OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
Website: www.suntci.com
VOLUME 10 - No. 38
Email: sun@suntci.com
Tel: (649) 946-8542
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$165 MILLION HOTEL FOR GRAND TURK By Vivian Tyson The island capital of Grand Turk is to see its biggest resort development yet, with the construction of a multi-milliondollar hotel development on Governor’s Beach. The 250-room, European Plan (EP) hotel will create hundreds of jobs during construction and many more after completion. It will also provide a tremendous economic boost to the struggling Grand Turk economy which has been in dire need of a major hotel that would attract airlift to the island. Cabinet, in its latest meeting earlier this past week, approved the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Caonabo Resort Development Limited for the $165million resort development which, in addition to the250 rooms, will have 14 spa retreat bungalows, 57 condos, 76 residential villas, 11 town homes and 20 bungalows. The resort is to be constructed on 67 acres of beachfront property. Up to Press time there was no indication of when the project will commence, but residents of Grand Turk said the development is welcome news. When asked about what this new development would mean for the economy of Grand Turk, prominent businessman Ervine Quelch told the SUN that he is happy to learn of the MOU approval but he would feel more confident when he sees shovel in the ground. “The opportunity obviously would be significant and it is
also Member of Parliament for Cheshire Hall in which the establishment falls, as well as Deputy Premier Hon. Akierra Missick were also in attendance. The enterprise opening was marked by on-the-house food and drinks for the large turnout, giveaways, bouncing house and face-painting for the children. Prospective shoppers, who ventured into the store were impressed with its variety and ambience. Photo shows a section of the supermarket.
QUALITY FOOD STORE AND WHOLESALE NOW OPEN: Hundreds of persons from all walks of life turned out to witness the opening of Quality Food Stores and Wholesale at Hospital Road in Providenciales on Thursday (October 9, 2014). The food establishment was officially commissioned by Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, who snipped the ribbon. The premier also wished the proprietors well in his speech. Hon. Amanda Missick, Minister for the Environment and long overdue and much needed. But the signing of an MOU on the part of government does not necessarily mean that the development is ready. Government probably has a lot of things to do to accommodate that development. It is good news to hear but we want to see good news translate into action. “It is all well and good for government to be making their announcements and all that sort of stuff, but
frankly, the people in Grand are tired of announcements, pronouncements and photo ops. What we want is some real action to address the bread and butter issues facing us in Grand Turk,” Quelch said. He added: “The place really needs tidying up. Government could basically ensure that it address the issues of these animals that are a nuisance. They need to get them off the street. Government needs to
enforce the existing laws of the country that deal with derelict vehicles and abandoned properties and all that sort of stuff that make Grand Turk look rustic and like nobody cares.” Quelch said also that Government needs to address the flooding issues on that island whenever it rains. “After the last hurricane, it doesn’t seem like it taught anybody in government any
lessons. One heavy shower in Grand Turk and the roads are flooded,” Quelch said. The Grand Turk resort development is also good news for the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA). Stacy Cox, Executive Director for the TCHTA said that not only will the new development stimulate the Grand Turk economy, but will provide all kinds of opportunities for the Continued on page 2
Green tips to save you some Green — Your bathroom lights are the most frequently used lighting in the house so be sure to use energy efficient bulbs rather than incandescent bulbs.
www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Former Harold Charles Cayman threatens to Islands Premier expose local acquitted companies - Page 9 Page 33 Caicos Express gets bigger plane - Page 13
Justice freed of murder charge Page 5
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS Continued from page 1
Premiere Hon. Rufus Ewing
people on that island. “I think it will definitely diversify the tourism product in Grand Turk, while creating employment and other opportunities for the residents there. I think it is great opportunity for tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands in general,” Cox said. She noted also that with the construction of the resort, opportunities will definitely open up for cruise passengers to be converted into stopover visitors. “With the cruise centre being there you have pretty much a few hours of commercial, that’s free marketing for individuals to come by and to see that project and then to convert from short term stay to overnight stay,” Cox said. In his budget speech earlier this year, Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick said that for far too long the nation’s capital has languished, and the private sector has been shrinking. He said many areas within the community have become blighted as people have migrated away from the old neighbourhood to new subdivisions, and the young people have been forced to move away from home to find jobs in Providenciales. Misick said that this trend must be reversed and that Government will undertake a program of community
renewal. Several major projects using funds from Carnival Infrastructure Fund are slated to be undertaken in Grand Turk this year. Among them are the Restoration of NJS Francis Park, Resurfacing of Front Street and Light House Road, Construction of new Vending/Cultural Market, Upgrade/ Refurbishment of unused buildings on Government Compound, and Demolition of unserviceable structures at South Base. In addition, the $3million Dolphin Cove project will add attractions for growing cruise visitors. There are several other job producing projects slated for Grand Turk in the near future including for the first time an FBO developed by a local Grand Turk entrepreneur. In the meantime, Quelch has congratulated local partner in the project Pastor Chad Archibald, who he described as a hard worker for his country. Congratulations and I am really happy for Pastor Chad. He is an old soldier who is trying to get things done, and in many ways he has been meeting up obstacle after obstacle. This is now a grand opportunity for his labor to come to fruition,” Quelch said.
Irvine Quelch
Former Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Minister of Health Portia Stubbs-Smith criticised nationally for disrespectful and Michael Misick congratulates former unprofessional behaviour Cayman Islands Premier on his acquittal
Minister of Health Portia Stubbs-Smith
Micheal Misick
By Michael Misick
I would like to congratulate the former Premier of the Cayman Islands, Hon. McKeeva Bush, on clearing his name in spite of what seems to be a British Government conspiracy to tarnish it and have him ousted from politics in the Cayman Islands. His acquittal shows that a justice system made up of a jury of peers works. It is my belief that what is happening to me and my colleagues is similar to what has happened to the Hon. Bush. We are experiencing a modern day coup d’état. The British Government and successive Governors have done everything in their power to tarnish our names, including changing the law and the Constitution in an attempt to prevent us from getting a fair trial- a jury trial. I believe that if it is right to have a jury trial in the Cayman Islands it must also be right to allow a jury of our peers to judge our guilt or innocence here in Turks and Caicos Islands. I believe the justice system here is controlled and manipulated by Helen Garlick, SIPT and others for a specific outcome of their creation. They seem to get whatever they want; both civil and criminal. The verdict of Mr. Bush illustrates that the justice system can work in a British overseas territory
if it is not tampered with by external whims and fancies, namely the British government and their appointed British Governors. It is no coincidence that democratically elected leaders of British overseas territories have been faced with unfounded corruption charges and the People of the Cayman Islands, once given a chance through the jury system have exposed this British Government Conspiracy. Here in the Turks and Caicos Islands we are desperately in need of an independent judiciary. Today, I call on Caricom and our fellow Caribbean leaders to take a real interest in what is happening in the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially Jamaica and Barbados where our judges come from. Trial by jury is a long standing mechanism geared for dispensing true justice and removal of this system can only be deemed as undemocratic. No matter what, we will continue to fight for our freedom and the liberation of our country. Our People, Political and Social Leaders have to expose this conspiracy in the Turks and Caicos Islands so that true democracy, the rule of law and true justice “not manufactured justice” can prevail. May God Bless the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Portia Stubbs-Smith, Minister of Health, was the subject of intense criticism country-wide, including on social media, for the unprofessional and unsatisfactory manner in which she conducted herself at a press conference last Tuesday. At a time when members of the public are searching for answers and information about dengue fever and the deadly chikun-gunya virus, Minister of Health Portia Stubbs-Smith held a press conference on Tuesday at which she snubbed the local media. The Minister called the press conference at her Providenciales office to inform the general public about the steps the Ministry of Health & Human Services will be taking regarding chik-un-gunya, dengue fever and the Ebola virus. However, she was not very forthcoming with the media. In fact, she started out by imposing limits on the number of questions to be asked, saying that she would only take two questions from each media house. When members of the media continued to ask the Minister of Health additional questions, she got up and attempted to walk out of the press conference, but she had difficulty passing other officials at the table. She then sat back down and refused to answer any more questions. Take a look at what happened. Members of the media expressed shock and outrage at the Minister’s behaviour. Some of them regarded her actions as disrespectful and irresponsible. It was noted by members of the media that the Minister of Health hardly holds press conferences, and that in light of the fact that there is national concern about the serious diseases, she should have been more accommodating to the media. When SUNtv posted the video clip of
the minister’s actions, there was anger and outrage on Facebook, with several persons sharing the video and posting strongly-worded comments. At the news conference, StubbsSmith explained that she recognized that the public was not pleased with the perceived underperformance of her ministry. She said thought that a great deal of hard work has been going on behind the scenes, and her ministry, going forward, would endeavor to inform the public in a timely manner as to what the ministry is doing. Following the criticism, the Health Minister issued a public apology in which she stated: “I would like to offer my sincere apology for the turn of events, as they occurred, at the Ministry of Health’s Press Conference yesterday (Wednesday). There is no excuse for the way that I acted, and I especially extend my apology to the members of the media, member of my ministry, my government, my constituency and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.” The minister, who described the event as most unfortunate, stated that her actions overshadowed the purpose of the news conference. “We were gathered, which was to provide the public with insight to the state of affairs as it relates to the health of the country in the wakes of the Chikungunya and Dengue Fever Viruses and especially in relation to the ministry’s preparatory efforts in the face of the Ebola Virus. “I wish to assure the public that the portfolio of the Ministry of Health and Human Services is a responsibility that I do not take lightly and therefore regret if my thoughtless actions have demonstrated anything less. I have apologized to my ministerial colleagues and will be writing to the members of my ministry in apology, as I am cognizant of my responsibility to be an example to all,” she said.
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“Justice” acquitted of murdering Dominican woman
A file photo of Romano Giovanni (Justice) Howell at the time of his first appearance in court By Vivian Tyson Local musician, Romano Giovanni Howell, also known as “Justice”, was freed by a 10 -member jury in the killing of Dominican National Damaris Gomez Martinez, 30, whose body was found in a makeshift casket in nearby bushes on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at the side of the road along the Millennium Highway in Providenciales. Howell was found not guilty by an overwhelming majority of the mixed jury on Tuesday (October 7, 2014). The acquittal is a major victory for defense attorney Ashwood “Nash” Forbes of Forbes & Co., who from day one, insisted that the prosecution’s case was suspect. The charge is that, between Monday, June 10 and Sunday 16, 2013, Howell murdered Martinez, stuffed her body in a box and dumped it in bushes. The Prosecution, led by Angela Brooks, informed the court that Howell had offered a confession, but the defense argued that it was obtained under duress. The defense argued that he only admitted to be the killer because he was deprived of sleep after being interrogated for hours in end. Forbes told The SUN after the verdict that while he was happy for the outcome, no winners emerged, since a life has been lost. “You are always happy that you win but at the end
Ashwood Forbes
of the day a life has been lost, so it is nothing to be overly happy about. Somebody lost a sister, somebody lost an aunt,” she said. He however, knocked the Crown for advancing the case against his client, even though they had no concrete evidence. “The Crown just never had any solid evidence against my client. That’s the bottom line. They were not even going on circumstantial evidence. They were going on speculation, and I am glad that the jury saw it that way. Everything that they put forward I was able to (successfully) counter because they just never added up. “The purported confessions (that the police obtained from Howell), and they were just that – purported confessions – were all empty, because there was nothing to substantiate those confessions apart from the three police officers who were saying the same thing. There was no physical evidence to connect my client to the crime. There was nothing to support the assertion that he confessed. He didn’t confess,” Astwood said. The key piece of evidence that the prosecution was relying on – the box that the women was found – bore fingerprints but none of them belonged to Howell. The prosecution also said that Howell was caught on tape being the last person to interact with Martinez before she went missing. “One of the leading investigators admitted in
court that the tape they produced to the Crown was a doctored tape; they admitted to that in an open court. They admitted that they saw the tape from 10:30 p.m. to 11:30p.m., saying that this man was the last person seen talking to this lady. “When you watched the tape, for the first couple of minutes, you can see they talked for a couple of minutes; then you see my client walk in a southern direction; this lady went back in the bar. And when she came back out she walked in an eastern direction. Now, the police officers stopped the tape there; the court never got to see what happened after 11:30p.m. But we had at least two witnesses that put her at the bar up to 1:30a.m. So I believe that was a compelling piece of evidence that showed that there was something wrong with this picture,” Forbes said. He added: “Twenty-seven pieces of evidence were scientifically tested, and not one piece came back to say this man is connected to this murder. Something has to be wrong. Twenty-seven pieces of evidence went to international DNA labs and came back saying this woman was not in this man’s company. So my things is, the crown started off on a week foot. Everything was weak from start to finish, but I just had to keep their feet to the fire.” The trial lasted for four weeks. Justice Joan Joyner was the presiding judge in the case, which lasted a month.
Cecil Arnold returning to Scotiabank Canada
Country manager of Scotiabank Turks and Caicos Islands, Mr. Cecil Arnold
Country manager of Scotiabank Turks and Caicos Islands, Mr. Cecil Arnold, is returning to the bank’s head office in Canada, the SUN can confirm. Arnold will be replaced by Mr. Sean Brathwaite, a Barbadian/ Bahamian. It is generally believed that Mr. Arnold who is originally from Belize, raised the profile and improved the corporate image of Scotiabank Turks and Caicos Islands over the past two years. In addition to be highly respected in the business sector and in government, he was actively involved in the community, including serving as director of
the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Foundation. Arnold previously held the post of Assistant General manager for the English Caribbean where he provided leadership and strategic support to the Senior Vice President with responsiblity for Scotiabank operations in 18 countries in the English Caribbean. He was also Senior Sales Leader for Scotiabank in Belize. “I am passionate about achieving success through people and therefore always focus on people development and leadership growth through coaching,” Arnold is quoted as saying.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 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 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Deputy Premier criticises Opposition Leader for abusing Constitutional Review exercise
Deputy Premier Hon. Akierra Missick Hon. Akierra Missick, the Deputy Premier has strongly criticised Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson for taking her comments out of context, misleading the public and for politicizing the Constitutional Review process Hon. Missick, who is also the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, told The SUN she took strong exception to a recent press release from the Opposition Leader which accused the Government of “flip-flopping” on the issue of Local Government. “I am very disappointed to see my comments taken out of turn by the Opposition Leader and used to politicize the work of the Constitutional review currently underway,” Hon. Missick said. “She (Hon.
Cartwright-Robinson) must not be allowed to use the consultation process to advance her political ambitions. This is not a political campaign. I accepted to serve as I felt that we all have a meaningful contribution to make. However, my Government is now being accused of flip-flopping on the matter of Local Government, but an accurate representation of the facts would prove that I said more than what the Opposition Leader quoted in her press release. Furthermore, there were more questions raised by the audience in South Caicos in relation to the implementation of Local Government.” The Deputy Premier added: “What I said very clearly, is that the matter is under review by two Ministers for presentation to the Premier. I then gave discussion points which the Ministers are reviewing on whether there should be a greater de-centralization of the Government through Local Government and to what extent. Further, I even gave examples of some of the areas they are looking to address, and reminded the audience that I am not to bind the work of other Ministries that would have financial implications, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs, given that District Administration falls under them.” “I even noted the recommendation of South Caicos resisdents who made the point that the “wheel need not be reinvented” during the review and implementation of Local Government. If the Opposition Leader who was sitting next to me was unclear about anything I said, she could have sought clarification instead of hastily issuing a press release
in which she obviously confused herself while seeking to drag the general public into her usual vortex of mistruths and wild statements. We were there to listen to the people, answer their questions to the best of our ability, take their advice and sift through them before making a final submission. We are not there to play politics and create sensational stories about the issues raised.” The Deputy Premier said the Opposition Leader’s press release was designed to intentionally mislead the public and gain political mileage at the expense of the Government’s representation on the Committee and further to evoke the issues and call names of persons who are not even a part of the review. Hon. Missick added: “In my view, her actions were callous and have served to create an atmosphere of distrust in this rather important Constitutional Review exercise. We entered this exercise in the spirit of camaraderie as we embark on a process to enhance and have greater say in the governing of our country. Indeed, this exercise was conceived to give the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands the opportunity to speak openly and sensibly on issues that relate to the Constitution. It is not a platform for persons to inject their political biases in the process and try to discredit others so that they can engage in a power struggle. I invite the Opposition Leader to exhibit a greater level of political maturity, cast partisan politics aside and seize the opportunity of this Constitutional Review to work toward the national good instead of behaving as though everything as a blood sport.”
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 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
LIME doubles broadband speed at no price increase By Vivian Tyson
LIME’s general manager James Pitt has announced that his company now boasts the fastest broadband internet speed not only in the Turks and Caicos Islands but most of the Caribbean in what he has dubbed a revolutionary move in internet connectivity. And the better news is that LIME has decided to double customers’ broadband speed at no additional cost. Pitt made the announcement at a news conference at the telecoms company’s head office along the Leeward Highway on Wednesday (October 8, 2014). The doubling of data speed for no additional cost is a prelude to future mind-blowing offerings that LIME will roll-out to its customers in the very near future, Pitt said. “LIME would like to advise that we would be doubling our speeds to the entire broadband customer base as part of the experience factor of what is to come with our new broadband offering. Our customers with one, two, three and eight megabits offerings will see their service speed change to two, four six and sixteen megabits per second (respectively). “This is a taste of what is to come from LIME. Customers can expect superfast broadband speeds to be offered that will be guaranteed to outpace any other offer in the market. Customers are urged to enjoy the double data offer as the company continues to roll out the service. It will be well worth it once customers experience what the future looks like with LIME,” Pitt said.
upgrade. This is the early signs of the early effects of that broadband network upgrade. The service data as a whole and broadband as a whole has become such an integral part of our lives. I think most of us can’t imagine not having it. We are committing to presenting a world class broadband and overall telecoms offering here in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Pitt said. The LIME general manager pointed out that engineering teams are currently been busy testing and commissioning the data platform, adding that a team has been actively laying fibre optic cable for the network improvement, which he said has taken a phased approach. LIME’s general manager James Pitt Media representatives got the opportunity to test the speed on their devices, and were impressed. Some He said informed that the system is capable of took the opportunity to download movies, which took delivering 75 megabits per second speed with the them about seven minutes each. One of the movies potential to deliver over 100 megabits per second to downloaded was Transformers - Age of Extinction – households through its fiber optic outfit. a lengthy flick, which could take overnight on some “LIME encourages everyone to surf, to enjoy the networks to download. broadband service and to get ready for Superfast Pitt said that on completion the platform will give Speed that will be delivered in the Turks & Caicos LIME the flexibility to tailor packages to the different Islands,” he added. needs. He told the media that the offering was a promise He said that upload speeds will also be as efficient made by LIME’s CEO Phil Bentley, who announced as download speed, further explaining that upload a few weeks ago of the $10 million investment that speeds will be up to 30 Megs per second. the full service telecoms company plans to invest in In the meantime, Pitt said that the laying of the the TCI. fire optic cable is the most expensive component of “About six weeks ago our CEO Phil Bentley the $10 million investment, accounting for about 30 announced to the Turks and Caicos Islands market percent. that LIME has commenced a $10 million network
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.
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 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Harold Charles to expose companies shunning local employment
Harold Charles By Vivian Tyson A number of local businesses are stonewalling job-seeking Turks and Caicos Islanders preferring to employ expatriates, according to businessman Harold Charles. To this end, Charles has served notice on those enterprises that he would be mounting a campaign to expose them. Charles, former owner of the defunct Sky King Airlines, told The SUN that too often Turks and Caicos Islanders have been overlooked for jobs they may very well be qualified for simply because employers prefer to take on expatriates. Charles, a Haitian National, who has become a longstanding citizen of the TCI, was quick to point out that he is not xenophobic, but just want Turks and Caicos Islanders to get a fair shake within the job sector. “I am not anti-foreign, I came here as a foreigner working. But at the same time what I see going on is that too many Turks and Caicos Islanders are suffering, are hurting, and are losing their homes because they don’t have a job. There is no reason for that when we have more than $15,000 people on work permit. I am not saying don’t have anyone on work permit; what I am saying is that keep everything balanced,” Charles reasoned. The businessman said that he was forced to spring into action after he decided to respond to a management ad he saw in the news paper and the litany of qualifications they demanded of him when he contacted the company. “There was a company that I am very familiar with that is applying for (work permit for) a management position. I applied for the position, and you should see what they sent me, it would make your head swing. (They said) you have to be an engineer, you have to be an electrician, you have to be a mechanic, you have to be a surveyor, you have to be someone who understands housekeeping; the list goes on. And I have been going through different ads and looking at what the people (employers) need, and it just blows me out of the water. I am so angry about it. And so, I have dedicated my time to fight this good cause; the cause of fairness and justice for the people of this country,” Charles vowed.
He continued: “I, Harold Charles, will be digging into those advertisements in the newspapers and to see that the people who they are bringing here meet the very same requirements that they put in the newspaper. And if they meet the requirements, those companies should have a successor plan on how to replace this particular person with a Turks and Caicos Islander in that particular position. It is time for every company to do what is right.” Charles reiterated that successive governments require businesses which bring in expatriates to work to train locals for those expatriates-held positions, to succeed them. He said that there are companies that are complying and others that are not. He listed Chartered Trust as one of those companies that believe in the TCI and its people. “Chartered Trust was the one who brought in Mallory McCommish to work. When Mallory McCommish came to the Turks and Caicos, Peter Savory (of Charter Trust) did just that (let McCommish train islanders for his position). That’s how Floyd Hall (former deputy premier and minister of finance) became an accountant. Mallory was dealing with Barclay’s Bank back then, and he saw Floyd as a bright young man, and Mallory picked the guy for Chartered Trust and they sent him to school to become an accountant. And by the time Floyd got back, the company grew to the point that there were two positions available, and Mallory ended up staying. “But Mallory went ahead and recruited Gordon Burton and sent him off to college, and that is how Gordon Burton has become CPA. That is what you call a company which did the right thing. They brought a foreigner in but they always have the local people in mind. When Gordon came back, Mallory hopped on a plane and went back home. Now we have two Turks and Caicos Islanders qualified because of the help and the support of a great company and a great CEO and a great founder of that company,” Charles said. He added: “That is the kind of model that I believe the companies in the Turks and Caicos Islands should follow. We have a very small population with 7,000 voters, so you probably have 4,000 people in the workforce. So it’s no reason why the companies in the Turks
and Caicos can’t do more to empower the Turks and Caicos Islanders. “I have been reading the newspapers a lot and have been looking at the different companies who are applying for work permits for people to work. And what I see those people are asking for just blows my mind. I am not saying not to give foreigners what they want in terms of work permits and things like that, because you have people who actually come here, supporting others, training others to make Turks and Caicos Islanders better. Those are the kind of people we really need in this country.” Charles said that Turks and Caicos Islanders are some of the most hardworking people, which he said is evident during his time at Sky King. “At my time with Sky King, I had nothing but good experience with about 98 percent of the Turks and Caicos Islanders, because I treated them with respect, I treated them right and I paid them well. Because I cared, and I showed them that I cared. Sky was a successful company and it was because of those people who worked for me,” he emphasized. In the meantime Charles said that he would provide a number for persons to call and report despicable companies, so he would be able to expose them.
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.
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.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
TCI-based lawyer gets 14 months in jail Patrick Poulin, a former partner with Turks and Caicos Islands’ oldest law firm, Bishops, was sentenced to serve 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release, along with Cayman Islands-based Eric St-Cyr, an investment advisor, for conspiring to launder monetary instruments, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III imposed the sentences after considering the defendants’ substantial cooperation with ongoing government investigations. St-Cyr and Poulin, both Canadian citizens, along with Joshua Vandyk, a U.S. citizen, were indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on March 6, and the indictment was unsealed March 12 after the defendants were arrested in Miami. St-Cyr, 50, pleaded guilty on June 27 and Poulin, 41, pleaded guilty on July 11. Vandyk, 34, pleaded guilty on June 12 and was sentenced on Sept. 5 to serve 30 months in prison. According to the plea agreements and statements of facts, Vandyk, St-Cyr and Poulin conspired to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership and control of property believed to be the proceeds of bank fraud, specifically $2 million. Vandyk, St-Cyr and Poulin assisted undercover law enforcement agents posing as U.S. clients in laundering purported criminal proceeds through an offshore structure designed to conceal the true identity of the proceeds’ owners. Vandyk and St-Cyr invested the laundered funds on the clients’ behalf and represented that the funds would not be reported to the U.S. government. “The sentences imposed by the court today show that those who use offshore accounts and entities for money laundering and tax evasion will be punished,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ronald A. Cimino for the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “This investigation, which lasted years, involved
Patrick Poulin extensive undercover activity as well as cooperation from multiple foreign law enforcement agencies. The undercover IRS agents in this investigation went to Canada, the Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands to develop the evidence. These two defendants are cooperating with the IRS, and we anticipate that other investigations will develop from the information they have provided.” “These defendants played a shell game by creating offshore entities designed to help their U.S. clients evade taxes and other legal requirements, and they used that same shell game to launder purported criminal proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to penetrate and combat these schemes wherever they occur.” “Today’s sentencings close the door on a business built on skirting the law,” said Chief of IRS-Criminal Investigation Richard Weber. “This investigation reinforces our commitment to investigate and prosecute criminals worldwide who conduct illegal financial transactions, launder money or attempt to conceal the true source of their income in order to evade paying taxes. This should send a clear message to those involved in this type of crime—we will find you.”
According to court documents, Vandyk and StCyr lived in the Cayman Islands and worked for an investment firm based there. St-Cyr was the founder and head of the investment firm, whose clientele included numerous U.S. citizens. Poulin, an attorney at a law firm based in Turks and Caicos, worked and resided in Canada as well as Turks and Caicos. His clientele also included numerous U.S. citizens. Vandyk, St-Cyr and Poulin solicited U.S. citizens to use their services to hide assets from the U.S. government, including the IRS. Vandyk and St-Cyr directed the undercover agents to create an offshore corporation with the assistance of Poulin and others because they and the investment firm did not want to appear to deal with U.S. clients. Vandyk, St-Cyr and Poulin used the offshore entity to move money into the Cayman Islands and used Poulin as a nominee intermediary for the transactions. According to court documents, Poulin established an offshore corporation called Zero Exposure Inc. for the undercover agents and served as a nominal board member in lieu of the clients. Poulin transferred approximately $200,000 that the defendants believed to be the proceeds of bank fraud from the offshore corporation to the Cayman Islands, where Vandyk and St-Cyr invested those funds outside of the United States in the name of the offshore corporation. The investment firm represented that it would neither disclose the investments or any investment gains to the U.S. government, nor would it provide monthly statements or other investment statements to the clients. Clients were able to monitor their investments online through the use of anonymous, numeric passcodes. Upon request from the U.S. client, Vandyk and St-Cyr liquidated investments and transferred money, through Poulin, back to the United States. According to Vandyk and St-Cyr, the investment firm would charge clients higher fees to launder criminal proceeds than to assist them in tax evasion.
REQUEST FOR QUOTES REQUEST FOR QUOTES The National Insurance Board Request Quotes for the Following: LANDSCAPING SERVICES, THE HON. L. HEADLEY DURHAM BUILDING, CHURCH FOLLY ROAD, GRAND TURK The NIB wishes to invite quotes from suitably qualified service providers in possession of a valid Turks & Caicos Islands business license in the appropriate category to provide Landscaping/Ground Maintenance for its Grand Turk office. Further information and documents are available on the NIB website www. tcinib.tc or at the various NIB offices. All quotes should be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to: THE CHAIRMAN TENDER COMMITTEE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD GRAND TURK TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Clearly marked: TENDER FOR LANDSCAPING/GROUND MAINTENANCE, GRAND TURK
Quotes are to be received no later than 12: 00 noon on Friday, October 17, 2014.
The National Insurance Board Request Quotes for the Following: BUILDING MAINTENANCE SERVICES, AT THE HILLY A. EWING BUILDING, LEEWARD HIGHWAY, PROVIDENCIALES LANDSCAPING SERVICES, AT THE HILLY A. EWING BUILDING, LEEWARD HIGHWAY, PROVIDENCIALES JANITORIAL SERVICES, AT THE HILLY A. EWING BUILDING, LEEWARD HIGHWAY, PROVIDENCIALES The NIB wishes to invite quotes from suitably qualified service providers in possession of a valid Turks & Caicos Islands business license in the appropriate category to provide Maintenance Services, Landscaping and Janitorial Services for the Hilly A. Ewing Building, Leeward Highway, Providenciales. Further information and documents are available on the NIB website www. tcinib.tc or at the various NIB offices. All quotes should be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to: THE CHAIRMAN TENDER COMMITTEE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD GRAND TURK TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Clearly marked: TENDER FOR MAINTENANCE SERVICES, LANDSCAPING/GROUND MAINTENANCE AND JANITORIAL SERVICES, PROVIDENCIALES Quotes are to be received no later than 12: 00 noon on Friday, October 17, 2014.
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 11
LOCAL NEWS
The Government flip-flops on local Government
By Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson - Opposition Leader During the meetings of the Constitutional Review Committee, the matter of local government was raised in several Islands. In Salt Cay where first raised, the Minister for Border Control announced that the
Premier had met with the Opposition on this matter to discuss a way forward. When asked publicly by him for confirmation, the Leader of the Opposition responded that she had not been consulted on the matter at all nor made aware of the Premier’s intention. He assured the public that this was the Premier’s plan for the reintroduction of local government. In Middle Caicos and North Caicos, the Minister of Border Control gave the same assurances. During the final of the Review Committee’s Meeting held in South Caicos on Monday night, the Deputy Premier in the absence of the Minister of Border Control, informed the attendees that the Government had agreed for the Minister of Border Control and the Minister of Home Affairs to lead on the issue and to report to their Cabinet colleagues. She further reported that the first of the meetings on local government occurred as early as February 2014: something that the Minister of Border Control in all of his reports never mentioned. Opposition Leader says that she is more concerned now with this recent development bearing in mind that local government legislation
is not in the Government’s list of priority Bills for this year. “ Who or what do we believe? With two very different approaches announced within a week of each other, we are disappointed for the people who have been calling for it. I am a strong supporter for local government, a cause strongly advanced by Dr Linda Williams during our membership on the Consultative Forum and one that I advanced in my submission to Kate Sullivan. I am left wondering if the Minister of Border Control is aware that he had had leadership of this matter together with Hon Amanda Missick. The Deputy Premier when asked further could not give the timeline and we are even more concerned about this. This latest bit of information offered by the Deputy Premier does not give any assurance that this Government is serious about local Government and in fact shakes the little confidence built. The people of Salt Cay, Middle, North and South Caicos has made it clear, they want stronger local government because they feel that their needs are not being addressed nor their voices heard. As a Party that supports a return to strong local government, we lend our voices with theirs and call on this Government to settle on an approach and hear the voice of the people.”
SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER •Provide Professional T&D Engineering services to the company primarily in the areas of system engineering studies and operations including: •Design and management of overhead and underground line construction and T&D maintenance. •System Protection •System Expansion Planning •Technical consultation and support to the production/generation group as required. •SCADA system design and management
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•Manage the T&D Material and Equipment Specifications, and maintain a Materials Master File for T&D materials and equipment. •Provide engineering and operational support to Substation Operations and Maintenance to ensure optimal reliability and efficiency
Main Duties
•Responsible for the engineering and coordination studies completed primarily using the appropriate engineering software. •Set up and manage the T&D material specifications and coordinate and approve the T&D material purchased and stocked in stores. •Responsible for providing technical support when required on the use and development of the FortisTCI SCADA system to ensure in house capacity to perform maintenance, trouble shooting and programming. •Responsible for the T&D equipment specifications. •Responsible for the timely update of the system single line and the lock out procedures used by T&D. •Responsible for providing technical leadership to planning, construction crews and contractors with respect to line designs and system problem solving. •Responsible for the design and layout of underground and overhead transmission and distribution lines to established standards to meet the present future needs of the electrical system. •Responsible for completing cost benefit analysis for proposed Capital Budget transmission and distribution rebuilds and completing projects on time and on budget. •Responsible for interacting with customers, consultants and regulatory bodies to provide high quality service to residential and commercial customers. •Responsible for ensuring that line construction is completed to establish standards. •Responsible for maintaining system reliability and ensuring that customer expectations are met in the most cost-efficient manner possible. •Responsible for assisting line crews and other technical staff in troubleshooting the electrical system for power restoration and improved reliability. •Responsible for providing input in the preparation of distribution Standards, Safety Practices and Work methods. •Providing technical and administrative supervision of the substation technicians in the execution of operation and maintenance activities. •Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time including support to the Generation department on electrical engineering related issues.
Monthly Duties
•Creation of pre-defined and as needed reports on the T&D material and equipment specifications along with an analysis of how well the T&D materials meet these specifications. •Update the materials master files for T&D equipment and ensure materials management is following the specifications. •Complete timesheets accurately reflecting projected being worked on as required. •Monitor and control all expenditures, especially Overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
•A Degree in Electrical Engineering from an approved university •At least ten (10) years’ experience in the field of Electrical Engineering •At least five (5) years’ experience as a Senior Electrical Engineer •Ability to apply technical knowledge, experience and problem solving to complex engineering and maintenance issues. •Goal-oriented and self-motivated to apply needed initiative, attention to detail and appropriate sense of urgency to achieve desired results. •Staying current with electric utility industry standards and changes and demonstrates that knowledge by implementing appropriate changes. •Ability to deliver to strict deadlines and to work under pressure. •Excellent planning, organizing and team building skills. •Excellent written and oral communication skills. •Excellent computing skills
Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is October 24, 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: 649-941-4304
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Government struggling with Dengue, Chik V numbers
It appears that the number of Dengue Fever and Chikungunya (Chik V) cases are overwhelming government technocrats to the point that they are having problems assembling and providing the general public with the figures in a timely manner. Dr. Terese Maitland, National Epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health and Human Services was unable to provide a news conference, held at the Ministry of Health and Human Services in Providenciales on Tuesday (October 7), with concrete figures of especially Dengue Fever cases. Her apparent fumbling with the numbers came while informed medical sources are telling reporters that the cases are rising at a rapid rate to the point that nurses and doctors are being overwhelmed at both the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales and the Cockburn Town Medical Centre in Grand Turk, by persons showing up in droves with the symptoms. Maitland told the news conference that there were 17 confirmed cases of Chikungunya and 100 suspected cases of the ailment. “Within the region, if you would look at the numbers that are put out on a regular basis, you will see the number of cases from week to week. For some place, the number of cases has been fairly static for a while, like Turks and Caicos. And that has to do with the manner in which the testing is done at the CARPHA facility.
“So we have 17 confirmed cases. We do, however, have a number of persons who we do suspect of having Chikungunya that we are monitoring the situation, and ensuring that they follow the necessary precautions,” Maitland said. However, when quizzed on the number of Dengue cases, Maitland was not prepared to give any figures at all, even when pressed by reporters. She blamed in-house collation for the non-provision of the numbers. “As it relates to Dengue Fever, we do some testing in house and we are in the process of collating those numbers as we speak. I can say however, that after the flood rains that we have here in Providenciales and in North Caicos, and recent rains in the other islands, we are seeing an increase in Dengue activity. “We are monitoring the situation, and ensuring that whenever there are cases, that the necessary precautions are taken, and the Environmental Health Department does its job in terms of going out to the respective households,” she said. Pressed further on the Dengue cases, Dr. Maitland said: “The Dengue cases are a little higher than those of Chik, because we do the testing in house here at our local hospital. And so, what we are finding however is a trend whereby the number of the positive tests are here in Providenciales, largely since the floods and rains. “And so, the concern to us really is to
Minister of Health and Human Services Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith (centre) addresses the media. Looking on are Desiree Lewis (right), Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Human Services and Charlene Higgs (left), Health Education Director.
ensure that we fellow the precautions to make sure we prevent new cases as we continue to monitor and, and with all the fogging exercises and other environmental procedures.” In the meantime, Desiree Lewis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Health and Human Services said that, while government is spending approximately $300,000 on the preparation of the deadly Ebola virus, it could spend an extra $250,000 on Dengue and Chikungunya management.
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
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
COOK
PUBLIC NOTICE
Main Duties
Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990
Prepare food items of consistent quality in accordance with production requirements and quality standards while maintaining a safe sanitary work environment.
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:
Start prep work on food items needed for the menu of the day. Inform Chef of any supplies needed for restocking
BLOCK: 10506 PARCEL: 74 LOCATION: South Base ISLAND: Grand Turk
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. Must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. Must be hardworking and a team player Work with minimal supervision. Salary commensurate with experience and training.
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
Requirements:
Submit resume to humanresources@thewestbayclub.com or contact Human Resources on 946-8550
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 13
LOCAL NEWS
Caicos Express acquires bigger plane
The 19-seater Beech Craft C 1900 plane acquired by Caicos Express Airways it is definitely a dream that came to reality,” Registre said. A dream turns reality – that is how Fredise He pointed out that the new purchase will Regisgtre, CEO and Richardson Arthur, Managing increase Caicos Express’ competitiveness in the local Director described the acquisition of the 19-seater aviation industry, and stake its claim as a serious Beech Craft C 1900 plane to the Caicos Express player in the local aviation industry. He said the Airways fleet. travelers would benefit the most. Caicos Expressed unveiled the craft at the “We are taking travelling up a notch, and it will Providenciales International Airport on Monday give the travelling public a more competitive choice (October 6, 2014) in the glare of the media cameras. not only in fares but comfort and speed. That’s what The operators said that the new acquisition offers the customers want at the end of the day, so we are much more comfort in flight with greater leg room, meeting our competitor head on,” Registre gloated. air condition comfort and faster transit time between He added; “When you look at it you are looking at Grand Turk and Providenciales, which will be the a brand spanking new U1900, Brand new upholstery initial route of the new craft. inside, brand new paint. What it is going to give the “We have been talking about (acquiring a larger travelling public is a faster flight to Grand Turk, a plane) for almost a year and a half or up to two years, more comfortable flight to Grand Turk for those of us and now to see that we are actually starting to operate, who like to fly very high, and of course, our fares will By Vivian Tyson
Londolozi Ltd. is inviting suitable applications for the following positions
Sous Chef
Reporting to the Executive Sous Chef, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:
Assists in conducting periodic food inventories. Assists the Executive Chef with departmental human resource functions. Initiates and oversees ordering of food and kitchen supplies. Supervises and coordinates the production of food according to menu specifications. Assists the Chefs and Cooks in preparation of specific cuisine. Inspects quality of food products used to prepare cuisine. Informs Executive Chef when quality is not acceptable. Ensures all cuisine served to guests follow establish guidelines for quantity, quality, appearance, and palatability. Checks physical cleanliness of operations. Ensures all staff practice “clean as you go” techniques. Insures that staff is following all safe serve and health inspection standards. Maintains proper working order of all equipment. Inspects ovens, burners, water faucets, and refrigerators. Reports deficiencies to Engineering Department.
Requirements: Graduate culinary art or Culinary degree strongly preferred 6-10 years previous experience as a cook Full knowledge of ordering work schedule. Physical Aspects: (include but are not limited to): Constant standing and walking throughout shift Lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. Pushing, pulling, lifting
Pastry Sous Chef
RESPONSIBILITIES Planning all pastry production according to menus and event orders. Preparing detailed production lists to ensure efficient and accurate pastry production. Participates in preparing desserts and setting up dessert buffets and stations. Ability to work independently, multi-task and organize work to manage time effectively and meet deadlines. Implementing new recipes and pastry procedures to meet and exceed customers’ expectations for variety, quality and creativity. Implementing new items that meet current dietary trends such as gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, etc. Requisitioning of supplies and equipment. Maintaining highest level of sanitation standards at all times. Adheres to all local health and safety regulations. Ensuring that all work areas are safe and secure; reports any unsafe conditions to supervisor. JOB REQUIREMENTS The Pastry Chef must have a minimum 3-5 years of Pastry Culinary experience in a resort/hotel environment. Culinary Arts or Bachelor’s Degree preferred. MUST have experience in a high-volume, quality pastry kitchen with strong supervisory skills. Our working chef will be responsible for the supervision, coordination and preparation of house-made desserts, pastries and confections.
Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Please Submit Applications to:
cgibbons@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than October 24th, 2014 Belongers need only apply.
always represent us, which is very low.” For his part, Arthur said that for now Caicos Express will work to cement itself on the Providenciales to Grand Turk route, and depending how the winds blow, will venture into other markets. “For now we will fly between Providenciales and Grand Turk. We believe in taking care of our local persons, home first, and of course we will later branch out to other markets. It has been a year and half we have been working on this but we were concerned about the timing; timing is everything, and the time is right now,” Arthur said. Arthur explained that the decision to purchase a larger plane was predicated on a number of factors, chief among them is the upswing of the local economy. We have a lot of confidence in the market, first we believe that the people stand behind us; they are going to help us grow. We are happy with the direction the economy is going and we want to be a part of it,” Arthur said. In the meantime, Arthur said that the new acquisition is available for charter throughout the Caribbean. “We want to dominate the Caribbean, whether the Eastern Caribbean or the Bahamas, wherever, we can take you there,” Arthur said. Meanwhile, none were happier than the staff of Caicos Express, who could not hold back their tears of joy to see the new craft touching down at the Providenciales International Airport. The reaction left Arthur and Regestre in awe. “When the airplane touched down in Provo, to see your staff cry, it just makes your heart full, because it just says that they trust us and they believe in what we were doing,” Arthur said.
Career Opportunity: Grace Grace Bay Bay Club Club is is looking looking for for candidates candidates that that have have the the requirements requirements listed listed along along with with an an outgoing outgoing professional professional manner. manner. They They love love to to work work with with different different types types of of people, people, meet meet challenges challenges with with aa positive positive attitude attitude and and live live the the standards standards of of our our organization. organization. Their Their management management style style is is one one that that balances balances aa commitment commitment to to people people and and their their development development with with business/financial business/financial accountability accountability and and delivers delivers an an exceptional exceptional guest guest experience. experience.
Group Group Director Director of of People People Development Development Job Job Requirements Requirements
To To be be responsible responsible for for the the centralized centralized Human Human Resources Resources Department Department for for Grace Grace Bay Bay Resorts Resorts by by overseeing overseeing HR HR and and Training Training strategies strategies for for all all properties properties from from an an operational operational and and strategic strategic standpoint. standpoint. The The successful successful candidate candidate will will work work directly directly with with the the company’s company’s senior senior management management team, team, to to develop develop and and implement implement strategic strategic long long range range initiatives initiatives that that will will support support the the growth growth of of the the Grace Grace Bay Bay Resorts Resorts Brand. Brand.
The The successful successful candidate candidate must must meet meet the the following following qualifications qualifications and and experience: experience:
to to
•10+ •10+ years years experience experience in in aa Senior Senior Human Human Resource Resource Role Role within within the the Hospitality Hospitality Sector Sector •10+ •10+ years years experience experience in in the the Luxury Luxury Market, Market, in in Hotels, Hotels, Resorts Resorts or or Cruise Cruise Line Line Industries Industries •College •College or or University University degree degree in in Human Human Resource Resource Management Management or or equivalent equivalent years years of of experience. experience. •Caribbean •Caribbean experience experience considered considered definite definite plus. plus. •3+ •3+ years years overseeing overseeing multi-unit multi-unit Human Human Resources Resources Departments Departments within within an an organization. organization. •Certified •Certified in in “Talent “Talent Plus” Plus” or or other other recognized recognized psycho-metric psycho-metric testing testing tool tool that that enables enables you you to to conduct conduct certification certification tests tests and and benchmark benchmark talent. talent. •Experience •Experience in in Kronos Kronos set set up up and and implementation. implementation. Ability Ability to to use use Kronos Kronos as as an an HRIS HRIS and and payroll payroll tool tool
manage manage payroll, payroll, time time & & attendance, attendance, disciplinary disciplinary action, action, employee employee wage wage and and labor labor costs. costs. •Extensive •Extensive knowledge knowledge in in Training Training & & Development, Development, conducting conducting Needs Needs Analysis, Analysis, designing, designing, developing developing and and facilitating facilitating training training programs programs that that meet meet the the company’s company’s strategic strategic needs. needs. •Extensive •Extensive knowledge knowledge in in writing writing company company PP & & P’s P’s and and SOP’s SOP’s and and developing developing company company Brand Brand Standards. Standards. •Previous •Previous demonstrated demonstrated experience experience in in Conflict Conflict Resolution, Resolution, and and Employee Employee Relations Relations •Previous •Previous demonstrated demonstrated experience experience in in designing designing compensation compensation models models that that attract attract and and retain retain the the best best qualified qualified talent talent for for Grace Grace Bay Bay Resorts. Resorts. •Previous •Previous experience experience recruiting recruiting and and selecting selecting top top notch notch industry industry professionals professionals at at all all levels levels of of the the organization. organization. •Ability •Ability to to determine determine appropriate appropriate staffing staffing levels levels based based on on forecasted forecasted revenues, revenues, to to optimize optimize the the balance balance between between desired desired profitability, profitability, guest guest demands demands and and employee employee satisfaction. satisfaction. •Ideal •Ideal candidate candidate will will be be aa “strategic “strategic thinker”, thinker”, skilled skilled at at identifying identifying company company development development opportunities opportunities as as itit relates relates to to policies, policies, processes processes and and standards standards •New •New Hotel Hotel Opening Opening experience experience considered considered aa definite definite asset. asset. Qualified Qualified Belongers Belongers need need only only apply. apply. Salary Salary Range: Range: Commensurate Commensurate based based on on qualification qualification and and experience experience Interested Interested persons persons can can contact contact our our Human Human Resources Resources Department Department no no later later than than October October 17, 17, 2014 2014 @ @ (649) (649) 946-5050 946-5050 Ext. Ext. 1050 1050 Email: Email: humanresources@gracebayclub.com humanresources@gracebayclub.com Fax: Fax: (649) (649) 946-5758 946-5758 P.O. P.O. Box Box 128 128 Providenciales, Providenciales, Turks Turks & & Caicos Caicos Islands, Islands, British British West West Indies Indies
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS 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
CARIBBEAN AVIATION MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Mountain Air Helicopters (TCI) Ltd., an FAA Certified Part 135 Air Carrier holding Permit to operate On Demand 135 operations in TCI. It is a duly licensed helicopter Charter and Tour Company based in Grand Turk. The Company operates under very stringent rules and our safety record is strong. The Company provides service to the private sector as well as govern ment agencies. Mountain Air Helicopters (TCI) Ltd. is currently seeking and has immediate openings for the following positions:
HELICOPTER PILOT:
• Must hold a current FAA Commercial Pilot License with Rotorcraft / Helicopter endorsements • Have and be able to prove through valid log book entry or training records: o 2,000 Hours Total Time o 800 Hours Helicopter o 500 Hours Turbine Time Helicopter o 120 Hours in Eurocopter EC120 or AS350B Helicopters o 200 hours of over water experience. • Have a valid Passport • Live and base in Grand Turk • Hold a valid Drivers License • Hold a valid and current FAA Medical Certificate • Participate in company mandatory Drug and Alcohol program • Be outgoing and interactive with passengers • Be well spoken in English • Other languages (Spanish, French) a plus. • Pass a flight revue by the Director of Operation
HELICOPTER MECHANIC: • • • •
Two Stores clerk Must have 5-10 years of experience In aviation stores inventory, purchasing and proof there of. Salary commensurate with experience. This 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
• • • • • • • • •
Must hold a current FAA Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) License Have 5 years total experience and 3 years experience as a A&P Licensed Maintenance Technician History of Rotorcraft Experience on; o Eurocopter EC120B o Eurocopter AS350B o Turbomeca Arrius 2F, and Arriel 2B/2B1 Engines Good troubleshooting skills Strong work ethics Be outgoing and interactive with clients and customers Valid Passport Valid Drivers License Live and base in Grand Turk Participate in company mandatory Drug and Alcohol program Ability to travel and overnight if necessary Good communication skills
Applicants must please administer CVs/Resumes to the following address or email:
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
Maranatha Academy (a Seventh-day Adventist Institution)
MOUNTAIN AIR HELICOPTERS (TCI) LTD. c/o EPIC Corporation & Consultancy Services Ltd. Cee’s Plaza, Suite No. 1 Church Folly P.O. Box 86 Grand Turk Turks and Caicos Islands Phone: (649) 432-8888 Email: marinajones@mac.com
JOSIE SHOP
KADEEN AGENCY
seeks suitable candidate to fill the position of cleaner. This individual must be able to work Mondays through Fridays. Salary is $5.00 per hour. Duties include cleaning and general maintenance of classrooms, bathrooms and offices.
Applications can be sent to contact@ maranathahigh.com or call the school at 946-4385.
DOMESTIC HELPER
Is looking for A
Is looking for a Air-condition technician with at least five (5) Years experience in this field. Duty includes repair & Replacing defective equipment, components & wiring, Installation & maintenance of HVAC units etc.
Cashier To work Mon- Fri9-5pm Contact 1zionconsult@gmail.com
CONTACT 941-5619
WANTED CAREGIVER
ATRIUM MANAGEMENT LTD Looking for a
PAINTER SALARY $5.00 PER HOUR NORMAL 3 DAY PER WEEK CONTACT MAHALA WYNNS TEL: 231-7188
Applicant must be honest reliable, & hardworking. fluent in French & English.
Contact 242-5126
SALES MANGER
NEEDED
4 years experience in sales and Marketing. Must possess excellent communication skills, able to handle multiple request and customers. Technical skills required, problem solving. Knowledge of inventory invento procedure and typing. Must have valid driving license
Salary is base on commission. Applicant must be honest Reliable & hard working Contact # 649-333-0101
email resume to msimmons@tciway.tc. before October 20 2014.
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 15
LOCAL NEWS
Seven Stars is seeking a suitably qualified candidate to fill the position outlined below. The ideal candidate must possess experience in a customer service focused environment, as well as a professional, outgoing and friendly demeanor with a strong command of the English Language (oral and written).
DINING & BANQUETING COORDINATOR The Dining and Banqueting Coordinator will be responsible to provide an excellent and con sistent level of service to customers and to ensure guests are provided with professional and courteous services according to Seven Stars Resort standard.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS: • Responsible for dining room service in the manner most pleasing to members and their guests. • Assure a high standard of appearance, hospitality and service in personnel and cleanliness of dining room. • Supervise and train dining room staff to help assure proper service • Schedules personnel and plans dining room setup based upon anticipated guest counts and client needs. • Maintains an inventory of dining room items and ensures that they are properly stored and accounted • Develops and implements an on-going marketing program to increase dining room business. • Attends to inquiries and reservations, prepares proposals. • Attends function when required. • Prepares monthly reports of tentative and confirmed bookings. • Prepares monthly financial reports. • Ensures that productivity/sales reports are circulated to all concerned departments on a weekly basis. • Ensures proper follow-up is done daily. • Ensures that functions are properly entered in the diary. • Ensures that contracts, deposit and full payments of functions are properly monitored and im plemented according to the company set procedures. • Co-ordinate all matters related to each department well in advance of the function. • Ensures that last minute changes are properly circulated to all departments in order to avoid delays and complaints • Establishes and maintains effective employee relations. • Complies with the hotel’s health, safety/ hygiene and fire policies as required. • Co-ordinates functions and activities with other Department Heads and Food & Beverage outlet heads as appropriate. • Provide direction to the Banquet department and implement policies and procedures. • Involves communicating with chefs, food and beverage managers and wait staff, to ensure preparation and presentation to the client’s expectations. • Performs other appropriate assignments and projects as required by the food and beverage department.
Education, Qualifications & Experiences • • • • • •
Must be experienced in a similar position for a minimum of 3 years A second language is preferable. Must be knowledgeable of food preparation techniques and styles. Good understanding of selling techniques and banquet operations knowledge. Computer skills in MS Office, email, will be an asset. Good organizational, accounting and planning skills
In addition, we are also currently recruiting for the following: • • • • • • • • •
Bartender Security Kitchen Stewards Room Attendant Demi Chef De Partie Houseman Financial Controller Duty Manager Lead Server
Closing Date October 24, 2014 Suitably qualified candidates should apply via email to Seven Stars at: hr@sevenstarsgracebay.com for consideration Candidates must possess relevant skills, experience, and a clean police record. ONLY CANDIDATES MEETING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED.
JOB TITLE: SALARY: LOCATION: REPORTS TO: SUBORDINATES: EMPLOYEE #:
Information Systems Manager Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience Providenciales Chief Executive Officer Systems Administrator
SUMMARY / PURPOSE OF JOB: This is a managerial position, which has systems wide responsibility for shaping the direction of the Information Technology Department of the NHIB. Providing technical and strategic direction to the Systems Administrator, The IS Manager develops and implements the Department strategies plans; develops new IT systems; conducts technology needs assessments; develops implements and monitors IT Department and Divisional policies sand procedures and develops and maintains training manuals and is expected to generate results that are deemed acceptable when: IT policies and procedures re developed and implements to govern the activities of the department; IT systems are designed to meet the requirements of the users; systems operate efficiently and with minimal down time; security measures are in place to maintain the integrity of the system and to safeguard security measure area in place to maintain the integrity of the systems and to safeguard client confidential data and backup and recovery systems are in place to facilitate the recovery of lost or damaged files.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: Developing policies, procedures, standards and controls or effective management of the IT Department Designing, implementing and evaluating IT projects Designing training plans for all system users Providing departmental and system reports to facilitate decision making Developing and ensuring continuous updating of manual to guide the operations of the department and the use of IT systems Ensuring that systems are in place to recapture lost or damaged files Identifying and sourcing new technology to enhance the capability and capacity of the systems Developing, monitoring and assessing preventative maintenance schedule to ensure continued reliability of the systems Managing and supervising the use and allocation for all IT resources Ensuring service quality management Preparing the departmental budget Monitor security/fire systems Chair Disaster preparedness committee Any other duty deemed appropriate and consistent with the position, professional qualifica tion and skill set as directed by the Chief Executive Officer
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: Internal – All departments External – Hospital, Vendors, Pharmacies
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: Budgeting Team Leadership Good problem solving skills Strong written and oral skills including computer literacy in the main processing, spreadsheet and presentation graphics programmes. Human Relations
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Business Management Experience At least five (5) years on the job experience to acquire the necessary competencies to effectively respond to the challenges of the job. Auditing and Systems Needs Analysis Systems Development and Management Networking Database Development and Management Research and Development Project Management
Deadline for submission is October 17th, 2014. All Applications should be addressed to:
Human Resources Manager National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
Response to Interhealth Canada Release on the Death of Annamae Williams
JOB TITLE: ANNUAL SALARY: LOCATION: REPORTS TO: SUBORDINATES: EMPLOYEE #:
Medical Officer Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience Providenciales Chief Executive Officer Operations Manager/ Patient Representatives / Benefit Coordinator
SUMMARY / PURPOSE OF JOB: This is a managerial position, which has departmental wide responsibility for activities and direction of the Operation department and NHIP Emergency Overseas Treatment Programme; Providing technical leadership to the Insurance Operations team, the Medical Officer formulates polies and procedures to enhance the impact of the department; monitors patients overseas to assess their progress and report to the CEO; verify the eligibility of each claims, ensure staff is properly supervised and trained; and customer concerns addressed; as well as ensuring appropriate cost efficient health care services with best medical practices in place.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Annamae Williams
From the Family of Annamae Williams It was with shock and sadness that we learned that InterHealth Canada has issued a press release regarding the death of our relative Annamae Williams in which they released personal health details and cause of death without the permission of her next of kin. In fact the family were completely blindsided by this appalling act. We strongly believe that the release of Annamea’s private medical information is a blatant and transparent attempt by Interhealth Canada to cover up for the nurses and doctors who failed to provide adequate treatment to Annamae during her short stay the at the Grand Turk Hospital. Annamae presented at the Grand Turk facility three (3) times before being admitted, and she was only admitted after her son raised hell about the indifference medical personal showed his mother. Annamae was tested for Dengue on Wednesday afternoon (her first visit) to her hospital, at no time was she or any family member told that the medical staff suspected she had contracted Dengue even thou that’s what the test for. It was only after she was finally admitted on Friday afternoon that she and the family learned that she had tested positive for Dengue. After being admitted Annamae was mostly ignored by the nursing staff, there were numerous times when she pressed the call button only to have no one respond. There were times when Annamae had violent bouts of vomiting and when called the burse came and shoved a “vomit dish” in a neighbour’s hand and left the room, she never came back to check on the patient. Had it not been for family and friends Annamae would have been left to die in her own vomit.
When we left the hospital on Sunday night Annamae was in good condition, sitting up, talking and joking, so we were surprised to receive a call at around 7 am on Monday morning asking us the come to the hospital because the doctor wanted to talk to us. Upon arrival we were informed that Annamae had taken a turn for the worse but nothing could have prepared us for what greeted us when we entered the room, she was laying in the bed with a blank stare while medical staff frantically worked on her, she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. On Tuesday night Interhealth requested a meeting with family members; on Wednesday we met at the Grand Turk facility where the Internist read from a report and tried to explain the sequence of events that led to Annamae’s death. During this time we were informed that Annamae took a turn for the worse at 2 am. The family had several questions like why weren’t we called sooner? During the back and forth the Internist led us to believe that he personally attended to and tried to revive Annamae, in fact one family member thanked him several times and commented that “he (the Internist) seemed to be the only one who tried to save her life”. He sat there and never denied this. It was only later that day we learned that despite being called several times during the night the Internist never showed up to hospital to evaluate Annamae until 7:30 Monday morning when she was already brain dead. However, Interhealth Canada never revealed that fact to the family. The release of Annamae’s private medical records to the public is a desperate and despicable act. The family is considering all options available to deal with such an egregious violation of privacy.
Manages the medical aspects of the NHIP Emergency Overseas Treatment Programme; Manages all aspects of the Operations department inclusive of all staff assigned to the department; Manages and develop the Operation Department Budget with the view of ensuring that the Department expenditure remains within or below the Budgeted ranges; Developing policies, procedures, standards and controls or effective management of the Operations Department Collection of statistics form ICL (the hospitals) and the private providers as required by management and the actuary Liaise with the NIB to identify number of employment injury and occupational disease cases. Enforces cost-reduction strategies and recommends initiatives in the management of patient’s care; Prepare Quarterly performance reports and trend analysis Recommends and monitors systems and procedures to facilitate achieving of objectives within the area of responsibility; Verifies and signs-off on overseas provider claims in order to ensure veracity of claims as well as conducts value for money audit; Advise on the adjudication of claims by Beneficiaries in special circumstances, outside the scope of usual and customary benefits, including overseas claims To make recommendations to the Board on policy decisions such as but not limited to; reimbursement and to recommend accreditation standards in line with the Health Practitioners Board or other authorized Agency. Conducts a sample survey of health care providers and facilities to derive baseline data on the availability and quality of services as well as the capacity and readiness to meet the demands of the NHIB; Coordinates activities and provides advice to the NHIB team charged with the specification and costing of the service benefit package and in the development of provider payment systems; Convenes and takes the lead in meetings and other mechanisms aimed at defining criteria for inclusion in the NHIB provider network, as well as developing norms and protocols for quality assurance utilization reviews, access to overseas care, and modifications ( inclusion and exclusion) of items in the benefit package; Collaborates with other members on the NHIB team in the design and implementation of activities related to accreditation of health providers; Collaborates with other members of the NHIB team in defining and developing contractual agreements with local and overseas providers for services within the benefit package; Assists in the development of detailed terms of reference and procedures for the activities of the NHIB Medical Review Committee. May perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or any other person authorized to give instructions or assignments Any other duty deemed appropriate and consistent with the position, professional qualification and skill set as directed by the Chief Executive Officer
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal – Chief Financial Officer, Insurance Claims Manager, Nurse Case Managers, Claims Officers, IT, Registration and Accounting Officers External - Members of the public, Ministry of Health and other TCIG Ministries, TCI Hospitals, International medical providers, Insurance Third Party Administrators
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Principles, practices and techniques of medical case management Budgeting Team Leadership Good problem solving skills Strong written and oral skills including computer literacy in the main processing, spreadsheet and presentation graphics programmes. Human Relations
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Medical Doctor with at least 7 years’ experiences a full time practitioner in primary care and hospital settings with the necessary competencies to effectively respond to the challenges of the job. Business post graduate Degree Business Management Experience Knowledge of the NHIB Ordinance and Regulations Current (Good Standing) Registration with TCI Health Practitioners Board Experience with health insurance operations such as member of medical review panel will be an asset.
Deadline for submission is October 24th, 2014. All Applications should be addressed to: Human Resources Manager National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 17
Blue Haven Resort is inviting suitable applications for the following positions
Sous Chef
Reporting to the Executive Sous Chef, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:
Assists in conducting periodic food inventories. Assists the Executive Chef with departmental human resource functions. Initiates and oversees ordering of food and kitchen supplies. Supervises and coordinates the production of food according to menu specifications. Assists the Chefs and Cooks in preparation of specific cuisine. Inspects quality of food products used to prepare cuisine. Informs Executive Chef when quality is not acceptable. Ensures all cuisine served to guests follow establish guidelines for quantity, quality, appearance, and palatability. Checks physical cleanliness of operations. Ensures all staff practice “clean as you go” techniques. Insures that staff is following all safe serve and health inspection standards. Maintains proper working order of all equipment. Inspects ovens, burners, water faucets, and refrigerators. Reports deficiencies to Engineering Department.
Requirements: Graduate culinary art or Culinary degree strongly preferred 4-6 or more years previous experience as a cook Full knowledge of ordering work schedule. Physical Aspects: (include but are not limited to): Constant standing and walking throughout shift Lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. Pushing, pulling, lifting
Cook
Reporting to the Executive Chef, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: Must be knowledgeable of food preparation and presentation methods, Ability to understand sanitary food handling techniques Knowledgeable of the safe operation of kitchen equipment Ability to increase staff awareness of proper personal and food hygiene policies and procedures as well as the safe operation of all kitchen equipment Direct hands on preparation Daily recording and monitoring of the kitchen’s inventory Strong team leadership Good writing, reading, listening and computation skills are necessary Exceptional communication, interpersonal and training skills are a must Requirements:
Must possess a 3-4 star background Minimum of 5 years’ experience in same or similar position Diploma from a formal culinary institution is required Knowledgeable in health and sanitation standards Basic First Aid Must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.
Labourers
To assist in maintaining the buildings of the resort. Must be able to lift 50lbs, bend, stand for long periods of time and must be able to push and pull carts weighing up to 250lbs. Be able to lift 50lbs., bend and stand for long periods of time. Must be able to speak English and understand instructions. Must be in excellent health.
Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please Submit Applications to:
cgibbons@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department. Submissions to be no later than October 24th, 2014 Belongers need only apply.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala have vacancies for the following positions:
Utilities Supervisor To assist the Chief Engineer with managing and providing technical mechanical and electrical support required for successful operation of the resort. Job Scope:
Ability to determine cause and restore common casualties. Ability to estimate time, cost, materials and scheduling requirements as necessary for completion of projects Ability to direct, plan, organize and control a work force of specialized technical, skilled semiskilled and unskilled personnel. Excellent communication skills at all levels of the organization. Knowledge and understanding of International Safety, Health & Environmental best practices and standards. Ability to read, interpret and understand electrical schematic diagrams and wiring diagrams. Set up and lead planned preventive maintenance of mechanical and electrical utility systems. Ability to forecast, organize and execute all work order requests assigned in a timely and safe manner. Train technicians and operatives in the operations and maintence of the specific utility plant and installation at site. Set up in preventative and corrective maintenance work order requests and project works Extensive knowledge and experience to safely and correctly use testing instruments and accurately interpret parameters obtained. Provide and coach technicians and team leaders with BKM (Best Known Method) in performing preventative and corrective maintenance and project works. Be aware of the latest technical standards in the field of relating to the operation and maintence of utility systems Ability to prepare equipment reports, failure analysis and track equipment uptime status. Ability to understand and be familiar with general maintenance work flow processes, procedures and system.
The successful candidate must have:
Electrical and Mechanical Certifications. Must have at least 5 years of previous experience in related field. At least two years experience within a five star hotel. Must be competent in the use of the following computer applications: Microsoft Excel and word.
The successful candidate will be required to work public holidays and weekends and must reside on Parrot Cay. Managerial Positions: General Manager IT Manager Assistant Restaurant Manager Private Estates Chief Engineer
Hotel Manager Utilities Supervisor Assistant Executive Chef Private Estate Custodian Supervisor
Electrical Technician Chief Engineer Head Chef
Job Requirement: Candidates interested in the above positions will be required to work long hours, live on property and are expected to work during the night, weekends and Public Holidays. OTHER AVAILABLE POSITIONS: Recreations Attendant Spa Therapist Room Attendant Night Auditor Turndown Attendant Spa Receptionist Clinical Message Therapist Consultant
Food & Beverage Server Resort Butler Laundry & Kitchen Technician Bar Supervisor Sous Chef Bartender Pilates Instructor
Plumber Certified Electrician Steward Spa Attendant Private Estates Attend Chef de Partie Carpenter
Salaries for these positions will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates. Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address: Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 19
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Resort Development Opportunity on South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI. 56.18 acres of premium land located on the central portion of the eastern coastline of South Caicos, only 40 miles from Providenciales.
■
South Caicos is easily accessible via its airport (6,000ft runway) offering regular commercial flights and chartered flights from Providenciales, as well as Cockburn Harbour with regular ferry service from Providenciales.
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Land comprises 14 adjoining inland, ridge-top and oceanfront land parcels with more than 2,400 linear ft of ocean frontage ranging from iron shore to pristine sandy beach. Elevations of up to 90ft offer sunrise and sunset views.
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A partially completed resort development is located on portions of the property.
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Existing development includes partially completed buildings with 490 condo units, 3 detached 3,800 sq ft residences (2 completed, 1 partially completed), a partially completed 60,000 sq ft club house, staff accommodations and a number of other back-of-house facilities.
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The auction will be held at the offices of Misick & Stanbrook Barristers and Attorneys (Turks & Caicos Law Firm) Richmond House, Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands at 10am on October 22, 2014. A reserve price will be fixed on the property. 10% is due immediately upon acceptance of a successful bid. Bidders are required to attend personally or submit a sealed bid to the offices of Misick & Stanbrook (Turks & Caicos Law Firm) Richmond House, Box 127 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands on or before the auction date. Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available on request from Misick & Stanbrook (Turks & Caicos Law Firm). Phone # 649 946 4732. Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Ltd. is selling as registered Chargee and Proprietor of a Charging Order. Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Ltd. is not obliged to accept the highest or any bid.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w.t c i r e s o r t . c o m
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
Join Us for a FREE
Aviation Career Planning Seminar Plan your career as a professional pilot… come and meet representatives and graduates from American Flyers’ pilot training school. Discover what flight education is required to begin a career in the aviation industry. Free admission with refreshments.
October 17 th & 18th Grand Turk Friday — 17th October 2014 9 am - 12 noon Lifetraining Centre Old Airport Road
(800) 362-0808
Providenciales
.
Saturday — 18th October 2014 9 am - 12 noon The Regent Grand Village Suite Grace Bay
Career Training Since 1939
(954) 785-1450
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CA
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL NEWS
These beautiful little girls were charged with the task of scattering flowers along the isle in anticipation of Bishop and Lady Padmore
The Christ is the Answer Ministry Praise Team
Bishop Sherlo Padmore’s Appreciation
Christ is the Answer Ministry hosted its appreciation ceremony Bishop Sherlock Padmore and wife Shanette Padmore on Sund 5, 2014) at the church located on the Sammy Been Plaza, Airp Providenciales. Bishop Padmore was showered with praise, ad gifts during the event. The message was brought by Pastor Alv told his longstanding relationship with Bishop Padmore. The fo photo highlights of the event.
Bishop Sherlock Padmore (left) in total reverence as Pastor Alvin Harvey invoke the presence of God over their life
Cadian Clayton (right) Anecia Todd (second right) Directors of the Youth and Children’s Choirs respectively present Bishop and Lady Padmore with tokens of appreciation
The Children’s Ministry performing a song
Linda Malcolm presents Lady Patmore with a token of appreciation on behalf of the Women and the Ministers of the church
Dean Nembhard, Men’s Director of th and Lady Padmore with a gift on beha
AICOS SUN
Bro. Stephen Forbes invokes the presence of God in on the service
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Pastor Alvin Harvey (left), Bishop Sherlock Padmore and Lady Padmore touching in agreement
ock
n
y for its pastor, day (October port Road, doration and vin Harvey, who ollowing are
he Christ is the Answer Ministry presents Bishop alf of the ministry
Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson brings greetings on behalf of the Opposition. An invite was extended to both the Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing and Cartwright Robinson
Marvin Jennings reads Bishop Sherlock Padmore’s Bio during the service
Rebecca Crossman leads the reading of the lesion
Guimose Simmons, Adult Choir Director, makes a presentation to the Christ is the Answer Ministry’s first couple
Pastor Monique Harvey, whose husband Pastor Alvin Harvey delivered the message, presents Bishop Sherlock and Lady Padmore with a gift on behalf of Living Word Centre, which both of them pastured
Sigrid Missick presents a gift to Bishop and Lady Padmore on behalf of her immediate family
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OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT LOCAL NEWS
Natasha and Stewart Howard with Kalooki’s owner Malaika Williams
Nina and Josh Green, owners of the property, share a photo moment with Kalooki’s owners Lathareo Williams (second right), his wife Malaika Williams (right) and Georgia Wint of Faces and Fingers
Grand opening of Kalooki’s Beach Restaurant and Bar
Jamaica’s Honorary Counsel and local Businessman Allan Hutchinson and wife Yvonne
Kalooki’s Beach Restaurant and Bar, located in Blue Hills, Providenciales officially opened on Saturday (October 4, 2014) on the premises which was home to the former Horse Eye Jack’s. Kalooki’s which dubs itself Caribbean cuisine with a touch of elegance. The event was attended by the who’s who of Providenciales, who appeared to have a wonderful time. The following are photo highlights of the restaurant’s opening.
From left – Galmo Williams, Tony Garland and Puritan Higgs
Enthusiastic bartenders take time from their busy routines to share lens As shown on the faces of these patrons, the atmosphere was great
From left- Shanny Lightbourne, Clyde Greene, Clayton Greene and Oliver Smith
John Smith and wife Chaka
Doreen Williams Pamella Jolly having a good time at the event
Beautiful people enjoying the vibe at the opening of Kalooki’s Beach Restaurant and Bar
Patrons having a good time
Blythe Clare and Sister Cheryl
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
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ENTERTAINMENT
TCI Hospital launches “Ready” program
Youngsters across the Turks and Caicos Islands will soon have an avenue to take up internships in all areas of health care, thanks to TCI Hospital’s ‘Ready!’ program, that is being developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, faculty in the Science and Business Studies Departments and the Guidance Counselors in all TCI schools. The goal of the program is to educate students about the complexities of a healthcare delivery system and the many jobs that are available within these settings. The program, which was rolled out October 8th, 2014, beginning with the H. J. Robinson High School on Grand Turk, will run in two phases. Phase One includes school tours, presentations and discussions on the wide range of careers in both clinical and non-clinical areas. In Phase Two, students who have shown a serious desire for a career in healthcare and have selected subjects in these disciplines for completion in their senior year, will be selected to participate in an intensive mentorship, coaching and practical application experience involving senior level staff at the Hospital. Selection will be based upon criteria developed together with the schools. Education and Training Manager Mrs. Jacqueline Moe- Cox said, “I am extremely pleased to be associated with this internship program ‘Ready’ where the TCI Hospital is partnering with the education stakeholders to provide the youth of this nation with all the information that they need to prepare them to exploit job opportunities in clinical and non-clinical services in the
Hospital. The launch session at the H.J.H Robinson High School on Grand Turk yesterday has emphasized the need for this exposure so that students in the upper school fully understand that careers in health care expand beyond generalist roles like nursing and doctors. Also making a presentation and a part of the team visiting the schools, Chief of Medical Services, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tenant said, “The ‘Ready!’ program is a critical component of our strategic plan goal to attract and members of the audience listen attentively to the speakers retain top talent. I believe the program presents an ideal opportunity and major advantage of starting a career with TCI Hospital to develop practical skills in a wide variety of specialties; it is a great start.” Praising the initiative was the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Akierra Missick. Hon. Missick said, “I fully endorse this partnership with TCI Hospital. I am thrilled to see students from every community given the opportunity to receive the practical and theoretical insight into working and learning within a hospital setting. This is a valuable educational experience for those students who are interested in the healthcare field and an excellent launching pad for the healthcare workforce of the future”. Also making presentations were Human Resource Manager of TCI Hospital, Edwin Taylor and Site Director at the Cockburn Town Medical Dr. Denise Braithwaite- Tenant- Chief of Medical Services, Jacqueline Moe-CoxCentre, Meleck Cummings. The second Education Manager, Meleck Cummings- Site Director- Cockburn Town Medical Center. phase of program “Ready” is set for summer 2015.
Kalooki’s promises elegant Caribbean dining
Kalooki’s Beach Restaurant and Bar By Vivian Tyson Caribbean dining with a touch of elegance - that’s what Kalooki’s Beach Restaurant and Bar, located in Blue Hills - the former home of Horse Eye Jack’s promises it will offer patrons who go there to dine. Kalooki’s, which officially opened its doors on Saturday (October 4, 2014), gave patrons a sumptuous sneak peak of what to expect on dining day. Malaika Williams, who co-owns the restaurant with husband Lathareo, told The SUN that Kalooki’s core offering will be authentic Caribbean Food with a twist in spices, which she guarantees will set it apart from other eateries. “You can get a few North American things, like
the good old steak and good old hamburger, but again, we always try to infuse something Caribbean in the dish,” Williams said. Williams said that seafood will be a huge part of the menu as well. “We have a lot of fish - Snapper, Grouper Salmon, Conch Ceviche, escoveitched, conch fritters,” she said, adding that jerk, vegetarian dishes will also form part of the menu. Explaining where name came from, Williams said that Kalooki is a popular game that she has been fascinated with from childhood. She said that she and her husband are fierce competitors especially against each other. “My husband and I played many times; we are
very competitive with it and we loved it and decided to name the restaurant Kalooki’s. It’s a very catchy name; as he said it, I said ‘that’s a winner’,” Williams elucidated. Williams expects that Kalooki’s beach ambience will definitely serve as an added attraction. “The atmosphere is a big pull. We really cleaned this place up; we have changed the name, we have changed the image,” she said. She said that the menu, which a great deal of work went into, has been developed from scratch. “We have a great team here, front of house, kitchen, and a consultant that make everything happen. Our menu came up largely from him; it came from friends and family as well. Our menu is simple, but we want to have it well executed time after time,” she said. She said that every Tuesday there will be a live band to delight patrons. And if Saturday’s event was anything to go by, the live band is expected to sizzle. “We want to establish a live band every Tuesday night, and so, we welcome everyone to come out and have a really good time right here on the beach at Kalooki’s in Blue Hills, because it truly is beautiful. We welcome feedbacks, so we can grow from there,” Williams said. She said that restaurant hours will be from 11a.m. to 9 p.m. between Monday and Friday, but the bar will open a little later. “The kitchen closes at 9p.m., but the bar goes until. On weekends, we open at 11a.m. and close a little later (than 9 p.m.),” she said. Williams said that local clientele will be a huge part of Kalooki’s business, since in addition to the menu, the prices are very competitive. “Locals are number one because without them how are you going to make it. That’s why it is not bland food, because we Caribbean folk like seasoned foods,” she emphasized.
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OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
Magic
“Rude”
Saturday morning jumped out of bed And put on my best suit Got in my car and raced like a jet All the way to you Knocked on your door with heart in my hand To ask you a question ‘Cause I know that you’re an old-fashioned man, yeah Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? Say yes, say yes ‘cause I need to know You say I’ll never get your blessing ‘til the day I die Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is ‘No’ Why you gotta be so rude? Don’t you know I’m human too? Why you gotta be so rude? I’m gonna marry her anyway Marry that girl Marry her anyway Marry that girl Yeah, no matter what you say Marry that girl And we’ll be a family Why you gotta be so Rude I hate to do this, you leave no choice Can’t live without her Love me or hate me we will be boys Standing at that altar Or we will run away To another galaxy, you know You know she’s in love with me She will go anywhere I go Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? Say yes, say yes ‘cause I need to know You say I’ll never get your blessing ‘til the day I die
Tough luck, my friend, ‘cause the answer’s still ‘No”
Why you gotta be so rude? Don’t you know I’m human too? Why you gotta be so rude? I’m gonna marry her anyway Marry that girl Marry her anyway Marry that girl No matter what you say Marry that girl And we’ll be a family Why you gotta be so Rude Rude Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life? Say yes, say yes ‘cause I need to know You say, I’ll never get your blessing ‘til the day I die Tough luck, my friend, but ‘No’ still means ‘No’! Why you gotta be so rude? Don’t you know I’m human too? Why you gotta be so rude? I’m gonna marry her anyway Marry that girl Marry her anyway Marry that girl No matter what you say Marry that girl And we’ll be a family Why you gotta be so Rude Why you gotta be so Rude Why you gotta be so rude?
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Jean-Claude Duvalier Dies at 63; Ruled Haiti in Father’s Brutal Fashion
He married the daughter of a wealthy coffee merchant, Michele Bennett, in 1980. Jean-Claude Duvalier, a former president’s iron-fisted rule. president of Haiti known as Baby Doc “On behalf of the entire government who ruled the country with a bloody and people of Haiti, I take this brutality and then shocked it anew sad occasion to extend my sincere with a sudden return from a 25-year sympathies to his family, his relatives exile in 2011, died on Saturday in Port- and his supporters across the country,” au-Prince, Haiti. He was 63. Mr. Martelly said. The cause was a heart attack, his Richard Sassine, a close friend of Mr. lawyer told The Associated Press. Duvalier, told The Miami Herald that President Michel J. Martelly announced Mr. Duvalier had been writing a memoir the death on Twitter. that would correct misunderstandings Mr. Duvalier continued to defend about him and his tenure. what human rights workers called one “He was a gentle giant,” Mr. Sassine of the most oppressive governments said. “Not this tyrant.” in the Western Hemisphere, following This year, his old political party in the footsteps of his father, François, announced that it would field known as Papa Doc, who died in 1971. candidates in elections, and opened an The son was 19 when he assumed the office, though analysts were not sure post “president for life,” as he and his if it was a serious move or a thumb in father called it, becoming the youngest the eye of the rival he loathed, Jeanhead of state at the time. Bertrand Aristide, another formerly Though generally viewed as less harsh exiled president who also returned and than his father, he never apologized for still is a political force. atrocities, including brutal crackdowns Mr. Duvalier fled Haiti in 1986, as on opponents at the hands of the feared political repression and a worsening Tonton Macoutes, a civilian militia economy set off violent unrest in the that left a thousand people, if not more, hemisphere’s poorest country. He dead, disappeared or illegally detained. asked France for asylum and the Indeed, he defended himself as victims United States for the plane to take him of his government pursued cases in there, an American official said at the Haitian courts on charges of corruption time. and human rights abuses. Mr. Duvalier His departure set the stage for appeared in court and calmly denied democratic, though tumultuous, any wrongdoing, and even asserted elections four years later that lifted Mr. that the country was better off when he Aristide, a former priest to the poor, to ruled. power. (Years later, he, too, was chased “Were there deaths and summary from the country by political upheaval.) executions under your government?” Human rights groups have said that a judge asked him at a hearing in Mr. Duvalier looted Haiti’s treasury of February 2013. millions of dollars and largely lived off “Deaths exist in all countries,” Mr. ill-gotten gains. Duvalier replied almost inaudibly. “I His presence in the country, and didn’t intervene in the activities of the the fact that he will now escape trial, police.” appalled victims and human rights He dined regularly at restaurants workers who worked to bring him to in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, and justice. attended events at the invitation of Mr. “On Duvalier’s death I’m thinking of Martelly, whose administration has the look in my mother’s eyes when she included relatives and allies of people talks about her brother Joel who was associated with Mr. Duvalier. disappeared by that dictator,” Patrick A brief statement released by Mr. Gaspard, a Haitian-American who is Martelly’s office said he learned of Mr. the United States ambassador to South Duvalier’s death “with great sadness” Africa, said on Twitter. “News of the and made no mention of the former passing of Duvalier makes me honor
my father and generations of Haitians who resisted that vicious dictatorship.” Still, a majority of the population now was born after his departure, perhaps dampening passions for or against him. “He managed with the complicity of foreign powers and domestic politicians to avoid facing justice both when he was in France and when he returned to Haiti in 2011,” said Robert Fatton Jr., a University of Virginia professor and the author of “Haiti: Trapped in the Outer Periphery.” “Because he escaped trial, the extent of his crimes and looting will not be fully documented.” Mr. Duvalier was born July 3, 1951, in Port-au-Prince. Biographical sketches published when he became president described him as an introvert who liked fast cars and jazz, and a martial arts enthusiast. He spoke Spanish and French, and attended classes at the University of Haiti, though diplomats whispered that he was unprepared for office, and speculated that his father’s ministers would hold the real power. “He did not have the vision or sense to change what his father left for him,” said Amy Wilentz, the author of “The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier” and other works on the country. “He was like a young prince. His father’s people controlled him, and he never got out from under them.” Mr. Duvalier rarely granted interviews and kept public appearances to a minimum, but details of lavish spending on art, clothing and a wedding believed to have cost $5 million trickled out of the presidential palace. That marriage was in 1980, to Michele Bennett, the daughter of a wealthy coffee baron, whose worldly ways and outspoken manner led many to believe she was actually running the country. They divorced in 1993. Whether of his own volition or at the urging of others, Mr. Duvalier took obvious cues from his father, and while occasionally releasing political prisoners or tolerating critical news coverage, he quickly quashed serious dissent. He curried favor with the United
States, and exploited its Cold War aims to ensure that Haiti did not fall under Cuba’s sway by bargaining for aid, though his government did not receive all that it believed it needed. Still, investment increased and he pushed urbanization and public works projects, drawing poor farmers from the countryside to such an extent that some argue that agriculture fell into an irreversible decline. The large Haitian diaspora blossomed as people fled and sent money home, buttressing the weak economy. He welcomed nongovernment organizations to fill in what his government could not or would not do, leading to a heavy presence that still exists today. “The years of Jean-Claude Duvalier were also the time of a ramping up of the current highly fragmented landscape of aid delivery in Haiti,” said Laurent Dubois, an expert on modern Haitian history at Duke University. “Jean-Claude Duvalier inherited a carefully constructed state apparatus for political repression from his father, and he largely maintained it during his regime,” Mr. Dubois said. “But he also cultivated new connections with the U.S., seeking new types of investment in the country,” he added. “The model of using small manufacturing to expand the economy — some talked of Haiti becoming the ‘Taiwan of the Caribbean’ — was a key part of his economic policy, though even he later admitted that its ultimate success in alleviating poverty was quite limited.” As political oppression mounted, so did stories of his extravagances. When he fled Haiti, American officials said he held $200 million to $500 million in foreign bank accounts and had a reputation for giving family members million-dollar vacations at luxury resorts, as millions of Haitians lived in squalor and scrounged for food. While in exile, he kept a low profile, vowing to return to Haiti before he did so on Jan. 16, 2011. He said in an interview that the 2010 earthquake that devastated the capital broke his heart, and that he wanted to help rebuild the country, not inject himself into politics or the chaotic presidential election unfolding at the time, eventually won by Mr. Martelly. But others wondered if he was making a bid to secure money still stashed away. He looked frail and far thinner than the 250 pounds he once carried on his six-foot frame, and with occasional trips to the hospital, Haitian media speculated that he had returned home to die. Mr. Duvalier is survived by his companion, Veronique Roy, and a son and daughter from his first marriage, François Nicolas and Anya.
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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 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
CARIBBEAN
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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NEWS
Former Cayman Islands Premier found not guilty
Former Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush Former Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush was found not guilty on Thursday October 9th, on all 11 criminal charges leveled against him. It took a jury of four women and three men a day to find the United Democratic Party leader not guilty on six counts of misconduct in a public office, contrary to Common Law and five counts of breach of trust by a Member of the Legislative Assembly, under the Anti-Corruption Law. The verdict was unanimous. The charges stemmed from allegations that he withdrew just less than US$50,000 on his government-issued credit card and used at least some of that money to gamble in casino slot machines – conduct prosecutors said amounted to an abuse of his power. The verdicts, which were delivered to a packed courtroom shortly after noon on Thursday, bring to an end a public saga that began in December 2012 when Mr. Bush, who was then the leader of the country, was arrested at his West Bay home. He was removed from office following a vote of no confidence from his colleagues in the Legislative Assembly and his fractured party was defeated in a general election the following year, though he was personally re-elected in West Bay, becoming Leader of the Opposition. During the three-week trial, Mr. Bush’s attorney Geoffrey Cox, QC, levelled allegations of a political plot, led by former Governor Duncan Taylor, to leverage the criminal investigation to oust the sitting premier from office. The prosecution produced evidence that Mr. Bush had made cash withdrawals in casinos in the U.S. and the Bahamas, cross-referencing this with data from casinos about his substantial losses on slot machines in an effort to prove he had been using the government’s credit line to gamble. Several civil service witnesses testified that personal usage of the government cards had been permitted during the period in question as long as the funds were repaid. Bush’s lawyer Geoffrey Cox said the former Premier was the victim of a “cynical” and “disgraceful” plot to remove him from office led by former Governor Duncan Taylor who was pursuing a “personal vendetta” against the elected leader of the Cayman Islands. “This was a plot of breathtaking proportions,” said Mr. Cox, dismissing the evidence as “non-existent.”
“If there has been any misconduct in a public office, it has been from those who orchestrated and planned the subversion of a democratically elected premier in this territory.” Mr. Cox questioned why any charges had ever been brought against Mr. Bush, saying the ramifications of the case and how it was handled, particularly by the then-governor, would reverberate beyond the walls of the court room. “Cynical,” bellowed Mr. Cox, as he read aloud once again from Mr. Taylor’s now infamous emails to the foreign office. “They have heard me here and they will hear me in Westminster,” said the lawyer, who is also a British MP. “It is cynical, deeply inappropriate and wrong, and a betrayal of the values that should operate in the administration of a territory.” Slamming his fist on the table as he spoke, Mr. Cox added, “I have been elected three times (to the UK parliament) and I believe it is a sacred thing. You don’t undermine or subvert the will of the democratic mandate given by the people of the Cayman Islands or anywhere else.” Mr. Cox said there had been no reason for Mr. Bush to take the witness stand because there was “no case” against him, adding, “Mac Bush is an innocent man. He may have acted unwisely. He may have been foolish to give his political opponents the ammunition to bring this charge against him. But now we know the truth from the mouths of the witnesses ... that his behavior was within the rules. “You have to ask yourself if this had been known from the beginning, would this case have been anywhere near this court?” Speaking in front of a packed court, with every seat taken in the public gallery, Mr. Cox said Mr. Bush had a history of fighting for the Cayman Islands, occasionally got “up people’s noses” and had “clashed” with the governor. He said the emails sent by Mr. Taylor showed his focus was clearly on the political damage that could be caused to Mr. Bush. “What these emails reveal is that McKeeva was right,” he said, referring to Mr. Bush’s oft-stated belief that the Governor Taylor was pursuing a witch hunt against him. “When he heard in November 2012 that his credit cards were being looked at, he smelled a rat. He knew that what he had been doing was done with the approval of the civil servants and was within the
rules at the time, and he was doing nothing more or less, in principle, than anybody else had done. He knew nobody had been censured, nobody had even had a slap on the wrist.” He said the fact that Mr. Bush’s use of the credit card, including cash withdrawals at hotels and casinos, had been done “out in the open” and was known to his civil servants for two-and-a-half years before any investigation began, showed the motivation and the timing of the investigation were political. He said that when Mr. Taylor had written that he would be enjoying a “quiet bottle of bubbly” if Mr. Bush were charged, he was toasting the success of his plot – the removal of the premier from office. Reading again from the emails, he said the clear focus of the governor at the time had been how the arrest would play publicly – moving to ensure journalists were tipped off and police were photographed bringing boxes from Mr. Bush’s home. He said the evidence from various witnesses in the civil service – the financial officers responsible for implementing regulations and laws on such matters – showed that Mr. Bush had acted within the rules. Crucially, he said, Mr. Bush had stopped using his card for personal use as soon as a policy banning it came into place. It was clear, he suggested, that the premier would have stopped the activity if anyone had told him it was wrong. He said, “The evidence in this court raises serious questions about what has gone on in relation to this premier and the events that have taken place between 2012 and today. The ramification of it will not stop at this court. Comparing Mr. Taylor to the string-pulling civil servant Sir Humphrey from the British television series “Yes Minister,” he said the governor had gone to great pains to be seen to be doing the proper thing, while all the time plotting to do the opposite. Quoting from an exchange where Mr. Taylor suggests he should respond to the arrest by saying something proper about the rule of law and then signs off with a suggestion that the foreign office secretly brief London journalists to the effect that Mr. Bush should step down, he described the governor’s actions as cynical. He added, “This was a deliberate attempt to maximize the political harm against this man in order to ensure his arrest and charge and bring about his removal from the premiership and subsequent defeat at the general election. “It is a disgrace, it is the manipulation of the democratic system in this country.” He said Mr. Bush could not be blamed, in the context of what he suspected was a political plot against him, for not coming forward to say he had spent some of the money in slot machines. He said Mr. Bush had simply followed the rules as they were at the time when he made cash withdrawals in casinos. “This isn’t a trial about gambling or gaming on slot machines. It is a trial about whether McKeeva Bush broke the rules, knowingly and dishonestly, when he made personal cash withdrawals in those hotels and casinos over that 10-month period.” He said the Crown’s witnesses had not only failed to prove that case, they had actually proved the opposite – that no rule or duty was broken. He said it was not fair to attempt to prosecute Mr. Bush over his personal use of the credit card when all the senior civil servants responsible for managing the rules around government finances had thought it was okay and facilitated this use. He said civil servants from the Financial Secretary Kenneth Jefferson down had said the only rule on personal spending was that it must be repaid.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
Haiti delayed election likely postponed again
Port-au-Prince - As Haiti prepared Tuesday to bury a former dictator who had little use for elections, it seemed all but certain that a long-delayed legislative vote due later this month will again be postponed. And, on the week that former strongman Jean-Claude Duvalier’s death revived memories of Haiti under dictatorship, observers warned this could leave the country’s current leader free to rule the impoverished Caribbean nation by decree. Four years after a sudden massive earthquake devastated the Haitian capital, the streets of Portau-Prince are again bustling with working people struggling to get by, but there is no sign of any political campaign. President Michel Martelly decreed in June that there would be an election on October 26, but the National Assembly has yet to pass an electoral law and the provisional election commission is running out of time to organize a vote. Polls have been delayed before -- these are three years late -- but if there is no vote soon the mandates of the rest of the members of the already depleted assembly will expire, creating a political vacuum. Martelly has not formally called off the vote but it seems improbable that any credible election can now be organized. Nehemie Joseph, a member of the CEP or Provisional Electoral Commission, said: “The CEP has advised the president that it is impossible to respect this date for two reasons: There’s no electoral code and there’s no preparation in place.” Joseph, appointed to the commission to represent the legislature, said the body was at work but that it would take at least 15 more days to recruit electoral workers, more to train them and that the CEP faces “persistent financial pressures.”
representatives at a hotel in Port-au-Prince to sign the so-called “El Rancho agreement” laying out a path to elections. But some lawmakers and the opposition have resisted the measure, claiming that the electoral commission is not independent and that any vote would not be fair. Some observers, like Haiti expert and University of California professor Amy Wilentz, blame Martelly, arguing that he would be only too happy to allow the legislature “to wither away” and then to rule by presidential edict. Wilentz, author of “The Rainy Season: Haiti since Duvalier,” accused Martelly of having a “Duvalierist” disrespect for democratic process and defended Haitian lawmakers from criticism that they have not moved quickly enough to pass an electoral law. “I believe that the legislature has tried to force Martelly to appoint an objective, fair electoral council, rather than one that believes in rubber stamping,” she said. Last week, US Secretary of State John Kerry called Martelly and thanked him for “his efforts to build Haiti President Michel Martelly consensus around electoral legislation that will allow “We don’t have any money. The CEP hasn’t got a elections to occur in a timely fashion. And he “stressed the need for all Haitians to come dime,” he told AFP. Ten senatorial seats expired in January 2012, together in good faith to support elections.” Since the El Rancho agreement, Martelly has leaving the 30-strong chamber two thirds of its proper organized a large outreach program to business, size and struggling to reach a quorum. Next year, the mandates of another third of the religious and civil society groups to consult on the Senate seats will expire, along with those of all 99 way forward. On Tuesday, in the latest stage of the initiative, members of the lower house. Thus, without elections, Haiti will no longer have an operating legislative he was to gather ministers in another Port-au-Prince hotel for an “exchange” with stakeholders on spending branch of government to hold Martelly to account. Martelly had thought the matter resolved in priorities for the next fiscal year, whether there are June, when he gathered civil society and church elections or not.
Rapes increasing in The Bahamas
Police in The Bahamas weeks, two women while spike in these incidents. are warning women to walking and two while I think we have had be “extra careful and driving in their vehicles. one every weekend in vigilant” after a recent In the House of Assembly, the past three weeks “spike” in the number of Social Services Minister with two this weekend. reported rapes in New Melanie Griffin also However, they seem to Providence. warned women to be be sporadic and there is Supt Paul Rolle, Officer “vigilant, careful and nothing to suggest the in Charge of the Central to utilise strength in matters are related. We Detective Unit, said numbers when travelling want the public, women police are not sure what at night.” and men to be vigilant caused the increase in “We are always and keep their car doors reported rapes. However, concerned about rapes locked as you move about. they are very concerned and we have no idea why “For persons who have about the frequency of these worthless culprits to walk because we the sexual assaults. are taking advantage of know not everyone has He said police suspect females like that. We do a car, pay attention to that different people not think these are the your surroundings at all are the rapists. The same people committing times. We know folks incidents have occurred these acts,” Supt Rolle have to catch the bus in different areas across said. and walk through side New Providence. “We have had an corners and short cuts, His comments came increase in sexual but we want to ask the after four women were assaults recently and yes public, especially women, raped in the past three there seems to be a little to be aware as they move
about.” On Sunday, a woman motorist was raped in the Carmichael Road area. The woman was sexually assaulted at a track road off Bacardi Road after a man jumped into the back seat of her car and held “an object” to her head sometime around 1:40am, police reported. According to police, the man got into the car as she stopped to allow another vehicle to exit in the area of a service station. The man ordered her to drive to a track road off Bacardi Road, where he raped her. According to the police,
the victim was then forced to drive the man to Yellow Elder Gardens, where he got out of the vehicle. Last week police reported that another woman motorist was held up and sexually assaulted by men driving a stolen taxi van. At the time it was reported that there were four men in the van. According to police, the woman was driving on Mackey Street in a black Honda vehicle around 6am, when a man armed with a handgun, robbed her of her car and forced her into a silver coloured Toyota Hiace taxi van, which had been stolen about an hour earlier,
and which was occupied by three other men. The men then drove off with the victim and forced her to have oral sex with them, police said. The woman escaped from the men in the Blue Hill Heights area. A few days before that incident police said a woman was walking on St James Road around 2am when a man armed with a handgun forced her into nearby bushes and sexually assaulted her. The suspect then fled in a white Honda civic vehicle. According to Supt Rolle, police have arrested two men, ages 21 and 23, in connection with that assault.
More community involvement needed in Caribbean tourism
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Hugh Riley called on regional countries to ensure that much more is done to ensure that the Caribbean communities benefit more from the vital tourism industry. In a message marking World Tourism Day, Riley said that while many countries had done much to improve the product, there was also a need to involve communities more in shaping the product.. “We are pleased that increasingly, a multi-stakeholder approach is being taken to tourism development, including legislative changes, mandating environmental, social and cultural impact assessments prior to construction, and a dedicated focus on
all aspects of responsible stewardship of our region’s assets. “In effect, these considerations place the community and the impact of tourism development on indigenous cultures, historical structures and vulnerable groups high on the list of considerations. “However, much more can be done to ensure that the visitor experience includes – and is shaped in collaboration with – local communities. Only when revenue sharing and developmental opportunities redound to the benefit of the community, can we truly claim success in tourism,” Riley said. He said there were many regional examples and was “heartened by the increasing discourse on mixed-use tourism developments that incorporate commercial and cultural facilities and
experiences. impact on Caribbean communities “We anticipate that ultimately, “and to inspire increasing focus on this trend will find mainstream tourism development that empowers adoption,” he said, noting that our people and guarantees the success annually, the Barbados-based CTO of our region for generations to come”. as part of its Caribbean Excellence Riley said the theme for World in Sustainable Tourism Awards, Tourism Day, “Tourism and Community partners with TravelMole to issue a Development’ provides an opportunity Community Benefit Award to entities to shine “a much-needed spotlight that proactively protect, sustain on the importance of community and incorporate communities in the involvement in tourism planning; a delivery of their tourism product. tenet of sustainable tourism and the “These awards help to deliver a core of the CTO’s mandate. competitive advantage for our region “As the most tourism-dependent and act as sign posts for visitors seeking region in the world, the Caribbean sustainable, responsible tourism relies upon its tourism decision makers experiences in this rapidly growing to lead the industry to profitability and sector,” he said, adding that the CTO sustainability, understanding fully stands “ready to partner with key the extent to which the citizens of this public, private and non-governmental region rely upon the sector for their organizations to illuminate tourism’s economic well-being.
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Regional countries pledge action to reduce child obesity The Pan American Health Organiza- of sugar-sweetened beverages (sweettion (PAHO) says ministers of health ened sodas) and low levels of physical from throughout the Americas, includ- activity. ing the Caribbean, have endorsed a “Children are eating too much calseries of actions to fight childhood obe- orie-rich, nutrient-poor food products sity that has reached “epidemic propor- while spending less time being active tions” in the Western Hemisphere. in school and outdoors,” said Dr. ChesThe Plan of Action for the Preven- sa Lutter, PAHO regional advisor on tion of Obesity in Children and Adoles- food and nutrition. cents was approved by PAHO’s 53rd “But the answer is not just to tell them Directing Council, which is ending a to eat better and be more active. We meeting here this week. have to change their environments Recent data show that 20-25 per to make the healthy choice the easier cent of children under 19 in the region choice for children and parents alike.” are overweight or obese, according to The five-year plan sets out four main PAHO. lines of action to help countries reduce PAHO said key drivers of the epi- rates of child obesity: Breastfeeding demic are excessive consumption of promotion, better food and more physihigh-calorie, low-nutrient processed cal activity in schools, junk food taxes foods, especially so-called junk food and restrictions on marketing, and Inand fast foods, along with consumption creased access to recreational spaces
and nutritious foods. 30 minutes for physical activity during The plan urges countries to promote the school day, it said. breastfeeding in their primary healthThe plan says increased taxes can care services, through the certifica- help reduce consumption of sugartion of “Baby-Friendly Hospitals,” and sweetened beverages and unhealthy through stronger enforcement of the food products by raising their prices. International Code of Marketing of It also urges restrictions on advertisBreast-milk Substitutes. ing of unhealthy foods to children and According to PAHO, research sug- regulations that mandate easy-to-read, gests that longer breastfeeding can re- front-of-package nutrition labels. duce rates of obesity and overweight by The plan calls for initiatives such as about 10 percent. Breastfeeding also “Sunday bikeways” which open up city helps mothers lose weight after preg- streets on weekends for biking and recnancy, PAHO said. reation, and urges programs to support Schools should prevent access to small and medium-sized farms to help high-calorie, low-nutrient processed increase the availability of fresh foods. food products and sugar-sweetened “What’s important is to take action,” beverages, providing students with said Dr. Enrique Jacoby, PAHO advihealthier foods and water instead, the sor on healthy eating and healthy livplan recommended. ing. and now others are showing their Schools should also set aside at least commitment to do this as well.”
Caribbean warned not to be complacent about Ebola and Chikungunya viruses The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is warning the Caribbean not to be complacent as it deals with the outbreak of the Chikungunya virus and the preparation for the deadly Ebola virus. CARPHA executive director Dr. James Hospedales said that the number of reported cases of Chikungunya “continues to increase, and provides a challenge to public health services. “CARPHA continues to provide laboratory testing for Chikungunya in the English-speaking Caribbean. However, those being tested and reported represent only the “tip of the iceberg”. We are aware that many individuals are self-treating and not presenting to health care facilities. “They are therefore not included in the numbers presented by CARPHA and Ministries of Health in the region. We expect that the number of people infected with Chikungunya will continue to increase. This is primarily because the population are encountering this virus for the first and do not have any immunity.” But the CARPHA official aid Caribbean countries could do a lot to minimize the spread of the virus through the concerted efforts of individuals and families, communities and neighbourhoods. “Each and every one of us must take responsibility for our health by avoiding mosquito bites, especially when febrile, and preventing mosquitoes breeding, in and around our environment. “ Dr. Hospedales said that preparation for the possibility of Ebola virus is also of paramount importance. “As you may know, In the United States, the US CDC has reported the first imported case of Ebola in the Americas. This new development demonstrates the potential for the possible introduction of Ebola virus disease into any country. “This case is at one of the gateways to the Caribbean
Antigua Attorney General freed of fraud-related charges
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – A magistrate court dismissed all fraud-related charges against Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin after the Police Commissioner Vere Browne said there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute him. and provides further evidence that as a region, we A magistrate court in July had committed need to be alert and prepared as a threat to regional Benjamin, who was sworn in as Attorney General in health security may emerge from any country. June following the electoral victory of the Antigua “There is no room for complacency, and we at and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), to stand trial on CARPHA continue to work with all our member allegations of passport fraud. states, and our partners to bolster preparedness for The prosecution had alleged that in 2008, Benjamin Ebola, protect the health of the people and implement had signed a passport application form and measures to minimise risk including those linked to photograph for Jamaican Shane Anthony Alleyne, the revised International Health Regulations (2005).” who claimed to have been Antiguan Tyrell Brann He said these measures include appropriate when he applied for and obtained the Antigua and communication messages being disseminated to Barbuda passport. Brann had died earlier. the general public, travellers, health care workers Allen and Lynda Brann, the mother of the deceased and educational institutions, ensuring that people man, had been convicted and sentenced to two years know how to reduce their risk and what to do if they in jail as a result of the fraudulent activities. They become ill or are exposed; strengthening of systems have since been released from prison after serving at Ports of Entry to handle travellers from countries their sentences. where the Ebola virus disease is in circulation and When the matter came up for hearing on to provide advice to travellers arriving from these Wednesday, Commissioner Browne told the court countries. that law enforcement authorities were unable to find Dr. Hospedales said there was also a need for a Alleyne, a key witness in the case. review of available Infection Prevention and Control He told Magistrate Conliffe Clarke the police had guidelines for Ebola by the personnel within the even sought the assistance of INTERPOL in trying health care system and acquisition of appropriate to track down the witness but to no avail. personal protective equipment. The Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP), Anthony He said he had just returned from attending Armstrong said the dismissal was inevitable and meetings in the United States and high on the agenda that from the onset when police wanted to charge at these meetings were the increasing numbers Benjamin, he advised them that they did not have of cases of Chikungunya and methods for control, enough evidence. and preparedness for Ebola virus disease, which is The main opposition United Progressive Party linked to implementation of the revised International (UPP) had criticised Prime Minister Gaston Browne Health Regulations (2005). for naming Benjamin to his cabinet following the “I would like to assure you that CARPHA, along June elections. with its member states, the CARICOM Secretariat “Our alarm stems from the fact that we are all and PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) aware that the Honourable Attorney General are committed to working together to strengthen Steadroy Benajmin has, for the better part of three our individual abilities to respond and to protect years or so, used every opportunity to avoid facing the health of our people and implement measures to the courts in respect of an issue involving a passport minimize risk of these diseases,” he added. fraud in which he was critically involved.
Billionaires battle for Bahamas beachfront property
Canadian clothing mogul Peter Nygard
A longstanding verbal brawl between two two battling billionaires, Bacon ordered guests,” court papers allege. billionaires over beachfront property in the an employee to “find a way to burn Mr “There, that’s a message from Mr Bacon,” Bahamas is picking up steam in the United Nygard’s ‘****ing house down.” one of the hedge fund magnate’s assistants States after its heated debut in a Bahamian Although Nygard admits in court papers yelled after one punishing noise session, court. that “the cause of the fire is unknown,” according to the suit. He then shouted: American billionaire hedge fund magnate two weeks after the conflagration, a Bacon “Don’t **** with Louis,” court papers allege. Louis Bacon is embroiled in a blazing representative said to a Nygard employee: Earlier in the feud, Bacon accused Nygard row with Canadian clothing mogul Peter “See what I told you,” court papers allege. of creating an environmental disaster Nygard, his neighbour in the Bahamas. So Nygard’s allegations are his first major legal by enlarging his estate with illegal sand much so that he instructed an employee to thrusts in the US as the smouldering feud dumps. burn down Nygard’s house, according to reignites on the mainland after burning Nygard countered by alleging that Bacon court papers filed in Los Angeles. through the Bahamian courts. was simply throwing a tantrum because of Bacon, the founder of New York hedge fund While the testy tycoons were firing off Nygard’s refusal to sell him the property. Moore Capital Management, was moved to claims in a Bahamas court, Bacon installed In response to Nygard’s Los Angeles lawsuit, torch Nygard’s estate five years ago after four “large, military-grade” speakers at the Bacon’s lawyers noted Nygard failed to the clothing tycoon refused to sell him the property line and pointed them at Nygard’s deny many of Bacon’s charges alleging prized parcel, court papers allege. bedroom nearby, blaring “ear-piercing that Nygard orchestrated an elaborate According to the lawsuit, which cites a noises” whose aim was “solely to annoy Mr campaign to smear Bacon as a racist in the conversation between employees of the Nygard and embarrass him in front of his eyes of Bahamians.
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Cost of Ebola could top $32 billion
WASHINGTON - Ebola’s economic in its tracks,” said Jim Yong Kim, the toll could reach $32.6 billion by year’s bank’s president. end if the disease ravaging Guinea, “Prudent” investment in better Liberia and Sierra Leone spreads health systems could have lessened the across West Africa, the World Bank economic fallout, he said. said Wednesday. The report estimated the costs of The outbreak has the potential “to two scenarios:-more than $9 billion if inflict massive economic costs” on the disease is rapidly contained in the those three countries and its closest three most severely affected countries. neighbors, according to the bank’s -$32.6 billion if it takes a long time to assessment. contain Ebola there and the disease “The international community spreads to neighboring nations. must find ways to get past logistical One way to ease the impact, the roadblocks and bring in more doctors report said, was be if immediate action and trained medical staff, more halted the outbreak and calmed fears. hospital beds and more health and Concerns about the disease are causing development support to help stop Ebola neighboring countries to close their
borders, and airlines and businesses to suspend commercial activities in the three worst-affected countries. David Evans, a senior economist at the World Bank and co-author of the report, said fear prompts flights to be canceled, mining operations to halt, businesses to close and farming and investment to slow as people try to avoid putting themselves and their employees at risk. That behavior has a larger economic impact than sickness and death, he said. “Policies to renew commercial activity while protecting other countries from contagion are what we need to mitigate this fear factor, which
is key to mitigating the economic impact of the crisis,” Evans told the Associated Press. “Closing borders and halting flights has a huge impact,” he said. “These economies trade with the outer world. They have international investment in mining. Liberia imports food. So as we close borders and cancel flights, there is a real impact on the food security and the incomes of the households in these countries.” The World Health Organization estimates that Ebola has killed more than 3,400 people in West Africa and infected at least twice that many.
North Korea leader Kim is still in charge
anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s Workers’ Party with a post-midnight visit to the Pyongyang mausoleum where the bodies of his father and grandfather are interred. Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, did not always attend the Oct. 10 memorial event when he was in power. The source, who has close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing, said on Thursday that Kim hurt his leg while inspecting military exercises. “He ordered all the generals to take part in drills and he took part too. They were crawling and running and rolling around, and he pulled a tendon,” the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “He injured his ankle and knee around late August or early September while drilling because he is overweight. He limped around in the beginning but the injury worsened,” the source said. Kim, who has rapidly gained weight since coming to power after his father died of a heart attack in 2011, had been seen walking with a limp since an event with important officials in July, which would North Korean leader Kim Jong Un imply he may have aggravated an earlier injury. Kim needs about 100 days to recuperate, said the North Korea’s state media, which usually source, whose information could not be independently chronicles Kim’s whereabouts in great detail, has not verified. made any mention of his activities since he attended a “Kim Jong Un is in total control,” said the source. concert with his wife on Sept. 3, and Kim was absent Kim’s absence from public view is fuelling speculation from early state media coverage of a major political over the state of his health and whether he may have anniversary on Friday. been sidelined in a power struggle. In the previous two years, Kim marked the “The longer he remains out of the public eye, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in firm control of his government but has hurt his leg, a source with access to the secretive North’s leadership said, playing down speculation over the 31-year-old’s health and grip on power.
more uncertainty about him, and the status of his regime, will grow,” said Curtis Melvin, a researcher at the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. North Korean officials have denied that Kim’s public absence since early September is healthrelated and a U.S. official following North Korea said this week there were no indications he was seriously ill or in political trouble. It remains unclear why a leg injury would keep Kim out of the public eye for so long, although this is not the first time he has been missing from public view. In June 2012, six months after coming to power, state media failed to report on or photograph him for 23 days. He re-surfaced the next month at a dolphinarium. Speculation that Kim’s unusually long absence from public view may be due to ill health was fueled by a North Korean television report late last month that said he was suffering from “discomfort”. Some North Korea watchers also suggest that Kim may have been sidelined in a power struggle, a scenario they say was reinforced by the unexpected visit on North Korea is a hereditary dictatorship centered on the ruling Kim family. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, is known to have an official role within the ruling party. His brother, Kim Jong Chol, and his estranged half-brother are not in the public eye.
Islamic State seizes large areas of Syrian town despite air strikes Islamic State fighters seized more and destroying four buildings held by than a third of the Syrian border town the group. U.S. forces also conducted of Kobani, a monitoring group said on two air strikes against Islamic State in Thursday, as U.S.-led air strikes failed Iraq. to halt their advance and Turkish But the Syrian Observatory for forces looked on without intervening. Human Rights said Islamic State, still With Washington ruling out a ground widely known by its former acronym of operation in Syria, Turkey said it was ISIS, had pushed forward on Thursday. unrealistic to expect it to mount a “ISIS control more than a third of cross-border operation alone to relieve Kobani - all eastern areas, a small part the mainly Kurdish town. of the northeast and an area in the The U.S. military said Kurdish southeast,” said Rami Abdulrahman, forces appeared to be holding out in head of the Observatory, which the town, which lies within sight of monitors the Syrian civil war. Turkish territory, following new air The commander of Kobani’s strikes in the area against a militant heavily outgunned Kurdish defenders training camp and fighters. confirmed that the militants had made Washington said U.S. forces launched major gains, after a three-week battle nine air strikes on Thursday against that has also caused the worst street Islamic State militants north and south clashes in years between Turkish of Kobani, striking some fighting units police and Kurdish protesters.
In Turkey’s eastern province States is giving only token support of Bingol, two police officers were with its air strikes, while Turkish killed and a police chief was seriously tanks sent to the frontier look on but wounded in an attack, CNN Turk do nothing to defend the town, where television reported, while clashes the United Nations says only a few elsewhere killed four protesters. hundred remain. Over 180,000 people Militia chief Esmat al-Sheikh from the city and surrounding area put the area controlled by Islamic have fled into Turkey. State, which controls large amounts of territory in Syria and neighboring Iraq, UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS at about a quarter of the town. “The clashes are ongoing, street battles,” he Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut said by telephone from the town. Cavusoglu, played down the chances of Explosions rocked Kobani throughout its forces going to the aid of Kobani. the day, with black smoke visible from “It is not realistic to expect Turkey to the Turkish border a few km (miles) conduct a ground operation on its own,” away. Islamic State hoisted its black he told a news conference with visiting flag in the town overnight and a stray NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. He projectile landed 3 km (2 miles) inside added: “We are holding talks ... Once Turkey. there is a common decision, Turkey will The town’s defenders say the United not hold back from playing its part.”
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Pastor with AIDS admits to sex with church members MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A pastor shocked his Montgomery, Ala., congregation and the entire community with the admission that he had sex with female church members while knowing that he had AIDS. The Rev. Juan D. McFarland made the admission from the pulpit during a Sunday service in September, said Deacon Nathan Williams Jr., a 71-year member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. “He made it public. He shared it, and I’m just saying what he said,” Williams said, adding that McFarland said the sex did not occur in the church sanctuary. Williams said McFarland also admitted to drug use and misusing church funds. “He was on marijuana, cocaine and all the drugs you can think of,” Williams said. “Those are his words.” Williams said that McFarland also acknowledged that he had used money given to him for conventions on having “a good time.” According to WSFA-TV in Montgomery, after the Sept. 14 announcement, McFarland confirmed everything he shared with the congregation, including sex with parishioners, the drug use and the mishandling of church money. WSFA reports that McFarland was removed as pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday. The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser spoke with McFarland on Thursday, but he said he was not interested in talking to members of the news media. Other church leaders could not immediately be reached for comment. In response to the pastor’s admission, a non-profit organization that helps HIV and AIDS patients issued
a statement Thursday. “Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama would like to extend our compassion to those who may have been affected by the recent announcement made by a local church pastor,” the statement reads. “We are always saddened to hear of new incidences of HIV, and our hearts go out to all of those living with the virus.” Church leaders knew that McFarland was HIV positive for about five weeks before the pastor made the announcement, Williams said. The plan, he said, was to have someone talk to congregants about the disease when they announced it. McFarland’s subsequent confession during church blindsided church leaders, Williams said. According to Williams, McFarland said that he was diagnosed HIV positive in 2003 and then was tested again in 2008, which was when he was diagnosed with AIDS. Williams said he did not know how many women McFarland might have slept with. Church leaders initiated a vote to have McFarland removed as pastor, Williams said. The vote was 80 to two in favor of removal, he said. Williams said since the vote, McFarland has changed the locks on the church and changed the church’s bank account, leaving other church leaders without access. Church leaders are consulting with lawyers and the bank to figure out a solution, he said. “If it calls for a lawsuit, it calls for a lawsuit. We’re going through the process,” Williams said, adding that no church leaders have filed criminal charges “as of yet.” McFarland remains the leader of the Alabama
Nigeria president rejects claim of $100 million net worth
President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2014 Abuja - Nigeria’s President Goodluck article,” and threatened action “in courts Jonathan threatened legal action of law within and outside Nigeria.” While there was no retraction or Thursday against a website that listed apology on the site, the item concerning him as Africa’s sixth richest head of state with a net worth of about $100 Jonathan has been removed. Emails to the contact address for million (78 million euros). The article on richestlifestyle.com richestlifestyle.com were not delivering provided little evidence to substantiate on Thursday and the site’s managers its list of Africa’s eight richest presidents. were not available to comment on either But the claims about Jonathan, who the research supporting the article has led Africa’s top oil producer since or why the Jonathan item had been 2010, made front page news in several removed. The presidency’s swift response to Nigerian newspapers on Thursday. Jonathan’s inclusion in the article the previously obscure website’s claims was “baseless and libellous,” his office highlights the sensitivity of corruption as a political issue in Nigeria. said in a statement. The country’s vast oil wealth has for “President Jonathan has never been a businessman or entrepreneur,” it added. decades been squandered by the ruling “The clear and unacceptable elite and Jonathan has sought to portray imputation of the claim that President his administration as a departure from Jonathan is now worth about $100 the corrupt regimes of the past, even if million is that the president has many experts say graft has hit record corruptly enriched himself while in high levels. Jonathan is in the coming weeks office which is certainly not the case,” it expected to announce his re-election bid said. Jonathan’s office demanded “a for February polls and Nigeria’s main retraction and an unreserved apology opposition has already signalled that it from Richest Lifestyle.com and all those intends to make corruption a key issue who have reproduced the offensive in the campaign.
Middle District Missionary Baptist Association. Other leaders with the association could not immediately be reached for comment. Williams said he had been close with McFarland and that the pastor was like a son to him at one time. “I was surprised. Really, I was hurt,” Williams said. “But it is not about me, it is about the church. We’re going to get the church back.”
According to a longtime member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Juan D. McFarland admitted during a Sunday service in September to having sex with female church members while having AIDS
Hearing Delayed for Illinois Man Accused of Trying to Join ISIS CHICAGO—A 19-year-old man accused of planning a journey to support the terrorist group Islamic State will remain behind bars, after a federal judge delayed his detention hearing Thursday to hear additional evidence in a dispute over how much of the matter should be made public. Federal Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox delayed until Oct. 21 the hearing for Mohammed Hamzah Khan because she wants more time to consider arguments over a government request to seal part of the proceedings to protect the identity of certain minors. Federal agents intercepted Mr. Khan at O’Hare International Airport on Saturday before he boarded a plane to Vienna. He had a ticket to travel on to Istanbul, the government complaint said. While Mr. Khan was at the airport, other agents searched the home in the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Ill., where Mr. Khan was living with his parents. They found documents that appeared to show support for Islamic State and suggested that Mr. Khan planned to join them, the complaint said. It isn’t clear what led federal authorities to suspect Mr. Khan of planning to help the terrorist group in the first place. Mr. Khan appeared in federal court Thursday wearing an orange jumpsuit. He is a slight young man with mediumlength hair and a chin beard.
On Wednesday, federal officials filed paperwork to seal part of the detention proceedings to protect the identity of some minors, Judge Cox said Thursday. She said she received a response from the defense Thursday morning, hours before the scheduled start of the detention hearing in federal court here. After hearing arguments in her chambers, Judge Cox said she would give the government until Oct. 17 to respond to the defense motion and resume the hearing on Oct. 21. Mr. Khan is charged with one count of attempting to aid a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years if convicted. Chicago Attorney Thomas Durkin, who is representing Mr. Khan, told reporters after the hearing that his client is a U.S. citizen and a highschool graduate who completed a year at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill., before taking time off to work. “He is a very intelligent, very fervent believer in Islam,” Mr. Durkin said. “I don’t believe the evidence is going to show that it was his desire to give material support to ISIS.” Mr. Khan’s parents are natives of India, who moved to the U.S. before Mr. Khan was born, Mr. Durkin said. They stood by the attorney’s side as he spoke with a phalanx of reporters, sometimes answering his questions in quiet voices, but declining to speak directly to the press.
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Another Ferguson shooting reignites anger among activists
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OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
Terror plot in London busted
Two months after a Ferguson officer killed Michael Brown, setting off intense national debate about law enforcement treatment of minorities, the shooting death of another black 18-year-old by police in nearby St. Louis has reignited anger The first alleged ISIS- attacks overseas. among activists already planning weekend protests. linked terrorist plot on Fears have heightened Police say Vonderrit D. Myers was shot Wednesday UK soil has been foiled after the UK joined after he opened fire on a white, off-duty officer, but by police and MI5 amid air strikes against the Myers’ parents say he was unarmed. Some activists fears that jihadists are terrorists. and lawmakers say Myers was targeted because he returning from Syria to Last month police was black and are asking the Justice Department carry out beheadings on in Australia arrested -- which has opened a civil rights investigation British streets. 15 suspected Islamist into the death of Brown, who was unarmed -- to Four men were arrested extremists amid fears investigate his shooting. in armed raids in London they were planning “This here was racial profiling turned deadly,” said during which one suspect random killings, state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, a St. Louis Democrat. was Tasered by police. including a public The shooting happened as activists and other The men are feared to beheading. protesters from around the country prepared for have been in the “early During the same four days of rallies, marches and protests over the stages” of planning a month, Algerian fanatics Brown shooting. Organizers say the events, which “significant” attack and linked to ISIS beheaded start Friday and include a march Saturday in it is understood that kidnapped French tourist downtown St. Louis, have taken on added urgency. one line of inquiry is Herve Gourdel in revenge “This is a racial powder keg,” said Jerryl whether they wanted for French air strikes in Christmas, a St. Louis attorney who was among to emulate the sort of Iraq. more than 20 black leaders who joined Nasheed brutal execution that has In August the UK at a news conference Thursday outside police become ISIS’s hallmark terror threat level was headquarters. “All this is going to do is escalate the on a British street. raised to “severe” – its situation.” The Daily Telegraph second highest – as David Brown’s Aug. 9 death spurred weeks of unrest understands one of Cameron warned ISIS in Ferguson and the rest of the St. Louis region. A the men arrested had was planning attacks on state grand jury is deciding whether the officer who returned from Syria the UK. shot him, Darren Wilson, will face charges. and had links with Tuesday’s arrests came as Police say Myers was both armed and aggressive, ISIS – possibly as a Mr. Cameron demanded using a stolen 9mm gun to shoot at the officer. fighter there. Police and former Guantanamo Bay Syreeta Myers said her son was holding a intelligence agencies detainee Moazzam Begg sandwich, not a gun. “Police lie. They lied about have become increasingly reveal what he knows Michael Brown, too,” she told The Associated Press concerned that the terror of the terror group. Mr. by phone Thursday. group, which has already Begg, who had terror St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said the beheaded four Western charges against him officer spotted Myers and two other males around hostages, including dropped last week, said 7:30 p.m. Wednesday while working a security job Britons David Haines he believed he knew who and patrolling a neighborhood near the Missouri and Alan Henning, is the senior members of Botanical Gardens. Dotson said the officer, who was encouraging similar ISIS who held British wearing his uniform despite being off-duty, became suspicious when one of them started to run. He heard one of the men say, “No, that’s just a security officer,” Dotson said. When the officer made a U-turn, all three ran and the officer chased them -- first in his car and then on foot, Dotson said. During the chase, he got into a physical altercation with Myers, who ran up a hill, turned and fired at the officer, the chief said. The officer, who wasn’t hurt, shot back and fatally struck Myers. Ballistic evidence shows Myers fired three shots before his gun jammed, Dotson said. Police said they recovered the 9mm gun, which had been reported stolen on Sept. 26. Mexican police have captured suspected Juarez The officer fired off 17 rounds but it’s not clear drug cartel leader Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, whose how many bullets hit Myers. gang engaged in turf wars that have left thousands of The 32-year-old officer, a six-year veteran of the people dead, authorities said. department whose name was not released, is on Carrillo Fuentes, alias “El Viceroy”, was arrested paid administrative leave pending an investigation. by federal police in Torreon, a city in the northern The Ferguson case was on protesters’ minds as they state of Coahuila, said a national security commission gathered after the latest shooting. Some shouted spokesman. “Hands up, don’t shoot,” a common refrain during His capture gives president Enrique Pena Nieto weeks of sometimes violent protests after Brown’s yet another victory against the country’s major drug death. Dotson said some in the St. Louis crowd traffickers at a time of national outrage over fears shouted obscenities at officers and damaged three that 43 students were killed by a police-backed gang. police cars, smashing windows and tail lights. The United States had offered a $5 million reward Police said one man was cited for being a felon for information leading to the capture of the 51-yearin possession of a handgun after an officer spotted old drug lord, whose arrest came just a week after the him putting on a ski mask inside a car, prompting capture of Hector Beltran Leyva, head of the Beltrana search. Leyva crime family. Online court documents show Myers was free The FBI says Carrillo Fuentes may have scars on on bond when he was killed. He had been charged his face from plastic surgery. with unlawful use of a weapon, a felony, and Based in Ciudad Juarez, a city on the border misdemeanor resisting arrest in June in St. Louis. with Texas, the Juarez cartel fought for control of the It’s not clear if he had a juvenile record. Those key drug transit route against the Sinaloa cartel of records are not open to the public. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Myers’ was the third fatal shooting of a black More than 10,000 people died in gang wars in male by St. Louis area police since Brown’s death. Ciudad Juarez in the past eight years, becoming a “It’s imperative that we began to heal this symbol of Mexico’s relentless drug violence. community,” Sen. Nasheed said. “This community The city was once known as the world’s murder has been broken down. We have too many deaths at capital, but the homicide rate has dropped the hands of police officers.” dramatically in recent years. Nation of Islam member A. Akbar Muhammad Analysts believe violence has fallen in the city of St. Louis said, “You have to ask the question: Is because the Sinaloa cartel won the war, though there a culture of racism in the police department?” officials credit police action and a crime prevention
hostage Alan Henning an ongoing investigation and others were. into Islamist-related He said he did not know terrorism.” who their suspected Sir Bernard HoganBritish executioner – Howe, the Metropolitan dubbed “Jihadi John” – Police Commissioner, was but suggested those told BBC London Radio: in control were higher up “It is difficult to talk in a the ladder. great deal of detail about Mr. Cameron said: “If it, but it is a quite serious Moazzam Begg has case. It is one of a series information to provide of arrests we have had about who these people over the last few weeks are, he should provide it.” which taken together for Metropolitan Police me confirm the drumbeat counter-terrorism officers, around terrorism has supported by armed changed. officers, raided a number “It’s a more intense of addresses in west and drumbeat – we are having central London. to be more interventionist Four men, two aged 21 and a lot of it is linked and two aged 20, were back to Syria and Iraq.” arrested on suspicion of The men had been planning or instigating a monitored in a joint terror attack. police and MI5 operation One of the 21-year-olds for some time and one was Tasered by an officer Whitehall source said during the arrest but the raids were an “early did not require medical disruption” of what could treatment. have been a “significant The four men were plot.” being questioned at Police would not discuss police stations in central the specific nature of London and officers were the alleged plot but it is searching a number understood part of the of homes and vehicles investigation will look at across the city. Scotland the possibility of a public Yard said: “These arrests beheading. and searches are part of
Drug cartel head Vicente Carrillo Fuentes captured by police in Mexico
Drug cartel leader Vicente Carrillo Fuentes program. The Juarez cartel was founded by Carrillo Fuentes’ brother, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, aka “The Lord of the Skies,” who was considered one of Latin America’s biggest drug traffickers until he died during plastic surgery in Mexico City in 1997, though some in Mexico believe that he is still alive.
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WORLD NEWS
Silva not yet ready to endorse Neves in Brazilian runoff
Presidential candidate Marina Silva (L) of Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) speaks as candidate Aecio Neves of Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) smiles before their first television debate Environmentalist Marina Silva said on Thursday she will wait for political pledges from pro-business opposition candidate Aecio Neves before backing him in the Oct. 26 runoff to Brazil’s presidential election. An endorsement from Silva, who finished third in the election’s first round on Sunday with 22 million votes, would increase Neves’ chances of unseating leftist President Dilma Rousseff and ending 12 years of Workers’ Party rule. Silva’s Brazilian Socialist Party backed Neves on Wednesday, but she wants to see him formally embrace some key points from her campaign platform before offering an endorsement. In a note to parties that backed her unsuccessful presidential bid, Silva said her decision depended on
Neves’ response to her request. A Silva aide, Pedro Ivo, said she is seeking “progressive” commitments to defend the rights of Brazilian Indians and landless peasants, issues that are not part of Neves’ platform. She also wants Neves to commit to “sustainable development,” a key concept of her campaign. The Silva camp plans to deliver a list of requests to Neves’ campaign managers on Friday, her spokesman Walter Feldman said. “We hope Neves embraces the idea of political renewal,” Feldman told reporters at a meeting at the Socialist Party’s headquarters in Brasilia. Silva, a popular anti-establishment figure, campaigned as an alternative to the two dominant
political forces that have ruled Brazil for the last two decades, Rousseff’s leftist Workers’ Party and Neves’ centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party. Silva also came in third in the last presidential election, when she ran on the Green Party ticket. In the 2010 runoff, she remained neutral instead of endorsing a candidate. This time, though, Silva looks inclined to throw her weight behind Neves following an acrimonious campaign in which the Rousseff camp ran a flurry of attack ads portraying Silva as a serial flip-flopper beholden to a greedy financial elite. Neves won 33.6 percent of the votes on Sunday to Rousseff’s 41.6 percent, a difference of 8 million votes that he is trying to reduce by courting Silva’s supporters and undecided voters. The first polls of the second round are expected later on Thursday and will show whether Neves, an investor favorite who surged to second place in Sunday’s vote, has continued to gain support and narrow Rousseff’s lead. The polls are likely to face greater scrutiny after failing to accurately gauge the extent of Neves’ late surge in the first round, though they did flag the trend. Neves, a senator and former state governor, is campaigning to reduce state intervention in the economy and restore investor confidence in Brazil, which slipped into recession last quarter under Rousseff. The incumbent is vowing to expand the social programs that have lifted millions out of poverty and reduced inequality in Latin America’s largest nation since the Workers’ Party won office in late 2002. Rousseff has a strong base of support among Brazil’s lower classes but is also up against a widespread desire for change in a country where many Brazilians see their politicians as self-serving and corrupt.
Lawsuit claims Florida governor did not fully disclose assets TALLAHASSEE Fla. - Florida Governor Rick Scott failed to report more than $200 million in assets on state financial disclosure records, according to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday by the Democratic nominee for state attorney general. The complaint, which Scott’s campaign dismissed as political “mudslinging,” came days after two major state newspapers raised questions about Scott’s financial disclosures and
a blind trust he created after his 2010 election. Scott, a Republican, is locked in a tight race for re-election with Democrat Charlie Crist in an expensive and closely watched political battle in the country’s largest swing state. George Sheldon, a lawyer running for state attorney general, alleged that Scott controlled a “complex web of investment vehicles,” including at least six trusts, and other accounts valued at
$340 million, while his public financial report, filed with his re-election papers, showed a net worth of just over $132 million. Sheldon, a former assistant attorney general, told a news conference the public needed to be able “to determine whether he (Scott) has a personal financial stake in the decisions he makes as a public official.” The Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times previously
reported on the governor’s investments in companies that have benefited from his policies, including oil and gas ventures. Greg Blair, a spokesman for Scott’s re-election campaign, shrugged off the lawsuit, saying: “Governor Scott opened the blind trust he formed in 2011 for the sole purpose of providing transparency and publicly listed his assets on his financial disclosure in June.” Crist, a former
Republican who preceded campaign set up a Scott as governor, has news conference for been hammering Scott John Schilling, an FBI as “too shady for the whistleblower who Sunshine state.” helped expose fraudulent The Scott campaign Medicare billings by charged that Crist Scott’s former hospital had issues of his company, resulting in own, including past a record $1.7 billion in associations with financial penalties. imprisoned Ponzi Sheldon argued that schemer Scott Rothstein Scott’s blind trust did and former Florida not comply with the Republican chief Jim state’s 1976 “Sunshine Greer, who served time Amendment,” which for defrauding the state requires public party as Crist’s hand- officeholders to disclose picked chairman. assets valued at $1,000. On Monday, Crist’s
Republicans and White House Clash on Secret Service Scandal Two years after a prostitution scandal rocked the Secret Service, a Republican congressman renewed allegations Thursday about possible involvement by a White House volunteer and said he smelled efforts to cover it up. White House officials adamantly denied wrongdoing and said there’d been no attempt to keep anything quiet. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who’s been investigating the Secret Service as chairman of a House oversight subcommittee, said in an interview that the White House had new questions to answer in light of information he had received from Secret Service whistleblowers, as well as from a report in Thursday’s Washington Post. “The immediate question for the White House is whether or not they’re going to share the information they have with the Congress,” said the Utah Republican. He said the White House had never explained how officials had been able to clear the volunteer of wrongdoing in its own investigation.
At issue is President Barack Obama’s trip to Cartagena, Colombia, in the spring of 2012 for the Summit of the Americas. Before it ended, the trip was overshadowed by news that some Secret Service agents and U.S. military personnel setting up security ahead of Obama’s arrival had hired local prostitutes and brought them back to their hotel rooms. Around two dozen people were implicated, and more than a half-dozen Secret Service agents were subsequently fired. Others were disciplined. Thursday, The Washington Post reported new details of allegations against a White House volunteer, Jonathan Dach, who was helping with advance work on the trip. He was cleared in the White House investigation at the time and went on to get a job at the State Department, where he works as an adviser in its Office of Global Women’s Issues. That review found “no corroborating evidence” to indicate that the volunteer staffer had brought a prostitute to his room, White House spokesman Eric
Schultz told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about the issue Thursday. Schultz also rejected claims of a cover-up. He didn’t specifically say if the White House would share information with Congress but said, “We do comply with all legitimate oversight requests.” Richard Sauber, a Washington lawyer representing Dach, said the allegations “don’t ring true” and are not supported by records about Dach’s movements while in Cartagena. Rep. Chaffetz noted that Dach’s father, Leslie Dach, is a major Democratic donor. Schultz said the father’s position had no impact on the investigation. Campaign records show Leslie Dach, a former executive for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., contributed at least $28,000 to Obama’s campaign and the Democratic Party in 2008, and an additional $20,000 to help Obama’s re-election effort four years later. Leslie Dach is now a senior adviser at the Health and Human Services Department.
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AT&T Mobility to Pay $105 Million to Settle Unlawful Billing Claims
WASHINGTON — AT&T’s wireless on Wednesday. In fact,” she added, business will pay $105 million in “AT&T sought to reassure the third penalties and refunds to consumers for parties originating the unauthorized unlawfully billing cellphone accounts charges that it would not provide full of customers, the biggest fine yet refunds to consumers. AT&T told for such practices, federal and state these companies that it would ‘help regulators announced on Wednesday. lower refunds’ by providing refunds AT&T Mobility, one of the country’s of up to two months’ worth of charges, largest mobile phone companies, no matter how long the unauthorized agreed to pay $80 million to the charges existed on customers’ bills.” Federal Trade Commission to provide AT&T said it discontinued billing refunds to customers who were billed for those types of third-party charges “hundreds of millions of dollars,” often in December 2013. without their knowledge or consent, “While we had rigorous protections for items including ringtones and text in place to guard consumers against messages with love tips and horoscopes, unauthorized billing from these the commission said. companies, last year we discontinued In addition, AT&T will pay $20 third-party billing for Premium Short million in penalties and fees to 50 Messaging Services,” the company states and the District of Columbia said in a statement. and a $5 million penalty to the Federal The company added: “This settlement Communications Commission for the gives our customers who believe they practices, known as mobile cramming. were wrongfully billed for P.S.M.S. Even when it was obvious that services the ability to get a refund.” customers were being harmed, AT&T The settlement is the largest that repeatedly failed to help customers, regulators have brought against the F.T.C. said in a complaint filed in mobile phone companies for cramming. federal court in Atlanta. Over the last year and a half, the “Instead of acting to stop the charges, F.T.C. has filed seven cases, including AT&T continued to make hundreds of five against content providers — the millions of dollars from the practice, companies that originated the charges. by taking at least 35 percent of The largest of those cases involved every charge, and refused to provide the surrender of about $10 million in refunds to many consumers,” Edith assets by the companies involved. Ramirez, the F.T.C. chairwoman, said In July, the F.T.C. filed a similar
Apple’s recent blunders may be scaring people away from iOS 8 Released on September 17th, iOS 8 was quickly installed on many compatible devices, even though users had to battle with unexpected storage problems for iOS upgrades performed directly on iPhones, iPads and iPod touches. A few days later, on September 21, Apple revealed on its developer pages that 46% of devices that connected to the Apple Store were already running iOS 8. However, since then, reports have suggested iOS 8 adoption is far from matching its predecessor’s performance, and Apple is now confirming that iOS 8 installations have come to a screeching halt. According to a new graph posted on its developer pages, iOS 8 is now installed on 47% of iOS devices that have connected to the App Store. iOS 7 is now at 47% (dropped from 49%) while earlier versions account for 6% (up from 5% registered on September 21st). There are various reasons why iOS users may have delayed upgrading to Apple’s latest operating system, including the aforementioned storage troubles but also performance issues for older devices such as the iPhone 4s and iPad 2, which convinced many users to downgrade. Furthermore, Apple’s botched iOS
case against T-Mobile, which is AT&T continued to reap big rewards contesting the charges. And officials from the billing practices. In 2012, the said on Wednesday that more cases year after it altered its refund policy, were in the works, involving other AT&T earned $108 million from the of the largest national wireless charges. In 2013, that grew to $161 companies. million. Officials said that the $80 This isn’t, you know, Phil’s Phone million refund settlement did not cover Shack that is doing this,” said Douglas all of the unlawfully billed amounts, F. Gansler, Maryland’s attorney although some consumers received general. refunds on their own after complaining. In the AT&T case, the payments stem According to the commission, AT&T from charges, typically $9.99 a month, did not ask the merchants to provide that were billed by other companies confirmation that the charges were to the accounts of customers over authorized. It sometimes instructed several years, regulators said. AT&T customers to seek a refund directly kept at least 35 percent of the charges, from the merchant, then provided the F.T.C. said, even after as many inaccurate contact information. Even as 40 percent of the billed customers though AT&T acknowledged in its complained about the practices. internal communications that the On average, 15 percent of third- authorizations were “often unreliable,” party subscriptions were refunded. By the company asserted to consumers comparison, the average chargeback that they had authorized the charges. rate on credit card transactions is twoAT&T’s billing statements also tenths of 1 percent, the commission made it difficult for customers to tell said. that unusual charges were being In 2011 alone, the commission said, added, the commission said. And AT&T received more than 1.3 million consumers using prepaid plans, who calls to its customer service lines about do not receive monthly bills, most the charges. In October of that year, likely received no information about AT&T altered its refund policy to lower such charges. the amount of charges that could be AT&T will be required to notify returned to customers to two months’ customers who were billed for the worth from three months’ worth, the unauthorized charges about the F.T.C. charged. settlement and the refund program. Even after customers objected,
Online retailer Amazon set to open a physical store
Amazon.com Inc support same-day delivery, A store would mark a (AMZN.O), the online returns and order pickups significant move for an juggernaut whose rapid within New York, the online retailer that has expansion helped derail Journal reported on capitalized on its Internet many a brick-and-mortar Thursday, citing people business model and the retail chain, may soon familiar with the matter. cost-savings of doing 8.0.1 release (for iPhone 6 units), as open its first physical store, The store, which is away with a vast physical well as complaints about battery at a prime site in Midtown expected to open in network. issues and Wi-Fi problems caused Manhattan, according to time for the holiday In recent years however, by iOS 8 — and the fact that iOS 8 The Wall Street Journal. shopping season, may Chief Executive Jeff launched without certain features Amazon plans to open also display Amazon’s Bezos has led a number active such as HealthKit apps, SMS its first full-fledged store proprietary products, of initiatives that have continuity features and iCloud across from the Empire such as its Kindle line of mandated a physical Drive — may have prevented other State Building, at 7 West e-readers and tablets, Fire presence in cities: lockers users from upgrading to iOS 8 until 34th Street, the Journal smartphones and video- that temporarily hold a more stable version is released. reported. The area, which streaming boxes. If the customer purchases, for Apple has since released iOS 8.0.2, is also near Macy’s store takes off, Amazon example, and a rapid enabling HealthKit apps and fixing flagship store, is one of may expand to other cities, expansion of grocery some of the issues in iOS 8.0.1. The the city’s most heavily the Journal reported. and same-day delivery company will release iOS 8.1 in the trafficked zones. Amazon declined to that has often meant coming weeks, bringing Apple Pay The site will double comment on the Journal’s maintaining some sort of support to iPhone 6 models, and as a mini-warehouse to report. local distribution center. likely SMS continuity support and full iCloud Drive functionality to iOS users that also own Macs, and, likely, some performance improvements. Other reasons for staying away Audi chalked up its best ever September Mercedes-Benz bested Audi in monthly from iOS 8 is the need of preserving sales result but was still edged out by sales. a jailbroken iOS experience (for Mercedes-Benz in a further sign that Audi, which eclipsed Mercedes-Benz some users) or the inability of others the rivalry among Germany’s top luxury in 2011 to become the world’s No. 2 to install the OS on a device that’s automakers is intensifying. premium automaker behind BMW has not supported anymore (iPhone 4). Deliveries at Audi, Volkswagen’s seen its overall 2014 sales lead over Comparatively, iOS 7 adoption flagship division, last month rose 6.4 the Daimler division shrink to 103,494 was at almost 70% 20 days after its percent to 159,950 cars and sport-utility cars after nine months, compared with release, as MacRumors notes. vehicles, the company said on Thursday. 118,110 at the same time a year ago. Apple certainly isn’t isn’t happy Mercedes-Benz sold 162,746 models, While Mercedes-Benz is enjoying with adoption numbers for its the best-ever month for sales in its 88-year strong demand for a spate of redesigned latest iOS version, an asset often history and a 14 percent gain on year-ago models, including the E-Class and the advertised during events to highlight levels, benefiting from the release of new flagship S-Class saloon, Audi has pushed a crucial difference between iOS and models and surging demand in China. planned overhauls of its top-selling A4 Android: Fragmentation status. It was the first time this year that model and the Q7 SUV into 2015.
Audi sells fewer cars than Mercedes in September as competition intensifies
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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
See yah Facebook. Teens prefer Instagram Teenage users have been drifting away from Facebook for the last few years, but now it seems they’re in a mad rush to get off the world’s largest social network. A study by investment bank Piper Jaffray about teen behavior on everything from online shopping to social media use shows that Facebook is a distant third when it comes to teens’ favorite social networks. After surveying 7,200 teenagers with an average age of 16, Piper Jaffray found that about 80% cited Instagram as their favorite social site, 65% said they like Twitter and about 40% said they use Facebook. Tumblr was fourth with about 25% and Pinterest rounded out the top five with about 20%. Facebook rival Google+ was cited by fewer then10% of respondents The survey also showed a major exodus during the past six months or so: 45% this fall said they use Facebook a big drop from 72% who saiod that in the spring. (By contrast, 76% of teenagers said they use Instagram now compared to 69% in the spring.) “This is very bad news for Facebook,” said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. “Facebook substitutes, like Instagram or
While analysts are split on whether Facebook can bring younger users back and keep the ones it has, Olds doesn’t think Facebook has to to survive. “As long as they see Instagram as being the cool place to be, that should make Facebook happy,” Snapchat, seem to pop up every year, providing teenagers an alternative where they probably won’t find their parents.” Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group, agreed that the large number of older users on Facebook is driving away younger users. Kids simply don’t want to be on the same social network as their parents or the uncle they only see at Thanksgiving. “As every parent knows, once Mom and Dad get involved in something the kids likes, that thing becomes almost instantly uncool,” said Olds. It’s been clear that Facebook was struggling to interest younger users for a while now. Late last year, a company executive,
speaking during Facebook’s quarterly earnings call, admitted that the social network was struggling to keep teenagers’ attention. “We did see a decrease in [teenage] daily users [during the quarter], especially younger teens,” said David Ebersman, Facebook’s chief financial officer at the time. He went on to call the network’s teen user base “stable.” Although Facebook has more than 1 billion users around the planet, losing younger users is a growing problem. “Younger users are very fickle,” said Rob Enderle, an analyst with the Enderle Group. “They are losing their seed corn. Eventually, their audience will age out and
the market will see the decline as unavoidable, collapsing their stock price and company valuation. The resulting bad outlook will become a self-fulfilling prophesy as advertisers will abandon them.” Brian Blau, an analyst with Gartner, Inc. doesn’t see the situation as dire. “While this isn’t the best news for Facebook, it’s also not a sign of impending failure either,” he said. “Facebook has and will in the future offer many types of online social experiences. Their apps and platform today is used by a very wide variety of people and businesses, and they will continue to grow as they help offline users around the world come online.” The company, which
already owns teenfavorite Instagram, has taken steps to draw those younger users back, even if it’s not directly to Facebook’s own site. In February, Facebook bought WhatsApp, a popular mobile messaging app, and in June, it took direct aim at social competitor Snapchat by launching Slingshot, its own mobile app. Both WhatsApp and Slingshot are aimed at the younger market. Earlier this year, Facebook inked a deal to acquire Oculus VR Inc., a company that makes virtual reality gaming glasses. Analysts immediately noted that the company had spent $2 billion to lureback some of its lost teenage
user.
While analysts are split on whether Facebook can bring younger users back and keep the ones it has, Olds doesn’t think Facebook has to to survive. “As long as they see Instagram as being the cool place to be, that should make Facebook happy,” he added. “Plus, it gives them two strong platforms with different demographics to use for advertising. That’s a damned good position to be in. What they have is actually better than just having everyone on Facebook because if you only have one platform for all, it’s easier for a competitor to come in and steal around the edges.”
Ex-Wife of Glock founder sues him over millions
After working decades to build a wildly successful firearms company, Gaston Glock conspired with associates to push out his ex-wife and business partner of almost 50 years and steal millions of dollars she was entitled to, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court in Atlanta. They participated in a worldwide racketeering scheme over decades aimed at taking money from Helga Glock, who was divorced from her husband in 2011, through various criminal methods, including improper royalty payments, laundering money through fraudulent billing companies, and sham lease and loan agreements, the lawsuit claims. A woman who answered the phone Thursday in the media relations department at Glock Inc., the company’s U.S. headquarters, referred questions to the company’s lawyer but then hung up before giving a name or contact number. She did not answer when called back and did not immediately respond to a voice message. Several lawyers who have previously represented Glock Inc. in legal disputes did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The lawsuit details what it claims are the exploits of a man who regularly engaged in unscrupulous business practices and kept a stash of “fun money” used to “cavort with women around the world,” going so far as to buy homes for some mistresses in the Atlanta area. Glock’s actions toward his family “resemble the senseless and self-destructive rage of Shakespeare’s King Lear, when he foolishly mistreats a loyal but
An early “third generation” Glock 17 candid daughter, Cordelia, in favor of cunning and ruthless flatterers,” the lawsuit says. “Perhaps neither pathology nor psychology can provide a satisfactory explanation for why an aging billionaire would spend his twilight years seeking to terrorize members of his own family.” Other defendants include companies owned by Glock around the world and several former Glock executives. Helga Glock’s lawsuit asks for a jury trial and seeks potential total damages of approximately $500 million, as well as attorney fees. She also asks a judge to remove Gaston Glock and others from their roles in the company, reorganize the companies owned by Glock and restore a larger ownership interest for Helga Glock.
Helga and Gaston Glock met in 1958 and married in 1962. They started a company in 1963 that eventually became a gun manufacturer called Glock Ges.m.b.H. in 1983, according to the lawsuit. Gaston Glock established a U.S. subsidiary of the company in Smyrna, just outside Atlanta, in 1985. Glock’s pistols quickly became popular among law enforcement officers and civilians alike, and the U.S. subsidiary became a main economic engine for the company, the lawsuit says. Gaston Glock and his associates had complete disregard for any form of corporate structure and set up a network of sham companies in locations that included Bermuda, Curacao, Hong Kong, Ireland, Liberia, Luxembourg and Panama, the lawsuit says. They transferred money out of Glock Inc., and into shell companies he owned or controlled to hide the origins of the money, the lawsuit says. Until 1999, Gaston Glock owned 85 percent of the shares of the Austrian parent company and Helga Glock owned 15 percent. Gaston Glock and his associates created foundations and convinced Helga Glock and their children to contribute their assets and waive inheritance rights, ostensibly to benefit them and protect the family’s control of the company, the lawsuit says. Helga Glock was left with a 1 percent interest in the company, and Gaston Glock had complete control of the trusts, the lawsuit says. establish marital assets and the amount he should pay her in support. The judge in that case granted her request for subpoenas.
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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
With global economy stuttering, governments urged to open purse Advocates of a global infrastructure push foresee hundreds of billions of dollars of efficiently managed projects springing up across developed and developing nations alike, putting the unemployed to work while paving the way for stronger economic growth in the future. But the effort could well founder on the politics tied to public spending in high-debt nations like the United States, as well as the realities of infrastructure itself: for every well-designed road or port, there’s a “bridge to nowhere,” an underused Olympic stadium or a pork barrel project that has added to government debt without a clear economic payoff. The International Monetary Fund, a prime mover in the call for some governments to ease their fixation over debt and invest in economically worthy projects, warned in a recent report that while the best projects can pay off, “in practice, public investment decisions frequently are not guided by economic rationale.” Studies done by groups like the McKinsey Global Institute estimate the world needs to spend tens of trillions of dollars on airports, roads, bridges and power plants over the next 15 to 20 years. It won’t come fast. In the United States, an Obama administration proposal to overhaul roads and bridges is stymied in Congress, evidence of the difficulty even wealthy nations may face in deciding between higher debt today and future productivity. Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank fall meetings in Washington, also said there was no rush in his country. “We understand the importance of infrastructure. The question is how much you devote to it. But we think Canadians, who are paying on average I think it is 43 percent of their income on some form of tax, ... are paying enough, too much actually,” Oliver said. German officials have also balked, arguing the risk of a fresh recession in the rest of Europe was no reason for them to start borrowing and spending to
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde holds a news conference during the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Washington October 9, 2014. excess. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Thursday dismissed the idea of “writing checks” in Europe to bolster growth even as Europe’s largest economy, which contracted by 0.2 percent in the second quarter, faces the prospect of flatlining in the third quarter and weakening into 2015. DIGGING YOURSELF OUT OF TROUBLE The message from IMF officials, however, was blunt: for countries that can afford it, there may be no choice but to open the spigot to keep the world economy from backsliding “There has been a big drop in aggregate demand. Someone has to fill that
gap,” IMF Deputy Managing Director Min Zhu said. Underlying that comment is a recognition that six years of crisis-fighting has failed to do the job. Loose monetary policy has pumped trillions of dollars into global markets, but much of it is sidelined in the form of bank reserves or large corporate cash holdings and less of it translated into business investment or household spending. Recovery programs in Europe and Japan have failed to gain traction, China is slowing, and American officials are worried the situation could choke off the U.S. recovery as well. Global efforts at structural reform and trade liberalization have also stalled.
Venezuela ordered to pay Exxon $1.6 billion for nationalization A World Bank arbitration tribunal on Thursday ordered Venezuela to pay Exxon Mobil Corp around $1.6 billion to compensate for the 2007 nationalization of its oil projects in the country. The amount is far below the up to $10 billion that Exxon had originally sought and the $6 billion at which the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) capped the case, excluding a tax claim. “The Tribunal has found that the expropriation was conducted in accordance with due process, that it was not carried out contrary to undertakings given to the claimants in this respect and that the claimant have not established that the offers made by Venezuela were incompatible with the ‘just’ compensation requirement of (...) the Bilateral Investment Treaty,” ICSID said on its website. In a brief statement, Exxon said the decision vindicated its view that Venezuela failed to compensate it fairly at the time. Several analysts said Venezuela’s socialist government had dodged a bullet with the award, although it was also not clear whether it would pay up or seek to annul the award. Venezuela withdrew from the ICSID in 2012. “The government is going to analyze whether to seek annulment or not,” said Diego Moya-Ocampos of IHS risk consultancy. “Given Exxon originally wanted $10 billion, this will likely be interpreted as a victory for the government. The government could offer Exxon the PDVSA refinery in Chalmette, Louisiana, which they operate together, as a form of payment.” Experts think it is unlikely Venezuela would win an attempt to nullify the award, though such a
said Pavel Molchanov, an oil company analyst with Raymond James. “While the current government of (Nicolas) Maduro is less antagonistic toward foreign investment than (late President Hugo) Chavez had been, the fact of the matter is it is still antagonistic. I would not be holding my breath for Exxon to receive a $1.6 billion check from the Venezuelan treasury.” The ICSID decision relates to the expropriation of the Cerro Negro project, the La Ceiba project, as well as “production and export curtailments” imposed on the Cerro Negro development in 2006 and 2007. The Exxon corporate logo is pictured at a gas station Each party will cover its own costs and move could buy the OPEC member some time and counsel fees, ICSID said. The tribunal said it had potentially allow for parallel negotiations over a no jurisdiction over “the claim arising out of the increase in the income tax rate for the participants to possible settlement. the Cerro Negro Project.” Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA [PDVSA. “The most important part of the decision is that UL] declined to comment and no one at the oil the arbitration tribunal rejects the alleged “illegal” ministry was immediately available. A separate decision by another international nature of the expropriation,” said Carlos Bellorin, arbitration body, the Paris-based International petroleum analyst at IHS, meaning the compensation Chamber of Commerce (ICC) had ordered PDVSA to only reflects the value of the assets, not alleged damages and prejudice caused. pay Exxon $908 million. “However, it is presumed the calculation method The ICSID award suggests avoidance of double payments, but does not directly mention the ICC was not the one Venezuela suggested,” he said. award. Banking accounts PDVSA had used to pay Exxon’s projects were taken over during the leftwing administration of Chavez, who led a wave of previous awards had been frozen. nationalizations that included the oil, electricity and steel industries. DELICATE FINANCES Many of the companies deemed the takeovers unlawful expropriations, and Venezuela is facing The decision comes at a delicate time for cashstrapped Venezuela, already struggling with an more than 20 cases arbitration cases over the economy widely seen as in recession, rampant nationalizations. ConocoPhillips brought the biggest case to date inflation and looming bond payments. “As a practical matter, I highly doubt Venezuela against Venezuela in 2007, seeking $30 billion in will comply with the ruling and pay the $1.6 billion,” compensation.
OCTOBER 11TH, 2014 – OCTOBER 18TH, 2014
LOCAL SPORTS
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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RBC to Sponsor 1st Annual ‘Corporate Charity Challenge’
RBC is pleased to announce that it will be hosted to a trophy presentation recognizes that our strength as a will sponsor the 1st Annual ‘Corporate dinner at Fairways Bar & Grill. Both company is determined by how well Charity Challenge. The tournament pre- and post events will be catered we serve our customers and the takes place on October 12th at the by students from the Turks & Caicos positive social impact we have within Provo Golf Club. The money raised at Islands Community College Culinary our communities. Sponsoring the the event will go towards the purchase Arts Program. ‘Corporate Charity Challenge’ allows of kitchen equipment for the Turks RBC supports golf around the world us to participate in a meaningful event & Caicos Islands Community College through high profile relationships with that provides a platform for persons Culinary Arts Program. the PGA TOUR and Golf Canada. In to ‘have fun while making a positive Participants can look forward to addition to being the Official Banking contribution.” an exciting challenge on an 18-hole and Financial Services partner of Dave Douglas, Director of Golf, championship golf course which touring professionals, RBC is also the Provo Golf Club expressed his has consistently been recognized as proud title sponsor of two prestigious gratitude to RBC for their support, one of the top ten in the Caribbean. PGA TOUR events: RBC Canadian ““We are very happy that RBC has Tournament festivities kick off on Open and RBC Heritage. generously committed to be one of 12 Friday, October 10th with an optional “RBC is very proud to sponsor and or 13 teams in the Corporate Charity practice round for all participants lend our support to the 1st Annual Challenge. All the businesses and followed by the Opening Cocktail Party ‘Corporate Charity Challenge,” said their teams are essential in order to at Fairways Bar & Grill. Immediately Sanfra Foster, Country and Branch raise the necessary monies for the after the tournament, participants Manager. Ms Foster added, “RBC very worthwhile cause at The T & C
Community College.” With more than 100 years of heritage serving the region, RBC operates under the banner of RBC and RBTT with a presence in 18 countries, about 100 branches, and over 5,700 employees serving more than one million clients. As one of the Caribbean’s leading diversified financial services companies, RBC provides personal and commercial banking, wealth management, corporate and investment banking, insurance and trust and asset management services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, small businesses, general commercial entities, regional and multi-national corporations and governments.
VACANT POSITION Position: Employee Relations Officer Location: Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, Providenciales TCI Job Summary: The employee relations office is responsible for managing a range of activities including but not limited to recruitment, employee orientation, succession planning, training & development, employee benefits and staff welfare programs. Additional Responsibilities: •Assist the HR manager in developing department goals and objectives. •Assist in the drafting of company policies and procedures. •Assist in the recruitment of staff throughout the organization. •Manage the employee orientation process. •Assist in the management of the payroll process. •Manages the enrollment of all staff with NHIB and NIB through the finance department. •Manage all employee benefits with regards to NHIP and NIB. •Assist in the management of employee information through the companies HRIS. •Interprets, assists and advises employees and managers regarding leave management, absence, lateness, sickness and HR Policies and Procedures within the specified
Guidelines.
•Responsible for the management of all employee welfare programs. •Assist in staff development and training programs. •Assist in managing the performance management system. •Assist in conducting employee surveys as it relates to the organization. •Supports the HR Manager in the production of letters, references, reports, statistical information and other documents as required. •Coordinates and conducts all exit interviews and prepares subsequent reports monthly. •Any other duties as assigned by the supervisors.
Requirements and Experiences:
•A bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management or related field is required. •Two (2) years Human Resource experience or related field.
JOB DESCRIPTION PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. SALARY RANGE: based upon experience. Submit resumes and references to: Recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc Deadline for applications: Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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CARIBBEAN
SPORTS
Wrong time to ban bowlers with suspect actions - Sir Viv
Sir Vivian Richards - such action should have been taken some time ago and on a wider basis
Former West Indies captain Viv Richards T20 and was barred from bowling in the Bravos, the Andre Russells, the Pollards. has said the ICC’s crackdown on bowlers final and other tournaments organised We can beat anyone on any given day with suspect actions has not come at the by the BCCI. The West Indies Cricket and if we do that we will be pretty much correct time and it should have been Board took a precautionary measure of in the picture.” done a while ago. withdrawing him from the India tour “to With the West Indies team touring India, “In my opinion such action should have have his action assessed.” Richards said there was a possibility been taken some time ago and on a wider “Sunil Narine is a mystery man like of some of the players from the A team basis because these guys have been Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan], it’s joining the seniors for the Test series. there for quite some time,” Richards said going to hurt West Indies cricket more “We hope that when we [West Indies A] in Colombo, where he is with the West than any other team,” Richards said. leave here [Sri Lanka] we have some Indies A team as technical director. Apart from Narine, Sri Lanka offspinner exciting players who would do justice to “I am not sure because West Indies are Sachithra Senanayake, Pakistan’s Saeed West Indies cricket in the future. The touring India, there is going to be a Ajmal and a number of other spinners challenge for the future is for the present World Cup next year, whether all this were reported for suspect actions and individuals to try and emulate how well has something to do with it, I just believe banned from bowling in the last year. West Indies did in the past. It’s a huge the timing has to be good. With the next Speaking of West Indies’ chances in the task but you should never ever say ‘never’ World Cup around the corner this is not 2015 World Cup, Richards said, “West because all things are possible.” the correct time to take such measures.” Indies have a magnificent team and West Indies A play three four-day West Indies spinner Sunil Narine was I think if they can gel well they can matches and three one-dayers against Sri reported twice for a suspect action accomplish victory. They are a multi- Lanka A, with the first match starting on during the recent Champions League talented team when you look at the October 11 in Hambantota.
West Indies players want their association head to resign Hours before the start of their first ODI against This we believe is a sensible and reasonable India on Wednesday, the West Indian players have approach for all concerned.” decided not to strike over what they perceived to be In response to Bravo’s first letter than threatened an unjust payment agreement signed by the West a strike, the WICB had issued a statement saying it, Indies Players Association and West Indies Cricket “deeply regrets this apparent eventuality, especially Board. in light of the tedious and substantial work which In an indication the issue was far from settled, went into the good faith negotiations to arrive at the however, West Indies ODI captain and player new, historic CBA/MOU.” Top WICB officials tried representative, Dwayne Bravo, sent a letter to the to influence the players to play overnight, which WIPA on Wednesday morning urging its president only “hardened” their stance, an official privy to the and chief executive Wavell Hinds, and other officials discussions said. with conflict of interest, “to tender their resignation A major issue was the players saying they had unconditionally with immediate effect.” lost confidence in Hinds, a former West Indies opener. The possibility of the West Indies players going According to the letter, Hinds had failed to respond on strike had increased after they skipped training to the players about the concerns raised. “You have and a media briefing on the eve of the first ODI. not responded to any of our letters subsequently Bravo wrote in his first letter that Hinds had not sent seeking clarification nor have you attempted sought the players’ inputs before he signed a new to address any of our concerns raised in our collective bargaining agreement and memorandum of correspondence,” the letter noted. “Unfortunately to understanding with WICB on September 18. The new date, we have not yet even had sight of this purported agreement, the players insisted, would significantly new MOU and we are being asked to make important hurt their payments and they wanted to revert to the decisions regarding our career without knowing old structure. what exactly we are agreeing to. This is not a fair “After much consideration, the West Indies or transparent process especially by those who have players have decided to participate in the first one- taken the position to act always in our best interest.” day international against India starting tomorrow,” Bravo made it clear the players were informing the Bravo wrote in the letter. “This decision should not WICB not to correspond with WIPA until an “interim in any way be construed as an acceptance by the measure” acceptable to all was put in place. “In light of players of the unreasonable terms and conditions put the above, we the players have now lost all confidence forward to us by WICB, nor is it an acceptance of the in your ability to properly represent the players in purported new Memorandum of Understanding. any meaningful way and as such, we are calling “The players will not accept any agreement it has on the Officers of WIPA and any of those who may had no input in, did not give its consent to and which have a conflict of interest to tender their resignation would infringe on its rights. We reserve all of our unconditionally with immediate effect. This would rights and intend to seek independent advice so as allow us the right to seek the necessary advice of to establish the players best course of action. For the professional advisors who we have confidence in and record, we wish to reiterate our position put forward take the necessary course of action as we see fit. to the WICB earlier, that we continue under the old “We shall inform the WICB, that they are to structure until a new agreement is reached between not take any instructions from any of the Officers the players and WICB. Neither the WICB nor the until such time as we are able to consult with the players would be in a disadvantageous position since members of WIPA to put in an interim measure that this would have been mutually agreed by the parties. is acceptable to all.”
WICB holds inaugural domestic player draft The West Indies Cricket Board staged its inaugural player draft in Bridgetown for the upcoming expanded domestic season. The draft was held over five rounds, with each of the six regional franchises selecting five players each, in addition to the ten each pre-selected from their home territories. Guyana’s Ramnaresh Sarwan was picked by Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the second round of the draft, while Barbados’ Raymon Reifer went to the Guyanese franchise. They were the only two players who were not selected by their territorial sides. “We felt having a player of the calibre of Sarwan in our side would be invaluable to our squad which includes a number of young players,” said Gus Logie, the T&T head coach. “We have struggled with the all-rounder role and we were glad to get a second player (Reifer) in the allrounder position,” said Rayon Griffith, the Guyana chairman of selectors. A WICB release stated that the draft was organised to achieve an equitable distribution of the available player talent in the regional four-day and one-day tournaments. The six franchises participated in the draft through a selection panel consisting of the chairman of selectors and head coach. The selection order for the draft was according to the final league position in the 2013-14 WICB regional four-day competition. The following sequence was followed for each round: 1. Guyana franchise, 2. Leeward Islands franchise, 3. Jamaica franchise, 4. Windward Islands Volcanoes, 5. Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, 6. Barbados franchise Squads Barbados franchise Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Kyle Corbin, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Kevin Stoute, Omar Phillips, Jomel Warrican; Tino Best, Shai Hope, Kenroy Williams, Ryan Hinds, Roston Chase Guyana franchise Christopher Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul; Raymon Reifer, Rajindra Chandrika, Keon Joseph, Paul Wintz, Vishal Singh Jamaica franchise Carlton Baugh, David Bernard, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Dawes, Damion Jacobs, Tamar Lambert, Nikita Miller; Andre McCarthy, Shacaya Thomas, Horace Miller, Brandon King, Brian Buchanan Leeward Islands franchise Quinton Boatswain, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Yannick Leonard, Steve Liburd, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh, Kelbert Walters; Anthony Martin, Gavin Tonge, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jacques Taylor, Lyndel Richardson
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WORLD
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SPORTS
LeBron James overtakes Tiger Woods as sport’s biggest brand
LeBron James has become the biggest personal brand in sport, ending six years of Tiger Woods’ dominance according to Forbes Magazine. The James name, attached to the highest paid basketballer in the world, was valued at $US37 million ($42 million). That is how much more James earned off-thecourt compared to the average top-ten-earner in his competition. “King James”, named the NBA’s most valuable player four times, earned $US57 million ($65 million) in the past year from endorsements for companies such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Nike. He made a tidy $US30 million ($34 million) this year when Apple signed a deal with Beats Electronics, a brand he promoted in return for a small stake. Forbes had ranked Woods as the world’s top athlete brand since 2008. But his earnings tumbled because games producer Electronic Arts decided against making a 15th Tiger Woods PGA Tour game. His brand is worth an estimated $US36 million ($41 million). Rounding out the top five were Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (3), US golfer Phil Mickelson (4), and Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5). Mickelson picked up sponsorship bonuses for winning his first British Open while Dhoni made a
Crime controls 25 percent of world sport, anti-doping chief says
Yankees were named the biggest team brand. The top 10 biggest athlete brands in world sport and their value in 2014: 1. LeBron James - $US 37 million ($42 million) 2. Tiger Woods -$US 36 million ($41 million) 3. Roger Federer - $US 32 million ($36 million) 4. Phil Mickelson - $US 29 million ($33 million)
‘King James’ knocked Woods out of the top spot on Forbes’ list of the ‘World’s Most Valuable Sports Brands.’ lucrative bat sponsorship switch from Reebok to Spartan Sports. Nike was named the top business brand, with Forbes estimating that the $US71 billion ($81 billion) brand would be worth only $US52 billion ($60 billion) with another name. The Olympics was the number one event brand based on revenue per event day, while the New York
5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni - $US 20 million ($23 million) 6. Usain Bolt - $US 19 million ($22 million) 7. Cristiano Ronaldo - $US 17 million ($19 million) 8. Kobe Bryant - $US 15 million ($17 million) 9. Lionel Messi - $US 12 million ($14 million) 10. Rafael Nadal - $US 10 million ($11 million)
NBA should look at scrapping max deals, says Mark Cuban
DALLAS -- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes the idea of doing away with maximum contracts, as suggested by Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, could be considered by the league, as long as players are willing to give up something significant in return. “If you give up guarantees, it’s a trade-off,” Cuban said before Tuesday night’s preseason opener against the Houston Rockets. Cuban mentioned a system similar to the NFL’s in which guaranteed money is part of negotiations for each contract. NBA contracts are fully guaranteed unless the parties agree on other terms. The NBA’s salary cap will increase dramatically in the summer of 2016 due to the nine-year extension of the league’s television deal that was announced Monday. The new TV deal is worth $2.66 billion annually, according to a New York Times report, almost three times the value of the league’s current deal. David Howman, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency In the wake of that news, Durant suggested that the The man tasked with eliminating drug cheats says league should no longer have a maximum restriction criminal gangs now control a quarter of all world on individual player contracts. Durant, who is due professional sport. to be a free agent in 2016, said several maximumDavid Howman, director-general of the World Anti- salaried players generate much more revenue than Doping Agency, called for everyone involved in the fight they are paid. against sports corruption to band together to ensure the “Look at it like this, Kobe Bryant brings in a lot of “bad guys” don’t win. money to Los Angeles, that downtown area,” Durant “The biggest threat to sport is organized crime,” said, according to The Oklahoman. “Clippers are Howman told delegates in London for a conference on getting up there; Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and securing sport. those guys are bringing in a lot of money as well. “Don’t let us compartmentalize it into match-fixing or Look at Cleveland, look at Miami when LeBron bribery, it’s organized crime. [James] was there. “And I think, now, organized crime controls at least “These guys are worth more than what they are 25 per cent of world sport in one way or another.” making because of the money that they bring to Howman said those who were distributing drugs, that area. That’s a conversation you can always steroids, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and have, but until it’s changed, you never know what erythropoietin (EPO) and so on, are the same characters will happen to it.” who corrupt athletes and pay money to fix games. According to Cuban, it’s a conversation than league’s “They’re the same bad guys,” he told delegates. owners are willing to have, as they did during “Now, the good guys have to prevail. Who are the negotiations for the current collective bargaining good guys? Let’s get them together and make sure they agreement. can work out a plan. “It was discussed during the lockout time among “Because, otherwise, the bad guys are going to win.” owners but never got anywhere,” Cuban said. “So
Mark Cuban it was just one of those trial balloons. I’m not offering this as a negotiation, I’m not suggesting it. All I’m saying is that was something we discussed before, and max contracts are always big question, guarantees are always a big question. But we have two years before that’s even an issue, so no point discussing it now.” Cuban declined to discuss how the new television deal might affect the labor relationship between the league and the players association, such as whether this would help avoid a lockout when the sides can opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement after the 2016-17 season. “I have no idea, it’s too early,” Cuban said. “Who knows? Things change so rapidly in business that you can’t predict two years from now.” The current collective bargaining agreement was agreed to in December 2011 after a 161-day lockout. The league claimed it was losing $300 million annually, with 22 of the 30 owners operating at a loss. The players accepted a new deal that gave them approximately 50 percent of the league’s annual basketball-related income (BRI), a sharp decrease from the 57 percent they received from the previous CBA. James has been vocal, among other stars, about the league not being able to claim financial stress during the next negotiations in wake of the lucrative TV deal and the skyrocketing prices of franchises, topped by the Clippers selling for $2 billion. “It’s a lot of money, don’t get me wrong, and I’m grateful, but it’s not going to create so much incremental revenue after you pay out the percentages to the players that it’s going to be
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WORLD SPORTS
Former dope-taker Justin Gatlin’s nomination a big problem
Gatlin has run some of the fastest times this year. To athletics fans around the world wondering just how double-doper Justin Gatlin could make the short list for world governing body’s athlete of the year award, the unpalatable
answer is that the International Association of Athletics Federations had no real choice, given that he has served his bans. Gatlin’s stellar year of sprinting,
when he posted six of the fastest 100m and then four years. times, with his 9.77sec run in Brussels Gatlin returned to action in 2010 last month the fastest ever by an over- and took bronze behind Usain Bolt in 30, made the 32-year-old an automatic the 100m and a 4x100m relay silver in inclusion the 10-man list. the 2012 Olympics in London. “Gatlin, as an eligible athlete who This season he has been in has had a great season is, logically, magnificent form in both 100m and also eligible for consideration for the 200m and his 19.68 in Monaco in July Athlete of the Year contest in the remained the fastest 200m time of the absence of any bylaw to prevent that year. happening,” an IAAF spokesman told He is by no means the only former Reuters on Thursday. drugs cheat back at the top level of However, Gatlin’s fellow nominee athletics and three other 2012 100m Robert Harting felt so strongly finalists have also served time for about the American former Olympic doping offences. Consequently the champion’s inclusion that he asked to IAAF had little choice, based on be removed from the list. The German performances, but to include him on world and Olympic discus champion the list. wants previously banned athletes to Indeed, his compatriot LaShawn be prevented from being nominated Merritt, the former Olympic and world and said he would not be involved with 400m hurdles champion who served this year’s award so long as Gatlin a 21-month doping ban from 2010, is remained on the list. also included. The IAAF vice-president Sebastian Harting sits on the athletes’ council Coe also said this week that he was but said he would not continue if the not happy about Gatlin’s inclusion current situation remained unchanged. but recognised that the rules allowed “I am ready to stand for election it. “The only thing I would say is he again but only if athletes who have is entitled to compete; but I’m not misbehaved are scrapped from this particularly comfortable about it,” year’s list and are subject of a general said Lord Coe, a double Olympic 1500 nomination ban in the future,” he told champion who has worked hard within German media. the IAAF to restore four-year bans for It is too late for any such change to doping. affect this year’s award, which will be Gatlin won Olympic 100m gold announced on 21 November. However, in 2004 and the 100m/200m world the IAAF does have a bylaw that championship double in 2005 after prohibits convicted dopers from being returning from a one-year ban for elected to its Hall of Fame and the testing positive for a stimulant in athletes’ commission is likely to press 2001. In 2006 he failed a second test, for a similar rule to be introduced for for testosterone, which should have led the athlete of the year award from to a lifetime ban, later reduced to eight next year.
FIFA vicepresident Webb calls for Rooney Rule in England
Jeff Webb of the Cayman Islands, is the vice president of FIFA Owners of Premier League clubs must ensure black managers are given a chance to succeed and one solution could be to introduce American Football’s ‘Rooney Rule’, FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb said on Wednesday. A law whereby at least one black or ethnic minority candidate must be interviewed for every head coaching job has been in force in the NFL since 2003 after it was pushed forward by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney. Carlisle United’s Keith Curle and Huddersfield Town’s Chris Powell are the only two black managers
throughout the 92 professional clubs in the Premier and Football Leagues. Huddersfield are in the Championship (second tier) and Carlisle in League Two (fourth tier). Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was asked last week whether the Rooney Rule should be introduced to the Premier League but the Portuguese denied more needed to be done, saying: “There is no racism in football (soccer). Football is not so stupid to close doors to people.” But Webb, president of the CONCACAF confederation which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, told delegates at the Leaders in Sport Convention at Stamford Bridge that it is the responsibility of Premier League owners -and not FIFA -- to employ black managers. “The Rooney Rule has been great,” said Webb, the head of FIFA’s Anti-Discrimination Task Force. “It has been tremendous, but in this era, in this century, should we really have to mandate opportunities for qualified individuals? Sadly, the answer is yes. “How many American owners do we have in English Premier League clubs? There’s a number of them (American owners) so why have certain standards here? “Of course in the U.S in the NFL league you live by different standards. Why? If it’s good there why would it not be good here? “I don’t think FIFA can regulate that. I think it
has to come from within. It has to start with the ownership and of course the fans have to demand it.” Former Queens Park Rangers striker Les Ferdinand was appointed as the club’s head of football operations on Tuesday but Webb would like to see more black coaches given a chance, highlighting the example of Eddie Newton who was assistant manager to Roberto Di Matteo when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012. Fittingly in a sense, as he was speaking at the home of Chelsea, Webb said: “I met a young guy coaching at Chelsea. He won a Champions League final and was doing well with the club. “He can’t even get an interview: Eddie Newton can’t get an interview. I’m not talking about getting a job, just getting an interview.” However, Webb did praise UEFA for barring Italian federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio from holding any position within European soccer’s governing body for six months after he caused an outcry when he referred to African players as “banana eaters”. “Congratulations to UEFA, I think they have made a huge stand in recent weeks and on the stand of the Italian Federation,” he said. “We have been talking a long time about zero tolerance and saying no to racism but I think it’s now time that we see that action. “That is really refreshing but we have a huge fight on our hands in combating ignorance.”
Kevin Pietersen row hurt England, says Andrew Strauss
Ex-captain Andrew Strauss says the Flower in his autobiography this week. by revelations the following year that row over batsman Kevin Pietersen’s “The victim here really isn’t Kevin Pietersen had sent derogatory text claims of a “bullying culture” in the Pietersen, or Flower or Prior,” Strauss messages about Strauss and other England dressing room has hurt the told Sky Sports. team-mates to members of the South team more than any of the players “It’s actually the England team.” Africa team they were playing at the involved. Strauss led a team containing time. Pietersen, who was dropped by England Pietersen to England’s first Ashes Now a television commentator, Strauss in February, criticised wicketkeeper win in Australia in 24 years in 2011, - who captained England between 2009 Matt Prior and ex-team director Andy but their relationship was strained and 2012 - later wrote in his own book
that Pietersen “crossed the line” with the messages, and apologised after he was overheard using an offensive term in relation to Pietersen when he believed he was not on air while commentating on a match in July 2014. Meanwhile, Pietersen told Talksport that he wanted to reconcile with Strauss.
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