TC Weekly News November 12 - 18, 2022

DIVING INTO DIRECTORSHIP

Michael Clarke Achieves Aquatic Heights at Sandals Resorts International

It was a dive in waters near Discovery Bay — something Michael Clarke had done a thousand times before. But little did he know that this particular plunge was one he'd never forget. As he explored those endless blue waters, a large shadow appeared in the sea, shifting his gaze to what he then discovered to be the gentle majesty of a whale shark — the largest of any fish alive today. It's moments like those that continue to remind him of his passion for the water.

Even as a toddler, Clarke immersed himself in the sea - or any body of water actually - something he only enjoyed as a pastime. Today, however, this veteran has emerged as the highest certified Watersports Specialist in the Caribbean, and the man charged with spearheading the entire water sporting operations for Sandals and Beaches resorts across the region.

Clarke, Sandals’ Corporate Director, Watersports, is now an authority on aquatic sports – including pools and the intricacies of building and maintaining them – and holds the distinction of being the only person in the region certified to educate PADI dive instructors.

Raised on the northern coastal area of Jamaica, Clarke, like the tourists who visit regularly, was drawn to the island’s inviting waters — a grip from which he could hardly be pulled away. No one knows this truth better than Clarke's own mother who quickly learned of her son's aquaphilia.

"My mother would eventually have to find someone to leave me with for the rest of the day each time we visited a body of water because it was always a fight when it was time to leave," Clarke recalls of his childhood.

His early training in watersports was nurtured by his brother Clifton Miller, who exposed Clarke to skiing, operating boats, snorkeling, among other things. The young aquaphile attended college while working parttime until he completed his studies and started his first job in watersports where he was introduced to diving and the opportunity to earn his first certification.

Before long, Clarke started his own business which he operated for many years; and overtime, he took his skills and his personal love for the water and wove them into a story of resiliency, hard work, inspiration and opportunity. Perhaps, though, it was in 2002 when he joined Beaches Ocho Rios (formerly Beaches Boscobel) under the Sandals Resorts International banner that he was presented with his greatest opportunity yet. It widened his appetite for personal development. But more importantly than that, Clarke joining the Sandals family was the alchemy needed

for further development of dive instruction training programmes in the Caribbean and its islands that richly depend on the blue economy.

As Clarke would tell it, back then, instructors would have to come from other parts of the world just to administer training and exams to those interested in becoming certified dive instructors. He recalls one occasion when he had to travel to the Cayman Islands to complete his dive instructor certification course because there were not enough persons to sit the exam in Jamaica; especially since the instructor had to travel from the United States to oversee it. Getting to that point wasn’t at all easy, as Clarke had to train and complete various levels of rigorous certification processes to become a dive instructor. He first had to get certified in Open-Water Diving – beginner and advanced – and master the tools needed to get certified as a Rescue Diver as well as a PADI Divemaster.

Long before sitting his exam, Clarke began making waves at Sandals, and those splashes made their way to the company's late Chairman, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart who then deployed Clarke to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort to implement changes in the watersports division there.

"Turks was my first overseas assignment and such a great opportunity to broaden my horizons. Back then, the resort team and I had six dive boats and were training and facilitating dive sessions with up to 150 guests per day. We worked to empower the team members and in turn, it made for the best experiences for the guests,” said Clarke who spent seven years there.

He undertook additional assignments at resorts across the region to further enhance and promote their respective watersports divisions. He said, “Travelling to the various resorts opened my eyes to the possibilities of synchronizing the division as one regional operation in an effort to make watersports one of the main reasons our guests come to visit Sandals each year... With the support of the Sandals leadership team, I was determined to do all I could to promote watersports and make people fall in love with it, especially diving.”

He returned to Jamaica in 2014 where he was appointed the Director of Watersports for the entire Sandals chain of resorts; a position he has used to foster the existing partnership between Sandals and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

But that was not to be the last directorship Clarke

earned in his professional pursuits. He aspired to achieve what could be described as the ultimate accreditation in his profession — becoming a PADI Course Director as this post would provide easier access to certifications in the Caribbean without trainees having to rely on the availability of instructors travelling from abroad to facilitate the exams.

“The [PADI Director] exam period lasted for approximately two weeks and was absolutely nerveracking,” Clarke mused. “I, along with 29 other persons, some from as far away as Egypt, Thailand and Japan; along with their translators, all gathered in the Dominican Republic to sit the exams in 2017. I’m glad I was brave enough to pursue it to that level, with the full backing of Adam Stewart, now Executive Chairman of SRI. I have been all the better for it and I am now certified to ensure other persons within the Caribbean, who aspire to sit the dive instructor exam, have easier access and no longer have to face the challenges I did.”

As Sandals facilitated his development, Clarke is focused on multiplying those efforts and get more team members and fellow Caribbean nationals trained and certified as dive instructors.

“The Sandals brand offers so many possibilities from a watersports perspective and diving is just one of them. Sandals has over 25 of the best, stateof-the-art dive boats in operation across the region … and they are customized specifically for diving and making the entire process of moving equipment and accessibility easy for our guests. We also have 157 highly experienced diving instructors and, overall, almost 700 staff in watersports. Our guests keep coming back because of the service delivery backed by highly-trained staff, a high safety record, and toptier equipment that we service. We are amassing over 89,000 dives yearly with over 27,000 persons and it shows that people really enjoy this. It speaks to the fact that we’re doing many things right,” Clarke said proudly.

“I’ve been fortunate and blessed to have so many opportunities presented to me over the years and I never take it for granted,” Clarke added. “I am grateful that I am a part of an organisation that has strong partnerships and that the world-class team members in my division have full access to these certifications. We make sure that our team is able to be trained and re-trained on a consistent basis to provide the most amazing experiences for our visitors while also achieving their own personal goals.”

TCI working with US Homeland Security to tackle irregular migration/drugs smuggling

The Turks and Caicos Islands Customs Department is working closely with the United States Homeland Security to prevent irregular migration and smuggling of drugs and weapons into the territory.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, Cabinet was updated on the partnership during a meeting held at the Governor’s Residence on Grand Turk.

“Cabinet was briefed on a Turks and Caicos Islands Government-led initiative with the US Government’s Department of Homeland Security to combat the issue of irregular migration into the Turks and Caicos Islands”, a post Cabinet statement said.

Former Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID) Hon Akeirra Missick who had read a statement in the House of Assembly on behalf of the Minister of Immigration and Border Services' Hon Arlington Musgrove, said the partnership augurs well for the territory which is experiencing a proliferation of transnational crime.

She said: “If anyone has ever watched a show called how to catch a smuggler, you would know the work that the US homeland security investigation team does at airports and ports and it's very, very good work.

“So I'm pleased Mr Speaker that we are working with HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) on a number of matters that would better assist us with targeting and interdiction of shipments carrying on lawful and illicit goods.”

She explained that the Customs Department is also looking to make available a tip line for concerned persons to report nefarious

activities regarding the territory’s borders, whether at the airports or the seaports.

The Customs Department made a total of 87 drug seizures in September 2022.

The narcotics including cannabis, cannabis-infused edibles, and heroin were seized at the Providenciales International Airport.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government and the US Homeland also worked together in November 2020, to tamp down on people, weapons, and narcotics smuggling as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT).

This saw a high surveillance reconnaissance aircraft from the US Customs and Border Protection

deployed to the territory to help identify fast boats and large sloops.

TCI has been a partner of OPBAT since 1982 when it was formed to counter cocaine smuggling from Columbia to the Bahamas and TCI.

Back then, Columbian smugglers used the Islands’ ports as a trans-shipment point for marijuana and cocaine.

The agreement was entered into by the TCI, Bahamian and United States governments to cooperate and enhance the ability of the Bahamian government.

It aimed to help interdict, prosecute and convict drug traffickers as police forces of both Caribbean countries were illequipped to locate the smugglers’ aircraft and small boats.

PDM Deputy Leader calls for early election

– Says PNP ship is sinking

Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Mr Robert Been, says the recent Cabinet shuffle is an indication that the Progressive National Party (PNP) government is “sinking” and that early election is the way out.

Been’s remarks came in response to the Government’s recent announcement of a Cabinet shakeup which removed Minister of Physical Planning

and Infrastructure Development Hon Akeirra Missick from her ministerial position.

“Once again, this PNP Administration continues to demonstrate that they are incapable of governing The Turks and Caicos Islands, and it is made apparent consistently through their poor decision making”, Been said in a statement on Monday, November 7.

He continued: “By now we all would have seen the Premier’s release on the shuffle of his Cabinet.

“I am certain we all questioned this move with the removal of a minister who has proven to be a key player within his team.

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If we can recall, when the Premier made the decision not to have a ministry, he clearly stated that the Hon Minister of Long Bay would be the best person to take charge of government business/ affairs, so why the change now, is trouble in the camp?”

Been stressed that the removal of a young leader in the territory without “a good reason provided to the people”, undoubtedly sends the wrong message to young inspiring politicians and youth.

He said: “This is concerning for the future of our country when those at the helm have no vision to prepare a place for Turks and Caicos Islanders who show aspirations in future leadership.

“The people demand more than a press statement about the shuffle and need to know the reasons

behind it.

“Hon Premier, times have changed from when you were the Chief Minister of this country, I am certain to be at the head is not easy, but your position was not awarded to you by the people to act as a selfish dictator.”

The Deputy Leader reminded the Premier that he was charged to make decisions that are in the best interest of the people.

He added: “Decisions that protect the future of our country and that protect the youths who will have to live with the decisions made today, yet, we are left to wonder whether many of the recent decisions made by this Premier

and the Governor are in the best interests of our citizens.”

Been also cited the Government’s ineptitude as relates to effectively tackling the vicious crime wave in the territory.

He said: ‘Crime continues to increase; health care continues to be a concern. Additionally, the local economy continues to be plagued by high inflation, with the possibility of a recession looming within the next year, I am sure the people expected much more from a government with a mandate of 14-1.

“Hon Premier let’s

US Homeland Security logo

Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Mr Robert Been

Former PNP minister says she left post with her “integrity intact”

– As Cabinet shake-up sparks rumors

BY DELANA ISLES

Cabinet reshuffles in the middle of an administration’s term in office are quite common, but the latest change which leaves former infrastructure minister, Hon Akierra Missick without a ministerial post has sparked widespread rumours.

The one-time deputy premier – under the Rufus Ewing Administration – and two-time elected official has served in ministerial office for ten years as of November 9, first being elected in 2012.

But last week, an abrupt decision by the Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick, saw Missick’s ministerial appointment being taken away.

The rumours abounded, prompting the Leeward and Long Bay elected official to issue an official farewell statement on the revocation of her Cabinet portfolio.

“Since the announcement on Sunday night, the outpouring of support and well-wishes from my dear and loyal constituents of Leeward and Long Bay and also from the wider Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond was truly humbling and indeed strengthened my resolve and commitment to be of continued service to the great people of this country.”

Thanking the Premier for the confidence he reposed in her to serve as leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly and PPID Minister, Missick said it was her distinct honour and a

privilege to have served in the two capacities in the past 20 months.

“The Premier can appoint and revoke any Cabinet minister's appointment whenever he sees fit, and he is not obligated to offer any reasons for that decision. As politicians, we must be mature enough to appreciate and understand that.”

She warned against speculations and rumours: “It is frankly not right for me, or you, to speculate on these matters and I, therefore, urge you to refrain from so doing. In the final analysis, Cabinet positions are not lifetime appointments.”

Pointing to the ten years of service in government and four years in the opposition, Missick said she was “fortunate and blessed” to have achieved this as

well as the post of Deputy Premier.

“My point is that after a decade, I am acquainted with the highs and lows and the lived experience of a millennial, female politician.

“It has not been an easy road, my friends, but I can give you, the people of Turks and Caicos Islands, the assurance that I leave this portfolio of Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure with my integrity intact.

“Quality of service and unquestionable integrity are among the hallmarks of great politicians and servants of the people, and I can humbly state that I, Akierra Mary Deanne Missick, will forever place a high premium on, and remain committed to, those core values.”

She promises that her political career is not over, far from it, as she

will continue to serve the residents of her constituency and the wider TCI, championing their causes in and out of the House of Assembly.

Missick said she will also continue to be a loyal member of the Progressive National Party (PNP), and in the meantime will return to her law practice.

She has since extended best wishes to her successor Hon Jamell R. Robinson in his new role as PPID minister, promising her support.

“We are currently facing some formidable challenges as a country and the last thing we need right now is division.

“As a party and as a country, now more than ever, we must unite against those negative forces that seek to threaten our livelihoods, our safety, our stability and our future,” Missick stated.

142 illegal migrants detained following vessel interception

A whopping 142 persons, believed to be Haitian nationals, were apprehended this week after law enforcement intercepted an illegal sloop in TCI waters.

The illegal vessel from Haiti was intercepted by the Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force on November 7, around 9:20 pm, according to a statement from police.

A preliminary report from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force stated that a radar operator at the RTCIPF Maritime Operations Centre identified the vessel and alerted the Police Control Room informing them of the presence of a suspicious vessel in TCI waters.

Some 108 males, 32 females and two minors on board the vessel were handed over to Immigration Enforcement Officers at South Dock for processing and repatriation.

The public was urged to notify the closest police station or to contact Crime Stoppers and give any information on illegal activity anonymously.

“Please note, that Crime Stoppers calls are answered in Miami and in Houston by MiamiDade.

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit and not a police agency.

“The calls are anonymous and cannot be traced in the United States or the TCI”, the Police said.

Elected official for Leeward and Long Bay, Hon Akierra Missick

108 males, 32 females, and two minors were on board the vessel

THE

ANTIGANG LAWS

It is now a criminal offence for anyone living in the Turks and Caicos Islands to be in or become a member of a gang or to harbour, conceal or recruit gang members. This offence carries a penalty of 10 years imprisonment for a first conviction and a penalty of 20 years imprisonment for any subsequent convictions, while a gang leader would be liable to imprisonment for 25 years.

As the territory faces a national crisis due to the proliferation of gang crime, the House of Assembly recently enacted the Anti-Gang Bill 2022, which also makes it an offence to be in possession of a bullet-proof vest, to participate in or contribute to activities of a gang, to support or invite support for a gang, or to harbour or conceal gang members or recruit persons to a gang. Attorney General, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, who had presented the bill to the House of Assembly for debate on Thursday, October 20, said the bill is intended to dismantle the growing gang culture fuelling increasingly violent and deadly crimes in the Turks and Caicos Islands. What are your thoughts?

Changes are necessary

This will help in the future. The challenge now is the existing members’ threat to innocent people. These gangsters are willing to risk their lives in armed encounters. If they are geographically clustered, deploy the regiment alongside the police and change the rules of engagement.

Can of worms

Evidence - proof - constitutionality - and the plethora of problems have just begun with a tried and tested “highly competent” AG.

Desperate times require extreme measures

This anti-gang legislation comes at a time when Turks and Caicos is at a crossroads, it is not only timely but it’s necessary.

These laws are needed to root out this scourge that is quickly eating away at our society.

Serious human rights issues

Are there any safeguards for persons 'framed, lied upon' or protections for any

of the law-abiding citizenry left in the TCI? The language is wide, sweeping, allencompassing and designed, it seems, to capture just about anything and anyone.

The law reads “For the purpose of this Ordinance, it shall not be necessary to show that a particular gang possesses, acknowledges or is known by a common name, insignia, flag, means of recognition, secret signal or code, creed, belief, structure, leadership or command structure, method of operation or criminal enterprise, concentration or specialty, membership, age or other qualification, initiation rites, geographical or territorial situs, boundary or location, or other unifying marks, manner, protocol or method of expressing or indicating its membership when the gang’s existence can be demonstrated by other admissible evidence, but evidence which reasonably shows or demonstrates the existence of, or membership in, a gang shall be admissible in an action or proceeding brought under this Ordinance…..”

Unless properly ready, construed or interpreted this language could fit a church, a fraternal organisation and or non-profit entity. The language is startling and could not be designed to capture the type of “gang-related activity” in the TCI today. TCI gangs, if you can call them that, are a “Mish mash” of bad street men and women, children of migrants whose anger now spills onto the street.

It is clear from the words there that the policymakers do not understand what they are dealing with. What do they mean by “it shall not be necessary” for the gangs to show that they have any particularly known

mark of activity etc?

So wouldn’t it be possible to fit a church or religious cult into this language? Are we about to outlaw Christianity in the TCI? A “law-abiding nation” where all members of the cabinet and parliament claim some kind of Christian connection? Are they aware of the ramifications of the law they have passed?

Necessary steps

This is a good thing, we need these gangsters off our streets, every day it's something, there's no peace anymore in Turks and Caicos, and we are tired of it!

Road to perdition

It is often quoted that the “road to Hell is paved with Good Intentions”. One cannot attribute bad faith to this law as enacted. One look at it would show on the other hand that it is a bit of an overreach. The AntiGang Ordinance, as enacted, defines a gang as a “combination of two or more persons, whether formally or informally organised, who engage in gang-related activity”.

Whether formally or informally? Are they guessing? “Gang-related activity” in the law is defined as “(a) an offence; (b) an attempt to commit an offence; (c) the aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring of an offence; or (d) a conspiracy to commit an offence”.

The law is based on such a slippery slope of ideas and guessing. One wonders if any sane person had anything to do with the drafting of the bill. Did hon ministers and elected officials, who ought to have been in touch with their constituents, have anything to do with the policy behind this law?

Elected officials, especially on a law as serious as this, should have consulted with the public, taken their “pulse and pressure” and seen how people feel about this. It is like what has been passed is a guessing game of moving targets.

A good criminal lawyer would get his client off in a heartbeat with these dubious policy provisions. They touch on freedoms and personal liberties. How could provisions get past the Cabinet or the AGs Chambers?

No bulletproof vests is

beyond strange

Anti-Gang Bill 2022, which also makes it an offence to be in possession of a bullet-proof vest. This is perhaps the most asinine and ill-thought-out provisions, underlined with a veneer of stupidity!

It can be understood that known criminals and gangbangers “should not be caught dead” with a bulletproof vest because the police need easy access to shoot and kill them on sight! Yet why not enable lawabiding citizens, the Ministers and the public, the right to a bulletproof vest?

Wouldn’t a bulletproof vest had saved the life of the NAACP official, as he was the victim of stray bullet? One would have thought that good public policy would lead the Government to make bulletproof vests available to the voter and law-abiding citizens.

Again, when making laws of this nature, one should consult with the public and have measures of this nature tested by the people. Those you claim to represent and protect.

International terror groups or gangs?

In desperation, lack of proper consultation with the public, the measure captures the kind of activity that would fit the profile of international terrorism. The law is

BECOME

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

Breaches of human rights are inevitable if this law is enforced as is.

“Illegitimate” Premier sacks minister in “Banana Republic”

– George Lightbourne on recent Cabinet reshuffle

BY DELANA ISLES

No stranger to speaking his mind, ruffling feathers and standing up to the hierarchy, former government minister George Lightbourne had a lot to say this week about a shocking Cabinet shakeup.

Akierra Missick is out, and Shaun Malcolm is in – that was the news of the week, as shocked residents speculated on a decision of the Premier to shake up the ministerial portfolios in his administration.

One person, however, sees this recent decision as proof “the administration is falling apart”.

Lightbourne - who had taken the party to court over its decision to appoint the now Premier Charles Misick as leader of the PNP in the run-up to the 2020 elections - told the press this week that Misick’s government “never had any legitimacy of its own”, and his recent decision “reflects certain realities and the fact that this Premier is not a duly elected party leader”.

He alleged that with court corruption and “deliberate breaking of party rules, Washington Misick remains as PNP putative leader and ultimately Premier.

“His position and tenure,

tenuous as best, are not safe. It is from this illegitimate position he is ruling as a Third World dictator, with an iron hand, iron fist and standing on feet of clay and in the context of a Banana Republic.”

Lightbourne said that the removal of the minister was done in a “strange, embarrassing and curious” way, further alleging that even though all ministers serve at the pleasure of the Premier, certain basic rules of courtesy, common sense and common decency were ignored.

He said: “The national executive of his governing party was also clearly ignored. Clearly, in his eyes, they do not exist.

“No session or gathering was convened to gain the feeling and consensus of the people in their ranks.

Misick of being intolerant of opposition within the party ranks, stating that there is no democracy in the PNP or the Cabinet.

“Even minor questions on policy and the budget are shut down as they will harbour no real debate or sensible discussion on issues affecting the people.

working daily, in bed with this one regime, working against the interests of native Turks and Caicos Islanders.”

speculative in design and open to serious challenge in the courts. In developing the bill, they should have met the public in the context of a stakeholder’s summit. Bring the churches, opposition, civil society, and related interests. Let people say how they feel.

No instead they move to ban gangs they know little of and how they function. Did they consult the Leader of the Opposition even before the bill was presented? If so, they would have seen the inherent and clear weaknesses in the measure. There is an undemocratic tendency featuring the essence of the law. It needs to be amended to take account of basic human rights and the potential for overreach.

Determining gang affiliation

How will one determine what is a gang or who makes up a gang? Perhaps we need to police the act of no loitering. If one is at a function or designated gathering that is a difference. Is there gang-affiliated clothing, body/hand gestures and words/slang used to detect possible gang members or affiliation with that of a gang?

We must also not allow for a blind eye to be turned when those whom swore to serve and protect are a part of the problem. We must treat crime as it is "WITHOUT" fear, favour or prejudice.

Future over freedom

The bill though necessary will definitely cause a ruckus down the road. People are not going to admit to belonging to gangs. Gang members as we have seen over the last few weeks are not rats and therefore this will lead the police to get hard evidence. Maybe a special branch for surveillance is needed. How big is the TCI anyways? If the US can spy on Middle Eastern countries, maybe the time is right for us to spy on our own people. Only then will we have the information needed to prosecute. So yes, our freedom is at stake, but so is our future.

“It is again the course of dealings you could expect from a Premier who is intent on ruling with an iron hand and like a third-world Dictator. Outdated politics at its best.”

The former minister said that in situations like this, there is always the issue of graft and under-thetable deals.

Opining that it is possible that the former minister has information on this Premier so incriminating that it can bring him down any day.

GOVERNMENT IS FALLING APART

Lightbourne has accused Premier

He said the wholesale sell-out of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands by the enactment of the intensely racist, anti-local Beach Vendor’s Bill is a prime example of where the mind and attention of this “illegitimate” premier is.

As is the lack of a sensible or coherent policy and strategy in dealing with the spiralling crime issue and spate of murders, he alleges.

“As premier, it is understood that that is under the control of the attorney general and the iron hand of the Governor.

“The same Governor who is

Lightbourne added that the premier’s reckless support of this failed commissioner of police, presiding over high levels of crime, shows a level of disregard and blatant disrespect for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“This collusion and selling the peoples’ rights comes from a place of weakness and having no legitimate claim to the leadership of this TCI.

“Anyone who could openly breach his party’s constitution, and unlawfully attain the leadership, has no respect for the party, the people and the very office he holds.”

He said it was, therefore “natural, predictable, and inevitable that from this position the Government would start to fall apart.”

PDM Deputy Leader calls for ...

intend to achieve over the short/ long term with this shuffle?

with the people of this country, your first two years of office has been a failure and now you are playing the blame game on your ministers, for example by as going public regarding your disappointment in the delivery of E-governance, the disappointment in crime and the list goes on.”

The Deputy Leader recommended that the government consider calling an early election instead of shuffling ministers frequently.

“What does your government

“What is the current position as it relates to getting crime under control? Yes, we all know that crime is not an overnight fix.

“It requires all hands on deck, but it is your duty to provide safety for each citizen, resident, and visitor alike. The people just want to feel a sense of hope that peace will be restored within our Beautiful by Nature islands.

“What plans are in place in the event that we are impacted by a possible recession? We do not need more talk of a stimulus

check because that is not a longterm fix.

“Your election campaign was crafted on this, and while it was exciting for a time, reality has hit hard, more mature, wise solutions are needed from you Mr Premier.

“I ask the people of this country to ask themselves, are we better off under this current government?

“The People’s Democratic Movement is the government in waiting and we will ensure a safer and more secure future for the people of this country”, he added.

Former minister George Lightbourne

New ministers of Health & PPID sworn in following miniCabinet shuffle

Two ministers were sworn into the Progressive National Party (PNP) Cabinet this week following a mini shuffle.

On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, All Island elected Member of Parliament, Hon Shaun David Malcolm the new Minister for Health and Human Services, and Hon Jamell Ryan Robinson the new Minister with responsibility for Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development recited the Oath of Office to assume their new ministerial positions.

The brief swearing-in ceremony was held at the Office of the Premier on Leeward Highway.

Hon Malcolm has replaced Hon Robinson, who in turn has replaced Hon Akierra M. D. Missick. Missick will continue to serve as a Member of Parliament for Electoral District 5 Leeward and Long Bay.

Acting Governor, HE Anya Williams swore in the new ministers in the presence of Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick and other Cabinet ministers in attendance.

Under his Ministerial portfolio, Malcolm will also be responsible for the administration of several departments of government, including the dental department, primary health care unit, policy planning and administrative support, health promotion and advocacy.

He will also be at the helm of the Environmental Health Department, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit, Special Needs Unit, National Public Health Laboratory, Emergency Medical Service, Contract Management Unit, and National Epidemiology and Research Unit and the Health Emergency Management Unit.

During his brief remarks, Minister Malcolm expressed his gratitude to the Premier, his parliamentary colleagues, and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands who elected him to represent them at the February 2021 polls.

Malcolm stressed that he will

continue to work diligently to better the lives of Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“It was a short 18 months ago that I stood here with a deep sense of humility, and gratitude, and expressed my thanks to persons throughout the length and breadth of this beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands for their confidence and for sending me to be their mouthpiece at the legislative level. “Today, the Hon Premier has demonstrated his confidence and trust in my ability to function at the executive level and I am humbled.”

He underscored his commitment to making the health and wellbeing of the people his priority.

“The house of the people determines the wealth of the nation is for me, the blueprint and my god, ensuring that our most valuable resource, our people, are afforded the best quality health care.

“To lives, livelihood and the development of this country and the preservation of its wealth for the future generation and this is my pledge to you the people of today.”

Minister Robinson on the other hand is responsible for physical planning and infrastructure development in the physical planning board, including responsibility for the administration of the Physical Planning and Technical Support, Public Works Programme Management, Public Works Department, Mechanical Services Division, Maintenance Division and Project Management Division, Physical Planning and Development Department, Estate Management Department, Housing and Community Renewal Infrastructure Development.

Commenting on his appointment, Robinson said “to my new team, the Ministry of PPID, the work continues and we have some great deliverables that we must do for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

In announcing these ministerial changes, Premier Misick stated: “When the country elected my government and me in February

of 2021, I stated then that our team was comprised of a deep bench of talent.

POLICE REPORTS

Tourist reportedly drowns while snorkelling

Police are investigating the death of a tourist, who, reports suggest drowned while snorkelling on a Providenciales beach.

The incident occurred on Saturday, November 5, sometime around 11 am. Calls were placed to police at around 11:25 am by an employee of the Coral Gardens Resort, stating that the man was unresponsive after being pulled from the water.

Efforts were made to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. The victim was pronounced dead at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

“I remain convinced that this group of individuals will continue to work by implementing

Teenage brawl leaves one wounded

Cops were called in last Saturday, November 5, to break up a fight involving several teen boys in the vicinity of the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex.

The fight – which was recorded and widely shared across social media – took place around 3:54 pm, following a youth sporting event in the Downtown area.

When police responded to the scene, they observed a male teenager bleeding. Medical aid was immediately rendered by the cops, and the teenager was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for further treatment.

Grand Turk shooting suspect arrested

Meanwhile, in other eventful news over the weekend, a 35-year-old man was arrested.

The man, a resident of Grand Turk, is suspected to be the shooter in an incident that occurred on Wednesday, November 2.

Upon responding to calls of gunshots in the vicinity of the Green Diamond Bar area in the nation’s capital, police were given information as to the identity of the shooter.

As a result of this information, the police officers went to the North Back Salina district where they apprehended the suspect.

Acting Governor HE Anya Williams, Hon Jamell Ryan Robinson, Minister with responsibility for Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development and Premier Hon Washington Misick

Acting Governor HE Anya Williams Hon Shaun David Malcolm, Minister with responsibility for Health and Human Services, and Premier Hon Washington Misick

the policies, legislation, and programmes to progress these Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Government aims to establish

TCI’s first border force

The government is making significant headway with the establishment of a unified border force to bolster security and surveillance at TCI’s ports of entry.

As the territory transitions to an intelligence-based approach to policing the territory’s borders, the implementation of a joint border force is intended to promote national prosperity by facilitating the legitimate movement of people and goods, whilst preventing those that would cause harm from entering the territory.

When the allied border force comes to fruition, it will further bolster the territory’s ability to combat human trafficking, drugs and firearms smuggling, poaching and other illicit activities.

To this end, Cabinet was recently updated on the progress of work underway to set up the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, at a meeting chaired by His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin on Wednesday 2 November 2022 at his residence on Grand Turk.

“Cabinet endorsed a number of structures, leadership frameworks, and other measures bringing together the work of the Customs and Immigration departments under a unified border force”, a

post Cabinet statement said on Wednesday, November 9.

A team of analysts from the United Kingdom is currently on the ground working with local immigration and customs teams to produce the very first border force strategic threat assessment.

This was revealed in a recent

ministerial statement from the Minister of Immigration and Border Services' Hon Arlington Musgrove.

His statement was read in the House of Assembly by former Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID), Hon Akeirra Missick.

She said: “The analysts are working across government through immigration and customs and have met with various policing units, education, and national security.

Musgrove said that the threat assessment will take the current crime landscape into consideration

and highlight very important areas to cover.

“This is a holistic threat assessment considering the entirety of the risks to our border.

“The assessment team will be with us in a little over two weeks' time and the job of designing new objectives, priorities, and performance measures for our border force can begin in earnest.”

She stressed that as part of the Government’s efforts to increase the capabilities of border staff, three UK immigration enforcement trainers are also in the Turks and Caicos Islands working with immigration leads to deliver two formal operation training courses covering the entire immigration task force team.

“The content of this training has been designed in partnership with immigration leads and will help us to develop and professionalise our approach to immigration enforcement not only in personal skills but in criminal investigations, enforcement and detention operations.

“During their time with us, Mr Speaker, the trainers will also support our leads in reviewing and refreshing our immigration enforcement policies and procedures”, she added.

Another young life lost to gun violence

Twenty-six-year-old Brian Williams Jr is the latest resident to brutally lose his life at the hands of criminals, as TCI’s crime rate continues its out-of-control surge.

In a statement on the incident last week, police reported that at about 4:32 pm on November 3, officers responded to calls of shots being fired in a yard of a Blue Hills resident.

When police officers arrived at the given location, a male victim – later found to be Williams - was observed slumped over a chair, bleeding from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

Images of the crime scene shared on social media, depicted the man’s lifeless body, slumped in a chair in the yard as cops examine the scene.

Williams was later pronounced dead by a medical official.

In that same statement, police again issued a call for information leading to the whereabouts and capture of wanted man Brandon

Leonard Rahming.

However, the statement does not give any indication of whether police suspect Rahming to be involved in this latest shooting.

Following the issuance of the

press release, a social media profile under the name of ‘Brandon Lee’ posted that they are not responsible for this latest shooting and that they (the poster) will not take the fall for the killing.

That post read: “Love

Many residents on social media expressed confusion as to why police issued the wanted bulletin for Rahming along with the report of the murder, with some claiming that it is a deliberate attempt by the police to mislead the public.

In a post widely shared on the WhatsApp messaging platform, one resident claimed to have been at the crime scene while police were there and observed certain actions by the cops.

The message read: “We stood in the area of the crime scene and watched when the police was moving the body, they searched the immediate area for evidence and found two men hiding across the road in the bushes. None was Brandon, so how could they attach his photo and name to the Blue Hills murder report? It doesn’t make sense. What are they

implying?”

A wanted bulletin was first issued for the 32-year-old Bight resident on October 27, with police saying that the man is wanted in relation to murder, drugs and firearm offences. Residents are urged by police not to approach Rahming if they see him as he is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Additionally, members of the public are being urged to notify the closest police station or to contact Crime Stoppers to give any information on this incident, Rahming’s whereabouts or any other illegal activity anonymously.

Police are once again assuring residents that all crime stoppers calls are answered in Miami and in Houston by Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers - a non-profit organisation which is not a police agency - and they are all kept anonymous and cannot be traced in the United States or the TCI. (DELANA ISLES)

Brian Williams Jr was shot and killed in his yard

to blame me for y’all lack of leadership but God don’t sleep… R.I.P lil bro never deserve that still.”

The border force will work to combat human trafficking, drugs and firearms smuggling, poaching, and other illicit activities

Justice will prevail

There are so many people committing evil acts, and it looks like they are not getting caught for their actions. As a result, others are becoming frustrated, losing hope, and getting scared. For the past three weeks, I was feeling at peace about the crime situation because I thought things had improved given that there were no shootings and murders.

Unfortunately, criminal activities are taking place again and no one has been arrested (as far as I know). These criminals think they will get away but one day they will get caught no matter how long it takes.

I know it seems so unfair that people are getting away with lying, stealing, and killing. It is just a matter of time before the truth will come

BY DREXWELL SEYMOUR

Drexwell Seymour is a certified public accountant and is the managing partner for HLB TCI. His favourite hobby, however, is writing. He has a personal website, www.drexwellseymour. com, where all of his writings are posted. He also has a YouTube channel where you can find inspirational videos. Drexwell has a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.

out and these individuals will get exposed and dealt with. You may be asking how long you should wait for justice to take place. I know this may not be comforting words for victims but please wait and see the downfall of these individuals for they will be caught.

You have individuals stealing from their families, friends, strangers, clients, and their workplaces. Some of them enrich themselves—living a lavish lifestyle. Others cannot show what they do with the money. It is wrong to steal and it is just a matter of time before they get caught. It is

not worth it. How could you take things people work so hard for? Your time will come, for the truth always comes out.

You have people lying thinking they will not get caught. Some people can see right through the lies. Some of these liars do not even remember the lies and they end up lying to cover another lie and in so doing they are caught without realising it. It is best to be honest because your lies will catch you up.

Now let us talk about killing. I cannot understand why people will kill others and think they will not get caught. You will get caught one day and nobody should feel sorry for you. It is wrong to take the life of someone. It is heartless. You may

be running and hiding now but you cannot do that forever. Either the police will catch you or somebody else will catch you. Your day of reckoning is coming, it is just a matter of time.

I feel so bad, and I am hurt about the things that are taking place in my beloved Turks and Caicos. It is not right what is happening, and I believe people know who are doing these things but remain tight-lipped. I hope these people you are covering up for or hiding will not do the same thing to you that they are doing to others.

One thing I know, these criminals will get caught. They cannot replace the life or money they took from you but justice will take place.

The power of philosophy and ideology

PART 2 – EDUCATION

Previously we discussed that philosophy is the basic concepts, beliefs and attitudes of an individual or group and Ideology is the manner of thinking. Both are critical components of our educational systems and determine the future of the people. The quality of education that a country provides its citizens has a very profound impact in the future direction, growth, safety, prosperity and influence of the very same.

BY KEITH DAVIS

Keith Davis is an IT Consultant resident on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. He is married and has two wonderful boys. His desire is to contribute to the advancement of the country, but more importantly the youth.

Currently, there is a great emphasis on the increasing criminal activities going on in the islands and it should be no surprise. People act and do what they are educated, miseducated or what they lack education to prevent.

What is murder? Murder is defined as unlawfully killing a person with malice. Let’s take a short journey here. When was the last time you educated your child on the value of life? Look through their textbooks to see where the teachers gave them notes on the subject. If people are not educated on the value of something, they are more likely to discard it. Right now, life is being discarded. For many, when they kill someone, it is just another ‘pound of flesh’. We have heard this term in relation to something else.

choice of life between her and the baby. These are difficult decisions. Some people who grew up in homes and learnt that ‘Surely for your lifeblood, I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man’ (Genesis 9:5). This education teaches that human life is not a pound of flesh. For those who were not educated with that or do not believe it, removing ‘a pound of flesh’ from a mother’s womb that is not wanted is no big deal. Likewise, removing ‘a pound of flesh’ that is upsetting you is a shrug of the shoulder.

We welcome letters from all members of the public on a variety of topics

Please note that all submissions are subject to editing in keeping with defamation laws and newspaper style. Letters should be accompanied by the author’s full name, location and phone number. Names will be withheld if requested.

There are many views on abortion and if it is moral. What do we do if a mother does not want the baby? How about a twelve-year-old getting raped and ending up pregnant? Should she have that child? A mother dying on the birth table and there is a

I am no scientist or doctor, but the mere fact that I had very little to do with whether our children were males or females, what day they were conceived and born, how they would look or what their countenance is likely to be, humbles my understanding and I am forced to submit that there is a greater intelligence than me. That intelligence says that life is very valuable and there is to be an accounting for a life that is taken. But if we do not teach our children that life is valuable and should be treasured, when they see how easily a movie portrays the death of a person as nothing significant, it can very much teach them the same.

How does a nation use the

resources of education to create a desired and positive outcome? Is there value in looking at the system that was used for so long and possibly make changes to fit our times. Look at the example of technology. This revolution has changed our world in ways that we cannot calculate and have made our lives so much more adventurous. Taking digital images of our kids at two and then showing it to them when they are 22 is quite amazing. Unfortunately, on the other side of this equation, technology has recreated an environment of the reintroduction of slavery and dependency. The reality of nature is the same either way: in the past, soldiers submitted their will and intelligence over to a dictator that used them to massacre many innocent people. They were controlled. Today, people submit everything to a ‘cloud’ where the total dependence is to and on a company. If they increase costs, you must bear it reluctantly. If the system goes down, you lose your mind and become domiciled, transfixed or unable to function.

The writer of one of the greatest pieces of wisdom the world has ever known said ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7). The challenge here is that we think what we know and have been educated in. What if that education that we ‘thinketh’ is the problem?

Criminals may be hiding now but not forever

Is lack of empowerment in the workplace negatively impacting the customer experience?

Research has clearly shown when employees feel empowered at work, it is associated with stronger job performance, job satisfaction, and commitment to the organisation or institution.

Despite our stellar rating as one of the world’s top tourism destinations, many would agree in some cases what we have seen over the years in Turks and Caicos Islands, is not a reflection of workplace empowerment. Be it in government or the private sector, the lack of ownership and empowerment is prevalent in some offices.

Management in some cases has failed to empower their employees by delegating authority, decisionmaking, and sharing of pertinent

information.

BY ED FORBES A concerned citizen of Grand Turk

Working in top management positions for a large portion of my career, I have found that if you ask the right questions, in most cases you will find the answer is right in the room amongst your employees.

It behoves management to take the time to solicit employees' input. Employees are the face of your business or institution and through their interaction, they know what’s needed to satisfy the customer.

Furthermore, it’s pointless to solicit employees' input if the information only remains in a file

and nothing is implemented.

Follow up with the employee or committee on reasons why their input may or may not work at this particular time.

What I have found over the years is, if given autonomy, in most cases employees are not seeking attention but simply know what they are doing and do it with pride.

Often times, what the customer perceives to be an attitude from the employee, could be a result of pent-up frustration due to the lack of support or relevant information from their direct reports.

We need leaders in the workplace who are not afraid to delegate authority to their employees, ask for their input, and encourage autonomous decision-making.

In my opinion, I believe it’s not being done due to the fear of being replaced, which is small-minded thinking. In contrast, it makes your own job easier and the office becomes more productive and customer-centric.

Granted, employees will fail from time to time, but it’s all a part of learning. What’s important, is to have biannual performance-based reviews with your employees so they are aware of the expectations, shortcomings and their progress.

On every job, you will find highly creative individuals just

waiting to be discovered or given the opportunity.

Challenge them to generate novel ideas and to think of new ways of doing things rather than the status quo, just because the office has always done it that way.

Apart from delegating additional work, empowering leadership is also about mentoring and supporting employee development; not exploiting them, which we know is all too common in some cases.

What we need are leaders who can lead, not just checking off the boxes or just because they are your most reliable employee.

By empowering employees it

OCTOPEN

Eight delicious ways to spice up your marriage

A lovely family (mom, dad, son and son’s partner) walked into Island Scoop and I was immediately drawn to them. They were not the usual uptight and rigid families that we often get in September. They seemed cool! In fact, too cool!

We started off with a rather relaxed conversation whilst scooping a double cookie-dough ice cream cone for the mother. I pulled my usual small talks... their whereabouts on the island, the purpose of this trip and the food joints they’ve been to thus far.

As I tried to secure yet another 5-star-review for my unparalleled hospitality, the conversation took a different course. It shifted towards their relationships.

“What is the secret of a longlasting marriage?” I asked the mother. “Married to a deaf man”, she said. I immediately burst out laughing, because I thought it was a rather bold yet humorous response.

“No really, my husband is deaf”, she persisted.

I felt a single drop of sweat run from the back of my neck slowly down my lower back. Flushed and

BY DAVIDSON LOUIS

embarrassed, I stood still... frozen even, like the ice cream I held. I definitely crossed the time!

But despite my faux pas, what could you do to prolong your love affair? If you cannot find a selective hearing partner like my dear client, there must be a few things you can do to spice your sex life up.

Here are eight unorthodox ways to keep your marriage sizzling. I am not married so take these with a pinch of salt.

SPEND A DAY NAKED

This Saturday, spend it at home, in your very own birthday suit with your partner. Let it all hang, drip or drop. Be free and be you. One of the best ways to spice up your relationship is to crank up

the sensuality. I would strongly advise, however, that you check your bank balance before you end up with another child.

TAKE A CLASS TOGETHER

All couples get bored sooner or later. When you spend every day of your life with the same person, eventually you run out of things to talk about. Pick a class that puts both parties out of their comfort zone. If you both can’t dance, take a hip-hop class. Do not do a sport. Pick something simple yet engaging. Be and get silly together. Life is too short to be serious all the time.

ROLE-PLAY

This is a variation of the “strangers” game. But instead of

meeting in a bar, try something different_ be their long-lasting celebrity crush. Whatever happens within the walls of your union should never be seen as unholy. So live a little.

STRIP POKER

This is the only win-win scenario that will only make sense. Even if you lost quite miserably – the other party will be thrilled! So take it off, one by one.

DRESS UP

You’ve seen him in front of the TV eating cereal out of a coffee cup whilst watching some game in his boxers. He’s seen you in your old négligée with your hair in rollers. You two have seen everything there is to see about each other_ but don’t leave it there. Put on everything they always drool over. Do not make them regret why they picked you.

DO IT OUTSIDE

Why the heck now? But please be safe. Try the beach, the car or even the hard ground. Full moon, or new moon_ the decision is yours. Don’t let the

“norm” and “shyness” restrict you from enjoying your partner. Use that body you’ve been given. God knows it won’t stay like this forever.

TEASING

Why does flirting always stop when a relationship gets serious? If anything, being in an intimate relationship should be like written permission to show public displays of affection! Do yourself a favour and spice up your relationship by flirting with him during the day. Don’t be afraid to get a little naughty. After all, he did put a ring on it.

INVITE A THIRD

If you are in a time and space where this is not going to unravel the fabric of your union, I will say go for it. Be careful and discuss all of the shenanigans that may therefore erupt. If it works out, you can thank you, if it doesn’t_ it didn’t, that idea didn’t come from me.

SEND ALL OF YOUR NAUGHTY STORIES OVER TO LOUISEDENS@GMAIL.COM

Rachel Wolchin once said: “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have had roots instead of feet.” On this quest to self-discovery, TC Islander Davidson Louis vowed to travel, write, paint, laugh and forgive. Subsequently, he hopes to find himself and or, leave behind a few pieces of himself. Contact him at hello. octopen@tcinews.tc

Bolsonaro’s defeat is a triumph for climate change advocates

The electoral defeat of Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro is a triumph for everyone who is concerned about the peril of climate change. Bolsonaro’s welldeserved defeat could help save the Amazon rainforest, which has been ravaged under his criminal rule, and the process of reversing the looming climate change catastrophe can begin

RIGHTING THE WRONG

President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory over Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil represents a historic chance to begin undoing some of the great harm that was inflicted on Brazil’s Amazon rainforest over the last four years. Since taking office in January 2019, Bolsonaro has ravaged the earth for shortsighted gains, turning back environmental regulations that any thinking human being would wish to preserve in the face of such unprecedented global degradation. Bolsonaro systematically dismantled environmental protections so that those who could not care less about the environment would be free to clear the land and turn it into pastures without any accountability. The unfolding crisis of the Amazon is a catastrophe for climate change, biodiversity, Indigenous people of the region, and the untold wonders that human science has yet to understand.

A 2020 study published in the journal Nature has shown that if the systematic destruction of the Brazilian Amazon continues

BY DR. ALON BEN-MEIR

unabated, much of it could become an arid savannah, or even “dry scrubland,” within decades given the rate of deforestation, largely due to deliberate and illegal fires that are meant to permanently convert forest into pastureland. With the devastation of the rainforests has also come the devastation of those Indigenous people whose homelands and livelihoods are being destroyed by deforestation.

Just imagine, between August 2020 and July 2021 over 5,000 square miles of rainforest were lost in the Brazilian Amazon –that is an area larger than the land area of Connecticut. In fact, under Bolsonaro the rate of destruction reached a ten-year high, as his administration turned a blind eye to illegal logging, the deforestation of Indigenous land, and, as Amnesty International notes, the “violence against those living on and seeking to defend their territories.”

Under Bolsonaro’s reckless and corrupt rule, his government deliberately “weakened environmental law enforcement agencies, undermining their ability to effectively sanction environmental crime or detect

exports of illegal timber,” as Human Rights Watch describes. Fines for illegal logging in the Brazilian Amazon were suspended by presidential decree at the beginning of October 2019. Illegal seizures of land on Reserves and Indigenous territories in Brazil’s Amazon became routine, as Bolsonaro slashed the budget of agencies that protected the jungle from unauthorized clearing. Criminal organisations, aptly called “rainforest mafias,” allow cattle ranchers to operate with impunity, and according to the US State Department possess the “logistical capacity to coordinate large-scale extraction, processing, and sale of timber, while deploying armed men to protect their interests.”

It is hard to fathom the sheer scale of destruction that was wreaked by Bolsonaro upon the Amazon. Such rampant deforestation is tragic on many levels — it is destroying habitats and countless species being pushed to the brink of extinction when we are already in the midst of a mass extinction of this planet’s animals, insects, and plants. It is hastening the onslaught of climate change when we are already facing the dire effects of a warming planet. And it is obliterating the lands of Indigenous people who have already suffered and been persecuted and murdered for decades.

To be sure, the extent of devastation of the rainforest under Bolsonaro was so enormous that we can barely begin to comprehend the loss to humanity, to science, and to our knowledge of undiscovered plants and animals that hold the answers to questions of which we have not even dreamt. This is a shameful loss to the entire world and to generations hence.

The Bolsonaro government failed miserably to act as a responsible custodian of the Amazon and Pantanal (the world’s largest tropical wetland located mostly within Brazil, which along with the Amazon has some of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems) — instead it helped in every way it can to hasten this unimaginable devastation. Dr Michelle Kalamandeen, a tropical ecologist on the Amazon rainforest, observed that “When

a forest is lost, it is gone forever. Recovery may occur but never 100% recovery.”

We must bring this travesty to a halt. By this wanton and dismally short-sighted decimation of the rainforests we are depriving humanity of knowledge which could alter medicine, improve our lives and transform the world, from the way we build our cities to the ways we make our homes.

Plant and animal species inspire new technologies, new forms of architecture, new kinds of design and materiality. Yet probably less than 1 percent of rainforest trees and plants have been studied by science — though not less than 25 percent of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients. By allowing rampant deforestation to continue, we are doing ourselves and future generations untold and unconscionable harm.

Let us remember that the Amazon does not simply belong to the countries in which it happens to be found – it is not the exclusive resource of those companies that are able to exploit it, appropriate its resources, and destroy it with impunity. The Amazon is part of our collective patrimony, a heritage beyond price which we are duty-bound to pass on to future generations, regardless of the profits that we may yield from its systematic rape.

And let us make no mistake, or mince words—the Amazon is being raped hour by hour, month by month, year by year, and the world is watching in silence as this violation is repeated daily. The time is running out for us to act in a meaningful way to stop this mindless decimation of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

With the election of Lula as President of Brazil, we now have a historic opportunity to support and encourage him to immediately start working on a plan to reverse Bolsonaro’s disastrous policies in

three main areas: the environment, public security, and scientific discoveries.

First, President Lula should start by prohibiting deforestation, illegal logging, and land grabbing. To that end, he must stop short of nothing to pass a new law to be enshrined in the Brazilian constitution that puts an end to the systematic destruction of the rainforest. The law should include mandatory prison sentences as well as heavy fines to prevent cattle ranchers and illegal loggers from committing such crimes ever again with impunity.

Second, he must develop a comprehensive plan to protect the human rights of Indigenous communities from the criminal networks that use violence, intimidation, and terror to cow the locals into silence. He should make such a plan the center of his domestic policy while improving security and providing the necessary funding for environmental agencies to perform their tasks with zeal.

Third, President Lula should invite the global scientific community to further study the wonders of the Amazon and in partnership with them initiate scores of scientific projects from which the whole world would benefit, while preserving the glory of the Amazon as one of the central pillars in the fight against climate change.

Finally, President Biden, who understands full well the danger that climate change poses, should provide political support and financial assistance to President Lula to help him reverse some of the damage that was inflicted on the Amazon by his predecessor.

President Lula must view his rise to power and the responsibility placed on his shoulders as nothing less than a holy mission that will help save the planet from the manmade looming catastrophes of climate change.

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

Jair Bolsonaro

Homeowners being blindsided by underinsurance or no insurance

In the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, many of our homeowners here in the Turks and Caicos, in particular Grand Turk and Salt Cay, woke up to the reality that their houses are underinsured. They are being blindsided by terms like rate of replacement, reinsurance, average clause, underwriting, market rate for goods and services, and replacement value.

Many of our people are being told by the adjusters working for the insurance companies that their property is undervalued and/or underinsured. Hence the value of their claim will have to be greatly reduced due to those aforementioned factors.

Some persons expressed that they are also being told that the cost for labour and materials submitted by them are not at market rate, which is almost always lower than the amount in the claim. They

also stated that they are being told which businesses they can solicit for quotes on the cost of labour and materials.

The experience of seeking a payout from the insurance companies has been a stressful, disappointing, and eye-opening experience for many homeowners.

Many expressed the feeling of being grossly uninformed and lacking needed knowledge about their insurance policies, especially those who got insurance through their banking institutions.

A common mistake that some homeowners make is not to insure their property for the full replacement value, thus creating the issue of underinsurance, and as a result, if an insured peril causes damage to the home or its contents are stolen, the claim may be subject to the application of the average clause.

Is lack of empowerment in the workplace negatively ...

allows them the opportunity to take more ownership of their role, and this is where a number of government departments, office settings and stores in our country are lacking.

It’s my belief that empowering employees in public service businesses such as the hospitality sector, healthcare or licensing departments is crucial. Most of these employees are key to organisational effectiveness and could prove to be more beneficial to your business and the country as a whole.

It’s important for businesses and institutions to build that framework for more efficiency. In essence, improving workplace efficiency is about helping employees work smarter, not harder or just doing busy work.

There are two key points to be cognizant of:

#1 Management often times fails to realise the employees are their most important customers and should be treated as such.

#2 In a tourism-driven economy, employees often times fail to realise there shouldn’t be any distinction between the quality of service provided to locals vs tourists.

There are also other areas that could negatively impact the customer experience.

For example, important documents such as police records, birth certificates etc. all require a postal stamp. Why not make it convenient for customers and provide the stamps and include them as part of the fees?

Recently, our tourism department was outsourced to a destination management company. Perhaps, failure to empower employees in the workplace forced this decision. Albeit, this move may broaden our horizon, but let’s be clear, it’s our story, our experiences and our passion that brought us to this point of being one of the most desirable destinations.

With that being said, in order for TCI to continually compete for world-class service in the marketplace, we need to capitalise on the experience and expertise of our people. This will put us in a better position to deliver consistent results where good customer service and experience become the norm not the exception.

The average clause means that the insured is required to bear a proportion of any loss if the property was insured for less than the full replacement value.

“For example, if you insure your house for $300,000 and the replacement cost of the house is $500,000, should the house be damaged by an insured peril to the extent of about $200,000, your claim will be settled in a similar proportion. This means the sum you insured the house for ($300,000) divided by the replacement cost ($500,000) multiplied by the loss ($200,000) will be $120,000, the amount the insurer will pay. You will, therefore, be required to absorb the difference of $80,000.

Consequently, underinsurance is a bad idea, because it leaves you ‘out of pocket,’ if there is a claim.

A house that is destroyed by a hurricane, or is destroyed in a fire, will take thousands of dollars to rebuild or restore, and most times that level of re-funding is not readily available. In some cases, it is the entire life savings of the homeowner that is needed for restoration, thereby putting one’s future quality of life in danger.

Insurance data points out that many homes in the Turks and Caicos are underinsured, with there also being many homes uninsured. That should be a major concern for

the government, the homeowners, and for the insurer, especially given that risks from climatic events such as hurricanes and flooding become more adverse annually.

I would continue to state that more must be done in educating our people about insurance policies and the submissions of claims. This could be done from a national level through the Ministry of Finance, or at the regulatory level through the Financial Service Commission, or at the corporation level through banking institutions and insurance companies.

Should the Turks and Caicos Islands experience a direct hit from a major hurricane, the uninsured and underinsured will experience a crippling financial loss, which in turn worsen the social and economic position of many of our people and communities.

From reviewing information on home insurance policies and insurance claims, I would advise homeowners on these three points which could assist them to safeguard their property from underinsurance.

THREE WAYS TO AVOID UNDERINSURANCE:

1. Insure your property for its replacement value rather than market value: The terms ‘replacement value’ and ‘market value’ sometimes are confusing. Market value is the selling price of the property, and the replacement value is the cost to completely restore your property if it is destroyed or the contents are stolen or damaged.

Therefore, get a property valuator to provide the replacement value of your house including other structures such as walls, gates, swimming pools etc.

2. Ensure that all your contents are included in your policy: Your contents include, but are not limited to paintings, furniture,

appliances, equipment, and clothing. To ensure that none of these items are overlooked in your inventory, make a list of the items in each room.

Photograph or videotape the contents and your home; and store the images and footage offsite.

3. Review insurance policies annually: This is particularly important given that the replacement value of the property may change due to inflation associated with construction costs or home improvement projects implemented.

This regular audit of your insurance, at the time of your renewal or at any point during the policy year, assists to ensure that your property is fully covered in the event of loss by an insured peril.

I cannot underscore more the importance of having complete home insurance, as I learned the lesson personally in the past. It is a bad idea for homeowners not to have insurance or to be underinsured.

More must be done and should be done in protecting against our people from being blindsided by insurance adjustments, and more must be done in educating our people about insurance claims, policies, and procedures. In this vein, after essential discussions with relevant stakeholders the necessary consumer protection legislation will be introduced, passed, gazetted and relevant information will be published on the appropriate government website to ensure greater protections and transparency for the people of the Turks and Caicos.

Be assured a PDM government, under my leadership, will investigate all the needs and concerns of the people, safeguarding them from perils like was outlined above.

CONTRIBUTORS NEEDED

Do you have a subject of interest that you’d like to share with our readers?

Perhaps you’re a great cook and have created lots of delicious recipes that use local ingredients. Maybe you have ideas on how to save money when shopping and know where to find all the latest bargains. Or are you an entrepreneur who would like to share tips on setting up a new business?

We need regular contributors of 400 word articles on a variety of topics

for our Lifestyle pages. Get in touch with us at the Turks and Caicos Weekly News and pitch your idea for a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly column. You will have your name in print along with your business contact details if requested. It’s a great way to share your knowledge and promote your business or start-up.

CONTACT US NOW AT TCWEEKLYNEWS@GMAIL.COM

Leader of the Opposition, Edwin Astwood

BTC Monthly Prestige Awards Celebrates Team Members

PROVIDENCIALES,

Turks & Caicos Islands: Beaches Turks & Caicos’ recent monthly team member Prestige Awards was an eventful afternoon sure to be remembered by nominees, eventual winners and their guests, as the resort’s ballroom was transformed into a spectacle of pomp and pageantry.

Team Member morale was certainly at an all-time high as the resort’s human resources department pulled out the stops to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the resort superstars. Seven categories were highlighted with each winner walking away with certificates and cash incentives.

In issuing congratulatory remarks, General Manager for Beaches Turks and Caicos James McAnally noted, “As we continue on the way forward as a company, we are always consistent in our efforts to inspire our team members to dream bigger while they fulfill their career goals. Each

team member recognised today has given herculean service to the development of the resort, and for that we are grateful. Every team member has a significant role to play in the day-to-day operations of this resort, and without them, we would not be able to provide the quality service that we continue to give to our guests.”

The theme for the latest monthly award was Happiness and Owenta Coleby, human resources manager added, “At Beaches Turks and Caicos, we value our team members and this event is one of those areas where we get a chance to celebrate with them in areas where they get the chance to be recognised for the work that they do.”

The winners in the various categories were: Dominque Delva from the transportation department who copped the Mover & Shaker Team Member of the Month Award, entertainment team member Hakiem Harris danced away

with the Legendary Team Member of the Month accolade, while Carlton Biggs from the stewarding department took home the Sandals Earth Guardian Team Member of the Month Award. The Circle of Joy Award went to Johannes Wulk from the information technology department.

Jenny Florisca walked away with that title for the team member with the most guest commendations for providing guests with an unforgettable experience. Clevens Dorcine from the environmental, health, and safety department was awarded the Sandals Foundation Sentinel of the Month; Tawayne McFarlane, dining room supervisor took the All Rounder of the Month Award; Rayon Williams from maintenance was the recipient of the Pace Setter of the Month Award, and Alex Bernardin from the human resources department

received the coveted Diamond Team Member of the Month Award.

With a full entertainment package on display at the recently held Beaches Turks and Caicos monthly Prestige Awards, Owenta ‘Lady Cindy’ Coleby, human resources manager (left), entertains the crowd as she took the general manager, James McAnally, by his hand in one of her renditions.

Diamond Team member of the month, Alex Bernardin (2nd left) shares the spot light with (l-r) general manager James McAnally, Sharon Fagan, hotel Manager, Julianna Musgrove, learning and development manager and Phildreka Mayham, assistant learning and development manager at the recently held event at one of the resort’s ballroom.

Bellefield Landing Welcome Centre and Port Office officially opened to the public

It is now official, visitors to the twin island communities of North Caicos and Middle Caicos will be welcomed in style upon arrival at Bellefield Landing.

On October 28, the Welcome Centre was officially opened to the public by Minister with responsibility for the Ports, Hon Arlington Musgrove, who ceremoniously cut the ribbon to the new Ports Authority Office Building and Welcome Centre.

Opening remarks and chairing of the ceremony were performed by Deputy Permanent Secretary, Emilio Seymour and Collector of Customs, Chawa Williams and the welcome by Deputy Director, Shawna Lewis.

After breaking ground in 2021,

construction on the centre began in June this year, moving rapidly to completion in the ensuing months.

In his remarks, Minister Musgrove congratulated the contractor on the timely completion of the facility, remarking that many had doubts that it would have been done in the stipulated time frame.

The facility will accommodate ferry services, rental cars, interisland shipping and docking of pleasure crafts as well as travel between North and Middle Caicos.

The minister assured those vendors who did not get a booth in the newly constructed building that the government will be building stalls in the surrounding area to accommodate them.

Also bringing remarks during the ceremony was Premier, Hon Charles Washington Misick, who commended the Ports Authority for the work they have been doing in recent years to modernise the territory’s ports.

“We are committed to developing the infrastructure across the Turks and Caicos Islands… for the time being it is critical that we provide the community of North Caicos easy access to bring in critical materials and make it easier for persons who live here to get in and out safely and easily,” the Premier stated.

He said the welcome centre is just a small quarter of what will be developed at Bellefield Landing and in the twin islands.

On track for completion are the boat slips at Bellefield Landing, which will enable private and commercial vessels ease of access to the sister islands.

Echoing the minister’s comments, the Premier said it is important that opportunities are provided for small businesses to ply their trade at the welcome centre and its surrounding areas, noting that a number of private investments are planned for the port area at Bellefield Landing.

Also in attendance were Cabinet Ministers, other Government officials, contractor Kendell Higgs, former Board Chairman, Urban Francis and former members of the Board, members of the

communities of the Twin Islands of North Caicos and Middle Caicos and Ports Authority staff.

Renditions of spoken word and song were performed by students of the Hubert James Primary School and the Raymond Gardiner High School. Prayers for the office and grounds were brought by Llewellyn Handfield.

The ceremony ended with the handing over of keys by Engineer Dwayne Simons of Unlimited Contracting, who also brought the vote of thanks.

The construction of the welcome centre is part of phase one of the master plan for Bellefield Landing in North Caicos. (DELANA ISLES)

Over 90 healthcare professionals and other first responders recently gained skills and knowledge to manage a range of different types of injuries, during a six-day mass casualty training.

The training seminar was spearheaded by the Health Emergency Management Unit within the Ministry of Health and Human Services, in collaboration

with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). It was aimed at providing a comprehensive approach to health emergency management in response to public health threats including natural and man-made disasters affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Mass Casualty Management

Mum, 102, relieved to find baby’s grave after 76 years

A great-grandmother who has finally discovered the resting place of her stillborn baby girl after 76 years has described her sense of “big relief”.

Marjorie Rigby, 102, told BBC North West Tonight that after being in labour for three days in September 1946 she overheard a consultant’s conversation.

She said he told the matron: “This baby is dead. We’ll get her into hospital.”

Marjorie, from Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, said: “He just spoke to her really, rather than me.”

Even though she knew her daughter was dead, she still then had to deliver her.

For more than 70 years after that traumatic time, Marjorie never knew what had happened next.

“I was just taken back to my room and left,” she said. “No-one came to talk to me and tell me how to get on with life.”

Marjorie said she was sent home two weeks later - standard practice for the time.

“I just went home and carried on,” Marjorie, who was in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in World War Two, recalled.

She went on to have two more daughters but her oldest child, Laura, was never far from her mind.

Medibank: Hackers release abortion data after stealing Australian medical records

Hackers who stole customer data from Australia’s largest health insurer Medibank have released a file of pregnancy terminations.

It follows Medibank’s refusal to pay a ransom for the data, supported by the Australian government.

Medibank urged the public to not seek out the files, which contain the names of policy holders rather than patients.

CEO David Koczkaro warned that the data release could stop people from seeking medical attention.

Terminations can occur for a range of reasons including nonviable pregnancy, miscarriages and complications.

“These are real people behind this data and the misuse of their data is deplorable and may discourage them from seeking medical care,” he said.

The data of 9.7 million Medibank customers was stolen last month - the latest in a string of major data breaches in Australian companies in recent months.

The hackers this week published their first tranche of information after Medibank refused to pay a $10m (£8.7m; A$15.6m) ransomabout $1 for every customer.

Some Australians say they have been targeted by scammers after their medical details were posted

Medibank urged the public to not seek out the files, which contain the names of policy holders rather than patients.

online.

Former tennis champion Todd Woodbridge - who is recovering from a heart attack - said he had been pestered by calls from scammers who had known which hospital he had been in.

“I think I’m one of those people that have been scammed by the Medibank situation, I’m a customer of theirs,” he told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Wednesday.

He and others have criticised Medibank for the security breach.

Earlier this week the hackers released a set of customer detail files named “good-list” and

“naughty-list”.

The files included people’s health claims data - including medical procedure history - as well as names, addresses, birthdates and government ID numbers.

Then on Thursday, the hackers on their forum added they had also: “added one more file abortions. csv...”.

Medibank has apologised for what it has called the “malicious weaponisation” of private information. The hackers got the information after login details allowing access to all its customer data was stolen.

Over 90 first responders participate in Mass Casualty ...

Training which brought together 94 participants from various departments was held during the first week of November after a twoyear hiatus due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Three training sessions were conducted, two on Providenciales and one on Grand Turk.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, participants were drawn from government and non-government first responders and included medical doctors, nurses, emergency medical services personnel, police, TCI regiment, aerodrome and domestic fire, port and airport authority security officers, red cross, ADRA, the department of disaster management and emergencies and TCIG treasury staff.

Participants were awarded certificates based on successful completion of the course which included written and practical examinations.

It was a didactic, multi-sectoral training course consisting of five

days of lectures and field exercises that culminated in a live simulation exercise with the objective of sharpening the response skills of mass casualty responders— helping them to more effectively manage events in human and/or other resource-challenged areas.

The training course culminated on day six, with a series of practical field exercises, held at night, to underscore nocturnal challenges.

Director of Health Disaster, Education and Training, Ms Charlene Higgs said: “The response to the Mass Casualty Management training was overwhelming and the Unit will be conducting training throughout the Islands to ensure that each island builds their emergency response capacity.”

Instructors for the training included Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) subject expert and Regional Emergency Response Trainer, Mr Peter Burgess, PAHO certified instructors Ms Charlene Higgs and Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant and Associate Instructors Mrs TammikaLallWilliams and Mr Leron Albert.

The six-day training was administered to 94 participants from government and non-government first responders

Marjorie Rigby said she never knew if her stillborn daughter Laura had been buried.

Hurricane Nicole: Rare November tropical storm hits land in Florida

HURRICANE Nicole hit Florida on Thursday with 70mph (110kph) winds but has been downgraded to a tropical storm after it slowed on making landfall.

States of emergency remain and evacuation orders are in place, with heavy rain and storm surges forecast.

Nicole has already lashed Grand Bahama Island as a huge category one hurricane, with the scale of the devastation not immediately clear.

Storms of this size so late in the year are extremely rare.

After Florida, Nicole is set to hit Georgia and South Carolina.

It could possibly even hit Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York later in the week.

November hurricanes are rare in Florida. Since record-keeping began in 1853, the sunshine state has been hit by only two: in 1935 and 1985.

Nicole comes just weeks after Hurricane Ian hit Florida, leaving more than 100 people dead.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded Nicole on Wednesday evening from a tropical storm, then downgraded it

Florida’s

Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in West Palm Beach, with the NHC warning of “strong winds, dangerous storm surge and waves, and heavy rains”.

Forty-five of the state’s 67 counties are under a state of emergency and four counties are under mandatory evacuation orders.

More than 100,000 customers have been left without power by the storm.

Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort closed early on Wednesday, and Orlando International Airport grounded commercial operations.

The arrival of Nicole is also expected to further disrupt a longdelayed Nasa rocket launch, which aims to bring Americans one-step closer to returning to the Moon.

The Artemis 1 mission had already been pushed back to 19 November but there are fears that flying debris caused by the storm could damage the exposed rocket.

Nicole’s late arrival follows a relatively quiet storm seasonfor the first time since 1997 not a single hurricane or tropical storm formed in the Atlantic basin this August. (BBC)

Brexit-backing Next boss says UK needs more overseas workers

The boss of retailer Next is urging the government to let more foreign workers into the UK to ease labour shortages.

Lord Wolfson, who was a prominent advocate of Brexit, said the UK’s current immigration policy was crippling economic growth.

He said firms should pay a tax to employ foreign workers, to encourage them to recruit from the UK first.

The government said it had delivered on its promise to “take back control of our immigration system”.

“Unemployment is at record lows and it’s vital we continue to bring in excellent key workers the UK needs, including thousands of NHS doctors and nurses through the Health and Care Visa and the Seasonal Workers scheme which brings in the workforce our farmers and growers need,” a government spokesperson said.

FREE TRADE?

Lord Wolfson, a Conservative peer, told the BBC: “We have got people queuing up to come to this country to pick crops that are rotting in fields, to work in warehouses that otherwise wouldn’t be operable, and we’re not letting them in.

“And we have to take a

different approach to economically productive migration.”

He said that the government needed to decide whether the UK was an open free trading nation, or whether post-Brexit it wanted to be “fortress Britain”, pulling up the drawbridge to foreign workers at significant cost to the economy.

“I think in respect of immigration, it’s definitely not the Brexit that I wanted, or indeed, many of people who voted Brexit wanted,” he said.

“And we have to remember, you know, we’re all stuck in this Brexit argument, we have to remember that what post-Brexit Britain looks like, is not the preserve of those people that voted Brexit, it’s for all of us to decide.”

He added that the majority of people in Britain have a “very pragmatic view” of immigration.

“Yes, control it, where it’s damaging to society, but let people in who can who can contribute,” Lord Wolfson said.

He suggested a market-based solution to fix current labour shortages, which have affected sectors including healthcare, hospitality and logistics.

He suggests that businesses who need foreign workers should be able to pay a tax of 10% to the government on foreign workers’

salaries to ensure that only the businesses that really couldn’t find UK workers would recruit overseas.

“It would automatically mean that businesses never bought someone into the company from outside if they could find someone in the UK,” he said. “But if they genuinely can’t, they’ll pay the premium.”

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, net migration to the UK was estimated to be about 239,000 in the year ending June 2021, a slight fall

from the previous year’s figure of 260,000. The figure was driven by immigration from non-European Union countries.

When the UK was a member of the EU, it came under the principle of free movement that allowed all EU nationals to live and work in any EU country.

But on 31 December 2020, this freedom ended for EU citizens coming to the UK, and for UK citizens going to the EU.

Last month, a survey by the CBI business lobby group found nearly three-quarters of UK companies

had suffered from labour shortages in the past 12 months.

Nearly half of the companies surveyed wanted the government to grant temporary visas for roles that were in “obvious shortage”, the CBI said.

In the summer, the aviation industry asked for special immigration visas for overseas workers but the request was rejected. Understaffing in the industry had been blamed for flight cancellations and delays at airports.

The government has introduced a skilled worker visa scheme for some occupations facing shortages. It also has a seasonal workers scheme to cover jobs such as fruit pickers, and a Health and Care Visa for medical staff.

‘NO NEED FOR BREAKDOWN’

Lord Wolfson admitted that 2023 would be very tough for consumers and businesses but insisted that many businesses should not expect government support that should be targeted at the most needy.

He said “the last thing we want them to do” is to give money to businesses that don’t really need it, because the government needed to focus “very limited resources on the people that most need help during the upcoming recession”.

The National Hurricane Center upgraded Nicole on Wednesday evening from a tropical storm, then downgraded it again an hour after it made landfall and slowed.

again an hour after it made landfall and slowed.

A tropical storm warning is in place for the mid-section of

eastern coast which includes former president Donald

Lord Wolfson said the UK needed a “different approach” to migration.

US elections: Biden hails better-than-expected midterms results

US President Joe Biden has expressed relief after Democrats fended off major Republican gains in the midterms.

Republicans are inching towards control of the House of Representatives, but Mr Biden noted that a “giant red wave” did not materialise on Tuesday night.

Either party could still win the Senate, which hinges on three races that are too close to call.

The party in power, currently the Democrats, usually suffers losses in a president’s first midterm elections.

Republican strategists had been hopeful of sweeping victories, given that inflation is at a 40-yearhigh and Mr Biden’s approval ratings are relatively low.

But exit poll data suggests voters may have punished Republicans for their efforts to restrict access to abortion.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Biden said the results so far had made him breathe a “sigh of relief”.

“It was a good day, I think, for democracy,” he said.

He added that his optimism

had been vindicated, and ribbed journalists who had predicted heavy Democratic losses.

Buoyed by the better-thanexpected night, Mr Biden said he plans to stand for re-election in 2024. “Our intention is to run again, that’s been our intention,” Mr Biden, who turns 80 this month, told reporters.

Republicans, meanwhile, were closing in on the 218 seats they need to wrest control of the House

from Democrats.

If Republicans win either chamber of Congress, they will be able to block the president’s agenda. The White House is also braced for congressional investigations into the Biden administration.

Mr Biden said he was prepared to work with Republicans and would host bipartisan talks next week.

But the president also said he believed the American people

would view any Republican-led inquiries as “almost comedy”.

Whichever party wins two of the three outstanding contests in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada will control the Senate.

Arizona’s Senate race is leaning toward the Democrats, while Nevada is a toss-up, according to estimates by the BBC’s partner CBS News.

Georgia’s contest between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker must be decided by a run-off next month. Neither candidate passed the 50% threshold needed for outright victory.

One of the Republicans’ most prized midterms gains was beating Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, the House Democratic campaign chief.

The biggest trophy of the night for Democrats was flipping a US Senate seat in Pennsylvania.

John Fetterman, who has been recovering from a stroke, beat the Republican, Mehmet Oz, a political newcomer and celebrity doctor.

Mr Oz had been backed by former President Donald Trump, who is being blamed by some analysts for Republicans’ underwhelming night.

The lacklustre results have even placed a question mark over the timing of Mr Trump’s widely expected declaration of a 2024 White House comeback bid. He had promised an announcement next week.

But one of his advisers, Stephen Miller, told conservative network Newsmax he was recommending Mr Trump hold off until the Georgia run-off is decided.

Mr Trump had mixed results out of the more than 300 candidates he endorsed.

Candidates he chose for open Senate seats in Ohio and North Carolina won.

But other contenders Mr Trump hand-picked in the Michigan and Pennsylvania governor’s races lost.

Mr Trump conceded on social media that the election results were “somewhat disappointing”.

But he maintained that “from my personal standpoint it was a very big victory”. (BBC)

Ukraine war: US estimates 200,000 military casualties on all sides

THE most senior US general estimates that around 100,000 Russian and 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the war in Ukraine.

Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, also suggested that around 40,000 civilians had died after being caught up in the conflict.

The estimates are the highest offered yet by a Western official.

He also said that signs Kyiv was willing to re-enter talks with Moscow offered “a window” for negotiations.

In recent days, Ukraine has signalled a willingness to hold some discussions with Moscow, after President Volodymyr Zelensky dropped a demand that his opposite number, Vladimir Putin, must be removed from power before negotiations could resume.

But speaking in New York, Gen Milley added that for any talks to be successful, both Russia and Ukraine would have to reach a “mutual recognition” that a wartime victory “is maybe not achievable through military means, and therefore you need to turn to other means”.

The top general - who serves as President Joe Biden’s most senior military adviser - said the scale of the casualties could convince both Moscow and Kyiv of the need to

negotiate over the coming winter months, when fighting may slow due to freezing conditions.

“You’re looking at well over 100,000 Russian soldiers killed and wounded,” Gen Milley said. “Same thing probably on the Ukrainian side.”

Both Ukraine and Russia jealously guard their casualty numbers.

Moscow’s last update in September said that just 5,937 troops had been killed since the start of the conflict, with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu dismissing reports of a significantly higher death toll.

Gen Milley’s estimate is starkly higher. By comparison, 15,000 Soviet soldiers were estimated to have died in the 1979-89 Afghanistan conflict.

Ukraine has largely refrained from giving casualty figures. But in August, the armed forces’ commander-in-chief, Valeriy Zaluzhniy, was quoted in Ukrainian media saying 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died so far.

The UN has said it does not consider figures released by those involved in the conflict to be reliable.

“There has been a tremendous amount of suffering, human suffering,” said Gen Milley. He also also noted that between 15

and 30 million refugees have been created since Russia launched its invasion on 24 February.

The UN has recorded 7.8 million people as refugees from Ukraine across Europe, including Russia. However, the figure does not include those who have been forced to flee their homes but remain in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Moscow announced its troops would start to withdraw from the key southern

city of Kherson - the only major city to fall to Russian forces.

Gen Milley said that while “initial indicators” suggested that a retreat had begun, he observed that Russia had amassed around 20-30,000 troops in the city, and the withdrawal could take several weeks.

“They made the public announcement they’re doing it. I believe they’re doing it in order to preserve their force to re-establish

defensive lines south of the [Dnieper] river, but that remains to be seen,” he said.

The news of Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin called up some 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine in September.

Military experts in the West and Ukraine say the need for mobilisation showed that Russian troops were failing badly on the battlefield in Ukraine. (BBC)

Mr Biden said he was prepared to work with Republicans and would host bipartisan talks next week.

The causalities have affected both sides.

Regional News

PM Davis: Climate issues will only get worse

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told heads of government that as the world enters a new climate era, the situation will only get worse requiring binding commitments instead of statements alone that have been used to postpone real action.

Should the status quo remain, Mr Davis painted a sobering picture that there could be hundreds of millions of climate refugees, placing pressure on borders, security and political systems across the world.

The prime minister made the remarks at the World Leaders’ Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference during COP27, which is being held at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt this year.

Mr Davis said many Bahamians have questioned why its government was yet again attending the climate change summit and pointed to Tropical Storm Nicole, which began affecting certain islands last night.

“I say that we have come, because we have to believe that a safer, better future is possible,”

Mr Davis said. “I say that we have come, because we believe that action - real, concerted, actioncan save the planet, and save our human race.

“And I say that we have come, because each nation here, acting in its own, enlightened self-interest, knows, in a most profound way, that we need each other to make this work.

“I live in the most beautiful country on earth. But right now,

even as I speak, Bahamians are mobilising to prepare for the impact of yet another powerful storm, Tropical Storm Nicole. So, I come here with a simple request: let’s get real.

“What we need most at this conference is to confront the radical truth. Big, ambitious goals are important - but not if we use aspirations to obscure reality. The goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, is on life support.

This is a hard truth for many to admit, because even the bestcase scenarios will mean almost unimaginable upheaval and tragedy.

“The realities of war, economic headwinds, the hangover from the pandemic, and competition among world powers, cannot be used as justification not to confront these imminent dangers.

“Let’s get real: it’s only going to get worse. We are entering a new climate era that will drive extreme geopolitical and economic instability.

“Statements without binding commitments or enforcement mechanisms have been used again and again as a way to postpone real action. Yes, the world’s wealthiest carbon polluters should pay for the very extensive loss and damage caused by their emissions.

“But ‘getting real’ means understanding that it will be self-interest that drives decisionmakers.”

He continued: “So, I am not here to ask any of you to love the people of my country with the same passion as I do, or even to act on behalf of future generations in your own country.

“I’m asking: what is it worth to you, to prevent millions of climate refugees, from turning into tens of millions, and then hundreds of millions, putting pressure on borders and security and political systems across the world?”

Mr Davis said he was not telling world leaders to agitate for the World Bank to be overhauled for this new climate era, but he was of the view that they needed to get smart and act quickly to address the systemic risk of climate change.

“Multilateral banks must play a crucial role in scaling up financing options that will provide real solutions.

“I’m not here to tell the private sector to give up caring about profits. I’m here to say that in a world of profound instability, your profits are very much in danger. So, we need to work together to transition the world to clean energy.”

Mr Davis said Bahamians, as descendants of African slaves, had a duty to fight for survival, adding the country had made progress in fighting the impact of climate change rather than wait for the remainder of the world to act.

“We know we have what it takes to provide the kind of leadership and innovation that contribute to meaningful solutions. Our mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes are a critical carbon sink. While others were talking, we took action, and passed innovative new legislation to deal with blue carbon.

“We created a regulatory framework for dealing and trading in carbon credits.

“Other countries are already considering adopting our model. And just this past Sunday, we agreed in principle with the IMF, to partner together, among other things, to determine how carbon credits can be used productively, as a new asset class.

“Yes, this is what real, lifechanging action looks like. We in The Bahamas are not sitting still.

“We will not flinch from confronting the hard truth. We will continue to offer our leadership.

“And we will continue our drive for innovation and ingenuity,” Mr Davis said. (Tribune242)

Privy Council to make historic visit to Cayman Islands

Dominican Republic floods: At least six killed in rains

AT LEAST six people have been killed after torrential rains caused havoc in the Dominican Republic.

On Friday, some areas of the capital, Santo Domingo, saw twice the monthly average rainfall in one day.

Meteorologists said that while they had been aware of heavy rains approaching, they had been surprised by the strength of the sudden downpour.

Poor drainage meant that

the water accumulated quickly, turning streets into quick-flowing torrents.

In some parts of Santo Domingo, 232mm (9.1in) of rain fell in a matter of hours, twice the estimate for the month, Weather Bureau Director Gloria Ceballos said.

Several people are still missing. Of the six people who died, two drowned, two were electrocuted and two were crushed by collapsing walls.

Hundreds of homes have been damaged and the agricultural sector has also been hard hit.

President Luis Abinader said an estimate of the damages would be released on Tuesday.

He added that poor drainage had compounded the flooding in the capital: “It’s a problem that continued to grow, the city and greater Santo Domingo area grew without a real drainage system.” (BBC)

Five of the UK’s top judges are set to preside over several difficult and complex financial and criminal cases as part of a historic session in the Cayman Islands next week.

According to The Cayman Compass, proceedings commence on Tuesday with a special Grand Court opening ceremony at the Halls of Justice.

The judges are expected to preside over several complex financial rulings as well as the case of Justin Ramoon vs. the governor of the Cayman

Islands.

A summary of the issues to be decided, posted on the Privy Council website, indicates, “This appeal concerns the lawfulness of the appellant’s removal from the Cayman Islands to serve his prison sentence in England.”

When not presiding, the judges are slated to participate in information sessions with both senior legal practitioners and students in Cayman, including through its ‘Ask a Justice’ programme.

The president declared a state of emergency following the torrential rains

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis speaks at the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Regional News

US charges Haitian gang leaders over kidnappings, offers reward

THE United States has announced charges against a total of seven Haitian gang leaders for their alleged involvement in the kidnappings of US citizens, as Washington heaps pressure on armed groups and others contributing to a security crisis on the Caribbean island.

The US Department of Justice said on Monday that it charged three Haitian citizens with “conspiracy to commit hostage taking and hostage taking” for their roles in the abduction of a group of Christian missionaries near Portau-Prince last year.

Sixteen American missionaries and one Canadian were abducted in October 2021 by a powerful criminal gang known as 400 Mawozo after they visited an orphanage east of the Haitian capital, local authorities said.

Two leaders of 400 Mawozo – Lanmo Sanjou, also known as Joseph Wilson, and Jermaine Stephenson, also known as Gaspiyay – were charged, the US justice department said, along with the leader of the Kraze Barye gang, Vitel’homme Innocent.

“According to the indictment, Innocent worked together with 400 Mawozo in the hostage taking,”

the department said in a statement, adding that four more Haitian citizens who lead three separate gangs were also charged in relation to two other kidnappings of US citizens in Haiti.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State offered a reward of up to $1m each for information that will lead to the arrest or convictions of Sanjou, Stephenson and Innocent. The three men are believed to still be in Haiti, the justice department said.

“The United States supports the efforts of our Haitian law enforcement partners seeking to enforce rule of law in Haiti and combat transnational organised crime, which continues to be a driving factor in worsening the humanitarian and security situation,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the reward.

“These actions are part of the United States’ commitment to support the people of Haiti as they bear the brunt of the crisis.”

Haiti has experienced a surge in violence in the political vacuum created by the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, with armed groups battling for control of key roads and

infrastructure.

In recent weeks, gangs have blockaded a key petrol terminal in Port-au-Prince, leading to fuel and water shortages, and complicating the nation’s response to an outbreak of cholera.

On Sunday, the leader of the powerful G9 Haitian gang alliance, Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, said that fuel trucks could approach the Varreux terminal without fear for their safety.

“Once again, the drivers and employees of the Varreux terminal

can come down without fear,” Cherizier, who was recently sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, said in a video circulating online. “We’ve decided among us … to allow for the gas to be released.”

Haitian police on Friday said they had retaken control of the terminal after confronting the gangs in the area. It was still not evident when fuel would begin flowing.

The gang’s blockade cut off access to about 38 million litres (10 million gallons) of diesel

and gasoline and more than three million litres (800,000 gallons) of kerosene, forcing gas stations to close, hospitals to cut back on critical services, and banks and grocery stores to operate on a limited schedule.

Haiti’s acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry last month asked the international community to help set up a “specialised armed force” to help quell the violence and restore security, a call backed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Haitian civil society groups have raised staunch opposition to the prospect of a foreign force coming into the country, saying such interventions have historically brought more harm than good.

But the situation on the streets of Port-au-Prince has continued to deteriorate, and the US has been holding talks towards setting up a “non-UN, international security assistance mission” in the country.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden’s administration has announced a series of measures it says aim to tackle insecurity in Haiti. Last week, the US and Canada sanctioned two Haitian politicians over their alleged involvement in gang violence and drug trafficking. (Aljazeera)

Rain triggered devastating flooding in St Lucia

In the aftermath of Sunday’s heavy rainfall that triggered devastating flooding in the north of the island, Saint Lucia has been mobilising regional and international assistance.

The disclosure came from Prime Minister Philip J Pierre at a news conference on Tuesday.

Pierre said National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) was in contact with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

“NEMO has been in touch with CDEMA and other regional and international disaster response agencies with a view to mobilising assistance for the affected communities,” he said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister said that responders were working around the clock to conduct a damage assessment, clear roads and drains, and provide relief to affected individuals.

In addition, Pierre disclosed that teams were assessing the impact on agriculture.

And he explained that once NEMO presents a damage assessment, the government will determine the nature and extent of the assistance needed and create a complete response programme.

There have been no reports of death following Sunday’s flooding.

However, Pierre and acting NEMO director, Maria Medard,

expressed concern about indiscriminate garbage disposal.

Pierre noted that the Ministry of Infrastructure had maintained the prescribed desilting schedule during preparation for the hurricane season.

But he told reporters that there were many things in the rivers that were not supposed to be there.

The Castries East MP said they

included old stoves, discarded fridges, and plastic bottles.

“Once more, we are begging and urging the public of Saint Lucia not to dispose of these materials in the waterways and rivers,” Pierre stated.

“Climate change is real. These weather events are going to be more frequently and more devastating,” Pierre warned.

Hours after the devastation caused by the flooding on Sunday, Pierre rallied citizens in a social media post after a tour of the Castries East constituency to assess the damage.

“We will get through this together! Be assured, Saint Lucia, that our emergency personnel, technical crews, Lucelec, and volunteers are on the ground and are providing assistance to those most affected by this system,” Pierre stated on his Facebook page.

“Once again, I encourage everyone to stay safely indoors and to exercise extreme caution if you must venture outdoors.”

He also expressed gratitude to all who were working hard to bring relief to citizens and the country.

In addition, Pierre urged residents to remain steadfast in the task ahead and lend a helping hand during this time.

“God give us strength and courage!” he said.

Several residents in north St Lucia were trapped in their homes and there were reports of land slippage after heavy rainfall resulted in flooding on Sunday.

While flooding was reported in the north from Gros Islet to Bexon, other parts of the country experienced fair to partly cloudy skies, meteorologists said.

NEMO said it received reports of individuals trapped in their homes in the Assou Canal area. Medard said emergency responders, including police, the St Lucia Fire Service, the Gros Islet District Disaster Committee and the National Transportation Committee, assisted in evacuating the distressed residents.

Gangs are controlling several parts of Haiti

The St Lucia Meteorological Services said an upperlevel trough affected the island during the weekend.

HEAD BUTLER/HOUSE

MANAGER

Understands concepts such as being pro-active, friendly but not too familiar, courtesy, privacy and confidentiality, invisible yet available. To assist in overseeing other villa staff as required, so must have supervisory experience at luxury hotel or villa properties.

KEY FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Assist with luggage upon arrival/departure of guests

• Operation of electronic systems in villas including music, television, security, lighting, pool/spa etc.

• Oversee and/or participate in formal table setting and service, knowledge of wines and spirits and bartending, serving meals and beverages

• Keep household inventory and supplies

• Light housekeeping duties when necessary

• Pre-empt maintenance issues and report issues to property manager

• Coordination of contractors and repairs

• Self-motivated and takes initiative

• Oversee groundskeepers in management of pool, outside areas and gardens

• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail, ability to communicate efficiently with chef and concierge team as well as directly with guests

• Must speak English fluently. Additional languages a plus.

• 5 – 10 years experience required

HOUSEKEEPER

Understands concepts such as being anticipatory, friendly but not familiar, privacy and confidentiality, invisible yet available. To assist in overseeing housekeepers and laundry staff so must have supervisory experience at luxury hotel or villa properties.

KEY FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Housekeeping and laundry staff across multiple villas

• Perform and schedule daily cleaning and laundry responsibilities to the highest standards with impeccable attention to detail

• Organise and perform deep cleaning as needed

• Knowledge of proper care and maintenance of furniture, countertops and upholstery

• Organise and maintain on-property storage and laundry facilities

• Ability to communicate clearly with guests in a professional and friendly manner

• Self-motivated and takes initiative

• Must speak English fluently. Additional languages a plus.

• 5 – 10 years experience required

Starting salary $18,000 per year based on experience and references, accommodations/ utilities provided and must live on site. Domestic couple would be preferred, but not mandatory. Positions currently held by work permit holders.

EXECUTIVE CHEF, PRIVATE CHEF/ CATERING

Experienced executive chef to provide culinary direction to all areas of Hummingbird Management hospitality, including (but not limited to): luxury villa private chef and event catering services. The successful candidate must be able to create expertly designed menus with elevated flavours and presentation for in-house villa guests at a luxury villa estate while overseeing service and staff and upholding quality and safety standards. The candidate will have experience and knowledge in safe food preparation and handling, sanitation, presentation, sourcing and purchasing. Experience in events catering is a must. A proven ability to train and lead a team as well as a formal degree from an accredited culinary institution with a minimum of 5 years experience in an executive chef role is essential.

KEY FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Develop fine dining menus that meet the needs of villa guests and catering clients

• Knowledge of diverse cuisines and cooking styles as well as vegan, vegetarian, religious cuisines and guests with dietary needs

• Train sous chefs/cooks/helpers and other kitchen staff in culinary techniques, cooking procedures, sanitation and safety

• Work with housekeeping and grounds staff to enhance the guest experience

• Work with purchasing agents and vendors to ensure quality

• Administer and follow regulatory agency and food safety standards

• Assist in monitoring and caring for the cooking equipment and inventory

• 5-10 years experience in an Executive Chef role

Starting salary $48,000 per year based on experience and references.

VACANCIES

FINE DINING SERVER

Minimum 3 years’ experience in luxury resort environment. Wine knowledge and pairing and must have experience in fine dining table service. Individual requires exceptional customer service skills and good communication skills. The position would require staying on the Cay for scheduled shifts. Salary $10 per hour

HEAD LAUNDRESS

Minimum 5 years’ experience in luxury resort environment. Ensures that all laundry services within the property meet the highest possible standards. Organizes and controls the laundry department and maintains all relevant records. Well organized individuals to be responsible for the day-to-day Resort laundry facility. Sorting, cleaning, folding and organizing hotel linens. Some heavy lifting is required. Salary $10 per hour

SERVER

3 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment. Wine knowledge and pairing and must have experience in fine dining table service. Individual requires exceptional customer service skills and good communication skills. The position would require staying on the Cay for scheduled shifts. Salary $10 per hour

LAUNDRY ATTENDANT

Minimum 5 years’ experience in luxury resort environment. Well organized individuals to be responsible for the day-to-day Resort laundry facility. Sorting, cleaning, folding and organizing hotel linens. Some heavy lifting is required. Salary $9 per hour

GUEST SERVICE AGENT

3 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment. Must have P.O.S. experience, night audit or accounting would be an asset. Second language preferred but not mandatory. Computer skills and Excellent customer service is essential. Should pay attention to detail and be a team player. Must be able to reside on Pine Cay for scheduled shifts. $10 per hour\

BOAT CAPTAIN

Immediately- 5 years’ experience Driver’s license and current VHF and TCI boat Captains license mandatory. Familiar with the waters between North Caicos and Providenciales. Responsible for the transportation of guests, staff and homeowners to and from Pine Cay. Freight runs and recreational runs will be required. Assisting with the upkeep of the Marine area. Dock maintenance, boat cleaning, and boat fueling. Salary 30k annually

MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATOR

5 years’ experience working in Maintenance department. Maintenance Administrators work in office environments where they complete the following duties: must have Microsoft excel updating databases, conducting repairs, writing reports, scheduling appointments, providing customer service, and completing other related clerical functions. Must have telephone etiquette, stamina, customer service, problem solving, effective communication, and teamwork. Establishes and recommends priorities for maintenance related projects. Develops work methods, analysis procedures, and refines schedules. Assigns employee duties and reviews work for accuracy, completeness and compliance with established standards and procedures. Salary 30k annually

HAIR STYLIST

Shampooing, cutting, and styling hair, provide hair treatments, deep conditioning, permanents, coloring, and weaving. Salary: $8.00 Hourly

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Tudor Rose Ltd of Market Place,

Turks and Caicos Islands gives notice of its intention to sell by public auction the following property pursuant to its power of sale as registered chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Registered proprietors: Arnold Stafford Simmons, Melissa Melina Simmons, Raymond Almonda Simmons. The auction will be held at No.1 Caribbean Place, Leeward Highway Providenciales at 11.0am on 10th November 2022. A reserve price will be fixed and a deposit of 10% is due immediately upon an accepted bid. Conditions of sale available at the auction.

Her Loss: Drake and 21 Savage sued by Vogue publisher

DRAKE and 21 Savage are being sued by Vogue’s publisher over claims they used the brand name to promote their new album, Her Loss, without permission.

Condé Nast claims the rappers’ promo campaign was built “entirely” on the unauthorised use of Vogue trademarks and false representations.

It said the musicians created a counterfeit issue of the magazine which they distributed.

In a complaint, the publisher said it’s seeking at least $4m (£3.49m).

Larry Stein, the lawyer

representing Drake and 21 Savage, has not yet responded to BBC Newsbeat’s request for comment.

Condé Nast claims the rappers falsely suggested having the “love and support” of Vogue editor-inchief Anna Wintour.

Their complaint says it resulted in “unmistakable” confusion, with Drake and 21 Savage being wrongly touted as “new cover stars”.

“All of this is false. And none of it has been authorised by Condé Nast,” the legal paperwork says.

It added the rappers’ “flippant disregard” for the publisher’s rights “have left it with no choice

but to commence this action”.

BRAND VOGUE

Thomas Walters, who founded advertising agency Billion Dollar Boy, said the publisher will need to defend itself because the Vogue brand is “everything” to the outlet.

“In an era where journalism is consistently being used for free, people aren’t buying magazines anymore, that is their value,” says Thom.

“From their perspective, 21 Savage and Drake have used that brand without compensating for that investment.”

Since its release on 4 November, Her Loss has had mixed reviews.

And if they don’t defend it in this instance, Thom says there’s a risk “anyone could start using the Vogue brand”.

Since its release on 4 November, Her Loss has had mixed reviews and has also caused a stir after one track, Circo Loco, appeared to suggest singer Megan Thee Stallion had lied about being shot.

Music publication NME gave the album three stars, saying it was an “exciting prospect marred by lazy song writing” and packed with “cheap misogyny”.

Rolling Stone went a step further, branding the album “a misfire”.

Condé Nast is seeking at least $4m in damages - or triple Drake and 21 Savage’s profits from their album and “counterfeit” magazine. But could this actually work out well for Drake and 21 Savage? Thom thinks so.

“I think Drake and 21 Savage are certainly going to benefit from doing this,” he says. “Probably more so than the amount than the lawsuit is claiming.

MARVEL actor Chris Evans is People’s selection for the 2022 sexiest man alive, a title he’s humbly embracing.

“It’s something that as I become old and saggy I can look back on and say ‘I remember then…’ ” Evans told the magazine. “I’m lucky to be in the discussion in any capacity.”

The honour was unveiled on Monday night’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” with the host joking that the finalists were Evans and “Last Week Tonight” star John Oliver.

“Stop the steal!” Oliver yelled from the CBS show’s audience after Colbert announced Evans won.

The Boston-born Evans, 41, starred as the title superhero in three standalone “Captain America” movies and has regularly suited up as the character in the franchise’s other films as well.

This year, he also portrayed a villain in the Netflix spy thriller “The Gray Man” and voiced Buzz Lightyear in the animated Pixar spinoff “Lightyear.”

“When it comes to seeking out the people I play it’s more of an issue of where the movie shoots,” Evans said. “I’m too old to be living out of a suitcase for six months and I’ve settled into a nicer phase where I’m just happy being at home.”

The Boston-born Evans, 41, starred as the title superhero in three standalone “Captain America” movies

‘Captain America’ star Chris Evans named People’s sexiest man alive

Jennifer Aniston has zero regrets about trying IVF

vJENNIFER Aniston has spoken about trying to get pregnant through IVF but says that “the ship has sailed”.

The actress, 53, best known for playing Rachel Green in Friends, said she privately went through a difficult time in her late 30s and 40s, while under media scrutiny.

“I was trying to get pregnant,” she said.

She told the magazine Allure she wished someone had told her

to freeze her eggs.

“It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road,” she added.

“All the years and years of speculation... It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it.”

But she told the magazine that she had “zero regrets.”

She added: “I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, ‘Freeze your eggs. Do yourself

a favour.’ You just don’t think it. So here I am today,” she said. “The ship has sailed.”

‘NARRATIVE THAT I WAS JUST SELFISH’

In 2018, Aniston and actor Justin Theroux announced they had separated after two years of marriage. Before that, she was married to actor Brad Pitt.

She suggested the media can be cruel towards women in the industry who do not have children, and created a “narrative that I was just selfish” and “just cared about my career”.

“And God forbid a woman is successful and doesn’t have a child,” she said.

Addressing her marriage to Brad Pitt, she said: “And the reason my husband left me, why we broke up and ended our marriage, was because I wouldn’t give him a kid. It was absolute lies. I don’t have anything to hide at this point.”

The star, who is appearing in the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, went on to say she felt “a

little relief now” about being older and found it “liberating”, because “there is no more, ‘Can I? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe’. I don’t have to think about that any more”, she explained.

“I’ve spent so many years protecting my story about IVF. I’m so protective of these parts because I feel like there’s so little that I get to keep to myself,” she continued.

IVF is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm outside the body, then embryos are inserted into the mother’s womb.

“The [world] creates narratives that aren’t true, so I might as well tell the truth. I feel like I’m coming out of hibernation. I don’t have anything to hide,” Aniston added. (BBC)

Sean Penn leaves Oscar with Ukraine’s president as symbol of faith in victory

IT’S a golden gesture from Sean Penn.

The actor left one of his Oscar trophies with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a symbol of hope during as the country battles Russia’s invasion.

“If I know this is here with you, then I will feel better and stronger for the fights,” Penn, 62, told Zelenskyy during a Tuesday visit. “When you win, bring it back to Malibu. Because I feel much better knowing there is a piece of me here.”

The meeting came during Penn’s third visit to Ukraine since the war began in February. The actor, who won Oscars for “Mystic River” and “Milk,” is working on a documentary about the conflict.

“We have to win, quick,” Zelenskyy tells Penn in a video shared by the president’s office.

The president honoured the actor with the Ukrainian Order of Merit and unveiled a plaque in Constitution Square that features Penn’s name.

Penn thanked Zelenskyy by describing three places in his life that bring him pride as “the place where my daughter was born, the place where my son was born and this.”

The president said Penn’s Oscar should be viewed as “a symbol of faith in the victory of our country.”

Zelenskyy has enlisted the support of multiple celebrities since Russia invaded Ukraine. He named “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill an ambassador for the fund-raising initiative Army of Drones. He also made Barbra Streisand, Liev Schreiber and the band Imagine Dragons ambassadors for medical aid. (NYDailynews)

Jennifer Aniston is 53

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, poses with U.S. actor Sean Penn after receiving latter’s Oscar statuette and handing him the Order of Merit, III degree during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine

Thrifty fashion on display as TCI Red Cross celebrates 55

For 55 years the Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross has provided much-needed aid to the territory, both in times of ease and in times of need.

Last weekend, residents joined with the organisation to paint the town red in celebration of their anniversary at a fashion-forward event hosted at the luxurious Palms Resort in the garden courtyard.

Models from all segments of life in the TCI strutted their stuff on the runway, showcasing a wide variety of local and international fashion.

From the Deputy Governor, HE Anya Williams to ministers of government, Hon Jamell Robison and Hon Josephine Connolly to the

Governor’s wife and patron of the Red Cross, Amanda Dakin, high fashion was on display as many graced the runway.

The Red-Hot fashion extravaganza featured an eclectic collection of vintage and trendy fashions that can be found at the Red Cross Thrift Shop in Providenciales.

Red Cross Director, Candianne Williams commented: “This creative event highlights our Thrift Shop programme in such a unique way and embodies our theme for this year ‘Together for Humanity’.

“Your donations of new or gently used items are shared with persons in need based on assessment and referrals from governmental and

non-governmental partnering agencies and the proceeds from our Thrift Shop sales are used to fund our vital programmes.”

Williams said the TCI Red Cross is committed to building green sustainable environments, with their thrift shops providing the community with outlets to reduce, recycle, repurpose, and restore clothing and household items.

Also commenting on the work of the organisation and its 55th year of service to the TCI community was Dr Dawn O’Sullivan, the Chair of the TCI Red Cross.

"I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our 55th anniversary… it’s been 55 years of not only

sheltering, feeding, and providing emotional support to those in need, but years of teaching vital skills that save lives and provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief for communities across the TCI. We will continue to do so with your support."

She said the inspiration for the event came from an idea to showcase the diverse collections found at the Red Cross Thrift Shop in a unique and whimsical way.

During last Saturday’s event, a group of community leaders, men, women, and children took to the catwalk in four different segments: Sportswear, Island Chic, Eveningwear and Red-Hot Fashions.

and Red-Hot Fundraising Committee

said the range of outfits truly showcases the diversity of what can be found at the Thrift Shop.

All the modelled outfits at the event were on sale at The Palms last weekend.

“We are so proud of how the community embraced this event, and we embrace the opportunity to further raise funds and awareness for the Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross,” Whitt added.

Funds raised from the event will go to support the TCI Red Cross and its work throughout the islands.

(DELANA ISLES)

Karen Whitt, Hartling Group Vice-President

member

Models strut their stuff on the runway at the Red Cross’ Red Hot Extravaganza last weekend (Photos courtesy of TCI Red Cross)

OF THE ESTATE OF NATHANIEL EBENEZER FORBES, LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, (4) HEIRS OF ROBERT ALEXANDER FORBES, LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, (5) HEIRS OF FRANK STEPHENSON FORBES, LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, AND (6) NOEL FORBES, WILLIAM DARIUS FORBES AND AUBREY EMMANUEL SMITH AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF WILLIAM EBENEZER FORBES, LAST KNOWN ADDRESSES: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

BELLE is searching for the whereabouts of DOROTHY ANN SANCHEZ, or her descendants, HEIRS OF JOHN HENRY FORBES, CHARLES EBENEZER FULLER FORBES as administrator of the estate of NATHANIEL EBENEZER FORBES, or his descendants, HEIRS OF ROBERT ALEXANDER FORBES, HEIRS OF FRANK STEPHENSON FORBES and NOEL FORBES, WILLIAM DARIUS FORBES AND AUBREY EMMANUEL FORBES or their descendants. The said persons are the registered proprietors or personal representatives of the registered proprietors of land at 40202/4, Central, Middle Caicos. On behalf of its client, BELLE intends to make application to the land registry for the partition of land at 40202/4.

If you are or know the whereabouts of DOROTHY ANN SANCHEZ, the HEIRS OF JOHN HENRY FORBES, CHARLES EBENEZER FULLER FORBES as administrator of the estate of NATHANIEL EBENEZER FORBES, the HEIRS OF ROBERT ALEXANDER FORBES, the HEIRS OF FRANK STEPHENSON FORBES, NOEL FORBES, WILLIAM DARIUS FORBES and AUBREY EMMANUEL FORBES or are direct descendants please contact BerthaLee Belle, attorney at telephone number 1(649)241-6246 or belle@tciway.tc

DISHWASHER

• Keeping the kitchen tidy at all times along with Restaurant area.

• Washing dishes and pots and putting them away in respective places.

• Dispose of garbage in kitchen after cleaning.

• Salary: $7.50 Hourly

WAITRESS

Duties includes:

• Taking orders and serving Customers in a friendly manner

• Ensure orders are taken correctly and customers are happy

• Check on customers to make sure everything is okay while dining

• Make sure your station is clean and orderly at all times

• Must be willing to work 6 days per

week or if and when needed

• Any other duties assigned by management

Salary $8.50 Hourly

Contact: 649-946-4472. Email: Tate@gilleys’cafe.tc

LABOURER

• Assist with offloading of containers.

• Assist with transporting of inventory from bonded warehouse to wholesale warehouse.

• Stacking of shelves with inventory and making sure shelves are clean at all times.

• Ensure a clean and orderly warehouse.

• Dispose of garbage whenever necessary.

• Salary: $6.75 Hourly

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• Must have 5 or more years of experience

• Body repair or vehicle modification involving refurbishing, replacement, disassembling or welding of sectional metal parts of vehicles such as trucks, autos, vans and other motor vehicle.

• Competent on utilizing all required safety equipment and follows proper repair procedures. Keeps personal work area

and return tools, materials and equipment to designated areas.

• Capable of painting surfaces of vehicles using spray-painting equipment, power tools and work aids utilizing specific surface preparation and painting techniques.

• Able to inspect panels to be painted for body repair, prepping and/or buffing defect.

• Can able to be exposed to fumes, chemicals, high levels of dust and noise in repair center.

• Basic wage is $10.00 per hour

• At least 3 years or more experience as an Inventory Clerk or related field

• Knowledgeable of supplies and/or services, ordering and inventory control

• Can monitor and maintain current inventory levels including reconciling stock counts to computer reports

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• Has database management skills

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CARWASHER / HELPER

• Must have six months of prior work experience

• Assist Head Mechanic in servicing and repairing customer cars

• Must be able to work flexible hours

• Able to use cleaning devices/ equipment for washing vehicles

• Knowledgeable on basic auto maintenance and repair and has ability to perform such tasks as prescribed.

• Able to assist in performing maintenance and repair of different variety of Japanese Vehicle.

• Basic wage is $7.00 per hour

Applicant must have experience as a

Assistant or Florist. Must have extensive knowledge of tropical flowers, foliage and potted plants, including their names, seasonal availability and lifespan. Candidates must have experience using current styles in floral design while at the same time understanding the traditional use of certain flowers for weddings, funerals etc. salary commensurate with experience.

LABOURER BLACKJACK DEALERS

who has several years kitchen helper experience, stock refill, cleaning experience of the full casino with knowledge of covid requirements and be physically fit. One who can provide routine building cleaning and maintenance including painting, sanding and

$6.50 to $9.00/ HOUR

All candidates should have at least 2-3 years’ experience in the same field, excellent full knowledge of all casino table games and excellent knowledge of Blackjack table game and/or dice game. Job summary: carry out specific tasks in the gaming operation to the highest standard efficiency and customer service in accordance with gaming policies and procedures laid down by the company and gaming laws. Salary $9.00-$14.00/ hour

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• Monitor and ensure plant health

• Keep gardens, landscape areas, green spaces, and all other outdoor/exterior areas of the property clear of debris and litter

• Monitor irrigation system and report any issues noted to management Salary: $7.50 per hour. Must be able to complete heavy lifting and working on feet for extended periods of time outdoors doing manual and physical labour. Must be willing to work up to 6 days per week, including weekends. Must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19.

WAITRESS (FIRST TIME)

(RENEWAL)

EMPLOYER: TUETON T.T WILLIAMS Whitby, North Caicos Rate: $6.50 per

MECHANIC (RENEWAL)

EMPLOYER: T’S CONSTRUCTION Bottle Creek, North Caicos Rate: $6.50 Per hr.

WRITERS/ PHOTO JOURNALIST

Candidates must have at least five (5) years’ experience working full-time for daily newspapers and/or news/features magazines, reporting on hard news, features and parliamentary/court proceedings. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.

FOR MAGAZINES AND OTHER PERIODICALS GRAPHICS PRODUCTION DESIGNER/ PAGINATOR

This position requires someone with at least five (5) years’ experience working with Macintosh or PC computers. Must be skilled in the make-up of advertising and pagination. Proficiency using InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop software for print is essential. Some technical, networking and web design knowledge an asset. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.

COURT REPORTER

College

ADVERTISING SPACE SALES PERSON

Candidates

RENTAL SALES AGENTS

FOR AVIS AND PAYLESS

Looking for a promising career in a fast-paced, customer-driven industry? Avis and Payless Car Rentals are currently seeking to employ Rental Sales Agents for immediate openings. This role is to provide unparalleled customer service by:

• Greeting and assisting customers and prospective customers.

• Completing car rental and return transactions.

• Selling of programs and services to customers and prospective customers at the counter.

• Assisting with fleet management and vehicle prep.

• Following established sales procedures and techniques.

• Identify and report vehicle damage.

• Displaying the ‘We Try Harder’ spirit at all times.

ALL INDIVIDUALS MUST POSSESS THE FOLLOWING:

• Exceptional customer service skills

• Valid Turks & Caicos Driver's License

• Ability to work weekends and holidays

• Computer literacy (previous experience with reservations software is a plus)

• Self-motivator with the ability to work with little supervision

Salary begins at $8.00 per hour (commensurate with experience and qualifications) with the potential for additional earnings through our commissions program. Belongers/PRC holders preferred.

LABOURER

Duties include:

• Daily maintenance of the buildings and surroundings

• Cleaning and repair of company facilities and equipment

• Stocking shelves, moving parts

• Unloading containers and or deliveries

• Able to drive a range of vehicles including buses, and manual vehicles

• Must be courteous at all times,

• Must have a valid driver’s license

• With little or no supervision

• Willing to work on weekends and holidays

• Salary range is from $7 to $10 per hour

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

SUMMARY:

Responsible for maintenance of vehicle’s functional condition by addressing issues; conducting inspections, repairing engine failures’ repairing mechanical and electrical systems malfunctions; replacing parts and components and repairing body damage.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Performs computerized drivability diagnostics, repairs, tests, and adjusts all types of diesel, gasoline and alternative fuel engine and emissions systems to manufacture specifications.

• Performs all types of equipment and vehicle maintenance including but not limited to oil changes, replacing filters, lubrication, wheel bearing service, tire service, transmission service and differential service.

• Diagnoses, adjusts and repairs the following:

• Defects in electrical, electronic and computerized vehicles system

• Braking systems

• Computerized climate control air conditioning components.

• Drive trains

• All types of suspensions

• Fabricates and repairs vehicles and related equipment body components, trim hardware and accessories

• Inspects work and provides mechanical and technical assistance and training to other Auto Technicians.

• Performs service calls or towing as needed.

• Performs all maintenance, repairs and disposal of generated wastes according to TCI Environmental Laws.

• Prepares and keeps records related to automotive repair works, work order requests and status, labor expenditures, estimates and proposed or completed projects.

• At least 5 yrs. Automotive repair experience required.

• ASE Certification or equivalent required

• Extensive knowledge in all aspects of main dealer aftersales processes (Mercedes, Chrysler, Suzuki, Toyota) including repair, estimating, parts identifying and ordering.

• Hours of operation 8-5.30pm Mon-Friday Saturday 9am-1pm.

• Salary range is between $30,000 to $35,000 per year

CONTACT: 245-3172

We are looking for an experienced supervisor to manage all aspects of the kiteboarding, and sailing services for the resort, ensuring all safety protocols and guest satisfaction. This includes providing lessons, communications with guests including selling and charging for services, maintaining the equipment assets, accounting for guest/client billings and ensuring the operation runs well. To be successful in this role, you should have previous experience with managing watersports operation such

as kiteboarding, Hobie cat sailing and more. Be an excellent communicator and multiple languages such as English, Spanish, French is important. Must be IKO, PASA or equivalent certified and be a good sailor, kiter, and swimmer. Boat operators experience is important and other guiding or tour operator experience is desired. Expected to work long hours. Salary starting at $25000 depending on qualifications plus service fee. Position for a work permit holder or Belongers.

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• Assist lead welders in performing welding, brazing, thermal, and arc cutting operations

• Use hoists, wrenches, and hammers to lift, move, and clamp work materials into position or onto tables

• Oversee the scheduled maintenance of welding and fitting equipment to ensure they are operational

• Evaluate workpieces to ensure they are free of defect and conform to set specs

• Cleans work pieces to remove impurities, such as slag, rust and grease using hand tools such as wire brush, portable grinder, hand scraper or chemical solutions to ensure smooth surface.

• Connect hand torches to fuel gas cylinders or electric power source

• Maintain good knowledge of welding techniques and processes

• Read and interpret blueprints for a welding project.

• Experienced in SMAW / GMAW / GTAW & oxy-fuel welding / cutting

• Must have a valid trade specific certification

Wage starts at: $6.25 per hr.

• Lay out, fit, and fabricate metal components to assemble structural forms using knowledge of welding techniques, metallurgy, and engineering components

• Operates drill presses, power saws, grinders, metal lathes and a variety of welding equipment and hand tools

• Analyze sample parts, blueprints, engineering drawings and specifications to plan welding operations

• Remain in a standing position for extended periods of time.

• Experienced in SMAW / GMAW / GTAW & oxy-fuel welding / cutting

• Must have a valid trade specific certification with at least 5 years working experience. Wage starts at: $8.00 per hr.

Responsible for the consistent preparation of innovative and creative cuisine of the highest quality. Attention to detail a must, as is demonstrated culinary expertise resulting in outstanding guest satisfaction. Managing a busy kitchen, setting menus, ordering and monitoring supplies.

• Liaise with Concierge for food provision to purchase prior to guest arrival.

• Submit the provision receipts, to Accounting in an accurate report and timely manner

• Provide direction for all day-to-day operations in the kitchen.

• Actively involved in menu development.

• Determines how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.

• Ensures practices and procedures comply with food handling and sanitation standards. This includes completing an annual hygiene plan and hygiene inspection prior to guest arrival

• Follows proper handling and right temperature of all food products.

• Ensures all equipment in the kitchen is properly cleaned, maintained and in working order in accordance with local Health Department standards.

• When the villa is vacant, he/she shall work with the villa team to ensure that the villa is clean and well maintained.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES!

AML ANALYST III

• Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments.

• Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments.

• Fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, shop mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

• Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, and engineering information to determine methods and sequences of operations needed to fabricate products and determine product dimensions and tolerances.

• Observe and listen to operating machines or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions and to determine need for adjustments or repairs.

• Remain in a standing position for extended periods of time.

• Must have a valid trade specific certification with at least 5 years working experience. Wage: $10 per hr.

qualified applicants to fill several vacancies. APPLICATION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 26, 2022

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BETHANYS EDUCATIONAL & SOCIAL TRAINING (B.E.S.T.) INSTITUTE INC.

PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

multi-cultured background

• Teachers with experience with (CPEA) Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment would be an asset6

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VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

THE LARGEST READERSHIP IN THE TURKS & CAICOS

ACA/ACCA/CA/FCA

AUDIT MANAGERS

We are seeking three audit managers who are professionally qualified chartered accountants with a minimum of six years post graduate professional experience gained within a major public accounting firm. These individuals are required to manage the external audit process from planning through to completion including leading the engagement team. They will report to the senior managers and directors of the firm. Salary ranges from US$70,000 to US$90,000 per annum.

AUDIT ASSISTANT MANAGERS

We are seeking two assistant audit managers who are professionally qualified chartered accountants with a minimum of five years post graduate professional experience gained within a major public accounting firm. These individuals are required to assist managers, senior managers and directors in the planning and execution of external audits and supervise and train junior staff. Salary ranges from US$65,000 to US$75,000 per annum.

Extensive experience of International Standards on Auditing and International Financial Reporting Standards is mandatory for both positions. Two of the audit managers and one of the audit assistant manager positions are currently held by work permit holders.

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GENERAL

• Have adequate knowledge and experience of working with the Primary School Curriculum of the TCI Education System

• Salary $20,400.00 to 24,000.00 per annum

• This position is for first time work permit holders

JOB DUTIES BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Preparing a la carte menu and daily specials

• Assist in monthly stock take and stock control

• Assist the Head chef in the presentation of new Specials and Menus

• Responsible for the efficient operation of the assign section

• Ensures that high standards of sanitation and cleanliness are maintained throughout the workplace areas at all times. • Follows the instructions and recommendations from the immediate superiors to complete the daily tasks. • Able to estimate the daily production needs and check the quality of raw and cooked food products to ensure that standards are met. • Ensure that the production, preparation and presentation of food are of the highest quality at all times. • checks periodically expiry dates and proper storage of food items in the section.

Perform other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

WAREHOUSE HELPER- 2

• Responsible for doing Manuel work

• Loading and unloading Container

• Assisting in stocking shelves

• Should be physically fit to lift products 50lb or more.

• Being able to work at heights

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Salary starts at $6.50 per hour.

• This position is for first time work permit application

SALES CLERKS – 3

• Greet Customers, Receive Payments by cash, Credit Cards and cheques.

• Issue receipts and correct change due to customers

• Balance cash at end of day

• Standing for extended period of time

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Able to safely lift boxes

• Salary range $6.50 per hour

• This position is for first time work permit application

MEATROOM HELPERS - 2

• Cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment and ensuring displays are accurate and attractive.

• Weighing, packaging, pricing, and displaying products.

• Performing quality inspections on meats and other products.

• Wages start at $6.50 per hour

• This position is for first time work permit application

FROZEN STOCKERS- 2

• Physically able to reach, stretch, bend, and walk during work hours

• Ability to stand for long periods of time in the Freezer Environment (minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 23 degrees Celsius)

• Ability to lift 50 pounds

• Availability on work nights, weekends, and holidays

• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time efficiently

• Wages start at $6.50 per hour

• This position is for first time work permit application

PRODUCE STOCKER - 2

• Responsible for doing Manuel work

• Loading and unloading Container

• Assisting in stocking shelves

• Knowledge on produce products and sanitary methods

• Should be physically fit to lift products 50lb or more.

• Being able to work at heights

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Salary ranges from $6.50 per hour.

• This position is for first time work permit application

JANITOR- 2

• Responsible for doing Manuel work

• Dust furniture and fixtures

• Good communication skills

• Should be physically fit to lift products 50lb or more.

• Being able to work at heights

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Empty trash cans and recycling bins

• Stock and maintain supply rooms

• Clean and maintain restrooms

• Salary ranges from $6.25 per hour.

• This position is for first time work permit application

DRY FOOD STOCKERS - 4

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Able to safely lift boxes

• Physically able to reach, stretch, bend, and walk during work hours

• Responsible for doing Manuel work

• Availability on work nights, weekends, and holidays

• Salary range $6.50 per hour

• This position is for first time work permit application

LABOURER(S) - 2

• Responsible for doing Manuel work

• Loading and unloading Container

• Assisting in stocking shelves

• Should be physically fit to lift products 50lb or more .

• Being able to work at heights

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Salary $6.50 per hour.

• This position is for first time work permit application

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - 2

• Gathering and entering data into multiple computer programs.

• Maintaining and updating records files and system data.

• Scanning bar codes, invoices, and other information into POS system.

• Processing customer cash, check and credit-card payments.

• Responsible for counting contents of cash registers and safe.

• Processing end of day sale deposit

• Receiving domestic and export customer orders

• Implement employee schedules

• Will perform as a substitute relief for other supervisors

• Preparing and coordinating schedules in accordance to operational necessity.

• 4-5 years experience in related field of work

• Must be honest, meticulous, work independently or in a team

• Must be able to follow direction/instructions.

• Must possess knowledge of computer programs e.i Quick Books and Microsoft Programs.

• Salary for this position will commensurate with qualification & experience.

• This position is for first time work permit application.

CONTACT: 2323115 / 341-2676

Duties: Regular household as per the work permit. SALARY: $6.50 per hour

CONTACT: 231-7369 Belongers kindly submit a copy of resume to the Labour Board. This Position is held by a work Permit holder. 33579

WESLY ELIAZARD CAMPBELL S OUTH DOCK Is seeking to employ a

LABOURER

Cleaning outside the property with sweeper, pick up yard waste and collect leaves, dispose of trash, clean windows, and doorframes. Salary: $7.00 Hourly

CONTACT: 232-1299 Belongers are encouraged to apply to the Labour Board 33503

WGS CONSTRUCTION

TILE LAYER

Install materials on floors, walls, ceilings, countertops. Level the surface with a layer of mortar or plywood. Salary: $9 hourly

CONTACT: 341-6578

Belongers are encouraged to send a copy of their resume to the Labour Board

MAINTENANCE

FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Completion of Customer Follow-up calls in a timely basis.

• Timely analysis of Food & Beverage Prices in relation to competition.

• Participation and input towards F&B Marketing activities.

• Entertainment of potential and existing customers.

• Development and maintenance of all department control procedures.

• Attendance and participation at weekly F & B meeting and Department Head meeting.

• To assist in menu planning and pricing.

• Development and maintenance of department manual.

• Supervision of weekly payroll input.

• Participation in Manager on Duty shifts as required.

• Assure the maintenance of bar control policies.

• Assure completion of requisitions where deemed necessary.

• Assure the completion of weekly schedule and shift duties while: a. maintaining a labour cost in accordance with budget b. assuring adequate and consistent service levels

• Improvement on guest satisfaction index – comment cards, online reviews, departure surveys

• Completion of monthly inventory.

• Procurement of requirements of small wares, linens etc.

• Ensuring that services meet customer specifications.

HOUSEKEEPER

• Work with the Chef, Dining Room Manager, Bars Manager and Food & Beverage Supervisors to ensure all arrangements and details are dealt with.

• Establish a rapport with guests to ensure satisfaction and repeat business. Minimize number of customer complaints.

• Ensure a professional attitude and proper business attire when on property, ready to meet or service a client at any time.

• Ensure staff have professional attitude and proper appearance and uniform standards.

• Teamwork-Relations with co-workers and management.

• Recruitment and selection of employees for vacant positions.

• Responsible for staff training and development of service team

KEY SKILLS AND REQUIREMENT:

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in a hotel restaurant preferably in a luxury hotel.

• Accuracy and attention to detail.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken.

• Able to stand for long periods of time.

• Able to carry up to 20kgs.

• Must have excellent mathematic skills.

• Able to handle a fast-paced environment and be able to work under pressure.

• Must be organized and detailed oriented.

• Achievement of budgeted food sales, beverage sales, labour costs and profitability.

• Development and training of all service employees

• Consistently high service level metric results

Starting salary range $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 per annum not including service charge. Salary may vary based on experience and skill level.

HOTEL MANAGER*

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• 12- 15 years of management experience in internationally branded luxury hotels/resort including at least 5 years at Executive Committee

• Level Minimum 6 years’ experience in a hotel restaurant preferably in a luxury hotel.

• In depth knowledge of rooms operations and full knowledge of overall hotel operations as they affect department

• Financial management skills including ability to analyze P&L statements, develop operating budgets, forecasting and capital expenditure planning

• In-depth knowledge of hotel systems – Opera (Fidelio), Micros.

• Experience implementing and monitoring brand standards of operation and quality

• Strategic planning skills

• Ability to evaluate business trends, determine applicability to customer profile and modify business strategies accordingly

• Ability to take constructive action without relying on directions from others

• Ability to network and build relationships to grow the business

• Strong problem-solving skills; encourages new innovative solutions when appropriate

• Strong communication skills with experience developing correspondence and business materials for customers/ guests, owners, management and staff

• Must be willing and available to work all shifts and days

KEY SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Directs rooms, pool and beach, retail, youth programs and security departments ensuring maximum guest satisfaction and profitability.

• Oversees the development and implementation of departmental strategies and ensures implementation of brand service strategies initiatives.

• Develops annual operating and capital expenditure budgets

• Ensures implementation of and compliance with brand policies, programs and standards of operation and quality

Starting

DOMESTIC WORKER

Science & Technology

Lab-grown blood given to people in world-first clinical trial

BLOOD that has been grown in a laboratory has been put into people in a world-first clinical trial, UK researchers say.

Tiny amounts - equivalent to a couple of spoonfuls - are being tested to see how it performs inside the body.

The bulk of blood transfusions will always rely on people regularly rolling up their sleeve to donate.

But the ultimate goal is to manufacture vital, but ultra-rare, blood groups that are hard to get hold of.

These are necessary for people who depend on regular blood transfusions for conditions such as sickle cell anaemia.

If the blood is not a precise match then the body starts to reject it and the treatment fails. This level of tissue-matching goes beyond the well-known A, B, AB and O blood groups.

Prof Ashley Toye, from the University of Bristol, said some groups were “really, really rare” and there “might only be 10 people in the country” able to donate.

At the moment, there are only three units of the “Bombay” blood

The ultimate goal is to manufacture vital, but ultrarare, blood groups that are hard to get hold of.

group - first identified in India - in stock across the whole of the UK.

SO HOW IS THE BLOOD GROWN?

The research project combines teams in Bristol, Cambridge, London and at NHS Blood and Transplant. It focuses on the red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Magic-mushroom drug can treat severe depression, trial suggests

A drug based on a compound in hallucinogenic mushrooms can improve the symptoms of severe depression for up to 12 weeks, a trial shows.

A 25mg tablet of psilocybin puts patients in a dreamlike state, making psychological therapy more likely to succeed.

But the short-term side-effects could be frightening and support must always be on hand, the researchers said.

Experts say larger studies with a much longer follow-up are still needed.

An estimated 100 million people worldwide have serious clinical depression that does not respond to any available treatments - 30% attempt suicide.

Scientists have been studying the effects of psilocybin on mentalhealth disorders for years.

Recent studies have been promising but too short to assess lasting effects.

In this latest trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 1mg, 10mg and 25mg doses were tested on a total of 233 people from 10 countries in Europe and North America, with 25mg giving the best results.

‘WAKING DREAM’

Most had been severely depressed for more than a year and were aged around 40, the researchers, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said.

After one 25mg dose of Comp360 psilocybin, alongside psychotherapy: one in three were no longer diagnosed as depressed at three weeks; one in five saw a significant improvement at 12 weeks.

Study author and consultant psychiatrist Dr James Rucker said the drug was thought to have “a direct action on the brain, putting it into a more flexible state and providing an window of opportunity for therapy”.

The patients, lying on a bed in a calm room, experienced a psychedelic “trip” - which one described as “a waking dream” - for six to eight hours.

“It can be very positive but it can also be negative,” Dr Rucker told BBC News.

“Difficult memories from the past can come up, for example, at the same time as feeling a reconnection with yourself and your feelings.”

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS:

They start with a normal donation of a pint of blood (around 470ml) Magnetic beads are used to fish out flexible stem cells that are capable of becoming a red blood cell

These stem cells are encouraged to grow in large numbers in the labs

And are then guided to become red blood cells

The process takes about three weeks and an initial pool of around half a million stem cells results in 50 billion red blood cells.

These are filtered down to get around 15 billion red blood cells that are at the right stage of development to transplant.

“We want to make as much blood as possible in the future, so the vision in my head is a room full of machines producing it continually from a normal blood donation,” Prof Toye told me.

The first two people have taken part in the trial, which aims to test the blood in at least 10 healthy volunteers. They will get two donations of 5-10mls at least four months apart - one of normal blood and one of lab-grown blood.

The blood has been tagged with a radioactive substance, often used in medical procedures, so scientists can see how long it lasts in the body.

It is hoped the lab-grown blood will be more potent than normal.

Red blood cells normally last for around 120 days before they need to be replaced. A typical blood donation

contains a mix of young and old red blood cells, whereas the lab-grown blood is all freshly made so should last the full 120 days. The researchers suspect this could allow both smaller and less frequent donations in the future.

However, there are considerable financial and technological challenges.

The average blood donation costs the NHS around £130. Growing blood will cost vastly more, although the team will not say how much.

Another challenge is the harvested stem cells eventually exhaust themselves, which limits the amount of blood that be grown. It will take more research to produce the volumes that would be needed clinically.

Dr Farrukh Shah, the medical director of transfusion at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “This world-leading research lays the groundwork for the manufacture of red blood cells that can safely be used to transfuse people with disorders like sickle cell.

“The potential for this work to benefit hard to transfuse patients is very significant.” (BBC)

A therapist was on hand to provide support.

SAFETY CONCERN

The following day and a week later, the patients were given psychological support to talk through their experience.

“Patients go from ‘What is wrong with me?’ to ‘What happened to me?’” psychotherapist Nadav Liam Modlin said.

Some patients in all groups experienced side-effects, such as headaches, nausea, extreme tiredness

as well as thoughts about suicide.

This was not unusual, the researchers said - but other experts say it could be a safety concern.

‘LONG-LASTING PROBLEM’

University of Edinburgh head of psychiatry Prof Andrew McIntosh said the trial provided “the strongest evidence so far to suggest that further, larger and longer randomised trials of psychedelics are justified”.

“Psilocybin may [one day] provide a potential alternative to antidepressants that have been

prescribed for decades,” he added.

But other experts point out the effects were starting to wear off after 12 weeks.

“Depression can be a long-lasting problem and much longer followup periods than 12 weeks should be used,” Dr Ravi Das, from University College London, said.

A larger trial due to start soon will study how many doses are needed to prevent depression returning.

It could be three years before the drug is close to being authorised, researchers say. (BBC)

Scientists have developed a synthetic form of psilocybin

Science & Technology

Keeping your blood pressure under control reduces risk of severe Covid, study finds

HIGH blood pressure is a known risk factor for a bout of Covid-19 severe enough to raise the specter of hospitalisation and death. In fact, research has shown having high blood pressure doubles the risk of having a severe case of Covid, even if you are fully vaccinated and boosted.

Blood pressure is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (abbreviated as mmHg), which consists of two numbers — an upper or systolic reading that represents the maximum amount of pressure in your arteries, and the lower or diastolic reading that shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart muscle is at rest between beats.

But what is considered a high enough blood pressure reading to trigger that risk? To date, scientists haven’t been sure. Now, a new study out of England published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One has answered that question.

“We found that in those with diagnosed hypertension, the risk of Covid-19 significantly increased once the high number exceeded 150 mmHg or the low number exceeded 90 mmHg compared to a target blood pressure (120-129/80-89 mmHg),” said lead author Holly Pavey, a doctoral student at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom who is funded by the British Heart Foundation, via email.

The research found people with this level of uncontrolled high blood pressure are more likely to

be admitted to the hospital and die from a Covid infection, regardless of other known risk factors such as age, ethnicity or obesity.

The new study was able to drill down and be more specific because of the inherent integration in the UK National Health Service. That level of data sharing allows access to “really granular data on longterm blood pressure control for their patients,” said Dr. Joseph Ebinger, an assistant professor of cardiology and director of clinical analytics of the Smidt Heart Institute at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

“They found it’s not just the diagnosis of high blood pressure — yes or no — but that the risk goes up

Bronze Age comb reveals an ancient frustration with head lice

A SEVEN-WORD inscription discovered by accident on a 3,700-year-old lice comb is the oldest known sentence written in an alphabet, according to a new study.

The inscription written on the ivory comb is in Canaanite, the earliest alphabet, and the source of the Latin one used today to write English and many other European languages. The words are a humble plea, perhaps shared by parents of young children today: “May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard.”

Small clusters of Canaanite letters have been identified on fragments of pottery and arrowheads, but this is the first time scholars have found a complete sentence written in what Yosef Garfinkel, a professor of archaeology at the Hebrew

University of Jerusalem, said was the first alphabet-based language, making it a landmark discovery in the history of the human ability to write.

“Nothing like this was found before. It’s not the royal inscription of a king … this is something very human. You’re immediately connected to this person who had this comb,” said Garfinkel, a coauthor of the study that published in the Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology.

The very earliest writing system originated around 5,000 years ago and was used by ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia (in what’s now Iraq). Like Egyptian hieroglyphics, the system, known as cuneiform in its later stages, relied on hundreds of pictograms to represent words, ideas and sounds. Garfinkel said

as your systolic blood pressure goes up, which is really a measure of lack of control,” said Ebinger, who was not involved in the study.

Unfortunately, many people fail to properly control their blood pressure, even after they have been diagnosed and are on medication, Ebinger added.

“It’s estimated that less than half of individuals with a diagnosis of high blood pressure actually have control over their hypertension, so this is a big problem,” he said. “That’s due to a myriad of factors: underdiagnosis, lack of awareness, medication nonadherence and undertreatment.”

On the positive side, successfully reducing blood pressure through

medication was linked with a corresponding reduction in risk for severe Covid, the new study found.

“It is really important for individuals to have regular blood pressure checks and for doctors to try and get their patients’ blood pressure controlled,” Pavey said.

“Controlling the blood pressure to target levels is important, irrespective of the type of treatment used to achieve it,” she said. “Ultimately blood pressure control will help to reduce the risk of suffering severely from new strains of Covid-19 or other viruses in the future.”

A PRIMER ON BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood pressure readings can be confusing — there are a lot of numbers tossed around, and medical professionals haven’t exactly made it easy for people to follow along.

“Normal” blood pressure readings are typically 120 mmHg systolic (upper reading) over 80 mmHg dystolic (lower reading), according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That’s likely the number you’ll hear mentioned most often. However, that may not be the number your doctor uses to treat you, Ebinger said.

Doctors used to target a blood pressure reading of less than 140/90 to control risk for cardiovascular disease and death, he explained. Then, in 2015, results of SPRINT, or the Systolic Blood Pressure

Intervention Trial, were published in The New England Journal of Medicine — findings that changed the thinking of many medical professionals.

The SPRINT research found targeting a blood pressure below 120 systolic (the top number) in people with hypertension — but no diabetes — prevented the most cases of heart disease and death. There were some side effects, however, including a “higher rate of acute kidney injury or acute renal failure in the intensivetreatment group,” according to the trial.

That possibility was concerning when it came to the elderly, who often have multiple chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, kidney concerns and more, Ebinger said.

“So in 2017, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines shot the gap and set the guideline of a systolic reading less than 130 and a diastolic of less than 80,” Ebinger said. “And this is where some of the debate starts to come in between different types of doctors. I’m a cardiologist, and we believe lower is better. We want to push that number down as much as we can.

“Some primary care doctors and geriatricians might say, ‘You know what, that may not be the best thing for some of my patients,’ and they’re going to treat to a higher number,” he said. “So this is where clinical practice and some of the guidelines don’t always add up.” (CNN)

that Canaanites were the first to use letters that represented sounds in their writing system, which subsequently evolved into the Phoenician, Greek and ultimately

the Latin alphabet that’s most commonly used today.

“The Canaanites invented the alphabet. … Nowadays every person in the world can read and write using

the alphabet system. This is really one of the most important intellectual achievement of humankind,” he said. “When you are writing in English, you’re really using Canaanite.”

Researchers found that people with uncontrolled high blood pressure are more likely to be admitted to the hospital and die from a Covid infection.

The ivory comb features an inscription: “May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard.”

NFL: Tom Brady breaks 100,000-yard mark as Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat LA Rams

Another week, another slice of history for Tom Brady.

The 45-year-old NFL legend became the first quarterback to pass for 100,000 yards during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 16-13 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the clash of the last two Super Bowl champions.

The Buffalo Bills suffered a surprise defeat at the New York Jets, while Aaron Rodgers’ nightmare season got even worse as the Green Bay Packers were embarrassed by the Detroit Lions.

At the halfway point in the season, in another week of tight games and dramatic late finishes, the Los Angeles Chargers won with the last kick of the game, and the Minnesota Vikings did something similar to quietly move to 7-1 and the second best record in the league.

Patrick Mahomes produced more primetime magic as he dragged the Kansas City Chiefs to a 20-17

overtime victory over the tough Tennessee Titans, throwing for 446 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 63 yards and a score.

Mahomes is the first player in the modern-day NFL to combine 400 yards passing and a touchdown with 60 yards rushing and a touchdown as he showed why the 6-2 Chiefs continue to be Super Bowl contenders as long as he is at quarterback.

BRADY BREAKS 100,000 BARRIER IN RECORD COMEBACK WIN

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady has had little to smile about this season, and it looked like a similar story when he got the ball with the Bucs trailing by four points with only 44 seconds left.

The Rams had bottled Brady up all night, but he produced a classic drive to throw the winning touchdown pass to Cade Otton with nine seconds remaining.

It was a record 55th gamewinning drive for Brady, to go with his incredible passing milestone. Considering they came in his 23rd season and 374th game, both will take some beating.

“That was awesome,” Brady said of ending a three-game losing streak that was his worst for 20 years.

On reaching 100,116 passing yards, he said: “It’s a credit to all the guys I’ve played with - I didn’t catch one ball. I’ve had a lot of cool things - I set the sack record a couple of weeks ago - so it’s nice to follow it up with a more meaningful one.”

The Rams are now in big trouble but the Bucs top their division despite being just 4-5 as they fly out to Munich for the first NFL regular-season game in Germany in history next week.

Brady will face a streaking Seattle Seahawks outfit who improved to 6-3 as their 31-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals made it four wins in a row. (BBC)

Tiger Woods to return at Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas

Tiger Woods has announced that he will return to action in next month’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods, 46, has not played since the Open Championship at St Andrews in July, when he missed the cut.

The 15-time major winner, who suffered severe leg injuries in a car crash last year, has only played nine competitive rounds in 2022.

His return comes at an event which takes place from 1 to 4 December at Albany outside of Nassau.

The American won the event, which serves as a benefit for his TGR Foundation and other charities, five times between 2001 and 2011.

Woods had already said he would team up with Rory McIlroy against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in The Match in Florida on 10 December.

Spieth is expected to be in the 20-man Bahamas field, alongside players including Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood.

Woods previously admitted he will never play a full tournament schedule again after his car accident in Los Angeles in February 2021.

He finished 47th in the Masters this year and withdrew from the US PGA Championship following a third round of 79. (BBC)

Houston Astros win World Series 4-2 by beating Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in game six

THE Houston Astros won their second World Series title as a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies helped them clinch the seven-game series 4-2.

Game six remained scoreless until Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in the sixth inning to put the Phillies ahead.

But the Astros hit straight back through Yordan Alvarez’s three-run homer, before Christian Vazquez drove in Alex Bregman to make it 4-1.

Roared on by an ecstatic home crowd, the Astros closed out the win.

The first half of Saturday’s game was a pitching duel between Houston’s Framber Valdez and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler, who had both started game two,

Left-hander Valdez dominated the Phillies, striking out nine batters, but the visitors drew first blood in the top of the sixth when Schwarber lifted Valdez over right field.

As the tension within Minute

Maid Park grew, the Astros rallied to put two men on base, before Phillies manager Rob Thomson withdrew Wheeler in favour of one of his key relievers, Jose Alvarado.

But left fielder Alvarez launched one of the biggest - and most important - home runs of his burgeoning career, hoisting Alvarado 450 feet over centre field to turn the game on its head.

Vazquez batted in an “insurance” run - but they did not need it as the Astros bullpen, which has been virtually unhittable in the 2022 postseason, strangled any hopes of a Phillies comeback.

And the victory was completed when Nick Castellanos flew out to right fielder Kyle Tucker in the ninth.

ASTROS REDEEMED, DUSTY FINALLY REWARDED Houston’s maiden Fall Classic title in 2017 was subsequently tainted by

an electronic sign-stealing scandal for which they were fined $5m, made to forfeit draft picks, and saw their manager and general manager fired.

While only five players from that 2017 team remain on the roster, this was their fourth World Series appearance in six seasons, to cap a sustained period of success.

Having restored some pride to the franchise, Dusty Baker, one of baseball’s most popular figures, finally has a World Series title on his resume in his 25th season as a major league manager after more than 2,000 wins in charge of five different clubs.

“When did it hit me? When Yordan hit that ball over the moon, out there,” 73-year-old Baker joked.

Rookie Jeremy Pena was named as the World Series’ most valuable player, having superbly filled the void left when Houston lost Carlos Correa to free agency. (BBC)

Tiger Woods suffered serious injuries in a car crash in February 2021

Dusty Baker has now relinquished his previous record of being the manager with the most MLB wins without a World Series trophy.

Tom Brady is the first quarterback to pass for 100,000 yards.

World Cup 2022: Midfielder Mario Gotze returns to Germany squad for first time in five years

MIDFIELDER Mario Gotze has been named in Germany’s World Cup squad after a five-year absence.

Gotze, 30, who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final, has not played for Germany since a friendly against France in November 2017.

Bayern Munich teammates Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller will be playing in their fourth World Cup.

Youssoufa Moukoko, Borussia Dortmund’s 17-year-old striker, is also included.

Moukoko and Werder Bremen’s Niclas Fullkrug, who has scored 10 goals in 13 Bundesliga games this season, have both been called up for the first time.

Defender Mats Hummel, who played at the last two tournaments,

has been left out by manager Hansi Flick, while Dortmund captain Marco Reus misses out on another World Cup with an ankle injury.

RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, formerly of Chelsea, is also out after suffering an ankle injury earlier this month that will keep him out until 2023.

Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan and Chelsea forward Kai Havertz are included in the squad, along with West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer and Southampton centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap.

Germany kick off their World Cup campaign against Japan on 23 November before facing Spain and Costa Rica in Group E.

They are set to play a warm-up game against Oman on 16 November.

Women’s football & diversity: England manager Sarina Wiegman says

ENGLAND manager Sarina Wiegman says “we need to do more” to improve diversity in English women’s football.

In the Euro 2022 squad, there were only three mixed-heritage players: Jess Carter, Nikita Parris and Demi Stokes.

“I do think we need to do more, to give access to anyone who wants to play football,” said Wiegman.

It comes after England and Arsenal forward Beth Mead drew criticism for saying the makeup of the team’s roster was “coincidental”.

It is estimated that the proportion of players black, Asian and minority ethnic players in the Women’s Super League is between 10-15%

- compared with about 33% in the Premier League.

When asked if English football has a diversity problem, Wiegman said: “I would love to see more black players in the team, if that’s what you’re getting at?

“For me, with the senior squad, the whole process was done before that. I pick the best players and whoever that is, I’ll pick the best players to perform.”

She added: “We know that the team has backed that every girl should have access to football. I think it should also cover every boy, every girl and whatever skin colour you have, they need to have access to football. We really have to work

on that and the FA want to.”

The Football Association recently launched its Discover My Talent programme aimed at improving accessibility to football, which the governing body hopes will improve diversity.

Arsenal and England’s Lotte Wubben-Moy has used her social media platforms to speak out about the lack of diversity in women’s football before.

“Now, the players have a voice,” added Wiegman.

“We have so many powerful personalities and players in our team and they’re using their voice to address these things. I think it’s really good.”

Nathan Jones: Southampton appoint Luton boss as new manager

Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Nathan Jones as their new manager following the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Welshman Jones, 49, has left Championship side Luton Town to take up the role and has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract.

Hasenhuttl, who was in charge for nearly four years, was sacked on Monday after Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Newcastle.

“I’m really proud to be given this opportunity,” said Jones.

“I know a lot about the club from back in the days of The Dell, to coming here to St Mary’s, and it’s a wonderful football club.”

Jones watched from the stands as Saints beat Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday.

His first game in charge will be away at Liverpool on Saturday.

Hasenhuttl was dismissed after a run of one win in nine matches, with

Southampton 18th in the Premier League.

Jones, who signed a five-year deal with the Hatters in January, ends his second spell at Luton with the club ninth in the Championship.

He will be joined at St Mary’s by first team coaches Chris Cohen and Alan Sheehan.

“A lot of my family are Southampton fans, which doesn’t half help,” Jones said.

“I wanted to manage in the Premier League, I’ve dreamt of that since I became a coach, but this club in particular - because of how it’s run, because of the structure, because of how they look deeper than just results - really appeals to me.”

Jones led Luton to last season’s play-offs, where they were beaten by Huddersfield Town in the semifinals.

The former Brighton and Yeovil player took the reins at Luton for his first full-time managerial position in January 2016 when they were struggling near the bottom of League Two.

He guided them to promotion in 2018 and the Hatters were second in League One in January 2019 when Jones left for an ill-fated spell in charge of Stoke City.

During his 11 months with Stoke they won just six of 38 matches. Jones moved back to Kenilworth Road in May 2020, speaking of his “regret”

at leaving before resurrecting his career during a successful second spell with Luton.

The Hatters were 23rd in the Championship but he helped them stave off relegation on the final day of the 2019-20 season that had been interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Luton finished 12th the following campaign.

Luton’s chief recruitment officer Mick Harford will take interim charge for the Championship side’s game on Saturday against Rotherham.

Gary Sweet, chief executive of Luton, thanked Jones, saying: “He has given us some fantastic memories and a team to be constantly proud of.

“The fact we are looking up towards the Premier League, rather than down towards League One as we were when we brought Nathan back to the club, makes the Luton Town job an attractive one.” (BBC)

Nathan Jones won Championship Manager of the Year last season.

Gotze, 30, who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final, has not played for Germany since a friendly against France in November 2017.

In the past few years, the number of black, Asian and minority ethnic players in an England team for a major tournament has decreased from six in 2007 to two mixed-heritage players at the 2019 World Cup

‘we need to do more’

Sports National

Campbell spins Vibes to emphatic win against GK Foods

JASON Campbell spun his way to six wickets and the man-of-the-match award as he demolished GK Foods in the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T-20 Cricket Competition on Sunday last at the Downtown Ball Park.

GK Foods won the toss and opted to bat, they had a formidable opening pair of South African Edward Butler

and Sri Lankan Nuwan Bodhinayake at the crease.

Butler actually struck Ian Heath for six in the first over, but Campbell, who was the first changeover bowler, started the third and immediately did damage.

After Butler was run out for seven, Campbell and medium pacer, Robert Johnson, took control of

the game, with the former trapping Bodhinayake LBW for zero and having Naga Kulthalingam caught for a similar score off his opening over.

Although he did go for the odd boundary, Campbell proved efficient and his off-spins deadly as the rest of the team folded cheaply which resulted in a paltry 49-9 from nine

overs. He finished the match with figures of 6-28 from three overs.

Johnson was also efficient and his line and length bowling stifled the batsmen as he finished with 2-12 from four overs, including a maiden double-wicket third over.

Needing to score at just 2.5 runs per over, Vibes eased to victory with openers Daniel Williams and Kevin

Hinds playing unbeaten knocks.

Hinds (18 runs) was prolific at the start before Williams (19 runs) gained confidence and took over the game.

Both batsmen struck four fours each in their innings.

GK Foods used four bowlers, but Vibes needed only 5.2 overs to reach 52-0.

SWA Sharks start PPL with 5-0 win

A hat-trick from Brian Gregg propelled defending champions, the SWA Sharks to an emphatic 5-0 win against the Flamingo FC when they kicked off the 20222023 Gilley’s Enterprises Provo Premier League on Saturday evening.

Of Gregg’s three goals, one was simply breathtaking as he took it on his chest, popped it over an oncoming defender and then drilled a left-footer past the outstretched hand of the goalie.

In that clash, Anglyn Cadet supported with a brace.

All six teams in this season’s league were in action on the opening weekend.

In the other clash on Saturday evening, Blue Hills FC, led by goals from Francky Pierre and Jason Louis were able to get past the Academy Eagles FC 2-1.

Roskancy Mondelus scored for the Eagles.

On Sunday evening, Beaches FC and Teachers FC played to a 3-3 draw.

Shannon Brown scored twice for Beaches, while Alexis Salomon netted the other. For Teachers, Jean

Innocent netted the brace and Ismael Athis the other goal.

The league continues this weekend with Flamingo FC meeting Teachers FC and the Eagles playing against Beaches FC on Saturday night. On Sunday evening, the Sharks will challenge the Blue Hills FC.

Jason Campbell (left) and Robert Johnson orchestrated the demise of GK Foods.

Vibes have won two of their four games in the league.

Brian Gregg started off the season with a hat-trick

The SWA Sharks started the league with an emphatic 5-0 win

Gardiner “proud and humbled” of CANOC award

LONG-STANDING sport administrator Rita Gardiner said that she is proud and humbled that she was recognised amongst the six founding members for her development of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC).

The committee’s 20th General Assembly was held on Saturday last in Trinidad and Tobago.

Mrs Gardiner was present when talks began towards the formation of the committee in Malaysia in 1998 and then again in Barbados in 1999.

CANOC Games were held this year in Guadeloupe and according to Mrs Gardiner, the committee will play a significant role in sport for generations to come.

I’m proud and humbled for this historic honour.”

TCI is an affiliate member since we do not have Olympic status. Mrs Gardiner stated that the affiliation status “brings us a step closer if and when the time comes we will be in alignment with the Caribbean Region and International”.

President of the TCI Commonwealth Games Association, Mr Godfrey Been accepted the award on Mrs Gardiner’s behalf in the Twin Island Republic and stated that he too was proud of the achievement.

“On behalf of the TCI Commonwealth Games Association, I want to Congratulate Mrs Rita Gardiner on receiving this award from CANOC acknowledging her pioneering contribution and leadership to the realisation of the Caribbean

sports movement. We are extremely proud of the recognition and what it means and speaks of the service that Mrs Gardiner has and still continues to contribute to sports locally, regionally. Again congratulations Mrs Gardiner and thank you for your work in sports.”

During the election of office bearers, another TCI long-standing official, Mrs Edith Cox was also returned unopposed as treasurer and is set to serve in the position for another four years.

“This speaks to our status and

competency and the confidence they have in the work she did over the past four years. This is no small feat for a small country like TCI going up against 30 Caribbean and Latin American countries,” Mrs Gardiner added.

Provo Hockey League starts on Saturday

The 2022-2023 season of the Provo Hockey League is scheduled to start this weekend at the Graceway Sports Centre.

The event is expected to have some 87 players this year battling in three divisions, including the Novice, Bantam and Junior (changed from Midget).

The Novice and Bantam will have four teams each and the Junior three.

When action bullies off on Saturday from 1:00 pm, the TMW Lightning will battle the Design Studio Jets and the Scooter Bobs Canucks will meet the GBCR Islanders in the Novice Division, while in the Bantam Division, the LHeureux Co Canadiens will challenge the Tibors Sharks and the Temple Financial Tigers will meet Kvanar Oilers.

The Junior will have the Saunders and Co Greyhounds in action twice. First against the Waratah Flyers and then against the Projetech Pirates.

After four weeks of action, the teams will break for the holidays before they restart on Saturday, January 07.

Rita Gardiner’s award

Rita Gardiner said she was humbled by the recognition

Grace Bay Car Rental Islanders, L’Heureux & Co Canadiens and Projetech Pirates won the three divisions last season.