VOLUME 10 ISSUE 29 by The SUN Newspaper

VOLUME 10 - No. 29

AUGUST 9TH – AUGUST 16TH, 2014

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MILLIONS LEAVING TCI MONTHLY $74 million sent out of the country last year by Hayden Boyce

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

t least $94 million was sent out of the Turks and Caicos Islands over the last 15 months, mainly by natives of Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Philippines and the United States of America, The Bahamas, Canada and the United Kingdom, according to documents obtained by The SUN. However, the actual amount of money which left this country over that period is significantly more than the above, because figures compiled by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) do not include the millions estimated to have been sent out by wire transfers and drafts through commercial banks and other financial institutions whose transactions are more substantial. The FSC’s website only provides information from three institutions: CAM, NCS eMoney Services (which operates as MoneyGram) and The Money Centre by Fidelity, which is also

SUM OF MONEY LEAVING THE COUNTRY Money sent out in 2013 ($74.9m): * Haitians ($18.6 million), * Dominican Republic ($16.2 million), * Americans ($9.6million), * Jamaicans ($9.5 million), * Philipinos ($7.7 million), * United Kingdom ($2.8 million), * Bahamians ($1.3 million) * Canadians $498,462. known as Western Union. For the whole of the year 2013, some $74.9 million was sent out of the TCI through those three institutions; an average of $6.2 million per month. (See table above) A further analysis of the figures revealed that an average of $18.8 million has been leaving the Turks and Caicos Islands every quarter (three months) through those institutions alone.

MONEY SENT OUT between January and March of 2014 ($19.4M): * Haitians – $5.7 million * Dominicans – $3.9 million * Jamaicans – $2.3 million * Philipinos – $2 million * Americans – $1.3 million * Bahamians – $306,225 * Canadians – $119,457 * United Kingdom – $60,178 Financial analysts believe that at a time when the Turks and Caicos Islands Government continues to tinker and experiment with the introduction of various forms of direct and indirect taxation, it is evident that the money transfer sector would be a prime source from which the Ministry of Finance can easily secure much-needed additional revenue. The controversial Payroll Tax, which

was about to be introduced a few weeks ago but was aborted after it engendered harsh criticism from an outraged public and failed to garner bi-partisan and national support, was expected to raise $5 million a year. If, for example, TCIG were to charge an additional 10 percent on all of the money that left the Turks and Caicos Islands through those three agencies over the past 15 months, it would have collected just over $9 million. As it now stands, Government collects ten percent of whatever it costs to send money out of the country via Western Union, CAM and MoneyGram. Remittances, which is commonly known as sending money, is a very lucrative business and has over the years been an integral part of the Caribbean culture and major contributor to the economies in the region. The SUN was reliably informed that the Turks and Caicos Islands is one of the top countries in the Caribbean, per capita, when it comes to the outflow of funds.

Continued on Page 2.

Luxury Yachts at Blue Haven Marina.

Less than a year after it opened, the Blue Haven Marina, in Leeward, Providenciales, is receiving rave reviews from experts in the yachting industry. Over the past few months it has been featured prominently in several international magazines, and it also is becoming a port of choice for wealthy yacht-owners who are always searching for new destinations where they can unplug. The marina can accommodate yachts measuring up to 180 feet, with a maximum draft of 5.5 feet. Pictured here are some of the luxury yachts which have graced the marina with their presence last week.

PDM: UK issuing passports is a backward step – Page 7 Digicel, Lime block Tango and Viber apps – Page 13

Conch over-fished by half-million pounds a year – Page 8

TCI Jamaicans celebrate 52 years of independence – Pages 24&25

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

First meeting of Turks and Caicos Islands Government Audit Committee

The Governor H.E. Peter Beckingham was in attendance at the first full meeting of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Audit Committee on Thursday, July 24, in Grand Turk. As a result of several well reported corporate failures around the world, various Corporate Governance Codes place greater responsibilities on Executive Boards in both the public and private sectors. These Boards are now more clearly tasked with setting the organisation’s risk appetite and ensuring that controls are in place to manage risk within this. The Audit Committee is a crucial mechanism in supporting the Governor and Cabinet in meeting these obligations. Addressing the Committee at its first full meeting, Governor Beckingham said: “The Audit Committee will be an important addition to the oversight aspect of the governance framework in TCI. The role of this Committee is a challenging one, and it needs strong, independent members who are able to apply their wide range of skills and experience.” Members of the Board are non-executive (i.e. drawn from the private sector,) and the Governor

From left: Governor Peter Beckingham, Neville Adams, Cecil Arnold, Edith Cox, Bennett Stubbs (members) and Nigel Hearnden (Chairman). added: “The Committee is an excellent example of how the knowledge and expertise of the private sector can assist the public sector in meeting the significant challenges it faces.” Within TCI there are two key Governance and finance related

Millions leaving TCI monthly

Committees: The Public Accounts Committee, who are elected members of the House of Assembly primarily focusing on assurance arrangements over financial reporting, annual report and accounts, value for money; and the Audit Committee, which is appointed

by Cabinet and are all non-executives as required under the Corporate Governance Code primarily with a focus on ensuring there is adequate and effective governance, risk management and assurance framework in place across TCIG.

Continued from Page 1. in many countries in the region, cash

Countries like The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, all of which have large numbers of foreign labour, also experience signficant outflows of money. On the other hand, there is a strong tradition of Caribbean nationals living and working overseas and sending money back to their native countries.

$61 billions sent back to the Caribbean region from overseas In June 2014, a new report from the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Group, indicated that last year the Latin American and Caribbean region received a total of US$61.3 billion sent by migrants to their countries of origin. MIF General Manager Nancy Lee stated in the report: “Remittance flows to Latin America and the Caribbean remain an important source of income for millions of poor and vulnerable families.Remittance recipients need more access to financial tools that will help them use remittances to save and make investments for their future in areas like education, housing, and starting and growing businesses.” The report notes that, as this sector has evolved, there is an increasingly wide variety of services available to remittance senders, allowing them to make transfers using bank accounts and debit and credit cards. However,

withdrawals are still the prevailing option for receiving remittances, showing that financial institutions have business opportunities to offer payment and savings products tailored to customers’ needs and preferences. Mexico remains the largest recipient of remittances in the region, with $21.6 billion, followed by Guatemala, with $5.1 billion. Colombia remained in third place with $4.1 billion, El Salvador was fourth with just under $4.0 billion, and the Dominican Republic fifth with $3.3 billion. The United States is the source of about three-quarters of remittances to the region, followed by Spain. Accordingly, the recoveries of labour demand in the United States and in average wages of workers from Latin America and the Caribbean affected the growth of remittances to Central America and the Caribbean. In the years before the financial crisis of 2008-2009, remittances to the region as a whole experienced average annual growth of 17 percent. After a record high in 2008 of $64.9 billion, there was a sharp drop in 2009 of over 10 percent, followed by an increase in 2011 of 6 percent, and subsequent stagnation that continued up to 2013. The MIF estimates that remittances to the region could increase by 5 to 7 percent in 2014. This estimate is based on migration and labor trends in 2013 and on expectations for stronger performance in the U.S. and European economies in 2014, already reflected in improved employment figures in the first months of this year.

Camp-goers showcase their tie-dye work at Camp Hype.

Beaches Turks & Caicos supports local summer camp

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort our primary sponsors, not only for the Villages and Spa ended a week of summer camp but they also show full educational and recreational activities support with the Shoebox Christmas with a day of fun and food at the tenth Drive we host annually.” The goal this year was to target annual Camp Hype held recently at the students aged 12 and up, although the Five Cays Community Centre. This is the second year the “Luxury camp was not limited to this age group included” brand has partnered with the and even had participants as young as Government sponsored Camp Hype, seven in attendance. Environment Health and Safety which is designed to provide a safe and positive environment where children can Manager at Beaches Resort, Monette have enriching and memorable summer Collymore commented on the partnership, “Fostering partnerships that promote childhood experiences. development by providing The resort supplied a week of delicious youth meals for thirty camp goers while working accessibility to free educational materials, alongside counselors to provide valuable promoting healthy lifestyles; supporting advice and informative knowledge that socio-cultural activities and caring for the they can take throughout the summer environment in our local communities is evident through our outreach programs” and further into their academic career. “Money was tight this year, but she said, “In keeping with our Sandals and through the support of major companies Corporate Sustainability like Beaches, we were able to ensure that Beaches the young people on Providenciales and Policy, each of our resorts is committed throughout the islands got the summer to implementing systems that foster outreach programs they deserved,” said Dulcine Hall, Youth community Officer at The Ministry of Youth, Sports, that effectively address the issues encompassing hygiene, health, safety, Culture and Library Services. “The Ministry of Youth, Sports, education; community and environmental Culture and Library Services have been concerns. Beaches Turks and Caicos operating this camp for almost 11 years will continue to focus on these aspects now and we aim to work closely with the to increase our contribution to the private sector to ensure that the camp sustainability and development of these is an ongoing process. Beaches is one of islands,” she concluded.

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

PDM says it’s a backward step for UK to issue TCI passports

Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson says it is a backward step for Government to agree with the decision to allow Turks and Caicos Islands passports to be printed and issued from the United Kingdom “We believe this intention to print passports in the UK is regressive and believe that the full process should remain in these Islands even if UK personnel were attached,” the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) leader said in a press release. “In light of the difficulties that we are aware that persons are encountering now with the lengthy process for British passports, we are convinced that this system may not be any better. We have real concerns about efficiency and we are also curious as to what will constitute an emergency,” she added. “Persons cannot find themselves in this country as some did this year without any Travel Documents especially since we do no longer issued other Travel Documents. We also believe that this may negatively affect revenues for these Islands as well. There are many more unanswered questions and the people need to hear from the Government on this issue.” The PDM leader said she believes that if this Government has not yet engaged the sister Overseas Territories or the UK, then it must do so as this step to be regressive and not in the best interest of our people. She said the PDM first learned of the UK’s intention to issue passports for

Territories on this matter. the Turks and Caicos Islands The PNP Government must sometime last year during a tell the people of this country Meeting of the Appropriations what representations were Committee when the made on the people’s behalf,” Permanent Secretary for the Opposition Leader added. Border Control, Mrs Clara A few weeks ago, The Gardiner mentioned it in SUN reported in an exclusive passing as she sought an story that Turks and Caicos increase in expenditure for Islanders will have to apply to the purchase of passports. the United Kingdom for their The PDM leader added: passports from early next “On that occasion the Leader year; and they should brace of the Opposition as Chair themselves for delays and of the Appropriations frustration in getting these Committee inquired into important travel documents. the policy as it relates to Opposition Leader The new policy will the treatment of emergency Hon. Sharlene come into effect because situations and the proposed Cartwright-Robinson. the British Government, process. It appeared to be in its infancy stage but we found that through the Identity and Passport Bermuda Government in a Statement Service (IPS), has introduced a new UK issued last year said that it would lead passport design with improved biometric the way in challenging this issue as an security measures. The SUN understands that the Overseas Territory. We wish to remind the people of this country that these applications for passports will have to be talks or dialogue will be with the PNP done locally, but all of the documentation Government as it is the Government and will have to be forwarded to the UK, then the passports will be sent back to the not with the Opposition PDM Party.” Hon. Cartwright-Robinson said the Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition to the Turks and Caicos Government has only within the last few days spoken for the first time to Islands, the new passport rules will this issue, adding that there were no also affect Anguilla, Ascension Islands, updates provided, but now the dialogue Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, has emerged again with the Minister Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, and St. confirming the UK’s decision. “What the Minister of Border Control Helena Islands. When contacted by The SUN, did not say is what his Government did do to engage the UK or the sister Overseas Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing and

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Border Control and Immigration, Clara Gardiner, confirmed the drastic changes to the issuing of passports for Turks and Caicos Islanders, but neither of them elaborated. They directed queries to Minister of Border Control and Immigration, Hon. Donhue Gardiner, who could not be reached up to Press time. However, in his recent speech during the budget, Gardiner said TCIG would only be empowered to issue passports in emergency cases. Policy makers in the Home Office in the United Kingdom have regular consultation with the Overseas Territories and the conditions that would be categorized as an emergency will be defined by this working group, he said. Some of the British Overseas Territories (BOT) in the Caribbean, already have expressed concern about their passports being issued by the UK. In fact, if what has been reported in countries such as Cayman Islands and Bermuda is any indication, the Turks and Caicos Islands also can expect to experience some snags with their passports. Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin, said in a statement: “Overseas territories members are concerned about the impact on their residents who seek emergency medical travel, putting at risk in particular the very young, elderly and those who may not have valid travel documents.”

BUTTERFIELD MOTORS, LTD. Is looking for experienced applicant for the follow position

Financial Manager

Key Function Actively assist the Dealer Principal to maximize smooth running and profitability of the dealership. Provide all necessary and relevant financial information to a consistently high standard and to agreed deadlines. Continuously review effectiveness of all accounting, administration within the business. Identify areas for development and recommend solutions. Assist the Dealer Principal with external stakeholder relationship management. Ensure the business meets all statutory requirements. Strategic Planning Responsibilities • Establish and develop the dealership organization and control systems to ensure the efficient operation of each department, consistent with its present and future objectives • Create with each Department Manager co-ordinated, detailed annual plans and budgets, in line with defined long term goals, for each section of the business covering all targets for profitability, productivity, and resource control and market development. • Enable the implementation of these plans and budgets through business management systems to identify and explain variances. To monitor continuously all adverse trends and potential problems and take corrective action in a timely manner. • Agree all operating policies of the business in conjunction with the Dealer Principal including: pricing and credit limits; customer service levels; warranty and guarantee policies; new and used vehicle trading; resource control; liaison with suppliers; discounting; payment and benefit plans. • Participates in overall Company strategic planning. Reports directly to the Owner. Specific Operational Responsibilities • Responsible for the accounting and control functions; prepares interim and annual financial statements with supporting schedules and analysis for the guidance of management. • Production of accurate and detailed management accounts in the dealership within 5 working days from end of month. • Actively assist the Dealer Principal and Management Team with interpretation of the monthly accounts and suggest actions where appropriate. • Responsible for the Company’s accounting practices, procedures and principles, maintenance of its records and the preparation of financial reports • Ensure that the business is administered legally, professionally and in keeping with the Manufacturing Brands at all times. • Ensure that reporting systems within the dealership enable accurate production of Daily Operating Controls by Department Managers. Professional requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field. • 10+ years experience in Corporate Accounting, with minimum 5 years as an Accounting Manager or Controller, with demonstrated increasing levels of responsibility and skill • Thorough understanding of general accounting processes and principles along with strong analytical skills • Knowledge of automated financial and accounting reporting systems, including familiarity with computerized general ledger systems, accounting procedures and computer programs, handling ADP system as a plus. • Proficient with MS Office, an expert with MS Excel • Experience in projections, Budget, Forecast, Long Term projections. Personal requirements: • Must be able to make decisions with minimum input, based on their experience and knowledge of the position. • Driven towards continuous personal and company improvement. • Successful Applicant will be responsible for developing and improving upon all general accounting procedures and processes on a project and company-wide basis. • Flexible work hours Competitive Salary commensurate with work experience and qualifications. All interested applicants should submit an updated resume by e-mailing info@butterfieldmotors.tc

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION

The Financial Services Commission, a statutory body of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government responsible for the licensing and regulation of financial services businesses, is seeking qualified applicants for the post of Compliance Officer. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The holder of this position will carry out the following duties: 1. Assist in the regulation and supervision of licensed Mutual Funds, Investment Dealers and Company Managers in order to maintain a general view of their conduct and practice. 2. Assist in onsite visits, to ensure that the licensee is acting in accordance with its business plan, the relevant Regulatory Ordinances and the conditions of its licence. 3. Assist in ensuring the soundness, good governance and integrity of licensees including review and analysis of data regarding financial institutions, including analysis of audited financial and specific prudential returns 4. Assist in the prudential offsite supervision of licenses including reviewing and making decisions on the approval of any changes in directors, managers, shareholders etc. of licensees. 5. Assist in ensuring compliance by licensees with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter financing to terrorism (CFT) laws and regulations. 6. Assist with the preparation of periodic and ad hoc reports based on offsite reviews. 7. Assist other departments in the handling of compliance matters and issues relating to the supervision of licensees as instructed by the Commission. 8. Assist with timely compilation of pre-examination reports/schedules and preparing notes for pre-examination meetings. 9. Assist with the timely compilation of examination schedules/working papers and preparation of detailed examination reports reviewing the licensee’s financial condition and solvency. 10. Assist with preparatory notes for wrap up meetings with senior management and carry out follow up procedures in relation to recommendations made to the licensee for corrective actions to be taken. 11. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Head of Company Managers and Investments. SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED • Sound knowledge of the Companies Ordinance, Mutual Funds Ordinance, Investment Dealers Ordinance, AntiMoney Laundering Regulations, FSC Ordinance, Proceeds of Crime Ordinance, IFRS and IAS Standards and other related Ordinances, regulations and international supervisory standards • Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards inclusive of the new IFRS, particularly as they relate to recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities • Sound knowledge of international anti-money laundering standards, related local legislations and regulations; as well as requisite supervisory evaluation procedures • Sound understanding of IT systems and the use of such technologies in the financial services industry EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management or related discipline • Five (5) years related experience. A certification in compliance and or money laundering would be a distinct advantage. OTHER INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE POST This position falls within Grade 6 of the Commission’s pay scale. Actual salary payable will be determined by reference to the degree of qualification, experience, knowledge base and other criteria that the Commission may assess. The duties for the above post may be carried out at either of the Commission’s offices in Grand Turk or Providenciales. Applications should be received no later than September 17, 2014 and may be emailed to dmorrison@tcifsc.tc or faxed to 1-649-941-8379

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Conch being over-fished by half-million pounds per year in TCI by Hayden Boyce

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

The Turks and Caicos Islands has been over-fishing conch by approximately 500,000 pounds per year for the past two years and by an even greater amounts for the past several years, a recent scientific survey by the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) has revealed. DEMA said this conclusion is now backed by both observational data (fishermen are working harder to harvest fewer and fewer conch, and harvested conch now contains mostly sub-adult and young adult conch) and preliminary analyses of the conch visual survey. “If conch stocks continue to be overfished, such practices will lead to the ultimate collapse of our conch fishery,” DEMA said in a press statement, adding that in countries, such as the United States and the Dominican Republic, where conch stocks have collapsed, they have never recovered. “The Turks and Caicos Islands must

now decide if it will take the urgent action required to preserve this multimillion dollar and culturally important fishery,” DEMA added. Given the estimates of maximum sustained yield (MSY), DEMA is recommending that a closure on exports be implemented for a period of time not less than 5 years. “Conch takes as much as five years to reach reproductive maturity, so this is the minimum amount of time that will be required for stocks to recover to previous levels,” DEMA said. “The viability of the conch fishery is a national interest stakeholders whose livelihoods depend on a sustainably managed conch industry include fishermen, water sports operators, hoteliers, restaurant owners, craft vendors, etc. “Furthermore, conch is the iconic cultural food of TCI, so every person in this country has a vested interest in ensuring that the stocks are sustainably managed.” Understanding that some hardships may occur due to proposed closures, DEMA said it is looking for funding for

WATERLOO HOTEL MANAGEMENT LTD. is inviting applications for the following position:

Fire, Life, and Safety Engineering Manager

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the applicant must possess the following: ◊ Engineering Degree (B.A) from four-year College or university. ◊ 5-10 years previous Engineering/Facilities Management Experience ◊ Must be able to read and interpret documents to include: blueprints/schematics, procedural manuals, budgets/financial statements. ◊ Ability to troubleshoot/repair and/or maintain: physical building including all FF&E, AC and refrigeration equipment, electrical systems, marina & mechanical equipment (motors, starters, pumps, fans, etc.), plumbing and drains, fire alarm and life safety equipment. ◊ Demonstrated analytical ability and financial acumen and reporting writing skills. ◊ Comprehensive knowledge of equipment and facility maintenance programs, procedures and safety principles and practices Salary for this position 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 August 22nd, 2014 Belongers need only apply.

AUTO ELECTRICIAN An experienced Auto Electrician is required for a company based in Providenciales. The successful candidate must have at least 10 years experience and must demonstrate experience and knowledge of having dealt independently with all matters relating to Auto Electrician. References will be required.

Remuneration based on experience.

All application must be submitted to: Employment Department F Corporate & Management Services Limited 007 Emily House, 1105 Leeward Highway, Providenciales Tel 649-339-6275 Fax 649-333-7777

a project that will bridge links between fishermen and the retail market to ensure they get the best price for their product. DEMA is also seeking to reduce the number of licences for foreign fishermen, which will ensure that more product will be allocated to local fishermen. Officials DEMA stated while conch has been sustainably harvested from TCI’s coastal waters for decades, in recent years, conch stocks have declined considerably. Given this scenario, in 2013-2014 TCIG made funding available to DEMA to conduct a conch visual survey of the Caicos banks. Preliminary results of the conch visual survey were reviewed at the CRFM Scientific Meeting, held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines 10 to 17 June 2014. While additional survey work remains to be done, preliminary results indicate that conch stock characteristics have significantly declined from previous levels. Densities of adult conch have declined dramatically and Maximum

Sustained Yield (MSY), which was previously estimated at approximately 1.5 million pounds per year, is now estimated at 610,000 pounds per year. MSY is the maximum amount of a fishery product that can be harvested without causing declines in stocks and stock collapse. In 2013-2014 a local consumption survey was conducted, indicating that local consumption of conch is approximately 560,000 pounds per year. This figure is within 10% of estimated MSY. It can therefore be concluded that our local consumption alone accounts for the maximum quantity of conch that can be sustainably harvested. Realizing that conch stocks were in jeopardy, in 2012 DEMA took a precautionary approach and reduced the conch export quota by approximately ½ to 500,000 pounds per year; however, in light of the above new information, this means that we have still been over-fishing by approximately 500,000 pounds per year for the past two years and by an even greater amounts for the past several years.

TURKS & CAICOS WATER COMPANY LTD.

LABOURER • Applicants must be physically capable of hard manual labour outside on a daily basis. • Previous experience is necessary. • Candidates must be drug free, have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and clean criminal record. • Position requires the successful applicant to be willing to work weekends and holidays when needed. • Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Wages: $7.00 per hour

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by August 25, 2014 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Auditor General concerned about TCInvest’s $12M outstanding loans

The country’s top auditor has expressed grave concern about Government’s ability to collect $12 million owed to the former TCInvest, a state-owned investment and promotion agency that was shut down by the Interim Administration in 2012. Auditor General Mr. Anand Heeraman classified the loans as “high risk” in his latest report and warned that the outstanding money “may not be recoverable”. “There is uncertainty on TCIG’s plans for recoverability of the outstanding amount. There could be possible write off of the outstanding amount and TCIG could suffer a loss as a result,” said Heeraman. “(TCIG) should evaluate whether or not the outstanding amount is recoverable. If not, recommendations should be made to the House of Assembly for write off if required and persons brought to account for this.” The $12.6 million that is outstanding on loans issued by TCInvest is made up of Loans Receivable – General of $9.7 million, Loans Receivable – Insurance of $109,124 and Loans Receivable – TOLCO (a debt recovery agency) of $2.8 million. The Auditor General, who hails from Trinidad, noted that the loan portfolio is fully secured by real estate valued at about $30 million. Furthermore, current collection measures will result in

principal receipts of about $1million and interest revenue of about $500,000. Government recently started delinquency collection actions with legal counsel from the Attorney General’s Chambers. Heeraman stated that in accordance with best practice, borrowers are bound by the loan contract to make payments in the amount specified on the contract including interest until the loan is paid in full. “Lenders are required to explore all possible avenues for the collection of amounts outstanding, including the seizing of collateral signed over to them in the contractual agreement,” he added. He also noted that as at March 19th, 2014, checks made by the National Audit Office indicated that a proper due diligence was not performed in securing such as contract which sold debt from TC Invest over to TOLCO. He stated: “All loan balances brought over from TCInvest were compared to balance confirmations received from various banks such as Scotia Bank, CDB and confirmations from NIB. Based on the information, the loan balances at year end did not agree with the balances on the confirmation. As a result, reconciliations for these banks were requested for the period ended, however were not received from Treasury.

“The differences identified were subsequently agreed. The document received from Treasury showing loans taken on from TCInvest did not agree with the bank confirmations.” The controversial former Governor Ric Todd closed TCInvest in 2012, saying that it had ‘run its course’. TCInvest was established in 1995, employing 20 staff, with the stated mandate to operate as an independent agency to attract foreign investment, encourage domestic entrepreneurship and to provide financing to local businesses and social projects.

Modern-Day Construction

Seeks

1 Mason

$10.00 per hour

2 Carpenters $12.00 per hour

2 Helpers $7.00 per hour

To work 5 days per week

Turks and Caicos Sun Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946-8542 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Office Manager: Dominique Rigby Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell 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.

Interested persons should contact 241-4108

CARIBBEAN AVIATION MAINTENANCE SERVICES

is seeking:

Aircraft Mechanics Experience working on piston and turbo-propeller aircraft. Responsible for inspecting, servicing, repairing and testing aircraft, engines and related systems as directed. Read, understand and work from aircraft maintenance manuals and specifications. Salary commensurate with experience. All positions require the following: • Excellent command of the English language – reading, writing and speaking. • Good communication skills and team player • Detail oriented & organized individual • Ability to work shifts, early mornings, late nights, weekends and Holidays. • Clean police record • Able to work under pressure Belongers need only apply. Interested persons should apply to HR@intercaribbean.com or via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040. No phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Statement from Cabinet meeting of August 7th

His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday 7th August 2014 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk. All Ministers were present except Hon. Premier, Hon. Minister of Environment and Home Affairs and Hon. Minister of Health. At this meeting Cabinet: •Advised HE. the Governor to approve the drafting of amendments to the Companies Ordinance. The amendments make provision for a requirement that all companies must have a registered agent; • Approved the recommendations of the Education Advisory Committee for the award of scholarships for tertiary level studies abroad and at TCICC; •Noted the continued positive financial performance of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for the period April to June 2014, as submitted in the First Quarter Financial Report

from the Accountant General, and approved the publication of the said financial report as required by Section 46 of the Public Financial Management Ordinance, 2012. In particular Cabinet noted the increase in revenue for the period and the debt reduction in July funded from the Sinking Fund; • Advised HE. the Governor to approve the Dormant Accounts Bill 2014 and forward the Bill to the House of Assembly for approval prior to implementation. The Bill requires Financial Institutions to identify accounts that have been dormant for a minimum of seven years and provides for the transfer of monies in dormant accounts to the Government; • Approved the extension of the contract of the Director of the National Insurance Board (NIB) for one year to 1st September 2015 on the same terms and conditions as his current contract; • Approved the renewal of the contract of the CEO of the Turks

and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA) to 1st September 2016 on local terms; • Approved the renewal of the contract of the CEO of the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) to 1st July 2016 on the same terms and conditions as her current contract; • Endorsed the creation of a not for profit entity called the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and agreed to enter into a long term partnership with the organisation to support SME development. The centre will be established by a steering committee of key stakeholders including the Bankers Association, Private Sector Representatives, TCIG Officials and Private Consultants; • Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on award of the following contract; Fencing for the Clement Howell High School Providenciales – awarded to R&R Construction Ltd;

• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the National Honours and Awards (Amendment) Bill 2014 and Regulations and forward the Bill to the House of Assembly for approval prior to implementation. The Bill seeks to amend the National Honours and Awards Ordinance to provide a revised list of national Honours and awards; • Received an update from the Minister Border Control and Labour on discussions with Bahamian Government on illegal immigration. It was noted that officials should work towards a formal agreement which would include the sharing of information and intelligence, the presence of respective police and armed forces on each others’ vessels, joint training exercises and support for a study on Haitian migration. Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.

DEMA announces the dates for lobster season 2014-15

The Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) would like the public to be aware that the open season for Caribbean spiny lobster for the 2014-15 season will be from 15 August 2014 to 15 March 2015, inclusive.

Similarly to last year, the season by 15 days, 80,000 pounds more lobster will open on 15 August. Postponing was landed in the shortened season the season by 15 days has been proven than in the previous year. The 2014-15 season will close 15 to improve catch by allowing lobsters days early on 15 March. This measure adequate time to finish spawning. Catch statistics last year showed that has been implemented because most of even though the season was shortened the lobsters caught in previous years

at the end of March were “berried” or carrying eggs. DEMA is confident that the proposed dates for the open season will improve the characteristics of the stocks and help to restore them to previous robust levels.

Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala have vacancies for the following position:

LAUNDRY AND KITCHEN MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN To carry out all engineering works required to ensure all Kitchen and Laundry operating equipment is maintained in good working order at all times. RESPONSIBILITIES: • Maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Company policy and applicable law. • Repair and maintain industrial laundry and kitchen equipment and associated building. • Perform scheduled preventative maintenance on industrial laundry and kitchen equipment and associated laundry building facility. • Account for materials used and time spent for job completion per Company. • Maintains a spirit of cooperation within department and throughout the property. • May assist with training and familiarizing Laundry personnel with the proper operation and maintenance of laundry equipment. • Performs other non-related tasks when necessary. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: • Must possess the analytical ability required to perform predictive, scheduled and emergency maintenance for all industrial laundry and Kitchen equipment and mechanical systems throughout Company operated facilities. • Knowledgeable of tools and materials required to efficiently start up, maintain, repair, and shut down commercial laundry equipment and mechanical systems. • Working knowledge of LPG-fired boilers, 480-volt 3-phase electrical systems, and mechanical systems. • Knowledgeable in electrical, mechanical, plumbing and carpentry skills. • Must possess the interpersonal skills required to efficiently communicate at all levels. • Must possess the working knowledge and comply with current International Codes, NFPA and OSHA regulations. • Ability to read blueprints, equipment manual and maintenance procedures. • This position may require the use of respiratory protection and will require compliance with applicable regulations. • Must be knowledgeable, understand and comply with all Company policies and procedures. • Must be able to differentiate colors required for boiler water testing. • Must be self-motivating, be able to work independently with limited supervision, and be willing to work off-hours when required. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: • Must be able to work in confined areas.

• Must be able to work in areas with hot temperatures ranging from 80 to 120 degrees for up to 30 minutes. • Must be able to work in a noisy environment and be willing to wear hearing protection. • Must be able to climb ladders and work at heights of up to 10 feet off the ground. • Must be able to differentiate colors required for boiler water testing. • Must be capable of lifting objects weighing up to 70 pounds. • Must possess physical stamina and condition to be continuously active including walking, bending, crawling, and lifting overhead throughout an eight-hour shift Experience Essential • Minimum of 3-Years Experience.

Other Managerial Positions: • • • • •

Recreation Manager Asst. Restaurant Manager Asst. Executive Housekeeper Asst. Financial Controller Chief Engineer

OTHER POSITIONS Pilates Teacher Commis Chef Food & Beverage Server Spa Attendant K9 Dog Handler Spa Night Receptionist Laundry and Kitchen Technician

Resort Butler Chef de Partie Spa Therapists Private Estates Attendant Water Sports Instructor Night Kitchen Steward AC Technician

Private Estates Supervisor Sous Chef Senior Therapist Bartender Mechanic Helper Carpenter Supervisor Electrician

Salary for this position will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates. Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address: Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

DIGICEL and LIME block Tango and Viber by Hayden Boyce

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Telecommunications providers DIGICEL and LIME have pulled the plugs on customers who were using applications such as Tango and Viber to make free international calls. Investigations by The SUN revealed that the decision was taken by the companies because the widespread use of the Tango and Viber caused congestion on the networks and was also cutting into the profits of the two companies and impacting on the taxes collected by Government from international calls. When contacted about the blockage, DIGICEL’s CEO Jay Saunders said unlicenced VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) operators like Viber use telecoms networks to deliver their services, but do not pay the requisite money for the privilege. He said Digicel believes that this unauthorised use of its network amounts to illegal bypass activity. “With these unauthorised VOIP services putting enormous pressures on bandwidth – and customers’ data usage experience being negatively impacted as a result – the company has been forced to take firm action,” Saunders said. “This is about getting the VOIP operators to agree to pay a reasonable

LIME’s Chief Executive Officer James Pitt , left, and DIGICEL’s CEO Jay Saunders, at right. price for the services that, at this point, they are taking from us for free. Just as a consumer would not expect to go to a supermarket and take the goods off the shelves for free, so the VOIP operators must be forced to pay their dues so that our customers can feel the benefits of our investments,” the Digicel CEO added. Saunders noted that with discussions with the VOIP providers ongoing, Digicel is hopeful that these measures will only be temporary and that mutually beneficial commercial

Graceway Gourmet invites applications from suitably qualified applicants for the position of:

LOSS PREVENTION OFFICER Main duties and Responsibilities: • Ensue all security procedures and security surveillance are in place to detect, minimize and or eliminate shoplifters and or other theft offense within the store environment • As required, shall conduct in-dept investigations into suspected case (s) of fraud and theft • Shall conduct routine inspections of the store both internal and external grounds to maintain physical security and protection of assets • Must apprehend dishonest individuals and shoplifters and turn them in to the local police department for criminal proceedings • This position will work in collaboration with Local Law Enforcement Agencies to apprehend and eliminate in-store theft at all operation levels

Required Qualification and Experiences • Previous experience and credentials in security surveillance will is an added plus

• Must be able to handle difficult situations with fairness, respect and diplomacy • Maintain good communication with staff members, associates and the management team • Must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations • Must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with staff and management to achieve the department / store desired results • Observe and ensure compliance with all company policies and established procedures including general health and safety standards • Must be able to work varied hours/days, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. Salary ranges from $30, 000.00 – 36,000.00 annually Applications along with references must be submitted no later than Friday August 15th 2014 To: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracwayiga.com Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews

relationships can be agreed with them on an individual basis. “Digicel is taking this action to protect its business, its customers and its service integrity. We would like to thank customers for their understanding and patience and hope to have a positive result to communicate in the near future,” he continued. When contacted, LIME’s Chief Executive Officer James Pitt said: “In order to maintain network quality for our customers, LIME confirms it has been reviewing unauthorised access/

bypass to its networks. As part of the review, LIME will no longer carry Viber and Tango voice calling on our networks.” Although rates for international calls have been significantly reduced in recent years, customers worldwide have been taking full advantage of various apps which facilitate free telephone and video calls. Viber is a mobile application that allows you to make phone calls and send text messages to all other Viber users for free. It is available over WiFi or 3G and its sound quality is supposedly much better than a regular call. According to Viber’s website: “Once you and your friends install Viber, you can use it to talk and message as much as you want. Talk, message, and talk and message some more - for free! You can also call any number that doesn’t have Viber at low rates using ViberOut.” Tango, according to its webpage, is a free messaging service that allows you to connect, get social, and have fun with those who matter most to you. The site added: “Send text messages, make video & voice calls, share photos, meet new friends, play games, send music messages powered by Spotify & more! “Join the hundreds of millions of people around the world using Tango as their #1 messaging app & new mobile social network.”

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Five new ambulances arriving soon

Following widespread public criticism, the Ministry of Health and Human Services said it is placing places the purchase of new ambulances as a high priority to support the operations of the Emergency Medical Services Department and the Primary Health Care Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Officials from the Ministry said that in 2013/14, provisions

were made in the Governments budget to purchase two new ambulances, but despite aggressive attempts to purchase these ambulances, suitable bids were not received although the deadline for tenders was extended. Following the closing of the extended period, the Ministry of Health and Human Services sought permission from the Procurement Board

to undertake limited tendering. Unfortunately, the interest in limited tendering did not materialize, officials said. The Government Capital Programme for 2014/15 contains an estimated provision for three additional ambulances. Having received no interest for the supply of the initial two ambulances which have been carried forward from 2013/14, the Ministry of

Health and Human Services proposed combining the tender to include a total number of five ambulances with the hope of increasing potential interest. “The Ministry of Health and Human Services, Public Works Department, Strategic Planning Policy Unit and the Procurement Board have been collaborating to source the new fleet of ambulances. This project has been given priority

and every effort is being made to ensure the purchase of five new ambulances comes to fruition,” ministry officials added. “The Ministry of Health and Human Services is aware that efforts are being made in other sectors to raise funds for the purchase of new ambulances; however, the Government has ensured that funds have been allocated for this purpose.”

Bahamian group in TCI gives to the Hope Foundation The One Bahamas Association of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday, August 5th, 2014 held a special called meeting at Tiki Hut to ratify its constitutional mandates, elect its Board of Directors, whose names will be disclosed after FSC Compliance, and make a cheque presentation to The Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness. The association celebrated the Bahamas’ 41st Independence the weekend of July 10th, 2014

and pledged part proceeds of the fund raising efforts to the local charity, whose mandate is to profile the causes and effects of Autism. Mr. Almondo Rigby, PR Director, for the charity was on hand to received the contribution and expressed their profound gratitude and declared that the funds are earmarked to defray the cost of constructing, a classroom at a local school for the education of Autistic children.

Pictured from left: Renee Grant-Lewis; Majorie Dorset; Allen Forbes, President, One Bahamas; Almondo Rigby, Charity PR Director; Vanessa Forbes; Orian Basset, Treasurer, One Bahamas; Delleriece Hall and Telecia Darville.

Provo Water Company Limited is seeking a Qualified Chartered Engineer to fill the position of Head of Engineering. Position Summary The Head of Engineering Department of Provo Water Company shall manage, supervise and oversee the over-all technical operation of the company’s water distribution system including but not limited to the development of piping structural plans and the subsequent implementation thereof. This includes the following duties and responsibilities:

Description of Duties • Designing of overall water distribution schemes and associated structures such as pumping stations, pipe works and earthworks where necessary. • Formulations of technical policies governing operational procedures in the building, renovation and expansion of the water distribution infrastructures and the proper utilization of material resources; • Development and maintenance of standards and practices for water installation and engineering practices within the company; • Transacts and negotiates with consulting engineers, government departments, others utilities, contractors and suppliers on works required by the company or as solicited by any government or private entity for the best interest of PWC; • Organizes work activities within the engineering department and delegate task among engineering staff in accordance with the level of importance and priorities as required in the distribution and maintenance; • Set up and maintain a data base that will consolidate all generated technical and administrative data from the engineering and distribution that will serve as primary source of information and reference in PWC’s future undertakings; • Carry out and implement all other activities for the engineering department as mandated and required by the Managing Director which includes among others the following: • Design of capital works, preparation of drawings and contract documents • Provision of standard specification for all material requirement in the distribution works • Implement health and safety, safe working procedures within the engineering and distribution department • Gathers data of meter readings for use in the billing and technical analysis • Conducts investigative and analysis works arising from technical complaints • Carry out land surveys for distribution requirement or in drawing out quotations • Coordinates main testing, flushing and sterilization function • Formulates leak detection plans and activities

• Updates the mainlaying programmes • Prepares reports and technical information as required by the Managing Director • Attends meeting and seminar for the furtherance and upliftment of engineering operation • Supervises and controls all other technical activities as delegated by the Managing Director.

Performs all other delegated functions from the Managing Director that is in line with engineering works and in consonance with the existing rules, policies and standards of Provo Water Company.

Education Successful applicant requires an accredited bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. A post-graduate degree in civil engineering or water related field is preferred. Relevant professional qualification is required.

Desired Experience Applicant must have 7 to 10 years of progressive civil engineering experience, including previous supervisory duties. Experience in water supply utility environment is a must. Candidate should have a strong analytical background with a proven record of achievement.

Salary Salary starts at $63,000 p.a. plus benefits

Deadline

All applications (inclusive of cover letter, CV & copies of qualifications) must be submitted by 8th August 2014 to: Managing Director PO Box 39 Provo Water Company Limited Grace Bay Road Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands provowater@tciway.tc Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified.

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

LOCAL NEWS

New public prosecutor appointed

The Office of the Director of Public prosecutor in the Turks and Caicos Prosecutions is pleased to announce Islands. All legal professional posts are now the appointment of Carlo Mason to the position of Public Prosecutor based in fully staffed within The Office of the the Providenciales Chambers effective Director of Public Prosecutions. The Chambers consist of the July 8, 2014. Mason was previously Crown Director of Public Prosecutions, JoAnn Counsel in Belize and has worked in Meloche, Deputy Director of Public private practice in the area of business Prosecutions, Angela Brooks (Grand law and also has experience as In- Turk), Senior Prosecutor Leonard House counsel providing corporate Franklyn, Senior Prosecutor Latisha Williams, (Grand Turk), Senior legal services. Samantha WilliamsHe started his legal career as Prosecutor Clerk of Court in Kingston, Jamaica. Glinton, Prosecutor Leanna Brooks, He attended the University of West Prosecutor Oreika Selver, Prosecutor Indies in Jamaica where he received Shatelia Hall and Prosecutor Clement his Bachelor of Laws Degree in Joseph. Meantime, Clement Joseph and 1995 followed by Legal Education Williams-Glinton will Certificate from Norman Manley Law Samantha School in 1998. He is admitted to the be attending the Ontario Crown Attorneys Association annual Summer Bar of both Belize and Jamaica. Mason is fluent in Spanish and Crown School Trial Advocacy training was the Recipient of Award of August 18 – 22, 2014 held at Western Merit in Advanced Level Spanish University in London, Ontario, Examinations. Mr. Mason’s varied Canada. Trial Advocacy skills will be honed legal experience and language skills will serve him well in his role as public in practical courtroom exercises

Carlo Mason moderated by panelists of Senior Crown Counsel and Judges while being videotaped for critique. ODPP acknowledges the generous support of the OCAA by providing the opportunity for this excellent practical continued legal education. Latisha Williams and Shatelia Hall will be participating in The School for Prosecutors administered by the Law Practice Management Division of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada July 21 – 25, 2014 held in Ottawa, Canada. A number of courses are offered annually in which a combination of lectures, seminars, panel discussions, and small group and workshop

sessions (supported with written training materials) are used to enhance course participants’ practice of criminal law. The core faculty of the School is made up of experts in criminal law, and is mostly drawn from the ranks of senior prosecutors from across Canada. A number of guest speakers including members of the judiciary, university professors, senior defense counsel, and experienced police investigators, also regularly instruct at the School’s courses. The ODPP acknowledges the generous support of the PPSC for the opportunity to participate in this international legal development.

Financial services industry under-performing The Turks and Caicos Islands continues to market itself as a major financial services centre, but Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick said this industry is not living up expectations. Misick said the international financial services industry in the TCI has been in decline, for many years, adding that a significant tranche of TCIG revenue goes to regulating this industry. “While we have focused on legislation to ensure compliance and regulation to confirm with best practice and adherence to directives from the various local, regional, and international regulatory bodies, this has increased the cost to the jurisdiction translating into less net revenue to government. At the rate that we are going, unless we can revive this industry it will become a cost centre

rather than a revenue centre,” Misick said. The Finance Minister said the TCI is signatory to a slew of regulatory treaties, and have enacted many pieces of legislation as it relates to money laundering, proceeds of crime, Terrorist Funding at inordinate costs to Government, and especially potentially to charities and civic groups. He noted that TCIG has a good reputation in the industry, and has been given a compliant rating by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, therefore it is critical that a strategic approach towards the modernization of legislation to support product development, marketing and promotion be undertaken to counter-

balance the overarching regulatory function of the jurisdiction. Misick, a former Chief Minister, said Cabinet recently approved the establishment of a Working Group representative of public and private sector stakeholders to develop a framework for the creation of an International Finance Centre (IFC). The objective of this group is to develop a programme and strategy for the marketing and promotion of TCI Financial Services Industry; facilitate and support the creation of new products and services; create strategies for sustainable financing of the IFC and recommendations to grow the industry, raise the profile of the jurisdiction and in time increase its contribution to Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick Government revenue.

FLIGHT SUPPORT LTD

Champion Auto Repair

is seeking applications for

is seeking an

FOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANT:

Automotive Technician

• Five years or more years experience. • Willing to work flexible hours. • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Exel: 90 words per minute crew qualify data entry. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Manage over all safety, crew coordination briefing and paper work and in flight entertainment. • Instill quality Customer Service in front line position.

Duties:

Perform car and light truck servicing, repairs, preventive maintenance as well as in-fleet services according to company policy and procedures

Requirements:

* Automotive Certification (ASE or Manufacture Prefered) * Comfortable with using both print and computerize labour guides and manuals * Knowledgeable with computerized diagnostic equipment * Three years Automotive Experience * Flexible to work on holidays and or extended hours

Hours:

Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Belongers only needs to apply Contact HR@intercaribbean.com Tel:9464181

Salary:

Depends on qualifications and experience

Please send resumes to service@championmotors.tc

Page 14

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

FLIGHT SUPPORT LTD Is seeking applications for:

General Manager

FOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS:

3-5 years experience as a Customer Service Agent. Qualified in but not limited to customer Service Agent servicing Delta, Us Airways and Air Canada.

Are you a people person? Join a team where people come first. About Us – A leading regional player in the retail insurance sector, the Colonial Group, with over 280 employees and offices in Bermuda, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos, offers a complete range of premier financial and insurance services to our individual and corporate clients. We know that our products make a real difference to our clients and their families.

TWO AIRPORT HOSTS:

3-5 years experience as an Airport Host servicing international flights

Belongers only needs to apply Contact HR@intercaribbean.com Tel: 9464181 PALM MANAGEMENT SERVICES needs a

Housekeeper

Must be able to work nights and weekends

FRESH CATCH SEEKS

ONE COOK Salary $6.00 per hour

Salary $5.00 per hour

Interested person should email: freshcatchtci@gmail.com

WANTED

Contact 339-0221

A domestic worker/ nanny The person is also required to take care of an elderly woman

Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 231-3617. LYNDON GARDINER is seeking

ONE BUTLER Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Interested person should contact: (649)946-4181 Salary commensurate with experience.

The Role – reporting to the Executive Vice President – Property and Casualty and Chief Operating Officer – Health at headquarters in Bermuda, you will be responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of the Company’s operation including business development and retention, technical, staff, administrative and support service functions, e.g. financial, computer and human resources. You will plan and accomplish agreed goals that are outlined in the business plan and contribute to the achievement of strategic corporate objectives. You will provide a critical link with corporate headquarters in Bermuda while focusing on new business development for the Medical and Property and Casualty portfolios. You will also be required to service existing clients ensuring that their day-to-day administration needs relating to claims, eligibility and overall customer service are fulfilled to the required standards. Excellent and innovative customer service delivery is important to us, critical to our strategic objective of business retention and growth and applies to all roles across the Group. The Person – You will have a Bachelors degree and/or a relevant professional insurance qualification (e.g. DipCII/ACII) along with a Project Management Certification (PRINCE2/PMP). You will have a minimum of 15 years general insurance experience within a Property and Casualty or Medical Insurance Company, with at least 5 of those years at Senior Management level. You will have the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines and a willingness to work extended hours to meet the needs of the clients and the Company. You will have proven ability to negotiate, influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders as well as excellent presentation and communication skills. The Benefits – The salary range is USD$91,000 -USD$130,000 depending on experience and qualifications. We also offer an attractive benefits package. To Apply – Please send your resume/cv to our Vice-President, Human Resources at hr_manager_bm@colonial.bm Closing date for applications August 15, 2014.

ONE GARDENER To work 6 days per week 7am to 2:30 pm

COLONIAL INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED A member of Colonial Group International: Insurance, Health, Pensions, Life

Contact Management 941-3312 The Proprietors, Strata Plan #38 (The Grandview on Grace Bay)

TOYOTA CONSTRUCTION

EXECUTIVE TOURS LTD

Is seeking: THREE A LABOURERS Labourer Salary $7.00 per hour To work in and around garage

Shanda Restaurant

and gas station.

Three Waitresses

Cleaning of compound, and assisting mechanics in garage/ body shop when needed.

Contact 341-5121

Contact 231-2358

Seeks

Salary $5.00 per hour

LOOKING FOR A SERIOUS GARDENER

Duties Include:

Starting salary is $5.00 per hour (44) forty-four hours per week

WANTED MECHANIC To work in North Caicos Must be able to work on gasoline and diesel engine auto electrical AC and body work Salary negotiable

To work 7-11am daily Salary $5.50 per hour Call 432-2390 Judith

Contact 246-1721 or 946-7358

Belongers need only apply

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS

Audit discovers $24 million in arrears to Government by Hayden Boyce

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

An audit of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s financial system has uncovered a staggering $24 million in arrears and a shocking number of irregularities which have been classified as high risk. According to the latest report from Auditor General Anand Heeraman, he received a statement of arrears from the Treasury, but when it was compared to the Revenue Arrears provided by Ministries, none of the figures were in agreement. “The total arrears on the Statement provided from the Ministry of Finance were $18.9 million while the statement provided by the Ministries showed $24 million, a difference $5.1 million. However, updated information in the Annual Statement of Public Accounts show the amount as being $26.6 million. This increases the risk of TCIG not collecting the accurate amount of debt,” the Auditor General stated.

The official document noted that TCIG is unable to get a reliable source of information concerning its Revenue Arrears and because of this, the resources and focus may be placed on the wrong department or section and hinder debt collect process. Also, the report noted, TCIG will not be able to collect on all the monies owed. The Auditor General’s report also identified several high risk findings which are as follows: * A lack of documentation such as quotations, purchase orders, contracts, inspection and post audit reports for concessions, certain approval letters, payroll information, travel advance register(s), outstanding commitments, business cases in whatever format and financial records on public debt. * Several financial control exceptions over processing of expenditure coupled with inadequate expenditure management and control, lack of proper documentation and several mis-postings in relation to $19 million excess expenditure per line item or $9 million excess expenditure after taking into account

improvements in other line items. * Possible related party transactions and beneficiaries approving their own payments, the scope of which is to be expanded and investigated further with a view to forwarding any pertinent information to the relevant authorities. * Little control effort over tracking and monitoring concessions of approximately $23 million which should be disclosed in the notes to the financials. * Inadequate mechanisms in place to assure proper ownership and control over fixed assets. These fixed assets should be recorded and disclosed in the financials. * Inadequate maintenance of payroll information. * No proper fraud risk management mechanism in place. * Inadequate management unallocated stores. * Circumventing process.

the

approval

* Ineffective controls over expenditure in the Development Fund. * Inadequate advances.

management

* Expenditure over $10,000 not fully in compliance with regulations. * Lack of support documentation for items reported in the Contingent Liabilities Statement. The report pointed out that the above-mentioned high-risk activities have implications for the financial statements in that there is a risk of material misstatement and/or potential for error and/or fraud. “While controls do not prevent fraud, a breakdown in controls increases such unwanted risks,” the report added. “More controls may not be the answer, but dedicated attention on adherence to and enforcement of the activity level controls to prevent, detect, correct errors, identify omissions, ensure compliance with laws and deter wrongdoing can go a long way in strengthening the integrated public financial management framework.”

GILLEY’S ENTERPRISES

VEHICLE FOR SALE

IS LOOKING FOR:

The Alexandra Resort seeks to fill the position of

Human Resources Officer.

Responsibilities • As the HR Officer you will assist the HR Director in promoting team member satisfaction and ensure compliance with the TCI Labour laws, while maintaining the highest level of standards in the resort. • You will be responsible for managing and coordination of all team member benefits, enrollments, discipline and relations. • You will assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures as it relates to our team members. Requirements • A Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field • Minimum of 5 years’ experience • Ability to exhibit a high level of confidentiality. • General knowledge of all TCI employment laws and practices. • Excellent interpersonal organizational skills. • Must be able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner. • Must be able to gather and analyze information skillfully. • Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft word/Excel/Publisher/Power point • Skills in database management and record keeping. • Ability to communicate at all levels Salary for this position will commensurate with experience Please Submit Applications to:

cgibbons@wihl.com

Submissions to be no later than August 22nd, 2014 Belongers and Permanent Residents of the TCI need only apply.

ONE DISHWASHER ONE LABOURER Salary $5.50 per hour

2007 INFINITY Rx FOR SALE

Contact 946-4472 between the hours of (9am-3pm)

50k miles, $29,500 Interested buyers call: 331-4855

Email: gilley’scafe@tciway.tc

Call 946-8542 to place your ad with us

Imperial Dry Cleaning Seeks

Bookkeeper Candidate must have at least five years experience In accounting or business administration, or equivalent business experience, as well as knowledge of bookkeeping and generally accepted accounting principles. Salary based on experience Contact: PO Box 270, 101 Governor’s Road, Leeward, Providenciales Belongers need only apply

Page 16

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AUGUST 9TH - AUGUST 16TH, 2014

LOCAL NEWS

Draft Electrician Licensing Bill 2014 goes out for public consultation The Ministry of Government Support Services, is soliciting feedback from stakeholders on the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2014. This Bill seeks to amend the Electricity Ordinance, to provide for the establishment of an Electricity Board for the licensing of Electricians, and for related purposes. The proposed Bill would correct some system deficiencies, and when put into effect, will make it illegal for anyone who is not the holder of a

According to the Energy and license to practice as an electrician in Utilities Commissioner, everyone will the Turks and Caicos Islands. The objective is to improve the be required to be licensed, regardless regulation and control of the electrical of if you are a self-employed electrician, construction sector, by assuring the or an electrician in the employ of a competency of practicing electricians; company or an organization. In the initial stages, as practiced but also to ensure that persons issued with licenses are in compliance with in other jurisdictions, there will be a the terms and conditions of such “grandfathering process” which will licenses, and will adhere to standards, be based on persons possession of codes and practices in the field; the necessary qualifications, training, thereby safeguarding persons and technical knowledge and experience; property, from hazards arising from but on a continuing basis, the Community College will be involved the use of electricity.

in preparing persons and administer tests for licensing purposes. The categories of Licenses to be issued are: Engineer; Master Electrician; Journeyman; Wireman; Apprentice and Lineman. Members of the public are urged to engage in the public consultation process, either through written representations addressed to the email EnergyandUtilitiesConsultations@ gov.tc; and or by participating in stakeholder meetings which will be announced shortly.

Future leaders of the Turks and Caicos Islands urged to apply for academic training

Talented professionals and public servants from the Turks and Caicos Islands are able to apply for a fully funded scholarship under the UK’s flagship scholarship programme. Awarded to outstanding individuals with leadership potential, a Chevening Scholarship offers financial support for a Master’s level degree at one of the UK’s leading universities. Applicants have until 15th November 2014 to submit their application for courses beginning September 2015.

Call for new applicants follows appointment of the Turks and Caicos Island’s first ever Chevening scholar, Kenisha Bacchus, who won a grant to study at the University of Warwick next year. Governor Peter Beckingham said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to gain expert tuition at one of the UK’s many leading Universities and become part of an influential and highly regarded global network. I urge all aspiring academics and professionals who want to further

their skills and leadership potential to consider this scheme.” Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s degree, in any subject at any of the UK’s leading universities. To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, you must: •Be a citizen of a Cheveningeligible country, and intend to return there after your studies •Hold a degree that is equivalent to at least an upper secondclass honours degree in the UK •Have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent expe-

rience before applying for a Chevening Scholarship •Be able to meet the Chevening minimum English language requirement •Be able to obtain the correct visa, and receive an unconditional offer from a UK university The Chevening team are particularly interested to hear from applicants in the Turks and Caicos Islands who wish to study good governance, financial management, public administration, law, development or environment degrees.

A Chevening scholarship offers a monthly stipend, travel to and from your country, a thesis or dissertation grant and tuition fees. Applicants should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application. Further details of closing dates and priority subject areas are available at www.chevening. org/apply. Applications for the 2015/16 scholarship scheme will close on 15th November 2014.

Assistant Facilities Manager Assistant Facilities Manager

Position: Finance Assistant Assistant Facilities Manager Location: Cheshire Centre, Providenciales TCI Catering/Administration an InterHealth Canada seeks an Assistant Facilities Manager to manage Catering/Administration andInterHealth Helpdesk Services CanadaHall seeks at Medical an Assistant Facilities Manager to manage

InterHealth Canada seeks an Assistant Facilities Manager to manage Catering/ Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. Administration and Helpdesk Services at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. Base Requirements: Base Requirements: Qualifications: Qualifications: (a) In Facilities management or similar acceptable discipline. (a) In Facilities(b)management or similar Health acceptable discipline. NEBOSH advanced and Safety (or equivalent) (c) Qualification in Catering. (b) NEBOSH advanced Health and Safety (or equivalent) (d)in Catering. Advanced food hygiene certificate or equivalent. (c) Qualification IT literate – proficient in excel and word. (d) Advanced (e) food hygiene certificate or equivalent. (e) Experience: IT literate – proficient in excel and word.

Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

Job Summary: The Finance Assistant is responsible for assisting the Finance Manager in Base Requirements: planning, developing and monitoring all financial activities for the Hospitals at Providenciales Qualifications: and Grand Turk,(a) including budgeting, cost accounting, financial planning, In Facilities management or similar acceptable discipline. financial analysis (b) NEBOSH advanced Health and Safety (or equivalent) and reporting, annual and special audits. (c) Qualification in Catering. (d) Advanced food hygiene certificate or equivalent. (e) IT literate – proficient in excel and word. Responsibilities:

Additional • Timely preparation of payroll in accordance with government and company policies. Experience: (a) 5 year proven operational soft services management experience with a catering back ground. 5 year proven operational soft services experience with a catering back ground. • Maintain all (a) payroll related records and reconcile the management necessary GL Accounts. Experience: (b) Experience in managing a large and diverse workforce across a number of specialties (b) Experience in managing a large and diverse workforce across a number of specialties (a) 5 year proven operational soft services management experience with a catering back ground. • Assist Deputy Finance Manager with the preparation of audit schedules for the external (c) Management and administration of soft FM services with an emphasis on compliance and performance monitoring (c) Management and administration of soft FM services with an emphasis on compliance and per (b) Experience in managing a large and diverse workforce across a number of specialties audit. (d) Experience quality accreditation ISO or equivalent. (d) Experience quality accreditation ISO or equivalent. (c) Management administration FM servicesconditions, with an emphasis compliance and and other relevant legislation. (e) Sound knowledge of employment conditions, hygiene, health and safety and other relevant le (e) and Sound knowledgeofofsoft employment hygiene,on health and safety • Reconciliation and maintenance of all external supplier accounts. performance monitoring (f) Management of Healthcare service contracts essential, including catering management. Management of Healthcare service contracts essential, including catering management. • Receive and(f)process the payment of all supplier invoices while ensuring all requisite (d) Experience(g)quality equivalent. Ableaccreditation to manage, ISO leador and motivate a team of staff to a high level of performance and have excellent interpersonal (g) Ableskills. to manage, lead and motivate a team of staff to a high level of performance and have exc conditions for(h)payment been met. (e) Sound knowledge of employment conditions, hygiene, health and safetyofand othermulti relevant (h) Budget accountability essential including management a large tasked team. Budgethave accountability essential including management of a large multi tasked team. legislation. • Assist with the preparation of the monthly Financial Statements. Role: Role: (f) Management of Healthcare service contracts essential, including catering management. • Assist with the inventory Reporting to the General Manager this role carries professional responsibility for a range of services provided Reporting at Turkscounts. to the General Manager this role carries professional responsibility for a range of (g) Able to manage,and leadCaicos and motivate of staff to awill highmanage level of performance and havestaff associated with Islandsa team hospital. You directly employed Catering/Helpdesk Caicos and sales Islands You will manage directly employed staff associated with • Reconciliation ofand the daily and hospital. cash receipts. excellent interpersonal skills. Administration services and actively review and improve all services within your remit Administration services and actively review and improve all services within your remit • Liaise with internal and external customers and suppliers when necessary to facilitate the (h) Budget accountability includingallmanagement a large multirelevant tasked team. These essential services include Health and of Safety issues to the services provided and to ensure compliance Thesewith services include all Health and Safety issues relevant to the services provided and to efficient and effective operation of (UK the &Finance current legislation (UK & TCI). current legislation TCI). Department. Role: Other: Other: • Preparation and maintenance of General Ledger journals vouchers. Reporting to the General Manager this role carries professional responsibility for a range of services (a) Based at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on Providenciales but may be required to travel• to Cockburn (a) townBased medical at Cheshire Medical Centre on Providenciales but may be required to travel to Prepare all statutory payments on Hall a monthly basis. provided at Turks and Caicos Islands hospital. willrequire manage directly employed associated Centre. Work at Grand TurkYou may stays on island of onestaff or more days, including occasional weekends. Centre. Work at Grand Turk may require stays on island of one or more days, including occasi • Assist with the Finance Manager with the regular monitoring of the Hospital’s internal with Catering/Helpdesk and Administration services and actively review and improve all services within your remit. These services include all Health and Safety issues relevant to the services controls. provided and to ensure compliance with Qualified current legislation (UK &will TCI).be given first consideration. Belongers Belongers will be given first consideration. • Any other duties as assigned by theQualified supervisors. Other: Requirements and Experiences: Salary: Negotiable, commensurate qualifications and be experience. Salary: Negotiable, commensurate with qualifications and experience. (a) Based at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre onwith Providenciales but may required to travel to Cockburn • A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or related field is required. town medical Centre. Work at Grand Turk may require stays on island of one or more days, including Apply in writing together with an up to date curriculum vitae to: m.dawtry@interhealthcanada.tc Apply in writing together with an up to date curriculum vitae to: m.dawtry@interhealthcanada.tc occasional weekends. • Three (3) years accounting or finance experience in a similar capacity. Informal enquires or further information: m.dawtry@interhealthcanada.tc Informal enquires or further information: m.dawtry@interhealthcanada.tc Qualified Belongers will be given first consideration. CLOSING DATE: 31st August 2014 Salary: Negotiable, commensurate with qualifications and experience. .

Apply in writing together with an up to date curriculum vitae to: m.dawtry@interhealthcanada.tc Informal enquires or further information: m.dawtry@interhealthcanada.tc CLOSING DATE: 31st August 2014

CLOSING DATE: 31st August 2014 .

JOB DESCRIPTION PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. SALARY RANGE: based upon experience.

Submit resumes and references to: Recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc Deadline for applications: Friday 15th August 2014

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LOCAL NEWS

FCO-funded lobster habitat construction project complete

A project providing training and assistance to local fishermen to create artificial habitats for spiny lobsters in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ (TCI) completed today, August 6. Funded by a $65,000 grant from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), experts in lobster habitat MerAngel Ecological Services held seminars and workshops on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Providenciales to teach fishermen and government employees how to design, build and deploy the habitats. Artificial lobster habitats have been proven to increase the abundance and biomass of lobsters in areas where habitat is limited. Given the recent decreases in catch numbers of the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in TCI, often attributed locally to the reduction in quality and quantity of habitat resulting from damage caused by hurricanes Hannah and Ike, it is hoped that the long-term benefit of the project will be the improved sustainability of lobster stocks in the Island’s waters. The training was split between information seminars and handson habitat design and construction workshops, and participants from the local fishing community learned about lobster life cycle, behaviour, food preferences and optimal casita placement. The ‘hands on’ aspect of the project also provided instruction in the construction and maintenance of the artificial habitats using readily available and cost-effective materials. The design of the habitats incorporates long lasting

Artificial lobster habitat construction workshop on South Caicos. Credit: Richard Green

materials that will eventually turn into reef-like structures, and the end products are primarily geared towards use by juvenile lobsters. Such a strategy of ‘juvenile protection’ is intended to enable more lobsters to reach maturity, which in turn should facilitate higher levels of reproduction. In total, 42 fishermen, watersports operators and government employees attended the seminars and workshops, with 100 habitats being constructed and 11 demonstration sites mapped on the

Caicos and Turks Banks. Two fishermen from South Caicos were also trained on how to deliver workshops of their own. Commenting on the project, outgoing Director of DEMA Kathleen Wood said: “This project was initiated following requests from the TCI fishing community and, as far as I am aware, this is the first time that any fisheries project has been undertaken exclusively for their benefit. The results were telling; the fishermen were enthusiastic, engaged in the process

and committed to continuing to build additional habitats on their own time, indicating their genuine concern for the welfare of the lobster stocks in TCI. The participants demonstrated a real willingness to engage in stewardship for the resources upon which their livelihoods depend, and this is an ethic that DEMA is seeking to foster across the wider community with our Community Conservation Partner Programme. We are all responsible for the fate of TCI’s fragile environment, and we should all take responsibility to ensure its protection.” She continued: “This landmark project would not have been possible without the support of the FCO. The current FCO representation in TCI has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to engage in and support environmental initiatives, and their continual support of DEMA and DEMA projects has been critical in helping our department to achieve its mandate in these difficult financial times. We are grateful to them. I trust that with my resignation from DEMA, they will continue to work with the department to foster the sustainable management of TCI’s threatened natural environment. Marsha Pardee, lead contractor from MerAngel Ecological Services, added: “Although the project workshops were geared toward the fishermen and other interested entities, it is really about the preservation and sustainability of our lobster fishery resource – an important part of the local economy.” (Not actual yacht)

SUNSEEKER PREDATOR 80’ LUXURY YACHT Owner unable to use yacht more than one month a year so I am seeking business professionals with some knowledge of luxury yachts to be partners in the boat. Ideal for business meetings when you want to impress or social events. Yacht is fully equipped with communications tools. Spectacular opportunity to share in one of the world’s finest yachts. $100,000 per share unit. Contact: TCIfund@email.com

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Seven Stars is seeking suitably qualified candidates to fill the positions outlined below. The ideal candidate must possess experience in a luxury resort environment, as well as a professional, outgoing and friendly demeanor with a strong command of the English language (oral and written). Salary is based on education, experience and qualifications.

GUEST SERVICE AGENT

At Seven Stars Resort, the Guest Service Agent sets the tone for the guest experience. In addition to checking in guests, our GSA’s establish a welcoming environment and reflect the true sense of service that is expected at our resort. Individuals in this position are responsible for: • Welcoming our guests in a professional and friendly manner • Engaging our guests and ensuring they begin their stay with an outstanding experience • Responding to guests requests, queries and needs in a timely fashion • Thanking our customers for staying with us and being available to assist with their every need • Maintaining a pleasant demeanor and a warm smile and showing a sense of appreciation • Confirming guest arrival details, assigning guest suites, providing tours of the property, and ensuring guest requests are fulfilled • Following up on guest requests and following through on service delivery. • Staying knowledgeable of resort rooms, products and services, food and beverage and local attractions, activities and information. • Performing at a high standard and contributing to team success. JOB REQUIREMENTS: • Previous front desk experience in a fast-paced five star resort environment. • Candidates must possess outstanding customer service and interpersonal communication skills, excellent grooming, and customer complaint resolution skills. • Excellent follow through and the ability to accurately record information is essential. • A keen eye for detail and a strong working knowledge of Visual One is essential. This is a people oriented position and interested candidates must have a demonstrated interest in customer service. If you have an upbeat, outgoing personality with a great smile, you are encouraged to apply. All candidates must be fluent in English and available to work a rotating and flexible schedule. A clean police record and professional references is required.

FRONT OFFICE TEAM LEADER

The Front Office Team Leader has to ensure and control the smooth and efficient day-to-day operation of the Front Desk, adhering to all Company policies whilst maintaining and increase guest as well as employee satisfaction. Individuals in this position are responsible for: • Always put guests ‘first’, trying to meet and exceed their expectations and needs. • Create a welcoming atmosphere for the guests. • Greet and welcome all guests. • Repeatedly address all guests by their name, once it has been established. • Always display a caring, responsive and professional attitude. • Exercise judgement in handling guest complaints, and taking corrective action • Answer all guest queries in the most professional manner with regard to facilities, services and other features of Seven Stars Resort • Manage the Front Desk on a daily basis, controlling the day’s availability of rooms and achieving maximum occupancy and revenue. • Be familiar with and maintain the department’s Minimum Operating Standards as well as the Standard Operating Procedures. • Brief the team at the beginning of each shift about the reservation situation, any special arrivals, VIPs, special occasions, and functions in the hotel. • Report any deviations from the Hotel’s set standards of performance, operating procedures and job descriptions by any member of the team to the Rooms Division Manager • Supervise the Guest Service Agents in their work, ensuring maximum performance, good time keeping and conduct. • Maximise the Front Desk’s productivity through organisation and delegation of duties to GSA’s • Ensure that delegated duties are being completed in accordance with Company policies and operating procedures. To initialise corrective action when necessary. • Ensure adequate coverage of the Front Desk at all times, organising employee breaks and meal periods. • Identify training needs, communicate them to the Departmental Trainer/Rooms Division Manager and take corrective action when necessary. JOB REQUIREMENTS: • Previous hotel reception experience is required at a minimum of supervisor level in a 100 plus bedroom hotel or resort and you will be looking for a bigger challenge. • In your current role you will have experience of leading and motivating your team in a positive way and be able to demonstrate how you do this currently. • Excellent follow through and the ability to accurately record information is essential. • A keen eye for detail and a strong working knowledge of Visual One is preferred. This is a people oriented position and interested candidates must have a demonstrated interest in customer service. If you have an upbeat, outgoing personality, you are encouraged to apply. All candidates must be fluent in English and available to work a rotating and flexible schedule. A clean police record and professional references is required.

FRONT OFFICE DUTY MANAGER

The Duty Manager role is an important function for the resort and it provides 24hour coverage for our guests. The selected individual will assist with ensuring the smooth operation of the resort. In the absence of department heads and/or executive management, the DM upholds quality standards, resolves guest and employee issues, complaints and conflicts, and enforces policies and procedures. The successful candidate will: • Maximize hotel occupancy, total revenue and average rate, as well as minimize guest complaints. • Assist with the preparation of work schedules. • Develop and facilitate training programs for front office staff. • Handle emergency situations and ensure staffs are conversant in all emergency and fire procedures. • Assess and promptly address guest problems, complaints or situations, and ensure the best possible satisfaction is delivered to our guests. • Maintain the confidentiality and discretion of all guests. • Keep up-to-date knowledge of local activities, events, entertainment, etc. • Maintain a Duty Manager Log Book, reviewing notes from preceding shift and taking necessary action where necessary. • Monitor VIP guest room checks and take appropriate action where necessary, i.e. repairs, etc. • Tour the property daily, including lobbies and public areas, pool, staff canteen, kitchen, garage areas, all food & beverage outlets, Front Office, etc., making note of areas requiring attention and taking action where appropriate. • In the absence of Senior Management, the Duty Manager assists departments with monitoring employees, resolving problems, and lending additional assistance where short-handed. • Maintain knowledge of in-house groups, conventions, tours, corporate business, etc. Oversees the handling of VIP Guest Services. • Prepares reports and handles special projects JOB REQUIREMENTS: • Minimum 3 years demonstrated supervisory success. • Any combination of education/luxury resort experience that will provide required knowledge, skill and ability to perform this job successfully. • Friendly demeanor with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. • Ability to multi task in a busy environment with minimal supervision. • Ability to speak read and write fluently in the English language. • Ability to work flexible schedule including early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays. • Clean police record and professional references required.

EVENT SALES MANAGER

Reporting directly to the Sales and Marketing Director, the Event Sales Manager will be responsible for the sale, organization and execution of all events and banquets at the Seven Stars Resort ensuring guest service and financial goals are met or exceeded. Flexibility to work long hours as business demands. JOB REQUIREMENTS: • Responsible for the sale and management of all events and banqueting for the resort and meeting targets as set by the resort • Degree in Event Management or equivalent qualification • Minimum of 5 years proven experience working in events in the following sectors; weddings, corporate, banqueting, meetings, fundraising • Minimum of 2 years proven experience working with events within a luxury resort • Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Agilysys Visual One and Infogenisis POS Systems • Demonstrated ability to work with and engage multicultural/ multi-ethnic teams and guests • Strong verbal and written communication skills, excellent command of the English language • Pleasant, outgoing personality with the ability to handle the pressure of a fastpaced environment. • Quality oriented with focus on details and high performance standards. • Flexibility to work evenings and weekend. In addition, we are also currently recruiting for the following: • Houseman • Cook • Room Attendant • Inventory Controller • Chef De Tourmant • Housekeeper Attendant

Closing Date: August 15, 2014 Suitably qualified candidates should apply via e-mail to Seven Stars Resort at hr@sevenstarsgracebay.com for consideration. Candidates must possess relevant skills, experience, and a clean police record.

ONLY CANDIDATES MEETING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED.

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LOCAL NEWS

Belonger Boswell Arthur goes from pot washer to top UK chef T

by Vivian Tyson

here are a great number of Turks and Caicos Islanders making significant contributions internationally and are extremely good at what they do. One of those stars is Boswell Arthur, affectionately called “King Arthur”. Not only is Arthur a worldclass chef because of his international exposure, but speaks six languages. He currently holds the Head Chef position at the Chequers Hotel, Dalton-in-Furness. The class act, who The SUN caught up with while he was on holiday in Provo, was more than willing to tell his story of the accolades he has been given overseas. Boswell, who was born on the island of Providenciales, migrated to The Bahamas at a tender age, and while in high school he fell in love with cooking. While other boys his age were out playing basketball and other sports, he could be found among the girls in cooking class working at his trade. He then met a chef, to whom he declared his love for the kitchen, and through that association, secured an afternoon job at a hotel he called Patania Towers on Paradise Island. He attended school in the morning and worked in the evening, starting at what could be considered as the lowest level – washing pots. Arthur said that he took his cue from one of the chefs he considered to be the most unhappy. “He said people always came in and took his position, and he had to train them. He said that for the 23 years he was working for the company he became fed up that a foreigner came in and became boss, but at the

Top chef Boswell Arthur tells of his passion and rise to success.

same time he had to be teaching them how to make the soups and other stuff. “And despite him being so angry, I would be watching him and learn from him. Then he would say I should help him do this, help him do that. And as the months went by, I began to master what I do because I did it from my heart. I learned everything from him and then I got to do his job,” Arthur said. After the chef left, the hotel management put Arthur in his position, and the following year, he walked away with the Junior Chef of the Year title. King Arthur said that he did his three-year hotel college training between Patania and Ambassador Beach, attending school in the day and doing his practical

at the resorts during the night. After leaving that resort, he went to Cable Beach, where he spent three years, winning Employee of the Month on two ‘King Arthur’ was featured as top chef in the UK. occasions. From Cable Beach, exclusive restaurants that he invited Arthur was afforded a scholarship to Switzerland, to him to come to the UK to work at one pursue a higher education in food of his restaurants. “He said to me, ‘King Arthur’, we and beverage. On his return to The Bahamas after the two and a half like you. You made it possible for us year-course, he was sent to the part to eat at those exclusive restaurants. government/part private sector- You cooked for us, and our kinds owned hotel – Royal Bahamian (which enjoyed it and everything’,” Arthur is now Sandals Royal Bahamian) – said. He said that after asking the guest where he worked for two years as payback for his scholarship. There he if he was serious about the job offer, became a sous chef. He then moved he angrily got up and walked away on to Club Med Villages on Paradise from the table. “His wife then said to me that the Island, which he was promoted to guest did not like when someone asked senior chef. In 1988, Arthur secured a him if he is serious when he made a job on one of Royal Caribbean proposal. And so, I went to him and cruise lines ships, where apologised,” Arthur said, pointing out he worked for three years that he asked the question because he before returning to his was moving from certain to uncertain. He went to the UK working in native Turks and Caicos in 1992. He then landed a job one of the guest’s restaurants as at Beaches Turks and Caicos restaurant development manager. “There I looked at the menus, and Resort and Spa. “I was sous chef there, and the ones that I didn’t like I would worked my way up to senior change them. I came back for two sous-chef. When the other chefs weeks for my work permit to be sorted had their days off, I replaced out, and after that I returned and is them in their different positions. I there ever since,” Arthur said. The guest, Arthur said, died three would go around from restaurant to restaurant making sure that years later, and after spending a everything was alright and that few years at one of his restaurants, we had the quality standard food moved on to greater things. At one and so on. That was my task to stage Arthur cooked for Top English go from restaurant to restaurant Premier League club – Manchester United. during the dinner period,” he said. At Chequers Hotel, Dalton-in“There were nine nationalities of restaurants in the Italian Village, for Furness, Arthur focuses mostly on the majority of them you have to book kitchen development. He said that he in advance because they are always was recruited to move the hotel from full. But they can eat breakfast, lunch three stars to five stars. “I did it in space of two months. and dinner in the big restaurant I won an award for that, and at which was the normal restaurant. “I had to go and get the feedback the moment, I am the best chef in of the guests and take it back to Coimbra at the moment. Trip Advisor the head chef. I went to the big rates me as number one,” he said. Arthur also has high praises for restaurant this day one afternoon and there was this family from Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and England. This guy he was Spa, saying that it was from there filthy rich, he had about 43 that he got the chance to parade restaurants in the UK. He was his skills. “If it wasn’t for Beaches I a multi-businessman, who was wouldn’t be in England,” he said. Arthur said he strives to achieve on holiday with his family. And when I asked him how was one set of goals – provide his everything, he said that he customers with clean, healthy, simple had a problem because he food, and he does that with simple could not get into any of the seasonings – garlic, chillies, ginger other restaurants after and thyme. “With that I can move one week,” Arthur said. mountains,” he said. The international native chef is Arthur said that the guest was so desirous of one day coming back to the impressed with TCI to share his expertise, especially his service after with the younger generation of chefs. he secured His main advise to upcoming local bookings at chefs is to get all the experience they some of can...”and if it is possible to go away, t h e seize the opportunity, because it is when you return with the experience when you truly get paid.”

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LOCAL NEWS

TCI Jamaicans celebrate 52 year of Independence by Kililah Bromley The SUN intern

Over a hundred islanders and other nationalities turned out on August 4th 2014, to commemorate Jamaica’s independence at the 6th Annual Jerk Festival at the Children’s Park in the Bight. Sponsored by WIV and Digicel TCI, WIV’s Marketing Manager Andrew Williams, told The SUN that WIV and Digicel wanted to show their support of the Diaspora communities in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The strong Jamaican presence

here is an integral part of the development of the country,” Williams said. “At WIV and Digicel, we support and celebrate Jamaican culture as well as the 52 years of the country’s independence.” The marketing manager said he believed the event was a good representation of Jamaica. “What makes Jamaica so popular is its culture, which is rich with flavourful foods, eye-opening entertainment and lively music. All of these pieces of culture were present at the event,” Williams said. One patron had a few kind words for WIV and Digicel TCI saying; “I like that the sponsors are

here. Even though they did for the Jerk Fest already, t gave back to the people by up a booth and giving awa products”. The event featured Ja cuisine and reggae music pl a live band. Also, there was a appearance of the Miss Tee and Caicos 2014 contestan strutted their stuff on an im On Wednesday, Augu (Jamaica’s Independence local club JamRock hosted gathering for the TCI Jam at the Samuel Been carp Airport Road. Here are p from that event.

AICOS SUN

rs e

so much they still y setting ay a few

amaican layed by a special en Turks nts who maginary. ust 6th e Day), a small maicans park on pictures

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ENTERTAINMENT

Marilyn Burns, star of ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ dead at 65

Marilyn Burns, the actress who portrayed the sole survivor of Leatherface’s bloody rampage in 1974’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” died Tuesday in her Houston home of undisclosed causes. She was 65. “It is with sad news that I can officially confirm that actress Marilyn Burns passed away earlier today,” her rep said in a statement obtained by E! News. “She was found unresponsive by a family member this morning in her Houston,

Texas-area home.” The Erie, Pa.-born Burns had been a drama student when she landed the role of endangered would-be victim Sally Hardesty in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” — largely because the low budget horror flick was shooting in the state. Little did anyone involved in the production, director Tobe Hooper included, suspect it would be a landmark, spawning an entire genre of slasher copycats. “I wanted to be in the movie because

Actors Kellan Lutz, Wesley Snipes, and Antonio Banderas gestured as they posed for photographers at the world premiere of “The Expendables 3” at a central London cinema.

Wesley Snipes: ‘you can’t take life too seriously’ LONDON – U.S. action star Wesley Snipes is back on the big screen for the first time since his release from prison as he joins Sylvester Stallone and the cast of ‘‘The Expendables 3.’’ Speaking ahead of the movie’s world premiere Monday, Snipes joked that Stallone had him in mind for the first ‘‘Expendables’’ movie but he was ‘‘just a little occupied at the time.’’ ‘‘They reserved a spot for me and when the opportunity came along he reached out again and said come join us, we would like you to be a part of this.’’ Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 after failing to file income tax returns. He began his jail term in December 2010. The movie makes reference to Snipes’ time behind bars with a tax-evasion joke in the opening scenes. ‘‘Whether I do something really funny or really stupid, it is okay with me,’’ says Snipes. ‘‘I think that is what life is about. You can’t take life itself too seriously.’’ ‘‘At the end of the day, nobody really cares. You’re going to be forgotten anyway. The issues and problems that you think are like mountains that you have to deal with now, after time goes by, nobody cares,’’ he continues. ‘‘Might as well have a good time with it.’’ The 52-year-old actor is currently looking for new action projects, with a return to the blood-soaked universe of vampire ‘‘Blade’’ at the top of his list.

Girl Meets World renewed for season 2

I had gotten to appear in some movies before that and I’d take my friends to the screening and I’d be on the cutting room floor,” Burns told Screencrush.com just a few days before her death. “When this came, I thought, ‘Oh gosh Marilyn Burns yes! This is great! You know? I might not get cut in this one!’ I remember watching Burns not only didn’t get cut from the it the very first time and saying,’I’m not film, she parlayed that success into more cut yet! I’m not cut yet!’ That’s all I could screaming in the ‘70s. Among her credits think while watching it. are “Helter Skelter” (1976), a TV movie “I had to see it again to know what about the Manson murders, and Hooper’s happened.” “Eaten Alive” (1977).

Sandra Bullock tops Forbes’ list of highest earning actresses On paper, the movie “Gravity” seemed like a crazy risk. The effects-heavy movie cost upwards of $100 million to produce, and instead of comic book heroes duking it out, the film featured one woman floating in space for almost the entire 90-minute running time. Despite the odds, “Gravity” turned out to be one of the highestgrossing movies of 2013, bringing in $716 million at the global box office. The film was the rare commercial and critical success. “Gravity” earned 10 Oscar nominations and won seven of the gold statues. “Gravity” star Sandra Bullock didn’t win the Oscar for best actress this year (though she did in 2010 for “The Blind Side”), but she did walk away with a ton of money. Thanks mostly to “Gravity,” Bullock tops our 2014 list of the highest-earning actresses with an estimated $51 million in earnings between June 2013 and June 2014. Despite Bullock’s impressive showing, women are still earning less than men in Hollywood. Our ten top earning actors brought in a combined $419 million during our time frame while the top ten actresses brought in just a little over half of that – $226 million.

Sandra Bullock Hopefully, the women on our list can start to change that as female-led blockbusters bring in just as much money as action films starring men. The fact that “The Hunger Games” franchise stars a woman hasn’t stopped fans from spending millions of dollars on the movies. Star Jennifer Lawrence earned less than $1 million upfront for the first movie. Now she’s in a position to demand top dollar for future

“Hunger Games” movies as well as a share of the backend. We estimate that Lawrence earned $34 million between June 2013 and June 2014 ranking her second on our earnings list. Lawrence ranked 12th overall on our Celebrity 100 list which measures a mix of earnings and fame. To come up with our earnings estimates we talked to agents, producers, lawyers and other inthe-know folks to figure out how much each celebrity earned from entertainment-related work during our 12-month time period. We didn’t deduct for taxes, agent fees or the other costs of being a celebrity. Ranking third on our list is Jennifer Aniston with $31 million. Thanks to “Friends” and her endorsement work for products like Aveeno, Aniston can be choosy about her film projects. Lately she’s focused on smaller-budgeted comedies like “We’re The Millers” and “Horrible Bosses.” Aniston is usually willing to cut her upfront pay for these movies in return for a chunk of the profits. It’s a strategy that’s paying off. Aniston should continue her streak with “Horrible Bosses 2,” which is scheduled to hit theaters in November.

Britney Spears thanks Zoe Saldana for defending her

Cue the “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” defense during an appearance road trip tunes! Britney Spears on “Watch What Happens Live” thanked her former “Crossroads” on July 31. “I’m pretty sure that costarZoe Saldana for defending 80 percent of our musical artists The girl will keep meeting the world! Disney her recent auto-tune controversy would be mortified if they were Channel has renewed Girl Meets World for a second via Twitter on Monday, Aug. 4. caught singing without autoBetter yet, the “Ooh La La” singer tune,” she said of Spears, whose season,TVGuide.com has learned. The Boy Meets World sequel series, starring jokingly teased about a sequel for unedited version of “Alien” was leaked last month. Rowan Blanchard, Sabrina Carpenter, Ben Savage their 2002 coming-of-age film! “I have a huge amount of respect “.@zoesaldana Truly the and Danielle Fishel, premiered in June to 5.2 million for Britney Spears,” the pregnant sweetest, thx 4 the kind words. viewers and is the No. 1 show in youth demographics. “Guardians of the Galaxy” actress Nothing but great memories of “The series swiftly became a favorite of kids and their parents, many of whom grew up with Boy Meets World,” working w u. Crossroads pt 2? continued. “And I’ve always said Adam Bonnett, Disney’s EVP of original programming, ;),” Spears, 32, tweeted. She also this, and I will always continue said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to watching posted a cute throwback GIF of to say it: She was the one big, big Riley Matthews and Maya Hart make the world their the gals dancing in the road trip celebrity that I met when I was own, as Cory and Topanga teach them life lessons scene with fellow costar, “Orange starting to work in Hollywood Is the New Black’s” Taryn who was humble, and whatever along the way.” was going on in her mind or in her Season 2 will start production in November and will Manning. world, it was never about hating Saldana, 36, came to Spears’ premiere sometime next year.

her neighbour.” “She was the only pop star at that time – and I can name a lot of prominent figures right now that today are more famous than Britney that literally got to where they’re at by hating on Britney a lot,” she added. “Because it was cool at one time to really just diss her. And Britney never did that.” Saldana’s response was appreciated by another famous Spears as well. Spears’ younger sister Jamie Lynn (who played the child version of Spears’ character Lucy) responded to Saldana’s kind words by posting several clips of her “WWHL” interview via Instagram on August 3. Older sister Britney retweeted the video.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong’o make Vanity Fair’s best dressed list

Cate Blanchett and Lupita Nyong’o, both Oscar-winning actresses and favorites on Hollywood’s red carpet, made Vanity Fair’s 2014 international best dressed list on Wednesday and Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was named to its Hall of Fame. It is Blanchett’s second appearance and the first for Nyong’o on the annual list, which does not rank its fashion stars. The style setters list

is dominated by actors, but it also includes European royals, sports stars and artists. Princess Mary of Denmark, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and “Downton Abbey” actress Michelle Dockery were noted for their style, along with artist Jeff Koons, New York Giant football wide receiver Victor Cruz and Grammy-winning musician Pharrell Williams. Williams, on the list for a second

time, named actor Johnny Depp as his style icon, while Cruz said he admired Williams for his style. Although Nyong’o has been praised for her fashion flair, when asked to name her favorite places to shop she told the magazine, “nowhere. I dislike shopping.” Tony award winner Neil Patrick Harris was another first-timer on the list, along with actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, Emmy

Keke Palmer, 20, to be Broadway’s first black Cinderella

Keke Palmer will be the next Cinderella, which has been given a actress to fit into Cinderella’s sly and witty makeover by Douglas glass slippers - which happen to be Carter Beane, updates the fairytale custom-made by designer Stuart story for a new generation. Songs by Richard Rodgers and Weitzman. The Broadway novice, and the Oscar Hammerstein II include In first black star to play the fairytale My Own Little Corner, ‘Impossible/ princess, is now preparing to It’s Possible and Do I Love You premiere in her new role on Because You’re Beautiful? Palmer, who will be making her September 9th. ‘I’m very excited. Very excited professional stage debut, will rely and nervous as well — a bunch of on a host of skills she’s developed feelings all at once’, she said when from film — including Barbershop 2: Back In Business and Akeelah the news broke. ‘It’s honestly one of those And The Bee — her BET talk things that I can’t believe is really show, Just Keke, and on TV in happening,’ the actress, born Showtime’s Masters Of Sex.” Her recording albums include Lauren Keyana Palmer, said of the the 2007 CD So Uncool and a selfopportunity. Palmer, 21, is stepping into the titled 2012 EP. In 2013 she played Chili in sparkly shoes first worn by Tonynominated Laura Osnes, then put CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story on by “Call Me Maybe” Canadian and before that, she starred in pop star Carly Rae Jepsen and Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP. The star also appeared opposite currently worn by Paige Faure, Tyson and Vanessa who launches a national tour in Cicely Williams in Lifetime’s A Trip to the title role this fall. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Bountiful, which was nominated

for an Emmy Award. ‘Theater offers so much more than I haven’t been able to access doing film and TV and everything like that,’ she has said of the transition from big screen to big stage. ‘I’m very excited to learn all that it has to offer — that focus and that dedication to perform at a certain level every night’. She added, with a laugh: ‘Every girl’s dream is that story so to be able to play is going to be a dream come true for me. Not to mention that Stuart Weitzman made the glass slippers I’ll be wearing’. Keke, grateful for the new project, then shared an inspiring message with her 1.47 million Instagram followers on Monday. Her post reads, ‘UNDERSTAND ME WHEN I SAY THIS: You can do anything you want to do! Your life is your life & your belief in YOU will make it all it can be! Don’t stop at anything, spread LOVE & allow God to guide you, bless you all! Let your light shine my angels!’

Rossum and “Harry Potter” star Emma Watson, who said her favorite place to shop was British retail chain Topshop. The Duchess of Cambridge, a fixture of the list for four years, will be joined in the magazine’s best-dressed Hall of Fame by German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, the creative force behind Chanel. The full list will be published in the September issue of the magazine, which goes on sale on August 12.

Cast of ‘Big Bang Theory’ sign new deals

LOS ANGELES — The studio that produces ‘‘The Big Bang Theory’’ said it has reached contract deals with the sitcom’s cast. With negotiations concluded, the comedy will begin production Wednesday for the 2014-15 season, Warner Bros. Television said in a statement Tuesday. Work on the eighth season reportedly had been delayed as the cast of TV’s top-rated sitcom held out for raises. Agreements have been reached with stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco for lucrative three-year contracts that trade reports put at about $1 million per episode for each actor. Warner Bros. declined to comment on specifics. Deals are in place with the entire cast, which includes Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, the studio said. The CBS series about geeky scientist pals and the women who love them returns September 22.

Beyonce to be honoured and perform at MTV Video Music Awards “As a performer, Beyonce has delivered some of the most memorable performances in VMA history,” MTV said in a statement. Beyonce, 32, earned nominations for best video and best collaboration with Jay Z for her hit “Drunk In Love,” and will compete for Video of the Year against Australian rapper Iggy Azalea. R&B singer Usher and Australian rock group 5 Seconds

1. MAGIC! “Rude” 2. Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX “Fancy” 3. Sam Smith “Stay With Me” 4. Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azalea “Problem” 5. Nico & Vinz “Am I Wrong?” 6. John Legend “All of Me” 7. Maroon 5 “Maps” 8. Jason Derulo feat. Snoop Dogg “Wiggle” 9. Disclosure feat. Sam Smith “Settle” 10. Calvin Harris “Summer”

TOP 10 MUSIC ALBUMS

1. Lucy (R) Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman 2. Hercules (PG-13) Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt 3. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) Gary Oldman, 4. The Purge: Anarchy (R) Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo 5. Planes: Fire and Rescue (PG) animated 6. Sex Tape (R) Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz 7. Transformers: Age of Extinction (PG-13) 8. And So It Goes (PG-13) Michael Douglas 9. Tammy (R) Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon 10. A Most Wanted Man (R) Grigoriy Dobrygin

TOP 10 MUSIC SINGLES

TOP 10 MOVIES

Beyonce performs ‘Drunk In Love’ at the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California January 26, 2014.

U.S. pop star Beyonce, currently on a U.S. tour with rapper husband Jay Z, will receive a special award and perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this month, the cable TV network said on Thursday, Beyonce, who received eight nominations, will be awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the show, one of the industry’s top ceremonies that will be aired live from California on August 24.

of Summer will also perform at the show. The Video Music Awards began in 1984 and helped propel the cable channel, now owned byViacom Inc, as a player in the entertainment industry. Singer Miley Cyrus shocked audiences at last year’s award show in New York with her raunchy performance with Robin Thicke of his hit “Blurred Lines,” which dominated the headlines.

1. Weird Al Yankovic “Mandatory Fun” 2. Jason Mraz “Yes!” 3. Rise Against “The Black Market” 4. Kidz Bop Kids “Kidz Bop 26” 5. Soundtrack “Frozen” 6. Sam Smith “In the Lonely Hour” 7. Ed Sheeran “X” 8. Various Artists “Now 50” 9. Trey Songz “Trigga” 10. Blake Shelton “Based on a True Story”

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Monty by Jim Meddick

Reality Check by Dave Whamond

Ziggy by Tom Wilson & Tom II

Brewster Rockit by Tim Rickard The Duplex by Glenn McCoy The Flying McCoys by Glenn and Gary McCoy

Thatababy by Paul Trap

Wizard of Id by Parker and Hart Reality Check by Dave Whamond

Red and Rover by Brian Basset Pooch Cafe by Paul Gilligan

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CARIBBEAN

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NEWS

Caribbean Chikungunya cases top 500,000 – PAHO

The tally of chikungunya cases in the Caribbean climbed by nearly 38,000 last week, topping the half million mark, with the Dominican Republic again contributing most of the increase, according to an Aug 1 update from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The total reached 513,393 cases, compared with 473,523 a week earlier, an increase of 37,870, or 8.0%. Those numbers include suspected and confirmed illnesses that are locally acquired and imported cases. The vast majority of them – 508,122 as of Aug 1 – are suspected local cases. The Dominican Republic accounted for 26,012 of the new cases last week and more than half of all cases, with an overall total of 307,933, according to PAHO. Neighbouring Haiti had only 50 new cases last week, all classified as suspected, for a total of 64,709. The death toll in the epidemic, which began last December, grew by 6, to 32. All 6 deaths were in Martinique, where the toll is now 19. The country’s overall case count reached 54,075, or 3,620 more than the week before. The total of confirmed local cases actually dropped by 524 last week, from 5,260 to 4,736, largely because of a decrease in French Guiana. The tally of confirmed local cases there sank from 665 to 89, while suspected cases jumped from zero to 1,194 and imported cases dropped from 216 to zero. Another Caribbean country that had a sizable jump in cases was Guadeloupe, where the total rose by 6,740, to 71,068. In Central America, El Salvador

Guyana likely to hold early general election

Countries and territories in the Caribbean where chikungunya cases have been reported: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, and Venezuela. reported 376 new cases for a total of 2,353. Puerto Rico reported 390 new suspected cases for a total of 1,033. The numbers of confirmed and imported cases stayed the same at 215 and 17, respectively.

As for the United States, PAHO listed 380 imported cases, or 18 fewer than the 398 reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Jul 30. The nation has had four locally acquired cases, all in Florida, including two reported last week.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, – The prospect of an early general election in Guyana has increased significantly after the majority opposition grouping, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), signaled its intention to back a motion of no confidence in the Donald Ramotar administration. The last election was held here on November 28, 2011. The minority Alliance for Change (AFC) has said it will table the motion of confidence in the minority People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government. The two opposition parties control 33 of the 65-seat National Assembly. On Tuesday, the APNU shadow cabinet met to discuss the motion and according to the group’s co-leader, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, the decision was unanimous and that no dissenting views were expressed during meeting. He said the party would support the motion when it comes before the parliament, hopefully in October. He said the APNU, which includes the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNCR) believes that the decision to support the motion was the right step given the feeling and mood of the population. The Constitution states that on the House’s approval of a no-confidence motion, the President and Cabinet have to resign and make way for general and regional elections within three months. If the motion is passed before the House goes into recess on August 10, the elections would have to be called by November. However, if it is approved at the first sitting in October, the polls would have to be called the latest by January, 2015.

Opposition calls proposed Trinidad Caribbean tourism prepares for constitutional amendments “red herrings”

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,– The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) Monday accused the KamlaPersad Bissessar-led People’s Partnership government of seeking to hoodwink the population by introducing an amendment to the constitution that provides for a term limit for prime ministers and the right to recall legislators. Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley told a news conference that the government was moving to ensure that the PNM is not victorious at the next general election, constitutionally due in mid 2015. “They did not want any recall during their term, they want to recall PNM MPs because the PNM is going to win the next general election and they want to create mayhem in this country saying you could recall MPs,” he said, adding “what they brought there… is being done for the next general

election”. The government has said that debate on the Constitutional Amendment Bill would begin on Monday and Prime Minister Persad Bissessar told legislators that it would also make provisions for a run-off in a general election, where the leading candidate fails to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes on the first count. She told legislators that the new measures were as a result of the recommendations of a Constitutional Reform Committee headed by Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar and leader of the Congress of the People (COP) party, the second biggest member in the coalition government. “The Constitutional Amendment Bill 2014, Mr. Speaker is to be introduced today which will propose a term limit for office of the prime minister, a recall provision and a run-off poll in elections for the House of

Representatives” she said, adding that these measures “require only a simple majority. But Rowley told reporters that while the PNM would be discussing the matter, it was important to point out that the government which “is on its way out” was prepared “to do all kinds of things” to remain in power. “I said it before and I will say it again, the PNM is prepared to support any measure which we believe will work for the benefit of the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said, noting that the time of the introduction of the new legislation “is to try and change the conversation from the current LIfeSport scandal…” He said further the measures were being introduced “in the middle of the August vacation, (with) the government is recalling the Parliament, knowing that parliamentarians have been away…”

major change

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Caribbean and global tourism thought leaders will gather in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, next month to discuss and devise strategies to position Caribbean tourism for major change. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) brings together speakers of international and regional acclaim from various fields linked to tourism to provide best case practices and winning strategies on a wide range of issues that impact the region’s primary money earner. The conference theme dovetails nicely with the organization’s own vision for Caribbean tourism, said the CTO’s secretary general Hugh Riley. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather destination, while the conference them is Realizing the Vision: Positioning Caribbean Tourism for Major Change. “Working towards that vision and measuring the steps to get there is really a very important part of what we do. We’ll have experts from throughout the Caribbean region and across the world talking about these issues that affect the lives of Caribbean people,” said Riley.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Antigua says probe into previous administrations projects is “not a witch hunt” ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda government Wednesday defended its decision to launch an investigation into various projects undertaken by the Baldwin Spencer administration, saying it was not engaged in a witch-hunt. In a statement, the near-two month old Gaston Browne administration said that it had decided to intensify efforts “to learn more details of wrongdoing, attempted to be concealed by the previous administration. “The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda wishes to assure the Antigua and Barbuda public that the highest level of probity and commonsense will prevail,

in attempting to determine what other partner, who has contributed precisely went wrong at the bodies it nothing, owns 68 per cent of the shares. Investigations into this anomalous has identified as ripe for investigation. “The Government assures the arrangement have already commenced.” The statement also said that the public that all of the investigations are warranted, and the cost of each authorities were probing the Antigua Barbuda Transport Board, investigation will be made public in due and after the Minister Robin Yearwood course,” the statement noted. It said that Central Housing and “has indicated that more than 100 Planning Minister, Eustace Lake, had government vehicles are unaccountedreported that “virtually all lands” owned for; and, vehicles have seemingly been by the ministry “have been contributed auctioned for sums far below their to a joint venture arrangement” with values. “Since both Public Works Department the Gibraltar-based Bau Panel involved and the Transport Board collaborate in low cost housing here. “CHAPA owns 32 per cent of the on auctions, the investigation of both shares of the joint venture; while the departments, into this unusual set

Caribbean exposure to the deadly Ebola virus “low” – CARPHA

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says the risk of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) being imported to the Caribbean is low. “There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in the Caribbean, and overall, the risk of becoming infected with the Ebola virus in this region remains low,” said CARPHA executive director, Dr. C. James Hospedales. He said that in countries where the virus is present, “people who have direct contact with the organs, blood, or other bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals are those at greatest risk”. “Ebola spreads through mucous and other body fluids or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people. “In the unlikely event of a person infected with Ebola travelling to the Caribbean, the available evidence shows that the risk of secondary transmission to direct close contacts (family or relatives) or in healthcare settings is still considered very low, if appropriate prevention measures are implemented. “The risk from casual contact, such as shaking hands or sitting next to someone who is not displaying symptoms is also likely to be very low,” he added. • Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. • EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%. • EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.

• The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-tohuman transmission. • Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus. • Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals. CARPHA said it had evaluated the risk of importation of the disease to the Caribbean following an increase in the number of cases of EVD in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization (WHO), which began a two-day meeting

in Geneva on Wednesday, said that since August 4, there have been 1,711 confirmed cases of EVD and 932 deaths in the four African countries, namely, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. CARPHA said that once basic precautions are followed, the risk of infection is considered to be “very low” for tourists, visitors or residents in the affected areas. It said that these precautions include avoiding physical contact with patients showing symptoms or dead bodies and their bodily fluids, as well as avoiding unprotected sexual contact with a patient that has recently recovered from the disease.

Referendum Bill ‘could pave way for same sex marriage’

DNA Leader Branville McCartney fears that one of the constitutional amendment bills could “pave the way” for same sex marriage in the country – an issue his party would not support. At a press conference yesterday Mr McCartney said the DNA supports the upcoming referendum because equal rights for Bahamian women have “been a long time coming.” However, he said the government must re-word bill four of the constitutional amendments and make

it as “simple as possible to avoid other things, like same sex marriage” from being introduced. However, when he introduced the bills in the House of Assembly last month, Prime Minister Perry Christie stressed that the bill in question would not make gay marriage legal. According to the Prime Minister, the bill seeks to end discrimination based on sex. This involves the insertion of the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution so as to

make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on whether someone is male or female. “We in the DNA believe that the time has come and gone when Bahamian women should have the same rights as Bahamian men,” Mr McCartney said. “There are no ifs, ands and buts about it. This is 2014 and we live in a country where Bahamian women are discriminated against. Something is wrong with that”.

of circumstances, has already begun. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda – the new administration has learned – owns more than 3,500 cars, buses, trucks, backhoes, bulldozers and sundry types of motorized equipment which are auctioned occasionally.” The government statement said that in the case of the Romantic Rhythms Concert, no audited accounts have been completed since the show took place nearly seven years ago. The statement said that more than seven million EC dollars (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) “of taxpayers’ money are therefore un-accounted for, contrary to law.

Guyanese man kills self after setting neighbour’s house on fire

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – A 54-year-old man allegedly committed suicide after he accidentally set fire to his neighbour’s home, leaving seven people homeless. Police said that Indar “Suresh” Prashad of Corentyne was found hanging in his bedroom hours after the fire, which he had started in his own yard, spread to his neighbour’s property. His distraught wife told reporters she had gone in search of her husband after he had gone into their home and found that he was taking long to return. The fire destroyed the home of Lalchand Permaloo leaving the family of seven, who were not present at the time, homeless and millions (One Guyana dollar =US$0.001 cents) of dollars in losses. “Suresh” should have never taken his life, since his family would never blame him for anything. “We are friends, we are neighbours. He shouldn’t do this; nobody would never blame he: This fire happen and done. We can get things back, but we can’t get back life,” Permaloo told the Guyana Times newspaper.

Council endorses strategy to reduce adolescent pregnancy

GEORGETOWN, Guyana –The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) has approved a strategy and plan to reduce the number of adolescent pregnancies in each country of the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean by at least 20 percent, over the five year period 2014 – 2019. The plan was developed by a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary regional task force led by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat. COHSOD commissioned development of the strategy after the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH III) identified the reduction of adolescent pregnancy as an issue to be addressed and treated as a priority by CARICOM member states.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Caribbean travellers to the US can expect new customs declaration forms

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has issued a new customs declaration form “in print and online” that expands the definition of family members for arriving Caribbean and other travellers. CBP said the definition expands to “members of a family residing in the same household who are related by blood, marriage, domestic relationship, or adoption”. The agency said it has accepted this family definition since the final rule became effective on January 17. It said the new form provides the expanded definition in the first paragraph.

CBP said the recent regulation change allows more returning US citizens, residents and international visitors to file a joint customs declaration for items acquired abroad. “This produces less paperwork for people travelling together as a family and streamlines passenger processing, thereby increasing efficiency for CBP, airline personnel and the travelling public,” the statement said. “Travellers may complete the declaration form online, print it and bring it on their trip to present to CBP when they arrive in the US or at a CBP preclearance site,” it said.

CBP said air and cruise lines also will hand out the declaration forms for travellers to complete before disembarking in the US. In addition to clarifying the definition of family members, the final rule also clarified the term domestic relationship, which includes foster children, stepchildren, half-siblings, legal wards, other dependents, and individuals with an “in loco parentis or guardianship relationship”. The definition also includes two adults who are in a “committed relationship including, but not limited to, long-term companions and couples in civil unions

Carnival plans to build cruise port in Haiti KINGSTON, Jamaica – A major Florida-based cruise line has signed a letter of intent to develop a new port on an isolated Haitian barrier island that has long been a major launching spot for smugglers, authorities said Monday. Carnival Corp., the parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines, said it signed a memorandum of understanding last week with the Haitian government for a cruise port on Ile de la Tortue off Haiti’s north coast. In a statement emailed Monday, Carnival said the development would create a “tremendous economic impact” for Haitians while also carving out a new spot for ship itineraries in the Caribbean, the globe’s No. 1 cruise destination. “The development will create an Carnival Cruise Lines exciting opportunity for our guests to enjoy a new, secluded and stunning fishermen, has some of the poorest people destination,” said David Candib, a vice in the hemisphere’s most impoverished country. president for Miami-based Carnival. In February, Lamothe said officials In a recent tweet, Haitian Prime had begun a program to improve Minister Laurent Lamothe said the initial investment on Ile de la Tortue will opportunities, in part by paving the way for seven restaurants and by creating be $70 million. Because of its remoteness, the 1,000 jobs through a sanitation program. mountainous island has long been Farmers received free seeds and the a center for smugglers to organize national police force was to send some dangerous sea journeys for poor migrants 30 officers to crack down on illegal seeking a better life in the United States migration. Carnival said the company’s new port and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Ile de la Tortue, also known as Tortuga Island, would “directly or indirectly” employ is 11 miles (19 kilometers) across cobalt more than 900 people. The development waters from hardscrabble Baie des would compete with Royal Caribbean’s fenced-in Labadee cruise port and beach Moustiques. attraction, also on Haiti’s north coast. The cactus-studded area’s poverty A local government representative stands out even in Haiti. Ile de la Tortue, where the shores are lined with wooden on Ile de la Tortue said residents were boats of smugglers and subsistence excited by the prospect of foreign

investment. “A tourist port will bring work to La Tortue,” Sagesse Loriston Fils said in a phone interview. “But they need to come and talk to the community, get the community involved.” Not everyone is convinced a new cruise port would be a good deal for Haiti. Jim Walker, a Miami maritime attorney and author of a blog called www. cruiselaw.com , said in an email that his concern is that Carnival will be “sailing back with all of the profits to Miami.” Trade groups say the cruise ship industry injects about $2 billion a year into the economies of the Caribbean. But critics complain it actually produces little local revenue because the cruise companies and international chain shops on piers siphon away most of the spending.

or domestic partnerships where the partners are financially interdependent, and are not married to, or a partner of, anyone else”. CBP said “domestic relationship” does not extend to roommates or other cohabitants not otherwise meeting the above definition. “Members of a family residing in one household” will continue to encompass relationships of blood, adoption and marriage, CBP said. Under the new definition of domestic relationship, CBP said one combined family declaration can now be presented to the officer upon arrival.

Barbados, China discuss new criminal extradition treaty BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,– Barbados Wednesday began talks with China on a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters and Extradition. A government statement said that the Chinese delegation is being led by the Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xu Hong and that “any agreement reached would be submitted to the Cabinet of Barbados for approval, and similarly to the National People’s Congress in China”. Prior to the one-day round of talks, Xu, a former ambassador to Barbados, met with Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, indicating that both countries were working jointly towards the same goal. The Attorney General agreed, noting that he too believed the negotiations could be concluded within the allotted time, and that there were key areas on which focus was needed. “Barbados and China have had a very outstanding relationship over the years, and we value that relationship and look forward to its continuing enhancement,” Brathwaite said. Barbados and China established diplomatic relations on May 30, 1977.

Eight Caribbean countries to receive new insurance cover for storm damage

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands,– The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) says it is now providing excess rainfall insurance coverage to eight regional countries as the Caribbean continues to take precautions against possible damage caused by storms and hurricanes during the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season. The eight Caribbean countries are Anguilla, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Saint Lucia. CCRIF is a not-for-profit risk pooling facility, owned and operated by Caribbean governments. It is designed to

limit the financial impact of catastrophic hurricanes and earthquakes to Caribbean governments by quickly providing short-term liquidity when a parametric insurance policy is triggered. The new excess rainfall product has been eagerly awaited by Caribbean governments as we all realize that considerable damage in the region is caused by rainfall and flooding. “This product complements CCRIF’s hurricane coverage which determines losses based on wind and storm surge. We commend our eight members for taking the initiative and purchasing this ground-breaking product and hope that

other countries in the region will follow,” said CCRIF chief executive officer, Isaac Anthony. Developed by CCRIF and global reinsurer, Swiss Re, the excess rainfall product is aimed primarily at extreme high rainfall events of short duration whether they occur during a tropical cyclone or not. “Because the excess rainfall product is parametric, a payout can be made quickly -within 14 days- after a rain event that triggers a country’s policy, without waiting for time-consuming damage and loss assessments on the ground,” the CCRIF said in a statement.

Chairman, Global Partnerships, Martyn Parker, speaking on behalf of Swiss Re said securing excess rainfall insurance protection demonstrates that Caribbean countries are taking a proactive approach to manage the contingent risks posed by climate change. CCRIF said that the regional countries that have acquired the new policy will now be able to respond better to an event such as the trough that brought heavy rains to the Eastern Caribbean in December last year, resulting in the loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure and widespread economic disruption.

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U.S. bombs Islamic State after Obama call to prevent Iraq ‘genocide’

WASHINGTON – U.S. warplanes bombed Islamist fighters marching on Iraq’s Kurdish capital on Friday after President Barack Obama said Washington must act to prevent “genocide”. Islamic State fighters, who have beheaded and crucified captives in their drive to eradicate unbelievers, have advanced to within a half hour’s drive of Arbil, capital of Iraq’s Kurdish region and a hub for U.S. oil companies. A Pentagon spokesman said two F/A-18 aircraft from an aircraft carrier in the Gulf had dropped laser-guided 500-pound bombs on a mobile artillery piece used by the fighters to shell Kurdish forces defending Arbil. Obama authorized the first U.S. air

strikes on Iraq since he pulled all troops out in 2011, arguing action was needed to halt the Islamist advance, protect Americans and safeguard hundreds of thousands of Christians and members of other religious minorities who have fled for their lives. The United States also dropped relief supplies to members of the ancient Yazidi sect, tens of thousands of whom are massed on a desert mountaintop seeking shelter from fighters who had ordered them to convert or die. “Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the world, ‘There is no one coming to help’,” said Obama in a late night television address to the nation on Thursday. “Well, today America is coming to help.”

“We can act carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of genocide,” he said. The advance of the Sunni militants, who also control a third of Syria and have fought this past week in Lebanon, has sounded alarm across the Middle East and threatens to unravel Iraq, a country divided between Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds. In Baghdad, where politicians have been paralyzed by infighting while the state falls apart, the top Shi’ite cleric all but demanded Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki quit, a bold intervention that could bring the veteran ruler down. Sunni fighters from the Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot rejected as too extreme by Osama bin Laden’s

successors, have swept through northern Iraq since June. Their advance has dramatically accelerated in the past week when they routed Kurdish troops near the Kurdish autonomous region in the north. Attention has focused on the plight of Yazidis, Christians and other minority groups in northern Iraq, which has been one of the most diverse parts of the Middle East for centuries. “The stakes for Iraq’s future can also not be clearer,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday. The Islamic State’s “campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Christian minority, and its grotesque targeted acts of violence show all the warning signs of genocide.”

A worried world watches as Ebola death toll rises

A nurse in Nigeria. A businessman in Saudi Arabia. A Spanish priest in Liberia. With the World Health Organization announcing Wednesday that 932 deaths had been reported or confirmed as a result of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Saudi Arabia joined the list of countries with suspected cases. “This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history,” Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said. Nearly all of those deaths have been in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where more than 1,700 cases have been reported, according to WHO. The agency said 108 new cases were reported between Saturday and Monday in those countries and Nigeria. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has declared a state of emergency for 90 days because of the deadly outbreak, her office announced Wednesday. “The scope and scale of the epidemic, the virulence and deadliness of the virus now exceed the capacity and statutory responsibility of any one government agency or ministry,” she said in a written

Doctors say say it’s too early to tell whether ZMapp is effective or whether the two American patients are improving the standard treatment for Ebola. statement. “The government and people of Liberia require extraordinary measures for the very survival of our state and for the protection of the lives of our people.” She said Ebola is a “clear and present danger.” Concerns about the spread of the deadly virus escalated with Saudi Arabia reporting that a man died, apparently of the virus, after a trip to Sierra Leone, and Nigeria reported that a nurse died after treating someone believed to have contracted Ebola in Liberia.

WHO did not immediately confirm the deaths, and its count of Ebola cases does not include the two. The Saudi man died Wednesday at a specialized hospital in Jeddah, the Saudi Ministry of Health said. He had been in intensive care since late Monday “after exhibiting symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever following a business trip to Sierra Leone,” the ministry said in a statement. The nurse in Nigeria had helped care for Patrick

Sawyer, a Liberian-American man, who died in Nigeria after traveling there from Liberia, Nigeria’s Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The news of the nurse’s death came the same day that Nigeria confirmed another five cases of Ebola, the Health Ministry said. Meanwhile, a Spanish priest who contracted the disease in Liberia will be flown to Madrid and become Europe’s first patient from this outbreak, according to the Spanish government. Spain’s Ministry of Defense is using a medically equipped Airbus A310 to bring Brother Miguel Pajares to Madrid, where he will be treated at Madrid’s La Paz hospital, Spanish officials said. In the United States, two patients are being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta: American doctor Kent Brantly andNancy Writebol, who had been in Liberia. Emory is one of four U.S. institutions capable of providing such treatment. Writebol arrived in Atlanta on Tuesday, just days after Brantly arrived. “We were able to spend a few minutes with her to encourage her and be encouraged by her

condition,” Writebol’s son, Jeremy, said in a statement. A male patient at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York has tested negative for Ebola, the hospital announced Wednesday. The patient, who had a fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, is improving and is listed in stable condition, the hospital said in a written statement. The man became ill after recently traveling to West Africa. A specimen from the patient was delivered Tuesday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which confirmed he didn’t have Ebola. Both Brantly and Writebol have been given the experimental drug ZMapp, which had not been tested on humans nor has it undergone any clinical trials. Doctors say it’s too early to tell whether ZMapp is effective. The CDC says it’s not likely the drug will become available for patients in West Africa. “The product is still in an experimental stage, and the manufacturer reports that there is a very limited supply, so it cannot be purchased and is not available for general use,” the CDC said.

Moscow may force European airlines to fly around Russia MOSCOW – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev threatened on Tuesday to retaliate for the grounding of a subsidiary of national airline Aeroflot because of EU sanctions, with one newspaper reporting that European flights to Asia over Siberia could be banned. Low-cost carrier Dobrolyot, operated by Aeroflot, suspended all flights last week after its airline leasing agreement was cancelled under European Union sanctions because it flies to Crimea, a region Russia annexed from Ukraine in

March. “We should discuss possible retaliation,” Medvedev said at a meeting with the Russian transport minister and a deputy chief executive of Aeroflot. The business daily Vedomosti reported that Russia may restrict or ban European airlines from flying over Siberia on Asian routes, a move that would impose costs on European carriers by making flights take longer and require more fuel. Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing the action,

which would put European carriers at a disadvantage to Asian rivals but would also cost Russia money it collects in overflight fees. Shares in Aeroflot – which according to Vedomosti gets around $300 million a year in fees paid by foreign airlines flying over Siberia – tumbled after the report, closing down 5.9 pct compared with a 1.4 percent drop on the broad index. At the height of the Cold War, most Western airlines were barred from flying through Russian airspace to Asian cities, and instead had to operate via the Gulf or

the U.S. airport of Anchorage, Alaska on the polar route. European carriers now fly over Siberia on their rapidly growing routes to countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, paying the fees which have been subject to a long dispute between Brussels and Moscow. Vedomosti quoted one source as saying a ban could cost airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France ($1.3 billion) over three months, but industry experts said that figure was probably too high.

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Russia hits back on sanctions; bans food from West

MOSCOW – Russia banned most food imports from the West on Thursday in retaliation for sanctions over Ukraine, an unexpectedly sweeping move that will cost farmers in North America, Europe and Australia billions of dollars but will also likely lead to empty shelves in Russian cities. The announcement shows that while President Vladimir Putin doesn’t appear ready to heed Russian nationalists’ calls to send troops into Ukraine, he is prepared to inflict significant damage on his own nation in an economic war with the West.

The U.S. and the EU have accused Russia, which annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in March, of supplying arms and expertise to a proMoscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, and have sanctioned individuals and companies in Russia in retaliation. Moscow denies supporting the rebels and accuses the West of blocking attempts at a political settlement by encouraging Kiev to use brutal force to crush the insurgency. The ban, announced by a somber Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at a televised Cabinet meeting, covers all

imports of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, milk and milk products from the U.S., the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway. It will last for one year. “Until the last moment, we hoped that our foreign colleagues would understand that sanctions lead to a deadlock and no one needs them,” Medvedev said. “But they didn’t, and the situation now requires us to take retaliatory measures.” That retaliation, however, could hurt Russia as much as the West. Russia depends heavily on imported foodstuffs, most of it from Europe,

125 presumed dead in Bangladesh ferry sinking

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Families of scores of people presumed dead after their ferry capsized in central Bangladesh accused authorities on Tuesday of launching a feeble rescue effort and leaving their loved ones trapped inside the vessel for more than 24 hours. More than 200 people were believed to be on board the M.V. Pinak when it capsized Monday. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told reporters Tuesday that at least 125 were presumed dead and 110 others either swam to safety or were rescued after the accident. Rescuers have not been able to locate the capsized ferry because of strong currents. “Can’t I expect the body of my sister? What are they doing? Nothing,” said Monir Hossain, who traveled to the accident site to search for his sister. Officials can only give estimates of the number of people on board because

particularly in Moscow and other large, prosperous cities. In 2013, the EU exported 11.8 billion euros ($15.8 billion) in agricultural goods to Russia, while the U.S. sent $1.3 billion in food and agricultural goods. Chris Weafer, an analyst at Macro Advisory in Moscow, said the ban will likely speed up inflation and further cloud an already grim economic outlook. “Along with higher interest rates, higher food costs will mean that households have less money to spend and that will depress the economy,” he said.

Australians in surrogacy scandal offered to take Down syndrome baby: agent

A Bangladeshi boy cries for his mother, missing after a ferry they were travelling in capsized in the River Padma in Munshiganj district, Bangladesh. ferry operators in Bangladesh rarely keep passenger lists. On Tuesday, rescuers were still trying to locate the ferry using ropes, tug boats and speed boats while two big rescue vessels remained on shore near the accident site because of stormy weather. Rescuers were also using sensor equipment to locate the ferry, which went under about 80 feet (24 meters) of water, but strong currents were

hampering their efforts, Khan said. “We are trying to bring another survey ship to locate the ferry,” Khan said, adding that they needed the ship to arrive before trying to reach the capsized boat. Dozens of relatives of the missing passengers briefly blocked a street near the site to protest. They complained that authorities were not making enough efforts to bring the ferry out of the water.

Death toll in southern China quake rises to 589

LUDIAN, China – The death toll in southern China’s earthquake rose to 589 on Wednesday as search and rescue teams pushed into isolated mountain communities to clear debris from collapsed homes. The Yunnan provincial government said more than 2,400 people were injured in Sunday’s 6.1 magnitude quake in the mountainous Yunnan farming region of Ludian county – the country’s deadliest temblor in four years. At a makeshift headquarters in the forecourt of a cracked middle school in the worst-hit town of Longtoushan, a senior colonel in the People’s Liberation Army said there might still be hope to find survivors. “There are a lot of people that we may never be able to dig out,” said senior Col. Feng, who declined to give his full name because he was not an officially designated spokesman. “But there is still hope.” Wednesday’s big jump in the death toll – up from 410 on Tuesday – was due to rescuers arriving in places where they had previously been unable to contact anybody, in small farming villages built into the mountains above the main towns, said Feng, a military officer based in Sichuan province.

President Obama signs veterans health bill.

BANGKOK – The agent who brokered a surrogacy deal for an Australian couple at the center of a scandal that left a Thai mother caring for a baby with Down syndrome said on Wednesday the couple had offered to take the boy home with them along with his twin sister. The case has raised questions about Thailand’s lax laws on surrogacy and caused an outcry in Australia, sparking calls for an overhaul of laws to cut the number of couples traveling abroad in search of surrogates. The agent told Reuters the biological parents made the offer to take the boy some weeks after the birth, despite claims by surrogate mother Pattaramon Janbua that the couple had abandoned the baby after they found out he had Down syndrome. “In the end, they told me they would take both babies. They didn’t want to be a problem for the surrogate mother any more but she (Pattaramon) did not take that chance,” said the agent, who only wanted to be identified by her nickname, Joy. The boy, Gammy, now seven months old, is being treated for a lung infection in a hospital east of Bangkok and also has heart problems. Australian couple David and Wendy Farnell have taken his healthy twin sister back to Australia. They have not spoken publicly about the case and reports of their actions have been muddled and contradictory.

Obama signs bill to fix delays in veterans healthcare

U.S. President Barack Obama signed a $16.3 billion bill on Thursday designed to provide veterans with more timely medical care and fix problems in the scandal-plagued Veterans Affairs department. The plan passed Congress last week and aims to address what Obama on Thursday called “outrageous” misconduct at VA hospitals and clinics that included modifying records of delayed care. “This bill covers a lot of ground from expanding survivor benefits and educational opportunities, to improving care for veterans struggling

with traumatic brain injury and for victims of sexual assault,” Obama said at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, speaking to an audience of service members, veterans, and their families. The VA was thrust into the spotlight this spring after allegations surfaced that it had covered up the months-long wait times some veterans had to endure before receiving medical care. Former head of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki resigned in late May as the scandal mounted, and last week the Senate unanimously confirmed former Procter & Gamble Co Chief

Executive Officer Robert McDonald. “As a new generation of veterans returns home from war and transitions into civilian life, we have to make sure the VA system can keep pace with that new demand,” Obama said. He said there was a new “culture of accountability” at the VA and that disciplinary proceedings to address the cover-up were under way. “We’ve held people accountable for misconduct. Some have already been relieved of their duties, and investigations are ongoing,” Obama said.

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Obama to announce $14 billion in U.S. corporate investments in Africa WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will announce on Tuesday that U.S. businesses have committed to investing $14 billion in construction, clean energy, banking, and information technology projects across Africa, a White House official said. The announcement will occur at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, part of a three-day Africa summit in Washington meant to showcase U.S. interest in improving trade and investment in the region. “These investments will deepen U.S. economic engagement in Africa, fueling growth that will support broader African

prosperity and emerging markets for US businesses, which will support jobs in both the United States and Africa,” the White House official said. Obama will take part in a discussion with corporate chief executives and government leaders at the event, which will be attended by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and former President Bill Clinton. The business forum will allow dozens of African heads of state to mingle with U.S. and African executives, the official said. It will focus broadly on investment in finance, infrastructure, energy,

agriculture, and consumer goods. More than 90 U.S. companies are slated to participate including Chevron Corp,Citigroup Inc, Ford Motor Co, General Electric Co, Lockheed Martin Corp, Marriott International Inc, Morgan Stanley and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Several African companies were also expected to attend. In a brief preview of Obama’s remarks, the White House did not give specifics on the nature of the business deals or identify which companies were involved. “These agreements represent conclusive evidence that America is

open for more business with Africa as the Continent’s economic ascent is just beginning,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Each day, 250,000 Americans go to work in jobs supported by exports to Africa and these deals will lead to increased prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic in the months ahead,” she said. The Obama administration has billed the summit as the first of its kind, but it comes long after Africa gatherings hosted in recent years by China, India, Japan and Europe, suggesting the United States is largely playing a game of catch-up for access to a market in several growing industries.

U.N. sounds alarm as 117,000 refugees flee Eastern Ukraine

The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR has estimated more than 117,000 people have been displaced inside Ukraine as a result of the conflict near the country’s border with Russia. In the past seven days, the report states, more than 6,200 people were forced to abandon their homes as they fled deeper into Ukraine. As of August 1, about 168,000 people have also crossed into Russia so far this year. Here are the key statistics from the report: • The refugees come mostly from the rebel-invaded regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which is also facing a water shortage. The number of people leaving these regions rose to102,600 in early August, compared to just 2,600 in June. • People from eastern Ukraine make up 87 percent of the total displaced

population in the country. The annexing of Crimea resulted in about 15,200 people displaced. • Russian authorities reported around 730,000 Ukrainians staying in Russia under the visa-free regime. Vincent Cochetel, head of the UNHCR’s European Bureau, says the agency believes “that number is credible.” “Those people are leaving with very little,” Cochetel added. “Some of them arrive with almost no belongings or got some of their belongings confiscated at checkpoints.” The increase in refugees doesn’t just mean more pressure on Ukraine to provide shelter for those displaced. Cochetel said the move could mean disaster for denser areas within the nation. “Fighting in highly densified urban areas could lead to a massive exodus and massive destruction,” he

A nurse running through the dental clinic in Donetsk that was shelled Thursday by government troops positioned outside the city. warned. According to the U.N., those who fled gave the following primary reasons for leaving: • Security concerns, including the risk of being caught in crossfire • Fears of persecution for political views or ethnicity • Fears of forcible recruitment by

Winnie launches legal claim to Mandela’s home, report says Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has launched a legal claim to the former South African leader’s country home, local media reported on Tuesday. Her lawyers said in a letter quoted by the Daily Dispatch newspaper that since the house inQunu was bought while the two were still married, traditional custom dictated it should be inherited by Madikizela-Mandela and their children. “This position becomes applicable irrespective of whether the wife was divorced or not,” lawyer Mvuyo Notyesi wrote in the letter dated July 18 – the late leader’s birthday, which is celebrated internationally as Mandela Day. “In fact, the property in question was obtained by Mrs MadikizelaMandela whilst the husband was in prison.”

Mandela spent 27 years in apartheid jails before becoming South Africa’s first black president in the post-apartheid elections of 1994. He divorced MadikizelaMandela in 1996 and she was not named in his will. “The view we hold is that the... property belongs to the generation of Mr Nelson Mandela and Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as their common and parental home,” said Notyesi. The legal firm could not be reached for comment. Mandela’s $4.3-million estate was released in February, two months after his death, and left his assets to various family members, personal staff, schools and the ruling African National Congress. His third wife Graca Machel received four properties in her native Mozambique as well as cars,

art work, and jewellery – many of which were her own assets that she brought to their marriage. Mandela married Machel, the widow of Mozambique president Samora Machel, in 1998. In the will, Mandela left his property in Qunu to the family trust “for the benefit of the Mandela family and my third wife and her two children”. “The Qunu property should be used by my family in perpetuity in order to preserve the unity of the Mandela family,” the revered antiapartheid hero and Nobel peace laureate stated in the will. The lawyers’ letter said Madikizela-Mandela’s legal bid was neither attacking nor contesting the will but was “only asserting the traditional and customary rights on what may be contentious in the future”.

government or anti-government forces • Fears of abduction, extortion, and harassment • Damage to homes, lack of services, and damage to basic infrastructure Before the crisis in Ukraine began, Donetsk and Luhansk counted 6.5 million residents – about 14 percent of Ukraine’s overall population.

Japan to launch military space force: report

TOKYO – Japan is planning to launch a military space force by 2019 that would initially be tasked with protecting satellites from dangerous debris orbiting the Earth, a report said. The move is aimed at strengthening Japan-US cooperation in space, and comes after the countries pledged to boost joint work on monitoring space debris, Kyodo news agency said Sunday. Japan would provide the US military with information obtained by the force as part of the joint bid to strengthen ties in space, the so-called “fourth battlefield”, Kyodo said, citing unnamed sources. Japan’s defence ministry is looking at creating the new force using personnel from the Air Self-Defence Force, the country’s air force, it added. The unit would acquire radar and telescope facilities, jointly with the science ministry and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to run its observatory operations, Kyodo said. Thousands of pieces of debris are orbiting the Earth and threaten to collide with functioning communications and reconnaissance satellites.

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Snowden receives three-year Russian residence permit

Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, wanted by the United States for leaking extensive secrets of its electronic surveillance programs, has been given a threeyear residence permit by Russia, his Russian lawyer said on Thursday. Moscow’s relations with the West are at Cold War-era lows over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Russia banned certain food imports from the United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Norway on Thursday in response to Western sanctions. “The decision on the application has

been taken and therefore, with effect from Aug. 1, 2014, Edward Snowden has received a three-year residential permit,” Anatoly Kucherena said. “In the future, Edward himself will take a decision on whether to stay on (in Russia) on and get Russian citizenship or leave for the United States.” He said Snowden could apply for citizenship in 2018 after living in Russia for five years, but that he had not decided whether he wanted to stay or leave. The spokesman for the White House National Security Council, Ned Price,

said Snowden needed to return to the United States to face charges related to the leaks. “Mr. Snowden faces felony charges here in the United States. He should return to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process and protections,” Price said. Kucherena said Snowden was studying Russian and had an ITrelated job, but did not provide further details. “He is a high-class IT specialist”, he said. He said Snowden’s security was

being taken seriously and that he was using private security guards. The tone of statements out of the United States, including out of the State Department, suggests his security was at risk, even in Russia, Kucherena said. Kucherena has in the past expressed concerns that Snowden could be in danger because of his intelligence background and the fact the United States wants him to stand trial. “I should say that he can move freely, he can go to the shops, visit museums and theaters,” he said. “(But) he needs to think about his safety.”

Tribal allies fearing attack had moved Iraqi dictator’s remains from family plot.

Cambodian former Khmer Rouge survivors, Soum Rithy, left, and Chum Mey, right, embrace each other after the verdicts were announced at the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last week. Three and a half decades after the genocidal rule of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge ended, the tribunal on Thursday sentenced two top leaders of the former regime to life in prison on war crimes charges for their role in the country’s terror period in the 1970s.

Cambodia tribunal convicts Khmer Rouge leaders

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – They were leaders of Cambodia’s infamous Khmer Rouge, the fanatical communist movement behind a 1970s reign of terror that transformed this entire Southeast Asian nation into a ruthless slave state – a place where cities were emptied of their inhabitants, religion and schools were banned, and anyone deemed a threat was executed. When the nightmare ended, in 1979, close to 2 million people were dead – a quarter of Cambodia’s population at the time. On Thursday, a U.N.-backed tribunal convicted two of the once all-powerful men who ruled during that era of crimes against humanity in the first and possibly the last verdicts to be issued against the group’s aging, top members. Although survivors welcomed the decision to impose life sentences against Khieu Samphan, an 83-year-old former head of state, and Nuon Chea, the movement’s 88-year-old chief ideologue, they also say justice has come far too late and is simply not adequate.

“Nothing can compare to the immense suffering they imposed, no sentence can be enough. They belong in hell, not an air-conditioned jail cell,” said Youk Chhang, who heads The Documentation Center of Cambodia, which has collected more than a million documents related to the Khmer Rouge terror. “But this gives us hope that we can learn from the past ... that we can try to prevent this from ever happening again.” There was no visible reaction from either of the accused when the decisions were announced. Nuon Chea, wearing dark sunglasses, was too weak even to stand from his wheelchair. Defense lawyers insisted the case was not over and vowed to appeal within 30 days. Summarizing the verdict, chief judge Nil Nonn said the defendants were part of “a joint criminal enterprise” that launched “a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population” after Khmer Rouge guerrillas seized Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975.

Saddam Hussein’s body reburied in secret location Saddam Hussein’s Sunni tribal allies moved his body from a family plot eight months ago, fearful that Shia Muslims would harm it, according to a Sunni leader. The caution paid off for the executed former Iraqi president’s former allies. A leader from Saddam’s Albu Nasir tribe and a police official said that Shia militiamen later broke into the grave site, tore down photographs of the former Iraqi leader and then set the area on fire. “We had moved the body eight months ago to a safer place. We were afraid something would happen to him. Our fears proved true,” said the tribal leader who asked not to be named. “There were four of us that took up this mission. We could not move the bodies of Saddam’s sons. We are afraid someone will desecrate those graves.” The tribal chief would not say where the body was taken. “We moved him to a place far from the hands of his enemies,” he said. “Isn’t it enough for them that they killed him once. Now they are afraid of his body.” Saddam was hanged in 2006 after being convicted of crimes against humanity for the killing of 148 Shia villagers in 1982. He was buried in his birthplace of Awja, 95 miles north of Baghdad. Shia officials taunted him as he stood on the gallows, defiant until his last breath. “A militia force entered Saddam’s tomb site, destroyed everything and set it on fire. Until now they are surrounding the tomb sites,” said a police captain from the nearby city of Samarra.

Russia: McDonald’s food has ‘too many calories’ MOSCOW — Nearly a quartercentury after McDonald’s startled and delighted Soviets with their first taste of American fast-food culture, the company’s now facing a suit that could ban it from selling some of its signature products. The Russian consumer protection agency said Friday it is taking the company to court for selling foods that contain more fats and carbohydrates than are allowed by national regulations. McDonald’s did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The suit comes amid especially high tensions between Moscow and

Washington over the Ukraine crisis; the United States has slapped an array of sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine for allegedly supporting separatist rebels who are fighting in eastern Ukraine. There’s no demonstrable connection between the McDonald’s suit and the tensions, but the consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, has a history of actions that appear to dovetail Russia’s political agenda. As tensions between Russia and Georgia escalated before their 2008 war, Russia banned the import of Georgian wine and mineral water — two of its major export

products — for failing to meet sanitary norms. Last year, as tensions heated up over Ukraine’s desire to sign a trade pact with the European Union, Russia banned imports of chocolates made by the company of Petro Poroshenko, a tycoon who supported the EU deal and is now Ukraine’s president. Rospotrebnadzor said on its website that it brought the case after inspections of two of the company’s restaurants in Novgorod. According to the statement, some food was found with microbial contamination and several items had caloric values two to three times higher than allowed

by national regulations. Products that were mentioned for incorrect nutritional information were cheeseburgers, Royal Cheeseburgers — the local equivalent of the Quarter Pounder — fish sandwiches and several milkshake varieties. The suits asks that sale of McDonald’s products that do not meet the regulations be declared illegal, but it was not clear what penalty the company could face. The two restaurants in Novgorod were to be fined 70,000 rubles ($2,100). McDonald’s prompted the ire of Russian nationalists earlier this year after it closed its outlets in Crimea.

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Google pulls ‘Bomb Gaza’ game from app store after backlash SAN FRANCISCO – A mobile game that simulates Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and invites users to “drop bombs and avoid killing civilians” has been pulled from Google Inc’s app store, a company spokesman said on Monday after a public backlash. “Bomb Gaza,” developed by PlayFTW and still available as

an app on Facebook, simulates the on-going conflict between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, which dominates the Palestinian territory. Players drop bombs from a fighter jet while dodging missiles from Hamas fighters in black and green masks. “We remove apps from Google Play that violate our policies,” a spokesman for

Google said, confirming that the game had been removed from the Google Play app store. Google did not specify which policy the game had violated. Google Play has rules that prohibit content that amounts to hate speech, bullying and violence and lets users flag abusive content. The game triggered

outraged comments on the Google app store review page as well as on Facebook. It had been downloaded about 1,000 times since its July 29 launch, according to Britain’s Guardian newspaper. “You disgust me,” Saj Ishaq wrote on PlayFTW’s public Facebook page. Facebook did not immediately respond to

requests for comment and PlayFTW could not be immediately reached. “Please take this off the Play store. It is offensive and I am really let down that Google actually allowed this. If this game isn’t removed I’m starting a Google boycott,” Oma Al, a user, wrote on the game’s review page, according to the Guardian.

Report: Russian hackers steal 1.2B passwords

NEW YORK — Russian hackers have stolen 1.2 billion user names and passwords in a series of Internet heists affecting 420,000 websites, according to a report published Tuesday. The thievery was described in a New York Times story based on the findings of Hold Security, a Milwaukee firm that has a history of uncovering online security breaches. Hold Security didn’t immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press. The identities of the websites that were broken into weren’t identified by the Times, which cited nondisclosure agreements that required Hold Security to keep some information confidential. The reported break-ins are the latest incidents to raise doubts about the security measures that both big and small companies use to protect people’s information online. Security experts believe hackers will continue breaking into computer networks unless companies become more vigilant. “Companies that rely on usernames and passwords have to develop a sense of urgency about changing this,” Avivah Litan, a

Chief Information Security Officer Alex Holden of Hold Security, LLC appears during the Black Hat USA 2014 cyber security conference last Wednesday in Las Vegas. security analyst at the research firm Gartner told the Times. Retailer Target Corp. is still struggling to win back its shoppers’ trust after hackers believed to be attacking from Eastern Europe stole 40 million credit card numbers and 70 million addresses, phone numbers and other personal information last winter. Alex Holden, the founder and

chief information security officer of Hold Security, told the Times that most of the sites hit by the Russian hackers are still vulnerable to further break-ins. Besides filching 1.2 billion online passwords, the hackers also have amassed 500 million email addresses that could help them engineer other crimes, according to Hold Security. So, far little of the information stolen in the wave of attacks appears to have been sold to other online crooks, according to the Times. Instead, the information is being used to send marketing pitches, schemes and other junk messages on social networks on Twitter, the newspaper said. The breadth of these break-ins should serve as a chilling reminder of the skullduggery that has been going undetected on the Internet for years, said John Prisco, CEO of another security firm, Triumfant. “This issue reminds me of an iceberg, where 90 percent of it is actually underwater,” Prisco said in an emailed statement. “That’s what is going on here... So many cyber breaches today are not actually reported, often times because companies are losing information and they are not even aware of it.”

LinkedIn pays $6 mln over US wage violations

LinkedIn has paid nearly $6 million in back wages and damages to 359 current and former employees after a US investigation found it had failed to compensate them appropriately for overtime work. Under a settlement announced by the Labor Department on Monday, the career-focused social network said it paid more than $3.3 million in overtime back wages and $2.5 million in damages to workers in California, Illinois, Nebraska and New York. “This company has shown a great deal of integrity by fully cooperating with investigators

and stepping up to the plate without hesitation to help make workers whole,” said David Weil, administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. “We are particularly pleased that LinkedIn also has committed to take positive and practical steps toward securing future compliance.” Labor Department investigators found that LinkedIn violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act by neglecting to record, account and pay for all hours worked in a workweek.

Under the law, covered, nonexempt employees must be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for all hours worked, plus time and a half their regular hourly rates for any work beyond 40 hours in a week. LinkedIn attributed the violations to “not having the right tools in place for a small subset of our sales force to track hours properly,” adding that it had begun to remedy the problem before the Labor Department investigation. “LinkedIn has made every effort possible to ensure each impacted employee has been made whole,” a spokesman added in a statement.

A scientist of European space agency ESA stands at an airworthy copy of space probe ‘Rosetta’ in the ESA control center in Darmstadt, Germany.

Comet chaser reaches target after 10-year chase

DARMSTADT, Germany — After a journey of 6.4 billion kilometers (4 billion miles), Europe’s unmanned Rosetta probe reached its destination Wednesday, a milestone in mankind’s first attempt to land a spacecraft on a comet. The decade-long trip was successfully completed with a seven-minute thrust that allowedRosetta to swing alongside comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko somewhere between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. “This is your only chance to have a rendezvous with a comet,” Jean-Jacques Dordain, directorgeneral of the European Space Agency, told scientists and spectators at the mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany. The goal of the mission is to orbit 67P at a distance of 100 kilometers (60 miles) and observe the comet as it hurtles toward the sun. If all goes according to plan, Rosetta will attempt the unprecedented feat of dropping a lander onto a comet in November. Scientists hope that the information they collect will help them learn more about the origins of comets, stars and planets, said David Southwood, who oversaw the scientific part of the mission until his recent retirement. “Comets are the stuff of which the solar system was originally made,” he said. Some scientists have suggested that water, an essential element for the development of life, arrived on Earth from comets. Plans to bring material extracted from the comet back to Earth were canceled when NASA pulled out of a joint mission at an early stage, but the U.S. space agency contributed three of the 21 instruments aboard Rosetta and its Philae lander. Scientists have already made a number of exciting observations even as Rosetta hurtled through space at about 55,000 kph (34,000 mph) — a speed that required three loops around Earth and one around Mars to gain pace.

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Google defends child porn tip-offs to police

Google defended its policy of electronically monitoring its users’ content for child sexual abuse after it tipped off police in Texas to a child pornography suspect. Houston restaurant worker John Henry Skillern, 41, was arrested Thursday following a cyber-tip that Google had passed along via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), based outside Washington. “He was trying to get around getting caught, he was trying to keep it inside his email,” said detective David Nettles of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. “I can’t see that information, I can’t

see that photo -- but Google can,” he told Houston television station KHOU, which first reported the story. It’s common knowledge that the world’s leading Internet service, like its rivals, tracks users’ online behaviour in order to fine-tune its advertising services. But the Texas case prompted concerns about the degree to which Google might be giving information about its users’ conduct to law enforcement agencies. “The story seems like a simple one with a happy outcome – a bad man did a crime and got caught,” blogged John Hawes, chief of operations at Virus Bulletin, a cyber security consultancy. “However, there will of course be some who see it as yet another sign of how

the twin Big Brothers of state agencies and corporate behemoths have nothing better to do than delve into the private lives of all and sundry, looking for dirt,” he said. In an email to AFP, a Google spokesperson said Monday: “Sadly, all Internet companies have to deal with child sexual abuse. “It’s why Google actively removes illegal imagery from our services – including search andGmail – and immediately reports abuse to the NCMEC.” The NCMEC operates the CyberTipline, through which Internet service providers can relay information about suspect online child sexual abuse on to police departments.

Secure your phone without passcodes NEW YORK – Passcodes are outdated. They’re a pain to use, and they aren’t secure when they are based on easy-to-guess digits, such as a birth date or street address. Many people don’t bother using them on phones, even though that means any thief can get instant access to email, banking apps and more. Fortunately, phone makers have started to come up with alternatives to passcodes. Rarely does one feature make or break a buying decision, but these elements collectively might push you in one direction or another. And for those who already own these gadgets, it’s a way to discover features you might not know about. FINGERPRINTS: Apple included a fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s last fall. Later, HTC included one on its HTC One Max, while Samsung added it to its latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S5. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S tablets also have fingerprint sensors. With all of these, you can unlock the device with your fingerprint and avoid typing in numbers on the screen. The iPhone’s sensor still works well after nearly a year of use. You begin by training the phone to recognize up to five fingers. To unlock the phone, you simply touch the home button for about a second. It works when your finger is upside down or sideways, but the sensor has trouble when it’s wet or greasy. In such cases, you can go back to using the passcode. Samsung’s approach is similar, except it recognizes only three fingerprints, and it requires you to swipe down on the home button rather than simply touch it. The fingerprint can be used to authenticate purchases using the PayPal app or to unlock the device’s

Apple, Samsung and HTC all have a fingerprint sensor in their latest models. private mode, which lets you hide photos and other documents you designate as sensitive. The HTC One Max’s sensor is on the back rather than on the home button. Unfortunately, it often fails to recognize your print. A nice feature is that you can instruct the phone to open a particular app automatically depending on the finger you use. The sensor isn’t available with the HTC One M8, which came out in March. Many security experts have expressed concerns that once a finger’s compromised, you can’t replace it the way you can a passcode. No one’s saying these measures are foolproof. But they are better than no security, which is what happens when people turn off the passcode feature because it’s too much of a hassle. Since the passcode can be used as a backup, don’t make it easy to guess.

ANDROID ALTERNATIVES: Most Android phones have passcode alternatives under “Security” or “Lock screen” in the settings. Instead of a numeric passcode, you can opt for a regular password. You improve security by choosing a combination of numbers and letters, some capitalized. You can throw in some punctuation marks, too. Though security improves, convenience drops. Another option, called Pattern, lets you draw a pattern on the screen. You are presented nine dots, and you must connect at least four of them by swiping on the screen using a pattern you can remember. Your passcode is your fallback. Though it’s easier to swipe than to type, it’s actually less secure. Someone with the phone can guess your pattern based on smudge marks on the screen.

“Each child sexual abuse image is given a unique digital fingerprint which enables our systems to identify those pictures, including in Gmail,” added the spokesperson, who did not disclose technical details about the process. “It is important to remember that we only use this technology to identify child sexual abuse imagery -- not other email content that could be associated with criminal activity (for example using email to plot a burglary).” In a separate email to AFP, the NCMEC said federal law requires Internet service providers to report suspected child porn to the CyberTipline. “NCMEC makes all CyberTipline reports available to appropriate lawenforcement agencies for review and possible investigation,” it said. On its website Monday, KHOU described Skillern as a registered sex offender, convicted 20 years ago of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old boy.

Apple to unveil iPhone 6 on September 9

Apple has finally set the date for its iPhone 6 announcement: Sept. 9. Re/Code’s John Paczkowski has reported the tech giant has scheduled “a big media event” for Tuesday, Sept. 9, and is expected to formally announce the iPhone 6, almost exactly one year after the last iPhone event. Most analysts had expected a mid-September date based on the company’s past history with iPhone events. Apple, as usual, had no comment on the reports. The device, expected to feature a 4.7-inch screen, will mark Apple’s entry into larger-screened device competition against the phones of Samsung and HTC, whose flagship devices use screens larger than the 4-inch iPhone 5S. There have also been rumors of a possible 5.5-inch screen size available for the iPhone 6, but other recent reportsseem to be quashing that possibility. For more on what to expect, check out The Wire’s coverage ofpreviousiPhone 6 rumours. According to Apple Insider, this year’s iPhone launch could be the biggest in the company’s history, with a projected 80 million units ordered through the end of the year. If that’s the case, the company will certainly have a busy fall following a relatively quiet first seven months in 2014.

Study: Playing video games good for kids With research showing that video games can have both positive and negative effects on kids, parents can be forgiven for being confused. In the US, 31% of teens play video games daily, according to the Pew Research Internet Project, consuming up to one-half of their daily free time. Now a new study suggests there’s a sweet spot for just the right amount of time is good for gamers. The study, conducted by Andrew K. Przybylski, an experimental psychologist

at the University of Oxford’s Internet Institute, looked at survey responses of nearly 5,000 British boys and girls aged 10 to 15—75% of whom reported playing video games everyday. The kids answered questions about their life satisfaction, friendships, willingness to help others, and levels of hyperactivity and inattention. Those who played for less than one hour a day, Przybylski found, were happier with their lives and had more emotional stability than those who

never grabbed a controller. Those who played for three hours or more a day were, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most maladjusted of the lot. Why are non-gamers at a disadvantage? Since so many of their peers are active gamers, not having the experience as part of the conversation cab be socially harmful, Przybylskitold the BBC. He suggests that the fun, social nature of video games works much like traditional face-to-face play by enhancing social skills and presenting

opportunities for identity development. Przybylski notes that his sample is quite small, and that video games are not the most important contributor to having having well-adjusted kids. Factors such as strong family relationships, a positive community, and school environment play an undeniably larger, more enduring role in a child’s development. Still, the study provide some reassurance to parents who are unable to completely detach their kids from the controller.

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Source: Sprint drops bid to buy T-Mobile

Thousands join Austrian student’s class action against Facebook

VIENNA – More than 17,000 people have signed up to join an Austrian law student’s class action against Facebook over the social media group’s alleged violations of its users’ privacy, the student said on Tuesday. Max Schrems, 26, appealed last Sprint Corp has dropped its bid to acquire No. 4 U.S. carrier T-Mobile week to a billion Facebook users to join U.S. Inc because the challenge of a claim he filed at Vienna’s commercial court as part of his campaign. securing regulatory approval for the Under Austrian law, a group of deal was too steep, a person familiar people may transfer their financial with the matter told Reuters. Sprint will name a new chief claims to a single person - in this case, Schrems. Legal proceedings are then executive on Wednesday to replace Dan Hesse, the person said. Hesse effectively run as a class action. The echo to his appeal has been has been CEO of Sprint since 2007. The new chief executive will be an “giant, much more than expected”, Law student Max Schrems briefs the media in outsider to the company, the person Schrems said, adding that most people Vienna. to sign up were from Europe. said. “The emails and feedback have been the U.S. National Security Agency in The person asked not to be named because the matter has not been really positive and what is interesting running its PRISM programme, which is that many people say finally someone mined the personal data of users of disclosed publicly. The announcements would signal is doing something in this direction,” he Facebook and other web services. the end of a prolonged push by said. He is also seeking injunctions under Schrems is claiming damages of 500 EU data-protection law at the court in Sprint’s parent company, SoftBank Corp, to acquire rival T-Mobile, euros ($670) per user for alleged data data-privacy-friendly Austria. despite warnings from regulators violations by Facebook, including aiding Some of those joining his cause are that they wish to maintain four major players in the wireless market. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news Tuesday that Sprint had abandoned its bid. Both parties have not ruled out consolidation in the future but came to the conclusion that a deal is unlikely to be approved at this time, the source said. The Wall Street Journal reported that disagreements over financing and a “drop dead” date for the merger, a date when both companies can walk away if the merger has not been completed, contributed to the decision to end talks. Sprint had been working on a deal with Deutsche Telekom AG , T-Mobile’s majority owner. French telecom firm Iliad is also in talks with investors to improve its own competing bid for the carrier, three sources familiar with the matter told Electricity pylons carry power from Cape Town’s Koeberg nuclear power plant. Reuters on Tuesday.

Steps to stronger, more secure passwords NEW YORK – Rarely does a week go by without news of another hacking incident. Last Tuesday, The New York Times reported that a Russian crime ring had amassed some 1.2 billion username and password combinations. The Times report, based on information from Milwaukee-based Hold Security, called the data “the largest known collection of stolen Internet credentials.” Hold’s researchers did not identify the origins of the data or name the victim websites, citing nondisclosure agreements. The company also said it didn’t want to name companies whose websites are still vulnerable to hacking, according to the Times report. A representative for Hold Security could not immediately be reached for comment on Tuesday afternoon. Security threats have long been part of online life, but the increased attention on them makes now a good time to review ways to protect yourself. If there’s reason to believe any of your passwords might have been compromised, change them immediately. One of the best things you can do is to make sure your passwords are strong. Here are some ways to

fortify them: —Make your password long. The recommended minimum is eight characters, but 14 is better and 25 is even better than that. Some services have character limits on passwords, though. —Use combinations of letters and numbers, upper and lower case and symbols such as the exclamation mark. Some services won’t let you do all of that, but try to vary it as much as you can. “PaSsWoRd!43” is far better than “password43.” —Avoid words that are in dictionaries, even if you add numbers and symbols. There are programmes that can crack passwords by going through databases of known words. One trick is to add numbers in the middle of a word – as in “pas123swor456d” instead of “password123456.” Another is to think of a sentence and use just the first letter of each word — as in “tqbfjotld” for “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

—Avoid easy-to-guess words, even if they aren’t in the dictionary. You shouldn’t use your name, company name or hometown, for instance. Avoid pets and relatives’ names, too. Likewise, avoid things that can be looked up, such as your birthday or ZIP code. But you might use that as part of a complex password. Try reversing your ZIP code or phone number and insert that into a string of letters. As a reminder, you should also avoid “password” as the password, or consecutive keys on the keyboard, such as “1234” or “qwerty.”

—Some services such as Gmail even give you the option of using two passwords when you use a particular computer or device for the first time. If you have that feature turned on, the service will send a text message with a six-digit code to your phone when you try to use Gmail from an unrecognized device. You’ll need to enter that for access, and then the code expires. It’s optional, and it’s a pain — but it could save —Substitute characters. For you from grief later on. Hackers won’t instance, use the number zero instead be able to access the account without of the letter O, or replace the S with a possessing your phone. Turn it on by going to the account’s security settings. dollar sign.

donating money, he said. “It is good to see that for most people it is not a matter of (getting) money but of advancing the matter,” he said. Schrems, who already has a case involving the social network pending at the European Court of Justice, invited others to join his Vienna court action at www.fbclaim.com using their Facebook login. Facebook, which has declined comment on the campaign, has come under fire before for allegedly violating data-protection laws. Most recently, Britain’s data watchdog began investigating whether a 2012 experiment on unwitting users, in which it tried to alter their emotional state to see if their postings turned more positive or negative. The world’s biggest social network, Facebook now has 1.32 billion users. It posted a 61 percent increase in sales in the second quarter buoyed by mobile advertising, sending its shares to a record high and valuing the company at almost $200 billion.

S.African village becomes first to be powered by fuel cells KROONSTAD South Africa - A South African village has become the first in the world to be powered by fuel cells, companies behind the project said on Tuesday, in a new scheme which could help remote areas of the continent access electricity for the first time. South Africa suffers from power shortages and state-run utility Eskom is struggling to keep up with rising electricity demand, while around 2 million poorer households live without any access to the grid. “What we have here is a world first,” said Chris Griffith, chief executive of Anglo American Platinum, which is partnering with Canadian-listed Ballard Power Systems in piloting the project. “Fuel cell mini-grid technology is a cost-competitive alternative to grid electrification in these remote areas and could accelerate access to electricity,” Amplats said. Amplats is investing around $20 million in the “mini-grid”, which will function independently from the national grid. The pilot system can generate 15 kilowatts (kW) and a maximum of 60 kW when extra batteries kick in, which will be used to power up 34 homes in a remote community in Naledi in the Free State province for a 12-month trial period. Amplats and Ballard will cover the pilot scheme costs but hope to make the fuel cell system profitable by tapping into an estimated 600,000 South African households in areas beyond the reach of the grid and millions more throughout the continent. Fuel cells use a chemical reaction and offer a cleaner alternative to leadacid batteries. They are already used for in industrial machinery and domestic refrigerators. The fuel cells use methanol, hydrogen and platinum to produce electricity and a wider roll out of the pilot could give some support to South Africa’s struggling platinum sector.

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TCIFA to host visiting team from New York!

In an effort to increase the level of play of its Academy members, the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) will be hosting a tournament this month, July 2014 – to do just that. Through its Visiting Team Program, driven by its players, coaches and referees, the National Football Association is excited to host the B16 team from New York. This gamecentric approach by the TCIFA allows long-term development to occur through a deeper understanding of what makes players successful at the

highest level. The visiting Boca team consists of footballers have been together since the age of nine (9), finishing a perfect 9-0-0 in league play this season. The B16 team has been playing in a division with teams a year older then they are, and finished a remarkable run of their own to take second place. They scored 40 goals this spring, an average of more than four per match, signaling that they will be a force to be reckoned with next year. While in the Turks & Caicos, they will be pitted against the Football

Academy’s U16 team, which is coached by Oliver Smith. As a sport, football continues to grow in the Turks & Caicos, young players in this country need the proper environment to compete against more seasoned players. By having teams visit, this programme provides the optimum development environment for the nation’s top youth football players. Coaches and referees by emphasizing development through meaningful competition. The game schedule is as follows,

all games to be held at the TCIFA Academy Complex on Venetian Road, Providenciales: Sunday, August 10th Game one 5:30pm Kick Off Monday, August 11th Game two 5:30pm Kick Off Tuesday, August 12th Beach tournament 4:30pm Start Wednesday, August 13th Game three 5:30pm Kick Off

English Premier League referee Roger East can be seen talking to the participants, at left.

Gianni Ascani, one of the participating referees presents East with a TCIFA Jersey.

English Premier League ref gives lecture in TCI

East presents Oliver Smith, Vice President for the TCIFA with his first officiating jersey.

English Premier League referee Roger East took time out of his vacation on Providenciales to lecture young players and referees on the rudiments of the game and telling of his own experience officiating in the big league. The lecture was made possible by Turks and Caicos

Islands Football Association’s Vice President Oliver Smith. Smith asked East to conduct the lecture after the two crossed path while watching a game TCIFA Academy Field on Sunday (July 27, 2013). Two of the participants, Gianni Ascani and Willandra Elliot were happy to be part of the

lecture said that East gave them an insight into officiating football games on the international level, and the level of levelheadedness that is required. East was presented with a TCIFA Jersey. In the same manner, he presented Smith with his first jersey that he officiated in.

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Trinidad government blamed for not submitting bids for England test

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has blamed the government after the country missed the deadline to submit a bid to host one of three tests matches between West Indies and England in the Caribbean next year. The TTCB has issued a release saying bids were sent to the Prime Minister’s office of the respective countries and not to the territorial boards. TTCB is complaining that no bids were sent to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) from the Trinidad

government even after it got the WICB to extend the deadline. “In T&T’s case the TTCB was informed upon enquiry that the PM had directed the documents to the Ministry of Sport for it to follow up with the bidding,” said the statement from TTCB. “Efforts by the TTCB to reach the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sport on this matter were futile. The TTCB contacted the WICB to find out if in fact a T&T bid was sent in to which a negative response was received”. On Monday, the WICB announced that Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards

Usain Bolt to target 200m after Glasgow

Multiple world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt says he will make the 200m his focus after the Commonwealth Games. The 27-year-old 100m and 200m world record holder only competed in the 4x100m relay at Glasgow 2014, helping Jamaica to gold at Hampden Park. “I’ve said I want to run sub 19 for 200m - that’s one of my biggest goals and my biggest dreams” “I think I’ve done enough in the 100,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. “I know people want to see me run fast in the 100 but I love my 200 and I want to do something special for myself. So for me, my main aim is the 200.” Bolt, who will turn 28 on 21 August, set the 200m world record of 19.19 seconds in Berlin five years ago. The Jamaican also posted a 100m world best of 9.58 at the

same World Championships. “The world record can keep going down. You never know who’s going to show up next and dominate,” he added. “I’ve said I want to run sub 19. That’s one of my biggest goals and my biggest dreams, so I’m definitely going to be training hard and seeing what I can do.” Bolt, who will miss the closing ceremony later on Sunday, said the older he gets the harder it is to stay at full fitness. The eight-time world champion’s next race is a 100m on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on 14 August. “You can feel a difference sometimes especially after a workout. I have to take more ice baths now which is not so much fun. “I have to work a little bit harder and not go out as much as I used to.” But the hard work paid off

Stadium, Grenada’s National Stadium and Kensington Oval in Barbados, will host the three West Indies Tests against England next April. “The TTCB asked the WICB to extend the deadline for bid submission and tried to get the Ministry of Tourism to make the bid or at least provide the necessary government’s guarantee which must accompany any bid being sent by the TTCB,” the statement said. “The WICB did extend the deadline but no government guarantee was provided to the TTCB. Consequently, Queen’s Park Oval Trinidad no bids were sent in”.

for the Jamaican, who added Commonwealth gold to his collection on Saturday night and paid tribute to the Glasgow

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt running in the men’s 4 x 100m relay during the Commonwealth Games. crowds. “I’m sad I didn’t get to run the individual event because the energy out here is just wonderful - the people give you a lot of energy. “The people make a Games a Games, and the people really came out and supported, the stadium was always full, the energy was always up. For me that’s a Games. Everything was perfect.” The Manchester United fan said he hoped that when he hung up his running spikes he might be able to work his way into Louis van Gaal’s team. “Hopefully when I retire I can talk to him and get a spot

Bajan golfers in Puerto Rico A seven-member Barbados team is currently in Puerto Rico taking part in the 58th Amateur Caribbean Golf Championships. Led by perennial national champion James Johnson, the team is competing in the Hoerman Cup and super-seniors divisions of the championships which are being played at Dorado Beach Resort. Along with Johnson, other Hoerman Cup players are Simon Proverbs, Elvis Medford, Julian Jordan and Marcus Clarke while veteran national caps Robert Piggott and Ricky Skeete are seeking to add another title among the seniors. The manager/coach is Roger Beale Jr., while

in the team. Van Gaal means business - he’s solid and I’m happy. Manchester United are back.”

Barbados Golf Association president Cally Boyea is also accompanying the squad. The 54-hole championships teed off last week and host team Puerto Rico set the early pace in individual stroke-play in the Hoerman Cup as two of their leading players posted competitive rounds. Edward Figueroa shot 71 and ErickJuan Morales 73 in the first round. Barbados’ top player James Johnson shot 76 and was five shots off the pace as at least two other players from the Dominican Republic registered one-over-par 73s. Players from Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, USVI, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas are also contesting the championships.

USVI’s Julius Jackson wins title bout in Argentina

CORDOBA, Argentina – The US Virgin Islands’ 340 Boxing champ Julius Jackson has won his title bout against Crispulo Javier Andino in Argentina. When Jackson returned to the territory last Saturday, he brought back the same World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedebol title belt he left last week to defend, along with his still undefeated record. Jackson won the belt in December 2013, when he coheadlined a boxing card in Julius Jackson Cordoba, Argentina, along The bout, held last Friday with his brother John Jackson and cousin Samuel Rogers. He – on Jackson’s birthday – at won the vacant WBA Fedebol Cordoba’s Union Electrica Super middleweight title after Club, was relatively short as dropping Argentina’s Nicolas Jackson moved in quickly and Dario Lopez by a technical dropped Andino three times knockout in the ninth round within the first two rounds. The third blow, a body shot and, after a year out of the ring, Jackson got the chance last up the middle, proved to be week to return to Argentina Andino’s last and the fight was to defend the belt against called, with Jackson (18-0, 14 seasoned fighter Crispulo KOs) getting the knockout 1:47 into the second round. Javier Andino (17-7-1, 3 KOs.)

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Barcelona admits to approaching Luis Suárez before World Cup Barcelona have admitted they made an approach to Luis Suárez before the World Cup and always expected him to move to Spain eventually. The Uruguayan – currently serving a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in Brazil – initially told Barcelona’s representatives that he was happy to stay at Liverpool. However, the Barça president Josep Bartomeu insisted that they could persuade him to join them because his wife’s family already live in the city. “When we approached Suárez, it was before the World Cup. We told him that he had the right age. He had the experience,” Bartomeu told CNN. “Playing at Liverpool gave him incredible performances and it was the right time for him to come to our club, to Barcelona. “We knew from of lot of years ago that Luis Suárez likes our club, likes our city. And we have the advantage – his agent is Pep Guardiola’s brother. He’s from Barça in his heart, also, so everything was perfect and created the perfect atmosphere that Luis Suárez accepted.” Suárez left Anfield for £75m last month and signed a fiveyear deal at Camp Nou. Under the terms of his suspension, he will not be available to make his debut until October.

Tiger Woods’s decline will leave golf struggling to retain its broad appeal The physical decline of Tiger Woods, as inevitable as it may have been, is about far more than an individual sportsman’s fall from grace. The impact of Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games conjured memories of the Tiger Effect. A global athlete – which is what Woods has been throughout his career – with a pull way beyond his chosen profession. Woods inspired a generation to play golf, is genuinely responsible for the vast riches at the top level, and moved the sport into ground-breaking territory. Single-

handedly, that is. Woods influenced his sport more than anybody. So what happens next? With Woods touch and go to play at this year’s US PGA Championship – he has until 10 minutes before teeing-off at Valhalla on Thursday to declare himself fit to compete following a back injury – all the evidence points towards the 38-year-old slipping back from golf’s frontline. Woods will still be a money-making machine, through putting his name to course design or whatever, but the competitive circus will have moved on.

Arguably, it already has. He may quip about chasing the Jack Nicklaus major haul of 18 into his fifties but the reality points to something else entirely. When a competitor as ferocious as Woods finally realises he cannot consistently win events against the best players in golf, it will be time for a fresh challenge. This shouldn’t be an unreasonable concept; no human being could batter golf balls with such ferocity as Woods from the moment they could walk and be physically infallible into their mid-forties.

ManU defeat Real Madrid 3-1 in front of record crowd

The University of Michigan’s stadium played host to the largest ever crowd at a football match in the US.

Commonwealth 2014 games hailed best in 84-year history

Glasgow 2014 has been hailed as “the standout Games in the history of the movement” by Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper. After 11 days of action across 17 sports, the event came to a close at Hampden Park on Sunday evening, with hosts Scotland finishing fourth overall with a record haul of 19 golds and a best-ever tally of 53 medals. England topped the medal table for the first time in 28 years, Wales surpassed their target of 27 and Northern Ireland reaped their largest tally since the Games was last in Scotland in 1986. The Isle of Man had a silver to celebrate thanks to cyclist Peter Kennaugh’s efforts in the points race, but Jersey and Guernsey failed to register. It is the third time in their 84-year existence that the Games have been staged in Scotland - after Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986 - and chief executive Hooper maintains they have been the best. “In my view, they are the standout Games in the history of the movement,”

said the New Zealander of the 20th edition. “The way in which the people of Scotland and Glasgow have embraced the Games right from the get-go has been incredible.” After an underwhelming staging in Delhi four years ago, and thewithdrawals of a succession of big names in the buildup to Glasgow, there had been concerns over whether such success would be forthcoming. But all the events have been well attended and, for the most part, the

weather has also been favourable, as a new generation of athletes have taken their chance to impact on the public consciousness. Botswana’s Nijel Amos beat world record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha in the 800m; Scotland’s Ross Murdoch stunned poster boy and compatriot Michael Jamieson to take gold in the 200m breaststroke; English 16-year-oldClaudia Fragapane claimed four gymnastics golds and 13-year-old Erraid Davies’ took a swimming bronze for Scotland. Scottish postman Charlie Flynn’s response to winning lightweight boxing gold made him a cult figure, as did Lynsey Sharp’s gutsy 800m silver just hours after being hooked up to a drip in the village hospital. Rhythmic gymnast Frankie Jones ended her career by winning six gymnastics medals for Wales and the hosts’ flag-bearer Euan Burton concluded his career with judo gold minutes after English wife Gemma Gibbons claimed silver.

Manchester United defeated European champions Real Madrid 3-1 in front of a record US crowd of 109,318 in Michigan. Two goals from Ashley Young and one from Javier Hernandez secured new United manager Louis van Gaal his fourth win of the US summer tour. Gareth Bale’s penalty was all Real could muster in reply, even after the second-half introduction of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo. United now face Liverpool in Monday’s International Champions Cup final. Van Gaal has presided over wins against the Los Angles Galaxy, Romaand Inter Milan in the United States. United will now meet their great English rivals, who qualified for the final after Manchester City lost 5-4 on penalties to Olympiakos following a 2-2 draw in Minneapolis, in Miami. Real’s starting line-up at the Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor was missing not only Ronaldo but also new signings Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez. But the likes of Bale, Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso were on show in front of the largest ever attendance for a football match in the United States. Young opened the scoring after 21 minutes but Carlo Ancelotti’s Real were level six minutes later when Michael Keane climbed on Bale in the area and the Wales international tucked away the resulting spot-kick. United regained the lead on 37 minutes when Young’s cross drifted over the head of Iker Casillas. Ronaldo’s introduction against his former team with 17 minutes remaining grabbed the attention of the huge crowd, but United sealed victory moments later as Hernandez made it three. The previous record attendance for a football match in the United States was 101,799 for the 1984 Olympic final, when France beat Brazil 2-0 at the Rose Bowl in California. Manchester United: De Gea, M Keane, Jones, Evans (Blackett 46), Valencia (Lingard 62), Herrera (Cleverley 46), Fletcher, Young (Shaw 46); Mata (Kagawa 62), Rooney (Hernandez 62), Welbeck (Zaha 41). Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Nacho, Arbeloa (Ronaldo 74), Illarmendi, Alonso (De Tomas 56), Carvajal, Modric, Bale, Isco.

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Man arrested in connection with Schumacher record theft found dead

Howard Webb’s last act as a referee was as England’s representative at the World Cup in Brazil.

Referee Howard Webb retires to become PGMOL’s technical director Howard Webb has retired as a referee and has been appointed as technical director of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the Premier League has announced. According to a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Webb, 43, will be responsible for overseeing the technical direction and standards that govern the on-field performance of match officials. He will also “take a public-facing role, informing and educating on refereeing matters” and report to the PGMOL general manager Mike Riley. “I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after a wonderfully rewarding 25 years on the pitch,” Webb said. “I have spent over a decade with the best seat in the house for Premier League matches, been lucky enough to be involved in nine Uefa and Fifa tournaments, and taken charge of the Uefa Champions League and Fifa World Cup finals. “Refereeing has given me so much and it’s important that match officials who have had the rewards remain in the game to pass on their knowledge. I also have much more to learn about the business of refereeing and the best place for me to do that is with PGMOL. It’s an incredibly positive working environment and we all have a common goal of improving refereeing.” Webb’s career reached a peak in 2010 when he became the first person to referee the Champions League final and the World Cup final in the same year. He also refereed at Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, and was widely-praised for his performances at the World Cup in Brazil.

An air ambulance employee who was arrested in connection with the suspected theft of former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher’s medical records was found dead in his cell on Wednesday, prosecutors said. The man, whose name wasn’t released, was found hanged in a Zurich police

jail on Wednesday morning as officers were handing out breakfast, prosecutors said in a statement. Initial investigations indicated that no one else was involved, they said. The air ambulance service, Rega, arranged the seventime F1 champion’s transfer in June from a hospital in France to a hospital in Lausanne,Switzerland, to

continue his recovery from a Dec. 29 skiing accident. A week later, Schumacher’s manager said medical documents purported to be Schumacher’s were being offered for sale to some media. Swiss prosecutors opened an investigation into suspected violation of professional secrecy after Rega and Schumacher’s family filed

criminal complaints. The investigation led prosecutors to the Rega employee, who was arrested on Tuesday. He denied wrongdoing in questioning by police, and prosecutors had planned to question him further. Prosecutors said they currently have no evidence of further suspects and likely will close the case.

Bernie Ecclestone: ‘I’m an idiot’ for paying £60m to settle F1 bribery trial

The Formula One chief, Bernie Ecclestone, has declared himself “a bit of an idiot” for paying a £60m settlement to bring an end to his bribery trial. The president and chief executive of Formula One agreed with German prosecutors on Tuesday to pay the record sum to end his trial, a district court in Munich confirmed. The defence has denied accusations that he had bought his freedom. The Formula One boss went on trial in Munich in April over allegations that he bribed a former German banker as part of the sale of a major stake in themotor sport business eight years ago. Although slightly lighter in the pocket, given Ecclestone’s worth is estimated at about £3bn-£4bn, he was nonetheless relieved that he could put this period of his life finally behind him. Ecclestone, 83, told PA: “The bottom line is it’s been three and a half years of aggravation, travelling, meeting lawyers, and God knows what else, so it is good it is out of the way. “This trial has been going on for two days a week and it was going to go on until October. When you’re trying to run businesses it’s not easy trying to resolve things when you’re dealing with lawyers. “In the end what has happened today is good and bad; the good is the judge more or less said I was acquitted, and they [the prosecution] really didn’t have a case. “So I was a bit of an idiot to do what I did to settle because it wasn’t with the

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone judge, it was with the prosecutors. “Anyway, it’s done and finished, so it’s all right. I’m contented, it’s all fine. “This now allows me to do what I do best, which is running F1. “Another three months out would have been bad. I’ve been working weekends to catch up with what I’ve been missing during the week. “I’ve not really noticed, but it’s probably taken its toll a little bit.” The Munich court said in a statement that $99m (£59m) would be paid to the German treasury and a further $1m to a German children’s hospice charity. The money will be paid

within a week, it added, after which the trial will officially be abandoned. “The abandonment is neither a ‘deal’ nor a ‘settlement’, even less so a ‘buying out,’” said Ecclestone’s defence team in a joint statement. Prosecutors said they had based their decision partly on the defendant’s age and willingness to cooperate. Ecclestone was accused of having given Bayern Landesbank’s chief risk officer, Gerhard Gribkowsky, $44m in 2006 in order to ease the sale of the bank’s share to a company that had guaranteed to keep Ecclestone as chief executive.

Spurs hire Becky Hammon as NBA’s first female assistant coach

Becky Hammon: new NBA signing.

The San Antonio Spurs are hiring the NBA’s first female assistant coach, soon-to-be retired WNBA player Becky Hammon. “I very much look forward to the addition of Becky Hammon to our staff,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said in a press release. “I’m confident her basketball IQ, work ethic and interpersonal skills will be a great benefit to the Spurs.” Hammon spent some time around the Spurs during the team’s run to the NBA championship last season. Hammon announced on July 23 that she would retire as a player after this season, her 16th as a pro. She is a sixtime WNBA all-star, and has spent the

past eight seasons with the San Antonio Stars. This is only the Spurs’ most recent high-profile hire. In July, Italian coach Ettore Messina was hired as an assistant. Hammon, who played for Colorado State in college, went unpicked in the 1999 WNBA draft, but signed to the New York Liberty later that year. She spent eight seasons there before moving to the Stars. She leads the Stars in all-time assists (1,112) and three-pointers (493), and ranks fourth in franchise history in points (3,442) and games (218). Hammon received the most votes in a poll for the Stars’ all-decade team.

Hammon is the NBA’s first female assistant coach, but it’s not the first time a woman has come close to being on the court. In 2011, Trish McGhee was hired as the Vancouver Grizzlies’ first female video coordinator. In 2013, the Los Angeles Clippers hired Natalie Nakase for the same position. The same year, Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks said he would give 6ft 8in Baylor Bears center Brittney Griner a chance to try out for the Mavericks. A day later, he reiterated the offer, and SportsCenter tweeted the news using the hashtag #GrinerNBA. The hashtag became a repository for misogynistic and sexist reaction from fans.

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