APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
Website: www.suntci.com
VOLUME 12 - NO. 15
Email: sun@suntci.com
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CIVIL SERVANTS BLAMED
A
former Crown Land advisor from the United Kingdom has blamed civil servants in the Turks and Caicos Islands for “disarray” in the Land Registry and several other Government departments. John Llewelyn made the observation while testifying in the corruption trial which is being heard by Mr. Justice Paul Harrison. During his testimony, the former advisor did not implicate any of the former Cabinets who are on trial, but generally cast blame on public servants and faulty systems or the lack thereof. He said the Land Registry “clearly did not have control of what they were doing”, adding that none of the established mechanisms such as manuals of operation, flow charts, record keeping, or proper handling of documents and responsibilities were in place. “Everything that was wrong was in some way manifested in the files that I saw, not only in the Land Registry but in other departments that I saw,” Llewelyn said in response to a question from prosecutor Andrew Mitchell, QC. He told the court that when he arrived in the TCI, the Land Registry “was in complete disarray”. He added: “We had a considerable number of unactioned applications, about 500 to 600 files of unactioned correspondence. When I went to look at how the records were held they appeared to be in poor condition and out of sequence, making it difficult to locate important things,” he said, adding that staff told him that they were unable to locate files that they were interesting in. He said the Land Registrar at that time was Kendall Williams, whose office he operated from. “As you walked through the door there was a large pile of unprocessed applications, one of which related to Salt Cay, among piles of other correspondence. In general the office was disorganized and there appeared to be very little going on in terms of land registration,” he said.
Texting and driving may soon be illegal Page 5 Alboin Williams recovering from shooting - Page 8
First Green Fitness Park ground breaking in Leeward Palms Government broke ground for a green fitness park in Yellow Elder Road, Leeward Palms on Wednesday April 13th. The ceremony was held under the auspices of Hon. Akierra Misick Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Library Services, who is also the MP for the area. L-R (Minister for Environment, Home Affairs and Agriculture Hon. Amanda Missick, Deputy Governor Hon. Anya Williams, Mr. John Williams who is the contractor, Hon. Akierra Misick Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Library Services, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, Ms. Karen Delancy and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith). The former advisor noted that the demand for Crown land was huge. When he went to the office of Judith Campbell when she was PS in Ministry if Natural Resources he saw the applications on the floor and there was approximately two cubic metres and about 4,000 to 6,000 applications for land. “It was kind of difficult to ignore two cubic metres of applications and documents piled up on a table to a point where as you walked in the door and touched them or brushed them they could have gone cascading on to
the floor,” he added. “When you consider that there were 8,000 to 9,000 voting Turks and Caicos Islanders who were qualified to apply it represented most of them who were applying for land,” he said. Llewelyn noted, however, that he never saw Crown land policies in other jurisdictions and his stint in the Turks and Caicos Islands was the first time he was seeing such a policy. He told the court that he did some investigations into the number of development agreements with TC Invest and asked them for a list but he
did not receive any. He then went to the AG’s Chambers to find out about the number of development agreements that were in place and found about 50 of them. The former advisor also noted that the Conditional Purchase Lease arrangement in the TCI was a “very hit and miss” process, adding that no CPL database existed. He testified that there were many areas where there was no compliance with the Crown Land policy.
Grand Turk being neglected by PNP - Page 11 New jitneys causing problems for police - Page 10
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
Crime Report from Commissioner of Police James Smith The main headlines on the crime data for the year 2015/2016 are that total crime is down by 1% across the country, or 18 crimes. Our detection rate has increased from 24% last year to 25% this year. However serious crimes continued to rise with gun enabled crime being a particular concern. The number of crimes reported per day remains stable at Nine, across the country. This year we saw eight murders, of these two; have suspects that will appear in court. Of the other six, our enquiries continue and we are following some very positive leads in a number of them. I cannot give more detail on that due to the sensitivity of the enquiries and the need to keep information confidential. I can say that the short-term deployment of UK-based Investigators has already proved beneficial in a number of cases and specific investigative techniques. We will build on this in the coming year (s). Recorded Firearms offence have risen by nine reported incidents; robberies are up by Nineteen recorded incidents
and burglaries are also up by Sixty- and effectively to serious incidents. Five recorded incidents. While all We have substantially increased our crimes have an impact on the victims numbers of highly trained tactical these more serious offences can prove Officers under the new Command of traumatic and that is why we have ‘Specialist Operations’. This command sought to invest our resources to tackle brings together Tactical Officers, Firearms Training, Marine and Air these more serious matters. It does, however, take time and Assets and will expand further to investment to change the profile of ensure that all specialist officers work an organization. We have invested collaboratively across the country. In heavily in training across a range of addition, a large number of officers disciplines including; have been trained in Police use of Crime Scene Management, and the management of firearms Intelligence gathering and handling, related incidents. All of this training Criminal Investigation, Marine Officer is continuing and will build the Training, Child Safeguarding and a professionalism of my officers and significant focus on Armed Policing. staff. This Training is continuing, and we There are a significant number of have Senior Investigating Officer technical assets that will improve our Training scheduled to commence next ability to detect and prevent crime on week with participants from other OT’s. the near horizon and following the Marine Branch training for all officers training these will be introduced across in that Unit commences Monday, and the Force. We will see improvements again they are joined by colleagues in how we manage our information and resources and our feedback to the across the Caribbean. I have introduced a new public and those we serve. I will continue to invest all my incident command structure to ensure that senior officers are trained and ‘on energy in making this Force the best it call’ to enable us to respond efficiently can be. The arrival of the new
Commissioner of Police James Smith Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Marc Callaghan along with the two Assistant Commissioner will shape our future direction in collaboration with officers, staff, communities and all the partner organizations we work with.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
Police clamping down on speeding taxi drivers
Police officers are clamping down on speeding taxi drivers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially on the Airport Road in Providenciales. Sgt. Winston Diamond of the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force said although the speed limit for taxis is lower than that for ordinary vehicles there are several taxi drivers who continue to break the law. Sgt. Diamond said that last Saturday alone police gave issued
more than 30 speeding tickets to taxis and most of them were on the Airport Road. “We had meetings with the taxi drivers association over and over on those taxis and the thing about it is they speed limit is lower than the normal private vehicle. Say for instance 40 miles per hour, they should be doing 35 miles per hour on the highway due to the fact that they are taxis. I went to a meeting and told them that they have to remember that they are ambassadors for this country.
When a tourist comes to the country, apart from the immigration officers, taxi drivers are the first person they deal with,” he noted. Diamond added: “Because they want to make the extra dollar they just take the guest from the airport and to the hotel without not even stopping and saying well this is Conch Shack they just speed to the hotel and speed back just to make an extra dollar but you are destroying the industry.” He added that there are some persons or people who in his opinion
shouldn’t be driving taxis. “Some of them because of their character and some of them because of their age. There is one individual that is practically blind and he got into many accidents but they still give him a taxi licence and he shouldn’t be driving a taxi and he should not be driving. There are also some old men and you have some young ones that they should not be given taxi licenses and should not be driving taxis because they don’t know anything about courtesy, driving slowly and so on,” Sgt. Diamond added.
Grand Turk becomes hub of activity Passersby at Grand Turk airport this week could be forgiven for thinking that the island had developed a new business apart from government and tourism: light aircraft. Gathered across a wide swath of the airport were over 30 light aircraft of all types, and also including a couple of larger turbo props and jets. The aircraft were in Grand Turk to mark the start of the GovernorGeneral’s Cup-Caribbean Air Rally 2016, an event over two weeks which will also take the planes and their crew to the Virgin Islands, Antigua,
Martinique and Haiti. Welcoming the crews at the Waterloo residence Governor Peter Beckingham said it was an honour for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Grand Turk in particular, to be chosen by this prestigious event as the starting point. “It is very appropriate” the Governor said “ that we should be launching this rally in Waterloo as its trophy was created in 1953 by the Governor-General of Canada. We are honoured that you have chosen Grand Turk again as the start, and I’m in His Excellency Governor Peter Beckingham and his wife Jill with some students no doubt you won’t find anywhere on your travels as attractive as the beaches here! We are also privileged to have one of the fastest growing Caribbean regional airlines of our own, interCaribbean, which starts flights to Havana next month. ” The Governor was invited by the race organisers to formally start the rally which he did by wishing all of the participants God speed and safe travel, and showing the trophy to all the participants. After the formal
launch school children from many of Grand Turk’s primary schools were invited to visit and climb inside many of the planes, and receive a simple explanation of the art of flying. The Premier, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism also greeted the crews at a reception organised by the Tourist Board. The planes took off from Grand Turk on Wednesday, 13 April, and are due to compete the rally in Haiti in nearly two weeks time.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Texting and driving may soon be illegal By Todeline Defralien Texting and driving is one of the most problems in many countries and around the world causing many deaths and serious injuries and very soon it may be illegal here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This was confirmed by Sgt. Winston Diamond of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police force last week in an interview with The SUN. He said, “We are sending a proposal to add it into the Road Traffic laws, but we don’t know how that might go. If you text and drive you can be charged with driving without due care and attention, is simply meaning that you are not paying attention to your driving. Even when you are going to do your driving test you are supposed to drive with both hands on the wheel at all times. There are some things that we can charge persons for but we need to get a direct charge/natural offence for texting and driving.” Research shows that individuals who drive while sending or reading text messages are 23 percent more likely to be involved in a car crash
than other drivers. A crash typically happens within an average of three seconds after a driver is distracted. The United States Department of Transportation notes that cell phones are involved in 1.6 million auto crashes each year that cause a half million injuries and take 6,000 lives. In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. As of December 2014, 169.3 billion text messages were sent in the US (includes PR, the Territories, and Guam) every month. Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crashes. Drivers in their 20s are 23 percent of drivers in all fatal crashes, but are 27 percent of the distracted drivers and 38 percent of the distracted drivers who were using cell phones in fatal crashes. The percentage of drivers textmessaging or visibly manipulating handheld devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014.
Sgt. Winston Diamond Since 2007, young drivers (age 16 to 24) have been observed manipulating electronic devices at higher rates than older drivers. At any given daylight moment
across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010. A 2015 Erie Insurance distracted driving survey reported that drivers do all sorts of dangerous things behind the wheel including brushing teeth and changing clothes. The survey also found that one-third of drivers admitted to texting while driving, and three-quarters saying they’ve seen others do it. Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. Smartphone ownership is growing. In 2011, 52 percent of drivers reported owning a smartphone, and by 2014 that number had grown to 80 percent. The greatest increases in smartphone ownership are among adults age 40 and older. More than half (53%) of all adult cellphone owners have been on the giving or receiving end of a distracted walking encounter.
FSC comments on Panama Papers scandal The Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission has confirmed that the Panamanian law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal, Mossack Fonseca, is not licensed and does not operate as a corporate service provider in the TCI. Despite having no direct involvement with Mossack Fonseca as a corporate service provider, the TCI Financial Services Commission recognises the reputational risk that these events pose to all international financial services centres and continues to actively monitor
Niguel Streete, Managing Director, TCI Financial Services Commission developments surrounding the Panama Papers. In its continued fight against
criminal activities, the Commission also condemns any illegal activities surrounding the release of Panama Papers. The release of the Panama Papers serve as a reminder that it is important to ensure that robust measures are in place to effectively mitigate against the inherent risks in global financial markets. In particular, the importance of “know your customer” procedures has been brought into sharp focus. The Commission has conducted an internal review of the strength of its
policies and procedures and encourages the private sector to continue to keep practices and procedures under review to ensure effective compliance with all relevant laws. The TCI remains committed to combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and to promoting international tax transparency. This is reflected in the TCI’s strong rating by international standards setting bodies, such as, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information
for Tax Purposes. The effectiveness of the TCI’s legislation and regulatory framework is also validated by its recent membership in the International Organisation of Securities Commissioners (IOSCO). The gains made by the TCI in developing an internationally recognised financial services centre would not have been possible without the strong and committed support of the industry and the Government. The Commission looks forward to continuing to work with its partners to secure those gains.
Police clarify social media posting of robbers Many persons in the Turks and Caicos Islands have been requesting information from police about a post circulating through social media about individuals pretending to be electrical or water company employees robbing people. The warning which reads: ‘Please. Take note: 3 or 4 guys may visit your home claiming they are from Water Company, to install shower caps, to save water. Or they will claim they are from Electricity Company to change energy-saving electric bulbs
for free as part of government lay down program. They have been spotted in so many areas. Please. Do NOT let them in. They are Robbers, robbing people at gun-point. Please alert all your contacts, as you may save lives. Make sure doors are locked at all times and please do not open door to strangers. Please forward immediately to save lives and property!!!’ This warning has begun to cause concern for people’s safety. However police spokesman Kevin Clarke said that
at this time, there are no known reports of robbery surrounding the method of operation mentioned in the circulated post reported to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police. “We urge everyone to exercise caution and alertness every day. If you did not contact the Water or power company to come to your home to do any repairs, then you should not allow anyone inside or unless you are sure of whom they are. Ask for identification if necessary,” Clarke Police spokesman Kevin Clarke said.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
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.
Butler Department requires:
The Food and Beverage Department requires:
✓ Assistant Butler Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Three years managing Butler team of over 20 persons o Certified with the Guild of English Butlers
✓ ✓ ✓
Resort Shop requires:
o o
✓ Assistant Resort/ Gift Shop Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Three years managing more than one outlet o Ability to meet and exceed targets The salary range for the positions listed above is $27,000.00 to $35,000.00
Director of Food and Beverage Food and Beverage Manager Assistant Food and Beverage Manager Requirements include but are not limited to:
o o
10 years’ experience in F/B Management, Knowledge of restaurant, bar/lounge, banquets, room service and kitchen operational experience. Knowledge of menu composition, food preparation and basic food handling and sanitation standards. Knowledge of OSHA standards.
The salary range for the positions indicated above is negotiable. Laundry Department requires:
Watersports & Catamaran Department requires: ✓ Boat Captain ✓ First Mate ✓ Supervisor Requirements include but not limited to: o Boat License (Captain and First Mate) o Experience supervising a crew/ team over 5 persons o Ability to Swim o First aid/ CPR Certification The rate for the above mentioned positions range from $7.25 to $12.00 Watersports and Catamaran Departments require: ✓ Lifeguard ✓ Player Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to Swim o First aid/ CPR Certification ✓ Watersports Attendants ✓ Beach/ Pool Attendants Requirements include bur are not limited to: o Assist with the maintenance of the pool. o Keep the pool area tidy and well stocked o Ability to swim
✓
Laundry Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically fit o Previous experience managing 2 laundries required
The salary range for the position indicated above is $28,000.00 to $38,000.00 Engineering Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Carpenter Electrician Plumber Technician Room Technician A/C Technician Stove Technician Mechanic Requirements include but are not limited to: o Knowledgeable of in related fields both in theory and practical
The rate for the positions listed above is $7.00 to $15.00 an hour.
✓ Dive Instructor ✓ Dive Master ✓ Scuba Instructor Requirements include but are not limited to: o International Dive certification required o An outgoing personality required o Strict adherence to safety procedures o Ability to swim The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $9.00 an hour. The Weddings Department Requires: ✓ Wedding Steward Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to set up functions according to specifications o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 an hour
✓ ✓
Supervisor/ Supervisor (Night Operations) Shift Leader Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience leading a team on a shift o Knowledgeable of in related fields both in theory and practical
✓ ✓
Senior Plant Operator Sewage Plant Operator Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience working with sewage and sewage plants o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
The rate for the positions listed above is $7.00 to $13.00 an hour. ✓ ✓
Labour Painter Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
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
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Invest TCI preparing for a busy month of May
Invest Turks and Caicos collaboration with the Caribbean (Invest TCI) is gearing up to promote Association of Investment Promotion the Islands as an attractive destination Agencies (CAIPA) will host the 3rd for foreign investment at regional staging of the Summit. conferences, summits and roadshows Produced with support from in the month of May. the Inter-American Development Bank, According to Trina Adams- as part of their regional initiative: Smith, who was recently appointed Support to Foreign Direct Investment as vice-president of marketing in the Caribbean, and the Financial and promotion for Invest TCI, Times’ fDi Magazine, the Caribbean representatives of the Invest TCI team Investment Summit offers a unique will join regional investment agencies, window for investors to the region’s Caribbean Government Officials and diverse opportunities available to industry leaders at three major events them, and aims to attract a wealth of next month. potential investors interested in the The first event scheduled dynamic Caribbean brand. for the team is the Caribbean “A key element of this year’s Hotel & Resort Investment Summit CIS will be a Ministerial Roundtable (CHRIS). Deemed as the Caribbean’s to discuss, among other topics, the most noteworthy hotel investment importance of IPAs to national conference, attracting leaders of the development and the Regional key stakeholders involved in hotel Investment Promotion Strategy. The investment and development. CHRIS Minister of Finance, Investment takes place in Miami FL, May 10-11, and Trade, the Honourable Charles and provides an excellent opportunity Washington Misick will participate in to influence attendees through the Roundtable along with Ministers networking opportunities, informative from around the region,” Adams-Smith break-out sessions and workshops. said. Immediately following To conclude May’s events, CHRIS is the 3rd Annual Caribbean representatives from the Invest TCI Investment Summit (CIS), which also team will join the Premier and industry takes place in Miami on May 12-13. leaders for the 3rd Annual Premier’s The Caribbean Export Development Roadshow, May 22nd-27th. The TCI Agency (Caribbean Export) in team will hold individual
John Rutherford, CEO of Invest TCI
Trina Adams-Smith, vice-president of marketing and promotion for Invest TCI
meetings, networking and promotional in these high profile events and start events in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, ‘selling’ the great product that is Turks Chicago and New York with the aim and Caicos, particularly in the areas of of promoting the Turks and Caicos tourism and hospitality. The initiatives Islands. in May are part of a programme of “These events provide the first visits to industry events and target opportunity for Invest TCI to actively markets that we will undertake promote investment opportunities in over the year and we are confident the Turks and Caicos Islands”, said we will be successful in encouraging John Rutherford, CEO. “We cannot international investors and developers wait for investors to come to us, given to visit and take a serious look at Turks the competition from other Caribbean and Caicos as a potential location for countries to attract investment, and their business. the team is very excited to take part
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
Security guard recovering from robbery shooting Alboin Williams, the former senior police officer who was shot nine times during a money transfer from Sunny Foods supermarket in Five Cays, is still in hospital recovering from gunshot wounds. Williams, who is now owner of a security firm, was robbed by three masked men of an undisclosed amount of money around 1:37 p.m. on Sunday, April 10th. The men got away in a white car, and then slammed into a green jeep before escaping on foot. According to police
Several police officers spokesman Kevin Clarke, Williams is in serious but responded to the scene stable condition. and they searched vehicles Clarke told The SUN that were approaching and that two men are presently in leaving the area. This caused police custody assisting with long lines of traffic to be investigations. The men were backed-up. In May 2015, another not charged and police were still looking for the third former police officer, Calvin suspect. "Monty" Lightbourne, who is News of the shooting also a security officer, was sent shock waves across the shot while making a deposit at Scotiabank for one of the country. Williams, who is country’s top supermarkets. better known as "Bookie", A few years ago, an off-duty spent many years in the police officer was shot while police force and is a very he was making a money drop popular citizen of the Turks at CIBC First Caribbean Alboin Williams and Caicos Islands. bank.
Commissioner of Police appeals for information on unsolved murders Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in conjunction with UK Investigators are actively investigating unsolved murders in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These investigators are providing specialist support to local officers for a period of time to ensure we maximize our efforts and explore every available opportunity to solve these crimes. Recently, members of the public have expressed their views publicly via social media in relation to ongoing investigations. We would take this opportunity
to appeal to anyone who has information and who has not yet shared it with the police to come forward. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands police remain determined to work with everyone, to make these islands a safer place. We will always need the publics’ support to achieve this. Commissioner of Police James Smith said, “I am determined to provide the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and visitors with a service which gives everyone confidence in our ability to respond professionally and effectively to all crimes.
Murder impacts on everyone in our communities and in particular on the victims’ families. For a better future, we must all work together to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. I am taking steps to deliver better outcomes for everyone, but I must emphasize we need your support. If you have any information relating to an unsolved murder or other serious crimes, then think about the families affected. Think about your own family and the future you want for them.” He continues, “We will continue to look for new ways of working, for new
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 Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Office Manager: Dominique Rigby
Graphic designer science and technology and Information Technology any other developments, but and Production Manager: we won’t achieve success Kelano Howell unless we all pull together. If you have information which Todeline Defralien might assist us, I would ask Reporter you to do the right thing and call us today.” The Turks and Caicos SUN Police are asking anyone with information to call is a subsidiary Chalk Sound Police Station of The SUN Media Group Ltd. 338-5901 or 941-8082. Alternatively, you We are committed to excellence in can call anonymously to journalism, educating and informing Crime Stoppers on 1-800- our readers, serving and satisfying 8477 or use the Crime our advertisers and assisting in the Stoppers online reporting overall development of the page: www.crimestoppers.tc. Turks and Caicos Islands. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
ASSISTANT MANAGER OF SALES AND MARKETING A Company in Providenciales seeks to employ one Assistant Manager of Sales and Marketing. Applicant must have the following: • At least five (5) years experience and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; • Strong communication, presentation and writing skills; • Hotel engineering background (as outside sales will be primarily dealing with reports and understanding the logistical and maintenance); • Strong interpersonal, research and teamwork skills; • Detail oriented; • Flexible to new situations and challenges • Extensive working knowledge of quick books and back office programs; • Must be familiar with statistic inventory and be able to both place orders and take in account monthly and seasonal stock fluctuations and needs; • Be knowledgeable on building and maintenance customer relations; • Ability to be punctual (work being at 7am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 2pm on Saturdays); • Accept to a drug free work place/random drug screening • No criminal background. Duties include: Responsible for maximizing profits and minimizing costs. Marketing, Logistics, Customer Service and Finance. Deal with customers and prepare orders as well as receiving and off loading inventory from containers. Ensuring standards for quality, health and safety are met. Responding to customer complaints and comments. Creating and fostering new relationships with new and perspective clients. General Supervision of employees. Willingness to complete all tasks at hand with a positive and respectful attitude.
Application must be submitted to: Employment Department F Corporate & Management Services Limited Tel 649-339-6275 Fax 649-941-4777 Email oa@fcorporatemsl.com
INTERCARIBBEAN AIRWAYS IS SEEKING SUITABLY QUALIFIED PERSONS TO FILL THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: Flight Attendant Assistant Flight Dispatchers Applicants MUST be between the ages of 18 – 35 years old. Is in possession of a high school diploma Is in Good physical and mental health Must be well verse with Microsoft word and Excel programmes. Ability to write and speak the English language fluently. Excellent communicator Can work well in a high pressure area, can make decisions Works well with others Independent thinker Must have a valid passport and willing to overnight out of the country. Belongers or PRC holders need only apply to HR@intercaribbean.com
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
New jitneys posing a serious problem to police
times, making it more affordable for persons to have transportation, but Jitney drivers are ditching putting a serious dent in the sales of old vehicles and investing in Japanese official car dealers, causing frustrating cars that are in very good condition traffic jams and creating a potential and therefore making it more difficult environmental hazard. for police to detect them, said Sgt. Last year, close to 3,000 vehicles have Winston Diamond of the Turks and been imported from Japan. Caicos Islands Police Force. The demand for Japanese “One of the Problems we have vehicles is so great, and the business is the amount of jitneys we have on the so lucrative, that even work permit road now. Days gone by you could have holders without business licences are pointed out what was a jitney, but now importing the cars and selling them. it seems that everything is a jitney. The The vehicles are bought for, in some vehicles are improved, nice vehicles, so cases, as little as US$800 each from you can’t differentiate really right now Japan, then they are shipped to what is a jitney and from someone's Turks and Caicos Islands in personal vehicle, because other people 40-foot containers. It could cost an are buying these same vehicles for average of $1500 to land and clear their personnel use now and that is a each vehicle, some of which are then sold for prices ranging from US$5,000 problem we are going through now.” Diamond said the police are in the to as much as $20,000. While the Turks and Caicos process of submitting a proposal to the government recommending that they Islands Government gets a significant might need to halt the amount of those amount of revenue from the import duties on these vehicles, there are used vehicles. "Maybe anything after ten concerns that the massive influx of Japanese cars will eventually create years don’t import them," he said. Hundreds of Japanese, right-hand- environment problems when parts drive vehicles have been imported to become a problem, or even as persons the Turks and Caicos Islands in recent ditch their much older vehicles for By Todeline Defralien
JOB DESCRIPTION DIRECTOR OF PORTS Reporting Officer: Minister/Board of Directors Supervises: N/A
Salary Grade: 8 Date of Appointment:
The Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands is seeking an outstanding professional for the role of Director of Ports. Overview The Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands is a self-supporting public statutory body established in 2008 for the management of maritime affairs. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The Director of Ports will provide leadership and direction to enable the Port to achieve sustained growth. The position will be responsible for developing and executing the strategic plan for revenue, profitability, and growth of the Port. He/she will oversee Port operations to ensure efficiency, quality, service, and cost-effective management of resources and personnel. Specific tasks, in no particular order, encompass: •Developing, executing, and updating a multi-year strategic plan to increase revenue, profitability, and organizational growth •Ascertaining new business opportunities outside the Port’s existing geographic and vertical markets •Initiating and closing new business deals by developing and negotiating contracts and integrating contract requirements with business operations •Building, developing, and managing a corporate and operational senior leadership team capable of executing desired business strategies; maintain a management personnel succession plan for all operations •Building and maintaining strong relationships with current tenants/users and potential future tenants/users; including operators of businesses on Port property •Building and maintaining strong relationships with the Port’s represented employees including general service and maritime employees •Establishing and maintaining stakeholder relationships; serving as the Port’s liaison for other key relationships with stakeholder groups locally and internationally •Working with international bodies •Collaborating simultaneously with a wide variety of business/economic sectors •Identifying internal organic growth opportunities and ensuring that existing assets are being optimally utilized •Support financial and operational objectives •Promoting the Authority through local, regional, national, and international entities •Reducing environmental impacts on protected species or habitat •Reviewing (for approval) operating summaries and detailed reports (as required) for presentation to the Board of Directors •Supporting operating initiatives for improvements in safety, quality, cost, and employee relations •Evaluating performance of managers for compliance with established policies and objectives of the Ports Authority and contributions in attaining objectives •Leading and directing the processes that monitor, measure, evaluate, and report on performance •Monitoring and reporting on industry trends; leveraging industry best practices and applying these to internal systems and processes Qualifications and Experience The minimum qualifications required for this position include a Master’s degree from a recognized institution of higher learning plus a minimum of 10 years of senior management experience. Previous management experience should be in business organizations or public agencies involved in Property Development (commercial, public, and retail), marketing, and/or the Port/Maritime industry.
Moreover, there is a strong cultural their new rides. Exporting second-hand Japanese aversion among the Japanese to buying almost anything second-hand. vehicles is a US$2.7 billion industry. Fueled by Japan’s increasingly The result is ships filled with sophisticated used-car market and a low-priced cars. Everything from hunger for cheap, reliable vehicles in sports cars to high-mileage vehicles, developing countries, an auto-export damaged cars and patched up wrecks, leave Japanese ports for emerging revolution is taking shape. The value of second-hand car markets. shipments from Japan continues to The cars end up in Africa, the Middle jump each year and raking in billions East, the Caribbean and Asia, where new cars are still beyond the reach of to the Japanese. One reason the Japanese have many consumers. Meantime, Diamond said come to dominate used-car exports is that the other big new-car markets, another solution to the traffic the European Union (EU) and the congestion problems being caused United States, each has huge domestic by too many jitneys and vehicles on used-car markets. the roads, will be cutting alternative Some 43 million used cars are sold in roads. the United States, the world’s largest “One of the places that we could have alternative roads is through Thompson car market. With strong local demand for Cove, but I guess there were some used cars, there is little incentive to privacy issues over there, but if you ship cars in large numbers from the analyse it, coming up the Leeward States or the EU. Highway there's not much space. I In Japan, quirks of the market and know they’re fixing Glass Shack road the consumer have created a glut of going through Discovery Bay area and saleable used cars. even coming out by LIME they are in Strict and expensive vehicle the process of fixing that road now. inspections in Japan discourage people Apart from that there isn't much space from holding on to cars as they age. left for alternative roads," he added.
He/she must have proven experience in dealing with public sector processes. Candidate should have depth of understanding and experience in working with government and administrative processes. This unique individual must be able to quickly garner confidence, respect, and trust with all internal and external stakeholders. There should be evidence of leadership skills along with the ability to mentor and develop organizational skills. The successful candidate should be a creative and innovative thinker regarding new projects and new roles of the Port, but seeking counsel as necessary. He/she should have highly developed and sophisticated negotiating expertise. Required Attributes Candidates considered for the Director of Ports role should possess a strong combination of the following attributes: Change agent experience to move the organization to a high-performance organization. A passion for port real estate and land development. Strong acumen for developing a strategic plan. A bias for action/sense of urgency and outside-the-box thinker. Experience interfacing with government entities and working with multiple clients. Proven ability to resolve complex problems positively and professionally. Highly developed business, governmental, and relationship development acumen and leadership. Experience in mentoring and developing staff. Board presence and the ability to proactively communicate with fellow Board members. High awareness, sensitivity, and empathetic disposition as it relates to staff, culture, and community. A demonstrated track record of unquestioned integrity and ethics. Proven experience in driving and growing a business. Demonstrated ability to form, lead, and develop high-performing and accountable teams. A strong work ethic, energetic, and highly engaged. A broad understanding of the transportation service/maritime industry. Strong organizational skills in order to balance a large group of diverse projects simultaneously for a large multi-user base. Stellar interpersonal, communication (written and verbal), and presentation skills. Strong analytical skills with a solid understanding of finance and economic issues. Other Requirements: 1.Fluent English 2.Willingness and ability to travel by air, land and sea. 3.Qualified Belongers, either living in the TCI or abroad, are encouraged to apply. 4.Willingness to work outside normal office hours as needed from time to time Salary and Allowances: Salary is $105,900 annum. Application Procedure Interested persons should submit a resume, along with their contact information, cover letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. Applications should be addressed to: Chairman, Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and can be delivered to the Turks and Caicos Islands Ports Authority, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands or emailed to: boardsecretary@ports.tc by the deadline date. The subject line in the email should read “Director of Ports”. Envelopes should have the subject “Director of Ports” clearly marked on the front. Deadline: April 22, 2016 We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only persons selected for an interview will be contacted.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Grand Turk is being neglected by PNP says, Edwin Astwood
By Todeline Defralien
The PNP Government has been accused of grossly neglecting the island capital of Grand Turk. This criticism came from the PDM's sole MP on Grand Turk, Edwin Astwood, who noted that the neglect is affecting the quality of life on that island as well as the cruise ship industry. Speaking at a PDM press conference on Monday April 11th at the party's headquarters in Downtown, Providenciales, Astwood said, “In Grand Turk we are so neglected, from the Airport to the Light House it’s so neglected. We have the worst roads in the Turks and Caicos Islands and unlike Providenciales 98% of our tourist are there for four, five hours and they are on the roads all day, so
that is vital to us that we need good roads.” Meanwhile he added: “The garbage and the litter, I have brought a private members motion to upgrade and just to reform all of the Environmental Health Bills in the Turks and Caicos plus they are outdated and they need to be enforced and there’s no enforcement and Grand Turk is filthy. There’s garbage all over the place." He noted that Grand Turk is now rated number 31 among ports and you can see from the Ministry of Tourism there will be less money this financial year coming from cruise passengers. "And that’s the reason why we’re getting less cruise ships coming to Grand Turk. You know the reason
why, it’s because of the neglect of the island and the Government has failed to address any of the situations, they have failed to address the roads, they have failed to address the garbage and they have failed to address the situation of the vendors on the beach. They cannot decide how to make Carnival passengers happy, the cruise ship happy and take care of our people at the same time. We have a plan we know how to do that. For four years they’ve been trying and trying to come up with something and nothing have worked but they are hoping that we come in and help them and tell them what to do as always. And most times for the battlement of our people we say well, let fling them a bone and show them how to help our people but for four years they’ve bot come up
PDM's MP on Grand Turk, Edwin Astwood with anything and we’re seeing the repercussions of it now, less boats less money to the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Astwood explained.
Derek Taylor criticizes PNP election budget By Todeline Defralien Former Chief Minister Hon. Derek Taylor says the budget that was recently presented by the PNP is nothing more than an election gimmick. Taylor made this statement at a PDM press conference that was held on Monday April 11th at the party's headquarters in Downtown, Providenciales. He told media houses, “This
budget that has been presented of course is an election budget. My leader has already pointed out that those projects for the last three years have been slipping and slipping so they intend not to only culminate this year they are trying to see if they can rush to fool our people.” He added: “The $37 millionplus that you are hearing in capital projects you would know that only $14 million out of that are projects that have been committed. The
other $22 Million-plus are not really Union."But you are hearing about oh committed. Those of you who have this is going to go towards education. been listening to Expressions (call- You’re hearing about a new primary in programme) on Friday (last week) school that will get on its way with the Minister of Education...we this year that these monies were talk about transparency, someone going to. Of course you have five said to me, don’t talk about supplementary appropriation bills transparency no more, talk about lies last year. because for some strange reasons it’s Now I don’t know how much lies, lies, lies, lies and it must stop. it’s going to be this year, but I am ”Taylor said that contrary to saying you must know the truth and what was stated, there is no budget the truth would set us free,” Taylor for a project from the European noted.
PROVO GOLF CLUB BARTENDER GK Insurance Brokers Ltd. GK Insurance Brokers Limited is seeking a qualified individual to fill in the following position of:
BROKING MANAGER The ideal candidate should possess the necessary experience and must meet the following qualifications for: REQUIREMENTS: -Minimum 7 years experience in the Insurance Industry in Underwriting, Claims and Risk Management in Property, Casualty and Medical -Must have earned Insurance Degree or Bachelor’s Degree (College Graduate) or equivalent -Proficient in oral and written communication -Computer Literate -Good Negotiation Skills -Certified Insurance Practitioner -Must be able to effectively respond to Insurance Companies, Reinsurers, Brokers and Agents -Knowledgeable in the Insurance regulations both Local and Foreign markets -Must have thorough knowledge of the Turks & Caicos Islands Traffic Code OTHER DUTIES -Must be able to attend to on-call duties especially in emergency situations particularly during Catastrophes Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Applications must be emailed to: Arielle.Williams@gkco.com Attn: General Manager GK Insurance Brokers Unit #25, Saltmills Plaza Grace Bay Road, Providenciales Applications must be received by May 13th 2016
Provo Golf Club has an immediate opening for an experienced Bartender who is service oriented and can provide exceptional service to guest promptly and courteously, serving guests with an upbeat attitude and who is great at juggling tasks. Position Description Responsible for preparing drinks for guest and serving them in a professional manner. The successful candidate should be well versed in bar service and drink preparation. Requirements Must have 3 years or more experience preferably in hotel food and beverage industry. Must have a strong working knowledge of the bar and EPOS system. Excellent oral and written communication skills required. Must be willing to work a variety of day/night and weekend shifts. Excellent people skills in order to communicate well with guests and staff. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly, bubbly personality is required. Wages for this position starts at $8.00 per hour commensurate with experience. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by April 22, 2016 at ronnie@habgroup.com or fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
BOAT CAPTAIN An experienced Boat Captain is required for an establishment based in Providenciales. Applicant must have a valid Boat Master’s License and be proficient in all software on the vessel and be able to use it day to day or in an emergency. Applicant must also be organized and have a strong eye for detail, able to identify reasons why the vessel may not be sea worthy, recognize any machinery that would be dangerous and able to deal with any problems effectively in open sea. Remuneration based on experience. Application must be submitted to: Employment Department F Corporate & Management Services Limited Tel 649-339-6275 Fax 649-333-7777 Email oa@fcorporatemsl.com
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
TCI Community College hosts 2nd annual panel discussion The Turks and Caicos Islands hosted its 2nd annual panel discussion in celebration of their College month activities on Wednesday April 13th, at the Gustavus Lightbourne Complex in Providenciales. There were four speakers for the event; three students from the community college, Dismercy Lugo (Business), Maria Piwowarczyk (Building & Design), and Carlencia Lightbourne (Hospitality) and two guest speakers; Mrs. Rachel Taylor and Mr. Damian Wilson. The theme for the event was ‘Success for every learner’ which means an encouraging a culture where student go beyond secondary education to Tertiary level education for more educated populist. Rachel Harvey Public
Relations Officer at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College told The SUN, “This is our first big push into the community outreach to let persons know this is what we have at the Community College and you see students who are delivering well researched presentations on the topic ‘Success for every learner’ means going beyond secondary education to Tertiary level and it piggy backs off the Education week theme ‘Success for every learner’.” She added: “What we want to do is encourage students; we’ve gone into the schools and we’re continuing to speak with the third and fifth form students to let them know what we have here at the college, to hear from them what areas that they would like to study so that we can than begin to
plan. This is why we wanted the topics to be relevant so that we can engage in this kind of give-and-take and hear the interaction from the participants and those who are here and then we’re going to be doing more of that and going to the different schools.” Harvey said that they want to encourage mature people who may have not have the chance to come into school or who maybe on a job that they don’t necessary like and they are wondering what they can do, to register for some of short courses that they are going to be offering. “I thought that it was important to get the fifth and six grade students; those are the grades that I asked because they’re getting ready to go into high school and I want them to begin to think about their future, to
begin to think about what do I want to do when I get to high school?, what do I want to do beyond high school? Because I think the earlier students know and understand what it means I think that they may have a greater focus when their going into say Ok this is what I’m going into so every opportunity that they can learn I think it will be a good one for them. I am happy that they took up the invitation and that they came,” Harvey explained. The Community College wants to assure the public that they’re going to be hearing them, they are going to be extending the invitation and they would like for the public to come out and visit them at the campus or email them at prtcicc@gmail.com and hear what they have to offer because it might be life changing.
From L-R (Mr. Damian Wilson, Mrs. Rachel Taylor, Carlencia Lightbourne, Maria Piwowarczyk and Dismercy Lugo
JOB FAIR
MARGARITAVILLE is in search of highly motivated individuals with great customer service skills and a strong desire to be a part of a team.
TUESDAY MAY 10th 2016 10:00AM – 2:00PM MARGARITAVILLE RESTAURANT Positions Available Senior Steward Store Clerk Barbacks Waiters /Servers
Kitchen Helpers Bussers Runners Stilt Walker / Mascot
Please have your resumes and one passport sized picture. Belongers will need to provide original documents showing proof of belongership.
The Shore Club is now accepting applications/résumé for the following position. Only highly self-driven & motivated, personable and professional individuals, whom have the desire to serve others, need apply: GENERAL MANAGER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER ‑ HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR POOL & BEACH SUPERVISOR FRONT OFFICE SUPERVISOR NIGHT & DUTY MANAGER NIGHT AUDITOR ASSISTANT RESTAURANT MANAGER FOOD & BEVERAGE SUPERVISOR BUTLERS CHEFS (Various positions) RETAIL SUPERVISOR ACCOUNTING(Various positions) EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER SPA THERAPIST/ ATTENDANTS LANDSCAPING SUPERVISORS MAINTENANCE SUPERVISORS PROJECT MANAGER HVAC\MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FURNITURE RESTORATION MANAGER LINE POSITIONS BARTENDERS COOKS GROUNDSMEN LABOURER HOUSEMAN ROOM ATTENDANTS LAUNDRY ATTENDANTS COMMON AREA ATTENDANTs POOL & BEACH ATTENDANTS DISPATCHERS STEWARDS SECURITY OFFICERS PBX OPERATOR PAINTER FRONT OFFICE AGENTS RESERVATIONS/SALES AGENTS SERVERs FOOD & BEVERAGE ADMINISTRATOR PLEASE NOTE: Shore Club is NOT scheduled to open to the public for business until October 2016. All resumes are subject to screening. Accepted candidates will receive a call or email confirmation with a scheduled time for meeting and required documents for the actual interview. For the above line staff positions, resort experience is an asset but not a requirement. All applicants must have a willing, positive and personableattitude as well as be willing to work long hours, holidays and weekends. Turks & Caicos Islands citizens only need to apply to The Shore Club located on Long Bay Beach, Providenciales or e-mail: careers@theshoreclubtc.com Deadline is May 22, 2016.
Completed application form with attached documents
Customer Service Agent
TCIG Treasury
Option to Appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal within 14 days of notification of the decision to refuse
and/or
Approved
Balance of fee must be paid within 21 calendar days. Failure to pay will result in the automatic withdrawal of the application and decision.
and/or
Email Customer
TCIG Treasury
$
It is possible to pay by debit or credit card at the Customer Service Center
- Issues payment voucher receipt for payment into Treasury - At this stage, the remainder of the work permit fees must be paid with respect to each employee
Customer Service Agent
Issue Work Permit Card
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Option to Appeal to Minister within 14 days of notification of the decision to refuse
Email Customer
Denied
Work Permit Board
and/or
Approved
Email Customer
Denied
LABOUR CLEARANCE
It is possible to pay by debit or credit card at the Customer Service Center
Work Permit Applications for Employed Persons
$
- Checks application for completion - Issues payment voucher receipt for payment into Treasury - At this stage, all fees for example, labour clearance and repatriation fee PLUS a non-refundable fee of $150 or 10% of the annual work permit fee (or which ever is greater) must be paid with respect to each employee
Completed Application Form Supporting Documents Payment Receipt
Self Employed and Freelancer Work Permit Application
DIAGRAM – NEW WORK PERMIT PROCESS
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016 Page 13
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
WEBSITE CONTENT APPLYING FOR AN ANNUAL WORK PERMIT Who can work without a work permit in the Turks and Caicos Islands? The following persons can work in the Turks and Caicos Islands without a work permit. Immigration Status
Evidence of Status
- A Turks and Caicos Islander
Turks and Caicos National Status Card
-A British Overseas Territory Citizen (Turks and Caicos)
A Turks and Caicos Islands Passport
-A Permanent Resident with endorsement to work
A Permanent Residence Certificate
-A Spouse of a Turks and Caicos Islander or the spouse of a BOTC who lives with that spouse
Residence Permit – Spouse of Turks and Caicos Islander category
Can I apply for a work permit on my own? Only Self Employed Person’s and Freelancer’s work permit applications are eligible to be submitted by an employee. All other applications must be submitted by the employer or by agencies/ firms accredited to do so on their behalf.
Additional documents/Evidence* Self- Employed Catergory
Employed Persons Category
Cover letter outlining the need for the work permit Completed application form signed by the applicant Bank statement Proof of Ownership of Company Listing of Partners/Shareholders/ Certificate of Incumbency Organizational structure Academic/Professional Qualifications Certificates and Diplomas If not from an English speaking country evidence of proficiency in both spoken and written English
Cover letter outlining the need for the work permit Completed application form signed by the employer and applicant Employer’s Business license News Paper Advertisements Job description Employment Contract Academic/Professional Qualifications Certificates and Diplomas If not from an English speaking country evidence of proficiency in both spoken and written English
What should be the motive for submitting a work permit application? A work permit application should only be submitted if an employee/s is/are needed to perform a real job and all efforts to recruit a Turks and Caicos Islander has failed. Your efforts must include newspaper advertisements and evidence of contact with the Employment Services Department to determine if there are persons who are job seekers whether registered with the Department or not, with the skills that you need.
Freelancer’s Category Completed application Form Education High School Diploma Correspondence from a public secondary school/s showing a minimum of five (5) years attendance. Genealogy Applicant’s Birth Certificate Applicant’s parents birth Certificate Applicant’s Grandparent’s birth certificate Applicant’s great grand-parent’s birth certificate NB: An Employment contract must also be given to the Employment Services Department after employment is found
If the application is for a self-employed or freelancer’s work permit, there is no need for this requirement to be met. lf- Employed
Renewal Application Employed
Freelancer
If a labour clearance is needed, the law now requires the following advertisement condition to be met. The employer must advertise in two consecutive issues of a newspaper published in and sold or distributed on the Islands, and the advertisement must (a)describe the nature of the position available in sufficient detail to enable persons reading the advertisement to have a reasonable indication of the nature of the work and conditions of employment; (b)contain the name of the employer and details of the whereabouts of the office or other place to which the application is to be submitted together with contact details, including telephone and fax numbers and an email address; (c)set out clearly the salary package relating to the position; (d)invite prospective applicants who are Islanders to send copies of their applications to the Work Permit Board; and (e)state whether the position is currently held by a work permit holder.
Completed application form signed by the applicant Copy of valid business licence Organizational structure
Completed application form signed by the applicant and employer Cover letter outlining reason for renewal Employer’s Business license News Paper Advertisements Job description Employment Contract
Completed application form Copy of employment contract
*PLEASE NOTE THAT ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO AMENDMENTS Will a Labour Clearance be needed for each category?
What are the current work categories and what supporting documents are required for each? There are three types of work permit. Employed (Skilled and Unskilled) Self Employed Freelancer
The following CERTIFIED documents MUST be supplied with each application, irrespective of the category. Nationals from some countries may be required to present ORIGINAL documents. Two photographs of the foreign worker and each person to be endorsed. Only ONE photograph must certified Certified copy of the foreign worker’s passport bio data page showing photograph and date and place of birth If on island, proof of legal entry and lawful stay in the Islands valid Police record Certificate of Good Health (please contact the Ministry of Health for further information) Confirmation of up to date NHIP and NIB contribution (if applying for renewal)
WEBSITE CONTENT APPLYING FOR AN ANNUAL WORK PERMIT
A labour clearance is needed for applications under the Employed persons category only. However, the clearance will be issued internally, if approved. The new work permit application form is designed to capture information needed to decide on labour clearances, as such, applicants will be required to pay the require fee upon submission of the application and will be notified of the decision, when made. There will not be a need to return to the office unless additional information is required or the Labour Clearance is deferred for additional information or documents or if it is denied. In which case you will contacted to collect your returned application. What is the new work permit application process? As a means of improving service delivery and processing applications in a timely manner, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government passed new legislation which created and brought into force the establishment of two Work Permit Boards categorised by geographical zones. Zone 1 Work Permit Board covers and comprise of members representing the islands of Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay Zone 2 Work Permit Board covers and comprise of members representing the islands of Providenciales, North Caicos, and Middle Caicos Businesses and Employers are restricted to submitting applications to the Work Permit Board located in their respective zone. Businesses which have a significant presence in both zones may elect which Board to apply to and may not change Zones for subsequent new or renewal Applications unless the Board which they have initially elected to submit their Applications have consented to the changeover. How often does the board meet in each island and where can I find their schedule? Schedules will be posted within the coming weeks. It should be noted however that cut-off dates for the receipt of applications will be strictly adhered to.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
WEBSITE CONTENT APPLYING FOR AN ANNUAL WORK PERMIT Where can I get application forms? Application forms are available on the following link. http://www.gov.tc/application-forms Forms will also be available at the Customer Service Centers (One Stop Shop) when receipt of new application commences. Can I apply for several years work permit at one time? Yes. However, the following maximum periods should be noted and it should also be noted that the fees for the full period must be paid when the work permit is approved. It should also be noted that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government does not facilitate payment plans. = Self Employed - up to 5 years Employed - Skilled up to 5 years -Unskilled up to 3 years Freelancer’s -up to 5 years
effort to recruit a Turks and Caicos Islander Ensure that you provide an email address as well as a telephone number in the event there is a need to contact you urgently. Our service standard is to decide a labour clearance, if needed, within 10 working days and work permits within 15 days if a labour clearance is NOT needed and a work permit within 25 days if a clearance is needed. We also offer a Fast Track Service where applications can be considered within 7 days. Work Permits that have expired and permits holders that are the subject of enforcement activities will not be eligible to apply for this service. What are the fees for a work permit and how are they paid? The Fee Schedule that came into effect in April 2015 remains unchanged. Copies of the Fee Schedule may be obtained from the Attorney General Chamber’s. It will also be made available on the Ministry’s webpage at http://www.gov.tc/work-permits Unlike in the past, where work permit fees were paid in full up front. You will now be required to pay in the following manner.
I have an urgent need for a worker on a temporary basis. What do I do? Upon application Under certain conditions a work permit can be issued for a short period of time and there are also situations when corporate staff need to visit the Islands several times a year for only a few days. The two short term permitting options are described briefly below.
A non-refundable Administration Fee which will be either $150 00or 10% of the work permit fee per application, which-ever is greater. If required, Labour Clearance Fees $100.00 per application A non-refundable Fast Track Service Fee of $500 00 for Fast Track Service (i.e. 7 days processing service). A non-refundable Repatriation Fee for each first time work permit application and/or upon a new work permit application involving a change in employer. Any other fees owed to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government with respect to work permits
(i)Temporary Work Permit The existing provision to acquire a temporary work permit is available. It should be noted however that, a person to whom a temporary work permit has been issued shall not apply for and obtain a Work Permit (Employed Person) until three months have expired following the date of expiry of the Temporary Work Permit.
Upon Notification that the Work Permit is approved (ii) Business Visitor’s Permit There is also the option to apply for a Business Visitor’s Permit which may be issued annually. The holder of a business visitor’s permit is able to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands several times per year but will not be able to remain in the Islands for more than seven days (7) days at on each visit.
The remaining work permit fee balance. You will be required to pay this amount within 21 working days after receiving notification that the work permit has been approved. Failure to pay within this time frame will result in the automatic withdrawal of the decision and the application will need to be resubmitted together with the payment of new application and repatriation fees. How can I get an endorsement for my spouse or child or children?
How long will it take to process the work permit application? As a matter of policy, a spouse or child can only be on certain categories of work permits, and where it may be possible to do so, the applicant/employer has to demonstrate that the employee’s income is sufficient to support him/herself and family in the islands and provide for the registration of the children in a private school.
Under the Turks and Caicos Islands Government commissioned Business Transformation Strategy, the Ministry of Border Control and Employment, the Employment Services Department and the Immigration Board have been planning to implement the initiatives and steps necessary to reduce processing times to 30 days from the payment of the prescribed application fees to the date the work permit application is decided.
Applications are submitted in the same manner as work permits.
The flow chart above represents a new process which we hope will assist us in this important endeavour. (See diagram)
The fee structure is a $150.00 non-refundable administrative fee, as well as a non-refundable fee of $500 with respect to each endorsee. Both are to be paid upon application.
While we recognise our shortcoming, you, our valued clients have an important role to play also and we ask that you contribute so that together we can achieve this mandate for the present and future business environment of the Turks and Caicos Islands. You can help to reduce processing time by doing the following.
Do I have to use an agent to submit applications on my/ my company’s behalf?
Complete the application forms completely and accurately Ensure that all the supporting documents are attached. Please DO NOT STAPLE the photographs. It can help to keep your documents safe and secure by submitting you application in an envelope. Start the application process at least 3 months in advance to avoid the work permit expiring before you are able to submit an application for renewal. If the work permit expires prior to the submission of an application for renewal, there is a $250 penalty fee Pay all the required fees within the time-frame allotted Where applicable, demonstrate clearly that the job is a genuine job and that you made every
No. Within the coming months, and in keeping with the provisions of the new Immigration Ordinance 2015, the Ministry of Border Control and Employment will be providing a list of agents that are approved and certified to submit applications on behalf of individuals and companies. Even then, the possibility of submitting applications without the use of an agent will remain. Do you need assistance? Assistance is available at email address infobordercontrol@gov.tc
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO Gary Brown and Managing Director of Bahamas and TCI Marie Rodland-Allen meet the staff at the Grace Bay and Leeward Branches
L-R: Head of Bank and Trust at Financial Services Commission Marlon Joseph; Gary Brown, CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO; Niguel Streete, Managing Director, Turks and Caicos Islands
New CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO pays visit to Turks and Caicos Islands
Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean Mr. Gary Brown got a first-hand look at local bank operations and projects in Turks and Caicos during a recent two-day visit. Accompanied by Turks & Caicos Islands Country Manager Larry Lawrence and Managing Director of Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands, Marie Rodland-Allen, Mr. Brown took the opportunity to meet staff and strengthen customer relationships. Mr. Brown’s itinerary centered primarily on client meetings, revealing the relationship-building focus of the trip. Country Manager Lawrence said that this focus on clients marks Mr. Brown’s style of leadership “CIBC FirstCaribbean is driven towards growth and the CEO believes that growth will be achieved with our clients,” said Mr. Lawrence.
“Every opportunity he has to meet clients he does. When he took the opportunity to come here, his focus was not on having internal meetings, it was on the clients. He wants the clients to have strong relationships with him, and by extension the bank. It was entirely about them.” Mr. Lawrence said this clientcentric attitude dovetails with a philosophy already carried at the CIBC FirstCaribbean branches in TCI. “Mr. Brown is leading from the front, and we are happy to follow suit,” he said. “Our priority on client care is self-evident in the very longstanding and enduring relationships with our corporate clients; we are very dominant in the market and if we are to remain dominant as TCI begins to emerge from an economic decline we certainly must be there for the clients through this. We must put them at the center
of this journey to encourage mutual growth.” Minutes after touchdown, Mr. Brown and Mrs. Rodland-Allen had an impromptu meeting, with one of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s larger clients: TCI Airport Authority, which proved to be “positive and productive.” The executives also met with corporate client Stanley Hartling, owner and developer of the new condominium hotel development The Shore Club, which is scheduled to be completed in 2016. Mr. Hartling gave the CIBC FirstCaribbean party a tour of the development and presented the plans and progress of the project. Mr. Brown and Mrs. RodlandAllen also met with Niguel Streete, the new Managing Director of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission and Head of Bank and Trust at Financial Services
Commission Marlon Joseph at a luncheon at the Asu Restaurant at the Alexandria Resort The trip to Turks and Caicos is part of a series of regional visits being undertaken by the new CEO to all the businesses in the bank’s regional footprint Mr. Brown has been with CIBC since 2001, most recently as the Global Head of Corporate Banking in CIBC's Wholesale Banking business since 2013 and a member of CIBC’s Operating Committee. Prior to that appointment, he was head of CIBC’s businesses in the United States for nine years. He has more than 35 years of experience in the global financial services industry He took over from Mr. Rik Parkhill whose four year tenure as head of the bank ended on December 31st, 2015.
CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO Gary Brown gives brief remarks to local members of staff
CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO Gary Brown and Managing Director of Bahamas and TCI Marie Rodland-Allen meet the staff at the Grace Bay and Leeward Branche
L-R: Larry Lawrence, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Country Manager TCI; Gary Brown, CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO; Stan Hartling, CEO, Hartling Group/Shore Club; Marie Rodland-Allen, CIBC FirstCaribbean Managing Director Bahamas and TCI
CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO Gary Brown was introduced to Niguel Streete, the new Managing Director of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
Taxi drivers claim discrimination from Beaches TCI
By Todeline Defralien
Beaches Resort and Spa is back in the headlines again this time the controversy involves taxi drivers who have accused the hotel of discriminating against some of them. The taxi drivers staged a protest outside Beaches Resort last Saturday April 9th, 2016 outside of Beaches Resorts entrance gate. They complain that while any taxi drivers can take passengers from the airport to Beaches, the hotel only allows certain taxis to take guests from the hotel to the airport because they charge them less for departures. The SUN interviewed one of the taxi drivers, Ariel Gray, who spoke passionately about what's taking place. He said, “I see more women coming out here trying to get a job and it seems like only persons that the government wants to please is the hoteliers you know and personally I had enough of this. This is how we support our family. You know what is interesting? I’ve seen this government go on a Saturday and passed the dog law, the potcake law, but I’m not important enough you understand. I’m not important enough and my family is not important enough for the Governor or the Government Hon. Rufus Ewing or Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson or the Attorney General to take time and say I’m going to fix this for the Turks and Caicos Islanders, I’m fed up.” Gray added: “I am happy to
see more Turks and Caicos Islanders coming out here and try to make it. You should see them get a bounce in their step, happy to be working for themselves, because they’re tired of putting up with what’s going on around the resorts.All we are saying to the Government and the powers to be, is to make this right. Enforce the law and if there are flaws in the law fix it, because that’s why I went to the polls and stood eight hours in a line to elect somebody to fix these things. They take time with everything else. I can’t go out and buy a single cigarette now. They took time to fix that. This is how I feed my family. I know there’s been times when you guys talk about if we protest you were going to revoke our licences and suspend us, well go ahead and revoke me but I will not be silent and I will not surrender until this is fixed.” Derek Hall However, Clare said that not Ariel Gray all hotels are discriminating against from the airport to the hotel on a first \you’re saying that there’s a quota for them. come first serve basis.” the list for the people who can come on The SUN also spoke with taxi He added: “This is actually the property? She said yes so I asked driver Derek Hall he said, “There’s in law and this now is being shown that I’m not a part of that selected list? fact a list of selected taxi cab drivers we are in breach of this law. Upon my She said no you’re not you would now that can be entered on the Beaches arrival I spoke to one of the security be moved off of the property or you Property to transport their guests from guards and I was told that I will not would have to deal with the law,” Hall Beaches to the Airport. Being that were be allowed on the property as normal I explained. are a free enterprise which means that asked is this something that is just for Mr. Hall said according to we are taxi cab drivers, we’ve paid the today or is this is a regular practice? section (86) of the ordinance states that same fees and we have the same She told me it is not a regular practice you cannot have a lower price to come qualifications, the same rights as the but you cannot be allowed on unless on a property and they also have a other taxi cab drivers that are on that you are on a list. I then asked her letter from the Permanent Secretarylf property to transport people to and which list is this. She said the list that saying that undercharging is going to from the hotels into the airport and I’m holding in my hand. So I said so actually be prosecuted.
GK Insurance Brokers Ltd. GK Insurance Brokers Limited is seeking a qualified individual to fill in the following position of: GENERAL MANAGER The ideal candidate would possess in-depth experience in the administration of and accounting for a growing Insurance Practice and meet the following minimum qualifications: • Be a Visionary Leader with at least 10 years’ experience at senior management level in an Insurance Company in the Caribbean. • Possess a thorough understanding of all areas of the Insurance industry and Insurance Accounting with an ability to motivate employees in achieving established goals and objectives. • Have Strong Proficiency in Financial Management with proven ability to attract, develop and retain an effective management team. • Be able to work well in stressful, high-pressure situations. • Have above average Proficiency in Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Electronic Accounting Systems.
The successful candidate will have Full responsibilities for: •The Administration, Production and Operational success of the Business. •Forecasts and financial controls; •Risk Management & Compliance for the Brokerage and Principles •Meeting agreed targets for revenue and profit for all areas of the business. Salary is Commensurate with Qualification and Experience Applications must be submitted to: Arielle.Williams@gkco.com
All applications are to be received by May 13th 2016.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Beaches Employees “Get Involved” in Lower Bight Community Cleanup! Employees of Beaches Turks & Caicos Resorts Villages and Spa lead another monthly cleanup campaign in the Lower Bight Community where Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Guardian volunteers collected over 50 Bags of garbage along the Lower Bight community. The team of volunteers began the early morning cleanup picking up debris along our general route which included- The entrance at the Ianthe Pratt Elementary, Beaches RoundAbout , towards our resort main gate, along the main Lower Bight road and Princess Drive. The Team also collected trash from the shoulders,
roadsides and homes located directly 22nd and focused on the importance in April of 2014. The BTC EHS on the Lower Bight Road. of environmental preservation in the Guardian has made a great impact on “This is always an exciting Turks & Caicos Islands. communities throughout the Turks event for the Beaches EHS Guardian “Our group of volunteers and Caicos. They have conducted volunteers to go into the streets of worked tirelessly and removed several a number of community clean-ups, the Bight community to host their bags of trash and debris thrown along extended their Be wise…Sanitize monthly “Get Involved” clean-up the entire route.” Gibson continued, campaign throughout public schools campaign,” said Shuntel Gibson, “Immediately after the cleanup the in Providenciales, North, and Middle Environmental, Health & Safety bags of trash were properly secured Caicos, donated fire safety equipment Coordinator for the resort, “The and collected from the roadsides, to Clement Howell and Enid Capron, Bight Community is also the resort’s tallied and later disposed of in the donated books and supplies to the Provo Public Library, introduced the community we take great pride in resort skip.” this beautification project.” Beaches EHS Guardian “be wise…Sanitize” to South Caicos In its fourth year-The Get a non-profit group of volunteers last year December just to highlight a Involved –beautification project dedicated to community service and few. Through continued support from committee found it fitting to host the environmental preservation projects. our Resort and its corporate affiliates, much needed cleanup during April The group was formed in 2013, but we desire to do even more in 2016 for which celebrates Earth Day on the was renamed The EHS Guardians communities in the Turks and Caicos.
HAB GROUP Cook MAIN DUTIES Prepare food items of consistent quality in accordance with production requirements and quality standards while maintaining a safe sanitary work environment. Start prep work on food items needed for the menu of the day. Organize all of the various prep items needed from different areas to ensure that all items are in place and ready for service. Inform the Manager of any shortage of supplies that need restocking before items completely run out. REQUIREMENTS Applicants must have a minimum of three-year (3) culinary experience preferably in hotel food and beverage industry. Comprehend and follow recipes and cooking techniques. Must have thorough knowledge and understanding of food service sanitation standards. Thorough knowledge and understanding of standard kitchen equipment and its use. Applicants must be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required by management. Perform other duties as assigned, requested or deemed necessary by management. Applicants will be required to work on a full time basis. Must be able to walk, stand or stoop for the duration of shift (at least 8 hours). Applicants must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. Applicants must be detail oriented, must be hardworking and a team player. Work with minimal supervision. Salary commensurate with experience and training. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by May 6, 2016 at ronnie@habgroup. com or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, 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. 1.Parcel 60715/102 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales. Single storey with three bedrooms, one bathroom, living/dining room and kitchen on 0.54 acre. Registered Proprietor: Livingston Williams 2.Parcel 60503/145 Blue Hills and Stamers Run, Providenciales. Single storey with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining area and storage area with an unfinished attached two storey with 2-two bedroom apartments on 0.38 acre. Registered Proprietor: Sharon Elizabeth Rigby The auction will be held at the office of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 29th day of April 2016. A reserved price will be fixed on all parcels and a deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.
COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST A Company based in Providenciales wishes to employ a Communication Specialist. The Communications Specialist will be under the direction of the Communications Director and will be mainly responsible for all administrative work, including designing online media and marketing events, arranging meetings with academic book publishers as well as performing basic media relations tasks such as answering questions on the books, essays and articles published, maintaining media contact lists, composing press releases and organising social media blitz worldwide. Successful applicant will be judged on previous success rate and must be self-motivated to complete all tasks at hand with a positive and respectful attitude. Salary commensurate with experience. Application must be submitted to: Employment Department F Corporate & Management Services Limited Tel 649-339-6275 Fax 649-333-7777 Email oa@fcorporatemsl.com
Barista Promotes coffee consumption by educating customers; Knowledge of selling coffee and coffee grinding and brewing equipment, accessories, and supplies; preparing and serving a variety of coffee drinks, along with pastries and baked goods. French and English speaking. Computer skills a must Baker: Preparing pastries, cakes, breads, and other baked goods is the responsibility of the Baker. Required to have at least 3 year min experience in 5 star luxury property, knowledge of 5 star cuisine. Proven track record in luxury property with multi out-let experience. Able to organize and have leadership qualities. Diploma in Baking and International 5 star Resort and Caribbean experience a must. French and English speaking Qualified Belongers need only apply -mail: crustbakerytci@gmail.com
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
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.
Engineering Department requires:
The Human Resources Department requires:
✓ Assistant Maintenance Manager o 10 years’ experience in an Engineering in a Resort Environment o Experience in conducting project when the entity is still in operation o Knowledge of RO Plants, Pools, Chillers and Sewage Plants Rooms Division Department Requires: ✓ Executive Housekeeper Requirements include but are not limited to: o Schedules staff according to forecasted occupancy and maintains productivity standards. o Oversee the financial processes of purchasing, payroll and inventory control. o Maintain quality standards to ensure the highest level of cleanliness o Maintain all safety and security policies. o Minimum of 10 years housekeeping management o Experience in managing a team of over 300 persons ✓ Senior Front Office Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Certified Front Office Management designation preferred o Experience managing both Concierge and Front Office departments o 10 years’ experience in a Resort environment The Spa Department requires: ✓ Spa Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in managing multiple spa retail outlets o Knowledge or certification in Dermalogica Brand an assist o Ability to sell services and product o Ability to meet targets and sales quotas The salary for the positions listed above is negotiable.
✓
Reports to: Human Resources Manager Position purpose: To assist the Human Resources Administrator with clerical aspects of the Human Resources Department and its daily operations. Responsibilities/Duties: o Prepare a report due the end of each month on all activities in the areas of responsibility and their status. o Assist in the interview process, this includes interviewing when requested to assist, the preparation of application forms, tests and copying of identification documents. o Assist with payroll processing and employee benefits maintenance. o Maintain a proper record of all Immigration documents submitted to the H.R. Department for processing. o Assist within other areas of the Human Resources Department. o Advise and update the Human Resources Manager of all pending issues affecting the Department and the resort. o Any other duties assigned by Management. Requirements: o o o o o o
Grounds Department requires: ✓ Assistant Grounds Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: o Minimum 2 year diploma in related field. o Experience with tropical or subtropical plants, Greenhouses and Irrigation o Physically Fit
Driver’s License (required) Associates Degree of higher Proficient in Excel and Word Experience with report generation and meeting deadlines Confidential Time management skills
The rate for the position listed above is $9.00 an hour Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa has administrative/ clerical positions in the following departments: ✓ ✓
Rooms Division Department Requires: ✓ Assistant Executive Housekeeper Requirements include but are not limited to: o Assist with schedules staff according to forecasted occupancy and maintains productivity standards. o Assist with overseeing the financial processes of purchasing, payroll and inventory control. o Maintain quality standards to ensure the highest level of cleanliness o Maintain all safety and security policies. o Minimum of 5 years housekeeping management
Human Resources Clerk
Kitchen Cost Control 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 $10.00 an hour. The Kitchen Department requires: ✓
Sous Chef Requirements include but are not limited to: o Culinary certification an asset o To create recipes and menus. o Oversee the training and development of staff.
The salary for the position listed above ranges from $26,000.00 to $32,000.00
The salary for the positions listed above range from $28,000 to $35,000 per annum
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
and should reach not later than April 29th 2016
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
Young local designer showcases her handbag line in London
Anya Pratt, a young Turks and Caicos Islanders who is currently residing in London, is making a powerful fashion statement with her own line of handbags. Willique handbags embodies everything that embodies personality. You can see yourself in one of our pieces merely because it was tailored for you. Create your memories, your style, your personality and self with a Willique handbag," said designer Anya Willique. The line is called “ Willique" and is truly unique as its name. It is a luxury bespoke handbag line that caters to those seeking a one of a kind investment piece that captures the essence of time, places and memories. Along with an amazing handcrafted piece such as purses and clutches Willique encompasses the aspects of travel, personality and abstract structure within each design. The first collection, out this season is called “ The Wanderlust” which is a strong desire to travel. Each bag is named after a place the designer has travelled and gained inspiration. For example, “The Turks and The Bahamian” focuses on markets, colours and structure seen in these cities. Another is "The Cuban" where handpainted art is placed onto one of Anya Wilique’s abstract bags for customers have a feel of art in motion. This inspiration was coined by her piqued interest in art. The Wanderlust Showcasing
The date was set and the venue was booked. April 5th, 2016 would be the official showcasing of the AW16 “Wanderlust Collection” for Willique. A night of jazz and soul had set the scene for that night for the first showcasing in London. The lovely voice of local artist Chelsea Blues had captured the hearts of the vast range of guests. The night was calm and serene; perfect for the come-out event; for the next best, bespoke luxury brand in London. It allowed those who attended to discover the latest fashion trends, see a peak of what autumn had in store and get the chance to meet the Willique designer Anya herself. With over 60-plus top industry experts, fashion designers, international buyers, models as well as fashion bloggers, the well-attended private event was truly deemed a success. Not only was it an amazing time and experience, but a live catwalk showcased the decadent handbags that were not only bespoke but unique and some unisex. “A future brand to be on the lookout for", tweeted Wentworth’s Tracy Haisten referring to the handbag collection *The Wanderlust*. With an hour dedicated entirely for networking along with a meet-and-greet, guests from all walks of life went away with a taste of the islands from the AW 16 collection while sipping on champagne. Meeting the designer! "I am really excited to share
Pictured is Model Murtaza with one of the most popular bags from Willique. Most of the bags are unisex and can be tailored to your liking for a more personal effect
Pictured is designer Anya Willique with a few of her models that night of official handbag launch. The handbags shown are from "The Wanderlust Collection" . Pictured left to right ( Model Pav - Turks head handbags, Designer Anya , Model Murtaza- with Wanderlust waist clutch, Model Paline- with Wanderlust Handbags , Model Kelly Nubia- with Wanderlust Tote.
this part of my life through my work "Willique". this coming spring, it's been a beautiful Sooner rather than later, process of art," Anya said. interest among family and friends Anya Willique was raised in grew, allowing women to have a taste The Bahamas, with her roots from of custom made handbags that show Grand Turk and Providenciales where the love for travel, personal style and she drew a lot of her creative influences the impractical that is practical. by the beautiful by nature islands and "The aim for Willique is it's fauna and flora. to empower both men and women During her first semester at by embodying themselves in their University in London, she was taken purchase; allowing them to see and aback by the big city and the beauty create themselves in a unique piece it beholds. Always a lover for a nice by “Willique”, while maintaining handbag she decided to start an high quality one of a kind pieces for online and traveling boutique called those seeking a true investment. We Under50fashionbags. This then grew are passionate about our brand and into her passion and curiosity for understand what you need for a creating her own handbag line timeless piece," said Anya Willique.
The wanderlust tote is large and in charge, it is one of the unisex ieces that are perfect for those who are seeking a statement piece different. Wonderfully handpicked Italian leather that ages beautifully as time goes on
Pictured here attorney Lintette Ruf and jazz singer Chelsea Blues who performed that night . That night was not just a launch but also a social event that brought about all walks of life and with a few Turks and Caicos Islanders coming out to show support
Cornelia is holding one of the leather purses that was inspired by the travels of the designer.
Left to right - Fashion editor and blogger Dora Marotta, Celebrity Stylist and artist Emilyann with Anya
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the position of HUMAN MANAGER at the Providenciales International Airport. Principle Function The Providenciales International Airport Human Resources Manager reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and is accountable for ensuring that a proactive and integrated approach is adopted towards leading and managing the Human resources so as to ensure compliance with customer, safety, regulatory and economic objectives of the Airports Authority. Core Competencies:
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES -Maintain a sound and Ethical Relationship and communication with all -Principals and customers of the Company -Maintain sound and healthy communication and relationship with all staff Members of the company and contacts outside the company -Participates fully in safety and security programs including adhering to and -Implementing approved safety and security regulations/programs within the Dept. -Participates in Management Executive meetings to discuss, promote and Action related areas -Maintain proper documents for easy reference of all correspondences related to Human Resources -In co-ordination with the training coordinator ensures that necessary actions have been taken in response to all training -Coordinates with department heads and/or managers on all Human Resources matters -Implements a report system of human resources matters at all times -Submits Human Resources and Training Objectives on a yearly basis and expect to achieve these objectives effectively PERSONNEL (MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES) -Design and Develop HR administrative programs and duties to support the wide range of HR services to line managers and employees like leave record keeping, training, job descriptions, employee orientation packages, and other benefit administration in accordance with Company policies and Turks and Caicos Islands Labor Law.
- Review, develop and implement compensation & benefits policies and programs to ensure C&B practices are competitive and equitable in accordance with TCIAA policies, local market trends and internal equity. Consult the CEO on issues which have implications on local employees and keep him abreast of changes in local environment, regulations, human resource needs and priorities. -Compile and analyze HR management employee statistical reports (salary grades, vacation packages, medical plans, etc.) to facilitate management to make appropriate business decisions.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
- Coordinate and support the recruitment processes including ad placement, application screening, initial interview, and job offer to ensure high caliber individuals (permanent/temporary) are selected to join TCIAA for positions up to Senior Professional. - Maintain good filing system of employee records and to ensure employee information are secured and protected from unauthorized user access. - Ensure planning of logistics is well taken care of in the arrangement of meetings and seminars or social gatherings held both inside and outside the company premises. - Represents the department on a variety of human resources-related committees and before commissions to ensure that departmental concerns and issues are raised and addressed; responds to human resourcesrelated inquiries by regulatory agencies; may serve the TCIAA in a variety of human resources-related capacities, including but not limited to: training coordinator, back-to-work coordinator, discrimination/ harassment complaint investigator. Well versed in Turks and Caicos Islands Labor Law. - Foster collaboration between functions/departments/ individuals as an ongoing practice to drive teamwork, participation and involvement as ways of solving human resources related problems. Qualifications:
Either: (a)a Bachelor Degree or equivalent in Human Resource Management from a recognized institution with a minimum three (3) years appropriate management experience or (b)Diploma or equivalent in Human Resource Management from a recognized institution with a minimum five (5) years appropriate management experience. Salary: Commensurate with qualifications in the range $38,400 $48,000 per annum with additional allowances Full details of duties and responsibilities can be obtained from the TCIAA offices or via email request. Closing Date: - Interested persons must submit their applications before 5 May 2016 All resumes should be sent to Mr. John T. Smith Chief Executive Officer Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority Aviation House, Providenciales Email: johntsmith@tciairports.com
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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䘀伀刀 䄀䰀䰀 夀伀唀刀 䄀䐀嘀䔀刀吀䤀匀䤀一䜀 一䔀䔀䐀匀 䌀伀一吀䄀䌀吀 ⠀㘀㐀㤀⤀ⴀ㌀㌀㤀ⴀ㔀㠀㜀㤀 漀爀 䔀䴀䄀䤀䰀㨀 猀甀渀䀀猀甀渀琀挀椀⸀挀漀洀 䄀昀昀漀爀搀愀戀氀攀 刀愀琀攀猀 簀 䠀椀最栀 瘀漀氀甀洀攀 琀爀愀昀昀椀挀 簀 刀攀氀椀愀戀氀攀
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
Codney Capron wins 1st place at Wine Cellar 6th Annual Golf & Fishing tournament T
he 6th Annual Golf & Fishing tournament took place last weekend where Spinning Reels boat Captain Codney Capron won the first place prize of $6,500 plus trophy sponsored by Casablanca. The event took place on the weekend of April 7th- 10th 2016 at Blue Haven Marina. Salt Shaker boat captain Mark Keyser walked away with the 2nd Place Prize of $3,500 plus trophy sponsored by Air & Sea Agency + TWC and In $ Tuition boat captain Pierre Magnier won the 3rd Place Prize of $2,500 plus Trophy and sponsored by Caicos Express + TWC. The event this year consisted was a handful of events first on Wednesday April 7th, was the Calcutta and Captains’ Meeting (Fishing portion), the pre-party and bidding on boats begin (Tiki Hut).
Then, a 2 days of fishing (Friday and Saturday, April 8th and 9th) which was followed by a fresh fish auction of the day’s catch, music, entertainment and kid friendly games were hosted at Salt Bar & Grill at the Blue Haven Resort & Marina. Rounding out the weekend was the Golf tournament of the event which took place at Provo Golf Club, where 4 player teams vie for bragging rights and fantastic prizes as well as a silent auction. The WCGFT is a not-for-profit charity event hosted every year with all proceeds donated to Charity. This year’s recipients were the Edward Gartland Youth Centre and Provo Sailing Club at equal portions. The last 5 Tournaments have raised an incredible $113,000.00 to help the different youth-oriented charity organizations. Below are photos from the tournament.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
More Convenience for
More Days. More Hours. More Choice. You can now enjoy: LONGER BANKING HOURS (MONDAY TO THURSDAY) 9:00am to 3:00pm (Loan appointments only - up to 4:30pm) BANKING HOURS (FRIDAY) 9:00am to 4:30pm SATURDAY BANKING - Loan appointments only 10:00am - 1:00pm
RBC is making it easier for YOU our valued clients to bank with us.
For further information, call 941-4776 or visit your RBC branch or go online at rbc.com/caribbean.
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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LOCAL NEWS
2
nd
Annual TCI Community College Panel Discussion highlights
T
he Turks and Caicos Islands hosted it 2nd Annual Panel discussion in celebration of their College month activities. The event took place on Wednesday April 13th, at the Gustavus Lightbourne Complex here in Providenciales. There were four speakers for the event three students from the community college which were Dismercy Lugo (Business), Maria
Hon. Sharlene Robinson - Opposition Leader gives her remarks
Piwowarczyk (Building & Design), and Carlencia Lightbourne (Hospitality) and two guest speakers which were Mrs. Rachel Taylor and Mr. Damian Wilson. The theme for the event is ‘Success for every Learner’ which means an encouraging a culture where student go beyond secondary education to Tertiary level education for more educated populist.
5th Speaker Mr. Damian Wilson gives his speech
The Community College wants to assure the public that they’re going to be hearing them, they are going to be extending the invitation and they would just like for the public to come out and visit them at the campus or email them at prtcicc@ gmail.com and hear what they have to offer because it might be life changing. The following are photo highlights of the event.
Director of Education Mr. Edgar Howell
Vice President of the TCI Community College Mr. Samuel Forbes give his brief remarks
An audience member throws questions to the different speakers Pictured here are the five Speakers for the TCI Community College Panel Discussion. From L-R (Mr. Damian Wilson, Mrs. Rachel Taylor, Carlencia Lightbourne, Maria Piwowarczyk and Dismercy Lugo)
A crowed of Student from grade five and six in the different primary schools in the TCI were also present at this year’s Community College Panel Discussion
Ms. Stacy Cox, Executive Director of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association givers her remarks of the panel discussions
Former Digicel’s CEO E. J. Saunders asks questioning the speakers questions
Edgar Howell, Director of Education and Hon. Hon. Goldray Ewing focused on the Speakers speeches
2nd speaker Maria Piwowarczyk pictured here Hon. Clarence Wesley Selver gives his while giving her speech overview of the Panel Discussion
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
VACANCY – ERP TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified individuals for the position of ERP Technical Support Specialist, FortisTCI, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. DESCRIPTION The ERP Technical Support Specialist is responsible for investigations, escalation and resolution delivery for application issues surrounding FTCI’s Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP). The position also ensures that the ERP is optimize by assisting in system interface/integration activities and end-users training MAIN DUTIES Support end-users with issues relating to Dynamics AX / MECOMS performance; Ensure high issue resolution rate; Monitor, manage and report issue logs and status; Support the end user training efforts; Support developers as questions or issues arise; Assist with testing new releases of ERP systems prior to use in a production environment Work closely with the end-users and ERP vendor / developer to ensure that all deadlines related to technical aspects of the Dynamics AX / MECOMS implementation are either met or exceeded; Highly participate in business requirement analysis, functional design, technical design and on-going activities related to build and deployment phases of the project; Work closely with the end-users to create required documentation that will be used by developers for customizing Dynamics AX / MECOMS; Communicate development guidelines to both internal and external development resources; Monitor development activities to ensure development guidelines are being followed; Ensure proper documentation required during system development lifecycle; Assist Information Technology Department with technical support when required; Liaise with the IT Department on the infrastructure
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
requirements and maintenance relating to ERP system; Assist with creating and implementing disaster recovery plans for systems databases; Participate in implementation of other industry software and technological innovations; Ensure that ERP documentation is in place and in compliance with the established procedures and standards. Any other job related duties as maybe assigned from time to time; ACADEMIC/TECHNICAL/MANAGEMENT: EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience with MS Applications environment - Dynamics CRM, MS Office Knowledge of ERP Software in the areas of customer service, finance, production, supply chain & other project functionalities e.g. Oracle, Bellamy, Civic. Knowledge of Dynamics AX Architecture (layers, models, tiers, etc.) is a preferred; Acquired one or more functional certifications within Dynamics AX; AX development certification is an advantage; Familiarity and understanding of Dynamics AX data structures, SQL, and database design concepts. Experience in IT helpdesk management. ABILITIES AND SKILLS Analytical, numerical and reasoning abilities; Ability to work both individually and as part of a team; Data analysis and planning skills; Excellent time management and self-motivation skill; Good communication and organizational skills; Work effectively with diverse attitudes and groups; Team-oriented; Goal-oriented; Customer service oriented; Interest in dealing with end-users; This person has a strong overall knowledge of both the functional and technical aspects of Microsoft Dynamics AX and other ERP Systems; Interest in exploring and learning utility technology innovation. Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is Tuesday April 26, 2016: Ruth Forbes Vice President, Human Resources, Finance and CFO FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or rforbes@fortistci.com
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
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HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE
Doctors say aspirin lowers heart attack risk for many adults
Many adults who have never had a heart attack or stroke should take aspirin every day to keep it that way, new U.S. guidelines say. People in their 50s with risk factors for cardiovascular disease - including high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a history of smoking - may benefit from starting a daily aspirin regimen and staying on it for at least a decade, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a government-backed panel of independent physicians. A daily low-dose aspirin may also help protect against colorectal cancer in people who are taking it to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Because aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and brain, this advice doesn’t apply to people with bleeding disorders. “As with any drug, patients and their doctors must balance the benefits and risks of aspirin,” said USPSTF chair Dr. Kirsten BibbinsDomingo of the University of California, San Francisco. Adults aged 50 to 59 who have at least a 10 percent risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next decade can benefit the most from taking 81 milligrams of aspirin a day, according to the new guidelines. The American College of Cardiology provides an online risk calculator here: bit.ly/1UEFYtE. The advice doesn’t apply to people in their 60s because the bleeding risk increases with age, however, and
the jury is still out on whether this approach makes sense for people under 50 or over 70, the Task Force concluded. “Some people may benefit from aspirin more than others, which is why there are several recommendations based on age,” Bibbins-Domino added by email. The Task Force encourages people to talk with their doctor about whether taking aspirin is appropriate, she said. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults over 50 already take aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or avoid a second one, according a research review published with the new guidelines in Annals of Internal Medicine. But the Task Force is at odds with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has denied efforts by Bayer HealthCare LLC to market aspirin for preventing heart attacks and strokes in people with no history of cardiovascular disease. “All that aspirin does if your heart attack risk is really low is cause you harm,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, who served on an FDA advisory panel that recommended against widespread use of aspirin for primary prevention and chairs the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. At least one in 10 people taking aspirin don’t need it, recent research suggests. Patients can buy aspirin without a prescription, and doctors are also free to put people on medicines for purposes that aren’t approved by the FDA. The FDA did not respond to a request for comment
Women who think their man expects perfection in bed may have so much performance anxiety that they don't have any fun during sex, a recent study suggests. "It is possible that believing that one's sexual partner expects sex to be perfect leads to sexual performance anxiety which may then have a negative effect on a women's sexual function, causing difficulties becoming aroused and lubricated during sexual encounters," said study co-author Laura Harvey, a psychology researcher at the University of Kent in the U.K. "Another explanation is that women who believe that their partner expects and puts pressure on them to be the perfect sexual partner may experience negative feelings towards their partner, which may in turn negatively affect their sexual function," Harvey added by email. To understand how different types of sexual perfectionism may influence women's experiences in bed, Harvey and co-author Joachim Stoeber of the University of Kent surveyed 366 women aged 17-69 years. The survey included 230
students who were about 20 years old on average as well 136 internet users who were typically around 30 years old. They looked at what's known as sexual perfectionism that is self-oriented, meaning the standards people impose on themselves; partner-oriented, or the expectations people have for their partners; partner-prescribed, or what people think their mate wants; and socially-prescribed, or the standards people think they're supposed to meet based on cultural norms. Setting high standards wasn't necessarily bad when it was women establishing these goals for themselves. This was linked to increased desire, arousal and lubrication as well as higher self-esteem, the study found. By contrast, women who focused on sexual ideals imposed by society tended to have lower self-esteem - just as low as the women who thought their lovers demanded perfection. Sexual anxiety ran higher for women who set high standards for their partners, and even higher still when women thought their lovers expected perfection from them. After the initial survey,
Bayer brand aspirin is seen on display at the Safeway store in Wheaton, Maryland by press time. Aspirin helps prevent blood cells called platelets from sticking together and forming clots that clog arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. The drug carries a bleeding risk because the body also relies on platelet clusters to seal wounds by forming scabs. Additionally, aspirin might lower the risk of colorectal cancer by acting on a biochemical pathway these tumors need to grow, said Dr. David Weinberg, chair of the department of medicine at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. But patients shouldn’t take aspirin for cancer
prevention, Weinberg, who isn’t on the Task Force, said by email. Instead, they should think of the reduced cancer risk as an added benefit if they already need aspirin to address the risk of heart attacks and strokes. “For those persons already at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, on balance aspirin is a good idea to reduce cardiovascular disease risk alone,” Weinberg said. “However, it appears it will also reduce colorectal cancer risk at the same time, which represents a benefit with little or no additional risk if aspirin is already indicated.”
researchers followed up with a subset of 164 women three to six months later, asking the same questions about sex. Over time, partner-prescribed sexual perfectionism predicted increases in sexual anxiety and decreases in sexual esteem, arousal and lubrication, researchers report in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. One limitation of the study is that many women failed to complete the second round of surveys, making it harder to draw firm conclusions about how sexual dynamics might change over time, the authors note. In addition, one third of the women surveyed didn't have an ongoing sexual relationship at the time of the first survey, and they responded to questions based on their recollections of past encounters. The attitudes about sex reflected by the relatively young survey population may also not represent how women experience sex and sexuality as they age. Still, the findings highlight struggles that many people may experience with sex, said Michael Aaron, a sex therapist in private practice in New York who wasn't
involved in the study. "Our society is filled with sexual myths and misconceptions, mostly stemming from a combination of our culture's puritanical roots, as well as rampant consumerism, which feeds off individual insecurities to sell unnecessary products," Aaron said by email. Younger women are more susceptible to this kind of pressure than older women, Aaron added. By their 30s and 40s, women tend to know what they want in bed and have no problem telling their partner about it, said Christian Joyal, a psychology researcher at the University of Quebec Trois-Rivieres who wasn't involved in the study. Earlier in life, women may be less certain of their own desires or less confident articulating what they want, Joyal said by email. If they did speak to their partners, these women might find their lovers actually didn't expect perfection. Men, not just women, should understand this because it may hold the secret to better sex. "The key is communication," Joyal said.
Sex is no fun when you think your partner is a perfectionist
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
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.
Housekeeping Department requires:
The Accounts/ Cost Control Department requires:
✓ Housekeeping/ Public Area Supervisor/ Floor Inspector Requirements include but are not limited to: o Supervises and may participate in housekeeping services including cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, sanitizing the floors and other surfaces as well as the refinishing, waxing and polishing of floors, tile work and other various floor and wall surfaces in stairways, hallways, restrooms, offices, laboratories, recreation and locker rooms. The rate for the position listed above is $7.00 to $9.50 an hour. Bar Department requires: ✓ Bar Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Five years supervisory experience in bar operations o Physically fit
✓
The rate for the position listed above is $7.00 to $9.00 an hour. Off- Site Departments requires: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Dining Room Department requires: ✓ Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Five years supervisory experience in restaurant operations o Physically fit The rate for the positions listed above is $7.00 to $9.00 an hour. Dining Room Department requires:
Technician Caretaker Grounds man/ Grounds Keeper Cleaner Labour Requirements include but are not limited to: o Knowledgeable of in related fields both in theory and practical (Technician) o Physically fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $11.50 an hour. The Housekeeping Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ Hostess ✓ Server ✓ Labour/ Dining Room Cleaner Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
Receiving Clerk Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to meet deadlines o Knowledge of Accounting procedures o Computer literate o Ability to work weekends and public holidays
Linen Room Attendant Room Attendant/ Domestic Worker Housemen Turndown Attendant 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.
Bar Department requires:
Entertainment and Kids Kamp Departments requires:
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Bartender Bar Porter Beach /Pool Server Cocktail Waitress Requirements include but are not limited to: o Ability to mix a variety of drinks alcoholic and non-alcoholic. o Outgoing personality o Ability to work in the sun o Physically fit
✓ ✓
The rate for the position listed above is $7.50 to $10.00 an hour. ✓ ✓
The rate for the positions listed above is 6.25 an hour. The Security Department Requires: ✓ Security Supervisor/ Shift Leader ✓ Security Officer Requirements include but are not limited to: o Supervise a team of officers (Supervisor and Shift Leader) o Responds rapidly to all incidents. o Ability to write reports. o Identify and eliminate risk. o Ability to work in the sun o Medically and Physically fit o At least 2 years relevant experience
Supervisor (AV) Audio Video Technician Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience supervising a team o Scheduling experience o Conduct inventory and ensure equipment is maintained in a good working order. (AV Supervisor)
Counsellor Fun pals/ Players/ Dancers/ Clowns Requirements include but are not limited to: o An outgoing personality required o Ability to sing and dance
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 an hour
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $10.00 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
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 31
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 Rooms Division Department Requires:
The Rooms Division requires:
✓ Butler Requirements include but are not limited to: o Member of the Association of English Butlers o Experience supervising and leading a team (Supervisor) o Ability to go above and beyond for guest ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Concierge Agent Front Office Agent Departure Lounge Agent Receptionist Loyalty and Travel Consultant/Concierge Requirements include but are not limited to: o Certified Guest Service Professional preferred o Experience in resolving guest concerns o Sales experience (Loyalty and Travel) o Ability to go above and beyond for guests
✓ Bellman ✓ Junior Concierge (use to be Minibar Stocker/Attendant) Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Outgoing and friendly attitude The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $8.00 an hour
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Supervisor (Front Office) Supervisor (Concierge) Supervisor (Butler) Reservationist Shift Leader (Front Office) Shift Leader (Concierge) Requirements include but are not limited to: o Member of the Association of English Butlers (Butler Supervisor) o Experience supervising and leading a team o Experience handling guest concerns
✓
Storeroom Controller Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience with Inventory and stock keeping o Experience with budgets and reconciliations
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.50 to $11.00 an hour. The Kitchen Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓
The Grounds Departments requires: ✓ Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: o Minimum 2 years supervising a team of grounds man o Experience with tropical or subtropical plants, Greenhouses and Irrigation o Physically Fit ✓ Grounds man/ lady ✓ Grounds Keeper Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive task
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $11.00 an hour. The Stewarding Department Requires: ✓ ✓ ✓
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $11.00 an hour. The Spa Department Requires: ✓ Spa Therapist/Technicians/ Cosmetologist ✓ Tennis Instructor/Pro ✓ Fitness Pro/ Instructor/ Coordinator Requirements include but are not limited to: o Certification in one or more of the following areas: Massage, Esthetics, Body treatments, Hair services, Tattoos and Nail services. (Spa Team Member) o Certification as a tennis professional (Tennis Pro) o Must be sales driven with proven customer service skills, upgrading of services/ retail.
Supervisor Shift Leader Steward Requirements include but are not limited to: o Experience in supervising a cleaning team (Supervisor & Shift Leader) o No Food or chemical allergies o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task
The rate for the positions listed above is $6.25 to $11.00 an hour. Laundry Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓
Remuneration: Bi-weekly base pay plus commission ✓ Spa Attendant ✓ Gym Attendant Requirements include but are not limited to: o Physically Fit o Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task
Chef de Parte Chef Cook (Grade 1,2 and 3) Requirements include but are not limited to: o Must have worked in a Resort kitchen or medium to large sized restaurant o Must have over three years’ experience o Professional qualification an asset
Supervisor Shift Leader Laundry Attendant Requirements include: o Experience supervising a commercial laundry(supervisor and Shift Leader) o Physically fit o No allergies to chemicals and the ability to handle heat o Previous experience in commercial Laundry an assist
The rate for the position listed above is $6.25 to $8.75 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
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
For All you advertising needs contact TCISUN at 339-5879 Or email – sun@suntci.com
Yacht for Sale - $135,000.00
1992, 45ft Viking yacht fast and economical (2)671 Detroits Turbo diesel, phasor generator (2) Staterooms, full size bathroom with macerator head, central A/C full sized refrigerator, Ice maker, water maker, freezer, Davit lift, stereo. (2) TV’s Electric stove GPS, satellite radar and much more. A must sell Tel: (242)357-9633 Tel: (242)361-0840
For All you advertising needs contact TCISUN at 339-5879 Or email – sun@suntci.com
CARLTON L. HIGGS
WANTED
In South Caicos Seeks a 1 Domestic Domestic Worker Worker Salary $6.50 per 5 days a week hour $ 6.25 per hour 6 days per week Phone number: Contact 244-2088 247-2075
The Aquatic Restaurant & Bar
Seeking two Bar Maid Salary $6.25 per hour Location: King Road, North Caicos One position is new and one currently held by work permit holder. Islanders wishing to apply should also send copies of their application to the work permit board
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
CARIBBEAN WORLD
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Page 33
CARIBBEAN NEWS
NEWS NEWS
The waters of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands
Seeped in history and drenched in color, when it comes to crystal-clear waters and powder-soft sands, the exquisite archipelago of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands remains entirely unrivaled. In this relatively small corner of the Atlantic Ocean, lucid waters are peppered with a cluster of over 700 islands and some 2000 cays, creating a picture-perfect paradise that’s admired from as far away as space. Dutifully dubbed The Bahama Islands due to the area’s abundance of ‘baja mar’ or shallow waters, everyone from pirates to explorers and settlers to privateers have been lured to these pure shores over the centuries, eager to take advantage of the inimitable island chain for their own individual gains. ISLANDS OF INTRIGUE
Inhabited by the Lucayans way before European influences adopted the soil, this tropical playground has always been a terrain of adventure and discovery- from the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 to the colonization by the English in the 17th Century, the sands of The Bahamas have seen their fair share of action. Despite the early depopulation of these idyllic isles due to the Spanish slave trade, life around these parts still remained decidedly animated. Famously grizzly faces such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Henry Morgan all graced the seas with their vessels, wreaking havoc on the Spanish and seizing goods at will. Nowadays it’s a different type of treasure that brings the boats in to these serene waters- laid back lifestyles meet an abundance of activities in this unspoiled independent commonwealth. Floating above the Atlantic Ocean, this pick and mix collection of unique islands and pint-sized cays each come armed with their own distinct characters. Whether it’s the rustic, sun-bleached charms of Providenciales, the resort-filled style of Paradise Island or the botanical bounties of Grand Bahama, there’s an enviable little enclave to suit all tastes. So it comes as no surprise that everybody from movie makers to wedding belles
flock here to use the palm-fringed bays as their own flawless backdrop, taking advantage of the luminous waters as they lap against soft, sandy beaches. Try seeing things through rose-tinted glasses as turquoise waves collide with dusty pink sand, given its tinge by tiny pieces of broken seashell- with charms like this, there’s no mistaking why The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands are alluring honeymoon hotspots. THE DRAW OF THE AZURE
Despite the contrasting ideals of the Bahamian and Turks and Caicos Isles, there’s one characteristic that’s indivisible from each island: breathtaking blue skies and exquisitely colored waters. Daubed with a never-ending palette of bright blue hues, the echoing waters of the Atlantic Ocean manage to effortlessly take in all the shades on the color chart. With a clarity that would rival most aquariums, warm temperate waters transform from the most translucent of turquoise to the deepest indigo in a matter of meters. Swathes of cerulean, sapphire, cobalt and emerald meld together on a hypnotic natural canvas, highlighting the depths and shallows of the bewildering world below; in some parts, sandbanks scatter themselves just below the surface, whilst in others, the water below reaches extraordinary depths of up to 8,000 feet. A CORAL-COVERED WORLD OF WONDER An expansive underwater playground separated from the greater stretch of the Caribbean by the 100 mile long Old Bahama Channel, this unique little island chain sits proudly atop a vibrant coral reef that now accounts for 5% of the world’s coral. Teeming with activity and bursting with color, the myriad of lustrous lifeforms in this underwater ecosystem is astounding and there are multiple opportunities for sub-aquatic exploration. Snorkeling close to the surface of the water, kaleidoscopic colors of tropical marine life pass you by, flanked by ornate stony corals and otherworldly plant life. But for most,
Jamaica: Woman to be sentenced for concealing birth A young woman who threw the body of her newborn baby into a drain after claiming that she did not know that she was pregnant is to be sentenced in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on May 16. The 25-year-old woman, of a Kingston 11 address, pleaded guilty to concealment of birth when she appeared before Senior Parish Judge Judith Pusey Thursday. The matter was consequently scheduled for sentencing on May 16 and a social enquiry report was requested. The woman’s bail was also extended.
The body of the infant, believed to be about four-days-old, was found by residents in a drain on Spanish Town Road, on March 2. The police were summoned and following investigation, the woman was arrested and charged. When she was cautioned, she reportedly told the police, “Me neva know me did pregnant and me go bathroom to defecate and me feel something a come out of me vagina and me take it out and go throw it in the drain.” Attorney Zara Lewis is representing the young woman.
The waters of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands this small teaser of what lies beneath only serves to further the intrigue, meaning that reaching further depths becomes an absolute necessity. Chock full of shipwrecks and deep-sea tunnels, the ocean surrounding The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands was practically made for diving. Here, in the clearest water in the world, spotting aquatic wonders becomes second-nature as candy colored starfish and neon lit Blue Tangs glide right on by. Silhouettes of dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and manta rays cast a shadow over the coral and it’s not unheard of to witness a humpback or sperm whale at the ocean’s greater depths. Home to one of the deepest sub-aquatic canyons in the known world, the Great Bahama Canyon, the bright blue tones of the surface soon disappear as they make way for the darkness of the unknown. A treasure trove of underground caves, blue holes and vertical walls, the waters of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands hold a wealth of scientific secrets under the placid surface. For experienced or inquisitive divers, these depths are among some of the most alluring places on the planet, unlocking the door to mysterious creatures and wonders of the world. Explore the 100 mile long Tongue of the Ocean, an underwater trench that delves to 6,000 feet below the sea-level, offering some of the best wall diving on the planet, or scale the spectacular walls of Grand Turk and West Caicos before hunting out the shipwrecks
located just off Salt Cay. If you feel like delving a little deeper, why not wind your way down through the dangerously dark blue holes surrounding Abaco or Long Island, uncovering living fossils, stalagmites and labyrinthine caverns as you go. COMING UP FOR AIR But if above the surface is more your turf, it doesn’t mean that the charms of the water are out of your reach. From serene sailing around the islets and cays to parasailing and kite boarding in the windier months, the idyllic waters always manage to incorporate their way into your agenda. By the shores of the beach, surfers and swimmers indulge in leisurely pursuits, basking in the warm waves of the Atlantic Ocean whilst further away from land, big game fishermen attempt to break more records by landing a super-sized catch of Tuna, Marlin or Mahi Mahi. Kites fly high above the ocean at Bimini, propelling their pilots speedily across the waves and kayaks skim the surface of Grand Turk’s surf, making their way through hidden caves, abandoned shorelines and inland lagoons. From the shallows to the depths, the waters surrounding The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands are teeming with life, color and an abundance of activities, so dive straight in to this captivating corner of the world- the reasons are crystalclear.
Cuban nationals apprehended Bahamian law enforcement authorities said Tuesday they had apprehended the five Cuban nationals who escaped from the Bahamas Immigration Detention Centre over the last weekend. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force said that the Cubans are now in police custody after they were found were found in a dilapidated villa near the waterside in the area of the South Ocean Hotel on the south side of New Providence on Monday. “An investigation into circumstances related to the escape
of the Cuban nationals is currently underway,” the police said. The Department of Immigration said that the five – Yasmani Rojas Marrero, Arsenio Morales Perez, Amaury/Amaurles Perez Vega, Raudel Daniel Oranzabal Reyes and Alexander Gonzales Gonzales escaped from the Carmichael Road facility on Saturday night.But it gave no other details. The Bahamas has in the past detained a number of Cuban nationals who arrive here illegally while trying to reach the United States.
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
APRIL 16TH, 2016 – APRIL 23RD, 2016
CARIBBEAN NEWS
Human rights concerns raised for immigrants and prisoners in The Bahamas
THE US State Department maintained its spotlight on inefficiencies in the country’s “extremely backlogged” judicial system, mistreatment of migrants, and perceptions of impunity held by enforcement officials in its 2015 Human Rights Practices report. For more than a decade, the report has maintained criticisms over lengthy trials and pretrial detention, harsh prison conditions, violence against women and children and discrimination based on ethnic descent. The report read: “The most serious human rights problems were mistreatment of irregular migrants (compounded by problems in processing them); an inefficient judicial system, resulting in trial delays and an increase in retaliatory crime against both witnesses and alleged perpetrators; and the perception of impunity on the part of law enforcement and immigration officials accused of using excessive force.” It continued: “Other human rights problems included substandard detention conditions; corruption; violence and discrimination against women; sexual abuse of children; and discrimination based on ethnic descent, sexual orientation, or HIV
status.” furthered that civil rights groups The report noted that the government reported the government used threats had taken some action against police of prosecution in a way that had a officers and other officials accused of “chilling effect” on free speech. abuse of power. “In response to criticism of The prison and Carmichael the government’s new immigration Road Detention Centre (CRDC) policy that took effect in November conditions failed to meet international 2014,” the report read, “the Ministry standards in some areas, and of Foreign Affairs reminded citizens overcrowding was again cited as a that the Bahamas Nationality Act major problem that contributed to allows the minister for nationality to harsh conditions at the Bahamas revoke citizenship from a person who Department of Correctional Services. ‘has shown himself by act or speech to The report noted that there was no be disloyal or disaffected towards The independent authority to investigate Bahamas’. credible allegations of inhumane “In August, the ministry conditions lodged by inmates and publicly threatened to revoke the staff. It also pointed out that the permanent residency status of a critic government had made little progress of the government.” in its case against five Royal Bahamas It continued: “The government Defense Force (BDF) marines who did not use libel or slander laws to in 2013 allegedly beat five Cuban silence critics but employed threats detainees with batons and pipes at of prosecution in a way that civil the CRDC. The report stated that the rights groups reported had a chilling government’s response was that the effect on free speech. The Ministry case was still “before the courts”. of Foreign Affairs, responding to While the report criticism of the CRDC conditions by a acknowledged that the government civil rights organisation, called on the generally respected the constitutional police commissioner to investigate the right for freedom of speech and press, group for criminal libel.” it pointed out that the Ministry of On the matter of the Foreign Affairs publicly threatened constitutional right to freedom of to revoke the permanent status of a assembly and association, the report critic of the government. The report noted “credible” allegations made
Cayman Airways to replace fleet Cayman Airways will replace its fleet of aging jets with four new “state of the art” aircraft over the next four years. According to the Caymanian Compass newspaper, Government has approved a “fleet modernization plan” for the national airline to replace the four 737-300 jets, which are between 15 and 20 years old, with new 737-8Max planes, straight off the Boeing production line. Tourism and airline leaders said the switch would essentially pay for itself and will not result in any increase in the government contributions to Cayman Airways, which totaled $23 million at the last budget. Cayman Airways CEO Fabian Whorms said the superior fuel efficiency, lower operational costs and greater passenger capacity of the new planes made the switch affordable. Philip Rankin, chairman of the airline’s board of directors, added, “Based on our projections, from maintenance savings and fuel alone we can more than pay for the lease on these aircraft.” The 737-8Max planes have 40 more seats and burn 20 percent less fuel than the 300-series, according to Mr. Whorms. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said the new jets would significantly expand the reach of the airline, potentially enabling it to open up new routes, direct from the west coast of the U.S. He said upgrading the fleet would position Cayman Airways to take advantage of an anticipated boom in tourism arrivals and improve its bottom line.
Cayman Airways’ Boeing 737-300 planes will be replaced by the next generation Boeing 737-8Max aircraft With new developments, including the Kimpton Hotel, Margaritaville and Dart’s planned five-star hotel on Seven Mile Beach in the works, he said there was a 20 percent increase in “room stock” expected. He added, “We want to put them in a position to be successful for the growth that is coming.” Neither Mr. Kirkconnell nor Mr. Rankin would say how much they expect the annual lease arrangement to cost in advance of the procurement process, through the Central Tenders Committee. The planes cost between $90 and $110 million to buy, according to Boeing’s website. Mr. Whorms said the technical advances made by Boeing in developing the next generation of 737 aircraft made the arrangement possible. “We are at a time in history where technology is bringing costs down and we are able to take advantage of that,” he said. “These planes are completely state of the art.” He said the model was designed to deliver a level of reliability that was unprecedented. Cayman Airways has been plagued by delays in recent years, largely caused by maintenance
issues with its fleet. Mr. Whorms said the new aircraft would mean a “75 percent reduction” in delays. “This positions us at the front of the pack when it comes to equipment … Because of the significant improvement in reliability, we will be able to do a lot more with less.” He said the additional cargo space also created potential business opportunities for Cayman Airways. The airline will bring a different Boeing 800 series plane into service in November as an interim measure, and intends to replace the full fleet of 737-300s on a phased timetable between 2018 and 2020. By 2020, the airline will have a full fleet of four 737-8Max aircraft. Cayman Airways purchased three of its 737-300 aircraft, which it had previously leased, in 2014. Mr. Rankin said the decision made sense at that time because the cost to buy the planes was significantly lower than the lease cost over a five-year period. He said it had always been the plan to replace the planes with more modern aircraft as they were due for “retirement,” though he said there was still interest from other airlines in purchasing them from CAL.
by civil rights groups protesting the government’s immigration enforcement policy. It was alleged that some government officials sought to constrain their freedom of speech and association rights by publicly labelling the groups as traitors and then refusing to conduct adequate investigations or provide police protection from threats. The report is referring to the heated war-of-words between Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell with lawyer Fred Smith, QC, and the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association over its immigration policy. On the matter of statelessness, the report stated that the government did not effectively implement laws and policies to provide certain habitual residents the opportunity to gain nationality in a timely manner and on a non-discriminatory basis. As of October, it stated, the government claimed it had approved 60 belonger permits but was unable to verify whether any had been issued. The State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cover internationally recognised individual, civil, political, and worker’s rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The first report covered the year 1976.
Police arrest several Haitians in major drug bust Bahamian law enforcement authorities say they have detained 14 people, including 14 Haitians, during two separate operations resulting in the seizure of more than 200 kilogrammes of cocaine. The police said that in the first incident over the last weekend, five adult males from Haiti were taken into custody, after they searched a vessel that had been berthed in Inagua. They said the “five males who were the crew of the vessel were taken into custody for questioning”. In the other operation on Monday, police said they had taken into custody eight Haitians and one Bahamian following “a major drug bust in Inagua”. They said that “officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit, assisted by International Counterparts from the US Coastguard and Drug Enforcement Administration, acting on intelligence conducted a search of a Haitian vessel in Inagua where they uncovered over 100 kilos of cocaine. “The nine men who were on board the vessel were taken into custody for questioning,” the police said in the statement. The statement gave no value of the drugs seized during the two operations.
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Study shows tighter Jamaica air traffic regulations needed to save strike cost millions in revenue corals of the Caribbean
Jamaica air traffic Following coral bleaching warnings, regional climate experts Dr David Farrell and Dr Cedric Van Meerbeeck are adding to the caution calls. A study by the University Marie Bozec from UQ’s School than 10 per cent of the fishable of Queensland (UQ) has found of Biological Sciences, said stock provide a far better outlook that new science-based fishery herbivorous parrotfish were for reefs, while also allowing the regulations are needed if coral needed because they eat seaweed, fishery to persist.” The ci-author of the reefs are to have a future in the which can smother coral and study, Professor Peter Mumby prevent corals from recovering. face of climate change. “While several countries from UQ’s School of Biological The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the in the Caribbean have taken the Sciences, said a number of National Academy of Sciences bold step of banning the fishing countries wanted to modify their argues that science should be of parrotfish, including Belize, fisheries to reduce impacts on used to revise current fisheries Bonaire, Turks and Caicos reefs. “What we’ve done practices for herbivorous fish in Islands, parrotfish fisheries remain in much of the region,” is identify fisheries’ policies the Caribbean. that might help achieve this,” It shows that Caribbean Bozec said. The research team Professor Mumby said, adding coral reefs are experiencing mounting pressure from global analysed the effects of fishing “ultimately, the more we do to warming, local pollution and on parrotfish and combined this maintain healthy coral reefs, with an analysis of the role of the more likely it is that fishers’ over-fishing of herbivorous fish. livelihoods will be sustained into An international team, parrotfish on coral reefs. “We conclude that the future. led by University of Queensland “We already know that researchers, has found that unregulated fisheries will tighter fishery regulations are seriously reduce the resilience of failure to maintain coral habitats needed to preserve corals of the coral reefs,” Bozec said, adding will lead to at least a threefold “however, implementation of size reduction in future fish catches,” Caribbean. Researcher Dr. Yves- limits and catch limits to less Professor Mumby said.
US Coast Guard in major drug bust in Caribbean Sea The United States patrol with the Dutch HNLMS Coast Guard says it has seized De Zeven Provinciën crew, they 550 pounds of cocaine in the “detected and interdicted a Caribbean Sea, worth more suspicious vessel northwest of Aruba in international waters. than US$8.25 million. The Coast Guard “Following the said that an unidentified interdiction, a total of 550 man was detained during pounds of contraband was the interdiction northwest of discovered on board the vessel Aruba. and later tested positive for It said while on joint cocaine,” the Coast Guard said.
“The US Coast Guard LEDET and HNLMS De Zeven Provincien crew took custody of the suspect, and seized the vessel and contraband,” it added. The Coast Guard said the suspicious vessel “became inoperable during the transit and was sunk as a danger to navigation”.
Dominica rattled by earthquake An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 rattled Dominica on Tuesday, but there were no reports of injuries or damages. The Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), said that
the quake occurred at 8:36 am (local time) at a depth of five kilometres. It said that the earthquake was located 50 km north of the capital and 58 km, south, south east of Point-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe and 131 km north, north
west of Fort-de-France in Martinique. In recent months, the Caribbean has recorded several tremors. Last week, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 rocked sections of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
The transport ministry says industrial action by air traffic controllers contributed to the reduction in revenue earned from the utilisation of Jamaica’s airspace in February. Yesterday the Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers’ Association said the country may have lost close to US$1 million because of reduced traffic in the country’s airspace in recent weeks. It said the reduced air traffic and loss of income were due to the constant malfunctioning of the equipment used to control air traffic. However, transport minister, Mike Henry says he has been advised that the almost 50 per cent reduction in revenue in February, was due to a number of factors including industrial action by the air traffic controllers He said the industrial action forced the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority to implement Flow Control Procedures. However, Henry says reports reaching him suggest that the situation has improved significantly and revenues are almost back to normal. Meanwhile, Henry is seeking to assure that the country’s airspace is safe following reports aircraft operators are avoiding Jamaica’s airspace because of faulty operational equipment being used by air traffic controllers. He says the Government is moving swiftly to replace obsolete equipment over a 21 month period. Henry says he is in the process of initiating discussions with the Ministry Of Finance regarding outstanding compensation to air traffic controllers.
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NEWS
Dallas Food TV Reporter Stacy Fawcett Stabbed to Death by Son Popular Dallas food he had committed murder. reporter Stacy Fawcett has Officers were then dispatched died, PEOPLE confirms. to the home in Plano, Texas In a statement – a suburb 20 miles north of obtained by PEOPLE, the Dallas – where they “made Plano Police Department entry into the residence and confirmed that Fawcett, 45, discovered a deceased adult and her son Josiah Utu, 17, male and adult female along both suffered fatal stab with another adult male who wounds early Friday when was alive with multiple stab Fawcett’s eldest son 19-year- wounds.” old McCann Utu Jr. attacked The suspect, McCann the pair before stabbing Utu Jr., was transported to himself. a local hospital with life After the incident, a threatening injuries, where male suspect contacted police, he later died. Although authorities telling the 911 operator that
could not confirm it, Justin Fawcett – Stacy’s brother – said that his nephew had been different since suffering a traumatic brain injury over a year ago, the Dallas Morning News reports. Since the mother and sons’ deaths, a GoFundMe account has been set up to help fund the memorial services for the entire family. Any excess funds will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank in Fawcett’s memory. The account has already raised $7,711 of its $10,000 goal.
Fawcett’s Facebook page has also been turned into a memoriam account. On Friday, students gathered around a makeshift memorial at Plano West High School where Josiah was a junior. Jobin Panicker, a reporter at WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas where Fawcett was a regular contributor, shared pictures from the school’s campus, in which hundreds of students paid their respects. Panicker later shared more photos of the community at Parkway Hills Baptists
‘Affluenza’ Texas teen sentenced to about two years in jail
Ethan Couch is seen in a February 5, 2016 booking photo released by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department in Ft Worth, Texas A Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense after killing four people in a 2013 drunkendriving crash was sentenced in an adult court on Wednesday to four consecutive 180-day terms in jail following a suspected parole violation. Ethan Couch, 19, has been incarcerated in Tarrant County since January after being deported from Mexico, where he had fled with his mother. In his first appearance in adult court, he was sentenced
by county Judge Wayne Salvant. sparked outrage from critics who Prosecutors said it was the ridiculed the affluenza defense maximum Couch could receive and said his family’s wealth had under terms set when his case was helped keep him out of jail. Tarrant County Sheriff transferred to an adult court from Dee Anderson said Couch’s the juvenile system. “You are not getting out demeanor had changed since of jail today,” Salvant told Couch, being in jail from quite cocky to who was wearing a red jumpsuit rather compliant. The change was due to the from the county jail. Salvant said he would hold another hearing in “stark reality he is dealing with about two weeks to consider the today,” Anderson told reporters at court, adding that Couch would sentence he imposed. The judge issued a gag remain in solitary confinement for order in the case and accepted a his own protection. Couch and his mother defense motion to keep his juvenile Tonya Couch were taken into records sealed. Couch’s father and custody by Mexican authorities in brother were in court and declined the Pacific Coast resort of Puerto requests to speak with reporters Vallarta. They fled the United after the hearing. Relatives of the States after a video on social media appeared to show him at victims were also present. At his trial in juvenile a party where alcohol was being court in 2013 when he was 16, a consumed, which would have psychologist testifying on his violated the drink- and drug-free behalf said Couch was so spoiled terms of his probation. Tonya Couch was charged by his wealthy parents that he could not tell right from wrong. with helping her son flee to The psychologist described the Mexico. She was released on bail affliction as “affluenza,” a term and is under home confinement that quickly became a media awaiting trial. Judge Salvant is also presiding over that case. buzzword. If convicted, she faces up He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, a penalty that to 10 years in prison.
Obama says Clinton never jeopardized national security in email case: Fox U.S. President Barack Obama said Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton never jeopardized national security in the handling of her emails as his secretary of state. Obama, in an interview broadcast on Fox News Sunday, said Clinton has recognized a carelessness on the email issue in which she used a private server for government business. “But I also think it is important to keep this in perspective,” Obama said. “This is somebody who has served her country for four years as secretary
of state, and did an outstanding job.” Clinton, secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, has said her email arrangement broke no rules and that she will be vindicated in investigations of whether any laws were broken. The government forbids sending or storing classified information outside secure, government-controlled channels. The FBI has taken the server and is investigating the case with U.S. Justice Department attorneys. At least two Republican-led congressional
committees are also investigating. The Democratic president was asked if the Justice Department investigation would treat the Clinton case impartially. “I guarantee that there is no political influence in any investigation conducted by the Justice Department, or the FBI, not just in this case, but in any case,” said Obama, who leaves office next year. “Guaranteed. Full stop. Nobody gets treated differently when it comes to the Justice Department. Because nobody is above the law,” he said.
Dallas ‘Favorite Foodie’ TV Personality Stacy Fawcett Church where students and community members came together again in mourning for the family.
BMW recalls 7 Series models due to air bag issue
The new BMW 7 Series is presented during the media day at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany September 15, 2015 BMW AG (BMWG.DE) is recalling its new flagship 7-series luxury limousine due to a potential air bag deployment issue, the company said on Thursday. Airbags in 26,000 cars produced before Dec. 11, 2015 may have a defective air bag control module, the company said, adding that there have been no known cases of faulty deployments. “It is purely a precautionary measure,” a BMW spokesman said, adding that so far 47,000 vehicles of its new 7-series have been produced. The supplier of the affected air bag parts to BMW was Continental AG (CONG. DE). In a filing posted on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday morning, BMW said the recall will affect 6,110 vehicles in the U.S. market. In the United States, affected vehicles are from the 2016 model year including 740Li, 750Li, and 750 Lxi. In Germany, 2,600 cars are impacted and in China 4,700 cars will be recalled, BMW said. In the United States, owners will receive letters in May about the recall. The fix, for which customers will not be charged, will take up to four hours at a dealership.
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Trump blasts ‘rigged’ rules on picking Republican delegates Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump lashed out at what he called the party’s “rigged” delegate selection rules on Monday after rival Ted Cruz swept all of Colorado’s 34 delegates over the weekend. The New York billionaire, who has been outmaneuvered by Cruz in a series of recent state meetings to select national convention delegates, said the process was set up to protect party insiders and shut out insurgent candidates. “The system is rigged, it’s crooked,” Trump said on Fox News on Monday, alleging the Colorado convention results showed voters were being denied a voice in the process. “There was no voting. I didn’t go out there to make a speech or anything, there’s no voting,” Trump said. “The people out there are going crazy, in the Denver area and Colorado itself, and they’re going absolutely crazy because they weren’t given a vote. This was given by politicians - it’s a crooked deal.” Trump has 743 bound delegates to 545 for Cruz, according to an Associated Press count, in the battle for the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination on the first ballot and avoid a messy floor fight at the Republican National Convention from July 18-21. But both are at risk of not acquiring enough delegates for a firstballot victory, leaving many free to switch their votes on later ballots. That has set off a fierce scramble by Republican candidates
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at an airplane hanger in Rochester, New York April 10, 2016 to get their supporters chosen as said. “That’s not the way democracy convention delegates and brought new is supposed to work. They offer them scrutiny to the selection rules, which trips, they offer them all sorts of things vary by state. and you’re allowed to do that. You can Trump, who has brought in buy all these votes.” veteran strategist Paul Manafort to Trump distributed a video lead his delegate-gathering efforts, of what he said was a Colorado complained about Cruz’s recent voter setting his Republican Party success at local and state party registration on fire in protest of meetings where activists pick the the process. “Great people being actual delegates who will attend the disenfranchised by politicians,” Trump national convention. said on Twitter, adding the Republican Trump accused Cruz, a U.S. Party was “in trouble.” senator from Texas, of trying to steal Guy Short, a Cruz backer delegates in South Carolina. Trump in Colorado who was elected as a won the state primary in February, Republican national convention but Cruz supporters got four of delegate for the sixth time, disputed the first six delegate slots filled at Trump’s allegations. congressional district meetings on “Donald Trump is a liar,” Saturday, according to local media. Short told Reuters in an email. Cruz also succeeded at getting “Nobody was offered anything. In fact, more of his supporters chosen as I spent thousands of dollars of my delegates in Iowa, where he won the own money campaigning to become a caucuses in January, and at last week’s delegate because it’s that important to state convention in North Dakota. make sure Donald Trump is NOT our “Now they’re trying to pick off nominee.” those delegates one by one,” Trump Republican National
Committee spokesman Sean Spicer told Fox News the process for choosing delegates had been set by states for more than a year and was no secret. “Not understanding that is one thing, but it’s hardly rigged when it’s done right out in the open,” he said. Cruz campaign spokeswoman Alice Stewart said Trump was insulting the process to distract from his losses. “He has a pattern of whining when he isn’t winning,” she said in a statement. Trump’s organizational troubles even extend to two of his children. Eric Trump, 32, and Ivanka Trump, 34, missed the deadline for registering as Republicans to vote in next week’s New York primary. State records show both are registered voters who are not enrolled in a party, ABC News reported. For already registered voters, any request to switch party affiliation must have been made by early October. The deadline for new voter registrations was March 25. Trump was the target on Monday of a new ad by the Democratic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, that listed Trump’s comments on women, Mexican immigrants and Muslims. Both Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, have tried to position themselves as the Democrat most capable of defeating Trump. “Donald Trump says we can solve America’s problems by turning against each other,” Clinton’s ad said. “It’s wrong and it goes against everything New York and America stand for.”
Tough Philippine anti-crime mayor tops second poll in two days
Rodrigo Duterte, 70, seven-term mayor of Davao city, who has built a reputation for fighting crime in the insurgency-plagued southern Philippines, talks to the media, outside the Commission on Elections in Manila, Philippines December 8, 2015 A tough crime-fighting mayor Davao City in the southern Philippines, in the Philippine came out on top in an has vowed to end corruption and crime opinion poll for the second time in two six months into his presidency if days on Tuesday, less than a month elected on May 9. before an election to find a successor The election is being closely to President Benigno Aquino. watched by investors, who fear the Rodrigo Duterte, 71, mayor of political succession in one of Asia’s
Police arrest 400 at U.S. Capitol in protest of money in politics
Police arrested more than 400 protesters outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday from Democracy Spring, an organization seeking to remove big money from politics and combat restrictive voter identification laws. The mostly calm and orderly demonstration resulted in arrests for what the U.S. Capitol Police called “unlawful demonstration activity” such as crowding and obstruction. Organizers vowed to repeat the demonstration every day for a week. The protest was held “to demand Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big
fastest growing economies could derail gains made during Aquino’s six-year single term. Duterte was the top choice of 30 percent of 4,000 respondents in the March 29 to April 3 survey commissioned by broadcaster ABSCBN. Duterte gained six points from the previous ABS-CBN poll in midMarch. His tough stand on crime has begun to resonate with many Filipinos. The former front-runner, Senator Grace Poe, lost three points in the latest poll and dropped to second place with 25 percent of respondents making her their first choice. Vice President Jejomar Binay and former interior minister Manuel Roxas, who is favored by the president for the job, remained in third and
money in our politics and ensure free and fair elections,” Democracy Spring said on its website. The group lists actor Mark Ruffalo and academic Noam Chomsky and dozens of well-known activist groups among its supporters. “We believe this is the people’s house, and Congress should be responsive to the people. We need to protect voting rights,” said Peter Callahan, the group’s communications coordinator. Protesters hoisted a scarecrow-like effigy of a corporate lobbyist holding money bags and a sign reading, “Warning: Massive civil
fourth place with 20 percent and 19 percent, respectively. On Monday, a poll by the Social Weather Stations organization showed Duterte on top with 27 percent of 1,500 respondents. Poe was in second place, losing four points to 23 percent, in that survey. In power since 2010, Aquino is barred by the constitution from seeking a second term. Under his leadership, the Philippines has seen annual economic growth of more than 6 percent on average, its best five-year record in four decades. About 54 million people in the country of 100 million are eligible to vote to choose a president, vice president and more than 18,000 local government executives and lawmakers in the elections, which take place every six years.
disobedience is next.” Police arrested those who sat on the stairs of the East Front of the Capitol, the seat of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Democracy Spring traces its roots to the end of the Occupy Los Angeles movement, and its rise coincides with the presidential campaigns of Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump, both of whom speak against the influence of campaign contributions on politicians. While most of the groups involved are associated more with Democrats than Republicans, Callahan said the group was nonpartisan.
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U.S. Democrat Clinton downplays chance of contested convention
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks as U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland stand behind her during a campaign rally in Baltimore, Maryland April 10, 2016 Democratic front-runner Philadelphia in July if neither has won Hillary Clinton on Sunday dismissed an outright majority of delegates. the notion of a contested nominating In that case, a system of convention and said she was not multiple ballots takes place, governed preparing for such a scenario, after by complex rules, with candidates her rival for her party’s presidential hoping to persuade delegates to vote nomination racked up another victory. for them. Bernie Sanders won the Asked on CNN if she were Wyoming caucuses on Saturday, his preparing for such a scenario, Clinton seventh victory over Clinton in the last said, “No, I intend to have the number eight Democratic nominating contests of delegates that are required to be as the two gear up for a crucial matchup nominated.” on April 19 in New York state. The former U.S. secretary of Sanders, a U.S. senator state said she was leading Sanders from Vermont, is trying to chip away by 2.5 million popular votes and in at Clinton’s big lead in the number pledged delegates. “I feel good about of delegates needed to secure the the upcoming contests, and I expect to Democratic nomination for the Nov. 8 be the nominee,” she said. The specter of a contested presidential election. He said on Sunday he believed convention, a relatively rare event in he could close the gap, and left the door recent U.S. politics, looms much larger open for a so-called floor flight at the in the Republican race. While front-runner Donald Democratic National Convention in
Trump has amassed a delegate lead ahead of Maryland’s nominating by winning many state contests, rival contest on April 25, where another 95 Ted Cruz has proved tenacious in delegates are at stake. The Wyoming results did pursuit of every last delegate available by other means. Cruz’s campaign not change the delegate math for the has worked hard in states where the Democratic contenders. Each won delegate allocation process is more seven, since delegates are awarded complex, such as Colorado, where the proportionally based on caucus-goers’ U.S. senator from Texas garnered 34 support. Going into Wyoming, Clinton delegates on Saturday. The Trump campaign has had more than half of the 2,383 complained about the nominating delegates needed to win the nomination. process, including in Louisiana, where Sanders trailed her by 250 pledged the New York billionaire Trump won delegates, those awarded based on the vote but split the delegates equally the results of the state nominating contests. with Cruz. But Sanders said future “It’s a crooked system,” Trump said at a large rally in Rochester, contests in the West and on the New York, on Sunday before saying East Coast looked favorable to him, the process was broken in both major including New York, Pennsylvania, parties and expressing sympathy for California and Oregon. “We believe that we have Sanders. “Look at Bernie: He wins and the momentum. We believe that the wins and wins.” Trump said he had warned the polling is showing that we’re closing Republican National Committee there the gap,” Sanders said on Sunday on would be a “big problem” if he does not ABC’s “This Week.” Sanders sidestepped questions become the nominee. “We’re supposed to be a democracy. We’re supposed to on whether he was prepared to take the nomination to a floor fight if be: You vote and it means something.” Paul Manafort, the veteran Clinton did not win the magic number political strategist Trump hired of pledged delegates, but he left the to oversee his delegate operation, possibility open. “If neither candidate ends up, accused the Cruz campaign of bullying delegates into backing the senator, you know, having the kind of votes they something the Trump campaign need, yes, I think there will be some discussion,” Sanders said on CNN’s planned to protest. “Well, he’s threatening, you go “State of the Union.” An inquiry by the Federal to these county conventions, and you see the tactics, Gestapo tactics, the Bureau of Investigation into Clinton’s scorched-earth tactics,” Manafort said use of a private email server in her Chappaqua, New York, home for her on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’. Clinton was campaigning work as secretary of state continues in Baltimore on Sunday, where she to cast legal uncertainty over her received the endorsement of U.S. campaign. Representative Elijah Cummings
South Korea reveals defection last year of two North Korea officials Two senior North Korean officials, including an army colonel specializing in espionage against the South, defected to South Korea last year, the Seoul government said on Monday. News of the defections followed a South Korean announcement on Friday that 13 workers at a restaurant run by the North in an unidentified country had defected, a case it described as unprecedented, arriving in the South a day earlier. South Korea did not say where the 13 had worked. China said on Monday that 13 North Koreans had been there and had left lawfully. It did not say if they were the same group. The South’s Unification and Defence Ministries said on Monday a North Korean army colonel defected last year and had been granted political asylum. He had worked in the secretive General Reconnaissance Bureau, which is focused on espionage activities against the South. South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles North Korea issues, also said that a senior diplomat who was posted in an African country had defected to the South last year with his family. The defection of a highranking officer in the General Reconnaissance Bureau is a coup for Seoul. The North set up the bureau in 2009, consolidating several intelligence agencies to streamline operations aimed at the South.
Its head, General Kim Yong Chol, is accused by the South of being behind a 2010 torpedo attack against the South that sunk a navy ship and killed 46 sailors. The North denies any responsibility for the sinking. The bureau is also known to operate an elite team of computer specialists working to infiltrate the networks of the South and other countries and to conduct cyber attacks against key institutions. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the North Korean colonel specialized in anti-South espionage operations before defecting and had divulged the nature of his work to South Korean authorities. South Korean officials declined to comment. News of the defections come after a period of tension on the Korean peninsula following the North’s fourth nuclear test in January and a longrange rocket launch the next month. The South Korean government’s public acknowledgement of defections is unusual. The main liberal opposition Minjoo Party on Monday accused the government of conservative President Park Geun-hye of trying to influence conservative voter turnout ahead of Wednesday’s parliamentary elections by announcing the defection of the restaurant workers last week. Both ministries denied suggestions that Monday’s revelations were made for domestic political
North Korea’s surveillance cameras sit on the top of a steel tower to overlook the south, near the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korea, March 30, 2016 reasons and said disclosing the entered illegally.” defections was in the public interest. South Korea’s Joongang Ilbo China is North Korea’s main newspaper said the 13 worked at ally and is known for sending defectors a restaurant in the Chinese city of back to the North, so South Korean Ningbo until around Tuesday last media reports that restaurant workers week when they disappeared, quoting had been there initially raised some a Chinese worker at the Ryugyong surprise. Korean Restaurant. Asked about the workers on Calls to the restaurant seeking Monday, a Chinese foreign ministry comment went unanswered. spokesman said it had received a report South Korean media said the 13 left about a group of 13 North Koreans in China and traveled to a Southeast China who had gone missing. Asian country before being flown “After an investigation, (we to South Korea, citing unidentified found) the 13 North Koreans used government sources. valid passports to leave the country The South’s Unification normally in the early hours of April 6,” Ministry declined to comment on Chinese foreign ministry spokesman where the North Koreans had been Lu Kang told a regular briefing, before arriving in South Korea. without saying where they had gone. The two Koreas have been “What needs to be stressed is fierce rivals since the 1950-53 Koran that these people had valid identity War and about 29,000 people had fled documents and legally came to the North Korea and arrived in the South, country, not North Koreans who have since then, including 1,276 last year.
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UK airport sniffer dogs good at finding sausages, but not drugs
A police dog handler talks with a colleague as his sniffer dog waits outside the GMEX (Greater Manchester Exhibition centre) in Manchester, northern England, September 21, 2006 A team of sniffer dogs set up at a British airport at a cost of 1.25 million pounds ($1.7 million) have proved adept at discovering small amounts of cheese and sausages but not so good at finding smuggled drugs, a report said on Thursday. An inspection of border security at Manchester Airport in northern England found that during a sevenmonth period, the six dogs had failed to find any illegal class A drugs, those considered the most dangerous such as heroin or cocaine. “The deterrent effect of the detection dogs was difficult to measure, but seizures alone represented a low return on investment, given 1.25 million spent on new kennels and the costs of operating the unit,” said the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration. Each dog has
its own speciality in detecting goods such as drugs, tobacco, cash and meat being illegally brought into the airport by the 22 million passengers who use it annually. However the report found that although the sniffers had helped customs seize 46 kg of cigarettes and 181 kg of meat, they had uncovered no class A drugs between November 2014 and June 2015 even though this was a “very high” priority. It said one dog trained to find smuggled animal products had made “multiple accurate detections, but most were of small amounts of cheese or sausages, wrongly brought back by returning British holidaymakers and posing minimal risk to UK public health”. Managers are now examining how better to deploy the dogs, the report said.
Indian temple blaze kills 100, more than 380 injured
People stand next to debris after a broke out at a temple in Kollam in the southern state of Kerala, India, April 10, 2016. A fire and explosions Kollam district magistrate during a fireworks display to A. Shainamol said people living mark the start of the local Hindu in the area near the temple had new year killed 100 people and complained about the danger of injured more than 380 at a temple these fireworks in the past. in India’s southern Kerala state Prime Minister Narendra on Sunday. Modi flew to Kollam with a team Thousands of devotees of doctors to help state authorities had packed into the Puttingal Devi cope with the large number of temple, about 70 km from the state injured, moving swiftly to head off capital Thiruvananthapuram in criticism of a lack of public safety. the coastal district of Kollam, to “The fire at the temple in Kollam watch the display that started at is heart-rending and shocking midnight and went on four hours. beyond words,” he said in a The blaze started when a Twitter post. “My thoughts are cracker fell onto a shed where the with families of the deceased and fireworks were stored, sparking a prayers with the injured.” string of powerful explosions that Modi has faced public blew the roof of the administrative criticism in the past for failing to block of the temple and caused respond quickly to disasters such another building to collapse, as the floods in Chennai late last residents said. year. Large parts of the metropolis “There were body parts were under water for days before on the floor and on the roof there government help arrived. was an arm,” Anita Prakash, a Earlier this month, a resident said. “In the past, there’s flyover under construction in been fireworks but not on this the eastern city of Kolkata for scale.” years collapsed killing 27 people, Kerala is studded with prompting allegations that shoddy temples managed by rich and material was used and that the powerful trusts that often flout metal parts had corroded during local regulations. Each year the years of delay. temples hold fireworks displays, Television images from often competing to stage the most the devastated temple site showed spectacular ones, with judges who people, some clutching children decide the winners. with burn injuries, being taken
to hospitals. Others carried out charred bodies of victims. Kerala’s Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told Reuters that 60 of the 100 dead had been identified while the number of people admitted to hospitals in Kollam and the state capital had risen to 383. With Kerala in the midst of an election for a new state assembly, the fire quickly turned into a political issue as local leaders demanded an investigation. In Kerala, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trails its Congress party and communist rivals. The BJP has focused on building up grassroots strength in the state for decades. Kerala’s Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the Kollam district administration had denied the temple authorities permission for the display and the government would investigate why they went ahead anyway. “There was no permission to even store the fireworks,” he said. Witnesses said they had repeatedly warned the local administration about the danger of firework displays in the crowded neighborhood. Chennithala said a case for illegal possession of explosives had been registered against the temple. The temple trust was not immediately available for comment. The explosion from the fireworks was so strong that some parts of the temple roof caved in. Local media showed bulldozers trying to clear the area of the debris. The Puttingal temple is one of the oldest in the state. It was built on the site of an ant hill where locals believe a goddess appeared centuries ago.
PM Cameron wants UK parliament to consider doping criminal British lawmakers should consider making doping in sport a criminal offense, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday, after a series of scandals that have raised the issue’s profile high on the political agenda. Asked during his weekly question session in parliament what more could be done to tackle doping, Cameron said sport would be among topics discussed at an anti-corruption summit due to be held in Britain in May. “We are going to be looking at corruption in sport
and bringing forward new codes of practice that we will adopt in this country, we hope others will adopt,” he said. “There is also the question about whether doping should be made a specific criminal offense which I think is something we should be looking at and debating in this house.” Other European countries, such as Spain and Italy, have already made doping a criminal offense and Germany extended its anti-doping law last November to include coaches and managers. Kenya, at the heart of a series of
scandals in recent months, is also in the process of criminalizing doping. But most countries, including Britain, still leave antidoping control to individual sports’ governing bodies and anti-doping agencies, with punishments limited to bans and reclaiming prize money. This month the UK government ordered an inquiry into the way Britain’s anti-doping agency handled allegations that a British doctor prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs to Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron at Westminster Abbey in central London, April 12, 2016 leading sports people.
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WORLD NEWS BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
In-flight Wi-Fi market heats up as satellite services come online
with Wi-Fi have connectivity that although no decisions have been made is comparable to a home broadband yet, Gogo president Michael Small said service and which allows for data-rich in an statement to Reuters. Rival Panasonic is also looking usage such as video streaming. It’s not just passengers who at commissioning entire satellite like Wi-Fi on board. It can also be payloads as it seeks more capacity used in the cockpit to identify weather for its existing global network, David patterns, optimize routes, and for Bruner, vice president of global quick identification and reporting of communications services at Panasonic maintenance issues, Carl Esposito, Avionics, told Reuters. Bruner said the aviation vice president of marketing and product management at Honeywell connectivity market had become hyper-competitive in terms of pricing Aerospace, told Reuters. A man uses his laptop while on a special JetBlue media flight out of John F. Kennedy International Honeywell teams with and that there were too many players Airport in New York December 11, 2013. Inmarsat to provide the hardware fighting over too few planes. Inmarsat, which has signed up for airlines to connect to the Global In-flight Wi-Fi may sound for more congested flight areas. Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines to its like a great way to keep in touch with Inmarsat, long a provider Express network. In the cabin, having Wi- network, highlighted price pressure in friends and family or catch up on work, of satellite communications to the but services are often so slow, you’re maritime industry, has spent five Fi connected systems also makes the industry when it reported results better off sticking to the in-flight years building its Global Express for easier upgrades of in-flight last month. “There probably needs to network for aviation. Final ground and entertainment and can bring in more magazine. New satellite-based Wi- flight testing is underway, with three revenues from entertainment, services be some consolidation,” Bruner said, adding there was space for three or and advertising. Fi services promise to change that, satellites already in service. four providers and that each would “Existing solutions have not prompting a grab for capacity and need to serve about 1,500 aircraft to PRICE PRESSURE customers by companies such as met market expectations ... Despite break even on satellite-based services. Inmarsat Plc, Viasat Inc, Gogo all of the happy talk, the state of Competition from new Panasonic has signed up 3,000 aircraft, Inc, Panasonic and Global Eagle play is an inconsistent patchwork,” Entertainment Inc. Leo Mondale, president of Inmarsat satellite-based services has put more with 1,100 in service, he said. Gogo’s aviation connectivity 2Ku has commitments for over 850 Wi-Fi on U.S. domestic routes Aviation, said at the Aircraft Interiors established aircraft and expects to have 75 providers under pressure. is already widespread although air- Expo in Hamburg. Shares in Gogo, which provides installed this year, while Inmarsat has U.S.-based rival Viasat is to-ground (ATG) technology can mean service is slow. In Europe, a patchwork launching two new high-powered in-flight Wi-Fi in North America using over 300 for Global Express and says of regulatory regimes has hindered satellites that it says will significantly ATG technology, fell in February after more are to come. Bruner said the AA and Gogo the creation of any substantial ATG improve broadband speeds from next American Airlines threatened to end its contract via a lawsuit, saying that row showed that older systems in networks, while satellite-based year. place in North America were ripe for According to a 2016 global the Viasat service was superior. systems have until now been too Gogo is working on its own replacement and that there would be a expensive for short-haul routes. report by Routehappy, which rates Satellite-based systems can flight amenities, travelers currently satellite-based service, known as 2Ku, real fight for contracts. “I think it will be a really provide coverage across the whole have a chance of getting Wi-Fi on and in February signed a deal with world, including over oceans, where more than one-third of available seats satellite operator SES to provide extra crazy next 24 months. We’ll win some and we’ll lose some, but it will be ATG falls short. Additional beams are worldwide, with around 60 airlines capacity. Gogo has put forward a interesting,” he said. typically overlaid to follow traffic flows, offering the service. But just 6 percent of the flights 2Ku proposal for 200 aircraft for AA, to provide extra broadband capacity
Apple iPhone unlocking maneuver likely to remain secret The company that helped the FBI unlock a San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone to get data has sole legal ownership of the method, making it highly unlikely the technique will be disclosed by the government to Apple or any other entity, Obama administration sources said this week. The White House has a procedure for reviewing technology security flaws and deciding which ones should be made public. But it is not set up to handle or reveal flaws that are discovered and owned by private companies, the sources said, raising questions about the effectiveness of the so-called Vulnerabilities Equities Process. The secretive process was created to let various government interests debate about what should be done with a given technology flaw, rather than leaving it to agencies like the National Security Agency, which generally prefers to keep vulnerabilities secret so they can use them. The government’s efforts to force Apple (AAPL.O) to help it unlock the San Bernardino iPhone have reignited a national debate about encryption, security and privacy that
continues to rage two weeks after the found a way to get into the phone. Justice Department said it broke into At the time, Apple said it hoped the phone without Apple’s help. the maneuver would be disclosed so The sources said the that it could fix the flaw before it is technology used to get into the phone discovered and exploited by criminals. was supplied by a non-U.S. company In a separate New York case, that they declined to identify. the Justice Department is trying to Without cooperation from force Apple’s help in extracting data the company, the FBI would not be from a drug dealer’s iPhone 5s. For able to submit the method to the technical reasons, that would be easier Vulnerabilities Equities Process even for Apple to do, though it would be if it wanted to, the sources said on much harder for the FBI or a contractor, condition they not be named. said phone security expert Dan Guido. The FBI itself probably does The two battles spotlight not know the details of the technique - a long-running but seldom aired just enough to determine that it worked, conflict over whether information according to government sources and about software security lapses should Rob Knake, who managed the White be kept secret by law enforcement or House process before leaving last year. intelligence agencies, who want the The FBI said in February that it knowledge to snoop, or disclosed to was unable to get into the iPhone 5c the technology companies so they can used by San Bernardino shooter Syed patch the holes. Farook without help from Apple, and After questions were raised it won a court order compelling the about the Vulnerabilities Equities Silicon Valley icon to break into the Process in 2013, White House device. Apple, backed by much of the cybersecurity policy coordinator tech industry, complained that the Michael Daniel said it was order would in effect make businesses “reinvigorated,” though information arms of the state. as basic as which departments are The Justice Department involved remained undisclosed. dropped the matter the day before a Daniel has written that the crucial court hearing, saying it had factors to be weighed include how easy
a flaw would be for outsiders to find and how much danger would be posed to society. But Knake said the procedure had been created in 2010 to handle situations like an FBI technologist in a lab inventing a method for circumventing security. “It was not set up for a world of commoditized exploitation,” where major defense contractors buy and sell flaws for millions of dollars. (here) “There is no way the government could force companies to share the methods that they are trying to sell, or any way to stop government agencies from buying from those companies,” he said.
Details are pictured on the backside of an Apple Iphone 6 on a table in a restaurant in Hanau, Germany, April 10, 2016.
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Space station getting inflatable room, a cosmic 1st Forget blowup air mattresses. Space station astronauts are getting their first inflatable room. It’s a technology demo meant to pave the way for moon bases and Mars expeditions, as well as orbiting outposts catering to scientists and tourists in just a few more years. Bigelow Aerospace New Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 Tablets are displayed during a is behind the experiment, which launch event in New York September 17, 2014 will get a ride to the International Space Station with another private space company. An unmanned SpaceX Falcon rocket is set to launch late Friday afternoon, carrying a capsule full of supplies with the pioneering pod in its trunk. It will be SpaceX’s first station delivery since a launch accident halted shipments last June. Once attached to the station, the soft-sided Bigelow Robert Bigelow, founder and president of Bigelow Aerospace, speaks at a news compartment will be inflated to conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, April 7, 2016. the size of a small bedroom. The The company will be leading an experiment on placing the first inflatable room at the Bigelow Expandable Activity International Space Station. Module, BEAM for short, will stay there for two years — with on the technology in the 1990s, project manager Rajib Dasgupta. astronauts occasionally ducking a combination of Nextel, Kevlar, Bigelow goes as far as in. It will be the first time foam and other fabric formed the to say: “The aluminum cans are an astronaut steps inside an multilayer shield. antiquated.” expandable habitat structure in NASA called its project Beyond low-Earth orbit, space. TransHab, for Transit Habitat. radiation poses increased health “It’s not just historic for It never flew to space, despite risks to crews living inside Amazon.com Inc rolled out a new Kindle our company, which obviously is elaborate blueprints and ground aluminum walls. So inflatable e-reader on Wednesday, its eighth and slimmest the case, but I think it’s historic mock-ups. Designers envisioned an spacecraft, he said, are cheaper, device in the series, with a charger that is built for the architecture,” said Robert inflatable, four-level compartment, bigger, safer and, potentially, into its cover. Bigelow, founder and president of complete with dining, sleeping longer lasting. The Kindle Oasis, which at $289.99 Bigelow Aerospace and owner of and exercising areas for station Bigelow said BEAM is will be the most expensive in the range, will be Budget Suites of America. crews. nothing like a balloon — “it’s not available for orders on Wednesday and start As a precursor to larger Congress canceled going to go bang” — or even a shipping on April 27. systems, Bigelow said BEAM TransHab in 2000 and Bigelow football. Think steel belts in a car Since first launching the Kindle in 2007, could “change the entire dynamic Aerospace bought the patent from tire. “It’s pretty novel.” Amazon has continued to roll out gadgets like for human habitation” in space. NASA. The company launched The beauty of expandable its Fire tablets and most recently Echo, a line of He hopes to have a pair of private a pair of expandable spacecraft habitats is their compactness for voice activated speakers. space stations ready for launch by a decade ago from Russia as an launch. BEAM will travel in the The Kindle has emerged as the most 2020. experiment. Called Genesis I and Dragon capsule’s unpressurized dominant e-reader in the market as Rakuten’s In the meantime, II, they’re still orbiting. compartment; the space station’s Kobo and Barnes and Noble’s Nook struggled to companies— even countries — NASA, meanwhile, paid big robot arm will grab the win customers. are clamoring to put their own Bigelow Aerospace $17.8 million structure and attach it to a Amazon hopes to attract readers to its experiments inside the empty for the upcoming test flight, berthing port. BEAM will expand high-end Kindle with its longer lasting battery BEAM, Bigelow said in an making the BEAM the most four times in volume when it is and sleek design. interview with The Associated affordable module ever launched inflated in late May or early June, The company said the new Kindle Press on Thursday. If everything to the space station, said Michael with a little station air at first, comes with a dual battery system, meaning goes well, that next commercial Gold, director of operations and then special inflation tanks. that attaching the device to its cover will start step could happen in perhaps six business growth for Bigelow The collapsed BEAM recharging it automatically. months, he said. Aerospace. measures about 7 feet long (2 The Kindle Oasis weighs 4.6 ounces and The North Las Vegas- Expandable habitats like meters) and 8 feet (2½ meters) in is 3.4 mm at its thinnest point. based company won’t divulge the BEAM, officials noted, need to be diameter. Inflated, it will be about “It’s the most advanced Kindle we’ve ever material used for BEAM’s outer just as strong — or stronger — 13 feet long (4 meters) and 10½ built - thin and ultra lightweight, it gets out of layers — or even how many layers than the standard metal cylinders feet (3 meters) in diameter, and the way so you can lose yourself in the author’s — just that the layers are spread that make up the current space provide 565 cubic feet (16 cubic world,” Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said out to absorb and break up any station. BEAM has proven to meters) of space, about the size of in a statement. penetrating bits of space junk. be equal or better against space a small bedroom. Back when NASA was working debris than metal, said NASA
Amazon launches new slimmer Kindle e-reader
A woman created a bikini airline and became Vietnam’s first female billionaire Meet Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vietnam’s first female self-made billionaire. Much of her net worth comes from her company VietJet Air, which on its website calls itself a “dynamic, innovative airline.” But some might have other words for what it is her company is doing. Indeed, VietJet isn’t known so much for its CEO as it is its bikinied flight attendants. It’s a uniform Thao insists is empowering for women in such a conservative country. “As a businesswoman, I have a responsibility to contribute to the economy and to push for positive changes of the country and in the society, in light of the international integration that’s happening,” Thao told Bloomberg.
“You have the right to wear anything you like, either the bikini or the traditional ao dai,” she added, with the ao dai being a long tunic traditionally worn in Vietnam. The airline also profits off of its calendars, which star models in VietJet Air bikinis hanging out on a plane and a tarmac. Social media slammed the airline when images from a “trial photo shoot” were leaked by one of its starring models and went viral, according to the Telegraph. Fellow budget airline Ryanair went through a similar controversy with its own calendars, which used to feature its flight attendants in bikinis, according to the Irish Times. The airline canceled the calendar, which
Bikini airhostesses pose outside VietJet airline began in 2008, in 2014 after it was “unapproved show.” called “discriminatory.” VietJet Air currently has 47 In 2012, VietJet Air hosted destinations in Vietnam and around a “beauty show,” in which women Asia, according to Bloomberg. It also danced down the aisle while the plane has more than 30% of Vietnam’s flying was at cruising altitude, according market share, Bloomberg reported, to ABC News. The Civil Aviation and it could very well become the Administration of Vietnam fined the nation’s biggest airline. airline $1,000 for holding an
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OPEC cuts 2016 oil demand growth forecast, warns of more
A fuel pump is pictured at Agil gas station in Tunis, Tunisia February 3, 2016. OPEC on Wednesday cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2016 and warned of further reductions citing concern about Latin America and China, pointing to a larger supply surplus this year. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also said top exporter Saudi Arabia kept output steady in March - a sign Riyadh
is serious about a plan to be discussed this weekend to freeze output and support prices - while OPEC supply overall rose only slightly. World demand will grow by 1.20 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2016, OPEC said in its monthly report, 50,000 bpd less than expected previously. It also cited the impact of
warmer weather and the removal of to fall by 730,000 bpd this year, more than the 700,000-bpd drop expected fuel subsidies in some countries. “Economic developments in previously. But it reiterated that Latin America and China are of concern,” producer efforts to maintain output OPEC said. “Current negative factors were making the forecast uncertain. Despite the slightly larger nonseem to outweigh positive ones and possibly imply downward revisions in OPEC decline expected, OPEC projects oil demand growth, should existing demand for its crude will average 31.46 million bpd in 2016, down 60,000 bpd signs persist going forward.” OPEC’s view contrasts with from last month’s forecast. The 13-member group pumped that of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which on Tuesday 32.25 million bpd in March, the report said citing secondary sources, up raised its demand forecast slightly. A third closely watched oil 15,000 bpd from February. Saudi Arabia told OPEC it report, from the International Energy kept output in March steady at 10.22 Agency, is due on Thursday. A big slowdown in demand million bpd. Riyadh in February struck could complicate producers’ efforts to a preliminary deal with fellow OPEC bolster prices by freezing output. The members Venezuela and Qatar, plus plan, to be discussed on Sunday in non-OPEC Russia, to freeze output. Iran, which wants to regain Doha, has helped oil prices to rally above $41 a barrel from a 12-year low market share after the lifting of Western sanctions on Tehran rather close to $27 hit in January. OPEC’s refusal to cut output than freeze output, told OPEC it raised in late 2014 helped accelerate a output by a minor 15,000 bpd to 3.40 drop in prices, which is slowing the million bpd. The report points to a 790,000development of relatively expensive rival supply sources such as U.S. shale bpd excess supply in 2016 if the group oil and other projects worldwide. keeps pumping at March’s rate, up In its report, OPEC said it from 760,000 bpd implied in last expected supply from outside the group month’s report.
Facebook’s next frontier: chatbots
The Boeing logo is seen at their headquarters in Chicago
Boeing wins U.S. Army helicopter deal worth $1.5 billion Boeing Co (BA.N) on Thursday said it had won a U.S. Army contract valued at about $1.5 billion to remanufacture 117 AH-64D Apache helicopters to the new AH64E model. The agreement brings the total number of AH-64E model Apaches under contract for the Army to 290, with an additional 400 helicopters likely to be ordered in coming years. The agreement modifies an existing contact between Boeing and the Army for production of a fifth and sixth batch of Apache helicopters, the company said in a statement. Under the agreement, it said, the Army will return 117 AH-64D Apaches to Boeing’s Mesa, Arizona, production center to be remanufactured into the AH-64E configuration. The Army followed a similar model when the AH-64A Apaches were remanufactured into AH-64Ds.
Facebook Inc said on Tuesday it has opened up its Messenger app to developers to create “chatbots,” hoping that by simulating one-on-one conversations between users and companies it will expand its reach in customer service and enterprise transactions. Chatbots are automated programs that help users communicate with businesses and carry out tasks such as online purchases. While chatbots have existed in some form for years, they have recently become a hot topic in the tech business as advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning make them far more capable and potentially able to assume a key role in the way customers communicate with businesses. Facebook launched chatbots on Tuesday with a handful of partners, including Shopify, an ecommerce site, and cable TV news network CNN. The chatbots are part of Facebook’s effort to build out its Messenger instant messaging app as the go-to place for customers to contact businesses - a strategy that threatens traditional call centers and may cut personnel costs for some businesses. “You’ll never have to call 1-800-Flowers again,” Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said during the company’s annual developer conference in San Francisco. Though messaging platforms including Kik, Slack and Telegram already have chatbots, Facebook is seen having several distinct advantages. For one, Facebook commands a vast trove of data on the estimated 1.6 billion people who use the main service and the 900 million who use Messenger.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks on stage during the Facebook F8 conference in San Francisco, California April 12, 2016. That allows developers to create chatbots that can personalize tasks, such as making an airline booking or a restaurant reservation. “From the enterprise or developer perspective, access to those 1.6 billion people is very exciting,” said Lauren Kunze, principal at Pandorabots, which has been building and deploying chatbots for companies since 2002. “People like a personalized experience and when the chatbot can remember personal details and follow up,” she said. CNN’s bot, for example, can learn users’ news preferences and recommend articles and summaries accordingly. For a shopping site, users could input price ranges and other preferences before receiving suggestions from the bot. Tech companies will have to approach chatbots more carefully, however, after an experimental Microsoft Corp bot, called Tay, unleashed a barrage of racist and sexist tweets after being manipulated by Twitter users last month. The company quickly pulled Tay from the Internet. Facebook has been steadily adding features to Messenger since
it was spun off as a separate app in 2014. Last year, it partnered with Uber [UBER.UL] and Lyft so that users can order a car without having to go through the ride-sharing apps. It also recently partnered with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines so that customers can receive flight updates and booking confirmations through Messenger. Chatbots could eventually automate such interactions and eliminate customer service calls. “You’re offloading the pain of navigating those phone systems,” said Chris Fohlin, director of client strategy at consulting agency Engine Digital. Last year, Facebook partnered with online shopping sites Zulily and Everlane to send customer receipts and order updates through Messenger. It now sees 1 billion messages sent between users and businesses every month, said Seth Rosenberg, Messenger’s product manager. That prompted the company to begin experimenting with chatbots. “Our goal is to make personalization available at scale for businesses,” Seth Rosenberg, Messenger’s product manager, said in an interview. “It’s giving them ways to deeply engage with their consumers as everything becomes more competitive.” By making Messenger the go-to place for business-to-person interactions, Facebook hopes people will spend even more time using the app and increasingly rely on it for day-to-day tasks. Facebook’s chatbots could also threaten businesses’ individual apps. Although there are millions of apps, users spend nearly 90 percent of their time on five apps, according to research firm Forrester. In the United States, two of those apps are typically Facebook and Messenger.
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Goldman Sachs to pay $5 billion in U.S. Justice Department mortgage bond pact Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) has agreed to pay $5.06 billion to settle claims that it misled mortgage bond investors during the financial crisis, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Monday. The settlement, which Goldman disclosed in January, stems from the firm’s conduct in packaging, securitization, marketing and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007, the Justice Department said. Investors suffered billions of dollars in losses from the securities bought during the period, the department said. The settlement comprises a $2.385 billion civil penalty and $1.8 billion in other relief, including funds for homeowners whose mortgages exceed the value
of their property, as well as distressed borrowers. It also preserves the government’s ability to bring criminal charges against Goldman and does not release any individuals from potential criminal or civil liability, the Justice Department said. In addition, Goldman will pay $875 million to resolve claims by the New York and Illinois attorneys general, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Home Loan Banks of Chicago and Seattle. A state and federal working group formed to investigate wrongdoing in the pre-financial crisis mortgagebacked securities market negotiated the settlement, said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The group has reached settlements with five other
major financial institutions since 2012: J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM.N) ($13 billion), Bank of America (BAC.N) ($16.6 billion), Citibank (C.N) ($7 billion) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) ($3.2 billion). “We are pleased to put these legacy matters behind us,” a Goldman spokesman said in a statement. “Since the financial crisis, we have taken significant steps to strengthen our culture, reinforce our commitment to our clients, and ensure our governance processes are robust,” he said. Goldman also acknowledged a Justice Department statement of facts describing how the firm misled investors. For example, Goldman’s due diligence for one issue of 2006 mortgagebacked securities showed that some of the loan pools
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman speaks at a news conference in the Manhattan borough in New York, April 11, 2016 reflected an “unusually high” percentage of loans with credit and compliance programs, the Department said. “How do we know that we caught everything?” asked a Goldman committee tasked with reviewing and approving mortgage-backed securities, according to the Justice Department. “We don’t,” a Goldman manager said.
“Depends on what you mean by everything? Because of the limited sampling... we don’t catch everything,” another Goldman manager said. Still, the committee approved the securities without requiring additional due diligence, said the Justice Department, which did not identify those involved.
Regulators say 85 million U.S. Takata air bags may still face recall
An airbag logo is seen on a steering wheel of Honda Motor Co’s all-new hybrid sedan ‘’Grace’’, which installed the airbag made by Takata Corp, during its unveiling event in Tokyo December 1, 2014. U.S. auto safety regulators said on Wednesday there were about 85 million unrecalled Takata Corp (7312.T) air bag inflators in U.S. vehicles that would eventually need
to be recalled unless the company can prove they are safe. This is the first public accounting by the U.S. government of the total number of unrecalled Takata air bag inflators. So far 28.8 million in the United States have been recalled due to the risk that they can explode with too much force and spray metal shards inside vehicles. More than 11 people have been killed worldwide in incidents linked to defective Takata inflators, including the March 31 death of a 17-year-old driver in Texas. Globally, more than 50 million have been recalled. Further recalls would add to already hefty estimated bills for the Japanese parts maker. Analysts have estimated that if Takata is found to be solely responsible for the fault in the inflators, now the subject of several industry investigations, it could face a bill of
more than $3.5 billion for inflators recalled to date. Takata declined to comment on the issue on Thursday. Under an agreement signed last year, the company has until 2019 to demonstrate that all of its unrecalled air bag inflators are safe. The prospect of ballooning recall costs has prompted Takata to look for a financial backer and it plans to draw up a list of candidates by August, two people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The parts maker has been widely criticised for dragging its feet in identifying air bag inflators that needed to be recalled, and for providing incomplete and inaccurate data to transport authorities and automaker customers. A Tokyo-based spokesman for Honda Motor Co (7267.T), which so far has recalled the largest number
of vehicles over the issue, said that the automaker would cooperate with authorities to take swift and appropriate action if additional recalls are announced. The NHTSA said on Wednesday that potentially defective Takata air bags still on the road include 43.4 million passenger side inflators, 26.9 million side air bag inflators and 14.5 million driver side inflators. Japanese transport authorities said they did not have equivalent estimates for unrecalled Takata air bag inflators globally or in Japan, where 12 million have been recalled to date. Honda, Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) and other automakers have said they will stop using Takata air bag inflators in new models. Some have also been sourcing replacement inflators from alternative suppliers.
U.S. jobless claims fall, revisit 1973 level
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, revisiting a level last seen in 1973 as the labor market continues to strengthen despite a sluggish economy. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 253,000 for the week ended April 9, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That matched the level for early March, which was the lowest since November 1973. Claims for the week ending April 2 were
revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims rising to 270,000 in the latest week. Jobless claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with healthy labor market conditions, for 58 weeks, the longest stretch since 1973. But with inflation tame and wages rising moderately as the firming labor market attracts both previously discouraged and new job seekers, the Federal Reserve is
unlikely to raise interest rates again before the second half of the year. The Fed increased its benchmark overnight interest rate in December for the first time in nearly a decade and policymakers recently forecast only two more rate hikes this year. A Labor Department analyst said there were no special factors influencing last week’s claims data and no states had been estimated. The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor
A job seeker fills out papers at a military job fair in San Francisco, California, August 25, 2015. The employment workshop, held by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, attracted hundreds of veterans and 115 companies market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell 1,500 to 265,000 last week. The claims
report also showed the number of people still receiving benefits after an initial week of aid declined 18,000 to 2.17
million in the week ended April 2, the lowest level since midOctober.
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Match report - TCI v Bayonne Bombers RFC (USA) Friday, 8th April 2016 at the Meridian Field, Provo, kicked off with several fun games of Under 12s Tag rugby, organised by TCIRFU’s Tom Fielding. These games showcased some of the rugby talent that is coming through the TCIRFU Youth Programme. Several schools, friends and families fielded teams in this fun exhibition of TCI youth rugby. The popularity of the U12s exhibition matches also bodes well for the InterSchools Tag Tournament, which will be held this Saturday, 16th April, also at the Meridian Field. The U12s games helped kick start the excitement that was yet to come. As the sun set, excitement mounted for the main event – TCI against Bayonne Bombers RFC, from New Jersey, USA. This would be he fifth time in recent years each side had played each other. Each prior meeting between the teams ended with TCI securing victory. Another
win against Bayonne would help go towards boosting TCI’s confidence for their next game - the IRB sanctioned International fixture in Dominican Republic against BVI on Saturday, 30th April 2016. TCI did not disappoint. Within minutes of referee, Anthony Wilkinson, blowing the starting whistle, the game took on a fast pace with the TCI forwards in the form of Nik Hight, Sean O’Neill and Joe Ryan, Trevor and Bendy charging into the visitors to gain possession of the ball. Bayonne underestimated the TCI stampede, allowing the TCI forwards to secure possession from a well organised ruck, which then allowed Mark Francis to feed the ball to the TCI backs – first to Ugo Teixidor who then fed to Franco “The Rhino” Mompremier, who then fed to Paul McKenzie, who then fed to Shylo Robinson, who bolted down the wing to get TCI’s score rolling. Shylo Robinson played a major
role in the game, going on to score two more tries before the end of the match. All enabling him to display his power and speed down the wing. Davidson also proved a valuable player for TCI, going across the try line to score a wellearned five points. Trevor and Bendy from Grand Turk were ever present in the game, with Trevor powering through to add to TCI’s winning formula. Provo’s Dean Bjorn Griffith completing by now a signature move from the backs that also saw him power across the try line for another five points. Of the five tries scored by TCI, three were converted – two by Gareth Butler and one by Ugo Teixidor. Bayonne managed to score one try, late in the second half, but were unable to capitalize on their kick and so missed out on the two extra points. Bayonne fought bravely, but were unable to fend off the newly oragnised TCI forwards. TCI’s forward pack dominated the
game by implementing several textbook “pick and go” strategies, which saw their efforts rewarded by sticking to the basics and executing a well-drilled plan. Special thanks go out to the fans who showed love to TCI by coming down and supporting the team, and to Aussie and the Grand Turk players, who played key roles in the game itself as well as the preparations. Thanks too to Anthony Wilkinson for refereeing and Fraser Dods for linesman duties, and all at TCIRFU who made the event such a success. Final score TCI 36 – Bayonne Bombers RFC 5 B e sure to “Like” TCIRFU’s Facebook page and follow them on Twitter at @TCIRUGBY for all the latest information about all things rugby in TCI, including forthcoming events, such as the Inter-Schools Tag Festival, TCI’s World Famous Tag League and TCI’s next match taking place in Dominican Republic against BVI.
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Ex-FIFA vice president pleads guilty to U.S. bribery charges
A former high-ranking soccer official in the Americas pleaded guilty on Monday to charges that he participated in bribery schemes uncovered in a U.S. investigation of corruption in the sport’s world governing body, FIFA. Alfredo Hawit, a former FIFA vice president from Honduras who also led the North and Central America and Caribbean confederation, CONCACAF, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, to four conspiracy charges. Hawit is one of 42 individuals and entities charged as part of a U.S. investigation of more than $200 million in bribes and kickbacks sought and
received by soccer officials for marketing and broadcast rights to tournaments and matches. The investigation has sent Switzerland-based FIFA and other soccer governing bodies into an unprecedented crisis. Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s newly elected president, has vowed to restore FIFA’s image. Hawit, 64, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He also agreed to forfeit $950,000 as part of his plea agreement. Speaking in Spanish, Hawit admitted in court to having received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from two sports marketing
companies that were seeking people. Prosecutors estimate media rights for soccer matches and tournaments. that under federal sentencing “I knew it was guidelines, Hawit faces 78 to wrong for me to accept such 97 months in prison. An indictment alleged undisclosed payments,” Hawit that executives at an Argentine said through a translator. To date, 15 people sports marketing company and two sports marketing Full Play Group S.A. agreed to companies have pleaded guilty pay Hawit $250,000 in bribes in the U.S. case. Prosecutors in in a failed bid from 2011 to a court filing on March 28 said 2012 to secure CONCACAF they were in plea negotiations marketing rights. In court, Hawit said with multiple defendants. Hawit, who also while serving as FENAFUTH’s led the Honduras soccer general secretary, he also federation, FENAFUTH, had beginning in 2008 received been arrested at a Zurich “hundreds of thousands of hotel on Dec. 3 along with dollars” in bribes from MiamiSouth American soccer chief based Media World for the Juan Angel Napout as the rights to 2014, 2018, and 2022 U.S. Department of Justice World Cup qualifier matches. Hawit said that after unveiled charges against 16
Alfredo Hawit, a former FIFA vice president from Honduras, exits a federal courthouse in the Brooklyn borough in New York, April 11, 2016 the original indictment in the case was unsealed in May 2015, Hawit advised a coconspirator to create sham contracts “to mask the true nature of the bribe money” and to deceive law enforcement about the payments.
Bryant scores 60 points in final game of career Moments before starting the final game of his stellar 20-year career in the NBA, Kobe Bryant was described as “the greatest” ever to wear the purple and gold by fellow Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson. Bryant, an 18-time All-Star guard who went on to engineer a thrilling, come-from-behind 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz on his much anticipated league farewell, was given a lengthy video tribute before Johnson walked out to center court. “We are here to celebrate greatness,” Johnson, like Bryant a fivetime NBA champion, told the sellout crowd. “For 20 years, excellence. For 20 years, Kobe Bryant has never cheated the game, he has never cheated us as fans. “He has played through injury, he has played hurt and we have five championships banners to show for it.” Huge roars then rang out as the Lakers fans gave Bryant thunderous approval. “For the last 20 years, this man has been the biggest and greatest celebrity we have had in this town,” said Johnson. “He is not only a great and unbelievable sports icon but he’s also the greatest to wear the purple and gold. “So right now we should put our hands together for the late great (former Lakers owner) Jerry Buss for trading for this man.” Bryant ended Wednesday’s game with 60 points on 22-of-50 shooting as the Lakers fought back
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) puts up a reverse layup past Utah Jazz center Jeff Withey (24) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant played in his final game and is retiring from a 15-point deficit at halftime and was again cheered loudly by the fans before he addressed them all from the center court. “Man, I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by,” he said, with a towel draped over his shoulders. “It’s crazy, absolutely crazy to be standing here on the same court with you guys, with my team mates behind me. “I appreciate the journey we have been on, there have been a few ups and downs but the most important part is that we all stayed together throughout. “All I can do here is thank you guys for all the years of support, all the years of inspiration. This has been unbelievable. I can’t believe it has come to an end,” he said, before gold and purple confetti descended from the
ceiling. Asked in his post-game news conference how he felt about Johnson labeling him as the greatest Laker ever, Bryant replied: “I refuse to believe it because Magic is my hero ... and so he is, and always will be, number one for me.” Pre-game, another video tribute to Bryant was played on the Jumbotron suspended from the rafters at Staples Center, ending with the words ‘Congratulations on 20 years in the Purple and Gold’ emblazoned on the screen. Individual tributes from former team mates and opponents such as LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony were played before long-time Lakers fan and Hollywood great Jack
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Nicholson wrapped things up. “You have been an inspiration to us all and LA loves you,” said Nicholson. At that point, further chants of “Kobe, Kobe, Kobe” rang out from the crowd as Johnson walked across to embrace Bryant and share a few private words. Bryant then walked out to center court, applauding the fans with his hands raised high, then lifted his right arm in tribute before blowing kisses to the crowd. The 37-year-old Lakers guard has cemented his place among the pantheon of NBA greats with a career that also includes scoring titles, the third-most points in league history and a league most valuable player award in 2008. Though his beloved Lakers have spluttered this season to an embarrassing record of 17-65, the worst for a franchise that has won 16 NBA championships, his league farewell sparked huge interest at the box office for Wednesday’s game. Demand for tickets was as high as a pivotal Lakers playoff game, ranging in the secondary markets from $700 to $10,000. According to Stubhub, owned by eBay and the largest online ticket resale site in the United States, the most expensive ticket sold for Wednesday’s game went for $27,500.
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