JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
Website: www.suntci.com
VOLUME 11 - NO. 24
Email: sun@suntci.com
Tel: (649) 339-5879
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TCI BLACK-LISTED by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
T
he Turks and Caicos Islands is among 14 Caribbean countries which have been blacklisted by the powerful European Union (EU) as tax havens who help wealth companies to avoid paying taxes. The countries were put on the blacklist because several member-countries of the EU felt that Turks and Caicos Islands of those countries, and the other 16 on the blacklist, had been suggested by at least 10 EU member states as problematic because they were not doing enough to crack down on tax avoidance. Up to the time of writing this report there was no official statement from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government about the blast-listing, but other named countries have strongly criticised the EU for painting them in a negative light. Some critics say the publication of the list risks being seen as an attempt to distract from the EU’s need to tackle its own issues with tax avoidance. The Caribbean tax havens listed are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Montserrat, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands. Cayman’s Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton, was reported as saying: “It is unfortunate that the EU black
THE FACES OF SUCCESS
Precious Treasures International that two students tied for the top School in Providenciales, scored positions in the Turks and Caicos four top 10 places in the recent Islands. The students (from left) – Grade Six Achievement Test d’Anne Tennant, Shawn Gardiner, (GSAT), with two of their students Vincent Zamora and Alexis Anara – Vincent Zamora and Shawn – are pictured with Principal Gardiner tying for the number one Yvonne Hutchinson (extreme left) spots with identical 88.19 percent. and Pamela Walker. Alex Swaby of d’Anne Tennant and Oseta Jolly Primary School scored Alexis Anara tied for 9th position 88.10 for third; Oksana Daley with 85.90 percentage. From all of Richmond Hill, scored 87.71 accounts, this was the first time for fourth; . Ovancia Gardiner of list unfairly downplays the significant strides made by Cayman, as well as the significant global accomplishments in the area of transparency.” Guernsey , another British Crown colony included on the list, has called to be removed. The United Kingdom and
Ireland did not nominate any countries for inclusion on the list. Andrew Whittaker, a spokesman for the Guernsey International Business Association, said: “Blacklists are very difficult to talk to investors about and when you’ve been on one you have
Shining Stars scored 87.43 for fifth place; Amanda Ingham of Eliza Simons Primary in Grand Turk secured the sixth spot with a score of 86.76; Jason Bennett of Wesley Methodist Primary in Providenciales captured seventh spot with a score of 86.38, while Xaria Johnson of Charles Hubert James Primary in North Caicos, with a score of 86.00 secured the eighth spot.
to make a song and dance about getting off it.” Pierre Moscovici, the EU’s top tax official, urged the countries to quickly adopt “agreed international standards” to fight against tax evasion. The plan aims to make sure that multinationals pay taxes where they generate profits, that tax rules in one country do not penalize others, and that honest businesses don’t lose out to unscrupulous competitors. “Our citizens can no longer tolerate that certain companies, often the most prosperous, avoid fair tax contributions and that certain tax regimes encourage them on this path,” Moscovici said. The move is part of a wider crackdown that has
followed the leak of documents alleging some multinationals have preferential tax deals with Luxembourg. The EU set up a committee in February to probe national tax rules in the wake of the scandal. Just last month a leading European Union (EU) assessment said that the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) government has significantly improved the performance of its Public Financial Management (PFM). The TCI’s 2015 Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment showed substantial improvements across a range of indicators since its previous assessment in 2011. The PEFA assessment is widely used by the World Bank and EU.
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NOTICE TO SUN NEWSPAPER ADVERTISERS Dear Valued Customers and Advertisers: Please be advised that the new deadline for the submission of advertisements and press releases to the Turks and Caicos SUN newspaper is 12 noon on Thursdays. Please continue to send your ads to sun@suntci.com or call us at 649-339-5879 for any queries. Thank you for continued support. Management of Turks and Caicos SUN newspaper
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Opposition calls for town hall Immigration Bill meetings
By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor In order to accommodate all Belongers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) is urging government to hold face-to-face immigration reform consultation town hall meetings instead of cyberspace liaisons. The call came from Leader of the opposition Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, while speaking at the party’s post-convention news conference at its Providenciales headquarters on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Late last year government proposed an immigration bill in the House of Assembly, but the opposition voted it down on the basis that it needed consultation from the people. The government then decided that it would re-enter the bill after consultation with the people. The opposition leader said that after inquiring government about the state of the bill, she was advised that there would be online submissions. She however, said that face-to-face would be better suited. “Last year, the PDM was able
to vote down the Immigration Bill on a technicality in the House of Assembly and this we did for the main reason that there was zero consultation on this proposed Bill in its current form. Over the following months, I have posed questions of the Premier and Minister of Border Control asking if and when might the people of this country be consulted on such an important bit of legislation that has the effect of making or breaking this country. We were promised consultation and in a direct question made in the House Meeting a few weeks ago, whilst in session a release was sent out regarding consultation which provides online submissions and that a request be made for stakeholder face to face consultation,” she said. She said that while the TCI has a high usage of internet, online submission would not be the appropriate forum to air those consultations, saying that face-to-face would be a better bet. “Whilst we can boast of high internet access and usage, many persons who have a right to be a part of these consultations are not online and this should never be the main form of consultation on an area like
EDUCATION MINISTRY REVEALS GSAT TOP PERFORMERS The Ministry of Education is pleased to advise that 445 students across the country, representing 21 primary schools, wrote the GSAT on May 27 and 28, 2015. Of the 445 students, 321 students scored a passing average of 50% or higher. The overall pass rate this year is 72.13% compared with 68.3% in 2014. This year the top ten student performers are: • Vincent Zamora, Precious Treasures Primary 1st Place • Shawn Gardiner, Precious Treasures Primary 1st Place • Alex Swaby, Oseta Jolly Primary - 3rd Place • Oksana Daley, Richmond Hill Prep - 4th Place • Ovancia Gardiner, Shining Stars Primary - 5th Place • Amanda Ingham, Eliza Simons Primary - 6th Place • Jason Bennett, Wesley Methodist Primary - 7th Place • Xaria Johnson, CH James Primary - 8th Place • D’Anne Tennant, Precious Treasures Primary 9th Place • Alexis Anara, Precious Treasures Primary - 9th Place Hon. Akierra Missick, Minister of Education stated; “We at the Ministry would like to congratulate all the candidates and their parents who worked with them over the past eight years to bring them to this milestone. It remains a priority to ensure those children who were not successful not be daunted or too discouraged. “We intend to ensure that schools have the necessary tools to ensure their success on their next attempt. This is a very important moment in the lives and we encourage parents to take an active role in the studies and school lives.” She closed; “Congratulations also go to the Principals and Teachers in all of our primary schools as well as the support from our partners. Together we have been able to impact the lives of our children in a positive way and we look forward to strengthening these relationships.” An invitation is extended to the public to support the prize giving ceremonies to recognize and reward the children who have performed. The Education Department can be reached at 649-3384804.
support online and private submissions alone as consultation on such a critical area as Immigration. The people deserve to hear what everyone is saying to its government and we will accept no less.”
Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene CartwrightRobinson. Immigration. “The Constitution states in its statement of Good Governance Principles that consultation must be accessible and meaningful and we are not satisfied that this form of consultation as the dominant form meets these requirements,” Cartwright Robinson asserted. She added: “We are therefore demanding that this Government face the people of these Islands in town hall meetings and in media appearances to educate the people and hear from them in a public setting. We will never
Government threatening to re-possess Crown land Government has recently given official notice ofits intention to repossess all Crown Land currently held under leasehold title, in which persons have defaulted in the payment of land rent or failed to renew or bring the title up-to-date. A public notice stated: “Please take notice that all those persons who hold a lease over crown land, whether that lease has expired or not, has an obligation to honour the conditions of that lease. In that regard, please be advised of the following: 1.You must ensure that the lease you hold is up to date and is in good standing. 2.You must ensure that you pay the land rent due and payable on the lease. 3.If you are not in beneficial occupation of the parcel and your lease has expired, the Crown Land Unit will take steps to recover the land, unless you indicate that you wish to renew the lease or would like to purchase and / or acquire the Freehold Title over the land. 4.For those persons in occupation of leasehold properties, you must take action, either to renew your lease or to purchase the Freehold Title over the land. 5.If any lessee, whether you are in occupation of the land or not, fails to take action to renew the title over the land and/or fail to make the required land rent payments, steps will be taken by the Crown Land Unit to repossess the land on the basis that you have failed to satisfy the conditions under which the land was leased to you. 6.Furthermore, please take notice that you have 28 days in which to respond to this notice. If you fail to do so within the prescribed time, we will have no other alternative but to serve you with individual notices indicating the repossession of the Crown Land you held under leasehold title.
In the meantime, Cartwright Robinson also blasted the Labour Bill, saying that consultations are taking the same route as the Immigration Bill, which she said the opposition would not support. She said that the opposition became aware of the procedure Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA), inviting responses by mid May, 2015. “The consultations were due to close on June 12, 2015 and we are unaware of public consultations being held. There is now a phrase included that ask you to make a request to an email address for stakeholder face to face consultation. “This approach cannot be welcomed in the absence of public meetings. We are calling on the Government to do likewise and hear from the workers and other employers in this country on this important bit of legislation,” Cartwright-Robinson urged.
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Precious Treasures goes in GSAT history books By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor Precious Treasures International School on Providenciales created Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) history when two of their students tied for top spot and another two tied for ninth place, thereby snaring four of the top 10 places in the 2015 results. Vincent Zamora and Shawn Gardiner, with an identical 88.19 percent score, captured the top spot, while d’Anne Tennant and Alexis Anara, with an identical 85.90 overall percentage points, snared the 9th place. Alex Swaby of Oseta Jolly Primary School on Providenciales, got the third spot with 88.10. Oksana Daley of Richmond Hill, with 87.71, was fourth. Ovancia Gardiner of Shining Stars scored 87.43 for fifth place. Amanda Ingham of Eliza Simons Primary in Grand Turk secured the sixth spot with a score of 86.76. Jason Bennett of Wesley Methodist Primary in Providenciales captured seventh spot with a score of 86.38, while Xaria Johnson of Charles Hubert James Primary in North Caicos, secured the eighth spot with an overall average of 86.00. Precious Treasure also secured the top two English Language places, so too in General Paper. Vincent Zamora scored 84 percent, while his classmate Alexis Anara tied for second place with Alex Swaby of Oseta Jolly on 83.50. Shawn Gardiner topped General Paper with 95 percent, with Zamora in second place on 94 percent. Seth Carter of Shining Stars Preparatory, Kaylana Selver of Ona Glinton Primary in Grand Turk, BEST Institute and Kevin Myers of Provo Christian School all tied for the third spot with 92 percent. Oksana Daley is the top Mathematics students, scoring a whopping 98.80, but barely beating Jason Bennett and Amber Missick, who tied on 98 percent, for second place. Xaria Johnson of Charles Hubert James, registered 90 percent in Science to claim the top spot, bettering Oksana Daley into second place with 89 percent and Kaylana Selver, Alexis Anara and Alex Swaby, who all tied in third place with 88 percent. Young Shawn Gardiner told The SUN that the feeling of being the top GSAT student in the Turks and Caicos Islands is almost indescribable. “I cannot describe it actually. Studying wasn’t hard, but it is a great feeling being in the top 10,” he said. Zamora said that tears of joy overwhelmed him when he heard of that not only what he was in the top 10, but was actually in the number one spot. “When I first heard that I was the top student I began to cry. I was happy to learn later that I shared the stop spot with one of my classmate,” Zamora said. Asked as to whether or not the study leading up to the exams was challenging, the scholar, who said that he wants to become a pilot, said: “I would say, it was hard but manageable, and so I was able to do my best and it paid off for me.”
From left Alexis Anara, d’Anne Tennant and Shawn Gardiner, three of the four Top 10 students from the Precious Treasures International School d’Anne Tennant could not hide her joy, telling The SUN that she not only studied hard but stayed focus on the knowledge imparted to her by her teachers and guests. “I feel elated because I have done my best to achieve this position. I had to study hard and had to research things that I didn’t quite understand. I had to stay attentive to what I had been taught in school and be alert by the information that that persons in the community gave us when they visited the school,” she said. Alexis Anara said that the results stirred emotion of joy in her, considering the level of work she put into her study. “We have been doing extra classes, and I have been studying hard through the night. It had been a little difficult, but after some time, I have gotten used to it. Now I just feel so happy,” she said. Pamela Walker, Precious Treasurers grade six teacher, credited God, the dedication of the students and over school and parents support for the magnificent scores. “First, I want to give thanks to
God, because we couldn’t have done it She said that all the teachers without him. I am elated. I am so proud play a role in the students getting the of my students. They have performed outstanding grades, telling The SUN very well and I am very pleased. The that the lowest score was in the 70s. preparation is due to a lot of dedication, “When you think about GSAT, you have hard work and sleepless nights too, but to recognize that no one teacher does it paid off. We have two first places and get the GSAT result. The GSAT result two ninth places. We have never had come from good foundation, building two first places, this is like history,” on that good foundation, then the Walker said. grade six teacher gets to do the output. Principal Yvonne Hutchinson, This grade six teacher (Walker) has said that although she is excited about grades five and six, so we had great the scores, was not surprised because expectations for her. She worked very, the students are always given sound very hard. The students worked hard. educational foundation. We could see evidence of this kind of “I am very excited about it; success even before they sat the exam. this is the norm for us though. I think She said that while some teachers and since we started doing GSAT, very few top students parted company with the students have ever failed from our schools last year, Precious Treasures GSAT classes, and we always have was undaunted. students in the top 10. Last year we “Some students and some teachers left, had four in the top 10. I think this is but that didn’t change anything. It the best we’ve ever done, but as our got better for us because we prepare motto goes – ‘from good to great’. our students well and we pray. We are “We don’t intend to do any very prayerful here, and we get great less in any given year. So we are results from those activities that we do. looking forward to great things here The environment is good, the students at Precious Treasures. With our new are keen on getting good results,” she programme we still anticipate better,” said. she said.
The grade six Precious Treasures International School class, which achieved 100 percent pass mark
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Report from June 17th Cabinet meeting His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 16th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 17 June 2015 at the NJS Francis Building on Grand Turk. All Minister were present. At this meeting Cabinet: •Received a presentation from Turks and Caicos Environmental Management who updated Cabinet about the work they have carried out so far under Phase 1 and also briefed Cabinet about a proposed Phase 2 of the Solid Waste Programme and other Public-Private Environmental Programmes. The Ministry and Cabinet will review the costings of Phase 2 before making decisions. •Reviewed the draft Turks and Caicos Islander Status Bill 2015 and made amendments where appropriate. Advised H.E the Governor to approve a public consultation on the same and to approve the provision of
instructions to the Honourable Attorney General to make amendments to the draft Bill as the consultation may suggest. •Reviewed the draft Immigration Bill 2015 and made amendments where appropriate. Advised H.E the Governor to approve a public consultation on the same and to approve the provision of instructions to the Honourable Attorney General to make amendments to the draft Bill as the consultation may suggest. •Cabinet received information on the proposed schools’ summer maintenance program, which will entail upgrading the various aspects and repairs and fixing of some of the identified issues in the Government schools throughout the islands. Renovation and replacement works will begin immediately following the schools’ closing for the summer break. •Received information about the proposed re-profiling of planning application fees in regards to developments, and discussed changes. Further
details will be announced in the Gazette. • Advised H.E the Governor to approve Nikita O’Neil Skippings “Chef Nik” to act as a Culinary Ambassador for the Turks and Caicos Islands for a period of 2 years with effect from 1 July 2015. •Cabinet approved the instatement of the Appeals Tribunal of the National Health Insurance (Appeals) Regulations 2010. The following are being recommended to serve on the Appeals Tribunal; Mr Norman Hamilton, Rev. Conrad Howell, Dr. Euan Menzies and Ms Yvette Marcelin. •Cabinet approved the appointment of the following members to the Health Practitioners Board (HPB); Dr Jameika Harvey (Chairman), Dr Kendra Hall (Deputy Chair), Dr Raquel D. Lightbourne, Mrs Audrey Ewing, Mr Shanwell Gardiner and Mrs Trammaine Swann-Harvey. •Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
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Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Office Manager: Dominique Rigby Graphic designer Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
David Smith to be extradited to the US
Chief Magistrate for the Turks and Caicos Islands Clifton Warner has given His Excellency Governor Peter Beckingham the green light to extradite former Olint Corporation boss, David Smith, but on money laundering only. Money laundering is the lesser of the two charges to which he pleaded guilty in the US. The other charge is wire fraud. Smith, after pleading guilty, was sentence to 30 years, to run concurrently with the six and a half years to which he was sentenced in the Turks and Caicos Islands previously. That sentence came to an end earlier
this year. After pleaded guilty in the United States, Smith was sentenced on the wire fraud charge to 20 years and 10 years on money laundering, which are to run consecutively. The decision by the local court means that Smith should only serve 10 years - six and half of which has already served. Commenting after the decision, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Angela Brooks, said that it is now up to the Governor to sign off on Smith’s departure. He (Magistrate Warner) committed him (David Smith) to prison and it is for the Governor to decide that he is going to surrender him to the government of the United States for the charges for which he pled to. The magistrate cannot extradite him per se; the Governor has to turn him over. Brooks said though that while local court agrees that Smith should be turned over on money laundering charge only, when he reached the US main land the decisions made there is out of local jurisdiction. “He (Magistrate Warner) committing him to prison on those charges has nothing to do with the plea agreement and the counts that he pled guilty to in America; they have nothing to do with us. We have no control over that,” Brooks said. Smith’s lead attorney Oliver Smith, while classifying the local
court’s decision as a small victory, is wary of whether or not the US authorities would abide by the local court’s decision when Smith arrived in that country. Smith said he partially agrees with the judge’s decision, saying he supported him on one aspect but believes he erred on another. “I partially agree with it and partially disagree with it. I think he is correct in saying that he cannot be extradited for the wire fraud counts, he is much correct on that. We have some concerns as to whether or not he is accurate in relation to the money laundering count, and we are taking instruction as to what would be the next step in that regard,” Smith said. He said that if his defense team does nothing and Smith is returned to the US, the authorizes there he should only be sentenced on money laundering charges. “The effect of his decision is that, if nothing happens and he gets return to the United States, the United States should only sentence him for the money laundering count, and there is no reason why the sentence should not remain concurrent as agreed originally. “So, if he gets brought back, he should only be served 10 years running concurrently, and he has done six and a half already, so he should not be doing much more time,” Smith said. He added: “However, I have a
legitimate concern as to whether or not the United States will do what is right under the treaty between themselves and the Turks and Caicos Islands, because the United States has been known in the past to go against the United Nations Conventions. “So I don’t think I want to take that chance, so I am taking instructions as to what our next steps should be. I believe that the United States Government should now issue a new judgment that reflects, recognizes and respects the magistrate’s court’s decision, and once Mr. Smith returned, should be sentenced to 10 years.” He said that it is up to defense to ensure that such agreements are reached before Smith goes to the United States. “It is our job is to make sure that that is done before he goes there, and that can be done through diplomatic channels, it can be done and agreement between myself and the United States prosecutor, to go to court and have Mr. Smith sentenced in his absence. “We could make a habeas corpus application that we can say to the court that we have no guarantee that the United States is going to do this, so you shouldn’t send him, so it would force their hand to do something. So I think it is a partial victory for Mr. Smith to justify his challenge to the extradition,” Oliver Smith said.
Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has hailed government’s decision not to introduce the Fishing Regulations that she said would put local fisher folk at a disadvantage, referring to the decision a prevailing of good sense. The opposition leader was speaking at the Peoples Democratic Movement’s (PDM) Headquarters in Providenciales at its first news conference after the party convention held last weekend. She labeled elements of the regulations as impractical, impossible and irrelevant, and was bound to make criminals out of the fishermen. “We are pleased that good sense has prevailed and that the Government has seen it fit to not introduce the proposed Regulations already passed in Cabinet. Many
of the regulations were impractical, impossible and irrelevant. Of note was the regulation relating to snappers, the exportation of sharks, the fishing of pregnant fish which will only be known when cut open. “Some fishermen have expressed serious concern to us and their fear is that the regulation seeks to make criminals of them all,” she said. The opposition leader said that her partly learned that the passage of the regulation in parliament was premature since the study was incomplete and key stakeholders were omitted from participating. “We are reliably informed that the consultations were not completed and fishermen with vast experience were not a part of the consultations citing inconvenient times for example
at 10am in the morning when they were at work. “We believe that regulations and laws are critical to the future of this Industry and that not all will be widely received but we believe that the regulations and laws must be practical, relevant and sensible,” she said. She said that while the regulations would make criminals of local fishermen, it would give the green light to international poachers who continue to make huge hauls from Turks and Caicos Islands waters. “There is need to police our Industry but there is also need to provide adequate resources to DEMA and a Joint approach to police our borders and waters for, while we stop and police our fishermen, poachers are continuing to invade and fish illegally in our waters,” the opposition leader
said. She continued: “Again another occasion for the Government to back track on a decision already made and passed in Cabinet and another occasion that the Government had to be called out for making a grave mistake and to review its position. Nonetheless, we are grateful for this are occasion where the Government has listened and we welcome the further consultation and will hold the Government into account in ensuring that they are meaningful and accessible. What was amusing in TCIG’s Release is the closing comments of taking consultation with our people seriously and yet we continue to fight with this Government for public consultation of the critical Immigration Bill.”
David Smith
PDM hails government Fishing Regulation’s backtrack
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Kevino Smith demonstration mars Queen’s Birthday parade By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Monday, June 15, 2015, was marred by a demonstration carried out by the family members and well-wishers of missing Grand Turk man Kevino Smith who vanished in early March, 2015. The event involved a host of dignitaries, including His Excellency Governor Peter Beckingham, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, his Ministers and Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson and other opposition members. Former Chief Minister and now Leader of the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA), Oswald Skippings, played a prominent role in the demonstration. He told The SUN afterwards that the time and place of the protest was planned by the man’s family, but saw the need to participate because they need answers for their missing relative. “The response was positive. Speaking to people afterwards, they were pleased that somebody is taking some kind of stand to make some kind of statement, because the family
said they are not hearing from the that would coincide with that focus police in terms of being updated as did not take place. I feel that the to the progress of the investigations,” investigation from the beginning was Skippings explained, adding that the not present. His vehicle was burnt remains found that was believed to be and all of that, so, it should have sent certain signals,” he said. Smith was yet to be identified. Police reported that on “And also, bearing in mind that he body that was found has not yet been Wednesday, March 4, 2015, about identified, which also places additional 11:45p.m., a report was made to the stress on the family. There is no kind of Grand Turk Police Station requesting consolation or encouragement for the police assistance at the residence of the Ashton’s Family in Breezy Brae, family, and they are distraught.” “So from my side I would say, Grand Turk. Two officers were reportedly justice delayed is justice denied. The family feels that it is being delayed and dispatched to the scene, where an may even feel that it is being denied. occupant of the residence reported to I wouldn’t go that far, I am saying it them of an alleged serious incident is delayed because they are not being involving the use of a firearm, and kept informed. And so, I lend them my Smith was fingered as the aggressor. The police further reported support,” he said. Skippings elucidated that, that that same night officers conducted considering that Smith’s vehicle a search around the surrounding area was found torched at a particular for the suspect, but he was not located. On Thursday, March 5, officers area on that islands, had the initial investigation been carried out were called to Smith’s residence at simultaneously with the missing man Osbourne Road, where an old unused being both suspect and victim, the pick-up truck was on fire, which the police, with assistance from persons result could have been different. “The focus on the missing in the community extinguished. Smith gentlemen was not present as far as was not at the residence, the police the investigation is concerned, as a said. victim. Therefore, the investigation The police said that another vehicle
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Oswald Skippings bearing a placard in support of Kevino Smith’s family owned by Smith was found in Breezy Brae on Thursday, March 5, and removed to the Grand Turk Police Station for investigation purposes, and on March 6, his mother Martha ‘Patty’ Smith, reported that she had not seen Smith since March 4, and that he had apparently gone missing. On Thursday, April 16, 2015, police stumbled upon human remains believed to be that of the missing man in the Breezy Brae. However, the results were not released.
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS FortisTCI announces promotion of Alvejes Desir to Manager of Plant Control
Effective June 1, 2015, former and present FortisTCI (the Company) scholarship recipient Alvejes Desir has been promoted to Manager of Plant Control. CFO and Vice President of Finance and Human Resources, Ruth Forbes said, “We are very proud of Alvejes’ work ethic and dedication. The FortisTCI family congratulates him on achieving yet another personal and professional milestone. We look forward to his continued growth and development and wish him well in his new role.” Mr. Desir recently celebrated ten years with the Company, having joined the team on June 14, 2005. Over Alvejes Desir - FortisTCI Manager of Plant the past ten years, he has held several Control positions and most recently served as
Superintendent of Plant Control. As a past FortisTCI scholarship recipient, Mr. Desir completed his Bachelor of Science in Engineer Technology. Presently he is undertaking his MBA at Walden University through the FortisTCI Master’s Degree Program, offered to full-time employees in supervisory or managerial positions who showcase exceptional leadership potential and who are identified in the Company’s Business Staffing Plan. He is slated to complete his MBA in September 2015. In his new role as Manager of Plant Control, Mr. Desir will be responsible for the safe and efficient day to day dispatch and control of the FortisTCI generation plant along with the system control of the transmission and distribution
network in Providenciales. FortisTCI Limited (FTCI) became a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc. located in Newfoundland, Canada in August 2006. Turks and Caicos Utility Limited (TCU), which is the sole provider of electricity on the Islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay, was acquired by FTCI in August 2012. FTCI is the sole provider of electricity in Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos and adjacent Cays, and South Caicos. Together the two companies serve just over 13,000 electricity customers in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The Utilities have an aggregate diesel-fired generating capacity of approximately 75 megawatts.
Alisa Folkes becomes first TCI Citizen to receive CHTA Scholarship Earlier this year Turks and Caicos students and industry professionals pursuing higher education or professional development in the tourism and hospitality field were given the opportunity to apply for scholarships through Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). After receiving a strong pool of 85 plus applicants the Foundation then had the difficult task of awarding a record number of scholarships to 36 Caribbean-based students including TCI’s very own Alisa Folkes who became the first ever TCI citizen to receive such a scholarship from CHTA. The funding totaling US$141,800 and supported by CHTAEF’s partners Virgin Holidays, Interval International, FirstCaribbean International Bank,
Johnson and Wales University and Florida International University will provide Alisa, a full time HR Assistant at Seven Stars Resort with US$3,000 to assist with her online Tourism Management programme at Ashworth College. On receiving confirmation from CHTA Alisa stated, “When I heard that I was the first recipient from the Turks and Caicos to receive such a sponsorship I was thrilled and overjoyed. Having worked at Seven Stars for the past two years I knew that furthering my studies in the tourism field would make me a true asset to the resort and would also make me more marketable in the industry. I am therefore thankful to CHTA for giving persons the opportunity to develop academically and am grateful to TCHTA for informing industry workers about
SENIOR DYNAMICS AX MECOMS Description Perform consulting duties related to the implementation of the Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP system and the MECOMS Utility Solution Develop software customizations using the X++ programming language to meet unique business requirements Main Duties and Responsbilities Meet with department heads and business users to understand business processes and requirements related to the ERP Solution Configure Dynamics AX and MECOMS to meet the business requirements Design and develop software customizations using X++ and deep knowledge of Dynamics AX and MECOMS to meet unique business requirements Migrate data from existing sources to Dynamics AX and MECOMS Train users to productively use the system Support go live and post production phase of new system Minimum Requirements 5+ years’ experience as a Microsoft Dynamics AX Consultant and X++ software developer Detailed knowledge of the Dynamics AX Trade and Logistics and Project Modules Training Certification on the MECOMS Utility Solution from Ferranti Computer Systems 7+ years’ experience implementing Dynamics ERP solutions in complex organizations Compensation Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is June 26, 2015: Dr. Kellie-Ann Evans-Hall Manager, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or khall@fortistci.com
the sponsorship.” Stacy Cox, TCHTA’s Executive Director noted, “Since 1987 CHTAEF has awarded over US$2 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry. We are therefore elated that TCI through Alisa was able to secure one of these coveted scholarships. The response we received shows us that the future of our tourism industry is secure as persons remain eager and excited to be a part of our country’s vital economic resource.” Cox added, “Education and training are essential in order to be successful in any work field and CHTAEF’s scholarships present an opportunity for motivated individuals like Alisa to pursue higher education and career training regardless of financial need. We also commend
our hotels who answered the call and donated room nights to CHTA for auction to support the scholarship programme. These prizes made it possible for CHTAEF to provide the scholarships and in turn made it possible to assist Alisa with her online tuition while continuing her tender with Seven Stars.” The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) represents a wide range of members from hotels and resorts to insurance companies and financial service providers, from watersports operators to catering outlets, from taxi drivers to human resources. The Association aims to assist the organisations through networking opportunities, training, promotional activities and representation at all levels of decision-making in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the region.
Pursuant to issuance of Building Permit PR12180 _”Malcolm’s Beach Submerged Artificial Reef Breakwater (Using Reef Balls),”_ by the Department of Planning, deployment of 925 Reel Balls will begin offshore of Malcolm’s Beach within the next two weeks. The intended purpose of the proposed reef is to reduce wave energy in the nearshore environment fronting the area north of the Amanyara Resort known as Malcolm’s Beach, located in the Northwest Point Marine National Park. It will also create marine habitat and provide recreational benefits for the community. Shipping and deployment of the constructed reef units will be provided by Dock Direct, Ltd. and Reef Innovations, via tug and barge from South Dock, navigating the south and west side of Providenciales, to their final destination offshore of Malcolm’s public beach, for a four week period beginning on/around 1 July 2015. The reef footprint will be located within 350 feet of the shoreline, in -7ft average water depths (MSL), approximately 1,000ft long, and the crest submerged below the mean low water elevation (MLW). Following deployment, the reef will be marked with navigational markers and buoys. Access to and parking at Malcolm’s Beach will not be impacted before, during or after construction. AllWORKS will be located offshore, and the park access and beach will remain open to the public and the community. The permits, design plans and EIA are available for review at the Department of Planning, Emily House, Leeward Highway, for a fee of $25.00. Please direct any and all questions to the Department of Planning at 338-4335, theAPPLICANT - Caicos Resorts Villas, Ltd. at 941-7952, or the Applicant’s Agent - Marine & Coastal Consulting, Ltd. at 441-8921.
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JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Interest in PDM at all time high – party officials
New PDM Chairman Doug Parnell (centre) flanked by party leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson (left) and Hon. Derek Taylor The interest in the opposition Peoples Democratic Movement is at an all time high, this according to newly-elected chairman Doug Parnell, who was fielding media questions at the party’s post convention news conference at its headquarter in Providenciales on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. According to Parnell, who sidelined Hon. Clarence Selver for party chairmanship, a numbers of persons, some who have left the party and others that have been aligned with the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) but have expressed disillusionment, have been seeking fellowship with the opposition. “Right at this very moment, we have people who are coming back expressing interest, who were on the
other side expressing disillusioned; they are ready to join us, they are ready to go forward, they are ready to work with us, they are ready to form the next government with the Peoples Democratic Movement, and we are encouraged by that. So, we will get our house in order, make no mistake, we will do that, and we will ready ourselves for the next general elections,” Parnell said. He said that the PDM has emerged from the convention stronger than it has ever been, and will seek to go forward in the same vein as they seek the leadership of the country when the next election, which is due under two years, is called. “Our aim coming out of the 40th convention is to ready ourselves and prepare ourselves as to what is to
come. I would encourage voters across the Turks and Caicos Islands; you have seen what has happened over the last few years. There is an opportunity that would present itself in the near future, an opportunity for you to do the right thing,” he said. Parnell said that while the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands want a PDM government, they should ensure that they vote so that they will be able to have their desired administration. We have shown that we can lead you in the right direction, but it is up to you to do the right thing. And that right thing is to vote for the Peoples Democratic Movement. We are not afraid of the work that is ahead of us, we don’t want anybody to believe that we are afraid to address any issues, to
attack any challenges that may come before us. “We will represent our people, we will do so forthrightly, we will do so without fear. We will campaign to win the government; that is our main objective and our party’s constitution,” he said. He said that the PDM have already showed that it is capable of taking over the reins of government, by among other things, defeating a number of government motions and bills, saying that by those defeats, the Rufus Ewing administration should have locked shop and call fresh elections. “We’ve seen this government over the past few years lose a number of key motions and bills in parliament, and actually had walked away from some of their key pieces of legislation. Any other government facing that same thing would have done the right thing and step aside and let the parliament form a new government. “This government has not done that. They have been defeated by this awesome team over and over again, and I believe that this team is strong and ready to go into the election. Obviously we have got some things to do because we have got some constituencies we will field candidates, and I can tell you, the interest in the Peoples Democratic Movement is at its all time high,” Parnell said.
Essential Functions (may include but not limited to the following): •Process correspondence and any other routine documents; using word processing software; check typed and other materials for accuracy and completeness, maintain he orts uthority and enter a variety of data in databases and spreadsheets; copy documents for urks and aicos slands internal and external distribution; send and receive faxes; route documents for signature. Is inviting suitable applications for the following positions: •Act as office receptionist and receive and screen visitors and telephone calls, providing information and handling issues that may require sensitivity and the use PORT FACILITY COMPLIANCE OFFICER of sound independent judgment; conduct research, respond to request for information Position Summary: and complaints from the public, refer the request or complaints to the appropriate Under the direct supervision of the Director of Ports, The main role is to ensure that the Ports staff for action and response; review, determine the priority and direct incoming mail. Authority receives payments for goods and services and properly records the transactions. •Make all appointments for the Director of Ports and schedule meetings on his behalf. The duties and responsibilities of this post require not only a knack for numbers, but also •Ensure the maintenance of a professional manual and electronic systems filing attention to detail and well-developed organizational skills system. •Submit budget recommendations for the general operations of the office and staff. Essential Functions (may include but not limited to the following): •Prepare technical worksheets, tables and computations; files documents; organize •Officer must be versed in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code (IMDG), and archive files and library items; assist staff in locating files and records. for the necessary containment and transportation of any hazardous materials; •Coordinate, arrange and confirm meetings for department staff; arrange and setup •File and maintain records of pre-arrival notifications; meetings and refreshments; attend meetings on request; take notes and process •Receive and scrutinize all manifests; minutes when requested to do so. •Compare bills of lading against manifest; •Coordinate all travel and training requests; coordinates making travel and other •Maintain a statistical record of cargo landed; arrangements for board and staff members. •Prepare bill and invoices for services rendered; •Ensure all customers receive receipts for payment and copies filed away, handle •Collect on accounts by sending bill reminders and communicating with customer via petty cash, and prepare cash/cheques for deposit. phone, email or fax; •Attend to a variety of office administrative details; maintain inventory and order •Maintain copies of all bills on file; office supplies; obtain price quotes; create, track and follow up on purchase orders; •Perform book reconciliation with Customs; maintain office equipment by keeping maintenance contracts current; requesting •Contact shipping agents regarding bill payments and make follow-up until transaction repairs as needed. is complete; •Update the Authority’s website and other social media •Resolve all bill queries with importers; •Answer customers questions, and provide information on procedures or policies; KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: •Ensure prescribed measures are taken to secure the assets of the Authority when •Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills leaving work area and at the close of business; •Take responsibility and perform responsible and difficult secretarial work utilizing •Provide administrative support in order to ensure effective and efficient office independent judgment and initiative operations; •Must be tactful in dealing with people. Adhere to Hurricane Preparedness Plan. •Discretion, good judgment ability, adaptable, versatile individual •Plan, organize and schedule office priorities Requirements: •Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. •Ideally have attended a UK approved PFSO training course; •Discreetly handle confidential matters •Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures; •Tactfully and courteously respond to requests and inquiries/complaints from shipping •Knowledge of computers and relevant software applications; agents, general public and staff. •Knowledge of financial software; •Must possess computer knowledge, data entry abilities and report formation skills. •Data entry skills; •Maintain confidential and sensitive information. •Knowledge of customer service principles and practices; •Good mathematical background; Requirements: •Good communication and interpersonal skills; •A minimum of five (5) years in administrative/secretarial roles, of which three (3) •Attention to detail and accuracy. years were spent working with senior management level to effectively respond to the challenges of the position. Qualifications and Experience: The minimum requirement is an Associate Degree or certification and three years’ work Qualifications and Experience: experience in a related field. The minimum requirement is an Associate Degree in Business, or a diploma as an executive secretary. AND Starting Salary for both Posts is $42,525p.a. PERSONAL ASSISTANT Job summary: Applications Should Be Submitted to: Under supervision of the Director Ports, perform a variety of highly responsible, confidential pstewart@ports.tc and complex secretarial and administrative support functions for the Director of Ports. Submissions to be no later than 3rd July 2015 Incumbent will act as a liaison between the Ports Authority and local government offices, Belongers Need Only Apply! shipping agents, the general public, attending meetings and preparing minutes and reports;.
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JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
TCI Hospitals establishes medical learning centre By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor The InterHealth Canadarun Turks and Caicos Hospitals has established a medical learning centre, which will offer basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, and the batch of local high schools that will spend a week at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre under the TCI Hospitals’ Ready Programme are to be the first recipients. Head of the Medical Services Dr. Denise Brathwaite-Tennant, made the disclosure on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 during a news briefing at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales, to announce the Ready Programme. “The Turks and Caicos Islands, now, through the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospitals and InterHealth Canada, we now have our own official training centre. This (students’ training) is going to be one of the first training delivered as part of our training centre. And I am proud to be part of that, where we are going to graduate these students in it,” she said. Brathwaite-Tennant said that the training is able to equip the students to save lives. “It’s a life skill that they can learn whether they are on the beach where there are other kids or providers, or whether they are at school, it is something all of us should know, how to do basic CPR and first aid. “So we are happy to impart that to them, and hopefully it will spark in them, a greater love in the field of medicine and nursing and all of the other areas that we have here in the hospital,” she said. Andrea Francis, Head of the Science Department at the Clement Howell High School, is happy that the one-week programme, slated to commence on Monday, June 22, 2015, would not only offer students theoretical insight but also practical skills in CPR and first aid. “Especially with CPR, we are a large institution, and so many things happen at school, and when students know CPR, they would not be scared when they see the different first aid opportunities taking place. Instead of cowering in fear, they would be able to able to assist,” she said. Francis is also happy that the programme that will afford students the opportunity to broaden their horizon into making choices in the different medical areas. “We thought it was a very good programme to give students the opportunity to immerse themselves a little more fully and practically in the medical field. So often, you have students who are interested in the medical field but they don’t have any hands-on information and so, when they participate in this programme they will be able to make more informed choices,” she said. Edwin Taylor, TCI Hospitals’ Human Resource Manager, said that the Ready Programme is in its second year with local students. He said the programme is geared to offer insight to students on careers in the variety of healthcare services that the hospitals offer. He said that when students get
the opportunity to learn the types of services the hospitals offers, will assist them to chisel their careers to meet some of those needs, and their return, will have little problems getting employment. “Over the last few years we have had students from the Maranatha High School and the British West Indies Collegiate been coming and spending a week in our facility, going through the various areas. So we decided to expand the programme and offer it to all of the high schools across the country and also change the design and flow of the programme, where students can now meet more of the physicians and persons who work here, so that they can always ask more questions and get more of a classroom setting, where they can learn a little bit more,” Taylor said. He said that students qualify to participate in the Ready after competing in an essay competition as to the reason they want to be part of this programme, what career they are looking to pursue and how would the experience help them to decide on a career. He said that the hospitals have also collaborated with the Ministry of Health to extend the programme to the point of a symposiums together to also include the wider private sector health care providers, so that students, on their return from college, will not look only to the InterHealth Canada Hospitals for employment but also other private sector health establishments. Jacqueline MoeCox, Education and Training Manager at the hospital, said that TCI Hospitals provides a range of services in allied care, including laboratory, physiotherapy, and non-clinical services that students can look at, including human resources, education, public relations, finance, IT, medical and coding. “So what they are going to do is to spend some time in each department. They are going to be exposed to some of what we do here. In other cases where confidentiality permits, they are going to actually get tours. Some of the staff will come in and they are going to do presentations, oral and visual,” she said. In the meantime, BrathwaiteTenant said that the programme actually began in 2012, when overseas medical students requested visiting the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre during their vacation periods, and were facilitated to broaden their horizon in the field. Mine students will take part in the programme this year. They come from British West Indies Collegiate and Clement Howell High School. The students had between January and March to present the essays, following which, the hospital would conduct a selection process. Excluding administration, there are approximately nine departments at the hospitals. All of the school participated in the initial project. For his part, Director of Education, Edgar Howell, said that the programme gives high school students an insight in the medical
field, expressing the hope that in the near future, all interested students would get the opportunity to experience the programme. “I want to see all of the students across the country taking advantage of the opportunity, which was the idea when we first started the discussions
about this happening,” he said. Dr. Eric Parsons, Interim CEO, said that the programme should have great significance to ensure the sustainability and succession planning for the hospitals in the longer term, which is the main purpose, that he said the institutions were established.
(Left to Right) Andrea Francis, Jacqueline Moe- Cox, Edgar Howell, Dr. Denise Brathwaite-Tennant and Edwin Taylor
IMMEDIATE OPENING Cosmetologist
Requirements: •Prior experience working as a Cosmetologist in the spa department in a luxury resort •Excellent communication skills •Ability to understand the guest, internal and external, and meet and exceed the needs of both the guest and the company •Ability to provide genuine service through actions that display selfconfidence, grace and courtesy to guests and colleagues •Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Duties Include: •Provides consistent professional hair treatments in accordance with spa protocols and accepted certification practices •Complete knowledge and understanding of all services and products while educating guests in these areas •Possess and maintain knowledge of current hairstyles and trends •Assist in inventory •Upholding the standards of sanitation and sterilization as directed by law and the spa’s policies and procedures •Performing prep work and properly cleaning and restocking work area as required •Must be able and willing to work all day and shifts Starting salary $6.25 per hour not including service charge and tips Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday, and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels.com, no later than end of day Friday, May 12th, 2015.
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hukka aribbean is seeking bright, energetic individuals to join our team in the following categories: Chef Scullion Sales Associates Aqua Photographers Applicants should be “ Belongers “ and possess the aptitude to read and write English Speaking another language will be an asset Applications should be emailed not later than June 29,2015 to : gtadminmgr@chukka.com
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
What’s our story? Vacancy Position: Location:
Chief Executive Officer Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, Providenciales
•Fundamental Leadership Role •International Organisation •Very Competitive Remuneration InterHealth Canada is a leading healthcare organisation specialising in the development, commissioning and management of healthcare facilities on the international stage. We are currently looking for a CEO to manage the Cockburn Town Medical Centre and the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre. The CEO will provide the leadership and assume responsibility and accountability for the overall strategic and operational planning of the two Turks & Caicos Island’s facilities. This will be carried out in conjunction with the overall strategic direction of the health system, in partnership with InterHealth Canada and the Turks & Caicos Islands Government.
Responsibilities: •Commitment to the Cockburn Town Medical Centre, Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, and their strategic principles •Strategic planning consists of but is not limited to the following: o In collaboration with the Board of Directors, corporate staff, hospital employees, community and Turks & Caicos Islands Government. o The CEO will cultivate a vision & mission that represents the facilities within the community. o Meet with local businesses to align expectations, opinions and goals of the facilities. •In collaboration with the Board of Directors the CEO will construct and communicate an annual Strategic Plan and deliver progress reports to the Board of Directors, Turks & Caicos Islands Government and hospital employees. •The CEO will provide leadership while growing and enhancing a model integrated health centre with outstanding clinical outcomes and excellent service. •Establish a culture of collaboration and integration that enhances the provision of excellent patient care, patient satisfaction within a safe environment. •Oversee a strong workforce development through recruitment and retention, employee satisfaction, engagement while maximising growth potential of all employees •Manage the company’s performance to maximise operational efficiencies providing the highest quality of safe and appropriate patient care •Ensure effective communication on all levels from a bottom up and top down approach. •Implement through “lean processes” a focus on improving quality of care with standards of excellence for a consistent patient experience. •Continue to support the information technology strategic plan, which moves toward a more fully electronic clinical environment by 2020. •Drive the planning and development of capacity expansion projects and guide the development of services for the increase in the facilities. •The CEO will represent the company and guarantors of its obligations and rights under the company’s agreements with the public partner. •Lead and support key committees pertaining to service areas. •Organisationally, the CEO will work collaboratively with the hospital leadership and the Turks & Caicos Islands Government to develop and implement well-balanced clinical programs designed to ensure the operational and strategic success of our facilities. •Financial Management The successful candidate will be an experienced CEO with business acumen; experienced in providing leadership through change to staff in complex and diverse operations; and have proven ability to collaborate and influence industry bodies and all levels of Government. Other important qualities include appropriate qualifications, strategic thinking, high level negotiation and communication skills, understanding HR principles, experience in managing resources and working to budgets. A competitive remuneration package will be offered to secure the calibre of the person we are seeking based on qualifications and experience managing and growing similar sized facilities.
All applications may be submitted to HR@interhealthcanada.com by the closing date: 30th June 2015
“ON MY MIND” By Damian Wilson
A very simple question. One I heard almost every day at university. We never did anything without understanding what the story was, because the story is what gave us focus. In the entire existence of human history, there has been no greater stories than those of people uniting. When people come together, their collective energies and efforts can literally move mountains or make the impossible, quite possible. In telling those stories of togetherness, of collective action, of unity making a difference, no greater words than “We, the people…” have ever been used to tell the story of a collective group. You see, when Americans decided, in 1789, to start the preamble of their constitution with those words, they made it their story. It became more than just a legal document but rather an extension of the people themselves. It set out what they wanted, the type of nation that they aspired to become. In all movements, great and small, leadership is of the utmost importance. I want you to know and understand the power of leadership. Leadership can make or break any group or movement. Without strong, selfless and inspiring leadership, the American story of independence would be quite different.
Whether we all like it or not, the late Hon. McCartney seems to be the measuring stick by which many of us gauge the concern of our leaders for their people. However, what’s the story here? Is it one of a man single handedly leading a nation into a new era? No! Because no matter how great any leader is, he cannot do it on his own. Without inspiring support amongst the masses, every aspiring leader is just another lone voice crying in the wind. So many of our leaders, and so many of us, have come to believe that once a leader is elected, it is the leader who empowers us. So many of us have become paralyzed with fear when it comes to holding our leaders to account and saying what we need as a nation. But what do we need? Are we a collective in the Turks & Caicos? When we tell our story, will it begin with “we, the people of the Turks & Caicos”? It seems that we have become so addicted to complaining about the government and about the politicians, that we’ve forgotten that they actually work for us and not the other way around. When will we, the people, realize that “We” hold the real power? The greatest fear of any government is an informed, educated, united people. Not a people united along party lines, but a people united for the greater good of all. Setting aside party and self for nation. This is truly what politicians fear, because in that moment the partisan political manipulation of the public is no longer possible; people begin to see the magician behind the curtains. I am not advocating independence at this time, but my question to us all remains: “What’s our story?” * Damian Wilson was born in Grand Turk. He is a journalist, poet, and social thinker. He has been in broadcast media for nearly the last 10 years of his life and is married with two children.
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Bill Clare hails retired Methodist Preacher who turns 100
“He was kind enough to write commentaries on all the ‘Parables of Jesus’, and some of the ‘Miracles of Jesus’ for me, which I made in booklet. Some of them I have given to local preachers of the Methodist Church, and some to the local preachers library at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Provo,” Clare revealed. An event was held on his behalf on Sunday, May 3, celebrating Rev. Dr. Claude Cadogan gave his response his life and thanksgiving for his to the service held in his honor 100th birthday, his more than 75 years of service to the church in By Vivian Tyson general and Caribbean Methodism Senior Sun Editor in particular and the launch of the Claude Cadogan Methodist Museum Local historian, Bill Archie on the premises of the Coke Memorial Clare has hailed retired Jamaican Chapel, in Kingston Jamaica. preacher Rev. Dr. Claude Cadogan - Rev Cadogan, who officially who turned 100 on Sunday, May 10, retired in 1980, continued to serve 2015 - as one of the great Methodist for several more years in pastoral Preachers who served the Turks and visits, conducting services and in the Caicos Islands. training of lay preachers. He was Clare noted that the retired man of also praised for the wide range of the cloth served the TCI between his service including those of being 1943 and 1947. Clare said that Rev. preacher, teacher, administrator and Cadogan baptized Clare in 1945, and architect. since 2008, they established regular Praise also came for his contact with each other. drawings and designs, which have “He is one of the great, great been used in the construction and Methodist Ministers who served renovation of several churches and the Caribbean and especially in the manses throughout the region, as a TCI. His name, and that of Rev, Ft. gifted orator who has crafted many Hugh Sherlock, who made Boys citations and eulogies; as a leader, Town, will always be remembered in mentor and chaplain to the Boys' these islands. He has written several Brigade movement and as a director articles on Methodism. of many dramatic presentations.
DIGICEL RELAUNCHES MY DIGICEL APP LOADED WITH EXTRAS AND A BRAND NEW LOOK AND FEEL Digicel unveiled its new look My Digicel App that boasts dozens of cool new features like managing your Digicel account, access to social media newsfeeds and a customer feedback portal – making it the go-to place for all things Digicel. In addition, the app is free to use meaning customers are not using a single MB of their data to access the information and content available on the app. The newlydesigned app introduces a user-friendly interface that comes with a whole host of new features such as allowing customers to send top up to any Digicel phone, locally or internationally, view account information, opt in and out of plans and
see the latest promotions and offers – all of which is available 24-hours a day, free of charge to customers. The app also includes social media feeds so that customers can connect with Digicel through Twitter and Facebook and take advantage of exclusive offers that are only available through the app. Digicel Group Chief Commercial Officer, Claudio Hidalgo, said; “We are excited to be introducing our newly-designed My Digicel App that makes it easier for customers to access all of our services free of cost at any time using their smartphones. The new app boasts all the great features that customers have come to
know and love, as well as a host of new ones such as sending credit to friends and family at home and abroad and accessing Digicel’s social media newsfeeds for the latest updates.” “We wanted to create one place where our customers could access all things – from sending and receiving top up, to activating plans, accessing special offers and getting the latest news - the new My Digicel App does just that. The app also includes a feedback feature where customers can share their views on the app and its functionalities so that we can work to improve it on an ongoing basis,” concluded Hidalgo.
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Feel free to stop by for used vehicles for Sale from $5,000 upward or call us at 649-941-3910 Nissan-March
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
Turks and Caicos Islands latest FSAP experience is discussed in Caribbean Forum The Caribbean Association of Insurance Regulators (CAIR) in conjunction with the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) organized a two day Conference and Meeting on June 10-12 in Trinidad and Tobago under the theme “Regional collaboration: enhancing insurance supervision and regulation”. During the Conference, regional supervisory groups for insurance discussed their goals and objectives and current supervisory methodologies. Participants and presenters contributed ideas on how to better advance regulation regimes in the Caribbean and reviewed lessons learnt from Jamaica, Trinidad and the Bahamas. Turks and Caicos Financial Services Commission (FSC) Managing Director Kevin Higgins gave insight into the TCI experience following its latest financial stability assessment conducted under the IMF’s Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). Noting that the assessment concluded in early May had generated interest in the region, Mr Higgins said: “Dialogue and exchange at regulatory regional level is of fundamental importance to a sound supervisory regime, to the protection of policyholders and to financial stability as a whole”. “The Turks and Caicos Financial Commission was invited to this collaborative forum to discuss its views and experience on the heels of the FSAP; we are pleased that the Commission continues to bring a valuable perspective to the issue of insurance supervision and regulation in the region ” he continued.
The TCI FSAP preliminary findings were summarized in a press release issued by the team of visiting International Monetary Fund experts. They indicated that, despite challenges and limitations, the FSC had made notable progress since the previous IMF assessment in 2003 and had now better governance, ample financial resources, and supervisory power. The findings highlighted few initial recommendations such as the need to enhance regulation and supervision, to earmark funds for policyholder payout and to formalize communication and consultation with the industry in order to facilitate dialogues. The final report is expected by July 2015.
1. The Caribbean Association of Insurance Regulators (CAIR) was born out of the need to rationalize the Regulation of the Caribbean Insurance Industry. Its birth, in 1994, evolved from meetings of the multidisciplinary CARICOM Working Party on Insurance and Reinsurance, which was responsible for the development of a report on Catastrophe Protection in the Caribbean. 2. The Association advocates, encourages and supports the development and enforcement of insurance regulation in the Caribbean according to worldwide accepted standards. 3. The Turks and Caicos is a member country of CAIR. 4. The Conference was followed by CAIR Annual General Meeting and CAIR Executive Committee Meeting.
NOTICE Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990 An application, PR12247, by AYMCS Ltd for REZONING THE OF 60905/105 FROM (TO1) TOURISM TO (C1) COMMERCIAL has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Outline Development Permission on 60905/105 LEEWARD GOING THROUGH. 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. DATED: JUNE 10th 2015
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
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LOCAL NEWS
Is Mr. Robert Schuster sitting as a lawfully appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands? By Courtenay Barnett ((Attorney for and on behalf of the Petitioners ) The above-captioned question is posed in that signatures continue to be raised after 4 months since the 30th January, 2015 Petition for the removal as a Judge of Mr. Robert Shuster was first delivered to the Governor. The Petitioners are seeking lawfully required answers to the issues and questions raised in the Petition. It is in the sense that the letter of the law and the spirit of the Constitution and the law have to upheld by His Excellency, the Governor and the Judicial Services Commission, when making such an important appointment as that of Judge of the Supreme Court, that the concerns following are expressed. Was the appointment lawful? 1. Was the Governor not aware of the report published in the highly reputable English newspaper, the ‘Independent’ which read as follows: “John Cauchi, an Australian citizen who was Tonga’s attorney general until his resignation in April over government interference, said: “The government is attempting to go down the Fiji route. But while I am sitting in this country it is better for me not to say anything. When I am safely back in a country that respects the rule of law I will feel free to say something more about this.He condemned the government’s “corrupt” decision to abolish the Judicial Services Commission: “This means the government’s ministers can pick judges rather than having them independently selected.” He added that Mr Shuster’s possible appointment was “extremely serious. No one knows what is going to happen.” So, since an appointment was made as there reported to be “corrupt” in the legal mind of Tonga’s Attorney General, then would the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands not have extremely special reason to ensure that the appointment, if an appointment were to be made of Mr. Robert Schuster to the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court, would be in full compliance with the Constitution and the law? Failing such strict compliance, given Mr. Schuster’s history, then the risk would be run of the appointment being accused and questioned as it was in Tonga – would it not? 2. Was the Governor not aware of the openly expressed opposition to Mr. Schuster’s appointment as stated in the Turks and Caicos Islands media in January, 2015, which had to have given good cause for the Governor carefully to examine the history of Mr. Schuster before signing an instrument of appointment? 3. Was the Governor not aware of the 30th January, 2015 Petition providing full details why a significant number of signatories were not content that Mr. Schuster was a suitable person for the position of Judge of the Supreme Court? Even if the media reports had missed the attention of the Governor, it could not be contended that the Petition addressed directly to the Governor at
the end of January, 2015 could have missed his attention with the facts presented. 4. Why, a mere 3 weeks after the Petition was presented did the Governor not reply to the Petitioners before signing an instrument of appointment on the 27th February, 2015 so as to satisfy in his own mind ? And to the satisfaction of the Petitioners in accordance with the Constitutional requirement at section 85(7) (a) either to establish a Tribunal to investigate the matter, or reject the call for an investigation and provide good reasons why in the face of the Petition’s clearly stated facts di the Governor still consider that of all the Judges available in the Caribbean and throughout the British Commonwealth he saw Mr. Schuster as the best candidate for the Turks and Caicos Islands, given Mr. Schuster’s history and background of demotion from the High Court in Tonga to being a Magistrate in Monserrat ? 5. Why after over 4 months and now 4 sets of signatures delivered to the Governor has he not responded to the Petition to satisfy the significant number of signatories as to why he, the Governor considers Mr. Schuster a suitable person for the position ? 6. Why in accordance with section 19(2) of the Constitution and after over 4 months hasn’t the Judicial Services Commission complied with the obligation imposed upon it to provide written reasons why it considered Mr. Schuster a suitable person to be the Turks and Caicos Island’s Supreme Court Judge? 7. Why was the Governor’s appointment of the 27th February, 2015 not addressed in a manner which complied with the section 26(1) legal obligation under the Interpretation Ordinance to publish in the Gazette the appointment so that it would take legal effect? 8. Why have all other Judges and Magistrates appointment been published in the Gazette so as to confer legal authority upon the appointment as Judge or Magistrate in the Turks and Caicos Islands but Mr. Schuster is the only appointment not Gazetted in the lawfully required manner? 9. Why would the Governor, after being made aware of the failure to publish in the Gazette not promptly, in accordance with the Governor’s administrative duties, have not pointed out the fact to Mr. Schuster so that further sitting without lawful appointment would not take place? 10. Why would the Governor still, after knowing of all the difficulties with the appointment, still proceed along the path which runs the risk of violating the legal ‘Rule against Retrospectivity’ thus leaving open the door to appeals and the questioning of whether or not the decisions and judgements given for over 3 months can in point of law be considered decisions and judgments made by a lawfully appointed Judge? There are substantial revenue implications if the matter is not fully, lawfully and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and law urgently addressed, because the prospect of re-trials and appeals will in respect of Judgments given by Mr. Schuster will only continue
Mr. Justice Robert Shuster to mount with adverse impact on the public purse and finances of the Turks and Caicos Islands. If these issues as listed are considered trite or of no significant
importance, it would be very helpful to have the Governor’s reply to the Petitioners expressed representations as made since 30th January, 2015, to hear why so.
AND CAICOS ISLANDS TURKS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION SALE OF USED VEHICLE BY SEALED BID The Financial Services Commission hereby offers for sale one (1) used 2007 Nissan Pathfinder located in Grand Turk on an “As Is Basis”. Persons who are interested in purchasing the vehicle may arrange a viewing by contacting our Grand Turk Office between the hours of 10 am and 1 pm Monday to Wednesday June 22 -24, 2015. Bids should be made in writing stating: (1) that he/she wishes to purchase the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder (2) the amount being offered (3) the name of the bidder and (4) the contact details of the bidder. Bids should be placed in a sealed envelope addressed to the Managing Director, Financial Services Commission, Mercedes Francis Building, Pond Street, Grand Turk and must reach us no later than 3pm on Friday June 26, 2015. The vehicle has a reserve price. The winning bid will be accepted from the highest bidder. The bids will be opened by authorized staff of the Commission and the successful bidder notified. Where the successful bidder fails to pay the bid price within 24 hours of the acceptance then the Commission reserves the right to accept the next best offer, request further bids or abandon the process. Financial Services Commission: 02/2015 June 17, 2015
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LOCAL NEWS
Arabella Smith wins civil recovery case; AG Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles appeals
Former Member of Parliament and Minister of Education Arabella Smith recently won a land dispute case which was brought against her by the Crown (Attorney General’s Chambers) and the Civil Recovery Unit. `The matter was heard by Chief Justice Her Ladyship Margaret Ramsay-Hale. Smith was represented by Queen’s Counsel Ariel Misick, while David Phillips, a QC from England, appeared for the AG’s Chambers which has since filed an appeal against the judgment. The following is the full text of the Chief Justice’s judgment... 1.The facts of this matter are not in dispute. On 8 October 1993 the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (“TCIG”) leased a parcel of land known as parcel 60809/42/1in the Bight and Thomas Stubbs on Providenciales (“the Land”) to the Defendant in 1993 for commercial development. TCIG granted a Conditional Purchase Lease (“the Lease”) of the Land to the Defendant, M & A Services, for a period of 8 years ending on 8 October 2001. 2.The lease was a standard Conditional Purchase Lease under which the Defendant was required to pay annual rent of US $5,150 for the first three years and thereafter, an annual rent of US$10. The Defendant was also required to build a service station on the Land within 3 years at cost of no less than US $100,000. The Lease gave the Defendant an option to purchase the Land for US$51,500 at the end of the term which sum represented the market value of the Land discounted by 50% in accordance with the Crown Land Policy which allowed Belongers to acquire land for commercial development at preferential rates. 3.The Land was developed under the terms of the Lease and, in or about 2000, the Defendant applied for the freehold title. By letter dated 22 February 2000, the Minister with portfolio responsibility for Crown Land approved the transfer of the Land to the Defendant on payment of the purchase price and the arrears of rent. 4.The Defendant did not pay the monies or pursue the transfer pursuant to the Minister’s letter but remained in occupation of the Land after the Lease expired in October of the following year. 5.On 11 August 2010, the Defendant paid the arrears of rent as they stood in 2001 and on 12 August 2010 wrote to TCIG requesting that title to the Land be transferred. On 5 October 2010, TCIG advised that it would not consider transferring the Land unless and until the Defendant paid mesne profits of US$46,110.28, advising also that the Land would have to be revalued before it could be transferred. 6.On 10 November 2010, TCIG sent a notice of demand for the sum of US $46,110.28 which sum the Defendant paid in full on 18 December 2010. TCIG, however, refused to transfer the Land unless the Defendant agreed to pay its current value, appraised by the Government Valuation Department at $870,000. 7.The Defendant continued in possession and TCIG made a further demand for mesne profits and by Notice dated 26 March 2012 required the Defendant to make payment of the sum of US$7,788.72 within 21 days failing which TCIG would take steps to recover possession of the Land. The Defendant did not pay the sum demanded and TCIG subsequently served a Notice to determine the Defendant’s tenancy on or before 7 October 2012. On 20 September
2013, TCIG issued these proceedings to recover possession of the Land and mesne profits in respect of what it asserts is the unlawful occupation of the Land by the Defendant since 2001. 8.The Defendant’s defence to the claim is that it is a purchaser in possession under a binding agreement for sale and that the Crown is not entitled to possession. It asserts that the sums paid by it as and for mesne profits were paid under and that having paid the further sum of US $5,499.72, it has tendered all sums due to TCIG under the Lease and is entitled have the Land transferred to it and seeks declarations to that effect by counterclaim. 9.In the alternative, the Defendant asserts that it occupies the Land under a periodic tenancy and that the Notice of termination on which TCIG relies did not expire on the last day of the period and was accordingly invalid and that TCIG is not therefore entitled to possession. 10.Counsel have agreed that the following are the issues to be resolved by the Court: (i)Whether the Minister’s letter of the 22 February 2001 created an agreement for sale of the Land which obliged TCIG to transfer the Land on the payment of the monies reserved under the Lease and if not, (ii)Whether the Defendant is holding over on a statutory tenancy under s 51 of the RLO on the same terms and conditions of the Lease including the right to purchase the Land. Agreement for Sale
11.The Lease executed by the parties provides at Part II: “1. The Crown hereby agrees that on the expiration of the term hereby granted and in the event that the Lessees shall have duly and punctually complied with the covenants and obligations on the Lessee’s part contained in Part 1 of this Lease and if the Lessee shall have paid or tendered to the Crown the freehold price of $51,500.00 the Crown shall transfer the absolute freehold title of the demised land to the Lessee …..” 12. The Lease thus gave the Defendant the right to request the transfer of the Land at its expiry if it had paid the rents reserved and completed the commercial development for which the Lease was granted. 13. It is accepted that the only condition for the transfer of the Freehold under Part 1which had been met by the Defendant was the development of the Land on which it had built a petrol station. Notwithstanding the rents had not been paid and that the Lease had not expired, the Defendant applied to TCIG for the Freehold Title to the property. Consistent with the manner in which the Crown Land Policy was administered at the time , TCIG agreed to transfer the title given that the commercial development on the Land notwithstanding the rents were in arrears the Minister’s letter conveying the TCIG’s agreement to transfer the Land is in the following terms: “ I refer to your request for Freehold Title to parcel 60809/42, Juba Pond, Providenciales. I am therefore please (sic) to inform you that in accordance with the Executive Council’s decision, it has been agreed that Freehold Title should be granted to you on the said parcel. The cost of the Freehold Title is $51,500. In addition you are in arrears in the amount of $10,340, which must be paid before the Freehold Title is granted. I should be grateful if you would contact the Registrar of Lands to whom I am sending a copy of this letter, to have
Arabella Smith, former Minister of Education
Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, Attorney General
Ariel Misick, QC
David Phillips, QC
the necessary documents executed.” 14.No date for payment of those sums was fixed. 15.The Defendant’s case as set out in para 7 of its skeleton is that, “the combined effect of the Defendant’s application for Freehold Title and the Executive Council’s response as communicated by the Minister on 22 February 2000 constituted a binding agreement for the sale of the Land to the Defendant. 16.In his oral submissions, Mr. Phillips QC argued that the agreement to sell the land to the Defendant at that price and on those terms was conditional on the Defendant doing what it was required to do under the Lease, including paying the rent reserved duly and punctually which he submits was a condition precedent to a binding agreement for the sale of the Land. He submits that, while TCIG may be held to have waived the breach of the Defendant’s failure to pay the rent punctually, it did not waive the requirement to pay rent and further that there was no prospective waiver of the condition to pay rent. He accepts that in consequence of the Minister’s letter was that the Defendant was entitled to call for the transfer of the Title on those terms. He submits, however, that its entitlement to do so came to an end when it committed a further breach of the lease by not paying the rent reserved in October 2000 which, he contends, was a condition subsequent of the agreement. 17.Mr. Misick QC says in response that it was not envisaged by the parties that the additional $10 rent would be paid but rather that the purchase price and the arrears of rent would be tendered and the Title transferred. He submits that the failure to pay the rent after the date of the Minister’s letter could not operate to terminating the agreement unless the payment of rent was itself a contingent condition of that agreement. He urges the Court to find that the payment of rent was promissory condition, the breach of which does not automatically bring an agreement to an end. He contends that the agreement could only be terminated by Notice requiring the Defendant to comply with the terms of the Minister’s letter. 18.It is clear that the Crown was under no obligation to transfer the Freehold Title unless the Defendant’s covenants were duly and punctually complied with, but TCIG waived its right to refuse to transfer of the Land for breach of the covenant requiring rent to be paid annually in advance and agreed to transfer the Freehold Title on the Defendant’s paying the purchase price
and arrears of rent. 19.The Minister in his letter did not, as Mr. Charles would have it, advise the Defendant that it could purchase the freehold title “but ...would first need to pay the arrears of rent.” The letter was a straightforward indication that the application for freehold title had been granted by ExCo and that the papers would be sent to the Registrar for execution but that, in keeping with standard practice as Mr. Misick says, the purchase price and the arrears of rent would have had to be paid in advance of the Governor signing the transfer. 20.TCIG’s decision to grant the Freehold Title in the circumstances where the Defendant had complied with the development condition in the Lease was consistent with the Crown Land Policy then in effect which stated at para 4.10 that “ A CPL will allow the lessee to apply for freehold title on the expiry of the lease provided that the lessee has completed the development… If the lessee has completed the development before the expiry of the lease, the lessee may apply for freehold title at that time, but will be required to pay besides the freehold purchase price, any rent due for the remaining term.” 21.That TCIG’s agreement to transfer the Title gave rise to a specifically enforceable contract is not in dispute. The question is whether the TCIG’s obligation to transfer the Title, if and when the purchase price and arrears of rent were tendered, was terminated or discharged by the Defendant’s subsequent breach of the covenant to pay rent. In other words, was the agreement to transfer the Land contingent on the annual rent being paid on 8 October 2000. 22.In Total Gas Marketing Ltd v Arco British Ltd & Ors [1997] EWCA Civ 3016 Peter Gibson LJ defined contingent conditions as “states of affairs which, if they do not exist at a designated time, either automatically bring the contract to an end or suspend the obligations thereunder. 23.Steyn LJ in his concurring judgment said, “Traditionally, a distinction is made between conditions precedent and conditions subsequent. Given that one is dealing with contingent as opposed to promissory conditions, one can for present purposes say that a fact is a condition precedent to a contract for the creation of which it is necessary; and that a fact is a condition subsequent to a contract that it extinguishes: see Corbin on Contracts, 1960, vol. 34, s. 739; and the judgment of Stephenson L.J. in the
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
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LOCAL NEWS Court of Appeal in Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd. v. L. Schuler A.G. [1972] 1 W.L.R. 840, 859E-G.” 24. Simply put, a contingent condition refers to an event that neither party has promised to bring about, on which the performance of the contract hinges . It is a condition outside the agreement on which the agreement is conditional. This was the condition precedent which was being considered in the case of Aberfoyle Plantations Ltd v Cheng [1960] AC 115 on which Mr. Phillips relied in the course of argument. In that case the whole agreement was held to be conditional on the success of the vendor in negotiating a renewal of leases from the third party owner of the land. 25.A promissory condition is an event which one party to an agreement has promised to bring about. Unlike the breach of a contingent condition as in Aberfoyle which automatically brings the contract to an end, the breach of a promissory condition being a breach of an essential term of the contract gives rise to a right to damages and termination of the contract. 26.The payment of rent under the Lease was not a condition precedent in the sense of Aberfoyle. It is what some writers describe as a promissory condition precedent which requires one party to perform a particular obligation as a condition precedent to the performance of some obligation by the other. In this case the parties already had binding obligations under the Lease unlike the parties in Aberfoyle but TCIG’s promise to transfer the Land to the Defendant was conditional on the Defendant first performing its promise to pay all the rents reserved under the Lease and develop the Land. As noted by the learned editors of Chitty on Contract, where there is a promissory condition, “fulfilment of the condition is part of the consideration moving from the promisor.” 27.In Eastham v Leigh London and Provincial Properties Ltd [1971] Ch. 871, the Court of Appeal considered an agreement for lease in similar terms to the one under consideration here. In that case, a company was given licence to enter a site and to build a six storey office block on it. The agreement provided that if the building were completed to the satisfaction of the owner’s surveyor and the company had performed all its obligations under the contract, then the owners would grant the company a lease for 125 years. The Court of Appeal held that the contract was not a conditional contract. Buckley LJ said at p 891, “Although cl 4 is couched in conditional language, in my view it amounts to no more than this: it provides that if the taxpayer company perform their part of the contract, then the landlords will perform their part of the contract; in other words it is a recognition of the fact that the obligations of the parties are mutual and that the granting of the lease will, in fact follow the completion of performance of the obligations of the taxpayer company. That is not, in my judgment, a condition precedent to the contract at all; it is part of the terms of the contract. One may call it a condition if one pleases, but it does not make it a condition precedent to the existence of a contract; it merely indicates that it is part of the terms of the bargain, just as in all contracts for sale the terms of the bargain are customarily described as conditions of sale.” 28.Russell LJ said this at p 886: “ The answer, to my mind, is a short and simple one: I cannot accept that it is correct to say that because the grant of the lease was dependent upon the fulfilment by the tenant of those obligations which constituted consideration for the grant of the lease, the contract to acquire can properly be described as a conditional contract at all. It is a contract for sale and purchase, or rather, grant and acceptance of a lease;
Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale what is provided for in the contract is not a condition of the contract at all, it is simply a provision that the one party shall carry out certain works in consideration of a promise thereafter to grant a lease, and that the other party, in consideration of those works being carried out, shall thereafter grant the lease.” (emphasis supplied) 29.Applying his Lordship’s reasoning the case at Bar, the Lease is a contract for sale and purchase of land and what is provided for in the contract is not a condition but simply a provision (promise) that the Defendant shall pay rent and develop the Land in consideration of TCIG’s promise thereafter to transfer the Land and that TCIG , in consideration of that rent being paid and the Land developed shall thereafter transfer the Freehold for $51,500. 30.In this case, the Defendant’s performance of the promissory conditions contained in the Lease was incomplete but it is accepted that in agreeing to the Defendant’s request to transfer the Title, which to TCIG’s knowledge was premature as the Lease term had not expired and the rents had not been paid, TCIG waived its right to refuse to transfer the Title. It is clear that TCIG did so in consideration of the Defendant completing the development of the Land on which a service station had been operating since 1994 or thereabouts, which was another promise which formed part of the consideration for the transfer. 31.It could not have been intended by the parties, as Mr. Phillips suggests, that the subsequent failure to pay rent of $10 would automatically bring to an end a contract for sale of land under which the Defendant had fully performed its obligation to build a service station at a cost of not less than $100,000 as part of the consideration for the transfer. That would be an absurd result. 32.In my judgment, under the terms of the agreement, TCIG is bound to transfer the Freehold Title if the Defendant tenders the purchase price and the arrears with interest thereon, “possession bringing with it liability to interest” per St. Leonards LC in Birch v Joy III H.L.C. 563, 583. The delay of 17 years in tendering the monies due under the agreement, while substantial, does not have the effect of terminating the agreement as time was not of the essence and TCIG has never served a notice to complete. 33.In the circumstances I say I am satisfied and find that the Defendant is a purchaser in possession under an agreement for sale of land and, having tendered the sums due, it is entitled to call for the transfer of the Title and that TCIG’s claim for possession fails. Holding Over 34. Given my determination that the Defendant is a purchaser in possession of property under a specifically enforceable agreement for sale, it is unnecessary for me to resolve the issue of whether the Defendant is holding over on a periodic tenancy which has not been determined by notice as provided for under the Registered Land Ordinance (”RLO”) . In the event I am
wrong about that, I turn to consider shows that TCIG merely allowed the the Defendant’s alternative defence to Company to remain in possession “without agreement or disagreement” TCIG’S claim for possession. 35.Section 51(1) of the RLO as distinct from “with consent” and that what arose when the Defendant provides as follows : “Where a person, having lawfully remained in possession was a tenancy at entered into the occupation of any land sufferance. 42.In support of that submission as lessee, continues to occupy that land with the consent of the lessor after he relies on the disquisition on tenancies termination of the lease, he shall, in the at sufferance by the authors of Hill and absence of any evidence to the contrary, Redman’s Law of Landlord and Tenant be deemed to be a tenant holding the who state at para 83 that, “ A tenancy at sufferance arises land on a periodic tenancy on the same terms as those of the lease so far as those where a person who has held a lawful title conditions are appropriate to a periodic continues the possession after the title has determined without any statutory tenancy.” 36.Mr. Misick submits that right to retain possession and without although acceptance of rent is usually either the agreement or disagreement of indicative of a periodic tenancy, such a the person entitled to the property.” 43.Mr. Phillips submits that, tenancy can arise even where the tenant has paid no rent if the Landlord fails to on a proper analysis, the Defendant take steps to recover possession of the Company became a tenant at sufferance after the lease expired. He submits land. 37.In support of this submission, further that as there cannot be a tenancy Mr. Misick relies on the decision of the at sufferance against the Crown, the Court of Appeal in Banjo v Brent LBC Defendant is therefore a mere trespasser. 44.Mr. Phillips contends that, in [2005] EWCA Civ 292. In that case, the landlord did not seek to evict Mr. the absence of any evidence to show that Banjo who remained in possession of TCIG consented to it, the Defendant’s the premises which he previously held continued possession of the Land is under a long lease nor did they demand unlawful. 45.In my judgment, the payment of rent. Mr. Banjo’s evidence was that he went to the landlord’s offices failure of TCIG to take steps to evict many times after he stopped receiving the Defendant at the end of the Lease demands for rent and was told that he is not evidence capable of supporting should wait for a demand notice to be the inference that it consented to the Defendant’s continuing occupation of the sent to him before he paid. 38.Chadwick LJ giving the Land. There is no evidence, as there was judgment for the Court of Appeal at p in Banjo’s case, that TCIG was aware that the Lease had expired and had 2524 – 5 said this: “… Mr. Banjo remained in consented to the Defendant remaining occupation of the property, paying no rent. there. It neither assented nor dissented The Borough took no steps to evict him. and the law is unequivocal that a tenant The only inference that can be drawn is for years, remaining in possession after that, having been in possession as tenant the termination of the term in those under the long lease, Mr Banjo remained circumstances, is a tenant at sufferance. 46.On these facts, I would in possession with the consent of the landlord. The effect, under the general conclude that the Defendant is not law, is that following the termination of holding under a periodic tenancy under s the fixed term he held over as tenant at 51 of the RLO but remains in occupation will. The position is stated by the editors of the premises as a trespasser. 47.For completeness, I would of the title “Landlord and Tenant” in Halsbury’s Laws of England (4th Edition, observe that a periodic tenancy can only volume 27(1) at paragraph 171) in these be terminated by a Notice to quit which expires at the end of the period. If the terms: “A tenant who, with the landlord’s Notice were bad - as seems to be conceded consent, remains in possession after his by TCIG in this case- it could not be lease has expired is tenant at will until cured by issuing a new Notice after the some other interest is created, either by proceedings to recover possession had express grant or by implication by the commenced. The Landlord must be entitled to possession as at the date of payment and acceptance of rent.” As that statement recognises, the proceedings. 48.In the instant case, however, it may well be that where, in response to his landlord’s demands for periodic the tenancy being at sufferance, the rent, a tenant who remains in possession Defendant would have no right in law after his lease has expired continues to remain in possession of the property to pay the rent demanded, the law will and TCIG would be entitled to bring imply a new periodic tenancy – see the proceedings to recover the Land without observations of Lord Justice Nicholls in any previous demand for possession. 49.I would note too for completion Javad v Mohammed Aqil [1991] 1 WLR 1007, 1012E-F. But that is not this case. that even if the Defendant held the land Mr Banjo paid no rent after the end of under a periodic tenancy, the conditions the contractual term of the long lease; under which it held the Land would not and, so far as appears from the evidence, include the right to acquire the Freehold the Borough did not demand (or take any Title on the same terms and conditions in the original Lease. Such a condition would steps to enforce) payment of rent.” 39.Banjo’s case does not assist be outwith the section which provides the Defendant is decision is authority that where a periodic tenancy does arise, only for the proposition that remaining the tenant shall be deemed to hold the in possession of land with the consent of land on “on the same terms of the lease so the landlord without paying rent creates far as those conditions are appropriate to a tenancy at will. It is not authority for a periodic tenancy.” Mr. Phillips submits, the position that a periodic tenancy is and I agree, that a tenancy confers rights to occupy property, not purchase it, and created. 40.In any event, the case is the ‘right to buy’ term in the Conditional readily distinguishable from the case Purchase Lease is not a term appropriate at Bar on its facts as Mr. Phillips QC to a periodic tenancy. [emphasis mine] 50.If, then the Defendant were submits insofar as there is no evidence from which TCIG’s consent to the not a purchaser in possession as I have Defendants’ continuing possession can be found, then it would be a trespasser and inferred. The Company, unlike Mr. Banjo, the TCIG entitled to possession. made no inquiries about the Lease and Conclusion made no attempt to tender rent to TCIG after its expiry because of an oversight on 51.The Defendant is a purchaser its part, according to the evidence. TCIG simply didn’t advert to the question at in possession under an agreement for all, having insufficient resources to police sale which has not been terminated and the several leases in existence at the time, entitled to have the Land transferred to it on the payment of the sum of US according to Mr. Leroy Charles. 41.He submits that the evidence $51,500 and interest thereon.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
INVEST Turks and Caicos Job Title: Chief Executive Officer Reporting to: Board of Directors Location: Invest Turks and Caicos Offices - Providenciales
Job Summary: The Chief Executive Officer is the chief executive of Invest Turks and Caicos and is responsible for the success of the organization. Together with the Board, the incumbent is expected to lead the implementation of the TCI Government’s economic development vision, attract significant investments to the various inhabited islands and support sustainable development throughout the entire Turks and Caicos Islands. These investments will be expected to build a successful, sustainable economy and provide improved opportunities for employment and growth. As well, the Chief Executive Officer will be actively engaged through the Agency in supporting trade and small business development. The Board has delegated responsibility for day to day management operations to the Chief Executive Officer and s/he has the authority to carry out those responsibilities, in accordance with the direction and policies established by the Board. The incumbent will ensure that the organization has motivated staff who produce positive results using international best practices. The position involves overseeing a staff of up to twelve persons who are predominately highly trained investment professionals. The incumbent is expected to be a systems thinker who is customer focused and goal driven. The Chief Executive is expected to be a strong leader who can develop a cohesive team within the organization and across TCI to drive new investment to the country.
Key Objectives: 1. To manage the day to day operations of Invest TCI through planning, organizing, coordinating, directing and controlling the functions of the Agency. This includes implementing a rolling five year Strategic Plan, complete with annual marketing plans and budgets and monitor financial and operational performance and ensuring that the organization has a full complement of operating policies and procedures for internal operations and for dealing with prospective investors and daily operations. 2. To develop an outstanding lead generation and the market intelligence capacity and after care services to ensure that they meet international best practices. 3. To ensure the effective, efficient and economic use of human, financial and physical resources 4. To engage constructively with various government Ministries, other relevant organizations and various agencies and the private sector, both locally and internationally to support quality investment projects and to market the country. 5. To generate significant foreign direct investment to the country and to support and encourage domestic investors to participate in the economy. 6. To lead investment promotion and trade missions to various locations and conduct awareness marketing to raise the profile of TCI as an investment destination. 7. To develop and manage a program of legislation review and reform for various developmental programmes that encourage Inward Investment and seek opportunities for expansion and extension of Investment potential though various agreements. PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS Education and qualifications: A master’s degree in finance, business, economics or related field, or its equivalent, from a recognized institution of higher learning.
Experience and Knowledge:
Ten or more years of senior management experience at a public or private enterprise/company/agency engaged in investment development and/or marketing. Clear evidence of leadership skills, successful lead generation results and marketing along with ability to mentor and grow staff.
Skills:
1. Strong track record of competency in current and previous employment. 2. A sound knowledge of investment, promotion, strategic planning, project management and execution, especially as related to projects in the TCI and Caribbean region. 3. Strong track record of staff management and successful program/project implementation. 4. Consistently displays integrity and model behavior 5. Develops people and builds teams. 6. Excellent Leadership Qualities 7. Strong Writing and presentational skills. 8. Excellent Communication and interpersonal skills- innovative, creative and forward thinking 9. Good computer skills. 10. Adept in use of MS Office XP or later, particularly Excel and Word, and ideally Access or similar database to basic level, internet and email.
Personal Qualities:
1. Open and engaging demeanor with enthusiasm to achieve further growth and progress. 2. Able to generate and share ideas. 3. Hands-on approach. 4. Willing to take personal responsibility 5. Able to win trust and personal credibility 6. Persistence and personal resilience. 7. Willingness to personally deliver quality to business clients. 8. Willingness to understand different cultures, lifestyles and associated points of view. 9. Willingness to understand the values associated with small communities.
Other Requirements:
1. Fluent English 2. Willingness and ability to travel by air, land and sea. 3. Qualified Belongers, either living in the TCI or abroad, are encouraged to apply. 4. Willingness to work outside normal office hours as needed from time to time
Salary and Allowances:
Salary is in the range of $120,000 to $150,000, including benefits and is negotiable based on qualifications and experience. Application Procedure Interested persons should submit a resume, along with their contact information, cover letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. Applications should be addressed to the Investment Promotion Expert, Turks and Caicos Islands by July 16th, 2015 and can be delivered in person to the Investment Unit, Down Town, Butterfield Square (next to Lapels) prior to the deadline date or emailed to investturksandcaicos@gmail.com. The subject line in the email should read “Chief Executive Officer”. Envelopes should have the subject Chief Executive Officer clearly marked on the front.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only persons selected for an interview will be contacted.
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Congratulations Alvejes!
On your promotion to Manager of Plant Control. “To be centers of excellence, and to remain viable, innovative, and relevant, organizations need to attract, retain, and develop great talent. Alvejes epitomizes hard work, high performance, commitment to self-development, and dedication. We look forward to his continuous growth within the Company.”
-FortisTCI President &President CEO, Eddinton - Eddinton Powell, and CEO Powell www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 1030 Leeward HWY, Providenciales, TCI
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
British West Indies Collegiate’s Valedictory Service The British West Indies Collegiate staged its Valedictory Service on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the Paradise Baptist Church in Five Cays, Providenciales. During the event, students presented their parents as well as their favourite teachers, mentors and benefactors with roses and other gifts.
Pastor for the Church, Rev. Goldstone Williams delivered the message at the services. The valedictory service is the prelude to the institution ‘s graduation slated for Saturday, June 20, 2015. The SUN lens captured the following photo highlights.
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LOCAL NEWS
Woodmael Plaismond and Windrier Cox are Mr. and Miss ECPS 2015 Woodmael Plaismond and Windrier Cox captured the Mr. and Miss Enid Capron Primary School Pageant held at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Complex on Saturday, June 12, 2015. Windrier also captured
the most title of Most Popular Contestant, achieved through Facebook voting. Scores of persons, including Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Library Service Hon. Akierra
Missick, Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Cheryl-Ann Jones, attended the event. The Following are photo highlights of the event.
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Pastor Joseph Higgs elevated to Apostle Recently Pastor Joseph Higgs of Faith and Truth Kingdom Ministries was elevated to the office of Apostle, administered by Apostle Trevor Wilson of the Bahamas. Faith and Truth Kingdom Ministries is an affiliate of Global United Fellowship, which is headed by Pastor Neil C. Ellis. Several local United
Global Fellowship heads and their members turned out to support Apostle Higgs’ elevation, including the TCI Provincial Leader Bishop Coleta Williams, Apostle Desrene Robinson, Pastor Alvin Harvey and Pastor Branford Dean. The following are photo highlights of the event.
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
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LOCAL NEWS
A REWARDING CAREER WITH COMO HOTELS & RESORTS STARTS TODAY!! PARROT CAY BY COMO HAVE THE FOLLOWING VACANCIES
Executive Assistant Manager
and staff. •To cultivate strong work relationships and communication with hotel staff, while maintaining an “Open Door” policy to gain comfortable chains of communication with staff. •Inspect rooms for VIP guest. •Responds to all guest and employee emergencies.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
To support the General Manager in all aspects of the resort operations and to maximize the satisfaction for each and every guest. In the absence of the General Manager, the Executive Assistant Manager will be in charge of the operation and therefore must meet all the requirements that are set out by COMO Hotels and Resorts.
RESPONSIBILITIES: •Confers with General Manager, Island Director and department heads to review activity, operating and sales report. Recommends needed change in programs or operations. •Monitors and maintain financial accounting records and prepare reports as required. •Monitor maintenance progress in relation to furniture, fixtures and equipment conditions. Recommends improvements and prepare status report. •To contribute to the planning, development and implementation of the property policies and goals, maximizing standard of guest service, occupancy rates and revenue goals. •Prepares, allocates and manages hotel operating budget. Identifies areas in which upgrades are needed or reduction can be made. •Acts as hotel public relations and promotes the property within the hotel industry, local community and trade associations. •To communicate with the heads of department to ensure adequate coordination and operations implementation. •To regularly update the General Manager on all operations achievements and key issues •To meet, greet and bid farewell to all guests of the resort. •Perform daily and weekly property inspections to ensure that property grounds, physical plants and work areas are maintained to standard and all resort safety equipment are in good working condition. •Ensures hotel staff complies with all safety and health requirements of the resort. •To participate in preparation of the resort strategic plan, marketing plan and goals program. •To attend all other meetings as required by the administration team and chair meetings as and when instructed by General Manager. •Liaisons with guest staff and vendors to resolve conflicts courteously and professionally. •Ensures resort supplies are ordered and stocked in advance of need. •Ensure proper use and care of all property equipment and supplies. •Initiate safety training. •Demonstrate visible presence while on duty and be readily available and easily approachable by guests and staff. •To maintain a positive, professional and natural manner with all guests
•Meeting management •Decision making •Scheduling •Excellent organizational and time management skills – ability to prioritize daily tasks. •Professional verbal & written English. •Analyses and interpret hospitality industry journal. •The ability to effectively present information to management, public groups and potential clients. •Define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw conclusion. •An in depth knowledge of administrative duties, clerical procedures and supervising office systems. •Practical experience with Power point, MS Word, Excel and unified messaging system. •Attention to detail. •Ability to perform effective judgment in recognizing scope of authority. •Reliability in protecting confidential information. •Remote island experience. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
•Must be able to sit, stand, walk, talk and listen for a lengthy period of time. •Must possess good vision.
Experience Essential
•College degree in related field. •At least 3 to 4 years years experience or combination of education and experience. •Second language French or Spanish will be a plus.
Other Managerial Positions: •Chief Engineer •Power House Technical Consultant •F&B Director •Staff Welfare Manager •Director of Owners Assets •Director of Engineering •Asst. Recreation Manager
OTHER POSITIONS Spa Therapists Turndown Housekeeping Attendant Resort Butler Reverse Osmosis Plant Operator Accountant Health & Safety Manager (Island Nurse)
Evening Spa Attendant F&B Server Guest Services Supervisor Duty Manager Commis Chef Private Estates Housekeeping Supervisor
K9 Dog Handler Duty Manager Head Baker Chef de partie Seamstress
Salary for this position will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates. Must be willing to relocate. Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address: Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com
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LOCAL NEWS WORLD NEWS
Come and join our winning team!!! Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions. Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends. The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.
The Food and Beverage Department requires: ü Assistant Food and Beverage Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in managing multiple Restaurant outlets with seating of over 200 o Five (5) years relevant experience in Fine Dining, Al La Carte and Buffet The Travel and Loyalty Department requires: ü
The Administrative Department requires: ü Nurse Requirements include but are not limited to: o Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records including changes in patients' conditions. o Prepare patients for, and assist with, examinations and treatments. o Perform administrative tasks required in the nursing center o Perform physical examinations, make tentative diagnoses, and treat patients in-route to hospitals The rate for the position listed above is $15.00 an hour.
Travel and Loyalty Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in meeting high volume sales targets o Five (5) years relevant experience
The Spa Department Requires ü Spa Attendant ü Spa Therapist/Technicians/ Cosmetologist ü Tennis Instructor/Pro Requirements include but are not limited to: o Certification in one or more of the following areas: Massage, Esthetics, Body treatments, Hair services, Tattoos and Nail services. (Spa Team Member) o Certification as a tennis professional (Tennis Pro) o Must be sales driven with proven customer service skills, upgrading of services/ retail.
The salary ranges for the positions listed above are $30,000.00 to $50,000.00 The Engineering Department requires: ü Shift Leader Requirements include but are not limited to: o Knowledgeable of in related fields both in theory and practical
Remuneration: Bi-weekly base pay plus commission
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 to $8.00 an hour. ü
The Housekeeping Department requires: ü Room Attendants/ Domestic Worker ü Housemen ü Public Area Attendant/Cleaner Requirements include but are not limited to: o One years’ experience in a hotel environment an asset. o Physically fit
Labour Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 an hour.
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour.
The Food and Beverage Department requires: ü Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Three years supervising a restaurant with seating over 100 persons an asset. o Excellent customer service skills o Knowledge of wines
ü
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $6.75 an hour. ü
The rate for the position listed above is $7.00 to $11.00 an hour. ü ü
ü
Hostess Server Requirements include but are not limited to: o One year’s experience in a restaurant with seating for over 100 persons an asset. o No food allergies o Ability to work in the sun o Physically fit
Housekeeping Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Supervises and may participate in housekeeping services including cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, sanitizing the floors and other surfaces as well as the refinishing, waxing and polishing of floors, tile work and other various floor and wall surfaces in stairways, hallways, restrooms, offices, laboratories, recreation and locker rooms.
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 to $8.50 an hour. The Laundry Department requires: ü Laundry Attendant Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically fit o Previous experience in commercial Laundry an assist
Dining Room Cleaner Requirements include but are not limited to: o No food allergies o Ability to work in the sun o Physically fit
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 an hour. The Stewarding Department Requires: ü Supervisor ü Steward Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in supervising a cleaning team (supervisor) o No Food or chemical allergies o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour. The Bar Department requires: ü Bartenders ü Bar Porters ü Beach/ Pool Server ü Cocktail Server/ Waitress Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to mix a variety of drinks alcoholic and nonalcoholic. o Outgoing personality o Ability to work in the sun o Physically fit
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $8.00 an hour. The Entertainment Department requires: ü Audio Video “AV” Technician Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to set up and breakdown sound system for an event o Conduct inventory and ensure equipment is maintained in a good working order.
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour. Kitchen Department requires: ü Cook (Grade 1,2 and 3) Requirements include but are not limited to: o Must have worked in a Resort kitchen or medium to large sized restaurant o Must have over three years’ experience o Professional qualification an asset
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 to $8.00 an hour The Rooms Division Department Requires: ü Butler Requirements include but are not limited to: o Member of the Association of English Butlers o Ability to go above and beyond for guest
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $8.00 an hour.
Linen Room Controller/ Attendant Requirements include: o Knowledge of inventory, stock and par levels o Computer literate o Physically fit
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25.
Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road
and
and should reach not later than June 30th 2015
The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
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LOCAL NEWS PO Box 329, Graceway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies Tel 649 441 5638 Email: director@provoprimary.com Website www.provoprimary.com EARLY YEARS, KEY STAGE ONE AND TWO TEACHERS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2015 Key Stage One and Two teaching applicants must have an excellent working knowledge of the British National Curriculum Guidelines, holding a teaching degree or PGCE and have QTS status with at least 2 years’ experience teaching The British National Curriculum Early Years teachers must hold an NNEB, NVQ, Early Childhood Certificate, or equivalent and must have experience working with The Foundation Stage British National Curriculum Teaching assistant applicants must have experience working in an Early Years environment and/or hold an Early Childhood Certificate. Please send or email letter of application, resume, and contact details together with the names and phone numbers of two referees and a police check to the Director at the above address. The closing date for applications is June 23, 2015
BUTTERFIELD GOLD GROUP OF COMPANIES POSITIONS AVAILABLE Butterfield Gold One (1) Labourer Applicant must be physical, able-bodied individuals capable of lifting heavy loads and assist with any mason work. Wages: starting from $6.00 per hour One (1) Domestic worker Cleaning the town centre mall and offices Wages: starting from $5.50 per hour Application forms available from Butterfield Gold Human Resource Department. Only applicants selected for interview will be notified. Submit applications to by July 1, 2015 to: Butterfield Gold Ltd., Human Resource Department Town Center Mall Providenciales Tel: 649-946-4211 The Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association is seeking to place an employment ad in the TCI Sun news paper for a Groundsman/ Maintenance WorkerPOSITION . I would be most grateful for your assistance. Below, you will find details for APPLICATION in this regard. I look forward to your response. Job Description Responsible to the Executive Committee of the TCIFA and on a day-today basis, to the General Secretary and Technical Director of TCIFA, EMPLOYEE will be engaged primarily in the following duties: 1. Maintaining the field, changing facilities, and TCIFA land at the National Academy, Providenciales. 2.WeeklyTASKS will include cutting of the grass, marking of the pitch, weeding of the pitch and surrounding areas, irrigation, and maintaining tractor and irrigation systems. 3.On game days, responsibilities include turning flood lights on and off and opening and closing changing rooms. 4.Other responsibilities to be carried out as set out in a Maintenance Schedule and other duties at the request of the General Secretary and Technical Director. WORKING Hours RegualrWORKING hours will be 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 8:00am to 12:00pm and 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturdays with 1 hour lunch break daily. EMPLOYEE will be expected toWORK outside normal hours ofBUSINESS as necessary to fulfil his/her duties. Contact TCIFA General Secretary Phone: (649) 941-5532 Email: cewingtcifa@gmail.com
NEEDLES & PINS UPHOLSTERY SERVICES
REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING: EXPERIENCED UPHOLSTERERS (2) MACHINE MECHANIC (1) TAILORS (2) DOMESTIC (1)
COUGAR HOLDINGS LTD REQUIRES LABOURER FOR AUGUST 2015 START, MUST SPEAK, READ AND UNDERSTAND ENGLISH.
Debbie’s LINEN & THINGS
SEEKS
MUST BE AVAILABLE TO WORK WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS
MUST HAVE OWN TRANSPORT.
Please apply with resume via Email: needlesandpins@express.tc
LOUISE GIBBS
$6.00 PER HOUR, 6 DAYS PER
WEEKPLEASE FAX APPLICATION LETTER TO
946-5701
TRIAL
ENTERPRISES
1 DOMESTIC WORKER Salary $6.25 per week Contact 242-1011
Cairsea Services Limited Require one (1) Laborer
SEEKS Sales Clerk Interested persons should contact 243-4939
Labourer $6.500 per hour Contact: infotrail. tc 9467889
Salary: $5.00 per hour Must be reliable, hardworking & honest Hours: 8-5 and some weekends & holidays Apply in person
KADEEN AGENCY
LABOURER The West Bay Club is looking for a Labourer Contact: 946 8550
On behalf of its clients is looking for (1)Housekeeper (1) Handyman Duties include general household cleaning; shopping, cleaning services in villas, house sitting maintenance in all areas etc. Should have a driver’s license. Salary $6.25 per hour Contact 231-6565
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JOB TITLE: ICT Engineer DEPARTMENT: Technical REPORTS TO (TITLE): Chief Technical Officer Primary objective of the job: The IT/IP Engineer will be responsible for the real-time management of all IT/IP based local and wide area networks which support the technical operations and services of Digicel TCI. Main Duties and responsibilities: •Design IT/IP Network Architecture •Responsible for the design, installation and support of all IP based systems to support the technical operations of the business. •Design IP Numbering an addressing schemes, Development, Configuration and Implementation of IP based systems •Perform dimensioning and capacity planning of IP network •Implement and Support Cisco Call Manager PBX system. •Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all IP based systems, which include Cisco network devices, SUN Solaris servers. •Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all IP based services, IP traffic management utilising VLANs and routing protocols (RIP, OSPF), also DNS, Microsoft ISA 2004 Web PROXY, and NTP applications. •Perform all required software and hardware upgrades for above mentioned systems and services •Provide on-call support for after hour outages & planned works, including creation and submission of required forms •Develop and schedule preventative and corrective maintenance policies and procedures, such as regular backups, hardware/software upgrades, and spares inventory, to ensure high availability of all IP based systems. •Ensure that Digicel TCI continue to operate on secure local and wide area networks with the implementation of VPN technologies and firewall policy management •Provide proactive support of WAN data and voice links (VSAT, leased lines) to provide 100% availability of all IP services, including VoIP, PRI, ITP (SS7 over IP) and internet, and to ensure continued connectivity to other Digicel locations and external parties •Ensure adherence with IP Security Established standards and policies as they relate to new and existing LAN and WAN network infrastructure, IP traffic, and network configuration procedures •Ensure that network metrics are closely monitored and captured so as to provide proactive network management, as well as regular feedback on network performance in the form of reports to management •Provide IT/IP Support to other departments and external parties as required •Provide support for VAS sytems. Academic qualifications and experience required for job: •3-5 years’ experience in IT/IP based network design, implementation and administration •CCNA, CCNA Voice and Microsoft MCSE certification and Solid hands on experience with Cisco devices •In-depth knowledge of switching, routing, LAN and WAN technologies •Hands on experience with UNIX and/or Linux systems to support applications Splat and Solaris. •Design, implementation and operational knowledge of network security (VPN, firewall management, intrusion detection) •Minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Computer Sciences or equivalent field Functional Skills: Ability to work unsupervised and handle multiple priority assignments simultaneously Good team player with excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills Possess first rate organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage responsibilities in a high pressure environment Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional teams Ability to meet deadlines while paying attention to detail High degree of initiative and creativity
SALARY: Based on Qualifications and Experience DEADLINE: Interested applicants should forward their Resume and Cover letter to hrtci@digicelgroup.com on or before June 29th. 2015 Suitably qualified and experienced Belongers are encouraged to apply.
JUNE 19TH, 2015 – JUNE 26TH, 2015
Londolozi Ltd. is inviting applications for the following position:
Restaurant Manager Reporting to the Food & Beverage, 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 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 June 19th, 2015 Belongers need only apply. PO Box 329, Graceway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies Tel 649 441 5638 Email: director@provoprimary.com Website www.provoprimary.com
CARETAKER/JANITOR Caretaker/Janitor required to work in our school between 7.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. You will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the school facilities to a high standard. Duties would include cleaning, general maintenance, repairs and gardening .
PART-TIME CLEANER We require a Cleaner to work in our school. Hours of work would be: Monday to Friday 3 pm – 6 pm; Saturday 8 am – 5 pm. Applicants must be physically fit, hardworking, dependable and trustworthy and be able to provide excellent references (including a police check). Good working knowledge of English is essential.The closing date for application is June 23rd, 2015
Position available: MERCHANDISER Candidate must have at least 10-12 years experience in Retail Grocery Store Merchandising. Must have through knowledge of the following: ➢Advanced knowledge and skills in Grocery Merchandising and Retail Sales. ➢Place orders with International suppliers. ➢Recommend/Introduce new grocery products ➢Responsible for visual presentation in a defined scope. ➢Creates timely merchandise displays throughout store. ➢Creates an enjoyable, easy shopping experience for the customer to maximize revenue and customer satisfaction. ➢Able to work with others and be a team player. ➢Extensive knowledge of Grocery Industry. ➢Must be multilingual. Work schedule will include weekends, holidays, as required to meet the demands of the position. Salary commensurate with experience. Only Belonger need to apply. Interested persons should send applications via email to hr@alliedcaribbean.com. Deadline for submission of resumes is June 26, 2015.
CARIBBEAN WORLD
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NEWS NEWS
Thousands of Haitians facing deportation in Dominican Republic
Hundreds of thousands of mostly Haitian undocumented immigrants in the Dominican Republic who didn’t register with the government could be at risk of being rounded up and deported. The Dominican government gave undocumented immigrants—until 7 p.m. on Wednesday to register with the government as a way to regularize their immigration status and avoid being deported. But many of them have not gone through the process yet. Under the program, the government said it would consider granting legal residency to non-citizens who could establish their identity and prove they arrived before October 2011. Officials estimated up to 500,000 people were in this category, and relatively few have been able to provide sufficient documentation. Interior Minister Ramon Fadul said about 250,000 people have at least started the application process but only 10,000 had met all the requirements for legal residency. So far, only about 300 have actually received permits. Human rights advocates have called on the Dominican government to give undocumented immigrants more time to register. They said many immigrants stood in long lines outside government offices for days but kept getting turned away after being told they lacked the necessary documents to register. Others also had a hard time convincing their employers to give them time off of work to go register. EFE reported on Wednesday that an estimated 275,000 immigrants have registered with the government, less than half of the total population of immigrants living in the Dominican
Haitian Jaquenol Martinez shows a card that proves that he has worked in the Dominican sugar cane fields since 1963, while trying to apply for a temporary resident permit, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Monday, June 15, 2015. Hundreds of Haitians are waiting in long lines throughout the Dominican Republic trying to secure legal residency as they face the threat of deportation. Republic without legal status. A 2012 survey found that there were over half a million undocumented immigrants in the country, and almost nine out of ten are from the neighboring country of Haiti. Many of them work in the sugar cane fields or as domestic workers. Interior Minister Ramón Fadul said Wednesday that even though the deadline to register still stood at 7 p.m., the Dominican government would work to register all immigrants who were still in line at government offices by Wednesday night. “We are going to work with those who remain in line because we don’t want to mistreat anyone,” he said, according to EFE. “We want everyone to be regularized.” In the past, Fadul had acknowledged the difficulties many immigrants faced trying to register. On Tuesday he tried to reassure the public that there wouldn’t be any immediate mass deportations.
Defiant Warner to challenge extradition from Trinidad to US
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — A defiant Jack Warner is predicting a lengthy legal battle to extradite him from Trinidad and Tobago to the U.S. to charges in the FIFA corruption case. Warner, a former FIFA vice and member of Parliament in his homeland, said Wednesday that he intends to resist extradition at a hearing scheduled for July 9. He faces charges that include racketeering and money-laundering. Authorities earlier confiscated his passport, fearing he might flee. “After presenting my case in court, let the judge decide,” he told supporters from his political party at a gathering late Wednesday. “If he says I should go I will go. If he says I should stay, I will stay. But it is going to be a long hot summer.” He is accused of taking payments totaling $10 million sent by a high-ranking FIFA official to give South Africa the right to host the 2010 World Cup over Morocco. Warner left FIFA in 2011 and has denied wrongdoing. “I left FIFA four years ago,” he told supporters. “I am in no way concerned about the FIFA scandal. I am in no way concerned about the U.S.
Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner speaks at a political rally in Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago. application for my extradition. That doesn’t bother me.” Warner also shot back at British comedian John Oliver, who had bought time on Trinidadian television urging him to follow through on his vow to reveal secrets about FIFA. “I don’t need any advice from any comedian fool who doesn’t know anything about this country ... to tell me what files to release or not to release,” Warner said in a video released by his party. “That is none of his business. I take no instructions from him.” At one point in the nearly three-minute video it is hard to hear Warner because of somber background music that reaches a crescendo toward the end.
But that’s not what the head of the country’s immigration agency indicated will happen. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Army Gen. Ruben Paulino said his agency will begin patrolling neighborhoods with large numbers of migrants on Thursday. They plan to use 12 buses, seven light trucks and two ambulances to conduct the immigration patrols. “If they aren’t registered, they will be repatriated,” Paulino said, according to the AP. Though the two countries share a border, Haiti is much poorer and was devastated by the recent earthquake. Haitian workers have traditionally gone to the Dominican Republic for work, and this increased after the earthquake. The Dominican government as well as residents have said the influx of immigration from Haiti has strained resources. In comments made to EFE, the European Union ambassador in Haiti,
Alberto Navarro, said he is “confident” that the Dominican Republic will not conduct “massive deportations.” Navarro said the Dominican Republic was courageous in “imposing order where there was disorder,” in reference to its immigration issues. But for some human rights advocates, the actions are the latest in a history of mistreatment of Haitians in the Dominican Republic, which has deep roots spanning generations and different governments. In 1937, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo ordered the massacre of thousands of Haitians. Tensions rose in 2013 when a court declared that the children of undocumented Haitian immigrants— even those born in the Dominican Republic—would no longer be entitled to citizenship, leaving hundreds of thousands of people stateless. After an international outcry, the law was changed to giving citizenship to those whose births were in the nation’s civil registry; those who were not would have a chance at nationalization. Part of the problem has been that employers in the Dominican Republic are not providing workers with documentation to prove they have been in the country long enough to qualify. Another hurdle has been the Haitian government, which despite pledges to improve the process has been slow to provide birth certificates and other forms of identification to its citizens and has charged more than many people can afford to pay. On Twitter, the #WeAreAllDominicans hashtag drew reactions from those criticizing the Dominican Republic’s actions.
Students traumatised as violence grips West Kingston Students of all ages were hit hard Tuesday as the death toll continued to rise in the ongoing warfare battering west Kingston. An educator in the area has indicated that students have been traumatised by gunshots which have rained in the area during the two-week war sparked by the burgling of an establishment operated by a member of a wellknown family in the community. A man was killed and a woman injured behind the Kingston Public Hospital while the St Anne’s Infant, Primary and High School took on the role of a refugee camp. Infants, accompanied by mostly women, were allowed out of the North Street-based institution under the watchful eyes of the police and were forced to detour from one of three crime scenes. The nearby primary and high schools that were in session were locked tight with the students behind the closed doors and police
personnel keeping a close watch. “It is extremely hard,” said Stella Forrester, principal of St Anne’s Primary School. “As adults, and as principal, we have to resolve as far as is possible to ensure that the children are safe.” Forrester told The Gleaner that the ongoing violence has caused disruption and distraction to the institution’s entire programme of activities. “For example, today (yesterday) we had to have what I call a lockdown at lunch because it was not safe for children to be in the schoolyard.” She lamented that while the situation is difficult, expectations are very high. “It is not just an immediate situation for just today, as we have children who are traumatised,” she said. “Once children are traumatised, it is extremely difficult for children to be excellent learners in such an environment.”
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Vatican charges former ambassador to Dominican Republic
The Holy See recalled Wesolowski in 2013 after rumors surfaced in Santo Domingo that he allegedly paid shoeshine boys to masturbate. Wesolowski has since been defrocked and placed under modified house arrest inside Vatican City pending a decision by the Vatican criminal court on whether to indict him. That decision came June 6, when the Vatican prosecutor asked the head of the Vatican City State tribunal to indict him — a decision that was announced Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, the Vatican’s Monday. The case has been former ambassador to the Dominican highly sensitive, given that the Republic has been charged with sexually Polish-born Wesolowski was an abusing young boys in the Caribbean ambassador of the Holy See — a country and having child pornography direct representative of the pope on his computer and will stand trial next and not just one of the world’s month in a Vatican court. 440,000 priests — and had been VATICAN CITY — The ordained both a priest and a Vatican’s former ambassador bishop by St. John Paul II. Last year, a Holy See to the Dominican Republic has been indicted on charges he tribunal found him guilty under sexually abused young boys in the canon law of abusing young boys Caribbean country and had child and defrocked him, the harshest pornography on his computer, and sentence under church law that will stand trial next month in a can be meted out. Now, the case goes to the Vatican’s criminal Vatican court. The Holy See said Monday courts, which have jurisdiction that Jozef Wesolowski will have over Wesolowski because he is a his first hearing July 11, the first papal diplomat and citizen of the time such a high-ranking Vatican Vatican City State. In 2013, Vatican City official will stand trial for sex updated its laws to specifically abuse.
criminalize sexual abuse of minors and possession of child pornography. The Vatican said Wesolowski would be prosecuted under that new law for the porn charge, since he is accused of having porn while he was in Rome from August 2013, when he was recalled, until his arrest Sept. 22. The charge carries a maximum jail term of two years, plus a fine. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Vatican’s old law would be used for the actual abuse charges since the crime allegedly took place before the new law was passed. Lombardi said Wesolowski is accused of corrupting young people sexually, of receiving child porn, causing psychological damage and engaging in conduct that “offends the principles of religion or morals.” The maximum jail term for those is up to 30 months plus a fine, though Lombardi noted that there could be extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Lombardi noted that the trial is likely to involve cooperation between the Vatican and the Dominican Republic, which investigated the charges. Already the Dominican prosecutor has visited the Vatican to discuss the case.
Guyanese man jailed in Barbados for seven years over cocaine A Guyanese man was sentenced to seven years in prison by BArbados Chief Magistrate Pamela Beckles. The sentence was imposed after Ryon Marlon George pleaded guilty to seven drug charges in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court, involving 19. 6 kilograms of cocaine. The contraband, worth almost $1 million, was found on the MV Fairland cargo ship. George lives at Lot 3 Manchester Village, Berbice. The father of five admitted importing, intent to supply, possession and trafficking cocaine on January 22 this year at the Arawak cement plant. Similarly, he confessed to committing three of the four offences again two days later, at the Bridgetown Port. Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett outlined how the ship arrived in the Bridgetown Port on January 15, before making its way to the Arawak cement plant to collect a consignment of cement. The ship, on which George worked as an oiler, was Guyana-bound. Acting on a tip-off, police carried out an operation at the Arawak cement plant on January 22. The ship had already berthed and was being loaded. After surveying the pier and the vessel, police boarded, searched and found a haversack with seven packages of cocaine hidden inside a garbage bin. Police informed Customs officials of their findings and they in turn ordered the vessel’s captain to return to the Bridgetown Port, where it was again searched; this time jointly by police and Customs. Information led to George’s arrest and he was taken to Oistins Police Station.
Digicel wins Avaya best project of the year award
Digicel Business upgraded the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s entire communications network and it now boasts one of the most advanced, scalable, durable and highly available systems in the Caribbean Digicel, the region’s leading Business Solutions provider, recently won the highly coveted, Avaya Caribbean-wide Project of the Year award thanks to its ICT and Unified Communication platform deployed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Barbados. Digicel Business’ winning project involved upgrading the entire network at the hospital utilising Avaya’s solution which ensured a faultless migration from the hospital’s legacy network to the state-of-theart Avaya platform. The product has greatly improved communications at the hospital, provided a high level of redundancy and reducing the hospital’s costs. In addition, the new system provides doctors with the ability to access the hospital’s PACS (Patient Archiving and Communication System) for patient information so that they can make critical decisions in a more timely manner. Digicel Barbados Business Solutions Director, Martin Keogh, said; “We are thrilled to have been acknowledged with the award for Best
Project of the Year for our ICT solution deployed in QEH in Barbados. QEH now has one of the most advanced, scalable, durable and highly available systems in the Caribbean – fitting for an institution of its calibre. The team worked really hard to deliver a state of the art telephony product that delivered greater efficiencies and reduced costs. This project is a benchmark in terms of the significant benefits to be made from deploying tailored solutions from Digicel Business. Furthermore, it was indeed a pleasure to work with the QEH team and we look forward to working with them on future projects.” Dr. Dexter James, CEO of the QEH, said; “We want to thank Digicel Business and Avaya for providing us with a high quality product that will ultimately meet all of our needs. The switch from our old system to the new Digicel Business solution was seamless with zero downtime. We expect to see a continuous and marked improvement in our communications across the hospital among medical and administrative staff as a result. The solution delivers reliability and peace
of mind, ensuring that we can continue of engagement.” Digicel Group Limited is to focus on providing the best medical a leading global communications care for our patients.” “Our ICT plan is more robust provider with operations in 33 markets and issues associated with redundancy, in the Caribbean, Central America and back-up and storage are being Asia Pacific. After 14 years of operation, addressed and resolved as the hospital total investment to date stands at over moves toward Cloud services. General US$5 billion worldwide. The company speed of connectivity to the website is renowned for delivering best value, and email access is unsurpassed – with best service and best network. images being transmitted instantly. I A division of Digicel Group, am also looking forward to expanding Digicel Business is the region’s leading our new technology to the polyclinics full service business solutions partner for image access, studies and lab that delivers value and innovation reports and all on a real time basis,” while enabling people to work better concluded James. together and to connect with their Santiago Aguirre, Channel customers, suppliers and communities. Director Avaya Latin America and the Digicel Business partners with Caribbean, said; “Congratulations are businesses to maximise the potential due to all of our 2014 Avaya Connect of technology to solve intricate Partners of the Year. We are excited business and technical challenges. our channel partners not only see the Digicel Business delivers the best value of Avaya’s technology but are and most advanced business solution highly effective at communicating systems to SMEs, corporate and public that value to their end customers. We sector customers whilst helping them celebrate our Partners of the Year to manage cost and improve their for being true ambassadors of our efficiency in delivering their products technology and harnessing the power and services to their customers.
Digicel Business Solutions Director (Eastern Caribbean), Martin Keogh, explains to Acting QEH CEO, Louise Bobb, and QEH IT Manager, Cameron Connolly, how the Avaya-powered Unified Communication platform will benefit the medical and administrative staff while Digicel Barbados Strategic Business Development Director, Oliver Haynes, looks on
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FIFAs Blazer had nearly $1million in Bahamas bank
over title of his FIFA pension if needed to satisfy payments owed the U.S. government. He already has agreed to penalties and a fine totaling nearly $2.5 million and to pay more in the future. In exchange for Blazer’s cooperation and guilty pleas to 10 counts, the government said it will not recommend a specific sentence for his crimes and also accepted that a reduction of up to three levels would be warranted under sentencing guidelines if he “clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility.” An American who was soccer’s In this Jan. 28, 2008, CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer, left, and President Jack Warner former No. 2 official in North and chat during a news conference in Miami. Former FIFA executive committee member Blazer agreed to Central America and the Caribbean, act undercover for U.S. prosecutors and has been cooperating since at least 2011 in the government’s Blazer pleaded guilty in November investigation of soccer corruption. 2013 to one count each of racketeering Former FIFA executive and agreed to pay a second amount to be conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and committee member Chuck Blazer determined by the time of sentencing. who agreed to act undercover for U.S. Blazer’s 19-page cooperation willful failure to file a Report of prosecutors and has been cooperating agreement from Nov. 25, 2013, was Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, since at least 2011 in the government’s unsealed Monday after a federal judge and to six counts of tax evasion. investigation of soccer corruption, agreed to a request by five media Charges involved facilitation of bribes said he had an unreported account at organizations and rejected an objection in connection with the selection of the 1998 and 2010 World Cup hosts, and FirstCaribbean International Bank in by federal prosecutors. Blazer agreed “to participate bribes and kickbacks in conjunction The Bahamas with $975,751. Blazer agreed to cooperate in undercover activities pursuant with the sale of broadcast and other with the IRS to determine and pay to the specific instructions of law rights to the CONCACAF Gold Cup tax on his liability from 2005-13 and enforcement agents or this office” and from 1996-2003. His cooperation was first agreed to pay a FBAR civil penalty for “not to reveal his cooperation or any information derived therefrom to any reported by the New York Daily News $487,875. Blazer, 70, “suffers from third party without prior consent,” last Nov. 1. His pleas remained secret a number of serious physical according to the agreement between until they were unsealed last month ailments that have recently required Blazer and the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the same day 14 soccer officials and hospitalization,” according to Dearie. in Brooklyn, New York. Blazer also marketing executives were indicted on At the November 2013 hearing, Blazer agreed not to contest any ban imposed corruption charges, including seven said he had received chemotherapy and on him by FIFA or any other soccer men arrested in Zurich ahead of the FIFA Congress, pending extradition to radiation for rectal cancer, and he also governing body. suffered from diabetes and coronary Blazer agreed he had the U.S. Just after he was elected to unreported income over $11 million artery disease. for 2005-10 and said he would sign a fifth term as FIFA president later Blazer forfeited $1,958,092
Outrage over Haitian shot by immigration officer The shooting of a Haitian man by an immigration officer has led to calls from local and international human rights groups for a full and transparent investigation. The man was airlifted to Nassau after he was shot in the face during an immigration round up in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, sometime after 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The immigrant has been identified by Eleuthera residents as 27-year-old Jean-Mary Justilien. He was listed in serious condition at Princess Margaret Hospital, according to police, who said yesterday that Justilien was shot in the cheek when he attempted to disarm an immigration officer. However, The Tribune was told that several eyewitnesses claimed that the man had attempted to run away from the official and did not struggle for his weapon. The police statement read: “According to reports, late yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon a joint team consisting of police and immigration officers were conducting an operation in Palmetto Point, when an undocumented Haitian man who attempted to disarm an immigration officer was shot in the cheek.” “Investigations are ongoing,” it added. Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell declined to comment on the incident yesterday but said that his department was also investigating the matter. The shooting follows weeks of
apprehension exercises on the island, according to Solivia Fox, president of the Central Eleuthera Haitian Bahamian Association (CEHBVA), who pointed to the recent spate of illegal landings. She acknowledged that illegal migrants may be facilitated by persons in the community, adding that this activity was counter-productive. “I think there is some assistance,” Fox said, “the ships that are coming in, when they get here whoever is on that ship, when the officers get there the people are gone. So there is something going on. “Right now we [CEHBVA] encourage all of them if they are illegal, the best thing is to leave. We discuss this every Sunday with them to do it the right way, to apply for everything in Haiti.” She further explained that the high cost and excessive delays to obtain proper documentation discourage many Haitians from seeking legal entry to the country. Ms Fox said that while the island’s community was divided on the immigration issue, many disagree with the outcome of the incident on Tuesday. Giving an account she received from eyewitnesses, Ms Fox said immigration officers were rounding up illegal immigrants on Tuesday and arrested Justilien after approaching a house in Palmetto Point. Mr Justilien tried to break free from the arresting officer and the pair fell to the ground, according to Fox, who said that the migrant then got up and ran away from the officer.
that week, Sepp Blatter announced his intention to resign when a successor is chosen. A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, has said that the 79-year-old Blatter is a target of the investigation, The Associated Press has reported. The maximum sentences to the 10 counts Blazer pleaded guilty to total 100 years, but he is likely to serve far less time. For example, a three-level reduction to a racketeering charge could reduce the guideline sentence from 30-37 months to 21-27 months. Judges often order sentences to be served concurrently rather than consecutively. U.S. District Judge Raymond J. Dearie also unsealed details of his order last Thursday ordering the plea agreement to be opened. “While the government’s dire predictions may be hyperbolic, they are not unreasonable or farfetched,” Dearie wrote. “However, I simply cannot conclude that disclosure of Blazer’s cooperation agreement would result in a substantial prejudice to these interests, particularly in light of the extensive amount of information already in the public domain.” Blazer was CONCACAF’s general secretary from 1990-2011 and a member of FIFA’s executive committee from 1997-2013. The cooperation agreement is dated the same day Blazer pleaded guilty and says “the defendant will provide truthful, complete and accurate information and will cooperate fully with the office.” It references 19 written agreements between Blazer and the government from Dec. 29, 2011, through November 2013.
UN Peacekeepers accused of trading food, medicine for sex in Haiti
UN peacekeepers engaged in “transactional sex” with more than 225 Haitian women U.N. peacekeepers in Haiti conducted 231 interviews with engaged in sex with hundreds of Haitian people. Of these, only poor women, who traded their seven were aware that the U.N. bodies for necessities, like food and prohibits the “exchange of money, medicine, a shocking new report by employment, goods, or services for a watchdog group within the U.N. sex.” The U.N. has over 125,000 peacekeepers stationed around the alleges. The report, which has not world, and about 7,000 in Haiti, yet been released, but was revealed which is the poorest country in the by The Washington Post with a Western hemisphere, and one of copy obtained by the AP, found at the poorest in the world. There have been reports of least 225 cases of “transactional sex” between Haitian women and sexual misconduct by peacekeepers members of the U.N. stationed on for at least a decade. In March the island. “‘Church shoes,’ cell 2005, then U.N. Secretary-General phones, laptops, and perfume, as Kofi Annan addressed them in well as money,” are listed as some of a statement, saying, “United the items that the women received. Nations peacekeeping is a noble Getting access to these goods was calling and serves as an integral identified as the “triggering need” part of the world’s efforts to for the arrangement. Worst of all, maintain peace and security. over a third of the reported cases Sexual exploitation and abuse by involved teens under the age of 18. peacekeeping personnel must first The U.N.’s Office of be eliminated and then prevented Internal Oversight Services from happening again.”
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NEWS
White gunman kills nine at historic black South Carolina church
CHARLESTON, South Carolina - A 21-year-old white gunman with a criminal record killed nine people at a Bible-study meeting in a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, in an attack U.S. officials are investigating as a hate crime. Law enforcement officials on Thursday caught alleged gunman Dylann Roof, local television reported. The rampage came in a year that has seen months of racially charged protests across the United States over killings of black men. A man who identified himself as Roof ’s uncle said he had recently been give a .45-caliber handgun as a birthday present by his father and that the 21-year-old had seemed adrift. “The more I look at him, the more I’m convinced, that’s him,” Carson Cowles, 56, told Reuters in
The victims, six females and three males, included Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who was the church’s pastor and a Democratic member of the state Senate, according to colleagues. The U.S. Department of Justice opened a hate crime investigation into the shooting. Roof sat with churchgoers inside Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church for about an hour on Wednesday before opening fire, Police Chief Gregory Mullen said. He reloaded five times even as victims pleaded with him to stop, Dylann Roof is pictured in this undated booking a relative of Pinckney’s said. Sylvia photo provided by the Lexington County Sheriff’ Johnson, a cousin, told MSNBC that a Department survivor told her the gunman reloaded a phone interview, adding that law five times during the attack. Pinckney enforcement agents were present at tried to talk him out of it, she said. Roof ’s home. “If it is him, and when “He just said, ‘I have to do it. they catch him, he’s got to pay for this.” You rape our women and you’re taking
Deadly balcony collapse tied to rotted wooden beams
over our country,” Johnson said. Demonstrations have rocked New York, Baltimore, Ferguson, Missouri and other cities following police killings of unarmed black men including Eric Garner, Freddie Gray and Michael Brown. A white police officer was charged with murder after he shot an unarmed black man in April in neighboring North Charleston. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which researches U.S. hate groups, said the attack illustrates the dangers that home-grown extremists pose. “Since 9/11, our country has been fixated on the threat of Jihadi terrorism. But the horrific tragedy at the Emmanuel AME reminds us that the threat of homegrown domestic terrorism is very real,” the group said in a statement.
Runaway tiger kills man
The remaining wood from the Library Gardens apartment building balcony that collapsed is shown in Berkeley, Calif., Wednesday, June 17, 2015. The balcony broke loose from the building during a 21st birthday party early Tuesday, killing several people and seriously injuring others BERKELEY, Calif. — The apartments, which were completed in balcony collapse that killed six college 2007 and are popular among visiting students appears to have been caused students and those at the nearby by rotted wooden beams, Berkeley’s University of California, Berkeley. mayor said Wednesday as the victims’ Segue Construction, the heartbroken loved ones began arriving Library Gardens general contractor, in the U.S. from Ireland. was involved in two San Francisco Bay Mayor Tom Bates said Area lawsuits in recent years involving investigators believe the wood was allegations of dry rot and substandard not caulked and sealed properly at the balconies at condo and apartment time of construction and was damaged projects in Millbrae and San Jose. by moisture as a result. Among other things, Segue was accused The crowded fifth-floor balcony of improperly waterproofing balconies. broke off an apartment building during Both cases were settled in a 21st-birthday party early Tuesday 2013 with Segue, developers and other held by visiting Irish college students, parties agreeing to pay millions of dumping 13 people 50 feet onto the dollars. pavement. In addition to the six killed, Segue spokesman Sam Singer said seven were seriously hurt. such litigation is common on large “More than likely it was caused projects and “has no bearing on the by rain and caused by water damage tragedy” in Berkeley. that was done to the support beams,” “They are completely different Bates said. He said it was “obviously a projects. They are completely different bad idea” for 13 people to crowd onto types of balconies,” he said. Singer such a small balcony — it was about 40 said of the balcony collapse: “Segue square feet — but added that he is not Construction has never had an incident blaming the victims. like this in its history.” Later in the day, however, the Cassandra Bujarski, a mayor said the water-damage theory spokeswoman for the apartments’ was speculation on his part and not property management firm, Greystar, an official conclusion, and that the had no comment. investigation is still underway. Across the Atlantic, flags flew Building inspectors also at half-staff around Ireland and the determined another balcony at the country’s parliament suspended normal Library Gardens apartment complex business as the nation mourned the was “structurally unsafe and presented dead: Ashley Donohoe, 22, of Rohnert a collapse hazard.” They ordered it Park, California, and Olivia Burke, demolished. Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Two other balconies were red- Lorcan Miller and Eimear Walsh, all tagged, or declared off-limits, at the 21-year-olds from Ireland.
Emergency Ministry official covers the killed tiger near a Zoo in Tbilisi, Georgia TBILISI, Georgia — A tiger that broke loose after severe flooding at the Tbilisi Zoo mauled a man to death in the Georgian capital before being shot by police Wednesday, a day after officials said all the zoo’s tigers had died. Zoo Director Zurab Gurielidze acknowledged he was to blame for releasing faulty information and said new counts indicated a tiger cub and a hyena could still be on the loose. The city has remained on edge, with runaway predators reportedly seen by some residents. The Interior Ministry in the former Soviet republic said the tiger was hiding at an abandoned factory that had been turned into a construction market when he attacked the man Wednesday. The victim, who worked at the market, later died of his wounds at a hospital. “We entered the depot and,
suddenly, a white tiger rushed out of an adjacent room and attacked one of the workers, jumping at his throat and mauling him,” colleague Alexander Shavbulashvili told The Associated Press. “We broke the window of another room to flee, and the sound of breaking glass must have scared it and it ran away.” Police commandos rushed to the site and killed the tiger. “It was a white tiger,” Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri told the AP. “We wanted to sedate it, but it was very aggressive and we had to liquidate it.” Zoo spokeswoman Khatia Basilashvili couldn’t immediately offer any details about the dead tiger. The zoo administration had said Tuesday that eight lions, all its seven tigers and at least two of its three jaguars and 12 of its 14 bears were killed in the flooding.
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Many Republicans wary of Donald Trump’s entry into race
Washington - Steer clear of the “stupid zone.” That’s how one Republican consultant is telling the GOP field to react to Donald Trump’s explosive entry into the White House race. The real estate mogul, flinging insults and bombast while announcing his run Tuesday, is threatening to upend the party’s singular focus on a primary process that yields the strongest possible nominee and avoids some of the farcical scenes that tarnished candidates in 2012’s circusstyle debates. GOP insiders also warn that more conventional presidential hopefuls must beware Trump’s efforts to draw them into his constantly swirling media vortex, one that could lure them into political controversies and hurt their appeal to moderate voters. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush found out about the Trump effect firsthand Wednesday, when he was asked about the brazen reality show star’s plan to build a great wall on the border to keep out Mexican “rapists” and criminals. With an awkward smile, a muttered ‘no’ and a shake of the head, Bush refused to take the bait, proving that he at least is aware of the danger. Trump, of course, rejects the notion that his candidacy is anything close to damaging to his own party, instead calling it a boon to the GOP when asked Wednesday to respond to
Republicans who say he is a distraction to the primary process in a tough election year. “I think I’ll help the party because we have a lot of Republicans who don’t know what they’re doing unfortunately. That’s why the country’s in such bad shape,” Trump told CNN after a Manchester, New Hampshire rally. Will fellow Republicans resist Trump’s provocations? How long Bush and fellow GOP 2016 presidential hopefuls can maintain that discipline, hold The billionaire real-estate tycoon and primetime personality announced he’s running for president. their tongues and resist Trump’s provocations could dictate just how “Dismiss it, walk past it, economy -- and repeated boasts about much the billionaire wildcard will ignore it,” Wilson said, explaining his own massive wealth. impact the party’s primary contests. how the 11-and-counting other GOP In the surreal aftermath, There is already genuine candidates can avoid being pulled into people in politics and the media aren’t concern among Republican operatives what he called Trump’s “stupid zone.” quite sure how to treat Trump. Is he about the damage that an unleashed But another GOP strategist, just a blustery reality star seeking Donald Trump could do to the party’s Ford O’ Connell, who is not currently a personal boost and an avalanche hopes of winning back the White working with a GOP presidential of publicity from a presidential run? House. contender, said it was not going to be Or could he, using the considerable GOP strategist Rick Wilson, easy for candidates to turn the other savvy with which he built a real estate not affiliated with any candidate, said cheek. empire, actually be making a serious Trump is a “disruptive and dangerous” “If you are one of the other attempt to win the nomination — or addition to the Republican primary candidates, particularly one that has at the very least shape the political field who would try to goad his rivals a window to victory, it’s hard to ignore outlines of the GOP race. into confrontations that could harm The Donald ... but that is your best bet,” While top-tier presidential the party’s image. he said. candidates like Bush, Florida Sen. Trump, in his opening blast, Trump’s extraordinary Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Gov. Scott questioned Bush’s intellect and dress announcement speech on Tuesday was Walker may have little to gain from sense -- what is sure to be the first of laced with cutting mockery of other a tangle with Trump, the temptation many such slams. And Trump’s attacks GOP candidates, warnings to Iran for a lesser candidate -- desperate for on Mexico could jolt Republican efforts and ISIS, a vow to beat a rising China the media spotlight -- might prove to appeal more to the vital Hispanic -- despite his professed “love” for the irresistible. voting bloc. communist state’s free-wheeling
White is the new black: A curious case of fantasising reopens the racial debate
Rachel Dolezal WHEN she was a teenager, her parents adopted four black children whom she adored. She went on to marry a black man and to attend Howard University, a mainly black college, where her degree focused on black culture. So although her hair was blonde and her skin was lily-white in the early 2000s, it did not cause great surprise when Rachel Dolezal began
to say, first, that she was part-black, and then that she identified as black pure and simple. This might have stayed a private matter, but she was a public person: teaching in the Africana Studies department at East Washington University, and rising to become an energetic president of the NAACP in Spokane, in Washington
state. Her increasingly loud declarations of blackness, as her skin and hair grew gradually darker, annoyed her estranged white parents, who declared the whole thing rubbish. The press and the blogosphere caught her out in multiple fibs; the social commentariat, both black and white, lambasted her. On June 15th she resigned from her NAACP post, but without apology. Her argument was that racial heredity did not constitute identity. Identity was a subjective, fluid thing: “From my truth”, and “in this moment”, “nothing about being white describes who I am.” Younger Americans increasingly speak that language. Confining yourself to a racial box, as for the census, can be irksomely imprecise. People can also
feel trapped in the wrong body; something which, in sexual terms, now draws sympathy rather than abuse. Ms Dolezal’s troubles erupted soon after Caitlyn (néeBruce) Jenner had graced the cover of Vanity Fair as a transsexual. Wasn’t Ms Dolezal just the same, in racial terms? Not as far as blacks are concerned. For a white to love black culture or even make black music is one thing; it is quite another to put on blackface, as Ms Dolezal did in effect. As many blacks point out, she decided to be black from a position of longestablished white privilege, a choice none of them enjoyed; some scoffed that she might take blackness off, as it suited. As Terry McMillan, a writer, tweeted, “I wonder what race Rachel would become if she got stopped by the police?” Her
case also revisits, in a bizarre reversal, the old Jim Crow laws: she seemed positively to want a ruling that even one drop of black blood would be enough to make her black. Yet the tangles go further. Whites have seldom wanted to be taken for black in America; it has tended to be the other way around. But this is changing. Minority voices often carry more weight, and Ms Dolezal was well aware of this. As a minority white at Howard, she sued the university for not helping her financially for partly racial reasons; but she gave her race as black (as well as white and mixed-race) when she applied to be an ombudsman in Spokane. In most of the jobs she went for, being black was an advantage. Perhaps that was why she felt so compelled to be something she never was.
Brian Williams to return to air as part of MSNBC revamp
The future of MSNBC is in It also makes sense from an the hands of Lyin’ Brian. accounting perspective -- NBC News Brian Williams will be a is already carrying tens of millions of cornerstone of a revamped MSNBC dollars worth of dead wood salaries to that will shift its focus away from left- former executives and talent like Anne leaning politics and focus once again Curry, ousted “Meet the Press” anchor on breaking news, The Daily News David Gregory and short-lived “Today” has learned. general manager Jaimie Horowitz. The move is an attempt Adding Williams’ whopping by NBC News Chairman Andrew recently inked $50 million deal to the Lack to put out to major fires — the pile would have been a major drag on humiliating Williams scandal and the network’s bottom line. MSNBC’s plummeting ratings. Curry was being paid an Solving both issues has been estimated $12 million a year when she a priority for Lack since he rejoined was replaced by Savannah Guthrie as NBC in April. “Today” co-host in 2012 and NBC is
still obligated to pay out the rest of her have never even heard of who have deal through 2015, a person familiar been pushed out of lucrative behind with the situation told The News. the scenes jobs,” a knowledgeable Gregory was given an network insider said. estimated $4 million when he was Moving Williams to MSNBC replaced by Chuck Todd on “MTP” — might also have made sense to Lack with payments spread out across because it would be difficult for the several years. cable channel to fall much further Horowitz, who lasted just down. mere months on the job is said to be When Lack rejoined NBC last collecting around $3 million from spring ratings for the cable network’s NBC as part of an exit settlement, star, Rachel Maddow were off 24% according to sources familiar with the and Lawrence O’Donnell down 26%. situation. And among viewers 25-to-54-years the “And there are many other prime-time lineup has lost nearly half similar situations with people you its audience.
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London love fest: Michelle Obama charms, thrills schoolgirls
LONDON — Michelle on Tuesday announced plans Obama’s visit to a girls’ school to support girls’ education in in a diverse east London countries affected by crisis neighborhood turned into a such as Sierra Leone, Liberia love fest Tuesday when she and the Democratic Republic was greeted with singing, of Congo. poetry and interpretative About $200 million will be dance on her mission to devoted to the efforts, which promote education for girls. also include supporting In return, the U.S. teacher training, girls’ first lady spoke from the leadership camps and other heart about the role education community based programs. played in her remarkable Obama said there are rise from a tough working- more than 62 million girls with U.S. first lady Michelle Obama is greeted by pupils as she arrives at Mulberry School for Girls in east London, Tuesday, June class environment, and the no chance to go to school — a 16, 2015. need for girl students to fight basic right she said should be discrimination and cut their extended to every girl on the for Girls in the Tower Hamlets school you have everything Obama said. own proud swath in the world. planet. She cited unaffordable neighborhood. you need to rise above it.” The first lady brought “The world needs school fees, early and forced She told the student Obama was joined by her teenage daughters Malia more girls like you growing marriages and pregnancies, audience, which included Justine Greening, Britain’s and Sasha and her mother up to lead our parliaments and also societal beliefs that many Muslims, that they International Development Marian Robinson on the trip and our board rooms and girls are simply less worthy might hear people make Secretary, and former and they all had tea with our courtrooms and our as some of the factors holding stereotyped comments about Australian Prime Minister Prince Harry at Kensington universities,” Obama said, girls back from reaching their their religion but that they Julia Gillard. They argued Palace before the school visit. visibly moved. “We need you.” potential. cannot afford to be discouraged. that countries that educate They also had tea She came to London Girls in their maroon “You might wonder if people girls on an equal basis with with Prime Minister David to promote her “Let Girls school uniforms waved will ever look beyond your boys reap many benefits. Cameron and his wife Learn” initiative, which now American flags and screamed headscarf to see who you really “It has a direct impact Samantha at 10 Downing has the backing of the British with excitement as Obama are,” she said. “But with your on national economies. It’s Street. government. The two nations arrived at the Mulberry School education from this amazing hard to argue with the facts,”
Al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader killed in US strike in Yemen
CAIRO — A U.S. airstrike has killed al-Qaida’s second-most-powerful figure, the head of its Yemeni branch, dealing the terror network its biggest blow since the killing of Osama bin Laden at a time when it is vying with the Islamic State group for the mantle of global jihad. Nasir al-Wahishi was the latest in a series of senior figures from al-Qaida’s powerful Yemeni branch eliminated by U.S. drone attacks over the past five months, including its top ideologue and a senior military commander. The U.S. has intensified This image from video released Jan. 23, 2009, its campaign, trying to push back the by al-Malahim Media Foundation and provided group as it has captured new territory by IntelCenter on Dec. 30, 2009, shows the in Yemen by taking advantage of the leader of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, southern Arabian nation’s chronic identified by the IntelCenter as Nasir al-Wahishi, in Yemen. chaos. In confirming the killing of al- linked militant commander, Mokhtar Wahishi in a June 9 drone attack, the Belmokhtar, who led a 2013 attack on White House said Tuesday that his an Algerian gas complex that killed 35 death “removes from the battlefield an hostages, including several Americans. experienced terrorist leader and brings U.S. officials are still trying to confirm us closer to degrading and ultimately whether he was killed in the raid. defeating these groups.” Al-Wahishi was a former aide The U.S. activity against al- to bin Laden who, after the al-Qaida Qaida has not been limited to Yemen. affiliate in Saudi Arabia was crushed Over the weekend, a U.S. airstrike in in the mid-2000s, rebuilt it in his Libya targeted an al-QaidaYemeni homeland and turned it into
the terror network’s most dangerous branch. He also served as deputy to Ayman al-Zawahri, who succeeded bin Laden in 2011 as the network’s leader. The U.S. had put a bounty of up to $10 million on al-Wahishi. The Yemeni branch, known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, claimed responsibility for January’s attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that killed 12 people. It also attempted several direct attacks on the United States, including a botched 2009 plot to bomb an American passenger jet. Al-Wahishi’s death is a major loss for al-Qaida as it struggles to compete with the Islamic State group, an al-Qaida breakaway that has seized vast swaths of Syria and Iraq and spawned its own affiliates elsewhere in the region. The Islamic State group has also gained loyalists in Yemen in competition with al-Qaida. Both groups are dedicated to bringing about Islamic rule by force, but al-Qaida does not recognize the IS group’s self-styled caliphate and maintains the priority should be to wage jihad against America in order to drive it out of the Middle East.
Amid fierce competition with the Islamic State group for recruits and prestige across the Middle East, the successive blows to al-Qaida in Yemen have raised questions of whether they would only serve the Islamic State group as fighters from the al-Qaida affiliate defect and join IS ranks. However, Bill Roggio, senior fellow at the Defense of Democracies think tank and managing editor of the Long War Journal, which chronicles the U.S. war on terror, predicted the impact would be limited to the shortterm morale of the group’s fighters and would not hurt its strength and strategy. “The group will move on,” Roggio said. “If you had a single strike that decapitated senior leaders and chopped off the top leaving it headless, then I would say fighters will look for a more organized group. But this was not the case. They were killed over time.” A senior operative in Yemen’s al-Qaida affiliate eulogized al-Wahishi in a video statement released online Tuesday and said his deputy, Qassim al-Raimi, had been tapped to replace him.
EU nations fail to bridge divide over refugee plan
LUXEMBOURG — European Union nations failed to bridge differences Tuesday over an emergency plan to share the burden of the thousands of refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea, while on the French-Italian border, police in riot gear forcibly removed dozens of migrants. Around 100,000 migrants have entered Europe so far this year, with some 2,000 dead or missing during their perilous quest to reach the continent. Italy and Greece have borne the brunt of the surge, with many more migrants expected to arrive from June through to September. At talks in Luxembourg, EU interior ministers disagreed over how 40,000 new refugees arriving in Italy and Greece should be split up equitably
among the 28-nation bloc to ease the load on the two southern nations. “There is a divergence of views on this matter. There is no common view on whether it should be voluntary or compulsory,” Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said after the meeting. Past voluntary efforts to host migrants have proved inadequate. The current plan to relocate Syrians and Eritreans over the next two years is politically explosive, however, since it would legally set in stone each EU country’s commitment to host a certain number of refugees. Only about 10 of the EU’s 28 nations support the scheme and even those that do want changes in how the refugee distribution is calculated.
“We know that there is significant resistance in some member states to an obligatory measure,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin. The emergency relocation plan was drawn up after 800 migrants were feared to have drowned trying to reach Italy in April. No other alternatives were presented at the talks, officials said. EU leaders will now discuss the plan when they meet in Brussels on June 25-26, and interior ministers will take the issue up again at their next meeting in July. “Relocation will only work if all member states participate. Only with a binding system can we make sure that every member state takes a share of the responsibility,” said the EU’s top migration official, Dimitris
Avramopoulos. Earlier Tuesday, police in Ventimiglia on Italy’s border with France removed a few dozen African migrants who had been camping out for days in hopes of continuing farther north.
Two migrants wait at the Franco-Italian border near Menton, southeastern France, Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Some 100 migrants, principally from Eritrea and Sudan, attempted since last Friday, to cross the border from Italy and have been blocked by French and Italian gendarmes.
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The best thing for Jeb Bush could be Hillary Clinton For months, Jeb Bush so-called “Bush fatigue” and has been dogged by questions “Clinton fatigue” would cancel about his family’s presidential each other out. Voters would legacy, and the formal have to choose one or the other. announcement of his White That said, those close to the House candidacy on Monday former Florida governor’s will do little to quell them. campaign stressed it is far Relief may come only too early to focus on any if and when Bush secures potential battle with Clinton. the Republican nomination First, Bush must navigate a next year, and it could be thornier-than-expected path from the unlikeliest of places through a Republican primary - the person who would be field that could feature more his probable opponent in than a dozen candidates and the November 2016 general may not be settled until deep election, Hillary Clinton. into the primary season. A matchup with Clinton, those close to Bush BATTERED BY FAMILY told Reuters, could enable ASSOCIATIONS Bush to put his family’s past to rest as a hot-button issue. The Bush name Because of Clinton’s was once a gold standard own political history, including in Republican politics, but her time as President Barack since Jeb showed interest Obama’s secretary of state, in a presidential bid he has and her family ties to a former been battered by associations president, the thinking goes, with his father and brother. swipes at Bush about his Conservatives view the father and brother could family - as personified by backfire by opening Clinton to former President George H.W. the same line of attack. Bush - as too moderate, while “To the extent she liberals see brother George wants to rag on him for his W. Bush’s presidency as Dad or his brother, Jeb can indelibly marked by war and break off Obama or Bill an economy in ruins. (Clinton) on her,” said John Jeb Bush tripped up “Mac” Stipanovich, a Florida last month over whether he lobbyist and a Bush adviser. would have sent U.S. troops In that scenario, into Iraq as his brother did in hand-wringing over whether 2003. He indicated he would American politics are dynastic have authorized the war even would be off the table, and knowing that the intelligence
of the time, over weapons of mass destruction, was wrong. He later backtracked, saying that he had misinterpreted the question and there were mistakes related to faulty intelligence, and took several days to say he would not have ordered the invasion knowing what is now known. The episode - and the accompanying criticism of Bush - illustrated the challenge he faces in trying to establish his own separate political identity. But should Clinton be the Democratic nominee, her own record on Iraq could bar her from trying to tie the war, and U.S. foreign policy in the region in general, to Jeb Bush. She voted to authorize the war while a U.S. senator, although she later called her vote a mistake, and helped forge Iraq policy as secretary of state. “She voted for it,” said Tom Rath, a Bush friend and influential New Hampshire Republican powerbroker. “She was directly in charge of the foreign-policy apparatus that dealt with it.” Added Ari Fleischer, a former White House press secretary under George W. Bush: “It will be an impossible case for Hillary to make that Jeb is his brother. Hillary’s voting record was in support
(Left to Right) Jed Bush and Hillary Clinton of his brother.” Clinton’s presence could help inoculate Bush against other potential Democratic attacks, Stipanovich said. Clinton could be limited in hitting Bush for being too cozy with the financial industry, because she carries many of the same ties, in part through Bill Clinton. Bush could counter criticism of his corporate board work by citing recent inquiries into donations to the Clinton Foundation. Nor would classbased attacks on wealth - such as the one that helped bring down Mitt Romney in Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012 resonate. Both candidates are worth millions. MUTUAL DISARMAMENT In a sense, it would be a political version of the Cold War principle of Mutual Assured Destruction that kept the United States and Soviet ICBMs in their silos. “It would
Zimbabweans trade in old currency for peanuts A man holds a bag full of old Zimbabwean dollars notes before entering a bank to exchange them for U.S dollars in Harare, Zimbabwe, Monday, June, 15, 2015. The Zimbabwe central bank invited last week Zimbabweans still holding on to notes of the Zimbabwean dollar to exchange them for U.S dollars starting Monday as part of a process to phase out a currency that has so many zero notes that ran into trillions. HARARE, Zimbabwe — she asked clutching a plastic bag Harare resident Alice Mhandara with her Zimbabwe notes. At its worst, in 2009, spent a U.S. dollar to take the bus into town to answer the inflation ran 230 million percent government call to trade in her and the government was printing old Zimbabwe dollars, but she a 100 trillion dollar note — that is left the bank in disgust when her now worth 40 cents. Economic decline led to 90 trillion in worn bills wouldn’t a collapse of the Zimbabwean even cover the bus ticket home. Starting this week, currency in the 2000s and it Zimbabweans started trading in finally had to be abandoned in their stashes of the defunct local favor of U.S. dollars and South dollars for U.S. dollars as part of African rand. a process to phase out a currency The trade is part of a that hasn’t been used since 2009 process of phasing out the local and features bills with at least 12 currency for good, says the zeros. But few have taken them government. “Zimbabweans are up on their offer. “I used a dollar just to excited. At least we are giving get into town. I will need another them something for the notes,” dollar to return home. Tell me, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe where will I get that dollar when governor John Mangudya told the they are offering me 36 cents for Associated Press Monday. 90 trillion (Zimbabwe) dollars?” But the few that have taken up
the government on its offer have been disappointed. “Surely, $1.40 for all that money?” said Elijah Risinamhodzi, a 67-year-old pensioner trading in 410 trillion dollars. “And to think I have been keeping that money for years and years; this is so unfair. People have loads and loads of these notes at home but they will not exchange them for such peanuts.” Others fear the tradein is just a prelude to revive the local currency — a plan the government denies. “Zimbabweans are so traumatized and as a result there is no confidence among us as a nation,” said bank governor Mangudya about inflation. “We are trying to end that trauma by officializing the death of the Zimdollar.”
be very disarming for both of them,” Stipanovich joked. Two establishment figures might then be liberated from their political baggage and able to focus on the future rather than forced to defend the past. “They’re going to find enough differences with each other, but there are a lot of distractions that would be eliminated,” said Al Cardenas, a Miami lawyer and a close ally of Bush. Bush’s presence at the top of the ticket could also help Clinton. Democrats worry that with her two decades of Washington experience, Clinton, 67, would be vulnerable to a generational attack from a younger, freshfaced Republican nominee such as Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, 44, or Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, 47. But at 62, Bush would pose no such worry in that regard. To return to Cold War parlance, that would be one more threat contained.
US returns 7 smuggled snakes to Brazilian government
Boas constrictor WASHINGTON — The Justice Department says it’s returned to Brazil seven boa constrictors seized in a case of wildlife smuggling. The seven snakes are the surviving offspring of a rare boa constrictor that federal officials say was illegally taken out of Brazil by a Utah-based collector of reptiles. That man, Jeremy Stone, kept the white boa on his property and marketed snakes that were bred from it. Stone pleaded guilty last year to wildlife smuggling and, as part of his deal with authorities, agreed to forfeit the snake’s offspring to the United States. A judge later awarded the boa constrictors to Brazil after the Brazilian government claimed ownership.
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TECHNOLOGY
Is your Samsung Galaxy vulnerable to hackers?
A flaw discovered in several Samsung Galaxy smartphone models has left more than 600 million phones vulnerable to hacking, cybersecurity firm NowSecure says. According to the NowSecure report, the entry point for hackers lies in the phones’ preinstalled keyboard software. The flaw would allow attackers to eavesdrop on calls,
tamper with apps, copy messages and photos, and gain access to the phone’s GPS, camera, and microphone – all without the user’s knowledge. Mobile-security researcher Ryan Welton discovered the problem last November, according to the Wall Street Journal. Often, when security researchers find a security flaw in a system, they alert
the company to give make the issue public them a chance to fix after three months. it before bringing the With the new vulnerability to public update, NowSecure says attention. NowSecure the problem persists notified Samsung of the on the devices it has tested, a list of which problem in November. NowSecure CEO can be found in the Andrew Hoog told the report, possibly due Journal that at the to delays by wireless end of December that carriers in pushing out Samsung had requested the software patch, or a year to fix the flaw, reluctance by users to which NowSecure update the software on thought was too long. If their smartphones. security researchers had Mr. Welton wrote found the bug, malicious in a blog post that hackers may have found while it is impossible to it, or may eventually eliminate the keyboard app containing the find it, too. The two companies problem, there are were in discussion until several things users can March, when Samsung do to limit their risk. the released to wireless “Unfortunately, carriers a software flawed keyboard app update to fix the problem. can’t be uninstalled At that time Samsung or disabled,” he wrote. agreed to let NowSecure “Also, it isn’t easy for
Spotify gets investment as it faces competition from Apple
the Samsung mobile device user to tell if the carrier has patched the problem with a software update. To reduce your risk, avoid insecure Wi-Fi networks, use a different mobile device, and contact your carrier for patch information and timing.” SwiftKey, the company that provided Samsung with the technology for the word prediction function on the keyboard app, released a statement saying the flaw has no effect on the company’s apps on Google Play and Apple App Store. SwiftKey also said hacking a phone through the keyboard flaw would be a challenge, requiring the attacker to have the right tools at the right
time.
“The vulnerability in question is not easy to exploit: a user must be connected to a compromised network (such as a spoofed public Wi-Fi network), where a hacker with the right tools has specifically intended to gain access to their device. This access is then only possible if the user’s keyboard is conducting a language update at that specific time, while connected to the compromised network.” Mr. Hoog told the Wall Street Journal that while NowSecure, as of this week, has not found a successfully patched phone, to his knowledge no phones have fallen victim to hackers through the flaw yet.
Nestle India to destroy $50million of noodles
Spotify Logo COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Music streaming company Spotify said Wednesday it has gotten a new investment from a Nordic telecoms company as it looks to compete globally, particularly with a rival service that Apple is due to launch this month. Swedish operator TeliaSonera is paying $115 million for a 1.4 percent stake, which would value Spotify at about $8.2 billion. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Spotify offers free streaming music and a premium service for a monthly fee that lets users listen to music offline and without advertisements. It says it has over 20 million paying subscribers, and another 55 million who use a free version of the streaming music service. It has over 30 million songs with over 20,000 added each day. It is seeing increasing competition, however, with Apple
launching its Apple Music streaming service at the end of June. Though Spotify has managed to grow its revenue, it remains unprofitable. In 2014, the unlisted company increased its revenue by 45 percent to $1.3 billion but booked a $197 million operating loss. It has paid $3 billion in royalties to rights holders since its start in October 2008, including more than $300 million in the first three months of 2015. TeliaSonera says the deal with Spotify will extend an existing partnership to focus on “media distribution, customer insights, data analytics and advertising.” CEO Johan Dennelind said Spotify has “a world class take on innovation.” In a joint statement, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said “We’re able to take this to the next level together.” Spotify doesn’t disclose details about its ownership.
This June 5, 2015 file photo shows packs of Maggi noodles after they were removed from the shelves of a grocery store in Gauhati, India. NEW DELHI — Nestle India said it will destroy instant noodles worth 3.2 billion rupees ($50 million) following a sales ban imposed by Indian food safety authorities for unsafe levels of lead. India’s food safety panel banned the noodles earlier this month after tests conducted across the country found that Nestle’s Maggi noodles contained lead at levels far higher than legally allowed. The tests also detected the chemical flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate, or MSG, which is not mentioned in the product’s list of ingredients. Nestle insists the noodles are safe and is challenging the ban in a Mumbai court. The Indian subsidiary of the Swiss-based company said in a
statement Monday that the company was collecting stocks of the noodles from shops, factories and distribution centers and destroying them. Maggi noodles are a hugely popular snack among school and college students and young working people in India. The company introduced the quick cooking noodles to India in the early 1980s and they can be found in the remotest villages in the country. Paul Bulcke, the Nestle Global Chief Executive, has said his company did not add MSG to its Maggi noodles in India. He said the chemical occurs naturally in some of the ingredients used in making the noodles. According to Bulcke, tests conducted by Nestle on Indian-made Maggi noodles show the presence of lead to be within permissible limits.
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Why Americans are getting new credit cards
Auto sales plummet in Brazil
it’s more secure. WHO’S BEHIND THE CHANGE?
This Wednesday, June 10, 2015 photo shows a chip-based credit card, in Philadelphia. U.S. banks, tired of spending billions a year to pay back fleeced consumers, are in the process of replacing tens of millions of old magnetic strip credit and debit cards with new cards that are equipped with computer chips that store account data more securely. NEW YORK — A big change is happening inside your wallet. U.S. banks, tired of spending billions each year to pay back fleeced consumers, are in the process of replacing tens of millions of old magnetic strip credit and debit cards with new cards that are equipped with computer chips that store account data more securely. By autumn, millions of Americans will have made the switch from the old magnetic strip cards. That 50-year-old technology, replaced in most of world, lingers on the back of U.S. cards and is easily copied by thieves, leaving people vulnerable to fraud. Roughly half of all credit card fraud happens in the U.S. even though the country only makes up roughly 25 percent of all credit card transactions, according to a report by Barclays put out last week. This entire switch is a massive undertaking. Roughly half of all U.S. credit and debit cards will be replaced by the end of the year. Tens of thousands of individual merchants need to upgrade their equipment to allow for chip transactions instead of “swipe-and-sign” ones. If the stores aren’t ready, they could be on the hook to cover the cost of fraud. Here’s how the new cards work and how the switch could affect you at the checkout counter: WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THESE CARDS? The biggest difference between your old card and your new one is the metal chip embedded on the front, which means your personal data is much
safer. The chip assigns a unique code for every transaction made on your card. Even if a thief acquired that code, it couldn’t be used to make another purchase. Chip cards are also harder to duplicate, although it’s not unheard of. Overall, the chip cards are more secure than magnetic cards, which are vulnerable because once thieves get a copy of your credit card information, it can be quickly copied onto counterfeit cards. Chip cards have been common in Europe for more than decade, and they’ve been standard in other parts of the world for some time. “The chip technology is designed to prevent copying of the card,” says Ellen Richey, vice chairman of risk and public policy at Visa. In the U.S, chipsembedded cards have seen limited use until now. Laundromats, for instance, are one place chipreading cards are being used.
The change is mostly coming from banks and payment processing companies — Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Banks have wanted a more secure form of payment because they have generally been on the hook for any fraud that happens on their cards. Originally the banks were relying on their own software and data from the payment networks to catch fraud at the point of sale in the U.S., but it became clear something more was needed, Richey said. Banks, particularly small banks, would often pay out of pocket to cover any fraud that happened on their customers’ payment cards. The American Bankers Association estimated that bank account fraud cost the industry $1.74 billion in 2012, the most year the data is available. The payment networks have set a soft deadline of October 1, 2015 for the switchover to be made. After that date, most merchants who continue to accept magnetic strip cards and have not upgraded their equipment could have to pay for any credit or debit card fraud that happens in their stores. The “liability shift,” as it’s called, presents a looming deadline for the banks, payment companies and merchants. HOW DO I USE THE CHIP CARD? Instead of swiping your card at the checkout, you’ll insert it into a machine with a slot like those on ATMs. Your card will stay in the slot until the machine tells you to remove it. Unlike magnetic strip cards, chip cards need to be left in the machine for a few seconds to work.
WHEN WILL I GET ONE? At this point, the majority of magnetic-stripe credit cards have been replaced with chip cards. Banks are in the middle of issuing chip-based debit cards, with Bank of America starting late last year and Chase and Citi starting this summer. Regional and smaller banks are also rolling out these cards to their customers, most of them starting later this year. All chip cards also come with a magnetic strip in case chip readers aren’t available. However, if a merchant does accept chip cards for purchases, you should use that option every time because
WHERE AND WHEN CAN I USE MY NEW CHIP CARD? You can use it now. The problem is that merchants need the right equipment to accept the cards embedded with chips. Many stores have been slow to upgrade their equipment, despite the October deadline, because it could be a significant expense to replace equipment and retrain employees. Payment processing companies like Visa, and bank who issue the cards, are pushing stores to accept the chips cards. Visa expects roughly half of all merchants to have chip card readers by the end of the year.
Police arrest dozens of suspects in cybercrime investigation THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Police have arrested dozens of suspects in an international investigation into a cybercrime gang that siphoned millions of euros from victims’ accounts in an identity fraud scam. European Union justice agency Eurojust announced Wednesday that
49 suspects, most of them from Nigeria and Cameroon, were arrested a day earlier in an investigation by Italian, Spanish and Polish police supported by officers in Belgium, Britain and Georgia. EU police agency Europol helped coordinate 58 searches during Tuesday’s operation. Eurojust says in a
statement that investigations showed that cybercriminals had defrauded victims of 6 million euros ($6.8 million) and transferred it out of Europe. The fraud involved stealing victims’ data such as usernames and passwords, in a process known as phishing, and diverting money from them and their customers.
In this June 10, 2015 photo, new trucks and parts sit at a Mercedes-Benz park in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. Mercedes-Benz said in a statement that “the sharp drop in bus and truck sales” had forced it last month to rescind the contracts of 500 workers who had been furloughed several months earlier. Like at Mercedes-Benz, workers at General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen also have been forced to take leaves. SAO PAULO — Plummeting auto sales in Brazil amid the nation’s worst economic crisis in a decade have battered the industry that makes up one-fourth of the country’s industrial gross domestic product and has led to widespread layoffs and mandatory leaves. At least 6,000 workers in auto factories have been laid off since January, officials say, and another 20,000 put on furlough. Those add to thousands of jobs lost last year. Additionally, Fenabrave, an association of auto dealers, said 250 of the country’s 8,000 dealerships have gone out of business this year, resulting in 12,000 lost jobs. Behind the worst crisis in more than a decade for the world’s fourth-largest auto market is the “uncertainty surrounding the country’s sluggish economy, reduced access to credit and a drop in consumer confidence,” said Rodrigo Baggi, an auto industry analyst at Sao Paulo’s Tendencias Consultancy. “Purchases of nonessential durable goods like cars, motorcycles and electrical appliances are being postponed.” It’s another sign of the serious trouble facing the Brazilian economy, which is forecast by most economists to contract by more than 1 percent this year, with consumer spending dwindling, unemployment hitting a five-year high and inflation soaring about 2 percentage points above the government’s target ceiling of 6.5 percent. The Brazilian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association estimates that vehicle production will drop to 2.6 million units in 2015, about 18 percent less than last year’s output as a result of the lower demand, said the association’s president, Luiz Moan. That’s a severe blow to automakers, who for a decade have enjoyed booming auto sales in Brazil and consider the nation vital to their overall bottom lines. Carmakers maintain a 10-percent profit margin in the South American nation, as compared to the global average of about 3 percent. But it’s also putting stress on a massive supply-chain industry that employs more than 200,000 people. Moan said that during the last 12 months, roughly 10 percent of the automakers’ labor force of 138,000 had been dismissed — many taking early retirements offered by auto companies trying to cut costs. Marcos Aurelio Prado Araujo, a welder for the past decade at a Mercedes truck and bus chassis plant in the Sao Paulo suburb of Sao Bernardo do Campo, where much of Brazil’s auto industry is centered, was given his pink slip in late May. He said that he and his wife, Erika, who also worked on the bus assembly line at Mercedes, brought home the equivalent of $3,500 a month — enough to buy a used car, put a down payment on a small apartment and enroll their daughter in a private school. But late last year, his wife was fired and in May he received a telegram from Mercedes Benz saying that he’d lost his job, too. “I saw my dream crumble,” he said. “I started out with a lot of hope and now I am unemployed, in debt and without any hope that one day things will get better. I have put my apartment and car up for sale and my daughter won’t be able to study in a private school anymore.”
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Usain Bolt baffled by unconvincing 200m time
Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt has work to do after clocking an unconvincing 20.29sec to win the 200m at the New York Diamond League meeting on Sunday. Even with a headwind of 2.8 metres per second, Bolt said he was baffled by a performance that included “the worst curve ever in my entire career,” although he said it was too soon to say the alarm bells are sounding for the World Championships in Beijing in August. “Because I have been training so good, but then I come to competition and I am not executing right, that’s all I am worried about,” Bolt said. “I was feeling good. Everything was going smooth when I ran yesterday, I was happy, my coach was happy - just don’t know what happened today. “I’ve just got to go back to the drawing board and figure it out.” Bolt said he realized early the race would not be fast, but the “why” remained a puzzle. “It’s not physical and my mental game is strong. And when I am feeling good I am always confident I will do well, so I got out of the blocks and I just did not go anywhere. “It’s just one of those days
Benn named West Indies Player of the Year
Ramdin was awarded West Indies’ ODI Player of the Year
Usain Bolt won the 200m at the New York Diamond League, but his 20.29 time left him puzzled and unimpressed. I guess,” he concluded. It was Bolt’s first race in New York since 2008, when he broke the 100m world record for the first time on the same Icahn Stadium track on Randall’s Island. On Sunday (AEST), however, he found himself leaning for the win, sneaking a look to make sure he got the victory ahead of training partner Zharnel Hughes of Anguilla, who was second in 20.32 with Jamaican Julian Forte third in 20.46. Bolt holds the 100m world record of 9.58sec and the 200m world record of 19.19, both set in 2009. He won 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold at the 2008
and 2012 Olympics but last year was limited by foot and hamstring injuries. While US sprint rival Justin Gatlin has been burning up the track - posting world leaders of 9.74 in the 100m and 19.68 in the 200m - Bolt said this week he is focused on making steady progress toward achieving his peak form at Beijing. However, he clearly was expecting better and said he might run this month’s Jamaican World Championship trials despite his byes into Beijing to sharpen up. “I would really love to explain to you guys what happened, but I just didn’t.
Sulieman Benn was named West Indies’ Player of the Year for the 2013-14 season in WICB’s annual awards function in Kingston on Tuesday. Benn picked up 28 wickets in five Tests at an average of 25.03 between October 2013 and September 2014 - the period of consideration for these awards. Kraigg Brathwaite was awarded the Test Player of the Year, while Test captain Denesh Ramdin was named ODI Player of the Year. Brathwaite scored 593 runs in the five Tests that were played during this period at an average of 74.12, which included a 129 against New Zealand and a double-century against Bangladesh. Ramdin produced impressive numbers in ODIs, scoring 445 runs in 11 games at an average of 63.57, including two centuries and a half-century, with a career-best 169 against Bangladesh. Jermaine Blackwood, who scored 63 on his Test debut in 2014 against New Zealand, and a hundred and fifty against England recently, was named Emerging Player of the Year and Stafanie Taylor was awarded the Women’s Player of the Year. Samuel Badree was named T20I Player of the Year for his 19 wickets in 12 matches during this period, with an average of 12.36 and economy of five runs per over.
Less growing and more pains for West Indies
Darren Bravo managed an underwhelming 49 runs in four innings during the series Dropping Shivnarine Chanderpaul before the series provided opportunities for younger players, but the West Indies’ lack of batting depth was ruthlessly exposed in his absence. Jason Holder As impressive as Holder’s bold batting and canny bowling was his attitude to the contest. He does not give up, and is not overly irked by aggression directed his way from opponents. On the evidence of this series he should be batting at No. 6 for West Indies, and probably leading the team in the next year or so. A source of optimism. Jerome Taylor Some truly brilliant spells
in Jamaica maintained a formidable record at Sabina Park, as Taylor swung the ball at pace while also summoning a rare yorker to stop Steven Smith short of 200. He lacked enough support, but will be a worthy opponent in Australia later this year so long as the West Indies can find another paceman or two with enough discipline to help him. Devendra Bishoo Not many bowlers spin past Steven Smith, a fact that underlined the excellence of Bishoo’s Dominica display. His absence from Sabina Park was a major blow to the hosts, and it can only be hoped that his poorly spinning finger can be effectively treated ahead of future assignments. Australian pitches, with their extra pace and bounce, should agree with him. Shane Dowrich A sound temperament, a sturdy enough technique and a determination to stay at the crease marked Dowrich as one of the more promising young batsmen to enter the West Indies Test XI in recent times. Has plenty more to learn, but was at least able to “stick it out” for far longer than any other young batsman apart from Holder. Shai Hope Three starts in four innings suggested that Hope may have the right stuff provided he can build on his concentration, but the question for the West Indies is where he should bat. Having opened in Dominica he dropped
down to No. 5 at Sabina Park, looking neither out of his depth nor quite ready to dominate. Watch this space. Marlon Samuels The longest West Indian innings of the series, yet was twice out hooking and then missed the second Test. Samuels is the most enigmatic of figures, but for now he is the only senior batsman the West Indies possess. The team knows who he is and what he provides, and must hope he can suppress the instincts that had him taking on the short ball in a most ungainly fashion at Windsor Park. Jermaine Blackwood Batted as though he had a bus to catch - a bus to a Twenty20 match. Despite making a strong start to the West Indies home season before this series against England, a few of his dismissals made one wonder if he really can become a successful Test player. Blackwood freely admitted he has plenty of work to do on his concentration. The talent is there, but how much does he want Test match success? Veerasammy Permaul Suffered by comparison to Bishoo, and made little impact at Sabina Park. Permaul is steady, but clearly needs the pitch to do much of the work for him. Batted passably in the second innings as the last rites were being given. Denesh Ramdin Much more was expected of Ramdin this series. His wooden
captaincy and mediocre batting left plenty to wonder whether he is the right man to lead the team to Australia at the end of the year. Like several other members of the team he fell back from his efforts against England, and it will be a question of resolve as to how much he works on that after the Caribbean Premier League. Shannon Gabriel Fast but erratic, Gabriel may be the right man to share the new ball with Taylor, but must close the gap between his best and worst. Missing out on the Jamaica Test through illness was a blow, for he would doubtless have made the ball jump on a lively first morning. Kraigg Brathwaite Devoid of footwork and hurried by the Australians’ pace, Brathwaite looked worryingly out of his depth for someone who has been installed as a long-term opening batsman. On swifter Australian pitches, such problems may well be exacerbated further. Darren Bravo The biggest disappointment of the series. Despite his obvious talent, Bravo was hemmed in and made to look ponderous by the Australian bowlers and their disciplined lines. Unlike his mentor and hero Brian Lara, Bravo was unable to get through the tough periods and make the bowlers come back for more spells. Without Shivnarine Chanderpaul around anymore, Bravo must do more than this.
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Women’s football overview
Opening Ceremony for Women’s Football Day `The month of May has been an awesomely busy month for the Girls and Women of the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (“TCIFA”). WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DAY On Saturday May 23rd, 2015 the TCIFA participated in CONCACAF’s inaugural Women’s Football Day (“WFD”). The event was hosted at the TCIFA’s National Academy in Providenciales where participants engaged in a 5 aside tournament. Ms. Christma Jean Louis, a women’s national team player commenced the event with the singing of the national song, which was followed by remarks from the Deputy Premier, Honourable Akierra Missick, Minister responsible for Education, Youth and Sports. Ms. Missick pledged her continuous support and thanked CONCACAF for their invested interest in the Turks & Caicos Islands. President of the TCIFA, Ms. Sonia Bien-Aime thanked the players, coaches, referees and parents for making the event possible and commended the TCIFA for being one of
Opening Cermony for Women’s Football Day
the thirty-seven countries within the CONCACAF region participating in the WFD events. President Bien-Aime officially declared the event opened. Medals were awarded to the respective winners within their age categories. Ms. Candace Hanchell, Executive Member responsible for Women’s Football expressed how delighted in the turn out and noted the U9 girls team which travelled from South Caicos to participate in the event. LEAGUE GAMES Despite the inability of two teams not being able to compete in the 2015 season, the Women’s Football League (“WFL”) was able to move forward with two Academy teams. There were also friendly games which were played by a combined WFL team against the U15 boys. The final WFL game of 2015 was hosted on May 17th, 2015 which saw AFC Academy at the top of the chart. The AFC Academy U15 girls were commended on their performance and were encouraged to continue practicing and playing together as a unit.
CUP GAME The Women’s Football Cup games were hosted on Sunday May 24th, 2015 where the U15 girls presented a fast paced game. However, Jacinda Alfrena was able to maneuver with her experience and scored an early goal for AFC Academy in the 13th minute of the game. Shinaydine Pluviouse also of AFC Academy scored the team’s second goal in the 48th minute. The U15 girls continued to play with determination and eventually scored with the 58th minute of the game as Evnisha landed a beautiful goal for her team. The game ended with 2 goals for AFC Academy and 1 goal for AFC Academy U15 girls. INVITATIONAL GAMES May 29, 2015 Grand Turk saw its first women’s football game with TCI vs. River City Raptors. River City Raptors traveled into Grand Turk on a cruise ship as the TCI team consisted of players from the Island of Providenciales. Players from both teams expressed how excited they were to travel to Grand Turk to compete
River City Raptor and TCIFA in Grand Turk
in the small six aside game which produced a score of TCI 1 – 2 River City Raptors. Some of the students of the HJ Robinson High School were given the opportunity to watch the game. Sunday May 31st, 2015 the field saw the return of the former players who competed against the combined AFC Academy senior and the U15 teams. This game was fiercely competitive as the former players were intent on proving that they still possessed the necessary football skills. The combined AFC team moved quickly throughout both halves and presented a challenging game. However, end result was 2 goals for former players and 2 goals for the AFC combined team. Both teams agreed not to proceed with overtime or a penalty shoot out. In light of this there will be a re-match. The TCIFA and the WFL encourages all interested females to practice healthy living by participating in our girls and women programmes. Training is available for all age groups. For additional information, please visit the TCIFA offices or telephone 9415532 and speak with Olivia Gravely, Youth Coordinator or Craig Harrington, Technical Director.
Women’s Football Day
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GT Stallions do it again Tamaurri Lightbourne led The Mighty GT Stallions to victory in the Providenciales Amateur Basketball Association playoffs at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sport Centre on Saturday May 29th. The Stallions
were crowned champions for the third year giving there all and performing to the fullest giving all they had to offer. The Badgers played ecstatically but were subdued by the reigning champions the Stallions 88 to 78.
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Warriors were best team all season CLEVELAND – The not when the Warriors were long wait is over for the Golden compiling the NBA’s best State Warriors. regular-season record and After 40 years, the certainly not when they were NBA title is back in the Bay faced with the possibility of having the series extended to Area. And after six games of a Game 7. a grueling NBA Finals series, Yet when it mattered there is no argument that the most, they never crumbled. best team earned their stripes They merely grew up some more. as the new champion. Fittingly, led by The Warriors survived the last, desperate regular season MVP Stephen shots from LeBron James Curry, they exploded in the and the Cleveland Cavaliers fourth quarter – which they on Tuesday night – and the pretty much owned all series raucous environment at – with a downpour of threeQuicken Loans Arena – to point baskets. It they didn’t finally claim a new slice of come from Curry, it was series history with a 105-97 victory. MVP Andre Iguondala. Or Klay Thompson. In short, with It was never easy,
Golden State Warriors celebrating
Curry scoring 25, Iguodala posting 25 and Draymond Green notching 16, they kept the heat on the Cavs by playing up to their image. Still, you knew James, who finished with a game-high 32 points, and the Cavs would fight, and they did. Cleveland fell behind by 13 points in the first half, then took the lead early in the second half. But the Warriors have proven to be gritty and resilient, too. For all the sizzle and splash that make the Warriors so much fun to watch, they demonstrated over the course of the series – and the entire playoff season, for that matter -- just how tough they are. It was quite the foundation for a finishing touch. And no doubt, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, realized what an essential element it needed to be to secure the title. Since winning the pivotal Game 5, Kerr cautioned that the closeout game of an NBA Finals series is always the toughest victory to achieve. Something about taking a team’s best shot. Mental toughness. Who can argue with the source of that position? Kerr won five NBA championship rings as a
NBA Finals recap: The Warriors road to the title CLEVELAND -- After a 40-year hiatus, the Golden State Warriors are champions again. The team with the NBA’s best record closed out the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night at Qucken Loans Arena, winning 105-97 for their fourth title in franchise history and first since 1975. Andre Iguodala, who hadn’t started a game in the playoffs until the Finals, won series MVP after averaging 16.3 points and playing stellar defense on LeBron James. Stephen Curry finished with 25 points, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to win his first MVP and his first title in the same season. The last player to do so was Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000. The Warriors’ Steve Kerr became the first rookie head coach to win an NBA title since Pat Riley accomplished that feat in 1981-82 with the Los Angeles
Lakers. And the Warriors capped off one of the best seasons in NBA history, finishing with an 83-20 record, including the regular season and postseason. That’s the third-best mark behind the 199596 Chicago Bulls (84-17) and the 1996-97 Bulls (87-13). After a marvelous series, James finished with 32 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists, just shy of his second triple-double of the series. Here’s a look back at how it all went down: Warriors favorites from startPundits and bookmakers in Las Vegas alike pegged the Golden State Warriors as favorites to win their first title in 40 years entering their Finals matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Of 27 ESPN NBA writers, 22 picked the Warriors. Four of five CBSSports.com NBA writers picked the Warriors. Seven of eight SI.com NBA writers picked the Warriors.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry poses with the Larry O’Brien Trophy as Warriors guard Andre Iguodala celebrates with the NBA Finals MVP trophy. sharp-shooting guard with That was his message the Bulls and the Spurs. We’ll before Game 6. This is about take his word for it. now. For all of the history It’s not about anything attached to the crowning beyond tonight,” Kerr said moment – hello, Al Attles, Rick before the game. Barry, Clifford Ray and the Well, for as brilliant rest of the 1975 champions – as Kerr has been, that point is Kerr also knew that it would debatable. do no good for his players to Just ask some of the consume themselves with the fans who have flocked to Oracle long drought the franchise and Arena for decades in support its fans have endured. of a franchise that provided How many of the no shortage of deflating Warriors players were even episodes. They endured the born in 1975? Zero. disappointment of Joe Barry The drought did not Carroll, the embarrassment of belong to them, although Latrell Sprewell choking his Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, coach, P.J. Carlesimo and even Draymond Green and their the dashed hopes that came brethren have everything to with Run TMC – the teams do with the franchise’s rebirth. led by Tim Hardaway, Mitch That said, Kerr – who Richmond and Chris Mullin pushed one button correctly who dazzled, but never to the after another in becoming the point of becoming a serious first rookie coach to win the contender. NBA Finals since Pat Riley in It was about the 1982 – thought it was essential moment, for sure, but the that his team stayed in the moment carried the past on its moment. back, too.
FBI investigates Cardinals for hacking into Astros’ database The St. Louis Cardinals cooperated with the federal are being investigated by the FBI investigation into the illegal breach for allegedly hacking into networks of the Astros’ baseball operations and trying to steal information database,” the MLB statement said. about the Houston Astros, The New “Once the investigative process York Times reported Tuesday. has been completed by federal Major League Baseball, law enforcement officials, we will the Cardinals and Astros all issued evaluate the next steps and will statements Tuesday saying they make decisions promptly.” have cooperated fully with the Late Tuesday, the FBI office investigation, which started last in Houston released a statement year after some information was that neither confirmed nor denied posted anonymously online. The the investigation, but added, “The Astros and Cardinals said they FBI aggressively investigates all would not comment further, as it’s potential threats to public and an ongoing federal investigation. private sector systems. According to ESPN legal “Once our investigations are analyst Roger Cossack, the federal complete, we pursue all appropriate investigation is close to a conclusion. avenues to hold accountable those The Times reported who pose a threat in cyberspace.” Tuesday that the FBI and Justice “Something is going on,” Department officials have evidence Cardinals manager Mike Matheny that Cardinals officials -- who were told reporters before Tuesday’s not identified -- allegedly tapped game. “We don’t know how to into the Astros’ database and react at all until we have more had access to statistics, scouting information, so we don’t.” reports and internal discussions Baseball commissioner Rob about players, trades and other Manfred indicated later Tuesday proprietary information. that MLB will not reach judgment “Major League Baseball until the investigation progresses has been aware of and has fully further.
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Whats next for LeBron and Cavs? CLEVELAND -- It is decision time again for LeBron James. Where he’ll end up after his latest potential foray into free agency likely won’t be as intriguing as the how. James’ foreseeable future is in Cleveland. With the ability to opt out of the two-year deal he signed with the Cavaliers last offseason, James must now decide just how much he wants to influence the Cavs as they enter a summer full of uncertainty and potentially massive spending. The Cavs prefer he give a lot of input. In past similar situations, James has skewed toward passiveaggressiveness from the shadows. Taking such a position now would only add to the anxiety the franchise is sure to feel. As if the Golden State Warriors’ championship celebration on the Cavs’ floor Tuesday night wasn’t bad enough, the Cavs’ immediate future is troublesome: James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova could all be free agents by July 1. James, Love and Smith have player options for next season and all are expected to decline them. Thompson, Shumpert and Dellavedova are expected to receive qualifying offers from the Cavs and they will become restricted free agents, giving the team the right to match any offer they receive. And the extensions Kyrie Irving (five years, $90 million) and Anderson Varejao (two years, $20.3 million) signed last year are also set to kick in. Internally, the Cavs have discussed their payroll needing to balloon to between $100 million and $110 million for next season, according to sources. If they actually hit the top end of that salary threshold, it would put owner Dan Gilbert on the hook for more than $75 million in luxury tax payments and bring the team near
the record $193 million in taxes and salaries the Brooklyn Nets spent in 2013-14. Gilbert, who has seen his estimated net worth quadruple to more than $4 billion during the decade he has owned the Cavs, has indicated numerous times he is willing to spend. To keep James committed, Gilbert has no choice. But he’d probably prefer it if James’ commitment was just as deep in terms of length of years. And that likely won’t be the case for the time being. When James does re-sign with the Cavs this summer, it’s probable it will be to another one-year contract plus a player option. Even if this route makes financial sense for James with the salary cap expected to surge following the 2016-17 season, it will keep the Cavs uncomfortable going forward. But that’s the point: He doesn’t want his organization to be comfortable. Welcome to the modern NBA, where James doesn’t just control every facet of the game, he controls every facet of the organization. Ideally for the Cavs, James would come into his exit meeting with strong opinions: Sign this guy at any cost; don’t worry about this guy; try to keep this guy, but don’t break the bank. No, this is not how things are supposed to be done in a classic NBA hierarchy. But the reality is the Cavs prefer James to be invested in their decisions so that everyone is on the same page. It’s better than operating in a gray area, where they’re uncertain of James’ investment in working with a player going forward. This is especially important in regard to Love. James very much pushed for the Cavs to trade for Love last summer, to the point where he was comfortable with No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins being included. However, James and Love didn’t
Better to miss playoffs or lose in Finals?
LeBron James: “I’ve missed the playoffs twice. I lost in the Finals four times. I’m almost starting to be like I’d rather not even make the playoffs than to lose in the Finals. It would hurt a lot easier if I just didn’t make the playoffs and I didn’t have a shot at it.”
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) hangs his head during the second half of Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 16, 2015. particularly mesh well, on or off the court. The Cavs improved vastly on defense following Love’s shoulder injury earlier in the playoffs and were able to continue to excel without him. Considering Love’s recent shoulder surgery and the back issues that affected him all season, the Cavs would have reason to pause before offering Love the maximum-allowed five years, $100 million. This is why they’d prefer to have James’ seal of approval. If Love’s deal ends up being a burden in the future, they’d want James to share in the responsibility for it. This is also why James wouldn’t be so interested in taking part. He wants a great team and the owners to spend to get it there, but he doesn’t want it to limit his future flexibility. As a once-a-generation player, he can have both. James, though, has been more
outspoken when it comes to Thompson. The former fourth overall pick shares an agent with James and appears to have a better chemistry with him on court and off. And James has made it clear in the past that he’d like to play with Thompson for a long time. During the conference finals, James went so far as to say: “Tristan should probably be a Cavalier for his whole career. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t.” James has at times been an active recruiter in free agency in conjunction with the Cavs and Miami Heat front offices. But he’s detached himself in summers when he’s been a free agent. In 2010, the Cavs couldn’t get him on the phone when trying to decide Mike Brown’s future. Last summer, the Heat were left to parse James’ tweets for his opinions on players, because he went dark on them. (That’s probably part of what Heat president Pat Riley meant in April, when he said that the Heat would go into this offseason with “no more smiling faces with hidden agendas.”) It isn’t clear how James will handle free agency this summer, but he is going to be a free agent again. He could be posting photos on Instagram while on a yacht as the Cavs twist over whether they should play hard ball or just go ahead and outlay the cash to retain their free agents. Or he could do the opposite. He could opt out by June 30, commit to re-signing on July 1 and then get involved in trying to get the Cavs to close deals. Every NBA summer is filled with drama, and over the past five years the Cavs have been involved in some of the biggest in league history. The Cavs will likely emerge from this summer as the favorites to repeat as Eastern Conference champs and with a staggering amount of new money of their books. Brace yourself for the journey there.
Pink ball ready for Test cricket debut Brett Elliot, the pink ball is as hard as the red Kookaburra managing director, and white balls but an additional has said that the pink ball dye is added to improve the is ready for Test cricket. brightness of the ball, which is In 2009, the MCC made a believed to promote swing as recommendation to experiment well. with pink balls and since then it “To ensure the best has been used by the ECB and visibility whilst also preserving CA as well. the natural wear characteristics “The Kookaburra turf of the ball throughout the course pink ball has been extensively of the game, we add additional tested over the past five years colour to the pink ball and also by the MCC, ECB, CA, and the white ball. This enhances the I believe the ball is ready for brightness of the ball although an international Test match,” some say also encourages early Elliot told the Sydney Morning swing,” Elliot said. Herald. “We have also supplied During the Sheffield a number of other ICC members trials the pink ball had swung like CSA and WICB, and have longer than the red ball and had been equally happy with its undergone broadcast trials, with performances at domestic level.” Cricket Australia and Channel After staging a day- Nine hoping to attract bigger night round of Sheffield Shield crowds. matches in November, Cricket The board is expecting a Australia is looking to provide reply from New Zealand Cricket the setting for the first day- by the end of the month on the night Test against New Zealand use of pink balls and day-night later this year with Adelaide, Tests though some New Zealand Brisbane and Hobart the players aren’t too keen on it, possible venues. describing the night format as Elliot has said that the “gimmicky”.
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