Weekly News Volume 28 | No. 49 | December 6 - 12, 2014
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‘Rico’ Adams
sues POLICE
Roderick ‘Rico’ Adams has sued four policemen, Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar and the Attorney General for wrongful/unlawful arrest, malicious and criminal proceedings among a slew of other claims. PAGE 4
The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) delivers mock awards to the Government on their two-year performance
PDM delivers mock awards to Government ministers Ebola preparation cost Government $1 million PAGE 4
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Rodney Adams resumes work on Monday PAGE 8
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Hundreds brave weather to sample TCI’s best conch dishes
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December 6- 12, 2014
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December 6- 12, 2014
‘Rico’ Adams sues the AG, Police Commissioner and officers
BY DELANA ISLES
RODERICK ‘Rico’ Adams has sued four policemen, Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar and the Attorney General for wrongful/ unlawful arrest, malicious and criminal proceedings among a slew of other claims. The lawsuit, filed in August, is in relation to Adams’- son of Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams – arrest for the 2013 murder of Kaziah Burke. Court documents obtained by the Weekly News this week named the four policemen as Inspector Grantly Williams, Sergeant Andy Harry, Officer David Wilson and Superintendent Wayne Jones. The younger Adams also claims that his constitutional rights were breached by the defendants. He is seeking damages for loss of liberty, physical, emotional and mental distress and indignity as a result of the defendants’ actions. Court documents stated that Adams, who was 26 at the time, was the manager of R and B Tires when he was arrested and charged for the murder of Burke on information coerced or created by the defendants for a malicious purpose in the face of evidence that exonerated him. He also wants damages for the loss of his reputation, aggravated damages for the insulting, highhanded, malicious and oppressive conduct of the defendants, punitive damages for the defendants’ abuse of authority for a malicious purpose with wilful and grossly negligent disregard for his rights.
Roderick ‘Rico’ Adams
Also, special damages for his loss of time, interruption in business and routine of life and for expenses related to obtaining his release from custody. He is also asking the court to determine and award him interest on the amounts for the aforementioned claims. Adams was arrested, charged and
taken before the court for the murder of 25-year-old Burke in May 2013. He was charged jointly with Cortez Simmonds (still charged) with acting together to commit murder and conspiracy to murder. In May, the charge against Adams was dropped by the Director of Public Prosecution. However, shortly afterwards, his
father was arrested by the Integrity Commission and charged with several offences of corruption related to his son’s arrest for the murder. On November 17, a jury found the senior police officer not guilty of the one remaining charge. However, during the four day trial, it was revealed that Adams was cleared of any involvement in Burke’s murder by a witness to the April 13 fatal shooting. That witness was Dorell Williams, a friend of the Adams’ and in whose company he was in when the shooting at the New Era gas station on Airport Road took place. In a recorded conversation between the Williams and Adams’ father, which was played for the jury, the witness totally exonerated the younger Adams of any involvement in the crime. Williams could be heard telling the Deputy Commissioner that he and Rico ran away when they heard the gunshots being fired and that they both thought that they were the
target. He repeatedly told the senior Adams that Rico had nothing to do with the shooting and that he, Williams, did not trust the policemen investigating Burke’s murder. Also during the trial, testimony was presented that the senior lawman did not trust the officers investigating the murder as it relates to his son’s involvement. Rico had previously been implicated by the police in a gun incident at the Digicel cinema prior to the Burke’s murder. During the trial, testimony revealed that the Deputy Commissioner wanted an expert to examine video tape evidence of that incident which he believed exonerated his son. The court heard that he had presented the same to the police commissioner for enhancement and had at the same time raised concerns regarding the conduct of the investigating officers – named in the lawsuit.
Ebola preparation cost Government $1 million PREPARATION for a potential Ebola strike has cost the TCI Government a massive $1 million in unbudgeted funds, Premier Rufus Ewing announced this week. He added that the UK government must make moves to provide more assistance in the case of future health threats. The Premier was speaking during the annual Joint Ministerial Conference
Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Bird - News Editor Delana Isles - Senior Reporter Daisy Handfield - Staff Reporter Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Cord Garrido-Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large) Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams - Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/tcweeklynews Twitter: twitter.com/tcweeklynews1
(JMC) in London, England. Leaders of the 13 UK overseas territories attended the four day series of meetings, held from Monday to Thursday (December 1 to 4) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Attendees discussed a range of issues facing the territories such as border control and security, repatriation of passports, migration and deportation, environmental protection and public private partnerships for green initiatives. Premier Ewing, who was joined by Governor Peter Beckingham at this year’s JMC, co-presented Wednesday evening’s session on health. He highlighted the need for the UK government’s support in the procurement of medical supplies. Ewing also stressed their need to
assist the overseas territories in the preparation efforts to protect their citizens from major health threats and pandemic outbreaks like the Ebola virus. In highlighting the challenges that overseas territories face with health, he went on to note that the recent threat of the Ebola virus and the necessary preparation and execution of protection measures cost the Turks and Caicos Islands $1 million in unbudgeted funds. He said that particularly in the Turks and Caicos Islands and other multi-island countries, the issue of multiple ports and limited resources presents governments with challenges in border detection of illnesses. The environment, in particular the pristine beaches, is the major attraction for the many visitors that the country
Premier Rufus Ewing at the annual Joint Ministerial Conference (JMC) in London
receives every year, Ewing said. He lobbied for the reestablishment of the Conservation Fund for greater support for the protection of the environment. The week culminated on Wednesday evening with discussions on the eventual agreement of an action document that will guide the initiatives of both the territories and the UK government over the next 12 months. On Thursday morning the Premier attended bilateral meetings with James Duddridge, Minister with responsibility for the Overseas Territories, and Desmond Swayne, Secretary of State of the Department for International Development (DFID), to address matters of national concern. They included constitutional concerns, the state of the economy in relation to the small and medium businesses and support for combatting illegal immigration and national security. While in London, the Premier also plans to host a Turks and Caicos Islands reception on Friday evening in celebration of the opening of a Turks and Caicos Islands Home Office in London. It will cater to the furtherance of the country’s interests in the areas of tourism, investment and financial services. Expected to be in attendance are leaders of the overseas territories, Turks and Caicos Islands students, residents living in the United Kingdom, tourism partners, potential investors and friends of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
December 6- 12, 2014
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A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day
Conch decline
A SECOND conch visual survey has confirmed that the Turks and Caicos Islands’ conch stock is seriously declining. Minister of Environment and Home Affairs, Amanda Misick said the Government’s aim is to find ways to conserve the conch industry. What do you think should be done to protect conch stocks?
Better laws
This is a case of an imbalance in the supply and demand of these molluscs. A well-defined law that will regulate the farming, harvesting and consumption of these conch plus an agency that will strictly implement this law are the only solutions to this growing concern. For as long as both the farmer and consumer do not comply with the ministry’s restrictions and there is an unremitting harvest of these
molluscs anywhere at the sea, there will surely be a decline on its stocks. The ministry must consider providing education and incentives to those who will invest in this industry and impose strict penalties to those who violate its policies to ensure proper conservation and increase in production.
Protect our conch
When we heard that conch were not protected we checked online and found that it has been
listed as an endangered species worldwide. The USA has banned imports from several eastern Caribbean nations. The TCI has been overfished because of exports. This leaves few conch for us to eat. We also need to clamp down on people from the Dominican Republic coming with their bleach bottles and raiding our waters. On our last trip to Nassau we found only a few tiny conch. This is all about greed and lack of concern for our own wellbeing and being able to survive on our own. Unless we change we can look forward to someday being back on grant and aid.
Use Gov’t revenue
First of all, don’t you think there should be someone who actually knows about the fisheries industry heading this up? Has Amanda ever dove conch? Does she know about the industry? I would guess no. Secondly, until we stop outsiders from other countries coming in and bleaching our reefs the situation will just get worse. Take some of the millions in revenue and put it to good use instead of a new car for Mr Ewing.
Land mourns
“There is no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying, stealing and adultery, they break all bounds.
Corruption accused PS Finance out on bail ATHENEE Harvey, Permanent Secretary with the Ministry of Finance, on Monday (December 1) appeared in the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court to answer to two charges of corruption. The charges were instituted by the Integrity Commission last month. She appeared before Magistrate Kelly Cheema and was granted $20,000 bail with one surety. Harvey is expected to appear in the Grand Turk Supreme Court on January 6, for her sufficiency hearing. The charges stem from an incident where Harvey allegedly did not pay custom duties on 25 pieces of luggage upon disembarking a Carnival cruise ship in Grand Turk.
The Integrity Commission later confirmed that no money was owed on the luggage because customs officers were not allowed to inspect them, and as such were unable to calculate if anything was payable. Meanwhile, no date has been set as yet for the inquiry into the Deputy Governor Anya Williams’ involvement in the incident, this publication has learned. Director of the Commission Eugene Otuonye said on Wednesday that it could happen before the end of the year or early next year. Williams was in the company of Harvey and her family members at the time of the incident. Following investigations, the commission found no evidence of corruption by Williams.
“Because of this the land mourns, and all who live it in waste away. The beasts of the field and the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea are dying.” Hosea Chapter 4v1-3
Culture conch
First, we must have seasons for harvesting. Secondly, there is a lot of poaching in our waters. We don’t have the equipment or manpower to protect our waters. We need to invest in our fisheries industry. The Cubans and Dominican fishermen are constantly poaching and very little is being done about it. The TCI does not export thousands of tons of conch per year, so where is the conch? Who is taking the conch? Who is eating the conch? There are very few conch men/divers in Grand Turk. On many occasions you can’t find conch in Grand Turk. I have seen exported TCI conch in New York and in Florida at several stores. Man, the conch seems inferior in size compared to the conch from Belize for example. I don’t know if their conch are cultured or natural. We may eventually have to culture a portion of our conchs.
Stop poachers
I am not environmentally educated nor am I a fisherman to adequately address this topic, but one definite approach I am certain to help boost and sustain the conch is to tackle, fight and eliminate the Dominicans and all illegal poachers that rape these waters of sea life without any regard.
Close bank
Obviously, they need to close a large section of the bank for a year or two and let them regenerate. I know there will be complaints from the fishermen, but if it is not done, there will be no more conch in a very few years. Short term pain for long term gain!
Seasonal fishing
Make conch a seasonal product for fishermen and divers. Then it would be illegal to reap it out of season.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Athenee Harvey
However, she still has to face an inquest to answer to allegations that she breached the Code of Conduct for Persons in Public Life.
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
December 6- 12, 2014
Government is boasting, while the people are suffering - PDM BY DELANA ISLES THE OPPOSITION has condemned the PNP Government for boasting about the country’s huge operating surplus while people are still suffering. Two years of the PNP, led by Rufus Ewing, and there has been no real change for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the PDM declared at a midterm press conference on Monday (December 1). “They are still hurting, hungry, unemployed, battling with a broken healthcare system, homeowners are seeing more and more foreclosures, youth - our future - are left wandering around unemployed and underemployed wondering where and if they fit in in this country’s design. “Civil servants are forced under its former champion to work with little to nothing having often to bear attacks from the very same Government that does not give them the resources – critical revenue generating departments are going upwards of six months without ink, no vehicles, broken down buildings and no raise,” Sharlene Cartwright Robinson told members of press at the party’s downtown headquarters. The Opposition Leader stated that the only thing that has changed in the two years since the country was returned to elected governance is that the people are being neglected by their own Government. She challenged people to ask themselves if they are better off today than they were two years ago. According to the party leader, things have progressively gotten worse. “Yet the Premier a few days ago literally patted himself on the back as to the great job that his Government is doing and as recent as Friday during a news telecast said that the economy is good for the Government. “What about the people?” She added that even with a $40 million operating surplus there is a severe shortage of critical resources in the public service, the civil service pay and re-grading exercise completed since February 2013 remains unfunded, the clinics remain without medication and supplies, departments remain without vehicles, offices without paper and ink, work permits (treated as a revenue generator) are still being given while the people remain unemployed. She also pointed out that the huge surplus was attained without VAT or
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
the payroll tax the PNP Government attempted burden the country with. “The PNP did inherit a broke country from itself. It did inherit a people broken in spirit and hope. “They have on the hard working backs of our people taxed them into a deeper state of hopelessness and weaker spirits,” the party leader said. She said the PDM has consistently been calling on the Government to deal with the bread and butter issues, to not neglect social issues, to ensure that the people get to work and be paid a living wage instead of a $5 minimum wage. They have also called on the Government to address the issue of work permits and illegal employment, to staff the labour department to a functioning level, to repair the roads, and to create economic stimulus packages for family islands. All of this, Cartwright Robinson added, would have ensured that any upturn in the economy would be felt by the people. Instead, the country is saddled with a Government that complains that its hands are tied by the constitution, and lately by the Public Finance Management (PFM) Ordinance and Regulations, she said. PARTNERSHIP The party leader pointed to the attempts made over the past two years to partner with the Government. “Though we remain firm and astute in our oversight role through parliamentary committees, challenging Government’s policies inside and outside of parliament, raising issues through motions, questions and other parliamentary agenda items, our party’s radio show ‘Raising TCI,’ TV, radio and print media appearances, we attempted on many occasions to blur political lines to work in the best interest of the country.” In this, she added, they were jointly able to kill VAT and have a review conducted of the constitution. As such, she said there is absolutely no truth to the Opposition being called a stumbling block to governance. “We have supported the Government when the actions were considered to be in the best interest of these Islands.” She added that wherever the PDM considers it not to be in the best interest of the people, they will fight. She named the payroll tax bill and the soon to be consulted on immigration bill.
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Leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright Robinson delivers her party’s midterm address, flanked by PDM Chairman Clarence Selver and Deputy Leader Sean Astwood
“We also fought in relation to business licences, hikes in import duty, taxes on certain services, the Government’s dormant accounts where its proceeds were not to be earmarked or placed into a special fund, the high fines in the dogs’ ordinance, stamp duty increase and other points on internationally driven bills where certain provisions were far reaching and going beyond what other countries were doing and to our disadvantage.” She listed the Opposition’s fight in the areas civil service, help for small business, a widening and greater policing of reserved business categories, stimulation packages, healthcare audits, healthcare coverage for the unemployed, better primary health care, review of the police force and the removal of the Commissioner, more opportunities for youths, a national agenda, marine stock conservation, among many others. Needless to say, she added, these concerns have not been the priority nor on the agenda for the PNP.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA After nearly two years of calling for a legislative agenda, one was produced and not met, the party leader said. She added that there remains a body of laws that requires attention, as well as some problematic bills passed by the interim administration that both the PDM and PNP campaigned about and promised to address once returned to elected Government. “Two years later and this PNP Government has not brought to the table the Crown land management bill nor the equality bill. “It has supported the trial without a jury bill which in our minds is not a political issue but which has unfortunately turned into one.” She added that her party remains committed to ensuring a man’s right to be tried by a jury of his peers and to the reinstatement of the automatic right in the country’s constitution. She added: “We cannot and will not support any bill or action that can be deemed unconstitutional.”
Under the tree
She reiterated her party’s position that the PNP’s only agenda seems to be to tax the people, again calling it a lazy and out-dated approach. The country poverty assessment was released and has received no policy response or statement from the Government, yet their first major action after its release was to introduce a new tax, Cartwright Robinson said. This report despite calls by the Opposition, have been ignored by the Government, the party leader stated. Nothing has prevented the PNP Government from addressing the issues affecting the country and the people. She added: “The constitution nor the PFM Legislation and Regulations hinder them. “For whatever reason, they were determined to ignore the cries of the people. “This is a Government who knows its powers and did not use them.” She added that the PNP still does not know what they are doing.
By Benneth Williams
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December 6- 12, 2014
Rodney Adams resumes work on Monday ACTING Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams will be returning to active duty with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force this Monday (December 8). This was confirmed by Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar in a press release on Sunday (November 30). The release explained that Adams has been reinstated after a judge and jury found him not guilty of Integrity Commission based charges. “Acting deputy Adams will return to work on December 8 due to personal commitments of Commissioner Farquhar and acting deputy Adams,” it read. The Governor and Commissioner Farquhar have agreed that Adams will continue in his acting Deputy Commissioner appointment and that he will focus on the corporate services portfolio to provide needed leadership in this area. This portfolio is also said to be beneficial for the police officer’s personal development plan. The corporate services portfolio includes areas such as human resources, finance, training, assets, strategic planning, and policy development. Superintendent Wayne Jones, who has been the acting Deputy Commissioner while Adams was before the court, will be appointed as
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams
the acting Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations. Adams was previously in charge of operations of the force. On Monday (December 1), Leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, welcomed the news of Adams reinstatement. “I believe that had he not been returned it would not have been the correct [move] to make. “He did go through a grilling court process, a terrible experience for him and his family. “If he were not returned it would have sent the wrong message to police officers generally.”
She stated that this case certainly highlighted that there is a serious division in the police force. “I trust that as he returns to work, that persons… it’s a difficult pill to swallow… but that they will all continue working together for the best interest of this country and the betterment of that institution.” Commenting on his change of portfolio, the Opposition leader noted that after about 30 years someone at Adams’ level should be able to affect policy and effect change. “Personally I have no issue with where he is going, he is able to direct the force and that is a good thing because policies do inform decisions and at the end of the day, I think it is a wonderful thing,” Cartwright Robinson stated. Meanwhile, on a different issue - that of the Police Commissioner’s retirement – the party leader said it is not too late for him to do the right thing and resign. “It would be good for the country if we were to retire him earlier, even though his contract comes to an end in March 2015,” she said. The Opposition leader has consistently signalled its lack of confidence in the Canadian lawman and called for his services to be terminated forthwith. (DELANA ISLES)
Public invited to weigh in on minimum wage increase to $6.25 per hour CABINET is seeking input from the public on the recently agreed to increase in the minimum wage by 25 per cent. People can send in their opinions to email address tciminimumwagereview2014@gov. tc no later than December 31. The increase will take the current $5.00 minimum wage to $6.25 per hour, with effect from April 1, 2015. The proposal was made when Cabinet met on November 19 in Grand Turk. Also, at that meeting, Cabinet received recommendations from the procurement board for the award of a contract for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of one 14,500 gallons per day salt water reverse osmosis plant for water undertaking on Salt Cay. An agreement was also reached by members for a tender to be developed and issued for the removal of scrap metal, old vehicles and tyres from the Turks and Caicos Islands. They also agreed that there should be stricter enforcement of business and food licensing as well as abandoned vehicle removal provisions in Providenciales and Grand Turk. As a result of which, they undertook to contact the relevant
Government departments to emphasise this point. Further agreement was reached among the members of Cabinet for there to be a policy to reduce the amount of plastic consumable waste (including plastic bags and Styrofoam containers) in the Islands. Cabinet also approved the 2015/6 - 2018/19 fiscal and strategic policy statement was for submission to the foreign office prior to its passage to the House of Assembly. The body agreed to revise the Magistrates’ Courts Ordinance as it relates to the appointment of Justices of the Peace and to draft a bill for a new Notary Public Ordinance. A moratorium, effective immediately, was also approved on the appointment of new Justice of the Peace and Notary Public appointments until the revisions have been enacted in law. Cabinet noted, as per the reporting requirement under Section21 (12) of the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012, that no waivers were granted for the period July to September 2014. The body also approved the membership of Charlene Higgs to the service review board. They agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) with Rotaract International Youth Organisation for the upkeep and maintenance of the NJS Francis Park and the use of the building located on the park as part of their youth service programme. Approval was given for the naming of the following completed and to-be-completed Government buildings after individuals who have made significant contributions to the Turks and Caicos Islands within their profession or field of work. The new Grand Turk customs warehouse will be named the Alexander L Adams Customs Warehouse, the new Salt Cay clinic will be called the Evelyn G W Simmons Health Care Clinic, the new Middle Caicos clinic will be named the Alsada Hall Malcolm Health Care Clinic and the new Grand Turk water plant will be called the Hon Louis Astwood Waterworks. The South Caicos clinic will be named the Nurse Madeline Mills Clinic, the South Caicos community clinic will be called Bertram Malcolm Community Clinic, the South Caicos airport will be called James Bassette Airport and finally the Middle Caicos Causeway will be named the Missick Williams Causeway.
Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee presents Premier Rufus Ewing with the report
The constitution review report and discs of the public consultations held across the Islands
Constitution review report heads to parliament for debate CHAIRMAN of the Constitution Review Committee has assured the media that the report he recently submitted to the Premier is reflective of the views of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. At an official handing over held at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales last week Friday (November 28), Daniel Malcolm presented Premier Rufus Ewing with the 20 page document as well as the diskettes of all of the meetings to back it up. Malcolm told the Premier that there are a number of surprises contained in the document - good surprises. Those surprises, along with everything else will be revealed to the public when the members of the House of Assembly meet on December 15 to debate the report, among several other things. Ewing said: “After the House of Assembly has discussed and ratified the document, those recommendations will be made available to the UK government, whereby we will begin to discuss and lobby for the necessary constitutional changes as recommended in the document.” He said that he was hoping to have the document to take with him to the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC), but is satisfied that the committee took their time and effort in compiling the report. Malcolm stated that the committee had missed the early November
deadline because they wanted a thorough report that reflects the views of the people. “We tried not to put in ideas, summations and comments of one individual; we tried to take a composite view of what was said generally to put in the report,” he stated. Governor Peter Beckingham, to whom the report will be submitted following the House’s ratification of it, will present it to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Previously, he said that he is pleased that the people of the Islands are getting an opportunity to have a say in the process. “I would encourage everyone to attend the public meetings on this very important subject to ensure that they have the opportunity to make their input, and I look forward to receiving the report in due course,” he said at the time. In addition to the chairman, the review committee comprised of secretary Tracey Parker, Don Hue Gardiner, Akierra Missick, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Sean Astwood, Carlos Simons and Ashwood Forbes. When the committee was first convened, the chairman had given the assurance that the members were appointed to faithfully reproduce what the public wants, not to foist their ideas and opinions on the public. On Friday, when questioned, he maintained this position. (DELANA ISLES)
December 6- 12, 2014
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PDM delivers mock awards to Government ministers BY DELANA ISLES THE OPPOSITION has again chronicled what they refer to as the dismal failure of the PNP Government, this time with a mock awards presentation. On Monday morning (December 1), the PDM members held a press conference at their Downtown headquarters to address the many failures of the Rufus Ewing-led administration, as they see it. The party leader, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson gave explanations for each ignominy. ALICE IN WONDERLAND Premier Ewing was awarded the ‘Alice in Wonderland award’. She said it is still surprising to the PDM that the Premier thinks that he is doing a great job as leader of the Turks and Caicos Islands. “Under his administration, it appears that developers seem to be having more of a hand in shaping policy. “He refuses to consult with the people on many issues and often selects a stakeholder group to his liking.” The party leader said that Ewing appears to be living in Wonderland, especially when he continues to boast of an increase in tourism as if he has shaped any policy or increased the Tourist Board’s marketing budget to achieve this. “The Premier has not increased the Tourist Board’s budget at all save for passing through the $500,000 for Beaches. “The truth is that long winters have seen an increase in tourism and we are benefiting from Mother Nature,” she stated. She added that while he continues to brag about his Government’s surplus, the country around him is falling to pieces and running on auto pilot. He termed this year’s budget, a ‘Big Deal Budget,’ she said, adding that the same budget is void of funding for critical areas. She added that while he designated a heritage month, there has been no support shown to the TCI National Trust. “Like the civil service, he has yet to meet them or support their events. He does not mention them in his portfolio but yet he believes that he is a lover of TCI and all we stand for.” She alleged that there is no fight or strength in the leadership of the current Premier and when he chooses to fight, he costs the country as is the case involving the former Attorney General. “His fight in the court against the Attorney General was struck out and silently abandoned until I posed a question during the last House
meeting.” She added that claims to the contrary, Ewing has not accomplished a large portion of his manifesto. “He maintains that his manifesto is his Bible. “We can only conclude that the Premier has escaped the real world for an extended stay in Wonderland. “Congratulations Mr Premier, he deserves this award. TAX AND ROLL BACK The ‘Tax and roll back award’ was bestowed on Minister of Finance, Washington Misick. Cartwright Robinson stated that Misick deserves this award as he has, through his actions, changed the name of the Turks and Caicos Islands to that of the ‘Tax and Caicos Islands’. “Rather than making serious steps towards the diversification of the economy, his strategy was to tax an already shrinking economy. “His efforts have seen a smaller economy, a higher cost of living, greater burden on the tax payer, unemployment where there were loss of jobs and income due to decrease in business or closure of businesses and an enlarging of the black market sending businesses underground.” She said that despite warnings, the minister continued to introduce new taxes having to roll back a few. She said that what he ultimately achieved was to sink the populace into a sea of uncertainty and a higher cost for doing business, in a time when the country should have been open for business and attracting inward investment. “His failed payroll tax bill was the confirmation that he deserved this award. “The entire nation said no and he said yes, forced a debate and then rolled back,” she added. OUT OF CONTROL The ‘out of control award’ was conferred on the Minister of Border Control and Labour, Don-Hue Gardiner. The party leader said: “This Minister tends to go missing from parliament causing questions to be answered by him to be deferred. He does whatever he can to avoid answering questions. “His walk out of a public meeting recently and the former Premier’s reaction inspired the name of this award; the Minister of Border Control has been out of control for too long.” She stated that Gardiner’s attempts to use the immigration bill as a political football to pander to a particular nationality while criticising the PDM’s concerns with the problematic bill, is clear proof that he deserves this award. Under his management, she
added that there has been no earth shattering change in border control and labour that improved efficiency, policing, enforcement or service, all of which are needed. The immigration bill is the single major policy statement from this minister who seems indifferent to the many issues including the important memorandum of understating with Haiti which seems to be getting more of a push from the Governor, the Opposition leader said. She added: “We ought to have known that the minister was out of control since he had a near melt down in the House of Assembly in a rant against the Speaker which forced an adjournment. “And like him, illegal migration, abuse and inequities on the job, numbers of illegal migrants and too many employers are out of control.” BLAME ‘EM The ‘Blame ‘em award’ was given to Minister of Government Support Services, George Lightbourne. She said this minister finds everyone but himself to blame for the disappointing performance of his ministry. “This ministry continues to be grossly underfunded. There are many plans on the shelf in this ministry which cannot be carried out. “Roads and buildings could not be in a worst state. The need for a proper maintenance schedule has been called for over and over. “Many offices need to be vacated and others have been abandoned for their deteriorating and dangerous conditions.” She added that a logging of Government’s assets has fallen on deaf ears, while disaster preparedness is in need of attention, support and funding. The cost of fuel remains one of the greatest contributors to the high cost of living, the party leader stated. “Yet this minister can find everyone to blame from his staff to the (public works) supervisor to the Premier. “He deserves this award.” ROADWAY The ‘Roadway award’ was given to Minister of Environment and Home Affairs, Amanda Misick. It was conferred on her due to her lack of leadership on the use of the roadway, Cartwright Robinson said. There remain many outstanding issues relating to the taxi industry, she added. “In fact a prominent taxi driver and president of one of the taxi associations used the tourism strategy session to air his dismay and disappointment on the failure of this Government to address their concerns.” The issue of the many illegal jitneys and the laws being broken
remain unaddressed by Misick, the Opposition leader said. She added that there are many crimes committed in this unchecked industry which is used by many sectors of society, small unattended children and now by tourists. “This is a seriously unnecessary risk that we do not have to take.” She added that the increase in feral dogs is inexcusable and only requires a strict enforcement of existing laws. MISSING IN ACTION The ‘Missing in action award’ was bestowed on Minister of Health and Human Services, Porsha Stubbs Smith. Cartwright Robinson said this award is for the lack of leadership in health. “Persons are being turned away still and the minister’s statement that no one is turned away from the hospital for care shows how disconnected she is to the issues and challenges in this new healthcare system.” She added that the financial and clinical audits remain missing in action as well with no updates on its progress unless questions are asked in the House of Assembly. “While the contaminated flood waters remain on the island following Cristobal, the minister left the country and left the health challenges during the cleanup efforts void of leadership.” The PDM and the people of this country had to call on the minister to address the dengue and chikungunya epidemic, the party leader stated.
“She again attempted to go missing in action during a press conference. “She remains missing in action on the largest expenditure item in the country’s budget. “She avoids press conferences and public appearances. She also tries to avoid answering questions in parliament,” Cartwright Robinson stated. After year one she confessed to not visiting the well centres and after year two, she has not yet visited the home in South Caicos, she added. SPIN DOCTOR The ‘Spin doctor award’ has been given to Minister of Education, Akierra Missick. “She has the uncanny ability to spin a story in a flash. She is always able to provide reasons and different versions of reasons on any matter. “She has used this talent in the preparation of schools for the new school year casting blame on (public works) as she says that she is not responsible for the upkeep of schools,” the Opposition leader said. She added that a Missick classic was her twist in misleading in the House on the PDM chairman’s statement regarding the education consultation process and the timing of the sessions making them not accessible by educators. She has been able to spin her treatment of athletes in particular Delano Williams, the Opposition continued
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DPP will not renew her contract THE DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions, JoAnn Meloche will not be seeking a renewal of her contract when it ends in January 2015. This was confirmed by the Governor’s Office on Tuesday (December 2). The Governor’s Office also confirmed that the position will be advertised in a couple of weeks. Meloche’s contract comes to an end at the end of January and she has decided not to renew her contract, a spokes-person from the Governor’s office told the Weekly News. She was appointed as the first Director of Public Prosecution in the Turks and Caicos Islands in February 2013. She joined the Attorney
Outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions, JoAnn Meloche
General’s Chambers as a Principal Crown Counsel in the criminal division in July 2009.
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Country celebrates International Day of People with Disability SEVERAL activities are taking place this month to recognise the needs and achievements of people with disabilities in the TCI. The Ministry of Health and Human Services and the Department of Special Needs organised the events in recognition of International Day of People with Disability. The United Nations sanctioned day is held each year on December 3 and this year’s theme was ‘Sustainable development: The promise of technology’. The topic encourages people to think about the benefits and impact of assistive technology, accessible information and communications technology, technological adaptations and other measures to improve the wellbeing and inclusion of people with disabilities. On Wednesday (December 3) a meeting took place at Wesley Memorial Church in South Caicos. That day staff and students from the Special Needs Association of Providenciales (SNAP) Centre also spent the day at Oseta Jolly Primary School interacting with students and teachers. On Friday (December 5) there was an open house at the SNAP Centre and students work was on display. During the day Provo Roadrunners and Scotia Bank (Providenciales) Social Group presented equipment and supplies to the centre for their home economics programme and security. Next Monday (December 8) the fifth annual Christmas tree lighting will take place at the Wellness Centre in Grand Turk. And on Saturday, December 13, there will be training sessions for the SNAP Centre parents and teachers association. Topics will include dealing with behavioural and emotional problems
in the classroom and home, and motor development. The annual observance of International Day of People with Disability was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and encourage support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities. The day also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of people with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. On Wednesday Minister of Health and Human Services Porsha Stubbs Smith issued a statement about the topic of technology for people with disabilities. “Technology has surely changed our landscape, on a daily basis we unintentionally use aides such as braille when pressing the number keys during transactions at local ATMs, and home keys when typing on computers. “For many with disabilities technology has also allowed for mobility and communication.” She said that 50 years ago hip damage or injury to the knees meant reduced mobility but today this is not the case. “Even on our little beautiful country technology has filtered its way into the healthcare system allowing for patients to have such procedures as orthopaedic surgery; something previously unheard of decades ago, now being performed locally, which otherwise would have perhaps resulted in disabilities.” She said that the TCI has progressed as a society, with ramps and parking spaces bearing universal
accessibility symbols in banks, general stores and places of interest. “To those who paved the way, thank you for your vision.” Stubbs Smith said it is her goal to continue removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in society. “We are truly overcoming obstacles through public-private sector partnership thus allowing the facilitation of empowerment by persons with disabilities in the workplace and educational institutions through technology.” Many organisations have offered to assist with donations to the SNAP Centre, she said. “Within this backdrop I encourage those with loved ones having disabilities to be registered on the National Register of Persons with Disabilities. “This register has allowed better assistance in designing the necessary programmes and services that are needed within the Turks and Caicos Islands. “This baseline has established a more accurate benchmark for national identification.” She said that 28 children have been assessed and registered. “In the future I am sure that the Turks and Caicos Islands will see its share of bio robotics, transplants and basic devices all aiding in the betterment of lives for those in need. “Let us all commit to making the Turks and Caicos Islands a country that is fully accessible to all with technology creating a level playing field.” She asked people to “take time out to show love” or even surf the internet to see what affordable technological device can be used to improve the lives of those with disabilities.
COMMENTARY
The jury is out CONTRARY to what is being said and reported, jury trials are not out in the Turks and Caicos Islands. However in my opinion a jury trial rarely can be impanelled without the danger of jury members being predisposed of the guilt, or innocence, of the person being tried. The justice system has determined that only when this possibility does not exist a jury can be called for. The Turks and Caicos Islands has a small jury pool of a little over 7,000 voters. It has been shown that 80 percent of TCI voters are
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dedicated to one political party or another. Forty percent PDM and 40 percent PNP. The remaining 20 percent of the voters are not predisposed in an election. In the 2012 election only four percent of the undecided supported PNP. When added to the core 40 percent they realised 44 percent of the popular vote. The PDM party attracted 16 percent of the uncommitted voters. When added to the core PDM realised 56 percent of the popular vote. However due to the continuing commitment of certain voters in certain districts and to certain
gratuitous encouragement in others the 44 percent party won the election by one seat. We know that we have brought the attention of the flawed election structure, the legacy of one uninformed laid back Australian gal, to this column many times. What we don’t know is why the British don’t currently act to change it. Simply make the Providenciales and Grand Turk seats on island at large. Can anyone imagine the trial of any former politician, political crony or activist by a 12 person jury? With the odds providing five PNP jurists and seven PDMs, what chance would a political defendant have of a
Obituary
In loving memory of Donald Percival Walters A LIFE that has lived that has touched the hearts of many, is a life that’s worth missing. Donald Percival Walters, ‘Mi husband,’ Daddy, Uncle Donald, Uncle Donny, Uncle D, ‘Sleepy,’ as many called him blossomed as a radiant flower in this world, on the 19th day of June, 1950 to parents, Adina and Dervant Walters in the beautiful parish of St Mary in the Wood and Water Island, Jamaica. Although he was the last of 12 siblings, Donald, a devoted family man, had a determined, principled, ambitious, caring, GIVING and loving character, which became the highlight of his life, which everyone came to appreciate, admire and love. Donald knew no boundaries. His love extended beyond the vast expanse of relatives to an extended family of friends. His wonderful character could not only be experienced by individuals in Jamaica, so another area needed to be embraced by the radiance of his presence. Another course was chartered when he migrated to the ‘Beautiful By Nature’ islands, Turks and Caicos, where he settled in Providenciales for over 30 years and became a successful businessman due to the top class plumbing he offered to many developments done within the TCI. Therefore, he has left an indelible mark not only in the construction field, but also on the lives of everyone with whom he associated. His legacy, a hallmark, will
now serve as a blueprint for those whom he partnered with over the years. Although his journey ended late Friday evening, on November 21, 2014, and unfinished tasks are left behind, those with whom he has left his footprints will undoubtedly keep the flame alive to complete the tasks that he was unable to accomplish and will continue to be in the hearts of many who really loved and appreciated him dearly - his wife, children, relatives and even close friends. Donald, ‘Mi Husband,’ Daddy, Sleepy, Uncle Donny, you will be greatly missed. We love you. May your soul live forever. Left to cherish his memories are wife Pauline Walters, children Michelle, Carolyn, Coreen, Tanae, Sonja-Kaye, Maya, Floyd and Rae, 13 grandchildren, a host of relatives and friends too much numerous to mention. A memorial service was held on Thursday (December 4) at the Blue Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church at 6pm. Funeral details will be announced at a later date.
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
fair trial? We have served on juries that start out uncommitted. After the trial is over voices on the jury try to convince the others. Those who understand the law, right, wrong, and the evidence and commitments to justice try to convince the rest of the jury of the guilt or innocence of the defendant. The other possibility is an undecided or ‘hung’ jury. This only requires one or more jury members to disagree with the others. This I
believe would often be the case in a TCI trial of a political figure. A hung jury requires a new trial and more delays and expense. It is not only politics that can cause deterred justice in a jury trial. With the small population there are numerous family ties. Nearly everyone is a first, second or third cousin of everyone else. The choice then remains - if a jury trial is required, change the venue. We could easily arrange a jury trial in the USA or Britain!
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Progress made on unresolved deaths A DETAILED report on one of the country’s unresolved deaths with recommendations on future action has been completed. Inspector Daniel Miller of the Cold Case Unit is expected to present the report to the Criminal Investigation Department imminently. He is also working on 14 other open cases which were released to the public in list form last month. Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar spoke to the Weekly News on email this week explaining that he is “very confident” that further headway will take place soon. A record detailing deaths dating back to March 2004 along with names, nationality and current status of the case files was released in October Seven of the deaths involved Turks and Caicos Islanders, five were Haitian nationals, along with one Canadian, one Turkish man and a man from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. All of these unsolved crimes are now being re-examined thanks to the recent appointment of dedicated Cold Case Unit officer Inspector Miller. He previously worked with the TCI police as the officer in charge of the Case File Quality Assurance Unit. Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar said last month that he was very pleased with the reappointment. “Insp Miller has extensive experience in file management and his attention to detail lends itself to reviewing these unresolved files meticulously.” He added that advances in forensics and science can give police new evidence that was not available previously. “I am confident that we can give closure to some of these unresolved matters,” he concluded. The Cold Case Unit was established in September 2011 by Commissioner Farquhar in order to crack unsolved crimes.
UNRESOLVED DEATHS The unresolved death list shows that TC Islander Melissa Creese/Missick was discovered dead in Long Bay on March 5, 2004. Police Constable Prince Smith of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was shot in the stomach on January 20, 2005, during a robbery in Leeward while John Wynns, aged 35, from North Caicos went missing on August 5, 2007. Haitian Cleana Simeon’s body was found near the Blue Hills dump on August 30, 2007. John Tucker from the TCI was found on a secluded beach near Five Cays with his throat cut on August 7, 2009. On December 6, 2009, 35-yearold mechanic Dorsette Gardiner was found dead along with his badly beaten female friend behind Providenciales International Airport. Canadian tourist George Moore, 80, was found washed up on North West Point beach with a gunshot
wound to the head on January 14, 2010. Turkish photographer Murat Kilicer, 30, was shot in the chest by a masked man at South West Bluff on July 18, 2010. Belonger Dwight McIntosh found dead on October 12, 2010. Haitian Celestin Louidor, 52, was found with fatal gunshot wounds on South Dock Road in Providenciales on September 10, 2011. Lorvely Fervilus, aged 25, from Haiti was also found dead off South Dock Road in Providenciales on December 14, 2011. Fifty-eight-year-old Haitian security guard Wilfred Guillaury was shot and killed during an armed robbery at the Royal Bank of Canada in Providenciales on December 16, 2012. Jocellin Odisses was shot and killed during a robbery at Altagracia’s Restaurant and Bar in Providenciales on December 31, 2013. Robert ‘Robbie’ Been Senior was murdered behind his own shopping centre and apartment block in Grace Bay, Providenciales, on March 4, this year in a violent point blank shooting. Thirty-one-year-old Quincy Gardiners lifeless body was found alongside a road leading to Kew in North Caicos on the morning of July 26 this year. More details on these murders will be released during the coming weeks as Insp Miller examines the files. Anyone with information on these incidents can call Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crimestoppers online reporting page www. crimestoppers.tc. Information will be treated in the strictest of confidence. All calls are answered by Miami Dade Police and no one from the TCI force will know who called.
Commissioner promises to tackle drink driving PREVENTING drink driving is an “important road safety initiative that needs to be completed in earnest,” according to police chief Colin Farquhar. In an email to the Weekly News this week the Commissioner of Police spoke about his intentions to move the project forward and stop intoxicated drivers from endangering others. According to traffic reports, drivers who are under the influence of alcohol are among those that are most likely to cause chaos on TCI’s roads. However to date police have struggled to convict drunk drivers due to a lack of vital equipment. The law requires a blood alcohol test to prove intoxication however police do not have up to date road side testing equipment, and a blood test can legally be refused. Earlier this year the Commissioner of Police told the Weekly News that he had been in talks with a manufacturer of breathalysers and was in the process of selecting models. But he revealed this week that he is still waiting on quotes and the police force is struggling in its efforts to procure goods and services. “To that end, I am seeking approval from the TCIG human resources for recruiting a purchasing officer,” Farquhar revealed. He explained that a purchasing officer or procurement officer will be a civilian who will assist the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF)’s finance manager. “The RTCIPF is a large and complex organisation that requires a fulltime person to not only acquire goods and services but also to research the best products for the best value.
New travel policy for public officials takes effect A NEW Government travel policy aimed at ensuring the strictest economy and accountability for domestic and overseas travel for public officials has been approved and instituted. Cabinet approved the document on November 26, when it met in Providenciales. The revision to the policy follows a comprehensive review designed to ensure that ministers, Government officials, public bodies and public sector agencies exercise the strictest economy and accountability in relation to publicly funded travel, a post Cabinet statement read. The policy aims to ensure that all such expenditure realises tangible benefits for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The revised policy took effect
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from November 26. Meanwhile, also during that meeting, Minister of Border Control and Labour, Don-Hue Gardiner submitted a report setting out the results of a review of certain operational aspects of the current Immigration Policy. Cabinet approved a range of the proposals to improve immigration processing and ensure strict compliance with the law. It also approved in principle a draft Maritime Archaeological Exploration and Salvage Policy and associated guidelines. The policy outlines a clear process and framework for permission and authority to undertake such activities. The Attorney General Chambers will be drafting the relevant regulations.
Police Chief Colin Farquhar
“We will develop a job profile and job description and then advertise locally. It will be completed in cooperation with the TCIG Human Resources Department.” The Commissioner went on to say that breathalysers and roadside screening devices may be purchased in the meantime but would still require a training programme to be implemented. “It is still a priority on my lists of things to do.” However he was unable to provide
a time frame due to competing demands. According to the Road Traffic Ordinance 2009 it is against the law to be impaired by alcohol and drive a motor vehicle. A person guilty of driving while under the influence of alcohol risks a fine of $5,000 or 12 months in jail and will have their driver’s licence confiscated for at least 12 months. However currently without breathalysers officers cannot prove that a road user is over the limit. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Wayne Jones: “The law as it is now we can’t force anyone to take a blood test – we can ask them, but they can refuse.” To combat this, the police force will be purchasing roadside screening devices. The law states it is mandatory for drivers to take a roadside test if a police officer has reasonable cause to suspect they are drink driving. “A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to provide a specimen of breath when required to do so in pursuance of this section shall be guilty of an offence,” the ordinance reads. If they refuse they risk a fine of $500 or three months in prison and will be disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for not less than six months.
PDM delivers mock awards to ... continued FROM
leader said. Other failures include - the lack of a second high school in Providenciales, the Cadet Corp commencement, the decrease in scholarship awards, the confusion on the national priority categorisation and scholarship policies generally, and the dismissal and trivialisation of the teachers’ concerns following industrial action at the high school. “The TCI Community College challenges remain, largely because of a lack of attention and policies from TCIG, but whom she threatened to have reverted to a Government department if they don’t pull their socks up. “Don’t try to nail down this minister, she will spin on you,” the Opposition leader stated. KILL THE BILL Meanwhile, the people of the country have been awarded with the ‘Kill the bill award’. Cartwright Robinson said that this award is for the people who continue to look to the Opposition
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for leadership and representation. “The people’s support on VAT but more importantly on the payroll and immigration bill was overwhelming. “Nervy and concerned, we received many calls asking if we were confident that we could kill the [payroll] bill,” she said. She added that the people continue to look to the PDM to protect them from their elected government. The ‘lip service award’ was bestowed on each minister of Government, she said. “Like the Throne Speeches thus far, the people of this country are only hearing about what they plan to do.” Three special awards were also handed out. The Premier was named the ‘First president of the flyers club,’ and will be given a platinum member card, the party leader said. The other two resulted in a tie between ministers of health and education for the ‘most travelled award’ with gold membership.
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Some lively guests take to the street to dance in the rain
Hundreds of people cram under the tent out of the rain
Children play steel pan music for the festival attendees
Hundreds brave weather to sample TCI’s best conch dishes DESPITE the drizzly grey weather on Saturday (November 29) hundreds of people to a trip to Blue Hills to try out some of the Islands’ most delicious conch dishes. The 11th annual Turks and Caicos Conch Festival in Providenciales saw residents and tourists brave the rain for a taste of the country’s most famous delicacy, historical icon and number one export. A large tent was set up outside of the Three Queens Bar and Restaurant for chefs from local restaurants to
display their best conch recipe. For just $25 hungry attendees crammed into the tent to sample all of the food and vote on their favourite. The prize for Best in Show went to Bay Bistro, Best Conch Chowder went to Kalooki’s, Best Conch Salad was won by TCI Community College and Best Specialty Conch went to Mr Grouper’s. More than 25 restaurants competed for the cash prizes and bragging rights.
Home cooks were also able to show off their favourite conch recipe and earn a chance to win a cash prize and more. Augmenting the always delectable restaurant competition was the annual mojito-making contest sponsored by Bacardi. The Islands’ best bartenders displayed their creative twists on the classic Cuban cocktail and Junior from Bay Bistro walked away with the top prize. Special conch competitions for
One attendee plays the saw to entertain people under the tent
conch blowing and other conch skills were unfortunately cancelled due to the weather along with the junkanoo. However the $10,000 draw for the annual Pot-of-Gold raffle hosted by the Rotary Club of Providenciales
went ahead and was won by Matthew Redmond. A DJ, steel pan band and other acts entertained the delighted attendees, some of whom even took to the street to dance in the rain.
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Premier gives thanks Coroner to decide if inquest is needed for sloop tragedy victims A POLICE file on the Christmas Day sloop tragedy which left 17 Haitian migrants dead is with the coroner, according to Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar. He explained to the Weekly News this week that Chief Magistrate Clifton Warner will make a decision on whether an inquest into the deaths is required. “An inquest is held if the coroner determines that it would be beneficial in addressing community concern about a death, assisting in finding information about the deceased, or circumstances around a death, and/or drawing attention to a cause of death, if such awareness can prevent future deaths,” he said. Following the decision further information will be released to the public. The wooden vessel capsized off the south coast of Providenciales in the early hours of Christmas morning as marine police towed it to shore, tipping dozens of people into the sea. Thirty-three people made it safely to shore but sadly 17 men and women drowned before rescuers could reach them. Acting Superintendent Ira Baptiste had been leading the inquiry supported by members of the TCI’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). In February police press officer Audley Astwood said that progress had been made on the investigation into the incident and analysis of information was “near completion”. However the report was not released in the following six to eight weeks as indicated and Baptise went
Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar
away on extended leave. In May the Weekly News contacted several senior officers but they were unable to provide a completion date for the report. Over the past 11 months the investigating team has been looking into whether the captain, the passengers or the marine police were in any way liable for the tragic deaths. They have also assessed where improvements could be made in the actions of all of the agencies involved in the rescue operation. In May before a town hall meeting in Five Cays, Farquhar explained: “In those types of investigations we look at what areas we can improve on. “It’s not always just about finding fault – its everything to do with the initial call out and how that response was, the different agencies that responded, how they did. “So it’s more than just the reasons why the boat overturned, it’s the
whole file. It’s quite comprehensive.” He went on to say that there are always things that the force can do better and together they will ensure that happens. This February Governor Peter Beckingham said an independent inquiry into the incident was considered and dismissed. “The reasons for this are several. The many witness statements gathered all confirm the course of events – that this was a tragic accident caused by those on board the overloaded sloop, moving suddenly to one side causing it to capsize,” he stressed. “The coroner has confirmed that the cause of death is drowning in all 17 cases.” He added that the Commissioner of Police raised this with the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, but decided that an independent investigation would reveal no more than is already known. “Indeed, the Haitian consul has been in contact with the survivors throughout and nor has he requested an independent investigation,” Beckingham added. In July 2009, a sloop with an estimated 200 Haitians aboard ran aground on a reef off Turks and Caicos, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. And in May 2007, more than 60 people perished after their rickety boat, overloaded with passengers, capsized in shark-infested waters off Providenciales during a night-time thunder storm. The tragedy was described as the worst the TCI has ever seen.
“AS CHRISTIANS it is essential that we recognise that as we journey through life, we must pause to give thanks for our existence and the goodness and mercies that have been bestowed upon us.” Premier Rufus Ewing issued a statement on Friday (November 28) to recognise the country’s first National Day of Thanksgiving. In it he encouraged the public to give thanks to God for providing a good life and to friends and family for their support and love. “Today is our first National Day of Thanksgiving,” he said. “It is a day on which we, as individuals, should first reflect on the course of our lives and give thanks to our almighty God, our creator, the reason for our being and the sustainer of our lives. “Secondly, today is a day on which we must give thanks for family and friends, for the love and joy of kinship and the invaluable support that we are to each other. “Finally, today is a day that we should take time to count our many blessings as a people and as a nation, being grateful for the bounty that God has poured upon these our Islands.” He said that those who are blessed with good health and happiness should take time to help others in need. “Let us all on this day, look to our neighbours, friends and families, focusing on how we might be able to assist where needs may be present in the true Christian spirit of love and giving. “To those of us who have recently suffered the loss of a loved one, we join with you in giving thanks for their lives and in celebration of the joy of their memory.” The Premier went on to offer his own thanks.
Premier Rufus Ewing
“Today, I pause to give thanks to God for my existence and the many blessings in my life, including the opportunity to serve our beloved nation in leadership on our journey forward. “I am ever thankful for your continued support, your blessings and your prayers. “May God continue to bless you all and these beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands, on this our first National Day of Thanksgiving, and beyond.” The National Day of Thanksgiving was added to the list of public holidays when the House of Assembly passed the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill 2014 in January. The bill featured changed names of holidays and added holidays that were previously observed but not recognised. It was announced that The National Day of Thanksgiving will be observed on the fourth Friday in November each year. At the time Premier Rufus Ewing said that this designation had nothing to do with the US day of Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. He said it was made based on representation by a number of people who encouraged the Government to set aside a day where the populace can give thanks to God. Ewing encouraged the TCI’s churches to embrace the day and formulate programmes in celebration.
Clement Howell wins inter-high school debate BY DAISY HANDFIELD CLEMENT Howell High School soared as winners of the Integrity Commission high school debate competition at the Gus Lightbourne in Providenciales, on Thursday (December 4). The competition was a two day long event, between Wednesday and Thursday, with the overall winner being announced on the final day. The students had to debate the need for a commission and were judged on speech, content, delivery, organisation, points received, teamwork and overall impression. Some of Clement Howell High School’s key points were that the commission plays a major role in
helping the success of the country, corrupt individuals should not be condoned in their corrupt actions and if individuals had nothing to hide, they should not have any problems disclosing their personal finances. The opposition, Marjorie Basden High School spoke on why they did not agree on having an Integrity Commission in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Students highlighted a number of disadvantages that outweighed the advantages of having a commission, in their opinion. These included the cost of funding, the possibility for overzealous investigations and even wrongful accusations by Integrity Commission.
They said that in order to fund the commission the Government has to allocate between one and five million dollars annually. One of the winners from Clement Howell High School and former fifth form student J’Keyah Jolly said that it took them all night to prepare for the debate because they just started preparing in the week, due to final year exams. “I was nervous, which is why I didn’t speak yesterday [December 3] and a little bit when I spoke today, but this was my only chance. “I feel excited and surprised because we were thinking that they came well prepared and we didn’t have any preparation so it was kind of scary.”
Clement Howell High School students rise as champs of the 2014 Integrity Commission inter-high school debate
Director and owner of Christie’s International Real Estate and judge for the debate Robert Greenwood said that the students displayed
great depth of knowledge and understanding of the subject. “I was extremely impressed with them; it was a very good job.”
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Volume 1 of Our Land, Our Sea, Our People
The cameras cover both inside the resort and the Grace Bay Road beach access
Seven Stars invests $200,000 in high definition cameras Volume 2 of Our Land, Our Sea, Our People
ONE hundred high end IP CCTV High Definition Cameras were recently installed in and around Seven Stars Resort on Grace Bay for improved security. The $200,000 investment is integrated over a fibre optic IP network and covers both inside the resort and the Grace Bay Road beach access. With this new system, the resort has the ability to capture true day and night HD quality images ensuring 24/7 coverage at various indoor and outdoor locations. In particular, they allow perimeter coverage using higher quality
cameras for recognition of potential incidents along the Grace Bay Road area. There are also advanced analytics on the system to detect various events which the security staff can then review. This allows them to instantly report any suspicious activity or crime in progress directly to the police. A press briefing was held at the resort in Providenciales on Tuesday (December 2) to welcome the installation. Ken Patterson, managing director of Seven Stars Resort, said: “Grace
Bay and Providenciales is by far one of the safest tourist destinations in the Caribbean. “We along with the other resorts in the area have established a true community and business partnership with the police to ensure that together we continue to be the one of the safest destinations in the region by maintaining a zero tolerance to crime. “This new state of the art security system will benefit our guests, our staff, the police and the general public by helping to keep Grace Bay a safe place to work, visit and enjoy at all times of day and night.”
Free flu jabs at island clinics Volume 3 of Our Land, Our Sea, Our People
National Trust launches colouring books for students THE TURKS and Caicos Islands very own illustrated book for primary school students - Our Land, Our Sea, Our People - was recently launched at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Centre. The launch was spearheaded by the TCI National Trust. The books come in three volumes and are aimed at supplementing the current curriculum content in schools as well as encouraging children to have a deeper sense of appreciation and commitment to the TCI’s heritage. “Our publications’ focal
point, which range from colouring books to supplemental workbooks, is heritage preservation,” a release from the Trust advised. The Our Land, Our Sea, Our People workbooks contain vital information on local cultural, historical and natural heritage, with teacher’s manual included. The colouring books feature heritage sites such as Cheshire Hall Plantation; it illustrates several migratory birds in the region, and contain several other interesting facts about the Turks and Caicos Islands.
RESIDENTS of all ages can get free vaccinations against influenza at any local clinic in the TCI. The Ministry of Health and Human Services announced in a press release this week that it is committed to keeping the Turks and Caicos healthy and well. The seasonal flu vaccine for adults and children is now available at all Government operated primary health care departments free of charge, the statement read. Those wanting a jab can contact their local hospital or clinic to schedule a time to get their vaccine. Influenza or flu season is an annually recurring time period characterised by a prevalence of outbreaks. The season occurs during the cold or cooler half of the year. The exact timing and duration of flu season varies. Seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as October until as late as May, however most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February. It is recommended that everyone over the age of six months has a flu
vaccine annually. In its statement the Ministry of Health and Human Services also recommended several healthy habits to stop the spread of the infection. They including asking residents to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and put their used tissue in the waste basket. Other advice includes washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or long enough to sing the birthday song twice, or if soap and water are not available, using alcohol-based hand rubs. People should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, avoid close contact with people who are sick and when sick keep their distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Other advice includes cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill, getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, eating nutritious foods, managing stress, and being physically active. Everyday preventive actions can help slow the spread of germs that
can cause many different illnesses and may offer some protection against the flu. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe symptoms. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalisation or death. Some people, such as older people, young children and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Flu virus travels through the air in droplets when someone coughs, sneezes or talks. People can inhale the droplet directly, or pick up the germ from an object, then transfer it to eyes, nose and mouth. Those who have the flu often feel several signs and symptoms that may include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue (very tired). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhoea, though this is more common in children than adults.
16 NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
The group display a number of popular Filipino dishes and a native dance MC for the night David Bowen had the crowd laughing throughout the night
Lime brings in Christmas spirit with annual tree lighting BY DAISY HANDFIELD DESPITE the rainy weather, telecommunications company Lime still hosted their annual Christmas tree lighting on Monday (December 1) at the Providenciales headquarters on Leeward Highway. The numbers were not as large as last year, due to the weather, but the adults and children that turned out
for the event had a great time, with many taking home wonderful prizes. There were several prize giveaways such as top ups, cell phones and toys for the children, as well as free food and soft drinks. Competition questions ranged from when the telecommunications company incepted in the TCI to olden days riddles. Students from the Oseta Jolly
The youngsters pose with Santa as they receive their goodie bags with toys
Primary School choir performed a Christmas piece for the crowd and MC for the night was Director of Culture David Bowen. An hour before the event, a media briefing was held inside the Lime building where marketing manager Rachel Harvey spoke about the company’s 2014 Christmas campaign. For the Christmas holidays customers can purchase a selection of the phones in the store for lower prices. Customers also have the opportunity to win great prizes by signing up for a new data plan, purchasing minutes or signing up for e-billing. Cameraman for Spotlight Communications Renau Destine was the winner of a new iPhone 6 Plus in a media competition that night. Destine’s name was picked out of an envelope with names of all of the members of the media that were present at the briefing. Lime general manager James Pitt said that this lighting is not the last that the public will be hearing from them in 2014. He added that there is a list of activities lined up before the close of the year.
Spreading Christmas cheer through social media DIGICEL is encouraging smartphone users to film short Christmas videos and submit them to social media in exchange for free credit. The telecoms company launched its #ChristmasTogether Facebook campaign this week to get people to enjoy some festive fun. To enter customers should use their smartphones to film 15 second videos to show how coming together is what makes Christmas extraordinary. Each day between December 1 and 12, customers will be provided with a theme such as family, sharing, love, joy, peace or friendship around
which to base their video. They can then upload it to the company’s Facebook page to be viewed and voted on by other Digicel users. Trina Adams, marketing specialist at Digicel TCI, said: “Christmas is a time of togetherness so we wanted to do something that would bring people together and make them smile at this special time of year. “Our customers are bursting with creativity so we look forward to working with them to bring our 12 days of Christmas theme to life as we spread a little happiness and
come together this festive season.” The first five approved video entrants each day will receive $10 Digicel credit as a token of thanks and there are prizes such as smartphones up for grabs for the best videos. Entrants will also have the chance to have their video creation feature as part of the Christmas commercial which Digicel will broadcast as a special feature on Christmas Day on television and via social media. To see the campaign in action visit www.facebook.com/ digiceltci.
FILCOM participates in the Maranatha High School Cultural Extravaganza
Filipino Community participates in high school cultural extravaganza BY DAISY HANDFIELD MEMBERS of the TCI Filipino Community (FILCOM) participated in the Maranatha High School’s Cultural Extravaganza on Thursday, November 27, in Providenciales. The event also included cultural pieces from Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Alfonso Palatino President of FILCOM said in an interview on Thursday (December 4) that they were initially invited by two Filipino students that attended the high school to showcase the Filipino heritage. There was a make-shift version of a Filipino native nipa hut, also called ‘Bahay Kubo’ and showcases of Filipino dresses and native delicacies. There was a presentation of a local dance called ‘Pandango sa Ilaw’. Palatino said that he was happy that he and fellow Filipinos could join the staff of the Maranatha School in their cultural celebration. “We want to show that the Turks and Caicos Islands embraces the diversity of different cultures.
“They welcome us, we participate, and we involve ourselves to this kind of activities so that at least we can show our culture and see and watch other cultures as well. “The world is so big, but we are just one community. We can’t just be one in terms of bringing joy to the people.” This year the department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) and FILCOM inked a memorandum of cooperation which aimed to collaborate to maintain the Bight Park. They also agreed to participate in various environmental projects initiated or coordinated by DEMA under the principles of the Community Conservation Partnership Programme (CCPP) of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. FILCOM has been a stout supporter of DEMA projects from last year with its active involvement in clean up drives, tree planting, and orienting its members of the ordinances for compliance. On June 6 DEMA awarded the community the ‘Environmental Stewardship Award’.
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 17
Tai chi courses to become a common thing in the TCI BY DAISY HANDFIELD TWENTY-SIX visitors from Montreal, Canada, along with tai chi master, Jayendra-Das from France came to the Turks and Caicos Islands to take part in a weeklong course. The guests were in Providenciales from November 16 to November 23, doing demonstrations at the Ports of Call complex in Grace Bay and at a private home. Daniella La Riviere-Bookalam, the Turks and Caicos Islands coordinator for the event, said that their initial intention was to make it open to the public, but due to not being able to find a suitable venue, the event was closed off. “The event was magnificent,” she said. “The people from Montreal fell
in love with the Turks and Caicos, none of them have ever been here.” La Riviere-Bookalam said that they started planning for this event a year ago and were only expecting 10 participants from abroad, but ended up with 26. The majority that came down were experienced in the Chinese martial art, but there were a few who were beginners. “Everybody paid their own way here for one week and they rented a villa in Leeward and some stayed at the Atrium.” She said that a coordinator in Montreal put the word out in the community, which also helped them increase numbers. Next year the event is expected to be open to the public and there will be a fee for participation.
Visitors along with French instructor came to the TCI for tai chi course
The coordinator was unable to release any more information on the plans for next year, due to its early planning stage, but she did promise that it would be a bigger and better event and also an opportunity for locals to get a feel of these classes.
Jayendra-Das travels all over the world doing energy work and teaching the craft; this was also his first time visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Tai chi is an internal Chinese martial art practised for both
health benefits and defence training. It is also practised for a variety of other personal reasons. It includes hard and soft martial techniques, demonstration competition and longevity.
Children sing carols to get guests in the Christmas spirit
Santa turns on Seven Stars Christmas tree lights IT WAS a cold and blustery evening on Friday (November 28) but that did not Santa Claus from making his way to Seven Stars to meet local children. The resort held its annual tree light switch on this year at the front of the
resort under a tent out of the rain. Local school children sang carols to get attendees in the festive mood as they enjoyed free fruit punch, mulled wine and cookies. Father Christmas made a welcome appearance to turn on the
lights of the large Christmas tree on the roundabout in front of the resort. Children counted him down and cheered as the tree lit up. He then greeted the excited youngsters with huge hugs and handed them gifts of candy.
Santa gets ready to turn on the Christmas tree lights
18 NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
TCI joins world in recognition of World Aids Day 2014 BY DAISY HANDFIELD EVERY year the HIV Prevention Unit and schools up and down the country acknowledge December 1 as World Aids Day with the rest of the world. On Monday students released red balloons into the air as a symbol of remembrance and staff from the Government department handed out free t-shirts and pens. The Weekly News spoke to Nora Tyndall, care and treatment nurse and contact investigator at the HIV Prevention Unit, on Monday (December 1). She said that schools in Providenciales, North Caicos, South Caicos and Grand Turk took part in recognising the day. The theme for this year’s World Aids Day was ‘Take a stand, I stand,
we stand for zero new infections, zero deaths, zero discrimination - did you stand?’ HIV Prevention Unit coordinator Aldora Robinson encouraged everyone to take a stand against the virus. “We must ask ourselves what is my organisation doing concerning HIV, what is my role. “What is my church doing? How do I get involved? What is my civic group doing? Am I doing my part? “Anyone in business thinks about profit, for all of us in the business of HIV/STI prevention, profit is an Aids free TCI.” She said that the priority for the TCI for the next year and beyond is a people-centred approach that promotes the welfare and wellbeing of people ensuring that they meet the 90 percent of people in the country
tested for HIV and know their status. She added that 90 percent of people who test positive should be linked to care and 90 percent of people on treatment have viral suppression by 2020. “We are also focusing on eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis, a men’s health strategy, the prison population, sex workers,” Robinson said. “We hope to develop targeted interventions for the key populations mentioned. So, let us take a stand.” Minister for Health and Human Services Porsha Stubbs-Smith added: “As a nation, we have recognised how far we have come, and acknowledge the lengths we still must travel. “I would like to applaud the HIV Prevention Unit on the work that
Organisers say that this is a time to remember loved ones and friends that have passed on
Students from Enid Capron Primary School and staff from the TCI National Aids Department recognise World Aids Day 2014
they have done thus far. “We must continue the fight together by reducing the acquisition and transmission of HIV within our
‘Beautiful by Nature’ Turks and Caicos Islands. The HIV Prevention Unit offers free testing for HIV.
The Towers of Babel Art is our language
For more information email towersofbabel101@gmail.com or visit www.towersofbabel.weebly.com
Shark toothed lamb By Twis Flo
I’ve got oceans inside my pen and not knowing the depths these people dive in When they know they can’t swim; your chances are grim If you want to make it alive I suggest you be ‘frank’ or get doctor Frankenstein TwisFlo are you out of your mind? Well I’m thinking out the box to make my dream come alive Watch me ejaculate on the fabric of space and time My thoughts are explosions not contained in my mind, the fumes that leave my lips are steps to cloud nine Be careful when you tread these waters, your need for Ecstasy will lead you to a slaughter These wolves are getting smarter No longer wearing the sheep, they wearing shepherds and doctors Word to the politicians; third fingers to your Geppettos and death to the opposition The system is so despicable, Babylon filled with criminals, hospital filled with killers Hospital filled with killers They care less about the people and more about business So retailers get to price products with no limits I knew kids who fell victim to the system, they was born here but can’t be a citizen When you got foreigners who bought citizenship that makes the victims sick, so they like “forget this” I’m going to be a villain, I will make a killing at dope dealing to feelings Watch me pop pills, I will be a menace, murder on the sheet; every bar is a death sentence They are sticking fingers in my eyes but want me to have
vision They call me a monster but this is what they made me, five dollars an hour; forget that it’s slavery That’s why it’s a stick up when I pick up the Weapons of Real Destruction Put holes in their assumptions and bust back at these COWards with their master’s degree Who think ‘cause they’ve got one that makes them masters of me I don’t care which whip you whipping, it makes no difference I won’t do what you tell me to as long as I keep my soul I will be fireproof But if you want to stop the bull shhh? You got to learn to kill a bull put bullets inside these bullies we starving their stomachs full Let’s get together and squash the beef take it to parliament and keep it off the streets I’m going to be a villain, I will make a killing at dope dealing to feelings Watch me pop pills, I will be a menace, murder on the sheet; every bar is a death sentence They are sticking fingers in my eyes but still want me to have vision?
December 6- 12, 2014
NEWS 19
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Disaster head attends regional hurricane conference THE TCI’s head of disaster management jetted off to Grenada this week for a conference on disaster emergency management. The event was held to remember lessons learned from category five hurricane Ivan which struck the Caribbean ten years ago. Dr Virginia Clerveaux, Director of Disaster Management and Emergencies, took the trip to examine advances in response and recovery since the storm in September 2004. The Ivan 10 Symposium was hosted by the Regional Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Forum and partners from Monday to Wednesday (December 1 to 3). Hurricane Ivan was one of the most powerful storms to hit the Caribbean in decades and left a trail of damage and destruction from Trinidad and Tobago to the Cayman Islands. The most significant impact was in Grenada, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Regional losses amounted to $3 billion and 64 people died. The theme of this year’s symposium was ‘Exploring response and recovery, embracing resilience.’ Attendees spoke about
Students educated on rights of the child SCHOOL children across the country have been taught about their human rights as part of an extensive education programme. Staff from the TCI Human Rights Commission visited several schools in Providenciales, North and Middle Caicos throughout November and plan to visit many more before the end of the year. During the visits pupils learnt about their fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the TCI Constitution. They were also taught about their rights as guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The commission’s objective is to incorporate the foundation of basic human rights knowledge into the school curriculum for the 2014/2015 school year. Director of the Human Rights Commission Doreen Quelch-Missick said: “We believe that by educating children about their human rights will serve to further enhance their overall learning experience and would teach them respect for themselves and respect for others.” The commission began each session by displaying a video entitled ‘The story of human rights’ which explained how human rights came about. It prompted the students to question why if human rights are inherent to all
human beings, so many people deprived of their basic fundamental rights daily. The presentations were led by Quelch-Missick, Donessia Gardiner and Kabatha Smith. The educational sessions began in Providenciales on November 12 with Wesley Methodist School, Maranatha Academy and Clement Howell High School. Quelch-Missick said that the students showed an ardent interest and actively took part in the discussions. On November 24 and 25 the commission continued its visits at the Doris Robinson Primary School in Middle Caicos. “The children displayed a high level of interest in the topics and asked many thought provoking questions,” QuelchMissick said. In North Caicos staff visited the Raymond Gardiner High School, the Adelaide Oemler Primary School in Bottle Creek and the Hubert James Primary School in Kew. “The Human Rights Commission would like to express sincere thanks to all the principals and staff of the participating schools, and most of all thank all the students.” This Wednesday (December 3) the commission visited the British West Indies Collegiate and plans further visits to South Caicos, Salt Cay and Grand Turk in the beginning of the new year.
creation of examining advancements towards resilience building through sound financial and economic practices innovation. Topics discussed included humanitarian effectiveness, reducing vulnerability and
managing risk, development and economic consequences of climatic hazards, and transformation through innovation. It also featured the Caribbean sub-regional consultation on the World
Humanitarian Summit, to frame the Caribbean’s perspective as an input to the regional consultation in 2015 and the global summit in 2016. The summit is an initiative by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to make
humanitarian action related to natural hazards and conflicts more effective. It aims to develop stronger partnerships and seek innovative solutions to persistent and new humanitarian challenges.
Lifestyle... 20
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
POLICE SAFETY TIPS
Burglary prevention tips THE SHOCK of having your possessions stolen in a burglary is only worsened by the feeling of total invasion, loss of privacy, and fear for you and your family’s safety. Implement these tips to protect your family and your possessions from burglary. Install automatic lighting. You can even use a mobile app to control your home’s interior and exterior lights if you have home automation. Don’t hide spare keys outside. Burglars know the most common places to stash spare keys. You can prevent getting locked out with home automation; a touch of your smartphone’s screen locks and unlocks the front door. When disposing of your big screen television’s box, cut it up to avoid alerting thieves that you recently made such an investment. Install motion activated lights to bathe thieves in light, which is the last thing they want. Install motion activated
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.
cameras in a visible place where burglars will see them and be turned off from your residence. Invest in a monitored alarm system. An alarm system isn’t any good unless the police and paramedics are alerted when the alarm is triggered via a reputable
monitoring service. Put up stickers and signs to let the world know you are protected by an alarm system. Think of this as your first line of defence. Test the alarm system frequently to make sure it’s in good working order. Look for windows and doors
Weekly Recipe
Cheese and Vegetable Lunch Muffins INGREDIENTS • 2 cups self-rising flour • 1 cup grated zucchini • 1 cup grated carrot • ½ cup canned sweetcorn kernels (drained) • ½ cup finely chopped spinach • 1 ⅓ cups grated sharp cheddar • ½ cup milk • 3 eggs • 4 tbsp and 1 tsp butter, melted and cooled to room temperature METHOD • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12hole muffin pan with large muffin cases. • Mix the flour, cheese and vegetables together well in a large bowl. • Whisk the eggs and milk together in a jug or bowl. Add the cooled melted butter and mix well.
Helen Barkworth-Knight is a teacher and qualified baker with a lifelong love for cooking for friends and family. She is a mother to Owen, almost two, who has very particular tastes in all things, especially food. Hence she has become an expert in hiding vegetables in all sorts of dishes!
• Add to the flour, cheese and vegetables mixture, and stir until just incorporated. Don’t over mix or the muffins will be tough and won’t rise as well. • Divide evenly between the muffin cases and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until they turn golden on top and are cooked through. To check, insert a skewer into the middle. It should come out clean. • Cool in the tin. These muffins are also delicious while still slightly warm.
• The muffins can be frozen in a ZipLoc bag or food storage container for up to three months. Just make sure they are thawed completely before eating. • Experiment by adding or substituting different vegetables – chopped roasted red peppers, green onions, sundried tomatoes, olives, or even finely chopped bacon or ham. • These tasty and healthy savoury muffins are perfect for lunchboxes, and will help you and your family get well on the way to your five-a-day.
that are unsecured by your alarm system and could be key entry points. Then, strengthen them. Protect vulnerable areas with locks, motion sensor lights and cameras. Join your neighbourhood watch. Everyone on a neighbourhood watch is sworn to keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and watch each other’s backs. Don’t forget to lock your home, sheds, detached garages and your car. You would be surprised with the amount of homes we encounter that aren’t adequately locked up. Install deadbolt locks, which are more secure than ordinary locks. Make it habit to lock the deadbolt every time you leave home. Secure sliding glass doors by jamming a wooden dowel into the track to prevent even an unlocked
sliding door from being opened on the outside. Close your garage door when you pull out. Even with the garage door firmly shut, lock the door between your home and the garage for added security. When robbers peer into the windows, what do you want them to see? Jewellery, expensive electronics, and other valuables? My guess is no. Keep your most valuable items out of the line of sight of the windows. Don’t leave notes on your door that declare your absence. Likewise, don’t alert callers that you’re out of town in your voicemail message. For more tips, please visit www.tcipolice.tc.
December 6- 12, 2014
Lifestyle... Practical science history
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
21
ECO Tip By Dave Keil
Dave, who lives in Providenciales, worked at a chemical waste start-up before studying chemical and mechanical engineering. He then worked in microelectronics manufacturing, small business turn-a-rounds and management consulting. The history of science has been a pet project of his since high school.
Lynn Robinson has lived in the Turks and Caicos Islands for 12 years and works at Big Blue Unlimited as a diving instructor, eco guide and boat captain. She is passionate about the environment and does regular beach clean ups while walking her three potcakes. Her other passion is running and can often be seen training for marathons and ultra-marathons.
By Lynn Robinson
The divine secrets of the universe
SCIENCE and math have a reputation as being dry and dull subjects. When you look at why science and math have evolved the way they have, they are full of strong egos, battles, and some of the most eccentric characters imaginable clashing to try and prove themselves to the world. These are some of their stories. Pythagoras started out by travelling from his native Samos in Greece. Pythagoras saw a potential in numbers and mathematics that the he believed the rest of the world was missing. Through his travels he collected all the forms of math he could find, which took the form of recipes and procedures with little insight to function. Numbers, Pythagoras reasoned, stood on their own, without need of an earthbound context. By studying the relationships between numbers he would find the divine secrets of the universe, and learn the thoughts of the gods. After 20 years he returned to Samos intent on starting a school. In Pythagoras’ absence, Polycrates tyrannical rule had changed the open minded Samos into a closed minded and intolerant society. Polycrates offered Pythagoras an office in his administration to silence him, but Pythagoras chose to live in a cave in a remote part of the island instead. His school in Samos had one student – by paying that student to attend – before he fled Samos with his mother and student; his views on social reform could not stand in Samos. Pythagoras resettled in Croton, Italy. Milo, the wealthiest man in Croton, was an incredible athlete. Milo was the champion of the Olympic and Pythian Games a record 12 times. He also studied philosophy and mathematics and had heard of Pythagoras as ‘the sage of Samos’. The two formed a partnership founding the Pythagorean Brotherhood in a section of Milo’s estate. To join, each follower donated all their assets and be sworn to secrecy as to the Brotherhood. Should someone leave the Brotherhood they would receive twice what they donated on entry. Time passed, and the Brotherhood grew 600 strong. A core belief of the Brotherhood was that everything could be expressed in fractions and whole numbers and these were the keys to understanding the thoughts of the gods. One day Brother Hippasus was trying to figure out what the square root of 2 was in fractional form (√2 = A/B). He supposed that A and B have no common factors (since they could be removed and not change the value of the ratio, so they must be able to have no common factors). Squaring both sides and rearranging is 2B2 = A2. Notice A2 must be even, since it has 2 as a factor. This means A must be even since an even2 is still even and an odd2 remains odd. If we take 2 out as a factor of A we can call that number new number K (A=2K). This means 2B2 = (2K)2. Or 2B2 = 4K2. Or B2 = 2K2. This means that B must be even, since it has 2 as a factor. This is absurd! Since A and B must have a common factor of 2, but in rational form they must not have any common factors. Conclusion; the √2 cannot be expressed as a fraction. Hippasus ran through the streets to report to Pythagoras; there must be some numbers that can’t be expressed as fractions! But, the brotherhood was founded on the belief that the universe obeyed the laws of fractions and whole numbers. Pythagoras, to his eternal shame, resolved the conflict by having Hippasus drowned. Pythagoras had become a closed minded tyrant like the one he fled in Samos.
Balloons blow… Don’t let them go! WITH the holiday time almost upon us it is worth thinking about the amount of useless stuff that is bought, used, then thrown away, adding to the mountains of cheap plastic disposable junk littering this beautiful planet. Balloons are one of the many things to reconsider buying and not just the latex blow up balloon but also the paper lanterns that have become popular over the last few years. Latex and foil balloons cause a huge problem for the environment, especially when released in large numbers as part of special events. Thankfully many people are now aware of the problems they pose but unfortunately there are still instances of balloons being released, even just recently at the Berlin Wall 25th anniversary celebrations.
These balloons can travel many miles before falling back down to the ground and in the ocean, sometimes in once pristine areas where wildlife then succumb to the devastating effects they cause. Birds and animals and marine life can quite easily suffocate if they try to eat the balloons and they can also become entangled in the attached string. Paper sky lanterns are often assumed to be ‘eco-friendly’ but these also cause big problems worldwide and have caused serious burns to people and killed animals that have tried eating the fallen remains or have become entangled in the wire frames. They have also been known to start fires in areas many miles from where they were released. The Federal Aviation
Administration have also raised concerns about the possibility of them being sucked into aircraft engines. Don’t even be fooled by those balloons that claim to be biodegradable as they still take many years to break down, posing as much as a threat as ‘regular’ balloons. Thankfully balloon releases and paper sky lanterns are now illegal in many states, cities and countries and hopefully one day they will be banned around the whole world. More information can be found on the website www.balloonsblow.org and on the Facebook page Balloons Blow. Please take care this holiday time and choose wisely when planning for parties and events. “Be the change you wish to see in the world” – Ghandi.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
Entertainment
Woman sues Bill Cosby for alleged underage sexual assault in 1974 YET another woman has come forward accusing comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault. Judy Huth filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming sexual battery and infliction of emotional distress during an incident at the Playboy Mansion, according to the documents first obtained by Radar Online. The alleged sexual assault took place in 1974 when Huth was 15 years old. According to court documents, Huth and a 16-year-old friend met Cosby when he was filming a movie at Lacy Park in Los Angeles. After talking with the girls, the suit alleges, Cosby invited them to his tennis club the following Saturday, “where he served them alcoholic beverages and played games of billiards.” They then went to the Playboy Mansion where, the lawsuit says, Cosby asked Huth to sit on a bed beside him, after she came out of a bathroom. “He then proceeded to sexually molest her by attempting to put his hand down her pants, and then taking her hand
The accusations against Bill Cosby keep piling up.
in his hand and performing a sex act on himself without her consent.” CNN reached out to Cosby’s lawyer Martin D. Singer but was not immediately able to get a response. His camp has repeatedly and vigorously denied previous allegations. CNN also tried to contact Huth and her attorneys but has not heard back from them. The suit goes on to call Cosby’s alleged actions “malicious,
oppressive and fraudulent in nature.” “This traumatic incident, at such a tender age, has caused psychological damage and mental anguish for (Huth) that has caused her significant problems throughout her life since the incident.” The case describes the damage as “substantial and continuing.” Huth is asking for damages and legal fees. Because four decades have passed since the alleged crime, It wasn’t immediately clear if the case falls within the statute of limitations in California for child sex abuse. It’s because of that lag in time that defense attorney Joey Jackson says he thinks Cosby’s legal team will ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed. “It’s highly problematic, and it’s likely the lawsuit will not stand,” he said. With the allegations mounting, CNN political contributor Van Jones said, now is the time for Cosby to speak up. “At some point, his silence becomes almost kind of an admission,” he said. “These are horrible, horrendous allegations.”
Kardashian opens up about struggles with self-confidence and having a child KIM Kardashian is getting personal. The reality star graces the cover of the January 2015 issue of Elle UK and opens up about her private life — including her difficulties getting pregnant prior to welcoming her now-1-yearold daughter North. “A few years ago I was told I could never get pregnant,” she said. “Three different doctors told me the same thing, which is why I wanted to have my eggs frozen. I was just about to do that when I found out I was pregnant with North.” She added that she and her superstar husband Kanye West want to add to their family “straight away,” and that she personally wants “a boy and another girl.” “I loved being part of a huge family — and I want that for North,” Kardashian said. “We’d do IVF if nothing happens, but we both want to keep trying naturally.” The star also divulged that while she’s now confident enough
Kim Kardashian said a few years ago she was told she could not get pregnant.
to “break the Internet” with her famous curves, she didn’t always feel that way. “It’s taken me a long time to be happy with my body and for my confidence to grow to what it is today,” the 34-year-old revealed. While beauty standards once embraced “tall, slim, supermodel” types like Cindy Crawford, she said she is proud that she has helped change what people find beautiful.
December 6- 12, 2014
Entertainment
Lady Gaga said: “I went through some horrific things that I’m able to laugh (at) now,” she eventually revealed, “because I’ve gone through a lot of mental and physical therapy and emotional therapy to heal over the years.”
Lady Gaga reveals she was raped as a teen
LADY Gaga has revealed that she was raped when she was a teenager. During an interview with Howard Stern on Tuesday, the pop star divulged that she was assaulted when she was around 19 years old, and that the incident inspired one of her songs. When Stern asked her about her provocative performance of her song “Swine” at SXSW earlier this year, in which she recruited “vomit artist” Millie Brown to expel green liquid on her, Gaga said that the act tied into the song’s theme, which is about “rape” and “demoralization.” “The song is about rage and fury and passion, and I had a lot of pain that I wanted to release,” the pop star said. “And I said to myself, ‘I want to sing this song while I’m ripping hard on a drum kit, and then I want to get on a mechanical bull’— which is probably one of the most demoralising things that you can put a female on in her underwear—‘and I want this chick to throw up on me in front of the world so that I can tell them, you know what? You could never, ever degrade as much as I could degrade myself, and look how beautiful it is when I do.’” “You keep alluding to ... were you raped by a record producer?” Stern asked her. Gaga initially hesitated answering the question, responding, “I don’t want to ... Happy times! Let’s talk about happy things!” “I went through some horrific things that I’m able to laugh (at) now,” she eventually revealed, “because I’ve gone through a lot of mental and physical therapy and emotional therapy to heal over the years.”
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December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Entertainment
Burt Reynolds denies he’s broke BURT Reynolds is denying that an upcoming auction of his Hollywood memorabilia
is a cash grab designed to bail him out from bankruptcy. “I want everyone to know
that contrary to what all the news outlets are saying, I am not broke,” the actor said in a
statement to ET Online. “I have been dealing with a business dispute for many
years as well as a divorce settlement. I am simply selling some of my memorabilia that I have enjoyed for so many years but do not have use nor room for them anymore,” he said. “Quite frankly,” “The “Deliverance” star added, “I am sick of so many pictures of myself in my own home.” The 78-year-old star is staging a big-ticket auction in Las Vegas on Dec. 11 and 12 where bidders will get the opportunity to take home his 1998 Golden Globe trophy for “Boogie Nights,” the red
jacket he wore in “Smokey and the Bandit,” a football helmet from “The Longest Yard,” among other items. A handful of less-glitzy baubles were available, including the former football star’s 1952 Palm Beach High School football trophy and an old pair of his brown leather chaps. Reynolds was a box office big shot in the 1970s and 80s, but a series of bad investments and a messy divorce from actress Loni Anderson in 1993 left him on the brink of financial ruin.
Burt Reynolds said that he is: “simply selling some of my memorabilia that I have enjoyed for so many years but do not have use nor room for them anymore”.
Style’ breaks YouTube
Gangnam Style has more than 2.1 billion hits on YouTube.
THE Internet is a vast and seemingly limitless space, but it’s no match for PSY. “Gangnam Style,” the South Korean pop star’s enduring video phenomenon from 2012, has surpassed 2,147,483,647 views on YouTube, maxing out the site’s original view counter. “We never thought a video would be watched in numbers greater than a 32bit integer (=2,147,483,647 views), but that was
before we met PSY,” wrote Google, which owns YouTube, in a blog post this week. “ ‘Gangnam Style’ has been viewed so many times we have to upgrade!” For anyone who doesn’t have an advanced degree in computing, that basically means YouTube’s view counter was based on a 32bit integer, a unit of data in computer programming languages, and the number 2,147,483,647 is its maximum positive value.
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Call 946-4894 or stop by our Leeward Highway store today
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Thank You TCSPCA
The TCSPCA would like to extend a special thank you to the following local businesses and hotels for sponsoring the 9th Annual TCSPCA Dog Show held on Saturday November 15th at Turtle Cove Marina. This year’s show was a huge success and helped to raise $18,000 that will be used to keep the TCSPCA low cost spay/neuter program on track in 2015. Lead Sponsor of the show Fortis TCI Ltd, Turtle Cove Marina, Graceway IGA, Pedigree. Platinum Sponsor the Alexandra, Gold Sponsors - Regent Palms, Mango Reef, Gansevoort. Silver Sponsors - Pampered Paws, McKnights, Magnolia, TCI First Insurance, Grace Bay Rentals, Kissing Fish, Provo Turtle Divers, Baci Ristorante. The Potcake Foundation and all other sponsors of the Dog Show Program.
Raffle prizes donated by Blue Horizon, Beaches, Amanyara, Parallel 23, Grace Bay Club, Minx, TCI Helicopter Co. West Bay Club, Snuba Turks & Caicos, Exhale, Rumeurs, Jai’s Jewelers, Caicos Dream Tours. Other local business support provided by Tiki Hut Restaurant, Power 92.5 & 102.5 Kiss FM, Mary Lou VanderHeide, Environmental Arts, PTV8 & the Weekly News
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Regional News
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
‘40 non-Bahamians a day’ being picked up IMMIGRATION officials on Monday estimated that an average of 40 undocumented non-Bahamians have been picked up daily in New Providence since new resident regulations were implemented on November 1. Kirklyn Neely, officer in charge of enforcement, told The Tribune that the Department of Immigration conducts checks at least four times a week, and have apprehended as many as 60 people in one day. “We go out every day,” Mr Neely said, “not in big numbers. If we go out in big numbers then we would carry the police or the defence force, but this is every day. We go out four times a week, and we apprehend anywhere between 40 to 50, sometimes 60 persons a day.” Mr Neely spoke to The Tribune by telephone while at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, where he received 19 Chinese nationals, and one Jamaican, who were picked up in Freeport. The Department of Immigration deported 228 Haitian nationals on two Bahamas Air flights on Monday.
According to Mr Neely, there are around 108 Haitians remaining at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre. He also confirmed reports that 23 Haitians were picked in Abaco after an illegal landing. The December 1 deportation exercise follows reports that talks with two major international organisations over the government’s controversial new immigration restrictions were postponed. Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell said he may meet with the secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the CARICOM caucus next week instead. This comes after OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza expressed concern about the country’s “rounding up” of illegal immigrants in a Jamaican newspaper. On Tuesday, Philip Miller, acting permanent secretary in the Department of Immigration, sent a letter to the editor of the Jamaica Observer refuting assertions outlined in the article published last week about the government’s new immigration policy.
Of the several new immigration policies implemented on November 1, however, the mandate that everyone living in the Bahamas must have a passport of their nationality has proved to be the most contentious. The measures were announced in the House of Assembly on September 17 by Mr Mitchell. While the Bahamas government has maintained that the new policy is non-discriminatory, human rights groups have severely criticised the move as it directly impacts the largely undocumented community of Haitian migrants – many of whom were born in the Bahamas. Incensed by photos of children being led away by immigration officers, Daphne Campbell, a Democrat in the Florida House of Representatives, called for tourists and international businesses to boycott the country. Human rights groups that have expressed concerns over the new policy include Amnesty International, Robert F Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights, and the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association.
Bahamas’ Immigration Policy to be challenged in court GRAND Bahama Human Rights Association President Fred Smith on Monday announced that his organisation will mount a constitutional challenge against any legislation that is passed in parliament concerning the new immigration policy. Fred Smith, a lawyer and QC, said the recent revelation that the government planned to table legislation on the issue was proof that the new policy has been operating “illegally” for more than a month. He also called for all persons adversely affected by the new policy to join a class action lawsuit, which his organisation intends to file “in due course”. However, Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell last night dismissed Mr Smith’s threats as a “joke”. “(Mr Smith) is a joke. He’s looking for attention and he needs to use some common sense,” Mr Mitchell said. Mr Mitchell confirmed that the government was still reviewing proposed legislation at the Cabinet level, and that the statutory law would not be put before the House of Assembly this week. Instead, a Bill on foreign service orders will be tabled. He explained that the November 1 policy was not illegal as it represented only administrative changes, adding that the proposed legislation was to support the resurrection of the
While there is no extradition treaty between the Vatican and Dominican Republic, Pope Francis (in picture) has said Wesolowski, a Polish prelate ordained by St. John Paul II, no longer enjoys diplomatic immunity and could be prosecuted by other courts once the Vatican investigation is finished.
Pope says truth must prevail in DR’s sex abuse case against ex-ambassador POPE Francis assured Dominican authorities on Wednesday that the truth must prevail in the case of his former ambassador to the Caribbean country who is accused of sexually abusing young boys. Francis met with the Dominican Republic’s top prosecutor, Francisco Dominguez Brito, after his Wednesday general audience. Dominguez Brito also met with the Vatican’s criminal prosecutor and other officials to discuss the case against Jozef Wesolowski. The Holy See recalled Wesolowski last year after rumors surfaced in
Santo Domingo that he allegedly paid shoeshine boys to masturbate. Wesolowski has been defrocked and placed under modified house arrest inside Vatican City pending a decision by the Vatican criminal court on whether to indict him. In a statement, Dominguez Brito quoted Francis as stressing the importance that the truth must prevail and that both Vatican and Dominican courts do their work freely and respect the law. In a sign that the Holy See endorsed the prosecutor’s account of their meeting, the Vatican spokesman read the statement to reporters.
Tension increases on Haiti/DR border Fred Smith called for all persons adversely affected by the new policy to join a class action lawsuit, which his organisation intends to file “in due course”.
Belonger’s permit. In a press statement on Monday, Mr Smith said the proposed legislation was an attempt to give an “inhumane, immoral and illegal immigration enforcement policy the veneer of legitimacy.” The statement continued: “Indiscriminate roundups and road blocks are unconstitutional; the requirement that immigrants carry ID at all times is unconstitutional; detention without bail and in the absence of criminal charges is unconstitutional; and deportation without conviction by a court of law is unconstitutional. “The government simply cannot retroactively legitimise such actions,” he charged. Mr Smith said that children born here to foreign parents had the
legal right to apply for Bahamian citizenship at 18, on the condition that they have lived in the country for 10 years prior to their application. He explained that this made the deportation of children born in the Bahamas illegal, as it deprived them of that right. “Deporting those who have submitted a proper application, but have been waiting for years without word from the government is a totally unconscionable practice,” Mr Smith’s statement said. “This is to say nothing of the moral outrage of snatching young children from their classrooms, imprisoning them without charge, then sending them to a poverty-stricken country of which they have no knowledge or experience.”
SUNDAY, tension rose in border communities of Haiti and the Dominican Republic following a new incident involving Charles de León, a Dominican truck driver who, after being hit by a stone thrown by Haitian protesters in the city of Ouanaminthe (north of Haiti) lost control of his vehicle and killed a young girl. Agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) arrested the Dominican driver. According to the version of his colleagues, the PNH refused to lead the driver to a medical center in order he receive medical care following his assault in Haiti. In response to this situation, the carriers blocked the main road leading to the bilateral market of Dajabón (northwest) and demanded the release of their compatriot. The Governor of Dajabón, Ramona Rodríguez, the mayor
Miguel Tatis, Colonel Francisco Columbus, Police Commander, Santiago Gómez, Head of “Cuerpo de Seguridad Fronteriza Terrestre” CESFRONT of the area and the Dominican Vice-consul in Ouanaminthe, Marciano Mateo Espinosa, Sunday convened an emergency meeting with the drivers to discuss the situation at the border. In addition, Dajabón police authorities indicated that they were working with their counterparts in Haiti, trying to find a way to get out amicably of social conflict that have arisen over the last three days in Haiti, in Fort Liberté, Ouanaminthe and other Haitian border villages where Haitian population requires electricity, drinking water, repairs street and the Haitian authorities reduce taxes on products purchased in the Dominican Republic.
December 6- 12, 2014
Regional News
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Britain grapples with Chikungunya cases as holidaymakers return BRITISH public health officials say they are grappling with an escalating number of cases of the debilitating chikungunya virus, as holidaymakers return from Caribbean countries. Public Health England (PHE) that has been monitoring confirmed cases of chikungunya says it aware of 197 cases so far of which, 162 cases have been associated with travel to the Caribbean and South and Central America. The countries from which cases have been most frequently reported include Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada. “Chikungunya is an unpleasant viral illness that can cause fever and joint pains, which, in some patients, may persist for a prolonged period,” said Dr Jane Jones, PHE travel and migrant health expert .
Dr Dipti Patel, Director of the National Travel Health Network and Centre said there is no vaccine to prevent chikungunya. “Travelers going to the Caribbean and other affected areas can reduce their risk of chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, by practicing insect avoidance measures,” she said Earlier this month, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 1,600 travelers returning to the US with chikungunya as of November 4. The worst of the outbreak in the Caribbean is occurring in the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti and Martinique, where more than 600,000 suspected cases have been reported. (CMC)
The water truck reportedly pinned six persons beneath it, including a man and woman, who were crushed.
Two dead after truck flattens bar, shop in Jamaica TWO persons are now dead, after a water truck ran off a hill and flattened a bar and shop in Lawson Bottom, Roehampton St James at about 8.30 p.m. on Thursday. The truck reportedly pinned six persons beneath it, including a man and woman, who were crushed. The driver of the truck, two passengers and a customer in the shop were taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where they are admitted in serious but stable condition. Dead are Sadie Kerr, the operator of the shop who is said to be in her 60’s and her common-law husband 43-year-old mason, Delva
Thompson, otherwise called John. Persons in the community told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that the truck regularly delivers water to the community. The residents say prior to the accident, the truck which was parked on a hill was observed to be running back. It is understood that several attempts were made to stop the truck, however, it careened off the hill, capsized and flattened the shop. It reportedly took several hours before a crane was brought in to lift the truck off the six people pinned beneath it. (Jamaica Gleaner)
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Digicel welcomes intervention by telecoms union Kingston, Jamaica. On Thursday, November 27, Digicel welcomed the confirmation by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) that it intends to involve itself fully with immediate effect in the proposed acquisition of Columbus International Inc by UK-based Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC). The CTU has moved quickly to convene a meeting of its member states and of the national and regional regulatory authorities to consider the implications of this proposed deal. This meeting will be held in Trinidad during a two day meeting of the CTU on December 10 and 11. The CTU intends to conduct its important business in an open and transparent manner and that a full opportunity will be provided to all stakeholders (including Digicel) to fully present their views relating to the proposed acquisition. The company commended the responsible and efficient manner in which the CTU has approached this challenge. The CTU has noted that the proposed deal “must be of concern to all regional regulatory authorities and Governments since Flow (Columbus) and LIME (C&W) operate in multiple Caribbean jurisdictions”. In a special circular issued to Caribbean Governments, the CTU recognises that “this new development has to be considered in the context of the gains previously achieved in the liberalisation of
the telecommunications sector in the Caribbean, particularly as it relates to regional and international connectivity and broadband services”. Digicel noted that there has been a concerted effort to confuse the clear issues presented in this deal by misleading references to the highly competitive mobile market. However, it welcomed the fact that the CTU recognises, correctly, that the real concern in this proposed deal is not the mobile market; but rather this blatant attempt to establish virtual monopolies right across the region in the markets for fixed broadband access, fixed line services, international connectivity/submarine fibre access and subscription cable TV services. It is the consolidation of the specific markets in which LIME and FLOW used to compete which is of clear concern to the CTU. Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, stated: “We are very pleased that the CTU has taken such a proactive stance in terms of seeking to assess properly the potential impact of this hugely significant deal on the telecommunications industry and wider economy right across the Caribbean region. “Whatever may happen, no one can argue against the proposition that the creation of monopolies and the elimination of competition in the markets for fixed broadband access, international connectivity, subscription cable TV and fixed line services would be a massive backwards step for the
Caribbean region.” He continued: “If there are those that believe that this acquisition is a positive thing, then we at Digicel would ask why it is that these same parties are so vehemently opposed to proper regulatory analysis being conducted and why they are seeking to impose deadlines on the work that needs to be properly engaged in and carried out in every relevant market. “Talking about the mobile market, which remains highly competitive, or seeking to make disparaging remarks about other industry players does not address the fundamental issues presented here. “We are very pleased that the CTU recognises this and intends to take a leading role.” The CTU is an inter-governmental organisation which was established by treaty in 1989 by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers responsible for telecommunications. It facilitates multi-stakeholder cooperation in the formulation of policies for the Caribbean information and telecommunications sector and engages in capacity building activities for administrators, regulators and other stakeholders. The CTU has confirmed that it intends to take a lead role in the region in providing advisory services to CARICOM and to the CARICOM member states relating to the proposed acquisition of Columbus by CWC. Digicel has committed to fully engaging in this process in a responsible and constructive matter.
Canada ends moratorium on deportations to Haiti, Zimbabwe CANADA will soon resume the deportations of roughly 3,500 people to Haiti and Zimbabwe, countries critics say are still struggling with the aftermath of natural and manmade disasters. Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney said the temporary suspension of deportations to both countries has been lifted and migrants from Haiti and Zimbabwe can face removal after six months if they remain without legal status. The decision leaves only three countries — Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq — on Canada’s removal moratorium list. “Canada is one of the most generous countries in the world, and we have extended that generosity for over 10 years to Haitians and Zimbabweans by allowing them to stay in Canada because of unsafe
conditions in their countries,” Alexander said. “With the temporary suspension now lifted, the uncertainty has ended.” In justifying the decision, Blaney said Canada is simply following the steps of its “allies” after a thorough review of country conditions. “Haitians and Zimbabweans have demonstrated tremendous courage in recovering from the earthquake of 2010 and years of political instability,” he said. Immigration officials said as many as 3,200 Haitian and 300 Zimbabwean nationals could be subject to removal as a result. Advocates for refugees were shocked by Ottawa’s decision, citing reports by the federal government itself and international aid groups that found little progress in those countries. “The conditions have not improved at all,” said lawyer Raoul
Boulakia, president of Refugee Lawyers Association of Ontario. “For Canada to lift the suspension of removals when things remain precarious, it’s a complete disregard of what’s happening there.” The Canadian government currently has a travel advisory for Haiti, saying “the security situation is hazardous and very unpredictable.” A travel advisory for Zimbabwe says, “Crime, exacerbated by a very difficult economic situation, remains a serious problem for foreign visitors and residents alike.” Ottawa said all affected individuals are given six months to apply for permanent residency based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, a process critics say lacks clear criteria for acceptance. Meanwhile, border officials will defer any removal pending a final decision on their application.
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December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
World News
UN endorses ‘fast track’ campaign to end HIV-AIDS epidemic THE United Nations and urban leaders have endorsed a “Fast Track” campaign to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. In his message to mark World AIDS Day on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said ending the epidemic by 2030 requires a “comprehensive approach that includes social justice, the democratisation of science, gender equity, and a people-centred approach to health. He spotlighted the gap in prevention and treatment that persist among regions and people. With some 35 million people worldwide living with HIV – 19 million of whom do not even know they have the virus – “tremendous” gains made over the years in fighting the virus remain very fragile. “The legacy of the AIDS response is already apparent as we confront Ebola in West Africa. We know that medical systems alone are not enough to provide robust health care,” said Ban as events kicked off across the globe to mark World Aids Day , launched in 1988 as the firstever global health day.
“[These] are all lessons we have learned in the AIDS response that are being applied across the board, including in our discussions on the post-2015 development agenda,” said the UN chief, commending the commitment of world leaders to end AIDS epidemic by 2030. Boosting that momentum, mayors from around the world came together in Paris on Monday to sign a declaration to eradicate AIDS in their cities and commit to the “FastTrack” campaign. In signing the Paris Declaration, the mayors vowed to abide by a set of targets to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020. The 90-90-90 campaign aims to get 90 per cent of people living with HIV to know their HIV status; 90 per cent of people who know their HIVpositive status on treatment; and 90 per cent of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads, keeping them healthy and reducing the risk of HIV transmission. “We must leave no one behind,” said Ban referring to regions and people who may not have access to prevention, treatment and support
services. “Cities all over the world are key players that can fast-track the response in order to ultimately end the AIDS epidemic,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris at the Declaration signing, adding that “our duty is above all a human one.” During Monday’s event, UNAIDS released a report on HIV in cities which outlines the important role that urban areas will play in ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Monday’s commemoration of World AIDS Day also spotlighted the fact that worldwide two out of three children who need HIV treatment do not get it. The UN said young women are particularly vulnerable in countries with high HIV prevalence. The good news, however, is almost 14 million people worldwide are now accessing HIV treatment, the UN said. It said new HIV infections have been reduced by 38 per cent since 2001. And some 1.16 million infections have been prevented among new-born babies by providing essential antiretroviral medicines. (CMC)
Eric Garner: No charges in NY chokehold case A GRAND jury has not charged a New York City police officer over the death of Eric Garner, who died after being placed in a chokehold by the officer. The case garnered national attention after a video of Officer Daniel Pantaleo arresting Garner on 17 July became public. Garner, 43, who had asthma, was heard on the video shouting “I can’t breathe!” He was being arrested for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. Following the decision, family lawyer Jonathon Moore said he was “astonished based on the evidence of the video tape, and the medical examiner, that this grand jury at this time wouldn’t indict for anything”. Garner’s daughter, Erica, told the BBC the grand jury “are not even human, [and] there is no humanity”. “On that video you can see the most cruel horrible thing that someone could do to someone,” she added. “It’s just not right.” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called the outcome “one that many in our city did not want”. “The problem of policecommunity relations and civil rights is not just an issue for people of colour - or young people - or people
Eric Garner is seen being grabbed around his neck by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, just before he falls to the sidewalk, gasping for air.
who get stopped by police,” he added. “This is a fundamental issue for every American who cares about justice.”
Mobile phone video of the incident shot by a witness showed Garner verbally refusing to be handcuffed. Mr Pantaleo responded by putting Garner in an apparent chokehold, which is banned under New York Police Department policy. A second video, apparently filmed shortly after the incident, shows Garner lying on the sidewalk. Three minutes into the video, medics arrived and he was lifted into an ambulance. A bystander asked why no-one was trying to resuscitate him and one officer responds, “because he’s breathing”. Garner died shortly afterwards. The city’s medical examiner’s office has said Garner’s death was caused by “the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police”, but said other factors contributing to his death included asthma and heart disease. The grand jury decision comes just one week after another grand jury in Missouri failed to pursue charges against a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown.
Tabare Vazquez said he wanted “to be able to count on all Uruguayans”.
Tabare Vazquez wins Uruguay’s run-off election URUGUAY’S leftist candidate Tabare Vazquez has easily beaten rival Luis Lacalle Pou in a presidential run-off. Final results gave Mr Vazquez, from the governing Broad Party, 52.8%, compared with 41% for Mr Lacalle Pou, of the right-wing National Party. Mr Vazquez, 74, is a cancer doctor who served as president from 2005-10. He won the first round of voting in October with more than 46% of the vote but it was not enough for an outright majority. Incumbent President Jose Mujica was barred by the constitution from running for a second consecutive term. Speaking late on Sunday, Mr
Vazquez called on the opposition to join him in a national accord to tackle the key issues the country was facing. “I want to be able to count on all Uruguayans, but not so that they follow me but so that they guide me, accompany me,” he said. In the capital Montevideo, thousands of his cheering supporters poured into the streets to celebrate. Mr Vazquez has pledged to boost social spending and keep the economy in its current good shape. He also wants to reform the education system and fight crime - two of the weakest points of Mr Mujica’s government, the BBC’s Ignacio de los Reyes in Montevideo reports.
At climate talks, UN calls fossil fuels ‘high risk’ investment FALLING oil prices show the “high risk” of fossil fuel investments compared with renewable energies, the UN’s climate chief said on Monday at the start of 190-nation talks on a deal to slow global warming. The Dec 1-12 meeting in Lima opened with hopes that a UN deal to slow climate change is in reach for 2015, helped by goals set by China, the United States and the European Union to cut greenhouse emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels. Christiana Figueres, head of the UN’s Climate Change Secretariat, dismissed suggestions that a tumble in the price of oil to a five-year low yesterday could brake hopes for a shift to renewable energies as a cornerstone of the climate deal. Oil price volatility “is exactly one of the main reasons why we must move to renewable energy which has a completely predictable cost of zero for fuel” once wind turbines or solar panels were built, she told a news conference. “We are seeing more and more the realization that investment in fossil fuel is actually a high risk, is getting more and more risky,” she said, welcoming a decision by Germany’s
top utility E.ON to spin off power plants to focus on renewable energy and power grids. Still, other experts said the oil price fall could slow some investments in renewables and may make fossil fuel exporters such as Russia and Saudi Arabia reluctant to make concessions at the climate talks, fearing they could undermine their earnings. “It’s hard to tell what the total net impact will be here,” Alden Meyer, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said after Brent crude fell as low as $67.53 a barrel, its lowest level since October 2009, before rebounding to settle at $72.54. Delegates in Lima are due to work out elements of a deal due to be agreed at a UN summit in Paris next year as part of a UN goal to limit average world temperature rises to 2 degrees (3.6 Fahrenheit) above preindustrial times. Temperatures have already risen by about 0.9 C (1.5F) and a UN panel of climate scientists says there are risks of irreversible impacts, ranging from damage to coral reefs to a meltdown of Greenland’s ice that would raise sea levels.
December 6- 12, 2014
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World News
‘Revenge porn’ Facebook post leads to jail sentence
At least 12 commercial buildings were burned to the ground, among several fires to break out in the St. Louis fire in the grand jury decision’s riotous aftermath.
Brown’s stepdad apologises for ‘burn this b---h down’ comments NOW he’s trying to extinguish the flames. Michael Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, has apologized for his expletivelaced, inflammatory comments of “burn this b---- down!” in the aftermath of last week’s grand jury decision not to indict former Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson for the teen’s death. St. Louis County police are investigating the impassioned stepdad for fanning the flames outside the Ferguson police department after the Nov. 24 announcement. The incident, caught on camera, shows Head standing atop a car and consoling Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, before turning and screaming “burn this bitch down” and “burn this motherf----r down” multiple times. The emotional scene came amid a tumultuous night in the St. Louis
area, when some 12 commercial buildings burned to the ground and dozens were arrested as riots, looting and angry protests raged. A total of 124 people were arrested in Ferguson in the days after the announcement, though none since Friday, prompting Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to scale down the presence of National Guard members called in to keep the peace. Some 2,200 guard members were on duty at the height of the chaos, though that number has dwindled to about 1,300 still in the St. Louis area. Missouri’s Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is among those who say Head acted criminally, telling conservative radio host Laura Ingraham last week that the grieving step-parent “should be arrested and charged with inciting a riot.”
The Swedish prime minister (L) accused the opposition of allowing the far right to dictate terms.
Sweden heads for polls after Lofven’s parliament defeat SWEDEN’S left-of-centre Prime Minister Stefan Lofven says he will call snap elections after his minority government lost a budget vote less than three months after coming to power. He said a new poll would take place on 22 March. The government failed to push its budget through parliament, when the far-right Sweden Democrats sided with the opposition. The Sweden Democrats emerged
as a power broker after September’s elections. The party now holds 49 seats and, voting with the centre-right opposition on Wednesday, defeated the government’s budget by a margin of 182 to 153. At a hastily called news conference after the vote, Mr Lofven told reporters that new elections would enable voters to “make a choice in the face of this new political landscape”.
A MAN has been jailed after breaking a “revenge porn” law introduced in California last October. Noe Iniguez posted a photograph of his ex-girlfriend naked to her employer’s Facebook page alongside derogatory comments. The 36-year-old is the first person to be convicted under the new law. Thirteen US states have enacted revenge porn laws over the past two years. England and Wales are also making it a criminal offence. However, it remains a contentious issue. California’s revenge porn law bans the posting of nude or sexual images of an individual, including selfies, with the purpose of causing emotional distress. Los Angeles-based Iniguez posted the photograph of his victim in March, accompanied by a message that called her a “drunk” and a “slut” and urged her employer to fire her. He used an alias in an attempt to hide his identity. The woman had previously secured a restraining order against him after receiving abusive text messages following the break-up of their four-year-long relationship in
2011. Iniguez was sentenced to one year in jail, 36 months of probation and instructed to attend domestic violence counselling after being found guilty of breaking the revenge porn law and violating a restraining order. “California’s new revenge porn law gives prosecutors a valuable tool to protect victims whose lives and reputations have been upended by a person they once trusted,” said state prosecutor Mike Feuer. “This conviction sends a strong message that this type of malicious behaviour will not be tolerated.” Revenge porn laws are intended to make it easier for prosecutors to gain convictions for internet-based offences without having to appeal to pre-existing laws governing harassment and other offences. California enacted a relatively tough law, requiring prosecutors to prove perpetrators had intended to cause distress at the time of their actions. But other states have attempted to take a broader approach. Arizona tried to ban all posts showing anyone “in a state of
nudity or engaged in specific sexual activities” unless the person pictured had given their explicit permission. This prompted a backlash from free speech campaigners, who suggested it would have prevented newspapers publishing pictures of abused naked prisoners at Abu Ghraib. A judge subsequently halted enforcement of Arizona’s law until it was rewritten. England and Wales’ new Criminal Justice and Courts Bill is set to make “the distribution of a private sexual image of someone without their consent and with the intention of causing them distress” illegal. This will include images posted to social networks including Facebook and Twitter, as well as “offline” sharing via text messages. Those convicted will face a maximum twoyear jail sentence. The Scottish government has said that it is exploring the introduction of its own revenge porn law. And a member of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party has urged the nation’s justice minister to introduce its own legislation. (BBC)
Slavery levels in UK ‘higher than thought’ THERE could be between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of slavery in the UK, higher than previous figures, analysis for the Home Office suggests. Modern slavery victims are said to include women forced into prostitution, “imprisoned” domestic staff and workers in fields, factories and fishing boats. The figure for 2013 is the first time the government has made an official estimate of the scale of the problem. The Home Office has launched a strategy to help tackle slavery. It said the victims included people trafficked from more than 100 countries - the most prevalent being Albania, Nigeria, Vietnam and Romania - as well as British-born adults and children. Data from the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Human Trafficking Centre last year put the number of slavery victims in the UK at 2,744. The assessment was collated from sources including police, the UK Border Force, charities and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. The Home Office said it had used established statistical methodology and models from other public policy contexts to estimate a “dark figure” that may not have come to the NCA’s attention. It said the “tentative conclusions”
Modern slavery victims are said to include women forced into prostitution, “imprisoned” domestic staff and workers in fields, factories and fishing boats.
of its analysis is that the number of victims is higher than thought. The Modern Slavery Bill going through Parliament aims to provide courts in England and Wales with new powers to protect people who are trafficked into the countries and held against their will. Scotland and Northern Ireland are planning similar measures. But outlining the strategy for government departments, its agencies and partners, Home Secretary Theresa May said legislation was “only part of the answer”. The “grim reality” is that slavery
still exists in towns, cities and the countryside across the world, including the UK, she said. “The time has come for concerted, co-ordinated action... we must step up the fight against modern slavery in this country, and internationally, to put an end to the misery suffered by innocent people around the world.” The Home Office said the UK Border Force would roll out specialist trafficking teams at major ports and airports to spot potential victims, and the legal framework would be strengthened for confiscating the proceeds of crime.
32
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
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
946-4664 Fax: 946-4661
Email: tcnews@tciway.tc
Website: tcweeklynews.com
PROVO ELECTRIC
Fire Alarm Technician Must be familiar with the silent light system MAX’S MINI MART
Cashier
Salary must commensurate with qualifications. Resumes can be faxed to 649-941-3425 and the Labour Department, Providenciales as soon as possible
10711
FOR SALE
Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788
ALBERT’S CLEANING SERVICES
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
ALBERT HIGGS NORTH CAICOS Is looking for a
Is looking for a
laboUrer labourer To work 6 days Must be willing to work 5 days per week salary $5.50 per hour
contact: 243-7785
10739
10759
contact: 243-7785
per week salary $5.50 per hour
FORBES CONCIERGE is seeking a MASTER SOMMELIER for immediate employment • The successful candidate will have: • A formal sommelier or hospitality based on qualification this will be advantageous but not essential • A minimum of five years experience in a fine restaurant or at a luxury five star property • A strong restaurant and staff management and guest interpersonal skills • Contactable references • A clean police record • The successful candidate will: • Be responsible for maintaining a top shelf wine list and the beverage department as a whole • Be responsible for ensuring the ultimate profitability of the beverage department • Manage the cellar and ensure that stock levels and ordering are handled efficiently • Train the service team on a regular basis • Engage with the chef on offering interesting wine pairing Salary commensurate with experience resumes to be received by December 14th, 2014
P.O. Box 675 Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 649-241-2225 or email Obrien@forbesconcierge.com
GENERAL MANAGER/ MANAGING DIRECTOR
CORE RESOURCES LIMITED Is seeking a
Secretary
to work Monday – Friday 8am-4pm salary $6.50 per hour contact: 649-946-5387 or email: coreresources@gmail. com
Please enquire at 649-332-5939 10752
10755
CERTIFIED DIVEMASTER labourer
is currently looking to hire a
• Must be a holder of SEASCH -196/359/363/53 • Must have a clean drivers license • Must be willing to commute daily to Chalk Sound • Must be willing to work nights, weekends and holidays Salary $10.00 per hour
• Must be willing to work 6 days per week • Must be willing to work with little or no supervision • Must possess a valid drivers license • Must be able to drive a manual vehicle Salary negotiable
Contact: 231-0824 10754
Acting on behalf of our clients: Discount Auto Parts and Tires
DAPHNE’S VARIETY STORE
Contact: 231-0209 10767
TOP END MILLWORK Is looking to hire 5
is looking for a
Laborer $6.50 per hour
Katia Jacob
Labourer $5.50 per hour
Charles Barber Shop
domestic worker Skilled finish To work 5 days
Olabasi
per week salary $5.50 per hour.
Contact: 347-6642
contact: 232-5443
Barber $6.50 per hour
Laborer $6.50 per hour 10738
carpenters/furniture
Must be able to read drawings salary $7.00 per hour contact: 247-4065 between the hours of 10am-3pm
10764
Plumber $8.00 per hour
10768
Smith’s Electrical and Plumbing
DOMESTIC
WORKER To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour must be able to work flexible hours Must speak English.
Contact: 941-2407
10766
SUNSET PHARMACY
Required for complex tour operation
Candidate must reside in Grand Turk and have the following experience and expertise: At least 7 years experience in tour, cruise ship and or shore excursion operations, ability to generate and interpret financial reports, QuickBooks, Excel, Word, Publisher and PowerPoint, excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience in negotiating with vendors, government agencies and cruise lines, a keen understanding of margins, managerial accounting and budgeting, tour product development, tour guide training and human resources Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
TRIPPLE S CONSTRUCTION
C & J CONSULTANCY
CLASSIFIEDS 33
10715
December 6- 12, 2014
Is looking for a
Cashier
To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 941-3751
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos
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.
10740
34 CLASSIFIEDS
MARTINEZ AUTO REPAIR
Is looking for a
labourer
Is looking for a
Tire Man
Salary $5.50 per hour Contact: 649-9464472 between the hours of 9am-3pm or
10761
email: gilley’scafe@tciway.tc
To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour.
10747
F R CONSTRUCTION is looking for the following positions:
CASABLANCA CASINO is looking to fill the following positions: Requirements: • Male Belongers only • Minimum of 5 years experience • Must be fluent in English • Must have excellent guest service, personality • Excellent knowledge of point of sale system • Must have excellent management of staff • Must have excellent management of inventory, ordering
contact: 241-3297
• Must be able to work weekends, flexible hours and holidays Salary $13.5
2 CROUPIERS
• Must have knowledge of Casino games • Must have at least 5 years experience Salary $12.50 per hour
2 WAITRESSES
Salary $9.00 per hour
Drop off all CV’s cover letter to: Casablanca Casino or Mrs. Stephens 345-9460. Belongers Only Need apply 10734
Tile Layer Carpenter Must be able to work 6 days per week salary $8.00 per hour.
contact: 242-2548
10732
REQUIRED FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-2015
Kitchen Labourer
Job Requirements: • • • • • • •
Perform Kitchen services Perform preventative maintenance on kitchen equipment Maintain the proper use, cleaning, maintenance and storage of all tools. Responsible for cleaning grease traps Washes dishes, utensils and cookware following established procedures Place clean dishes, utensils, and cooking equipment in storage areas. Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, and utensils in clean and orderly condition. • Assists in performing cleaning tasks as needed in the kitchen Qualified Belongers need only apply. Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience
Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department no later than September 19th @ (649) 946-5050 Ext. 1050 Email: humanresources@gracebayclub.com Fax: (649) 946-5758 P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies 10770
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE OF
GRADUATE TEACHERS JEWELRY REPAIR To teach all relevant subjects at IGCSE and Advanced Level.
CV, letter of application and names of 2 referees to be sent in writing to:
The Principal, British West Indies Collegiate PO Box 338, Providenciales or Email: bwicprincipal@tciway.tc Suitable candidates will be called for interview.
JACA TCI LTD.
Candidate must have at least 3-5 years. Experience in the field, reappearing jewelry Clean police record, to work 6 days per week Salary $5.00 per hour.
contact: 244-2709 JOHN WILLIAMS
Is looking for a
domestic worker To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.
is looking for the following persons to work on
10731
Waitresses Bartenders Cashiers Cooks/Chefs Barmaids Kitchen Helpers Cleaners Contact: 342-4583
10727
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST REQUIRED
North Caicos Mason Helper Carpenter Helper
Duties and responsibilities include: • Good interpersonal skills • Dependable and at least 9 years of experience • Performing phlebotomy • Processing and testing of samples • Maintaining confidentiality at all times • Performing other related duties as required Minimum educational requirements: BSC Degree in Medical Technology with registration by the Health Practitioner Board Salary commensurate with qualification and experience
contact: 246-2176
Fax cover letter along with CV and Educational Certificate in confidence to: 649-941-3338
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour
contact: 332-3626
is looking to fill the following positions:
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour 10728
Suitable candidates must have a Bachelor's Degree and teaching qualifications, a minimum of five (5) years experience teaching the British National Curriculum and CIE Examination syllabi. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
SALLY’S RESTAURANT & CAFÉ
10726
10729
GILLEY’S ENTERPRISES
MALE BAR MANAGER
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
HEPBURN’S KA- BOOM FIREWORKS SALE DO IT YOURSELF
• • • • • •
CLASSIFIEDS 35
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
500G Repeaters Artillery shell Roman Candles Missiles Sparklers Firecrackers
• • • • •
Parachutes Rockets 200G Repeaters Fountains Spinners
Contact: 343-1888 or 242-0540/241-2749 10760
Cook Part-time position for a Cook/ Housekeeper twenty hours per week must be able to work weekends, nights and holidays salary $10.00 per hour must have own transportation Cleaner needed to work 8 hours per week salary $7.00 per hour.
Contact 331-1809 closing date for applications is January 21st, 2014 Belongers only need apply 10756
NATASHA CONSULTANCY acting on behalf of our clients is looking to fill the following positions:
REFRICOOL SERVICES Is looking for a
SRF CONTRACTING Ltd. Steel Man – $7.00 per hour 247-9445
LINSEY RIGBY Painter
– $6.50 per hour 344-2653
TERRANCE SMITH LaboUrer
– $5.00 per hour 244-8205
10763
Refrigerator Technician to work 6 days per week salary $7.00 per hour
contact: 245-8939 or 343-9437 10751
Ricardo Fulford Consultant Services on behalf of his clients
Eden Yacht Charters LTD
is seeking employment for the following:
1) Marketing Manager
Interested candidate may contact 431-7889 for further details regarding employment.
Massage Therapist/ Esthetician
Danny Buoys
is seeking employment for the following:
1) Restaurant Manager
Interested candidate may contact 431-8477 further details regarding employment.
Job purpose:
Grace Bay Club is looking for a Massage Therapist/ Esthetician who is an enthusiastic team player with excellent customer service. 10757
Ricardo Fulford, Immigration and Labour Consultant President of Ricardo Fulford Consultant Services ricardofulford@gmail.com (649) 346-1125
GENERAL PRACTIONER/ EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR REQUIRED
They must possess excellent communication skills and be able to learn the product and service knowledge necessary to effectively provide wellness solutions to meet the needs of our guests. The therapist will be required to properly care for equipment, perform prep work, clean and restock spa rooms. The Therapist must be in good physical condition, able to assist in all areas of spa operation as requested by supervisors or coaches.
10765
Be flexible with your schedule, supporting the needs of the spa. Build respectful and cooperative relationships with colleagues and leaders He/ She must maintain the standards of Grace Bay as found in the standard operating procedures of the department, and as they are amended from time to time.
Education and Experience:
• Secondary level education is required. Good writing, reading, listening and basic computation skills are necessary. • Previous experience in a 5 star spa is preferred. • International qualifications (or qualifications equivalent to international standards) are required in Massage therapy. • Must be certified in First Aid and CPR. Qualified Belongers need only apply. Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department no later than September 5th 2014 @ (649) 946-5050 Ext. 1050 Email: humanresources@gracebayclub.com Fax: (649) 946-5758 P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
10699
• General practice with some emergency room work • Full time 8 hour working day with varying shifts between 8am-8pm to meet the needs of the business • On call duty at least 2 nights per week plus 1 in 2 weekends • Must have at least 8 years post qualification experience and be registered with the Health Practioners Board • Remuneration structure available on request Please email resume to amp@tciway.tc
The Therapist will be responsible for administering professional facial, massage and body treatments to our guests. They must have a thorough knowledge of the skin with numerous massage modalities, possess a general understanding of body treatments and be willing to train in our spa’s specific facial, massage and body treatment offerings.
36 CLASSIFIEDS
MAGIC SCISSORS
Is looking for a
Tailor To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.
contact: 342-5450
10725
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
EXPERIENCED COFFEE ROASTER AND BARISTA REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY Physically demanding work with long hours on your feet. Must speak and write fluent English. Must have experience in QuickBooks and be numerate. Must have a clean driver’s license and a reliable car.
Please send CV’s to: Victoria@ tcicoffeeroasters.com
10720
BLUE MOUNTAIN MANAGEMENT LTD. On behalf of our clients seeks candidates for the following positions
MAINTENANCE WORKER
• This job entails long hours on property fixing and servicing all kinds of general building items • Includes gardening, small repairs in woodwork, electrical and plumbing, testing and diagnosing A/C, stereo, TV, intercom and gate problems • Candidates must be very mechanical, computer literate and quite presentable as they frequently interact with international guess and owners • Salary $10.00 per hour Please send resumes to: John@bluemountain.tc or drop off resumes at the Labour Department Only candidates meeting the requirements will receive a response 10719
TYSON’S TAKE AWAY is looking for a
Environmental/ Urban Designer Required With education and experience in the design and construction of minor urban development’s including site planning, residential subdivision layouts, golf course design, and similar leisure amenities must have be degree qualified in horticulture and land surveying. Successful candidate will be proficient in: - AutoCAD - Timberline Estimating Software - Primavera Scheduling Software - Total Station Surveying - Trimble’s Terremodel Software Salary commensurate with experience interested individuals can send inquiries to:
Baker
To work 6 days per week salary $7.00 per hour. contact: 941-4142
Norstar Group Ltd., Courtyard Plaza Unit 2C Leeward Highway, Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands. Tel: 649-3500/3600
10709
BLUE MOUNTAIN MANGEMENT LTD. require
HOUSEKEEPERS Must be available to work seven days per week and must be able to speak English. Salary $6.00 per hour
WANTED To assist clients in Laundromat. As well as maintain landscaping. Clean Character Certificate and Driving Record a must. Salary $5.00 per hour.
Treasures S & S Gift Shop is looking for a Labourer to assist with lifting boxes and stocking shelves. 2 days per week. Salary: $6.00 per hour.
10717
Contact Neville Daley at 231-6989
LABOURER WANTED
Contact 231-1162
COCO BISTRO Is looking for a
domestic worker To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.
Please email all resumes by December 5th, 2014 to emma@bluemountain.tc
contact: 946-5369
10718
10721
D & B AUTO REPAIR
D & B AUTO REPAIR
Shamrack Plaza, Industrial Park Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: 649-941-8438. Fax: 649-941-7387
Shamrack Plaza, Industrial Park Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: 649-941-8438. Fax: 649-941-7387
is seeking 1
LABOURER
10710
Auto Mechanic • Must have 6 years experience in repairing engines and transmissions • Must have full knowledge in repairing Japanese Automobiles • Must be able to use diagnostic automobiles • Salary $8.00 per hour
Is looking for
Auto Body Repair Technician This individual must: • Must have 8 years experience in the field • Must be able to realign damage car frames • Must be able to prime or paint vehicles • Be able to review damage reports and prepare estimates
10724
10716
10724
COVE CONSTRUCTION LTD Wishes to employ the following applicants:
HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC
Requires Two (2):
Qualified ACA, ACCA, CPA, or MCMA for Manager roles. Experience in audit required Salary range: $50,000- $80,000 per annum Apply to joseph.p.connolly@tc.pwc.com or Telefax: 649-946-4892, no later than December 8, 2014 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
10713
A minimum of five years experience with the appropriate qualification is a must. Applicant must be very proficient, honest and reliable. Qualify person must be willing to work off Island, Overtime, Weekends and Holidays. Clean Police Record and a valid Drivers License is essential. Belonger only needs to apply. Wages starting at $10.00 per hour
LABOURER
Applicant must have a minimum of three years experience. Must be very proficient, honest and a reliable worker and also willing to work weekends and holidays. Clean police record is essential. Belonger only needs to apply. Wages starting at $5.50 per hour
Please contact Mr. Keith Howell - General Manager (649) 941-5548 or (649) 231-6399. Email: keith.cove@tciway.tc
10714
December 6- 12, 2014
C & J CONSULTANCY Acting on behalf of our client Nathaniel Robinson
CLASSIFIEDS 37
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
R.A. SHAW DESIGNS LTD.
is looking for a
Administration and Finance Officer – Providenciales Part time 30 hours a week
Is looking for an experienced
STONE MASON laboUrer To work $5.50 contact: 347-6642
10733
per hour.
contact: 941-4394 ext. 104
Richmond Hill Preparatory School Is looking for a
Trained primary school teacher With a minimum of seven years’ teaching experience. Please apply in writing to richhillprep@yahoo.com
10769
ERB CONSTRUCTION (BARESTRE ETIENNE) is looking to fill the following positions:
Labourers
ROAD SIDE QUALITY DISCOUNT AUTO PARTS CHICKEN SHACK
Sales Clerks
Mechanic
Labourers
Mason
Kitchen Helpers
Carpenter
Domestic Workers
$5.00 per hour
$8.00-$10.00 per hour $8.00-$10.00 per hour $8.00-$10.00 per hour
Painter
$7.00-$9.00 per hour
Contact: 347-2093 10735
WILFREY & TONY BARBER SHOP AND BEAUTY SALON is looking for a
Hairdresser must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
contact: 231-0082 10738
V & M SECURITY
Is looking for the following person:
Domestic Workers
$5.00 per hour
10749
with particular skills and experience in dry staked indigenous stone veneers remuneration commensurate with skill
$5.00 per hour
Is looking for a
$5.00 per hour $5.00 per hour $5.00 per hour
Waitress $5.00 per hour
Contact: 347-2093
10737
MICKY SHOULAK Is looking for a
Domestic Worker To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. Duties to include caring for dogs and elderly couple
Contact: 231-4479
10722
Security Officer Salary $6.00 per hour
contact: 347-2093
10736
The Red Cross is looking for a part time experienced Administration and Finance Officer who will be responsible for ensuring the fluent financial and administration management of the TCI Red Cross in relation to the overall TCI Red Cross at a national level, along with providing support to the Provo office, it’s programmes and the overall management of the financial systems.
Qualifications • • • •
Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel) Financial Software (Quick books) Seven plus years of finance experience Three plus years in basic administration
Experience in the Red Cross or another humanitarian organization would be an asset. The successful candidate will also be sensitive to diversity, able to work cross-culturally and adhere to the Red Cross principles throughout daily responsibilities as well as working with the most vulnerable in the community. You will be required to provide support and work in Disaster Response. For the full job description and an application form, please contact our Provo office on 941 8056 or by email redcrossprovo@tciway.tc
Deadline for applications is 19TH December 2014.
10752
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
POSITION AVAILABLE
Audio/Video Editor
Main Purpose of Job:
Responsible for Preparing programs for television, advertisements, titles and graphics
Essential Duties:
• Responsible for creative materials liaising with the creative team, graphic designer and the Marketing Director to ensure smooth and efficient delivery. • Responsible for accuracy and consistency of written, visual and web materials. • Work with various offices to produce production schedules for creative proofs and liaise with international offices.
Experience, Qualifications and Skills:
ADVERTISE
IN THIS SPACE! ONLY
$33
PER WEEK
CALL 946-4664
• Certificate or Diploma related to video editing • Eight or more years’experience in Television Broadcasting (must possess relevant certification) with good production/trafficking skills and be able to work in a fast paced environment. • Skilful operator of Audio/Video Editing Systems working on both online and offline materials as well as on special communication projects • Knowledge of TV, Camera, and Lighting for Quality Control, Animations • Production experience, good interpersonal skills and creative ability, good storytelling skills, a methodical mind, and ability to communicate well. • Ability to meet deadlines and have strong organizational skills as well as an eye for detail. • Management skills would be an asset. • Required to work evenings, weekends and holidays Salary commensurate with experience.
Send Resumes to kay@acltci.tc or P.O. Box 230 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. No telephone calls please. 10748
38
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology HIV evolving ‘into milder form’ HIV is evolving to become less deadly and less infectious, according to a major scientific study. The team at the University of Oxford shows the virus is being “watered down” as it adapts to our immune systems. It said it was taking longer for HIV infection to cause Aids and that the changes in the virus may help efforts to contain the pandemic. Some virologists suggest the virus may eventually become “almost harmless” as it continues to evolve. More than 35 million people around the world are infected with HIV and inside their bodies a devastating battle takes place between the
HIV, in red, has infected a cell in the immune system, yellow.
immune system and the virus. HIV is a master of disguise. It rapidly and effortlessly mutates to evade and adapt to the immune system. However, every so often
FLOWER GIRL
Wanted urgently
Floral Designer
Must have thorough knowledge in the floral business with 3-5 years experience.
Call: 231-3788
HIV infects someone with a particularly effective immune system. “[Then] the virus is trapped between a rock and hard place, it can get flattened or make a change to survive and if it has to change then it will come with a cost,” said Prof Philip Goulder, from the University of Oxford. The “cost” is a reduced ability to replicate, which in turn makes the virus less infectious and means it takes longer to cause Aids. This weakened virus is then spread to other people and a slow cycle of “wateringdown” HIV begins. The team showed this process happening in Africa by comparing Botswana, which has had an HIV problem for a long time, and South Africa where HIV arrived a decade later. Prof Goulder told the BBC News website: “It is quite striking. You can see the ability to replicate is 10% lower in Botswana than South Africa and that’s quite exciting.
JOB VACANCY
Margaritaville Grand Turk currently seeks to identify the following persons:
Stilt Walker / Mascot, Retail Associate, Dining Room Captain, Bartender, Kitchen Helper, Retail Manager, Accounting Clerk, Servers, Chef, Electrician, Store Clerk, Cost Control Clerk, Person must be able to work long hours, holidays and weekends, and be willing to work as part of a team. Submit applications, accompanied by a resume to the Human Resource department or by faxing to 649-946-1514. Applications close on 6th December, 2014. While we thank every applicant for their interest in Margaritaville Grand Turk, only short-listed persons will be contacted. Belongers will be given preference; proof of belongership is required. 10712
“We are observing evolution happening in front of us and it is surprising how quickly the process is happening. “The virus is slowing down in its ability to cause disease and that will help contribute to elimination.” The findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also suggested antiretroviral drugs were forcing HIV to evolve into milder forms. It showed the drugs would primarily target the nastiest versions of HIV and encourage the milder ones to thrive. Prof Goulder added: “Twenty years ago the time to Aids was 10 years, but in the last 10 years in Botswana that might have increased to 12.5 years, a sort of incremental change, but in the big picture that is a rapid change. “One might imagine as time extends this could stretch further and further and in the future people being asymptomatic for decades.”
Researchers say they now understand why faulty alphaactinin stops muscles from working properly when people have the heart disease cardiomyopathy.
Protein structure ‘holds key to heart muscle disease’ THE structure of a key protein implicated in diseases affecting the heart muscle has been uncovered, scientists say. Researchers, including some from King’s College London, say they now understand why faulty alphaactinin stops muscles from working properly when people have the heart disease cardiomyopathy. Their conclusions could lead to better screening and potential treatment for other conditions caused by the
defect. The research took eight years. In striated muscle, in the heart as well as skeletal muscles, alpha-actinin holds the layers at regularly spaced intervals over huge distances. After working out the structure of the protein, the researchers, from King’s College London as well as institutions in Russia, Norway and Austria, looked at what happened when it was mutated.
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
CLASSIFIEDS 39
JOB VACANCY Human Resources Manager
REPORTS TO (TITLE): CEO. Type: Permanent Location: Digicel TCI/Digicel Play, Leeward Highway, Providenciales
If this year’s current global trend continues for the next two months, the previous record years of 1998, 2005 and 2010 will be overtaken by a narrow margin.
World on course for warmest year
This year is in the running to be the hottest globally and for the UK since records began, early estimates show. In the first 10 months of 2014, global average air temperature was about 0.57 Celsius above the long-term average. And the first eleven months in the UK have produced an average temperature 1.6C above the long-term. A separate study by the UK Met Office says the observed temperatures would be highly unlikely without the influence of greenhouse gases produced by humans. The global figures come in estimates from the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). If this year’s current global trend continues for the next two months, the previous record years of 1998, 2005 and 2010 will be overtaken by a narrow margin. The Secretary-General of the WMO, Michel Jarraud, said the preliminary data for 2014 was “consistent with what we expect from a changing climate.” In comments released with the new figures, he said: “The provisional information for 2014 means that fourteen of the fifteen warmest years on record have all occurred in the 21st century.” In unusually strong language, Mr Jarraud highlighted the impacts of the weather extremes. “Record-breaking heat combined with torrential rainfall and floods destroyed livelihoods and ruined lives. What is particularly unusual and alarming this year are the high temperatures of vast areas of the ocean surface, including in the northern hemisphere.” And he asserted that the new figures confirm the key trend in climate change: “There is no standstill in global warming.”
Primary objective of the job: Partnering with the Line Managers of all departments in Digicel to: • Manage the day to day HR services provided to these departments which include Learning and Development, Performance Management, all Employee Relations activities, following the local appropriate processes and some aspects of recruitment and selection. • Provide support and HR presence in the development of the department structure, manpower planning and job profiles to ensure alignment to business objectives. • Perform in capacity of “Key partner” to Line Managers and employees in these areas to ensure that the objectives, policies, procedures that have been implemented and adopted are being consistently carried out. Number of persons managed/supervised and their positions: • Nil Main Duties and Responsibilities: Performance management: Working in accordance with the Digicel performance review guidelines to manage the semi-annual DPR process for all departments with key activities to include: Providing guidance and training to all reviewers (up to line managerial level) and reviewers to ensure clear understanding of the objectives of the DPR tool/process. • Ensuring semi-annual reviews are accurately completed and submitted based on deadlines set. • Ensuring all Individual Development plans and Objectives for next review period are accurately completed for each employee. • Ensuring the accurate tabulation of performance scores are submitted to payroll to facilitate timely payment of bonuses. • Ensuring the issuing of bonus letters to all employees are done on a timely basis. • Preparing and presenting analysis of DPR results to management team. Training and Development: Collaborate with CEO, Regional L&D Manager and relevant line managers to effectively manage and execute all training and development activities: • Ensuring that managers have completed 1-2-1 sessions with all employees on a monthly basis • Developing training needs analysis based on Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and identify relevant training programs to ‘match’ employees’ career development path. • Where applicable, provide career counseling guidance to individual employees. • Setting up course templates, training sessions, and managing registration roster to ensure attendants of employees to selected training courses. • Identifying training facilitators to conduct training sessions as well as facilitate the delivery of Training sessions where applicable. • Develop methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of training programs and prepare monthly reports accordingly. • Partner with Line Managers to execute succession planning activities and ensure its continuity. • Managing the company’s Induction Program. • Succession planning, developing member of the HR Team to HR Manager level. Employee Relations: Partnering with Line Managers to oversee the management of all employee relations activities as it relates to: • Resolving management and employee issues by investigating complaints/ grievances, evaluating all responses and offering possible courses of action, providing advice, guidance and direction for speedy resolution. • Maintaining human resources records by coaching and directing managers/supervisors in the preparation of clear documentation of incidents and resolution of problems and the importance of building employee confidence by protecting reputations and keeping information confidential. • Assuming full responsibility for all staff communication – staff meetings, management retreats, attending all departmental staff meetings, communicate organizational changes, new HR initiatives etc. • Ensure that all senior managers communicate the results of the EOS with
their respective teams ; follow up to ensure that all Senior Managers complete their assigned actions based on EOS feedback • Assisting with the formulation and updating/reviewing of all HR policies and procedures and ensuring timely communication, interpretation and consistency of policy application. • Overseeing the execution of employee relations activities associated with, termination, exit interviews, employee assistance program, employee recognition and rewards programs, employee opinion surveys, staff welfare issues (sports and social club activities, health and wellness). • Collaborating with line managers to monitor staff morale by providing counseling and staff relations services in an effort to foster and maintain a harmonious working relationship. Recruitment and Selection: In compliance with the company’s recruitment guidelines: • Partnering with HR Team and Hiring managers to ensure job profiles and manpower budget are relevant to support each department. • Participating in the interviewing and selection process. Other: • Participating in the annual budgeting process ensuring the departments achieve its Opex budgeted targets. • Providing direction and guidance for the assigned HR & Facilities team in the performance of their day-to-day duties as well as ensure the appropriate development mechanisms are in place to achieve success on the job. • Participating as resource leadership team to support policy, program and procedure development as well as legal and compliance issues and other HR projects as required. • Oversee Facilities team, ensure office operations are run smoothly by the Office Manager in order to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. • Oversee organization of office operations and procedures and ensure relationships with external suppliers are maintained to a high level. Academic qualifications and experience required for job: • B.Sc. in Management Studies or Human Resource Management • Four (4) years’ experience in Human Resource Management at Managerial Level Functional Skills: • Working knowledge of employment legislation and labour laws. • Advance working knowledge of MC Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio • Excellent counseling, facilitation and negotiating skills • Knowledge of manpower and budget planning. • Exceptional communication, interpersonal and people management skills • Ability to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in establishing and maintaining positive working relationships and creating harmonious environment. • Displays high level of confidentiality. • Ability to be flexible and respond to a variety of issues in a dynamic, fastpaced environment. Internal/External contacts: • All Departments within the business as well as overall cross section of employees within the company. • Recruiting and Training agencies, suppliers, business partners, group HR, prospective candidates. Key Performance Indicators: • Ensuring all HR Programs, policies, processes and practices are properly documented, current and support the achievement of company’s objectives. • Driving employee satisfaction upwards & establishing Digicel as a top employer to work for • Ensuring consistent compliance to all HR policies and practices • Operating in an objective and transparent manner, sets high work standards and establish clear direction to ensure subordinates HR targets and objectives are achieved on a timely basis. • Ensuring development and welfare of employees is timely and adequately addressed. Only Belongers need apply – Salary Based on Experience Interested applicants should forward their resume to hrtci@digicelgroup. com Deadline for submission is 29th December 2014
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology
December 6- 12, 2014
Scientists make enzymes from scratch EXPERTS say they have achieved a scientific milestone - creating enzymes out of artificial genetic material that they made in their lab. The synthetic enzymes functioned just as well as real ones. The work, in Nature journal, not only provides clues to the building blocks of life but also points to a new way to make therapeutic drugs for humans. The UK Medical Research Council team now hopes to make more complex structures that rival nature. GENETIC INFORMATION The ground work for the pioneering project started a couple of years ago when Dr Philipp Holliger and his team created synthetic versions of DNA and its chemical cousin RNA - the molecules that carry the basic genetic code of life. Using these artificial XNAs as building blocks, the researchers set out to see if they could make synthetic enzymes - substances that drive a wide range of bodily functions, such as how we digest our food. Dr Holliger explained: “Until recently, it was thought that DNA and RNA were the only molecules that could store genetic information and, together with proteins, the only biomolecules able to form enzymes.”
Stephen Hawking said: “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race”. The work, in Nature journal, not only provides clues to the building blocks of life but also points to a new way to make therapeutic drugs for humans.
His team found it was possible to create enzymes from scratch using material that does not exist in nature. Although entirely man-made, the synthetic enzymes are capable of building and breaking down molecules - just like naturally occurring ones. The “XNAzymes”, as the researchers call them, could jumpstart simple reactions, such as cutting and joining RNA strands in a test tube. One of the XNAzymes joined XNA strands together - something that represents one of the first steps to creating a living system, say scientists.
Dr Holliger said: “Our work suggests that, in principle, there are a number of possible alternatives to nature’s molecules that will support the catalytic processes required for life. Life’s ‘choice’ of RNA and DNA may just be an accident of prehistoric chemistry.” He said it was possible that life could be found on other planets, born from a molecular “backbone” other than DNA. Back here on Earth, synthetic enzymes might be useful for treating human diseases such as cancer. Dr Holliger explained that XNAs are ideally suited as a therapy.
Early sign of yellow fever could lead to new treatment
PICKING up early signs of yellow fever, an infectious disease which can be fatal, could lead to a new treatment and better diagnosis, a study said. Writing in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, US scientists looked at the virus in macaques, in the first study in primates for more than 20 years. They found out how the virus damages the body and which genes it disrupts. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the study was encouraging. The virus, endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America, can cause jaundice and kidney failure and mainly targets the liver. It kills 50% of people infected if they are not treated, the WHO said. There are around 200,000 cases of the infection every year. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, gave 20 macaques yellow fever. A control group were given the virus and the vaccine, to compare the results.
Scientists analysed the gene activity in macaques after they were infected with yellow fever.
The study said within 24 hours of the virus, 90% of the animal’s lymphocytes, or white blood cells, had been lost in all 20 animals, leaving it vulnerable to infection. Yellow fever does not present in humans until quite a late stage, said lead author Ilhem Messaoudi in California, and there are no approved drugs to treat it, meaning early diagnosis is crucial for survival as it allows for rehydration and supportive care. She said it was extremely challenging to get the vaccine to
people in remote areas who need it and that it was not safe for babies and the elderly. The loss of white blood cells occurred before changes in the liver, the study found, meaning if this translated to humans, doctors could spot it earlier and the chances of survival could be improved. Researchers also looked at the macaques’ genes and 800 were found to have been switched on within 72 hours of the initial infection, compared to the control group.
Hawking warns artificial intelligence could end mankind PROF Stephen Hawking, one of Britain’s pre-eminent scientists, has said that efforts to create thinking machines pose a threat to our very existence. He told the BBC: “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” His warning came in response to a question about a revamp of the technology he uses to communicate, which involves a basic form of AI. But others are less gloomy about AI’s prospects. The theoretical physicist, who has the motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is using a new system developed by Intel to speak. Machine learning experts from the British company Swiftkey were also involved in its creation. Their technology, already employed as a smartphone keyboard app, learns how the professor thinks and suggests the words he might want to use next. Prof Hawking says the primitive forms of artificial intelligence developed so far have already proved very useful, but he fears the consequences of creating something that can match or surpass humans. “It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate,” he said. “Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.” But others are less pessimistic. “I believe we will remain in charge of the technology for a decently long time and the potential of it to solve many of the world problems will be realised,” said Rollo Carpenter, creator of Cleverbot. Cleverbot’s software learns from its past conversations, and has gained high scores in the Turing test, fooling a high proportion of people into believing they are talking to a human. Mr Carpenter says we are a long
way from having the computing power or developing the algorithms needed to achieve full artificial intelligence, but believes it will come in the next few decades. “We cannot quite know what will happen if a machine exceeds our own intelligence, so we can’t know if we’ll be infinitely helped by it, or ignored by it and sidelined, or conceivably destroyed by it,” he says. But he is betting that AI is going to be a positive force. Prof Hawking is not alone in fearing for the future. In the short term, there are concerns that clever machines capable of undertaking tasks done by humans until now will swiftly destroy millions of jobs. In the longer term, the technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has warned that AI is “our biggest existential threat”. In his BBC interview, Prof Hawking also talks of the benefits and dangers of the internet. He quotes the director of GCHQ’s warning about the net becoming the command centre for terrorists: “More must be done by the internet companies to counter the threat, but the difficulty is to do this without sacrificing freedom and privacy.” He has, however, been an enthusiastic early adopter of all kinds of communication technologies and is looking forward to being able to write much faster with his new system. But one aspect of his own tech his computer generated voice - has not changed in the latest update. Prof Hawking concedes that it’s slightly robotic, but insists he didn’t want a more natural voice. “It has become my trademark, and I wouldn’t change it for a more natural voice with a British accent,” he said. “I’m told that children who need a computer voice, want one like mine.” (BBC)
December 6- 12, 2014
Sports Interational
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Bermuda to host 2017 America’s Cup
Hughes represented Australia in 26 Test matches, the highest level of international cricket.
Bowler left in ‘heartbreaking’ place after Phil Hughes death TO MANY outsiders, cricket can seem like a pedestrian pursuit. But the tragic death of Australian batsman Phil Hughes has prompted the “gentlemen’s game” to ask itself serious and searching questions about safety. The 25-year-old was struck on the head by a ball from fast bowler Sean Abbott during a state match in Sydney and died on Thursday from his injuries. Tributes have flooded in for Hughes but the cricket family has also shown acute concern for Abbott, who, at just 22, has been shattered by his inadvertent role in a former teammate’s death. And a pair of former England fast bowlers is united in the hope that Abbott, who recently made his debut for Australia in the limited overs format, can eventually rebuild his career. “I don’t think there’s anybody on this planet that could understand what Sean Abbott is going through,” Steve Harmison, who took 222 Test wickets for his country, told CNN. “You can be told, told and told it’s not your fault but what that kid is going through is heartbreaking. From a bowling point of view, how does he do his job? “He’s 22-years-old, he’s doing something he loves to do. Probably all he’s ever wanted to do is play cricket and represent Australia. Deep down as an individual, is he going to be able to pull his boots on again and bowl a cricket ball? “It would change my approach as a fast bowler if it was me. It would have to. You’d be frightened to let go of the ball. That’s natural. We’re not dealing with robots, we’re dealing
with human beings. “It is just a freak accident. He’ll never get over it but I hope for his sake that he can live a life that comes close to what he was expecting before what happened two days ago.” Harmison carved out a reputation as a formidable pace bowler during his seven-year international career with England, regularly hitting speeds of 90mph plus. The native of Ashington in the north east of England earned the nickname ‘Grevious Bodily Harmison’ thanks to ferocious spells that included plenty of short balls. He and Simon Jones were part of a venerated 2005 England attack that helped the country win a first Ashes battle against old foes Australia for 18 years. And while both Harmison and Jones were united in their grief at Hughes’ death, the pair believe the art of fast bowling -- built on aggression and intimidation -- should remain unchecked. “The mindset of bowling is almost like you are going to war,” Jones explained to CNN. “It’s my job when I’m representing my country to do my job to the best of my ability and it’s the same for the opposing batter. I want to try and impose myself on the opposition. “If you see a batter getting comfortable that’s when you bowl him a short ball. Yes, you are aiming for the throat or the head but you don’t mean to hurt anyone. “It’s aggression but controlled aggression. You bowl to a methodical plan, try and work a batter out and use whichever ball you have in your armory to get them out. (CNN)
Oracle Team USA will make its defense of the America’s Cup in 2017 off the island of Bermuda, a British overseas territory in the Atlantic Ocean. The announcement was made Tuesday at a glitzy ceremony in New York, attended by Hollywood film stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, who have been residents of Bermuda. It will be the first time that an American syndicate has defended the prestigious trophy in foreign waters in a competition dating back to 1851. “In Bermuda we have a perfect international venue to demonstrate the excitement America’s Cup boats and teams can generate,” commercial commissioner Harvey Schiller was quoted on the event’s official website. “One spot,” he said “offered everything we needed to make the 2017 America’s Cup an exceptional event.” The 2013 staging in San Francisco saw Oracle make a successful defense of the Cup in one of the most exciting finales in its history, beating Team New Zealand in the deciding race. New Zealand will join four other challengers, Artemis Racing of Sweden, the UK syndicate Ben Ainslie Racing, Luna Rossa
Oracle Team USA skippered by James Spithill celebrates onstage after defending the Cup as they beat Emirates Team New Zealand to defend the America’s Cup during the final race on September 25, 2013 in San Francisco, California.
Challenge from Italy and Team France, who will battle to earn the right to challenge Oracle for sailing’s most prestigious honor. 62-foot catamarans have been chosen for the racing and Oracle’s skipper Jimmy Spithill is already looking forward to the task ahead. “Racing in Bermuda will be an incredible experience for the spectators, both on-site and for those watching the broadcast, and for the sailors, it’s going to be very
challenging,” he said. “I’ve raced there several times and the variety of conditions means you can never let your guard down. We’ll all need to be at the top of our game to have success and that’s how it should be.” It is a major boost for the economy of Bermuda, which is heavily reliant on tourism and financial services, fighting off the reported challenge of San Diego in California for the staging rights.
Cricket hit by fresh tragedy as umpire killed in freak accident CRICKET has been hit by another tragedy in the same week Australian Test star Phillip Hughes died as result as a result of injuries he received after being struck by a ball in a match in Sydney. Hillel Oscar, 60, a former captain of the Israeli national team, was umpiring a match Saturday in his home town of Ashdod when he received an apparently fatal blow in a freak accident. Before the match between Young Ashdod and Super Lions Lod, the final game of the Israel domestic season, players and officials had held a minute’s silence for Hughes, whose untimely death has led to a string of tributes across the world. Super Lions Lod was also to be given the championship trophy at the end of the match, but as Steve Leigh, the Deputy Chairman of the Israeli Cricket Association told CNN, that celebration was never to happen. Leigh was not at the match, but recounted what he had been told of the tragic incident. “Midway through the first innings
Oscar Hillel (center) was a highly respected figure in Israel cricket and was still playing as well as undertaking umpiring duties.
a ball was driven fiercely back towards the umpire (by the batsman). “It hit the stumps and ricocheted but as Hillel tried to move out of the way the ball followed him and he was hit in the chest or just under the chin, it is still unclear exactly where. “He collapsed immediately and according to witnesses who were there he may have had a heart
attack.” Leigh said that the umpire was resuscitated by ambulance staff who were quickly on the scene, but he died later at a hospital in Ashdod. Englishman Leigh, 51, said the Israeli cricketing community had been left stunned by the incident. “Hillel was much loved by everyone,” he said
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Sports Interational
December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Russian doping claims: 99% of athletes guilty, German TV alleges AS MANY as 99% of Russian athletes are guilty of doping, a German TV documentary has alleged. The programme claims that Russian officials systematically accepted payment from athletes to supply banned substances and cover up tests. The documentary, shown by Das Erste, also implicates the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in covering up the abuse. The Russian Athletics Federation (RAF) says the allegations are “lies”. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has said it will “fully investigate” the claims. The BBC has not independently verified the documentary’s allegations and is awaiting responses from athletes targeted in the programme. In the documentary, broadcast on Wednesday, former discus thrower Yevgeniya Pecherina claimed that “most, the majority, 99%” of athletes selected to represent Russia use banned substances. “You can get absolutely everything,” added the 25-year-old Russian. “Everything the athlete wants.” Pecherina is currently serving a 10-year doping ban that is due to end in 2023. She had already been handed a two-year suspension in 2011. Liliya Shobukhova, who won the London Marathon in 2010, is also interviewed in the programme and admits paying the Russian Athletics Federation 450,000 euros (£350,000) to cover up a positive doping test. She is currently serving a twoyear ban after irregularities were detected in her biological passport. The documentary also included
Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale reacts at the Rosaleda stadium in Malaga.
The documentary, shown by Das Erste, also implicates the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in covering up the abuse.
an undercover video purporting to show 800m runner Mariya Savinova, who won gold at the 2012 Olympics in London, admitting to using the banned steroid oxandrolone. The video was dubbed into German with the original audio track absent, but the channel said it possessed an unedited version. The claims stem principally from former Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) official Vitaly Stepanov and his wife Yulia (nee Rusanova), formerly an 800m runner who was banned for doping. They allege that leading Russian athletics officials supplied banned substances in exchange for 5% of an athlete’s earnings and colluded with doping control officers to hush up and falsify tests. Yulia Stepanova said it was also common for Russian athletes to avoid out-of-competition testing by using false names while training abroad. Wada said that the claims would be “carefully scrutinised”, adding that it had “already received some
information and evidence of the type exposed in the documentary”. It added it had passed the information on to be investigated by “the appropriate independent body” within the IAAF. A Wada statement concluded: “If action is warranted, Wada will take any necessary and appropriate steps under the code.” According to some reports, the RAF will hold an emergency meeting later on Thursday, but RAF president Valentin Balakhnichev told news agency Reuters that the documentary’s allegations were “a pack of lies”. Rusada managing director Nikita Kamaev added: “We believe that the speculation and the statements are completely unfounded.” But International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told the Associated Press: “These are serious allegations. Should there be anything affecting the IOC and our code of ethics, we will not hesitate to take any and all action necessary.”
Brazil legend Pele continues to improve in hospital Brazil legend Pele has left intensive care as he continues to recover from a urinary infection. The three-time World Cup winner was admitted to Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital on 24 November. A statement from the hospital said the 74-year-old “is doing well without medical complications”. His kidney function will be assessed again on Wednesday but he is “lucid and eating well”, can walk around his room and is receiving “semi-intensive care”. A World Cup winner in 1958,
Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Pele scored a world-record 1,281 goals in 1,363 games during his 21-year career.
1962 and 1970, Pele was initially discharged from hospital on 13 November after surgery to remove kidney stones. Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, he scored a worldrecord 1,281 goals in 1,363 games during his 21-year career. Capped 91 times by Brazil, scoring 77 goals, he was named FIFA’s Player of the Century in 2000. He made 14 appearances at World Cup finals, scoring 12 goals, and was awarded the Fifa Golden Ball as the best player at the 1970 tournament. (BBC)
Unstoppable Real Madrid register clubrecord 16 wins in a row BARCELONA may have made the headlines for Lionel Messi’s record breaking exploits over the course of the last week, but the Catalan club’s arch rivals responded by making their own little piece of history Saturday. Real Madrid notched up a club record 16th consecutive victory in all competitions -- a run that stretches all the way back to the middle of September -- by overcoming a gallant Malaga 2-1 away from home despite having midfield-star Isco sent off late on. Karim Benzema stretched to tuck home Cristiano Ronaldo’s cut-back after 18 minutes to put the reigning European champions on their way. Gareth Bale sealed the points late in the second half by racing clear of the Malaga defense and lofting the ball beyond Carlos Kameni. Isco was then sent for an early bath after earning a second booking for tripping up Samu Castillejo before Roque Santa Criz grabbed an injury-time consolation for Malaga with a looping header. The result stretches Real’s lead atop of the La Liga table to five points, although Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Valencia will be looking to reduce that deficit when they play tomorrow. All the focus after the game, however, was on the new club record. “We have achieved a record that demonstrates the work we have been doing,” said midfielder Marcello in comments carried by the Real Madrid website. “But the goal we set ourselves is to win every game with humility, work and struggle.” Real will now look to extend the record when they face U.E. Cornella in the Copa Del Rey on Tuesday. In the day’s early La Liga fixtures, Athletic Bilbao ran out 2-1 winners away to mid-table Getafe while Espanyol had too much for Levante, running out 2-1 winners.
Bayern Munich’s seemingly unstoppable march to a third straight Bundesliga title continued apace Saturday with a 1-0 victory away to Hertha Berlin. Arjen Robben’s first half goal was enough to stretch Pep Guardiola’s men lead atop the table to 10 points, although that could be reduced back to seven if second place Wolfsburg overcome Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen moved up to third with a 5-1 hammering of FC Cologne while unfancied Augsburg rose to fourth by overcoming struggling giants Hamburg 3-1. Fifth placed Schalke made up for their humiliating midweek loss to Chelsea by defeating Mainz 4-1 in Gelsenkirchen. In what was perhaps the game of the day in Germany, though, Hoffenheim edged out Hannover 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller. Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck early on at the Parc de Princes to give Paris Saint Germain a narrow 1-0 win over mid-table Nice. The Swedish striker lashed home from the penalty spot after 15 minutes and despite coming under pressure in the second half the Parisians held on for the win. The hard-earned result means reigning French champions have closed the gap on league leaders Marseille to a single point. Elsewhere in France Saturday, Monaco’s stuttering start to the season continued with a 2-0 loss away to fourth placed Rennes. Goals from Aymen Abdennour and Ola Toivanen were enough to ensure Leonardo Jardim’s side couldn’t follow up their impressive Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen earlier in the week. Further down the table Lens defeated Metz 2-0 while Caen and Montpellier drew 1-1. (CNN)
December 6- 12, 2014
Sports Interational
43
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Philadelphia 76ers avoid tying NBA record
Gerald Davies, who won 46 caps for Wales and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1968 and 1971, succeeds former Scotland full-back Andy Irvine.
Former Wales wing Gerald Davies appointed Pro12 chairman FORMER Wales and British and Irish Lions wing Gerald Davies has been appointed chairman of the Pro12. The 69-year-old, who won 46 caps for Wales and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1968 and 1971, succeeds former Scotland fullback Andy Irvine. “It is an honour,” said Davies, a former Wales Rugby Union board member. It was the WRU’s turn to nominate the next chairman of the Pro12, which is made up of professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
Davies, who was also team manager on British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2009, represented Llanelli, Cambridge University, London Welsh, Cardiff and the Barbarians during a glittering playing career. Pro12 chief executive John Feehan said: “It is a privilege to have Gerald Davies as our chairman. His understanding of rugby is exceptional. “Gerald embodies the rugby ethos and tradition while at the same time having extensive experience in the governance of our sport.” (BBC)
“I can’t blow it out there with some younger guys any more. But there are other ways. You can win at a late age,” the former world’s number one stated.
Woods feels he can still win FORMER world number one Tiger Woods says he can still compete at golf’s top level, despite admitting he can no longer drive as far as many players. The 38-year-old returns to competition at the World Challenge in Florida on Thursday, his first event since August following back problems. “Father time is undefeated. We all lose some things we could do,” he said. “I can’t blow it out there with some younger guys any more. But there are other ways. You can win at a late age.” Woods plays alongside Australian Jason Day in the opening round at
his home course, the Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Windermere, Florida. He said: “You don’t have to physically dominate in golf. You just have to turn up and play. I am not quite 40 yet. I still have some time.” Woods won the most recent of his 14 majors in 2008 at the age of 32 and is still waiting to gain further ground on the record of 18 held by Jack Nicklaus. After losing his number one ranking during a break from golf to resolve personal issues, he overcame injuries to regain the top spot in March 2013 and won five times last year, earning him the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year for a record 11th time.
WHEN a team of Wall Street financiers bought the Philadelphia 76ers three years ago, they gave fans of this beleaguered basketball franchise reason for hope. An infusion of cash might end a decade of mediocrity, attract star players and make the 76ers relevant again. But instead of spending lavishly on star players, the owners have employed methods honed at the private equity firms where they made their fortunes. Josh Harris, the billionaire who leads the new owners group, and his front office sized up the N.B.A. marketplace and discovered something counterintuitive: the best route to the top just might be through the subbasement. The 76ers, turning the fundamental belief system of sports on its head, don’t mind losing. A lot. The results have been spectacular. The 76ers are 1-17, nearly tying the league’s record for futility to start a season. The team’s first win came Wednesday night against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves. The franchise that has been to more N.B.A. Finals than any team besides the Lakers and Celtics has become a test case for what happens when the cold, hard calculations of the business world are applied to the emotionally charged landscape of professional sports. “They’re tearing it down from a performance standpoint, while building it up on the management side,” said Scott Rosner, a sports business professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of business. “It’s unorthodox. It’s risky. And it may not work.” Harris, a co-founder of Apollo
The 76ers are 1-17, nearly tying the league’s record for futility to start a season.
Global Management who is worth $2.6 billion, according to Forbes, led the group that bought the 76ers in 2011. Among those at his side was David S. Blitzer, a senior executive at Blackstone, the world’s largest private equity firm. Harris and Blitzer, along with their two other coowners, all graduated from Wharton, where they became 76ers fans. When they acquired the team, the 76ers were overachieving in the weak Eastern Conference. Harris’s first big move was to bring in a potential star who might take the team even further, Andrew Bynum. The move was a disaster. Bynum did not play a single game for the 76ers and signed elsewhere after the team paid him $17 million. After that debacle, Harris and his co-owners abruptly changed tack.
They purged the roster of big names and costly contracts. They began amassing draft picks through trades. And last year, they brought in new management, including a former Madison Square Garden executive, Scott O’Neil, as chief executive and a data-driven general manager in Sam Hinkie. “They operate much more at the board level than other owners I’ve worked for,” O’Neil said of Harris and Blitzer. “They believe in weighing in on the budget, on management and on strategy. They invest in talent, and then they let the operators operate.” All these moves are designed to build a championship-caliber team and return the 76ers to greatness. But to win, the owners believe, the 76ers first must lose.
Organisers pledge ‘no clash’ for 2022 sports bonanzas SPORTS fans worried about being caught between the World Cup and the Winter Olympics in 2022 have no need for concern, Olympic chiefs say. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach told CNN that he had “100%” confidence that football’s flagship event, which has been awarded to the Middle Eastern state of Qatar, wouldn’t clash with the 2022 Winter Olympics. Timing is naturally key to hosting the Winter Games, which are typically held in February. Bach told CNN’s Amanda Davies: “It was very clear that it is nobody’s interest to have such a clash and (FIFA) President Blatter gave a clear commitment that there would be no such clash.” It may be over seven years away, but the 2022 edition of football’s flagship event is already causing organisers headaches. The sports’ national federations and players’
unions have raised concerns about the heat of the Qatari summer, saying the extreme temperatures would be hazardous to the health and wellbeing of the athletes. Temperature concerns have led to calls, including from European football chief Michel Platini, for the tournament to be held in the winter. FIFA has yet to confirm the scheduling for the event. Bach, however, is confident that Blatter will honor his promise to avoid scheduling conflicts. “I have no reason not to believe that he would deliver on this commitment.” He said that he was “100%” confident “because I always believe that people are taking reasonable decisions.” While European leagues are unhappy with the idea of a winter Cup, which would interfere with their domestic tournaments, the
chairman of the European Clubs Association (ECA), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, told CNN that it would be “acceptable” to change the schedule for just “one season.” The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held either in Almaty, Kazakhstan, or the Chinese capital Beijing after all other bids were withdrawn. The Qatar edition of the World Cup itself is beset by controversy, as human rights groups have previously slammed the country’s treatment of migrant workers. Qatar says it is reforming contentious practices, such as the kafala system, which ties employees to a specific employer. The system, according to Human Rights Watch and the International Trade Union Confederation, is open to systematic abuse and has created a de facto form of slavery for the more than one million migrant workers living within Qatar’s borders.
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Sports National
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
Josh for Sports
Resigning from active coaching and sports consultation AS of this moment in my life I have made a conscious decision to retire from active coaching and sports consultation. I’ve been very unselfish in my sports exploits. I have never been paid for my national contributions in this area; except when I was a PE teacher in 1972. Naturally, I went to SIU as a student/athlete on a full athletic scholarship. The only other two times that I’d received remuneration was as a national sports coach and director in the TCI.
By Joshua Gardiner
I was rejected and despised by certain persons who were jealous of my CV and accomplishments.
Athletes to me are the most ungrateful individuals on earth. I have secured millions of dollars of scholarships for athletes, who finished universities as a result, without collecting a dime. Some of them are millionaires and when I needed clothing assistance, they would promise me, but never deliver. CURRENT STATE OF HEALTH I coach a handful of athletes who would come on an irregular basis. Sometimes at around 4:30am I would go and coach them. Prior to
leaving for Haiti to visit the doctor they offered me in total less than $20—a total insult. At age 63 I’ve had enough of being exploited—enough is enough. The government did not give me a red cent. A VERY GRAVE MEDICAL CONDITION I just returned from doing a medical analysis from the top medical institution in Haiti: Höpital Sacré Coeurin Milot. CANCER
The KB Home and Jam Turk cricketers prior to their clash.
I’ve been diagnosed with tumours within both my kidneys and varying degrees of tumorous looking balls within different parts of my stomach. At this stage no one knows if it is malignant. I have to return at a later date when the cardiologist from the USA is available. PRAY FOR JOSH Those of you that know the value of prayer, please pray for me. Remember that I’ve always said give me my flowers while I’m living. God bless, Love Josh
Ian Heath bowled with control and pace to finish with 5-26 from four overs.
HAB Group TCICA T20 Cricket:
Despite loss Jaguars finish preliminary round on top THE Sunny Foods Jaguars suffered a loss to the Police team when the preliminary round of the HAB Group TCICA T20 Cricket competition concluded last Sunday at the Downtown Ball Park, in Providenciales. Despite the loss, the Jaguars, who sat out the last competition, finished with 12 points and the lead. They will now play the HB Home (who finished with six points), while the Lawmen and Jam Turk, who finished on nine points each, will play the other game when the competition continues next. On Sunday Chabbie Charlery was extremely aggressive as he belted six sixes and seven fours in his score
of 72. He was ably supported by opening partner Kareem Jack who scored 33 (5X4s). Also supporting was Damian St. Ange (5X4s and 1X6) with 38 as Police raced to 2087 from their allotted 20 overs. Bowling for Jaguars Smijo Devassy and Walter Henry grabbed two wickets each. When Jaguars batted they appeared lethargic and lackluster and soon crumbled for 142-9 in 20 overs. Naga Kuthalingham top scored with 23 (5X4s), but the batting could not get on top of the bowling, as Jerry Grant and Ira Baptiste captured three wickets each for 26 runs from three and four overs
respectively. On Saturday Ian Heath delivered a feisty spell of fast bowling for Jam Turk who ended the small run of KB Home. KB Home won the toss and marched to a respectable 158-7 after former national Barbadian all-rounder Marlon Graham continued his fine batting form with another half century. Graham laced the boundary 11 times while he scored a solitary six in his knock of 67. Gareth Butler, who scored 76 the week before, supported well with 35 (4X4s). Heath led the bowling attack with five wickets for 26 runs from four overs while
Douglas Brown took two wickets for 32 runs. In response, Jam Turk started scanty, but soon gathered themselves to reach the total for the loss of seven wickets in 19 overs. Dane Ritchie led the way with an unbeaten 49 (4X4s and 4X6s) while Sidue Hunter added 35 (3X4s and 1X6) and Brown chipped in with 19 runs (2X4s, 1X6). Bowling for KB Homes Graham took 3-16 from three overs, while Ajay Vyas finished with 2-20 from four overs. The TCICA fraternity also had a moment of silence for former local cricketer Donald Walters and international cricketer Phil Hughes.
Chabbie Charlery scored 72 to lead the Lawmen to victory over the Jaguars.
December 6- 12, 2014
Sports National
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
The Turks and Caicos Islands team started their climb after beating the BVI 2-0 in the preliminary qualification round of the 2014 Caribbean Cup in June.
TCI down one spot in latest FIFA rankings
– But now ahead of seven teams in CONCACAF standings THE Turks and Caicos Islands football team has dropped one spot after months of progression on the monthly FIFA rankings table. After jumping 40 spots over the last few months, we have moved to 178, however due to a huge eight point drop by Bermuda (180) we are now ahead of seven teams in CONCACAF. With a 28 ranking, we find
ourselves in a better position than Bermuda, Dominica (187), the Bahamas (195), the USVI (197), the BVI (202), the Cayman Islands (204) and Anguilla (208). TCI who sits just above Central American side Belize (177) is also ahead of Pakistan (188 million people), Cambodia (15.14M) and Nepal (27.8M).
Provo Hockey League:
Scholar hits nine in draw MAX Scholar scored all nine goals as the Grace Bay Resorts Conchorers drew with Big Blue Thunders last Saturday when action continued at the Graceway Sports Centre in the Provo Hockey League (PHL). Scholar took the game to the Thunders in the second period as he scored six times. With the onslaught he has now taken his tally to 16 goals, but he is far behind the explosive Kurt Rivers who had dominated for the Thunders this season. Rivers has so far scored 34 goals. His last five were scored on Saturday. Rivers scored four goals in the opening period, three of which came in under three minutes early in the game. Valentine Osmond played his part for the Thunders with three second period goals. In the other Vix Novice clash, Samuel Connolly scored five times and made an assist to push the Grace Bay Car Rental Islanders to an 8-2 win over the Scotiabank Sailfish. The Islanders did their damage in the first period and along with Connolly, Jack Blain also scored two goals and made an assist. For the Sailfish, Maddox Jones (who is second in the individual points table with 21 goals) scored twice. BANTAM DIVISION In the Empower Bantam Division the Sailrock Lobsters recorded victories against the Saunders and Co. Owls and the Coco Bistro Lightning to increase their lead to five wins in seven games. Both victories were
by slim margins. Against the Owls Zachary Scholar scored three goals and made an assist in the 4-3 win. The Owls had opened the scoring in 2:52, but before the 10 minute mark Scholar had already scored his three goals. Carson Greatrex had scored another for the Owls before the period ended and late in the second he assisted Joshua Saunders to tie the game, but Jake Whent scored the winner from a Scholar’s assist in 14.02. Against the Lightning Scholar scored twice in the 5-3 win, while Theo Weldon, Whent and Julien Lightbourne added the others. For the Lightning Joe Canham, Michael Saunders and Jamie Gray scored one goal each. MIDGET DIVISION In the J and W Construction Midget Division the Digicel Panthers rebounded from their previous misses to beat the Twa Marcelin Wolf Pirates 7-6. Matthew Harnett who scored twice in both periods led the winners with four while Zarek Swann added two goals and an assist. For the Pirates Liam Delancy led the attack with three goals. In the other Midget clash the BCQS Flames bounced back from 4-2 down after the first period to beat the Gansevoort Gators 8-7. Sean Karam led the attack with three goals and an assist, while Liam Karam and Orrin Campbell scored two each. For the Gators Gabriel Diotte Joly (also an assist) and Bradley Ayer scored two goals each.
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Bien-Aime humbled by Gala Awards Ball honour PRESIDENT of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) Sonia Bien-Aime said that she is honoured and humbled to be selected as the honoree for Friday’s (December 5) Annual Gala Awards Ball organised by the TCI Women in Sports Organisation. The award will be given to BienAime for her achievement in football and for her ambassador’s role while representing the TCI as a member of the TCIFA, the CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA. Bien-Aime, who sits on the executive committee of both CONCACAF and FIFA boards, said: “It is my hope that by receiving this award, it can inspire and motivate young girls and women in sports in the TCI to set goals and aspire to achieve them”. Bien-Aime, who celebrated her
Sonia Bien-Aime said that she is honoured and humbled by the award.
birthday this week, said that the TCI Women in Sports organisation should be applauded for: “Its vision, as there have been far too many successful female athletes who have gone unnoticed.”
The award ceremony will be held under the theme “Sparkle—An Evening of Glitz and Glamour” at the Regent Palms Resort from 19:00h. Along with a three-course dinner, patrons will be exposed to live entertainment a silent auction and live raffle with lots of prizes. Entrance fee is $150 per person, but all proceeds will go towards the TCI Swim Foundation and the TCIFA Girls’ Youth Development team. The money would help offset the expenses of the youth football team’s tour of Canada next year, while the Swimming Foundation will use to funds to teach young females the techniques and safety skills in swimming throughout the islands. To reserve tickets please call WIS President Florence Bennett 2315793 or VP Edith Cox 231-3617.
The national female team that battled in the NACRA 7s tournament.
TCI female ruggers gain valuable experience in Mexico THE Turks and Caicos Rugby Football Union (TCIRFU) senior female team used their trip to Mexico this week, where they competed in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 7s Tournament, to gain valuable experience. Although not getting on the winners column on day one the female team playing in their second
international tournament held their own against Trinidad and Tobago (029), the Cayman Islands (0-38) and St. Lucia (0-27). Despite the defeats it was not obvious that 10 players in the squad are first timers at the international level. Coach Ranald Schulz said that the TCIRFU’s objective at the tournament was to gauge themselves
against the other teams so that they can continue to build on the foundation of women’s rugby at home. Female rugby is in its developmental stage in the TCI. The British Caribbean Bank, HAB Group, Chartered Trust, Olympic Construction, Trail Enterprises and Fortis assisted the national team in their travels.
Digicel Play PPL
Sharks bounce back from opening loss THE combined team of the Trailblazers and the Flamingos: the Mango Reef Trailblazers FC did little to stop the SWA Sharks from bouncing back from their opening loss to Cheshire Hall when action in the Provo Premier League, sponsored
by Digicel Play, continued at the AFC Academy ground on Sunday last. The Mango Reef Trailblazers, who recently merged due to low numbers, lost 0-8 to the Sharks after Dadi Aristide, who missed the opener, scored
four goals. Also playing their parts were Peggy Derilien and Chris Bryan. The Teachers also recorded their opening win on Sunday when they met Beaches. In the game, which ended 3-1, Chris O’Neil scored a brace.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014
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December 6- 12, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 6- 12, 2014