TCWN July 13-19, 2013

Weekly News Volume 27 | No. 27| July 13 - 19, 2013

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Turks and Caicos

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caricom report released:

Opposing

views noted THE REPORT of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) presented at Heads of Government meeting last week, has now been made public and it highlights opposing views on hot button issues in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

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First Young Enterprise challenge ends in success Efforts to encourage entrepreneurship among the country’s youths through the first Young Enterprise initiative came to an end on Saturday (July 6) with H.J. Robinson’s FroCo capturing the Minister’s award for top business PAGE 

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Takeover by Canada an option of very few, Ewing PAGE 

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Beaches claims overpayment of room tax to Gov’t PAGE 

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Wilkie Arthur and Roxanne Lockhart jailed for robbery PAGE 

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Opposing views in CARICOM report – Strong recommendations come out of fact finding mission

BY VANESSA NARINE THE REPORT of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) presented at Heads of Government meeting last week, has now been made public and it highlights opposing views on hot button issues in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

From June 24 to 26 a CARICOM ministerial fact finding mission led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas, the Hon. Frederick Mitchell, comprising the Minister of Foreign Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, the Designated Special Envoy to CARICOM, the President of Haiti, Noel Peterson, and supported by Ambassador Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign Policy and Community Relations, CARICOM Secretariat, visited the TCI. At the 24th inter-sessional meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti this February, CARICOM leaders received a report from Premier Rufus Ewing on the political and economic situation in the TCI. The response of the British Secretary of State, the Hon. William Hague, to the Premier's expressions of concern had indicated that there was a difference in their respective views of the situation.

CARICOM heads issued a statement, which noted that though the elections of November 2012 had led to the restoration of representative government, the overall state of political affairs remained less than desirable in the Islands.

The mission held meetings in both Grand Turk and Providenciales with a cross section of stakeholders, including Governor Ric Todd, to provide an overview of the British perspectives on the situation in the territory.

STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS The report makes several recommendations, including holding a referendum on the acceptance of British rule under the present constitution.

The mission recommends that a Truth and Justice Commission type exercise along the lines of the South African post apartheid experience be considered as an alternative to the current SIPT and prosecutions, given the long time that it is taking to conclude the matters and the feeling expressed that the justice is costing too much money and has the society on pause.

The British were urged to give some public explanation of their position on the culpability or nonculpability of the last Governor for

events that led to the Commission of Inquiry in view of his oversight responsibility.

Also recommended was an investigation by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons with specific reference to the consistent descriptions of a "climate of fear".

The report said: “Indeed, a recurrent theme was that justice could be purchased, that there were no local people or regional people on the SIPT which gave the impression that it was designed to treat all people of TCI as crooks and target only Islanders.

“That committee might also investigate a common thread and view espoused at all levels of the society that the British have used the imposition of direct rule and the subsequent new constitutional arrangements to provide jobs for British nationals in key areas of the Government and economy of the TCI to the exclusion of the Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“Another common narrative that bears examination is that the justice being administered by the SIPT has cost the people of TCI some $46m with no end in sight; that only Islanders are facing criminal charges and jail time while non-Islanders have been able to purchase justice.”

CARICOM was also called on to

Takeover by Canada an option of very few, Ewing THE QUESTION of Canada annexing with the Turks and Caicos Islands was resurrected last week when Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, visited the country.

However Ewing maintained that annexation is the opinion just one Member of Parliament (MP), Peter Goldring, and a handful of interest groups, not that of the Canadian or TCI Government.

The Conservative MP’s views on the TCI one day becoming Canada’s eleventh province were widely publicised after the Premier’s visit.

Goldring has been focused on this issue since the early 2000s and has been doing his part to make it happen.

In 2003, he told CBC News Online that annexation is a wonderful idea and expounded on a motion

he drafted to ask the Canadian Government to look into the issue.

During that interview, he said: “I think around 100 per cent of people (in Canada, and Turks and Caicos) like the idea.

“I have been talking with a number of members of the (Turks and Caicos) Government and I have indications from a couple of them that this is an issue they want to pursue.”

In recent reports, Goldring maintained that annexation could be mutually beneficial for several reasons: Canada can provide good healthcare, economic ties, defence, and a steady flow of winter-weary snowbirds, among others.

At a press conference on Thursday (July 11), Ewing told the media that the TCI is looking to collaborate

with Canada, namely to advance closer economic ties.

However, he reiterated that annexation is not the view of either government.

Ewing explained that Canada enjoyed a positive trade balance with the TCI, since the TCI imports more from the Canada than is exported.

He added that a number of commercial entities operating locally have Canadian ties, including banks, the power company and the Island’s two major hospitals.

According to him, closer collaboration is focused on securing more scholarships, agricultural expertise to improve the sector, technical expertise and training for locals in different areas. (VANESSA NARINE)

further engage its Associate Member and encourage and support their participation in the organs of the community.

As to the question of independence, the report said: “While independence is a matter ultimately for the TCI, self-determination is a democratic norm and aspiration for every territory.

“The administrative power has a responsibility to provide the means for full self- determination.”

Constitutional review was also recommended.

“Britain must in the TCI extend the same standards of democracy that obtain in the United Kingdom with communities able to govern themselves fully according to democratic norms,” the report said.

TODD’S VIEW The team found that: The overall, the situation was progressing well and had improved; The British intervention having brought the territory back from the brink and economic collapse, the economy was on the upturn despite nine per cent unemployment and heading in the right direction. The British Government had provided a guarantee for a loan of $260m to the Government of the TCI (TCIG) and had put in place mechanisms to ensure fiscal discipline; There was no disconnect between the TCIG and the British Government and statements to that effect were political posturing as there were no disagreements or tensions in private.

On the contrary, the country was working in close partnership with Britain to which it was integrated and working seamlessly in partnership;

The Governor proffered that his own meetings or chance encounters with local people were civil and that there was no hint of discontent or hostility. In his view the Government had full responsibility for ministering to all the day to day needs of the ordinary TCI citizens- education, health, etc.

As concerns the judiciary, there was no bias or lack of transparency in its operations. Trial by jury had been abolished because of the limited pool of eligible jurors (11,000). In addition, this approach was not unprecedented as there were international precedents for trial without jury.

With regard to the current constitutional arrangements, there was no appetite for further change on the British side. The territory would have to abide with the present dispositions. If independence was desired by the people of the TCI, the British Government would not stand in their way.

DIFFERENT VIEW However, the mission’s meeting with the Premier and Members of his Cabinet shed a different light on the general situation and the current constitutional arrangements, underlining once again that there was a clear disconnect between the British and TCI narratives and perspectives.

The report said: “The Premier indicated that his statement to the conference was not posturing and that he stood by its contents.

“The view that the Governor was viewed as enjoying absolute continued 

Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Narine - News/features Editor Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Daisy Handfield - Staff Reporter Cord Garrido-Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large) Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams - Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@yahoo.com, tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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

Pros and cons

INVESTMENT Unit Director and chair of the Financial Services Coordinating Committee, Rebecca Astwood, on Wednesday (July 3), advised the Financial Services Commission (FSC) that the Financial Services Coordinating Committee has been disbanded.

The FSC’s managing director, Kevin Higgins, expressed his displeasure at the decision.

Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, Washington Misick, explained that the decision was a part of a wider effort to revamp the Islands’ financial services sector.

He maintained that the FSC is the sector’s regulator and reports to the Governor, both stipulations being clearly set out in the 2011 Constitution.

What are your thoughts?

FSC failed before

Committee raises a number of value for money questions.

It is a matter of focus and focusing on the wrong thing.

Stick to your role

Why was it necessary to market financial services when it is clear that the Governor's Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British government all want to close our financial services sector down.

Our understanding of the FSC is as Minister Washington Misick has said, a regulator that failed to regulate Misick's TCI Bank, thanks to Sandy Lightbourne.

In my view the FSC should stick to what its mandate is and regulate the sector’s activities and allow the Government to move forward with developing new products, as well as promoting and marketing the sector.

Value for money questions

The fallout from the closure of the Marketing

Brits’ intent

High school bully

As managing director of the Financial Services Commission we have a high school bully in the form of Kevin Higgins who is going around, bossing private sector trust companies around, playing childish games and just being

ridiculous.

It is quite obvious that the FSC and Higgins are looking for something to do, but not much of anything else after that.

Money better spent

This committee represented time and money that we as taxpayers pay and now they want to close it down?

Why not allocate those funds to the Tourist Board or to a scholarship.

All the FSC has been doing is making the TCI uncompetitive in terms of the cost and means of doing business here.

They are reaching into matters that they have little knowledge about.

The public expects them to regulate financial services and that's it.

Micro-managers

The committee is trying to micro-manage insurers, company managers, banks, trust companies etc.

Higgin's FSC has become a joke and a right hand maiden in helping Governor Todd shut the sector down.

Growth is retarded.

What was done?

What new products has the FSC launched in a long time and since Higgins was there.

Do we have new insurance laws, new banking laws, new patent laws, new copyright laws, new credit union laws, bank insurance laws?

Have they developed a policy to protect loans by way of insurance?

Do they really know what they are doing?

Governor should not have oversight

It is better they hand oversight of the FSC to a minister who has ideas, resolve and initiative.

A minister would liaise with those who know and implement new ideas and products.

All they have been doing at the FSC is wasting public funds, artificially increasing the cost of doing business, making the TCI an uncompetitive place to do business and destroying what's left of our financial sector.

How much money was spent on this committee, did it function, why was it established, what kind of marketing could it have done and why the waste of time?

Shift FSC to Finance Minister

The Ministers of the Government need to exert more influence over the FSC and the portfolio should be handed to the Minister of Finance.

We do not need the Governor and his hand maiden Higgins dipping into areas that they know nothing about.

The closure and establishment of this committee just proves the point.

 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

Opposition claims selfinterest influenced tax vote – Finance Minster says comments are ‘political posturing’

BY VANESSA NARINE LEADER of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, maintained that the Opposition fought hard not to have the new tax bill passed.

And she charged that the selfinterest of one Member of Parliament (MP) influenced the 10 to eight vote.

At a press conference last Thursday (July 4), she said: “We have strong evidence to show why we strongly felt that the bill was going to pass with the assistance of the Governor’s male Appointed Member [John Phillips].”

Elected Member for Blue Hills, Goldray Ewing, also commented in the issue and shed light of negotiations between the

Government and Phillips during a break at last Monday’s (July 1) House sitting.

He said: “Just before the break we were looking at clauses of the bill and the terms used for fuel. I wanted to use the UN terms for fuel and we ended up using both the UN and local terms for fuel.

“We also looked at one clause to make propane exempt because it looked like if propane was not exempt, John Phillips would not have supported the bill.

“There were a lot of negotiations in the House during the break because he was not a happy man before that point.

“I do believe there is personal interest involved and we cannot have one person’s interest satisfied when

the majority of people in this country depend on that one vote.”

Ewing added that he will be pushing to ensure that House Appointed Members do not have a vote in Parliament.

He said: “They can be there to give their expertise, but they should not be voting.

“It is not a good thing, whereby one person determines the fate of the Turks and Caicos, whether we have a high tax or low tax jurisdiction.

“I was very upset at the negotiations that took place during the break.”

All-Island Elected Member, Derek Taylor also mentioned the manner in which the Customs Processing Fee (Amendment) Bill 2013 was withdrawn by the Government.

He said: “The Government attempted to pull a fast one…there was a bill, the Customs (Customs Processing Fee (Amendment) Bill 2013 that was withdrawn after negotiations with the Governor’s Appointed Member….we had an opportunity here to pick a suitable tax base and make sure our people enjoy a decent standard of living and quality of life.”

POLITICAL POSTURING Asked for a response, Finance Minister, Washington Misick, on Thursday (July 11), said Phillips understood the Government’s long term interest and voted as such.

According to him, the Governor’s male Appointed Member suggested amendments and the Government worked with him to make those changes.

As a part of those amendments,

John Phillips

the Finance Minster now has the power to exempt or vary the rates of certain items.

Misick pointed to construction materials as one type of item that is being considered for exemption.

He noted that modelling to support a decision on the matter is currently being done.

Misick said the Opposition Members’ comments were disingenuous, given that they were quick to take credit for the repeal of Value Added Tax (VAT) and should understand the need for alternative revenue measures to be introduced.

“Their position is purely political posturing,” he said.

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Beaches claims overpayment of room tax to Gov’t Government to retract this statement and issue an apology immediately.

“We have been audited on various occasions by the Revenue Authorities and are in full compliance with all audits and, in fact, were complemented for good and timely housekeeping in our accounting records.”

According to the company, since it opened in 1995, taxes have been paid over to the Government each month.

– Finance Minister says fair share is paid

BY VANESSA NARINE SANDALS Resorts International, in a statement on Tuesday (July 9), claimed that Beaches Turks and Caicos has been overpaying room accommodation tax for almost 20 years.

The statement said: “The latest figures show that unlike ‘European Plan’ hotels, where guests pay, and hotels are taxed separately, for rooms and food and beverages, Beaches pays a lump sum percentage on its all-inclusive revenues, a basket of goods and services that include water sports, kids camp, entertainment, night club, tennis, wine tasting and cooking classes which are not subject to the Hotel Accommodation Tax

based on the existing tax regulations.

“Furthermore, despite tax rules stating that children under the age of 12 years are to be excluded from taxable revenues, Beaches Turks and Caicos has been paying for every child as if they were an adult.

“Additionally, Beaches pays tax upon team member gratuities that does not attract Hotel Accommodation Tax.” Chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, said: “We were surprised to read comments from Parliament in the media suggesting that Beaches have been underpaying room accommodation taxes especially as, certainly in the case of our resort, the

Finance Minister Washington Misick

exact opposite is true.

“I appreciate that the Minister behind the statement has been honest enough to state that he ‘is uncertain about the method of calculation’ in which case I would humbly suggest he undertake a little research before making statements that are totally wrong and misleading the general public.

“On this basis, we call for the

FAIR SHARE Finance Minister, Washington Misick, when asked about the company’s claims, explained that Beaches TCI pays its fair share of tax.

“My statement in Parliament was not clear,” he said.

According to him, the only difference is that the taxes owed are calculated differently.

Misick pointed out that the accommodation tax is charged on rooms and restaurants and the company sells packages to tourist

that includes other services they offer.

The Minister said only the room and restaurant services are taken out of the service package and taxed.

He acknowledged that Beaches contributes significantly to the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the level of airlift, in particular, which has indirect positive benefits.

“I want to dispel the ideal that the Government is using Beaches as a whipping post…we will have some conflicts, but we have to find a way to mediate those and move forward,” Misick said.

Beaches Turks and Caicos currently contributes about $20million per annum in taxes (HAT/departure tax/NHIP/NIS/ work permits), a figure expected to increase to more than $25 million in taxes per annum when the Key West Village is fully operational, according to the company.

Opposing views in CARICOM report continued 

power over the executive and legislative branches arising from the provisions of the new Constitution enacted in October 2012 which had strengthened his role, as well as from the narrow margin between the governing party and Opposition of one seat.

“The Constitution empowered the Governor to designate two Members of Parliament, which in the present political circumstances placed the balance of power in the hands of the Governor.

“In addition, the Governor enjoyed the power to deny a draft bill at the level of Cabinet as well as withhold assent from a Private Members Bill adopted by Parliament as was the case with the legislative decision not to implement VAT. “The view was that the Cabinet had responsibility but not authority.

A number of restrictive constitutional arrangements as well as other regulatory and administrative arrangements put in place by the interim government during the direct rule period which the present government indicated it could not repeal placed unassailable strictures on government action.

“These included the impossibility of the Minister of Finance to authorise expenditure beyond $5,000 without the authorisation of the Chief Financial Officer; Permanent Secretaries were said to report to the Deputy Governor and not the Ministers; responsibility for Crown land, the only existing asset available for the economic development of the territory as well as for housing, was vested in the Attorney General, a British appointed official, which hampered nimble development policy making.

“In their own words, the Cabinet viewed itself as ‘windowdressing’ and as being placed in a ‘straightjacket’.

“In the interest of governing, the Government had decided tactically to toe the line, to go along to get along.

“As a consequence, from the outside everything appeared to be going well, but it was simply a case of ‘behave yourself or see where the power lies’.

“At the outset there was mutual suspicion and mistrust but the level of acrimony had subsided.

“The point was, however, made by the Cabinet, as well as later by the Parliamentary Opposition, that the willingness of the Governor to use or not use his significant powers rested on the quality of the chemistry between himself and the TCI political leadership.

“Personality was a rather tenuous platform for such a critical relationship.

“In view of the regressive nature of the 2012 Constitution for an elected government, the observation was made that the present constitutional arrangements did not amount to democracy even though, paradoxically, representative democracy was said to be functioning well.

“Consequently, there was need for early constitutional reform to get rid of the restrictions on government action.

“Concern was expressed with regard to the functioning of the judicial system with its independence and selection procedures being questioned as well as what was viewed as examples of bias in favour of expatriates.

“The greatest concerns were expressed over the operations of the

agencies put in place to investigate and prosecute the findings of corruption and wrongdoing arising from the Commission of Inquiry and to recover ill-gotten monies and property - the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) and the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU).

“Among the criticisms was what was perceived as the inequitable treatment being meted out.

“The expatriate developers were being allowed to return land and to pay back large sums of monies while not being brought to trial.

“This was said to be taking place in the absence of transparency and accountability.

“On the other hand, the same facility was not being offered to the locals, former Ministers and others, though one TCI person was said to have benefited from it.

“The long-running operations of these agencies were also said to have ruined reputations, to be over­ reaching and to have created an atmosphere of fear.”

OTHER STAKEHOLDERS The mission touched on a number of other hot button issues in meetings with representatives of other groups and sectors, including members of the Opposition, the Speaker of the House, former Ministers of Government, the Grand Turk and Providenciales Chambers of Commerce as well as other business and hotel associations, the Bar Association and legal-advocacy groups, media, the clergy, youth and NGOs. The report said: “The prevailing sentiment was that the Constitution of 2012 had been imposed and was not the fruit of genuine negotiation.

“It was also widely viewed as a major step backwards compared to

the Constitution of 2006 because of the wide discretionary powers provided to the Governor, the dissolution of ministerial power resulting from the restrictions placed on the TCIG with regard to financial governance and to the oversight vested in the Chief Financial Officer.

“In a word, the government could not govern…many of those met were of the view that these new constitutional arrangements did not constitute true democracy.

“The Governor and the Chief Financial Officer had override powers but were not accountable to the electorate.

“The strictures placed on the TCIG were viewed as precluding good governance.”

Though the Opposition PDM party acknowledged that portions of the 2012 Constitution were "problematic and regressive for an elected government," it indicated that, not sitting in Cabinet, it was not privy to the relationship between Her Majesty's Government (HMG) and the TCIG, nor to the Governor preventing the TCIG from taking any action on behalf of the people.

However, it welcomed what it saw as improvements. The oversight role of the Leader of the Opposition had been strengthened with regard to the management of public finances.

At present she chaired the Appropriations Committee newly established by the Constitution.

“The conduct of the interim administration was widely condemned. It had taken decisions which had weakened the rule of law, dismantled institutions and polices that had empowered the people of the TCI (TCInvest, the TCI Bank that provided mortgages, reduced scholarships) and downsized the

public service.

“The Governor at the time was said to have largely bypassed the Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum established in the absence of representative government.

“One interlocutor summed up the situation as the ‘Mother of democracy empowering autocracy’.

“The conduct of the interim administration was seen as responsible for the prevailing strained relationship and sentiment of mistrust between the TCIG/TCI People and HMG/British.

“There were however a number of voices that did say that the previous PNP government did wrong to the country and needed to make some public acts of contrition.

“They had brought about the economic collapse and the resulting present difficult situation for which they should pay the judicial price.

“Though acknowledging that the new TCI Constitution had to be respected, there was overwhelming support for constitutional change with some believing that this could take place once the TCI debt had been discharged and the TCIG had displayed fiscal discipline and performed beyond expectations.

“Reference was made several times to attaining the form of internal self-government presently enjoyed

by Bermuda.

“Independence was not seen as a solution on the grounds that the territory was not ready, resources lacked and it needed to be studied and planned.”

The report looked in depth at several areas, including: governance: the constitution and democracy; the workings of the judicial system; and the economic and social situation; and the role of CARICOM.

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Police reaffirms commitment to gun safety – Even in face of disappointing gun amnesty

Workers put up new fencing

Employment of Belongers a concern in airport redevelopment AT THE groundbreaking ceremony for the airport redevelopment works, Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA) chief executive, John Smith, estimated the Belonger involvement at 75 per cent.

However, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, said the level of employment of Belongers is a concern.

Smith presented Cabinet with an update on the terminal expansion works on Wednesday (July 10).

In his report, it was noted that the project is on time and within budget.

Cabinet requested sight of the master plan for the operation of the new facility and regular update briefings from TCIAA. According to the Premier, at a press conference on Thursday (July 11), efforts have been made to engage the Labour Department, contractor and subcontractors to address the concern of Belonger employment.

He stated that moves will also be made to verify those employed on the project as Belongers are in fact Belongers and also ensure that there is no discrimination in offering employment opportunities.

“There must be equal opportunities,” the Premier said.

Other concerns, Ewing noted were the monitoring of the project by the architect and engineers, as well as the overall management of the project.

The $10m redevelopment of passenger facilities at Providenciales International Airport is the second phase in the overall plan to improve the airport.

Phase one was completed by Dexter Construction, with major sub-contractors Cove Construction Ltd. and CBMS of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The focus was extending the runway from 7,600 feet to a length

of 9,200 feet.

This extension supported the facilitation of new long-haul flights from Europe and Asia to the TCI, allowing for planes such as the Boeing 777 and 747 to land at the airport.

Phase two, according to the TCIAA chief executive will nearly double the size of the terminal to better accommodate the 500,000 passengers who pass through the airport each year.

It will increase in size from 51,462 to 92,321 sq ft.

Once completed passengers will be able to enjoy expanded check in counter areas and self-check in facilities, additional bathroom facilities, larger retail space for shops and restaurants, and improved medical amenities.

The project will be completed by the end of 2014. (VANESSA NARINE)

Five burglaries being investigated POLICE are investigating several residential burglaries that occurred on Monday (July 8) One was reported in Cooper Jack and police put the timeline between the afternoon hours of Sunday (July 7) and early morning hours of Monday (July 8).

Missing is an LG 42” flat screen plasma television, a Compaq laptop and a pair of cuff links.

The second incident involved a resident of Kew Town who reported that she was robbed on Sunday at approximately

11.15am while she was on her way to a bar.

She was robbed of her handbag containing a number of identification cards and other items yet to be determined.

In the third incident a person of interest is assisting police with investigations, after a man from Turtle Cove told officers that he discovered his cell phone was missing on Monday.

The fourth incident was residential burglary at a home on Airport Road, which was

reported on Monday and missing are a red and black wallet containing a sum of cash in United States currency, identification cards, passport, a pair of brown shades, perfume and a Blackberry charger.

Another residential burglary reported in Calibri Gardens was the fifth incident, in which the residence was vandalised and missing are one silver Apple laptop, one white iPad, one silver Seiko watch and one brown Mount bag.

ALTHOUGH disappointed at the unsuccessful month long amnesty on guns in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Commissioner of Police, Colin Farquhar has reaffirmed the Royal TCI Police Force’s commitment to fighting gun crimes in the territory.

Farquhar made an official statement on Friday (July 5), during which he announced that no weapons were handed into the Police or any of the other authorized persons during the June 1 to July 1 reprieve.

The amnesty was intended to recover as many unregistered and unwanted guns as possible and to stop them reaching the wrong hands.

The Police had encouraged persons who are in possession of weapons that were handed down in families, or which were not properly registered, to take them into the authorities.

The amnesty had the support of the TCI Governor, Premier, Deputy Premier, as well as religious and civil leaders across the Territory.

In a statement, Farquhar said: “Everyone involved is clearly disappointed that no weapons were handed in during this amnesty. We believe that guns are unnecessary for civilians in this country and we will be taking steps to make having a gun even more exceptional than it is now.

“We will continue to monitor intelligence reports about weapons and will undertake raids designed to capture and remove these weapons as and when required.

“We remain committed to ensuring the safety of the people who live in the TCI and our hundreds

of thousands of visitors each year through a number of ongoing control measures.”

The Police Commissioner encouraged businesses to use the services of security firms to move cash or to become cashless by encouraging credit and debit card use.

He said: “Sadly and ironically, on the final day of the Amnesty, two persons in the Turks and Caicos sustained injuries during the commission of a gun-related crime. Thankfully, both persons are expected to make full recoveries.”

The Commissioner expressed his gratitude to the Governor, Premier, Deputy Premier, Youth Director Angela Musgrove, families, church leaders, media, and other persons of influence who helped support the amnesty.

Farquhar also acknowledged the appeal sent out by Pastors Pedro Williams, Bradley Handfield, Solomen Morency and Daniel Calcaño who joined forces to get the message out.

“Each of you is a great example of the moral commitment that is needed,” he said.

The Commissioner also expressed his appreciation to Dekkel Simmons and Phildreka Mayham, the TCI Youth Ambassadors who also participated.

He stated: “These two young people demonstrated their willingness to help their community and they proved to be positive role models for other youth to follow.”

Causeway completion pushed to end of July WORKS continue to progress at a steady pace on the causeway between North and Middle Caicos.

But the project’s completion has now been pushed to the end of July.

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, in mid-May told the Weekly News that the works were expected to be completed by the end of June.

However, in a recent interview, Permanent Secretary with the Ministry of Government Support Services, Ian Astwood, explained that once the weather permits the works will be completed by the end of July.

According to him, early August would be the latest that the works are completed.

They works include: the reconstruction of the causeway including filling and resurfacing both the bridge and its approaches; improving the barriers that protect the causeway from tides and winds; repairing the bridge’s waterproof membrane; replacing the existing

street lights with new solar powered units; and removing casuarinas trees and replacing mangroves.

Cove Construction was awarded the $2.042m last September and the extent of repairs meant an increase from the initial $1.35m allocation.

The current work are phase one of the redevelopment of the causeway.

Astwood told the Weekly News that the Ministry is looking to have phase two of the project started before the end of the year.

He said: “We are hoping that it would be possible to move into phase two before the end of the year, but given that the works are for two different contract, one for phase one and another for phase two, we will have to go back to tender.

“How soon we start will depend on the tender process.”

The North/Middle Caicos causeway was constructed in 2007, but suffered massive damages caused

by Hurricane Ike. (VANESSA NARINE)

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NEWS

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Opposition worried GSAT error has sparked more concerns ALTHOUGH she commended the move taken by the Education Minister in reviewing the GSAT final results for Divesh Aswani, Opposition Leader, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson said she feels the door has now been thrown open for similar claims to be made.

Aswani’s results came under scrutiny by the Ministry after a complaint from his parents.

It was later revealed by a Ministry probe that all of the student’s marks were not included in the final results.

The Opposition Leader applauded the correction during a press briefing where the PDM party announced the appointment of its elected Members of Parliament as shadow ministers to the various government ministries.

“Now what it may have done was created somewhat of an open door, because I understand that there are other parents that are seeking review,” she stated.

When asked about this, Minister of Education, Akierra Missick confirmed that another party had raised questions about their child’s results during the seven day appeal that is allowed, but that only the Aswani’s appeal had any validity.

She added that she was aware that

there were issues raised by parents after that period.

The Opposition Leader had also stated there is some work to be done by the Ministry in rebuilding the confidence of the people in the Grade Six Assessment Test (GSAT), even as she voiced her own faith in the test.

“I have a lot of faith in the GSAT system, I believe that sometimes it puts too much pressure on our students but it does help in placing our children as they go into secondary level education.”

Cartwright-Robinson added that she does not believe that it should be scrapped, as is being called for by the man in the street.

“I think the right thing to do would be to correct the paper and make the correction and I think it is important going forward that they look and ensure that everything is done properly,” she said.

The Opposition Leader further encouraged people to trust the system that has been working for the country.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has laid out the responsibilities of its various members who are now tasked with shadowing the Government

Rehabilitation for offenders discussed at Cabinet A PROPOSAL for the drafting of legislation to rehabilitate offenders who have not been reconvicted of any serious offence for a number of years was discussed during the last sitting of Cabinet on Wednesday (July 10).

Reporting to the media as is customary on the decisions and discussions held at Cabinet, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing said that the proposal looked at ensuring prior convictions are not disclosed and to penalise the unauthorised disclosure of same.

He stated that a request was made to the Attorney General, who presented the report, to draft the legislation based on the UK and Bermuda models for further consideration at a future Cabinet meeting.

The Premier also disclosed that a proposal from the Minister of Health and Human Services was made during the meeting, for amendments to the National HIV/ Aids Policy and the introduction of legislation to alleviate HIV stigma and discrimination.

He said the AG informed Cabinet that these matters are currently included within the

provisions of the Equality Ordinance 2012. The application of the law was consequently endorsed.

Ewing further disclosed that Cabinet also reviewed the structure of the Human Rights Commission and the need to put to the House a revised bill that is in line with the provisions set out in the 2011 Constitution.

It was agreed that the Governor would introduce a bill to provide for the appointment of a parttime commission and a fulltime CEO along the lines of the model operated by the Integrity Commission, the Premier said.

Draft legislation on the matter is slated to be considered further at a meeting of the Cabinet in August after which the bill will then be introduced to the House of Assembly.

Additionally, Cabinet also approved a drafting legislation which changes the term nonregulated financial businesses (NRFB) - as is currently represented in the various antimoney laundering legislations - to designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFPB).

ministries.

Josephine Connolly, who has been appointed to shadow the Ministry of Education and Social Services, voiced her disappointment with the attendance at the education consultation spearheaded by the ministry.

“It was a good gesture but lacked public support. It is not quite clear what the reason(s) were, but I want to encourage the public that consultation of this nature is important and they need to come out to effect change,” Connolly said.

According to Minister Misick the report on the consultation is due very shortly.

Connolly in her presentation also

alluded to the past practice of using education scholarships as political favours, which she said did serious damage to the education system.

Connolly said: “[Also] the interim administration offered no new ideas other than slashing scholarships, slashing education budgets, which resulted in some cases downsizing and generally a freezing of employment of teaching staff while the school population increased.”

She said she intends to ensure that the job of educating the TCI community is done properly and in a manner which benefits the future leaders of the country.

“This is not a good situation

Opposition Leader, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson

for the country or its people to be in. Much more needs to be done and much more can be done.

“As Shadow Minister of Education, and Social Services, I give fair warning to both the Minister of Education and the Minister of Social Services that, I will be watching,” she said. (DI)

Governor to sign licence to grant beach access to Beaches PREMIER, Dr. Rufus Ewing, said the negotiations with Beaches TCI are close to a resolution.

Cabinet on Wednesday (July 10) agreed that Governor Ric Todd will sign a licence granting land that is presently used for beach access to Beaches.

It is pending an agreement surrounding outstanding matters pertaining to community work, that is the Craft Market and refurbishment of existing access (Forbes Road) and parking lot.

The last update of the development agreement was expounded on in Parliament last Monday (July 1) when the Opposition raised several questions about the negotiations.

Member for Wheeland, Vaden Williams, questioned the Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, first on whether or not the granting of the beach access was part of the new agreement.

Ewing said that it was a factor in the agreement, but made it clear that nothing had been confirmed as the negotiations were still ongoing.

Williams questioned the reason for putting the beach access out for tender if it was part of the development agreement.

The Premier explained that while negotiations were ongoing, the beach access could not be turned over to Beaches without going through the proper processes.

At a press conference in the latter part of May, Ewing had stressed that his Government’s approval of the acquisition of the beach access remained independent of the Planning Board and Crown land requirements that Beaches has to meet before it can lease the land.

The Opposition’s Appointed Member, Clarence Selver, asked about the details of the application for the beach access.

The Premier explained that there is no application for any freehold title, rather the application made is for a long-term lease.

He said the application will be

assessed with any other applications received, when the tender process closes on July 14.

Selver asked how long the lease was for and the Premier speculated that it is possibly for 99 years, but could not confirm the period.

The Opposition’s Appointed Member asked the Premier to confirm the status of the development agreement that is being negotiated with Beaches Resort and will supersede the 2006 agreement.

Ewing acknowledged that the 2006 agreement has some conditions and

benefits that his Government does not want to continue with and some that the developer wants to continue.

He said: “We are still in talks….we hope to reach an agreement soon.”

Selver also asked about the expectations of both sides in the ongoing negotiations.

The Premier stated that the expectation is that the issues both sides have on the table come to a resolution that is beneficial to Government, the developer and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. (VANESSA NARINE)

Blue Ribbon Commission for tax review to be in place this month FINANCE Minister, Washington Misick, took a paper to Cabinet on Wednesday (July 10) to update members on the establishment of a Blue Ribbon Commission.

The commission is being established to advise the Government with development of the most appropriate method of taxation for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The commission’s membership will include representation from TCIG, the Opposition party, Hotel and Tourism Association, Accounting Association, Banking Association, Resort Economic Council, Bar Council and Chambers of Commerce.

The commission is also expected to receive technical support from the UK Technical Assistance Programme.

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, told the media at a press conference on Thursday (July 11), that the committee will be in place this month.

Commenting on the commission’s establishment, Shadow Minister of Tourism, Investment and Trade and Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Sean Astwood, said the timing is disappointing.

He said: “This being one of the initiatives that the Government

campaigned on, we thought it would be something that came earlier.

“It is putting the cart before the horse when the Government is going to the House and passing new taxes, not prepared to put time limit on those taxes, and now coming up with the Blue Ribbon Commission.

“One would have thought that commission would have come first and allowed to make its recommendations, and policy changes would have then been advanced.

“We are disappointed that it is being done in reverse….if the Government is serious of changing the system then the Blue Ribbon Commission should have come first.

It is not a complex thing and there is no reason why this did not happen.”

The Finance Minister maintained that the new tax measures that have been introduced are short term to meet the country’s obligations, until the commission completes its work, which is expected to take 100 days.

This will pave the way for a broad based and sustainable system of taxation that will ultimately lower taxes in the TCI and improve the quality of life for the people of the Islands. (VANESSA NARINE)

10 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

A political paradigm shift is eminent, Opposition Leader

BY VANESSA NARINE THERE is a need for politics to be taken to another level, one that is reflective of the global political environments, according to Opposition Leader, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, last Thursday (July 4) at a press conference where she officially unveiled the shadow government.

She said: “Politics is a growing process. It is dynamic and always changing. It means therefore the individual must live the process as if there is no tomorrow. It takes time to lead, learn and listen. It takes the involvement of the people. It takes broadening your horizons politically and we intend to be that Government in waiting. “ The Opposition Leader stated that the naming of a shadow government provides for a level of political maturity and for the opposition to take over government should an

election be called early or should the government default in its remit to govern.

She said: “The government of the day continues to reflect aspects of its original characteristics – shades of the status quo. It continues to prevent the opposition from having “its’ say”, while “it has its way”.

“This is encouraged and enhanced by the absence of a “watch-dog”, and well established organized ‘shadow government’ with an intent to change the ethos of ‘politics as usual’ that pervades the parliament of the day.

“In some cases the “Just like that” attitude still exists, and without any serious concern about the representation, or the impact it may have on the growth and development of our country, especially our people.

“The players, to a certain extent have changed, but the philosophy continues on….a political paradigm shift is eminent, and, however demands a higher level of maturity

KPMG to present interim report on hospital audit next week DEPUTY Attorney General, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, received a presentation on the terms of the hospitals agreement with InterHealth Canada, which was taken to Cabinet on Wednesday (July 10).

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, at a press conference on Thursday (July 11), said further briefing on the matter at a separate session is expected to be done.

He added that KPMG, the firm that is handling the audit, is expected to make an interim report on July 19.

According to him, the report is expected to identify the challenges that are affecting the completion of the audit.

Both audits, the financial and clinical audits, are expected to have the effect of reducing hospital cost and improving clinical care, in addition to holding the hospital accountable for any defaults under the contract.

The last word on the audits was that they were still incomplete.

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, at a press conference in mid-June said the delay, as he understands it, is due to the lack of financial information being turned over from the hospital.

However, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, Jill Magri, told the Weekly News at the time that there is only a small percentage of information

pending from the hospital’s side.

“We have provided all 2012 and 2011 information and are in the process of providing the financial data from 2011,” she said.

Neither she nor Ewing could commit to a timeframe for the completion of the audits.

The long due audits were only started this year, sometime around mid-February.

Last October, the Premier noted that InterHealth Canada could have to forfeit on their contract with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG), if it is found that they have breached performance clauses – something the financial and clinical audits will assess.

The full document, which included 187 separate files and a mind boggling 7,665 pages, was leaked in August last year.

The result of the contract was two two-storey hospitals - one in Provo with 20 beds and the other in Grand Turk with 10 beds - that came at a high cost to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The ‘exit clause’ in the InterHealth contract is reported to have penalty cost of $125 million, exclusive of the $125 million mortgage on the hospital buildings, which has a reported 12 per cent interest rate.

If the mortgage runs its full 24-year course, the buildings will have cost TCI residents half a billion dollars. (VANESSA NARINE)

in Parliament.

“The current opposition, with its characteristics of a progressive leadership, supported by the resourcefulness of the members in and out of the House, must organize to operate as an integral part of the government of the people, doing so with the benefit of strength, intelligence and unification, founded and grounded in the leadership of the party.”

PARADIGM SHIFT Cartwright-Robinson explained that governance and “an eminent paradigm shift” demand an Opposition that is proactive.

She said: “The demand is for an Opposition with a willingness and the capability to deem the sitting government ineffective and powerless, and render itself poised to take over as a better government at the blink of an eye.”

According to her, there are several important points that substantiate the “reasoning and rationale” for a shadow government: To challenge the government; To prepare adequately for meetings; To tip the balance of power in parliament; To prepare to take over governance; To mature politically; and To seek reelection at the polls.

Cartwright-Robinson said: “One strongly believes that this list is not exhaustive, but it marks and identifies areas that are pertinent to the need for defining the present purpose of the opposition in parliament as we seek to realize the powers invested in the Member of Parliament today…. it augers well for the higher level of maturity needed in the politics of the modern Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The question of the immaturity and arrogance of the sitting government is quite evident.

“While there are, at least two members who are former Chief Ministers, egos and political subjectivity do not allow experience to play a role in the government of the day. This is very pronounced in the presentations and deliberations in the house of Parliament.

“Within the governments’ organization, there are many extremes: a wealth of experience on the one hand, and little or no political prowess on the other, compounded by an unwillingness to reach out to the other.

“Everybody wants to be the star.

“There is this wealth of knowledge in specialty areas, diametrically opposed, or unknowingly constrained by not having an incline into the knowledge and understanding of the governance of a people.”

She stressed that even with this “well-defined stratification of specific knowledge and experience” there is neither effort nor intent to optimize this asset.

The Opposition Leader had strong words to characterize the current Administration approach and, by

extension, the need for an effective shadow government.

She said: “There is no effort or intent to understanding or crossing the proverbial lines of understanding the power of collectivism.

“This, no doubt, explains the chaos that sometimes occurs, the carelessness and the absence of substance that characterized the sitting government.

“The opportunity to exploit the inefficiencies is evident and ever present and there is this opportunity to deliberately challenge almost every aspect of the sitting government’s work in and out of the house, but highlighted at a time when all ears are focused on their presentation, that is, during making contributions to issues while the public’s ears are listening.

“It however, demands organizing as a shadow government with a mandate to call to order and to the attention of the people, the activities of the government, but to do so not with a spirit to tear down and destroy but to offer the people a better alternative whilst highlighting the ineffectiveness of the sitting government who all too often appear already bankrupted of ideas.”

ONE STEP AHEAD The Opposition Leader added that the shadow government will stay one step ahead of the current Administration.

“It would appear that the ammunition of successive PNP administrations is that of attempting to ‘catch the opposition with its pants down’ by distributing parliament documents late. If it is late, there is not enough time to prepare properly,” she said.

However, Cartwright-Robinson stressed that members of the shadow government will be concentrating on their specific ministry, and maintaining constant interaction with the people so as to be conversant with hot button issues.

She said: “The shadow government, by virtue of not holding office directly, has time to garner a greater level of political awareness about the issues of concern to the constituents. Therefore preparing properly for meetings even without the formal documents is a freedom the shadow government enjoys, and therefore the candidates are better able to speak to the issues in their submissions and contributions in the house.

“They know the issues. They live the issues. They are able to better defend the cries of the constituents.

And they overtly highlight the weaknesses and inabilities of the government. By preparing it suggests, convincingly, other and better ways of dealing with the issues.”

She maintained that the power of the opposition in the House is more evident today than it has been for

many years.

The Opposition Leader said: “There is almost equal numbers; the popular vote lies with the opposition; and there is this arrogance that overshadows the abilities and capabilities of individuals.

“In constantly challenging the government, a shadow government, being properly prepared for meetings, effectively creates the opportunity for the power of the sitting government to be tripped in favour of the opposition.”

COMMITTED The named shadow ministers expressed commitment to serve as best they can in their capacities.

Shadow Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Josephine Connolly, said: “As shadow Minister of Education and Social Services, I believe I have one of the most important jobs in the Opposition.

“I am grateful to our Honourable Leader and the PDM party for having the faith in my ability to help to shape education and social policy and by extension the fate of this nation.

“Let us make no mistake, whatever development we have in this country will be wasted unless we have educated our population to take advantage of what this development has to offer.

“If we fail with education, we risk having Turks and Caicos Islanders sidelined in the development of their own country.”

Turning to Social Services, Connolly said this area has been for too long the “forgotten stepchild” of the Turks and Caicos Island Government.

“Where are the programs to help rehabilitate our prisoners? Where are our programs to identify children at risk before something happens? Not after. What are we doing to help our single mothers and what laws are being enacted to ensure that fathers take responsibility for their children?

Who is helping our battered women?

“After a three year hiatus with the interim administration, the newly elected Government seems not to have a sense of urgency to address anything that will improve the lives of our population.

“Elected Ministers have neither shown that dynamic new initiatives nor have they been anxious to do anything to improve our situation... this is not a good situation for the country or its people to be in. Much more needs to be done and much more can be done.”

Goldray Ewing was named Shadow Minister of Environment, District Administration and Local Government.

And he maintains that there are creative and exciting ideas out there that can benefit the Islands.

He said: I also come to the continued 

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS 11

Eighty-eight hired after May protest Wilkie Arthur

Roxanne Lockhart

Wilkie Arthur and Roxanne Lockhart jailed for robbery

ROBBERS Wilkie Arthur and Roxanne Lockhart have been sentenced to 15 and 12 years in prison respectively.

They were brought up before Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough at the Supreme Court in Grand Turk on charges for the robbery of Jai’s jewellery store on July 10, 2010.

The two robbed the store of a quantity of Rolex watches valued at $200,000.

Arthur represented himself and Noel Skippings represented Lockhart.

This year’s retrial started on April 15, 2013, and ended last

Friday (July 5).

Trinidadian Evans Welch a former Crown Counsel in the Attorney General Chambers was the lead prosecutor, assisted by Latisha Williams of Director of Public Prosecution's Office.

The first trial started on September 7, 2012, and ended in a mistrial on November 9, 2012.

A nolle prosequi was entered against the other defendants. Arthur and Lockhart were both ordered to be retried.

After being found guilty, they are both now serving their sentences at Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk.

WITH such large numbers of residents unemployed in the Turks and Caicos Islands, one resident organised a protest two months ago to help get local businesses to hear their cries for work.

On May 20, Dorell Pratt-Delancey set up a one man protest in front of Providenciales Beaches resort to spark up the attention of the local resorts who she claimed were bringing in “foreigners” to take on jobs of locals.

Although no one joined in on the protest many residents stopped to put their names down on an unemployment list that showed the numbers who were out of work in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Pratt-Delancey noted that the list saw 89 unemployed people in total and with 88 of them already being hired.

On Wednesday she confirmed that the protest was officially over and although she did not receive sufficient support from residents, it was still successful.

She said: “Initially from the very start I said that the protest would go on even if it’s one man, one table and one chair and I truly meant that.

“I had little hope that anyone would come and join me because I know my brothers and sisters in the Turks and Caicos are in a spirit of depression.

“They have to get up and fight for this country because they can’t just let the country slip away at any time.”

The initial plan was to protest in front of all the major Providenciales resorts for 30 days.

Pratt-Delancey said the route was cut short since just about everyone on the list was called for work by various resorts.

“Most of the resorts where we were planning on going to had already employed people from our list and they were calling and telling me that they were hired from some of the resorts.”

The motivated woman emphasised

that this still did not stop her from wishing residents were more united as a country.

She said: “I do wish that the resorts in future grow a conscience because you have to have no conscience at this particular time in TCI history where you find so many people unemployed for you to go ahead and process work permits for jobs that Turks and Caicos Islanders can have.

“I think it is time in our country that we need affirmative action, we need laws and legislations put in place to secure the wellbeing of our Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“It is now time that they look at their management pool and realise that at least 50 per cent have to be Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“You should not have to wait for laws to be put in place for you to implement such laws into your corporation.” (DAISY HANDFIELD)

A political paradigm shift is eminent ... continued

table with a little experience and knowledge of my own in this area.”

However, Ewing added that the best way to shadow any ministry is to hold the Ministers in charge accountable to the guidelines that guide efforts in their area of responsibility.

The Shadow Minister of Government Support Services and Providenciales is Delroy Williams and according to him, he has been working with the Ministry from day one.

He said: “It is however sad that with the many infrastructural needs, we are unable to meet them due to the financial position that we are now in. Most countries raise taxes to meet infrastructural needs; we are raising them to pay off debts due to poor management and mismanagement.

“However, there are needs that must be prioritized and I will be there calling on the Government to do its job.

Williams added that keeping on top of the issues is the best way to represent the people of the Islands.

Shadow Minister of Health and Human Services, Edwin Astwood, highlighted his experience in the health sector as a plus to his function now as a shadow minister.

He said: “As a former Health Care worker, both in the technical and managerial aspects of health care, I am very familiar with the challenges and constraints that act as road blocks for the provision of optimal health care to the residents and visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“Many of these constraints are budgetary in nature, while the most influential of them stem for poor

leadership, poor policy formation and decision making at the very top of the Government’s hierarchy.”

According to him the vision of the PDM is a health sector equipped with the proper technologies, equipment, and tools that would enable them to give the highest quality of service to the residents and visitors of all our communities.

He said: “The Peoples’ democratic Movement believes that it is our human resources are the country’s most valuable asset and that they should be treated so. Also it is them that have the most impact on improving the level of health care in our society, not just having new and overpriced “state of the art” buildings.

“Therefore it is my intention to assist in raising the curiosity of our health professionals about the skills they will need to become more active and influential citizens of the health care community in accomplishing improvements. These skills will also help them better deploy their health expertise and professional purpose…I strongly believe that health care could, indeed, perform a great deal better than it does today and that a shared aim of improving health outcomes for clients at a cost that society can afford, is sensible and within reach.

“However, achievement of these improvements will require a Government that is not just not lip service and follows the status quo, but one that produces policies that are concerted, realistic, comprehensive, and positive, a government that truly provides a health care system that is acceptable and beneficial to all our people, and a Government with capable leadership.”

One of the most important

portfolios, Shadow Minister of Finance, went to Derek Taylor, served as Minister of Finance for eight years, from 1995 to 20032.

He said: “While we can appreciate the need for Government to ensure a steady stream of revenue to foster greater fiscal health and a sustainable economy for the Country, there must be a less penalizing means to accomplish this goal.

“We have grown this economy and manage well under the existing tax regime and are not convinced that our economy has outgrown this method.

“We certainly believe that an increase in resources in compliance will yield much.

In fact the Roe Report said the existing system produced 'strong revenue'.

“We understand the plight of the people and are careful to not increase any further burden on an already heavily taxed shrinking tax base.

“Our residents and citizens are still trying to recover from effects of the recession. To implement a tax system that is particularly burdensome to the middle class and the poor will not alleviate poverty but create poverty.”

Taylor stressed that Government has to strike a delicate balance between having a stable economy and imposing taxes that could result in contracting the economy.

“We cannot afford to make a mistake at this time as it relates to our economy….I will shadow this Ministry with a keen eye,” he said.

Sean Astwood was named as the Shadow Minister of Tourism, Investment and Trade.

According to him, these areas represent the economic engines of the TCI. He said: “The future of our tourism

industry must be protected. I believe that the only sure way to this is by exposing the Turks and Caicos to new markets and by strategically diversifying our tourism products. It is also very important that our people are provided with the opportunities necessary to advanced in this industry i.e. scholarships and internships.”

On the issue of investment, Astwood noted that a new investment policy is needed.

“It is only through investment that we can continue to develop our country…. in addition to the traditional types of investments we have been experiencing, this policy (new investment policy) should also look into new areas such as manufacturing. And at its core must be a change in the way we do business here. Therefore, bureaucratic red tape and the inefficiencies of the system must be removed. I would also like to see new incentive packages created to attract would be investors,” he said.

Turning to trade, Astwood stated that this area has been neglected.

He said: “I believe the times dictate that we seek new and exciting ways to grow our economy.

Therefore, I will be keen to see what policies the Government will put in place to promote and facilitate trade.”

The Opposition Leader took on the role of shadow minister of Border Control.

She said: “The Ministry of Border Control and Labour needs direct, deliberate and committed attention. At the root of most of our country’s challenges is the matter of immigration be it illegal, uncontrolled or lack of clear guidelines.

“My focus will be directed at

seeking and fighting for resources to ensure the Government procures a system that will log the employed, the unemployed, the returning students together with their skills.

There must be clear guidelines for those who are to train our own.

The needs of this country must be carefully logged so that we can place our scarce resources against the priority areas of training and so that scholarships can be awarded accordingly. We must position ourselves to be leaders in the public and private sector and we must ensure that all permanent residents of this country who are able and willing to work are able to work.

“There are legal issues that must be addressed and I am sure like many others, I am tired of the consultations on immigration. We know what the problems are and we must fix them.

We must create clear guidelines for citizenship, work permits and other immigration status.

“The Labour Department is central to the functioning of a strong immigration system. We will encourage the Department to do more whilst we urge the Government to provide more resources. A failing Labour Department is a failing Immigration system.

“We must place pressure on HMG who has the constitutional responsibility for protecting our borders. We cannot afford the repatriation costs that we are being saddled with and I am saying to HMG as I am saying to the PS and Minister of Border Control and Labour, I will hold you accountable.”

The shadow ministers’ portfolios are expected to be shuffled to ensure that all members of the Opposition have a feel for the different areas of Government.

12 NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Private sector needs to propel economic growth - UN Ambassador THE ENHANCEMENT of public private partnership (PPP) was highlighted as the key to further economic growth within the Turks and Caicos Islands during the Fortis annual plenary session hosted at the Beaches resort over the past week.

The company hosts the yearly meeting in order to bring together local and international speakers with the hope of creating a forum whereby thoughtful ideas on diverse topics can be aired and discussed in a bipartisan atmosphere.

President and chief executive officer of Fortis, Eddinton Powell told Weekly News during the Tuesday (July 9) session that the hope is to get a fresh perspective on the way forward.

“Hopefully some of those ideas will become the solution or a kernel of some of the solutions that we face

in the Turks and Caicos and in the Caribbean surrounding economic growth and economic activity.”

He added that the 2013 session is even more important to the company because it is arriving at the end of its first five years.

“In 2008 we set a strategic objective to be the best utility in the Caribbean by 2013.

“If you look at the company, if you look at our reliability, our human resources, what we have done, we have come a long way; now we are looking at the next five years, the next ten years, the next 15 years,” Powell remarked.

Asked where he sees Fortis fitting into the TCI as it relates to helping grow the economy in coming years, Powell noted the company has already been doing exactly that.

“Over the last seven years Fortis has invested about $120m into the Turks and

Former Government Permanent Secretary, Delton Jones; Acting Governor, Anya Williams; United Nations Ambassador and Former Mayor of Atlanta (USA), Andrew Young; Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing and President and Chief Executive Officer of Fortis, Eddinton Powell.

Caicos. Fortis’ investment into the TCI now is well over $200m, we have invested significantly in electrical

infrastructure in the TCI, and that is what private sector does.

“Private sector provides the capital and the expertise, that is what we do and as long as we have that relationship and cooperation between the public sector and the private sector the economy of the TCI will continue to grow.”

The PPP point was expounded upon in more detail by keynote speaker, United Nations Ambassador and Former Mayor of Atlanta (USA), Andrew Young.

He stated that the key to economic success in the TCI and in the wider Caribbean, is public private partnership.

He advised that it takes from the smallest and seemingly most insignificant person to grow a country’s economy.

Harkening back to his own experiences and what obtained in Atlanta during the years he served as Mayor, Young advocated the private sector in the TCI to take up the reins in building up the country and more or less having the Government as an oversight body.

“The public has to conceive of the project; the private sector has to come up with a management plan for funding and managing and earning a profit on it, but once we decide to conceive it, we turn it loose to the private. “[Our] airport, while it is in the name of the city of Atlanta, for the most part it’s owned by Delta and Marriot and all of the people who make money there, including the guys who shine shoes.”

He said that is one of the

things that made the city distinct. He also named honesty and safety in doing business as other pillars that set them apart and which can be emulated by the TCI and other Caribbean islands to help them prosper.

Young also stated that from his point of view, the Caribbean is a continent the same as any other continent and that the people of the Caribbean need to start thinking of it in this light.

“We [Caribbean] don’t need to build a railroad system, or a highway system, the Caribbean is its own transport network and all we have to do is start thinking of ourselves as a continent of 200 million people and we can compete with the United States, Brazil, Africa because when you add up all of the people all… it is really a market of 200 million people, which is not thought of as a market.”

He added that the mindset needs to be one of moving away from government, as governments the world over are all broke.

He also alluded to all the money that is being hidden by people and governments around the world and not earning anything or being plugged back into economies because persons are afraid to invest.

He stated that people need to start crafting incentives for investment in order to get access to it.

“You are not going to get anything from any government anywhere, but here is this $40 trillion dollars in this global

economy that is controlled electronically…but we need the attitudes and the ideas,” the ambassador said.

Acting Governor Williams in outlining the development priorities of the TCI, stated that the TCI, contrary to many other territories, continues to experience positive growth and the Government continues to run a surplus budget and will continue to do so for the next five years.

She stated that the development priorities for the country are continued stability and good governance, growth of an economic diversification and providing a broader revenue base, correcting the country’s regional disparity, creating jobs, reducing poverty and protecting the national environment.

Over the next five years, the Government will be looking towards maintaining a performing public sector that maintains stability and confidence; a private sector led economic growth for opportunity, diversification, balanced development and job creation and enhancing the country’s resources to match the growing demand of society and the economy.

During the plenary session, questions were invited from the invitees; this sparked an interactive forum with Williams, Young and former Government Permanent Secretary, Delton Jones who fielded questions relating to the Caribbean and its integration movement, the TCI economy and the unemployment situation among Belongers in the islands. (DI)

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

13

14

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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

Challenge – Taxes and Taxation in the TCI! From the beginning of times, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) were as a country Beautiful by Nature, and one likened as one of the few remaining tax free havens in the outer world.

True, but may not be true by a long shot. The TCI may indeed be Beautiful by Nature, but now being a country of “low” tax – soon to be more tax - are not only a very long stretch, and a very much, an understatement, but a severe mischaracterization.

You see, any form of forced payment exchange, be it monetary, goods and services, or, just goodwill, for tangible or “non-tangible” (nonphysical) returns, are indeed a forms of taxes. For the unsuspecting reader or post-responder, let us first ask, exactly, what are taxes?

Taxes According to Black's Law Dictionary (1979), a tax is a "pecuniary burden laid upon individuals or property owners to support the government [...] a payment exacted by legislative authority." It "is not a voluntary payment or donation, but an enforced contribution, exacted pursuant to legislative authority" and is "any contribution imposed by government [...] whether under the name of toll, tribute, tallage,

gabel, impost, duty, custom, excise, subsidy, aid, supply, or other name."

Think of it, NIB and NHIP assessments, or, even the payment of driver’s license is a form of tax.

Taxes are not new here, as it was always collect in form of fees and custom duties; but, unwarranted attention is now being drawn because of world economy, need for more funds, the introduction of VAT, the all political-country-wide VAT implementation blockade; and now the introduction of the 15% freight and insurance assessment.

In all honesty, TCIs are not unwittingly opposed to taxation.

Because the TCI is constitutionally labeled that the TCI is a Christian Nation, and they have always believed in taxation, but with representation. More so, at least, people believe that, if they are going to be taxed, tell them, by how much, when, why, and by how long (date/ time certain and severability). The public has the right to know! So we can all follow the writer now gives the public an insight on the history

of taxes.

History Early taxation is also described in the Bible. In Genesis (chapter 47, verse 24), it states "But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh.

And Christians know that Jesus Christ, when asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, said to “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). To follow suit we should now have in place a national tax system – soon to be completed after recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Committee on taxation. A nation's tax system is often a reflection of its communal values or/and the values of those in power. To create a system of taxation, a nation must make choices regarding the distribution of the tax burden—who will pay taxes and how much they will pay—and how the taxes collected will be spent to be explained below in/under Budget.

In democratic nations where the public elects those in charge of establishing the tax system, these choices should reflect the type of community that the public wishes to create. In countries where the public does not have a significant amount of influence over the system of taxation, that system may be more

of a reflection on the values of those in power as we have just completed representative government. So now in this day and age – the 21st Century, why do we have such a difficult time in determining who and why we pay taxes?

Why do we pay taxes?

All residents must accept a fair share tax approach. But with such acceptance comes humane and economic conditions/concessions.

Persons making minimum or less than government mandated wages should have some kind of relief in form of a rebate or a negative income tax (NIT). NIT is a progressive income tax system where people earning below a certain amount receive supplemental pay (year-end rebate) from the government instead of paying taxes to the government.

In good conscience, most people would say that taxes collected is to pay for government services including national defense, roads and bridges, fire and police protection, etc. Of course, taxes are also used to pay for things with which all might not personally agree, such as government theft, abuse and personal expenditures, or on unnecessary things that many consider to be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.

And most recently, complaints and arguments were against the hospitals,

Serious Business COMMENTARY

THE crash on Saturday of the Boeing 777 wide body aircraft at San Francisco airport was serious.

However it brought back memories.

We were in the Boeing plant years ago delivering a piece of equipment to be used on the 777 production line. The first two 777 production planes were nearing completion. The equipment we built for Boeing weighted nearly 30,000 pounds and was shipped in on a railroad car.

Our companion Boeing engineer gave us a tour of the Boeing facility and we walked through the planes. Our equipment worked well and we built and delivered several more units.

By David Tapfer However, last Saturdays accident brought home what a serious affair handing these giant planes entails.

The 777 that crashed in San Francisco had flown from Korea across the wide Pacific Ocean before it crash landed at the large and well equipped California airport. The training and professional conduct of

SPACE IS LIMITED!

the emergency ground crew in San Francisco minimized the injuries and obviously saved lives.

Despite the experienced and well trained flight crew of Saturdays flight the plane touched down early, cart wheeled and crashed.

History has shown us that things which we guard against with the highest grade of professionalism continue to happen.

However without adequate training and preparation the possibility of a serious disaster looms closer.

TCI has extended its airport to facilitate the landing of B-777 and other wide body aircraft. This plane can handle 300 or more passengers.

We understand the flight that crashed had 317 passengers and crew aboard.

Every day we land and takeoff

smaller but nevertheless large 737 and 757 aircraft with hundreds of people aboard.

Hopefully if we ever have a problem I pray we are prepared.

We do have a history of tinkering with the emergency crews. Remember the fire fighters strike and airport shut down while flights were inbound from Miami, very serious business.

It is not too soon to ask if TCI Airport Authority officials are experienced in airport affairs elsewhere and if they are qualified to deal with this type of emergency?

Are they qualified to train emergency crews? Did the recent two day visit of Caribbean Disaster expert Ron Jackson address airport issues?

We need to ask ourselves if our hospitals can handle a sizable emergency which could entail 100

and NIB bailout. But taxes are not new, and they do have a purpose.

Purpose In order for any country to operate, including the TCI, there must be some form of funding, regardless of its type or source. Absent donors, governments must only develop, but institute and manage a tax system that provide a sustainable revenue source in order that the country’s business (expenditures) can be done in a prudent and accountable manner.

The purpose of taxation is to provide for government spending a level/rate of taxes and collection effort that are justified as they fund activities that are necessary and beneficial to vendors and society.

Note that taxes can come in the form of "direct taxes" or "indirect taxes"; where our own NIB and NHIP tax are "direct", and the proposed VAT (now replacement 15%) tax is "indirect". No to simplify or underscore, every tax, however, is, to the person who pays it, a badge, not of slavery, but of liberty chronicled

by Adam Smith (1776), Wealth of Nations. Taxes do have its rationale, place and its target.

Target Expenditures Taxes are targeted to cure expenditure provisions of public continued 

to 200 people. We have had our share of accidents with smaller planes. The San Francisco disaster used 9 hospitals to deal with injured passengers on the 777.

Disaster management does not begin at the beginning of the hurricane season.

Who is on the job for aircraft emergencies right here in Provo?

This not a political game and is something which requires help from London or USA aviation experts. When we were in London in 2010 our mission called on British Airways, They had no plans to send direct flights to TCI. We flew home on a 777 landing in the USA. Perhaps TCI is prepared, but cannot help asking questions.

Perhaps we need to continue to use the extended runway as a safety factor and forget the wide body jumbo aircraft idea.

In any event let us be alert and pay attention and not just ignore this warning, this is serious business.

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

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

continued

Challenge – Taxes and Taxation in the TCI! continued

goods such as roads and other infrastructure, schools, health care for the indigent, national defense, law enforcement, and a courts system increases the economic welfare of society; and last but just as important, a social safety net – surplus for “rainy times” and “targeted items”, all to be clearly itemized and laid out in a schedule/ plan called a budget.

What is a Budget?

Simple and straight forward, a “budget” is simply a “plan of action”. A budget is a spending plan that you decide upon. It is based on how much you make in income and what your monthly expenses are.

A budget is a plan for managing your money. A budget helps guide you with spending and using your money. By understanding your

monthly income and expenses, you will be better able to manage your cash flow and determine how much debt, if any, you can take on, and how much taxes must be raised to pay such debt/expenditures.

Caution While it is not the intent of the writer to undermine efforts, at times, deficiencies are too readily evident. Hence, with caution and some restraint, the readers should use previous postings such as labor, surplus, budget, employment and unemployment only to supplement comprehension, as these opinions are designed to serve as a “read and see resource” tool. Remember, if we are seeking redress, we must first have clean hands!

Kind regards, Edward E. Smith, PhD., FFA.

Congratulates all Graduates!

Congratulations to all the graduates! It is an immense honour to share in this special moment with you all. You are celebrating an achievement of one of the largest milestones of your lives thus far, and the commencement of what should be a very exciting period; exactly how exciting is up to you.

As cliché as it may sound, it marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Throughout your celebration take a moment or two to reflect on the mistakes you have made;

the achievements you have accomplished; where you are headed; and the experiences you will encounter.

Look at your lives now and picture yourself in the next two to three years. If you are comfortable with where you are embrace it. If you are not, strive for better, do not give up; continue to push against barriers and never settle for mediocrity; but above all else believe in yourself!

Regards, Snwanza Adams.

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

Send letters to tcweeklynews@gmail.com

NEWS 15

Investors encouraged to join Haiti trade mission THE CHAMBER of Commerce, with support from the Investment Unit, has taken a bold step towards assisting one of the TCI’s closest neighbours and oldest trading partners in its journey towards economic and social growth.

President of the Providenciales Chamber and president of Digicel TCI, E.J Saunders, on Tuesday evening (July 9) at a reception for local business men and women, encouraged them to look towards Haiti for investment opportunities and help the country grow its economy.

“Haiti is rich in resources, so the question is how can Haiti turn itself into an economic power within the region?

“What Haiti needs is investment, and I can guarantee you between Haiti’s natural resources and its population, as an investment, Haiti will turn itself around.

“In the Turks and Caicos there has been very few opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders (and by this I mean anyone who has made TCI their home) and businesses; this is an opportunity for us to become investors and entrepreneurs, and Haiti presents itself for that opportunity,” Saunders said.

The Caribbean country has not only laid out the welcome mat for the TCI alone, but for other international commerce and investments.

The proposed mission is hoping to highlight the country’s assets as an international trade hub; identify commercial and business opportunities ideally suited for the TCI private sector participants; engage in dialogue with Government officials on ways to develop and enhance trade between TCI and Haiti, explore avenues for trade agreements and further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The mission is being proposed to last for four days with stops in Cap-

Haitian and Port-au-Prince.

It will also provide an opportunity for participants to meet with highlevel Haitian government officials, receive in-country briefings, network with Haitian businesses and take part in prearranged business to business matchmaking meetings with local companies.

Rebecca Astwood of the Investment Unit relayed the organisation’s commitment to the mission and the Government’s continued dialogue with the Haitian consulate in an effort to explore opportunities for investment in Haiti.

“We have that long history and relationship with Haiti in terms of doing business and I think it’s now a perfect opportunity with the consulate here that we can take the trade mission to identify, do reconnaissance on what those opportunities are and provide private sector participants with an opportunity to have firsthand knowledge.”

Consul for Commercial and Cultural Affairs of the Haitian Consulate, Margarette Lemaire, gave a Power Point presentation on the background on the economic and social situation of the country.

The presentation outlined Haiti’s major exports as apparel, light manufacturing, plant oils, mangoes, cocoa, vetiver and its major imports as food, manufactured goods, machinery, transport equipment, fuels and lubricants.

The priority sectors within Haiti are listed as tourism, textile construction, agro business and animal husbandry.

In terms of its investment protection, these are identified as proactive commitments, opportunities for international private sector, in construction sector, the tourism sector and the garment and manufacturing sectors.

Some of the persisting challenges

to investment, as outlined by Lemaire are lack of electricity, water, sanitation, and access to finance.

She said to combat these challenges investors have to have a long term prospective and a healthy appreciation for risk and that the best strategy for managing risk is awareness, education and advocacy.

Lemaire noted that as the country rebuilds, the immigration situation between Haiti and the TCI will change.

She said incentives to investing in the country are that is has a young labour force – 70 per cent under 30 – government has a total exoneration on income tax (up to 15 years) after that there is accelerated depreciation in structural properties, equipment; exoneration from local taxes for 15 years, among others.

Ben Stubenberg of Cacique, who has extended his business to Haiti, spoke of his successes.

“Together with Chloe Zimmerman, a few years ago we started a company with the intent of developing tourism in Haiti; to try to talk to people about that for some it might just seem like an oxymoron, it might just seem impossible.”

He recalled that he and Zimmerman, at separate times, had experiences with taking people to Haiti and as such they knew the potential of the country.

“So we started a programme where we would get people from Provo who are already pre-disposed to tourism as well as people from North America and possibly Europe to come down to Provo to have their vacation but also pop over for a couple of days to Haiti.

“It seemed like a much more practical idea than say ‘hey come spend a week in Haiti’, people just aren’t ready for that yet, until they’ve been there.”

He said it has had remarkable and positive impact on the people who have visited the country. (DI)

On the Occasion of your 40th Anniversary as a Nation PREMIER, Dr. Rufus Ewing, wrote to Bahamian Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, to congratulate him on the 40th Anniversary of his country’s independence on Wednesday (July 10).

In his letter to Prime Minister Christie, Ewing said: “On behalf of the people Turks & Caicos Islands, I extend congratulations on the occasion of the 40th Independence Day of the Bahamas. I wish you and the people of the Bahamas every success.

“I know that Independence Day will be celebrated cheerfully and joyfully in the Bahamas and many other Caribbean Countries including here in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The Bahamas is a close partner and key ally of the Turks & Caicos Islands and the whole of

the Caribbean. I therefore hope that we will build up our dialogue and cooperation in the years ahead as we work together to address political, economic and other challenges faced by our countries.

“I wish that the strong bond between the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands would continue to encourage and advance the work started in many different areas and that the new ideas and initiatives would further enriched our close cooperation.

“Once again, congratulations on Independence Day. Please accept, Mr. Prime Minister, the assurance of my highest consideration.”

The Official Opposition and the wider Peoples' Democratic Movement (PDM) family also extended congratulations to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

on the celebration of its 40th Anniversary as a nation.

In writing to the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Perry G Christie, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson said: “We have watched the Bahamas grow from strength to strength and though you face challenges, you seem never to lose hope in what makes you a great people.

“Your family in these Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) celebrate with you and encourage you to stand firm on the ideals on which your country was founded.

“Your swell of pride and your commitment to excellence is a great testament to many nations.

“May God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as you celebrate this great milestone.

‘March on Bahama Land’!”

16 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

this week

Friday, July 12 to Tuesday, July 16 Friday, July 12  Danny Buoy’s is Provo’s premier live music and sports destination, serving lunch and dinner daily from 11:30am. It is the perfect place to escape from the heat and hang with friends, all in smoke free air-conditioned comfort.

Happy Hour specials from 4-7pm Monday-Saturday  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 946-8666 for details

Saturday, July 13  TCI Red Cross presents its Inaugural Charity Cup. Fun starts at 11:00am at the Kids Park in the Bight. Come support local charities as they compete for the grand prize. (Admission: Adults: $3 and children $1)  If you are looking for a serene and relaxed way of starting your weekend, bring your yoga mat at Graceway Sports Centre every Saturday at 9am and let David Bowen lead you into the wonderful world of yoga! Amazing fees for an amazing class! More info at 442-6348.  Mums and Tots Dance Party classes are held every Saturday at Graceway Sports Centre for mothers and their little ones. Mothers, bring your little ones to dance, jump, twist and shake! Children have fun learning movement basics to fun music and mums get a light exercise while spending quality time. Mums and Tots classes begin at 10am and cost just $10. Dads are welcome! Call Shara Bowen on 244-1103 for more details.

Sunday, July 14

July 13 - 19, 2013

Appropriation Committee begins scrutiny of Budget THE Government has set its Budget Session for July 22 and the Appropriation Committee began its review of the 2013/2014 estimates on Tuesday (July 9).

Chair of the Committee, Sharlene Cartwright–Robinson, said: “We are pleased to have had the Budget laid on the table last week in Parliament and as an Appropriations Committee we will attempt to do our best under the severe time constraints as the Government has set its Budget Session for July 22, 2013.

“We will discharge our Constitutional responsibility and, at the completion of the Hearings, will submit a Report to the Minister of Finance.”

One of the first things the Appropriations Committee looked at was the fact that the 2013/2014 is projecting a $2.2m deficit.

Cartwright–Robinson questioned if the projections were made out of an abundance of caution and whether there is any chance for even a small surplus.

The Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Athenee Harvey, explained that the projection is an overall operating surplus, but after repayment of Government’s debts and a transfer of just over $11m to the sinking fund, the result would be a $2.2m deficit.

She explained that the TCI has made commitments in the Fiscal

and Strategic and Policy Statement (FSPS).

The Committee also looked at the Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade on Tuesday; the Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture and the Office of the Premier on Wednesday (July 10); and the Ministry of Government Support Services and Ministry of Border Control and Labour on Thursday (July 11).

Among the issues raised were: increases and decreases in some allocations; allocations of sums under headings that were “vague”, according to the Committee; the revenue projections from new taxes; the basis on which some projections were made, an effort to ensure that the numbers were realistic; new expenditures, such

as membership fees to CARICOM and CARTAC; increases in personnel costs; spending on committed projects; and funding for new Government departments.

Another three days have been set aside next week for the completion of the Budget scrutiny.

On Monday (July 15), the Committee is expected to review allocation to the Office of Governor, Director of Public Prosecution Office, Office of Deputy Governor and Police; and on Tuesday (July 16) allocations to the Judiciary, Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Finance will be scrutinized.

The final day, Wednesday (July 17), has been set aside for the Committee to draft its report.

(VANESSA NARINE)

Young man charged for robbery POLICE laid the charge of robbery against 18-year-old Rashad McKenzie on Tuesday (July 9), following a report made the previous day.

The 18-year-old appeared in Providenciales Magistrates Court on Wednesday (July 10) before the Chief Magistrate Clifton Warner.

He was not required to enter a plea and was given $10,000 bail with the conditions that he adhere to a 6am to 6pm curfew and surrender all of his travel documents.

The young man was ordered to appear in the Supreme Court on September 6 for a sufficiency hearing.

autism awareness Spectrum of hope – By Nicole Cox

Take it from the top

 Windvibes 2013 Kiteboarding Tournament. Come enjoy the fun at Long Bay Beach.

Tuesday, July 16  Every Tuesday - sweet fingers at Horse Eye Jacks' Fish House & Real Beach Bar. Fun starts from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Come out for the best in classic rock, blues and R&B music on the island.  POINT GRACE presents Native Cuisine Night with music by local artist Correy Forbes. Satisfy that longing for native food in an elegant setting, accompanied by live local music.

Got an event you wish to advertise?

Call us on 946 4664 or email tcweeklynews@gmail.com for a free listing.

I have been writing for the causes of Autism, general education, child development and behavioral sciences for going on two years now!

Some of you who are reading this right now have been following the publications since day one and some of you are new readers.

Thank you, no matter your reason, for taking the time to glean through my thoughts and, hopefully, find information that is relevant to our world.

There is so much more to learn and discuss on all the above mentioned subjects.

But just to serve as a bit of a reboot, we will take some time to rewind in this article so that those new to the journey can catch up and get a clear view of platform.

I have been bombarded with questions over the past few weeks on exactly what Dawn Program for Autism and Behavioral Sciences (DPABS) is and how they can be involved. It is very simple.

In February of 2010, we founded an organization that was originally intended to provide Applied Behavioral Science (ABA) services to children ages 2-5 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

To make a VERY long story short,

Dawn has evolved into something much more important. Discovering that the best way for persons in the TCI to be able to afford ABA services long term would be to learn how to execute it themselves was metamorphosis one.

Discovering that ABA is broad behavioral science that can and should be applied to all educational platforms of all ages and all cognitive/developmental abilities was metamorphosis two.

Securing a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) with Master’s degree in education, who was willing and able to not only design ABA programs, but teach persons with NO prior experience in education or behavioral sciences how to execute said programs was the final metamorphosis.

DPABS is more of a school than an organization.

We are not simply an awareness entity as we do more than educate for knowledge sake, we educate for the sole purpose of direct practical application across multiple domains, not just ASD. And though we can offer words of emotional support, we value more the information that will serve as tangible benefit to the families, students and schools we

service.

We are not a fundraising entity, as we understand that public support is subject to the economic temperatures of the moment and that personal investment into one’s own education promotes personal accountability and long term commitment.

We espouse only sound, quantifiable practices under the guidance of qualified, experienced professionals. We do not endorse any therapies, agencies or practices that have not been validated by our own BCBA. We bring what would normally cost thousands in time, research, money and travel to the doorstep of the TCI. We do NOT promise recovery to those affected by ASD. We do promise access to every piece of sound guidance available at the disadvantage of TCI’s distance from ABA centers and the opportunity to empower oneself with knowledge and know-how.

So, to those who have been asking me, “How do I get involved?” I first must ask you, “How much do you want to learn… how hard are you willing to work?”

Check Dawnprogram@gmail. com for more information.

July 13 - 19, 2013

NEWS 17

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

SIPT grills alleged land flipper RICHARDSON Arthur had his day in court as the Attorney General, through the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT), sought to recover the proceeds from an alleged ‘land flipping’ deal.

The Middle Caicos-born pilot is being represented by Ariel Misick, Q.C. while David Phillips, Q.C., continues to lead for the Crown in the Supreme Court.

The five day trial commenced on Monday (July 8) before Judge Margaret Ramsay-Hale.

The Crown’s case as set out by Phillips is that the defendant’s purchase of parcel 285, on January 30, 2008, at a cost of $50,000 for the purpose of constructing a residential home was falsely represented.

Its alternative case is that the prior authorisation by the Minister with responsibility for Crown land, McAllister Hanchell, was wrongful and in breach of his fiduciary duties and that the defendant had sufficient knowledge of the alleged breach of duty so as to make it unconscionable for him to have purchased the land.

Hanchell’s breach is set out as his direction to grant the Conditional Purchase Lease (CPL) to Arthur on the basis of a erroneous valuation and thus approved rental and sale prices at an undervalue, that he facilitated the sale to the defendant for the purpose of a commercial development, that he authorised the outright sale of the land without registration of the Crown charge and that he granted the transfer of the land in spite of the defendant not having complied with the terms of the CPL. The Crown stated that the defendant’s attorney (Saunders and Co) in the transaction to sell the land

to Shore Club Development opened a file for the deal on August 13, 2007, and that the file opening information records the property transaction price as $1,350,000.

Phillips in his presentations stated the valued price of the land was $200,000.

He stated that the Saunders and Co. lawyer contacted the Ministry saying that the defendant wished to buy the land outright; with no Belonger discount and that the purchase price quoted was $50,000, which both the lawyer and the defendant knew was wrong.

According to Phillips during his presentations before the court, Arthur knew when he purchased the land that he had already agreed to sell it on for $1.35 million to a company owned by Stan Hartling, a Canadian developer with Belonger status.

This was denied by the defendant when Phillips, on cross examination, put the question to him.

On the stand, Arthur maintained his position that he had indeed bought the land to construct a residential property, and that he had been repeatedly approached by a representative of the company to sell the land, but that he initially refused.

He testified that his initial thought was that it was unheard of for anyone to build a condo on that part of the island, but that he finally said okay to the offer after having consulted with a close friend.

Asked if he knew why Hartling would pay him more than the commercial value, Arthur said he did not.

He said he told Hartling if he wanted him gone he had to pay $1.35 million.

Phillips tried to get Arthur to accept

that he knew very well that the land which he had bought for $50,000 was worth that much, but the defendant was adamant in his statements that the only reason he got such a substantial sum was because Hartling wanted him to sell and he was not budging.

Misick on re-examination, established that Arthur did not ask any government minister to supply him with land and that with regard to the difference in the figures, his client was not aware that anything was wrong until it was pointed out to him by his attorney.

Misick also established that since that time, the defendant has agreed to repay the $150,000 difference.

He further stipulated that his client had not consulted any lawyer when he signed the lease.

The defence attorney in his presentations submitted that at the time of the creation of the subdivision the then Chief Land Valuer was asked to value the lots created by the subdivision and valued the land at $520,000 on March 29, 2006.

However, he was then asked to make a new valuation using current valuation figures and thus revised his valuation the following day to $200,000 and that this the offer made to the defendant.

During the proceedings it was unclear why the second valuation was requested, except that the instruction would have come from either Hanchell or the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

However, the CPL provided that the freehold purchase price was $50,000 which represented a 25 per cent discount of the market value of the land.

The defence stipulated that this was probably a mistake as the purchase price was to be calculated at 75 per cent of the appraised value and that the referenced 25 per cent was clearly a drafting mistake.

Misick in his closing arguments stated that the court has to exclude the serious possibility that there was a mistake because a mistake does not constitute a breach of duty.

He further stated that if the CPL offer letter to Arthur was wrong, and was not picked up by anyone, then it would be difficult for the court to conclude with any degree of confidence that the mistake did not emanate from the draft that was given to Hanchell to sign.

As it relates to the Crown’s case that Arthur fraudulently represented himself, Misick set out that there is no evidence that the defendant did not intend to build a dwelling house when he applied for the CPL sometime in 2005 and that this fact did not change by the time the CPL was executed or when he was granted freehold title.

The defence accepted that by November 7, 2007, the defendant no longer intended to build on the land having entered into a contract to sell same to Hartling on September 24 of the same year.

However, Misick pointed out that there was no inducement of the plaintiff and no dishonesty on the part of the defendant because at this stage the former knew that the latter would no longer be building a dwelling house on the land.

In his arguments, Misick stated that it was not Arthur’s intention that the plaintiff would act on the basis of the letter from Sunset on November

Take caution this hurricane season AS THE first tropical storm of the season, Tropical Storm Chantel, strengthened in the Caribbean Sea, residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands were warned not to take storm watches lightly.

In a press conference at the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) headquarters last Tuesday, officials urged the public to take necessary steps to ensure their safety and have a plan of action in the event that something disastrous happens.

Minister of Government Support Services, George Lightbourne said: “We have to prepare...we have no guarantee that it would come and there’s no guarantee that it wouldn’t come so my advice to you would be to look around your yard and if you see old debris or anything that has potential to fly about and cause a problem then you should move them.”

Although Chantel is no longer a threat, Director of DDME Virginia Clerveaux would like to urge residents “not to let their guard down since there is still four months remaining in the season… and storms, regardless of their intensity should not be taken lightly.”

While the advisory at the conference was meant for TS Chantel, the Director said that the tips given are applicable

to any system that may threaten the islands for the remainder of the hurricane season.

She said that the Government, through the DDME has taken several steps to ensure that they are ready and that the community is also ready.

“Much has been done over the past few months to beef up preparation drains have been cleaned and in some cases new wells have been dug,” the director reported.

She suggested that residents answer the following questions to understand

how prepared they are if a hurricane were to hit the islands.

How will you protect your home and family, where would you be housed, how would your family get in contact with you, do you have sand bags, do you have the necessities to survive during the first 48 -72 hours?

When preparing for a hurricane or a watch is issued, she recommended doing the following: Fix hurricane shutters, collect adequate of food and drinking water, clean and sanitise bath tubs and containers to store water,

fully charge cell phones, ensure there is sufficient fuel in your vehicle in case you have to evacuate.

Another very important thing for residents to do is to stay tuned to local media houses, radios, television and internet and monitor text messages as the Government will collaborate with telecommunications companies to send warning messages and updates.

Community preparedness manager of Department of Environmental and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) Desmond Lightbourne, who was also at the conference said that DEMA is offering a maximum of ten sandbags per

5, 2007, as was stipulated by Phillips during his presentations to the court.

Misick said the letter was not sent at the request of the defendant, but was solicited by the Commissioner of Lands who thought it was an administrative necessity.

The defence case is that the plaintiff wanted the land to be used to accommodate the Shore Club development and that the change in Arthur’s intention was brought about at the express request of Floyd Hall with the consent of Hanchell.

Misick stated that if the court finds the only breach of duty was in relation to the price at which the land was transferred to the defendant, that value of the benefit received by Arthur was $150,000. He added the plaintiff would also be entitled to interest on this sum.

According to the defence attorney, the claim for deceit has not been proven and there was no fraud on the part of the defendant; also, that the transfer of the land was not caused by any reliance by the plaintiff that the land would be used for residential purposes.

As it relates to Hanchell’s breach of duty, Misick said this was not established, but that if such a breach was established, then Arthur had no knowledge of this at any stage up to and including when the land was sold to Hartling’s company on March 20, 2008.

Meanwhile the relief sought by the Crown includes a declaration that the defendant holds the purchase lease price of $1.35 million on trust for the plaintiff and that he immediately account to the plaintiff for same.

Its alternative claim is damages of $1,350,000 plus compound interest of six per cent. (DI)

household to help prevent flooding in homes.

In Grand Turk the bags can be collected at the Red Cross, in Salt Cay they will be delivered house to house, in South Caicos at the library, North Caicos residents can visit Kew Community Centre or Adelaide Oemler Primary and in Providenciales they are available at DEMA or the Red Cross.

Officials also shared a list of shelters that will be open to offer Islanders a safe place and said that more will be open depending on the intensity of the storm. (see box for location of shelters in each island) For additional information or queries, residents can contact the DDME office at 946-4521/4177. (KH)

Shelters in Each Island

Officials offer safety tips for the hurricane season. From left, director of Red Cross, Lormeka Williams; Minister of Government Support Services, George Lightbourne; Director of DDME, Virginia Clerveaux and DEMA’s community preparedness manager, Desmond Lightbourne

Grand Turk: Green Door - Old Naval Base South Caicos: New Community Centre – Sarah Hill North Caicos: Kew Community Centre – Kew, Sandy Point Community Centre – Sandy Point, Lighthouse Church – Bottle Creek Middle Caicos: Bambarra Community Centre- Bambarra, Conch Bar Community Centre – Conch Bar and Mt. Moriah Baptist Church – Conch Bar Providenciales: Enid Capron Primary – Five Cays, Messenger Church – Five Cays, Oseta Jolly Primary - Blue Hills, ADRA Seven Days Adventist – Blue Hills, Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex - Downtown, Precious Treasures Primary – Discovery Bay and All Saints Mission Church - Leeward Highway Salt Cay: Club House – South District and Methodist Sunday School Hall – North District

Lifestyle...

18

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

fitness Tip 

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

The Beach Workout THE beach can be more than a place to relax by the sea.

Have you considered the beach as the ideal location for your next workout? Turks and Caicos is blessed with so many great beaches, why not give it a try.

Exercise in the sand has many benefits. Being outdoors with a cool sea breeze can really add to the workout experience. The shifting sand beneath your feet can provide many benefits. The soft and changing foothold puts greater stress on the lower part of the legs, working the muscles that stabilize the ankle and knee. The uneven surface improves

Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine physician Dr. Joe LeMoine

what is called proprioception, which is the essentially the muscles reacting to stabilize the joints. This helps develop better protection of the joints for sports. Furthermore all the extra work the muscles are doing means you can burn up to one third more calories in a workout.

A number of sports are often played in beach versions. The local football, volleyball and rugby clubs all have regular competitions on the sand. Running is always popular on the beach, providing a great workout and a rewarding cool off swim afterwards.

Another favourite is yoga. The warm sand helps relax the muscles and improve flexibility. Kneeling positions are easier on the forgiving sand compared to the floor. Finally by making use of uneven sand this can add new challenges to some key

poses.

A recent trend is boot camps on the beach. Lunges, sprints, jumps and pushups become even a greater workout on sand. The soft beach also provides a forgiving surface for planks and crunches. Finally you can add “surf sprints” into the circuit training with a sprint into the sea between sets. Anyone who has tried this knows it is hard work but also a nice addition to the workout.

If you decide to give beach workouts a try here are a few tips.

Make sure to wear sun protection

and bring water. Be aware of where you are working out; if barefoot, scan the area beforehand for any sharp objects. When starting to run on the beach try to start on low tide and down near the water edge where there is a firmer flat surface. And when running don’t worry about your speed, you are building strength and burning more calories that will pay off later if you decide to road race. Use the sea to cool off and assist recovery after a workout but its not the time for a challenging swim.

See you on the sand.

health Tip 

Lemon Meringue Pie This is a very fun recipe to follow, because it is sweet and simple. This pie is thickened with cornstarch and flour in addition to egg yolks, and contains no milk.

Ingredients: 1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups water 2 lemons, juiced and zested 2 tablespoons butter 4 egg yolks, beaten 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked 4 egg whites Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

3. To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form.

Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

Super Lemons SUMMER is here, as is hurricane season, and in the last couple of weeks the reports of flu and cold incidents have been increasing.

So this week, we take a closer look at lemons, one of the proven home remedies to tackle those annoying symptoms that keep you down.

There are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries.

The two biggest are lemons’ strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immuneboosting powers and their use as a weight loss aid because lemon juice is a digestive aid and liver cleanser.

Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold, but its benefits extends to much more.

Lemon being a citrus fruit, fights against infection. It helps in production of WBC's and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infection.

Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

This fruit also lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol)/ Lemon is found to be anticarcinogenic which lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer.

They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic.

Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

A few drops of lemon juice in hot water are believed to clear the digestive system and purify liver as well.

The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body. Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightner and skin bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches. Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.

Lemon juice is given to prevent or treat urinary tract infection and

gonorrhea.

It also relieves colic pain and gastric problems.

Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.

Whether you use them in the form of juice, teas, drinks, dressing, poultices or in the bath, take advantage of lemons’ natural healing power.

July 13 - 19, 2013

Lifestyle...

GARDENING 

19

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

How does your garden grow

YOUR DIET

ASK TAMIKA

BY TAMIKA HANDFIELD

Tamika graduated from Florida International University in Miami with a Masters degree in Dietetics & Nutrition. She is a registered dietitian with the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and licensed to practice medical nutrition therapy in the state of Florida.

Email Tamika via tcweeklynews@gmail.com or tamikahandfield@yahoo.com with your healthy eating questions.

Fast-growing casuarinas can quickly become unmanageable, forcing native plants and animals to compete for food and space.

Casuarina – an exotic invader CASUARINA equisetifolia is a weedy exotic known as the Australian Pine. It is a very striking and graceful tree that grows throughout the lower elevations and the coast of the Islands.

While the casuarina resembles a long needled pine tree it not actually a pine but instead is a member of the beefwood family.

Casuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family casuarinaceae, native to Australia, southeastern Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean.

The Australian Pine migrated to the Islands from Australia and the East Indies over 100 years ago. The quick growing thick umbrella of leaves offers impenetrable shade and quickly secured itself by competing auspiciously with some native vegetation, such as mangroves.

These trees are extremely accepting of salt spray and poor beach soils. They are evergreen shrubs and trees growing up to 100 feet tall. The foliage consists of slender, much-branched green to grey-green twigs bearing minute scale-leaves in whorls of five to 20.

The flowers are produced in small catkin-like inflorescences; the male flowers in simple spikes, the female flowers on short peduncles.

The fruit is a woody, oval structure superficially resembling a conifer cone made up of numerous carpels each containing a single seed with a small wing.

It is considered a valuable tree throughout the world. The wood makes an excellent source of firewood. The wood is also good for construction materials and for roofing and tools. In some places the tree is used to produce paper.

The casuarina tree is a very hardy

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

tree and is useful in protecting shorelines from tsunamis. The casuarina can withstand a tsunami wave better than coconut. But now they are growing, strangling all surrounding plants, or covering them in and killing all other native plants.

The Australian Pine's most significant footprint is evident along Middle Caicos shorelines. The lack of inhibiting factors allows the Australian Pine to multiply in numbers at such a fast rate that they become unmanageable.

When this exotic species takes over an area and becomes unmanageable, native plants and animals are forced to compete for food and space. Diverse native shore species found along beaches

dramatically decrease, are less rich in types of species, are less complex in food web structure and have less potential to adapt to changing conditions, making it difficult to grow where the exotic is dominant.

The thick shallow root system of the Australian Pine produces nitrogen and enables it to grow in nutrient poor soils, such as salt waters.

Due to the tree’s root system the Australian Pine can easily get uprooted and blown around by hurricanes and strong winds. This can lead to beach and dune erosion and disruption of sea turtles’ nesting season. Native trees anchor and shelter shorelines protecting them from hurricanes.

Summer and weigh gain in children SUMMER vacation is here and if I were a child I would be jumping around with glee because it means a time when I could kick back and relax.

As a parent, I am not so excited because I know it means higher food bills and a constant search for activities to get my son involved with.

Summer is usually a time when our schedules are not so busy and our daily routines are a bit more relaxed.

We sometimes jokingly say that summer vacation is a time when everything learnt during the school year drain out of the children’s brains.

However, it turns out that parents have another reason to be a little apprehensive during the summer break.

A large study in The American Journal of Public Health, where researchers tracked 5,380 children, showed that summer vacation is a time when many children gained excess weight—more so than when school is open.

The study thought that this weight gain could be attributed to two main factors: (1) Children usually eat/snack more during vacation then when they are in school; usually because the home is less structured than the school environment.

(2) Children are engaged in more sedentary activities when they are home. In years past, children were much more involved in activities that required energy being used; activities such as running, climbing trees, riding bikes, swimming, playing ‘bat and ball’ and the list goes on. Today, children are glued to a screen (T.V, computer, phone, video game) for hours while at the same time eating high calorie junk food.

Childhood obesity has become a major Public Health concern and has been called an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). An overweight child is at an increased risk of developing many illnesses— sleep apnea, diabetes, heart problems, bone and joint problems as well as social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor selfesteem. Therefore, it is imperative that parents find summer activities that promote physical activity in their children.

One such event is Nutrition in Demand’s Movement, Nutrition & Music summer (MNM’s) Camp. This is a nutrition and physical activity camp designed for all children between ages 10-15 but especially those children who may struggle with their weight. The children will be taught how to prepare and plan meals using all food groups, portion control, how to read food labels and be involved in lots of physical activities— skills that promote weight lost/management but in a nonthreatening and fun environment.

For more information and registration forms, please contact me.

Nutrition In Demand A non profit organization helping you to: "Eat Healthy Today...

Living, Longer, Better Tomorrow" Cell: (649) 242-3978 or (649) 442-3978

20 NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Higgins on board for a name change of FSC

BY VANESSA NARINE CABINET heard a presentation by managing director of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Kevin Higgins, who outlined the role and responsibilities of the FSC and clarified their role supporting the development of the financial services industry.

The FSC is an independent body with primary responsibility for the regulation of the industry and it provides some assistance (as part of its role) with the development and promotion of the industry.

His presentation came a week after the disbanding of the Financial Services Coordinating Committee, a move made by the Government as part of a wider effort to revamp the Islands’ financial services sector, which includes marketing and development of new products.

Higgins disagreed with this move, but maintained that the FSC remains committed to supporting the advance of the sector.

At a press conference on Thursday (July 11), Finance

Minister, Washington Misick, stated that the FCS’s managing director is in agreement for a name change of the FSC, which will clearly express the function of the commission, a regulator of the sector and not responsible for marketing and development of new products.

Misick explained that with an elected Government back in office, coordinating marketing of the sector falls under the administration’s remit, not the FSC. According to him, Government’s focus is a one-stop-shop agency that will promote inward investment and progress in the financial services industry.

HOLISTIC APPROACH The Finance Minister stated that he will be presenting an “investment package” to Cabinet soon, which will include new polices, among other things, to make advances in this area.

In Parliament last Monday (July 1), the Member for Wheeland, Delroy Williams, queried what

was being done to strengthen the financial services sector so that it is able to produce stronger revenues.

Misick told the House that while he had not held extensive conversation with experts in the sector, the recurring criticism was that there were not many new products being offered, which would go a long way towards producing stronger revenues.

“The cry I get now is that there is nothing to promote,” he said.

The Minister maintained that change must be holistic.

“The regulation of the financial services sector is under the Governor, but the promotion of the sector should be the work of the government of the day,” he stressed.

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, also commented on the issue at Thursday’s press conference and reiterated similar sentiments.

“The FSC needs to divorce itself from marketing…it is a regulatory body,” he said.

According to him, more dialogue is the way forward for the financial services sector.

TCI Heart Foundation continues to support twins suffering from heart disease

BY DAISY HANDFIELD SEVEN-year-old twins Makayla and Makay have become a local sensation after it became known that they both have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.

Overwhelmed by the girls’ story, the Heart Foundation has been stirring up ideas to organise a fundraiser event for World Heart Day in September to help raise funds for the girls to undergo heart transplants.

People who suffer from this disease are unable to take part in physical activities and are prone to a heart attack at any moment.

Therapy for restrictive cardiomyopathy is limited; heart failure resulting from restrictive cardiomyopathy will eventually have to be treated by cardiac transplantation.

President of the Heart Foundation, Karen Malcolm told the Weekly News that the foundation would do everything in its power to help the girls.

Malcolm added that they immediately attempted to seek government and even international assistance.

She said: “We made several attempts to get guidance and assistance from our connections in the USA but, this proved futile because they were not born in the USA and the subsequent length and time that it would take to get them on a donors list.

“We met with the local

Makayla and Makay in happier times

Government in particular the Minister of Health Hon. StubbsSmith who promised to put measures in places to assist with getting the girls to the United Kingdom for further treatment.

“We are all aware of the financial constraints in Government but understood that as a dependent territory we can place five people per year on the list in the UK.” They are still awaiting feedback from Government officials.

In the meantime, the president

noted that the Heart Foundation provides financial assistance whenever the girls have to travel to Nassau, Bahamas, for their checkups.

Also, a number of small fundraising events have been put in place throughout the last two months to accumulate funds for the girls.

Malcolm added that they are still seeking the public’s help with donations which can be made to the Turks and Caicos Heart Foundation’s account at the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Swimmers enjoy the thrill of the race

Race for Conch a major success THREATENING storm clouds, a rain shower, and a stronger than usual current could not stop or dampen the spirits of those involved in the fourth annual Race for the Conch eco-sea swim last Saturday (July 6).

The now well-established island charity event saw 100 swimmers turn out to enjoy a thrilling day that showed off Grace Bay as a world class open water swim race destination.

Swimmers from the TCI, USA, Canada, and Europe, many returning for the third or fourth time, competed for a unique conch trophy or just to do their personal best.

Defending champion and resident swimmer, Dan Redmond, once again took first in the one-mile men's division in a superb time of 23 minutes 38 seconds.

Eric Erenstoft and Clay Britt of the USA came in second and third respectively.

Providenciales resident, Jessica Sloan, came in first in the one-mile women's division in an excellent time of 27 minutes 53 seconds.

She was followed by Rachel Jenny and Sally Ann Patton of the USA for second and third place.

First place overall winner for the 2.4 mile event was Wally Dicks of Virginia, USA. Wally had taken second place for the past two years, but this time won it handily as he clocked in at 56 minutes 42 seconds.

Americans Ladislav Sebestyan and James Lyness came in second and third.

Club Med won the Resort Cup with a combined time (three swimmers) of 118 minutes 15 seconds.

The event also featured a 100 metre open water children's swim for youngsters 11 and under.

In keeping with the conch theme, TCI Director of Culture, David Bowen, blew the conch shell to start the races, adding another uniquely TCI touch to the event.

Race organisers made minor changes in this year's one-mile and 2.4 mile course that put the start/ finish right at the half-way point in front of Ricky's Flamingo Cafe.

That allowed spectators a better view of the entire event. Swimmers complimented the new course for its easy navigation close to the shore with large, visible buoys.

Three time competitor, John Corcoran, from Thunder Bay, Canada said: “This is definitely the best organised open water swim race in the world with friendly volunteers, organisers, and swimmers at every level.”

Co-director Ben Stubenberg

added that: “It's very gratifying to get comments like that.

“We had lots of good people, water safety and medical personnel, timers, registrars, beach staff, and others, working hard to make it happen. Everyone deserves credit for the success.”

Co-director Chloe Zimmermann, said: “These are our future open water racers and we want to do all we can to encourage their participation.

“Swimmers train hard to do this race and they mentally steel themselves to do a mile or 2.4 miles. So we have to get it right. Seeing them beam when they finish is pretty cool.”

This year the swim event raised $6,000 for local charities that include Provo Children's Home, the Salvation Army programme to feed school kids, and the Reef Fund.

“Island sponsors from businesses large and small really came through once again to make this a first class race,” said co-director Zimmermann.

Race directors also expressed thanks to the TCI Tourist Board for actively promoting the event that brought in many more swimmers.

They added a big compliment as well to Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs and marine police, who did a great job in getting the course ready and keeping boat traffic at bay.

In addition to raising money for charity, the race aims to build interest in swimming in the Turks and Caicos and help protect the reefs and ocean.

Co-director Stubenberg said: “We want to get more people in TCI to learn how to swim and identify and develop talent for regional and international competition.

“TCI abounds with great athletic talent, so there is every reason to believe that we could produce some outstanding swimmers similar to Jamaica, Bahamas, and Cayman.”

Efforts are underway to start an open water swim club and build a proper swim facility that could take TCI to the next level of swimming.

The top three male and female finishers in the one mile and top three overall finishers in the 2.4 mile races, as well as the best resort team, received hand-carved conch trophies created by local artist, Stanford Hanfield.

Local artist, Brenda Luddington, of Paradise Arts hand-made and hand-painted kiln-fired trophy bases.

She also designed and made the medals using local materials that every finisher received. Awards were also given for the oldest (64) and youngest (13) swimmers, as well as for greatest effort.

Next year's race is set for Saturday, July 5, 2014.

July 13 - 19, 2013

NEWS 21

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Angena Moncher sweeps CHHS awards BRIMMING with happiness and confidence as she treaded the stairs to the stage at the Williams Auditorium for her scholastic, athletics and other awards, valedictorian Angena Moncher urged her fellow graduates to keep on striving for excellence, as it is never an accident.

“We have arrived at this moment together, now it is up to all of us to make a difference, to do what is honourable so that people would have honourable things to say about us, we must never give up on ourselves because this country is depending on us.

“We must remember that excellence is never an accident; rather it is the result of hard work,” Moncher encouraged her former classmates.

She urged them to enhance upon the model they adopted during their five years in high school, that of commitment to excellence.

“We must be committed to doing well, to working hard and to attaining excellence, the kind of excellence that would make our dreams come true.

“Go forward and follow your passion, be true to yourself and never follow someone else’s path… have love and respect for yourself and your God and you will have love and respect for your fellow man.”

Moncher, who also snagged the awards for

sportswoman of the year and for dedicated service to the CHHS eagles, singled out her parents, siblings, some of her classmates and her soccer coach and his wife for their dedication to seeing her succeed and making her school life memorable and rewarding.

Meanwhile, Roxie Pierre was awarded the 2013 salutatorian, while Jo-Anna Tyson achieved the second runner-up spot.

Sportsman of the year was awarded to Wesley Chery; the awards for the most improved students went to Jordan McIntosh, Prince Brutus and Glenario Parker; Larry Swann walked away with the prize for the best behaved student.

The Royal TCI Police award for the most disciplined student was awarded to Malique Ferrette, while Angena Moncher walked away with the prize for the most outstanding student.

This year awards were also given out for the student with perfect attendance, these were rewarded to Divanio Bain and Jhony Louis Prospere.

CHHS Principal, Gerald Persaud, in his report on the school’s overall performance highlighted and commended the performance of the students and the teachers who guided them.

He reported that of the 27 subjects offered to the students for CSEC examinations,

Judicial review to increase the maximum age limit for taxi drivers not complete THE application made for the judiciary to review the Road Safety Regulations with a view to increase the maximum age limit for Public Service Vehicle Operators from 75 to 80-years-old is still not complete.

And Minister for Environment and Home Affairs, Amanda Missick, told the House of Assembly last Monday (July 1) that she hopes for a timely resolution.

Missick was responding to a question by Elected Member for Five Cays, Sean Astwood, who asked if the situation of taxi drivers having to stop driving due to their age has been resolved.

Astwood said: “If it has not been resolved

will she further say if it is her Government’s intention to resolve the issue and when will those affected taxi drivers be allowed to drive their taxis again?”

Missick responded: “The matter is before the court and we are awaiting results and will be guided accordingly.”

The application was made on the basis that the 75-year limit was discriminatory.

Cabinet has since reviewed a proposal to amend the Road Safety Regulations to increase the maximum age limit.

However, it decided to postpone consideration of this pending the result of an application for judicial review.

Valedictorian Angena Moncher leads Salutatorian, Roxie Pierre and second runner-up, Jo-Anna Tyson into the auditorium for their graduation ceremony

a 100 per cent success rate was recorded in the following subjects: chemistry, clothing and textiles, French, geography, information technology, integrated science, music, office administration, physics, technical drawing and visual arts.

The overall pass rate was 76.12 percent, which Persaud said showed a marginal decrease over the last reporting period.

However, he stated that internal examinations showed a gradual increase over the

terms.

“Approximately 65 per cent of the students are achieving the minimum acceptable standard.

“There is also an increase in the number of students meeting the requirements to go on the school’s honour roll.”

Persaud recommended that optimising student growth, development and achievement in all areas will bring about the kind of reform that is needed to satisfy a skilled workforce.

“I also want to especially thank the following teachers who will part company with us: Rawle Benfield, Norma Hewitt-Francis, Sheron Coley and Tanisha Graham for their invaluable contribution to this institution, more so to the students.”

Chairman of the Turks and Caicos Community College board of governors, Claudette Clare, guest speaker at the graduation, called on the graduates to define their boundaries.

“Say I will do this and not do that; it does not mean that you would not encounter obstacles, but your resilience, the ability to re-think, rework your strategies then reposition yourself will be what will set you apart from failure or a compelling future.”

She urged them to study the job requirements in the weekly newspapers.

“Some have said that Turks Islanders have poor work ethics when it comes to punctuality; go out and prove them wrong.

“Have an attitude of

willingness to start at the bottom of the ladder as needs be and climb purposely to the top.”

She also advised them not to be skipping from job to job when they get into the job market.

“Some of you think that getting your hands soiled is demeaning, but I am here to tell you that as we strive towards self-determination, all work has dignity.

In closing, Clare called on the graduates to go out and prove to those who believe that corruption is endemic in the TCI that in them there is integrity and decency.

Minister of Education, Akierra Missick in brief remarks also shared words of encouragement with the graduates, telling them never to give up and to keep aiming for all they can be.

The Governor, Premier, Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Governor, all sent words of congratulations and praise for the graduating class.

(DI)

FSC highlights TCI regulatory framework for Captive Insurance professionals in Atlanta CONTINUING to show support to the private sector, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) took part in a round table with a numbers of Captive Insurance professionals and a small group of TCI financial services providers in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Captive Roundtable June 2013 welcomed some 60 attendees from firms such as Porter Keadle Moore, Morgan Stanley Health Management, Captive Alternatives LLC, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP (CPAs) and Health Work Solutions, LLC, as well as members of the Turks and Caicos Islands private sector.

The event allowed the TCI regulatory authority to give a concise overview of what establishing a Captive in the Turks and Caicos Islands would entail.

It also provided an opportunity for industry members to ask direct questions to speakers and colleagues in both a formal and informal manner Head of FSC's Insurance Department, Derek St Rose, was invited to detail the process of registering and operating a Captive in the TCI and hosted a question and answer session with participants.

Delegates were informed of current regulatory and audit requirements as well as particulars

for annual general meetings, premiums and other taxes.

He said: “Meetings where attendees are able to discuss with the regulator, a service provider, a bank executive and an auditor from the same jurisdiction are very beneficial.

“It gives accessibility to various key players of the financial services industry and certainly brings greater recognition and trust in the TCI as a captive domicile.”

Captive Insurance is a developing market for the TCI. There are approximately 87 licensed Captives in the

territory.

The first ever TCI Annual Captive Insurance Conference was held in Providenciales in November of 2012.

The successful event featured a number of international speakers with expertise in Captive Insurance as well as presentations from local financial services industry professionals.

Attended by a large delegation of international and local insurance managers, the conference highlighted Captive Insurance significance for the revenue growth of the TCI.

The second Annual Captive Insurance Conference is expected to take place in late November this year.

In light of events such as the Atlanta round table and numerous queries received by the FSC as well as by the Turks and Caicos Association of Insurance Managers, the event organisers are anticipating that a greater number of International Captive Insurance professionals will attend.

According to the FSC management, the Atlanta visit could be a model for future TCI image building visits.

Man pleads guilty to drug related charges OFFICERS of the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force and Customs Department have detected a significant amount of cannabis and cocaine hidden onboard motor vessel, Luchador, which originated out of Haiti.

Lissia Henry, 31, of Haiti who was M/V Luchador’s mechanic was formally charged for the offence of attempted fraudulent evasion, possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply namely cocaine and possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply namely cannabis.

Last Tuesday (July 2), Henry pled guilty to all of

the charges laid against him, which related to an incident at the dock at Grand Turk on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

RTCIPF Commissioner Colin Farquhar commended Police and Custom officers for the swift and professional method in which the case was wrapped up.

He said: “I am extremely pleased with the hard work and dedication displayed.

The search of this vessel was arduous. Ass’t Supt.

Clifford Henry displayed great leadership and the search team displayed great tenacity.”

Commissioner Farquhar’s comments were made after Henry entered guilty pleas to

the charges.

Henry was given custodial sentences of 16 months, 14 months, and 12 months respectively to run concurrently in Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk; with deportation being recommended upon completion of his sentence.

There are currently a number of persons charged and awaiting trial for other drug related offences.

Commissioner Farquhar took the opportunity to warn drug traffickers that the Police and the Customs Department are working in partnership to combat drug trafficking in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

22

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

RBC Royal Bank has recently received a number of queries from clients and the general public as it relates to our operations in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

We wish to advise that RBC is very committed to being a part of the Turks and Caicos community. We value our operations here and the team of 14 employees who are an integral part of our success in Turks and Caicos over the past five years.

RBC has a century long history of good governance and commitment to the Caribbean region. We are a responsible financial institution committed to doing

what is right to safeguard our bank, our clients’ interest and our employee’s rights.

Integrity, safety and soundness are the hallmarks of our business.

As a part of Caribbean Banking, RBC, we are the 2nd largest bank by assets in the English-speaking Caribbean, backed by close to 6,400 employees proudly serving more than 1 million clients in 20 countries and territories.

We continue to be strengthened by the market leadership of our parent, Royal Bank of Canada – one of Canada’s largest banks by assets and market capitalisation, and the 11th largest bank in the world,

with approximately 80,000 full and parttime employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 49 countries We are pleased to announce that we will be relocating our branch at Normandy House, Centre Mews, Providenciales to new premises on the ground floor, Raleigh House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales this Summer.

RBC has invested $800,000.00 in this new facility and looks forward to providing continued quality service to the Turks and Caicos Islands from our new location.

PAID ADVERTORIAL

RBC Royal Bank commited to TCI

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

23

24 NEWS

Grace Bay Club rewards Employees in Award Ceremony IN THEIR Quarter Award Ceremony on Tuesday (July 9), Grace Bay Club recognized and rewarded the hard work of some outstanding employees and celebrated the number seven position on Trip Advisor.

Food and Beverage Director Ajay Vyas said that for the past few years the company has been rewarding their employees in a special ceremony in front of coworkers as a way to motivate team members and acknowledge their extra effort.

He commended all of the nominees on a job well done; thanking them for their immense energy and work in the quarter and the role they play in making the hotel stand out.

Awards were given in several different categories including employee of the quarter- front of the house, employee of the quarter- back of the house, supervisor of the

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Pic 1- Food and Beverage Director Ajay Vyas is flanked by nominees and winners at GBC’s employees and supervisors award ceremony

quarter and the Trip Advisor maximum recognition for the past three months.

Three employees from the concierge team - Franklyn Fletcher, Godfrey Williams and Kenny Hamilton, tied for the most mentions by satisfied guests on Trip Advisor.

In the other categories, employees from different departments were nominated by their department heads and a senior leader team then

decided the winners.

Vyas said it was one of the most difficult jobs supervisors have to do- selecting the best of the best.

Ghislene Williams from the Housekeeping department was awarded supervisor of the quarter while employee of the quarter, back of the house went to Mary Macintosh, also from Housekeeping. Jose Gonzales from Kitchen was also recognized as employee

of the quarter, back of the house.

Tracey Kemp won employee of the quarter front of the house and Berguomy Zirin, supervisor of the quarter front of the house.

Front of the house refers to employees who have more interaction with guests while back of the house are those who keep the wheels turning without being in direct contact with tourists. (KH)

Deputy Governor discusses South Caicos visit concerns AS a part of the Deputy Governor's tour of the family islands, a senior team of Government officials visited the island of South Caicos two Thursdays ago (June 27).

During her visit the Deputy Governor took the opportunity to host devotions and a staff meeting at both the Primary School and also the Marjorie Basden High School.

She also met with Special Needs Coordinator, Noreane Lightbourne, and visited the Clinic and Wellness Centre among other government departments.

Commenting on the visit the Deputy Governor said: “It is always a pleasure to visit the island of South Caicos and to engage with the people there, but I was quite alarmed at the state and working conditions of many of the staff.

“Due to a combination of several government properties being destroyed or damaged

by Hurricane Ike and a general lack of maintenance, several staff are working in

substandard accommodation which certainly inhibits their ability to work effectively.

“The Acting Permanent Secretary Ian Astwood has taken note of this and will raise these matters with his Minister. I have also brought these concerns to the Premier and other Ministers’ attention. In the meantime it is my intention to move several staff into temporary accommodations.

“The schools on the other hand are in immaculate condition, but are in need of new computers, sporting equipment and other supplies which will be addressed in the new budget."

During the visits the top managerial team will provide public servants with updates about the ongoing reform programme, the new civil service performance management arrangements and also assess the state of and working conditions in Government facilities across the country.

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

25

26

Spotlight on Salt Cay

A Salt Cay tale

BY CANDY HERWIN

THE year is 1874 and the government timekeeper had rung the bell alerting the labourer’s to head for the saltpans and begin another day raking salt.

Already Harriot’s stable was a hive of activity. Young and old were harnessing the mule carts, fixing wheels, mucking out the stalls and filling the troughs with fresh ‘blades’ purchased from Stubb’s sloop that had sailed

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

in from the Caicos laden with trading goods and necessary wood suitable for planking boats.

A Jamaican sloop had also moored off Wilsons wharf and decided to anchor down for the night. The crew had come ashore seeking “ladies of the night” and had ended up with a group of local lads, sharing white ginger wine and a quantity of homemade “grog” made from dark rum from the Appleton Plantation.

The islands were now under

Jamaican rule and the Salt Cay men were eager and fascinated to hear the good and bad news from the Colony.

Way into the night they had swapped stories about the sugar plantations in Jamaica, the poor crop season, the end of the Presidency in the Turks Islands and the new social reforms created by Governor Sir John Peter Grant. “We like him,” agreed the crew, he’s doing good for the country establishing an organized police force, public works

department and above all medical services.

As the men swigged their ‘noggins,’ the conversations went back and forth onto various topics. The Jamaican sailors were grumbling that the Capital of Jamaica was no longer called ‘Spanish Town’ but was now known as Kingston.

They told of their voyage from Port Royal a city located at the mouth of Kingston harbor.

However, the foremost hot topic of the hour was the rise and fall of Daniel T Smith the newly suspended Commissioner accused of pilfering over $3400 of Government money from the safe. Many islanders did not believe this. “Smith has many critics and someone is trying to get him into trouble” said Todd who did not believe that Smith had swindled the customs revenue.

The men continued their conversation on into the wee hours of the morning telling their Jamaican friends how the Governor had arrived just weeks before aboard the navel sloop “Blanche, a six gun, wooden screw eclipse built in Chatham Dockyard. “They came for Smith “and carried out an impromptu inspection of the Government books and found that money was

Salt rakers at work

missing.

Some of the Salt Cay men had known ‘Smith’ for many years and argued in his defense saying that old Danny was a hero and years hence had gone to England on behalf of the salt proprietors to argue the case for the separation of the Turks islands from the Bahamas and freedom from the heavy taxation they imposed.

They recounted how Smith under President Frederick Forth had been a Council member along with William Hamilton, Albert Wynns, Henry Cartwright and

Copeland Stamers and that he was an energetic character and champion of the people.

It is sad, said one of the old rakers that Mr. Smith has lost everything; his dwelling house and all its contents, horse and carriage and Nearby Cotton Cay, all seized, and sold at public auction for the benefit of the Government coffers.

The men had listened to some great stories but aware that the bell would toll at six thirty sharp calling them once more to the saltpans, they bade farewell to the sailors and headed home for a few hours sleep.

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS 27

SGFH first fashion show set for July 27

PROMISING to be the summer’s most sophisticated fashion sensation, Saint George Fashion House (SGFH) will host its first independent fashion show, followed by a VeuveClicquot after-party at the luxurious Regent Palms Resort and Spa. Set for July 27, the event ‘An Evening of Fashion and Luxury in Paradise’ will debut a collection of red carpet and bridal fashions by popular local designer, president of Miss Turks and Caicos Universe and proprietor of Saint George Fashion House, Kazz Forbes.

In a press conference on Monday, the designer provided some hints of what attendees can expect to see in the new fall/winter collection.

He said that the lineis very delicate, breezy, light, and elegant and features a lot of intricate details.

Colours expected to be seen are yellows, greens, blues and white.

Forbes said he is very excited to unveil his new collection but will also treat guests to a capsule of his old collection.

Representatives of the major corporate partners of the event Digicel TCI, The Wine Cellar and the Regent Palms Resort and Spa

- all expressed their pleasure in supporting such great local talent and are excited to contribute to making the night truly extraordinary.

The evening will also offer fine wining and dining and feature live entertainment, special guests and dignitaries, guest models and a guest designer showcase by Haiti’s top designer Miko Guillaume.

Local diva Bianca Harvey-Joseph and Bahamas’ veteran journalist Jerome Sawyer are set to host the night’s proceedings.

VIP tickets cost $200 and include dinner at the award winning Parallel23 Restaurant and VIP Fashion Show front row seating.

General Plus admission is $175 and covers dinner at Parallel23 and general fashion seating while general admission costs $100 for general fashion show seating.

After the fashion show all attendees can join in the VeuveClicquot after-party, powered

by The Wine Cellar, to enjoy the popular bubbly and some dancing.

For more information or for reservations call 333-3030 or visit www.SaintGeorgeFashionHouse. com.

Chief Librarian in Trinidad for regional workshop TCIG’S Chief Librarian, Juanita Williams, attended a regional workshop on the “Preservation for Caribbean Libraries and Archives: Exploration of Issues, Solutions and Resources” this week (July 8 to 10).

Williams, the acting Chief Librarian in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Culture and Library Services was been invited by the National Library and Information Systems Authority (NALIS) of Trinidad and Tobago to participate in a three-day workshop, at the National Library, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The workshop is geared specifically for professionals responsible for the long-term care of library and archival materials.

The workshop is expected to

provide participants with a basic understanding of library and archival preservation; explore the preservation principles and procedures for care, storage and handling of library and archival material for various environmental conditions including mold and in times of disasters.

Participants will also benefit from solutions relating to sharing of information and resources.

The workshop also aims to foster the preservation alliance or consortium among libraries, archives and repositories across the Englishspeaking Caribbean.

It is sponsored by (NALIS) and is being facilitated by US Preservation Specialist, Randy Silverman.

Williams returned to the TCI on Thursday (July 11).

DEMA extends application deadline for junior wardens THE Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs has extended the deadline for applications to the Junior Park Warden (JPW) Programme to July 16.

The programme, which seeks to instill the value of environmental awareness and stewardship among participants, will be held this year between July 22 and August 3, 2013.

The program consists of brief theoretical presentations of basic principles and best practices suitable to the Islands, followed by field activities where participants embrace the challenges and opportunities of

environmental conservation in TCI. The Junior Park Warden Programme is supported by members of the Pine Cay Project a group that carried out charitable work to support environmental education and help to preserve the natural resources of the Islands’.

The programme gives preference to students in TCI who are thirteen to nineteen (13-19) years old. It is free of charge for all successful participants.

For more details, please contact the DEMA Office at Telephone 9415122 or send an email to dema.tci@ gmail.com.

Four groups competed, but ‘The Daisy Girls’, decked out in identical T-shirts, stole the show

Provo Ponies host third horse show SIXTEEN budding equestrians demonstrated their skills at the Provo Ponies third Horse Show.

The well known stable was packed on Saturday, June 22, as proud parents, siblings, friends and horse lovers in general crowded the rails to applaud the young riders.

As with the previous shows, (the first in 2009 and the second in 2010), the event was well organized and run.

Four groups competed, but ‘The Daisy Girls’, decked out in identical T-shirts, stole the show.

Named in honour of Daisy, a very diminutive mare who has willingly and carefully carried more children on their first riding experience than we can count, these five little four and five year olds were fabulous.

Daisy, the matriarch of Provo Ponies, is now retired but watched the show from the shade of her stall.

Students and their parents spent Friday afternoon grooming and ‘accessorizing’ their mounts. They washed and brushed their ponies’

coats until they gleamed in the sun, and hooves were polished. Bridles and saddles were pristine. Manes and tails were braided with ribbons and flowers, and sparkle ‘tattoos’ applied to haunches. Provo Ponies are exceptionally well cared for, but on Saturday they all looked like million dollar show horses.

All the students competed in the Showmanship/Leadline Class, Novice and Intermediate students competed in the Walk/Trot class, the Advanced group vied for first place in Hunter/Hack and everyone rode in the Obstacle Course, and the Victory gallop which was an exciting display to close the show.

Judging the event were Dr. Ken Peterson, a former Chairman of the Canadian Equestrian Team and a competition rider since his early twenties, Jane Peterson - (Dr. Ken’s eldest daughter) a champion show jumper and professional equitation judge and Kelly Whittaker, Camille’s lead hand, a former Canadian Three

Day Eventing Provincial Champion and a riding/horsemanship instructor since the early 90's.

As might be expected there was spill, a few tears and a particularly stubborn pony. None of that made a dent in the obvious pride of these young riders as they strutted their stuff.

Stable hand Tina did a roaring business selling Raffle tickets during the show and raised an impressive $1,290 for the TCSPCA. Director of the TCSPCS, Susan Blehr, was very appreciative and said the money will go towards a van to replace the existing vehicle, which is on its last legs.

Provo Ponies owner and riding instructor, Camille Slattery, said that all the young equestrians were winners on Saturday, whether they ribboned or not.

Parents and spectators commented throughout the show how were pleased and impressed they were with the dedication and accomplishments of all the riders.

28 NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Team members of FroCo are all smiles as they pose with the winning trophy

PYRO placed second and plans to continue selling handmade jewelry

First Young Enterprise challenge ends in success EFFORTS to encourage entrepreneurship among the country’s youths through the first Young Enterprise initiative came to an end on Saturday (July 6) with a final showcase of the companies and an award ceremony.

The final assessment of the four flourishing businesses was held at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex followed by the ceremony to reveal the winners and acknowledge the participants.

Youth Director Angela Musgrove said that she was very proud of the students who were able to successfully manage a business and their schoolwork throughout the

last year.

The programme, which was primarily a partnership between the Youth Department and the Chamber of Commerce, required students aged 15 to 19-yearsold to set up and successfully run their company.

Musgrove said that they were required to elect a board of directors, make a profit from an invested capital of $500, market and sell their product and service, present a report with accounts and at the end of the year liquidate the company.

The programme, which started with eight companies and about 60 students, was mentored by business advisors

and supported by link teachers who provided a connection to the business world and the business advisors.

During the final display and presentation of the companies, the groups were judged on areas like communication, company administration, customer focus, marketing and sales, and innovation.

The teams presented their businesses to a panel of judges which included Cecil Arnold, Lillian Boyce, EJay Saunders, Kenneth Abrams and Cynclair Musgrove.

Scotiabank’s managing director Cecil Arnold, who was a major sponsor of the programme, commended the four teams on surviving the

odds and persisting through the challenges of the business world.

He said: “The joy of it is seeing the passion and excitement of those who have walked that path… being a full time student and running a full time business and the lessons these kids have learn would have made them much better citizens and students for the future.”

FrocCo, a business ran by six students from HJ Robinson High School in Grand Turk, emerged as the winner and also captured the awards for Best Use of Social Media and Most Profitable Business.

This business hosted a movie night every Saturday

and sold sweet baked goods such as cheesecakes and cupcakes.

Team members said they were delighted but surprised to be the winners since the business went through great challenges including the fact that it started out as a smoothie business, fell apart and restated with some new members offering new goods and service.

Second place was awarded to PYRO who also took the award for best presentation.

This Providenciales business made and sold a variety of handmade jewellery.

Zion Enterprise, a business that made handmade soaps and sanitisers, took the third spot and was also awarded Best Trade Show.

UNIT from Grand Turk took the award for Best Report.

All the participants werehappy with the knowledge gained and important life lessons learnt through their experiences in the past year.

They were also congratulated by Deputy Governor Anya Williams and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Akierra Missick.

The Deputy Governor

encouraged the students to stick with whatever they want to pursue and they will see rewards.

In her comments Akierra Missick said: “Programmes like this are a way that young people can see what the real world is like; they’ve had their challenges, competitions, HR complaints and they’ve seen that friends and family and business don’t always go together…”

She was also pleased that they have had the opportunity to experience the life lessons from this young age.

Young Enterprise is an educational organisation founded in the United Kingdom in 1963 to forge links between schools and businesses.

The organisation’s mission is to inspire and equip young people to learn and succeed through enterprise and help students develop the attitudes and skills for enterprise, personal success, lifelong learning and employability.

TCI’s second Young Enterprise challenge is due to begin in September and Wendy Hill from the Chamber of Commerce urged business advisors and mentors to become a part of the worthy initiative.

July 13 - 19, 2013

Regional News

29

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Bahamian government Bahamas to introduce cervical cancer “can change gambling vaccine into public healthcare system Bahamas government result of his attendance at “We have to have It is our intention to introduce rules without referendum” THE says it plans to introduce an international conference someplace to keep the vaccines HPV Vaccine for the entire atNO CONSTITUTIONAL changes are required if the government wants to allow gambling in all of its forms for Bahamians, Constitutional Committee Chairman Sean McWeeney said on Monday.

Presenting the committee’s recommendations to the government, Mr McWeeney said while the commission finds the idea that Parliament can discriminate against its owns citizens “repugnant”, they feel it is not appropriate at this time to alter article 26 of the constitution that deals specifically with gambling.

He said the article does not prohibit Bahamians from gambling, but rather protects the constitution from challenge if Parliament enacts a law.

In fact, Mr McWeeney said, the whole issue of Bahamians being able to gamble can be easily fixed by a simple amendment by the government.

“They can get rid of this problem by simply editing section 50 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act. The only restriction they need to keep in place is that you are an adult.

If you change or get rid of section 50 entirely it opens the flood gates. The referendum was not a waste of time because it means a lot in terms of trying to understand where the public stands on this issue, but you can just get rid of this problem by editing section

50,” he said.

“I have a personal view.

Personally I find it very repugnant that there is a law in the Bahamas that discriminates again its own people. I think that it is unfortunate that this issue became inflated with the constitution when it was a simple legislative solution.

All the Parliament has to do is repeal section 50 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act and by doing that Bahamians will then be free to gamble in casinos and free to engage in any form of gaming.

The Constitution does not say that you cannot repeal section 50. The constitution says if you have a law that discriminates in relation to gambling it’s okay, but the way you deal with that is simply eliminating the law that discriminates against Bahamians which is the lotteries and gaming act, not the constitution.”

Earlier this year, Bahamians overwhelmingly voted against legalizing and regulating numbers and a national lottery.

Following the January referendum on web shop gaming, Prime Minister Perry Christie announced that all web-shops must close with immediate effect; but web-shops filed an injunction to block any move by the government from interfering with its operations.

(Tribune242.com)

the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine into the public healthcare system for females who are most at risk for cervical cancer.

Health Minister Dr Perry M. Gomez said discussions are taking place with the American pharmaceutical company Merck.

Public Health officials say the introduction of the vaccine into the public healthcare system will be a “major triumph” as the vaccine is currently only available within the private healthcare system and is unattainable to tens of thousands of females who are unable to afford private healthcare.

The HPV vaccine will also add “another vaccine protection for girls and women” as local healthcare officials continue the move towards universal healthcare for all.

“How could we have this discordance in our country in something that is as fundamental as public health, when only the private, well-off girl, have access to a vaccine that can prevent her from getting cancer of the cervix and the one who is unable to afford it, not have the same access? That cannot be right,” Dr Gomez said.

“I am convinced that this will improve the health of women and also decrease the incidence of cancer of the cervix,” Dr Gomez said. “This, we hope, will eventually lead to the elimination of cancer of the cervix.”

Dr Gomez said the opportunity for the introduction of the HPV vaccine came about as a

DR committed to joining CARICOM – Says Bajan PM THE Dominican Republic is committed to joining CARICOM, according to Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

The PM was speaking after a call last week by Trinidad Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country to become a CARICOM member state.

“We met with the leader of the Dominican Republic; he addressed our caucus [last week] and re-committed himself and re-committed

the Dominican Republic to joining the movement at such time that it would be convenient for all the perceivable imperatives to be satisfied,” Stuart said.

“So, that is an agenda item that continues to engage CARICOM Heads, and yes, I agree with the Prime Minister that the larger the bloc becomes, the more powerful the bloc becomes and the more diversified the areas for joint action and for integration.”

Stuart pointed to the accession to CARICOM by

countries like Suriname and Haiti in recent years.

“It was a healthy development when Suriname of Dutch ancestry joined the movement,” he said. “More heartening still when Haiti, of French ancestry, joined as well, and therefore, we just want the momentum in that area to quicken.”

The Dominican Republic is currently an observer to CARICOM. In recent years, the Dominican Republic has been aligning itself more with Central America. At the end of July, it became a member state of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

(Caribbean Journal)

at which representatives from the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies and leading healthcare personnel, including many physicians, attended.

“We found out that Merck had immunised the population of females between the ages of 9-27 in a South African country against HPV (the virus that causes cancer of the cervix) with much success and I knew that we have been struggling with the HPV immunisation here in The Bahamas as it is currently only available in the private sector I am told,” Dr Gomez said.

“Through that conference, Merck was offering a substantial discount to countries to immunise their children (and) we are pursuing that,” he said, adding that public health officials will upgrade the country’s vaccine storage facility in advance of storing and then dispensing the vaccine.

properly because if they are not properly kept, they will be no good when you use them.

risk population to avoid this discrimination that is currently in place,” Dr Gomez added.

Barbados economy contracts BARBADOS’S economy is in deep trouble and the Central Bank’s latest report is signalling more worry about the falling level of vital foreign reserves.

In its review of the country’s economic performance in the first half of 2013, the Central Bank revealed that the economy did not grow but contracted by 0.6 per cent.

The bank explained that not only did the sectors relied on heavily to generate foreign exchange – tourism and international business and financial services – fail to thrive, but there was a

significant drop in foreign reserves during April, May and June.

“The foreign reserve cover fell from 19 weeks of imports as at March to 16 weeks at the end of June,” the bank reported the same day that the country was spared damage from Tropical Storm Chantal which appeared ominously threatening. [See Figure 2] However, there was no reprieve in the economic score card from the Central Bank as it revealed a litany of obstacles blocking recovery after nearly six years of weak or no growth.

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We specialize in: • Civil Litigation (Particular competencies: Judicial Review and other claims against TCI Government/Departments, Mareva and other Injunctions, Land, Trust & Bank disputes) • Property Matters, Planning Department & Development Issues • Business Law • Immigration Telephone: (649) 941-4444 Telefax: (649) 941-4235 Cellphone: (649) 245-1314 email: berynd@yahoo.com DUNCANSON & CO. Barristers & Attorneys

PO Box 52, Cheshire House East 1315A Leeward Highway, Providenciales

30

World News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

Pope Francis promises indulgence to Rio youth pilgrims PILGRIMS attending a Roman Catholic youth festival with Pope Francis in Brazil later this month can be forgiven their sins, the Vatican says.

Those wishing to benefit from the “indulgence” could simply follow the papal visit on TV or radio if they show penitence and contrition, it adds.

The festival in Brazil, from 23 to 28 July, will be Pope Francis’s first major foreign trip.

Brazil has the world’s largest Roman Catholic population.

A similar pardon was granted by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, on the previous World Youth Day festival, in Madrid two years ago.

‘ANCIENT TRADITION’ The Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican body dealing with forgiveness of sins, said that festivalgoers would first have to confess, go to mass and be “truly penitent and contrite” in order to benefit from the indulgence.

It would also apply to those following “rites and pious exercises” on television, radio and social media as long as prayers were practised with “requisite devotion”, the Vatican said.

It is an ancient tradition in

Police says the gang used large breeds such as dogue de Bordeaux to smuggle cocaine into Italy.

Thousands greeted the World Youth Day cross when it arrived in Brazil in May

the Catholic Church to grant indulgences, the BBC’s David Willey reports from Rome.

Traditionally, they have guaranteed pilgrims time off from purgatory under certain conditions.

And it was the sale of papal indulgences that infuriated those rebelling against some Church practices at the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, our correspondent says.

In Brazil, considered the world’s largest Roman Catholic country, the Church has been losing ground to evangelical sects in recent decades.

However, hundreds of thousands of young people are expected in Rio de Janeiro to meet Pope Francis, who arrives in Brazil on 22 July.

During his stay, expected to last a week, the Pope is expected to celebrate Mass on Rio’s famous Copacabana beach. (BBC)

US to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite unrest The US is going ahead with plans to deliver four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite the political unrest in the country, senior American officials say.

This comes as Washington is continuing to evaluate last week’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the army.

US massive military aid to Cairo would have to be cut by law if the removal of the Islamist leader is determined by Washington to have been a coup.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which backs Mr Morsi, is demanding his reinstatement.

Its supporters have been staging mass protests near Cairo’s barracks, where he is believed to be being held. On Monday, more than 50 Brotherhood loyalists were killed in clashes with the army.

The US officials say Washington will deliver four F-16 fighter jets in the next few weeks.

They are part of an already agreed bigger order of 20 planes - eight of which were sent to Egypt in January.

The final eight are expected to be shipped later this year.

White House spokesman Jay

Dogs killed in Mexico-Italy cocaine smuggling operation AN ITALIAN judge has ordered 49 suspected Latin American gang members to stand trial for allegedly using dogs to smuggle cocaine into the country.

A vet in Mexico forced large dogs to swallow drug packages before they were flown into Milan, police say.

On arrival, they were killed and dismembered to retrieve the cocaine in a case which has outraged animal rights activists.

The Ecuadorean, Peruvian and Salvadoran nationals will face trial in Italy.

The suspected gang members, between 19 and 37 years old, are thought to be part of youth drug gangs known as “pandillas”.

The gangs go under the names

Trebol, Neta, Latin King Luzbel and Latin King Chicago, according to the investigative judge Fabrizio D’Arcangelo.

Mr D’Arcangelo told reporters the armed gangs were involved in several crimes in and around Milan.

The drug trafficking operation was first uncovered in March, when 75 suspects were arrested.

Animal rights organisations have reacted angrily at the trafficking scheme.

They say many of the dogs must have died before arriving in Italy, as a small leak of cocaine would have been enough to kill them.

The 49 Latin Americans will stand trial for organised crime and court proceedings have been set for 9 October. (BBC)

Income inequality has narrowed in UK The US is expected to deliver the F-16 fighter jets in the next few weeks.

Carney on Wednesday reiterated that it would not be “in the best interests of the United States to make immediate changes to our assistance programmes”.

He added that the administration would take its time to consider the implications of removing Mr Morsi from power.

US military aid to Egypt is estimated to be $1.3bn (£860m) each year.

President Barack Obama has been

careful not to use the word “coup” in relation to the recent events in Egypt to avoid triggering a legal cut-off of aid, the BBC’s Katy Watson in Washington reports.

An Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman has said Mr Morsi is being held in a “safe place” and treated in a “very dignified manner”.

Meanwhile, arrest warrants have been issued for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, and nine senior figures.

The gap between the richest and poorest in the UK has narrowed, the latest official figures show, but both are paying more in some taxes.

Income equality narrowed between 2010-11 and 2011-12, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, which means this data does not cover the latest changes to benefits.

Average household disposable income has reduced since the start of the economic downturn in 2007-08, the ONS said.

It fell by £1,200 in real terms.

VAT EFFECT The largest fall during this period was a 6.8% drop for the richest fifth of households. They still had an average income, before tax and benefits, of £78,000 in 2011-12.

This was 14 times greater than the poorest fifth of households, who had an average income of £5,400.

However, this group has seen their average income rise by 6.9% since the economic downturn.

After all taxes and benefits were taken into account, the top fifth of households had an income of £57,300, compared with £15,800 for the poorest fifth - a ratio of four-toone.

All groups paid more indirect taxes in 2011-12 compared with the previous two years. This was the result of a rise in the standard rate of VAT in 2010 and 2011.

On average, the richest 40% of households paid more in taxes than they received in benefits, while other households received more in benefits than they paid in taxes. (BBC)

July 13 - 19, 2013

World News

U.S. NSA ‘spied’ on most Latin American nations – Brazil paper The U.S. National Security Agency has targeted most Latin American countries in its spying programs, with Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico ranking among those of highest priority for the U.S. intelligence agency, a leading Brazilian newspaper reported yesterday.

Citing documents leaked by Edward Snowden, the fugitive former American intelligence contractor, O Globo newspaper said the NSA programs went beyond military affairs to what it termed “commercial secrets.”

These included petroleum in Venezuela and energy in Mexico, according to a graphic O Globo identified as being from the NSA and dated February of this year.

Also swept up in what O Globo termed as U.S. spying were Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Paraguay, Chile, Peru and El Salvador.

Peru’s President Ollanta Humala said yesterday that the reported spying was worrisome.

“We are against these kinds of espionage activities,” Humala said

31

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

in a televised interview. “It would be good for (Peru’s) Congress to look with concern at privacy issues related to personal information.”

The most intense surveillance was directed at Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico, the newspaper said.

The Globo article was written

by Glenn Greenwald, Roberto Kaz and Jose Casado. Greenwald, an American citizen who works for Britain’s Guardian newspaper and lives in Rio de Janeiro, was the journalist who first revealed classified documents provided by Snowden, outlining the extent of U.S. communications monitoring activity at home and abroad.

Greenwald said on Sunday in a Twitter message that he had worked with O Globo on the reports to relay more quickly the scope and reach of the alleged surveillance. The bulk of Greenwald’s stories thus far have appeared in the Guardian.

As disclosed by Snowden to the Guardian, the NSA’s Prism program collated mail, Internet chat and files directly from the servers of companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has denied any wrongdoing.

Sixty dead or missing after Canadian train blast SIXTY people are now thought to be dead or missing after a freight train carrying crude oil derailed and blew up in Quebec, Canadian police say.

Earlier reports said 35 people were unaccounted for after Saturday’s Lac-Megantic blast - 15 are confirmed dead.

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into what happened, but they have ruled out terrorism.

They are focusing on whether the train’s brakes were engaged when it was parked in a nearby town.

The 15 confirmed fatalities have not yet been identified.

SPEEDING DOWNHILL On Wednesday, the chief executive of the train’s US owner, Rail World, was due to visit Lac-Megantic, where he could face a hostile reception.

In media interviews Edward Burkhardt said he thought he would have to wear a bullet-proof vest when he arrived in the town.

Quebec Police Inspector Forget said that while investigators had ruled out terrorism as a motive for the attack several other options, including criminal negligence, remained under consideration.

He warned it could take time before the investigation findings emerge.

“This is an enormous task ahead of us,” the police inspector said.

“We’re not at the stage of arrests.”

Some 200 officers were still conducting search operations on Wednesday morning. But police said the effort was taking a toll on some crewmen and two people had to be taken off the search over worries for

The blast also destroyed several buildings.

their physical condition.

“This is a very risky environment,” said Quebec Provincial Police Sgt Benoit Richard. “We have to secure the safety of those working there.

We have some hotspots on the scene.

There is some gas.”

Authorities have asked the relatives of those still missing to provide DNA samples by bringing in toothbrushes, hairbrushes, razors and other items.

Spanish newspaper “implicates” Queen’s granddaughter expecting baby ZARA Tindall, a granddaughter of PM with published document Queen Elizabeth II, is pregnant with A SPANISH newspaper has published what it alleges are documents showing Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and other top politicians received illicit payments.

El Mundo said it had original ledger entries handwritten by the former treasurer of the governing Popular Party (PP), Luis Barcenas.

It said it had delivered the documents to the High Court.

Mr Rajoy and other PP members have repeatedly denied that they received illegal payments.

Another Spanish paper, El Pais, published similar documents earlier this year.

It is claimed that Mr Barcenas ran a PP slush fund that took donations from construction magnates and distributed them to party leaders in

cash.

Mr Barcenas is in custody facing trial for corruption and tax fraud. He denies the allegations.

However, in an interview published in El Mundo on Sunday, Mr Barcenas for the first time admitted that the handwriting in the ledger was his.

He added that the photocopies originally published by El Pais were a fraction of the documents he had in his possession.

El Mundo said the documents it had seen showed that Mr Rajoy received payments in 1997, 1998 and 1999 when he was a minister in the government of Jose Maria Aznar.

They included, it said, two payments to Mr Rajoy of 2.1m pesetas (12,600 euros; £11,000) in 1998.

her first child, Buckingham Palace announced Monday.

The daughter of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter, Anne -- is married to rugby player Mike Tindall. When born the baby will be the queen’s fourth great grandchild, after Zara’s brother Peter Phillips’ two children and Prince William and his wife Catherine’s infant, expected in mid-July.

Zara, one of Britain’s leading equestrian riders, won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games and is planning to take part in the Rio Games in 2016. She has also done work on behalf of equine and children’s charities.

Mike Tindall, who has captained the England rugby side, was a member of the 2003 England World Cup winning squad. He also leads his club side, Gloucester.

Zara Tindall (pictured with husband Mike) is a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

The couple married in July 2011 in a ceremony staged in Edinburgh and attended by the queen and senior royals. In contrast to the wedding of Zara’s cousin Prince William to Catherine Middleton -- watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world -- Phillips’ wedding

was a strictly private affair.

Meanwhile, St. James’s Palace announced on Monday that the baby born to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will hold the title His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess [name] of Cambridge. (CNN)

32

Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate

Classifieds TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Brama Kumaris

FOR RENT

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

contact: 946-4664

Raja Yoga Meditation Centre Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephone 946-4760 & 332-4101

www.bkwsu.com Email: bkpadma@bkwsutci.com

FOR SALE

July 13 - 19, 2013

946-4664 Fax: 946-4661

Email: tcnews@tciway.tc

Website: tcweeklynews.com

ANIELA & STINA STUBBS

Is seeking a

Barmaid

Must be able to make and serve drinks. Must be able to work independently General cleaning. Must be willing to work flexible hours.

Salary $6.00 per hour Deadline: July 23, 2013

Contact: 241-0777

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

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CYRIL WHITFIELD FORBES is seeking a

Bonefishing Guide

Proprietors Strata Plan #41 Management Co. Ltd

Wanted

Seeks to fill the following position

Labourer Must be trustworthy and reliable. General cleaning. Must be able to work flexible hour. Salary $6.00 per hour. Deadline: July 23rd, 2013.

One (1) Gardner

• Must live on North Caicos, have own transport and hold or be willing • to acquire necessary certification(s), permits and licenses.

• Compensation according to experience. Willing to train the right • candidate.

Interested person must be willing to work hard, must be responsible, reliable & trustworthy. Must be willing to work with little or no supervision. Schedule work hours are 7am to 5pm. Applicant must be willing to work on holidays and weekends.

Salary US$400.00 per week

Contact : 232 4141

Please contact Dan on:

8846

Contact: 241-0777

331-2945

Email : greatbonefishing@ gmail.com 8234

8768

A LOCAL LAW FIRM is looking for a qualified

PARALEGAL

;;With a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (with minimum Upper Second Class Honours) from a reputable institution the successful candidate must: ;;Have at least three (3) years of experience in assisting attorney with research, be able to draft court documents and assist in case preparation for civil, criminal and probate matters ;;Have experience in Urban and Regional Planning and assist attorneys in Planning litigation matters ;;Have good organizational and communication skills and able to work with little supervision and ;;Be able to attend court hearing and accurately record and prepare notes

All interested persons may send their resumes by email on or before Monday July 29th, 2013 to info@karammissick.com

8235

PRICE SLASHED FOR QUICK SALE

$180,000 CASH! House and ½ Acre land Richmond Hill 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Fully furnished

Call: 231-3788

CLASSIFIEDS 33 Proprietors Strata Plan #41 Management Co. Ltd. Seeks to fill the following position

One (1) Labourer

Interested person must be willing to work hard, must be responsible, reliable & trustworthy. Must be willing to work with little or no supervision. Schedule work hours are 7am to 5pm Applicant must be willing to work on holidays and weekends.

Salary US$400.00 per week

Please contact Dan on:

331-2945

8767

Amazing Value!

Lot for Sale

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

$49,999 o.b.o.

Call 231-3788

PRICE SLASHED $175,000

Labourer contact: 242-4408

8824

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

LA VISTA AZUL CONDOMINIMUM LVA MANAGEMENT LTD. Seeks to employ a

Cleaner • Must have a t least 2 years experience in working in a resort • Must be able to communicate in English • Must be ready to work 6 days a week and on request • Duties will include exterior cleaning • $6.00 per hour • Apply to 107 Turtle Cove Dr. Turtle Cove, Providenciales

LA VISTA AZUL CONDOMINIUM L V A MANGEMENT LTD. Seeks to employ a

Labourer Must have at least 2 years experience in working in a resort. Must be able to communicate in English Must be ready to work 6 days per week and on request. Duties will include assistance in property maintenance. $6.00 per hour

Apply to 107 Turtle Cove Dr. Turtle Cove, Providenciales 8840

CASHIER POSITION AVAILABLE

Applicants must be pleasant, honest, reliable and computer literate. Applicants must be willing to work on a shift basis, holidays, weekends and evenings. Salary $6.00 per hour

Closing date June 22nd 2013

Diamond Development Ltd is looking for a Labourer for yard maintenance. 3 and half hours per day Monday to Friday. Salary: $6.00 per hour.

EXPERIENCED SCUBA INSTRUCTOR

Contact 232-7827

Salary: $20,000-$24,000 Contact: ALAN JARDINE

CARIB GAMING LTD. Is looking for

Slot Technicians With 5 years experience salary negotiable DOLPHINS BAR/ K.C. BAR Is looking for

946-5029

5568

NOTICE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

AT BLOCK 60601, PARCEL 73, Providenciales

Bartenders – salary $6.00 per hour Waitresses – salary $5.00 per hour

The Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990 Regulations 7, Schedule 2 Applications.

Contact: 332-6364 COCO BISTRO RESTAUANT In Grace Bay is looking for a

Head Chef • Must have the following: • At least 10 years experience in an up market restaurant • Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Publisher • A Culinary degree • Willing to work on the line daily and do any job required • Must be able to work 6 days/nights a week including holidays • Be a team leader and work well under pressure • Have pastry experience • This is a hands on job • Salary $35,000 annum • Applicants must be able to understand and speak English, physically fit, dependable and hardworking.

All resumes/Cv’s, letters of reference along with a clean police record must be emailed to: cocobistro@tciway.tc Belonger only need apply

An application registered PR: 11644, for construction of a Cell Site has been submitted to the department of Planning for consideration of Detail development permission by ISLANDCOM TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD. The location is PARCEL 60601/73, which is in the Airport Area of Providenciales.

Anyone wishing to make any representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Providenciales, within 28 days of the publication of this notice.

PUBLIC AUCTION – PROPERTY SALE

(Pursuant to Sections 75 & 77 in the Land Registered Ordinance)

Qualified PADI/NAUI SCUBA Instructors Needed

Successful candidate will be a PADI MSDT with current membership and insurance, resort operations experience including advanced level instruction, dive accident management, compressor maintenance, equipment and engine maintenance and repair, applicant must be willing to train. STCW95 required and captain’s license preferred.

This is a tourism related job and will include all aspects of the company’s daily routine including but not limited to, teaching all levels of instruction, guiding dives, boat and vehicle operations and working the front office. The work schedule will include weekends, public holidays and occasional night dives.

Starting Salary $380 - $500 per week based on experience and qualifications.

Contact David Volkert at 946-4232 or info@provoturtledivers.com Positions available starting Aug 8, 2013.

Please submit applications before August 1, 2013

LABOURER WANTED

Is looking for an

8812

Seeks to fill the following position

DIVE PROVO

CAICOS PETROLEUM

8227

FAIRBELL HARVEY MIDDLE CAICOS

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

8230

34 CLASSIFIEDS

8228

Property:

Unit #205 Building A, Queen Angel Condominium Resort, Blue Water Road, Turtle Cove

Registered Title:

60713/90-K13 (Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Registered Proprietor:

Blue Water Productions Ltd.

Description:

Unit #205, of approximately 1,150 square feet, is located on the second floor of a 3-storey building (‘the Unit’). The Unit comprises a Communal Lobby shared with another unit, an Entrance Foyer, 2 Bedrooms with closets, a Bathroom, a Laundry, a Covered Terrace and an Owner’s Lockout

Auction Details:

.

The Auction will be held on Wednesday 17th July, 2013 at 11.00 am at the offices of Griffiths & Partners, 82 Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Conditions of sale and further information may be obtained from Griffiths & Partners upon request by email (contact@ griffithsandpartners.com) or by phone (+1 (649) 941 8250) [*10% Deposit required after successful bid]

This Notice is given by Griffiths & Partners, 82 Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands acting on behalf of Mr Dragutin Vuckovic, the registered charge holder.

8236

CLASSIFIEDS 35

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Green Keeper

Worker to work 6 days per week must be willing to work weekends and public holidays salary $5.50 per hour.

Contact: 241-1885

Belongers only need apply

6620

Requirements: • Minimum 5 years experience in the restaurant business • Formal culinary experience fully trained in all aspects of health and safety regulations in the kitchen with staff, cleanliness, storage and production of food • Specific experience with Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine

Kitchen Helper

per week salary $10.00 per hour.

– $5.00 per hour

Contact: 347-1567

8851

2 Car Washers – $120 per week

Tire Man – $5.00 per hour

Labourer – $5.00 per hour

Tire Helper – $150 per week Experience required

Contact: 649-332-4482

8841

• Willing to work irregular, long and late hours • Command a broad knowledge of kitchen and restaurant terminology • Comprehensive QuickBooks knowledge • Engaging and outgoing personality who enjoys working with the public • Salary $1,600-$2,400 per month dependent on experience

contact: 231-2995

contact: 342-2444

TOKORA’S PRINT STUDIO

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

Is looking to fill the following positions:

Please bring all applications with two letters of recommendation citing relevant experience in the same industry to Flowers by Environmental Arts located at U102 Venture House, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales or email to Natalie@environmentalarts.tc successful applicants will be notified by phone for interview

8816

– $5.00 per hour

Domestic Worker

DISCOUNT AUTO PARTS & TIRE

CHEF

Contact: 243-5561

carpenter To work 6 days

Waitress

Is looking for a

Only Belonger need apply send resume to info@karammissick.com

Salary is $12.00 per hour please apply no later than July 26th, 2013 at ncc@tciway.tc or contact telephone: 946-7437

Attendant

EL RANCHO RESTAURANT

MAMET PHILIPPE

With five (5) year experience in the management of a retail store, which includes but is not limited to, inventory control, accounting, public relations, human resource management and computer systems (i.e. POS). Must be able to train store sales persons and cashiers. Knowledge of store brand is a must. Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Business/ Commerce salary will commensurate with experience.

• An experienced Air conditioning Mechanic required for full time work at North Caicos • Must be willing to work six days a week • Must have 10 years experience sizing and construction duct work and installing and servicing complete central air conditioning systems • Must be proficient in MS Excel for inventory purposes • Must demonstrate ability to work unsupervised with excellent communication skills is essential for the position

Room

Must be willing to work weekends, nights and holidays salary $5.00 per hour.

Store Manager

MECHANIC

– $6.00 per hour

8819

Domestic

A store in the Grand Turk Carnival Terminal is seeking a highly qualified

REQUIRED AT NORTH CAICOS AIR CONDITIONING

Is looking for a

– $8.00 per hour

Is seeking to fill the following positions:

Labourer

Domestic Worker To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.

contact: Debra Garland

649-243-6748

8821

8808

Carpenter

EAGLE LAND DEVELOPMENTS Ltd. Is seeking to fill the position of

Rental Property Construction Management and Maintenance Supervisor Duties will include: ;; Speak multiple languages, Specifically English and Spanish ;; Have own vehicle ;; Must live on Middle Caicos or be willing to relocate ;; Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Access and some ability to update Web page to make relevant changes ;; Have some sense of building maintenance and landscape ;; Strong organizational communication and

interpersonal skills ;; Must be mature and self-starter and have a Sense of mosquito control ;; Prepared to work long hours including weekend ;; Have mechanical repair capabilities, especially Diesel, Marine Engine Repair knowledge a bonus ;; Willing to learn Advertising campaign specifics to entice potential guests from Latin America and Europe. ;; Possess housekeeping abilities

Interested person must contact

Dick Zebo 649-347-7198 or email eaglelanddevelopments@yahoo.com

8233

Email resume pioneercleanersaccnt@gmail.com Please fax copy to TCI Labour Office: 649-946-4164

Is looking for a

STEEL UNLIMITED COMPANY

JOSE OVANDO CONSTRUCTION

NURSERY MANAGER Requirements • Minimum 2 years experience in Horticulture Industry • Extensive horticulture vocabulary, familiar with different flowers, foliage, trees, shrubs, grasses, potted plants, chemicals, fertilizers • Comprehensive experience using QuickBooks for financial accounting, cash flow projection, inventory management, generation of financial reports and analysis • Willing to work outdoors and irregular hours including weekends and holidays if needed • Experience in processing containers of imported goods through customs • Preferably a Bachelors Degree in accountancy or finance • English speaking • Starting salary $2,400 per month

Please bring all applications to Flowers by Environmental Arts located at U102 Venture House, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales or email to admin@ environmentalarts.tc. Successful applicants will be notified by phone for interview. Please provide relevant reference from previous employer

8821

• Minimum of 10 years experience in dry cleaning • business with emphasis on pressing specialty items.

• Excellent finishing quality and efficiency is required.

• Must be able to stand for long hours and manage hot • working conditions.

• Must be fluent in English and be a team worker.

• Please provide proof of experience.

ISLAND GETAWAY

is looking for a

8813

HEAD PRESSER

DENISE WESTCARR

8818

Position Available

8820

July 13 - 19, 2013

36 CLASSIFIEDS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

July 13 - 19, 2013

ROLAND ALMONTE Is looking for a

To work 5 days per week salary $5.50 per hour must be able to work flexible hours, weekends and holidays.

YVON PETIT & JEFFREY HALL

Is looking to fill the following positions:

Domestic Worker

Labourer contact: 244-9241

8792

Salary $5.00 per hour

CAREGIVER

MY DEE’S NORTH CAICOS Seeks to employ 2

Sales Clerks Must be honest and reliable to work 6 days per week and on holiday when needed. Salary $5.00 per hour Belongers need only apply.

Contact: 243-2344

8825

Skilled Handyman Required

Experienced painter with masonry skills required for maintenance position with ACM. Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm and Sat 8:0012:00 Pay is $5.75 per hour. Must have own transportation.

LOCAL SAND DELIVERED TO YOUR SITE TURCK LOAD 21 TONS (16 YARDS) $60.00 PER TON BARGE LOAD 400 TONS (300 YARDS) $55.00 PER TON

CONTACT: LEWIS 232-7317

8853

SERGE PIERRE Is looking for a

Painter

To work 6 days per week salary $7.00 per hour.

Contact: 231-3171

Please send resume via email to acm@tciway.tc Start Date September 2013. Closing date for applications July 31, 2013.

The Pinnacle

Labourers & Gardener

To Work Salary $5.50 per hour Experience Required

Contact 941-7366

contact: 241-1307

8857

Required for elderly invalid woman room board and wages NIB/NHIP 2 days off per week salary negotiable.

8845

Contact: 241-9105

LIVE-IN

8844

ADVERTISE

IN THIS SPACE! ONLY

$33

PER WEEK CALL 946-4664

Qualification and Experiences are invited for the listed positions at Cheshire Hall and Cockburn Town Medical Centers.

Position requires a recognize degree plus 5 years post specialty experience.

General Surgeon OBGYN Radiologist Position requires a recognized diploma / degree (training) minimum 2 years experience

Biomedical Engineer Dialysis Technician Remuneration packages will be based on qualification and experience.

Application should be made by submitting a comprehensive CV showing qualifications and experiences to: Recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc Application Deadline: 17th July 2013

8237

Babysitter

Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and Cockburn Town Medical Centre Turks and Caicos Islands - BWI

LIVE-IN COUPLE REQUIRED TO WORK IN A PRIVATE VILLA A couple is required to work in a private villa, a Cook and Housekeeper. This is a live-in position and accommodation is provided for a couple possessing the following skills: VILLA COOK • The successful candidate must possess the following: • Preferably at least 5 years experience in a luxury hotel or restaurant or as a personal cook in a private residence • He/she must possess the ability to prepare a range of international cuisine,(Asian, fusion cuisine, French, Italian), as well as cater to guests individual dietary preferences that include vegetarian, vegan, kosher, organic diets etc.

• Full ability and responsibility to take on menu planning and food preparation for house parties BBQ’s, business meetings • Maintain the cleanliness and proper sanitation of the kitchen at all times including deep cleaning of appliances, pots and pans, kitchen tools etc.

• Exercise good cost control presenting monthly monitoring and replenishment of stocks and supplies • Computer literacy would be an advantage but no essential with the ability to record and present invoices and purchases in an accurate manner HOUSEKEEPER • A self-motivated, highly detail orientated individual is required to work in a luxury villa • The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to use their own initiative and have a good command of English as well as excellent communication skills.

• He/she must be prepared to sometimes work long hours, weekends and holidays • The successful candidate must possess the following: • Housekeeping experience in a luxury or 5 star hotel or residence since attention to detail is essential • An awareness of cost control and energy saving • Ability to run errands, go shopping etc.

• He/she may be required from time to time to assist private cook in the serving of meals so an F&B background would be beneficial • Preferences will therefore be given to individuals who are flexible and able to multitask BOTH CANDIDATES MUST ALSO: • Be willing to work flexible hours, weekends, holidays etc.

• Be able to work within a team, be reliable and trustworthy • Be extremely well presented and have a good command of English • One must possess a clean driving license in order to run errands • Must be prepared to carry out other duties when guests are not in house • Preference will also be give to individuals who have worked within a 5 star luxury environment • Salary dependent on experience • Note this is a live-in position only

Suitable qualified candidates must apply in writing with resume details to P.O. Box 143, Providenciales or email: gemma@thesource.tc

8838

CLASSIFIEDS 37

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FLOWER GIRL Is looking for a Part-time

delivery driver With own transportation who is interested in making extra cash.

Contact: 231-3788

INTERIOR DESIGNER POSITION

ISLAND GATAWAYS seeks a

BILINGUAL PROPERTY HOST

Finishing Touch in Providenciales requires a qualified interior designer. Must have strong understanding of design principles and excellent auto cad skills. Will be able to handle multiple projects. Salary approx $4000 per month and must be a fully qualified interior designer with experience in hospitality and residential projects.

• With a minimum if one (1) year’s experience • Must be between the ages of 30 – 45 • Must be able to speak English and Spanish fluently • Wages commensurate with experience

Please send resume with relevant experience to tanis@finishingtouch.tc. Interviews will be by appointment only. Position available in August 2013. Applications must be submitted by July 22nd, 2013. Belongers only need apply.

Please send resume to: Islandproperty@tciway.tc Closing date: July 12th, 2013 Belongers only need apply

8823

July 13 - 19, 2013

Sunny Reef Ltd Waiter/ Busser-:

Washer/ kitchen helper:

3-5 years’ experience.

Cook/ Pastry chef:

Labourer/Dish

Job Responsibilities:

3-5 years in busy kitchen.

Head Chef:

5-7 years. Must be a good team player, work at fast pace. Must know how to prepare French & Indonesian Cuisine.

Must be able to manage and organize a busy kitchen, Must be a team player.

Must know how to prepare French and international cuisine. Must post a Degree in food management and cost control.

Date: Friday 12th and 19th July, 2013

8856

RELIABLE REFRIGERATION LIMITED

REPAIRMAN

RESPONSIBILITIES: Inspecting, cleaning and repairing gas stoves, ovens, dryer vents and fire pits and related appliances in residential and commercial properties, installing all products related to the functions of : gas stoves, ovens, fire pits and dryer vents, reporting and safety problems, selling products, services and accessories, completing invoices and reviewing them with customer, maintaining all records in accordance with company policies and procedures, using various types of equipment: including brooms, high powered vacuums and cleaning extensions to remove soot and debris from inside existing exhaust hoods.

QUALIFICATIONS: • 5 years of related HVAC, or construction experience • Able to write routine reports and correspondences as well as speak effectively to customers or fellow employees when resolving problems • Must b able to work independently with minimal guidance • Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time, lift up to 50 lbs • And perform other basic physical demands of the position as needed • Must not be afraid of heights • Valid driver’s license and good driving record • Minimum education: High School Diploma or equivalent

Contact: 946-4086 Kiwi Connections Ltd.

Unskilled Labourer • $5.00/hr – Must be able to lift heavy material of 100lbs+ • Must be able to work weekdays and weekends varying days/nights shifts • Applicants Must be Bondable

8842

ORPHA PIERRE Is looking for a

Painter To work 6 days per week. Salary $7.00 per hour.

Contact: 346-5909

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

Professional Accountant • Management of assurance and advisory engagements; • Management of associate staff; and • Preparation of management reports and other deliverables for clients.

Qualifications Required:

• Professional accounting designation (CA or CPA) is required;

Applicants should apply in writing or email by July 28th 2013 to:

• Bachelors degree with business and accounting major; and • Minimum of 10 years experience with a professional accounting firm.

This position is immediately available. Salary for this position will be based on qualifications and experience. All applicants will be reviewed; however only qualified candidates will be contacted for an

interview.

WB Financial Management Ltd. PO Box 137, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Email: info@wbfinancial.tc Fax: 649-941-7498

Insurance Manager MERIDIAN TRUST COMPANY LIMITED Meridian Trust Company Limited specializes in the discrete management of capital, property and other assets for corporations, private individuals and their families with particular focus on asset protection and tax minimization strategies.

We are seeking a qualified person to join our team as an Insurance Manager in the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Experience & Qualifications ;;Recognized Chartered Accountants designation with 7-10 years post qualification experience and a record of progressive responsibility ;;Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies ;;Strong technical knowledge of GAAP, IFRS, statutory regulations and a good understanding of offshore tax planning using insurance structures ;;Studying towards the TEP and CII qualifications ;;Must be willing and able to train Insurance graduate recently employed ;;At least 10 years experience managing staff ;;Strong interpersonal and client relationship skills and the ability to work with minimal supervision ;;A high degree of proficiency in the use of MS Office products, Mortgage Database Software, and strong understanding, use and maintenance of various computerized accounting packages, and IT network maintenance. ;;Compensation is primarily commission based.

Suitable candidates should send their CV with a covering letter to:

The Managing Director - Meridian Trust Company Ltd P.O. Box 599, Level 2, Le Vele Plaza, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Tel: 941-3082 or Email: mtcl@tciway.tc

8855

Experience Restaurant Industry. Ability to read, speak and write English must be able to remember & recite. Promote a Pleasant personality, ability to communicate with others. Must be a team player

38 CLASSIFIEDS

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION The Financial Services Commission, a statutory body of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government responsible for the licensing and regulation of financial services businesses, is seeking qualified applicants for the post of

Compliance Officer DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The holder of this position will carry out the following duties: 1. Assist in the regulation and supervision of licensed Mutual Funds, Investment Dealers and Company Managers in order to maintain a general view of their conduct and practice.

2. Assist in onsite visits, to ensure that the licensee is acting in accordance with its business plan, the relevant Regulatory Ordinances and the conditions of its licence.

3. Assist in ensuring the soundness, good governance and integrity of licensees including review and analysis of data regarding financial institutions, including analysis of audited financial and specific prudential returns 4. Assist in the prudential offsite supervision of licenses including reviewing and making decisions on the approval of any changes in directors, managers, shareholders etc. of licensees.

5. Assist in ensuring compliance by licensees with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter financing to terrorism (CFT) laws and regulations.

6. Assist with the preparation of periodic and ad hoc reports based on offsite reviews.

7. Assist other departments in the handling of compliance matters and issues relating to the supervision of licensees as instructed by the Commission.

8. Assist with timely compilation of pre-examination reports/schedules and preparing notes for pre-examination meetings.

9. Assist with the timely compilation of examination schedules/working papers and preparation of detailed examination reports reviewing the licensee’s financial condition and solvency.

10. Assist with preparatory notes for wrap up meetings with senior management and carry out follow up procedures in relation to recommendations made to the licensee for corrective actions to be taken.

11. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Head of Company Managers and Investments.

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED • Sound knowledge of the Companies Ordinance, Mutual Funds Ordinance, Investment Dealers Ordinance, Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, FSC Ordinance, Proceeds of Crime Ordinance, IFRS and IAS Standards and other related Ordinances, regulations and international supervisory standards • Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards inclusive of the new IFRS, particularly as they relate to recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities • Sound knowledge of international anti-money laundering standards, related local legislations and regulations; as well as requisite supervisory evaluation procedures • Sound understanding of IT systems and the use of such technologies in the financial services industry EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management or related discipline • Five (5) years related experience.

• A certification in compliance and or money laundering would be a distinct advantage.

OTHER INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE POST This position falls within Grade 6 of the Commission’s pay scale. Actual salary payable will be determined by reference to the degree of qualification, experience, knowledge base and other criteria that the Commission may assess.

The duties for the above post may be carried out at either of the Commission’s offices in Grand Turk or Providenciales.

Applications should be received no later than August 15, 2013 and may be emailed to dmorrison@tcifsc.tc or faxed to 1-649-941-8379

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

PUBLIC NOTICE BELONGER STATUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance)

Take Notice that I, RIC TODD, Governor of Turks and Caicos in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3(2) of the Immigration Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MANUEL ANTONIO HERNANDEZ a national of The Dominican Republic by virtue of marriage to a Belonger.

RIC TODD

PUBLIC NOTICE BELONGER STATUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance)

Take Notice that I, RIC TODD, Governor of Turks and Caicos in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3(2) of the Immigration Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MICHAEL GREGORY STOLOW a national of the USA by virtue of marriage to a Belonger.

RIC TODD

PUBLIC NOTICE BELONGER STATUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance)

Take Notice that I, RIC TODD, Governor of Turks and Caicos in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3(2) of the Immigration Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to WILLIGINIA FABRE MORRIS a national of Haiti by virtue of marriage to a Belonger.

RIC TODD

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 39

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

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

Departments for the organization. The daily operation of vessel’s Beverage Sales Operation including the effective administration, supervision and execution of programs consistent with the company standards and goals of providing excellent service while generating maximum revenue.

Essential duties include but not limited to: Directs the activities of restaurant service personnel, Bartenders, Beverage Attendants, Host/Hostess. Directs and ensures the implementation and execution of corporate policies and procedures. Controls, measures and reports Outlet sales performance on a daily basis and takes required corrective action to ensure operations are in accordance with the company standards and objectives. Creates new opportunities and maximizes existing ones to generate extra revenue. Maximizes profitability by increasing turnover (revenue and covers). Ensures that department’s operational budget is strictly adhered to and that all costs are strictly controlled. Recommends measures to control/reduce costs. Works closely with the Controller and provisioning in regards to inventory taking, cost control, loading, ordering and storing. Ensures that all bars are counted after each shift and investigates discrepancies. Assures correct pouring and ensures proper void handling.

Requirements College or University degree in hospitality management, business administration or related field preferred. International equivalent suffices. 4-6 years restaurant operational management experience in 4/5 star hotels, restaurants. Fluent in English, both verbal and written. A second language is preferred. Experience in managing a large multi-national staff. Extensive knowledge of varying brands and quality of liquors. Knowledge of new and old world wines including food and wine pairing.

Ability to read, interpret and demonstrate the preparation of drink recipes. Ability to investigate and solve guest complaints, follow up and meet/exceed guest expectations.

Extensive knowledge of Micros POS and Opera

Executive Chef An executive chef will train and manage kitchen personnel and supervise/coordinate

all related culinary activities; estimate food consumption and requisition or purchase food; select and develop recipes; standardize production recipes to ensure consistent quality; establish presentation technique and quality standards; plan and price menus; ensure proper equipment operation/maintenance; and ensure proper safety and sanitation in the kitchen. The Chef must have the ability to manage in a diverse environment with focus on client and customer service is essential to success in this role. Previous experience with control food and labor cost, demonstration cooking, menu development, and pricing and development of culinary team preferred. The ideal candidates will possess a bachelor's degree or related culinary degree with eight or more years of industry and culinary management experience. Caribbean experience an asset.

Sous Chef Report directly to Executive Chef. The position is responsible for supervising kitchen

personnel and all related culinary activities; assist in the estimate food consumption and requisition or purchase food; assist in the selection and developing of recipes; assist in establishing presentation technique and quality standards; assist in planning and pricing menus; ensure proper equipment operation/maintenance and ensure proper safety and sanitation in the kitchen. Must have the ability to work in a diverse environment with focus on client and customer services are essential to success in this role. The ideal candidate should possess an associate’s degree or related culinary degree with four or more years of industry and culinary management experience.

Cook 2-3 years experience as kitchen helper or cook in luxury hotel or fine dining restaurant.

Able to speak & read English, follow directions consistently, good attendance, good hygiene, likes to cook.

Spa Therapist Must be certified esthetician and massage therapist, current CPR, minimum 3 year experience in a luxury spa. Successful applicants must have: good communication skills, flexibility to work hospitality shifts, PC skills, be a Team Player, self-motivated, punctual, and professional. Must speak and read English.

Executive Housekeeper This position is responsible for the leadership and management of all the Housekeeping

& Laundry Department. Direct, implement and maintain a service and management philosophy which serves as a guide to respective staff.

Essential duties include but not limited to: Directs institutional housekeeping program to ensure clean, orderly, and attractive conditions of the resort are in accordance with the Health Department and Hotel standards. Establishes standards and procedures for work of housekeeping staff, and plans work schedules to ensure adequate service. Inspects and evaluates physical condition of the resort, and submits to management recommendations for painting, repairs, furnishings, relocation of equipment, and reallocation of space. Reads trade journals to keep informed of new and improved cleaning methods, products, supplies, and equipment. Manage outsourced relationship with Dry Cleaning Company to ensure the service provided meets the hotel's standards. Ensure proper usage of chemicals and cleaning supplies by monitoring usage, providing complete training for team members and ensuring proper labeling of hazardous supplies in accordance with the hotel’s standards.

Organizes and directs departmental training programs, resolves personnel problems, assist in hires of new employees, and evaluates employee’s performance and working relationship. Determines and maintains the department work schedule used to notify staff of upcoming events and ensure proper preparation and staffing for each event.

Ensures the proper maintenance of all equipment; makes arrangements for repair and/or replacement of used and damaged equipment. Follow-up on any outstanding maintenance issues in guest rooms via maintenance work orders. Implement permanent "show room" program, and inspect and release to Front office by 9.00 a.m. each morning. Inspect work in Public Space and Guest rooms and provide guidelines to ensure standards are met and deficiencies are corrected. Make recommendations to the Executive Team regarding the up keep of furnishings, facilities, and equipment.

Maintain appropriate standards for dress, hygiene, and uniforms, appearance, posture and conduct of housekeeping personnel. Distribute, delegate and direct workload to ensure maximum productivity and customer satisfaction with minimum outlay of expenses in terms of labor and materials. Coordinate with the laundry department to ensure linen and uniform supply is stocked accordingly. Planning, organizing and directing team members to ensure the highest degree of guest satisfaction. Uphold the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and conduct. Purchase, re-order and maintain housekeeping supplies and inventory. Complete annual evaluations. Coach, counsel and use appropriate disciplinary steps. Maintain the housekeeping budget, providing billing summaries and expenses. Assist Executive Team with preparation of annual budgets and monthly forecasts. Perform cleaning duties in cases of emergency or staff shortage. Consult with the Director of Human Resources and General Manager on personnel matters.

Skills/Qualifications: Degree in tourism or business management or related field with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment, or equivalent combination of experience and education. Minimum 5 years experience as an Executive Housekeeper for a luxury property. Previous experience managing a team of housekeeping employees through motivation, coaching and development. The ability to anticipate customer needs, change goals and direction quickly and multitask. Advanced knowledge of Housekeeping process and procedures. Self-motivated and dependable with an exceptional work ethic and strong problem solving skills. Capable of using independent judgment/ solid decision making skills ability. Previous experience working in housekeeping is required. Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, train, develop skills, mentor and motivate a team. Basic accounting skills. Purchasing and inventory skills is an asset. Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in the English language. Proficiency with general office PC applications (i.e. Microsoft Office software and Opera) to prepare reports, employee schedules, inventories, budgets as required. Demonstrated sound organizational, coordinating and personal interface skills. Proven job reliability, diligence, dedication and attention to detail. Must be flexible with working nights, weekends, and holidays.

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

8852

Food & Beverage Director This position is responsible for managing all activities of the Food & Beverage

40

July 13 - 19, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Sports Regional

CONCACAF head says region determined to host 2026 World Cup CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has stated the region is determined to host the 2026 World Cup and claims any candidate for the FIFA presidency post-2015

would need to support the organisation’s ambitions to receive its backing.

Webb said he has held meetings with U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, along

with Canadian and Mexican counterparts Victor Montagliani and Justino Compeán to discuss bringing the World Cup back to the region.

“For us I think it was unfair

The Meridian Club on Pine Cay The Meridian Club, one of the Turks and Caicos Islands' original and most unique resort experiences is now seeking a qualified on-site Reservations Specialist/Administrative Assistant.

Responsibilities: In addition to the general job description as outlined for the Guest Services staff, this position will also: • Maintain Master Reservation Chart for The Meridian Club and Member home rentals • Takes lead position in RESERVATIONS department--Must man the 800 reservations line and manage internet reservations, be pleasant and well informed on the phone and be able to communicate the feel of The Meridian Club to potential guests.

• Must be completely familiar with all accommodations available at The Meridian Club, including hotel rooms and homes in the rental pool; must also be familiar with all services offered at the Club, including meals, housekeeping, transportation to and from Pine Cay, marine, fishing, snorkeling, excursions etc.

• Must reside on Pine Cay except on days off in order to handle reservations from other time zones • Must respond to all inquiries about the Club in a clear and professional manner • Must follow up on deposit payments, process and record all guest deposits • Process all Travel Agency Commissions and follow-up on Wholesale payments • Oversees front desk/guest services staff to ensure that Guest arrivals, departures and special needs are attended to and takes regular turns greeting guests in Leeward and accompanying them to Pine Cay on Club boats.

• Must be able to fill in when Managers are off island to ensure guest experience is not compromised • Assist in month end financial reconciliation as deemed by the Controller • Reconcile credit card payments, billings by outside vendors as they pertain to guests transfers and other special requests • Assist with Marketing and Sales programs • Other duties as assigned • Weekends, Holidays and some evenings a must so must reside on Pine Cay. Basic Qualifications: • Must be fluent in English (both verbal and written) and be easily understood on the telephone • Hold a BA degree in Tourism Studies or similar field of study from an accredited college or university.

• Min. 2 years in 4-5 star property in Guest Services capacity; 1 year reservations experience required • Computer literate (Word, Excel, Quickbooks) • Must be competent typist and be literate in Internet communication • Must be able to spell competently and write letters and e-mails using proper English grammar.

• Must be neat and tidy and present a positive image • Must have a talent for remembering people and making them feel welcome • Must feel comfortable riding on boats in all weather conditions (almost all guests arrive and depart by boat) Annual Salary: Based on qualifications and experience. From US$25,000 (this position is salaried, not hourly) Position available: January, 2014 Contact Person and Contact Information: Beverly Plachta, Resort Manager. Fax to 649941-7010 or email to manager@meridianclub.com or dropped off at TC Sotheby’s in the Salt Mills area. Resume must include your contact information (mailing address, e-mail address, phone number) ; min. of 3 references with contact information and how you know these people. Also include copy of passport, police report. All qualified applicants will be interviewed within 2 weeks. Applications must be submitted by July 20, 2013

for our confederation to miss 2022,” he stated, according to Goal.com.

“It doesn’t matter for me – it’s 41 members – whether it’s the United States, Mexico or Canada. I believe it’s so important for us as a confederation to host the World Cup in 2026. That will have been 32 years, which would have been the longest span since World War II that we have not hosted a World Cup as a confederation.”

CONCACAF last hosted the World Cup in 1994, when the United States staged the tournament.

CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb claims that any candidate for the FIFA presidency post2015 would need to support the organisation’s ambitions to receive its backing.

The US failed in its bid for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments and Webb is still smarting from the decision to award the former event to Russia.

That decision abandoned FIFA’s traditional rotation policy for the World Cup, which had it remained would

have seen a CONCACAF nation awarded the rights.

With FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s current term of office due to end in 2015, Webb claimed that CONCACAF will only endorse a presidential candidate who supports the region’s bid for the 2026 World Cup.

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Job Responsibilities: • Preparation of financial statements and performance analysis for clients; • Management of a diverse client base and variety of engagement types; and • Management of associate staff.

Qualifications Required: • Professional accounting designation (CA, CMA, or CPA); • Minimum of 10 years post qualification

experience in a senior accounting role; and • Proficient in PC Law, Quickbooks, and Sage accounting systems.

This position is immediately available.

Salary for this position will be based on qualifications and experience. All applicants will be reviewed; however only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Applicants should apply in writing or email by July 28th 2013 to:

WB Financial Management Ltd. PO Box 137, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Email: info@wbfinancial.tc | Fax: 649-941-7498 8854

Accounts & Administration Officer Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the position of Accounts &Administration Officer for an established Insurance Brokerage in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Areas of responsibility should include but not limited to: ;; Assist with the preparation of monthly financial statements and Annual Accounts ;; Cash flow forecasting and monitoring ;; Management of Accounts Receivables & Accounts Payables ;; Bank Reconciliation ;; Cash management ;; Monthly financial reconciliation and settlement with Insurance Companies, ;; Brokers, and Agents ;; Payroll ;; Office Administration ;; Preparation and Filing of Annual Returns and other regulatory issues ;; The suitable candidate should have post secondary education (Bachelor or Associate Degree or studying toward professional qualifications in Accounting) with a minimum of seven years relevant work experience. In addition, the successful candidate will be someone who is a self starter and possess strong interpersonal and organizational skill and can work closely with others in a small office environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential.

Knowledge of "Power Broker" an insurance brokerage management software package would be useful. ;; Remuneration will be commensurate with qualification and experience.

Interested persons should submit their resumes or CV's with references to NW Hamilton Insurance Brokers Ltd via email insure@nwhamilton.tc, attention: ACCOUNTS & ADMINISTRATOR

July 13 - 19, 2013

Sports Regional

41

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Career Opportunity Grace Bay Club is looking for candidates that have the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner. They love to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization. Their management style is one that balances a commitment to people and their development with business/financial accountability and delivers an exceptional guest experience.

Bartender

Usain Bolt said he could have run the last 50 much better.

Bolt feels he could have run faster in Paris

SPRINT sensation Usain Bolt says he could have posted a faster time in the 200 metres at the Areva Diamond League Meeting in Paris last Saturday.

Bolt was made to work hard in the half-lap and was forced to fend off a challenge from his compatriot Warren Weir before completing victory in 19.73 seconds, the fastest 200 metres of the season.

“I think I could have run the last 50 after the turn much better,” Bolt said.

“I didn’t come in the

straight as powerful as I used to. The last 30 metres, I was kind of, I won’t say struggling, but my technique wasn’t perfect.”

Fellow Jamaican Weir, who was second in 19.92, stayed with him into the top bend before the world record-holder pulled away.

“The time, I think I could have done better,” Bolt said.

“I wanted to do better, but it’s just one of those things you never get but you wish for sometimes.”

Bolt broke the meet record of 20.01 seconds set by Michael Johnson in 1990.

But he said he still has plenty to work ahead of the world championships in August.

“First, I think I should have run faster on the curve,” he said.

“My first 50 was great. But then, for some strange reason, my last 50 wasn’t so great. So I just need to figure what went wrong and then work on it.”

(Caribbean360)

Martinique stun Canada in football It took until extra time, but Martinique sent a strong message to the football world in the Gold Cup opener on Sunday.

Fabrice Reuperne’s lefty shot from just outside the box in stoppage time gave Martinique a stunning 1-0 victory over Canada.

Canadians Russell Teibert and Will Johnson received yellow cards in the match, as did Martinique’s Nicolas Zaire and Arnolin Gregory.

While Canada dominated possession (holding the ball for nearly 59 percent of the game), Martinique continued attacking when it got chances, with eight shots on goal to just three by Canada.

In total, Martinique outshot Canada, 27-8.

The 37-year-old Reuperne’s beautiful goal came just moments after a corner kick from the right side, giving Martinique the victory over Canada, which is ranked 88th in the world.

Job Requirements: • Applicant must be a minimum of 19 years of age.

• Be fluent in written and spoken English.

• Possess a High School Certificate.

• Have two years experience as a Bartender, or two years as a Bar back in a five star-hotel upscale environment.

• Perform specified Bartender duties, including food and drink orders, preparation, and serving.

• Direct and assist the Bar back and beverage servers.

• Follow specific cash and system handling procedures.

• Be responsible in the serving of alcohol and the laws and regulations surrounding it.

• Maintain ongoing knowledge of the hotel operations.

• Maintain the cleanliness, working order, and presentation of the bar top, tables, service areas and outlet itself.

• Qualified Belongers need only apply.

• Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience

Pool & Beach Attendant

Job Requirements: • The candidate must have good communications skills and must be able to work in a fast paced environment.

• Individual is responsible for the set up and breakdown of the pool and beach umbrellas & beach beds.

• 1-2 year related experience and/or training.

• Provide towels/chairs/umbrellas to guests.

• Perform side work including the folding of towels, preparing water and fruit skewers • Clean ashtrays, straighten chairs, and keep all outside beach and pool areas free of debris.

• Must be friendly and guest service minded.

• Must be able to carry heavy loads and work outdoors for long hours.

• Belongers need only to apply • Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience

Reservations Manager

Requirements: • A Degree in Hotel Administration or equivalent work experience • Previous experience in Reservations Department • To efficiently manage the Reservations Department with minimal costs and maximum profitability through proficient management of staff, internal controls, administration of company policies & excellent guest service.

• At least 2 years of direct related experience as an Assistant Reservation Manager for a 5 star luxury property • Participate in hotel MOD program. Conduct department meetings as required and attends staff hotel meetings.

• Communicates with all hotel departments and staff to ensure the efficient operation of Reservations Department.

• Energetic, positive visionary leader, dedicated to motivating and developing team members.

• Qualified Belongers need only apply • Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience

Restaurant Manager

Job Requirements: • Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management • At least 3-4 years experience as a Restaurant Manager in a luxury hotel/resort/club • Experience in quality and efficiency initiatives • International and multi-outlet experience • Ability to lead, train and organize team to deliver superb guest experience • Ability to manager budget and understand how P&L is prepared.

• Knowledge of health and sanitation standards • Be able to prepare staff schedules, timesheets and have knowledge of Macros, Excel and Windows • Qualified Belongers need only apply.

• Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience Martinique celebrated the surprising victory.

Martinique’s squad only competes in regional tournaments, as the island is a

department of France. It is not a member of FIFA. (Caribbean Journal)

Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department no later than July 1st 2013 @ (649) 946-5050 Ext. 1050 Email: veronica.clare@gracebayclub.com | Fax: (649) 946-5758 P.O. Box 128 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies

42

Sports International

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Murray calls Wimbledon win ‘the pinnacle of tennis’ ANDY Murray said winning Wimbledon and ending Britain’s 77year wait for a men’s champion was the ‘pinnacle of tennis’.

The 26-year-old Scot converted his fourth championship point to beat top seed Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 in what Murray described as a brutal match.

“Winning Wimbledon, I can’t get my head around that. I still can’t believe it’s happened,” said the British number one.

“I think that last game will be the toughest I’ll play in my career.”

Murray squandered three championship points from 40-0 and saw off three Djokovic break points before the world number one netted a backhand to end a gruelling contest lasting three hours and 10 minutes.

“Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis, the last game almost increased that feeling,” added Murray, who has won Olympic gold, the US Open and now his second Grand Slam title since losing last year’s Wimbledon final.

“That last game pretty much took everything out of me. I worked so hard in that last game. They will be the hardest few points I have to play in my life. Some of the shots he came up with were unbelievable.

“I didn’t know what was going on [during that last game]. There were a lot of different emotions at that time.”

Murray, Scotland’s first

The special victory has caused current British PM David Cameron to call for Murray’s knighthood.

Wimbledon singles champion since Harold Mahony in 1896, thanked his coach Ivan Lendl for believing in him.

Lendl, an eight-time major winner but never a Wimbledon champion despite reaching two finals, started coaching the Scot last year.

“He stuck by me through some tough losses and he’s been very patient with me, I’m just happy for him,” said the world number two, whose Wimbledon victory earned him a first prize of £1.6m to take his 2013 earnings so far to over £3.3m.

“He’s always been very honest with me and told me exactly what he thought and in tennis that’s not easy

to do in a player/coach relationship.”

Murray, convincingly beaten in the first four Grand Slam finals he competed in, said perseverance has been the story of his career.

He also admitted that being the standard-bearer for the sport in Britain was “really hard”.

“For the last four or five years it’s been very tough, very stressful, a lot of pressure,” he said.

“The last two days were not easy because it’s just everywhere you go.

“It’s so hard to avoid everything because of how big this event is but also because of the history and no Brit having won [for so long]. It’s been very, very difficult.” (BBC)

July 13 - 19, 2013

Player stabbed, referee dismembered over football quarrel in Brazil THE argument started over a red card.

It escalated when the referee fatally stabbed the player.

It ended when the player’s enraged family members stoned the referee to death and dismembered his body.

Even for football, where violent outbreaks are all-toocommon, what happened last week in a northern Brazil village was extraordinary.

Referee Jordan Silva called a foul during a soccer match.

He showed player Josenir Santo Abreu a red card, the highest penalty, which translates into expulsion from the game.

Abreu, 30, wasn’t going to take it, police said, and confronted the referee, who was 10 years younger.

The altercation grew ugly.

Silva pulled a knife, and plunged it into Abreu’s chest, Maranhao state police said in a statement.

While the player was rushed to a hospital, members of his family nabbed the referee and tied him up with the help of fans, CNN affiliate Band News reported.

And they tortured him.

The player didn’t make it to the hospital alive, police said. When the news reached his family back at the soccer field, the mob took retribution on Silva.

They stoned him to death. And they cut his body into pieces.

Police later identified the suspects, easily. They could be seen clearly in video images of the gory incident recorded with a cell phone. (CNN)

Nash says Howard never wanted to be a Laker DWIGHT Howard left over $30 million on the table, as well as a place in the history of one of the most prestigious franchises in all of professional sports, when he left the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets. However, to hear Lakers point guard Steve Nash tell it, Howard was never comfortable being a Laker in the first place.

“Ultimately, I think Dwight wasn’t comfortable here and didn’t want to be here,” Nash told ESPN Radio on Tuesday. “And if he didn’t want to be here, there’s no point for anyone in him being here. So we wish him the best and move on.”

Nash took a typically diplomatic approach to addressing Howard’s departure — more so than, say, Shaquille O’Neal. Even when talking about the awkwardness of Howard’s relationship with Lakers fans and media, he refused to assess any blame.

“I’ve heard he said to the media that he never quite felt embraced in LA, he never quite felt maybe supported,” Nash said. “Really just never quite felt comfortable at home, and I don’t know that that’s

Haile Gebrselassie has dominated the track for two decades.

Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie to run for parliament

Dwight Howard and Steve Nash both joined Lakers last season, but neither contributed the way they were expected to.

anybody’s fault.”

Nash’s assessment that Howard never wanted to be a Laker is an interesting one. Before the 201112 season, and at the trade deadline that year, it was common knowledge that Howard wanted out of Orlando, and that his first choice of a team for the Magic to trade him to was the Brooklyn Nets. For a variety of

reasons (Howard’s bizarre decision to opt into his final year with the Magic; the Magic’s refusal to accept a package centered around Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries; the Nets’ total lack of financial flexibility), that never happened. The Lakers were always lurking in the Howard sweepstakes, and swooped in to acquire him in August of 2012.

ETHIOPIAN athletics star Haile Gebrselassie says he is entering politics with the aim of winning a parliamentary seat in the 2015 election.

The 40-year-old’s announcement follows long-standing rumours that his athletics career is drawing to a close.

Mr Haile, a two-time Olympic 10,000m champion, is regarded as a national icon by most Ethiopians.

He has not said under which party’s banner he will contest the election.

Ethiopia’s parliament is dominated by the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). It has only one opposition MP. ‘HELP MY COUNTRY’ “A lot of messages in the news about

me going into politics,” Mr Haile said on Twitter.

“Yes, I want to be in the parliament in 2015 to help my country to move forward.”

Mr Haile is a four-time world 10,000m champion and won gold at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.

He officially announced his retirement in 2010 but then went on to compete in races after recovering from a knee injury.

In April, he won his third consecutive Vienna half marathon and also took part in the Boston marathon, which was hit by a double bomb attack that killed three people.

The EPRDF is accused by rights groups of leading a highly repressive regime, using anti-terrorism law as a pretext to imprison opposition activists and journalists. (BBC)

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Sports International

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Vettel wins maiden German Grand Prix

British cyclist Mark Cavendish had urine thrown at him during the 11th stage of the Tour de France.

Cavendish sprayed with urine by angry fans at Tour de France THE Tour de France remains one of the few prestigious events where spectators can almost reach out and touch the riders -- or throw urine on them as Mark Cavendish found out Wednesday.

The British rider, who was absolved of any wrongdoing following a collision with Tom Veelers just 24 hours earlier, was the target of an angry fan as he rode through the 33 kilometer individual time trial between Avranches and Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy.

Cycling fans are very much split over Cavendish -- with some unimpressed by his perceived arrogance and large ego, while others love his insatiable desire to win.

Cavendish refused to speak about the incident after being doused with urine by an irate spectator during an afternoon which he will quickly want to forget.

His Omega Pharm teammate Tony Martin won the 11th stage with Chris Froome retaining the yellow jersey, but it was Cavendish who was again in the limelight.

“It is disappointing to hear about one individual like that,” Froome told reporters of the incident after extending his lead to three minutes and 25 seconds.

“That’s one of the beauties of our sport. Anyone can come and watch at the side of the road and enjoy the

excitement and really get close to the top riders in the world.

“Mark is one of the big characters in the sport, and some people love him, some people hate him.

“But to do something disrespectful like that, that’s really sad. It ruins the whole atmosphere.”

While it is thought to be the first time a cyclist has been assaulted in such a way during the Tour, there have been other instances where riders have been abused.

In 1975, Eddy Merckx was punched in the kidneys during his quest to claim a sixth Tour victory, while Lance Armstrong was given bodyguards in 2004 after being subjected to death threats.

Cavendish has endured a couple of miserable days, missing out on a 25th stage win on Tuesday, while slipping 103 points adrift of green jersey leader Peter Sagan.

Meanwhile, Omega Pharm team manager Patrick Lefevere revealed that Cavendish was feeling ‘sad’ following the incident.

“I regret this, I always felt that cycling fans were gentlemen, enthusiastic people,” he told reporters “Mark is sad, he’s not upset, just sad. I cannot blame anyone, there are 100,000 or 200,000 people on the road, and one person decided to do this.” (CNN)

Haiti retakes Caribbean lead in FIFA rankings as Jamaica tumbles HAITI is once again the topranked Caribbean football team, despite a somewhat surprising drop of six slots in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.

Haiti is now at 69th in the world, followed by Jamaica at 77.

Jamaica’s recent poor showings in World Cup Qualifying led to a 28-slot drop from 49th, the single-

biggest fall for Jamaica in some time.

Haiti’s slight drop was a bit surprising given recent strong showings in international friendlies, including a miraculous tie against Italy in the final minutes.

FIFA does not release the reasons for its rankings, outside of a point system.

SEBASTIAN Vettel thrilled his home fans by winning the German Grand Prix for the very first time in his career.

The triple world champion finished ahead of Lotus pair Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean to claim his fourth win of the season and 30th overall at the Nurburgring.

Victory places the Red Bull driver 36 points clear of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who finished fourth, ahead of polesitter Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Jenson Button.

“It’s unbelievable,” Vettel, who lost Kers during part of the race, told reporters.

“I am very, very happy. Kimi was pushing very close in the end but I was pushing in every lap, except from the ones with the safety car.

“I enjoyed today and I could feel Kimi coming and it was quite close with Romain too, but we recovered and I am very happy the race ended after 60 laps and not 61 or 62 laps.”

The safety car was enforced following a moment of comedy after 24 laps when Jules Bianchi’s parked Marussia began to roll backwards across the track.

With Bianchi having jumped out of his vehicle following an engine problem and small fire, the

Sebastian Vettel celebrates after winning the German Grand Prix for the first time.

car ran backwards before hitting an advertising hoarding on the other side of the track.

Earlier, Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber was involved in a moment of controversy during a pit stop when his wheel flew off and hit a cameraman.

After the six blowouts at Silverstone last weekend and the threat of a boycott by the Grand Prix Drivers Association should similar happen again, Formula One’s official tire supplier Pirelli modified its rear tires with a Kevlar strip to help prevent punctures.

It appeared to do the trick, although there was still stinging criticism from Hamilton, who finished fifth.

“I have nothing positive to say about these tires,” the Mercedes driver told reporters.

“I don’t understand why we struggle so much on them. But the team is working hard and we need to keep pushing.

“We didn’t have any blowouts this weekend, but I don’t particularly like the tires. But everyone else is getting on with them, so we have to work harder.” (CNN)

Super League to be cut to 12 teams from 2015 season SUPER League will feature 12 teams from the 2015 season after changes to the competition structure were agreed by clubs at their annual general meeting.

Clubs ruled out reducing the number of sides from 14 to 10 and asked the Rugby Football League to look at two options.

One involves a 12-team Super League running alongside a 12-team Championship that would split after 23 rounds into three groups of eight.

The other option is for two divisions of 12 with promotion and relegation.

Following the meeting in Bradford, Super League and RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said: “The clubs engaged in a robust and frank debate about the future of their competition and gave their full support to the RFL executive in our search for the most compelling league structure.

“It is apparent that there is a strong and widespread desire to deliver a really exciting league season that provides well-run clubs at all levels of the game with opportunities to flourish, succeed and make progress.

“Our task now is to drill down into the details of a range of issues such as minimum standards, financial

Twelve teams will battle from the 2015 season.

distributions and the various mechanics around promotion and relegation.”

The clubs agreed last month to cut their number from 14 and get rid of the current licensing system which has been in place since 2009 - in favour of a restoration of regular promotion and relegation.

Since the start of the licensing system, 14 clubs have been granted three-year licences (2009-11 and

2012-14). During that time, clubs cannot be relegated.

However, the new proposal means two clubs will be relegated at the end of next season.

Championship clubs will discuss the options at their meeting next Wednesday before Super League clubs reconvene, while an extraordinary general meeting is expected to be called in August to make a final decision. (BBC)

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Women’s International Festival of Football:

TCI teams will look to gain experience THE TCI teams (U-16 and Select) will aim for wins in the Women’s International Festival of Football which started on Friday and is billed to run until Sunday, but the main objective of the local body will be to give the girls international exposure.

The task is to use these games to gauge where our girls are as TCI prepares for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Next year the side will compete in qualifiers.

As far as Technical Director of the TCIFA Matthew Green is concerned, success during the tournament will be measured in how well the teams adapt to playing against more experienced opposition. “It would have been easy for us to put together a strong team that could win the event by combing the best players from the U-16 Group and the Select Team, but we have to ensure that all our players get some playing time so they can benefit from this experience.

By having two differently composed teams we will be able to assess more players and see how they can fit into our long term plans. The games promise to be exciting with a lot of skills on display, I am sure our girls will benefit from the tournament as they have done in recent years.”

The two visiting teams are Bethesda SC from Washington and the Greater Tampa Bay Football Club from Florida.

The visiting teams will prove to be a stern test as they are highly ranked

The TCI girls will use the Festival as a learning experience, especially since the visiting sides are well established. (2012 photo)

Angena Moncher is recognised as the current fastest female pitcher in the TCI.

in the USA. Bethesda are one of the top four female clubs in America, regularly producing US national team players and Tamba Bay have improved with the acquisition of several new key players. Despite the fearsome reputation of their opponents Green is confident that the TCI players will represent well on the field: “every year our players get better technically and tactically. These games will be a great opportunity for our players to see where they are and realise what steps they need to improve moving forward”.

Leading up to the Festival about 40 females were in training. “We have brought back several players to train with the squads so that we

Softball Federation behind Moncher in her quest for higher education

can look at a few things as we plan for the World Cup (Qualifying) Games in 2014. We also have a lot of young players who need experience against high level opponents so these games are a vital part of the process. We are looking at the big picture which is to ensure we have a chance of success next year (at the Qualifiers).

In the past our teams have come close to World Cup success with a narrow defeat to the Dominican Republic and a tie with Dominica on their home soil. Our win against the Bahamas in the Beach Soccer Tournament as well as our 4-0 win against the British Virgin Islands in 2011 shows we have the ability to beat many teams in the region”.

CLEMENT Howell High School’s valedictorian Angena Moncher has signalled her intention to attend a college where she can enhance her softball skills and the TCI Softball Federation has thrown its support behind her.

The ace pitcher, deemed the fastest female on the islands, is a stark example of how sports and education complement each other.

TCISF president Godfrey Been in a congratulatory message said that the softball body “will always be supportive of her and her

dreams.”

In her valedictorian address Moncher had stated that her aim is to play softball in college so she can return to the TCI to use her skills to assist the younger generation and hopefully own her own team.

The ace student had thanked the federation for helping her to achieve academic success through the use of discipline, dedication and concentration—all of which she learned on the softball field.

The youngster is currently playing for Kia Katz in the Fast Pitch League.

Josh for Sports

When will we ever learn!

YEARS ago, when I first learned to play the guitar, there was a song I would frequently play.

That song: “Blowing in the wind” is appropriate and applies to the governments of the TCI as it relates to their/our attitude towards national sports in this country. Yet I shall take the liberty to paraphrase this song to suite/ highlight the point I’ve been trying to drive home for the past 8 ½ years.

How many times must we neglect (our athletes) before losing them one and all? And how many times must we sink in quick sand, before we take the appropriate stand?

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.

We seem to bury our heads, like ostriches, and totally ignore the facts and realities of life, regarding the importance of the significance

By Joshua Gardiner of what sports can do for a country.

Be it known the international champions reflect the attitudes of the nationals of a country. They reflect the commitment to be competitive with the rest of the world. They reflect the national pride of a country. They bring honour, dignity and respect to a country in the international community. They unite the citizens of a country. They stimulate other

citizens to success, more so in hopes of becoming worthwhile ambassador themselves.

Sports also open the doors for the athlete to acquire athletic/ sports scholarships for educational purposes, and finally, it provides an avenue for the sportsperson to become exceptionally wealthy in life and give them an opportunity to give back to their country. There are countless examples where they have contributed to help alleviate the demise/suffering of people in the face of natural, personal and national disasters.

THEY MUST BENEFIT It is only natural that sports persons benefit from the hard work they committed themselves to reach. The commitments sometimes lead them to achieve internationally recognised stardom. If a country does not have the relevant vehicles in place which the sportsman or sportswoman can

use to take themselves to the next level, it becomes logical that they would seek such transportation elsewhere.

As a result of our noncommitment to promoting national sports, we have lost our first junior world champion (Delano Williams) to Britain. It’s tantamount to us burying out heads, like the ostrich in the proverbial and physical sand, while the world passes us by.

THE NEED TO SEPARATE MINISTRIES It is imperative that we create a separate ministry for sports and culture. Those areas complement each other. Naturally, in promoting sporting events, national culture comes into play. Stark examples of this marriage are the Olympics and/ or any international games.

It is not practical if one minister only is responsible for education, youth, sports and culture. That is not

realistic. The minister can never have the time to satisfy the needs of total commitment necessary for success in all of those areas.

MY SUGGESTION I suggest that the House of Assembly passes a bill separating/ creating a Ministry of Sports and Culture.

NATIONAL LOTTERY Also in the past, I’ve advocated for the creation of a national sports/culture lottery.

In this way, there will always be funds to support a bold, aggressive, proactive national sporting programme.

FOOLS WISDOM Wisdom lies in the bosom of fools. I’ve been giving free counsel for eight and a half years.

One does not have to like me, but my words/experiences are true.

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NACRA 15s Trophy 2013:

National U-19s remarkable on debut – Thrash Guyana 34-0 TCI fans could not have asked for more. Our national U-19 rugby team thrashed regional powerhouse Guyana 34-0 in their first official playing game of the North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Trophy 15s at the Fatima Ground in Mucurapo, Trinidad on Tuesday last.

Although the South American seniors have fared better than their juniors, the win, by that margin, was unexpected to say the least for our young side.

In TCI there were celebrations by the hard working senior players and officials who have gone beyond the call of duty over the last few years to get the side as match prepared as they were against Guyana.

Senior captain Seán O’Neill called the win a “huge accomplishment for the guys who are there, the rugby community here (in the TCI) and the country as a whole.”

He added that the youngsters have exceeded the expectations of the local rugby body, the TCIRFU. “They showed great resilience and pulled out an amazing performance we are all exceptionally proud of.”

In the game TCI scored five tries and in the process earned a four try bonus point.

LJ Outten led the attack with two tries while seasoned players Franco

TCI’s U-19 boys have done extremely well on their NACRA debut.

Mompremier, Kristoff Malcolm and Captain Andrew Seymour added the others. A number of other players, including Luis Turbyfield, were outstanding in the win.

OVERALL WIN? TCI, who were expected to play their final game on Friday, were poised to win the Trophy after having gained a walkover victory against

the Bahamas in their opening round.

With a loss to Guyana, St. Lucia, the other debutant at the tournament, would have had to win big to restrict our boys from bringing home the spoils.

Leaving out the championship honours the win against Guyana was an

announcement that TCI was no “easy” side. In fact, this win bodes well for the future of the sport on the islands since most of the juniors will one day represent the national senior side.

“This match proves what we have always known, that there is exceptional rugby talent here and that

Missick finishes fourth at CAC Senior Championships FORMER CARIFTA gold medallist Domanique Missick finished joint fourth when he competed in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Athletic Confederation Senior Championships in Mexico last week.

The national high jump record holder ended with a best jump of 2.10m. In fact three jumpers finished with 2.10M, but Mexico’s Arturo Abascal took the third place spot, while Dominican Brendan Williams and Domanique finished joint fourth.

Jamaican Darrell Garwood and

Bahamian Jamal Wilson finished first and second respectively with jumps of 2.22M each.

Missick’s national record is 2.20M, which he attained last year at the Panthers Track Club 2012 Invitational Meet in Providenciales.

Mexico were overall winners of the championships with 17 gold medals, 19 silver medals and 11 bronze medals. Jamaica finished second with 11 gold medals, 6 silvers and four bronzes while T&T were third (5G, 4S and 4B) and the Bahamas fourth (2G, 3S, 3B)

Domanique Missick jumped 2.10M in Mexico last week.

we can compete on the International stage. We have a great foundation upon which to continue to grow the sport,” O’Neill added.

In friendly clashes TCI and St. Lucia (by a larger margin of defeat) both lost to the Invitational Presidents XV side earlier this week.

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July 13 - 19, 2013

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