, 2014 to ronnie@habgroup.com or submit by fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
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JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Hurricane repairs begin on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay The $6.25m European Union funded repair of Hurricane Ike damaged properties has begun on Grand Turk, the Turks and Caicos Islands Disaster Recovery Board (DRB) announced today, Tuesday, 10 June 2014. Parker & Sons Construction won the tender to start conducting minor repairs on 11 properties, with works due to be completed early August 2014. Work will begin shortly on South Caicos and Salt Cay. Tenders are currently being negotiated to carry out more serious repairs on a further 27 properties, due to be completed by October, as well as the total rebuilding of some homes too badly damaged to repair. The EU resources have been allocated according to the greatest need by the DRB, as required by the EU Contract, with those on the lowest income and living in a damaged property with elderly, infirm or disabled
people taking precedence. Originally 124 homeowners were informed that they were eligible for assistance from the $6.25m fund, and prioritised according to need by the DRB. Thirteen of these have subsequently withdrawn their applications or been found to be ineligible, in some cases due to an irresolvable issue with the ownership of the land that their home is on, for example. Of those remaining: 1. Minor works – originally 22 applications fell into this category all of which are priority one, but after withdrawals or having been found to be ineligible, 11 applications remain, all of whom will have their repairs carried out. 2. Major repairs – originally 38 applications fell into this category. All 27 priority one cases will have works carried out; the 11 households which a lower level of priority according to
Delphine Williams, above, thanks Lester for the repair works on her home. At left: Patsy Taylor with contractor Norman Parker of Parker & Sons.
the criteria set down in the EU Contract, may have their works carried out, but only if any budget remains upon completion of the works on priority one applications. 3. Complete Rebuilds – originally 64 applications fell into this category, with 43 of these being identified as priority one. It is unlikely that the budget will allow
rebuilding of all 43 priority one homes, once contract negotiations are concluded. Once the exact costs are known, the most vulnerable members in this group will receive new homes. This leaves 21 properties in the lower priority categories who are unlikely to have their homes rebuilt out of this funding, due to budget constraints. These persons are
mainly single income family households or those living in rented accommodation or with relatives. The islands of Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay were the worst affected by Hurricane Ike, according to UNESCO in 2009. The members of the DRB are: •Governor Peter Beckingham •Deputy Governor Anya Williams •Chief Financial Officer Stephen Turnbull •Permanent Secretary Wesley Clerveaux •Pastor Vernon Malcolm Independent member Kingsley Been
InterCaribbean Airways is seeking suitable qualified pilots to operate its EMB120 fleet.
Pool and Beach Attendant
IMMEDIATE OPENING
Requirements: • Must be able to work in all outdoor element, rain, sun, etc. as required • Must be able to work long hours on feet • Must be able to lift 30lbs or more • Must be trained and certified in CPR, First Aid. • Life guard experience is a plus • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Duties Include: • Creating a luxury guest experience through delivery of high level service for all pool and beach services Starting salary $5.50 per hour not including service charge.
Butler
The butler will provide the highest of penthouse service to our guests. The Butler’s primary goal is to create an ambiance of superior luxury by anticipating each individual guest’s needs. This is accomplished through moments of surprise and delight that our guest would never have experienced before. Also ensure guest familiarities to frequent guests visiting the hotel. Requirements: • Minimum of 3 years experience in food and beverage fine dining as a personal Butler • Must possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written • Strong knowledge of a variety of cuisines and wines/beverages • Must possess local knowledge in order to respond to all inquires from guest, such as restaurants information • Must posses basic computational ability • Must posses basic computer skills • Must be able to follow through all the guest requests and communicate them to the appropriate departments and management in an efficient manner • Must be have attention to details second to none ability, superior interpersonal skills and desire to provide exceptional service to our guest • Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours in length • Must be able to exert well-paced, ability to reach other departments and locations in a timely manner • Must be able to exert well-paced ability in limited space • Must be able to bend, stoop, squat and stretch to fulfill cleaning tasks. • Must be able to bend and squat and lift up to 25 lbs • Must be able to push and pull equipment weighing up to 75 lbs • Requires grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions. Bending, climbing, listening and hearing ability and visual acuity. • Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary equipment • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Starting salary $6.00 per hour Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday, and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to marjorie. dorsett@regenthotels.com, no later than end of day Friday, June 28th, 2014.
Applicants must have the following: Captains: Valid Air Transport License, Pic type rating - 3500hrs fixed wing total time including 1,500 hrs Multi engine, 500hrs Turbine and minimum 100hrs on Type. First officer: Commercial Pilot License, Sic type rating 500hrs fixed wing total time, 250hrs Multi-engine and 25hrs on Type.
Please send resume to HR@Intercaribbean.com Tel:(649) 946-4181
RESTAURANT
FOR SALE GRACEBAY * All Equipment * Key in hand operation * Great location Contact 332-7432
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
A cultural awakening The thirst for a cultural awakening is being appeased since the introduction of Dance to the small community of North Caicos. In an effort to enhance the performing arts experience of the students of this remote island, the Performing Arts Club of the Raymond Gardiner High School, sought to go beyond its Thursday afternoon meetings, and decided to offer free dance lessons to all students and residents of North Caicos on a Saturday afternoon at Horse Stable Beach. Life on the laid-back island of North Caicos can feel somewhat stagnant considering the absence of activities, institutions and outlets which serve to aid the productive and social development of young people. Outside of the school programme, too little opportunity is open for them to positively channel their energies and time, and the result sometimes breeds undesirable behaviours among young people. It is this concern which gave birth to the North Caicos Community Dance Class Program which has been in operation since the start of May. The Director of Culture and former professional dancer, David Bowen is the main instructor of these classes which are held every Saturday at 1:30pm – 3:00 pm at the Horse Stable Beach. The RGHS Performing Arts Club, headed by Ms. Marguerite Anderson who has been working with Director of Culture, David Bowen, came up with the idea after Ms. Anderson invited Mr. Bowen to conduct a series of dance lessons with the Performing Arts group at the school.
North Caicos students and teachers doing a routine dance Mr. Bowen who has been working with the students since February, subsequently began a dance workshop with members of the club during their weekly club meetings. The interest and enthusiasm of the students at the school, sparked the idea to extend this opportunity to others at Raymond Gardiner High School, as well as to those students of all ages, from the neighboring schools. The Director of Culture with support from Ms. Anderson thought it a great idea to offer a chance for the North Caicos schools to experience basic dance training. There was also the awareness of the added benefit of offering a wonderful form of recreation, exercise
and fun for anyone in the community, who has an interested. The program will also serve as a pilot for other dance programs that will eventually take place in the other Government schools throughout the islands. Students learn various dance techniques such as TCI Cultural and Folklore Dance, African Dance, Creative Dance, Hip Hop, Caribbean Dance and elements of Ballet and Modern Dance. Already, class size has been growing and although dominantly attended by females, there has been the interest from a few of the boys as well. A number of persons/sponsors have been in support of this venture. Among those in collaboration with
the Department of Culture are RGHS’s Performing Arts Coordinator, Marguerite Anderson, Caribbean Cruisin’ TCI Ferry (providing discounted tickets), Superior Auto Rental & Tours (providing discounted car rental) and the DC of North Caicos, Ms. Donna Gardiner. The organizers would like support from other sponsors and collaborators in the form of water, juices, snacks etc. for the dancers, Ferry tickets and covering cost for transportation of students and teachers to and from the venue. Please call the Department of Culture on 9418434 with your pledge as they continue their quest to expand the experiences for cultural growth.
NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands. 1. Parcel 60002/367 North West and North Central, Providenciales. Phase two of the Priton Homes: two bedrooms, one bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, living/ dining area on 0.25 acre. Registered Proprietor: Glanedise Walkin 2. Parcel 60900/170 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales. Single storey with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, one half bathroom, living room and kitchen on 0.72 acre. Registered Proprietor: Cherrie Romayne ForbesIngham 3. Parcel 60720/20 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hills, Providenciales. Single storey detached house in Cooper Jack with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, open plan living and dining room with partially completed extension on 1.33 acres. Registered Proprietor: Michael M Williams 4. Parcel 60610/184 Norway & Five Cays, Providenciales. Single storey residential house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry room, kitchen, living/dining room on 1.00 acre. Registered Proprietor: Earl Nathan Tucker 5. Parcel 60900/175 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales. Single storey residential property providing two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchens, open plan living/dining area and laundry room on 0.67 acre. Registered Proprietor: Randy McKenn Ewing 6. Parcel 60702/125 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, Providenciales. Detached two storey building: two bedrooms to the upper floor and a one bedroom apartment to the lower floor with a separated bedroom/guest room at the rear of the house accessed from the upper deck. Registered Proprietor: Harry Turbyfield/ Carmen Fabara (Opera Investments Ltd.) 7. Parcel 60715/186 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, Providenciales. Unfinished bungalow multiplex consisting of 3- one bedroom, 2- two bedroom apartments on 0.77 acre of land. Registered Proprietor: Ebenezer Benjamin Williams 8. Parcel 60515/64 Blue Hills & Stamers Run, Providenciales. Single storey detached dwelling house providing three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchens,
living/dining area and laundry room on approx. 0.22 acre. Registered Proprietor: Thelma Adlaide Lightbourne 9. Parcel 10308/105 South West Suburbs, Grand Turk. Single storey residential house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, family room, living/dining room on approx. 0.25 acre. Registered Proprietor: Lester Robert Butterfield and Paula Ann Butterfield 10. Parcel 10303/33 Overback, Central Suburbs, Grand Turk. This property accommodates three buildings: one concrete building and two wooden comprises of a single storey residential house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, family room, living/dining room on approx. 0.20 acre. Registered Proprietor: Henry Raymond Jennings 11. Parcel 10204/67 Township, Central Suburbs, Grand Turk. This property comprises of a main house with two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, living/ dining room, laundry room and a detached wooden dwelling house comprising of one bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen, living/dining room and laundry room on approx. 0.19 acre. Registered Proprietor: Kuthlyn Spencer 12. Parcel 61113/94 Long Bay, Providenciales. Detached bungalow style residential house with five bedrooms, three bathroom, kitchen, living/dining room, and laundry room. There is a second building on lot which comprises of two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, and living room on approx. 0.49 acre. Registered Proprietor: Ezra Ringo Tyrone Taylor 13. Parcel 60805/15/K8 The Bight and Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales. This property comprises of a two storey townhouse with three bedrooms, three bathroom, kitchen, living/dining room, family room and laundry room. Registered Proprietor: Alejandro Rios 14. Parcel 60505/199 Blue Hills and Stamers Run, Providenciales. Apartment complex and Laundromat. The main building consists of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two kitchens, two living/dining rooms and an additional building with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, three kitchens, three living/dining rooms on approx. 0.20 acre. Registered Proprietor: George Seymour
The auction will be held at the offices of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 27th day of June 2014. A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.
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LOCAL NEWS
Brentford Handfield on saxophone and his son Brenton on steel drum entertain the audience.
Fathers doing the happy dance contest.
Dance with Cinderella was beautiful Those who attended the Dance with Cinderella – Father and Daughter Dinner and Dance – at the Tropicana Show and Supper Club on Saturday (June 7, 2014) enjoyed themselves immensely. Not only was sumptuous dinner served and the audience treated to the best in live musical performances provided by crooner Julian Garland and Brentford Handfield and son Brenten, but they also got the opportunity to bond even closer with their daughters through a variety of dances, even trying their hand at the Electric Slide. The event, organized by Nutrition in Demand, headed by nutritionist Tamika Handfield, was an event of elegance and grace. In addition to dancing, some of the daughters also read poems to their fathers, reminding them of the love and affection they have for them. The event attracted some prominent fathers, including Pastor Bradley Handfield of Community Fellowship Centre and Ingo Reckhorn, Public Relations Director for Blue Haven Resort, attorney Finbar Grant and Raymond Cushne, President of the Rotary club
Daughters showing off their dresses.
Fathers and their daughters share the dance floor.
of Providenciles. Almando Rigby, Public Relations Officer for the HOPE Foundation was the guest speaker for the event. The colourful Shawn Malcolm was the master of ceremonies. Several prizes were also issued. The best dressed daughter copped a prize. There was much excitement in the fathers dance contest. Dancing to the “Happy Song”, the fathers provided comic relief for the rest of the audience who could not contain their excitement. In the end, Basneal Bien-Aime, husband of General Secretary for the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association and also a FIFA official, emerged the father who had the best dance moves. In fact, the audience ruled it a tie between Bien-Aime and Reckhorn, but Reckhorn conceded the dance-off. Handfield, in an interview with The SUN, said that she was pleased with the first staging of the event. She noted that the fathers, who missed out on the opportunity to spend the evening with their daughters, ignored a wonderful opportunity show their daughter how special she is.
Tamika Handfield hands the prize to the Best Dressed female Panthea Lightbourne, while her dad Shadroy share in the moment. “They missed a moment to dance with their Cinderella. We thank the fathers who turned out with their daughters and make this evening the success that it is. We were hoping to have more persons out, but in the end the event was a great success,” Handfield told The SUN.
Almando Rigby and his daughter Gabrielle. Handfield said that she has identified areas that she would address for next year’s staging, adding that the feedback she got from those in attendance was tremendous.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Around 20 hours of artistic work went into every single minute of the 30-minute ceremony, which was choreographed by Paulo Barros - a two-time winner of the samba school title at the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
The opening ceremony took on a variety of different themes, with entertainers dressed in everything from flowers and trees to life size footballs (pictured here).
Incredible scenes: The ceremony at Sao Paulo saw thousands of football fans celebrating the k
FIFA World C kicks off w glittering cer A Brazil fan gives a big cheer.
Organisers held a total of 31 auditions to choose the show’s performers and circus artists and army soldiers were among those selected.
One fan pleaded for forgiveness from his significant other with a giant placard apologising for choosing football on Brazil’s Valentine’s Day.
Entertainers dressed in an array of different costumes as they performed to the jubilant crowd.
SAO PAULO – The greatest show on the earth, the FIFA World Cup carnival, began with a coruscating opening ceremony, which encapsulated the colour, culture and nature of Brazil, hosting the big football party first time since 1950. The anti-tournament protests continued even hours before the ceremony but the din was lost when thousands of football lovers from across the world thronged the Corinthians Arena and watched the spectacle unfold with invigorating enthusiasm. However, a few stands were still empty when the 30-minute ceremony began. A giant LED ball, placed at the centre of the stadium, displayed the welcome
message in different language hundreds of artists started to tric Dressed as trees, plants and fl the artists represented the nature country with background music, had no drum tunes as yet. Then on show was the diver the Brazilian people, their danc martial arts, developed by the sla the 16th century for self defence. It was followed by what Br synonymous with:, game of F Several people with football as he came in and kids dressed as re came to the pitch and depicted c of a match. Immediately after this, the Br flag was paraded onto the pitch. The giant ball opened and to
Preparations for the opening ceremony, which falls on Brazil’s Valentine’s Day, started in March.
A Brazil fan kisses a mock Worl Corinthians in Sao Paulo.
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kick off of the World Cup.
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form of a flower. Brazilian singer Claudinha surfaced from under it along with Pop icon Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pit Bull. The trio sang the official World Cup song – We Are One (Ole Ola) –but it looked Jennifer’s mike did not work. Also, the song could not be heard clearly and the ceremony, in which about 500 people showed the vibrant colours of Brazil, concluded in a jiffy without speech of any FIFA official. Several anti-government protests have marred the build up to the tournament and police had to fire tear gas and rubber bullets to defuse a fresh protest near a Sao Paulo subway station, hours before the opening ceremony. More protests are expected in the
ld Cup trophy at the Arena
Singer Jennifer Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian popstar Claudia Leitte bounced around the giant stage as they sang the official World Cup song ‘We Are One (Ola Ola)’ during the opening ceremony. country over high cost of the staging the World Cup when more spending on health, education and subsidised transport is desired by people. Not only the protests but also the delays in construction of stadias had put the organisers on the edge. Nevertheless, the ceremony went off well and thousands of spectators awaited the action to begin as hosts Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the tournament-opener.
Jenny made the crowd rock! J-Lo, 44, wows as she performs during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil prior to the Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on Thursday. Thousands of fans gathered in the Arena de Sao Paulo in Brazil for the World Cup opening ceremony.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Miss Arkansas Helen Wisner
Miss California Cassandra Kunze
Miss Connecticut Desiree Perez
Miss Tennessee Kristy Landers Niedenfuer
Miss Illinois Alexis Atkins
Miss Hawaii Moani Marguerite
Miss Georgia Tiana Griggs
Miss Idaho Yvette Bennett
Taekwondo black belt Miss Nevada takes USA 2014 crown
Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez takes the runway during the evening gown portion of the pageant.
Miss Montana Kadie Claire Latimer
Miss Wyoming Lexi Hill
Miss Nevada, who has a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo, won the title of Miss USA 2014 in Baton Rouge last Sunday night. Nia Sanchez, 24, of Las Vegas wore a red fishtail gown as she was presented with her sash, bouquet and crown. Prior to the big reveal, she was seen in a nervous embrace with first runner-up Miss North Dakota Audra Mari. Other runners-up in the pageant – which is owned by Donald Trump – included Miss Georgia Tiana Griggs, Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry, Miss
Miss Nebraska Amanda Marie Soltero
Miss New York Candace Kendall
Florida Brittany Oldehoff and Miss Iowa Carlyn Bradarich. As the winner of the 63rd Miss USA pageant, Sanchez will move on to the Miss Universe 2014 pageant later this year. The pageant queen, who works as a full-time model, referenced her martial arts knowledge in two interviews during Sunday night’s televised competition. When asked about the security detail guarding the pageant contestants, Sanchez said her black belt gave her a sense of security and self-confidence, but added that she didn’t mind
Miss New Mexico Kamryn Taylor Blackwood
having the guards on hand. In the second interview, Sanchez was asked by Rumer Willis about a statistic that says 19% of female college students in the US are sexually assaulted, why universities may try to hide the issue and what can be done to fix the problem. “I believe that some colleges may potentially be afraid of having a bad reputation and that would be a reason it could be swept under the rug, because they don’t want that to come out in public,” Sanchez said in reply. “More awareness is very important so women can learn
Miss District of Columbia Ciera Nicole Butts
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ENTERTAINMENT
Miss Washington Allyson Maureen Rowe
Miss Louisiana Brittany Alyson Guldry
Miss Florida Brittany Oldehoff how to protect themselves,” she added. ‘Myself, as a fourth-degree black belt, I learned at a young age that you need to be confident and be able to defend yourself. And I think that’s something we should really implement for a lot of women.’ Sexual assault awareness had been a speaking point throughout the competition for Miss Pennsylvania Valerie Gatto, who placed among the top 20 contestants. Gatto had been open with the fact that she was the product of
Miss Texas Lauren Guzman
First runner-up Miss North Dakota Audria Mari rape after a man threatened her Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez is crowned Miss USA during the 2014 Miss USA Competition at The Baton Rouge River Center on June 8, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Inset, Sanchez, seen in her taekwondo uniform, mother at knifepoint at age 19. “If you know me, you know has a fourth-degree black belt. that I have always been vocal about my story and an advocate for sexual assault and rape,” Gatto wrote on her Facebook page on Friday. “Now, to see everything unfold to the world, it is fulfilling and life changing.” Contestants came from all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. They were judged on their performances in the evening gown and swimsuit rounds, as well as personal interviews.
Miss Rhode Island Christina Palavra
Miss Utah Angelina Nichole Layton
Miss Iowa Carlyn Bradarich
Miss Wisconsin Bishara Dorre
Miss South Carolina Christina Isabelle Zapolski
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ENTERTAINMENT
Kelly Rowland announces she is pregnant Support: Jaya’s mom, Andrea Kelly, who stars on ‘Hollywood Exes’, has been supportive of his announcement. At right, R Kelly.
R. Kelly’s child comes out as transgender R. Kelly’s 14-year-old child, Jaya, has come out as transgender and changed his name to ‘Jay’. The brave teen made the announcement on his social media pages last weekend and also revealed that his singer dad has yet to speak to him since the revelation. Responding to questions on his Ask.fm profile, Jay explained that although he was born biologically female, he has identified as a male since he
was ‘6 or 7’ and that his mother has known for a year. His mom Andrea Kelly, the singer’s ex-wife and star of reality series ‘Hollywood Exes’, has been supportive of his transition and has proudly shared pictures of them together online. ‘My mom was like, “Baby, you know I love you if you were bi, gay, lesbian, you name it and I would still love you so much”,’ he wrote. ‘She was very proud of me, I
Ruby Dee’s legacy of activism mourned
was like, “Thank you mom for accepting the fact that I’m a transgender”.’ ‘And same with my sister, she told me that she was proud of me, and respects me by calling me handsome and calling me her little brother now, and I love her for that, so you know it was great for me.’ He added that he is eager to undergo the gender realignment operations but that he knows he’ll have to wait for several years.
‘I believe I am a boy and want surgery, and the medication to help me (be) who I was supposed to be,’ he wrote. From a very young age he knew he did not want to be a girl, wear dresses, grow his hair long or have breasts or female sexual organs, he explained on Ask.fm. His father has yet to publicly comment on the teen’s announcement, but Jay revealed that he and his sister are not close to the singer.
Kelly Rowland is pregnant with her first child. And the singer picked a creative way to announce the happy news on Tuesday. Kelly shared a photo of a pair of Air Jordans with a baby version next to them on her Instagram page. ‘I’ll be stuntin like my daddy.....’ the Destiny’s Child star wrote alongside the sweet snapshot. Kelly married Tim Witherspoon last month in Costa Rica, and her former bandmate Beyonce Knowles was in attendance with her sister Solange. The 33-year-old began dating Tim, her manager, in 2011, and they announced their engagement in December of last year. No doubt her best friend Beyonce will be excited for a future playmate for her two-year-old daughter with Jay Z, Blue Ivy.
Mila and Ashton ‘to tie the knot after baby is born’
Ruby Dee
For Ruby Dee, acting and activism Emmy, a Grammy, two Screen Actors weren’t contradictory things. They were Guild awards, the NAACP Image Award, Kennedy Center Honors, the National inseparable, and they were intertwined. The African-American actress, who Medal of Art and the National Civil Rights earned lead roles in movies and on Museum’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Broadway, also spent her life fighting She got an Oscar nomination at age 83 for against injustice, even emceeing the 1963 best supporting actress for her role in the March on Washington and protesting 2007 film “American Gangster.” Spike Lee, who directed Dee and her apartheid in South Africa. “We are image makers. Why can’t we husband in “Do the Right Thing,” took to image makers become peacemakers, too?” Instagram to say he was “crushed.” He she asked after she and her husband, said it was one of his “great blessings in Ossie Davis, accepted the Screen Actors life to work with two of the finest artists Guild Award for Lifetime Achievement in and activists – Ruby and Ossie.” President Barack Obama said he and 2000. That legacy of entertaining and his wife, Michelle Obama, were saddened pushing for change – in addition to the to hear of Dee’s death and will never epic love affair with Davis – made Dee, forget seeing her in “Do the Right Thing” who died at age 91 in her New Rochelle on their first date. “Through her remarkable performances, home on Wednesday night, a beloved figure in America and beyond. Broadway Ruby paved the way for generations of theaters will dim their lights in her honor black actors and actresses, and inspired African-American women across our Friday night. As a sign of how influential Dee has country,” he said in a statement. Dee made her Broadway debut in the been to generations of performers, she was thanked twice from the podium original production of “South Pacific” and at Sunday’s Tony Awards, by six-time in 1959 starred in the Broadway premiere winner Audra McDonald and new Tony of “A Raisin in the Sun,” about black frustration amid racial discrimination, winner director Kenny Leon. “She will be missed but never forgotten opposite Sidney Poitier. Both reprised the as she lives on in many of us,” Leon said roles in the film two years later. Davis and Dee, who met in 1945 when in a statement Thursday, noting Dee’s death came just weeks after that of Maya she auditioned for the Broadway play “Jeb” Angelou. “Maya and Ruby leave us only and married on a day off from another days apart – those two women with four play in 1948, shared billing in 11 stage letter names instructed us on how to live.” productions and five movies during long Dee’s long career earned her an parallel careers.
Here comes the bride: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher plan to tie the knot only after their baby is born, pictured over the weekend in LA .
They are currently expecting their first child together. But Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher plan to tie the knot only after the birth. The engaged pair is ‘not planning to get married before the baby is born’ because ‘they have a lot going on right now,’ a source told EOnline. According to the source, Mila, 30, and her 36-year-old beau are ‘really happy and in love... [and] can’t wait for their baby to arrive’. Ashton and Mila are preparing for their baby girl’s debut by moving into a recently purchased $10 million home in Beverly Hills. The 7,351-square-foot mansion will provide four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and privacy for the celebrity couple.
Paula Deen cooks up her own online network
Former Food Network star Paula Deen announced on her websiteWednesday that she is launching her own online network in September. She posted to her blog: “Guess who’s going digital, y’all!” The Paula Deen Network will be a subscription-based service. For a fee, fans will be able to access recipes, tips and instructional videos at any time. Early registration will begin
in July, and those who pre-register can win a trip to Savannah, Ga. to join her live studio audience. In order to court subscribers, Deen has set off on a 20-city summer food tour across the U.S. Deen lost most of her endorsements, her book deal and her TV deals in 2013 after she acknowledged having used racial slurs – including the N-word – in the past.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Rep: Tracy Morgan continues to show signs of improvement after car crash
A representative for Tracy Morgan released on Saturday. Hundreds of people paid respect to has given new update on the actor’s condition after he was critically injured McNair at a memorial service which in a fatal car crash on the New Jersey took place at the Paramount Theater in Peekskill, N.Y. on Thursday. McNair, Turnpike on Saturday, June 7. “Today was a better day,” his publicist who is also known as Uncle Jimmy Lewis Kay said in a statement to media Mack, is remembered as a loving person on Thursday. “While Tracy remains who gave back to his community. The comedian’s friends made a in critical, but stable, condition, he continues to show signs of improvement. spontaneous donation for Danita’s His medical team remains optimistic prom dress and gave her an envelope filled with $500 on stage after learning that his recovery is progressing.” The “30 Rock” star and two other that she needed one. “Her and my father were working on passengers, Jeffrey Millea and Ardie Fuqua Jr., are currently in critical that together,” Danita’s brother Jamel condition at hospital after their car was McNair told New York Daily News. “Positivity and unity is what my dad rear-ended by a truck. Morgan’s friend, comedian James would want everyone to take away from McNair, passed away in the accident this,” he added. “Love everyone. Say while another passenger Harris Stanton hello to everyone. My dad made sure he suffered from minor injuries and was said hello to everyone he saw.”
Weluree Ditsayabut, Thai Miss Universe 2014, has resigned Monday after being attacked on social media for being too fat and for her political views.
Miss Thailand resigns after being called fat on social media Miss Universe Thailand has who selected me as well as my parents, resigned after being attacked on social friends and those who looked after me. ‘I also want to thank the people who media for being ‘too fat’ and for her made comments about me, both good political views. Weluree Ditsayabut, 22, won the and bad ones, through the media. ‘At first, my family was happy for crown last month, but came under fire for Facebook messages posted before me when I was crowned. But there’s the competition in which she said red no more happiness following waves of shirt protesters ‘should all be executed.’ criticism from the society.’ Weluree was an surprise choice for Disayabut tearfully announced she was giving up the title that would the Miss Universe Thailand crown, have allowed her to compete in the beating crowd favourite Pimbongkod international Miss Universe pageant at ‘Ellie’ Chankaew into second place. As Weluree was crowned, shouts of a press conference this afternoon. The red shirts are a political ‘Ellie, Ellie’ and ‘Keep on fighting Ellie’, pressure group who support the could be heard from the crowd amid deposed former Thai prime minister boos and jeers. However, it was not immediately Thaksin Shinawatra against proroyalist protesters who have seized clear who would replace Weluree as images of Pimbongkod kissing a man control of the country’s capital. The actress and former talk show have also appeared online, causing host said a hail of brutal comments controversy. Organisers of Miss Universe on social media had given her and her Thailand told reporters that they will mother sleepless nights. According to the Bangkok Post, she have to review other criteria, such said: ‘I’ve made this decision on my own. as social media, when screening and I would like to thank all the judges selecting contestants in the future.
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CARIBBEAN
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
NEWS
PM: Moody’s downgrade Caribbean urged to push back of Barbados’ credit against China rating is like ‘garbage’ BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has likened to trash, Moody’s recent lowering of the island’s credit rating because the island administration will not engage in uncontrolled borrowing from the international market. Against the backdrop of last week’s downgrade from Ba3 to B3, Stuart said “what they say is only relevant if we want to embark on an orgy of foreign borrowing in which people should know how much we should have to borrow, how much our money should cost”. “But if we are not intending in the short or medium term to go to the capital markets to borrow money, what they say has as much value as what you would see in any garbage dump collected by the Sanitation Services Authority (the island’s thrash collection agency).” Stuart’s statement contrasts with actions of his government that currently has an amendment bill before parliament seeking to raise his administration’s borrowing limit from BDS$1.5 billion to $2.5 billion (one BDS dollar = 50 cents US). That amendment was expected to be debated in parliament last Tuesday, but the Moody’s downgrade was announced on that day and before the meeting of the House began, and there was no discussion on the bill. This opened the door for speculation that the downgrade announcement upset the
Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart. administration’s plans for the increasing size of the country’s additional one billion dollars fiscal deficit, which exceeded 11% it was seeking to acquire for of GDP in fiscal year 2013/14, and “our expectation of continued borrowing through the bill. The government has also challenges to fiscal consolidation”. Moody’s, which had previously indicated that it has no intention of devaluing the local currency in downgraded the bond rating to the wake of the US-based rating Ba3 from Ba1 last December, also highlighted the increasing agency’s report The Barbados dollar is trading government debt ratios, projected at above 100% of GDP by fiscal at US$0.50 cents. Finance Minister Chris year 2014/15, coupled with Sinckler in a statement said that elevated short-term debt issuance devaluation is not even being and gross financing needs in considered by the Freundel Stuart excess of 30% of GDP in 2014 and administration as it grappled with 2015. Last week, the International efforts to turn around an ailing Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the economy. Moody’s Investors Service local economy was continuing to said the three-notch downgrade “face major challenges, including reflects the reinforcement of low growth, a very large fiscal negative fiscal trends given the deficit and a high debt burden” .
Police break up violent anti-government protests in Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti’s riot police fired teargas last week Tuesday to disperse anti-government demonstrators who threw stones at police officers and destroyed windows and windshields of passing-by vehicles in the downtown area of the Caribbean country’s capital, Port-auPrince. The protesters, who were calling for the departure of the Haitian leader Michel Martelly and the resignation of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, marched through different streets in the capital before getting violent as they approached the Champ de Mars area leading to the presidential palace, not far from a law school. “The police were trying to block us, so we have a right to defend ourselves,” an angry demonstrator who identified himself as Mario. “They (the police) have weapons, but we don’t have. Our weapons are our stones,” said Mario. Several car owners, whose vehicles were attacked, condemned the attitude of protesters, mostly from former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s Lavalas Family party and other opposition groups.
Trinidad – Regional economist Carl Howell urged labour markets in the Caribbean to address competitiveness and ease of doing business in a bid to push back against saturation from China. Mr Howell, an economist with the Caribbean Development Bank, said it is difficult for local markets to compete against China’s resources, which allows for a total package of financing and labour. He added that it was important for countries to move quickly to implement a strategy as it was the only path to sustained growth levels. Mr Howell said: “The strategy that the regional industry would have to develop is to see how best they can decrease the operational costs that they have, so that they can have at least some sort of a chance at competing against China’s resources. It’s not easy because what China is bringing to the table would be a package comprised of both finances and labour. “How do you sort of decouple that? So there is a greater role for the labour markets in the Caribbean to augment finances or financial resources coming from China. It’s a real difficult dynamic,” he said. The $3.5bn Baha Mar resort is primarily financed by the Export-Import Bank of China while China State Construction Engineering Corp is the general contractor for the project. Mr Howell spoke to The Tribune on the sidelines of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s regional infrastructure conference under the theme “Driving Caribbean Infrastructure Forward” last week. At the conference, Mr Howell moderated a session on accounting and fiscal challenges related to public-private partnership. On that topic Mr Howell said: “Given that most of the countries in the Caribbean are still going south of three per cent, if we look at the ease of doing business in the region they are not stellar. The only way that the region could have sustained growth levels is if they do something very quickly about the cost of doing business and the level of competitiveness generally.”
Devaluation of Barbados dollar looming says former PM BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados dollar, the third highest in the English-speaking Caribbean, could soon be devalued, according to former prime minister Owen Arthur, who wants government to tell the people what the country faces. Arthur made the comments Sunday night against a backdrop of Barbados last week suffering a downgrade from Ba3 to B3 by international financial rating agency Moody’s, and amidst government’s cost-cutting efforts to tame a runaway deficit. “Our fiscal situation at its worst should have been five percent of GDP,” Arthur said, adding, “But the government and [Finance Minister] Sinckler reported to parliament that it was 11, so it is twice as bad as its worst case scenario. “Moody’s is telling us that it had to downgrade Barbados by three notches because the Central Bank has been printing money and it is undermining and threatening the
Former prime minister Owen Arthur stability of the Barbados dollar.” The Barbados dollar at a fixed rate of US$0.50 cents is number three
in the region behind the Cayman Islands and Bahamas dollars in that order. Arthur’s comments came one day after Prime Minister Freundel Stuart had likened the Moody’s report to “garbage.” Arthur urged the prime minister to seek advice before speaking on such matters to avoid bringing his office into disrepute. Following an IMF Article IV Consultation report in February, a team from the Monetary Fund returned to the island last week as part of a monitoring programme of government’s implementation of its recommendations on restructuring and reducing its financial obligations. “This … is too big a matter to be handled by a group of people from the IMF coming here and giving us technical assistance. “This requires a conversation between government and the governed, and we need to have it now,” Arthur said.
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Washington hails Haiti’s successful transition from post-disaster to nation building HAITI – The US State Department on Monday hailed Haiti’s successful government-led efforts to facilitate the Caribbean country’s transition from a post-disaster era to a building and longterm development period, marked by progress in different sectors, over four years after a devastating earthquake hit. In a report published on Monday in Washington, the US government acknowledged Haiti’s successful transition from a post-disaster era to a period marked with progress in the country’s rebuilding effort, in its economy, in its job creation and private investment efforts, among other things. “As Haiti approaches the fiveyear mark since the January 2010 earthquake that devastated much of the country, it has successfully transitioned from a post-disaster era to a period of building and long-term development,” reads the report issued by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, at the US State department. The report underlined the fact that as of June 2014, more than 90 percent of the 1.5 million displaced persons in camps have found alternative housing, nearly all earthquake debris that obstructed recovery has been removed and thousands of needed jobs are being created in Haiti’s growing export apparel sector. The report highlights positive annual growth rates since 2011, including 4.3 percent in 2013 – one of the highest in the region, while noting a significant increase in private investments, compared to foreign assistance spending in Haiti. “Private investment set a tenyear high in 2013, outpacing foreign
Haitian President Michel Martelly (left) with US President Barack Obama assistance spending in Haiti by more than 100 percent,” says the report. The report says since the earthquake, the United States has made available nearly $4 billion for assistance to Haiti to support life-saving post-disaster relief as well as longer-term recovery, reconstruction, and development programs. A deadly earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, devastating the country’s economy and infrastructure and leaving up to 300,000 people killed. The HOPE and HELP Acts, which
provide for duty-free exports to the US market of textile products manufactured in Haiti, have been instrumental in the redevelopment of country’s apparel industry which accounted for some 90 percent of national export earnings and provides approximately 30,000 jobs (2013). The State Department mentioned efforts made by Haiti’s Center of Investment Facilitation (CFI) aimed at facilitating and promoting investment in the local economy by reducing administrative delays, streamlining the
Trinidad denies there is a ‘foreign exchange crisis’
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Finance Minister Larry Howai has reiterated that there is no foreign exchange shortage in Trinidad and Tobago even as opposition legislators accuse the government of failing “to deal effectively with the current foreign exchange crisis”. Howai, a former banker, told the Parliament late Friday that there is “no foreign exchange crisis. “Let me repeat that, there is no foreign exchange crisis and I’m Finance Minister: No foreign exchange shortage. not just talking about US dollars … I’m talking about Euro, Yen, ed States dollars at commercial managing a large organisation. Sterling, whatever currency you banks despite ongoing injections In an interview published in are looking to acquire. There is no by the Central Bank of Trinidad the Sunday Guardian newspaper, foreign exchange crisis. Rambarran defended the new poland Tobago. “There are some issues around “I am speaking the truth and icy saying “the foreign exchange the timing of getting funds which going to take full responsibility auction system for US dollars is something that has been ongo- for that. The Governor of the Cen- has not been changed. It operates ing over the past 20 years. It is tral Bank has introduced a system under the same mechanism since not something that is new that where 90 per cent of the available its inception in May 2012, prior didn’t exist that suddenly is ap- foreign exchange is auctioned to to my appointment in July 2012. pearing on the horizon,” Howai 12 foreign exchange dealers in- Improvements were made to the told legislators. cluding foreign exchange dealers Central Bank’s foreign exchange The opposition had filed a mo- who have a very small customer allocation system, not the auction tion on the “government’s failure base … giving large sums of for- system. to deal effectively with the current eign exchange to financial insti“In addition, the Central foreign exchange crisis” and for- tutions that don’t need it,” said Bank’s recent interventions have mer minister Colm Imbert called Imbert, referring to the Governor, targeted meeting immediate for an explanation as to why per- Jwala Rambarran, as an on-the- trade-related demand, which bensons were unable to acquire Unit- job trainee with no experience efits the business community.”
creation of enterprises, and facilitating the provision of inducements. The report underscores the partnership between Haiti and the US to promote democracy and human rights. “Haiti and the United States are partners in promoting core values such as democracy, respect for human rights, and economic development both in the region and around the world,” reads the report released on Monday by the Obama administration. US officials reminded that both nations belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States (OAS), International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Finally, the report provides a partial list of projects and achievements made possible in Haiti over the past years, thanks to US funding: •Some 328,000 displaced Haitians housed, •2.7 million cubic meters of rubble removed, •Thousands of jobs created at the Caracol Industrial Park in Haiti’s north, •Tens of thousands of Haitian farmers have higher crop yields and incomes, •A new 10 megawatt power plant is providing electricity in the north, •The Haitian National Police is stronger with the addition of more than 2,000 new officers, •Some 600 semi-permanent classrooms were constructed enabling 60,000 children to return to school, and many basic health indicators, including child nutrition and mortality and HIV/ AIDS are improving.
Man assaulted in early-morning attack by armed men JAMAICA – People who flock Queen Hill in St Andrew to jog or walk in the mornings are now apprehensive following the brutal gang-rape of a male jogger in that community early Monday. The man, the Jamaica Observer was told, is now suffering from serious injuries and mental trauma after the harrowing experience. A group of joggers reportedly found the victim naked, with his hands and feet bound, sitting on the sidewalk at the foot of the hill close to Perkins Boulevard. “He was found by some females who were shocked and even more surprised to see that he was bleeding heavily from his rectum,” one man, who said he assisted in untying the victim, told the Observer. The man reportedly parked his car at a nearby apartment complex and was about to jog when a white car drove up with two armed men who held him at gunpoint. The men, our source said, were also carrying knives. The hoodlums proceeded to tear off the jogger’s clothes and took turns at buggering him. “The man was so torn up and ashamed. He had to retrieve his torn clothes in order to get his car keys and someone lent him clothes so he could avoid further embarrassment,” a jogger said. The incident has driven fear into the people who exercise on that section of the hill daily. “We used to protect the females and tell them to walk in groups, but it now seems we, the males, are the target. This cannot be allowed to continue,” the man said. The man said the joggers tried to contact the police but were unsuccessful.
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Haiti elections in doubt as former presidents stir pot
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – When he returned to Haiti from exile three years ago, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former priest turned president turned deposed president, promised to stay out of politics. Yet the political party he founded and continues to inspire has routinely sent thousands of people into the streets to protest the current government, demanding the resignation of the prime minister. When the former dictator JeanClaude Duvalier returned from exile a few months before Mr. Aristide, he kept largely to night spots and defending himself against an investigation into human rights atrocities during his rule. Yet not long ago he showed up in a seaside village to inaugurate a new
political party that, however small, got a lot of people talking. And the current president, Michel Martelly, remains locked in a standoff with political opponents over longoverdue elections, attracting waves of international dignitaries in recent weeks to try to defuse a crisis that could leave the coup-prone country without a parliament and with a president ruling by decree, an ominous echo of its autocratic past. The story of the delayed reconstruction of Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake is largely one of unmet pledges of billions of dollars in aid from the international community. But the simmering, uncertain politics that perennially push
the country to the brink of instability – and sometimes over it – have taken a more hidden toll, thwarting the kind of private investment vital to long-term development and improving its image, and laying bare yet again the fragility of democracy here. “It’s a constant frustration to see Haitian leaders more interested in fighting each other than coming together to work together for the future of Haiti,” said Robert Maguire, a George Washington University scholar and longtime observer of Haiti politics. “Opportunities are being squandered in Haiti, right when it needs them more than ever, because the politics are so polarized.”
BTC callback for Leon Williams
BAHAMAS – Phil Bentley, Chief Executive Officer of Cable & Wireless Communications, says yesterday’s decision to appoint Leon Williams, a Bahamian, as the new CEO of Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was made without government interference. Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd, announced that not only would Geoff Houston, who served for the last three years, step down as CEO, but that Mr Williams was chosen to be his successor from June 30. Mr Williams was previously CEO of BaTelCo – BTC in its former publicly owned guise – but was fired by the FNM administration six years ago and subsequently filed a suit against the government. In 2011, he and the government reached an out-of-court settlement over the matter. Before he leaves BTC’s operations on August 31, Mr Houston will be available as an advisor to Mr Williams. Mr Houston has served Cable & Wireless, controlling shareholder of BTC, for the last 22 years. His role as CEO took effect shortly after BTC was privatised in 2011. The announcement confirmed concerns raised by FNM Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner more than a month ago that the CEO post at BTC would be given to Mr Williams. BTC officials denied the claims then while political pundits criticised Mrs ButlerTurner as an alarmist. She remained adamant that Mr Williams was not equipped to lead BTC at a time when the telecommunications sector in The Bahamas was liberalised.
Michael Pintard
FNM name Michael Pintard as new Senator
BAHAMAS – Michael Pintard has officially been announced as the new Free National Movement (FNM) senator. Mr Pintard served as a senator during the previous FNM administration. The announcement came Thursday morning from FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, who said the decision came after a long process of selecting from a “wide tent” of potential senators. “We have had quite a number of individuals to select from,” the FNM leader said. “We have a wide tent of men and women who would fit the mould of being an FNM senator. I believe in building an equal opportunity based society where young people share within companies. I also believe that we should elevate our young people so that they can become our future leaders and owners in this country. Today, we have with us our new senator, who fits that mould.” Dr Minnis said Mr Pintard will help the party in fighting discrimination and victimisation as well as help make a better Bahamas. Phil Bentley, chief executive officer of Cable & Wireless, with new BTC CEO Leon Williams. The FNM’s senate seat became vacant after John Bostwick had his appointment Responding to questions about that sought the advice of the BTC board. revoked because of a pending ammunition from The Tribune Mr Bentley said the But this was my decision and I think it possession trial. decision to appoint a new CEO was is the right decision. As I said I wanted In May Mr Bostwick was arrested made yesterday around the conference someone who understands technology in the domestic section of the Grand room table by its board of directors at and understands the Bahamian peo- Bahama International Airport. He was BTC’s head office at John F Kennedy ple. I can’t think of a better person who later arraigned before Chief Magistrate meets both of those requirements. Drive. Joyann Ferguson-Pratt for alleged “Leon Williams obviously is a teleph- possession of 10 live rounds of .22 “There was a lot of speculation in the press,” Mr Bentley said, “a lot of it was ony engineer. Someone who knows the ammunition which were found on misguided and a lot of comments had business well and also we wanted to en- Saturday, May 17. been quite hurtful, particularly to Leon. sure that we have a representative of He pleaded not guilty to the charge Let me just say categorically that this the company today and for the future and was released on $9,000 bail. was a decision that I have taken. I had who is Bahamian. Mr Bostwick was the replacement “We recognise that we are here to for Zhivargo Laing, who resigned from been under no pressure whatsoever serve the Bahamian people and we the Upper Chamber last year to focus on from the BTC board. “I have been under no pressure wanted to ensure that we had a leader business ventures. whatsoever from the Prime Minister. who could win the hearts and minds of In his remarks, Mr Pintard promised Quite the opposite. I have gone to him the Bahamian people as we move into to be diligent, meticulous and fearless in for advice from time to time and have the competitive market.” the discharge of his duties.
Over US$3 billion tax dollars spent so far on CLICO bailout, says Trinidad central bank governor
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The CLICO bailout has cost the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago, US$3 billion to date, according to Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran. Speaking to banking supervisors at the Caribbean Group of Banking Supervisors 32nd annual conference in Port of Spain on June 5, Rambarran said, “The CLICO fire has so far cost the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago over US $3 billion dollars.” He added, “Three billion US dollars, that’s more than the size of eight of our
neighbouring economies in the Caribbean.” The Central Bank governor sought to put the money into perspective: “In Trinidad and Tobago, that US$3 billion could have built 20 new, state-of-the-art children’s hospitals, or built and fully outfitted 1,000 new primary schools (more than double the existing number of primary schools), or purchased medicine for all our major hospitals for the next decade.” He also noted that the psyche of the populace was affected as well as this
country’s financial standing. He said, “CLICO also damaged confidence in the financial sector and left psychological scars on many citizens, in Trinidad and Tobago and in your countries, as well.” In order to avoid another CLICO, Rambarran noted that supervision needs to be improved and he outlined some of these improvements. “We are aggressively recruiting experienced people from the private sector and placing them in key supervisory positions in the Financial Institutions
Supervision Department. We have recruited a second deputy inspector, brought in a highly sought after chief actuary and for the first time we have hired a pension fund specialist, credit risk specialist and anti money laundering expert. “The faces are changing. They are moving from middle-aged central bankers who came up through the ranks, to more specialized experienced professionals who come from the private sector,” the Central Bank governor explained.
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NEWS Thai military promises government by August, lifts curfew
Republicans line up to replace Eric Cantor as majority leader WASHINGTON House Republicans Eric Cantor said they’re shocked and saddened by Rep. Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) Tuesday night defeat in Virginia’s Republican the Financial Services Committee can work with whoever gets elected.” The race to fill McCarthy’s slot as and the Representative of the Fifth primary race. majority whip looked on Wednesday But some are nevertheless making District of Texas.” Another potential contender, GOP as though it would be a landslide for a mad dash for his post as majority Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), since even leader. Rumors swirled in the halls of Rodgers (R-Wash.), removed herself members of the Illinois delegation have been working behind the scenes Congress all day Wednesday over from the running Wednesday. McCarthy has quickly racked up against his rival, Rep. Peter Roskam who might make a bid for the secondmost powerful House slot. During a near-majority against Rep. Pete (R-Ill.). That changed on Thursday an afternoon conference meeting, Sessions (Texas), who appears to be Republican leaders announced that McCarthy’s lone rival. The vote next morning when Rep. Marlin Stutzman elections would be held on June 19, week, however, will be by secret ballot, (R-Ind.), another House conservative, and members of Congress have been announced he was running for the though nobody discussed candidates. By Thursday morning, a clearer known in the past to commit to voting post. “I’m just getting started,” Stutzman picture began emerging. GOP sources one way and flipping in private. But McCarthy has already locked in told the blog Howey Politics Indiana. told The Huffington Post that Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) was telling some major endorsements. Rep. Paul “I was up really late last night making colleagues he had decided not to run Ryan (R-Wis.) announced his support calls. There will be a lot happening in for the No. 2 spot, clearing the way for on Thursday, a day after Cantor said the next few days.” Stutzman conceded he was a “long House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy he supported McCarthy as well. “If my dear friend and colleague shot” candidate, but the entry of (R-Calif.). Hensarling made it official Kevin McCarthy does decide to run, another conservative could divide the later Thursday. “Although I am humbled by the I think he’d make an outstanding GOP’s right wing and thus benefit the calls, emails, and conversations from majority leader,” Cantor told reporters. more moderate Roskam. Several other things are working in my colleagues encouraging me to “I will be backing him with my full Roskam’s favour. He has McCarthy’s return to leadership for the remainder support.” House Speaker John Boehner backing, and as chief deputy whip, he of the 113th Congress, I will not be a (R-Ohio) declined to make any has more experience at whipping votes candidate for Majority Leader next week,” he said in a statement. “After endorsements on Thursday, despite than Scalise, who has been aggressive prayerful reflection, I have come to being pressed on whether he’d want with the press but is “quite clumsy” in his conversations with members, the conclusion that this is not the McCarthy by his side. “I do think that the members are according to one GOP source close to right office at the right time for me and my family. I look forward to going to make this decision,” Boehner the process. “He’ll be good,” the source predicted working with the new Majority Leader told reporters at his weekly press to fight for a freer, stronger, more conference. “I’ve worked with all 434 of McCarthy’s race. “Working on prosperous America as Chairman of other members of Congress before, I Peter’s race now.”
Thailand’s ruling military government lifted a nationwide curfew on Friday to bolster the country’s vital tourism industry and promised to install an interim government in August. General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who heads the council that has overseen the country since taking over on May 22, said that power would be handed to a government in August. That, he said, was part of a three-phase plan of reconciliation, formation of a government and elections. “A government will be set up by August, or at the very latest September,” Prayuth told a meeting devoted to the 2015 national budget. He did not say whether the government would be made up of civilians or military officials. In an evening television announcement, the National Council for Peace and Order said conditions had improved enough – after months of periodically violent street demonstrations – to lift the curfew across the country. “As the situation has improved and there have been no incidents that can lead to violence . . . and in order to improve tourism, the curfew will be lifted in all remaining provinces,” the council announcement said. The curfew, imposed throughout Thailand after the coup, was lifted over the past week in 30 provinces, including the main tourist destinations. It had remained in place from midnight to 4 a.m. in 47 provinces, including Bangkok. In a rambling 40-minute address to the nation, Prayuth issued a wide range of promises to make the economy more efficient, streamline energy policy and improve the lives of ordinary Thais. He pleaded for more time to achieve the military’s aims. The army staged a bloodless coup after six months of turmoil pitting mainly rural supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against her Bangkok-based, royalist opponents.
Obama ‘urgently’ considering air assault on targets in Syria and Iraq
The Obama administration is urgently considering an air assault on Islamic extremists that officials told the Guardian could be directed at targets in Syria as well as Iraq. President Obama announced on Friday that in the “days ahead” he will decide on a package of military and diplomatic options to halt the rapid advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis), as the jihadist army’s march from Syria through Sunni Iraq has upended Obama’s achievement of extricating the US military from the Iraq conflict. Obama has ruled out sending US soldiers and marines back to the Iraqi streets they patrolled from 2003 to 2011, but signalled a new, reluctant openness
to returning the US to war in Iraq. Isis “could pose a threat eventually to American interests as well,” Obama said in a televised address, but vowed not to be “dragged back into a situation in which, while we’re there keeping a lid on things, and after enormous sacrifices by us, as soon as we’re not there, people end up acting in ways that are not conducive to the long-term stability and prosperity of the country.” Officials on Friday pointed to a sense of urgency owing to the speed and potency of the Isis assault; the collapse of the Iraqi army in Mosul; and the corresponding threat to the viability of the Iraqi government. Options under discussion include an air campaign, using either or
both air force or navy warplanes, the pass. While that planning targeted the potential duration of which has yet to be regime of Bashar al-Assad, they said it determined. Drone strikes remain under formed a basis for modification against consideration, but manned aircraft are the current cross-border threat from Isis. Any potential military strikes in said to the preferred option, owing to their superiority against moving and Syrian territory would be complicated by the potential repercussions for the manoeuvrable targets. Two officials said that a strike country’s three-year civil war. Christopher Harmer, a retired US at Isis in Iraq and Syria was under naval officer who analyses the Middle consideration. Isis “is now across the border,” said East for the Institute for the Study of a Pentagon official, who requested War, said the Pentagon was “playing anonymity. “It is possible to take out the catch-up.” “The Pentagon has been considering head, you’ve got to take out the heart … targets in Syria for 18 months, but Everything is being looked at.” Officials pointed to the extensive everything they’re looking at is Assad,” military planning last summer for what Harmer said. “Isis is just something we looked like an imminent air attack on haven’t looked at closely or not closely Syria that ultimately did not come to enough.”
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Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 families to get $50,000 each
Families of the people on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 are being paid $50,000 a person from the airline’s insurers as interim compensation, a Malaysian official said. Some of the families have already received the money, said Hamzah Zainuddin, deputy minister for foreign affairs, who is the head of a Malaysian governmentappointed committee to oversee
the needs of the next of kin of the 239 people on Flight 370. The final payment hasn’t been decided, and it could be the subject of a legal battlebetween the families, the airline and Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, according to some experts. Mr. Hamzah said the amount of the final payout will be announced “when the issue of the tragedy” is over. He
didn’t say how much the final compensation could be. The final amount can typically only be determined after the plane is found and an inquiry establishes the cause of the crash. The Boeing Co. 777 jet went missing in the early hours of March 8 while on a routine flight to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. An international search effort involving 26 nations has been unable to find
any trace of the plane or the people onboard. Investigators believe the plane crashed in the remote Southern Indian Ocean after being deliberately flown hundreds of miles off-course. Malaysia Airlines had previously paid $5,000 a person to help the families meet their out-of-pocket expenses as they waited in hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing to hear
Lawyers: Meriam Ibrahim conviction is based on contradictory claims The conviction of Meriam Ibrahim by a court in Khartoum on charges of apostasy and adultery was based on weak, contradictory and inconsistent claims, and contravenes Sudan’s interim constitution, according to an appeal lodged by her lawyers. Ibrahim, 27, was sentenced to death and to 100 lashes after refusing to renounce her Christian faith. Amid an international outcry, she gave birth last month while shackled to the floor in a Khartoum prison where she is being held with her newborn daughter and toddler son. Her husband, Daniel Wani, a US citizen, told the Guardian that his wife and children were being held in inhumane conditions, and the prison authorities were “extremely tough” with her. “She spent two days in her labour blood after she gave birth. They prevented her from having a shower until the human rights committee [visited]. I won’t let this horrible treatment go without punishment; I will complain against this behaviour,” he said. Guards had searched his daughter, Maya, when she was five days old, and “put their dirty hands in the food I brought them”, he added. The appeal court in Khartoum began hearing the case this week. Legal appeals in Sudan usually take months, although lawyers hope the process will be expedited due to international interest in Ibrahim’s case. A document submitted by five lawyers representing Ibrahim says the Haj Yousif criminal court in Khartoum “based its judgment on weak contradictory information which is an insufficient basis to condemn the appellant”. It quotes the 2005 interim constitution
and therefore has not renounced Islam means the penal code cannot be applied. It says Ibrahim was not given a fair trial. “The court has treated the appellant as if she were an enemy of Islam. This has stripped the court of its independence and impartiality. This has been blatantly revealed by the grounds given for the judgment, which resembled a religious sermon. It contained commentaries and interpretations of clerics on which the court relied to convict the appellant.” The court’s written judgment, issued on 11 May, was preceded by quotes from the Qur’an and cited several religious treatises. It said the court had established through witness testimonies and documents that Ibrahim “belongs to a conservative Sudanese family [and] she was reared, brought up and has grown up within that family amidst the teachings of Islam passed by forefathers to fathers”. Ibrahim had severed links with her Meriam Ibrahim holds her newborn daughter, Maya, family, changed her name and falsely claimed she graduated from Khartoum in prison in Khartoum. University’s school of medicine, the judgment said. “Everything which of Sudan, which says “every person shall had been mentioned by the accused is have the right to freedom of creed and incorrect,” it stated. worship” and “no person shall be coerced Ibrahim had told the court she was the to adopt such faith that he/she does not daughter of a Sudanese Muslim father believe in, nor to practise rites or service and an Ethiopian Christian mother. Her to which he/she does not voluntarily father left when she was six, and she was consent”. brought up as a Christian by her mother. It points to a “blatant contradiction” She met Wani, who moved to the US in between this and Sudan’s 1991 penal code, 1998 and became an American citizen in which says the renunciation of Islam is 2005, though a friend. The couple were apostasy, punishable by death. This was married at Khartoum Catholic church on the law cited by the court in Ibrahim’s 19 December 2011. conviction. Following the judgment, the court The appeal document adds that, in any gave Ibrahim three days to renounce case, Ibrahim’s statement to the court Christianity. When she refused, she was that she was brought up as a Christian sentenced to death on 15 May.
about their loved ones. That payment wouldn’t factor into the total compensation families may receive. Under international rules, the airline and its insurers are liable to pay about $174,000 a person, but the amount could change depending on the outcome of the inquiry, and whether the families go to court.
Indian cops ‘gang-rape woman after she fails to pay bribe’ An Indian woman has alleged that she was gangraped by four officers at a police station in the state of Uttar Pradesh state, barely two weeks after two teenage girls were gang-raped and hanged from a tree in another area of the state. The woman said she had gone to the station overnight on Monday in the state’s Hamirpur district to seek her husband’s release when she was attacked. “At 11:30pm when there was no one in the room the sub-inspector took me to his room and raped me inside the police station,” the woman told local news channel CNNIBN. The woman filed a complaint with a senior officer on Wednesday over the attack, which allegedly occurred when she refused to pay a bribe to secure the release of her husband. “The procedure will be followed, the victim has filed a complaint and the guilty will be arrested soon,” Virendra Kumar Shekhar, a police official from Hamirpur, said. Sub-inspector Balbir Singh said a criminal case had been lodged against four officers from the station. Police said they were also investigating the death of a 19-year-old found hanging from a tree in a village in Moradabad district.
Woman stabbed by her father-in-law because he thought she was having an affair
A Sikh woman is suffering after being attacked by her father-in-law because he thought she was having an affair with a Muslim man. Jageer Mirgind was left blind and scarred for life after 51-year-old Manjit Mirgind slashed her wrists and stabbed her in the eyes screaming ‘I am going to kill you’. Mrs Mirgind’s children, just three and six years old, watched the horrific attack at their mother’s home in Kensington Gardens, Ilford, East London, and pleaded with their grandfather to stop.
The mother has been left kicked her before grabbing a partially-sighted in both eyes knife. He eventually left and went while the children can no longer sleep alone and have home as his wife called an ambulance for Mrs Mirgind. recurring nightmares. The crazed attacker He later turned himself in wrongly believed his daughter- at the police station and in-law was ‘sleeping with a told them exactly what had Paki’ and that she had ‘ruined happened. Judge Nigel Peters QC said: his family’, Snaresbrook ‘You have accepted that you Crown Court heard. Tragically, Mirgind have caused the most serious misunderstood the situation injuries to your daughter in when his daughter was the law. ‘You set about her having victim of a series of prank calls. After punching her in the taken umbrage because you face he dragged her into the felt she was having affairs kitchen where he savagely when it turned out she had
been receiving prank calls. ‘You set out with great hostility and vengeance - you punched her, forced to the ground and kicked her and took knives to her face and wrist to gouge her eyes. ‘She has since lost a lot of sight in both eyes and there is major scarring to her face. ‘She has a stutter as well, most likely caused by the loss of confidence and lack of sleep and general work. ‘So distressing was that her children, your grandchildren, witnessed it from start to finish and pleaded with you to
Jageer Mirgind was left blind and scarred for life stop but you did not stop.’ Father-of-four Mirgind stared at the floor as he was jailed for ten years and eight months at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
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Hagel: Bergdahl deal was ‘imperfect’ but right decision War is hell, even when adhering to defined instructions in ‘how to’ manuals. the bedrock military principle of bring- All of these decisions are part of the ing home all soldiers from the battlefield, brutal, imperfect realities we all deal Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said with in war.” Speaking of the Bergdahl exchange, Wednesday in defending the deal that freed captive Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Hagel declared “we complied with the At the first congressional hearing law, and we did what we believed was on the May 31 exchange of Bergdahl in the best interests of our country, our for five Taliban figures detained at military, and Sergeant Bergdahl.” “The President has constitutional Guantanamo Bay, Hagel said President and constitutional Barack Obama made the correct responsibilities decision to proceed with the swap on authorities to protect American citizens and members of our armed forces. That’s legal and moral grounds. “War, every part of war, like prisoner what he did,” Hagel said. “America does exchanges, is not some abstraction or not leave its soldiers behind. We made theoretical exercise,” Hagel said in his the right decision, and we did it for the opening statement. “The hard choices right reasons – to bring home one of our and options don’t fit neatly into clearly own people.”
Critics led by conservative Republicans contend the cost was too high because it freed hardened terror suspects to possibly rejoin the fight against U.S. interests, especially in return for a soldier accused by some in his unit of deserting his post. Legislators from both parties also complained that Obama failed to notify Congress ahead of time, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act for transfers of Guantanamo detainees. Republican Rep. Buck McKeon of California, the committee chairman, opened the hearing by agreeing with Obama administration and the Pentagon that “everyone who wears the uniform should be returned home.” But he
labeled as “misleading and at times blatantly false” the explanations by White House officials at a classified briefing on Monday for making the exchange and not notifying Congress beforehand. Hagel conceded the administration should have tried harder to let Congress know about what he called rapidly moving developments, saying he understood the frustration caused by the speed of the mission. “We could have done a better job of keeping you informed,” Hagel said, noting that only a few hours elapsed between making the final arrangements with the Taliban through the government of Qatar, which mediated the exchange deal.
China sets world record for largest ever prenatal class with 505 pregnant women
Purple pose: Over 500 women practicing yoga as they attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest prenatal yoga class, in Changsha, central Hunan province.
Snowden’s NSA leaks ‘an important service’, says Al Gore Edward Snowden has secured his highest endorsement yet in the US when former vice-president Al Gore described the leaking of top secret intelligence documents as “an important service”. Asked if he regarded Snowden as a traitor or whistleblower, Gore veered away from the “traitor” label. He refused to go as far as labelling him a whistleblower but signalled he viewed him as being closer to that category than a traitor, saying: “What he revealed in the course of violating important laws included violations of the US constitution that were way more serious than the crimes he committed.” Snowden, the former CIA and National Security Agency computer specialist, leaked US and British documents to the Guardian and Washington Post in June last year, starting a worldwide debate on the balance between surveillance and privacy. His revelations have led to proposed changes in legislation in the US and a backlash against government surveillance by major telecoms and internet companies. But he remains a polarising figure in the US. An NBC poll a
Al Gore refused to go as far as labelling Edward Snowden, above, a whistleblower but signalled he viewed him as being closer to that category than a traitor. fortnight ago showed 24% backing him and 34% disagreeing with his actions, with 40% having no opinion. Among the younger generation there was more support, with 32% backing him and only 20% opposed, with 47% having no opinion. Some members of Congress have welcomed the revelations but refuse to go as far as supporting Snowden, who is wanted by the US and has sought asylum in Russia. Gore, interviewed at the
Southland technology conference in Nashville, Tennessee, was asked if he viewed him as a whistleblower or a traitor. “I hear this question all the time. I’m like most people: I don’t put him in either one of those categories. But I’ll be candid and give you want you want. If you set up a spectrum. “ The interviewer interrupted: “How would you define it?” Gore replied: “I would push it more away from the traitor side. And I will tell you why. He clearly violated the law so you can’t say OK, what he did is all right. It’s not. But what he revealed in the course of violating important laws included violations of the US constitution that were way more serious than the crimes he committed. “In the course of violating important law, he also provided an important service. OK. Because we did need to know how far this has gone.” The documents released by Snowden showed massive government surveillance but also the extent of co-operation between the government and the large telecoms and internet companies.
It was a bit of a stretch, but a new record was set for the World’s Largest Prenatal Class in China when 505 pregnant women practised yoga together. Dressed in purple leotards, the women made for quite a sight in Changsha, the capital of southern China’s Hunan Province. The 505 women, who all produced medical proof showing they are 12 weeks or more pregnant, did the group yoga in Juzizhou Park for 37 minutes and 28 seconds under the watchful eye of Guinness Record officials. They broke the previous record of 423 pregnant women doing yoga together that was set in Shenzhen, southern China’s Guangdong Province, in 2013. The achievement follows the news that two of the U.S.’s biggest denim brands are claiming that yoga pants are encroaching on their territory – and affecting their sales as a result. GAP’s CEO Glenn Murphy and Levi’s President and CEO Chip Bergh have both made comments about how the leggings’ popularization as an everyday item has lessened consumers’ demand for jeans. ‘We’re actually losing consumption to yoga pants,’ Mr Bergh told Yahoo! last week, adding: ‘What used to be a premium jeans occasion for women is now socially acceptable to be a yoga pants occasion, and shame on us as a category leaders for letting that happen.’ The brand’s numbers tell that exact story. Levi’s has experienced a near $3billion fall in revenues since 1995, which have now stalled at $4.6billion. The demand for yoga pants during the work day has become so intensified that in January, Betabrand released a stretchy dress pant that could be worn at a desk or on the floor of an asana room.
Bush turns 90: The 10 longest-lived US presidents KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine – Former President George H.W. Bush celebrates his 90th birthday last Thursday. A list of the 10 longestlived U.S. presidents, their age and the day they died, if applicable: 1. Gerald Ford; 93 years, 165 days; died Dec. 26, 2006. 2. Ronald Reagan; 93 years, 120 days; died June 5, 2004. 3. John Adams; 90 years, 247 days; died July 4, 1826. 4. Herbert Hoover; 90 years, 71 days; died Oct. 20, 1964. 5. George H.W. Bush; 90 years, 0 days. 6. Jimmy Carter; 89 years, 254 days. 7. Harry Truman; 88 years, 232 days; died Dec 26, 1972. 8. James Madison; 85 years, 104 days; died June 28, 1836. 9. Thomas Jefferson; 83 years, 82 days; died July 4, 1826. 10. Richard Nixon; 81 years, 103 days; died April 22, 1994.
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Time Warner Cable’s former CEO, Britt, dies at 65 Glenn Britt, who served as CEO of Time Warner Cable Inc for more than a decade until late last year, has died of cancer, the company said on Wednesday. He was 65. Britt had stepped down from the company on Dec. 31. He disclosed in October that his melanoma had returned five years after he had beaten the disease. He became chief executive of the cable company in 2001. “We were guided for many years by his strong belief
that a company must be willing to reinvent itself to be successful,” Time Warner Cable CEO Rob Marcus said in a statement. “He will long be remembered for his thoughtful and steady leadership through rapidly changing times in the communications field.” Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, Britt got his start in cable in 1972 when he joined the controller’s department at Time Inc and worked his way through several positions over the next 40 years, including
chief financial officer at HBO, treasurer of Time Inc and later as president of Time Warner Cable before becoming chairman and CEO. Time Warner Cable separated from parent company Time Warner in 2009. Analysts have credited Britt with being among the first cable executives to reposition broadband Internet service as the industry’s primary product. Less than two months after
Police: Priests attacked at Phoenix church, 1 dies
Glenn Britt Britt stepped down, Time Warner Cable agreed to sell itself to larger rival Comcast Corp in a $45 billion deal. Britt is survived by his wife, Barbara.
Hard Choices: Hillary Clinton lays foundations for 2016 presidential run
PHOENIX – One priest was shot and killed and another was wounded Wednesday night in an attack at a Catholic church in downtown Phoenix, police said. Sgt. Steve Martos said police received a call about a burglary at the Mother of Mercy Mission near the state Capitol shortly after 9 p.m. Responding officers found two priests badly injured. According to Martos, one of the priests had been shot and died at the hospital. The other priest is hospitalized in critical condition with unspecified injuries, he said. According to Martos, the injured priest was able to call 911 and direct authorities to the church. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix on Thursday identified the slain priest as the Rev. Kenneth Walker and the injured priest as the Rev. Joseph Terra. Terra and Walker served as pastor and assistant pastor, respectively, according to the church website. They both belonged to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. Church officials say Walker was 29 years old and asked for prayers for his family, as well as for “the health and complete recovery” of Terra.
Hillary Clinton launched her memoir, Hard Choices, on Tuesday, laying the foundations for a potential presidential run with a carefully crafted self-portrait of a battle-hardened politician who has bounced back from her bruising defeat in 2008 armed with a clear vision for the future of America. The former secretary of state, senator and first lady kicked off a typically gruelling nationwide book tour in New York in a blaze of primetime TV coverage. Less of an overt manifesto than The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama’s book published ahead of his first White House run six years ago, Hard Choices still manages to adroitly position Clinton for a 2016 presidential bid. A Melbourne restaurateur The 656-page volume, reported to have has been fined almost $335,000 earned Clinton an $8m advance, seeks for underpaying more than 100 to assuage any remaining liberal doubts workers and instead offering over her 2002 vote in favour of the Iraq them discounted pizza and soft Hillary Clinton poses with her new book “Hard Choices” during a book signing in New York June 10, 2014. war, and to bat away conservative attacks drink. over her handling of the Benghazi affair in The workers, many of them which the US ambassador Chris Stevens own answer: “The challenge is to lead in of them. There had been hot rhetoric and teenagers and one as young as bruised feelings on both sides.” a way that unites us again and renews and three other Americans died. It also The wariness spilled into a first secret 13, were employed part-time makes clear that as secretary of state the American Dream … Ultimately, between 2009 and 2013 she spoke her what happens in 2016 should be about meeting between Clinton and Obama workers or as casuals at two own mind to a president whom she came what kind of future Americans want shortly after she conceded the Democratic La Porchetta restaurants from to respect and like, but with whom she did for themselves and their children – and primary race to him. “We stared at each 2009 to 2012. Judge John O’Sullivan other like two teenagers on an awkward grandchildren.” not always agree. The start of the book is more somber. first date, taking a few sips of Chardonnay.” imposed the fines in a ruling The book finishes on a tantalizing note. They cleared the air, but only handed down in the federal “Will I run for President in 2016? The Clinton admits candidly to having been after Clinton had protested about the circuit court on 6 June, the “disappointed and exhausted” by her answer is, I haven’t decided yet.” failed presidential campaign. “I felt I “preposterous charge of racism” that had Fair Work Ombudsman said ‘What’s your vision for America?’ That ambiguous statement – no had let down so many millions of people, been levelled against her husband Bill on Tuesday. He said the practice of surprise from a seasoned politician – especially the women and girls who had during the long and arduous campaign. She also railed against the sexism that offering discounted food and belies the fact that Hard Choices is invested their dreams in me.” drink instead of meeting She is also open about the difficulties she had personally endured, she writes. anchored in presidential politics. It begins But after that sticky start, Clinton says, minimum pay requirements with her description of her defeat at the faced when, after the 2008 primaries hands of Obama in 2008, and ends with were decided, the time came for Clinton she and Obama developed a “strong and “belongs in the dark ages” and a statement of her resolve for America in and Obama staff and supporters to try professional relationship and, over time, workers were underpaid a total and reconcile. “This was not going to be forged the personal friendship he had of $258,000. 2016 and beyond. “Ensuring compliance with She suggests that the question for easy for me … ” she writes. “In fairness, predicted and that I came to value deeply.” minimum standards is an By the time of Obama’s re-election for a it wasn’t going to be easy for Barack and anyone considering standing for the US presidency should be: “What’s your vision his supporters either. His campaign was second term, she talks about the “delight important consideration in this case,” O’Sullivan said. for America?” Then she supplies her as wary of me and my team as we were in the partners we had become”.
Owner fined $335,000 for paying workers in pizza and drinks
Tragedy highlights holes in supervised visits system
COVINGTON, Kentucky – Amy Kroening hoped her four kids would never need the emergency phone she gave them when they visited with their father. But on a recent Sunday evening, when a nightmare scene unfolded in front of her horrified children, she was relieved they had it. The children’s stepfather, Mark Kroening, had taken the kids to see their dad, Zuriel Turk, in a May 25
exchange in a Dairy Queen parking lot. Before the children, ages 10 to 15, could step foot from the vehicle, police say Turk, 41, pulled out a gun and fired into the car, fatally wounding Kroening, 62. Then he shot himself. “Mommy,” one of her children cried from the emergency phone, “Daddy shot Mark!” Amy Kroening blames a Kenton County Family Court judge and the
rules governing Kentucky courts for not preventing it. In the months leading up to the shootings, she says Judge Christopher Mehling failed to recognize the red flags she raised in relation to her ex-husband’s mental state and possibly dangerous demeanor. The children’s guardian ad litem – charged with representing their best interests in court – recommended that
the judge temporarily suspend Turk’s parental visits two months before the shooting after hearing an audio recording of Turk telling his children he would kill himself if he didn’t get custody. Instead, Mehling ordered supervised visits and left it to Turk to nominate his own supervisor. He chose a friend who wasn’t present the day of the shootings, Amy Kroening said.
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Tax breaks for Apple and Starbucks investigated by E.U. BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top antitrust official opened an investigation on Wednesday into the way countries including Ireland provide tax arrangements that enable big multinational corporations like Apple to reduce their tax bills worldwide. The inquiry by Joaquín Almunia, the European Union’s competition commissioner, could – if it leads to changes – undermine tax strategies pursued by many American technology companies that have their international headquarters in Ireland and in other countries in the bloc. The inquiry also covers Starbucks in the Netherlands and Fiat Finance and Trade in Luxembourg. Ireland has become a preferred place for giant tech companies to place their international headquarters, largely because of concessions from the government allowing businesses to obtain even further breaks on corporate tax rates that, at 12.5 percent, are already low. “In the current context of tight public budgets, it is particularly important that large multinationals pay their fair share of taxes,” Mr. Almunia said in a statement. “Under the E.U.’s state aid rules, national authorities cannot
The office of Apple Operations International, a subsidiary of Apple, in Hollyhill, Cork, Ireland. providing take measures allowing multinationals, certain companies to pay prestige and jobs that might less tax than they should if otherwise end up elsewhere the tax rules of the Member in the European Union. “The company in question State were applied in a fair and non-discriminatory did not receive selective treatment and there was no way,” he said. European Union officials ‘special tax rate deal,’” the said the inquiry would Irish government said in a examine “transfer pricing statement on Wednesday, arrangements validated” in apparently referring to the three countries involved. Apple. “Our technical experts Transfer pricing refers to the shunting of profits and do not believe that there losses between subsidiaries is any state aid,” the Irish by accounting for them statement said. “We will as internal corporate now turn to providing our payments for goods or, as detailed, technical legal is increasingly common, for rebuttal of the Commission’s copyright or patent royalties. position and if necessary The investigation will defend our position in represents a particular the European Courts.” Apple said in a statement threat to a business model finessed by Ireland, that the company had no selective which has used its tax “received from Irish strategies and light-touch treatment regulation to attract major officials” and that it “is
subject to the same tax laws as scores of other international companies doing business in Ireland.” Tax inducements offered by the Netherlands and Luxembourg are also expected to be examined by European Union officials, who have previously said that tax avoidance and evasion in the European Union costs governments huge sums each year. In March, Mr. Almunia’s officials threatened to take Luxembourg to court to force it to provide information to let them assess whether certain tax practices were in breach of the bloc’s so-called state aid rules. There are no fines in such state aid cases, which are mainly aimed at stopping unfair competition between states within the European Union. But if the commission finds that illegal aid was given, governments found to have doled out the unfair subsidies can be ordered to recover the money from recipient companies. The effort by the Brussels authorities is part of a global crackdown on loopholes that have allowed giant companies like Apple and Starbucks to use complex tax structures to pay small amounts of tax on operations outside the United States. The maneuvers, say critics, allow corporations to operate as virtually stateless entities.
US cinema chain bans Google Glass over piracy fears A popular independent US cinema chain has banned users of Google Glass from its properties over fears of piracy, reports Deadline. Drafthouse Cinemas, which has 20 sites across the United States, said users of the devices would not be allowed to use them while watching films. Google Glass is feared because the wearable glasses can be used to surreptitiously record video. “We’ve been talking about this potential ban for over a year,” said Drafthouse CEO Tim League. “Google Glass did some early demos here in Austin and I tried them out personally. At that time, I recognised the potential piracy problem that they present for cinemas. I decided to put off a decision until we started seeing them in the
theatre, and that started happening this month.” League was referring to the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, the company’s first and most famous cinema. The chain has made headlines in the past with its hardline attitude towards texting and chatting during screenings. In October 2013, League said that Madonna was banned from You can’t come in looking like that … the all its sites after the singer and film- Drafthouse chain of cinemas has banned the use maker was reported to have used of Google Glass on its premises. her Blackberry during a screening of the Oscar-winning drama 12 Years a use in cinemas, following an incident Slave at the New York film festival. Attitudes towards Google Glass in which homeland security officers interrogated a Glass wearer during appear to be hardening in the US. In January, cinema chain AMC said a screening of Jack Ryan: Shadow the eyewear was “not appropriate” for Recruit in Columbus, Ohio.
World stocks lag after US data, oil rises on Iraq
LONDON – World stock markets were sluggish on Thursday after new data showed retail sales grew less than expected in the U.S. in May, while oil prices rose amid escalating violence in Iraq. Sentiment has been subdued since the World Bank cut its 2014 growth forecast Tuesday, citing a harsh American winter and the tensions in Ukraine. With many stock indexes hitting record highs this week, that prompted investors to become more cautious. That tone continued Thursday after official U.S. data showed consumer spending rose 0.3 percent last month, short of the 0.4 percent markets had been expecting. Meanwhile, weekly applications for unemployment benefits rose. In Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 was barely 0.1 percent higher at 6,843.60 while Germany’s DAX was down 0.1 percent to 9,936.43. France’s CAC 40 added 0.1 percent to 4,557.48. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was 0.2 percent lower at 16,815.62 and the S&P 500 down the same rate at 1,940.83. The rise in oil prices helped keep stock traders in check, as higher energy prices can increase costs for companies and transportation. The U.S. benchmark oil contract for July delivery jumped $1.60 to $106.00 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as Al-Qaidainspired militants threatened to take over Iraq’s north after gaining control of Iraq’s No. 2 city earlier this week.
Average US 30-year mortgage rate up to 4.20 per cent WASHINGTON – Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week for a second straight week but remained near historic lows. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate for a 30-year loan increased to 4.20 percent from 4.14 percent last week. The average for the 15year mortgage jumped to 3.31 percent from 3.23 percent. Rising prices and higher interest rates beginning in mid2013 have made homes less affordable for would-be buyers. At the same time, a limited supply of homes is available to buy. Mortgage rates are about a quarter of a percentage point higher than they were at the same time last year. Mortgage rates tend to follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. The 10-year note traded at 2.64 percent Wednesday, up from 2.60 percent a week earlier.
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Google buys satellite maker Skybox for $500M
Google has bought a satellite firm as the first step in its project to improve its maps and bring the internet to developing countries. The $500 million acquisition of California firm Skybox will initially be used to boost the quality of Google’s maps images as it battles Apple. Skybox has already hit the headlines for capturing the first HD video footage of Earth from its tiny satellite – which many dubbed at the time as being ‘like live Google maps.’ Google is also believed to be mulling plans to launch its own fleet of satellites to bring the internet to developing countries – a project Facebook is also pursuing. Google plans to use Skybox’s satellite already in orbit to supplement the material that it licenses from more than 1,000 sources, including other satellite companies such as DigitalGlobe and Astrium. Eventually, though, Skybox could turn into another Google ‘moonshot’ – a term that CEO Larry Page has embraced for describing ambitious projects that could take several years to materialize. Google hopes to build more satellites that could be used to beam Internet access to points around the
Google is buying Skybox Imaging in a deal that could serve as a launching pad for the Internet company to send its own fleet of satellites to take aerial pictures and provide online access to remote areas of the world. In this file satellite image provided by Skybox Imaging and taken by SkySat-1 on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014 at 11:10 a.m. local time, smoke rises from the site of antigovernment protests, upper center, in Kiev, Ukraine. world. ‘Skybox’s satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery,’ the firm said. ‘Over time, we also hope that Skybox’s team and technology will be able to help improve Internet access and disaster relief – areas Google has
U.S. money funds held $39 billion BNP debt end-May: JPMorgan U.S. money market mutual funds held $39.1 billion in short-term debt from BNP Paribas at the end of May, at the time of reports that the French bank might face a $10 billion fine for evading U.S. sanctions against Iran and other countries, according to a JPMorgan report released on Thursday. The funds’ BNP exposure represented 24 percent of their total $163 billion holdings in French debt last month and was slightly less than the $39.5 billion at the end of April, JPMorgan analysts said. “Given the timing of the negative headlines in late May, we did not see a significant retrenchment in the amount of BNP Paribas holdings at the end of the month,” the analysts wrote in the report. The bank, France’s biggest, had a broad investor base with 18 fund families owning its securities at the end of last month, the analysts said. U.S. authorities are investigating whether BNP evaded U.S. sanctions against certain countries between 2002 and 2009. Sources familiar with the matter say the authorities are trying to establish whether the bank removed identifying information from wire transfers so they could pass through the U.S. financial system without raising red flags.
long been interested in.’ That would expand an effort that Google began a year ago when it unveiled “Project Loon” – a venture featuring jellyfish-shaped balloons equipped with antennas to bring the Internet to parts of the world without the proper wiring to get online.
As the owner of the world’s most popular search engine and email service, Google typically benefits when more people are on the Internet to see the ads that generate most of the company’s annual revenue of $55 billion. Page and other Google executives say they are primarily interested in getting more people on to the Internet to create a more egalitarian and knowledgeable society. The expansion into satellites comes two months after Google bought drone maker Titan Aerospace for an undisclosed amount. Google made about 250 acquisitions during the past decade, using many of them to expand into new markets, including maps and mobile devices. To the frustration of some investors, Google also has been spending billions of dollars exploring new frontiers of technology, including driverless cars, Internet-connected headwear, robots and a startup called Calico striving to find ways to slow the aging process. Other investors have applauded Google for having the vision and audacity to make big bets on bold ideas that analysts say could hatch lucrative products in the rapidly changing technology industry.
Forget micro scooters, this vehicle fits inside a hangbag From children to high-flying businesses executives, fold-up scooters are a popular way to get around town quickly, but they’re often bulky and awkward to carry. Now there’s a new design of scooter that’s so tiny, it folds up to the size of an A4 piece of paper. A university student created the award-winning scooter by linking pieces of aluminium with a cable, which when tightened, pull them together to support an adult’s weight. The scooter folds down to the size of an A4 piece of paper. It is so small it can fit in a rucksack or handbag. The lightweight scooter weighs less than 11lbs (5kg) and will be on display at an exhibition at London South Bank University from Saturday. There are plans to release the scooter, and its designer claims it will cost around £1,000 ($1,680) – but the date has not been released. In fact, George Mabey’s design is so small it can fit inside a handbag, and could go on sale soon. But anyone who wants to buy
The lightweight scooter (pictured with its designer George Mabey) weighs less than 11lbs (5kg) and will be on display at an exhibition at London South Bank University from Saturday. There are plans to release the scooter and Mabey claims it will cost around £1,000 ($1,680) - but the date has not been released. one will have to be prepared to invest in their compact lifestyle as the innovative product is set to cost around £1,000 ($1,680).
The 22-year-old from Southampton recently won the top prize at the Power of Aluminium Awards, which celebrates innovative uses of the metal. His scooter weighs less than 11lbs (5kg) and has gone on show at London South Bank University as part of its Product Design and Engineering Product Design degree show. Just like a conventional scooter, it measures 37 inches (95cm) in height when fully extended, but folds up to a tiny 11.7inches (29.7cm) in length and 8.3inches (21cm) in width when collapsed – exactly the same size as a sheet of A4 paper. ‘The innovative design will fetch a premium price on the market,’ said Alan Arthur, marketing and communications executive at the Aluminium Federation. ‘Nothing else out there at the moment folds away this small and it could even fit in a handbag. ‘Aluminium weighs a third of steel and now Jaguar and Land Rover cars are made from the metal.
Teenagers hack an ATM during their lunch hour
A game of football is enough to keep most teenagers occupied during their school lunch break. But two 14-year-olds in Canada, instead, managed to spend the time hacking into a cash machine - which prompted the affected Bank of Montreal’s security systems to be updated. The ninth grade students used an old service manual online to access the operator mode of an ATM in Winnipeg – but the pair did not use the information
- was correct. to steal any money. Upon this discovery, the duo notified Matthew Hewlett and Caleb Turon discovered the bank had not changed the a local bank branch, but staff there did default password, and were surprised not believe them and asked for proof of their hack. when they got access to the machine. Hewlett explained that they went They then left a note on its screen. ‘We thought it would be fun to try it, back to the machine and hacked into but we were not expecting it to work. the operator mode again so they could When it did, it asked for a password,’ print off how much money was held in the machine at that moment, and how Hewlett told The Winnipeg Sun. They were shocked to find that their many withdrawals had been made that first guess at a six-digit password – a day. As further proof of their work, the common default password for machines
pair changed the greeting on the machine’s screen from ‘Welcome to BMO ATM’ to ‘Go away. This ATM has been hacked’. They also discovered a way to change the surcharge amount to one cent. When they went back to the bank with their proof, the bank manager took them seriously. The bank has since commented that it is aware of the incident and as a result has taken steps to block unauthorised access to its cash machines.
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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
LeBron James set for $30 million profit on Apple-Beats deal
Smart jewellery can tell you who is calling At first glance, it looks like any other large piece of jewellery. However, the gemstone in the Ringly had a hidden feature – it can tell you when someone is calling. The ring can vibrate and light up when you receive a call or message, or even an alert from Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat - and you can even give friends their own colour so you know who is calling without having to take your phone out of your pocket. Ringly connects to your phone via Bluetooth and vibrates or flashes when someone’s trying to reach you, so you won’t miss the call if your phone is buried deep in your purse. “I continued to miss calls and texts from my friends and family because my phone was in my purse, and I hated leaving it on the table during social outings,’” Ringly founder Christina Mercando told Fastco. “I just kept looking at my rings and thinking, ‘I’ve got to be able to put technology in here that will let me solve the problem.’’ Ringly’s Fall ring collection is crafted with 18K matte gold 3 micron plating using precious and semi-precious stones.
The Apple-Beats deal is apparently a big slam-dunk for LeBron James. In a story about the Miami Heat possibly targeting free-agent Carmelo Anthony, ESPN writers Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst casually mentioned that Lebron James realized a $30 million payout after Apple agreed to buy Beats Electronics. For wearing headphones, he would get $11 million more than he makes per year for doing what he does best, playing basketball. Trisity Miller of Fansided wrote that James’s potential payout appears to defy the stereotype of the young, wealthy sports star who blows his money on bling. It’s not clear whether James
recognized Beats as a profitable venture and negotiated the inclusion of a stake in the company. At one point, James and Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine shared a financial adviser, Paul Wachter, and perhaps he saw the benefit of the deal to both parties. James would not be the first sports star to profit from an equity deal with a sponsor. New York Mets third baseman David Wright’s business savvy wasmuch touted when he opted for a .5 percent stake in Vitamin Water rather than taking cash to appear in ads. His payout when the company was sold was rumored to be $20 million. In 2010, Tom Brady’s deal with Under Armour included equity. In fact, equity
for sports stars is a trend. The big question is whether the influx of cash means he might consider taking a pay cut to free up money for his team to lure more talent to South Beach. Last year, James told ESPN he doubted he’d ever get paid what he’s worth because of the NBA’s bargaining rules, but he indicated his willingness to sacrifice for the team: “I have not had a full max deal yet in my career – that’s a story untold. I don’t get [the credit] for it. That doesn’t matter to me; playing the game is what matters to me. Financially, I’ll sacrifice for the team. It shows for some of the top guys, it isn’t all about money. That’s the genuine side of this, it’s about winning. I understand that.”
World Bank lowers growth forecast for developing world
Pictured are illustrations of Dr White’s IXS Enterprise, an interstellar ship drawn by artist Mark Rademaker that could be an accurate representation of what the first mission beyond the solar system will look like. The IXS Enterprise is a theory-fitting concept for a faster than light (FTL) ship.
Nasa reveals designs for spacecraft that could make interstellar travel a reality Last month, Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan unveiled his next science-fiction blockbuster. Called Interstellar, it envisages a future where travel to other stars is not only a possibility but a necessity, and tasks actor Matthew McConaughey with leading the main mission. But a Nasa scientist claims such a mission isn’t necessarily just something reserved for science fiction - and has revealed a Star Trek-style ship that could make interstellar travel a reality. Dr Harold White is famous for suggesting that faster than light (FTL) travel is possible. Using something known as an Alcubierre drive, named after a Mexican theoretical physicist of the same name, Dr White said it is possible to ‘bend’ space-time, and cover large distances almost instantly. This, in essence, would allow a spaceship to travel almost anywhere in a tiny fraction of the time it would take a conventional spacecraft. The ship in Nolan’s Interstellar
movie, as well as those in Star Trek, employ a warp engine. And, in a series of new renders, Dr White reveals how a real spacecraft dubbed the IXS Enterprise could do the same thing. The images are based on the artist who created the original look for the famous USS Enterprise ship from Star Trek – Matthew Jeffries.
Latest renders To make the latest renders Dr White employed the help of artist Mark Rademaker and graphic designer Mike Okuda. Although the speed of light is seen as an absolute, Dr White was inspired by Miguel Alcubierre, who postulated a theory that allowed for faster than light travel but without contradicting Einstein. Alcubierre’s theory was published in 1994 and involved enormous amounts of energy being used to expand and contract space itself - thereby
generating a ‘warp bubble’ in which a spacecraft would travel. Allowing space and time to act as the propellant by pulling the craft through the bubble would be like stepping on an escalator. Despite Dr Alcubierre stating his theory was simply conjecture, Dr White thinks he and his team are edging towards making the realm of warp speed attainable. According to Gizmodo, their engine could get to Alpha Centauri in two weeks as measured by clocks on Earth. The process of going to warp is also one that is smooth, rather than using a massive amount of acceleration in a short amount of time. ‘When you turn the field on, everybody doesn’t go slamming against the bulkhead, which would be a very short and sad trip,’ Dr White said. However, Dr White admits his research is still small-scale and is light years away from any type of engine that could be constructed into a spaceship like the USS Enterprise.
The World Bank has revised down its forecast for economic growth in the developing world this year - from 5.3% down to 4.8%. If right, it would be the third consecutive year of growth below 5% for this group of countries. The Bank says that developing nations need to make economic reforms to promote growth. But the new report does predict that growth in these countries will accelerate in 2015. “Disappointing” is the word the Bank uses to describe the developing world’s likely performance this year. The organisation’s president, Jim Yong Kim said these growth rates are “far too modest to create the kind of jobs we need to improve the lives of the poorest 40 per cent.” However, there are some optimistic elements to the report. The downgraded forecast reflects the impact of the Ukraine crisis, bad weather in the United States and other factors. Some of these will be temporary and the Bank expects the developing world to record growth of around 5.5% next year and in 2016, which the report says is “broadly in line with potential,” which means the rate of growth that they could sustain. They will be helped by the stronger growth coming through in many rich countries, notably the US and the euro area. But Andrew Burns, a senior economist at the Bank and one of the authors of the report, acknowledged that a period of three consecutive years of indifferent performance raises questions about whether the developing world is in for a long period of sub-par performance. “It’s one thing to have one year where one-off factors explain why growth wasn’t quite as strong as you anticipated. To have three years in a row where growth disappoints does have to start begging exactly those kinds of questions,” he says. Even the World Bank’s new lower forecast for this year would constitute a very strong performance in a developed nation. But poorer countries can grow faster by adopting established technology and, in many cases, putting an increasing working age population to work.
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LOCAL SPORTS tci run out of time against The Bahamas
The TCI National Rugby team narrowly missed out on their first international win last Saturday (May 31st) against The Bahamas losing 1311. The team continued to defend well and have only conceded two tries over their opening two matches in the 2014 North America and Caribbean Rugby Association Championships. The team played well in the first half playing into the wind and weathered the initial Bahamian attacks. The TCI side defended their line well as the Bahamians through all their players at them. The Bahamian line out was strong all afternoon and from a driving maul they managed to envelope enough forwards and slip through for the opening try to go 7-0 up. The TCI side fought back and continued to push into the wind missing another penalty before the Bahamas got a penalty of their own to take a 10-0 lead. With 5 minutes to go in the first half the TCI had a good attacking platform inside the Bahamian half. Strong running from Jahmal Misick and Neil French pushed us past the Bahamian defence and Miguel Malcolm forced his way over for a try, taking two Bahamian players with him. The TCI side entered the halftime break in good spirits with a 10-5 deficit. The TCI played with the wind in the second half as they looked to wear down the Bahamian side. The TCI team ran well but were not able to put enough passes to hand to give themselves an opportunity to attack the Bahamian try line. Having exchanged penalties the TCI brought themselves to within 2 points as Luis Turbyfield hit his second penalty of the day. Another late penalty from the Bahamas, with 1 minute to go, gave the TCI a shot at winning the match but it went wide. From the ensuing drop out the TCI side continued to attack but the Bahamian defensive front held ultimately denying the TCI the victory. Captain Sean O’Neill said “we played well in the first half limiting the Bahamas to 10 points against a strong wind and took a try ourselves at the break. We needed to come out and stick to our game plan in the second half but it felt like we rushed things at times as we tried to claw our way into
the lead. We definitely had the beating of the Bahamian team and we left some points out there that would have made the difference. It was great to see our defence stay strong again this game. “The Bahamas team were quick and we didn’t give them a lot of room to attack. We can see the improvement from last year and that is a positive to take out of the two difficult defeats so far.” Coach Ranald Schultz “We started slowly allowing the Bahamas to score a soft try early in the game due to some lazy defense. The boys were able to slowly build momentum and as the confidence grew we were able to string some phases together and started to play the way we trained, utilising efficient rucking skills and swift ball movement. “The try we scored was a great team
try and was a great demonstration of how to support the ball carrier and create opportunities. Throughout the game I thought the boys defended well and rucked very well but just need a little bit more aggression if we want to beat these teams. “To come so close again is frustrating but the team continues to make huge improvements and that is what matters most. We made some bad errors at crucial times when attacking but again no one gave up until the final whistle and that is very positive. “Once again we proved that we can compete with these teams and if we can get more players coming to training to create competition for spots we will beat them next year. “Congratulations to Jahmal Misick for winning best defensive player and player’s player.”
International Soccer player holidays on Grace Bay Beach by DAVID FECKHAM It is not every day you bump into an international soccer superstar on beautiful Grace Bay beach but that’s exactly what happened to soccer fanatics Jack McKnight, Charlie McKnight and Ian Withey last week. Strolling along, the lads were stunned to find Colombia and
Monaco striker Radamel Falcao García Zárate soaking up the sun. The striker, simply called “Falcoa” by his fans, was staying in TCI unable to join the Colombian World Cup squad due to injury. “I was stunned to find one of the world’s top 5 strikers chilling on the beach. He was very friendly and chatted for a while. He’s a cool guy” said Jack. Jack’s brother Charlie said
he asked about restaurants and hotels then posed with them for the photograph. “He’s a great guy. I hope he joins Manchester United. We need all the help we can get after Moyesie” said Charlie. The 28 year old former Porto and Athletico Madrid striker looked in good shape. Ian said “I was pleased to see he was in good shape. Tanned and toned. Just like me actually!”
Colombian International Striker Falcoa
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SPORTS
Kaliese Spencer leads Jamaicans in Oslo
WORLD-LEADING women’s 400m hurdler Kaliese Spencer will lead a small Jamaican contingent at today’s Oslo Diamond League meeting. Seven Jamaicans, including two male sprint hurdlers -- Hansle Parchment and Andrew Riley -- will compete at the fifth stop on the 14-meet IAAF track and field circuit. Triple world record holder Usain Bolt was originally scheduled to open his season at the meet, but withdrew late last week citing an injury that has not healed as well as he had hoped. Spencer, the three-time Diamond League champion, has the two top times in the world so far, running 54.29 seconds in Eugene, Oregon on May 31, then lowering that time to 53.97 seconds in Rome on JuneShevon Stoddart will join her today as they go up against Kemi Adekoya, who had run a personal best 54.59 seconds to win at the opening Diamond league meeting in Doha, Qatar. Also, in the race are Russia Natalya Antyukh and the Americans
Tiffany Williams and Kori Carter. Parchment, the Olympic bronze medallist, will renew rivalries with the French runner Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, the Diamond League and world leader. Parchment’s season’s best 13.14 seconds is a hundredth of a second off the Frenchman’s season’s best. The American pair of Ryan Wilson and Jason Richardson, the only man in the field who has run under 13.00 seconds, as well as Riley, will also be seeking Diamond points. Diamond League leader Novlene Williams-Mills, who has two of the top three times in the world so far this year with a season’s best 50.26 seconds, will be seeking her third straight Diamond League win this season after wins in Shanghai, China and Rome, Italy. Patricia Hall will also line up alongside Williams-Mills as well as former World Champions Amantle Monstsho and American Natasha Hastings. The veteran Aleen Bailey will also be in SPENCER... ran 53.97 seconds in Rome on June 5 action and will contest the 100m.
New Zealand crush Windies in first test
With West Indies tottering on West Indies suffered a humiliating defeat in the first Test the verge of defeat at 134 for nine, here Wednesday, as New Zealand Shane Shillingford and Sulieman crushed them by 186 runs inside Benn threw caution to the wind four days at Sabina Park to claim in a cavalier 85-run last wicket only their second ever win in the partnership which frustrated New Zealand at the end. Caribbean. Shillingford finished unbeaten Set an improbable 403 for victory, West Indies produced on 53 off a mere 29 balls, including another wretched performance to three fours and five sixes, while be dismissed for 216, collapsing Benn got 25 from 27 balls, with meekly inside a session-and-a- four fours and a six. With the last half hour claimed, half and handing the Black Caps a critical 1-0 lead in the three-Test the pair were three balls away from taking the match into a series. The defeat was engineered fifth day when off-spinner Kane by Man-of-the-Match off-spinner Williamson, in his only over of the Mark Craig who grabbed four game, had Benn caught behind for 97 to follow up a similar four- giving wicketkeeper BJ Watling wicket haul in the first innings, his fifth catch of the innings. Earlier, captain Denesh and end his debut Test with outstanding match figures of eight Ramdin scored 34 and veteran Shiv Chanderpaul, 24, but none for 188. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi of the other batsmen put their supported with three for 42 while hands up, after New Zealand had seamer Tim Southee again bowled declared their second innings on brilliantly to finish with two for 32. 156 for eight, about 40 minutes
before tea. Left with just over half-hour to survive before the interval, the Windies lost talismanic opener Chris Gayle for ten and his partner Kieran Powell, without scoring – both batsmen falling to the irrepressible Southee. Gayle, as accustomed, started brightly with two consecutive boundaries off the first over from left-arm seamer Trent Boult. The first four, a flick to the mid-wicket boundary, carried him past 7 000 runs in Tests, becoming only the eighth West Indian batsman to achieve the feat. Things fell apart in the next over, however, when Powell flicked in the air for Tom Latham to take sharp catch at short mid-wicket, set specifically for that stroke. Two overs later, Gayle followed him, playing back to one angled across him and falling to a catch at the wicket off Southee for the second time in the match.
Major League draft shows a bright future for Bahamians
WITH the drafting of three Bahamians into the Major League baseball over the weekend, the future looks bright for the Bahamas. Anfernee Seymour was selected by the Miami Marlins with the 297th pick in round seven, Todd Isaacs Jr went to the Toronto Bluejays with No 654 in the 22nd round and Byron Murray got called by the San Francisco Giants in the 25th round with the 748th pick. All three players were recruited right out of high school in Florida.
While Seymour and Isaacs Jr. were graduating room-mates at the American Heritage School, Murray came out of Trinity Christian Academy. The three could swell the Bahamas’ numbers to seven for players who are on pro contracts with Major League minor teams. And that list can push the Bahamas’ total in the pro baseball fraternity to 46 with six of them advancing to play in the Major league. With even more players in the trenches in pursuit of following these players, Bahamas Baseball
Federation secretary general Teddy Sweeting made a plea for more consideration to be given to the sport by the Bahamas Government. “We still have this long standing dispute thst still exist between the Bahamas Baseball Federation and the Bahamas Baseball Association,” said Sweeting. “We need for the Bahamas Baseball Federation to be given full responsiblity for baseball internationally because we are the only organization that is doing anything for baseball.”
Jamaicans favour Brazil, Germany to win World Cup The Jamaica Observer ventured out onto the streets of Kingston to get the views of the public on who they think will win the Brazil 2014 World Cup, which kicks off today in Sao Paulo where the host face Croatia. Here are their views: Steven Palmer, 24, unemployed: I think that Brazil will win the 2014 World Cup. Not only because they are playing at home but also they have the best players in the world playing in the team and of late they are playing better football. Javan Walker, 30, taxi operator: Well, I think that it will come down to either Argentina or Brazil, but I would give Brazil the edge, mainly because of the home advantage and the strength of the their team. Barbara Williamson, 39, market vendor: To me, Brazil is the biggest football team in the world. The players are very skillful and they have the potential to go all the way, not because they are playing at home, but they can go anywhere and beat you and so I think that they will win the World Cup this year. Helen Bradley, 60, market vendor: The team that will win the 2014 World Cup is no other than Brazil. From I was little growing up, is just Brazil and I believe that they will go all the way. Baruka Morris, 17, student at Jamaica College: I believe that Germany will take the World Cup. The team has some young talented footballers and their tactical formation is good and hard to beat. Darrian Rose, 28, bearer: Brazil all the way. Brazil is the best team in the world and with Neymar in the best form of his career, their chances are well rated. Sadiki Renford, 17, unemployed: When you say football, the only team that comes to mind is Brazil. Kwame White, 36, Taxi Operator: I grew up come hear about Brazil, they have won the World Cup the most plus they are playing in their backyard and this makes it even harder for them to lose. I think that they will do the job this year. Clive Mullings, 55, labourer: The biggest set of footballers come from Brazil. This current team is a very good team, they can defend and attack well. They can control possession of the ball in the midfield and so I believe that they will go all the way. Fitzroy Francis, 54, carpenter: Germany will win the World Cup for sure. Based on history, Germany is always in the top-three more times than any other country and this shows that they are consistent which most team aren’t.
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SPORTS
Donald Sterling mental state a focus of case vs. wife
LOS ANGELES – Donald and Shelly Sterling will square off in a Los Angeles courtroom July 7 with the future of the Los Angeles Clippers at stake, and Donald Sterling’s mental health will be a major issue. A Superior Court probate judge ruled Wednesday that a four-day trial will be held beginning on that date to determine if Shelly Sterling properly removed Donald from the family trust that owned the Clippers, which she then sold to billionaire Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 23. Shelley Sterling’s lawyers appeared in probate court last Wednesday and were granted an expedited hearing on her request for the court to authorize her sale of the team. They argued that if the sale is not completed by Sept. 15, the NBA could attempt to seize the team and sell it at auction. Donald Sterling’s lawyer, Bobby Samini, said at the courthouse Wednesday that Sterling claims the sale is invalid because he never authorized his wife to complete the sale and that he is in sound mental condition, capable of making business decisions. Shelly Sterling’s filing suggests
Shelly Sterling and Donald Sterling disagree about her right to sell the Clippers. otherwise. According to the filing, Shelly got Donald to agree to be submitted in May to brain scans at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and to be examined by psychiatrist Meril S. Platzer on May 19. In a May 29 letter, Platzer wrote that Sterling “is suffering
from cognitive impairment secondary to That is what Shelly did, and that is why primary dementia Alzheimer’s disease. the sale of the team to Ballmer is proper, The duration of the memory issues is at O’Donnell said. But Samini said those issues will be least three years. . . . It is my opinion that Mr. Donald T. Sterling is unable disputed. “They’ve got a tough case to make to reasonably carry out the duties as Trustee The Sterling Family Trust to say that he lacks mental capacity,” as a result of, among other factors, an Samini said. “He is fully capable of impairment of his level of attention, conducting his affairs. That’s actually information processing, short-term the easiest of the issues for us. We have memory impairment and ability to our own physicians.” As for Sterling’s $1 billion lawsuit modulate mood . . . and is at risk of making potentially serious errors of against the NBA that the league has treated him unfairly in banning him judgment.” Another doctor, James E. Spar, for life and forcing the sale of his team, examined Sterling on May 22 and wrote Samini said he plans to aggressively that Sterling had “cognitive impairment” argue that the league is selectively and was at “risk of making potentially punishing Sterling for his racially serious errors of judgment, impulse charged comments and that the NBA control and recall in the management of has done little to address being sued his finances and his trust. ... (Sterling) four times since 2008 for gender is substantially unable to manage his discrimination. “If this is the time to clean house, finances and resist fraud and undue influence and is no longer competent to then let’s clean house,” he said. “Discrimination is discrimination. If act as trustee of his trust.” A third psychiatrist, Stephen L. Read, the NBA wants to come after Donald Sterling on this, they should take a look confirmed the diagnoses and opinions. Shelly Sterling’s lawyer, Pierce at themselves. “Donald Sterling’s recorded O’Donnell, said that the trust contains a provision that if one of the members is comments weren’t good, but he has said found to be lacking mental capacity, the those aren’t his true feelings, and they other member can assume full control. were made in private.”
Maria Sharapova Lewis Hamilton using simulator to learn the nuances of Austrian circuit the new spokesperson Lewis Hamilton admits he knows nothing about the Red Bull Ring, the circuit in Spielberg, Austria where he hopes to start his fightback after disappointing results in Monaco and Canada. He said: “Years and years ago when I was probably 13, I played it on a computer game, but once I get on the simulator, I will learn quickly. “I don’t know which way Turn One goes if I am honest but I will find out before I get there. Nico [Rosberg] has driven it before in Formula BMW, I would have thought. But I will be on it for the next one, doing my best.” Hamilton was in a philosophical mood despite his setback at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on
Sunday, when he suffered brake failure and had to retire from the race for the second time this season. His Mercedes team-mate Rosberg, his only serious rival for the title, has finished first or second in every round. Despite four wins in seven races Hamilton is 22 points behind. He said: “I just want to get ready for the next race. I have a lot of training planned and I am in the simulator. I’m two DNFs [did not finish] down. That’s almost 50 points I’ve lost. I’m going to have to recover them somewhere else. “The team will be flat out trying to understand what the [brake] issue is. Guys at the factory are already analysing it and they will sort it out. I just said to the guys
that this isn’t a day we all hoped for but we have to take a step back and realise what an amazing job we have all done. We just have to keep doing what we have been doing. This day will make us stronger as a team.” Hamilton admits that he was frustrated by having to share data with Rosberg: “You are always trying to find the next thing to get yourself ahead but every time you do, it is shared with the other person. “It is very, very hard. It is the same on both sides but I will have to keep pushing. There is nothing you can keep back unless you don’t drive fast in practice. Then you are only harming yourself. I just have to keep going faster.”
for Avon Luck
Tennis player Maria Sharapova has been named the new face of Avon’s fragrance Luck just days after she won the French Open for the second time in her career. “I am excited to represent Avon Luck, a fragrance that reminds us to savor and truly enjoy our triumphs,” the 27-year-old Russian star said in a statement after Avon made the announcement on Wednesday. “I always say the harder you work, the luckier you are because you strive for bigger goals. I love being able to partner with a company like Avon that empowers women around the world to accomplish their dreams,” she continued. Avon’s new scent will be released in Europe in September and in the United Stated a month later. Avon Chief Marketing Officer Patricia Perez-Ayala said in a statement that the fragrance looks to “capture the intoxicating charisma of someone who created her own luck in life.”
David Beckham’s MLS plan derailed as Miami mayor vetoes stadium site
David Beckham and Marcelo Claure (second right), an investor in his proposed MLS franchise, watch England play Honduras in Miami on Saturday.
David Beckham’s plan to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami looks to be on life support after the city’s mayor, Tomás Regalado, previously a key ally in the project, said no to the construction of a stadium at a prime waterfront site. The surprise rejection was the second time in a month that the former England captain had been rebuffed in his efforts to build a 25,000-seat stadium to launch his team at a favoured city-centre location, after the collapse of his
similar proposal at the Port of Miami. Beckham’s investment group, which includes the entertainment impresario Simon Fuller and the Bolivian telecoms billionaire Marcelo Claure, said it would pause to consider its options, one of which will presumably be withdrawing from the project altogether. “We presented a strong proposal for the site suggested to us by the two mayors [Regalado and the Miami-Dade county mayor, Carlos Giménez],” the group,
Miami Beckham United, said in a statement after a meeting on Tuesday with city officials in Miami. “Our package was the most equitable soccer stadium proposal that Miami, or any other city in America, has ever seen, 100% privately funded without any local taxpayers’ money. “Our team will now pause and weigh alternatives. The people of Miami deserve a team and stadium that they will be proud of for decades to come.”
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WORLD SPORTS
A to Z Guide to the 2014 World Cup The 2014 World Cup is finally here! For Brazil, it is the second time the country will serve as host. The first time, in 1950, the finale ended in disaster for the hosts after Uruguay defeated Brazil to capture the title. The World Cup will feature 32 nations – placed in seven groups with four teams apiece – and a total of 64 games. Defending champion Spain will have to contend with the likes of Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Italy if it wants to retain its title. The United States has qualified for its seventh straight World Cup and will be looking to get out of a very tough group that features Germany, Portugal and Ghana. Below is your A-B-C guide to the World Cup:
A
rgentina Winners of two World Cups (1978 and 1986), Argentina figures again to be one of the favorites for the title. The team features Lionel Messi, one of the greatest players in the world at the moment, as well as Sergio Aguero, who is also the son-in-law of the great Diego Maradona.
B
razil The host nation has won the World Cup five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) and will be going for a sixth – the so-called La Sexta – before a home crowd. Anything short of lifting the trophy will be considered a failure. Widespread protests and strikes have marred the lead-up to the tournament, especially in Sao Paulo, as riot police have been used to try and maintain order.
C
axirola Brazil’s response to South Africa’s vuvuzela. The noisemaker is a small rattle that is less annoying and easier on the ears than the horn made famous four years ago. Despite that, the rattle has been banned from stadiums during games.
D
ead Ball Whenever play in soccer is stopped. The term also refers to all free kicks and corner kicks, often referred to as “dead ball situations.”
E
SPN ESPN, along with ESPN2 and ABC, will broadcast all 64 games live: ESPN will televise 43 matches, while ESPN2 will air 11. ABC will air 10 games, including the final on July 13.
F
uleco That’s the name of the tournament’s official mascot. He’s a Brazilian threebanded armadillo and his likeness has been plastered everywhere.
G
ooooooooooaaaaal! That is the sweet sound of success in soccer. There aren’t too many goals in a game so pay attention.
H
and Ball No player is allowed to use their hands -- unless you’re the goalkeeper or Maradona!
I
taly A four-time World Cup champion (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006), the Italians are in a rebuilding phase. The team should be fun to watch since they feature scoring Mario Balotelli. You just never know what he’s going to say or do.
J
apan The Japanese may love baseball, but they have become increasingly good at soccer and are one of the strongest teams out of Asia. This is the fifth straight World Cup for Japan, who are coached by Alberto Zaccheroni, an Italian.
J
urgen Klinsmann The U.S. coach has been to the World Cup before. As a player, he won the 1990 tournament with then-West Germany and coached the team to a third-place finish at the 2006 tournament.
L
andon Donovan Arguably the best player ever to represent the USA, Donovan will not be part of the team in Brazil. His 2010 goal against Algeria to put the Americans in the knockout round remains one of the best moments in American soccer history.
M
anaus Of the 12 cities where the games will be played. Manuas is the one located the farthest distance from the others. Situated deep in the Amazon jungle, Manaus is a natural beauty. The United States will travel there to play Portugal on June 22 at the newly-built Arena Amazonia.
N
eymar Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo may be the player everyone in the world will be focused on but Brazilians will have their eyes on Neymar. The Barcelona striker has the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders. Will he excel or wilt under the pressure?
O
ffsides Often difficult for casual observers to understand, players are considered offside when the player “is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than
both the ball and the second-last opponent,” according to FIFA. If that’s hard to comprehend, you’re not alone. Referees often mess up this call.
played. If that ends in a stalemate, the game is decided via a shootout.
U
SA The United States is in Group G -- also known as the “Group of Death” -ele He may not playing at this World Cup, along with Germany, Portugal and Ghana. but Pele remains a soccer icon. Expect The Americans will open against Ghana to see and hear from him a lot over the on June 16, play Portugal on June 22 and next four weeks -- especially since he’s close out the group stage June 26 versus appearing in those Subway commercials. Germany. The USA are underdogs, but don’t rule out a Cinderella run. ualification The World Cup finals feature 32 eterans teams (Brazil qualified automatiThe tournament is loaded with vetcally as host nation). A total of eran superstars. For the USA, six players 203 nations played qualifying who were on the 2010 team are back -games over the past three goalkeepers Tim Howard and Brad Guyears for a chance to play in zan, midfielder Michael Bradley, strikers Brazil. Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey as well as midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who is poised to become the first American to io de play in four World Cups. Janeiro Site of the World Cup final at the ayne Rooney iconic Maracana The star striker is once again the Stadium, Rio player all of England is relying on. He has will be like New had a wonderful club career but his time Orleans on sterwith England has not been so stellar. Is oids. Expect the this the year England wins it all? city – and its famed Copacabana beach – to be -Factor the center of the party for Every World Cup has one – a player the next four weeks. who ends up making the difference. Who will it be this time? pain The reigning World Cup ellow Card champions are looking to add a Referees hand out (actually they second star to their red jerseys. wave them in the air) yellow cards whenThe Spanish have been handed a ever a player commits a serious foul. Two tough group this time and will have to yellow cards will trigger an automatic red, face the Netherlands (the team it beat which means a player is ejected from the in the 2010 final) in its first game. game.
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ies Games in the first round, which follow a round-robin format, can end in a tie (more commonly referred to as a draw) after 90 minutes. However, the knockout phase features a bracket where teams are eliminated. If a game ends in a draw, an additional 30 minutes of extra time is
Y
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latan Ibrahimovic He may be one of the best players on the planet, but his Sweden team failed to qualify. In other words, you won’t be seeing him at the World Cup, although a recent viral campaign with the hastag #VemIbra has tried to get him to show up. No word on if he will attend.
Heat look to target Carmelo Anthony MIAMI – The Miami Heat’s immediate focus remains winning the 2014 NBA Championship against the San Antonio Spurs, but discussions have begun within the organization about trying to grow their so-called Big Three into a Big Four, according to sources close to the situation. Sources told ESPN.com that Heat officials and the team’s leading players have already started to explore their options for creating sufficient financial flexibility to make an ambitious run at adding New York Knicks scoring machine Carmelo Anthony this summer in free agency. The mere concept would require the star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to all opt out of their current contracts by the end of the month and likely take further salary reductions in new deals that start next season to give Miami the ability to offer Anthony a representative first-year salary. The Heat also are prevented from making any formal
New York Knicks scoring machine Carmelo Anthony contact with Anthony until July 1 and can do so then only if he opts out of the final year of his current contract. Anthony has until June 23 to notify the Knicks of his intentions, according to sources. But the success of the
Heat’s 2010 free-agent bonanza has established them as the NBA’s undisputed destination franchise, with owner Micky Arison empowering bigthinking team president Pat Riley to attempt to pull off another coup in the market
despite new collective bargaining agreement rules aimed at preventing it. Sources say internal conversations within the Heat organization about pursuing this course have run concurrently with Miami’s bid to win a third consecutive championship, with sources adding that James in particular is likely to try to recoup potential salary sacrificed through fresh offcourt business opportunities if the Heat’s new dream scenario does come to fruition. James’ off-court business is booming, thanks to a string of investments paying off massively and the prospect of new opportunities in endorsements and entertainment projects promising to expand his wealth significantly in coming years. In a recent example, while James was leading the Heat to a victory over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, sources say the 29-year-old was finalizing what is believed to be the
biggest equity cash payout for a professional athlete in history as part of Apple’s recent $3 billion purchase of Beats Electronics. Sources briefed on the situation say James realized a profit of more than $30 million in cash and stock in the Beats sale after he had struck a deal to get a small stake in the company at its inception in 2008 in exchange for promoting its high-end headphones. With cooperation from their stars and role players Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen, who also possess player options for next season, the Heat could open up in excess of $50 million in cap space this summer and have the most financial flexibility in the league. The only Heat player locked into place for next season is Norris Cole at a salary of $2 million, although Riley will have to contend with a handful of cap holds for pending free agents as well as their upcoming first-round pick (No. 26 overall) in the draft later this month.
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WORLD SPORTS
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014
WORLD SPORTS
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JUNE 14TH - JUNE 21ST, 2014