Weekly News Volume 29 | No. 40 | October 3 - 9, 2015
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Turks and Caicos
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Gov’t to pick loan lender By December this year, the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands will make a decision on which financial agency(s) they will use to refinance the residual balance on the $170 million due in February 2016.
Hurricane Joaquin ravages TCI
Sandals Resorts chairman supports Ritz PAGE 4 Carlton
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HURRICANE Joaquin raged through Turks and Caicos Islands and the eastern and central Bahamas this week leaving severe flooding, uprooted trees and damaged buildings in its path. PAGE
Senior pastor’s son shot dead in Dockyard PAGE 7
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Children plan a 12-hour Performathon to raise funds PAGE 17
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Sandals and Beaches Resorts chairman, Gordon Butch Stewart
Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island
Sandals Resorts chairman supports Ritz Carlton CHAIRMAN of Sandals and Beaches Resorts Gordon Butch Stewart has thrown his support behind the proposed Ritz Carlton Resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands. News coming out of the world renowned luxury inclusive resort chain last week indicates that Stewart believes that the presence of such a “respectable brand in the global travel trade as the Ritz” will undoubtedly add to the already strong reputation of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a high-end destination. The Sandals chairman said the economic standings of the Turks and Caicos Islands also stands to receive
a boost with the addition of such a sought after brand. “We don’t see our colleagues in the hotel industry as competitors, we see ourselves as complementing each other and we at Sandals and Beaches welcome the proposed Ritz Carlton development in Turks and Caicos,” the Sandals chairman said in a news release shared with the Weekly News. He pointed out that as has been evident in other islands throughout the Caribbean, when the Sandals or Beaches brand entered a destination, that island was able to immediately benefit from the strength of the brand as it relates to
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
airlift and attention from the global travel community. The same, he assured, can be realised with the presence of a Ritz Carlton in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “Our organisation works closely with other large brands like Marriot because it is generally felt that collaboration and partnership is beneficial to all involved. “Our individual uniqueness and variation add to the overall tourism product of a destination,” Stewart said. He added: “The views of former CHTA president Sir Royston Hopkins, owner of Grenada’s leading boutique hotel ‘Spice Island Resort’, welcomed Sandals in Grenada seeing us not as a competition but as a guaranteed booster for the Grenada tourism market.” Grenada’s tourism product grew
by almost 20 percent in the first year since the opening of Sandals LaSource Grenada, with a major surge in airlift capacity, the company release boasted. As it relates to the argument of granting licence of 12 storeys, it is a matter for the people and Government of the Tucks and Caicos Island to decide, Stewart said. “We believe that counties are run best when the people are the masters of their own fate and captains of their own destinies.” Stewart is the single largest investor in the TCI with the Beaches Turks and Caicos brand, which runs 756 suites and rooms on the island. The Ritz Carlton branded hotel, to be located in the Grace Bay area, will include 124 hotel rooms, penthouses, resort residences and associated facilities. Construction is set to start this
November and last for about three years. Earlier this year, president and CEO of Desarrollos Hotel Group Walter Stipa met with Government officials to sign a $224 million development agreement for the luxury hotel brand Ritz Carlton. According to the Premier, at the time, the European plan style hotel development will provide a welcome diversification to the TCI tourism sector as it is more of a traditional hotel, rather than the previously prevalent condominium model in the TCI. He noted that: “At the same time, it further develops the luxury tourism offering in this destination with the addition of such an important luxury brand in Ritz Carlton.” The Ritz Carlton will one of the first 12 storey constructions in the TCI.
Premier calls out DDME Director for unsatisfactory storm warning AS HURRICANE Joaquin raged through the Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday (October 1), Premier Rufus Ewing took to social media to lambast the Director and staff of the Disaster Management and Emergency Services (DDME). In a Facebook post on the official page of the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Rufus Ewing stated that the DDME Director, Dr Virginia Clerveaux and staff “should have kept the public better informed of the source of the rains and should have sought information where none was continued
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Premier Rufus Ewing
DDME Director Dr Virginia Clerveaux
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS
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Gov’t to choose lender to refinance loan by year end BY DECEMBER this year, the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands will make a decision on which financial agency(s) they will use to refinance the residual balance on the $170 million due in February 2016. Speaking with the Weekly News on Wednesday (September 30), Minister of Finance Washington Misick confirmed that the requests for proposals (RFP), which Cabinet approved last week, have already gone out to prospective lenders. “It has gone out to banks and other lending institutions for funding,” the minister confirmed, but he was reluctant to name any particular institutions or whether any of them operate in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Questioned about his expectations for positive responses, the minister said: “I figure there would be a number of responses, and there are timelines for them to come in and then for us reviewing it.
“By the end of the day we want to have made a decision by December, so by the end of December a decision would have been made as to the funding.” Asked what percentage the Government is looking to pay on the residual balance which is expected to be somewhere in the vicinity of $56 million, Misick said that they will await the response to the RFP and then make a choice on what they are willing to accept. However, he stated that whatever the proposals are, they should reflect the Government’s credit rating. By March 2016, the UK guaranteed $170 million loan will be paid back, and based on Government projections from the approved budget for this financial year, they intend to have about $116.6 million in the sinking fund to cover the majority of the loan. That means that the Government will need an additional $56 million roughly to make up the $170 million,
Premier calls out DDME Director for ... continued
received.” The Premier went on that he noted with concern the efforts of the DDME to alert the public to the passage of Joaquin and the likelihood of flooding especially in the low lying areas of Providenciales, North and Middle Caicos. He further cautioned residents not to traverse through the flood waters but to remain indoors as much as possible and to take precaution if commuting. “In the absence of Radio Turks and Caicos, please look out for information from RTC on Twitter and other social media sites while we work to have the national radio
station restored. “As soon as it is deemed to be safe, work will commence to lower flood waters and open access ways as necessary.” Hurricane Joaquin has been raging through the TCI over the last few days with fierce winds, heavy rainfall and flooding, especially on Providenciales and the Caicos Islands, leading to the closure of banks, public schools, Government offices and several private businesses on these islands. Flooding, felled trees and debris have littered the roadways and surrounding areas of private business and dwelling places. It is expected that on Monday a sense of normalcy will be restored in the TCI.
Minister of Finance, Washington Misick
which will be borrowed. In July this year, the TCI received its second sovereign rating, maintaining the BBB+ rating of 2014, with a continued stable outlook for the Islands. The ratings, conducted by Standard and Poor’s (S&P), provided global recognition of the country’s financial reforms and fiscal success, Government officials said at the time. At the time, Misick stated: “S&P has recognised our ongoing success in consolidating public financial management reform and improving our fiscal resilience. “BBB+ means that we are more highly rated than many countries in the Caribbean.” In its report this year, S&P
again made it clear that TCI’s close relationship with the UK, as an overseas territory, was a key factor in its rating calculation. One of the benefits of maintaining a BBB+ rating is in strengthening the TCI’s negotiating position as it holds discussions with financial institutions ahead of refinancing its UK-guaranteed $170 million bond, when it matures in February 2016, the agency said. It further noted that the BBB+ rating is a strong factor in attracting foreign direct investment to the TCI and building confidence amongst its existing business community. In March this year, the country heard of the impressive reaction of the regional bond market at the Turks and Caicos Island’s financial turnaround. Major players in the Caribbean regional debt market were said to be impressed by the dramatic turnaround in the TCI’s public finances during a road show in Trinidad and Tobago. This was reported by acting Permanent Secretary Finance (at the time), Shonia Thomas-Been. Thomas-Been reported that there was an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the story of the TCI’s financial recovery. “During our discussions we were repeatedly told that the TCI had made an ‘impressive bounce back,’ that the Government here had done
the right things and that our BBB+ investment grade credit rating awarded by Standard and Poor’s in 2014 is a critical factor,” ThomasBeen said. The ministry team, of which Thomas-Been was a member, achieved its aim of generating interest in the regional sovereign bond market with regard to investing in the TCI, which will hopefully lead to competition to lend to the TCI Government at the best possible rate for taxpayers. More impressive news was delivered even earlier in the year by Minister Misick, when he told press in February that lenders are rushing to refinance the TCI’s loan. With the country’s operating surplus of in excess of $60 million for just three quarters of the 2014/2015 financial year, the minister said it is “no surprise that the economic performance of the Turks and Caicos Islands is causing international lenders to come knocking.” “We are now in a situation where based on all the hard work this Government has done, lenders are knocking themselves over, jockeying for position, putting themselves in line to refinance whatever debt that is left in 2016. “I think that is a very enviable position to be in when you look at what is happening over the world,” he told the media.
Serious Crimes Investigation Unit to be established PREMIER Rufus Ewing has expressed grave concern about the rising level of crime in the country, and particularly that of serious and fatal nature. The concern was expressed following news of yet another gun related murder which occurred after a successful weekend of activities which sought to begin the national conversation on gun-related crime. It focused on educating young people and adults to “break the
silence and stop the violence”. According to a release from Ewing’s office, he has, in recent months, continuously registered his dissatisfaction with the level of crime fighting and solved cases with the Commissioner of Police and the Governor, who holds responsibility for national security, and has charged them to step up their efforts to prevent, detect and solve crimes in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Last week, the Premier and
his Cabinet approved funding in a supplementary budget for the establishment of a Serious Crimes Investigation Unit that will assist in the investigation and apprehension of those responsible for the many murder cases that remain unsolved. In the meantime, the Premier continued to push for immediate action and during a recent meeting with Governor Peter Beckingham, continued
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day
Closer ties
UK envoys to the Dominican Republic and Haiti recently met with TCI officials to build and strengthen relations between the three countries. Some of the unresolved issues between the countries were addressed during the meeting – such as illegal fishing, the maritime border dispute, and the exploitation of Dominican women. What, if any, opportunity do you see the TCI gaining from closer ties with these two countries?
These nations need to step up
These nations have been the TCI’s long time trading partners; to this day the TCI blesses these nations by allowing workers and immigrants in who are able to earn good money in the TCI and plenty of these funds flow back as remittances to these nations. With this in mind we should ask that the leaders of these nations take action to stop the illegal fishing and the like.
Humane treatment
They won’t invade us if we act like humans. Maybe.
We need some boundaries!
Yes, they need to meet so that there is clarification of our maritime laws and boundaries. Regarding the exploitation of Dominican women…none! Forget it. Many come to our shores to prostitute themselves. Haitians have been coming for years. They didn’t hang out in bars.
Nothing will come of it
In a word - NOTHING. Conversation between the UK or the TCI and the DR and Haiti will produce as it has in the past, nothing. The arrest and conviction and sentencing of the DR poachers will have an effect. We need to do more. How about a British armed warship off the coast of Cape Haitian? Since 2003 the flow of Dominican woman into each and every island of the TCI has been unstoppable. On our island it’s called Beautiful by Nature!
Nothing to gain
The TCI can learn just how corrupt and dangerous the leaders of those two countries are by having closer ties with those countries. For instance they can learn that the TCI Government treats people from those countries better than the governments of those countries. In the case of the Dominican Republic, prostitution and human trafficking is far more rampant within their own borders than in the TCI. In the case of Haiti, unemployment, lack of schools and abuse of the poor is more rampant than it is in the TCI. They will better appreciate that the TCI
is a heaven for nationals from these two countries. They will also learn that the leaders from Haiti and the DR are not concerned about the wellbeing of the Turks and Caicos Islands. They are not even concerned about the wellbeing of their own people. I hope they will realise that they look more and more like each other as time progresses.
TCI exploited!
The discussion was meant to be the exploitation of TCI men and breaking up of the TI household by the Dominican women. Dominican men and women are raping our country, the men with illegal fisheries and the women take every cent most of our men accumulate. We need to make haste while there is sunshine, there needs to be a social, economic and nationalism review to ascertain, why the rich, orderly inheritance core of our country is rapidly deteriorating. I suggest: 1) The many gambling hubs 2) Effect of the Dominicans on family life. 3) All of the falsify documents the Haitians are producing to regularise themself. 4) The marriages of conveniences and pretence. May God help the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Scope for trade
Not much to be gained at this point. However we can do good with some of the quality agricultural products from the DR. They need to stop the illegal fishing on our banks. The exploitation of Dominican women has been going on far too long, many lives have been wrecked, many homes/family lives have been destroyed, yet it continues and not just by average Joes but by folks/officials who many look up to. What a shame! Those countries benefit a lot from foreign exchange/remittances sent home from the TCI so the authorities there are not going to take any steps to stop that, so any agreement in that area will be superficial. We/the TCI stand the least to gain from any closer ties.
Guest dies at Seven Stars – Police investigating FIFTY-two year old Paul Lenior of New Jersey, United States, was on Saturday (October 4) pronounced dead at the Seven Stars resort. The man’s death is alleged to be a suicide, but police press officer Audley Astwood on Sunday advised that police
are still investigating the circumstances under which Lenior met his demise. Police and emergency personnel were called to the hotel shortly before 10.30pm. A doctor from the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre arrived and pronounced Lenior dead at
the scene. Astwood said that the death is being considered as suspicious, until an autopsy can be done to determine the cause of death. Lenoir and his wife April were staying on the sixth floor of the hotel. They arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday and were scheduled to leave on October 10.
Closer ties not needed, quite the opposite
The question posed for this week commentary will no doubt receive mixed reviews. I do not understand what you mean by closer ties with these two countries Haiti and Dominican Republic. They share one island and there exists stark differences. Unresolved issues will remain and no visit from the UK will make a difference. It is diplomacy at its best but the issues are not being addressed. We need no closer ties, have you checked the recent census, look at the numbers, the Haitian population has surpassed the indigenous Islanders and those are the numbers we happen to capture. Imagine the ones we have not. One must only stand in line at the banks on payday and see who is cashing checks. I would say the ties are already here, what further ties are you envisioning? The trade in bootleg medications, prostitution, illegal guns, ammunition, and even food items that are banned make its way here and on sale in the open market. Not to mention the violence and heinous nature of the crimes being committed. Both countries show no respect for our country, our Government, people or culture. It is a take, take situation and giving nothing back. Sunday is a day of frolicking and beach parties whilst for us it used to be a day of worship. I fail to see any value that either can bring, the message that the diplomats should bring from the UK is that we will no longer play easy and allow our fish and lobsters to be stolen and say nothing. The message to send is that we will no longer accept the countless boats arriving with people looking for milk and honey, there is no more honey left. Or those who come by plane with a visa and manage to hitch on with an anchor baby and stay because of our weak immigration laws.
Intentional ladies of the night
First off, these Dominican women know full well what they are doing. Many of them come here solely to work in these pubs/night clubs. Even some who are fulltime at some of these salons are really women of the night. That is not new and it is known, but the powers that be probably enjoy the shows so nothing much will be done about that. As for illegal fishing more manpower and support in terms of equipment and boats are needed. I cannot say much on the maritime border dispute. Both of these countries can be of great source in terms of food products once the health issue can be addressed, monitored and maintained.
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
October 3 - 9, 2015
NEWS
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Senior pastor’s son shot dead in Dockyard By Olivia Rose THE BODY of 26-year-old Raymano Taylor was discovered lying lifeless in front of his home in Dockyard, Kew Town, Providenciales about 6am on Monday morning (September 28). Taylor’s body was found lying face down on the road with multiple gunshot wounds to his back, neck and shoulders. The young man was the son of senior pastor Dale Taylor of the Revival Faith Centre, Potter’s House, Grand Turk. No motive has been established for the brutal murder. According to one eyewitness, Taylor was last seen hanging out with friends at an anniversary party held on Sunday, September 27, a few houses away from his residence. He subsequently received a phone
Father of the deceased Dale Taylor Snr
call and left for another party at a popular club nearby. The eyewitness claimed that after the party, which ended in the early hours of the morning, he and others who attended retired to bed. He added that no gunshots were heard.
Development manual to be changed to allow 12 storey buildings THE FINDINGS of a consultative report, following public consultation on building height and density increase in Providenciales, have led Cabinet to advise that the necessary changes be made to the development manual. This is according to a post Cabinet report following a meeting of the body on Wednesday in Grand Turk. The report was presented to members last week, leading to them instructing the Planning Department to make any necessary changes to the TCI Development Manual and to prepare a paper for the next meeting of Cabinet with proposed recommendations for re-designation of zoning areas for new applications for buildings up to 12 storeys in height. Cabinet also agreed that the Governor, Premier, Police Commissioner and Minister of Border Control would gather on October 14 for a meeting of the National Security Council, proposed by the Police Commissioner. They would, in addition to considering responses to current security risks and longer term strategies, finalise membership of the proposed wider National Security Advisory Council to include representatives from the Opposition, and the business, education and church communities.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Cabinet also instructed the Ministry of Finance to produce a paper for approval at the next meeting of Cabinet to introduce zero-rated import duty for individuals and businesses in TCI to purchase and import CCTV security equipment for domestic and commercial properties. Members also agreed to convey to the TCI Airports Authority, Cabinet’s support for the construction of a Forward Based Operation (FBO) in Grand Turk and requested the Airports Authority to give urgent consideration to the proposals received for the FBO. Meanwhile, Cabinet approved for public release and dissemination the TCI Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Guidance Notes for the administration of the Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) with the UK and USA to improve international tax compliance. The body also discussed the proposed draft Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bill (2015) and Regulations and agreed that further work would be carried out before bringing the draft bill and regulations back to the next meeting of Cabinet for further consideration. The list of public holidays for TCI for 2016 was also approved during Wednesday’s meeting.
The young man’s father, Pastor Taylor, who was in disbelief over what occurred, said: “I went to bed after two on Sunday morning. “I received a call shortly after, while the phone is ringing somebody knocking at the door panting for breath, screaming somebody shot your son!” He said that ever since the devastating news, it has been difficult for him to come to grips with the passing of his beloved son. “The boy was full of potential, but I would warn him about his questionable company, I never liked his company.” Reflecting on his son’s life he said: “Taylor Jr grew up in a Christian home and excelled at his academics, at one time he was even an athlete.” His father noted that his son had dreams of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a fireman. Pastor Taylor is urging other youths to use his son’s untimely demise as a wakeup call, to do some introspection and get their lives together. “So many young men are dying in this gun violence reign and it’s up to us to help stop them from killing each other. “What is wrong with our community that we can’t minister to these kids?” Meanwhile Pastor Ferdinald Toussaint, who also spoke to this newspaper, said: “This morning
Twenty-six-year-old Raymano Taylor
when I woke up around 6 o’clock to go to work, I saw the area surrounded with authorities and I went over and that’s when I saw the young man lying on the ground.” He said: “It is with regret that, that young man was killed senselessly. “When they told me it’s my pastor’s son, I said: ‘Oh my God, that’s my good friend.’ “I was so sorry to hear that.” Pastor Toussaint said: “I tried many times to speak to this young man, and when you’re not living by the Holy Spirit, the devil’s spirit leads you to do bad things, but this young man didn’t deserve that.” The community pastor said that there needs to be a stronger police presence since murders are becoming frequent in the community. This, he said, is further labelling the community as one which harbours miscreants. “Even if they can have a police outpost it will be better, that’s very
Under the tree
important because plenty people come here from all over, so if we have police presence, people will behave themselves.” Pastor Toussaint also appealed to members of the community to assist the police with their investigations so that Taylor’s family may have some closure. However, according to official reports one male suspect has been apprehended thus far and is assisting police with their ongoing investigations. Taylor leaves to mourn his mother Sylvia Haven, his father Dale Taylor, two siblings and his girlfriend of three years. Police are appealing to anyone with information about this crime to call Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crimestoppers online reporting page www.crimestoppers. tc. Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
By Benneth Williams
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
Hurricane Joaquin wreaks havoc, floods parts of Provo (Photos by Mark Gangasing)
Hurricane Joaquin ravages TCI By OLIVIA ROSE HURRICANE Joaquin raged through Turks and Caicos Islands and the eastern and central Bahamas this week leaving severe flooding, uprooted trees and damaged buildings in its path. A hurricane warning was in effect from Monday (September 28) for the central Bahamas and the northwestern Bahamas including the Abacos, Berry Islands, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, New Providence, Crooked Island, Southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The warning meant that stormy conditions were expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. Late Wednesday afternoon Joaquin picked up momentum and by Thursday morning was classified as a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. It pounded the Bahamas and the TCI with heavy rain and dangerous storm surges causing fluctuating power outages in both countries. A cargo ship with 33 people aboard was reported missing during the category four storm in the Bahamas. According to reports, the 735-foot (224-metre) ship named El Faro had taken on water and was listing at 15 degrees near Crooked Island, one of the islands severely battered by the hurricane. Officials in the Bahamas were unable to reestablish any communication with the vessel, which was traveling from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The slow-moving storm continued to hammer parts of the Bahamas, cutting communication to sparsely populated islands. However, they were no reports of fatalities or injuries, according to Capt Stephen Russell, the director of the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency. Meanwhile the Turks and Caicos Islands experienced sustained gusty winds for the two days from hurricane Joaquin, as the country
remained under a tropical storm warning. According to a release from Providenciales International Airport, flights were suspended due to the unsettling weather pattern. The TCI Airport`s Authority continuously monitored the storm and issued updated reports to ensure minimal disruption of service. Flight operations were also suspended in Grand Turk, North Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay airports. Many schools remained closed in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands as a result of heavy rainfall and gusty winds. According to the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) some areas in the Turks and Caicos Islands were inundated with up to three feet of water. These were the Leeward Gate, Five Cays, Kew Town and Downtown Providenciales. Water also settled in the Bight, Turtle Cove and Five Cays. The DDME also stated that several trees were uprooted behind Glass Shack (Cooper Jack Bay Road). Damage assessment and emergency teams remained on standby to be deployed as needed. However across the TCI there were no reports of any major damage to the Islands’ critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, police or fire stations. The Public Works Department through the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning reported that, in the case of Providenciales, water wells were operating well in some areas while others were down. No reports of any health related issues were recorded on the islands. A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the remainder of the southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands for the weekend. According to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, at 5pm on Thursday (October 1), the center of hurricane Joaquin was located near latitude 23.0 north, longitude
74.4 west. Hurricane Joaquin drifted toward the northwest 3mph. Hurricane experts are worried a stronger storm and a sharp turn north for the hurricane will have some harsh implications for the United States. In this vein officials from South
Carolina to New England have issued dire warnings to residents urging them to be ready. According to the National Hurricane Centre is the US, New Yorkers were reportedly keeping a close eye on weather forecasts Friday as Hurricane Joaquin headed north from the Bahamas and threatened the
East Coast. The troubling prediction of hurricane Joaquin they fear resembles the superstorm Sandy. Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, and the second-costliest hurricane in United States history.
October 3 - 9, 2015
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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The historic sea wall sustained large amounts of damage
Serious Crimes Investigation Unit to be established continued FROM
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the Premier requested and received commitment from Beckingham and the Commissioner of Police for the immediate recruitment of expert investigators from the United Kingdom and the Caribbean region. This is to provide the necessary skills that are required to solve these crimes and also transfer knowledge to local police officers, he said. Ewing and Beckingham have also agreed to the establishment of a National Security Council which will be co-chaired by the Governor and the Premier and will consist of lead people from the various law enforcement agencies. The role of the Security Council will be intelligence gathering and sharing and the development and coordination of crime fighting
strategies. These initiatives will complement and enhance the ongoing efforts to fight crime and illegal immigration in the Islands, the release read. On the matter of crime the Premier said: “The senseless loss of life and especially that of young people is unsettling and vexatious and one can only imagine the pain that their families must be experiencing. “I wish to express my deepest condolences to those families who have lost love ones to violence and I promise you that my Government will put the financial resources behind crime fighting and the development of intervention programmes that will reduce interpersonal and gang related violence in our communities.”
Huge amounts of debris washed up onto the beaches surrounding Grand Turk
Front Street sea wall damaged in storm GRAND Turk’s Front Street is currently closed after sustaining substantial damage during the passage of tropical storm Joaquin. The historic sea wall partially collapsed due to the extreme high tides and battering waves this week. A release from the Premier’s Office on Saturday (October 3) said: “The public is advised that due to damage sustained from strong winds and tidal surge, Front Street, Grand Turk has been closed. “Persons are advised to exercise caution and to utilise alternative routes when traveling around Grand Turk. “The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is currently assessing the extent of the damage on Front Street and upon the high tidal activity
subsiding, will take immediate action based on advice from engineers to
mitigate further and future collapse of the historic sea wall.”
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
TCI to take part in EU innovation event FortisTCI abrupt
THE TURKS and Caicos Islands is among 15 from the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) gathering in Sint Maarten on October 5 to 7 to brainstorm the diversification of economies with innovation. Prime Minister of St Maarten, Marcel F A Gumbs, will open the event, a release from the host country read. The three-day workshop is part of the European Union-funded project, ‘Territorial strategies for innovation’ (April 2014 to April 2018). Its thrust is finding innovative solutions for economic diversification and improved regional and global competitiveness in 20 of the EU’s inhabited OCTs. At the meeting, Alexa Cooper of the TCI will be among the innovation managers attending the event. The other countries represented are Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, Greenland, Montserrat, Saba, SaintBarthélemy, Saint Helena, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten. All of the representatives will lead discussions with the project’s Brussels-based team leader Milan Jezic von Gesseneck. “The process of enhancement of the innovation for sustainable islands’ growth is led in each OCT by the OCT’s innovation manager,” Gesseneck said. “It is starting the process with the assessment of the innovation situation, and in developing a vision for growth, identifying competitive advantages and setting strategic priorities. “OCTA innovation brings all stakeholders together, both from public and from the private sector to develop economies of the EU overseas countries and territories.”
The scope for innovation in both the green and blue economies will be a major focus of discussion. An expert from Trinidad and Tobago in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises will share best practices in the Caribbean’s green economy. Further development of the renewable energy sector, solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels and hydropower, is also on the agenda as well as the expanding niche market sectors in the Caribbean: marine/yachting, medical tourism, sports, boutique hotels, gastronomy and entertainment. “We take a broad view on innovation. It is not only about high-tech, it is the ability of a system and society as a whole to bring and apply new ideas. “And, more importantly, bring them into market, translating them into economic growth and prosperity,” Gesseneck noted.
MILLS MUSES
Politics and the common good TWO views of politics recently caught my attention. The first is a piece written by Raulston Nembhard in the Jamaica Observer where he describes the maximum leader and what he calls ‘the old guard’ in both political tribes in his country as being wedded to the past, and the prisoners of a failed political culture. Most journalists have political persuasions and Nembhard’s ideas are subject to critique. I think that his view of the political parties as tribes is overdrawn. The political parties in Jamaica have political philosophies, a rich history and are governed by their constitutions. They are certainly not tribes. Jamaica has maintained political stability due to the commitment of the parties to political and social progress and the Caribbean looks to the Jamaican political system for guidance and inspiration. The parties are important institutions firmly embedded in the system. What Nembhard calls the old guard, is a traditionally conservative political group which co-opts others into its way of thinking, but some bring changes too. But to say as Nembhard does that the political culture has failed, misrepresents the reforms
BY Oliver Mills
Oliver Mills is a former lecturer in education at the UWI Mona Campus. He holds a BA (Hons.) UWI, an M.Ed. Dalhousie Univ., an MA University of London, and a Postgraduate Diploma in HRM and Training, Leicester Univ. He currently writes a Column for the TC Weekly News.
undertaken by the political system which have brought opportunities for many. Does the TCI political system have an old guard? Some people think so, and feel it comprises traditional family members and buddies. Has the TCI political culture failed its people? There are those who feel the system is biased towards outside others, and marginalises locals. Could our political parties be described as tribes? Certain observers think they are, based on the island composition and division of the parties, and decisions which appear to have an island bias. Returning to Nembhard’s view of politics, I think it is rather pessimistic and somewhat polemical. Of course, a different take on politics could nudge the power holders in a different direction. But politics can also bring hope and transformation for the common good. This idea of politics as the
pursuit of the common good is noted by Pope Francis in his recent address to the United States Congress. He states that a political society endures when it seeks to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members. And that legislative activity is always based on care for the people. This is an optimistic view of politics which I support. Politics is about the common good and institutions should be structured to realise this by satisfying common needs through stimulating growth and development which impact everyone. When this occurs, poverty disappears and social peace prevails. Politics is not about winning elections alone. It is also about sustainable human development, and the refashioning of society to make its members more humane.
policy changes affecting customers Dear Editor, On Wednesday, September 23, I drove over ten miles to the FortisTCI office to assist one of my wife’s customers in getting an application form for electricity to his new location, knowing that he didn’t have any vehicle. To save him running up and down to FortisTCI for a simple reconnection of an existing meter, I made the sacrifice. The following morning at 9am he was at Fortis’ office to complete the transaction to no avail. He was told that because the meter was disconnected over a year ago, they (Fortis) will have to send one of their technicians to inspect the meter before they can accept money from him (a meter their meter reader does see every month while reading other meters in the same meter combo). And they cannot disconnect his existing power (even though he already moved from his exiting apartment) before their technician inspects the new location. He asked how long this would take. The lady told him about two weeks. If I wasn’t aware of how they does be coming up with new policies by the minute, I would believe they were trying to discourage people from renting from my wife. Later on in the afternoon that same day, I saw him and he told me what they told him and asked me if he will get connected before the day’s end. I called and spoke to a senior person at Fortis who told me of
their new policy with regards to reconnecting meters which had been disconnected for more than six months, and a work order was in place for one of their technicians to inspect the meter. I asked her, so in light of tomorrow (Friday) being a holiday, will this happen before the end of the day? She said, I don’t know all the technicians are busy at this time. Under the leadership of the then Paul Kott and Ron Kidd, such an inconsiderate policy toward an existing or new customer would have never happened. A few weeks ago someone said to me that they hardly can wait for the Government to change hands so that they can deal with Fortis, because all PNP governments lack the will power to truly put Fortis in its place. I very much doubt this current PDM set of elected member have the will power too. Fortis should be more considerate toward their existing and new customers when making policies seeing that we have NO Government to truly represent the people’s interests. And also publish their policy that will have a negative effect on their customers and property owners. May God give them a heart of flesh and a spirit of righteousness toward their customers, existing and new. Sincerely, Jonathan (Johnnie) Gardiner, Providenciales
Thank you all Dear Editor, The Grand Turk Chapter of the TCSPCA would like to thank the following Government officials, local businesses and private individuals for their generosity and support which helped to make the September 2015 Spay/Neuter Clinic such a big success: Dr Mark Butler Chief Veterinary Officer Dept of Agriculture; Dujohn Fulford AHO; Lew 1 Shipping; The Osprey Beach Hotel2; The Salt Raker Inn; Grand Turk Inn; Turks Head The Sandbar; Jacks Shack; Stephanie Human; Lisa Wandres GTSPCA; Chris Davies-James GTSPCA; Phyllis Hayward GTSPCA; Joan Garneau; Linda Squires GTSPCA; Nikki Jennings GTSPCA; Janice Moore; Visky
Dunster; John and Deb Hayes; GT Diving Susan Blehr Executive Director TCSPCA; John Hilton; Grand Turk SPCA volunteers and members; Grand Turk pet owners. The Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) formed the Grand Turk Chapter in the spring of 2011. The Grand Turk TCSPCA aims to provide a “voice for those who cannot speak”. Their goal is to ensure that every animal in the Turks and Caicos Islands is cared for and free from abuse. Many thanks, Susan Blehr TCSPCA
October 3 - 9, 2015
TCI celebrates the week of the young child THE EDUCATION Ministry will join with the many early childhood centres and schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands in recognition of the ‘Week of the Young Child’. The week takes place from October 5 to 9, and will be observed under the theme, ‘Celebrating our youngest learners: Grow a reader and watch them bloom’. The early childhood years serve as an essential foundation for subsequent literacy development, as it plays a key role in enabling early learning experiences that are linked to children becoming proficient in reading later on in life, a release from the ministry read. It noted that reading is fundamental as it engages all subject areas, equipping children with the necessary developmental skills that will allow them to communicate with others expressing their thoughts, feelings and ideas. “It broadens their sensitivity towards letter sounds and helps them to acquire greater phonological awareness and phonics. “Reading also empowers children to grasp new concepts, builds their vocabulary and heightens their understanding in comprehension. “It is with this in mind that the Department of Education urges all early childhood schools and centres to position their early literacy programmes to the forefront.” According to the release, reading activities must be visible with print rich environments and various types of interesting books, materials and resources that support and encourage reading. It must involve the home, school and the community and be promoted by its parents, teachers and children. In keeping with this, a number of activities have been planned for schools and centres to become involved. Some of the activities include reading aloud to young children, reading with a buddy and looking at books independently. These activities will help to stimulate language and cognitive skills which will build upon a child’s motivation, curiosity and memory. Everyone across the TCI is encouraged to instil the love for books in young children from a very tender age by reading to them.
Fortis reopens on Monday FORTISTCI has advised customers that due to the passage of tropical storm Joaqiun, normal working hours will resume on Monday (October 5). In a public notice the utility company thanked customers for understanding and asked that if at any time a power outage needs to be reported to call 9464313 or visit the company’s Facebook page for regular updates. Residents are reminded to be safe and to stay away from downed poles and power lines.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
REAL TALK
Despite how things look: We cannot give up on our country! I HAVE had many conversations with people from all over this country, Belongers as well as expats, about the state of affairs and many issues facing the Turks and Caicos Islands. Some people feel that we are fine and making mountains out of molehills but I do not know which country they have been living in because we are certainly not ‘fine’. Actually, the majority of the people I speak to realise that our country is in trouble and desperately want to see a change to take place in this country. As a matter of fact so may persons have allowed the frustrations in this country to bring them to a place where they have given up on the country and its ability to turn around. Do they have justified reasons for feeling like giving up? Yes they do. Nevertheless we cannot give up on this country. Despite the fact that many
of the opportunities we desire for young educated people continue to elude them, we cannot give up. Despite the frustration my generation is facing in getting a chance to prove their worth and resourcefulness in this economy due to poor economic planning, we cannot give up. Although we know of injustice in which the same law which condemns a loved one protects another, we cannot give up. Although we have seen Belongers denied jobs that were given to expats with similar or even less qualifications, we cannot give up. Despite the number of young Belongers who have had doors slammed in their faces and forced to leave this country for opportunities overseas, we cannot give up. In spite of the lack of resources and poor planning which hinders our resolution of many problems, we cannot give up. Despite the trend of stakeholders and leaders losing touch with the
By Jas Walkin
BIOGRAPHY: Jas was born with a physical disability and diagnosed with a mild form of muscular dystrophy. His early childhood was characterised with trying to fit in in a regular school environment unequipped to cater to special needs students. With support from family, teachers and the community he graduated as valedictorian of Raymond Gardiner High School and has been a graduate teacher for the past last nine years.
people they swore to serve and look out for, we cannot give up. There was a time when I was prepared to give up on this country, but that time has passed. If we cannot give up, then what can we do? We can first of all remember our creator and ask him to implant in us a spirit similar to the one that was in Caleb and Joshua who despite the challenges and the giants presented in Canaan were convinced that they were well able to possess the land. Moreover, we must understand that giving up on our country is not an option.
For when we would have given up on our country then it means we have given up on ourselves, because we are the country. I cannot speak for others (even though I wish many times that I could), only for myself when I say: when it comes to this country’s recovery or lack thereof, I will go down with this ship and I will not throw my hands up and surrender. There will be no white flag above my door. I love the TCI and hope I always will.
COMMENTARY
Thinking young NATIONAL Youth Week and the celebration of young people is one of the most important times in the TCI as it is everywhere in the world. Thanks to Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, herself a youth advocate, for reminding us that Chief Minister Derek Taylor and Minister Clarence Selver, in their administration, brought the youth of the TCI into focus as the undeniable future of this land. Friends and family know I am no longer young. Time is unstoppable. However we think young and still try to use the wisdom of accumulated years of experience and training to pass on our limited knowledge to our children. We have eight children, (natural and step) and they are all productive citizens. Of wide importance are the young people of Middle Caicos. We pause now to remember that in very recent years Middle Caicos has been losing children fast.
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
Farewell to Nikkie, Alani, Esther and Diessia; all primary school students who have very recently left Middle Caicos. Their parents or guardians struggled to make a living here after a dozen years of neglect by a Government who has ignored the core needs of the family islands. We had already lost many more children including high school students in recent years. What a shame! Had they survived on Middle what would they do anywhere in the TCI after they graduated from high school or returned from college?
From 2003 to 2009 we had a Government who provided booze parties and bad examples. Now we have a Government which continues ignoring the needs of the largest most beautiful island(s) while they help only themselves. While the problems are not quite as acute on North Caicos, their basic needs have also been mismanaged and ignored. The music students of Middle Caicos are now legend in their own right due to the individual attention each young person has invested with the encouragement of their families. The four children named above
were a growing part of that legacy and it is sad to lose them. Sad also is watching parents and grandparents moving away. Census records indicate that between 2002 and 2012 Middle Caicos lost about 45 percent of its population. Many more since 2012. Thanks again PNP. Twelve years, beginning August 2003 is a long time in a child’s life. It takes a child a dozen years from the ABC years to high school graduation. Employment and the beginning of a career should be waiting. We honour certain families of North Caicos for guiding their own children and providing businesses in which their children participate and foster a career as they begin to start families of their own. You know who you are and thank God for you. Eventually we must all look to leaders who focus on youth and core values to provide a real future for our youth and in doing so, for ourselves.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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14 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
Lime visits South Caicos LIME customers in South Caicos were given the opportunity to purchase credit and prepaid handsets when the networking company visited their community on Tuesday (September 29). During the visit by Lime’s road team, which consisted of corporate, retail, marketing and communications personnel from the general manager’s office, residents were briefed on several service upgrades, a release from the company read. The release stated that mobile tutorials were also given to customers who were allowed to ask questions and learn how to optimise their experience with Lime products and services available to them. Throughout the morning period the team organised itself at the Marjorie Basden High School, and was subsequently greeted by District Commissioner Yvette Cox, and her husband. The District Commissioner while thanking the company for reaching out to customers said: “It is good to have Lime here in South Caicos.” She added: “It is not very often that the people of South Caicos are remembered, and so it is good to know that in your promo package you considered South Caicos.” According to the release many residents were in high spirits to know
that Lime remembered them. Several teachers from both the high school and primary school were present, along with Government workers, nurses, and business men and women. Delivering brief remarks at the outreach, general manager Delleriece Hall, said: “It is always good to be with our customers from the different islands.” Hall emphasised: “It is important to us at Lime to be able to see, engage with and reach out to the people that we serve on a daily basis, to ensure them that we are here for them, and we want to give them the best we have to offer. “Their support throughout the years keeps us at number one and we owe it to them to, if only once for the year, visit their local communities to better understand how we can serve them and advance South Caicos.” Among visitors present at the event, were Lime customers residing in South Caicos, and Alain Prion, general manager for East Bay Resorts that is set to open next year in the first quarter of 2016, along with his wife. Lime will be returning to the Big South again in December for its annual Christmas activity for the elderly in the community in South Caicos, the release read.
Corporate account manager Regdrika Mckenzie, general manager for Lime TCI, Delleriece Hall, and Mr and Mrs Alain Prion
General manager makes presentations from Lime to DC Yvette Cox
Rev Howell to be laid to rest this Saturday
Reverend Dr Conrad Howell
THE HOME-going service and burial of the late and much loved Reverend Dr Conrad Howell will take place on Saturday (October 10) at the Paradise Baptist Church in Five Cays at 10am. Following which, interment will be held at the Bethany Baptist Church cemetery in Blue Hills. There will also be a memorial service and a night of tributes for the late Reverend at the Church of God of Prophesy in Blue Hills on Friday, October 9, at 7pm. Police still consider the death of the late Reverend to be suspicious as they await the results of a toxicology report. Up to press time, details about where the samples were sent and when the report will be back were still unavailable from police. However, no conclusions as to
the cause of Howell’s death have as yet been drawn by authorities, even as they reported to the press a few weeks ago that the two wounds on his body appeared to be selfinflicted. Those statements followed a post mortem examination performed on September 16 by a Bahamian medical professional. Police press officer Audley Astwood advised the media last week that investigations into the circumstances of the Reverend’s death are still ongoing. Howell was reported missing on Friday night, September 11, by his wife who had awoken in the early hours of the morning to find him missing from the home. He was last seen on Thursday evening. Reports are that the front door
of the Howell residence was left unlocked and a glass of liquid was found on top of his vehicle in the yard. On Saturday a search was launched and the Reverend’s body was recovered in bushes behind his Blue Mountain home. Reverend Howell, who was well known for penning the National Song of the Turks and Caicos Islands, was also well recognised for his contributions on radio, television and via internet on issues affecting the Islands. He was also one of the prominent members of the National Honours and Awards Committee, a representative for the TCI to the United Nations Committee for Decolonisation, Chaplain of the Progressive National Party (PNP) among many other things.
October 3 - 9, 2015
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Stop gun violence campaign marches on
THE ‘STOP the gun violence’ campaign that was launched in September by the Government to raise awareness on the dangers of illegal gun use has sprung into action. Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Akierra Missick recently made remarks to keep the momentum going: “This project makes clear that intensive Government action is needed to stop gang and gun violence and bring the perpetrators to justice, but we must match this robust enforcement response with a robust offer of support to exit gun violence and gang life, and an equally intensive prevention strategy. A patient must be stabilised before a cure can be administered, but vaccination is always better than cure. “This health analogy is apt, gun violence here in the Turks and Caicos is a public health issue, we must start seeing and treating it as such. The Government understands that you can’t arrest your way out of the problem, and that is why we have been clear that only with full cross departmental support can we make an impact. Tackling guns, gangs and serious youth violence will take a fully coordinated, multi government response, Church leaders, public and local authority leadership. There is already a wealth of expertise and best practice that can be harnessed, but this is no quick fix. The TCIG is committed to tackling
Deputy Premier, Akierra Missick
this over the long-term, this project is the first step towards transforming gang impacted communities and restoring hope and opportunity to those visiting, living and working in our ‘Beautiful By Nature’ Turks and Caicos Islands. This Government has already set in motion a number of far reaching reforms to address the entrenched educational and social failures that can drive these problems. As well as a new ‘Troubled families programme,’ these include: the increase the accountability of local police, the new labour and immigration bill, giving young people better opportunities to access work and overcome barriers to their employment, education
reforms that will drive up public students’ performance and increase participation in further study and employment and the Social Policy Review, which is identifying actions across Government to improve the life chances of everyone across the Turks and Caicos Islands. But we must embed the right local approach to make sure that these policies make a real difference on the ground. Local authorities, working in partnership, are best placed to provide strong leadership to the challenges they face, putting in place a strong collaborative structure to identify those at risk, agree coordinated actions and manage individual interventions.
This project therefore calls for a renewed focus on a coordinated local response that addresses the whole problem, and not just its component parts. Strong implementation is key to this we cannot let more children fall through the cracks. Solving the problem of guns, gang and youth violence requires systematic effort across a range of government services. To support local departments in implementing this ambitious programme, the Turks and Caicos Government is establishing an Ending Gang and Youth Violence Team. Made up of network of key community leaders, stakeholders and experts, the team will work alongside local agencies to help them assess gang and youth violence, and take action based on evidence based effective practice. To reflect the need for local action to be taken by a range of agencies, the team will be made up of people with a range of backgrounds including the church, education, policing, youth workers, community engagement, safeguarding, youth justice, former gang members and health. This is not about short term quick fixes. The team will focus on helping local agencies which have the greatest challenges to make changes to the way their mainstream services operate which are long term and sustainable. The selection of around 10 priority areas to be supported will be informed by research currently being conducted by TCIG to map gun and gang violence in selected forces
across the Turks and Caicos Islands which will, for the first time, provide a national picture based on a single definition and approach. This project will set out the concerted effort that will be needed to deliver sustained improvement in areas most affected by guns, gangs and youth violence in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Some of the interventions we suggest will not be new. But we need better coordination on the ground so that the funding, resources and efforts put in locally result in actual change. This calls for a systematic review, reprioritisation and restructuring of public services at the local level based on early intervention as well as enforcement. That means changing the way mainstream public services like schools, hospitals, social welfare and health visitors operate to identify youths at risk. It means local areas agreeing coordinated, sustainable interventions tailored to an individual and or their family that reduces the risk of harm. It means making the most of those ‘teachable moments’ in the immediate aftermath of a serious incident, perhaps police cell to persuade the young person to walk away from the violence. And it means treating violence not just as a criminal matter for the police, but as a public health issue that every community should be concerned about. We need your help!”
CRIME BLOTTER Police investigate death of child DETAILS are still limited as to what led to the death of a young child on Tuesday night (September 29), but police are currently conducting investigations. Reports last week were that a five-year-old boy was found dead in his Bottle Creek, North Caicos home. The child who is a student of the Adelaide Oemler Primary School came home from school, went to sleep, but never woke up. His lifeless body was discovered by his father.
Man arrested for carrying imitation firearm Police officers attached to the Chalk Sound Police Station arrested a 24-year-old man from Five Cays on September 27 for the offence of carrying an imitation firearm in relation to a report made on Friday September 25. Investigations are ongoing.
Man charged with cannabis and cocaine possession A 23-year-old man was arrested for possession of cannabis and cocaine last Sunday, September 27. The man was picked up by officers attached to the Chalk Sound Police Station during a routine stop and search conducted on Saturday, September 26. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Police seek public’s assistance in ridding the streets of illegal firearms Police are urging members of the public to take a stand against illegal firearms by cooperating with them in providing information regarding the whereabouts of any illegal firearm. They are also issuing a stern warning to individuals who import illegal firearms into the country, who distribute
illegal firearms to criminals. Also those who create havoc in the country through the use of firearms. Police are appealing to anyone with information about any crime to call Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crimestoppers online reporting page www.crimestoppers. tc. Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Crime prevention tip Protect your money: If you often have to transport large amounts of cash to a bank, you should consider using a security company to do it. The advantages are: greater security, greater convenience, time saving, certainty that the cash will be delivered, and most importantly removal of risk to you and your employees. Vehicle owners: copy your licence plate and vehicle information numbers (VIN) on a card and keep them with you. If your vehicle is stolen, the police will need this information.
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The late Selvyn Philip Hawkins
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Selvyn Philip Hawkins and his wife June
Selvyn Jr, Julian, Phylicia, Selvyn Snr and June Hawkins
The late Philip Hawkins remembered PROMINENT businessman and devout family man Selvyn Philip Arthur Hawkins (commonly known by the name ‘Philip’) passed away unexpectedly while at home in Chalk Sound, Providenciales on Sunday, September 27. He was 58-years-old at the time of his death. Born on the island of Grand Turk on May 4, 1957, Hawkins spent some
of his adolescent years in Jamaica and Trinidad before returning to the Turks and Caicos Islands as a young adult, settling on the island of Providenciales. A skilled electrical engineer, he worked as an electrician at Club Med Resort in the 1980s before embarking on several successful entrepreneurial ventures which include the establishment of Far
Eastern Imports, Paradise Gaming, Paradise Auto Rental and Sales and the recently acquired Alamo Car Rental Franchise. A former member of the Rotary Club of Providenciales, Hawkins was instrumental in setting up the weekly bingo fundraiser and was once an avid player of local cricket as a member of the local police team. He was a member of St Monica’s
Anglican Church and a strong supporter of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Hawkins married June Patrice Bethell in 1987 and together they raised three children Selvyn Jr, Phylicia and Julian, all who now remain to cherish his memory and to continue his legacy. Hawkins is also survived by his siblings Gladys, Bernard, Keith,
Nello, Kurt, Wayne and Lucile. Additional survivors include a host of relatives and friends too numerous at too mention. The family is extremely grateful for the tremendous support and well wishes coming from those who knew him. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the not too distant future.
and reunite her with her very hungry baby. The TCSPCA spay/neuter programme is a crucial part of animal control in the TCI and pet owners from all local communities are making appointments for their animals to have the surgery and to keep their vaccinations up to date. Every year in the TCI hundreds of stray dogs of all ages are euthanized or suffer a sad life in the bush.
These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering. The local phone number for the Grand Turk chapter of the TCSPCA is 241-4378. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the TCSPCA or a volunteer can call. Help is always needed to run a successful mobile spay/neuter clinic.
Successful TCSPCA spay and neuter clinic in Grand Turk
THE TURKS and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) has completed yet another very successful spay/neuter clinic in Grand Turk. Between September 19 and September 25, 72 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered plus several specialty operations were performed, including a tooth removal, numerous heartworm tests and nearly 100 core vaccinations were administered. As usual, the clinic was run in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture under the guidance of Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Butler and Assistant Animal Health Officer Dujohn Fulford. Minnesota based veterinarian Dr Alanna Monn DVM, owner/operator of Healing Touch Vet Clinic, together with highly qualified vet technician Alysha Riel and vet nurse Stephanie Human performed and assisted with the surgeries. The very successful clinic would not have been possible without a very generous donation from Hazel Thompson who offered the use of two vacant shop units in Pelican House to set up the clinic and recovery area. Also, Fortis TCI provided free electricity for the clinic and John Thomas, founder of Potcake Project purchased round trip airline tickets
TCSPCA hosts another successful clinic in Grand Turk
from the states for the vet team. Much needed daily help came from many volunteers who manned the phones, arranged surgical appointments, handled the paperwork and documentations for all the procedures and help educate animal owners on how to take care of their pets. The iconic TCSPCA Animal Van, usually seen in Providenciales, was buzzing through the streets of Grand Turk all week long and acted as a billboard for the TCSPCA publicising that much needed vet care was accessible for pet owners.
The bus was driven by TCSPCA executive director Susan Blehr assisted by DOA Dujohn Fulford were very busy transporting animals to and from the clinic, helping trap dogs and even performed a spontaneous donkey rescue when a call came through reporting that a nursing donkey had fallen down a hole earlier in the day and could not get out. The donkey was subdued and Fulford who is an expert animal handler and a “donkey whisperer” arranged for a sky track to gently lift the frightened donkey from the hole
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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The Regent Palms is once again ‘The Palms’ FORMERLY known as The Regent Palms, the award-winning hotel will once again operate as an independent property under The Hartling Group And after eight years of successfully operating as The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos, the hotel is returning to its boutique roots. As of September 1 last the 72-suite resort and spa, located on Grace Bay Beach, will once again be The Palms Turks and Caicos, a press release from the resort read. According to the release, the multiple award-winning resort, part of the travel industry’s leading network, Virtuoso, will continue under the leadership of Karen Whitt. Whitt joined the property as general manager nearly five years ago, and was named General Manager of the Year by Luxury Travel Advisor in 2014. The transition back to The Palms coincides with a $3.5 million renovation and refresh that was unveiled this summer as part of the beachfront resort’s 10th anniversary celebration, including room updates and the addition of several new dining experiences. “This transition is a natural and seamless one. Our dynamic team has created and managed every aspect of the property since 2012, and we are passionately committed to continue offering the hand crafted experiences
our guests know and love,” Whitt said. The newly renamed resort now has a new restaurant called ‘The Garden’ in which guests can enjoy an al fresco breakfast. Stan Hartling, CEO of The Hartling Group and a pioneer of luxury tourism in TCI 20 years ago, stated: “Our guests crave a boutique hotel experience. We have created a wealth of programmes and amenities that speak to this, and we are dedicated to continuing our investment at The Palms. “Last year, 2014, was our best year ever with 24 percent growth over the previous year, and we see this upward trend continuing.” According to Hartling their results year-to-date are terrific. “Of course it’s a great time to be a resort operator in Turks and Caicos, following the award for the TripAdvisor ‘Number One Island Destination in the World’ earlier this year. “We are excited about this next chapter in the history of The Palms and I look forward to seeing the resort continue to grow and evolve with the needs and interests of our guests.” Hartling is now completing construction of his third beachfront resort on the island, The Shore Club on Long Bay, which will open in summer 2016.
The Performathon will see children displaying their creativity through dance in a diverse selection of styles
Children plan a 12-hour Performathon to raise funds LOCAL children are gearing up to dazzle a crowd on Saturday, October 10, with several riveting dance pieces at the first Performathon to be held in the Turks and Caicos Islands. According to a release, performing arts teacher Niki Flowers has teamed up with TCI Friends of the Arts Foundation (TCFAF) to bring London’s West End Theatre to Providenciales in February 2016. However, ahead of that date a fundraising event is being held to assist with the cost, with additional financial support from TCFAF. As such a Performathon will take place between 10am and 10pm at
Provo Primary School’s Stage, on Saturday, October 10. Flowers, who teaches a collection of classes at Provo Primary School, is also appealing to the public, as well as local corporate organisations for their support and people desirous of doing so can make contact with her at nikiflowers@gmail.com. The Performathon will see children displaying their creativity through dance in a diverse selection of styles, these include: Chicago the Musical, Bollywood dancing, Michael Jackson`s techniques, Mama Mia renditions and tap dogs style of tap dancing.
Free workshops on dance and rehearsals focusing on multiple dance techniques used in the entertainment industry will form part of the collaborative production. For the 2016 performance Dougie Mills, a successful and renowned choreographer, will be bringing three colleagues with him that are seasoned West End performers and choreographers /producers as part of his entourage to the TCI. Children who participate in the workshops will be invited to join the professionals on stage at Brayton Hall for a performance on Friday, February 26.
Walk for a worthy cause, Governor’s wife urges By Olivia Rose IN AN effort to raise funds to support several charities that are in dire need of assistance, founder of the Footsteps4Good charity, Jill Beckingham is urging the populace to come out and walk for a worthy cause. Beckingham, who is also the Governor’s wife, during an interview with this newspaper said this is the second year the organisation will be hosting the Walkathon in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “I would like to encourage everybody to come and take part, walk for a little way or a long way and raise money for these organisations.” She noted that although she has compiled a list of several organisations based on their needs at the time, participants will be allowed to raise money for other individuals or organisations of their choice.
“They are lots of other fitness walks and the difference between this one and that is that this one is for everybody, this isn’t just for cancer or Red Cross this is for everybody, but the fitness part is very important.” She said: “This year 13 different local organisations will all get a share of the corporate funding. “Couple of our NGO`s that we’re walking for are the Heart Foundation, the Diabetic Association, the Kidney Foundation, Nutrition For Health, and all those organisations are trying to promote healthy lifestyles.” She asserted that with the advent of motor vehicles walking is quickly becoming a thing of the past although it is proven to help reduce many diseases. “Walking is something we used to do, and I think if we could get everybody to say don’t sit at home and have a bag of crisps, go to the beach, enjoy the sunset and walk,
Governor’s wife Jill Beckingham
you’ll feel much healthier and better. “I think the whole world is suffering from people not looking after themselves, it’s not just here it’s everywhere.” The aim of the walkathon she emphasised is to equip the selected organisations with vital resources,
thereby enabling them to carry out their respective functions, while encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. Jill Beckingham is no stranger to walkathons being the brains behind the first ‘Footsteps4Good’ initiative which was held in Mumbai, India, in
2011. She embarked on a 357km India-UK Friendship Walk from Ahmedabad to Dandi, replicating Mahatma Gandhi’s famous Dandi March in celebration of his birth anniversary last year. In fact, backed by her trusted clique of aides, support staff and thousands of individuals, she walked every step of the way. On October 16, at the lighthouse in Grand Turk Beckingham will walk across the country’s main islands once again this year where she will be joined by participants of all ages including children and students who will walk with her. Last year the total raised was more than $30,000 and the Governor’s wife is hoping to increase that this year. Registration is ongoing at IGA, IGA Gourmet and Quality supermarkets each Saturday.
Lifestyle... 18
October 3 - 9, 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.
Cordyline THE TI plant, also known as TI and Hawaiian good-luck-plant, is technically classified as cordyline terminalis. There are approximately 20 species of cordyline, which is in the asparagaceae family, but other experts have placed the genus in the agavaceae family. Cordyline is a native of east Asia and it is one of the most popular indoor potted plants. Some selections of cordyline plant are also used extensively as cut florist greens because they are among the most colourful foliage plants. Many of the small plants used in small combination planters are started from seed and are highly variable in colour, from green to deep maroon, to pink and variegated.
But cordylines show off their best colour during cooler weather...a real boon for our winter tourists. You can propagate cordyline plants by three methods: seed germination, rooting of cuttings, including cane, and finishing microcuttings or plugs (from tissue culture laboratories). But the most common and easy way to propagate is terminal stem cuttings (tips) which are directly stuck in the pots. The most common complaint about cordylines is that eventually they can grow tall and leggy, with thin bare trunks (called canes) and foliage only on top. To encourage a fuller look at varying levels, prune during warm summer weather. To do this, cut off a cane at a
lower height and it will usually sprout a new head or two from the sides of the cut. Rather than chopping off the heads of all the canes at once, cut the tallest one first. After it sprouts new growth, do the next tallest one. This way some foliage is visible while you're pruning the plant. Plant each cutting back into the ground near the base of the original plant (or start it in a container) - most will root and grow. In some cases, the openness of bare canes can create an interesting silhouette. But if you prefer to camouflage
them, use cordylines and dracaenas as backdrop plants or use low spreading plants to hide a bit of the legginess. When planting, add top soil or organic peat humus to the hole when you plant, especially if the area is very sandy and dry. These plants don't like to stay wet, so give them regular irrigation with time to dry out a bit between watering. Fertilise twice a year (spring and fall) with a good quality granular fertiliser. Don't over-fertilise these plants. The major pests of this plant include fungus gnats, mealybugs,
mites, scales, and thrips. Mealybug, mite, and scale infestations are typically the result of a pest infestation of those insects in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The mealybugs appear as white, cottony masses in leaf axils, on the lower surfaces of leaves and on the roots. Honeydew and sooty mould are often present and infested plants become stunted, and with severe infestations, plant parts begin to die. To control a mealybug infestation is very challenging. Use a hose and spray with water to remove mealybugs from the plant and then use a systemic product.
POLICE SAFETY TIPS
Protecting children from crime IT DOESN'T matter if it’s the summer months, a day or two off from school, or a long weekend, sometimes children find themselves with a lot of free time on their hands. Kids, trouble and free time just seem to go together. But you can help keep your child out of trouble with a little knowledge of the things they might get into while you’re away from the home. If your child spends time home alone, it’s a good idea to sit down with your child to discuss the issue of kids, trouble and preventing trouble before it starts. If you told your child to be home at a certain time, but
you’re not home to supervise, there’s a good chance he might push the envelope by arriving home after his established curfew. Discuss consequences of breaking curfew before you allow your child out of the house, and be sure he checks in by phone to tell you he arrived home safely at the time agreed upon. If your child makes curfew, be sure you acknowledge his good behaviour and reward him with a hug, some time alone with you, or some other non-monetary reward. By the time your child leaves primary school it’s a sure thing that at some point, someone will have offered your child alcohol. Ideally, you should begin teaching
your child about the dangers of drinking alcohol long before he becomes an adult. But you should also roleplay how to say no to a friend or a classmate who might offer him alcohol. Give your child a few stock responses, and make sure he understands that he can come to you when he’s put in tough situations. Reward him for his honesty and problem solve together. Also, stay in contact with other parents to keep in touch with what’s going on in your community. Today’s children are digital natives, they know computers backwards and forwards. Nonetheless, computers and the internet do pose certain dangers to our
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.
children, and it’s important that you know enough about those dangers to intelligently guide your child. Be wary of social networking sites where children can make contact with adults, and vice versa. It’s also important to be aware of cyber-bullying, a fast growing, antisocial behaviour with children and teens. In this day and age our children are faced with more means of access
to the world at large. Even from their bedrooms, other children as well as adults can have access to your children. There are many ways however to protect your children from harm. Please visit www.tcipolice.tc or www.facebook/rtcipf for more in-depth advice on how to protect your children from crime and for other safety tips and crime prevention advice.
October 3 - 9, 2015
Lifestyle... ECO Tip Lynn Robinson has lived in the Turks and Caicos Islands for 12 years and works at Big Blue Unlimited as a diving instructor, eco guide and boat captain. She is passionate about the environment and does regular beach clean ups while walking her three potcakes. Her other passion is running and can often be seen training for marathons and ultra-marathons.
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YOUR BODY By Lynn Robinson
Dr Craig Zavitz is a Canadian chiropractor registered in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He specialises in gentle manual therapies, activator, therapeutic laser, and smoking cessation. To make appointments call 941-5252 or email craig@gracebaychiro.com. For more information visit www.gracebaychiro.com.
BY Dr Craig Zavitz
The end of the plastic bag in TCI? IT WAS a welcoming surprise this week to see proposals from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government to reduce (and hopefully abolish) both plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout containers. Both of these items are causing far too many problems for the fragile environment around the world and it’s not uncommon to see local ospreys using plastic bags and other waste to build their once all natural nests. Many people are very aware of the devastating effects that plastic pollution causes from ingestion, suffocation and entanglement but very few are making a conscious decision to change the ways they think and shop. Turtles and dolphins are sighted frequently in our crystal clear waters but how long before we start to see them washed up along the beaches, dead from our obsession with plastic? On my recent visit to the UK it was refreshing to see signs in the supermarkets reminding shoppers to bring their own bags to avoid the newly implemented five pence charge, and if successful this should see a huge reduction in the amount of bags used. On a visit to the beautiful cities of Durham and York it was sad to see rivers polluted with plastic trash from bottles to bags to balls. It was also surprising to see a very clean, trash free beach at Spurn Point in East Yorkshire last weekend. However the truth quickly revealed itself when I noticed a huge pile of bags collected from the International Coastal Clean-up Day a few days earlier. People can change and they will, eventually, with a little push in the right direction. Some stores around the world give discounts for people bringing their own bags so maybe something
similar could be implemented in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Perhaps a weekly or monthly draw with a grocery voucher to reward those people who are making a change. Hopefully, this will then grab the attention of other shoppers who want to have a chance to win, in turn saving money for the stores as their use of plastic bags goes down significantly - a win win situation. One day the use of single use plastic bags and Styrofoam will become as frowned upon as smoking in public places. Until that time please let your conscience guide you to make the right decisions in making this world a better, cleaner place for future generations to come.
Take the unplugged challenge Dr Zavitz will be in Providenciales from October 5 to 10.
CALLS, alerts, texts and social media - it’s all right there on your phone and computer. We can all be guilty of relying on technology, but when face time is replaced with screen time, it may be too much.
Do you check social media too much throughout the day? Are you less productive at work? Do you spend less time engaging with those around you than you used to? Challenge yourself to unplug and experience the benefits! Sleep better without distractions. Enjoy more meaningful relationships. Catch the little moments that
make life precious. Relax with time to read a book. Refocus on what’s important and live life. Take some time to put down your phone and be productive, present and there for the important things in life. Keep it simple and enjoy life with a fresh perspective. Life is precious.
Weekly Recipe
Beef stew - A fall favourite INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds beef chuck, cubed into ½-inch pieces (this is sometimes sold as ‘stew meat’ and already cubed) • 2 teaspoons olive oil • ¼ cup flour • ¾ pound potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes • 3 carrots, sliced • 1 onion, chopped • 1 cup red wine • 2 cups beef broth • ¼ cup tomato paste • Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
• Put the vegetables (carrots and potatoes) in the slow cooker. • Put the olive oil in a pan and heat it, then add the beef chuck and cook it until it’s browned on all sides. • Add the beef to the slow cooker, then put the diced onion in the skillet and cook that until it’s translucent, then add the onion to the slow cooker. • Add the wine, beef broth, tomato paste, salt, pepper and flour to the hot skillet. Stir until it’s thick and dark, then
add that mixture on top of everything else.
• Cook on low for eight hours, then serve piping hot.
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Regional News
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October 3 - 9, 2015
Hurricane Joaquin destroys buildings, unleashes flooding in the Bahamas HURRICANE Joaquin destroyed houses, uprooted trees and unleashed heavy flooding as it hurled torrents of rain across the Bahamas on Friday while the US Coast Guard said it was searching for a cargo ship with 33 people aboard that went missing during the storm. The Coast Guard said the 735foot El Faro had taken on water and was last reported listing at 15 degrees near Crooked Island, one of the islands most battered by the hurricane. Officials said the crew includes 31 US citizens and two from Poland. “This vessel is disabled basically right near the eye of Hurricane Joaquin,” said Capt Mark Fedor. “We’re going to go and try and save lives. We’re going to push it to the operational limits as far as we can.” Officials said they hadn’t been able to re-establish communication with the vessel, which was traveling from Jacksonville, Florida, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and carrying vehicles. The Coast Guard said the crew earlier reported it had been able to contain the flooding. Fedor said there were 20- to 30foot waves in the area, and that heavy winds could have destroyed the ship’s communications equipment. The ship went missing when Joaquin was a Category 4 storm. The hurricane has since lost strength and become a Category 3 storm. The slow-moving storm continued to batter parts of the Bahamas, cutting communication to several Family Islands. There had been no reports of fatalities or injuries, said Capt Stephen Russell, the director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Officials were investigating
Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has thrown his support behind Fanmi Lavalas movement candidate Maryse Narcisse.
In Haiti, Aristide tells thousands to vote for Narcisse
In Acklins Island in the Bahamas, several feet of water flooded homes, vehicles and streets as Hurricane Joaquin battered the island chain Thursday. (Courtesy of the Nassau Guardian)
reports of shelters being damaged and flooded, as well as two boats with a total of five people that remained missing. About 85 per cent of homes in one settlement on Crooked Island were destroyed, said Marvin Hanna,
an Acklins representative. He said he has had no communication with Acklins since late Thursday morning. “At that time, vehicles were floating around and the water level was up to the windows of some homes,” he said.
TWICE-OUSTED Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide urged thousands of supporters gathered outside his house Wednesday to vote for the presidential candidate of the political faction he founded years ago. Backers of the Fanmi Lavalas movement chanted, sang and waved photos of Aristide after they trekked to his home in the Port-auPrince suburb of Tabarre following a campaign rally miles away for the party’s presidential candidate. In early evening, Aristide appeared outside his gate with Lavalas’ presidential candidate and party chief, Maryse Narcisse, to address the festive crowd. Standing on the back of a pickup truck alongside Narcisse, he called on supporters to ensure that the party’s leader wins this year’s presidential election. The first round is Oct. 25. “Everybody needs to stick together for Maryse Narcisse to enter the National Palace as president,” Aristide said into a microphone during his roughly seven-minute
speech, prompting loud cheers and applause. Music blared from loud speakers as excited partisans jostled to catch a glimpse of the charismatic expresident outside the home where he has lived quietly since returning to Haiti in 2011. People chanted that Aristide, who asserted upon his return to Haiti that he would not get involved in politics, was their “king.” “I am here because I love him and I hope that the Lavalas party he began can get back in power with these elections,” said unemployed labourer Jean Robert, one of several thousand people who walked for about 1½ hours under police watch to gather outside Aristide’s walled property. Aristide remains a popular yet polarising figure more than a decade after he fled the country on a U.S. plane in February 2004 amid a violent rebellion that led to his second ouster. He has stayed mostly silent at his family home since he returned to Haiti in 2011 following years of exile in South Africa.
The Bahamas: Vasyli guilty of stabbing millionaire husband to death
Donna Vasyli was found guilty of killing her husband.
DONNA Vasyli gasped in shock and fainted in a Bahamian courtroom on Thursday after hearing that a jury unanimously found her guilty of the stabbing death of her husband, millionaire podiatrist Philip Vasyli, at their home in Old Fort Bay. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 10; however her legal team plans to appeal the verdict. The 55-year-old widow – who was crying even before the six-man, six woman jury entered the courtroom – required two women police officers to lift her off the floor of the caged prisoner’s dock moments after the guilty verdict was returned. The verdict came after nearly four hours of deliberation into three weeks’ of evidence concerning the March 24 incident. The Australian’s disbelief at the outcome of the trial was loudly
echoed by a dozen relatives and supporters seated at the back of the courtroom. Some screamed: “Oh my God,” and “she’s innocent” along with “that’s my daughter!” Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Neil Braithwaite strongly objected to the behaviour of the Vasyli family in court and Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs agreed that it was not acceptable. The judge reiterated the jury’s findings to Vasyli and asked if she wished to say anything or speak through either of her lawyers, Elliot Lockhart, QC, and Murrio Ducille. At one point, Vasyli was heard saying that she “loved” her husband. Three police officers were required to help escort the widow, who seemed unable to walk on her own, to a holding cell to await transport to the Department of
Correctional Services. She was housed there on remand between her March 30 arraignment and July 30, when she was granted $200,000 bail. Outside the courtroom, Mr Ducille spoke on behalf of the family who had all left. “Obviously we’re disappointed at the verdict,” Mr Ducille said. “It’s really in the province of the jury to return (a verdict), but of course, they must return a verdict according to the evidence and her position is that it is not so. “But their verdict is still sacrosanct. We have to accept that but the process is not yet complete. Obviously we’re going to file an appeal with this batch and deal with it from there on. Everybody has a role to play. They have done and played their role and we have to respect it and accept it.”
October 3 - 9, 2015
Regional News
Cayman Islands rises in global Financial Centre Index THE Cayman Islands bucked the declining trend of other major offshore centres by climbing four spots to 34th place in the Global Financial Centres Index. The Cayman Islands attained a global average score of 660, well up from 633 in the previous index, GFCI 17. The index published by Z/ Yen Group and sponsored by the Qatari Financial Centre Authority is updated twice a year and based on 28,676 financial center assessments completed by 3,194 financial services professionals. Respondents from the Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia assessed Cayman most favorably, while the assessment from professionals in Western Europe was much more negative. While Cayman increased its points total by 18 as it climbed the ranks, Bermuda dropped from 41st to 42nd and the BVI fell from the 34th to 43rd place. Panama dropped four spots to 52nd place. Overall, London climbed to the top of the ranking, swapping places with New York, but both financial centers are complementary rather than
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competing, Z/Yen Group said in a press statement. The group added that it is noticeable that assessments for London have been higher since the general election in the U.K. in May 2015. Meanwhile, competition from Asia is intensifying with Hong Kong and Singapore trailing in third and fourth place and Tokyo and Seoul remaining in the Global Financial Centers Index Top 10. Mark Yeandle, associate director at the Z/Yen Group and author of the GFCI, said, “Whilst London and New York still lead the field, the next four centers are all Asian. We are launching GFCI 18 in China to mark the success of the Chinese centers in becoming more competitive.” Western European centres also showed signs of recovery as Frankfurt rose five places to 14th and Dublin moved up six to 46th. Despite the economic downturn in Brazil, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro rose strongly. Sao Paulo remains the top Latin American centre in GFCI 18, and along with Rio de Janeiro, made significant progress in both the ratings and rankings. (Cayman Compass)
Cameron rules out slavery reparation during Jamaica visit DAVID Cameron has ruled out making reparations for Britain’s role in the historic slave trade and urged Caribbean countries to “move on”. The prime minister acknowledged that “these wounds run very deep” during his visit to Jamaica, where he faced calls to apologise from campaigners. He said Britain’s role in wiping slavery “off the face of our planet” should be remembered. Jamaican PM Portia Simpson Miller said she had raised the issue in talks. Addressing MPs in Jamaica’s parliament, Mr Cameron said slavery was “abhorrent in all its forms”. He added: “I do hope that, as friends who have gone through so much together since those darkest of times, we can move on from this painful legacy and continue to build for the future.” Mr Cameron also announced £25m in British aid for a new Jamaican prison and a £300m development package for the Caribbean which will provide grants for infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges. He said his visit - the first by a British prime minister in 14 years was to “reinvigorate” ties between the countries, and that he wanted to
David Cameron, pictured with Jamaican PM Portia Simpson Miller, says he wants to look to the future.
concentrate on future relations rather than centuries-old issues. Mrs Simpson Miller said while she was “aware of the obvious sensitivities”, Jamaica was “involved in a process under the auspices of the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] to engage the UK on the matter”. During Mr Cameron’s speech, a small group of protesters with placards that read “reparations now” gathered outside parliament. The issue of former slaveowning nations compensating former colonies is a contentious one in the Caribbean, where national
commissions have calculated the sums could run into trillions of dollars. One suggestion has been that the money could be provided in the form of debt relief. Mrs Simpson Miller told the United Nations in 2013 there should be “an international discussion in a non-confrontational manner” and its parliament had passed a motion backing reparations. One Jamaican MP, Mike Henry, threatened to boycott Mr Cameron’s speech at the country’s parliament if he did not engage on the issue.
Call for end to secondary screening at Caribbean airports
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children.
Jamaica reports hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak in schools An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has been confirmed in Jamaican schools. The South East Regional Authority says it’s closely monitoring cases in at least three schools in Kingston and St. Andrew and six schools in St. Catherine and health departments in the respective parishes have been working closely with the schools to minimise the spread of the disease. The schools have also been given
guidelines for the management of the disease and public health inspectors have been deployed to the schools to assess the situation. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children. Symptoms include fevers and blister-like eruptions on the tongue, inside the cheek, poor appetite and sore throat. There is no vaccine to protect against the viruses that cause the disease. (Caribbean360)
SECRETARY General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Hugh Riley has urged regional authorities to institute an Open Skies policy and, wherever possible, eliminate secondary screening at Caribbean airports. He argues that an Open Skies policy would allow regional carriers to take unlimited flights to all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states and encourage the growth of competition among carriers, while elimination of secondary screening would encourage greater demand for intraregional travel. Riley has also called for improved interline arrangements for a “vastly enhanced” baggage transfer and improved passenger experience and collaboration in a number of areas, including intelligence sharing with the use of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), and security processing. “Cooperation in these areas will encourage and facilitate greater investment by airlines into and across the Caribbean region. Better connectivity means greater economic benefits,” the secretary general said in an address at the recent airline route development forum, World Routes 2015 in Durban, South Africa.
Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Hugh Riley has called on regional authorities to institute an Open Skies policy.
Citing the post-September 11 television campaign in the United States, ‘Life Needs the Caribbean’, and the 2007 Cricket Work Cup as examples, Riley said the Caribbean has shown its ability to put effective regional strategies in place and can do the same to grow travel into and throughout the region. “This type of cooperation and collaboration needs to be the standard practice in serving the region’s various tourism needs,” he said.
Riley added that it was important to finalize and implement the amended Multilateral Air Services Agreement; facilitate unlimited third, fourth, and fifth freedom of traffic rights for scheduled passenger services from and between international airports and sub-regions within CARICOM and establish a CARICOM Single Domestic Air Space to help generate additional international traveller demand which, in turn, will encourage airlines to establish routes to the region.
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October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Mother of former Premier Mike Misick, Mary Jane Misick
Mrs Misick surrounded by her children
Mary Jane Misick passes at age 94 THE MOTHER of prominent ministers and former chief ministers of the Turks and Caicos Islands passed away on Friday (October 2) after suffering a massive stroke. The adored mother of 12, Mary Jane Misick, of one of the TCI’s most recognised families, died at the age of 94 in the presence of her daughter Elieth Gardiner. Speaking to the Weekly News on Friday, Gardiner said that her mother was rushed to a local hospital on Tuesday morning after crying out for stomach pain. She said the doctors revealed that her mother had suffered a massive stoke. Gardiner explained that the family subsequently took her home, and tried
to take good care of her, however, she succumbed on Friday morning around 6am after having breakfast. According to close family sources, she was the political force in the family but never ventured into politics. However because of her strong political influence, no one made a move without her approval. Her husband, the late Charles Misick, was the first member of her immediate family to become a Member of Parliament during the late 60s and early 70s. Her children are Vanderlene Gardiner (deceased), Joanne Knight, Vernon James, Charles Washington Misick, Ariel Misick, Sylvia Barnett, Elieth Gardiner, Mervin Misick,
Thomas Chal Misick, Dr. Lofton Misick, Phillip Misick and Michael Misick. Two of her offspring were former chief ministers Charles Washington Misick and Michael Misick (later on the title Chief Minister was redesignated as Premier). Her grandson Ricardo Donhue Gardner, is the current Minister of Labour, her son Charles Washinghton Misick is the current Minister of Finance, while her granddaughter Akierra Missick is the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. The Misick family is renowned for their political, social and economic contributions in the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Revised calendar of events for National Heritage Month DUE to the inclement weather the events being held for National Heritage Month have been postponed until next weekend. This is according to information coming out of the Department of Culture on Friday (October 2). The revised calendar of events is as follows: October 1 - Ecumenical Service Grand Turk - St Thomas Anglican Church 10am – 11am. October 10 - South Caicos – A taste of South CaicosMusic, dance, food, games. October 11 - Salt Cay – gospel concert. October 12 - 2015 all islands - Flag parade leading up to a community sporting event. October 17 - Middle Caicos – A blast from the past Bambara Beach celebration October 18 - Providenciales - Gospel concert featuring the TCI Mass Choir start time -6pm.
October 19 - Providenciales – Symposium – The effects of globalisation, cultural imperialism and cultural homogenisation of the preservation of TCI culture. 6pm - 9pm. October 24 - North Caicos – Farmer’s market, historical site tours and festival of the arts cultural explosion. October 25 - North Caicos – gospel concert. October 28 - Providenciales – Youth panel discussion on the theme ‘Living our culture, preserving our heritage’. Start time 10am – 12pm. October 29 - Grand Turk - Culinary and fine arts exhibition and competition and performing arts concert, Victoria Public Library 1pm – 9pm. October 31 - 2015 Providenciales Cultural Extravaganza – Cultural performances, band entertainment and authentic island cuisine.
Former Premier Michael Misick embraces his mother after his call to the Bar
New CEO of NIB, Walter Gardiner
NIB appoints new Chief Executive Officer WALTER Gardiner has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Board (NIB) by the Minister of Finance. Gardiner holds a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Leicester University, United Kingdom, and has over 33 years’ experience in managerial positions, 24 of which he served as deputy director of the National Insurance Board. Gardiner is also the longest serving officer. According to a press statement
from the board, Gardiner brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience having been intimately instrumental in the successful implementation of the scheme from its inception in 1991. Over the years, he has also been the officer responsible for the management of various departments including benefits, prosecutions, compliance, public relations, human resources, staff training and data entry. Gardiner succeeds former director Colin Heartwell, who resigned in April of this year.
October 3 - 9, 2015
Entertainment
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Pharrell, book publisher Penguin donating books to children in need PHARRELL Williams and his book publisher have launched a “Happy” campaign for young readers.
Along with Penguin Young Readers, the singer has partnered with FirstBook, a nonprofit literacy organization, to donate
Pharrell’s picture book, “Happy,” based on his hit song, comes out next week.
up to 50,000 books to children in low-income families. Penguin announced Tuesday that the Twitter hashtag (hash)readHappy had been established for fans to post thoughts or images on why reading makes them “Happy.” Every post shared elsewhere on social media will lead to a donation. “Every child on this planet deserves to experience the joy of reading,” Pharrell said in a statement issued through Penguin. Pharrell’s picture book, “Happy,” based on his hit song, comes out next week. (NYDailynews)
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Cuoco split with husband Sweeting over his ‘dependency’ on painkillers: report Kaley Cuoco called it quits with Ryan Sweeting allegedly because he couldn’t quit pills. The “Big Bang Theory” star decided to end her 21-month marriage to the tennis pro because she could no longer tolerate his addiction to painkillers, Us Weekly reports. Cuoco, 29, publicly gushed about her marriage to Sweeting, 28, following their Dec. 2013 nuptials, which took place only six months after they began dating. But privately, the actress was upset that her spouse, once ranked No. 64 in the world, had “developed a dependency on painkillers” to deal with a series of injuries, a source tells the magazine. “She supported him but she said he couldn’t make the commitment to get sober,” the insider said. “He’d tell her he was working on it and instead go get wasted.” The magazine reports that Sweeting was sober when he tied the knot with Cuoco in a lavish New Year’s Eve ceremony. But prior to meeting Cuoco,
Kaley Cuoco ended her 21-month marriage with tennis husband pro Ryan Sweeting.
he had troubles with the law related to his issues with prescription pills. In 2006, Sweeting was a college freshman when he was arrested for a DUI and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, Us noted. But after he and Cuoco
tied the knot, his apparent dependency on painkillers was said to have worsened due to a back injury he suffered a few months after they met. Sweeting’s alleged issues added tension to their young marriage, with their “biggest blowouts” taking place over his sobriety.
Minaj will produce and appear in a TV show about her life NICKI Minaj is set to executive produce and appear in a comedy series based on her life growing up in New York. She said the currently untitled show “is one of the more unique adventures I’ve ever embarked on” before tweeting she’s scouting for someone to play her. Although very few details about the show have been announced, the rapper has said the girl will be “around 11/12” in the first episode. Filming will begin this winter in the Queens borough of New York. Fans have started to send in suggestions of young girls to take on the role. Amandla Stenberg from The Hunger Games was among the names put forward but Nicki replied saying that she’d “kinda like an unknown” to play her younger self in the show.
Nicki Minaj said the comedy series will begin with her as a preteen.
She’ll also be writing raps for the actress to perform and joked that she wanted the theme song to be the Cookie Rap, which is the first rap she ever wrote. “Nicki is an international
superstar, yet not everyone knows how inspiring and hilarious her true story is,” said Karey Burke, ABC Family’s executive vice president programming and development.
October 3 - 9, 2015
27
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology
Australian crime writer wins top UK crime writing award
Jay Z’s Tidal will be hosting a charity concert in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on October 20th, featuring high-caliber artists such as Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Prince and Jay Z himself.
Tidal’s music-streaming service reaches 1 million subscribers Remember when Jay Z said Tidal, the streaming music service he acquired earlier this year, was doing just fine? Well, as it turns out, things are still on a respectable course. The musician/ entrepreneur took to Twitter to reveal a significant milestone for Tidal: 1 million subscribers. “’Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists,’” Jay Z tweeted. “Tidal is platinum.” To celebrate, Tidal announced it will be hosting a charity concert in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on October 20th, featuring highcaliber artists such as Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Prince and, of course, Jay Z himself. And don’t worry if you can’t attend, the service says it plans to stream
it to everyone (including nonsubscribers) on its website. While reaching 1 million subscribers is an important feat for Tidal, that figure is still very far behind competitors including Spotify and Rhapsody -- which have 15 million and 3 million, respectively. Granted, Tidal hasn’t been around for long since being under Jay Z’s umbrella, so there’s room to grow and try to catch up to its rivals. The last time Tidal shared similar details was back in April, when Jay Z decided to tell the world his service had over 700,000 subscribers to date. “Tidal is doing just fine,” he said. “We have over 770,000 subs. We have been in business less than one month.” (Engadget)
Jim Carrey (53) and Cathriona White (30) dated on and off since 2012.
Carrey ‘shocked’ by ex-partner death HOLLYWOOD actor Jim Carrey says he is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the death of his former partner in her Los Angeles apartment. Cathriona White, 30, who was from County Tipperary in Ireland, was found dead on Monday of a suspected overdose. Police told the Associated Press the matter was being treated as a suicide but no conclusion has yet been reached. The website TMZ.com said the couple had an on-off relationship and
broke up again last week. “She was a truly kind and delicate Irish flower, too sensitive for this soil, to whom loving and being loved was all that sparkled,” Carrey said in a statement. The Canadian actor, 53, who starred in Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura Pet Detective, met White, a beauty therapist, in 2012. The Irish Times said White moved to California in 2009 and became involved with Carrey after meeting him on a film set.
An Australian writer has beaten stiff competition to win one of the world’s most prestigious crime writing awards. Sydney-based Michael Robotham won the British Gold Dagger award for his novel Life or Death. Former journalist Mr Robotham defeated prominent writers including JK Rowling - writing as Robert Galbraith - and Stephen King for the honour. Life or Death, his 10th novel, is the story of a prisoner who escapes shortly before he is due to be released. Mr Robotham, who lives in Sydney, said he was grateful for the respect of his fellow writers. “For all the fact that it’s lovely to have commercial success, to sell lots of books, to be able to be a full-time writer, something like the Dagger makes you feel you have the respect of your peers and you are part of a long tradition of very fine writers,” he said. Mr Robotham said that many of the autobiographies he ghost-wrote while in Britain of “the great, the good and the less good” assisted him in his novel writing. “I was very comfortable capturing the voice and making the characters
Former journalist Michael Robotham defeated prominent writers including JK Rowling - writing as Robert Galbraith - and Stephen King for the honour.
live and breathe on the page and making them seem very real because I had written for so many real people over that 10-year period,” he was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying. One of his subjects was the imprisoned performer Rolf Harris who was jailed last year for 12
indecent assaults on four girls, one aged just seven or eight. Mr Robotham said that he felt betrayed by Harris and “beat himself up enormously” about it. He has become the second Australian to win a Gold Dagger, after Peter Temple for The Broken Shore in 2007. (BBC)
Walker’s daughter sues Porsche over father’s death Paul Walker’s daughter has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Porsche, claiming the sports car he was riding in had multiple design flaws. The suit, filed Monday on behalf of 16-year-old Meadow Rain Walker, seeks unspecified damages for defects it alleges contributed to her father’s death. “The bottom line is that the Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car. It doesn’t belong on the street,” Walker’s attorney, Jeff Milam, said in a statement. “And we shouldn’t be without Paul Walker or his friend, Roger Rodas.” Calvin Kim with Porsche Cars North America said the automaker hasn’t seen the lawsuit and wouldn’t comment on specifics. “As we have said before, we are saddened whenever anyone is hurt in a Porsche vehicle, but we believe the authorities’ reports in this case clearly established that this tragic crash resulted from reckless driving and excessive speed,” Kim said. The actor was best known for his role as Brian O’Conner in the “Fast & Furious” franchise. His life was cut short in a car crash in Southern
The suit against Porsche, filed Monday on behalf of 16-year-old Meadow Rain Walker, seeks unspecified damages for defects it alleges contributed to her father’s death.
California on November 30, 2013, during a few days off in the filming of the seventh movie in the popular series. He was 40. The lawsuit alleges “the vehicle lacked safety features that are found on well-designed racing cars or even Porsche’s least expensive road cars -- features that could have prevented the accident or, at a minimum,
allowed Paul Walker to survive the crash.” The court document contends the 2005 Carrera GT should have come with an electronic stability control system to protect against swerving. The car also lacked adequate side door reinforcement bars and had defective rubber fuel lines, according to the lawsuit.
28
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
World News
'Labour Party giant' Denis Healey dies at 98 DENIS Healey, a towering figure in the Labour Party and perhaps the most recognisable politician for a generation, has died. His family said the 98-yearold died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning at his home in Sussex after a short illness. The retired Labour politician, often described as "the best prime minister the party never had", served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979 under the premierships of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. Lord Healey was in Number 11 when the government was forced to go to the International Monetary Fund for a loan as the UK economy teetered on the brink of collapse in 1976. It ushered in an era of spending cuts that both earned him the opprobrium of the Labour left and led to defeat by Michael Foot in the election for Labour leader in 1980. A year later Lord Healey narrowly defeated Tony Benn in a bruising contest to remain Labour’s deputy leader. But with his sharp wit and
Denis Healey is reported to have died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday morning.
distinctive bushy eyebrows - that marked him out as a favourite for impressionists and caricaturists - Lord Healey, a war hero who had risen to the rank of major, transcended everyday politics earning him the status of a national treasure. Lord Healey’s catch phrase became “Silly Billy” which he adopted from the mimic Mike Yarwood and which he used against his critics. His career saw him working as a Member of Parliament for 40 years until his retirement in 1992 and is the
last surviving member of the cabinet formed by Harold Wilson after the Labour Party's victory in the 1964 general election. Tributes have poured in with both his political foes and allies describing him as a "giant" of Westminster. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Denis Healey was a giant of the Labour Party whose record of service to his party and his country stands as his testament. “He distinguished himself with his military service during the Second World War and continued that commitment to the British people as a Labour politician at the highest levels of government. His wit and personality transcended politics itself, making him one of the most recognisable politicians of his era.” Prime Minister David Cameron described him as "a great man and a genuine public servant". "We've lost a huge figure of postwar politics. A hero in World War Two as Beach Master at Anzio and a brave politician, Denis Healey told his party hard truths about Britain having to live within her means," he said. (Telegraph.co.uk)
October 3 - 9, 2015
Millions face hunger due to climate change, ‘super El Nino’ – Oxfam AT LEAST 10 million poor people face hunger this year and next because of droughts and erratic rains linked to record global temperatures and an expected “super” version of the evolving El Nino weather pattern, aid charity Oxfam has warned. In Ethiopia alone, 4.5 million people need food aid because a combination of El Nino and longterm climate change has made the rainy season more unpredictable, according to United Nations agencies. El Nino, caused by Pacific Ocean warming, leads to dry weather in some parts of the world and causes floods in others. This year the phenomenon is expected to peak between October and January and could turn into one of the strongest on record. The last “super El Nino” was in 1997-8. “Rice and maize crops are both at risk, with serious implications for millions of poor people from Southern Africa to Central America who are dependent on these staples,” Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB’s chief executive, said in a statement today. A scorching drought has ravaged crops in southern Africa
already, with South Africa’s key maize crop falling by a third and poor yields set to continue into the southern hemisphere summer, according to the country’s weather service. In neighbouring Zimbabwe, where the maize harvest is 35 per cent below average, the government blamed the droughtstricken farm sector for a halving of its economic growth forecast in July. Harvests in Central America have fallen by as much as 60 per cent for maize and 80 per cent for beans this year due to prolonged dry spells linked to El Nino, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organiza-tion. Southeast Asia is also affected, Oxfam said. Warming seas could double the frequency of the most powerful El Ninos, the report noted. As world leaders prepare for a UN summit on climate change in Paris in December, increasing climatic disruption, driven by rising temperatures, threatens to increase the likelihood of humanitarian emergencies at a time when the aid system is already under enormous strain, Oxfam said.
Caltech tops universities rankings again – UK has 34 in world’s top 200 THE UK has 34 universities in the Times Higher Education ranking of the world’s top 200 institutions. Oxford climbs to second place, while Cambridge and Imperial College London also make the top 10 in fourth and eighth places respectively. Keeping the top spot for the fifth consecutive year is the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the US. Another US university Stanford was ranked third. Europe has a record number of universities in the world top 200, with 105 compared to 87 last year. The tables rank universities worldwide on measures like teaching, research and international outlook - for example numbers of overseas students and staff. The majority of UK universities have moved up this year, some - for example Warwick, St Andrews and Exeter - by a significant margin. There is good news for Reading, Dundee and Newcastle, reestablishing their places in the top 200 after slipping out last year. However, four universities Manchester, York, Sussex and Royal Holloway, London - have slipped
The Caltech campus in Pasadena.
to lower positions in the tables, compared with last year when there were only 29 UK institutions in the top 200. While the US remains the world leader when it comes to elite universities, its dominance has been eroded this year. It has six of the top 10 universities - down from seven last year - and 39 of the top 100 - down from 45 last year. There is a mixed picture for Asia, with Japan and South Korea falling back this year and China remaining steady. Europe is catching up on the dominance of the Anglo-American universities, with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich being the first institution from outside the US and UK to make the world top 10
in a decade. Germany has 20 universities in the top 200 and the Netherlands has 12 and there are five from France, while Spain and Italy each have three. Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education world university rankings, said: “The UK is a stand-out performer in this year’s rankings, boasting an impressive 78 institutions overall, with 34 of these sitting in the top 200. “However, despite the UK’s success, its continued cuts in higher education funding - the Higher Education Funding Council for England received a £150 million budget slash this year - and series of immigration measures affecting overseas students, will hinder its performance in the long run.
Janaih Rattray (l.) and her sister Delesia with the doll.
British police smash their way into locked car to rescue doll British police smashed their way into a locked car to rescue a trapped baby — only to discover it was in fact a doll. Janaih Rattray, 10, left her toy, a doll named Ryan, on the seat of her sister Delesia’s Vauxhall Corsa which was parked outside a hospital. And after a passerby spotted the doll, police were called to the parking lot of Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, England. Two officers decided to take urgent action after
mistaking the “extremely lifelike” doll for a real infant. The Rattray family were stunned when they returned to their vehicle at 1 p.m. on Sept. 14 and found the back window broken with a note to call police. Delesia, 20, said the officers should have realized the doll wasn’t real,according to Mirror Online. The criminology student said she was shocked to find the window smashed with a note to call the cops.
October 3 - 9, 2015
29
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
World News
Oregon gunman, who killed nine, committed suicide
Nicknamed “Mayor Showoff” Lidiana Leite frequently posted pictures of herself drinking champagne and travelling in luxury cars with money she swindled from the town.
Fugitive Brazil mayor hands herself in LIDIANA Leite, the fugitive 25-year-old mayor of the Brazilian town of Bom Jardim, has turned herself in to police after more than a month on the run. Police were searching for Ms Leite, whom prosecutors accuse of embezzling funds from the school system. She became infamous for posting pictures of herself in glamorous locations while running the town remotely through WhatsApp. She walked into a police station in the state capital Sao Luis on Monday. Brazilian media nicknamed her “Mayor Showoff” after she frequently posted pictures of herself drinking champagne and travelling in luxury cars. Prosecutors allege that she financed
her lifestyle through her involvement in a scheme which siphoned money off funds intended for school meals. Investigators say they have evidence that some $4m (£2.6m) in funds for Bom Jardim’s schools went missing. Teachers did not get paid and the town’s already precarious education system collapsed. Ms Leite entered politics after her boyfriend at the time, Beto Rocha, was banned from running for office because of corruption allegations. She stepped in and got elected as mayor of Bom Jardim, in the impoverished north-eastern state of Maranhao, in 2013. Ms Leite chose Mr Rocha as her main adviser, and delegated many tasks to him, according to her lawyer.
Man gets manicure, robs Philadelphia nail salon at gunpoint POLICE are on the hunt for a groomed gunman who was caught on camera robbing a nail salon in Philadelphia after getting a manicure. The cuticle-free criminal was captured on surveillance video whipping out a sawed-off shotgun after getting his nails done and rummaging through drawers for money as terrified workers cowered behind their desks. Philadelphia police say the suspect shouted, “Give me the money!” before he fled Rockland Nails about 5 p.m. on Sunday. He had sat for an entire manicure
session and pulled out the gun when he was asked to pay, authorities said. The 6-foot-tall stocky man grabbed an unknown amount of money. No one was injured. There were four nail technicians inside the salon at the time. The suspect is described as a black male, about 30 to 40 years old, and has a salt-and-pepper coloured beard. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, a dark baseball cap, dark pants and black-and-white sneakers. (NYDailynews)
The cause of death of Chris HarperMercer, the shooter behind the deadly rampage at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, was suicide, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said Saturday. Nine people were killed and nine others injured in Thursday's shooting. The gunman reportedly gave his writings to a survivor and told the person to give them to police, law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation said. They could not confirm whether the writings were in a box. The writing portrayed the shooter as identifying with perpetrators of past shooting rampages, investigators said, including Elliot Rodger, who killed six people last year in Santa Barbara, California. Harper-Mercer expressed frustration that other mass killers did not take on police and vowed he would kill them along with others, law enforcement officials said. The nine victims ranged in age from 18 to 67, Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said. Those killed are Lucero Alcaraz, 19; Treven Taylor Anspach, 20; Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18; Quinn Glen Cooper, 18; Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, 59; Lucas Eibel, 18; Jason Dale Johnson, 34; Lawrence Levine, 67; and Sarena Dawn Moore, 44. Ages of Umpqua's students vary widely. Of its 13,600 students, the average age was 38 during the 20132014 school year.
Investigators say that Harper-Mercer identified with perpetrators of past shooting rampages.
Investigators found 13 firearms connected to the shooter, said Celinez Nunez of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Five pistols and one rifle were found at the college, where the shooter killed himself on Thursday after a gunbattle with police. Police searched his apartment and found two pistols, four rifles and a shotgun, she said. All the guns were legally obtained by the shooter or family members over the past three years through a federally licensed firearms dealer, she said. A flak jacket was found next to a rifle at the school with five magazines of ammunition, Nunez
said. Additional ammunition was found at the residence. Authorities are not providing a motive for America's latest mass killing, but details are emerging on the shooter. "He was a little odd, like sensitive to things," said Rebecca Miles, who took a theater class with him. The shooter served in the Army from November to December of 2008 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, but was "discharged for failing to meet the minimum administrative standards," the Pentagon said. He attended El Camino College in Torrance, California, from 2010 to 2012, according to a college spokesman.
Deadly Afghan hospital attack in Kunduz possibly criminal - UN AIR strikes on a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz that killed 19 people were "tragic, inexcusable and possibly even criminal", the UN human rights chief says. High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein urged a full and transparent investigation into the attack. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said at least 12 of its staff and seven patients were killed. US forces were carrying out air strikes at the time. At least 37 people were seriously injured, 19 of them MSF staff. "All indications currently point to the bombing being carried out by international Coalition forces," MSF said. The NATO alliance has admitted its forces may have hit the hospital. High Commissioner Zeid said: "International and Afghan military planners have an obligation to respect and protect civilians at all times, and medical facilities and personnel are the object of a special
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said at least 12 of its staff and seven patients were killed.
protection. "These obligations apply no matter whose air force is involved, and irrespective of the location." MSF said that all parties to the conflict, including Kabul and Washington, had been told the precise GPS co-ordinates of the hospital on many occasions, including on 29
September. In a statement, the charity said all indications pointed to the bombing being carried out by international coalition forces. It reported that from 02:08 until 03:15 local time, the hospital was hit by a series of aerial bombing raids at approximately 15-minute intervals.
30
Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate
Classifieds TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 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
FOR SALE
Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
ALBERT HIGGS Is looking for a
BLUE MOUNTAIN WATER
Berthalee Belle Requires a
Requires the following:
Labourer Salesman
Domestic labourer Worker To work 6 days Between the ages 11419
CHAMPIONS FOR CHRIST Is looking for a
of 30-45. Salary $800.00 per month.
Contact 241-6246
Contact: 649-941-5613 or drop off CV’s at the office #32 Universal Drive, Providenciales 11442
11447
per week salary $6.25 per hour. contact: 649-341-1683
Must be fit and willing to work weekends. Must be able to speak and write Creole and English to liaise with all customer seekers. Demonstrated track record required. Belonger Only Need Apply
EMILY FORBES Is looking to a
ALBERT HIGGS Is looking for a
maintenance/ handyman to work 5 days per week salary $6.00 per hour send resumes to: Executive Board Champions for Christ International School of Excellence #1145 Leeward Highway Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Email: Championsforchristtci @gmail.com
Contact: 649-339-4903
11418
farmer To work 5 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
contact: 243-1257
laboUrer To work 6 days
per week salary $6.25 per hour. contact: 649-341-1683
11419
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
FRAMING & ART Is looking for the following:
HEWDEN BASSETT Is looking for a
LEOCADIO JIMENEZ Is looking for a
domestic domestic Domestic worker worker To work 6 days Contact: 231-4101
11400
contact: 241-0076
11445
To work 6 days per week
To work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
per week salary $6.25 per hour
contact: 2418795 or 342-2803 11403
GTC LIMITED / BELLA LUNA
COOK
• Must have 5 years experience on the line with Italian Cuisine • Must be willing to work weekends, evenings and holidays • Must be available 6 nights a week • Must speak, read and write English • Must work well with others and work well under pressure • Must have a clean police record Salary $8.00 per hour
DISH WASHER/ KITCHEN HELPER
• Must be willing to work weekends, evening and holidays • Must be available 6 nights a week • Must speak English • Must have a clean police record Salary $7.00 per hour Closing date for application is October 10th, 2015 Belonger only need apply
Contact: 331-6763 for an interview Please send all applications to P.O. Box 543
CASABLANCA CASINO Is looking to fill the following positions:
WAITRESS Salary $11.00 per hour
LABORER/ KITCHEN HELPER Salary $10.00 per hour
LABOURER Salary $6.25 per hour
• All candidates must have at least 2-4 years’ experience • Must be willing to work night shifts on weekends and holidays Please drop off CV’s at Casablanca Casino addressed to Human Resource
11417
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos
MMK CONSULTANCY Acting on behalf of our client is looking to fill the following position:
Hospitality Manager A luxury property management company is presently considering applications for a Hospitality Manager. The successful applicant will be responsible and accountable for the overall management of villa rental properties as well as new rental properties presently under development. The successful candidate must possess a proven ability to establish productive industry Partnerships and relate to people at all levels of business and management. He/She must be equally capable of working independently as well as part of a team.
Salespersons
Workers Framer
CLASSIFIEDS 31
Preference will be given to an individual with a least 5 years’ experience in 5 star resort hotel and especially to those who have also worked in the management of private luxury villas in the Caribbean. Experience in reservations, front office and hotel management are all essential pre-requisite requirements of this position.
Such responsibilities and accountabilities include: • Reservations – At least 3 years’ experience in reservations required including: Weekly forecasting, handling VIP reservations, conducting property tours, stays, training of reservation staff. • Front office and hotel management experience. At least 5 years’ experience working in a 5 star resort property. • Sales & Marketing Exploring new potential business partners. Organizing sales trips & travel agent visits. • Refining and or setting up management systems/protocols for villa staff. Standardizing service procedures. • Implementation of an employee handbook • Overseeing the concierge manager • Training and interviewing potential staff, monthly performance reviews, staff motivation • Assisting with the pre-opening of other new development projects • Conducting villa inspections • Reporting to owners and ensuring their requirements are met. • Ensuring that the GSD’s are up to date and relevant. • Hosting VIP and travel agent visits A competitive salary will be commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications.
Interested persons should apply in writing with personal details and a full current resume showing education, qualification and career experience to date by October 16th to tcielite2015@gmail.com or contact: 649-231-6991.
11440
32 CLASSIFIEDS
CARIBBEAN CAFÉ/ PEARL’S RESTAURANT & BAR/ DOLPHIN’S SPORTS BAR/ KEW TOWN BAR & GRILL
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
E.L. CONSTRUCTION
Is looking for the following:
N.H. CLEANING SERVICES Is looking for a
PABLO BARBER SHOP
NATASHA CONSULTANCY
Acting on behalf of our clients:
Is looking for the following:
is looking for the following:
Contact: 331-6364
– $6.25 per hour Must be able to work 6 days per week.
contact: 231-6153
contact: 241-5678
RBC ROYAL BANK (BAHAMAS) LIMITED
Maid
2 Barbers 2 Hair Stylists
Contact: 242-4684 DWAYNE TAYLOR
Gardener Contact: 231-2015 HOPEY’S BAR
Bartender Contact: 231-7036
contact: 247-0187
DARIK & ANDREA RIGGS
ELITE GAMING
Is looking for a
Bar Supervisor
Is presently considering applications for:
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
The successful candidate should possess the following qualifications: • 3 or more years banking experience • ABIFS/AICB Diploma or a degree in banking or a related field would be an asset • Previous experience as a Lending Officer is mandatory
contact: 243-3431Deni
Required Skills • Negotiating/Selling Skills • Problem Account Management • Knowledge of Financial Analysis and risk assessment • Critical Thinking • Time Management • Relationship building/Planning/Organizing/Closing Sales • Effectively manage risk • Impact and Influence • Ability to manage multiple priorities • Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills • Microsoft Office Proficiency (Outlook, Word, Excel)
Domestic Worker
To work 6 days per week Remuneration is $6.25 per hour.
Contact: 232-2235
11429
Relationship Manager MAID/ – Business Banking HELPER Turks & Caicos Islands
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour 11423
Salary $10.00 per hour
Labourer
To work 6 days per week must have experience with harsh chemicals salary $6.25 per hour.
ALCIDAS A. GARDINER
11424
Mason Carpenter
– $8.50 per hour
11431
KPW CONSTRUCTION
Welder Cleaner 11387
Barmaids Waitresses Salary $6.25 per hour
Is looking for a
to work 6 days per week salary $7.00 per hour must be able to work shift work, nights weekends and holidays.
contact: 649-3316074 or email: elitetci@gmail.com 11430
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos
Responsibilities Include: • Responsible for retaining and growing relationships with Business Banking (BB) clients, contributing to the strategic priorities of Sales Volume and Revenue Growth and improving the Client Experience. • Responsible for the on boarding of products and services for existing and new clients, identifying, referring and fulfilling on new opportunities as appropriate, promoting collaboration amongst Business Banking relationship team and partners. • Providing direct support to Business Banking clients with all lending and non-lending activities. • Developing a strong knowledge of client’s operational requirements in order to provide financial solutions (primarily Cash Management and Deposit Solutions) that add value to the customer’s needs and goals, while driving revenue growth. • Providing credit and sales support for Relationship Manager (RM) to enable the identification, planning and delivery of solutions for client and prospect needs. • Effectively supports the RM with their assigned portfolio of accounts and participation in all aspects of portfolio credit management including, but not limited to, preparation of annual reviews at an acceptable level of risk and assisting with the compilation of documentations required in the origination/booking of deals. Responsibility and accountability for final sign off will rest with the RM with regard to the completion of BBTR/RAF. • Being the service champion for BB clients including coordination of the service team, focusing on ensuring the client experience in delivered effectively through appropriate service partners. • Acting as the Problem Resolution champion leveraging appropriate partners to resolve client concerns. A competitive compensation package (base salary & bonus) will be commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications. Interested persons should apply by September 28, 2015 and follow the steps below: • Go to jobs.rbc.com • Type Turks in the search by location box • Then select Search Jobs • Select the role you wish to apply for
EVENTS COORDINATOR/ FLORAL DESIGNER • Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Floral Designer with proper certification • Must have extensive knowledge on different flowers, foliage and potted plants • Must be able to know the names, seasonal availability and how long the plants will stay fresh • Must also be up-to-date on the current fashions and styles in floral design while at the same time understand the traditions of using certain flowers for weddings, funerals and other occasions • Applicants must be willing to work outdoors for set up and weddings with irregular hours in doing so • Applicants must have a comprehensive knowledge of QuickBooks Enterprise and have an outgoing personality who enjoys working with the public Starting salary $1,500.00 per month Please drop all applications to Flowers by Environmental Arts located at U102 Venture House, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales or email to:
admin@environmentalarts.tc
11415
Successful applicants will be notified by phone for an interview
11427
October 3 - 9, 2015
JEAN JOSEPH ERILIEN
MMK CONSULTANT Acting on behalf of our clients is looking to fill the following positions:
-8 Labourers
mason To work 6 days per week salary $8.00 per hour.
11407
contact: 342-5808
KKPNT’S CAR RENTAL
-1 Auto Body Repairman -3 Receiving Agents -1 Bookkeeper
OASIS RESORT GRACE BAY
-3 Receiving Agents -3 Housekeepers BLUE HAVEN LTD.
-Butler
Salary $6.25 per hour
C & S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Cook Waitress Salary $6.25 per hour.
Contact: 242-0521 contact: 241-5922
Ricardo Fulford Consultant Services on behalf of his clients: Claude Joseph is seeking employment for the following:
1) Green Keeper
Interested candidate may contact 241-2512 for further details regarding employment. George Stacy Allen Chambers is seeking employment for the following:
1) Labourer
Interested candidate may send their application through ricardofulford@gmail.com regarding employment. Flamingo Variety Store is seeking employment for the following: Interested candidate may contact
241-3943 for further details regarding employment. "B" Beauty & Health Spa is seeking employment for the following:
1) Cosmetologist
3) Labourer
Interested candidate may send their application through ricardofulford@gmail.com regarding employment.
And IN THE MATTER of a Declaration by the H.E Governor that PARCEL NOS. 50307/9, 18-20, & 50402/123, 142, 158, 159 & 161, situate at BOTTLE CREEK, NORTH CAICOS In the Turks and Caicos Islands are likely to be acquired for a public purpose.
CLEANER
Labourer to work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
contact: 331-9801
Skills and Requirements: - English Language - Communication Skills - Customer and Personal Service - Clean to Detail - 5 Year Experience
Send Resume : steve@ lvaresort.com Or drop it off at Sales Office 107 Turtle Cove Dr, Turtle Cove, Providenciales 11416
Job Fair Interhealth Canada TCI Cheshire Hall Medical Centre Wednesday 7th October 2015 4p.m. – 8p.m.
Immigration and Labour Consultant President of Ricardo Fulford Consultant Services ricardofulford@gmail.com (649) 346-1125
ACQUISITION ORDINANCE CAP 78
Hires
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
Ricardo Fulford
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS DECLARATION OF ACQUISITION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 (1) OF THE LAND
LVA Management Ltd.
Is looking for a
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
Interested candidate may send their application through ricardofulford@gmail.com regarding employment. Ricardo Fulford Immigration and Labour Consultant, Turks and Caicos Islands, Cel: 1(649)346-1125 Danny Buoys is seeking employment for the following:
KST WATER SPORTS
Acting on behalf of our clients is looking to fill the following positions
11429
Is looking for a
1) Cashier
CLASSIFIEDS 33
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, Providenciales, are currently looking for customer focused, driven, dedicated persons to join the Facilities Management Team. Full time vacancies are currently available in the following departments: • • • • • •
Porters $8.00 per hour Housekeeping/Domestic Assistants $6.25 per hour Catering Assistants $6.25 per hour Trainee Catering Manager* Team Leaders & Supervisors for all services* Mechanical & Electrical Engineers *
(Uniform, training, 3 weeks minimum paid annual leave, and subsidised meals, are available with all posts). Successful candidates will meet the following criteria: • Have relevent experience in the field they have applied for, preferably within the Healthcare field • Be able to work 40 hours per work • Shift patterns and weekend working apply • Have excellent English, both spoken and written • Have a clean Police Record • Must be a Turks Islander or have Permanent Residency Status • Work permit holders need not apply *Salary dependant on qualifications and experience Please bring with you: • • • • •
List of 3 references Resume NHIP Card/NIB Card TCI Status Card Police Check (no more that 6 months old)
The Facilities Team look forward to meeting with you. 11448
34 CLASSIFIEDS
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
MMK CONSULTANT Acting on behalf of our client is looking to fill the following position:
BUTLER
vacancies Ocean Club Management is looking for qualified applicants for the following vacancies, to begin work immediately:
Housekeeper Housekeeping Inspectress Houseman Property Services Attendant Property Services Supervisor Gardener All applicants must be able to speak English fluently, and be able to present a clean Police Record if offered a position. Individuals must be willing to work holidays and weekends on a flexible schedule dictated by business demands. Preference will be given to someone with previous resort experience. Wage commensurate with experience.
Please drop off resumes at Ocean Club to the attention of the Human Resource Manager, or via email to diane@oceanclubresorts.com Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.
11433
RBC ROYAL BANK (BAHAMAS) LIMITED is presently considering applications for:
Country & Branch Manager – Turks & Caicos Branch
The successful candidate should possess the following qualifications:
• 10 or more years banking experience • Minimum – Bachelor's Degree in Banking or a related field • Previous experience as a Lending Officer is mandatory
Key Skills: • • • • • • • • • •
Strong Leadership & Coaching In-depth Credit knowledge of Personal and Business lending Problem Account Management Bank Operations, Policies & Procedures Strong communication skills (oral and written) Negotiating/Selling Skills Relationship building & People Skills Good judgement Effectively Manage Risk Microsoft Office Proficiency
Is looking for a
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $1,750 per month.
Kitchen Helper
Contact: 649-242-0521
contact: 649-941-8282
to work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
11456
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos
REQUIRED AT NORTH CAICOS
EXPERIENCED CARPENTER/LABOURER Experienced carpenter/labourer required for full time work at, North Caicos. Must be willing to work six days a week. A demonstrated ability to work unsupervised with excellent communication skills is essential for the position. Salary is $6.00 per hour. Please apply no later than 14th October, 2015 at royann_30@hotmail.com or contact on telephone No. 231 3967/946 7761. . Belongers only need apply.
SAMUEL WILSON Is looking for a
laboUrer To work 6 days
per week salary $6.25 per hour. contact: 649-342-2511
11441
MMK CONSULTANT Acting on behalf of our client is looking to fill the following position:
QUALIFIED AUDIO VISUAL TECHNICIANS REQUIRED
Key Responsibilities:
• Provides overall leadership and management of the branch, team sales objectives, and related activities • Achieves a high standard of customer care, optimal business retention, profitable growth and productivity • Ensures high credit quality and full compliance to the bank’s lending guidelines • Develops RBC and community relationships to capitalize on business opportunities • Provides ongoing coaching and development of staff, ensuring a high level of employee commitment and capability through focused management routines • Grows both the business and personal client relationship • Balances the rewards of meeting business objectives with the risk of loss to the customer, employee and shareholder • Ensures effective corporate governance oversight by adherence to all the bank’s policies and producers
Experienced audio Visual Technicians required on a part-time basis must have the following attributes: • Minimum of 10 years’ experience in electronics and audio visual systems • Design experience in complex and large audio visual systems • Imaging Science Foundation Certified • THX Certified • Capable of installing complete systems including planning and installing all wiring • System testing, calibration and verification experience • Debugging and troubleshooting experience to deliver a zero defect system • Production of as built manuals and user guides • A successful track record in installing Crestron Systems and have a proven relationship with Crestron suppliers The following Crestron Certifications are required for the successful candidate • Studio • Essentials/ Installer • Certification track P101,P102 and P103 • D3 Pro • Level 111 Certification Candidates will be willing to work flexible hours, weekends and holidays but the work schedule may be changed and will be mainly part-time. Hourly pay dependent on experience
A competitive compensation package (base salary & bonus) will commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications. Interested persons should apply by October 2nd, 2015 and follow the steps below: • • • •
Jimmy’s Dive Bar
Go to jobs.rbc.com Type Turks in the search by location box Then select Search Jobs Select the role you wish to apply for
Suitable qualified and experienced candidates to apply to: tcielite2015@gmail.com 11434
11439
CLASSIFIEDS 35
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Required for well established wine ad spirits distribution company in Providenciales In addition to supervisory and organizational roles, duties include: product purchasing & sales, sourcing & dealing with suppliers, organizing promotional events, and customer service/ social media. Candidates must satisfy the following requirements: • Sommelier experience in restaurants and hotels (4-5 Stars) and experience in customer service role in the hotel/ leisure/ retail sector • Extensive knowledge of wines, spirits and beer
• Exemplary employment/ work record with supervisory and organizational skills/ experience • Fluent in English language and excellent communication skills • Fluency in French preferred for contact with suppliers • Passion and commitment to delivering exceptional levels of customer service • Sales experience and experience in sourcing and dealing with suppliers • Good grooming standards • Valid driver’s license and own vehicle • Social media skills • Strive to achieve company targets
Salary commensurate with experience. Please email cover letter and resume to recrute50@gmail.com 11455
We are currently seeking to employ a
LABOURER
who will be responsible for the daily maintenance of the building and its surroundings salary is in the range of $6.25 per hour all applicants must possess a valid driver’s license • Willing to work with little or no supervision • Must be willing to work weekends and holidays
RENT A BUGGY LTD.
RENTAL SALES AGENT complete deposit slip and place money in safe. • Enter and maintain information in location logs • Maintain cleanliness of the rental office area and perform associated duties • Complete car exchange requests in computer system • Perform related responsibilities as assigned or required
handyman
labourer To work 6 days
Is looking for a
tire repairman To work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
contact: 232-7177
To work 6 days per week salary. $6.25 per hour.
contact: 431-1847
Is looking for a
per week salary $6.25 per hour.
contact: 244-1821
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Porter cleans vehicles inside and out (vehicles may be cleaned by hand or by operating washing equipment). The Porter also performs regular maintenance inspection, moves vehicles, and performs other duties assigned by the manager, all completed in a safe and timely manner. • Wash, dry, and vacuum all vehicles • Shine tires, clean windows, wheels, dashboards, door jams • Check spare tires • Park vehicles in proper locations
• Ensure security of vehicles – doors locked, windows closed • Check cars for damage • Top off washer fluid and oil in vehicles • Maintains the cleanliness of the car wash area • Maintenance of the car wash area • Washing and drying of towels and rags • Assist in drop off and pick up of vehicles • Other duties as assigned Salary $286.00 per week (Based off $6.50 per hour @ 44 hours)
Contact: 649-946-4158
11404
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos
TRAINING AND EDUCATION • A high school diploma is sufficient to be eligible for this positions, however a college degree or previous training will provision the candidate to excel to management positions • WORKING CONDITIONS • Working conditions are generally carried out on or off location at Rent A Buggy, conditions vary pending on customer arrangements Salary $352.00 per week (based off $8.00 per hour @ 44 hours) 11405
PORTS AUTHORITY OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
Qualified PADI/NAUI SCUBA Instructors Needed Successful candidate will be a PADI MSDT with current membership and insurance, resort operations experience including advanced level instruction, dive accident management, compressor maintenance, equipment and engine maintenance and repair. Captain’s license and STCW95 qualification preferred, or applicant must be willing to train. This is a tourism related job and will include all aspects of the company’s daily routine including but not limited to, teaching all levels of instruction, guiding dives, boat and vehicle operations and working the front office. The work schedule will include weekends, public holidays and occasional night dives. Starting Salary $380 - $500 per week based on experience and qualifications. Contact David Volkert at 946-4232 or info@provoturtledivers.com Positions available starting November 1 2015. Please submit applications before October 16, 2015
H & C CONSTRUCTION
PORTER/ LABORER
• Must be able to drive a manual vehicle and a range of vehicles including buses • Must be computer literate • Must be courteous at all times • Must be willing to carry out duties assigned • Must have excellent customer service skills BELONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY
Contact: 649-946-4158
TCI TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
RENT A BUGGY LTD.
Please submit all applications between 8am-5pm Monday – Friday at Bayview Motors Ltd., Leeward Highway, Providenciales or via email at hr@tciautogroup.com 11434
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: • Greet customers, complete necessary rental or pickup information, disclose rates, terms and conditions of rental and obtain customer signatures while using effective sales techniques to encourage customers to utilize service options> • Receive telephone calls and handle customer related issues, direct other phone calls to appropriate personnel or take messages • Complete, review and submit various reports to supervisor • Maintain and update rental agreement files, contract and notify customers of overdue rental vehicles and inquire as to the expected date of return, proves rental extensions • Balance money in counter drawers, retrieve amount of money collected during shift,
Is looking for a
11452
SUNRISE RENTALS LTD.
VAN’S TIRE SHOP
11444
ASSISTANT MANAGER
11432
October 3 - 9, 2015
11438
NOTICE The Ports Authority of the Turks & Caicos hereby give notice of its intent to dispose of a vessel that appears to be derelict and un-saleable in accordance with Section 21 (5) of the Ports Authority Ordinance 2009. Any person interested in the removal and disposal of this vessel must file such interest with the Director of Ports (Acting) no later than noon October 16th, 2015. For further details please contact the Ports Authority at the below address. Dated September 30th, 2015 DIRECTOR OF PORTS SOUTH DOCK, PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TELEPHONE: 649-941-8950 AND FAX NUMBER: 649-941-4262 DBEEN@PORTS.TC
11446
The Law Firm of STANFIELD GREENE
Attorney
Is looking for a
To work 6 days bartender/ per week salary waitress To work 6 days $7.00 per hour. per week 6:30pm – 12:30am salary contact: $6.25 per hour 941-4411 contact: 331-8034
Applicants should have at least 20 years’ post qualification experience with a strong background in the drafting of commercial documents and in civil and commercial advocacy. Court of Appeal and Privy Council experience would be an asset. Remuneration is negotiable and based on experience. Applicants should apply by sending their resume or CV to:
11454
11421
Y & B SALON
CAICOS OIL LTD.
ADVERTISE
CALL 946-4664
Interested persons should submit their resume along with a cover letter to the following: The Manager Caicos Oil Ltd., P.O. Box 653, South Dock Road, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands The deadline for receipt of all applications is October 16th, 2015 11413
VC REPAIRS Is looking for a
University College of Providenciales requires
ASSISTANT TUTOR & RECRUITER
labourer To work 6 days per week salary based on commission.
Is looking for a
This is a part-time position. A Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience of 2 – 5 years, good presentation skills, effective teaching strategies, Hospitality Industry knowledge, and certification as a Food Handler Instructor a must. • Minimum Experience: 2 years Salary: Hourly, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Is looking for a
domestic worker
hairdresser
contact: 347-4526
contact: 231-0882
To work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour
11408
$33
Cleaning and maintaining of yard and help with the loading and offloading of fuel tankers. Assist with warehouse duties. Must be willing to work weekends, and some holidays. WAGES/SALARY: 7.50 per hour.
PER WEEK
WILFREY & TONY BEAUTY SALON
SOUTH DOCK ROAD, PROVIDENCIALES TEL: (649) 941-7872 / 941-7873 FAX: (649) 941-7874
LABOURER
ONLY
Is looking for
labourer
To join its Civil/Commercial practice.
STANFIELD GREENE PO Box 481, Graceway House Building A, Suite 201, Leeward Highway Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands ATTENTION: Clayton S. Greene Email: csg@stanfieldgreene.com Belongers only need apply. Only those Applicants that will be interviewed will be contacted.
WINE & SPRITE NIGHT CLUB
WALKIN FUEL
Is seeking one (1) suitably qualified
IN THIS SPACE!
October 3 - 9, 2015
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
To work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
The Meridian Club, Turks & Caicos.
JOB OPPORTUNITY The Meridian Club on Pine Cay seeks a friendly, motivated person with a passion to serve others to join our Front Desk Team. The ideal candidate will have computer knowledge; Word, Excel and Quick Books a plus. Accommodations provided during work days.
Send resume to hr@ucp.tc
Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Qualified candidates should email a CV to reservations@meridianclub.com and copy manager@meridianclub.com . on or before September 23rd ,2015.
TURKS AND CAICOS AGGRESSOR II
TURKS AND CAICOS AGGRESSOR II
contact: 241-6398
11420
Open Water Scuba Diving Instructors / Engineers
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 cladaggressor@ gmail.com or call 941-7825 11280
11449
36 CLASSIFIEDS
Head Chef
REQUIREMENTS AS FOLLOW: • Min of 3 years experience as head chef, at least one years experience onboard a boat • Be prepared to carry out other duties onboard as directed by the Captain • Computer Literate • STCW95 Complaint, current or within six months • 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 cladaggressor@ gmail.com or call 941-7825 10366
October 3 - 9, 2015
37
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology
‘Good bacteria’ key to stopping asthma BEING exposed to “good bacteria” early in life could prevent asthma developing, say Canadian scientists. The team, reporting in Science Translational Medicine, were analysing the billions of bugs that naturally call the human body home. Their analysis of 319 children showed they were at higher risk of asthma if four types of bacteria were missing. Experts said the “right bugs at the right time” could be the best way of preventing allergies and asthma. In the body, bacteria, fungi and viruses outnumber human cells 10 to one, and this
“microbiome” is thought to have a huge impact on health. The team, at the University of British Columbia and the Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, compared the microbiome at three months and at one year with asthma risk at the age of three. Children lacking four types of bacteria - Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Veillonella, and Rothia (Flvr) - at three months were at high risk of developing asthma at the age of three, based on wheeze and skin allergy tests. The same effect was not noticed in the microbiome of one-year-olds, suggesting that
the first few months of life are crucial. Further experiments showed that giving the bacterial cocktail to previously germ-free mice reduced inflammation in the airways of their pups. One of the researchers, Dr Stuart Turvey, said: “Our longer-term vision would be that children in early life could be supplemented with Flvr to look to prevent the ultimate development of asthma “I want to emphasise that we are not ready for that yet, we know very little about these bacteria, [but] our ultimate vision of the future would be to prevent this disease.”
PUBLIC NOTICE BELONGER STATUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance)
Take Notice that I, PETER BECKINGHAM, Governor of Turks and Caicos in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3(2) of the Immigration Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to VARLAINE GRAY by virtue of marriage to a Belonger. PETER BECKINGHAM
Asthma is caused by airways that are more sensitive to irritation and inflammation. Cases have soared, and one in every 11 children in the UK is now diagnosed with asthma. One explanation for the rise in asthma and allergies is the “hygiene hypothesis”, which suggests that children are no longer exposed to enough microbes to calibrate the immune system to tell the difference between friend and
Experts said the “right bugs at the right time” could be the best way of preventing allergies and asthma.
foe. Giving birth by Caesarean section and not breast-feeding both limit the bacteria that
WALKIN & SON
are passed to a newborn. Antibiotics taken by a pregnant woman or newborn child can also change the microbiome.
ROBERT’S AGENCY
Is looking for a
Gardener To work 6 days per week salary $6.25 per hour.
contact: 941-8898 11422
is looking for the following:
3 Dive Masters 1 Mason 3 Domestic Workers 3 Laborers 1 Maid 3 Gardeners 1 Painter 1 Programmer/ Technician Contact: 241-2043 11425
Line Cook Skill Requirements:
PUBLIC NOTICE BELONGER STATUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance)
Take Notice that I, PETER BECKINGHAM, Governor of Turks and Caicos in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3(2) of the Immigration Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MARCELINE DUCASSE ELLIS by virtue of marriage to a Belonger. PETER BECKINGHAM
Must possess at least 3 years previous experience cooking on the hot line in a professional kitchen. Cook lunch and dinner items to order to customer’s specification in a high-pressure environment to include, but not limited to: • Cooking meats to temperature such as hamburgers and steaks • Produce salads, sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, burritos, fajitas and other Tex - Mex items that appear on the menu at Somewhere Café and Lounge. Assist with prepping of foods for service by following recipe standards. Strong knife skills are required and proper sanitation practiced to produce high quality food that accurately represents the Café. Work with other kitchen staff members to execute food, prioritize steps, and contribute to the overall team atmosphere of the kitchen. Participate in daily cleaning duties as per scheduled by the Chef to maintain a clean safe environment for all employees to work in. Cook on the line, during service in a high-pressure environment, executing food to order in an ala minute kitchen according to the ticket in a timely manner. Must be able to read tickets, prioritize steps, and respond quickly to keep up the pace of the kitchen. Be able to stand on ones feet for 8 hours and be comfortable lifting 25 pounds or more without physical restrictions. Be available to work holidays and weekends with a flexible schedule. Belongers given preference.
To be considered, please submit CV, status and referrals to: chefamy@somewherecafeandlounge.com or apply in person at Somewhere Café and Lounge, Coral Gardens Resort
11410
38
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 3 - 9, 2015
Science & Technology
If Alien life is lurking on Mars, it will most likely be in the form of tiny microorganisms.
We’ve found water on Mars, but finding life still won’t be easy NASA’s announcement that liquid water flows on the surface of Mars has reignited enthusiasm over the possibility of alien life on our planetary neighbor. Liquid water is essential for life to exist here on Earth, and knowing that H20 is flowing on the Red Planet strengthens the odds that extraterrestrial life exists somewhere on Mars, as well. Now more than ever, NASA wants to send probes to the Martian surface to find out for sure. “Our quest on Mars has been to ‘follow the water,’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected,” John Grunsfeld, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement. Any alien life lurking on Mars will most likely be in the form of tiny microorganisms — not complex biological beings like the ones on our planet. That means finding these aliens is going to be tricky; they will probably be quite small and simple, hiding inside soil samples or hard to reach places. They could look like microbes here on Earth, or they may look like nothing we’ve ever seen before. To confirm the existence of such creatures, NASA and other research institutions are developing numerous technologies to search for biosignatures on Mars. A biosignature is any substance with a biologic origin — whether that be a one-million-year-old fossil or a living microbe. Some of these bio-hunting instruments will be incorporated into future spacecraft, like NASA’s Mars 2020 rover or the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Mission. Others are still in development, looking to be incorporated into a future mission to the Red Planet. But despite this abundance of life detection technologies, it’s still extremely difficult to determine if something
is — or was — alive on another planet. There is no consensus on the best method for detecting life, and numerous hurdles stand in scientists’ way. One of the main issues is that most detection methods run the risk of cross-contamination. Any robot that’s sent to Mars is always going to have hitchhiking microbes from Earth along for the ride. NASA and other space agencies sterilise their hardware as much as possible before they’re sent into space, but microorganisms are resilient. A swab of NASA’s Curiosity rover revealed 377 strains of bacteria still on the spacecraft prior to launch. Further analysis showed that 11 percent of these strains can withstand UV exposure, freezing temperatures and pH extremes. So it’s likely that these tiny Earthlings survived Curiosity’s interstellar voyage and remain on the rover. That’s why many life detection instruments try to analyze a sample’s chemical components from afar. One such technique is Raman spectroscopy; it involves shining a low laser light on a sample of soil that’s more than 30 feet away. The laser excites the materials within the sample, causing their molecular bonds to vibrate. Organic bonds like those of carbon vibrate at different frequencies than other bonds, allowing researchers to determine if carbon is present in the sample. A Raman spectrometer is one of the many instruments that will be included on the Mars 2020 rover and the ExoMars Rover. “The whole idea is to do this sort of stand-off analysis — drive near to something and then analyze it before it gets too close.” Alison Olcott Marshall, an expert on Raman spectroscopy at the University of Kansas. “There’s potential that winds could blow things off the rover, but it mostly removes the issue of contamination.”
“The whole idea is to do this sort of stand-off analysis” Raman spectroscopy is also adept at distinguishing between organic compounds that were once alive and those that are living now. Living organisms usually contain diverse compounds of pigment, which give off different spectral signatures when hit by the laser. However, it’s harder for Raman spectroscopy to distinguish between fossils and carbon-based materials that were never alive. There’s also the issue of sensitivity. When examining samples from far away, it’s harder to guarantee the results than if the samples were examined up close. “I wouldn’t take a Raman as a definitive tool for life,” said Craig Marshall, Alison’s husband and research partner at the University of Kansas. “It’s very good to look at mineral composition and good to look at contemporary microbes. But it’s more of a screening technique.” It makes gathering direct samples a more attractive — and more definitive — method. Gary Ruvkun, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, maintains if we really want to find aliens on Mars we’re going to have to get over our fears of contamination and explore the so-called special regions. “Every interesting place on Mars is completely protected,” said Ruvkun.”I say let’s protect half of them, but let us have the other half of them to explore.” Ruvkin and his teams at MIT and Harvard are working on the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Genomes (SETG). The goal of their technology is to search for the true building blocks of life: DNA. “Looking for DNA is almost the standard way to look for life in extreme environments on Earth. If you go to some Arctic lake and want to know what’s there, the standard is to filter material, extract DNA, and do deep genome sequencing.” (TheVerge)
Dutch researchers have found that 75 percent of patients taking a daily dose of aspirin were still alive five years after being diagnosed with bowel, stomach, pancreatic and throat cancer.
New study claims aspirin could almost double cancer survival rate A new study has shown that aspirin almost doubles the survival chances of many cancer sufferers, offering renewed hope for those stricken with the disease. Dutch researchers have found that 75 percent of patients taking a daily dose of aspirin were still alive five years after being diagnosed with bowel, stomach, pancreatic and throat cancer. This compares with a 42 percent survival rate for those not taking aspirin. The latest findings back up numerous studies showing that the low-cost, anti-inflammatory painkiller also helps keep prostate, breast and lung cancer sufferers alive. Trial coordinator Dr Martine Frouws, who led the Dutch research involving 14,000 adults, said: “Given that aspirin is a cheap, offpatent drug with relatively few sideeffects, this will have a great impact on healthcare systems as well as patients. “Now, we’d like to analyse tumour material from these patients to try and discover which ones would benefit from aspirin treatment. “Through studying the characteristics of tumours in patients where aspirin was beneficial, we should be able to identify patients who could profit from such treatment in the future.” Patients in the study were generally taking low dose 80-100mg aspirin tablets which had been prescribed to prevent heart attacks. Forty-three percent had cancer of the colon, 25 percent of the rectum and 10 per cent of the oesophagus. The remainder had cancers of the stomach, pancreas and bile duct. The research by the Leiden University Medical Centre was presented by Dr Frouws at the
European Cancer Congress in Vienna at the weekend. The congress’s spokesman, Professor Nadir Arber, said: “Aspirin may serve as the magic bullet because it can target and prevent ischaemic heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, the three major health catastrophes in the third millennium.” Professor Peter Naredi, scientific co-chair of the Congress, said: “Dr Frouws and colleagues show that in more than 13,000 patients who were diagnosed with a gastrointestinal cancer, aspirin improved survival compared with those who did not use it. “We have good evidence that the frequent use of aspirin in the population can prevent some cases of bowel cancer. “With more data to support the beneficial role of aspirin, we must consider whether we should recommend it to a wider public.” A trial is now examining the effect of a daily dose of 80milligrams of aspirin on the survival of elderly patients with bowel cancer in Holland. An inexpensive and effective painkiller, aspirin works by reducing levels of prostaglandins, which cause discomfort, fever and swelling. The drug is also prescribed by doctors to prevent heart attacks and stops particles called platelets in the blood clumping together to form clots. A number of larger studies are currently taking place around the world testing the benefits of aspirin on cancer. Dr Frouws cautioned that until the results came back, it would not be safe for patients to take aspirin to treat or prevent the disease. (Caribbean360)
October 3 - 9, 2015
39
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology ViroCap test detects nearly all viruses that infect humans and animals
The new report answers one of the big questions of the Rosetta mission.
Rosetta’s ‘rubber duck’ comet was once two objects THE rubber duck-shaped comet being followed by Europe’s Rosetta probe used to be two separate objects. Scientists say pictures of 67P show its two lobes to have “onion skin” layers that intersect in a way that can only be the result of two different bodies having collided and stuck together. Ever since Rosetta arrived at the comet, the origin of its bizarre form has been one of the major puzzles. The solution is now due to be published in the journal Nature. Mission team members have also held a media conference to give further details, at the European Planetary Science Congress in Nantes, France. Rosetta first spied the duck shape on approach to 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko in July 2014. The idea that it was a “contact binary” - two conjoined comets was a popular explanation from the word go. But proving it has not been straightforward. An alternative possibility is simply that the icy dirt ball has been sculpted this way. Every time it comes around the Sun, 67P’s ices warm and it throws off gas and dust, and it could have been that this process has dominated in just one region to produce the distinctive appearance. The Osiris camera on Rosetta can now settle the debate. It reveals layers up to 650m thick in the body of the duck that are independent of similar strata detected in its head. Additional measurements taken by Rosetta of variations in the local tug of gravity across the lobes also support this two-body origin. The direction of the tugging is more closely aligned with the independent layering than with a centre of mass associated with a single object. Scientists say that to collide and stick together, the impact must have been a very low velocity one perhaps just a few metres per second. Any faster and the primary objects would have done enormous damage to each other. “I would say it’s a quite beautiful
love story,” Matteo Massironi, from the Osiris team, said at Monday’s press briefing. He added that a key piece of evidence was a series of crosssections of the comet, which the team were able to construct by extending the layers glimpsed on the surface into a 3D model of 67P’s interior. These cross-sections painted a clear picture of two distinct sets of layers, reminiscent of a pair of onions. “You don’t know the structure of an onion until you cut across it,” Dr Massironi said. “What we have seen is that this stratification is really continuous - and that [the one in the tail] doesn’t match that of the head.” The discovery’s consequences for what we understand about comet formation could be quite profound, says team member Stephen Lowry from Kent University, UK. “It shows that comets were forming into large sizes and that they were then still colliding in this grown form to make even larger comets. So, it’s not simply a case of independent comets completely forming out of centimetre- or metre-sized planetesimals, to make the comets we see today. And that’s really quite fascinating, because it could be quite a ubiquitous process.” Other comets seen at relatively close quarters also display lobed shapes, including comets Halley, Borrelly and Hartley-2. Could they also be the result of low-velocity bump-and-stick events? The tantalising prospect now is whether what was once two objects could split into two again. Could the constant erosion of gas and dust result in the duck losing its head? And will Rosetta be on hand to witness it? The European Space Agency (Esa) probe has pictured a crack in the neck region of 67P, says Dr Lowry. “If a comet is going to split, it’s most likely to break along the interface between the two lobes. But I haven’t seen any evidence yet that the crack is getting longer or wider. That’s a strong indicator to me that perhaps 67P won’t split on this orbit of the Sun.” (BBC)
RESEARCHERS from the Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new test capable of detecting nearly all viruses known to infect humans and animals. The test could potentially help doctors diagnose infection regardless if they do not have a clue what they are looking for. The accuracy of the test called Virocap still needs to be tested in clinical trials so it may still take years before it can be used with patients but the technology is already made available to health service providers and researchers as it is being developed. Thousands of viruses cause illnesses in both people and animals and this makes diagnosis difficult sometimes requiring a range of different tests. Currently available tests are not sensitive enough for detecting low levels of viral bugs or can only detect viruses that are suspected of being the cause of a patient’s illness. What make Virocap different is that physicians do not have to know what they are searching for, said pediatrics professor Gregory Storch. He added that the test can be especially helpful in situations when a pathogen behind a disease outbreak is not known or when diagnosis continues to be elusive after standard tests. For their research, which they reported in a study published in
With Virocap, doctors do not have to know the virus that they are looking for making the new test valuable when the pathogen behind a disease is not known.
Genome Research on Sept. 22, 2015, Storch and colleagues evaluated the Virocap test in stool, blood and nasal secretions of 14 patients. Standard testing detected viruses in only 10 of the patients and failed to detect common viruses such as parechovirus, influenza B and herpes virus. The new test, though found the virus in the four patients that earlier testing with genome sequencing had
missed. “The test is so sensitive that it also detects variant strains of viruses that are closely related genetically,” said researcher Todd Wylie, a pediatrics instructor. “Slight genetic variations among viruses often can’t be distinguished by currently available tests and complicate physicians’ ability to detect all variants with one test.”
Some Earth-like planets around distant stars could protect life DISTANT planets in orbit around smaller stars probably possess magnetic fields from which they are shielded from radiation that is stellar, increasing chances of life evolving on them as it has on Earth, researchers say. Smaller low-mass stars known as M-class stars are a common type throughout the universe, and exoplanets orbiting those stars are simpler to detect and study, astronomers say. That’s because as they transit their star — that is, pass in front of it from Earth’s viewpoint — they block a larger amount of the star’s light than they would passing in front of a much larger star, they explain. However, the habitable zone for smaller, dimmer stars — the region in which an orbiting planet would receive the amount of heat that is necessary to keep life-friendly moisture in a liquid state on the surface — lies fairly close in. That raises a problem, possibly; any planet that close to the star could risk becoming tidally locked by the
Small planets dangerously close to their parent stars could still possess a magnetic field that could protect evolving life, astronomers say.
star’s great gravitational attraction, so that one side always faces the star — in the same way as our moon is gravitationally locked to the Earth. Those same gravitational tidal forces would also heat the
interior of the planet, which led to questions about the effect on such planets over time, explains Peter Driscoll, a geophysicist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C.
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Sports Interational FIFA bans Jack Warner for life FORMER FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was banned for life from football activities by FIFA, effective Friday. Warner is also facing extradition to the U.S. from his home country of Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, five of the nine current and former FIFA officials embroiled in an international racketeering and bribery investigation are either facing extradition or have been sent to the U.S. to face charges that could put them behind bars for years if they are convicted. Warner, who also faces bribery and racketeering charges in the U.S. probe, was banned by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee from both national and international football activities. According to a statement on FIFA’s website, the decision was made on the basis of investigations by the committee following its report on the 2018/2022 World Cup bidding process. “Warner was found to have committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different highranking and influential positions at FIFA and CONCACAF [FIFA’s governing body for the Caribbean, North and Central America],” the statement read. “In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes.”
Jack Warner, who also faces bribery and racketeering charges in the U.S. probe, was banned by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee from both national and international football activities.
Warner, a former political leader in Trinidad, was once a close ally of FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, who is facing an investigation by Swiss authorities over allegations that he undervalued the award of World Cup television broadcasting rights to Warner. Blatter was questioned in the matter on Friday, the Associated Press reported. Blatter has previously denied wrongdoing in connection with the Swiss probe. Swiss authorities announced Tuesday that former Costa Rican Football Federation President Eduardo Li was ordered extradited from Zurich, Switzerland, following his arrest on May 27 with six other FIFA leaders, including former
Vice President and Cayman Islands businessman Jeffrey Webb. According to U.S. court records, Li is alleged to have taken bribes in return for the sale of commercial rights for World Cup 2018 qualifiers to a U.S. sports marketing company. “Li massively influenced the competitive situation and distorted the market for media rights in connection with the World Cup qualifying matches,” according to the Swiss Federal Office of Justice statement. “Furthermore, among other things the Costa Rican Football Federation was prevented from negotiating marketing agreements which might have been more favorable.”
World No.1 out of China Open and WTA finals SHE’S dominated women’s tennis, won three out of four of this year’s grand slams and is the undisputed World No.1 -- but Serena Williams won’t be winning the year-end WTA finals. That’s because Williams announced that she is withdrawing from next week’s China Open and the forthcoming event in Singapore in a bid to allow her body to recover from a gruelling season. The 34-year-old hasn’t played since suffering a shock defeat to Roberta Vinci at the semifinal stage of the U.S. Open last month. “It’s no secret I’ve played injured most of the year -- whether it was my elbow, my knee, or, in the final moments after a certain match in Flushing, my heart,” Williams told the China Open website. “I’m a fierce competitor. And I want to compete as well as I can, for as long as I can. So I am taking a proactive step and withdrawing from tournaments in Beijing and Singapore to properly address my health and take the time to heal. “This is a very difficult decision but one ultimately made because of the love of the game. “I plan to return to practicing and participating in exhibition matches later this year. And when I do, l will focus and focus and focus so I can continue my journey in this beautiful game.”
The 34-year-old hasn’t played since suffering a shock defeat to Roberta Vinci at the semifinal stage of the U.S. Open last month.
Williams enjoyed a stellar 2015 -winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon to take her grand slam tally to 21. She lost just three matches out of 56 with the latest of those against Italy’s Vinci. The U.S. star is just behind Steffi Graf, who holds the record for the most grand slams in the Open era. Williams, who won the end of season finals in Singapore last year, will now concentrate on recuperating ahead of the new season.
Chelsea boss says ‘sack me but I won’t quit’ JOSE Mourinho said he will not quit as Chelsea manager and told the club they must sack him if they want to remove him. The Premier League champions lost 3-1 at home to Southampton, their fourth league defeat in eight games. “I want to make it clear. One, I don’t run away,” said Mourinho. “Two, if the club want to sack me they have to sack me because I am not running away from my responsibilities or my team.” Chelsea are 16th in the table, 10 points behind leaders Manchester City, who thrashed Newcastle 6-1. “To be champions now is very difficult because the distance is considerable,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “But I am more than convinced that we will finish in the top four and when the season is so bad if you finish in the top four it is OK. “Third - and I think this is even more important than the first and the second - it is a crucial moment in the history of this club. “You know why? Because if they
Jose Mourinho says if Chelsea wants to sack him as manager they could, but he would not run away from the responsibilities of his team.
sack me they sack the best manager this club had. “The message is again that bad results and the manager is guilty.” Chelsea took the lead through Willian but Steven Davis equalised before goals from Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle secured Southampton’s victory. The visitors were denied two penalties when Branislav Ivanovic
appeared to pull Virgil van Dijk’s shirt, while Ramires looked to have tripped Mane in the area. The home side also had a penalty appeal rejected by referee Robert Madley when Radamel Falcao went over the dive of keeper Martin Stekelenburg. “Look, I think you know me and I don’t run away from my responsibilities. First, I want to say because we are in such a bad moment you should not be afraid to be also honest,” said Mourinho. “The referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea. At 1-1, it is a huge penalty and once again we don’t get it. The penalty is a crucial moment in the game with the result 1-1. “If the Football Association wants to punish me they can. They don’t punish other managers. My players deserve it, Chelsea fans deserve it. I am a Chelsea fan too. “Referees are afraid to give decisions for Chelsea. Why? Because there is always a question mark from you [the media] and always a critic so we are always punished.
Amir Khan’s last fight was a points win over Chris Algieri in New York in May. If negotiations are successful he could be in the ring against Manny Pacquiao in early 2016.
Khan confident he would beat Pacquiao as fight negotiations continue AMIR Khan is confident he would beat Manny Pacquiao as a new year fight between the two edges ever closer. The Bolton welterweight has been in negotiations with his former gymmate about a clash in the early part of 2016. And he is confident he would inflict a second successive defeat on the Filipino after he was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in May. ‘I want to fight Manny Pacquiao.
Me and Manny have been friends for a long time but sometimes you have to put friendship to one side,’ he said. ‘We’ve done plenty of rounds in the ring together, sparring. No-one’s ever seen the sparring sessions, I haven’t leaked any videos. ‘We had the same trainer so as a storyline, it will be a great fight. With what I’ve learned in the last few years, I can definitely fight Manny Pacquiao, and beat Manny Pacquiao.’
October 3 - 9, 2015
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Sports Interational Wales one behind Brazil in FIFA rankings; Northern Ireland 35th WALES are one place behind Brazil after reaching an all-time high of eighth in the FIFA world football rankings. They stay above England, who remain at 10th; while Northern Ireland move up six places to 35th. It is a six-year high for the Northern Irish, while Scotland are down nine to 40th and the Republic of Ireland slip three places to 54th, World Cup winners Germany have moved back into second
place in the rankings behind Argentina. The new list takes into account the Euro 2016 qualifiers in September. Wales won in Cyprus before a home draw with Israel brought them closer to qualification for their first major tournament since 1958. Austria are celebrating their highest-ever placing at 11 after sealing a place at Euro 2016, while the biggest mover is Liberia, rising 65 places to 95. (BBC)
Phil had publicly castigating the selection process regarding the one-day team for the tour of Sri Lanka, saying team selection had been influenced by “interference from outside”.
Simmons says outburst was a ‘moment of madness’
WI HEAD coach Phil Simmons has apologised to his fellow selectors and to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for his outburst last Friday, calling his actions “a schoolboy error in a moment of madness”. The 52-year-old Trinidadian wrote to express his “sincere apologies” for his comments which sent shockwaves through the West Indies cricket fraternity and led to his subsequent suspension for the Sri Lanka tour. Simmons took the bizarre step of publicly castigating the selection process regarding the one-day team for the tour of Sri Lanka, saying team selection had been influenced by “interference from outside”. “In no way did I intend to even mention the issues of selection. It was not in any way intentional and so therefore I needed to express my deepest regret to you and my fellow selectors,” Simmons wrote. “I can only describe it as a schoolboy error in a moment of madness. This was not within my character.” He added: “I need to apologise as I am genuinely sorry.” Despite the apology, Simmons is now set to face a WICB panel to answer for the outburst, with WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead saying Tuesday a decision would be
reached within the next seven days. Muirhead said Simmons would be given “a fair hearing” with the investigation conducted “within the boundaries of our own internal human resources policy”. “During the process, he will continue to enjoy the benefits of his full remuneration,” Muirhead outlined. “The matter will be dealt with in an expeditious manner and it is our intention to have a decision within the next seven working days.” In a media conference last Friday in Barbados, at the end of a weeklong training camp for the Test squad, Simmons expressed his frustration with the continued nonselection of the Trinidadian duo of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard. He said he and chairman of selectors, Clive Lloyd, had voted for their re-inclusion but the three other selectors - Courtney Walsh, Eldine Baptiste and Courtney Browne - had voted against the move. “The disappointing fact is that you can lose 3-2 in a vote-off but there is too much interference from outside in the selection of the ODI squad and it’s disappointing for me to know that in any aspect of life ... [people would use] their position to get people into a squad or in this case, get people left out of a squad,” Simmons charged.
‘I’ve done nothing illegal,’ says FIFA president Blatter SEPP Blatter is going nowhere. The embattled FIFA president has insisted he has done nothing wrong after the Swiss attorney general opened an investigation targeting the 70-year-old, who has been head of world football’s governing body since 1998, on “suspicion of criminal mismanagement.” “President Blatter spoke to FIFA staff today and informed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as president of FIFA,” read a statement issued by Blatter’s lawyers Monday. The Swiss authorities are examining a contract signed by Blatter with the Caribbean Football Union and an alleged “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs (about $2 million) to Michel Platini, the head of European football body UEFA, made in 2011. Both Blatter and Platini, who is in the running to succeed Blatter in 2016, insist there was nothing untoward about the payment to the Frenchman for work he did for the world governing body between 1999 and 2002. “On the Platini matter, President Blatter on Friday shared with the Swiss authorities the fact that Mr. Platini had a valuable employment relationship with FIFA serving as an advisor to the president beginning in 1998. “He explained to the prosecutors that the payments were valid compensation and nothing more and were properly accounted for within FIFA including the withholding of Social Security contributions.” Meanwhile, Platin explained
Sepp Blatter is insistent that he is not guilty of all accusations.
he has “not been accused of any wrongdoing.” “This income has all been fully declared by me to the authorities, in accordance with Swiss law,” read a statement from the Frenchman. “I was interviewed by the Swiss authorities about this matter last Friday, not as a person accused of any wrongdoing, but simply in my capacity as a person providing information.” Platini, who became president of UEFA in 2007, is also a vice president of FIFA. The 60-year-old became a member of FIFA’s executive committee in 2002 as well as chairman of the technical development committee and worked on the 2006 World Cup organising committee. While Platini accepted his actions may have harmed UEFA, he has no intention of relinquishing his
presidency. “I am aware that these events may harm my image and reputation and by consequence, the image of UEFA, the organization of which I am proud to be president,” he said. “For these reasons, I wish to use all my energies to ensure that any issues or misunderstandings can be resolved as soon as possible.” FIFA was plunged into crisis in late May when seven officials were charged by the FBI with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. The charges are part of a U.S. prosecution that indicted a total of 14 people from around the globe. Meanwhile, a separate probe by Swiss authorities is investigating potential corruption into the bidding process for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which will be hosted by Russia and Qatar.
UK doping chiefs ‘disappointed’ by Wada thyroid drug ban ruling ANTI-doping chiefs have rejected calls to ban elite athletes from taking thyroid medication. UK Anti-Doping said it was “disappointed” by the World AntiDoping Agency’s decision. Earlier this year, European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey claimed some athletes were using “unethical” thyroid medication to enhance performance. The drug can increase metabolism and is claimed to be a stimulant, as well as a weight-loss tool. “Some might be legitimate but I find the situation worrying,” Pavey said.
Wada opted to leave thyroid medication off its 2016 prohibited list despite such claims. Spokesman Ben Nichols explained: “For a substance or method to be prohibited, it must meet two of three criteria: enhance performance; pose a threat to athlete health; violate the spirit of sport.” He added that Wada had consulted scientific and medical experts who “were unanimous in their view” that thyroid medication did not meet the criteria needed to ban it. Explaining why the decision had left her organisation “disappointed”, Ukad chief executive Nicole
Sapstead said: “Ukad formed the view, along with a number of other national anti-doping organisations, that thyroid medication, if used without a genuine medical need, is harmful to health. “It can be used in a manner which is contrary to the spirit of sport and, in some circumstances, can be considered performance enhancing. “This is third year that Ukad have submitted a proposal for thyroid medication to be added to the prohibited list. Ukad will continue to work with global partners and consider our next steps in due course.” (BBC)
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Spieth breaks golf record for most Rose out two weeks prize money earned in a season after eye socket surgery RECORD-BREAKER and historymaker Jordan Spieth has reaped the rewards of becoming golf’s new superstar this year -- and now the American is planning to share his riches. His spectacular season culminated in landing an $11.5 million jackpot on Sunday, when he regained the world No. 1 ranking by winning the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup finale. Spieth’s four-stroke victory at the Tour Championship clinched the $10 million prize for winning the fourtournament series, and took his total earnings for 2015 past $22 million. It surpassed the record of $20.9 million set by Tiger Woods in 2007. “For me it’s important to give it back to not only the people that need it, but also to our team who made it possible,” the 22-year-old told CNN. “This is a bonus that isn’t just for me, I promise you that. “This is going to a lot of various places because this season was magical and there was a lot of behind the scenes work done by a lot of people, and I want to be able to share that with them.” With Australian Jason Day failing to finish in the top five on Sunday, Spieth took the PGA Championship winner’s place at the top of the rankings. The Texan was able to celebrate his incredible weekend of success with his whole family and says it was made all the more special by the presence of his autistic sister Ellie, who missed out on his previous wins.
Jordan Spieth made an average of $3,623 per shot this season.
“It was really cool, it was great. When she came out I didn’t even see her,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it, she just kind of ran into me and gave me a hug. It was awesome. “It was special to have everybody here, it was just like the Masters except that Ellie was added in too. “I owe everything to my family. They’re my inspiration, they’re the ones who put in the sacrifice to allow me to be here so I’m able to now celebrate with them and it’s going to be fun.” Spieth’s season started with victories in the opening two majors -- the U.S. Open and the Masters -and he fell just short of becoming the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953
to win the opening three when he missed out on a playoff at the British Open by one shot. He then placed second at the PGA Championship, but missed the cut in the opening two FedEx Cup playoff events before bouncing back when it most mattered at East Lake. The Atlanta venue was the home course of golf legend Bobby Jones, the only man to win a calendar grand slam -- in 1930, when two of the majors were amateur championships. “It’s amazing. It’s almost like a major championship,” Spieth said of the elite 30-player event. “What an unbelievable venue this is, the scene of a lot of Bobby Jones’ history.
The Chicago Bulls find themselves in a familiar spot, waiting for Derrick Rose to return from surgery. This time it is his left eye socket on the mend and not one of his troublesome knees. And his time away should be much shorter. Rose had surgery to repair a left orbital fracture Wednesday, one day after he was elbowed in the face by one of his teammates during practice. Coach Fred Hoiberg said the operation at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago “went as expected” and the team said Rose should be able to resume “basketball activities” in two weeks — about two weeks before the Oct. 27 opener against Cleveland, “It’s unfortunate that he won’t be able to be a part of most of training camp and preseason,” Pau Gasol said. “It’s useful time for any team, to get teams on track, set the foundation for the new season — especially with a new philosophy, new coach.” Hoiberg said Rose will be able to attend practices and run, and he should be able to pick up the offense under his new coach simply by observing. “We don’t know how much he’ll be able to do even while he’s in recovery mode, but he still will be here, learning,” Hoiberg said. “So we’ll go as expected as far as putting our stuff in. We added a few new
Derrick Rose had surgery to repair a left orbital fracture Wednesday, one day after he was elbowed in the face by one of his teammates during practice.
actions today and guys seemed to be picking things up well.” Hoiberg said the 2011 NBA MVP was injured after making a “great baseline drive” and passing to the corner during Tuesday’s practice. Dr. Christine Nelson, an eye specialist and professor with the University of Michigan Health System who is not handling Rose’s case, said she often recommends up to six weeks off, especially for patients whose activities put them at risk for another eye injury. But she said athletes eager to return to play could probably do so safely in less time by wearing a face mask or goggles.
Konta loses to Venus Williams at Wuhan Open BRITAIN’S Johanna Konta was beaten 6-4 3-6 7-5 by former world number one Venus Williams in the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open. Konta, who won 21 of her previous 22 matches and beat world number two Simona Halep on Wednesday, served for a place in the last four in the decider. However American Williams, 35, won four games on the trot to set up a semi-final against Roberta Vinci. Konta’s form will see the 24-yearold take over as British number one. She started the year 150th in the world but is now 66th and will next week pass compatriot Heather Watson in the rankings. Williams, the current world number 24, has won seven Grand Slams since turning professional in October 1994. “I went on court to win and to do my best,” said Konta. “I gave my all. It just wasn’t enough. “I lost to a pretty incredible champion. She played an incredible match. I just feel very fortunate that I got to share the court with her.”
Japan won 26-5. They had lost 11 of their previous 14 meetings with Samoa.
Japan beat Samoa to keep qualifications hope alive Prior to the defeat, Johanna Konta had won 21 of her previous 22 matches including a win over world number two, Simona Halep, on Wednesday.
Konta made Williams work hard for the victory, becoming the first person to take a set off her at the Wuhan Open after losing the first. She then led 5-3 in the final set and looked on course to record another upset at the tournament. However Williams drew upon all of her experience to grind out
the victory, coming out on top in a breathtaking final game that saw the crowd applaud midway through one particularly impressive rally. “Johanna played so well. She has had a wonderful summer,” said Williams. “It seemed like I was finished but I felt the energy from the crowd.” (BBC)
JAPAN boosted their hopes of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time with victory over Samoa in Milton Keynes. The Brave Blossoms, who beat South Africa in their opening match,led 20-0 at the break thanks to a penalty try, Akihito Yamada’s score and Ayumu Goromaru’s boot. Goromaru’s two penalties extended the lead before Paul Perez’s try for Samoa.
But Japan held out to win a second game at a World Cup for the first time. They had lost 11 of their previous 14 meetings with Samoa, and conceded at least two tries in every World Cup match they had played in. Victory for Eddie Jones’ men against the three-time quarterfinalists puts them in a great position to qualify from Pool B, with their last match against the United States - yet to earn a point - next weekend. (BBC)
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Rugby boss calls World Cup 2015: Record breaking tournament
Australia and England are the no. 1 and 2 ranked women’s teams.
Australia No. 1 in ICC rankings for women AUSTRALIA’S dominance in all three formats has resulted in them taking first place in the new ICC rankings for women’s teams. England are second with 124 points, ten behind Australia. The women’s ranking is a combined Test, ODI and T20 ranking, whereas the men’s teams have a separate ranking for each format. “The innovative new system treats results from Test, ODI and T20I cricket equally,” the ICC said. “This means there will be rankings points to play for in every international match, while the volume of matches will ensure the table is a credible reflection of overall performance. “The rankings table is based on results between three and four years, but with the first two years being weighted at only 50
per cent. Currently, results from October 2012 to September 2014 are weighted at 50%, while results since October 2014 are weighted at 100%.” Australia’s standing was a result of their victory in the 2013 World Cup in India and the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, and their lead position in the ICC Women’s Championship. “It’s certainly nice to be recognised as world number one. We’ve done a lot of hard work in the past few years to win the ICC Women’s World Cup and ICC Women’s World Twenty, as well as the Ashes recently,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said. “We are looking forward to staying at the top of the tree for a long time, which is going to be a big challenge but we have the players to do that.” (ESPN)
Australia’s Bernard Foley scored 28 points in his side’s 33-13 win over England at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday at Twickenham.
Rugby World Cup 2015:
Australia knock out host England ENGLAND crushed great sporting rival Australia in cricket’s Ashes, clinching victory in August. Then Britain defeated Australia in tennis’ Davis Cup semifinals last month. But there was no hat-trick at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday, as Australia routed England 33-13 at Twickenham in London to send the host crashing out of the competition at the group stage. Clive Woodward, who masterminded England’s win over Australia in the final of the 2003 World Cup in Sydney, said the current
version of the Wallabies weren’t the “brightest” bunch but the visitors had more than enough intelligence -- and skill -- swat aside England. And in fly-half Bernard Foley, Australia possessed a one-man wrecking crew: He accounted for 28 of Australia’s points. Not even the presence of Prince Harry could lift England, which became the first full host not to surpass the first round. England will particularly rue last week’s 28-25 loss to injury-hit Wales after controlling much of the affair.
THE game of rugby is in great shape both on and off the field, World Rugby’s chief executive Brett Gosper told a meeting of Cardiff Business Club. He said the business model of the body that markets and regulates the game globally (and was formerly known as the International Rugby Board), was to grow the game globally and invest revenue back into the sport over the next four years. But he said the challenge was to inspire those outside the game and maintain a focus on transparency. The Australian said: “World Rugby is a marketer of events and investor in development. “For our first 100 years the International Rugby Board (IRC) as it was then called, was simply a legal firm dealing with regulation. We had to change our culture quickly and are still in that culture-change process.” Mr Gosper, who has a background in both rugby and advertising, said it was important to have a brand positioning for the business. In doing this, he said, World Rugby was developing the Sevens game and attaching great importance to the forthcoming Olympic Game. On the current Rugby World Cup he said it has “broken record.” He added: “Coming to a rugby loving country has contributed to this and coming as it does on the back of an Olympics [London 2012] has the organisational expertise and an audience hungry for another major sporting event. He added: “Demand has never been so high for any Rugby World Cup which has seen us sell 2.45 million tickets and a million in terms of entry numbers into the various stadia [games staged so far]. “Commercial revenue is up 60% on the last World Cup and broadcast reach 20% higher and following Japan’s win over South Africa audience ratings have risen.” It was, Mr Gosper said, the most
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper addressing Cardiff Business Club.
competitive of World Cup’s and the most digitised and social media followed event with more social media activity in the first weekend of the tournament then there was for the entire six weeks in 2011. “The social media platform reached about 250 million people,” he said. Turning to the next Rugby World Cup tournament to be staged in Japan, Mr Gosper, said: “This will be ground breaking as opposed to record breaking. It’s the first time the event will be staged in a tier two country and the first time in Asia. “It will be a different Rugby World cup culturally and aesthetically. This will be good for the sport because it will register it firmly as a global sport, which is required in order to tap into new markets and have that virtuous circle from revenue to investment.” On rugby’s presence [Sevens] in the forthcoming Olympic Games, Mr Gosper said there was no second chance to make a favourable impression. “We have to get it right in Rio,” he said. “If we don’t get it right there in 2017 they’ll vote us out and there are lots of competitive sports now like skateboarding to surfing, so we have to put on a brilliant show in Rio.”
Looking ahead to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Mr Gosper said there was already some very strong contenders for that which tied into the branding of the event. He added: “It’s important we know what every organisation stands for so they can align the elements of that organisation around it. “It’s about being a more open organisation, connecting with fan bases and being accessible. “This is why I’m on Twitter and make every effort to be available to the media. It has taken a time for the organisation to be more outward facing after being a law firm for 100 years.” Of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), whose chairman Gareth Davies was amongst the audience, he said: “ It is a very well-run union that’s punches above its weight in population and resource and is very successful in the Six Nations and in World Cup tournaments.” Finally Mr Gosper spoke of the challenges that lie ahead. He said: “It’s important that we inspire those outside the sport, which can only be done through operator transparency. If rugby is to inspire it must appeal to those outside the sport and its values distilled into skills and those that build character.”
UK government join calls for FIFA president to quit THE UK government has added its voice to demands from sponsors for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to resign with immediate effect. Swiss criminal proceedings were opened against the 79-year-old last week. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “The sooner Blatter goes, the sooner wide-scale reform at FIFA can begin.” Major FIFA sponsors Coca-Cola, Visa, Budweiser and McDonald’s on Friday called for him to quit, but Blatter said he would not step down until 2016. Coca-Cola said “every day that passes FIFA’s image and reputation
continues to tarnish”, while McDonald’s claimed it would be “in the best interest of the game” for Blatter to stand down. Blatter is accused by Swiss prosecutors of signing a contract that was “unfavourable to FIFA” and making a “disloyal payment” to UEFA president Michel Platini, but denies any wrongdoing. In a statement released through his lawyers on Friday, Blatter said resigning now “would not be in the best interest of FIFA, nor would it advance the process of reform”. Football Association chairman Greg Dyke described Friday’s developments as a “game-changer”.
Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as president of world football’s governing body in May, but the election was overshadowed when seven FIFA officials were arrested in dawn raids at a five-star Zurich hotel at the request of the United States. The US later indicted 14 current and former Fifa officials and associates on charges of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption following a major inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Blatter then announced he would step down as president in February 2016. (BBC)
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Jimkelly “The Hammer” Joseph (left) promises to take his record to 13-0 when he fights Bahamian Amsolym Sturrup this December.
October 3 - 9, 2015
Amederly “Snap” Forbes will take on Bahamian Lennox Boyce in a welterweight bout.
“The Hammer” ready for Sturrup – Promises to maintain unbeaten record TCI’s Jimkelly “The Hammer” Joseph promises a smart fight later this year when he meets rival Amsolym Sturrup in a rematch at the Graceway Sports Centre on December 4th. Joseph, who has a 12-0 record,
all wins by knockout, promises to mix things up in the ring at the 205 pounds division. “I will make every effort to come out victorious and continue my perfect record and with the help and support of my people of TCI along
with God this will be possible. I will fight smart, and ensure to use more technique than just power to wear my opponent out; then after, I’ll go and do what I do best #HAMMER TIME.” The Bahamian Sturrup is no walkover; he has a 7-3 record with four via the knockout route. One of
his losses, however, was to Joseph in 2011. Joseph is not taking the fight lightly and is into his second week of a 10-week programme. He trains twice per day (4:30am-6:30am and 5:30pm-7pm). The co-main event will see local fighter Amederly “Snap”
Forbes looking for his third win in as many fights in the 145 welterweight division. He will clash with another Bahamian boxer, Lennox Boyce. Local based featherweight Filipino boxer Jake Jose will also be in action. Up to press time his opponent was not confirmed.
Police batsman Garvin Bruno scored 165 unbeaten runs against Mitsubishi Electric earlier this season—a TCI record.
Superior run rate propels Police to cricket final
Masters League champions
Winners of last season’s Masters League, Teachers FC, with their championship trophy. In the competition for players over 35-years, Cheshire Hall FC had finished second. Courtney Tain and Ian Chang were the leading goal scorers. The award presentation was recently held in Provo.
TWO Sundays of rain restricted the semi-final clash between Police and Kishco at the Downtown Ball Park in Providenciales. Last week officials were forced to use run rate to determine the winner. Police finished with a +0.93 rate, while Kishco ended with a
-0.18. With a superior run rate Police advanced to the HAB Group sponsored TCI Cricket Association Summer T20 Cricket League final against the Quality Super Kings. Up to Saturday evening all was set for a 12:00h Sunday start to the final.
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Dwyane Wade (middle) and TCI’s young basketball prospects and officials.
Wade tells TCI youngsters to “keep fight for your dreams” NBA superstar Dwyane Wade left dozens of young basketball players with a renewed sense of purpose and hope after having a heart-to-heart talk with them on career choices and goals last Saturday morning. The Miami Heats’ shooting guard, who was in Providenciales to host his Annual Wade Brand Summit for the second year at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa, told 43 students from schools across the TCI and their coaches that: “My message to the rising stars of Turks & Caicos is keep fighting for your dreams!” The three-time NBA champion encouraged the youngsters to continue “the journey no matter
what”. The 33-year-old also offered practical advice on not having initial success, according to a release from the Sandals Foundation. “Just because you don’t end up in the job or the career you thought you wanted, doesn’t mean you failed; sometimes the road takes you to a different path and a more successful and happier outcome.” Wade’s sister Tragil, who serves as president of his charitable organisation, was a part of the discussion. The Wades also told their heartfelt and inspirational story of growing up on the rough part of the South-side of Chicago and the challenges they
have had to endure. They spoke further about preparedness, hard work, and overcoming adversity that has led them to their successful career paths today. The students were also invited to ask questions and share their career goals and dreams for the future. The “Morning of Inspiration” as it was appropriately coined, had opened with a brief overview of the partnership between the Sandals Foundation and Wade’s World Foundation, now in its second year, the relationship aims to raise awareness and funds in support of Game Changer – an integrated sports programme to benefit youths
in underserved communities in the Caribbean and South Florida. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Youth and Sports Honourable, Akierra Missick, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Honorable Sean Astwood, formally welcomed the attendees, including many of Wade’s mega-brand partners. Earlier this month, The Sandals Foundation provided 300 pairs of basketball sneakers to government schools across the TCI as part of its on-going Game Changer efforts. Basketball players at high schools on South Caicos, Grand Turk, North Caicos and Providenciales received brand new pairs of the Miami Heat
star’s signature brand “Way of Wade” basketball shoes which were donated by his shoe partner Li-Ning®. “The Game Changer Programme is not just about building multi-purpose courts and giving out equipment-it’s about offering real opportunities that help change lives and shape futures,” said Liz Kaiser, Director of Partnership Marketing for the Sandals Foundation. “Mentorship is a big part of this programme and special opportunities like today’s candid speeches by Mr. Wade and Tragil go a long way to reinforcing that anything is possible if you work hard and don’t stop dreaming” she concluded.
Seven Stars 2015 Autumn Tag League:
Jones’s record breaking feat leads Jolly Ranchers to first win
Callis Jones scored a league record seven tries. (Photo: Charlton-Studios)
NATIONAL player Callis Jones displayed some scorching pace last Thursday evening, in week two of the Seven Stars 2015 Autumn Tag Rugby League, to score seven tries (the most to date in the league) for the BCQS Jolly Ranchers at the Meridian Field. Jones, a former winner of the TCIRFU Best Player of the Year award, claimed victory for his team against the Tipsy Turtles. The 11-8 win was their first for the season since in week one, the Jolly Ranchers had lost to the Meridian Marauders. Tipsy Turtles also had their moments with husband and wife combination Joe and Claire scoring a try each for the side. Also in week two Up Town bounced back and scored their first points of the season with a tough 14all draw with the Marauders. Up Town
were missing their female teammates and played short, but their enthusiasm saw them keep up against a strong Meridian side. The Wahoos brought the Red Mist crashing down from their opening round victory with a thumping 27 to 5 scoreline. Wahoos ViceCaptain Olivia O’Connell scored five tries for a personal haul of 15 points, more points than any other team in this round. She was well supported on the scoreboard with six points to Achsah Wildish. Lincoln Outten countered with three tries for the Red Mist but the result was beyond a doubt. In the last game of the evening the Unicorns of Doom repeated their grand final win over Nuff Said, winning again 13 to 9. Nik Hight scored five for the Unicorns of Doom and Mark Francis scored a hattrick. G. George also picked up a hattrick for Nuff Said and Delphine Hartshorn contributed three points with a cut through the defensive line.
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October 3 - 9, 2015