Weekly News Volume 28 | No. 32 | August 9 - 15, 2014
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Turks and Caicos
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FAKE DRUGS
WARNING Minister of Health Portia Stubbs-Smith is warning consumers to be on the lookout for counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs and to report any such incidence to the ministry or the police.
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UK-funded lobster habitat construction project completed PAGE
Massive shrimp farming investment for TCI PAGE 5
UK’s links with TCI positively influenced credit rating PAGE 4
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NIB assessment PAGE 4 reveals $262m in promised retirement benefits
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
UK’s links with TCI positively influenced recent credit rating
NOTING the institutional anchors for stability within the Turks and Caicos Islands, rating agency Standard and Poor’s said they view the political and institutional links between the United Kingdom and the TCI as a positive rating factor. In its full report, disclosed recently, the agency stated that the presence of the UK anchors TCI's political system within the Westminster form of democracy. Pointing to the provision of technical support in a variety of fields to the TCI Government, the agency said that they expect this technical assistance to continue. The agency observed that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office monitors public finances of overseas territories and although they do not guarantee the debt issued by overseas territories, except in specific cases, it has intervened in various territories and provided fiscal support in the case of TCI. The establishment of a multiyear fiscal plan that targets financial benchmarks to be met before local fiscal autonomy is restored follows this support, the agency observed. The report stated that currently Cayman Islands, Anguilla, and TCI are in breach of the UK’s prudential financial benchmarks (borrowing guidelines) and, thus need to submit their annual budgets to London for agreement. The UK’s recent intervention has led to the creation of a new framework for public policy, especially fiscal policy, plus various institutional changes to strengthen the quality of governance, it further noted. “Many of the changes are in
the new constitution, including the public financial management framework. “The Government must submit its medium-term fiscal plan, as well as annual budgets, to the UK for prior approval.” It added that the TCI Government must do this whenever it is in breach of the terms of the public financial management framework and until any breach has been rectified. According to the constitution, the report continued, the Government must present budgets that contain a surplus, or in case of a deficit, must explain to the local parliament the reasons for it. “When the TCI Government is in compliance with the public financial management framework, the UK will only monitor the annual budget, instead of exercising direct power to amend it as it does at the moment. “TCI’s strengthened institutional anchors augur well for policy continuity and stability.” The agency also pointed to the strengthened civil service with the Deputy Governor being in charge of the bureaucracy and permanent secretaries (not ministers) made responsible for administration, recruitment, and spending within ministries since 2012. It also noted as a positive factor,
the fact that the important posts of the CFO and the head of the Financial Supervision Commission that regulates the financial sector report to the Governor, not to the local government. “The Government has also strengthened oversight of statutory bodies, an important step for containing contingent liabilities and revamped laws for public procurement. “The strengthening of TCI’s independent Integrity Commission (which has international members) augurs well for public probity.” The report also pointed to the commission’s strong powers to monitor elections and campaign finance. “It publishes a list of all donors and expenses and receives all campaign spending receipts. It also receives financial information from people in public life, including both politicians and senior civil servants and sets a code of conduct for such officials. “The commission even has the power to expel members from parliament if it determines that they have breached the code of conduct.” The agency also noted the three cases that the commission took to court, and its role in overturning an election in one constituency, which led by-elections. (DI)
August 9 - 15, 2014
NIB assessment reveals $262m in promised retirement benefits AN ESTIMATE of the present value of promised retirement benefits by the National Insurance Board (NIB) has shown it to be $262,870,189. This is according to information supplied to the House of Assembly in July by the Minister of Finance, Washington Misick, as a result of questioning by the Opposition. He pointed out that the last review of the body – the sixth – was conducted by Horizon Now Consultancy, and was issued for three years ending December 2010. The seventh review is currently being prepared by Trinity Consulting Limited, and is expected to be issued later this year, the minister stated. He added that in future the assessment will be done biannually. However, the NIB also receives a monthly assessment of liabilities from Ryan ALM Inc; an asset liability management consultant. He noted that the last actuary report estimated the present value of future expenditure over sixty years following 2010, at $2,426,000,000. However, in the last assessment, Ryan ALM assessed the NIB’s liability as at the April 30, 2014 at $2,333,430,894, while the market value of the NIB investment portfolio at the end of 2014 was estimated at $196,020,770. He added that the funded ratio (which is the present value of assets divided by the net present
value of liabilities of retirement benefits) is 74.6 percent according to the actuarial review. The actuary also estimated assets of the NIB at $151 million, which would have resulted in a funded ratio of 6.2 percent at the end of 2010. Misick added that Ryan ALM assessed the NIB’s funded ratio at 8.35 percent at April 3, 2014. “Also of note is that Horizon estimated that at the current contribution rate, the present value of the liabilities is $2.4 million or over one billion greater than the present value of future contributions of $1,193,000,000 over the 60 years following 2010.” One of the questions posed to the minister by the Opposition asked for a comparison of the NIB’s funded ratio to that of other schemes. Misick stated that while international accounting standards requires the scheme to disclose the actuarial present value of liabilities, most regional schemes are not publishing financial statements in a timely fashion so little information is available. However, he did state that the Bahamas’ NIB in their 2012 financial statement shows investments of $1,545,000,000 and a net present value of their liabilities $12,199,000,000, giving a funded ratio of 12.7 percent. He added that the financial statement of Angola’s social security board also shows a low funded ratio. (DI)
TCI politics is about personalities, rather than ideologies RATING agency Standard and Poor’s has noted that the differences between the governing PNP and the PDM Opposition is a reflection more on personalities than the ideologies
Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Daisy Handfield - Staff Reporter Cord Garrido-Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large) Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams - Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@yahoo.com, tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com
of the two parties. This view was expressed in the report of the agency’s findings following rounds of meetings with both political and private individuals in the Turks and Caicos Islands prior to the agency giving the TCI a BBB+ rating. “The two parties share a consensus on the strategy for economic development but differ on spending and revenue priorities, especially on the level of taxation. “The PDM is opposed to tax hikes,” the report stated. The report also noted that Government may gradually boost social spending - especially on education - in the coming two to three years, after several years of austerity, but will still have to operate under its current fiscal framework. “We expect that the recently introduced laws and procedures to strengthen and modernise public finances will be maintained over the medium term. “But, their effectiveness depends on the quality of political leadership and management in a small country with limited capacity in the
Government sector.” The agency stated that fiscal policy will be determined through dialogue with the United Kingdom, which will retain much of its considerable powers over public finances after 2016 when the UK’s guarantee of the major portion of the TCI Government’s debt expires. The agency also stressed that several years of fiscal austerity, exacerbated by weak global growth, have hurt the PNP Government’s popularity. “There have also been complaints of overcrowding in schools (partly because of the children of immigrant workers) and about the cost and length of legal proceedings against former Government officials, including former PNP Premier Michael Misick.” The report also pointed to the voting trends – one fourth of the residents of the TCI are citizens with the right to vote – stating that this will continue to shape the politics of the Islands. “The Government has to balance the interests of Turks and Caicos Islanders with the needs of the
business community, especially in tourism that depends heavily on foreign labour. “Some local citizens face competition from Caribbean immigrants for low-skilled jobs while often being unqualified for higher-skilled technical and managerial jobs. “Much of the low-skilled labour comes from TCI's large Haitian population, some of whom are illegal immigrants.” Based on their discussions with residents, the agency reported that employers complained about the time and cost of getting work permits for foreign labour. It noted that TCI’s immigration rules may be amended moderately in the coming years because of, in part, concerns about human rights emanating from Britain and the European Union, gradually giving citizenship to more long-term residents. However, the agency stated that disagreements over work permits and business licences are not likely to block significant investments. (DI)
August 9 - 15, 2014
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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Be on the lookout for counterfeit prescription drugs
MINISTER of Health Portia StubbsSmith is warning consumers to be on the lookout for counterfeit drugs and to report any such incidence to the ministry or the police. The warning came after questions were raised in the House of Assembly in July by Opposition appointed member Clarence Selver. According to Selver there have been reports of a thriving trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals, even when purchased from some licensed pharmacies. He said the claim is that as much as 40 percent of drugs sold are counterfeit. As such, he wanted to know what mechanisms are in place to protect the TCI community from this
unscrupulous practice. But, in her response, the minister stated that her ministry has not received any such reports. However, she is encouraging anyone with information on this practice to come forward to her ministry and lodge a complaint so that the matter can be investigated. She said that any items being imported into the TCI should be inspected by the Customs Department and if there are any concerns, people can also forward them to the police. Any counterfeit drugs, she assured, once seized are disposed by the environmental health department. “The public should also be reminded that they should only
Prescription drugs are being sold like candies - Opposition OPPOSITION appointed member Clarence Selver is concerned that some unlicensed stores on Providenciales are selling controlled drugs to customers. “You check some of the stores in Provo, the same way how you can buy candy you can go and buy controlled drugs,” Selver said. He was at the time questioning the Minister of Health on what she is doing to discourage this practice during the last sitting of the House of Assembly in July. According to the member, presently access to controlled pharmaceuticals (efficacious or placebo) can be purchased at licensed and unlicensed retail stores just like candies. However, the minister, Portia Stubbs-Smith, while answering the question, did not indicate whether she is aware of any such practice. She stated: “Controlled pharmaceuticals require licences in order to be imported into the TCI. “These include narcotics and other pharmaceuticals which are monitored by the International Narcotics Control Board. “These licences are strictly controlled and issued by the Ministry
purchase prescription medication from licensed pharmacies after producing a prescription from a licensed physician. Establishments which are licensed to dispense prescription medication should have their licences on display for the general public to see, the Health Minister said. She added that with the establishment of the health regulatory industry, following the approval of the Health Regulations and Health Professionals Bill, provisions are being made for the appointment of two compliance officers whose responsibilities would include the inspection of healthcare facilities including pharmacies and their inventory. Stubbs-Smith also informed that the development of pharmaceutical control legislation is being reviewed in order to regulate and establish standards for the pharmaceutical sector.
Minister of Health, Portia Stubbs-Smith
This legislation would include quality control of drugs, reporting of adverse events and regulation of medicine for use in the TCI. “Currently drugs are not randomly
Massive shrimp farming investment for TCI – Employment opportunities boost
Opposition Appointed Member, Clarence Selver
of Health to licenced pharmacies only.” She is calling on people who know of anyone dispensing controlled pharmaceuticals from retail stores, as opposed to the licensed pharmacies, to report this illegal practice to the authorities. The Opposition member later suggested that the two officers that the ministry is set to appoint to monitor pharmaceuticals in the TCI be set out on inspection rounds to shops about Providenciales to help curb the practice. (DI)
sampled for testing, however if there were any concerns about a medication’s safety or efficacy this could be reported and the drugs sent for testing,” she added. The Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CAPHA) laboratory, in addition to its other laboratory functions, also provides testing to access the quality of pharmaceutical products within the region, she said. This service is extended to the TCI. The minister noted that previously this function was carried out by the Caribbean regional drug testing lab in Jamaica, whose functions were incorporated into the Caribbean Public Health Agency in 2013, but no testing has been carried out since the merger. However, she added, no concerns have been raised by the local health practitioners about the efficacy or safety of any legally prescribed medication in the TCI. (DI)
THE GOVERNMENT has given the go-ahead to two shrimp farming operations to open in the Turks and Caicos Islands with a combined capital investment value of $125 million over a four year period. It is projected that the two operations will employ a minimum of 500 skilled and semi-skilled workers on a full-time, year-round basis and create more than 4,000 indirect jobs. The two operations are also expected to generate annual export earnings exceeding $200 million. Minister of Finance Washington Misick made this disclosure during the presentation of the budget before the House of Assembly last month. He stated that the two investments will make the TCI the largest aquaculture producer by value in the Caribbean and the only all natural, organic producer according to the sponsors of Global Blue
Minister of Finance, Washington Misick
Technologies - one of the investors. “In keeping with our emphasis on the environment, the proposed projects will be sustainable, biosecure, high intensity aquaculture complexes,” Misick said. He further observed that shrimp farming is the most valuable traded marine product in the world and the production is growing at approximately 10 percent annually.
Farm shrimp, according to statistics from 2005, is a $10.6 billion industry, the minister revealed. “Indeed, despite a weak US economy, Americans’ consumption of shrimps has increased during its latest economic woes. “TCI makes an ideal location for exporting to the US, the largest shrimp consumer in the world, since it is close to the US and not subject to anti-dumping duties.” Anti-dumping duties are protectionist tariffs that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value. Misick added that the US has recently extended the anti-dumping duties until 2016 on import of warm water shrimps from India, China, Brazil, Thailand and Vietnam. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the world consumes 9.5 billion pounds of shrimp annually, with over 1.7 billion consumed in the United Sates alone, Misick explained. He also noted that farmed shrimp accounts for 55 percent of the shrimp produced globally. (DI)
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014
A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day
Can we really stop illegal migration?
Following a trip to the Bahamas by the Governor and Border Control Minister to solidify a working relationship to tackle illegal migration, it was announced that the memorandum of understanding between TCI and Haiti will finally be signed in mid-September. Minister Don Hue Gardiner has stated that he sees in President Michel Martelly, a willingness to work together to tackle this problem. How much do you think the Haitian Government can really do to prevent its citizens from taking these dangerous sea journeys? Do you think collaboration between the Bahamas and TCI would have any significant effect in curbing this practice?
Greater collaboration on all fronts
It is needed and critical that we deepen our ties with the Bahamas, the English, Spanish, French and Dutch speaking Caribbean. There is need for greater collaboration on all issues of Finance, security, immigration and "reacting" to the European onslaught of ideas, culture and their British people forcing their ways on us all. In the spirit of cooperation, the Government of the TCI must bring the opposition and the people on board so that we can all consent, as much as we can, on what they are doing. As we fear there may be a revolving door where some local airlines bring them back as we ship them out. Yet deeper talks can help us realise our Christian goals of human rights observances. We must hold the Haitian Government to some obligations such as self-sustainability, expanding its own economy and providing work so that they do not continue to export their unemployment. Because we take on health and social welfare issues. Also what has happened to all of that aid money? What about the Clinton Initiative? Maybe the MOU should include references to ensuring the aid monies get to what it is designated for. Let us make them do what they promised to do.
Treat Haitians better
It is a tragedy that one of the richest countries in the world because of its natural resources is kept to so impoverished by the West, namely countries like France who exacted $100 Million dollars in gold payments for over 100 years. Regional leaders, TCI, Bahamas and CARICOM need to lean on Europe and France, people who kept Haiti poor and broke for all these years. Racism in these issues is always a sub-text. The MOU and our region must observe that the best we can do is to help the Haitians help themselves. We have seen them over the past 40 years in the Bahamas and TCI and how industrious and
hardworking they can be. Cultural practices asides they themselves are the key to their own futures and economic freedoms. If we allow them to grow, expand their markets, expand trade with them, maybe we can see the day when there will be a migration from here, Bahamas, TCI, back home to Haiti. As a people, who claim to be Christians, let us treat them better as well. In the TCI, we must realise that they are now a real part of us. I really suggest that the Minister open a wider, meaningful, result driven public consultation process so that we can all contribute to a realistic long-term process.
TCI needs to help Haiti develop
Even with limited resources and overwhelming demands, Haiti is taking action to prevent its citizens from taking to the sea on dangerous journeys. But the problem of boat people coming to our shores will not be solved unless we take a more active role in developing Haiti's economy. We cannot wish it away or hope that the Haitian government can tackle this on its own. Specifically, TCI should use its expertise and resources to help Haiti promote tourism, particularly in the north, which is only a 40-minute flight from Provo. TCI can help open the door to tourism in Haiti by making Provo a gateway to Haiti for short trips without worrying that it will lose tourists to Haiti. Northern Haiti also has abundance of fresh food, flowers, and other products that are less expensive and often of higher quality. TCI government can help make the process of importing goods easier and thus boost Haitian economic development that over the long run will benefit both countries.
Haitian Government is to blame
The Haitian government after 200 years of independence is a mess. Not the citizens, the government. They have no inclination to stop their
people from leaving. We need to open our borders to legal immigration because due to both the PNP and interim governments’ policies, people are leaving. We need a bigger population to expand our economy. Where is the quota for legal immigration? We need to move from making people’s lives unbearable to welcoming honest immigrants who want to work. Work permits are in most countries not an income stream...only in the TCI. I doubt there will be any collaboration between the Bahamas and TCI. Just another trip, time, and money wasted.
Wasted trip, no transparency
The other issue is that the young Haitian men and women don't want to leave the bigger cities because most of them have no skills and they don't want to farm. Male and female prostitution, often times, arranged by parents, spouses, stealing, panhandling, begging and receiving handouts, have become an acceptable way of life. They come into your community and litter the communities, build shanti towns, become an economic burden in the healthcare system, the school system. Now tell me, who wants this in their communities?
We need the cooperation since UK is not helping
The Governor will report his trip to London and Don Hue will report to Rufus. No one will report to us, the people of the TCI. This is called transparency. It is London’s problem but we have not seen any resolution. The failed governments of Central America are watching their people illegally enter the USA. The failed Haitian and Jamaican Governments watch their people illegally come to TCI for one thing, the USA dollar.
We need cooperation with any government that is willing to assist in curbing the serious problem of illegal immigration, since the British Government refuses to honor their Constitutional obligation of policing our waters and dealing with international affairs. Also, rather than considering the harsh journey and protecting the immigrants we should be considering protecting our people from the drugs, guns and serious infectious diseases that are flooding our shores.
Promote legal migration
Everybody is clueless
All parties need to realize that the desire of desperate people to seek a better life will not cease and until there is a mechanism in place for them to make the transition legally, they will continue to take the illegal and dangerous route. TCIG needs to be proactive and set up a labour office in Haiti. All Haitian nationals wishing to work in TCI can then be pre-checked (including medicals) and pre-approved for TCI employers to pick from. When their name is called, they will receive work permits and can safely and legally travel to TCI. The population of Haiti then needs to be educated that they will be deported with a black mark against their name if they travel without having completed the pre-approval process.
Same old thing
I really don't think that it would make any difference. The Bahamas had a representative from Haiti for their people and illegal immigration issue, his presence has solved 'nuttin' and that is the same thing that is, and will continue to be in TCI. The president and his reps would like to see half of their inhabitants leave Haiti, but they don't want the deaths from drowning etc. They are not stressing that they should remain in Haiti. They have millions of donated dollars after the earth quake and because of their lack of decision making skills, limited knowledge and planning skills, the money sits there because it's earmarked for the reconstruction of Port au Prince and they are unable to decide where to rebuild the capital as there were several earthquakes in that city.
Stop the game playing, and play the games. You must play in order to win, Governor and Minister of Border Control! The announcement of the MoU is a political showcase, the world knows who the Gov and Min of BC are, and for what they are worth! The illegal migration is not a problem of tomorrow; it is and was one of the "past". Did they not know that, and why is it the MoU was not ready for signatures, witnessed by the Bahamas? Because, in reaction, it does not exist, and hastily, something will be "rushed" with no really thought-process-efforts, as usual here in the TCI. Martelly, does not know what to do, nor does Don Hue or the Gov. All are completely lost. The Haitian Gov, must close all of its sailing out ports, intercept departing unauthorized vessels, educate and inform aspirant immigrants of open ocean crossing dangers, and "no work" in TCI, and inform them of right ways to get to USA, the real intended place of settlement. Any effort will benefit, but real benefit must have efforts that are efficient and effective. continued
Become a contributor Want to become a contributor or have a suggestion for a Talk Back topic for us? What questions do you think we should be putting to the public? And what are your thoughts on it? Call our news team on 946 4664 or email tcweeklynews@gmail.com
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August 9 - 15, 2014
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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TCI credit rating analysis released in full Kathleen Wood
DEMA Director resigns DIRECTOR of Environment and Marine Affairs (DEMA), Kathleen Wood has resigned from the position. The announcement was made in the body of a press release sent out on Thursday morning (August 7) on a lobster habitat construction project, and which was issued by the Governor’s Office. Commenting on the project, Wood stated: “I trust that with my resignation from DEMA, they will continue to work with the department to foster the sustainable management of TCI’s threatened natural environment.” However, efforts by this publication to contact her for a comment on her resignation all proved futile. Wood has been DEMA’s director since August 2012. According to information
reaching the Weekly News, she declined to renew her contract with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government when it comes to end this month. Wood joined DEMA with a wealth of experience and background in environmental matters. Before heading the body, she was the Environmental Director at SWA Limited for 14 years. She also served as Director of Environment for 17 years with SWA Architects; both posts ended with her appointment to DEMA. Wood is also an alumnus of Harvard University, as well as the Florida International University, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science. Efforts to reach the Minister of Environment, Amanda Missick, for a comment on Wood’s replacement were unsuccessful. (DI)
THE GOVERNMENT has pledged to improve the TCI’s economic prospects and attract new investment following the publication of Standard and Poor’s detailed ratings analysis. Published by the ratings agency on Thursday (August 7), the report outlines the reasons behind the country’s new credit rating of BBB+ and provides specific actions to improve its score. These include further modernisation of public services and maintaining the focus on reducing Government debt given the Islands’ relatively narrow economy which is focused on high-end tourism. Finance Minister Washington Misick said: “Our Government is firmly committed to broadening and strengthening our Islands’ economy. “This objective and independent analysis will help us make this a reality and attract new investment to our Islands.” He explained that first and foremost the focus must be on keeping public finances in order and delivering a balanced, responsible budget. “In the long run, this will attract more private investment, reduce the cost of living for future generations and allow us to invest more in public services and infrastructure.” The independent research from Standard and Poor’s is
supplementary to the TCI’s first credit rating released in July 2014. The report’s main findings are that the TCI enjoys favourable growth prospects based on its welldeveloped tourism industry, and the country’s relationship with the UK “serves as an anchor for economic policies”. The ‘stable’ outlook is based on Standard and Poors’ expectation of successful implementation of recent measures designed to modernise the public sector and strengthen governance. The report added that these measures, coupled with the company’s projection of continued economic growth averaging three percent a year, will contribute to a gradual reduction in the Government’s debt burden over the next few years. Governor Peter Beckingham said: “This provides further evidence that TCI is on the way to becoming a prosperous nation with the chance to be a true Caribbean success story.” He added that the report is right to recognise how the country’s strong links with the UK bring in new investment and benefits the economy. “The Government’s plan to strengthen public finances, backed by Britain, has allowed it to get its finances in order, steadily reduce
Under the tree continued from
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Showing-casing serves nothing but ridicule and lack. Proactive rather than reactive will best serve all stakeholders involved.
Only Haitians can fix Haiti
The Bahamas has gone down this road before and the Haitian Government did nothing to honor the agreement and stem the tide of illegals; in fact, it appeared to increase! Illegals are Haiti's biggest export, its greatest source of revenue! THEY WILL DO NOTHING. During his visit to the Bahamas about a week ago, the Haitian President even had the nerve to "tell" the Bahamian Government that we should take that $200
million we are upgrading our border capacity with and invest it in the North of Haiti to put Haitians to work and stem the tide of his people coming here! That stupid suggestion nearly caused a national riot! Haiti's mean stumbling block to this or any other agreement working in that as a nation they seem hell bent on not following any rules; in their nation or other people's! Why should the Haitian Government stop the flow of its prime revenue source when it is complicit in it happening? Haiti is a developmental black hole… billions of dollars has been poured down into that national hole for decades with little or no results! The world cannot depend on them to abide by or honor charity or fair play. Only Haitians can fix Haiti, but they are too busy scattered all over the place trying to fix other people's nation!
debt and to attract new investment. This must continue.” The report stated that the company will raise ratings on TCI if its economic performance materially exceeds their expectations, resulting in a stronger economic profile. Alternatively if it materially improves the comprehensiveness of its economic (particularly external) data, reducing uncertainty. However a potential lack of political consensus on key policies affecting public finances and on TCI's long-term development strategy could weaken investment and GDP growth. The resulting fiscal pressure could test the Government’s ability to meet its budget targets and weaken investor confidence, the report stated. A potential deterioration in economic management and worsening budget outcomes could result in a downgrade. The report also explained that tourism, mainly high-end condos, hotels, and private villas, dominate the economy. It generates more than half of the GDP directly and indirectly and employs about 32 percent of the population. The TCI competes with islands like St Barts and Anguilla in attracting mainly affluent stay-over visitors.
By Benneth Williams
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NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014
PDM slams Gov’t on its approach to consultation THE PDM has again raised their concerns with what they see as the Government’s flagrant disregard for the provisions of the constitution as it relates to consultation. The party vented its frustration in a statement to the media on Thursday (August 7). “Akin to public consultation is transparency and there is much to be desired in the practical application of this principle,” Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson said. “As promoters of accountability and transparency, we continue to be offended by the approach that this Government has taken to important issues requiring consultation.” She added that in recent times, the party has resorted to formally lodging their complaint with the Governor regarding this issue. She said that as members of the Opposition and residents of the TCI, they are not always aware of consultations that are ongoing. “We learnt of several recently after the consultations concluded and we are hearing from sources close to the Government that there has been a decision made for the retention of the daylight savings time without so much as a statement on its findings including the level of participation.
“Again we notice that the Government has taken the stance of selecting individuals and calling it stakeholder groups without a public statement that it was consulting even with special groups.” There have also been technical bills and issues where the consultation was almost non-existent as in the example of the Broadcasting Bill, which was highly technical and was eventually forced into a Select Committee where it was vetted, the party leader said. She added that only then did consultations take place, but the bill is surprisingly not included in the Government’s legislative agenda for the remainder of the year. “The Government has done all in its power at times to avoid facing the public even when they have a constitutional duty to consult the public. “They have been able to do so from time to time in spite of our protest in the House of Assembly and in other forum.” She added that because these breaches are repeated, the PDM has sought the opinion of the former Attorney General regarding the noncompliance of the Government and the practice continues. She said that they are of the view
Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson
that every aspect of the constitution must be complied with to the letter and where there is no compliance without remorse or consequence it does not auger well for good governance in the TCI, nor does it reflect well on Her Majesty’s Government charged with the responsibility of oversight of the affairs in the TCI. Where these rules are intended to be complied with, she said that more has to be done to urge the Government to have regard for and to comply with the provisions of the constitution. The party leader believes that
a review is needed to ascertain the underlying causes and where it is determined that sections are impractical to comply with, then it might be advisable to have those sections amended by Orders in Council than for the Government to continue to operate ultra vires the constitution, and in defiance of the document. The Statement of Governance Principles as provided for in the constitution has been designed to steer the Government and public officials into practices that promote consultation, accountability and fairness in their decision-making processes, she added. “We are not anti-technology, but what we see emerging as a standard practice, is the forwarding of questions to the general public on matters of national interest via email and text messages for response. “We seem to forget the fact that there are many citizens who have meaningful contributions to make and who are not regular users, if at all of the internet.” She said that there are other tools to be used to consult wider. “This seems now to being regarded as public consultation. We are of the opinion that this form of opinion gathering cannot be regarded as public consultation in light of the
drawbacks to this exercise.” She stated that this exercise does not allow for discourse and verbal exchange between members of the public and the Government which can encourage education on the issues, healthier and more informed recommendations and consensus building. “We believe the Government’s approach to consultation fails the test of being accessible and meaningful.” A few years ago, there was an argument for public hearings to be carried live over RTC so that residents can hear what the other Islanders were saying on the constitution, the party leader reminded. She added that now there seems to be a total disregard for national conversation and meaningful dialogue by an elected government. “We are therefore calling upon all who have influence over the affairs of this country to take whatever corrective action that is deemed necessary to bring about the desired halting of these practices that do not dove tail with the provisions of good governance or underpin the observance and safe guard of democracy. “We wait with high expectations to a measured and effective response in addressing our concerns.”
UK-funded lobster habitat construction project completed A PROJECT that is geared at providing training and assistance to local fishermen to breed spiny lobsters in the TCI has officially been completed. The initiative which was funded by a $65,000 grant from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reached completion on Wednesday (August 6). Experts in lobster habitat MerAngel Ecological Services held seminars and workshops on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Providenciales to teach fishermen and Government employees how to design, build and deploy the habitats. Artificial lobster habitats have been proven to increase the abundance and biomass of lobsters in areas where habitat is limited. Given the recent decreases in catch numbers of the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in TCI, often attributed locally to the reduction in quality and quantity of habitat resulting from damage caused by hurricanes Hannah and Ike, it is hoped that the long-term benefit of the project will be the improved sustainability of lobster stocks in the Islands’ waters. The training was split between information seminars and hands-
on habitat design and construction workshops, and participants from the local fishing community learned about lobster life cycle, behaviour, food preferences and optimal casita placement. The ‘hands on’ aspect of the project also provided instruction in the construction and maintenance of the artificial habitats using readily available and cost-effective materials. The design of the habitats incorporates long lasting materials that will eventually turn into reeflike structures, and the end products are primarily geared towards use by juvenile lobsters. Such a strategy of ‘juvenile protection’ is intended to enable more lobsters to reach maturity, which in turn should facilitate higher levels of reproduction. In total, 42 fishermen, water sports operators and government employees attended the seminars and workshops, with 100 habitats being constructed and 11 demonstration sites mapped on the Caicos and Turks Banks. Two fishermen from South Caicos were also trained on how to deliver workshops of their own. Kathleen Wood, director of the Department of Environment and
Artificial lobster habitat construction workshop on South Caicos
Maritime Affairs (DEMA), said that this project was initiated following requests from the TCI fishing community and, as far as she was aware, this is the first time that any fisheries project has been undertaken exclusively for their benefit. “The results were telling; the fishermen were enthusiastic, engaged in the process and committed to continuing to build additional habitats on their own time, indicating their genuine concern for the welfare of the lobster stocks in TCI. “The participants demonstrated a real willingness to engage in stewardship for the resources upon
which their livelihoods depend, and this is an ethic that DEMA is seeking to foster across the wider community with our Community Conservation Partner Programme.” She said that everyone is responsible for the fate of TCI’s fragile environment, and should take responsibility to ensure its protection. “This landmark project would not have been possible without the support of the FCO,” she said. “The current FCO representation in TCI has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to engage in and support environmental initiatives, and their
continual support of DEMA and DEMA projects has been critical in helping our department to achieve its mandate in these difficult financial times. We are grateful to them. “I trust that with my resignation from DEMA, they will continue to work with the department to foster the sustainable management of TCI’s threatened natural environment.” Marsha Pardee, lead contractor from MerAngel Ecological Services, said that the project workshops were geared toward the fishermen and other interested entities. “It is really about the preservation and sustainability of our lobster fishery resource, an important part of the local economy. “We feel the project has been a good first step in encouraging practical and cost effective ways in which people can ‘Nurture your next generation,’ which was our theme for the project.” In addition to the lobster habitat workshop, this financial year the FCO and Governor’s Office in TCI have funded lionfish control training and the travel and attendance of two DEMA officers to a sub-regional seminar on maritime surveillance monitoring and communication systems for maritime security.
August 9 - 15, 2014
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
9
Residents cautioned against credit card scams BY DAISY HANDFIELD AIRLINE InterCaribbean (formerly Air Turks and Caicos) and a number of its customers were victim to a credit card scam recently. CEO Trevor Sadler spoke to the Weekly News on Wednesday (August 6) explaining that the company was notified by card holders of invalid charges. “We worked with the police to identify the person or persons involved in this that led to an arrest on the weekend.” The CEO said that there are others they believe who may be part of the scheme, who have made multiple invalid bookings with potential customers. The company wishes to notify the public to be warned of anyone attempting to offer them a “deal on travel”. “Within the Turks and Caicos we work with legitimate travel agencies and we sell tickets directly ourselves online, via our call centre or our airport locations.
“We have not and will not authorise the sale of our tickets via the backroom of somebody’s house. “Such travel on other airlines operating to the Turks and Caicos is very likely only available through identical circumstances.” Sadler said that citizens and residents of the TCI should be warned that any similar detected bookings will automatically be cancelled, and travel will not be possible. Officials from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) released a statement that gave small tips that potential customers can and should look out for. It read: “Customers may be contacted directly by fraudulent traders, or may follow links via popular social networking sites.” The release also mentioned that some victims have lost in excess of $1,000 for fake international flight bookings, while others report instances of identity theft after interactions with the fake trader. RTCIPF encouraged people to take heed when they come across
Quincy Gardiner was found dead on Saturday, July 26
Man arrested in connection with Gardiner death A MAN is on police bail after being arrested in connection with the alleged murder of 31-year-old Quincy Gardiner of North Caicos. Audley Astwood, public relations officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force (RTCIPF), told the Weekly News on Tuesday (August 5) that the name of the individual is not going to be released until he has been formerly charged in the courts. A court date has not yet been set. Gardiner’s lifeless body was found alongside a road leading to the Kew constituency in North Caicos on the morning of Saturday, July 26. A police officer made the gruesome discovery at about 5.28am
and officers from multiple units were called to the scene. Initial investigations revealed that the body was that of Quincy Gardiner and had sustained multiple injuries. He was later removed from the scene and a post-mortem exam to determine the exact cause of death was conducted. Officials have yet to release the cause of death. Further inquiries into this matter are continuing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477. The call will be answered in Miami, Florida, and only the information provided will be passed on. (DH)
Trevor Sadler, CEO of InterCaribbean Airways (formerly Air Turks and Caicos)
such activities. “It is important to look for the warning signs such as the flight booking website is not well-known, or you have never heard of it before. “Another warning sign may be the website claiming to offer flights at unusually cheap prices, some up to 50 percent off. “Be cautious when considering whether to purchase really cheap
airfares – if it looks too good to be true it probably is. “NEVER send money or give personal details to people you don’t know and trust.” Customers are encouraged to check that the ABN quoted on the website is genuinely registered to the trader named on the website. If anyone thinks they have provided their account details to
Only
$35 Call 941-3020 or stop by our Grace Bay store tomorrow to get yours.
a scammer, they should contact their bank or financial institution immediately. Residents can report scams to the RTCIPF by calling 941-8083. More information concerning scams, crime prevention and other safety tips is available on the official webpage at www.tcipolice.tc or Facebook page at www.facebook. com/RTCIPF.
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August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
We welcome letters from all members of the public on a variety of topics Please note that all submissions are subject to editing in keeping with defamation laws and newspaper style. Letters should be accompanied by the author’s full name, location and phone number. Names will be withheld if requested.
The Power of One
Dear Editor, When someone thinks about the power of one, what often comes to mind is the power of one person who can make tremendous change through their diligence to a cause and over time change a community, a country or even the world. We have examples of these types of people scattered throughout history. There is Martin Luther King Jr. with the Civil Rights movement in the USA; Mahatma Gandhi with the push for Indian self-determination in non-violent resistance of the British Empire, and Galileo who dared to think the world was round in a time when all learned men “knew” it was flat. Well, that’s not what I am going to speak to here. What I have noticed over time in the Turks and Caicos is that we find ourselves in the position where we have only one go-to person for whatever field, profession, or industry. That’s not to say in reality we do not have more than one person with said expertise within the TCI in any given area; however, once we deem someone the “Guru of X”, well, without any doubt that’s usually the person used. In politics, we look to the same few families for leadership. When it comes to hosting shows, we have a few go-to people on each island and
the same applies in the education or tourism sectors and others. The interesting part is that once that trust is placed in a person they hold the designation until it is seen fit to designate someone else, and the prior holder becomes immediately obsolete. I believe that this practice is the lingering effect of actually having only one expert in any given area in our recent history; precisely because of our relatively small size and islands segmentation, in addition to our late development as a country. This resulted in your doctor being the only doctor you had for many years. You knew only one mechanic, one dentist, one primary school teacher, one grocery store owner and so forth. I say that to point out that all this has now changed and we do have many Turks and Caicos Islanders with significant expertise often in multiple sectors. All they need is that opportunity to contribute. We have grown to the extent that we are more than a singularly minded people. I believe this type of Power of One is perpetuated by the insecurities of some that love being the gate keeper of knowledge and to be looked upon with reverence. If there is someone else who knows what the go-to person knows,
this is of no consequence; they are of no use. They fail to realize that the more knowledgeable people we have, the greater the possibility of building a strong nation. One of the reasons I respect President Obama more than most of the current leaders on the world stage is that when he was to select his Cabinet, he chose the most talented persons available to get the job done. Most notably was Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. Think about it for a minute; he picked his rival to be the face of USA Foreign Affairs after having gone through a sometimes acrimonious primary process that went on way longer than it had to. No doubt he put his country first and was comfortable enough in his own skin to choose competent persons to shoulder responsibilities and not let the fear of sharing the spot light be his driving motivation. Imagine how much growth/ strength we will experience in our country if instead of restricting ourselves to that one go-to person, we also utilize the services of equally competent individuals. Stay Blessed, Jamell Robinson, Leeward Palms, Providenciales
Please, no captive dolphins Dear Editor, I am Mackenzie, an 18-year-old girl with a passion for this island, beauty and animals. Turks and Caicos has become a place I like to call home. That being said, these Dolphin Coves have me a little bit more than upset. First, dolphinariums kill dolphins. Many dolphins are slaughtered in the capturing, and the "lucky" survivors get to perform tricks. Most of these dolphins end up developing deadly diseases and behavioral issues. Dolphins die. For human entertainment. I've read many articles about this dolphinarium. You talk the most about jobs. I looked at the TCI Dolphin Cove Facebook page. While there are jobs that Belongers qualify for, such as a pirate presenter, there are many jobs that they don’t qualify for. For example, I don't know how many Belongers have "A minimum of 7 years’ experience in Managing Dolphin Parks...” These jobs would inevitably go to outsiders. The articles stressed that you believe the only ones against this are the tourists. If locals do support this, I imagine it is for economic reasons. But the economic revenue that will be brought in will be almost nothing if the tourists do not support it. That's how this is going to make
money, right? Without the tourists, the dolphinarium has nothing. No jobs. No money. Just dead dolphins. What I want to know is why the captive animal ban in Turks and Caicos was lifted. Nothing about this facility screams beneficial except that it makes money. But will it really make money? Or will it drive people away from this island? Many people decided they will not return if this prevails. This facility will destroy the reputation of an island known to be "beautiful by nature". Captivity is not beautiful. Until you can convince me that money is worth ruining TCI’s reputation and killing innocent dolphins for entertainment, I can’t support you. Dolphinariums have been shutting down worldwide. There’s obviously a problem. TCI, are you listening? I may just be an 18 year old who likes to vacation in Provo, but today, I’m an 18 year old trying to change the world. But I need help. Best regards, Mackenzie Tewksbury, Maryland, USA
COMMENTARY
All about power
We noted that the last surviving crew member of the B-29 bomber Enola Gay has recently passed away, at 93 years old. The Enola Gay dropped the first of two atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, which ended the big war. The war was already lost to Japan but they would have continued to fight down to the last man, woman and child. Furthermore, Russia was looming on Japan’s northern border so the USA needed to end it by using the ultimate power, nuclear energy. This last crewmember was the navigator of the bomber and admitted that the bomb was
needed to save an estimated one million American military lives. He now advocates the elimination of all nuclear weapons. God gave man the brains to discover nuclear energy and man first used it for war. The dropping of the “A” bomb happened less than a lifetime ago yet the world is still at war. Soon Iran will have a bomb more powerful than the 1945 versions. They plan to send it on a rocket at Israel. The reality is that Israel will preempt Iran's attack as they did in Syria. Nuclear energy is now used to power ships and electrical power plants. France gets 80 per cent of its electric power from nuclear.
SPACE IS LIMITED!
They have a wonderful system of three standardized different sized plants based on the needs of each area of France. The sun, an invention of God, is a gigantic nuclear reaction. It warms us and provides the energy for life. The sun provided the environment for Adam, Eve and their descendants… Engineers have been working on solar panels using the sun’s energy. Someday they will be capable of efficiently capturing the sun’s energy. However, while they work they are not economical enough to provide all our electrical needs. Maybe some day. What does work is the by-product of the sun’s energy, wind. Wind
By David Tapfer
David is a retired mobile hydraulic engineer and business executive. He has been married to Middle Caicos native Yvette Robinson Tapfer for 25 years and has lived in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, since 2002. David formerly served as branch chairman of the PDM from 2008 to 2011
blows day and night, unlike solar, which works only during daylight hours. We see wind generators now in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. My sailboat was becalmed on big Lake Erie too often, yet someone in Cleveland could justify the use of wind. Why not TCI? We need to install several facing parliament in Grand Turk as all that hot air from parliament could spin those fans and generate free power for Fortis. However, only for a couple hours
every six weeks! Political power in a democracy is generated from the people. My favourite gripe is that while 56 per cent of the voters chose PDM, our flawed system gave the government to the other 44 per cent. You would think that this government would at least compromise and include the suggestions of the 56 per cent PDM opposition party. Unfortunately, with the PNP it is all about power.
Please keep your letters to a maximum of 450 words or we may not be able publish it.
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 11
PDM finds passport changes regressive THE OPPOSITION party, PDM, has called out the Government for not challenging the United Kingdom’s decision to issue passports for the Turks and Caicos Islands, along with the other British overseas territories. The change takes effect from December 2014. In a press statement on Thursday (August 7), Leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright Robinson indicated that the party first learned of the UK’s intention last year during the Appropriations Committee, but that at the time, it appeared to be in its infancy stage. However, she added, she has learned that the Bermuda government in a statement issued last year said that it would lead the way in challenging the issue as an overseas territory. The party leader said that when it was first brought to her attention she questioned the policy as it relates to the treatment of emergencies and the
proposed process. “We wish to remind the people of this country that these talks or dialogue will be with the PNP Government as it is the Government and not with the Opposition PDM party. “The Government has only within the last few days spoken for the first time to this issue.” She added that there were no updates provided and there is now dialogue emerging again with the minister confirming the UK’s decision. “What the Minister of Border Control did not say is what his Government did do to engage the UK or the sister overseas territories on this matter. “The PNP Government must tell the people of this country what representations were made on the people’s behalf.” Cartwright Robinson said that it is the belief of the party that the intention to print passports in the
UK is regressive and they believe that the full process should remain in the Islands even if UK personnel are attached. She added: “In light of the difficulties that we are aware that persons are encountering now with the lengthy process for British passports, we are convinced that this system may not be any better.” She said they harbour real concerns regarding the efficiency of this new process, as well as what will constitute an emergency. “Persons cannot find themselves in this country as some did this year without any travel documents especially since we no longer issue other travel documents. “We also believe that this may negatively affect revenues for these Islands as well.” There are many more unanswered questions and the people need to hear from the Government on this issue, she stated. The PDM believes that if the
Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson
Government has not yet engaged the sister Overseas Territories or the UK, then it must do so, as they believe
this move to be regressive and not in the best interest of the people of the TCI.
Sunseeker Predator 80’ Luxury Yacht
I can’t use the yacht more than one month a year so I am seeking business professionals with some knowledge of luxury yachts to be partners in the boat. Ideal for business meetings when you want to impress or social events. Yacht is fully equipped with communications tools. Spectacular opportunity to share in one of the worlds finest yachts.
$100,000 per share unit Contact: tcifund@gmail.com
10236
12 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Premier Rufus Ewing observes Emancipation Day “FELLOW Turks and Caicos Islanders on August 1, we commemorated the 180th year anniversary of the Emancipation of Slavery within the British Empire. “As we reflect on this historic day, we must pause to first pay homage to those who fought valiantly for the abolition of slavery, many of whom sacrificed their very lives for the liberation of the slaves in our territories. “We must also remember and recognise those like our own James Alexander George Smith (JAGS) McCartney, First Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands, National Hero and Freedom Fighter, and the many others who battled for civil rights and liberties of the common people. “Today, we salute the temerarious spirits of those agitators for change, whose heroic pursuits were instrumental in bringing to end the most inhumane aspect of slavery; the ownership of human beings as property and the treatment of human beings as chattel.
Premier Rufus Ewing
“However, my fellow citizens, while emancipation gave freedom to those in bondage, it did not bring with it, equality. “Though emancipation gave us liberty, we have yet still to gain our independence. “I say to you today, that as we continue to surge forward as a people and as a nation, we must
recognise and embrace that the greatest step into our future is the attainment of a level of social consciousness and responsibility that sets the foundation for a future of progress. “Without these steps a nation will never attain financial independence nor will it ever be truly liberated. “Let us remember that we share a collective responsibility for each other and for our nation as we move forward together. “Let us, as we face the trials of our daily challenges, be encouraged by the memory of our forefathers, whose burdens were greater and who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for the benefit of our generations. “As we look forward to the future of this nation, let almighty God guide us so that future generations may also reflect on the sacrifices that we made for the betterment of their children. “May God bless you and may He bless these beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.”
August 9 - 15, 2014
Draft Electrician Licensing Bill 2014 goes out for public consultations STAKEHOLDERS will now be given the opportunity to give their opinions on the Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2014. The Ministry of Government Support Services stated that this bill seeks to amend the Electricity Ordinance, to provide for the establishment of an Electricity Board for the licensing of electricians, and for related purposes. The proposed bill will correct some system deficiencies, and when put into effect, will make it illegal for anyone who is not the holder of a licence to practice as an electrician in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The objective is to improve the regulation and control of the electrical construction sector by assuring the competency of practicing electricians; but also to ensure that persons issued with licences are in compliance with the terms and conditions of such licences, and will adhere to standards, codes and practices in the field thereby safeguarding persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. According to the Energy and Utilities Commissioner,
everyone will be required to be licensed, regardless of if you are a self-employed electrician, or an electrician in the employ of a company or an organisation. In the initial stages, as practiced in other jurisdictions, there will be a “grandfathering process” which will be based on people in possession of the necessary qualifications, training, technical knowledge and experience. But on a continuing basis the Community College will be involved in preparing people and administer tests for licensing purposes. The categories of licenses to be issued are engineer, master electrician, journeyman, wireman, apprentice and lineman. Members of the public are urged to engage in the public consultation process, either through written representations addressed to the email energyandutilitiesconsultations@ gov.tc or by participating in stakeholder meetings which will be announced shortly. The draft bill can be downloaded from the Government website www. gov.tc/pressoffice. The deadline for the receipt of written feedback for considerations is August 20.
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
13
A & P Construction is looking for:
is seeking to employ:
ATLANTIC CONSTRUCTION
Ange Toussaint seeking a suitable applicant to fill the position of
Jewelry
Painters Repairman Tile Layers must be willing Salary: $7.00-$10.00 to work 5 days per week. Salary $5.00 per hour.
Labourer Salary: $5.00 per hour
10199
Contact: 346- 3906
per hour
Contact: 347-2093 10206
Capron Catering Is looking for a
cook With the following experience: • Certified as a mixologist • Must speak fluent French and English • Experience in North American Cuisine, catering and high volume fuctions. • Must hold a valid drivers license Belongers only need apply
Please call 431-4071
Gardener The successful applicant would be responsible for doing yard work and keeping the area clean including landscaping.
labourer
Interested persons are asked to call 341-6841.
contact: 345-9911
Labourer
Is seeking to employ:
Needed
Bonded Warehouse facility requires a labourer. Duties include general cleaning, maintenance and movement of cargo. Salary: Starting at $6:00 per hour for 40 hour work-week.
Karen Adams Pollard Seeks to employ:
Waitress/ Server Salary:$5.00 per hour
Please contact
941-8408.
Job Opportunity
1 Mason Must be willing to work 5 days per week 7am – 3pm. Salary: $7.00 per hour
G & G Construction Seeks to employ
Salary Based on qualifications
Contact: 442-7229
1 Labourer Salary: $6.00
Contact: 241-2962
LAS BRISAS RESTAURANT AND BAR
• • • •
Middle to high level culinary skills in Mediterranean dishes Dependable, proactive, organized, team player Education from a formal culinary program At least 7-10 years cooking experience, preparing international breakfast, lunch and dinner in regional cooking environment • Sanitation Certificate • Ability to plan, organize and execute meal plans • Must speak and read English fluently • Additional languages an asset Salary commensurate based on qualification and experience
Contact: 244-8820
Contact: 946-5306
Paradise Blue
PLANTATION HILLS
10203
10197
DSP
Salary starts at $5.00 per hour
1 COOK
10212
Please send your resume to info@gracewaysports.com
Housekeeper/ Domestic Worker
Is looking to fill the following positions:
TENNIS PROFESSIONAL Job Requirements: • Hold an International Certification • Hold a physical trainer and sports management degree • Minimum 10 years experience as a Junior and Professional tennis player and coach • Certified for children’s training • Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
Leeward Highway Providenciales Telephone: 241-2974
To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
2 Labourers
10211
Busy Restaurant in Provo needs
Doneita Quant
1 Tech Supervisor
Please contact Cargo Express Services, in person, at 70 South Dock Road or fax application to 941-5525 Application deadline: August 15, 2014
10209
GRACEWAY SPORTS CENTRE IS LOOKING TO EMPLOY A
Is looking for a
10213
A & M Jewelry Repair
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
10207
14 CLASSIFIEDS
Is looking for a
Is seeking a
Bugaloo’s Restaurant Is seeking to employ
Senior Associate Attorney
per week salary $5.00 per hour.
contact: 241-4070
1 Conch Worker Duties Include: Conch haul maintenance (Knocking, Cleaning/ Peeling, Beating etc) Interested persons should.
contact 332-5646
10220
Salary: $6.00 per hour. Contact: 341-9506
10191
Please send application in writing by email to rlk@gtclaw.com
Labourer labourer To work 5 days 10208
A senior associate attorney is required for a busy firm based in Providenciales. The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor/ attorney with at least ten years pqe in appropriate property disciplines: commercial and residential conveyancing and development work; landlord and tenant; commercial lending and also corporate and commercial law. Experience in a registered land system and an offshore jurisdiction; drafting complex development, security and financing documents; excellent communication skills; and an ability to manage files and work independently are all essentials, together with the willingness to be responsible for marketing and work long hours, including weekends and public holidays. Salary commensurate with experience.
CLASSIFIEDS 15
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Roseline’s Beauty Salon
Shining Stars Preparatory School Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons to fill the following positions for September 2014
Is seeking a
Hair Braider/ Hairstylist Salary: $5.00 per hour.
10229
Contact: 246-5648
Domestic Worker Labourer Primary School Teachers
Applicants must be qualified for the position for which they are applying (B Ed. In the case of teachers.) Must also have loving, caring and cooperative attitude. Applications, along with two (2) proofs of qualifications must be sent in writing to: The Principal Shining Stars Preparatory School 11 Academy Ave. Downtown Providenciales To reach not later than August 20th 2014. Salary commensurate with qualification and experience
10210
PROGRAM AND EVENT
COORDINATOR Destination Management Company is looking for a highly professional, self motivated person with proven program management and event coordination skills.
RESPONSIBILITIES • Creating innovative estimates, programs and events for groups from 2 to 170 attendees showcasing the islands, while staying within allotted budget and meeting clients needs • Maintaining strong working relationships with local vendors and resorts • Negotiating contracts with hotels and service providers. Keeping up to date database of providers and services • Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with overseas clients, attending industry trade shows and meetings in the US when necessary • Developing and confidently delivering oral presentations to potential and current clients, both small and large groups • Managing of operational and fiscal activities including: agendas, budgets, pre and postevent evaluations, review and payment of event bills, maintenance of records of event aspects and financial details • Marketing through design of websites and social media promotion
SKILL REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE • Minimum of 5 years experience in event planning and program coordination essential • Proven knowledge of event logistics, accounting and budgeting • Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational and decision making skills • Excellent multi-tasking and problem solving ability • Strong local knowledge and the ability to promote Turks and Caicos as a destination to foreign markets • Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with program management staff, team members, vendors and guests • Ability to present facts and recommendations effectively, ability to accept constructive criticism from clients, adherence to company policies • Effective networking and identification of new sales opportunities and clients • A strong work ethic and flexibility to adapt to a variety of business and social situations. • Full working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, QuickBooks. Knowledge of Web design, blogging and marketing through social media essential. Mac system knowledge also an advantage • Full understanding and ability to work within EVED platform, including E360 • Flexibility, with long working hours, evenings, weekends and public holidays. Required hours vary daily depending on season • Physical endurance as most events take place outdoors
Please forward resume, passport photo and references to: nila@niladestinations.com 10201
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT
The Judicial Services Commission The Judicial Services Commission of the Turks and Caicos Islands invites applications for the position of
Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Supreme Court is a superior court of record. Its original jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters is similar to that exercised by all divisions of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in England and the Crown Court. In its appellate jurisdiction the Supreme Court deals with all appeals from the Magistrates' Court, and from bodies and persons exercising quasi-judicial powers for special purposes. Candidates for this position must be: • A barrister or solicitor of the United Kingdom, of any other part of the Commonwealth, or of Ireland; • A member of the Faculty of Advocates or a Writer to the Signet of Scotland; or • An attorney of the Supreme Court admitted under the TCI Legal Profession Ordinance or under any law for the time being in force in the Islands making like provision And have at least ten (10) years’ standing as such. It is desirable that applicants have a common law background and, ideally, knowledge and experience of Chancery Practice. The successful candidate will, however, be expected to hear any case that comes before the Supreme Court in its original or appellate jurisdiction including criminal trials. It is unlikely that candidates with no previous judicial experience will be considered. RENUMERATION PACKAGE: SALARY - $120,000 per annum (income tax free) PROFESSIONAL ALLOWANCE - $6,000 per annum TELEPHONE ALLOWANCE - $720 per annum TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE - $ 2,760 per annum HOUSING ALLOWANCE – $24,000.00 per annum
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
For persons recruited outside of the Turks and Caicos Islands, there is a three (3) year contract extendable on mutual agreement. Other benefits in addition to the above allowances include an end-of-contract gratuity of 15% of salary; return passage for family of up to two children under the age of sixteen (16) years as well as duty free concession on the shipment of personal effects imported within first six (6) months of appointment. Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter and two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer) as well as copies of educational certificates and a copy of the Passport photo page. Shortlisted candidates must submit a Police Certificate. Applications should be addressed to the Governor’s Office, Waterloo, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. Applications can be sent by Facsimile: 649 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@ gov.tc with the subject line being: Chief Justice Application. If sent by courier, envelopes should have the subject: Chief Justice Application clearly marked on the front. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FOR INTERVIEWS. Closing Date: 19th August 2014
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
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August 9 - 15, 2014
16 NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Applications open for UK’s Chevening scholarship FUTURE leaders of the TCI are being urged to apply for academic training with the United Kingdom’s flagship programme, the Chevening scholarship. A press statement from the Governor’s Office stated that applications are now open until November 15 this year for courses beginning September 2015. It added that talented professionals and public servants from the TCI are able to apply for a fully funded scholarship under the programme. The grant is awarded to outstanding individuals with leadership potential; a Chevening Scholarship offers financial support for a Master’s level degree at one of the UK’s leading universities. The call for new applicants follows the appointment of the TCI’s first ever Chevening scholar, Kenisha Bacchus, who won a grant to study at the University of Warwick
next year, the statement added. Governor Peter Beckingham said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to gain expert tuition at one of the UK’s many leading universities and become part of an influential and highly regarded global network. “I urge all aspiring academics and professionals who want to further their skills and leadership potential to consider this scheme.” Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s Degree, in any subject at any of the UK’s leading universities. To be eligible for a Chevening scholarship, applicants must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country, and intend to return there after studies, hold a degree that is equivalent to at least an upper second-class honours degree in the UK, have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience before applying for a Chevening scholarship.
Be able to meet the Chevening minimum English language requirement and be able to obtain the correct visa, and receive an unconditional offer from a UK university. The Chevening team is particularly interested in hearing from applicants in the TCI who wish to study good governance, financial management, public administration, law, development or environment degrees. A Chevening scholarship offers a monthly stipend, travel to and from applicant’s home country, a thesis or dissertation grant and tuition fees. Applicants should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application. Further details of closing dates and priority subject areas are available at www. chevening.org/apply.
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 17
One Bahamas makes cheque donation to NGO ONE Bahamas Association made a $500 cheque presentation to the Providenciales Hope Foundation on Tuesday (August 5). The presentation was made at the Tiki Hut Restaurant in Providenciales and was received by Almando Rigby, public relations officer for the NGO. According to Obrien Forbes, public relations director for One Bahamas, these funds were generated from the activities organised for Bahamian Independence Day in the TCI last month. The public relations officer for
the foundation told the Weekly News that these funds will be used to help create an autism classroom. He said that the foundation is in negotiation with a school to incorporate an autism programme in their school curriculum for 2015. These funds will be used towards constructing the class and training teachers. Rigby revealed that the foundation has professionals from Hunter College in New York that will be training the local staff. The name of the school that will be partnering with the association is still being kept private until everything is finalised. He said that all funds raised from now on will be geared towards toward the initiative. The foundation is always looking
HOPE Foundation receives cheque from One Bahamas.
for new people to come on board and be a part of the movement. Further details are available at 332-1977. (DH)
California couple married for 62 years die together Robert Shaw — who killed his 84-year-old wife who was suffering from medical issue — was sentenced to four years in prison for the mercy killing.
Ohio man, 90, sentenced to prison for mercy killing of ailing wife
A 90-YEAR-OLD Ohio man who admitted to conducting a “mercy killing” on his wife of 65 years will serve at least six months in prison. Robert Shaw, of Avon, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in June after killing his 84-year-old wife Virginia, who was suffering from many medical issues. Under the plea deal he was sentenced to four years in prison but could be released in six months. The suspect declined to speak at his sentencing Monday, but his daughter thanked the judge and prosecutors for her father’s treatment. He was resigned to it and he is at peace with whatever came with the court system and made his peace with his family.
EVEN in death, a couple married for nearly 62 years were inseparable. Don and Maxine Simpson from Bakersfield, California, died four hours apart on adjoining beds, holding hands during some of their final hours. Melissa Sloan said her grandmother died first and when her body was removed from the room, her husband followed. “All Don wanted was to be with his beautiful wife. He adored my grandmother, loved her to the end of the earth,” she told KERO-TV.
He was 90 and she was 87, and they met at a bowling alley in Bakersfield in 1952, getting married in the same year. When civil engineer Don worked for the US Army, the couple spent some time in Germany, where they adopted twin 18-month-old boys from an orphanage. They returned to Bakersfield, where she worked as a nurse and he owned his own engineering firm. They are survived by one son and five grandchildren. (BBC)
The Towers of Babel “An ancient city in the land of Shinar in which the building of a tower intended to reach heaven was begun and the confusion of the language of the people took place.” Gen 11:4–9. The Towers of Babel is a collective of voices consisting of various artists prepared to display their exceptional art forms and foster the inner artist in other individuals; providing a venue for the outpouring of their undeniably unique gifts. This group brings to the stage and page productions rarely displayed on stages in the Turks and Caicos Islands melding with some of the most unique artists the country has to offer. For more information email towersofbabel101@gmail.com or visit www.towersofbabel.weebly.com
Unified Tribes By Daniel Turner
I'm sorry I left my shadow in your dreams, Take a step back watch life unravel at the seams, I'll gather different streams of realms, If life is a boat I'll be at the helm, Deciding which passage is right, To manage the flight of my spirit, In these rough seas, these sweet tides can't cuff me, The essence of the ocean spray, I hope and pray, We'll make it someday, Finally the relief of the sight of land, The trees made the mind expand, Even though we were close to shore, and couldn't hope for more, I was hesitant to anchor, negligent in the presence of strangers, But I could picture unified tribes, in these exotic islands, I couldn't describe the silence, two different people of separate lives, Far from desperate times, serenity, no deathly vibes They invited us to the beach cautiously, They were dressed so gorgeously, Palm tree leaves, coconuts and shells, What a heavenly place to dwell An impeccable oasis, a beautiful destiny awaits us... Don and Maxine Simpson died within hours of each other.
Lifestyle... 18
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
GARDENING
How does your garden grow
Yellow elder
Yellow elder grows as a densely branched shrub or small tree. It has bright green opposite leaves, which are pinnately compound. Common yellow elder (Tecoma stans var. stans) is a Central and South American tree that can grow up to 25 ft. It has bright yellow flowers and dense, lushly green foliage that is evergreen. Common names include yellow trumpetbush, yellow bells, yellow elder and ginger-Thomas. Tecoma stans comes from desert shrub lands and dry forests in the region from Texas and Arizona southward to Argentina. It has become established in many parts of the Pacific and is naturalizing in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In
some places, it invades dry disturbed sites. Yellow elder will grow on a wide variety of soils, including sand and limerock. The plants can be cut to the ground for rejuvenation in the early spring or carefully sheared during the growing season to control shape and size and promote new flushes of flowers. The flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The Yellow elder needs full sun and likes well-drained soil. Potted plants should be given minimal water when not in active growth. Fresh seeds germinate readily in sandy soil in the spring. Cuttings root easily under mist in the summer.
Weekly Recipe Katherine Withers Green, 27, is a mum of one 15-monthold avid pasta lover. She knows from experience that finding meals that are nutritious, quick and easy to make, and that can be frozen for a later date is tough. These recipes are aimed at mothers looking to make the transition from baby food to ‘real’ food.
Eggy Bread
One of the quickest and easiest little snacks to whip up with minimal time and ingredients is Eggy Bread, a firm favourite in our household. Cut into fingers, it's a great shape for little ones to get a hold of that are just starting to chew. And you can add a little honey for older kids as a treat! INGREDIENTS • 2 eggs • 2 slices of bread • 1 tbsp milk • 1 tsp oil METHOD • Break and scramble the 2 eggs into a flat dish or plate. Mix in the milk.
• Soak the slices flat in the egg mixture, first on one side and then on the other. • Meanwhile put a pan on the stove and add a small amount of oil to heat. • Place the slice of bread in the pan and cook until slightly browned, use a spatula to flip the bread and brown the other side. • Repeat for each slice! • Can be served with a little powdered sugar, chopped fruit or even with a little melted cheese in top! • Make sure it's really cooled down for younger babies as the centers can stay piping hot long after cooking.
(Choose vigorous young semiwoody branch tips and not old woody stems or fresh green shoots.) Yellow elder may have a rather awkward shape, so it is best set among more consistent shrubs where it can contribute color to a border or screen. The yellow blooms are spectacular behind blue agave. Since this species drops its abundant blossoms before they wither, it can advantageously be placed where the fallen blossoms will form a pool of gold on the ground. Yellow elder has been used for a variety of purposes in herbal medicine. Its primary applications have been in treating diabetes and digestive problems. Extracts from Tecoma stans leaves have been found to inhibit the growth of the yeast infection,
BY DENIS Belanger - NATURE SPLENDOR
Denis is a passionate landscape architect who enjoys the creative process and his clients’ joy when projects come to life. Contact Denis at Nature Splendor for your landscaping, installation or garden maintenance needs. For more information call 332-3381 or email denis@naturesplendor.net.
Candida albicans. Yellow elder also contains several compounds noted for their catniplike effects on felines. Yellow elder is just beginning to get the horticultural recognition it deserves. This is an easy to grow and gloriously floriferous plant that has great potential in the nursery industry. Yellow elder is the official flower of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where
YOUR DIET Tamika has a Master’s Degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University and is a registered dietician with the American Dietetic Association (ADA). She is currently executive director of Nutrition in Demand, a non-profit aimed at increasing awareness to health and healthy eating. For more information email tamikahandfield@yahoo.com or visit www.nutritionindemand.com. Call 242-3978 or 442-3978.
its cheerful yellow blossoms have long been appreciated for their contribution to tropical color. Yellow elder can be invasive. In the Islands it seems only moderately invasive, but readily establishes naturalized colonies on some parts of the islands. Notice that it has become a serious problem in French Polynesia, where it forms dense stands that inhibit regeneration of other plant species.
BY TAMIKA HANDFIELD
Grill your food this summer Summer is definitely here! And, if the temperature did not let you know, then the threats of storms and multiple grill outs will make sure you know it’s summer time. Earlier this week, I attended a ‘Jerk Fest’, which reminded me of the importance of grilling foods. Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a very hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. Once marinated the meat is usually cooked on a large grill, which gives it that yummy Smoky flavor. Grilling has long been recognized as a healthier form of cooking when compared to methods of cooking such as frying. However, there are some advantages and disadvantages to this method of cooking. Advantages of grilling •Fast method of cooking—the food is in direct contact with the heat so it greatly reduces the cooking time, which makes it a great option on those busy evenings when time is little but little mouths are asking for food.
•Suitable for a variety of foods— anything from meats and fish to fruits and vegetables are good grilling candidates. •Reduces fat content of food— the main reason grilling is recommended as a healthier method of cooking. Quite a bit of the fat and grease melts away which makes it a heart friendly method of cooking.
•Improves color and flavor of food—of course we all can relate to the delicious, smoky flavor that is a signature for grilled foods. Disadvantages of grilling •Needs constant attention— because the food is exposed to the direct flame and the melting of the fat can cause a flare up, it is important to keep a close eye on it. •Food overcooks quickly— this poses the most problems for grilled foods. Not only does the overcooking cause the food to char or burn thereby spoiling the taste, the charring seems to be carcinogen. Some studies show that there is a link between cancer and eating charred/ burnt food. •Only suits thin pieces of food. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, here are some tips to prevent your meats from charring: •Remove fatty areas •Pre-cook meat in the microwave before placing it on the grill •Make sure the coals of the grill are not directly below the meat •Avoid grilling meats until they are well done or burnt
August 9 - 15, 2014
Lifestyle... FASHION AND BEAUTY
By Easher Parker
Easher is a Turks and Caicos Islands native with a natural talent for writing and a love for all things beauty and style. If you have any questions or suggestions for a topic email easherparker@gmail.com. To find out more visit itseasher.com or follow twitter or Instagram @itseasher for fab instant updates.
The Dentist and you
Nail art tips and tricks FROM the big and elaborate designs to the simpler looks, there are nail trends to suit all kinds of manis. You must try at least ONE of my five favourite picks that would work so beautifully with our island girl culture.
Stiletto points
It took a while to get the trend of stiletto nails off of the ground but more women are rocking the sharpened statements, even manicurists! Oh and even myself! The look is not for everyone but if you’ve been considering it you can start with a more subtle point to achieve the illusion of the stiletto while maintaining length. You can go for a more oval or rounded tip as well.
Nail charms
A fun way to really set your manicure apart from the rest, nail charms! For this look though, it’s best to opt for an overall look that is a tad toned down, you don’t want to look over the top.
Half-moon manicure
This look reminds me of the colour block fashion trend that happened ‘way-back-when’ and it’s definitely not the basic pink and white norm. Go for a nice fade or a strong contrast of colours, like black and white if you really want to set this look off. Tip: You can do this yourself! Simply start nails off with one solid coat. Let it dry completely. Once dry, use hole-punched sticker close to your cuticle fill in the half-moon shape. Paint from edge out for a seamless effect.
Bold prints
Tribal, Aztec-inspired, chevron, and gingham patterns are coming to fingers near you. These prints can be difficult to draw by hand, but with help from Sally Hansen, Essie, and OPI nail polish stickers they’re easy to achieve. Luckily for us in the Turks and Caicos, there are tons of skilled nail techs that can help you pull this daring look off. Tell the ladies at ‘Stylez Above the Rest’ I sent you! If you’re not the type to play it up, you can keep it simple. Nudes are always super chic. You can give your flesh tone manicure an illusion of depth by experimenting with different mono tones or tone-on-tone textures. Tip: Alternate painting every other nail with two similar colours of nude, or paint every other one with a matte top coat.
By Dr Mark Osmond
Mark Osmond BDS (Lond) LDS RCS (Eng). Mark Osmond Dental Clinic - (649) 432 3777, drmosmond@gmail.com or Find us on Facebook
Oral Surgery- Volume two In this second article looking at the topic of oral surgery I will continue to focus on surgery that is still generally performed within a dental clinic setting either by specialist oral surgeons, periodontists or expert general dentists.
Nudes
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Dental Implants Dental implants are metal (titanium) screw-like fixtures that are secured into the jaw bone and replace the missing root of a natural tooth. Titanium has a unique property in that bone will fuse with it, thus fixing the implant firmly and permanently into the jaw-bone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the implant that has the appearance of a normal, natural tooth. A single implant stands alone and it not attached to teeth on either side (unlike a bridge). Two or more implants can be used to carry a bridge in a situation where several teeth in a row are missing and implants can also be used to hold a
denture in place. In general the surgery to place a single implant takes less than an hour and is no more painful than any routine treatment. (Multiple implants can be placed in one appointment if required.) When I place implants I always use sterile drapes and wear sterile gloves and a sterile gown. This might look a little scary but it is simply a sensible step to reduce the risk of infection. An analgesic (pain killer) is given immediately after surgery and I also prescribe a course of antibiotics prophylactically, to eliminate the chance of infection. I will then do a follow-up appointment one week after the implant placement to check all is well with the implant and healing has commenced. After this a healing period of 8-12 weeks is allowed to enable the bone to heal around it and anchor it securely into the jaw-bone. During this time there is no need
to see the treating surgeon unless the patient has any particular concerns. After the healing period, the implant is restored (the crown placed) and you will have a fully functioning tooth that nobody would know isn’t the real thing! Bone Graft This is a procedure to replace missing bone, usually after an extraction, and is often used when the patient is considering an implant in the future. It is a relatively simple procedure whereby small fragments of the patient’s own bone (taken during implant surgery), synthetic bone or natural (bovine) bone is placed in the extraction site. A healing period of up to six months is required for the bone to ‘take’ and become strong and firm enough to take the placement of an implant. In some cases I also use a product called ‘Foundation’ which is a collagen based socket pack that aids healing after extraction.
POLICE SAFETY TIPS
Don’t be grounded by flight booking scams There has been an increase in the reports of people falling victim to scams in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Criminals have been using stolen credit cards to purchase airline tickets and then cancel them, in order to get a flight credit and a confirmation number. They reveal the confirmation number so the victims really think everything is legitimate. The purchasers are then required to transfer the money into an untraceable account, by wiring money through services like Western Union. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) is advising travelers to check the authenticity of flight booking websites before making any reservations for domestic and international travel. RTCIPF has received a number of reports of fraudulent traders who have copied the ABN and look of legitimate travel websites. These fake traders claim to sell tickets on behalf of well-known airlines, when in fact the airlines have not authorized the sale. After purchasing the fake tickets, victims are given a booking number. However, when they go to use this number they find that the
By Audley Astwood Audley, a former police detective and broadcaster, is currently the press officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. His main focus is on crime prevention and community policing. For more information call 941-4448 or visit www.tcipolice.tc.
booking does not actually exist with the airline they are supposed to be travelling on. The initial tickets were bought with a stolen credit card. When you are buying any kind of tickets, make sure you purchase them through reputable sources. Don't buy them online, unless the sellers are local, so at least you are able to check the tickets physically and put a face to the transaction. Don't believe what a stranger says just because they have a good deal. Consumers may be contacted directly by fraudulent traders, or may follow links via popular social networking sites. Some victims have lost in excess of $1000 for fake international flight bookings, while others report instances of identity theft after interactions with the fake trader. It is important to look for the warning signs such as the flight booking website is not well-known, or you have never heard of it before.
Another warning sign may be the website claiming to offer flights at unusually cheap prices, some up to 50% off. Be cautious when considering whether to purchase really cheap airfares – if it looks too good to be true it probably is. NEVER send money or give personal details to people you don’t know and trust. Check that the ABN quoted on the website is genuinely registered to the trader named on the website. If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. You can report scams to the police by calling 941-8083. For more information concerning scams, crime prevention and other safety tips, please visit our official webpage at www.tcipolice.tc or visit our official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RTCIPF
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Regional News
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Christie says no to gay marriage PRIME Minister Perry Christie remained adamant on Wednesday that the fourth constitutional bill would not legalise same sex marriages in the Bahamas. He said the government is not going to change the wording of the amendment that has sparked heated public debate. Mr Christie admitted that people were anxious about the issue of same sex marriages, but said that lawyers have told the government it is doing “the right thing” as the language in the bill conforms with that of laws and constitutions of other countries. The fourth bill seeks to end discrimination based on sex. This involves the insertion of the word “sex” in Article 26 of the Constitution to make it unconstitutional to discriminate based on whether someone is male or female. However, there has been considerable opposition to the bill as political pundits insist that the wording opens the door to same sex marriage legalisation in the Bahamas. “The fact that people are very anxious about same sex marriages is a good thing in the Bahamas to be concerned about,” Mr Christie told The Tribune. “But we are very
The Bahamas’ PM said: “We do not propose to change the fact that a man marries a woman”.
clear, absolutely very clear. In my communication I said it does not involve, does not contemplate and most certainly with me it won’t. So the constitutional changes there refers to the Matrimonial Causes Act and refers to the laws that exist in the Bahamas today. We do not propose to change the fact that a man marries a woman. “Our legal advice up to this point has been that we are doing the right thing and that the language that we are using conforms with languages in other laws in constitutions in United Nations treaties. “The fact of the matter
is we are now in the debate and rather than me I think commenting in vacuum, meaning before people have taken their positions, I should listen to what they have to say. Mr McWeeney, the chair (of the Constitutional Commission) must listen to what they have to say and we will address what they have to say if in fact meaningful propositions are put to us. “We will listen carefully and see if in fact they have any weight because at the end of the day we want to be able to go to the Bahamian people with questions that are fully agreed to by members of Parliament.” During her contribution to the debate, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said she was disappointed that the discourse surrounding the bill had taken such a turn. “For those,” she said, “who are concerned with this position now over the law for same sex marriages and not to stop discrimination against women to move from that argument to a same sex marriage argument it is important to note that what it does is intentionally protect women against discrimination.
“It has moved beyond that now to this other issue. It is important to note that the amendment continues as is the current position that we are putting before this Parliament to allow for the constitutionality of laws currently enforced and to be enacted which discriminate. In this case the racism of sex as it creates a marriage for example. This so called discrimination is provided for in the Matrimonial Causes Act.” On Tuesday, Democratic National Alliance leader Branville McCartney expressed fears that the fourth amendment could “pave the way” for lesbian and gay marriages. He said it was an issue that his party would not support. Mr McCartney further stressed that the DNA supported the upcoming referendum because equal rights for Bahamian women was a long time coming. However, he urged the government to reword the bill in simpler terms. Free National Movement Deputy Leader Loretta ButlerTurner had echoed similar sentiments on Monday. (Tribune242)
Bid to make it easier for children of migrants to obtain Haitian passport THE Bahamian government is working on regulations to overcome the stigma and economic barriers that discourage people of Haitian descent, born in the Bahamas, from obtaining a Haitian passport. Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell on Thursday last said individuals with a legal claim to Bahamian citizenship will be able to apply for a residency permit at a special fee. Officials will also launch a public campaign, after further consultation with stakeholders, to dispel the myth that persons who obtain a foreign passport are no longer entitled to Bahamian citizenship, Mr Mitchell said. He added that talks held with Haitian President Michel Martelly during his visit to the country last week indicated that the Haitian embassy in Nassau will be able to meet the demand for passports. Mr Mitchell said: “The
law does not speak to any individual nationality. The fact is, everyone who is a national of another country should have an identity document which ties them to that country. They should also have a permit to reside in the Bahamas. “The government has agreed that where there is a contingent right to Bahamian citizenship by application under the constitution a residency permit will be issued at a special fee. “The regulations are being drawn now. Once they are drawn an announcement will be made.” Mr Mitchell’s comments follow concerns from community leaders that the government’s push for persons of Haitian descent living in the Bahamas to obtain a Haitian passport has exposed the need for greater public education. The issue of statelessness as it relates to persons born in the Bahamas of Haitian descent
has been highly contested, with both Haitian and Bahamian government officials refuting the interpretation given Haiti’s citizenship laws. Many people choose to remain undocumented, or unregularised, because they believe it would further complicate their bid for Bahamian citizenship, according to radio talk show host Louby Georges. At a panel discussion on the topic earlier this year, Dr Ian Bethell-Bennett, an associate professor at The College of the Bahamas, claimed that while countries argue over whether or not statelessness exists, and what type, the reality remains that a large group of people in the Bahamas are trapped in a “grey zone”, disfranchised and unable to access basic rights attached to citizenship. Mr Georges, of the Kreyol Connection, said: “There is no such thing, but persons feel stateless because for a long
time the Bahamas was saying we don’t want you, and Haiti was saying we don’t know you. “It’s psychological, but the underlying problem with getting the Haitian passport is this – imagine a young adult has a Haitian passport which is a foreign document, when he goes to a bank or some other institute, what are they going to ask for? Where is the work permit? Where is the permanent residency, where are the supporting documents to go with this foreign passport? “There is a gap now,” Mr Georges said. “The (Haitian) passport is good, but the next step is for Immigration and Foreign Affairs to have some mechanism in place to differentiate between persons born here, who have a legal right to be here, you can give them some legal status, a stamp in the passport or something.”
Haiti along with Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Saint Lucia will benefit from the new insurance.
Eight Caribbean countries to receive new insurance cover for storm damage THE Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) says it is now providing excess rainfall insurance coverage to eight regional countries as the Caribbean continues to take precautions against possible damage caused by storms and hurricanes during the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season. The eight Caribbean countries are Anguilla, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Saint Lucia. CCRIF is a not-for-profit risk pooling facility, owned and operated by Caribbean governments. It is designed to limit the financial impact of catastrophic hurricanes and earthquakes to Caribbean governments by quickly providing short-term liquidity when a parametric insurance
policy is triggered. The new excess rainfall product has been eagerly awaited by Caribbean governments as we all realize that considerable damage in the region is caused by rainfall and flooding. “This product complements CCRIF’s hurricane coverage which determines losses based on wind and storm surge. We commend our eight members for taking the initiative and purchasing this ground-breaking product and hope that other countries in the region will follow,” said CCRIF chief executive officer, Isaac Anthony. Developed by CCRIF and global reinsurer, Swiss Re, the excess rainfall product is aimed primarily at extreme high rainfall events of short duration whether they occur during a tropical cyclone or not.
Guyana likely to hold early general election THE prospect of an early general election in Guyana has increased significantly after the majority opposition grouping, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), signaled its intention to back a motion of no confidence in the Donald Ramotar administration. The last election was held here on November 28, 2011. The minority Alliance for Change (AFC) has said it will table the motion of confidence in the minority People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government. The two opposition parties control 33 of the 65-seat National Assembly.
On Tuesday, the APNU shadow cabinet met to discuss the motion and according to the group’s co-leader, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, the decision was unanimous and that no dissenting views were expressed during meeting. He said the party would support the motion when it comes before the parliament, hopefully in October. He said the APNU, which includes the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) believes that the decision to support the motion was the right step given the feeling and mood of the population.
August 9 - 15, 2014
Regional News Nearly J$1billion in crops destroyed by Jamaica drought ACTING Agriculture Minister Derrick Kellier says the prevailing drought has resulted in the destruction of some 1,600 hectares of crops valued at nearly J$1 billion across the island. Kellier, however, insists there is no shortage of ground food provisions in the country, despite the severe drought and a series of bush
fires that destroyed several hundred acres of farmland. Speaking at the annual threeday Denbigh Agricultural and Food Show now under way in May Pen, Clarendon, Kellier maintains there is an adequate supply of staples including pumpkin, yam, banana and plantain.
The La Tortue project, described as the second largest cruise tourism investment in Haiti, will provide employment directly or indirectly for nearly 1,000 people.
Carnival Cruise Lines signs multi-million dollar agreement with Haiti to build new port HAITI says it has signed a multimillion dollar agreement with the US-based Carnival Cruise Lines to build a tourism port on the island of Latortue, north of Port Au Prince. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said the US$70 million project will help improve the lives of the estimated 36,000 people residing in the area. “The project that Carnival Cruise Lines company is committed to developing in La Tortue is one that can help us fight poverty on the island,” Lamothe said, adding “and I believe that, as far as the future tourists are concerned, it is worth it to know that the money that you are spending while having fun is helping someone to get out of poverty. “This should be very rewarding, and that is what I call a tourism of solidarity.” The La Tortue project, described as the second largest cruise tourism investment in Haiti, will provide employment directly or indirectly for nearly 1,000 people.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Figures released by the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) show that Haiti recorded a 20 per cent increase in tourist arrivals last year. But the figure is significantly lower than neighbouring countries such as the Dominica Republic, Cuba and Jamaica where the average arrival was three million visitors. But Prime Minister Lamothe said he was not perturbed, noting “what is interesting about tourism trends here is that Haiti has registered the biggest growth rate in tourists arrivals in the Caribbean, and this shows the growing interest there is for our destination and we’ll see more of that in the coming months and years”. Last year, Haiti, in a partnership with several national and international groups, launched an ambitious project to turn another island, Ile-a-Vache (Cow Island), in the southern part of Haiti, into a direct international tourist destination with an international airport and other tourist infrastructure. (CMC)
Barbados PM calls on expats to help out BARBADOS Prime Minister Freundel Stuart Tuesday urged Barbadians living overseas to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country as it grapples with the prolonged global economic crisis. Addressing the third annual Barbados NetWork Consultation (BNC), Prime Minister Stuart acknowledged that while the global downturn had been a wake-up call for small, open economies like Barbados, it was also an invitation to become more innovative and entrepreneurial. He said that while Barbados, which depended on the tourism industry, received a double blow as a result of the impact of the global crisis, it faced an even stronger threat of competition and even the “outsourcing” of traditional jobs, as workers in the new “workshops” and “offices” of the world began to produce and deliver goods and services more efficiently and more cheaply than before. “The need to spend vast amounts of our limited foreign reserves on imported food and fossil fuels; to sustain high levels of employment in the public sector; and to provide a range of social and welfare benefits to our beloved citizens and residents, placed an acute burden on our fiscal situation which we have been forced to stabilise. “As has been the case in the countries from which members of our Diaspora have come, we in Barbados have had to put corrective measures in place to prevent a worsening of our economic condition,” Prime Minister Stuart said. He said it was as a result of the new realities, Barbados has had to restructure its economy, looking also at developing a green economy to take advantage of the changing global environment. But he told the BNC that Barbadians having been accustomed to dealing with economic downturns
Barbados PM Freundel Stuart told the overseas Barbadians that the island “needs your positive response”.
in the past, should now be looking to further develop the country through their investments, innovations and enterprises and remittances. Prime Minister Stuart recalled the impact the remittances from Barbadians, who had travelled to Panama to build the Canal there, had on the local economy. “The remittances of these Panama migrants had a tremendous effect on the social and economic development of Barbados,” he said, noting that academics had shown that the remittances enabled Barbadians ‘who for decades had been trapped in chattel houses on tenantry land, to purchase their own land, build more substantial housing, set up small businesses and even pool their resources to purchase plantations on the West Coast of Barbados. “Similarly the remittances from North America and Britain have for years been bolstering our economy; and among other things, have stimulated a housing revolution across the island over the years. “Unlike in the past, plantation houses are no longer the most palatial edifices in Barbados! So these waves of Barbadian migrants responded
vigorously to the major challenges of their age. This is now your time; and you know what the challenge is. I repeat: “This is the age of innovation and entrepreneurship”. Prime Minister Stuart told the overseas Barbadians that the island “needs your positive response” and that the programme for the BNC includes a series of exhibitions, discussions and experiences to expose them to a wide range of goods, services and ideas that will hopefully get their creative juices flowing. “The messages from these various sessions and exhibitions are very clear. They all relate to the fact that this downturn, and the changes it has triggered, offers enterprising Barbadians at home and abroad several pathways to prosperity.” He said Barbadians overseas should carefully examine the annual Crop Over Festival “to see what business opportunities it has suggested to you, whether in goods or in services. “Can you see the production and export of these unique goods and services taking more Barbadians along the pathways to prosperity?” (CMC)
Stepfather free after rape allegations in Cayman Islands ALLEGATIONS of rape and sexual assault made by a young woman against her step-father after an alcohol and Ecstasy fueled night were thrown out of court last week as result of insufficient and discredited evidence. The young women admitted voluntarily taking the drug and drinking alcohol with her step-father when her mother was away but claims she passed out and woke wearing no underwear, a hickey on her neck and feeling discomfort. However, with little evidence to support her allegations and various inconsistencies in her story, Justice Charles Quin said there was not enough evidence to support a conviction in what he described as a “particularly sad case”. The court had heard that the
young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons but who was over the age of consent at the time of the alleged rape, had been using drugs since she was 15. On the night of the alleged incident she had voluntarily consumed alcohol and taken Ecstasy, or ‘mollie’ as the drug is known on the street, having planned and agreed to do so some weeks earlier with her step-father. The young woman had admitted during her evidence that she had no memory of the sexual assault or the rape and had assumed her step-father had sex with her as she said she passed out but he had implied they had the next morning. In his ruling in response to a ‘no case to answer’ submission by defense counsel, Fiona Robertson,
the judge noted how upsetting the entire case was for the family involved but said there was not enough evidence against the defendant as he returned a not guilty verdict on the two counts. Noting the young woman’s continued use of ganja and her experimentation with other drugs, however, Justice Quin warned that she would face more trouble ahead. “What is particularly sad is that the complainant has been using ganja since the age of 15 years old and she has become a frequent user of this illegal drug. I take this opportunity to warn the complainant that if she continues to take ganja and experiment with drugs such as Ecstasy, more trouble is inevitable for her,” he added.
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Entertainment
Silent film tops documentary poll A 1929 silent film has been voted the greatest ever documentary in a poll of some 300 film-makers and critics. Man with a Movie Camera, directed by Dziga Vertov, was picked by more than 100 cineastes who took part in the inaugural Sight & Sound poll. The magazine launched the survey after Vertov’s film, shot in the cities of Odessa, Kiev and Kharkiv, came eighth in their 2012 best film poll. The magazine called it a “teasingly surrealist” homage to city life. The British Film Institute magazine conducts a poll every decade to find the best film. When the most recent poll was conducted in 2012, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo took the top spot. But Man With a Movie Camera “turned up out of the blue” in eighth place, prompting the decision to run a separate best documentary poll. “It’s part of a genre that was very popular in the 1920s,” Sight and Sound’s web editor Nick Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “Filming cities, showing you the workings of them, showing you all the layers and intricacies that make
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
up, typically, a day in the life of a city.” “This one has the extra layer of showing you its own filming... so as the title suggests you see quite a lot of Dziga Vertov’s cameraman filming the city, you see the editor putting the film together, you see the audience coming into the cinema and watching it.” “It’s a film about the city and about society, and about the world; it’s also a film about cinema and what cinema adds to the world.” More than 1,000 films were nominated by more than 200 critics and 100 film-makers from around the world. Mr Bradshaw described the list as “widespread”, including two films about the holocaust in the top 10, and the presence of the recent documentary hit The Act of Killing. Film-makers including Paul Greengrass, Kevin Macdonald, Senna’s Asif Kapadia and Man on Wire’s James Marsh were invited to take part in the poll. Greengrass included Man with a Movie Camera and Marsh’s Oscarwinning Man on Wire in his top 10, alongside Primary, by Robert Drew, whose death was announced earlier
Bullock tops highest earning actresses list
The film has been described as “full of an almost incomprehensible lyricism”
this week. Macdonald cited Michael Moore’s Roger and Me, saying the US filmmaker “brought entertainment back into documentary films - and made it the strange bedfellow of anger”. Kapadia described The Act of Killing as “Astonishing. Shocking. Brave filmmaking.” The poll shows you “just how far the medium can be pushed, and how by getting outside of the formulas of television you can say things a different way”, according to Sophie Fiennes. (BBC)
GRAVITY star Sandra Bullock is the highest-earning actress of 2014 taking home an estimated $51m (£30m), according to the Forbes rich list. The Oscar-winning film brought in $716m (£425m) in global box office takings and was a hit with critics. Jennifer Lawrence is second on the list with a reported $34m (£20m) thanks to her share in Hunger Games. Jennifer Aniston ranks third highest earning with $31m (£18m) after her role in Horrible Bosses. Despite Bullock’s large pay packet, women are still earning less than men in Hollywood. Forbes reports that the top 10 women on the list earned $216m (£128m) combined, which is almost half of the $419m (£249m) that the top 10 actors brought home. Robert Downey Jr is number one on the male list with $75m (£44.5m) earnings for the second year in a row thanks to the Iron Man trilogy and Avengers films. Marvel has made almost $4 billion (£2.3bn) on movies starring Downey Jr not including merchandise. Gwyneth Paltrow is fourth
Sandra Bullock earned 51m this year.
place with $19m (£11m) due to her role in Iron Man 3 with Downey Jr and her work with Max Factor and Hugo Boss. Last year’s top earner Angelina Jolie came in fifth with $18m (£10.6m). Forbes says that it measures the figures by talking to agents, producers and lawyers to work out how much each celebrity earned from entertainment-related work during the 12-month time period between June 2013 and June 2014. They didn’t deduct cash for taxes, agent fees or the other costs of being a celebrity.
Michael Johns, American Idol contestant, dies at 35 AMERICAN Idol season seven finalist Michael Johns has died at the age of 35. US TV network Fox and Johns’ family released statements confirming the news, with Fox describing Johns as “an incredible talent”. No cause of death was given, however Hollywood Reporter said it was due to a blood clot in his ankle. Former American Idol judge Simon Cowell paid tribute on Twitter, calling him “a truly great guy”. According to TMZ, the Australian-born singer saw a doctor on Thursday complaining of pain and swelling in his leg after twisting his ankle and was later sent home. He was found unresponsive at a friend’s apartment on Friday and was pronounced dead at the scene. “Michael Johns was an incredible talent and we are deeply saddened by the news of his passing. He was a part of our American Idol family and he will be truly missed,” Fox said. Johns’ family added it was “devastated by the passing of our
Claire Danes will be posted in the Mideast in the next ‘Homeland’ season. Michael Johns was 29 - the upper age limit when he auditioned for American Idol in 2008.
beloved Michael, a wonderful husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend”. Described by Cowell as a “white soul singer”, Johns created a stir during his time on the show in 2008 because he had been signed to a major label, Maverick, prior to auditioning. After Idol he released an album, Hold Back My Heart, in 2009 and participated in a lot of charity work
with former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. “He was a great talent and dear friend. My boys and I were devastated to hear the news,” Lythgoe said. Actress Rita Wilson, who performed with Johns at a Muhammad Ali fundraiser, also tweeted: “I’m so shocked and sad to hear my friend @michael_johns has passed away. A lovely man, a great voice, a beautiful wife, Stacy. Rest in peace.”
Brody era ends in Homeland THE Brody era on Showtime’s spy drama “Homeland” is as dead as Nicholas Brody himself. Creator Alex Gansa told TV writers here Friday that the upcoming fourth season of the award-winning show, which starts Oct. 5, will bury most of the storylines that drove its first three. With Brody (Damian Lewis) dead and his family written out, Carrie Matheson (Claire Danes) will be posted in Istanbul, fighting international terrorism and turmoil with a mostly new cast.
Writer Meredith Stiehm says Carrie even seems to have shaken some of her mental demons. “She’s stable now,” says Stiehm. Her new daughter, fathered by Brody, won’t be with her. “The country where Carrie is posted is too dangerous for dependents,” said Gansa. She will have a few of her old team members and will reconnect with her mentor and former CIA boss Saul (Mandy Patinkin), who now works for a private contractor.
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‘Big Bang Theory’ actors secure lucrative new deals SEASON 8 of “The Big Bang Theory” is officially a go. Warner Bros., the studio that produces the hit CBS sitcom, announced Tuesday that production on the show would resume the following day. “Production on season eight of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ will begin Wednesday, August 6, with contract negotiations now having been concluded,” its statement said. The comedy was originally scheduled to start filming its eighth season July 30, but had to be postponed due to ongoing negotiations with the cast’s five original cast members: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar. Parsons, Galecki and CuocoSweeting negotiated new three-year deals that will see them earn in the neighborhood of $1 million per episode, as well as a share of the show’s profits. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Helber and Nayyar have also secured new deals. With the season premiere
The cast and producers of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ pose backstage after winning the award for favorite network TV comedy at the 2013 People’s Choice Awards.
scheduled to air Sept. 22, “Big Bang Theory” executive producer Bill Prady reacted to the announcement with relief. “Well, that’s more good news,” he tweeted Tuesday. One “Big Bang” star who didn’t tweet about her show’s “good news” is Cuoco-Sweeting. The celeb
deactivated her Twitter account sometime last week, which coincided with the intense amount of media speculation about her and co-stars’ contract negotiations. A rep for Cuoco-Sweeting has yet to respond to the Daily News’ request for comment on why the TV star deleted her account. (NYdailynews)
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Keke Palmer set to become first black Cinderella on Broadway LIKE many girls, actress and singer Keke Palmer grew up dreaming of meeting a prince who would whisk her away to a life of love and happiness. In her case, it’s going to happen - eight shows a week on Broadway. Palmer said she’ll be stepping into the title role in “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” starting Sept. 9 at the Broadway Theatre. She will become the first AfricanAmerican to play the part on the Great White Way. “It’s honestly one of those things that I can’t believe is really happening,” Palmer said by phone Friday from her Los Angeles home. “I’m very excited. Very excited and nervous as well - a bunch of feelings all at once.” Palmer, 21, is stepping into the sparkly shoes first worn by Tonynominated Laura Osnes, then put on by “Call Me Maybe” Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen and currently worn by Paige Faure, who launches a national tour in the title role this fall. Palmer, who will be making her professional stage debut, will rely
Palmer, who will be making her professional stage debut, will rely on a host of skills she’s developed from film including “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” and “Akeelah and the Bee”.
on a host of skills she’s developed from film - including “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” and “Akeelah and the Bee” - her BET talk show, “Just Keke,” and on TV in Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.” Her albums include the 2007 CD “So Uncool” and a self-titled 2012 EP.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Guardians of the Galaxy swoops to top US box office chart Steve McQueen became the first black director to win an Oscar in 2014.
Hollywood films ‘do not reflect diversity’ in US HOLLYWOOD movies are under-representing non-white ethnic groups in the US, a new study says. Hispanic actors played only 4.9% of speaking parts in 2013 blockbusters, despite making up more than 16% of the population. Black actors were cast in 14.1% of roles and 17% of films had no black speaking characters. The University of Southern California report studied almost 4,000 characters in the 100 top-
grossing films of 2013. Although 2014 saw Steve McQueen become the first black director to win an Oscar for his film 12 years A Slave, the study found that there were only 1.1% more black characters on the big screen than in 2007. It added that if a film had a black director, more black actors were likely to be involved. “Adding diversity to the director’s chair may influence what we see on screen,” the report said.
DISNEY’S Marvel adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy, has topped the North American box office in its debut weekend, taking $94m (£55.8m). The space adventure, which stars some of the lesser-known characters from the comic book universe, knocked science fiction thriller Lucy off the top spot. Guardians’ takings set a record for a film opening in August. Get On Up, a biography of the soul singer James Brown, debuted in third with $14m (£8.3m). The Guardians of the Galaxy ensemble casts includes Zoe Saldana and Chris Pratt plus the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper. The film also secured the third biggest opening of 2014, coming just behind the $95m (£56.4m) debut of Captain America: The Winter Soldier in April and the $100m (£59.4m) launch of Transformers: Age of Extinction in June. A Guardians of the Galaxy
Have raccoon, Quill travel: Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana with the other ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’.
sequel is already set for release in 2017. Marvel’s next films are the The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas. Both movies are due for release next year. Marvel comic book adaptations The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and
X-Men: Days of Future Past have also enjoyed success this year. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak, said Marvel’s success was “unprecedented”. “This is a brand that transcends any character within their universe,” he said.
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Science & Technology
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Display screen technology could correct vision problems ENGINEERS have developed a prototype tablet display that compensates for an individuals’ vision problems. The system uses software to alter the light from each individual pixel on the screen, based on the person’s glasses prescription. The researchers also added a thin plastic pin hole filter to enhance the sharpness of the image. The team say the technology could help millions who need corrective lenses to use their digital devices. Around one person in three in the UK suffers from short-sightedness or myopia. In the US, around 40% while in Asia it is more than half the population. In recent years there have been
a number of projects that have attempted to use computing screens to correct vision problems. The authors of this latest study say their prototype offers “significantly higher contrast and resolution compared to previous solutions”. Follow the light The team from the University of California, Berkeley, working with colleagues at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), developed an algorithm that adjusts the intensity of each direction of light that emanates from a single pixel in an image, based on the user’s specific visual impairment. Their prototype used an iPod, with a printed pinhole mask attached
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to the screen. To check the images, the researchers used a digital singlelens reflex (DSLR) camera which was set up to simulate a person who was farsighted. The altered images from the iPod appeared sharp and clear to the camera, showing that the prototype was effective in correcting this sight issue. “The significance of this project is that, instead of relying on optics to correct your vision, we use computation,” said lead author Fu-Chung Huang. “This is a very different class of correction, and it is non-intrusive.” The research team believe that their idea, when refined further, could be of benefit to people who
The new development might mean the end of glasses at a computer.
suffer from more difficult-to-treat vision issues. “We now live in a world where displays are ubiquitous, and being able to interact with displays is taken for granted,” said Prof Brian Barsky, from UC Berkeley, the project leader. “People with higher order aberrations often have irregularities in the shape of the cornea, and this irregular shape makes it very difficult to have a contact lens that will fit. “In some cases, this can be a barrier to holding certain jobs because many workers need to look at a screen as part of their work. This research could transform their lives.”
Battery question It should be stressed that while the research is at a very early stage, the engineers behind it the approach believe it has great potential, in the field of visual correction and beyond. They envisage displays that users with different visual problems can view at the same time and see a sharp image. “In the long run we believe that flexible display architectures will allow for multiple different modes, such as glass free 3D image display, vision corrected 2D image display and combinations of vision corrected and 3D image displays,” the authors write.
Scientists were able to take a closer look at organs such as the kidney.
‘See-through’ bodies technique developed A WAY to turn an entire body transparent has been developed by scientists studying rodents. Reporting in the journal Cell, they describe a technique that keeps tissues intact but allows key body parts and connections to be seen. They say it could help visualise how separate organs interact and pave the way for a new generation of treatments. The method may also be used to detect the spread of viruses and cancers in human tissues. For almost a century scientists have attempted to turn opaque organs see-through, but most techniques have damaged tissues, putting a stop to further medical tests. The fatty lipid molecules present in cells can distort light
rays, rendering tissues opaque. But processes used to dissolve them have deprived organs of this key element of structural support, resulting in a shapeless mass of material. Now researchers from the California Institute of Technology say they have achieved the “biologists’ dream”. Building on previous work the team have developed a three-stage technique: A soft plastic-like mesh provides support to tissues Then a molecular detergent is continually infused via the bloodstream, dissolving away lipids and making organs transparent Specific tracing dyes and tagging molecules can be added to the infusion to flag up the most important connections.
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Science & Technology
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Equation ‘can predict momentary happiness’ IT HAS long been known that happiness depends on many different life circumstances. Now scientists have developed a mathematical equation that can predict momentary delight. They found that participants were happiest when they performed better than expected during a risk-reward task. Brain scans also revealed that happiness scores correlated with areas known to be important for well-being. The team says the equation, published in PNAS Journal, could be used to look at mood disorders and happiness on a mass scale. It could also help the UK government analyse statistics on well-being, which they have collected since 2010. Description: Happiness equation “We can look at past decisions and outcomes and predict exactly how happy you will say you are at any point in time,” said lead author Dr Robb Rutledge from University College London. “The brain is trying to figure out what you should be doing in the world to get rewards, so all the decisions,
expectations and the outcomes are information it’s using to make sure you make good decisions in the future. All of the recent expectations and rewards combine to determine your current state of happiness,” he told BBC News. Think of going to a restaurant for example, having low expectations may improve your dining experience if the food is better than expected. But having positive expectations may improve your happiness before the meal even starts because of your anticipation of the event. To build the mathematical model, the team analysed the results of 26 people doing a task in which, over repeated trials, they chose between definite and risky monetary rewards. Every few trials they were asked to report their level of happiness. Participants’ brains were also scanned using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). Activity in two areas of the brain correlated positively with happiness scores; these were the ventral striatum - a main source of dopamine neurons - and the insula, an area of the brain known to be important for several
Scientists found that participants were happiest when they performed better than expected during a risk-reward task.
emotions including happiness. The striatum was associated with changes in happiness and the insula with overall levels of happiness. The equation was then applied to over 18,000 people who played a smartphone risk-reward game in The Great Brain Experiment app, which was recently shown to be a reliable way of studying cognitive behaviour. While the experiment was far more simplistic than real world events, Dr Rutledge said that like in real life, the subjects took risks in order to gain rewards.
“We were pleased to see that our equation did a good job of explaining happiness. Even over this wide range of participants, there is a surprisingly consistent relationship between rewards, expectations, and happiness. “I’m hopeful this mathematical equation lets us get a better understanding of things we all care about, like how happy we are in general,” he added. Commenting on the work, Tom Stafford a cognitive scientist at the University of Sheffield, said it
was impressive that the equation could predict happiness with such accuracy, “especially given how unpredictable humans are”. “The importance of this study is the way it knits together brain activity, a computational account of reward and large-scale crowd sourcing of data on how people feel,” added Dr Stafford. But he said that it was not clear that the equation could give insight into some of the “big questions” of happiness in real life, like which partner to choose. (BBC)
FDA moves on tekmira’s ebola drug while sarepta’s sits unused The treatment of the two Ebolastricken, American medical missionaries with the welldocumented “plantibodies” developed by U.S. and Canadian companies and federal agencies has raised questions of bioethics and process. But how can Ebola drugs be tested for efficacy if their use is restricted during the most widespread Ebola outbreak since 1976? As a result, the World Health Organization has scheduled a meeting of medical ethicists for next week how drugs not previously tested in humans might be ethically mobilized during such a crisis. From the WHO announcement: “We are in an unusual situation in this outbreak. We have a disease with a high fatality rate without any proven treatment or vaccine,” says Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization. “We need to ask the medical ethicists to give us guidance on what the responsible thing to do is.” To recap, the ZMapp combination product of three, humanized antibodies against different parts of the Ebolavirus outer glycoprotein – which continues to be called a “secret serum” – was given to Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol prior to their medivac journey from a hospital in Paynesville, Liberia, to the biosafety level-4 isolation
ward in Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital. However, this antibody combination had never been given to humans, not even healthy volunteers. Other commentators have also raised the thorny ethical issues of making the drug available to the two Americans but not to patients in the west African countries where the virus continues to spread. Other drugs already in Phase 1 safety trials In contrast, at least two other companies have products that have already been subject to phase 1 safety trials. Most widely publicized has been TKM-Ebola, a lipid nanoparticle, RNA-interference drug being developed by Vancouverbased, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals, together with a division of the
Department of Defense. Single-dose and multiple ascending dose studies have been progressing and the company announced on July 21 that the FDA was placing a hold on the trials as they conducted an interim analysis of the drug’s safety profile. However, Tekmira just announced today that the FDA verbally confirmed the modification of the trials’ status to a “partial hold,” thereby allowing the drug to be used in people infected with Ebola. “We are pleased that the FDA has considered the risk-reward of TKMEbola for infected patients. We have been closely watching the Ebola virus outbreak and its consequences, and we are willing to assist with any responsible use of TKM-Ebola. The foresight shown by the FDA removes one potential roadblock to doing so,”
said Dr. Mark Murray, CEO and President, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals. “This current outbreak underscores the critical need for effective therapeutic agents to treat the Ebola virus. We recognize the heightened urgency of this situation, and are carefully evaluating options for use of our investigational drug within accepted clinical and regulatory protocols.” The Tekmira drug targets three of the seven genes of the Ebola virus. (Yes, the deadly Ebolavirus wreaks its havoc with only seven proteins. In comparison, we humans have just under 20,000.) The second drug is a different type modified RNA molecule, AVI7537, from Sarepta Therapeutics. AVI-7537 is directed against one of the three Ebolavirus genes (VP24) targeted by Tekmira’s drug. But its chemistry platform, called PMOplus, is distinctly different from that of Tekmira’s TKM-Ebola. AVI-7537 also works via a different mechanism to block the viral protein from being made. For those interested in the technical aspects of the chemistry and mechanism, this open-access 2012 paper in the journal, Viruses, is invaluable. AVI-7537 has already shown effectiveness in non-human primates against the Zaire Ebolavirus, the species implicated in the current
outbreak. Moreover, Sarepta had been conducting Phase 1 safety trials with the drug alone and together another Ebola-directed PMOplus molecule (AVI-7539, with the combination called AVI-6002). The work, done with the support of the Department of Defense, was part of a project put on hold in 2012 during the fiscal cliff fiasco. The Ebola drug proved to have an excellent safety profile in a single dose escalation study and a twoweek, daily dosing regimen. So the discontinuation was more likely due to economics than medical concerns. In support of that speculation, the DoD continued to support Sarepta’s Marburg virus program. Sarepta’s drug remains available Sarepta’s president and CEO, Chris Garabedian, told Barron’s earlier this week that the company had a drug that could be deployed and shipped if a request was made of the company and all permits and authorizations were cleared. Garabedian told me on Tuesday that company does indeed have clinical trial-quality drug on hand. The Marburg program that has continued “uses the same backbone chemistry,” so the safety studies that are continuing with that drug at higher human doses could be applied to AVI-7537.
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Ebola death toll creeps toward 1,000; infected dumped into Liberian streets THE mystery man who was isolated at a Manhattan hospital with suspected Ebola symptoms tested negative Wednesday for the deadly virus. But as doctors in the USA breathed a sigh of relief, it was a horror show in Liberia — a ground zero of the spreading plague — where terrified relatives of Ebola victims were dumping their bodies in the streets. “They’re exposing themselves to the risk of being contaminated,” Liberian information minister Lewis Brown warned. “We’re asking people to please leave the bodies in their homes and we’ll pick them up.” Very little is known about the Mount Sinai Medical Center patient, who was admitted Monday with a high fever, other than he had been in West Africa recently. Ebola was definitively ruled out Wednesday with a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has tested six Americans, all of whom were negative for the disease. “The patient is in stable condition, is improving, and remains in the care of our physicians and nurses,” Mt. Sinai said in a statement. The CDC issued its highest alert amid the worse Ebola outbreak in history, setting in motion a “level 1 activation.” The move, which allows hundreds of CDC employees to focus on the outbreak, is only undertaken for the most serious health emergencies — the last being
The lifeless body of a man remains unattended in a Monrovia, Liberia, street because locals suspect he died from the deadly Ebola virus. But the Liberian government is warning this behavior is only exposing more people to the disease.
the bird flu contagion in 2009. The developments came as the Ebola death toll was pegged at 923, with more than 1,700 people infected, as new deaths were reported in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. “This outbreak is unprecedented and out of control,” said Walter Lorenzi of Doctors Without Borders. “We have a desperate need for other actors on the ground — not in offices or in meetings — but with their rubber gloves on, in the field.” As if Ebola wasn’t threat enough, doctors warned of potential malaria and cholera epidemics because patients are too afraid to go to hospitals. “We now have increased mortality for these other diseases as
well,” Cyprien Fabre, who heads the West Africa office of the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department, told Bloomberg News. “This is a slow motion disaster.” In Washington, at a summit meeting with African leaders, President Obama said the U.S. is ready to “do whatever we can to help” with the crisis. The World Health Organization began a meeting to determine whether the contagion should be termed an international health emergency — an acknowledgment, made for bird flu in 2009 and polio earlier this year, that would signify experts believe the situation could worsen without a global response.
U.S. general killed in Afghanistan; gunman shot from 100 yards, officials say IT WAS a brazen attack, resulting in the death of the most senior U.S. officer since 9/11, and authorities say they think an Afghan soldier was the gunman. Maj. Gen. Harold Greene -- a longtime officer who was leading efforts to train soldiers in Afghanistan -- was killed Tuesday at a military training facility in Kabul. An ISAF official said that the group was standing outside, and the attacker shot from inside a nearby building at a distance of about 100 yards. Pentagon officials went out of their way to say the shooting would not change the relationship between U.S. and Afghan forces. “I’ve seen no indication that there’s a degradation of trust between coalition members and their Afghan counterparts,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters Tuesday. But the deadly ambush at a premier training facility for Afghan military officers raises questions about the vetting process for Afghan soldiers
Maj. Gen. Harold Greene is the highest-ranking American officer killed in combat during the post 9/11 era and is reportedly the highest-ranking officer killed in combat since 1970 during the Vietnam War.
and also the upcoming handover of security to Afghan forces. “When something like this happens, in the least it creates a crisis of confidence for Afghans and for us,” said Vali Nasr, dean of the School of Advanced International
Studies at Johns Hopkins University. So far, the Taliban has acknowledged the general’s killing, but hasn’t claimed responsibility for it. The Pentagon isn’t commenting on the possibility of Taliban involvement, saying the Afghan military and international forces are in the early stages of an investigation. Nasr told CNN’s “The Situation Room” that the attack raises serious concerns as the United States prepares to withdraw forces from Afghanistan. “The Taliban have proven today they can infiltrate this force at will,” he said. “The discipline we are seeking or that we are claiming is not there, and I think it is very difficult for the administration to say that everything is going according to plan, as if this is just an isolated incident and we can just leave.” But it’s still unclear whether the gunman had Taliban ties and whether he slipped through the military’s screening process, said Philip Mudd, a CNN counterterrorism analyst and former CIA official.
August 9 - 15, 2014
British mom jailed for sex with preteen son while partner watched on webcam A TWISTED British mom had sex with her own son as her sick lover watched and directed her over a webcam. The 39-year-old, who has not been named, carried out the sordid “sex lesson” in their Bristol family home while her partner watched online from abroad. Wearing earbuds, she followed her boyfriend’s instructions, first having sex and then performing a sexual act on the preteen. She was jailed for three years and three months on Monday. Her partner remains at large. The Bristol Post reports that
the boy was “11 or 12” when the sickening incident took place. Details of the horrific crime emerged last October after the mom complained about her partner at a domestic abuse help center. After confessing to abusing her eldest son, the young boy revealed what had happened while being interviewed by cops. The mom admitted to engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a boy under 13. Her two sons have been placed into the care of a foster family. (NYdailynews)
No deal: Argentina in default as talks fail ARGENTINA has defaulted for the second time in 13 years after officials failed to come to an agreement with the country’s bondholders. After frantic last minute talks failed to produce a deal late Wednesday, Standard & Poor’s deemed the country to be in default on some of its obligations. The change in credit rating could hike Argentina’s borrowing costs, and put even more pressure on the country’s already-struggling economy. The crisis stems from a legal battle with a small group of “holdout” creditors that had demanded payment of about $1.5 billion on bonds they bought after the $144 billion default in 2001. That standoff has blocked payments to other creditors. Economy minister Axel Kicillof met the “holdouts” for the first time in New York this week but said Wednesday that they rejected an offer he made. Now, the country may have to devalue the peso to preserve foreign currency reserves, and that could trigger a dangerous rise in inflation that is already projected to hit 40%. The peso has already fallen by about 25% against the dollar this year. Neil Shearing, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said the default could have painful consequences for Argentina, but was unlikely to have a major impact beyond its borders. “Markets are rightly viewing this as circumstances specific to Argentina, and it doesn’t look like we’ve seen so-called contagion to other financial markets at this stage,” said Shearing. There was still hope for a deal as discussions continued for a second day. But Daniel Pollack, the court-
appointed mediator, said late Wednesday that the talks had fallen apart. He said that “default cannot be allowed to lapse into a permanent condition” and that he would still be available to help the parties reach some kind of resolution. It looked like Argentina’s banks might throw the government a lifeline. The Wall Street Journal reported that they could agree to pay off the “holdout” creditors -- NML Capital and Aurelius Management -and wait until next year to be repaid with government bonds. But that initiative too appears to have come to nothing. The crisis has its roots in Argentina’s last default. It reached agreement with almost 93% of creditors to restructure its debt, but 7% refused to accept. The countdown to a new default started in earnest last month when a U.S. judge ruled that if Argentina doesn’t pay the holdouts, it can’t make any more payments to restructured bondholders. Argentina worried that a deal with the holdouts could trigger billions of dollars in additional claims -- money it doesn’t have. “What the vulture funds want ... is that they be paid more than the 92.4%,” said Kicillof. “This I have talked about many times and I have repeated it today before the funds suing us: it can’t be done... can’t be done.” This is Argentina’s third default in 25 years, according to ratings agency Moody’s. Still, it no longer holds the record for the biggest -- that now belongs to Greece after its distressed debt exchange worth $273 billion at the height of the eurozone crisis in 2012. Russia’s $39 billion default in 1998 is the third largest in history. (CNN)
August 9 - 15, 2014
World News
29
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
New leaker disclosing U.S. secrets, government concludes
Zinzi Mandela (C) is the daughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (L) and Nelson Mandela.
Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie wants Qunu home THE ex-wife of South Africa’s first black President Nelson Mandela has demanded his village home for her children, potentially triggering the first legal dispute since his death. Winnie MadikizelaMandela’s lawyers said she was asserting her “customary rights” by demanding the house. Mr Mandela’s estate was provisionally valued at 46m rand ($4.3m; £2.5m) following his death in December. The thrice-married Mr Mandela divorced Mrs Madikizela-Mandela in 1996. The couple had two daughters, Zinzi and Zenani. Mr Mandela has one surviving child, Makaziwe, from his first marriage to the late Evelyn Mase. He was married to Graca Machel, the wife of Mozambique’s late President Samora Machel, at the time of his death. His large family - which includes grandchildren and great grandchildren - was
hit by legal disputes over his wealth and burial site as he battled a recurring lung infection in the months leading to his death at the age of 95. In his will, the ex-president said: “The Qunu property should be used by my family in perpetuity in order to preserve the unity of the Mandela family.” The executor of the will, South Africa’s Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, has not yet commented on the letter sent to him by Mvuzo Notyesi Incorporated, the legal firm representing Mrs Madikizela-Mandela. In the letter, seen by the BBC, the lawyers said Mrs Madikizela-Mandela obtained the house in Qunu while he was in jail for fighting white minority rule. “The view we hold is that the aforesaid property belongs to the generation of Mr Nelson Mandela and Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as their common and parental home,” it said. (BBC)
THE federal government has concluded there’s a new leaker exposing national security documents in the aftermath of surveillance disclosures by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, U.S. officials tell CNN. Proof of the newest leak comes from national security documents that formed the basis of a news story published Tuesday by the Intercept, the news site launched by Glenn Greenwald, who also published Snowden’s leaks. The Intercept article focuses on the growth in U.S. government databases of known or suspected terrorist names during the Obama administration. The article cites documents prepared by the National Counterterrorism Center dated August 2013, which is after Snowden left the United States to avoid criminal charges. Greenwald has suggested there was another leaker. In July, he said on Twitter “it seems clear at this point” that there was another. Government officials have been investigating to find out that identity. In a February interview with CNN’s Reliable Sources, Greenwald said: “I definitely think it’s fair to say that there are people who have been inspired by Edward Snowden’s courage and by the great good and virtue that it has achieved.” He added, “I have no doubt there will be other sources inside the government who see extreme wrongdoing who are inspired by Edward Snowden.” It’s not yet clear how many
Notice
The Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990 Regulation 7, Schedule 2 Applications. An application registered PR:11946, for construction of Gas Station, Convenience Shop Building Developments have been submitted to the department of Planning for consideration of detailed development permission by Norway Five Ltd. The location is PARCEL 60801/12, which is on Leeward Highway Area of Providenciales. Anyone wishing to make any representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Providenciales, within 28 days of the publication of this notice.
10215
documents the new leaker has shared and how much damage it may cause. So far, the documents shared by the new leaker are labeled “Secret” and “NOFORN,” which means it isn’t to be shared with foreign government. That’s a lower level of classification than most of the documents leaked by Snowden. Government officials say he stole 1.7 million classified documents, many of which were labeled “Top Secret,” a higher classification for the government’s most important secrets. The biggest database, called the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, now has 1 million names, a U.S. official confirmed to CNN. That’s boosted from half that many in the aftermath of the botched attempt by the socalled underwear bomber to blow up a U.S.-bound jetliner on Christmas Day in 2009. The growth of TIDE, and other more specialized terrorist databases and watchlists, was a result of vulnerabilities exposed in the 2009 underwear plot, government officials said. The underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, was not on government
watchlists that would have prevented him from being allowed to fly to the United States. In 2012, the National Counterterrorism Center reported that the TIDE database contained 875,000 names. There were about 500,000 in 2009 before the underwear bomb plot. The Intercept first reported the new TIDE database numbers, along with details of other databases. As of November, 2013, there were 700,000 people listed in the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), or the “Terrorist Watchlist, according to a U.S. official. Fewer than 1% are U.S. persons and fewer than 0.5% are U.S. citizens. The list has grown somewhat since that time, but is nowhere near the 1.5 million figure cited in recent news reports. Current numbers for the TSDB cannot be released at this time. The Intercept report said, citing the documents, that 40% on the “Terrorist Watchlist” aren’t affiliated with terror groups. U.S. officials familiar with the matter say the claim is incorrect based on a misreading of the documents. The report said that as
of August, 2013, 5,000 Americans were on the TSD watchlist. Another 15,800 were on the wider TIDE list. A smaller subset, 16,000 names, including 1,200 belonging to Americans, are listed as “selectees” who are subject to more intensive screening at airports and border crossings. According to the Intercept, citing the documents, the cities with the most names on the list are: New York, Dearborn, Michigan; Houston; San Diego; and Chicago. Dearborn is home to one the nation’s biggest concentrations of Arab and Muslim populations. According to the documents cited by the Intercept, the government has also begun a new effort to collect information and biometric data on U.S. persons in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The data includes photos from driver’s licenses. That effort likely was spurred by the fact that FBI agents investigating the Boston bombings found existing databases lacking when they tried to match images of the two bombers isolated from surveillance video, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter. (CNN)
Dolphin Bar Is seeking to employ a
Bar Tender Must be willing to work 6 days per week
Please call 332-6364
10217
Ocean Club Resorts
Is looking for qualified applicants for the following positions:
Gardener Janitor Labourer Gardening Supervisor All positions involve strenuous physical labour, which requires being able and willing to perform heavy lifting, and other physically demanding functions. Must be able to speak English fluently. Preference will be given to someone with previous resort experience. All applicants must be able to present a clean Police Record if offered a position. Wage commensurate with experience. Individuals must be willing to work holidays and weekends on a flexible schedule dictated by business demands. Please drop off resumes at the Ocean Club Front Desk to the attention of the Human Resource Manager, or via email to diane@oceanclubresorts.tc Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.
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World News
NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BOARD
VACANCY FOR THE POSITION OF
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR PROVIDENCIALES
Russia’s Putin issues retaliatory ban on food imports
The Russian president is not taking the sanctions sitting down.
Maintain and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including computer hardware, systems software, applications software, and all configurations.
• Engineering of related solutions for various project and operation needs. • Install new/rebuild existing servers and configure hardware, peripherals, services, settings, directories, storage, etc. in accordance with standards and project/operational requirements. • Develop and maintain installation and configuration procedures. • Contribute to and maintain system standards. • Research and recommend innovative and where possible automated approaches for system administration tasks. Identify approaches that leverage NHIB resources. • Perform daily system monitoring, verifying the integrity and availability of all hardware, server resources, systems and keys processes, reviewing systems and application logs, and verifying completion of scheduled jobs. • Perform daily backup operations, ensuring all required file system data are successfully backed up to the appropriate media, recovery tapes or disks are created, and media is recycled and sent off as necessary. • Perform regular file archival and purge as necessary. • Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures in order to protect data, software, and hardware. • Active Directory User Management. • Provide technical support for the NHIB, investigate and troubleshoot both software and hardware issues. • Repair and recover from hardware or software failure. Maintain operational, configuration or other procedures. • Perform periodic performance reporting to support capacity planning • Maintain data center environmental and monitoring equipment • Responsibilities sometimes require working evenings and weekends, sometimes with little advance notice. • Perform other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of NHIB.
• Trains store staff by reviewing and revising orientation to products and sales training materials; delivering training sessions; reviewing staff job results and learning needs with retail store manager; developing and implementing new product training.
Merchandisers
• To assist the Merchandise Buyers in the purchasing of product for inventory stocking of shelves etc. • Make sure the inventory is at the correct and most competitive cost for our customers using the manufacturer’s price lists and set up new inventory in the Mainframe system.
Cashiers
• Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. Usually involves use of electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. Often involved in processing credit or debit card transactions and validating checks.
Dairy Department
• The dairy and frozen food manager handles all inventory to stock coolers and freezers. The manager guarantees price integrity along with operation procedures as he ensures company standards are met. When the store owner implements new merchandising programs, the dairy and frozen food manager makes sure to institute the programs to increase sales.
Butchers
• Should be able to Cut, trim, bone, tie, and grind meats, using butcher's cutlery and powered equipment, such as electric grinder and band saw, to portion and prepare meat in cooking form: Cuts, trims, and bones carcass sections or prime cuts, using knives, meat saw, cleaver, and band saw, to reduce to cooking cuts, such as roasts, steaks, chops, stew cubes, and grinding meat etc.
Produce manager
Person specification
Bachelor degree, with a technical major such as computer science. Systems Administration/ System Engineer certification in Microsoft such as MCSA, MCSE. Four to six years Systems Administration experience Sound Knowledge of network cabling and Operative Systems and security of computer
Networks. • • • •
Very detail oriented with the ability to multi-task Show initiative Time management skills Ability to be able to work efficiently with little or no supervision
Salary
continued
Assistant Managers
Scope
Duties and Responsibilities:
and agricultural imports from countries that have imposed sanctions against his country. The retaliatory move comes
Is seeking employees in the following categories for a large retail and wholesale Supermarket:
To improve the operations of systems through technical research and development To overlook the flow of the entire operation of systems. This includes provisioning, supervising, installing, copying and maintaining the software and hardware of the system.
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has named a new target as global sparring over Ukraine grows: food. In a decree signed Wednesday, Putin banned food
Norwani Services limited
Purpose
• • • •
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
• Overseas operations and staffing for the produce department within a grocery store. Ensures quality and freshness of all produce, suggests changes to inventory and pricing, and purchases supplies when needed. Monitors quality of goods and service. Responsible for department staff training, assignments, and scheduling. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent and 4 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.
• • • • • •
Baby sitter/Nanny
Control and care for kids at the employer’s residence Prepare bottles and snacks for infant Bathe, dress and groom infants Arrange formulas and change diapers Teach basic language and math lessons if and when needed Organize and take part in leisure activities such as games, crafts, comics, outings and exercise • Maintain a clean and healthy environment inside the home
Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience Deadline for submission is August 22, 2014. All Applications should be addressed to:
Human Resources Manager National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc
Resumes may be sent to norma@norwani.com 10240
10226
August 9 - 15, 2014
31
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
continued
more than a week after the United States and European Union increased economic sanctions on Moscow for supporting proRussian separatists fighting Ukraine government forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, along the border with Russia. A list of specific products and food bans is still being worked out by the Russian government, according to the decree, which describes the order as a special economic measure “aimed at ensuring the security of the Russian Federation.” Russia is Europe’s largest importer in value of animals, meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, according to the European Union. And goods from the EU represent 16% of all Russian imports, EU numbers show. Putin said measures would be taken to prevent a jump in food prices in Russia. A senior U.S. administration official told CNN a ban in imports will only deepen Russia’s international isolation and work against the country’s own economic interest. “Russia’s Central Bank pointed out that bans on imported food will push up Russia’s already high inflation rate, eroding the purchasing power of Russian citizens,” the official said. The United States insists that sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals are having an effect and already weakened Russia’s economy. “Sanctions are working as intended in putting enormous pressure and strain on the Russian economy. ... The economy has ground to halt,” U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters on Wednesday. If Putin doesn’t push to resolve problems in eastern Ukraine through diplomacy and peaceful means, Obama said, “he’s going to be hurting his economy and his own people over the long term.” But so far, Obama said, violence in Ukraine hasn’t stopped even as sanctions against Russia have increased. “The issue is not resolved yet,” he said. ‘You still have fighting in eastern Ukraine. Civilians are dying.” Russia has denied allegations that it’s supporting separatists in Ukraine and maintains that it wants to see a diplomatic solution to the crisis. But U.S. and Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of saying one thing while doing another -- building up troops along the border and continuing to send support to pro-Russian separatists. Several countries imposed sanctions on Moscow after Russia annexed Crimea in March, which escalated the Ukraine conflict following the ouster of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych a month earlier.
The Sands is now accepting applications/résumé for the following positions. Only highly self-driven & motivated, personable and professional individuals, whom have the desire to serve others, need apply:
MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY & SKILLED POSITIONS
HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR Responsibilities:
• Ensures maximum compliance and efficiency in the performance of Housekeeping staff in guest rooms and surrounding areas • Carries out the policies and procedures of Housekeeping Departments Standard Operating • Offers assistance to guests and owners, initiates corrective action on complaints of cleanliness and service to guest rooms • Assists in and conducts monthly Housekeeping Inventories as required • Conducts routine guest room and common area inspections. Provides inspections scores and retrains for success • Assists in and conducts staff scheduling and annual performance evaluations • Maintains inventory and stock controls • Ensure delivery of service excellence to all guests by monitoring staff performance and provides hands-on training and development • Evaluates and updates Executive Housekeeper on staff performance. Makes recommendations for appropriate action in the areas of disciplinary and commendation • Maintains quality controls and assurance • Assists in overseeing Laundry Department as required in service, quality, inventory, inspection, scheduling and overall performance
Requirements:
• High school diploma • Must have supervised a minimum of 15 employees • Most work tasks are performed indoors and outdoors. Temperature is moderate and controlled by hotel environmental systems • Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 3 hours in length • Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis • Must be able to push and pull carts and equipment weighing up to 200 lbs. on a regular and continuing basis • Must be able to exert well-paced ability in limited space • Must be able to bend, stoop, squat and stretch to fulfill cleaning tasks • Must have minimum of 3 years supervisory experience in the Hotel/Resort and/or Hospitality Industry • Must be able to speak, read, write and understand the primary language (s) used in the workplace • Must be able to read and write to facilitate the communication process • Requires excellent communication and grammar skills, both orally and written to communicate well to guests and owners • Must possess basic math and computational ability • Must have basic computer skills in Hotel PMS, Word, Excel and Outlook • Must work weekends and holidays
LINE POSITIONS
FRONT OFFICE AGENT Responsibilities:
• Provide friendly, prompt, efficient, professional check-in and check-out procedures • Consistent and professional operation of the switchboard • Accurately complete guest reservations as required • Accurately answer all guest inquiries • To be aware of all packages and special rates offered by the property • Have a good understanding of sister properties • Have a strong understanding of local area, sights, activities, attractions and services • Perform other tasks as assigned • Work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team • Maintain confidentiality of guest information and pertinent hotel data
Requirements:
• High school diploma required • Must have experience in the Hotel/Resort and/or Hospitality Industry with a minimum of 1 to 3 years combined experience preferred • Hands-on knowledge using PMS • Strong grammar, reading and writing skills • Must have exceptional customer service and hospitality skills, and telephone etiquette • Must be able to speak, read, write and understand the primary language(s) used in the workplace • Must possess basic computational ability (calculator, word, excel, outlook) • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Highly organized and self-motivated • Works well under pressure • Must be able to work flex schedules, weekends and holidays required in the Hospitality industry
POOL & BEACH ATTENDANT Responsibilities:
• Greet all guests and assist with towels, umbrellas, questions, and/or water sports equipment. • Complete setting up and breaking down of all guest lounge areas as designated by management and to ensure that all pool chairs and tables are in a clean and orderly fashion. • Constant walk-through of pool area and beach area to make certain it is clean (no trash on the grounds) and tidy. Inspect entire pool area replacing any missing items and/or repairing (when possible) any items needing attention. (I.E. Umbrellas, Hobie Cat, Chairs, etc.) • Pool & Hot Tub Cleaning (I.E. vacuuming, filtering, scrubbing, sifting, chemical testing, checking skimmers, etc.)
Requirements: • • • • • • •
• • • • •
A secondary diploma is an asset Experience as a Pool & Beach Attendant is preferred Must be able to work long hours in all weather conditions Must be able to be CPR certified, First Aid certified, and AED certified Must be a good swimmer and perform rescue when needed Must be able to operate rescue boat Must be experienced in sailing, kayaking, and wind-surfing and operator all equipment Must be able to clean and chlorinate pool Must handle pool chemicals and equipment maintenance and functions Life Guard experience a plus Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language(s) (English) used in the workplace. Must work weekends and holidays
HOUSEKEEPING ROOM ATTENDANT HOUSEMAN LABOURER GROUNDSMEN For the above line staff positions, resort experience is an asset but not a requirement. Applicants must have a willing, positive and personable attitude as well as be willing to work holidays and weekends. They should also enjoy serving people and be willing to learn. Minimum experience in the areas of interest required.
Turks & Caicos Islands citizens only need to apply to the Assistant Human Resources Manager, Sheena Smith at The Sands Resort located on Grace Bay Road, Providenciales or e-mail: humanresource@ thesandstc.com, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands. Deadline is August 29, 2014.
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Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate
Brama Kumaris
Raja Yoga
Classifieds
Meditation Centre Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephone 946-4760 & 332-4101
www.bkwsu.com Email: bkpadma@bkwsutci.com
FOR SALE
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014
946-4664 Fax: 946-4661
Email: tcnews@tciway.tc
Website: tcweeklynews.com
FLOWER GIRL
Is looking for a Part-time
delivery driver With own transportation who is interested in making extra cash.
Contact: 231-3788
Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
CLASSIFIEDS 33
PRICED FOR Amazing Value! QUICK SALE Lot for Sale
Beautiful hillside, water front lot in Paw Paw Joe, North Caicos South
$50,000
(or nearest offer) Also additional seven acres plus in Kerr Mount (inland) contact Veronica at 1-242-327-8011 or 1-649-232-3508, (242) 676-3592
In Gated/Planned Community in Long Bay. Flamingo Crossing lot comes with full set of House Plans, all underground utilities, etc.
$49,999 o.b.o. Call 231-3788
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! The largest readership in the Turks & Caicos
PRICE SLASHED
PRICE SLASHED $175,000 FOR QUICK SALE
$180,000 CASH! House and ½ Acre land Richmond Hill 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Fully furnished
Call: 231-3788
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Bayview Motors
Carpenter
Body Shop Mechanic
• Training/supervision of apprentice body man All applicants must have a valid TCI driver’s license with clean record and be able to drive a manual shift vehicle. This post is physical demanding and applicant must be able to work long periods of time on his/her feet and be able to lift a minimum of 60lbs Salary is commensurate with experience.
Please send you resume to syrmondg@bayviewmotors.com or drop off in person Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Eco Construction
Must be willing to work 6 days per week. Salary: $7.50 per hour.
10233
Carpenter
Salary: $5.00 per hour
Contact: 346-5685
Contact: 231-0575
10230
Casa Blanca Casino
Applicants must be able to work outdoors performing manual and physical labor. They must be able to operate a jackhammer, lawn mower and chainsaw. They will be asked to dig holes, mix and spread topsoil/cow manure and plant. They must be able to speak and communicate in English. Starting salary is $5.00/hr and maybe requires to work on weekends and holidays if needed.
With experience in building furniture and restoration.
Please bring all applications to Environmental Arts located at #65 Beechwood Road, Grace Bay, Providenciales or e-mail to admin@environmentalarts.tc . Successful applicants will be notified by phone for interview.
10237
10227
Dempsey & Company
Must have 1-3 years experience. Salary: $8.00 per hour 10242
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Phone 649-941-3400 Fax 649-941-3401
Concrete Pump Operator Applicant will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of a 36 metre concrete pump. Must have mechanical experience and working knowledge of hydraulic pumps, good working knowledge of booms and have good attention to detail. Applicant must have legible handwriting and be service and safety oriented. Must have held a heavy equipments drivers license for a minimum of 5 years.
To drive a 40ft commodore luxury cruiser, the applicant must be pleasant and have knowledge of our local attractions, must be in possession of a captain’s license and must have a clean police record. Salary is based upon experience.
ERB Construction/A&P Construction/ Sail Provo
Dealer
Caribbean Building Materials & Services Ltd.
boat captain Applicants should fax their resumes to 946-4564
Seeks to employ 1:
CBMS
Is looking for a
10231
Blitz Sports Bar and Grill
Heavy Duty Mechanic Applicant must have at least seven years experience with concrete equipment, hydraulics and heavy equipment. Applicant must be able to provide their own tools. Applicant must be prepared to work late days, evenings, and weekends as the job dictates.
Seeking to employ
Painter Tile Layer
Administrative Assistant
Salary: $7.00 - $10.00 per hour
Mechanic Salary: $8.00 - $12.00 per hour
Is seeking a
Bar Maid Salary: $5.00
Carpenter Salary $7.00 per hour
Labourer $5.00 per hour
per hour.
Contact: 243-7047
10241
10238
Contact: 347-2093
Labourer
Gardeners/ Laborers Needed
Is seeking one
Please Call: 247-0347
Is seeking to employ one
Is looking for 1
Is looking to employ an experienced
Duties Include: • Repair and replacement of body panel/parts • Sanding, priming of body components • Maintenance of shop tools and equipment’s • Application of anti-corrosion treatments • Operation of vehicle frame adjusting equipment
Direct Development
BLD Group Construction
10234
34 CLASSIFIEDS
Applicant will report to and assist the President and Vice President in all facets of the concrete company. Applicant must have an Administrative Assistant Certificate. Applicant must have a minimum of 5 years experience in the concrete industry. Applicant must demonstrate professionalism, resourcefulness and independence with strong organizational, management priority setting and multitasking skills. Knowledge of a foreign language would be an asset. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license. Please reply with reference and clean police record to:
CBMS Ltd. 941-3400
10224
August 9 - 15, 2014
CLASSIFIEDS 35
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Casa Blanca Casino Deeks to employ:
1 Dealer
Must have 1-3 years experience Salary: $8.00 per hour
Marketing Director Type: Permanent Location: WIV/Caicos Television Holding Ltd. Leeward Highway, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands. Scope:
You will have executive ownership of the process of ideation, innovation, analysis, planning and executing the development and maintenance of the profitable products; to be the guardian of the company’s brand equity and public image to all consumers, government and other stakeholders. You will be responsible for acquisition campaigns, brand and loyalty activity, ARPU enhancing activity, sponsorship, communications, and PR while leading and mentoring local teams. You will need to be capable of directing all advertising and marketing communication activity for WIV in order to: • Effectively plan and allocate resources to drive different elements of the marketing mix while staying within budget. Identify psychographics of market segments; determine size of segments and relative profitability for Cable TV and Home Broadband penetration. Be the primary contact for commercial related interfaces with the media. Approve activities of PR, design and advertising agencies in relation to activities about the brand’s look, sound and feel in the press, other print media and on the electronic media including internet. • The successful candidate will be expected to meet tight reporting deadlines and have a strong work ethics and will be involved in: • Strategic Planning & Budget Management - contribute to the management team’s strategic planning. Effectively plan and allocate resources to drive different elements of the marketing mix while staying within budget. • Market Analysis/Forecasting/Marketing Mapping – identify psychographics of market segments; determine size of segments and relative profitability for Cable TV, broadcasting and Internet penetration Communication – primary contact for commercial related interfaces with the media. Approve activities of, design and advertising agencies in relation to activities about the brand’s look, sound and feel in the press, other print media and on the electronic media including internet. You will feel comfortable taking responsibility for acquisition campaigns, brand and loyalty activity, ARPU enhancing activity, sponsorship, communications, and PR. In order to be a successful in this position, you will hold a Marketing or Degree, with at least 5-6 years experience in brand management, equity building, and campaign development – ideally from a reputable Agency or in a Telecommunications environment (FMCG or hi-tech consumer background will also be considered). You will be proud of your track record of developing competitive campaigns under tight deadlines combined with your proven ability to meet or exceed growth in revenues/ARPU targets to meet business goals. Strong leadership and relationship management skills are required. Ability to work under your own initiative and a willingness to relocate abroad in an international location. In return, you will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, enterprising environment, where your skills will be valued and rewarded. WIV recognizes our staff and our management team are largely responsible for our success to date. WIV’s unique culture is driven by an entrepreneurial style encapsulated by all seasoned internal executives and industry experts with vast experience in building, expanding and marketing Cable TV, Broadcasting and Home Broadband services. We offer a very attractive and competitive salary and bonus package. 10200
SALES!!!
Due to change of season we are selling lots of items at discount prices. Towels, curtains, bathroom sets, bathroom coordinates, napkins, cups and glasses, canisters, mixing bowls, serving trays and much more for your house. DUNCANSON & CO. Barristers & Attorneys
PUBLIC NOTICE DUNCANSON & CO. Barristers & Attorneys are pleased to announce the re-opening of our Leeward Highway Office for ongoing legal services to the public. We are located in our own building across the street from the Supreme Court complex, next door to the offices of TC Weekly News and between that and the St. Monica's Anglican Church. We specialize in: • Civil Litigation (Particular competencies: Judicial Review and other claims against TCI Government/Departments, Mareva and other Injunctions, Land, Trust & Bank disputes) • Property Matters, Planning Department & Development Issues • Business Law • Immigration • Labour Disputes Telephone: (649) 941-4444 Telefax: (649) 941-4235 Cellphone: (649) 245-1314 email: berynd@yahoo.com DUNCANSON & CO. Barristers & Attorneys
PO Box 52, Cheshire House East 1315A Leeward Highway, Providenciales
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
B&L Envisage
NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE BOARD
•
US$48,000 (base) plus allowances
LOCATION:
•
Providenciales
REPORTS TO:
•
SUBORDINATES:
•
SUMMARY / PURPOSE OF JOB:
•
Medical Officer
Patient Representatives / Benefit Coordinators
The National Health Insurance Board Medical Case Manager will be responsible for co-ordinating health care services for cases approved for the Treatment Abroad Program. The Case Manager will organize access to the overseas provider network, coordinate overseas care and oversee the entire case inclusive of medical, social and other services up until there is there is satisfactory and appropriate transition of the case back to the preferred local provider. The Case Manager will ensure full records are kept on each case and that there is timely transfer of information between all attending providers.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
• To consistently exercise discretion and judgment to analyse, interpret, make deductions and decide what actions are necessary based on a provider request and the National Health Insurance Ordinance 2009, Benefit and Overseas Referral Regulations. • Works in consultation with the Medical Officer and referring Provider in developing action plans on each assigned case. • Procures additional services as needed and must refer all request to the Medical Officer for approval where the cost of such services to the National Health Insurance Board exceeds U$2500Initiate and facilitate communication between the client (patient) and health care providers. • Works with the client on a day-to-day basis using professional judgment and discretion to implement the Treatment Plan • Assists in development, implementation and revision of individual treatment plans; assures that services provided are specified in the Treatment Plan and monitors progress toward treatment goals • Consults and cooperates with the local preferred provider and relevant MOHH departments to facilitate linkage, referral, crisis management, advocacy, and follow up with the focus on
• •
• • •
attaining treatment goals until assigned case is closed. Provides crisis management for clients overseas; making linkages for interventions as appropriate Maintains client and TAP records in accordance with applicable standards and in manner as provided for by the National Health Insurance Board Maintains a high level of ethical conduct regarding confidentiality, dual- relationships, and professional stature Attend meetings as appropriate and meet regularly with supervisor to exchange pertinent information and receive supervision Prepare monthly encounter reports, assessment of assigned cases and collate data for utilization review of Treatment Abroad encounters Advise beneficiaries on the logistics of their overseas care Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the profession by attendance at meetings, lectures, seminars, and reading journals in order to maintain professional competency and proficiency. Monitor and provide guidance to Patient Care Representatives. Suggest systems and procedures to facilitate fulfilment in areas of responsibilities. Any other duty deemed appropriate and consistent with the position, professional qualification and skill set as directed by the Medical Officer
A Security Cosmetologists Officer Salary: $6.00 Seeks to employ 4
Contact: 231-6991
10235
The Barber Shop Is looking for a
$5.50 per hour.
Contact: 431-6778
10204
JOB DESCRIPTION
SMS Security Management Services
Is looking for
Medical Case Manager ANNUAL SALARY:
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Cedric Selver Sr. Is seeking to employ 1
Domestic
Barber Work
Salary: $150.00 per week.
Contact: 432-4166
Salary: $5.00 per hour. Contact: 241-2316
10221
36 CLASSIFIEDS
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
• Internal – Insurance Claims Manager, Claims Officers, IT, Registration and Accounting Officers • External - Members of the public, Ministry of Health and other TCIG Ministries, TCI Hospitals, International medical providers, Insurance Third Party Administrators
The largest readership in the Turks & Caicos
Ricardo Fulford Consultant Services on behalf of his clients:
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
The Barber Shop
• Principles, practices and techniques of medical case management • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office • Good written and oral communication skills • Good problem solving skills
is seeking employment for the following:
1) Barber
Starting Salary is $6.00 per hour. Interested candidate may contact 432-4166 for further details regarding employment.
Ricardo Fulford Contracting
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
is seeking employment for the following:
1) Electrician 1) Gardener
• Bachelor degree in Nursing • Current (Good Standing) Registration with TCI Health Practitioners Board • At least four (5) years as Registered Nurse in a senior/supervisory position • CSMA, MTA certification preferred but not a must
Interested candidate may contact 346-1125 or email ricardofulford@gmail.com further details regarding employment.
Danny Buoys
is seeking employment for the following:
1) Labourer
Deadline for submission is August 22, 2014.
All Applications should be addressed to:
Interested candidate may contact 431-8477 for further details regarding employment.
Human Resources Manager National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc
Interested candidate must contact the number advertise for further details regarding employment.
10240
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Gold Jewelry Pawn Shop Is looking for a
Heartlyn Forbes
CLASSIFIEDS 37
Wanted
La Vista Azul Condominium LVA Management Ltd.
Is looking for a
Seeking to employ a
Supervisor Worker
;;Must have at least 2 years of experience in working in a resort ;;Must be able to communicate in English ;;Must be ready to work 6 days a week and on request ;;Duties include property exterior cleaning. ;;Salary:$6.00 per hour
To assist with caring for elderly with handicap and household chores Must be willing to work without supervision.
107 Turtle Cove Dr. Turtle Cove, Providenciales. Contact: 941 8118
Contact: 941-3072 10223
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
FLOWER GIRL
Wanted urgently
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
Floral Designer
Must have thorough knowledge in the floral business with 3-5 years experience. The Shore Club is now accepting applications/résumé for the following position. Only highly self-driven & motivated, personable and professional individuals, whom have the desire to serve others, need apply:
Resort Internal and Finishes Manager
Call: 231-3788
10232
Contact: 244-2907
10216
With excellent customer care focus. Must be willing to work 6 days per week. Salary $6.50 per hour.
One Labourer To work Monday to Saturday. Salary:$5.00 per hour.
Contact: 232-5222
ADVERTISE
IN THIS SPACE! ONLY
$33
PER WEEK
CALL 946-4664
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT
We require:
• Very strong Resort Internals & Finishes Manager that has the ability to manage the internal finishes packages on a 5 Star Resort. • Must have 15-20 year’s experience in a similar role with a finishing trade’s background. • Must have a history of delivering high end projects such as 5 Star Hotels/Resorts and Residential/ Commercial developments. • Must have previous experience working with leading developers and must pay exceptional attention to detail. Must be able to make sure all works are completed to the highest level and manage any discrepancies. Must have leadership qualities to ensure the job is completed to the client's high standards • A proven track record in Construction Management is essential. • Recent experience of working on high class finishing works is essential. • Specific experience of working with high quality marble/tile and joinery finishes is essential. • Previous relevant experience of working in the Caribbean is desired.
Primary Responsibilities/Requirements: • • • •
Management of Multiple Sub Contractors Pushing a Project team in execution of program, delivery and quality on site Ability to manage a team Determine the resources and participants required to achieve project goals including the selection and management of third party vendor • Establish and manage milestones and deliverables; proactively manage and communicate deviations from plan and develop contingency plans • Strong analytical skills and detail orientation • Ability to communicate effectively with team members and contractors who bring a wide range of disciplines to a project Applicants must have a willing, positive and personable attitude as well as be willing to work long hours, holidays and weekends. Turks & Caicos Islands citizens only need to apply to the Assistant Human Resources Manager, Sheena Smith at The Sands Resort located on Grace Bay Road, Providenciales or e-mail: humanresource@thesandstc.com. Deadline is August 11, 2014. 10205
VACANCIES The following vacancies currently exist within the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service:
Director of the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs
– Providenciales (Deadline: August 8, 2014) Salary: $49,333 per annum • The incumbent in this position will be responsible for enforcing all pertinent environmental, fisheries and maritime laws in TCI.
Director of Social Development and Gender Affairs
– Grand Turk (Deadline: August 6, 2014) Salary: $55,000 per annum • The incumbent in this senior position will be responsible for over-seeing the general day-to-day operations and strategic oversight for the entire Department. He/she will have to insure the efficient and effective provision of front line social work and gender -related services to the client population throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Senior Crown Counsel Commercial/Civil
– Grand Turk (Deadline: August 1, 2014) Salary: $64,800 per annum • This professional position has system wide responsibility for providing accurate legal advice to the Government and efficient representation where necessary. Interested persons are asked to visit www.gov.tc for job details and the application procedure.
10196
Handyman Cleaner
Domestic
38 CLASSIFIEDS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
PROPERTIES FOR SALE OFFERS IN WRITING ARE INVITED FOR PURCHASE OF THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES BEING SOLD BY PRIVATE TREATY UNDER POWERS OF SALE CONTAINED IN A MORTAGE
Blue Hills, Providenciales
1. Parcel 60504/130 Blue Hills & Stammer Run. Single-storey residential home 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, living/dining room. An incomplete commercial building near Millennium Highway. Price $225K 1. Parcel 60003/18 North West and North Central. Phase 1 Priton Home 3-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, laundry room, a living/dining room area and kitchen. Price $120K 2. Parcel 60003/114 North West and North Central. Phase 1 Priton Home 3- bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, laundry room, living/dining room area and kitchen. Price $100K 3. Parcel 60505/228 Blue Hills and Stamers Run. Single storey residence 3-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, with a kitchen and dining area. Price $180K 4. Parcel 60503/83 Blue Hills & Stamers Run. The lower level 3- apartments 1-bedroom, one bathroom, 1 living room and kitchen/dinning. The upper level 3-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, 1-living room, 1-dining room and kitchen. Price $260K 5. Parcel 60003/101, Taurus Close Road, North West & North Central. Phase 2 Priton Home 3-bedrooms, 1-bathroom, laundry room, living/dining room area and kitchen. Price $140K 6. Parcel 60003/24 North West & North Central. Phase 1 Priton Home 3-bedrooms, 1-bathroom, laundry room, living/dining room area and kitchen. Price $125K 7. Parcel 60003/121 North West & North Central. Phase 1 Priton Homes with 2-bedrooms, 1-bathroom, laundry room, living/dining room area and kitchen. Price $170K 8. Parcel 60002/217 North West & North Central. Phase 1 Priton Homes. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom living/dining room area and kitchen. Listing Price $135K 9. Parcel 60002/150 North West & North Central. Phase 2 Priton Homes. 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom living/dining room area and kitchen. Listing Price $150K
Chalk Sound Providenciales
1. Parcel 60400/172 Chalk Sound. 2-Storey residential home of 11 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, 2
kitchens2 living rooms a dining room, office, study, pool and decks. Price $700K
2. Parcel 60400/311 Chalksound. 2-storey residence 3-bedrooms, 2- bathrooms, 1- kitchen and dining area, Pool, Porch and Deck. Price $535K
Grand Turk
1. Parcel 10409/51 East Suburbs. 2-storey residence. Ground Level 1- bedroom and 1-bathroom. 2-storey section 1-living room, 1-kitchen, 1-bathroom, 3-bedrooms and a laundry room, patio and garage. Price: $300K 2. Parcel 10404/183, Church Folly. Unfinished 2.5- story building. Ground level - commercial open floor spacious area. Upper Level- 3 residential units. Listing Price $295K 3. Parcel 10409/56 East Suburbs. Single storey dwelling. 3- Apartments each with 1-bedroom, 1- living/dining room, 1-bathroom and kitchen. Price $230K 4. Parcel 10303/49 Central. Single story dwelling 3- bedrooms, 1- Living/dining room, 1bathroom and kitchen. Price $150K 5. Parcel 10401/115 East Suburbs. Single storey dwelling, currently 2- Apartments: 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom 1-living/dining room 1-bathroom and kitchen. Price $65K 6.
Parcel 10204/164 North Creek. Single two story duplex. 2- Apartments each with 2-bedroom, 1- living/dining room, 2-bathroom and kitchen. Price $350K
7.
Parcel 10409/198, Off Old Airport Road. Two story duplex dwelling. 4- Apartments: Upper 1 apartment with 3-bedrooms, Lower 3 apartments with 1-bedroom. Price $400K
North Caicos
1. Parcel 51203/29 Bottle Creek Central. Single-story residential 4-bedrooms, 1-bathroom, 1-living room, 1-dining area and a kitchen. Price $60K
INTERESTED PERSONS MAY CALL 232-3488 OR 339-7088 BETWEEN 9:00 AM AND 4:40 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY
10190
August 9 - 15, 2014
James Anderson, 32, is just 12 wickets behind Botham’s tally of 383 Test wickets.
Anderson best since Sir Ian Botham Boycott JAMES Anderson is England’s best pace bowler in home conditions since Sir Ian Botham but must cut out sledging to be regarded as a true great, says former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott. Anderson, 32, is just 12 wickets behind Botham’s tally of 383 Test wickets. “In English conditions, Anderson is as good a fastmedium bowler as there has been and the best England have had since Sir Ian Botham,” Boycott said. But he is in danger of being remembered as a “foulmouthed abusive bowler”. Anderson’s man-of-thematch performance in the third Test in Southampton helped England level the series against India at 1-1. He will spearhead the home side’s attack in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting on Thursday, after he was cleared of misconduct by an independent commissioner over a fracas with India’s Ravindra Jadeja. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Boycott added: “James Anderson getting off scot-free makes England favourites to beat India again because he is 40 per cent of their bowling attack. “He bowls swing and seam at pace with hardly any fourballs, which puts batsmen under serious pressure.” The decision to clear Anderson of breaching the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct has infuriated India who claim he pushed and abused Jadeja during the first Test at Trent Bridge. ICC chief executive David Richardson decided not to appeal against the verdict of commissioner Gordon Lewis. Boycott, who played 108 Tests for England between 1964 and 1982, said Anderson needs to avoid getting involved in such incidents and focus on his bowling.
CLASSIFIEDS 39
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
House for rent
Professional Accountant
Job Responsibilities:
• Management of assurance and advisory engagements; • Management of associate staff; and • Preparation of management reports and other deliverables for clients.
Store Clerk
3 Bedroom/3 bathroom/fully furnished washer/dryer. Very spacious/ large wrap around decking. Quiet neighbourhood in long bay. Minutes away from shore club/marina/leeward and grace bay. Asking $2000 per month. First/last and security required.
Salary: $250.00 per week
Contact: 245-1239
This position is immediately available. Salary for this position will be based on qualifications and experience. All applicants will be reviewed; however only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. Applicants should apply in writing or email by August 15th, 2014 to:
10189
Flamingo Pharmacy
VACANCIES Exciting New Vacancy Vitamins and Sport Nutrition Specialist
Flamingo Pharmacy is looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable health and wellness expert to manage the vitamin and sports nutrition section of the store. The ideal candidate must be able solve the customers’ needs, develop and foster long-term, trusting relationships, and share information regarding, health, fitness and nutrition. Must be a personal advocate of healthy living through nutrition and exercise. This role requires continuous learning as new products arrive monthly so must be able to keep up to date with the latest trends and science.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in sports science, nutrition, health promotion or related field from an accredited university. - Alternatively a business degree plus five years’ experience in a retail supervisory role in a high volume specialist store including sales and merchandising. - Ability to train and educate other team members to improve product knowledge and grow sales. - Proven ability to manage social media, marketing, advertising and promotions. - 40 hours per week including most Saturdays. - Basic salary from $32-40K plus performance related bonus.
10138
241-1568
• Professional accounting designation (CA or CPA) is required; • Bachelors degree with business and accounting major; and • Minimum of 10 years experience with a professional accounting firm
- - - - - - -
Is seeking to employ 1
Call for viewing
Qualifications Required:
WB Financial Management Ltd. PO Box 137, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Email: info@wbfinancial.tc Fax: 649-941-7498
Des Electrical
10244
August 9 - 15, 2014
LAND FOR SALE 1/4 Acre Residential Lots Kingsland Manchester Jamaica Real Estate Board# DV/1136 Tel# 1-(876)-293-9433
10214
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Job Responsibilities:
• Preparation of financial statements and performance analysis for clients; • Management of a diverse client base and variety of engagement types; • Management of junior accounting staff; and • Preparation of management reports to be used by clients to improve their financial processes and overall business performance.
Qualifications Required:
• Professional accounting designation (CA, CMA, or CPA); • Minimum of 10 years post qualification experience in a senior accounting role; • Proficient in PC Law, Quickbooks, and Sage accounting systems; and • Positive attitude with ability to work as part of a team.
Qualified Pharmacist
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in pharmacy from an internationally recognized university. Eligible to register with the TCI Health Practitioners Board and MPS. Recent experience managing a pharmacy business. At least five years’ experience in community pharmacy. Excellent IT skills including use of POS and Kroll or similar. Abilty to work long shifts including weekends and holidays. Salary commensurate with experience ranging $45-65K
This position is immediately available. Salary for this position will be based on qualifications and experience. All applicants will be reviewed; however only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview. Applicants should apply in writing or email by August 15th, 2014 to:
Please send cover letter, resume and copies of qualifications to jobs@ flamingopharmacy.com. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls. Belongers only need apply. Closing date August 31st 2014. 10225
WB Financial Management Ltd. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Email: info@wbfinancial.tc Fax: 649-941-7498 Tel: 649-941-7299
10188
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY – the largest readership in the turks & caicos
40 CLASSIFIEDS
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
JOB ADVERTISEMENT
Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is a contemporary luxury full service boutique resort on Grace Bay Beach. We are looking for driven and energetic professionals with Five Star experience and who are committed to achieving excellence by ensuring Five Star standards and services are continuously delivered.
Security Manager
The practical application of security measures and standards, which will include the well being of staff and guests, according to agreed policies of the company. To direct and coordinate the overall activities of the Security Team to guarantee the safety of all guests, employees and protected assets of hotel property. • Maximize the prevention of crime. Responsible for 7 by 24 hour monitoring of property via patrol and CCTV and to document and record information as historic reference • Key member and responsible for the Fire & Safety and Emergency Preparedness teams • Ensure corporate standards are adhered by team and all employees • Supervise all aspects of key distribution and control according to policies and procedures of the hotel and to report any discrepancy immediately to superiors. • Maintain legible and accurate records of all control centre documents to include General Security Log, Key Control, Lost and Found and Visitor Passes. • Review scheduled functions, group, or VIP arrivals and special events and to discuss special instructions with relevant departments. • Be flexible with work hours, regardless of time, during day, or night, in order to personally facilitate security arrangements of cases that require special treatment and handling. • Liaise with local authorities in order to identify activities that may affect the operation of the hotel such as seasonal events, current community crime trends, political activism and other, and to share any such concerns with superiors. • Provide access, when required, to high-risk areas, exercising vigilance for the protection of assets and to secure the area when access is no longer required. • Control access to crime/natural disaster scenes in order to preserve evidence while awaiting the arrival of authorities. • Attend to reports and to follow-up on all reported guest disturbances, or alleged theft incidents ensuring that the established policies and procedures are adhered to. To conduct special investigation on high profile security matters and to prepare reports for managements review. • Maintain proactive communication, with the Executives and Heads of Departments, regarding relevant security matters and where employees are concerned, to maintain direct contact with the Human Resources Manager as soon as practically possible. • Supervise the maintenance of the security log entries and to track all security officer patrol reports and subsequent security activities. • Oversee the intervention of all guest room safes and to maintain a logbook where all occurrences are recorded. • Review all occurrence reports prepared by security officers ensuring that they have complete, relevant and accurate information and to follow up. • Be fully involved and responsible for fire safety protection program in collaboration with the Engineering department, and all other concerned departments, as per hotel policy. • Ensure that all new team members are briefed and / or trained in Fire Prevention / Fire Fighting Procedures and Emergency Preparedness Plans relevant to their position. • Schedule or assist quarterly fire evacuation drills, on collaboration with the HR, engineering and all other hotel departments. • Execute employee bag/parcel inspections, as directed by the hotel policy. • Control and ensure that the arrival and departure of employees at
• • • • • •
the employee entrance of the hotel is done in an orderly and secure manner. Make, for the safety of our guests, physical spot checks on taxi transportation, verifying the vehicle’s general condition. Complete the annual performance appraisal forms, provided by the HR department, for all employees under his/her responsibility, and to deliver them to the HR Manger for reviewing. Responsible for two-way radio systems are available for use round the clock and all equipment in working order and signed out according to standards. Responsible for all safety related signage; EXIT, health & safety, usage, traffic, parking. Attend various other related meetings to obtain and disseminate pertinent information. To assist in the identification of training and development needs for all Security Officers and to assist in developing these employees to achieve their potential.
Skills/Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily • Police or Military experience required with certification in First Aid training • Minimum 5 years’ experience as Security Manager with 2 years at a luxury resort • Exceptional customer service skills coupled with disciplined approach to providing consistent quality service levels. • Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, train, develop skills, mentor and motivate a team • Thorough knowledge of resort security procedures, operations and equipment, with the ability to execute all aspects • Thorough knowledge of fire, health and safety systems • Should be well versed with Computers/CCTV Footage/Vigilance during Operations. • Ability to effectively deal with internal and external guests, some of whom will require high levels of patience, tact and diplomacy to defuse anger and collect accurate information. • Self-motivated and dependable with an exceptional work ethic and strong problem solving skills • Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in the English language • Professional appearance and demeanor • Computer proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
Security Officer
Perform protective and enforcement functions in a courteous and restrained manner in coping with emergencies, undesired conduct, disturbances and threats to life and property. Maintain a safe and secure environment for guests, visitors, and colleagues. Excellent communication skills. Observant at all times. Experience in investigations and dealing with challenging situations. Good customer service skills.
Bellman
Greets customers immediately with a friendly and sincere welcome. Escorts arriving and departing guests in a friendly, courteous manner to and from their accommodations, transporting their luggage. Acquaints each guest with room and features.
Interested applicants can contact our Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm on (649)941-7555. E- Mail cover letter outlining your interest and supporting experience in a particular position along with your Resume or C.V. to hr@wymara.com 10239
Kevin Love will now join Lebron James and point guard Kyrie Irving to form the Cavaliers’ big three.
Love traded to Cavaliers, Wiggins to Timberwolves, according to report LEBRON James and the Cavaliers went from title contenders to probable favourites -- they’re going to get star forward Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s a trade agreement only because it involves 2014 No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, who can’t be dealt until Aug. 23. Also heading to the Timberwolves: Anthony Bennett, the top choice in the 2013 draft, along with a 2015 first-round pick. The other key to the deal, Wojnarowski reported, will be Love opting out of his contract in 2015 and re-signing with Cleveland for five years and “$120 million-plus.” “The precise deal terms have been agreed upon for weeks, but the teams and Love plan to stay silent about the particulars until the trade is announced in 16 days,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Part of the Cavaliers’ motivation in making the deal for Love was a belief Love would have ended up with the rival Chicago Bulls in a trade and created a significant obstacle in the Eastern Conference, sources said.” The Sixers aren’t involved, despite rumors pointing to Philadelphia sending forward Thaddeus Young to the Timberwolves. The Cavaliers will now have a Big Three of their own with James, Love and point guard Kyrie Irving. The move also frees up some playing time for guard Dion Waiters. Though they’re mortgaging some of their future by dealing the past two top NBA draft picks, the Cavaliers’ message is clear: With James in town, Cleveland wants to win now.
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
CLASSIFIEDS 41
42 CLASSIFIEDS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION The Financial Services Commission, a statutory body of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government responsible for the licensing and regulation of financial services businesses, is seeking qualified applicants for the post of
Compliance Officer DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The holder of this position will carry out the following duties: 1. Assist in the regulation and supervision of licensed Mutual Funds, Investment Dealers and Company Managers in order to maintain a general view of their conduct and practice. 2. Assist in onsite visits, to ensure that the licensee is acting in accordance with its business plan, the relevant Regulatory Ordinances and the conditions of its licence. 3. Assist in ensuring the soundness, good governance and integrity of licensees including review and analysis of data regarding financial institutions, including analysis of audited financial and specific prudential returns 4. Assist in the prudential offsite supervision of licenses including reviewing and making decisions on the approval of any changes in directors, managers, shareholders etc. of licensees. 5. Assist in ensuring compliance by licensees with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter financing to terrorism (CFT) laws and regulations. 6. Assist with the preparation of periodic and ad hoc reports based on offsite reviews. 7. Assist other departments in the handling of compliance matters and issues relating to the supervision of licensees as instructed by the Commission. 8. Assist with timely compilation of pre-examination reports/schedules and preparing notes for pre-examination meetings. 9. Assist with the timely compilation of examination schedules/working papers and preparation of detailed examination reports reviewing the licensee’s financial condition and solvency. 10. Assist with preparatory notes for wrap up meetings with senior management and carry out follow up procedures in relation to recommendations made to the licensee for corrective actions to be taken. 11. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Head of Company Managers and Investments.
SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
• Sound knowledge of the Companies Ordinance, Mutual Funds Ordinance, Investment Dealers Ordinance, Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, FSC Ordinance, Proceeds of Crime Ordinance, IFRS and IAS Standards and other related Ordinances, regulations and international supervisory standards • Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards inclusive of the new IFRS, particularly as they relate to recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities • Sound knowledge of international anti-money laundering standards, related local legislations and regulations; as well as requisite supervisory evaluation procedures • Sound understanding of IT systems and the use of such technologies in the financial services industry
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management or related discipline • Five (5) years related experience. A certification in compliance and or money laundering would be a distinct advantage. OTHER INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE POST This position falls within Grade 6 of the Commission’s pay scale. Actual salary payable will be determined by reference to the degree of qualification, experience, knowledge base and other criteria that the Commission may assess. The duties for the above post may be carried out at either of the Commission’s offices in Grand Turk or Providenciales.
Applications should be received no later than September 17, 2014 and may be emailed to dmorrison@ tcifsc.tc or faxed to 1-649-941-8379
Sports Interational
August 9 - 15, 2014
F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone walks free after $100M settlement THE head of Formula One has avoided possible conviction on bribery charges after agreeing to pay $100 million. A German court ruled Tuesday that it would accept an offer from Bernie Ecclestone to bring an early end to proceedings, which had already lasted three months. Presiding judge Peter Noll gave the 83-year-old British businessman a week to make payments of $99 million to the Bavarian state treasury and $1 million to a local charity which looks after terminally ill children. Ecclestone, who has always denied any wrongdoing, was accused of bribing a German banker eight years go over the sale of a controlling interest in the company that runs the elite division of motorsport. Under German law there is a provision to halt criminal proceedings to avoid long and costly court cases where a conviction might be difficult to achieve and after a negotiation
F1 head Bernie Ecclestone was given a week to make payments of $99 million to the Bavarian state treasury and $1 million to a local charity which looks after terminally ill children.
between prosecutors and the defense. “While charges could have been pursued against the accused, the court took into consideration the age of the accused, his health and the considerable burden of attending court in a foreign
country with all the language difficulties that entails and the public attention,” Noll said in his summing up. Ecclestone, whose fortune is valued by Forbes at over $4 billion, was asked by Noll if he could make the payment. “Yes” came the reply. Ecclestone’s defense lawyer Sven Thomas added: “That’s do-able.” It brought down the curtain on proceedings in Munich that could have ended in a jail sentence of up to 10 years and the loss of his position at the helm of F1. Outside the court, Thomas told reporters: “This is not about a conviction, but a cessation of the trial with no admission of guilt. “There will be no guilty verdict whatsoever and that clearly changes the situation in terms of the evidence and legal position, otherwise the talks between the prosecution and defense would not have been possible.”
Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands
NOTICE The Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intent to dispose of goods, vehicles, wrecks, equipment or other articles within the Government ports that appears to be derelict and un-saleable in accordance with Section 25 (5) of the Ports Authority Ordinance 2009. Any person interested in the removal and disposal of these derelict goods must file such interest with the Director of Ports (Acting) no later than Noon September 5, 2014. For further details please contact the Authority at the below address. Dated August 15, 2014 Director of Ports South Dock, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Telephone No. 649 941 8950 and Fax No. 649 941 4262 dbeen@ports.tc
August 9 - 15, 2014
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Sports National Josh for Sports
An era of mismanagement
HISTORY will bear me out. I pull no punches and call a spade a spade. I am once again calling on the A/G, governor and Integrity Commission to totally investigate the TCAAA and the Commonwealth Games Association of the TCI as it relates to the irresponsible, non-transparent and unaccountable manner in which they “mis-manage” the affairs of these so-called national bodies. In my opinion the heads of these bodies are nothing but dictators who bring our country into regional and international disgrace. THE FOUNDING FATHER SPEAKS I, the sole visionary and founding father of these national associations (in 1977/8), have the ultimate right to speak out when I see my brain children which I created for the TCI being
TCI is not being represented by an athlete.
By Joshua Gardiner
taken over by self-interest seeking individuals, who use them as a means of travelling the world on the backs of our athletes who they mismanage. WORLD TRAVELLERS In total among them they are reported to have travelled to Korea, Tokyo, Australia, India, Europe, Mexico, Colombia and many islands in the Caribbean among other destinations. Allegedly at times some of these executives go to these events in the name of representing the TCI when
SCOTLAND 2014 Why is it necessary for nine athletes [eight actually since Richardia Missick dropped out due to illness] and eight officials stay in Scotland for three whole weeks? We made not a single final, nor did we get past a single heat round. What was the purpose of this exercise in futility? DESTRUCTION OF ATHLETES Because of the utter incompetence of our so-called coaches psychological, emotional or physical damage may have been done to our athletes. I am the only world class coach in this country. But I’m despised. Yes, I’ve made mistakes in the past, paid my debts to society and have been trouble free for the past 20 years.
These coaches are certified on paper only. I don’t have any paper certification but would run circles around them all put together. I’ve been responsible for helping to create World and Olympic champions such as Pauline Davis, Eldeece Clarke, Mike Sands and Frank Rutherford among others international champs and medallists for the Bahamas. In the TCI I also helped this country win its first four medals on record in 1978. Plus I myself broke (unofficially) my age group world’s record (16 years) in the triple jump. My two best jumps 26’ 2’’ (7.98M) and 51’ 3 ¾ (15.6M) in the long and triple jump at ages 21 and 18 respectively is better than all others in this nation. We have no other coach nationally that can coach long jumper Ifeanyi Otuonye except me.
Serena Williams joins 200 club AFTER the highs of 2013, it hasn’t been a great year for Serena Williams. However, the American tennis star says she is “on the right track” after getting back to winning ways at Stanford on Sunday. She won the Bank of the West Classic tournament for the third time, fighting back from a horror start to defeat German world No. 7 Angelique Kerber 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in the final in California. It not only gave Williams a WTA Tour-leading fourth title this season, but helped her become just the fifth player to be ranked No. 1 for 200 weeks or more since the women’s standings began in 1975. Having failed to make it past the first week at Wimbledon and the French Open, and losing in the last 16 at the season’s opening grand slam in Melbourne, the 32-year-old is now seeking to resurrect her season by retaining her U.S. Open title next month. “It would definitely make it better, but it wouldn’t make it go away,” she said when asked if success in New York would
Serena Williams captured the 61st title of her career at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, and became the fifth women’s tennis player to spend 200 weeks or more as world No. 1.
make up for her disappointing year so far. “I feel like I’m on the right track again. I feel like I can play even better -- I wasn’t serving my best, and I wasn’t making as many winners off the return as I wanted to, but I think I’m getting there.” Stanford was her first tournament since a bizarre performance during a doubles match at Wimbledon, which she later explained as being
due to a viral illness. Williams, who started her sixth spell at No. 1 in February 2013, trailed 5-1 in the opening set against Kerber, who she had beaten in all but one of their previous five meetings. “I was just thinking I had to take it one point at a time,” Williams said. “I knew I just had to relax and not be so crazy. “Up until that point I wasn’t
doing what I wanted to do, and what I had been doing in practice, so I knew I just had to start doing the right things going forward.” Williams now has 61 career titles, 39 behind third-ranked Steffi Graf on the all-time list. However, she is only five grand slams behind the German’s record of 22 and Graf said she wouldn’t bet against Williams closing on that milestone. (CNN)
We have no other coaches who have trained athletes to run 10.1s, 20.2, 45.1, 3:45 in the 100M, the 200M, the 400M and the 1500M except me. There are only four athletes that should have been in Scotland: Otuonye, Kivarno Handfield, Angelo Garland and Domanique Missick. Yet the coaches failed them. The rest were tourists only. In closing, once again, I’m calling on the appropriate authorities to forthwith investigate these bodies. Those with selfish motives need to be held accountability for their actions.
The political parties need to stop interfering in the TCAAA and the TCICA as they have. They’re playing political doll-house with these bodies. It’s a recipe for disaster and corruption.
POLITICS AND NATIONAL SPORTS DON’T MIX
Love Josh Do it for the youths of the country and Josh for Sports.
APPEALING FOR HELP FOR THE YOUTHS I’m making a personal appeal to the corporate society to please donate one or two trailers to the sports dept. via Ms. Judith Robinson to be used as weight rooms for the athletes to do their weight training. This form of training is necessary in their quest to become world class athletes. Thanks for caring,
TCIFA to host visiting NY team IN AN effort to increase the level of play of its academy members, the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) will be hosting a tournament between its U16 team and a visiting New York Boca team. Through its Visiting Team Programme, driven by its players, coaches and referees, the association allows longterm development to occur through a deeper understanding of what makes players successful at the highest level. A press release by the association said that the visiting Boca team consists of footballers have been together since age nine, finishing a perfect 9-0-0 in league play this season. “The B16 team has been playing in a division with teams a year older than they are, and finished a remarkable run of their own to take second place. “They scored 40 goals this spring, an average of more than four per match, signalling that they will be a force to be reckoned with next year.” While in the Turks and Caicos, they will be
pitted against the Football Academy’s U16 team, which is coached by Oliver Smith. The release continued: “As a sport, football continues to grow in the Turks and Caicos, young players in this country need the proper environment to compete against more seasoned players. “By having teams visit, this programme provides the optimum development environment for the nation’s top youth football players, coaches and referees by emphasising development through meaningful competition.” The game schedule is as follows and all games will be held at the TCIFA Academy Complex, Venetian Road, Providenciales: Sunday, August 10 Game one 5.30pm kick off. Monday, August 11 Game two 5.30pm kick off. Tuesday, August 12 Beach tournament 4.30pm start. Wednesday, August 13 Game three 5.30pm kick off.
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August 9 - 15, 2014
Round three: TCI U-16 ready for visiting Manhattan Boca
TCI’s Wilkins Sylvain finished as the top overall goal scorer when the sides met last year. (Photo by: Valerie Quintana)
THE Turks and Caicos U-16 Boys will look to emulate the performance of TCI’s 2013 U-15 team when they meet the visiting Manhattan Soccer (Boca) Club B16 team from Sunday August 10th to next Wednesday at the TCIFA Academy Complex on Venetian Road in Providenciales. The core of this year’s U16 team is made of last year’s players (who have grown into this squad). Both teams know each other, since this will be their third battle. In 2012 the boys shared glory, but last summer the TCI team won two games (6-1 and 4-0) before the rivals drew 1-1 in the third. The Boca team, which consists of footballers who have been together since the age of nine, will be coming for revenge. They have looked good this season after finishing a perfect 9-0-0 in league games played. The B16 team has been playing in a division with teams a year older than them and they have looked good. In fact they finished a
remarkable run of their own to take second place. They scored 40 goals this spring, an average of more than four per match. The TCI youth team, still coached by Oliver Smith, have also improved and they will look to once again dominate. Smith, who was impressed by his team’s margin of victory last year, was very cool in his pre-competition comments this year. “We once again welcome Manhattan Boca to our shores and
we look forward to very competitive games. These games are a continuation of the TCIFA plan to develop our young footballers and to give them an opportunity to test themselves against top competition.” Along with three regulation games (Sunday, Monday and Wednesday at 17:30h) the teams will battle in a beach soccer tournament on Tuesday from 16:30h. Coach Smith said that the final squad was expected to be finalised on Friday.
Ifeanyi Otuonye feels he can make a big jump in Canada.
Otuonye, Garland and Missick at NACAC U-23
Teray Smith (right) races to the finish line in the 4X100M. The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt (left) led Jamaica to the win.
Commonwealth Games:
Smith anchors Bahamas to fifth place in 4X100M FORMER national TCI sprinter Teray Smith, who now runs for the Bahamas, helped that nation finish fifth in the 4X100M final at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Smith, who has parentage in the TCI, anchored his team in the event. Earlier team Bahamas had finished third in their heat with a new record: 38.52. In the final they finished behind Jamaica (winners
37.58), England, T&T and South Africa with a time of 39.16s. Bahamas ended with a silver medal in the 4X400M (3:00.51) while they finished seventh in the 4X400M women’s final.
TCI’s most outstanding athletes at the just concluded Commonwealth Games are currently in Kamploops, BC, Canada competing in the NACAC U-23 athletics championships (August 8-10). All three are national record holders: Ifeanyi Otuonye (long jump), Angelo Garland (400M) and Domanique Missick (high jump). Otuonye, who broke his national long jump record (7.47M), has been in form, while Garland who had his slowest 400M this season (48.6s), bounced back in the 4X400M relays with a split of 46.73s running the second leg. TCI with Otuonye, Garland, Wadley Jean and Courtney Missick finished fourth in their heat at 3:19.11. Missick has also shown some glimpses of form. He eased to 2.11M at the Games before he
failed at 2.20M. He has a point to prove and had said he was hoping to jump 2.25M or 2.30M. BETTER JUMP Otuonye is confident he can jump to a new PB. “I am planning on doing it (breaking the record) again, if everything goes right I can by a lot too.” The US based university student said that he would give it his all at this, his last event of the season. “I’m just praying for things to go right.” Garland is not so optimistic. After his slow run in the individual event in Scotland he is aware that his body is tired and although he will give it 100% he is not expecting too much. “Honestly I’m not really [expecting anything], I’ve had a long season.”
August 9 - 15, 2014
Sports National
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2014 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships:
TCI lead USVI and Cayman Islands in Mid-Amateur – Ahead of USVI in Seniors – In front of Cayman in Super Seniors THE Turks and Caicos MidAmateur team made up of TCI Golf Association president Fraser Dods and Will Shoreman were one stroke ahead of the USVI and 10 strokes ahead of the Cayman Islands after three rounds of this year’s Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships. In the tournament in Puerto Rico our Super Seniors team held an eight shot lead over Cayman Islands after three playing days in the Higgs and Higgs Trophy while their younger teammates, new face Jim Gefucia and one of TCI’s most prolific club winners JP Srinark, were ahead of the USVI by one stroke in the
Seniors for the Francis & Steele Perkins Cup. The youngest group, battling in the competitive Hoerman Cup, was in ninth place. MID AMATEUR Dods and Shoreman were excellent in all front nines played. They finished with scores of 36 (one birdie), 36 (two birdies) and 33 (three birdies), but with back nines of 39, 41 and 42 (no birdies) they are left on +8. Their front nine score of 33 (three under par) on Thursday was equal by two teams over the three days, but never bettered.
Team TCI in Puerto Rico at the 2014 Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships.
SUPER SENIORS The oldest pair, made up of veteran golfers Graham Malyan and Richard Sanmiya, is currently seventh overall with a score of +9; the Cayman Islands are eighth on +17. The TCI duo scored 75 on the first day, before a 74 on day two and a 76 on the third day. On day two they finished with a better score than both the Cayman Islands (76) and current fourth place Jamaica (76). Puerto Rico are ahead with a score of -8. By press time the Bahamas were six strokes ahead of the TCI while
Barbados (-3), T&T (-1), Jamaica (even) and the USVI (+1) were not far in front. In the first round the TCI pair made two birdies and 11 pars, while in the second round they finished with a birdie, 12 pars and an eagle (by Malyan) on the number nine, 490 par five hole. Two birdies were also scored in the third round to go with 10 pars. FRANCIS AND STEELEPERKINS (SENIORS) Srinark and Gefucia started badly
with 85 on day one (no birdies), but they bounced back with a big reduction 75 (three birdies) on day two. Only current leaders Puerto Rico (67) had a better score on that day. On Thursday the TCI pair finished with a score of 78 (three birdies). HOERMAN CUP TCI did not fare well in the Amateur competition (the most competitive). After three rounds our players have combined for 262 strokes, 99 ahead of the eighth place USVI.
WIV Provo Premier League awards:
Charles wins Player of the Year trophy – Etienne wins Golden Boot
YOUNG rising star Elton Charles, whose AFC Academy team won the WIV League, finished as the Player of the Year when the WIV Provo Premier League held its award ceremony last week. Charles had made some exciting plays this season. The SWA Sharks’ Dady Aristide was named the Most Valuable Player. Aristide was also a prolific scorer for his team throughout the season. The Golden Boot award was however won by Cheshire Hall’s Rodne
The AFC Academy received the championship trophy for winning the WIV Provo Premier League.
Etienne. Etienne, who led the scoring from early in the season, finished with 19
goals, nine higher than the next best scorer. Ras Diamond received the Young
Player of the Year award while Gary Brough was named coach of the year. Both winners: the AFC Academy
(league champions) and Cheshire Hall (President’s Cup winners) received their prizes.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014
LAND FOR SALE In beautiful Bottle Creek, North Caicos
.46 acres overlooking the creek, spanning King Road and Windsor Road
QUICK SALE
CALL 232-3508 or 946-4664
August 9 - 15, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
August 9 - 15, 2014