April 11-17, 2015

Weekly News Volume 29 | No. 15 | April 11 - 17, 2015

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wage increase

this May

Minister of Finance, Washington Misick on Thursday (April 9) gave assurances that the delay in the 25 percent increase in PAGE  5 the minimum wage is a mere administrative misstep.

Young Corporate Alliance officially launched  10 PAGE

Work permits FortisTCI complains Gov’t freezes still being used to of obstacles to wind gaming PAGE  5 energy technology PAGE balance the budget licences again PAGE  4 4

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

April 11 - 17, 2015

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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NEWS

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FortisTCI complains of obstacles to wind energy technology

BY DELANA ISLES THE PLANNING Department is allegedly making it “almost impossible” for FortisTCI to develop and possibly deploy wind energy technology in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The complaint was contained in the utility company’s last statement to the public on the decrease in the fuel factor two weeks ago.

That excerpt read: “We are experiencing obstacles from the Government’s Planning Department that will make the development and possible deployment of wind energy technology in the Turks and Caicos Islands almost impossible, and unless these barriers are overcome, they will bring our planned wind initiatives to a halt.”

This week, the Weekly News contacted the company’s president and chief executive officer (CEO), Eddinton Powell for further details on the obstacles in the way the company rolling out a wind energy technology project.

He said that the planning approval received for the project is extremely conditional and is not amicable to the development of the test project that FortisTCI seeks to run.

Powell noted that the conditions set out make it impossible for proper testing or long-term utility scale implementation of wind-

powered electricity generation by the company.

“A one-year time limit was imposed to run this project, which is too short a time-frame to collect appropriate data.

“It is also not economically feasible to test this project for one year,” the CEO added.

He stated that the entire venture is an expensive one, but in order to integrate wind technology on the current electricity grid, Fortis must be able to carry out appropriate testing to determine how wind technology (which is an intermittent source of energy) will integrate with the grid.

Another condition imposed requires that the utility company “dismantle the structure upon the issuance of a hurricane warning by the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies.”

However, Powell stated that this is against the recommendations of the manufacturer.

He added that not only did the manufacturer write a letter to the Planning Board detailing that the wind turbines are built to hurricane standards (which was presented to the board in a subsequent meeting by contractors and personnel of FortisTCI), the manufacturer also explained that it is extremely dangerous to have anyone attempt to dismantle the turbine with an

Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Bird - News Editor Delana Isles - Senior Reporter Daisy Handfield - Staff Reporter Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Cord Garrido-Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large) Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams - Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/tcweeklynews Twitter: twitter.com/tcweeklynews1

impending storm.

He noted that on a broader perspective, the stipulation would discourage anyone within the Turks and Caicos Islands seeking to establish wind-powered electricity generation.

Asked how close the company is to making wind-powered electricity generation a reality in the TCI, the CEO said that under the conditions imposed, the utility company is not close.

“The conditions have pushed the company’s plans for this project backward,” he added.

Powell said that they have brought the matter to the Premier, the minister responsible for utilities and other ministers, the respective Permanent Secretary and the Energy and Utilities Commissioner.

“We have also followed up with correspondence to the respective ministers on these matters,” he said.

The pilot project proposed by FortisTCI is not an industrial scale project, but one suited for residential use.

Eddinton Powell

The company had previously determined that through the proposed customer owned renewable energy (CORE) programme, which is to be launched this year, customers would be able to interconnect wind or solar.

But without the proper testing, wind-powered electricity generation will not be an option for those seeking to enrol in the CORE programme.

Wind power is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy, with wind farms being built in geographical areas that are conducive to consistent prevailing winds.

On a wind farm, giant wind turbines harness the kinetic energy in wind to create electricity.

The process of wind-produced electrical generation begins when

the force of the wind pushes against the turbines’ blades, causing them to rotate, creating mechanical energy.

The spinning blades, attached to a hub and a low-speed shaft, turn along with the blades.

The rotating low-speed shaft is connected to a gearbox that connects to a high-speed shaft on the opposite side of the gearbox.

The high-speed shaft connects to an electrical generator that converts the mechanical energy from the rotation of the blades into electric energy.

Spinning between 11 and 20 times per minute, each turbine can generate a maximum 1.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 500 residential homes.

Work permits still being used to balance the budget THE MASSIVE yield from work permits in the 2014/2015 financial year, some $17.2 million, has the Opposition once again criticising the Government for using this revenue stream as a budget balancer.

PDM leader, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson during her budget presentation in the House of Assembly last month, pointed to the high revenue earners – work permits and immigration fees – criticising the Government for continually using these streams to bolster their budget.

“The Ministry of Border Control while enjoying an expenditure of only 3.3 percent of the budget brings in about 10 percent in revenue, following only tourism related and customs related taxes and fees.

“Most of the streams in this ministry exceeded revenue estimates.

Labour clearances budgeted at $500,000 yielded some $741,582 at $100 each. While work permits and residency fees budgeted at $13.9 million, yielded some $17.2 million,” she pointed out.

While, the ministry continues to bring in significant gains for the Government through these streams, Deputy Speaker of the House, Josephine Connolly said that the ministry remains underfunded in critical areas.

During her contribution to the budget, she argued that more money needs to be invested in this vital ministry.

She said what the Ministry of Border Control needs as a matter of urgency is a computerised integrated system for dealing with residents.

“Our population is 30,000, not 30 million; we should be able to know who lives in our country and what their status is.

“In the Minister of Finance’s budget address on March 5 he made reference to the addition of four new staff to expedite the processing of work permits.

“We do not need more people in immigration; we need the existing people in immigration to work smarter.”

She added that immigration

officers need access to the most up-to-date technology and the work permit process needs to be streamlined alongside the change in working practices.

Pointing to the details from the ministry in the budget book, she noted that there were 975 work permit applications processed in the last financial year, and that 60 percent of work permits are issued within 30 days.

“There are over 6,000 work permit holders and it is a concern to me that according to page 3.33 in FY 14/15 there were only eight operations undertaken by the immigration department and only 20 people apprehended for no work permit and overstaying.

“It is no surprise that work permit holders do not take our immigration laws seriously, when there is so little enforcement.”

Connolly noted that the immigration department needs investment in its information technology infrastructure so that it can monitor all work permit holders in real time.

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS

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Minimum wage will increase on May 15, Finance Minister assures

BY DELANA ISLES MINISTER of Finance, Washington Misick on Thursday (April 9) gave assurances that the delay in the 25 percent increase in the minimum wage is a mere administrative misstep.

He told the Weekly News that: “It is very simple - it got pushed back because the necessary administrative steps weren’t taken to have it published.

“It will definitely be from May 15.”

He noted that the relevant ministry simply needs to go through the procedural issues to have it gazetted, and as far as he is aware that is the only issue.

He said that public consultation on the matter has been happening for several years now and that it was part of the PNP’s elections campaign in 2014.

Efforts to contact the relevant minister, Don-Hue Gardiner, whose ministry announced the delay through the Government Press Office last week, were met with no responses.

The change to the minimum wage from $5.50 to $6.25 per hour was gazetted this week and the public has until April 30 to submit any comments to the Employment Services Department in Providenciales

and Grand Turk or the District Commissioner’s Office or email them to tciminimumwagereview2014@ gov.tc.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) has renewed its call to the Government to provide workers with a living wage.

Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson told this publication on Thursday that the party is disappointed but not surprised that the Government has announced the delay and is now opening the issue for public consultation.

She said that the call is long after the Government’s alleged studies on the issue and grand announcement in February.

“The PDM continues to be amused at the frequency with which this Government flip-flops on major issues in this country.

“It is no secret that for the past two years, the PDM has been championing the cause for an increase in the country’s minimum wage frozen at $5 for nearly ten years when the cost of living has seen such a drastic increases and especially under this Rufus Ewing Government.”

The party leader reminded of the motion the party carried in the House of Assembly encouraging the

Comprehensive audit of money owed needed – PDM THE OPPOSITION PDM is calling for a comprehensive audit of all money owed to and by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

The call was made by Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, during the last sitting of the House of Assembly in March.

She said: “In this complete financial statement, it would be useful to hear of the amount of monies owed outside of structured debt, but also in reimbursements or monies held in trust and also a statement of arrears.

“There is therefore then a need for a comprehensive audit of TCIG’s

accounts in that type detail. Who Government owes and who owes Government?”

She added that useful in the audit, would be a totalling and logging of the Government’s assets which the PDM’s Shadow Minister for Government Support Service Vaden Williams is on record calling for and which will aid in a repairs plan.

“This is the type of governance that we expect in 2015 and one that is necessary.”

The Opposition Leader noted that as leaders in the TCI, they have a responsibility to the people and the people need to hold the Government to account as well.

Finance Minister Washington Misick

Government to make the increase a priority.

“We were met with excuses after excuses and finally the Hon Don-Hue Gardiner said that his Government would be carrying out studies and that his Government had already formed a committee

Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson

or working group to oversee the increase.

“A few months following, the PDM posed a question in the House of Assembly requesting an update on the work of the established committee only to be told that there were other issues that took

precedence and hence the committee could not begin, let alone complete its work.”

Cartwright Robinson added that in February, the Government announced the 25 percent increase and that the PDM again tried to find out if the studies had in fact been completed to support the amount, so as to ensure a living wage.

“We were not clear on the Government’s position and during the recent budget session, we noted the inclusion in its performance indicators of a statement that the studies had been completed.”

She noted that it is fascinating that the Government has now made it a matter for consultation at this late stage, further questioning their motives.

“We must question their motive especially when it continues to ignore the people in vital issues where studies are not carried out.”

The PDM is therefore calling on the Government to be honest with the people and to stop playing games with their lives.

Gov’t freezes gaming licences again CABINET last week agreed to a moratorium on granting future gaming licences pending a review and agreement of a gaming policy.

At that same meeting, members also approved the granting of gaming machine licences to three applicants, before the future ban was put in place.

That portfolio, previously with Premier Rufus Ewing, is now with the Minister Porsha Stubbs-Smith, who earlier this year switched portfolios with the Premier.

This is the second suspension on licences in two years, the last being in April 2013.

In 2013, there was a one year suspension, but in this instance

there has been no set time for the lifting of the ban as noted in the post Cabinet media statement.

In 2013, the one year ban was proposed by the Finance Minister, Washington Misick, who was at the time responsible for gaming in the TCI. The temporary moratorium was agreed so as to facilitate the development of a Gaming Action Plan to address the problems in the industry.

Premier Rufus Ewing had at the time said that one of the main reasons for the moratorium is proper control to reduce the opportunities for money laundering.

Later in 2013, Misick surrendered the portfolio to Ewing

to avoid perceived conflict of interest.

In April when the freeze on new gaming licences was imposed, Misick had declared that he was shareholder in the Casablanca Casino, which was the only casino at the time.

The Opposition had led the call for the surrender of Misick’s responsibility in April when the ban was first imposed.

In October 2013, PDM Deputy Leader, Sean Astwood, who first raised the concern, had stated that the independent review still could not be done.

Efforts to contact Minister Stubbs-Smith on the new ban proved futile.

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

April 11 - 17, 2015

A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day

Airport land debacle

AN APPLICATION for a judicial review into the circumstances surrounding land acquired by M Aviation for an FBO was last week turned down by the Chief Justice.

The applicant, Lyndon Gardiner of InterCaribbean Ltd, told the press after the decision that the case is just one chapter in the on-going saga of how the Government and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA) are abusing the public’s trust and acting contrary to the best interests of Belongers and all residents of the Islands.

What are your thoughts?

Shame! Shame!

Shame!

Crucify the TCIAA and those connected with this injustice against the TCI people.

This decision jeopardises our future growth and development.

The TCIG should hang their heads in shame for allowing this fiasco to continue!

Disclosure needed

There should be disclosure of how the land was acquired by M Aviation, and it would appear that the lower court is protecting the Government and allowing the matter to remain hidden, but God sees and judges all.

Too much traffic already

Our esteemed judge is very nice to look at but perhaps is not quite as experienced in judicial matters as she could be.

Be that as it may, is it such a bad thing to have a second FBO? Lyndon talks about a second taxiway but do we really want one? Perhaps many little, private jets, bringing in a few very wealthy people, will help save our supposedly ‘Beautiful by Nature’ country from becoming another crowded, dirty Miami Beach.

Every day we are seeing more comments in our own press, on Facebook, Trip Advisor and in the sometimes more legitimate USA and Canadian newspapers about how dirty the island is, how loud the music is in areas where people are paying really large dollars for peace and serenity, and how expensive the shuttle taxis are.

We do need to decide if we are going to be like everybody else and go with the crowded, filthy conditions on many other islands, or if we are going to continue to be the showcase of the Caribbean.

The greed and lack of foresight of our leaders (both parties) and their overwhelming need to stay elected, is preventing us from remaining ‘Beautiful by Nature’.

Must correct the wrong

It is a fact that Eugene Otuonye, the head of the Turks and Caicos Islands Integrity Commission, was on Governor Gordon Wetherell’s Advisory Council and was personally present when the Advisory Council voted and approved the freehold grant of Crown land at the Providenciales International Airport to Shaun Malcolm and Joshua Harvey.

Eugene Otuonye knows first-hand from his own personal knowledge that Shaun Malcolm and Joshua Harvey were the intended Belonger recipients of that Crown land grant and that Mortimer Sackler and Michel Neutelings were not intended to be the personal recipients of that Crown land at PLS without the participation of the specified locals.

Yet, despite his official knowledge and position, he has done absolutely nothing to correct the injustice.

How in the world can Eugene Otuonye or Governor Beckingham explain this total lapse of consciousness for doing the right thing in view of the overwhelming evidence?

High handedness

I am in full agreement with the sentiments expressed by Mr Gardiner on this one.

As our tourism product increases and more flights come and go, that section of the airport should have been reserved for the expansion of the airport, possibly an additional airstrip.

Certainly not an FBO to folks who are alleged to have high handed indigenous Islanders out of their initiative in an investment of an FBO. However, if indigenous people do not learn to trust each other and pool their resources for

business ventures more of this type unfortunate event will happen.

The so called ‘money people’ will continue to dominate the businesses in the TCI. What a shame!

Taxiway needed; review the case

One point raised by Lyndon Gardiner that one can’t argue is the taxiway: the south side of the runway was the only possibility to build this very badly needed facility. A simple look at Google map show this was the only available area.

The TCIAA is the regulatory body supposed to manage the airlines traffic at the airport.

They granted this particular area for M Aviation or whoever had exactly killed the parallel taxiway project.

PLS is already congested; every airport in the world is building taxiway to increase traffic or in prevision of increased traffic.

Look at Mayaguana where they already built a parallel taxiway even if traffic is one aircraft per day!

They are just thinking ahead, exactly what the TCIAA is not doing even though their mandate is to do so.

Airport is the key facility to increase tourism. The TCIAA is supposed to facilitate airport expansion so we can increase our tourism figures.

The newly built terminal is already congested. The TCIAA needs to provide explanation and solution.

On the parallel taxiway it appears the TCIAA placed private interest before the general public interest, we also need explanation.

There might be lot of politics involved but the simple question of the taxiway needs to be investigated.

The Chief Justice needs to explain how she can turn down the application in regards to the above.

As one of the main victims of this decision is tourism, I strongly suggest that the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association joins Lyndon Gardiner’s application and asks

the Chief Justice to review the case thoroughly.

Sheer hypocrisy

This seems to be hypocrisy. Lyndon Gardiner owns a huge FBO on former airport land.

He benefited extensively from his uncle’s regime.

It is alleged that anyone owning or renting a private plane can land at Lyndon’s FBO late at night and Lyndon will call the sleepy immigration-customs officials to check the plane and passengers in. Is this proper?

The real story here is how the foreign investors tricked Shaun Malcolm and Joshua Harvey out of their holdings. Lyndon would love to compete with Shaun.

Investigate Lyndon

The article in this paper indicated Lyndon has been silent and he should not have spoken. He is angry someone will now compete with him.

Lyndon’s operation was no ordinary bootstrap growth. During Uncle Mike’s years he was heavily subsidised to land in the family islands.

How did he get so much airport land and the Sky King overseas routes? Who financed him?

An investigation into Lyndon’s amazing growth in less than 10 years is long overdue.

Reward coming

Mr Gardiner, don’t give up. You shall have your just reward.

 Become a contributor Want to become a contributor or have a suggestion for a Talk Back topic for us? What questions do you think we should be putting to the public? And what are your thoughts on it?

Call our news team on 946 4664 or email tcweeklynews@gmail.com

April 11 - 17, 2015

NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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Crimes are not extraditable – Lawyer argues in David Smith’s case

BY DELANA ISLES Jill Magri (former CEO)

Hospital CEO quits – Still no word on healthcare investigation A TEMPORARY chief executive officer (CEO) has been appointed to run the hospitals in Providenciales and Grand Turk following the resignation of Jill Magri.

The former CEO of two and a half years is returning to California on May 1 to spend more time with her family and will be replaced by Dr Eric Parsons.

The news was announced in a statement from Takara Bain, press officer for InterHealth Canada which runs the facilities, on Tuesday (April 7).

It read: “The InterHealth Canada (TCI) Ltd board of directors announces that with effect from May 1, Jill Magri is leaving and will be returning to California.

“She will have held the TCI Hospital CEO position for almost two and a half years during which, under her leadership, the hospital has seen a continued increase in both patient numbers and the range and complexity of treatments offered and has continued to play an ever greater role in the life of the community, particularly through its involvement with schools and, more recently, through its affiliation with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College.

“While the directors regret Jill's decision, they respect her wish to return home to spend more time with her family; they express their gratitude for all she has done and they extend their very best wishes to her for the future.”

The directors have appointed Dr Eric Parsons, who is a former group CEO and the present InterHealth Canada group chief medical officer, to be CEO of the medical facilities on an interim basis while a permanent appointment is made.

Magri’s resignation comes at a

Eric Parsons (new interim CEO)

time when the Opposition has been clamouring for an investigation into the costly healthcare system in the TCI. In February, the House of Assembly passed a private member’s motion by the Leader of the Opposition for the investigation to be conducted.

The motion had received full support from both of the two Governor’s appointed members, John Phillips and Lillian Misick, with Premier Rufus Ewing (who is also the Minister of Health) pointing out that there is sufficient cause for concern about the delivery of healthcare in the TCI. It was passed with majority support, but to date there has been no word or movement on the hospital probe.

In March, it was brought to the public’s attention that the Governor, who should have received the resolution for possible action after its passage in the House, still did not have sight of it.

Instead, the document was with the Ministry of Health.

LAWYER for convicted fraudster David Smith has challenged the contents of an affidavit related to Smith’s extradition to the United States.

On Wednesday (April 8), attorney at law Oliver Smith threw a spanner in the works of the extradition of his client.

Smith and his lawyer appeared before Chief Magistrate Clifton Warner in the Downtown Providenciales Magistrate’s Court for what was supposed to have been a preliminary hearing into the United States’ official request for his extradition.

However, the lawyer submitted to the court that he is challenging the contents of an affidavit submitted by Bruce Ambrose in connection with the extradition.

Warner, who was not aware that the lawyer intended to make the challenge, sought guidance from the Crown on the defence’s right to cross examine the witness at this stage of the proceedings.

He said that to allow the defence’s submission would be a case of him trying the case for the US. However, Smith pointed out that the court cannot extradite his client unless the court finds that the crimes for which he is convicted are

David Smith

extraditable crimes.

He said the challenge is to the contents of the affidavit and not its validity.

However, the Crown argued that there is no requirement under the statute for Ambrose to attend an extradition hearing.

But the magistrate pointed out that the statute does not categorically state that there could not be cross examination of a witness.

It was finally agreed by the parties that the lawyers would provide case law for and against allowing a witness to give evidence at an extradition.

As such, the next hearing, set tentatively for some time in the new week, will determine if Ambrose will testify.

Following that hearing, another one will be convened to deal with the extradition request from the US. At the second hearing, Smith said he intends to submit arguments that the crimes for which his client is convicted

Under the tree

are not extraditable offences.

In a preview to his arguments, he told the magistrate that the court cannot send a person back to be sentenced for crimes that are not extraditable. But the magistrate said that he cannot go behind a conviction that went before.

Warner noted that they have gone past that stage as there is a conviction already on record.

The lawyer however maintained that the magistrate needs to satisfy himself, even though a conviction is on the record, that the crimes are extraditable crimes.

Meanwhile, in March, the US had formally requested Smith’s extradition to serve a sentence of 30 years in prison.

On January 22, Smith was released from Her Majesty’s Prison after having served a portion of his six year jail term in the TCI. He was arrested shortly after on a provisional warrant, denied bail and sent back to jail until the US’s formal extradition request.

Following the unravelling of a grand Ponzi scheme and investigations by Federal authorities, Smith was convicted of multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering both in the TCI and the US in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

He formerly operated Olint as a foreign exchange outfit that promised persons high returns that averaged 10 percent per month, but which was in fact a scheme that swindled more than $220 million from about 6,000 investors.

By Benneth Williams

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April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

We welcome letters from all members of the public on a variety of topics Please note that all submissions are subject to editing in keeping with defamation laws and newspaper style. Letters should be accompanied by the author’s full name, location and phone number. Names will be withheld if requested.

Response to ‘Terrible taxi experience’ Dear Editor, I was disturbed to read this devastating letter in the newspaper about the taxi drivers.

I find it very suspicious that Mr John Coffin cannot name the driver that drove him and his family to their destination.

We at the taxi stand maintain a log of every taxi that leaves the airport.

He never told the readers where he was staying. Sir, you are questioning the $84 fare, maybe the fare was correct.

The fare from the airport to Blue Haven Marina with a family of four is $86.

It’s a pity Mr Coffin doesn’t know the taxi that took him to his destination. All taxis have their name tags on their doors. It’s easy to identify.

Contrary to you sir, 90 percent of the guests coming to our shores see nothing wrong with our pricing system. In fact they give us even more.

I've received 10 percent, 20 percent and even 30 percent in tips when taking guest to their respective destinations.

God bless America.

I hear no complaints from others who are concerned about the guests paying $5,000 per night or $10,000 to $25,000 per week to stay in these resorts/villas and private homes in

our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.

It’s always the taxi drivers or taxi system. We are tired, let me speak for myself, I’m tired of person(s) coming here and telling us what to do and how to run our business.

Yes, like any other business in the world, we have some bad apples in our taxi system.

We are working closely with the director of Road Safety to penalise those drivers that deal in these nefarious acts.

The vast majority of the taxi drivers are fair and honest. This letter is generic and disrespectful to us in the taxi industry.

We take our responsibility to guests very seriously.

In this general letter, it’s very difficult to say sir, if you were overcharged. Let me take a minute and put your $84 in perspective, if I may: $84 cannot buy a half tank of gas.

It buys eight quarts of motor oil and $240 is required to purchase one new tire for our taxi(s).

I cannot think of any replaceable part on these taxis that cost less than $100.

Driving taxi(s) is a costly operation and Road Safety Inspectors make sure these taxi(s) are up to the prescribed standards promulgated by the Road Safety Ordinance.

We welcome letters from all members of the public on a variety of topics Please note that all submissions are subject to editing in keeping with defamation laws and newspaper style. Letters should be accompanied by the author’s full name, location and phone number. Names will be withheld if requested.

Send letters to tcweeklynews@gmail.com

Mr Coffin, prosperity has come to our shores. Thank the Lord our God. He’s the one that made this happen, not men.

I will thank him again for his goodness and kindness towards us, Turks and Caicos Islanders.

The economic pie is sliced and diced by others and it looks like you don’t want us to get the crumbs off of our own table.

Transportation is the only part of the tourist industry that Turks and Caicos Islanders are reaping any benefit.

When all is said and done, we taxi drivers are doing a fairly good job carrying our guest from Provo Airport to their various resorts/ destinations.

Is there room for improvement?

I’m sure there is and we are working with the director of road safety to make the needed changes to our industry.

As a taxi body we will looking in the newspapers or the media for disparaging letters or comments about us and we will answer to these types of letters/comments with accurate and informative information about our organisation.

We want the public to know the truth.

We are a caring organisation.

Most of the good we do for our society is never printed or reported in the media and that’s the way we want it to stay.

We as taxi drivers want the guests to have a pleasant and memorable vacation when coming to our shores.

They are curious and want to know about the Turks and Caicos Islands. We explain some of the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands to them.

Many times the guest(s) get to know our families and we get to know their families. That’s the truth.

Taxi drivers are Turks and Caicos Islanders. We want the best for our country. We will do our part to make this awesome responsibility a reality. We love our country.

We want those who write or comment about us to have factual and truthful information about us. I have no doubt that this dialogue will continue.

Thank you, Earl Leon Barranco, Taxi driver Providenciales EDITORS NOTE: Mr Coffin did provide the name of the taxi driver in his letter to the editor, however due to defamation laws were unable to print it. We have forwarded the letter with full details to the TCI Government for further investigation.

The making of a hero Dear Editor, It has been about two months since the late Hon Dr Rosita B Butterfield was laid to rest on the February 5, 2015, following a state funeral, and it is with great humility that I write this article after a long layoff, not as her grandson, but an engaged Turks and Caicos Islander.

I write to make the case, or should I say state the obvious, that Dr Butterfield should be the Turks and Caicos Islands next national hero.

Many have had the thought but few have voiced it publicly, save for Dr Lillian Boyce in her closing remarks at the memorial service held in Dr Butterfield’s honour.

Looking at this case, neither emotionally nor politically biased, but critically, there is no doubt that she is worthy of such an honour.

By any measure, real, imagined or even yet to be imagined, she passes the litmus test.

In my view the following are some of the qualities which should be displayed by a national hero – leadership, integrity, courage, honour, longevity, service to country, and lastly he/she should be someone whom most people would themselves aspire to be like or have as a role model for their children.

Dr Butterfield possessed all of

these qualities.

As speaker of the House of Assembly, she ruled with integrity and impartiality, to the point where some of the more junior members of her very own party treated her with disdain at House sittings.

She would end her tenure as speaker early rather than compromise her moral standing because of others.

Also, under her leadership as chairman of the select committee on the Employment Bill from 1987 to 1988, she and her team would shape positive employment trends still having its impact today.

Both locally and internationally, Dr Butterfield represented the spirit of her country on numerous occasions, be it in Bermuda where she presented on ‘Migration and Immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ or in the House of Lords or the Isle of Man as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Her leadership qualities were well recognised and unquestionable.

Want someone who illustrated their belief in education?

She maximised all education opportunities afforded her and won numerous nursing awards such as the Surgeons’ Prize for the most efficient operating theatre surgical student

nurse.

She would not only use her time to develop education within the TCI but also to put her money where her mouth was by sponsoring our National Spelling Bee for many, many years plus giving financial help to numerous families.

Besides, Dr Butterfield and her husband’s role in the development of Providenciales and wider the TCI by extension, has been far reaching and can easily be verified.

So much has already been written about Dr Butterfield’s tremendous contribution in service to our country that I need not repeat it here.

Click www.sppdtci.com for more documentation.

To emphasise my point about how special and rare this lady was, not even her husband, Dr A V Butterfield, will be afforded a state funeral which is reserved for Heads of Government or Speakers of the House, despite his equally devoted service in the development of our country.

So I conclude with one question to all the members of the National Awards Committee: If not the Hon Dr Rosita Beatrice MissickButterfield, then whom?

Jamell R Robinson Leeward Palms, Providenciales

April 11 - 17, 2015

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

MILLS MUSES continued

Try minimum wage Dear Editor, Today, many Turks and Caicos Islanders remain hopeless under this Progressive National Party Government, led by the Hon Rufus Ewing and his group which he calls his ministers.

His party’s name might be progressive, but there is nothing progressing the lives of the people who elected them to office just some two and half years ago.

This present Government has turned a blind eye to the cries of its people, for the greed of a select few investors.

The people wanted a pitbull, but ended up with a pussy cat!

Before the 2012 general elections, Hon Rufus Ewing was seen all over the country speaking out about the injustice which he alleged the British were doing.

He went as far as staging a one man protest in front of the court house in Providenciales and supporting the blocking of the airport.

Yes, he looked like Sir Lynden Pindling, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Malcolm X all in one; but in reality he is not.

We talk about wolves in sheep clothing, but I do not know what to call Hon Rufus Ewing. The devil dressed in white!

It is an insult on the hard working people of the TCI for this Government to push back the date of implementing the new minimum wage, stating that they wish to have public feedback.

We, as a people, should wonder which investor this Government is trying to assist with such delay, or is

The PNP shuffle

One step forward, ten steps back Reshuffle!

Cabinet signs off on laws Some complain just because Then reshuffle!

Pass plans for poor people Push back from money men Reshuffle again!!

Sounds like a good idea ‘Til it hits the air Prepare to reshuffle!!

Next time they come to you With plans you know won’t come through Here’s what you all must do RESHUFFLE!!!

Unnamed contributor

it that this Government is so far out of touch with the working class?

Each time this Government takes one step forward, they end up taking 10 steps backwards.

All over the world, governments are moving full speed ahead with implementing an increase in minimum wages, but the TCI Government decides to hold off until they secure their 2016 election campaign funding!

It is sad to see that many companies within the TCI say that they care about their workers, but in reality their workers’ paycheques indicate different.

Here is a motion which I think the Government should seriously consider - try living on minimum wage for the remaining time they have left in office, and if they can make it, then there is no need to increase it.

I hope the eyes of the people are open towards the lies of this Government, and will not re-elect them to office in 2016.

The next time this group of Turks and Caicos Government members come knocking to your door for your support, please tell them that you do not support them.

The dawn of a new day!

Quincy Jamy Williams, Turks and Caicos Islander, Providenciales

The nagging issues in education THERE are many issues in education which continue to nag Caribbean systems including our own.

From back in the day, philosophers such as Rousseau, Plato, and John White of London University, staked out the issues.

For Plato, it was how to educate a society so that harmony prevailed. He recommended a specific type of education for different groups involving those who rule, those who worked, and those in charge of security.

Rousseau talked about education according to nature, prescribing a specific type of education related to the progress of the child from childhood to being an adult, with educational activities for each stage.

And White wrote on rethinking the curriculum to deal with the negative legacies that remain, and sees education as helping people to lead happy and flourishing lives, and contributing to the good life and personal wellbeing.

Raymond Hackett, formerly of the University of the West Indies (UWI), urges educators to create a vision for Caribbean people to design educational systems to facilitate the socialisation needed by young people to enable them to respond to the challenges they face.

He notes that these include a lack of creativity,

BY Oliver Mills

Oliver Mills was born in South Caicos, acquired a diploma in article writing from the Writer’s Digest School in the United States, and worked as training manager for the Turks and Caicos public service. He is currently an adjunct lecturer in the Business and Hospitality Departments at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College.

underachievement, and a declining interest in things intellectual.

These ideas by Hackett are still relevant. There is talk about a vision of education, but nothing systematic has been attempted.

And the problems take deeper root until events bring them to the surface once more to nag the system.

Socialisation has to do with exposing the young to the values of the society so that they grow up to be productive citizens.

When this is lacking, anti-social behaviour occurs which damages society, and impacts school performance.

The lack of creativity and innovation in our schools is legendary. Critical thinking is barely emphasised, innovation is frowned at, and many students are unable to see connections, and draw independent conclusions about issues.

This is a skill required by many business enterprises. A

lack of critical thinking skills handicaps the student’s ability to think logically, and limits their capacity to contribute to their personal wellbeing, as White notes.

Although we say we know these things, we rarely do anything about them, so they reappear later to nag us.

The TCI experiences many of these issues, but they are often kicked down the road. And some of us are afraid to mention them, since the system dislikes being told.

And others fear if they should express their concerns, they risk being seen as negative.

But nagging issues have to be dealt with. If not, they become even more challenging, undermine the entire system, and the vision, mission, and objectives it formulated to deal precisely with what it now seeks to avoid.

COMMENTARY

No laughing matter HAVING a good sense of humour is important for wellbeing. No matter what life deals, keep laughing.

This rule becomes more difficult with every passing day.

Our expat homeowners who have invested hundreds of thousands in building homes here in Middle Caicos and elsewhere in the TCI now find that they cannot register their vehicles.

Vehicles they registered many times before.

Who are these folks?

Americans, who not only paid Belongers to build their homes but who came here bringing their pension funds which they spend here.

They pay $50 each month they reside, just for the right to bring in their money and spend it.

So who came up with this new crackpot idea? Someone heading finance trying to force expats into buying a $15 thousand PRC? Instant gratification for

helping pay off the PNP’s debts is now top priority.

We smiled when we saw our ‘friend’ Royal Robinson admit on TV the basic voter facts we gleaned from records.

Royal agreeing with yours truly is cause for a smile. Perhaps after Amanda, Porsha and a couple of others there will be a place next election for Royal to lose again.

Royal spoke about PDM's “fly in the ointment”. Skip, having a right to run, and lose.

In my and others’ opinions Skippings finally revealed his true position. Disloyalty and treason against the party and principles of JAGS, Derek, Sharlene, Floyd, Doug, Art and all the PDM faithful.

What happened to the call for an early election, this year prior to the prosecutions? Everyone’s been campaigning!

We smiled last week when we heard election will now be next year.

Did Beckingham tell Ewing

By David Tapfer

David is a retired mobile hydraulic engineer and business executive. He has been married to Middle Caicos native Yvette Robinson Tapfer for 25 years and has lived in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, since 2002. David formerly served as branch chairman of the PDM from 2008 to 2011

that the Premier’s proclamations claiming the TCI is doing great, negates any early election call?

Trevor Cooke just took to the airways with body language that speaks of typical PNP baloney.

According to the seemingly nervous PNP chairman we must ignore Mike Misick’s media announcements that he will be taking Cooke’s PNP job.

Cooke says Mike never formally applied and he, Cooke, has yet to decide if he will give up the job.

Really this speech is cause for a laugh! The PNP convention

cancellation proves it!

Justice Ramsay-Hale stopped a Misick political return by enforcing the bail agreement.

Think about it, a $10 million bail for corruption! Is this alleged corruption that bad?

Remember readers, it will be all yellow neck ties and socks at the defendants table December 1, Myrtle Rigby Justice Centre.

I guess the voters and everyone else will now find out about the alleged PNP corruption, five years late, but before the next election.

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Young Corporate Alliance officially launched APRIL 2 saw the launch of an unique community based organisation in the Turks and Caicos Islands geared toward the economic empowerment of young professionals and entrepreneurs.

In the works for just over a year, the Young Corporate Alliance (YCA) TCI was born from the election of a team of young professionals lead by chairman Kyle Smith in February 2014.

Urged on by Premier Rufus Ewing to create a body that would lobby for the benefit of young professionals and entrepreneurs, the team has worked fervently over the last 12 months to secure partnerships, workshops, lecture series speakers, and other events that will empower 18 to 35 year olds in the TCI. The alliance boasts a non-political, progressive, open framework designed to welcome diverse individuals interested in self-improvement and community building.

Listing short term goals of education through key workshops with the National Insurance Board, Financial Services Commission and more, the YCA aims to bring young people up to speed with corporate literacy and regulatory compliance.

Inspiration is also a key goal and there was no shortage of motivation at the Regent Palms ballroom on Thursday (April 2).

With two heavy hitters in the arena of TCI entrepreneurship on hand, the packed house of young professionals from all walks of life received jolts of inspiration and support from Kenneth Adams of the Do It Centre and Stan Hartling of the Hartling Group.

Various key business leaders such as Iver Stanbrook, Robert Greenwood, and Deputy Speaker of the House Josephine Connelly were also on hand to lend their support.

Such relationships with private sector bodies and business leaders is a key facet of the alliance’s long term goals to cut red tape and encourage the growth and development of small businesses in the country.

The small but formidable team has already made inroads with these goals by enlisting law firms, banks, marketing specialists, and insurance companies to discount rates for young locals in their first year of establishing a business with YCA membership.

Despite these partnerships, the theme of the night was clearly unity amongst its ranks.

Chairman Kyle Smith, treasurer Diandra Mills, and vice-chairman Dominique Rolle all spoke to their counterparts encouraging a new era of networking, team building, dreaming big, and working hard to gain a stronger foothold in the TCI economy.

A full outlay of the YCA’s plans are scheduled to be outlined in a general meeting in mid-April.

Premier Ewing brings remarks during official launch of the Young Corporate Alliance

CEO of the Hartling Group Stan Hartling speaks during the event

Antoine Missick and Nikira John, broadcast journalist for the Oasis Media Group

Tammy and husband Heath Francis

Owner of Do It Centre Ken Adams and chairman Kyle Smith

Premier Rufus Ewing, Minister Washington Misick, Minister Porsha Stubbs-Smith and Deputy Premier Akierra Missick during a meeting with members of the Young Corporate Alliance at the Hilly Ewing building in Providenciales.

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Tax system to be upgraded AT ITS last meeting on April 1, Cabinet agreed to proceed with the upgrade of the standard integrated tax administration system (SIGTAS) to enhance tax administration and collection in the TCI. This is according to a press statement from the Governor’s Office on Tuesday (April 7).

That meeting was presided over by acting Governor, Anya Williams at the NJS Francis building in Grand Turk.

Cabinet also noted the papers on implementation of the TCI Government’s business reform strategy and agreed that relevant departments should convene as a matter of priority to discuss the recommendations proposed in the paper to fast track delivery of the strategy.

Additionally, the acting Governor was advised to approve the moratorium on remittances of excess revenue on the part of the TCI Ports Authority to the TCI Government for fiscal years 2015/2016 and 2016/2017.

However, it was also agreed that the Government shall reserve the right to review the Ports Authority accounts and decide how the money can be used.

Williams was further advised to authorise a bill, along the lines of the Complaints Commissioner (Ombudsman) Bill 2015, to be introduced at the next meeting of the House of Assembly to enable the proper functioning of the Office of the Commissioner.

She was also advised to approve a proposal to finalise the execution of a memorandum of understanding for the development of a luxury branded hotel project in Providenciales.

Cabinet also discussed the draft development agreement between the Desarrollos Group and the TCI Government relating to a proposed luxury branded hotel development project at Grace Bay. The members also agreed to a one month extension of

the current higher education board of the Ministry of Education.

The acting Governor was advised to authorise that $1.9 million be withheld by the TCI Airport Authority for the period 2014/2015 and $2 million in 2015/2016 for the purpose of partially financing the South Caicos airport project.

Cabinet also sought the acting Governor’s approval of provisions, parts and clauses of the Cadet Corps Draft Bill to establish a cadet corps in TCI to enable the bill to be forwarded as early as possible to the House of Assembly.

She was also advised to approve a company business application to operate in restricted business activities to manufacture local souvenirs in the TCI under the Business Licensing (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2014 and to communicate Cabinet’s position to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance.

Angry teen punches prison warden A SCUFFLE between two prison wardens and an angry male teenager broke out at the Magistrate’s Court in Downtown, Providenciales on Wednesday (April 8).

A Weekly News’ reporter, other members of the media and the public were present when the incident took place.

The disgruntled teen had just exited the courtroom where Chief Magistrate Clifton Warner had dealt with his case and was being directed to one of the chairs directly outside the courtroom’s door when he punched one of the officers in his face.

This reporter could not hear if any words were exchanged between the two before the blow was dealt, however.

The injured warden and another, in attempting to restrain the resisting young man, were drawn into a scuffle in the small waiting area and inside of the bathroom, where the door was open.

The young man eventually calmed down a little when the officer that he had punched dealt him a punch, while other officers tried to help restrain him.

The teen was eventually handcuffed and placed in a chair to await transportation back to the police station; however he continued his angry verbal outbursts.

The injured warden was told by his fellow officers to exit the court building, away from the teen. As he did so,

tears were running down his face.

The teenager’s visibly frustrated and aggrieved mother, with tears streaming down her face too, attempted to calm her son, to no avail.

She eventually went to stand helplessly outside the courthouse as the wardens stood guard over him.

The sink inside of the bathroom was broken off its hinges during the struggle and could be seen lying on the floor of the bathroom after the incident.

Following the incident, police public relations officer Audley Astwood told the Weekly News that an investigation into the event is being conducted.

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Food safety must be a priority - Premier A FOOD safety bill will be tabled in the House of Assembly within the next few weeks, according to Premier Rufus Ewing.

“This food safety legislation, once enacted will strengthen our capacity to educate and certify food handlers in the safe production and preparation of food, the early detection of potentially contaminated foods and rapid interventions thereby reducing the risk of illness, death and major disease outbreaks that can have devastating health and economic consequences,” he said.

The Premier made the announcement during his speech on World Health Day on Tuesday (April

7).

World Health Day is celebrated annually to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.

Each year a theme is selected highlighting a priority area of public health concern in the world.

“As Premier, Minister for Health, Agriculture and Human Services, and a public health practitioner, I am therefore delighted to join with our local, regional and international partners in health and the rest of the world, in the celebration of this day and the bringing into focus this very important theme ‘Food safety (from farm to plate)’,” Ewing stated.

Premier Rufus Ewing

According to the World Health Organisation, unsafe food and water are linked to the deaths of an

The Toyota Land Cruiser’s state after vehicle collision

Vehicle collision leaves two injured in the jeep.

According to Audley Astwood, press relations officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the driver of the truck and the young boy from the jeep were both rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for non-life threating injuries.

Astwood said that the driver of the truck was trapped in the vehicle and was freed by fire fighters prior to being rushed to the hospital.

processed and unprocessed foods contaminated with pathogens and toxic substances.

“Our protocol also focuses on the production and handling of food and water in the Turks and Caicos Islands, ensuring its safety at all stages from farm to plate.”

In celebrating the day, on Tuesday the Environmental Health Department conducted a food safety and food handler’s training in South Caicos and again in Grand Turk on Friday (April 10).

“Food safety is the shared responsibility of everyone,” Ewing said. “Food safety requires multisectorial collaboration from food production to consumption and cooperation to ensure compliance with acceptable food standards.

“The selection of food safety by the WHO, as the theme for World Health Day 2015, emphasises its importance as a global public health concern, a concern that we all as individuals, health practitioners and policy makers should share and champion.

“The saying that ‘we are what we eat’ is absolutely apt and sums up the importance of safe food in human health.

“Let us work together to make food safe and contribute to better health of people.”

Teen Steve Gardiner wanted

The Daihatsu Delta truck after the accident

A MAN and a boy were rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre after a vehicle collision on Millennium Highway, Blue Hills in Providenciales on Wednesday (April 8).

The incident involved a Daihatsu Delta truck owned by AND construction company and a Toyota Land Cruiser jeep.

In the truck was an employer from the construction company, while an 11-year-old boy and his father were

estimated 2 million people annually, including many children.

“Foodborne illnesses are usually either infectious or toxic in nature.

These illnesses may occur through the consumption of food or water contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances,” the Premier said.

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E coli), or Campylobacter can cause severe illnesses or even death.

Chemical contamination can lead to acute poisoning or long term diseases such as cancer.

The Premier explained: “Unsafe foods include but are not limited to uncooked foods of animal origin, and fruits and vegetables contaminated with faeces and chemicals.”

He said that ensuring food safety starts with production at the farm level, and misuse of agro-chemical, including pesticides, growth hormones and veterinary drugs may have harmful effects on human health.

“The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services continues to ensure food safety,” he said, “through its departments of Agriculture and Environmental Health by its biosecurity (quarantine) protocol to mitigate the potential of importation and consumption of

He is alleged to have suffered injuries to his legs.

The boy was said to have suffered from multiple injuries to his head.

Up to press time both men were still at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre receiving treatment.

Both vehicles sustained substantial damage.

Astwood added that the incident is under thorough investigation.

(DAISY HANDFIELD)

NINETEEN-year-old Steve Remy Gardiner, also known as Kimbo, is wanted by police.

On Tuesday (April 7) the force issued a wanted poster with a photograph and a description of the young man.

Details on the poster revealed that Gardiner was born in Miami, Florida, on April 12, 1995, and is a Turks and Caicos Islander.

He has black hair, brown eyes and dark skin.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts on Gardiner can contact the police Criminal Investigation Department on 941-4448.

Police are also urging anyone with information about this person, his location or any other information to call Crimestoppers on 1-8008477 or use the Crimestoppers online reporting page www. crimestoppers.tc.

Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. All calls are answered by Miami Dade Police

Steve Remy Gardiner, also known as Kimbo

and no one from the RTCIPF will know who called. Only the information received will be provided to the RTCIPF. The public should not report crime information via the police Facebook and Twitter pages.

April 11 - 17, 2015

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Trouble in Paradise

PART 3

Inside Canadian banks’ billiondollar Caribbean struggle

BY TIM KILADZE (The following article was reprinted from the February 27, 2015 edition of the online version of the GLOBE AND MAIL, a Canadian newspaper)

WHAT the future holds: Some banks are more willing to admit missteps than others.

“It’s fair to say that there were some mistakes we made around leadership and the business model,” says Kirk Dudtschak, RBC’s head of Caribbean banking since 2013.

When RBC bought RBTT, it had dreams of creating a pan-Caribbean bank, a strategy that entailed eliminating individual country heads in favour of a central command.

It took five years before management realised they had lost the pulse of each island, and then reinstalled local leaders, starting in 2013.

While not as candid, Scotiabank has also discussed the region’s problems for some time - though chief executive Brian Porter, who once ran the lender’s international banking arm, joked at the January investor conference that no one cared until now.

“The Caribbean has been under a

fair degree of stress for seven years and I talked about it,” he told the audience, but, “nobody really asked me any questions.”

Because there now are questions, the banks try to calm investors by stressing that the English-speaking Caribbean is on an upswing as tourism levels rebound somewhat (Puerto Rico, by contrast, is in its eighth year of recession).

Given the region’s strong economic ties to the US, it also augurs well that the American economy is heating up.

The banks can also point to their cost-cutting. Scotiabank is closing branches across the Caribbean; CIBC, which declined to comment for this story because it is working on restructuring plans, has talked about tightening its operation, which is currently spread across 17 islands; and RBC recently installed a Common Caribbean Operating Model to increase efficiency, instituting charges such as a small teller fee to wean customers off inperson banking.

Under these initiatives, head counts are falling at all the banks.

RBC’s Caribbean work force is less than 5,000, compared to 6,500

Airports Authority puts on successful simulation exercise THE TURKS and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) in conjunction with the Department of Disaster Management and Emergency (DDME) held its annual emergency preparedness exercise on Tuesday (April 7).

The scenario was a flight crash at the Providenciales International Airport with 43 people being injured.

The exercise started at about 9.09pm until about 11pm.

According to terminal and marketing manager Lavern Reynolds the exercise was a planned drill designed to test the skill sets of people that would have to respond in the event of an actual emergency.

“For this purpose a staging was set up on the airport facility to simulate a flight disaster.

“All necessary personnel were called out to respond in a coordinated effort to save possible life and limb,” she said.

Reynolds added that at the end of each drill a debrief to

review what went well, what did not go well and what they hope to do next time is conducted.

One of the things that they agreed was successful during this exercise was the communication between the entities involved.

An addition for the next simulation will include the victim receiving medical support from officials at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

Organisations involved included DDME, TCIAA, InterHealth Canada, the Ministry of Health and Customs and Immigrations.

Reynolds said that the TCIAA is committed to disaster preparedness by adopting a culture of coordinated response.

“We recognise that there are a number of entities that would have to play a role and we endeavour to work with them all to build a disaster resilient nation.”

(DAISY HANDFIELD)

people two years ago.

“Many parts of the region are in a deep or long-term recession,” Dudtschak says.

“Everything we’re doing is about repositioning our business within the current economic environment…to ensure our business is sustainable for the long term.”

The elephant in the room is whether any lenders will cut and run altogether. RBC, after all, did it once before.

The Canadian giant originally owned RBTT but sold it during the 1980s when Trinidad was hit by plunging energy prices.

For now, RBC and its peers tell anyone who asks that they have no plans to leave. They say they’ve been in the region for more than a century and remain deeply committed.

After a while, however, their responses sound as rehearsed as an American politician being asked about presidential ambitions.

At this point, sources say the chances of a major sale are slim because buyers are hard to come by.

Global banks such as HSBC and Citibank are shrinking their footprints. Private equity players may poke around from time to time,

but they often get spooked once they start digging through financials, according to a source familiar with the Canadian banks’ operations.

For instance, some islands don’t keep adequate digital records (or any digital records) of their housing appraisals, so anyone trying to assess the banks’ loan portfolios must bring in armies of people to dig through file folders.

Until buyers materialise with a reasonable offer, the most likely outcome is that the banks will continue to prune.

But shrinking is expensive and arduous, involving wrestling with regulators, cancelling property leases and paying severance packages, among other things.

If Canada’s banks are lucky, the US economy will keep gathering steam. If not, they should find solace knowing they’ve been here before, and it eventually got better.

Trinidad reeled when oil prices crashed in the 1980s; Jamaica is in a perpetual relationship with the IMF; and Barbados has long been at the whim of tourist dollars.

However, those facts haven’t quelled speculation that one of the Canadian banks could pull the plug

- especially when all three have new CEOs. CIBC is considered to have the highest flight risk. Former CEO McCaughey, who doubled down in the region, retired last year, as did former COO Richard Nesbitt, who oversaw the Caribbean operation.

The region is now under the watch of retail banking head David Williamson, and he already has his hands full trying to turn around CIBC’s Canadian operation.

RBC is more of an enigma. The bank is taking its restructuring seriously; that could mean that it wants to run the division long-term, or, like someone who wants to sell a house, is renovating simply in hopes of fetching a better price.

Scotiabank, meanwhile, is considered the most likely to stay. It is, after all, Canada’s most international bank, and its Caribbean operation is widely regarded as the region’s most efficient.

Besides, Scotiabank has endured much worse in countries such as Argentina and Venezuela; it remains profitable in the Caribbean.

For all these reasons, the place, and its tilting fortunes, may well be woven into the bank’s DNA.

Caribbean leaders to meet in Miami to discuss money laundering BUSINESS leaders from 18 countries and territories of the Caribbean will meet in Miami on April 16 to 17 to discuss the challenges posed by antimoney laundering regulation.

Board Directors, President and CEO of largest regulated businesses from 13 industries have confirmed their participation.

According to Michelle Martin organizer of the Caribbean Anti-Money laundering conference: “it is the first time so many heads of enforcement agencies will gather in a single location to engage business leaders.”

The keynote speakers include Calvin Wilson, Executive Director of the Caribbean Action Task Force (CFATF) and Cleviston Haynes, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados.

“Beyond the 11 speakers from the Caribbean, the conference line-up includes nine distinguished speakers from the U.S. with either personal or professional ties to the Caribbean,” Jean Morency, co-organizer highlighted.

The FBI is delegating Special Agent Jason Manar of the Intelligence Community Group to discuss Data Protection.

As Caribbean businesses start implementing FATCA and AML

programs they will keep on record copies of IDs and a wide range of personal data that can be used for identity theft.

The much anticipated FATCA discussion will be headed by Miami based experts Stanley Foodman, Certified Public Accountant and CEO at Foodman CPAS & Advisors as well as by Marian Ancheta Llera, Attorney and Principal at Marian Ancheta Llera, P.A. The presentation will focus on the steps that should be taken beyond registration. They will also put in perspective why FATCA is here to stay.

The once again hot topic of trade based money laundering will be tackle by Assistant Special Agent in Charge John F. Tobon at Homeland Security Investigations and by renowned Attorney Robert Targ, Founding Partner, Diaz Reus & Targ.

IRS’ retired Special Agent in Charge at the Criminal Investigation Division Jose "Tony" Gonzalez will discuss how legitimate businesses are destroyed by financial crimes.

With worldwide operations, Google (#46-Fortune 500) faces incredible compliance challenges.

Caribbean native Lemar White,

the anti-bribery program manager at Google and a Scholar at Wilmington University, will discuss the foreign corrupt practice act and bribery enforcement.

Vivian Velazquez Principal at Securities Compliance will present her reflections on the true cost of noncompliance. The fines impact on operations, on recruiting board directors and retaining compliance officers.

Jorge Flores, Senior VicePresident Audit Manager, at Sabadell United Bank will discuss from the regulated entity perspective the challenge of AML/CFT Examination.

“There is still time for Caribbean businesses to join this important conference. Beyond the carefully selected topics, it will be a great occasion to network with fellow business leaders confronted with similar challenges” Michelle Martin insisted.

“Florida and U.S. entrepreneurs seeking to do business in the Caribbean in such fields as real estate, banking, money service transmission, corporate services, trust, import and export should attend the conference to understand the major regulatory shift being implemented by all the territories” Jean Morency suggested.

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A family enjoying the great weather and the Easter Monday holiday on the beach in the Bight

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams hanging out with the ladies at Kids’ Park

A section of the crowd on Easter Monday at the Kids’ Park

Ministry of Tourism booth

One of the many food and drinks stalls at the park

Excited kids enjoying their Easter break from school

April 11 - 17, 2015

Easter Monday celebrated with lots of fun in the sun

EASTER weekend was a busy one in Providenciales with several religious events and fun activities for children and young adults at Kids’ Park and other popular beach spots.

On Easter Monday (April 6) the Kid’s Park in the Bight was the place to be for fun, relaxation, a chance to catch up with friends and enjoy the wide variety of savoury dishes from

the many stalls in the park while soaking up the gorgeous weather.

Although there was not a lot of kite flying - a traditional observance to commemorate the resurrection

of Jesus in many countries around the world – there were many other activities for the enjoyment of the children present.

A Ministry of Tourism booth

also provided brain teasers for interested people with several small prizes up for grabs for the correct answers on Turks and Caicos Island’s culture.

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS 17

Joshua Gardiner laid to rest IN A small, yet beautiful ceremony at the Paradise Baptist Church on Thursday (April 9), Ebenezer ‘Obed’ Joshua Gardiner was peacefully laid to rest.

Words and beautiful songs of praise, poignant and funny memories of the Weekly News’ long time sports journalist were delivered by friends and family in a two hour service at the Five Cays church.

Pastor Goldstone Williams gave a touching tribute to the late Joshua and offered words of comfort to the

gathered friends and family in the form of prayer.

Sports Director, Judith Robinson also spoke glowingly of Joshua's contribution to sports in the TCI Showing her respects was Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson along with PDM chairman Clarence Selver.

Publisher of the Weekly News, Blythe Duncanson, along with his wife Stephanie, also showed their respects and appreciation to a long time and reliable worker of the newspaper.

The procession of mourners then made their way to the Five Cays cemetery where Joshua was laid to eternal rest.

Joshua’s passing on February 6, after a long battle with cancer, was met with sadness by many in the Turks and Caicos Islands community who remembered him for his wise counsel and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need.

The proud Turks and Caicos Islander, sports buff and father was 63 when he passed away at the

Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales.

Joshua was a constant sight on the streets of Provo, newspaper and writing paper in hand and hawking memories from what were clearly memorable times in Haiti and the Bahamas to anyone willing to listen.

His love of sports was easily reflected in his voice, eyes and his ready smile.

In his earlier years he was a top school athlete in the Bahamas, dominating in numerous events.

At the age of 16 he unofficially broke his age group world’s record in the triple jump, a feat of which he was very proud.

As a young man he was diagnosed with debilitating multiple sclerosis, but instead of deterring him it led him into coaching other upcoming athletes.

In his later years he was quite prolific in a weekly column in the Turks and Caicos Weekly News, where he managed to inform, amuse and even ruffle a few feathers.

Lifestyle...

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April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

How does your garden grow 

BY DENIS Belanger - NATURE SPLENDOR

Denis is a passionate landscape architect who enjoys the creative process and his clients’ joy when projects come to life. Contact Denis at Nature Splendor for your landscaping, installation or garden maintenance needs.

For more information call 332-3381 or email denis@naturesplendor.net.

Shaving brush tree PSEUDOBOMBAX ellipticum commonly known as the shaving brush tree is one of my favourite blooming trees. It’s a stunning centrepiece addition to any tropicalesque succulent garden.

A unique and stunning gem from the drier tropical forest regions of Southern Mexico down into Central America, it’s a perfect tree for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Generally it grows 20 to 40 feet.

At this time of the year, large cigarlike buds rapidly develop in response to warmer weather.

The flowers are silky and two types colours. Some trees bloom neon hot pink flowers and some white flowers.

While only lasting a couple days each, on average, flowering will continue for few weeks before new leaves begin to flush and hide any late blooms.

This is a tree that puts on quite a show while pushing fresh spring foliage.

The wood is interesting as well, showing stripping of greens, yellows, browns and white.

For this reason the people plant the tree in their garden and the attractive flowers are used to decorate their homes and churches.

The shaving brush tree is also nice when it’s young, having a bulb like swollen stem that look like a green rock melon. The trees also used as firewood and wood for carving

handicrafts.

The fruits are collected manually from the tree before opening and dried to extract the seeds.

The small seeds are manually separated from the fibres and stored under cool and dry conditions.

Pseudobombax ellipticum is propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Seeds require sunny locations for germination.

The cuttings are easily rooted when planted in bags of soil and watered daily or when planted directly in the field.

Newest leaves open a rich blood red or maroon, then slowly fade through orange-ish and bronze shades, before changing to bright light apple green, and finally a nice deep green.

During the summer, the large,

deep green, palmate-type leaves create a nice shade. Meanwhile, if present, fat oval shaped seed pods cycle through their development once again decorating the tree.

While quite drought tolerant, shaving brush trees will grow faster and fuller when supplied extra summer water.

In winter, leaves will change to gold and brown before dropping.

POLICE SAFETY TIPS

Security marking your property

IT’S very important for people to mark their property. Marking your valuables will play a key role in assisting you with having your property returned to you.

Being caught in the act is a thief’s greatest risk, the second being caught red-handed with the property they have stolen.

The easiest way to identify your property if you’re unfortunate enough to have had it stolen is by its serial number if it has one.

With modern mass-produced appliances, electronics and products looking identical, the police have no way of identifying recovered property as stolen goods unless the serial number is available or the item has been

marked with a property owner’s unique number.

This can be used as conclusive evidence in court to prove your ownership of the property as well as the fact that it is stolen property.

This knowledge alone may act as a major deterrent to a potential thief since items that can be traced back to their original owner's bring a lower price on the street.

You should record details of all your valuable property on a property recording form which we will make available on www.tcipolice.tc.

Photograph items such as jewellery and keep the photographs in a safe place.

If you use a digital camera, do not store the images on your computer’s

hard drive.

You can however, upload these photos to a jump drive and kept in a safe place - which will help to identify them as yours if they are lost or stolen and then recovered by the police.

Don’t forget to update your information with details of new property.

If you are recording your items on a form, remember – don’t store it on your computer in case it gets stolen.

Print it off and keep the printout in a safe place.

Think about security marking your property with your initials and house number or driver’s license number with an ultra violet (UV) pen.

UV pens are available in most good DIY stores and security retail outlets.

By Audley Astwood Audley, a former police detective and broadcaster, is currently the press officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. His main focus is on crime prevention and community policing. For more information call 941-4448 or visit www.tcipolice.tc.

Always mark items on the back or underneath. If you move home, security mark all your items again.

Using an ultra violet light, check your markings every 12 months and if it has worn off re-write it.

You can also permanently mark your property with an engraver, an etching kit, or a tracer solution.

They are useful to mark large items, such as bicycles, or unusual items,

such as fishing tackle.

Security marking not only improves the chances of recovering your property if you are unfortunate enough to suffer a loss, but it can also deter thieves and help us with our investigation and possibly lead to a successful prosecution.

For more tips visit www. facebook.com/rtcipf.

April 11 - 17, 2015

Lifestyle...

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Makeup and skin care  Thea Lowe-Gangasingh is a professional makeup artist based in Providenciales certified with Chic Studios NYC. To book an appointment for any occasion with Thea Makeup Artistry email info@ theamakeupartistry.com or call 242-4627.

Thea LoweGangasingh

Caring for your eyelashes EACH of us is born with a set number of hair follicles on the eyes which does not change as we age.

A lash can live to about three months before falling out and can take two or more months to regrow.

When you sense something is near the eyes, your blink reflex kicks in, in an effort to protect them from harm.

Eyelash care is just as important as hair care and plays a vital role in the health of our eyes.

If you notice excessive loss of your eyelashes then you may be treating them too roughly.

The following tips will help you to take proper care of your lashes: Mascara Waterproof mascara can be quite drying to the lashes and should not be worn every day.

Any type of mascara and eye makeup should be removed at bedtime with an eye makeup remover as they can weigh down your lashes and increase your chances of breakage if slept in.

To gently and safely remove eye makeup, simply soak a cotton pad with the solution and gently press onto the eyelids and lashes for a few seconds.

This will help to dissolve the makeup without the need to scrub or tug at the fragile skin and lashes.

If you must wear mascara, opt for the regular formula and instead save the waterproof mascara for special occasions or when you really think

you’ll need it.

False lashes False lashes are worn to enhance and draw attention to the eyes and can take your look from subtle to dramatic.

These lashes are applied using a special adhesive that is formulated for the eye area.

It is important to note that when removing these lashes, you should never pull or tug them free as they can damage the hair follicles and prevent them from growing back.

If using temporary adhesive, it is best to remove with an eye makeup remover or whilst washing your face as the cleanser will soften the adhesive allowing the lashes to easily slide off.

For the semi-permanent lash applications that last for two or more weeks, it is best to have them removed by a professional with the proper tools and chemical solutions to dissolve the adhesive used.

Rubbing your eyes Rubbing and tugging at the eyes can pull and twist your lashes which lead to breakage and premature fallout.

If you are rough with your lashes they can become sparse and not grow back as healthy as before.

Curling your lashes

To prevent damage to lashes with a lash curler, ensure you curl before applying mascara and avoid pinching the skin or tugging on the lashes with the tool.

Weekly Recipe Helen Barkworth-Knight is a teacher and qualified baker with a lifelong love for cooking for friends and family.

She is a mother to Owen, almost two, who has very particular tastes in all things, especially food.

Hence she has become an expert in hiding vegetables in all sorts of dishes!

Savoury snack slices Yield: 15 slices INGREDIENTS • 2 zucchinis, grated • 1 onion, finely chopped • 3 rashers of bacon, finely chopped • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese • 1 cup self-rising flour • ½ cup mild olive oil, coconut oil or vegetable oil • 5 eggs • Black pepper to taste METHOD • Preheat oven to 340°F. • Line a 9x13 inch baking/roasting tin with parchment paper.

• Combine zucchini, onion, bacon, cheese and flour in a large bowl.

• Add oil and lightly beaten eggs, and mix.

• Season with a little black pepper.

• Pour into baking tin, push into the corners and smooth the top.

• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden and set. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into slices.

• The vegetables can be substituted or added to – try corn kernels, grated carrot, shallots, shredded beans, and leave out the bacon for a vegetarian version.

• The slices can be frozen. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge first before eating.

The Dentist and you  Mark Osmond BDS (Lond) LDS RCS (Eng). Mark Osmond Dental Clinic - (649) 432 3777, drmosmond@gmail.com or Find us on Facebook

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By Dr Mark Osmond

What is gingivitis?

YOU may have heard this word used by your dentist or in relation to oral health, but what actually is gingivitis?

Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums (gingiva) and is the most common and mild form of oral disease.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, approximately 15 percent of adults 21 to 50-yearsold and 30 percent of adults over 50 have gum disease.

It is characterised by inflammation and bleeding of the gums.

If teeth are not regularly and adequately brushed, plaque is left to build-up on the teeth. This is the soft, sticky, white film that forms on the teeth when starches and sugars react with the bacteria that is naturally present in the mouth.

Plaque build-up occurs between the teeth and gums, around faulty fillings, and near poorly cleaned partial dentures, bridges, and braces.

If not removed within 72 hours, plaque will harden into calculus or tartar that cannot be removed by brushing or floss.

It is the bacteria in the plaque and/ or calculus that cause the gingivitis.

The most common symptoms are the red, swollen and bleeding gums.

Other symptoms can include tender, itchy or painful gums, receding gums

and bad breath.

However, it is worth highlighting that in the early stages of gingivitis there may not be any symptoms that the patient is aware of which is one of the reasons to attend regular dental appointments where the dentist can

check.

At this stage there is no loss of bone or tissue. However, if left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which is more serious and is associated with bone loss around the teeth, tooth mobility and can eventually lead to tooth loss.

The ‘good news’ about gingivitis is that it is a mild form of gum disease and can be reversed with daily brushing, flossing and regular professional cleanings at your dentist (usually every six months).

Some people find that using an antiseptic mouthwash, alongside proper tooth brushing and flossing also helps. I recommend only alcohol-free mouthwashes.

Attention may be needed from your dentist to correct any faulty restorations (fillings) where plaque accumulates more easily or is more difficult to remove.

Orthodontic patients with fixed brackets in place need a high level of cleaning as brackets and wires make cleaning more difficult and can easily accumulate plaque and food debris.

If allowed to accumulate the combination of the plaque and the mechanical irritation of the brackets and wires can cause the gums to actually increase and grow up closer to the brackets.

For these reasons, we recommend cleanings every three months for orthodontic patients.

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April 11 - 17, 2015

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Regional News

Six dead in Haiti following heavy rains and severe flooding CONSTANT rain has caused the death of at least six persons in Haiti.

245 families have been relocated because of overflowing rivers and 8,379 homes are flooded with 46 totally destroyed according to the country’s Directorate of Civil Protection and Interior Ministry.

The rainy season comes in the midst of a Cholera resurgence that began in December. Patterns suggest a proliferation of cases will follow the flooding.

Deaths overnight had not been confirmed and added to the figures but Interior Minister Ariel Henry said he heard of others.

Significant damage was recorded in Cite Soleil, a district of Port-auPrince, where 7,528 are flooded.

Three of the deaths occurred in this district and three others in Delmas, and Carrefour. In total, 8,413 families are affected in Port-au-Prince.

Minister Henry said the situation is troubling in the department of the Grand Anse in the south because of rains that have poured since March 30. 391 homes are flooded, 16 totally

Residents wade through a flooded street triggered by Tropical Storm Isaac in Port-au-Prince. (NY Daily News file)

destroyed, for 449 affected families.

The most affected cities are Apricot, Jeremie, Coral and Mother Mary.

Large losses for the agricultural sector are recorded in Dame Mary.

245 families are being held in temporary shelters said Minister Henry who said that the government

would be providing support to victims. “We have taken steps to mobilize resources to help the affected populations,” said the Minister who also called on people residing in vulnerable areas to be vigilant to prevent other human and material losses. ( Metropole)

Jamaica probes police ‘robber’ death by another officer JAMAICA has begun a highlevel investigation into the killing of a policeman shot dead by another officer after allegedly trying to rob a bar.

Kemar Beckford, 25, was fatally shot by the offduty officer after reportedly attempting to rob patrons with a gun.

The incident happened early on Saturday morning in Hopewell, a fishing village in north-western Jamaica.

The probe is being carried out by the police and the country’s Independent Commission of Investigations.

Reports say Mr Beckford entered the bar wearing a mask and attempted an armed robbery, before being challenged by the

other policeman who was offduty at the bar.

The intervening officer and another patron were injured in the shootout.

The police have seized a car they believe had been driven by the constable and left idling outside the bar in a bid to make a quick escape.

They also believe the officer had an accomplice who reportedly fled the scene.

“Those are the persons who are supposed to serve and protect and they are the ones carrying out these heinous acts,” a bystander is quoted as saying by the Jamaica Observer.

Hopewell is not far from the popular holiday resort of Montego Bay. (BBC)

Minnis feels Gray is arrogant over accusations FREE National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis on Tuesday advised MICAL MP V Alfred Gray not to be “arrogant” about the judicial interference allegations against him, saying the embattled MP should remember that the Bahamian people have the final say on the matter.

Dr Minnis told The Tribune it was voters who elected Mr Gray and they have the power to ensure that he no longer has a seat in the House of Assembly.

He said Mr Gray should now formulate his resignation letter along with offering an apology to the Bahamian people.

Dr Minnis was responding to Mr Gray’s comment on Monday that he would have “the last say” following the investigation into allegations that he used his position of power to help free a man in Mayaguana who was convicted and sentenced to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

“I want Gray to know that the people put him there and they can surely take him out,” Dr Minnis said when contacted on Tuesday.

“Mr Gray should address the nation, apologise for calling the magistrate and offer his immediate resignation from the post of minister for agriculture and marine resources.

If he doesn’t then Prime Minister Perry Christie should step up to the plate and fire him.”

Dr Minnis again stressed that if

Official media reported that Fidel Castro, 88, appeared “full of vitality”.

FNM leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said that Alfred Gray should apologise to the Bahamian people and resign from his post.

Mr Christie fails to remove Mr Gray from his Cabinet then the prime minister should also be terminated.

“The prime minister must now strengthen himself so he can present the image of a leader. Mr Christie as chief executive officer of this country is showing that he is indecisive because making a decision on Gray should have been easy.”

Last week lawyer Wayne Munroe, QC, confirmed to this newspaper that he was retained by Mr Gray to offer legal advice over the judicial interference allegations.

Mr Munroe added that the MICAL MP has also been seeking advice

on whether there are grounds for defamation of character lawsuits following numerous reports about the controversy featured in the media.

Police are looking into allegations that Mr Gray abused his power by contacting Mayaguana Administrator Zephaniah Newbold about a 19-yearold man convicted on the island and sentenced to a three-month prison term by the administrator.

According to Acting Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ferguson, police investigations are continuing into the matter. He said on Monday that authorities had yet to interview Mr Gray.

Fidel Castro makes rare appearance after 14 months THE former president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, has made his first appearance in 14 months.

He met a delegation of Venezuelan officials on a solidarity mission to Cuba at a local school.

The 88-year-old revolutionary icon was described as “full of vitality” by local press.

He was last seen in public in January 2014 at the opening of a Havana cultural centre sponsored by one of his favourite Cuban artists, Alexis Leyva.

This time, official media showed images of a seated Mr Castro shaking hands with the Venezuelan visitors through the window of his vehicle, wearing a baseball cap and

windbreaker.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, oil-rich Venezuela has become Cuba’s closest ally.

Mr Castro was a close friend of the former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, who ensured Cuba received cheap oil. In return, Cuba supplied its ally with Cuban advisers, doctors and teachers.

Fidel Castro provisionally stepped down due to illness in 2006, and formally announced his retirement in 2008, handing over to his younger brother Raul, 83.

He occasionally writes a newspaper column and receives dignitaries at home, but rarely appears in public. (BBC)

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Regional News

NEWS 21

Bahamas has not Devaluation of Barbados dollar will adopted OAS measures not support economic growth -study on public disclosures THE Bahamas has not considered or adopted measures intended to maintain and strengthen the Public Disclosure Commission, according to a recent report from the Organisation of American States.

Recommendations to establish provisions that would ensure the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) had independence in exercising its functions under the Public Disclosures Act were part of a comprehensive review of the country’s implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption.

Measures recommended in the other major areas of focus relating to the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of the Auditor General, and the Financial Intelligence Unit were all considered and adopted.

A source close to the matter told The Tribune this week that the government intended to implement measures before the September 2017 deadline and ahead of the next general election.

The report focused on implementation related to “oversight bodies, with a view to implementing modern mechanisms for preventing, detecting, punishing, and eradicating corrupt acts”, and also included a follow-up of the mechanisms recommended in 2005 during the first round of assessments.

The 107-page report was issued at the 25th meeting of the Committee of Experts, held in Washington, DC

last month.

“Regarding the Public Disclosure Commission,” it read, “consider establishing provisions that set out that the Public Disclosure Commission is independent in exercising its functions under the Public Disclosure Act; establish and update on a periodic basis a website; implement electronic means for completing a declaration as well as for submission by those subject to the Public Disclosure Act; and consider establishing the requirement for publication of an annual report by the Public Disclosure Commission on its activities carried out within a year.”

It also suggested that parliamentarians, senators, and public appointees provide financial declarations for their spouses and children. The report also recommended that financial declarations should be accessible to the public.

Outstanding recommendations related to the first round of assessments focus on: implementing standards of conduct for those offices that currently do not fall under the purview of any controls, including adequate sanctions for violations of those standards; establish reporting requirements for those public officials and employees who are currently not required to report to appropriate authorities acts of corruption in the performance of public functions; and enact a Freedom of Information Act that regulates and facilitates the access by the public to information in the control of public institutions. (Tribune242)

Grenada media worker drowns attempting to save daughter’s life THE technical director of the Government Information Service (GIS) Hildebrand James drowned on Sunday night as he attempted to save his daughter and a friend at the Guallas Beach in the parish of St David.

“We are mourning the loss of Hildebrand James, our technical director and longstanding member of the Government Information Service family. Hill drowned at sea…in what sources describe as a heroic act, trying to save some persons who were in difficulty,” Parliamentary Secretary for Information in the Office of the Prime Minister, Winston Garraway, wrote on the social network, Facebook.

A statement issued by the GIS noted that “Hildebrand’s work at Government Information Service

has transcended governments, and he was a valuable member of the team, rising through the ranks over the years”.

GIS director Rawle Titus said “our operations here at GIS will never be the same. Our most profound sympathy goes out to his family and friends. We stand with you during this very difficult time and we will do what we can here to honour his memory”.

James was also a musician and songwriter and played with the local group, Rhydum Mix. “We’ve lost a brother but your spirit will live on….we going to remember all the good times, we will keep your memory alive,” the band members wrote on their Facebook site.

James, 45, is survived by his wife and three children. (CMC)

A STUDY undertaken by the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) is supporting arguments that devaluation of currencies will not improve price competitiveness in very small open economies like those in the Caribbean.

“In small economies, devaluation is more likely to cause high inflation and economic contraction, rather than economic growth,” said the study undertaken by Dr. Winston Moore of the Department of Economics at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), CBB Governor Dr. DeLisle Worrell and UWI graduate Jamila Beckles.

They said the study using 33 small countries and 32 large countries demonstrated that the small economy has very limited prospects for import substitution, if there is an increase in the relative prices of imports relative to domestic production.

“Small countries tend to have smaller import substitution possibilities, averaging about 16 percent, while larger countries could on average substitute almost onethird of their imports with domestic production.

“The combination of high import content and exchange rate depreciation has a severe impact on inflation in the small open economy, far greater than the larger economies.

“The combination of high export concentration, limited import substitution potential, and a high import propensity, all of which appear from the data to be common characteristics of small economies, implies that devaluation in small economies is inflationary, and is not growth-promoting,” they wrote in the study titled “Size, Structure and Devaluation”.

The authors argued that there are insufficient domestic producers to substitute efficiently for imports,

“The combination of high import content and exchange rate depreciation has a severe impact on inflation in the small open economy, like Barbados, far greater than the larger economies the study pointed out.

and therefore there is no possibility to mitigate the inflationary impact of devaluation or imports.

“Exports are constrained by supply because the country is an atomistic producer, domestic consumption of exportables offers no scope for expansion, and domestic production of nontradeables become less productive with devaluation, so there will be no expansion of output as a result of devaluation.”

The authors regarded small economies as those with a population below 1.2 million and gross domestic product (GDP) of eight billion US dollars or less.

They found that on average, small countries have domestic substitutes for about 16 percent of imports, while larger countries could on average substitute almost one-third of their

imports with domestic production.

Barbados, for example, can only substitute a maximum of 15 per cent of the import bill for its top five goods, namely mineral fuels, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, organic chemicals and mechanical appliances.

The authors found that the combination of high import content and exchange rate depreciation has a significant impact on inflation in the small open economy, far greater than for larger economies.

Together, the combination of high export concentration – on average 77 per cent – limited import substitution potential, and a high import propensity, mean that for small economies, devaluation is inflationary, and is not growthpromoting.

Cayman Islands: Angry Jamaica-bound passengers demand travel refund PASSENGERS in the Cayman Islands who had paid for air tickets to Jamaica over the Easter weekend were turned away at the airport after being told the travel company had not completed their booking.

A crowd of angry passengers, all of whom had been blocked from boarding planes to Kingston over the long weekend, gathered outside Cayman 123 Travel on Eastern Avenue on Tuesday morning, waving receipts from the company and demanding to be reimbursed.

The company appeared to be shut and newspaper was plastered across the door. Eventually, a representative

turned up and told the customers they would be repaid or put on new flights to Jamaica.

Theresa Chin, the owner of the company, refused to comment on the situation to the Cayman Compass.

The passengers, many of whom had booked their tickets months in advance, say they were told at the Cayman Airways check-in desk airport that the payments had not come through from the travel company.

Bharat Persuad from Guyana had booked a ticket home via Kingston to be with his son, who is due to have

heart surgery on Thursday.

He said he was one of around 25 people turned away from the flight on Tuesday morning. Mr. Persuad, who had a receipt for a $819 ticket to Guyana, via Jamaica, said he was told there was no record of any reservation.

Karissa Cameron, who was traveling to Kingston with a friend to start school, was also turned away at the airport.

She said, “I got to the counter and the ticket agent asked what travel company. I told them 123 and the look on her face told me there was a problem.”

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April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

In Fond and Loving Memory

A PRAYER BREAKFAST UNDER THE THEME

MENTAL HEALTH IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS Mr. And Mrs. William (Bill) Clare Invite You To

A Fund-Raising Breakfast For Their Daughter, Tamara

JOSEPH MIELTY February 1959 – March 2015 Passed away in Providenciales March 27th, 2015 He was a very special person to many of us, He left us all far to soon His friends and family miss him dearly, and always will

To Be Held At The Tropicana Show And Supper Club, The Bight, Providenciales 8:45 Am, Saturday, April 11, 2015

Tickets $75.00

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

April 11 - 17, 2015

April 11 - 17, 2015

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Call 946-4894 or stop by our Leeward Highway store today

Clothes now Available

NO HIGHER THAN

$50

BIG AND SMALL

April 11 - 17, 2015

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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World News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

April 11 - 17, 2015

Ferguson election makes history, adds more blacks to City Council CHANGE has come to Ferguson.

After months of turmoil and upheaval, months of frustration and anger, the beleaguered city has a new governing board. And it looks very different than the old one.

Buoyed by a higher-than-normal 30% turnout, two African-American candidates won their wards Tuesday night to make the six-member City Council 50% black. Ferguson’s population of about 21,000 is 70% black, but the City Council was predominantly white, as is the police force.

Supporters of both candidates said that from the tragedy of a young black man’s death, a new day dawned in Ferguson.

Ella Jones screamed when her victory became official late Tuesday night. She won 49.76% of the vote.

“Thank you, Ward 1. I love you,” an emotional Jones said at a party held at Drake’s restaurant.

She will become the first black woman ever to sit on the Ferguson council.

But both Jones and Wesley Bell, who won the Ward 3 seat with nearly 67% of the vote, said they did not see their victories from a racial perspective.

Jones, who resigned her job as a Mary Kay cosmetics sales director to run for office, said in her ward,

Ella Jones becomes the first black woman ever to sit on the Ferguson council.

she heard the same complaints from a 65-year-old black man as she did from his white peers.

“My job is to be that catalyst so we can put a new face on Ferguson,” she said.

Bell, a lawyer and criminal justice professor, said, “I’m more interested in having quality on the council,” when asked about the change in its racial makeup.

He had made community policing

his No. 1 priority and said he intends to be deeply involved with the hiring of a new police chief in this St. Louis suburb. The former chief, Tommy Jackson, resigned after a scathing U.S. Department of Justice report found systemic discrimination against African-Americans in law enforcement and the municipal court.

Bell said he wants Ferguson’s police officers to be judged by the number of people they know in the community, not by the number of tickets they issue.

One other seat was up for grabs in Ferguson. That was won by Brian Fletcher, a former mayor who launched the “I Love Ferguson” campaign to raise money for momand-pop businesses that were hurt by the violence and vandalism during the protests last fall. Fletcher beat his opponent, Bob Hudgins, with 56.7% of the vote.

Fletcher told voters he was best suited for a City Council job despite his critics’ claims that he was too entrenched in the old guard.

“I understand that feeling, but those individuals don’t know me,” he said.

Fletcher said he had contacts with elected officials from his almost three decades in politics. That would be an invaluable asset in getting Ferguson back on its feet, he said.

South Carolina protesters decry police shooting PROTESTS are being held in South Carolina over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man as he ran away from police.

Officer Michael Slager was charged with murder and sacked after video emerged of him shooting Walter Scott multiple times in the back following a scuffle.

He was arrested when authorities reviewed mobile phone video of the shooting, which took place on Saturday.

The incident has been widely condemned, and the US Department of Justice and the FBI are investigating.

Cries of “Black lives matter!” rang out as about 50 protesters joined local politicians outside City Hall in North Charleston on Tuesday morning.

“We cannot sit still and be quiet anymore. This is our season to speak!” said one woman who commanded the crowd’s attention.

Appearing on ABC’s Good Morning America breakfast programme, Mr Scott’s mother, Judy Scott, described the video as “the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen”.

Cries of “Black lives matter!” rang out as about 50 protesters joined local politicians outside City Hall in North Charleston on Tuesday morning.

“I almost couldn’t look at it to see my son running defencelessly, being shot. It tore my heart to pieces,” she said.

Other members of the family said they were grateful the video came to light and the authorities had acted quickly in response.

Mr Slager was fired from the force on Wednesday, as North Charleston

Police Chief Eddie Driggers said he was “sickened” by the video.

The incident on Saturday began after Scott’s car was stopped for having a broken rear light, local media reported.

A video of the incident published by the New York Times shows a brief scuffle before Scott begins running away.

The panel consisted of (clockwise from top left) Willie Rennie, Nicola Sturgeon, Patrick Harvie, Ruth Davidson, Jim Murphy and David Coburn.

Election 2015: EU exit ‘could spark Scots referendum’ SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said an attempt to “drag” Scotland out of the EU against its will could trigger another independence referendum.

The first minister’s comments came as she was asked if plans for a fresh vote on Scotland’s future would be in her 2016 Holyrood election manifesto.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the SNP had ruled out another referendum “for a generation”.

Labour’s Jim Murphy said May’s general election was not about independence.

Their remarks came during a BBC Scotland TV debate in Aberdeen, which was broadcast on Wednesday evening on BBC1 Scotland and the BBC News channel.

David Cameron has pledged an in/out referendum on Europe by the

end of 2017, if the Conservatives win the election.

Ms Sturgeon has previously said the Westminster election was not about independence, but during an STV debate on Tuesday added that using the 2016 Holyrood elections to bring about a second independence vote was “another matter”.

She told the BBC Scotland debate she was “not planning or proposing another referendum”, but when asked about the 2016 referendum, responded: “Something material would have to change in terms of the circumstances or public opinion before I think it would be appropriate to have a proposal for a referendum.”

Ms Sturgeon added: “Perhaps if the Tories wanted to drag us out of the European Union against our will, for example. That might change the circumstances.”

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev: Boston Marathon bomber found guilty THE man accused of bombing the Boston Marathon in 2013 has been found guilty of all 30 charges that he faced, many of which carry the death penalty.

The jury in Massachusetts will now decide what sentence 21-yearold Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will receive.

Three people were killed and more than 260 injured when the bombs exploded at the finish line in April 2013.

His lawyers maintained he played a role in the attacks but said his older brother was the driving force.

A police officer was killed in the days following the attack as Tsarnaev and his brother, who also died, attempted to flee.

The decision was reached on Wednesday, after the jury deliberated for just over 12 hours spread over two days.

Tsarnaev kept his hands folded in front of him and looked down as the guilty verdicts were read.

Nearby, the mother of one victim, eight-year-old Martin Richard,

Three people were killed and more than 260 injured when the bombs that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother planted exploded at the finish line in April of 2013.

wiped tears from her face after the verdict was read. Richard’s father embraced one of the prosecutors.

The governor of Massachusetts welcomed the verdict, and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said: “I hope today’s verdict provides a small amount of closure”.

April 11 - 17, 2015

World News

29

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Mum blogger gets 20 years for murder son with salt Gunmen opened fired on police near the village of Soyatan.

Fifteen Mexican police killed during ambush FIFTEEN police officers have been killed and five others wounded in an ambush in the Mexican state of Jalisco, prosecutors have said.

Gunmen targeted the police convoy as it travelled along a highway towards the state capital of Guadalajara on Monday.

Security Commissioner Alejandro Solorio called it a “cowardly attack”.

The area is home to a drug cartel known as Jalisco New Generation, but Mr Solorio would not say if the gang was behind the ambush.

It is considered one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico and is involved in large-scale drug trafficking along the Pacific Coast.

Raul Benitez, a security expert at Mexico’s National Autonomous University, described the afternoon attack as well planned and orchestrated.

“A lot of gunmen were involved.

They blocked the highway to surround them [police] and attacked with military superiority,’ he told the Associated Press.

The ambush is the latest in a series of killings in the region over the past two weeks.

On 19 March gunmen shot dead five police officers during an attack in Jalisco. The police chief of the town of Zacoalco de Torres was also killed on Monday. (BBC)

The Kenyan government denies that the military failed to respond swiftly to the assault.

Kenya bombs Somalia al-Shabab bases after Garissa attack

KENYAN fighter jets have bombed positions of militant Islamist group al-Shabab in neighbouring Somalia, a military spokesman has told the BBC. The warplanes had targeted two camps in the Gedo region, used by al-Shabab to cross into Kenya, the spokesman added.

This is Kenya’s first response to the al-Shabab assault which left 148 people dead at Garissa University last week.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had vowed to respond to the attack “in the severest way possible”.

Kenyan army spokesman David Obonyo told the BBC that the

military had responded to “threats” by launching the air strikes on Sunday night in the remote region.

Two camps had been destroyed, he said, adding: “The bombings are part of the continued process and engagement against al-Shabab, which will go on.”

But an eyewitness, speaking to BBC Somali, said the attack had wounded three civilians, and destroyed livestock and wells in an area without an al-Shabab presence.

The attack on Garissa University, about 150km (90 miles) from the Somali border, was the deadliest by al-Shabab in Kenya.

A MOMMY blogger who fatally poisoned her 5-year-old son with high levels of salt was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years to life in prison for the murder.

Lacey Spears, 27, was found guilty March 2 by a New York jury of intentionally force-feeding little Garnett Spears salt and writing about her sickly son’s ailments in a fatal bid for attention.

A White Plains judge handed down the minimum 20 year sentence Wednesday, though the Scottsville, Ky., woman faced as much as 25 year minimum sentence for the killing.

Spears lived in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., when the tyke died in January 2014. She moved to Kentucky after killing Garnett.

It was “nothing short of torture,” for Spears, 27, to force-feed the boy with high concentrations of sodium, Assistant District Attorney Patricia Murphy told the White Plains jury before the conviction.

Lacey Spears with son Garnett.

The boy died of high sodium levels after being poisoned by his mother.

“The motive is bizarre, the motive is scary, but it exists,” she added in closing arguments during the trial.

“She apparently craved the attention

of her family, her friends, her coworkers and most particularly the medical profession.”

Evidence of her social media activity, including on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, was introduced during the two-week trial.

In one Facebook post, she wrote Garnett was at the hospital 23 times in his first year.

Her personal blog and online research into the dangers of sodium in children were also highlighted by the prosecution.

While some experts pointed to a cause of Munchausen by proxy, a rare disorder where parents harm children to get attention, prosecutors stopped short of introducing that theory to the jury.

They did call a toxicologist who testified that feeding bags found in Spears’ apartment were heavily tainted with salt — one contained the equivalent of 69 McDonald’s salt packets. (NYDailynews)

Hooters ordered to pay $250,000 to black waitress over hair colour dispute SHAME on you, Hooters.

A Maryland arbitrator awarded a former waitress $250,000 after determining the chain restaurant employed a “vague and subjective” — and racist — hair policy that explicitly directed managers to consider an employee’s skin colour in determining what hair colour was “right” for them.

Black waitresses at a Baltimore Hooters were the only ones subjected to the policy, abritrator Edmund Cooke Jr. ruled.

“The manager told me black people don’t have blond hair,” former server Farryn Johnson told the Daily News. “I was a little shocked. I thought maybe I had misheard him and asked him to clarify. He repeated the same statement.”

Johnson, who began worked at the Hooters restaurant in September 2012, won the award in an April 2 judgment after filing a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2013 The chain, known for its racy “Hooters Girl” uniforms that make it hard for customers’ to ignore its servers’ anatomy, restricts waitresses who colour their hair from dying it too differently from their “natural” colour, and their race plays a factor in that determination, according to an official policy contained in the “image policy” enforced by the Atlanta-based Hooters of America.

Farryn Johnson, 26, won a $250,000 judgment against Hooters claiming they discriminated against her for not allowing her to have blond streaks in her hair.

Johnson, 26, who is black, asserted that the restaurant would not permit her to have blond highlights, though she argued that waitresses of other races were held to no such restriction.

Cooke ruled the restaurant violated Johnson’s rights and agreed that the policy was discriminatory against African-American women.

Johnson, who started working at the restaurant in September 2012, said she decided to get the blond highlights — as did some of her co-workers — because it was summer. She said she would not have anticipated there would be any problem when she showed up to work on June 30, 2013.

Johnson said she was told to change her hair color, and given six weeks to do so. Some non-black

employees were within their rights to dye or color their hair in similar fashion, her boss said, because there are white women who naturally have those hair colors.

Johnson refused to change her hairstyle and on Aug. 12, they told her she could not return to work.

“I was still surprised to be terminated over something that I thought was unfair,” she said. “I was angry and upset to be treated like that.”

The manager’s directive stemmed from the company’s “Image Policy,” which stipulates that the hair of a socalled Hooters Girl must look “styled and glamorous,” and cannot appear “bizarre, outrageous or extreme,” and cannot be colored “more than two-shades in variance” from a natural color.

30

Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate

Classifieds TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Brama Kumaris

Raja Yoga Meditation Centre Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephone 946-4760 & 332-4101

www.bkwsu.com Email: bkpadma@bkwsutci.com

FOR SALE

April 11 - 17, 2015

946-4664 Fax: 946-4661

Email: tcnews@tciway.tc

Website: tcweeklynews.com

FLOWER GIRL

Wanted urgently

Floral Designer

Must have thorough knowledge in the floral business with 3-5 years experience.

Call: 231-3788

Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788

April 11 - 17, 2015

CLASSIFIEDS 31

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

SKY PILOT PARASAIL Is looking for a

Green Keeper To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.

11371

contact: 232-3337

Top o’ the Cove

Is currently looking to employ a

LIVE-IN BUTLER WANTED

• must be bi-lingual • Must be able to drive • Must be able to work weekends • Must be able to care for family house Salary $800.00 monthly

Contact: 241-6748 11372

Cashier/ Waitress/ Frontend

;; Position available Must have previous restaurant experience, must be familiar with POS system. ;; Must be able to answer phones, take orders, be computer literate, work weekends and holidays. ;; Verifiable references/CV/Resume required Please submit all application between 8:00 am and 5:00am Monday to Friday at Top o’ the Cove or email to syrmondg@bayviewmotors.com

Seeks to Employ:

External Systems Manager • Position is to be based on site managing External Render Projects as well as being able to carry out the Application of the render systems.

• Have the ability to order materials, price and deal with variations, deal with necessary paperwork and liaise with the Client / Main Contractor.

• Ability to use Microsoft and Outlook would be advantageous.

• Have knowledge, understanding and experience with Sto Render Systems.

• Be fluent in both English and Spanish • Work six days a week; including holidays and weekends.

• Clean Police Record and Driving License.

Email resume to: ewatkin19@gmail.com or Contact Us: 649.946.5414. Apply before: 24th April 2015 11378

SKYLINE DISTRIBUTORS LTD. /SKY HOLDINGS LTD.

IS LOOKING FOR A QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED APPLICANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS All interested applicants, please send resumes to PO Box 762. Preference will be given to experienced and qualified Belongers. Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

ASSISTANT CONTROLLER

Reporting to the Managing Director, for Process Improvement & Internal Controller will be charged with assessing procedures and controls of various units throughout the Company and making recommendations for improvement. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to work with individuals with diverse experience and backgrounds. The individual will be responsible for developing test plans for promoting business activities, issuing a written report documenting current procedures and detailing recommendations for improvement and following to assess progress achieved. He/she must be a nimble thinker who can quickly assess the larger risks before making recommendations for improvement related to detail procedures and duties. Bachelor & Post Graduate Degree in a related field, 5+ years’ experience in a business of this nature, ability to work independently, strong analytic ability, strong written and oral communication skills, Detail orientated. Salary: $30,000 + per annum.

ASSITANT MANAGER

Reporting to the Managing Director, assumes responsibility for all aspects of purchasing and import documentation on international purchases for the Operations, including: costs of goods analysis to comply with budgets, maximizing revenues through price negotiations, maintain inventory and stock control, communicate between management and suppliers on shortages and order fulfillment, coordinate deliveries, shipments, responsible for team members, ability to multi task and work under pressure within a fast-paced work environment. Strong negotiation, analytical and communication skills. Must have a vehicle, valid drivers’ license and be willing to work holidays and weekends. 5+ year’s experience in procurement. Strong computer/POS organizational and analytical skills. Salary: $24,000 + per annum.

WINE STEWARD

This highly skilled professional helps promote the business activities, should have exceptional taste, extensive knowledge of wines, their composition, how they’re made and how they affect food on your menu. He/she is in charge of purchasing the wines, creating the wine list for clients and providing wine tutorials and forums. The wine steward handles all wine inventory and management, customer interaction, vendor relationships and improves the company’s profits. Must have a vehicle, valid drivers’ license and be willing to work holidays and weekends. WSET – Advanced wine & spirits certification required, 3+ years’ experience in the business of wine professional proving his/her expertise, hands on work ethic. Salary: $18,000 + per annum plus commissions.

GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Acting on behalf of our client Money Transfer is looking to fill the following position:

Compliance Training Officer Must be able to speak and write French, Creole, English and Spanish Salary negotiable.

Contact: 649-946-4069 11386

JOY OCCIUS Is looking for a

labourer To work 5

days per week salary $6.25. contact: 342-4337 11388

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

1. Parcel 60505/90 Blue Hills and Stamers Run, Providenciales.

Single storey with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom attached to a two storey block comprising two one bedroom apartments, each with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom on 0.20 acre.

Registered Proprietor: Daudane Ivis Taylor

2. Parcel 50201/66 Whitby, North Caicos.

Undeveloped land located north of King’s Highway near Whitby settlement, approx. 0.5 acre. Registered Proprietor: Frankie Narine Soman

3. Parcel 61108/84 Long Bay Hills, Providenciales.

Single storey main house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, dining/living room, formal living room, powder room, laundry room. Duplex on site consisting of a one bedroom, one bathroom, living room, kitchen with laundry room unit and a two bedroom, one bathroom, living room, kitchen with laundry room unit on approx. 0.99 acre.

Registered Proprietor: Paulamae Dianne Williams

4. Parcel 20304/42, Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos.

Two storey with two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, dining room and laundry room on main level. Second level consists of five bedrooms, two bathrooms, living/dining room, kitchen, family room and laundry room on second level on 0.45 acre.

Registered Proprietors: Henry Cornelius Handfield and Joanne Cynclair Handfield

5. Parcel 10409/152 East Suburbs, Grand Turk.

Single storey with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining room, family room and laundry room on 1 acre.

Registered Proprietor: Alexa Lawanda Cooper

6. Parcel 61113/88 Long Bay, Providenciales.

Single storey with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining room, family room and laundry room on 0.49 acre.

Registered Proprietors: Terrence McLean Robinson and Loretta Rocal Robinson The auction will be held at the office of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 24th day of April 2015.

A reserved price will be fixed on all parcels and a deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.

ADVENTURESCAPE WEBDESIGNS LTD. VACANCIES • Formal university training and significant experience of at least 5 years or more • Capability to coordinate customer relationships, monitor accounts receivables, initiating marketing ideas, presenting new concepts and campaigns • Superior knowledge of computers, the internet and Social Media. Candidate must also be knowledgeable in website design, be capable of creating and launching SEO campaigns and running PPC campaigns • 40 hour working week • Salary commensurate with experience ranging from 30-32k plus commission

• Must have experience in gasoline and diesel marine engines • Must be able to work holidays/ weekends and nights when necessary • Salary $500.00 weekly

DIVE INSTRUCTORS

• Must be PADI Certified • Must be in teaching status and have insurance • Salary $90.00 per day

ACTIVITIES COORDINATORS

• Must be able to work holidays and weekends • Must have experience coordination cruise ships passengers and working with the cruise ship industry • Salary $350.00 per week

• Must be willing to work holidays

To work 6 days per week. Salary $12.00 per hour.

11343

• Responsible for general cleaning of bakery equipment • Make sure bakery is kept tidy at all times • Packing of baking products for distribution • Must be honest and have a pleasant attitude towards customers • Must be willing to work from 4:00am – 1:00pm (long hours) 5 days per week and sometimes weekends Salary $6.50 per hour

Contact: 946-4536

EBS EXPRESS BROKERAGE

COCO BISTRO is looking for a

Is looking to fill the following positions:

MARINE MECHANICS

Metal Roofer contact: 242-3858

OCEAN VIBES

is looking for

ONE BAKERY ASSISTANT

Sales Accounts Supervisor

Belongers need only apply. Send resume to admin@adventurescape.com or call 941-4634 for any questions.

BOAT CAPTAINS

Is looking for a

BAMBARRA BAKERY

and weekends • Must have experience driving twin engine boats • Must be a Certified Diver with at least Rescue Diver Certificate as well as a Oxygen Provider and EFR Certificate • Salary $90.00 per day

SAIL BOAT CAPTAINS

• Must have experience driving a sail boat • Must be familiar with diesel engines • Must have experience in the Tourist Industry • Salary $150.00 per day

Is looking for a

Domestic Worker

• Must have a clean police record • Must be willing to work weekends, holidays and nights • Duties: • Make sure the surroundings is clean and tidy Salary $6.25 per hour

mason To work 5 days per week salary $7.00 per hour.

Contact: 649-946-5368 deadline for application is April 13th, 2015

11356

• Formal university training and significant experience of at least 10 years or more • Ability to supervise a variety of outsourced programming projects throughout the world, costing and estimating time to complete projects from implementation to delivery • Familiar with programming languages and database engineering • Advanced knowledge in graphic design and competency in Online Marketing and Search Engine Optimization • 40 hour work week • Basic salary of $40-48k

ATLANTIC CONSTRUCTION

• Must have at least 3 or more years experience driving a parasailing boat • Must be familiar with hydraulic systems and diesel engines • Must be willing to work weekends and holidays • Salary $100.00 per day

Contact: 649-941-8605 or email: oceanvibes@gmail.com

11352

contact: 941-8185 MMK PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

PARASAILING BOAT CAPTAINS

Is looking for the following persons

CERTIFIED Kiteboard

Instructor Minimum 2 years teaching experience

call 242-2927

4 Cosmetologists 6 Labourers 6 Domestic Workers Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.50 per hour.

11355

Computer Programmer

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

11345

32 CLASSIFIEDS

contact: 231-6991 11275

PRITON DEVELOPMENT LTD.

SEEKS

Purchasing Agent Must have at least 10 years experience. Must have a degree in Business Studies. Must be proficient with Microsoft Excel and Quick Books.

Must have good knowledge of construction and must be able to work on holidays, weekends and any overtime required by management. Salary is based on experience.

Interested persons should send applications via fax at (649) 941-4034 C/o Alliance Realty Ltd., Deadline for applications is April10, 2015. Only persons chosen will be contacted.

B&B SERVICE STATION

BOTTLE CREEK, NORTH CAICOS

CAPRON WATERSPORTS

BCS/CS acting on behalf of our clients:

Sam’s Shop, Grace Bay Car Rentals, TEFMPrivate Chef Services and F & N is looking to fill the following positions:

2 PUMP ATTENDANTS MUST BE ABLE TO WORK SUNDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. SALARY & $6.25 PER HOUR. BELONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY

GEORGINA KNOWLES Is looking for a

GUYSLANDE SWANN Is looking for a

Domestic Worker domestic contact: 243-3698

11344

To work 6 days per week salary $6.50 per hour

worker

To work 5 days per week salary $6.25 per hour. contact: 341-6203 11360

11354

Email: branditz@yahoo.com or telephone: 649-246-1228

IODA STUBBS Is looking for a

labourer To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.

J.B. CONSTRUCTION Is looking for a

salary $6.00 per hour

JOHNNY PIERRE Is looking for a

Babysitter To work 5 days per week salary $6.00 per hour

LEW & JAN CONSTRUCTION

PAUL A. GARDINER

per week salary $7.00 per hour.

Please apply with professional references and qualifications to: ar@griffithsandpartners.com

11364

We require an extremely confident Mixologist to join our fun, happy hardworking team.

Must have 10 years experience, be capable of designing cocktails and menus, Prepare costings and budgets. Experienced at purchasing and Inventory Control is a must.

Working 6 days per week. Must have excellent customer focus and service is a number one priority. Extremely reliable and trustworthy.

11363

contact: 232-7317

TWELAN SWANN Is looking for a

Sales Person

to work 6 days per week salary $6.50 per hour. contact: 347-6728

11351

NATASHA CONSULTANCY Acting on behalf of our clients: Marie Berry

Labourer

Contact: 241-8820 Liluce Tile Contracting

Tile Layer Painter

Contact: 649-346-1879 11359

WINE CELLAR Is looking for:

LAUNDRY SUPERVISOR

To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour. contact: 232-5262

Must be willing to work 6 days per week. Must be trustworthy and reliable. Salary $6.50 per hour. Hours are from 8:00am-4:00pm

Contact: 946-4536

11366

11346

TURKS AND CAICOS AGGRESSOR II

1 Open Water Scuba Diving Instructors / Engineer

cashier To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour

contact: 342-7335

11312

Mixologist Required

is looking for a

Email resume to savoursaveur@gmail.com 11271

Labourer

labourer To work 6 days

Applications should be submitted at www.momentous. tc or in person at Neptune Crt. Unit 204 (Momentous Ltd.) during business hours (10 am - 3 pm).

11353

per hour.

JUDITH CLOTHING STORE

is looking for a

Counter Server Turkberry Frozen Yogurt Currently hiring FT & PT positions for Counter Server at Turkberry Frozen Yogurt (Regent Village). Hours include evenings, weekends and holidays. Applicant must be outgoing, trustworthy, willing to learn and take direction. Fluent reading and writing in English is mandatory. Duties include serving customers, some food prep work, cashiering and cleaning counters and tables. Prior experience preferred. A friendly, outgoing attitude is mandatory!

Job is open to Turks Islanders only.

IS LOOKING FOR A

LINE COOK Salary $9.00

Carpenter To work 5 days per week

contact: 344-3288 or 347-4865 11355

Is looking for a

Certification • Level 2 powerboat license and STCW Certified with a minimum of 5 years captain experience • Expert swimmer and experienced kite boarding, kayaking, paddleboard, surfing • Must have a valid TCI driver’s license • Must be able to work weekends and holidays

Belonger need only apply all qualified applicants please send resume to: watersportscapron@gmail.com

contact: 343-0812

11361

SAVOR HOLDINGS LTD.

KITEBOARDING INSTRUCTOR Must have the following qualifications: • Minimum 5 years experience working wit kids as a water sports instructor in an outdoor setting • Minimum of 3 years experience in a 5 star holiday resort as a Water Ski & Wakeboard Instructor • Current first aid and CPR

Laborers Sales Clerk Chef

Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour send resume to

11354

CONTACT: 231-5134

CLASSIFIEDS 33

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

11365

April 11 - 17, 2015

REQUIREMENTS AS FOLLOW: • Valid PADI/SSI/TDI membership and liability insurance • PADI/SSI Enriched Air Instructor • Minimum of 5 Specialty Ratings • Working Knowledge of Under water Camera/ Videos and Edition

• Computer Literate • STCW95 Complaint • Be prepared to live onboard & work long hours including weekends & holidays • Experienced in the Hospitality industry Belongers need only apply Starting salary $400.00 a week

Please send emails to tcaggressor@express.tc or call 941-7825 10280

Is looking for a

CASABLANCA CASINO

Interior Design Position Available Immediately

is looking for the following position:

SURVEILLANCE MANAGER

Salary $14.00 per hour • All candidates should have at least 3-5 years experience • Must be willing to work on weekends and holidays

Requirements - Applicant must have a degree in Architecture/Interior Design - Applicant must have a minimum of 5 years experience in the Interior Design field - Ability to manage multiple projects on a deadline schedule - Must possess strong leadership, organizational and communication skills.

- Be proficient with Auto Cad, Excel, Word, Quick Books and Photoshop - Have experience and knowledge in the

Please send CV’s to: Casablancadaily@hotmail.com or drop off at the Casablanca Casino 11347

Faye Ellingson of Design Studio E-mail address: faye@designstudio.tc

Salary $18.5 per hour

Caretaker To work in the school’s nursery.

Interested persons can email

resumes to aca2006@live.com

11380

ERB CONSTRUCTION (BARESTRE ETIENE)

Labourers

DICE DEALER

G & G CONSTRUCTION

NERISSA FORTUNE

Is looking for

Is looking for a

Carpenter Labourer

domestic

– $5.00 per hour

Domestic Workers – $8-$10 per hour

Mason

– $8-$10 per hour

Carpenter – $8-$10 per hour

Painters $7-$9 per hour

Contact: philojemployment @hotmail.com

Must be willing to work 5 days per week. Salary $7.00 per hour.

contact: 241-2962

worker To work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.

contact: 243-2700

11382

Mechanic

11365

– $5.00 per hour

Professional Services Agency

Resumes and Photo’s of Applicants work and three references can be sent to:

QUALITY FOOD CENTER

Live in Housekeeper needed domestic is looking for a

Salary $1000.00 per month. Contact 232-7827 or email kaystubbspsa@ yahoo.com

11376

Duties and Qualifications: • 4 or more years of experience with Wiring and Electrical Troubleshooting • Degree or certification in Electronic Engineering or equivalent experience • Mechanical aptitude a must • Install electrical and electronic parts and hardware in housings or assemblies, using soldering equipment and hand tools • Assembly and test of industrial electronic components, PC boards, cables and electrical panel assemblies • Ability to read and understand electrical schematics and wiring diagrams • Ability to use multi-meters and other electrical test equipment • Excellent soldering, wiring and assembly skills • Excellent written and oral communication skills, a steady hand and good eyesight a must.

• Must be able to lift 50 pound objects Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please send resumes to kaystubbspsa@yahoo.com

worker To work 6 days

per week salary $6.25 per hour.

contact: 946-5715

Professional Services Agency

On behalf of its client is looking for an

Industrial Electro Mechanical Technician

recruitment of prospective clients and projects - Must be prepared to supervise the container offload and install of client furnishings - Must be prepared to work some holidays, weekends and nights as required - Applicant must own a vehicle and carry a valid Turks and Caicos Drivers License.

- Salary (U.S.$2,500 per month plus commission).

11379

ALPHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

11373

34 CLASSIFIEDS

Professional Services Agency on behalf of its client is looking for an

IT Technician To provide support analysis and management and assist in the planning, development, installation, configuration and maintenance of hardware, software and communication systems.

Duties:

• Assist in analyzing the IT needs of the Group and in determining the immediate and long range software and hardware needs • Maintain, secure, troubleshoot and administer Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Internet (Cable/ DSL/WIFI connection) and IPTV • Maintain and evaluate computer hardware, communication equipment, networking software, Operating system and application software • Network administration and management • Maintain control records, implement and secure network traffic and optimize server performance • Perform and ensure system/data backups and its recovery operations • Provide problem solving services and assist network users on systems and software such as PMS, POS Software and Telephone Billing System • Interact and negotiate with vendors, outsourcers and contractors to seek products and services • Provide on call technical support Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please send resumes to kaystubbspsa@yahoo.com 11377

11377

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 35

MANAGER, COMPLIANCE AND LEGAL SERVICES Job Grade: A80 Annual Salary: $54,000 - $67,800 - $81,400 Full-Time Managing Director’s Office, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Island

The Manager, Compliance and Legal Services is responsible for providing support in the coordination of the overall Anti-Money Laundering regime for Turks and Caicos Islands and supporting Management in fulfilling their compliance responsibilities by promoting adherence to Scotiabank Guidelines for Business Conduct, the Group Standards for Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-terrorist Financing and any supplemental policies, procedures, guidelines or codes of conduct applicable to the TCI; as well as protecting the interest of the Group in legal matters; anticipating and advising on legal issues that may affect its operations.

I. Specific Accountabilities

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Under Section 104 of the Registered Land Ordinance CAP 9.01 PARCEL NUMBER SECTION ISLAND 10204/200 NORTH WEST SUBURBS GRAND TURK NOTICE IS HEREBY given that by virtue of Order of the Registrar of Lands, Acting dated September 23, 2014, there shall be put up for sale to the Highest Bidder the property more particularly described in schedule 1 below. The sale shall take place at the Conference Room of the Attorney General's Chambers, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands on the 24TH day of April 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Schedule 1 All that piece or portion of land known as Block 1 0204 Parcel 200 which said property is situate in Grand Turk and is more commonly known as Salty Cottage, together with all appurtenances and dependencies thereof, including the buildings erected thereon.

Title: Reserve Price:

Absolute US$380,000.00

The sale will be conducted by an auctioneer to be nominated by the Registrar of Lands.

The Officer conducting the sale shall require from the successful bidder a deposit equal to ten per cent ( 1 0%) of the purchase price payable by Certified Banker's cheque.

The balance of the purchase price (less the deposit) shall be paid within fourteen ( 14) days of the date of the sale. In default of any said payment the entire deposit will be forfeited. Bidding will commence at the reserve price.

In the event that the property is not sold by auction, a registered real estate agent will be nominated in order for the sale to proceed by way of private treaty.

Note that access to the property is by way of road way registered at Parcel 10204/204.

Permission and/ or the right to use the said roadway will have to be negotiated with the owners thereof.

Dated the 2nd day of April 201 5

Brandie N. Anderson REGISTRAR OF LANDS

• Assist in the maintenance of an adequate Compliance Network that will ensure that the units within Scotiabank TCI are operating within the regulatory framework applicable to their business activities, personnel practices and premises.

• Provide support in ensuring that regulatory requirements are considered, identified and addressed with regards to the development of new products, programs or business initiatives.

• Provide support in developing and carrying out review programs that will confirm compliance to regulatory requirements is in place.

• Provide support in reviewing, on an annual basis, plans developed by support groups to monitor operational risk. Assist the Corporate Manager in periodically consulting with support functions and ensure plans have been executed and documented, and coordinate the submission of information, of an exception nature, to Sr. Management and the board of Directors where warranted.

• Provide support in ensuring that adequate policies, practices and procedures have been defined and implemented to enable ongoing compliance to applicable local regulatory requirements .

• Provide support in ensuring that adequate training programs are developed to support the reliable implementation of regulatory requirements.

• Provide support in ensuring the instances of non-compliance to regulatory requirements are being identified, appropriately reported and adequate action plans are developed to ensure corrective action and non-recurrence.

• Provide support in ensuring that all required reporting activities are completed in an accurate and timely manner as prescribed.

II. Complexity of Position

In order to perform the functions of the position, the following competencies are required: • Formal training in law (to deal with documentation/other complexities involved in the business and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the field; • Formal training in Compliance and membership in a recognized professional compliance association (e.g. Association of Certified Anti-Money laundering Specialists-ACAMS or International Compliance Association-ICA), and a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the field; • Good knowledge of business activities undertaken by Scotiabank TCI; • Thorough knowledge of the regulatory/supervisory structure of the local financial markets, current banking regulations and industry standards; • Sound knowledge of the Bank’s policies, procedures, operations, organization, internal controls and the Scotiabank Group compliance process; • Excellent communications skills, both written and oral, as well as analytical and negotiation skills, • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and the ability to prioritize/delegate and deal with the workload to meet deadlines, • Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective working relationships with local regulators, external auditors and management personnel; • Ability to review complex documents and material and effectively absorb relevant content and assimilate this in a practical and coherent way; • High degree of computer literacy.

The incumbent operates independently within the guidelines, policies, directives and established precedents.

Please forward your application no later than Thursday , April 9 27,2015 to: Lynette Grant-Higgs Manager, Human Resources Scotiabank (TC) Ltd. Providenciales, TCI E-mail: lynette.grant-higgs@scotiabank.com

11357

36

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Science & Technology NASA chief scientist: ‘Indications’ of alien life by 2025 within 20 to 30 years,” NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan said Tuesday during a panel discussion on water in the universe.

“We know where to look. We know how to look,” she said.

“In most cases, we have the technology, and we’re on a path to implementing it. And so I think

Chief Executive Officer DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Spence Security & Investigation Services Ltd., which is locallyowned, has been in operation in the TCI since 1997 and currently has a complement of +90 Security Officers, including a number of part-time staff. The Company is comprised of, and provides services via, the following major divisions: Alarm Installation, Live Camera Surveillance Installations and Monitoring, Alarms Monitoring and Response, Post Security Officers, Private Investigations, Patrol and Response Units, including an enforcement branch for Detainee Control and Responsibilities Services. The Chief Executive Officer will be directly responsible for creating and maintaining the company budget including all of the above; will report to and consult with the Company’s President / Chairman in determining plans, policies and procedures to be observed in Company operations.

THE COMPANY Spence Security is located in Company owned premises at Caribbean Place, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, where its administrative staff of +10 is based, and from which its security force is directed. The Company also has a division located in the nation’s capital Grand Turk. Economically and culturally diverse in the industrial and economic center; the Company is looking to expand its operation in the commercial and residential sectors, through educational and cultural security programs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A degree in criminal justice or related field from an accredited college or university (Bachelor’s preferred); • Completion of advanced coursework in policing or security

• • • •

• • • •

management science and administration. Graduation from the Policing or Law Enforcement Academy or the equivalent is strongly preferred; Minimum of 20 plus years of progressive responsible policing or direct security management experience; Experience in planning, forecasting, and managing multimillion dollar budgets, Experience in leading the development and implementation of both strategic and operational plans based on client needs and fiscal realities, Experience leading change management initiatives and has had responsibility for moving those initiatives forward in a collaborative and inclusive manner with the highest standard of professionalism, Experience utilizing technology and innovative security strategies and co-law enforcement operations; Must process extensive knowledge of the TCI labour and Immigration laws; TCI Law Enforcement Certification (preferred); Valid T.C.I. driver’s license upon hire or within 30 days of hire;

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Invoicing, Bills payment • Payroll, inventory of products • Other functions as assigned by the CEO

Qualifications • • • •

Minimum of 6 years related experience Computer proficient in MS office Must know QuickBooks accounting program Possess a valid TCI drivers license; Must be an excellent team -player Salary starts @ $2,200 monthly.

One (1) Domestic Worker

To work 5 days per week 9am to 5:30pm and one evening. Full supervision of one child and general housekeeping and cleaning.

Contact Dee at 441-3534 GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Acting on behalf of our client Money Transfer is looking to fill the following position:

JOY OCCIUS Is looking for a

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications (+$90,000 per annual), plus commission and other Company benefits.

APPLICATION PROCESS Closing Date: April 10th, 2015.

Compliance Training Officer

Submit resume and letter of interest to:

Spence Security & Investigation Services Ltd. Attn: The President Unit #7 Caribbean Place Leeward Highway Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Email: spencesecurity@tciway.tc

Must be able to speak and write French, Creole, English and Spanish Salary negotiable.

SPENCE SECURITY & INVESTIGATION SERVICES, LTD. P.O Box #73 Caribbean Place, leeward Highway, Providenciales Email address : spencesecurity@tciway.tc Or visit our office in Person.

TWELAN SWANN

TOUCH OF BLISS Is looking for a

Cosmetologist

Domestic Worker To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour.

11316

days per week salary $6.25.

contact: 342-4337

Is looking for a

Interested applicants should send resume’ and applicable certificates address to: ‘The Admin Manager’ not later than April 10th, 2015 to:

labourer to work 5

Contact: 649-946-4069 11386

Junior Accountant

Responsibilities:

WANTED

Ganymede has a saltwater, sub-surface ocean, likely sandwiched between two layers of ice,” the agency noted.

There are some caveats involved, of course. NASA isn’t talking about intelligent alien civilizations from the Alpha Quadrant; it’s referring to microorganisms.

“We are not talking about little green men,” Stofan said at the panel. “We are talking about little microbes.”

Still, former astronaut John Grunsfeld said it’s an exciting time -- and he thinks it’s just a matter of time before we find life outside our solar system as well.

“I think we’re one generation away in our solar system, whether it’s on an icy moon or on Mars, and one generation on a planet around a nearby star,” he said.

And, he added, who knows what that life will look like?

“Once we get out beyond Mars, the likelihood that it’s similar to Earth because we share that material gets very, very low,” he said.

“And I think that’s where it starts getting exceptionally exciting.” (CNN)

11388

Spence Security & Investigation Services Ltd. is seeking applications for the position of Chief Executive Officer. The successful candidate will be community-focused and have the leadership, management, and interpersonal skills to maintain and advance the Spence Security brand and standing as a progressive, professional, and innovative private security agency.

we’re definitely on the road.”

NASA released a graphic noting that scientists have found evidence or indications of water on a number of celestial bodies, including the dwarf planet Ceres and Jupiter’s moon Europa.

The Hubble Space Telescope has been key to the discoveries, NASA said in a news release.

“Scientists using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope recently provided powerful evidence that (Jupiter’s moon)

contact: 241-2553

11367

with 10 years experience Should be able to do: • Bridal Styles • Highlights/ Low Lites • Caucasian Hair • Relax/Perm • Color • Cut blow dry with round brush • Pedicures and Manicures Salary $6.00 per hour

For information contact: 242-3439

11323

NASA released a graphic noting that scientists have found evidence or indications of water on Jupiter’s moon Europa among other places.

THEY may not be “Star Trek”-type extraterrestrials, but we may be close to finding evidence of alien life, a NASA scientist says.

“I think we’re going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth within a decade, and I think we’re going to have definitive evidence

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Science & Technology

37

HIV: new approach against virus ‘holds promise’

The study, of nearly 200,000 people, found sections of DNA that control both height and heart health.

Short people’s ‘DNA linked to increased heart risk’ THE shorter you are, the greater your risk of heart problems, a team at the University of Leicester says.

The study, of nearly 200,000 people, found sections of DNA that control both height and heart health.

The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed every extra 2.5in (6.4cm) cut coronary disease incidence by 13.5% The British Heart Foundation said short people should not be unduly worried and everyone needed a healthy lifestyle.

Coronary heart disease, which includes heart attacks and heart failure, is the leading cause of death in the UK. More than 73,000 people die from the disease each year.

The idea that height plays a role in heart health was first proposed more than 50 years ago, but researchers did not know why.

Some thought the relationship was a consequence of other factors, such as poor childhood nutrition stunting height and also affecting the heart.

But the study at the University of Leicester suggests the answer lies deeper - inside our DNA. They analysed 180 genes that have a known link to height.

The results showed that every 2.5in of height affected the risk by 13.5%, so the difference in heart risk between a five-footer and a sixfooter would be around 64%.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, from the University of Leicester, told the BBC News website: “In the context

of major risk factors this is small smoking increases the risk by 200300% - but it is not trivial.

“I wouldn’t say shorter people need to take greater precautions, because if you’re 6ft 1in (1.85m) you still need to stop smoking.

“This is only one of many factors affecting risk, everybody should be cautious.”

The study also showed those genes cutting height were also increasing the amount of cholesterol and fats in the bloodstream.

The researchers believe some of the height genes may also be controlling both growth and blood vessel development.

“Understanding these pathways may lead to new treatments and that may be more valuable in the longer term,” Prof Samani added.

But it is worth remembering it is not all good news being tall. as height does increases the risk of cancer.

Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study does not suggest that short people should be unduly worried about their health or that doctors need to focus on the health of shorter patients.

“Everyone, regardless of their height, should do everything in their power to reduce their risk of future heart disease by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and not smoking.

“Currently available health checks are designed to help you understand what measures you need to take to reduce your personal risk.” (BBC)

THE first human trial of a new type of HIV therapy suggests it could be a promising weapon in the fight against the virus.

Reports in the journal Nature show infusions of so-called broadly neutralising antibodies could suppress the amount of HIV in a patient’s blood.

The approach uses clones of immune proteins taken from a rare individual who has natural control of the disease.

Scientists hope with further work this could bolster current treatments.

People naturally mount a defence against the virus by producing an army of protein based weapons antibodies. But in most cases these are not powerful enough to defeat it.

The international research team harvested copies of unusually potent ones, capable of neutralising many different strains of HIV. Patients given the highest concentrations were able to fight the virus for some time, dampening the

replication of HIV in their blood.

The strength of this protection varied - in some it lasted more than four weeks.

In the journal the authors said: “Our data establish that passive infusion of single broadly neutralising antibodies can have profound effects on HIV viraemia in humans.”

But because of the virus’s ability to mutate rapidly, in some patients it was able to outwit the therapy by changing structure over time.

To overcome this scientists suggest using this treatment alongside current drugs or together with other antibodies.

Prof Michel Nussenzweig of the Rockefeller University in New York, told BBC News: “This is different to treatment out there already on two counts.

“First because it comes from a human - so it is natural in that respect.

“And secondly it opens up the possibility of giving the patient’s own weakened immune system a

Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast isolated molecules that allow a fragrance to be released in response to moisture.

Perfume ‘can be enhanced by sweating’ A NOVEL delivery system for perfume would ensure that a person smelled better the more they sweated, scientists have said.

Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast isolated molecules that allow a fragrance to be released in response to moisture.

They say it is the first system of its kind that is triggered by the neutral water released when a person sweats.

The work has been published in the journal Chemical Communications.

The delivery system was created by tagging a raw fragrance onto an ionic liquid (salt in the form of liquid) which has no smell.

The resulting substance releases its aroma when it comes into contact with water, allowing more of the

perfume’s scent to be released onto a person’s skin.

Co-author Nimal Gunaratne, from the Queen’s University Ionic Liquid Laboratories (Quill), said the socalled “pro-fragrance” is like “a lead weight that means the [aroma] can’t fly away”, adding that the string connecting them was broken in the presence of water.

“Water is like the scissors,” he told the BBC News website.

The perfume system also has the ability to remove the bad odours that come from sweat.

The sulphur-based “thiol” compounds that are responsible for the bad smell are attracted to the ionic liquid. When they attach themselves to it, they lose their potency.

jolt.

“One part of the antibody could act as a red flag - pointing out to the body where the virus is hiding and sending signals to kill it.”

They are now exploring whether the infusion could shield people from getting the disease in the first place.

But he cautioned that studies into the antibody are still small and at an early stage.

“We have shown the approach is safe and effective.

“What this trial is telling us is that it is now time to look at the possibilities - from prevention and treatment to even cure,” he said.

Commenting on the findings, Prof Vincent Piguet from Cardiff University, said: “This exciting novel study shows for the first time that antibodies may have a place in the line of therapies directed against HIV.” He described it as an “important development in the fight against HIV” but said the costs of antibody therapy and the emergence of resistance must be taken into account. (BBC)

The image from the Mars Express orbiter’s High Resolution Stereo Camera shows that a thick layer of dust covers Martian glaciers.

At the surface, only the dust is visible, but radar measurements reveal that there are glaciers composed of frozen water underneath the dust.

Scientists say a lake’s worth of water is frozen on Mars

SCIENTISTS say Mars has thousands of glaciers buried beneath its dusty surface, enough frozen water to blanket the planet with a 3.6-foot-thick (1.1-meter-thick) layer of ice. The glaciers are found in two bands in the mid-southern and mid-northern latitudes.

Radar readings from Mars orbiters were combined with computer models of ice flows to determine that the planet has about 5.3 trillion cubic feet (150 billion cubic metres) of water locked in the ice. That’s according to a study published in this week’s issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The volume is roughly equal to the amount of water contained in Lake Tahoe on the Nevada-California border.

38

April 11 - 17, 2015

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Science & Technology

Sun Has Seasons Similar To Earth - Study

The sun experiences solar seasons much like Earth’s cycle. (Photo NASA)

NEW research shows that like the earth, the sun also has seasons - undergoing periods swinging between times of relative calm and times of intense solar activity, writes Nature World News.

The study was recently published in the journal Nature Communications, which explains how ‘seasonal’ changes could help researchers better understand variations in solar wind activity.

“What we’re looking at here is a massive driver of solar storms,” study author Scott McIntosh, director of the High Altitude Observatory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, explained in a statement.

McIntosh spoke about bands of strong magnetic fields that travel across each of the Sun’s hemispheres on a regular basis.

“By better understanding how these activity bands form in the sun and cause these seasonal instabilities, we can greatly improve forecasts of

SENIOR LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENT (DEPUTY SECRETARY) Turks and Caicos Islands Government

A vacancy has occurred for the role of Deputy Secretary. This is an important senior leadership role transforming the effectiveness and efficiency of public services, within a Ministry. The successful applicant will be appointed to the most appropriate ministry.

space weather.”

McIntosh spoke about bands of strong magnetic fields that travel across each of the Sun’s hemispheres on a regular basis.

He and his colleagues specifically investigated how these bands were created and

their influence on solar cycles.

Using data from NASA satellites as well ground-based observatories, the researchers were able to keep track of solar wind flow and violent activity such as solar flares on the solar surface.

The scientists determined

that these bands travel across the Sun in a 330-day activity cycle.

This cycle has been noted before, however it has often been overlooked as astronomers investigate the Sun’s seemingly more important 11-year solar cycles.

Momentous Ltd. Is seeking qualified individuals for the following opening. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and requirements will be considered.

All candidates must be willing to work unusual hours including weekends and public holidays. All candidates must be non-smokers. Applicants will be required to pass a written skills test. Only suitably qualified Islanders may apply.

Registrar Relations Coordinator You will be responsible for developing long-term relationships with our registrar partners, connecting with key business executives and stakeholders. You will liaise between partners and cross-functional internal teams to ensure the timely access and accurate information required to our benefit from our services.

Suggested compensation: $45,000 - $55,000 (commensurate with experience) Experience & Qualifications: • BA/BS degree or equivalent (Business Administration or Commerce preferred but not required) • 2+ years project or account management experience • Ability to communicate, liaise, and negotiate internally and externally using appropriate methods to facilitate the development of profitable business and sustainable relationships • Proven ability to manage multiple projects at a time while paying strict attention to detail • Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office capabilities • Working knowledge of the domain name industry and/or ecommerce an asset • Must be able and willing to travel internationally

All applications accepted at www.momentous.tc.

SOMMELIER FOR PRIVATE VILLA Since the successful candidate will work closely with the private villa chef he/she is expected to assist the chef with other duties and possess the following experience, qualities and qualifications:

To download further details, including how to apply, and for candidate information, please visit www.gov.tc or please apply by email to Cyre Ferguson (CFerguson@gov.tc) (+1 649 338 3923)

• Experience in Five Star F&B is essential.

• Expansive wine knowledge in order to assist private chef with wine parings for dining.

• Serving and bar tending experience is also essential since the sommelier will be expected to serve dinner and drinks.

• Butler experience and or training would be an advantage • Assist private chef in maintaining the cleanliness and proper sanitation of the kitchen • He/she must be willing to work flexible and long hours (week-ends, & especially holidays) when the family and friends are in residence.

• He/she must be able to work within a team and be willing to perform other duties to assist other staff as required.

• He/she must be extremely well presented and have a good command of English. Since the family are native Spanish speakers knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage but not essential.

• A clean driver’s license is also required as the Sommelier would be expected to assist the private chef with shopping.

• Salary is dependent on experience.

Applications received after midnight on Wednesday 22nd April, 2015 may not be considered.

Suitably qualified candidates should apply in writing to Villa Manager at P.O. Box 143 or email tcieliete@gmail.com

Applicants will need to be TCI Belongers (citizens). Applications are invited from anyone with relevant leadership and management experience.

Applications will be welcomed from current TCI civil servants with relevant experience, skills and potential without regard to current seniority.

Candidates need to be creative and strategic thinkers, with real leadership ability as well as a relevant level of financial understanding.

Changeoriented and with a record of getting things done through people, they will be persuasive communicators, orally and on paper, able to manage complex stakeholder relationships. Above all they will be of unquestionable integrity, with the courage to insist on, and exemplify, the highest moral standards and behaviours.

April 11 - 17, 2015

Entertainment

39

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Manilow secretly wed longtime manager last year: report

Dee Snider is the longtime lead singer of Twisted Sister.

Twisted Sister not gonna take touring anymore They’re not gonna take it anymore.

Really.

Twisted Sister says that its 2016 tour will be its last, according to a press release.

Next year marks the band’s 40th anniversary, and to celebrate, the tour is being titled “Forty and F*ck It.” “It’s official: Farewell,” Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider posted on Facebook.

Snider also noted that the band will play with a new drummer, Mike

Portnoy of Adrenaline Mob. Portnoy replaces A.J. Pero, who died March 20.

The band will also perform two shows in Pero’s honor: one at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the other at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. The latter is in support of Pero’s family.

Twisted Sister’s biggest hit, “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” hit the Top Forty in 1984 and was featured in a popular video. (CNN)

BARRY Manilow is a married man!

The pop icon reportedly tied the knot with longtime manager Garry Kief last year, according to People.

The pair wed in a private wedding ceremony held at Manilow’s home in Palm Springs, Calif., an insider told the publication.

“It was a surprise,” the couple’s friend said, adding that the “20 to 30 guests” invited to the “Mandy” singer’s home thought they were attending a “lunch.”

While the couple are said to have not filed any official paperwork, Manilow, 71, and Kief reportedly wear wedding bands. “(They) are committed to one another and have been for a very long time,” another source told People.

“They have a great relationship.

Garry has always been there for Barry.”

Prior to becoming a music star, Manilow was briefly wed to high school sweetheart Susan Deixler in 1964, but the marriage was annulled one year later.

The “Copacabana” singer has kept mum about his personal life

Barry Manilow (l.) reportedly wed long-time manager Garry Kief in a private ceremony last year.

throughout his career, but did tell the Telegraph in 2012 that he was “happily single.”

“I am a private guy. You can only come into my world if I invite you in,” he added.

“That’s the only way I can survive.

I have to keep that to me. I don’t want strangers knowing everything.”

A rep for Manilow had no comment on the marriage news.

(NYDailynews)

‘Vampire Diaries’ fans mourn as Dobrev announces she’s leaving

Bruce Jenner is set to give a two-hour interview to Diane Sawyer airing April 24 on ABC.

Jenner to say ‘farewell to Bruce’ during Sawyer sit-down: report BRUCE Jenner is saying goodbye to his former life.

The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star reportedly views his sit-down with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, which is set to air at the end of the month, as a “farewell to Bruce,” according to TMZ. Jenner, 65, is apparently planning to “present himself as woman” for the first time but will not be dressed as a female in front of the cameras, the gossip site said.

The Olympic champ will also talk about his life since age 5 and why it’s been so hard for him to live as a male.

A major topic throughout the interview is how his choice to

transition has affected those around him, especially his famous family.

Speaking of the JennerKardashian clan, his daughter Kendall’s Twitter account was hacked late Tuesday and the culprit made sure to mention her dad’s gender change in the graphic tweets.

“My dad got the sex change, he’s officially a woman now, we can finally have lesbian sex,” read one tweet, which has since been removed.

Another explicit tweet blasted the 19-year-old model’s friendship with pop star Justin Bieber.

“Just got done slobbing on @ justinbieber’s n--.”

JUST kill it already.

That was the sentiment of many “Vampire Diaries” fans on Tuesday after star Nina Dobrev announced she will be leaving the CW show at the end of this season.

“I always knew I wanted Elena’s story to be a six season adventure, and within those six years I got the journey of a lifetime,” she posted on her social media accounts after a “goodbye party” at Lake Lanier outside Atlanta, where the show is filmed.

“I was a human, a vampire, a doppelganger, a crazy immortal, a doppelganger pretending to be human, a human pretending to be a doppelganger. I got kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, cursed, body-snatched, was dead and undead, and there’s still so much more to come before the season finale in May.” And while that may be true, fans were feeling a little jilted. Many chastised the show’s producers, some even Dobrev herself, for allowing the show to go on to a seventh season this fall after she departs.

Many were upset that Dobrev’s departure could sink hopes of seeing a satisfying denouement to the relationship between Dobrev’s character, Elena Gilbert, and love interest vampire Damon Salvatore.

Fans called the couple “Delena.”

Nina Dobrev stars as Elena Gilbert on “The Vampire Diaries.”

“I feel angry, sad, depressed, numb but most of all I feel like part of me died along with Nina leaving TVD. Nothing will be the same again,” Twitter user iDamonAndElena posted.

Producer Julie Plec issued a statement supporting Dobrev’s decision.

“Nina is excited to spread her wings, get some rest, travel the world and also take it by storm, and we support her a thousandfold,” she said in the statement,

according to media accounts.

“We will miss Nina and the four hundred characters she played, but we look forward to the insane and exciting challenge of continuing to tell stories of our Salvatore Brothers and our much-loved and gifted ensemble.”

No thanks, some fans said.

Dobrev seemed to anticipate the pain, urging fans to hold on through the show’s finale next month.

“If you think you know what’s coming, you don’t,” she said. (CNN)

40

Entertainment

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

April 11 - 17, 2015

Lil Wayne not dropping lawsuit against Cash Money CONTRARY to media reports, Lil Wayne has not dropped his $51 million lawsuit against Cash Money Records. Lil Wayne’s lawyer, Ron Sweeney, tells Rolling Stone that while the original suit was filed in New York, where both Cash Money and Universal Music Group have offices, the two sides have worked out a deal to re-file the suit in New Orleans, Louisiana, where W ayne originally signed his Cash Money contract in 1998.

“We gave them until [Monday], April 6th to file an answer,” Sweeney says. “[Cash Money] said they were going to challenge the venue, so at that point, it was a waste of time and money, so we all agreed that we would dismiss the action [in New York] and Wayne and [his record label] Young Money would re-file in New Orleans.”

“Lil Wayne and Young Money LLC have entered into a stipulation with Cash Money the effect of which is to transfer the claims raised in the action which had been commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York to the Federal and/or State Courts of Louisiana,” the rapper’s legal team added in a statement to Rolling Stone.

“The claims previously asserted

by Lil Wayne and Young Money LLC against Cash Money for substantial monies owed and breach of fiduciary duty have not been settled and

BB King is one of America’s foremost blues musicians.

BB King leaves hospital after treatment

Lil Wayne and [his record label] Young Money would re-file in New Orleans.”

will be prosecuted in Louisiana as expeditiously as possible,” added his team.

A lawyer for Cash Money did not respond to a request for comment.

Lil Wayne tweeted a public plea of “I want off this label” last December, accusing Cash Money and its CEO Bryan “Birdman” Williams of refusing to release his new album Tha Carter V. “I want off this label and nothing to do with these people but unfortunately it ain’t that easy,” he wrote. “I am a prisoner and so is my creativity. Again, I am truly sorry and I don’t blame ya if ya fed up with waiting for me and this album.”

The rapper filed his suit against Cash Money in January, claiming that money had been withheld for

the last two albums he’s recorded.

Wayne’s mentee Drake rapped about similar financial disputes with the label on his surprise mixtape If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.

In February, Wayne revealed to Rolling Stone that he and Birdman are no longer on speaking terms.

“I have no words,” he stated. “I’m super-numb to it, to tell you the truth.” Wayne is prepping for the free release of The Free Weezy Album following the January release of his Sorry 4 the Wait 2 mixtape. The latter featured multiple lines referencing his label woes. Last month, Wayne dropped the video for “CoCo Freestyle,” a new song heavily slamming Birdman. (Rollingstone)

BLUES guitarist BB King has said he is “feeling much better” after being treated in hospital.

The 89-year-old musician was reportedly admitted after suffering from dehydration caused by diabetes.

Writing on his Facebook page on Tuesday, King thanked fans and said he was leaving hospital.

The veteran bluesman has lived with Type II diabetes for more than 20 years.

King, known for such hits as The Thrill is Gone and Every Day I Have the Blues, was taken ill during a show last October and cancelled the rest of his tour after being diagnosed with dehydration and exhaustion.

(BBC)

After ‘Going Clear,’ John Travolta defends Scientology BUZZ has surrounded HBO’s new documentary “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,” but Scientologist John Travolta is not a fan.

Travolta told the Tampa Bay Times that he has not seen the documentary, “and I don’t really care to.”

“I’ve been so happy with my (Scientology) experience in the last 40 years that I really don’t have anything to say that would shed light on (a documentary) so decidedly negative,” Travolta said.

The actor, one of the Church of Scientology’s most high-profile members along with stars like Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley, is premiering his new film, “The Forger,” in Clearwater, Florida.

The HBO documentary is based on the book “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief”

by Lawrence Wright and is critical of the organization, which has close ties to the showbiz industry.

Travolta said he believed the doc was a result of “people who were disgruntled with their experiences” with the Church of Scientology, which he touted as a positive experience for him.

Balloons releases infuriate the North but South Korea says they are an expression of free speech.

The Interview: Activist ‘sends DVDs into N Korea by balloon’

John Travolta said that Scientology helped him to survive the death of his son in 2009.

“I haven’t experienced anything that the hearsay has (claimed), so why would I communicate something that wasn’t true for me?” Travolta asked.

“It wouldn’t make sense, nor would it for Tom (Cruise), I imagine.”

He called Scientology “brilliant” and credited the church with helping him to survive the death of his teen son, Jett, after a seizure while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas in 2009.

A SOUTH Korean activist says he has flown thousands of copies of controversial Sony film The Interview over the North Korean border.

Lee Min-bok said he had carried out the launches at night four times since January, most recently on Saturday.

The Seth Rogen comedy, about a fictional CIA plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, enraged Pyongyang.

Sony initially pulled the film after a hacking attack and threats to attack cinemas which were screening it.

But it changed its mind and gave the film a limited cinema release after being accused of responding to an attack on free speech.

The FBI says North Korea was behind the hack and threats, though it denies this.

Mr Lee, a defector from the North, said he had tied the DVDs to

balloons along with bundles of US dollars and leaflets criticising Mr Kim’s regime.

He told AFP news agency: “I launched thousands of copies and about a million leaflets on Saturday, near the western part of the border.”

He said the launches were all done in remote areas and without publicity but that the police “would have no right to stop me”.

Mr Lee told CNN, which joined him on Saturday’s launch, that he had not laughed at The Interview and found it vulgar.

But he said the North “hates this film because it shows Kim Jong-un as a man, not a God” and that he wanted to “tell the truth” to North Koreans.

Any North Korean who had access to a DVD player and was found to have watched the film would likely face a lengthy sentence in a prison camp.

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Coach Glen Mills said Bolt had stepped up his preparations since running 46.37 seconds over 400m in Kingston in March.

Bolt ready for World Championships titles defence MULTIPLE Olympic champion Usain Bolt has made “significant strides” as he bids to defend his world titles this season, and is unconcerned about the challenge of sprinter Justin Gatlin.

American Gatlin dominated last year’s Diamond League, running 9.77 seconds and 19.68 secs in the 100m and 200m.

Coach Glen Mills said Bolt had stepped up his preparations since running 46.37 seconds over 400m in Kingston in March.

“Usain’s made significant strides since the last time you saw him,” he said.

Gatlin, 33, won 100m Olympic gold in 2004 and World Championship gold in 2005.

“We take all competitors with a level of seriousness,” added Mills.

“But the truth of the matter is Usain at his best doesn’t have much to worry about.”

Bolt, 28, ran only three races last year. He is next due to run in a 100m race at an athletics meet in Rio on 19 April, and will follow that by representing Jamaica in the World Relay Championships in Bahamas on 2 and 3 May. “I want to run really fast this season so I’m working on it,” he said.

“I’m happy with where I’m at.

I’m doing a lot of work leading up to this first run in Brazil [in April] that’s the focus and that’s what we’re working towards.”

Bolt will bid for a third 100m gold and a fourth 200m gold in succession at August’s World Championships in Beijing. (BBC)

Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63 on Tuesday.

Duke claims fifth NCAA men's basketball crown FOUR fabulous freshmen led Duke and Coach K to a fifth national title.

The Blue Devils won the NCAA men’s basketball championship in a thrilling title contest on Monday in Indianapolis, defeating a tough Wisconsin team 68-63.

Duke freshmen guards Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen led the Blue Devils with 23 and 16 points, respectively. National freshman of the year Jahlil Okafor had 10 points despite spending most of the second half on the bench. Duke’s fourth prized freshman Justise Winslow scored 11 points.

“My team had great grit and determination. Our defense down the stretch was magnificent.,” said

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“I don’t know how you can be any better than we were down the stretch.”

Jones had 19 points in the second half as the Blue Devil guards got more aggressive in driving to the basket. Duke ended up with 10 more points from the free throw line even after Wisconsin only committed two fouls in the first half. With the Duke guards dribbling hard into the lane more, the Badgers had 13 secondhalf fouls.

“We just didn’t get it done offensively,” Wisconsin’s Josh Gasser said. “We fouled too much the second half. They were just driving it hard.”

The national title is the fifth for

Krzyzewski, moving him ahead of the late Adolph Rupp into second place among Division I men’s coaches. It is also the fifth for the Duke program, tying it with Indiana and North Carolina for third most NCAA championships.

Wisconsin was sparked by national player of the year Frank Kaminsky, who scored 21 points and had 12 rebounds. Nigel Hayes chipped in 13 points while Sam Dekker added 12, but shot poorly from the field.

“He just was off with his outside shot,” Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan said of Dekker. “We all would have liked to have seen one or two of those go down, but they didn’t. And that happens in games.” (CNN)

Pacquiao using Mayweather’s history of domestic violence as motivation

Spectre will be Daniel Craig’s fourth James Bond film.

Craig has knee surgery after Bond injury DANIEL Craig has had surgery to repair a knee injury sustained while filming scenes for the new James Bond film.

Eon Productions said he had had a “minor procedure” in New York during a break in production over Easter.

A spokeswoman denied reports the 47-year-old had missed several days of filming on the 24th Bond film, Spectre.

“During a scheduled break,

Daniel Craig had arthroscopic surgery to repair his knee injury. He will rejoin production on April 22nd at Pinewood,” she said.

Filming on Spectre began at Pinewood Studios, in Buckinghamshire, last December, and has since moved to Rome and Mexico.

It is Craig’s fourth outing as the secret service agent, and follows the success of 2012’s Skyfall, which made $1.1 billion (£737 million) worldwide.

MANNY Pacquiao wants to deliver a blow against domestic violence when he fights Floyd Mayweather next month.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said his fighter is fueled by his rival’s history of violence against women as he preps for the May 2 megafight in Las Vegas.

“Manny is really against domestic violence,” Roach told USA Today Sports. “It is a big issue maybe in the Philippines for him, and being a congressman he can control some of that stuff. This is a big plus for me that Manny does not like the guy. I think the killer instinct is going to come back a lot faster.”

“For the first time in my life with Manny Pacquiao, this is the first fighter he hasn’t liked. I can tell.”

Roach, who grew up in a house where his father beat his mother, was the only one to throw a jab last month when both camps got together for a televised press conference in

Manny Pacquiao is total against domestic violence according to his trainer Freddie Roach.

Los Angeles.

“This is the biggest challenge of my life,” Roach said at the largely dull March 11 presser. “I’ve been looking forward for this for a long time. We’re fighting the best fighter of our life. But we’re going to kick his ass! Good luck Floyd.”

The May 2 fight - that many bemoan is coming five years too late - is expected to be the richest fight in boxing history. Fight fans will reportedly have to shell out a record $99 for a high-definition broadcast of the Pay-Per-View event.

(NYDailynews)

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Chinese GP: Alonso has no regrets over leaving Ferrari FERNANDO Alonso says he has no regrets about his decision to leave Ferrari to join McLaren this season.

The 33-year-old two-time world champion, who left Ferrari after five years without a title, saw replacement Sebastian Vettel win only his second race for the team last month.

McLaren, meanwhile, are struggling to compete in the early months of their new engine partnership with Honda.

“I am happy with my decision,” said Alonso.

The Spaniard finished second in the championship three times with Ferrari - in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

He added: “There have been years when we started very well, Ferrari, but when it counts is November (at the end of the season) and when it was November we never won. I want to win in November.”

Alonso has won 32 grands prix - sixth in the all-time list - and has made no secret of his desire to win at least one more championship.

But he said he was enjoying being with McLaren-Honda at the start of their revived partnership.

“I would like to win because we are sportsmen and all competitive but also at my age and the moment of your career you start looking for other things,” he said.

The 33-year-old two-time world champion said: ““I am happy with my decision”.

“I have been lucky enough to win championships and many grands prix and now sometimes I feel happier and more proud of my job and the team doing the things we are doing now than winning a trophy. “ McLaren-Honda’s preparations for the season were hampered by poor reliability in pre-season testing and the engine is still substantially down on power compared to its rivals.

Alonso also missed the first race in Australia after crashing during testing in Barcelona.

“Being behind in testing means there is a high price to pay in the

early races but the steps forward we are making are quite positive and are the right ones,” said Alonso.

“I don’t think we are lost. It is a question of time before we are competitive and hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.”

Alonso also implied McLaren, to whom he is contractually committed until 2017, would be his last team in F1.

He said: “I started with a McLaren-Honda when I was three years old - a replica made by my father - and I finish with a McLarenHonda, but the real one.” (BBC)

April 11 - 17, 2015

South Africa footballer Richard Henyekane dies in car crash SOUTH African soccer star Richard Henyekane died in the early hours of Tuesday following a car accident.

The 31-year-old, who played for the national team on nine occasions, was with four other passengers, but was the only one to lose his life.

His club, Free State Stars, confirmed his passing on its official website.

“We wish to say to the Henyekane family that they must know that we are with them at all times, and trust that they will put all their sorrows in the hands of God the Almighty in this hard period,” read a club statement.

“Henyekane was traveling with four other passengers when they were involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident.

“To the Stars family of fans, sponsors, supporters and others we believe that this is a period in which you will remain steadfast in praying for Henyekane’s teammates as they come to terms with this sad moment.

“South African football has lost yet another one of our promising players ... go well ‘Kimberley Express.’”

Former South Africa international Richard Henyekane was killed in a car crash on Tuesday.

Henyekane made his debut for South Africa in 2009, while playing for the Durban-based Golden Arrows team.

He also represented Mamelodi Sundowns -- helping them to a 24-0 victory over Powerlines in 2012.

Henyekane’s younger brother Joseph was also a professional footballer before he passed away last year at the age of 30. (CNN)

Woods ready to win in Augusta FORMER number one Tiger Woods believes he is in the right shape to win a 15th major as he declared himself ready for the Masters, which begins on Thursday.

Woods, who is now world 111, has been working on his game since carding a career-worst score of 82 at the Phoenix Open, before injury saw him withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open.

“I felt like I had to get my game into a spot where I could compete to win a golf tournament,” said the 39-year-old.

“And it’s finally there.”

Woods has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and the last of his four Masters wins was a decade ago, with the Californian only confirming on Friday that he would compete at Augusta.

He impressed in his practice round on Monday, showing no signs of the chipping “yips” which blighted his performance in Phoenix.

Woods completed the front nine at Augusta alongside long-time friend Mark O’Meara, before playing the 10th and 18th alone.

“I felt good. It was nice to get out here,” he added. “Chipping is fine. I wanted to test out some wedges out here. That was why I was chipping a little bit more. It came down to a

Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers said in a statement he was eager to return to playing basketball after he was stabbed in the abdomen and elbow.

Tiger Woods feels his game is finally where he wants it.

couple of different bounce settings because it’s different from Florida.

We figured the right one out.”

Europe Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke says “nobody knows” how the American will perform.

He said: “What Tiger is going to turn up this week? That’s one of the conundrums. He could be brilliant, but he might not be.”

German Martin Kaymer, a twotime major winner, hopes Woods can “compete as well as he can”.

The 30-year-old said: “We all know when he’s around, somehow it does make us play better.”

Meanwhile, current world

number one Rory McIlroy says he has learned from Woods, whom he describes as the “best player I have ever seen”.

“To think not so long ago I was that little boy watching him on television,” said the 25-year-old Northern Ireland player, who has won four majors.

“I’m very lucky to have been able to get close to him and learn some stuff.”

McIlroy added that the things he has taken from watching Woods - a four-time champion at Augusta will help him achieve a career slam, having already won the Open, US Open and US PGA. (BBC)

Indiana Pacers’ Copeland eager to return to court after stabbing incident INDIANA Pacers forward Chris Copeland, still hospitalised from a late-night stabbing 24 hours earlier, is already anxious to back on the court.

“I just want to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers,” the 31-year-old former Knicks player said in a statement given to ESPN. “I’m overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. I look forward to coming back stronger than ever.

Thank you.”

Copeland, who was stabbed in the abdomen and elbow during a melee on W. 17th St., remained at Bellevue Hospital recovering from his injuries Thursday.

The Indianapolis Star reported that his wounds included a punctured diaphragm.

Pacers Coach Frank Vogel said Copeland underwent surgery for the stab wounds inflicted after he left the Chelsea nightclub 1 OAK. His girlfriend took 22 stitches from a stab wound suffered when a stranger with a switchblade intervened in an argument between the couple, sources said.

Shevoy Bleary-Murdock, 22, was charged with felony assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the attack some 15 hours before Indiana played the Knicks in Madison Square Garden.

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Successful BWIC volleyball teams trained for months – Says head coach Jones THE British West Indies Collegiate (BWIC) male and female teams dominated this year’s TCI High School Volleyball Championships because they trained hard, opines head volleyball coach Maureen Jones.

Jones said that “the teams put in a lot of time, trained for months.

They improved their skill level significantly and had a determined attitude.”

Both teams played undefeated to win their respective divisions in the tournament held late last month at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex court.

Clement Howell High School placed second in the male division, while Wesley Methodist took third.

In the female division it was switched with Wesley Methodist finishing

second and CHHS finishing third.

Coach Jones said that her squads: “Enjoyed the tournament very much and want to play more games, friendly, against neighbouring schools, so I am looking to organise that.” She also spoke highly of the captains Devonte Smith (male team) and Alyssa Laing (female team).

Ms Jones pointed out that other volleyball activities are also in the pipeline, including a possible out-ofcountry trip.

“I am hoping this is the start of something great.”

The BWIC coach also expressed gratitude to assistant coach Keith Cox and professional referee: Donnavon Garvey “who did a fantastic job managing the day-long event.”

The 2015 BWIC male and female champions with their coaching staff.

TCI football team drops eight spots in latest WFL to continue despite FIFA rankings shortage of teams The AFC Academy U15 girls continue to improve in the WFL.

THE TURKS and Caicos moved to 184 in the latest FIFA rankings (April 9th). The team which lost to the stronger St. Kitts and Nevis twice in a home-andaway CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying series last month dropped eight spots from last month’s rankings.

They now sit at number 31 in the CONCACAF rankings, ahead

of the Cayman Islands (191), the Bahamas (198), the BVI (198) and Anguilla (209).

St Kitts and Nevis on the other hand moved up 10 points to 111 to sit in 13th position in CONCACAF. TCI’s highest ranking was 158 in February of 2008, while from October 2012 to June 2014 the team was ranked 207 (lowest).

THE Women’s Football League will continue despite a shortage of teams due to a lack of registered players.

WFL president Candace Hanchell pointed out in a press release that with the “unfortunate and unexpected withdrawal” of Net Rockers FC last month an emergency meeting led to the restructuring of the league. Only the AFC Academy teams: the Seniors and the U15s are left.

“…We will continue to play the 11 aside games until the end of the WFL, and subsequently the beach soccer league, the 8 a-side league and other leagues will come on stream.

This will give other clubs and teams an opportunity to participate in this wonderful sport. We are optimistic that player registration will increase as we have already seen the positive growth of the U15 girls,” Hanchell pointed out.

When the teams met two Sundays ago, the U15s, through an Evinisha Sainverta goal, took the lead, but the senior girls fought back to register a 4-1 win, with a late brace from Shanidane Pluviose (73rd and 85th minutes) and goals from Christma Jean Louis (42nd minute) and Captain Melissa Jean Guy (59th minute).

This Sunday at 16:00h the two teams will clash again.

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TCI returns to CARIFTA pool after 13 years

Laura Shaw takes part in the 100M Individual Medley at the 2015 CARIFTA pool last weekend in Barbados.

THE Turks and Caicos Islands returned to the CARIFTA Swimming Championships after a 13-year break and our representative held her own at the Barbados Aquatic Centre. Fifteen-year-old Laura Shaw competed in eight events: the 50M, the 100M, the 200M and the 400M freestyle, the 50M, the 100M and 200M backstroke and the 100M Individual Medley against some of the strongest swimmers in the region last weekend.

Although she did not medal, the young Shaw significantly improved her personal bests in each event and gained a wealth of experience at the meet.

“It’s a huge honour to represent TCI at CARIFTA,” Shaw stated.

“And I very much want to use the experience to help develop the sport of swimming in the Turks and Caicos and encourage more people to learn to swim.”

Shaw, who grew up in the TCI, trained in the Cayman Islands for the meet, since the TCI is without a proper training pool.

The lone representative expressed great appreciation for the support from the TCI community, including the TCIG (Department of Sports) and Herzog Ltd for its generous sponsorship, and to her coach, Dave Bott.

The TCI Swim Federation President Ben Stubenberg added: “Laura worked extremely hard over the past two years to get to this level.

She is an excellent ambassador for the TCI and will have a very positive impact on swimming at all levels back home.”

Hon. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services Akierra Missick, and Director of Sports Judith Robinson were also in attendance cheering on Shaw and meeting with various CARIFTA organisers.

TCI swimmers last competed at CARIFTA in 2002 in Barbados with a team of five led by Lisa Wright.

PABA Night League playoffs tip off this Friday

Defending champions the Grand Turk Stallions are on a mission to win their third consecutive title.

THE much anticipated 201415 Provo Amateur Basketball Association (PABA) Night League Playoffs will tip off this Friday evening from 19:00h at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex court.

Eight teams will vie for championship honours in a first round best-in-three battle before advancing to the semi-finals and the championship series.

Number one seed and defending champions the GT Stallions (11-2) have dominated of recent and will look to stamp their authority on the eighth seed Hustlerz (5-8) in the opening clash, but the Hustlerz have shown fight and will be no easy walkover.

The 10-3 Knights earned the number two seed after missing the playoffs last year. Coach Philip Roker and the Knights will take on a very strong Coca Cola Classics team led by Coach Scott Glinton and Captain Ezra Taylor.

The Classics ended the regular season on a winning note after defeating the stronger Predators.

Experienced players such as Alvin Parker, Derek Hanna and Mervin Forbes will fortify the Classics’ line up.

On Saturday evening (also from 19:00h) action continues with the number three seed Police Badgers taking on the Steelers.

Coach Alvardo Parker led his young athletic Steelers to a number six spot in the playoff. The feature game will feature the strong predators and former champions the Five Cays Flyers. The Predators lost three games towards the end of the regular season which left them in the fourth position. Coach Mike Clerveaux said that his team is ready for the Flyers despite those losses. The Flyers quietly earned the 5th playoff spot with an 8-5 record. Coach Keith Cox and the Flyers know what it takes to win a championship.

Magny prefers beach soccer – Says he gave 110% in El Salvador TCI’s beach soccer captain Herby Magny said he gave 110% in El Salvador at the 2015 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship recently and he saw results.

The 17-year-old, who admitted that he favours beach soccer to the regular 11 a-side version, led the national team in the Central American nation with five goals.

He scored once in the game against Mexico (eventual winners) and twice each against Trinidad and Tobago and Guadeloupe.

“I was able to score all these goals due to the fact that I said to myself regardless the scores I will give a 110% for the country and keep the fans happy. So therefore each time I encountered hardship during the games, I talked to myself and said, yes Herby you can do it and you will not give up no matter how tired you are.”

Magny said playing in the international games was no easy task. He pointed out that the games were refereed “way harder” than in

tournaments back home.

BETTER BEACH SOCCER PLAYER For the teenager he feels that he is better suited for this version of football. “Yes I do love beach soccer more than the 11 a-side, because I believe that I possess all the talents that I need to become the best beach soccer player and one of the best leaders to help grow the beach soccer game in the TCI as it is my home.”

“I love the way the game is played, they are more entertaining and my passion for soccer overall is a 100% on a scale of a 100.”

Magny will however continue to

Herby Magny (right) scored twice against T&T. (Photo compliments of Domanique Rolle)

represent the TCI in both versions of the game if given the chance.

Nevertheless he feels that TCI might

be able to dominate more in the newer version of football in the near future.

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Garland beats Asafa Powell in 400M run TCI’s 400M record holder Angelo Garland has another accolade under his belt, this time it’s a 400M win over sprinting great, Asafa Powell.

Garland, who was not 100% fit (hamstring injury), competed at the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio Texas last weekend for his school the Texas A&M University. In the race the sophomore ran 48.72s for a second place finish. On the other hand Powell (a one-time 100M world record holder), finished fifth in a time of 50.75s—nowhere close to the 45.94s he achieved in 2009.

“For me I felt great, I went out there and ran a hard race. I wanted to

test my hamstring and also see where I’m at in terms of fitness,” Garland stated.

The TCI athlete acknowledged that it was a good feeling to beat a world superstar. He said that Powell congratulated him after the race.

GOOD SIGNS “In terms of fitness I’m not where I want to be just yet, I ran the race pretty hard and afterwards I wasn’t really that tired, so I just know that once I’m fully recovered I can do damage. At the same time if I didn’t run and practice for like a month and can come and run 48.7s that shows good signs for me.”

TCI’s 400M record holder Angelo Garland and former 100M world record holder Asafa Powell after the race.

CARIFTA Games 2015:

Corvil wins bronze medal in Octathlon – Had to “give it his all” in final event

WOODENS Corvil brought the Turks and Caicos Islands back to the medal podium with a third place finish in the gruelling Octathlon event at last weekend’s CARIFTA Games in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The fifth-former, who will turn 18 next month, however lost confidence towards the end, but a teammate and one of his coaches calmed him down enough.

“My teammate Wadly Jean was the one building my confidence and another guy from Jamaica and also Coach Alli (Alvirto Smith),” TCI’s best athlete at this year’s event stated.

Jean was not far off from the podium either as he improved tremendously from last year with a fourth place finish in the eight-event contest.

According to records Corvil finished with 5572 points, while Jean tallied 5427 points.

Jean started with a first place finish in the 100M Open on Friday with a time of 10.98s, while Corvil was sixth with 11.31s.

Corvil though sailed through the air in the long jump for a second place finish with a leap of 6.68M (his first jump); while Jean settled for fifth with a 6.55M jump.

Both athletes suffered in the throwing events. In the shot put on Saturday Corvil was sixth with a best throw of 10.89M, while Jean was

Woodens Corvil with his bronze medal after an outstanding Octathlon performance at this year’s CARIFTA Games.

The TCI athletes who competed at the 2015 CARIFTA Games. (Compliments of Gertrude Saunder-Forbes)

14th with 9.90M. The duo climbed back in the 400M Open, with Jean finishing third in 49.82s. Corvil was fourth in 50.02s. He won the first flight, which unfortunately had the slower athletes.

On Sunday morning Corvil clocked 15.63s in the 110M hurdles for a fifth place finish while Jean placed ninth with a 16.12s run.

Corvil regain momentum with his best event, the high jump. The teenager leaped 2.03M to finish first.

Jean finished fourth with a jump of 1.88M. Corvil looked set for a second place, but his Javelin throw was weak as his best 32.00M got him 22nd place. Jean was 16th with 39.98M. The winning throw was over 65M.

In was in the 1000M Open, the last event, that Corvil had to dig deep, and he told the Weekly News that he gave it his all. His 2:51.08s earned him a second place finish.

Jean finished ninth in 2:57.06s.

STEPPING STONE Corvil called the achievement a stepping stone. “It’s a great step

for me in my young athletic age.

This allows me to be seen by other coaches in the Caribbean.” The medal winner also feels that the win will “make me work harder because I want to see myself achieve medals in other big meets”.

TCI was represented by a number of other athletes who competed in the U-18 and U-20 events.

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April 11 - 17, 2015

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April 11 - 17, 2015

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