NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
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VOLUME 11 - NO. 45
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$39 MILLION SURPLUS By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor
T
he Turks and Caicos Islands Government recorded a whopping $39.4 million surplus in the first half of the 2015/2016 financial year, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Athenee Harvey. Seeking $8.13 million from the Appropriations Committee for the second Supplementary Budget during a November 17th sitting of the House of Assembly, Harvey disclosed that the surplus was $29 million higher than expected or $7.8 million or 17 percent below last year’s outturn for the same period. She said also that the recurrent revenue for the six monthperiod stood at $129.9 million, which was $13.6 million or 12 percent higher than expected and six percent above last year’s outturn of $122.4million. She said that this is due to the strong performance in the real estate sector and better than expected tourism arrivals for the summer months. She added that the current expenditure for the six month period was $85 million, which was $15.6 million or 15 percent below budget estimates and $11.6million above the prior expenses due to mainly to lower than expected personnel and other operating expenses. With regards to non-recurrent expenditure, Harvey explained that $5.7million, which is six percent or $400,000 below the budget, while being below last year’s outturn by 25 percent. On capital spending, she said that it totaled a little over $5 million. “So, as you can see, with the current numbers that we are running, we have more than sufficient funding to fund this supplementary request,” she said. The Permanent Secretary of Finance said while the development fund will be increasing by $2.32 million, government will be dropping some projects to the tune of $1.18 million for the remainder of this fiscal
PEARL BERNADIN WINS CAR FROM IGA
Photo By: Vivian Tyson When The SUN asked an elated Pearl Bernadin, what she intends to do with the 2016 Hyundai i10 motor car she won at the Graceway Supermarkets’ promotion, she yelled: “I am going to keep it?” From a field of hundreds of customers, the Government Treasury employee of more than three decades walked away with the grand prize. She was among four finalists last Friday, November 20, narrowed down for the drawing, which took place at the supermarket’s newest chain – Graceway Smart, located downtown Providenciales. The event was both exciting and, for some, nervewracking, since each finalist was given an ignition key to year. She reported that they are actually decreasing by a total of $1.18 million. She said that the Ministry of Finance will be affected by $50,000; Infrastructure Housing and Planning$30,000; Public Works Department $200,000; Planning$400,000; and the Ministry of Health $300,000. She said that the projects could come back on stream for the next fiscal year. “With regards to these projects, if they are forgone at this moment; they would
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attempt their chances at starting the car. Two finalists before Bernadin were unsuccessful, and according to her, nerves took over as she approached the car. But that apprehension was flushed out by an adrenalin of thrill, when the key turned in the ignition and the engine turned over. She explained that the car was the first item she ever won. Pearl (second left) is photographed with the displayed older version of the Hyundai motor car, and in the company of the managers, representing each of the three Graceway stores: (from left) Graceway IGA - Jamal Ewing, Graceway Gourmet – Trevor Lewis; and Graceway Graceway Smart - Tamell Seymour.
have to bid for funding within the next financial year. It would be a decision of the policy-makers if they choose to move forward with these projects or even increase the amount that might be allocated for them. They will be reassessed within the upcoming financial year, and if funding can be received, and if the policy makers choose to do so. “There will not be any automatic carryover (of the projects) unless they have been noted in the Cabinet. At this stage, no work has commenced on these projects. And in assessing the development fund, it
wouldn’t be feasible that they would even start during this financial year, with the amount of work that might be required to actually get these projects started with tendering and whatnot. “So as a result, ministers will take these into consideration in next year’s financial budget if they choose to instruct the accounting officer that these projects will proceed, will proceed if funding is available,” she pointed out. Harvey insisted that that the projects have not been abandoned, as suggested by Deputy Opposition Leader Hon. Sean Astwood.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
$39 MILLION SURPLUS
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“I would not say abandon, because abandon would mean that you will never come back to them. But in this case, we will put them at the side, put a wrap to it at the moment, and will come back to them after we fought all the battles,” she said. Harvey agreed with Hon. Ruth Blackman, Chairman for the Appropriations Committee that the sidelined projects were critically analyzed before the decision was made shelve them. “We undertook a critical review of all projects. Those that the
various accounting officers deemed would actually commenced or even be progressed enough within the financial year, so the funds would be committed, we went ahead with those. These (abandoned) projects; they haven’t started at this particular time. So assessing them to be committed before the end of the financial year was feasible,” she said. “She added: “So, the ministers will take these projects into account. I can’t say if they will be included (in the next budget) or not, because it is a policy matter.
She said that the work has commenced on the new budget but it was too early to say whether or not these projects would be included. “We have started working on the budget for financial year 2016/2017. We haven’t actually reviewed the estimates as yet but work has commenced. He have not gone through line-by-line-line or actually communicated proposals to cabinet as yet. We are unable to confirm or deny if any of these items will be included in the estimates for 2016/2017” she said.
PS of finance Athenee Harvey
Government exploring legal options on Supreme Court 12-storey development ruling
The Dr. Rufus Ewing Administration is exploring all its legal options in the wake of Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale’s ruling against his government’s decision to approve the construction of a 12-storye development and clearing the way for high-rise construction zones. About two weeks ago, Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale government had overstepped its bounds when it gave the green light allowing the construction to take place and instructing the Physical Planning Department to establish high-density development zones. Since the ruling, government has not publicly stated how it felt. But when contacted, Premier Hon.
Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing Dr. Rufus Ewing explained that his administration was currently exploring all its legal options, seemingly to devise a particularly approach on how
to appeal the ruling. “Government is exploring all options and all avenues available to it. We have not put out anything specifically because we are getting sound independent legal advice on the ruling and what it means for Turks and Caicos, not only for 12-storey (developments), but what it means, for Turks and Caicos....and the various options that are available to us, to ensure the continued sustainable growth and development of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” the premier said. The Premier said that his administration took the decision not to make any public pronouncement as a deliberate act to avoid any legal ramifications if, and when the matter
goes up for judicial review. “I will make no comments about the ruling, because anything that we say sometimes can and will always do be held against us in the court of law,” the Premier said. Premier hinted that before the end of the year a decision could be taken as to whether or not to go forward or accept the Chief Justice’s decision on the matter. Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee Brathwaite-Knowles, who is out of the country on business, said that since the verdict, her office has been working with government to determine the options open to the administration. She said that such considerations are still in train.
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NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
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NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
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LOCAL NEWS
Tourism officials welcome new jetBlue service between Provo and Ft. Lauderdale By Todeline Defralien
Tourism officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands are pleased and optimistic about jetBlue’s new service between Providenciales and Fort Lauderdale, which has already caused a drastic reduction in air fares to Florida. The officials made their comments known when JetBlue’s fully sold inaugural flight landed on Thursday at the Provo International Airport in Providenciales on November 19th, 2015. Several tourism and airport officials were present but there was no one present from Government as Cabinet ministers were in the House of Assembly in Grand Turk. Winston Wright, General Manager of JetBlue in Turks and Caicos said jetBlue is both honored and humbled to celebrate this new service to Fort Lauderdale. “We are grateful to the community for its support which has been extremely positive so far. Day in and day out our crew members and business partners have demonstrated that every customer deserves outstanding service, free brand name snacks, in-flight entertainment and convenient flight schedules. We are pleased to play our role in bringing more tourists to the shores of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which intern helps to grow the local business sector,” said Wright, who added that JetBlue works closely with the Tourist Board to help grow tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The new service to Fort Lauderdale marks the third JetBlue Focus city flight to Providenciales. Currently JetBlue offers daily flights to New York’s JFK airport and seasonal Saturday service to Boston’s Logan international airport and starting December 2015it will be adding an additional seasonal
(L-R) Winston Wright General Manager of JetBlue in Turks and Caicos, Representative of TCI Tourist, Andre Garneau Deputy Chairman of TCIAA, CEO of TCI Airports Authority (TCIAA) John Smith, Blythe Clare of TCI Tourist Board, Kelisa Forbes and Ms. Stacy Cox, Executive Director of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association. Sunday service to Boston as well. “This new service to Fort Lauderdale will provide Turks and Caicos Islanders with new access to Fort Lauderdale and its world class shopping and attractions as well as options to connect to other destinations within the United States and Latin America,” Wright said. He stated that jetBlue currently offers flights to more than 40 destinations from Fort Lauderdale, including the recently launched service from Fort Lauderdale to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and Charleston’s South Carolina. He added: “JetBlue’s commitments to its markets include offering outstanding service at reasonable fares; not only that, but we also pride ourselves in being a good neighbor to the local community. This commitment has been in place from the first day JetBlue commenced service to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our Caribbean and Latin American network currently spends 34 destinations, soon to be 35, with the addition of Quito Ecuador
in early 2016. JetBlue is committed to its Caribbean and Latin American region and by extension the Turks and Caicos Islands. We invite everyone to come and try the JetBlue experience, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.” Representative of TCI Tourist Board Blythe Clare said, “Tourism is indeed the engine that drives our economy and we are grateful that visitors continue to patronize the number one island in the world and the best Caribbean destination that is Turks and Caicos Islands. We would like to thank JetBlue for their patronage and for adding another flight to Turks and Caicos and we wish you continued success.” Andre Garneau Deputy Chairman of TCIAA said his department and its staff, as well as other entities; the Tourist Board, the Hotel and Tourism Association have been working very hard for several years to have this new route. Ms. Stacy Cox, Executive Director of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association said her association is excited about this
new venture with JetBlue. Not only is it exciting for tourists, she said, but it’s also a great opportunity for locals alike and it opens up the gateway to Europe and other destinations in the world. “This initiative has been a work in progress for almost three to four years and we’re glad to see that it is actually happening,” Cox said. Chief Executive Officer of TCI Airports Authority (TCIAA) John Smith said, “New routes are critical and imperative to the country’s tourism development. But on behalf of the executive team of the Airports Authority who has done a stellar job over four years to make this happen, I am very thankful to the partners of JetBlue, the General Manager we are very thankful. We are very welcoming of the new route because finally we’ve been able to deliver to the public something they have asked for. Thank you and we welcome JetBlue to our shores once again but this time from Fort Lauderdale.”
Government boosts micro, small and medium businesses with passage of new legislation The Turks and Caicos development which include farming, Islands Government in pursuing its fisheries, manufacturing and goal of reestablishing the small and processing, industrial cleaning medium business sector as a national services, tourism attractions, arts and priority, last week passed a new music and innovation and technology, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise and support for businesses in these (MSME) Bill which will encourage the areas will range from cash grants to establishment of new businesses as duty concessions as well as technical well as lend the much needed support support from the newly established to those currently in operation. Invest TCI and the Centre for This move by the Government Entrepreneurial Development (CDB). is in fulfillment of its mandate to Premier and Minister of continuously improve the economic Health, Agriculture and Human climate of the country through Services, Dr. The Hon. Rufus W. Ewing, expansion of services, the creation who led on the development of the of jobs and the eventual dissipation SME initiative noted that activities of disparity among the social strata to revive the SME sector has been onwithin the Turks and Caicos Islands. going and gave kudos to the ground The main objectives of the work done by the former champions Bill, which will come into effect on on the subject matter and that of its signing by His Excellency the the steering committee that was Governor and through notice of its established under his Government passage into Law in the Gazette, are which brought about the guidelines the empowerment of Turks and Caicos for the Bill that was tabled for debate Islanders, the encouragement of locals in the House of Assembly. to become business owners and to give Premier Ewing commented, new entrepreneurs a head start in “This piece of legislation is critical the business world as they make the to the development and support of transition from being employees to businesses in our country and I am becoming employers. pleased that it has now passed in the There are several main House of Assembly. We are extremely priority areas for small business grateful for the contribution that
our larger businesses make, but as a Government and as a country, we must support our small and medium businesses, as it is the activity and success of this critical sector that determines the success of any economy. The most economically stable countries have a thriving SME sector which in turn develops a sustainable middle class. Therefore I would encourage all hopeful entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams, make the transition from employee to employer and be the business owner that you long to be. “The priority areas identified in the bill are also significant as we seek to diversify our economic activity from over reliance on Tourism as the bread basket of the country and to strategically develop national food security to enable a reduction on dependency on imports. But we know that tourism is currently our most lucrative market and as Turks and Caicos Islanders, we need to be positioned to benefit from the financial gains and that can be done by setting up our own businesses and offering attractions that tourists can participate in. “Finally, as we promote the
Premier and Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, Dr. The Hon. Rufus W. Ewing culture of these beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands and foster awareness and pride in our heritage, we recognize the need to also support and showcase our arts and music while giving room for innovation and growth through technology. “So this bill, we feel provides the framework for a holistic approach to the development of these islands and we are excited about the opportunities that it presents to our people.”
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Judith Swan jailed for stealing $147000 from Amanyara Judith Swan, former reservations manager of the Amanyara Resort was sentenced in the Supreme Court on Monday, November 16, to two a half years in prison after she confessed to stealing approximately $122,000 from her employer. The sum was a portion of $146,894 in total that was pilfered from the resort by Swann and fellow Reservations employee Brittany Harvey. Harvey has since paid back $25,000, which spared her from going to jail. The court was told that on Thursday, January 2, 2014, a report was made to the financial controller of the resort that during routine audit of its Opera System, it was discovered that numerous reservations initially entered as direct bookings were subsequently attributed to what turned out to be
five fake travel agencies. The travel agencies – Starfall Travel Agency, Mocha Elite, Winding Palm, Zalda Travel and NC Travel were all Florida-based, which the resort had never dealt with prior. The matter was relayed to the Financial Crimes Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, who commenced investigations. Further checks made by the resort revealed 100 revision of bookings attributed to the agencies in total. Seventy-nine of the revisions were attributed to Swann and 21 to Harvey. $146,894 was paid over to the agencies. The money was wired out to WPS, payment facilitator, which then wired the funds to the accounts of the counterfeit travel agencies. It was later discovered that the five phony travel agencies were registered beginning in January
2013, but the two women reworked the sales and marketing report to indicate that the agencies were conducting business with the resort since 2010. Three of the travel agents, investigators found, were registered to Swann’s close relatives. Starfall was registered to daughter Shani Smith; Mocha was registered to sister Tekorah Swann; and Winding Palm was registered to her son Winston Smith. The other two agencies, Zalda Travel and NC Travel, belonged to Kelcy Arthur and Kelcine Gardiner respectively, who were said to be Swann’s friends. The court was told that a production order was obtained for Judith Swann’s accounts, which revealed that she received wire transfer from Mocha and Elite totaled $9,000, in September 2013.
On December 31, 2013, she received a further $5,280 in wire transfer on her CIBC FirstCaribbean account from Kelcine Gardiner. Swann, after being arrested by the police, admitted her involvement in the scheme. She confessed that after the agencies were formed, she informed Harvey of her criminal scheme, and invited her to become part of it. Harvey, after being arrested, repaid $25,000. The resort then expressed no further interest to prosecute her. Swann also admitted liability in a civil action taken against her by the resort, which indicated that if she repaid the money, it would drop the case, saying also through its legal representative Jahmal Missick of Misick of Stanbrook, that it was not interested in custodial sentence for Swann, but would rather if she repaid the stolen money.
Women in Turks and Caicos Islands urged to unite By Todeline Defralien
Women in the Turks and Caicos Islands are being urged to unite. The encouragement came from Sabrina Elizabeth Green who was the guest speaker at the Sister Sister 3rd Annual friendship, beauty & love dinner at the Grace Bay Club, on Friday November 13th, 2015. Green said a whole lot can be achieved in the Turks and Caicos Islands if women stick together. “When woman support each other it is
a beautiful thing,” Green said. “The returns that you can get from it, it is unexplainable undeniably a wonderful thing and if we can get more of that happening here in the Turks and Caicos Islands I can assure you our country will grow by leaps and bounds because we are women, we are doers, we know how to make things happen so it is important for us to support one another.” Green added, “I don’t ever want it to be misunderstood that I am every going to discuss anyone in a negative light,
because I do not have the time for that. I am ready for the next chapter of my life. It is about love. It is about empowerment. It is about upliftment. It is all that I promote today in my life. If I am not on a mission of togetherness, it’s a mission I don’t want to be a part of. It’s all about peace, tranquility, maturity. I’ve had some hurts, I’ve had some disappointments but guess what? God kept me and I’m still here and I am a testament to all of that and it’s all attributable to the friends and the people that Sabrina Elizabeth Green guest speaker at the Sister Sister 3rd Annual friendship, I have in my life.” beauty & love dinner
Digicel launches Christmas campaign
Digicel’s Head of Marketing, Trina Adams, making a presentation to Winston Parker Symbolic of the big day itself, deals on a range of sleek new handsets, being a Caribbean cruise for four, Digicel launched its “The More The such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 perfectly in line with the theme of Merrier” Christmas Campaign, on and the latest smartphone from the sharing. All customers have to do to November 25th. The campaign launch Digicel DL range, the DL810 for only enter for a chance to win is: Sign up took place at 11:30am at the Digicel $109 postpaid and $129 prepaid. for an LTE prepaid or postpaid data flagship store in Providenciales. Customers will also have plan, purchase a featured handset, The campaign centers on a chance to share in $10,000 worth pay their postpaid bill on time and in the theme of sharing in order to get of cash and prizes. Customers have full, and top up $20 or more. It’s that more out of Christmas and making it the chance to win a prize each week, easy. merrier for family and friends. The including a smart TV, laptop and Head of Marketing, Trina promotion gives customers the best other prizes; with the grand prize Adams, said: “Digicel likes to make it
easy for everyone to enjoy Christmas and the best thing about this campaign is that they don’t have to anything out of the ordinary; just continue to sign up for LTE data, pay their bills in full and top up with $20 or more and they will be entered for a chance to win big. There will be weekly winners of the best and latest gadgets and the grand prize winner gets to share a cruise with family or friends.” Ms. Adams went on to say: “We’re including our Digicel Play customers as well; all they have to do to enter for this promotion is to sign up for any TV or broadband package or pay their bills on time and in full. The more you do the more chances you have to win. ‘The More The Merrier’ Christmas promotion will run from November 25th – December 22nd.” To kick off the season sharing, Digicel presented a cheque for $1,000 to a smiling Winston Parker, the grand prize winner of their Digicel Play “Sign Up & Win” promotion. When asked how it felt to win, Mr. Parker replied: “What can I say, Digicel Play is number one”.
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Staff shortage crippling court system By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor
When a chief justice is forced to answer incoming phone calls from members of the public and those in the legal profession needing assistance on their case, and also having to answer the door, it a sure telltale sign that there is a serious need for additional staffing. That was the picture Chief Justice Her Ladyship Margaret Ramsay-Hale painted when she sat before the Appropriations Committee last week to seek additional funding to offset the cost of running her department and the impending corruption matters against former government ministers. She told the Committee that shortage of staff within the public judicial structure appears to be systemic. “I answer doors and phones myself at the courthouse, and that understaffing is a systemic issue,” she informed the Committee. Ramsay-Hale informed the Committee that in recent time the court lost a number of critical employees, including judges. Some of those persons, according
Chief Justice Her Ladyship Margaret Ramsay-Hale to the Chief Justice, have been replaced, but the public judicial system still needs critical people. “We lost a magistrate, we had to recruit one; we had the resignation of the registrar, we had to recruit one; we now have a new resignation of registrar, we have to recruit one; we have the retirement of the chief magistrate, we have to recruit one. And so, these are vacancies, if I can say that, which were not anticipated,
and that has caused a pressure on our budget,” she explained. Committee members Hon. Normal Saunders and Ruth Blackman expressed concern about the resignations, especially at a time when there has been a re-grading exercise, which was done recently. However, RamsayHale said that when she took over as Chief Justice last year, some of the resignations were already in effect, adding that the departures stemmed from a myriad of conditions within the system. “When I took over, three of the resignations were already entrained, including that of the former chief justice. As a court, we have infrastructural challenges, accommodation for staff; the offices are not to the standard. We do not have the capacity. We are understaffed,” she added. “If you are coming from a jurisdiction where, as a registrar, you are supported by four registry clerks, two deputy registrars, and you come here and you realize that the support is not there, it becomes difficult. It depends on the personality of the postholder. But I don’t think any of the persons who resigned has resigned for any other reason
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than that.” She added: “In the case of the former registrar (David Chetwynd), he was just ready to go, so was the former Chief Justice (Edwin Goldsbrough), and the former magistrate resumed her position of calling in England. It is not anything that we have to be concerned about, staff changes do occurred, particularly where you don’t have any security of tenure, you are on a short term contract, there are a host of systemic issues that we could discuss in another day, as not just to recruit but how to retain staff.” Responding to Hon. Selver, who queried whether or not her personal security apparatus was sufficient, Ramsay-Hale responded: “The topic comes up all the time, and there are things that perhaps I would like to see done to my office. But when I took office there were many other things that were more urgent, and my staff have not had pay and grading review when the rest of the government did. So, we focused on staff pay, we focused on providing our infrastructure, building capacity on Provo. By next year, if there are any outstanding issues with respect to me and
my future, we will take care of them, but it wasn’t’ priority for this budget.” She said that her office was able to get in at the tail-end of the pay grade review, but were faced with a great deal of complaints. She noted though that there was a lot to be done to ensure that staff members are properly remunerated to ensure parity with the wider government sector. She said that talks are taking place with the Deputy Governor’s office, not only about re-grading but also re-titling. “It is important to understand that the court is a unique creature. We don’t have admin assistance, we have clerks; we don’t have clerical officers, we have registry clerks. Even how you describe a person that works inside of a court is different. So we spent a lot of time re-titling posts and job descriptions, and I think now that we have certainly proposed to the deputy governor a new organizational structure, with new titling for staff and new job descriptions, we can now do another – and I think we must – review to ensure that the work they do is properly compensated,” she said.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Deadline
approaching for voter registration
Registration of Eligible Voters in the Turks and Caicos Islands continues and Supervisor of Elections, Lister Dudley Lewis takes this opportunity to remind all persons that November 30th is the deadline for accepting applications. The Supervisor stated that he is aware of the voter registration drive that is being conducted by private individuals, especially on the island of Providenciales and that he appreciates the assistance rendered to persons who would like to be registered. However; he said that the Elections Department is not a part of that private electoral registration drive. The Elections Department in Grand Turk and Providenciales and District Commissioners Officers in Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle and North Caicos will continue to accept voter registration applications and assist persons with information about the registration process. For persons to be added to the Electors Register and be allowed to vote they must on the qualifying date (November 30, 2015) meet the following requirements: 1.Attained the age of 18 years 2.Be resident in the Islands not less than 12 months, in the aggregate out of 2 years 3.Be a member of Her Majesty’s Forces 4. Be a person working abroad on government business
Turks and Caicos Sun Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 339-5879 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com
5.Be a student residing abroad 6.Have Turks and Caicos Islander Status 7.Complete the required voter registration application that must be signed by the applicant. Persons in possession of Naturalization Certificates or Permanent Residence Certificates are not qualified to be registered as Electors. All applicants MUST have TCIslander or Belonger Status. The Supervisor stated that any person who in a voter registration application form knowingly makes a statement which is false or submits a document in support of the application which is false or which has been altered without lawful authority is guilty of an offence and liable on Summary conviction to a fine of $1,000 and to imprisonment for three months. Person’s assisting individuals to complete and submit registration applications should not guarantee them that they will be placed on the 2016/17 Electors Register. All applications received will be checked against the Ministry of Border Control Database and if a person's status is approved a further vetting process will be conducted by the Elections Department Database Officer and if the applicant meets all registration requirements his/her name will be added to the Register after approval by the Supervisor.
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 Todeline Defralien Reporter Brandy Laporte Reporter
To further facilitate the registration process and to accept applications the Elections Office in Grand Turk and Providenciales will be open on Friday November 27th from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will remain open from 4:30 p.m. to 12 midnight on Monday November 30, 2015.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: •Daily administration of all promotional tasks, including formulate, direct and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products and services, working with advertising and promotion agencies internationally. •Implements marketing and advertising campaigns by assembling and analyzing sales forecasts; preparing marketing and advertising strategies, plans, and objectives; planning and organizing promotional presentations; updating calendars. •Plans meetings and trade shows by identifying, assembling, and coordinating requirements; establishing contacts; developing schedules and assignments; coordinating mailing lists. •Accomplishes organization goals by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments. •Must be able to work on weekends and holidays and on call 24/7 •Conversing in French with Company’s French Accountants and bankers back in Quebec Applications together with accompanying CV and certified copies of professional qualifications, etc. may be addressed to: The Managing Director West Side investment Ltd. Salt Mill Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Office No. 649-432-4537
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Job Title: Senior Account Manager - Turks & Caicos Islands
MARKETING COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR: QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: •Certification in marketing and property management •Minimum of ten (10) years working experience in marketing •Proven and unblemished track record of employment •High professional and ethical standards with a positive attitude toward work •Trustworthy and reliable disposition •Proficient in written and verbal communication skills English •Ability to speak and write a second language a plus (preferably French) •Excellent communication, inter-personal and customer service skills •Must be able to work on weekends and holidays •Clean criminal record
The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd.
Supervisor of Elections, Mr. Dudley Lewis
.KEY
RESPONSIBILITIES
Contributes to meeting team sales plan, and related activities through effective assessment of customer financial needs, providing product solutions •Maintains and grows the customer portfolio by identifying and promoting personal banking solutions for customer needs with a continuous focus and relationship building •Develops and maintains relationships with service partners to optimize business opportunities and referrals. Qualifications/Experience AICB/ABIFS Diploma or Associates Degree in Banking or any related field
•3 or more years banking experience •Previous experience in portfolio and liability administration would be an asset Critical Skills Negotiating/Selling Skills •Leadership & Coaching •Relationship building •Impact & Influence •Ability to manage multiple priorities •Demonstrated written and verbal communications skills •Proficiency in Microsoft Office A competitive compensation package (base salary & bonus) will be commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications. Interested persons should apply by October 15, 2015 and follow the steps below: •Go to jobs.rbc.com •Type Turks in the search by location box •Then select Search Jobs •Select the role you wish to apply for
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
New court system for those charged with certain offences
Persons charged with nonindictable offenses, classified as Either way no longer have the right to choose between the Magistrate and the Supreme Court, thanks to a landmark ruling by High Court judge Justice Robert Shuster on November 12, 2015. The There are broadly three types of offenses that go before the Turks and Caicos Islands justice system – Summary, which are heard by the Magistrate; Indictable only, which are heard usually heard by a judge and jury; and Either-way offences, which are heard by either Magistrate or Supreme Court. However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), which discovered that the Either-way system was merely a custom and not law, successfully challenge that set-up in the Supreme. The ODPP, which welcomes the decision, concludes that many offenders manipulated the system to their advantage, choosing a particular court that they believe they have the best chance of beating the system. “A common belief and practice which had developed was that even where a Magistrate thought that an offence
John Masters could properly be dealt with in the Summary Court, he or she could be trumped by a defendant who could choose to have the matter determined in the Supreme Court. “The effect of this was that offences such as stealing a candy bar
INTERCARIBBEAN AIRWAYS IS SEEKING: TWO SECURITY GUARD: Must have 5 years experience Must be able to speak at least two languages Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons entering the premises. Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft ,presence of authorized persons, or unusual occurrences. Salary commence with experience. Belongers only needs to apply. Contact HR@intercaribbean.com Tel:946-4181
Blee Halligan Architects TCI Ltd.
Junior Architect/Draftsman – FULL TIME
1.Bachelors Degree In Architecture and Interior Design 2.Must have 2-4 years experience in architectural design. 3.Design qualification must cover: •Structural Detailing •MEP Detailing •Landscape Detailing •Furniture Design & Detailing
Must have advanced expertise in the following design software: •Auto-cad •Vector Works •Adobe Photoshop •Adobe Illustrator & Design •Adobe InDesign •Google Sketch-up •SU Podium •V-Ray •Competent in Microsoft and OS Software All above-mentioned skills are relevant in the use of photo realistic visualization of Infrastructure design. Must be able to work independently and in team environments under pressure of continuous deadlines. Must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing Salary commensurate with experience. Resumes to be submitted to: Management, Blee Halligan Architects, 3rd Floor, Raleigh House, Graceway Plaza, Providenciales. (946-4300)
from a store, which should clearly have been dealt with by a Magistrate, were being heard in the Supreme Court by a judge and jury for no reason other than the defendant electing to have the matter determined in the higher court. Many times, this choice was made for strategic reasons only,” john Masters, Director of Public Prosecution said. The DPP declared that after examining the provisions of the relevant legislation, chose to test whether the practice that had developed was actually in accordance with law. After hearing legal argument and reserving his decision, Justice Shuster delivered the landmark decision. He accepted the DPP’s submission that the provision being relied upon does not create a right of election but provides a mechanism for dealing with offences where such a right already exists via other legislation, adding that there is no Either-way legislation in the TCI. Masters was quick to point out that the decision by Justice Shuster no way fetters the discretion of the Magistrate to decide whether a matter should be heard in the Supreme Court, which has substantially higher
sentencing powers, but maintained that it merely takes away the trump card that the defendant should never
have had in the first place. “The benefits of Justice Shuster’s decision, both to the public and the TCI justice system, are enormous. The whole TCI case management paradigm has shifted and not only should criminal cases be dealt with more efficiently but, at substantially lower cost, thereby allowing the valuable resources saved to be redirected to where they are really needed. “Furthermore, those members of the community who qualify to be jurors will have their valuable time better utilized on more serious cases. To give an indication, a fiveday Supreme Court jury trial can easily be heard within a day or two by a Magistrate and on short notice. This should also have the knock-on effect of reducing the Court of Appeal list. The DPP is certain that the TCI community will share in his delight in the trail-blazing decision by our Supreme Court,” Masters said.
Labourer /Senior Hatchery Trade Wind Industries Limited, owners & operators of the Caicos Conch Farm in Leeward seeks to employ a Labourer/Senior Conch Hatchery with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the domestic cultivation of Caribbean queen conch and a familiarity with warm water fin fish. This is a 57 hour per week labor position that involves the maintenance and upkeep of conch and fish currently growing at the Caicos Conch Farm. Daily job activities include cleaning and waste removal from conch ponds / cleaning and waste removal from fish tanks / the sorting, counting, relocating and harvesting of conch and fish /general maintenance of the facility including (but not limited to) trash removal, site maintenance, repairs etc. Other related and necessary duties may be as assigned. Salary: $8.00 per hour. Send resume to: Saunders & Co, Town Centre Building, Providenciales, Attention: Caicos Conch Farm.
FLIGHT SUPPORT LTD: TWO LABOURERS Should be able to work shifts, physically capable to do hard manual labour and lift heavy equipment. Salary commensurate with experience. Belongers need only apply. Interested person should apply to HR@ intercaribbean.com via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040 No phone calls please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Lawyers in SIPT corruption case to be paid for non-sitting days already available for the trial. “We have taken lawyers Senior Sun Editor from their practices in their home Lawyers working on the countries. When the court goes Special investigation Prosecution on a week’s break, these lawyers Team (SIPT) corruption trial can’t go back home and earn money involving former Premier Michael because they are back here four days Misick and some of his former later. They continue to work on the ministers, might not be given time arguments even when they are not to do anything else, so government in the course of a trial. So we do could grant them pay for days not pay for non-sitting days, and that worked for. is the arrangement that have been Chief Justice Margaret made. They get paid for days when Ramsay-Hale made the declaration they appear in court and they also while appearing before the get paid for certain number of nonAppropriations Committee of sitting days because they continue to Parliament last week. work even though they are not in a She said that a number of court,” the Chief Justice explained. lawyers representing their clients She said the Legal Aid will come from overseas, and so, originally allocation was over $6 when there is a short break, they million at a time when her office would be unable to go back to their thought the trial would have started jurisdictions to earn because they and ended at the original scheduling would be mulling over documents date. It was expected that trial would associated with the case. commence in 2013. The Chief Justice was The Chief Justice said that explaining supplementary funds as a result of the trial did not getting requested by her office to offset off the ground, $4.5 million had rolled the initial cost of the trial. The over into 2014/2015. Of that roll-over Chief Justice office is requesting an amount, the CJ said some was used additional $1.9million to add to $2.9 this year. By Vivian Tyson
“So in this year, we only had $2.9 million, because in this year the trial should have been finished. And of course, we have to estimate that if there was a conviction we would need a further sum of money for what we call confiscation proceedings that would follow. So that $2.9 million is never intended for the trial of these matters. It was intended for the ancillary or consequential matters, if I may say, and for other satellite matters that arose during the course of investigations,” she said. Ramsay-Hale added: “What has happened, because the trial is two years late, we have had to build back up to the strength of the allocation in 2014. So what you really see here is trying to get back to where we were before, so we can afford the trial that is now on. Has it cost us more money overall? Yes! Unfortunately, there is no way of science to it. We can’t predict how many motions would be taken, how many days would be used in argument. The lawyers submit their bills, they are taxed and they are paid according to the work, which is done. We are perhaps a little over what we had estimated, but it is still
the most effective approach to legal aid. It is one of the most cost-effective ways of delivery.” She said that her office exercises extreme caution when putting the budget together, being mindful of the fact that it is public money that is being spent. “But we hope what we have here estimated will take us to the end of March (2016) comfortably. I hope we don’t have to come back.” She agrees with the Governor’s Appointee Hon. John Phillips that since the approximately $4 million will be spent on the first few months of the trial, another $4 to $5million may be submitted for the estimates of expenditure for the budgetary year 2016/2017. “Certainly, the $2.9million that we expected to spend this year on the consequential matters will have to be requested for next year. And the balance of the original allocation, when we were making the original cost, which was $6 million, will also have to be requested for next year. So, to suggest that we would be looking at a further $4million next year, yes,” Ramsay-Hale said.
Turks & Caicos Islands Drug Prevention announces raffle winners By Todeline Defralien
The Turks and Caicos Island Drug Prevention foundation held its annual raffle with the aim of raising funds to building a halfway house for recovering addicts, on Wednesday November 25th, 2015 at Salt Café, Blue Haven Resort, Providenciales. Overall there were about 30 participants in the raffle and the top five prize winners are: Sara England winner of two nights stay for two at The Palms; Kathleen Williams, winner of two nights stay for two at Blue Haven; Clive (Bay Bistro), winner of one night stay for two at Grace Bay Club; Latasha Delancy, winner of a 32” Flat Screen Television from Kishco, and Michelle Fulford-Gardiner, winner of Samsun Galaxy S5 phone from Digicel. Raffle winner of the Samsung Galaxy S5 phone Michelle Fulford said, “I am really excited; I’ve always supported drug prevention foundation and their committee and I am really excited to win this Samsung galaxy S5. I bought a lot of tickets. I’ve never won anything, so I am quite elated to have won and I am going to continue supporting the Drug Prevention centre.” The Foundation held a fundraising Masquerade ball in September . President of the Turks and Caicos Drug Prevention Foundation, Dierin Longmire, who is a recovering addict for 25 years said the association is working toward constructing a halfway house on land they have been given on South Dock Road, Providenciales. “We’re just waiting for the process of the paper works so that we
L-R (Dierin Longmire President of the Turks and Caicos Drug Prevention Foundation, Lizzie Courey of Blue Haven, Lesley Ann Cardinal of Jimmy’s Dive Bar and Michelle Fulford Samsung Galaxy S5 phone winner). can break ground in January. We are going to be housing, hopefully, up to 25 men so that we can help people with substance abuse problems and help people that are getting involved in drugs to stop using,” she added. Highlighting the need for a Half-Way House, Longmire said statistics showed there are only 95 to107 inmates in Her Majesty’s Prison at the moment and 95 percent of those
inmates are in there for drug and alcohol related crimes. “So what we are trying to do is we’re working on both sides. We’re working on the side that the ones that are in the prison that get maybe an early release, but then they have to take an extension period and so they get a three month early release, but maybe have to do another six months in the Half way House, so they actually
end up doing nine months in the half way house,” she explained. The Premier Cup and the Masquerade ball worked together with the Foundation and they were given $20,000 from the Premier Cup, so they now have a sum $170,000 in the bank. The Halfway house, which will be 6,000sqft, will cost around $700,000.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Local Photography Studio Wins Top Designation
By Todeline Defralien
Paradise Photography was recognized to be in the top 5 percent of wedding photography professionals. They are the only studio in the Turks and Caicos to receive this prestigious award. WeddingWire, the world’s leading online wedding marketplace, named Paradise Photography as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 for wedding photography. Paradise Photography is the only photography company in the Turks and Caicos to receive such an award. The WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards recognizes the top 5 percent of local Wedding Professionals from the WeddingWire Network throughout the United States, Canada and a broad that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their professional achievements from the previous year. Timothy Chi, CEO for WeddingWire said, “It's always exciting to start the year by honoring the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network who represent more than two million reviews on our website, each of the businesses recognized are committed to quality, professionalism and all around top-notch service. We applaud Paradise Photography for their impressive achievements within the wedding industry.” Christine Morden, Owner of Paradise Photography told The SUN, “Paradise Photography is proud to be one of the top photography studios worldwide to have received this prestigious designation. We are excited that the Turks and Caicos gains international recognition by having a business of this caliber win an award based on service and quality.”
(L-R) James Roy Director/photographer, Christine Morden, Owner of Paradise Photography and Frank Withers photographer. This is not the first time that Paradise Photography has been recognized for making history in the Turks and Caicos. Years ago, owner Christine Morden became the first Master Photographer ever. She received this prestigious designation by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), the world’s leading professional photography association, with over 22,000 members worldwide. A Master Photographer designation is awarded for superior photographic competence demonstrated through photographic competition, advanced education and service to the profession, as determined by PPA. Paradise Photography is known for its fine art style of image making and for its cutting edge photography products which include the latest gallery style pieces. Morden added, “Many of our wedding clients enlarge their favorite photos from the wedding and hang them in their homes. It’s like having a postcard of the beach with them standing in it. Wedding photos from the Turks and Caicos are great advertisements for this destination. Couples frequently return to the Turks and Caicos after their wedding and do anniversary photos. They then bring
their first baby and do family photos. We’ve documented many returning families every year or two when they come back for a visit. Paradise Photography is proud to call the Turks and Caicos home. The unspoiled beauty of the Turks and Caicos is unsurpassed and is the most beautiful canvas on which to take photos, whether it’s for a wedding or a vacationing family.” “We believe in promoting the Turks and Caicos and giving back to the island by supporting local charities and educational programs. I am very proud of the talented team of artists we have in our studio. Overall, we are most proud of our intern program which brings students on photo shoots and helps teach them about the art and business of photography. There’s nothing like taking a young person on a photo shoot and seeing them get excited about improving their new skills,” Morden explained. “By partnering with other businesses that are committed to quality service in the wedding industry we all work together to benefit this beautiful destination, which is top rated for weddings. We are lucky to have such professional and talented partners and businesses in the wedding industry,” says Morden.
The WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee, is the industry leader in wedding-related consumer reviews, with more than two million consumer reviews. While many industry award winners are selected by the host organization, the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Paradise Photography. Awards are determined by a combination of excellence in four factors: overall rating (quality), total number of reviews (quantity), review performance from 2014 (recency), and consistency of reviews from year to year (consistency). Paradise Photography is a member of the Turks & Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association (TCHTA), the Chamber of Commerce, and partners with the Tourist Board to help promote the Turks and Caicos through high impact and striking photography. To see more of Paradise Photography’s wedding photos or images of the Turks and Caicos, visit www.MyParadisePhoto.com.
Digicel Donates To TCI Diabetic Association In honour of World Diabetes Day, which took place on November 14th, and in the spirit of goodwill, Digicel donated much needed patient supplies to the TCI Diabetic Association. The supplies, which consisted of Glucose & Ketone meters, testing stripes and Glucose control solutions, were handed over, on November 16th, to Ms. Angela Williams and Nurse Elaine Clare of the association, who were most appreciative of the gesture by Digicel. “We, of the Diabetic Association, are truly grateful for the gift of the Glucometers and strips that we received
from Digicel. We know that there are diabetics in need of meters, so we will forward the meters to them. Once again, thanks very much for your generosity,” remarked Nurse Elaine Clare, President, TCI Diabetic Association. Digicel Head of Marketing, Ms. Trina Adams, said: “Digicel is always looking for ways to give back and help those in need in our communities, whether it’s through donation like this one, or through community events, we truly believe that it is important for us to play our part in the TCI. Diabetics is a huge health issue here in the TCI and around the
world, the supplies are enough for four patients, and we truly do hope that our small gesture goes a long way in assisting those patients to live the best possible life.” Digicel also sponsored the recent Wrightfully Fit Charity Walk/Run, which took place on Saturday, November 14th, in support of the Diabetic Association. Several Digicel team members came out to run in full support of the charity. Digicel encourages everyone throughout the TCI to take all necessary steps to ensure that they live a long, happy and healthy life as best they can.
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
3rd Annual Ladies Hat Luncheon Fundraiser raises $20,000
By Todeline Defralien
The Ladies Hat Luncheon foundation hosted its 3rd Annual Fundraiser with the aim of supporting children’s education. The very well attended event took place on Saturday November 14th, 2015 and was hosted at Asú on the beach, Pool bar Alexandra Resort. The event was attended by over 125 persons including Deputy Premier Hon. Akierra Misick, First Lady Dawn Perry-Ewing and Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay Hale. Resident Magazine of NYC flew in especially to cover the event and it will be featured in an upcoming issue highlighting the event and the goals behind it and also showcasing the island. Founder of the Organization Pauline Barclay told The SUN, “This is the 3rd annual ladies hat luncheon it was created in 2012 and is held on the same Saturday of every year in November, the week following
the Gourmet Food better the island Safari. The event was ladies went all created to assist in out to win the the education sector coveted prize for for island children Best Hat won by and to date we have the Hon. Akierra achieved many great Missick. We are things, building the still working on annex at Holy Family the reconciliation Academy in 2013 but after costs and 14, providing a p proxi matel y funds for scholarship raised net places and replacing $20,000 that computers at HFA.” will be dispersed B a r c l a y to Holy Family added: “Last year we Academy towards raised money for scholarship the whiteboards places and for Clement Howell upgrades and High School. This to Ianthe Pratt is all made possible Founder of the Organization Pauline Barclay primary school.” through the combined B o t h efforts of the principal and committee members of LHL (Ladies Vice principal of the Ianthe Pratt Hat Luncheon), local and international school were in attendance at the event benefactor’s donators and sponsors. on Saturday as was HFA Principal Each year the event gets better and Wilma Perez.
Barclay thanked all the people who attended, especially sponsors, people and businesses that made donations. Their VIP and Judges table distinguished guests this year were Debbie Travin from Resident Magazine NYC and Margo Manhattan Jewelry designer also from NYC who designed the pink ribbon for Estée Lauder breast cancer awareness who donated a beautiful piece of jewelry that was auctioned off in the auction which is one of the highlights of the day. Stephen Wilson, QC, was this year’s auctioneer. Performers who also donated their time were Karen Bizzell from UK and Josh Shapiro from NYC who performed and entertained the ladies with their Broadway sets and disco tunes. Barclay said next year will be an amazing event just like this year’s was and persons can expect more of the same and more prizes and surprises, save the date for 2016 ladies Hat Luncheon.
Students participate in ‘Hello Tourism’ programme By Brandy Laporte
Eight Schools participated in the first annual ‘Hello Tourist’ programme which was organized by The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourist Association in conjunction with the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. The ‘Hello Tourist’ Programme was held in the 23rd to the 24th of November where the students visited three of the resorts in the Lower Bight. The Tourism training manager for the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Ms. Blythe Clare informed that for the first time of this programme being rolled out they invited eight schools, with eight grade five students from each school. Clare added, “We chose grade five students because we know that the grade six students are getting ready for GSAT so we decided to go with eight students from each school,
to bring them in, to experience life as a visitor. The whole idea is to develop an appreciation for tourism.” The students received passports which, they had to get stamped when arriving at their first destination. When arriving at their Resorts they received room keys and a full tour of their rooms from the hotel’s receptionist. The tour guide took the students to the different restaurants available at the resort and they visited the pools. Clare said that Turks and Caicos is dependent on tourism, it is our life line, it is the engine that drives our economy and therefore if we are a tourist dependent country we need to get our young people involved, because they are the future. Clare continued, they are the ones who are going to choose careers in tourism so we want them to number one, develop an appreciation for the
tourism product that we have here, to develop an appreciation for the people that work here and most of all for them to experience the wonderful hospitality that our guest experience. Clare added, “And I must say the ladies at The Palms and the tour guide was very, very good as it relates to customer service. They got that feeling and I as I said to the students, it’s the experience that makes the visitors come over and over again. If they have a bad experience they wouldn’t patronize that destination.” She said it is up to us to ensure that our young people know what tourism is all about, develop an appreciation for it, respect the people who work in it, from the bellman straight up to the general manager. Clare thanked the hotels, tourism partners the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourist Association for making the event possible.
Tourism training manager for the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Ms. Blythe Clare She said ‘Hello Tourism’ is going to be an annual event. She added that the programme was rolled out in Provo because most of the resorts are here, so hopefully when South Caicos jumps starts in terms of tourism they can go there and see if it works there as well, as in Grand Turk and North Caicos
Revenue Control bridges customer service gap with public “It is a day for persons to understand the real role of the Revenue Control Department. How In an effort to foster greater they can interact with them, what public customer service within sort of taxes they are responsible for government departments, the Revenue paying, why they have to pay them, Control Department staged Taxpayer the rules and regulations behind it,” Education Day on Wednesday, Deputy Governor Williams said. November 18. “We know over the years A number of managers within there have been a lot of changes and the department as well as employees legislations, a lot of changes and set-up shop in the parking lot outside requirements. Some of them have been its office downtown Providenciales in relaxed and some of them have been their thrust to bring public awareness, strengthened,” she continued. not only on what that department She said that the annual event does on a daily, but also to inform the is a time for the public to come in, general public what do when they need learn and understand the tax system, to do business with that department. but also a way of government reaching The nature of the public out to the public. education campaign became so “One of the things that we important that even Her Excellency absolutely need to work on is service Deputy Governor Anya Williams was delivery and customer service. So we on hand to encourage the staff and are getting some of the departments meet members of the public, including to interact more with the public, to go schoolchildren, who were given leave more to the public instead of the public from school to attend the event. having to come to them, and today is By Vivian Tyson
Senior Sun Editor
one of those exercises. So I want to congratulate the team and certainly thank them for involvement. “The takeaway is to say that we are trying to be more in-tune with the community. One of the main areas that this department is responsible for is the business licensing, and I think that that is very important. So persons can come by and find out what are the requirements for certain business license categories, what they need to do, what are the barriers to entry as well as what are the opportunities for entry,” the deputy governor said. In the meantime, Dorika Talbot, Assistant Commissioner for Revenues for the Taxpayers Services Section said there is a great deal of wins involved in staging the yearly event. “A lot of people come in and learn things they didn’t know about. It is bringing general awareness to basic stuff and gives them the opportunity to learn more about the tax system.
A group of Clement Howell High School students listen attentively as representatives from the Revenue Department explain to them how the agency operates. We have a culture here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, people don’t read as they should. So, this is a proactive approach to bring them information orally, rather than relying on them to read press released or brochures that we might put out there,” Talbot said.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Students taught how to create an App John Williams said that 150 students what the telecommunications industry from all of the high schools in the Turks is. The Telecommunication and Caicos Islands were invited to The Director of Technology in Commission held a ‘How to Create attend the ‘How to Create an app’ event the telecommunications commission an App’ workshop with from all of the to inform them on what is happening Mr. Kenva Williams informed the High Schools in the Turks and Caicos in the telecommunications arena, and students about the evolution of Islands as a part of their tenth year the role which the telecommunications telecommunications and the different anniversary. industry has been playing in the careers in telecommunications The workshop was held on education sectorover the years. The CEO of Domus Semos Wednesday November 18th 2015 at the Mr. Russell Gardiner, an engineer of Sancus Mr. E. jay Saunders joined the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex. the Telecommunications Commission, students as well as the teachers and The Director General of the gave the students an overview of what gave them a full interpretation on how telecommunications commission Mr. the history of telecommunications and to create an App. By Brandy Laporte
Mr. Saunders told the student that they would be surprised in realizing that they can compete with the people who created all the other apps if they would just challenge and apply themselves. Mr. Saunders that there are a lot of intelligent people in the Turks and Caicos Islands ad that the only difference between the Turks Islanders and the other people that create apps around the world is that we are never willing to give themselves a try.
37 Cooper Jack Bay Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Email: principal@precioustreasuresschool.com, Tel: 1-649-941-5186
INVITES applications from suitably qualified persons to fill the following positions for the 2015/2016 academic school year.
TRAINED TEACHER -REGISTRAR & TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT OFFICER Minimum Qualification and Experience
•Associate of Science degree in IT, Education (with an IT Major) or a related area. •Certification in any of the following: oA+ certification, o Linux+ certification, o Microsoft certified IT professional certification, o Cisco certified network associate certification, o International information systems security certification consortium certification; •Proven record of successful supervisory in a people-oriented environment; •At least 3 years of direct experience or 5 years in a related area; •Demonstrated understanding of the application of technology to deliver Records and Registration services; •Previous experience working with an international curriculum would be an asset; •A proven record in working successfully with diverse populations; •A positive attitude and ability to plan and adapt to change; •Ability to collaborate effectively with college departments and cross-functional teams; Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. TRAINED TEACHER SECONDARY LEVEL: Qualification must include but not limited to the following:
Master or equivalent in educational studies & development Appropriate Teacher training qualifications Output driven Possess strong abilities in 21st century teaching methodologies At least Five years’ experience in similar position Possesses mature, caring and loving disposition Clean police clearance certificate Willing to work long hours and on public holidays Must be computer literate
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications TRAINED PRESCHOOL TEACHER:
A Teaching Diploma or Degree from a recognized institution with emphasis on Early Childhood Education; At least five years’ experience in similar position Possess strong abilities in 21st century teaching methodologies Possesses mature, caring and loving disposition Clean police clearance certificate Willing to work long hours and on public holidays Must be computer literate
Salary commensurate with experience and qualification
PRIMARY:
TRAINED PRIMARY TEACHERS GRADES 1-6
Qualification must include but not limited to the following:
A minimum of First Degree or equivalent in educational studies Appropriate Teacher training qualifications Possess strong abilities in 21st century teaching methodologies At least three years’ experience in similar position Possesses mature, caring and loving disposition Clean police clearance certificate Willing to work long hours and on public holidays Must be computer literate
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
ANCILLARY: CLEANER: -Person will be responsible to keep classrooms and Toilets clean at all times -Be willing to work until late evenings and on non-school days if required -Person will be responsible to maintain school surroundings and do minor repairs and maintenance. -Salary $5.50 per hour COOK: -Person will be responsible to prepare daily lunches for the Students and Teachers -Candidate must possess a valid driver’s License. Applications should be submitted to the HR Department no later than December 15th 2015: P.O. Box 293, 37 Cooper Jack Bay Road, Providenciales.
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
2nd Annual Provo Art Crawl to be hosted next year
By Todeline Defralien
The second annual Provo Art Crawl is slated to take place early next year, on January 20th, February 17th, March 16th and April 20th, 2016 free of charge. In an interview with The SUN, Chel Beeson founder and organizer of the event, said art crawl and art walks are five thousand years old and they fits perfectly in the Grace Bay area, which is where all the galleries are, and where the majority of tourists hang out. “It’s just a natural thing where you design a map and typically in an art crawl on the map you have the galleries stay open late so that the people can come out after dinner with the kids and they can go and do things,” Beeson said. “I put all local artists in places like Lupos restaurant, Melt, Hemingway’s and so on; and of course, all of the galleries have all of their local artists there and it a perfectly natural thing for families to do because after dark in Turks and Caicos there is not much for families to do and it helps them to discover more. They get to be introduced to local artists and do it as a family.” When asked what inspired him to come up with the idea, he said, “I am an artist and resident at Innova Arts gallery in Alabama and they
have an Art Crawl every month all year long and I thought this would be absolutely perfect for Grace Bay and it will be successful here. It’s a voluntary effort by me. There is no organization, there is no company, and it’s just this artist trying to help other artists.” He added: “I like to donate my time to worthy causes like, the summer camp at the Edward youth Gartland centre. At Amanyara almost every artist I know on the island donates five to eight pieces to be auctioned off to benefit the children centre and orphanage and so on; and next year January I will be donating five or six pieces to benefit local causes for children at Amanyara. I also donated a piece that I shot of Grand Turk( a piece of three blue chairs with that beautiful Grand Turk blue water in the background with a little bit of a palm tree and a boat moored off shore) and it went for $650. I love doing that kind of thing and really all artists Founder of Provo Art Crawl Chel Beeson do; and when you are doing my kind “Everybody in this island, and I also have couple people that help of work and you already have a little including my wife, makes a living off me a lot as well like Sheila Ludington bit of following now we’re donating of tourism and if you’re not helping of Paradise Arts,” Beeson added. because we ought to.” out tourism you’re just hurting it. This Last year’s Art Crawl Beeson who is also a travel is something that families can do. It is participants will also be competing photographer said there is so much one of those things that I saw missing again next year and also might be talent in these islands which need and the idea that is thousand years able to pick up some new participants exposure. He would also like to bring old just naturally fit here, and I will along the way. They can be contacted artists to Providenciales from the not be making a company and no I on facebook at ‘Provo Art crawl’ and different islands to have a chance to am not going to make money doing it. via telephone 331-5757. participate in the Art Crawl. That’s not the reason that I’m doing it
Londolozi Ltd. is inviting suitable applications for the following position:
Food and Beverage Manager
Reporting to the General Manager responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: ➢Consistently offer professional, friendly and engaging service. ➢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 Hotel and external guests. ➢Lead and support all Food & Beverage departments in the achievement of their financial and operational targets. ➢Prepare 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. ➢Follow department policies, procedures and service standards. ➢Follow all safety policies
Requirements:
➢Minimum of 5 years of previous Food and Beverage international experience in a senior leadership role ➢University/College degree ➢Computer literate in Microsoft Window applications required ➢Strong interpersonal and problem solving abilities ➢Highly responsible & reliable with the 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 this position will commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Please Submit Applications to: cgibbons@wihl.com Submissions to be no later than December 5th, 2015 Belongers need only apply.
NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION
PEOPLE STATE BANK of c/o 122 Blue Mountain Road, P O Box 127 Richmond House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands: Parcel 20502/162 Ambergris & Fish Cays South Caicos comprising 0.46 acres of vacant land. Registered proprietor: Ambergris Investments Ltd The auction will be held at the offices of Misick & Stanbrook, 122 Blue Mountain Road, Providenciales at 10:00 o’clock in the morning on December 7th 2015 at 10am. A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from Misick & Stanbrook (649) 946-4732 or fax number (649) 946- 4734.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 17
We hire smiles!!! Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond All-inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions. We hire the personality and train the individual. 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 applicants will be contacted for an interview via Text Message. The Public Relations Department requires:
Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa has administrative/ clerical positions in the following departments:
•Media Specialist Requirements include but are not limited to: o University Degree (BA/BS: Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising or equivalent preferred) o Must be able to produce clear, concise and effective Press Releases o Must have strong creative thinking process for story generation and strong copyrighting skills and creative story writing. o Must have strong drive to promote and maintain Sandals Foundation outreach projects—Education, Community & Environments o Basic design skills in relevant software o Understanding of Public Relations and the Principles of Marketing (advertising, sales promotion etc.)
•Human Resources •Food and Beverage •Kitchen •Cost Control •Environmental Health and Safety •Housekeeping Requirements include but are not limited to: o Associates Degree of higher o Proficient in Excel and Word o Experience with report generation and meeting deadlines o Experience in at least one of the following areas: o Payroll o Inventory o Inspections and audits o Confidential o Time management skills
The rate for the positions listed above is $7.00 to $13.00 an hour. The Watersports Department requires:
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $12.00 an hour.
•Watersports Manager •Dive Shop Manager •Assistant Dive Shop Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience managing Beach, Pool, and Waterpark operations (Watersports Mgr.) o Experience managing a Dive shop operation o Ability to up and cross sell o PADI certification to dive o PADI certification to teach instructors o First Aid Certification
Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa requires individuals with clean valid driver’s licenses in the following departments: •Housekeeping •Front Office •Entertainment Requirements include but are not limited to: o Customer Service skills o Experience with keeping to schedules o Proactive with intuitive o Physically Fit
The salary for the positions listed above ranges from $28,000.00 to $45,000.00 per annum
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $7.00 an hour.
The Project Department requires:
The Rooms Division Department requires:
•Construction Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Monitor the various constructor projects on property o Manage and monitor outside crew working on site o Ensure the correct materials are delivered and are being used in the project o Computer literate o Experience with report generation o Physically fit
•Receptionist/ Front Office Agent •Concierge Agent Requirements include but are not limited to: o Background in customer service o Ability to go above and beyond for guest •Bellman •Junior Concierge (previous titled Minibar Stocker/Attendant) Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Outgoing and friendly attitude o Clean driver’s license
The rate for the position listed above is $8.00 to $15.00 an hour. The Dining Room and Bar Departments requires:
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour.
•Server (Waiter/Waitress) 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 allergies to any foods o Physically fit •Beach and Pool Server •Bar Porter •Bartender Requirements include but are not limited to: o Excellent customer service skills o Knowledge of wines mixing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
The Housekeeping Department requires: •Linen Room Attendant •Room Attendants/ Domestic Worker •Housemen •Public Area Attendants/ Cleaner Requirements include but are not limited to: o One year’s experience in a hotel environment an asset. o Physically fit The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour.
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour. Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or placed in the secure drop box at the service gate or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn
The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
and
The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road
and should reach not later than December 4th 2015
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
New post office could be built next year
If all goes well, residents on Providenciales could see the construction of a new post office in the next financial year, which begins in April, 2016. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transport and Communication, Ian Astwood, made the declaration while addressing the commissioning of 450 post boxes in Regent Village, Grace Bay last week. He said the new post office would be sited at its original location, which now houses the condemned vacated building downtown Providenciales. Astwood said that the project, which should have come on stream last year as a capital project, was scratched from government’s priority list due to more pressing undertakings, competing for limited public funds. He said however that, it appears that the post office construction could make the list for the next financial year’s capital expenditure. “As you would know, several
years ago, we had back on as a a setback in our capital project,” postal services here Astwood said. in Providenciales in He said that regards to the building. plans for the We were unfortunately facility have plagued with already been termites, we had some drawn, and structural problems, now awaiting we had infestation of government’s pests, and we had a stamp of mold outbreak in the approval. building. Under those “I must circumstances, it was commend PDW in our best interest (Public Works to relocate the postal Department), staff. the plans “The ministry, have already as some of you might been drawn, know, tried feverishly Permanent Secretary in the Ministry so majority of last year to get the post of Home Affairs, Transport and the work has office building listed Communication, Ian Astwood. already been as a capital project. done in terms Although deemed as a of the new very important project, other projects building for the post office downtown. last year took precedence. We are in We are looking at the same sight,” budget fever once again. And like last Astwood said. year, the minister has instructed me In the meantime, the to ensure that we get the post office Home Affairs, Transport and
Communication PS revealed that Hon. George Lightbourne, Minister for that portfolio, has given the green light for the opening of a postal agency in the Grace Bay area, so as to lessen the hassle of the business community and some residents having to journey downtown to do such business. “Within the last two weeks, the minister has given me his blessings to have a sub-post office up here in Grace Bay, and we are working with Mr. Slattery and his team to see how that can come to fruition. That would certainly be a plus for commercial businesses here, as well as tourism,” Astwood said. He explained that the outpost could be used not only for postal services but also for philatelic activities, including the selling of commemorative stamps, T-shirts, and other mementos. He said also that ministry is moving forward to kick-start a domestic mail system, while pushing to acquire postal vans. “I am pushing hard to get our postal vans for the post office for this year,” he said.
AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD POSITION AVAILABLE
Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitable applicant to fill an available post on Ambergris Cay ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS. The available post is for a HOUSEKEEPER
WATERLOO HOTEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED
Job Summary:
Alexandra Resort, Blue Haven Resort & Marina and the Beach House
•Assisting the Housekeeping Team with daily housekeeping duties. •Cleaning of guest’s homes, staff dormitories, offices. •Ensuring that the housekeeping area is kept in a tidy manner at all times. •Clean and maintain all housekeeping equipment as required. •The Employee will operate in the safest possible manner at all times. •Requirements - Applicants must be and or have: •At least ten (10) years of experience in Housekeeping •A high school diploma or equivalent •Attentive to details and self-motivated •Able to understand and speak English fluently •Able to work with little or no supervision •Physically fit, dependable and hard working •In possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License •Able to understand and follow policies and procedures of the department •Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off. Salary Scale: $8.00 per hour paid fortnightly. Closing Date for Applications is Friday December 11, 2015 Applications must be addressed to:
Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778
We are seeking to employ, suitably qualified and experienced hospitality professionals in the positions listed below. Our ideal candidate should have an outstanding command of the English language, written and oral, strong communication and excellent customer service skills. Salary for these positions will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Engineering & Grounds •Chief Engineer •Landscaping/Grounds Manager •Maintenance Manager •Electricians •Maintenance/Room Technicians •Carpenter Helper Food and Beverage •Restaurant Maintenance Technician •Executive Sous Chefs •Asst. Restaurant Manager •Restaurant Supervisors •Sous Chefs •Head Chefs •Raw Bar Cooks •Line Cooks •Bartenders •Hostess •Servers •Pool and Beach Servers •Food Runners •Stewards (Overnight)
Accounting/Administration •Hospitality Financial Controllers •Hospitality Accountants •Human Resources Assistant •Storeroom Associate •Cost Control Clerks •Purchasing Personnel Guest Services •Senior Guest Services Agents •Airport Greeter •Receptionist Spa •Spa Director/Manager •Spa Therapists Loss Prevention •Loss Prevention Manager •Loss Prevention Supervisors •Senior Loss Prevention Officers Rooms Division •Rooms Supervisors •Room Attendants •Housemen •Public Area Attendants
Interested persons may contact our HR department Mon. – Fri. from 9am-3pm via telephone number 946-5807 or you may submit your resume with qualifications and experience to: cgibbons@wihl.com
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
The Public Service Must Lead (Part 2) Following on from part 1 where I discussed the Public Service leading on employment practices, another area it must also lead is Remuneration Equity. While the much touted Pay and Grading Scheme has been implemented, there still remains Remuneration Inequity throughout the Civil Service. Presently you have four Major Groups of Civil Servants: The first are the Permanent Secretaries (PS) and Deputy Permanent Secretaries (DPS) that are on 3-5 year contracts with huge but fixed salaries. By all indications they do not get a gratuity or end of contract bonus; the second group is first and second time contract holders primarily made up of foreign nationals. Their terms include at least a 15% gratuity on successful completion of contract, duty exemption on the import of a vehicle and other goods within the first six months of employment, round trip tickets for them, spouse and two to three children where applicable, housing allowance the for duration of their contract, plus vehicle, telephone and other allowances as applicable to the post. Additionally, they have an option to go on “Local Terms” after completion of two contracts; the third and likely smallest of the four groups is locals joining the service before April 1992 when the National Insurance Scheme was introduced. They are eligible for 10-15% of their pension to be converted as gratuity on leaving the service, though it was the intention during the Interim Administration to phase out that provision over time. Still that gratuity is not a “True” Gratuity as in the case of Contract Officers. That’s pretty much it! There however is the possibility for group 3 to receive allowances if applicable to the Post or in the case of Housing if they are transferred to another island not designated as your home base; the forth and biggest group is locals joining the service after April 1992. They get their employment terms and in the majority of cases are not eligible for any allowances. Clearly there is not remuneration equity in the civil service which is essentially set up like a caste system where some will have and will continue to benefit more than others. Before I move on to possible solutions for the above, can we please eliminate the terminology “Local
Jamell Robinson Terms” from our lexicon! It harkens back to an era long passed and just highlights the unfairness of the employment of Turks and Caicos Islanders whom are in a less beneficial position than others within our own public service. Yet we wonder why we are treated the way we are in both the public and private sector as second and third class when successive Governments have sanctioned it by the simple use of the words and meaning of “Local Terms”. So, what are the Solutions?? Solution 1. Cut out true gratuity for all contract workers and use the savings to introduce an award and performance bonus scheme for all civil servants to benefit. As argued from my TCICSA days, the scheme can be tied to performance appraisal targets and issued every two to three years once a majority of targets have been met for consecutive years by employees. The greater the number of years of consecutive great works the bigger the payout. The scheme can be applied to both contract and non-contract workers. The only consideration to this would be whether Heads of Departments and above should be eligible given their already high salaries. Should the decision be made for it to be applied to PS’s and DPS’s, the Minister for which they are serving and the Deputy Governor should conduct the appraisal to establish how effective they were
in carrying out the agenda of the Government of the Day. This solves a huge part of the inequity for the largest group of the four made up of primarily Turks and Caicos Islanders. The bonus also provides an immediate investment opportunity for civil servants either as individuals or as a group should they wish to do so. Simply, a person should not have to wait until the end of their career to find a post retirement investment when they can build their nest egg throughout their years of service. Starting a fund with an initial five million dollars and adding two to three million dollar in subsequent years, the investment arm of an Organisation such as the National Insurance Board could invest and grow it, which would make the program viable for years to come. This is an alternate to leaving the funds to be generated by the recurrent revenue each year which would leave it open to year to year fiscal shocks. Solution 2. Simply put everyone in TCIG on Contract and let the terms be the terms, equal across the board. In the year 2015, the civil service is not looked at as a lifelong career option as in days of old. Between present bottlenecks in upward mobility and lack of long term benefits, any potential employee will always kept their options open for a possible move to the private sector. There is nothing wrong with
that either as sometimes you have to move over in order to move up. The notion that having all persons on contract will result in continuity issues is folly because at any point a person could leave their current post as is, whether through promotion within TCIG, a new job in the private sector, study leave, or death. In all cases it’s next man up. Several benefits will manifest however. Greater efficiency will result as all persons will be working towards their next contract i.e. if you hit your targets you stay and are rewarded accordingly, if not you go. Think about a Basketball Player in a Contract Year, they often produce their best statistics as they are seeking a new contract. The same would apply here as well. Also, this forces the development of greater continuity because persons could leave at any time and the next person or persons would have to step in. This would put an end to the current phenomenon that departments cannot function if the Head is on vacation or isn’t available. To conclude, if an Organisation which is led by a majority of Turks and Caicos Islanders cannot lead and implement these simple things, how are we going to lead in the complex areas which are associated with moving the TCI towards Independence?? That’s why the Public Service must lead!!
WATERLOO HOTEL MANAGEMENT LTD. is inviting applications for the following position:
Legal Financial Consultant Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the applicant must possess the following: •5 years’ experience as an Attorney/Chartered Accountant •Extensive background in financial risk management •Extensive background in legal risk management •Bachelors of Laws (LLB) •Registered Chartered Accountant Salary for this position will commensurate with qualifications and experience. Please Submit Applications to: Please submit resumes to cgibbons@wihl.com Submissions to be no later than December 5th 2015 Belongers need only apply.
Mixologist Wanted for Okeanos Juice and Smoothie Bar in The Regent Village
TRADE WIND INDUSTRIES LTD. JOB OPPORTUNITY
Okeanos Juice and Smoothie Bar is looking for a mixologist with a background/interest in nutrition and fitness. As mixologist you will be responsible for blending nutritious fresh fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies, based on the company’s standard blends, quantity and quality. It is also the responsibility of the mixologist to clean and prepare the work area, complying with Okeanos LTD’s standards for cleanliness, You will need to prepare all the equipment and ingredients needed and be able to answer customers’ queries and provide information with regards to the health benefits of the various juices and smoothies sold. Applicant should be outgoing, polite, energetic and customer service oriented. Please submit resume to Josh Williams at okeanosfitness@gmail.com tel (649) 431-6328
Labourer The Caicos Conch Farm in Leeward seeks to employ one Labourer with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the domestic cultivation of Caribbean queen conch and a familiarity with warm water fin fish. This is a 57 hour per week labor position that involves the maintenance and upkeep of conch and fish currently growing at the Caicos Conch Farm. Daily job activities include cleaning and waste removal from conch ponds / cleaning and waste removal from fish tanks / the sorting, counting, relocating and harvesting of conch and fish / repairs and maintenance to off-shore conch pens. 50% of this job is spent in sea water and applicants need to be expert swimmers and skilled at working underwater with a snorkel. Other duties include general maintenance of the facility including (but not limited to) trash removal, site maintenance and repairs etc.
Compensation Commensurate at $8.00 per hour.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Turks & Caicos Friends of the Arts Foundation presents Parsons Dance It is hard to believe that TCFAF is promoting its 80th production this December, and will do it again – present a ground-breaking dance production like no other seen on the islands before. As David Bowen, former Cultural Director remarked, “It's so exciting that Parsons Dance Company is actually coming to TCI . . . Kudos to [TCFAF] for always setting the bar when it comes to bringing amazing performing artists to our [islands].” Mr. Bowen should know. He has known and admired David Parsons since he was a leading dancer with The Paul Taylor Dance Company. David Parsons is coming to Providenciales with his company of 8 dancers on the 6th Decemer for a 2-week residency. He and his dancers will be teaching FREE Outreach Workshops to the community during their stay at Stargazer Villa and Rock It Hot Fitness. The company will perform at Brayton Hall on Friday and Saturday, the 11th & 12th December. Following the Saturday show at Brayton Hall, which runs from 7:00-8:30p, Parsons Dance will party at the Grace Bay Club, starting at 9:00p in an “After Theatre Caribbean Dance Party.” David Bowen will be working with Parsons Dance during the week, on Maskanoo dancing, which they will show off at the party! David Parsons has enjoyed a remarkable career as a performer, choreographer, teacher, director and producer of dance. Mr. Parsons was born in Chicago and raised in Kansas City. He was a leading dancer with The Paul Taylor Dance Company, where Mr. Taylor created many roles for him in works such as Arden Court, Last Look and Roses. He is a recipient of the 2000 Dance Magazine Award, as well as the 2001 American Choreography Award, for his work as a co-producer of AEROS, a production featuring the Romanian Gymnastic Federation that was featured on Bravo. Mr. Parsons has created more than 70 works for Parsons Dance. He has received commissions
over the years from The American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the American Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, the Spoleto Festival and Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, to name a few. His work has been performed by Paris Opera Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nederlands Danse Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Hubbard Street Dance and BatSheva Dance Company of Israel, among many others. In June 2007, Mr. Parsons was honored to be the very first contemporary choreographer ever to stage work at the centuries-old Arena di Verona, in Verona Italy, where he choreographed Verdi’s Aida. The Arena is one of Italy’s most respected operatic venues. In September 2007, he directed and choreographed Gotham Chamber Opera’s production of Maria de Buenos Aires, which made its world premiere at a sold-out engagement in New York, at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Arts. In the July 27, 2007 edition of The New York
Times, Jennifer Dunning called David Parsons “one of the great movers of modern dance.” TCFAF is most honored that David Parsons and Parsons Dance is coming here to perform, choreograph and teach. The innovative and prolific Mr. Parsons will be using his time here, to create a new work with his dancers that will be debuted in NYC in January. He is opening up the company classes and rehearsals to the community to be able to watch the creative process unfold. Mr. Parsons’s goal is to give the islands a performance of great beauty, mastery, and joy. His wish is to be able to do a 2-week residency every year in TCI. Parsons Dance is part of a very busy “banner” 13th season for TCFAF, sandwiched in between the 6th Annual TCFAF Art & Craft Expo to be held at Saltmills Plaza, showcasing the local artists and artisans on the 5th and 6th of December, and the 11th Annual FREE TCFAF Christmas Concert and Party, on SUN the 13th December at
Brayton Hall from 3:30-6:30p. Moved from November to January 2016, the “Panto Team” will put on another of Norm Foster’s plays, “Maggie’s Getting Married” on 28, 29, 30 January at Brayton Hall, with an all-local cast, headed by Cora Malcolm and directed by J Richardson. Once again for the 5th year, TCFAF will hold its seductive fundraiser on the 13th February, “Hopelessly Romantic V!” The famed Douglas Mills and his exciting “Tap Corps” are coming from the UK from the 13th to 27th February 2016 to perform, teach and overwhelm us with their brilliant dance stylings, all thanks to Niki Flowers and the Provo Performing Arts School, who held a Dance Perform-a-thon in October to raise the funds to bring them over. On 14th and 15th April, TCFAF presents “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” at Brayton Hall, a touching, human comedy by Richard Alfieri, staring our own Sandy Ferguson and her co-star Andy Cuk from Canada. TCFAF has teamed up with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) of the UK and DEMA to present a series of puppet theatre workshops and performances throughout the islands from 10th of April to 1st of May, to inspire and teach the community on future marine conservation needs, entitled, “Talking Turtles: Conservation Through Puppet Theatre,” from the Lempen Puppet Theatre in the UK. TCFAF just got word that Louis Kavouras and the UNLV Dancescapes want to come back for the 4th year from 17th - 24th May, 2016 to perform, choreograph and teach. Once again, Louis will create an original work for our local students to perform. Every summer for the last six years, TCFAF has supported the very popular and successful Shakespeare/ Theatre Workshops at the ECG Youth Centre. Again this summer 2016, Scott Cannon and Susan Cade will return for their week-long workshops in August.
Organiser of annual TCI Poker Run 2015 wins grand prize TCI Events Inc. presented its first annual TCI poker run in the Turks and Caicos under the theme “Promoting our greatest treasures sun, sand & sea.” The event took place on Saturday November 21st, 2015, with a grand prize of $10,000 which was won by President of TCI Events Inc. Ron Williams who said he will be donating back 50 percent of the grand prize to the TCI Cancer Foundation. The event saw 8 boats and 12 hands were played. Boaters made their first stop in South Caicos at the Regatta Village; from there they went to Horse Stable beach in North Caicos, then to Rickie’s Café on Grace Bay Beach and then finished at the Kid’s park, with performances by two local bands and local Djs. President of TCI Events Inc. Ron Williams told The SUN, “This is the first year of hosting this event, and we’ve been working on it for about two years now putting it together. We’re going to make it an annual event. Pans
are already in motion for next year, and next year we’re going to extend it to Grand Turk and Slat Cay. Once everybody sees what it’s all about, you can catch on to it and it’s going to be good.” Williams said the committee is made up of five individuals, each of who owns a company. "We came together and try to pull this off with the help of our sponsors. Our sponsors really came through and they did a remarkable job,” Williams said. He added: “The event was great; everyone had fun the island that we made stops to enjoyed us being there. They were looking forward to our arrival and they enjoyed themselves and also our guests got a chance to see some of what we have to offer in Turks and Caicos and they are looking forward to us coming back next year. We have started making plans for next year's poker run and feel like it will be a greater time and we also would like to thank all of our sponsors and the
TCI for their support.” Participant in the TCI poker run Gorge Delgado told The SUN it was a great honor to participate in this event and to see the other parts of the islands. "I really enjoyed the performances of the kids and the best part for me was going to South Caicos, it was a great event,” he said A poker run is an organized event where participants, usually using motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, or Boats as a means of transportation. Participants must visit five to seven checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one. The goal is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. The mission for the event is "Promoting Our Country While Expending Our Product” and all proceeds made from the first annual TCI Poker Run will be donated to Turks & Caicos Cancer Foundation. TCI Events Inc. is an event and activity planning company that is focus on taking the Turks and Caicos Islands
TCI Events Inc. President Ron Williams and Shane Outten Vice President to the rest of the world and taking local businesses products and services International.
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 21
NO NEED TO TRAVEL AND GET CAUGHT IN LONG LINES FOR
CYBER & MONDAY
@ caribbeanshopper @ caribshopper
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Highlights of the 3rd Annual Ladies Hat Luncheon Fundraiser The Ladies Hat Luncheon foundation hosted its 3rd Annual Fundraiser on Saturday November 14th, 2015 held at AsĂş on the beach, Pool bar Alexandra Resort. The event was attended strongly this year with over 125 people plus distinguished guests and VIP's, Including the Hon. Akierra Misick and the 1st lady Mrs. Ewing, Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay Hale, Resident Magazine of NYC flew
in especially to cover the event and it will be featured in an upcoming issue highlighting the event and the goals behind it and also showcasing the island. The coveted prize for Best Hat was won by the Hon. Akierra Missick. The aim of the event is to support Island children's education and was hosted by Founder of the Organization Pauline Barclay.
Performers who also donated their time were Karen Bizzell from UK and Josh Shapiro from NYC performed and entertained the ladies with their Broadway sets and disco tunes The event raised approximately a net $20,000 that will be dispersed to Holy Family Academy towards scholarship places and upgrades and to Ianthe Pratt primary school. The following are photo highlights of the event.
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We’re giving away a total of
USD$5,000 (2 prizes of USD$2,500)
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HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE Poor kids who go to daycare may later do better in school The more time low-income children spend in daycare, the better they’re likely to be doing in school at age 12, a Canadian study suggests. While previous research has linked high quality daycare centers to better academic performance, the current study focussed on whether daycare might help reduce or eliminate incomebased disparities in achievement through adolescence. Researchers found that children from low-income families who spent the most time in centerbased care scored 37 percent better on reading and writing tests and 46 percent better on math exams at age 12 than similar kids who logged the fewest hours in daycare centers. "Children from disadvantaged families who remain at home have double risks – they evolve in a home environment that is less stimulating than that of non-disadvantaged children and they are not exposed to the learning experience that most children receive by going to child care," senior author Sylvana Cote, of
the University of Montreal in Canada, said by email. Cote and colleagues studied more than 1,000 families with babies born in Quebec in 1997 and 1998. When the children were age 12, the researchers sorted them into two groups – one for the 25 percent of kids from the lowest income families, and another for everyone else. For the low-income children, having attended daycare for more than 35 hours a week was associated with better academic achievement in all disciplines at age 12, the study found. The earlier the children started daycare, the better their school performance. Those who started attending child care centers by 5 months had better reading, writing and math scores at age 12 than kids who never attended daycare. In fact, those who entered daycare as babies were performing at the same level as children from higher socioeconomic-status families, the researchers report in the journal
Pediatrics. develop a wide range of cognitive and However, the low-income kids behavioral skills that can serve them who started attending daycare centers well in school, said Kevin Fiscella, after age 18 months only had better a researcher in public health and reading and math scores. community health at the University Moreover, daycare wasn't linked of Rochester Medical Center in New to achievement gains for children York. from the more affluent 75 percent of "Low socio-economic status children families in the study. may also benefit from implicit One limitation of the study is that learning from peers from more families’ socioeconomic status can advantaged backgrounds in terms of change over time, the authors vocabulary exposure, basic numeracy, acknowledge. It's also possible that curiosity and exploration, peer to families choosing full-time daycare peer interactions, and modeling of from infancy might be different in emotional self-regulation," Fiscella, other ways from families who put kids who wasn't involved in the study, said in daycare later or keep children home by email. until they start school. The finding that early daycare And not all child care centers may have benefits that extend into provide high-quality care, which adolescence is striking, said Jane depends on well-trained teachers and Waldfogel of Columbia University enough staffing to provide plenty of School of Social Work in New York, personal attention to children, Gosta who wasn't involved in the study. Esping, a researcher at Pompeu Fabra "Child care has a strong beneficial University in Barcelona who wasn't effect for that group," Waldfogel said involved in the study, said by email. by email. "These programs are a good Previous research has suggested that investment – they pay large dividends good child care centers can help kids in reducing inequalities."
Music not just good for the soul, it's also good for the body Music isn't just good for the soul, it's also good for helping the body heal after surgery, a research review suggests. Surgery patients who listen to music may have lower levels of pain and anxiety as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate than people who don't, according to the analysis. The benefits of music were bigger when patients get to pick their own playlists. "Asmany patientshave smartphoneswith personal music playlists, informing our patients before scheduled surgeries of the positive effect of music on their wellbeing could be a low cost intervention that may enhance wellbeing and possibly faster recover," lead study author Dr. Diana Vetter, a surgery researcher at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, said by email. To assess the impact of music
on surgical outcomes, Vetter and colleagues analyzed data from 47 studies, including 26 that looked at the effect of music before procedures, 25 looking at music in the operating room, and 25 looking at music during recovery. Overall, music was linked to about 31 percent less pain, 29 percent lower odds of using pain medication, and 34 percent less anxiety. In addition, music was tied to 40 percent lower blood pressure and 27 percent lower heart rate. When patients choose their own tunes, the benefits sometimes increased, the researchers report in the Annals of Surgery. For example, self-selected music was linked to 35 percent lower pain levels than no music, while music chosen by study personnel was linked to a 26 reduction in pain levels. Self-selected music was also linked to 47 percent lower anxiety
levels, compared to a scant 6 percent reduction with music chosen by study personnel. There wasn't much difference in heart rate or blood pressure based on whether patients chose their own music or listened to music selected by study personnel. One shortcoming of the analysis is that it might give rather conservative effect estimates because the early studies generally tended to overestimate effects or were only published with spectacular findings, the authors acknowledge. Their analysis covered research in the past 15 years. The researchers had also hoped to examine the impact of architecture, design and art on surgical outcomes but they didn't find enough studies to assess this. Even though the scientific evidence may be limited when it comes to music interventions, the
current findings add to a growing body of evidence that makes a good case for letting patients listen to music in the hospital, said Marianne van der Heijden, a researcher at Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. "Music interventions are not yet part of the system because for an intervention to be formally adapted in medicine and hospitals, efficacy needs to be shown," van der Heijden, who wasn't involved in the study, said by email. She added, "There now seems to be enough evidence to support the formal adaptation of music interventions in clinical guidelines." "Self-selected music interventions shouldn't be difficult to provide at all and could be realized by creating awareness among hospital staff, patients and their family members about the positive effects of music," van der Heijden added.
One in two healthy adults will develop pre-diabetic high blood sugar Almost half of 45-year-olds will develop so-called prediabetes, an elevated blood sugar level that often precedes diabetes, according to a large study from The Netherlands using population estimates. Prediabetes, sometimes called impaired glucose metabolism, has no clear symptoms, but people with higher than normal blood sugar based on a blood test should be tested for diabetes every one or two years, according to the American Diabetes Association. “We have known this from previous studies – but what this study adds is a method of communicating risk in a better way – a person’s lifetime risk of developing diabetes,” said Dr. Kamlesh Khunti of Leicester General Hospital in the U.K., who coauthored an editorial accompanying the new results. One in three healthy 45-year-
olds will develop diabetes in his or her lifetime, Khunti said. Researchers from Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston used longterm data on about 10,000 adults in The Netherlands, including medical records, hospital discharge letters, pharmacy dispensing data and fasting blood sugar measurements. They followed people for about 15 years, categorizing their blood sugar levels according to World Health Organization standards. Blood sugar levels of 6 millimoles/ per liter (108 milligrams per deciliter) or less are considered normal or healthy. Levels above 6mmol/L and below 7mmol/L (108-128 mg/dl) are considered elevated or prediabetic, and levels of 7mmol/L or greater are diabetes. Over about 15 years, a total of
1,148 people developed elevated blood sugar levels, 828 developed diabetes and 237 started taking insulin to control their diabetes. The study team translated these results into population risk levels at age 45, and found that about half of people would develop prediabetic blood sugar levels before their death, 30 percent would develop full blown diabetes and nine percent would start taking insulin. About three-quarters of those with elevated blood sugar at age 45 would go on to develop diabetes, and half of those who already had diabetes would start taking insulin, they report in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. Higher body mass index or waist circumference increased these risks further. These results were similar to those found in other studies, Khunti
told Reuters Health by email. “However, some studies in black and minority ethnic populations have higher rates of diabetes,” he said. Although elevated blood sugar is common, estimates of how many people will develop it in their lifetimes had not been previously published, the study authors note. Based on these results, half of the population with normal blood sugar will develop prediabetic levels and may qualify for preventive lifestyle changes or medications to reduce that risk. All people should maintain healthy diet and exercise patterns to reduce their diabetes risk, Khunti said. “People should know their risk and if they are at higher risk, then they should have a more intensive method of reducing future diabetes risk,” he said.
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FUN & GAMES TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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JUNE 18TH - JUNE 25TH, 2010
KFWS • MindGym Page 31 NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
June 7, 2010 & CAICOS SUN FUN &TURKS GAMES
FEBRUARY 17TH - FEBRUARY 24TH, 2012
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NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
INVEST TURKS & CAICOS VACANCIES
JOB TITLE:
MANAGER – CORPORATE SERVICES AND ACCOUNTING
Salary: Negotiable in a range from $55,420 to $62,840 depending on education and experience. Job Summary: The Manager – Corporate Services and Accounting is a key member of the management team with responsibility for all aspects of corporate support to Invest Turks and Caicos, including budgeting and accounting, office administration and human resources. The Manager will have administrative staff reporting to him/her along with the receptionist. Education and qualifications: University degree or college diploma in Accounting, Commerce, or Business Management/ Administration. Chartered Accountant, Certified General Accountant, or Certified Management Accountant designation is an asset. Three to five years of progressive financial responsibility. Experience and Knowledge: 1.Detailed knowledge of generally accepted accounting and internal control principles. 2. Strong analytical, problem solving and decision making skills to evaluate alternatives and provide recommendations on business issues. 3.Significant accounting experience in a public or private company environment. 4.Experience in managing various aspects of a professional office and knowledge of the requirements for hiring, retaining and disciplining staff. 5.Proficiency in the use of various computer programs, including: Accounting (Simply Accounting),Word processing (MS Office), Spreadsheets MS Office), Project Management (Visio) Job Title: Legal/Compliance Officer Salary: Negotiable depending on qualifications and experience within a range of $73,400-$81,600. Job Summary: The Legal Compliance Officer is a key member of the Management team and responsible for providing sound technical support and legal advice to the CEO and other members of the team in order to maximize the effectiveness of the Agency’s ability to attract qualified investors to the Islands. The Legal/Compliance Officer will provide legal advice at the Agency with respect to all aspects of investing in the country and take an active role in negotiating agreements with investors. The Legal/Compliance Officer will be a key leader in identifying and providing advice on ways for Government to revise laws, regulations and procedures to improve the business environment for both investors and Government. The Legal/ Compliance Officer will provide legal advice on other legal matters that may arise in the organization. Education and qualifications: A law degree from a recognized university and a member of the bar in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Experience and Knowledge: 1.A minimum of five years commercial law experience, with knowledge of TCI laws dealing with investment projects. 2.Experience dealing with domestic and foreign investors in the commercial law environment. 3.Strong background in using various types of office related software and preparation of presentations and reports. Job Title: Senior Vice President – Investor Services Salary: Negotiable in the range of $77,220-$86,000 based on qualifications and experience. Job Summary: The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Investor Services plays a pivotal role in the operations of Invest Turks and Caicos. The SVP will be responsible for lead generation and ensuring that the facilitation processes for encouraging investment are efficient and effective and that prospective investors are serviced to the highest standards. The SVP will manage the business development operations and be responsible for assigning proposals to the Investor Services Executives as well as undertaking certain complex or highly politicized project proposal reviews. The SVP will ensure that the proposal review system has all the required policies and procedures to be effective and that the system is functioning smoothly. The SVP will also establish and monitor a strong aftercare service that will ensure that current investors receive high quality support and services. The SVP will be responsible for establishing additional revenue generating services such as a “Concierge” service that will directly assist investors to navigate the regulatory systems. Finally, the SVP – Investor Services will be the Deputy CEO and responsible for the day to day operations of the organization when the CEO is absent. Education and qualifications: Post graduate degree in a relevant discipline such as Business Management, Marketing, or Economics. A minimum of five (5) years of senior executive management experience including relationship management with senior level clients. Experience and Knowledge: 1.Five or more years of senior management experience at a public or private enterprise/company/agency engaged in investment development and/or marketing. 2.Frontline sales and account management experience. 3.Clear evidence of leadership skills along with ability to mentor and grow staff. 4.Extensive research and analysis experience involving industry or economic
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development issues 5.Experience in destination and/or investment sales/marketing with evidence of successful lead generation. 6.Experience in preparing and monitoring budgets. 7.Experience in lead generation and supporting customer service. 8.Experience making presentations to large and small groups. 9.Experience in personnel management and team management. Job Title: Vice President – Marketing and Promotion Salary: Negotiable within a range of $73,000 - $81,600 based on qualifications and experience. Job Summary: The Vice President of Marketing and Promotion is a key senior management member whose goal is to create and maintain a strong marketing and communications program that increases global awareness of the TCI to targeted investors and convinces these investors to make TCI as an investment destination. The VP Marketing will be responsible for conducting research to identify specific investors in targeted sectors and in developing materials and messaging to convince investors of the desirability of investing in the country. As part of this process the VP Marketing will be responsible for developing a strong “brand” identity, maintaining a strong web presence, creating data and reports to educate investors on the country, ensuring that investor enquiries are directed to the appropriate responder and maximizing the impact of social media directed at investors. As well, the incumbent will be responsible for organizing investment promotion events and conferences and in providing public relations support to the organization. The incumbent will manage the work of a Market Research Officer and will also oversee contractors to conduct IT, Event Coordination and Public Relations for short term periods. Education and qualifications: Post secondary degree in travel, tourism, leisure, business studies, marketing, management, journalism or a relatedfield. Experience and Knowledge: •A minimum of five (5) years of practical experience in communications, marketing, brand management, stakeholder engagement, public relations and/ or advertising and experience in destination marketing. •Experience of planning and overseeing a marketing strategy/budget. •Experience in managing relationships with outside marketing agencies •Sound knowledge and experience in formulating and conducting marketing campaigns, particularly as it relates to destination marketing. •Experience in the writing, designing and production of marketing material •Knowledge of website management and other communication channels •Knowledge of the most effective ways to use social media. •Experience in account management with a strong emphasis on interpersonal client management and customer service skills. •Experience in program design, development, implementation and evaluation. •Strong strategic planning, problem solving and critical thinking skills. •Experience making presentations to large and small groups. •Experience in line managing staff. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICANTS In evaluating the education and experience of applicants, the evaluation committee will consider an equivalent combination of education and experience. These are all management positions, reporting to the CEO and candidates for all these positions will need the following skills: •Strong track record of competency in current and previous employment. •Excellent Leadership Qualities •Strong Writing and presentational skills. •Excellent Communication and interpersonal skills. •Excellent skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook •Ability to work in a team environment and manage time effectively •Commercial awareness. •Creativity. •Ability to maintain confidentiality All applicants will be assessed for the following personal qualities in addition to education, skills and experience. 1.Open and engaging demeanor. 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. Application Procedure Interested persons should submit a resume, along with their contact information, cover letter, two letters of reference (one from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. To obtain a copy of an individual job description please send an email to investturksandcaicos@ gmail.com. Alternatively persons can get the job description from the TCI Government website at www.gov.tc/government-vacancies All applications must be received by 12 noon on Thursday December 10th 2015 and should be emailed to investturksandcaicos@gmail.com. Only persons considered for an interview will be contacted.
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NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Hope Corner Live with it Part 2 Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. As I would sit up at nights worried about my son’s future this scripture gave me great comfort, for I realized that God does have a purpose for all of us including my Autistic son Isreal. In my quite time I would still pray for God to somehow change things with my son, but repeatedly his answer would be “Live with it”. That was a difficult answer for me to accept, because like many people I thought that the purpose of prayer was for God to will what I wanted. But
through this experience I have learned are humans and we experience all of that the true power and purpose of these emotions, but I can assure you prayer is to want God’s will. that neither of them is able to fix what The apostle Paul talks about is broken. You must also seek help and how he prayed for God to remove a torn support from your family, friends and from his flesh and in essence God’s love ones. Many times we feel ashamed answer to him was the same answer and stigmatized and this can cause us He gave me “Live with It”. Live with to hide our hurt because we don’t want it doesn’t mean we sit around feeling people to know, and look at us “funny”. sorry for ourselves, or that we just say This can be scary and sometimes “woe is me, it is what it is”. It means the most difficult step in the process of first embracing your painful reality. “living with it”. A good support system This can feel helpless, but are some is very important. After Isreal was things in our life that no amount of, diagnosed we talked to our family, and worry, annoyance, anxiety, crying or friends and our church and that made stress can change. I know that it is a huge difference because they were easier said than done, I also know that able to hold us up, physically and in it is not a very comforting answer. We prayer. Feeling ashamed and hiding
Fly Board Instructor, working 5 days For all your a week, salary advertising commence with needs Contact experience, (649)-339-5879 10 am - 3 pm, or email: contact 346 5647 Gemini secretarial sun@suntci.com DEAMARDO CLARE
SEEKS Block Layer/Mason Salary $10.00 per hour Contact 33-8034
Registered Massage Therapist needed from RMT accredited school, with more than 5 years experience. Specialized in Therapeutic Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Swedish massage, and Infant Massage. Send resume to courtyardchiro@icloud.com Locals are encouraged to apply.
COCO PALM BAR SEEKS 1 Barmaid Salary $300 per week Mon-Sat Contact 432-8509 or 242-8509
M&L AMAZING WORLD
Coral Quarry Concrete Plant requires manager; primary duties include overseeing ALL plant operations. This includes, but not limited to coordinating and monitoring inventory, staff workload, overseeing drivers and yard/batch operators with responsibility for training and motivating employees towards accomplishing company goals and objectives. Oversee sales and customer service/dispatch. Essential Responsibilities and Duties include ensuring; all products meet 100% total quality requirements; take samples and test as necessary; all equipment is maintained and working properly; complete all required reports timely and accurately; maintain accurate and current reports as required; collect all COD monies and tickets; complete all required reports and deposits accurately and timely; be able and willing to operate equipment and maintain yard and plant as necessary. Position requires an individual to be suitably qualified with background in engineering, 8 years experience with minimum 4 years managing a plant, working computer knowledge and at least basic conversational and written Spanish. If interested, email your resume and supporting documents to tciconcreteplant@gmail.com
KISA SERVICES
PRETTY WOMAN BEAUTY SALON
Seeks 1 Hairdresser Salary $6.25 per hour 6 days per week Contact 946-3704
SEEKS Housekeeper - $6.25 per hour Labourer - $6.25 per hour Handyman - $7.00 per hour 5 days per week Mon-Fri Interested persons should contact 946-3704
KADEEN AGENCY
SEEKS 1 CASHIER To work 6 days per week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 242-0521
BUTTERFIELD GOLD GROUP OF COMPANIES POSITIONS AVAILABLE
the problem only makes it worse because that means that you are not seeking help. Last but not least living with it means always looking to God for strength. We are a family living with Autism, our life is challenging and sometimes difficult, but filled with happiness and joy. A joy that comes from knowing that in our most difficult time, when we prayed for God to take away Isreal’s Autism, that He was saying it was the missing ingredient in our lives. He says His strength is made perfect in our weakness. God always answers prayer, but He has more answers than “YES” which is the only answer we want to hear. Sometimes His answer is “live with it”.
On behalf of its client is looking for a Bartender, The person must be experience in various types of drinks and able to communicate with customers speaking French and Spanish Must be able to work without supervision Salary $6.25 an hour Call 231-6565
spectrum
Sports Bar and Restaurant is seeking the following persons: 2 barmaids/waitress to work 5 days a week, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Tuesday - Saturday, salary $6.00 per hour, please call 344 0313, 3 pm - 5 pm.
BAREFOOT CABANA RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL IS SEEKING: ONE DOMESTIC WORKER. RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING AND GENERAL UPKEEP. SALARY $6.00 PER HOUR. · ABILITY TO WORK SHIFTS, EARLY MORNINGS, LATE NIGHTS, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. · CLEAN POLICE RECORD. · ABLE TO WORK UNDER PRESSURE. BELONGERS NEED ONLY APPLY. TEL: 649-3321963 QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR INTERVIEW. Lovely Preval HR Coordinator INTERCARIBBEAN AIRWAYS (formerly Air Turks & Caicos) T: +1-649 946-4181 x 100 LOVELY.PREVAL@INTERCARIBBEAN.COM
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
CARIBBEAN WORLD
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
NEWS NEWS
Cayman Islands Premier condemns anti-expat rhetoric
Mr. Connolly’s original motion, which called for an end to all exemptions to the Trade and Business Licensing Law and Local Companies (Control) Law, was amended predebate to a more general request that government consider strengthening and enforcing legislation to allow Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin Caymanians to progress up the career Premier Alden McLaughlin ladder in all industries, including to admonished legislators for anti- ownership positions. business, anti-expat rhetoric that he Mr. McLaughlin said warned risked hurting the island’s government would not have supported economy. the original motion. “It would, in effect, The premier supported an amount to expropriation of assets of amended version of a private members’ shareholders in various businesses, motion from backbencher Winston including banks and trust companies, Connolly, who called for changes to insurance companies and the like,” he business licensing laws to encourage said. training, development and ownership While acknowledging that opportunities for Caymanians. some tweaks to the law were needed, But Mr. McLaughlin publicly he said, “Some of the rhetoric distanced himself and his government expounded over the course of this from rhetoric from some legislators in debate is of great concern. I’ve no doubt a lengthy parliamentary debate that it will also be of grave concern to the ran till midnight on Monday. business community and the broader He said, “I support the motion community.” but I could not sit quietly and let Mr. McLaughlin said the world people believe that I subscribe to that economic recovery and Cayman’s own anti-expat, anti-business sentiment recovery were fragile. espoused by some members of this “The last thing we want is to house, because I do not. I will not send the signal that foreign business allow the government, which I have and foreigners and anyone who was the honor and privilege to lead, to be not born here to Cayman parents are branded with that.” unwelcome.”
Jamaican motorist denied bail after biting off cop’s ear A motorist who reportedly bit off a piece of an off-duty policeman’s ear before beating and disarming the cop of his weapon was yesterday denied bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court. The accused, 31-year-old Pariz Armstrong of Molynes Road in Kingston, was arrested and charged with larceny from the person, assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and illegal possession of firearm after he surrendered to the police, with the stolen firearm, on November 8, a day after the alleged incident. The court heard that on November 7, the accused, who was driving a station wagon, was involved in a three-vehicle collision but that instead of stopping he fled the scene and was chased by an offduty officer. The cop reportedly caught up with Armstrong, identified himself as a police officer and told the accused to stop. However the accused reportedly alighted from his car and attacked the officer, hitting
him all over his body, bit off piece of the officer’s ear and took away his firearm before making his escape. Yesterday when Armstrong appeared in court before Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey, his attorney, Michael Powell, in his attempt to get bail, told the court that his client attacked the officer because he was not in uniform and he thought he was a gunman. “From the officer identified himself as a police it matters not if he is in uniform or naked, ” the magistrate said. The prosecution then told the magistrate that the officer had not only informed the accused that he was an officer but showed him his identification card. The magistrate then told Powell that she could not grant his client bail as he was a “fleeing fellon” and had a penchant for not staying where he had committed an offence. Armstrong was subsequently remanded until January 15 and his matter was transferred to the Gun Court division of the High Court.
He urged legislators not to assist in creating an environment where businesses felt unwelcome, warning that they could uproot and go elsewhere, as they had done in other countries in the region. The members still present in the Assembly as the debate came to a close, voted unanimously to approve the motion, which read: “Be it therefore resolved that the Government considers amendments to business licensing laws with a view to removing restrictions to employment, training, development and ownership opportunities for Caymanians and be it further resolved that Government consider enforcing existing laws, regulations and policies and utilizes immigration accreditation programs more fully to hold business more accountable as well as to reward and acknowledge those business[es] that hire, train and promote Caymanians through various levels including ownership positions.” Mr. Connolly opened the debate Monday calling for an end to exemptions in business licensing legislation, which he said essentially allowed some firms to opt out of offering advancement and pathways to ownership for Caymanians. He said Caymanians were, in effect, being prevented from getting to the top in the
best paying professions in the country. Several legislators weighed in on more general issues about employment and immigration. North Side independent legislator Ezzard Miller repeated claims that a revolution was possible in Cayman, suggesting a peaceful Martin Luther King-style figure that ensured we “keep the status quo but Caymanians get a part of it” would be preferable to a Malcolm X figure that decided Caymanians were not getting anything, so they would “mash it up anyway.” He said Caymanians had for too long been “scared” to stand up to foreign-owned businesses for fears that they might leave. “If there was anywhere else for them to go, they wouldn’t come here in the first place. Certainly, after they come here and invest and set up shop, they ain’t gonna leave in a hurry.” Arden McLean, independent legislator for East End, questioned why it had taken a “young Turk” like Mr. Connolly to bring a private members’ motion for the issue to be considered. He criticized other legislators for making pleas to industry to give jobs and opportunities to Caymanians, saying instead government should enforce existing laws. “The time for prayers is over, the time for begging is over,” he said.
Four men sentenced to 81 years in jail each for granny execution
The four men who were charged for the gunning down murder of 72 year old Robb street granny, Clementine Fiedkou-Parris back in 2011, were all found guilty yesterday at the Georgetown High Court and each sentenced to 81 years in jail. The four, Kevin October, Roy Jacobs, and brothers Orwin and Cleon Hinds, were jointly charged for the murder. The High Court trial wrapped up on Tuesday and within 4 hours the jury returned guilty verdicts for each of the men. Justice Navendra Singh then
handed down his 81 year sentence to each of the convicts. The elderly woman was in her home when she was called outside by one of the men. As she made her way, she came under heavy gunfire. The prosecution said the murder appeared to have been a hit and the men were paid $400,000 to carry out the act. It is believed that the woman was murdered because she had refused to sell her property. The four convicts will only be eligible for parole after 45 years in prison.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
CARIBBEAN NEWS
Western Union re-opens in Cayman Islands
A months-long crisis in remittance services, used by many in Cayman to support family overseas, appears to be coming to a close. Western Union, which closed without warning in July, reopened with a new company backing the transfers Tuesday morning with as much notice as when it closed. Western Union, which has been closed for four months, reopened through Jamaica-based GraceKennedy Remittance Services Ltd. The company is reopening the cashtransfer windows in Foster’s Food Fair locations Tuesday and Wednesday and, for the first time since August, people will be able to send remittances with Cayman Islands dollars. Representatives with government and GraceKennedy declined to comment on the reopened remittance counters, instead waiting until a Wednesday press conference to announce details of the deal. Elaine Harris, honorary Jamaican vice consul, said, “We are very pleased to learn that the
remittance transactions can now be done in Cayman Islands dollars. This will provide tremendous relief for our nationals and others remitting funds to families overseas.” Last year, people in Cayman sent almost US$180 million in remittances, and more than US$110 million of that went to Jamaica. Sitting at the newly reopened Western Union counter at the Foster’s by the airport, Leisa ThompsonGarric said she had already had some customers send money before lunchtime. A GraceKennedy representative at the grocery store said this was the first time the company had operated in the Cayman Islands. Western Union closed suddenly on a Friday in late July when Fidelity Bank decided to shut down the cash-transfer windows. After Fidelity, Cayman National Bank, the only remaining bank to give accounts to remittance companies, pulled out of the business
and left Jamaica National Money Services, MoneyGram and others without a local bank. The cash-transfer companies restricted customers to only sending U.S. dollars, and banks started charging non-account holders fees to convert Cayman dollars to U.S. cash. There have been months of closed-door negotiations among banks, remittance companies, government and others since the summer. Cayman National closed the accounts for the remaining cash transfer companies on Aug. 26 and left the services without a way to convert Cayman dollars to U.S. funds on the way to the international financial system. Fidelity and other banks cited higher risk and tighter regulations in the U.S., Europe and other jurisdictions as the reason behind pulling the services. Many governments have tightened rules on cash transfers, concerned that the services could be used by drug dealers, terrorists and others to move money quietly. Banks in Cayman feared that if they
continued to give banking services to remittance companies they too could lose their banking relationships in the U.S. Without bank accounts, the remaining remittance companies could only accept U.S. cash, which was then transferred directly to a bank off island. The sudden demand for U.S. cash led to banks in Cayman running out of U.S. currency and having to import cash, charging fees as high as $50 to convert Cayman to U.S. dollars for people without bank accounts. In recent weeks, the cash shortage has eased, with some banks no longer capping how much people can convert to U.S. GraceKennedy Money Services Ltd. is part of the GraceKennedy Group, which has a range of financial and food holdings and is perhaps best known in Cayman for its Grace hot sauces. The company’s money services division operates Western Union locations in Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, Guyana and six other Caribbean countries.
Five Caribbean countries eligible to participate in US visa programmes The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State, have added five Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries among others worldwide that are eligible to participate in visa programs. On Friday, USCIS announced that Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Haiti and Jamaica are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs, effective January 18, 2016. Sixty-eight countries globally are eligible to participate in the visa program on that effective date. It said H-2A and H-2B Visa programmes allow US employers to
bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and non-agricultural jobs, respectively. “Typically, USCIS only approves H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs,” the statement said. “USCIS, however, may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries not on the list if it is determined to be in the interest of the United States,” it added. USCIS said the DHS reserves meet the requirements for continued the right to add countries to the designation. eligible countries list at any time, and The notice does not affect the to remove any country at any time status of beneficiaries who currently DHS determines that a country fails to are in the United States in H-2A or
H-2B status unless they apply to change or extend their status. Each country’s designation is valid for one year from January 18, 2016.
‘Miracle baby’ born on cruise ship in the Caribbean returns to Utah The baby born 15 weeks premature on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean has finally returned to Utah, after spending 78 days at Miami Children’s Hospital where he defied the odds for survival. Fox 13 Now reported that 4-and-a-half-pound Haiden Morgan reunited with his family Saturday at the Ogden Airport. When Haiden was born during a In this photo provided by Emily Morgan, Chase Morgan holds his son Haiden’s hand at seven-day Royal Caribbean the Miami Children’s Hospital. Emily Morgan, who unexpectedly gave birth on a cruise cruise in late August, doctors ship months before her due date says she wrapped towels around her boy and, with the told his mother, 28-year-old Emily Morgan, that she had help of medical staff, managed to keep him alive until the ship reached port. miscarried. But 45 minutes
later, they revised their prognosis and clarified the baby boy had survived but likely wouldn’t live for long. The captain of the cruise ship sped to the port nearest to a hospital in Puerto Rico— 14 hours away— whereby two ambulances rushed the family to the hospital. A few days later, they were transferred to Miami Children’s Hospital. Emily told fox13now. com that she “never had a doubt” that her son would survive. “It’s just been a
fighting chance every day,” she told the news station. Upon landing safely in Ogden, Haiden reunited with his whole family, including his older sister, Chloe, and his father, Chase. Haiden will now rest at the McKay Dee Hospital in Utah?, until doctors determine that he is strong enough to return home with his family. The Morgans are hopeful he’ll be able to leave the hospital by Christmas. “He is actually coming home,” Chase told fox13now.com. “It is a very surreal feeling.”
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Top two finalists in Haiti election announced
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The top two finishers in Haiti’s first-round presidential election are government-backed candidate Jovenel Moise and former state construction chief Jude Celestin, officials said Tuesday. They are scheduled to compete in a runoff vote on Dec. 27. Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council said Moise received 33 percent of the vote and Celestin received 25 percent. The announcement by the nine-member council set off a new wave of protests in Cabaret, where supporters of Moise Jean-Charles, one of the leading candidates from a field of 54, denounced the results. Protesters also began gathering in the nearby capital of Port-au-Prince. The much-anticipated results from the 54-candidate first round presidential contest on Oct. 25 were issued by Pierre Louis Opont, the leader of the Provisional Electoral Council. Since no candidate won a majority in that ballot, the two top finishers are set to meet in a Dec. 27 runoff. Opont did not take any questions from reporters after delivering the preliminary results at the council headquarters, which was under guard by heavily armed police. He said Moise received 511,992 votes or 32.8 percent of the total, and Celestin got 394,390 or 25.2 percent. Seven of the council’s nine members signed off on the preliminary results, indicating that there was not unanimous agreement with the tally. An
appeals period will follow the Thursday announcement and officials say certified results are expected in late November or early December. Moise, handpicked by outgoing President Michel Martelly to be his successor, greeted applauding partisans gathered at a fancy hotel in Petionville, not far from the electoral council headquarters. Looking into TV cameras, the top vote getter told Haitians they were backing the right man. “I’m standing in front of you because I am the winner,” said Moise, an agricultural entrepreneur who set up a banana plantation in Haiti’s north and founded a public-private project called Agritrans to successfully export the fruit to Europe. But several major candidates have alleged fraud by the well-financed Tet Kale campaign behind Moise and voiced concern that the results do not accurately reflect national will. The candidate who placed third in the official tally with 14.2 percent, former senator Moise Jean-Charles, has asserted in recent days that he won half of Haiti’s 10 departments. Last week, he insisted that partially burned ballots checked with his name were found by his backers in Port-au-Prince and numerous ballots supporting his bid had gone missing elsewhere. After the preliminary results were announced, JeanCharles said the results were a
sham orchestrated by Martelly, who he insists would be pulling strings in a Moise presidency. He called on his supporters to participate in a “peaceful revolution” to ensure their voice is heard. But tire barricades were already burning in a few spots of Portau-Prince and Associated Press journalists saw one dead body on a street in the neighborhood of Delmas 33. A crowd of Jean-Charles supporters gathered around their dead colleague and insisted he was fatally shot in the neck by officers with a newly created police unit referred to as BOID. Chanting “freedom or death,” the crowd scattered Jean-Charles campaign posters around his corpse. Firefighters who arrived to douse the flaming barricades were pelted with a few rocks, but managed to put out the flames. One furious partisan screamed at them: “You won’t have enough water to put out all the fires tomorrow!” In recent days, eight presidential candidates, including Celestin and Jean-Charles, asserted that there were instances of “massive fraud” during Oct. 25 election — perhaps as a way to prepare their partisans for a loss. They warned that if fraud went uncorrected it “would make the alleged results of these elections unacceptable” and asked the council to form an independent commission to review the electoral processes over the next 15 days.
Social media helps drive historic Cuban exodus to US At the heart of it all is Cubans’ ability to cross some of the world’s most dangerous territory relatively unscathed by the corrupt border guards, criminal gangs and human traffickers known as coyotes who make life hell for so many other Latin American migrants. Key to that ability is the constant flow of information between migrants starting the journey and those In this Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 photo, Cuban migrants line up for breakfast given to who have just completed it. them by an evangelical church, outside of the border control building in Penas Blancas, “Those who’ve arrived Costa Rica, on the border with Nicaragua. Thousands of Cuban migrants have been able have gotten in touch with their to make the trip to the U.S. thanks to a constant flow of information between migrants acquaintances, their friends, and starting the journey and those who have just completed it. tell them how the route is. That As summer began to and other South and Central means that no one needs a coyote,” bake the central Cuban city of American countries to the Texas said Hernandez, a 32-year-old Sancti Spiritus, Elio Alvarez and and California borders this year, psychologist. “You go making Lideisy Hernandez sold their tiny afraid that the normalization of friends along the way. I myself apartment and everything in it relations between the U.S. and have 70, 80-something friends on for $5,000 and joined the largest Cuba will mean an imminent end Facebook who’ve already gotten to migration from their homeland in to special immigration privileges the United States.” decades. that date to the opening of the Cuban migrants start Buying two smartphones Cold War. With thousands more with an advantage others can for $160 apiece on a layover on taking rafts across the Florida only dream of: Many countries their way to Ecuador, they plugged Straits, 2015 may witness the along the route grant Cubans free themselves into a highly organized, biggest outflow of Cubans since passage because their government well-funded and increasingly the 1980 Mariel boatlift that does not respond to most requests successful homebrewed effort hauled 125,000 people across the for information about illegal to make human traffickers Florida Straits. migrants that would allow them obsolete by using smartphones `The overland exodus to be deported. And many Cubans and messaging apps on much of has caused a border crisis in who run out of money along the the 3,400-mile (5,500-kilometer) Central America, set off tensions way have access to hundreds or overland journey that’s become in the newly friendly U.S.-Cuban thousands of dollars in backup Cubans’ main route to the U.S. relationship and sparked rising funds sent by relatives who belong Some 45,000 Cubans are calls in the U.S. to end Cubans’ to one of the United States’ most expected to move by bus, boat, automatic right to legal residency prosperous immigrant groups. taxi and on foot from Ecuador once they touch U.S. soil.
Jamaican sentenced to 20 years in prison for lottery scam
Sanjay Williams BISMARCK, North Dakota — A federal judge in North Dakota sentenced a Jamaican man to 20 years in prison on Tuesday for a lottery scam that authorities say cost victims around the country millions of dollars. A jury in May convicted 26-year-old Sanjay Williams, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, of 35 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. US District Court Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Williams during a 2 ½-hour court appearance, during which Williams was defiant and often argumentative with the Bismarck-based judge. Williams said the allegations against him were “fictitious” and the “jury failed to use their common sense” when convicting him. Investigators describe Williams and Lavrick Willocks as leaders of two separate scamming operations based in Jamaica. Frank Gasper, a Bismarck-based FBI agent, said more than 80 of the victims of Willocks and Williams have been identified and their losses are more than $5.6 million. Willocks has been charged but not extradited to the United States. Prosecutors said the case came to light four years ago when Edna Schmeets, 86, of Harvey, North Dakota, received a call from a man who told her she had won $19 million and a new car, and needed only to pay taxes and fees. The process dragged on until the widow’s savings were wiped out, a sum of more than $300,000. A teary Schmeets told Hovland that she “lost everything” and has been “hurt not only financially but emotionally.” Schmeets said she shared her story with the judge so that others would not be taken by scammers. “It’s hard to think you could fall for this stuff,” Schmeets told Hovland. “I don’t know how they get you, but they do. It’s almost like they hypnotize you.” Marlow McMahan, of Salt Lake City, Utah, traveled to North Dakota to see Williams sentenced “and put where he can’t hurt anyone again.” McMahan, 84, did not say how much he lost in the scam, though he told the judge he was forced to borrow from banks and friends to claim a bogus multimillion dollar prize. “I come from a time when your word was your word and when somebody tells me I won millions of dollars, I believe them,” McMahan told the judge. Assistant US Attorney Clare Hochhalter, the lead prosecutor in the case, also posted on a video screen a suicide letter from a 72-year-old woman who was taken in by the scam. In recent years, estimates by US officials put the yearly take by Jamaican fraudsters at $300 million, but some American authorities suspected the total was far higher. In 2012, C Steven Baker, a Chicago-based director with the US Federal Trade Commission, told The Associated Press that Jamaica’s scammers could be bilking Americans out of $1 billion a year.
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Chicago charges officer in black teen’s death, releases video of shooting
Jason Van Dyke A white Chicago policeman was charged with murdering a black teenager on Tuesday, hours before authorities released a graphic video showing the youth walking away from officers as he is shot 16 times. The footage of last year’s shooting, taken from a camera mounted on the dashboard of a police car and made public under orders from a judge, prompted mostly peaceful street demonstrations in Chicago. The clip showed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who authorities said was carrying a pocket knife and had the hallucinogenic drug PCP in his system, as he was gunned down in the middle of a street on Oct. 20, 2014. McDonald is seen jogging away from patrol vehicles pursuing him from behind, and then veering off diagonally at a walk as two more officers pull up in a squad car ahead of him. Two policemen are shown jumping out of their vehicle in the center of the road, and drawing their weapons while advancing toward McDonald, who continues to move away. Within seconds he is struck by bullets, spins and crumples to the ground, his body jerking as he is hit by additional rounds of gunfire. McDonald’s death came at a time of intense national debate over police use of deadly force, especially against minorities. Officer Jason Van Dyke is the first Chicago police officer charged with murder for an on-duty incident in decades. Cook County’s chief prosecutor, Anita Alvarez, acknowledged that she timed the filing of the first-degree murder charge against Van Dyke to precede the video’s disclosure in a bid to mute harsh public reaction to the footage. “With release of this video it’s really important for public safety that the citizens of Chicago know that this officer is being held responsible for his actions,” she said. The video originally was expected to be released a day later, in compliance with the Wednesday deadline set by a judge. However, police said they made the clip public Tuesday evening after it was leaked to a local television station. Technical issues were blamed for a lack of audio with the tape. Authorities, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, appealed for calm as the city hoped to avert the turmoil over race and the use of lethal police force that has shaken much of the United States for more than a year. Hundreds of protesters gathered after dark a few miles east of the site of the shooting. They marched through the streets chanting: “You don’t get to kill us and tell us how to feel. You don’t get to shoot us and tell us how to heal.” Police said two protesters were arrested after a scuffle on Michigan Avenue. “It’s a good start that they have charged the police officer, but we’ve clearly reached the point where something needs to change,” said protester Monique Winegard, 33. Demonstrators had assembled outside a police precinct by 9 p.m. CST (0300 GMT), demanding the release of the two people arrested. Protesters later surrounded a police vehicle in a brief standoff.
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U.S. issues global travel alert as manhunt continues for Paris attackers
Citing “increased terrorist threats” from militant groups in various regions of the world, the U.S. State Department issued a global alert on Monday for Americans planning to travel following deadly militant attacks in France and Mali. As millions of Americans prepare to travel for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, the agency said potential attackers could target private or government interests. The department did not advise people against travel but said U.S. citizens should be vigilant, especially in crowded places. The State Department has regularly issued such worldwide travel alerts since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. A State Department official said the latest alert, which expires Feb. 24, effectively updated past warnings. In the statement on its website, the State Department said: “Current information suggests that (Islamic State), alQaeda, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions.” Although it did not mention the Nov. 13 Paris attacks claimed by the Islamic State group in which 130 died, the department noted that militants had carried out attacks in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey, and Mali during the past year. “Authorities believe the likelihood of terror attacks will continue as members of (Islamic State) return from Syria and Iraq,” it said. “Additionally, there is a continuing threat from
unaffiliated persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations but conducted on an individual basis.” France and Belgium have launched a manhunt following the attacks in Paris, with a focus on Brussels barkeeper Salah Abdeslam, 26, who returned to the city from Paris hours after the attacks and is still at large. Abdeslam’s mobile phone was detected after the attacks in the 18th district in the north of Paris, near an abandoned car that he had rented, and then later in Chatillon in the south, a source close to the investigation said. Detectives were examining what appeared to be an explosive belt found in a litter bin in the town of Montrouge, south of the capital and not far from Chatillon. The source said it was too soon to say whether the belt had been in contact with Abdeslam, whose elder brother blew himself during the gun and suicide bomb attacks. One theory was that Abdeslam had intended to blow himself up in the 18th district but had abandoned the plan, although it was not clear why. “Maybe he had a technical problem with his explosive belt,” a police source said. Fearing an imminent threat of a Paris-style attack, Belgium extended a maximum security alert in Brussels for a week but said the metro system and schools could reopen on Wednesday. “We are still confronted with the threat we were facing yesterday,” Prime Minister Charles Michel
said. Potential targets remained shopping areas and public transport. Belgium has been at the heart of investigations into the Paris attacks since French law enforcement bodies said two of the suicide bombers had lived there. Three people have been charged in Belgium with terrorist offences, including two who traveled back with Abdeslam from Brussels. As authorities tried to establish Abdeslam’s movements and whereabouts, a source said he traveled through Italy in August with a companion, but his presence caused no alarm because he was not a wanted man at the time. His companion was Ahmet Dahmani, a Belgian man of Moroccan origin who was arrested in Turkey last week on suspicion of involvement in the Paris attacks, the investigative source said. In Belgium, prosecutors said they had charged a fourth person with terrorist offences linked to the Paris attacks. They released all 15 others detained in police raids on Sunday. Two of five people detained on Monday were also released while the other three had their custody prolonged. Soldiers patrolled the streets of Brussels, the bustling European Union capital, which has been in lockdown since Saturday. On the Grand Place, a historic central square that usually draws crowds of tourists, an armored military vehicle was parked under an illuminated Christmas tree.
Mother, boyfriend charged in death of toddler burned in oven A Houston mother and her boyfriend have been charged in connection with the death of her 19-month-old daughter, who was severely burned inside an oven when she and her three young siblings were left home alone, police announced Tuesday. Racqual Thompson and Cornell Malone have each been charged with four counts of endangering a child. Both remain jailed, each with bonds totaling $36,000, after their arrests Tuesday morning. Court records didn’t list attorneys for either Malone, 21, or Thompson, 25. KTRK-TV reported last week that according to court records, J’zyra Thompson’s two 3-year-old siblings told Child Protective Services that one of them put J’zyra inside the oven and that they made the oven “hot.” According to court records prosecutors filed Monday,
Thompson told investigators that on the evening of Nov. 16, she had left her four children, including a 5-year-old, alone in their apartment for about 30 minutes to pick up Malone from work. Later that night, Thompson and Malone again left the children alone after putting them to bed to go get some pizza and visit Malone’s brother. The couple was gone for about two hours. “Mr. Malone stated that when they returned and went into the apartment, he could ‘smell something burning,’” according to a probable cause affidavit. Thompson and Malone told police they found the three other children crying and pointing to the kitchen. In the kitchen, the oven had tipped over, with the oven’s door face down on the floor, with J’zyra apparently inside, according to the affidavit. Malone “stated he
uprighted the ‘range’ and the next thing he noticed was J’zyra was lying on the floor. He stated that she was obviously burned and deceased,” according to the affidavit. The oven had apparently been turned on “all the way.” CPS has declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death as the court records it filed in the case have since been sealed by a judge. The three other children who were living in the apartment have been taken into CPS custody, with the agency saying it was concerned the children were often left home alone and without adult supervision. Police said Malone is not J’zyra’s father. According to court records, Thompson is currently 8½ months pregnant. Both are set to make their initial court appearance before a trial judge on Monday.
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Michelle & Barack Obama clash Over daughter Malia’s actions at college party Malia Obama is 17 and probably wants to do what other girls her age do -- hang out with college students and have a good time. However, since she’s the President’s daughter it’s harder to get away with that type of behavior without the world finding out about it. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen Malia playing beer pong with Brown University students in October, and when photos of her hit the internet her parents became quite upset. A picture on messaging app Snapchat showed the teen standing in front of a group of
cups set up for the drinking game. When a ball lands in a cup, a member of the opposite team has to take a swig. First, Malia is under the drinking age. Second, she’s still in high school. Brown student Hamiltonian Keurig wrote on Twitter: “Malia is playing beer pong.” Another Twitter user named Colin tweeted, “Malia Obama was taking shots and playing beer pong. LOL.” The tweets were later deleted. A “political insider” told the tabloid: “The First Lady and the President got into a screaming match over
it, each blaming the other for letting their underage daughter attend a wild drinking party. “Barack yelled at Michelle and blamed her for letting Malia get out of control! He told Michelle in no uncertain terms she needed to rein in Malia and make sure this doesn’t happen again! “Michelle snapped back at Barack, saying he’s a fine one to talk — after repeatedly admitting to smoking a ton of marijuana with his high school buddies!” Meanwhile, the President and First Lady are also reportedly at odds over
Malia’s dreams of becoming a model. The teen, who is nearly as tall as her 6-foot-one dad, has expressed an interest in pursuing a modeling career -much to Barack’s chagrin. A “Washington, D.C.” insider revealed: “But Barack is horrified Malia is talking about a career on the catwalk. He’s always wanted both of his daughters to have traditional professions – like lawyers or doctors!” Michelle is open to the idea. “Michelle loves the glamour of the fashion world, and she thinks Malia could even be a movie star!” the 17-year-old Malia Obama source added.
Recognition of racism growing in US
Roughly half of Americans believe racism is “a big problem”, according to a new poll conducted by CNN and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 49 percent of 1,951 respondents who feel this way suggests a growing recognition of racism across America. Four years ago, the last time the poll was done, just over a quarter of respondents described the state of racism in the US that way. According to CNN, the percentage is also higher now than it was two decades ago, a time when the country was caught up in the O.J. Simpson trial, and just a few years after the brutal beating of Rodney King drew national attention, when 41 percent of Americans described racism as “a big problem,” the news station reports. The poll results raise the question: Is racism getting worse, or is public awareness growing? Social media and video (by smartphone or dashboard cameras) of actions by law enforcement are playing a role in creating rapid awareness of racially-fueled incidents and protests, according to CNN. Highprofile cases of black men killed such as Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Freddie Gray, have all raised public awareness of what black men face when confronted
by law enforcement, and have galvanized the Black Lives Matter Movement. On college campuses across the country, students are responding to acts of discrimination and lack of diversity with demonstrations, and the Black Lives Matter movement is currently protesting instances of police violence in Minneapolis and Chicago. About 400 people attended a rally on Monday at the University of San Diego after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that a white man grabbed the headscarf of a Muslim woman in a campus parking lot and made racist comments. The rally included a list of demands from several female Muslim students that included coursework on Islam and a new zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. The outcry in San Diego echoes actions by five graduate students at the University of Kansas who filed a complaint when an assistant professor of communication studies, Andrea Quenette, used the N-word during a discussion about race in a class on pedagogy. Ms. Quenette told the Lawrence Journal-World she was expressing to students examples of racism on college campuses, similar to those recently witnessed
at the University of Missouri in Columbia, when she chose to use the slur. She was suspended from teaching. “It always seemed like it was getting better, like our generation was going to be better than previous generations,” Deborah Aust, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, said to CNN. Ms. Aust was a participant in the CNN/ KFF poll. “But the TV started telling us a different story, with all of these shootings by cops.” Aust, whose father and uncle both work in law enforcement, told CNN that media coverage of unarmed African-American men being shot by police have struck a chord with her. “What’s not helping is the police are getting off with a slap on the wrist. ... If it was me, and I was black, and this was happening in my community, I would be furious,” Aust says. But President Barack Obama pushed back against rhetoric that he said, “seeks to divide police and communities they serve,” in his speech last month to the International Association of Police Chiefs. The premise of policing as a threat to minority communities, the president added, “frames any discussion of public safety around ‘us’ and ‘them.’”
EU sets up 3 billion euro fund for refugees in Turkey
The European Union’s executive arm on Tuesday confirmed it will set up a 3-billion euro aid facility to help Turkey support Syrian refugees and so help stem the influx of migrants seeking to enter the EU. The EU’s common budget would provide 500 million euros and the Commission wants the 28 member states to put up the remaining 2.5 billion euros according to the size of their economies, a spokeswoman said after the commissioners agreed to establish the facility at their weekly meeting. The fund was offered to Ankara last month as part of package of measures to ease Europe’s migration crisis and which EU leaders plan to finalize at a summit with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Brussels on Sunday. However, most national governments have yet to agree the level of their contributions. The summit was called on Monday. Turkey has yet to say that the details of the accord have been finalised and EU officials have said elements of the deal are still open to amendment.
Obama honoring Streisand, Spielberg, Yogi Berra and more President Barack Obama recognized 17 Americans with the nation’s highest civilian award on Tuesday, including giants of the entertainment industry such as Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg, baseball legends Willie Mays and Yogi Berra, and politicians and activists, including a Japanese-American civil rights leader. “Today we celebrate some extraordinary people: innovators, artists and leaders who contribute to America’s strength as a nation,” Obama said. Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to filmmaker Steven Spielberg, musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan, singer James Taylor, composer Stephen Sondheim, violinist Itzhak Perlman and actress Barbra Streisand,
September, was a famed New York Yankees’ catcher, an 18-time All-Star and 10-time World Series champion. The president noted that Berra also served in World War II. Mays, a centerfielder for the New York and San Francisco Giants, was among the first African-American players in Major League Baseball. “It’s because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for president,” Obama said. President Obama presents the Presidential Posthumous recipients Medal of Freedom to Barbra Streisand on Nov. included Japanese-American civil 24, 2015. rights leader Minoru Yasui, who who won an Academy award for her challenged the constitutionality performance in the classic film musical, of a military curfew order during “Funny Girl.” World War II on the grounds of racial The sports honorees were discrimination and spent months in Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays solitary confinement during the legal and Yogi Berra. Berra, who died in battle, and Indian tribal advocate Billy
Frank Jr., who led “fish-ins”— similar to sit-ins— during the tribal “fish wars” of the 1960s and 1970s. The politicians bestowed the honor are Democrats: Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, who has championed equal pay and women’s health during her 44 years of public service; former Rep. Lee Hamilton from Indiana, a longtime advocate of American national security and international relations; and the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm from New York. Chisholm was the first AfricanAmerican woman elected to Congress and a founding member of what would become the Congressional Black Caucus. Of Hamilton, Obama said he helped guide the nation through the Cold War and had a consistent commitment to bipartisanship.
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WORLD NEWS
Many House Republicans want refugee restrictions in spending bill
Nearly one-third of the Republicans in the House of Representatives signed a letter calling on party leaders to ensure that a mustpass spending bill block any use of federal funding to resettle refugees from Syria and nearby countries, the bill’s sponsor said on Tuesday. Seventy-four of the 246 House Republicans signed the letter, which was circulated by Republican Representative Brian Babin. It urges Speaker Paul Ryan and other House leaders to include a provision in an upcoming appropriations bill that would block President Barack Obama’s plan to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next year. Passage of a bill with such language by the Republican-controlled Congress could set up a showdown
Syrian refugee Dania poses for a portrait at the Sacramento, California apartment complex she lives in, November 16, 2015. with Obama, who has promised to veto for it to pass the House and Senate and a standalone bill passed by the House be signed into law by Obama to avoid a last week setting tighter controls on government shutdown. refugee resettlement. Ryan’s office did not Congressional aides are immediately respond to a request for negotiating the $1 trillion-plus comment on the letter. spending bill, facing a Dec. 11 deadline The attacks in Paris earlier
It’s record hot out there this year
Because of man-made global warming and a strong El Nino, Earth’s wild weather this year is bursting the annual heat record, the World Meteorological Organization announced on Wednesday. The U.N. weather agency’s early bird report on 2015 says it is the hottest year on record, surpassing last year’s record heat. It made the proclamation without waiting for the end of the year because it has been so extraordinarily hot, forecast to stay that way and unlikely to cool down enough to not set a record. The report comes the week before world leaders assemble in Paris to try to negotiate an agreement to fight climate change. “This is all bad news for the planet,” the agency’s secretarygeneral, Michel Jarraud, said in a statement. The report is not surprising: Scientists at the U.S.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and elsewhere already were saying that 2015 likely would be the hottest. The U.N. agency, NOAA, NASA and Japan’s weather agency all say 2014 is the current record hot year with a global temperature of 14.57 C (58.23 F). “I would call it certain,” NOAA’s chief climate monitor, Deke Arndt, said on Tuesday. “Something game-changing massive would have to happen for it not to be a record.” Records go back to 1880. Jarraud also said it is likely that the world has now warmed by 1 degree Celsius, or 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, over preindustrial times. That’s a symbolic milestone: International leaders have set a goal of keeping global warming within 2 degrees C, 3.6 F, of pre-industrial times. “It’s a fair summary of where we are,” said Gavin
Schmidt, head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. “2015 is going to be exceptional in many ways.” The world is warming because of heat-trapping gases that come from the burning of coal, oil and gas. On top of that, El Nino, a naturally occurring climate event that starts with warm water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, makes the world even warmer, scientists say. he report is an atlas of extreme weather, from heat waves in Pakistan and India, where high temperatures broke 45 C, or 113 F, to a record strong Hurricane Patricia in Mexico. It included heavy rains and flooding in the southern United States, Mexico, Bolivia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and droughts in the western United States, central Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia.
Kerry says more cooperation with Russia possible, seeks to reassure opposition Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday the United States could broaden military cooperation with Russia in Syria, but that such a move should not deter opposition groups trying to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Washington has long resisted working more closely with Russia, or inviting it to be part of an international coalition of 61 countries trying to defeat Islamic State militants, until Moscow shows that its air strikes in Syria are not aimed at insurgent forces fighting Assad. Kerry met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan on Monday and later held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on ways to bring Syrian opposition groups together at a conference in Riyadh next month. United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed joined the meeting with al-Jubeir. Although Kerry said
Washington was not under pressure to work more closely with Moscow, such cooperation would be possible under the right circumstances and could lead to “constructive possibilities”. But he told journalists that it was wrong to see any of Washington’s moves as helping keep Assad in power. “If certain entities perceive that whatever we’re doing is going to help Assad to stay, that complicates issues,” he said. “So it has to be done in a way that manages the passions ... among people who have been fighting Assad for four years”. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - met earlier this month in Vienna, where they agreed plans to launch formal talks between Assad’s government and its opponents by Jan. 1. Divisions among Syrian
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media after touring Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, November 23, 2015. Kerry went without shoes as a sign of respect in the mosque. opposition factions, some backed by the West and others by Gulf Arab states, are often cited as one of many obstacles facing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states have long been major backers of the insurgency against Assad, whom they say must leave power. Assad has been supported militarily by Iran and Russia, which has carried out eight weeks of air strikes in Syria.
this month fueled a wave of antirefugee sentiment in the United States that had been rising since Obama announced his plan to admit Syrians in September. Many Americans worry that the mostly Muslim newcomers would pose a national security threat, although they go through up to two years of screening before they are allowed into the country. The Babin letter said Congress must “exercise greater authority” over the refugee resettlement program to ensure the safety of the U.S. public. “ISIS (Islamic State) has repeatedly declared that they would infiltrate the refugee community that is leaving the Middle East and flooding into Europe. The November 13 attacks in Paris appear to have been a fulfillment of that threat,” the letter said.
Dominican Republic seeks arrest of Euro MP for cocaine convicts’ speedboat escape The Dominican Republic issued arrest warrants on Monday against a member of the European Parliament and two other French nationals for helping a pair of French pilots convicted on cocaine trafficking charges flee the Caribbean nation by speedboat. Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito said warrants for people smuggling were issued against Euro MP Aymeric Chauprade, as well as Christophe Naudin and Pierre Malinowski, after the men admitted in the media their role in the escape of the pilots. In an interview with Paris Match last month, Chauprade said he planned the escape to help “compatriots in danger.” Malinowski is an assistant of France’s veteran far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen at the European Parliament. The pilots, Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos, were under loose house arrest at the time of the escape. They had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession of 1,500 pounds (700 kilos) of cocaine with intent to traffic it aboard an aircraft seized in Punta Cana International Airport in March 2013. They denied the charges and were given some freedom of movement during an appeal against the conviction. Dominican authorities also announced a request for a so-called Red Notice with Interpol, the international police agency, requesting help in capturing the three, Dominguez Brito said in a statement on the Attorney General’s website. He said an investigation confirmed the presence of three French nationals in the country, and operations carried out by them, “clearly indicating how the entire strategy was set in motion ending with the exit of the two French pilots.” French network BFM TV carried photos of the two men in a speedboat and said they went from that boat to a larger vessel, which sailed to the nearby Frenchgoverned part of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, about 730 km (450 miles) from Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic. Two other men, Alain Marc Paul Castany and Nicolas Pisapia, were also convicted in the cocaine case and are still detained in the Dominican Republic pending an appeal. The attorney general said the Dominican Republic would seek enforcement of international agreements to ensure the “affront to the country´s justice system doesn’t go unpunished.”
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WORLD NEWS
Cops are freaking out about a new type of marijuana
Police in Illinois are warning the public about an extremely potent drug that is gaining popularity in the state, saying it can “cause users to disconnect from reality” and might even lead to “hallucinations and other types of psychosis.” The drug is called “shatter,” and it sounds awfully scary until you learn that’s just a concentrated form of marijuana. Shatter — also known as wax, sap, budder, and a number of other nicknames, depending on the presentation — is a type of cannabis concentrate that resembles honey or taffy. It can be inhaled for a stronger high per hit than marijuana buds, the part of the plant that is commonly smoked. The Illinois State Police put out the warning last week that the high from shatter can be “up to six times stronger than the average marijuana cigarette” after they confiscated more than 100 pounds of the drug and arrested three people for possession. It’s not the first time law enforcement has sounded the alarm about the marijuana derivative, which is typically made using the chemical solvent butane, to the extent that many people use the term “shatter” interchangeably with “BHO,” short for “butane hash oil.” The word “shatter”
A marijuana smoker exhaling refers to BHO that has been made into a thin, brittle sheet. Smoking or vaporizing BHO typically involves heating a special apparatus with a blowtorch and then applying a bit of the substance to the heated element and inhaling. It’s widely called “dabbing” because users only need to use a tiny dab of the stuff to get high. The Illinois State Police referred questions about their shatter warning to Mark Piccoli, director of the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group, which enforces drug laws in suburban Chicago. Piccoli said they’ve seen about five cases of BHO possession in his area this year. He
Powerful N.Y. lawmaker collected millions in bribes, prosecutor says
One of New York’s most powerful politicians abused his office for a decade, orchestrating multimillion-dollar bribery schemes he kept hidden from public view through lies and deception, a U.S. prosecutor told jurors on Monday at the close of his corruption trial. Sheldon Silver, who as speaker of the state Assembly wielded enormous political influence, collected $4 million in illegal kickbacks in exchange for official acts, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Goldstein said in New York federal court. “The full picture of his corruption was exposed in this courthouse,” Goldstein said. But Steven Molo, Silver’s lawyer, said overreaching prosecutors had criminalized politics as usual. “This is a theory without evidence,” he said. Silver’s counterpart in the state Senate, former majority leader Dean Skelos, is himself on trial for corruption in the same Manhattan court. The two trials represent the highest-profile cases in a string of recent prosecutions and scandals involving dozens of state lawmakers. Silver, 71, and Skelos, 67, stepped down from their leadership posts after their arrests but continue to work as legislators, representing lower Manhattan and Long Island, respectively. Under the state’s system, the two legislative leaders and the governor comprise the so-called “three men in a room” who exercise virtually unfettered control over the legislative process in Albany. With Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, looking on from the audience, Goldstein said
Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver arrives at the Manhattan U.S. District Courthouse in New York, November 23, 2015. Silver awarded $500,000 in secret state grants to a cancer researcher, Robert Taub, who in turn referred asbestos patients to Silver’s law firm. Silver received millions of dollars in fees from the firm as a result, Goldstein said. “I will keep giving cases to Shelley because I may need him in the future - he is the most powerful man in New York State,” Taub, who testified under a non-prosecution deal with the government, wrote in one 2010 email. But Molo said the men helped each other out of friendship, pointing to Taub’s testimony that he did not steer patients to Silver as part of an explicit agreement for grant money. “What kind of extortion scheme is it if the person being extorted doesn’t think he’s being extorted?” Molo said. Silver is also charged with accepting $700,000 in kickbacks for steering real estate developers to another law firm, then watering down rent control legislation to help those developers.
chair of the Marijuana Industry Group, said that the argument over BHO’s potency is a “nonstarter” that antimarijuana groups have been trying to use for years. “The evidence just isn’t there for that,” he said. “People self-regulate. One hit of something strong is equal to five hits of something weak and people’s bodies tell them that.” Fisher and Piccoli acknowledged that the real dangers come when people try making their own BHO at home, either causing explosions by improperly using the gas or leaving residues of industrial gases said the drug sells for about $30 to $40 in their BHO. Piccoli pointed to a slew for a gram, as opposed to about $15 for of YouTube videos showing explosions marijuana buds. The products contain from people making BHO. 80 to 90 percent tetrahydrocannabinol Moving the production into an (THC) compared to the 15 percent industrial lab can solve those problems, found in the average marijuana bud Fisher said. that is smoked, he noted. “If you do it in [an] industrial “It’s very strong compared to setting, you can do it perfectly safely. smoking marijuana or smoking a joint,” It’s about moving it from the black he said. “You don’t see overdoses from market to the regulated white market marijuana. They’re extremely rare, it to do it,” he said. almost never happens, but I imagine Legislators in both there’s a higher potential for that to Washington and Colorado changed happen along with hallucinations and their marijuana laws this year to make other types of psychosis.” at-home BHO production involving a Kevin Fisher, who owns flammable substance illegal. Colorado dispensaries and makes marijuana experienced some 30 explosions during products in Colorado and is the former 2014 resulting from the process.
Russia and Turkey refuse to back down in row over jet downing
Russia sent an advanced missile system to Syria on Wednesday to protect its jets operating there and pledged its air force would keep flying missions near Turkish air space, sounding a defiant note after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet. Underscoring the message, Russian forces launched a heavy bombardment against insurgent-held areas in Latakia on Wednesday, near where the jet was downed, rebels and a monitoring group said. The United States and Europe both urged calm and continued dialogue in telephone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a sign of international concern at the prospect of any escalation between the former Cold War enemies. The downing of the jet on Tuesday was one of the most serious publicly acknowledged clashes between a NATO member and Russia for half a century, and further complicated international efforts to battle Islamic State militants in Syria. President Tayyip Erdogan made no apology, saying his nation had simply been defending its own security and the “rights of our brothers in Syria”. He made clear Turkish policy would not change. Russian officials expressed fury over Turkey’s action and spoke of retaliatory measures that were likely to include curbing travel by Russian tourists to Turkish resorts and some restrictions on trade. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described it as a planned act and said it would affect efforts towards a political solution in Syria. Moscow would “seriously reconsider” its relations with Ankara, he said. Jets believed to be Russian
also hit a depot for trucks waiting to go through a major rebel-controlled border crossing with Turkey, Bab alSalam, the head of the crossing said. Syrian jets have struck the area before, but if confirmed to have been carried out by Russia, it would be one of Moscow’s closest air strikes to Turkish soil, targeting a humanitarian corridor into rebelheld Syria and a lifeline for ordinary Syrians crossing to Turkey.
DO NOT WANT WAR But the Russian response was carefully calibrated, indicating Moscow did not want to jeopardize its main objective in the region: to rally international support for its view on how the conflict in Syria should be resolved. “We have no intention of fighting a war with Turkey,” Lavrov said. Erdogan also said Ankara had no intention of escalating tensions with Russia. In Paris, where deadly attacks on Nov. 13 claimed by Islamic State prompted France to step up its aerial bombing of the militant group in Syria, President Francois Hollande expressed concern over the war of words between Ankara and Moscow. “We must all work to make sure that the situation (between Russia and Turkey) de-escalates,” Hollande told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Hollande was due to discuss Syria and the fight against Islamic State with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. Putin said an advanced weapons system would be despatched to Russia’s Khmeimim air base in Syria’s Latakia province.
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BUSINESS &
TECHNOLOGY
Big banks accused of interest rate-swap fixing in class action suit
A Goldman Sachs sign is seen above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in the Manhattan borough of New York NEW YORK - A class action lawsuit, filed Wednesday, accuses 10 of Wall Street’s biggest banks and two trading platforms of conspiring to limit competition in the $320 trillion market for interest rate swaps. The class action lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, accuses Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Barclays, BNP Paribas, UBS, Deutsche Bank, and the Royal Bank of Scotland of colluding to prevent the trading of interest rate swaps on electronic exchanges, like the ones on which stocks are traded. As a result, the lawsuit alleges, banks have successfully prevented new competition from non-banks in the lucrative market for dealing interest rate swaps, the world’s most commonly traded derivative. The banks “have been able to extract billions of dollars in monopoly rents, year after year, from the class members in this case,” the lawsuit alleged.
The suit was brought by The Public School Teachers’ Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago, which purchased interest rate swaps from multiple banks to help the fund hedge against interest rate risk on debt. The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm of Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart, & Sullivan LLP, which has taken the lead in a string of antitrust suits against banks. As a result of the banks’ collusion, the suit alleges, the Chicago teachers’ pension and retirement fund overpaid for those swaps. The suit alleged that since at least 2007 the banks “have jointly threatened, boycotted, coerced, and otherwise eliminated any entity or practice that had the potential to bring exchange trading to buyside investors.” “Defendants did this for one simple reason: to preserve an extraordinary profit center,” the lawsuit said. The banks masked their collusion by using code-names for joint projects such as “Lily”,
“Fusion,” and “Valkyrie,” according to the suit. The suit also accused broking platforms ICAP and Tradeweb, which control key cogs in the infrastructure of the swaps market, of facilitating the antitrust violations by acting as a forum for collusion and making business decisions on the banks’ behalf. Nine of the ten defendant banks own equity stakes in Tradeweb and hold positions on the company’s board and governance committees. Tradeweb is 40 percent owned by Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters is not named as a defendant in the suit. Bankers used those positions to control the direction of the Tradeweb and collectively blocked the development of more investor friendly swaps exchanges by firms such as the CME Group, TrueEX, Javelin Capital Markets, and TeraExchange, according to the suit. “During the time period relevant here, Tradeweb board and governance committees… were organized specifically for the purpose of protecting the ‘dealer community’ from the growth of exchange trading,” reads the suit. Similar allegations of bank collusion in the market for another type of derivative known as credit default swaps, have been the subject of investigations by the United States Department of Justice and the European Commission, as well as a separate class action lawsuit brought by investors. In September, twelve banks and two industry groups settled that lawsuit by agreeing to pay $1.87 billion, making it one of the largest antitrust class action lawsuits in U.S. history.
E.coli outbreak looks set to infect Chipotle’s same-outlet sales Same-restaurant sales at Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc, hit by an E.coli outbreak at its restaurants, look set to decline for the first time since the burrito chain was spun off from McDonald’s Corp in 2006. The company on Friday said the outbreak, initially limited to restaurants in Washington state and Oregon, had spread to four additional states: California, Ohio, New York and Minnesota. Chipotle’s shares slipped to an 18 month-low after markets opened on Monday but quickly rallied to trade up 6 percent at $569.03. They had fallen 12 percent on Friday. “I think there might be a strong reaction to the downside on Friday ... there haven’t been any new cases since those several cases that were reported on Friday afternoon,” Maxim analyst Stephen Anderson said. Anderson, who expects more cases to be reported soon, said the outbreak could hurt Chipotle’s traffic for the next few quarters. Some analysts said investor reaction was overdone and that Chipotle was a good long-term bet. “... We see value in shares from current levels for investors that can look through the near-term choppiness,” William Blair analysts said. Chipotle’s stock has declined more than 16 percent since Oct. 31, when Chipotle said it would close 43 restaurants following the outbreak. The company said on Nov. 10 it would reopen those restaurants. At least four brokerages cut their price targets on Monday. Maxim was the most bearish, lowering its target to $585 from $718. The median price target on Chipotle’s stock is $740, according to Thomson Reuters data. Of the 32 brokerages covering Chipotle’s stock, only one brokerage has a “sell” rating. Eighteen rate it “buy” or higher, and the rest rate it “hold”. The recent incident marks the third lapse in food safety at Chipotle, whose tagline “Food with Integrity”, has come to mean the promise of fresh food. While such products are often healthier, some processing such as high heat can kill pathogens like E.coli. At least 45 people have been infected with the E. coli O26 strain in the United States in the past month. Of those, 43 reported eating at a Chipotle restaurant in the week before their illness started, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
U.S. consumers and stores face off over depth of holiday discounts Target Corp’s 10 percent discount on a $30.49 pair of embroidered curtains was not nearly enough to entice Valerie Jenkins, shopping in Chicago the weekend before Thanksgiving. She expects the 60-70 percent off she got during the last holidays. “There were some very good deals this time last year,” she said. Jenkins represents a problem for retailers going into what traditionally has been the peak shopping day of the holiday season, Black Friday. Big retailers are keeping discounts for the weekend following Thanksgiving at around the same level as last year, according to data supplied to Reuters by Market Track. But polls by Reuters/Ipsos and some others show shoppers, who
got even bigger discounts closer to Christmas last year, are cautious with their spending and willing to wait for deals. The Reuters/Ipsos survey found more people planned to cut holiday spending than increase in every category surveyed: clothing, jewelry, electronics, food and toys, and that 46 percent felt they could wait longer in the season to buy because of faster shipping. Black Friday shopping will help set the tone for the rest of the holiday season, signaling to retailers whether they need to drop prices or change promotions. While Black Friday is not always a strong forecaster of holiday spending, last year reports of poor Black Friday spending were followed by deeper discounting and a rush of buying in
the week before Christmas. J.C. Penney Co Inc offered an average 58 percent off in Black Friday ads this year, down from 59 percent last year, according to Market Track, which looks at circulars from top retailers. Kohl’s Corp is offering 54 percent off, up from 51 percent in 2014, and discounts from Staples Inc and Office Depot are both a touch less than last year, at 45 percent and 50 percent, respectively. Appliances, entertainment items, infant products and hardware showed narrowing discounts, Market Track reported, while promotions for apparel, toys and electronics were getting bigger. Kurt Jetta, head of retail industry researcher TABS Group, found the discounts underwhelming. “The fact that retail has
been so weak coming in to the season would suggest they may need to ramp up efforts to make up for this later,” Jetta said. Consumers were cautious going into the holidays, with sales at Macy’s, Nordstrom Inc and Best Buy missing expectations in recent quarterly results. Target’s online sales fell due to a drop in demand for electronics. LOOKING FOR DISCOUNTS The Reuters/Ipsos survey of 4,639 adults from Nov. 12-23 found 28 percent of consumers expected discounts of 50 percent or more on most items, 36 percent hoped to see promotions of at least 33 percent while 49 percent expect a minimum discount of 20 percent on most products.
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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY WORLD NEWS
Marriott Paying $12.2 Billion to Acquire Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Marriott global Inc. announced it will buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts in a $12.2 billion deal, creating the world’s largest hotel chain. The acquisition will make Marriott the world’s biggest hotel chain, operating or franchising more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms across the globe – approximately 50% more than the closest contender, Hilton. The combined company’s fee revenue for the 12 months ended 30 September, 2015, totals over US$2.7 billion. The transaction would enable US$200 million in annual cost savings in its second full year after closing by leveraging back-office and operational efficiencies. Industry experts believe that this deal could spark further industry consolidation, as hotel chains focus on size and scale to compete with each other as well as online travel agents and aggregator models that have disrupted the industry. While Starwood is smaller
than Marriott or Hilton, it has more hotels in China than any other US hotelier, and an extensive operation in Hawaii. Starwood has 11 brands, including W Hotels, St. Regis, Westin, and Aloft. The sources said competing bids for Starwood comprised a mix of stock and cash worth about the same as the Marriott offer. Its strength lies in the popularity of its lifestyle brands, which tend to appeal to younger travelers-a consumer group Marriott has aggressively been targeting with the introduction of such brands as AC hotels. “The driving force behind this transaction is growth”, says Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and CEO. Both Marriott and Starwood have large loyalty rewards programs - with 54 million members and 21
Paris tourism slumps in wake of attacks
French gendarmes officers patrol near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Monday November 23rd 2015. The attacks in Paris are having available figures from the government. a major impact on tourism, initial Prime Minister Manuel Valls was figures show, pushing the French meeting Monday with representatives prime minister to meet industry from tour operators, travel agencies, officials to come up with a plan to limit hotels, restaurants as well as travel the damage and keep visitors coming companies such as Air France, to find to the City of Light. a short-term plan to boost the industry. Ten days after the carnage, the The meeting will also look for ways deadliest since WWII, museum ticket to tailor the marketing of Paris as a sales have plummeted. There are none holiday destination for tourists fearful of the usual lines of people waiting to of a repeat of the attacks that killed get to the top of the Eiffel Tower. 130 people and left hundreds more Though Parisians have put injured. on a brave face since the attacks, Even as airlines operated a which targeted entertainment spots normal schedule of flights into and like cafes and a concert hall, tourists out of Paris, many travelers with are shying away. Those that do come plans to visit the French capital notice a strange, oppressive mood. have reconsidered their options, a “You can really feel how worrisome sign for the travel and nervous and scared people are,” said tourism industries. 40-year-old South African Shaun Joe Nardozzi, a 31-year-old Bruwer. He was at a train station New York investment banker, and when the sound of a pigeon getting his wife won’t be taking the weddingelectrocuted on the tracks “sent people anniversary trip they planned later running in all directions.” this month. The Louvre and the Musee “I have no interest in losing d’Orsay museums, two of the most my life over a trip to Paris,” he said. popular spots on the Paris tourist Blake Fleetwood, president circuit flanking the Seine river, told of New York-based Cook Travel, said The Associated Press they’ve both about 10 customers out of the roughly recorded a 30 percent drop in visitors 30 with trips booked to Paris told him compared with the week before the they want to cancel. Nov. 13 attacks. The Pompidou, the Tourism to the French capital main museum of modern art, says already took a hit earlier this year ticket sales have halved. after attacks by Islamic extremists in Business activity in the wider January on a satirical magazine and economy was also slowing in November, a Jewish market. The number of hotel according to a survey published stays fell 3.3 percent in the first three Monday by financial data company months of the year. Markit. Economists say that attacks The health of the tourism of this kind tend to have a short-term sector is crucial for central Paris, as impact, but that tourism tends to it employs almost 200,000 people out rebound. of a population of just over two million It’s still too soon to say how people. More than 22 million people big or lasting an impact the November stayed in hotels in 2013, the latest attacks will have.
million members, respectively - but the companies have yet to decide when, or how, those two programs will be combined. “We became more convinced about the advantages of size by combining the two companies together”, Mr Sorenson said. The company operates and franchises hotels and resorts under 19 brands, including the Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites and TownePlace Suites. Marketing has reached out to Marriott and Starwood for further comments. According to the terms of the deal, Marriott will shell out $72.08 per share in cash and stock for Starwood; Starwood shareholders will now own 37% of the newly combined company. For making this deal possible, Starwood was being advised by
Lazard and Citigroup, while Deutsche Bank Securities advised Marriott. Bruce Duncan, chairman of the board at Starwood, said yesterday that it “spoke to a wide range of interested parties”. Marriott shares fell as much as 3.2 percent, before closing 1.3 percent lower, as hotel and airline stocks weakened on heightened concerns that the Paris attacks on Friday could curb travel. “The economies of scale really matter in the lodging business because higher volumes on the reservation system can drive business to lessoccupied properties on a given night”, said Mr James Corl, a managing director at real estate private equity firm Siguler Guff and Co. Marriott said it expects the move to add to its earnings by the second year, excluding transaction costs that are expected to total about $US100m to $US150m.
US data points to moderate fourth-quarter growth U.S. consumer spending barely rose in October as households took advantage of rising incomes to boost savings to their highest level in nearly three years, pointing to moderate economic growth in the fourth quarter. Anemic consumer spending did little do change expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month as other data on Wednesday showed a surge in business spending plans in October and a drop in new applications for unemployment benefits last week. “As far as fourth-quarter GDP goes, that is likely to keep estimates close to 2 percent. That’s enough to justify a rate hike as long as next Friday’s employment report is not a disaster,” said Chris Low, chief economist at FTN Financial in New York. The Commerce Department said consumer spending edged up 0.1 percent after a similar increase in September. That suggests consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, has slowed from the third quarter’s brisk 3.0 percent annual pace. The tepid rise in consumer spending could combine with an anticipated drag from an ongoing inventory reduction to hold the economy to around a 2 percent growth rate in the fourth quarter. But the economy, which expanded at a 2.1 percent pace in the third quarter, could get support from business spending. In a second report, the Commerce Department said nondefense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, jumped 1.3 percent last month after rising 0.4 percent in September. Coming on the heels of data this month showing a solid increase in manufacturing output in October, it suggested the worst of the drag from a strong dollar and deep spending cuts by energy firms was over. Fed officials had held off raising rates at their last two
meetings as they assessed the degree to which dollar strength and a slowing in economies overseas would weigh on the United States. “The surge in core capital goods orders could be a crucial signal that this important sector of the economy may be at a turning point, further bolstering the Fed’s confidence in the sustainability of the economic recovery,” said Millan Mulraine, deputy chief U.S. economist at TD Securities in New York. Manufacturing, which accounts for 12 percent of the economy, has been slammed by the buoyant dollar and energy sector spending cuts. The greenback has gained 18.1 percent against the currencies of the United States’ main trading partners since June 2014. The pace of appreciation, however, is gradually slowing. Economists also believe that the bulk of spending cuts by oil field firms like Schlumberger (SLB.N) in response to lower crude prices have already been implemented. U.S. Treasury debt prices rose modestly, while the dollar hit an eight-month high against a basket of currencies. U.S. stocks were flat. WAGES RISING Economists say rising rents and medical costs are diverting money from discretionary spending. While consumer sentiment increased in November from October, households continued to fret over their financial prospects, another report showed. But as the labor market continues to tighten, there is optimism that wage growth will pick up and encourage consumers to loosen their purse strings and boost spending. A fourth report from the Labor Department showed first-time applications for state unemployment benefits declined 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 for the week ended Nov. 21. Claims have now held below the 300,000 threshold for 38consecutive weeks, the longest stretch in years, and are near levels last seen in 1973.
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LOCAL SPORTS
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NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
TCIFA hosts first FIFA Futsal Coaching Course Futsal is taking the world by storm and more youth soccer players are turning to this fastpaced and fun filled game, which enhances technique and skill with 1,000s of touches on the ball. Widely recognized as a key developmental tool by the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association, the top soccer players in the world plays Futsal — yes, Ronaldo and Messi are just two of many world-class players who play Futsal. Keith Tozer, the current US Men’s Futsal Coach, spent 5 days with 28 coaches conducting the FIFA Futsal Coaching Course. This course covered the basic techniques and advanced tactics of futsal. Coaches participated in discussions and training activities designed for coaches who wish to lead high-level youth futsal training sessions and matches. “This was the first futsal
coaching class offered in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Keith Tozer did a terrific job over the 5 day period. The coaching course was non-stop futsal to help coaches understand the game of futsal, and to apply it to our own curriculum. It was an amazing experience,” said Craig Harrington, TCIFA Technical Director. “The FIFA Futsal Coaching Course was such a great way to educate coaches on the fundamentals of futsal. It was eye-opening experience for the coaches who completed the course. “Futsal is the future! Our youth is the future! From improved footwork, to better movement off the ball it’s clear that futsal enhances technical and tactical knowledge. The likes of top professional players Ronaldo, Messi and De Gea have paid tribute to the beneficial effects of playing futsal in their youth,” said Harrington.
Local Futsal participants pose for the camera
High tech game simulation room opens in Grace Bay Indoor Golfing Game Centre, a swanky high-tech game simulation outlet located along Grace Bay Road in Providenciales, is becoming a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. The Indoor Golfing Game Centre is also equipped with a golf simulator, a two racing car simulators and an Xbox-type giant screen for various games. The golf simulator uses real golf clubs and balls, which are struck onto an impact screen, and while the real ball drops to the floor, see it continues on the screen. The racecars are designed off formula one cars, while the Xbox-type games, which accommodates multi-players, include FIFA Football and street fighters. Christopher Bruno, Managing Director, explained that what started as the idea of the few friends to put something together for a few friends, turned out into the masterpiece that
the Indoor Golfing Game Centre. “The golf simulation is run off a high-end computer. You hit real golf balls into real golf clubs into the special impact screen. The screen absorbs the impact of the golf balls and drop down, but you will see the golf ball continue into the distance as if you were watching in real life,” he explained. He said that simulation gives the player all the information to up his or her game. “It tells you the launch angle, it tells you the speed of the golf club, the speed of the golf ball and the angle you hit the golf ball. So golfers can improve their game or just find out why they are doing certain things,” he said. He said that the golf simulation is in league with ones used by professional golfers, further explaining that the system has an application that
Chris Bruno in explains how the racing car simulator works
contains some of the most famous club courses around the world, giving the player a wide choice. “One of the great things about the software that we’ve got is that we can actually design golf courses, so it is definitely our intention to design the Provo Golf Course in it,” Bruno said. He said that the two four-speed racecar simulators developed by racing car enthusiasts, are equipped with the latest in next generation software and modeled off Formula 1 and other race cars. “All of the tracks and all of the racecars are being modeled almost as possible to what those real cars are. We have almost over 200 racetracks, including some of the famous ones. We have over 80 different cars, everything from Formula 1 cars, all the way down to BMWs and Mercedes and different things like that,’ he said. Bruno pointed out that after
Chris Bruno demonstrates on the golf simulator
conducting a research, found out that there is nothing like the facility available in the Caribbean. He said the simulations are so designed that they provide greater information than what the regular domestic games provide. He said the target audience for Indoor Golfing Game Centre is teenagers and up, but they will be looking to develop children’s programme in the very near future. “We are trying to keep it very affordable, and that is one of the key,” he said, adding that the facility is open to membership packages. For non-members, the rate is $55 per hour. The lowest membership fee is $25 per month. He said that there are different tiers of memberships. Bruno said also that the facility would be used for members’ movie night, since it is equipped with surround sound audio system.
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LOCAL SPORTS
MASTERS LEAGUE 2015 The Masters League hosted its first games approximately seven years ago in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These games were developed specifically for men over the age of 35 years with a view of encouraging a continuous healthy lifestyle. Although, the pace of the game is a considered slower than the usual with minor changes, the high level of competition still remains. The 2015 season on October 8th at the Turks & Caicos Islands
Football Association ("TCIFA") National Academy with five teams battling to emerge at the top of the chart: those teams are Teachers, Police, Realest and Cheshire Hall. With a competitive game between Cheshire Hall and Realest (2-1) and another between Teacher and the Police (3-2), the season began on a bright and successful note. After hosting 16 games, the current standings for the season are as followed: Teachers in 1st place
with 17 points, followed by Cheshire Hall in 2nd position with 16 points, Realest with 3 points in 3rd and Police standing in 4th with 1 point. With only four more games left to determine the top team for this season, the competition between the teams is heating up. The current top scorers for this season are: Haroon Swaby of Cheshire Hall with a number of 13 goals, followed by Ian Chang of Teachers with 6 goals and presently
standing in third place is Agenor Joseph of Cheshire Hall with 5 goals. Having only four more games left to play these results can have a significant change as teams try to redeem themselves. Games will continue on Thursday, November 26th, 2015 at the TCIFA's Natonal Academy with the first game kicking off at 6:30pm and the second game at 7:40pm. The general public is invited to attend.
Introducing Okeanos Fitness Gym/Juice and Smoothie Bar in The Regent Village
Josh Williams, owner of Okeanos Fitness and Okeanos Juice and Smoothie Bar, is a Turks and Caicos Islander who spent the past 9 years playing ice hockey in The U.S and Canada. A serious injury while playing hockey in Montreal initially piqued Josh’s interest in rehabilitation and injury prevention. Josh completed his personal training certification and began working as a Fitness and High Performance Coach in Philadelphia. Josh’s main focus became strength training to prevent injury. Having reached the difficult decision to put his dream of playing professional hockey to rest. Josh returned home to Provo, to open Okeanos Fitness Gym/Juice and Smoothie Bar. So where did the name Okeanos originate from?
Okeanos, in Greek Mythology, was the personification of the fresh body of water that circled the earth. Okeanos later came to represent the Atlantic Ocean. The Okeanos logo is the Greek letter Phi and represents balance. Josh believes that maintaining a balance between work, rest, fitness, play, and eating nutritional foods, helps us to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. “As an elite athlete and child growing up suffering from asthma, I personally understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and the difference that exercise and nutrition can make to your overall health. I decided to combine my passion for athletic training with my experience and understanding of nutrition. I figured, what better way to educate
clients on the importance of healthy eating than to open up a juice and smoothie bar right inside my gym. As a young adult myself, I hope to be a role model to the teenagers and adults of Turks and Caicos, and lead our Island towards healthier living through fitness and clean eating”. Now offering Free Delivery in the Grace Bay area, Okeanos’s menu includes a wide range of nourishing smoothies, juices and salads, all made from fresh fruits, vegetables and coconut water. Some favourites include The Pink Flamingo, Immune Booster, Green Machine, Berry-Cado, Waterfall, Tropical Passion, Beet or rehabilitation consultation. Email Retreat and Turks n’ Cooler. Not sure okeanosfitness@gmail.com or call 431what to have? Next time you visit, ask 6328 for more information. To view Josh for a taster. While there, ask Josh Okeanos’s menu online, go to Isle Help. for a free personal training net.
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NOVEMBER 27TH, 2015 – DECEMBER 4TH, 2015
WORLD
SPORTS
Kobe Bryant As the Golden State Warriors steamrolled Los Angeles Lakers to a historic
start on Tuesday, aging star Kobe Bryant sank to a new low in a trying season expected to
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Bryant sinks to new low in his likely final season be his last. attempted at last five shots. the first to tell you that,” Los Bryant, slowed by age The Oracle Arena Angeles coach Byron Scott told and past injuries, has looked crowd, hoping to see a vintage reporters following his team’s like a shadow of his former self Bryant performance amid their 111-77 defeat. this year and that was never team’s inevitable win, seemed “You can see that more apparent then against to deflate with every miss from he was getting pretty Golden State who blasted the the 37-year-old player. The frustrated at himself.” Bryant Lakers to improve to a record misses have piled up as high has indicated that unless 16-0. as the Lakers’ (2-12) losses something changes this will Bryant scored four for Bryant this campaign as likely be the final chapter of a points and managed to make he entered the night shooting career that has included five just 1-of-14 shots to tie the just 33 percent from the field. championships and countless worst shooting night of his “He’s struggling right now to memorable moments. 20-year career when he has make a shot. I think he’ll be
CJ Ujah has his sights on making an impact in Rio
As Chijindu Ujah stepped on to the start line for the IAAF World Championships 100m semi-finals at the Bird’s Nest Stadium earlier this year, the 21-year-old was filled with nerves. Not just the usual pre-race jitters, but something far greater. Faced with the biggest test of his career, in the stadium in which he had first fallen in love with athletics while watching the 2008 Olympics on television, Ujah was ready to give his all against the best in the world on the notoriously super-fast track. “For me the World Champs semi-finals were a different experience to anything I’ve ever felt in the Diamond League races or any other championship,” he said, as AW caught up with him at the close of the outdoor season. Although he could have wilted under the pressure as he competed in his first major senior championships, Ujah held his own to come home in 10:05, the fifth fastest time of his career. He finished in fifth place, only marginally missing out on a spot in the final by five hundredths of a second. He may not have made it all the way this time, but he had come through and performed. What is more, just being in Beijing meant he removed some of the demons created by his championship disappointment of 2014 as well as gaining a taste for the big time while doing so. “The weird thing is I got off the track after the semi-final and I spoke to [Richard] Kilty and even he agreed that there was something really different about it. There will be the same sense in Rio as well.” You sense Ujah will not be
wrong either, except perhaps in terms of knowing just how big a spectacle next year will be. “For me the World Champs semi-finals were a different experience to anything I’ve ever felt in the Diamond League races or any other championship” Nevertheless, one thing that is certain, despite his disappointment in China, after his best season to date, Ujah is ready to respond in 2016. His prime focus now is on qualifying for the grand finale of sport’s most coveted race next August, before he embarks on another world championship quest far closer to home a year later at the London Olympic Stadium. With that in mind, Ujah is looking to use his recent experiences to lead on to even greater things. “This year I’ve established myself as being consistent, running around the 10.0s and also running another sub-10 and now being British champion indoors and out and then going to the world championships as an individual,” he says. “So it’s a stepping stone for where I want to be next year and hopefully I can go on and make next season a better season.” He continues: “To be British No.1 and to have made the world championships semi-final is great, but it’ll have to be one step above that [next year] and then at the 2017 World Championships in London hopefully I can win a medal,” he adds confidently. “I’m just taking it as it comes in terms of competition and being familiar with the environment every time I race,” he said. While he is correct in saying that he will have to adapt to many
Chijindu Ujah has record breaking aims more alien environments and settings in the years ahead, it will come as a relief to Ujah that he has already started to master the art of competing against the top athletes on the Diamond League tour. In this competition, by and large he has held his own in every instance. Not least at the London Anniversary Games earlier this year, where he ran superbly to equal his personal best of 9.96 seconds to finish fourth in a high class field that included six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt. Understandably, Ujah rates this as his favourite Diamond League race to date, saying: “I liked London. I may be a bit biased as it was a home Diamond League but that was the one where I ran sub-10 with these guys, especially with the main man himself, Usain Bolt, so that was a good experience and it made me believe that I belonged here.” A sense of belonging is something that he can now also attribute to his position at the top of domestic athletics, especially since
wearing the GB vest in an individual capacity as a senior for the first time this season. “It’s a stepping stone for where I want to be next year and hopefully I can go on and make next season a better season” For a big part of 2014, the sprinter was considered somewhat enigmatic, as firstly he shocked the British athletics world by running his first sub-10 second time in Hengelo, then failed to claim selection for either the Commonwealth or European championships after finishing third at the trials. Ultimately, though, it was to be a knockback that fired up the young sprinter to prove a serious point, and now he is at the top of the tree Ujah is hoping never to be eclipsed. “This season for me, after I didn’t get picked in Zurich for the European Championships, was definitely to solidify my position in British sprinting so I had to make sure I was No.1 and going forward I want to make sure I’m No.1 until the end.”
Peyton Manning, in a walking cast, will miss “at least” the next two weeks
Brock Osweiler gets a minimum of two more games to prove himself in Denver. According to the Broncos, Dr. Robert Anderson advised quarterback Peyton Manning to spend the next week or more in a walking cast. After removal of the case, rehab on the injured foot will continue. He reportedly has a partially torn plantar fascia tendon in his foot. “Peyton and I had a good visit today, and we’ve got a plan in place for his recovery,” coach Gary
Kubiak said. “His foot will be in a cast for at least a week, but he’ll be able to be part of meetings and do some workouts with the rest of the team. “We expect him to be unavailable for at least a couple of games. We’ll proceed from there and will continue to support him as he does everything he can to get healthy.” It means Manning will miss Sunday’s game against the Patriots (which we already knew) and the following Sunday’s game at San
Diego. The “at least” implies he could miss more games, such as Week 13 against Oakland and Week 14 at Pittsburgh. Kubiak said last week that Manning will return as the starter when he’s healthy. On Monday, Kubiak said the team would take it week by week. Now, it’s settled for at least two weeks. Depending on what Osweiler does over the next two games, it’s possible Manning’s health won’t Peyton Manning matter.
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Published by SUN MEDIA GROUP, Turks and Caicos Islands | Tel:649 339 5879 | Fax: 649 941 3281