VOLUME 13 ISSUE 02

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

VOLUME 13 - NO. 02

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BY-ELECTION FOR THE BIGHT?

by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

L

awyers for the George Pratt, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate for The Bight in the December 15th, 2016 general elections, have insisted in court documents that he should be declared the duly elected member of the House of Assembly for that constituency and not Portia Stubbs-Smith of the Progressive National Party (PNP).

Alvin Garland, the lawyer for Pratt, made this claim in an election petition that was filed in the Supreme Court and which legal analysts said could pave the way for a muscular legal battle that could very well force a by-election in the constituency to settle the highly-contentious result, where Stubbs-Smith was declared winner by one (1) vote, after several recounts and both candidates’ names placed in a box and draw was done.

She received 285 votes, Pratt got 284 and Dozzlie “Mister” Delancy of the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA), 38.

On Thursday, January 12, 2017, a directions hearing in the election petition matter came before Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, who adjourned it until March 5th, 2017 and gave lawyers from all sides until January 19th to file submissions.

Queen’s Counsel Ariel Misick is Stubbs-Smith’s lawyer, while Attorney General Rhondalee Brathwaite-Knowles appeared for the Supervisor of Elections Dudley Lewis, returning officer, Arthur Forbes and presiding officer Lucile Campbell.

Garland is asking the court to declare that StubbsSmith was not duly elected as a member of the House of Assembly

Opening of the Supreme Court legal year 2017

The 2017 opening of the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court took place on Wednesday, January11th at the court located at the former Myrtle Rigby Health Clinic. The event was attended by a number of dignitaries, led by His Excellency Governor Dr. John Freeman. The event included a salute, inspection of the guard by Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale and a march-past. (See page 23, 24 and 25 for more photographs).

for electoral district number 6, The Bight, Providenciales and that hat the election and return of the PNP candidate as a member of the House of Assembly for electoral district number 6 be declared null and void.

Garland noted that as a result of two of the three voters, unlawfully voting in electoral district number 6, may have affected the result of the election, and makes it uncertain whether the First Respondent (Stubbs-Smith) who has been returned has really been elected by the majority of persons voting at the Bight polling station.

According to Garland, during the counting of the ballots for electoral district number 6, The Bight, three ballots were rejected and three ballots were spoiled.

There was one ballot of the three ballots that was clearly marked for Pratt. The ballot were a perfectly good ballot, which clearly had an (“X”) marked in the center of the box next to the Petitioner’s name. He

said Pratt objected and requested that the ballot be included into the count as a valid vote for him. However, Pratt’s objection was denied by the Returning Officer, and the ballot was place into the designated envelope with the other rejected and spoiled ballots and sealed.

Garland stated: “Pursuant to section 44 (8) of the Ordinance a voter who have made a mistake with his ballot paper shall return it the Presiding Officer, who shall cancel it by writing the word “SPOILED” on the ballot and deliver another ballot to the voter. However, this ballot was not marked spoiled, and should have been included into the count as a valid ballot for the Petitioner. Had the one ballot not been rejected or declared spoiled, the results would have been different, with Pratt winning the majority of the overall votes cast, and being returned as duly elected to the House of Assembly.

Garland stated that pursuant to section 54 (16) of the Ordinance, whenever two or more candidates have the same amount of votes after the counting of the votes, including a recount, the Returning Officer must decide between the candidates by a lot and proceed as if the candidate on whom the lot falls had received an additional vote.

He said the procedure that was conducted to elect the candidate; is the Petitioner and the First Respondent’s

each wrote their names on a half sheet of paper provided to them by the Returning Officer. The Returning Officer then folded the papers with the names and placed them into a box. The Returning Officer, then himself, place his hand into the box and draw one of the two papers from the box. Upon unfolding the paper, Stubbs-Smith was declared the winner.

“The procedure carried out by the Returning Officer for electing the candidate is flawed, unreliable and or unsafe. The Returning Officer fold both papers himself, put them into the box, and draw the winning name himself.

The Returning Officer should have used the Presiding Officer or another official agent to draw the name from the box.

Therefore, (Pratt) cannot accept the procedure performed by the Returning Officer as a reliable and safe procedure,” he stated.

CLAIMS AND OBJECTIONS

Garland stated that during the Month of March 2016, and pursuant to sections 14 to 18 of the Ordinance, the Supervisor heard the claims and objections with respect to the Register of Electors.

The Claims and objections hearing for the 6th electoral district, The Bight, was heard on the 2nd day of March 2016.

Continued on Page 2

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

BY-ELECTION FOR THE BIGHT?

Continued from Page 1

Pursuant to section 22 (1) (b) of the Ordinance, the Supervisor was required to amend the Electors List to give effect to his decisions with regards to the claims and objections.

On the 2nd day of March 2016 the Supervisor forwarded to Mr. Felix O Delancy his decision of a list of the names of persons that were objected to by the PDM in electoral district number 6, The Bight. Also, on the same day, 2nd March 2016 the Supervisor forwarded to Mr. Ezra Taylor his decision of a list of names objected to by the PDM in electoral district number 5, Leeward, Providenciales.

On or about 31st March 2016 following the claims and objections process, the Supervisor published the final 2016, Register of Electors for the Turks and Caicos Islands, pursuant to section 21 of the Ordinance, and including the voters that were removed and added during the claims and objections process.

Garland noted that it is during the claims and objection process that registered voters can be added or removed from the Register of an electoral district. However, he said, once the process is completed there is no further mechanism under the Ordinance for adding or removing registered voters from the register of an electoral district.

Garland also stated that on the morning of election day, before the polls opened, the Supervisor delivered to the returning office for electoral district number 6, The

Bight, the Register of Voters, which became “the official lists of voters” relating to the electoral district for which he was appointed, pursuant to section 36 (1) (c) of the Ordinance.

The lawyer for Pratt said that pursuant to section 40 (1) of the Ordinance, a person is not entitled to vote in a polling division unless his name appears on the official list of voters for the electoral district in which the polling station is situated.

He said that on Election Day, after the polls had opened, and the official lists of voters had been delivered to the returning officer, and after voting had begun, sometime during the day, the Pratt was told by the Presiding Officer that three registered voters from Leeward, electoral district number 5, would be allowed to vote in The Bight, electoral district number 6.

Upon being informed of this, the Pratt immediately objected to these individuals being allowed to vote in electoral district number

6. However, the Returning Officer denied the Petitioner’s objection and approved the voters to vote.

1.Garland noted that the three registered voters that were approved to vote in electoral district number 6, without being on the official list of voters, for electoral district number 6, The Bight were: Kirlyah Dominique Rigby, Lucille Sonovia Gardiner and Berniquea Ikisha Smith. However, Kirlyah Dominique Rigby and Berniquea Ikisha Smith two out of the three

voters did vote in The Bight District.

He said Pratt is now informed that Lucille Sonovia Gardiner, voted in Leeward Electoral District number

5.According to Garland, on or about 13th December, 2016 the Supervisor of Elections published a notice to the Governor headed Additional Correction to 2016 Electors Register Published.

The additional corrections was to be made pursuant to section 22 (2) of the Ordinance. Included in this list were a transfer of the above name three already registered voters from Leeward, electoral district 5, to The Bight electoral district 6. He said Pratt was never informed of the publication.

UNLAWFUL PUBLICATION Garland said the Supervisor’s publication to the Governor dated 13th December, 2016, is unlawful, and on its true construction, it does not make corrections to the Register of Electors in accordance with section 22 of the Ordinance in regards to the three voters.

He said section 22 (1) only permits the Supervisor to correct the Register under two conditions: (i) is to add a person on the register that is not on the register whom he believes is entitled to be registered, and (ii) to give effect to a decision on a claim or objection made with respect to the electors lists. It is only under these circumstances that the Supervisor can make corrections to

the Register, Garland stated.

He said the notice published to the Governor on 13th December, 2016 is to transfer the three voters that are already registered on the Register of Electors from one electoral district to the other, namely from electoral district number 5 to electoral district number 6, which is not permitted under section 22 of the Ordinance and is therefore unlawful.

“This is exactly what the claims and objections process mechanism is designed to be use for. Mainly, candidates and other persons can claim and object to registered voters in any electoral district during the process, once this process is concluded the Supervisor has no authority to move voters from one electoral district to another, on his own accord, after the claims and objections process have concluded,” Garland wrote.

He contended that pursuant to Section 55 (5) (a) of the 2011 Constitution, no person should be entitled to vote in an electoral district if he or she is not registered as an elector in that electoral district.

He added that at the time that the final list of voters for electoral district number 6, was delivered to the Returning Officer on Polling day, the three voters were not on the list as electors for electoral district number 6, The Bight, and were therefore not entitled to vote at that Polling Station.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

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JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 5

LOCAL NEWS

Report from PDM Government’s first Cabinet meeting

His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 1st meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 11 January 2017, at the N J S Francis Building on Grand Turk. All Ministers were present.

AT THIS MEETING CABINET: •Took note of an information paper from the Ministry of Finance on the budget timetable for 2017/18 and received an up-date on the current financial situation from the Chief Financial Officer (CFO);

•Received an information paper on actions taken and plans going forward to address issues faced by the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB);

•Noted the recommendations of the Public Procurement Board to award contracts in line with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012 as follows – TR 16/30 Construction of a new block at the Eliza Simons Primary School; TR 16/32 Consultancy to oversee the development of terms of reference and a draft tender for an integrated

electronic land administration system;

•Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the issuing of a tender notice for a lease of Crown Land Parcel 50500/90 on North Caicos for the construction of a boutique hotel development and multi-complex recreation and events centre;

•Agreed to request a letter of entrustment from the British Government to enable the TCI Government to negotiate in its own right with third parties under the terms of the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative

Assistance in Tax Matters including on implementation of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and on the G20/OECD Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) initiative on tax information exchange;

•Agreed to formalise TCI’s membership of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and for the Governor and Premier to sign the instruments of accession to the Agreement establishing CARPHA.

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.

Cut Mr. Floyd Seymour some slack here Dear Editor,

Well, Mr. Seymour was the

Leader of the Opposition between 2007

In response to the Statement and 2009 and I have never seen this made regarding the appointment of behavior on his part.

Besides, that the Hon Floyd E Seymour as Chief was over Eight (8) years ago and we Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the all can Change. I cannot think that Mr. National Health Insurance Plan Seymour is still possessed of the same (“NHIP”), I say it is time to “get over disposition- even if that was true. Noit”. one can prove that. On the other hand,

As a people we like to find fault we all know him as a passionate man. for no reason at all. Yet, in fairness After all- Mr. Mike Misick, you came to the Honourable Mike Misick, he is back home, ran in the last election, did just stating his opinion and really now, us all a favour by helping us get rid of where things stand he is more relevant the PNP and you campaigned on the that his former party, the PNP. So we idea that you have changed. So let us must cut him some slack here. cut Mr. Seymour some slack here. I am

I do not see Floyd Seymour as sure he has changed and I challenge one who holds grudges or a victimizer you to show that he has not, because as stated by the former Premier-Misick. over 1,600 people voted for you on the As Director of NIS, PNP Chairman, no- idea that you have changed. one said anything. Albeit there were Now, Mr. Seymour is a CPA, no serious scandals except that $20 owner of a real estate company, holds Million of our monies were “way-layed” eminent qualifications and degrees. from NIS to set up the failed TCI Bank These are his qualifications first, and and we have seen those monies “No- a politician second. I am sure he can More”. look at a PNP, a PDA, an Independent

Now the former Premier is first through the eyes of a human going to accuse Mr. Seymour of being being when deciding to send them off. “a very vindictive man is known to hold After all it is public funds, our monies, grudges and has the temperament of that he will be dealing with. an angry man when he cannot get his There is a reason we need to way “. cut Mr. Seymour some slack though:

He is a former party leader, a policy man with some vision. Being a CPA, I am sure he can project a course on how to return the NHIP to some solvent path. Who else can deal with a $6 Million deficit?

Even though one does not want to contradict Mike Misick, it is time to cut some slack and give Mr. Seymour a chance to turn the NHIP around. It is

competence that the Premier is seeking when she appointed the Hon Seymour to the position of CEO of NHIP. That is the mandate: Solvency, good service and a return to commonsense. I will defend Mr Seymour, mainly because he qualified to hold this job and no other reason is needed.

E. Williams

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION Regulating with Honesty, Integrity and Transparency

The Financial Services Commission, the statutory body of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Government with responsibility for the regulation of financial services businesses, is seeking qualified applicants for the post of Supervisor, Credit Unions.

Duties and Responsibilities The holder of this office will contribute to the work of the Bank and Trust Department in general and to regulate/supervise credit unions in particular. The successful applicant will be responsible for assisting in the licensing and regulation of credit unions in the Turks and Caicos Islands and manage a portfolio of licensees with the responsibility of all onsite and off-site duties.

The successful applicant will be required to assist in co-ordinating and supervising the work of the Analyst for credit unions; Designs and plan the offsite and onsite monitoring of licensed entities within the Department and ensure that they are properly monitored and operating within the confines of the law and international best practice; Participate in pre-planning and scoping reviews of institutions’ risk management framework and overall corporate governance utilizing risk focused examination techniques as necessary; and perform other related duties as assigned. The office holder will also be expected to travel internationally to represent the Commission and the jurisdiction, and to speak on financial services regulation in the Islands.

Specific Knowledge Required The successful applicant should possess a sound knowledge of the Credit Union Ordinance and other relevant Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Services Laws, Regulations and international supervisory standards. The Applicant should have sound knowledge of the workings of the International Cooperative Principles on Credit Union Supervision, related Core Principles and the requirements of standards setting bodies such as the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU). The applicant should be familiar with current and emerging trends in the regulation of Credit Union operations and practices and developments in the financial sector.

Education and Experience A Masters’ Degree in Finance, Regulation or a related discipline from a recognised university. Five years in Credit Union supervision, including three years at the supervisory level.

Other Applicable Information Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, and will be based on the Commission’s salary scale.

The duties for the post may be carried out in Grand Turk and/or Providenciales.

Applications should be emailed to kbacchus@tcifsc.tc no later than January 20, 2017.

The response must state clearly “Application for Supervisor, Credit Unions”.

December 28, 2016

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

PDM’s Chairman Doug Parnell responds to Royal Robinson’s article

By Todeline Defralien People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Chairman and Member of Parliament Hon. Doug Parnell has reacted strongly to a recent article written by his Progressive National Party (PNP) counterpart Hon. Royal Robinson about the PDM’s resounding victory in the December 15th, 2016 general elections.

Speaking to the media prior to the start of the ceremony to mark the opening of the legal year at the Supreme Court Annex on Wednesday, January 11th, 2016, Parnell said, “We think it’s nonsense what he is talking about and he is searching for some hope for the PNP (Progressive National Party) where not exists.”

He added: “Not only is Mr. Robinson wrong on his statistics, he is not offering the PNP and his supporters any hope. The people overwhelmingly vote for hope and if you look at the numbers in the constituencies, if you add up the constituency votes from ED 1 to ED 10, the Peoples Democratic Movement secured 51. 3% of the popular vote. It was a decisive victory, as the PNP in those constituencies only secured 42% or a little over 42% of

the votes. Robinson’s adding together or trying to mix in all of the total vote in coming with a figure that the PDM only got 48% of the vote is wrong, it is totally incorrect and it doesn’t paint the true picture of what happened on December 15th.”

Parnell, who won the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill seat by defeating Amanda Misick by 104 votes (451 to 347) said that on December the 15th the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands embraced change and they voted for change in overwhelming numbers.

“Perhaps the analogy that he should be looking at would point to all the people in the Turks and Caicos to look at isn’t the general elections in the U.S (United States) between President Trump and the Democratic nominee Hilary Clinton. What he should be looking at is the Republican race for the nominee where there were some twenty-one persons in that race and that’s what happened At Large in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The major party fielded candidates out of those twenty-one candidates if a political party secures the top five or the top four who ever the top number of vote getters are declared victorious.

PDM Chairman and Member of Parliament Hon. Doug Parnell

For the Peoples Democratic Movement to achieve the top four spots and with them (PNP) even getting very close to getting knocked out completely and their current Leader/ Interim Leader or Leader of the Opposition (Hon. Washington Misick)

was almost taken out by a political rookie Mr. Robert Been, tells you that the people of this country embraced change and they wanted change and they overwhelmingly voted for the Peoples Democratic Movement,” Parnell explained.

In an article published by The SUN news paper last weekend Robinson stated, among other things: “The PDM may have won, but your victory was but a Pyrrhic victory - and most certainly, not in total repudiation of PNP. The overall final tally of the votes cast at both the individual district level, as well as that of the All Island District, show that the PDM got 48% of those votes, while those entities that included the PNP, PDA and Independents go 52%.

The results were similar in nature to the recently concluded American elections, where Donald Trump secured the Electoral College votes sufficient to be President of the United States, while Hillary Clinton amassed the popular votes, but still lost! In our case, “other than PDM” got 52% of the votes and are in the opposition, while the PDM got 48%, won 10 seats and the right to govern our country for the next four years.”

Earthquake awareness week observed in TCI

The Department of Disaster institutions, through drills and Management and Emergencies exercises and the general public by (DDME) observed Earthquake disseminating public information Awareness Week for the sixth year, via print, radio, television and social from January 8th - 14th, 2016. media”.

The intention is to sensitize As the week was observed, residents and visitors to ensure Clerveaux said, it was important they can effectively respond to an to reflect on the victims of the earthquake event. In addition, the devastating earthquake, which struck DDME aims to strengthen the Haiti on January 12th, 2010. With Earthquake Preparedness and a magnitude of 7.0 and a depth of Response Capacity of the Disaster 13km, the earthquake event resulted Management System, by building in approximately 220,000 deaths resilience to earthquake impacts at and severe damages to an estimated the National and Community Level. 250,000 residential buildings and The overall goal is to have the TCI 30,000 commercial buildings. more resilient to earthquake impacts Following the devastating by implementing the necessary earthquake, at least 52 aftershocks, safeguards save lives and protect measuring 4.5 in magnitude shook property. the country, some of which were felt

Dr. Virginia Clerveaux, in Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos Director DDME, reporting on the and Providenciales. According to DDME’s progress to date stated that the Preliminary Damage and Needs “at the National Level, the DDME Assessment (PDNA) published by has drafted a National Earthquake the Haitian Government in March Contingency Plan 2017, which is based 2010, the cost of the damage was at on the CDEMA Regional Earthquake an estimated US$7.9bn, with the Contingency Model.” reconstruction cost at US11.5bn.

This Plan informs Responder “As Haiti and the rest of the Agencies regarding the actions that world commemorate the seventh should be taken before, during and anniversary of that fateful day in after an earthquake event, In fact, the Haiti’s history, it is fitting that the TCI Plan will be tested through a Table- pause to reflect, share expertise and top Exercise, scheduled for January pledge to do what is possible to ensure 12th, 2017, prior to finalizing and that all persons in the TCI are as submitting for Cabinet Approval. prepared and ready in the event that At the Community Level, DDME the country was to experience a similar will continue to engage educational event,” she said. “The question that

must be asked whether “it will happen?” rather than “when will it happen?”

To answer the latter, it is important to consider TCI’s vulnerability to earthquakes and related hazards.

Taking into consideration the geographical location of the TCI, the Puerto Rico Trench (an active plate boundary between North American and Caribbean Plates), an active plate boundary, makes TCI vulnerable as it is located approximately 150 kilometers to the north of the Trench. Moreover, the Caribbean is a very active seismic region. Home to three live volcanoes, over a thousand earthquakes happen annually, although the magnitude of many are too small to feel. This region has experienced major earthquake events which has triggered several tsunamis; the most notable being Haiti in 2010. In fact, the area between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands average more than a dozen measurable earthquakes every week.”

According to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Country Risk Profile for the TCI, the islands are vulnerable to earthquake and tsunami risks, but at a low to moderate level. Earthquakes cannot be predicted with any level of accuracy and we cannot prevent them from occurring.

“ However, we can be prepared to respond to an earthquake event whether it be in the TCI or abroad.

This theme of preparedness will be the ethos of the activities planned to mark this year’s sixth annual Earthquake Awareness Week by the DDME. The Department is seeking to raise awareness regarding measures to implement, to ensure that you survive the next earthquake. As minor preparation can possibly save your life and that of your family, ensure you have a Family Plan to deal with any emergency,” she added

Individual, schools, businesses or community groups interested in learning more about what can be done to become more resilient to earthquake impacts can call the Department’s offices in Grand Turk telephone # 649 946 2177 or Providenciales telephone # 649 946 4521 for more information or to schedule a presentation.

DDME is also encouraging the residents to visit our Facebook and Twitter Page to obtain tips on earthquake preparedness and ways in which you can make yourself, your family and your community more resilient to the impacts of earthquakes.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Jamaican teacher wanted by Immigration Task Force

A Jamaican teacher who is refusing to leave the Turks and Caicos Islands although her work permit expired and was cancelled by the Immigration Department, is being sought by the Immigration Task Force for deportation.

The teacher, Suzette Codling, was working with a private pre-school in Providenciales for one year, but her work permit was not renewed following serious complaints that she allegedly verbally and physically abused young children at the institution.

Following the reports from parents and students, management of the pre-school called a meeting with

Codling and the teachers, at which she never denied the allegations.

Officials from the school subsequently reported the matter to the Labour Department who met with Codling in their presence and advised them about the terms and conditions under which she must be compensated.

The advice from the Labour Department was strictly followed and Ms. Codling was paid all monies due to her and given a return ticket back to Jamaica, in accordance with the law.

The SUN understands that the Jamaican teacher changed the ticket to an open ticket and therefore did not leave on the scheduled date.

A complete file of the situation was sent to the Immigration Department and her permit was formally cancelled.

It is understood that over the past two weeks, Ms. Codling has been actively seeking employment in the Turks and Caicos Islands, although she has no legal status.

In fact, she is now reportedly working split shifts at two private schools.

When the Immigration Task Force went to her last known place of abode, they discovered that Ms. Codling had moved. She apparently also changed her phone number. Immigration officials also went to one of the private schools

Suzette Codling where she was said to be working but they were told that she was not there.

The SUN understands that the behaviour and tactics exhibited by Ms. Codling have become commonplace among Jamaican teachers and other employees in other sectors and that it is seriously undermining and destroying local business.

AG reports an active year in 2016

By Todeline Defralien

Attorney General Rhondalee BrathwaiteKnowles said 2016 was “yet another very active legislative year” noting that 37 Ordinances and 83 pieces of subsidiary legislation were produced in accordance with the Government’s legislative agenda.

She made this assessment while giving her Legal Report at the Opening of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands for the Year 2017, on Wednesday January 11, 2017.

The Attorney General noted the following: 1.Amendments to the Elections Ordinance 2.Amendments to the Political Activities Ordinance 3.A new Domestic Insurance Ordinance 4.A new Trust Ordinance 5.A new Trust Companies (Licensing and Supervision) Ordinance 6.A new Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Ordinance 7.A new Food and Drugs Ordinance 8.A new Mental Health Ordinance which replaced a 1902 Ordinance

9.A new Credit Union Ordinance 10.A new Consumer Protection Ordinance 11.New health related legislation to strengthen and improve the health services system in the islands once implemented.

She noted that in the year ahead, there will be work on a number of important initiatives continues, including drafts seeking to introduce: 1.New Limitation of Actions provisions 2.New Anti-Bribery provisions 3.modern Companies provisions 4.modern Insolvency provisions 5.criminal law and procedures reforms and in particular provisions dealing with fingerprinting 6.New Legal Profession provisions 7.More detailed provision for the Maintenance of Children 8.New provisions relating to Child and Juvenile Justice 9.Provisions to strengthen the organization and funding of Sport 10.New provisions to strengthen the regulation of gaming

11.Provisions to reform areas of liquor licensing 12.Reforms to areas of Crown Land management She said that the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands are now regularly updated on the webpage of the Attorney General’s Chambers as laws are passed in the House of Assembly.

Addressing the packed courtroom, she said: “Respect for the rule of law demands the fair and impartial enforcement of the law. Our constitution mandates at section 83 that “the judges and magistrates appointed to preside or sit in any court of the Turks and Caicos Islands shall exercise their judicial functions independently from the legislative and executive branches of government”. The enforcement of the law without fear or favour is the cornerstone of the rule of law.

Events like this one and the presence of key members of the executive and legislative branches of government bear witness of their awareness of and commitment to the constitutional mandate on “the Legislature and the Cabinet [to] uphold the rule of law and judicial independence, and [to] ensure that adequate funds are provided to support the judicial administration in the Islands”.”

PROVO STEVEDORING LTD. is seeking to employ a

EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE MANAGER

JOB DESCRIPTION

In charge of management of company’s equipment and maintenance operations. Schedules and prioritizes equipment repairs and maintenance.

Oversees multiple maintenance mechanics, establishes productivity goals and tracks progress of work.

•Oversees maintenance and repair of equipment, both in Ports of Providenciales and Grand Turk •Ensures that all equipment is completely inspected at least once a year, certified and is calibrated based on the manufacturer’s recommendations or government standard.

•Reviews employee training to ensure a skilled mechanic workforce.

•Establishes and monitors preventative maintenance schedule on equipment.

•Establishes service schedules on equipment for warranty compliance.

•Supports on the job projects including identifying all sources of equipment maintenance, fueling, repair and spare parts.

•Establishes productivity expectations and tracks the production and activity of the mechanic workforce.

•Manages the inbound and outbound inspection process.

•Ensures the ready status of idle equipment.

•Participates in the equipment evaluation process to determine buy/sell needs.

•Develops and maintains files on all equipment for historical data.

•Maintains a positive working relationship with other divisions of the company.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

•Effectively trains, coaches, disciplines and develops employees to achieve and maintain positive working relationships within the maintenance crew •Achieves desired results through effective leadership and appropriate influence while adhering to established policies and procedures.

•Supervises maintenance staff.

•Reviews, verifies and approves maintenance mechanics time sheets on a daily basis.

•Obtains and authorizes OT, shift work, or off-hour work assigned to mechanics.

•Maintains current contact information for persons under his direction.

•Determines methods and course of action to achieve departmental and organizational goals through effective planning and efficient performance of the department.

•Strives for innovation within the department.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: •Models and reinforces safety as aTOP priority of the organization.

•Meets schedules and deadlines, adheres to policies and procedures and maintains a good attendance/tardiness record.

•Exercises good interpersonal skills by gladly assisting others to accomplish work of the organization, even if it is outside the scope of regular duties.

•Performs other duties as assigned by the General Manager.

REQUIREMENTS

•Minimum of high school degree andCOMPUTER skills in excel, word, etc.

•Minimum of 5 to 10 years managing heavy equipment (preferably lattice boom cranes) and trucks.

•Strong heavy equipment electrical/electronic background.

•Must be in good health to meet the demands of physically challenging work.

•Must be available for emergency calls and be able to work at nights and weekends.

•Must submit a clean driver’s license •Must submit a clean police record •Must be able to speak fluent English language

TECHNICAL & MENTAL SKILLS

•Reads, analyzes and interprets complex documents. (Electric schematics, drawings) •Responds effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.

•Defines problems, collects data, establishes facts and draws valid conclusions.

•Recognizes and maintains confidentiality of information.

•Organizes and manages time, duties and activities efficiently.

•Ability to enter data and understand various computer programs.

•Ability to analyze data for evaluation ofEQUIPMENT efficiencies.

COMPENSATION

•$52K - $62K

POSITION TYPE

•Full-Time

Please submit applications to main office at Provo Stevedoring Ltd., Port Authorities Building, South Dock Port, Providenciales TCI.

Page 8

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

One case of Zika during pregnancy

There has only been one confirmed case of Zika during pregnancy in 2016, according to the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry said the mother has since delivered without complications, mother and baby are doing well, adding that there has been no other suspected or confirmed cases of Zika among pregnant women.

To date, the Environmental Health Department (EHD) conducted over 300 premises inspections and have served more than 100 notices to premises as necessary. Over 160 hours of fogging exercises completed with over 400 swamps treated conducted.

The Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit and EHD continues to educate residence on vector borne illnesses.

The ministry said that conditions over the past two weeks

were not ideal for fogging, so the Environmental Health department focused its efforts on the vegetative areas to prevent breeding sites. All active swamps were treated and residents in vulnerable areas were provided with insect repellents. Once conditions improve the department will immediately initiate its fogging activities.

EHD has also conducted a general assessment of all the islands and has identified a number of areas for the cleanup efforts to be conducted

by Public Works. In addition both garbage trucks on Grand Turk have been functional and working on a daily basis, the department has not received any complaints for the delay of services or the lack of garbage collection.

The Ministry continues to advise the public to wear protective

clothing Eg. Loose, light coloured long sleeves shirts and blouses and long pants. Keep home environments, work places, recreational places and places of worship free of standing water where mosquitos breed: 1.Check gutters and empty old flower vases, tires and other containers 2.Keep all water storage drums/ containers covered 3.Avoid being bitten apply insect repellent to exposed skin 4.Use mosquito nets when sleeping 5.Use safe household insecticides indoors 6.Have intact window and door screens in dwellings 7.Use condoms consistently as Zika can be transmitted sexually

Chamber of Commerce to lobby for businesses

The Chamber of Commerce said it is “excited about the possibilities” and the role that it will play for local businesses and the economy of Turks and Caicos Islands.

The organisation said that with the appointment of a new Government, it intends to engage in constructive conversation from the onset on the role of the Chamber and its stakeholder representatives in the community.

Man charged with causing death by dangerous driving

“We also plan to foster partnerships with the various established organizations that currently exist,” the Chamber said in a press release. “We have very defined milestones for hiring a full time Chamber representative, and moving forward swiftly to partner with other Chambers in the Turks and Caicos Islands to establish the Turks and Caicos National Chamber of Commerce.”

Officers of the RTCIPF has formally charged and cautioned a 55-year-old male from Guyana with Causing Death by Dangerous Driving in relation to an accident report made on Saturday 26th November 2016.

At 10:04 p.m. that date, Police and

Emergency Medical Services responded to a report on Hospital Road, Grand Turk where a complainant stated that a man who was crossing the road was knocked down by a silver truck. The man, 50-year-old Jacques Delzins of Haiti, was later pronounced dead by a doctor.

Male charged with attempted murder

Police have arrested and charged a 22 year-old male of Kew Town Providenciales with wounding with intent and attempted murder in connection with a report of a shooting that was made on Saturday 7th January 2017.

Just after midnight on that date, Police responded to the Kew Town area where the complainant

was met and reported to police that during a verbal altercation with the 22 year old man, he was shot with a black handgun to the right shoulder. The victim was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where he was treated and later discharged.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with the offences mentioned above.

TCI Red Cross Available post: Director Salary: US$45,000 per annum Location: Providenciales We are looking for a Director who will be responsible for managing Red Cross operations throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. This requires the development, delivery and sustainability of programmes within an overall strategic framework; including planning, staff and volunteer management, organisational accountability, fiduciary and legal compliance, government, donor and community relations, fundraising and reporting.

The successful candidate will be a confident and inspirational leader with a proven ability to lead and manage multi-disciplinary teams, able to communicate effectively, sensitive to diversity, with sound planning and analytical skills, and with networking, influencing and negotiating skills.

For the full job description, please contact our Provo office 941-8056/331-8056 redcrossprovo@tciway.tc Closing date for receipt of cover letters and resume’s is JANUARY19TH, 2017.

Belongers only need apply.

The Chamber said it plans to steer new membership and publicize the benefits and key reasons as to why it is important to retain or gain membership with the organization.

“The Providenciales Chamber of Commerce is strong, dynamic and progressive and we plan to make significant strides this year and beyond to keep our businesses and community thriving,” the release added.

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 Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell Todeline Defralien Reporter

The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION Regulating with Honesty, Integrity and Transparency

NOTICE TO CURRENT AND POTENTIAL CREDIT UNIONS IN THE TCI RECENTLY PASSED CREDIT UNION ORDINANCE The recently enacted Credit Union Ordinance provides the Financial Services Commission with responsibility for the regulation and supervision of credit unions in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Credit Union Ordinance can be found on the Commission’s website at http:// www.tcifsc.tc/ All entities currently or intending to engage in credit union business, as set out in the Ordinance, will require a licence issued by the Commission. Accordingly, all entities currently conducting credit union business in the Islands are asked to contact the Commission at 946-5314/941-8311 or fsc@tcifsc.tc Recognising the early stage of credit union regulation in the Islands, the Commission is committed to working with potential licensees in developing compliant credit union models. This includes providing training to the executive and promotors of credit unions. Accordingly, the Commission strongly recommends that groups that currently operate informal credit union type businesses seize this opportunity to regularise their operations and become formally recognised under the new regulatory regime.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Reviewing hospital contract will be costly, says UK officials

Reviewing the TCI Hospitals Joint Ministerial Council at the Caicos Islands (TCI) Government contract will be a very costly exercise, end of October. If someone could be and the FCO, within the last 24 according to officials from the Turks identified before then, that would be months, with respect to the TCI and Caicos Islands Governor’s office. an ideal opportunity for the Premier National Health Insurance Plan

In email sent from the office and ministry to set out their concerns and the TCI Hospitals contract with of former Governor Peter Beckingham and to discuss various scenarios. Interhealth Canada. on September 26, 2016 and copied Separately, the ministry would like to The request also asked UK to the Foreign and Commonwealth send the existing contract to whoever officials to, in particular, please Office in the United Kingdom, the TCI might be identified to assist so that disclose any and all documentation official, whose name was removed they can do an independent review concerning the following: 1) Any from the email, stated: “Before it of the contract and suggest ways of agreements or understanding enters the next phase of the contract maximising leverage before entering between the TCI and the UK with the ministry wishes to review its the next phase of the contract. Ideally, respect to the TCI Hospitals contract position but lacks the expertise and if someone could be identified to . 2) Correspondence between the TCI experience to understand its options help, the ministry would welcome an government and UK government. and how to maximise benefits from attachment in TCI for 6 months or 3) Minutes of any meetings the contract for TCI.” so to provide guidance and expertise. between the TCI government and

It added: “The ministry has All the above is likely to come at a UK Government. 4) Any other asked if (Public Health England) cost, especially a secondment to TCI, information in this regard that is PHE/DoH could identify an expert unless PHE/DoH might fund such a accessible to the public. from either department with hands- project under HMG’s commitment to

From: *TCI Governor’s on experience and knowledge of provide cross-Whitehall support to Office+ Sent: 28 September 2016 complex PPP hospital contracts who the OTs. TCIG are likely to be hard 21:38 To: Public Health England Cc: could work with the ministry to pressed to meet secondment costs.”

FCO London Subject: ASSISTANCE advise it on how to get the most out of The email was provided TO THE TURKS AND CAICOS the contract with IHC going forward. following a request under the ISLANDS MINISTRY OF HEALTH A team from the ministry led by the Freedom of Information Act, asking The email said: “Further Premier (then Dr. Rufus Ewing), who UK officials to please disclose to your exchange with [OTD FCO] is also the Minister for Health, will ALL documentation - whether below and in your new capacity as be travelling to the UK at the time of written, audio or video - regarding oversight point person for support the annual UK/Overseas Territories discussions between the Turks & to the OTs, I am writing to follow

up the TCI Ministry of Health’s request for assistance. I met with, the Permanent Secretary of the TCI Ministry of Health and PS to the Premier, to discuss the ministry’s request for expert advice from PHE or the Department of Health on how best to manage the TCI Government’s (TCIG) PPP contract with InterHealth Canada (IHC) for the operation of TCI’s two main hospitals built and operated by IHC. “

It added: “In a nutshell, TCIG signed a PPP contract with IHC in 2008/09 to build and operate two new hospitals in TCI, I think over 25 years. The contract was signed during the time of a former Premier who is now on trial with several of his former ministers on charges of corruption. There is a suggestion that the former regime was overlygenerous with IHC when concluding the terms of the agreement which has left TCI in a disadvantaged position over the medium-long term. TCIG now finds itself in a position where it does not have the technical expertise to understand and manage what is a huge, complex and extortionately expensive contract.”

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JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

All prisoners to be tried in Grand Turk

By Todeline Defralien

Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale said that with immediate effect, all cases where a defendant is on remand at the Grand Turk prison will be tried on Grand Turk.

“But I emphasise that the Judiciary feels that this is a retrograde step as it is less efficient, will tend to lengthen trials and will increase the costs of trials,” she said at the opening ceremony of the new court year in Providenciales on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.

The Chief Justice said that a decision was taken by the Administration to try Providenciales cases on Providenciales and there were many good reasons for this.

She explained: “Flying witnesses and jurors to Grand Turk and housing them there and providing meals for them for as long as they are needed, is both an administrative and a financial burden for the police, the Crown and for the Courts. Sometimes witnesses, jurors and lawyers choose to fly back and forth which may cause

delays in the trial process when flights are delayed.”

“We were also concerned that defendants, and indeed witnesses, may wish to have family or friends present to lend them support and in many instances, this will not be possible because of the costs of attending a trial held on Grand Turk..

For those of you who have never had any involvement in the criminal justice system, whether as an accused or a witness, it may be difficult to understand just how frightening, how intimidating the experience can be.”

She noted that one consequence of that decision was that defendants on remand had to be brought to Providenciales from Grand Turk every day for their trial.

This, the Chief Justice said, placed a huge burden on the Prison Service and created a risk to other persons travelling by air.

“Several years ago I raised the issue of building a Remand Centre on Providenciales where prisoners being tried on Providenciales could be housed for the duration of their trial,” she continued. “No action was

Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale taken in response to that proposal from the Judiciary. In the meantime, certain developments have caused us to reconsider our decision to try all Providenciales cases on Providenciales, as we have come to regard the

practice of transporting prisoners to Providenciales on the private airlines as posing an unacceptable risk. “

The Chief Justice said that in response to the same security concern, a decision was made to install videoconferencing equipment in the Chief Magistrate’s court so that defendants on remand need not be produced to the Court in Providenciales, but could appear by video-link.

“ I feel obliged to note that it took two months to move the equipment from the RM Court at the IGA to the Chief Magistrate’s Court, as it could only be done with the assistance of the IT Department which was very slow in coming. Now that the equipment is installed, a practice direction on the conduct of remand hearings by videolink will be issued.

One Court in the Supreme Court has videoconferencing capability. It is intended that all Courts will be similarly equipped before the end of the financial year. The budget has been approved and we are currently engaged in the procurement process,” she added.

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

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER POSITION Applications are invited for the Financial Controller position at a Turks & Caicos Islands FBO. An individual with leadership, customer relations, and results focused abilities is required to oversee all aspects of the FBO accounting operations and human resources.

Responsibilities will include: •Production of monthly, quarterly and yearly financial reports •Developing annual operating budget and budget presentation to the Board of Directors •Forecasting results, analyzing variances, and providing associated commentary •Preparation of ad hoc reports and analysis for management and/ or the Board •Full involvement in product pricing and maintenance of the billing system •Responsible for inventory management, invoicing, receivable collections and payables •Group consolidation •Establishment and maintenance of detailed fixed asset register •Preparation of audit information and management of the external audit •Oversee company’s human resource policies

Experience required for this position: •Professional membership (CA, ACCA, CPA) in good standing with a minimum of 2-3 years post qualifying industry experience •Experience in producing financial reports in compliance with IFRS/GAAP •Experience in audit liaison •Problem solving ability, and effective at working under pressure •Strong computer skills with proven experience using GL programs •Proven staff management experience •Experience of managing perpetual inventory a definite advantage •Aviation experience strongly preferred •Remuneration package commensurate with experience

Interested candidates should send a detailed Resume to hr@blueheronfbo.com

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION Regulating with Honesty, Integrity and Transparency

The Financial Services Commission, the statutory body of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Government with responsibility for the regulation of financial services businesses, is seeking qualified applicants for the post of Credit Unions Analyst I. Duties and Responsibilities The holder of this office will support the effective licensing and regulation/supervision of credit unions in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The successful applicant will contribute to the development of the sector by undertaking assessments of the financial operations of assigned Credit Unions to ensure compliance with relevant ordinances, regulations and best practices, standards and make recommendations to address breaches by licensees.

Specific duties will include the conduct of offsite and onsite monitoring of licensed entities assigned within the Department; Receiving, vetting and submitting for decision, applications/requests for changes requiring regulatory approval; performs the appropriate fit and proper assessment; Meet with licensees as needed to discuss performance, strategic changes within their organization, initiatives being planned by the FSC or outstanding issues, etc.; Maintaining computerized and manual files in relation to work done for assigned institutions and perform other related duties as assigned. The office holder will also be expected to travel to regulated institutions to conduct reviews or attend meetings.

Specific Knowledge Required The successful applicant should possess a sound knowledge of the Credit Union Ordinance and other relevant Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Services Laws, Regulations and international supervisory standards. The applicant should be familiar with current and emerging trends in the regulation of Credit Union operations and practices and developments in the financial sector along with a sound understanding of IT systems and the use of such technologies in the financial services industry Education and Experience A BSc. degree in Accounts/Finance or a related discipline or equivalent qualifications.

Three year experience in bank and trust supervision or auditing.

Other Applicable Information Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, and will be based on the Commission’s salary scale.

The duties for the post may be carried out in Grand Turk and/or Providenciales.

Applications should be emailed to kbacchus@tcifsc.tc no later than January 20, 2017.

The response must state clearly “Application for Supervisor, Credit Unions”.

December 28, 2016

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Dominique Durham first local Chartered Quantity Surveyor who is a member of RICS

By Todeline Defralien

The young people of Turks and Caicos Islands continue to strive for the best and Dominique Durham is a prime example.

At only 26 years old, Durham is the first local and youngest Chartered Quantity Surveyor who is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Durham, who has been working as a Quantity Surveyor for the past four years in London, became a member of (MRICS) late last year November 29th 2016. He completed his Bachelors degree at the University of Greenwich full time for 3 years and achieved his Masters at the University of South Bank part-tie for 2 years.

As the youngest Chartered Quantity Surveyor both in the UK and definitely in Turks and Caicos Islands, he believes this will raise awareness of the profession to young people considering career options and also encourage them to pursue in order to have a qualified workforce locally.

He told The SUN he feels absolutely delighted and honoured, but more importantly humbled that all the hard work, dedication and sacrifices have all paid off.

“I owe this accomplishment to my parents Mary and James Durham, family, friends and love ones who have all supported me throughout the process,” he said. “I have always had a genuine interest in the construction industry, but stumbled across the Quantity Surveying profession in 2007 and ever since, I have been executing my plan to become fully qualified to the highest level coupled with the necessary experience. I chose this profession because the required roles and competencies all suited what I envisioned I will enjoy doing, but more importantly because of the skill shortages within this profession amongst the local population. At the time, I believe there was only one local Quantity Surveyor.”

Durham explained: “There are several routes to gain membership depending on your qualification and level of experience. However, my route required 2 years structured training, a real life project case study, 10 minute presentation and a 1 hour “interrogation session”, whereby I sat in front of a panel of 3 for them to question me with a view to assessing whether I met the required level of competence to be a Chartered Surveyor. The current pass ratio is 1 in every 4 which is a 25%

Hotel & Restaurant Supply AIB Hotel and Restaurant Supply 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: SKILLED POSITION TECHNICIAN/SALES REP Responsibilities: 1.Responsible for all maintenance and inventory required for each operating dispensing system.

2.Maintain and grow sales within the existing territory of food service, hospitality, and water sanitation.

3.Cold call and prospect to secure new and existing accounts in a detailed sales tracking system.

4.Learn customer’s operations and devise unique solutions as their expert for advanced cleaning, sanitation, product delivery.

5.Apply mechanical aptitude to install and repair dispensing systems of dish machines, housekeeping machines, laundry extractors, and pool pumps while demonstrating safe equipment use and ensure equipment is fully operational.

6.Correspond with customers and management with consistent email reports on all technical service provided for AIB equipment.

7.Demonstrate AIB’s consultative sales approach by leveraging hands on service to enhance our total value to the customer.

8.Provide emergency service coverage after hours to customers.

9.Process sales orders in QuickBooks 10.Assist with offloading product and deliver Requirements: •Must be able to work long hours •Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language(s) (English) used in the workplace.

•Must work weekends and holidays as needed •Must have a valid driver’s license •At least two years’ experience in technical support

chance of passing.”

Durham said this is by far the most challenging experience he has ever encountered in terms of career and wouldn’t want to go through that process again. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifices, but the end result is worth it, he said.

Durham said his achievement will motivate and encourage the young men of the Turks and Caicos Islands to Dominique Durham invest their time, interest and money been working for one of the largest into something they love doing in construction companies in Europe terms of careers and education. He building private luxury houses for believes it will start to generate a local, private clients. These projects ranged qualified and trained workforce to from £12million to £15million. He avoid the need to employ professionals is currently working as a Quantity from abroad to undertake similar roles. Surveyor on a new built, private

“Having worked in the UK mansion on one of London’s most construction industry which is highly prestigious and expensive streets, regulated for the last 4 years, I believe “Kensington Palace Gardens.” The I am equipped with a lot of fresh project is currently worth £15 million. ideas, plans, processes, procedures

The Royal Institution of and policies that will revamp our Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a construction industry entirely. We need professional body that accredits to be brought up to speed with latest professionals within the Land, technologies, policies and be prepared Property and construction sectors to implement sustainability and other worldwide. RICS regulates and construction related measures to be promotes the profession, maintains the able to be globally competitive and highest educational and professional retain our economic strength. The standards, and protects clients and construction industry contributes consumers via a strict code of ethics. significantly to the country’s GDP and RICS accredits about 118,000 represents a high level of employment, professionals worldwide who are therefore it should be at the forefront required to keep up to date with of discussions regarding change in our current industry practice through a country,” he added. programme of lifelong learning.

Durham, who started from Being a Professional Member being a site labourer during summer means the RICS regulates and holidays, advised young people that monitors its members to ensure when they are choosing a profession, minimum standards are met and they must try to make themselves fully Clients can expect a professional aware of the long list of professions out service from Chartered Surveyors. there that they will enjoy, but most There are Rules of Conduct especially what they will need in the for Members which covers their near future rather than focusing only compliance with Ethical Behaviour, on the norm. high level of Competence, the level

Durham said he is gaining a of services Chartered Quantity lot of experience internationally that Surveyors provide, compliance with will be largely beneficial to the Turks Continuous Professional Development and Caicos Islands.

(CPD) and how they manage personal

Better known as “Jakey”, and professional finances.

Durham grew up in South Caicos, but There are 5 Ethical and completed high school in Providenciales. Professional Standards members He graduated from BWIC British West should adhere to: 1) Always Act with Indies Collegiate where he also did Integrity, 2) Always provide a high A-levels, then moved to London in 2009 standard of service, 3) Always act in to complete both his Bachelors and a way which promotes trust in the Masters Degree in Quantity Surveying. profession, 4) Treat others with respect,

Over the past 4 years he has 5)Take responsibility.

LABOURER Responsibilities: •To do daily checklist of all operating equipment •To carry out inventory •To carry out all tasks in a timely fashion •To report all damage or non-working equipment to the manager •To work in a clean and neat manner in warehouse and all other areas •Must be able to drive fork lift and off load containers and assist with deliveries •Pick up litter around property Requirements: •A secondary diploma is an asset •Must be able to work long hours in all weather conditions •Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language(s) (English) used in the workplace.

•Must work weekends and holidays •Must be physically fit for heavy lifting •Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 3 hours in length.

•Must be able to lift up to 150lbs or more on a regular and continual basis.

•Must be able to push and/or pull carts and equipment weighing up to 200 lbs. on a regular and continual basis.

•Must be able to exert well-paced ability in limited space.

•Must be able to bend, stoop, squat and stretch to fulfill lifting and other required task •Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive large trucks.

For the above position, applicants must have a willing, positive and personable attitude as well as be willing to work holidays and weekends. They should also enjoy working with people and be willing to learn. Minimum experience in the areas of interest required. Interested persons can email resumes to sales@aib.tc or drop off all resumes to AIB office located in Queens Plaza, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Application deadline is Friday Feb 3rd, 2017.

RICS Award

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

LOCAL NEWS

Digicel Business TCI Launches Microsoft Office 365

TCI’s leading business solutions provider, Digicel Business have today announced the launch of Microsoft Office 365—a best-in-class productivity solution that enables users to work and collaborate anywhere on their favourite devices.

“TCI companies are showing tremendous interest in cloud technologies and workforce productivity tools,” said Stephen Murad, Chief Commercial Officer, speaking at the launch event held at Digicel Corporate Office, Leeward Highway on Thursday, January 12th, 2016. “As the Caribbean’s only certified telco Tier 1 Microsoft Cloud Service Provider, we are able to provide our customers with even more solutions to fulfil their business needs and are very happy to be launching the Microsoft Office 365 suite today.”

Microsoft Office 365 gives users access to the latest version of

high-quality productivity tools, such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel, among others. This also includes cloud e-mail, OneDrive for cloud file storing and sharing, Skype for Business, videoconferencing and real-time collaboration.

Murad added, “At Digicel Business, we’re always looking for ways to help local businesses create positive and seamless experiences for their own customers using leading ICT solutions. This partnership will certainly enable us to deliver on this, while allowing our customers to enjoy the additional benefits of a solution that is affordable and is backed by the support of the Digicel Business and Microsoft teams.”

Ricardo Agosto, Territory Manager for Microsoft TCI, noted, “At Microsoft our mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. This partnership with Digicel Business

will allow us to take steps together in providing every organization in TCI the possibility to take their companies through a digital transformation with technology, empowering them to achieve their goals.”

As a certified Tier 1 Microsoft Cloud Service Provider, customers will benefit from local support and expertise on all Office 365 and Azure products, as well as receive additional features like local on- island support backed by a 99.9-percent uptime, georedundancy and disaster recovery.

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 15 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

A division of Digicel Group,

Garrett Quinn- Group Chief Operations Officer

A section of the crowd

Stephen Murad- Chief Commercial Officer

A section of the crowd

Nigel Horncastle- Head of Microsoft Online Products and Services

Stephen Murad- Chief Commercial Officer

Digicel Business is the region’s leading full service business solutions partner that delivers value and innovation while enabling people to work better together and to connect with their customers, suppliers and communities. Digicel Business partners with businesses to maximise the potential of technology to solve intricate business and technical challenges. Digicel Business delivers the best and most advanced business solution systems to SMEs, corporate and public sector customers whilst helping them to manage cost and improve their efficiency in delivering their products and services to their customers.

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Marjorie Basden - Life and work

By Dr. Carlton Mills

Mrs. Majorie Lightbourne Basden was born in South Caicos on August 1, 1924. She attended the preschool of the late Miss Mary Robinson.

She also attended pre-school headed by the late Mrs Euphemia Lockhart.

At the age of seven, she entered the Government All Age Primary School. Her Principal was the famous Mr. Christian D. Powell. He had an outstanding reputation in the islands in respect to education and discipline.

Following his death, Mr. Kenneth Malcolm took over the headship of the school. This did not last very long. He was soon replaced by Mr. Arthur Tatem.

Mr. Tatem quickly identified her talent and gave her the opportunity to sit First, Second and Third Preliminary Examinations in Grand Turk.

This required her having to travel to Grand Turk on the Mail Boat, The Kathleen, to write her examinations as this was the only Examination Center in the islands. She was successful in all three examinations. Her desire was to become a Nurse, but this dream seemed a long way away.

Like most students at the time, Marjorie developed a very close relationship with some of her classmates.

These included Mr. Samuel Saunders, Mrs. Iris (Tita) Stubbs, Mrs. Muriel Stubbs, Mrs Jamima Seymour, Mrs Gertrude Seymour, and Mrs Della Basden-Fulford. This group was also an outstanding academic one. They had a passion for Mathematics and Reading.

Marjorie was one who was always called upon to assist her teacher. She probably didn’t realize that this was the preparation for an outstanding career in education.

The kids also played games such as rounders, attended parties and Sunday school together. They were all followers of the Anglican faith.

TEACHING CAREER

In 1936, she and Mrs Iris Stubbs became pupil teachers. They taught with passion, dignity and pride. The salary was the least of their worries. They were disciplinarians but also developed a good rapport with parents. They cared for their students and produced some of the best professionals in the islands from South Caicos.

Mrs Basden was highly respected in the community. When students saw her on the street, they would stop doing whatever they were engaged in and pay her due respect. If she felt that they were idling, she would send them home.

They had to obey her instructions. In the classroom, she was one of the ‘sweetest’ and ‘loving’ individuals a parent could entrust with their child. This did not prevent her from sparing the rod where necessary.

She benefitted from numerous in-service training courses including First Aid, Short Hand and Book-Keeping.

She retired in July, 1980.

UNION

On February 13th, 1945, she married Mr. James Lightbourne. This union produced two children, Lincoln and Rosita. Following the birth of Rosita, her husband moved to Nassau, Bahamas in search of a better livelihood. Her husband was gainfully employed by the late Wallace Grove on Little Whale Cay. Marjorie became headmistress of the little school where the Groves children were enrolled. She also taught Sunday school and held evening classes where she taught the Three R’s along with Needle-work and embroidery.

After some time, the Grooves decided to relocate to Grand Bahama.

Her husband thought it best she returned to South Caicos and he would soon follow.

This did not happen until forty years later. Marjorie returned and continued her life. She eventually got divorced and married Mr. Cornelius Basden. This union produced Beverley who has also followed in her mother’s footsteps as a

Driver. Must be 25 years or older, with a high school diploma, and a valid TCI drivers lisence.Must speak English fluently; ability to speak a second language would be an asset. well mannered and knowledgeable about the Turks and Ciacos Islands. Must possess a clean police record and is reliable. Must be willing to work shift and on week end and holiday.

Customer service agents: customer service orientated, computer literate, reliable hard working and an excellent team player Ramp agent: High School diploma, hard working, reliable, has a valid TCI driver’s license and willing to work in harsh weather conditions Security Guards; High school diploma, Hard working honest, willing to work shifts and night duty. Must be able to read and write English.

Flight Dispatchers: Must Have FAA dispatcher license, with 2 -5 years or more experience and the ability to work in very high pace environment, excellent team player, and independent thinker. Must be able to work weekends and holidays Baggage Handlers: 18 – 25 years old in good physical and mental health and can lift weight over 50 lbs. and willing to work outside in harsh weather conditions, must have a high school diploma, clean police license, driver’s license. Must be willing to work weekend and holidays.

only

ACHIEVEMENTS Mrs Marjorie Basden has been the recipient of several awards.

These include: •Long Service Award as a Teacher •One of the First recipients of an Award from The Native Men’s Fellowship in Providenciales.

•In 1993, she received the Badge of * Dr Carlton Mills received his early Honour from Her Majesty The Queen, education in South Caicos. He pursued Elizabeth ll for her number of years as studies at Excelsior Community College, University of the West Indies, an educator.

•In 1990, the Pierson High School was University of London, University of named in her honour – Marjorie Basden Bristol and his doctorate in Education at the University of Sheffield.

High School.

Dr Mills taught in the school system •She was also honoured by the school in the Turks and Caicos Islands for a in November 2015 at their Annual number of years. He was also Principal Anniversary Service. of three high schools on the islands and •On Monday, October 10th, 2016, she Vice Principal of the Turks and Caicos received The Long Service Award by Islands Community College from the National Honours and Awards September 1997 – February 2007. He Committee. was appointed Minister of Education COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Despite her age, Mrs Basden

from 2007 – 2009. He is the main editor of The History of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

need

to

The Senior Executive Chef will report to the Food & Beverage Director. The successful individual will be responsible for all food production for the restaurants. Develop menus, food purchase specifications and recipes. Supervise staff. Develop and monitor food and labour budget for the department. Maintain highest professional food quality and sanitation standards. Essential duties and responsibilities to include but not limited to the following: •Plans menus for all food outlets.

•Schedules and coordinates the work of chefs, cooks and other kitchen employees to assure that food preparation is economical and technically correct and within budgeted goals.

•Approves the requisition of products and other necessary food supplies.

•Ensures that high standards of sanitation, cleanliness and safety are maintained throughout all kitchen areas at all times.

•Establishes controls to minimize food and supply waste.

•Safeguards all food preparation employees by implementing training to increase their knowledge about safety, sanitation and accident prevention principles.

•Develops standard recipes and techniques for food preparation and presentation which help to assure consistently high quality and to minimize food costs; exercises portion control for all items served and assists in establishing menu selling prices.

•Takes corrective action as necessary to help assure that financial goals are met.

•Attends food and beverage staff and management meetings.

•Consults with the Food & Beverage Director about food production aspects of special events being planned.

•Ensures proper staffing for maximum productivity and high standards of quality; controls food and payroll costs to achieve maximum profitability.

•Evaluates food products to assure that quality standards are consistently attained.

•Interacts with food and beverage management to assure that food production consistently exceeds the expectations of members and guests.

•Establishes and maintains a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule for all kitchen areas and equipment.

•Provides training and professional development opportunities for all kitchen staff.

•Ensures that representatives from the kitchen attend service lineups and meetings.

•Support safe work habits and a safe working environment at all times.

•Perform other duties as directed.

Qualifications: •Minimum 5-7 years’ work experience in an executive position in a five-start setting.

•To perform this job successfully, the successful individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

•The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Salary for this position ranges from $57,000.00 per annum and is based on previous experiences and qualifications.

Aircraft mechanics: must have 3-5 years experience and FAA license. holders

LIFE’S CHALLENGES

Her life was not without challenges. Early in her life, her mother left South Caicos and moved to Grand Turk to seek employment. Her mother left her in the care of her grandmother.

However, because of their maternal bond, her mother soon sent for her to join her. This bond was soon to be broken.

Her mother fell ill and decided to send Marjorie back to South Caicos while she went to Salt Cay to be cared for.

Unfortunately, she never recovered.

Soon her beloved grandmother died leaving her in the care of her grandmother’s sister, Susan WilsonWilliams. Her Aunt’s husband Nathaniel (uncle Nun), planned to send her to pursue her Nursing career in Jamaica.

However, disaster struck once again. In 1945, he passed away thus shattering her dream.

continues to be active. She is the second oldest resident of South Caicos. She served as an Invigilator for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). She also invigilated the Pitmans Examinations, General Certificate in Education (GCE) and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

She still writes character references for individuals as well as providing historical information to persons about family ties and the islands.

She is regarded as the Matriarch of the Family and is often resorted to for advice and guidance. She loves preparing meals and reminds those who prepare meals, how to go about it as in her words she loves ‘good’ food.

Despite her not having the opportunity to benefit from formal training at the time, Mrs Basden can be described as an outstanding teacher.

She is living proof of her philosophy that ‘teachers are born’. When one looks around and see the quality of students that have passed through her hands and what little or no resources she had to work with, it is evident that she possessed that special gift. Marjorie Basden name is synonymous with education. She will go down in the history books in South Caicos as one of the greatest teachers the island has ever produced.

SENIOR EXECUTIVE CHEF

Intercaribbean Air ways has the following vacancies:

Belongers/Permanent resident HR@intercaribbean.com

teacher. Her mother always reminds her that “teachers are born, not made”.

apply

to

For consideration, apply to the Human Resources Department at The Shore Club, Long Bay Beach, Providenciales, TCI or e-mail: careers@theshoreclubtc.com. Prospective applicants who are Turks & Caicos Islanders, kindly send copies of your application to Employment Services. Closing Date: January 27, 2017.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 17

A REWARDING CAREER WITH COMO HOTELS & RESORTS STARTS TODAY!!

At COMO, we create experiences worth re-living, experiences that inspire guests to travel and live differently.

COMO Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands Job Title:

Training and Development Manager

Job Title:

Objective The position is responsible for managing the co-ordination and delivery of a range of learning and development activities that delivers Parrot Cay objective for Standards of Performance and guest interaction. To ensure that the COMO culture is reinforced through awareness of our mission statement.

Director of Purchasing

Objective

Main Duties

The Position is responsible for ensuring that all items ordered for the hotel are received in a timely manner, in accordance to standards, are released to correct departments and that all logs are maintained correctly.

In addition, the role is also charged with providing expertise and direction for all aspects of the Purchasing activities in line with the overall business strategy.

Training Planning:

Main Duties



To support the systematic analysis of training needs by department, through effective tracking of guest comments, employee appraisals, exit interview feedback, personal observation, and discussion with the appropriate managers, departmental trainers, and employees.



To formulate and communicate the annual learning & development plans, which simultaneously addresses training needs, and the short, medium and long term business objectives.



To co-ordinate the development of Departmental Training Plans that address the skills, knowledge, and behavior based training requirements of the hotels.



To co-ordinate short term cross exposure training opportunities throughout the hotels to support the development of a multiskilled and flexible workforce, ensuring that such placements satisfy the requirements of the individual, and that the department concerned has the resources to make the experience meaningful and worthwhile.



To support the design of creative and innovative training programs that satisfy specified training objectives, and facilitate the transfer of new skills and techniques into the workplace.



To ensure that all training programs include adequate techniques for ensuring that learning has taken place and the training objectives have been achieved, in line with Investor in People criteria.



To assist with monitoring the long term success of training activity, by assessing whether the desired change in behavior has taken place.



To support individual and team development, career development, and training and experience-based learning.



To spot check training standards by random attendance at departmental training sessions, and by coaching trainers in the appropriate methods and techniques.



To assist with the delivery of Induction maintaining contact with new employees during their induction period, providing a reference point in the event of difficulty and monitoring their training from an employee perspective.



To maintain an effective training record system that assists with the identification of future training needs and complies with the hotels’ statutory responsibilities.



To assist with management of the appraisal systems and support Managers with the achievement of team member’s personal development plans and succession planning.



To play leading role in promoting the desired work culture and values of the COMO Hotels.



To prepare sufficient quantities of training course material handouts in keeping with the Company’s understated style.



To co-ordinate Induction to ensure its smooth delivery.



To undertake other duties and responsibilities which, whilst outside the normal routine, are within the overall scope of the position.

Qualifications / Experience/Requirements



Extra Duties From time to time the property may ask you to undertake duties that are not included in this job description. You should agree to undertake these duties as long as the request is reasonable and will not affect your health, safety or security.

Qualifications / Experience/Requirements

    

Administration

  

Operations  Establishes adequate purchase requests, record keeping and issuance procedures for the property  Establishes standard purchasing specifications  Able to effectively negotiate with vendors, contractors, etc. to obtain the most cost effective prices and contract terms for goods and services purchased  Processes purchase requests from departments, and place approved orders  Obtains competitive quotations and bids  Ensure physical stock take is conducted as scheduled  Posts orders to inventory systems and produces purchase order for receiver to match against goods received  Ensures products and resources are assigned to the appropriate department and billed accordingly  Ensures stockroom inventory levels are maintained to adequately meet operation needs, and fill replacements if needed  Examines contents and compares with records, invoices and orders to verify accuracy of incoming shipments  Records shipping data such as weight, charges, damages and discrepancies for reporting, accounting and record-keeping purposes  Protects inventories from waste, spoilage and theft  Ability to perform other tasks and/or projects as assigned by Management.

Bachelor's degree in relevant field, Master’s Degree preferred.

Five years of experience.

Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) credential or equivalent Minimum of three years Management experience working in a luxury, 5 star properties

This position is currently held by work permit holder Salary commensurate with experience in the range: USD24K to USD36K



Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality or related field preferred Must have 5-7 years’ minimum supply chain experience Previous management experience in the hospitality field highly preferred Prior experience working in a high volume/diverse commodities setting ideal.

Must possess excellent communication, leadership and team building skills.

Ability to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace.

Salary commensurate with experience in the range: USD49K -USD68K MANAGER AND SUPERVISOR POSITIONS General Manager Executive Assistant Manager F&B Director of Purchasing Director of Peoples Development Executive Assistant Manager Rooms Meetings and Events Manager Health and Safety Manager Hotel Manager Director of Purchasing Front Office Manager Power House Manager Information Technology Director Director of Purchasing Storeroom Manager Spa Supervisor Housekeeping Supervisor Restaurant Manager Duty Manager Head Butler Assistant Spa Therapist Manager OTHER POSITIONS: Private Estate Attendant Commis Chef Food & Beverage Server Spa & Gym Attendants Recreation Attendant Bartender Kitchen Steward K-9 Dog Security/Handle Receiving Clerk

Yoga/Pilates Instructor Spa Receptionist Hostess HVAC Technician Spa Attendant Guest Service Agent Purchasing Clerk Turndown Attendant Chef De Partie

Boat Mechanic Pastry Chef Pilates Instructor Chef de Cuisine Spa Therapist Bellman Housekeeper Airport Greeter

Salary for these positions will be paid base on qualification and experience.

Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates. Must be willing to relocate.

Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address: Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com

Page 18

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

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 Front Office Department requires:

The Butler Department requires: ✓

✓

Butler

Reports to:

Reports to: Butler Manager Is responsible for all aspects of guest care during stay, assisting in all areas of hotel and continual improvement of skills through training and practice; is instrumental to achieve our goal in providing the highest professional standards in Butler Service to our guests and thus exceeding the guest expectation.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Holder of a certification from the Guild of Professional English Butlers.

• Customer service experience

The Entertainment and Kids Kamp Departments require: Dancer Player Kids Counselor

To engage the guests and their children to participate in activities, attend shows and special guest events. Part of the responsibility as an Entertainment and Kids Kamp staff is to create lasting memories while on vacation.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum of 4 CXC certifications.

• Customer service experience These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

The House Keeping Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓

Houseman Room Attendant Public Area Cleaner/Attendant

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift and bend.

• No allergies to chemicals or dust • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Linen Room Attendant

Reports to:

Watersports/ Pool/ Beach Attendant Deck Hand

Executive Housekeeper

The Room Attendant assumes primary responsibility for guestroom cleaning and servicing. The Housemen are responsible for delivering clean linen and clearing dirty linen from Room Attendants’ trolley. The general maintenance of all corridors and walkways on assigned floor/ section are also the responsibility of the Housemen. The Public Area Cleaner/ Attendant is responsible to service all other areas and offices.

✓

The Watersports and Catamaran Departments require:

Executive Housekeeper

To maintain order and cleanliness in the linen room and to assist with all of the activities related to the linen room, to record all items received and issued.

Reports to: Watersports Manager Under general supervision, ensures the safety of patrons of an aquatic facility by preventing and responding to emergencies.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • First Aid & CPR Certified;

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift and bend.

• No allergies to chemicals or dust • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time. ✓ ✓ ✓

Provide personalized guest services by providing luggage services between the lobby and guestroom.

Reports to:

Reports to: Director of Entertainment

✓ ✓

Front Office Manager

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

This position is currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

✓ ✓ ✓

Bellman

Boat Captain Dive Instructor Dive Technician

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $7.00per hour The Spa Department requires: ✓

Spa Therapist

Reports to:

Reports to: Watersports Manager The main function of the Boat Captain is to supervise all activities of the dive boat while in operation. The Dive Instructors and Technician take care of the guest and equipment.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Certified PADI/NAUI Instructor; • Basic Compressor Certification (an asset) (MAKO);

Spa Manager

The Spa Therapist is responsible for the comfort of the guests of the spa while performing treatments. Direct all efforts toward guest satisfaction achievement of Spa standards, and profit maximization. As part of the Spa Team it is imperative to work harmoniously to achieve the highest standard of service.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Must have a valid License/Certificate in your field of expertise;

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Grounds Department requires:

The range for this position is $6.25 to $6.75 per hour plus commissions

✓

Grounds Man

Reports to:

The Spa Department requires:

Grounds Manager

✓

Grow and propagate plants; cultivating, and harvesting horticultural specialties, such as trees, shrubs, flowers, mushrooms, and other plants.

Fitness Program Coordinator (supervisor)

Reports to: Spa Manager Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: o Certification in at least two disciplines o Experience teaching classes o Physically Fit

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• No allergies to chemicals • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The range for this position is $8.00 to $11.75 per hour

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $13.00 per hour

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or placed in the secure drop box at the service gate or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road

and should reach not later than January 27th 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 19

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 Maintenance Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Room Technician A/C Technician Plumber Stove Technician

The Photoshop Department requires: ✓ ✓

Reports to: Chief Engineer

Reports to: Photoshop Manager

To work closely with the Rooms Division to ensure that the physical appearance in and around the room is as per the Resort’s established quality and standards; to ensure that the furniture, fixture, A/C’s, plumbing and equipment are properly maintained, and to provide a prompt and efficient response to all guest service requests in a timely and courteous manner.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Must have a minimum of a high school diploma and/or a certificate in a field of engineering from a recognized Vocational Training Institution • Basic computer literacy and internet knowledge is preferred These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Carpenter Painter Tile layer/Mason Mason/Painter Pool Operator

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift and bend.

• Knowledge of pool chemicals and required levels (Pool Operator) • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

Tandoori Chef Chef Cook grade 1, 2 and 3

Under the guidance and supervision of the Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef and Sous Chef, and within the limits of established Sandals Resorts policies, procedures, oversees and directs all aspects of the kitchen operation at the level of standard and quality established by the company.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Culinary institution or equivalent technical schooling or apprenticeship training; • Three to five years’ culinary experience hotel/resort.

✓ ✓

Caretaker Groundskeeper Labour

Supervisor Officer

Reports to: Security Manager Under the guidance and supervision of the Security Manager, and within the limits of established Sandals Resorts policies, procedures, ensures the safety of Guests and Staff.

Properties Manager

To work closely with the Properties to ensure that the physical appearance in and around the staff accommodation and other holdings are maintained as per the established quality and standards.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Ability to generate reports and maintain logs • Previous experience in this or similar capacity • Experience supervising a team or shift (Supervisor) These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Accounts Department requires:

These positions are currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

✓

The Grounds Department requires:

Reports to:

Irrigation Technician

Reconciliations Coordinator Director of Finance

To ensure that all revenues have been properly accounted for; daily review of Night Audit to ensure that all departments are balanced and any discrepancies are recorded and addressed so as the financial integrity of the hotel is maintained.

Grounds Manager

The Irrigation Technician landscapes or maintains grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Typically performs a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Three (3) years’ experience in a similar position.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Associates Degree or higher preferred • Three years minimum Audit experience; • Relevant Certifications; This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The Weddings Department requires:

The Irrigation Technician position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

✓

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $13.00 per hour

Reports to:

The Loyalty and Travel Department requires: ✓

The Kitchen Department requires:

The Security Department requires:

The Offsite Department requires:

Reports to:

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

These positions are currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

✓

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Certification in the field of Photography • Sales experience and able to meet quotas • Two (2) years’ experience in a similar position • Dive certification (Underwater Photographer)

Reports to: Executive Chef

To work closely with the Rooms Division to ensure that the physical appearance in and around the room is as per the Resort’s established quality and standards.

Reports to:

Responsible for the photographic experience, including the flow of guests through the photography, selection and purchase process

✓ ✓ ✓

Reports to: Chief Engineer

✓ ✓ ✓

Underwater Photographer Photographer

Weddings Captain (Shift Lead for Wedding Stewards) Weddings Manager

The Weddings Captain is responsible for the direction, coordination, setup breakdown and service of all Weddings. Ensure that the highest level of service is provided to our wedding couples. They also ensure that all equipment is properly stored at the end of each wedding and maintained in top condition.

Loyalty and Travel Consultant/Concierge

Reports to: Loyalty and Travel Manager Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Certified Guest Service Professional preferred • Sales experience (Loyalty and Travel) • Ability to go above and beyond for guests

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • High School diploma or equivalent • Three years minimal experience in fine dining restaurants and ability to maintain the highest level of standards.

• Extensive food & beverage/wine knowledge.

This position is currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Wedding Captain position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $13.00 per hour

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $7.00 per hour plus commissions

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or placed in the secure drop box at the service gate or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn

The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road

and should reach not later than January 27th 2017

Page 20

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

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 Kitchen Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓

The Housekeeping Department requires:

Sous Chef Pastry Cook/Chef Head Baker

Reports to:

✓

Reports to:

Executive Chef

Under the guidance and supervision of the Executive Chef and within the limits of established Sandals Resorts policies, procedures, oversees and directs all aspects of the kitchen operation at the level of standard and quality established by the company.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Culinary institution or equivalent technical schooling or apprenticeship training preferred • Three to five years’ experience as supervisor in an international first-class hotel/resort.

The Sous Chef, Pastry Cook/Chef and Head Baker positions are currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Dining Department requires: ✓

Executive Housekeeper

Assist the Executive Housekeeper in monitoring the day to day operations of the housekeeping Department, thus ensuring the satisfaction of the guests.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum of 3 years supervisory housekeeping experience in a first class resort; • Knowledge of chemicals and other cleaning agents and there usage; The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Bar Department requires: ✓

Supervisor

Reports to:

Beverage Manager

Is responsible to assist the Beverage Manager in the running of the entire Beverage operation ensuring that all Bars and Catering facilities operate smoothly at all times, within the standard operating procedure. Simultaneously, maintaining F&B budget costs and continually monitoring and improving the level of service offered to our guests.

Restaurant Manager

Reports to:

Supervisor

Director of Food and Beverage

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of Food and Beverage and within the limits of established Sandals Resorts policies, procedures, oversees and directs all aspects of the Restaurant operation at the level of standard and quality established by the company.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum three experience as Restaurant Manager in an international first-class hotel/ resort.

• Experience managing a restaurant with over 300 persons seating area The Restaurant Manager position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Three years minimal supervisory experience in similar multi outlet beverage operation with ability to maintain the highest level of standards; • Extensive food & beverage/wine knowledge; The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Dining Room Department requires: ✓

Supervisor

The salary for these positions ranges between $23,000.00 and $38,000.00

Reports to:

The Kitchen Department requires:

Is responsible to assist with the coordination, planning, organizing and control the activities of the entire operation. Ensure the highest level of service is provided to our customer through on the job training with corrective and reinforcement coaching being used to ensure Dining Room standards are maintained and simultaneously motivating your staff to perform to their optimum.

✓

Supervisor

Reports to:

Sous Chef

Under the guidance and supervision of the Sous Chef and within the limits of established Sandals Resorts policies, procedures, oversees and directs all aspects of the kitchen operation at the level of standard and quality established by the company.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Culinary institution or equivalent technical schooling or apprenticeship training preferred • Three to five years’ experience as supervisor in an international first-class hotel/resort.

The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Stewarding Department requires: ✓

Reports to:

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • College or University Degree (Hospitality Management,) and/ or equivalent • experience; • Three years minimal supervisory experience in fine dining restaurants and ability to maintain the highest level of standards; • Extensive food & beverage/wine knowledge; The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Photoshop Department requires: ✓

Supervisor

Reports to:

Supervisor

Restaurant Manager

Photoshop Manager

Responsible for daily sales at the Photo Shop; while sharing designated responsibilities when required of Shop Manager in the daily operation.

Stewarding Manager

The Stewarding Supervisor assists the Stewarding Manager in maintaining a clean & sanitized kitchen by directing & coordinating the activities of the stewarding personnel and simultaneously maximizing the department’s operating efficiency.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Three (3) years in a similar position.

• Checks the proper operation of the dish machine/cleaning equipment daily & follows up with Engineering to correct all maintenance issues; The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Tertiary level education or any related certification • Extensive knowledge of photography • Must be sales and relationship driven, service oriented and passionate.

• Able to close the sale and meet aggressive sales targets.

The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The range for these positions is $7.00 to $10.50 per hour

The range for these positions is $7.00 to $10.50 per 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

and

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road

and should reach not later than January 27th 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

FLOW Zero Your Balance Campaign 2016 Winners T

he Zero Your Balance Campaign is an initiative we as a company started as means to encourage customers to pay their bills to continue to enjoy the quality service that we provide to them year round.

The campaign was proven successful in March 2016. Since then, our year end has shifted from March 31st to December 31st and thus we decided to end the year stronger by providing even more value to our loyal customers.

The campaign launched on November 3rd, giving customers nearly 2 months to capitalize on the opportunity to win daily prizes of Top Up and

Bill Credits simply by paying their bills in full to our main offices on Leeward Highway in Providenciales and on Front Street in Grand Turk.

We are pleased to announce that a total of thirtyeight (38) customers have been randomly selected from a list of hundreds awarding them a $50 Grocery Voucher to Graceway IGA.

To add to that, two lucky customers, namely, Mr. Raymond Utz from Providenciales, and Mrs Marjorie Durham-Grant from Grand Turk, were the winners of two 40” TCL 1080P ROKU SMART LED TV.

In closing FLOW Country Manager, Delleriece Hall, expressed her congratulations to the 2016 winners stating, “It is always a delight to see the smiles of customers and to give to them in ways where they will directly and immediately benefit.”

“We realized that it is usually a rough month after the Christmas season for most, so we selected prizes like the IGA Grocery Vouchers that we knew would alleviate at least some of the burden from our customers. I want to say congratulations to all of our winners. We look forward to seeing more smiles again next year this time.”

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

The Opening of the 2017 Supreme Court T

he 2017 opening of the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court took place on Wednesday, January11th at the court located at the former Myrtle Rigby Health Clinic. The event was attended by a number of dignitaries, led by

His Excellency Governor Dr. John Freeman. The event included a salute, inspection of the guard

by Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale and a march-past.

The following are photo highlights of the event.

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

Women in Blue S

First Annual new year celebration !!

In honor of our first female Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright -Robinson

cores of people turned out at the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) headquarters on Saturday, January 7th, 2017, for the Women in Blue celebration held in honor of the country’s first female Premier, Hon. Sharlene CartwrightRobinson.

The event was birthed through a group of women who were so elated about the first female premier and wanted to thank and celebrate with the community. All of the items were donated by these women united as one to accomplish a common goal.

The vision for Women in Blue is, but not limited to, never limiting ourselves. Women in Blue will strive to be the wind beneath

the wings of the government and support them in decisions made for our country and people. The association will also identify potential problems so that they can be rectified by the relevant ministers.

It will also seek to be the government’s ears, eyes and extra hands. Women in Blue’s purpose is to empower, strengthen and encourage women to maximize their full potential in developing an attitude of service, unity and togetherness. Women in Blue will touch the lives of people. WIB are foot soldiers continuing to work to ensure the reelection of the PDM government in four years. All women are invited to join in this change

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 29

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 Front Office Department requires:

The Concierge Department requires: ✓

✓

Supervisor

Reports to:

Reports to:

Concierge Manager

Supervises the Concierge operation and ensures personnel are executing their duties in accordance to SRI SOP’s. Directs and coordinates the activities and daily functions of the Concierge department according to standards of Sandals Resorts International. Creatively and innovatively foster, mentor and develop team members.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum two years’ work experience in a similar or comparative position; • Computer literate with computer application and software i.e. Windows/Excel/Access/ Outlook. Ability to input and access information from a computer and to adapt to new computer technology; • Excellent Customer Service Skills; The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

Reports to:

Watersports Manager

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Certified PADI/NAUI Instructor; • Coxswain license to operate vessels with 500Hp engines preferred • Certified Regulator Technician (Cressi-sub, Sherwood etc.) preferred

Chief Engineer and Technical Operations Manager

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Must have a minimum of a high school diploma and/or a certificate, preferably in the field of Electrical Installation/Electrical Technology, from a recognized Vocational Training Institution • Basic computer literacy and internet knowledge is preferred • Must possess a level of skill and/or Technical Competence equivalent to at least Level II HEART Trust NTA certification.

✓

Senior Animator

Maintenance Controller

Reports to:

Director of Entertainment and Animation Manager

The Senior Animator is responsible for supporting, coordinating and directing the daily operations of the Sesame Street Characters based on directive by the Animation Manager. He/she is reports to the Animation Manager and The Director of Entertainment (Manager); together they oversee all the Sesame Street Programs in addition to working with the rest of the Entertainment Areas, Photography, Sales, Food and Beverage, Public Relations, among some others. The Senior Animator’s main responsibility is to ensure quality and quantity exposure of the Sesame Street Characters so that our Guests can enjoy during their stay at the Resort as well as look for revenue opportunities that will make us grow in within the Hotel industry.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • 5 CXC or GCE subjects or equivalent; • Excellent Customer Service Skills; • First AID & CPR Certified; • CHS Certified (Or any recognized Hospitality Training Institute).

Chief Engineer and Technical Operations Manager

The Maintenance Controller assists with the monitoring of costs, in order to achieve maximum efficiency and to reduce waste/losses. Controls all items received and issued in addition to maintaining inventory counts.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Associates Level education or higher • Computer Literate – solid knowledge of spreadsheet applications • Five (5) CXC/G.C.E. O’Levels including Mathematics and or Accounts and English Language.

• Three years’ experience in a similar position The Maintenance Controller position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The Gift Shop Department requires: ✓ ✓

The Senior Animator position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

Supervisor Shift Leader

Reports to:

The Laundry Department requires: Shift Leader

Reports to:

Shift Leader

The Maintenance Department requires:

The Entertainment Department requires:

✓

The Maintenance Department requires:

The Shift Leader position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Supervisor position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

Reports to:

The Reservationist position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

To provide technical support to ensure the full operation of all plant and equipment and system during an assigned shift while attending to all guest and service calls.

Under the general guidance of the Watersports Manager and within the limits of Sandals Resorts International’s policies and procedures, assists, instructs the guests in the accepted scuba diving practices governed by the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) or National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).

✓

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum two years’ work experience in a similar or comparative position; • Computer literate with computer application and software i.e. Windows/Excel/Access/ Outlook. Ability to input and access information from a computer and to adapt to new computer technology; • Excellent Customer Service Skills;

Reports to:

Supervisor

Front Office Manager

Coordinates the room assignments and ensures this is performed in accordance to SRI SOP’s.

✓

The Watersports Department requires: ✓

Reservationist

Laundry Manager

The Shift Leader is responsible for the supervision of the laundry personnel in folding, washing and drying linen for the resorts and also to correct deficiency.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • High School Graduate; • Excellent Customer Service Skills; • Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and orally.

Gift Shop Manager

Assist with the supervision of all daily activities in the Resort Shop. This includes selling and customer service management, developing team members and visual merchandising. Also includes assisting the Manager and/or Assistant Manager in guiding the success of the store by presenting a clean, neat and organized shopping environment for customers. Assists in overseeing all activities related to merchandise flow, store maintenance, expense management, shortage prevention and store sales support.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • High School Graduate; • Excellent Customer Service Skills; • Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and orally.

These positions are currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The Shift Leader position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $11.00 per hour

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $14.00 per hour

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or placed in the secure drop box at the service gate or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road

and should reach not later than January 27th 2017

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

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 Administrative Department requires:

The Bar Department requires: ✓ ✓ ✓

✓

Bartender Bar Porter Cocktail Server/ Pool and Beach Server

Reports to:

Reports to:

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Two years’ experience within a casual restaurant setting preferred • Physically fit • No food allergies

The range for this position is $15.00 to $15.50 per hour

The Dining Room Department requires:

✓

Agent Concierge Manager

The Concierge Agent serves as the guest’s liaison for hotel services. Functions are an extension of the front desk with emphasis on the personalized services. Assist the guests in inquiries concerning the hotel or off-premises attractions, facilities, services or activities.

Restaurant Manager

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Two years’ experience within a casual restaurant setting preferred • Physically fit • No food allergies These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Dining Room Cleaner

Reports to:

The Concierge Department requires:

Reports to:

Server/ Waiter/ Waitress Hostess

To provide prompt, courteous and professional service to all patrons; monitoring service standards and assisting where possible, ensuring the smooth flow of the restaurant operation and enhancing the guests’ experience.

✓

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Nurse’s Certification required; • Minimum two years’ work experience in a similar or comparative position.

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Reports to:

Hotel Manager

The Nurse provides health services to Guests and Staff Members. Responds to emergency calls as well as provide general health care. Maybe required to be on call any time within a 24 hour period.

Bar/Beverage Manager

Have a full knowledge of mixology and the use of all bar equipment, glassware and ingredients.

Maintain a clean and efficient bar. Have an excellent command of guest service information and consistently practice excellent service with a friendly smile.

✓ ✓

Nurse

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Associates Degree preferred; • Minimum two years’ work experience in a similar or comparative position’ • Computer literate with computer application and software i.e. Windows/Excel/Access/ Outlook. Ability to input and access information from a computer and to adapt to new computer technology.

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time. ✓

Junior Concierge (formally Mini-Bar Stocker)

Reports to:

Restaurant Manager

Concierge Manager

Under the guidance and supervision of the Restaurant Manager within the scope of established Sandals Resort policies, the Restaurant Cleaner will ensure that all aspects of restaurant cleaning duties are performed accordingly. Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish.

To maintain an effective and detailed control on the movement of beverage items/guest supplies, from ordering to placement in rooms. Maintains standards of quality and presentation and assists with guest services. To work closely with Concierge and Housekeeping to ensure that Guests receive friendly, efficient service from the point of arrival until departure in regards to stocking and restocking of rooms, assistance with luggage, location of amenities, delivery of WOWs, and TLC calls, to assist in the Concierge when needed.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• No allergies to chemicals • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • High School diploma / certificate • Knowledgeable about inventory / accounting • Understand ordering and receiving processes

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The Junior Concierge position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Stewarding Department requires: ✓ Reports to:

The Front Office Department requires:

Steward

✓

Stewarding Manager

Under the guidance and supervision of the Stewarding Manager and Stewarding Supervisors within the scope of established Sandals Resort & Spa policies, the Steward will ensure that all aspects the stewarding operation are performed accordingly.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• No allergies to chemicals • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The Spa Department requires: ✓ Reports to:

Agent

Reports to:

Front Office Manager

Represents the company throughout the guest’s stay, ensures guest satisfaction by meeting and exceeding their expectations. To work closely with all department to ensure that Guests receive friendly, efficient service from the point of arrival until departure. To deliver the highest level of professional and exemplary customer service to all guest. To conduct themselves with unquestioned integrity at all times while coordinating guest entire vacation experience through a seamless process. Ensuring the delivery of genuine service that enhances every vacation experience.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • High School graduate • Computer literate • Excellent Customer Service Skills The Agent position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Spa Attendant (Cleaner) Spa Manager

The Photoshop Department requires:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Spa Manager within the scope of established Sandals Resort policies, the Spa Attendant (Cleaner) will ensure that all aspects of Spa cleaning duties are performed accordingly Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• No allergies to chemicals • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

✓

Shop Attendant/ Sales Representative

Reports to:

Photoshop Manager

All shop attendants/ Sales Representatives are Customer Service Representatives with additional responsibilities; therefore they should provide the highest level of customer service. Promote and sell all items in the shop including photographs while displaying pride and confidence in the product and the company.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Certification in the field of Retail • One (1) year experience in a similar position

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder.

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $6.75 per hour

This position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (note however more than one is required).

Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $7.00 per hour

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or placed in the secure drop box at the service gate or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road

and should reach not later than January 27th 2017

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

Caicos Fisheries In South Caicos

Is seeking a plant worker Must work 6 day a week Salary $6.25 per hour Contact – 333-0575

Help needed: Y & R Contractors: seeking labourers wages $8.00 per hour.

CMP Cleaners: seeking labourers /domestic workers wages $7.50 per hour Marie Shop is seeking: 2 domestic workers wage $7.00 per hour JMC Construction seeking: labourers wage $7.00 per hour The tree of life Church Of God: seeking laborer wage $7.00 per hour.

Interested persons call 232 7950 for an interview. Please no calls before 8am or after 5 pm.

Belongers /PRC holder need only apply.

Premier Contracting Services

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 31

Ange Toussaint

Angela Higgs of Grand Turk

Barber Needed in South Caicos

Is seeking a Labourer To work 6 days a week The salary for this position is $200 per week Interested persons should contact 246-7834

Is looking for a Domestic Work To work five days a week Salary is $6.25 an hour Please contact 347-5954

To work 6 days a week Salary $6.25 per hour Contact: 342-4423

Myrlene Pierre

Eroude Pierre

Is seeking 1 Labourer To work 6days a week Salary $6.50 per hour Interested persons should contact 346-8115

Is seeking a Fisherman in South Caicos To work 6 days per week Salary is on commission basis Contact: 342-6438

#440345/440346

Bohio Dive Resort

is seeking suitably qualified applicants to fill the following positions: Maintenance Laborer required Premier Contracting Services is seeking to recruit a landscape laborer to join our team. The successful candidate must have the following experience and skill set; •Working knowledge of basic skills to include, landscaping, and irrigation repair.

•Experience in painting and basic job preparation through completion •Basic knowledge of welding systems and fabrication •Septic system repairs and maintenance •Assist Light bulb replacement and limited knowledge of electrical systems and wiring •Assist with adhock duties to include for heavy lifting, cleaning and carpentry •Assist with cleaning large scale refrigeration systems.

•Must be willing to work nights, holidays and weekends as required.

Hourly wage $8.50 per hour to $9.25 per hour dependant on experience.

There are no other benefits provided.

RESTAURANT POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Is looking for a Labourer To work 6 days per week and Holidays Salary $6.25 per hour Contact: info@bohioresort.com

Christina Barron

Restaurant Captain Minimum of 6 years experience as a head waiter in upscale restaurants. College training and previous experience as a Captain essential. Organization, people and computer skills necessary.

Chef de Partie Minimum of 5 years in a similar position with experience in a small but busy kitchen. Culinary School qualified with experience in multiple cuisines including Mediterranean.

Candidates for both positions must be willing to work six day a week including weekends and public holidays. Renumeration based on experience and qualifications. Please send applications with a photo and resume to: magnoliaprovo@live. com

Is seeking 1 Labourer To work 6 days per week Salary $6.50 an hour Contact 946-3704

#440342

Food Service Manager •Minimum 10 years experience •International recognized culinary qualifications •Ability to supervise, train, motivate and mentor team members •Strong communication and interpersonal skills •Previous international work experience, ideally in the Caribbean __________________________ Candidates should apply to info@ bohioresort.com or PO BOX 179, Grand Turk Please include a covering letter, resume, and references with all applications

Mr. Calvin Green

Is seeking 1 labourer Work 6 days a week Salary - $6.25 CONTACT – 331-0221 # 440340

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Nicolas Pierre

Stylz above the Rest

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Sun Paddles

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

Habitat Construction

SUPER CUTS BARBERSHOP Is seeking

Is seeking a Fisherman/ Labourer in South Caicos To work 6 days per week Salary is on commission basis Contact: 946-3704

Is seeking 2 nail technician 2 hair stylist must work 5 day a week salary $6.25 Contact – 441 - 3231 #440351

Is seeking a Gardener To work 5 days a week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 242-3569

#440338

#440339

Provo Sand & Sea Tours

Island Steel

Is seeking an Accountant/ Miscellaneous task To work 6 days per week Salary $9.00 per hour Contact: 331-6078

Is seeking 1 Steel cutter Work 6 days a week Salary - $8.00 per hour CONTACT – 331-0221 # 440340

#440344

A & E Consultant

Is seeking 1 Domestic worker Work 6 days a week Salary - $6.25 per hour CONTACT – 331-0221

LABOURER WANTED

LABOURER WANTED

•Must speak English •Able to lift heavy items •Attention to detailed cleaning •Work long hours and on weekends.

•Must speak English •Able to lift heavy items •Attention to detailed cleaning •Work long hours and on weekends.

Wages: $6.25/hr Contact: 231-2307

Wages: $6.25/hr Contact: 232-8177

A & J TRUCKING

Ayur spa Ltd

# 440340

Caicos Royale Casino

Is seeking a Dealer To work 6 days per week Salary $11 per hour Contact 231-3639

Need of Dump Trailer Drivers, Mechanic and two Labourers Drivers must have at least five years experience in driving 24ft – 30 ft Dump Trailers Salary is $10.00 per hour.

Labourers must be willing to work on garbage trucks, cleaning garbage from roadsides and various districts in Providenciales and also my home from time to time.

Salary $6.25 per hour Interested belongers must contact Julie Smith at tel#231-0032 anytime.

Charlie Tipton

Paul Day in Grand Turk

Seeks to employ 1 Labourer in Grand Turk To work 5 days a week Salary 6.50 per hour Contact Charlie at tel No. 244 7929

Is seeking a maintenance, cleaner To work 5 days a week Salary $1,040.00 per month Contact 241-3429 #440337

Is seeking 1 labourer work 6 days a week Salary - $6.50 per hour Contact – 244-5638

Spa Therapist - should have minimum 5 years experience in resort spa. Should be able to perform Massages- such as Hot stone, Thai massage ,Ayurvedic treatments- Abyanga massage, Shirodhara , Indian head massage, Yoga , Facials , Eye brow threading, Body treatments ,waxing, Mani and pedi etc.

Salary - $ 6.25 per hour To work 6 days in a week Please email resumes to -relax@spatci.com

Luxe Beauty Salon and Day Spa

#440335

Please Contact Alex on 243-5406

Rudolph Cox/ Clarance Cox

Requiring a certified Nail Technician with over 3 years experience @Luxe Beauty Salon and Day Spa. Please send resumes to luxebeauty34@gmail.com or call 941-3376

Is seeking 4 Fisherman To work 6 days per week Salary is on commission basis Contact 946-3219

Island Steel

Pierre Robinson

Is seeking 1 Labourer Work 6 days a week Salary - $6.25 per hour CONTACT – 331-0221

Is seeking a Helper To work 5 days a week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact: 344-3215

# 440340

LORNA JAMES

REQUIRES 1 DOMESTIC WORKER IN GRAND TURK To Work 5 PER WEEK SALARY $150.00 PER WEEK CONTACT LORNA JAMES 242-7311

Marie A. Kita

LABOURER WANTED Osprey Beach Hotel Grand Turk Salary $8.00 per hour Contact 946-2666

1 Labourer - $6.50 per hour 1 Cleaner - $6.50 per hour 1 Cashier - $6.50 per hour 2 Beauticians - $6.50 per hour Barbers - $6.50 per hour To work 5 days a week

Is seeking 1 Handyman Work 6 days a week Salary - $8.00 per hour CONTACT – 331-0221 # 440340

#440350

Marvin Missick

Is seeking a Labourer To work 4 days a week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact: 243-4849 #440343

Irwin Williams

Is seeking 1 labourer must work 6 days a week salary $6.25 per hour contact 241-1593

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

CARIBBEAN WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS NEWS

Cayman Government holds $11 million in residence application fees

More than $11.2 million has been collected since October 2013 from permanent residence applicants in the Cayman Islands, according to records obtained by the Cayman Compass under the Freedom of Information Law.

Less than $111,000 has been refunded since that time to unsuccessful applicants, as about 900 people continue to await decisions on their cases.

The vast majority of the $11.2 million, approximately $10.3 million, is considered refundable under the Immigration Law if none of the current applicants is successful in obtaining residency status.

The additional $900,000 paid in $1,000 one-time application fees would not be refundable under the law.

The figures indicate that just less than $12,500 has been spent on average, per applicant, on the outstanding applications. The figures reported relate only to those residents who have applied for PR status after living for eight years in the Cayman Islands. They do not include nonCaymanians who are married to a Caymanian and who have applied for a residency and employment rights certificate.

According to information provided by the Immigration Department, none of that cash is being held “in escrow” – in other words, in a specified, ring-fenced fund – for withdrawal at a later date. The money

paid has gone into the government’s general revenue.

“The fees are not paid into a fund account, but accounted for as unearned revenue until the applications can be dealt with,” an Immigration Department statement sent to the Cayman Compass on Wednesday read.

Unearned revenue means that while the application fees have been collected and placed in government general revenues, the same money is subtracted from the liabilities side of the ledger. Essentially, the government carries the money from the residence applications as an ongoing liability to be paid back out of the general revenues when required.

The government has posted budget operating surpluses of more than $100 million in each of the past three years, and currently maintains more than 90 days’ worth of operating cash on hand.

Precisely when either the Immigration Department or the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board will hear any of the outstanding applications is still not known, due to ongoing legal difficulties associated with the points system used to award such grants.

The Cayman Islands government has neither approved nor rejected any permanent residence applications under the current Immigration Law since at least January 2015. The government has blamed the state of uncertainty over

the applications partly on an August has said on a number of occasions 2015 ruling by Chief Justice Anthony that he would reveal government’s Smellie on the permanent residence proposals to deal with the issues applications of two non-Caymanians. described by the chief justice, but to The issues identified in the 2015 court date he has not done so. judgment dealt with two major areas: Since the chief justice’s First, the actions of the Immigration decision was released 17 months ago, Appeals Tribunal in judging two a number of legal challenges involving cases in which the non-Caymanians, individual grants of permanent a Canadian and a Jamaican, had residence have been filed and two key applied for permanent residence. The cases are soon to go before the courts. tribunal’s actions in the cases were One involves a funds manager who has determined to be a “miscarriage of alleged in a judicial review filing that justice.” Those applications were government has placed an “unlawful made under a former version of the moratorium” on permanent residence Immigration Law. The two applicants applications after it failed to hear his were granted permanent residence application from June 2014. following a re-hearing of their case A second case involves before the tribunal. an accountant who has received

The second matter involves permanent residence, but who has the current permanent residence pursued a case against the government system and how points toward that for monetary damages after it took status are awarded to applicants. three years for his application to be Currently, applicants are required to heard. secure 110 points out of 215 available In a speech at the Grand Court in the application process. Questions opening ceremony on Wednesday, have arisen regarding how 15 of those Caymanian Bar Association President 215 points are to be awarded in the Abraham Thoppil advocated for process. a solution to “the plight of many

Chief Justice Smellie hundreds of expatriates.” concluded in the judgment that there “The implications for them, were “immediate and obvious concerns” their families, our society and our about the current two-tiered system wider community are potentially for awarding permanent residence extremely negative,” Mr. Thoppil said. applicants a total of 15 points for their “It is hoped that the new year will find occupation and another 15 points appropriate relief and that the due if their job is considered a “priority functioning of our immigration regime occupation” according to regulations and the fulfillment of its difficult but attached to the Immigration Law. very necessary task can recommence.”

Premier Alden McLaughlin

Barbados Central Bank Governor has concerns over foreign exchange issues Barbados – The Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB), Dr. DeLisle Worrell says the island has failed to achieve a balance between foreign exchange inflows and outflows, which is the foundation for growth in a stable economy.

Worrell in his January economic letter, titled “We are the Craftsman of our Economic Fate” noted that this situation The Central Bank building in Barbados (Tom Adams Financial Centre) named after former prime minister has existed since 2013.

“We know when we have Worrell said the Freundel the export of world renowned achieved that balance because in Stuart government is committed rums and other products as well that case we do not have to dip to a further reduction in the fiscal as renewable energy account for into the Central Bank’s reserves deficit in order to relive pressure the island’s foreign exchange and of foreign currency to make up on the foreign exchange reserves. the drivers ‘of our open economy”. the difference.

“The immediate objective is to set In his letter, Worrell

“The country has failed the debt to GDP (Gross Domestic repeated an earlier statement to achieve that balance since Product) firmly on a downward reminding Barbadians that 2013 and there remains a need path by achieving a deficit which independence means that that to dampen spending further in is lower than the increase in GDP the future of the island remains order to protect the country’s forecast for 2017.” firmly in their hands. reserves of foreign exchange,” Worrell said that will “That future is Worrell wrote. serve to boost confidence and exceptionally promising but it

He said the reserves are give access to funds from banks will not happen unless we make what protect the country from the and other investors whose it happen and like all worthwhile devaluation of the local currency, contributions to government objectives, realising the vision adding that the Central Bank finances has not increased in will not be painless,” he warned. remains in a position to provide recent years.

The Central Bank is US dollars “at the 2:1 exchange The CBB governor expected to release a review of the rate to meet all legitimate needs, said the tourism sector, the island’s economic performance on if no other source is sufficient”. international business sector and January 24.

Deadline extension for Bermuda Commission of Inquiry report

The deadline for the Commission of Inquiry to submit its report to Michael Dunkley has been extended.

After the hearing schedule and timeline had been agreed, the panel had been expected to provide its final report on December 31 last year.

However, the Commission asked Mr Dunkley for more time to work on its report and the Premier agreed an extension until the end of January 2017.

“I can confirm that the Commission asked the Premier for and he agreed to an extension until the end of January, and this apparently was confirmed by the Premier in a pre-Christmas interview with VSB radio news,” a spokesperson for the Commission said.

In September, The Royal Gazette reported that the Commission would be given until the end of the year to complete its investigation.

The panel, chaired by Sir Anthony Evans, was formed to look into the findings of the Auditor-General’s report on the Consolidated Fund for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 financial years.

Originally it was given 20 weeks to complete its work but has now been granted a second extension.

In addition to Sir Anthony, an international jurist and former Bermuda Court of Appeal judge, lawyer John Barritt, businesswoman Fiona Luck and businessman Kumi Bradshaw are members on the Commission.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

CARIBBEAN NEWS Jamaica Prime Minister urges the church to assist in crime fight

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued an appeal to the church to support the government in the fight against the rising levels of crime and violence in the country.

Holness, issued the charge on Wednesday at the 12th annual “Heal the Family, Heal the Nation” service.

“There is work that the Government has to do, but there is some praying that I need the church to do… for the spiritual invocation and empowerment of an intervention to make a transformative change in this country. The only protector of the community must be the Government of Jamaica, the police force and Jesus Christ, the Almighty Saviour. We don’t need any dons and criminals to protect us,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that crime is the greatest threat to Jamaica and called on citizens to distance themselves from family members and spouses who are involved in criminal activity.

“Now is not a time when there must be any separation politically in terms of our unity in addressing the issues of crime and violence in Jamaica; but now is the time when law-abiding, God-fearing Jamaicans must turn their backs on the criminals. Don’t let them survive in your community. Don’t give them safe haven in your community.”

The service, that was also attended by Members of Parliament, including opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller , was held under the theme ‘Working Together for Kingdom and Nation Building’.

In her address, Simpson Miller said t hat as a society, love and kindness are being ignored.

“We need more parents who will send their children to Sunday school. Not many parents see the importance of that anymore. I am aware that the moral decay is deteriorating, but I don’t believe that the Church alone should bear that burden,” she said.

“Whether in government or opposition, we all know the role of the Church in supporting and developing spiritually healthy families and communities. I want to say to the Christians in here (that) we need to love others more. We need to give persons that bright smile. I am being criticised for hugging and kissing too much, but I will not stop because that came from my Master.”

At least 1,300 people were killed in the country in 2016.

In his New Year message to the country, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that crime was severely affecting the socio-economic development of Jamaica and a plan to secure the island will be outlined in the coming weeks.

VAT exemptions for Baha Mar trigger outrage in the Bahamas NASSAU, The Bahamas--The Perry Christie administration has stirred outrage in the Bahamas as startling revelations surface that developers of the heavily touted Baha Mar project have been exempted from paying Value Added Tax (VAT).

Details of the arrangement emerged from an email circulated by the project’s general contractor A China Construction America (CCA) to its subcontractors and suppliers, obtained by the Bahamas Tribune newspaper.

“It’s agreed with the Government that the subcontractors and suppliers of [CCA – Ed.] shall be entitled to have the full benefit of a full exemption from the payment of the Value Added Tax for works carried out on the Baha Mar project,” the email stated.

It further urged subcontractors, suppliers and service providers to submit invoices for goods or services to recover any VAT already paid.

Deputy leader of the Opposition Free National Movement K.P. Turnquest was adamant that the Government must come clean on the deal which he charged could see the struggling economy losing as much as US $60 million in VAT revenues.

“This is not a cute deal by any stretch of the

imagination,” he told the Tribune, as he questioned whether the project was of any real value to Bahamians.

“You’re talking at least US $60 million or so [foregone – Ed.]. Who’s paying?

The Bahamian people are paying. They are invested in this project, not indirectly but directly, through the incentives and tax breaks granted. Yet the Government has the gall to say they’re transparent and acting in the best interests of the Bahamian people.”

As questions loom about the real value of the concessions granted to the developers of the mega-tourism project, Attorney General Allison MaynardGibson seemingly defended the arrangement, insisting that such deals were not new.

She told the Nassau Guardian newspaper: “It is not unusual for a government to grant incentives or concessions that the government believes would benefit the country. That’s what the FNM did, not only in relation to Baha Mar, but in relation to other investments, and that is what the PLP has done as well.”

She stressed that the benefits far outweighed the concessions granted to the developers.

“What’s the benefit to the people? A resort that not only will be completed by a developer that is world class, but an operator that is world class, who has the capacity to complete it, as well as to operate it successfully,” she maintained.

ExxonMobil discovers more oil offshore Guyana IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil, the international oil and gas company, on Thursday announced that positive results from its Payara-1 well offshore Guyana.

Payara is ExxonMobil’s second oil discovery on the Stabroek Block and was drilled in a new reservoir.

The Payara-1 well targeted similar aged reservoirs that were proven successful at the company’s Liza discovery.

“This important discovery further establishes the area as a significant exploration province,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company.

“We look forward to working with the government and our co-venturers to continue evaluating broader exploration potential on the block and the greater Liza area.”

The well was drilled

by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, and encountered more than 95 feet of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

It was safely drilled to 18,080 feet in 6,660 feet of water.

In addition to the Payara discovery, appraisal drilling at Liza-3 has identified an additional high quality, deeper reservoir directly below the Liza field, which is estimated to contain between 100-150 million oil equivalent barrels. This additional resource is currently being evaluated for development in conjunction with the worldclass Liza discovery.

“These latest exploration successes are examples of ExxonMobil’s technological capabilities in ultra-deepwater environments, which will enable effective development of

the resource for the benefit of the people of Guyana and our shareholders,” Greenlee said.

Drilling on Payara began on November 12 with initial total depth reached on December 2.

Two sidetracks have been drilled to rapidly evaluate the discovery, and a well test is underway to further evaluate the successful well results. The well data will be analyzed in the coming months to better determine the full resource potential.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres .

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Trump team examines records of undocumented Caribbean immigrants

NEW YORK – United States employees had altered DACA records in the database. his first day in the White House, President-Elect Donald Trump out of concern for immigrants’ civil In response, Department of “every unconstitutional executive has reportedly taken the first step liberties, according to the internal Homeland Security Secretary Jeh action” made by Obama, Vice News toward confirming one of the worst memo.

Johnson said for decades, the agency said. fears of undocumented Caribbean The team also requested has used personal information only It said whether Trump and other immigrants who have copies of every immigration executive for immigration enforcement in will make good on his promise, taken advantage of a programme order and directive since 2009, when limited circumstances of criminality and exactly how, remains unclear, that grants them temporary stay in Obama first took office. or national security. especially for the 741,546 approved the US.

“While Immigration and “We believe these for the program, with another According to New York’s Vice News, Customs Enforcement, an arm of the representations made by the US 750,000 to apply. a US Department of Homeland Department of Homeland Security government, upon which DACA Between October and Security memo – the president-elect’s that oversees the DACA program, applicants most assuredly relied, December of last year, 45,576 DACA team is “poking around the agency” already shares information with must continue to be honored,” he applications were accepted, 16,336 for information about recipients Citizenship and Immigrant Services wrote. of them initial and 29,240 renewal, of Deferred Action for Childhood (ICE) when cases involve certain On January 20, when Trump according to the US Citizenship and Arrivals, also known as DACA. criminal offenses, giving ICE full is sworn in as the next US president, Immigration Services.

President Barack Obama access to pursue deportations would retired Marine Gen. John Kelly ILRC and the National started the programme through an reverse the original intent of the will replace Johnson at the helm of Immigration Law Centre are executive action in 2012 as a way programme,” Vice News said.

Homeland Security. advising clients that the risks of for undocumented immigrants who In a private analysis, the “Kelly’s experience applying for DACA, especially for the meet certain requirements to achieve Saint Paul, Minnesota-based with immigration is thin, and first time, may outweigh the benefits two-year status in the US to work or Immigrant Legal Resource Center organizations unsure of what he’ll since the election, Vice News said. attend college.

(ILRC) found that no president prioritize are worried about the It said two of the largest

According to Vice News, over the last 50 years had used future of undocumented immigrants public universities in the country, the while Trump pledged to “immediately a programme granting relief to in the US,” Vice News said.

City University of New York (CUNY) terminat” DACA on his first day in undocumented immigrants to later DACA offers applicants the and the University of Californiathe Oval Office, immigration groups target the same group. The ILRC opportunity to legally work, apply Berkeley, are “openly advising worried he would take his hardline is a US national nonprofit that for a social security number, get a undocumented students not to apply policy a step further and use the works with immigrants, community drivers’ license, and travel to and for the programme.” programme to locate undocumented organizations, legal professionals, from the US.

“If they’re not already in immigrants and pursue deportations. law enforcement, and policy makers Only those who entered the removal proceedings and if they’ve

In fact, it said some to build a democratic society that US before the age of 16 and had not never been part of an immigration immigration groups have started values diversity and the rights of all turned 31 before Obama created the enforcement activity, now moving advising their clients not to apply for people. policy can apply for the two-year into the Trump-era might not be the DACA protection.

Last month, California status with US Citizenship and time to submit an application that

During a December 5 Congresswoman Judy Chu sent a Immigration Services. you’re here without documentation,” meeting with Homeland Security letter, along with 109 other members Trump has pledged to said Sally Kinoshita, ILRC’s deputy officials, Vice News said Trump’s of the US Congress, urging President “immediately terminate” DACA, in director. transition team inquired if any Barack Obama to protect information addition to promising to cancel, on

Serious crime in The Bahamas down by 26 percent

Serious crimes in The Bahamas declined by 26 per cent in 2016, the most significant yearto-year drop since 2004, Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade revealed.

Describing 2016 as “extremely productive” for police, Commissioner Greenslade, addressing his annual meeting with the press, said: “We aligned ourselves with all of those action points in the policing plan that we put to you in 2016 and those actions that we took in a collaborative fashion produced extremely good dividends.”

According to the Tribune newspaper, he added: “Are we really satisfied that we are where we should be? Absolutely not. We still have far too many of our young sons and our relatively young daughters who are not behaving in a manner which brings any pride to us as a country or to us as family members.”

Police said the overall decrease in serious crimes was influenced by double digit decreases in almost every category of crime, he said.

This included a 24 per cent drop in murders, falling from a record 146 in 2015 to 111 in 2016, according to police statistics.

The murder total last year was the lowest since 2012, though it continued to conform with the concerning high murder rate trend that began within the last decade.

The RBPF’s record of murders in

2016 differs from The Tribune’s because witnesses to alleged total of 114. crimes are intimidated by accused

However Commissioner murders granted bail.

Greenslade said some matters Witnesses are also reported by police last year are approached by “unscrupulous before the coroner and have persons who convince them to file therefore not yet been classified. affidavits to recant their initial Nonetheless, 85 per cent of the statements to police,” he said. murders last year were committed Finally, he said the low with the use of a gun, compared detection rate is likely influenced to 12 committed with a knife. by retaliation by associates

Seventy-two of the of victims “who seem to have murder victims in 2016 were acquired a propensity to settle adult men between 18 and 35 and matters away from the courts.” seven were women.

The Commissioner

The crime statistics again lamented the impact that booklet provided to the press granting bail to people accused said: “Twenty-four of the murder of serious crimes has on policing cases were drug related, 23 were efforts, as he gave examples of gang related, conflicts between people who have continually persons accounted for 19 cases, been arrested and taken before and 14 cases were as a result of the courts where they are then retaliation because of ongoing granted bail, only to return to feuds between people known to criminal activity. each other.”

“If we do not do something

It added: “The highest about re-offenders who in a very number of murders were recorded short time after being arrested in the south-central division (19) for serious crime are back in our and northeastern division (19), communities re-offending, again followed by central division in committing serious crimes, we’re New Providence (13) and central never going to solve the problems division in Grand Bahama (13).” we have and we are going to lose “Most murders (54 or 49 per the good reputation that we have,” cent) were committed on Monday he said. nights between the hours of 4pm His characterisation of and midnight. Most murders the bail problem came although were committed on the streets.”

Attorney General Allyson Commissioner Greenslade Maynard Gibson released expressed concern about the statistics last year indicating that detection rate of murders in 2016, the rate of bail granted to people saying it was “relatively low” accused of serious crime has been compared to the past. on the decline because of the

He believes this is efforts of her office.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade

DOMESTIC WORKER REQUIRED For a large private family villa in Providenciales operated by Samuel Gillespie.

Experienced Live in Domestic Worker needed for busy household.

Applicant must have at least ten years’ experience in domestic service for a large private family villa.

Job duties to include the following: •Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English.

•Excellent meal planning and preparation for large and small groups.

•Procure all groceries and cleaning supplies •Sufficient accounting skills and computer proficiency.

Salary is $2,000.00 per month. Required to work six days a week.

This advertisement is required for a work permit renewal application for this position.

All suitably qualified TC Islanders are requested to submit resumes/portfolios to PO Box 560, Regent House West, Regent Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales, TCI or send by fax to 946 4663.

Prospective TC Islander applicants are also free to lodge a copy of their applications with the Labour Board.

Page 36

WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

NEWS

Obama scrapping ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy for Cubans

President Barack Obama is ending a longstanding immigration policy that allows any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident, a senior administration official said Thursday.

The repeal of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy is effective immediately, according the official. The decision follows months of negotiations focused in part on getting Cuba to agree to take back people who had arrived in the U.S. The U.S. and Cuba planned to issue a joint statement late Thursday. The official insisted on anonymity in order to detail the change ahead of the announcement.

The official said the Cubans gave no assurances about treatment of those sent back to the country, but said political asylum remains an option for those concerned about persecution if they return.

President-elect Donald Trump has taken a tougher line on U.S. relations with Cuba and could undo the change once he takes office.

The “wet foot, dry foot” policy was put in place in 1995 by President Bill Clinton as a revision of a more liberal immigration policy. Until then, Cubans caught at sea trying to make their way to the United States were

allowed into the country and were able to become legal residents after a year. The U.S. was reluctant to send people back to the communist island then run by Fidel Castro, and the Cuban government also generally refused to accept repatriated citizens.

The Cuban government has in the past complained bitterly about the special immigration privileges, saying they encourage Cubans to risk dangerous escape trips and drain the country of professionals. But it has also served as a release valve for the single-party state, allowing the most dissatisfied Cubans to seek better lives outside and become sources of financial support for relatives on the island.

The changes would be the latest step by Obama to normalize relations with Cuba

Relations between the United States and Cuba were stuck in a Cold War freeze for decades, but Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro established full diplomatic ties and opened embassies in their capitals in 2015. Obama visited Havana last March.

U.S. and Cuban officials were meeting Thursday in Washington to coordinate efforts to fight human trafficking. A decades-old

U.S. economic embargo, though, the official said. remains in place as does the Cuban The Cuban Medical Professional Adjustment Act which lets Cubans Parole Program, which was started become permanent residents a year by President George W. Bush in 2006, after legally arriving in the U.S. is also being rescinded. The measure

The official said that in recent allowed Cuban doctors, nurses years, most people fleeing the island and other medical professionals to have done so for economic reasons or seek parole in the U.S. while on to take advantage of the benefits they assignments abroad. know they can receive if they make it People already in the pipeline to the U.S. under both “wet foot, dry foot” and the

The official also cited an uptick medical parole program will be able to in Cuban migration, particularly continue the process toward getting across the U.S.-Mexico border — an legal status. increase the official said reflected an The preferential treatment expectation among Cubans that the for Cubans reflected the political Obama administration would soon power of Cuban-Americans, move to end their special immigration especially in Florida, a critical state status. in presidential elections. That has

Since October 2012, more been shifting in recent years. Older than 118,000 Cubans have presented Cubans, particularly those who themselves at ports of entry along fled Castro’s regime, tend to reject the border, according to statistics Obama’s diplomatic overtures to Cuba. published by the Homeland Security Younger Cuban-American voters have Department. During the 2016 budget proven less likely than their parents year, which ended in September, a five- and grandparents to define their year high of more than 41,500 people politics by U.S.-Cuba relations. Exit came through the southern border. polls show President Barack Obama An additional 7,000 people arrived managed roughly a split in the Florida between October and November.

Cuban vote in 2012, and Trump in

The influx has created November won the same group by a burdens on other countries in the much narrower margin than many region that must contend with Cubans previous Republican nominees. who have yet to reach the U.S. border,

FBI decisions in Clinton email probe being investigated

Hillary Clinton

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday said it would probe a Federal Bureau of Investigation decision to announce it was reopening an inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s emails shortly before the November presidential election, a move she has blamed as a factor in her defeat.

The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General said its probe would focus in part on decisions leading up to public statements by FBI Director James Comey regarding the Clinton investigation and whether underlying investigative decisions may have been based on “improper considerations.”

Although the FBI ultimately decided not to refer Clinton’s case for prosecution, Comey aroused suspicion that may have diminished trust in Clinton among voters.

The FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The controversy involved Clinton’s use of a private email

server for official correspondence when she was secretary of state under President Barack Obama, including for messages that were later determined to contain classified information.

Often leading crowds in chants of “lock her up!” during the election campaign, President-elect Donald Trump as a candidate repeatedly accused Clinton of illegal conduct over the FBI Director James Comey emails. In a debate in October, he vowed she would “be in jail” over spokesman, told MSNBC on the matter if he became president, Thursday that Comey’s actions but he has since said he would “cried out for an independent not pursue prosecution. review.”

It is the usual practice of Comey publicly announced the status of the prosecutors and law enforcement, agency’s investigation into including the FBI, not to disclose Clinton’s emails two times in information about investigations 2016. that do not end in criminal In July, Comey held a press charges. conference and testified before Asked about the probe, Congress to explain why the FBI the White House said the review, had decided not to refer Clinton like any by a like any by a for prosecution, explaining that government inspector general, she was “extremely careless” but was an independent decision. should not be charged with gross Trump, who will be sworn negligence or any other federal in Jan. 20, will not have the crime. power to dismiss the probe. But

In October, less than two it is within presidential authority weeks before the Nov. 8 election, to appoint or dismiss inspectors Comey said the FBI was resuming general for federal agencies. the investigation because of new Critics of Comey’s decisions also emails found on the computer of said he could be in violation of disgraced former Representative the Hatch Act, a 1939 law that Anthony Weiner, the husband of bars government employees from one of Clinton’s top aides. interfering with U.S. elections.

The inspector general’s

On Nov. 6, Comey said the investigation into Weiner’s announcement said the review computer produced no new would not consider whether the evidence that would incriminate FBI or the Department of Justice Clinton. made right decisions in not

Brian Fallon, Clinton’s charging Clinton.

Former MI6 spy known to US agencies is author of reports on Trump in Russia

Christopher Steele, who wrote reports on compromising material Russian operatives allegedly had collected on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, is a former officer in Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, according to people familiar with his career.

Former British intelligence officials said Steele spent years under diplomatic cover working for the agency, also known as MI-6, in Russia and Paris and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

After he left the spy service, Steele supplied the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with information on corruption at FIFA, international soccer’s governing body.

It was his work on corruption in international soccer that lent credence to his reporting on Trump’s entanglements in Russia, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Emails seen by Reuters indicate that, in the summer of 2010, members of a New York-based FBI squad assigned to investigate “Eurasian Organized Crime” met Steele in London to discuss allegations of possible corruption in FIFA, the Swiss-based body that also organizes the World Cup tournament.

People familiar with Steele’s activities said his British-based company, Orbis Business Intelligence, was hired by the Football Association, Britain’s domestic soccer governing body, to investigate FIFA. At the time, the Football Association was hoping to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. British corporate records show that Orbis was formed in March 2009.

Amid a swirl of corruption allegations, the 2018 World Cup was awarded to Moscow and Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 competition.

The FBI squad whose members met Steele subsequently opened a major investigation into alleged soccer corruption that led to dozens of U.S. indictments, including those of prominent international soccer officials.

Senior FIFA officials, including long-time president Sepp Blatter, were forced to resign.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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WORLD NEWS

Florida airport shooting suspect appears in federal court

The 26-year-old Iraq war veteran accused of killing five people at a busy Florida airport in the latest U.S. gun rampage appeared in a federal court on charges that could bring him the death penalty.

Esteban Santiago, who had a history of erratic behavior, was escorted into the courtroom near Fort Lauderdale for the brief hearing surrounded by U.S. marshals and wearing a red jail jumpsuit and shackles.

He has admitted to investigators that he planned Friday’s attack at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and bought a one-way ticket from his home in Alaska to carry it out, according to a criminal complaint.

Authorities say they have not ruled out terrorism as a motive and that they are investigating whether mental illness played a role. In November, Santiago went to a Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Anchorage and told agents he believed U.S. spies were controlling his mind.

Santiago spoke little during the hearing, confirming to U.S. Magistrate Judge Alicia Valle that he understood the charges, and that he is a U.S. citizen. He said he did not have his own lawyer, and he was assigned a federal public defender.

Asked about his employment, Santiago said that for the last couple of years he had worked in Anchorage

for a company called Signal 88 Security, earning about $2,000 per month. He told the court he had only $5 to $10 in his bank account.

Prosecutors called for Santiago, who is being held at the Broward County Jail in Fort Lauderdale, to be denied bail, and Valle scheduled a Jan. 17 hearing to discuss the request. Legal experts have said it is very unlikely he would be released.

“They’ve then got two weeks to indict him, and then they’ve got to go through the whole death penalty review,” said former federal prosecutor David Weinstein, a partner with Miami law firm Clarke Silverglate.

Santiago could face the death penalty if convicted on charges that include carrying out violence at an airport and killing with a firearm. But

it may be months before prosecutors reveal whether they will seek the death penalty.

Executions have been on hold in Florida since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty laws a year ago. The Florida Supreme Court overturned a rewritten version in October.

Six people were wounded by gunshots in the attack, and three dozen suffered minor injuries in the chaos as passengers and airport workers fled.

Authorities say Santiago arrived on a connecting flight from Alaska and retrieved a 9mm semi-automatic handgun from his checked luggage before loading it in a bathroom.

He then returned to the baggage claim area and walked “while shooting in a

methodical manner” 10 to 15 times, aiming at his victims’ heads, according to the criminal complaint.

Information surfaced over the weekend that police in Alaska took a handgun from Santiago in November after he told FBI agents there his mind was being controlled by a U.S. intelligence agency. They returned it to him about a month later after a medical evaluation found he was not mentally ill.

Anchorage’s police chief told reporters on Saturday that Santiago reported at the time having “terroristic thoughts” and believed he was being influenced by the Islamic State militant group.

Video published by the website TMZ on Sunday showed the gunman walking calmly past the airport’s luggage carousels before pulling the handgun from his waistband and shooting at victims, who fled or dived to the floor.

Santiago served from 2007 to 2016 in the Puerto Rico and Alaska national guards, including a deployment to Iraq from 2010 to 2011, according to the Pentagon. Relatives have said he acted erratically since returning from Iraq.

The attack was the latest in a series of mass shootings in the United States. Some were inspired by Islamist militants, while others were carried out by loners or the mentally disturbed.

Florida shooting highlights limits of US airport security

The deadly shooting at a Florida airport on Friday is likely to rekindle an ongoing debate over whether screening systems should be even more exacting.

But experts say preventing attacks like the one on Friday, when a gunman opened fire in a baggage claim area at Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport, is almost impossible given the large public areas at U.S. airports, despite the billions of dollars spent on security.

“To the extent it was not in a secure area, it doesn’t really identify any issues around airport security,” said Robert Mann, an aviation consultant. “A guy walks into a bar, a guy walks into an airport baggage claim room –

neither of them are secure.”

Friday’s attack killed five people and injured at least eight, authorities said.

Security at most major airports worldwide is generally focused on protecting aircraft from potential attackers and deadly devices, rather than the airports themselves. As a result, much of the space at terminals is easily accessible to the public, with no formal screening before passengers go through checkpoints to get to their departure gates.

The debate over whether to extend security screening to public areas intensified following the bombings inside a terminal at Brussels Airport in March 2016, which killed 32 people and injured hundreds.

Some critics have cited as a model Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, where private security companies trained by the national security agency Shin Bet and backed by police officers profile passengers, question individual travelers and use bomb detectors at the airport’s entrance.

But experts say that approach has drawbacks, possibly just shifting the target to another part of the airport.

“It is logistically impractical to try to protect these areas, unfortunately, and the reason is no matter how far you move the boundary out, you will always have some sort of soft target area,” Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst, said.

The cost of

Esteban Santiago implementing that type of screening would also be prohibitive, given the number of major U.S. airports.

In response to the Florida shooting, law enforcement agencies at several U.S. airports said they beefed up security presence, including in Chicago and New York.

Friday’s shooting, in which the gunman apparently retrieved a checked gun from

his luggage, loaded it in a bathroom and then opened fire, could prompt debate about whether travelers should be permitted to stow guns in checked bags, Harteveldt said.

Addressing one potential danger often simply creates an opportunity for another type of threat, Mann said.

Spain posts new record with 75 million visitors in 2016

MADRID — Officials in Spain say the number of tourists visiting the country has soared by 10 percent in 2016, setting a record figure for the fourth consecutive year as economic concerns and terrorism fears continued to lure

visitors away from rival Mediterranean destinations.

Energy and Tourism Minister Alvaro Nadal said Thursday that 75.3 million tourists arrived in Spain last year.

Spain, Europe’s most popular

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destination after France, hosted 68.1 million tourists in 2015.

Britons again topped the list with 17 million visitors in 2016. Tourism represents some 11 percent of Spain’s gross domestic product.

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WORLD NEWS

Trump’s Pentagon choice says U.S. needs to be ready to confront Russia

DEA opens shop in China to help fight synthetic drug trade

SHANGHAI — In a sign of improving cooperation between the U.S. and China to fight the global drug trade, the Drug Enforcement Administration will open a new office there and its top chief will visit next week for the first time in more than a decade.

The DEA said acting administrator Chuck Rosenberg will visit Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong Monday through Thursday, at the invitation of China’s Ministry of Public Security. The last time the head of the DEA visited the country was 2005.

The planned new office in the city of Guangzhou will likely be staffed with two special agents, pending final approvals, said Russell Baer, a DEA special agent in Washington.

DEA maintains that China is the top source country for synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its precursors, which have been fueling the deadliest drug abuse epidemic in U.S. history. China is also emerging as a laundering destination for drug money, according to a U.S. Justice Department indictment unsealed in 2015.

“Intelligence and investigative information have shown that Guangzhou has strong ties to international drug trafficking organizations operating in China and elsewhere,” Baer said in an email. “These criminal groups in Guangzhou utilize trade-based money laundering schemes to legitimize drug profits, use the port facilities as a transit point to ship illegal narcotics, and purchase synthetic drugs along with precursor chemicals.”

Chinese officials dispute claims that China is the main source of fentanyl and precursors, noting that the U.S. has produced little supporting data. Nonetheless, Beijing has taken significant steps to crack down on the production and export of synthetic drugs, even though these substances are not widely abused within China. China already controls fentanyl, a painkiller up to 50 times more potent than heroin, along with 18 related compounds and is considering blacklisting four more.

U.S. officials have been pressing China to control additional opioids, which can be easily purchased online from vendors in China. China, meanwhile, has been seeking U.S. support to place ketamine, an anesthetic widely abused in China, on a U.N.-maintained list of internationally controlled substances.

Prosecutors consider charges against 23 suspects over English soccer stadium tragedy

British prosecutors are to consider whether criminal charges should be brought against 23 suspects over the 1989 Hillsborough soccer stadium disaster in which 96 fans died, the police watchdog said on Thursday.

The Liverpool supporters died in a crush in an overcrowded, fenced-in enclosure at the Hillsborough ground in Sheffield, northern England, at an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. It remains Britain’s worst sporting disaster.

Last April, following a two-year inquest, a jury concluded that police who at first blamed the tragedy on drunken fans were responsible for the deaths, had told lies and staged a cover-up to hide their catastrophic mistakes.

Jurors had been told that to return verdicts of “unlawful killing” they would have to be sure that David Duckenfield, the police commander in charge at the match, was responsible for “manslaughter by gross negligence”. They ruled the deaths were indeed unlawful.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had been handed evidence files from two investigation teams into the cause of the tragedy and alleged subsequent attempts to hide the truth.

The CPS said it would consider charges including gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office against the 23 unnamed suspects.

“We will now assess these in order to determine whether we have sufficient material on which to make charging decisions,” said Sue Hemming, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.

Mattis railed against defense spending caps imposed by Congress and, when pressed, said he did not believe the U.S. military was strong enough to properly deter potential adversaries.

WAIVER NEEDED

Retired U.S. Marine Corps General James Mattis testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to serve as defense secretary in Washington, U.S. January 12, 2017 Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon put Russia at the top of a list of threats to U.S. interests on Thursday and told Congress that America must be ready to confront Moscow where necessary, even as he backed Trump’s bid for better relations.

The remarks by retired Marine General James Mattis were the latest by one of Trump’s Cabinet picks that veered away from the presidentelect’s campaign rhetoric, which included praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledges to improve ties with him.

Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson on Wednesday also expressed views at odds with Trump on key foreign policy issues like nuclear proliferation, trade deals, climate change and relations with Mexico.

Mattis said Russia, China and Islamist militants were presenting the biggest challenge to the U.S.-led world order since World War Two, and called for Congress to lift spending caps undermining military readiness.

“I’m all for engagement but we also have to recognize reality in what Russia is up to,” Mattis said, adding there were a “decreasing number of areas” where the United States might cooperate with Moscow.

Asked about the main threats to U.S. interests, Mattis said: “I would consider the principle threats to start with Russia.”

Mattis said he wanted to meet with the new Trump national security team to “craft a strategy to confront Russia for what it’s done,” when questioned about the possibility of new U.S. sanctions.

Due to enter the White House in eight days, Trump on Wednesday acknowledged that Russia likely hacked the Democratic National Committee

and emails of top Democrats during the 2016 presidential election campaign, a conclusion reached by U.S. spy agencies.

Mattis cited Russian involvement in hacking and information warfare among the challenges posed by Moscow.

Others include treaty violations, destabilizing activities abroad and “alarming messages from Moscow regarding the use of nuclear weapons.”

He also accused Russia of trying to undermine NATO. Unlike Trump, who appeared to question the alliance during his campaign, Mattis strongly embraced it -- calling NATO central to America’s defense.

“We recognize that he (Putin) is trying to break the North Atlantic alliance,” Mattis said.

Senator John McCain, the Republican chairman of the committee, said he “could not be happier” about Mattis’ nomination. He warned sternly against optimism about engaging with Putin.

“Putin wants to be our enemy. He needs us as his enemy.

He will never be our partner,” McCain exclaimed.

Mattis also singled out China for its activities in the South China Sea, where it has been building man-made islands with anti-aircraft and antimissile batteries.

Together with Russian activities and the threats of Islamist extremists, Mattis said China was part of mounting assault on global stability, and the relationship with Beijing needed to be carefully managed.

“I think it (the world order) is under the biggest attack since World War Two, sir, and that is from Russia, from terrorist groups, and with what China is doing in the South China Sea,” he said.

Mattis, who retired from the military in 2013, is technically ineligible for the job since he has not been a civilian for at least seven years. That means Congress would need to grant him a waiver, something it has not done since 1950, but appears inclined to do now.

After Mattis’ testimony, the waiver cleared its first hurdle in Congress when the Senate Armed Services Committee approved it. The full Senate later backed the waiver by an overwhelming 81-17 vote, reflecting the strong support Mattis enjoys in Congress.

Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he expected bipartisan support for Mattis would help him overcome limited opposition.

“The other thing he has going for him is that he may be a restraint on some of Trump’s more extreme impulses,” Cancian said.

Mattis, 66, has tried to persuade Trump privately against the use of waterboarding, which simulates drowning, as an interrogation tactic. Top U.S. officials, many lawmakers and human rights groups have denounced waterboarding as torture.

Trump’s pick for CIA director took a similar line during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, saying he would stand firm if necessary against Trump on the issue of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques.

Mattis was fiercely critical of Iran, cautioning that Tehran’s “malign influence” in the region was growing.

“Iran is the biggest destabilizing force in the Middle East and its policies are contrary to our interests,” Mattis said in written responses to the committee.

Still, Mattis did not echo Trump’s campaign threat to rip up a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, under which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions. Mattis said the deal was imperfect but that the United States should uphold it.

“When America gives our word, we have to live up to it,” Mattis said.

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WORLD NEWS

Trump’s pick for top diplomat breaks from him in many ways

WASHINGTON — Rex Tillerson’s foreign policy isn’t sounding much like Donald Trump’s.

At his confirmation hearing Wednesday, the former Exxon Mobil CEO selected by Trump for secretary of state called Russia a “danger” and vowed to protect America’s European allies.

He rejected the idea of an immigration ban on Muslims. He treaded softly on the human rights records of key U.S. partners like Saudi Arabia.

In the words of Sen. Bob Corker, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s GOP chairman, Tillerson “demonstrated that he’s very much in the mainstream of foreign policy thinking.” But doing so forced Tillerson to break with several of the president-elect’s most iconoclastic statements on diplomacy and international security.

Again and again, Tillerson hewed more closely to long-standing, bipartisan positions on America’s role in the world, and who are its friends and foes.

That may help Tillerson win over senators who’ve expressed wariness about his extensive relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But it could leave him putting a Trump foreign policy in place that looks little like the vision he outlined Wednesday.

A look at where Tillerson’s views didn’t quite match those of his would-be boss: RUSSIA

Tillerson adopted a tough tone toward Moscow, apparently attempting to rebut the perception that he’s too close to Putin.

The Russian leader previously awarded Tillerson his country’s “Order of Friendship” following Exxon’s deals with Russia’s oil industry.

But on Wednesday, Tillerson called Putin’s Russia a threat to the United States.

Whereas Trump as a candidate played down Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, arguing the population there was proRussian anyway, Tillerson said the annexation was illegal and amounted to “a taking of territory that was not theirs.”

Whereas Trump’s campaign team last summer softened language in the GOP platform calling for arming Ukraine, Tillerson said he would have recommended providing U.S. and allied defensive weapons, plus aerial surveillance, so the Ukrainians could protect their Russian border.

“The taking of Crimea was an act of force,” Tillerson said. When Russia flexes its muscles, he said the U.S. must mount “a proportional show of force.”

Still, the Kremlin said Thursday the former Cold War foes can overcome their differences once Trump takes office.

Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said he hopes the two presidents will get along and they can normalize ties if they show “mutual respect.”

US agrees to pay billions to Marines affected by toxic water

WASHINGTON— The Obama administration has agreed to provide disability benefits totaling more than $2 billion to veterans who had been exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

The decision was quietly made public Thursday with a notice in the Federal Register, the government’s official journal.

Beginning in March, the cash payouts from the Department of Veterans Affairs may supplement VA health care already being provided to eligible veterans stationed at the Marine base for at least 30 days cumulative between Aug. 1, 1953, and Dec. 31, 1987. Veterans will have to submit evidence of their diagnosis and service information.

Outgoing VA Secretary Bob McDonald determined that there was “sufficient scientific and medical evidence” to establish a connection between exposure to the contaminated water and eight medical conditions for purposes of awarding disability compensation.

The estimated taxpayer cost is

$2.2 billion over a five-year period. slow to respond when tests first The VA estimates that as many found evidence of contaminated as 900,000 service members were ground water at Camp Lejeune potentially exposed to the tainted in the early 1980s. Some drinking water. water wells were closed in 1984

“This is good news,” said and 1985, after further testing retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry confirmed contamination from Ensminger, whose daughter leaking fuel tanks and an off-base Janey was born in 1976 while he dry cleaner. The Marine Corps was stationed at Lejeune. Janey has said the contamination was died from leukemia at age 9. unintentional, occurring when Ensminger now heads a veterans federal law didn’t limit toxins in group, The Few, The Proud, The drinking water.

Forgotten, which advocates Spurred by Ensminger’s for those seeking disability case, Congress in 2012 passed a compensation. bill signed into law by President

“This has been a hard, Barack Obama extending free VA long slog,” said Ensminger, who medical care to affected veterans says the government must go and their families. But veterans further in covering additional were not automatically provided diseases. “This is not the end of disability aid or survivor benefits. the issue.”

The issue has prompted lawsuits

The new rule covers by veterans organizations, which active duty, Reserve and note that military personnel National Guard members who in Camp Lejeune housing developed one of eight diseases: “drank, cooked and bathed” in adult leukemia, aplastic anemia, contaminated water for years. bladder cancer, kidney cancer, “Expanded coverage liver cancer, multiple myeloma, is making progress, but we non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and also need to know whether the Parkinson’s disease. government may be purposefully

Documents uncovered by leaving people out,” said Rick veterans groups over the years Weidman, executive director of suggest Marine leaders were Vietnam Veterans of America.

Save the Children demands higher U.N. budget to tackle crimes against children

LONDON - The head of Save the Children International Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Thursday demanded increased U.N. funding to investigate crimes against children, as she condemned violations of their rights worldwide.

“More than 50 percent of those affected by war are children,” she said in a speech at the London School of Economics.

“But less than 5 percent of humanitarian funding is spent protecting or educating them.

This has to change.”

Her speech came as the ceasefire between government and rebel forces in Syria – where some 8 million children are threatened by war - neared the end of its second week.

The United Nationsled mechanism for monitoring and reporting crimes against children was “chronically

Schmidt said in a copy of underfunded” she said.

Thorning-Schmidt, who the speech. “And is in clear was prime minister of Denmark contravention of the Convention until 2015, said “independent on the Rights of the Child.”

She pointed to forced special courts” might be a new way to hold peacekeepers to displacement as one of the account in warzones, in the biggest dangers facing children absence of functioning legal in war zones, and condemned the recruitment of 17,000 systems.

She used her speech children into armed forces in to criticized European South Sudan.

What we are seeing are governments who hold child refugees in “detention-like new and worrying incarnations conditions”, saying that Save of long perpetrated violations of the Children has had to scale children’s rights,” she said. up its humanitarian work in T h o r n i n g - S c h m i d t ’s Europe since the beginning of speech comes one month after seven-year-old Syrian girl Bana the refugee crisis.

Last May, a top U.N. Alabed was evacuated from human rights official urged Aleppo where her tweets of life Greece to stop detaining refugee in the war-torn Syrian city went and migrant children, some of viral.

After being led safely whom are locked in police cells from the rebel-held eastern part for weeks.

“Detention is never in a of Aleppo, she and her family child’s best interest,” Thorning- arrived in Turkey in December.

CAMPAIGN HACKING

Before Wednesday, Trump spent weeks ridiculing the U.S. intelligence agencies’ accusations that Russia hacked and leaked emails, spread “fake news” and took other actions to interfere with the U.S. election.

Tillerson wasted no time in accepting the findings. He even went further than Trump, conceding it’s a “fair assumption” the hacking couldn’t have taken place without Putin’s consent

Not Trump, who has repeatedly praised Putin’s leadership. While he said at a news conference Wednesday that “I think it was Russia,” Trump sidestepped the question of Putin’s responsibility. Instead, he argued, “If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what, folks?

That’s called an asset, not a liability.”

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WORLD NEWS

Obama pushes values and prods Trump in final, emotional address

With a final call of his Obama made clear his RACE AND NOSTALGIA Jill Biden, and many current and campaign mantra “Yes We Can,” opposition to those positions during former White House staff members President Barack Obama urged fiery campaign speeches for 2016 Obama, who came to office and campaign workers attended the Americans on Tuesday to stand up for Democratic presidential nominee amid high expectations that his speech. Obama wiped his eyes as he U.S. values and reject discrimination Hillary Clinton, but has struck a more election would heal historic racial addressed his wife and thanked his as the United States transitions to conciliatory tone with Trump since the divides, acknowledged that was an running mate. They all appeared the presidency of Republican Donald election. impossible goal. together on stage after the address.

Trump.

In his farewell speech, he “After my election, there was The Chicago visit is Obama’s

In an emotional speech in made clear his positions had not talk of a post-racial America,” he said. last scheduled trip as president, and which he thanked his family and changed and he said his efforts to “Such a vision, however well-intended, even the final flight on the presidential declared his time as president the end the use of torture and close the was never realistic. Race remains a aircraft was tinged with wistfulness. honor of his life, Obama gently prodded U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, potent and often divisive force in our It was the president’s 445th the public to embrace his vision of were part of a broader move to uphold society.” “mission” on Air Force One, a perk he progress while repudiating some of the U.S. values.

However, Obama said he has said he will miss when he leaves policies that Trump promoted during “That’s why I reject discrimination remained hopeful about the work that office, White House spokesman Josh his campaign for the White House. against Muslim Americans,” he said in a younger generation would do. “Yes Earnest said.

“So just as we, as citizens, a clear reference to Trump that drew we can,” he said. “Yes we did.”

All told, Obama will have spent must remain vigilant against external applause.

In an indirect reference to the more than 2,800 hours or 116 days on aggression, we must guard against a He said bold action was political work the Democratic Party the plane during his presidency. weakening of the values that make needed to fight global warming and will have to do to recover after Clinton’s Obama plans to remain in us who we are,” Obama told a crowd said “science and reason” mattered. loss, Obama urged racial minorities to Washington for the next two years of 18,000 in his hometown of Chicago, “If anyone can put together seek justice not only for themselves while his younger daughter, Sasha, where he celebrated his election in a plan that is demonstrably better but also for “the middle-aged white finishes high school. Sasha, who has 2008 as the first black president of the than the improvements we’ve made guy who from the outside may seem an exam on Wednesday, did not attend United States. to our healthcare system that covers like he’s got advantages, but has seen the speech but her older sister Malia

Trump, who takes office on as many people at less cost, I will his world upended by economic and was there.

Jan. 20, proposed temporarily banning publicly support it,” he said in another cultural and technological change.”

The president has indicated he wants Muslims from entering the country, prodding challenge to his successor.

Trump won his election in to give Trump the same space that building a wall on the border with Trump has urged the part by appealing to working-class his predecessor, Republican President Mexico, upending a global deal to Republican-controlled Congress to white men.

George W. Bush, gave Obama after fight climate change and dismantling repeal the law right away.

First Lady Michelle Obama, leaving Obama’s healthcare reform law.

Vice President Joe Biden, his wife

U.S. Senate launches Obamacare repeal process, House to vote

The Republican-led U.S. Congress, under pressure from President-elect Donald Trump to move quickly, took its first concrete step toward dismantling Obamacare on Thursday as the Senate voted to instruct key committees to draft legislation to repeal it.

Trump on Twitter congratulated the Senate for its 51-48 vote in the early hours of Thursday, adding “now it’s onto the House!” Only one Republican, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, joined Senate Democrats in opposing the resolution.

The House of Representatives plans to vote on the measure on Friday, Speaker Paul Ryan said, pushing ahead despite concerns among some Republicans about launching a repeal before building a consensus about how to replace the complicated and farreaching Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare.

Democrats accused Republicans of rushing forward to scrap outgoing President Barack Obama’s signature legislative accomplishment, a law that has enabled upwards of 20 million previously uninsured Americans to obtain health coverage, without yet having a firm replacement plan.

The resolution passed on

Thursday instructs committees of the House and Senate to draft repeal legislation by Jan. 27. Both chambers will then need to approve the resulting legislation before any repeal goes into effect.

Obamacare’s fate is a highstakes political showdown between Republicans and Democrats that potentially jeopardizes medical coverage for millions of Americans and risks causing chaos in the health insurance marketplace.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi vowed to fight. “I think it’s easier to win a fight when something is going to be taken away from you,” Pelosi said in an appearance with elderly Americans who talked about how they had been helped by the law’s provisions, including lower prescription drug costs.

Republicans have called Obamacare a federal government overreach and have sought to undermine it in Congress and the courts since it was passed by Democratic majorities in the House and Senate in 2010.

They are aggressively pushing toward their goal of killing Obamacare now that they will control Congress and the White House once Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

Ryan, speaking to reporters repeal without having a consensus just hours after the Senate vote, said replacement plan ready.

House Republicans would discuss Representative Charlie options for replacing Obamacare Dent, a moderate Republican from during an annual retreat at the end of Pennsylvania, has “major concerns” this month in Philadelphia. about the process, according to a

Ryan said while Congress spokesman, fearing a repeal vote at will take some replacement steps, the start diminishes the leverage that the incoming Trump administration may be needed to get some lawmakers will be able to act on its own on some to back a replacement later. aspects, which he did not detail.

Trump put new pressure Ryan said lawmakers were working on congressional Republicans on on dismantling Obamacare “in sync” Wednesday when he said Obamacare with Trump. repeal and replacement should

“We’re not holding hard happen “essentially simultaneously.” deadlines, only because we want to And an influential conservative group, get it right,” Ryan said, indicating it Heritage Action, late on Wednesday will take some time for several House pressed lawmakers to back the committees to work on replacement resolution. legislation.

Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said the ‘NO IDEA’ replacement effort will likely tackle drug pricing.

Democrats mocked the Democrats say Obamacare Republican effort. is working, enabling growing

“They want to kill ACA but numbers of Americans to get medical they have no idea how they are going insurance and helping slow the rise to bring forth a substitute proposal,” in healthcare spending. Republicans said Senator Bernie Sanders of say the program is collapsing and Vermont, an independent who support giving states more control. caucuses with the Democrats.

The average premium for a private

Indeed, some Republicans insurance policy obtained through have expressed concern about the Obamacare is set to rise 25 percent in party’s current strategy of pushing 2017.

Where was Sasha Obama during her father’s farewell address?

It was one of the more emotional moments easily. Of all that I have done in my life, I am most of President Obama’s farewell address. His eyes proud to be your dad.” swelling with tears, he spoke of his wife, “Michelle When his family joined Obama on the stage, LaVaughn Robinson of the South Side,” and then, at the close of his farewell speech, they held hands of his pride in their two daughters, Malia and and waved at the audience, creating an image of Sasha. the family that mirrored a similar one from more

“Under the strangest of circumstances than eight years ago, at Obama’s victory rally in you have become two amazing young women,” the same city. But one member of the family was Obama said. “You are smart and you are beautiful. missing: the youngest, Sasha.

But more importantly, you are kind and you are And immediately, the Internet noticed. People thoughtful and you are full of passion.” tweeted in confusion, wondering where the

“And,” he added, pausing for applause, teenager could be. “you wore the burden of years in the spotlight so What could possibly be more important than

seeing her father’s parting address? They asked and hypothesized:

Soon enough, the answer arrived. She had an exam at school Wednesday morning, a White House official said. While her family traveled to Chicago, Sasha stayed in Washington.

The 15-year-old attends Sidwell Friends, a highly selective school in the nation’s capital.

On the school’s website, exam protocols include guidelines that “students must adhere to the published examination schedule. Absence for travel is not an adequate reason to re-schedule an exam.”

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BUSINESS &

TECHNOLOGY

Instagram ads advertising to Instagram Stories

Facebook’s Instagram is bringing more than 30 advertisers into one of its fastest-growing features, Instagram Stories, in a bid to boost advertising revenue

Facebook Inc’s Instagram is bringing more than 30 advertisers into one of its fastest-growing features, Instagram Stories, in a bid to boost advertising revenue, the company said on Wednesday.

The social media company will become a more important player in maintaining Facebook’s growth in advertising revenue in 2017. During the last two earnings calls, Facebook executives said they may soon reach a limit on the amount of ads they can place in front of users, which had been one of the key factors driving ad revenue growth.

Media buyers are optimistic about Instagram’s ability to maintain Facebook’s place, second only to Alphabet Inc’s Google, in the digital ad marketplace. “Instagram could end up

being as strong a revenue component for Facebook as YouTube has been for Google,” said Noah Mallin, head of social for North America at ad agency MEC.

In Instagram Stories, users and businesses can post a string of photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. It launched in August and now has 150 million daily active users, according to Jim Squires, director of market operations for Instagram.

The new ad product will show full-screen ads intermittently as users swipe through photos and videos on Instagram Stories. The company is testing it with major advertisers including General Motors Co, Nike Inc and Airbnb, which is using it to promote its product Trips on Airbnb.

Time Warner Inc’s Turner Sports will test ads for cable network TNT’s airing of next month’s National Basketball Association All-Star Game in New Orleans.

Companies normally test new

advertising products with a select group of advertisers to work out any kinks before a wide roll out.

According to eMarketer, 74% of US companies plan to use Instagram this year, up from 53% who used it for marketing in 2016. This level of use would allow Instagram to surpass Twitter.

“It’s definitely gained importance,” said Ian Schafer, founder and chairman of ad agency Deep Focus, who said he plans to spend more money with Instagram.

The past few months have seen Facebook admit to a variety of errors in how it has measured performance for brands that advertise on the platform.

Buyers do not expect that to hurt Instagram’s efforts.

“They just have such a monopoly when it comes to attention that it’s difficult not to have to go that route,” said Victor Piñeiro, senior vice president social media for digital agency Big Spaceship.

The new ad product will show full-screen ads intermittently as users swipe through photos and videos on Instagram Stories

Trump news conference sets Facebook launches worldwide social media afire project to improve ties

In his first news conference since the Nov. 8 election, President-elect Donald Trump set social media ablaze on Wednesday with remarks including harsh criticism of the press and a defense of his goal to improve ties with Russia.

The session, held in the lobby of his Trump Tower headquarters in Manhattan, featured a number of viral moments, like an exchange with a reporter whom Trump accused of peddling “fake news.” “ I’m not going to give you a question,” Trump told the journalist from CNN, which reported on Tuesday that the Republican president-elect had been briefed by U.S. intelligence agencies about allegations that Russian operatives had compromising information about him.

“You are fake news!” he told the reporter in a moment that reverberated on Twitter.

Trump’s comment that reporters were “the only ones who care” about whether he released his tax returns stirred up 165,000 tweets during the session. Social media users asked others to “retweet if you’re not a reporter and still care about seeing Trump’s tax returns.”

In Russia, the hashtag #TrumpPressConference was a top-trending topic during the news conference and for several hours afterward.

“If Putin likes Donald

with news media

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in Trump Tower, Manhattan Trump, I consider that an asset, Twitter sentiment not a liability because we have regarding Trump during the a horrible relationship with event was 14 percent positive, 63 Russia,” Trump, who takes office percent neutral and 23 percent on Jan. 20, said in reference to negative, according to global the Russian president. digital marketing technology

“I don’t know that I’m company Amobee. going to get along with Vladimir Also stirring Twitter Putin. I hope I do. But there’s a reaction were Trump’s comments good chance I won’t,” Trump said, about the wall he has pledged to prompting thousands of tweets build on the U.S.-Mexican border from people in Russia. and to have Mexico pay for.

U.S. intelligence agencies He said he would not have said Russia was behind wait for negotiations with Mexico a hacking campaign aimed at before beginning construction, boosting Trump’s presidential but added: “Mexico in some form candidacy against Democrat ... will reimburse us.”

Hillary Clinton.

In response, former

There were some 80,000 Mexican President Vicente Fox tweets worldwide stamped with tweeted: the #TrumpPressConference tag “Neither today, nor during the hour-long session with tomorrow nor never Mexico will about 250 reporters. pay for that stupid wall.”

Facebook Inc launched its “Journalism Project” on Wednesday, as the world’s biggest social media network looks to deepen its relationship with news organizations.

The launch comes less than a week after the company said it was hiring former CNN reporter, anchor and host Campbell Brown to lead its news partnerships team.

As part of the new project, Facebook said on Wednesday it would focus on improving its current storytelling formats such as Live, 360, and Instant Articles.

Facebook said it would test a feature using Instant Articles to allow readers to see multiple stories at a time, as a package, from their preferred news organizations.

The company said it would work with third-party organizations to promote “news literacy” and help users decide which sources are trustworthy and would also continue to work on curbing hoaxes.

Facebook faced criticism in the last couple of months that it did not do enough to tackle the problem of fake news stories on its platform during the U.S. presidential campaign.

“We care a great deal about making sure that a healthy news ecosystem and journalism can thrive,” Fidji Simo, director of product at Facebook, said in a blog post.

Facebook also said on Wednesday it would explore the introduction of advertising breaks in regular videos. The company has previously tested the ad format for Facebook Live.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

WORLD NEWS BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

U.S. appeals court revives antitrust lawsuit against Apple

IPhone app purchasers may sue Apple Inc over allegations that the company monopolized the market for iPhone apps by not allowing users to purchase them outside the App Store, leading to higher prices, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling revives a long-simmering legal challenge originally filed in 2012 taking aim at Apple’s practice of only allowing iPhones to run apps purchased from its own App Store. A group of iPhone users sued saying the Cupertino, California, company’s practice was anticompetitive.

Apple had argued that users did not have standing to sue it because they purchased apps from developers, with Apple simply renting out space to those developers. Developers pay a cut of their revenues to Apple in exchange for the right to sell in

The Apple logo is seen on the facade of the new Apple Store in Paris, France, January 5, 2017 the App Store.

A lower court sided with Apple, but Judge William A. Fletcher ruled that iPhone users purchase apps directly from Apple, which gives iPhone users the right to bring a legal challenge against Apple.

Apple declined to comment.

The courts have yet to address the substance of the

iPhone users’ allegations; up this point, the wrangling has been over whether they have the right to sue Apple in the first place.

But if the challenge ultimately succeeds, “the obvious solution is to compel Apple to let people shop for applications wherever they want, which would open the market and help lower prices,” Mark C. Rifkin, an attorney with Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz representing the group of iPhone users, told Reuters in an interview.

“The other alternative is for Apple to pay people damages for the higher than competitive prices they’ve had to pay historically because Apple has utilized its monopoly.”

The case is Pepper et al v. Apple Inc., case number 4:11cv-06714 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

AT&T chief executive, Trump meet amid planned Time Warner merger

Amazon announces U.S. hiring spree Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) on Thursday said it plans to create more than 100,000 jobs in the United States, from software development to warehouse work, becoming the latest company to boast a hiring spree since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November.

The world’s largest online retailer will grow its fulltime U.S. workforce by more than 50 percent to over 280,000 in the next 18 months, it said in a press release.

Amazon is spending heavily on new warehouses Amazon boxes are seen stacked for delivery in the Manhattan borough of New York City, so it can stock goods closer to January 29, 2016 customers and fulfill orders construction. a hot-button political issue since quickly and cheaply. The new The new jobs will the Nov. 8 election. Ford Motor hires, from Florida to Texas extend beyond Amazon’s Seattle Co (F.N) last week reversed plans and California, will be key to headquarters to communities for a $1.6 billion factory in Mexico the company’s promise of two- across the United States, CEO and said it would add 700 jobs in day shipping to members of its Jeff Bezos said in the release. Michigan after receiving criticism Amazon Prime shopping club, Amazon did not break down what from Trump. which has given it an edge over share of jobs would go to corporate The President-elect on rivals. roles versus fulfillment work.

Wednesday said he will be “the

BGC Partners analyst A spokesman for Trump’s greatest jobs producer that God Colin Gillis said hiring was transition team gave the ever created.” expected. “Amazon continues president-elect partial credit for Trump previously had to meaningfully grow above the announcement. criticized Amazon during his e-commerce rates and continues “The president-elect met campaign, saying the technology to take share from traditional with heads of several of the tech giant did not pay its fair share of retailers,” he said. companies and urged them to keep taxes.

The e-commerce giant said in their jobs and production inside Amazon shares were October it would add 26 fulfillment the United States,” spokesman up less than 1 percent in early centers in 2016, mostly in North Sean Spicer told reporters. afternoon trading.

America. More are under

Job creation has become

Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Randall Stephenson testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee Antitrust Subcommittee during a hearing on the proposed deal between AT&T and Time Warner in Washington, U.S., December 7, 2016.

AT&T Inc (T.N) Chief Executive Randall Stephenson on Thursday met in New York with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, an opponent of the company’s acquisition of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N).

A spokeswoman for Trump confirmed the meeting after Stephenson was seen entering Trump Tower. Stephenson, who was accompanied

by Robert Quinn, AT&T’s senior executive vice president for external and legislative affairs, would not answer questions from reporters.

AT&T said later on Thursday that the company’s $85.4 billion deal for Time Warner was not discussed.

“The conversation focused on how AT&T can work with the Trump administration to increase investment in the U.S., stimulate job creation in America, and make American companies more competitive globally,” AT&T said in a statement.

During his campaign for the White House, Trump said AT&T’s proposal to buy Time Warner, owner of CNN and the Warner Bros movie studio, was an example of a “power structure” that was rigged against him and voters.

“It’s too much concentration of power in the hands of too few,” said Trump, who has repeatedly accused the media of being biased against him and his campaign.

Since the election, Trump has not commented publicly on the AT&T-Time Warner deal, but he has been critical of CNN. He sparred with a CNN reporter on Wednesday during a televised news conference.

A person briefed on the matter said AT&T requested the meeting with Trump late last week.

As Thursday’s meeting was about to get under way, Trump tweeted: “@CNN is in a total meltdown with their FAKE NEWS because their ratings are tanking since election and their credibility will soon be gone.”

Representatives from AT&T and Time Warner declined to comment on Trump’s tweet.

A Trump transition official told Reuters earlier this month that the president-elect still opposed the deal, which would require antitrust approval by the U.S. Department of Justice.

It could also face a review by the Federal Communications Commission, although the companies are considering ways to structure the deal to avoid that.

Time Warner shareholders will meet on Feb. 15 to decide whether to approve the merger.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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AMANYARA PROVIDENCIALES TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS RESORT MANAGER Resort Manager oversee product stocking, accounting, and marketing efforts at the resort. As the resort manager, he/she will assisted in the management of the daily room inventory function, handled all guest requests and issues. Assisted with the evaluation and implementation of service and revenue programs.

Supervised various department managers. The individual will oversee and approve marketing and sales campaigns, and will required to approve discounts drafted by your marketing and sales coordinators. Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management.

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER The position of Controller is critical to the efficient and successful operation of both Hotel and Villas (private homes), having responsibility for maintaining & improving accounting systems, internal controls & processes. The Controller is responsible for ensuring financial results are maximized, through effective budgeting, forecasting and cost controls. The role requires a team player with strong operational & financial focus, good judgment, passion, vision and exceptional leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities: 1) Assume responsibility for all day-to day accounting functions within the Hotel and the Villas, including banking, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, inventory, and cash management.

2) Lead the accounting teams, ensuring all daily operational & financial transactions are prepared accurately and in a timely manner. Hire, train, and evaluate the performance of the accounting team members.

3) Produce month-end & year-end financial statements in an accurate and timely manner, analyzing, understanding and communicating the relationship between actual results to budget and prior year and provide commentary on variances.

4) Review and continually improve internal controls, processes and procedures to ensure financial information is complete & accurate and to ensure the security of assets.

5) As an active member of the Management Team, assist the GM & Division Heads in budget preparation, business plans & the gathering of financial data for special projects & reports. Recommend and implement cost savings strategies.

Job Requirements: Minimum requirement of a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/ Finance. Complete knowledge of hotel accounting systems and procedures, 8 to 10 years of Managerial Accounting/ Finance experience and; exceptional analytical ability required.

Advanced Excel skills, ability to plan, prioritize & implement effectively multitask while working effectively in a fast paced and ever changing and challenging environment.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER Oversee operations of all Food and Beverage outlets in a 5 star luxury resort, with a least 5 years’ experience as F & B Manager. Strong track record of maintain consistent standards, continually training outlet staffs and promoting an atmosphere of teamwork.

Strong Financial skills track record of building/increasing outlet revenue, experience implementing new F&B concepts. Exceptional knowledge of different types of cuisine and wine including how menus are developed, pricing guidelines and how to improve results.

Duties Include: Plan and manage the Restaurant, Room Service and personal functions. Develop and implement special promotions and employees incentives; Create department budget and financial reports, and monitor status to adjust as appropriate.

EAM ROOMS & VILLAS MANAGER Reporting to: General Manager and working in tandem with EAM F&B Breakdown of Responsibilities - Candidate Traits Must have Good Selling skills and great PR skills.

•European or North American Hospitality School degree •Understanding of Asian hospitality, Experience in top luxury resorts a must, Experience in multicultural environments– we have 26 nationalities.

Island or remote location experience, Best of the best attitude and performer, Multilingual in European languages a must (3 languages) Grasp of North American and European Travel Trade-Brazil a plus. Self– Supervision on Revenue projects, Very tight Time Management skills as our deadlines are measured by seconds, Natural Selling ability Expert in Rooms Operations, Strong Villa or high-end suite experience a must, Patient and Go– To person. Always says yes, unless a better alternative is provided. Flexibility – Candidate has to tread carefully on corporate lines (Aman philosophy) while still generating Creative Conceptual Revenue ideas, Fast and accurate Depiction of figures & statistics.

Villa Operational and Owner relations: Focuses on overall quality and standards of 20 villa operation with assistance of Villa Coordinator, Villa Head Chef and Villa Senior Butler (overseeing 20 teams of villa employees) Personally handles more difficult requests from individual owners (around 15). Ensures all villas are rented in an equally distributed manner, villa expenses are kept in line, and co-ordinates with engineering/housekeeping, ensure villas are in top shape, creates special events for the 4 peak holiday that villa owners visit resort, Implements, communication tool (newsletter) keep villa

owners up-to-date monthly.

ASST. FINANCIAL CONTROLLER The position of Asst. Controller is critical to the efficient and successful operation of both Hotel and Villas (private homes), having responsibility to help maintain & improve accounting systems, internal controls & processes. Working along with Financial Controller in is responsibility for ensuring financial results are maximized, through effective budgeting, forecasting and cost controls. This role requires a team player with strong operational & financial focus, good judgment, passion, vision and exceptional leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities: 1) Assume some responsibilities for day-to day accounting functions within the Hotel and Villas, including banking, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, inventory, and cash management.

2) Lead the accounting team, ensuring all daily operational & financial transactions is prepared accurately and in a timely manner when Financial Controller is absent. Help train, and evaluate the performance of the accounting team members.

3) Help produce monthly & yearly financial statements reporting to Financial Controller in an accurate and timely manner, analyzing, understanding and communicating the relationship between actual results to budget.

Job Requirements: Minimum requirement of a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance Complete knowledge of hotel accounting systems and procedures 4 to 5 years of Managerial Accounting/ Finance experience and; Exceptional analytical ability required.

Advanced Excel skills, ability to plan, prioritize & implement effectively multitask while working effectively in a fast paced environment.

IT MANAGER Candidate must have these qualifications: At least a degree in Computer Science or (5) Years’ experience, in Cisco Unified Networking, Routing, Switching, Firewall, Bandwidth Management. Cisco Call Manager VOIP, Unified Wireless, Micros Opera PMS, Micros 9700 POS, IP CCTV. Active Directory, Windows Server Administration, Linux Server Administration, Copper & Fiber Optic Cabling. General User end desktop repair / maintenance and administration.

PROCUREMENT CLERK This individual will maintain an open communication between the Income Auditor and Cost Controller with export of documentation from a foreign country, such as Indonesia, and all the Asian countries that the resort deals with. Ability to source different vendors, price negotiation and speak the different languages.

Minimum of 5 to7 years’ experience dealing with Asian products especially. Must be able to work with others in a fast-paced environment, solid research skills with commitment to learn about new products.

SR. LOST PREVENTION COORDINATOR This position requires at least (3) years of experience as a Loss Prevention/ Security Officer; or law enforcement officer involving guest/public contact. Also working knowledge of all procedures and process of Loss Prevention and be highly motivated. Good communication, written and oral skills a must. This individual will be conducting inspections, identified potential security issues along with other duties as management requires.

PRIVATE VILLA HOUSEKEEPERS/HOST/COOKS/KITCHEN HELPER Minimum 2 to 3 years’ experience working in a 5-star resort, private estate or luxury motor yacht with solid food and beverage service experience. Chef de Partie, Demi Chef, Commis Chef, Pastry Chef in a luxury resort, cruise ship, private estate or 5-star restaurant, knowledge of Asian and Mediterranean Cuisines. Fluent in English and possess the confidence to communicate directly with villa owners and renters. Must be self-motivated flexible and hard-working this is a live-in position and extended working hours are required when villa is occupied.

BEACH ATTENDANT/TENNIS KNOCKER & GYM ATTENDANT Experience in one or more of the following areas: Sailing (hobby boats), clublevel tennis playing ability, operation of gym equipment and personal training.

Must be a good swimmer and able to teach snorkeling; Well presented with good communication skills and friendly yet professional demeanor. Recent CPR, First Aid or Life Saving Skills MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN At least five years experience in a resort with knowledge of A/C and refrigeration systems repair and maintenance, sound knowledge of plumbing and electrical systems, kitchen equipment and laundry machines repairs. Knowledge of laundry steam boilers and steam systems.

All positions require a flexible schedule (which may include holidays, weekends and evenings) and extended hours on occasion. Salaries based on experience and qualifications.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE WEDNESDAYS ONLY 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. E-mail mstubbs@ aman.com

Page 44

WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

SPORTS

Stephen Curry’s early struggles have the Warriors set to dominate the NBA

The Golden State Warriors are too smart — and too good — to let Stephen Curry struggle for very long.

Of course, the Warriors don’t need much improvement to be considered 2017 NBA title favorites.

As friend of the program Rob Mahoney pointed out this week, Golden State is on pace to dominate the competition even with Curry playing at less than 100 percent.

Yet those same early-season struggles from Curry have the Warriors on track to be their best selves — and without Curry’s deflated performance to start this season it’s hard to imagine the Warriors would be clawing and fighting to improve upon their already lofty standards.

Perfect can be the enemy of good, as the ol’ saying (more or less) goes. When you’re truly elite, however, “good enough” is too often the enemy of greatness. Kevin Durant learned that all-too-harsh lesson during his time in Oklahoma City. KD and Russell Westbrook did everything they could to win a title, only to fall short year after year because of an unimaginative offense that left too much to be desired.

Had Curry and Durant struck a similar balancing act in the opening month of the season, perhaps they’d be steamrolling through the NBA as the Thunder duo once did. But would that level approach what the Warriors can be at their very best? And would it

be enough to top LeBron’s Cavaliers?

Instead, Golden State got the hardest part of adding a star free agent out of the way as soon as possible. Because of Curry’s struggles, Durant had to pick up the slack for the Warriors, which got KD comfortable within a new system, playing with new teammates. By the new year, Durant was fully integrated with his new squad, to the point that we’re starting to forget he ever played for another team.

The Warriors let Durant seep into the cracks in their foundation that he felt best-suited to fill, watching to see what flaws remained after he settled in. So while Durant made himself comfortable as the new kid in town, Curry took a bird’s-eye view of things. His relative ineffectiveness was the by-product of a measured hesitation, as the two-time MVP wanted to make sure everyone else was at their best before he started to take care of himself. That’s what a point guard — and a leader — does, after all.

Two months into the season, when the time was right, Curry made his voice heard. The Warriors were very good; if they were going to be great, they needed to change. They needed more simple pick-and-roll instead of complicated sets designed to use multiple off-ball screens to get a shooter open while everyone else watched the play unfold.

That, in turn, makes games like win over the Portland Trail Blazers even more terrifying.

We saw a glimpse of Golden State’s continued evolution on Wednesday, as Curry finished with 35 points and on 12-for-25 shooting (including 13 3-point attempts). Yet the numbers mattered less than the process. For the first time in seemingly forever, Curry was free to operate with the ball in his hands. He and Durant engaged in that ever-lethal pick-androll they’ve practically begged coach Steve Kerr to install in his offensive system, and it worked wonders in gutting Portland’s atrocious defense.

At times, Curry dribbled the rock into the ground, to be sure.

There were fleeting moments when you questioned whether there was any end to his ballhandling means. In sum, though, the Wednesday win was Curry at his best — and the Warriors at the top of their game, too.

Curry’s success didn’t come at the expense of his fellow superstars. Durant was his typical lava-spewing self, Draymond Green toyed with Portland on both ends, and Klay Thomspon did his thing as the release valve in Golden State’s offense (although admittedly, Thompson had a bit of an off night vs. the Blazers).

Yes, that clockwork performance came against one of the NBA’s worst defense, but the Warriors’ gorgeous offense was a sight to behold

Stephen Curry in Oakland.

There’s still work to be done in Golden State, without a doubt. The sum can grow ever greater than the parts. But the Warriors learned last season how dangerous peaking too soon can be. In 2017, Golden State is running right on time — and it’s becoming harder and harder to find flaws in these Warriors.

Jimmy Adams takes over as West Indies director of cricket

Jimmy Adams has a three-year contract as West Indies director of cricket and will be based in Antigua

Former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams has taken over as the director of cricket at the West Indies Cricket Board. Adams, who turned 49 on Monday, replaces Richard Pybus, who opted to not renew his contract having served in the role for three years.

Last week, ESPNcricinfo reported Adams had accepted the job but was negotiating the terms.

On Tuesday, the WICB announced Adams’ appointment stating his contract was for three years.

Adams had stepped down last October as the head coach at Kent, a role he had served in since 2012. The timing of his departure from Kent was not lost on many as it had come less than a month after the WICB had sacked Phil Simmons as the West Indies coach.

Adams did apply for the

vacant head coach position of the West Indies, but was persuaded to take up the role of the director of cricket instead. Incidentally, Pybus was part of the selection panel that picked Adams.

“Jimmy thinks the timing is right for his new role with the WICB,” the WICB media release said. Adams said he was looking forward to contributing to the growth of West Indies cricket. “I am very excited to be directly involved in Caribbean cricket once again, and I look forward to working with all those committed to moving the game forward in the West Indies.”

His predecessor, Pybus, acknowledged the scope of the challenge Adams faced, but felt the Jamaican was well suited to take over the role.

“I look forward to

Send us your sports reports and photos to sun@suntci.com And we will publish them at no cost

Jimmy bringing the breadth of his international experience and knowledge of cricket in the Caribbean to continue the work of rebuilding West Indies Cricket,” Pybus said in the release. “It is an exciting time for cricket in the region, with the momentum of the [T20] World Cup’s success and the professional cricket structures beginning to produce players capable of competing and excelling at international level.”

Prior to returning to the West Indies to take on the director of cricket role, Adams served West Indies cricket in a variety of positions including West Indies U-19 manager. As a player, he made his Test debut in April 1992 and played 54 Tests, with a highest score of 208 not out against New Zealand, and also played 127 ODIs.

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 45

WORLD SPORTS

West Indies reject proposal to tour Pakistan for T20Is

West Indies’ proposed tour to Pakistan for two T20Is in mid-March is off the table, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. The WICB rejected the PCB’s proposal for the tour after receiving advice on security from the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations. The WICB has also cancelled an expected security recce, which was planned for later this month. The two boards, however, continue to discuss the possibility of two T20 internationals in Florida on March 19 and 20.

It is understood that earlier this week the West Indies Players Association wrote to FICA, seeking advice on the current security situation in Pakistan.

FICA reportedly gave WIPA the latest security advisory from its security consultants, Eastern Star

International, who provide security for various international boards including the ECB, Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and the ICC.

In the report, FICA warned that the risk level in Pakistan remains “at an extremely elevated state” and that “an acceptable level of participant security and safety cannot be expected or guaranteed”.

Earlier this month, FICA’s report on player safety and security strongly discouraged players from traveling to Lahore for the Pakistan Super League final, scheduled for March 5.

According to the proposal, Lahore was likely to host the two matches on March 18 and 19, followed by two matches in Florida, which are still being discussed and are likely to go ahead.

On Wednesday, the WICB released the schedule of Pakistan’s

McGregor was offered $15m for crossover fight: Mayweather

Boxer Floyd Mayweather cheers on the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden

Floyd Mayweather said he The biggest pay-per-view has offered UFC champion Conor draw in mixed martial arts, McGregor McGregor$15 million and a percentage is contracted to UFC and the of pay-per-view sales for a crossover organization would have to approve any fight. boxing bout.

Mayweather, who retired in Mayweather, who won world September of 2015 after accumulating titles in five weight divisions and a perfect 49-0 record, told ESPN he took home earnings in excess of $800 would require a guaranteed $100 million over his 19-year boxing career, said initial talks had taken place. million to make the fight happen.

“I’m a businessman and it “We tried to make the Conor makes business sense,” the 39-year- McGregor fight,” he added. “They old American said. “Bring him over know what my number is. My number to the boxing world, and I’ll show him is a guaranteed 100 million. That was what it’s like.” Irishman McGregor, my number. the reigning lightweight and former “We are willing to give him featherweight UFC champion, has 15 million and then we can talk about been challenging Mayweather to a splitting the percentage, the back end, fight for months. on the pay-per-view.”

seven-week tour of the Caribbean, beginning from March, which comprises two T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests across five venues. As per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP), four Tests had been originally slated for this series, but one Test was dropped from the itinerary to accommodate the proposed tour of Pakistan and the T20Is in the USA.

West Indies are the third team - after Ireland and Sri Lanka to reject travelling to Pakistan in the last two years.

In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since 2009, when an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus resulted in the suspension of international cricket from Pakistan.

The ICC, however, had refused to send its match officials for the series.

The PCB appointed its own match

officials, and hoped the Zimbabwe series would serve as a stepping stone to reviving international cricket in the country. That ambition, however, suffered a setback when a suicide attack took place near the Gaddafi Stadium during the second ODI. Zimbabwe, though, played the third and final ODI two days later and completed the tour.

The PCB remains firm in its plan to host the Pakistan Super League final in Lahore on March 5, and has drawn up contingency plans to replace those overseas players unwilling to travel to the country due to security reasons. The board has decided to hold a new draft in the last week of February to bring in foreign players who will be willing to travel to Pakistan in place of those who will opt out.

Best Day Ever: Destanee Hits With Serena, Her Inspiration

Last week, Destanee Aiava became the first player born this millennium to win a main draw match at a WTA event.

Next week, the 16-yearold Australian will be the first player born in the 2000s to play in the main draw at a Grand Slam tournament, thanks to a wild-card entry to the Australian Open.

This week, the highlight has been hitting with Serena Williams, the 22-time Grand Slam champion and the inspiration for Aiava’s career.

Aiava was 5 when she watched one of the Williams’ matches on TV, and told her parents that tennis was going to be her career.

Her parents took her seriously, and her mother became her learn-as-she-goes coach.

On Thursday, the 35-yearold Williams did a promotional appearance for her racket sponsor on Margaret Court Arena, including a hit up against the Melbourne schoolgirl.

Asked what it was like to hit with the six-time Australian Open winner, Aiava paused for a while before Williams chimed in with an answer for her: “Great.”

Aiava laughed, admitting she was more nervous meeting Williams than she had been playing in an exhibition tournament earlier in the day.

“It’s actually one of the best days of my life,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of fun today, getting to hit with Serena. Hopefully there’ll

be more opportunities like this in future.”

Williams is seeded No. 2 at Melbourne Park, where she lost the final last year to Angelique Kerber. She lost the French Open final to Garbine Muguruza before winning Wimbledon to equal Steffi Graf ’s Open Era record of 22 major titles.

Aiava, who was born on May 10, 2000, and was No. 386 at the start of the season, has already met the long-retired Graf, her prize for winning the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament in Paris in 2012.

After her first-round win in Brisbane last week, she lost to two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova. So she’s getting more comfortable in elite tennis company.

The arena where she hit with Williams carries the name of the woman who holds the record for most Grand Slam singles titles — Margaret Court won 24 from 1960 to 1973 in a career that spanned the amateur and Open eras.

Williams is aiming for 23 when the Australian Open starts Monday and, with her competitive spirit, there’s little doubt there’s another target for her in the future.

For now, though, she’s not prepared to mention those milestones.

“I’m not talking about that,” Williams said Thursday, despite some extra urging. “I said I’m not talking about that, move on.”

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

Come and join our winning team at Seven Star Resort & Spa The following positions are currently available

SENIOR SOUS CHEF We are looking for a professional Sous Chef to be the second in command in our kitchen, following our Executive Chef ’s specifications and guidelines. The successful candidate will employ its culinary and managerial skills in order to play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing our customers’ satisfaction.

Requirements: •5 to 15 culinary experiences in a five star hotel/resort •Knowledgeable in international cuisine such as Japanese and other Asian dishes •HACCP knowledge, self-motivated and passion for hospitality and cooking •Excellent palate and attention to detail •Understanding of various cooking methods, ingredients, equipment and procedures Duties and Responsibilities: •Help in the preparation and design of all food and drinks menus •Produce high quality plates both design and taste wise •Ensure that the kitchen operates in a timely way that meets our quality standards •Fill in for the Executive Chef in planning and directing food preparation when necessary •Resourcefully solve any issues that arise and seize control of any problematic situation •Manage and train kitchen staff, establish working schedule and assess staff ’s performance •Order supplies to stock inventory appropriately •Comply with and enforce sanitation regulations and safety standard Salary range: USD26,000 to USD30,000 Position currently held by a work permit holder DUTY MANAGER The duty manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of a hotel and its staff. They have commercial accountability for budgeting and financial management, planning, organizing and directing all hotel services, including frontof-house (reception, concierge, and reservations), food and beverage operations, and housekeeping.

Requirements: •Checks cleanliness of lobby and public areas, lights and as well as front office staff in proper and orderly appearance and behaviour •Gives the instructions to the Night Reception, during the high occupancy periods, regarding: guests and release room blocked because of no- shows •Handles guest complaints and other related problems •Maintains and be guided of hotel policy on credit/lost and found hotel guests properties •Follows up in credit check report, liaise with credit manager •To responsible for front office operation during the absence of Front Office Manager (HO) •Conducts and ensures the neat of appearance of front office attendant as well as correct attitude and behaviour, discusses problems that encountered on this point with front office manager, assistant front office manager and their shift leaders.

Skills & abilities (required technical/functional skills) •Working knowledge of opera system version 5, computers and Microsoft office suite with proficiency in excel and word •Well organized with great written and verbal communication skills •Outgoing personality with excellent interpersonal skills, comfortable speaking and enjoy working with people.

•Able to multi-task several projects at once and establish priorities amongst competing interests. Proactive problem solver and must be bilingual in Italian or French PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: •Must be able to sit, stand, walk, talk and listen for a lengthy period of time.

•Must possess good vision.

Experience Essential •At least 3 to 4 years years 5 star hotel managerial experience or combination of education and experience Salary range: USD30,000 to USD 35,500 per annum. Position currently held by a work permit holder SPA THERAPISTS Candidates will join our team in our newly expanded award winning Spa and will be therapists as well as have opening and closing duties.

Duties and Requirements: •5 years’ experience as a therapist and relevant degree or equivalent combination of experience and education.

•Knowledge of holistic concepts and treatments including facials, full body treatments, massages, physiotherapy, and manicures and pedicures.

•Enthusiastic demeanor with excellent customer service skills •Must be able to work long hours and split shift.

Salary $6.31 per hour (plus commission). Position held by a work permit hold LEAD SERVER Candidate will lead their section team and at times be responsible for opening or closing the restaurant including responsibility for end of day procedures.

•Suitable candidates must have a minimum of 4 years’ experience working in a lead position at a five-star resort or fine dining restaurant in a lead position •High energy with excellent interpersonal skills •Excellent command of English language (writing/reading/speaking) •Experience with point-of-service system, prior cashier or banking experience preferred Wages: $7.60 per hour and position currently held by a work permit holder

RESTAURANT MANAGER: The Restaurant Manager’s main responsibility is to manage the entire restaurant and the staff in the restaurant and ensures all daily duties are done in order to serve our guests efficiently and professionally •Oversee the implementation of service and brand standards in the restaurant •Ensure all staff is trained on the company standards and acts in compliance to the standards •Monitor food & beverage cost in the restaurant and ensure minimum waste occurs •Monitor the POS system and ensure all transactions are properly recorded and settled according to company rules •Ensure daily opening and closing procedures are performed according to standards •Responsible for training, developing and motivating staff •Replenish supplies and inventory in a timely and efficient manner, minimizing waste and controlling cost •Ensure that the restaurant and all restaurant equipment is in proper operational condition and is cleaned on a regular basis •Ensure the restaurant is in compliance with the current health and safety standards at all times •Directly responsible for meeting financial, service and guest satisfaction targets for assigned outlet Skills and Qualifications: •Previous five star restaurant management •Previous experience working with multi-cultural/multi-ethnic groups •Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience •Ability to build, train and maintain teams Salary range: USD24,000 to USD 25,500 per annum. New Position Housekeeping Turndown Attendant / Labourer Clean, stock, and provide turn down service for guest rooms to ensure cleanliness and guest satisfaction while caring enough to do it well by adhering to the Resort Commitments.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities •Provide turn down service by partially removing and storing bedspread, replenishing amenities, linens, and supplies and filling ice bucket as requested by guest •Wipe down tub and sink area •Sign for room keys and restock cart and visually inspect room for cleanliness •Strip and make beds, change linens and dust all furniture thoroughly •Replenish amenities, linens, and supplies in guest room •Respond in a timely manner to guest requests for items and/or other information Job knowledge/Skills/Abilities •Ability to work conscientiously, meets deadlines, follows instruction and directions, with minimal supervision and detailed oriented •Ability to stand, sit, kneel constantly to handle specific details or demands of quality and speedy guest services •Ability to push, lift and/or pull equipment up to or more than 100 lbs •Ability to scrub and scour surfaces, extend arms over head to perform cleaning tasks, and work in confined spaces •Additional language abilities preferred Salary range: USD12,000 to USD 13,500 per annum. Position currently held by a work permit holder ACCOUNTANT: We are seeking an accomplished individual with demonstrated qualification and experiences as an accountant.

Requirements: •Demonstrated strong experience & background in Finance with specific emphasis on financial reporting, investments, risk management and cash flow analysis.

•Excellent people skills, high-energy, entrepreneurial spirit, and professionalism.

•Caribbean or similar International exposure.

•Must have received Bachelors in Accounting or equivalent and 5 to 10 years’ experience in Finance.

•Must be able to work long hours, nights, weekends and holidays Responsible for: Assist in the preparation of the Company’s financial budgeting, payroll and forecast process.

•Provide leadership in establishing high-quality standards within the accounting department and must possess excellent communication and leadership skills.

•Assist in the preparation of budget presentations; the production of periodic financials, statistics and operational metrics for senior management Salary range: USD25,000 to USD30,000 per annum (Salary is negotiable and based on level, experience and qualifications) OTHER POSITIONS •Carpenter Nail Technician •Kids Camp Attendant Chief Stewart

Salary range: USD12,000 to $17,000 per annum and is based on experience and qualification. Some position currently held by a work permit holder.

ONLY CANDIDATES MEETING ABOVE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED. Candidates should apply to Seven Stars Resort & Spa, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales via e-mail at hr@sevenstarsgracebay.com for consideration or should leave CV’s at the security building for the attention of HR. Prospective applicants who are Islanders kindly send copies of your application to the board.

Application deadline: October 30, 2016

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 47

ENTERTAINMENT

Paris Jackson ‘wants to vomit’ The Weeknd climbs seeing white actor as ‘King of Pop’ back to top of Billboard 200 with ‘Starboy’

Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris says she is “incredibly offended” by a new comic film in which a white British actor, Joseph Fiennes, portrays the late “King of Pop.”

Paris Jackson, 18, also called the tongue-in-cheek film vomit-inducing in a series of tweets following this week’s release of a trailer from Britain’s satellite TV channel Sky Arts.

The 30-minute “Urban Myths” series on Sky Arts explores real-life stories involving well-known figures, “using a generous dose of artistic license,” Sky Arts said in statement.

The story about Jackson casts Fiennes in a re-imagined tale of a road trip across the United States that the “Thriller” singer is said to have taken in 2001 with movie stars Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando.

Jackson, who had the medical condition vitiligo that lightened the color of his skin, died in June 2009 at the age of 50 after an overdose of the sedative propofol.

The trailer unleashed a new round of outrage on social media about whitewashing, in which white actors are cast to portray characters of other ethnicities.

Asked to comment by Jackson fans on seeing Fiennes

Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris attending a ceremony where the singer’s shoes and gloves are used to make hand and foot imprints in cement in the courtyard of Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on January 26, 2012 as her father, Paris Jackson Twitter. tweeted on Wednesday that she Sky Arts said last year was “incredibly offended by it, as when the project was announced i’m sure plenty of people are as that it “gives producers the well, and it honestly makes me creative freedom to cast roles as want to vomit.” they wish, within the diversity

“It angers me to see how framework which we have set.” obviously intentional it was for Fiennes, who appeared in them to be this insulting, not “Shakespeare in Love” and the TV just towards my father, but my series “American Horror Story,” godmother liz as well,” she said, could not be reached for comment. referring to Jackson’s close friend, But the actor said last year that the late Elizabeth Taylor. although he was surprised at

One of Jackson’s nephews, being picked to play the singer, Taj Jackson, also objected. he meant no disrespect.

“Unfortunately this is The Sky Arts TV film is what my family has to deal with. expected to be released later this No word could express the blatant year. disrespect,” Taj Jackson wrote on

Chris Brown & Soulja Boy Might Fight In Dubai

Chris Brown & Soulja Boy

While an exact location hasn’t yet been set for the boxing match between Chris Brown and Soulja Boy, one thing is looking certain, and that is the fight won’t take place in the United States.

According to TMZ, there are rules and regulations in place (including a mandatory drug test for amateur fighters) that would block such a fight from going down on U.S. soil.

Instead, Dubai has been

thrown around as a possible location for the fight between the newly feuding duo. The lavish United Arab Emirates city was named as an option after Las Vegas was shot down as a hosting location.

Despite not taking place in the U.S., those involved in the fight are also reportedly confident that the two musicians could cash out big time if their match is aired on Pay-Per-View.

News of a possible location for the battle between Breezy and Soulja comes shortly after Soulja Boy let loose a series of flip-flopping social media posts.

In a series of tweets sent this week, the Atlanta rapper boasted on wanting to beat down Chris Brown “for Rihanna,” and declared that the streets don’t respect the singer.

Shortly after Soulja let his Twitter fingers fly, he uploaded a video where he referred to Chris Brown as a “brother,” and revealed that he has no beef with him.

“Chris is my brother, man. We been on tour. We got songs together. Brothers fight.

Sometimes brothers fight,” Soulja said in a video uploaded to Instagram.

Although Soulja promoted a March date for the fight in his IG video, an exact date and location has yet to be confirmed.

Canadian hip hop singer The Weeknd

LOS ANGELES: Canadian hip hop singer The Weeknd climbed back to the top of the weekly U.S. Billboard 200 album chart on Monday, in a quiet week where no new entries cracked into the top 10.

“Starboy,” which was in the No. 2 spot last week, sold 69,000 album units including 59 million album streams for the week ending Jan. 5, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.

The album initially debuted at No. 1 after its release in November.

The soundtrack to Disney’s hit animated film “Moana” climbed four spots to No. 2 this week with sales of 64,000 album units, while Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” remained steady at No. 3 with 45,000 more album units sold..

The Billboard 200 album chart tallies units from album sales, song sales (10 songs equal one album) and streaming activity (1,500 streams equal one album).

Last week’s chart-topper, U.S. a cappella group Pentatonix’ festive “A Pentatonix Christmas,” dropped to No. 41 this week.

On the Digital Songs chart, which measures online song sales, Mars’ upbeat single “24K Magic” climbed from No. 7 to No. 1 with 77,000 copies sold.

British singer Ed Sheeran is likely to make a big impact on the song charts next week after releasing two singles, “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill.”

Both tracks made Spotify history over the weekend after breaking the streaming platform’s previous first-day record with a combined 13 million global streams, each tallying more than 6 million streams.

The tracks overtook the previous record holder, One Direction’s “Drag Me Down,” which was streamed 4.8 million times on its first day of release in August 2015.

France puts three suspects under investigation over Kardashian robbery The Paris prosecutor has placed three people suspected of involvement in the armed robbery of U.S. reality television star Kim Kardashian under formal investigation, the prosecutor’s office said on Thursday.

A spokesman for the office said the three were being investigated for armed robbery as part of an

organized gang and for kidnapping or sequestration. They will remain in provisional detention.

On Monday, police investigating the robbery arrested 17 people, including a chauffeur who drove Kardashian around Paris in the days before the robbery.

In the early hours of Oct. 3, thieves wearing balaclavas and police

jackets burst into the luxury property in central Paris where Kardashian, who is married to U.S. rapper Kanye West, was sleeping.

They tied her up at gunpoint before making off on bicycles with her engagement ring and other jewels worth 9 million euros ($9.5 Kim Kardashian West participates in a television interview as million), authorities said at the she arrives for the 20th Annual Webby Awards in Manhattan, New York, U.S., May 16, 2016. time.

Page 48

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 14TH, 2017 – JANUARY 21ST, 2017

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