OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
Website: www.suntci.com
VOLUME 10 - No. 37
Email: sun@suntci.com
Tel: (649) 946-8542
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WEST CAICOS DELAYED Apex, the new developers of the failed West Caicos Resort development is to tear down the entire project, which was about 80 percent complete and redesign it altogether, The SUN understands. The decision should could push back the start and completion date of the development which the new owners did not confirm from the outset. Finance Minister Washington Misick, who was asked to comment on the development, said that the new owners have planned to redesign the entire project, including the marina. The
Constable Mikhail Hinson
Marina, it is understood, had begun to deteriorate hence the decision to tear it down as well. “My understanding is that they are redesigning the entire project, which has resulted in a delay. I think that is a fair assessment. I believe that the entire project, as it was originally conceived, is going to be totally demolished and something new is going to be constructed. My understanding is that everything is going to be redeveloped, including the marina itself. I also understand that they have engaged new architects, and
because of that, the whole process has now been delayed,” Misick said. The finance minister noted further that in the next few days he would seek more information on the state and stage of the venture. Christine Shearer, who is the local public relations liaison for the West Caicos development, said that a great deal of work has been taking place behind the scenes, even while one does not see construction workers busy on site. She said that more precise information on the project would be given as soon as the developers, who
Sergeant Winston Grant
are based in the United Kingdom, provide further details. “Things are still happening; it is not a dead project. We told the press sometime ago that there would be some delay because of redesigning of the whole project. There is work happening behind the scenes,” she said. Hundreds of construction workers and contractors in the Turks and Caicos Islands are anxiously awaiting the start of the project, which they believe could provide long term jobs and well-needed income for them and their families. Continued on page 2
Constable Chevell McPhee
THREE COPS IN THE SPOTLIGHT In recent weeks, some members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have made the headlines, and not in the most favourble light. Constable Chevell McPhee was placed on suspension with pay after he was accused of wounding a suspected burglar during interrogation at the Police Headquarters in Provideciales on September 24, 2014. Constable Mikhail Hinson was arrested and charged on Saturday, September 27, 2014, after he was accused of setting three cars, including a police cruiser on fire, and the attempted torching of the Chalk Sound Police Station. Sergeant Winston Grant, a mentor at the Clement Howell High School, had to seek medical attention after he was attacked by a former student on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. McPhee is still on suspension. Hinson is on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison, while Grant is recuperating from his injuries.
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www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
12-storey buildings will hurt Providenciales’ image - Page 10
Teen accused of beating police officer gets $2,000 bail - Page 11
Malique Ferrette is Miss Teen TCI - Page 17
Accused arsonist cop remanded in custody -Page 8
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
West Caicos Delayed
Continued from page 1
Christine Shearer
Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick
The West Caicos Resort development is resort management is still showing interest expected to provide economic boost to the sluggish in the venture, even though no agreement was economy and improve the profile as a high-end inked at the time. destination. “Ritz Carlton is still working with us very closely. In a recent interview with The SUN, Jonathon They are very supportive and very keen for the O’a, one of the principals, said that millions of project to go ahead. We are working with them dollars will be spent to complete the project. He on what the redesigning and rebranding looks pointed out that Apex had already spent close like and we are just trying to get ourselves to a $100million, and would spend hundreds of comfortable with the Ritz Carlton Reserve Brand; millions more by the time basic infrastructure and that is part of the decisions that we haven’t was put in place. made yet. Ritz is very much in pole position, but O’Dea said at the time that while the preparatory we haven’t signed up with them and finalize it work had been arduous, the developers prefer for yet,” O’Dea said at the time. all the mechanisms to be in place before initiating He said construction employment could run construction. between 500 and 600, but was unable to say how “It is frustrating to not be opening the hotel and many employment positions would be available selling land, but I think it is the right approach, when the resort is open. in this case, to do it properly, get it really right Apex initiated taking over the West Caicos this time. Because now the project is obviously development in 2009, but made the closing in over a more substantial portion of the island November (2012), just before the elections. than the previous project, and because there are The West Caicos Development which began some 30 to 40 landowners around there already, around 2007, experienced a number of hurdles, we really do need to get it right this time. including strike actions by imported Chinese “We are also assessing whether the marina is a workers and demonstrations by local skilled marina for 200 small boats, 100 small boats or 50 workmen and labourers. large boats. We are getting some of the world’s It finally folded in the wake of the world-wide leading specialists on marinas to come in a talk economic meltdown, when its chief financier, to us about that, and we are supposed to get a Lehman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy. marina report very soon. Because the marina is Even as the project stalled, a number of collapsing because of the way it was designed,” prospective buyers engaged in talks with O’Dea had stated. government to take over. Apex, being the most He said in the interview that the development serious of the lot, got the nod. could still carry the Ritz Carlton brand, as that
National Honours and Awards, Dormant Accounts Bills reach Committee
The National Honors and Awards Amendment Bill is one of two bills that House Committee will take on the next time Parliament reconvenes. That bill along with the Dormant Accounts Bill, both of which unanimously made it into the committee stage when time ran out. The National Honours and Awards Amendment Ordinance makes amendment to the law that was passed in 2004. The amended ordinance provides for two new awards – the Patriotic Award and the Young Achievers Medal. They add to other categories created in the 10year law, such as National Hero, which the highest national honour and Order of the Turks and Caicos. Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, who piloted the bill, described it as very significant, since it will be conferred on persons who have provided selfless services to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the region and to humanity. “It is to be the highest level of national honour to bestowed upon our citizens and leaders of the world from Turks and Caicos. Nations are built on the backs, and with the blood, sweat and tears of selfless individuals. Individuals who are deeply patriotic, and each of these individuals on whom, in growing nations like ours should be grateful, and those individuals
should be appreciated for their efforts,” Ewing told parliament. He added: “We should be appreciative of those who came before us and laid the foundation for us to go. These exceptional and selfless nation-builders will be recognized by the various provisions in this bill with their names and their contributions etched in the annals of history of these islands. Every nation that thrives for nationhood has as part of its agenda a system of recognizing their nation-builders, and Turks and Caicos should be no different.” He said that while there is a system of Her Majesty’s awards to Turks and Caicos Islanders, the majority of those who should be honoured under the system are perennially overlooked. “I am talking about hardworking Turks and Caicos Islanders who have given much of their blood, sweat and tears to this country,” he said, stating that the amended law would change that. Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson though supported the bill, said that the opposition had some concerns, but was not given the opportunity to sit with government and discuss. She said that greater transparency should be provided so that it would not appear that the
amended law seems political. Opposition member Hon. Derek Taylor said that the awards should also be extended to expatriates who have citizens of the county, and who are making sterling contribution to the country’s development. He argued that the bill should make provision for the public, including the church to recommend those who they believe should be honoured. He said the recommendation should either be made to committee members or as district commissioner, so as to make the process appear transparent. Taylor said also that he was not happy that the logo graphics that could be used as the official insignia, saying that a conch shell – the symbol of the ruling Progressive National Party had made its way on the document. “It must never be political. You cannot shell the cross or bell the cross. If you look at the symbols here, the cross is sitting on a shell, and that should never happen. We basically have to get these things right or you will forever have things being changed whenever you have a change of government. In the meantime, the Dormant Account Bill makes provision for government to access accounts that have been sitting idle for a number of years.
LIME announces flat rate plan for Turks and Caicos LIME, the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications provider has announced one simple flat rate prepaid plan for Turks & Caicos Islands. The simplified, flat rate plan took effect October 1, 2014. Mr. James Pitt, GM LIME TCI said, “As the number one mobile network in Turks & Caicos Islands, LIME is committed to delivering the experience our pre-paid customers
want and expect from their service provider. At LIME, we continue to listen and remain responsive to the needs of our consumers. Our consumers have asked for a simplified flat rate and LIME, the company that continues to innovate, has responded positively.” With the new, affordable, flat rate plan, pre-paid consumers will no longer have to schedule their calls for
specific off peak times. There will be no differentiation between weekend, week day, peak and off hour rates. Calls can be made at any time to any network and the rate will be the same. This therefore eliminates the need for consumers to carry two handsets to get better deals on rates. LIME, the network of choice in Turks & Caicos Islands, offers customers one simple and transparent plan with no
hidden fees. Mr. Pitt also said, “Upgrade to LIME, the handset of choice! One phone, one rate, on the number one network! This is just another way that LIME is keeping families, businesses and our communities connected. Upgrade to the #1 Mobile 4G Network for real value every time.”
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
Second floor premiere office space
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OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS
WIV IS GOING 100% DIGITAL
WIV would like to remind our customers that as of September 30, 2014 we have been phasing out our analogue cable TV signal and will be going 100% digital to deliver even better qualities of video and audio. For the past month we have been quickly installing our new digital set top boxes at the locations of our analogue cable TV subscribers to ensure there will be no disruption of service once the analogue signal is discontinued. The analogue signal will be completely discontinued on October 14, 2014. If by that time we have not installed a digital set top box, we do apologise; please contact us at: 339-4866 to arrange installation in the shortest possible time. We appreciate your co-operation as our team of technicians work to complete installations over the next few days. lf you are a interested in becoming a WIV cable TV customer please explore the following options: • Visit our office on Leeward Highway • Download our application form at www.wiv.tc and email it to wivinfo@digicelgroup.com • Call 339-4866 to speak to a customer care representative “Tech Help & FAQ” section of www.wiv.tc for Please also visit the “ detailed information on this change. We hope you look forward to the improved audio and video quality from our 100% digital cable TV service. Sincerely, The WIV Family
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 7
LOCAL NEWS
Former Chief Justice overturns Piper’s High Court victory In a decision handed down by former Chief Justice Goldsbrough, the Attorney General’s claim on behalf of the Government has succeeded against Akita Holdings, a company owned by McAllister Hanchell and his brother. The Government argued that Crown Land on Providenciales, approved for sale to McAllister Hanchell at the time when he was a Minister in Government, was sold to Akita at Mr Hanchell’s direction at an undervalue, in circumstances where Mr Hanchell knew the land was being sold at an undervalue and did not disclose that to the Government. The former Chief Justice found that Mr Hanchell knew that the land was worth significantly more than he was paying for it, even taking into account a Belonger discount, because he had commissioned private third party valuations to value the land (paragraphs 16-20). Having found that Mr Hanchell knew of the undervalue, the former Chief Justice went on to find that, as a Minister, Mr Hanchell owed the Government a duty of good faith and could not profit
of the Land acquired represented the undervalue at the time of acquisition (paragraph 41); and that the Government is consequently entitled to recover 69.92% of the current value of the unimproved land and the same percentage of the current value of the improved land insofar as the improvements are attributable to Akita’s use of the land (paragraph 45). Akita was also ordered to pay outstanding interest on unpaid rent of $2,449.68, and also ordered to pay the Government’s legal costs of the trial. In a separate order, the former Chief Justice also ordered Akita to pay the Government’s legal costs of the whole case, and gave directions for the process to calculate the McAllister Hanchell Edwin Goldsbrough damages due to the Government, which is expected to from his position; Mr Hanchell should therefore take place during the autumn. Commenting on the judgment, Attorney General have disclosed the undervalue of the land to the Government and that that duty to disclose was a Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles said: “We are pleased to have received judgment in the Government’s favour continuing one (paragraphs 29, 36). In finding for the Government, the former Chief in this important claim. This is one of the remaining Justice has allowed the Government to trace the civil recovery claims and represents a substantial benefit obtained by Akita by reason of the undervalue. recovery for the Government and the civil recovery The former Chief Justice declared that 69.92% team”.
Registration for the 2015/2016 voters’ register opens
Turks and Caicos Islanders are invited to make their annual check and update their records if necessary on the Islands’ Register of Electors it was announced today, Tuesday, 30 September 2014. Supervisor of Elections Mr. Dudley Lewis has advised that the Turks and Caicos Islands Register of Electors is currently being updated and the new annual register will be published on 31 March 2015. Individuals who are not on the current register but who wish to be included in the new Register of Electors will have until 30 November 2014 to contact the Elections Office with the relevant documentation. Registration for the election’s register is an
ongoing process, however, under the Elections Ordinance; an updated register is due on 31 March each year. Mr. Lewis encourages all new persons to apply to be included on the Register especially those who have turned 18 years of age since 1 March 2014, also those persons who are over 18 and did not apply to join the register earlier in 2014. Persons who after 30 November 2014 who attained the age of 18, and anyone who has been granted status as a Turks and Caicos Islander after November, can be added to the register. Dudley Lewis said: “Eligible voters on the present
Register of Electors do not need to re-apply to be included in the new one. They will be automatically included unless they notify the Elections Office that they have changed their name or place of residence, or no longer meet the eligibility criteria. This includes being resident in the TCI for at least 12 out of 24 months.” An elector’s status as a Turks and Caicos Islander must be verified first by the Ministry of Border Control through the process to obtain TC Islander Status card. Therefore, those without status cards should apply for one prior to registration.
Senior Plant Electrician •Responsible for carrying out effective preventive and corrective repairs to plant control and electrical equipment and other company assets in a manner consistent with
equipment manufacturer’s specification and standard electrical practices and as directed by the Plant Production Manager
Main Duties
•Maintain, install and trouble shoot all rotating and stationary electrical equipment with particular emphasis on control systems. All such work will be performed with safety, efficiency and functionality of the FortisTCI system as the guiding factors. •Participate in the layout, construction, installation, modification, maintenance and repairs to FortisTCI facilities by assisting in the preparation and interpretation of blueprints, plans specifications, catalogue data and written and verbal instructions. •Maintain, install and trouble shoot all breakers (high and low voltage) and associated equipment at the Power Plant. •Supervise and mentor apprentices. •Plan and conduct work in a manner consistent with the company’s commitment to the environment and ensure that subordinate employees are likewise in compliance. •Be familiar with and adhere to the safety and operating procedures of the company. •Be calm and competent in response to plant emergencies. •Knowledge and experience with starting, synchronizing, and loading multiple generators unto a power system busbar. •Knowledge of substation operations and maintenance. •Operate Company vehicles as required and in adherence to company policy and the driving regulations of TCI authorities. •Be professional in dress and demeanor as befits an employee and ensure that a good public image of FortisTCI is maintained at all times. •Perform other duties as may be assigned and/or required by system contingencies from time to time. Minimum Requirements: •At a minimum, must possess an electrical technologist, or electrical technician advanced diploma (or equivalent), with particular emphasis on controls systems and protection technology. •A minimum of 10 years’ experience in high voltage applications preferably in the diesel power generation and substation environment. •Experience working on Caterpillar and Wartsila diesel generators will be an asset. •Familiarity with and competency in the use of computers PLCs and standard computing software programs. •Excellence in interpretation of engineering drawings and manuals. •Professional competency in written and oral communication skills in English. •Experience in high voltage installation, maintenance, and repairs. •Ability to function effectively under emergency situations and thinks clearly and effectively and able to deliver within deadlines and to work under pressure. •Self-motivated solution oriented and positive in outlook. •Team player Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications
Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is October 17, 2014 to: Dr. Kellie-Ann Evans-Hall Manager, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@ppcltd.tc or khall@fortistci.com Fax: 649-946-4532
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Accused arson cop remanded in custody the camera not to be there,” Forbes said. Forbes did say the ban should be lifted on the Constable Mikhail Hinson, the police officer second day, but when members of the media turned charged with torching three police vehicles and up, they had no such luck. Chief Magistrate Warner attempted to set the Chalk Sound Police Station on told reporters inside the courtroom just before the fire was remanded in custody until November 7, 2014, commencement of proceedings that they would not be when he will face a sufficiency hearing. allowed to cover any of what would be said in court Hinson was slapped with five charges – four counts so as to avoid prejudice, and so it would be best for of malicious damage to property and one count of representatives not to be present inside while the setting fire to a building. matter was being heard. However, the media was not allowed to sit in on the A lawyer close to the case later told The SUN that mentioning matter held on Tuesday (September 30, the media should not have been totally barred from 2014) and Wednesday (October 1, 2014), before Chief the hearing. He explained that they should have been Magistrate, Clifton Warner in Court One, located present for the reading of the charges against Hinson, along Old Airport Road in Providenciales. but could have been asked to leave when the evidence The barring of the press from covering the event against him was being presented. led some members of the media to believe that the In the early morning of Friday (September 26, 2014), officer was getting preferential treatment. duty officers at the Chalk Sound Police Station were On the first day of the hearing, a detective told alerted by fire coming from vehicles in the station’s members of the press that he received strict parking lot and also a section of the building. They instruction from the court not to allow any member of alerted the fire department which quickly arrived and the media in the courtroom, offering no explanation. doused the flames. The fire fighters however, could not Defense attorney Ashwood Forbes, at the end of prevent the destruction of three vehicles, including a the first day of court hearing, told reporters that the spanking new Ford Explorer police cruiser and two prosecution made an application for the court to bar private cars. They managed to restrict the building press coverage since there were sensitive matters fire just to a rear door. they did not want released in the public domain for It did not take long before the police uncovered now. that the fires were acts of arson, as a few hours later, “We were told that the prosecution requested that Special Constable Audley Astwood, Information the matter be in camera to prevent any reporting Officer with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police whatsoever. They are still dealing with some Force, issued a press statement that investigators preliminary issues at this time so, they preferred for had discovered evidence to that effect. By VIVIAN TYSON
PROVO AIR CENTER IS SEEKING: TWO CONCIERGES Two provide high quality, professional customer service to internal & external customers. Answer questions and offer information covering a wide variety of airline airport related topics. Basic Computer skills. 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 RAMP AGENT • Over 5 years experience in maneuvering heavy duty equipment e.g. (pushing and towing aircraft). • Experience in general handling of General Aviation. Narrow body and wide body aircraft. • British Airways, JAR OPS, Supervisor Aircraft loading qualified. • US Airways fleet service door opening trainer. • Awareness Certification of acceptance/refusal of hazardous material as per IATA regulations. • Comprehensive knowledge in the operation of all Ground Service • Equipment (GSE). Salary commensurate with experience. Belongers need only apply. Interested person should apply to Interested applicants should apply to HR@intercaribbean.com or via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040. No phone calls please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
By Saturday, the police reported that they had apprehended the prime suspect in the arson case, and he was one of their own, who was later identified as Hinson, 24. Attired in a black suit, Hinson appeared relaxed entering and leaving the courtroom. At one point he even acknowledged the presence of the media with a short wave of hand. Prosecutor Clement Joseph, told reporters after the hearing that Hinson will be remanded in custody until the sufficiency hearing.
HAB MANAGEMENT LTD.
Cook Main Duties • Prepare food items of consistent quality in accordance with production requirements and quality standards while maintaining a safe sanitary work environment. • Start prep work on food items needed for the menu of the day. • Organize all of the various prep items needed from different areas to ensure that all items are in place and ready for service. • Inform the Executive Chef of any shortage of supplies that need restocking before items completely run out. Requirements • Applicants must have a minimum of three-year culinary experience working in a restaurant. • Comprehend and follow recipes and cooking techniques. • Must have thorough knowledge and understanding of food service sanitation standards. • Thorough knowledge and understanding of standard kitchen equipment and its use. • Applicants must be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required by management. • Perform other duties as assigned, requested or deemed necessary by management. • Applicants will be required to work on a full time basis. • Must be able to walk, stand or stoop for the duration of shift (at least 8 hours). • Applicants must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. • Applicants must be detail oriented, must be hardworking and a team player. • Work with minimal supervision. Salary commensurate with experience and training. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by October 13, 2014 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-9465191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
No insurance replacement for torched police vehicle By Vivian Tyson
Since the police purchases only third party insurance for its vehicles, the brand new Ford Explorer cruiser damaged by fire said to be the work of an arsonist last Friday (September 26) will not be replaced. Special Constable Audley Astwood, the Media Liaison Officer with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, who made the disclosure, also dismissed as fact-free that the police vehicles were not insured Astwood further explained that since third party insurance only covers road accidents, which the fire was not, plus the vehicle was parked, the force would get no replacement vehicle from the insurer. Since the nocturnal torching of two private and a police vehicle, parked at the Chalk Sound Police Station, some persons in the community suggested that insurance companies have refused to insure police vehicles because they are high risk automobiles. But Astwood said the talk was just empty rumors persons were trying to spark into flames.
An insurance company source told The SUN that the police have been insuring their vehicles at third party rate for as long as he could remember. He said that years ago insurance coverage of government vehicles would be put to tender for interested insurers to apply. The insurance source said that at the time it was government that indicated what level of insurance it preferred and not the insurance companies that dictated the rank to be provided. The source however, that it is well within the insurance companies’ right whether to accept, or offer to higher premiums if they believe it is necessary. Ask whether or not insurance companies would be quick to offer comprehensive insurance to especially police vehicles, the source said in some instances it could prove costly for the insurer, since police utility vehicles stand a greater chance of getting into accidents as opposed to other vehicles. Commissioner Colin Farquhar, on receiving the new vehicles earlier this year, told reporters at the Chalk Sound Police Station that during handing over
WATERLOO HOTEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED seeks to fill the following position:-
DIRECTOR OF GROUP SALES
In this key role, you are responsible for developing, growing, and managing the resorts sales. You will be responsible for the overall sales function for all aspects of the resorts operation and lead the development and execution of Sales Plans and initiatives that maximize profitability for the resorts. Create awareness and promote resort services and amenities through advertising, direct mail, E-mail campaigns, collateral, online sales, customer relationship sales etc. Positions and enhances the resorts image in the local community as well as nationally and internationally.
Requirements:
➢Five or more year’s Sales/Marketing experience in Condo resort/hotel sales, preferably in full-service property with meeting space. ➢College degree in sales/sales, hospitality management, or business – a plus. ➢Caribbean Resort with multiple units and familiarity with Caribbean Sales ➢Flexible Schedule: Due to the critical nature of the hospitality industry, employees may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the resort. In addition, attendance at all scheduled Sales meetings is required plus travel to key accounts in key markets for Sale shows, conventions, meetings with Travel wholesalers and Travel Agents. Skills and Abilities ➢Highly motivated, self-directed sales management professional with resultsoriented drive, sense of urgency, and proven abilities to close deals and sell. ➢Must have demonstrated results in leading sales team, improving market share, and developing sales staff. ➢Knowledgeable on room merchandising, hotel revenues, etc. and able to evaluate and revise programs. ➢Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. Must have a thorough knowledge of English language to communicate with customers, associates, and vendors. ➢Attention to details, very organized, and timely completion of projects with strong skills in MS Word, sales and accounting applications. ➢Fully knowledgeable on all areas of hotel and departments’ interdependencies and limitations that could impact sales strategies. ➢Proven success in maintaining and building relationships with existing accounts while aggressively developing new business. ➢Represent the resorts in a professional manner internationally, with community, vendors, customers, and staff. ➢Available to travel and work weekend/evening as needed with excellent knowledge of the local market with existing contacts and networking relationships. 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 October 17th, 2014 Belongers need only apply.
ceremony that a system of accountability would be enforced to ensure that the vehicles, for as long as possible, remain in good condition. In the meantime, the torching of the police vehicle has not gone down well with some members of the public, a section of whom raised the argument that prior to the acquisition of the new vehicles the police complained that they could not respond effectively and timely to the majority of incident reports because they had not vehicles. And now that they received a few, they are already being destroyed. The police have arrested and charged one of their own, Constable Mikhail Hinson, 24, in relation to the arson. He was charged with four counts of malicious destruction to property and one count of setting fire to a building. He appeared in Court One of the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court earlier this week, and was remanded in custody until November 7, 2014, when he is expected to face a sufficiency hearing. Since the charge is indictable, the young cop was not allowed to enter a plea.
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.
BLUE HAVEN RESORT is inviting applications for the following position:
Marina Sales and Marketing Manager The Marina Sales and Marketing Manager should demonstrate the ability to work with minimal supervision, must work well under pressure and be selfmotivated.
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS: ◊ Extensive knowledge of Marina Sales and marketing in tourism background highly advantageous. ◊ Prior pre-sales or/and post-sales experience needed. ◊ Degree level education, preferably in Hospitality Management or related subject. ◊ Experience selling products, data, training or technical services. ◊ Experience in event and boating photography ◊ Foreign language, especially Spanish/French (spoken/ written) is preferred. ◊ Broad understanding of the marina and boating fields. ◊ Dynamic, self-motivated, individual with a drive to succeed in sales and marketing. ◊ Excellent interpersonal skills as you will liaise with multicultural clients and colleagues. ◊ Business acumen with an ambition to further develop sales/marketing skills. ◊ Excellent networking experience/capability. ◊ Ability to create publications, direct and proof promotions and ads for the tourist and business community ◊ Ability to coordinate and manage marina’s sales website ◊ Applicant must be in possession of a Boating license ◊ RYA certification is preferred 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 October 10th, 2014 Belongers need only apply.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
12-storey buildings will hurt Providenciales’ image
Two sectors most responsible for the time could not be seen as a encouraging has had an opportunity to dissect in various developments will put a provision of government revenue for the TCI based on the level of the amendment to the Development huge strain on our resources such as are expressing fears that the recent clientele that the country attracts. Manual in greater detail, we are not the fire service, the power and water Cabinet decision to amend the “One point that we can agree on is able to provide further comment at this infrastructure and emergency services development manual to increase the that this amendment will certainly time,” he said. which at this time can’t cope with such building density on Providenciales change the landscape of the Turks and When contacted, Stacy Cox, Executive a high volume. from seven to 12 storeys could prove Caicos Islands. Something that we Director of the TCHTA told The SUN “TCI as we know and love maintains harmful. are yet to see as being positive based that while she was not prepared to the slogan “Beautiful by Nature” which The Turks and Caicos Islands Real on the island’s existing and successful make further comments on the issue; differentiates us from other Islands in Estate Association (TCIREA) and the position in the market, being a peaceful, the position taken before remains the the region. Many of our competitors Turks and Caicos Islands Hotel and low density, high-end destination. This same. have the same beautiful beaches, Tourism Association (TCHTA) have is unique to the Turks and Caicos, and Cox, prior to government’s decision great restaurants etc so our country’s already voiced their disapproval even has proven to be one of our greatest to make the construction adjustment, differentiation and competitiveness while government contemplated the assets. had raised concerns that the decision advantage are in what we ‘do not’ have,” idea. Both entities said that it could “The Turks and Caicos Real Estate could impact the decisions of travel she said at the time. have a negative impact on the future Association certainly has its concerns. partner’s clients, majority of whom She added at the time that the building investment in those sectors should This is a significant change that will she said prefer to visit destinations height adjustment by Government government went ahead with it. most definitely affect a well established with low density constructions and could not only cripple TCI’s brand A post cabinet media release last week investor demographic, a demographic where nature and the environment are but also affect the country’s land has indicated that His Excellency that has come to the Turks and Caicos preserved. and sea environment. She said while Governor Peter Beckingham, based on its low density environment,” She had pointed out that significant Government is trying to boost tourism Chairman of the Cabinet, lead the Greenwood emphasized. damaged had already been done to the numbers with the intention of raising approval of the Development Manual Providing that he is yet to discuss TCI ecosystem, thanks to chemicals revenues to pay its bills, it should not to increase the maximum height the matter with all members of the from landscaping and other activities. do so at the expense of the environment. of buildings on Providenciales to a association, Greenwood said that She stressed that construction of high- “Having the same objective as maximum 12 storeys on a minimum 5 he could not, at this time, provide a rise buildings could further affect the Government, which is to improve acre parcel, effective immediately. statement reflecting the views of the country’s aesthetics and environment. and maintain the slogan that TCI It was during meeting on June entire membership. “We have already seen significant have built its brand on “Beautiful by 4, 2014, that Cabinet agreed to “Given that this information has damage to our reef system and aquifer Nature”, TCHTA believes that this open a consultation to increase the only just reached the public domain, by landscaping chemicals, impacts of however can’t be done at the expense building limit on Providenciales. The the association has not yet had an desalination by-products and other of the country’s unique reputation and consultation was co-ordinated by the opportunity to meet and discuss in factors of increase development over welcomes the opportunity for further Ministry of Home Affairs and was detail. Therefore, an opinion that the past years and we believe that discussions with the Government,” She opened to all interested stakeholders. would fairly reflect the association as a long term comprehensive plan is said. In response to the decision, Robert a whole can’t be provided at this date. needed to protect our existing brand Up to this point, the tallest building Greenwood, President of the Turks and “However, I would more suggest that a and products. on Providenciales is the Seven Stars Caicos Islands Real Estate Association full statement can be provided in the “Our Association also believes that Resort, which has seven floors and a said that such an amendment at this very near future. Until the association having several high rise buildings basement.
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SPECIALIST GRAND TURK AND SALT CAY OPERATIONS
• Responsible for detailed supervision of subordinate employees and/or contractors, who perform plant installation and maintenance work at FortisTCI facilities, inclusive of transportation fleet staff. • To provide expert decision-making assistance; and steering and guiding effective preventative and corrective maintenance activities on generation plant and their controls and on transportation fleet; inclusive of training of staff in these areas, in a manner consistent with equipment manufacturer’s specification and standard mechanical and electrical practices, and as directed by the Director, Grand Turk Operations.
Main Duties
• Assist the Director, Grand Turk Operations in identifying the developmental needs of plant operators and fleet mechanics through proper evaluation; and develop and implement a program for continuous on the job monitoring, training, and mentoring, to minimize and to ultimately reduce deficiencies. • Prepare weekly, monthly, and annual work plans and associated reports as directed by the Director, Grand Turk Operations. • Ensure a high degree of familiarity and profound knowledge of specifications; fundamental operating concepts; operating and maintenance manuals; and procedures for all generating plant and transportation fleet assets and their equipment. • Prepare work instructions for maintenance-related duties and coordinate work of plant operators and fleet mechanics, with particular regard to safety, efficiency, and functionality of the plant and transport fleet. • Prepare comprehensive parts lists and cost estimates needed for all major maintenance activities and planned overhaul projects, and for any other projects as may be assigned. • Solicit and assess quotes, and make recommendations for purchase inclusive of commencing the requisition process upon receiving approval, to facilitate timely procurement of material to meet project schedule timelines. • Assist in the preparation of capital and maintenance budgets through the provision of cost estimates for the Generation department as assigned and directed. • Conduct testing and troubleshooting of plant and transport fleet equipment in the area of responsibility and in the longer term train others to perform these functions. • Be familiar with and adhere to all Company policies and procedures (including those established by past practice) relating to the position. • Plan and conduct work in a manner consistent with the Company’s commitment to the environment and ensure that project work teams are likewise in compliance. • Be familiar with and adhere to the safety and operating procedures of the Company (particularly those established by EUSA), and ensure that projects are executed consistent with these procedures. • Maintain and ensure the accuracy of statistical records of plant and transportation fleet operations and maintenance activities as required by the company. • Be professional in dress and demeanor as befits the position and ensure that a good public image of FortisTCI is maintained at all times • Perform other duties as may be assigned and/or required by Director, Grand Turk Operations
contingencies from time to time. • Prepare weekly, monthly and annual work plans and accomplishment reports on project assignments • Submit job reports and detailed engineering equipment failure analysis reports • Execute preventative and corrective maintenance to ensure high equipment reliability and availability • Any other related duty as assigned from time to time. Minimum Requirements: • Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical Technology or an accredited equivalent. • 10 to 15 years working experience with Caterpillar Power Generation Systems, specifically knowledge of 3500 and 3600 Series Prime and Standby Electric Power Generators; and ISO Control and Switchgear Systems. • Knowledge of power plant SCADA and feeder distribution systems • 10 to 15 years working experience with vehicle engine, transmission, hydraulic pumps diagnosis and rebuilds. • Minimum of 5 years’ experience at mid management level. • Proficiency in interpretation of mechanical and electrical drawings and manuals is required. • Above average analytical skills in math and mechanical/electrical theories, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems, towards good decision making. • Familiarity with PLC troubleshooting and programming is required, as is the ability to train others. • Professional competency in written and oral communication skills in English • Experience in working under utility emergency response condition • Ability to function effectively under emergency situations; and to think clearly and effectively and deliver within deadlines; and to work under pressure • Ability to work in an environment that is noisy, and be exposed to lubricating oil, diesel fuel and engine fumes. • Self-motivated, solution oriented and positive in outlook • Excellent time management skills • Team player Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FORTISTCI application form) is October 13, 2014 to: Dr. Kellie-Ann Evans-Hall Manager, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or khall@fortistci.com:
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Teen accused of beating police officer gets $2,000 bail The teen, who, was alleged to have punched a police officer in the face and caused him to be hospitalized when he attempted to apprehend him for suspected trespassing on the Clement Howell High School compound on September 30, 2014, was granted bail in the sum of $2,000 and to return to court on October 16, 2014. Joshua Swann, 17, pleaded not guilty to wounding, malicious damage to property, trespassing and resisting arrest when he appeared in Court One of the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court on Friday, October 3, 2014 before Magistrate Jolyan Hatman. He was accused of punching Sergeant Winston Grant, causing a cut above his left eye. He was also accused of
tearing the police uniformed as well as damaging his sergeant chevron. The court was told that Sergeant Grant observed Swann on the compound and went to investigate. The accused man, on seeing the uniformed police officer sprinted away, but the officer gave chase and caught him in the parking lot. He attempted to march back the man to the school compound to find out his business there and also warned him of trespassing. But the court that Swann, on being apprehended, began punching and kicking the cop, resulting in the cut above his eye, a busted mouth and damaging of his uniform and chevron. The court was told that three other police officers, who came to Sergeant
Grant’, aid subdued Swann. Grant was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, the court was told, where he was treated and subsequently discharged. The court was told that Swann was charged on Thursday (October 2, 2014) in the presence of his mother Elva Talbot and attorney Glenda Clarke. The accused teen, who initially chose to have his case heard in the Supreme Court, but after a lengthy discussion with his attorney, changed his mind and chose the Magistrate’s Court, denied the charges. Defense attorney Clarke told the court that Swann, who, up to the last school year was a student at the Clement Howell High School, was still
eligible to attend the institution, even though he had not gone there since the start of the school year. She said that he had legitimate reasons to visit the compound, as he went there to enquire when he would be able to return to school. She said that later his business trip to the school went to visit his little brother who is a student at the school. Clarke further told the court that Swann was actually escorted to his brother’s classroom by a security guard who is employed at the school, when the police tried to apprehend him. The prosecution did not object to bail.
Expert Bug Team To Determine if TCI Has Palm Weevil Problem A team of US experts is heading is to conduct a series of field surveys to assess the nature and incidence of diseases in palm trees in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) from Monday, 29 September until Friday, 3 October 2014. The TCI and US Departments of Agriculture are working together to survey and assess the presence of certain pests of palms, which can cause serious damage to, or death in, palms trees, such as weevils. The survey is funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) office in Trinidad and Tobago, and the mission is being led by Wayne De Chi. In a further act of support, the USDA are providing their TCI colleagues with redeployed palm weevil traps
and specialist chemicals in order to wither tackle any infestation found by the survey or some future outbreak. “Our tourism industry depends on the aesthetics of plants and flowers to create a beautiful environment for guests to relax in and enjoy,” Dexter Gordon, Chief Plant Protection Officer, TCI Department of Agriculture. “Clearly, many live plants are imported into the islands, and this survey is an important stage in identifying what pests are already inside our borders, and to devise appropriate preventions strategies for others. If a worst case scenario does transpire, then we will to work educate Islanders and tourists, as well as strengthening our monitoring
HAB MANAGEMENT LIMITED
and surveillance. The USDA’s Wayne De Chi added, “We have already seen some worrying signs across the region with diseases spreading elsewhere, which can have a catastrophic effect on indigenous plant life - just look at how the scale insect problem has adversely affected the Caicos Pine, for instance. This is why we are tackling these issues at a regional level, working with partners across the Caribbean to help them ensure that their countries remain pest free or, if they do become infected, to help them minimise the spread of diseases and infestations from country to country.’
IMMEDIATE OPENING
HAB Management Limited is seeking suitably qualified individuals to fill the following opening. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER Essential Job Functions:
•Provide direction and support to the housekeeping staff, ensuring that the Housekeeping Department runs in a smooth efficient manner. •Manage the day to day operations of the Housekeeping Department in order to maintain the established standards of service and cleanliness of the hotel. •Carry out daily inspection of rooms, public space and back of house areas continually and consistently. •Control, request and purchase all supplies related to housekeeping. •Control inventories and costs of cleaning supplies, consumable and housekeeping equipment and machinery. •Responsible for setting up and maintaining ongoing training programs for the housekeeping staff.
Requirements:
•Should have at least six (6) years experience as a Housekeeping Supervisor or relevant experience in a luxury hotel. •Must have knowledge of proper cleaning techniques, requirements and familiar with all equipments that are associated with the Housekeeping Department. •Must have strong administrative skills and must be able to prioritize workload. •Must have the ability to multitask, work in a fast paced environment and have a high level attention to detail. •Must be hands on and work with minimal supervision. •Should be able to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. •Must have advanced knowledge and skills in MS Office (particularly Excel), Visual One and know how to operate office equipment. •Ability to communicate information and hotel services to management, team members and guest. •Strong verbal and written communication skills in English is required for this position. The salary for this position is $18,000 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by October 17, 2014 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
Executive Chef Requirements: • 10 years experience as an Executive Chef in a luxury resort. • Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience. • Formal culinary degree or formal apprenticeship. • Proven managerial experience in a fine dining environment. • Practical creativity to provide innovative entrees and developing new, unusual market driven menus while meeting profit goals of property and menu engineering. • Previous responsibility for food purchasing, including negotiating prices. • Prior experience standardizing recipes, plating instructions and costing. • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts. Duties Include: • Participate in the development and implementation of business strategies for Food and Beverage including development of annual budget, monitoring actual versus budgeted expenses and recommending menu pricing. • Develop and implement menu and dining strategies. • Prepare reports summarizing food and beverage profitability, customer satisfaction, etc. • Lead monthly staff meetings. Salary $55,000.00 per annum/commensurate with qualification and experience Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday, and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels.com, no later than end of day Friday, October 10th, 2014.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
TCI leaders need international exposure – E. Jay Saunders One of the reasons United Kingdom politicians and their bureaucrats often dismiss Turks and Caicos Islands politicians during talks critical to the upward mobility of the territory is due mainly to local’s lack of confidence, according to businessman E. Jay Saunders. Saunders, who staged an unsuccessful bit for leadership of the Progressive National Party (PNP) a few years back, and who is not ruling out making another run, surmised that the leaders’ diffidence stems from the condition that local leaders, while are very smart, lack international exposure and for the most part, fail to obtain such knowledge. That (timidity by our politicians) is one of the reasons why we lose in those debates when you go up with people like William Hague and those. He can walk into a room and basically completely dismiss you. I can tell you, he is not going to dismiss me. And I hope that by the next time we have a conversation in the UK, they won’t be dismissing anyone from the Turks and Caicos, because we are going to have our name all over the map, in all sorts of things,” Saunders asserted. Saunders explained that the international exposure he gained from rubbing shoulders and competing against billionaires from around the world, has given him the fillip to negotiate effectively at the highest level in politics, business, and on other issues. “I remember when we were discussing the Constitution, and Kate Sullivan was here, I was invited to join Clayton Greene, who was then the leader of the party (PNP). He didn’t have a deputy; so I was the unofficial deputy. “And when we walked into the room with (former) Governor (Ric) Todd and Allan Duncan, and I remember Allan Duncan and I having a little bit of an argument. Clayton was to my right and the governor
was to his (Duncan’s) right. I remember them looking back and forth, and they were looking at how this person can have a conversation with Allan Duncan, who is actually the governor’s boss… to having a big argument with him. “And the reason why I was able to have that argument with Allan Duncan was that I saw him as nothing more than a man. I didn’t see him as anything great. I said to myself if I was going to represent the Turks and Caicos, I was going to represent the Turks and Caicos man to man. And the reason why I was able to see him as a man is that, when you walk into these types of competitions and you see billionaires all the way down, you then realize that I can compete with the Larry Pages (Google’s CEO) of the world and others,” Saunders said. Saunders pointed out that there are lots of events around the world that Turks and Caicos Islands leaders and aspiring leaders can lend their voice and efforts to, other than issues in their locale. “That is when you begin to have the trust that when you walk into the room, they are not going to say, who is this person, they would know about you already. And that is where we need to get in this Turks and Caicos, that when we walk into the room that we command a certain amount of respect and not taken for granted,” Saunders emphasized. He added: “I will never, ever be intimidated by any of them (Britons). And so, if it comes down to discuss anything you want to discuss – the debt – we can discuss the debt. If we want to discuss why we want to spend money on social programmes while there is still a debt, I can discuss that also. If they want to come and meet me here, they can meet me here. If they want me to meet them there I can meet them there. “And so, this (international exposure) is the kind of thing that creates that type of confidence, and that is
why we need to go through this to show them that we can compete anywhere in the world and on any topic. It does not have to be science and technology and math. It can be debt finance, it can be social services, it can be politics, and it can be humanitarian things; that we have got the people smart enough to do it and the confidence to do it.” Saunders said that while he still has political ambitions, he has ruled himself out of the 2016 polls. “I honestly believe that the Turks and Caicos needs good news outside of sun, sea and sand. And that is why I have always been positioning myself and to be global; to compete with people. It is a chip I carry on my shoulder. People always say, when you talk about people from the Caribbean, particularly the Turks and Caicos, ‘the Turks and Caicos has friendly people, the beaches are nice, the food is really nice’. “But one thing they never say is, ‘Turks Islanders are brilliant’. When you talk about Indians, they would say Indians are brilliant. When they talk about Israelis, they say Israelis are brilliant people; they say Chinese are brilliant people. They don’t say Turks and Caicos Islanders are brilliant. A lot of times I go into places, and you hear people sitting down and say, ‘you are pretty bright to be from the Turks and Caicos’. And I would say, ‘I am pretty bright to be from this planet Earth’,” Saunders noted. Saunders said while he considers himself to be pretty sharp, he actually played second fiddle to persons such as Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Kenrick Walters of Bordier Bank in high school. “And so, I want Turks Islanders to position themselves to say, ‘we can solve these challenges, we are a bright people, we have got the IQ level that we can do it,” he said.
Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 2009
Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 2009
An Application, REGISTERED PR-11990, by P. and V. Firmenich has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of a project to install a low-crested rock breakwater to dissipate currents in the permitted beach lagoon system (PR-11658). The breakwater is a dog-leg configuration with an overall length of 65 ft at the Mean High Water Line. The top width is 4 ft at 1 ft above Mean Sea Level. The project is located at block/parcel 61003/106.
An Application, REGISTERED NC-1064, FortisTCI has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of a project to replace and relocate a power transmission cable servicing Water Cay, Pine Cay, Dellis Cay and North Caicos with a subaqueous crossing length totaling approximately 63,000 linear ft and a land crossing over the private islands of Water Cay and Dellis Cay of approximately 20,000 linear ft. The Project will improve reliability and resiliency for the power transmission to these islands. The Project includes upgrading the quality of service with three phase power to meet the energy requirements for new developments on North Caicos, Dellis Cay, Water Cay, and will set the stage for eventual extension of transmission lines to East Caicos and South Caicos.
Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Downtown, Town Center Mall, Providenciales, within twenty eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. Notice dated: September 26, 2014
PUBLIC NOTICE Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990 An Application, REGISTRATION # GT 4562, by DIGICEL (TCI) LIMITED for the development of a TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER on Grand Turk to ensure continuity of cellphone communication following the demolition of the existing base has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Development and Planning Permission on: BLOCK: 10506 PARCEL: 74 LOCATION: South Base ISLAND: Grand Turk Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Downtown, Town Center Mall, Providenciales, within twenty eight(28) days of publication of this Notice.
Notice Dated:
29nd September, 2014
Anyone wishing to make any representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk, or through the Department of Planning, Downtown, Town Center Mall, Providenciales within twenty eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. Notice dated: September 26, 2014
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
DPP dismisses claims of discrimination in appeals court process
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) JoAnn Meloche is dismissing claims by the men convicted in the Royal Bank of Canada robbery of conspiracy within the justice system to hurdle their appeal. After the Court of Appeals wound up its almost three weeks of sitting near mid September, a number of cases were still outstanding. And so, the tribunal, made up of Chairman Edward Zacca, Elliot Mottley QC and Ian Forte QC, decided to push the cases back to early or mid January, 2015. This decision did not go down well with some individuals whose cases were listed to be heard in September, including Bernard Coalbrooke, Daniel Been Jr., Darrison Nash and Odessa Williams – the foursome said to be involved in the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) armed robbery and shooting. The men, in a letter obtained by The SUN, said they are led to believe that someone or persons within the justice system launched a campaign to shaft them. And the great deal of hurdles experienced in their attempt to get their case to reach the Court of Appeal has not proved otherwise. But the DPP explained that there was no attempt to railroad anyone’s attempt to have their matter heard before the Appeals court. She said that there were several factors which caused some cases not to be heard, chief among them were the hearing of the SIPT trial without jury appeal and fact that some of the matters expected to complete within certain time went way over. Meloche she said, too, that the judges arrived late since Tropical Storm Cristobal delayed them. “It sounded from the article that the reason that the judges could not hear the appeal was because there was no courtroom available. That was not the case; there was always a courtroom available but they were hearing other cases. They arrived late.
“The Court of Appeal was extended this time to accommodate the SIPT trial without jury decision, so they added an extra week. So when the judges were coming they were coming for three weeks to account for that additional appeal. They always have one week of criminal cases, one week of civil cases, and this time they added on that trial without jury cases for the first week. “But they arrived late because there was a storm, so two or three days they couldn’t sit, they were late. They couldn’t get a flight into the Turks and Caicos, so that part of the first week was eliminated, she said. Meloche said that since all the defense attorneys in the SIPT case made representation on behalf of their client, the matter went longer than first thought. “It went overtime; there were 10 different defense counsels. And by the time everybody got what they wanted to say, the appeal went on for longer than what they had accounted for. When they realized we were running out of time, they (judges) started to look at their list to say ‘well, we got to reduce the list because we are not going to get through these matters on the list. “They went on to do the Petrol Plus case, which was the appeal that I argued. That was scheduled for a half day or a day and it took almost three days. So really what happened was we ran out of time. And so the court would then reissue a couple of writs to us to say, ‘well, now the scheduled would be this’. They had to adjourn some of those cases because they realized that they didn’t have enough time to reach everything that was scheduled,” Meloche explained. She said that her office was ready to argue all the matters listed but reiterated that it has no say as to which cases the judges see as top priority. “They (judges) were just busy; they just ran out of time. So they adjourned not only that case that you
are talking about but they adjourned several other criminal appeals and all of the civil appeals. They adjourned many cases over to the next session that they set for sometime in January,” Meloche said. In the meantime, Meloche said that it is normal for cases to adjourn until the next sitting of the Appeals Court, although this could be the first time that so many were pushed back.
JoAnn Meloche
Chukka Caribbean Adventures (TCI) Ltd., a leading Nature Adventure tour company with affiliated facilities in Jamaica and Belize invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions: The successful applicants must: DUNE BUGGY TOUR GUIDES »» Hold a valid TCI Driver’s Licence with a minimum 5 years driving experience. »» Be at least 25 years old. »» Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the operation of a tourist passenger vehicle. Other prior experience in the tourist service industry would be an asset. »» Possess an excellent driving record. A defensive driving certificate would be an asset. »» Have a valid passport. »» Be willing to travel and if necessary undergo a period of internship in tour delivery and safety standards at one of the Company’s affiliated facilities outside of the TCI. »» Be well-spoken with English as primary language. »» Be trained in CPR and First Aid delivery. »» Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business. »» Clean criminal record. HORSE BACK TOUR GUIDES »» Minimum of 3 years horseback trail riding experience. »» Must be a competent swimmer. »» Be willing to travel and if necessary undergo a period of internship in tour delivery and safety standards at one of the Company’s affiliated facilities outside of the TCI. »» Must possess a demonstrable and natural affinity for the health, wellbeing and care of horses. »» Be well-spoken with English as primary language. »» Be trained in CPR and First Aid delivery. »» Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business. »» Clean criminal record. SALES CLERK/HOUSEKEEPER-LAUNDERER/LABOURER »» Minimum of 3 years general sales and merchandising experience (Sales Clerk) »» Proven and unblemished track record of employment »» Positive and disciplined attitude toward work in a customer service oriented business (Sales Clerk) »» Excellent communication, inter-personal and customer service skills »» Trustworthy and reliable disposition »» Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business. ON PROPERTY REVENUE/PARK OFFICER (OPR) »» Tertiary level qualification in Sales/Marketing
»» Minimum of five (5) years experience in retail sales and trade marketing »» Valid Driver’s License »» Highly Professional and ethical standards with a passion for nature and the environment. »» Positive and disciplined attitude toward work in a fast pace, multi-tasking customer service oriented business, with ability to handle complaints and work under pressure »» Excellent communication, analytical, inter-personal and customer service skills with a strong track record of motivating staff and team work »» Must be willing and able to work outdoors, flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business. BOAT MASTER/CAPTAIN »» Hold a valid Boat Master/Captain Licence with a minimum 5 years’ experience in the operation of tourist charter/passenger boats. »» Practical experience in the tourist service industry would be an asset. »» Possess an excellent boat captain’ safety record. »» Have a valid passport. »» Be willing to travel and if necessary undergo a period of internship in tour delivery and safety standards at one of the Company’s affiliated facilities outside of the TCI. »» Be well-spoken with English as primary language. »» Trained in CPR and First Aid delivery. »» Be willing and able to work flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business. »» Clean criminal record. »» Must be a competent swimmer. »» Must have a proven and unblemished track record of employment »» Positive and disciplined attitude toward work in a customer service oriented business »» Excellent communication, inter-personal and customer service skills »» Trustworthy and reliable disposition Suitable candidates that do not meet the above requirements may, at the sole discretion of the Company’s management team, be eligible for consideration in circumstances where they demonstrate a clear willingness to embrace the Company’s in-house training initiatives and established standard operating policies and procedures. Preference will be given to documented Turks and Caicos Islanders. Written applications only and accompanying CVs/Resumes must be addressed to the Resident Manager at the following address: CHUKKA CARIBBEAN ADVENTURES (TCI) LTD. C/o EPIC Corporate & Consultancy Services Ltd. Cee’s Plaza, Suite No. 1, Church Folly P.O Box 86, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands Phone: 649-332-1339, Fax: 649-946-1570 Email: rswann@chukkacaribbean.com,
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS Supermercado Dominicano Ltd. and E&R Supermarket Ltd., an affiliated group of whole sale and retail sales stores, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions:
Career Opportunity: Grace Bay Club is looking for candidates that have the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner. They love to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization. Their management style is one that balances a commitment to people and their development with business/financial accountability and delivers an exceptional guest experience.
Group Director of People Development Job Requirements
To be responsible for the centralized Human Resources Department for Grace Bay Resorts by overseeing HR and Training strategies for all properties from an operational and strategic standpoint. The successful candidate will work directly with the company’s senior management team, to develop and implement strategic long range initiatives that will support the growth of the Grace Bay Resorts Brand.
The successful candidate must meet the following qualifications and experience:
to
•10+ years experience in a Senior Human Resource Role within the Hospitality Sector •10+ years experience in the Luxury Market, in Hotels, Resorts or Cruise Line Industries •College or University degree in Human Resource Management or equivalent years of experience. •Caribbean experience considered definite plus. •3+ years overseeing multi-unit Human Resources Departments within an organization. •Certified in “Talent Plus” or other recognized psycho-metric testing tool that enables you to conduct certification tests and benchmark talent. •Experience in Kronos set up and implementation. Ability to use Kronos as an HRIS and payroll tool
manage payroll, time & attendance, disciplinary action, employee wage and labor costs. •Extensive knowledge in Training & Development, conducting Needs Analysis, designing, developing and facilitating training programs that meet the company’s strategic needs. •Extensive knowledge in writing company P & P’s and SOP’s and developing company Brand Standards. •Previous demonstrated experience in Conflict Resolution, and Employee Relations •Previous demonstrated experience in designing compensation models that attract and retain the best qualified talent for Grace Bay Resorts. •Previous experience recruiting and selecting top notch industry professionals at all levels of the organization. •Ability to determine appropriate staffing levels based on forecasted revenues, to optimize the balance between desired profitability, guest demands and employee satisfaction. •Ideal candidate will be a “strategic thinker”, skilled at identifying company development opportunities as it relates to policies, processes and standards •New Hotel Opening experience considered a definite asset.
Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department no later than October 17, 2014 @ (649) 946-5050 Ext. 1050 Email: humanresources@gracebayclub.com Fax: (649) 946-5758 P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies
2 FARMERS
ERNEST WILLIAMS SEEKS
ONE LABOURER
In addition to the foregoing, interested candidates for the positions as: SHOP KEEPERS/SUPERVISOR/MERCHANDISER ◊ Must have at least 3 to 5 years extensive experience and advanced knowledge in the Grocery sales and Merchandising business. ◊ Must be proficient in the use and operation of relevant retail sales and merchandising computer software programmes, viz, Quick Books, Point of Sales Systems, etc. ◊ Must be able to work under little or no supervision ◊ Proficiency in another written and spoken language in addition to English will be a definite advantage. SALES CLERKS ◊ Must have a minimum of 3 years general sales and merchandising experience ◊ Computer literate HOUSEKEEPER/LABOURER ◊ Must be willing and able to attend to general housekeeping and general maintenance duties, including stocking of shelves, keeping store and surrounding areas clean, habitable and presentable. Suitable candidates that do not meet the above requirements may, at the sole discretion of the Company’s management team, be eligible for consideration in circumstances where they demonstrate a clear willingness to embrace the Company’s in-house training initiatives and established standard operating policies and procedures. Preference will be given to documented Turks and Caicos Islanders. Written applications only and accompanying CVs/Resumes must be addressed to the Resident Manager at the following address: The Managing Director, Supermercado Dominicano C/o EPIC Corporate & Consultancy Services Ltd. Cee’s Plaza, Suite No. 1, Church Folly, P.O Box 86, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands Fax: 649-946-1571, Email: epic@epiccorporate.com
Qualified Belongers need only apply. Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience
LOIS MCINTOSH seeks
The successful applicants must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the reasonable needs of the business and possess: ◊ A Proven and unblemished track record of employment ◊ A Positive and disciplined attitude toward work in a customer service oriented business ◊ Excellent communication, inter-personal and customer service skills ◊ Trustworthy and reliable disposition ◊ Must be a team player and able to work in concert with others. ◊ Be well-spoken with English as primary language. ◊ A clean criminal record.
EARL BASDEN JR SEEKS
ONE LABOURER
JOSIE SHOP
Is looking for A
To work in North Caicos Salary $5.00 per hour
Contact 241-0574
DOMESTIC HELPER
Salary $5.00 per hour 5 days per week Interested persons should contact 442-0993
Cashier To work Mon- Fri9-5pm
Salary $8.00 per hour Mon-Fri 7-5 Contact 243-2590
Contact 1zionconsult@gmail.com
DOMESTIC WORKER
PASTOR EVAN WILLIAMS
Wanted
Of Middle Caicos SEEKS
Church Musician
To work 6 days per week.
SALARY $5.00 PER HOUR NORMAL 3 DAY PER WEEK CONTACT MAHALA WYNNS TEL: 231-7188
Contact # 347-5912 South Caicos
Salary $6.00 per hour Contact 245-5266
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Emails Reveal High-Level British Plot to bring Down Former Cayman Islands Premier
The former governor of the Cayman Islands, Duncan Taylor (to the Left) Leader of the Opposition and Former Premier Mckeeva Bush (to the rigth) By James Whittaker (Caymanian Compass newspaper)
The former governor of the Cayman Islands, Duncan Taylor, suggested a “quiet bottle of bubbly” would be in order if McKeeva Bush was charged with criminal offenses, in a series of emails to a British foreign office official that were read out in Grand Court on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mr. Bush’s defense team produced the emails, which they suggested showed there was a conspiracy to bring down the former premier, during crossexamination of Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who denied being part of any such plot. In one email, dated March 20, 2013, Mr. Taylor intimates to the official, named only as Tony, that Mr. Bush is about to be charged that afternoon. “I’m not opening any quiet bubbly until it is confirmed,” he wrote. “When it is, there will be a huge sigh of relief across the Cayman Islands, including a loud one from this office.” He follows up with confirmation that the charges have been brought, writing “Good day for Cayman.” Mr. Bush’s barrister, Geoffrey Cox, QC, suggested the emails, spanning a period from several weeks before Mr. Bush’s arrest in December 2012 to just after he was officially charged, show that the governor was determined to oust a sitting premier. He said the emails demonstrate that Mr. Taylor wanted to ensure charges were laid before the general election. Under questioning from Mr. Cox, Mr. Manderson denied that he had been part of a plot, along with the governor and others, to get rid of Mr. Bush, and said he was unaware of the content of the messages until they were read to him in court. In one email, dated Feb. 5, 2013, before the charges were brought but after the arrest, the governor comments, “The commissioner and his team are doing everything they can to expedite matters and are aware of potential difficulties if we are unable to get to charging McKeeva before the elections.” Mr. Manderson said he was aware of a general urgency to have the matter dealt with but no specific desire on the part of himself or the governor to do so before the general election. In a follow-up email, again to the official named Tony, and dated March 5, just before election campaigning was to begin, the governor wrote, “If he is not charged in at least one of these cases before then, the temperature will raise further and Bush will press his narrative that this is a political witch hunt to get rid of him.” In a later email, after the charges had been laid,
the governor appears eager that the public is aware of some of the details of the charges against the former premier. By that time, Mr. Bush had been replaced as leader of the country following a vote of no confidence but was running in the election as leader of the United Democratic Party. The governor reveals to the official that he has tipped off a “media source” that the charge sheet is a public document that can be obtained at the courthouse. In further emails, he suggests more charges may be being brought and expresses disappointment when this does not prove to be correct. “There is a clear public interest in trying to ensure these charges are added,” he writes, adding that the electorate should know about the allegations “in the face of continual lies by McKeeva.” As the emails were put to Mr. Manderson one by one, he denied any prior knowledge of their content. He said he did not know what the governor’s motivation was in sending the messages. “I can’t say that what the governor was doing had anything to do with politics at all,” he said in answer to questions from Mr. Cox about whether the messages suggested Mr. Taylor had breached his constitutional requirement to be politically impartial. Mr. Manderson acknowledged that he had been aware that there was a “tense” relationship between the governor and Mr. Bush. Asked if he was aware that the governor was eager to have Mr. Bush arrested, Mr. Manderson said, “I was aware that the governor took his responsibility for good governance seriously and did everything in his power to ensure the commissioner of police was able to do his duties properly.” Asked to elaborate on his answers, under reexamination from prosecutor Duncan Penny, QC, he said the governor has a responsibility to ensure everyone who holds government office was behaving appropriately and not abusing the office. He agreed with Mr. Penny’s suggestion that the governor had responsibility for policing and that the commissioner of police was required to report to him. He added, “This was a case where someone in high office was suspected of wrongdoing. He had an overriding obligation to make sure everything was done properly by everyone.” The emails, read to the court in the form of questions to the witness, began in the weeks before Mr. Bush’s arrest. In one message in November 2012, Mr. Taylor suggests an arrest is imminent and says “senior and trusted officials” have indicated it would
be a “game change event,” adding, “all the more so if police are seen carting away boxes from McKeeva’s office and home.” In that exchange, Mr. Taylor speculates that if Mr. Bush is arrested or charged, his party colleagues may see it as “the last straw” and a “welcome opportunity” to forcefully ask him to step aside. He goes on to say, “We know they want him out and an arrest, let alone a charge, might just help them rediscover their backbone.” He adds, “If it becomes public knowledge that he drew cash out on his card to gamble, I think his position will become untenable.” He suggests “we watch and wait” and take care not to be seen to be interfering or forcing Mr. Bush out of office, warning this might allow him to “play the victim card.” He goes on to suggest to the official, “One possibility you might want to give thought to in London is encouraging trusted media contacts there, if you are confident it can be done without leaving finger prints, to write articles setting out the damage [that could be] caused to the Cayman Islands’ reputation if McKeeva does not step aside after his arrest.” Mr. Cox read at length from the governor’s emails, which he said confirmed “what Mr. Bush has always said that this was a political plot designed to exploit and leverage a criminal investigation to bring him down politically.” “I don’t know about any plot, sir,” Mr. Manderson replied. In one of the emails, again prior to Mr. Bush’s arrest, Mr. Taylor wrote, “We should do nothing here or in London which might look as though we are trying to influence internal political matters in any way.” He adds, “I have given careful thought to what might happen after McKeeva is arrested and how we should respond,” and goes on to suggest “we do nothing,” commenting that pressure following the arrest will “bring the structure down on McKeeva.” He suggests that if he is asked about whether Mr. Bush should step down, he should say it is a matter for his colleagues in the Legislative Assembly. “I could quote from the Constitution to make it clear what it says on that issue,” he adds. Mr. Taylor then raises the possibility that the U.K. official consider privately briefing “trusted media contacts” and suggests, “without taking a view on his guilt,” that the premier should step down. Mr. Manderson acknowledged, under questioning, that he had been at a meeting with the governor and Commissioner of Police David Baines just prior to receiving the official request from police for Mr. Bush’s credit card records. But he said his sole involvement at that point was to provide a list to the police of government credit card holders. He acknowledged he had been briefed about the investigation but repeatedly denied suggestions from the defense lawyer that he was working with the governor and police commissioner to oust Mr. Bush. He confirmed that he had spoken to at least two UDP members – Cline Glidden and Eugene Ebanks – in the run-up to the vote of no confidence in Mr. Bush in the Legislative Assembly. He denied telling Mr. Ebanks that Mr. Bush would definitely be charged but confirmed he had told the West Bay MLA that he had been told it was felt the police had a strong case and that charges were likely. He said he could not recall the details of a wider meeting between the governor and some of the UDP legislators. Mr. Bush has denied 11 charges relating to allegations he used his government credit card to withdraw nearly US$50,000 in casinos in the U.S. and the Bahamas, using at least some of the cash to gamble in slot machines. tIn his evidence in chief, Mr. Manderson said he had never used his card for personal use and considered it wrong to do so.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Houseman
Requirements: • Ensure the cleanliness of all hotel areas • Assist with bellman duties • Maintain household cleaning supplies • Assist in all Housekeeping responsibilities, transporting linen, assist in cleaning of all guests’ room, stocking amenities and linens • Perform any other tasks or projects as directed by Housekeeping Management to continue high levels of guest care. • Ensure inventory is used properly and in supply at all times. • Ensure houseman room is kept clean, tidy and organized at all times • Assist housekeeping staff with laundry removal and unit cleaning • Clean and maintain lobby, entrance doors and bell trolleys Qualified Belongers need only to apply Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience
Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department at (649) 946-8550
DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL STORES GRAND TURK ARE RECRUITING SALES CLERKS/ASSOCIATES
Minimum 2 years sales experience Experience in jewelry sales Impeccable references and police clearance Impeccable English, other languages –advantage High level of customer service and customer attending skills Sales references-advantage JEWELER NEEDED WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS Minimum 5 years experience in setting and sizing gold, silver and gems
Tel: 649-946-1083 Fax: 649-946-1988 E-mail:kwatts@shopdi.com
NAVA JEWELERS LTD, dba JEWELRY, world renowned jewelers and retail sellers of signature brand jewelry and jewelry related products, with a chain of affiliated jewelry stores and outlets throughout North America, the Caribbean and Worldwide, is now accepting applications/resumes from suitably qualifies persons as: ASSISTANT MANAGER, JEWELRY SALES SPECIALISTS, SUPERVISORS AND MERCHANDISERS, JEWELERS, PRECIOUS STONES BRAND QUALITY CONTROL CLERKS, SALES CLERKS, and/or ASSOCIATES
At the Company’s prestigious retail Jewelry sales and Jewelry related merchandise sales Store located at the Carnival Corporation’s Grand Turk Cruise Center, South Beach, Grand Turk. Requirements: • A sound educational background, and a minimum of five (5) years jewelry sales and general merchandising experience, in the case of Assistant Manager, Supervisors, Precious Stones and Brand Quality Control Clerks and two (2) years in the case of Sales Clerks and Associates, together with a proven and unblemished track record of employment in a highly trusted related field of employment and/or business. • A positive and disciplined attitude and aptitude toward work in a customer service oriented business. • Excellent communication, inter-personal and customer service skills. • A trustworthy, dependable and honest disposition. • Must be willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays and irregular cruise ship schedule. • Clean criminal record. • Unblemished employment history. • All candidates must be proficient in the English written and spoken word. Suitable candidates that do not meet the above requirements who, in the sole discretion of the Company’s management team, demonstrate a clear willingness to embrace the Company’s in-house training initiatives and established standard operating policies and procedures, may be eligible for recruitment in exceptional circumstances. Preference will be given to documented Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Interested persons may submit their applications and resumes, via e-mail to: resume@effyjewelery.com, via fax to: 2127308887, or hand deliver the same to any senior member of the company’s staff at its store, commonly known as Jewelry located at Suite No. 2, Building 1, Grand Turk Cruise Center, South Beach, Grand Turk.
JOB ADVERTISEMENT Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is a contemporary luxury full service boutique resort on Grace Bay Beach. We are looking for driven and energetic professionals with Five Star experience and who are committed to achieving excellence by ensuring Five Star standards and services are continuously delivered.
Spa Manager The Spa Manager Gansevoort Turks & Caicos is responsible for the daily operations, management, and profitability of the spa, along with the highest level of customer service and quality work environment. Requirements • Oversee the management of all positions: front desk, spa technicians and teachers. • Coordinate new hire orientations. • Manage, coordinate, and/or conduct associate meetings and workshops. • Perform all Human Resources functions, according to corporate policies. • Monitor daily sales activities to ensure that all transactions are completed accurately. • Ensure the maintenance and cleanliness of spa facility. Control and maintain a high quality of music selection and HVAC. • Ensure spa treatment quality controls, including service, cleanliness, and product usage. • Manage the preparation of purchase orders for professional treatment and operational supplies. • Maintain proper inventory levels for all professional and retail products. • Finalize payroll. • Conduct annual performance reviews of supervisory and hourly associates, where applicable. • Partner with Controller to prepare monthly financial variance reports and participate in the development of the annual budget. • Maintain expertise regarding all standard operating procedures and policies. • Coordinate press visits, as requested by Corporate. • Assist with special projects, events, and promotions as needed. • Adhere to all corporate, departmental and spa operational policies and procedures.
• Respond to guest questions and associate concerns in a timely, professional manner. • Maintain a high level of guest rapport and service. • Adhere to company guidelines and core values. • Maintain a working knowledge of all Exhale classes, services, and products. • Attend an Exhale class a minimum of three times a week. • Demonstrate positive attitude and actions through a display of courtesy, service, cooperation, hospitality, sensitivity and professionalism to internal guests. • Manage department to achieve or exceed desired unit metric goals. • Increase gross margins of the business through optimal scheduling, staffing pans, and capacity utilization. • Improve guest service + satisfaction levels through heightened levels of communication and personal presence in the unit. • Demonstrate equal commitment to exhale’s soulful culture + profitable enterprise. • Manage department to achieve or exceed desired unit metric goals. • Increase gross margins of the business through optimal scheduling, staffing pans, and capacity utilization. • Improve guest service + satisfaction levels through heightened levels of communication and personal presence in the unit. • Demonstrate equal commitment to exhale’s soulful culture + profitable enterprise. Education and/or Skills Required • Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology or equivalent work experience. • Minimum of three (3) years experience in a Spa for Luxury Hotel. • Certificate in Massage Therapy required • Current CPR certification. Must be trained in Lymph Drainage and Craniosacral Therapy. • At least two (2) years professional teaching experience for beginning, intermediate and advanced yoga; also fitness training preferably in a high-end and/or hospitality environment. • Must be enthusiastic, motivated, and a team player. • Must possess computer proficiency with Windows-based products. • Must have outstanding experience delivering high-quality customer service. • Display good organizational, written, and verbal skills.
Interested applicants can contact our Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm on (649)941-7555. E- Mail cover letter outlining your interest and supporting experience in a particular position along with your Resume or C.V. to hr@wymara.com
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
First Rebuilt IKE Damaged Home Handed Back To Owner
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The first home to be substantially repaired after the devastation of Hurricane Ike was handed back to its owner, Grand Turk’s Anthea Beatrice Gardiner, today, Monday, 29 September 2014. Gardiner’s and others storm damaged homes are being repaired and rebuilt via a $6.25m grant from the European Union (EU) of which the UK is a member state. This funding will see 24 homes completely rebuilt, with 34 having repairs conducted on them, in a project managed by the Turks and Caicos Islands Disaster Recovery Board (DRB). “I would like to thank the EU and Higgs Construction for building me a lovely home,” said Anthea Gardiner, whose house was almost demolished by the storm in 2008. The islands of Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay were the worst affected by Hurricane Ike, according to UNESCO in 2009. Works on South Caicos are well advanced and will begin shortly on Salt Cay. The EU resources have been allocated according to the greatest need by the DRB, as required by the EU Contract, with those on the lowest income and living in a damaged property with elderly, infirm or disabled people taking precedence. Speaking on behalf of the DRB, Deputy Governor Anya Williams said: “It is a truly happy day and to see Beatrice Gardiner finally move back into her home. I am looking forward to handing over the keys to the other owners on Grand Turk over the next few weeks and then moving on to the other Deputy Governor Anya Williams along side surveyor Paul Matthews hands over keys to owners Lester Williams and Anthea Beatrice Gardiner affected islands.”
The rapids break down by islands as follows: •Grand Turk: •South Caicos: •Salt Cay:
seven minor works, 12 repairs, 19 rebuilds seven repairs and five rebuilds five minor works, two repairs
(L-R) Anthea Beatrice Gardiner , Deputy Governor Anya Williams and Lester Williams
Finish House
Malique Ferrette is Miss Teen TCI Miss West Malique Ferrette is the inaugural winner of the Miss Teen TCI, held at the Williams Auditorium on Saturday (September 27, 2014). Ferrette outclassed nine other contestants to take home the title on a night riddled with technical hiccups. Before taking the crown, the 18 year-old former Clement Howell High School standout walked away with the sectional prizes of Best Interview, Best Swimsuit and Best Evening Gown, which she shared with Mary Fulford. “It (being the first to win the title) is extremely elating but I am also completely speechless. This has been such an invigorating experience and I am so thankful to God for bringing me this far and thankful to all my supporters,” Ferrette told reporters shortly after winning the title. Fulford, who wore the Miss Grand Turk sash was adjudged first runner-up; Miss Teen North Caicos, Liéacha Smith was second runner-up; Joanna Previl, Miss Parrot Cay was third runner-up; while Shanaz Gardiner was adjudged fourth runner-up. Liéacha Smith also walked away with a hatful of section prizes, those of Congeniality, Talent, Most Photogenic, and Lifestyle and Fitness. Fulford captured the popularity sectional prize. Ferrette, who had one of the most powerful talent was unable to complete her act– initiating with a drama and ending with the song – as he voice went south. She attempted about three times to complete the showcase, but gave up after realizing her vocal
Miss Teen TCI Malique Ferrette is a picture of radiance after winning the title cords had refused to cooperate. This, she said, caused her to gather doubt as to whether she would take the crown. And despite stumbling a little during the question and answer segment, her answer was one of the best on the night. “Things didn’t go as planned, but after that, I picked up myself and dusted myself off and just kept going, and then things took a better turn,” she said. She said her confidence of taking home the crown came back when she was adjudged to have had the best interview.
The inaugural Miss Teen Turks and Caicos said that her platform would be to combat teen verbal abuse, which she would focus on throughout the year. “My first line of action is to go to all of our high schools, especially here in Providenciales. I want to spread awareness how verbal abuse can take a toll on not just young children but adolescents in general and how that can lead to depression and symptoms of depression in adolescent years,” she said. She said, too, that she would partner with the Edward Gartland Youth Centre to establish a programme design to allow teens to cope with verbal abuse. Among her prizes is a full scholarship to the University College of Providenciales. President for the Miss Teen Turks and Caicos Oehleo Higgs said that the three months of hard work had paid off in a tremendous way. He said that Ferrette and the committee will now turn their attention to the Miss Teen Universe to be held in Guatemala in early February 2015. “We will now have to go back to the drawing board, look at what we are going to present for our national costume again, wardrobe, the whole nine yards, in terms of preparing Malique. “There will also be interview-coaching. Hopefully it all comes together for us to go to Guatemala from February 1st to the 7th, 2015, and bring back the Miss Teen Universe Crown to Turks and Caicos,” he said. Higgs said also that each of the contestants will be the recipients of a six-week course to the University College of Providenciales.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Come and join our winning team!!! Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions. Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends. The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview. The Human Resources Department requires: Assistant Training Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Qualified to teach English Butler Program to certification o Knowledge of Food and beverage, Front office, Concierge (this is not exhaustive) o Ability to design training programs
The Watersports Department requires: Player Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Certified in first aid o Certified Lifeguard
The salary for the positions listed above ranges from $30,000.00 to $40,000.00
The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to $6.50 an hour.
Security Department Requires: Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o One year’s experience in a hotel environment an asset.
The Engineering Department requires: Painter Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience as a painter o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
Security Officers Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Ability to write reports o Attention to detail and ability to enforce procedure
The Grounds Department requires: Irrigation Technician Requirements include but are not limited to: o Minimum 2 year experience o Experience with tropical or subtropical plants, Greenhouses and Irrigation o Physically Fit
Hourly rate for the above mentioned positions range from $5.00 to $9.00 Stewarding Department Requires: Steward Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task
The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $7.00 an hour. The Spa Department Requires Lead Therapist Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in supervising a team o Two years sales experience a must o Certification or experience in one or more of the following areas: Massage, Esthetics, Body treatments, Hair services, Tattoos and Nail services.
The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to $5.50 an hour The Administrative Department requires: Loyalty Manger Requirements include but are not limited to: o Manager a sales team ( o Knowledge of rooms and categories o Ability to up sell o Ability to meet sales target o Manage the loyalty portfolio
Remuneration: Bi-weekly base pay plus commission The Gift Shop Department requires: Shift leader Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in supervising a team o Two years sales experience a must o Ability to meet sales targets and quotas
The salary range for this position $35,000.00 to $45,000.00
Soon Come Back Liaison Requirements include but are not limited to: o Knowledge of rooms and categories o Ability to up sell o Ability to meet sales target o Manage the loyalty portfolio
The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $9.00 an hour.
The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $8.50 an hour The Kitchen Department requires: Head/ Chef Baker Requirements include but are not limited to: o Over 5 years’ experience in as a Baker o Ability to work all shifts especially the 11:00 pm to 7:00 am shift o Ability to train staff and develop new recipes The salary for the position listed above ranges from $20,000.00 to $30,000.00 Bar Department requires: Bartenders Bar Porters Hostess Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to mix a variety of drinks alcoholic and non-alcoholic. o Outgoing personality o Ability to work in the sun o Physically fit The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $5.75 an hour. Photoshop Department requires: Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience supervising Staff located in two retail outlets
Shop Attendant Requirements include but are not limited to: o 2 years’ experience in field o Ability to sell and make quotas
Accounts and Cost Control Department requires: Cost Control Clerk Requirements include but are not limited to: o Knowledge of inventory o Knowledge of customs o Physically fit and ability to lift 25lbs o Experience in Cost control, Accounts or a warehouse would be an asset The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $9.50 an hour. The Front Office Department requires: Airport Representative Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically fit o Customer service certified o Computer literate The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $9.00 an hour. Entertainment Department requires: Activities and Recreations Manger Senior Animator Requirements include but are not limited to: o Certificate in early childhood education an asset o Experience with stages Animated Characters o Ability to sing and dance The salary for the positions listed above is $25,000.00 to $40,000.00 The Projects Department requires: Labour Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically fit o Computer literate The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $8.00 an hour.
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.00 to $12.00 an hour.
Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road
and
The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands th
and should reach not later than October 18 2014
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY, “THANK YOU”
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY
THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE
THE 1ST ANNUAL GRAND TURK FALL WALK & RUN A HUGE SUCCESS!!!!
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CA
SEPTEMBER 27TH – OCTOBER 4TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Davetria Robinson, Miss Teen East Caicos
Mary Fulford, Miss Teen Grand Turk
Mitiana Simons, Miss Teen Middle Caicos
Liéacha Smith, Miss Teen North Caicos
Joanna Previl, Miss Te
Malique Ferrette is Miss Teen Turks and Caicos 2014
Eighteen year-old Malique Ferrette has been crowned Miss Teen Turks a Caicos 2014 at the coronation show held on Saturday (September 27) a Williams Auditorium in Providenciales. Among the sectional prizes copp by Ferrette are the Best Gown and Best Figure. The following are photo highlights of the event.
Malique Ferrette cupped her face with her hands in utter amazement after she was announced the winner of the Miss Teen Turks and Caicos. She is being crowned by President of the Miss Teen Turks and Caicos, Oehleo Higgs
Malique Ferrette, Miss Teen Turks and Caicos 2014, is flanked by first runner-up Mary Fulford (right) and Liéacha Smith, second ru
Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Husband Lorne Robinson show their appreciation for contestants
International model Chrishell Stubbs is presented with the Icon Award by Miss Turks and Caicos 2014, Shanice Williams.
Cordero Cash wowed the audience with his high pitch voice
AICOS SUN
een Parrot Cay
SEPTEMBER 27TH – OCTOBER 4TH, 2014
Alicia Duncanson, Miss Teen Pine Cay
Uxslene Andre Miss Teen Providenciales
Shanaz Gardiner, Miss Teen Salt Cay
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Malique Ferrette, Miss West Caicos
s
and at the ped Mitiana Simons, Miss Teen Middle Caicos shows off her flamingo costume creation
Liéacha Smith, Miss Teen North Caicos displays her butterfly costume
Mary Fulford displaying her costumes
Shanaz Gardiner, Miss Teen Salt Cay, in a rock iguana costume
Malique Ferrette brings back memories of the salt industry
Alicia Duncanson, Miss Teen Pine Cay (Alicia Duncanson in her costume that depicts the different species of butterflies in the Turks and Caicos Islands
unner-up.
e
Malique Ferrette parade on along the catwalk in her swimwear
Shanaz Gardiner displays her swagger in the swimwear segment
Liéacha Smith struts her stuff in the swimwear segment
Davetria Robinson in her swimwear
Maligue Ferrette performing her talent
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ENTERTAINMENT LOCAL NEWS
DIGICEL OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ARM IN TCI
Digicel staff gathers for a photo at the Business Symposium Launch
Digicel CEO, E. Jay Saunders brings opening remarks
Shayne McHugh of Digicel Business present to the audience
Digicel TCI officially unveiled its business solutions arm, Digicel Business, during a Business Symposium at the Regent Palms Resort in Providenciales. The event which focused on Cloud Solution under the theme ‘How Cloud Computing can help you grow your bottom line’ was attended by a wide cross section of persons from Government and Private sector entities. Led by Digicel TCI CEO, E. Jay Saunders, the event highlighted the very latest in Cloud technology with representatives on hand from key Digicel Business partners CISCO, HP and Broadsoft, who assisted in showcasing the capabilities their cloud products have in driving efficiencies and cutting costs for businesses across all industries in the TCI. Digicel CEO, E. Jay Saunders, said; “Cloud computing is a concept that is driving down the cost of doing business and driving up productivity - it is changing the way many persons do business. Through the significant investment Digicel has made in the TCI, we are delivering a world class infrastructure with layer upon layer of redundancy – making businesses more secure than ever before.” Digicel Business is the region’s leading full service business solutions partner that delivers value and innovation while enabling people to work better together and to connect with their customers, supplier and communities. Digicel Business partners with world-renowned leaders in their fields to enable business growth through leading technologies. And with over 250 highly trained specialists across the region serving the business community, Digicel Business prides itself on providing world-class customer care.
Representatives of Fortis TCI.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Magnus Christie of Digicel along with Richard Piralla of Cisco and Sean Wilson from Provo Golf Club Key Partners CISCO, Broadsoft & Hewlett Packard were present for TCI’s Business Launch.
Attendees at the Digicel Business Symposium event enjoying cocktails
Shayne McHugh of Digicel , Gonzalo Aponte of Hewlett-Packard and Camilo Jurado of Broadsoft
– Denniser Forbes of Digicel enjoy cocktails with Staff of Caicos Express Airways
Onlookers viewed the Broadsoft demonstration booth
Gonzalo Aponte of Hewlett-Packard brief the audience
Heather Allen-Greene brings remark on behalf of the Telecommunications Commission.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Ariana Grande
“Break Free” feat. Zedd If you want it, take it I should’ve said it before Tried to hide it, fake it I can’t pretend anymore I only wanna die alive Never by the hands of a broken heart Don’t wanna hear you lie tonight Now that I’ve become who I really are This is the part when I say I don’t want ya I’m stronger than I’ve been before This is the part when I break free ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more You were better, deeper I was under your spell Like a deadly fever, yeah, babe On the highway to hell, yeah I only wanna die alive Never by the hands of a broken heart Don’t wanna hear you lie tonight Now that I’ve become who I really are
This is the part when I say I don’t want ya I’m stronger than I’ve been before This is the part when I break free ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more No more, baby, ooh Thought on your body I came alive It was lethal It was fatal In my dreams it felt so right But I woke up every time Oh, baby This is the part when I say I don’t want ya I’m stronger than I’ve been before This is the part when I break free ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more
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ENTERTAINMENT
Teresa Giudice Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison in Fraud Case Teresa Giudice will have to be a Housewife away from home for a while. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star has been sentenced to 15 months in prison on fraud charges. “I fully take responsibility for my actions,” Teresa read from a letter in court, per the New Jersey Record. “ I deeply love my family... My four daughters are my life.” She had been facing a possible term of 21 to 27 months behind bars. Earlier Thursday, husband Joe Giudice was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay $414,000 in restitution for fraud and failure to file federal income tax returns. Hit with a 39-count indictment in July 2013 (two additional counts were later filed as well), he and Teresa had pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud (and Joe pleaded to the tax evasion as well) back in March. Their sentencing was originally scheduled for July, but was postponed until September and then bumped till today. U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and husband Joe Giudice leaving court previously stated that if she were to sentence room after being sentenced to prison on fraud charges. Teresa to prison time, she would want the mother of four daughters to serve her time first 2015, and Joe’s term will not begin until she is released. so that Joe could stay with their kids—and Joe, an Italian citizen, also faces the possibility of deportation apparently they’ll get to spend the holidays upon the conclusion of his prison term. together beforehand. “I stand here humiliated before the court and my family and Teresa has been ordered to surrender Jan. 5, society,” he said in court before Salas lowered the sentencing boom.
“I disgraced many people, including my wife and four daughters. I take full responsibility for my actions. I promise to be a better person.” Salas chided the couple from the bench but praised Joe as a parent and for his efforts to aid victims in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sandy, which ripped through parts of New York and New Jersey in November 2012. “What you did in this case doesn’t define you as a man,” the judge said. The federal fraud case stemmed from the Giudices’ 2009 bankruptcy filing, in which the couple were accused of failing to list all of their income and assets, including $110,000 they were promised when they signed up for Bravo’s Real Housewives. Joe was also charged with five counts of failing to file income tax returns on roughly $1 million in earnings from 2004 until 2008. “The indictment returned today alleges the Guidices lied to the bankruptcy court, to the IRS and to a number of banks,” U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement when the couple were charged. “Everyone has an obligation to tell the truth when dealing with the courts, paying their taxes and applying for loans or mortgages. That’s reality.” Today after court, Fishman told reporters at a press conference, “The fact that she’s a celebrity played no role in her punishment.” Neither Teresa nor Joe made any comment after court.
Justin Bieber Punches Photographer in Paris?
Justin Bieber punched one photographer and grabbed another by his neck as his bodyguard tried to restrain him
A witness told E! News that a swam of paparazzi and fans were waiting for Bieber as he and his entourage arrived at his hotel and that the singer appeared upset he could not get through the crowd. He punched one photographer and grabbed another by his neck as his bodyguard tried to restrain him. It is unclear who instigated the violence, the witness added. No injuries were reported and no charges have been filed. It’s Justin Bieber vs. the paparazzi, round...we’ve lost count. The 20-year-old singer was photographed getting into a scuffle with celebrity photographers in Paris after arriving at a hotel around 11 p.m. with members of his entourage Another pic appears to show the singer’s hand near another photographer’s neck. A rep for Bieber declined comment. No arrests have been made. The photographers have not been identified and have also not commented Bieber has in the past been accused of acting violently against paparazzi and others. The singer has never been convicted in any of the cases. Last week Bieber’s attorney appeared in court on his behalf over an assault and dangerous driving case. The charges were filed a month ago in the singer’s native Canada over an ATV crash. Police say the singer got into an altercation
with an occupant of a minivan that was involved in the collision. His lawyer blamed the incident on the “unwelcome presence of the paparazzi” during the singer’s visit home, according to CTV News. The case is pendinCelebrity photographers constantly follow Bieber, who has a massive fan base that has remained loyal despite his legal woes. In 2013, he and a celebrity photographer got into a confrontation in London, prompting Bieber’s bodyguard to restrain the singer. No one was arrested. In 2012, a celebrity photographer told police that Bieber assaulted him as he was snapping photos of him and girlfriend Selena Gomez at a shopping mall near Los Angeles. The singer was not charged in the incident. Bieber has also made headlines over confrontations with noncelebrity photographers. In July, while vacationing in Ibiza, Bieber got into an altercation with Orlando Bloom. Sources told E! News it began after the singer made a rude comment about the actor’s ex Miranda Kerr. Neither actor was charged or has commented directly about the incident. In January, Bieber was charged with assault following a confrontation with a limo driver in Toronto a month earlier. The case was dropped in September.
Gone Girl Review: Pike An Oscar Contender
Gone Girl, a thriller about marriage and media scrutiny, has become one of the most anticipated films of the year. The novel by Gillian Flynn has been read by millions of people worldwide but it is those who are unfamilitar with the plot who are really in for a treat. The story about Nick Dunne and his missing wife Amy is full of twists and turns in this blockbuster by David Fincher. Ben Affleck plays the charming writer who lives New York
but loses his job and returns to his recession-hit hometown in Missouri, with his beautiful wife in tow. When Amy, played by Rosamund Pike, goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick becomes the prime suspect and centre of a media circus. The film is about a marriage gone sour It was well publicised that Affleck was the favourite for the lead role but Fincher took longer to cast Pike.
The British actress is a former Bond girl who has appeared in Pride And Prejudice and Jack Reacher but this is the role of her career so far. While viewers will have little sympathy for either character, it is Pike’s portrayal of “Amazing” Amy which steals the show. The storyline may get ridiculous at times but Pike is entirely convincing as the spoilt, only child whose attention-seeking actions send the media and local community into a
frenzy. She must be a shoe-in for an Oscar nomination next year. Affleck also gives a great perforance but I found his Batman bulk slightly distracting. He is currently shooting scenes for Zack Snyder’s new film about the Caped Crusader and Superman. Fincher stays almost obsessively close to the book in this stylish film which has a suitably moody accompanying score.
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The Sands is now accepting applications/résumé for the following positions. Only highly self-driven & motivated, personable and professional individuals, whom have the desire to serve others, need apply: MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY & SKILLED POSITIONS GENERAL MANAGER
Responsibilities: • Full responsibility for operating success of the Resort • Ensuring that the selection, training and ongoing direction for Resort associates is such that it maintains high level of job satisfaction, morale and teamwork among associates in all areas • Achieve financial/budgeting goals and expectations as established in the annual business plan for all areas of responsibility, and organize/implement strategic and tactical plans to facilitate this aim • Achieve high levels of quality guest service and customer satisfaction for Resort guests Requirements: • Must have at least 8 years managerial experience at a property of similar size and quality. • Strong operational expertise in rooms; marketing; facilities/systems (including preventive maintenance); recreation and other ancillary disciplines • Must have managerial experience in the Condo Strata Management • Ability to inspire, train, and develop people for promotion by encouraging and supporting career development, and driving continuous learning • Ability to implement a highly consistent customer service culture • Ability to instill a highly consistent guest service attitude in all employees
HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR
Responsibilities: • Ensures maximum compliance and efficiency in the performance of Housekeeping staff in guest rooms and surrounding areas • Carries out the policies and procedures of Housekeeping Departments Standard Operating • Offers assistance to guests and owners, initiates corrective action on complaints of cleanliness and service to guest rooms • Assists in and conducts monthly Housekeeping Inventories as required • Conducts routine guest room and common area inspections. Provides inspections scores and retrains for success • Assists in and conducts staff scheduling and annual performance evaluations • Maintains inventory and stock controls • Ensure delivery of service excellence to all guests by monitoring staff performance and provides hands-on training and development • Evaluates and updates Executive Housekeeper on staff performance. Makes recommendations for appropriate action in the areas of disciplinary and commendation • Maintains quality controls and assurance • Assists in overseeing Laundry Department as required in service, quality, inventory, inspection, scheduling and overall performance Requirements: • High school diploma • Must have supervised a minimum of 15 employees • Most work tasks are performed indoors and outdoors. Temperature is moderate and controlled by hotel environmental systems • Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 3 hours in length • Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis • Must be able to push and pull carts and equipment weighing up to 200lbs. on a regular and continuing basis • Must be able to exert well-paced ability in limited space • Must be able to bend, stoop, squat and stretch to fulfill cleaning tasks • Must have minimum of 3 years supervisory experience in the Hotel/Resort and/or Hospitality Industry • Must be able to speak, read, write and understand the primary language (s) used in the workplace • Must be able to read and write to facilitate the communication process •
Requires excellent communication and grammar skills, both orally and written to communicate well to guests and owners • Must possess basic math and computational ability • Must have basic computer skills in Hotel PMS, Word, Excel and Outlook • Must work weekends and holidays
POOL & BEACH SUPERVISOR
Responsibilities: • Oversees and maintain complete safety in and around pool and beach areas • Follows operating standards in accordance to TCI laws and hotel procedures on job duties and life-safety • Maintains proper levels of service and equipment furniture and maintenance • Assist in the conducting of guest activities in the pool areas • Monitor entire cleaning operations for the cleanliness, health and sanitation of the pools and surrounding area • Assist in every way possible to assure proper customer service is being upheld. • Enforces pool and beach sanitation and safety rules and requirements • Supervises pool and beach areas for safety and customer service • Monitors and upholds guest areas ( No Solicitation policy is enforced and facilities for registered hotel guests only) • Trains new employees on proper protocol and customer service • Ensures all furniture setting are inline, organized and set to hotel resort standards • Complete all tasks for the day and oversee all duties/projects in a timely fashion • Ensure safety precautions are followed in pool area and identify possible safety hazards and reports to management • Monitor supplies and reports all damaged furniture to management • Perform all other duties as assigned by the Property Manager Requirements: • High School Diploma • Must have prior pool/beach supervisory experience • Prior experience at a luxury property or hotel • Life-safety training and certification CPR, AED, First Aid, Water Safety required • Being an excellent swimmer is required period certification may be required • Working with Pool Chemicals is required • Working during inclement weather • Hands on knowledge of non-motorized sports equipment set-up and handling is required • Cleaning and skimming pools is required • Must be able to stand and work outdoors for an extended period of time • Weekend and flexible shifts are a must • Must have excellent written and oral communication • Must have outstanding customer service and leadership skills • Must be reliable and professional • Must be proficient with computers, including Excel, Word and Outlook. • Must be able to lift 30 lbs. • Must be able to multitask and follow direction. • Must be detailed oriented.
LINE POSITIONS HOUSEKEEPING ROOM ATTENDANT HOUSEMAN FRONT OFFICE AGENT LABOURER GROUNDSMAN For the above line staff positions, resort experience is an asset but not a requirement. Applicants must have a willing, positive and personable attitude as well as be willing to work holidays and weekends. They should also enjoy serving people and be willing to learn. Minimum experience in the areas of interest required.
Turks & Caicos Islands citizens need only apply to the Human Resources Manager Apply via email to the Assistant Human Resources Manager, Sheena Smith at e-mail: humanresource@thesandstc.com. Deadline is October 8, 2014.
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Blue Haven Resort is inviting applications for the following positions: Executive Chef Are you an outgoing, dynamic individual, passionate about great food and incredible hospitality? We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated Executive Chef to join our team and make a real difference in our guest’s experience! This position is the perfect opportunity for a confident experienced individual with a great understanding of how to deliver fantastic hospitality and an unbelievable culinary experience! We are seeking a team player who is ready to go the extra mile on every occasion to delight and astound our guests, and someone who will always look for opportunities to improve our services.
Summary of Responsibilities:
•Candidate must demonstrate a proven track record of successfully leading/managing in an upscale Food & Beverage environment; with strong culinary experience and training. •Responsible for the execution of all company policies and procedures, ensuring that all services provided achieve the established standards within the agreed budgetary controls. •Advise the Corporate Executive Chef on all matters relating to the kitchen area and ensure a high standard of cleanliness and hygienic practice throughout the kitchen. •To assist the Corporate Executive Chef in budgeting i.e food cost/payroll/etc. •Ensure guest satisfaction with the smooth and effective running of the day-to-day operation. •Assist in training and development of culinary staff members. •To maintain control of the standards for purchasing and receiving items. •To test and evaluate products for quality, paying particular attention to yield/holding qualities/market price/wastage usage of leftovers. •Constantly inspect all food service sections during service time to ensure that the correct standards are maintained. •Responsible for control of equipment and scheduling maintenance
Educational and Other Requirements:
•Minimum of 5 years of previous Food and Beverage international experience in a senior leadership role. •University/College degree •Computer literate in Microsoft Window applications required •Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities •Developed proficiency with forecasting, cost controls and scheduling through related experience. •Dynamic, enthusiastic, creative leader who thrives under pressure and is able to perform multiple functions and troubleshoot when need. •Highly responsible & reliable with the ability to work well under pressure in fast paced environment. •Ability to work cohesively as part of a team •Ability to focus attention on guest needs, remaining calm and courteous at all times •The ability to stand and/or walk for a long periods of time, lift up to 40lbs and push/pull up to 50 lbs. •Must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.
Restaurants Manager Reporting to the Restaurant Manager, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:
Summary of Responsibilities:
•Consistently offer professional, friendly and engaging service •Assist the F&B Director to lead and manage the day to day operations of the Food & Beverage Division ensuring all service standards are followed •Drive innovative promotions, menus and concepts; creating a destination of choice for both resort and external guests •Lead and support all F&B departments in the achievement of their financial and operational targets •Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and administer in a fiscally responsible manner •Implement effective control of food, beverage, labor and operating expenses throughout the F&B division •Assist in the preparation of the annual strategic plan and achieve the goals and targets therein •Ensure the implementation of standards in guest service and constantly seek out ways to improve product and service as well as increase volumes and profits •Assist and or oversee the selection, training and development of all colleagues to ensure timely recruitment and career growth •Follow department safety policies, procedures and service standards •Other duties as assigned
Educational and Other Requirements:
•Minimum of 3 years of previous Food & Beverage management experience in a leadership role •Computer literate in Microsoft Window applications required •University/College degree •Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities •Highly responsible & reliable •Ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced environment •Ability to work cohesively as part of a team •Ability to focus attention on guest needs, remaining calm and courteous at all times
Please Submit Applications to: Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. cgibbons@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than October 17th, 2014 Belongers need only apply.
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
CARIBBEAN
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NEWS
Jamaica denies rumours of suspected case of Ebola virus
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jamaican investigations including a health authorities are denying computerised tomography (CT) rumours of a suspected case of the scan, which shows that the person deadly Ebola virus on the island. had a fracture to the skull due The virus has been blamed for over to a fall, which resulted in the 3,000 deaths in West Africa. bleeding,” he said, noting that the Acting Permanent Secretary in doctor had not travelled to any the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kevin Ebola-affected country and there Harvey, said no suspected case of was no possibility of contact with the disease is being investigated. any infected person. “We are not investigating a At the time that the doctor suspected case and we have no was admitted to UHWI, an Ebola reason to consider that anyone planning meeting and training for in the country at this time is medical officers was underway at suspected of having Ebola,” he said. the facility, and this, Dr. Harvey The rumours started when a surmised, may have led to the doctor, who had recently returned rumours. to the island from Trinidad and “So, maybe that is what heightened Tobago, was admitted to the the suspicion yesterday,” he said. University Hospital of the West Meanwhile, Dr. Harvey said Indies (UHWI), with a reported sensitisation briefings have been case of bleeding. undertaken for all senior members But Dr. Harvey said the 65- of the island’s medical teams year old senior physician has as well as discussions and joint fully recovered and “there is no meetings with other Caribbean consideration of a diagnosis of Community (CARICOM) countries, Ebola. and partners, such as the Pan“He has been comprehensively American Health Organization investigated by our medical (PAHO). team, has recovered, has had He said there is a surveillance
Haitian camp residents attacked, more at risk PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- A woman was killed after municipal agents opened fire in order to remove street sellers from the road in proximity of a makeshift camp for displaced people in Portau-Prince, Haiti. Two other camp residents were injured by the police. Camp residents fear further violence by the municipality and the police. On 26 September, armed municipal agents from the Delmas’ Streets Control Brigade (Brigade de Contrôle des Rues, BRICOR) intervened to prevent street sellers from occupying a public road. They were selling goods in the area located beside the Acra Adoquin Delmas 33, a makeshift camp for displaced persons left homeless by the January 2010 earthquake, in the municipality of Delmas – a metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Following the street sellers’ resistance, the agents started firing gunshots indiscriminately. One bullet struck Carline Jean, a resident of the camp and a mother of six young children, killing her on the spot. According to a member of the camp committee, as the camp residents started protesting in the streets following the violent attack, the police dispersed the demonstration by throwing tear gas and firing live rounds. Another woman, Janvier Cloraine, and a one-year-old child, Vilon Guery, are reported to have been injured by bullets. According to data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Acra Adoquin Delmas 33 camp is home to more than 15,000 people. Camp residents fear that other incidents might occur if the municipal agents and the police carry out similar operations.
system in place to identify and isolate persons should the need arise. The Acting Permanent Secretary is, however, reminding Jamaicans to avoid nonessential travel to countries where the virus has been confirmed. These include: Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ebola is a rare and deadly disease, which is caused by infection with one of the Ebola viruses. It is spread by direct contact with a sick person’s blood or body fluids and may also spread by contact with contaminated objects or infected animals. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola, and up to 50 per cent of persons, who get the disease, die. Symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Skin rash, red eyes, and internal and external bleeding may be seen in some patients.
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Turkey donates over US$2 million to Antigua-Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, in a meeting with president of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan, in New York, secured over U$2 million in grant aid for Antigua and Barbuda. During the meeting with Erdogan, Browne expressed Antigua and Barbuda’s desire to further develop the relations between the two countries. He congratulated Erdogan on being the first president to be elected by the people of Turkey in free and fair elections. He said that Erdogan’s leadership has led to Turkey becoming of the most successful developing economies. During the discussions, Erdogan congratulated Browne on his recent victory at the polls and outlined that Turkey is interested in Antigua and Barbuda’s development and provided a grant of US$2.1 million towards project development. Erdogan also advised Browne that his country would welcome Antigua and Barbuda establishing an embassy in Turkey and that his government is prepared to cover the cost of rent for the facility for five years. Browne welcomed the suggestion and proposed that Turkey also establish a mission for the Caribbean, based in Antigua and Barbuda. He also pointed out his government is prepared to work with the government of Turkey in facilitating Turkish Airlines flying to Antigua and connecting to other countries within the region. He said that his government will also welcome Turkish businessmen exploring investment opportunities in Antigua and Barbuda. The leaders also discussed other areas of coopera tion, with Turkey committing to give serious consideration to the provision of a new fire engine for the V.C. Bird International Airport and financial and technical support to the government’s housing programme.
Haitian president promises elections as soon as possible new round of talks in the hope of reaching a consensus about the next election. “In my capacity of head of state, guarantor of the stability of the institutions, I have made every effort to find a consensus with all parties and institutions involved in the organization of the legislative and municipal elections,” said Martelly. “Despite the discrepancies, in the spirit of (forefather) Dessalines, I am confident that together we will find a consensus,” he said. “I am looking forward to meeting again my fellow citizens around a table to offer a harmonious space Haitian president, Michel Martelly marked with the purest ideals that the Haitian people Haitian president, Michel Martelly, has promised have set and to which we remain firmly committed,” to hold as soon as possible free, fair and transparent added the Haitian leader. Martelly has repeatedly reiterated his call for action elections to renew the political office holders as required by the system of government adopted by the by a group of six recalcitrant opposition senators to pass amendments to an electoral bill needed to Caribbean country. Martelly announced that free and credible elections organize the election which will allow for the renewal will be held in the country in the shortest time of two thirds of the 30-member Senate, the entire possible, without giving an exact date, which is to House of Representatives and local government be determined by the Electoral Council (CEP), after entities. The American government, Democratic and approval of an amended electoral law, which is still blocked by a group of recalcitrant opposition senators. Republican members of the US Congress as well as “Haiti will organize, as soon as possible, free, fair, other representatives of the international community and transparent for the renewal of democratic and have, more than once, blasted the behaviour of the constitutional institutions,” said Martelly on Friday hold-out senators. Haitian Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, has during the 69th General Assembly of the United stressed on many occasions the fact that his Nations. “This is a must. Democratic rules require that, and government has made every effort to support the I will stand by republican principles,” said Martelly. CEP, particularly by making funds available for its The Haitian leader claimed he has taken all operations, and has expressed great concern about necessary measures to encourage stakeholders to the continued failure by recalcitrant senators to help integrate the electoral process, while announcing a pass the necessary bill.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
Farmers warned deadly virus could damage Jamaica pig industry
KINGSTON, Jamaica,– The Jamaica Pig Farmers Association (JPFA) is urging farmers not to dismiss lightly, a deadly virus first diagnosed in the United States last year that could severely damage the local pig industry. JPFA president Delroy Manya said his organization has been holding several meetings with the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and updating members on the virus blamed for the deaths of more than seven million pigs in the United States since it was detected in April last year.
He said the Veterinary Services Division has made presentations on the various bio-security measures that pig farmers must implement to prevent the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) from spreading to Jamaica. Chief Executive Officer of Jamaica Broilers Group, Chris Levy, has also warned farmers not to take the threat of the virus lightly as it has also spread rapidly across Canada resulting in a pork shortage. Mexico and the Dominican Republic are also reporting The Jamaica Pig Farmers Association (JPFA) is urging farmers not to dismiss lightly cases of the virus.
Supporters of former Haitian president, Aristide, rally at his home to prevent arrest
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Approximately 200 supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide protested outside his home as police officers stood guard on the outskirts of the compound. The new unit of police officers was posted amid fears that the former president faces arrest for failing to heed a court summons. Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours said the officers are members of a special unit assigned to monitor Aristide, although there are no immediate plans to carry out an arrest warrant issued by a judge investigating a corruption case. Last month a judge issued a warrant when Aristide failed to show up in court to testify in an investigation into money laundering and corruption during his presidency. The former president’s lawyer said the summons was not properly issued and asked the judge to reconsider the arrest warrant. Lerebours said the judge asked police to place Aristide under house arrest but there is no provision for house arrest under Haitian law. He said officers would instead monitor Aristide, who has rarely left his home since returning from ex-
former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide ile in 2011. Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest who championed the poor and led the opposition to a brutal dictatorship, was Haiti’s first democratically elected president in 1990. He was toppled in a coup, then returned to power with U.S. assistance, but he was ousted again in 2004 during a violent rebellion.
US Coast Guard seize cocaine shipment in Caribbean Sea SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CMC) - The US Coast Guard seized 317-pounds of cocaine valued at just under US$5 million and apprehended two smugglers following an at-sea interdiction in the Caribbean. The interdiction and arrest took place on Friday about 80 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic. The Coast Guard reported that during a routine patrol, the crew of a Canadian aircraft, patrolling on behalf of the Joint Interagency Task ForceSouth, detected a 30-foot go-fast vessel, travelling towards the Dominican Republic. Coast Guard officials were alerted and on searching the vessel, located and recovered the illegal drug shipment of six bales of cocaine. Two men onboard were arrested and taken to special agents of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) for further investigation and prosecution.
EU diplomat urges Caribbean to rethink renewable energy policies The head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Mikael Barfod says if the Caribbean is to fully integrate renewable energy into its development path so that it impacts on its economy, then it must adjust its mind-set to do so. Barfod, who will be participating in the October 6-8 Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum in Miami, said currently, access to renewable energy in the region is much skewed. “Only a few Caribbean citizens have had the opportunity to educate themselves on the benefits, and even fewer have actually implemented various renewable energy systems with attendant benefits, despite the affordability of the technology, financing opportunities and very impressive “payback” periods. “Renewable energy seems to be perceived as being for the “elites”, while in many countries in the region the fuel adjustment clause still hits the most vulnerable harder than the rest of the population,” he added. Barfod, in an article entitled “Renewable Energy – Bridging the Caribbean Divide – An EU perspective” said the Caribbean must adopt an renewable energy mentality, even as he acknowledged that “this is no doubt easier said than done”. But he argued that with the high education levels of the region, relatively robust governance systems, proximity to and extensive exchanges with very
developed economies and the substantial amounts of investments offered by both donor agencies and the private sector, a very sound basis exists on which to achieve the goals of the region”. He said the Caribbean realities of low penetration of renewable energy, insufficient renewable energy specialists and technicians; energy monopolies non- implementation of policies, legislation and regulations as well as relatively low public awareness are well known and documented. Barfod said that education, lifestyle changes, policy, legislation and regulation are factors that should be considered among the “first steps” to overcome the impediments. “Education is fundamental. Similar to the efforts in the hospitality sector, the renewable energy sector must ensure that all aspects of the sector are captured at various levels of the school curriculum. “The curriculum at the primary, secondary and tertiary level should all feature aspects of the renewable energy subject matter. In this regard, it is vital that a gender balanced approach is adopted. On a general level too public education should inform citizens of the region on making energy choices when purchasing appliances and the affordability and financing options for installing renewable energy equipment in their homes.” He said essentially the Caribbean is fighting an
undeclared conflict on high energy prices and energy insecurity, both of which have significantly adverse effects on the development of the region. “At the same time, the Caribbean will cement its already strong moral case in international climate change negotiations by a radical adoption of renewable energy and energy efficient measures.” Barfod said volumes have been written on the importance of legislation, policy and regulation for establishing sound investment climates and general sector development frameworks. “However, it is not sufficient merely to enact these. They must be implemented, regularly updated and reviewed by all stakeholders in a country to reflect changing technologies, changing times and to encourage, mandate and inform the renewable energy development strategy. “These are pre- requisites for bridging the divide. It may be claimed that in many countries of the region, these already exist. This is well, but are they then also translated into action? If this is not the case, stakeholders must collectively find out why not.” The European Union diplomat said policies, legislation and regulation should not be seen as passive documents but must be actively reworked to deliver and reflect changing times, technologies and circumstances.
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Global economic and fiscal crisis still affecting Barbados development – McClean Barbados said that it continues to suffer the devastating impacts of the global economic and financial crisis, and like other small island developing states (SIDS) has limited scope, capacity, fiscal flexibility or policy space to respond effectively. Foreign Affairs Minister Maxine McClean told the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that the island is facing declining export demand, decreased investment, and a contraction in services upon which the economy is dependent, such as tourism. “Fiscal and financial stresses have forced us to make significant adjustments to our expenditure programmes. Against this backdrop, we face the daunting challenge of continuing to provide adequate social safety nets for the most vulnerable of our citizens in a responsible and sustainable manner.” The Foreign Minister said that debt servicing and debt unsustainability far too easily undermine the advances “we desire to make towards our sustainable development. “Too often the plight of middle income countries is overlooked on the presumption that by virtue of our GDP per capita we do not require international assistance. “Barbados emphatically restates that GDP (gross domestic product) per capita cannot be the sole defining criterion for accessing concessionary financing”. She said the social, economic and environmental vulnerability of countries such as Barbados must be taken into account and as a result the island is pleased to see that the 2014 Human Development Report – Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience, incorporates the concept of vulnerability and places emphasis on strengthening the resilience of people, communities, and countries. “It is our hope that these factors will give a more accurate picture of the challenges which developing countries face,” she said recalling an earlier address by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart for new pproaches to be designed to assist middle income countries which have been graduated from access to concessional
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxine McClean resources. “I echo this call today. I implore the international community to address the needs of middle income countries in the elaboration of a Post-2015 Development Agenda. “Accordingly, Barbados welcomes the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Addis Ababa in July next year,” she said, adding that the “outcome of this conference must make provision for the special needs of SIDS and middle income countries”. The Barbados Foreign Minister said her country is fully cognisant of the responsibility which developing countries themselves bear towards achieving their development goals. But she said the reality is that in seeking to meet these goals, they do so on an uneven playing field. “The global financial and economic system and the governance process that accompanies it, continue to operate in an exclusionary manner. “Barbados reiterates its call for a more transparent architecture that is supportive of development objectives,” she added.
Chikungunya virus outbreak in Jamaica takes toll on education system KINGSTON, Jamaica,– The can be hard to walk. Jamaica government has He said whole scale support is acknowledged that the outbreak of needed as the authorities fine-tune the mosquito-borne Chikungunya strategies to destroy mosquito virus is taking a toll on the breeding sites. country’s education system with “I urge you to take at least reports of a significant increase in 10 minutes each week and look student and teacher absenteeism. around your home, workplace, While unable to give exact to ensure that there is no figures, Education Minister uncovered containers that can Ronald Thwaites, said schools in breed mosquitoes. I implore every the Corporate Area and eastern citizen to join us when we declare parishes were the most affected. a national cleanup day. “There have been significant The health minister also absences from schools. We expressed concern about the encourage schools to give as much impact the disease is having on information to students on how productivity. they should react to symptoms. “We ask employers to be And that schools should join compassionate and assist their in national cleanup efforts to staff through this difficult ensure that breeding spaces for period. We expect that the health mosquitoes are all curtailed,” workforce will also be impacted Thwaites said. and so we are putting in place He said individual schools will an emergency response plan to have to put measures in place to ensure that we can continue to prevent any major fallout in the provide care to the population. administering of classes due to the Ferguson added that Chikungunya outbreak. cases are expected to spike. Health Minister Dr. Fenton “It is important to note that the Ferguson in a nationwide radio expectation is for chikungunya and television address on Sunday cases to spike and then trend night called for a national down as persons begin to build response to efforts to tackle the immunity to this new disease.” outbreak the virus spread by the He said the spread of the virus was aedes aegypti mosquito and with expected and that it was “normal” the telltale signs of the illness, for new diseases. including joint pain so severe it This was the Health Minister’s
first address to the nation since the virus hit Jamaica. The address was comes amid criticism of the Government’s handling of the outbreak. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman on Health, Dr Kenneth Baugh, said he welcomes the admission by the government that there is a Chikungunya epidemic. But Dr Baugh noted that while the Minister has finally confronted the seriousness of the issue, he did not address several things. “It was unfortunate that his presentation ignored the fact that a lot of pharmacies are out of stock of the basic medications needed to address symptoms. He needs to make urgent provisions for this. Related to this point is the fact that the Minister also did not address the matter of budgetary provisions,” Dr. Baugh said urging the Dr. Ferguson to promptly announce details regarding the emergency command centre, including the location, telephone number and the skill sets that will be mobilized there. The Trinidadian-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has said the Chikunguyna virus has reached epidemic proportions in the Caribbean and that many more cases will be recorded in the coming months.
She said that Barbados has developed and implemented a cross-sectoral Green Economy Initiative which is predicated on the fragility of the small island ecosystems. “The Initiative prioritises natural resource protection policy intervention; business and investment choice; human development programming; and the facilitation of export market development strategies.” The Foreign Minister said that Barbados continues to partner with United Nations agencies to promote a transition to a resource efficient green economy. But she warned that the efforts to transition to a green economy will be undone if the international community does not take immediate and urgent action to address climate change. “The most recent findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underscore, yet again, the vulnerability of SlDS particularly to the effects of climate change, sea-level rise, ocean acidification and extreme weather events. “These represent an existential threat to SIDS. We therefore urge major carbon emitters to take all necessary actions,” she added. In her wide ranging speech, the Barbados Foreign Minister also commented on the ongoing wars in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Syria, Iraq and Ukraine. “Armed non-state actors and terrorist groups continue to destroy lives, destabilise nations and threaten national and international peace and security. In the face of hostilities and blatant acts of aggression, the Security Council has been paralysed. “Barbados will continue to be actively engaged, within CARICOM (Caribbean Community), in negotiations on the reform of the Security Council,” she said, also calling for an end to the decades old trade and economic embargo against Cuba. “The government of Cuba has always demonstrated a willingness to assist the Caribbean, and indeed the developing world, in our quest for development. We join with the overwhelming majority of UN member states in opposing this unilateral action and look forward to a time soon when it will be relegated to the pages of history.”
Racist slurs and arson threats as billionaires battle for Bahamas beachfront property
A longstanding verbal brawl between two billionaires over beachfront property in the Bahamas is picking up steam in the United States after its heated debut in a Bahamian court. American billionaire hedge fund magnate Louis Bacon is embroiled in a blazing row with Canadian clothing mogul Peter Nygard, his neighbour in the Bahamas. So much so that he instructed an employee to burn down Nygard’s house, according to court papers filed in Los Angeles. Bacon, the founder of New York hedge fund Moore Capital Management, was moved to torch Nygard’s estate five years ago after the clothing tycoon refused to sell him the prized parcel, court papers allege. According to the lawsuit, which cites a conversation between employees of the two battling billionaires, Bacon ordered an employee to “find a way to burn Mr Nygard’s ‘****ing house down.” Although Nygard admits in court papers that “the cause of the fire is unknown,” two weeks after the conflagration, a Bacon representative said to a Nygard employee: “See what I told you,” court papers allege. Nygard’s allegations are his first major legal thrusts in the US as the smouldering feud reignites on the mainland after burning through the Bahamian courts. While the testy tycoons were firing off claims in a Bahamas court, Bacon installed four “large, military-grade” speakers at the property line and pointed them at Nygard’s bedroom nearby, blaring “ear-piercing noises” whose aim was “solely to annoy Mr Nygard and embarrass him in front of his guests,” court papers allege. “There, that’s a message from Mr Bacon,” one of the hedge fund magnate’s assistants yelled after one punishing noise session, according to the suit. He then shouted: “Don’t **** with Louis,” court papers allege.
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Did Jesse Matthew murder TWO other Virginia women?
Serial offender? Jesse Matthew has been charged in the disappearance of University of Virginia college student Hannah Graham. Authorities are tracing his whereabouts for the last 12 years, believing he may have been involved in more crimes against women in the state Authorities are investigating whether Jesse Matthew was involved in up to 10 crimes against women in Virginia, after the 31-year-old was arrested under suspicion of kidnapping still-missing college student Hannah Graham. Matthew was arrested in Texas last week after fleeing Virginia when police tried to question him in
the disappearance of the 19-year-old University of Virginia student. The UVA nurses’s assistant was the last person seen with Graham the night she went missing from downtown Charlottesville. Now investigators are looking into Matthew’s movements over the last 12 years, focusing in on the more than six months he attended Christopher Newport University when two other young women disappeared without a trace. Matthew transferred to the Newport News school after being kicked out of Liberty University in Lynchburg in 2002 following allegations of rape. He attended CNU from January 2003 before dropping out the following October. During that time, two local women went missing and were never found again. Local police are now reopening the two cold cases to see if Matthew may have been involved. ‘ While there are no indications that Jesse Matthew is connected to these two cases, both will be reviewed,’ Newport News police spokesman Lou Thurston told WAVY. It’s uncertain what Matthew did for the next several years. However, new forensic evidence connects him to the high-profile abduction, rape and murder of 20-year-old Morgan Harrington. Morgan disappeared in 2009 and her body was found three months later, hidden at a remote farm. DNA evidence of her killer, found on her remains, has since been linked to a 2005 rape case of a Fairfax
woman who survived the attack. Eight years after dropping out of CNU, Matthew reappears in 2010 working as a taxi driver in Charlottesville. Two years later he got a position as a nurse’s assistant at UVA Medical Cenewhere he was just recently fired following Graham’s disappearance. In that time, he may have played a role in the death of Morgan, and also another local woman who went missing around the same time - 23-year-old Lynchburg resident Cassandra Morton. Morton’s decomposing body was found in November 2009 and the homicide remains unsolved. Authorities in Montgomery County Virginia are also reopening the double homicide of couple Heidi Childs and David Metzler, who were found shot dead in a campground near the Virginia Tech campus in August 2009. ‘ Our investigators will certainly follow up and look at the facts surrounding the Hannah Graham case to see if there is a connection. However, at this time we have nothing to lead us to believe that there is a connection,’ Capt. Brian Wright told ABC News. And three additional women went missing from Charlottesville around the same time Matthew moved there. Samantha Ann Clarke, 19, disappeared from Orange county in September 2010 and 19-year-old DaShad Laquinn Smith disappeared near there in November 2012, WUSA-TV reported.
White woman sues sperm bank after giving birth to black baby in ‘racially intolerant’ Ohio town
An Ohio woman and her partner have sued a Chicago-area sperm bank after she became pregnant with sperm donated by a black man instead of a white man as she’d intended. Jennifer Cramblett was five months pregnant and happy with her life in April 2012. She and her partner had married months earlier in New York, and within days of their nuptials she had become pregnant with donor sperm at a fertility clinic in Canton. Cramblett, 36, and her partner, Amanda Zinkon, 29, were so elated that they called Midwest Sperm Bank LLC outside Chicago to reserve sperm from the same donor in the hope that Zinkon would someday also have a child. But that’s when Cramblett received some disturbing news, says a lawsuit filed Monday against Midwest Sperm Bank in Cook County, Illinois. She learned from an employee at the sperm bank that she had been inseminated with sperm from No. 330, a black donor, and not No. 380, a white donor she and Zinkon, who are white, had chosen. “How could they make a mistake that was so personal?” Cramblett said during a telephone interview on Wednesday. According to the lawsuit, her excitement about the pending birth was replaced with “anger, disappointment and fear.”
Jennifer Cramblett has sued a Chicago-area sperm bank after she became pregnant with sperm donated by a black man instead of a white man as she’d intended. Cramblett was pregnant with Payton, now 2-years-old, when the mistake was discovered.
“They took a personal choice, a personal decision and took it on themselves to make that choice for us out of pure negligence,” Cramblett said. Telephone calls to Midwest Sperm Bank were not returned on Wednesday. It’s unclear who the sperm bank’s attorney is. Cramblett said she and Zinkon love their “beautiful, obviously mixed race” two-year-old daughter, Payton, very much and wouldn’t change anything about her.
But they are concerned about raising her in the predominantly white community where they live. “Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans and steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogenous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant,” the lawsuit says. The lawsuit said they had moved from Akron to Uniontown for better schools and to be closer to Cramblett’s family. She said that as a lesbian she has felt the sting of prejudice but doesn’t know what it’s like to be mistreated because of her skin colour. The lawsuit says Cramblett also is worried about how Payton will be treated in her “all-white, and often unconsciously insensitive family.” Therapists have recommended that Cramblett, Zinkon and Payton move to a more a racially diverse community with good schools, the lawsuit said. Cramblett said she decided to sue to prevent the sperm bank from making the same mistake again. The lawsuit says the sperm bank has no electronic record-keeping and no quality controls that would have prevented it from sending the wrong sperm to fertility clinics. The lawsuit seeks a minimum of $50,000 in damages. Cramblett’s attorney, Tim Misny, said some of the compensation would pay for ongoing counselling.
Putin says sanctions will not stop Russia becoming economic power President Vladimir Putin took aim at “unwarranted” Western sanctions, saying they would not stop Russia developing into a stronger economic power. Occupying the higher ground, Putin said that despite the difficult conditions, Russia would have an independent and strong economy, one with a healthy balance sheet that would have no need to restrict the movement of capital. “We truly want a country that is strong, flourishing, free and open to the world,” he told the VTB Russia Calling investment conference. He reiterated the importance of developing ties with Russia’s partners to the east, congratulating companies which had already done deals with Chinese companies and said Russia would aim to
shift to national currencies in trade. Paying little attention to the sliding fortunes of Russia’s weakening economy, Putin listed Russia’s budget triumphs and the growth rates in the industrial and agricultural sectors. “Our task is to bring about an industrial breakthrough, to create strong national companies in manufacturing sectors that are able to produce competitive products,” he said. He said the government was prepared to support sectors and companies that have been hit by the sanctions, imposed over the Ukraine crisis, adding: “This would include helping them raise capital. First and foremost, I mean financial institutions.”
President Vladimir Putin
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Prince William and Duchess Kate threaten legal action against photographer ‘harassing’ Prince George Prince William and his wife Kate have threatened to take legal action against a photographer they say has been monitoring their toddler son Prince George. The couple’s Kensington Palace office said Thursday the royals had “taken legal steps to ask that an individual ceases harassing and following both Prince George and his nanny as they go about their ordinary daily lives.” In a statement, the palace said
the unnamed photographer was third in line to the throne. The suspected of “placing Prince George statement said that the royal couple under surveillance.” “understand the particular public The statement was issued after role that Prince George will one day the Evening Standard newspaper inherit, but, while he is young, he reported that a photographer had must be permitted to lead as ordinary tried to take pictures of the prince in a life as possible.” London’s Battersea Park. William’s late mother, Princess William and Kate, who are Diana, was pursued by photographers expecting their second child, want for years before her death in a Paris to spare their children intense press car crash in 1997. Many believe coverage. the pursuing paparazzi were a Prince William, left, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen with their one-year-old son, Prince George Fourteen-month-old George is contributing factor to the accident.
Ebola patient may have exposed 18 people in U.S. — including five children
DALLAS — Up to 18 people in the Mr. Duncan had direct contact with a Zach Thompson, the director of Dallas United States, including five children, may woman stricken by Ebola on Sept. 15, just county health and human services, said the have been exposed to Ebola after coming four days before he left Liberia for the children who had been in contact with Mr. into direct contact with the first patient to United States, the woman’s parents and Mr. Duncan were “priority No. 1.” be diagnosed with the deadly disease on Duncan’s neighbours said. “The precaution is to keep the children U.S. soil. The woman, 19-year-old Marthalene home,” he said. “We will evaluate and they Thomas Duncan, who arrived in Texas Williams, died after she was turned away will be monitored. The fact that we have from Liberia on Sept 20 and who was from hospital because there was no room. one confirmed case … there may be another infectious for up to eight days, initially Four people in her neighbourhood, including case that is a close associate with this went to a Dallas emergency room last week her 21-year-old brother, Sonny Boy, have particular patient. So, I want to be frank, but was sent home, despite telling a nurse since died of the disease. this is real.” that he had been in disease-ravaged west Dr. Mark Lester, who works for the The group being monitored includes two Africa. Dallas hospital’s parent company, said Mr. fire service paramedics and their intern The decision by Texas Health Presbyterian Duncan’s answer about coming from Liberia who were sent to pick up the patient. Hospital to release him with antibiotics “was not fully communicated” throughout Tests on the paramedics have so far proved — which are generally ineffective against the hospital’s medical team. negative, but they have been isolated for Ebola — could have put many others at risk Eventually, on Sept 28, an ambulance three weeks. An ambulance they used had of exposure to the disease before he went was called and took him back to the hospital remained in service for another 48 hours back to the ER two days later, after his where he was diagnosed with the disease but has now been decontaminated and condition worsened. and placed in isolation. He is in serious quarantined. Health officials are already examining condition, but doctors said he was “awake, It is believed that Mr. Duncan stopped a second potential case in someone close to talking and hungry”. in Brussels on his way to the United States. him. A day after Mr. Duncan’s diagnosis was But health officials said there was “zero” They said the children who encountered confirmed, a nine-member team of federal chance of him being infectious during the Mr. Duncan and who went to four different health officials was tracking anyone who flight because he did not have symptoms at schools in Dallas were “priority No.1 and had close contact with him. that point. would be closely observed for any symptoms The team from the Centers for Disease “Ebola doesn’t spread before someone gets over the next three weeks, the incubation Control and Prevention was in Dallas to sick, and he didn’t get sick until four days period for the disease. work with local and state health agencies to after he got off the airplane,” Dr. Frieden Mr. Duncan, who is in his mid-40s ensure that those people are watched every said. and from Monrovia, Liberia, was visiting day for 21 days. An investigation has been opened at the relations in Dallas, including his sister, Mai “If anyone develops fever, we’ll hospital to see why he was not admitted on Wureh. immediately isolate them to stop the chain his first visit. She described how he had gone to Texas of transmission,” Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC Meanwhile, the United Nations said that Health Presbyterian Hospital on Sept 26 director, said in an interview. a staff member in Liberia had died from but was given a prescription for antibiotics “It’s possible that someone who had “probable Ebola.” A spokesman for Ban Kiand told to go home. According to Ms. contact with this individual could develop moon, the UN secretary-general, said it Wureh, he told the hospital he was visiting Ebola in the coming weeks.” was the first death of a UN staffer in the from Liberia, but it failed to suspect he was He urged people not to panic, saying outbreak that has so far killed more than suffering from Ebola. the disease would be “stopped in its tracks.” 3,300 people in west Africa.
Arkansas real estate agent’s murder highlights perils of the job Real estate agent Beverly Carter, 49, was found dead on Tuesday, her body buried in a shallow grave behind a concrete mixing plant north of Little Rock. It was a senseless and seemingly random act of violence against a woman who at the time was only doing her job. Her death is a tragic reminder of the hidden perils real estate agents face, potentially every day. “She was just a woman that worked alone — a rich broker,” said the man charged with her murder, Aaron Lewis, in response to questions about his motives. Lewis, a 33-year-old repeat felon, entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge. But his glib statement to reporters Tuesday highlights the inescapable reality that female agents are easyto-find targets simply by virtue of their job description.
Florida man guilty of first-degree murder for killing black teen after argument over loud ‘thug’ music
A Florida man who opened fire on a carload of black teenagers in an argument over their loud “thug” music was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said Michael Dunn, who is white, was shooting to kill when he fired 10 times into a sport utility vehicle outside a convenience store in November 2012. Jordan Davis, 17, was in the backseat and fatally shot. His three friends in the SUV were not hurt. Dunn told jurors that he saw Davis, of Marietta, Georgia, roll down the window and flash what he believed to be a gun after the two exchanged words. Dunn said he fired in self-defence. “I hear ’…. white boy’ just impolite things are being A jury found Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder in his retrial said,” Dunn testified. “I saw the barrel of a gun. I’m on murder charges for the shooting death of 17-year old Jordan petrified. I’m in fear for my life.” Davis in a dispute over loud music at at Jacksonville gas station in Police did not find a gun in the SUV or near the November of 2012 convenience store.
As the court clerk read the jury’s verdict, Dunn showed no reaction. Davis’ father, Ronald Davis, broke into tears. His mother, Lucia McBath, dropped her head to her chest. After the verdict, Davis’ parents said justice had been done. “Words cannot express our joy, but also our great sorrow, because with the verdicts of all counts being guilty for Michael Dunn, we know that Jordan has received his justice,” McBath said. At Dunn’s first trial in February, he was convicted of three counts of attempted second-degree murder. The jury was hung on the first-degree murder charge, so prosecutors retried him. Prosecutors didn’t seek the death penalty, which means Dunn now faces a mandatory life sentence. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 17. He had already faced at least 60 years for the previous convictions.
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Secret Service director resigns under fire
U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigned under fire on Wednesday after a series of security lapses came to light that exposed gaping holes in the protective cocoon around President Barack Obama. Pierson, in her position for just 18 months, faced mounting calls from lawmakers to step down in the fallout from a September 19 incident in which an Iraq war veteran with a knife scaled the White House fence, sprinted across the lawn and got deep inside the mansion before an off-duty agent stopped him. Pierson had told a congressional committee on Tuesday she took “full responsibility” for gaps in presidential security. On Wednesday, she offered her resignation in a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who accepted it. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama believed Pierson’s resignation was in the best interest of the agency, and that “recent and accumulating” reports of security lapses led the president to conclude new leadership was required at the Secret Service. The development came a day after the disclosure that in a violation of protocol, an armed private security contractor with a criminal record rode on an elevator with Obama in Atlanta earlier this month and took pictures and video of the president on his phone. The lapses, along with a 2011 incident in which seven gunshots were fired at the White House, had raised concerns across Washington that Obama was not as protected as he should be in an age of global tumult. While all presidents have faced death threats, Obama, as the first African-American president, is believed to have received more than his predecessors. In response to calls from lawmakers for an independent probe into the Sept. 19 fence-jumping incident, the Homeland Security Department will establish a panel of independent experts to investigate what happened and report back by Dec. 15. The group will recommend changes to how the Secret Service operates, particularly how to improve security of the White House compound. Earnest said the panel will be asked to submit recommendations on who might become the next permanent Secret Service director, including individuals from outside the agency. Joseph Clancy, the former head of Obama’s protective detail until he retired in 2011, was named acting director in the meantime, the return of a familiar face for the president in a time of turmoil. Clancy was summoned back to the White House on short notice from a job as director of corporate security at Comcast. The Secret Service has already taken some steps to bolster security. It has established a barricade several feet away from the White House fence to deter further fence-jumping, and is contemplating a host of options for further measures. But it faces a difficult balancing act, providing the necessary security while still allowing access to close-up views of the iconic white mansion, a symbol of democracy around the world.
Secret Service Director Julia Pierson When she was appointed the first female director of the Secret Service, Pierson was given the mission of cleaning up the agency’s culture after a 2012 presidential trip to Colombia in which up to a dozen agents were found to have hired prostitutes. An episode last March did not help the reputation of the 30-year Secret Service veteran. Three agents responsible for protecting Obama in Amsterdam were sent home and put on administration leave after what was described as a night of drinking. Representative Darrell Issa, who led a 3-1/2-hour grilling of Pierson before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Tuesday, said he was doubtful one resignation would produce the kind of change needed. “Problems at the Secret Service pre-date Ms. Pierson’s tenure as director, and her resignation certainly does not resolve them,” he said. Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, who chairs a national security oversight subcommittee, questioned Pierson during Tuesday’s hearing on the number of times she had briefed Obama on incidents this year where his safety had been compromised. She replied that there was only one such briefing – after the fence jumper incident. She made no mention of the Atlanta incident. The omission prompted Chaffetz to call for her ouster, and he was later followed by others, including Democratic Senator Charles Schumer and Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee. “Director Pierson’s resignation is a matter of national security and I am pleased she is stepping down. The position should be filled immediately by new leadership from outside the Secret Service for a fresh start,” Chaffetz said in a statement.
Rand Paul says US downplaying Ebola virus
Republican Sen. Rand Paul, said the Obama adPaul’s comments came the day after the first case of ministration may be downplaying the impact of the Ebola was diagnosed in the U.S. The senator blamed Ebola outbreak and called for a ban on all flights to “political correctness” for the Centers for Disease Conthe West African countries where the highly conta- trol and Prevention and the Obama administration gious virus has led to thousands of deaths. Paul also allegedly downplaying Ebola’s impact on America. questioned President Barack Obama’s decision to “I think because of political correctness we’re not send troops to Africa to help combat Ebola, fearing really making sound, rational, scientific decisions on that the soldiers may bring the virus back to the U.S. this,” he said. “It’s a big mistake to underestimate “It’s a big mistake to downplay and act as if ‘Oh, the potential for problems worldwide.” this is not a big deal, we can control all this.’ This Obama announced last month that he was sendcould get beyond our control,” the Kentucky senator ing 3,000 troops to West Africa in an effort to combat and potential 2016 Republican nominee for presi- the Ebola virus. The plan included $763 million in dent told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham funding to build treatment centers and train medical Wednesday. Paul could not be reached for further personnel. comment by International Business Times. “SenaPaul slammed the military portion of Obama’s tor Paul does not have time for interviews today,” a plan amid concerns that the soldiers may contract spokesman said in an email. Ebola and spread the virus when they return home.
Repairs to New York tunnels will severely limit rail service Amtrak officials said that they will have to sharply curtail use of the century-old rail tunnels leading to New York City for at least a year to repair the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, a move that would affect train service for tens of thousands of commuters. One of the four tubes that carry trains under the East River between Manhattan and Long Island would be the first to close, possibly in late 2015. The work on that tube would take a full year and would affect service on the two railroads that also use the tunnel, the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit, which uses a rail yard in Queens to park its trains. Floodwaters from the storm two years ago inundated two of the four tubes of the East River Tunnel and both tubes of Amtrak’s two-track tunnel under the Hudson River. Eventually, Amtrak will need to shut each of the four damaged tubes to fix the extensive damage caused by the saltwater, said Stephen Gardner, Amtrak’s vice president for Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development. Closing and overhauling the tubes, one by one, was among the recommendations in a report that Amtrak commissioned and planned to make public on Thursday. The report, which details all of the damage caused by the storm, estimated the total cost of repairs at $689 million. Mr. Gardner said Amtrak hoped that most, if not all, of that money would come from the railroad’s insurance companies. ‘’We have insurance and we believe insurance covers the work,’’ he said. Amtrak has begun designing the process of replacing the interior walls and the tracks inside one of the East River tubes, Mr. Gardner said. The railroad plans to start there because the effect on train service would be less drastic. A shutdown of one of the four tubes in that tunnel would reduce capacity by less than 25 percent, Mr. Gardner said. But shutting one of the two tracks in the tunnel under the Hudson River would cut service by about 75 percent because trains headed into New York would have to share the remaining track with trains headed west from the city, he said. All told, more than 400,000 passengers ride trains through the two tunnels on a typical weekday, an Amtrak spokesman said. At peak commuting times, 24 trains an hour pass through the Hudson River tunnel, which is the only direct rail link between Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan and all points west. Reducing that traffic to just six trains an hour would have an unacceptable effect on travel in the metropolitan area, said Anthony R. Coscia, the chairman of Amtrak’s board of directors. Mr. Coscia was on hand on Wednesday to make another pitch for Amtrak’s plan to build a second rail tunnel under the Hudson, which is known as the Gateway project. He said that having the added capacity would make the shutdowns more tolerable for the tens of thousands of commuters who pass through the Hudson tunnel each weekday. Amtrak began campaigning for the Gateway project after New Jersey’s governor, Chris Christie, canceled New Jersey Transit’s plan to build a different tunnel under the Hudson to a new station near the Macy’s store in Herald Square in Manhattan. That project, which was known as the ARC tunnel, had received a commitment of $3 billion in federal funding. Amtrak has not yet lined up any funding for Gateway, whose multibillion-dollar price tag Mr. Coscia was reluctant to estimate. Building broad support in Congress to spend money on Amtrak and, in particular, on projects in the Northeast has proved difficult. Republicans in Washington have been pressing Amtrak to operate more like a business than a subsidized transit system. Mr. Gardner said each tube would have to be closed for at least a year, indicating that the East River tunnel would operate at less than full capacity for two years or more. Amtrak officials said they did not yet know what the effects would be on their railroad, the Long Island Rail Road or New Jersey Transit.
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Hong Kong warns democracy protesters of firm response
Hong Kong authorities urged thousands of pro- possibility of police using tear gas. send in riot police ... We hope this doesn’t happen,” democracy protesters to immediately end their “In the coming days we will team up to support the the source said. “We have to deal with it peacefully, blockade of the city centre and said any attempt to movement and provide resources. We will fight until even if it lasts weeks or months.” Leung could not be occupy administrative buildings would be met with a the very end,” student leader Joshua Wong said from reached for comment. resolute and firm response. atop a ladder, to huge cheers. A front-page editorial in the People’s Daily, the The mostly young protesters have demanded Hong The three main protest groups have started to Communist Party mouthpiece, lauded Leung’s Kong’s leader, Leung Chun-ying, step down by the work more closely together, trying to give a show of leadership and the police response to the protests. end of Thursday, threatening to occupy government unity after some disagreements on tactics over the “The central government fully trusts Chief Executive buildings if he fails to do so. past several days. Leung Chun-ying and is very satisfied with his work,” They have also called on China to introduce full The Hong Kong government said the protests, it said on Thursday. democracy so the city can freely choose its own leader. now in their sixth day, were affecting public order A pro-Beijing group told a news conference in Leung, appointed by Beijing, has refused to stand and public services. Hong Kong their supporters would take to the streets down, leaving the two sides far apart in a dispute “About 3,000 government officials will try their to show support for Leung’s administration, raising over how much political control China should have best tomorrow to return to work as (much) as the prospect of clashes between the two sides. over Hong Kong. possible. To maintain public service, the government The crowded suburbs of Kowloon and the Steve Hui, senior superintendent of the Hong headquarters must operate as usual,” the government neighbouring New Territories are home to an Kong police force, said police would take action in said in a statement. extensive network of pro-Beijing groups, some of accordance with the law if the protesters tried to “We urge the Occupy Central leaders and organisers which boast close ties to mainland companies and enter government buildings. to stop the movement immediately.” officials and have grown active in street counter“Whenever there are violent and major incidents While the number of protesters on the streets fell protests in recent months. and crimes such as fighting and any other situation on Thursday, the second of two-day public holiday, that jeopardises safety and public order, police will tension remained high and the demonstrations REPUTATION UNDER THREAT take resolute and firm action to restore public order,” appeared far from over. Hui said, when asked how police would respond Outside Leung’s office in the Central business A top Chinese envoy has warned that the protests should the students carry through with their threat. district, protesters surrounded a police van that could tarnish the city’s reputation as one of the “We assure that police will have enough manpower tried to enter the compound, prompting police to call world’s leading financial hubs if they continued for a to deal with every single situation.” reinforcements. Some protesters donned goggles and prolonged period. Riot police used tear gas, pepper spray and baton gas masks. China’s ambassador to Germany, Shi Mingde, told charges last weekend to quell unrest, the worst in Earlier, about 100 protesters blocked the main Reuters that the city’s reputation as a financial hub Hong Kong since China resumed its rule of the former road leading to Leung’s office, some chanting, “Leung was not under threat for now. “But if shares fall, if British colony in 1997. Chun-ying, Step Down!” the unrest continues, then the social order and (Hong The “Occupy Central” movement presents one Kong’s) role as a financial centre will be in danger,” of the biggest political challenges for Beijing since READY FOR THE LONG-GAME he said in an interview in Berlin. it violently crushed pro-democracy protests in “This is neither in Hong Kong’s nor China’s interest.” Tiananmen Square in 1989. China has dismissed the pro-democracy protests The city’s benchmark index, closed on Thursday Protesters across the city have dug in, setting up as illegal, but it faces a dilemma. for a holiday, plunged 7.3 percent in September. supply stations with water bottles, fruit, raincoats, Cracking down too hard could shake confidence Spooked by the protests, which turned violent towels, goggles, face masks, tents and umbrellas. in market-driven Hong Kong, which has a separate at the weekend when tens of thousands took to the The Hong Kong Federation of Students, one of legal system from the rest of China. Not reacting streets, some banks and other financial firms have the protest organisers, has urged people to surround firmly enough, however, could embolden dissidents begun moving staff to back-up premises on the more government buildings from Friday unless the on the mainland. outskirts of the city. authorities accepted their demands. A government source with ties to Leung said the U.S. President Barack Obama told visiting Chinese Protest leaders addressed supporters camped Hong Kong leader was prepared to play a long-game, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who earlier met Secretary near the government headquarters, preparing them intervening only if there was looting or violence. of State John Kerry, that Washington was watching for a potentially tense night ahead including the “Unless there’s some chaotic situation, we won’t the protests closely and urged a peaceful solution.
Islamic State committing staggering crimes in Iraq: U.N. report Islamic State insurgents in Iraq have carried out mass executions, abducted women and girls as sex slaves, and used child soldiers in what may amount to systematic war crimes that demand prosecution, the United Nations said on Thursday. In a report based on 500 interviews with witnesses, also said Iraqi government air strikes on the Sunni Muslim militants had caused “significant civilian deaths” by hitting villages, a school and hospitals in violation of international law. At least 9,347 civilians had been killed and 17,386 wounded so far through September, well over half of them since the Islamist insurgents also known as ISIL and ISIS began seizing large parts of northern Iraq in early June, the report said. “The array of violations and abuses perpetrated by ISIL and associated armed groups is staggering, and many of their acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity,” said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein. In a statement, he called again for the Baghdad government to join the International Criminal Court, saying the Hague court was set up to prosecute such massive abuses and direct targeting of civilians on the basis of their religious or ethnic group. Islamist forces have committed gross human rights violations and violence of an “increasing sectarian nature” against groups including Christians, Yazidis and Shi’ite Muslims in a widening conflict that has forced 1.8 million Iraqis to flee their homes, according to the 29-page report by the U.N. Human Rights Office and the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). “These include attacks directly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, executions and other targeted
killings of civilians, abductions, rape and other forms of sexual and physical violence perpetrated against women and children, forced recruitment of children, destruction or desecration of places of religious or cultural significance, wanton destruction and looting of property, and denial of fundamental freedoms.” FEMALE “SEX SLAVES” In a single massacre on June 12, the report said, about 1,500 Iraqi soldiers and security officers from the former U.S. Camp Speicher military base in Salahuddin province were captured and killed by Islamic State fighters. However, the bodies have not been exhumed and the precise toll is not known. No one disputes that Iraqi military recruits were led off the base near Tikrit unarmed and then machinegunned in their hundreds into mass graves by Islamic State, whose fighters boasted of the killings on the Internet. Women have been treated particularly harshly, the report said: “ISIL (has) attacked and killed female doctors, lawyers, among other professionals.” In August, it said, ISIL took 450-500 women and girls to the Tal Afar citadel in Iraq’s Nineveh region where “150 unmarried girls and women, predominantly from the Yazidi and Christian communities, were reportedly transported to Syria, either to be given to ISIL fighters as a reward or to be sold as sex slaves”. Islamic State pushed on with its assault on a Syrian border town on Thursday despite coalition air strikes meant to weaken them, sending thousands more Kurdish refugees into Turkey and dragging Ankara deeper into the conflict.
White House fence jumper pleads not guilty in September 19 White House fence jumper Omar Gonzalez, 42, breach The Iraq war veteran accused in the September 19 breach of the White House pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in federal court. The court ordered a mental competency review for Omar Gonzalez, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, but defense lawyers opposed the evaluation. Gonzalez’s lawyer, David Bos, said his client was mentally competent and did not need an evaluation. He said he has become increasingly confident in his client’s competency. Gonzalez was captured inside the White House on Sept. 19 with a knife after he jumped the fence at the presidential mansion, burst through the front door and ran about 130 feet (40 meters) into the East Room, used for events and receptions. He was charged with unlawful entry while carrying a weapon. A federal grand jury indicted him on Tuesday on that federal offense, along with District of Columbia charges of carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business and unlawful possession of ammunition. At a congressional hearing on Tuesday on the breach, lawmakers asked Secret Service Director Julia Pierson how Gonzalez escaped greater scrutiny. In July, he was arrested in Virginia for reckless driving, eluding police and possessing a sawed-off shotgun.
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Facebook Changes Real Name China likely to Policy After Uproar From have annual Drag Queens growth of at least
Drag queens from left, Lil Miss Hot Mess, Sister Roma and Heklina, take turns speaking about their battle with Facebook during a news conference in San Francisco on Sept. 17. Facebook on Wednesday apologized to drag queens and the transgender community for cracking down on pseudonyms. Facebook Inc. is changing how it treats people who don’t use their real names on the social network, following an uproar over its crackdown on pseudonyms used by drag queens. Christopher Cox, Facebook’s product chief, apologized in a post Wednesday to people affected by the recent sweep. He said hundreds of drag queens who were flagged for violating Facebook’s realname policy will be able to use their stage names on Facebook. “The spirit of our policy is that everyone on Facebook uses the authentic name they use in real life. For Sister Roma, that’s Sister Roma. For Lil Miss Hot Mess, that’s Lil Miss Hot Mess,” he wrote, referring to two vocal critics of the policy. Facebook’s terms of service say people must use the same name “as it would be listed on your credit card, driver’s license or student ID.” On their Facebook pages, Sister Roma reacted positively to the apology, while Lil Miss Hot Mess welcomed the move but said she will be happy when her name is changed back. Sister Roma said a protest scheduled for Thursday at San Francisco City Hall will now be a victory rally. Knowing its users’ real identities has been central to Facebook’s business model, which involves building detailed profiles of people so it can send them targeted advertisements based on their personalities. This week, Facebook launched a new advertising service that it says capitalizes on its vast cache of real identities. Facebook called it “people-based”
advertising, and said it was superior to other ad services that rely on less-personal data. Fake or duplicate accounts and names make up a chunk of Facebook’s 1.32 billion users, and Facebook has aggressively pursued those it believes aren’t being truthful. In some cases, it has forced political dissidents living under authoritarian regimes to use their real names, a move criticized by human-rights advocates. Mr. Cox’s post suggests Facebook may be easing up on the real-name policy. “Our policy has never been to require everyone on Facebook to use their legal name,” he wrote. “There’s lots of room for improvement in the reporting and enforcement mechanisms, tools for understanding who’s real and who’s not, and the customer service for anyone who’s affected.” It is unclear whether Facebook’s softer stance on names will apply to a wider variety of people like political dissidents, or if it might open the door to more fake accounts, making its ads less effective and possibly hitting the bottom line. Mr. Cox said in his post that the drag-queen controversy can be traced to a single Facebook user who reported several hundred drag queens to Facebook, claiming the accounts were fake. Mr. Cox said 99% of accounts flagged in that way by other users are “bad actors doing bad things: impersonation, bullying, trolling, domestic violence, scams, hate speech and more.” Because Facebook processes several hundred thousand of these reports each week, it didn’t notice the unusually large number of drag queens who had been flagged. In an automated process, the drag queens were asked to provide identification, such as a gym membership, library card or piece of mail. The outrage over the treatment of drag queens has been credited in part for the surprisingly rapid growth of Ello, a new social network that welcomes fake names and pseudonyms, eschews advertising and promises not to track its users. “I want to apologize to the affected community of drag queens, drag kings, transgender, and extensive community of our friends, neighbors, and members of the LGBT community for the hardship that we’ve put you through in dealing with your Facebook accounts over the past few weeks,” Mr. Cox wrote. Mr. Cox said Facebook was “already underway building better tools for authenticating the Sister Romas of the world,” and said the company would provide more “deliberate customer service” to people who are flagged.
7 percent for years China is likely to have annual growth of at least 7 percent over the next five years as it rebalances its economy to lift domestic demand, the Asian Development Bank’s new chief economist said. Shang-Jin Wei, who began the ADB post in August, said China’s rigid labor market is a greater “source of concern” than a slowdown in the growth rate for the world’s second largest economy. His remarks, in an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, came a week after the Manila-based regional lender left unchanged its 2014 and 2015 growth forecasts for China, which expanded 7.7 percent last year. The ADB sees growth slipping to 7.5 percent this year and 7.4 percent in 2015. Beijing is aiming to grow the economy by around 7.5 percent this year, but the run of underwhelming data so far has led many analysts to predict it may fall short of that target. “In my assessment, over the medium term, it’s very unlikely for the Chinese growth rate to fall below 7 percent,” Wei said, adding that the medium term was “five years or could be more.” The economist, who was born in China and is now a U.S. citizen, said the Chinese economy “is making a transition to a new growth model at a relatively fast rate.” China is much less reliant on exports than it used to be, he said. However, China’s labor market is “something to watch out for”, Wei said. He said that Chinese companies are making “very high” contributions for pensions and health care, and “something needs to be done to reform that.” There should be a social safety net but “you want to provide it in a way that will not affect workers’ long-term employment prospects,” he added. On monetary policy in advanced economies, Wei said the Bank of Japan’s massive stimulus is having a positive impact on regional economies as it helps revive the world’s third-largest economy while partially offsetting the impact from the U.S. ending its tapering. “We see countries are better prepared this time than last time. I’m not saying (there’s) no risk, there is always a risk especially if the U.S. interest rate goes up by bigger amounts and early,” Wei said.
Warren Buffett hijacks the auto business with Dubai detectives to get Google Glass to fight crime Dubai police plan to issue detectives would see the technology rolled out to dealership splash with GoogleGlass hands-free eyewear detectives, the spokesman said. The Oracle of Omaha only recently bought a new Cadillac — now he’s in the business of selling them. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett announced that his Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway has entered into agreement to purchase the Van Tuyl Group, the nation’s largest privatelyowned auto dealership group. Buffett’s new car business joins his private jet company, NetJets, and railroad operator Burlington Northern Santa Fe — and puts the massive Berkshire immediately into competition with large public auto dealership companies like AutoNation, CarMax, and Penske Group. Van Tuyl Group started as a single Kansas City Chevrolet dealership in 1955. It now has 78 locations and about $8 billion in revenue. No sale price was disclosed, although Stephens Inc
Managing Director Bruce Miller, who worked on the deal as an adviser to the Van Tuyl group, told FORBES that Larry Van Tuyl and his family were the sole owners of the company — making him a potential billionaire depending on the final price. The group also has a unique operating structure in which general managers of the individual dealerships typically retain a stake in their local business. “The Van Tuyl Group fits perfectly into Berkshire Hathaway from both a financial and cultural viewpoint. Larry Van Tuyl along with his father, Cecil, spent decades building outstanding dealerships operated by local partners,” said Buffett in a statement. ”The Van Tuyl Group enjoys excellent relations with the major auto manufacturers and delivers unusually high volumes at its 78 locations.”
to help them fight crime using facial recognition technology, a police spokesman in the wealthy Gulf Arab emirate said. The wearable device consists of a tiny computer screen mounted in the corner of an eyeglass frame and is capable of taking photos, recording video and playing sound. The spokesman confirmed a report in Dubai’s 7 Days newspaper that software developed by Dubai police would enable a connection between the wearer and a database of wanted people. Once the device “recognized” a suspect based on a face print, it would alert the officer wearing the gadget. The gadget would be used in a first phase to combat traffic violations and track vehicles suspected of involvement in motoring offences. A second phase
The U.S. Internet company said in a blogpost in May that anyone in the United States could buy the gadget for $1,500. Dubai’s decision appears in line with the authorities’ determination to spare no expense in equipping the police. Last year Dubai announced it would supply its police with $400,000 Lamborghini sports cars for use at major tourist sites. Dubai’s deputy police chief said the vehicles were in keeping with the Gulf capital’s image. Dubai, one of seven emirates in the UAE federation, is staging a recovery from the financial crisis it suffered during the global financial crisis in 2009. The emirate recently announced several big projects, including a huge tourism and retail development with the largest shopping mall in the world.
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Nude Fappening photos making Google millions, despite women’s victimization, Hollywood lawyer says An attorney who represents a number of the Hollywood actresses whose nude photos were leaked in “the Fappening” last month has threatened to sue Google for doing too little to take the pictures offline. The lawyer, complaining that many of the images are still available on Blogspot and YouTube, asserted that Google is “making millions from the victimization of women.” Personal pictures of Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Rihanna, Ariana Grande and dozens of other celebrities went viral in the most publicized hack in recent memory. Along with serving as a reminder about relatively weak online security practices, though, the theft also victimized and humiliated women who thought their photos would remain private. Marty Singer, a prominent Hollywood attorney who has represented Charlie Sheen and says he represents some of the stars hacked in this case, penned a stern letter to Google executives Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt condemning the Internet giant’s unwilling participation in the dispersal of the images. The letter, viewed by the New York Post, compared Google’s inaction to the NFL’s
bungled response to the Ray Rice video, saying the search giant has failed “to act expeditiously and responsibly to remove the images, but is knowingly accommodating, facilitating and perpetuating the unlawful conduct. Google is making millions and profiting from the victimization of women.” Multiple outlets initially refused to remove the images, claiming they had not been contacted to do so by the copyright owners (the person who took the photo), which in many cases was the celebrities themselves. Yet Singer goes on to write that his firm asked Google to remove the pictures from Google-owned properties like Blogspot and YouTube, and that the company has dragged its feet specifically because the pictures have drawn so many eyeballs. “Google knows the images are hacked stolen property, private and confidential photos and videos unlawfully obtained and posted by pervert predators who are violating the victims’ privacy rights,” Singer said, as quoted by the Post. “Yet Google has taken little or no action to stop these outrageous violations…Because the victims are celebrities with valuable privacy rights, you do nothing – nothing but collect millions of dollars in advertising revenue.”
Some Twitter users poked fun at Rihanna’s apparent nude photos by calling her “Mowgli
Global recovery is precarious, says International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund has warned that the global recovery is on precarious footing, as rising geopolitical tensions and the prospect of tighter monetary policy in the US risk dampening the outlook for global growth. In a document prepared ahead of this week’s G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Australia, the IMF said that growth in the first half of this year was weaker than it had predicted in April. The Fund signalled it is likely to cut its next batch of forecasts which will be released in October. The Fund’s assessment is the latest sign that mounting tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East have worsened the prospects for the global economy. This week, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development cut its forecasts for 2014 growth for all large economies except India. “While the recovery is projected to regain some strength in the reminder of 2014 and 2015, it would
be weaker than foreseen in the spring,” the IMF said. The Fund expects growth to accelerate in advanced economies, with the US and the UK enjoying the strongest rebound. However, the outlook for the eurozone and Japan is more uncertain, as inflation remains below central bank targets. The outlook for emerging markets remains vulnerable to the normalisation of monetary policy in the US, the IMF warns. With the Federal Reserve expected to end its asset purchases in October and moving closer to raising interest rates, emerging markets should foresee tighter financial conditions. In particular, the Fund expects to lower its growth forecasts for Latin America, as business and consumer confidence continues to decline in Brazil and Argentina suffers from the consequences of its default in June. The heightening of geopolitical tensions and the reversal of monetary conditions in the US also poses a risk for investors, the IMF notes. While the outlook
for global growth has weakened, volatility has fallen sharply as investors continue to purchase risky assets. This makes financial markets vulnerable to sudden swings. The IMF believes that central banks in advanced economies should keep monetary policy loose as they seek to boost growth and bring inflation closer to their target. But to mitigate the risks for financial stability, the Fund believes the authorities should use macro-prudential tools. “To mitigate financial stability risks from a prolonged period of low interest rates and prevent premature monetary tightening, macro-prudential tools should be the first line of defence,” the IMF said. The IMF also encouraged emerging economies to pass structural reforms in order to reduce their vulnerability to shocks from the reversal of US monetary policy. Structural reforms are also necessary in richer economies to boost potential output, the IMF warns.
Philips Electronics to appeal ruling in $467 million patent lawsuit Dutch healthcare equipment company Philips said it would appeal against a U.S court ruling ordering it to pay $466.8 million in compensation to Masimo Corp for infringing two patents. The patents related to technology used to help measure blood oxygen and track pulse rates. “We are very disappointed in the verdict of the jury and surprised by the magnitude of the proposed award,” Philips Chief Executive Officer Frans
van Houten said. “Philips intends to pursue all avenues of appeal of this verdict at both the District and Appellate courts in the US.” Philips said it would report the compensation award as an exceptional charge to the earnings before interest, tax and amortisation line of its third-quarter healthcare sector results. Jurors in Wilmington, Delaware needed less than a day of deliberations
before ruling in favour of Irvine, California-based Masimo, following a two-week trial. They also said Philips, a unit of Amsterdam-based Koninklijke Philips NV, did not show it more likely than not that Masimo had infringed one of its own patents. The case, which began in 2009, concerned technology for pulse oximetry, a non-invasive procedure to measure the level of oxygen saturation in a patient’s blood.
Philips, which has offices in Andover, Massachusetts, had conceded having infringed Masimo’s patents, but claimed the patents were void because they were “obvious” and described inadequately. The jury said Philips did not prove those claims. Masimo had sued Philips in February 2009. A Masimo spokesman declined to comment on the verdict, and a lawyer for the company could not immediately be reached.
Apple’s iOS 8 causing Bluetooth connectivity issues Apple Inc’s new mobile operating system iOS8 is causing significant issues for some users who connect their phones to cars via Bluetooth, reports Apple news blog MacRumors, citing reports on Apple’s
Support forums and its own user forums. It appears that following an upgrade to iOS 8, or after purchasing a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, users seem to be having trouble pairing their phones to their car audio systems,
MacRumors posted in a blog. (bit.ly/1rMJLpd) Several issues faced by users include the devices refusing to pair entirely, neglecting to play audio over the speakers, or disconnecting when a call comes in.
The Bluetooth pairing problems are not just limited to cars, as iOS 8 users have also reported issues pairing their devices with headphones, speakers, headsets and more. MacRumors had also
posted on Monday that a bug in iOS 8’s ‘Reset All Settings’ option could erase iCloud drive documents, citing user reports. Apple has been plagued by problems following the September release
of its iPhones and iOS8, with iPhone 6 Plus buyers discovering their phones can bend when placed in back pockets, and the company pulling a botched iOS8 update after reports of dropped cellular service.
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Apple could owe $8 Billion in back taxes to European Union The $8 billion in back taxes that Apple could owe in the wake of a preliminary report by the European Commission (EC) on Tuesday would be dwarfed by the amount Apple saved through tax deals that the company struck with the Irish government over the past three decades. The letter written in June by Joaquín Almunia, vice president of the EC and Competition Commissioner, is not a ruling but is meant to provide details of why the EU’s executive arm began investigating Apple’s Irish tax affairs. Almunia told Ireland that tax arrangements in 1990 and 2007 “confer an advantage on Apple” and appear to amount to state aid. To promote fair competition, the European Union prohibits any member state from treating a particular company different from others. Ireland’s 12.5 percent corporate tax rate is low by international standards, but a U.S. Senate subcommittee found
last year that Apple has managed to pay an effective tax rate of less than 2 percent and even no taxes on some profits in Ireland. “What’s troubling the EU is why did they get that preferential rate?” said Martin Sullivan, chief economist at Tax Analyst, a trade publication. The company opened its first Irish subsidiary in 1980. Over the years as Apple’s profits exploded, it began attributing significant chunks of profit to Irish affiliates for tax purposes rather than its companies in highertax countries such as the U.S., home to its marketing, product design, patents and other business central to its bottom line. One of Apple’s subsidiaries in Ireland, Apple Sales International, grew its revenue 415 percent from 2009 to 2011, to nearly $64 billion, the EC found. The subsidiary procures finished Apple products from manufacturers and passes them on to
Apple-affiliated companies that then pay taxes on profits earned overseas sell them to customers. Another Irish until the money is transferred into the Apple subsidiary, Apple Operations country. International, has no employees and The U.S. Senate estimated last did not pay taxes to any government year that Apple shifted at least $74 for five years, despite reporting more billion in worldwide sales income away than $30 billion in profit since 2009. from the U.S. to Ireland from 2009 It’s impossible to know exactly how to 2012, paying about $1.5 billion in much Apple has saved in taxes over the taxes to Ireland on the 2 percent rate. past three decades by shipping profit Apple’s tax bill at the standard 12.5 through Ireland, said Rebecca Wilkins, percent rate would have been $9.4 a senior counsel at Washington, D.C.- billion, indicating Ireland’s negotiated based think tank Citizens for Tax rate cost the country and the EU at Justice. “Their 10-K reports what least $8 billion over that time period. they have in total in offshore cash but If the EC decides the tax deal is state doesn’t break it down by country,” she aid to Apple, it could fine Ireland up to told International Business Times. $1.26 billion and Apple up to 10 percent “They only have to break it out from of its revenue, which could amount U.S. and non-U.S. cash.” to $17 billion. But the preliminary Apple reported in its latest report suggests that the EC would disclosures that it earned 60 percent seek “recovery of the aid,” which could of its pretax profit abroad last year, be about $8 billion or billions more, $30.5 billion of $50.2 billion total, and depending on how many years of back holds more than $100 billion offshore. taxes the EC would seek. U.S. law doesn’t require companies to
Twitter to provide Microsoft names $10 million in next operating funding to new MIT social media lab system ‘Windows 10’ Microsoft Corp announced its ‘Windows 10’ From a virtual monopoly on personal computing operating system on Tuesday to replace the largely 10 years ago, Windows now runs only about 14 percent unpopular Windows 8, skipping a number to mark a of devices, according to research firm Gartner. leap toward unifying the way people work on tablets, Reaction to the news was cautious. Microsoft phones and traditional computers. shares fell 8 cents to $46.36 on Nasdaq. The next version of Microsoft’s flagship product, “It’s a bold statement for Microsoft to make,” said which still runs the vast majority of personal Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets. “So computers and is used by 1.5 billion customers far there’s not as much meat on the bone as we would worldwide, is aimed at recapturing the lucrative have wanted, although it’s still very early days.” business market, which generally ignored the newAn early version of the software, demonstrated look Windows 8. on stage by Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore, showed Windows 10 will be “our greatest enterprise two modes, one optimized for touch-controlled tablets, platform ever,” said Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s head and one for PCs using a mouse and keyboard. Users of operating systems, at an event in San Francisco. can switch between the two depending on the device. Only 20 percent of organizations migrated to Windows Myerson did not say exactly how or when the new 8, which was released two years ago, according to Windows would be rolled out, but other executives tech research firm Forrester. Many PC users disliked said Microsoft was aiming for a full release in spring the touch-optimized interface and bemoaned the loss 2015. A technical preview can be downloaded from of the traditional start-button pop-up menu. Microsoft’s website, starting on Wednesday, for users He said Windows 10, long known by the project to try out and give the company feedback. name ‘Threshold’ internally, represented a new “They were trying to start the messaging for a type of system for the company, as it seeks to unify product that won’t actually ship until sometime computing as mobile devices proliferate. The name around the middle of next year,” said Gartner analyst represented that leap, he said. Steve Kleynhans at the event. “This was to tell the “Windows 10 adapts to the devices customers are PC installed base that there is a future and it doesn’t using, from Xbox to PCs and phones to tablets and have to be covered over in brightly colored tiles, or tiny gadgets,” said Myerson. force them to abandon everything they’ve learned Microsoft faces an uphill struggle in reigniting over the past 15 years.” excitement about Windows. With the rise of Apple Myerson said his team toyed with calling the Inc’s iPhone and iPad, and Google Inc’s Android new product Windows One to emphasize the unity of devices, Windows no longer plays a central role in all the companies’ products, but noted that name had many people’s on-screen lives. already been used.
Twitter will provide $10 million over five years to fund the creation of an MIT lab intended to study social media and develop new technologies that make sense of digital content. The MIT Media Lab announced the creation of the new lab, called the Laboratory for Social Machines, this week. As part of the program, Twitter will also provide full access to its real-time, public stream of tweets, as well as the archive of every tweet dating to the very first one. MIT said the new lab would look at pattern discovery and data visualization to reveal interaction patterns and shared interests in relevant social systems, while collaborative tools and mobile apps will be developed to enable new forms of public communication and social organization. “A main goal for the LSM will be to create new platforms for both individuals and institutions to identify, discuss and act on pressing societal problems,” MIT said in a statement. The university said that although the lab will be funded by Twitter, it will have complete operational and academic independence. Students and staff will work across many social media and mass media platforms not limited to Twitter. “With this investment, Twitter is seizing the opportunity to go deeper into research to understand the role Twitter and other platforms play in the way people communicate, the effect that rapid and fluid communication can have and apply those findings to complex societal issues,” Twitter Chief Executive Dick Costolo said in a statement.
Daimler cuts car market forecast as Europe wobbles
German luxury automaker Daimler has cut its growth forecast for the global car market, blaming cooler demand in emerging markets and a plunge in Russian sales which has put a fledgling European industry recovery in jeopardy. Speaking as the Paris auto show opened to the media on Thursday, Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche said he now expected the global car market to grow by 3-4 percent this year, down from a previous forecast of 4-5 percent. Other executives shared his caution, particularly over Europe where a six-year sales slump has left demand around 20 percent below pre-crisis levels and sluggish economies have put a question mark over whether the gap will close anytime soon. “Perhaps we will arrive at 13 million or 13.5 million (overall vehicle sales in Europe). But the market
A worker fixes a car bonnet emblem as he assembles a Mercedes-Benz C-class model at their plant in Sindelfingen near Stuttgart
won’t return to (the pre-crisis level of) 15.5 million, I’m sure of it,” Martin Winterkorn, the chief executive of Europe’s biggest carmaker Volkswagen said on the eve of the show. Europe’s car market has returned to growth this year, although widespread incentives for buyers and
government subsidy schemes in some countries have made it difficult to gauge the strength of underlying demand. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that car sales in Germany rose by more than 5 percent in September, bouncing back from a decline in August and giving a year-to-date increase of 2.9 percent. But demand has been erratic and executives are particularly concerned about Russia -- once tipped to overtake Germany as Europe’s largest auto market -where new car sales tumbled 26 percent year-on-year in August due to a slowing economy hit by Western sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine. “Earlier this year, momentum was at the upper end of expectations but it’s flattening out a bit,” Ford Europe (F.N) Chief Executive Stephen Odell told reporters, referring to the broader European market.
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Sonia Bien-Aime among strong CONCACAF delegation to Soccerex Conference
SONIA BIEN-AIME.
Sonia Bien-Aime, President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association, a member of the FIFA Executive and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Executive Committee, will be among a strong CONCACAF delegation to the Soccerex Convention to be held in Barbados between October 21 and 22. Bien-Aime, according to the Soccerex website, will accompany CONCACAF President Jeffrey Web, who is slated to give a report on the state of football in the region, especially women’s football, which has seen a rise in competition in recent time. A news release on the Soccerex website stated: “Soccerex are delighted to announce that CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb will be leading a strong delegation of CONCACAF representatives at the Americas Forum. Webb will be giving a speech at the opening ceremony and will be joined by Sonia BienAime, FIFA ExCo, CONCACAF and CFU ExCo Member as well as Costa Rica FA President Eduardo Li to give the lowdown on the boom in women’s football in the region as it prepares to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015 with the nation having hosted the U-20 tournament and Costa Rica the U-17 tournament earlier this
Commonwealth Games 10th Annual Beach Olympics Date: October 11,2014
year.” Soccerex is the global leader for the Football Business, with events all over the world. Its flagship event, the Soccerex Global Convention, brings together businesses of all sizes that work in the football industry, as well as many of Football’s current stars and legends of the game. The event is attended by the who’s who, including those who dominate the sports pages, social media, TV and radio. The site said that Soccerex has been leading the way in the football business since 1995, building a vast network of contacts and business associates the world over, providing the ultimate platform for business in football. Whether exhibiting or attending as a delegate, the experience and networking opportunities are said t be endless, allowing for fast integration into a welcoming community in one of the world’s biggest industries. The organization also used the opportunity to solicit sponsorship from companies that are invited to the event. It is said that the event is flocked by established as well as fledging ones to either expand or put their brands on the map. “Exhibiting your company at Soccerex events is not only a highly effective branding exercise, but also
offers a great opportunity to become absorbed in the Sports business. Our dedicated Account Managers are on hand to ensure that you are able to put your company in front of industry leaders, including football clubs, sponsors, governing bodies and other likeminded business people,” the press statement said. Delegates and business representatives to the given the opportunity to access conference sessions incorporating leading industry business figures, as well as footballers, managers, journalists and legends of the game. The sessions gain vast media exposure due to the ground breaking nature of discussion on the direction of football and Sports business. Bien-Aime who is regarded as a rising star in FIFA, has gained the respect of both the regional football bodies as well as the international ones. She has been lauded for setting up the local football programme for take-off, with the construction of a synthetic soccer field, a beach soccer field as well as a football headquarters, outfitted with housing quarters for visiting teams. Bien-Aime, served as generally secretary for the TCIFA for some time, was elected unopposed as president of the body, earlier this year.
Highlight Of The Day: Iron Man Contest Strongest Woman Contest
Place: Governor’s Beach Time: 10:00 Am
.Swimming . Egg & Spoon Race
Prizes & Surprises, Cash Give Aways, Trophies, Medals, Music & Food. x
.Weightlifting . Potato Race x Volleyball . Sack Race x Sailing . Obstacle Race x Kite Flying . Full the Bottle x Cycling . Balloon Bust x Relays & Horse Race .Ball Throw Cultural Games . Tug-O-War .Dominoes
.Beach Soccer
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West Indies cricket team in much better shape, says manager
Over the past three years, India and West Indies have become the most familiar of opponents. Since India’s tour to the West Indies in June-July 2011, the two teams have played each other in eight Tests and 16 ODIs. After playing three Tests and five ODIs in India in the winter of 2011, West Indies returned for two Tests and three ODIs last year for a hastily arranged series to bid farewell to Sachin Tendulkar. Over the next seven weeks, the two teams will again be pitted against each other in five ODIs, a Twenty20 and three Tests, starting with the first ODI on October 8. West Indies coach Stuart Williams didn’t think the amount of cricket between the two countries had resulted in waning interest. Instead, he felt the series against India gave West Indies an opportunity to challenge themselves against a high-ranking team. “The calendar is set up as such that once you get the opportunity to play international cricket, we look forward to it. India obviously is a high-ranked team and
West Indies is hovering in the seventh or eighth position. We look forward to playing India or anybody else. Whichever challenge we get, we are looking forward to that.” Despite their frequent tours, West Indies haven’t been able to win a Test series in India for three decades. Their last ODI series win in India was also a decade ago. Team manager Richie Richardson hoped their additional training camp ahead of the series would help them change that. “We have arrived a good time [in advance],” Richardson said. “We have a few days to practice and get acclimatised. All of our players have been engaged. We have just come out of a successful series against Bangladesh and all of our players have been involved with cricket. Some are still playing [in the CLT20]. We feel we are in much better shape, much better prepared to take on the Indians and we are just looking forward to a very serious challenge, a good challenge and a successful challenge.”
Richardson also acknowledged it would be a huge task for West Indies with the Indian team desperate to get back to winning ways after a poor Test series in England. “When you lose, especially when you are a top team and you lose, you just can’t wait until the next series to really put things right,” he said. “I just hope that it continues to be a problem for India. We know they are going to look to avenge what happened in England. Put things right, because they were heavily criticised. But we are up for the challenge and we also have a lot to prove. So we are going to go there and play positive cricket and look to beat India.” West Indies will be without Chris Gayle for the ODI series since he is recovering from a lower-back injury. However, Williams said the opening combination wouldn’t be too much of a problem with Dwayne Smith and Lendl Simmons around. “Those guys having played here in the Champions League, they are very familiar with the conditions as well.”
Narine banned from Champions League T20 final
West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine has been banned from bowling in the finals of the Champions League T20 tournament
West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine has been banned from bowling in the finals of the Champions League T20 tournament on Saturday. Narine who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders was reported for a second time in two matches for a suspect action following Knight Rider’s semi-final victory over Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday. He was reported by the umpires after Knight Riders had won by seven wickets to qualify for the finals. Narine was already on the tournament’s warning list after he was also reported following Knight Riders final group match, against Dolphins. The rules of the tournament state that rules a bowler is banned from bowling further in the tournament should be called a second time while still on the warning list. A Champions League T20 release reported that umpires Rod Tucker, S Ravi and Vineet Kulkarni had reviewed
footage of the semi-final and “felt that there was a flex action in Narine’s elbow beyond the acceptable limit when bowling during the match”. Narine is expected to attend the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai, which has been accredited by the ICC as a testing centre for suspect bowling actions, to have his action tested. The ban will not affect his duties with West Indies since it is confined only to the Champions League T20. Narine, the fourth bowler to be reported in the tournament, after Lahore Lions’ Adnan Rasool and Mohammad Hafeez, and Dolphins’ Prenelan Subrayen, is the first bowler to be reported a second time. His absence from the finals will be a major blow to Knight Riders who are seeking to secure the double of winning the IPL and the Champions League T20 in the same year.
Top Quarter-Miler To Join Pure Athletics Club AFTER spending the past year and-a-half at the University of Georgia under the supervision of coach George Cleare, quarter-miler Shaunae Miller is packing her bags to head to a new location under a different coach. In January, the World Indoor Championships bronze medallist will be joining American coach Lance Brauman and his stable of world-class athletes in his Pure Athletics Club that includes American sprinter Tyson Gay. Jamaican superstar Veronica Campbell-Brown was a former member. “Things just didn’t work out with the coaching,” said Miller of her sting with Cleare. “We had our differences of opinion, so we decided to part.” When contacted for comments, Cleare declined to comment. He referred The Tribune to Miller’s management team, indicating that once they make an official statement, he will respond. Miller, the IAAF World Junior Championship (2010 in Moncton, Canada) and IAAF World Youth Championship (2011 in Lille, France) 400m champion, opted not to go into any details about her split from Cleare, only to say that she’s excited about her move to her new environment. “I’m really excited about the change,” she said. “I will have a lot of good training partners down there, so I’m really excited about it and I’m really looking forward to some great things.” The 20-year-old 2012 graduate of St Augustine’s College had enrolled at the University of Georgia. But after running in just the indoor season, she signed a professional contract to compete for Adidas. The deal allowed her to compete on the pro circuit and at the same time allowed her to continue her education at the University of Georgia. While she has posted a personal best of 50.70
Shaunae Miller, the IAAF World Junior Champion seconds in 2013, Miller’s season’s best in 2014 was 51.58 that she recorded in the semifinal of the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. She attributed her lacklustre performance to a series of injuries that she sustained. Hopefully, the change will revitalise her career next year.
“I’m looking forward to some great things. Hopefully I will have a healthy season,” she said. “Then hopefully I can get my times down to where I need to be competitive on the senior level as I’ve been on the junior level.” With the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, in August as the highlight of 2015, Miller said she wants to make sure that she is fit and ready to contend for her first senior global medal to go along with the bronze she claimed in March at the World Indoors in Sopot, Poland. “I won’t call it one of my best seasons,” Miller said. “I’m still thankful that I was able to get through it, but it wasn’t a good season for me. I had a lot of injuries and I wasn’t pleased with the times that I ran. So I’m just looking to bounce off those times and have a very good season next year. “I’m expecting a lot of great things next year. I’m going to be in a very good training camp and so I’m sure that coach Brauman will help me to achieve some of the goals that I didn’t achieve this year.” And while her education will remain a priority in her life, Miller said she intends to continue her studies either online or by enrolling at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida. In addition to Gay, Brauman also coaches Jamaican rising male stars Nickel Ashmeade and Ramone McKenzie and Trinidad & Tobago’s Keston Bledman as well as Trinidad & Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste and American Tori Bowie and Octavious Freeman. Miller, who stands at 6-feet, one-inch, is the daughter of coach Shaun and May Miller, an executive within the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations. Her uncle is Joel Stubbs, a professional bodybuilder and a pilot with Bahamasair.
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SPORTS
LeBron James says his back is “iffy”
LEBRON JAMES said his nagging sore back said Blatt, who declined to name which players has “been kind of iffy” but hasn’t limited him so might sit. far in training camp. “We have veteran players who know very “It’s come-and-go,” James said following the well how to prepare themselves,” Blatt said. “We Cavaliers’ practice on Tuesday. “From the start of obviously have to direct them and help them, but camp it’s been kind of iffy. I’m doing everything we don’t want to come to Day One without guys to get it back, and I’m used to it, at the start of being ready to play.” camp just getting back into basketball shape. Later, a source said the Cavaliers are not “It kind of comes and goes, but I’ve been able to concerned about anything injury related with practice and go full every day without limitations, James. A team spokesman declined to say if James and that’s a good sign.” sat out the second practice and indicated Blatt James battled a sore back last season, would reveal that information at Wednesday’s especially during training camp and early in the scrimmage. season, with the Miami Heat. In the early days of James was asked if he would practice Tuesday Cleveland’s training camp, James has been seen night and he said “I don’t know. I don’t know heading to the trainer’s room for additional work, what coach Blatt has on his sheet in his office following a post-practice shooting drill or two. over there. The Cavaliers have a second practice Tuesday “Right now I feel good,” James said. “I don’t night, and coach David Blatt indicated that some know how much I’m gonna go as far as contact, “veteran players” would sit out. The team has an I’ve been going pretty hard the last few days, intrasquad scrimmage Wednesday night at The depends on how my body feels.” Q. James engaged in an intense, post-practice “We see a couple guys that might be at that three-point drill with Kyrie Irving and seemed to LeBron James stands and smiles at Cleveland Cavaliers practice, but he says his point where they could be liable to that kind of move without limitation. sore back is “iffy” little injury and we don’t want that to happen,”
Olympic swimming champ Phelps arrested on drunken driving charge American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, was arrested for drunken driving early on Tuesday after speeding and then crossing the double-lane lines inside a Baltimore tunnel, police said. The 18-time Olympic gold medalist later apologized for the incident, saying he was “deeply sorry to everyone I have let down.” Police said Phelps, 29, was clocked by radar around 1:40 a.m. traveling 84 miles per hour (135 kph) in a 45mph (72-kph) zone. He was booked and released. Phelps, who has won 22 Olympic medals and appears to be eyeing a spot on the U.S. team for the 2016 Olympics, was “unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests,” authorities said, adding he failed a Breathalyzer test. Police said an officer followed Phelps’s 2014 Land Rover onto northbound Interstate 95, through the Fort McHenry Tunnel under Baltimore Harbor, and pulled him over just beyond the tunnel’s toll plaza. Authorities said the Baltimore-area native was cooperative.
American swimmer Michael Phelps “Earlier this morning, I was arrested and charged with DUI (driving under the influence), excessive speeding and crossing double lane lines,” Phelps said in a statement. “I understand the severity of my actions and take full responsibility,” he added. “I know these words may not mean much right now but I am deeply sorry to everyone I have let down.” The drunken-driving arrest was the second for Phelps, who has spent most
his life working feverishly in the pool that. I just don’t understand it,” she but admits he likes to have a good time said. outside of practice and competition. The U.S. Olympic Committee said it Emerging recently from a two-year was “surprised by today’s news.” retirement, Phelps first tested the “We are disappointed on a number of comeback waters in April at a low- fronts, but want to give Michael Phelps key meet in Phoenix and his progress and USA Swimming an opportunity to has been steady rather than his usual comment before saying anything more,” impressive. the USOC said in a statement. ‘UNQUESTIONABLY SERIOUS’ Phelps was charged in Maryland in USA Swimming, the national 2004 for drunken driving when he was team’s governing body, said: “The 19. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge news regarding Michael Phelps and of driving while impaired in exchange his actions are disappointing and for 18 months’ probation. unquestionably serious. Phelps was contrite following his “We expect our athletes to conduct first drunken driving arrest a decade themselves responsibly in and out of ago. the pool,” it said in a statement. “I recognize the seriousness of the “I was shocked at the news, to say mistake I made,” he told the judge the least,” Dara Torres, a 12-time in 2004. “It is wrong to drink when Olympic medalist who has been on you’re under age. It’s wrong to drive several Olympic and national swim when you’ve had anything to drink, no teams with Phelps, told Reuters in matter how old you are.” a telephone interview. “He was very In 2009, British tabloids published fortunate that no one was hurt. He’s a photo of Phelps smoking from a a good guy. He does work for kids. He marijuana pipe while at a party at the does charity work. University of South Carolina. “He could have given the keys to “I promise my fans and the public someone. He could have called Uber, a it will not happen again,” Phelps said taxi. He has the means to do stuff like at the time.
McIlroy named PGA Tour Player of the Year Dallas Cowboys player investigated for Northern Irish world number one Rory McIlroy was named on Wednesday as the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year for a second time after a stellar 2014 campaign highlighted by two major victories. The 25-year-old, who first landed the coveted honor in 2012, won consecutive majors this season at the British Open and PGA Championship, sandwiched around his victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. McIlroy won out over Billy Horschel, Martin Kaymer, Jimmy Walker and Bubba Watson in a vote of his peers. He also earned the Arnold Palmer Award as the Tour’s leading official money winner ($8,280,096) and claimed the Byron Nelson Award for adjusted scoring average (68.83). American Chesson Hadley, winner of the
Puerto Rico Open, was selected Rookie of the Year. McIlroy displayed remarkable consistency, finishing no worse than 25th in any of his 17 tournament appearances and placed outside the top 10 only five times. He said that 2014 was a more consistent season than when he previously won the award in 2012 and thanked his peers for voting him number one. “It’s a great honor and a great honor to win twice in the space of three years, and hopefully I can win it for many more years to come,” McIlroy told reporters, speaking by telephone from the 18th tee at St. Andrews, where he was preparing for this week’s European Tour event. “If I compare 2012 to 2014, I’d say that this year’s play was much more consistent.
alleged sex assault
A Dallas Cowboys player is under investigation for an alleged sexual assault that occurred in the team’s hotel last month, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The sports channel named the player, as did other media, but quoted Grapevine Police Department spokesman Barry Bowling as saying he hadn’t been charged or arrested. ESPN did not provide details of the alleged Sept. 20 incident. Reuters has not confirmed the player’s identity or the alleged crime. The suspected assault occurred at the Gaylord Hotel a day before the team played the St. Louis
Rams, ESPN reported. Calls and emails to law enforcement and National Football League representatives were not immediately returned. The incident comes to light just a month after TMZ.com published a video from inside a New Jersey casino elevator showing former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice punching his now-wife Janay Palmer. NFL Commissioner Roger Godell initially gave Rice a two-game suspension over the domestic violence incident, then indefinitely suspended the threetime Pro Bowler following the release of the video.
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Carmelo Anthony says he’s the most underrated superstar WEST POINT, N.Y. -- New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony believes he’s the “most underrated” star player in the NBA. “I think I’m the most underrated superstar that’s out there (laughs) but that doesn’t matter to me,” Anthony told ESPN’s Chris Broussard. Anthony was responding to a question about the possibility that he’s underrated because he hasn’t yet won an NBA title. “I know what I’m capable of doing. I know the grind and the hard work I put in to this,” Anthony said. “I know how consistent I’ve been over my career. To do it day in and day out and night in and night out on a very consistent basis year in year out, I know what I can do and I know the work I’ve put in.” “So as far as caring about if I’m underrated as a superstar, and getting the respect I deserve, I don’t worry about that. In due time if everything goes well, I will get it.” Anthony is undoubtedly one of the top scorers in basketball. He won the NBA’s scoring title in 2012-13 and finished second to Kevin Durant last season. But Anthony’s individual success hasn’t translated to his teams performing at an elite level. Anthony’s teams have made the playoffs in 10 of his 11 seasons in the NBA but have advanced past the second round just once. Some equate that to a lack of talent surrounding Anthony. Others use it as a way to critique the seventime All-Star. Anthony was asked by Broussard if he’s bothered by the idea that he’s not known to be in the same class as LeBron James and Durant -- the men widely recognized as the top two players in the NBA. “I know, personally, I’m there. It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “These (analysts) are all people that maybe never accomplish anything. That just sit back and write articles all day long about what they see. They’re kind of living through us out there on the basketball court. “I don’t worry about me being put up there. I know night in and night out I’m gonna go out there and put my work in regardless of win loss
Former England captain fears for the future of Test cricket
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony or draw. I’m still going to go out there and be the best player I can be.” Anthony tested free agency over the summer and entertained offers from Chicago, the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston and Dallas. But the 30-year old ultimately decided to return to the Knicks, signing a five-year, $124 million contract. Earlier this week, he said he was motivated to return to New York, in part, due to “unfinished business.” “I kind of forced my way to New York [in 2011], and I have some unfinished business to take care of,” Anthony said Monday. “I wouldn’t have felt right from a personal standpoint, just getting up and leaving.”
NFL TV ratings on the rise despite domestic violence fumble Americans are tuning into NFL football in greater numbers than last year, according to early season viewership figures, signaling the league’s fumbled handling of domestic violence cases has not dented its overall popularity. Through the first three weeks of the season, audiences watching nationally televised primetime broadcasts have risen and nearly all networks have seen an uptick in viewership so far this season. Although the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell have been widely criticized for their uneven response to abuse cases involving players, angry fans have so far not turned the channel in protest. “I’m not going to stop watching football,” said Los Angeles lawyer Conor Flahive, 26. The NFL’s domestic abuse crisis was touched off when Goodell suspended former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice two games for punching his fiancé, now wife, unconscious, a punishment many believed was too light. Goodell reversed course this month after a surveillance video of Rice’s punch was published, raising questions at how America’s most popular and powerful sports league could not obtain a video that the media was able to find and view. “Obviously, they did a bad job handling it,” Flahive added, echoing much of a public sentiment that heaps blame on the NFL higher-ups while stopping short of turning their backs on the league in general. Network CBS has drawn 19.5 million viewers on average to its Sunday afternoon NFL games, according to Nielsen data, an increase from its 17.8 million it averaged over the course of last season, continuing the NFL’s run as a ratings juggernaut.
NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” - one of TV’s top programs - has averaged 21.8 million through the first three games, a 2 percent rise from last season. Audience data for Sept. 28 games will not be available until Thursday. Broadcaster Fox’s average was down slightly to 20.5 million average viewers from 20.7 million viewers last season. But that figure is likely to surpass last season’s average after data is compiled from Sunday’s Philadelphia Eagles-San Francisco 49ers game - two high-profile teams from large TV markets. For viewers like Lorraine Sarles, a Los Angeles bankruptcy attorney, she continues to watch her hometown Dallas Cowboys because football is an ingrained part of her family life. “If I want to see my husband on Sunday, yes,” she said, when asked if she was watching games these weeks in the midst of the biggest crisis to hit the league in decades. Sarles added that if a Cowboys player was in a domestic abuse case like Rice or Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson, she would stop buying team merchandise. Cable network ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” has edged up early in the season with some 14 million average viewers over the three games it has broadcast that have started during primetime on the East Coast. One of the network’s two games in Week 1, between the San Diego Chargers and Arizona Cardinals, drew 11.5 million total viewers despite a late 10:15 p.m. kickoff for the East Coast.
Andrew Strauss, the former England captain, and an increasingly influential voice in cricket administration, has issued dire warnings about the survival of Test cricket, predicting that Twenty20 could dominate the landscape within 20 years. Strauss, who since his retirement has been appointed to the cricket committees of the ICC and MCC as well as sitting on the Middlesex management board, lays part of the blame for Test cricket’s potential ills on the restructuring of the ICC. The deal, which if TV rights deals come to fruition could bring India a ten-fold increase in income, with England and Australia also benefiting financially, will in Strauss’ view condemn Test cricket to a growing number of mismatches which will quicken its decline. Strauss’ pessimistic view - particularly notable as it comes from one of the game’s avowed traditionalists - comes in an updated paperback edition of his autobiography, Driving Ambition which is published today. “India can argue that they bring the most money into the game, and thus deserve more out of the precious ICC broadcasting rights, but skewing the distribution of the three boards that are already the most financially secure can only create a situation in which the rich get richer and the poor poorer,” Strauss writes. “With only ten teams playing Test cricket and four of those already struggling to stay competitive, the risk of the game degenerating to the extent that the result of many Test series is a foregone conclusion is both high and real.” Strauss paints a bleak picture of the Test game in which he built his reputation, leading England in 50 of his 100 Tests and gaining a reputation as one of the finest man managers in England’s history. “I have to admit that I become more and more concerned about the plight of Test cricket every year,” Strauss admits. “Watching a Test match between the West Indies and New Zealand in an empty stadium with no more than a handful of spectators in attendance sends out warning signals. Seeing that the viewing figures for a county Twenty20 game rival those for a Test match adds to the growing perception that Test cricket is in crisis. “Part of the new ICC restructure provides a Test fund so that some of the smaller nations can play each other in Test series even though they aren’t financially viable. While I definitely welcome this news, I can’t help feeling that we have already reached the tipping point as far as Test cricket is concerned. “The teams will keep playing each other over the next eight years, but aside from iconic series like the Ashes or England v India, I fear that the game is slowly going to fizzle out as a mainstream attraction, especially away from the ‘big three’ nations. “It is too late to turn the tide, especially with the glitz and glamour of Twenty20 cricket managing to gain more and more traction every year.” Strauss predicts a future in which the ICC is powerless to prevent control moving towards the T20 franchises. His warning comes in a week when Australia have conceded that their T20 side against Pakistan could be potentially weakened by absentees in the Champions League - another sign of the creeping power shift between club and country. “It is not a huge stretch of the imagination to see a situation in which most players will be contracted to franchises and play the majority of their cricket in the Twenty20 format,” Strauss concludes. “It will not happen for a while , as the international boards will do everything in their power to prevent it, but market forces are likely to win the battle in the long term. In twenty years, the game of cricket will look very different.”
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 4TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 11TH, 2014
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