The Turks and Caicos Weekly News by TC Weekly News

Weekly News Volume 27 | No. 04 | February 2 - 8, 2013

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House majority

repeals

VAT

THE House of Assembly majority voted to repeal the Value Added Tax (VAT) legislation on Friday, with the exception of the two Governor appointed members, Lillian Misick and John Phillips, and Norman Saunders who was absent at the time of the vote. PAGE 

Bishop Johnson stages protest against the Brits

inside



Premier to deliver ultimatum to SIPT

THE Special Investigations and Prosecutions Team (SIPT) is expected to soon be put on notice with an ultimatum ... PAGE  5

Extradition papers lodged with Brazilian gov’t

EXTRADITION papers were lodged with the Brazilian government on Tuesday to allow the embattled former Premier, Mike Misick, to return to the Turks ... PAGE  7

Tactical decision made on VAT, ball in Brits’ court PROTEST: Bishop Reuben Johnson of New Testament Church outside the Gustarvus Lightbourne Centre

PAGE 

THE current administration has made a tactical decision as it relates to the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), according to Finance Minister ... PAGE  6

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Editorial

Where do we go from here? Part two WHAT clearer message could be sent? The legitimate Government of the Turks and Caicos, the elected representatives of the people all members of the PNP present and members of the PDM - voted unanimously against the imposition of VAT on this tiny British colony. The only two votes in support of VAT were from the Governor's appointed members. The message was clear and precise: No to VAT. Now it remains to be seen what next the forces of colonialism will do to foist their stubborn, imperious will upon the people of these islands. The former Director for the Overseas Territories, Colin Roberts, pledged during his visit here, shortly after the Commission of Inquiry, that there would never be a repeat of what happened to cause the Commission of Inquiry. He said the UK would "fix" it so that it would never happen again. And boy, what a "fix" we are in! But, like the famous pamphleteer Thomas Payne famously wrote during the American struggle for independence: "These are the times that try men's souls." Jerzy Kolodziej, local savant and legal scholar said it powerfully on Facebook last week: "Let us all stand in support of our elected representatives showing that the TCI is indeed a unified colony. “The UK and the Governor may choose to meet our resistance but history will show that any attempt to do so would be futile. “If the people of the TCI will not accept VAT, if the elected government will not accept VAT, if the opposition party will not accept VAT... there is no force on the earth that will impose VAT upon us." Yesterday's historic vote against VAT cannot be ignored by the international community. The elected representatives of the people have spoken - loud and clear. It is now up to the Governor and the British government. Minister of Finance Washington Misick, in wrapping up his contribution to the House on Friday warned his colleagues to be prepared for a backlash from the British. "Let me state it clear," he said, "the fight has just begun...I'm telling you now to be prepared ... we may be called upon to pay a higher price for our democracy." Leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright, who introduced the private member's motion to repeal VAT, said she was cognizant the fight would take the Government outside of the House of Assembly, and perhaps outside of the Turks and Caicos. She made it clear that wherever the fight is taken, it must be underscored that the people of the Turks and Caicos have spoken resoundingly against VAT And now we all wait to see where we are going from here.

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 Vanessa Narine - Senior Reporter Faizool Deo – Sports Cord Garrido-Lowe – Graphics/Production Editor Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams – Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@yahoo.com, tcweeklynews@gmail.com (Talk Back) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com

February 2 - 8, 2013

House majority repeals VAT – a matter of preserving democracy BY VANESSA NARINE THE House of Assembly majority voted to repeal the Value Added Tax (VAT) legislation on Friday, with the exception of the two Governor appointed members, Lillian Misick and John Phillips, and Norman Saunders who was absent at the time of the vote. The consensus from the House majority was that the repeal of VAT legislation was larger than the repeal itself; rather it is a stance against an attack on democracy. The 16 to two vote followed a private member motion by Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, who in her presentation

said: “We believe that it is not so much a matter of VAT, but one of democracy…. the Opposition believes that this is a disaster to avert and we are committed for the long haul. “We believe that this is an attack on democracy and if we do not stand today, then we can expect many more days to come of fighting to have elected voices heard. “This is not intended to be a bucking of heads and should from me not be met with that spirit. “I am a tax payer and a resident in these Islands and whilst I stand for others, I stand for myself. “Mr. Speaker, I believe that there must be a greater respect for local

knowledge and authority and I sincerely believe that we must try to engage but when this fails, we must stand up and push until our voices are heard. “Mr. Speaker, if we fail then it is not the House of Assembly that fails, it is that the United Kingdom that would have failed democracy.” According to her, the current situation is not reflective of oversight by the UK; rather it is overkill. The Opposition Leader said: “What I expect is for democracy when it is in the best interests of our people to prevail. “Yes Mr. Speaker there are continued 

Bishop Reuben Johnson stages protest against the Brits THERE cannot be a government within a government, which is the current state of affairs given Governor Ric Todd’s power to overrule an elected government’s decision. This was according to the Bishop of the New Testament Church on Millennium Highway, Reuben Johnson, who started a protest outside the Gustarvus Lightbourne Centre, Downtown, Providenciales. He said: “Anything done by the elected government can be overruled by the Governor. We cannot function like that, with two governments. “The Governor, the AG and the CFO have done too much to this country. They are messing up the Turks and Caicos Islands and they have to go…we cannot operate in a dictatorship.” Johnson stood from 11am with placards that read ‘Governor Todd must go’, ‘Dictatorship must go’ and ‘AG Huw Shepherd must go’. Later the Bishop was joined by Jackie Lightbourne who expressed strong sentiments against British officials functioning on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the Turks and Caicos Islands. And from 1.30pm Pastor Branford Emmanuel Dean from the National Church of God on Millennium Highway also joined the protest.

FELLOWSHIP: Bishop Reuben Johnson inspires others to join his protest action, as he is joined by Jackie Lightbourne

“The country is stagnating simply because of the government operating within a government. “The reason we elected a government is for them to speak and act on our behalf and we don’t feel as if they have any voice even though we gave them our voice; they have been silenced by the powers that be.” He called on the entire population of the Turks and Caicos Islands to stand against what he described as a

“national sin”. While the suspension of the 2006 Constitution was welcomed in 2009 as a means of restoring the TCI to a sense of stability, after the maladministration of the former administration, the actions of the British during the three years of Interim Government rule has seen officials, more so those of Governor Ric Todd, has seen them becoming increasingly unpopular in the local community. (VANESSA NARINE)

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS

House majority repeals VAT continued

safeguards and necessary safeguards that always ought to exist in a democracy but this Mr. Speaker I am convinced is not one.” She noted that VAT: Will increase the cost of living in the Turks and Caicos Islands; Will increase the cost of essential services; Is a regressive tax that disproportionately disadvantages the poor; Will have a negative impact on businesses not meeting the VAT threshold; Will have an economic cost to small businesses; and Will have opportunity cost to small businesses. “VAT is outside the scope of the interim administration. Such a dramatic change in our tax system should be the responsibility of an elected government with a mandate,” Cartwright-Robinson stressed. NOT EVIDENCED BASED The Opposition Leader bemoaned the fact that VAT is being pushed forward, although it is not evidenced based. She said: “Mr. Speaker we take note of the CFO’s response and say to this country, we can show you evidence, and I ask where is the evidence to support this decision?” Cartwright-Robinson pointed out that her party has taken the time to study and work with advisers and prepare a detailed position paper, which it stands by. She said: “Mr. Speaker Professor Allan Roe made several references to the period immediately before the interim government when we who care to speak the truth knew that there was an usual pattern of behaviour which has lent to our present financial problems. “Without resting there Mr. Speaker, no real attention was paid to those years where the system produced well and produced real surpluses. “Mr. Speaker we cannot allow our tax system to be changed in response to maladministration or a period that we must all agree is not ideal to fiscal management over the years in TCIG.” The Opposition Leader reiterated the sentiments of the recent report by tax expert, Richard Teather, as well as pointed to the similar economies in the region that have either repealed VAT or are struggling with it. “The wisdom of our neighbours with similar economies not to introduce VAT should not be ignored and the reasons why some introduced it and rolled it back is equally concerning and should be noted,” she said. Cartwright-Robinson acknowledged the need for government to ensure a steady stream of revenue to foster greater fiscal health and a sustainable economy for the country, but made it clear that there must be a “less penalising means” to accomplish this goal.

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, categorically states his government’s support for VAT’s repeal

Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, moves a private member motion to repeal VAT

She said: “Governments are put in place to develop laws and policies that protect society and generations to come. “We have grown this economy and managed well under the existing tax regime and are not convinced that our economy has outgrown this method. “We certainly believe that an increase in resources in compliance will yield much. “We understand the plight of the people and are careful to increase any further burden on an already heavily taxed shrinking tax base. “Our residents and citizens are still trying to recover from effects of the recession. “To implement a tax system that is particularly burdensome to the middle class and the poor will not alleviate poverty but create poverty. “Governments have to reach a delicate balance between having a stable economy and imposing taxes that could result in contracting the economy.” She made it clear that the Turks and Caicos Islands cannot move forward with continued clashes with Waterloo.

to it through a Secretary of State and the Governor has signified Her assent by proclamation published in the Gazette. When a bill is presented to the Governor for his or her assent, the Governor shall, subject to this Constitution and to any instructions addressed to him or her by Her Majesty through a Secretary of State, declare that he or she assents, or refuses to assent, to it, or that he or she reserves the bill for the signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure; but the Governor shall reserve for the signification of Her Majesty’s pleasure any bill which appears to him or her, acting in his or her discretion: to be in any way repugnant to, or inconsistent with, this Constitution; to be in any way inconsistent with the Statement of Governance Principles for the time being in effect; to be in any way inconsistent with any international

TOO MANY UNKNOWNS Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, also bemoaned the negative impacts of VAT, seconded the motion and pointed out there are too many unknowns coupled with the push to implement VAT. He pointed out that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) still has not explained how the sum of a $10m increase in revenue from VAT was arrived at. Ewing opined that the figured seems to have been plucked from the air. He said: “VAT is not the way to go.” According to him, it is not even a replacement tax, as touted by the CFO, rather it is a “reckless” move to push through with a new system that is not well thought out. “VAT is a killer tax,” the Premier posited. DICTATORS Finance Minister, Washington Misick, in his presentation on the motion to repeal VAT, pointed out that there have been alternatives proposals – alternatives that will raise over $16m in additional

revenue, far exceeding the CFO’s projected $10m. However, he explained that the UK does not approve of these alternatives, rather it is dictating what the alternatives should be; a choice between VAT, income tax and property tax. He said: “We know what is good for us…we will not conform.” Misick made it clear that gone are the days when the British can come to colonies and tell them what is good for them. According to him, the proposed alternatives are creative means of raising revenue, without burdening the local people. He said: “We will have to stick to our guns on this one. If we lose this battle, we might as well busy the mace and other instruments of this House at Waterloo.” The Finance Minister maintained that the fight is now beginning, adding that democracy in the TCI may come at a higher price than expected. He stressed that the motion spells progress of the democracy and commended the House on its united stand in pushing through with the mandate of the people of the TCI. IN FAVOUR OF The Governor appointed member, John Phillips, posited that VAT can work in the TCI, but needs to be remodelled to fit the dynamics of the economy. The second appointed member, Lillian Misick, questioned the challenges associated with repealing the VAT legislation, making clear her support for the new tax regime. Acting Attorney General, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, in response explained that the practical challenges of the repeal are: the need to ensure a stable revenue stream; the repurposing of the VAT Unit staff; and the cost of aborting contracts already entered into in the process of preparing for VAT. She dutifully pointed out that Section 73 of the TCI Constitution Order, relating to assent of bills, states: That a bill shall not become law until the Governor has assented to it in Her Majesty’s name and on Her Majesty’s behalf and has signed it in token of his or her assent; or Her Majesty has given Her assent

obligation; to affect any matter for which the Governor is responsible under section 37; to affect the integrity or independence of the public service, of the administration of justice or of any institution protecting good governance; or to determine or regulate the privileges, immunities or powers of the House of Assembly or of its members, unless the Governor has been authorised by a Secretary of State to assent to it. Governor, Ric Todd, commenting on the repeal, said: “I have been informed about the decision of the House of Assembly today on the Turks and Caicos Islands Value Added Tax (Repeal) Bill 2013. “Section 73 of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011 sets out the procedure under which a bill becomes law. “I intend to discuss this matter with my colleagues in Cabinet on Wednesday, February 6, 2013.”

Premier to deliver ultimatum to SIPT THE Special Investigations and Prosecutions Team (SIPT) is expected to soon be put on notice with an ultimatum, as it relates to their use of space at the official office of the Premier on Providenciales at the Hilly Ewing building. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, on Tuesday stated that SIPT’s occupation of government space is “hampering” the work of his Government. Currently the space at the Hilly Ewing building is being used by members of SIPT, as well as other officials attached to either the interim administration or the Governor’s office. Ewing said: “We have told the SIPT to get out. I put my Ministers out of work space…I know it is probably difficult to find space in Provo, but I need them (SIPT) out. It is hampering our work.” Ewing explained that his Government has had to seek alternative arrangements for meetings as the conference room

at the office of the Premier’s office is occupied by the SIPT. However, according to him there has been no word from SIPT or the Governor’s office on their relocation from the Hilly Ewing building. The Premier explained that in the interim, while on Providenciales, his ministers are working out of different locations. He said: “Honourable Misick operates from the Tourist Board, I use the Ministry of Health office I used before, Akierra Missick uses the office that used to be the Sports Commission and the list goes on. We are coordinated however.” Ewing pointed out that his Government spends most of their time in the nation’s capital; more specifically three working days a week in Grand Turk and the remaining days in Providenciales. The Premier has committed to his Cabinet to have this issued corrected soon. (VANESSA NARINE)

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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

VAT fight’s new twist

THE latest development in the Value Added Tax (VAT) debacle is the pronouncement by British tax expert, Richard Teather, that the new tax regime is not well suited to small island economies like that of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Teather’s comments are included in a report on the effects of VAT, a study commissioned by the Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council (TCIBC), which was leaked this week. What are your thoughts?

Thank you Mike Misick

providing these concessions are documents only VAT can overcome.

The socialist bureaucrats are not going to listen to reason. They do not wish to be confused by facts at this point. Perhaps all we can do is grin and bear it until the debt is paid off and then our democratically elected government can rescind it. Thank you Michael Misick, for your legacy to us!

Accurate report

The report is accurate. VAT is not appropriate for a small island economy. What value is added in a retail economy? VAT was created for a manufacturing economy where firms buy raw or semi-finished goods and add lots of labour to provide a useful product. The fact is VAT is being imposed to get around the concessions given out like gum drops to developers who made campaign and other contributions to politicians. One developer it seems just paid dearly for getting involved. McGarel-Groves said clearly the contracts

legal

The past is catching up to us

VAT and so much more are the direct result of the former government of 2003 to 2009 and the British civil service government of 2009 to November 2012. The voters putting them and their relatives back in power makes no sense and in the long run will cost everyone in a ruined economy. How that PDM party lost is the exclusive responsibility of their former leader happily now thrown under the bus of history along with his advisers and fossilised supporters. Now PDM has the leader to take on VAT if only the voters of Cheshire Hall give her a chance to be Premier.

Incompetent CFO

With all due respect the CFO is either a genius or a washed out left over civil servant assigned here because they did not know what to do with him. We believe it has been revealed he

is no genius. He will soon find out that the imposition of VAT will be very difficult or impossible and a bigger disaster than the imposition of NHIP. Will his bosses retire or fire him for the mess he is creating?

Expats can leave when things get bad

Complicated VAT imposed on a tiny economy of 30,000 people, mostly foreigners who can leave when things get complicated is terrible and not very smart. The problem is for the PNP to complain about it; which unfortunately is led by the man who created the need to tax the people to death with his health and hospital mess. Finance Minister Washington Misick’s alternatives are just more economy destroying taxes. A few more years and the entire PNP party and the current CFO will be gone; and the sooner the better.

Stubborn self-service

The Brits are stubborn and are moving forward with VAT out of pure self-service. VAT, according to the CFO himself, will see a $10m loss in revenue (although no figures on how that $10m was calculated have been provided). That money in the eyes of the Brits is their security for the $260m loan guarantee. There is no consideration for the local people. The local people will feel the strain and it should be pointed out that the expat labour that the TCI has attracted will also be affected. If the cost of living gets any higher the expats have the option to leave the TCI.

This will affect the TCI’s ability to grow its economy, since the small numbers of indigenous Islanders are not enough to push the growth the Government wants. Interesting enough, it was a British tax expert whose independent report makes it clear that VAT is not suited for small economies like that of the TCI. Maybe there is some hope that the stubborn British administrators will listen to one of their own.

Brits hell bent on pushing VAT

I do not know why they are so hell bent on introducing VAT. It really is not the best thing for this Island, for real. The sad thing is, there are proven ways in which to decrease the country’s debt but the Governor seems not to care at all. I think if VAT was introduced, some more businesses will close their doors and set up elsewhere and more persons will find themselves slipping into somewhat of a poverty level of living or should I say just getting by way of living. This country really has strayed far away from what it used to be and what attracts their very own form returning home to make their contributions.

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Tactical decision made on VAT, ball in Brits’ court BY VANESSA NARINE

THE current administration has made a tactical decision as it relates to the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), according to Finance Minister, Washington Misick, who added that the ball is now in the Brits’ court. Misick said: “We believe our revenue measures will raise the money we need to meet expenses.” He explained that the Government expects to produce a revised budget in the second quarter of the 20132014 financial year. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, wrote to United Kingdom Minister for the Overseas Territories in the Foreign and Commonwealth

Office (FCO), Mark Simmonds, outlining two alternatives to the new tax regime, as well as making clear his Government’s opposition to VAT. He said: “Our position is to not support VAT. I have written to the Minister stating our position that we are not supporting VAT. “We gave two alternatives; either put in place VAT, income tax or property tax or go forward with limited expenditure. “We intend to go forward with limited expenditure, while putting our alternative revenue measures, which we are committed to putting in place, as an alternate to VAT.” According to him, the

Premier Rufus Ewing

Governor Ric Todd

Washington Misick

administration is confident that it can raise the revenue, which will far exceed what VAT is projected to raise. Ewing said: “We will be taking papers to Cabinet which will allow us to improve regulations in terms of compliance in areas like the Accommodation Tax and Head Tax for Carnival Cruise, among other revenue raising measures.

“We also submitted to the Minister our Financial Strategy and Policy Statement (FSPS), which would form the basis of our 20132014 Budget and he has to get back to us on that document, after which we will take that to the House for debate.” Commenting on the move by the Government, Governor Ric Todd said that he is aware that the

Premier proposed alternatives and stated his opposition to Minister Simmonds. He said: “The Premier, Hon Dr Rufus Ewing, wrote to Mr. Simmonds about VAT and the FSPS on January 29. “Mr. Simmonds’ office has confirmed receipt of the letter. Mr. Simmonds will reply as soon as he can.”

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS

Extradition papers lodged with Brazilian gov’t Ewing says it could have been done sooner BY VANESSA NARINE EXTRADITION papers were lodged with the Brazilian government on Tuesday to allow the embattled former Premier, Mike Misick, to return to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Turks and Caicos Islands’ Chief Magistrate and the acting Attorney General formally certified the papers last week and they were taken to Brazil on Sunday. However, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, maintained that this is something that should have been done “long ago” rather than weeks after Misick’s arrest.

Judiciary remains independent, Todd GOVERNOR Ric Todd maintains that the Turks and Caicos Islands’ judiciary remains independent. On Thursday, he responded to suggestions of collusion between the judiciary and British officials in the TCI after Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale gave an overview of the three election petitions cases before her. Todd made it clear that her report was an overview of the proceedings and not her decision on the matter. He added that other comments made in sections of the media that Ramsay-Hale’s report influenced his decision to instruct the elections office to be prepared for possible bielections are false. The Governor said: “Given that there are three elections petitions before the courts it is the responsible thing to do to have a contingency plan in case so that the elections office is prepared for the possibility of a bi-election. It is our contingency plan in that event.” The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM)’s case was heard in early December, but no final rulings have been made. The party, which lost its bid at the polls in the closest race in the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), challenged the results in three electoral districts: Grand Turk North, Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill and North and Middle Caicos. (VANESSA NARINE)

Ewing said: “This is a matter for the Attorney General’s chambers and I would like to say the Governor’s office, but I am not sure of that. “This is something that should have taken place long ago. Mr. Misick had indicated that he would return voluntarily and if that was the case he should have been home long ago.” Attorney General, Huw Shepherd, commenting on the process, said: “Some time was needed to assemble the documentation and to have the request translated into Portuguese, however the request has been made well within the time limit imposed by the extradition treaty, in accordance with the intention of the TCI Government and the Special Investigation Prosecution Team (SIPT) to secure Michael Misick's return to the TCI by due process of law.” NO OPPORTUNITY Misick, in a letter from Rio, Brazil that was released on Thursday, stressed that he was not given the opportunity to return voluntarily. He said: “I have read with amazement the comments of the Attorney General Huw Shepheard as to why I cannot return home voluntarily. “Firstly, I nor my legal representatives have ever given any

Former Premier Mike Misick

previous assurance of my return nor was I ever ask to show up at any police station at any given time to answer any questions. “Sometime during 2011 my legal representatives received a letter from Helen Garlick saying that she would be inviting me to return for questions. “My lawyer responded by asking for full disclosure and subjects of the questions so that I could be prepared to answer them. My lawyer never received full disclosure or the subject matter of the questions. “The next time I heard anything from SIPT or Helen Garlick was in February 2012 when they issued an Interpol Red Alert for my arrest. “By that time, because of my belief that I could not get a fair trial and that me and my colleagues are being prosecuted for our political beliefs I had already applied for

Sandals pleased with $12m payoff JUSTICE has prevailed according to officials from Sandals following the company’s multi-million dollar payoff to the Government last week. In a deal struck with the Special Investigation Prosecution Team (SIPT) the resort and spa giant agreed to release valuable evidence seen as “material” in investigations. In addition they paid $12m to the Government in order for a probe into the company to grind to a halt. However, the company, its directors and its officers have not admitted any liability. A brief statement from Sandals’ legal counsel last Wednesday, January 23, revealed that the firm is pleased with the outcome. It added that the matter has been concluded as far as Sandals Resorts is concerned and the company is satisfied with the manner in which it was resolved. The counsel added that Sandals has been indemnified and the outcome leaves room for the process of justice to continue. Sandals is run by Jamaican businessman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart and carries the Beaches Resort and Spa brand. SIPT is investigating corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands; it was formed after a Commission of Inquiry led by Sir Robin Auld in 2009 found evidence of widespread corruption in the TCI.

SIPT also made an out of court settlement with developer Mario Hoffman and the Salt Cay Development Companies for $7m. And 75-year-old property tycoon Varet ‘Jak’ Civre paid the Government $5m to dismiss bribery charges. (RB)

political asylum in Brazil. “Once the Red Alert was issued, I was stuck in Brazil and could not travel home freely. “There was no window of opportunity given to me to voluntarily show up.” Misick bemoaned the sentiment that he is a “political prisoner” and contends that he was “arrested illegally” at the request of the Attorney General and the British Government and documents they filed in the Brazilian Supreme Court. The former Premier said: “For that reason, the only way that I can be released from prison is if the AG and the British Government withdraw the prison order and agree to my voluntary return. NOT UP TO BRAZIL According to him, his stay in a Brazilian jail is not up to Brazilian authorities; rather it is dependent on the actions of the Attorney General, Special Prosecutor Helen Garlick and the British Government. Misick said: “In spite of still holding the belief that I cannot get a fair trial, I and my lawyers have offered for me to voluntarily return home in exchange for the AG and the British government withdrawing my prison order. “If the AG and others were truly interested in me coming home to face justice why for almost 60 days they had not made the official request for my extradition or accepted my offer to voluntarily return home? “It is obvious that the delay is about revenge and my continued political persecution, they want to punish me by keeping me locked down in a maximum security prison in Brazil for as long as they can. “The reality is that I have applied for political asylum in Brazil and there is a Red Alert out for me so how am I a flight risk? “Why would I abandon my asylum application and leave Brazil? In fact

I cannot do anything without the AG and Helen Garlick’s agreement to lift the Red Alert. “By these facts I again call on the AG and Helen Garlick, if they are truly interested in fairness and justice, to allow me to come home voluntarily so that I can answer questions and begin to prepare my defence since they have already decided that I will be charged even before asking me the first question.” He pointed out that a long drawn out process is a waste of taxpayers’ money, stressing that he is interested only in justice and coming home to clear his name. Misick said: “The AG and others can facilitate my speedy return so I can face their justice or they can continue to make excuses and continue their persecution of me and punishing me without a trial by leaving me in jail in Brazil because they are upset that I did not return home a year ago.” The former Premier lashed out at the Brits, calling their actions “revenge, not justice”, as the cards are in their hands not the Brazilians. He said: “I could be home to face whatever charges they choose to place on me in 24 to 48 hours of the AG and the British government agreeing to my voluntary return. “There is recent precedent for this in England where at least one high profile prisoner did agree to voluntarily return there to face charges after being away for many years. My situation is no different from theirs. “It is highly unusual for a person that is a country’s most wanted to want to voluntarily return and the authorities of that country refusing to accept him or to expedite his return.” The embattled former Premier maintained that the Brits have their own agenda; rather than keeping focus on justice. Misick was arrested in Brazil’s capital on December 7, 2012.

TCI may have lost interest of 28-storey developers THE Turks and Caicos Islands may have lost the interest of developers who proposed the 28-storey highrise. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, when asked about contact with developer noted that there has been no word to date. Asked if he was confident that the developers of the proposed 28-storey development are still interested, the Premier said: “I have heard, it is rumoured that maybe they have gone to the Cayman Islands.” He said: “We do not have any provisions for a 28-storey development. Our national physical development plan is something that we will be looking at. “The actual plan will not be finished before budget preparations start. Once it is completed you could

see changes in building height and density and zoning.” Ewing stated that once completed the TCI will be able to entertain interested developers willing to operate within the revised standards. In September, following six months of work, the 28-storey developer, Hugh Mclean, had submitted an outline proposal for a Mixed Used Development that includes an EP Hotel, Conference Centre, Retail and Professional Offices. It outlined expanding and diversifying the current tourism product offering on TCI and bringing the potential of increased tourism development and conference facilities, as well as providing a number of jobs. However, the project met strong

opposition from the local community, given the extent to which it differed from the existing national physical development plan, which permits buildings to go only as high as seven stories. McLean had indicated that his partners were willing to compromise, but Governor Ric Todd maintained that changes in legislation to permit high-rise developments in the Turks and Caicos Islands will be the decision of a democratically elected House of Assembly and government, given that elections were just over one month away at the time. The investment for the high-rise was estimated at a massive $200m, with some $5.5m allocated for the development’s marketing budget. (VANESSA NARINE)

NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

Governor opens up GOVERNOR Ric Todd reflected on the first three months of the new government this week from his perspective as both as Chair of the Cabinet and from a constitutional standpoint where he is responsible for ensuring good governance in the TCI. PROGRESS He said: “I think that the people of the TCI can be satisfied with the progress of democracy and the appointment of a newly elected government. “As a key partner in developing this nation, the British perspective sees many positives in the manner in which government business has been conducted so far. “This provides a good platform for future progress. Many of the members of the House of Assembly and the Cabinet are new to their roles, as indeed are a number of senior public servants, but their desire to serve the people of TCI to the best of their abilities is there for all to see. “From my side, I have regular meetings with the Premier and other Ministers and Cabinet meetings are conducted professionally and cordially; I thank my fellow Cabinet members, from the Premier down, for their support in this. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public servants of TCIG, led by Deputy Governor Anya Williams and the six Permanent Secretaries, for their hard

work, dedication and commitment to working for and with the newly elected Government. I know that this is as much appreciated by the new Ministerial team, as it is by me. “The UK remains committed to ensuring the success, safety and sustainability of all of its Overseas Territories. “That is why arguments that there are somehow two governments operating here are simply confused. “The long standing constitutional arrangement agreed by TCI’s own political and civil leaders as far back as 2006, and refreshed in the TCI Constitution Order 2011, clearly lays out the roles and responsibilities, the checks and balances, which are required to ensure the on-going good governance of this country. “I think that many of the challenges to the Constitution, the law, Integrity Commission rules and codes of conduct are either politically motivated or ill-informed as to their contents. “Quite simply, the TCI Government and the UK share responsibility for the territory, with each delivering to their constitutional responsibilities. “The UK remains firmly in the TCI’s corner. When we made the $260m loan guarantee to TCI’s debtors, after the maladministration of the past, we provided multi-million dollar proof of this commitment. “We want a strong two way relationship with the people and institutions of the Islands which is modern, successful and sustainable.

Governor Ric Todd

“But we should not forget TCI’s national debt and where this country stood financially only a few years ago when the government was essentially bankrupt. “Whilst the national debt is smaller than at the height of the financial crisis, it is still too large for TCI to sustain after the debt guarantee expires in 2016 and has to be brought down by the Government, therefore, to something more manageable and less expensive to refinance.” Governor Todd also addressed some specific issues that have arisen over the first three months of elected government. VALUE ADDED TAX He said: “VAT has been one of the bigger issues in the media recently. My regret is that the advantages of VAT to this country

Judicial review of Fisheries Protection Ordinance amendments underway BY VANESSA NARINE A JUDICIAL review of the amendments to regulation 18 of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance will proceed after Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale ruled in favour of the application on Thursday. McKnight’s attorneys filed the application on behalf of the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce, TCSPCA, Pride Ltd, Turks and Caicos Reef Fund. The application seeks to quash Governor Ric Todd’s decision on October, 24 2012, to amend regulation 18 of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance. The amendment allows the importation of marine mammals into the Islands by a person who holds a permit, certificate or other document authorising importation and keeping of marine mammal for the purposes of display, exhibition or performance. Todd’s move sparked outrage in the local community, expressly among environment and animal enthusiasts. The change to the law came after Dolphin Cove Development received a business licence by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government

(TCIG) in early October, after it proposed to open its fifth ‘swim with the dolphins’ park in the Cooper Jack area of Providenciales, a $3m investment. If approved Dolphin Cove Development plans to open in spring 2013. Responding to criticisms last October, Todd said: “The government has received a development proposal from the operators of the Dolphin Cove brand to open a ‘dolphinarium’ on Providenciales. “The company has also registered their interest in a future similar facility on Grand Turk. The application was made in an open and transparent manner through the Inward Investment Unit of TCIG. It has been the subject of discussion within TCIG. “The application was granted a business licence in order for it to be fairly considered under the existing planning processes. It is important to make clear that the granting of a business licence is not a licence to commence operations. The go ahead for building and operating the facility would only come once the planning processes have been finished, and final planning permission had been granted. “The Fisheries Protection

(Amendment) Regulations that was Gazetted on 25 October, permits the importation and keeping of marine mammals for the purposes of display, exhibition or performance for those companies that have completed the application processes and gained all the required permissions to develop and operate their facilities. “Let me make clear that: The government has received an application to develop a tourist facility on Providenciales; We are considering it using the same processes and procedures that we use for all other applications for development; The granting of the business licence and the Gazetting of the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Regulations allows the application to be considered fully by the Planning Department; No licence to operate has been granted; The application will now be considered by the TCIG Planning Department who will make their recommendations to the responsible Minister in due course.” The issue of marine mammal captivity has drawn widespread criticism from animal protection societies.

have not been as well communicated as they might have been. “This has perhaps meant that the noise of the well-orchestrated and very well privately funded anti-VAT campaign has rather dominated the debate. “The TCI set out upon the path toward VAT some years ago, and it was clearly a feature of the 2011 budget statement too. “UK Ministers have consistently made clear that they are open to credible and sustainable alternatives to VAT, and have been awaiting proposals on this for some time. “Their perspective remains that VAT is good for the TCI public finances, but they are willing to work with the elected government to implement a credible alternative. “Meanwhile, implementation of VAT has continued as we approach the commencement date of April 1, 2013. “FCO Minister Mark Simmonds has very constructively suggested that TCI implement VAT now and review it in a year, which also provides a further 12 months in which to develop workable alternatives.” LEAKS Addressing another touchy issue, the Governor spoke out about leaks of confidential government official exchanges to the local media. Todd said: “I have always said that government should be open, transparent and accountable. But I very much regret that private

exchanges of emails between members of the Cabinet and the content of discussions in Cabinet have been leaked to the media. “In one particular case, given false reporting, I am obliged to set out the facts. “I informed the Premier privately and then Cabinet on January 24, that I found unacceptable the nomination of an individual to the board of an important Statutory Body because that individual had made a racist insult and threatened violence against a public servant. “If anyone thinks that racist abuse and threats of violence against named individuals is an unimportant or petty issue or that those who aspire to elected or public office should make such abuse and threats in public let them say so. “There is open public debate on TCI – and there should be. But I am confident that all responsible people on TCI, and especially political, social and clergy leaders, will support me when I say that there is no place for personal abuse and insults in that debate. “As President Obama noted in his inauguration speech, insults are not debate.” While the Governor has made clear his position of current issues, his popularity among the local community is at a low, with some sections of the society calling for his departure as the United Kingdom’s (UK) representative in the Islands.

No position change after tax expert’s report on VAT BY VANESSA NARINE THERE remains no position change from the pro-VAT camp on the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT), after the report from British tax expert, Richard Teather, which said the new tax regime is not suitable for the Turks and Caicos Islands’ economy. Governor Ric Todd, in an invited comment, told the Weekly News that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, he maintained that the justifications for VAT have been extensively outlined in the past. “VAT is the right and sustainable way to raise revenues in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Todd said. According to him, the United Kingdom Minister for the Overseas Territories in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Mark Simmonds, has made it clear that the UK is open to considering credible alternatives to VAT. The Governor noted that while it was the Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council (TCIBC) that commissioned Teather’s report there has been no credible alternatives to VAT

coming from the group. “The only alternative that was mentioned to me during a meeting with a member of the Council was for the UK to write of the TCI’s debt,” he said. Todd explained that writing of the TCI’s debt to the UK was not a possibility. Asked about the readiness of the VAT Unit to implement the new tax regime, given the Unit’s failure to convince the House Appropriations Committee of their capability to enforce VAT come April 1, Todd pointed out that implementation is challenging, but doable. He said: “I am confident in the capacity of our civil servants to implement VAT and preparations for April 1 are continuing.” While the Governor remains optimistic, the view from the opposite side of the VAT fight is much different, with opposition growing. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, commenting on Teather’s report said: “The report was spot on.” According to him, the tax expert’s report echoes the sentiments of his Government and other sections of the community opposing the implementation of VAT.

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FacetoFace

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with VANESSA NARINE

A series that seeks to engage the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands on issues and act as a medium through which they can hear from prominent personalities on current concerns, including on politics, development and the environment, among others.

Breaking away from the ‘entitlement mentality’ THE Youth Affairs Department last week made the commendable move, with their Youth in Focus campaign, to motivate youths in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to work harder and equip themselves for the competitive job market and for the coming economic growth in the local economy as envisioned by the current Government. More importantly the campaign is being seen by many as the tool that will break the young generation out of the ‘entitlement mentality’, a sense that traps youths in a cycle of unfortunate lack of drive and motivation. Head of the Department, Angela Musgrove, explains that there is no lack of opportunity for TCI’s youths. She said, “We need our young people to change their frame of mind. Find out what they are good at and do it to better themselves, more so for self-development and selfactualisation. “We have persons who have done it, young people who have worked hard for what they have achieved… we want our young people to push themselves beyond the boundaries

for themselves and at the same time make a contribution to society.” Musgrove noted that the wrong mindset is very damaging for young people. She said, “We have seen that our local young people have that sense of entitlement and they are not pushing themselves and not grasping the opportunities that are available to them. “On the other hand we see expatriates here who are doing the opposite, they are doing exceptionally well by working hard for it and not sitting down and feeling entitled. “For our local youths to take their rightful place in our society we have to break away from that damaging mindset. “As Turks and Caicos Islanders, our youths have some things that they are entitled to, but these do not come without responsibilities and our young people have to be prepared.” Policy makers and youth leaders who have spoken to the Weekly News on this issue agree that the sense of entitlement has far reaching impacts;

youths lose years waiting on their ‘entitlement’, they lose opportunities they could have taken advantage of and then comes the sense of bitterness that sires the divide between locals and the expat community. Business owners contacted agree that the bottom line for them, as is with businesses the world over, is profit and a lack of enough qualified locals means they have to seek foreign labour. This fact was pointed out to Musgrove who noted that similar sentiments have been expressed to her Department. She said, “Businesses will hire the employee that has the greatest potential to achieve their bottom line, which is profit, not employees who feel they are entitled to a job and treat the job as such. “Our young have to understand that they will not get the job just because. They have to push themselves and they have the potential to push themselves, which is why we have the Youth in Focus campaign. “The young people our campaign features are people who have pushed

Youth Affairs Department Head Angela Musgrove

themselves and worked hard and are now doing exceptionally well in their fields. “The youths we featured recognised the opportunities at hand and took advantage of it, rather than wait to be handed their success. “They worked hard for it. We are trying to encourage our young people to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them and better themselves.” The truth is what it is, albeit

inconvenient. However, another plain truth is that there is no lack of potential among youths or opportunities for advancement, only the wrong mentality among some; a mentality that can be changed over time and must be changed over time if the TCI is to have the local human capital it needs to advance. Send your comments to vanessanarine@gmail.com

Island tour helpful in prioritising spending, Ewing BY VANESSA NARINE THE island tour made by Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, and his ministerial team was helpful in prioritising spending in the next budget, according to him. Ewing, on Tuesday, explained that the one-week tour, which ended last Monday, saw residents voicing their views on a variety of issues and measures are being put in place to address those. The trip included visits to key developments and government sites and included several community meetings. The tour began on Grand Turk and ended on Salt Cay. The Premier and his team also updated the communities on key development issues affecting each island and gave updates on key issues as it relates to the progress of government and the work plan for the incoming months. Ewing noted that in Grand Turk work continues on the Ona Glinton and HJ Robinson High Schools. He pointed out that the community plays an important part in supporting schools and encouraged greater partnerships. In Salt Cay the Premier noted

Premier Ewing and his ministers inspect the Middle Caicos Causeway

Students of the Doris Robinson Primary School in Middle Caicos, under the direction of Mr. Tapfer perform for Premier Ewing and Ministerial Team during their visit to the school.

that the water woes were a major issue and plans are in place to put in a Reverse Osmosis Plant, as well as address the redevelopment of the Island’s clinic. Job creation, through tourism, was another point of focus, according to him.

sports programme and engaging farmers to push the administration’s agriculture policy were the main focus. The Premier stated that Middle Caicos is being looked at the site for the juvenile rehabilitation centre. Ewing pointed out that his

Improving the air-lift to ensure daily flights to South Caicos was one issue on the island, as well as improving the dock and redevelopment of the airport are areas that are being addressed. In North Caicos, Ewing noted that sporting facilities for the island’s

team also met with several groups including the general Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA), the Basketball Association and water sports industry representatives, among others. He maintained that the tour was successful.

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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

Importance of respect Dear Editor, The independence of the judiciary and the independence of the media are fundamental to the continued exercise of liberties which underpin our society. However, the independence of the judiciary does not reduce the responsibility of the press to offer reasoned criticism of judges or their decisions. Judges take an oath to apply the law as they find it without fear or favour and they should not be inhibited in this task, even when the media does not like it. Judges are servants of the community and when they exercise their office they do so as officers of justice. When criticism is made of judges which is unfair or unjust or even personally insulting it is impossible for judges to answer, because inevitably it would mean commenting on a case which is being tried or has been decided. It is part of the accepted role of judges that they cannot descend into media debate to correct misleading or false criticism. However, part of that same code is a requirement that, when

judges are attacked unfairly, the Bar Council and others should address such matters to prevent the public’s view of the judiciary and the administration of justice being undermined. In extreme cases, if the judiciary is scandalised, it is the role of the Attorney General to bring those in contempt before the courts to be punished. In case your readers think these observations are simply personal views held by this Bar Council they are not. They are set out more fully in a speech given by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in March 2011 entitled ‘The judiciary and the media’. In some recent articles it has been suggested that the present Registrar of the Supreme Court lacks legal qualifications. That suggests that the administration of the courts in these Islands is being conducted by unqualified personnel. That is simply wrong. The current Registrar is of course qualified. He is a solicitor of over 30 years’ standing and has held posts as Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court

of Sierra Leone for a year, Chief Magistrate and Registrar of the High Court of the Solomon Islands for over 12 years and also as a judge of the High Court of the Solomon Islands for three years. The Registrar is plainly sufficiently experienced and qualified to hold the post to which he has been appointed. Some recent articles have also focused on the grant and rates of legal aid. There are means by which these issues can be resolved without attacking the judiciary in the Press when they have no ability to respond. Some of the matters have now been before the courts. Once brought before the court by judicial review proceedings it would not be appropriate either to comment or undermine the review process that had started. The rulings of the courts speak for themselves on these issues and they, rather than unidentified ‘legal sources’, should be the foundation for any fair and balanced comment. The Bar Council has a vested interest in ensuring that the legal aid system works in the interests of legally aided persons and the

Do it the right way Dear Editor, I must say that I thought it interesting that Julio Mole, who appears to be the self-appointed spokesperson for all Cubans residing in the Turks and Caicos, decided to respond in a different medium to my letter in the Turks and Caicos news. I suppose his blatant distortion of the facts could be the reason behind his choice. Let me be abundantly clear, because I sincerely dislike any of my words to be misconstrued. I said, and will repeat here, that ALL illegal immigrants should be treated the same because we behave as if the detention centre is only for Haitian nationals. I find the immigration policy to be extremely flawed. Additionally, I have researched your statement about five to 20 years imprisonment and find it to also be a fabrication far from the truth. Further your statement about the Bahamas and Jamaica granting asylum to all illegal Cubans landing there. The Bahamas government and the Jamaican government duly take a no tolerance policy to illegal immigration of any kind.

The Cuban Ambassador to the Bahamas, E r n e s t o Guzman, in an article to the Tribune on December 24, 2012, stated that the Cuban government is in the process of terminating the exit visa requirement under Migration Law 1312, in an effort to curtail illegal immigration. He went on to say, “If you analyse Cuban migration within the last 25 years, this is an economic migration. “When we organise the repatriation process with the Government of the Bahamas, we saw in the forms that they completed in the detention centre, they are looking for a better economic situation. It had nothing to do with the political situation.” I would also like to mention that while the Jamaican government adheres to the processes of UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency), all Cuban nationals are in breach of Immigration Law are repatriated. To quote the Director of Immigration, Orlando Williams,

SPACE IS LIMITED!

directly, “They [Cubans] are repatriated once illegal.” So you see Mr Mole, we are not as ignorant as you think in the Turks and Caicos. We may not be as intelligent as the Cuban people, as you put it, but we are not dumb. We also do not have to conform to any other country’s immigration policies that will be a disadvantage to us. I do not want to be misunderstood. I have no problem with legal immigration from any country. I stand by my opinion however, that we should not accept illegal immigration of any kind and further that all illegal immigrants should be treated the same. If you want to be a part of us come through the front door using the proper channels not the back door which encourages illegal activity (low wages/non conformity to NHIP/ NIB and many other areas). We need people from all over the world to help build the Turks and Caicos, but we have to do it the right way. Yours, Euwonka Selver

attorneys undertaking such work. The Bar Council will work to achieve a fair solution to the issues that have arisen. None of the judiciary in these Islands has any commercial or vested interest in the cases or matters before them. They have all taken a solemn oath of office to “do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the Turks and Caicos Islands, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.” If those before the courts disagree with the decisions reached then there are appeals prescribed by law or other means of redress, unless in exceptional cases for policy reasons decisions are treated as final. On some websites there have recently been anonymous comments which scandalise the judiciary and which make disgraceful personal attacks on judges. We do not wish to give oxygen to

those who hide behind anonymous websites but no one should be under any illusion that if they can be identified they will be exposed to charges of scandalising the judiciary and brought before the courts for punishment. Important cases are before our courts and we should all conduct ourselves with decency and civility in the resolution of those matters. For a small jurisdiction, we have been fortunate in securing the appointment of experienced and respected judges. We need to be able to continue to attract such candidates in future. That means that judges and those involved with the administration of justice are to be accorded the respect which they and their office deserve. If there is to be comment on the role of the judiciary it must be fair and it must be balanced. The media has its role to play in upholding these values. The Bar Council is determined that the administration of justice should not be brought into disrepute. Yours sincerely, The Bar Council

Violence in schools Dear Editor, In the Turks and Caicos we live in today, the parents of this beautiful nation lead busy lifestyles (some warranted and some not), to the point of not paying much attention to the activities that their children involve themselves with in school. Most parents in our Turks and Caicos society are content with enrolling their children in school as they know that school is a method of building their children’s future. However, cases where students harm each other occur at times and the reaction to such incidents is that they are wrong. Violence in our nation’s largest school in Provo appears shameful for those who do not take any action against it. Cases of violence in Clement Howell High School has a negative effect on the students and Turks and Caicos in general and it is therefore essential that our educational authorities and society find ways to end these problems. Any violent activities that occur in our nation’s six secondary schools by students whose intention is to harm the students in that school or their teachers, is school violence. If nothing meaningful is done, school violence will lead to the death of students. Therefore, it is important to find a solution to end violence in all schools. Our students essentially need proper guidance so they will avoid running into problems in the future.

Students who are involved in violent activities at school should be made to understand their participation in such activities will ruin their lives and that of their parents too. I am positive that most parents and concerned citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands are asking, “What leads students to perform violent activities in our school?” Extreme exposure to violence in media; yes that same movie you took or paid for him/her to watch may contribute to this behaviour. As violent activities in movies they watch they try to emulate. Most parents do know, but they themselves put pressure on their children to succeed and when their child or children is unsuccessful they engage in violent activities. I see the main causes of school violence is our children’s exposure to violent activities, in the home and in society, the pressure they receive regarding their studies, parents and the limited amount of time that parents spend with their children. A solution to some of the problems is that the school administration should make arrangements where parents and teachers meet frequently, not just for problems and report cards. Parents and teachers can discuss the problems that students face and find ways of solving them. Furthermore, society in general needs to make a good example. Yours, Benneth Williams

Please keep your letters to a maximum of 450 words or we may not be able publish it.

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

continued

Good against bad Is it me, or the world is filled with evil? The Illuminati, the violence it’s all getting to the people, I’m shocked at what this world is coming to, Let’s just hope that God can bring us through

God please show us a sign, What example are we setting for the youth? Video games teaching our children how to shoot

The violent rappers influencing our minds, Teens killing teens,

Wayne Gardiner 16-years-old Maranatha High School

Is this the way we want to go? Let’s spread the word and stop that flow.

Traffic warning Dear Editor, I had a summons that I had to attend court 31/01/13 for no vehicle insurance. The officer said he would return with other charges which was no vehicle licence. When I got in court I found out I was charged with no vehicle licence, no insurance and vehicle not road worthy. I was not the owner of the vehicle which I explained. The warning is I was charged with other offences and with no opportunity to wait for a paycheque

which falls on a Friday for some people, no opportunity to leave the court until money has been paid by force in an economy such as this. I am not saying that the courts should not charge offenders but I think we should have a grace period to pay. I would like for everyone to be aware you must have your vehicle licence and be insured or you will be in custody until the money is paid. No more grace period. Concerned citizen

Send letters to tcweeklynews@gmail.com

Professor Munroe appeals for assurance of equality of the law in TCI EXECUTIVE Director of the National Integrity Action (NIA), Professor Trevor Munroe, in a letter to Governor Ric Todd, last Friday, called attention to what he described as inequality as it relates to the laws governing the rich and the poor. And he appealed for assurance of equality in the eyes of the law by the British. His letter followed the announcement by the Special Investigations and Prosecution Team (SIPT) on its $12m settlement with Sandals Resorts International, owned by Jamaican national, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart. Munroe said: “The matter dealt with therein involving Sandals and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government is attracting wide spread attention from not only citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands, but as well persons throughout the Caribbean and wider afield. “One aspect of public concern and attention relates to a fundamental principle of the rule of law and of democratic governance, namely, that there should be one law for the rich and for the poor, one law for the connected persons and for the man in the street. “In relation to this fundamental principle, Caribbean people have been, for decades, distressed at its inadequate application in so far as the perception, and I dare say to a significant extent the reality, is that the full extent of the law is applied to the ordinary citizen while the wealthy and the powerful find ways to get around the law. “Within recent times, the issues of arrest warrants for highly placed politicians and private sector persons by the authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as in Cayman, have provided some reassurance that traditional ‘untouchables’ are not beyond the reach of the law.”

Flabbergasted By David Tapfer Groves was dedicated to imposing the tax he should at least be prepared to implement and sell it. PDM was the first to explain that complicated tax plans will not work

principles, long upheld in the British judicial system, and that they are in no way being undermined by the agreement reached between the SIPT and Sandals, which was without any admission of liability by the company, its directors and/or officers.

BY VANESSA NARINE

COMMENTARY

IT was in last week’s column that we asked for a reality check. As much as folks do not want the VAT tax it was coming. Then we listened to the Appropriations Committees meeting on last Wednesday. I was flabbergasted and must now apologize for believing VAT was on track going forward. Everyone got a reality check at that meeting. VAT it seems was ordered to guide us out from under the financial anti development mess created by the last elected government. The Chairman of the committee, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson thought if CFO McGarel-

NEWS 11

in TCI. Then VAT was condemned by Financial Minister Misick, brother of the cause for VAT and himself the custodian of a couple of bankruptcies of his own. He said they could cancel his ministry over VAT. With his credentials, one wonders why he was appointed in the first place, desperation? What became obvious at the meeting is the CFO has not prepared his associates and the civil service to implement VAT. It must be up and running in 60 calendar days and he has not yet ordered the half million dollar software to operate this complicated program.. We understand he alone is the instigator, recommending VAT to the FCO.

Professor Trevor Munroe

According to the Professor, the NIA and every “well thinking citizen” must acknowledge that each individual and entity must be considered innocent until found guilty before a court of law; equally and that no illegitimate consideration should preclude any individual or entity, however well connected and however much a contribution they have made, from having their day in court to establish innocence or to be found guilty. Munroe stressed the need for reassurance of these fundamental

AG RESPONSE Attorney General, Huw Shepheard, in response, told the Weekly News only that the statement of the settlement between SIPT and Sandals was carefully considered. He said: “The principal consideration, as with all related media statements that I have made, is the fact that there are outstanding criminal investigations and charges that place strict limits upon the information that I may provide, either on the decision itself or the supporting facts.” The NIA is a Jamaican nongovernmental organisation whose objective it is to build integrity and combat corruption.

Quincy Thomas wanted

A MAN is wanted by police in connection with a sexual assault in Providenciales. Thirty-five-year-old Turks and Caicos Islander Quincy Thomas is currently at large. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can call police on 9413327/941-8067 or 911 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477.

Revealed is McGarel Groves has yet to decide what he will tell the businesses with large slow moving inventories. They have two choices, close down and sell the inventory underground or raise prices 11 per cent, risking penalties in both cases. If they are allowed to recover the customs duty they already paid they will need to take inventory, price its cost, obtain the rebate which must come out of the VAT start up cash flow. Who will pay for this exercise? We thought the CFO had this all worked out. When Sharlene Cartwright Robinson asked the Finance Secretary who normally creates the budget structure how much VAT will yield our PS did not have a clue. Who then is making up the budget? Has the CFO sidelined the PS of Finance? Do we know if VAT is “revenue neutral” or will raise an extra 10 million dollars? As CPA Floyd Seymour used to say in parliament, “they just don't know”.

The reality now is that we might still see VAT but not on schedule and it may cause more trouble than it is worth; another NHIP type mess! If it is, the service industries that we need to tax then do it. If there are contrived concessions then negotiate or take them to court. It was easy to raise business license fees, tax gas, car license and impose nickel and dime copays. VAT however is tough to install and manage. It will not raise the cost of living says the CFO. Do we believe him? It was no surprise that Lillian Misick agreed with VAT on behalf of those who gave her two high paying jobs. Surprise came when she repeated her criticism of the PDM leader’s letter. She says that Sharlene’s answer while correct was too long. Misick needs to count the words in her lengthy original epistle.

12 NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Smart Entrepreneurship

Importance of Staff Training IF we are going to empower our staff to provide the desired level of service to our customers, it is important that there be continuous training and retraining in their various job descriptions. Training and empowerment demonstrates a commitment to keeping employees on the cutting edge of knowledge and practice. Some valid arguments against staff training include the fact that it makes sense to always employ trained persons, or that training is too expensive or that it delays completion of organization projects. But when we train our staff, we are enhancing their skills, stimulating creative thinking and the end result is quality service rendered to the organization’s customers. Smart Entrepreneurs and modern thinking managers organise staff training to focus on: New employees who need to become knowledgeable and familiar with the organizations mission, vision, rules and regulations and the working conditions, and reach the level of performance expected of them. Existing employees whether at the management or floor level to refresh and enhance their skills in particular areas of profession or personal development. All public and private sector organizations operate in an ever

changing technological age. If we want our staff and organization to keep up with the competition, than we must also keep them abreast with the latest technological advances through training. Our organizations benefits tremendously from staff training: Improves morale of employeesTraining helps the employee to get job security and job satisfaction. The more satisfied the employee is and the greater is his morale, the more he will contribute to organizational success and the lesser will be employee absenteeism and turnover. Less supervision- A well-trained employee will be well acquainted with the job and will need less of supervision. Thus, there will be less wastage of time and efforts. Improves team spirit - Training and empowerment helps in inculcating the sense of team work, team spirit, and inter-team collaborations. It helps in inculcating the zeal to learn within the employees. Fewer mistakes- Errors are likely to occur if the employees lack knowledge and skills required for doing a particular job. The more trained an employee is, the less are the chances of mistakes and the more proficient the employee becomes. Chances of promotion- Employees acquire skills and efficiency during training. They become more eligible

this week

By Sophia Thomas

Business Consultant and Trainer

for promotion. They become an asset for the organization. Increased productivity- Training improves efficiency and productivity of employees. Well trained employees show both quantity and quality performance. There is less wastage of time, money and resources if employees are properly trained. Increased employee loyalty: Generally employees would want to remain with an organization that invests in their personal and professional development. Staff training has been shown to reduce employee turnover in the long run. Improves business image: Helps improve the image and reputation of the organization because customers will have more confidence in well trained staff. Remember staff training is not a cost; it is an investment that yields great returns. There is a greater cost of not training employees to enable the organization to survive in this competitive environment. Despite the potential drawbacks, training and empowerment provides both the company as a whole and the individual employees with benefits that make the cost and time a worthwhile investment. For staff training needs and further information please contact me at fenelonempowerment@yahoo.com or 231-2486

autism awareness Spectrum of hope – By Nicole Cox

Autie, Aspie and In-between I CAN easily see how some people would believe that I am out to slap a label on every child that passes my direction! Well, let me put your minds at rest, I am not. I do however want our community to open its mind to the hard facts that we are not immune to the labels that have so rampantly affected the rest of the world. With that said, let’s start with my favorite label, Autism! Now, I am not going to give you the definition of Autism or all the technical mumbo jumbo that goes into explaining its actual presentation. I would rather talk a little about the “nature” of the disorder and then maybe my ‘labelist’ tendencies will make sense. Autism is a SPECTRUM disorder. This means that there are varying degrees of the severity of the symptoms. They will be different for every individual. You can put 100 persons with Autism in

a room and all 100 will have some similarities but generally have their own “blueprint” mapping out their personal Autism. Think of it like this: Cancer can appear in many different parts of the body, some considered more dangerous than others, some more difficult to address than others. And the size of a cancerous mass can also vary. But despite the aspects of the mass, where it is, or the severity of its prognosis, it is still cancer. Now with Autism, you will often hear persons refer to a case as mild or severe. You will also hear people refer to Asperger’s Syndrome as if it is separate from Autism. I get this because it makes it easier to the layman to comprehend the levels of functionality a person my present. But the truth is Autie or Aspie, it is all Autism. What is also true is that since there is literally an INFINITE number of symptom combinations and INFINITE levels of severity to

Friday, February 1 to Sunday, February 3

those symptoms, people can land ANYWHERE on those sliding scales and actually have Autism, whether they have been diagnosed or not! Asperger’s is all over! Knowing what I know now, I can look back on my life and pinpoint persons in school, in my family and persons I know now who definitely display traits of Asperger’s. A person may function almost flawlessly in society with traits of Autism and still not “qualify” for the disorder based on the fact that the traits may complicate, but do not interrupt the person’s ability to function. Now, with this foundation laid, what does that mean to the rest of the neuro-typical society as far as identifying and accepting our Autie/ Aspie friends? We will see next week. For more visit: www.iloveaba. com and http://dawnprogram. blogspot.com

Friday, February 1

 World Wetlands Day! Join the National Trust in celebrating the annual World Wetlands Day, under the theme: Wetlands and Water Management. The event will commence on February 1st, 2013 (Friday) and will be held in the community of Five Cays. We are asking residents of Five Cays to come out and support the clean-up of the wetlands. Wetlands are an important part of our environment. Mangroves around these wetlands are a home for birds and other animals and provide many other essential benefits to life. Please come and support the National Trust and invite a friend or family member. For information kindly contact Levenia Hamilton at 343-8008 or 941-5710.

over fifteen chefs dishes held on Saturday, Feb 2, 2013 from 8-10pm at the Regent Palms under the stars in the courtyard. All proceeds benefit the Turks & Caicos Salvation Army school hot lunch programme. Your ticket donation will provide a hot lunch for a month to a school child in need. Limited Tickets - $50.00 includes a glass of wine and lots of chocolate tastings. Please plan to join us for an evening of romance with live music, live and silent auctions. (Tel: 4316802) The Salvation Army’s Furniture Sale at Williams Storage - Unit #218, from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. The Salvation Army thanks you in advance for your continued support of its ministry to others.

 If you are looking for a serene and relaxed way of starting your weekend, bring your yoga mat at Graceway Sports Centre every Saturday at 9am and let David Bowen lead you into the wonderful world of yoga! Amazing fees for an amazing class! More info at 442-6348.  Danny Buoy’s is Provo’s premier live music and sports destination, serving lunch and dinner daily from 11:30am. It is the perfect place to escape from the heat and hang with friends, all in smoke free airconditioned comfort. Happy Hour specials from 4-7pm MondaySaturday  Get into the weekend mood with the intense and electrifying Tae-Bo class at Graceway Sports Centre from 6pm to 7pm. Free for fitness members, $12 for non-members. Visit www.gracewaysports.com for more information or call 4426349.

 Mums and Tots Dance Party classes are held every Saturday at Graceway Sports Centre for mothers and their little ones. Mothers, bring your little ones to dance, jump, twist and shake! Children have fun learning movement basics to fun music and mums get a light exercise while spending quality time. Mums and Tots classes begin at 10am and cost just $10. Dads are welcome! Call Shara Bowen on 244-1103 for more details.

Sunday, February 3

 Craig Archibold gets the party started at the Regent Palms from 7pm on Friday nights with the sound of classic Caribbean and Motown tunes. Call 946-8666 for details

Saturday, February 2  The Salvation Army third Annual Chocolate Lovers Showcase with sweet and savory chocolate from

 Super Bowl XLVII

Got an event you wish to advertise? Call us on 946 4664 or email tcweeklynews@gmail.com for a free listing.

February 2 - 8, 2013

NEWS 13

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

AG blasts writers of ‘offensive drivel’ – But legal group fights back ATTORNEY General (AG) Huw Shepheard slated anonymous column writers calling some recent submissions on the judiciary “unsupported and frankly preposterous”. He was backed up in a letter from The Bar Council which said that published articles contained disgraceful personal attacks. However a newly formed legal advocates group said the AG’s comments threatened freedom of speech. On Tuesday a passionate press release from the AG hit out at “offensive drivel” written on local news websites and stressed that unsubstantiated writing could lead to a weakening of the judicial system. Shepheard said that a number of articles had been written without consideration for the law and added that he would be seeking to prosecute the writers and website owners for contempt of court or scandalising the jury. Maximum penalties for such offences include an unlimited fine and life imprisonment. He wrote: “It has come to my attention that there have recently been attacks on websites and in the media on the judiciary, the registrar of the Supreme Court, public servants, and others, and on the judicial and legal system as a whole. “These attacks have made unsupported and frankly preposterous accusations coupled with other scurrilous and defamatory material.” He added that the attacks were “abhorrent” in a decent and orderly society and he urged the public and the media to adhere to the highest principles of decency and proper

restraint in commenting on judicial and public matters. The AG stressed that members of the media should be aware that the judges cannot respond themselves. “No right-thinking person would believe or accept as accurate the offensive drivel that is being written, but it seems that many uncritically believe what they read, with the result that there is a general weakening in respect for our institutions and legal system, and for judicial independence. “These personal and defamatory attacks on public servants are grossly unfair and should stop; their continuance is corrosive and destructive of public trust in institutions which serve all Turks and Caicos Islanders and all who live here; they simply pander to ignorance and the worst side of human nature.” Shepheard went on to urge people with concerns or complaints to express them in temperate and reasonable language without indulging in personal attacks. He said that if any of the recent reports are found to scandalise the jury the writer or publisher could face a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and the possibility of life imprisonment. “Internet sites and the media generally should not accept and publish anonymous columns; doing so actively promotes cowardly and sickening attacks such as these and lowers the tone of journalism.” The AG added that public officers are also liable for disciplinary action and prosecution for the unauthorised disclosure of public information and could face penalties of up to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up

Developments in family islands vital for viable private sector BY VANESSA NARINE SEVERAL tourist developments are being looked at by the current administration, three of which are in the family islands. Finance Minister, Washington Misick, maintained that developments in the family islands are important to developing a viable private sector in those areas. The West Caicos development, which has been stalled since 2008, is in progress. In South Caicos, the High Point Resort and East Bay Resort are projects that are also progressing. On Tuesday Misick said: “High Point and the East Bay Resort are extremely important to us.” According to him, the agreement with High Point includes a partnership in getting the South Caicos Airport operational. He said: “We are working on this and I hope to be clearer on where we are at our next press conference. “I am personally working closely with the developers in trying to

assist them in moving the project forward and getting the airport also completed in order to bring it to a standard to receive international passengers. “We believe the focus should be on expanding the economy and creating growth. It will require new legislation and it will also require a clear investment policy, which we are currently working on.” The Finance Minister noted that the Administration is currently working on the Fraction Ownership ordinance and the Credit Union ordinance, as well as on establishing a working group of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and one that will address the reestablishment of TC Invest, in addition to two papers that were presented to Cabinet on the same issue. The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 4.1 per cent in 2011, a result of the improved fiscal position and the success the TCI had in attracting investment both internal and external in the past year.

Attorney General Huw Shepheard

to $50,000. “Our Constitution and the other laws I have referred to seek to balance the exercise of the right to free speech against the harm that unfettered free speech can do to individuals and society at large.” BAR COUNCIL RESPONSE A letter from The Bar Council submitted to press on the same day also commented on attacks on the judicial system in the media. It read: “The independence of the judiciary and the independence of the media are fundamental to the continued exercise of liberties which underpin our society. “However, the independence of the judiciary does not reduce the responsibility of the press to offer reasoned criticism of judges or their decisions. “Judges take an oath to apply the law as they find it without fear or favour and they should not be inhibited in this task, even when the media does not like it. “

It went on to berate those that make “unfair or unjust” criticism of judges knowing they are unable to answer. The letter stressed that articles claiming the present Registrar of Providenciales Supreme Court is unqualified were untrue. He is a solicitor of over 30 years and has held posts as Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone for a year, Chief Magistrate and Registrar of the High Court of the Solomon Islands for over 12 years and also as a judge of the High Court of the Solomon Islands for three years. The Bar Council also hit out at the writers of articles that focused on the grant and rates of legal aid. It said that there are means by which these issues can be resolved without attacking the judiciary in the press when they have no ability to respond. Court rulings rather than unidentified legal sources should be the foundation for any fair and balanced comment, the letter read. “The Bar Council has a vested interest in ensuring that the legal aid system works in the interests of legally aided persons and the attorneys undertaking such work. “The Bar Council will work to achieve a fair solution to the issues that have arisen.” The letter went on to say that if anyone disagrees with a court decision there are appeals prescribed by law or other means of redress. And finally the council reiterated the AG’s comments on prosecution for contempt of court and scandalising the judiciary. “If there is to be comment on the

role of the judiciary it must be fair and it must be balanced. “The media has its role to play in upholding these values. The Bar Council is determined that the administration of justice should not be brought into disrepute.”

LAWYERS HIT BACK A group of lawyers struck back on Thursday after reading the AG’s comments on anonymous column writers. In a letter to the press the Advocates Legal Group, made up of Mark A Fulford, Noel T Skippings, Arthur Hamilton, Ashwood Forbes and Courtenay Barnett, said they were compelled to respond. “We find it to be very high handed, vexatious and it wreaks of intimidation of the highest order,” they wrote. They stressed that the country’s constitution guarantees freedom of expression. “It is not acceptable that the Attorney General should cause to be published a threat of 10 years imprisonment when the press published and freely expresses factually based concerns about the manifest flaws and shortcomings in the justice system under the present dispensation.” They added that it is a compromise of the constitutional enshrinement and protection of the fundamental right of freedom of expression. The group explained that scandalising the court is no longer used in England and is an obsolete law They said that defamed individuals should sue the publishers and the AG should not threaten lawyers or the press. (RB)

New ‘state of the art’ high school on Provo – Facility will house 600 students A NEW high school will be built in Providenciales to address expanding numbers of pupils seeking Government-led education. No more than 600 pupils will be taught at the “state of the art” facility and class sizes will be strictly limited to 28. This week Minister of Education Akierra Missick told the Weekly News that along with the secondary school, a new primary school will also be constructed. She said census data, the five year education plan and other discussions with educators led the Government to make the decision. “Given the potential growth in population and the current situation at Clement Howell High School with overcrowding we will need to have a facility to address placements both at the high school and primary school levels,” she explained. A decision on the location of the new schools is currently being discussed and has not yet been confirmed but the Minister stressed that it would be in a strong catchment

area for children. She added that it is important that the new schools set a standard and stick to strict teacher to pupil ratios. “Certainly the schools will be built to consider growth but ideally we want our classrooms have a ratio of 28 students to one teacher - this is an acceptable standard. “Additionally we are aiming that our high schools hold no more than 600 students, which we have found to be a manageable size. “Of course this new school will be built in an area that can accommodate expansion.” The process is still in the early planning stages as the Education Department gathers data to present to Cabinet in time to be considered in the new budget. Missick described the new high school as “state of the art” with modern equipment, and said it would provide many opportunities for employment. “Of course when you have a new school you are talking about new

teachers, canteen and tuck shop workers, cleaners, grounds men, modern equipment, proper sporting facilities, one that will emphasise technical and vocational teaching etc. “That is our vision and definitely this vision will work hand in hand with the type of scholarships we award, the type of programmes that the Community College has in place to address these development needs, our partnerships with regional schools to train additional teachers to take up positions there in the medium term and beyond that. “So the potential for employment from design to implementation is very high and we are addressing this in a very determined and strategic way.” Earlier this month at a post Cabinet press conference Premier Rufus Ewing spoke of proposals for a new high school in Providenciales. He said the Government was “committed” to building the new school and work would likely be completed within a year.

14 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

SIPT attempts to deny Hanchell bail – Piper to visit Misick in Brazil for his birthday By Daisy Handfield FORMER Minister McAllister ‘Piper’ Hanchell appeared in the Supreme Court before Judge Margaret Ramsay-Hale on Wednesday (January 30) in an attempt to retrieve his travel documents from Special Investigation Prosecution Team (SIPT). He said he wanted to travel to Rio de Janeiro to visit his friend and former Premier Michael Misick for his birthday. His bail was approved and his passport was given to him as Judge Ramsay-Hale did not see any reasons for it to be denied. Hanchell was scheduled to travel yesterday (Thursday, January 31) returning home on Monday (February 4). His visit was booked and approved by the British Counsellor and the Brazilian prison granted him six hours of visitation for Saturday (February 1). McAllister Hanchell is the former Minister of Natural Resources of the Turks and Caicos Islands. He is currently under investigation by the SIPT for conspiracy to commit bribery with former Premier Michael Misick, and other former ministers to receive cash, credit and other advantages allegedly totalling $1.1m. On January 29 he went to the SIPT office to request his passport.

The bail chamber officer denied him his passport with the justification that during his visitation to Misick there would be collusion between the two, which would interfere with the on-going SIPT investigation. SIPT’s arguments were that Hanchell would try and follow in the same footsteps of Michael Misick, and try to seek asylum, he would discuss matters pertaining to the investigation with former Premier or he would simply not return home. Lawyer, Laura Maroof argued that in the defendant’s bail, there was no condition of “no contact” with the accused. If he had any intention of discussing matters regarding the ongoing investigation, he could do so via telephone, email, skype or even before. The bail condition was that if he had intentions of travelling, he should send an email to SIPT’’s bail email, providing an itinerary of travel. The defendant did so on January 24, requesting to travel on Friday, January 31, returning Monday, February 4. “Hanchell is married, has his house here, and his 12 year old son resides here as well as his mother and he has two businesses in the country to run,” said Maroof. She argued that if the defendant had any plans to flee the country, he would have not returned after already

McAllister ‘Piper’ Hanchell at the Supreme Court

travelling internationally twice since his charges. His sisters put up their two properties as his surety, which valued at $150, 000. “The defendant travelled to other islands as well and always returned back to the TCI,” Maroof said. “It was a ridiculous accusation seeing that he had already noticed the conditions his friend Mike was in.” According the defendant, the purpose of his visit would be for “moral support”. Hanchell is ordered to return his passport to SIPT upon arrival. Former Premier and former Ministers are scheduled to appear in court April 15, 2013.

RBC robbery and attempted murder trial begins – Four plead not guilty FOUR young men fingered in the Royal Bank of Canada heist last year pled not-guilty to charges of robbery and attempted murder at Providenciales Supreme Court this week. Daniel Been Juinior, Darrison Nash, Odessa Williams and Berdard Colebrooke all deny the serious charges laid against them. The case began before Justice Joan Joyner and a seven member jury panel on Thursday (January 31) at 9.30am and is expected to continue until February 16. Representing the defendants is attorney Oliver Smith and for the Crown is senior counsel Leonard Franklyn. Franklyn explained that four men are alleged to have been driven to the Royal Bank of Canada on Leeward Highway on February 13, 2013, by a fifth person. He said that two men went into the lobby of the bank and the other two remained outside. A customer came in and he was held down. Jermaine Fulford, a security guard

with the Security Centre, who had arrived to make a deposit was told to “freeze”. He dropped his bag containing $75,000 and the two men inside the bank took the cash. The men used the customer as a shield in order to get out of the bank, Franklyn said, before making their escape. First called to the stand on Thursday to offer his witness testimony was RBC branch manager and country head Toure Holder. He explained that on the night in question he left the bank at 5pm and returned at about 6pm after receiving a call alerting him to a problem. Holder said that he arrived on the scene to find police activity and following a request from officers he made a copy of the surveillance footage and gave it to them. Next to the stand was PC Lavern Seymour from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force scenes of crimes department. He offered detailed information on his examination of a Ford F250

truck including the taking of latent fingerprints, swabs and photographs. Seymour agreed when Smith asked if he considered himself as “meticulous” in his job. The final witness to take the stand on Thursday was Detective William Lightbourne who described how he arrived on the scene on January 13, 2012, at about 6.30pm. He said he saw a vehicle with the Security Centre logo on it and what appeared to be bullet holes in the windshield. Lightbourne said that Holder did not arrive until about 8.20pm. He then went into detailed description of how he made a copy of the surveillance tape onto a memory stick and later made a number of other copies for the court. Smith questioned Lightbourne on why he was not carrying his pocket book in court and he replied that he had run through it months prior to the incident and had not been issued with another. In the day in question he used a piece of paper to make his notes on which he later mislaid. He finally revealed that accused Been was not on the surveillance footage. The case continues.

February 2 - 8, 2013

RBC and CDB sign $300m bond issue

ROYAL Bank of Canada (RBC) Capital Markets, working in conjunction with RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited, successfully placed a US$300 Million Amortising Bond issue (consistent with US Reg S and 144A markets) for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to bolster regional development and stimulate economic growth within the region. CDB is the region’s only multilateral development financing organisation, and has the highest long-term debt securities rating of all Caribbean financial institutions, with an AA grade from Standard and Poor’s, and an Aa1 rating from Moody’s. RBC (Canada) is rated A by Standard & Poor's and A1 by Moody's for Subordinated debt. The 15-year fixed rate bond bears interest of 4.375per cent annually until maturity in 2027, and represents a significant investment inflow into the region. Proceeds of the bond issue will be used to augment CDB’s capital ratios further, particularly in the face of prevailing downward trending regional economic conditions and the marginal growth being experienced throughout the region. The bond is expected to have a positive impact on CDB’s development initiatives, ultimately supporting funding for the Bank’s Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). As outlined in its Strategic Plan 2010-2014, CDB, plans to assist BMCs in confronting their major development challenges, as well as in implementing policies and strategies which would contribute to their economic and social development.

In commenting on the recently signed deal with CDB, C.E.O., RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited, Suresh Sookoo, said: “This bond issue reflects not only RBC’s commitment to regional capital market development, but also illustrates our ongoing drive to collaborate with organisations, like CDB, in the spirit of sustainable investment in the Caribbean. “We believe that the bond arrangement between CDB and RBC is indicative of the intent of both parties to deliver best-in-practice, globally competitive and relevant financing solutions and support to our clients in the Caribbean.” RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited is the second largest financial institution by assets in the English Caribbean, with branches in 20 countries and territories and has consistently maintained a proven track record of successfully raising financing from local and regional bond markets. The investment arm of RBC Financial (Caribbean), RBC Merchant Bank is headquartered in Trinidad, and has regional reach with dedicated expertise within major Caribbean markets including Jamaica, Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and Central America, in addition to Trinidad and Tobago. This latest bond issue between RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited and CDB follows the successful execution of another substantial bond issue in November 2012; this one between RBC Merchant Bank and RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited for TTD 300 million (approximately USD 50 million).

New development agreement being sought with Veranda A NEW development agreement is being sought with Veranda Resort and Residences, which was recently acquired by Sandals Resorts International (SRI), according to Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing. The Premier, on Tuesday, explained that his Government for the first time with Veranda officials this week and is working towards an agreement. He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be the first step towards an agreement. The MOU is expected to revisit the 2006 Beaches Development Agreement to improve the immigration provisions and concessions in TCIG’s favour; and seek additional benefits to the TCI that will ensure greater employment protection, and development of a Skills Training Unit at the TCI Community College. At the time of the acquisition, the Premier gave his assurance to

Turks and Caicos Islanders that the Government will continue to monitor the situation, well after the sale has been completed. This is with a view to ensuring that those who are currently employed with Veranda will be afforded an opportunity to continue their employment with the new owners and that the people of the TCI will benefit from the opportunities presented by the acquisition. Sandals Resorts International (SRI) acquired its newest addition to the chain of hotels at close to $100m.

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS 15

The vessel on Governor’s Beach To celebrate the event, Lime is offering a number of discounts and deals to their customers.

Lime Celebrates 115 years in TCI A PRESS conference was held at Lime’s Headquarters to discuss activities taking place for their 115th anniversary and Valentines’ Day promotion. Thursday (January 30) was a big day for the telecommunications company, seeing that they were simultaneously celebrating 115 years in the TCI and gearing up for Valentines Day. Customers were already in queue, taking advantage of the opportunity. The numbers ‘115’ were declared very special to Lime giving customers the opportunity to get two handsets for the price of $115. These handsets included the brands: Alcatel, Nokia and Blue Dash, which are retail at about $90 each. To celebrate the event, Lime is offering a number of discounts and deals to their customers. Persons who sign up for a postpaid number will be given a free handset. When signing up for internet service, customers will receive free installation. When purchasing a new prepaid number, customers receive $20 free

top up. When you add credit to your phone, Lime doubles it. As part of the Valentines’ Day promotion, there will be two big draws. The first one will be on February 13, where the lucky winner will receive a dinner for two at the Grace Bay Resort with limousine pick up. On February 28 a lucky winner will receive a dinner for two on Parrot Cay. General manager for Lime TCI, Drexwell Seymour said, “One of our main focuses is education. “We invest in scholarships, we provide free internet to all schools, public and private. “Lawyers have complained that it was difficult for them to keep in touch with the prisoners, so Lime provided the prisoners with free handsets.” The celebration continued that afternoon at the Island Fish Fry hosted by the Tourist Board, alongside Lime. These offers are valid at the main branch on the Leeward Highway in Providenciales, the office in the Graceway IGA supermarket and the Lime office in Grand Turk.

Royal Caribbean express interest in having local cruise port ROYAL Caribbean Cruise has expressed interest in having a local cruise port, according to Finance Minister, Washington Misick, on Tuesday. He maintained that the expression of interest from a major investor is another indication of confidence in the economy and the Government. Misick said: “What we have is very serious interest from Royal Caribbean. It is preliminary at the moment, but I intend to take the next step and engage in follow up discussions. “The Carnival Cruise has an

exclusive port in Grand Turk so this is something we would have to deal with. “I can say that there is an abundance of interest from investors in the Turks and Caicos.” Royal Caribbean International is a Norwegian and American cruise line brand based in Miami, Florida and owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. With 22 ships in service, it controls a 17 per cent share of the world cruise market according to a May 2012 report of Cruise Market Watch.

Still no decision on Mega One Triton’s fate THERE is still no decision on the fate of Mega One Triton, the derelict vessel grounded on Governor’s Beach, as the matter is still before courts. The vessel, which has become an eyesore, started life as a tender vessel supplying offshore oilrigs. After it was decommissioned and sold to a retired captain, the ship supplied the Turks and Caicos Islands with building materials from the Dominican Republic for more than 20 years. Two years ago it was sold to a group believed to be from the Leeward Islands, living in Grand Turk. The vessel has been lying at anchor just off Governors Beach ever since, and appeared to be an accident waiting to happen. Hurricane Sandy did just that on the evening of October 25, 2012. Since then, the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) and other government departments have sought advice on options for the successful, safe and legal removal of the vessel from its current resting place. Unfortunately this has involved a

long and rigorous legal process. It is important to note that there has never been any exercise to remove any similar-sized vessel, under similar conditions, in the TCI. Nevertheless, DEMA, in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Chambers has embarked on plan of action to remove the vessel from Governor’s Beach in a safe and environmentally friendly manner as soon as is legally and logistically feasible. On January 28, TCIG brought charges against the vessel’s agents, due to the absence of the owner, Mr. Ked Megnath. Four people are charged with various offences under the National Parks, Coastal Protection and Marine Pollution Ordinances. If successful in court, TCIG will be in a position to confiscate and implement plans for the safe removal of the Mega One Triton in accordance with the Procurement Ordinance and the standard tender process. This will allow the Government to receive bids for the salvage and/or sale and removal of the vessel.

Safeguards must also be in place prior to the vessels removal to protect the local environment. These include: The removal of several thousand gallons of contaminated water and fuel that if released into the environment during the removal, pose the most significant environmental threat. Specialised equipment must be employed to skim the petroleumbased contaminants from the surface of the water in an effort to remove the most hazardous of materials. The remainder of the water must be pumped and transported to an upland location for safe disposal. At the same time that toxic fluids are being removed, oil booms and turbidity curtains must be deployed to contain any potential spills. After all fluids have been safely removed, one of the above two options will be employed to safely remove the vessel. DEMA reportedly regrets the lengthy processes involved, but has assured that these methods are being put in place to prevent an environmental disaster.

Farmers’ Association to be established to push agriculture policy BY VANESSA NARINE A FARMERS’ Association is expected to be established soon in an effort to push the current administration’s agriculture policy. The move follows a visit by Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, and his ministerial team to North Caicos last week. Commenting on the initiative, Ewing said: “We currently have an issue with the Agriculture Director (Nikki Turner) who is resigning, but we expect to work that out and then move forward. “The delay, hopefully, will not affect us for long because even without an Agriculture Director there are still persons who can advise. “The first meeting with the association will be to take on board their concerns as we move forward to formulate an agriculture policy. This will be done in another week or two.”

As part of the Government’s manifesto going into office, economic and employment advances wer promised through focus on agriculture and manufacturing, as well as processing and trade and shipment. In December, at the Joint Ministerial Council, which succeeds the Overseas Territories Consultative Councils, in England, the Premier stated that collaboration was sought not only between the UK, but with other Overseas Territories to advance economic diversification, a development that would include agriculture, deep sea fishing and offshore financial services. Ewing said while there are useful policies, which the other Overseas Territories have tried and tested that can be adopted by the TCI, the country will also seek out other regional partners, such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for needs such as advancing agriculture.

The Premier maintained that his Government will give “focused attention” to diversification of the local economy through expansion of the fishing and agriculture industries and other secondary industries. The current Agriculture Department includes Director of Agriculture, an Agricultural Office, trainee and assistant, a Chief Plant Officer, a Chief Veterinary Officer and assistant, a Plant Health Office, an Animal Control Officer and assistant and two other support staff. In the 2012-2013 budget some $353,574 was budgeted for the Agriculture Department’s recurrent expenditure, with some $371,253 allocated in 2013-2014 for the same. Under ‘uncommitted prioritised projects’ in the budget some $100,000 was budgeted for agricultural development between 2012-2014.

Lifestyle... 16

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

fitness Tip 

Dr. Joe LeMoine, is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine physician. He has worked with many international athletes and at many sporting events on the world stage. He currently practices in Providenciales, at Prime Sports Medicine.

Preventing tennis Injuries Spinach Quiche

This recipe is VERY forgiving, so you can add or remove ingredients according to your taste. Ingredients (Original recipe makes 1 - 9 inch quiche) • 1/2 cup butter • 3 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 small onion, chopped • 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained • 1 (4.5 ounce) canmushrooms, drained • 1 (6 ounce) package herb and garlic feta, crumbled • 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese • 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust • 4 eggs, beaten • 1 cup milk • Add salt and pepper to taste Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 2. In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Saute garlic and onion in butter until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in spinach, mushrooms, feta and 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into pie crust. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into the pastry shell, allowing egg mixture to thoroughly combine with spinach mixture. 4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle top with remaining Cheddar cheese, and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes, until set in center. Allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

TENNIS is a very popular sport, but can cause a number of injuries. There is an estimated 78 000 tennis related injuries in the USA per year. Here are some guidelines to avoid injury while playing tennis: Be sure to warm up: Arrive at least 20 minutes before your court time. Volleying the ball is not a proper warm up, nor is a few stretches. Get your heart rate up and your muscles warm by short shuttle runs; forwards and backwards and side-to-side, jumping jacks and squat thrusts. Stay hydrated: Ensure you drink adequately before, during and after your game. Proper hydration improves both performance and recovery from your sport. Choose your equipment wisely: Be sure to wear tennis shoes that

Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine physician Dr. Joe LeMoine

provide the right grip and proper support. Add cushion to your shoe with special cushioned tennis socks or double sports socks. It is recommended to change shoes after about 150 hours of play. Find a racquet that is the right weight and size for you: Test the

backhand swing ensuring both hands have a good grip to avoid developing tennis elbow; which is a pain related to a form of tendinitis over the lateral part of the elbow. To prevent blisters or over squeezing (which can also lead to tennis elbow) be sure to keep the grip dry during play so bring a towel. When serving bend your knees and rise up to the balls of the feet: Do not overextend your back; too much arching causes unnecessary strain. Avoid landing on the balls of the feet as it causes undue strain on

the Achilles tendon. Achilles tendon rupture occurs often in racquet sports, many people experience pain in the back of their heel in the weeks leading up to the injury; so if you have this pain consult your doctor. If you develop arch or heel pain, an increased arch support or heel cushion may be helpful but if it persists it could be plantar fasciitis that will require rest and possible medical treatment or therapy. Tennis is one of the greatest social sports; keep in your game by staying safe and healthy.

It is also rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Apart from its many other health

benefits, its tender, crispy, darkgreen leaves are favorite ingredients of chefs all around the planet.

health Tip 

Spinach – the functional food SPINACH (Spinacia oleracea) is a wonderful green-leafy vegetable often recognized as one of the functional foods for its nutritional, antioxidants and anticancer constituents. Spinach is store house for many phyto-nutrients that have health promotional and disease prevention properties. It is very low in calories and fats (100 g of raw leaves provide just 23 calories). It contains a good amount of soluble dietary fiber; no wonder green spinach is one of the finest vegetable sources recommended in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs! Fresh leaves are rich source of several vital anti-oxidant vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, and flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zea-xanthin and

beta-carotene. Together these compounds help act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a healing role in aging and various disease processes. Spinach leaves are an excellent source of vitamin K. Vitamin K plays a vital role in strengthening the bone mass by promoting osteotrophic (bone building) activity in the bone. Additionally, it also has established role in patients with Alzheimer's disease by limiting neuronal damage in the brain. This green leafy vegetable also contains good amounts of many B-complex vitamins such as vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin, folates and niacin. Folates help prevent neural tube defects in the offspring.

February 2 - 8, 2013

Lifestyle... GARDENING 

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

How does your garden grow

YOUR DIET

ASK TAMIKA

BY TAMIKA HANDFIELD

Tamika graduated from Florida International University in Miami with a Masters degree in Dietetics & Nutrition. She is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and licensed to practice medical nutrition therapy in the state of Florida. Email Tamika via tcweeklynews@gmail.com or tamikahandfield@yahoo.com with your healthy eating questions.

Thyroid Awareness

A taste for Hibiscus IF any plant were to be selected symbolic of the tropics, it would probably be the Hibiscus, the flowers of which brighten gardens from Bali to Hawaii. You have probably seen a single flower tucked behind the ear of Hawaiian women! Depending on which ear is used, indicates the wearer's availability for marriage. The large genus is about 200 to 220 species of flowering plants in the family Mavaceae (the mallow family, along with members like, Cacao, Cotton, Okra, Baobab and Durian) native to warm, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. I love the Hibiscus flower, which is why I chose it to be the emblem of Nature Splendor. The flower colours range from pure white, through to lemon yellow and pink to scarlet. Though the flowers last only one day, many varieties bloom profusely, so that there are nearly always several open at any one time. The leaves may be oval or lobed, smooth or hairy, green or variegated. Leaves and flowers are both edible and are sometimes used in traditional medicine. One species of Hibiscus, known as Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) is used as a vegetable and to make herbal teas and jams. The white Hibiscus is considered to have medicinal properties in the Indian traditional system of medicine. Roots are used to make various concoctions believed to cure various ailments. Dried hibiscus is edible, and is often a delicacy in Mexico. Although I love the Hibiscus, you have to know that it requires a lot of

BY DENIS Belanger - NATURE SPLENDOR For all your landscaping, installation or garden maintenance needs, please call or write for a free estimate: 332-3381 or naturesplendor@yahoo.com

maintenance. The Hibiscus needs to be watered carefully. Make sure you do not over flood the roots. Keep a steady flow of water for the plant. If you are potting your flower, make sure the pot has plenty of drainage. Hibiscus needs to be fertilized all year round. It also requires to be sprayed for insects, so that the flowers are not destroyed. In the Islands, the major pests are:

Spider Mites: The first sign of spider mites would be yellow leaves. At first you just see a few yellow leaves, here and there, and you wouldn't think anything of them. But very soon the spider mite population explodes and more and more leaves turn yellow at an increasing rate of destruction. Look for tiny spider webs on the growing tips of your plants. You will need to look very closely, in bright sunlight, for very fine, tiny webs on the smallest growing tips of developing buds. You may see tiny dots along the webs. These are spider mites. A method to treat them is either a miticide, such as Bayer advanced 3, or Neem oil (natural product from Neem tree) It is also good to alternate between them, using one, one week and the other the next week.

Thrips: If your buds are falling off before they bloom, and you’ve done everything right and your Hibiscus is growing well with a lot of green foliage but the buds on your plants are falling off the plants before they open into flowers, you probably are experiencing the enemy of flowering plants, the lowly thrip. Thrips are insects that lay their eggs inside the buds. The thrip is small but visible if you look for it. The easiest way to see thrips is to take an open flower and shake it over a white piece of paper. Thrips will fall out of the flower onto the paper, looking like a small black pencil line. They are much longer than they are wide. The method to treat Thrips is either Neem oil or a systemic product. Mealybugs: If not controlled they can rapidly spead to all your Hibiscus and other plants. Mealybugs are small hairy insects that can be seen inside a covering of waxy fibres. They suck the juices and create a real mess as they excrete excess plant sugars onto the leaves. This honeydew is food for black mold which grows in it and discolors the leaves. The loss of leaves of the entire plant is often the result of all this stress. The method used to treat these pests is to remove badly affected parts of the plant and spray with a systemic product.

THE MONTH of January is celebrated as thyroid awareness month, so this week we focus on the thyroid, its symptoms and how nutrition can affect/help the disorder. The thyroid gland is a very small bow-tie or butterfly shaped organ that sits just below the Adam’s apple along the windpipe. Though small in size, the thyroid is responsible for almost all metabolic processes in the body. It also influences growth and body temperature. The most common thyroid problems are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroidism there is excessive secretion of thyroid hormones which leads to over-activity of the thyroid gland and speeding up of bodily functions. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism: Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter); Increased heart rate; Increased blood pressure; Abnormal heart rhythms; Excessive perspiration; Eye and hand tremors; Amenorrhea; Decreased libido and impotence; Nervousness and anxiety; Dyspnea; Muscle wasting; Insomnia; and Weight loss, despite increased appetite. On the other hand, Hypothroidism is an under-activity of the thyroid gland. There is a decreased production and secretion of thyroid hormones which leads to a slowing of bodily functions. Symptoms of hypothyroidism: Dull facial expressions; Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter); Hoarse voice and slow speech; Drooping eyelids; Puffy face and eyes; Weight gain; Constipation; Muscle stiffness and weakness; Fatigue; Hand and food paresthesias; Sparse, coarse, and dry hair; and Low tolerance for cold. While there is no specified ‘thyroid diet,’ persons with a thyroid disorder should avoid excessive intake of foods which contains Goitrogens because they can inhibit thyroid function. Goitrogens are naturally-occurring substances, in food, which get their name from the term "goiter." A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland and is usually caused by an iodine deficiency. Goitrogens are usually found in the following foods: Cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard, rutabaga, and turnips; Asparagus; Millet; Peaches; Peanuts; Peas; Radishes; Soybeans; Soy products; Spinach; and Strawberries.

ACCU Medical Nutrition is based in Graceway IGA Plaza, Providenciales. Call 946 8308, 242 3978 or 442 3978.

18 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

No spikes in flu virus BY VANESSA NARINE

From left, Dekkel Simmons, Angela Musgrove, Nikira John, Kazz Forbes, Robyn Hinds and Phildreka Mayham

Campaign launched to motivate TCI youths THE National Youth Ambassadors Programme, within the Department of Youth Affairs, launched their Youth in Focus poster initiative and the Express Yourself Youth campaign under the theme ‘Take the risk…Aspire to be’ last Friday. The initiatives highlight successful youths in the Turks and Caicos Islands in an effort to encourage other young people to pursue their ambitions, more so along non-traditional career paths. The Youth in Focus posters feature youths who are already making an impact in the TCI in non-traditional professions: Robyn Hinds, Miss TCI Gospel; World Junior Champion Delano Williams; Kazz Forbes, a well noted young designer; and Nikira John, a broadcast journalist. According to Youth Ambassador, Dekkel Simmons, the initiatives are focused on meeting a need among

young people in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the need to motivate youths to work to fulfill their potential. He stated that the National Youth Ambassadors Programme is a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) project and it has the support, if need be, from the organisation. Currently, Simmons noted that the Department of Youth Affairs is funding the Youth in Focus and Express Yourself Youth initiatives. Head of the Department, Angela Musgrove, explained that young people need to be made aware that there is support for them to express themselves, find their niche and realise their potential. She said, “Our young people need to understand that they can express themselves in the area they want and be successful as others in traditional careers like doctors and lawyers if they work for it.” “Where we can, we will support

our young people with things like networking to empower them to pursue their dreams.” Friday’s launch was phase one of the campaign and the second phase is expected to highlight the successes of other young role models in the TCI community. The only change in phase two is the youths highlighted will be nominated by the community. The four professionals highlighted in phase one agreed that the initiative is a good one to support youths and raise the awareness of what is possible with hard work. Education Minister, Akierra Missick, was on hand for the launch and told the Weekly News that the initiatives are a good move forward in encouraging youths to realise their potential. The campaign is expected to run until the end of the year. (VANESSA NARINE)

Premier Rufus Ewing engages in conversation with some community members

PNP keeps in touch with its community base IN AN effort to maintain touch with its community base, the Progressive National Party (PNP) hosted a family fun day in Kew Town on Saturday. Organised by the PNP’s Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hills constituency council, residents enjoyed dominoes, family competitions, games for the kids and food and drinks on sale.

According to the council, regular events are planned for every third week in the month. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, told the Weekly News that such community events are ideal for elected officials as well as other party members to keep connected to the community. He added that the events also act as party fundraisers.

“This is one of the many district fundraising activities throughout the year so when the time comes for us to go back to the polls we will not have problems with finances,” he said. Ewing stressed the importance of maintaining a strong party presence in the Turks and Caicos Islands community.

THERE have been no spikes in the flu virus in the last weeks and there are no confirmed reports that the norovirus has returned. This was according to Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, on Tuesday, who explained that the numbers of flu cases reported are the normal number seen around this time, flu season. “At this point in time we always have an increase in gastroenteritis cases…we will be monitoring the situation,” he said. To date all government schools across the country have been scoured or cleaned and disinfected to prevent the spread of viral, an estimated cost of $70,000. However, the availability of sanitary supplies in schools has been a problem. Ewing noted that pressure is being put on the Education Ministry to ensure that the problem is corrected as soon as possible. “We have to find ways of putting in supplies and protecting them properly, with the teachers warning of vandalism,” he said, “But we have to put supplies in there is no question about that.” Another problem, more so in the family islands, has been shortage of medical supplies, with the most

recent reports of shortages coming from North Caicos. According to the Premier, officials are currently looking into the problem. He said: “We need to make sure that the shortage is not down to a funding problem. If that is the problem we will find the funding. “We have to make sure also that there is proper staffing in place.” Ewing made it clear that this effort will be focused not only in North Caicos, but across the Islands. In May last year, the presence of Norovirus, which causes gastroenteritis, also called the stomach flu was confirmed in the TCI. Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that is common in outbreaks of gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) throughout the world. It can be transmitted from person to person, through contact with vomitus or feces of infected individuals, consumption of contaminated food or water, contact with soiled surfaces and bed linens etc. Infection control measures focused on proper hygiene are vital to prevent the spread of norovirus. The Health Ministry has been promoting hygienic measures throughout the TCI.

Clement Howell may be split in two – Education Minister addresses high school overcrowding WORK is surging ahead on a number of proposals that aim to address overcrowding in Clement Howell High School. Minister of Education Akierra Missick told the Weekly News this week that Cabinet is considering a temporary split in the Government-run school as one of several options. Breaking it up into a separate junior and senior school and employing more staff would help to even out the ratio of students to teacher, she explained. “My government is committed to ensuring that our children learn and grow in the most healthy and safe of environments. “Education officials, principals all agree that over time the numbers in the school have exceeded what it was originally built for. “Our vision is a safe, secure, comfortable, modern environment for our children and currently we believe that to do this we would need to address this overcrowding.” The Ministry of Education along with the Public Works Department (PWD) are currently exploring various options as to the location of an additional site for Clement Howell pupils. “We have assembled a team from PWD for valuation of proposed sites and so we are moving steadily to build a strong case to determine if this is a

right short term measure for our children,” Missick said. “We do know that the site should be able to comfortably house either the junior or senior school, should give us value for money and in the long run be affordable and in the best interest of the children.” She stressed that a lot of work is being done by school and Education Department officials to inform Cabinet of the impact of splitting the school “They are reviewing the timetables, looking at the number of teachers that would be needed to address the subject areas if the school is split, the impact on resources and so on,” Missick said. A report with the latest findings and best value for money option is due within a week and then Cabinet will have enough data to make a decision. Earlier this month Premier Rufus Ewing spoke of the option to split the school at a post Cabinet press briefing. He said it would provide “more manageable accommodation, a safer environment and reduce social tension and stress within the school system”. The Premier added that, if approved by Cabinet, the school separation should take place at mid-term. (RB)

February 2 - 8, 2013

NEWS 19

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Only 32 captured in new 2013 registrations BY VANESSA NARINE

A job fair began this week on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be on-going for another three days on February 5, 6 and 8.

Sandals resort to hire hundreds By Daisy Handfield HUNDREDS of jobs are up for grabs following Sandals’ purchase of the Veranda resort. On December 17 last year Sandals bought out the Veranda in Providenciales with plans to rebrand it as a luxury part of Beaches Resort and Spa. The Key West Luxury Village and will feature studios, multibedrooms suites and villas. With the expansion of the resort, job vacancies have become available for hundreds of successful applicants. Including the current positions available at the resort this totals about 500 job vacancies. A job fair began this week on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be on-going for another three days on February 5, 6 and 8. The first day of the fair was a very busy day for the resort as well as for the candidates who applied. Human resource manager

Monique McClean-Vaughn told the Weekly News the ways in which interested persons could apply. “Candidates either responded to the classified ads in the newspaper for over a two month period or applied through the Labour Board,” she said. “It starts with the application, we request persons to send in a resume and then we confirm an interview date and time for them. “Upon arrival, they are verified at the gate, where we confirm that they are a Belonger or a PRC holder. “They are given a brief general knowledge exam then are interviewed by the human resources manager. “Finally, they are interviewed by the managers of the different departments they sign up for and then go home to await a call.” McClean-Vaughn said that so far the turnout was very promising.

Jewish community hosts Holocaust survivor STUDENTS and residents will have an opportunity to hear a vivid firsthand account of one of the most compelling times in history this week. On Thursday (February 7) at Brayton Hall, Holocaust survivor Rena Finder will share memories of her time in Oskar Schindler's factory. The event is free to the public and will begin with a screening of the award-winning film Schindler’s List from 2pm to 5.15pm followed by Finder’s moving talk at 6.30pm. Mrs Finder will also talk separately to high school students on Wednesday (February 6). The programme is a project of the Providenciales Jewish community and its sponsors including Fortis TCI, Beaches, Amanyara, Butterfield Gold, Grace Bay Car Rental, Gansevoort and Parrot Cay. Rabbi Sholom Bluming said, “We are truly happy to partner with the Ministry of Education and Mrs Wigglesworth of the British Collegiate to ensure high school students would not only be a part of this important moment, but to also become better acquainted with one of the more tragic stories in history.”

Rena Finder was just 10-yearsold when she and her family were captured by Nazis. As one of the remaining survivors of the Holocaust, Mrs Finder will share what it felt like as she watched her family torn apart by hate and ignorance. What it was like to lose her father, for her and her mother to be tortured for nearly a year and then to be rescued by a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler whose bravery inspired the seven-time Academy Award-winning Steven Spielberg film Schindler's List. In a recent interview, Rena Finder said, “We as a people have not learned. The biggest crime is not so much hate but indifference. “Every single one of us has the power to participate, the power to help another person, the power to intervene when we see an injustice done.” This is the first time she will tell her inspiring story of survival in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “Again, we would like to thank our sponsors who have made it possible to present the event without charge, but seating is limited and guests are asked to arrive early.”

THE 2013 round of voter registrations ended last Friday, but Elections Supervisor, Dudley Lewis, noted that only 32 new people came forward to be registered. The registration began on Monday, December 17, 2012. “We did not get the numbers we expected,” he said, “we still have a lot of people who haven’t registered.” The Supervisor of Elections called for anyone 18 years or older who satisfied the criteria, but who did not apply to be included in the 2012 Register to apply. These new applicants would include young people who turned 18 years old after March 1, 2012. Turks and Caicos Islanders will be given the opportunity to view the 2013 Preliminary Electors list from Friday, February 1, 2013. Supervisor of Elections Dudley Lewis will post the Preliminary List of voters at 63 locations across the Turks and Caicos Islands. After the publication of the Preliminary List, voters will have 14 days to scrutinise it and to make any claims or objections. Electors can make claims on their own or others behalf, as set out in Form 3 in Schedule 1 of the Election Ordinance. Similarly, objections can be made as set out in Form 4 in Schedule 1. An elector who is off island for the next two weeks may appoint an agent to act on their behalf as set out in Form 5 in Schedule 1. The agent must produce a sworn affidavit that they are acting on the claimant’s behalf. The Preliminary List of Electors

Elections Supervisor Dudley Lewis

will be available for viewing in the 10 Electoral Districts. Lewis told the Weekly News that a new preliminary list of registered voters will be published on March 31, 2013. ANNUAL UPDATE He added that new registrations will be an annual activity for the Elections Office, in an effort to keep the list of electors updated. The next round of registrations is expected to begin in November this year. Voters on the current list will be automatically included in the 2013 Register, unless they notified the Elections Office that they have changed their name or place of residence or no longer meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria includes living in the TCI for a minimum of

12 out of the last 24 months. As in the last round of voter registration, the Elections Office awaited the completion of the TC Islander status verification process before it will consider an applicant for addition to the Register of Electors. Asked about the possibility of byelections and which list would be used, Lewis said if a by-election is called before March 31 then the 2012 electors list would be used; after March the new electors’ list would be used and anyone not registered in the new round of registrations would not be allowed to vote. On the 2012 list some 7,243 persons were registered and after the claims and objections period the list whittled down to 7,237. With the 2013 round of registrations completed some 7,269 persons have been listed.

Countrywide support for Solemn Assembly By Daisy Handfield

PASTORS, churches and residents across the nation united to take part in a simultaneous prayer meeting. The event took place on Friday, January 25, and kicked off in Providenciales with an opening prayer at 10am and ended at 2pm with a vote of thanks. During the Providenciales event, the leaders formed a prayer circle which symbolised union. Premier Rufus Ewing along with Deputy Premier Akierra Missick, Porsha Stubbs and Opposition Leader Sharlene Cartwright Robinson attended the Solemn Assembly to show their support. Head of the event in Providenciales, Eva Talbot, said it came about because God had spoken

to her and told her that he wanted a Solemn Assembly. He wanted his people to come together as one to praise him. The Weekly News asked Talbot if this would be an annual event and she responded by saying that if the Lord requested it to take place next year, then she would do as asked. Organisers expressed some disappointment with the turnout and the lack of support from the general public. In Grand Turk, Pastor Vernan Malcolm said that he also was disappointed with the turnout but thrilled that the event took place. “The support was not as expected from the church leaders but those who attended were blessed and saw the need to seek face of God as a united group as we interceded

for our nation and our leaders of government.” In South Caicos attendees assembled at the Firm Foundation Ministries at 11.30am until 1pm. Officials also attended the high school earlier in the week to pray for the safety and protection of the children and teachers and to bind up the forces of evil that came against them. Another prayer focus of theirs was at the South Caicos Airport, being that it was an entry point to the island. “For things to turn around in the nation, things must first turn around in the church,” said South Caicos organiser Bishop George Fulford. The Solemn Assembly was aired on Radio Turks and Caicos 107.7fm.

Regional News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

Former CLICO officials facing Bajan lawsuits

Jamaica bishop accused of thrashing church says flock influenced by Satan

THIRTEEN Directors of the insolvent CLICO and British American Insurance Company (BAICO), including former CLICO executive chairman Leroy Parris and president of CLICO Holdings Barbados Limited, Terrence Thornhill, are facing B$128 million in negligence lawsuits. The action has been initiated by the Barbados Investors and Policyholders Alliance (BIPA), whose lawyers have served the directors with pre-action protocol letters, giving them two weeks to respond with either “plausible reasons” why the action should not be maintained or a convincing settlement offer. Failing that, the court action to recover B$76 million from the CLICO players and B$52 million from those accused of negligence in the BAICO matter will be triggered. The SUNDAY SUN was told that attorneys at law Alair Shepherd, QC, and Esther Arthur sent off the January 17 correspondence along with a draft statement of claim to CLICO directors Parris, Thornhill, Anthony Ellis, Woodbine Davis, QC, Leslie Haynes, QC, Elridge Thompson, Adrian Lorde, Basil Springer, Edrick Griffith and Vishnu Ramlogan. The BAICO claim named former CL Financial chairman Lawrence Duprey and directors Brian Branker and Robert Fullerton. The other defendants named in both claims were accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the auditors of BAICO and CLICO; the Supervisor of Insurance; and the Attorney General, as the representative of the Crown.

A CLERGYMAN who has been accused of thrashing his St Catherine church is adamant that he is the victim of an evil plot by his former flock who, he believes, have been influenced by the devil to tarnish his name. “I have done nothing wrong. All I did was to take what was mine,” declared Bishop Junior Lawrence, who alleged that since the incident he has received several death threats. On Sunday, members of Mount Zion of Faith Church in Old Harbour staged a protest, claiming that the bishop damaged sections of the church after they told him that he had to go. “We told him that we don’t want him at our church no more and that was why him come damage our place,” said one angry church member. However, Bishop Lawrence told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday that he removed his “spiritual items” and destroyed several banners he had placed in the church. “I burnt several of the flags that I placed in the church,” said Lawrence, who also admitted that he broke several bottles inside the church. “I broke several bottles of cream soda that were in the middle of the church,” the bishop said, claiming this was a traditional ritual. Lawrence said he also removed some of the chairs from the church, as it was he who had purchased them

BIPA has contended that the loss suffered by its members was a direct and/or indirect result of the negligence and breach of duties by the defendants. President June Fowler said their actions “individually and collectively contributed to the unnecessary demise of the two companies and the consequent massive losses to policyholders”. “It is with a heavy heart that BIPA has instructed its attorneys at law to proceed with these actions,” she said. “Having pursued various other more conciliatory avenues over the past two years without success, BIPA has been left with no alternative but to represent the best interests of its members by taking this action,” Fowler added. She said that many Government promises had gone unfulfilled and neither of the judicial managers had taken the route of legal action to recover the funds. In the case of BAICO, the alliance said its members had lost out on B$52 million, while the higher amount of B$76 million was lost by the CLICO investors. The statements of claim detailed where BIPA believed each defendant fell short. Among dozens of accusations made against the directors were that they did not properly manage the affairs of the companies; rubberstamped management decisions; recklessly funded acquisitions of investments regardless of whether they could yield any dividends, thereby exposing the company to insolvency; blindly relied on the reputation of Duprey and the CL

Financial group of companies; and failed to recognize that the course of conduct embarked on by the companies could only result in their insolvency. The Supervisor of Insurance was accused of failing to perform his statutory duties by ensuring that BAICO was only able to carry on as an insurance company if it both maintained the required Statutory Fund and complied with restrictions on the use of assets representing that fund. As for the auditors, the claim further contended that they failed to carry out their work to uncover the companies’ risk of not maintaining the liquidity needed to meet their obligations; plan and carry out their work to uncover potential deficits in future cash flows of the companies; and to carry out their work so as to show that the returns on investment for high interest rate products were substantially lower than the returns guaranteed to the policyholders. PricewaterhouseCoopers has already responded to the correspondence from BIPA’s lawyers. In a January 23 letter, territory leader Marcus Hatch said the company was in the process of seeking to appoint attorneys who would respond after an investigation of the matter. It promised a full, written response within a month. Fowler said that while BIPA campaigned for the rights and restitutions of funds to all 35 000 CLICO and BIPA policyholders in Barbados, only the 424 members of the alliance had been named in the court action.

Venezuela prison riot kills 61, government mum A PRISON riot in southwestern Venezuela killed 61 people, a hospital official said yesterday, although the government has refused to give an official death toll in the bloody standoff that highlighted chaos in the country’s jails. The violence took place on Friday at the Uribana jail near the city of Barquisimeto. Relatives who gathered outside the jail fumed at the lack of information from authorities who have started transferring prisoners to other facilities but have not confirmed how many were killed. The rioting took place at a time when cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez remains in Cuba receiving treatment and with Vice President Nicolas Maduro – the notional head of state – visiting the socialist leader in Havana and then traveling to a summit in Chile. The riot was the fourth highprofile conflict in 18 months in a prison system that houses three

times the number of inmates it was designed to hold. Critics say it is controlled by gangs with ready access to machine guns and even hand grenades. “We’re suffering here, and the government is saying nothing,” said Josefina Ramirez, 36, whose 25-year-old husband was inside. “We want Chavez to come here to give us news. We want an answer.” Chavez has not been seen or heard from in 45 days, which has spurred criticism from opposition leaders that the country is effectively without a president. Allies insist he is fully carrying out duties. Ruy Medina, director of the Barquisimeto Central Hospital, put the death toll at 61. A hand-written list posted on a barbed wire fence outside the Uribana jail listed 20 dead and 104 injured. Outside the nearby morgue, where hearses lined up on Saturday to collect bodies, a similar list

showed 24 dead. It was not known who posted the lists. A prisons ministry official did not respond to requests for comment. Amid the silence, rumors circulated among family members at the prison gates that the death toll had reached as high as 400. ‘BUNCH OF DEAD PEOPLE’ “There’s a bunch of dead people tossed on the ground in there, the government doesn’t want to take them out to avoid showing the reality,” said Veronica Chavez, whose husband told her he was being transferred to another prison but did not know which. She called the list outside the prison “a lie.” Maduro vowed a full investigation of the incident in pre-dawn comments on Saturday just after arriving back in Venezuela from Havana. Within hours, he left to meet with Latin American and European dignitaries at a summit in Chile. (Reuters)

from a store in downtown Kingston. Pointing out that he has been at the church for five years, the 33-year-old bishop said he was moved to tears by the allegations made against him. He said he felt that the action of the church members was influenced by the devil. “I believe the devil get involved. I believe the devil take over them, because I know they are sorry,” said Lawrence. His effort to explain his actions, however, has done nothing to calm tempers among the flock. “We want the bishop to bring back the church items,” said one church member on Thursday. They said they were awaiting instructions from their head bishop, Everald Nelson, to again report the matter to the police. Bishop Nelson however, told the Observer that as a result of the development he has decided to “sever ties with Bishop Lawrence and remove him from our circle of churches”. “Let God do His job; let him face his own judgement,” said Bishop Nelson. But Bishop Lawrence said he felt what was happening was a sign of the times. “In the last days, perilous times will come, and the devil will attack the church and try to cause confusion among its members,” he said. (Jamaica Observer)

Interim government wants a Caymanian at the helm of the London office Although the current Cayman Islands Cabinet appears to be relatively pleased with the lobbying work being undertaken by Lord Blencathra, the UK Conservative peer maybe facing a change in his role. Sources indicate that the interim government wants to see a Caymanian back at the helm of the London Office. While the Tory lord may still be able to assist the Cayman government when it comes to the financial sector, it is understood that the ambassadorial role traditionally held by the head of the Cayman office in the UK should be held by a native of the islands. Blencathra is paid some CI$19,000 per month to represent Cayman but his title as director of the office may soon be removed. It is not clear yet whether Charles Parchment, the most senior Caymanian in London, will take up the top job or whether another Caymanian will be sent to London but it is becoming increasingly clear that the government wishes for Blencathra to confine his work to the lobbying on behalf of the financial

services sector. The appointment of the Tory peer by former premier McKeeva Bush stirred up controversy both here and in London when even the UK’s Foreign Office questioned whether it was appropriate to have a government member of the UK’s House of Lords as an ambassador for an overseas territory. Bush claimed on a number of occasions that Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor had also tried to block the appointment. Although the peer was cleared by the UK’s own parliamentary committees of any potential conflict of interest, his status as a nonCaymanian continues to generate controversy back in Cayman. Speaking at a government press briefing last week, both Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and Deputy Premier Rolston Anglin indicated that, while Belncathra’s lobbying was still welcome, the government was reconsidering the structure of the London Office and pointed for the need to make savings there. (Caymannewsservice)

February 2 - 8, 2013

World News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Brazil Santa Maria fire: tighter checks in Sao Paulo state

Queen Beatrix would end her reign on April 30—the 33rd anniversary of her coronation.

Dutch queen handing throne to son QUEEN Beatrix of the Netherlands will abdicate her throne to make way for her son Prince WillemAlexander. She will formally end her reign on April 30 -- the 33rd anniversary of her coronation. “This doesn’t mean that I’m taking leave from you,” she said on Monday in a televised speech announcing the decision. “I still will be able to meet many of you. I am deeply thankful for the faith that you’ve had in me ... in all these years that I’ve been able to be queen,” she said. The queen turns 75 on Thursday. She had three children with her husband, Prince Claus, who died in 2002. The oldest Willem-Alexander will succeed her to the throne. Under the Dutch Constitution the king or queen is head of state but politically neutral. She said Monday: “I have always considered it as an extraordinary privilege to be able to put a big

part of my life at the service of our country and in accordance with my task to add substance to my kingship. “Prince Claus was a big support for many years. Until today, this beautiful task has given me a lot of satisfaction. It is inspiring to feel close to people, to sympathize in grievances and share times of joy and national pride.” She added: “It is with great confidence, that on April 30 this year I will pass my kingship to my son, the Prince of Orange. He and Princess Maxima are fully prepared for their future task. They will serve our country with devotion, faithfully serve the constitution, and with all their talents give substance to their kingship.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: “Anyone who has met the Queen will agree that she touched people and helped them forward with her knowledge and experience and her great interest and involvement.” (CNN)

Zimbabwe says public account stood at $217 last week ZIMBABWE’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti has said that the country only had $217 (£138) left in its public account last week after paying civil servants. However, he said that the following day some $30m of revenue had been paid in. Mr Biti told the BBC he made the revelation in order to emphasise that the government was unable to finance elections, not that it was insolvent. Polls are due this year, with President Robert Mugabe’s ZanuPF fighting Mr Biti’s Movement for Democratic Change. Mr Biti has previously complained that diamond mining companies have not been paying revenues to the government. The power-sharing government set up in 2009 ended years of hyperinflation by using the US dollar, but the economy remains fragile. Mr Biti told the BBC’s Focus on Africa radio programme that his statement had been deliberately taken out of context.

“You journalists are mischievous and malicious - the point I was making was that the Zimbabwean government doesn’t have the funds to finance the election, to finance the referendum,” he said. “To dramatise the point, I simply made a passing reference metaphorically that when we paid civil servants last week on Thursday we were left with $217... but even the following day we had $30m in our account.” Zimbabwe needs nearly $200m (£127m) to pay for a referendum on a new constitution, as well as the election. The government-run Herald newspaper says Mr Biti and Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa have been given the task of sourcing this money from donors. Analysts say the power-sharing government has achieved some economic stability. However, high levels of unemployment mean the country’s tax and revenue base remains extremely low.

THE governor of Brazil’s most populous state, Sao Paulo, has ordered tighter inspections of all venues, including nightclubs, cinemas and theatres. The measure follows a fire that killed 235 people at a nightclub in the southern city of Santa Maria on Sunday. Meanwhile, more than 20 survivors who were thought to have escaped unharmed have been admitted to hospital. Doctors say they are suffering from chemical pneumonia -- a respiratory disease caused by inhaling toxic fumes. There are now 141 patients in various hospitals, of which more than 70 are in critical condition, authorities say. The deadliest fire in Brazil for half a century has led to widespread calls for tighter legislation and controls for venues. In Sao Paulo state, firefighters were due to launch a so-called Maximum Prevention operation on Wednesday evening. The action was announced by the state’s governor, Geraldo Alckmin, who said it would involve around 300 teams of firefighters. The sweep is to target nightclubs with an area of more than 1,000 sq metres at first, but should gradually

One of the 235 victims of the nightclub blaze was a military doctor.

be broadened to all of Sao Paulo’s night venues, such as cinemas, restaurants and theatres. Meanwhile, the mayor of Sao Paulo city, Fernando Haddad, has announced he intends to make available online the licensing status of all the state capital’s nightclubs. FOUR ARRESTS On Tuesday, the police chief in Santa Maria, in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, said that the fire was caused by cheap fireworks meant for outdoor use. Marcelo Arigony, who is also heading the investigation, said the band playing in the nightclub had

chosen not to buy more expensive indoor flares. Earlier, a court froze the assets of the owners of the Kiss nightclub and four people were arrested in connection with the disaster. One of those detained is the coowner of the nightclub. A member of the band, Gurizada Fandangueira, blamed by Mr Arigony for starting the fire, has also been arrested. Although the investigation seems to be moving quickly, legal experts believe it is likely to be some time before those responsible for the tragedy are brought to justice.

‘Millions of low-income households’ in England face council tax rise MILLIONS of the poorest households face council tax rises because most councils in England will pass on a 10% benefit funding cut, research suggests. A TYPICAL bill will rise from April by between £100 and £250 a year, but some could rise as much as £600, the Resolution Foundation think tank says. Its report coincides with the deadline for local authorities to submit their plans for changing council tax benefit. Councils say they have not been given enough freedom to manage the changes. Responsibility for the benefit is being moved from the government to councils. At the same time, the total spent on the benefit, which is to become known as council tax support, is being cut by 10%. In Wales, the cut is being absorbed by the government, and not passed on to local authorities. ‘POLL TAX’ In Scotland, the cost is being shared between councils and the Scottish government, maintaining support for low-income residents. But the 326 councils in England could be left with a shortfall if they intend to maintain the level of

Council tax benefit changes are set to come into force next April.

existing payments. Some are finding savings from elsewhere in their budgets, in order to protect the incomes of the poorest households. At least 40 local authorities have decided to maintain current levels of support. Durham County Council and Tower Hamlets are amongst those which will absorb the costs of CTS into their budgets. The government has also put forward £100m of support for those councils that limit the council tax increase for those on benefits or low pay to 8.5%. Ministers say the total paid out in council tax benefit doubled under the last government and welfare “reform” is vital to tackle the budget

deficit. They say the changes will give councils the incentive to help people off benefits and into work. Council tax benefit is currently claimed by about five million households in England - about half get 100% support, meaning they currently pay no council tax at all. But the Resolution Foundation, a not-for-profit research and policy organisation, says that three-quarters of authorities in England are planning to demand a new or higher payment from the lowest income households. This comes at a time when other benefits may also rise more slowly than the cost of living, and the government introduces an overall cap on benefits.

22 NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Spotlight on Salt Cay Environmental Management BY CANDY HERWIN THE World Wetlands Day

is celebrated every year on February 2, and the theme this year 2013 is ‘Wetlands and

Water Management’; a theme that is most appropriate for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), where the protection of aquatic and terrestrial habitats

are important for the many wading, shoreline and water fowl species. Salt Cay one of the least inhabited islands has an abundance of habitats both naturally occurring salt ponds and those engineered by the early salt raking industry that crisscrossed the large inland salt Salinas, with chiseled rock walls facilitating the process of salt production. This was achieved by the use of windmills and sluice gates that could control water levels in the ponds. Over centuries the combination of nature and man created new wetland environments for migrating and breeding bird populations. From a layman’s point of view the habitats and wetlands are always in transition but there is something to be said for everyone participating in the preservation of the environment and wildlife. Each island community should be encouraged to focus on their own ‘Environmental Management Program’, which will typically differ from island to island. So imagine my delight when I came across Ann and Dr. Mike Pienkowski leading ornithologists for the UK Overseas Territories and regular visitors to Salt Cay who as I approached were watching a flock of stilt sandpipers. “They are shore birds,” said Ann, “and have flown in from Artic Canada. The Salinas are their feeding ground but we notice the water levels for this

Bird species that call Salt Cay home

time of year are too deep for their little legs.” Unlike the heron, which fish in deep water, some birds depend on being able to stand on the bottom of the salt flats and peck in the mud for little critters. Mike pointed out the growing interest globally for active ecological management systems and that Salt Cay like other islands could benefit from a comprehensiveSalina Management Plan. Not only do Salinas need to be kept free of man-made pollution, but understanding and managing water levels in the ponds is important. An informed environmental officer on the Island would know when to adjust water levels to prevent flooding of nests from high

water and also prevent the pools from drying out in drought conditions. Certainly Salt Cay needs more employment on the island and the engagement of a proactive environmental officer who can multi-task would be an ideal solution to some fairly serious issues like monitoring the Salinas, curbing the number of feral cats, spraying for mosquitoes, eradicating the invasive plants and formulating a plan for the removal of the unhealthy and destructive cow herds. As the Premier reiterated at the Town Hall meeting we need to have an island ‘Think Tank” that can offer positive suggestions and provide feedback to the various ministries.

Candidates selected for Miss Turks and Caicos

AFTER assessing applications and conducting interviews, seven beauties have been short listed to take part in the 2013 Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Pageant. Unveiling of the ladies will take place between 10am and 12pm on February 11 at the Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organisation (MTCUBO) ‘Meet the Press’ event at Beaches TCI Resort Villages and Spa. Raging from the ages of 19 to 26, the contestants describe themselves as beautiful, intelligent, sociable and having the determination to become a beauty ambassador. On Saturday (January 26) the official Miss Turks and Caicos Universe selection process took place at the Regent Palms resort in

Providenciales. The beauties wore swimwear pieces from the Saint George Fashion House collection and accessories by Tremm Jocale. President Kazz Forbes said, “The Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organisation encourages the development of cultural awareness, talent and creativity in some of Turks and Caicos’ most beautiful women. “There are great benefits to be gained from the pageant experience, other than winning prizes. “It helps with people skills and helps to boost confidence. The official photo shoot and the start of training sessions is just the beginning. “We’re really excited about this year’s pageant.

Preparations are already under way to make it an electrifying and memorable pageant.” Training commenced on Sunday (January 27) under the guidance of trainer for MTCUBO Wenieka Ewing, a former Miss Turks and Caicos beau. “Training and coaching are key elements,” she said. “It is our goal to not only create a Miss Turks and Caicos Beauty Queen, but a Miss Universe. “We want the best beauty ambassador to represent us on the international scene.” In the lead up to the coronation of the new Miss Turks and Caicos Universe, there will be a number of promotional and community events, cocktail parties and appearances to showcase the contestants.

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

24 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Staff awarded for excellence DOZENS of staff members at Grace Bay Club received awards this week for their hard work and dedication to duties. They were given plaques, certificates and copious words of thanks during a ceremony at the Anaconda restaurant on Tuesday afternoon. Leading the quarterly event was general manager Thierry Grandsire who said it was a way to give back to his employees for their efforts. “We have some of the best people,” he told the Weekly News, “and we train them very hard, and when they perform with excellence it’s really important to reward them.

“It’s good for the morale and to let them know that they have achieved and to be recognised among their peers.” The two front of house and two back of house top achievers will be put forward to compete for employee of the year which will be held this autumn. All of the winners’ names will be published in the staff newsletter and their photos will be displayed in the employee cafeteria. “They are the best people for the whole quarter and probably for the year after,” Grandsire said. He added that he was very proud of his employees. (RB)

DELIGHTED: Staff at Grace Bay with their certificates of achievement

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

TCI named among top ten family vacation destinations for 2013 THE Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has once again gained international recognition by being named in the top ten family vacation destinations for 2013 by Family Vacation Critic. The Family Vacation Critic is a comprehensive online travel resource for families that offers reviews of family hotels, resorts and destinations. The site which features vacation ideas, family travel tips and an online forum for family travelers says that families kick off the New Year by starting their vacation planning and reports that January is the peak month for family-vacation related searches. Editor of Family Vacation Critic, Lissa Poirot, said, “We’re seeing parents researching their spring and summer breaks immediately after the holidays. In fact, the first day of January was a very popular day for family vacation planning. “With spring break just

a few months away, it’s important to move quickly to secure accommodations, especially if you’re looking for a family room or suite, as these are often the first to be booked.” The Turks and Caicos joins an illustrious group of other family-friendly destinations including Amelia Island, FL., Montreal, Park City, UT., San Diego, CA. and Alaska Cruises. In the region only the Bahamas was included in the top ten listing. Commenting on the accolade, Mr. Ralph Higgs, Director of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board said, “This recognition by a leading online family travel guide further adds to the appeal of the Turks and Caicos as a destination tailor made for this all important market. Our family-friendly resorts combined with our exquisite natural playground lend themselves to blissful vacations each member of the family can enjoy.”

wishes

Happy 3rd Birthday Ludwig Jr. Hip hip hooray Three cheers we Strike up the band Together we stand To sing our birthday song Great gifts galore Great friends and more On this your special day We just want to say Happy Birthday L.J We love you Greetings from your parents: Ludwig Sr. & Nathalie, Brother: Bjhan, Sisters:Ludina & Latoya; grandparents: Hubert & Beatrice Fulford and Maxine Swann; and the entire family circle including Aunty Brandi & Kymani

Happy 1st Birthday Malachi

It's only one of many firsts You've passed as you have grown First smile First laugh First word First tooth First wave First crawl First cruise With many more firsts to come there's lots to look forward to. Happy 1st BIRTHDAY to our prince. We love you! Greetings from your parents: Kingsley & Lapage, sisters: Diamond & Keyandra, brothers: Kingsley Jr. & CJ; and the entire family circle especially Grammy Luceille.

Send your special occasion to: Weekly News, Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, PO Box 52, Providenciales or email to tcweeklynews@gmail.com. Free of Charge!

Please limit your messages to 150 words.

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

From left, Scotiabank’s managing director Cecil Arnold and the national team captain Ancell Williams display the team’s spiffy new uniforms

National cricket team receives sponsorship

THE Turks and Caicos Cricket Team received uniform sponsorship, compliments of Scotiabank, to compete in the ICC Americas Championship Tournament in Nassau Bahamas scheduled from February 4 to 10. Contending in Division 2, the team will challenge players from Panama, Belize, Argentina and the Bahamas in the tournament at Haynes Oval. Scotiabank is a main sponsor for West Indies Cricket in the Caribbean, both at the team and school levels and Scotiabank’s managing director Cecil Arnold said that the company is very pleased to assist the Turks and Caicos team. National team captain Ancell Williams, feeling really good about the competition, said that he thinks the team has the potential to go far since “we have good bowlers, good batsmen and good fielders and overall a pretty solid team”.

If the team wins the championship they will move to Division 1 and will play against USA, Canada and Bermuda. President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) Colin Sterling said that they hope to make cricket the number one sport on the island as it was years ago. He said that last year they started by placing practice strips at Clement Howell and British Collegiate to make it easy for kids to access and play. This year the association plans to set up some more in other schools across the islands and also hopes to host the island’s first national schools competition. More sponsorship and volunteers are encouraged to bring the game back and make it enjoyable for the youths. The TCICA also acknowledged the support of Caribbean Energy, Kishco and Air Turks and Caicos. (KH)

Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police visiting schools PUPILS at Enid Capron Primary School received a visit from officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police on last Thursday, one of several visits planned by the Force for the rest of the year. Police Public Relations Officer, Special Constable Audley A. Astwood, and Social Media Officer Constable, Kevin Clarke, spoke to pupils about community safety and gave information on what the police do. This was the second visit made by the police. The officers were in North and Middle Caicos on last Wednesday at Raymond Gardiner High School and all of the primary schools in both islands. The students got a chance to meet and asked questions to police officers from various sections of

the Police Force. Officers spoke to the pupils about road safety, internet safety, joining the Police Cadets and crime prevention. Rachel Taylor, Principal at Enid Capron Primary, commenting on the visit, said, “It is so important that the children see the work that the police do in order to build positive relationships between police, school and the community.” Officers made another visit at the Clement Howell High School on Thursday. Special Constable Audley A. Astwood said, “One of the goals of this initiative is to visit all of the schools within the country. We arranged these visits to the schools as it is a great way of educating children on what the police do and the young people that we speak to are usually very interested in policing.”

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate

Classifieds TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Brama Kumaris

FOR RENT

3-bedroom apartment $1100.00 per month it will be available May 1st.

contact: 946-4664

February 2 - 8, 2013

946-4664 Fax: 946-4661

Email: tcnews@tciway.tc

Website: tcweeklynews.com

HARRIS PRESTON Is looking for a

Raja Yoga Meditation Centre Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephone 946-4760 & 332-4101 www.bkwsu.com Email: bkwsu@tciway.tc

FOR SALE

Labourer

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. Contact: 241-8830

7732

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

FOR RENT 1 BEDROOM 1 BATH RICHMOND HILLS FULLY FURNISHED WASHER & DRYER $750.00 PER MONTH

3 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM FULLY FURNISHED WASHER DRYER 1,200.00 PER MONTH SECURITY SYSTEM FOR SALE OR FOR RENT

1 BEDROOM 1 BATHROOM HOUSE CUSTOM DESIGN KITCHEN $800.00 PER MONTH

2 BEDROOM 1 BATH NEWLY RENOVATED $900.00 PER MONTH

CONTACT: 231-3788

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

HOUSEMAN REQUIRED for inside and outside cleaning

• Duties: some heavy lifting • Hours will vary depending on occupancy levels • Evening and weekend shifts will be part of the schedule • Applicants must be able to speak, read and write English to a level that will enable communication with guests • Police clearance required for all applicants • Salary $6.00 per person

Email: alliedmanagement@usa.net or contact: 946-5866 7752

ISLAND CHEFS PERSONAL CHEF SERVICES

Planning Shopping Prepping Cooking Packaging Custom menus Fresh Low fat Healthy delicious clean up dinners, parties etc.

contact: 341-4271 7748

PRICE SLASHED

CLASSIFIEDS 29

WILFREY & TONY’S Is looking for a

Salon Helper To work 6

days per week salary $250.00 per week. Contact: 231-0882

Amazing Value! Lot for Sale

In Gated/Planned Community in Long Bay. Flamingo Crossing lot comes with full set of House Plans, all underground utilities, etc.

$49,999 o.b.o. Call 231-3788

FOR QUICK SALE PRICE SLASHED $180,000 CASH! House and ½ Acre land Richmond Hill 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Fully furnished

Call: 231-3788

$175,000

7715

February 2 - 8, 2013

30 CLASSIFIEDS

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

ETS wishes to recruit a

Technical Coordinator Kwatcha Holdings is seeking applicants to fill the position of an

Duties include coordinating the technical operations of a multifaceted, three-pronged consultancy firm, assisting in developing operational procedures and logistics, drafting contracts, assisting in the orderly operation of activities in line with established procedures and budgets, assisting with preparation and review of project implementation and reports, and liaise with clients both locally and internationally etc. Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Business Management or related field, minimum 7 years experience in technical operations, accounting management experience, must be computer literate especially in Microsoft Word, Access and Excel, must be punctual, responsible and have the ability to work on your own initiative, have a valid TCI driver’s license, own transportation, willing to work weekends and holidays, & clean police record. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

ACCOUNTANT Requirements/Duties: 1. CPA/ACA qualified with a minimum of five years experience in management accounting. 2. Budgeting, management accounts, preparation of consolidated financial statements. 3. Process Re-engineering Project experience 4. Development Accounting. 5. Knowledge of international accounting standards 6. Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with diverse audience. 7. Attention to detail and flexibility to manage multiple projects

Please forward resume to the Manager, ETS, Long Bay, Providenciales or email them to consult@ets.tc. 7725

Salary ranges from $48,000.00 – $55,000.00/annum. Qualified applicants are kindly requested to send applications before February 12th 2013 To the attention of: Edith Cox Group Finance Director Graceway House, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

SENIOR BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER 7719

FIRST GLOBAL INSURANCE BROKERS, LTD. T/A UNITED RELIANCE INSURANCE BROKERS (2008)

InterHealth Canada seeks a senior biomedical engineer to supervise the maintenance of medical equipment at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and Cockburn Town Medical Centre. Base Requirements: (not exhaustive)

VACANCY

First Global Insurance Brokers Limited t/a United Reliance Insurance Brokers (2008) is seeking a qualified individual to fill in the following position of:

UNDERWRITING AND CLAIMS PERSONNEL The ideal candidate should possess the necessary experience and must meet the following qualifications for: REQUIREMENTS: • Minimum 15 years experience in the Insurance Industry in Underwriting, Claims and Risk Management in Property, Casualty and Medical • Must have earned Insurance Degree or Bachelor’s Degree (College Graduate) or equivalent • Proficient in oral and written communication • Computer Literate • Good Negotiation Skills • Certified Insurance Practitioner • Must be able to effectively respond to Insurance Companies, Reinsurers, Brokers and Agents • Knowledgeable in the Insurance regulations both Local and Foreign particularly in London Markets • Must have thorough knowledge of the Turks & Caicos Islands Traffic Code • Technical knowledge preferably in Engineering, Electronics and Accounting OTHER DUTIES Must be able to attend to on-call duties especially in emergency situations particularly during Catastrophes

Qualifications: (a) Degree or diploma level qualification in biomedical engineering or similar acceptable discipline. (b) Proof of significant certification of maintenance competency on a wide range of equipment as validated by manufacturers’ certificates. (c) Membership of a professional biomedical engineering institute would be an advantage. Experience: (a) Proven experience in a wide range of medical equipment maintenance (b) Troubleshooting abilities in imaging and laboratory units – equipment is serviced / maintained by vendor but we require base diagnostics abilities and the ability to check / act under instruction from vendor / manufacturer engineers from outside the island. (c) Proven supervisory or management skills (d) Proven experience in management of databases pertaining to scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. (e) Strong knowledge of maintenance of dialysis systems including RO plants (f) Strong knowledge of maintenance of medical device reprocessing systems (CSSD) Role: (a) Take the lead role in the management and maintenance of medical equipment across the two centres collectively making up the Turks & Caicos Islands Hospital (b) Actively performs biomedical engineering services to ensure all units are well maintained – this is a ‘hands on’ position. (c) Ensure all maintenance record keeping is up to date. This is in conjunction with the executive assistant to the General Manager of Facilities Management Services. (d) Advise management of issues arising or likely to arise and proactively work towards the prevention of all avoidable downtime. (e) Maintain good working relationships with vendors and service suppliers (f) Work with the Human Resources department in order to ensure visas etc. are ready and available for all engineers attending the hospital for maintenance of repair services. (g) Ensure that end user staff are versed on signs of problems occurring and that they are briefed on the action to take to ensure rapid attention from the biomedical engineering department (h) Supervise the work of the second biomedical engineer on site Other: (a) Based at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on Providenciales but also responsible for services to Cockburn Town Medical Centre on Grand Turk. Work at Grand Turk may require stays on island of one or more days, including occasional weekends. (b) Local air travel and accommodation whilst on duty at Grand Turk provided by company.

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Applications must be emailed to: info@fgibtci.com Attn: Managing Director First Global Insurance Brokers Limited P.O. Box 117, Caribbean Place 1254 Leeward Highway Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Salary: Negotiable, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Apply in writing together with an up to date curriculum vitae to: recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc CLOSING DATE: 25th January 2013

Applications must be received by the 8th February 2013 7700

7702

February 2 - 8, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS 31

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Vacancies Vacancies exist at the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority for

Trainee Aerodrome Firefighters

JOB OPPORTUNITY Our company is a diversified group of companies, ranging from financial services to hotels and resorts and other industries. We’re now looking for candidates for the position of:

3D MAYA ENGINEER

As 3D Maya Engineer, you’re responsible for designing and building 3D modelling tools for creating virtual tours of our hotels and building 3D concepts of present and future properties. Working in close coordination with the Design Team and outside engineering and architectural consultants and firms, you provide real-life 3D fly-through models that will enable us to execute different design options.

We’re looking for candidates with the following profile: • Sound knowledge of Maya • Intimate knowledge of Autodesk, Blender • Textures, Mapping, Polygons, Vectoring • Animation, Lighning Effects • Serious Gaming • Fluency in English and other languages

The successful applicants will train towards operating in the role of a Fire Fighter to carry out duties as detailed in the TCIAA Aerodrome Fire Service Standard Operating Procedures Manual.

Only Belongers need apply. Please Submit Detailed Application, quting ref 3D., to: P.O. Box 270 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Applicants must:• Have a High School Diploma or equivalent • Be medically and physically fit for the role • Be organized, self-motivated, responsible and able to work in a team or independently. • Be computer literate.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

There will be a six week training period during which a training stipend will be paid. Offers for full time employment will be made following the successful completion of the training.

7729

Our company is a diversified group of companies, ranging from financial services to hotels and resorts and other industries. We’re now looking for candidates for the position of:

GROUP HR DIRECTOR

You’re responsible for developing the group HR strategy and policies, coaching the senior leadership team and overseeing / managing HR issues worldwide.

Successful recruits from 2012 need not re-apply.

Interest persons must submit their applications before February 1, 2013 to:-

The Human Resources, Training & Development Manager Turks & Caicos Islands Airports Authority, Providenciales-+ international Airport Turks and Caicos Islands Telephone # 649-941-8692. Fax # 649-941-5996 Email: info@tciairports.com

We’re looking for candidates with the following profile: • At least 15 years experience in Human Resources Management

• Experience in a wide range of industries • Executive responsibility for global HR, managing across cultures / countries • Experience in transformation / change management • Track record in building and developing international leadership teams • An entrepreneur with a can-do attitude • Fluency in English and other languages

Only Belongers need apply. Please Submit Detailed Application, quting ref HR., to: P.O. Box 270 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. 7692

7728

Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands Misick & Stanbrook is the leading and largest law firm in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), We service the legal and corporate requirements of a worldwide client base and have an international reputation for the high quality of our attorneys' work. We are presently looking to fill the following position:

Commercial Property/ General Corporate & Commercial

Misick & Stanbrook is the leading and largest law firm in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), We service the legal and corporate requirements of a worldwide client base and have an international reputation for the high quality of our attorneys' work. We are presently looking to fill the following position:

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution

We require a Paralegal/Legal Executive with commercial property and general corporate and commercial law experience to assist our senior commercial property partner with his workload. The successful applicant will have a law degree or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) as well as having passed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Vocational Course (BVC). It is a 2 year position and would be ideal for candidates before commencing a pupilage or training contract or a newly qualified lawyer. Experience of joint ventures and of resort and tourism development work would be an asset. Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience but are highly competitive.

We require a Paralegal/Legal Executive with general civil litigation experience. We would require a law degree or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) as well as passing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Vocational Course (BVC). It is a one year position and would be ideal for candidates before commencing pupilage or training contract or a newly qualified lawyer. Experience of commercial and employment litigation would be an asset. The primary area of work would be commercial litigation, but would include general civil and employment law litigation at tribunal, first instance, and high court levels.

Apply with full CV please to recruitment@misickstanbrook.tc

Apply with full Resume/CV please to recruitment@misickstanbrook.tc . 7723

7724

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience but are highly competitive.

32 CLASSIFIEDS EL RANCHO RESTAURANT & BAR KEW TOWN

Top end millwork Is looking to hire skilled

Is looking for a

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

TOWN MARKET

LEVELE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Is seeking a

is looking for a

Waitress To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour.

contact: 344-6532

7654

Housekeeper finish carpenters/ furniture Must be able to read drawings salary $7.5 per hour.

Contact: 247-4068 between the hours of 10am-3pm 7711

To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour.

Store Driver To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 344-9444

7708

Allied Management Services

OLD NICK TRANSPORTATION

Is seeking a qualified

Technician to provide technical support within the properties it manages interested person can email resumes to:

Contact: Mr. Clayton Thomas @ 232-4272 ALICE HARVEY is looking for a

Is looking for drivers for Amanyara

Welcome Ambassadors / Bell-Men The candidates must have the following items below: • Belonger’s Card which is the new standard here. • Valid TCI driver’s License with Class – C, D & E • Public Services License • Able to lift a minimum of 50lbs • Clean Police Record • Knowledgeable of TCI and Providenciales in particular. • Well groomed and well spoken • Three reliable professional references

alliedmanagement@usa.net

Please contact Mr. Reo Harvey (649) 2327021 or by email rharvey@amanresorts.com

7753

Seamstress Must be able to cut and sew for man, woman and children. Must be able to work 5 days per week Salary based on commission.

Contact: 246-1816

7741

Spa Tropique

Spa Therapist VACANCIES ;;Applicant must have a minimum of 3 years hands-on experience in 5 Star Resort and at least 3 years working as a Therapist

Head Chef Assistant Housekeeping Manager Catering Assistant Catering Supervisor Domestic Supervisor Domestic Helper Patient Services Associate (Providenciales & Grand Turk) Inventory Clerk Finance Assistant Date Entry Clerk

;;Must be trained and certified by an accredited school in ALL of the following: Swedish, deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Pre-Natal, Lympathic Drainage, Reflexology, Facials, Manicures and Pedicures and waxing. Applicant must be certified in all the previous areas. ;;In addition, applicant must be available for work ALL weekends and public holidays and be available from 8am-8pm. ;;Must have own vehicle and current, clean drivers license. ;;Salary is commission based. ;;Must have GREAT customer service skills and be upbeat and positive.

Only appropriate qualified persons should apply. Preference will be given to qualified BOTC -Turks and Caicos Islands and persons with Belonger Status. Salary is based on experience.

Apply in writing together with an up to date resume to: recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc

Please send resume to: relax@spatropique.com Please do not apply to this ad unless you can meet all of the above requirements. Deadline February 15th, 2013 7754

CLOSING DATE: 31th January 2013

February 2 - 8, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS 33

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

TRAIL ENTERPRISES LTD. is looking for the following persons:

Ward Construction is looking for an

WILFREY & TONY’S Is looking for a

JOB OPPORTUNITIES BCS-CS/FPN-CS-GRACE BAY CAR RENTAL/ GOLDEN SCISSORS, MAC MOTORS,TSI ARE LOOKING FOR:

Contact: 431-2617

7690

Contact: 231-6601

Barber

To work 6 days per week salary $250.00 per week.

Contact: 231-0882 7712

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! the largest readership in the turks & caicos

JOB VACANCY The TCI Redcross is currently seeking a

Financial Administrator For the Grand Turk Office

Duties and responsibilities • Ensure a fluent financial and administration management of GT sub branch in relation to the overall TCI RC (national level) • Provide basic admin support to the GT office and its programs- First Aid, Thrift Store, Psychosocial Support, Restoring Family Links, and Fundraising. • Provide administrative as well as financial day to day running of the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme. • Providing TCI RC national level with monthly accounts, variance analysis, forecasts and cash requests and department copies of variance analysis. • Facilitating and verifying payments including ensuring correct authorisation • Review of key controls such as bank reconciliations, cash reconciliations • Ensuring that the legal requirements of the country are adhered to in respect to contracts, payments, staffing, leases • Ensure value for money obtained through efficient and effective use of funds • Perform ad hoc internal audits • Support in HR administration as required • Support in Logistics administration as required • Attend to all administration tasks in the Grand Turk office, also including reporting at meetings, make bookings, keep petty cash, respond to phone, maintaining office supplies etc. • Liaise and coordinate closely with the TCI RC Provo office • Any other duties necessary to support the well-running of the office as considered necessary by the line manager.

Finance

;; Maintain the day-to-day cash of the programme, cash count, cash reconciliation, cash book recording, petty cash, receipts ;; Do bookkeeping of Programme in close relation with Finance Desk in Headquarters ;; Execute payments in the context of the programme insuring that authorization as outlined in the Chart of Authority has been obtained ;; Ensure bank reconciliations at the end of each month ;; Follow-up on expenditure of programme in line with budgets Administration ;; Booking of local flights, accommodation etc. for programme ;; Support the DRRO in volunteer administration, procurement and logistic admin ;; Support the DRRO when necessary, in communications with stakeholders in the programme.

Deadline is January 15th, 2013. You can apply by email to: redcrossprovo@tciway.tc or directortciredcross@gmail.com.

Painter Tailor Storekeeper Housekeeping Supervisor

Immediately to work Monday – Friday 8am-5pm.

Must be knowledgeable in QuickBooks/ Excel and vehicle parts/ inventory Must be willing to work 6 days per week Must have a valid drivers license Must have a clean record

Contact: 946-4344

Salary $5.50 per hour Please send your resume @branditz@yahoo.com

7762

JUDY’S MINI BAR

CHARLES FULFORD STUBBS

Is looking for a

Domestic Worker To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. Contact: 247-9433

Waitress To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

GARDENER/ HANDYMAN

contact: 243-1095

O’SOLEIL RESTAURANT

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour

The successful applicants must have good knowledge of plant care and general property maintenance for an interview or appointment contact: Delcine Simmons at 241-5948 Monday – Friday between the hours of 10am-5pm resume and references required Application would be considered from Belongers only and must be received by February 21st, 2013

Is looking for a

Bartender To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 332-4496

7739

PROVO FOOD FAIN

OCEAN VIBES

Is looking for a

Is looking for fill the following positions:

5 Padi Scuba Diving Instructors with STCW 95 Certificate salary $100 per day

4 Boat Captain

with STCW 95 Certificate, Boat Masters License Salary $100 per day

Domestic Worker

2 Parasail Captains Salary $10.00 per hour

All applicants must be drug free, clean cut and punctual

Contact: 231-6636 7743

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 231-6121

7738

Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

With minimum 10 years experience. Salary $10.00 per hour. Knowledge about electronics. Computer background.

Domestic Helper Needed

Must have at least 10 years experience and able to use a diagnosis computer

7736

Gardeners Green keepers Labourers

Electrician

Domestic Worker/Labourers Mechanics

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

SALES ASSOCIATES • • • •

Retail Jewelry Sales Experience Excellent Customer Care Focus Teamwork and ability to meet company objectives Trustworthy, dependable & willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays • Ability to achieve goals as outlined by management

Forward your CV and covering letter by e-mail ato:

7755

Musician Seeks to employ a

Applicants must be able to write, produce and perform own music, and work as part of a group. Ideal candidates should have 4-5 years’ professional experience.

Cosmetologist

Please send CVs and demos to eustaceswann@hotmail.com, or call 333-1854

Contact: 941-8928

7745

Sharmaine Malcolm

JOB OPPORTUNITIES Maintenance Labourer

Seeking a well-qualified candidate for the position of Maintenance Labourer. We require an all-round Maintenance Technician with experience in plumbing and electrical repairs, painting, pool maintenance, tool and equipment maintenance, Klargester sewage systems, woodwork and general labour. Candidate must be prepared to work weekends and holidays, and be on-call evenings. Pay range: $7 to $10 per hour, plus service charge depending on experience and qualifications.

Spa Therapist

We are seeking a qualified Spa Therapist with a minimum of five years’ experience for our Thalasso Spa. The successful candidate will be qualified to provide our spa clientele with high quality therapeutic treatments, including a full range of body massages, ear candling, lymphatic drainage, and pregnancy massages, as well as providing manicures and pedicures. This position will also assist the Spa Manager with day-to-day administrative duties, including inventory management, appointments, etc. Salary: $500 to $750 per month and 10% - 12.5% commission on treatments provided, (both salary and commission commensurate with experience) plus service charge. Onsite bedsit provided.

Housekeeper

is looking for a

Wanted live in

housekeeper Salary $800.00 per month.

Please Contact 242-5448 7750

for sale Pure breed Apricot female Toy Poodle

Point Grace is currently seeking Housekeeping staff. We are looking for a trained and enthusiastic housekeeper to join our team. The successful candidate will have several years experience in this position in a luxury hotel. Ability to work well under pressure and good communication skills, including excellent English, are essential; must have a pleasant and outgoing personality. In addition to regular housekeeping duties, the jobs include, turndown service, shifts in laundry, and common areas. Must be willing to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Must have at least 5 years experience salary based on commission. 7742

CLASSIC CAR CLUB It is proposed to start a Classic-Car-Club (CCC) IN Provo Owners of classic car or interesting car or if only an enthusiast will be welcome to attend an inaugural meeting soon interested parties please contact: Micky at mickys@tciway.tc

7740

Colombian Emeralds International, “The World’s Foremost Emerald Jeweller” with over 50 stores worldwide has exciting career opportunities.

NORDICA DELL Colombian Emeralds International Beaches Resort, Turks & Caicos Islands Fax: 1-649-941-2333 (NO PHONE CALLS)

Beauty and Beyond Spa

Reef Entertainment Ltd

COLOMBIAN EMERALDS INTERNATIONAL

RESTORATION HOPE CENTER Has a vacancy for an experienced, full-time

Musicians Who is available for all schedule services salary negotiable.

Contact: 341-0725

Wages range: $5.00 to $6.50 per hour (commensurate with experience), plus service charge

7734

34 CLASSIFIEDS

SEAL SECURITY

Dishwasher

Dishwashers required for our food and beverage operations. Weekend, holiday and shift work. Must be able to work late hours. Wages range $5.00 to $5.50 per hour, plus service charge and tips

Domestic worker

Point Grace is currently seeking a Domestic worker for our food and beverage operations. Applicants wishing to apply for the kitchen helper position must have at least 2 years previous experience in a full service restaurant and be willing to work days, nights, and weekends.

Is looking for 4

Wages range $5.00 to $5.50 per hour, plus service charge and tips

Belongers need only apply

Please apply in writing to: Point Grace, PO Box 700, Grace Bay, Providenciales. Email: humanresources@pointgrace.com Fax: 946-5097

Call 442-8888

Security Guards Salary negotiable Contact: 442-6220

7760

February 2 - 8, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS 35

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

YARD MAN

Angel Adams Is looking for a

Job Category: Automotive / Vehicle Repair

Salary/wage: 25.00 – 35.00 USD /hour Career Level: Experienced (non-Manager) Location: Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands BWI

Needed for an apartment complex in Grace Bay

Must be able to speak English and be able to understand instruction tasks including maintaining sewage treatment plant only those legal residents need apply in person at Island Club Grace Bay or

Labourer To work 6 days

Requirements: • Diagnose and fix cars, light trucks, SUV’s, heavy trucks, heavy earth moving equipment. • Diagnose and repair hydraulic drive systems. • Working knowledge of diagnostic tools such as GTR, Dealer Connect, IDS, WDS, Starscan, DRB3, NGS & Tech 2. • Excellent written & oral communication skills in English.

Status: Full Time, Employee Revelant Work Experience: 15 years+ Education Level: High School or equivalent + qualified petrol & diesel technician. • Energetic, resourceful and punctual, with strong business and personal ethics. • Qualified professional technician (ASE Certified, Master, L1 and up) • Automotive Service Knowledge • Work experience in high volume shops • Willing to be trained and learn new technical concepts and automotive service development.

Please send all correspondence to:

Mac Motors. Providenciales, Turks & caicos Islands. Tel.: 649 941 3847 7746

B & M CONSTRUCTION

Is looking to employ 10

Part-time employees Duties must have:

Yard cleaning, Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Masonry/ Tiling. Handyman skills a plus. salary $5.00 per hour.

7514

Is looking for an

Upholster To work 6 days per week salary $8.00 per hour.

Contact: 242-3256 7758

Assistant Manager Reporting Directly To The Directors Of The Company SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Oversee ALL of the day-to-day managerial functions: maintain the integrity of the online gaming system; assure compliance of the rules and regulation of the government, the company and the industry; prepares budgets-operating, marketing and special projects; ensure adequate staffing-hire, train, evaluate and discipline; procure and ensure adequate inventory of the operating supplies; identify and coordinate employees’/ customers/ third parties/ suppliers and vendors, special events; project manager of special projects; interface with external forces on behalf of the directors, coordinate and provide the company’s directors with operational reports

SPENCE SECURITY & INVESTIGATION SERVICES, LTD

TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

The leading and trusted security company in TCI is in need of personnel to fill up the following position for our expansion.

SECURITY OFFICER

Responsibilities: • Safe guard the clients lives and properties • Prevent/deter crimes from happening • Write reports

Qualifications: • Minimum of 4 years military/police experience or 5-6 years security officer experience • Must have basic personal safety and other security training certificate • Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills (English) • Can follow instructions and write comprehensive reports • Must be an excellent team-player • Must have valid TCI Driver’s License • Salary starts $6.00 per hour. How to apply: 1. Submit resume’ with application letter, employment and training certificates, police record, passport, proof of residence or citizenship to Spence Security office 2. Wait for Spence Security personnel to call you for an interview Interested applicants should send resume’ and applicable certificates address to: ‘The HR Manager’ not later than Feb 15, 2013 to: SPENCE SECURITY & INVESTIGATION SERVICES, LTD. P.O BOX #73, Caribbean Place, Leeward Highway, Providenciales Email address:HR@spencesecurity.com Fax: 941-3027

BELONGER ONLY NEED APPLY. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

IS HIRING AN

7744

Online Gaming System Management In-depth understanding of the Gaming industry Ability to develop and implement budgets Ability to make crucial/ good business decisions Strong understanding of Human Resource Management Strong understanding of third parties relationships Strong understanding of customer service satisfaction Results driven – ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks within specified timeframes Excellent communication skills, written and verbal Excellent interpersonal skills Problem solver (conflict resolution management)

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE Proficient knowledge of the FML Group of Companies’ Online Gaming Operating System or a “comparable” Online Gaming Operation System At least eight (8) to ten (10) years experience in Business Management with particular focus on: Development and implementation of budgets Coordination and preparation of reports Employees Management (not less than a team of ten (10) persons) Customer Service Satisfaction Management Conflict Resolution Management

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES An unblemished character (substantiated by at least three verifiable references) A professional demeanor with a pleasant personality Excellent interpersonal skills Self motivated and adherent to timelines Respect for authorities, peers and subordinates

Contact: 649-941-5763

7672

ALL PRO CLEANERS

Contact: 247-0347

per week salary $5.00 per hour. Contact: 231-3509

7757

7751

Contact: 946-5866

Mac Motors

36 CLASSIFIEDS ROBERTA OUTTEN Is looking for a

Domestic Worker To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 242-9426

SEA GATE MANAGEMENT CORAL DESTINATIONS Is looking for a

Housekeeper To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour.

Contact: 941-5497 7642

The largest readership in the turks & caicos

CEDAR LODGE REST – DOROTHEA CO.

Domestic Worker

Salary $5.00 per hour Interested candidates can visit Cedar Lodge Rest-Dorothea Co. for further details regarding employment

RODEMIDE JOSEPH WORLD

Green Keeper

Salary $6.00 per hour interested candidates can contact the employer at 344-0966 for more details regarding employment

• To consult sales team on promoting products carried at our wholesale and retail operation • To consult team on visiting our wholesale customers in the trade on a regular basis in an effort to increase sales and awareness of our products • Consult sales team in helping to grow retail sales by doing in store promotions and assisting customers • Assist in streamlining inventory in an effort to maximize inventory turnover ratio while maintaining adequate products to service the trade efficiently • Consult in the coordination and assist in devising and implementing various sales and marketing strategies for the Wine Cellar Retail and Wholesale Divisions along with similar programs for all other affiliated businesses within the group

• Consult sales team in the provision of regular Swot Analysis Reports to management on the progress or detriments of each account, in order to determine appropriate strategies for account success

Acting on behalf of our clients:

Salary $7.00 per hour Interested candidate must be able to fix heavy duty equipments etc. Visit our office on Old Airport Road, Providenciales for further details regarding employment

MERCHANDIZING & SALES CONSULTANT

• Consult in liaising with suppliers/vendors to determine, learn and implement various product campaigns within our markets

RICARDO FULFORD CONSULTANT SERVICES Mechanic

THE WINE CELLAR is looking for:

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

PENN CONSTRUCTION

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

• Consult where necessary the sales and marketing team of existing and future business ventures of the group

RICARDO FULFORD CONTRACTING

• Must have 5 or more years experience in the beverage industry

2 Green Keepers 1 Carpenter

• Salary – commission based

Application must be submitted via email or fax to:

Interested candidates can apply through email: fulfordricardo@ yahoo.com for further details regarding employment

The Operations Manager discount@tciway.tc or fax: 649-946-4871

7756

JACQUELIN DESRONVIL

Green Keeper

Interested candidates can contact: 244-9696 for further details regarding employment

CLAUDE JOSEPH

Green Keeper

Interested candidates can contact: 241-2512 for further details regarding employment Interested candidates may also apply through email: fulfordricardo@yahoo.com 7691

Administrator/ Personal Assistant To coordinate, oversee and organize from start to finish all events, locally and internationally for A Touch of Love International Center and its group of affiliated ministries. Requirements: -Must be born again, Spirit filled believer. -Strong Organizational, Communication and Linguistic skills. -Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint -Must be trustworthy; able to be trusted with highly sensitive and confidential information -Must be able to carry a heavy workload and flexible for sudden travel -Reports to Senior Pastor

Accounts Payable Clerk DEPARTMENT: Finance REPORTS TO: Finance Manager Main Duties and Responsibilities: ;;Manage Accounts Payable function ;;Review and reconcile Digicel Stores’ sales reports to cash received ;;Fortnightly/monthly bank reconciliations. ;;Assist in month end close out ;;Ad hoc duties Skills & Experience Required: ;;Knowledge of Accounting and the AP function ;;Experience using Accounting software & Microsoft Excel ;;Self-Motivated, ability to work on own initiative and flexible ;;Analytical and problem solving skills ;;Attention to detail and high level of accuracy ;;Effective written communications skills

No phone calls please Send resume to: A Touch of Love Ministries International Center Attn: Senior Pastor, P.O. Box 751 Providenciales, TCI or email info@atolministries.org

JOB VACANCY

Interested applicants should forward their resume to hrtci@digicelgroup.com 7759

February 2 - 8, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS 37

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

THREE QUEENS BAR & RESTAURANT

PROVO ELECTRIC

Is looking for the following persons:

TURKS AND CAICOS TOURIST BOARD

Is looking for suitable qualified persons to fill the following positions:

Labourer

VACANCY

UPSTAIRS BAR & GRILL

2 Barmaids

Cook

Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Salary commensurate with qualifications

1 Domestic Worker

Contact: 241-9950 SUNSET PHARMACY

Resumes can be faxed to 941-3425 and the Labour Department, Providenciales as soon as possible

PAULAMAE MISSICK Is looking for a

Is looking for a

domestic

worker

TDMG CONCORDIA is looking for

7704

PAUL HIGGS is looking for a

Painter

To work 5 days per week salary $8.00 per hour.

Contact: 243-2724

7715

JOB OPPORTUNITIES Y A 3 B acting on behalf of our clients: Kitch Construction, B’s Beauty Bar, Anny Garcia, Middle Caicos Growing, Uncle Dought Bar, Major Beauty Salon, Big Blue Seafood is looking to fill the following positions:

Project Manager

Labourer

7732

Must have at least 5 years experience Salary is negotiable Belonger only need apply Application deadline is February 21st, 2013.

Fax: 649-941-3446

to work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 232-6546

7696

EVAN HARVEY T/A EVENIA SALON Is looking to fill the following positions:

Nail Technician Hairdresser

Must be willing to work 6 days per week from 9am7pm salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 231-6153

7716

2 Barbers – $6.00 per hour 1 Cosmetologist – $6.00 per hour 1 Maintenance Person – $6.00 per hour Plumber – $8.00 per hour 2 Hairdressers – $6.00 per hour 2 Nail Technicians – $6.00 per hour 1 Farmer – $5.50 per hour 1 Waitress – $5.50 per hour Must be willing to work 6 days per week holidays and weekends

Contact: 344-4540

7685

WANTED

B & N CONSTRUCTION Is looking for the following persons:

Finish Carpenter Painter Salary $8.00 per hour

Labourer

Contact: 242-3256

contact: 649-242-1016

Must be willing to work 6 days per week 7722

The Turks & Caicos Tourist Board has an immediate opening for a SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER. Reporting to the Senior Marketing Executive, this essential position has responsibility for media and public relations, market research and corporate communications. The ideal candidate must be results-oriented, creative and innovative, and possess a sound knowledge of the tourism products and services of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Essential duties will include, but may not be limited to: • Public Relations • Plan, develop and implement public relations strategies • Liaise with local and internationally-based TCI marketing • Manage public relations budget and work with local and overseas marketing executives to coordinate advertising and promotion programmes • Organize and facilitate familiarization and press trips • Liaise with the general public, the media and other strategic partners and organizations to answer enquiries, supply information, etc. • Write and edit publicity pieces for brochures, handouts, promotional videos, films, multimedia productions, etc. • Devise and coordinate photo opportunities • Develop social media, including Twitter and Facebook, to engage with current and potential visitors and promote the destination in creative and unique ways • Assist with website updates • Represent the Board of Tourism at trade and consumer shows, seminars and conferences • Media Relations • Foster strong media relations between the Board of Tourism and key media houses and individuals • Research, write and distribute press releases, articles, and news-worthy items to targeted media • Collate and analyze media coverage and social media, locally, regionally and internationally, and maintain the Board of Tourism’s media archives • Organize press coverage for launches of new products and/or services entering the TCI • Market Research • Conduct research among key tourism stakeholders • Identify ways to further develop the Board of Tourism’s programmes and activities Corporate Communications • Write and edit internal newsletters, speeches, handouts, articles etc. • Organize press briefings/conferences; respond to requests for information • Manage crisis communications for the destination and the Board of Tourism • Source and manage speaking and sponsorship opportunities • Foster good community relations through involvement in community and corporate events/sponsorships, etc. • Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or Communications with minimum 3 years work experience in a similar role • Advanced computer proficiency with excellent knowledge of MS Office • Exceptional social and interpersonal skills • Team player with ability to work with diverse groups/individuals • Excellent verbal and written communication with strong presentation skills • Flexibility to travel and/or work an unconventional schedule SALARY The salary scale for this position is $30,000 to $36,000 per annum. Starting salary is commensurate with qualifications, education and experience. For immediate consideration, applications should be addressed to The Chairman, Turks and Caicos Islands, Front Street, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, and submitted to hubertafulford@gmail.com, Applications should include the following documents:

To work 5 days per week. Monday-Friday. Salary $5.00 per hour.

7727

Contact: 649-941-3751

7747

To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour suitable should is lookingapplicant for

Labourer

Senior Public Relations Officer

Covering Letter Current Resume Two (2) Reference Letters from previous employers Current Police Record Resident Status ONLY APPLICANTS MEETING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED

CLOSING DATE: JANUARY 31, 2013

7678

38 CLASSIFIEDS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

DELROY LIGHTBOURNE

ERNEST WILLIAMS

DELICIOUS DISHES

Is looking for a

Labourer Labourer Labourer contact: 244-1078

7706

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 347-1030 7707

CEDAR LODGE CAFÉ

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

contact: 345-7290

7714

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

DAVID RIVERA Is looking to fill the following positions:

Electronic Technician 2 Sales Clerks Is looking for a

Waitress

To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour. Contact: 941-5755

Cook

Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary commensurate with experience.

Contact: 242-0288

7713

BCQS LIMITED

1 Kitchen Helper

Is looking for a

Seek a

• Minimum 5 years experience • Working in a kitchen as a Line cook in a VERY high volume Restaurant. • Must have knowledge of taking inventory daily. • Pay rate is $5/hr

Cook To work 6 days per week salary $300 per week.

contact: 347-0720

Please submit Resumes at the restaurant at 499 Bay Rd. Blue Hills, Providenciales TCI. Phone: (649)-946-8877 7710

Is looking for a

EDDY BIEN-AIME Is looking for a

February 2 - 8, 2013

JOB VACANCIES C.H Ltd Is looking for the following positions to be filled

Tandoor cook: 1 position $5.5/hour + benefits • Have at least 7 years experience in running a charcoal driven tandoor • Knowledge in making ingredients for Naan/Romali/roti's • Knowledge of marinating for Kebabs from all over India (North and South) and cooking in tandoor. • Working knowledge of starting and closing the charcoal tandoor.

Curry Chef: 2 positions $7.5/hours + benefits

Chartered Surveyor

• Have at least 10 years of hands on experience in running curry section of an Indian restaurant. • Knowledge of producing curries from all over India - with concentration on North Indian and Mughlai style cuisine • Knowledge in producing the 6 base sauces used for Indian cuisine. • Knowledge in marinating for Kebabs and some work knowledge of Tandoor operations. • Plating and presentation of Indian cuisine and garnishes used

The successful applicant must posses:

Food and Beverage Manager - 1 position

;; Associate Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or equivalent ;; BSc in Urban Estate Management of RICS-recognized qualification ;; Five years post qualification work experience ;; Computer literate with experience in Word, Excel, MS Project & QuickBooks ;; Duties will include and candidates should have experience in: ;; Market appraisals and secured lending valuations ;; Development feasibility studies ;; Facilities and Asset Portfolio Management ;; An annual salary of $42,000.00 plus performance related commission is offered for this position

USD 2500 gross • Required to have over 10 years experience in high end restaurant/resort management • Will be able to communicate with guests and suppliers • Have in depth knowledge of RPE computer systems • Extensive knowledge of restaurant management, marketing strategies • Extensive knowledge of Indian (north and southern Indian cuisine) and Chinese Cuisine Cantonese, schewan, Hunan) • Menu planning expertise, with budgets and cost factor establishment • Should be able to deal with suppliers • Excellent trainer and motivator for the team • Expert in fine dining service • Experience in Turks and Caicos and internationally

Chinese Cook: 1 position

The suitable candidate will be aged 33-45 years old and be able to work under his own initiative and be able to see through projects from concept to completion

$ 7.50/hour • Extensive knowledge of Cantonese, Schewan and Hunan cuisine • Should be a team player • Should be an expert in Dim-sum • Should be able to work on Wok and have knowledge of cleaning and working of the same • Experience of at least 8 years in Chinese cuisine in a reputable restaurant • Menu planning and design with cost estimates and product knowledge • Expert in preparation of Peking duck and other southern Chinese cuisine

This position is available immediately and closing date for application is 31st May 2013

Apply in writing to BCQS Limited, P.O. Box 158, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands or faxed to: 649-9467184. Contact: Simon Taylor at email: staylor@bcqs.com

Send resume to info@garammasala.com 7694

7693

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PARALEGAL

VACANCY

Required for a law office in Providenciales

Candidate. Must be able to do all accounting functions to trial balance and be experienced in real estate, corporate, commercial, litigation and security work. A minimum of 10 years experience in a fast paced professional environment is required. All replies held in strictest confidence.

Apply by: February 9th, 2013 Skippings Rutley, P.O. Box 796, Providenciales info@skippingsrutley.com

7720

VACANCIES Graceway IGA Supermarket / Kwatcha Holdings are seeking suitable qualified applicants to fill the listed positions:-

Our company is a diversified group of companies, ranging from financial services to hotels and resorts and other industries. We’re now looking for candidates for the position of:

Hotel and Marina Event Coordinator

The applicant must possess the following: ;;Experience managing events at hotels, resorts and marinas for different target groups ;;RYA Certification ;;Extensive business development experience ;;Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or equivalent required MBA degree desired ;;Fluency in two languages Belongers need only apply. Please Submit Detailed Application to:

P.O. Box 270 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

Wholesale Food & Sales Manager Job Requirements & Responsibilities: • Responsible for overall management of product distribution and revenue of sales • Oversee the day to day management of wholesale department personnel to maximize sale productivity • Oversees and manages the Supermarket growing wholesale accounts • At least five (5) years Sales or Marketing experience. • Five (5) years Chef Experience. • Good knowledge of wholesale foods, liquor, wines and beers. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Competence in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel. • Good negotiation and interpersonal skills. • Must have a personal vehicle and a valid Driver’s License. • Must have pervious managerial experienced working in a supermarket retail environment • Applicant will be required to work weekends and holidays Salary rate will commensurate with experience and ranges from $36, 000.00 - $45,000.00

General Manager Summary of Duties The position is responsible for the management of all aspects of Graceway Gourmet Supermarket. This includes providing leadership and motivation to promote the consistent execution of standard practices, policies and procedures. Setting the tone and leading the stores culture/environment to ensure success in all aspects of customer service, profitability, operations, people development, merchandise presentation and merchandise assortment. Required Specifications and qualifications • Over ten (10) years experience in supermarket retail and wholesale management with a minimum of five (5) years in a senior management position to include management of individual departments. • Experience in company expansion projects with the ability to lead and develop new store concept, design, layout, format and operations. • Proficient in the understanding of retail and wholesale accounting and good business practices related to documentation and record keeping. • Strong current product knowledge of the retail industry and a proven record in the ability to achieve the budgeted financial and operating results, including sales, profitability, and wage percentage. • Experience managing and developing the human resources activities, maintain and develop organizational culture, values and reputation in market and with all staff, customers, suppliers, partners and governmental bodies. • Must have the ability to identify, develop and direct the implementation of business strategy and report to shareholders on organizational plans, financial disclosure and operational performance. • Ability to work extended hours including nights, weekends, and holidays. Salary rate will commensurate with experience and ranges from $60, 000.00 - $72,000.00

JOB OPPORTUNITY Graceway IGA Supermarket is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill the following position:

Finance Analyst Job Requirements & Responsibilities: • ACA/ACCA/CPA qualified with a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience in a financial analysis/financial reporting position. • Responsible for preparation of monthly financial reporting pack and yearend Financial Statements including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement. • Responsible for management of general ledger, including posting of month end accruals, prepayments, deferrals, cost reallocations and a wide range of journals as required. • Responsible for production of yearend audit pack, documenting detailed reconciliations of year end closing balances of all accounts within the trial balance and liaising with auditors to assist with ad-hoc queries. • Perform analytical review of monthly financial reports, highlight, investigate and explain unusual variances to budget / prior year, posting correcting journal entries to general ledger as required. • Extensive experience of preparation of financial reports including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and Cash flow and ability to manage a month-end reporting cycle is essential. • Management and development of accounting system and processes, including chart of accounts, expansion of capability, and relationship management with external parties. • Management of stock transfer process. • Operational and financial analysis of key business issues. • Strong written and verbal communication skills essential. • Attention to detail and flexibility to manage multiple tasks. • Knowledge of SAGE accounting software beneficial. Only Belonger Need Apply Salary will commensurate with qualification and experience Deadline for submission of applicants is February 8th 2013

Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com

Deadline for submission of applicants is February 12th 2013

Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com

CLASSIFIEDS 39

7718

Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews.

7703

February 2 - 8, 2013

40 CLASSIFIEDS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is a contemporary luxury full service boutique resort on Grace Bay Beach. We are looking for driven and energetic professionals with Five Star experience and who are committed to achieving excellence by ensuring Five Star standards and services are continuously delivered.

General Manager

The General Manager is the primary strategic business leader of the property with responsibility for all aspects of the operation. The General Manager must oversee property performance, sales & marketing initiatives and strategies, manage profitability and revenue generation. Additionally, the General Manager must be able to attract talent and build talented teams and be multi-skilled and celebrate diverse environments and can relate to people from a variety of backgrounds. The General Manager must have at least 10 years experience in managing in a five star boutique hotel with minimum 3 as a GM. Essential duties include but not limited to: Maximize revenue and profitability, represent the hotel in the community and head the executive committee of the property. Manage all sources of revenue to include rooms, food and beverage, and others. Ensures all departments are profitable and maintain strong working relationships with all stakeholders. Achieve exceptional levels of guest and team member satisfaction. Promote the Gansevoort culture at every opportunity and stay true to its core values. Operate the hotel under the covenants of the management agreement, and other relevant brand standards/SOPs. Establish the strategic plan and execute to fulfill property revenue and profit objectives in accordance to annual budget, marketing plan and capital expenditure plan. In collaboration with the hotel's financial controller, prepare and manage the budget and quarterly forecast process, and general reporting requirements internally, with brand leadership, banking affiliates, owner's representatives and investors. Continually analyze market trends and direct team accordingly to obtain objectives. Creates local and national marketing plans and pricing strategies and knows market segments. Responds quickly to changing market conditions and revises strategies accordingly. Actively participates in sales discussions, meetings and plans. Knows monthly production levels for each sales team. Produces monthly financial reports and knows at all times where the hotel stands against budget. Protects the hotel and its assets through enforcing and maintaining a preventative maintenance program. Provide exceptional customer service to all hotel guests, making their stay as comfortable and accommodating as possible while achieving team and Brand goals. Follows company policies and procedures and is able to effectively communicate them to subordinates.

Chief Engineer

Responsible for all aspects of the maintenance of the Resort. The successful candidate will be responsible for short and long-range planning, coordinating all capital, expansion, and special projects, and management of the engineering department’s financial budget. The ideal candidate will have prior resort engineering experience within a five-star environment. Prior Caribbean experience desired. Essential Duties: Manages the resort’s maintenance and engineering operations including guest rooms, building structures, front and back of house facilities, all mechanical, electrical, water treatment and HVAC systems, refrigeration and any related equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures. Works closely with leadership to develop and execute an operating strategy that aligns with business strategy. Manages controllable expenses through the implementation of cost saving and energy conservation programs (e.g., wages, heat, light and power, water consumption, tools and equipment, grounds keeping supplies, uniforms, vendors, service agreements,

inventory, etc.). Monitors and maintains fire, health and safety systems and collaborates with relevant fire, emergency and governmental agencies to ensure complete understanding of regulations, procedures, alarms, and equipment. Develops engineering budget and ensures departmental performance meets/exceeds budgetary goals. Regularly reviews financial reports/statements/ forecasts to evaluate financial performance against budget. Controls engineering expenditures and ensures all projects are completed timely and within budget. Serves as project manager on resort projects, overseeing all aspects from design and costing to construction. Controls and administers all engineering/service contracts throughout the resort, always negotiating in the best interest of the resort. Collaborates with vendors/contractors and monitors work product to ensure quality standards are consistent with the requirements of a luxury resort. Develops, implements and manages emergency and disaster management programs. Assists with developing Strata budget and managing Strata Costs, Manages accurate and timely bill back process for Condo units. Manages pool chemical balance and maintenance of all pool equipment. Maintains FFE. Manages and maintains security cameras and lighting systems. Develops, executes and monitors preventative maintenance and asset protection programs. Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures for engineering department. Exercises general supervision over the engineering team and communicates a clear and concise vision regarding department goals to produce desired results. Liaises with department heads to understand challenges and ensure maintenance needs are addressed. Proactively addresses problems and quickly identifies and implements solutions. Keeps owners and executives informed, and provides timely response to queries from the same. Hires, mentors and trains engineering staff; establishes performance guidelines; and evaluates staff performance in accordance with resort policies. Complies with departmental standard operating procedures, Resort policies and TCIG health and safety regulations Skills/Qualifications: • To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment, or equivalent combination of experience and education • Minimum 5 years’ experience as Chief Engineer for a luxury property, preferably in the Caribbean • Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, train, develop skills, mentor and motivate a team • Thorough knowledge of resort engineering procedures, operations and equipment, with the ability to execute all aspects • Thorough knowledge of building codes, fire safety systems, plumbing and electrical systems, mechanical and HVAC, and carpentry disciplines • Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in the English language • Computer proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

Financial Director

To direct the resort’s accounting and financial management functions. Manage the accounting staff, procurement function and information technology systems. To provide timely and meaningful information to the general manager and management team with regard to the resort’s financial performance. To proactively lead cost containment efforts, revenue enhancement, profit improvement opportunities and safeguarding of the company’s assets.

Essential Duties: Plan, develop, implement, direct and regularly evaluate the resort’s financial functions and performance. Participate in short- and long-range strategic financial planning and regularly evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of plans. Prepare, analyze, interpret and communicate financial results to General Manager and the management team. Maintain proper and complete financial records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, ensuring that resort accounts, records and transactions are accurate and correct at all times. Safeguard the resort’s assets by establishing, monitoring and enforcing internal controls. Provide financial management tools that assist management with planning, forecasting and maximizing financial performance. Compile budgets, forecasts, financial reports and financial trends. Optimize bank and deposit relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance cash position. Keep GM informed at all times of cash position. To ensure that the established controls and procedures in respect to the controller’s areas of responsibility are being complied with at all times. Assists with developing Strata budget and manages Strata Costs. Exercise general supervision over the accounting team and related functions (A/P, A/R, payroll, etc). Communicate a clear and concise message regarding department goals to produce desired results. Coordinate audit process and organize information required by outside examiners/ auditors. Keep owners and executives informed, and provide timely response to queries from the same. Oversee the hotel’s computer and software systems, ensuring that systems are safeguarded and properly maintained. Implement changes/additions to the electronic data processing systems of the hotel as required/necessary. Develop, implement and enforce policies and procedures that improve the financial operation and effectiveness of the resort. Ensure that there are, at all times, proper procedures and controls for cashiers, purchasing, receiving, stores and requisitioning, and that the same are enforced. Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for accounting department. Protect confidential data and restrict communications of same only to authorized persons. Perform other duties as directed by the General Manager or any other authorized executive.

Skills/Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or related field, or equivalent combination of experience and education. MBA, CPA or ACA designation essential. • 10 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment with minimum 5 years managing an accounting function within a luxury resort/hotel environment. • Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, train, develop, mentor and motivate a team. • Thorough knowledge of condo resort accounting, strata management, payroll and IT. • Proficiency in MS Office, Opera PMS and Data Plus financial management system. • Deadline oriented with the ability to multi-task and establish priorities.

• Strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in the English language.

Labourer/ Engineer Technician

Report directly to the Chief Engineering. This position is responsible for the day to day maintenance of the hotel. This position demands attention to detail, technical expertise and understanding of the preventive maintenance process. Minimum Requirements: • Minimum 5 years experience, at least 2 years 7761

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 41 Kenesha’s Bakery & Restaurant

T.L.C. BEAUTY SALON Is looking for a

JOB ADVERTISEMENT CONTINUED

• • • •

•

in construction field and/or resort property management. Associate’s degree in engineering or certification or equivalent experience. Ability to recognize and anticipate problems early. Require heavy lifting and hard work therefore an affinity for hard work and excellent physical strength is mandatory. Must be highly motivated, a self starter who needs little supervision and solution oriented. Excellent team player qualities and self discipline is mandatory.

Restaurant / Bar Manager

Report Directly to the Food & Beverage Director. This position is responsible for managing all activities of the Food & Beverage Departments for the organization. The daily operation of vessel’s Beverage Sales Operation including the effective administration, supervision and execution of programs consistent with the company standards and goals of providing excellent service while generating maximum revenue. Essential duties include but not limited to: Directs the activities of restaurant service personnel, Bartenders, Beverage Attendants, Host/Hostess. Directs and ensures the implementation and execution of corporate policies and procedures. Controls, measures and reports Outlet sales performance on a daily basis and takes required corrective action to ensure operations are in accordance with the company standards and objectives. Creates new opportunities and maximizes existing ones to generate extra revenue. Maximizes profitability by increasing turnover (revenue and covers). Ensures that department’s operational budget is strictly adhered to and that all costs are strictly controlled. Recommends measures to control/reduce costs. Works closely with the Controller and provisioning in regards to inventory taking, cost control, loading, ordering and storing. Ensures that all bars are counted after each shift and investigates discrepancies. Assures correct pouring and ensures proper void handling. Requirements: • College or University degree in hospitality management, business administration or related field preferred. International equivalent suffices. • 4-6 years restaurant operational management experience in 4/5 star hotels, restaurants • Fluent in English, both verbal and written. A second language is preferred. • Experience in managing a large multi-national staff. • Extensive knowledge of varying brands and quality of liquors. • Knowledge of new and old world wines including food and wine pairing. • Ability to read, interpret and demonstrate the preparation of drink recipes. • Ability to investigate and solve guest complaints, follow up and meet/exceed guest expectations. • Extensive knowledge of Micros POS and Opera

Interested applicants can contact our Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm on (649)941-7555. E- Mail cover letter outlining your interest and supporting experience in a particular position along with your Resume or C.V. to hr@wymara.com 7761

Is looking for a

Hairstylist

To work 6 days per week 10am-6pm salary $6.00 per hour. Contact: 247-9494

Baker

BAYVIEW MOTORS AND NAPA Is currently looking to employ 3 experienced certified

Automotive Technician/Mechanic

To work 6 days per week. Salary $8.00 per hour.

Contact: 232-5538 7770

VACANCIES

This individual must possess the following: • Adequate tolls to perform his duties • Must be able to work with little or no supervision • Must be computer literate • Must be able to work weekends • Must possess a valid drivers license • ASE (or Equivalent) Certified • Familiarity with modern diagnostic scan tolls

Ward Consultancy Rupert Earl Robinson Complete Constuction Platuim security Brid M. Benjamin and Conch Shack

1 labourer 1 carpenter 1 Domestic worker 1 mason 1 security one kitchen helper

Please submit all application between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday

BAYVIEW MOTORS LTD. P.O. Box 619 Leeward Highway Providenciales

Salary 6 and 7 dollar a hrs.

Please submit resume (or pick-up an application) at Bayview Motors between 8am-5pm Monday-Friday or email to mariec@bayviewmotors.com Only qualified applicants will be contacted for interview

Contact 3457512

7721

JOB OPPORTUNITY FIRST GLOBAL INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED. T/A UNITED RELIANCE INSURANCE BROKERS (2008) Is seeking a qualified individual to fill the following position:

UNDERWRITER

Is looking for a

Domestic

Worker at $5 an hour.

Contact# 649-231-2708

The successful candidate would meet the following requirements: ;; Have a College Degree at least at bachelors level or Diploma in Insurance ;; Have 15 years experience in Commercial Underwriting ;; Have 10 years experience in Risk Management in Property, Casualty and Employee Benefit insurance ;; Be Proficient in oral and written communication ;; Be Computer Literate & especially familiar with Broker 1 Underwriting and Accounting software ;; Have Good Negotiation Skills ;; Be Able to effectively deal with Insurance Companies, Brokers and Agents

VACANCIES Ward Consultancy Rupert Earl Robinson Complete Constuction Platuim security Brid M. Benjamin and Conch Shack

OTHER DUTIES

1 Labourer 1 Carpenter 1 Domestic worker 1 Mason 1 Security 1 Kitchen helper

;; Must be able to attend to on-call duties especially in emergency situations particularly during Catastrophes Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Applications must be emailed to: info@fgibtci.com Attn: Managing Director First Global Insurance Brokers Limited P.O. Box 117, Caribbean Place Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Applications must be received by 8th February 2013

Jean Taylor

7765

February 2 - 8, 2013

Salary 6 and 7 dollar a hr.

7695

Contact 3457512

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CARIBBEAN PLACE OWNER’S ASSOCIATION Is looking for a

IMMEDIATE OPENING Gardner Director Of Engineering

To work 5 days per week. Salary $400.00 per week.

We are currently seeking to fill an immediate opening for Director of Engineering for one of our luxury resort clients. This position is currently available and is accountable for short and long-range planning, managing engineering operations for the entire resort; ensuring the upkeep of all guest and service areas; coordinating all capital, expansion and/or special projects; and maximizing financial performance through stringent management of the department’s budget.

7659

CHINSON RESTAURANT GROUP

• Assist with developing Strata budget and manage Strata Costs • Manage accurate and timely bill back process for Condo units • Manage pool chemical balance and maintenance of all pool equipment • Manage and maintain Security Camera System • Manage and maintain all lighting systems • Develop, execute and monitor preventative maintenance and asset protection programs. • Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures for engineering department. • Exercise general supervision over the engineering team and communicate a clear and concise message regarding department goals to produce desired results. • Liaise with department heads to understand challenges and ensure maintenance needs are addressed. • Proactively addresse problems and quickly identify and implementsolutions • Keep owners and executive informed, and provide timely response to queries from the same. • Hire, mentor and train engineering staff; establish performance guidelines; and evaluate staff performance in accordance with resort policies • Comply with departmental standard operating procedures, Resort policies and TCIG health and safety regulations • Perform special projects and other duties as assigned

VACANCIES

Chinson Restaurant invites applications from suitable qualified persons to immediately fill the following positions:

CASHIER/ HOSTESS

Contact: 941-3533

7767

Qualification: • Must be able to work long hours and remain calm under pressure • Clean police record • Ability to multi-task is essential • Must be very honest • Enjoy providing customer service • Pay rate US $5.50 per hour plus tips

TRANQUILITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Is looking for a

DOMESTIC WORKER

Skills/Qualifications: • To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment, or equivalent combination of experience and education • Minimum 5 years’ experience as Chief Engineer for Luxury Resort • Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, train, develop skills, mentor and motivate a team • Thorough knowledge of resort engineering procedures, operations and equipment, with the ability to execute all aspects • Thorough knowledge of building codes, fire safety systems, plumbing and electrical systems, mechanical and HVAC, and carpentry disciplines • Self-motivated and dependable with an exceptional work ethic and strong problem solving skills • Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in the English language • Professional appearance and demeanor • Computer proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

To work 6 days per week including weekend salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 941-4554

7766

Essential Duties: • Manage the resort’s maintenance and engineering operations including guest rooms, building structures, front and back of house facilities, all mechanical, electrical, water treatment and HVAC systems, refrigeration and any related equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures. • Work closely with property/regional leadership to develop and execute an operating strategy that aligns with the resort’s/brand’s business strategy. • Manage controllable expenses through the implementation of cost saving and energy conservation programs (e.g., wages, heat, light and power, water consumption, tools and equipment, grounds keeping supplies, uniforms, vendors, service agreements, inventory, etc.). • Monitor and maintain fire, health and safety systems and collaborate with relevant fire, emergency and governmental agencies to ensure complete understanding of regulations, procedures, alarms, and equipment. • Develop engineering budget and ensure departmental performance meets/exceeds budgetary goals. • Regularly review financial reports/statements/forecasts to evaluate financial performance against budget. • Control engineering expenditures and ensure all projects are completed timely and within budget. • Serve as project manager on resort projects, overseeing all aspects from design and costing to construction. • Control and administer all engineering/service contracts throughout the resort, always negotiating in the best interest of the resort. • Collaborate with vendors/contractors and monitor work product to ensure quality standards are consistent with the requirements of a luxury resort. • Work closely with property/regional leadership to develop and execute an operating strategy that aligns with the resort’s/brand’s business strategy. • Manage controllable expenses through the implementation of cost saving and energy conservation programs (e.g., wages, heat, light and power, water consumption, tools and equipment, grounds keeping supplies, uniforms, vendors, service agreements, inventory, etc.). • Monitor and maintain fire, health and safety systems and collaborate with relevant fire, emergency and governmental agencies to ensure complete understanding of regulations, procedures, alarms, and equipment. • Develop engineering budget and ensure departmental performance meets/exceeds budgetary goals. • Regularly review financial reports/statements/forecasts to evaluate financial performance against budget. • Control engineering expenditures and ensure all projects are completed timely and within budget. • Serve as project manager on resort projects, overseeing all aspects from design and costing to construction. • Control and administer all engineering/service contracts throughout the resort, always negotiating in the best interest of the resort. • Collaborate with vendors/contractors and monitor work product to ensure quality standards are consistent with the requirements of a luxury resort. • Develop, implement and manage emergency and disaster management programs

Contact: 649-941-3082

Y A 3 B CONSULTING Acting on behalf of our clients is looking to fill the following positions:

Dee’s Hair Salon

Barber $6.00 per hour

Working Conditions: • Frequent standing, walking, climbing, bending and/or heavy lifting • May be subjected to extreme heat, noise, dust and fumes • Regular interface with contractors, vendors, internal and external customers • Ability to travel locally or regionally • Work hours may extend to evenings, weekends and/or holidays

B’s Beauty Box

2 Barbers $6.00 per hour 1 Cosmetologist $6.00 per hour Tragos Bar

2 Waitresses $6.00 per hour 1 Bartender $5.50 per hour

Interested candidates should submit a resume to Bridgette Thomas at bthomas@bnccgroup.com or call 649-332-2565 for confidential consideration. Deadline for applications will remain open until position is filled.

ONLY CANDIDATES MEETING ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED. 7764

Contact: 344-4540

February 2 - 8, 2013

Sports National

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Lawyer: Armstrong open to ‘truth and reconciliation’ commission, not USADA

Jenson Button (left) said he feels like a kid again with his new car.

Button ‘excited’ by new McLaren MP4-28 JENSON Button said at the launch of the new McLaren car that he was more excited about the new Formula 1 season than he had been for years. The 33-year-old unveiled the new MP4-28 with new team-mate Sergio Perez at McLaren’s base in Woking. Button said: “It has been a long winter but also most of the winter I have been so excited. I feel like a kid again, like when I was 20 years old. “I always get excited about a new car but for some reason this year more so.” Button said he expected to challenge strongly for the title this year with the new car. “We start this season from a clean slate and hopefully we’ll be fighting for a win and pole position and every race,” he said. Button expects his main rivals to be the same as last year, when he finished fifth in the championship. “The contenders are the same as the last few years in terms of the consistency throughout the year anyway,” he said. “You have Red Bull, Ferrari... Mercedes [who have enlisted Button’s former team-mate Lewis

Hamilton as one of their drivers] have a good chance but they’re coming from a way back. “Lotus, if they have the consistency they had last year they’ll be very competitive, and then you have the smaller teams, who have shown they can also win races.” Perez, acknowledging he had a lot to learn in his first season with a top team, also said he wanted to fight for the title. “I want to win the championship, that’s my target, it has to be once you come to the best team,” he said. The Mexican, 23, said he saw no reason for there to be any difficulties with Button. “We can work together - why not,” he said. McLaren said they had taken some “risk” in evolving the new car out of last year’s model, which won seven races and was the fastest car for much of the year, only to be let down by reliability. The team have not won the drivers’ title since 2008 or the constructors’ title since 1998. Team boss Martin Whitmarsh said: “We haven’t won nearly enough championships recently. (BBC)

Real Madrid hold Barcelona to Copa del Rey draw UNDER-pressure Jose Mourinho saw his Real Madrid side come from behind to draw the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with rivals Barcelona. Barca took the lead after a goalless first half at the Bernabeu when Lionel Messi played in Cesc Fabregas, who calmly fired past debutant Diego Lopez. Cristiano Ronaldo then sent a stooping header just wide as the hosts pushed for an equaliser. The reply finally came when the impressive Raphael Varane headed home. It was the visitors who had come closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Xavi’s free-kick hit

the bar after 20 minutes. He had a second chance after a poor backpass by Ricardo Carvalho, but 19-year-old defender Varane rescued his veteran partner by clearing off the line. The league leaders deservedly went in front, however, when Fabregas fired home after 50 minutes. Only a brilliant Gerard Pique tackle denied Ronaldo a leveller, but the goal the hosts sought came with nine minutes remaining through former Lens defender Varane. The second leg is at the Nou Camp on 27 February. The other semi-final will be contested between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla. (BBC)

LANCE Armstrong is ready to cooperate with an international “truth and reconciliation commission” digging into doping in professional cycling, but not -- for now and perhaps longer -- with the U.S. AntiDoping Agency, which expedited his downfall, his lawyer said Friday. USADA, designated by Congress as the country’s official anti-doping organisation for Olympic sports, had reached out to Armstrong’s representatives, asking the former champion cyclist to talk to them at length by February 6 about his past. In a letter dated Friday, Armstrong’s lawyer Timothy Herman acknowledged the USADA request but said that “logistically, it is simply not possible” to do in the next two weeks “due to preexisting obligations.” Furthermore, Herman wrote that Armstrong is more inclined to cooperate with international sports authorities -- specifically the Union Cycliste Internationale, which recently announced its intention to set up a “truth and reconciliation commission” in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency. The lawyer reasoned USADA has limited jurisdiction over the sport, since it has focused on the U.S. Postal Service team once led by Armstrong, but not the vast majority of professional cycling teams that have raced in recent decades. “USADA has no authority to investigate, prosecute or otherwise involve itself with the other 95% of cycling competitors,” Herman said. “Thus, in order to achieve the goal of ‘cleaning up cycling,’ it must

Lance Armstrong is finally coming clean.

be WADA and the UCI who have overall authority to do so.” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart, in a statement to CNN, challenged Armstrong’s claim he did not have sufficient time to arrange his schedule so he could talk to his organisation. Tygart said the two sides met last month, at which time his agency asked Armstrong to work with them and “be part of the solution.” “Mr. Armstrong has already been provided well over a month since our meeting in December to consider whether he is going to be part of our ongoing efforts to clean up the sport of cycling,” Tygart said. “Either way, USADA is moving forward with our investigation on behalf of clean

athletes.” Last October, the USADA detailed its investigation that found Armstrong played a central role in what it called “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen.” That in-depth report hastened the once iconic Armstrong’s demise, including his being stripped of his 2000 Olympic bronze medal and seven Tour de France titles. As he had for years, Armstrong continued to vehemently deny cheating during his stellar run -until this month, when he confessed to Oprah Winfrey that he’d used performance-enhancing drugs and had illicit blood transfusions.

Japan judo coach intends to resign after accusations of beating athletes with wooden swords JAPAN’S national women’s judo head coach intends to resign after allegations emerged that he had beaten his athletes with wooden swords. Ryuji Sonoda said that it would be “difficult” for him to stay on in the position that sees him training Olympic athletes. On Wednesday it was reported that some athletes had been physically abused. At a news conference on Thursday, Sonoda conceded the allegations were “more or less true”. “I would like to deeply apologise for causing trouble to all the people concerned with what I have done and said,” Sonoda told the conference. “I think it will be difficult for me to continue being engaged in the training programme any longer. I wish to submit my resignation.” A 15-strong group of judokas, including some who took part in the London Olympics, had earlier complained to the Japanese Olympic Committee that they were beaten with thick bamboo swords, like those

Judo coach Ryuji Sonoda was accused of beating his athletes with wooden swords.

used in the Japanese martial art of kendo. They also complained that some athletes were slapped by their coaches and forced to compete in matches while injured. Japan only won one judo gold medal at London 2012, Kaori Matsumoto in the women’s under-

57kg category. Japan’s fourth place in the judo medals table came as a shock as they were expected to dominate the competition. They did much better in Beijing 2008, where they won a total of four golds and came top of the medals table. (BBC)

Sports National

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

Josh for Sports

Women’s Football League:

Battle on between Net Rockers Rewarding our FC and Academy Strikers ambassadors THE challenge for the WFL title is now a two-horse race between reigning champions Net Rockers and the young AFC Academy Strikers. Both teams faced stern tests last weekend but came out on top as Net Rockers defeated Revolution FC 3-0 and the Strikers saw off a resilient AFC Hurricanes team 2-0. Despite a heavy defeat against the Strikers two weeks ago Revolution FC bounced back with a much better performance against Net Rockers FC. Although Net Rockers dominated possession Revolution looked dangerous on the counter attack as Barbara Anderson used her speed and strength to good effect. Anderson was backed up by impressive defensive performances from Joan Whent and Tamara Hall.

However, Carmela Giordano found the early break through to give her team the lead before Jancilia Cox and Gerlie Azemard added a goal each to ensure that Net Rockers remained in second place in the lead standings. In the other fixture, AFC Strikers were pushed all the way by a determined AFC Hurricanes. Although these players train with each other during the week as part of the TCIFA Development programmes there was no quarter given as every player worked hard for her team. Strikers started positively with some early chances before the Hurricanes began to dominate the possessions. However, a long pass from Shinaydine Pluviose caught out the Hurricanes’

defence and Yarileny De La Cruz raced through to give the Strikers a 1-0 lead. For the rest of the half the Hurricanes looked the more dangerous team with Lilli Fenelus and Jacinda Alfrena controlling the midfield and Vanessa Joseph and Gaya Smith organising the defence. The second half saw the Strikers pick up their game and find their rhythm and they soon found themselves two goals ahead when Monae Gooden calmly placed her shot in to the bottom corner of the goal after receiving a pass from Yarielca De La Cruz. The rest of the game was evenly matched with both teams creating chances but the score remained 2-0 to the Strikers who remain in the lead at the top of the league standings.

Victorious Vonn closes on World Cup record LINDSEY Vonn might have surrendered her World Cup crown, the American skier is not giving her heir apparent Tina Maze a free run to glory. Vonn upstaged the Slovenian on her home course at Maribor to claim the 59th World Cup win of her career in Saturday’s giant slalom. Maze, who has already sealed this season’s giant slalom title, finished second to extend her overall lead to 748 points from Germany’s Maria Hofl-Riesch, who was fourth behind Anna Fenninger of Austria. “It was my first GS race since my comeback and I didn’t know I would be able to win today,” said Vonn, who took almost a month out after suffering stomach problems. “Training went well this week and the conditions were perfect today for a good performance. I know I can ski well in Maribor, the slope suits me. It’s just that I never managed to have two clean runs together.” She is now three wins behind Annemarie Moser-Proll’s record of 62, having picked up just her third giant slalom victory and her first since she clinched a fourth World Cup title in March 2012. “The timing for the world championships could not be more perfect. This is a highlight after a tough moment. It also convinced me I could do well in giant slalom and I will race in four events at the worlds,” Vonn said, referring to the February 4-17 event in Schladming, Austria

AT this particular point in time in the sporting development of our country, I’m making an appeal for the creation of a special class of belonger status in our country. Specifically I’m calling on the honourable House of Assembly to implement a clause in the constitution to facilitate a special belongership status to outstanding sportsmen and sportswomen who have represented this country internationally. These persons were/are ambassadors of our country, and, as such, in my humble opinion deserve due consideration for their invaluable contribution, especially since these services are voluntary and coming with a love and passion for the respected sport. They effectively help to promote international awareness and respect for country. They also help us to be able to develop a higher sense of national pride at home and abroad. THE PRE-REQUISITE I propose that to qualify for such a consideration the prospective candidate: 1. Must be legal in the TCI. 2. He/she must be gainfully employed. 3. Must have made the national team on at least three occasions. 4. Be of good character. 5. Swear allegiance to our country. BENEFITS Persons who have accomplished the above mentioned would be recipient of a TCI passport and would be exempted from needing a workpermit.

Shane Warne claims that rotating policy is damaging the team’s chances of regaining the Ashes.

Warne says Cricket Australia damaging Ashes hopes SHANE Warne has delivered a scathing attack on Cricket Australia, claiming their rotation policy is damaging the team’s chances of regaining the Ashes. In a blog, the legendary legspinner urged selectors to pick the same team in all three forms of the game. “Rotation and resting players will never work,” Warne wrote. “The next 12 months is the biggest for the Australian cricket team in a long, long time. If we do nothing now, we will be where we were 30 years ago.” Warne, who starred in the allconquering Australia side of the 1990s and early 2000s, is dismayed by the current team’s slide to third in the Test and one-day rankings and seventh in the Twenty20 table ahead of back-to-back Ashes series against

England this year. He lays the blame for the slump firmly at the door of administrators and their strategy of resting players for certain matches and series. “The current set-up is not working, as the results are showing,” said Warne, whose tally of 708 Test wickets is second only to Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. “A simple criteria is pick your best team and stick with it in all forms. Chopping and changing leads to insecurity. Players then start to look out for themselves and over their shoulder, this breeds selfishness.” Warne had a troubled relationship with Cricket Australia during his international career and was fined twice earlier this month for transgressions committed while playing for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

INTERNATIONAL PRACTISE Nations all over the world indulge in the practise of granting sports superstars national status. These athletes bring international glory to these countries. SOME EXAMPLES Many years ago, Great Britain granted 16-year-old Zola Budd from South

By Joshua Gardiner Africa citizenship overnight so that she could represent GB at the Olympics. ENGLAND In 1970 there was an international row over who 16-year-old Jamaican born Merilyn Neuville should represent at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland. She had been residing in England for years. In the end she represented Jamaica and broke the world’s record in the 400M with a time of 51.2s. USA There was Che Chen from China who became a US citizen because she was a sprinter. Actually there are numerous athletes who were given US citizenships to represent that country internationally. LOCAL EXAMPLES It is my personal opinion that national sports personality in rugby, football, softball (some long overdue), cricket, golf, athletics and car racing among other should be granted such a status, if they reach the requirements. LEST WE FORGET I would be remiss to not mention our roller skating society, who has definitely represented us internationally. Finally in closing, I take my hat off in applauding these persons, associations and many others for their fine contribution to our country’s image— nationally and internationally.

WIV Provo Premier League kicks off on Saturday Rozo FC to make debut

ROZO Football Club will make their debut in the WIV Provo Premier League (PPL) which kicks off this Saturday at the TCIFA Academy ground. The new team is the first Haitian side in the PPL in three years. They have done well in previous competitions in Provo and will showcase their skills on the opening playing day at 18:00h against Teachers FC (made up of players from last year’s Pedagogue squad).

Defending champions Cheshire Hall FC, who have since acquired Fred Dorvil and Marlon Davidson, will battle the SWA Sharks FC. The other team in the league is the AFC Academy. Along with WIV Limited, the other sponsors are Simon Wood Associates, NW Hamilton, British Caribbean Bank and Casablanca Casino. The PPL also wanted to thank parent body, the TCIFA, for making the league possible.

February 2 - 8, 2013

Sports National

Williams shines with PB in 400M

IT was just a practice run to get into shape for the rest of the 2013 season. The TCI sprints record holder, Delano Williams, did not even try hard for his Munro College team, but he still eased across the line ahead of the pack with a new personal best of 47.81 seconds in the 400M at the Queens/Grace Jackson Meet in Jamaica. “It felt really great. I was just testing my fitness to really see where I am. I was expecting a personal best, but didn’t know I would have run that time base on what I did in the race.” Williams’s previous PB in that event was 49.34 seconds which he achieved in 2011. The current 200M World Junior champion is expected to speed up when he competes in his 100M and 200M events. He said he is not focused on records, but to remain fit and to work on certain aspects of his race. “My starts (block work) are very important.” GARLAND EYES 400M TIME Meanwhile sixth former Angelo Garland is looking to chase down Williams’s 400M record this season.

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

National long jump record now “toy” for Otuonye – Breaks it twice in two attempts

Delano Williams started his 2013 track season with a new personal best in the 400M.

He has already done well for Munro College with a new PB in the 200M and a good time in the 400M. He admitted that although Williams set the bar high he would fight to get there, in this, his last season for the Jamaica high school.

IFEANYI Otuonye just needed to jump twice then his coach told him to focus on his track event. Both jumps were record breaking feats with the second easily winning the competition at Iowa State University last weekend. Yes, the young TCI jumper has gotten that good. On Saturday he broke the TCI national record for the fourth and fifth time—his third such feat in one week. He jumped 7.33M to past his 7.29M, which he achieved the previous week, before he leaped 7.40M in his second jump. The start of his Kansas State University track career would be a dream run for any, for the young Grand Turk athlete, it is just following “coach’s advice”.

He told the Weekly News that his true potential would not be known until his coach gives him the goahead to jump all six times. At the moment the former Munro College student is not giving it his all and is aware that injuries can end or hamper his season. “When the time is right, like maybe Big IIX Champions then I’ll take all six jumps to really show my true colours.” The 2011 Junior Commonwealth Games bronze medallist ended Levard Missick’s run at the helm two years ago. At Champs that year he jumped 7.15M to break Missick’s 7.10M, while he bettered it at the CAC Juniors with 7.18 last year before his dominance over the last two weeks.

Ifeanyi Otuonye has now broken the national long jump record five times.

Provo Hockey League:

Sharks record big win, before struck by Lightning

Calvin Dean played well for Top Shottas, but Harbour Boys were too good.

PABA Night League:

Harbour Boys and Flyers stamp authority with victories THE South Caicos Harbour Boys and the Flyers have again shown why they are two of the favourites in this year’s Provo Amateur Basketball Association (PABA) Night League with commanding wins in the latest clashes at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex court. Last Thursday night the Harbour Boys thrashed Top Shottas 78-46 with L. Harvey scoring 13 points and A. Parker adding nine. The Shottas C. Dean had a game high 26 points. One night later, it was Kirk Adams who did the damage for South Caicos

with 19 points in their 63-54 point victory over Customs. Parker added 10 points and eight boards while D. Hanna had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists for Customs. On Thursday night Flyers defeated Cobras 74-64. Anthony Cash led the Flyers with 15 points while the Cobras were led by D. Quant who had 23 points and 16 boards. Two nights later the Flyers defeated the Knights 77-66. Fulford had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while T. Deal scored 20 points for the Knights.

THE Scotiabank Sharks made light work of the J&W Construction Hurricanes last Saturday, the penultimate week of the Provo Hockey League regular season, before they fell to the Coco Bistro Lightning. Against the Hurricanes it was a practice session. Liam Delancy scored five goals and made an assist in the 11-1 win. Support came from Sebastian Turbyfield who scored three goals and made an equal amount of assists. Later Delancy and Turbyfield scored two goals each against the Lightning, but it was not enough in the 6-8 loss. Cole Nickson (also two assists) and Javiera Bovell led the attack for the winners with four goals each. Like the Sharks, the TCBC Pirates also had mixed fortunes on the court. Against the Panthers in the Midget Division they lost 4-6. Alyssa Laing with three strikes and Kennon Higgs with two led the Panthers’ attack, while it was Christian Robinson (also one assist) and JJ Affleck who combined to score the Pirates’ goals. When the Pirates took to the court the second time, it was all Robinson. He belted in eight goals while Affleck added a pair in the 10-5win against the Flames. Rajhan Munnings led

Cole Nickson scored four goals against the Sharks.

the attack for the losing side with five goals. In the Mini-Division the Gansevoort Gators got past the Gracebay Car Rental and Sales Owls before playing to a 3-3 finish with the Sailrock Lobsters. In the tied clash Tristan Grandsire led the Lobsters

with two goals and Joshua Saunders added the other. For the Gators Jaden Robinson, Ronin MacLaren and Jake Whent scored one goal each. Robinson then came back with two goals in the Gators’ 6-3 win over the Owls. Carson Greatrex had a pair for the Owls.

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 2 - 8, 2013