Turks & Caicos Weekly News by TC Weekly News

Weekly News Volume 26 | No. 01 | January 7 - 13, 2012

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Turks and Caicos

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‘We represent not just the civil service, but the population’

NIB’s big break

PAGE 

Prominent GT citizen

robbed, beaten A TCI prominent citizen had his Grand Turk home invaded and was beaten to near death in one of the most grotesque cases of aggravated burglary to hit the Turks and Caicos. PAGE  4

Year in Review

FROM controversial financial reforms to civil service protests, a string of arrests emanating from the corruption probe to a flurry of change within the interim administration, here are some of the major stories of 2011. PAGE  12

Giving the civil serVICE a voice Person of the year – Dr Rufus Ewing

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

NATIONAL

Editorial A pivotal year THIS YEAR, 2012, must be a pivotal year for the Turks & Caicos Islands. Not only because these Islands over the last few years have endured so much for too long because of the selfish misdeeds of a few, but also because of the protracted bungling of those who have been called in to solve the problem. Veteran educator and Consultative Forum chair, Lillian Missick, shocked the nation last month when she lashed out against the British for the way they are treating the Turks & Caicos Islands. In her well-received address, the Forum chair charged that “what the British are doing these days seems geared more towards limiting their contingent liabilities than towards empowering us to govern ourselves” The outburst was a shocker, not because of what it said, but where it came from. Many were surprised because, up to that point, everyone thought that she was firmly on the side of the establishment. That moment proved that people are beginning to see the light and are finally getting a clear picture of where we are headed as a country. One of the interesting statements made by the new Governor during his inauguration was that he was a student of History. We weren’t sure why he made the statement, but thought, perhaps, he wanted to assure us that he knew enough about our history to qualify him as Governor of this territory. Well, on the other side, there are those of us who know his history; we have had to study it. And it is not a nice history. We are in a big mess in this country, and it is going to take us to pick ourselves up and move forward. Every country has an ugly past. If in our progress toward nation building the worst that can be recorded in our history is that on two occasions the British had to suspend our constitution, we shall still have a better history than many successful countries. We must learn from our experiences and determine that we have to build the Turks & Caicos with our own hands. This is the year that all TC Islanders must come to the aid of their country. Outsiders will not do it for us. Outsiders have their own agenda and their own interests to serve - not ours. The story is told of a little bird who suffered a broken wing and was trapped on the icy ground, shivering from the cold, because he could not move. A cow came by and saw it’s dilemma and so he backed up to it and unleashed a load of warm cow dung over the little creature, covering it from head to feet. The little fellow was grateful for the warm blanket of dung and snuggled up and went to sleep. An hour later a cat came by and spotted the bird in the dung and decided to dig him out for supper. The moral of this story is: not everyone who messes on you is your enemy, and not everyone who digs you out of the mess in your friend! You may form your own conclusions about our British rescuers. Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson – Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Faizool Deo – Sports Samantha Dash-Rigby – Court Cord Garrido-Lowe – Graphics/Production Editor Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams – Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@yahoo.com, (Talk Back) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com

NIB’s big break Government and business get chance to come clean

MANY Turks and Caicos businesses must be breathing a sign of relief at the announcement of a National Insurance Board amnesty, enabling them to catch up on their overdue payments – interest free. The amnesty began January 02, and runs to February 29. It is conditioned on delinquent contributors making all outstanding payments during the two-month grace period. This grace period, announced by Governor Ric Todd in his capacity of Minister responsible for the NIB, does not extend to charges payable owing to a court order. When the amnesty ends penalties for late payment will be re-introduced. “The National Insurance Board is pleased to offer this relief to TCI businesses in this time of economic challenge, both here at home and abroad. We encourage all of our contributors in arrears to make use of this one and only opportunity to bring their accounts current without financial penalty,” said Colin Heartwell, CEO of the NIB. But, Governor Todd was reported as saying in the NIB media release, both businesses and government will benefit from this amnesty.

NIB CEO Colin Heartwell

In fact, government as the largest employer on these islands is the biggest violator and stands to benefit the most from this amnesty. This is evidenced in the fact that the NIB statement concedes it will be foregoing $11.8 million from government and $4 million from businesses. Governor Todd has in the past commented that the penalties for NIB late payments have accrued to such an amount that it is creating an additional strain on government coffers. Against this backdrop, the NIB statement also indicated that when the late payment surcharges are reinstituted at the end of February, they will be at a reduced rate. “…legislative amendments have been passed to reduce the surcharge rate on contribution arrears. Contribution arrears will accrue at an initial 10 per cent of contributions for the first month, and will subsequently incur a three per

Prominent GT citizen robbed, beaten A TCI prominent citizen had his Grand Turk home invaded and was beaten to near death in one of the most grotesque cases of aggravated burglary to hit the Turks and Caicos. On the night of Tuesday, January 03, bandits entered the Dunscombe Alley home of local historian Oswaldo Arizo, and in the process of carrying out the burglary, dealt him a severe beating. Reportedly, the only way Oswaldo got them to stop raining blows on him was to pretend to be dead. In a further macabre twist to events, believing that he was dead the thieves and would-be murderers mopped his blood off the floor. Oswaldo suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Cockburn Town Medical

Centre, Grand Turk, for medical attention. It is unknown what the bandits stole. Police reported that two males have been detained and were assisting with investigations into this incident. They were released on January 05 pending further investigations. Also in the 72-hour period ending January 04, police reported that officers in Providenciales responded to 11 reports of a serious nature. There were nine burglaries: one each in Central Square, Lower Bight, Stammers Run, Leeward Gates, Leeward Highway, two in Blue Hills, and two in Leeward Palms. There were two attempted burglaries in Blue Hills and Leeward Highway

cent penalty for each month or part thereof of delay. The three per cent rate is a seven per cent reduction in the rate of 10 per cent charged since 1993 and is in line with actuarial advice,” the statement read in part. While the CEO continues to harp on the relief the amnesty and subsequent reduced penalties percentages will bring to businesses, and not mention government as the chief beneficiary, cynical observers see these measures as aimed at the administration’s benefit first. NIB stated that not only are these measures expected to reduce the level of delinquency among employers and the self-employed, but also it would make benefit processing time shorter.

Search on for deputy secretary AS part of its public sector reform programme, TCI Government is reducing the number of ministerial departments. New Permanent Secretaries are in the process of being appointed and applications are now invited for the Deputy Secretary posts that will help them lead the new ministries through significant change. According to a TCIG media release, these are important senior leadership roles transforming the effectiveness and efficiency of public services. Several positions are available and successful applicants will be appointed to the most appropriate ministries. Applicants will need to be TCI Belongers, or demonstrate strong and permanent links with the islands. Previous government experience is not a pre-requisite and applications are invited from anyone with relevant leadership and management experience. Applications will be welcomed from current TCI civil servants with relevant experience, skills and potential without regard to current seniority. Candidates need to be creative and strategic thinkers, with real leadership ability as well as a relevant level of financial understanding. Change-oriented and with a record of getting things done through people, they will be persuasive communicators, orally and on paper, able to manage complex stakeholder relationships. Above all, they will be of unquestionable integrity, with the courage to insist on, and exemplify, the highest moral standards and behaviour. Applications received after midnight on Sunday, January 15, 2012 may not be considered.

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NATIONAL

Giving the civil service a voice Person of the year – Dr Rufus Ewing

‘We represent not just the civil service, but the population’

‘Making noise has helped – but we need to make more noise’ – Rufus Ewing

THE PLIGHT of thousands of TCI civil servants suffering job losses and wage cuts was one which touched the heart of the nation. And it resulted in a battle that would come to characterise 2011. Strife between the Brits holding the country’s purse strings and the islands’ 2,500 public sector staff paved the way for a series of bitter strikes which threatened to bring the territory to its knees. One man stood at the very helm of the crusade. From reforming and heading the Civil Service Association (CSA), to leading vociferous protests, and eventually quitting the top post he’d held for a decade, Dr Rufus Ewing has been a pervasive figure throughout. The country’s former chief medical officer became the face of a fight which lies at the crux of the conflict between the UK-led administration and native islanders imploring for a return to elected rule. The rebirth of the defunct CSA gave a welcome voice to disenfranchised civil servants. And it provided an avenue for government workers to help shape critical policy as the country undergoes momentous overhaul, the consequences of which will be felt long after the Brits have packed up and gone. For services to his country and compatriots, which went far beyond any call of duty, Dr Ewing has been named the Weekly News’ Person of the Year. It’s an accolade he takes with characteristic bonhomie. “I was surprised,” he admits. “I don’t think I have done anything that anyone else could not do. Whether it’s a

compliment or an appreciation I will accept it – but I don’t want it to overshadow the real purpose of the CSA.” The organisation – following a pending legislative amendment – will comprise the country’s first ever trade union. Initially set up in the 1970s, the group’s theme was largely a social one, as opposed to reactionary, in the absence of any major discord. In 2010, the threat of redundancies, wage reductions and allowance cuts prompted discussions among the sector’s bigwigs to reestablish the organisation which had long fallen by the wayside. Erstwhile Deputy Governor Mahala Wynns had been a strong advocate of the move. “She used to say the time would come when we’d need it again,” Ewing says. “But no one wanted to take it on.” Reluctance to take charge may have seen the CSA confined to yesteryear had it not been for a chance conversation outside a Grand Turk bank. “I was chatting to a friend one day about all the issues going on. We kept saying we really needed to get the association up and running again. “Just then my friend’s wife came out of the bank and told us she was tired of hearing us talking about it and not doing anything. So right that afternoon we called a meeting and then formed a working group to revitalise the association.” Elections were held on January 6 last year and Ewing voted in as president. Methods employed to reconstruct the public sector are among a plethora of unpopular decisions currently being taken by the interim administration. “When you are a civil servant, the only voice you have is through your departments,” Ewing says. “And that route’s not really an

option – department heads are in conflict because they make the rules. “Our aim was to position ourselves to make people feel part of an organisation, and also to help shape policy. “The establishment of the CSA means anyone with an issue can ask the association to review it and come up with an official position to put to government. “Today the issue may be pensions but tomorrow it may be something else, like increased taxation. “We represent not just the civil service but the population.” The CSA’s militant stance closed schools, grounded flights and brought numerous government services to a standstill this year. While most people appeared supportive of the action taken, there were of course others who were not. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Ewing says with a shrug. “Sometimes all we can do is try and educate. One night we were sitting in the Hole in the Wall restaurant until 11.30pm explaining our position to people.” Perhaps surprisingly, Ewing agrees with the British bureaucrats that the public sector needs trimming. “That’s not our issue; we always knew people would go home. Our point is that they first need to do a proper assessment of all the ministries and then decide how much it’s bloated by. “You can’t decide what you can afford and make cuts without looking at how vital services are impacted. We need to look at the long-term risks and prioritise them. “We need to retain services that bring in revenue and gear them towards greater efficiency and productivity. Right now the service has become more inefficient and less productive.” Anyone who doubted the success continued 

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

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

Hope springs eternal for TCI

Last year was a very challenging period for the Turks & Caicos; many businesses barely survived and some closed their doors and moved on. Large numbers of foreigners and Belongers alike left the country to seek employment elsewhere, yet those who remain are hopeful that the good times will return and prosperity will reign once again. We ask our readers, what do you think, and what is your wish for the TCI in 2012?

Long way to go

The island has a long way to go before its recovers and as soon as the British see the businesses doing better there will be another tax! Its the British way of doing things.

Cloudy at best

I think that the British formulated the ultimate act of oppression, by cutting salaries, layoffs, increased taxation and lack of encouragement of inward investment. Their actions have sought to further down the economy and depress the population. I think this is their strategy to stay in our beautiful by nature country, rather then return from whence they came. The sooner everyone realizes this and mobilizes to fight against their suppressive nature, then and only then will we see a brighter tomorrow. As is, the weather forecast is cloudy at best and stormy on a regular.

Awesome

I am optimistic. 2012 will be awesome.

Days long gone

I think that your previous government slaughtered the golden goose so to speak. The ‘good times’ are long gone my friend, tough times lay ahead for the TCI and they need a strong Government to lead them in the right direction, from the looks of things that is not going to happen. I will say a prayer for the people of TCI as I believe they will need that and a whole lot more.

Not too late

I do believe things will get better. It’s unfortunate that we have to go through what I have seen as the hardest times I have experienced in these Islands. My wish and prayer for this year is that more local persons will be gainfully employed and that those hired to carry out the country’s affairs will do so with transparency, due care and concern. Most of all I wish that the violence will cease and crime will be non-existing. I am a Belonger thru heritage and I have become to love this country. It saddens me to see what is

happening, however it’s not too late to curb the negative trends.

Good times unreal

The good times ware not based on genuine growth of the economy but by selling out the crown land, millions in loans given out recklessly which took down the bank and 23 million dollars of the pension funds, a tremendous unaffordable growth in public employees, massive loans and purchases taken out by government ending up with 500 million in debt. The result of that synthetic pumped up economy is now a full-blown depression. Actually, the normal economy was expanding normally. We had better tourist income than ever before but with the massive number of foreign workers in the resorts, the wages earned did not stay in the country and were sent to Jamaica, Haiti, the DR, Philippines and China. Another factor was the construction of the hospitals, the stadium and several resorts coming to completion. The latter completed resorts proved too expensive and closed down. Niki Beach and Ambergris Cay are examples. Further, the resorts approved by the last government were not adequately financed. This resulted in no follow up to the construction boom. Royal Reef, St Charles Place, West Middle Caicos, Dellis Cay, Joe Grant Cay, West Caicos Lucayan Condos etc., all stalled and ran out of money. They were dependent on high-priced pre-sales and not invested capital. The monuments to mismanaged growth are everywhere. The boom will never return and with the excessive taxation, growth is now reversed with depopulation and no confidence for investors. Why build a resort in TCI with the monuments of failure everywhere? With the high cost of living a broken primary health system, with its leader turning away from health care into politics after he approved a too expensive secondary health system. No possibility of concessions for potential builders and in fact with higher duty rates and high freight handling by another new monopoly, the cost of construction has skyrocketed. The last administration made a real mess and the current one continues the dumbing down of the country. One political

party and its supporters are heading to court and the other is now populated by senile advisers, antique incompetents, and a childish girl who thinks she will be the first lady premier. Their first press release reads like a third graders’ composition. A British owned and operated country which Britain itself is unwilling to invest in. Taxes everywhere but no invested capital. The recovered stolen wealth will be used to pay off the prosecutors and taken back to Britain. While all this was happening the incompetent governors and liberal ministers let it happen, and now Britain feels no responsibility. However, after three years they now own the economy and cannot escape responsibility by holding an election. Unsolved murders and a foreign police force run by Mounties without a mount or a clue. Last but not least, is the most expensive energy cost in the world with the profits of 1,000 dollars per household per year exported to Canada.

Too costly

The cost of doing business here is now so high that I would guess more and more business owners will be leaving. At $9,500 for a years work permit as an owner/manager, compared to most places in the Caribbean at under $1,000 it is ridiculous. It is getting to the point that for many expat’s they would be paying less tax if they operated their businesses back in their home countries. For example, to register a business in the UK it cost $50 per year, it can be done online and takes about 10 minutes. Here you have to go through a lawyer’s office and the cost is about $1,200. There are also no business licenses in the UK so that is more saved. The reality of it is that it is simply becoming too expensive to do business here compared with many other countries. Just to give you an example, friends of mine just opened a watersports business in Tonga and it took them a month to do all of the government paperwork including three years of business licenses, company registrations and their work permits and it cost $125. Here it would have cost them approximately $63,600 assuming they got them approved and the wait would have been many months. We are pricing ourselves out of the investment market.

Support local business

My wish for TCI is really simple. I wish we would believe in ourselves again. Then turn that belief into action. The prosperity of a nation begins in the mentality of its people. The mentality plays out in its way of life. We need to encourage each other to develop local enterprise that directly benefits our own community. Then, we must be consistent in supporting those entities. We should demand from our governing bodies, whoever they may be, that a system be in place that fosters and even rewards the initiative of the locals when directed to higher education or entrepreneurship. If we as a people strive to bring the best quality in service and goods to our own people by way of obtaining the skills and products necessary to do so, then we will be on the road toward equal footing with more developed countries. Key to this is the resolve of the people to demand and then solicit such

service. If customer service or certain brands are not satisfactory, we should speak with the owners and managers and suggest to them what we desire. They, in turn should demand certain standards of qualifications or performance from their staff and seek to bring in the brands that people desire. For smaller businesses that focus on locally produced goods, we as citizens should dedicate ourselves to soliciting them first before looking outside the country to meet our needs. We need to express faith in them that we believe they will bring us the best and they will step up to the challenge because they will make the profit necessary to do so. Self-sufficiency is not a policy, it is a process. And that process begins with believing that we can attain it and then investing in each other like we already have attained it.

Country can grow again

One can easily state that the years 2009 and 2010 were the worst years on record and thank God we are past these years. Things can only get better. The signs of an improvement in the economy are there. Last year 2010 the tourism season lasted until the late summer and there are signs that it can go year round, removing seasonal factors. It is also noteworthy that this past December the TCI welcomed its first millionth visitor for the year. If a parallel can be drawn with a fellow tourist destination, the Bahamas, they took their first millionth visitor in the early 1980’s when their population was hovering around 150, 000 persons. This sign in the Bahamas was aided by increased competitive efforts such as a Hotel Training School, a massive public awareness program on the benefits of tourism, education in the schools and the Bahamas is now a gem. The same lesson may be learnt here as we go through difficult times to sharpen our competitive edge. The Interim Government and all future governments must agree to fund a real hotel training school in the TCI Let there be a greater public awareness on the reality of tourism and what it can bring to these islands and, the Bahamas will be a goodly lesson learned. There are signs that the trend of outward migration of workers and professionals will end. There is even a hunger for investment despite the increasing taxes. On this note one can never fathom how increasing taxes during a recession, deepening the local economic decline, hurting poor families in the TCI, could ever have been seen as part of a ‘realistic or sensible economic policy’ on the part of the government. Trends for the future should be a greater local awareness that Crown Lands should not be sold and if the need arises, joint ventures only. With more locals owning lands, the continued 

 Become a contributor Want to become a contributor or have a suggestion for a Talk Back topic for us? What questions do you think we should be putting to the public? And what are your thoughts on it? Call our news team on 946 4664 or email tcweeklynews@gmail.com

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NATIONAL

A million and more came WHEN John and Alexandria Ducar of New York stepped off a JetBlue aircraft and burst through the doors of the Providenciales airport on December 31, they became the millionth and one and millionth and two visitors to Turks and Caicos for the 2011 calendar year. Earlier in the day on Grand Turk, Maggie Hanson of Bellingham, Washington alighted from a cruise ship to score the exact millionth visitor mark. But as important a landmark as are these numbers by themselves, the Turks and Caicos tourism industry is projecting to have exceeded them by far at the conclusion of the year. In fact up to press time numbers are still being tallied, and Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs told Weekly News that they are expecting a final count at approximately 1,008,000. This he describes as a cautious

estimate. He said that officials were still busy checking out and tabulating the estimated thousands more visitors who arrived that Saturday, December 31 by the hundreds of private jets that flew into Turks and Caicos before declaring a grand total. While the bean counters did their work the Ducar couple were throwing back and vacationing on Provo, enjoying their newfound celebrity status, soaking up the feting and hospitality brought on by the Tourism Department and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association. They even found time to drop into our Weekly News office, before being carted off to another sumptuous TCI lunch. “It’s the moment,” John Ducar said as he explained the feeling when told what number the arrival

‘This is the life’. Millionth and one visitor John Ducar spreads his arms to embrace all in the Weekly News office. From left are TCHTA Association Executive, Stacy Cox, Alexandria Ducar, John, and Director of Tourism, Ralph Higgs.

of himself meant. “You read about things like that, but I never thought it could happen to us.” When the couple arrived they were greeted by government tourism officials and TCHTA representatives, who called them out by name. “I thought they were going to strip-search us,” said Alexandria

continued

future bodes well for TCIS to be part of future growth. In 2012, I would like to see campaign finance reforms to control inevitable elections and to prevent investors from buying political parties and the country by extension. The results were that in 2007 investors were free to buy the government, there weren’t any controls, jobs, PRCS, Belongerships were sold and the TCIslander was displaced in his own Country. All of this made the commission and the need for the British to come in inevitable. With the right laws, this can avoided and the country can grow again. Elections in the future should be fair and free so that people who care about the TCI can be elected and not the usual players who are controlled by investors and are there to play games. I would like to see the SIPT funded by the UK Government, look into TCI Bank and the missing $20 Million or so of National Insurance Funds; let the SIPT open a probe on the Stevedoring Deal at South Dock because it is adding severely to cost of living. Let the SIPT, if it can, investigate the hospital scam so that unnecessary costs can be avoided. Let there be return of all the lands which were taken and sold for cents on the dollar returned to the Crown for the benefit of the people of the TCI. Let us chose political leaders who are sensible, mature, responsible, caring, educated and minded about the affairs of the TCI first and themselves last. These are some of the few things we ought to see for the future.

In addition to celebrity treatment, Mr and Mrs Ducar and Maggie Hanson were awarded visitorrelated prizes, including JetBlue airlines round trips to TCI, three nights at Sevenstars Penthouse and spa treatment; four nights a Regent Palms, and tickets for two each to North Caicos.

Giving civil servants a ... continued from 

“Whoa! What me a celebrity,” is what John Ducar appears to be saying after being told he is the millionth and one tourist and handed a fruit and rum punch. In background is wife, Alexandria.

relating her first thoughts in being met by these strangers who knew them. The Ducars, who flew out Friday, January 06, said that in their VIP tours around Provo, the experience that stood out the most to them was the friendliness of the people and their general hospitality.

of the CSA’s movement given the apparent determination by the UK to restore TCI coffers whatever the cost, will be persuaded by a string of victories. They include vast improvements to proffered voluntary redundancy packages and, Ewing is convinced, a u-turn on additional salary and allowance cuts. “Making noise has helped – but we need to make more noise,” he continues. “An initial proposal in the voluntary redundancy scheme was a total ban on ever returning to the service. “We got it down to a two-year ban with conditions attached such as training opportunities to help workers improve themselves.” The old adage ‘he who pays the piper calls the tune’ has never been more apt following Britain’s underwriting of the massive $260m rescue package. The monetary injection to drag the islands out of the fiscal doldrums came at a price. It had the result of shackling the TCI to an economic ultimatum. London insists the country must be on track to a fiscal surplus, despite the languid global economy, before an election date can be set. With precious UK taxpayers’ pounds at risk, British financiers are unlikely to budge on their contentious programme of restoring the islands’ cash-flow. “Because the British government guaranteed the loan, everything done and every policy made is scrutinised by them, so they call the shots on everything,” Ewing says ruefully. “I think that’s unfair, there’s no subjectivity.” While many islanders have been quick to lambaste the British officials overseeing the treasury, Ewing is more judicious.

“I tell them I have nothing against any of them personally, they are civil servants just like me who come to do a job on behalf of the politicians in the UK. “It’s the policy makers, not the robots who carry out the instructions, that I have a problem with.” In September last year, Ewing again made headlines when he resigned from his position as the TCI’s principle health chief. The forthright father-of-one pointed to a grievous litany of being barred from crucial information and decision-making. “I didn’t feel a part of the health team,” he states frankly. “I was giving advice which wasn’t being taken, yet, because I was chief medical officer, I was being blamed for it. I was not going to continue to put myself in a position like that. “I still feel I have a lot to give – and it reached the point where I felt I could do more from outside.” A qualified surgeon, Ewing is a keen supporter of a social health care system which caters to all, regardless of income. Nephew to celebrated nurse Myrtle Rigby, as a child growing up in Providenciales he spent much of his time at the old Blue Hills clinic. “I was always fascinated by what my aunt was doing. I remember stealing syringes and injecting lizards,” he laughs. “Later when I moved to Grand Turk I was exposed to more television; I used to love watching Trapper John MD and Quincy.” It was to fuel a deep-seated desire to work in medicine, his studies taking him across the Caribbean and UK before qualifying as a surgeon in 1998. The lucrative profession could easily have seen him taking a wellearned break these days. “I could be relaxing quite well in my own little cocoon but that’s not me and it does not serve me well for

my future and my family’s future. “I am not fighting for me but for the kids – and everyone else out there who can’t fight for themselves right now.” He admits the strain of the ongoing battle has been exhausting. “Many times along the way I just felt like giving up. Sometimes you ask yourself what you’re fighting for. “But the CSA are a great team and they take up the mantle and keep the flame burning. “Even when my presidency comes to an end I take comfort in the fact that the CSA have a number of people who can keep it going – and they will always have my support and advice.” As son of legendary politician Hilly Ewing, one might assume Ewing would follow in his father’s footsteps. While he says politics is not his desire, he concedes it may be his destiny. Many of his compatriots would be likely to back him but for now, he states, the resumption of elected government should be a primary focus for all. Ewing’s biggest source of strength, he says, is his wife, Dr Dawn Perry. “She feels like I do – I have done some good work but there’s still lots more to do.” It’s indeed a fight that’s far from over. The CSA is still negotiating with the government over a number of employment and redundancy conditions. While the association says it won’t accept a straight ‘no’, how successful it will ultimately be on the residual sticking points remains to be seen. “Many civil servants feel powerless and helpless, they feel like these people will do what they like anyway,” Ewing adds. “A lot of the population feels like that too – and I don’t know why when there’s so much power available collectively.”

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

NATIONAL

Climate change report complete Unshackle chains of fear

THE Department of Environment & Coastal Resources has announced completion of the Caribsave Climate Change Risk Atlas (CCCRA) Phase One document that was done in the Turks Caicos Islands, as part of a regional study to develop an atlas showing the impact that Climate change can have on the Caribbean Islands in the future. The department stated that this document was developed as a way to give an evidenced based intersectoral view of the vulnerabilities and the adaptations that can be made to circumvent the affect that climate change can have on the major economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands tourism. According to a government media release, the main basis of this project is to give a detailed model of climate change for each of the countries selected. The projections for this document were done utilizing three scenarios. The CCCRA Phase one, which was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID); will provide the Turks and Caicos Islands with valuable information on the following areas: Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Settlements Community Livelihoods Gender Poverty and Development Agriculture and Food Security Energy

Water Quality & Availability Comprehensive Disaster Management Human Health Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Fisheries The climate change model was able to demonstrate on large scale the affects of global climate dynamic. To attain this data a combination of Global Climate Models (GCM) and a downscaled Regional Climate Model (RCM) was used to investigate the climatic changes for the TCI. RCMs were also used to simulate the climate at a finer spatial scale over a smaller area allowing the projections of the GCMs to be downscaled attaining a clearer physical representation of the climate of the area being investigated. The field study sites include notable resorts, ports and an airport runway that are at less than 6 m above sea level. Beach area losses in Turks and Caicos were also calculated for 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m and 3 m scenario (Table 1). At a 0.5 m SLR scenario, more than half of the beach area will be lost in Grand Turk West Shore (53 per cent) and Historic Cockburn Town (65 per cent). All (100 per cent) of the beach area will be lost in Historic Cockburn Town under a 2 m SLR scenario, with all (100 per cent) of the beach area in Grand Turk Cruise Centre and Grand Turk West Shore under a 3 m SLR scenario. It is important to note that the critical beach assets would be affected much

earlier than the SLR induced erosion damages to tourism infrastructure due to SLR-induced coastal erosion. Indeed, if erosion is damaging tourism infrastructure, it means that the beach will have essentially disappeared. The assessment also looked at other sectors such as Health, Tourism, Social sector, Agriculture, land allocation and development planning, disaster management and much more. The Department of Disaster Management in collaboration with the DECR worked with members of Caribsave that came to carry out site visits and data collection. Data were retrieved through site visits, questionnaires, focus groups and historical data. The Department strongly encourages all members of the public to read at a minimum, the summary document and maybe this would serve as a springboard towards TCI starting to take the issue of Climate Change more seriously. The finalized document can be found on the DECR website:www.environment.tc. If there are any questions and readers require more information, please feel free to contact the department at the following:

Provo Office: Tel No #1-649-9415122 Fax: #1-649-946-4793 Grand Turk: Tel No #1-649-9462801 Fax: #1-649-946-1895 South Base: Tel No #1-649946-3709 Fax: #1-649-946-3710 Email Address: info@ environment.tc

Government consults on services THIS document seeks views on possible changes in the way in which TCI Government services are delivered in the ‘Family Islands’: North, Middle and South Caicos and Salt Cay. In particular, it seeks views and comments on the suggestions that: 1) all TCIG services in these islands should be delivered by a single team of public servants led by the District Commissioner (‘one-stop shops’), and 2) TCIG should encourage the creation of informal and unremunerated groups of concerned citizensa) to give advice to the District Commissioner and his/her team, b) to facilitate communication between that team and the community, and c) to encourage a degree of community spirit and self-help. Background Government stated in a media release that the above suggestions were made in meetings and conversations during visits to the Family Islands in the summer of 2011 by the current Governor, the previous Acting Governor and others. There were frequent suggestions that: • the needs of those living in these islands are different to those of Providenciales and Grand Turk, • these islands are to some extent neglected by TCIG, • TCIG staff serving in these islands

are organised in an inflexible way, • TCIG staff serving in these islands are not provided with adequate supplies and equipment. There were particular concerns that some isolated members of the communities on these islands were suffering unduly because of reduced family and other support as a result of the current economic situation. The above suggestions were subsequently discussed by TCIG Permanent Secretaries who gave them a warm welcome, noting that similar arrangements had existed some years ago and had appeared successful at that time. An example of a community service which might be encouraged by local initiatives would be a bus service – maybe running twice a day – from the North Caicos ferry terminal through to the Eastern end of Middle Caicos and then back to the ferry terminal, and serving all the key North/Middle Caicos communities on the way. This would help the elderly in particular access shops and other services that are at present an expensive taxi ride away from their homes. It would also provide an inexpensive transport link for tourists and others wishing to visit the two islands. At present, there is no organisation that appears ready and willing to investigate the economics of, neither then promote the supply of, such a service.

Questions TCIG would like to know whether there is general support for the proposals summarised in this document. In particular: 1. Do you agree that TCIG services in the Family Islands should in future be delivered through ‘onestop shops’. 2. Do you agree that TCIG should encourage the development of groups of concerned citizens on the islands, with aims broadly as described at ‘2’ above. (Such a group already exists on South Caicos.) If so, how should the members of such groups be chosen and appointed? 3. Do you have any other thoughts, comments or advice on these proposals? For instance, should North and Middle Caicos have separate ‘one stop shops’ and advisory groups, or would it be better if there were a stronger team providing services to the residents of both islands? Responses Responses to this document should be sent to Tito Lightbourne in the Chief Executive’s Office ( trlightbourne@gov.tc ) by Wednesday 29 February 2012. Assuming that there is a generally positive reaction to these proposals, a further more detailed consultation document will then be issued in April with a view to implementing the proposals in July 2012.

President of the Civil Service Association New Year’s Message

WE give God thanks for bringing us to this point in our lives, to see the dawning of a new day, and a new year. As we look back on the year 2011, a small footprint in this journey of life, we must take stock of what we have accomplished and what good we have contributed to mankind and humanity. However, the road that we Dr Rufus Ewing have travelled thus far to bring us to this place, even though it may have been paved with thorns of discouragement, feelings of hopelessness, fear and bitterness, we need to forge ahead and pave the streets of our journey with hope, love, passion, patriotism, pride, kindness and unity. My fellow Civil Servants we have accomplished much together as an association during the past year. We have endeavored to gain the respect of the administration to see us as equal and capable partners in the development and shaping of policies for the betterment of the Civil Service and country. Much work is however left to be done. The many measures that have already been enacted by the British and those which will inevitably come, will continue to have severe and negative impact on the well-being of civil Servants past, present and future. Many of these issues were late in implementation due to our efforts, but their ratification is predestined in this year 2012, less we stand strongly against them. The Interim Government has managed the affairs of this country in a manner that is far from fiscally prudent and devoid of social conscience and this incompetence has suffocated any opportunities for productivity and efficiency within the Civil Service and economic recovery on a national level. The year 2011 was the year that we fought against the reduction of our salaries, the diminution of our pensions, the unjust removal of our gratuities and allowances. It was the year that we fought for our brothers and sisters who could not fight or who were afraid to fight. It was the year that the Interim Administration abandoned their professed path of objectively and transparency and made clear their true intentions to make civil servants and Turks and Caicos Islanders citizens of the lowest class in their beloved country. That was the year 2011. My brothers and sisters we are now in the dawn of a new year, 2012. The CSA wishes God’s richest blessings upon you all and upon your families. We pray for happiness, health, unity and strength as we cross the threshold into this New Year. We know that the Lord will be our light and our salvation and we shall have no one to fear. Fear is a tranquilizer that paralyzes the mind, body and spirit and a toxin that inhibits the progress towards justice and goodness. So let us rid ourselves of this element, fear, and march forward boldly and proudly with God as our shield. The international publication, The Time Magazine, selected ‘The Protester’ as their ‘Person of the Year’. This is truly a recognition that empires, regimes and unjust dictatorships all eventually must succumb to the will of the people of any nation. Many of you as civil servants are both as individuals and as a collective, our ‘Person of the Year’ as you rallied around the CSA and protested openly and covertly against the retrogressive and unjust policies of the Interim Administration. Many Turks and Caicos Islanders and residents of the TCI are also ‘Persons of the Year’ as you too protested against injustice in our beloved country. I am honoured to have been named the Turks and Caicos Weekly News and TCI Post’s Person of the Year for my efforts in organizing the Civil Service Association and motivating persons to stand up, speak up, speak out and to fight for their rights. I am humbled in the recognition that such efforts and accomplishments did not come without the support of the members of the CSA’s Management Council, Trustees and Working Group and the dedicated members who recognized that strength comes with unity. To all of my colleagues I say these words of encouragement: At times the hurdle seems insurmountable, the road gets lonely and one feels weary, but along the way join hands with a fellow Turks and Caicos Islander, a resident, a senior citizen, a family member, someone will be there to hold your hand and say “let’s fight on together, for the casualties of this battle are worth every bit of our sacrifice”. Turks and Caicos Islanders and fellow residents of this our country, unshackle yourselves from your chains of fear, follow your heart, insulate yourselves from the propaganda, deception and divisive tactics of the Interim Administration and its agents. Be knowledgeable about the issues impacting our country and participate constructively in the development of solutions. Let no man foreign to our soil decide what is wrong or right, or what is or is not in the best interest of the majority of our people. Let no man foreign to this soil determine your children’s future. I urge you to, stand with your fellow man in the struggle against injustice. I urge you to stay the course, to keep within focus our common goal, and in all of this let God be your light, your strength and your shield. May the good Lord bless our country and us all with a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

January 7 - 13, 2012

& CrimeCourt

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

WITH Samantha Dash-RIGBY

Two sloops in two days

TWO SEPARATE illegal sloops bearing over 200 illegal Haitian immigrants were intercepted off French Cay within TCI’s territorial waters on December 29 and 30, 2011. On Thursday evening December 29, police officers from the Marine Division intercepted an illegal 40ft wooden sloop in the area of French Cay. The sloop was towed to South Dock where a total of 117 irregular immigrants were handed over to Immigration Authorities. There were 90 males, 21 females,

and six female children aboard that boat. The following day, another sloop was spotted and intercepted by members of the marine Division. This wooden boat measured 45ft and was equipped with an outboard engine. Aboard was a total of 139 Haitians, 115 males and 24 females, and they were towed to South Dock and handed over to Immigration authorities. They were later repatriated to Haiti.

Fatal New Year’s Day accident YOUNG Domatona Thomas Pierre became the first road fatality in the TCI for 2012, when he succumbed to injuries after his vehicle struck a utility pole on January 01. Pierre, a Haitian national, was 21-years old when he met his sudden death on New Year’s Day. An autopsy was performed on his body to ascertain the cause

of death but up to press time, police were unable to reveal its findings. The young man suffered serious head injuries when he lost control of the Nissan Frontier truck he was driving. Pierre was rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre but doctors could not save him and he died later.

Crime peaked during holidays WHILE some people were busy with Christmas preparations and joyously ringing in the New Year the TCI saw a spike in criminal activities. Recent police reports indicate that between December 22 and January 04, police have responded to almost 100 reported crimes in Providenciales, South Caicos and Grand Turk. A number of arrests were made and several persons have been charged in connection with some of these offences. Burglary topped the list at 60 including four in Grand Turk and four in South Caicos while theft held second place at 14. There were eight attempted burglaries, one aggravated burglary, two vehicle interferences, three attempted robberies, two robberies, and two stolen vehicles. A number of males and females were arrested, among them three males suspected of committing a series of robberies in Providenciales, according to one report by Inspector Calvin Chase said. Arrests were made for possession of ammunition, possession of cannabis, theft, handling stolen goods, possession of an imitation

firearm, wounding, and the robbery/ murder committed at RBC on December 16. A female was arrested on suspicion of wounding but was later released on police bail with a surety to return to the Grand Turk Police Station January 02. One man was arrested on suspicion for breach of bail conditions, resisting arrest and escaping lawful custody as it relates to an incident on December 20. On January 03, one male was arrested on suspicion of obstruction and another on suspicion of burglary. Three males were also arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery but they were later released pending further investigations. On December 28, one man was arrested and charged for obstruction, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer in connection with an incident at a tennis court on Christmas Eve. The man is scheduled to appear in the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court on January 09 to answer to those charges. Inspector Chase also stated that one male was charged for burglary and wounding while another faced charges of possession of ammunition

which was allegedly found when police executed a search warrant on his premises on December 21. In Grand Turk on December 29, a male was charged for two counts of resisting arrest and two counts of escaping lawful custody in relation to an incident on December 20. Also in Grand Turk on January 05, two males who had been assisting the police in connection with a report of aggravated burglary on January 04 were released from custody pending further investigations. Another man has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary and possession of cannabis. Meanwhile in the Providenciales magistrates’ Courts, 51-year-old Luther Lightbourne was ordered to pay a fine for possession of cannabis when he appeared on January 05. Lightbourne plead guilty and was fined $750 to be paid in one month or spend three months in prison. Neal Rigby, aged 40, was charged with burglary and appeared in court on January 05. Rigby admitted that he committed the crime on January 03 and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Pupils get a special Christmas visit SANTA Claus paid a special visit to the pupils at Oseta Jolly Primary this Christmas. The youngsters were delighted when the man in red rolled up to their Blue Hills school with a sack full of gifts. Telecoms company Lime organised this year’s event as part of an on-going support plan for their adopted school. General manager Drexwell Seymour said: “It is a joy to see the response each year from the little ones and how appreciative they are for the gifts.” This was the sixth consecutive year that Lime has visited the school

with festive gifts for the children. Principal Rachel Handfield said: “We are very grateful for the support of Lime this year and over the course of time. “The company is not only present at Christmas but its presence is felt throughout the year.” The children had prepared a number of Christmas songs for the Lime team for their visit, which the staff thoroughly enjoyed. A Lime spokesperson said: “Team Lime is happy to have brought some holiday cheer to the staff and students at Oseta Jolly Primary School and we are looking forward to greater interaction in the coming year.”

RED AND READY: Lime staff gather at the primary school for the annual event

Water woes on Grand Turk

Problems with the water distribution system in Grand Turk will result in low water pressure in some areas and occasions when residents will receive no water, according to the Water Department of EMS. A public notice to this effect was issued on January 03 by Mark McAulay on behalf of the Director of EMS. “The department is working hard to resolve this problem, and would like to advise customers to conserve their water supply. The department apologises for the inconvenience caused,” he stated.

GIVING GIFTS: Santa hands out bags of goodies to the youngsters

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

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

Fuzzy maths in tourism Dear Sir, A ‘SIX’ for a ‘nine’ in reporting Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands. See fuzzy maths. “TCI to get 1 millionth tourist this month The Turks and Caicos Islands is barreling towards its one millionth visitor, who is expected to arrive between December 26 and 31, this according to Acting Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs, who was addressing a news conference on Thursday (December 15), at the Tourist Board Office in Providenciales. According to him (Ralph Higgs), the destination has seen a 17 percent jump in cruise and land based arrivals for the third quarter of 2011, when compared with the same period for 2010. He said third quarter arrivals totaled 204,084, with 78,711 land based arrivals and 125,373 cruise arrivals; in 2010, the destination welcomed 174,302 visitors.” The above captioned and quoted article appearing in the TCI Sun Newspaper www.suntci.com on December 26, 2011, is a classic example of deception designed to mislead and misinform the general

public. Sad though, in that it not only misleads, but it draws many, many unanswered questions. Such as the likes of revenue (departure taxes) understatement for the TCIG, and to a just as important point, why are the ‘tourist’ dollars not impacting the local industries (hotels, taxis, and gift shops, to name a few)? Simple to show and say, the real numbers are not there at the levels being reported. Let us now describe and demonstrate.

Board may be able to better explain the vast differences in the numbers. After-all, these are the numbers to be used in determining the life of the tourist industry. Without fuzzy maths, then, let us ask the question. Is it possible to draw 447,054 in the last quarter of 2011 with only a few days left, and the pinch of not as great occupancies are already felt? That sounds great for a small country like the TCI, but is it really true, or is it possible that such numbers will materialize? Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year 174,431 174,431 204,084 238,778 791,724 Yes, and No! 174,431 174,431 204,084 447,054 1,000,000 Yes, if a million did visit, and no, If 3rd quarter visitor numbers were because the trends do not support the 204,084 = 117% of 2nd quarter assumptions, and again, no, because which is 174,431, then the figures are inflated, vastly misassuming the same rate of increase stated, and, honestly, unrepresented. for 4th quarter; annualized 2011 year Inflated and misrepresented can visits would yield only 791,724, be ‘spinned’ and corrected, but still 208,276 short of a million. Or, I unrepresented is a different thing. could be wrong and second-guessing When keeping statics, keen the uplift ability for the 4th quarter, definitions must be used so that the and indeed, the 447,054 may be untrained reader can interpret the materialized. To give the benefit of data. The term visitor is what brings the doubt, my projections can be the report to dispute. Do notice that termed ‘fuzzy’ maths and the Tourist the word tourist (tourism) is also

used which bring more ‘clouds’ to understand. So for clarity, refer to the below definitions of visitor and tourist, and give scenarios: ‘Visitor’ is a term for a person who comes to spend time with, or stay with others, or in a place. A visitor often stays some time, for social pleasure, for business, sightseeing, ‘Tourist’, is a person who travels for pleasure, usually sightseeing and staying in hotels. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people “traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes”.[1] Scenarios: Permit Workers, as visiting the TCI for the first time, come to the country on a return ticket (tourist) but to work while their work permit are in process. Are these visitors counted? Permit Workers, as visiting the TCI while their work permit renewals are in process; travel in and out of the country on return tickets,

Letter to Gov: relief needed Dear Sir, I WRITE to congratulate you on your appointment as governor to these islands to make a humble request on behalf of the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands. It would seem that many of us are simply being asked to ‘pay’. There is also the requirement that ‘all must pay’ for what others have done. It is noteworthy as well that in 2009 when Governor Wetherell was obliged to remove the PNP regime that there was wide public support for the brave decision. Many of us feel that in some way this decision has backfired because the Interim Government is asking the public, TCIslanders, natives, voters, non-voters, residents, PRCS, visitors (persons who are forced to pay 8 per cent) , etc to pay in higher taxes for what the former government and their investor friends have done to destroy the TCI. Second on the list of this “not guilty class of citizenry being asked to pay for other’s misdeeds” is the civil servant who had to endure a severe 10 per cent salary cut and uncertainty over jobs. Against this background is a series of

National Insurance audit reports which showed waste, theft, squander, books which were cooked and the refusal of a series of National Insurance Board of Directors to do anything. In fact, they simply repeated what the former audit report showed, continued waste, theft and squander. Even today some $25 Million of National Insurance Funds are lost in the deliberate demise of the former TC Bank. Yet on a monthly basis we must all pay 8 per cent. The NIS publicly stated that if they in the NIS Board lose 10 million dollars here or 10 million dollars there, that this is no big deal. It pains one to see why the governor has not enacted a law to remove the chairman and or this board for such a callous statement. Next we have the idea of a National Health Insurance scheme orchestrated by the former PNP Government which decided to take a further 5 per cent from our monthly salaries. So the social security billing is now a total of 13 per cent of our salaries. Going into the national health insurance scheme, is the end-product of the scheme, or where the monies are going. The monies are going to Inter-health

LETTERS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MAXIMUM OF 450 WORDS

Canada and the public does not know who really owns inter-health Canada and who is behind the project. Yet we are paying them 5 per cent. Taxpayers are paying again because of higher taxes a good deal of which are being sent over to Inter-health Canada. Thirdly, on any visit to the hospital one must pay again. Excellency, could we suggest that the people of the TCI need some form of relief. Either cut the NIS and NHIP contribution by one per cent or move one per cent of all our contributions to a national savings account. 1. Move the Monies, i.e. the 1 per cent suggested here to saving account such as a Unit trust, a savings plan that would yield a greater return. 2. Invest the one percent in gold, or uranium or oil stocks, something that would keep increasing and yield a greater source of short term or long-term income to the persons who are being forced to pay the 5 and 8 per cent respectively. 3. Create a law that persons could borrow against the savings, redeem part of the savings at a

certain point and have something to look forward to. 4. Let the savings count towards our equity, our actual net worth. 5. Create a Sovereign Wealth Fund so that there will be significant investments on the part of the people of the TCI to look forward to during college, after college, throughout one’s career and also in retirement. The benefits of this idea will be great. First of all, it will remove a few million dollars away from NIS and NHIP, where history has shown it will be wasted, not may be wasted. To pass such a law, one must also enact safeguards so that the Board of Directors of NIS will not be able to touch the monies, so that the suggested one per cent taken from NIS and NHIP each will be fully protected but for the benefit of those of us who are forced to pay 13 per cent. It would seem Governor that if one does not pay NIS and NHIP premiums there are penalties, there are prosecutions but it would seem that there are no penalties, that there are no prosecutions for the Board of Directors of NIS. It would also

again as tourist. Are these visitors counted? Senior and middle management, as visiting the TCI, come to the country on a return ticket (tourist) but whose job require frequent travel. While their work permits are in process, there is reason for them to be in and out of the country. Are these visitors counted? And then the persons who indeed do have work permits and do frequently travel in and out of the country. Are these visitors counted? The big question now asked, what are we counting, and, are we counting correctly, and again, if we are counting correctly, are we counting workers or visitors, and then finally, if we are counting visitors, can the 4th quarter materialize 447,054, and will there be a 1 millionth visitor to the Turks and Caicos Islands by December 31st, 2011? Source: 1. “UNWTO technical manual: Collection of Tourism Expenditure Statistics”. World Tourism Organization. 1995. p. 14. http://pub. unwto.org/WebRoot/Store/Shops/ Infoshop/Products/1034/1034-1.pdf. Retrieved 2011-12-28. Name signed, but requested to be withheld. seem that there is no policy resolve or political will to remove the board but we must all pay whether the board is wasting the monies or not. So, the suggestion must be to remove the monies, at least one per cent, from the control of the board, in each case, and divert those monies to a savings fund so that we could all have something to look forward to. In closing whether Helen Garlick deals with the NIS board or not, no one should be allowed to get away with this waste and squander of funds and get on the radio to say 10 million here and or 10 million here lost and get away with it. Also, at some point demonstrations should be organized against the board for sitting around and letting the monies taken from us to be wasted. Governor you have a chance to do something. Take some of our monies away from NIS and NHIP; create a safe national savings account so that there could monies available to us to plan. After a number of years, students and workers will be pleased to have something to look forward to, to have to invest and or to create equity in buying homes, starting a business or making investments. Samsune Taylor.

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.

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Letters

Open letter to AG

Dear Mr. Shepheard, MY name is Benjamin Roberts, and this contact with you has to do with my recent application to the advertisement by the British Turks & Caicos Interim Government for five new Permanent Secretaries. I filled the online application as instructed and sent it in within the required timeframe, asking for acknowledgment of receipt. Mr. Tito Lightbourne in the CEO office confirmed receipt on December 2, 2011. Then on December 9, 2011 I received an email from him with an attachment from the Office of the CEO rendering a decision on my application stating that I had not been selected to the short list. Mr. Shepheard I am not decrying the decision that was arrived at, but instead desire answers as to how the decision was reached. My aim is to ensure that my application was processed properly. To that end I have the following questions and concerns. First and foremost is: which person(s) reviewed my application materials and determined that it should go no further in the selection process? The reason I ask this is that the letter I got from the Office of the CEO outlines the decision made but it is signed by no one, and nowhere in the letter am I made privy to who is communicating with me. This is highly irregular. Mr. Shepheard I was led to believe that the British T&C Interim Government was introducing transparency and professionalism of the highest order in Turks & Caicos.

Do we have that here? Is this how things are done in say the British Civil Service setting? I assure you it is not. I have in my possession a letter from over a decade ago from the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), the main employer of those sent from the UK to be a part of T&C Interim Govt. The letter is in response to correspondence I had sent to that office. The response is very cordial, open, and informative. And as one would expect, it has the name and signature of the FCO official writing back. Should I expect less from Turks & Caicos? Is this selection process a proper and transparent one when we are told in detail about the process, including the names of those on a panel to evaluate the applicants, but we have a nameless, and faceless person, only identified as ’I,’ deciding who makes that short list? What is the qualification of the person(s) who pared down the preliminary list of applicants, to exclude myself? What is their level of academic achievements and work experience, and are they suited to evaluating mine? For example my first degree is from Howard University, in the US. Does this person(s) know the difference between Howard University, Howard Community College, or some of the obscure colleges that do not even show up on the American academic radar? If they are uninformed of Howard’s place in global education then they should not be evaluating me. Being in receipt of a letter that

identifies no one I have no way of satisfying myself that my application got the best possible evaluation. I will check this on my own, but it is worth knowing whether the person(s) who excluded my application from the short list of candidates followed up with a check of my references. I consider the references to be a crucial part of any application because it is a real live insight into the person other than their own perspective, and I imagine this to be important to any prospective employer. The question then is, were my references checked prior to this exclusion from the short list? If not then what criteria was used to decide this? Did the person making the decision unilaterally and arbitrarily decide this? If they did not then who did they consult to make their decision? This latter question then brings up a lot in terms of propriety, bias, and potential conflicts of interests depending on who those consulted were. Mr. Shepheard maybe you can shed some light on why this letter, that lacks an author, came out of the Office of the CEO? Do we not have a Public Service Commission and Labour Department that this would more suitably fall under? In closing I would state that my main aim is to ensure that my application was afforded proper consideration, qualified and transparent review, and that I was given some measure of due process. I am sure that these are things you

and your office are on the forefront of in Turks & Caicos and, being the lead legal entity in Turks & Caicos for the advancement of such matters, I thought it only fitting that this letter be directed to you. This process is crying out for serious legal scrutiny before it goes any further. More so given the fact that there is no identified person as the sender from the Office of the CEO of Turks & Caicos Government. This is made worse by the fact that the CEO, Mr Martin Stanley, touted as a premier British Civil Servant, admitted to having a secret meeting with select applicants. Party to this meeting was HE Governor, the selection panel, a UK ‘recruitment expert,‘ and members of the Advisory Council. Mr. Shepheard,

as the leading legal authority in T&C, does the events surrounding this call for, and selection process of, T&C Permanent Secretaries not leave you more than a little bit concerned that the intent and letter of the law has been seriously compromised and violated in Turks & Caicos? Thank you and I look forward to hearing back from you promptly on this. As a matter of courtesy to you and an expression of transparency by me, it is only fitting to let you know that this letter has been sent to the Labour Department and the Public Service Commission as well. Yours truly Benjamin Roberts B.Sc. MT, ASCP, M.Ac., L.Ac.

COMMENTARY

Pipe dreams and windy solutions LISTENING to the current debate over a new USA pipeline has refreshed our memory of a similar debate over the Alaskan pipeline which runs thousands of miles from remote Alaska through the cold arctic and south through Canada bringing oil to the northwestern USA from the 49th State. Environmental interests were dead set against it. One of their arguments was it would wipe out the caribou population because it would deter their migrations. Nevertheless the pipeline was built long years ago and has posed no environmental hazard. Meanwhile massive old spills pollute as million gallon tanker

By David Tapfer ships spill their contents onto the seashores, including Alaska. The caribou have prospered. It seems this giant pipeline is warmed from the flow of oil and the animals hang out nearby in the extreme winter cold. This has extended the

breeding season, the caribou do their thing, and the herd is greatly enlarged. This summer I spent some time in my home state of Ohio on the shore of the great Lake Erie. Electrical costs there are very low due to efficient pulverized coal-fired generation and low commercial rates from the hydroelectric plants at Niagara falls. Nuclear plants are also on line there. A 300-dollar TCI electric bill is 40 bucks in Cleveland, Ohio. In several locations of Cleveland, I saw massive windmill generators towering over the landscape. Their three blades were slowly turning them noiselessly as they cranked out fuel free power. I assume they pay from

themselves in an environment of otherwise cheap electrical power. The wind is not as reliable on Lake Erie shores as it is here in the TCI. I sailed Lake Erie for years and was more often than not, becalmed. Why then do we refuse to harness the trade winds that visit our shores daily. Is it because that ugly plant on Leeward Highway blowing out diesel smoke is more attractive than aerodynamically designed windmills. Never mind the noise factor because diesel losses again. Perhaps the real reason behind no eco investment is that Canadian Fortis owners are as well loved by the British and Progressive National Party members as

Interhealth Canada and recently our Canadian police chiefs. Early on our premier tried to sell us to Canada. We wonder who would have gotten all those Canadian dollars. Fortis does pay their employees well and employ Turks and Caicos Islanders. This proves what some resorts have yet to learn. Its good business to be a good neighbor and employ and train locals. Thanks Ed Powell for that. If we need to protest something lets protest for wind and possibly solar generation. If Fortis does not want to build them at least legally require them to buy the wind power from private investors and reduce their rates.

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

NATIONAL

Year in review

FORMER planning boss Clyde Robinson became the second Islander under the microscope for apparently flipping Crown land – accused of arranging the sale of a Provo plot for a staggering 21 times the price he paid for it weeks earlier. Mr Robinson was removed from office amid the drama as civil recovery investigations gathered pace.

Robert Hall – Person of the Year 2010

RADIO Turks & Caicos chat show host Robert Hall was named ‘Weekly News Person of the Year’. The man behind the live ‘Expressions’ show live had become a household name in the TCI and beyond; loved for his compassion, his wit, his impartiality and a style that comprises just the right blend of candour and sympathy.

Tourist Board changes

PLANS to scrap the Tourist Board and replace it with a new authority to oversee the country’s mainstay industry looked set to surge ahead. The Weekly News revealed that wheels were in motion to axe the notoriously overspent body to cut costs and ease pressure on the public purse. It meant the Board’s 18 remaining staff would have to reapply for their jobs. The news came weeks after 11 employees were made redundant just before Christmas.

Bishop’s zeal for learning scooped him another honour

A PROVO pastor with a passion for education was celebrating after receiving his latest qualification. And this time he didn’t even have to study. Bishop Usril Morris’s lust for learning has seen him garner a fistful of accolades in recent years. Tutors at the Spirit of Truth Institute in Richmond, Virginia, were so impressed by the silver-haired student’s accomplishments, they decided to award him another. The 66-year-old was made an honorary doctor of divinity on account of his lengthy service and contribution to the church, benevolent leadership and ministerial achievements.

Signs of life in construction

TCI’s once booming construction industry – one of the country’s economic linchpins – looked to be on the road to recovery. That was the word from leading Provo architects who reported a “dramatic” upsurge in enquiries from developers. The sector has long been one of the largest employers in the Islands but

took a nosedive amid the recession and political upheaval. Architects, who are the first to be approached about forthcoming schemes, told the Weekly News they were now experiencing a hike in work.

PNP protocol officer arrested

FORMER chief protocol officer to the PNP, Jan Messam, was arrested on suspicion of involvement with the Olint scam. Bahamian-born Mrs Messam was held for 12 hours after police linked to the corruption probe executed a dawn search warrant on her Leeward Highway home. Mrs Messam was released without charge after several hours’ interrogation around 6pm that evening although she remained under scrutiny.

Return of the ‘Big South’

ONCE booming South Caicos could be in for a resurrection amid a gargantuan scheme set to create hundreds of jobs and breathe new life into the sluggish island. Work on the second phase of the Sailrock resort is slated to begin within months – and will include restoring several of the island’s beloved historic buildings. Dubbed the ‘Big South’ during the roaring salt industry, the tiny isle has been largely left languishing since the trade’s demise in the 1960s.

Herzog in talks with Government over debt

CONSTRUCTION firm Herzog became the latest company to threaten a lawsuit against the TCI Government for unpaid bills topping $13m. But two days later the company announced “meaningful negotiations” were underway in a bid to reach a settlement. Herzog’s attorneys, Misick & Stanbrook, had issued a statement earlier in the week, announcing the company had filed an action to reclaim cash owed for roads built.

Tax consultation ahead

PROPOSALS for tax reform were set to create fireworks again ahead of an official consultation process. Stakeholders concerned about potential property and sales taxes were to have the chance to express their views about the country’s fiscal future. Suggestions such as a levy on the Islands’ real industry and the introduction of VAT on goods sent the fur flying last year.

February Crime drops – but armed robberies rise 30 per cent

TOTAL crime dipped by six per cent in 2010 despite an alarming surge in armed robberies, it was revealed. Heightened police efforts in the wake of the terrifying spate of holdups – and Islanders being more forthcoming with information – were credited with the reduction. There were 2,736 offences recorded between January 1 and December 31 2010 – compared to 2,896 incidents in 2009. Commissioner of Police Edward Hall said armed robberies were a “major challenge” for the underresourced force. Robberies saw a significant hike with 146 offences reported in 2010 – a 30 per cent increase on the 112 which took place in 2009.

Police appeal for help

BELEAGUERED cops beset by under-funding and limited manpower renewed calls for more cash and resources. Despite a welcome six per cent dip in overall crime last year, armed robberies surged three-fold as gunwielding assailants held up businesses across Provo. Head of CID Rodney Adams spoke of a “very challenging” period for the force in 2010. The last budget saw an extra $4m allocated towards fighting crime taking the total to $18m.

‘Splash down’ exhibition opens

IT WAS undoubtedly one of the most exciting events ever to occur on TCI territory. And in February astronaut John Glenn’s 1962 ‘splash down’ during the Mercury space programme was officially commemorated with a new exhibition. Residents and visitors alike can now learn all about the thrilling role Grand Turk played in space exploration via the stunning visuals on permanent display at the cruise centre.

Hotel up for sale

ONE of Provo’s forefront shopping centres and hotels looked set to be sold to a Canadian businessman within weeks. Ports of Call plaza and the 98-room Comfort Suites – both in the heart of tourist centre Grace Bay – were in line to be spruced up and revitalised once the deal was sealed.

to the tune of $50m. Dr Cem Kinay and business partner Oguz Serim were being sued by 20 plaintiffs who claimed the pair took their cash and spent it on “lavishing themselves”. Turkish-born Dr Kinay attracted much scrutiny during 2009’s corruption probe when he was accused of bribing TCI Government Ministers with a $500,000 ‘gift’ to the PNP in 2007.

Fed up of high airfares to Miami? Complain!

SOARING American Airlines fares to Miami were threatening to ground Islanders who have traditionally flocked to Florida for shopping, vital services and weekend getaways. With last minute return flights now at almost $1,000 for the 90-minute trip, many were finding the squeeze on the wallet is too much to bear. The Weekly News launched a campaign, calling on islanders to contact the company with their complaints.

Anguilla uprising sparks action in TCI

MUTINY in fellow British territory Anguilla threatened to reignite the issue of independence in the TCI. Controversy over Anguilla’s EC$80m (US$30) budget deficit saw the island nation lock horns with the UK. Britain was demanding the Eastern Caribbean country balance its budget within three years and lay off 300 of its 1,500 civil servants.

UNDER siege former Dellis Cay developers were again making headlines – this time accused of fleecing investors in the luxury scheme

Food prices hit record high

GLOBAL food prices soared to record high levels putting pressure on the purses of cash-strapped Islanders. And with further substantial hikes predicted for 2011, there was little sign of relief ahead. Rice, sugar, bread and cereal products were the worst affected in recent weeks, while dairy goods, meat and cooking oils were also set for a surge. Prices rose for the seventh consecutive month in January to their highest levels since the UN’s Food Price Index was launched in 1990. Rates were up 3.4 per cent on December.

Mixed feelings over $260m rescue

POLITICAL leaders were divided in their reaction to the forthcoming $260m rescue package to help lift the TCI out of the red. The cash – from commercial lenders – was loaned for up to five years to enable the country achieve a fiscal surplus by March 2013. But while some welcomed the monetary injection, others expressed caution over the mammoth hike in national debt – and dearth of details relating to interest.

Property tax plans ditched

PLANS to introduce controversial property taxes were ditched after being deemed neither “feasible or prudent” in the current economic clime. The Government said it had accepted the conclusions of financial experts who carried out a study into the TCI’s sources of revenue. The news was met with relief among many Islanders who felt the levy would spell disaster for the real estate industry.

Rosindell “disappointed” by slow progress

BRITISH MP Andrew Rosindell said he was “disappointed” with the rate of progress in the TCI which he previously described as rife with corruption and crime. The chairman of the TCI All-Party Parliamentary Group had often been outspoken about the UK’s “neglect” of its territory in recent years. Following a visit to the country in August, he implored London to face up to its responsibilities, both financially and constitutionally.

Lawsuit launched against Third Turtle Kinay sued for $50m

Third Turtle Club.

CIVIL proceedings were launched against corruption-accused developers behind one of the TCI’s most controversial resort schemes. Oceanpoint boss Richard Padgett was accused of bribing former Ministers for favours relating to the

Belongership was an act of “goodwill” – Butch Stewart

SANDALS boss Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart said he never used his TCI Belongership to “gain favour” in the Islands. The announcement – made via his newspaper, the Jamaica Observer – came amid claims made by Mr Stewart of a smear campaign against him. It came weeks after the hotel chain confirmed it had been voluntarily

Continued on page 13

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NATIONAL

Year in review assisting in the TCI government corruption probe.

London will ‘re-engage’ with public

BRITAIN said it wished to “re-engage” with TC Islanders as part of an ongoing shift in stance towards its territory. But there was to be no specific timetable towards independence, with the onus on the TCI to prove it can govern itself. That was the view of PDM leader Douglas Parnell, fresh from a trip to London where party bigwigs met up with UK decision-makers.

British bailout causes beef in London

CONTROVERSY erupted in Britain over taxpayers’ money being risked to bail out cash-strapped TCI. MP Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party, hit out at plans for the UK to underwrite the forthcoming $260m loan to lift the Islands out of financial distress. She accused the Foreign Office of shifting its responsibilities to the Department for International Development (DFID), which is organising the rescue package.

‘Tough decisions’ ahead on taxation

NEW taxes on food, electricity and water were set to send the cost of living in the TCI spiralling. And proposals for a major hike in business licence fees along with a 10 per cent tax on foreign workers’ salaries – to be paid by employers – were set to put the squeeze on private companies. These were among a raft of suggestions put forward by EU finance experts to overturn the TCI’s crippled economy.

Salt Cay bosses vow to plough on

CORRUPTION-accused developers said they still planned to surge ahead with the controversial Salt Cay scheme – despite it being on ice amid investigations. Salt Cay Devco bosses staged a seminar at Beaches on Saturday to woo investors and garner support from local residents for the mammoth project. Visitors were treated to a luncheon and given glossy hardback books detailing developers’ vision for the historic isle and their plans to help it maintain its unique identity.

Rape: A survivor’s story

Grace’s brave decision to speak out about her experience of every woman’s worst nightmare prompted a deluge of letters to the Weekly News in February. If Grace, who was just 19 at the time of the attack, thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse, her ordeal was compounded by a dire lack of resources, sympathy and, ultimately, justice.

Fulford called to the bar

IT WAS a feather in the cap for the TCI legal profession when North Caicos-born barrister Mark Fulford was officially called to the bar. The talented young attorney – who celebrated his 30th birthday the same week – took the oath at Providenciales’ Supreme Court before a legion of wellwishers and supporters.

At last! Cut-price airfares to Miami

PUT it down to potential competition or gentle persuasion but American Airlines finally introduced a new special rate return airfare to Miami. A brand new ‘shoppers fare’ – unique to the Provo/Miami route – was put in place following a Weekly News campaign.

Loan approved – but where are the details?

LONDON gave the go ahead to the $260m bailout to rescue the Islands from financial despair. But the authorities remained frustratingly tight-lipped on details of the interest rate and repayment conditions, despite repeated requests from the Weekly News. The cash injection, to be made available over five years, is being loaned by Scotiabank and will help refinance the Government’s crippling debts.

officially assessed by an international health expert. Residents unfortunate enough to live downwind of the noxious smog which emanates from frequent bonfires at the Wheeland junkyard have complained of pungent pollution for years.

March Canadian police commissioners named

TWO top brass Canadian cops – both with more than 30 years experience in policing – were announced as successors to the TCI’s exiting Commissioner and deputy. Mounties Colin Farquhar and Brad Sullivan replaced Edward Hall and Hubert Hughes respectively. Governor Gordon Wetherell said he was grateful for Canada’s help in supporting the placements.

Kinay’s assets frozen by court

WORLDWIDE assets of corruptionaccused Dellis Cay developer Dr Cem Kinay were frozen to prevent him dissipating them amid civil recovery investigations. But Dr Kinay vowed to appeal the decision saying he had already disclosed all his personal assets and had nothing hidden. He said the tough ruling – by TCI’s Supreme Court – did not even allow him access to funds to fight the claims against him.

Health expert testing pollution at Provo dump

CHOKING fumes from Providenciales’ long lamented dump site were

Consultant Dr Pierre Auger – from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – jetted into the Islands. During his four-day trip, he carried out a study at the sprawling 17-acre refuse site which doctors claim emits cancer-triggering toxins when garbage is set on fire.

TCIB liquidators to appear in court

LIQUIDATORS of fallen TCI Bank were hauled before the courts for failing to repay millions of dollars to the National Insurance Board (NIB). NIB bosses forked out $5.5m of public money to save the collapsed institution from disaster in 2009. They said the cash – stumped up via a secured loan – should have been returned as soon as the bank went into full liquidation on October 29.

CONTINUED could take place. He said that the $260m loan would “buy time” to tackle the “dire fiscal legacy” left by the former Government.

Draft constitution released

IT MAY have been somewhat overshadowed by recent fiery demonstrations. But while protestors stood firm to demand a date for elections, another momentous event was afoot. A giant stride towards constitutional overhaul was taken with the longawaited publication of the draft document. Advisor Kate Sullivan also published her 53 revised recommendations – the third and final set.

No tax on electricity, says PDM

UNPOPULAR plans for a 10 per cent tax on utilities continued to ignite contention with PDM chiefs demanding a veto. Controversial levies on water and electricity were proposed as part of a raft of recommendations by EU consultants to bridge the TCI’s crippling budget deficit. Party leaders released a statement saying such tolls would spell further disaster for the country’s feeble economy.

Gov’t reveals loan details

GOVERNMENT finally broke its silence on the vital repayment details of the fiscal rescue package put in place to lift the TCI out of the red. And the Governor warned that getting finances back on track would be “tough” but essential before elections

UK accused of secrecy and arrogance

LACK of transparency, condescending British officials, proposed tax hikes – and a frustrating dearth of deadlines to facilitate a return to self-rule. Just some of the complaints among a litany fired at the interim Government in the national conversation final report. The lengthy 78-page document was released to the public. And one thing was clear – the ruling administration’s operations fell far short of what Islanders demanded.

Wheels in motion to find new Governor Tourism sees huge surge

TOURIST numbers saw a 12 per cent surge in 2010 compared to the previous year – and the picture looked brighter still for 2011. This year looked set to be the third running that figures for the country’s mainstay enjoyed double digit growth.

EFFORTS were in full swing to find a successor for Governor Gordon Wetherell who vacated the post in August. The 62-year-old – who held the top spot for three years – described life at the helm of the TCI Government as “both challenging and enjoyable”. The career diplomat told media at a press briefing that he had taken the job with the expectation of it only ever being for a three-year period.

Radio hosts Robert Hall and Devon Williams banned from Government press conferences

Millions recouped in land and cash

MORE than $3m worth of land and cash embezzled under the former expelled Government was announced as recouped to date by civil recovery lawyers. And several more millions were said to be due to be returned to public coffers imminently from the 50-plus cases then being probed. UK-appointed attorneys, from international law firm EAPD, said assets identified to date amounted to “many, many tens of millions of dollars”.

But the Government remained tightlipped on whether or not the findings would ever be made public. The fact that the FSC was tasked with conducting its own inquiry into its oversight of the institution – and the circumstances which prompted its collapse – was met with some scepticism when announced last year.

Farquhar sworn in as Commissioner

NEW Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar was officially sworn in to the top spot replacing Edward Hall. The Canadian father-of-two arrived in the Islands two weeks earlier to take up the two-year contract. A special ceremony was held in his honour.

Amiel’s traffic-stopping showpiece

VISITORS arriving in the TCI received a traffic-stopping treat featuring one of the country’s most beloved national symbols. Renovations to artwork on the Airport Road roundabout were completed – and included a vibrant depiction of Jojo the dolphin as the central piece. Created by larger-than-life artist Amiel Cartwright, the eye-catching showpiece provides tourists with a colourful first impression of some of the wonders the Islands have to offer.

Gov’t stays schtum on TCIB report

INVESTIGATIONS into the Financial Services Commission’s handling of fallen TCI Bank were completed.

TWO of the country’s most prominent radio presenters were controversially barred from attending government press conferences for taking part in this month’s Airport Road protests. RTC chat show host Robert Hall and Blaze Radio’s Devon Williams both received a tough mandate from the Attorney General warning them their actions had “consequences”. Mr Hall was said to have broken “impartiality” guidelines in the Broadcasting Ordinance which prevent public broadcasters from taking a political stand. Notoriously outspoken Mr Williams, who was arrested and charged for obstructing the road during the stormy scenes, was accused of acting “unprofessionally”.

‘Sick-out’ sparks chaos

FURIOUS civil servants brought international flights and some government departments to a standstill amid a mass ‘sick-out’ protest. Proposals to changes in pensions and gratuities sparked anger among the sector’s 2,500 workers still reeling from last year’s controversial 10 per cent pay cuts. Under consideration austerity measures to shave a further 25 per cent from public sector costs added fuel to the fire.

Continued on page 14

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

NATIONAL

Year in review The fiasco saw all flights to and from Provo cancelled on safety grounds after airport firefighters failed to show up to work. Two incoming flights from Miami, along with services aboard JetBlue, Continental and US Airways were among those affected.

firms plus substantial land, funded a lifestyle of fast cars, yachts and private jets from the proceeds. TCI police urged Islanders with information on any of Pope’s assets to come forward and help identify them. Pope’s criminal empire netted over $150m from apparently bullying more than 2,300 victims into handing over life savings.

New Commissioners pledge speedier investigations and a safer TCI

Olint’s Smith admits 23 charges in US

OLINT con artist David Smith was facing life behind bars after pleading guilty to 23 fraud and money laundering charges in Florida. The 41-year-old Jamaican national is said to have ripped off more than 6,000 people – including many in the TCI – in an elaborate $220m Ponzi scheme. Smith was originally sentenced to six and a half years in Grand Turk prison in September after striking a deal with prosecutors. Charges were dropped against his wife Tracey Anne in exchange for his admitting to four of a string of financial crime counts. But just weeks later he was handed over to US authorities where he was accused of collecting millions from investors under false pretences and using much of it to fund his own lavish lifestyle.

Islanders urged to call the shots on the TCI of tomorrow

ISLANDERS were encouraged to start forging a vision for the TCI of the future. British officials who visited the Islands said it was vital native people were the ones to determine the TCI’s social and economic destiny – adding “it’s your country, not ours”. Director of overseas territories, Colin Roberts, told a media briefing that ongoing work ahead of the return to self-rule focused on stabilising public finances, along with constitutional and governmental reform.

Stop dump fires now, says expert

POLLUTION-triggering fires at Providenciales’ dump must stop immediately amid serious health concerns. That was the view of an international consultant who recently visited the site to assess the long lamented emissions from indiscriminate bonfires. But despite the warning three weeks earlier, blazes at the Wheeland junkyard continued on a regular basis.

TCI businessman nailed in major UK fraud

A TCI businessman was facing up to 20 years in jail after admitting ripping off thousands of investors in one of the UK’s largest ever fraud scams. Richard Pope, 53, said to have interests in at least two Providenciales

FASTER investigations, more patrol cars and beefed up disciplinary action against crooked cops were cited as part of a forthcoming overhaul of the police force. Beleaguered officers can also expect to see an end to mold-ridden, crumbling station buildings and a longlamented dearth of equipment from computers to uniforms. New Canadian duo at the helm of operations, Colin Farquhar and Brad Sullivan, even vowed to push for the reinstatement of officers’ salaries, slashed by 10 per cent last year amid controversial cost-cutting measures.

April Social health care system celebrates first anniversary

LAUNCHING a social health care system was undoubtedly one of the most controversial – and hotly debated – moves in TCI history. A tempestuous beginning saw the country’s two new hospitals forced to fend off a wealth of criticism about everything from sloppy service to vital drug shortages. Now, 12 long months later, staff celebrated the facilities’ first anniversary in business.

Allotted areas for protests, say police

PLANS for controlled demonstrations in designated areas were touted by the new police chief as part of a safer approach to staging protests. Commissioner Colin Farquhar hoped the move would avoid a repeat of last month’s vociferous scenes which saw Airport Road blocked off to traffic, causing headaches for airline travellers. “We want a better, more uniform approach for people who want to protest,” he told media.

No budget debate for forum

UNDER-fire tax hikes were enacted without input from the consultative forum after members refused to attend a debate saying they had been given insufficient time to prepare. The controversy put the rebel members at loggerheads with both forum chair Lillian Misick and Governor Gordon Wetherell. A scheduled meeting was cancelled when six members signalled their intention not to go, rendering the session inquorate. They had requested the meeting be postponed by a week to allow them more time to read the relevant documents – not received by some

autism awareness

CONTINUED

By Nicole Cox, a mother living with autism

until the day before.

PDM to stage budget education programme

BUDGET blues prompted the PDM to stage a public education campaign to ensure Islanders were properly clued up on the tough fiscal measures ahead. The move came after the party’s eleventh hour call for a freeze on the passage of controversial new taxes was cold-shouldered by the Governor. The PDM had hoped to persuade Gordon Wetherell to postpone the budget by 21 days to allow a ‘round table’ session with stakeholders to thrash out ideas and resolve disputes. They had even formed a mediation council to suggest alternatives to the Government’s no-nonsense plan of increased taxes coupled with spending cuts.

Gas and grocery hikes ahead

GAS and groceries were first in line for immediate price hikes stinging the pockets of Islanders nationwide under tough austerity measures announced in the budget. An extra 25c tax on fuel and a four per cent customs processing fee – on all imported goods – were announced. The interim Government’s dreaded blueprint for fiscal reform also revealed a 10 per cent levy on water bills, a 50 per cent hike to vehicle and drivers’ licences from May, and increases to work permit fees from September.

Job cuts for civil servants

JOB losses coupled with tough 25 per cent cost cuts were on the horizon amid plans for a major revamp of the civil service. It was a dismal outlook for beleaguered public sector workers already suffering from last year’s pay cuts and impending additional reductions in allowances and pensions. Hopes that the controversial 10 per cent wage cuts would be overturned following the recent ‘sick-out’ protest were bitterly dashed. And not only were no funds available to reinstate the former salaries, some workers were facing being ousted from the service altogether.

Gov’t ‘unaware’ of corrupt advisor’s past

GOVERNMENT was unaware of a leading finance advisor’s link to a corrupt Peruvian administration, it said in a statement. But it insisted the dramatic revelations surrounding Jorge Baca Campodonico did not undermine the work carried out by the team of tax advisors which he headed. The scandal was an embarrassment for the London-led administration which expelled the former TCI Government in 2009 on the grounds of corruption and malpractice. Baca was Minister of Economy during the reign of crooked former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori.

NIB case postponed for six months

COURT proceedings against TCI Bank

Continued on page 15

Josiah, aged four

Spectrum of Hope

Partnership, compromise and what? pt.2

AH! The early morning sunbeams peek over the horizon spilling shades of coral over the treetops. Barely visible in the hazy dawn, the leaves of the trees tremble slightly in the breeze. Oh boy. Perfect weather for a brisk morning walk. I pop out of bed and fumble for my socks and some workout clothes. As I slide on my running shoe, Devon mumbles, “Goin’ for a walk?”. “Yep.”, I reply in a tone reminiscent of a 10th grade cheerleader. “Its Thursday.”, he manages through a smug, sleepy smile. I pause. Wait, it is Thursday. Rats! I completely lost track of days, which is a direct side effect of running a household more like a daycare center on more coffee than any human should intake. It is Thursday, and no matter how tempting outside looks, it is Devon’s turn to get his morning free time and I must field the onslaught of morning childish enthusiasm. Are you kidding me? Let’s hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow. Ah. The domestic bliss brought on by compromise. Some would have you believe that if you have a child with special needs that your life must come to a screeching, grinding halt. Gone are the personal moments that used to bring you release or pleasure. This is not altogether true. Lifestyle modification is just that, a modification. And if you are blessed to have a two-parent household, you can take advantage of that by ensuring that each partner has an opportunity to still participate in the hobbies or activities that help to keep them sane. The activities will just have to be adjusted. The hour long daily workouts may have to be reduced to half an hour every other day. The weekly manicures and hair appointments may have to become bi-weekly. It may take longer to finish books by your favorite author or to get through a movie because you now only have 45 spare minutes at a time to see to them. And guess what, that’s OK. We learn how important it is to take turns in preschool. And somehow we feel that once we have reached a certain status or age, that we no longer need the lesson. Not true. Taking turns keeps a better monitor on emotional balance. It makes it easier to accept the hard days when nothing is going according to the plan. It keeps a short term goal ahead of you to which you can look forward. It’s a comfort and a motivator. This concept can be applied both to the time spent in personal leisure and the time spent in activities with the children. No parent should ever feel that they bear all of the responsibility with the kids or have no personal time to recharge. Voluntary sharing of those aspects will diffuse many issues. The Christmas season is a perfect time to give the gift of compromise to your spouse. Sit down together and balance the time spent outside of the home and inside of the home. Decide what hobbies and interests you need to stay in touch with yourself and decide how often and in what amounts those moments need to happen in order to accommodate the running of the home. Divide up the children’s activities according to what works best with your schedules and strengths. Commit to wholeheartedly serving your shift, knowing that you will get your turn to unwind later. A little compromise goes a long way. It did rain the next morning, but that just gave me time to catch up on some reading - and paint my nails. Taking turns rocks. For more information on autism email: DawnProgram@gmail.com Next Week: “Partnership, Compromise and What?” pt.3

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NATIONAL

Year in review liquidators accused of failing to return $5.5m in public funds were adjourned for six months. National Insurance Board (NIB) chiefs are suing Deloitte Bahamas for failing to repay a secured loan NIB stumped up in 2009 to save the collapsed bank from earlier disaster. The case came before Providenciales’ Supreme Court on April 1. The matter was put off until later this year to enable the liquidators to complete investigations into the circumstances surrounding the giving of the debenture.

PPC warns levy will see further hikes in electricity bills

TCI’s biggest electricity provider locked horns with the Government over September’s forthcoming ‘carbon tax’ to raise badly-needed public revenue. PPC dubbed the ‘green’ levy on electricity generators as “grossly unfair” – and warned it would ultimately lead to further hikes in electricity bills. Bosses said they were never consulted on the measure announced publicly in the budget and claimed the initial costs would have to be stumped up solely from PPC’s earnings.

SIPT make two more arrests

CORRUPTION investigators confirmed they had made two more arrests relating to crooked deals in the TCI. A spokesperson told the Weekly News a man was arrested in Grand Turk on March 17 and later bailed. A 73-year-old man was also arrested on March 31 in connections with allegations of bribery and corruption. He was released on bail later that day.

Customs processing fee now in place

THE COST of all imported goods rose by four per cent when the new customs processing fee (CPF) came into effect. The levy was confirmed in the budget released amid a litany of austerity measures aimed at getting the country’s finances back in the black. The CPF applies to all items brought into the country except those imported by the Government or hospital operators Interhealth Canada.

Prince – behind hits Purple Rain and Kiss – is a regular visitor to the Islands.

INTERNATIONAL superstar Prince became the latest celebrity to snap up a multi-million dollar home in the TCI. The Weekly News revealed that the $12m Turtle Tail mansion belonging to eminent developer Richard Padgett had been sold to the American singing legend.

this week

John Phillips vowed to strive to reenergise the troubled body despite some initial apprehension at the weighty task ahead. It was hoped the 61-year-old business magnate would provide the vital missing link between the interim administration and the largely disenfranchised business community.

Friday, January 06 to Thursday, January 12

TCI snubbed for Royal honeymoon World tunes in to Royal Wedding

PEOPLE in the TCI were gearing up to join the two billion worldwide expected to tune into the Royal Wedding festivities. The historic event was broadcast via numerous TV channels and radio stations as Britain’s Prince William tied the knot with long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton. But as leaders of fellow overseas territories prepared to take part in London’s historic festivities, there was no seat set aside for a TCI representative.

TCI lost out to an exclusive Indian Ocean hideaway for the muchanticipated honeymoon of the Royal newlyweds. Prince William and Kate were poised to jet off to a secret location later this month, away from the eyes of the watching world. Hopes had been rife that the lovedup couple would plump for the TCI for some ‘alone time’, giving the country a momentous tourism boost.

FINANCE chiefs negotiated a $170m ‘low risk’ rated bond as part of the $260m rescue package. The cash injection replaced the previously announced bridge loan element of the fiscal remedy underwritten by London. It came with a fixed interest rate of 3.2 per cent to be paid in six-monthly arrears. It will mature in February 2016.

May Salt islands shortlisted for World Heritage status

THE SALT islands could soon be ranked alongside the Pyramids, Great Wall of China and Statue of Liberty after being shortlisted for World Heritage status. National Trust chiefs celebrated initial success in their bid to have Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos and surrounding cays included on the prestigious list due to their unique wildlife, flora and fauna. The TCI was one of just 11 entries – whittled down from 38 in the UK and its territories – to make it onto a ‘tentative’ line-up compiled by Britain. LIME chief Drexwell Seymour became the latest person to quit the fractured consultative forum – weeks after the body erupted amid budget drama. Mr Seymour told the Weekly News that the blow-up in the aftermath of the forum’s axed April 5 meeting had been the final straw. Sparks flew when six forum members, including Mr Seymour – infuriated over the tardy receipt of vital relevant documents – refused to attend a scheduled budget debate.

New forum member Phillips vows stronger ties with business community

NEWEST consultative forum member

Friday, January 06

Monday, January 09

 Danny Buoy’s is Provo’s premier live music and sports destination, serving lunch and dinner daily from 11:30am. Danny Buoy’s is the perfect place to escape from the heat and hang with friends, all in smoke free air-conditioned comfort. Happy Hour specials from 4-7pm Monday-Saturday

 Are you in the dance mood? Join Graceway Sports Centre and dance your booty off with Shara Bowen and her incendiary Zumba class from 10.30am to 11.30am. Call information at www. gracewaysports.com or on 442-6348.

 Ready to start the weekend party? Join Graceway Sports Centre and dance your booty off with Shara Bowen and her incendiary Zumba class from 10.30am to 11.30am. More information at www. gracewaysports.com or on 442-6348.  Live music duo NaDa will be providing entertainment at Mango Reef restaurant at the Alexandra resort this evening. Starts 6.45pm. Call 946 8200 for more details.

Gov’t signs $170m five-year bond

Seymour quits forum

Provo fit for Prince

CONTINUED

Middle Caicos ‘land scam’ probe heats up

CORRUPTION investigations into the massive ‘secret’ land deal in Middle Caicos intensified with dozens of people being questioned across the island. Members of Helen Garlick’s SIPT team were said to be moving in on Islanders connected to the alleged scam exposed by the Weekly News last year. Residents said sleuths were going house to house armed with a list of around 15 names and requesting information on where they could be found.

No town hall meeting for Provo

PROVO’S anticipated town hall meeting for a final chance to debate the draft constitution was scrapped in favour of a live phone-in. Town hall meetings were scheduled to take place next week on all inhabited islands – except the most densely populated. It was an unpopular move coming amid the final stages of the process prior to the definitive document outlining the supreme laws of the land. And it invoked the wrath of local political leaders who dubbed the decision “unacceptable”.

Tributes for legendary teacher Ona Glinton whose simple motto was ‘be good, be respectful’

A DEDICATED teacher, outstanding matriarch and a strict disciplinarian with a kind and gentle soul. Just some of the words used to describe legendary educator Ona Glinton who died at the remarkable age of 100. The celebrated centenarian, who

Continued on page 18

 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 442-6349.  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 9468666 for details.

Saturday, January 07  Mums and Tots Dance Party classes are held every Saturday at The Athletic Club in Saltmills Plaza 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.

 Start your week with a fun and calorie-burning Tae-Bo class at Graceway Sports Centre from 6pm to 7 pm. Free for fitness members, $12 for non-members. Visit www.gracewaysports.com for more information or call 442-6349.  Girls and boys aged 11 to 19 years old are invited to take part in a fun singing group. The TCI Youth Chorale rehearses every Monday at 6pm at the Edward C Gartland Youth Centre, downtown, Providenciales. For more information call 331-7176.  Are you in need of inner peace? Interested in a healthy lifestyle and a toned and flexible body? Then you need David Bowen’s yoga classes at The Athletic Club in the Saltmills Plaza. Come along on Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 7am, Tuesday and Thursday at 6.30pm or Saturday at 9am. Call 941-8686 for more details.

Tuesday, January 10  Do you like Latino music and hot parties? Join Graceway Sports Centre and dance your booty off with Shara Bowen and her incendiary Zumba class from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. More information at www.gracewaysports.com or on 442-6348.  Live music duo NaDa will be providing entertainment at Mango Reef restaurant at the Alexandra resort this evening. Starts 6.45pm. Call 946 8200 for more details.

Wednesday, January 11  Kick back with live music from Soul Redemption at the Regent Palms on Wednesdays from 7pm. Call 946-8666 for details.

Thursday, January 12  Get up and jump into your sports shoes for a morning Tae-bo class at Graceway Sports Centre from 9am to 10 am. Free for fitness members, $12 for non-members. More information at www. gracewaysports.com or on 442-6349.

Sunday, January 08  Feeling lucky? Win cash at the Rotary Club’s weekly bingo night every Sunday from 7pm at Club Pillows opposite the Veranda resort in Grace Bay.

 Celebrate good health with Wellness Coach Benneth Williams every Thursday evening. Come along to Williams Block, suite number six, on Lower Bight Road, Providenciales, from 7pm. There you will get a free wellness consultation and an hour of fun. For more details call Benneth at 2460300 or email hls_com@yahoo.com

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

Lifestyle...

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

fitness Tip 

Soup with Lemon Grass

Ingredients • For the soup • 1 litre/1¾ pints chicken stock (homemade or bought) • 2 lemongrass stalks • 4 bird’s eye chillies • 4-5 kaffir lime leaves (optional) • 3 long shallots, peeled and finely sliced • 50g/2oz piece fresh root ginger, peeled and sliced thinly • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and halved lengthways • 4 tbsp limejuice • 2 tbsp nam pla (Thai fish sauce) • 100g/3½oz medium rice or egg noodles • 100g/3½oz mange tout, trimmed and sliced diagonally • 1 red pepper, deseeded and very thinly sliced • small bunch fresh coriander, roughly torn For the chicken balls • 250g/9oz minced chicken • 2 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced • 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed • 1 birds eye chilli, finely chopped • 1 tbsp corn flour, plus extra for dusting • ¼ tsp fine sea salt • 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves • freshly ground black pepper Preparation method • To make the soup base, pour the stock into a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Finely chop one of the lemongrass stalks and add to the pan. Split two of the chillies lengthways almost all the way through and add to the pan. • Add the lime leaves, if using, one of the sliced shallots and all the ginger and garlic. Bring to a low simmer and cook gently for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to stand.. • For the chicken balls, put all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Tip some corn flour onto a plate and use dust your hands. Roll the chicken mixture into 16 small balls and put on a large dinner plate. • Strain the infused stock through a sieve into a clean pan. Stir in the remaining shallots, lime juice and fish sauce. Slice the remaining two bird’s eye chilles very finely and add to the pan. Bash the lemon grass with a rolling pin to bruise, and stir into the stock. • Bring to a gentle simmer and add the chicken balls. Cook for five minutes, allowing the liquid to bubble. Add the noodles and return to a simmer for two minutes. • Stir in the mange tout and red pepper and simmer for two minutes more until the chicken balls are cooked through and the vegetables and noodles are just tender. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste, adding a little extra limejuice or fish sauce if needed. • Ladle into deep bowls, scatter the coriander over and serve.

Revolution of the resolutions AS you know each year, millions of people make the New Year resolution. And each year over 80 per cent of them fail. The hype dominates the first couple of weeks of the New Year and sadly enough by mid-February more than half get back to the old habits and give up on their goals. How many times did you accomplish your New Year’s resolutions? Just look at 2011 and reflect at how it started, what you achieved, what you didn’t and what you think you could of. What you regret not doing? And make that a start for your 2012 plans. As I was analyzing my life for the past year I did realize that I failed my New Year resolutions big time. Honestly, I didn’t achieve any and I decided that I need a revolution of the resolutions this coming year. I need to change my thinking, my behavior and my approach to things and matters of life. It was a very interesting year and I achieved more than I planned and expected but none of it is related to my initial goals for 2011. So we could say that sometimes God, or the Universe however you might call it, has other plans for us but the goals as to getting in shape, loosing weight, getting a healthier approach to life, getting some exercise in your daily routine,

FITNESS EXPERT Anca Vasile

these are goals that we can take responsibility for and it is in our hands to do it. Other things we might not be able to control in our lives but we sure can control to make up our mind to enjoy this life to the fullest and how we could do it otherwise than by being healthy and energetic and strong so we can carry on. One of the most constant resolutions of a new year which is present on almost everybody’s list it has to do with their body or their health: to lose weight, get in shape, get off the medications, fit in a pair of old jeans, being able to run 10k, being in their best shape ever by their birthday celebration, and so on and so forth. And this can be seen clearly when by the second week of January, gyms and exercise places are full of people and you can feel another level of energy around. However, a month later the membership is reduced to half. And why is that, and especially what can we do and what strategies can we apply so we can stick with our new habits?

health Tip 

Lemon Grass, the perfect tea Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, In whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers arm, He blessed us on our way, With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. WOW, it’s a brand New Year 2012, and as I’ve mentioned at the beginning of my writings for the new year, I would ask of you readers, and that is if you don’t mind me asking? Since we’ve made it over into 2012, give thanks to Almighty God. Now I am in not saying that you haven’t done it already, just to further

By Phillip Simmons encourage you, and on that note please allow me to wish you a happy New Year, on behalf of my wife and I, our wish for you, and your family is all the best for 2012, and beyond. Well it is yet another time for us to continue reading about some of the items that is produced on the farm, or in our backyard garden. continued 

Well, first of all stop making resolutions that are meant to fail. And how you will know that? You will know it by looking at your past year resolutions. So instead of saying I want to loose 50lbs this year and keep looking at the scale everyday waiting for those 50lbs to go and give up a month later because the scale don’t want to move fast enough, take one step at a time. As they say “before you learn to walk you have to crawl” So, look at it this way: a year has 12 months and you want to lose 50lbs. that means - 4.15 lbs a month to lose. This means 1 lb a week, which is very easy. And, you can do that without changing a whole lot in your life, without a big sacrifice but

you will have to be committed and consistent and patient. Fitness is a lifestyle, not a means to an end. So in order to stick with it you need a revolution of your approach to it. That means different than you did it until now. For example, apply variety: mix up types of exercise and activities; do it indoor and outdoor; go by yourself, with a body or in a group format. The group format has a better retention due to the socializing factor as well as the element of challenge that is subconsciously present. Reward yourself. Every time you achieve something treat yourself. It is not selfishness; it’s your life and you have to enjoy it because you deserve it.

January 7 - 13, 2012

Lifestyle... GARDENING 

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

How does your garden grow

Pomegranate Tree THE pomegranate tree is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and has been cultivated since ancient times throughout the Mediterranean region of Asia, Africa and Europe. The branches of the pomegranate tree are often stiff, angular and covered in spines, which are a natural defense against some of its insect predators. The red brown bark color will later become gray with age and they can live up to 200 years in some areas, but will stop producing fruit after about twenty in most cases. Leaves may persist on the tree even when no fruit is bore and the shape of the leaves themselves are long and narrow in a lance shape, they are also very glossy, beautiful, and come in a variety of shades. The flowers blossoming in spring before fruit arrives also come in a variety of shades depending on the type of tree you buy, but are commonly a deep scarlet red or white. There are many different species but the most popular are the Wonderful, the Angel Red, the Sweet and the Greneda, or Grenada in some parts of the world. Regardless, most are over an inch across in each petal and have a red calyx in the middle which later produces fruit, the calyx itself is fleshy and tubular in appearance. The pomegranate tree can be crosspollinated by insects but is also self-pollinated. Of course, crosspollination is always better for your tree so insects around it are good. Pomegranate trees need direct sunlight for them to bear fruit. However, the tree has a smallish size and is quite pretty so many people are happy just to have this tree as a decoration in their yard. The pomegranate is neat in appearance and is rounded to look more like a shrub than a tree. It can, under the

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

right circumstances, however grow up to 30 feet, but far more normally reaches around 12 to 16 feet in height. Though there are many dwarf varieties such as the Nana. Be sure to plant your pomegranate tree in a very sunny location with plenty of room to grow and blossom it’s wonderful fruit which by the way tend to make it’s branches sag, so never plant anything else underneath it, or place it in an area where it has no room to slump down a bit. You may also want to consider staking this tree down as it is really more of a shrub with soft and flexible wood that blows around easily. Simply tie a string suitable for young trees around the trunk and stake it on opposite sides of the ground, this is particularly vital when first planting your tree before the roots have time to grow. To prune your tree, start in early spring before they start to blossom, you do not want to loose any fruits. If your tree has already started producing leaves and is ready to

blossom, you will have to wait on pruning it. The shoots coming up from the trunk are the ones you need to worry about pruning, simply take off the extraneous shoots with a pair of loppers, a pruning tool, and then discard in compost or the trash. Do not forget to put some pruning salve on the cut shoots to prevent your tree from developing viruses, bacteria or insect infestations in the exposed tissue of your tree. Over all pomegranate trees do not need much pruning and it is better to have some stray shoots than to over prune them and ruin your tree. For enjoying out-of-hand or at the table, the fruit is deeply scored several times vertically and then broken apart; then the clusters of juice sacs can be lifted out of the rind and eaten. In some countries, such as Iran, the juice is a very popular beverage. Pomegranate juice is widely made into grenadine for use in mixed drinks. In the Asiatic countries, it may be made into a thick syrup for use as a sauce. It is also often converted into wine.

Lemon Grass, the perfect tea continued 

How about this one? Lemon Grass better known as the ‘fever grass’, as we would call back in ‘da days’, and as we continue to call it today. You would see in a moment why ‘Mar Evers’ called it fever grass. Now mind you, she did not have access to books, and computers like we do today, but she sure had listening ears, just maybe ‘Mar Binah’ taught it to her, and only God knows where ‘Mar Binah’

got her information from. On that note, I close that chapter. Ok, let us see what research has to say about Lemon Grass. Research says that one of the most common uses of the Lemon Grass is to reduce fever. It has a cooling effect that helps lower the body temperatures. Another use of Lemon Grass tea is that it detoxifies the liver, cleans the pancreas, kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract. It also reduces uric acid, cholesterol, and other toxins in

the body. Lemon Grass tea cleanses the skin, reducing the appearance of blackheads and pimples. It is also a natural astringent that tones and renews the skin. Other uses of Lemon Grass tea: . relieves diarrhea, . relieves colds and coughs, . antibacterial, . diuretic, . stimulant, . fights depression and bad moods, . lowers high blood pressure,

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.

ACCU Nutrition move-a-thon

I WISH all of you a very bright, prosperous and healthy New Year. We have had our share of turkey, ham, pumpkin and pecan pies and all the sides and dressing we could tolerate. The clock struck twelve on January 01 and we decided to ‘turn over new leaves’ in this book we call our lives. In other words, we made New Year’s resolutions. Many of these resolutions are health-related, such as going to the gym every day of the week. One of the last articles I wrote in 2011 was on setting and achieving realistic goals. I will not be reiterating that point in this article, but according to various surveys, there are varying conclusions on what exact percentage of New Year’s resolutions is actually kept. However, the consensus is that the majority of resolutions are not kept throughout the year, suggesting that many are unrealistic. With this in mind, I have come up with the perfect way to help you get off on the right track for 2012 – ‘ACCU Nutrition Move-a-thon’, planned for January 14, 2012 starting at 5:30am. This is an annual fundraising event to help a selected school provide better nutrition to the students. Each year a different school will be chosen to be the beneficiary of 100 per cent of the funds raised during the event. The name of the event, ‘ACCU Nutrition Move-a-thon’, tells you to walk, run or bike your way to the end. This event will cater to all fitness levels by having two different routes - a 3-miler for the beginners and a 6-mile course for the ‘seasoned’ athlete. Everyone can take part in this event. Make it a family affair and bring the kids out as well. Even though you will be able to register on the day of the event, I would strongly urge you to pre-register and avoid the congestion. Registration Fees: Individuals $20 Corporate/group of 10 or more $15 Family of 4 or more members $15 Children $10

If the children really are our future, I am hoping you will support me in this venture while at the same time getting a ‘running’ start on your New Year’s resolutions. For more information, please contact me at 242-3978 or 442-3978.

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

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

NATIONAL

Year in review devoted more than two decades of her life to enlightening and instilling moral values in TCI youngsters, passed away in hospital after suffering a stroke.

Royal visit for TCI?

THEY may have shunned TCI for their honeymoon but Royal newlyweds William and Kate were hotly tipped to visit the Islands in 2012 as part of a tour of the Commonwealth. Insiders revealed it was a strong possibility the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would make an official call to the British territory. It would be the latest in a string of Royal visits since the Queen and Prince Philip’s South Caicos sojourn in 1966.

Grand visit for TCI Anglicans

TCI ANGLICANS welcomed in a special visitor when Bishop Laish Boyd jetted into Provo. His three-day trip – accompanied by Archdeacon Keith Cartwright – was in a bid to “reconnect and reenergise” the diocese of TCI and Southern Bahamas.

‘We are not here to dictate’ – UK

BRITISH officials said they were “not here to dictate” the new constitution but would “faithfully relay” Islanders’ views back to London. That was according to Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) chiefs who staged a series of public meetings to discuss the draft document. Ian Hendry, leading the team of officials, said it was their “very firm intention” to give people ample time to express their thoughts.

UK “concerned” about small voting franchise

Provo’s town hall meeting to discuss the draft constitution may have been vociferous but it was lacking last year’s turbulent scenes suspected to have triggered the UK’s reluctance for an open forum. The Community Fellowship Centre was packed with everyone from ordinary Islanders to political, community and religious leaders, and members of the interim administration. And while they may have differed on the delivery, there was no mistaking the message – we want our country back. NOISY neighbours and bars which play loud music to the annoyance of local residents were told to keep it down – or face the consequences. Police said they had been inundated with calls from fed-up Islanders across Providenciales. Complaints ranged from squabbles and disturbances in the street to earsplitting music pounding from drinking establishments late at night.

‘Boost business, not taxes’

NEWEST consultative forum member John Phillips stepped up to the plate at his first meeting to deliver an earnest address on expanding the TCI economy. And his comments already gave impetus to the set-up of a new committee which would conduct a country-wide survey of small businesses – and the barriers stifling their growth.

UK’s clarion call to fast-track elections

BRITAIN urged officials in the UK and TCI to put their noses to the grindstone to restore TCI’s dismal finances – and return the Islands to self-government. Lord Nigel Jones, the TCI Parliamentary Group vice-chairman, revealed to the Weekly News that meetings had taken place in London to hasten the process towards setting a date for elections. Britain’s under-writing of the $260m rescue package was a prime factor in fast-tracking the pace of getting the territory back on its feet, in light of the UK’s own fiscal woes.

New constitution just a stop-gap

TCI team to head to London

Demands for referendum on new constitution

IF THE Brits were anticipating a riot, they were wrong.

Economic ultimatum

TCI must be “well on course” to achieving a colossal $20m fiscal surplus by April 2013 in order for elections to take place, London said. And that’s no mean feat with the current financial crisis equating to a staggering $12,000 debt for every man, woman and child living in the Islands. Overturning the country’s pecuniary woes is one of the much touted “milestones” before a return to self-government.

Noisy bars told ‘turn it down’

LONDON had been concerned for some time about TCI’s “small” voting franchise, constitution advisors revealed. Ian Hendry, the expert leading the team of visiting British personnel, also said that, if left up to him, the draft proposals for reform would have been more “extreme”. He told media that “it does not seem right” that less than one in four TCI inhabitants is allowed to cast an election ballot.

THE NEW constitution is likely to be a “temporary” document ahead of a gradual curtailing of the Governor’s powers, UK officials said. The draft document’s weighty role of the London-appointed leader was designed to deal with the TCI’s current “peculiar” situation, according to British advisor Ian Hendry. Prescripts entitling the Governor to retain authority to veto new legislation and override Cabinet decisions sparked consternation among Islanders. But Mr Hendry told media he hoped the new document outlining the laws of the land would be just a stop-gap.

June

IT MAY have taken over a year but Islanders were finally to have the chance to voice their constitutional concerns directly with British policy makers. The UK invited a TCI representative delegation to London next month to discuss the draft constitution with Overseas Territories Minister Henry Bellingham. The decision was announced days after Islanders flooded a public meeting in Provo to demand more say as the process of overhauling the country’s supreme laws draws to a close. It was a significant about-face on Britain’s previous stance that there would be no direct negotiations with political leaders.

CONTINUED the dotted line.

Gov’t wins $1.25m in evaded taxes

MORE than $1.25m was to be returned to public coffers after the Government successfully fought a tax evasion case against former billionaire tycoon Tim Blixseth. The cash was for outstanding stamp duty for the sprawling Emerald Cay estate in Chalk Sound in what was dubbed a “carefully crafted scheme” to defraud TCIG. The debacle once again called into question the integrity of the local legal profession with the two lawyers who facilitated the deal facing investigation.

Kinay says Joe Grant Cay ruling “unlawful”

PDM tells UK ‘pay up’

PDM chiefs renewed calls for London to stump up cash to help lift the TCI out of the financial doldrums. Party leader Douglas Parnell urged Britain to hand the country a similar sized grant to the one it is making available to sister territory, St Helena. The South Atlantic island – which has a population of less than 5,000 – was to receive $400m to build an airport.

Team TCI prepares for eleventh hour constitution talks

MEMBERS of the TCI delegation heading to London this month were gearing up for eleventh hour talks with Britain over constitutional overhaul. For some, it was to be a last ditch attempt to persuade the UK to alter its stance on some of the draft document’s most contentious prescripts. The seven-strong team – revealed in its entirety on Wednesday – met with Overseas Territories Minister Henry Bellingham on June 15 and 16. Belongership bestowal, voting eligibility and the meaty powers assigned to the Governor continued to attract the bulk of the controversy.

CORRUPTION-accused developer Cem Kinay hit out at last week’s decision to return eco haven Joe Grant Cay to the Crown, dubbing it “unlawful, unfair and unjust”. The under-fire realty giant – accused of bribing former Government Ministers for political favours – claimed the freezing of his assets has left him with no funds to defend himself. Nevertheless, he announced his intention to appeal the ruling. Dr Kinay claimed written submissions he emailed to the court on May 31 and June 3 outlining his defence were ignored.

Freedom of information laws ahead

NEW laws compelling government bodies and other public entities to disclose previously ‘private’ information looked set to come into force. A prescript paving the way for Freedom of Information legislation is to be enshrined in the revised constitution. The move was a feather in the cap for the TCI negotiating team which pushed for it during last month’s talks with British Ministers in London.

TCI’s ‘birther’ debate

SHOULD the position of Premier be limited to ‘natural born citizens’ only? That was the question currently igniting a rumpus in the TCI. London purned pleas to constitutionally bar those not born in the Islands from running for the country’s highest elected office. PDM chiefs pushed for a provision limiting the post to Belongers by birth or descent during last month’s talks with British Ministers. But it received objections from other members of the TCI negotiating team who felt such a clause was discriminatory.

Delegation deems London constitution talks “fruitful”

THEY may not have struck a deal on all counts but the TCI constitution delegation reported success at London’s crunch negotiations. The seven-strong team travelled to the UK in a bid to persuade Britain to shift its stance on critical sticking points ahead of the ushering in of the new constitution. And the talks resulted in modifications on a string of contentious issues including the powers of the Governor and the electoral system. Former Government Minister and chief of the constitution reform commission, Wendal Swann, said while he was still not completely satisfied, he was “pleased”.

DECR campaign to banish casuarina trees sparks backlash

ENVIRONMENTALISTS locked horns with local land owners over a campaign to banish “invasive” casuarina trees from the TCI. A DECR crusade to control the fastgrowing trees – native to Australia and Asia – saw many of them poisoned or hacked down with machetes. Environmentalists blame casuarinas for wiping out indigenous vegetation – including the iconic Caicos Pine – and upsetting the delicate ecosystem. But the campaign angered other Islanders who said they are a local landmark and have been in the Islands for decades.

July Sold – Ports of Call, Comfort Suites

ONE of Provo’s principle shopping and nightlife hubs was set for an extensive revamp after being sold to a Canadian businessman. Developer Dale Papke told the Weekly News both the Ports of Call plaza and adjacent Comfort Suites hotel were in line for “immediate major improvements” after signing on

Hogan to leave top health post

UNDER fire NHIB boss Brian Hogan was to be replaced by a new CEO. Zaneta Adderley-Burton was announced as officially taking over the reins when Mr Hogan departed the post on July 31. Canadian Mr Hogan was the focus of a number of attacks in the media questioning his integrity and professionalism.

How Sheena became Provo’s ‘Biggest Loser’

AN INVITATION to be a bridesmaid at a close friend’s wedding is an opportunity most women cherish. For Sheena Bassett, the thought of wearing a sleeveless dress revealing the arms she loathed instilled dread. But instead of disappointing her pal, it was enough to spur her on to lose an incredible 35 pounds in weight – and

Continued on page 19

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NATIONAL

Year in review transform her figure in time for the big day. Sheena, who turned 26 this month, was named Wrightfully Fit’s Biggest Loser. And as if her fabulous new shape wasn’t achievement enough, it earned her $3,000 cash into the bargain.

In a private letter to Mr Greene – leaked to the Weekly News – the 30-year-old recently qualified attorney expressed “grave concern” for the party’s future. Mr Fulford claimed the PNP had suffered “tremendous damage” due to Mr Greene’s “lack of action and inadequate response to the burning issues of the day”, since taking up the position last August.

Shore Club to create 250 jobs

CONSTRUCTION on the longawaited Shore Club development was set to begin within months, creating 250 jobs and providing the TCI with a crucial economic shot in the arm. The $100m Long Bay scheme was on ice for almost two years amid investigations into how the land was acquired. Developer Stan Hartling told the Weekly News he was “very pleased” that an agreement had been settled with the interim Government, paving the way for the project to move forward.

Islanders head to the polls

FED up of the sluggish pace of reform? Why not take to the streets and ask Islanders to decide for themselves how things should pan out? That’s what one former construction worker decided to do. Howard Hamilton told the Weekly News he was so fed up of feeling helpless under the British regime that he positioned himself – voting board in hand – in a prime location outside Providenciales’ downtown ball park. NIB boss to be replaced NATIONAL Insurance Board chief Trevor Cooke was announced as being removed from the position he had held for a total of 13 years. His replacement was believed to be Canadian Colin Heartwell, a former TCInvest director. NIB had been forced to fend off a wealth of criticisms about the board’s operations, most notably in the wake of the collapse of TCI Bank.

year absence. It may not have been all plain sailing on the night with a number of hitches, ranging from muddled names to tears, a hissy fit and a social faux pas. But the four contestants – all teenagers – came through and represented their individual islands with poise, polish and grace.

Capes to quit TCI Garlick closes in on Misick

THE lackadaisical pace of Helen Garlick’s investigations took a major leap forward with the freezing of all assets owned by former Premier Michael Misick worldwide. The move – under the Proceeds of Crime Ordinance 2007 – showed investigators to be finally closing in on the inner circle of those accused of corruption at its highest level. The restraint order, dated June 23 and leaked to the Weekly News, also revealed the lengthy litany of individuals and firms said to be holding Mr Misick’s assets. They included ex-wife LisaRaye McCoy, brothers Chal and Lofton Misick, nephew and Air Turks & Caicos boss Lyndon Gardiner, former Ministers Floyd Hall and Jeffrey Hall, and associate Carlton Williams.

Caricom renews calls for TCI elections

POLITICAL disquiet in the TCI once again ignited angst from regional leaders at a Caricom summit. Caribbean Government heads even appointed a special body to “closely monitor” the situation in the Islands and keep them informed. The regional organisation, which condemned British intervention from the outset, has long demanded the return of democracy and self-rule.

CIVIL service chief Mark Capes was announced as to quit his post next month to take up Governorship of another British territory. His tenure at the helm of the beleaguered public sector was not without contention – with hugely controversial salary and spending cuts among the challenges characterising his two-year term. Mr Capes was preparing to bid farewell to the Islands in August allowing him two months to prepare for his new appointment as Governor to St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic.

Economy to grow by 4% a year

TCI’s economy was expected to grow by four per cent a year thanks to the upsurge in tourism. That’s around double the growth predicted this year in the US and UK. The multi-million dollar expansion of Provo airport is likely to provide additional fiscal succor, along with plans in the pipeline to resurrect a number of stalled developments.

Corruption was ‘pervasive’ in TCI, says report

TCI institutions were in “danger of collapse” prior to the 2009 British takeover giving public officials a licence to act dishonestly. That was the findings of a major worldwide anti-corruption group which carried out a study into everything from the Islands’ government departments to the police, business community, media and political parties. The ‘national integrity report’ – by non-governmental organisation Transparency International (TI) – was released to the public.

Cops not being fired, says Commissioner Ecstatic Easher is new Miss TCI Greene leadership under attack

PNP leader Clayton Greene again came under fire over his leadership – this time from lifelong party supporter Mark Fulford.

RADIATING confidence and oozing charisma, former PTV reporter Easher Parker looked every bit the beauty queen as she pipped her rivals to the post to be crowned Miss TCI. This month saw a welcome return of the much-loved pageant after a two-

UP TO five police officers, including some senior staff, were to take accrued annual leave imminently – some in excess of one year. But the Commissioner rebuffed claims that the unnamed cops were being dismissed from service. Colin Farquhar told the Weekly News: “I will only say that four to five officers are taking some extended holidays that are due to them.

CONTINUED “I do not want to say who they are and when they will be taking their holidays.”

Ravaged road wreaking havoc

IT’S long plagued residents forced to use it but now pothole-ridden Millennium Highway was said to be having a crippling effect on local businesses too. Drivers who regularly traverse the road – the main artery to arguably the most densely populated area of Provo – are all too familiar with the vast craters which line one long stretch. Recent bad weather made some sections almost impassable with vehicles swerving from side to side to avoid the largest holes. Fed-up business owners who claim it is severely damaging their livelihoods demanded the Government take action.

PNP leader blasts nontransparency

ONGOING ambiguity over a precise date for elections incurred the wrath of PNP leader Clayton Greene. The former Speaker of the House urged Islanders to continue to “agitate” for the return of elected government, in a statement issued. Mr Greene spoke out days after his reticence following London’s constitution talks sparked public anger among some party supporters.

Chalk Sound land owners demand action

LAND owners at the centre of the Chalk Sound debacle took their crusade to be allowed to keep their homes to British Minister Henry Bellingham. Many Islanders who spent life savings on their dream houses had building permits revoked last year after it emerged that the land they occupied fell within national park boundaries. Almost 100 people and firms were granted land in Chalk Sound by the former Government for residential and commercial use – illegal in protected areas. The ousted administration had planned to declassify the park’s boundaries to enable development to take place but this was never done.

Final constitution published

IT TOOK over a year of tough debate – marked by a number of angry protests and fiery scenes – but this month TCI’s new constitution was finally published in its definitive format. The Order in Council outlining the supreme laws of the land was laid before the British Parliament hours before being made publicly available. Governor Gordon Wetherell declared it a “substantive achievement” of the first milestone on the road back to elected rule.

900 acres of Crown land recouped

ALMOST 900 acres of TCI land were returned to the Crown amid civil recovery investigations. Land recouped to date was valued at a seven-figure sum and slated as a vital

step towards stabilising the country’s future. Lawyers said they had made 29 separate recoveries of land and cash since being enlisted in December 2009 to help return pilfered millions to the treasury.

Fresh faces at Integrity Commission

TWO new faces appeared at the helm of the organisation tasked with ensuring virtue and righteousness in public life. The Integrity Commission was finally established last year – after three years of delays – in the wake of the scandal-plagued probe into government corruption. Eminent Nigerian QC Eugene Otuonye was recently named its new director after quitting his positions as advisory council member and chairman of the Public Service Commission. And this week it was announced that long-serving British policeman Simon Baker had taken up the post of investigative officer.

Civil servants blast ‘uncaring’ gov’t

‘UNDERPAID and demotivated’ civil servants launched a red-hot riposte against the “tunnel-visioned” and “uncaring” interim administration they said would bring the public service to its knees. Biting back at ongoing criticism of the ostensibly bloated sector, fedup workers claimed they were being barred from seeing official reports written on various ministries, despite repeated requests. And they said their views from the very helm of operations were being sidelined in favour of the opinions of strangers and foreign ‘experts’.

50-year-old message in bottle found in TCI

A COCA-COLA bottle washed ashore in the TCI made international headlines after it was found to contain a message dating back five decades. The bottle was discovered by Clint Buffington, a 27-year-old frequent visitor to the Islands whose hobby is to collect messages in bottles he finds while beach-combing and tracing the sender.

Power probe

SKY-HIGH electricity costs – which have TCI customers forking out some of the highest rates in the region – finally came under scrutiny. The Government enlisted the help

Continued on page 22

Entertainment

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

Justin pops question to Jessica HE LIKED it so he went and put a ring on it. Justin Timberlake proposed to longtime girlfriend Jessica Biel while in Jackson, Wyo. over the holidays, according to Us Weekly. “Justin knows how much she loves snowboarding and the mountains, so it was the perfect place,” a source told the magazine of the year-end proposal. Insiders said Timberlake, 30, has “never been happier” than he is now with Biel, 29. “He knew it was the right time to propose.” The hot Hollywood couple have been dating since 2007, though they did break up for three months at the beginning of the year. But “when they reunited, they had a conversation about taking the next step,” a source said of their relationship. In June, Timberlake addressed questions about his then-ex Biel by acknowledging her as “the singlehandedly most significant person in my life. “In my 30 years, she is the most special person, O.K.? ...I don’t want to say much more, because I have to protect things that are dear to me —

The 26 year old Prendergast is Bob Marley’s granddaughter

Marley’s granddaughter fined for marijuana possession

Justin Timberlake proposes to long time girlfriend Jessica Biel.

for instance, her.” The pair were first spotted together

at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. (NYDailynews.com)

DONISHA Prendergast, the granddaughter of reggae legend Bob Marley, was on Thursday fined $100 after pleading guilty in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court to possession of a small quantity of marijuana. The 26-year-old Prendergast paid the fine and avoided being sent to jail for 10 days. Prendergast was arrested on November 21 after police officers,

who were doing spot-checks along Water Lane in downtown Kingston, searched her car and found three clear plastic bags containing the ganja. Prendergast had missed her court date on Wednesday and was accompanied to court by her lawyer Diane Jobson. Based on a request by Jobson, the conviction was not recorded against Prendergast’s name. (Jamaica Observer)

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NATIONAL

Year in review of independent consultants to look at the way electricity services in the country are regulated. Experts from European firm Oxera were to visit the Islands to meet with public officials, power providers and consumer groups in Provo and Grand Turk.

August

council taking part in his first meeting this month. The 50-year-old general manager of Le Vele in Grace Bay described the position as a “privilege”. “I will do my best for my beloved country, Turks and Caicos,” he told the Weekly News.

New agriculture chief pledges industry overhaul

FINES for unscrupulous motorists soared – some by as much as 500 per cent – as the Government continued to battle to procure vital revenue. Drivers who speed, don’t wear seatbelts, have heavily tinted windows, or park illegally were among those targeted under the new no-nonsense penalties. Anyone caught exceeding the speed limit by as little as 10mph would now have to cough up a whopping $350 – in place of the former $150.

TCI’S long neglected agricultural sector was in for a major boost thanks to a forthcoming national training centre to educate a new generation of farmers. North Caicos’ listless government farm is to be transformed into a venue to research the best way to grow crops – with the emphasis on organic produce. Aspiring farmers will be given plots of land on the vast 160-acre site for a peppercorn rent. They will then receive training from farm staff on the best techniques on everything from irrigation to fertiliser.

Dengue fever hits TCI

Smith jailed for 30 years

Driving fines soar

THREE cases of dengue fever were confirmed in the TCI following an outbreak in neighbouring Bahamas. Health chiefs warned Islanders to step up mosquito protection measures – and remain extra vigilant to areas where the pests thrive amid the wet weather. The three adults infected were all imported cases – two from the Bahamas and one from St Lucia.

Dump clean-up delayed

CHOKING smog from Provo’s deplorable dump site looked set to continue until next April after the longawaited clean-up scheme was delayed by another eight months. That was despite February’s warning from an international consultant who demanded ongoing fires at the site be halted immediately amid health concerns. Doctors have long maintained that smoke and dust from endless bonfires and indiscriminate shifting of garbage may trigger cancer and respiratory illnesses in people living nearby. The latest postponement due to budget restraints prompted dismay from fed-up residents.

Heartwell named new NIB boss

A FORMER TCInvest chief was confirmed as the new boss of the National Insurance Board. Canadian Colin Heartwell’s appointment prompted some contention from Islanders who thought the prime position should have been given to a native. A government statement announcing the posting – revealed by the Weekly News last month – said all eligible TC Islanders had been free to apply, but that out of 31 candidates, just two were local.

Resort boss joins advisory council

HOTEL boss Clayton Thomas became the newest member of the advisory

OLINT con artist David Smith who fleeced investors out of millions in one of the region’s biggest ever scams was sentenced to 30 years in the US. The TCI Belonger, 42, had been facing life behind bars after pleading guilty in March to 23 fraud and money laundering charges in Florida. His lawyer told the Weekly News his client was finding “comfort through his faith”. Attorney Oliver Smith described the sentence as “high but palatable”.

Small size, big potential

TCI’s overseas image was given a sizable boost after being ranked one of the region’s very best for economic potential and quality of life. Its rating – in a Caribbean-wide survey on behalf of heavyweight British newspaper the Financial Times (FT) – firmly cemented the Islands’ status as a force to be reckoned with. The country may be small in size but it’s huge in potential, says fDi Magazine, an FT subsidiary, which also named it the eighth ‘country of the future’ out of 33 studied. The annual poll scrutinises nations in the Caribbean and Central America with scores awarded by an independent panel of judges.

Bachelor’s degrees available on island

ISLANDERS with a passion for education but deterred by the steep costs of overseas study could now acquire a bachelor’s degree without having to leave the Islands. Degrees in business administration, IT, human resource management, and marketing, were to start in Providenciales next month. The Turks & Caicos Institute of Professional Studies (TCIPS) joined forces with Jamaica’s University College of the Caribbean (UCC) to offer a range of graduate and undergraduate programmes.

Second power probe

TCI’s exorbitant electricity rates once again came under the spotlight with the launch of a Commission of Inquirystyle probe into TCU’s tariffs. The investigation came hot on the heels of a separate inquiry announced last month into the way power services in the Islands are regulated generally. It was the result of a dispute between TCU – which supplies power to Grand Turk and Salt Cay – and the Governor, after TCU applied for permission to increase its tariff by five cents per kilowatt hour (KWH).

CONTINUED as Irene accelerated on north-west.

Security guards at Provo dump

SECURITY guards were keeping a daytime vigil at Provo’s dump site in a bid to curb bonfires which cause choking pollution to linger over nearby homes. Public health staff were also visiting the dump twice daily on the look out for surreptitious ‘fire lighters’ – and to ensure the 17-acre site is properly managed. The measures were interim steps to abate dangerous fumes prior to the onset of the long delayed clean-up scheme, currently on ice until next spring.

September SIPT puts TCI lawyers under the magnifier Governor bids farewell

GOVERNOR Gordon Wetherell bid his final farewells to the TCI after a three-year tenure. Mr Wetherell flew out of Providenciales with new public sector chief Martin Stanley taking over the reins for the next few weeks. The Governor’s successor, Ric Todd, was due to arrive in the Islands in mid-September, at a date to be confirmed.

Late fees for hotels, restaurants, telecoms

TAXES to boost depleted public coffers by penalising hotels, restaurants and telecoms firms for late payments to government were enacted. Amendments to legislation governing the sectors were given the green light by the consultative forum. They had already been approved by the advisory council. The Hotel and Restaurant Taxation (Amendment) Bill will see businesses forced to cough up penalty fees of 20 per cent for late payment of accommodation tax.

Shortage of school places

DISTRAUGHT parents were warned that there was again a shortage of places in public schools for the upcoming year. With the new school year just two weeks away, some were apparently even turned away and told the only option was to pay private fees.

Hurricane Irene – counting the cost

ISLANDERS were counting the cost of the damage left in Hurricane Irene’s wake as the storm continued to barrel on towards the US. With raging winds topping 100mph – and extending outwards by more than 200 miles – Irene packed a punch as it tore through the TCI. But the country was spared the full force of nature’s fury with the winds slowing to category one strength directly over the Islands, before regaining momentum

BRITISH investigators probing corruption widened their net to scrutinise the oft-criticised local legal profession. The move followed the recent ruling in the Emerald Cay case in which two lawyers were accused of helping facilitate a massive stamp duty underpayment. The SIPT team was tasked with inquiring into any other similar evasions aided by TCI law firms.

Fortis TCI bids to hike rates to gov’t and businesses

POWER provider Fortis TCI sought to increase its basic rates to government and commercial customers by more than five per cent. The move came weeks after the firm cut off electricity supply to all public sector outlets amid a debt row – and just four months after threatening that the proposed ‘carbon tax’ would lead to a hike in bills. It also came hot on the heels of a controversial request by its Grand Turk/Salt Cay counterpart TCU to increase its own per kilowatt hour (KWH) rate to all customers by five cents.

Water tax plans shelved

UNDER-fire plans to tax householders on water consumption were shelved following vociferous opposition from the consultative forum. The news was welcomed by many residents already struggling amid soaring gas and electricity prices, plus recent taxation measures which prompted a hike in the cost of living. Finance chiefs had hoped to place a 10 per cent levy on water bills in a bid to boost dismal public finances. But acting Governor Martin Stanley said that he had accepted the forum’s advice not to surge ahead.

Budget gap narrows

PUBLIC finances showed tentative signs of recovery in the first quarterly report released since the new budget. The deficit closed to just over $4m – less than one quarter of the gaping hole present this time last year – although

it’s still $700,000 less than finance chiefs had predicted. Eradicating the gap between revenue and expenditure – and achieving a fiscal surplus by March 2013 – is a crucial milestone on the road back to elected rule.

DECR launches campaign to eradicate oleanders and other harmful vegetation

ISLANDERS were being urged to scrutinise their properties for potentially poisonous plants. The DECR was carrying out research into imported toxic vegetation, often used as ornaments in gardens, hotels, restaurants and schools. A spokesman said many familiar plants are “dangerous” to health and of “serious concern”. The department launched an awareness campaign to alert people to the harmful effects.

‘Most’ scholarship students failing to make the grade

LESS than 20 out of 149 students on overseas scholarships proved they were meeting the required grades to qualify for the cash. That was according to a government spokesman who said the $5m earmarked for them this year was taking vital funds away from needy primary and secondary schools. He told the Weekly News that just 19 scholars had so far provided evidence that they were achieving the mandatory GPA. The remaining 130 had either fallen short of the grade or failed to inform TCIG of their progress.

Hoffman and Wetherell clash over Commission report

FORMER Governor Gordon Wetherell again butted heads with corruptionaccused developers, days after exiting the TCI for good. Mr Wetherell made the decision to publicly release the scandal-plagued, unedited final report of the Commission of Inquiry as he prepared to jet out of the Islands last month. Under-fire developers Mario Hoffman and Cem Kinay fought a costly legal battle in 2009 to have sections of the report alluding to misdeeds on their part shielded from public view.

Go private – or go home

FIFTY Provo youngsters faced being denied an education when school returned unless their parents forked out private fees. Overcrowding in government schools meant dozens of children were refused access to public facilities. For many parents, it meant stumping up precious sparse dollars to ensure their children do not miss out. But for others, sky-high fees of private institutions were simply not an option.

Report sheds light on TCIB fall

GREEDY former TCI Bank bosses

Continued on page 23

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Year in review were finally fingered as withdrawing millions of dollars in the doomed institution’s dying days. The Financial Services Commission’s report into the bank’s demise revealed how an erstwhile board member was among those who used insider knowledge for their own gains. The FSC’s findings were released to the public after acting Governor Martin Stanley declared islanders had a right to know the circumstances prompting the bank’s collapse.

Todd booted from Czechoslovakia in 1980s

NEW Governor Ric Todd was expelled from ‘iron curtain’ Czechoslovakia during a 1980s diplomatic posting. Mr Todd spoke about the heavyhanded move at a press conference. He was kicked out of the then communist, Eastern Europe country in 1989 after a two-year Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) stint in the Czech capital Prague. The 52-year-old told media he was “proud” to have been declared at the time an “enemy” of Czechoslovakia’s extreme left-wing politics.

Governor sworn in

ANTICIPATION, excitement and hope for a brighter future filled the air as islanders turned out to witness the historic swearing in of the new Governor. It will be under Ric Todd’s watch that the weighty task of overseeing the return to elected government is likely to fall. The ceremony may have lacked the expansive crowds of preceding events but the atmosphere of pomp, pageantry, optimism and celebration remained evident. Mr Todd was escorted into Grand Turk’s NJS Francis building by Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar and Deputy Brad Sullivan, both dressed in traditional white uniform.

Todd pledges transparency

TCI is to become the “most transparent” country in the region, new Governor Ric Todd pledged. And that will include demolishing the wall of silence between government departments and the media, enabling better dissemination of information to the public. The 52-year-old made the momentous claim to his team of local advisors and also to press following this week’s swearing-in ceremony.

UK “committed” to 2012 elections

BRITAIN is “committed” to general elections going ahead next year, the new Governor announced. Ric Todd said the UK Government had a “very clear” blueprint for the road back to self-rule – but warned there was much work to do first. “Amateurs talk about strategy, experts talk about logistics,” he told media. “It’s not where you want to go, it’s how you get there.” The 52-year-old said reaching the much-publicised milestones would

require the support and engagement of the entire country.

Healthcare “under pressure”

TCI’s fledgling social healthcare system is under “significant pressure” to survive at current spending levels. So said the country’s new chief financial officer (CFO) who warned the problems could pave the way for an increase in individual contributions or a decrease in cover. The news may well evoke a ‘told you so’ response among the many sceptics who voiced concern prior to the opening of the cutting edge hospitals last year. The facilities are presently funded by monthly salary contributions of five per cent – half paid by the employer and half by the employee.

No end to monopolies

INVESTIGATIONS into electricity services by an independent team were “unlikely” to see an end to the lengthy monopolies given to power providers. However, government was considering a change in law which could pave the way for ‘green’ energy firms to set up operations, the Weekly News revealed. Electricity Commissioner Malike Cummings disclosed that proposals had already been submitted by an interested solar power firm.

TCI/UK relations under scrutiny

HOW should Britain rule the TCI and its other overseas territories? And how can the relationship between the mother country and its 14 protectorates be improved to ensure the problems experienced in TCI are never repeated? Just two of the questions set to be put to the public when consultations begin next month ahead of next year’s white paper. The document – the first of its kind since 1999 – will outline the strategy of the current British coalition government towards its territories.

Spud quits police

TAX havens like TCI and Cayman became a target in recent years as world superpowers started to pile on pressure to lift the veil of fiscal secrecy. Known to most by his nickname ‘Spud’, the top fraud cop from Worcester, England, was the man enlisted to transform the islands’ financial crime unit (FCU) and bolster the country’s reputation as a place of integrity to invest and do business. Spud spoke to the Weekly News on the eve of his 55th birthday as he prepared to depart the unit after almost seven years at its helm.

Crown land milestone hit

WANTON distribution of the country’s precious Crown land – long a hotbed of controversy – looked set to be banished to the history books. TCI took another crucial step towards completion of election milestones with the publication of a new Crown land policy. The 23-page document replaced its 2005 counterpart which paved the

way for lavish dispersal of the islands’ sparse resources at peppercorn prices, depriving subsequent generations of their birthright. The new no-nonsense script restricted future parcels of land to those who have never received one before.

October ‘No Crown land for non-natives’

PDM chiefs hit out at the country’s new Crown land policy saying it paved the way for the islands’ sparse resources to be transferred to non-natives. And they vowed to replace it with their own, alternative policy if successful in next year’s elections. They declared the 23-page document released last month a “step in the right direction” for transparency. But said it was “deficient” in correcting the misuse of proceeds from the wanton distribution of Crown land under the former government.

Fireworks at Beaches

FIERCE disputes at a major Providenciales resort saw nine workers sacked after refusing to sign a new contract they claimed drastically reduced their pay. Spa therapists at Beaches reacted furiously to tough orders from bosses demanding they agree to the revised conditions – or face termination. Workers said the amended deal forced them to work for $5 an hour minimum wage and slashed their commission and tips to peanuts. The explosive situation dragged the award-winning family complex unwittingly into the spotlight once again for apparently unsavory employment conditions.

No power bill hikes for TCU customers

GRAND Turk and Salt Cay residents breathed a sigh of relief after electricity provider TCU’s bid to hike rates was officially thrown out by the Governor. The power firm had hoped to increase its tariff to all customers by five cents per kilowatt hour (KWH). It said the extra revenue was needed to cover costs it incurred due to devastating Hurricane Ike in 2008. But it sparked an outcry across the two islands from consumers who said they already struggled to pay exorbitant rates.

TCI sees large tourism surge

TCI enjoyed an 18 per cent rise in longstay visitors during the first half of this year – compared to 2010 – bucking the trend for the region. The country is one of few in the Caribbean to boast a double digit increase in tourist numbers for the past two years. Extra flights from New York, Boston and Newark were said to be largely responsible for the surge between January 1 and June 30. For the first six months of 2011, the islands welcomed in 222,596 visitors,

CONTINUED compared to 188,493 during the same period last year. Most holidaymakers continued to hail from the US. The TCI attracted an extra 23 per cent American vacationers.

ocean in the Leeward area of the island early on Monday morning. Tributes flooded in from the poker enthusiast and former Iron Man competitors’ many friends.

UK blamed for hospitals’ fiscal woes

End of an era

PNP leader Clayton Greene defended the under-fire social health care system – blaming its fiscal failures on the country’s British stewards. He told a press briefing that the pressures the hospitals faced were due to the interim’s administration’s “inaction, indifference and incompetence”. The attorney spoke out hot on the heels of a flurry of change among the government’s top dogs. Ongoing public sector reform and the newly published Crown land policy also prompted harsh words from the former Speaker of the House.

Hike NHIP – or cut service?

HOW should TCI slash crippling health care costs? By reducing services provided, increasing NHIP contributions – or banning impoverished immigrants from the country? That was the question put to the public. Government hoped to reach a consensus on the best way to cut annual spending on the “unsustainable” social system. Annual health expenditure, since the onset of the new hospitals, topped $60m a year.

Johnston claims reach $30m

CREDITORS’ claims from bust contractors Johnston hit almost a whopping $30m – but liquidators said there was currently less than $370,000 available to settle them. The news dismayed the fallen firm’s dozens of former workers who claimed they were owed $2.7m alone. The largest creditor was British construction company Rotary International for sub-contracted works to the multi-million dollar hospitals. Bosses said Johnston’s demise left them more than $12m out of pocket.

Dump fires ‘may cause killer diseases’

FINDINGS of an independent health expert who scrutinised harmful pollution from Provo’s deplored dump site were finally been released by government. And the report confirmed residents’ worse fears that the dreaded deadly toxins released by endless bonfires may indeed trigger cancer, leukaemia and heart disease. Long-suffering Wheeland and Blue Hills residents have complained for years about choking smog that seeps into hundreds of nearby homes.

‘Sail away my friend’

A MUCH-LOVED Canadian sailor and long-term Provo resident – known for his big smile and generous heart – died in mysterious circumstances. Mark Glusing, 41, was found in the

THEY’VE been a part of the salt islands’ scenery for centuries, as much a part of life as conch and grits. But soon the ubiquitous large animals which have roamed freely since the days of the Bermudian salt rakers could be a thing of the past. Plans to remove most of the creatures from Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos had been in the pipeline for some time. But they were accelerated amid proposals to create a national livestock herd to reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

TCI bounces back

A TWO BILLION dollar luxury development – featuring two hotels, 35 villas and plush condos – was said to be heading for North Caicos. The Greenwich Beach Resort & Spa was the latest in a string of forthcoming projects recently announced, sparking hopes that TCI was on the cusp of a financial comeback. Proposals for a European styleresort in Grace Bay, a new hotel in Grand Turk, and the revival of the long shelved West Caicos project were also causing a stir. And they were all hot on the heels of a healthy surge in tourist numbers.

NHIB chief financial officer resigns

DESIREE James tendered her resignation as chief financial officer at the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) as a “matter of principle”. Ms James said the decision was not made lightly and adding that it was taken “in the best interest of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands”. In a press release she revealed that she hoped her choice would safeguard and protect her “integrity and professional reputation” as a certified public accountant.

Police officer accused of lottery scam

A LOTTERY ticket scam – allegedly at the hands of a police officer – again cast doubt over the integrity of the TCI force. Providenciales officers were probing the matter which involved altering lottery tickets to show a greater winning amount. The forged tickets passed through various establishments in the island.

Hearsay Bill will improve justice – AG

ATTORNEY General Huw Shepheard hit back over controversy surrounding a new law which would allow ‘hearsay’ evidence to be accepted during criminal trials. News of the forthcoming Criminal Justice (Hearsay and Documentary Evidence) Bill – which mirrors UK

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Year in review legislation – sparked anger among local attorneys. Some felt that it was being created purely to facilitate corruption prosecutions. Others decried the fact they were given just a week to read it and submit their comments. However, Mr Shepheard described the bill as a “sensible development” – and said it would in fact aid the administration of justice.

‘March to freedom’

TRAMPLING of democracy, refusal to stage imminent elections, imposition of taxes without consent and the erosion of human rights under the new constitution. Just some of the claims levelled at London by the PNP which this month announced an active bid for independence from Britain. The party pledged to hold a prompt referendum on the issue if successful in next year’s elections, after members backed proposals at a meeting. Leader Clayton Greene vowed in a statement that the “march to freedom” had begun.

Election plans gather pace

DEFINITIVE preparations were finally underway to get the TCI ready for elections slated for next fall. From drafting new corruptionbusting laws to defining 10 constituencies in place of the present 15, the wheels were in motion to facilitate the critical return to self-rule. For many islanders, it spells an imminent end to a ceaseless waiting game for Britain to release its grip on the stricken territory.

Wind, sun not ready

AMID calls for Turks and Caicos to embrace fully wind and sun energy as an alternative to fossil fuels, a leading electricity supplier said that was not likely in the foreseeable future. Mr Eddinton Powell, CEO of Fortis TCI, the territory’s leading power supplier, told members of the Providenciales Rotary Club early September that there was no imminent replacement of diesel as the main fuel for electricity generation mainly because these renewable energy sources are of a ‘non-firm capacity’ and current technology did not allow for efficient storage of electricity generated by those elements.

November New pathway to TCI status

AT A special meeting of the Consultative Forum on November 17, the Ministry of Border Control and Labour launched a public discourse on the way forward for non-Belongers resident in the TCI acquiring status. This public consultation on a fair and transparent process for acquisition of Turks and Caicos Islander standing aimed at the establishment of a clear pathway to TCI status.

Schools make TCI shine

MEMBERS of the Turks and Caicos

Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and students from both private and public schools across Providenciales, came out on Saturday, November 19, 2011 to make TCI ‘shine’. This TCHTA’s annual cleanup campaign attracted the participation of approximately 250 persons, who came out with one objective – to clean up the byways and highways of Providenciales. The initiative, spearheaded by the Association and members of its Ambassador Committee, focused on sensitising Provo’s youth about the negative effects littering has on the environment and how it can adversely damage the country’s tourism industry. Students cleaning the 14 zones were often heard asking their adult counterparts, why there was so much litter along the roads.

Fortis awards staff

FIFTY-SIX Fortis TCI employees were honoured with long service awards at the company’s staff appreciation and recognition dinner. Employees serving five or more years with Fortis TCI were honoured for reaching these milestones, with Japhus Rigby receiving a standing ovation for his 30 years with the company. Representatives from the transmission and distribution department also made a heartfelt tribute to Juancita Ewing, who had been with the company for 28 years, but was currently on sick leave. Head of human resources, Judy Missick, who delivered the opening remarks at the November 9 event, reminded staff that their continued commitment to Fortis TCI, and the execution of their daily tasks, give form and shape to the vision and mission of the company.

Taylor is PDM leader

DEREK Taylor made a dramatic return to the leadership of the People’s Democratic Movement at the party’s 36th convention on November 20. During the election process, Derek Taylor emerged as leader with a vote count of 44 over his predecessor Doug Parnell’s count of 24. Then as the process continued for deputy leader, Doug Parnell was victorious over Samuel Harvey and Clarence Selver who was knocked out in the first round.

Public workers strike

WITH their members continuing to protest against a number of grievances the Civil Service Association issued a nine-point statement Monday, November 28, outlining issues reaching back to 1992. In what became a war of words, government CEO Martin Stanley also sent out a media release expressing his disappointment that civil servants chose to be off the job Monday and Tuesday. But in a letter published online, CSA president Dr Rufus Ewing referred to email communication he sent to

Mr Stanley on Friday, November 25, indicating willingness of the association to meet the CEO Saturday, but in the words of Mr Ewing: “It is unfortunate that you did not see my email”.

December Revised TCI laws in force

THE LATEST revised edition of the Laws of Turks and Caicos came into force on December 1. A government statement indicated that this 2009 revised edition put the collection of laws and their related amendments in one publication, providing for greater ease of reference. Attorney General Huw Shepheard held a handing over ceremony at his Grand Turk chambers on Thursday 24 November, 2011.

Tax hikes no impact now – gov’t

GOVERNMENT said it believed there should be no price increases immediately after December 1 when a number of tax increases came into force. On November 30, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development issued a statement explaining why increased taxes should not have an impact straightaway. TCIG had previously announced a number of measures to increase revenue and reduce the deficit in the 2011/12 fiscal year.

‘Chal’ arrested charged and bailed

THOMAS Chalmers ‘Chal’ Misick was brought before Providenciales Magistrates Court to face bail hearings stemming from a charge of entering into a money-laundering scheme between 2006 and 2009. Presiding Magistrate Clifton Warner placed him on $3m bail with two sureties, curfew, restricted from living elsewhere than agreed to with the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team, banned from travelling abroad, and made to report to the SIPT’s Providenciales offices three times weekly. The trial was adjourned to February 3 2012.

Washy expects no justice for Chal

FORMER TCI Chief Minister, Washington Misick, said he believed criminals should be tried and made to face justice, but did not think his brother or any person charged by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team would get a fair trial. “Given the incestuous nature of the [interim] administration - particularly now that there is no trial by jury – I think it begs the question whether anybody, particularly when charged with a serious offence can get a fair trial. “That is not to cast any aspersions on the judges, but I think it does beg the question now as to whether, particularly anybody in this particular process, will be able to get a fair trial.”

CONTINUED He was at the time speaking to reporters after departing the court house where his brother, Thomas Chalmers ‘Chal’ Misick, who is facing money laundering charges, was placed on $3m bail.

$15m airport boost

A CONSORTIUM of local and overseas investors acquired 45 acres of Crown land on a 99-year lease to plunge $15m into construction of a private jet terminal with a hangar for parking 50 to 60 jets, set to open by the 2012 tourist season. The facility was expected to boost the luxury travel market to the Turks and Caicos Islands, investors and the government stated. In a joint government and investor media release distributed at a press conference, it was stated that the new state-of-the-art FBO would feature generous parking and hangar space for large and small private aircraft, modern lounge and crew facilities, integrated customs and immigration as well as full servicing of private aircraft.

A DECISION could be made sometime during the Christmas holidays on whether anyone will be charged based out of an alleged altercation between Attorney General Huw Shepheard and state prosecutor Leonard Franklyn. Weekly News understood from the Governor’s Office that this was so because at that time, the AG was to be taking vacation and the investigating police would submit a report to Governor Ric Todd, who would in turn invite the Attorney General of another jurisdiction to examine the files and decide whether any charges were to be laid.

Crime peak this Christmas

A STAGGERING 31 crimes were reported to police over six days on Providenciales and Grand Turk alone, police press liaison officer Inspector Calvin Chase revealed. They included 17 burglaries, four attempted burglaries, three robberies, five thefts, one wounding and one of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Police also made a number of arrests in relation to crimes that were committed over the last two weeks.

Corruption costs to hit $33m - Three years for SIPT and civil recovery team

Canon Roach dies

‘Empower us to govern’ - Consultative Forum chair Lillian Misickurges ‘partnership’ with UK.

CI’s team of judges is complete A FORMER chief magistrate will preside over the country’s toughest cases after being sworn in as a Supreme Court judge. Justice Joan Joyner said she was “humbled and overwhelmed” following the ceremony at the Governor’s Office in Waterloo, Grand Turk, on December 9. Governor Ric Todd congratulated and welcomed her in becoming part of the team of TCI judges. The legal expert joined Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough and Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale in the country’s Supreme Court.

THE cost of corruption investigations is likely to hit a massive $33m, the Governor revealed. Both the SIPT and civil recovery teams will be in place for a total of three years – at a price tag of $11m per year. But according to Governor Ric Todd these expenses will be recouped many times over and the government’s coffers will be “significantly” boosted.

UK OFFICIALS must act as partners with the TCI and not “overseers and bankers”if the country is to fully recover from its “financial black hole”. Consultative Forum chair Lillian Misick made her point clear in a passionate speech to forum members in Providenciales. Her well-received end of year address spoke of the government’s “administrative incompetence” as well as a growing feeling of “distrust and alienation” toward them.

TCI records third murder for 2011

TERVILUS Lovely became TCI’s third murder victim for this year after his lifeless body was found by police in thick bushes somewhere off South Dock Road. Reports suggested that Lovely was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Weekly News found out that Lovely had arrived in the TCI by boat sometime in2009 from Haiti in search of a better life.

Overseas AG to see local AG case

FAMILY man the Reverend Canon Neil Eric Roach passed away in the Bahamas aged 79. This week the Anglican diocese of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands expressed their sadness at the loss of a great pastor and educator. Neil Roach was born in Trinidad in 1932 and after studying went to the Bahamas as a Deacon in 1957. He worked all over the islands in parishes on New Providence, Central Andros and Cat Island.

One million visitors to the TCI

THE Turks and Caicos Islands celebrated its one millionth visitor this month - and a week of activities took place across the country to celebrate the milestone. Tourism partners gathered to announce the upcoming special events. Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs said: “This milestone proves that the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to be a preferred destination for many travellers.” The third quarter of this year saw a massive 17 per cent increase in cruise and land based arrivals compared to 2010.

Regional News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

Grenada cops charged in Sir Clifford Darling gets Canadian resident’s death Bahamian State Funeral FIVE POLICE officers accused in the death of a Canadian resident killed in Grenada made a brief court appearance on Tuesday before being remanded into custody. A preliminary inquiry into Oscar Bartholomew’s death has been moved to St. David’s, the jurisdiction where the 39-year-old was allegedly beaten to death, a police official told The Canadian Press. Bartholomew, a Toronto resident who was in the island country visiting family, was allegedly beaten by the officers last week after he hugged a plainclothes policewoman who he mistook for a childhood friend. Until Friday’s inquiry arrives, the officers have been remanded to a prison in Richmond Hill as the court did not have the authority to grant bail. Any bail motions are expected to be brought up on Friday, said police superintendent Dunbar Belfon. The five officers have been charged with manslaughter in the 39-year-old’s death, but Bartholomew’s family is demanding that those charges be upgraded to murder. Bartholomew’s brother Solomon Hypolite reiterated that call on CTV’s Canada AM on Tuesday, stressing the seriousness of the case because it involves “police officers who were trained to protect life.” Earlier this week, a freelance journalist in Grenada said that an independent autopsy found Bartholomew died of trauma to the head and multiple injuries to the body. “It revealed Oscar suffered broken bones, broken ribs, he has a broken hand and other wounds across his body,” Nicole Best told CTV’s Canada AM.

Oscar Bartholomew is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy: Bartholomew family)

Duct tape, she added, was also mentioned in the autopsy but details as to how and why it was used were not disclosed. Similar, but less detailed conclusions were reached in a state autopsy. The seemingly violent death doesn’t sit well with Hypolite, who said he’s struggling to understand why that much force was allegedly used on his brother. “They should know that beating somebody repeatedly in the head will cause some serious injuries, even death,” he said. Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has ordered an investigation into the incident, but the lawyer representing Bartholomew’s family has expressed concern about the ability of police to investigate

themselves. Hypolite has suggested that a third party monitor the probe to ensure its integrity. “I would really like for some independent body to go and observe the situation, observe the proceedings, to make sure that everything is done properly,” he said. Though Bartholomew was not a Canadian citizen, Foreign Affairs officials in Ottawa have said they’re offering his family the same services they’d extend to a citizen because his wife is Canadian. It’s a small mercy in a death that Hypolite still finds incomprehensible. “He would always greet you with warmth and tenderness,” he said. “I’ve never known him to be in any violence, any altercation whatsoever.” (Canadian Press)

Outlook worsens for Caribbean, Latin America NEW reports from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) say the region has demonstrated marked economic gains during the past year, but risks remain significant looking ahead to 2012. Although uncertainty in international markets reduced the rate of the global recovery during 2011, Latin America and the Caribbean averaged a 4.3% economic growth rate. Capital inflows to the region’s largest countries reached a record USD354bn. The head of the Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, summarised the agency’s report, stating: “The region is on the right path. We have stronger economies with solid foreign exchange positions,

low levels of indebtedness and a sound and well-regulated financial sector. We also have democratic governments that are increasingly effective in reducing structural poverty, expanding the coverage of public services and in building infrastructure.” However, ECLAC has warned in its report of the risks facing the region in the coming year, mainly as a result of the European debt crisis, the US fiscal deficit and the possibility of a deceleration in the Chinese economy. Its report states: “Lower growth of the world economy and greater uncertainty and volatility in international financial markets will have repercussions for Latin America and the Caribbean, a region which will register a slight drop in growth to 3.7% in 2012, having reached 4.3% in 2011.” ECLAC has reported that the

countries with the greatest growth this year will be Panama (10.5%), Argentina (9.0%), Ecuador (8.0%), Peru (7.0%) and Chile (6.3%), while El Salvador will only grow by 1.4%, Cuba by 2.5% and Brazil by 2.9%. The ECLAC report also notes that nations now have less room for fiscal manoeuvre than at the onset of the financial crisis, and measures to correct economic slippage will therefore be less powerful should a deterioration in the global economy occur. Looking ahead to 2012, the report recommends that Latin American and Caribbean territories focus on preparing for the possibility of a deterioration in the global economy and prepare flexible fiscal policy packages in the event that the governments are required to step in to protect their economies. (TaxNews.com)

FORMER Governor General Sir Clifford Darling was expected to be laid to rest on Thursday. Sir Clifford, described as one of the major nation builders of the modern Bahamas, died in the Princess Margaret Hospital at 5am on Tuesday, December 27, after battling a long illness. He was sworn in at Government House on January 2, 1992, by Chief Justice Joaquim Gonsalves-Sabola, succeeding Sir Henry Taylor, who retired the previous day. A former taxicab driver, he served as general secretary of The Bahamas Taxicab Union for eight years and as president for ten. In the early 1950s, Sir Clifford bargained with hotels for better treatment for taxi drivers. In 1957, as president, Sir Clifford blockaded and closed the airport. A general strike followed in January, 1958. With Sir Clifford’s help, an agreement among hotels, tour services and taxicab operators was reached. Sir Clifford served as a PLP senator from January 1964 to January 1967. He then served as a Englerston MP from January 1967 to October 1969, when he was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of State. In November 1971, he was named Minister of Labour and National Insurance. He was responsible for the introduction of the National Insurance programme on October 7, 1974. Sir Clifford was elected Speaker of the House in 1977 and knighted

Sir Clifford Darling died on December 27 after battling a long illness.

by the Queen the same year. He was a Stalwart Councilor, the highest honour that can be bestowed on a member of the Progressive Liberal Party. Sir Clifford is survived by his second wife, Lady Ingrid Darling, and seven children, Clifford Darling Jr., Andrea Darling-Thompson, Sharlene Hanna, Theresa McPhee, Rushena Darling, Lakreisha Darling and Charles Darling. (Tribune242. com)

Former Antigua PM named in fraud case POLICE have named three prominent members of the former Antigua and Barbuda government as “persons of interest” in their ongoing investigations into a multi-million dollar Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Company Limited (IHI) fraud case. The police said that the investigations are “progressing at a steady pace notwithstanding the recent break in and theft of sensitive documents” from the High Court building here, “that housed the detectives who are working on the said case”. In the statement, the police said that based on the contents of a report that was done by financial forensic investigator Robert Lindquist, and corroborated by preliminary police enquiries, the “persons of interest” in the case include former prime minister Lester Bird, former junior minister of finance parliamentarian Asot Michael, and former diplomat Sir Ronald Saunders. It said the police are making “a

specific public appeal to Sir Ronald Saunders and requests that he presents himself to the detectives to be interviewed, hence his full co-operation for the duration of this criminal enquiry will be appreciated”. The police statement, which is also posted on the official Antigua and Barbuda government website, said that “all efforts to privately contact Sir Ronald Saunders have proven futile” and urged him to get in contact with law enforcement officials here either by phone or by email “as soon as possible”. Last year, the Baldwin Spencer government quashed a Commission of Enquiry into the IHI matter and Bird has filed a lawsuit against Prime Minister Spencer for alleged defamatory statements made about him during the 2009 election campaign. The Crusader Publications is also party to the suit after it aired the comments. (CMC)

January 7 - 13, 2012

World News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Disturbed ‘Santa’ who killed six relatives, himself calmly mingled at party before opening fire

Umka’s owner has filed suit claiming the dog should be recognized as a living soul and not property.

Judge to decide if dogs have souls Do puppies have souls? That’s what an unusual lawsuit is asking a New York judge to decide. In her civil suit, dog owner Elena Zakharova contends that pets — considered “property” under state law — are much more than that: living creatures that feel love and pain. Zakharova says the upper East Side pet store that sold her a pooch with bum knees and trick hips should be liable for the pup’s pain and suffering, as if it were a person. She also wants compensation for her astronomical vet bills: $4,000 so far, with another $4,000 on the horizon — a total of about $1,000 a pound for the fuzzy year-old Brussels Griffon she named Umka. “Pets must be recognized as living souls, not inanimate property,” said Zakharova’s lawyer, Susan Chana Lask. “Umka feels love and pain like any human being whose pain and suffering would be recognized in a court.” Amid the proliferation of shady puppy mills that churn out “purebred” dogs with congenital heart and joint problems, New York State has a “Puppy Lemon Law” that lets buyers return a sick animal in 14 days. But Lask says it took months for Umka’s problems to surface.

The 2-month-old puppy, Zakharova bought last February for $1,650, didn’t start limping and whimpering until July. Despite extensive and painful surgery, the dog will never walk or run properly. “Umka suffers a disorder causing her pain, her legs hurt, she cries when she is in pain, she drags herself with her front paws, she cannot run like other puppies,” the suit reads. “She should not have been sired by dogs with genetic disorders,” it says. If the judge won’t recognize Umka’s suffering, Lask said she will argue the dog should be subject to the Uniform Commercial Code that gives a buyer four years to return a “defective product.” The store Umka came from, Raising Rover in Carnegie Hill, says it is under new management. “I know nothing about the sale. The prior owner has all the records. We are very careful about where we get our puppies,” said owner Ben Logan, declining to provide any information about the prior owner. The Humane Society said Raising Rover is one of 11 swanky “pet boutiques” revealed by a 2011 undercover investigation to be buying animals from Midwestern puppy mills with horrific records of animal cruelty.

Germany’s President Wulff rejects resignation calls Germany’s President Christian Wulff says he will not resign over his conduct in a home loan scandal. He has come under increasing pressure after it emerged he had threatened a newspaper with legal action if it published details about the controversial loan. In a recorded TV interview, Mr Wulff said the threat was a “serious mistake” for which he was sorry. When asked whether he had considered stepping down, he replied: “No.” Mr Wulff said he had not thought of resigning because he had received considerable support over the past weeks from citizens, friends and colleagues. He then tried to sum up his

failings: “I know that I haven’t done anything legally wrong - but not everything that I have done has been right.” “I gladly took on my [presidential] responsibilities. After my five-year term I want people to be able to make the judgement that I was a good, successful president,” he told two journalists from the national ARD and ZDF networks. Earlier, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Georg Streiter, told a news briefing on Wednesday that she had “enormous respect for the work of the president”. He added that she was confident Mr Wulff would “fully answer all relevant questions”. (BBC)

THE DISTURBED man who donned a Santa suit and killed six relatives and then himself on Christmas Day calmly mingled at the family party for some 20 minutes before opening fire amid a backdrop of holiday gifts. Authorities said Aziz “Bob” Yazdanpanah, 56, who had reportedly been down on his luck in recent months, shot his two teenage children multiple times in the head and also killed his estranged wife with a single shot during his holiday rampage in Grapevine, Texas. He also killed his estranged wife’s sister and the sister’s husband and daughter before turning the gun on himself. Police said Yazdanpanah was an invited guest. He came to the party armed for slaughter, but surprisingly acted in low-key fashion in the minutes before he suddenly started shooting. One of the victims sent a text message around 11:15 a.m. that described Yazdanpanah’s appearance in the Santa costume. “There was nothing in the text

that led us to believe the person was in fear,” Sgt. Robert Eberling of the Grapevine Police Department told the Daily News. “And we’re relatively confident (the shooter) was at the party with three of the relatives when this particular victim arrived with two others.” Yazdanpanah’s estranged wife Fatemeh Rahmati, 55, died of a single gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner said. His daughter, Nona Yazdanpanah, 19, was a recent graduate of Colleyville Heritage High School, and his son, Ali Yazdanpanah, 14, was a freshman in high school, local station NBC 5 reported. The exact motive for the killing spree was not clear, police said, but a bank foreclosed on Yazdanpanah’s house last year, and he and Rahmati reportedly had separated. The wife had moved out with the children to a nearby apartment, where the carnage unfolded, authorities said. Police said they found the apartment door locked from the

inside when they responded to a 911 call at 11:34 a.m. on Christmas morning. They found all of the victims lifeless in the living room. Some had defensive wounds, indicating that they had tried to shield themselves from the hail of bullets, Eberling said. A Smith and Wesson .9-mm pistol, with a 15-round magazine, and a .40-caliber Glock pistol, with a 10-round clip, were recovered at the scene. “Both weapons were used by the shooter, and several victims received gunshot wounds from both weapons,” Eberling told The News. The gunman did not leave a note, he said. The 911 call included two faint cries for help and a lot of heavy breathing, Eberling said. The other victims were Rahmati’s sister, Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, her husband, Mohamad Zarei, 59, and the couple’s daughter, Sahra Zarei, 22, the medical examiner said. (Nydailynews.com)

Teenage girl jumps in front of bus after being bullied A BEAUTIFUL Staten Island teenager threw herself in front of a city bus after a group of mean girls at her high school tormented her for months and an older boy broke her heart, her family said. Amanda Diane Cummings, 15, of Dongan Hills, was carrying a suicide note in her pocket when she was mortally injured by the bus two days after Christmas. “I can’t live without [him]. There’s no life at all,” the lovesick sophomore wrote in the note, according to relatives. She succumbed to her injuries on Monday, but in the hours before and after her suicide attempt,her family and friends frantically texted her cell phone and posted messages on her Facebook wall pleading with her to come home. Devastated relatives said Tuesday that Amanda was a popular girl bullied by a group of female classmates at New Dorp High School since the beginning of the academic year. “No matter what she did, they picked on her,” her cousin Ashley Gilman, 20, told the News. “They made fun of her heels, her hair, her make-up - everything.” Gilman said Amanda recently confided she was dating a 19-yearold boy whom the ringleader of the bullies also had a crush on. The romantic rivalry escalated tensions between the two, Gilman said. The week before Christmas,

Amanda Cummings was dumped and taunted by schoolmates.

Amanda’s bully threatened her, but the young girl did not want to report the incident for fear of being bullied even more, relatives said. “My cousin passed away because she was picked on. My cousin passed away because people are cruel,” Gilman said. “She hid a lot.” Amanda finally opened up to her family about the extent of the bullying on Dec. 26 and showed her mother a barrage of texts between her and her high school nemesis and her and the older boy. The next day, the taunting resumed and the 15-year-old allegedly grew distraught after receiving a message. She left the house, claiming she was going to a friend’s house, and posted “I’ll cry without you” on her Facebook page. The message sent

her mother, Cecile Weber, into a panic. “Everybody was trying to tell her to come home,” another cousin, Brandy Henderson, said. “She was just incredibly emotional ... She was upset and crying.” “She texted her mother, ‘I’m on the way home,’ but half an hour later she never showed up,” Henderson added. In the early hours of Dec. 28, the teenager’s mother received a call that her critically injured daughter was at Staten Island University Hospital. Yet even as the girl fought for her young life, the online taunts continued, her uncle Keith Cummings said. “LMFAO she jumped in front of a bus,” Cummings said someone wrote on her Facebook wall. “Once a ho, always a ho,” another kid wrote, according to Cummings. The posts no longer appear on Amanda’s Facebook page, which is now flooded with heartfelt comments from friends. Cummings said his niece had told family she wanted to kill herself a couple of years ago, but there was no warning this this time. “There was nothing, there was no sign,” he said. “They tormented her ... There has to be justice.” Department of Education officials refused to comment on allegations of bullying at the school and New Dorp High School principal Deirdre DeAngelis did not return calls.

Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate

Classifieds TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FAST SALE

FLOWERGIRL

Is looking for a

Female Driver With own transportation must be able to work from 9am – 3pm

CAT AND FIDDLE BAR is looking for 1

G & G CONSTRUCTION Is looking for 3

contact: 941-3063

6021

To work 6 days per week. Salary negotiable.

Fax: 946-4661

Email: tcnews@tciway.tc

Website: tcweeklynews.com

$300,000 o.n.o.

Contact: 231-3788

K & J SALON is looking for a

POSITION AVAILABLE

Labourers

to work 5 days per week salary $6.00 per hour

contact: 241-9642

6005

DOMESTIC WORKER / BARMAID

946-4664

$650.00 per month Gated Community Furnished

CONTACT: 231-3788

contact 231-3788

January 7 - 13, 2012

STUDIO APARTMENT FOR RENT

1.3 Acres Of Land Ocean Drive, Turtle Tail Semi-Hilltop

Cosmetologist To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.

contact: 247-0658

6018

Is seeking suitably qualified Belongers to fill the position outlined below. Ideal candidate must possess luxury resort experience, a professional, outgoing and friendly demeanor, and a strong command of the English language (oral and written). Salary is based on experience and qualifications.

Director of Finance Responsible for overall management of all accounting, purchasing, HR and MIS functions, including, but not limited to, safeguarding all assets, strategic planning/budgeting, and compliance with internal controls and procedures. To provide functional guidance to the Executive Committee and Departments Heads, interact with the resorts legal counsel, insurance companies and auditors to effectively control the assets of the business and to provide business support.

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for ensuring standard processes are put in place, followed and improved upon in all Departments within the West Bay Club Resort including but not limited to: • Lodging department processes and procedures • Front of the house operations processes and procedures. • Preventative Maintenance processes and procedures. • Food & Beverage processes and procedures. • Development of standard procurement processes and procedures • Process re engineering of the above to promote continuous improvement. • Any other duties as may be assigned by the Managing Director

Requirements

The applicant must have: • At least five (7-10) years experience in Process development within a large organization. • 4 year college degree or equivalent experience in manufacturing, hospital process development or service industry process development. • The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, as well as project a positive, professional image to Management, co-workers, subordinates, members and guests. • Excellent oral and written communication and advanced computer skills required. • Strong background in process development and quality improvement.

The applicant must be: • • • • • •

Requirements:

• Suitable candidates must have a relevant degree plus recognized accounting qualification, ACA/CPA with 15 years post qualification experience • At least 10 years at Finance/Director level • Must possess a strong IT & HR background • Must have extensive knowledge of Visual 1 software

Critical in attention to detail. knowledgeable of CPR, first aid, fire prevention able to understand and speak English fluently able to work under pressure physically fit, dependable and hard working in possession of a clean police record

Only Belongers need to apply for this position. Salary range is $25k to $30K based on documented experience and direct results.

Closing Date: January 5th, 2012

Applications must be addressed to:

Suitably qualified candidates should apply in writing or by phone to the following:

Bridgette Thomas BNC Consulting Group, Ltd website: www.bnccgroup.com email: bthomas@bnccgroup.com phone: 649-332-2565

Quality Assurance Specialist

6023

WBC Management Ltd PO Box 560 Downtown Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

6016

29 FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES RICARDO PARDO

ONE RENTAL AGENT @@Must be Customer Service Oriented @@Must be Computer Literate @@Must be fluent in English @@Must have a valid driver’s license and clean Police Record

WANTED

2 Barbers – salary negotiable

@@Full-time for childcare and house work @@2 young children, one with special medical needs @@Some tutoring required @@Must have own car/ drivers license @@Must be available at short notice for occasional evenings/ nights/ weekends/ public holidays @@Salary $5.50 per hour

Domestic Worker – salary $150.00 per week

Please forward resume to mystique Car Rental & Tours Ltd. Office Airport Road, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Fax: (649) 941-5213 no later than January 6th, 2012

NANNY/ HOUSEKEEPER

Is looking to fill the following positions:

Is seeking to employ

Must be willing to work 6 days per week 6008

Contract: 649-231-7051

HOUSEMAN

TURKS & CAICOS AGGRESSOR II

1 Open Water Scuba Diving Instructors/ Engineer

At the Turks & Caicos Club

Requirements as follow: • Valid PADI/SSI/TDI membership & liability insurance • PADI/SSI Enriched Air Instructor • Minimum of 5 specialty ratings • Working knowledge of underwater camera/videos and edition • Computer literate • STCW95 Complaint • Be prepared to live onboard & work long hours including weekends & holidays • Experienced in the hospitality industry Belongers need only apply Starting salary $400.00 a week 6013

Please send emails to tcaggressor@express.tc or cal 342-3052

Immediate opening for experienced full time houseman. Must have resort experience, be honest, reliable and speak good English. Please fax resume

to 946-5858.

V & M SECURITY SERVICES

6006

BRIGGETT D. JOLLY Is looking for a

Is looking for a

Security

Guard Domestic To work 6 days per week. Salary $5.00 per hour Must have a clean police record. Must have at least 5 years experience.

contact: 341-5029

6011

MYSTIQUE CAR RENTAL & TOURS LTD.

6014

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Worker To work 6 days per week salary $150.00 per week.

contact: 231-8891

6020

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

TCIRFU Is now accepting applications

Development Officer

TCIRFU is seeking a Competent Sports Minded Development Officer for The TCIRFU to assist with a variety of tasks related to the field of Rugby. Successful Incumbent should have 15 years of Rugby experience Qualifications: • Holds a University Degree • Holds a level 1 or 2 Certificate with IRB (International Rugby Board) Job includes:

the national newspaper of the turks and caicos islands

ON THE WEB tcweeklynews.com

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Turks and Caicos Islands’ oldest and WRITERS / leading publishing house is in need of additional staff to fill the following posts:

PHOTO JOURNALISTS

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

REPORTER TRAINEE Preferably a High School graduate or someone with an extremely good command of the English language for court and community reporting. Ability to drive and use a camera a desirable asset. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience. Position available March 1, 2010

ADVERTISING SPACE SALES PERSON Candidates must have had actual hands-on experience selling advertising space for newspapers and magazines. Ability to assist clients with the writing of copy for ads and gathering of collateral an asset. Salary is commission based. Position available October 30, 2011

Forward applications to: The Publisher Duncanson Publications Ltd. P.O. Box 52, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Email: tcnews@tciway.tc NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE Preference will be given to Belongers and Legal Residents Closing date for applications is December 31, 2011

Lead Massage Therapist

Please send resume to: meryl@spatropique.com Please do not apply to this ad unless you meet all of the above requirements. Deadline for applications is January 20th, 2012 6083

Please forward resume in confidence to

Weekly News

FAX: (649) 946-4661

• Applicant must have a minimum of 3 years hands-on experience in a 5-Star resort and at least 3 years working experience as a therapist • Must be trained and certified by an accredited school in ALL of the following: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Prenatal, Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology, Facials, Manicures and Pedicures • Must be certified in all the previous areas • Must be able to work ALL weekends and public holidays • Must be able to work from 8am -8pm • Must have own vehicle and current, clean drivers license • Must have a GREAT customer service skills and be upbeat and positive Salary is based on commission

• Coordinating, Delivering and Promoting Rugby within the different Islands • Offering coaching and supervision when appropriate • Working with Government bodies in relation to clubs and events • Working in partnership with school initiatives such as “active school” to encourage participation in Rugby and organize parental involvement • Maintaining records and produce reports Salary will be $1500.00 per month

Human Resources Manager, TCIRFU Caribbean Place, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI. Fax: (649) 941-3223

January 7 - 13, 2012

6037

SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Equity Ltd., as Trustee, pursuant to the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turk & Caicos Islands, hereby gives notice that it will cause to be sold by public action the following property: Title 60905/157K17, Leeward Going Through, Providenciales A 1700 Sq. ft. 2 bedroom 2 1/2 bathrooms furnished Palmyra Condominium Unit also known as Unit 305 Registered Proprietor: Future Capital Holdings Ltd. The auction will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday , January 10th 2012 at the offices of Twa, Marcelin, Wolf, Chancery Court 1726 Leeward Highway, Providenciales. For further particulars please contact Twa, Marcelin, Wolf at: tmw@tmwlaw.tc – reference Auctions or call 649 946 4261. All sales subject to reserve; ten per cent (10%) deposit required with successful bid 5986

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

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

31 FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

Labourer Wanted Must be willing to

TC Millwork is seeking a

Creative Designer Applicant must have a B.F.A in design or similar field. Individual must have ten years professional experience in interior decorating or design. Knowledge of carpentry, joinery, cabinetmaking, faux finishing, wood types, and marketing skills are essential. Individual should have professional experience with island construction, building codes, importing processes and paperwork, AutoCad, and all PC computer applications. Interested persons please send resume/CV and/or portfolio to:

work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour

Send resumes to info@karammissick.com 6085

TC Millworks, PO Box 238, Providenciales 6056

I N

POSITION AVAILABLE

G R A C E

B A Y

Job Opportunities

The West bay Club is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill the post of:

is looking to fill the following positions:

Managing Director

MAITRE D’ HOTEL • • • • • • • •

Must be able to work weekends, nights and holidays 6 days per week Must have at least 10 years experience Must be able to understand and speak English Must be physically fit, dependable and hardworking Must be able to train waiting staff Must be able to organized restaurant staff and service Must be able to prepare working schedule Must be able to coordinate all service of the restaurant and work with head chef for menu planning • Must have a good knowledge of wine and food paring • Must have a good knowledge of cocktails and drinks Salary based on experience and quality of work

JOB SUMMARY: Manages and is responsible for all facets of day-to-day operations of The West Bay Club including but not limited to: owner and guest relations, food and beverage services, overnight accommodations, amenities, Strata Corporation management, cost and budget analysis, and quality assurance. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Manages and is responsible for all facets of day-to-day operations of The West bay Club including Club Administration, Spa & fitness center, Food & Beverage, Lodging, Grounds Maintenance, Security and Strata Corporation. 2. Manages departmental budgets in cooperation with the department heads to ensure expenses are contained and budgetary goals are met. 3. Responsible for establishing Club goals and objectives; devises strategic planning and implementation procedures to achieve such goals and objectives in both the short-term and long-term. 4. Responsible for Total Quality Assurance (TQA) in all areas of operations. 5. Maintain outstanding owner, guest, and employee relations. Handles situations in an efficient and professional manner, conducting thorough research when warranted, and making swift decisions when necessary. 6. Works in conjunction with Human Resources in the hiring, training, and evaluation of personnel. Recommends disciplinary action and change in status/merit increases as necessary.

SAUCIER • Must be able to work weekends, nights and holidays 6 days per week • Must be able to clean the kitchen after service • Must have at least 8 years experience • Must have a good knowledge of general restaurant cooking • Expert in sautéed seafood, shellfish, meat and poultry • Must have knowledge of butchery • Must have good knowledge of sauces, broths and dressings • Must be an expert in grilling and rotisserie • Must be able to understand and speak English • Must be physically fit, dependable and hardworking Salary based on experience and quality of work

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLITIES: 1. Performs additional related duties as required and assists other departments as requested. 2. Treats all owners, guests, and co-workers in a friendly, respectful manner in accordance with the standards of excellence set forth by The West Bay Club. 3. Understands and follows policies and procedures of the department, the Strata Corporation and the West Bay Club overall. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality/Hotel Management or related field and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) or Doctorate. 2. Minimum of 7 years experience in the management of an upscale Private Club or Resort property. 3. Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, as well as project a positive, professional image to supervising personnel, co-workers, subordinates, the media, representatives from civic organizations, business professionals, Owners, guests, and the general public. 4. Excellent oral and written communication skills and advanced computer skills required. 5. Strong management, financial acumen and supervisory skills. 6. General knowledge of all amenities offered at The West bay Club. 7. Must possess a valid driver’s license.

PASTRY AND BAKERY CHEF • Must be able to work weekends, nights and holidays 6 days per week • Must be able to clean the kitchen after service • Must have at least 10 years experience • Must have a good knowledge of bread and bakery goods in general • Must have a good knowledge of plated dessert and cake • Must have a good knowledge of birthday cake, homemade ice cream and sorbet • Must be able to understand and speak English • Must be physically fit, dependable and hardworking Salary based on experience and quality of work

Only Belongers need Apply Salary range is 90K to 110K Closing Date for Applications is January 5th 2012 Applications must be submitted in written form, addressed to:

WBC Management Ltd PO Box 560. Downtown Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

6071

All Resumes Cv’s Letters Of Reference Along With A Clean Police Record Must Be Delivered To Caicos Café Grace Bay

6022

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

Housekeeping Attendant

• Suitable candidates must have a minimum of 2 years experience working at a 5 Star Resort in a similar role • Must have a strong attention to details and exceptional ability to maintain the highest standards of quality required • Assist in all Housekeeping responsibilities, cleaning of guest rooms, stocking amenities and linens • Must have the ability to lift at least 50lbs Perform any other tasks or projects as directed by Housekeeping Manager

Closing Date: January 20th, 2012

6057

FOR SALE Blackberry torch 9800, Charcoal ED.

SLIGHTLY US

EXCELLENT CONDITION @@Blackberry OS v6 @@Touchscreen Qwerty Slider @@5 mega-pixel camera @@Media Player/ Video Player

Box includes charger, USB cable, polishing cloth, hard shell case and privacy screen

Price: $525 ONO Call 346-7082

DALE TAYLOR Is looking for a

Domestic

Helper

Cosmetologist

Labourer

Contact: 231-8891

contact: 243-1018

contact: 231-0905

To work 5 days per week 9am-5pm salary $6.00 per hour Belongers need only apply.

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

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

FOR SALE

Floor Crystallizing Specialist

Requirements: • Must have at least 5 years experience as a Marble Floors Crystallize Specialist. • Must have at least 5 years significant experience for handling heavy scrubbing / crystallizing machines. • Wide knowledge of floor crystallizes chemicals. Suitably qualified candidates should apply in writing or by phone to the following: Bridgette Thomas BNC Consulting Group, Ltd website: www.bnccgroup.com email: bthomas@bnccgroup.com phone: 649-332-2565

Is looking for a

6012

DANIEL WILLIAMS

Is looking for a

6079

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

BRIGGETT JOLLY

6020

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

January 7 - 13, 2012

Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788 DANNY BUOY’S PUB & RESTAURANT Business Development Customer Service Supervisor Trainer

• Superior communication skills • Highly competent in leadership and organizational skills • Ability to work under pressure • Ability to work weekends, holidays, and late night until 5am if necessary • Primary responsibility development & implementation of marketing and promotional programs • Supervising and training service staff • Manage social media website • 5 years experience in Hospitality Industry • Must provide references • Bachelor Degree in Marketing and/or Commerce preferred Salary commensurate with experience

Assistant Bar Manager Trainer

• 5 years experience as Bartender/ Trainer/ Supervisor • Proficient in all cocktail and blended drink recipes • Experience as Senior Bartender • Experience as Supervisor of staff • Experience in inventory and stock related duties • Ability to work until 5am • References required Pay commensurate with experience

Drop off resume at Danny Buoys, Grace Bay

6027

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

Plumber

Is looking for 5

Labourers 6025

Contact 245 8046 A construction manager is needed * certified engineer * at least 10 proven years of experience as a project manager * quality control and quality assurance proven record * security and security systems proven experience

To work 40 hours per week. Salary $6.00 per hour. Contact: 941-7051

6029

To work 6 days per week. Salary based on experience

LA LUNA CONSTRUCTION

Is looking for a

Mason

FARMER

Must have excellent knowledge of growing fruits, vegetables and cultivation to work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour

To work 30 hours per week salary $7.00 per hour.

Interested Belongers can submit CV to Human Resources, P.O. Box 529, Providenciales by December 23rd, 2011

Wanted

Domestic

Worker

Applicant must be hard working, honest and reliable. Experience preferable. Please send applications to Savory & Co., Town Centre Building, Providenciales, 946-4602”

6039

Cyril Whitfield Forbes Jr. Is looking for a

6032

DA CONCH SHACK

Labourer Kitchen

Helper

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

Contact: 946-8877

6043

• to keep house while off island • General cleaning • Must be trustworthy and reliable Salary $6.00 per hour Closing date: January 17th, 2012

6025

QUALITY SUPERMARKET Providenciales Telephone: 941-7929

contact: 231-1133

The Security Center Ltd. Is currently looking for a

Security Chief

POSITION:

LABOURER/

PAINTER Salary Starts at $5.00 per hour. Only Turks & Caicos Islander need to apply

6031

Applicant must meet the following requirements: • Previously or currently hold Canadian or US Top Security Clearance • Certified TSA Clearance Inspector for Chartered flights • Manage a private security force of over 200 officers • French and English • Worked for at least 5 years for a police department in US or Canada • Belongers only need apply.

Interested parties please contact: (649) 431-4071

6034

Associate Attorney

Is looking for a

6072

6042

6036

Salary $5.00 per hour

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

Contact: 241-0777

Contact: 941-5291

Part-time position must be able to work on call and/ or weekends Salary $5.00 per hour

Labourer

contact: 946-5759

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

LABOURER

Is looking for a

Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $7.00 per hour.

Domestic Worker

In order to comply with Labour commission, we are looking for a Belonger to fill the following positions:

SALOMON SHOP

Steel Man

Is looking for a

DOMESTIC WORKER Must be able to work 6 days per week including evenings

fax: 649 1988 phone: 649 1083

Contact: 346-4624

KQC

ALBERT’S CLEANING SERVICES

Is looking for a

On behalf of our clients: Stan Forbes / SRF Construction is looking for a

FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

Ace Plumbing

C & S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

6028

January 7 - 13, 2012

Local firm seeks an Associate Attorney with at least 5 years pqe with extensive experience in conveying, commercial, residential development work, also corporate and commercial law. Experience in new condominium sales, re-sales, residential and commercial property and advantage. Applicant must be an excellent communicator, willing to work long hours including weekends and holidays. Subject to experience, salary commencing at US$55K. Please submit applications to The Manager, P.O. Box 97, Caribbean Place, Providenciales, Fax: 649-946-4564, with a copy to Department of Labour, Providenciales 6052

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

January 7 - 13, 2012

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

Butterfield Motors Ltd.

Vacancies General Manager with Responsibility for Sales & Marketing

Job Description: -

Plan, direct and coordinate the operations of the company. Formulate policies and procedures; manage daily operations, inventory, materials and human resources. Overall responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, any functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, managing inventory and ordering vehicles for sale; general administrative services and overseeing after-sales. Have direct responsibility and accountability for Sales & Marketing. Individual shall combine both strategy and sale elements for a dynamic leadership role that implements revenue generating plans with coordinated sales efforts. This also includes responsibilities with product development, pricing strategy and product distribution; analyze sales figures and forecast projected numbers to implement effective Marketing Strategy Development; establish pricing strategies and maintain client relationships. Qualifications & Experience: - Must have a relevant first degree from a recognized institution, appropriate training and or certification, and a minimum of five years work experience in similar capacity with a General Motors’ dealership.

Asst. Manager with Responsibility for Service

Job Description: -

To assist the General Manager in creating a continuous improving environment, teamwork, and a dedication to execute correct measures for the overall growth and development of the business. Direct and supervise the employee-training program of the Service Department for all existing and new team members. Assist GM in all related tasks to the Service Department, such as, but not limited to recruiting, developing and executing a business plan for the department. Utilize skills in order to meet costs and sales budgets with a view to achieving stand-alone productivity. Interact with employees and assist customers in response to their concerns, questions, or complaints. Have direct responsibility and accountability for the Service Department. Responsible for designing and building a Service and Sales Department that is consistent with General Motors’ International standards and capability. Qualifications & Experience: - Must have a relevant first degree from a recognized institution, appropriate training and or certification, and a minimum of five years work experience with thorough knowledge of the engines and mechanics of General Motors’ vehicles.

Asst. Manager with Responsibility for Parts

FAX: (649) 946-4661

BUTTERFIELD GOLD GROUP OF COMPANIES

POSITIONS AVAILABLE Island Pride Supermarket

Two (2) Butchers

Individual must have a minimum of 14 years experience in high volume self service meat department with a full knowledge of all cuts of beef, pork, veal, lamb, poultry and deli meats. Must also be self motivated with high productivity being able to work with little supervision and must work well with others. Be willing to supervise and train others; also be able to take inventory and assist with ordering levels Wages: Commensurate with experience starting from $7.50 per hour

One (1) Supervisor Duties includes • Assist in supervision of inventory received • Verification of quality, condition • Set up and maintain product rotation • Assist in computer data entry • Inventory related matters • Assist in Supervision of staff within department @@ Job involves substantial manual labour related work. @@ Individual must posse’s minimum of 5 (five) CXC subjects or equivalent, have at least 8 (eight) previous years experience in quality control and be able to work with little supervision. @@ Salary: commensurate with experience starting from $2,000.00 per month

Danny’s Restaurant

One (1) Cook @@ @@ @@ @@

Individual must have a minimum of 10 years experience as a cook The applicant must be able to cook native and Jamaican dishes. Must be willing to work long hours including Saturdays Wages: commensurate with experience starting from $7.00 per hour

One (1) Waitress • All aspects of waitressing • Wages: commensurate with experience starting from $7.00 per hour

Job Description: -

To assist the General Manager in creating a continuous improving environment, teamwork, and a dedication to execute correct measures for the overall growth and development of the business. Direct and supervise the employee-training program of the Parts Department for all existing and new team members. Assist the GM in all related tasks to the Parts Department, such as, but not limited to recruiting, developing and executing a business plan for the department. Utilize skills in order to meet costs and sales budgets with a view to achieving stand-alone productivity. Interact with employees and assist customers in response to their concerns, questions, or complaints. Have direct responsibility and accountability for the Parts Department. Responsible for designing and building a Parts and Sales Department that is consistent with General Motors’ International standards and capability. Qualifications & Experience: - Must have a relevant first degree from a recognized institution, appropriate training and or certification, and a minimum of five years work experience, with thorough knowledge of parts and after-market accessories of General Motors vehicles.

Master Technician

Job Description:-

Ability to inspect, maintain, and repair automobiles that run on electricity, gasoline, or alternative fuels. Execute basic care maintenance and diagnose complex problems, including but not limited to transmissions. Lead and supervise the service team.

Island Pride Fuel

One (1) Domestic Worker For general cleaning & other domestic duties Requirements for all Applicants: • Hardworking team player with excellent people skills. • Willingness to work, weekends and holidays as required. • In addition to the performance of the essential functions employees may able required to perform supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the supervisor. Only Belongers apply for these positions. Application forms available from Butterfield Gold Human Resource Department. Only applicants selected for interview will be notified. Submit applications to by January 5, 2012 to:

Qualifications & Experience: -

Degree in automotive service technology or related field from an accredited institution or graduate of approved and recognized certified automotive service technology program and certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) or equivalent. Must be able to operate electronic diagnostic equipment and have a minimum of three years experience in a similar capacity preferably working on General Motors’ vehicles.

6068

Butterfield Gold Ltd., Human Resource Department Town Center Mall, Providenciales Tel: 649-946-4211

6049

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

Stable hand Wanted

Real Estate Sales Associate

• Must have minimum of 10 years experience working with all aspects of keeping, riding and training horses. • Must have current drivers license • Must be a people person/ have excellent communication skills and understanding of customer service. • Must have some computer skills • Must not weigh over 160lbs • Must speak fluent English, second language is an asset • Willing to work flexible hours and holidays, Monday through Saturday, approx. 45 hrs per week • Pay is $300. per week

Please submit resume to provoponies@ yahoo.com or call 649-241-6350

Paralegal 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 and security work a minimum of 10 years experience in a fast paced professional environment is required all replies held in strictest confidence. Apply to: Skippings Rutley P.O. Box 796, Providenciales

6082

Ward Consultancy Acting on behalf of our clients: Gausan Ltd., Horse Eye Jack, R & C Equipment Rental

Sales Clerk

REAL ESTATE TURKS & CAICOS

– salary $5.00 per hour

Labourer – salary $6.00 per hour

6050

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

Bartender – salary $6.00 per hour Shift hours

6054

Blue Horizons Real Estate Ltd dba Coldwell Banker Real Estate Turks & Caicos is looking for an experienced and professional Sales Associate. Expertise in residential, commercial, condominium, land, fractional ownership sales, plus marketing and advertising experience is required. Applicants must have completed a recognized real estate course, have strong verbal and presentation skills as well as be computer literate in all Microsoft programs including Publisher and Power Point. Own vehicle, laptop computer, cell phone plus camera are required for this position. Remuneration by commission only. This position will be open until January 12, 2012. Interested parties please forward a resume, including references and a hand written cover letter, to Ms. Louise Peterson, General Manager, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Turks & Caicos, PO Box 775, Providenciales, TCI, BWI or email at louisepeterson@coldwellbankertci.com.

Contact: 332-5533 6038

DELIVERY AREA TECHNICIAN

Send resumes into info@karammissick.com

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

6003

Paralegal 5837

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and copies of qualifications to:

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

Attorney A local law firm is seeking as English qualified Attorney with ability to practice in the Turks and Caicos. Must possess a Bachelor of Laws Degree, be fluent in French and hold 12 years experience in fields including but not limited to corporate, commercial, banking and internet law. Must possess the ability to initiate, thoroughly advise, prepare and close corporate, commercial and banking transactions. Must also have experience with drafting legislation. Previous extensive experience within the Caribbean required. Salary commensurate with experience.

Reporting to the Service Delivery Manager in the Service Delivery Department the successful candidate must be willing to work in a field based role installing, repairing and maintaining new and existing telephone lines. Good fault finding and computer skills are essential as you will be expected to maintain accurate service records at all times. You will be working at various customer sites throughout the island, so a suitable attitude and image are important. Your job will require you to drive company vehicles therefore you must possess a valid driver’s license. You will be expected to carry out all work with the utmost attention to health and safety. The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, they will be self motivated results oriented and able to communicate effectively both verbally and written. Understanding of basic telephony and electricity the ability to operate equipment for testing and repairing of telecommunication circuits will be an assets. The successful candidate will have a minimum of five years high school education and have GCE or CXC equivalent passes in English and mathematics. Negotiable salary and benefits based on qualification and experience.

The vice president of human resources Cable & wireless (w.I. ) Limited P.O. Box 78, providenciales, turks & caicos islands Deadline for applicants is december 12th, 2011 Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

Wanted suitablyv qualified person to act as paralegal to property/commercial partner at busy law firm in Providenciales. Must have minimum of 10 years experience, excellent communication/English skills, word processing/computer file management skills required and be available to work overtime hours and weekends as and when required. The applicant must also possess excellent communication/English skills. Applications in writing to:

The Managing Partner. P.O. Box 260, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI

6007

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

January 7 - 13, 2012 FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES The Turtle Cove Inn Hotel

Gardener/ handyman @@Required 1 to 2 days weekly. Wages $42 per day. @@The Successful applicant must have good knowledge of plant care and general property maintenance. @@For an interview or appointment phone Sandy Lightbourne at 231-1092 Mon to Fri between hrs of 10am and 5pm. Resumes and references required @@Applications would be considered from Belongers only and must be received by 16TH January, 2012.

6067

Is looking for a

General Security Forces is looking for a

Heather Greene

HAIR IMPRESSION BEAUTY SALON

Is seeking to employ 1

is looking for a

Gardener to keep the hotel grounds clean must be able to work weekends and holidays salary $5.00 per hour only Belongers need apply.

Contact: Sandra MacLeod @ 946-42036030

Security Guard Salon Helper Must have at least 4

Labourer

Send Cv’s to: generalsecurityforces@express.tc

Please call 232-4043

years experience. Must have the necessary skills and training.

6040

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

contact: 245-1239

6066

POSITION AVAILABLE 11th FEBRUARY, 2012

to work 6 days per week Salary $6.00 per hour. For more Information..

6053

Bryant’s Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Is seeking employment:

1 A/c Installer and 3 A/c Technicians/Mechanic

Must have Knowledge of Mitsubishi A/c equipment (VRF systems, City Multi systems) & Air cool & water cool chiller systems. Capable of repairing other major brands of equipment. Able to fabricate metal and air duct

1 Maintenance Helper

Able to do general repairs (Masonry, plumbing, painting, and electrical wiring etc.

2 Laborers & 1 Sales Clerk

Must be able to understand, speak & write English. Able to work with little or no supervision.

Applicants must have a minimum of five years experience. Must be able to understand, speak & write English. All Applicants Must have a valid driver’s license. Salary based on experience. 6075

VACANCIES The Gansevoort Turks & Caicos a Wymara Resort is actively looking to fill the following positions:

Executive Assistant to the General Manager

The applicant must be able to perform the tasks given by the GM, briefs and updates him daily; Well organized, articulate, confident and friendly, take initiative and be a problem solver;

JOB OPPORTUNITIES The Somerset on Grace Bay is seeking a suitable qualified Belongers who possess the requirements listed are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates should possess luxury resort experience, be professional in attitude and demeanor and must read and speak English fluently.

GARDENER

Responsibilities: • Complete ground work as directed by the Property Manager which may include picking up trash, sweeping curb and dumpster areas and maintaining landscaping beds and other ground areas • Must have the ability to lift heavy items weighing up to 150lbs • Must have the ability to maintain irrigation systems and provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, and other grounds features

COMMON AREA ATTENDANT

Responsibilities: • Clean and maintain guest public areas within the hotel • Follow procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power equipment, in order to prevent damage to floors and fixtures • Maintain an inventory of cleaning and toiletry supplies • Polish furnitures, metal work, and chrome using appropriate cleaning and polishing compounds GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: @@ Must be a team player with a desire to deliver excellent customer service to our guest @@ Must have clear English communications skills (written or oral) @@ Previous experience in this area would be an asset @@ Salary for this position will commensurate with qualifications and experience Qualified Belonger candidates are requested to submit a CV by e-mail to:

Aleisa Musgrove Strata Operations Manager The Somerset Resort on Grace Bay amusgrove@thesomerset.com

Submissions for this job position should be received no later than January 31, 2012

Applicant must have experience in administrative support; project management & report development. Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office; excellent communication skills; must have the ability to multitask and remain calm under pressure. A degree in hospitality Management will be an asset.

Corporate Hotel Manager

The Applicant must have at least 3 to 5 years experience in New York City as a Department Head in a Luxury 5 Star Resort. The hotel manager must be responsible to the General manager on Property and the Corporate Office of Gansevoort Resort in New York. The Corporate Hotel manager must be responsible for: • Upholding the Corporate Brand standards and policies and that they are being followed and plans are being implemented; • ensuring security is effective; • carrying out inspections of property and services • day-to-day management of the hotel and its staff. Planning, organizing and directing all hotel services, including front-of-house (reception, concierge and housekeeping. dealing with guest complaints and comments; • addressing problems and troubleshooting; The applicant must be able to speak a second language French, Spanish or Portuguese. Applicant must also be familiar with the Opera, Ovos and Concierge Assist operating systems.

Spa Manager

The Applicant must possess a degree in Business Management and have no less than 4 years experience in various recordkeeping, conducting promotional campaigns, maintaining stock inventories and payroll management. Applicant must be responsible for hiring, training and supervision of staff. Create weekly work schedules, train new employees and arrange staff workshops on new techniques and procedures.

All Resumes must be sent to HR@Wymara.com 6070

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

My Dees Restaurant

HORSE EYE JACK’S (Blue Hills)

Salon Assistant to work $5.00 per hour must be willing to work 6 days per week (holidays and weekends included)

JOB FAIR Tuesday January 10th 9am to 1pm

MIRACLE HAIR SALON

KERVEN TAYLOR NORTH CAICOS

Male High School Graduate who is interested in making

Kitchen

contact: 245-1239

ANTWANN MISSICK

is looking for a

Is looking for a

Is seeking a

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

6074

Madisondrake@aol.com

Bryant’s Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

Is looking for a

Helper

Chefs, Bar Staff, Servers, Hosts Must Speak English and Understand English

6071

Contact: 941-5526

FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

6065

Seeking one

Is looking for a

Air Conditioning their future Career Field Please fax or email resume to Fax: 946-4283 Email: bac@tciway.tc Suitable applicants will be contacted 6073 Philippe Vixamar Is looking for a

ROBERT’S AGENCY Is looking to fill the following positions:

LABOURER

contact: 247-6724

Labourer To work 6 days per week. Salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 341-1373

3 Labourers 3 Domestic Workers 3 Gardeners 2 Cashiers

Contact: 241-2043

Turks & Caicos Islands National Insurance Board Public Notice Amnesty Announced Along with Reduction in Surcharge Rates His Excellency Ric Todd, in his capacity as Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board (NIB), has announced today, December 22, 2012 that there will be a two month amnesty period on NIB surcharges, commencing January 2, 2012 and ending February 29, 2012. During this amnesty period persons can bring their National Insurance contributions up to date without incurring any surcharges. The NIB will waive a person’s liability to pay any additional charges due in respect of late payment of contributions if:(a) the person provides satisfactory evidence to the NIB that all outstanding contributions payable under the National Insurance Ordinance (NIO) have been paid as at the date of commencement of this Ordinance; or (b) the person pays all outstanding contributions payable under the National Insurance Ordinance prior to the end of the amnesty period on February 29, 2012. For the purpose of this exercise, a “person” means contributors to the NIB; including employers and selfemployed persons. Additional charges payable as a consequence of a court

order shall not be waived.

The amnesty period stands to benefit many parties.

Governor Todd noted that the amnesty will benefit both Government and Business and provide much needed financial relief to many struggling institutions. Once the amnesty period is concluded, the penalties will be reintroduced for late payment.

It is expected to increase the NIB’s contribution income in 2011/2012, while significantly reducing the level of delinquency. An improved compliance level also stands to reduce the benefit processing time; with more insured persons’ contributions being updated.

“The National Insurance Board is pleased to offer this relief to TCI businesses in this time of economic challenge, both here at home and abroad. We encourage all of our contributors in arrears to make use of this one and only opportunity to bring their accounts current without financial penalty,” said Colin Heartwell, CEO of the NIB.

The surcharges currently contribute only about 3% of the total NIB annual revenues in 2011/2012 so the immediate financial impact in the NIF will not be significant. The NIB will be foregoing $11.8 million in potential revenue from Government and possibly up to $4 million in potential revenue from the private sector. This amnesty will benefit TCIG as it reduces the country’s deficit by a third and it helps business as it removes the immediate financial burden of surcharges.

In addition to the announcement of the Amnesty on Surcharges, legislative amendments have been passed to reduce the surcharge rate on contribution arrears. Contribution arrears will accrue at an initial 10% of contributions for the first month, and will subsequently incur a 3% penalty for each month or part thereof of delay. The 3% rate is a 7% reduction in the rate of 10% charged since 1993 and is in line with actuarial advice. “High penalty rates were severely impacting on businesses, noted Mr. Heartwell and these reduced penalty rates will maintain an incentive for persons to keep accounts current without driving firms into bankruptcy.”

The surcharges are intended to encourage firms to make their contributions on time rather than help drive them into bankruptcy. In this current poor economic climate, many of the public and private contributors with outstanding surcharges are in severe financial difficulty. This initiative will assist them in their economic recovery and bring new additional contribution revenues in the future. The surcharge level of 10% was deemed to be too high for some time and this move will reduce the burden to employers while still encouraging NIB payments. 6055

6063

Email info@ misickstanbrok.tc or fax: 649-946-4734

To work 2 day per week salary $5.00 per hour.

6046

Contact: 241-2907 or 242-3983 6045

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

Labourer 6077

contact: 247-4068

6064

To work 4 days per week salary $40.00 per day.

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

NEEDED 6069

Farmer

Cosmetologist

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664

January 7 - 13, 2012 FAX: (649) 946-4661

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

VACANCIES

Captain Michael Clarke insisted team success was more important than individual landmarks after his record-breaking 329 not out helped Australia strengthen their grip on the second Test against India on Thursday. Clarke’s career-best knock was the highest in the Sydney Cricket Ground’s history, with the hosts eventually declaring on 659 for the loss of four

Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala have vacancies for the following positions:

HOTEL PROJECTS MANAGER We are looking for a highly self motivated professional with a keen interest in project development within the hospitality Industry. The successful candidate must be able to develop and manage special projects supervised by the Director of Caicos Holdings. Previous experience and a proven track record as a Project Manager within a well established Luxurious Five Star Resort is a plus. The successful candidate will be responsible for the following: • Plan and effectively execute all projects designated by the Director of the resort. • Making sure that all projects are successfully completed within a reasonable timeframe base on strict deadlines. • Organized and take a leading role to ensure that all projects are personally monitored on a daily basis. • Control and close all projects in line with the resort and planning department standards. • Conduct feasibility studies when necessary to ensure that only the most viable projects are undertaken. • Must competently calculate cost, time and staffing necessary for each project. • Must be able to work within the limits of a tight Budget, while ensuring that all cost effective methods are in place to achieve the goals of the organization. • Communicate to the director on the progress of all projects on a daily basis. • Must be capable of working alone with limited supervision. • Maintain a positive and professional work attitude towards all employees and Guest. • Look after the up keeping and maintenance of all special projects. The candidate must demonstrate care and respect for guest, fellow colleagues and the resort as a whole. Qualification and Experience: The successful candidate must have: • Previous experience as a Project Manager. • Strong leadership abilities. • At least a Master Degree in Projects Management. • Excellent time Management and problem solving skills. • Strong project development capabilities and a minimum of 10 years project development experience within a luxurious resort. • Ability to function effectively in a multi cultural environment. • Excellent communication, organizational and decision making skills. • Excellent Computer skills. • The ability to maximize output while cutting material cost on a daily basis. Must live on property and be willing to work long hours including Public Holidays and weekends

PRIVATE ESTATE MANAGER The successful candidate will be a hard working, reliable individual with excellent communication and operations skills. We are looking for a highly motivated individual who enjoys working with people from various nationalities in a challenging but rewarding work environment. Duties performed in the role would include, but are not limited to: • Work closely with the Sales and Special Projects Manager in order to combine work on the houses with maximum rental sales. • Regular communication with the Home Owners and the

Sales and Special Project Manager to ensure all parties are informed of any work being done or issues within the homes which could affect sales. • Keep account of all expenditure related to the upkeep of the home including staffing and services, working within a budget to combined benefit of the homeowner and the resort • Ensure all daily operations in the homes are completed to the satisfaction of the General Manager. Liaise closely with the Chief Engineer, Landscaping Manager and Executive Housekeeper to ensure all work is completed as efficiently as possible. • Undertake daily inspections of all private residences in the Parrot Cay rental pool and complete daily, weekly and monthly checklists for each property. • Maximize liaison with home owners when they are both on and off island. Whilst on island prioritize your time to ensure you are available for them at all times • Handle all special demands and needs during the festive period and assist with all needs of the guests.

wickets. He was five runs short of the second-highest total by an Australian, held by Don Bradman and Mark Taylor, and in sight of Brian Lara’s world record of 400. “I’m stoked that I’ve managed to make 300-odd runs but the most important thing for me is that we win the Test,” the 30-year-old told Cricket Australia’s official

OCEAN CLUB RESORTS

The success candidate must possess the following skills: • Diplomacy, discretion and understanding of high profile guests and homeowners • Knowledge of project management practices, principles, techniques and tools • Capability in basic home maintenance • Ability to work independently • Pro-activity to identify potential issues before the arise • Basic accounting skills and ability to fully comprehend legal documentation • Fluent in English (Written & spoken)

IS LOOKING FOR QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF:

GARDENER Must be physically capable of hard manual outdoor labour. Previous experience preferred. All applicants must be able to present a clean Police Record if offered a position. Wage commensurate with experience. Individuals must be willing to work holidays and weekends on a flexible schedule dictated by business demands. Ability to speak English is essential.

Applicants must have at least five year experience at a managerial level, salary ranges from $55,000 to $60,000 per annum.

Please drop off resumes at the Ocean Club Front Desk to the attention of the Human Resource Manager, or via email to diane@oceanclubresorts.tc Preference will be given to experienced and qualified 6081 Belongers. Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

Managerial Positions: Hotel Information and Technology Manager Assistant Financial Controller Financial Controller Recreation Manager Resort Nurse Executive Chef Job Requirement: Candidates interested in the above positions will be required to work long hours, live on property and are expected to work during the night, weekends and Public Holidays.

WALLEYE CORP. LTD. Is accepting applications for a

Restaurant Supervisor

Other AVAILABLE POSITIONS: Chef de Partie Line Chef Accountant Wood Carver Food & Beverage Server Resort Butler Sous Chef Turndown Attendant

The successful applicant must possess the following skills and experience: • At least 5 years experience in the restaurant and service industry • Ability to manage and hire staff • Experience in scheduling, ordering, POS Systems, inventory, menu planning, banking and event organization • Food safe certificate or equivalent • Be able to work all shifts and be on call for efficient supervision of the restaurant

Salaries for these positions will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates.

Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address:

Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: joel.richards@parrotcay.como.bz

Triple century scorer Clarke says team victory most important

6048

References, Immigration Status, and resumes are required to apply Please contact: 441-3466 for an appointment or interview Salary commensurate with experience

6047

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

PHONE: (649) 946-4664 website at the end of day three. “That was a big part of the reason for my declaration ... I didn’t think about it (the records) at all. It was about getting the team to a number, a total. “I didn’t expect to score 300 runs in one innings. All the other records ... well, I’m happy where I sit.” Clarke is the sixth Australian to hit a triple century, with Matthew Hayden’s 380 the leading score. The middle-order batsman was ably assisted by veteran Michael Hussey as the 36-year-old reached 150 not out on a day when Australia lost no wickets. (CNN)

EMPLOYMENT / SERVICES / NOTICES

The Sands is now accepting applications/résumé for the following positions. Only highly self-driven & motivated, personable and professional individuals, who have the desire to serve others, need apply: Australia captain Michael Clarke’s unbeaten knock of 329 was the 12th highest in Test cricket history.

@@ Relevant academic education mandatory (business/economics/etc.) @@ Experience as an auditor @@ Knowledge and experience in GSI systems - Mandatory @@ Impeccable references and police clearance

send cv to fax 649 946 1899 6084

BAY BISTRO

Seeking

Is looking for a

NIGHT HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR Responsibilities: • Ensures maximum efficiency in the performance of Housekeeping attendants in guest rooms and surrounding areas • Familiarizes him / herself with and carries out the policies and procedures of the Sands at Grace Bay. • Offers all possible assistance to guests, initiates corrective action on complaints regarding guest room service. • Evaluates and periodically updates the Executive Housekeeper about the performance of Housekeeping attendants. Recommends appropriate action such as disciplining and commendation. Requirements: • High school diploma • Must have previous supervisory experience and oversee a minimum of 10 employees • Must work weekends and holidays • Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language (English) used in the workplace. • Must be able to read and write to facilitate the communication process. • Requires good communication skills, both verbal and written. • Must possess basic computational ability (word, excel, outlook and Mathematics)

NIGHT ROOM ATTENDANT

babysitter/ Kitchen house keeper Helper FROOTS

contact: 232-1205

6073

cleaner/ kitchen helper MACKEY’S TIRE Is looking for a

To work 7 days salary $5.50 per hour. Must be able to work nights and days shifts. Must have kitchen experience.

contact: 231-2355

6014

Myrtle Mills

VADEN DELROY WILLIAMS Is looking for a

labourer

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 241-7692

6078

FAX: (649) 946-4661

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Experienced Merchandisers needed

Andre Mills

Labourer

Salary must commensurate with qualifications. Resumes can be faxed to 941-3425 or to the Labour Department, Providenciales as soon as possible 6044

Responsibilities • Carries out the following routine assignments: • Cleans occupied and vacant rooms on a nightly basis and according to the established policy and standards. • Maintains the cleanliness and orderliness of housekeeping storage closets according to the established procedures. • Conducts routine inspection of all assigned rooms for any discrepancy in the status report and immediately coordinate to Housekeeping department for appropriate action. • Requires to do turn down service at night according to the operations policy. • Attends to guest requests as needed. Requirements • Must have previous hotel housekeeping experience • Preferred skilled cleaner. Individual who likes to clean • Regular/Full Time position Only • Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language (English) used in the workplace. • Must work weekends and holidays

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

maintenance related jobs. • Account for time spent on individual works and actively seek further tasks when assigned tasks are completed. • To advise the Engineering Administrator when parts or supplies need to be reordered. • Perform weekly and monthly physical counts of all inventory stock and tooling and requirements. • Other duties as deemed necessary by the Engineering Administrator Requirements • Must meet minimum professional qualification/ certification in Plumbing/Electrical/ Mechanical and A/C related trades • Must have minimum of two years hands-on experience working on minor electrical, painting, plumbing and A/C • Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language (English) used in the workplace. • Must work weekends and holidays

POOL & BEACH ATTENDANT Responsibilities • Greet all guests and assist with towels, umbrellas, questions, and/or water sports equipment. • Complete setting up and breaking down of all guest lounge areas as designated by management and to ensure that all pool chairs and tables are in a clean and orderly fashion. • Constant walk-through of pool area and beach area to make certain it is clean (no trash on the grounds) and tidy. Inspect entire pool area replacing any missing items and/or repairing (when possible) any items needing attention. (I.E. Umbrellas, Hobie Cat, Chairs, etc.) • Pool & Hot Tub Cleaning (I.E. vacuuming, filtering, scrubbing, sifting, chemical testing, checking skimmers, etc.) Requirements • A secondary diploma is an asset • Experience as a Pool & Beach Attendant is preferred • Must be able to work long hours in all weather conditions • Must be able to be CPR certified, First Aid certified, and AED certified • Must be a good swimmer and perform rescue when needed • Must be able to operate rescue boat • Must be experienced in sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing and operator all equipment • Must be able to clean and chlorinate pool • Must handle pool chemicals and equipment maintenance and functions • Life Guard experience a plus • Must speak, read, write and understand the primary language(s) (English) used in the workplace. • Must work weekends and holidays

Responsibilities • To skillfully and professionally perform all scheduled

Turks Island citizens only need to apply in person to Tiersa Smith, Human Resources Manager at The Sands Resort located on Grace Bay Road, Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Labour Department, or e-mail: humanresource@thesandstc.com. Applications must be in by January 6, 2012.

6060

Sports International

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

Care dropped by England Champions Manchester United thumped at Newcastle for Six Nations campaign MANCHESTER United’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title suffered a setback on Wednesday as the English champions slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle. Superb strikes from Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye plus a late Phil Jones own goal earned the home side a deserved victory and condemned United to a second successive loss following Saturday’s shock 3-2 home defeat by bottom club Blackburn. The result, United’s first away reverse this season, left Alex Ferguson’s second-placed team three points behind rivals Manchester City, with Tottenham in third another three points behind with a game in hand. Early season pace-setters Newcastle came into the match on the back of a poor recent run of just one win in eight matches, a sequence which had seen Alan Pardew’s side slump to seventh in the table. But they were always the dominant side against a disjointed United, and it was no surprise when the hosts took a 33rd-minute lead when top scorer Ba superbly swiveled on the edge of the area before smashing home his 15th goal of the season. Newcastle doubled the lead early in the second half with another spectacular goal, as Cabaye curled home a delightful long-range freekick that hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the goal-line of keeper Anders

Yohan Cabaye scores Newcastle’s second goal with a superb free-kick that went in off the underside of crossbar.

Lindegaard -- who was recalled in place of David De Gea. United’s miserable night was complete in the final minute when a long ball from Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul was turned into his own net by England defender Jones. Newcastle remained in seventh place, though now just a point behind Liverpool. In Wednesday’s other English Premier League match, Bolton moved off the bottom after recovering from a goal behind to win 2-1 at Everton. The home side took a 63rd-minute lead in freak circumstances when Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard’s long clearance flew over his opposite number Adam Bogdan and into the net.

However, former Liverpool striker David Ngog leveled for the visitors just four minutes later before captain Gary Cahill -- who has been linked with a move to Chelsea during the transfer window -- smashed home the winner with 12 minutes remaining. In Spain, Barcelona put one foot into the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey with a 4-0 victory at home to Osasuna in the first leg of their last16 tie. Cesc Fabregas netted twice in the first half and Lionel Messi came off the substitutes’ bench to add another couple after the break to give Pep Guardiola’s side a healthy advantage ahead of next week’s return match. (CNN)

Kolo & Yaya Toure will miss Manchester City FA Cup tie IVORY Coast coach Francois Zahoui has rejected Manchester City’s request to play Yaya and Kolo Toure in Sunday’s Manchester derby in the FA Cup. “Clubs know the rules,” Zahoui told BBC Africa. “I’m expecting them [the Toures] for the Fifa deadline.” Under Fifa rules, players can be called up two weeks before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations on 21 January. City had hoped the Toure brothers would be able to play against United before joining the Ivory Coast training camp. But Zahoui insists they report for a meeting in Paris on Saturday before flying out with the rest of the squad to Abu Dhabi for a two-week training camp. “The national team in Ivory Coast is led by people who are well educated and I was surprised that people in England think that we don’t know the Fifa rules about dates,” Zahoui added.

Toure has been a pivotal player since joining City from Barcelona in 2010.

“Here, when we call up the players, they are obliged to turn up at the date indicated by Fifa. So when we call them up we know that the clubs need to let them go.” Zahoui said he had travelled to England to discuss the matter with Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who will lose Gervinho to the Ivory Coast. Gervinho has made 24

appearances for the Gunners this season since signing for £10.5m from Lille. Zahoui warned managers not to turn the situation into a “stand-off” between club and country. He added: “I said to the managers, ‘Be careful because there’s a great expectation here and we need our cohesion. We have our 10 days together and we need a team spirit at our training camp’. (BBC)

ENGLAND have dropped Danny Care from their forthcoming Six Nations campaign after he was charged with drink-driving following an incident in the early hours of New Year’s Day. “I made a bad decision and need to take the punishment,” said the scrum-half, 25, who has won 32 England caps. Three weeks ago he was reprimanded by England coach Stuart Lancaster after an arrest for being drunk and disorderly. And Lancaster described the latest incident as “completely unacceptable”. The interim England boss confirmed he had met Care and informed the player that he would not be considered for the Six Nations. “When we feel he can be trusted to behave appropriately on and off the field then he will be reconsidered for selection,” added Lancaster. Care, who is is due to appear in court on 16 January, missed last year’s World Cup because of a toe injury. He scored a try for Harlequins in

Care made his England debut in 2008 but missed the World Cup through injury.

their 11-9 victory against Exeter on 31 December, but was arrested in the early hours of the following morning and found to have approximately twice the legal amount of alcohol in his system. The scrum-half added: “I have decided not to contest the charge as I want to bring this to a close swiftly rather than have it hanging over my head for a year or more. (BBC)

American tennis star Serena Williams collapses in pain during her third-round match on Wednesday.

Injured Serena Williams pulls out of Brisbane event FORMER world number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Brisbane International tournament in Australia after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday’s third-round victory over Bojana Jovanovski. However, the American hopes it will not stop her from competing at this month’s Australian Open, an event that the 13-time grand slam champion has won five times -- a record in the post-1968 Open era. The world No. 12 sustained the injury while serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set of her clash with Jovanovski at the Pat Rafter Arena. The Serbian broke to keep the contest alive, but fourth seed Williams responded to earn a 6-2 6-4 win before the results of a scan forced her to exit the Queensland event.

“I’m disappointed to have to pull out of the Brisbane International,” the 30-year-old Williams told the tournament’s official website. “I have been to hospital and it has been confirmed that I have a left ankle sprain that I probably shouldn’t play on. I’m going to take a couple of days off, not too many, and see how I feel. I’m still hopeful of playing the Australian Open.” Williams was playing in her first event since losing to Samantha Stosur in the final of the U.S. Open in September, when she was fined $2,000 for verbally abusing the match umpire. The Michigan native has been plagued by injury in recent years, having twice undergone foot surgery after stepping on a piece of glass in July 2010 and then suffering blood clots on both lungs.

January 7 - 13, 2012

Sports National

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup:

Blatter appoints Bien-Aime to Organising Committee THE Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association’s General Secretary, Sonia Bien-Aime, has been appointed to the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup by FIFA’s President Joseph Sepp Blatter. This news follows on the heels of her most recent appointment to the Caribbean Football Union’s Finance Task Force in December 2011, where she was charged with the preparation of advice that would allow for continuity of the Union, in addition to a more optimum means of functioning. The Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup would be responsible for organising the tournament in compliance with the provisions of the regulations applicable to the competition, the List of Requirements and the Organising Association Agreement. FIRST FEMALE Mrs. Bien-Aime said: “I am extremely honoured and humbled to have been selected to serve on

the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. An appointment of this magnitude to serve on the world stage of football is incredible for me, the TCIFA and the Turks and Caicos Islands as a country. This is indeed a great opportunity for me; not only am I coming from one of the smaller countries of FIFA’s members, but also being the first female from any Caribbean Football Association to serve on a FIFA Standing Committee.” “This is indeed validation and recognition for my work and tireless contribution to the TCIFA and development of football in the Turks and Caicos. For this, I am truly grateful. It will be my privilege to serve with a distinguished panel that endeavours to make an incredible impact on women’s football. For me, there is no doubt that this appointment serves as a great start to the New Year and has sparked new energy within me, and an even greater love and appreciation for football: the world’s greatest sport.”

Manchester United supporters: Charlie and Santa.

Santa just got cooler

Hello fans. Hope you had a great Christmas. There’s no kids soccer in TCI over the holidays so me and my soccer mates are all taking a well earned break. And just look who popped into the Ashcroft School over Christmas! Old Nick himself! And you know what? Daddy Christmas told me that he too is a Manchester United supporter. Wow! Amazing! That’s why he

always wears red and white. He told me his reindeer all have United nicknames. There’s Rooney up front leading the charge. Berbatov a bit further back because he needs someone to pull him along. Vidic solid in the middle holding all the reindeer together and Nani at the back who keeps tripping over every time he gets near a box! Let’s get ready for 2012.

Other members appointed to the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup include: Chairman - David Chung, Oceania Football Confederation President, Deputy Chairman – Senes Erzik, UEFA 1st Vice President and Honorary President Turkish FA, Bangladesh’s Mahfuza Akther. Members are Mozambique’s Palmira Francisco, former USA national team player, April Heinrichs, Coach for South Africa’s Senior Women’s National Team, Fran Hilton-Smith, New Zealand’s Shelley McMeeken, Italy’s Marina Sbardella, Colombia’s Celina Sierra, Germany’s head of women’s soccer, Heike Ullrich, China PR, Xue Li. Advisors to the committee are former Japanese football player, Kozo Tashima and Canada’s IOC Member, Walter Sieber.

Sonia Bien-Aime is on top of the world with the appointment.

Josh for Sports

Cyclist Lance Armstrong: A giant among us LANCE Armstrong is a person who some would describe as a mega man. He epitomises the drive and mindset of a fighter. He has beaten incredible odds and he considers each day an opportunity for excellence. Armstrong literally travelled a journey which took him through the abyss/precipice of death. He was diagnosed as having testicular cancer, which had spread to his lungs and brain. Armstrong made a stunning recovery that culminated with him winning the “Tour de France” in 1999. Armstrong lives in Austin, Texas. He made winning the “Tour de France” his annual goal, he also oversees “the Lance Armstrong Foundation,” a non profit organisation that assists cancer patients around the world managing and surviving the disease. In 2003 Armstrong tied the record by winning his fifth “Tour de France”. Armstrong exemplified the indomitable spirit of survival and went on the win the event seven times. WHAT IS THE “TOUR DE FRANCE”? The “Tour de France” is a cycle race around France which covers 2,270 miles; much of the course includes mountainous terrains. Armstrong, in one of his many victories, completed this tour in a time of 92 hours, 33 minutes and eight seconds.

By Joshua Gardiner

ARMSTRONG’S PHILOSOPHY As a result of the numerous life lessons learned through his undulating paths, Lance views his cycling career as a confirmation and continuation of what he has done in surviving cancer. He pleasantly discovered through his tour victories, that no two experiences are alike. Each was like a fingerprint—fine and distinct. He suffered more when he won his second “Tour de France” and experienced more physically taxing moments. He claimed that he could tell that from the thinness of his neck and the way his ribs and shoulder blades popped out of his shirt. He said the suffering made it more gratifying. Armstrong thinks that suffering is essential to a good life and as inextricable from such a life as bliss. He thinks that it’s a great enhancer. It may last a minute or a month, but eventually it subsides and when it does, something else takes place, and

Lance Armstrong right after winning his seventh “Tour de France” title.

maybe that thing is a greater space for happiness. He says that each time he encounters suffering, he believe that he grew, and further defined his capacities—not just his physical ones, but his interior ones as well (for contentment, friendship or any other human experience). The real reward for pain is selfknowledge. If he quits, however, it would have lasted forever, that surrender, even the smallest act of giving up would have stayed with him for the duration. When you feel like quitting, think of Armstrong’s words. LESSON LEARNED Quitters never win. And there is nothing wrong with falling down. The only wrong thing is not trying to get back up after a fall.

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012

Marco Fenelus was ranked among the USA’s top 22 junior college players.

Fenelus makes AllAmerican second team FORMER Men’s Football League player Marco Fenelus has been selected to the All-American second team for junior colleges, after an outstanding season for the Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. The All American team is an honorary selection of outstanding

players after the college football season. The junior player was instrumental in his school winning their division after he scored a hat-trick and made an assist in their 6-0 victory over the Rangers. The former Turks and Caicos Islands AFC Academy player scored 25 goals and made 12

assists to nab the MVP award for the division. In the junior colleges nationwide he finished as the sixth best scorer. Fenelus, who is on a football scholarship, passed all his classes last semester with A grades. He is majoring in Business.

Delano Williams is looking to lower his 100M PB to 10.40s.

Williams pumped up for season’s opener

Handfield says team chemistry won championships KIVARNO Handfield can unlace his school boots a proud young man. His performance at the recently concluded High Schools’ Basketball Championships earned the Marjorie Basden Knights the winner’s trophy for the 11th time and himself the MVP award. The 18-year-old, who played his last tournament for his school, feels that team chemistry propelled the side to victory. “We trained twice every morning and night to build

strong team chemistry since a lack of it caused us the championship at the last tournament. I felt more comfortable at this championship. My confidence was at a high rate simply because the taste of defeat my team faced last time motivate us to upgrade our game to another level!” Handfield, who is also one of TCI’s best young high jumper (PB 2.5M), said his jumping ability was key. “My high jumping ability was the X factor which no team had an answer to. After the hard work I must say I deserve a scholarship to take

Kivarno Handfield played four years for his school, but this last one was the most memorable.

my talents worldwide!” The youngster scored 35 points, 11 boards, five steals, four blocks

and two assists in his team’s 87-79 point victory against Maranatha Blizzards in the final of the event.

TCI’s CARIFTA gold medallist Delano Williams will start his track season for Munro College this weekend at the JC Invitational Track and Field Meet in Kingston, Jamaica. The best 200M U-20 sprinter in the Caribbean said he is “charged up” for the race which will see him running the 100M—an event he clocked his personal best hand time (10.39s) in last year at the same meet. Williams’s best electronic time stands at 10.51s, but the sixth former wants to drop that time down to 10.40s this season. There is no 200M race this Saturday so the youngster would only run one event. Williams will use the race to run himself into shape, before exploding later in the season. “I am feeling good going into the season’s opener. I have been training hard, so it should be a good race.” Commonwealth Youth Games long jump bronze medallist Ifeanyi Otuonye will also be competing at the Meet (long jump and 100M).

January 7 - 13, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

January 7 - 13, 2012