Weekly News Volume 27 | No. 11 | March 23 - 29, 2013
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Amanda wins
by-election – PNP maintains power
AMANDA Missick took home the March 22 byelection seat for her party - the critical vote that determined the possibility of a change in the PAGE government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. 5 ‘The Crazy Conch’ bar, serving their cracked conch, excited the taste buds of the judges and allowed them to take home the top prize in the Ashcroft School’s fourth annual Conch Festival PAGE
Mike Misick calls for independence referendum PAGE 4
Supplementary PAGE 8 Appropriation Bill for $2.7m passed in House
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Tourism tops the agenda during PAGE 9 Haitian Prime Minister’s visit to TCI
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Mike Misick calls for independence referendum Hits out at Hague’s ‘contemptuous’ response BY VANESSA NARINE FORMER Premier, Michael Misick, on Wednesday, called for an independence referendum in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He said: “If you [William Hague] are so confident that the Turks and Caicos people want to remain British, why don’t you carry out a referendum on the question as you just did for show in the Falklands or as Scotland is doing in 2014? “That referendum and only that referendum will determine the true desire of the Turks and Caicos people.” The embattled former Premier, still in Brazil, responded in a letter to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Secretary of State, William Hague, who, in a March 12 letter, replied to concerns raised by current Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing. He said: “I also think that because of Dr. Ewing’s stance, and indeed the PNP party's stance, our country should be moving towards independence….no matter how much you [Hague] and the British government put misinformation out there to hide your true agenda and to cover up for your incompetent officials, it will not change the facts nor the hearts of Turks and Caicos people that the British has worn out their welcome in the Turks and Caicos Islands and their days are numbered. “The clock is ticking and political independence and freedom for our people cannot be stopped.” Misick also charged that the contempt that British officials at the highest level have for the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people is astonishing. He said: “I read with amazement your letter of arrogance that is in the public media to our Premier Hon Dr
Rufus Ewing. “The contempt that British officials at the highest level have for Turks and Caicos Islands and its people is astonishing, and the second such letter where a public dressing is handed down to the leader of our country because of his public stand that the local elected Government should be able to govern including allowing the elected Parliament to enact legislation for the benefit of our people and our country.” UNDERMINING According to Misick, British officials are doing everything in their power to undermine Dr. Ewing’s Government. He said: “The evidence is in all of the confusion about the elections and
Former Premier Michael Misick
Secretary of State William Hague
misrepresenting the true facts that transpire with my tenure as Premier of our country.” According to him, British officials are hiding facts they do not want the people of the Turks and Caicos or the world to know. Misick said: “The fact is that the British government has destroyed the Turks and Caicos economy, its
judicial system and eroded the rule of law over the past four years. “The borrowings that you refer to in your letter were borrowings that your British occupation government did to prop up an illegitimate interim regime and to spend tens of millions of dollars in a political motivated investigation to politically persecute me and my colleagues because of our
views. “No elected Turks and Caicos Government should have to pay back money that you borrowed. “You talk about Robin Auld, a sole handpicked commissioner by the British government to carry out their instructions in a Commission of Inquiry whether outcome was predetermined. “If there was nothing to hide than there should have been a transparent Commission of Inquiry with at least a commissioner with eminent judges from the Caribbean included on the panel.” Misick stressed that what is clear is that the relationship between the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British government is over. He said: “It is now not based on mutual respect but based on a bullying and arrogant superiority complex that should be relegated to the dust bin of history….you should manifest your claim of belief in democracy and act honest, transparent and behave responsibly.”
PNP’s last rally - massive show of energy and celebration BY VANESSA NARINE THE PROGRESSIVE National Party’s (PNP) final bid for support in Friday’s by-election was a massive show of support and took on a lighter note compared to prior bids, turning the night’s event into something of a celebration. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, took the stage and reinforced the celebratory mood when he pointed to the successes of his team in government, which, by extension was a success for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. He kept his message for the evening light, giving supporters several reminders on the voting
Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson – Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Narine - Senior Reporter Faizool Deo – Sports Cord Garrido-Lowe – Graphics/Production Editor Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams – Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@yahoo.com, tcweeklynews@gmail.com (Talk Back) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com
process and what they would need to do to “stay the course” and keep a PNP Government in power. Ewing said: “You have to vote for Amanda…the only way we will lose this is if you do not come out and vote.” He reiterated the need for voters to ‘stay the course’. “We have to finish this so we can finish the work we have already begun…there is no need to change the course,” the Premier stressed. Party supporter, Edna Sterling, who addressed the gathering before the Premier took the stage, gave what was the night’s most stirring speech, endorsing the Premier as a “good man” and the party as the one represents truly the interests of all of the people living in the TCI. Her endorsements were met with loud cheers from the crowd. “You need to change your political tone,” Sterling posited. According to her, the country’s people need to get back to their roots. She said: “The PNP is not a ‘me or I’ party, it is a ‘we and us’ movement…we work together as a team…the PNO will stand next to all of you.” On that note, Sterling pointed to the fact that the PNP was the first party to incorporate women into politics, turning out the first female parliamentarian, Minister and Permanent Secretary. She lauded the qualities of Amanda Missick and urged the support of District Seven, whose critical vote will determine the next government. Sterling appealed to the religious among the gathering and maintained
The PNP team on stage adding to the hype at Thursday night’s rally
that the November 9 win was the plan of God, as is the outcome of the by-election. On that note, she said: “Sharing is what have us here…there ain’t no sharing in politics.” Sterling added the people of the Islands need a government that will truly stand up for the people and protect their interest. She said: “I can speak for my Premier…he’s so cool…throughout everything he has held his head up high and did not sink to the pit like others….he’s not a mudslinger.” Outspoken party supporter, Devon Williams, picked up in between the speakers and hit out creatively with jingles that sent different messages, dependent on the speaker he picked up after. The messages included catchphrases like: “I voting Amanda…surrender to Amanda,” “PDM will play with your soul,” “PDM done, PNP can’t done” and
“We want doc.” In between jingles he lashed out the PDM leader, deputy leader and candidate, Oral Selver. “Tell Oral to pay the shoes man if he loves Haitians so much,” he told a crowd that erupted into laughs. Williams questioned too what job PDM Deputy Leader, Sean Astwood, ever held to qualify him for representation on the jobs issue. He also compared the PDM Leader, Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, to the Deputy Premier, Akierra Missick, stressing that Missick was the better of the two. Other slogans that marked that last rally included the catchphrase: “Ain’t no stopping the PNP now.” Amanda Missick in her speech to the gathering reiterated this sentiment and stated that supporters have to stay the course to ensure that all the people of the TCI move continued
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS
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Amanda Missick wins by-election
– PNP maintains power BY VANESSA NARINE AMANDA Missick took home the March 22 by-election seat for her party - the critical vote that determined the possibility of a change in the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. A margin of 70 votes decided the win, with the Progressive National Party (PNP) taking away 455 votes and the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) capturing 385 votes. Voters in the by-election cast their votes at two polling stations, the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex and the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC). Last time around Amanda Missick secured 394 votes and Oral Selver secured 30 votes less with 364. Commenting on the win, Premier and PNP Leader, Dr. Rufus Ewing, said: “It has been a long fought,
PNP’s last rally - massive show of ... continued
forward together. She said: “You know what you have…you don’t know what you are going to get…stay the course.” Missick expounded on her record of representation on education and roads and jobs in her district, among others. “I am the one that takes your resumes to the hotel myself… you know the fight you have in me,” she posited. According to her, the PNP team is capable and suitable for the job of advancing the TCI in the people’s interests. “Just look at our team,” she invited. Missick said a vote for her will ensure that she continues to build on the foundation of work already started. Other speakers that echoed similar sentiment included Portia Stubbs-Smith, Norman Saunders, Royal Robinson and Lillian Boyce. The end of Thursday night’s rally saw supporters enjoying the sounds of live musicians as the night wound down.
unnecessary, battle. “We were given a mandate on November 9 and Ms. Missick due to no fault of hers had her seat stripped away…this time around the people have given us an even more overwhelming mandate. “We hope that things can settle and we can continue to do the work of the people without much distraction, without the political rhetoric and everyone can work together in unity.” According to Ewing, the Leader the Opposition and the PDM, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, called and congratulated him – a sentiment he noted that was much appreciated. “We now have to move forward working together,” Ewing said. “We will try our best to govern and if the other side governs in the interest of the people we will have no problems working together. “If they govern from a political standpoint then we will have a problem.” District Seven’s re-elected representative, adding her bit, thanked the voters for their support and for giving her a third win at the polls. Missick said: “Through the grace of God I am here again to work hard and represent the people.” A large number of supporters turned out to the PNP’s headquarters to celebrate the party’s victory. On the other side, CartwrightRobinson, speaking to supporters at the party’s headquarters, acknowledged the bigger win, despite the disappointment at the polls for her party. She stated that the bigger win is the fact that the PDM is now stronger that it has ever been. “We ran an excellent campaign. We took charge and showed them a new PDM…we have nothing to be ashamed of. “We went into this with integrity and came out of it with our integrity…when we leave here we do so with our heads held high,” the party leader said. However, she pointed out that the disappointment that exists is one that centres on what the PDM considers a loss for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Cartwright-Robinson said: “We know what we have to offer…the Turks and Caicos Islands lost…it ain’t over yet. “We are still seven strong and we are more energised than ever before…we will be a stronger Opposition…all this did was make
Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, hosts a press briefing at the PNP headquarters after the election results are announced
us stronger.” On that note she called for supporters to display maturity and avoid bickering and such, particularly so via social media. The leader stressed that this is the time to show the world that there are mature and sensible people and politicians in the TCI. Oral Selver, commenting on his loss, noted that his representation will not stop and while he is disappointed, he will continue to be in the fight for the people of these Islands. Both candidates campaigned on one similar platform; voters have seen the representation they have. Amanda Missick’s message was that voters know the representation they have with her, but are not sure what they will get with another candidate. On the other hand, Oral Selver stressed the fact that the people of Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill have seen the representation they have received in the last four months under the PNP and its shortcomings, but with him as the candidate they would have both stronger representation and leadership under a PDM government. At the November 9 polls the PNP won the general elections by a slim margin, eight to seven – a mere one seat difference. NEXT STEPS With the results of the by-election the House will see the PNP reclaiming their eight seats with Dr. Rufus Ewing as Premier, with responsibility for Investment and Trade; Akierra Missick as Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture; Charles Washington Misick as Minister of Finance and Tourism; Porsha StubbsSmith as Minister of Environment and Home Affairs; Ricardo DonHue Gardiner as Minister of Border Control and Labour; George
Alexander Lightbourne as Minister of Government Support Services; and Amanda Missick as Minister of Health and Human Services (Gender Affairs, Social Services). The Opposition maintain their seven seats in the House. VOTER TURNOUT This time round voters reported a much better experience, with no long lines and hours of waiting like the last time round. Up to press time, the number of votes who turned out to the polls, as well as details as to whether or not any votes were rejected in the count was not available from the Elections Office. Last time round some 983 voters were registered in Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hills and there was an 84 per cent turnout at the November 9
polls. The TCI has been known for strong voter turnout and this year’s election was another for the country’s history books. Looking back at past elections, the PDM won their first election in January 1995, since 1988. The party picked up eight of the 12 district votes and saw an 85 per cent voter turnout. In March 1999, a total of 36 candidates vied for 13 seats and the PDM won for a second consecutive term. They took nine of the 13 districts and that year there was an 84 per cent voter turnout. In April 2003, the PDM won again taking seven of the 13 seats. February 2009 saw the political landscape change, with a landslide victory for the PNP, which took 13 of the 15 seats.
Simmonds rejects ‘misleading’ remarks UK MINISTER Mark Simmonds wrote to Caricom this week to reject what he called “misleading remarks” made by Premier Rufus Ewing. A press statement from the Governor’s Office issued on Friday read: “At the 24th Inter-sessional meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on February 18, Premier Hon Dr Rufus Ewing made a speech presenting his interpretation of the relationship between TCI and the UK.” It went on to say that following the conference, the Premier issued an open letter to the Foreign Secretary where these remarks were re-stated.
“On March 12 the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, issued a detailed response in which he said: ‘I regret you substantially misrepresent both the past and present situation to both the people of the TCI and to the leaders of the Caribbean.’ “To correct the misrepresentation to the Caricom leaders the United Kingdom Minister responsible for relations with the Caribbean, Mark Simmonds, has written to the President of Caricom, His Excellency Michel Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti, to ask for the response by the Foreign Secretary to be circulated to all of the Heads of Government in the Caribbean Community.”
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day
War of Words
SECRETARY of State, William Hague, in a letter on Tuesday, charged that Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing, “substantially” misrepresented both the past and the present situation to the people of the TCI and to the leaders of the Caribbean. The Secretary of State minced no words in stressing that the UK has accepted a “broad responsibility” for good governance in the Turks and Caicos Islands to fix the “chaotic situation” left by the former Progressive National Party (PNP) administration. What are your thoughts on the tone of his letter?
Out of touch with reality
It is quite obvious that the Premier’s speech impacted the Secretary of State. I think the Premier’s speech was powerful and did not misrepresent the situation. The Secretary of State unfortunately is out of touch with the realities in TCI. He is solely relying on the Governor as his ear piece and mouth piece. I think the Premier needs to respond to the Secretary of State because he has the majority of our support. I wonder what the Secretary of State will do if all of us truly decide to pen our thoughts on what is really happening in the TCI. Mr. Secretary, no matter what the tone of your response is, we will not be deterred.
A chance to reconsider
Mr. Hague should consider sending competent staff to look after their “broad responsibility”. That would greatly aid relationships between the UK and TCI!
See the bigger picture
Well for those of us who did not realise who was in charge, they now know. The UK is in charge and will be until such time that we choose self determination, which I personally don't think will be any time soon since we are not ready on many levels or until we relieve them of the $260m guarantee. An aggressive move towards independence would be a knee-jerk response to the UK asking us to prove to them that we have matured and so will not repeat past bad behaviors. The FCO is also very embarrassed that after they suspended our constitution, the citizenship would turn right around and re-elect the same people who caused this situation and plunged the country into chaos and virtual bankruptcy. They are also afraid that due to the absence of any real sign of repentance by the PNP that there is a high probability that the same behaviour would be repeated. I think the day the PNP stands up and stops being hypocritical about their past indiscretions and publicly apologises to the country and its citizens for its behaviour and asks forgiveness then the process of healing and respect will not begin.
Play of politics
I am a PDM but I have to say that the way the British government is operating is in a very non-democratic, non-transparent and dictatorship fashion in our country. That being said the Premier may have distorted some facts about the situation in the TCI but that, my friends, they say is politics.
Hypocrisy
Why doesn’t Mr. Hague review the latest fiasco in the TCI where the public will be made to endure yet another wait at the polling stations for a by-election that did not need to take place if the Attorney General and the Integrity Commission did their job. It seems the height of fallacy that the AG allowed nominees to put their names forward and then did not check their eligibility and further allowed the people of the TCI to vote (and there are not many countries that can boast of such an impressive voter turnout) and then call it all into question. It smacks of hypocrisy that the British would waste so much money, time and good will of the voters by having to hold this byelection when if handled correctly this would never have occurred, nor would TCI again be in a rather humiliating position. Now it appears that quite a number of the candidates at large may also have not declared correctly, again not checked nor picked up by the AG. Will this mean another full election? One does wonder whether the British are that incompetent or was this intentional to make the TCI appear not able to govern itself. In Hague’s words the British accepted “broad responsibility” for good governance – so where was it when it counted?
A wider dynamic
William Hague is among the top ten of the world’s leaders. He has an important position
Agriculture co-op in planning stages BY VANESSA NARINE AS PART of the effort to advance agriculture in the Turks and Caicos Islands an agriculture co-op is being set up. But Minister of Environment and Home Affairs, Portia Stubbs-Smith, told the Weekly News that the initiative is still in the planning stages. She said: “We are trying to identify our stakeholders to take this forward. We pretty much know who our stakeholders are, we have just not met formally as yet…we are taking our time.” The Minister also spoke of other initiatives that are linked to pushing her Government’s agriculture policy. According to her, there is an on-going project in North Caicos on a government owned farm that involves testing of crops. “We are looking at different crops to see
how they are able to respond to the weather and soil conditions and other factors like that. “This has been on-going for three years so we are building on what we know,” she said. Stubbs-Smith added that human resources is another area being looked at and stated that the recently vacated post of Agriculture Director has been advertising and a new director will be appointed once due process has run its course. Last December, at the Joint Ministerial Council, which succeeds the Overseas Territories Consultative Councils, in England, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, stated that collaboration was sought not only between the UK, but with other Overseas Territories to advance economic diversification, a development that would include agriculture, deep sea fishing and off-shore financial services. Ewing said while there are useful policies,
which the other territories have tried and tested, that can be adopted by the TCI, the country will also seek out other regional partners, such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for needs such as advancing agriculture. The Premier maintained that his Government will give “focused attention” to diversification of the local economy through expansion of the fishing and agriculture industries and other secondary industries. In the 2012-2013 budget some $353,574 was budgeted for the Agriculture Department’s recurrent expenditure, with some $371,253 allocated in 2013-2014 for the same. Under Uncommitted Prioritised Projects in the budget some $100,000 was budgeted for agricultural development between 2012 and 2014.
in the British Tory-led government and when he responded to our Premier in the tiny TCI, that in itself was significant. However what he said is of utmost importance to the voters and residents of this small country. He said in the first paragraph that Ewing had “substantially misrepresented the past and present situation to the people of the TCI and the region”. What Hague now finally puts to paper is this standard of the PNP party since its formation long years ago. Untruth was the cause of the TCI going backwards for 10 years. The failure was not due to Hague's Conservative party but to the former British Labour Party who sent us Posten, Tauwhare and Wetherell. No oversight needed, said their gal Meg Munn. She misrepresented the truth and was instantly gone as Robin Auld came in. Hague is warning Ewing that his government and our people have to pay back all the monies his PNP party spent for good times.
Is this fair?
Under PNP it is. Hague is also saying Britain saved the TCI from bankruptcy. The unfortunate truth is Ewing’s financial minister has failed to manage the TCI Bank and his resort properly and therefore he can't lay a plan to pay back the millions wasted by this ministers own brother and party. Hague’s letter signals the beginning of the end of the PNP party.
The beginning of the end
I have printed out the British Foreign Secretary’s speech and shown it to all my neighbours and friends. Now Ewing is saying Hague is corrupt and is abusing his power. He and his cronies all need to look in their mirrors. Britain is not happy the PNP came back into power, now failing to admit the truth. The dawning is the end of the PNP not a new day. Britain would not have been happy with Skippings either, but the PDM let him show his weakness at their expense Thank God, that era is now over once and forever. Perhaps those former PNP Chief Ministers from South and North Caicos will be retired soon as well. Next month 12 PNP's are going to trial. Number 13 is awaiting extradition from his hiding place. Garlick said this is only the beginning. Who is next to be found out?
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
March 23 - 29, 2013
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
PDM Leader, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, joins the party’s many supporters in dance as the excitement in the lead up to the by-election builds
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PDM’s Oral Selver and relatives take the stage at Thursday’s rally
Live broadcast takes PDM’s last rally into the homes of Turks Islanders
BY VANESSA NARINE
THE FINAL effort to engender the support of voters in Friday’s byelection saw the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) going the extra mile with a live broadcast of their Thursday night rally. And Leader of the Opposition and the PDM, Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, wasted no time in sounding what she termed “the clarion call” to action. She said: “Sisters and brothers something moves among us as it has never moved before in this land of ours. “It moves through our families, in our churches, our schools, in our communities, at the workplace, wherever our people meet, this something moves through us, compelling us work as a collective whole, with a collective mind. “It moves with a sure direction towards a known goal. This movement challenges our thoughts, provokes our intuition, motivates our action, until, as a people we seek to make a final discovery. “The discovery that we seek is the discovery of ourselves…who we are, what we are, where we are, where we want to be! “Sisters and brothers this is not a PDM ideology, this is certainly not a PNP ideology, it is a people’s ideology. “It is a peoples’ discovery…it is a discovery that propels us to a time for action!” The PDM Leader stressed the importance of the vote in determining the prosperity of the TCI over the next four years. She said: “Some of who have traditionally voted PNP are still wavering, you have told us and we hear you and we say vote country now, you will not regret doing what you feel in your heart is right for this time, some of you are discouraged after all of the rhetoric – my team
Oral Selver takes to the stage to stress his message of true representation for the people of the TCI
and I have discussed the issues, we do not allow time on our platform for ‘mudslinging’. “The times we are in demands that. We can point our disagreements with taste, style and dignity. “We can start our positions with passion and not attack anyone. Not because we disagree, means we are being disagreeable. “The PDM has its direction and we have our plans and ideas and when time has called us to compromise and work together, we rose to the challenge and did so.” According to her, the country cannot afford to “stay the course” when promises for the first 120 days have already been broken. She said: “This call for action. It is a call for us to come together, if only for the survival of our country, the future of our children, the restoring of our economy, the reinstatement of honesty and integrity in the corridors of government, from Government House, to the Attorney General’s Chambers, the House of Assembly through to the Civil Service. “Integrity, sisters and brothers, decision making that can be supported and validated in any court of law. “Yes, we seek to develop a country where our families can mingle their labours, their sufferings and joys,
though moulded differently, where everyone could develop, socially, politically and economically.” Cartwright-Robinson maintained that the time is now to make a move in the right direction. She said: “I am soliciting your support in making the wrong right, recommitting ourselves to ideals that are lofty, seeking to emulate the vision, the wisdom, the strength, the courage of our far-seeing statesman, the Hon. James Alexander George Smith McCartney.” Cartwright-Robinson also joined in with supporters as they danced in support of their party. Excitement was further hyped up with an impressive show of fireworks. The fireworks continued on stage as Oral Selver’s brothers took to the stake to both introduce their brother and commit themselves to assisting him in representing the people of the Islands. Oral Selver, in his message, to District Seven voters, pointed out that he stands more committed and determined than pre-November 9. He stressed that a vote for him is a vote for history making with the first female Premier, is a vote for sound representation and leadership under a PDM Government and a vote for change in the TCI. “The PDM will take you in the right direction,” he stressed as the gathering of supporters cheered. Selver made it clear that with a PDM government in place there would be “no more wondering in no man’s land” by the people of the TCI. “We were on the mountain top and now we are in the valley of hopelessness, but we will rise back to the top under strong leadership,” he said. According to him, better days are ahead with a PDM government that will ensure opportunity, representation and property for
the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The PDM has a blueprint, our plans are already drawn,” Selver said. Winding down his speech, he played a common card used in the play of politics, the fact that the former PNP administration disgraced the TCI, but this time called for an apology to the nation. “We will have a better TCI under the PDM,” he posited. Former Chief Minister and long standing member of the PDM, Derek Taylor, went a little out of character with his style of speaking at the rally, but as usual delivered a strong message to supporters. He said: “Be the Daniels and
Esthers like in the Bible. They made a difference. They stood up and dared to make a difference.” Taylor urged supporters to make their vote count. “Are you ready for change?” he questioned. The PDM stressed the message of change with catchphrases of their own, like the PNP, which included: “Don’t mind PNP, they will play with your vote” and “What course are we staying?” Several other PDM members, serving in the House of Assembly, stressed the critical nature of the byelection and the need to make the change and vote to take the country in the right direction.
Illegal Haitian immigrants intercepted, to be repatriated ONE hundred and fifteen illegal Haitians were intercepted on a sloop on Monday, at about 5am, after being detected by the TCI Coastal Radar Station. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands (RTCI) Police Marine Branch intercepted the illegal vessel south of Providenciales. The passengers included 86 males and 29 females, including two minors. According to a statement from the Government press office, the Ministry of Border Control and Labour and the RTCI Police Force are keen on sending a strong message of zero tolerance to anyone attempting to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands illegally. The statement said: “Any of the above mentioned passengers identified as repeat offenders, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent
of the law. “Likewise, anyone proven to be in any way involved in the facilitation of this type of human trafficking is liable on summary conviction, to a fine of $15,000 or to a term of imprisonment of three years or both fine and imprisonment, in accordance with Section 69 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance. “It is the commitment of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands to maintain protection of its borders and to unequivocally demonstrate the resolve to ensure that safe haven will not be afforded to those who attempt to circumvent normal immigration procedures.” Arrangements for repatriation of the individuals in question are at an advanced stage and are expected to be completed by the end of this week.
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NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
Supplementary Appropriation Bill for $2.7m passed in House – Opposition Leader says Appropriations Committee will not be a rubber stamp BY VANESSA NARINE THE SUPPLEMENTARY Appropriation (2012/2013) (NO.2) Bill 2013 was approved by the House of Assembly, last Friday (March 15), to allow a further issue from the Consolidated Fund in the sum of $2,687,775.55 for meeting expenditure for the financial year ending March 31. The expenditure covers $27,365.79 for the Human Rights Commission, $100,000 for the Integrity Commission, $67,000 for the purchase of additional pump for reverse osmosis plant and $2,685,409.76 for the purchase of the NJS Francis Building. However, while the spending was approved, Leader of the Opposition and chair of the Appropriations Committee, Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, raised questions over how seriously the role of the committee is being taken, as the monies were already spent before approval for spending was sought. She said: “The Appropriations Committee is still virtually a new creature under the Constitution and as such, the committee expects that there would be some hiccups in the beginning. “However, the committee believes that there must be greater appreciation for the important work of this committee and the spirit by which it was established under the Constitution. “It is against this background, that Members are concerned that the work of the committee is not being
respected or taken seriously which is evidenced by the failure of some persons appearing not producing the required documents to support supplementary requests and within the time frame set by the committee so that Members can adequately prepare and make recommendations from a more informed position.” RUBBER STAMP The Opposition Leader made it clear that the Appropriations Committee will not be a rubber stamp. “The problem is the path outside of the Appropriation Committee to pass expenditure…we don’t want a repeat of this sort,” CartwrightRobinson said. She explained that the committee’s function is to assist transparency in the interest of good governance. Cartwright-Robinson added that the committee has met three times so far and has had to adjourn all three time for officials to provide the committee with the requisite documentations needed to properly approve spending. She pointed out that the committee has the power to compel and summons persons and documents, however, noted that this is not the route the committee wants to take. “This does not bode well for good governance,” the Opposition Leader said. Representative for Blue Hills, Goldray Ewing, chimed in to stress the need for business in the TCI to be done in a transparent manner. “This country deserves from its
Political parties support of free and fair elections, Lewis POLITICAL parties have acted in support of free and fair elections, according to Supervisor of Election, Dudley Lewis. Lewis told the Weekly News that nothing in the campaigning so far, since the by-election was announced, has been contrary to the legislations guiding the conduct of an election. “I have not had any reports of misconduct from either members of the public or political parties,” he said. The Elections Supervisor, last week, made it clear that he would follow up on all reports received and would not hesitate to collaborate with the police to initiate criminal investigation contrary to the legislation, such as treating. He explained that inexpensive t-shirts, caps and advertising materials provided by political parties and candidates are not regarded as treating. It is however defined by the provision of food, drink, gifts of any kind or cash during political rallies, meetings or general campaigning, as these could interpreted as an attempt to corruptly influence a voter in the
elected and appointed officials that much….to see the supplementary bills only now coming to Appropriations Committee is not good,” he said. The Opposition’s appointed Member, Clarence Selver, added that the procedure used begs further investigation. According to him, accountability and transparency is the order of the day, but the House Members have to “cajole persons” to get information that should be made readily available to the Appropriations Committee. He noted that those not in compliance with the wishes of the committee are opposing its authority by not making themselves available to the committee for questioning. Selver said: “This matter was concluded some time ago and we are only now looking at this…on the face of this document alone, there is insufficient information for us to wrap our minds around it…this matter is a cleaning up exercise and begs many questions.” Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, endorsed the comments of his peers and noted that even though the House is “compelled” to approve the supplementary bill, there is need for additional investigation into the spending. He noted that the Statement of Governance Principles that was approved by the House last Thursday (March 14) cannot be broken and the trend being seen cannot continue. According to him, whether it is the Members of the House of Assembly or the Governor or the Deputy Governor, everyone must be held to account. FUNDING CONCERNS With the procedure for approving spending discussed, the House turned its attention to funding concerns, in particular the Human Rights and Integrity Commissions for which
the monies in the supplementary bill were approved. The Opposition Leader noted while it is understood that there are many competing interests, good governance bodies must be properly resourced. She explained that the concern with the Human Rights Commission is that while subvention is fixed at $100,000, most of that goes to human resource costs and there is not much that can be done with the limited resources left. Cartwright-Robinson said the concern extends to the impact the Human Rights Commission can have. The Government’s Appointed Member, Ruth Blackman, reiterated similar concerns. According to her, going forward adequate funding must be in place, to ensure good governance bodies can carry out their mandate. She too acknowledged that that there are many competing expenditures – a situation that will result in a challenge in the next budget. On the note of competing interests, Clarence Selver, questioned the need
for $2.685m to purchase the NJS Francis building. According to him, there is no huge urgency to purchase building, as it is not an emergency situation, like the state of affairs at the Clement Howell High School and the need for a second high school in Providenciales. “I am not satisfied with this as it stands with the government’s priorities,” Selver said. Given the contributions made, Finance Minister, Washington Misick, moved a motion for the supplementary bill to be considered in committee. Given that the Deputy Speaker, Josephine Connolly, was not in the House of Assembly at the time, the Premier nominated Goldray Ewing to be appointed as deputy speaker, but he declined, as did Clarence Selver. The House settled on Ruth Blackman as Deputy Speaker to preside over the committee session. When the House came out of committee, the Supplementary Appropriation (2012/2013) (NO.2) Bill 2013 was approved.
Elections officials urged to uphold the trust of their office TWENTY-NINE polling officers and 10 police officers involved in the March 22 byelection were urged to uphold the trust of the office they hold, a trust that supports the conduct of a free and fair election process. The charge was delivered by Supervisor of Elections, Dudley Lewis, on Tuesday at the start of a two-day training session, held at the Gustavus Sports Complex, to better prepare officials to execute their duties. The training involved
theoretical and practical exercises and was facilitated by former Elections Supervisor, Perry S. Missick. According to Missick, the training’s mock elections, for example, are geared to give officials a hands-on approach to the efficient hosting of the byelection. He maintained that voters have to find the process easy and without delays as they cast their votes. The training was funded by the Elections Office.
Supervisor of Election Dudley Lewis
way they cast their vote at the byelection. Lewis said: “I have been satisfied that campaigning up to the present time has been overwhelmingly free and fair.” He reiterated that a fair election, untainted by any hint of corrupt practices, is in the best interest of the voters of Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill and citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands. (VANESSA NARINE)
Elections Supervisor, Dudley Lewis, addresses participants of the training session
March 23 - 29, 2013
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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Tourism tops the agenda during Haitian Prime Minister’s visit to TCI HAITI’S Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, arrived in the Turks and Caicos last Friday (March 15). He began a three-day private visit that included conversations with leaders of both parties who shared lessons of how tourism can spark a country’s overall economic growth. On Saturday morning, Lamothe met with Governor Ric Todd as part of his visit to the newly inaugurated Haitian consulate in Providenciales. He and Todd discussed the good standing relations shared by Haiti and the Turks and Caicos With tourism at the forefront of the Martelly-Lamothe administration’s plans for revitalising Haiti’s economy, the two leaders explored the approach taken by the Turks and Caicos. “Haiti shares some of the attributes that make the Turks and Caicos a desirable travel destination,” said Lamothe.
“With a favoured location in the undiscovered Caribbean, easy access to key travel markets in the Americas, and the same beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and tropical weather as the Turks and Caicos, Haiti is an island jewel waiting to be discovered.” The Prime Minister pointed out that although his visit was private in nature, he was interested in economic models that might accelerate Haiti’s reconstruction following the 2010 earthquake. He said: “I am always looking for lessons to be learned and best practices for development, especially in the area of tourism.” Lamothe also paid a courtesy visit to his counterpart, the current Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, who engaged him in an informal exchange on pairing tourism destinations into multi destination packages. As a courtesy, Ewing accompanied
Interim CFO nominated
STEPHEN Turnbull was nominated as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Turks and Caicos Islands this week. The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) made the announcement on Monday. According to DFID, Turnbull will function for an interim period beginning May 4, when he will succeed current CFO, Hugh McGarel-Groves, who is scheduled to leave the TCI at the beginning of May. He is slated to remain the CFO until the end of August, during
which time he will help the TCI Government to continue on its path towards sustainable public finances. DFID is in the process of recruiting a permanent CFO to take over from Mr. Turnbull in due course. The new CFO travelled to the TCI this week to begin the handover and to assist the Ministry of Finance with its budget and fiscal planning. Turnbull is a qualified accountant with more than 20 years of experience, of which over five years have been in the Overseas Territories, including two as a Public Finance Adviser in the TCI.
Scrutiny over purchase of NJS Francis building will continue, Opposition Leader THE APPROPRIATIONS Committee deferred the approval of the $2.685m to purchase the NJS Francis Building at its meeting last Monday (March 11), but as the monies were already spent, the House of Assembly gave the expenditure its approval on Friday (March 15). Speaking in the House of Assembly last Friday, Opposition Leader, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, maintained that the scrutiny of the purchase still stands incomplete and she committed to greater scrutiny. She said: “As monies have
already been spent and this is a tidying up meeting, we recommend approval of the supplementary bill.” According to her, the scrutiny will involve the assistance of the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers. “We are forced to leave this aspect open to scrutiny,” Cartwright-Robinson said. Taking on board her concerns, Finance Minister, Washington Misick, committed to ensuring that the Opposition Leader will have the documents needed to allay the Appropriations Committee’s concerns.
Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, third from right, with Haiti’s Prime Minister, Laurent Lamoth, second from right, and other officials.
Lamothe to the Bight district for a social dialogue with the mostly allHaitian community at the All Saints Baptist Church. The Prime Minister then returned to the Haitian consulate where he met with the Opposition Leader from the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Sharlene CartwrightRobinson. After a warm exchange regarding the Turks and Caicos Islands’ success story, Lamothe stressed
that he looked forward to more collaborative exchanges. He said: “Turks and Caicos’ success story is one that Haiti would like to emulate. “We would especially like to follow their example in the areas of tourism and infrastructure, achieving their status as a sought after beach destination for international travellers. “I am impressed with the warmth and hospitality of the wonderful
people of the Turks and Caicos,” he said in retrospect, “and I look forward to an increased bilateral dialogue with the leaders here, and to my next visit to this lovely island nation.” Lamothe left the TCI on Sunday. The Prime Minister was in Aruba before coming to the TCI, as part of his tour in the Caribbean region to discuss of cooperative relations between the two countries, particularly in the fields of education, tourism and trade.
Brits modernised abuse of human rights and rigged judiciary under guise of good governance, Mike Misick BY VANESSA NARINE EMBATTLED former Premier, Mike Misick, lashed out in a statement on Wednesday, following a March 12 letter from the Secretary of State, William Hague. He charged that the British modernised their abuse of human rights and rigged the judiciary under the disguise of good governance. He said: “You also talk about the UK government high standard of maintaining the rule of law, respect for human rights and upholding the judiciary. “Do I need to remind you of the UK history of slavery, colonisation abuse and torture in places like Kenya and India? “Nothing has changed, the only thing has happen that the British have modernised their abuse of human rights and rig-judiciary under the disguise of good governance. “Ask yourself why, if my colleagues and I have committed a crime and not being politically persecuted, did you have to change the Constitution? “Why did you have to change the laws and the whole judiciary system to assure a conviction? “Why did you have to violate my human rights by abolishing my colleagues and my right to a jury trial? “Why did you have to change the hearsay laws and other laws on evidence targeting us?
Former Premier Mike Misick
“How can we ever get a fair trial when you, who is responsible for appointing the Governor, the judges, passing laws for the colony, but in your letter you have implied that my colleagues and I are guilty of corruption when after four years of investigations and 60 million plus dollars there has not even been a plea and directions hearing.” According to Misick, Hague in his letter mentioned that the Attorney General is properly and legally seeking his extradition from Brazil and that he is resisting return by seeking political asylum. However, he maintained that this is not the whole truth. He said: “Why you did not inform the people that you and the British has violated my human rights by having me arrested and put in a maximum security prison
for two months although my asylum process was not completed and I had temporary political asylum and that since my release you and the British are continually trying to re-imprison me? “Why did you not tell the public that during my imprisonment, in spite of my political persecution I offer to voluntary return and you and the British government has refused to allow me to voluntarily return home? “Why did you not tell the people that since my release I have offered to voluntary return with the only condition that my colleagues and I is assured a fair trial, that is a jury trial and you and the British government have refused to guarantee me a fair trial? “Why don't you tell the people that you and the British really don't want me to return to Turks and Caicos Islands, that you just want me in jail, any jail but not back home? “Why did you not tell the people, that maybe you believe that my presence in the Turks and Caicos Islands may interfere with your plans…or maybe you feel that I have information base of meetings that you have had with me that will implicate you and others close to you?” The former Premier maintained that he still commands “broad based” support in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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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.
Laughing stocks of the world Dear Editor, Does it need to be any clearer? In two earlier articles my statements were that the British were the hands down winner in Turks and Caicos elections and that, contrary to the chest-beating claims of local parliamentarians, they were governing and making decisions. The British were undoubtedly the ones deciding on anything of consequence in this territory. This is seen either with their advisors coming out with various ‘hear ye, hear ye’ decrees, or those same people hiding behind the curtain and pushing our own people out on stage to sell their unpleasant menu. Looking at Turks and Caicos right now shows our situation at home to be exactly as described earlier. One of the most recent developments in the TCI has to do with Acting Attorney General, Mrs. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, challenging the legality of many of those voted into office at the last election, as to whether or not they met the criteria as electors. Now I have met Mrs. Braithwaite
in the capacity of her profession where she was the TCI Attorney General’s representative who articulated the agreement with me that saw delivery of my health education presentations throughout our school system. In that interaction the conclusion arrived at was that she was quite capable in her profession and in the conduct of her job. Her most recent decision does not alter that perception. However, a few questions are in order to be answered by her or anyone in the TCI interim government. The British set the conditions, or ‘milestones,’ to be met for TCI to qualify for elections. They determined who was qualified to vote, they set the election date, they set the opening and closing for voter registration (though eyewitness reports were that these vigilant ‘overseers‘ were nowhere to be found at registration centres to share their knowledge of proper procedures). They oversaw the elections and now they question the legality of the
Stop playing games Dear Editor, On Saturday, March 16, 2013, the Progressive National Party (PNP) hosted a by-election rally at their headquarters. It was a disgrace when the former MP for Five Cays, ‘Dr.’ Lillian Robinson-Howell-Been-Boyce took to the stage and made personal attacks against the Rt. Honourable Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson. Yes, we are all aware that Honourable Cartwright-Robinson is a mother and a wife; and I do believe that she is a very good example of motherhood. I along with many others around this country believe that she has found that balance between being a mother to her two daughters, a wife to her husband, a daughter to her mother, and a sister to her siblings, including a mother to this nation. I wish one could say the same about Lillian. May I remind the former MP that she was once in Hon. CartwrightRobinson’s shoes not too long ago, travelling around this country asking persons to both support her and her party. Lillian Boyce you are a prime example of what a woman should not be like in politics; attacking other women and then asking persons to support your friend who happens to also be a woman with the same
breath. Please stop playing games with God and come clean with us, the people. The respect so many persons around this country once had for you went down the drain when you stood in the Commission and called your own party corrupt, but went back to them two weeks later to ‘eat your vomit’! Women please, you and your party cannot be trusted. We the people once trusted you, only to have you use us like you used those poor people in Five Cays to gain power. You, Lillian Robinson-HowellBeen-Boyce are no better than Michael Missick who bled this country dry. I see very little hope for this country until your party is excluded from the realms of power and policies concerning this nation’s affairs altogether. While you are so distressed about Hon. Cartwright-Robinson, you should be more worried about offering such advice to your good friend who you spoke so poorly of behind her back about motherhood. God knows it is women like you who give good women like me a bad name. Yours truly,
SPACE IS LIMITED!
Janelle Talbott
elections. How is this possible? Yes. You do notice my linking Mrs. Braithwaite-Knowles and her action as being one and the same as that of the British government. They are. The AG’s Office exists to ensure the legal interests of the Governor and the Crown. That became so very evident in my meeting with her. How was this ridiculous scenario allowed to arise when we have an Integrity Commission and Elections Office, both overseen by the interim government and their ‘advisors?’ Advisors like a Mr. Philip Rushbrook who, in particular, sports a title of ‘Director of Strategy.’ As was asked of him before: “What strategy are you directing? Strategy for the UK or for Turks and Caicos?” Were prospective candidates not required to submit their credentials to the Integrity Commission and Elections Office at the outset so their qualification as electors, based on the constitution and the electoral regulations, could be verified? If the Director of Elections, Director of Integrity Commission, and Director of Strategy can all communicate with me on my qualification to vote, one face-toface and the other two in writing, then how could they not have made clear to prospective candidates that they fell short of the criteria to qualify as candidates? Why then do these offices exist? Were the prospective candidates themselves so in-the-dark that they did not know what was needed to qualify as candidates? If so this is quite embarrassing in that they were asking people to vote
for them to assume office when they had no idea if they even qualified for office. That very well seems to have been the case. Is it not a shame that you have some of those candidates who sat there in judgment trying to make Mr. Edward Smith, someone myself and many other TCI citizens grew up with, out to be some kind of underhanded person for not being in accord with the requirements, when they themselves are in violation. Word is that some of those who ran and won have still not regularised themselves as TCI citizens. They hold citizenship from somewhere else and have neglected or refused to renounce it. This is quite simple. They should have been made to provide a birth certificate listing place and date of birth; evidence of TCI citizenship since then; evidence of renunciation of foreign citizenship where required; and signing of a form making it perjury to make an untrue declaration in this matter. How difficult is that? This should be demanded of them right now. Is it not a joke that the interim government and its Integrity Commission head can harass regular citizens by designing a form making it punishable by imprisonment and fine to neglect to, or make a false declaration to that agency, but cannot do the same for a most important matter of candidate qualification. See what I mean by laughing stock. The Director needs to answer on this. How can our country progress with this type of mentality?
So in essence Mrs. BraithwaiteKnowles is right in challenging the whole process because it is applied unevenly. This is not justice. The British, in this debacle, have clearly shown just how incompetent and, or, manipulative they are in territorial governance to allow TCI to land in this predicament. They should be promptly relieved of having anything to do with TCI governance, and a caretaker administration installed until proper elections can be had. It is quite shocking to see the alarming drop-off in British governance standards from one side of the Atlantic all the way across the ocean to the Western side. While at it, Mrs. BraithwaiteKnowles should, in ensuring even application of the law, see to it that the Integrity Commission, the Elections Office, the Director of Strategy in the Governor’s Office, and her own AG’s Office thoroughly follow-up the persistent report of the case where a TCI citizen who did not meet the silly 12 of 24 month constitutional residency requirement, but was easily allowed to vote in Grand Turk North. How, why, and under what conditions did this happen? This is voting irregularity and improper application of the voting process. Coupled with her challenges, this is added reason to nullify the whole election process. What would be the loss anyway? This most recent election ushered in a British win, with a stalemate, featuring the most impotent and laughable government Turks and Caicos has ever seen. Yours, Ben Roberts, Grand Turk
The integrity of the courts Dear Editor, Our courts are run by the British and they claim that their courts are impartial, and all are equal in front of the law. Furthermore they assure us that to ‘no one will we sell (justice), to no one will we deny or delay justice or right,’ the Magna Carta. But the evidence shows that the courts treat one set of people very differently than everyone else. Take for example the current byelection situation; the courts just put on hold all the other cases and put this case at the front of the line. I agree that this was an important matter, but to a man who is having his life put on hold by the court that usually takes years to provide judgment to solve his dispute, this is a slap in his face.
It also shows us, the general population, that when the Government has a problem the court is not impartial at all, as the court drops everything else and rushes to solve the dispute that the Government faces. It also shows that all are not equal in front of the law, as those who have been waiting patiently for the court to solve their disputes which maybe causing them great crisis are treated very differently than the Government. I am sure they would like this type of treatment but it is never available to them, only to the Government. I would ask, is a court that does this sort of thing really fair and impartial? Now the record clearly shows that the court drops everything to deal with a dispute that is causing the Government a crisis, but it does not do the same thing for private individuals.
The question must be asked - to what lengths will the court go to keep the Government happy? Would a court such as this condemn innocent blood while justifying the guilty, to help solve a different crisis for a government? And if the court was to commit this type of abomination, who stands up for the innocent blood? As I see it, only God. Am I not correct? I would appreciate an answer to these pertinent questions, from anyone in authority. And may our righteous leaders demand that our courts be prompt, impartial, and just so that God can bless the Turks and Caicos Islands. Yours, John Wildish
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March 23 - 29, 2013
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continued
Where’s the money going to come from? Dear Editor, We are now all aware of the UK government’s decision to suspend the introduction of Value Added Tax in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I suppose it is a good thing that the British have acceded to the will of the recently elected government, although I fear our Finance Minister will often be reminded of the old adage ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ How exactly does our Government propose to raise the funds necessary to get this country off financial life support, and thereby forestall further British intervention in our economy? In the 16 years I have lived here, under both PNP and PDM regimes, never have I seen any government display the political will to take the revenue-producing steps necessary to get this country to the point at which it does anything more than skip from one financial crisis to the next. No matter what area of government services we look at, this country falls far short of providing what its residents deserve! Education is hopelessly underfunded; not only are no new government schools being built to accommodate the growth in the number of school age children, but it has taken years to repair the hurricane damage to those in Grand Turk. Healthcare has always been very substandard, and this was even before the arrival of NHIP, Interhealth Canada, and the two hugely-expensive hospitals. Policing services are horribly overtaxed, social services are almost non-existent, and our physical
infrastructure is crumbling around us, as our roads are badly deteriorating and we are incapable of reliably producing sufficient drinking water in Salt Cay or our nation’s capital. But in the area of government services, like every other, the same old rule applies – you can only have what you can pay for! Government has thus far rejected VAT (which is really just a staged sales tax, with the advantage that the tax due on the import value of goods is at least collected at the point of importation), a sales tax (probably a good idea, since the levels of leakage would be enormous), an income tax (again a good idea, in view of the large portion of our economy that is conducted in cash, and because of the tremendous task of setting up the necessary reporting and filing systems) and a property tax (likely not a good idea, although its implementation would require appropriate modification of the existing stamp duty structure). The Finance Minister places great store in Government’s ability to wring significantly more dollars out of current revenue programmes that are not now being properly assessed or rigorously collected. I wish him the best, but what does he think will make tomorrow different from yesterday? How many times have we seen in the press stories of the same individuals or companies before the courts, with debts to the Government or government agencies in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and yet collection action continues to be deferred and the culprits still avoid their responsibilities.
So what revenue sources are left? A number of Caribbean countries are reducing their deficits by selling citizenships, either with or without accompanying investment criteria, but the decision was recently made here that there would be no broadening of the franchise, so that seems to be out. Could we sell residence permits that do not include citizenship? Possibly, but it is only natural for people to want some degree of say in how their country of residence is governed and that looks to be off the table here. There may be other revenueproducing avenues available that I have not thought of, but it seems to me we are pretty much back to those old two standbys – raise the duty rate and/or stick it to the tourists! Raising the duty rate is definitely the easiest to do, and probably has the best rate of collection (as long as we don’t go giving away unwarranted concessions to property developers and resort operators), but it is definitely not the most equitable way of spreading the tax burden among all of us who live here, and can be very regressive. And this brings us to the tourists that are our lifeblood! The Finance Minister has already suggested that one of his ways of raising additional revenue will be to boost the accommodation and restaurant tax rate to 12 per cent, and to include water sports and spa operations under the umbrella of that tax. I do not know how much additional income would flow from these measures, but I do know two things for sure – that the
Government’s very poor record in policing the existing accommodation and restaurant tax will guarantee a very high rate of non-compliance among the new enrolees, and that any increase in the tax burden placed on tourists will only accelerate the rate at which this country is pricing itself out of competitiveness in many sectors of the tourist market! And, just in case you missed the memo, the Turks and Caicos Islands have already passed the tipping point of destination affordability for many tourists, and this is now being reflected in softer-than-hoped-for numbers this season! This country has always been caught in a two-market identity crisis! On one hand, it wants the exclusiveness of a Mustiqueor Saba (as reflected in Parrot Cay and Amanyara) while on the other it seeks the volume of Jamaica or the Dominican Republic (with Beaches and Club Med as examples). It is extremely unlikely that we can develop both scenarios, and I suggest that any exclusiveness that survives will be restricted to the isolated resorts of Parrot Cay and Amanyara (and perhaps West Caicos and Ambergris Cay) – often the destinations of the private jet set. But the rest of our resorts will be vying for the different levels of the volume market, and it is precisely this market that is turning away from our over-priced destination! The vast majority of tourists in this latter market are travelling on some kind of a budget (generous though some of those budgets may be), and even if they arrive on Provo with some sort of reasonably-priced
COMMENTARY
The Hostage crisis WHEN I wrote this piece the results of the by-election were not known, but in the long run one election in one place will eventually be buried in history. Hopefully the party I favor, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has overcome and will end what has been a hostage crisis now approaching 10 long years. The country has been held hostage since August 2003 when two tainted by-elections took governments reins from honest Derek Taylor to the then leader of the Progressive National Party, Michael Misick. Where is Mike today ? On the run in Brazil, Latin America. Hiding
By David Tapfer among Brazil’s 220 million people in the world famous Rio de Janerio. After exiting Paradise TCI Mike's former crony now returned to elected government sent him forbidden funds. Where is the former PNP cabinet?
SPACE IS LIMITED!
Heading to court next month. Where are the PNP leftovers ? Some are heading to court and some are in government. When the three person PDM opposition moved a motion of no confidence then speaker Clayton Greene pretended he had not distributed it so it did not reach the house floor. Where is Clayton today? Heading to court. The proroguing of the house, the filing against the British take over were PNP early moves to keep the TCI hostage. Later it was two airport shut downs, threatened strikes and recently actions by a friend in the AG office. Do they really care about the folks? The answer to that lies in these
actions and taxes and the debts we are saddled with for 25 years. VAT was looming, the PDM moved the motion and PNP said...me too! The left over PNP government has not begun to create a financial plan or a budget yet on third of a financial year and more has already passed. Doctor Ewing has been busy tilting at windmills. Writing nasty letters and making enemies in Britain. Will this help his PNP friends in the coming court cases? The Foreign Secretary of Britain's government found he had to write back to tell Ewing and the TCI that the Doc had misrepresented the true condition of the TCI to our neighbors and our people. Ewing then called the
air and accommodation package, they soon fall prey to brutal taxi prices, a tab for lunch for a family of four in even a reasonably-priced restaurant that easily exceeds $75, and out-of-sight prices for golf, water sports or anything else they may want to enjoy. I realise full well the high costs that our restaurants and activity operators are faced with, but those don’t change the fact that the Turks and Caicos Islands has become a very expensive destination, and our prospective visitors have lots of other choices, with the same sun and still pretty good beaches. Add to this the frequent on-line observations that, once they get away from the beaches, all the tourists find is a dirty and run-down island with very little warmth in the native population, and you have to wonder exactly how our future will hold up as a high-priced destination. With this tenuous situation in mind, Government should be trying to find ways to moderate the cost of visiting this country, rather than boosting the tourist tax burden just because they don’t have the will to put in place the necessary taxes on our residents (Belongers and expatriates alike) who thus far do not contribute anywhere near what they should if we are to have the level of services this country needs and deserves. Hold on to your hats folks, because it’s going to get interesting – and don’t throw away those Union Jacks just yet! Sincerely, Lorne Rowe
British Foreign Secretary, corrupt! Clever move, Doc. Symbols are powerful they say. In the USA when President Hoover inherited the blame for the 1930's depression they called the resultant shanty towns Hoovervilles, they call the new health plan Obama-care. Here healthcare is Ewing-care and Boyce-gate. The USA Watergate debacle named for the hotel where the political burglars broke in and President Nixon's name became Nixon-ism a symbol for a cover up. Here we have Brazil-gate, Middle Caicos Gate, Royal Reef Gate, Dellis Cay Gate and on and on. These mistakes can not be covered up. Perhaps the PDM has overcome and we will have a government with an iron lady and the moral authority to begin to bring the TCI out of the hostage crisis and into the promised land of financial responsibility. If Amanda survives it will not be long before we have ‘Amanda-gate’ and a general election.
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12 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
Fiscal and Strategic and Policy Statement completed BY VANESSA NARINE CABINET, on Wednesday, considered the Fiscal and Strategic and Policy Statement (FSPS) presented by the Ministry of Finance and approved it. Members also recommended its submission to the Secretary of State, William Hague, via the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Hugh McGarel-Groves. The CFO up to Thursday was still in the United Kingdom. However, at a press conference on Thursday, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, noted that he expects that the document will be in the Secretary of State’s possession by the end of the week (March 23). In the meantime, Ewing reported that, budget preparations are continuing, with a view to the 2013/14 budget being finalised and approved by the first quarter of next financial year.
TARGETS Asked about the document’s content, the Premier said the revenue target in the document is some $200m, including recurrent and nonrecurrent revenues. He explained that the initial FSPS’s revenue projections were considered too rapid by the UK, so the document was revised to be more conservative. To that end, Ewing expressed confidence that his Government will exceed the revenue projections in the FSPS. According to him, the revenue alternatives being advanced by his Government are not included in the FSPS, even though two of those measures are expected to be introduced in July this year. Two of those revenue raising measures include an increase in the accommodation tax and changes to stamp duty.
Minister of Finance Washington Misick
Both make provision for the adjustment the stamp duty rate so as to maximise on revenue collected from sale of land as part of the revenue strategy that was proposed as alternatives to VAT. Cabinet, on Wednesday, agreed
Source of gastroenteritis outbreak still not identified No cruise ships have docked since March 7 BY VANESSA NARINE THE SOURCE of the outbreak of gastroenteritis in Grand Turk has still not been identified, according to Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, who also holds the portfolio of Minister of Health. The outbreak was first reported earlier this month and Ewing noted that several bodies, including the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), were working on investigating the matter. The first set of samples was sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing. The Premier explained that the outbreak has resulted in a halt in the arrival of cruise ships to Grand Turk, a halt that spans two weeks up to Thursday (March 21). He said the number of cases up to last Friday (March 15) were 94, adding that not all are related to the outbreak, but included all the cases of vomiting and diarrhoea in Grand Turk since the outbreak was reported. The Premier reported that some of these cases are norovirus, but stressed that no conclusions are being drawn until the source is identified. Ewing pointed out that cruises are expected to return to the nation’s capital on Monday (March 25), given that greater insight into the cause of the outbreak is expected to
be available by then. “We do not want to jump to any conclusions right now,” he said. Asked about the loss of revenue in the two weeks that ships have not been able to dock, the Premier said the numbers are currently being worked out. However, he pointed out that the Carnival Cruise port averages one ship a day – a representation of revenue to both Government, with the head tax, and merchants servicing the ports. “The focus now is identifying the source,” Ewing posited. He dismissed speculations that the water system in Grand Turk is contaminated and could be the possible cause of the outbreak. According to him, samples were taken and tested and returned negative. Officials from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), here on other businesses last week, were on hand to support the Ministry of Health. Ewing, at Parliament last Thursday (March 14), addressed the issue and said: “Tourism is our main revenue earner and we have to do all that is necessary to protect the industry...the Communicable Disease Surveillance and outbreak response team are vigilantly working and collaborating with the Caribbean Public Health Agency to establish the cause and implement public health
measures to control and contain the outbreak.” The Premier acknowledged that the Ministry of Health staff within the various departments and units are doing a tremendous job in communicable disease surveillance and control with respect to this outbreak, but noted that much strengthening of the system is needed. “We intend to address this in the upcoming 2013/14 budget by strengthening the National Public and Environmental Health Laboratory and the National Epidemiology and Research Unit,” Ewing said. The Ministry has stressed the importance of minimising the opportunities to spread illnesscausing germs by practicing proper food safety and personal hygiene measures at all times. It is also reminding all stakeholders to educate clients and patients about proper food safety and hygiene practices as well as of their obligations to report cases of diarrhoea or vomiting to the Ministry in a timely manner. Anyone who experiences diarrhoea and or vomiting has been urged to report to their nearest healthcare provider and avoid going to work until their symptoms have resolved. The situation continues to be monitored.
to increase the hotel and restaurant accommodation tax from 11 per cent to 12 per cent as one of the revenue raising measures and while it is proposed to be introduced in July, it is subject to further consultation with the industry. Cabinet also approved the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill for submission to the next sitting of the House of Assembly for debate. The Stamp Duty Amendment Regulations will be brought back to Cabinet for approval after debate of the bill in the House of Assembly. The Premier could not say when the document is expected back from the UK. The FSPS is touted to be the document that aligns the Government’s latest fiscal data and estimates for submission, as well as being the framework within which the 2013-2014 budget is drafted. MORE INFLUENCE Minister of Finance, Washington Misick, told the Weekly News that once the FSPS is approved in the UK, it will be brought to the Appropriations Committee. He noted that the direction being taken with the formulation of the FSPS, the framework for budget preparations, is one that will see the Turks and Caicos Islands commanding more influence over its own economic destiny. He added that once the budget is passed in the House of Assembly, his Ministry expects to conduct a revision of estimates in the second quarter to gain a better idea of projected income and expenditure. By the second quarter, Misick pointed out, the alternative revenue measures to VAT will have been introduced. Turning his attention to this
current financial year, the Finance Minister maintained his projection of a modest surplus at the end of the 2012-2013 financial year, which ends on March 31. For the first quarter, April to June, the total TCIG Revenue for the period stood at $49.2m versus recurrent expenditure of $35.3m, non-recurrent expenditure of $4.2m, capital contributions of $1.8m and debt servicing payments of $0.3m, resulting in a net revenue account surplus of $8.2m. In the second quarter, July to September, recurrent revenues stood at $53.2m versus recurrent expenditure of $37.3m, resulting in a recurrent surplus of $15.9m. This surplus was then used to fund non-recurrent expenditure of $6.6m, capital contributions of $1.8m, debt payments of $7.3m and Herzog planned repayments of $0.5m, resulting in an overall net revenue account deficit of $0.4m for the quarter. However, taken together, the report shows that in first six months of the 2012/13 financial year (AprSep 2012), TCIG enjoyed an overall revenue surplus of $5.72m, which was $0.9m above the budget and an improvement of $10.0m on the same period last year. By the end of the third quarter, government revenue rose to $118.5m for the nine month period, up $2.3m (two per cent) against budget forecasts, an increase of $33.0m (39 per cent) on the same period last year (2010/11). Despite this increase, TCIG recorded a deficit of $19.9m for this period. Although this is $7.4m higher than budgeted last spring, it is still $33.5m lower less than for the same period last year.
AG Chambers and developer working on MOU for North Creek development FINANCE Minister, Washington Misick, told the Weekly News on Tuesday that the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers and an interested developer are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see North Creek, Grand Turk, developed as a port of entry. Cabinet last Wednesday (March 13) approved the project in principal and the MOU is expected to outline what the Government is looking for from the developers. Misick maintains that the Government considers the
project an important one for the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, he noted that while the project is being pushed through, Government is being cautious to ensure that the developers can deliver. “There is no shortage of interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Misick posited. According to him, with the current level of interest the country will be able to secure a good credit rating and reduce its dependence on the UK to secure local debts – a sentiment he stressed in the House of Assembly at its last sitting.
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
Insights for your Innerspring this week
Friday, March 22 to Wednesday, March 27 Friday, March 22 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 MondaySaturday Get into the weekend mood with the intense and electrifying Tae-Bo class at Graceway Sports Centre from 6pm to 7pm. Free for fitness members, $12 for non-members. Visit www.gracewaysports.com for more information or call 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, March 23 Art on the lawn Fun starts 4pm - 8pm at the Regent Palms. Admission is free. Heritage Evening Are you interested in learning about your heritage? Are you in need of a place to go on a Saturday evening? Looking for weekend plans for the family? Well, the Turks and Caicos National Trust has the answers to all your needs. Join us as we host our first Heritage Evening. The theme for the evening is “Going on a fishing trip”. Time: 6:00pm. Location: Lime Auditorium. Adults and kids welcomed. For more information please contact Levenia Hamilton at 9415710. The Salvation Army’s Family Store hosts its March sale at the tent at IGA Leaward Hwy. from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Purchase clothing for the entire family at unbelievable prices. 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.
Monday, March 25 Public Holiday in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It was given in lieu of the Commonwealth Day Public Holiday which was celebrated worldwide on March 11. The date was changed to facilitate the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill By-Election.
Wednesday, March 27 TC National Trust ~ Toy Making Workshop Who says that Santa only comes at Christmas time? If you would like to be a toy maker come and join the line. Toy boats, wooden tops, and paper kites, All sort of knick-knacks and homemade delights. Join the Turks and Caicos National Trust as we host a toy making workshop. Tell your kids to put aside the W II and PSP and come on down and have some good old fashion fun. In addition to this exciting event we will be having an R and R (reuse and recycle) sale. Handmade items and more, get them while the sale last.
For more information please contact Levenia Hamilton at 9415710.
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Your event listed here!
I don’t want to get stuck! (Part two) WHEN you look at the way many people live their lives, you wonder why it needs to be that way: These people trade years of their lives with a focus on money, enduring on-the-job stress, lack of family time, being victimized and overlooked, working a crazy number of hours, and then at the end of their working life use the money that they may have accumulated to treat ailments that are the result of years of work-related abuse. On the other hand, one could find his or her passion early in life, pursue it relatively stressfree and in later years enjoy what has been accumulated. Clearly, in some cases this second option may not bring the swiftest rewards, but in the end the quality of life is so much better, and financial rewards could also have come along for the ride. Here are a few practical steps to consider on that alternate path to happiness: 1. Develop a life plan: I have a free resource that can assist you in laying out your life and erecting markers (goals) to help you monitor your progress along the way. Request it and I will gladly email it to you. 2. Make realistic goals: So many times people make goals that have no basis in fact, and when they do not reach them, they become discouraged
and stop dreaming altogether. 3. Take action: No matter how big the goal is, it can only be reached by taking action. Daily action is the best. If you always wanted to write that book, then write a few paragraphs each day, and within approximately 12 months you would have completed your book. Action is the fuel that brings life to every goal. 4. Stick to the plan: It is one thing to lay out a roadmap to show where you want to go, but it is a totally different thing to follow it! The primary benefits of a plan are that they keep you on track, accountable and focused. 5. Check the results: As we move towards a destination, things tend to change during the journey. If the results are not what you expect, analyze them and determine why they are appearing and not the ones you expected. 6. Adjust: Like a ship that sails from one place to the next, ocean currents, wind and other factors may push the ship off course from time to time. It is the job of the captain to correct the ship’s course so that it can get to its predetermined destination. If there is something that appears that you did not expect or want, then make adjustments to get the results you are looking for - do it. There is no penalty for changing your direction temporarily along the way.
By Whitney Bain It is your life, and you know what it is you want out of it. Adjust until you get what you want. Who says that we have to accept things as they are? Who says that the way life is being lived is the best way that it could be lived? If man had never thought to fly, he would have never done so. If someone did not think about developing a machine that enables us to see each other even though we are thousands of miles away, it would have never been done. Very soon, if not already, there will be someone developing a machine that will enable us to think of a destination, and we will be there physically in an instant if we choose to be. The things that we are now accustomed to are accepted as normal, but before they became commonplace they were considered just as farfetched as my previous statement. You do not have to get stuck. This only happens when you have no concrete plans and are paralyzed by non-action. Create a plan, take action and you will never have to worry about not achieving your goals.
autism awareness Spectrum of hope – By Nicole Cox
Into the looking glass Part One OH, YES! There are many more look-a-likes! And Pricilla Scherer has much to say about it! Let me preface this series by saying that I am focusing on information that compares symptoms to ADD/ADHD because this seems to be the most common suspicion placed on school age children in our community. ‘Is It an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) or ADHD?’ is the work of Pricilla Scherer that explores whether a child struggles to block out background noise, follow conversations or pronounce words correctly? According to Scherer, she may have an auditory processing disorder by Priscilla Scherer. Her article came from the October/ November 2004 issue of ADDitude. In it she said: “Henry is fidgety and distractible during classroom activities, according to his second grade teacher. During gym class, he gets cranky and lashes out at classmates who "are yelling at me and telling me what to do." His mother has noticed similar behaviors at home. When he's doing homework, she says, "He uses every little sound as an excuse to delay getting down to
work." Even the dishwasher distracts him, despite the fact that the kitchen is on the other side of the house. "He just can't sit still." This sounds like a classic attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) profile, right? Well, yes and no. Henry does have ADHD, but an audiologist has also diagnosed him with something called auditory processing disorder (APD). “Do you hear what they hear? While APD isn't as well known as ADHD, it is becoming increasingly common. Roughly seven per cent of children have some type of auditory processing difficulty. But what is it exactly? At its most general, APD is a glitch in the brain's ability to filter and process sounds and words. An APD child doesn't have difficulty hearing — in fact, in most cases, her hearing is good. Rather, her brain perceives the sounds incorrectly, affecting the child's ability to distinguish between similar sounds (da and ga, for example). Some children with APD also have trouble screening out background noise, so they pick up bits of surrounding sounds. The echo in a gymnasium or the hum of the air conditioner in the classroom interferes with the conversation at hand. It's like listening to the radio with interference from other stations garbling the reception. A child with
the disorder typically tries so hard to understand what's being said that she forgets parts of the conversation or doesn't pick up on the nuances or subtleties of the words. Combine APD with ADHD, and a child's abilities to listen and remember are severely compromised. “Sorting out symptoms: Just as APD can affect a child's ability to focus, so an attention deficit can affect auditory processing. Symptoms of the two disorders often overlap. Studies suggest that 50 percent of those diagnosed with ADHD may also have APD. Experts continue to disagree whether APD is a manifestation of ADHD, or if they are separate disorders. How can a parent tell if his or her ADHD child has APD? In general, children with ADHD exhibit inattention, distractibility, and hyperactivity in any environment. Children with APD, on the other hand, usually don't have difficulty focusing and paying attention in a quiet space. But many children with APD are exquisitely sensitive to sound. In fact, some sounds can "hurt" — a blender, a train engine, police sirens. “My daughter, who has APD, plugs her ears before the movie previews, in case the sound gets loud.” (Part two next week)
March 23 - 29, 2013
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
William Hague stirs independence talk BY VANESSA NARINE
TCI is not ready for independence.
THE March 12 letter by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s Secretary of State, William Hague, addressed the issue of independence and has stirred talk on both sides of the political aisle. Hague said: “If the people of the TCI express a wish for independence through a clear and proper process, the UK government will meet its obligations to help the territory to achieve it.” In a March 20 letter, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, responded to the Secretary of State. He said: “In regards to our position of independence, it is without a doubt independence is indeed our destiny. “It may or may not come under my leadership, but whenever it comes, it will be by an act of the determined will of Turks and Caicos Islanders. “When the timing is appropriate the question on independence will be asked through a referendum and I am confident that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be given the same opportunity as those in the Falkland Islands to answer the question as to whether it is their wish remain a UK dependent territory.” Last Thursday (March 15), Ewing told the House of Assembly that Turks and Caicos Islanders are more than ever in favour of independence. He said: “Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that, now more than ever, Turks and Caicos Islanders are more in favour of independence, mainly because of the breakdown in the relationship or so called partnership between TCI and the UK and their appointed officials and their confidence that we, through elected government, can more loyally and justly serve the better interests of our country and people.” Prior to this, the Premier had gone on record to acknowledge that the
INDEPENDENCE COMMISSION On Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, added her bit on the independence issue and reiterated her position that the Turks and Caicos Islands is not yet ready for independence. She said that moving forward in that direction would require the establishment of a commission that assesses the prerequisites for selfdetermination. She made it clear that while independence is a matter close to the hearts of Turks and Caicos Islanders, “head not heart” must prevail in this matter to avoid the consequences of premature independence. “There are many things to consider before we make this move,” she said. Cartwright-Robinson acknowledged the work being done by former leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) and retired politician, Daniel Malcolm. Malcolm was recently involved with the Special Committee of experts with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence of Colonial Countries and Peoples – an endeavour supported by the Decolonisation Unit of the Department of Political Affairs, which is part of the United Nations (UN) Secretariat. She stated the while she has received correspondences from Malcolm, she has not had direct dialogue with him on the matter. Malcolm, in a prior interview with the Weekly News, noted that rather than rush to independence, there are other options available to secure great measures of self-determination. He pointed out that the Bermuda example is one option that can be
Secretary of State William Hague
looked at in the decolonisation process. Bermuda is a self-governing British overseas territory in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The original system of government was created under the Virginia Company, which colonised Bermuda, accidentally in 1609, and deliberately from 1612. The country’s 1968 Constitution provided the island with formal responsibility for internal selfgovernment, while the British government retained responsibility for external affairs, defence, and security. The Bermudian government is always consulted on any international negotiations affecting the territory. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament. The Bermuda model is one Cartwright-Robinson agrees with. She said: “After two referendums the people of Bermuda have said no. “The Falkland Islands also said no and these are the countries that have studied what is involved in going independent…we have to give our people that opportunity to our people....we have to look at designing the type of Turks and Caicos Islands we want, the kind of economy and such, if we are to move
Premier Rufus Ewing
ahead with independence.” PARTY POSITIONS Going into the November 9 general elections, both parties presented their positions on independence in their manifestos. The PDM’s manifesto, their ‘blueprint’, makes clear that independence is inevitable, but the country is not ready. The party’s position states that: “We the PDM would like to see our country become an independent nation as much as anyone else. “We, however, are equally convinced that our priorities this time must be rebuilding the country’s economy; putting our people back to work; and regaining our country’s reputation, greatly damaged by actions of the most recent PNP governments.” According to the manifesto, independence will be the decision of every voter who will be educated about self-determination and will come after a commission has identified the prerequisites for the move. The detailed position on the issue also points out the party’s markers that must be achieved before a PDM government will call for a
PDM Leader Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson
referendum on independence, which touches the issues of foreign affairs, internal security, citizenship and visa matters, defence, the economy and commerce, tourism, international business, aviation, treaties with international development agencies and the judiciary. The PDM’s position paper makes clear that there are targets that must be met before the TCI looks to become an independent nation. The PNP in their manifesto, which was made public after the PDM made public their ‘blueprint’, stresses that the party is committed to self-determination, once it is the will of the people. Like the PDM they too set specific targets to be achieved before moving towards independence and these include robust education programmes on independence itself, TCI culture, heritage, patriotism and national pride; planned and controlled population expansion; diversification of the economy; strengthened national security; strengthened immigration legislation that speaks to citizenship and establishment of good governance bodies. The PNP’s manifesto underscored the importance of independence being a matter for national dialogue.
Rhetoric will match record of success, PDM Leader BY VANESSA NARINE IN THEIR last press conference before the by-election, on Wednesday, Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, stressed that the rhetoric heard from her party will match their record of success. She said: “I am giving you five reasons to vote for the PDM: if you want your vote to return a strong and visionary leadership, then you must vote PDM; if you want your vote to return proven strong fiscal managers who managed well in crises, then you must vote PDM; if you want your vote to return capable and willing workers, then you must vote PDM; if you want your vote to return real plans and action, then you must vote PDM; and if you want your vote
to return strong representation, then you must vote PDM.” According to her, the people of the Islands are tired of being “stuck in a rut” and want real progress. “The TCI needs strong, mature and proven leadership,” she said. Cartwright-Robinson referenced the vision of the party’s founder James Alexander George Smith McCartney. She said: “I am soliciting your support in making the wrong right, recommitting ourselves to ideals that are lofty, seeking to emulate the vision, the wisdom, the strength, the courage of our far-seeing statesman, the Hon. James Alexander George Smith McCartney. “It is necessary that we begin at that point – the point at which this nation was born. “There in North Back Salina, a
Members of the PDM team at Wednesday’s press conference
young man dared to be different and stepped out from the crowd, even from, what, perhaps, he had heard at family gatherings. “He recognised that life was hard and people were being unfairly treated. He recognised that the gap between the poor and the not so poor was growing.” The party’s candidate, Oral Selver, in adding his bit, noted that the people of the Islands need a team that will address their overall
welfare. He maintained that the PDM is the party to put the Turks and Caicos Islands back on track by moving the nation in the right direction. PDM’s Deputy Leader, Sean Astwood, reiterated similar sentiments and added that the PDM will be ready from day one, not take four months to get the job started. According him, the PDM is a proven government and has always
left the country better off when leaving office – a claim that the Progressive National Party (PNP) cannot make. He pointed out that the PDM has not had the reins of government for 10 years and in those years the country’s state and that of its people have declined. Astwood pointed to the differences in governance and urged voters to choose to lead the country in the right direction.
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Don’t dismiss this woman, Cartwright-Robinson BY VANESSA NARINE IN RESPONSE to criticisms over a woman’s ability to lead the Turks and Caicos Islands, Leader of the Opposition and the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, has said as emphatically as she could: “Don’t dismiss this woman.” At a press conference on Wednesday, she said: “It is as a result of JAGS’ (James Alexander George Smith McCartney) relentless pursuit to remove the many barriers that a poor little girl of ‘regular’ parents like me, can be here fired up, ready, able, and committed to continue the dream and call us back to action. “We have torn down many of these barriers JAGS fought and the remaining has been served notice, but there arises a new barrier flung there by women. “Can a women lead, be a mother and a wife? I say, yes, yes a woman can. “We are thinkers, planners and effective carriers. Give us a seed and we will nurture it and watch it grow. Give us an idea and we can develop it. “We are already now in leadership roles in these Islands in our Parliament, Government, churches, and schools. “This country needs nurturing and a mother’s care, a mother’s attention and a mother’s eye for detail. “They called JAGS power hungry. Many did not take him seriously. Many did not count him but his heart was pure. “He only wanted to serve his
PDM Leadre Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson
people and make TCI a better place. They felt this new and unusual move was a joke and dismissed him. “But history tells the ending of his story and what he was able to achieve and in only a short period.” According to her, the question should not be whether or not a woman should lead, but what will the future be like for all Turks Islanders and their children. “This country needs strong, mature and proven leadership when times were tough and when no one else spoke,” Cartwright-Robinson posited. ALREADY A LEADER She made it clear that while these questions come up, it should be noted that she is already a leader. Cartwright-Robinson said: “I have served you in many leadership roles already. Amanda says no….
not just here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but around the world, and even in the great democracies such as the United States and the United Kingdom, women fall victim to a double standard to men. “I know there are those that say that I am too pushy, too aggressive, too arrogant and have a too strong personality. “Well the very same qualities in a man are seen as something quite different. They are regarded as a plus, as assertive, as no-nonsense and the men possessing them are considered to be good and effective managers. “Believe me, what we have gone through over the last few years with the interim government, and what we have lost in terms of running our own government and controlling our own lives, requires someone with a strong personality, a strong will, capable and not afraid of his, or her shadow. “I am not at all afraid, or ashamed to admit that I fit that mould. I will stand up and fight for you my people as much as I have to, and without any apologies….along with the private sector and the premier and members of our legislative assembly, I stood up against VAT, and the people’s elected representatives unanimously repealed it in the House. “And as a result, the British government have given in to our people expressed wishes, and allowed us to now ditch it VAT.” The Opposition Leader reiterated that she should not be dismissed as a leader on the grounds of being a woman.
PNP hosts ‘Live Hour’ in a bid for support BY VANESSA NARINE THE Progressive National Party (PNP) in a nationwide bid for support during a paid broadcast on Monday endorsed Amanda Missick as the last piece of their team. They also reiterated the message of their manifesto, and expounded on the successes of the Government in the last four months. ‘Live Hour’ was hosted by Conrad Howell and reached out to people in their homes. The main message stressed was the need to ‘stay the course’ and not step back. The party’s serving government Ministers stepped out with personal endorsements for Missick, with Portia Stubbs-Smith referring to her as “her hero” and George Lightbourne describing her as a “woman of vision”. The Ministers pointed to the fact that work has started and the Turks and Caicos Islands is well poised for greater things. Finance Minister, Washington Misick, noted that the PNP “defied
the script” that was written for them. He said the by-election is another chance to once more “defy the script” and send a resounding message to those who refuse to listen to the voices of the people. Amanda Missick in her address to the nation noted that staying the course is the only way to ensure the prosperity of the Islands. According to her, the opportunity to make changes is at hand and participation in the by-election will translate into the people of the TCI participating in change. The Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, was the last to speak and held nothing back as he stressed the importance of the vote. He noted that it was “destiny” that brought his party into Government when the odds were stacked against them. Ewing added that the PNP Government has delivered to the people of the Islands, even when the odds were not in their favour. The Premier made it clear that economy, jobs, the civil service, small businesses, healthcare and
education are all areas that the PNP has worked in. He stated his Government has been successful to date, but the job is not yet done. Ewing lauded the commitment and dedication of his team and appealed for voters to stay the course.
March 23 - 29, 2013
Ashcroft School puts on their annual conch festival BY DAISY HANDFIELD THE ASHCROFT School, on Tuesday, took the opportunity to educate their students on the importance of conch in the agricultural industry. The school located in Leeward, Providenciales, held their fourth annual ‘Conch Festival’, where the students prepared a variety of local conch dishes and displayed them among their peers and parents. The delicacies included cracked conch, conch chowder, conch fritters, curried conch and conch salad. At the end of the tasting, the majority of the attendees voted on the cracked conch, as their favourite dish. Principal of The Ashcroft School, David O’Connell, commenting on the activity, said: “We have an integrated curriculum that pretty much comes through this topic approach. “Our grade twos and fours study the Turks and Caicos Islands as a community each year. “The combination of the topic is that the twos and fours come together and form a Conch Festival, obviously to celebrate the wonderful conch and taste.” He noted that every year, the school wraps up this portion of the
curriculum with a conch initiative. O’Connell said: “It is part of a strong citizenship programme. “We want the children to get together and work as teams and particularly take notes of some safety aspects such as, cleaning their hands, making sure that they know what preparation of food are all about, using cooking utensils and how safe they need to be around cooking oil.” The principal stressed that the idea was that in the process of learning all of these elements, the students could also practice becoming little chefs. He said: “We live in the TCI so we just want to celebrate our culture as much as we can. “I want a lot of people to know that our curriculum is very much centred on the region where we live and we tap in on the resources that are bountiful out there in our region.” O’Connell added that a few changes may be implemented for next year’s event. He said: “If we were to make any changes to this next year we would probably incorporate a visit to Da Conch Shack so we could actually share our food with the staff and they can further educate the students on why the conch is so important to our industry and our tourism here in the TCI.”
Animal sanctuary for Grand Turk
THE GOVERNMENT is looking to fund the development of an animal sanctuary in the nation’s capital – an initiative to get the stray donkeys off the streets and reduce the problems they cause for tourists. Environment and Home Affairs Minister, Portia StubbsSmiths, explained that Carnival Cruise, a major stakeholder in the local tourism economy, also raised the issue of strays. She said: “This is a problem
The PNP team that addressed the nation during Monday’s ‘Live Hour’
we have been having especially with the mess they cause and the impact it has on our tourism product. “The sanctuary will get the animals off the street.” According to her, while for some tourists seeing the animals is a delight, for others it is not. The Minister acknowledged the importance of protecting and improving the Turks and Caicos Islands’ brand as a tourist destination.
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Judge delays decision on government seat challenges A DECISION on the challenges to five government seats will not be made until after Tuesday, April 9. Acting AG Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles filed challenges on the seats of five parliamentarians on Friday, March 8. They were People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) party members Derek Taylor, Josephine Connolly, Edwin Astwood and Delroy Williams and Progressive National Party (PNP)’s George Lightbourne. She also challenged the standing of PNP’s Amanda Missick as a candidate for the March 22 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hills by-election. Braithwaite-Knowles claimed that they did not fully disclose contracts and interests with the Government prior to elections. Last Thursday and Friday the challenges were brought to Grand Turk Supreme Court before Justice Edwin Goldsbrough. Following the two day hearing the judge ruled that Amanda Missick followed procedure according to the law and would be able to take part in this week’s significant by-election. However as the case continued to Saturday Goldsbrough announced that decisions on the remaining five defendants would not be made until further discussion on April 9. A statement from the registrar of Grand Turk Supreme Court
read: “On Friday, March 15, the court delivered a decision on a preliminary matter involving the first named defendant [Amanda Missick]. “On Saturday, March 16, following the publication of that decision the court continued to hear submissions for and against an order striking out the case brought by the Attorney General against the second to sixth defendants. “At the close of submissions there was an indication given by the Acting Attorney General in relation to one of the three declarations originally being sought against those defendants, namely that she did not seek the removal of any of the defendants from their seats in the House of Assembly. “In addition, and at the invitation of counsel for the second defendant, the court gave an indication of its position on the strike out.” It continued that having heard all the submissions on that aspect the court indicated there appeared to be a cause of action which required a hearing for those issues to be determined. “The court adjourned the proceedings without further order to allow the parties to consider the effect of the proposal made by the Acting Attorney General and how, in the light of the indication by the court, the case could best move forward.” The case continues.
NEWS 17
TCIAA breaks ground for $10m airport expansion BY VANESSA NARINE TURKS and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA), on Thursday, broke ground for the planned $10m redevelopment of passenger facilities at the Providenciales International Airport. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, pointed out that the expansion comes at a critical time when tourism in the Islands is growing. According to him, in order for tourism to grow, local capacity to support that growth must be advanced. He said: “The capacity of the current airport has been exhausted and is the result of previous administrations’ work in increasing our tourist arrivals…we are at a critical stage and need to increase our capacity at the airport.” Ewing pointed out that the expansion will accommodate arrival needs over the next five years. “I sincerely hope that it does not accommodate our needs in the next years because it will mean that we are doing a good job in bringing more and more tourism to this country, more airlift and hence we should have more money to build what we want to build,” he said. The Premier added that his Government is looking forward to the expansion. He urged the TCIAA to begin to look at further advancements of the airport, which would include a new terminal, and commended them for their work. Ewing also had a word for the contractors involved in the project; urging that the work be done properly, reflect good quality and within budget. Finance Minister, Washington
Misick, noted that the project is selffinancing. He added that is comes in line with his Ministry’s plan for expanding the tourism industry, works which include the expanding capacity from 3,000 beds to 6,000 beds. Misick acknowledged the need for a look at the long term demand of the local tourism industry, adding that several policy documents would have to be prepared to match the vision of his Government for the industry’s development. “We have to look at what we have now and where we need to take it,” he said. The Finance Minister stated that expansion gives the Turks and Caicos the opportunity to look at the creation of a regional hub, which will take advantage of the changes in the industry. Governor Ric Todd, adding his comment, said the ground breaking is an occasion of symbols. He said: “The airport is a symbol of many things. It is a symbol of success of the civil aviation authority and the TCIAA in making this such a successful venture. “It is a symbol of success for the TCI in bringing people to these Islands…it is a symbol of our desire to keep investing in the things that really matter….it is a symbol of national unity.” According to him, the airport is an area where investment needs to continue. “The airport has been changing the last couple of years and the work we are about to embark on now is the next step of that change,” Todd said. Cabinet, in the latter part of February, discussed with the TCIAA the proposal for the massive
expansion and its accompanying financing model. The proposal was approved and, subject to final endorsement from the Secretary of State, the 18 months of work were scheduled to begin. The redevelopment 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 TCIAA Chief Executive, John Smith, will be 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. He added that the works will see a 75 per cent involvement of Turks Islanders. Once completed passengers will be able to enjoy expanded checkin counter areas and self-check in facilities, additional bathroom facilities, larger retail space for shops and restaurants, and improved medical amenities. Work, once started this year, is scheduled to be completed in 2014 and will ensure that the TCI’s airport meets the International Association of Travel Agents criteria for Level C Class facilities.
Electricity sector reform depends on negations with FortisTCI BY VANESSA NARINE THERE is consensus on the need for reform in the electricity sector, but Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, at a press conference on Thursday, stated that change remains contingent on negations with the nation’s provider, FortisTCI. The Electricity Commissioner and Permanent Secretary of Government Support Services, on Wednesday, presented to Cabinet on the reform of the electricity sector in the TCI. The team discussed several areas that are being targeted for reform, including: 1. Review of rates and tariffs; 2. Transfer of the rate regulatory function from the Governor to an independent regulator; 3. Amendment of the rate of return agreement, which is currently 17.5 per cent, which can have the effect of lowering rates; 4. Amend the power cost adjustment formula and the use of an energy charge formula that can help reduce the electricity cost by four cents per kilowatt per hour; and 5. Enactment of legislation to allow renewable energy generation by third party generators and
interconnect to the grid for sell back or net metering. This would have the effect of reducing cost to consumers and price stabilisation. Ewing noted that reform will come via amendments to the Electricity Ordinance, as well as to the contractual agreements with the electricity provider. He added that his Government is looking forward to advancing change in the sector. “Talks are on-going,” he posited. He declined to comment further, explaining that he did not want to negatively impact on-going negotiations. Turning his attention to cost of importing fuel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Premier said if the “middle man” stops can be reduced then the cost of import can be reduced. “We have to cut down on the steps we have to take to get fuel here,” he said. Whatever the steps to be taken are, the Turks and Caicos Islands will know in six to eight weeks, as Cabinet has asked the Energy and Utilities Commissioner to continue work on this subject, including consideration of possible legislative changes, and to report back to Cabinet after further discussion with the industry.
Fortis TCI President and CEO, Eddinton Powell, commenting on the possibility of changes to the future regulatory framework for the electricity industry, in a prior interview, said: “The Turks and Caicos Islands has the safest and most reliable electricity system in the region. “Notwithstanding, Fortis TCI is prepared to work with TCIG to further modernise the regulatory framework in ways that would achieve measurable benefits for all stakeholders and ensure the continued development of the electricity sector in the entire country.” Early in January, the Premier met with the management team of Fortis TCI to make acquaintances and to discuss matters relating to the energy sector and in particular the high cost of electricity. Ewing addressed the high cost of electricity to consumers and the need for the creation of policies that would result in the sustainable reduction of electricity costs to TCI consumers. Also discussed were the factors that contributed to the high cost of electricity. The meeting also analysed possible solutions including reducing the cost of fuel importation, and improving energy efficiency in homes.
The men discussed options that included consumers generating energy from alternative sources and selling back to the grid as well as the possibility of Fortis' commercial generation of alternative energy for sale to consumers. After the meeting, Ewing said: “It was very important to have met the President and CEO of Fortis’ parent company out of Canada, to outline first-hand the challenges faced by the consumers in the TCI
and to hear the concerns of Fortis and foster a working relationship that is mutually beneficial that would result in a significant and sustainable reduction in the cost of electricity to our consumers.” Minister Lightbourne and his team of Permanent Secretary, Wesley Clerveaux, and Electricity Commissioner, Malike Cummings, agreed to focus on the development of a new energy policy along the lines of the solutions that were discussed.
Police issue warning to all liquor licensed businesses THE ROYAL Turks and Caicos Police Force were charged with the responsibility to maintain law and order at Friday’s byelection. No bars or liquor stores in the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill constituency were allowed to be open. And restaurants in the said area were not allowed to serve any alcoholic beverages during
polling hours from 7am to 7pm. Section 65 of Election Ordinance states: “No intoxicating liquor to be sold, offered or given in any premises on polling day during polling hours, or at any political meeting prior to or during polling.” Police Officers from Division B were posted at the polling stations in the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill constituency.
Lifestyle... 18
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
The Dentist and you Mark Osmond BDS (Lond) LDS RCS (Eng). Mark Osmond Dental Clinic - (649) 432 3777, drmosmond@gmail.com or Find us on Facebook
Dental issues in older patients There are a number of specific dental issues that I see associated with my older patients. Some are
Mexican Blackened Corn
This corn dish is perfect as a side, used as a topping on a taco, mixed into a salad, with quinoa, or even served cold. Ingredients: • 4 slices bacon (optional) • 4 ears fresh sweet corn, kernels cut from the cob • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt • 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper • 1 small onion, chopped • 1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1/4 cup beer • 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese Directions: 1. Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. When cool, chop the bacon. 2. Place the kernels of corn into a large skillet over high heat, and sprinkle the cumin, sea salt, and cayenne pepper over the corn. Turn the corn gently over with a spatula as it cooks, then stir in the onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. Stir the corn mixture every few minutes, until it begins to stick in the pan. Pour the beer into the pan to help unstick the corn, stir, and cook until the corn is dark with very dark spots, and the onion and red bell pepper are soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and sprinkle with chopped bacon, cotija cheese, and cilantro.
of a cosmetic nature, so whilst not necessarily significant from a medical perspective might be a concern for the patient on an aesthetic level; others are more are related to increased difficulty in treating dental disease which has both aesthetic and medical implications. Cosmetic As teeth age, a number of things occur that make the teeth look duller and darker in colour than younger teeth. The nerve/pulp chamber in the center of the tooth naturally gets smaller so the tooth becomes more solid dentine, resulting in a darker colour. Added to this, the normal wear and tear on the teeth over time causes the glass-like surface (enamel) layer of the teeth to have tiny micro-fractures that scatter light when it is reflected off the tooth. (Imagine clear glass that has many fine scratches on it, compromising its clarity and giving a duller, slightly opaque appearance). The combination of both these factors results in duller, less white teeth. This can be a cosmetic problem if you had a crown or filling done when younger and this now does not match the surrounding natural teeth. It may
Dr Mark Osmond be possible with bleaching to alter the underlying colour of the natural teeth but this will not change the lack of shine. A solution for some patients is porcelain veneers or crowns to recreate a more youthful smile. With the loss of skin elasticity as you age, the upper lip becomes longer and you show less tooth when you smileespecially if there has been some tooth wear. If new veneers or crowns are made then a slight increase in length can do wonders for a smile. Botox and facial fillers around the lip, cheek and chin areas can
also be used alongside this type of dental work to improve the general youthfulness of the smile.
needed to monitor these problems.
Dental Disease A particular problem seen in aging dentition is root caries (root decay). A history of gum disease can mean an increased chance of gum recession (the gums moving away from the teeth) and this can result in new decay starting on the root surface. This can move very rapidly as the decay is directly onto the dentine of the root surface and does not have to pass through the hard protective enamel layer first. Also, if decay starts on the root surface the distance to the nerve chamber on the inside of the tooth is much shorter, so a small cavity can reach the nerve remarkably quickly; regular dental examinations and if necessary radiographs (x-rays) are
Collapse of Occlusion (Bite) As you age several things in your body become more brittle and this includes your teeth. I see patients where there has been a steady progressive loss of teeth over the years until they may be left relying on just one or two teeth with which to chew. If there is a failure of one of these key teeth then the patient can quite suddenly fine that there is poor contact between the upper and lower jaws. This causes difficulty in eating and puts strain on the jaw joint, which can result in pain. Selective replacement of missing teeth with implants, bridges or dentures can help prevent this problem before it becomes a major reconstruction project.
content (about 5-6 grams per cup), corn is a food that would be expected to provide blood sugar benefits.
New research continues to reveal additional health benefits of this amazing grain.
health Tip
Amazing Grain WHILE it might sound surprising to some people who are used to thinking about corn as a plain, staple food, or a snack food, or a summertime party food, corn is actually a unique phytonutrient-rich food that provides us with well-documented antioxidant benefits. In terms of conventional antioxidant nutrients, corn is a good source of vitamin C as well as the mineral manganese. But it is corn's phyto-nutrients that have taken center stage in the antioxidant research on corn. In several small-scale studies, corn has been directly mentioned as a food that was important in overall antioxidant protection and a contributing factor in the decreased
risk of cardiovascular problems. In several small-scale studies, corn has been directly mentioned as a food that was important in overall antioxidant protection and a contributing factor in the decreased risk of cardiovascular problems. Corn intake is often associated with good overall fiber intake and corn fiber is one of the keys to its well-documented digestive benefits. Recent research has shown that corn can support the growth of friendly bacteria in our large intestine and can also be transformed by these bacteria into short chain fatty acids. Given its good fiber content, its ability to provide many B-complex vitamins including vitamins B1, B5 and folic acid, and its notable protein
March 23 - 29, 2013
Lifestyle... GARDENING
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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.
Ahhhh,Wasp! PAPER Wasp is the common name for medium to large sized wasps that construct nests made of a papery material. The nests consist of a single upside-down layer of brood cells (compartments for the young). There are 22 species of paper wasps in North America (including the Caribbean) and approximately 700 species world-wide. Most are found in the tropics of the western hemisphere. Most paper wasps measure about two centimeters (0.75 inches) long and are black, brown, or reddish in color with yellow markings. Paper wasps will defend their nest if attacked. Adults forage for nectar, their source of energy, and for caterpillars to feed the larvae (young). They are natural enemies of many garden insect pests. The nests of most species are suspended from a single, central stalk and have the shape of an upsidedown umbrella. Plant and wood fibers are collected by the wasps, mixed with saliva, and chewed into a papier-maché, like material that is formed into the thin cells of the nest. The nests are constructed in protected places, such as under the eaves of buildings or in dense vegetation. Normally a colony of several to several dozen paper wasps inhabit the nest. In most species of paper wasps, colonies are founded by one female who dominates the colony and lays most of the eggs. This female constructs the nest, lays eggs, forages, and raises the first generation of offspring. She then stops foraging, becomes the queen, and rules by dominating her offspring of workers. This is a classic dominance hierarchy with the queen maintaining control through aggressive interactions. Each individual in line maintains dominance over all others below her
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
through confrontation and aggressive interactions. If the queen dies or is otherwise lost, the most aggressive worker takes over. This worker begins laying eggs and continues to dominate all below her. Since the workers have not mated, they can only lay unfertilized eggs, which develop into males, a typical trait in wasps. Some queens that are unsuccessful at establishing their own nest may join another queen, submitting to her dominance and becoming a worker. Studies have shown that such individuals, called joiners, are most often sisters of the queen. Since this individual mated the previous fall, her eggs can develop into workers and she could become the
next queen if the founding queen is lost. Occasionally a joiner dominates the founding queen and takes over the nest, a behavior known as usurpation. In such rare cases, the usurper becomes the queen and the previous queen becomes a worker. If problems do arise, use a small amount of insecticide that is labeled for bees and wasps: this can be dust, wettable powders, microencapsulated products, or aerosols. The labeled pesticide should be blown into the nesting holes. This is more safely done with aerosols than with the other formulations. But if you can’t beat the wasp, join the wasp!
Can I still eat my cultural foods DURING my time in school, I learnt so much information. However, I was always mindful to filter that information/education through my cultural perspective. It was important for me to recognize that while we, as Turks and Caicos Islanders (or to generalize—Caribbean people), may suffer from many of the same chronic diseases as the Americans, the way the information was presented to us would determine whether we thought it was worth our while to give it a try or whether we would immediately refuse it. I knew it would prove futile to come back and preach a message of stop eating Peas N’ Rice, Conch Fritters or our Sunday favorite, Potato Salad. And, there is no need to say you can’t have those foods because the message is about education, moderation, balance and variety not deprivation and rules. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) also recognizes the importance cultural habits and traditions play in food selection; hence this year’s National Nutrition Month theme: ‘Eating Right Your Way, Everyday!’ To make someone feel like their cultural food is all bad and will definitely cause their death is at best an insult! My goal then is to help you find a balance between eating your cultural foods (that may not be as healthy) and eating other healthful foods. Before I became a Dietitian, I was a Turks and Caicos Islander who loved our native food. Now that I am a Dietitian, I still love our food but I am aware that it is not the healthiest so I make a conscious decision not to eat these foods on a regular basis or I come up with modifications to our native dishes that reduce the calories, fat, sodium or sugar content. I have learnt that education works much better than preaching rules. So, my role is to educate you and give you the tools necessary to make an informed decision. There is something about being told what to do that makes us just want to rebel. However, you will find that once you are given the choice, you will most likely make a healthier choice if only for your health. Next week we will continue with National Nutrition Month’s theme and find ways in which we can enjoy or cultural foods. ACCU Medical Nutrition is based at Provo Plaza (old Pizza Pizza Building) No. 5, Providenciales. Call 946 8308, 242 3978 or 442 3978.
20 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
Cabinet approves PNP has no moral authority to fix healthcare mess, Cartwright-Robinson several issues to be BY VANESSA NARINE THE Progressive National Party (PNP) has no moral authority to fix the healthcare mess, according to Leader of the Opposition and the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson. At a press conference on Wednesday, she said: “No one can deny that we have major problems beyond the finances and I am saying to you, the people of these Islands, that the PNP Government does have the moral authority to deal with the monster that it created. “You need an objective group who will not spend more time covering up or denying or defending when it should be cleaning up and renegotiating or terminating…NHIP must be reviewed and the challenges addressed. “A PDM government will spend more time reviewing the contract to ensure that the important oversight bodies and committees which should have been set up already to protect our people’s health and review their care and the many facets of it are reworked. “It will ensure that the financial audits are done without delay until we are able to renegotiate or terminate.” Cartwright-Robinson maintained that the prevailing question is one of objectivity and the PNP, having been involved in the development of the hospital contract, cannot be the ones to fix the problems coming out of that contract. The contract resulted in two two-
PDM Leader Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson
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 24year course, the buildings will have cost TCI residents half a billion dollars. Governor Gordon Wetherell signed the contract in late 2008 following negotiations and decisions made by the then Health Minister Lillian Boyce, Finance Minister Floyd Hall and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Rufus Ewing, currently the leader of the Progressive National Party. Under the contract, the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) was established in April 2010 and
Ewing had the responsibility for managing primary care in TCI, while InterHealth Canada took over the responsibility for hospital management and secondary care. The Opposition Leader said: “If the CFO got nothing else right, he saw the books and he was able to tell us that the enforcement of this hospital contract is a financial albatross around our necks.” The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Hugh McGarel-Groves in mid-June last year said NHIP is an absolute scandal and the biggest financial mess the interim administration has had to deal with. According to him, NHIP is now reported to be costing the people of the TCI $60m annually or approximately 40 per cent of government revenue. The last word from the Government on dealing with the healthcare problems of the Turks and Caicos Islands was that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) representatives, the Clinical Services Review Board and the Contract Management Team were expected to meet on March 12, to address the financial and clinical audits of the operations of the local hospitals, functioning as a result of the controversial InterHealth Canada deal. The financial and clinical audits are expected to have the effect of reducing hospital costs and improving clinical care, in addition to holding the hospital accountable for any defaults under the contract.
National physical development plan to come within a year PREMIER, Dr. Rufus Ewing, in his last update on the health of the local economy maintained that the review of the Physical Development Plan once completed will be an additional tool to broaden the scope of investment the Turks and Caicos Islands can attract. And last Friday (March 15), Minister for the Environment and Home Affairs, Portia Stubbs-Smith, told the House of Assembly that the new plan will assess, upgrade and recategorise the current state of affairs. The Minister told the Weekly News that the plan is likely to be completed within a year. She said: “It is going to take that long because we are not only doing this for one Island, but for the entire Turks and Caicos. “You have to take into consideration several factors in developing a new plan, the last census, cost of living, possible population increases and other needs we have….we have to be very careful because we do not need to have a church and a school in an area that was just for residential purposes.” According to her, stakeholders are still working on a terms of reference
from which to build going forward. “We are still in the planning stages. We have not chosen our membership yet. What we are trying to do is get an idea of what our terms of reference will be,” she said. Stubbs-Smith added that her Ministry is also looking at due
diligence as it relates to the last plan that was done, which was contracted out. “We have to take our time with this,” she posited. The last physical development plan was done in 2001. (VANESSA NARINE)
taken to Parliament CABINET, at its meeting on Wednesday, approved several issues to be taken to the House of Assembly at its next sitting. Among them were the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill. The Stamp Duty Amendment Regulations are expected to be brought back to Cabinet for approval after debate of the bill in the House of Assembly. The Stamp Duty Amendment Bill and Regulations make provision for the adjustment the stamp duty rate so as to maximise on revenue collected from sale of land as part of the revenue strategy that was proposed as alternative to VAT. Cabinet also considered a paper that requested the approval of Cabinet for the submission of a bill to the House of Assembly that would allow the change in meaning of ‘Minister’ from that of ‘Minister with responsibility for Finance’ to that of ‘Minister with responsibility for the National Health Insurance Board’. This change will allow for the responsibility of the National Health Insurance Board to be assigned to the Minister of Health or any other Minister as advised by the Premier.
Cabinet however felt that there are other changes that need to be made to the National Health Insurance Ordinance. They agreed that the paper should be deferred for a period of one month, to allow for these changes to be made to the amendment bill and stakeholder consultation before submission to the House of Assembly. Another issue to be taken to the House is that of changes to a number of legislations, to allow the transfer of power of prosecutions where necessary from the Attorney General to the Director of Public Prosecutions as provided for under section 100 of the Constitution. Cabinet agreed to the amendments provided for in the Director of Public Prosecutions (Consequential Amendment) Bill which will be debated at the next sitting of the House of Assembly. Cabinet also entertained a submission by the Attorney General seeking the abolition of bearer shares, converting them into registered shares and this would require the amendment of the Companies, Insurance and Banking Ordinances. (VANESSA NARINE)
Beaches recruits 115 for Key West luxury village THE ACQUISITION of the Veranda Resort by Sandals Resorts International (SRI) created a challenge for employees with the change in management. However, 115 of those employees were involved in an orientation session on Monday, held at the conference room of Beaches Resorts and Spa. Assistant human resource manager, Lorenzo Seymour, told the Weekly News that while
A group of new recruits who will be working at Key West Village, formerly Veranda Resort
the opportunity to reapply was extended to all staff of the resort, only 150 did. “Of the 150 we had 132 that did interviews and from those we hired 115,” he said. Seymour said the orientation continues next Wednesday (March 27), adding that additional human resources are still needed. He noted that the company expects to have its full quota of staff for the opening of the Key West Luxury Village on May 22.
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 21
US Embassy launches new web based visa application system IN REFORMING its non-immigrant visa application process the US Embassy has made global changes to its procedures. The embassy has made the steps simpler and more convenient by using the modernised services offered by the internet. In a press conference at the US Embassy’s Consular Agency Office in Providenciales on March 19, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at US Embassy Nassau, John Armstrong, explained how the global changes would alter the process for residents of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. Armstrong said that the webbased system launched by the Embassy in Nassau on March 11 is part of a larger new system for processing visas called the Global Support Strategy (GSS). “It’s a worldwide contract that changes the way the State Department, through its embassies and consulates throughout the world, provide information about nonimmigrant visas, set non-immigrant visa appointments, collect the application fees …and also delivers the passports back to the applicant.” He said that in past years the department has undergone several changes and “this is just the next step in the progression and development”. The new process is more streamline and makes it more
convenient and less expensive for applicants. CHANGES MADE The first step of filling out the DS 160 application form remains the same and carries no changes to the $160 fee. It can be completed online at http://ceac.state.gov/genniv. With the new system, the second step is to create an online account at http://bahamas.usvisa-info.com from which applicants can control and monitor the remaining processes until the day of the interview. The applicant will then need to print a deposit slip and pay the application fee at a Cash N’ Go in the Bahamas. Previously this fee was paid at the Embassy on the day of the interview. This is where is becomes a bit inconvenient for TCI residents, but Armstrong said that persons have been finding ways to get it there, like sending the fee via a money transfer service or to someone they know in the Bahamas who can it pay at one of several Cash ‘N Go locations. However, this stage is only temporary as the embassy is working towards accepting online payment via credit cards by this summer. Another major modification to the process is a step which eliminates the use of “scratch cards” to make visa appointments, and the cost it incurred.
John Armstrong, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at US Embassy in Nassau, shares details of the new visa application process at the US Embassy’s Consular Agency Office in Providenciales
About one to two days after the fee is paid, the payment will appear in the system and applicants will be
able to schedule their visa interview on the internet. This system offers greater flexibility for scheduling, rescheduling and cancelling appointments since it is all only a mouse click away and there are no charges attached. Next in the process is attending the interview at the embassy for the non-immigrant visa. The US Embassy now offers free delivery of passports to DHL offices in the Bahamas which allows applicants in those areas the ease of picking up the passports there, rather than having to go through the lengthy security checks at the embassy.
Applicants living in the TCI will continue to pick up their visas at the embassy or select other delivery options at the time of the interview. Armstrong also noted that since the system being implemented is quite new, there are some glitches and adjustments will be made in an effort to provide better service. He also pointed out that if there is a true emergency the embassy will be accommodating and make special appointments, even collect fees on site. Because of the close proximity to the TCI, the embassy in Nassau, Bahamas, is responsible for matters concerning visas and the welfare of their citizens. (KH)
Significant improvement in TCI, OCED peer review team THE ORGANISATION for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Peer Review Team, on Wednesday, briefed Cabinet on the focus of their visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. At a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, noted that the preliminary findings by the team reflected “significant improvements” in the TCI, since the last report in 2011. He said the team’s final report is expected to be completed in November. The review of the TCI is being done by the Global Forum on
Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes created by the OECD to review TCI’s legislation, processes and capacity to exchange tax information effectively with international partners. The OECD Peer Review Team, in discussing the purpose of their visit to the TCI, outlined the function of the Global Forum, which consists of a membership of 120 countries and serves as a forum for exchange of tax information. The team outlined some of the objectives of the Global Forum which are as follows: to ensure members
can exchange tax information effectively; the ensure that there is a proper regulatory framework for the exchange of tax information; to provide a peer review committee and process that evaluates the legal framework for compliance to obtain information within the jurisdiction; and to ensure that the jurisdiction has the capacity to share the information with partners and members. According to the Premier, the team was impressed with the level of co-operation of the practitioners and technical persons in the industry. (VANESSA NARINE)
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Regional News
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
St Vincent PM wants Caribbean reparations group established PRIME Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves is calling on Caribbean countries to establish a regional reparations committee, pledging to spend the rest of his life seeking compensation from the British for land, genocide against the Garifuna, and slavery. Prime Minister Gonsalves said Cabinet will soon name its reparations committee “But we want to see not only a reparations committee for St. Vincent but we want to see a Caribbean wide reparations committee involving other Caribbean countries. Jamaica has one, Antigua has one, Barbados has recently set up one,” Gonsalves said as the island observed National Heroes Day on Thursday. Gonsalves, who turns 67 in August, noted that the average lifespan of a Vincentian male is 74 years.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves pledges to spend the rest of his life seeking compensation from the British for land, genocide against the Garifuna, and slavery.
“I have seven more years, to talk like this, with the help of Almighty God, and to demand a proper historical recompense for genocide, for the land, and for African slavery and for us to reclaim our history,” he said at the Wreath-Laying Ceremony in honour of National Hero Joseph Chatoyer. Gonsalves reaffirmed the
position of his government as stated at the United Nations and other fora that it is making a case and a claim for reparation from the British. “I want to say that the quantification of what we are owed as reparations that quantification has to be complete with the appropriate technical work.” He noted that in the 18th Century the British took 90,000 acres of land from the Garifuna, the original inhabitants of St. Vincent. “Imagine the price of 90,000 acres of land (today). Even if you valued it then for 100 pounds an acre, you are talking about EC$500 million (One EC Dollar = US$0.37 cents) for the land, [at] the least. And then, what value you are going to put on people’s lives? That’s a number we will have to talk
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about,” he said. He noted that at Emancipation the British gave slave owners in the British Caribbean 20 million pounds One British Pound =US$1.38 cents). Prime Minister Gonsalves said a recent study by a British scholar concluded that 20 million pounds then is about 16.58 billion pounds now. “Just forgetting for a moment the institution of slavery itself, that’s what they paid the owners of the slaves. If you take half of that representing for the Caribbean, you are talking about 8.25 billion pounds for the English speaking Caribbean,” Gonsalves said, adding that the figure is about EC$40 billion. “Great homes in England -lord this and lord that -- were financed by the compensation money for the slaves. So when I talk like this you, you have some people saying Ralph (is)] against the British. “I have nothing against the British. I have nothing but admiration for the British and their achievement but there are some things for which we must take account.” He said that some people argue that the British gives aid to St. Vincent. “Well, I rather they give me that (reparation) than give me some aid. I rather we settle that. This is a matter which can’t be settled in law court. But this is a matter where, politically, we have to raise our voices,” Gonsalves said.
A CARICOM statement said regional leaders expressed grave concern over the unregulated trade in conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons and their ammunition.
CARICOM seeking greater regulation on arms trade CARIBBEAN Community (CARICOM) countries will be pressing for a successful conclusion to the final negotiation session of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty which began at the United Nations on Monday, according to a statement issued by the CARICOM Secretariat. It said such an outcome to the 10-day conference is of vital importance to CARICOM, noting that at the CARICOM InterSessional summit in Haiti last month, regional leaders had expressed the hope that “the international community adopts tangible and effective measures to regulate the trade in conventional weapons” at this UN conference. The statement said that in preparation for the conference, CARICOM held a meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines earlier this month where Prime Minister Dr Ralph
Gonsalves bemoaned “the weak, ineffectual and nonexistent global regulations that facilitate the free flow of arms from the factories of wealthy corporations into the hands of impoverished and senseless criminals, or hardened ones, and morally bankrupt terrorists”. Gonsalves said that those regulations must be “tightened and crafted into robust safeguards that materially improve and protect the lives of our citizens”. The CARICOM statement said that during the summit in Haiti, the regional leaders had also expressed grave concern over the unregulated trade in conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, “which has exacted an unbearable toll on the security and the well-being of our citizenry, and the development of our States”.
Chamber
Notice
New Members are welcomed to join the Providenciales Chamber of Commercial AGM set for Monday May 6, 2013 at 6:30pm at the Windsong Resort. There will be an election of officers and the floor is open to nominations. We encourage existing members to ensure their annual fee is paid up to date.
March 23 - 29, 2013
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Regional News
Myrie evoked suspicion – Bajan immigration officer testifies Government to court claiming that she was subjected to an intrusive cavity search and abuse on arrival in Barbados. In court, Young said she referred Myrie to her superior after learning that it was the first time the Jamaican was visiting Barbados and that she had met her host on the Internet. Young, testified that immigration officers had been instructed to refer to supervisors, passengers who had contacted their hosts on the Internet. “It happens very frequently now,” Young told the court in response to
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a question from Myrie’s attorney, Nancy Anderson. Young also said Myrie had $US 300 in her possession, and a return ticket for 15 days later. The Immigration Officer said her computer indicated Myrie was entering Barbados for the first time, and all such information was placed on the woman’s Immigration form before Myrie was referred to her boss Merlo Reid. Under cross-examination by Anderson, Young revealed that while she can interview and process
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24 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
US Embassy official comments on security message for American citizens A TOP US Embassy official this week defended the embassy’s decision to inform American citizens in the TCI of an increase in armed robberies. During a visit to the US Consular Agency Office in Providenciales to reveal some changes in the visa application process, John Armstrong, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Nassau, said that the embassy was only doing its duty to look out for its citizens. “One of our main duties abroad …our primary duty is to look out for American citizens,” he said. He stressed that every diplomatic service around the world has as its primary mission to look out for the welfare of its citizens and any consulate that sees a danger to its citizens should notify them about it.
“That’s exactly what we did in this situation because we had noticed this trend and it is cause for concern.” “Within the past month, maybe month and a half, there has been a noticeable spike of incidences involving American citizens and we’ve also heard about some other incidences.” He added: “Of course we have full confidence in the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force to deal with this situation but we wouldn’t be doing our duty…if we didn’t inform our citizen of possible danger and maybe they will follow some of the tips and not become victims. “What we sent out is the minimal that we can do and we’ve done this …we’ve sent a message to our American citizens.” Armstrong pointed out that crime
caution is not the only thing the embassy warns about. He reflected that a message sent to citizens just two weekends ago was because of a caution put out by the Bahamian weather service warning about uncommonly high waves in Nassau and even the TCI. He further explained that the message should not be mistaken for a travel warning. “A travel warning comes out centrally from the state department, not from a specific embassy, but is broadcasted everywhere is much more serious and more long term. “The state department did not issue a travel warning for the Turks and Caicos, I want to make that perfectly clear, we sent a message to American citizens who had taken the steps to enrol themselves with the embassy.” (KH)
March 23 - 29, 2013
Hundreds line up to register kids for upcoming school year BY DAISY HANDFIELD THE REGISTRATION process for government primary schools on the island of Providenciales has already taken its course. Hundreds lined up at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, to assure that their child would secure a slot for this 20132014 academic school year, in the kindergarten section. The registration was conducted from 9am to 4pm on each day. Many people were said to be stood outside of the building, from as early as 2am that morning. Education Officer, responsible for public schools in Zone 2 and for overseeing the registration of primary schools for infants, Sarah Kennedy, explained what documents parents or guardians needed to register their child.
Kennedy said: “You need to have two passport sized photographs, an immunisation card or medical certificate, birth certificate and a photo page of your passport and proof of parents’ or guardians’ legal status in the Turks and Caicos.” Kennedy stressed that although the process is always chaotic, the department is doing its best to accommodate the public. One annoyed mother, Crystal Campbell, expressed that she felt as though the registration process was extremely disorganised and that locals should have gotten priority. Campbell said: “We have about seven Turks Islanders out here; we are outnumbered by over 100 people and we’re standing in the line getting pushed. “There is nothing put in place to keep order out here. It was already stressed that there is a limited amount of space so they could have at least let the locals go first.”
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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26 NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Clement Howell celebrates 25 years since inception BY DAISY HANDFIELD CLEMENT Howell High School commemorated all of their partners in education at the Gustavus Lightbourne
Sports Complex with an awards ceremony on Thursday. Plaques were given to various people and organisations that played a role in the development of the
well-established high school in Providenciales. The event was attended by a number of government officials, more than 100 students from the school and
many important people in the community. Director of Education, Edgar Howell, stressed that the social science department in particular, decided to focus on unsung heroes as part of their Black History Month celebration. Howell said: “We don’t often hear about awarding them so they took this opportunity to do it.” Howell noted that the school came a long way over the past years not only in terms of academics but also in terms of population so was he extremely proud of their milestone. Howell said: “I’m delighted that we can celebrate 25 years of the school. “I’ve heard reports of when they were fighting, when some parents on Providenciales thought that they should not have a school here, they thought that it wasn’t necessary at the time. “Coming from a student population of just over 100
Goldray Ewing, Hilly Ewing and Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing posting next to their father after he receives his plaque for contribution to Clement Howell High School
students in 1987, to a student population of over 900 students, is an achievement; we’ve actually topped the 1,000 mark. “We’ve had students register at the school in 2010 and 2011 and the total added up to about 1,016 students so, it’s great to see that the school has grown and that they’re continuing to do well in extra-
curricular activities and in their academic work as well. “There are areas with room for improvement but we will continue to work with the school to insure that.” Close to the end of the ceremony, the students who excelled academically were also awarded with a token of acknowledgment of their hard work.
Four New York agencies to attend Top Model Contest REPRESENTATIVES from four of the most prestigious fashion modelling agencies will be in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the 2013 TCI Top Model Contest and Fashion Extravaganza. Those agencies include, Wilhelmina Models, Next Model Management, Red Models and Soul Artist Management. Wilhelmina and Next Model Management were in the TCI for last year’s event.
2012 TCI Top Model, Washanda Resgistre, signed a three year modelling contract with Wilhelmina Models and will be returning to New York this spring. The company has also had an eye on Brittney Bien-Aime, Wilandra Elliot and Ryesha Higgs. Director of Productions for the TCI Top Model Contest, Courtney Robinson, said that he feels that the contestants and models selected are truly
some of the most talented and beautiful young women and men the Turks and Caicos Islands has to offer. He said: “2013 promises to be just as exciting as the slate of participants are not only ideal, but ready for the opportunity to showcase themselves in the hope that it will lead towards a career in fashion modelling.” The event will take place at the Williams Auditorium on Saturday, May 4.
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March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 27
Spotlight on Salt Cay
Fight the Good Fight By Candy Herwin THE present acting principal of Mary Robinson primary school on Salt Cay, Ms. Matrisa Lowe, has a battle on her hands to keep the school open with only six pupils in attendance, one boy and five girls. In fact these low numbers would probably win a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Nevertheless these bright and courageous children work well together under the principal’s wing and with help from the community do not let their low number interfere with their school curriculum or various community events. Under the theme ‘Centers of Learning: Our Heritage, Our People’ these energetic classmates participated in many planned and fun activities celebrating Education Week, which began on March 1.
One sunny afternoon the children were out on the old cricket pitch playing games and racing with the adults as they joined in the threelegged races. As one grandma declare: “I remember the days when there were plenty of children and we cooked up whelk soup and Johnny cake. We even had donkey races and the rip saw band would break into a merry song entertaining the crowd of onlookers, laughter was always the best medicine! “The school house would ring a bell every morning” said another senior citizen who went to school in the early 1930s, “We had better be there or we were locked out and sent home for a beating.” In fact the theme of education week this year is very meaningful because historically the school on Salt Cay was among the first to be
built in the Turks and Caicos. One of the early principals was Mr. J.D Wood who was trained in Jamaica and many older folk will recall the names of the educators, R.G Wint and Rev. Father Clifford Jones. The government school on Salt Cay however, was finally named after Mary Robinson who was principal for over thirty years and produced some remarkable and talented students especially during and after the Second World War.
Mary Robinson was a nononsense women and a strict prickly principal who ruled with a firm hand and a swish. Many of the lessons of the time were stories that had a moral message and often recitations had to be learnt practically overnight. Today the Mary Robinson School struggles to survive. The adult population leaving the island to find work and better prospects for their children has contributed to the near closure of this landmark school.
As Ms Lowe said: “It is important to create a secure economic environment. We need plenty of work and investment into the island so that islanders can return home with their families. This would increase the number of children in the school and strengthen community life.” Mary Robinson School would be thankful for any support offered and you can read about the school and their wish list on the Mary Robinson Primary ‘Facebook’ page.
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March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Culture Games to celebrate rescheduled Commonwealth Day in TCI THE DEPARTMENT of Culture, Ministry of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture will host the 2013 Commonwealth Day Cultural Games at the Parade Grounds in Grand Turk on Monday (March 25). The games which aim to foster cultural and community togetherness are also used as a vehicle to enhance sports development among the island’s youth. The games will include three legged races, sack races, balloon pop, dog and bone, tug-a-war, egg and spoon races, conch horn blowing and hoop races among others.
Competing teams will consist of adults and children from the districts of Over Back, West Road, South Back Salina and North Back Salina. The event kicks off at 10.30am. All are invited to attend and enjoy this exciting day full of competition, culture, community fellowship and most of all fun! Governor Rick Todd is expected deliver Her Majesty the Queen’s Commonwealth Day Message. This year’s Commonwealth Day Theme is ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’.
Let’s Talk Law With David Cadman
David Cadman is a litigation attorney and partner with Griffiths & Partners. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1996 and as an attorney in the Turks & Caicos Islands in 2005.
Stateless people born in Turks & Caicos MANY of the laws which affect the Turks and Caicos Islands are not, of course, Ordinances enacted in the Islands. UK Acts of Parliament and Orders in Council laid before Parliament in London may apply to the Islands, such as the West Indies Act 1962 or the Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011, both of which provide for the constitutional arrangements for the Islands. Also, of course, the common law (judge-made law) applies in the Islands. It is sometimes forgotten, however, that the Islands also have treaty obligations where the UK is a contracting state and the treaty extends to the Islands. Many of the treaties which apply to the Turks and Caicos Islands reflect multi-national agreements for the protection of the environment and international respect for rights and liberties. Others provide for commercial matters, such as international trade and arbitration. The scope of treaties which apply to the Islands is very wide indeed: pollution, vaccination, air travel, recognition of marriage, air mail, diplomatic relations, international criminal courts, etc. The Islands are even covered by the provisions of the 1972 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects! These treaties reflect the need to tackle some legal matters at supra-national level, whether for the sake of common humanity or for convenience, such as unencumbered international movement. It is important that those who draft and enact laws are aware of the international obligations to which a state or territory is committed by treaty. International agreements do not automatically become part of the law of the Islands – they may need to be implemented by legislation or by the government taking non-legislative steps to implement treaty policies. Failure to give effect to treaty obligations can undermine the credibility of a state or territory and jeopardise the collective benefit they are intended to achieve. One important convention to which the Islands have been subject since 1975 is the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness signed in New York on 30th August 1961. Two basic propositions of this Convention are stark: (1) a Contracting State shall grant its nationality to a person born in its territory who would otherwise be stateless; and (2) a foundling found in the territory of a Contracting State shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be considered to have been born within that territory of parents possessing the nationality of that State. There are, buried in this Convention, details which limit these basic propositions, such as imposing age limits on those eligible to the grant of nationality. Nevertheless, the principles remain and they are not something from which the UK has derogated. Unfortunately, treaty obligations are not usually legal obligations private individuals can rely upon against a government to bring a claim to enforce their rights or a government’s obligations. Nevertheless, few could doubt that there is a need in the Turks & Caicos Islands to make provision for stateless individuals born here, whether it be assisting them in securing nationality elsewhere to which they are entitled or honouring the undertaking of this Convention when they are genuinely stateless.
March 23 - 29, 2013
NEWS 29
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Irish community raises $11,000 for charity PROVO’s Irish community enjoyed a sold out event at the Regent Palms last week to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The black tie affair on Friday, March 15, named the Emerald Ball was the first of its kind. It was attended by Premier Rufus Ewing and Mrs. Ewing, Washington Misick, Minister for Finance and Tourism, and Governor Ric Todd. The all Irish committee, Joanne Hogg, Brid Collins and James Murphy, in their opening remarks highlighted the ever increasing Irish community in Turks and Caicos Islands which is now about 100, and their
involvement and contribution to the islands. Silent auction donations from across the community included a weekend stay at the world renowned Ashford Castle and a signed polo shirt for the world’s number one golfer, Irishman Rory McIlroy. The auction raised more than $11,000 for the ball’s designated charity, the Senior Citizens of TCI, operated by Mrs. Miriam Williams. Williams has dreams of building a home for the needy elderly of the TCI and the proceeds of the event will make a significant contribution towards this dream.
Brid Collins, Premier Rufus Ewing, Mrs Ewing, James Murphy and Joanne Hogg
Guests enjoyed a contemporary Irish menu prepared by The Vix’s
executive chef, Paul Quinn, from Dublin and then danced the night away to Bowen
Arrow. The Emerald Ball was a huge success and the
committee thanked all their sponsors, those who made donations and brought tickets.
The sizzling six collects books to donate to public libraries throughout the islands
Pageant organisers host book drive to promote literacy LIBRARIES across the TCI will soon have more books available in their collection, thanks to the executives of the Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organisation (MTCUBO). Holding true to its undertaking, “pageantry with a purpose”, directors of the organisation led contestants in hosting a book drive aimed at promoting and advancing literacy across the islands. The books collected in the initiative last Saturday at the Graceway IGA Supermarket will be distributed to public libraries throughout the islands of the Turks and Caicos. Contestants and directors were available from 8am to 3pm, collecting a generous amount of books, mostly murder and mystery novels.
Vice president and legal adviser of the organisation, Tremmaine Harvey, said that the support from the community was great and the donations exceeded their expectations. “We are grateful for the public support of our literacy campaign which saw 275 books collected for distribution to the local libraries.” Members of the organisation believe that literacy is more than a basic reading ability and is crucial to the success of individuals in both their career aspirations and their quality of life. MTCUBO president and managing director Kazz Forbes said: “Literacy is fundamental for learning in schools. “It has an impact on an individual's ability to
participate in society and to understand important public issues and it provides the foundation upon which skills needed in the labour market are built.” He added: “A population's literacy skills also have a bearing on how well a country performs economically.” The organisation promises that the book drive will not be the end of its promotion of literacy, but it will continue efforts to bring awareness to its importance. For additional information on the Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Pageant visit www. MissTCI.org and for tickets to the preliminary competitions and grand finale events on April 26 and 27, call 2432985, 241-5777 or 243-3000. (KH)
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30
World News
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Diabetic death:
Texas mom jailed for 16 years for daughter candy A TEXAS mom was jailed for the death of her diabetic daughter after failing to control her condition by letting her eat sugar-filled sweet treats. Georgia Jones, 31, will spend the next 16 years locked up after confessing to feeding Chasity Butler, who was just nine, foods that were high in glucose. She also left Chasity — who died on her mom’s bed in May 2008 next to a bag of candy and a half-eaten cupcake — to take her own bloodglucose-level readings and insulin injections. Jones, from Dallas, was arrested a year after her daughter’s death — which a coroner ruled was natural from complications of her Type I diabetes. But Jones was, according to cops and state Child Protective Services, responsible for not preventing the death as she did not monitor or treat the condition.
Georgia Jones, 31, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for neglecting her nine-year-old daughter Chasity Butler, leading to her death from complications of her Type I diabetes in May 2011.
Investigators in the case revealed Jones did not turn up to a Diabetes 101 class a week after her daughter
fell into a coma and was diagnosed with the disease in 2005. The night of her death, they also found that Chasity — who had dangerously high glucose levels, stomach pains and diarrhea — was fed candy and noodles to celebrate her sister’s birthday. Jones’ husband Marqus Butler, whose mother now has custody of Chasity’s four sisters, previously said his wife let their daughter take a nap. When they went to check on her, he added, they found she had died. “Chasity’s diabetes was not monitored properly causing her to be constantly sick and in bed rather than leading a normal life like other children her age,” Dallas police documents said. Jones pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Judge Gary Stephens on Monday, the Dallas Morning News reports. (NYdailynews.com)
UK sticks with austerity as growth forecast cut President Mohammad Zillur Rahman died on Wednesday after battling a lung infection.
Bangladesh’s president dies at 84
BANGLADESHI President Mohammad Zillur Rahman died Wednesday at a Singapore hospital, where he was being treated for a lung infection, an official with his office said. He was 84. Rahman was admitted to Mount Elisabeth Hospital on March 10. He died there Wednesday afternoon, according to the official, Mohammad Shafiul Alam. He had been taken from the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, to Singapore by air ambulance after his health deteriorated and was suffering from acute kidney and respiratory problems when he died. Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy, meaning the role of the president is largely ceremonial. The president is elected by the parliament, while the prime minister is chosen in a general election.
BRITAIN said Wednesday it would further tighten the screws on general government spending as officials forecast weaker growth and higher borrowing than just three months ago. Finance Minister George Osborne also announced plans to change the mandate of the Bank of England, giving incoming governor Mark Carney slightly more flexibility in hitting its 2% inflation target and potentially more scope to manage interest rate expectations. The U.K. economy risks falling into a triple-dip recession in the first quarter of 2013 as domestic demand remains depressed by austerity measures andfalling real incomes and exporters feel the impact of the eurozone crisis, despite a weaker currency. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility said it expected the U.K. would narrowly avoid recession but slashed its growth forecast for 2013 to 0.6% from 1.2%. It also said public debt would peak at nearly 86% of GDP in 2016-17, rather than 80% in 201516, as forecast in December. Osborne, presenting his annual budget to lawmakers, said the government’s policy of fiscal discipline and active monetary policy would eventually bear fruit. “It is taking longer than anyone hoped, but we must hold to the right track,” he said. Government departments, with
Pope Francis has shown a level of humility that is taking a Catholic world by storm.
Pope Francis in plea for poor as inauguration Mass held POPE Francis has inaugurated his papacy at a Mass in Rome, calling on global leaders and all the people of the world to defend the poor and the weak. Up to 200,000 people attended the Mass in St Peter’s Square. His homily focused on protection - of the environment, children, the elderly and those in need, who he said were “often the last we think about”. Francis was elected by a conclave of cardinals last week to take over from Benedict XVI. Benedict became the first pontiff in 600 years to abdicate last month.
Citing his age, 85, he said he could no longer continue in the post. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio and now the first pontiff from the Americas, has since his election called for a “Church for the poor” and has struck an informal and spontaneous tone. His chosen name, Francis, honours St Francis of Assisi, the 13th-Century son of an aristocrat who spurned a life of luxury to live with and for the poor. Pope Francis’ homily at the Mass began by focusing on Joseph and his role as protector - of Mary, Jesus and the Church.
India has under the radar, since rape victims have criticised the judicial system.
British woman jump from balcony to avoid Indian hotel owner U.K. Finance Minister George Osborne sticks to austerity path as growth forecasts are slashed.
the exception of health and education, would be subject to further spending cuts, and public-sector pay caps would be extended. The money raised will be used to increase spending on infrastructure by £3 billion a year from 2015. It will also help fund the earlier introduction of a higher £10,000 threshold at which income tax kicks in, as well as a cut in the rate of corporate tax to 20%. (CNN)
A BRITISH woman touring India dropped from her hotel room’s balcony to the one below to escape the hotel’s owner, who had been trying to enter her room, police said Tuesday. The owner was arrested on a harassment complaint, police said. A police official initially told CNN the owner was suspected of attempted rape, but Agra District Police Chief Subhash Dubey later said the woman was complaining only of harassment. Doctors say the woman, traveling alone in Agra, might have ligament injuries but no fracture from her balcony-to-balcony escape,
according to Dubey. She will cut short the rest of her trip and return to the United Kingdom, he said. The woman locked the door of her room when the owner, Sachin Chauhan, offered her what he said was a preplanned massage, Dubey said. When Chauhan kept knocking on the door and insisted on the service, she left through her balcony, according to Dubey. The man has denied any intention to assault the woman, Dubey told CNN. He added the woman is feeling afraid, and the police superintendent and two female constables are staying with her.
March 23 - 29, 2013
World News
IMF chief Lagarde’s home searched by police FRENCH police have searched the Paris home of International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde as part of an investigation into her role in settling a business dispute when she was finance minister, her lawyers said Wednesday. A French court said in August 2011 that it was investigating Lagarde’s role in intervening in a long-running dispute between businessman Bernard Tapie and a French bank, Credit Lyonnais. Lagarde was accused of giving Tapie preferential treatment because of his support for former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. She has always denied any wrongdoing. Prior to joining the IMF, Lagarde was French finance minister for four years. “As we have said before, it would not be appropriate to comment on a case that has been and is currently before the French judiciary,” said Gerry Rice, an IMF spokesman. “Prior to its selection of the managing director, however, the IMF’s executive board discussed this issue and expressed its confidence that Madame Lagarde would be able to effectively carry out her duties,” Rice said. Lagarde, 57, was appointed IMF
A French court in 2011 said it was investigating Christine Lagarde’s role in a business deal when she was the country’s finance minister.
managing director in June 2011, succeeding Dominique StraussKahn, who resigned after a New York hotel maid accused him of assaulting her in his suite. U.S. prosecutors dropped the case against him a few months later. Criminal charges against Strauss-Kahn in the United States were filed but later dropped. (CNN)
Smirking teenager jailed for Ohio school shooting A US teenager smirked as he was handed three life sentences without chance of parole after admitting killing three students in a high school cafeteria. Wearing a T-shirt with the word “killer” hand-written on it, TJ Lane, 18, taunted victims of the attack in February last year in Ohio. Despite evidence he suffered psychosis and hallucinations, he was found competent to be tried as an adult. Investigators have said the gunman told them he did not know why he did it. Lane pleaded guilty last month to three counts of aggravated murder, two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of felonious assault. ‘PATHETIC HUMAN BEING’ He used a .22-calibre pistol to fire 10 shots at a group of students in Chardon High School’s cafeteria, killing 16-year-olds Daniel Parmertor and Demetrius Hewlin, and Russell King, 17. Three others were wounded. During Tuesday’s sentencing,
Lane removed his shirt to reveal a T-shirt with the word “killer” written on it.
Lane unbuttoned his shirt in court to reveal a white T-shirt with the word “killer” scrawled across the chest. He also smirked throughout the hearing, including while relatives of his victims spoke, mocking and gesturing obscenely at them. Dina Parmertor, mother of victim Daniel, said that Lane was “a pathetic excuse for a human being” and wished him “an extremely, slow torturous death”. One of his victims, Nate Mueller,
Kenya condom advert pulled after religious complaints
One of the dogs seized by Italian authorites that was being used as a drug mule.
Drug traffickers caught stuffing live dogs with drugs in smuggling scheme INTERNATIONAL drug traffickers have been busted using dogs as mules. The heartless gangsters were force-feeding the innocent animals bags of cocaine — and then slicing open their stomachs to pull them out once they had arrived at their destination. Around 75 people were detained across northern Italy and Rome for the scam, which saw 50 pups — including Great Danes, Labradors and Mastiffs — die. News agency ANSA reports the suspects — who face charges of criminal association, drug trafficking and illegal weapon possession —
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
had links to South American drug cartels. The dogs were stuffed with the plastic packets that each contained 2.8 pounds of the drug. It’s not the first time dogs have been used to get around customs officials. In 1994 an English sheepdog was found trying to enter New York’s Kennedy Airport, having been flown from Colombia with 10 condoms packed with the drug inside its stomach. Agents thought he looked sick, and ordered an X-ray, when they made the discovery. (NYdailynews. com)
A TV advertisement promoting condom use in Kenya has been withdrawn after an outcry by religious leaders, health official Peter Cherutich has said. Christian and Muslim clerics said the advert encouraged infidelity, rather than safe sex to curb HIV/ Aids. In the government-sponsored advert, a woman in an extra-marital affair is advised to use condoms. Dr Cherutich told the BBC the advert had been launched because up to 30% of married couples had other partners. Around 1.6 million people out of Kenya’s population of 41.6 million are living with HIV, according to the UN. The Kenyan Anglican Church’s Bishop Julius Kalu said the advert, shown on free-to-air TV stations at peak audience times, had promoted extra-marital affairs and sex among school pupils, Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper reports. “There are better ways of passing useful information to society. This one has certainly failed,” he is quoted as saying. “It openly propagates immorality, especially when all family members are gathered before television sets, waiting to watch news,” Bishop Kalu said.
‘EMBARRASSING’ In a BBC Focus on Africa interview, Dr Cherutich said that while the advert had been withdrawn, he was unapologetic about its message - that it was essential for people to use condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids. A survey had shown that between 20% and 30% of married couples had other sexual partners, yet a majority of them did not use condoms, said Dr Cherutich, the deputy director of Kenya’s National Aids and STI Control Programme. Kenya’s Muslim religious body, the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), also condemned TV stations for showing the oneminute-long advert. “The advertisement depicts this nation as Sodom and Gomorra and not one that values the institution of marriage and family,” Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa, CIPK’s organising secretary, told Kenya’s Business Daily newspaper. The BBC’s Anne Soy in the capital, Nairobi, says many conservative Kenyans supported religious leaders in opposing the advert. Some parents said they found it embarrassing to watch the advert with their children, and switched channels when it appeared, she reports. The advert was part of a series of anti-HIV campaigns that health officials have been running in Kenya for years.
who escaped the shooting with a minor injury, dismissed Lane’s courtroom antics as those of “a scared little boy”. At the time of the shooting, Lane was waiting for a bus to a school for children who have not adjusted to traditional school environments. Lane was not eligible for the death sentence, because he was 17 when the shooting occurred. But relatives of the victims pushed for the maximum sentence. (BBC)
Zimbabwe approves new constitution
ZIMBABWE’S new constitution was approved by an overwhelming majority in Saturday’s referendum, the electoral commission has said. The document, which will limit future presidents to two five-year terms, was backed by more than three million votes nearly 95% of those who voted. It was supported by the countries’ two main political parties who have been in a powersharing government since 2009. The constitution’s approval paves the way for elections later in the year. Meanwhile, US-based campaign group Human Rights Watch has said the government should end a police crackdown on civil society groups in the run-up to elections. The clause limiting presidential terms will not apply retrospectively, so Zanu-PF’s 89-year-old leader, President Robert Mugabe, will be able to stand again in elections expected in July. He will again face the Movement for Democratic (MDC) change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, 61, who is currently serving as prime minister in the coalition.
32 CLASSIFIEDS
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Sunset Management Services Ltd. (In Administration) List of Companies Whose Files Await Collection Published by the Joint Administrators Contact 1-649-941-8834 or email dmorrison@tcifsc.tc/kbacchus@tcifsc.tc Dated March 20, 2013
Please note that the Administrators will seek the Supreme Court's direction in regard to the disposal of files not collected within 90 days of publication of this list.
ABC LIMITED CHASE LIMITED ABIJAH INTERNATIONAL CHERUB ENTERPRISES ABIRA INTERNATIONAL CHLOE FIELD LIMITED ACTION HOLDINGS CHUI COMPANY ADIVA INTERNATIONAL CLANARD INTERNATIONAL AMANDIERS LIMITED COMPASS ROSE MANAGEMENT LIMITED AMARILLO INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY INTERNATIONAL AMELAND LIMITED CONREX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ASBURY HOLDINGS CONTINENTAL GENERAL INSURANCE CO. ATLANTIS MARITIME SHIPPING LIMITED CORAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES LIMITED ATLAS CONSTRUCTING LIMITED CORBETT HOLDINGS B.C.INTERNATIONAL LIMITED CORLISS INTERNATIONAL BASKAM LIMITED CTX INTERNATIONAL BASS INTERNATIONAL CUSUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED BEETREE HOLDING LIMITED DAEDALUS LIMITED BIOSTAR INTERNATIONAL DAGAN INTERNATIONAL INC. BLANCHE PALOMA DENEB HOLDINGS BLUE HORSESHOE ENTERPRISES LIMITED DISCOVER PRODUCTIONS LIMITED BLUE RIVER LIMITED DOMANI LIMITED BLYTH INTERNATIONAL DYMAS INTERNATIONAL BONITA LIMITED E-301 HOLDINGS LIMITED BRAMPTON INTERNATIONAL EMBLY INTERNATIONAL BRIDAL BROOK LIMITED E-RAFFLE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED BRITANNIA TOURS LIMITED E-TECH ENTERPRISES LIMITED BRITWIRTH INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED EXOTIC AUTO RENTALS LIMITED BROADBANKACTION INC. FOOTLOOSE INVESTMENT MGNT. LIMITED BROKEN HILL PETROLEUM FORUM EXPLANATION INTL. LIMITED BROKTON INTERNATIONAL FRASER HOLDINGS C.H.N.D.C LIMITED GANA INTERNATIONAL CABLE & WIRELESS GENERAL CONSTRUCTION LIMITED CACTUS VOYAGER LIMITED GERICO VENTURES LIMITED CAICOS AVIATION HOLDINGS LIMITED GLOBAL BUILDING LIMITED CARIBBEAN AVIATION SAFETY TRAINERS LIMITED GLOBAL ENGINEERING MGNT. LIMITED CARIBBEAN ISLAND ADVENTURES LIMITED
GLOBAL MARITIME LIMITED CARIOCA LIMITED GODWIN HOLDINGS CARSON AIR EXPRESS LIMITED GOOZE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED CASA ADORABLE LIMITED GREATFAITH INTERNATIONAL CASTEL INTERNATIONAL GROCERY GRAM LIMITED CHARY INVESTMENTS GROUPER LIMITED MERRELL INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN SHIELD HOLDINGS LIMITED MICH BILL INVESTMENTS LIMITED GUSSY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED MORE FRESH FOREVER LIMITED HOBO LIMITED MYLES INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL ASSET TRUST COMPANY NALCO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM NAUTICAL ADVENTURES TCI LIMITED INTERNATIONAL MEDIA HOLDINGS NAVVA N.V INTERNATIONAL WOOD SALES LIMITED NEPTUNE GROUP LIMITED ISLAND ESCAPES LIMITED NEW ERA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED ISLAND PEARL LIMITED NHC HOLDINGS LIMITED ISLAND SUPPLY TRADING TCI LIMITED ORLEANS ENTERPRISES ITAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED OUT OF AFRRICA LIMITED J.R.I LIMITED OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IINCORP. JASABE PAN-HEMISPHERE LIMITED JEREMIAH INTERNATIONAL PARADISE CONCRETE COMPANY LIMITED JM GRAPHICS LIMITED PASHA LIMITED JOHN JACOBS HOLDINGS LIMITED PERKINS INTERNATIONAL JORDINE LIMITED PHAEDRA JUBA SOUND COMMUNITY DEVPMENT. CMTEE. PILLORY INVESTMENTS COMPANY LIMITED JWEST ASSOCIATES INCORPORATION PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL K.S.M COMPANY LIMITED PRISM HOLDING INC. KANE CONSULTANTS LIMITED PROBATE LABEL KASCH INTERNATIONAL PRO-TEC ENTERPRISE LTD. KISMET INTERNATIONAL PRO-URBAN L & N FINANCIAL SERVICES PROVO PRODUCTIONS LTD. LA PLUBSHING LIMITED QUALITY TILING COMPANY LTD. LAKEVIEW HOMES LIMITED QUELCH-MISSICK AND ASSOCIATION LTD LEEWARD HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION R.J.P.J ENTERPRISES LENZBURG INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
RAPID SOURCES INCORPORATION LIMITED LEO HOLDINGS RCI RESERVATIONS LTD LIBERTAD ROCKPORT LIMITED LIONHEART ENTERPRISES ROCKY MTN. RESOURCES INC. LONE STAR TRADERS ROCKY SHORE HOLDINGS LIMITED LONG BAY COMMUNITY CENTRE ROWE HOLDINGS LONGLURE INVESTMENTS LTD SALT CAY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED MALABAR INTERNATIONAL SALT CAY SANDS LIMITED MANMAR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED SANDRA KNUYT INCORPORATION MCANDLER LIMITED SANTEE MEDART CONSULT SCOTGEN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA WORKS LIMITED SEABEACH HOLDINGS LIMITED SERRANO ENTERPRISES SEVILLE INVESTMENT LIMITED WWF SHOFAR LIMITED YELLOW ROSE LIMITED SLOANPETERSON INC. YOSHI HOLDINGS LTD SMALL ACRES (UK) LIMITED SNEDE LTDSOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MARKETING INC. ST.SIMEON STARCHILD SUKI INTERNATIONAL SUNSEEDS INTERNATIONAL SUNSET REALTY LTD. SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED TCI CRIME STOPPERS ASSOCIATION LIMITED TCI DRYWALL LTD. TCI WIRELESS LIMITED THE BEAUTY BAR LTD THE CAPITAL CORP TIVONIA HOLDINGS LIMITED TRANSIGHT WASTE LIMITED T'S & SONS LIMITED TURKS & CAICOS RESORT ASSOCIATION TURTLE LAKE VILLAGE LIMITED TURTLE VISION LIMITED UNDICI LIMITED UNLIMITED SERVICES LIMITED URBAN INTERNATIONAL VANGUARD CORPORATE & FINANCIAL SERV. LTD. WAKANDA HOLDINGS LIMITED WALLIS LIMITED WEST HARBOUR HOLDINGS LIMITED WEST HARBOUR HOLDINGS LIMITED WEST INDIES LIMITED WEST RIDGE HOLDINGS LIMITED WHAT CO. WILLHAND HOLDINGS LIMITED WINDSOR WEST CONSTRUCTION LIMITED WINNSTAR INVESTMENTS INC. WIZARD MANAGEMENT WIZEMAN AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED
March 23 - 29, 2013
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala have vacancies for the following positions:
Managerial Position:
Recreation Manager Main Duties
• To be responsible for the daily operation of the entire recreation department, which includes water sports, powerboats maintenance and cleanliness of all water sports excursion boats. • To manage a team of recreation staff, plan and work closely with the Guest Services department in coordination with daily activities such as windsurfing, catamaran sailing. • To be responsible for staff time sheets and work schedule. • Responsible for gymnasium and maintenance of all equipments • Must be a strong swimmer and physically fit. • Be responsible for event planning for the Recreation Department • Plan and/or lead tours through our remote swamp and exotic mangroves. • Proven ability aimed at continuing to help conserving the environment. • Organizing environmental and wildlife conservation and awareness events i.e. tree planting, wildlife
checklists for each property. • Maximize liaison with home owners when they are both on and off island. Whilst on island prioritize your time to ensure you are available for them at all times • Handle all special demands and needs during the festive period and assist with all needs of the guests.
The success candidate must possess the following skills: • Diplomacy, discretion and understanding of high profile guests and homeowners • Knowledge of project management practices, principles, techniques and tools • Capability in basic home maintenance • Ability to work independently • Pro-activity to identify potential issues before the arise • Basic accounting skills and ability to fully comprehend legal documentation • Must be Fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese (Written & spoken) Applicants must have at least five year experience at a managerial level.
Qualification and Experience:
• Proper communication and Marketing skills • At least 5 yrs experience as a Recreation Water Sports Manager and Ecotourism expert • At least a diploma in Hotel Management • Exceptional organizational skills • Team player • Maintain an efficient and effective administrative system in the department. • Understand department’s policies and procedures and work with your line manager to ensure all manuals are up-to-date. • Have proven knowledge and experience in the field of Ecotourism. • Be knowledgeable and entertaining, and be able to transform hard science and ancient history into accessible, interesting talks. Successful Applicants will also work long hours, weekends and Public holidays and will be required to reside on Parrot Cay.
Private Estate Manager The successful candidate will be a hard working, reliable individual with excellent communication and operations skills. We are looking for a highly motivated individual who enjoys working with people from various nationalities in a challenging but rewarding work environment.
Duties performed in the role would include, but are not limited to:
• Work closely with the Sales and Special Projects Manager in order to combine work on the houses with maximum rental sales. • Regular communication with the Home Owners and the Sales and Special Project Manager to ensure all parties are informed of any work being done or issues within the homes which could affect sales. • Keep account of all expenditure related to the upkeep of the home including staffing and services, working within a budget to combined benefit of the homeowner and the resort • Ensure all daily operations in the homes are completed to the satisfaction of the General Manager. Liaise closely with the Chief Engineer, Landscaping Manager and Executive Housekeeper to ensure all work is completed as efficiently as possible. • Undertake daily inspections of all private residences in the Parrot Cay rental pool and complete daily, weekly and monthly
Cost Controller The successful candidate will be responsible for controlling cost throughout the Resort, and must be able to monitor and maintain control of Departmental weekly, monthly, yearly budgets. Have sound knowledge of inventory control and proper requisitions procedures within all departments of the hotel. Focus should concentrate on Food and Beverage areas and the proper allocation of requisitioned and transferred items. All items purchased, received, and requisitioned must be properly accounted for in the Sun Financial System.
Assistant Executive Housekeeper MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• He/she must have the ability to Manage and direct the overall operations of the Estates Housekeeping • Take care home owners in regards to housekeeping matters, and must look after their housekeeping needs. • Must be able to develop specific goals, policies and strategies for the day to day running of the department as well as the implementation through correct planning, organizing and training. • Must maintain the Resort high standards, quality with the ability to maximize profitability at all times. • Control labour costs by ensuring that all employees are productive. • Control Housekeeping operating stocks • To ensure all areas of the beach villas are clean: including bedrooms, public areas. • Must inspect and look after all bedrooms and guest areas on a daily basis. • To ensure guest laundry operate to correct standards. • Must have the ability to provide training for new and existing employees when necessary.
QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE
• At least three to four years experience as an Assistant Housekeeper within the Hospitality Industry, knowledge of Five Star Resort Standards will be a plus. • Must have excellent communication, organizational and managerial skills. • Must have a passion for service • Proven ability as a good team player with the skills to effectively function in a multi-cultural environment. • Must have excellent problem solving skills with exceptional Leadership capabilities.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Ensure that all products requisitioned and departmental transfers are accurately entered into the System • Ensure that all products received are coded and entered to the correctly account on a daily basis. • Maintain a par level for inventory items and set up and maintain an Inventory Control Process • Rotate stock regularly and ensure that monthly inventories are done timely and accurately on a monthly basis. • Prepare necessary reconciliations statements and must work closely with the accounts department on all financial matters • Produce an accurate usage chart to review proper product levels – monthly • Maintain a high level of professionalism and efficiency as well as directing and inspecting delivery from local suppliers to maintain acceptable product levels. • Maintain appropriate Accounting records and must work closely with all department heads regarding reconciliation of items ordered, received, transferred and expensed • Prepare departmental cost reconciliations as required
QUALIFICATIONS
• The individual must possess the following: • Must have an Associate Degree or a higher level of education • Must have at least 2 years of previous experience as food and beverage cost controller • Must be competent in the use of the following computer applications: Microsoft Excel and Word. Preference for knowledge of other accounting or inventory control related software such as Sun Systems, Sage Accpac ERP or Micros Inventory Control.
Other Managerial Positions
Information and Technology Manager Assistant Information and Technology Manager Assistant A/C Manager Engineering Inventory and Storeroom Manager OTHER POSITIONS Spa Therapist Specializing in Acupuncture and Shiatsu Spa Therapist Resort Butler Mechanic Helper Mechanic Pilates Teacher A/C Technician Gardeners Line Chef Spa Therapist Demi Chef F & B Server Head Baker Commis Chef Sous Chef Chef de Partie Butler Private Residence Attendant Houseman Spa Attendant Electrician Night Spa Receptionist K9 Dog Handler Kitchen Steward Laundry Attendant Room Attendant Turndown Attendant Recreation Attendant Watersports Instructor Salaries for these positions will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates.
Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address:
Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164. Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749. Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com
7982
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: bkwsu@tciway.tc
FOR SALE
March 23 - 29, 2013
946-4664 Fax: 946-4661
Email: tcnews@tciway.tc
Website: tcweeklynews.com
Turtle Cove Marina Is seeking a
Maintenance
Assistant Must be willing to work 6 days per week, Must be trustworthy and reliable. Interested persons should.
Contact: Turtle Cove Marina on 946-3781
7995
34
Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788
March 23 - 29, 2013
FOR RENT 1 BEDROOM 1 BATH RICHMOND HILLS FULLY FURNISHED WASHER & DRYER $750.00 PER MONTH
3 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM FULLY FURNISHED WASHER DRYER 1,200.00 PER MONTH SECURITY SYSTEM FOR SALE OR FOR RENT
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
PUBLIC AUCTION ON THE FOLLOWING ITEM 2004 FORD F-150 GOLD
Child care assistant needed Applicants must be willing to work flexible hours.
Interested persons please call K. Bacchus at 231-4998 8001
PAUL COX Is looking for a
2 BEDROOM 1 BATH NEWLY RENOVATED $900.00 PER MONTH
CONTACT: 231-3788
To be held at Central Storage behind the Fire Station at Premiere Towing Services Impound on March 28th, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. (Vehicle can be viewed before or 10:00am-2:30pm on the day of the Auction) Bank Draft and Cash Sale ONLY. No warranties, No Returns. Written bids or sealed bid can be emailed to bailiffofthesupremecourtpls@gmail.com or bailif. suprem@facebook.com For enquirers prior to date of auction please contact The Supreme Court Office Tel: 9464215 or 246-9146
This Advertisement is Authorized by Shuntal Gibson Bailiff of the Supreme Court, Providenciales
7958
Amazing Value! Lot for Sale
1 BEDROOM 1 BATHROOM HOUSE CUSTOM DESIGN KITCHEN $800.00 PER MONTH
CLASSIFIEDS 35
Labourer
To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. Contact: 244-1184 7993
PRICE SLASHED
In Gated/Planned Community in Long Bay. Flamingo Crossing lot comes with full set of House Plans, all underground utilities, etc.
$49,999 o.b.o. Call 231-3788
FOR QUICK SALE PRICE SLASHED $180,000 CASH! House and ½ Acre land Richmond Hill 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Fully furnished
Call: 231-3788
$175,000
36 CLASSIFIEDS
Acting on behalf of our client James Scott Jurak is looking for a
Domestic Worker Must be willing to work
5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
Contact: 946-5759 7928
VACANCIES If you’re looking for a career in the hospitality industry well The Windsong Resort is the place to be we are looking to fill the following positions:
Domestic Workers Labourers Housekeeping Gardeners
contact: 941-7700
7959
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary negotiable based on experience.
JOB POSITION
CAPTAIN HOOK’S EUROPEAN HAIRSTYLIST
1 Hairdresser
Seeking A Qualified Park Manager
for men and women
Qualifications: Must have a relevant degree/Certified Dolphin Trainer and Management or equivalent experience.
• Colour diploma from L’Oreal or Wella • 5 years experience • Willing to work weekends • A second language would be a plus • Salary based on commission
Contact: 946-5093
7854
BARMAID
NEEDED To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. TCI Hospitality Certificate an asset.
Contact: tmw@tmwlaw.tc and the Department of Labour BAYSIDE CAR RENTAL
contact: 941-9010
New Resort Opportunities CHEF
Summary: • Reporting to the Executive Chef / Sous Chef: • Receiving, storing, and preparing any food items • Knowledgeable of menu - following department standards and recipes • Compliance with all Health & Safety Regulations • Culinary qualification and Food Handling Certification desirable • 2-4 years experience in luxury hotel kitchens • Responsible & reliable
Summary: • Reporting to the Executive Chef / Sous Chef / Chief Steward: • Cleaning of kitchen and service ware ensuring good sanitary condition and fit for purpose • Ensure kitchens are maintained as per sanitary guidelines and department procedures • Responsible & reliable
Careers@bluehaventci.com Closing date 23rd March 2013
Skills: A minimum of 5 years experience in Managing Dolphin Parks facility operations and management. A minimum of 10 years experience in the knowledge of Trainer Theory and Medical mammal procedures. The job will require the following:- a good understanding of marine mammals, advanced biology and ecology, Health and Training Animals, Knowledge of standard operating procedures and knows how to carry out an interactive program with Dolphins in a safe and educational fashion. Knowledge of scheduling Dolphin trainers. Responsible for training and tracking staff performance. Overseeing daily program operations. Supervise the operation of all areas on the location. Sales and Marketing of the facility. Report to corporate offices regarding the operation and sales budgets and expenditure. Hold regular meetings with supervisors in order to guarantee optimal communication and daily feedback. Ensure goals are reached and supervise/ reward accomplishments. Knowledge of the Dolphin Cove Reservations Program is essential. Daily Sales Report to the Corporate Directors. Plan and coordinate additional maintenance and security activities. Over see the safety of the staff and animals. Prepare facility and staff for hurricane season. Salary : $19 to $30 per hour depending on qualifications. All applicants please contact:- Mika.dolphincove@hotmail.com or reservations@live.com 7925
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
Is looking for a
To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
Send application to:
hold a degree in Business
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
Labourer
Kitchen Steward
March 23 - 29, 2013
7912
C & S PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
JOB ADVERTISEMENT Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is a contemporary luxury full service boutique resort on Grace Bay Beach. We are looking for driven and energetic professionals with Five Star experience and who are committed to achieving excellence by ensuring Five Star standards and services are continuously delivered.
Front Desk Manager:
Applicant must have excellent communication and problem resolution and conflict management skills, at least 4 years experience in Luxury Hotel Front Desk with at least 2 years in management and maintain a presentable image consistent with the expectations of our clientele. Technical skills include Microsoft Office suite, Opera PMS and OVOS, training and coaching skills as well exceptional customer service and organizational skills. Hospitality Management certificate or equivalent experience required. English language required with additional languages an asset. The position requires flexibility in scheduling and the ability to handle confrontation and complaints with patience and diplomacy.
Public Area Attendant/Room Attendant
- Loves to clean. Clean and maintain guest rooms and general areas. Clean and replenish amenities as per the resort standards.
Overnight cleaner
- Must have one year experience in a resort, knowledge of cleaning process and attention to details.
Houseman
- General cleaning of guest room areas assists room attendants with heavier tacks, window washing, linen delivery and removal. 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
March 23 - 29, 2013
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
GOVERNMENT VACANCY SECRETARY
VACANCY Applications are invited for the position of
Senior Finance / Project Manager The applicant must possess the following:
DEPARTMENT: Clement Howell High School MINISTRY: Education, Youth, Sports and Culture LOCATION: Providenciales
JOB SUMMARY: This is an administrative support position, reports to the Principal and has departmental responsibility for secretarial functions in the office.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Answer the telephone and provide information to caller, take messages, and transfer calls to appropriate individuals 2. Greet visitors, handle their inquiries and direct them to the appropriate persons according depending on the nature of the inquiry 3. Maintain class scheduling and monitor ringing of the bell at the scheduled time 4. Maintain event calendars and circulate appropriate reminders of upcoming events 5. Schedule and confirm appointments for administrators, guidance counselors and teachers 6. Confirm attendance at meeting and make the necessary travel arrangements 7. Compose, type and distribute routine correspondences and reports 8. Open, read (except where marked confidential) and distribute incoming mail and other material and prepare answers to routine letters 9. Locate and attach appropriate files to incoming correspondence requiring replies 10. Set up and maintain paper and electronic filing systems for records, correspondence and other materials 11. Establish work procedures and schedules to keep track of the daily work output and requested files 12. Review work done to check for correct spelling and grammar, ensuring that school format policies are followed 13. Keep detailed records of all collections and disbursements of cash received for the sale of school supplies and services 14. Learn to operate new office devices and technologies as they are developed and implemented 15. Operate office equipment such as fax machines, copies and phone systems and use computers to create spreadsheets, database management, word processing and other applications 16. Order supplies and maintain an inventory of stock 17. Any other related duties.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:
• Working knowledge of office administration. • Competent with Microsoft Office applications. • Sound typing skills • Excellent customer service skills • Good organization and time management skills • MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: • A Certificate/Diploma in Secretarial studies or related field. • At least 2 CXC or GCE subjects inclusive of English. • 2 years carrying out similar duties in an office environment. SALARY: T10 – T15: $21,000 - $22,800 per annum.
;;Post Graduate Degree / Professional Qualifications in Finance or Accounting ;;Ten years of working experience in demonstrated financial and/or analytical functions with a variety of complex, multi-faceted projects ;;Experience in large-scale business planning, feasibility studies, and Project Management ;;Extensive knowledge on several or all of the following: finance theories and methodologies, feasibility studies, large scale business planning, financial modeling, project management and corporate restructurings. ;;Ability to identify feasible project options and present recommendations to a board of directors Belongers need only apply. Please Submit Application to:
P.O. Box 270 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
7956
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
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JOB VACANCIES Butler
A person required to provide a personal service to vacation guests.
Duties to include;
• Serving drinks and food • Maintaining outdoor living space • Managing towels & sundries • Discreet, honest, personable attitude with customer service focused individual. Shift working rate commensurate with experience. References essential.
Cook/Pastry Chef
A cook required min 4 hours per day with pastry chef experience. Enthusiastic team player, with a flexible attitude to work. References essential.
Domestic Assistant
Light domestic duties, , will include evenings and weekend work. Team player with flexible attitude to work. References essential. $5 per hour.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Production Assistant
Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page. Current serving officers must apply through their Heads of Department.
Customer facing, highly articulate, and numerically proficient individual, required for production and retail duties. Evenings and weekends essential working. Flexible attitude to work and team player. References essential. $5 per hour.
Farmer
Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov.tc with the subject line being: Secretary Application. Envelopes should have the subject: Secretary Application clearly marked on the front.
A person required to grow and maintain a herb and vegetable garden. Will include general yard maintenance as required. Flexible attitude to work and English speaking. References Essential. $5 per hour.
Belongers only need apply. Successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance.
Marsha Blanche Misick & Stanbrook. Richmond House, P.O.Box 127, Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 27th. March, 2013. 7970
Please send Resume’s to:
7667
38 CLASSIFIEDS
NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands:
1. Parcel 10408/16, South Back Salina, Grand Turk.
Comprising of a detached single Storey residential building providing bedrooms, bathrooms, living, kitchen and dining areas. Registered Proprietor: Domingo Jose Mora
2. Parcel 60602/222 Norway & Five Cays, Providenciales
South Apartments-Comprises of a single storey apartment building providing four (4) one bedroom apartment units together with areas of a private covered deck East Apartments-Comprises of a parttwo storey apartment building providing six (6) two bedroom apartment units with areas of a communal walkway Residence-Comprises of a single storey detached development providing two bedrooms, living/dining area, bathroom and kitchen. Registered Proprietor: McLean Prince George Gardiner
3. Parcel 60400/286 Chalk Sound, Providenciales
Comprising of a detached raised single storey residential development. The subject property provides living/ dining room, kitchen, bathroom with a large en-suite and closets. It also provides easy access to the water and good views of silly creek from its part wrap-around deck. Registered Proprietor: Sean Delroy Penn
4. Parcel 60900/190 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales.
Comprising of single storey main residence and a single storey two bedroom guest house. The main house provides four bedrooms, three bathrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen. The guest house provides two bedrooms, one bath, living and kitchen area. Registered Proprietors: Carl Anderson Gardiner and Sonovia Darshann Gardiner
5. Parcel 60718/159, The Bight and Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales.
Comprising of a two storey apartment building providing one three bed/ two bath unit, one two bed/two bath unit, five one bed unit and two efficiency units. All the units have access to shared covered deck areas excluding the two efficiencies. Registered Proprietor: Kathy
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Monique Lightbourne Odaro P Imafidon
Imafidon
and
6. Parcel 60811/23 The Bight & Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales,
Comprising of a single storey residence containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining room. Registered Proprietors: Oleta Louise Robinson
Marco services ltd Marketing Department is looking for:
Marketing executive For integrated marketing, social media marketing, online marketing for travel and tourism related services. Must have a least 10 years experience in social media marketing, business networking, marketing and promotion of services and products, and international advertising. Requires a bachelor degree in business or marketing, as well as advanced graduate or executive level business, entrepreneurship, or marketing courses. Must be fluent English. Foreign languages a plus. Must have strong proven ability to train, assist and advise local businesses and business owners or managers, strong proven ability in new product development for business, and strong proven ability to implement scalable product and service enhancements.
Contact Chloe Zimmermann 232-4030 7943
7. Parcel 60902/235/K3 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales
Comprising of a town home development which has approximately four units in one. The subject apartment comprises of living accommodations over two floors. The apartment includes a kitchen, living room, one bedroom, two bathrooms, powder room, utility room and owner’s closet. There is also a communal pool and garden areas on site. Registered Proprietor: Harriet Michelle Lorraine Swann
8. Parcel 60003/08 North West and North Central, Providenciales
Comprising of a single storey residential home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and a laundry room. Some commercial amenities are available nearby; however, the downtown area is readily accessible via Millennium Highway which is accessed via a paved road leading from the subject estate. Registered Proprietor: Alan James Percy
9. Parcel 10401/115 East Suburbs, Grand Turk
Comprising of two- two bedroom and one bedroom apartments and one- one bedroom, one bathroom apartment. There is a derelict lean-to addition and cistern at the rear of the property. Registered Proprietor: Coralene Lou Phillips
10. Parcel 60807/172 The Bight & Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales
Comprising of two adjoining lots of a total of 1 acre on which is constructed a two storey apartment building with two ground level one bedroom apartments and one upper floor two bedroom, two bathroom apartments. Registered Proprietors: Jacqueline Edna Brown and Latasha Makalia Delancy
The auction will be held at the offices of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 5th day of April 2012. A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.
Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from Scotiabank Collections Department (649) 946-4750.
Somerset Strata Management Co. Ltd. The Somerset Strata organization is s eeking suitable qualified Belongers who possess the requirements listed are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates should possess luxury resort experience, be professional in attitude and demeanor and must read and speak English fluently.
Responsibilities:
Gardener
• Complete ground work as directed by the Property Manager which may include picking up trash, sweeping curb and dumpster areas and maintaining landscaping beds and other ground areas • Must have the ability to lift heavy items weighing up to 150lbs • Must have the ability to maintain irrigation systems and provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, and other grounds features
Common Area Attendant
Responsibilities:
• Clean and maintain guest public areas within the hotel • Follow procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power equipment, in order to prevent damage to floors and fixtures • Maintain an inventory of cleaning and toiletry supplies • Polish furnitures, metal work, and chrome using appropriate cleaning and polishing compounds
General Requirements:
• Must be a team player with a desire to deliver excellent customer service to our guest • Must have clear English communications skills (written or oral) • Previous experience in this area would be an asset
Maintenance technician
Responsibilities:
• Replace washers, faucets and seals on malfunctioning plumbing equipments • Repair leaky faucets and clean clogged drains • Perform a wide variety of general building maintenance repairs and services • Assist as directed in the operation and maintenance of mechanical systems such as: plumbing, ventilating, air conditioning, steam system, automatic temperature control, electrical and pool filtration as needed • Perform preventive maintenance procedures in a manner responsive to guest satisfaction
Requirements:
• Must be trained and certified by an accredited school in the following areas: Plumbing/ Electrical/Mechanical and A/C related trades • Must be a team player with a desire to deliver excellent customer service to our guest • Must have clear English communications skills (written or oral) • Must have at least 5 years in plumbing, wood finishing, painting, A.C repairs, and carpentry Qualified Belonger candidates are requested to submit a resume by e-mail to:
Aleisa Musgrove Strata Operations Manager The Somerset Resort on Grace Bay amusgrove@thesomerset.com Submissions for this job position should be received no later than March 29th, 2013
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
CLASSIFIEDS 39
Government Of The Turks And Caicos Islands BASIC NEEDS TRUST FUND SEVENTH (BNTF 7) PROJECT
CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR: REVISION & UPDATING OF THE POVERTY REDUCTION ACTION PLAN (PRAP)
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (GOTCI) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of financing the BNTF 7 Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOTCI and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOTCIshall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing. Basic Needs Trust Fund Office (BNTFO), the Executing Agency, now wishes to procure consultancy services for the revision and updating of the Poverty Reduction Action Plan (PRAP). The objective of the consultancy is to review and update the BNTF 7 PRAP which provides the mechanism for targeting poor communities linked closely to wider national policies and development priorities and strategies aimed at reducing poverty. This will be achieved through the review of the Government’s National Socio-economic Development Strategy (2008-2017); Medium Term Socio-economic Development Framework (20082010); National Development Strategy 2011 and other credible data sources; conduct of interviews with a wide range of key stakeholders including government officials, NGOs and community groups; and the development of specific actions for BNTF interventions supported by an implementation plan and results framework. The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of eight weeks. BNTFO now invites interested eligible individual consultants to submit Expressions of Interest indicating qualifications and experience required to provide these consultancy services.
Consultants shall be eligible to participate if: (a) the persons are citizens or bona fide resident or residents of an eligible country; and (b) in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country. Eligible countries are member countries of CDB. In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to qualifications and experience on similar assignments. All information must be submitted in English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between the hours of 9:00a.m and 4:30p.m. Mondayto Friday. Two hard copies of the Expressions of Interest must be received at the first address below no later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday the 27th of March, 2013 and one copy must be sent simultaneously to CDB at the second address below. The sealed envelope containing each submission should include the name and address of the applicant and shall be clearly marked, “Expression of Interest- Consultancy Services forthe Revision and Updating of the PRAP - TCI”. Following the assessment of submissions, the most technically capable and appropriately experienced applicant will be invited to negotiate a contract to provide the consultancy services. GOTCI reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not short-listing any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest. Address 1 Address 2
Ms.Salace Richardson Mrs.Darran Newman Belgrave Project Manager, BNTF Portfolio Manager, BNTF c/o Department of Economic Planning and Statistics Social Sector Division South Base Caribbean Development Bank Grand Turk P.O. Box 408 Wildey Turks and Caicos Islands St. Michael BARBADOS Fax: +246-426-7269 Email: bntf@caribank.org 7969
40 CLASSIFIEDS
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
VACANCIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
2 Computer Analysts
• Plan & develop hardware/software systems. Create inventory system. Should be • Able to track/order stock. Make system more efficient, e.g., predict future sales, • Payroll, etc. Keep up with current data processing methods, program languages, • and machines. Be able to teach staff. Salary: $8/ hr. Hours of operation: 9am-5pm.
Graceway IGA Supermarket is seeking suitably qualified applicants to fill the following positions:
Warehouse Manager The warehouse manager is responsible for the overall operations of warehouses including, staff supervision and overseeing the safe receipt, storage, and retrieval of goods. Duties and Responsibilities includes: • Planning the arrangement and proper rotation of goods within the warehouse and organize special requirements for certain stock, such as, chilled goods, perishables, and fragile products. • Keeping stock control systems up-to-date and planning future capacity requirements. • Taking responsibility for the security of the stock and overseeing stock control and processing orders. • Reducing and eliminate shrinkage through proper product handling and storage. • Overseeing shipment being received and monitor all loading and off-loading of containers. • Adhering to governmental regulations for storing items such as chemicals, drugs, alcohol and food and ensuring that the health, safety, cleanliness and security of the work environment are maintained. • Strategically deal with planning, administration and general management issues, including staff training and development planning work schedules, and day-to-day supervision of staff • Producing budgets, regular reports and statistics on a daily, weekly and monthly basis; • Ensuring quality, delivery and budget objectives are met; • Applicants must have experience in warehouse management, at least four (4) years of retail management experience and are able to work nights, weekends, and all holidays. Salary Range: $39,400.00 - $42,000.00 Per annum. All applicants must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Deli Bakery Manager Job Requirements & Responsibilities: • Fifteen (15) years experience in a supermarket Deli/Bakery management role. • Experience in Food and Nutrition and Menu Planning. Inventory management and spoilage reduction techniques are essential. • The ability to meet department’s profitability requirements and gross profit margin analysis. • Must be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office Programs and possess good oral and written communication skills. • Ensure compliance with all local weights and
measures laws and labeling requirements; follow approved procedures for receiving product, price marking and restocking to ensure quality protection, accuracy and product rotation • Ability to train all department personnel in the store's method of performing departmental duties and functions.
1 Graphics Artist • Team player to work in a fast paced and deadline driven environment. Must be • Able to work with customers to produce a wide array of graphic design collateral and • printed materials. At least 5 years experience in a graphic or design production • environment. Must be able to operate all machines in the graphics department. • Must be skilled in heavy experience from concept, design to production in the printing • industry. Proficient in desktop publishing using Adobe Illustrator, print shop, INdesign, CorelDraw is a must, large format printing, indoor and outdoor signage specifically with • Roland & HP equipment. Proficient in English language. Degree in Fine Arts. • Salary: $8/hr. Hours of Operation: 9am-5pm.
Salary range: $45,000 – $55,000. All applicants must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
General Manager Summary of Duties The position is the general overseer of all aspects of Grace Way IGA Groups of Supermarket. This includes providing leadership and motivation to promote the consistent execution of standard practices, policies and procedures. Setting the tone and leading the stores culture/environment to ensure success in all aspects of customer service, profitability, operations, people development, merchandise presentation and merchandise assortment.
2 Labourers • General cleaning and maintenance of the premises, gardening, garbage removal and other duties associated with general labor. Clean Police Record and Valid drivers • License. Salary: $5/hr. Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm. Willingness to work long hours some holidays and weekends.
Required Specifications and qualifications • Over ten (10) years experience in supermarket retail and wholesale management with a minimum of five (5) years in a senior management position to include management of individual departments. • Experience in company expansion projects with the ability to lead and develop new store concept, design, layout, format and operations. • Proficient in the understanding of retail and wholesale accounting and good business practices related to documentation and record keeping. • Strong current product knowledge of the retail industry and a proven record in the ability to achieve the budgeted financial and operating results, including sales, profitability, and wage percentage. • Experience managing and developing the human resources activities, maintain and develop organizational culture, values and reputation in market and with all staff, customers, suppliers, partners and governmental bodies. • Must have the ability to identify, develop and direct the implementation of business strategy and report to shareholders on organizational plans, financial disclosure and operational performance. • Ability to work extended hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
2 Sales Persons
• Sell products and services related to the business. Must be able to speak English and communicate with customers. Must be able to give update weekly to Managing Director. • Must be computer literate. Salary: $6/hr. Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday, • 9am-5pm. Clean Police record and valid driver’s license.
1 Store Manager
• General concept of computer analysis, QuickBooks, basic graphics art, merchandising, • specific inventory knowledge base, ordering. Must have 5 years experience in retail • outlet. Clean Police record. Must be able to fill in other positions in retail store • temporarily. Long hours/holidays/weekends. Salary: $10/hr.
Contact: Business Solutions, Managing Director, P.O. Box 502, Leeward Highway, Providenciales. Fax: 649-941-5003. Applicants must submit resumes by March 31st, 2013.
Salary rate will commensurate with experience and ranges from $60, 000.00 - $72,000.00. All applicants must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
Deadline for submission of applications is April 5th 2013 Submit resumes to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews.
7965
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
March 23 - 29, 2013
CLASSIFIEDS 41
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
InterHealth Canada Construction & Services (TCI) Ltd (ICC&SCo)
General Manager – Healthcare Facilities Management
ICC&SCo are currently advertising the post for an experienced Corporate Healthcare Facilities General Manager responsible for InterHealth Canada Construction & Services (Hard & Soft Full Facilities Management & Construction Services).
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
ROYAL TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS POLICE
The successful candidate must have a minimum of 10 years Healthcare Construction & Facilities Management experience, PFI / PPI experience or equivalent is also essential for this post, along with a proven track record in Contract Management & Business Development.
JOB VACANCY
The post reports to the InterHealth Canada & Construction Service Board & is based at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre Providenciales with frequent travel to Cockburn Town Medical Centre in Grand Turk and overseas travel as determined. The post holder must be available to be on call 24hrs as required. The minimum Requirements / Qualification or Equivalent: ;;Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies / Facilities management or equivalent ;;Advanced Food Hygiene Certified ;;BIFM (British Institute of Facilities management) ;;NEBOSH / IOSH Certified ;;Good Knowledge of Accreditation Canada Standards / Required Organization Practices, EFQM or equivalent & Corporate Governance
Salary dependent on qualifications and experience Please sent CV’s to recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc The closing date is Friday 22nd March 2013
7957
911 CALL CENTER LEVELL 11 TELE-COMMUNICATOR The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Force is seeking team-oriented and self-motivated persons to work in a dynamic professional atmosphere in the 911 Call Center in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for incumbents to assist the center in providing 24 hour professional, efficient emergency response to all emergencies. Successful candidates will be swornin as Special Constables and as such must adhere to the Police Force Ordinance and all applicable rules and regulations associated. Purpose of Job: This is a highly skilled job position requiring the post holder to assist the 911 Call Center in providing 24 hour professional, efficient emergency response to all emergencies. Essential skills required for job:
Graceway IGA Supermarket / Kwatcha Holdings are seeking suitable qualified applicants to fill the listed positions:-
;;The position requires excellent communication skills ;;This position requires the incumbent to display excellent delivery in call handling and emergency response ;;Must have the ability to hear and understand sound sources coming through a communications headset and/or radio and/or standard telephone receiver. ;;Must have the ability to read and discern visual images on a variety of media, including colour-coded computer screen. ;;Must have the ability to write English legibly and record names and numbers accurately (i.e., not transpose numbers and/or letters). ;;Must have the ability to co-ordinate the movements of two or more limbs together for purposes of operating radio/telephone equipment simultaneously; the ability to remain seated at the same work station for extended periods of time. ;;A foreign Language is desirable
Floor Care Specialist Requirements / Qualifications: • Experience in floor care and maintenance. • Experience in waxing, wax removal, stripping, buffing and vacuuming large surface areas. • Experience in operating and maintaining heavy duty floor care machines. • Experience in using proper safeguards such as warning signs and safety cones to alert customers and employees to potential hazards such as wet or slippery floor surfaces; • Be knowledgeable cleaning programs and adhere to manufacturer's label instructions for the safe and proper use of all chemical products
Qualifications: Must have at least three (3) CXC passes two of which should include English and Mathematics
Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Monitor inventory of cleaning supplies and submit purchase orders or requests to store management; • Oversee cleaning and maintenance of the supermarket. • Responsible for the total store floor care on a daily basis.
Requirement: The post holder must maintain current certification and will receive training leading up to Certification in the following:-
Salary Range: $6.50 - $7.00 / Per Hour
1. Public Safety Telecommunications 1 (APCO) 2. Emergency Medical Dispatch (APCO) 3. Fire Services Communications (APCO) 4. Adult and Infant First Aid and CPR Additionally, the incumbent must be able to work shifts, on weekends and on short notice when necessary.
Retail Floor Positions Job Requirements All applicants must be able to read, speak and understand the English Language and will be expected to sit and pass an in-house Math and English Test.
SALARY: $16,200 per annum plus allowances
BAKER (1) CLEANERS (1) PRODUCE CLERKS (1)
Interested persons may contact A/Insp. Dwight Gardiner or Sgt. Curvalene Skippings Officer in Charge HR Department Police Headquarters Grand Turk Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Tel: 649-946-2371. Fax: 649-946-2099 Email: dwight.gardiner@tcipolice.tc curvalene.skippings@tcipolice.tc
Salary Range: $6.50 - $8.50 / Per Hour
Deadline for submission of applicants is April 5th 2013
Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com
7966
Deadline for submitting application is 1st April 2013
7952
42 CLASSIFIEDS
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NATURES VISION LTD.
Electric Power Generation Specialist Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified individuals for the position of Electric Power Generation Specialist, Turks & Caicos Utilities Limited (A FortisTCI Company) Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. Description
Responsible for detailed supervision of subordinate employees and/or contractors, who perform plant installation and maintenance work at FortisTCI facilities, inclusive of transportation fleet staff. To provide expert decision-making assistance; and steering and guiding effective preventative and corrective maintenance activities on generation plant and their controls and on transportation fleet; inclusive of training of staff in these areas, in a manner consistent with equipment manufacturer’s specification and standard mechanical and electrical practices, and as directed by the Superintendent.
Main Duties
• Assist the Superintendent in identifying the developmental needs of plant operators and fleet mechanics through proper evaluation; and develop and implement a program for continuous on the job monitoring, training, and mentoring, to minimize and to ultimately reduce deficiencies. • Prepare weekly, monthly, and annual work plans and associated reports as directed by the Superintendent. • Ensure a high degree of familiarity and profound knowledge of specifications; fundamental operating concepts; operating and maintenance manuals; and procedures for all generating plant and transportation fleet assets and their equipment. • Prepare work instructions for maintenance-related duties and coordinate work of plant operators and fleet mechanics, with particular regard to safety, efficiency, and functionality of the plant and transport fleet. • Prepare comprehensive parts lists and cost estimates needed for all major maintenance activities and planned overhaul projects, and for any other projects as may be assigned. • Solicit and assess quotes, and make recommendations for purchase inclusive of commencing the requisition process upon receiving approval, to facilitate timely procurement of material to meet project schedule timelines. • Assist in the preparation of capital and maintenance budgets through the provision of cost estimates for the Generation department as assigned and directed. • Conduct testing and troubleshooting of plant and transport fleet equipment in the area of responsibility and in the longer term train others to perform these functions. • Be familiar with and adhere to all Company policies and procedures (including those established by past practice) relating to the position. • Plan and conduct work in a manner consistent with the Company’s commitment to the environment and ensure that project work teams are likewise in compliance. • Be familiar with and adhere to the safety and operating procedures of the Company (particularly those established by EUSA), and ensure that projects are executed consistent with these procedures. • Maintain and ensure the accuracy of statistical records of plant and transportation fleet operations and maintenance activities as required by the company. • Be professional in dress and demeanor as befits the position and ensure that a good public image of FortisTCI is maintained at all times • Perform other duties as may be assigned and/or required by Superintendent, contingencies from time to time. • Prepare weekly, monthly and annual work plans and accomplishment reports on project assignments • Submit job reports and detailed engineering equipment failure analysis reports • Execute preventative and corrective maintenance to ensure high equipment reliability and availability • Any other related duty as assigned from time to time.
Minimum Requirements:
• Diploma in Mechanical/Electrical Technology or an accredited equivalent. • 10 to 15 years working experience with Caterpillar Power Generation Systems, specifically knowledge of 3500 and 3600 Series Prime and Standby Electric Power Generators; and ISO Control and Switchgear Systems. • Knowledge of power plant SCADA and feeder distribution systems • 10 to 15 years working experience with vehicle engine, transmission, hydraulic pumps diagnosis and rebuilds. • Minimum of 5 years’ experience at mid management level. • Proficiency in interpretation of mechanical and electrical drawings and manuals is required. • Above average analytical skills in math and mechanical/electrical theories, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems, towards good decision making. • Familiarity with PLC troubleshooting and programming is required, as is the ability to train others. • Professional competency in written and oral communication skills in English • Experience in working under utility emergency response condition • Ability to function effectively under emergency situations; and to think clearly and effectively and deliver within deadlines; and to work under pressure • Ability to work in an environment that is noisy, and be exposed to lubricating oil, diesel fuel and engine fumes. • Self-motivated, solution oriented and positive in outlook • Excellent time management skills • Team player Compensation: Based on Qualifications and Experience
Deadline for submission of applications is March 15, 2013 to:
Manager, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com fax: 649-941-4304
7926
• Must have at least 5 years experience in horticultural work • Must be able to work holidays and weekends • Use of private vehicle required with local drivers license with excellent driving record • Must have knowledge of chemicals and fertilizers and their uses • Must have experience in design and landscape irrigation • Must have the ability to lead and work along with landscaping crew • Must be fluent with the English language • Must have a clean police record
Contact: 649-232-2272 7962
P & A PRIME AGENCY Is currently seeking qualified applicants on behalf of our clients:
Is looking for a
Labourer To work 5 days a week salary $5.00 per hour.
contact: 2460563 or 231-7707
7961
People’s Television Ltd. Has a vacancy for a
Kitchen Helper
– to work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour
Baker
– to work 6 days per week salary negotiable
Labourers
– for taking care of premises and properties salary $5.50 per hour
For more information contact our office at IBO Building, Downtown behind the ball park, Providenciales Monday – Friday 10am-5pm 341-8754
7948
STAFF VACANCY
LANDSCAPING SUPERVISOR
NOVIA HIGGS
Labourer Salary $6.00 per hour.
Contact 232-7827
7968
TYSON’S TAKE AWAY Is looking for a
Dining Room Manager qualified applicants can send resumes to tysonstakeaway@ gmail.com
7953
VAN’S AUTO PARTS AND TIRE SHOP Is looking for a
Mechanic To work 6 days per week salary $500 per week.
Contact: 241-3077 7956
CLASSIFIEDS 43
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
DORIKA TALBOT
Charles Fulford Stubbs
Mechanic Labourer Is looking for a
Is looking for a
To work 6 days per week salary $10.00 per hour. contact: (649) 941-8760
To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
7955
BCS –CS acting on behalf of our clients: Austin Ingham, John Phillips, FPN-CS, Don Fulford, Pearl Bernadin is looking to fill the following positions:
Cleaner Domestic Worker Labourer Waiter
BEEN’S CONSULTING SERVICES is looking for the following persons on behalf of our clients:
2 Domestic Workers 4 Labourers 2 Sales Persons 2 Babysitters 2 Handymen 2 Kitchen Helpers 1 Hairstylist 2 Boat Captains 1 Assistant Manager 2 Maintenance Workers 1 Driver
Salary starting at $5.00 per hour Applicants must be willing to work with little or no supervision. Interested persons please 7942
;; Salary $5.00 per hour ;; Must have a clean record ;;Must be honest Send your resumes to branitz@yahoo.com
contact: 247-9433
contact: 649-343-8659 7941
7950
DELICIOUS DISHES
• Responsible for general cleaning of bakery equipment • Make sure baker is kept tidy at all times • Packing of baking products for distribution • Must be honest and have a pleasant attitude towards customers • Must be willing to work for 4:00am-1:00pm (long hours) • 5 days per week and sometimes on weekends • Salary $5.50 per hour
Contact: 649-946-4536 7998
Is looking for a
Waitress
to work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 242-1315 7969
BUGALOO’S CONCH CRAWL
Labourer is looking for a
qualifications.
contact: 241-2415
BELONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY Bridgette Thomas BNC Consulting Group, Ltd email: bthomas@bnccgroup.com phone: 649-332-2565
per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 347-9277
Bakery Assistants
Domestic Worker
Closing Date April 1, 2013
Worker To work 5 days
To work 6 days per week salary $200 per week.
Is looking for 2
Is seeking suitably qualified Belongers to fill the positions outlined below. Ideal candidates must possess luxury resort experience, a professional demeanor, and a strong command of the English language (oral and written). Relevant experience and a passion for hospitality is required. Salary is based on experience and
To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
7949
Spa Therapist Pool & Beach Attendant Maintenance Team Leader (Supervisor) Handyman Senior Sous Chef Executive Chef Assistant Maitre’d Security
Hairdresser Domestic
BAMBARRA BAKERY
is looking for a
VACANCIES
ELIBERT BRUTUS Is looking for a
contact: 242-1293
Branford Hall / Meleza Pierre
BNC CONSULTING GROUP
Is looking for a
To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour must be able to knock out conch and do general maintenance.
Contact: 242-5646 Mystique Car Rental & Tours Ltd. Is seeking to employ a
Customer Service Supervisor 1. Fluent in English and must be computer literate 2. Must be Customer Service Oriented 3. Have a Valid Driver’s Licence and a clean Police Record 4. Must be willing to work on weekends, holidays and at nights 5. Must have Bachelors Degree in Business Administration or similar
6. Five years experience in car rental.
Partial Job Description:
1. Supervise & train staff 2. Manage reservations 3. Executing car rental contracts 4. Dealing with deposits and daily business reports 5. Preparing monthly reports 6. General office organization
Please email resumes to mystique@tciway.tc Deadline: March 25, 2013 8002
7954
CARIBBEAN ENERGY
7947
March 23 - 29, 2013
44 CLASSIFIEDS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
DAVID RIVERA
Supervisor Of Guest Experiences ;; Report to the Director of Guests Experiences, responsible for supervising the Personal Concierge Team. ;; Provide personalized and professional services to guests ensuring at all times that all guest requirements and needs are met and to demonstrate a high and consistent level of organization and management. ;; Conduct pre and post shift meetings with Concierges, ensure that Concierges are aware of all information concerning guests, island information and other activities, attend morning briefing with senior management, take relevant note of all information concerning guests and the department. ;; Work closely with the Front Office team to coordinate daily arrivals in the lobby. ;; Conduct efficient training for staff as required by the LHW. ;; Builds a rapport with the in-house guests and maintain interaction in order to facilitate guest recognition and obtain information regarding their preferences. ;; Updates and maintain all Guest History Files. ;; Utilizes leadership skills and motivation techniques in order to maximize employee productivity. ;; Immediately actions all special guest requirements and requests ;; Ensures that all employees within the Personal Concierge Team follow safety rules and procedures and takes corrective action when required to improve safety of work areas. ;; Conduct weekly training sessions with the Personal Concierge. maintain accurate record of all training conducted ;; Assist Director of Guests Experiences in the review, planning and implementation of altered or new procedures
Spa Supervisor/ Therapist ;; Display, effectively communicate, and hold all employees accountable to our Company Credo. Goals and mission. ;; Complete in-house orientation program, which includes all policies and procedures as per the manual and employee handbook. ;; Complete all training provided by The Grace Bay Resorts. ;; Have complete knowledge of all Spa services, packages, promotions and retail products presently offered by the Spa. . ;; Present a well-groomed, professional appearance. You must be in full uniform at all times while on property or at a work-related event. ;; Be punctual and prepared for your day. ;; Assist in all spa activities including staff meetings, educational events, workshops, inventory or promotions. ;; Manipulation of schedules to optimize the guest’s time and Spa experience, as needed. ;; Managing several different tasks at once. ;; Assure quality control for all guest areas of the Spa. ;; Maintain accountability for all subordinate spa employees, to include quality control for all guest and employee areas. ;; Conduct line-up sessions in a professional, timely and effective manner. ;; Have working knowledge of Spa ordering procedures to assure spa staff have products and guest supplies as necessary. ;; Have a working knowledge of all Spa menu items, packages, group functions and special promotions. ;; Correct and or contact the proper department to address any immediate problem related to the mechanical function of the spa. ;; Have a working knowledge of all Spa related job functions and responsibilities. ;; Have a thorough knowledge of Micros ;; Ensure that all treatments have the proper coverage and resource availability. ;; Complete various reports, i.e. Time and Attendance Reports, daily activity reports, line-up notes, customer complaints, etc. ;; Provide on- the-job training to any new and current employees as needed, or as directed by Spa Management. ;; Follow up with guests while in the spa who present any negative feedback regarding any portion of the spa. ;; Recognize, correct and be proactive with any guest complaint or concern, then handle it within a timely manner. ;; Recognize and correct any safety hazard within a timely manner. ;; Clearly communicate daily events to other Supervisors or Management through a daily Supervisor Log and verbally as needed. ;; Assist any other members of the Spa family as needed. ;; Other duties and special projects as needed and assigned by Resort Management. ;; Attend resort morning operations meetings, rooms division and arrival meetings. ;; Attend Manager’s cocktail reception. ;; Mentor spa staff as well as persons chosen in the Labor Mentoring Program. ;; Attend spa yield meetings. ;; Coordinate spa upgrades and renovations. ;; Create spa SOP ;; Offer lateral service to other departments when needed and when available. ;; Create spa promotions and coordinate the mktg. ;; Monitor spa daily/ monthly revenues. ;; Handle spa commission payroll. ;; Minimum of 15 hours per week in spa treatments is required ;; Qualified Belongers need only to apply ;; Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience
Interested persons can contact our Human Resources Department no later than March 28th 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
Contact: 649-242-0288
7990
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.
To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour
DESTINATION TURKS & CAICOS LTD. Seeks to Employ a
Labourer
Duties Includes: - Cleaning of event location; - Assisting in set-up and events decor; - Removal of all events decor and setup; - Cleaning of all equipments, linens and furniture; - Light yard work and washing windows; - Light house cleaning; - Painting and small repairs. Wages: $5.50 Work long hours, weekends and holidays
Send resume to: info@destinationtci.tc
7984
E & V EQUIPMENT LIMITED Is looking to fill the following positions:
LABOURER
To maintain garden, clean yard, carry out garbage, cleaning of equipment, cutting grass, must have experience in gardening, general cleaning around the house Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour
WELDER
Must have experience in heavy equipment such as dozers salary $10.00 per hour
Send resume to fax: 1-649-941-8495 or drop off at E & V Equipment Limited, 53 Williams Auditorium, Five Cays Road, Providenciales
7997
HAYES ELEVATOR LTD. Is looking for an
Elevator Mechanic • Must be certified I.U.E.C. Elevator Mechanics or C.E.T. Certificate • Minimum of 5 years experience in repairing all elevator equipments • Must be willing to work 5 days per week • Salary $40.00 per hour
Contact: 247-6786
7991
Career Opportunity
LABOURER
CLASSIFIEDS 45
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Premier Contracting Services
BAYVIEW MOTORS
Seeks suitable qualified applicants to fill the positions of labourers:
two Labourers Qualification and responsibilities includes
• Minimum 3 years experience in landscape maintenance • Responsible for weeding, pruning, trimming all plants on property, sweeping • Cleaning windows, restrooms and removing of trash and solid waste • Must have good knowledge of gardening techniques and ability to apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers properly • Responsible for the upkeep and general look / maintenance of entire grounds • Ability to maintain and repair irrigations systems • Willingness to perform numerous laborious tasks • Willingness to perform all other tasks in relation to general cleaning ad or labour
Is currently looking to employ 2
Labourers
Who will be responsible for the daily maintenance of the building, stocking of the shelves and any other duties that may be assigned to you this individual must possess the following: • Adequate tools to perform his duties • Must be able to work with little or no supervision • Must be computer literate • Must be able to work weekends • Must possess a valid drivers license Please submit all application between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday
Bayview Motors Ltd. P.O. Box 619. Leeward Highway, Providenciales
7988
March 23 - 29, 2013
Salary: $7.00 per hour Deadline for submission of applications is March 29th 2013 Written applications along with relevant qualifications and references should be addressed to the attention of:
Edith Cox Suite 200 Graceway Plaza Providenciales 7964
VACANCY Islandcom, the exciting technology leader mobile phone operator in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is looking for a high quality, motivated candidate for the following position.
SHORT-TERM RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATE The Retail Sales Associate reports to the Retail Manager. His/her responsibility is to seek out prospective wireless customers and align Islandcom’s products and promotions to best fit their needs. Product and industry knowledge combined with sales and closing skills are important in achieving personal goals. Candidate must possess strong problem solving skills, and interpersonal skills.
Job Specifics
• Exceed customer satisfaction goals to ensure customer retention; develop and uphold the Islandcom service reputation and brand • Resolve priority customer issues (both written & oral) as necessary • Foster a positive, successful, & professional work environment • Build solid productive relationships with all levels of leadership & support teams • Resolve operational & interdepartmental problems quickly • Flexibility to match the changing needs of the business
Vice President Power Production and Project Management This position is responsible for the efficient installation, operation, and maintenance of the production assets, electrical auxiliary equipment, and management of FortisTCI’s civil capital projects, fuel procurement and supplies, management of general insurance programs and for providing engineering services in support of the Company’s integrated energy production and supply activities. Main Duties ;; Responsible for the generation of a safe, constant and sufficient supply of electricity ;; Responsible for strategic planning and installation of production facilities and infrastructure ;; Responsible for the timely implementation of new works and modifications to existing production systems to optimize the production plant, improve plant efficiency and reliability. ;; Responsible for the development and implementation of effective production and electrical maintenance programmes and practices to maximize efficiency and reliability. ;; Responsible for provision of engineering services, engineering feasibility studies, and construction support services for the Company. ;; Responsible for preparation and control of annual division budgets. ;; Responsible for generation, and civil works that meet best practice of safety, environmental, quality, budgetary control and reporting standards. ;; Responsible for planning and upgrading electrical control systems at the plant. ;; Responsible with high voltage command and coordination control as required. ;; Responsible for the Corporate Liability, Property and Machinery Breakdown Insurance programmes Minimum Requirements:
• • • • •
Strong commitment to world class customer service Two to five years of Retail Sales experience Minimum of two years of wireless experience preferred Strong decision making, change management and negotiation skills Ability to perform multiple tasks and adjust quickly in short timeframes with limited direct supervision • Sales presentation skills • Ability to work flexible hours if necessary (early morning, late evening and weekends)
;; A Degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering and a minimum of 15 years post-graduation experience in senior management positions in the electricity utility industry. ;; Hold an MBA degree ;; At least 10 years in a senior leadership position ;; Excellent written and oral communication skills. ;; Excellent team player with proven team building skills. ;; Ability to deliver to strict deadlines. ;; Self-motivated, solution oriented and positive in outlook ;; Self-motivated
Compensation commensurate with qualifications and experience
Compensation: Based on Qualifications and Experience.
Required Knowledge & Skills
Deadline for submission of applications is April 3rd, 2013
Deadline for submission of applications is March 29th, 2013 to:
Please submit all applications to:
Manager, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@ppcltd.tc fax: 649-941-4304
Islandcom Telecommunications Ltd. Graceway House, Unit A-108 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Fax: (649) 941-8199. Email: CV@islandcom.tc
7951
46 CLASSIFIEDS
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Baker Is looking for a
• Must have experience in dessert and pastry making • Must have 10 years experience • Must be willing to work holidays, weekends and nights • Salary commensurate with experience • Belonger only need apply
VACANCY Position is available for:
Metal Framing Mechanic • The candidate must have the following requirements: • Minimum 10 years experience as a metal framer; • Formatting, installing and inspecting all metal studs, framing and roofing; • Willing to work long hours, overnights and weekends. • Salary range: $10 - $15 per hour
Contact: 649-432-2355
7988
Application must be submitted to: evt@ tciway.tc or call 649-946-5414 Deadline: March 31, 2013
VACANCIES Dive Instructor
Liveaboard scuba vessel seeks an experienced English-speaking, active teaching status Scuba instructor with several specialties including EANx and a strong customer service background. PADI/SDI preferred. Candidates must have STCW-95 Basic safety certification. Previous liveaboard experience, the ability to speak multiple languages and additional skills/ specialties are preferred. Please email CV to jobs@explorerventures.com.
Captain
Liveaboard scuba vessel seeks a Captain with a current 500 Ton (ITC) master's license with STCW-95 who is also a certified Divemaster or above. Must have substantial experience on vessels greater than 100 Ft. Strong customer service background, maintenance skills and fluency in English are required. Previous liveaboard experience preferred. Please email CV to jobs@explorerventures.com.
Marine Mechanic
Liveaboard scuba vessel seeks an experienced marine mechanic who has the ability to repair and maintain all shipboard systems including, but not limited to MEs, breathing air compressors, RO water makers, generators and A/C. Candidates must have STCW-95 Basic safety certification. Approved Engine course certification and previous liveaboard experience are preferred. Written and spoken English fluency required. Please email CV to jobs@explorerventures.com.
7985
BAY BISTRO
PROVO ELECTRIC
LABOURER Salary must commensurate with qualifications. Resumes can be faxed to: 649-941-3425 and the Labour Department, Providenciales as soon as possible
7979
Somerset Strata Management Co. Ltd. The Somerset Strata organization is seeking suitable qualified Belongers who possess the requirements listed are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates should possess luxury resort experience, be professional in attitude and demeanor and must read and speak English fluently.
Responsibilities:
Gardener
Complete ground work as directed by the Property Manager which may include picking up trash, sweeping curb and dumpster areas and maintaining landscaping beds and other ground areas Must have the ability to lift heavy items weighing up to 150lbs Must have the ability to maintain irrigation systems and provide proper upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, fountains, and other grounds features
Common Area Attendant
Responsibilities:
Clean and maintain guest public areas within the hotel Follow procedures for the use of chemical cleaners and power equipment, in order to prevent damage to floors and fixtures Maintain an inventory of cleaning and toiletry supplies Polish furnitures, metal work, and chrome using appropriate cleaning and polishing compounds
General Requirements:
Must be a team player with a desire to deliver excellent customer service to our guest Must have clear English communications skills (written or oral) Previous experience in this area would be an asset
Maintenance technician Responsibilities:
Replace washers, faucets and seals on malfunctioning plumbing equipments Repair leaky faucets and clean clogged drains Perform a wide variety of general building maintenance repairs and services Assist as directed in the operation and maintenance of mechanical systems such as: plumbing, ventilating, air conditioning, steam system, automatic temperature control, electrical and pool filtration as needed Perform preventive maintenance procedures in a manner responsive to guest satisfaction
Requirements:
Must be trained and certified by an accredited school in the following areas: Plumbing/ Electrical/Mechanical and A/C related trades Must be a team player with a desire to deliver excellent customer service to our guest Must have clear English communications skills (written or oral) Must have at least 5 years in plumbing, wood finishing, painting, A.C repairs, and carpentry Qualified Belonger candidates are requested to submit a resume by e-mail to:
Aleisa Musgrove Strata Operations Manager The Somerset Resort on Grace Bay amusgrove@thesomerset.com Submissions for this job position should be received no later than March 29th, 2013
March 23 - 29, 2013
CLASSIFIEDS 47
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NANNY REQUIRED
PHARMACIST REQUIRED PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS
To care for 3-month old boy and undertake housekeeping duties. Suitable candidates will: read, write and speak English fluently, have their own vehicle and/or live within 5 miles the Leeward Estate, be comfortable around cats and dogs, have prior experience as a nanny and be able to provide at least 2 excellent references as a nanny. Reliability and caring attitude a must. Candidates with grown up children of their own preferred. 40 hours per week beginning 16th April 2013. Wage $260 per week.
• Bachelors Degree from a recognized University eligible to register with TCI Health Practioners Board • Willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays if required • Must be highly computer literate with previous experience using Dispensary Management Software and retail POS • Evidence of active continuing education required • Must have a pleasant outgoing personality, reliability and ability to work well under pressure • Salary commensurate with experience ranging from $35k-$40k
Please email CV to islandpharmacy@tciway.tc or fax: 649-946-4942
7981
Suitable candidates should email CV with a covering letter to maryroisin@gmail.com before 6th April 2013. Interviews will take place the following week. 7983
Sunny Reef Ltd 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
Waiter
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
– 3-5 years’ experience
Cook
– 5-7 years. Must be a good team player, work at fast pace. Must know how to prepare French & Indonesian Cuisine
Labourer/Dish Washer
This position is responsible for the leadership and direction of the organization’s activities in accordance with the goals and objectives of the organization to safeguard and grow the value of the organization, ensure that Company’s Service Territory (ST) has safe, reliable electricity services, while providing sound returns to shareholders.
Date: Friday 22nd &29th March,2013
Main Duties
• Define and articulate the organization’s vision and to develop strategies for achieving that vision • Give direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy and its annual goals and objectives. • Coordinate all aspects of the organization, including: human resources, engineering, electricity production and transmission, financing and commerce, regulatory, environment and safety. • To implement the strategic goals and objectives of the organization. • Promote a culture that reflects the organization’s values, encourages good performance, and reward productivity • Assure that the organization’s mission, programs and services are consistently presented in a strong positive image to relevant stakeholders. • Develops and monitors strategies for ensuring the long-term financial viability of the organization • Manage the physical and human resources of the organization to achieve maximum results.
TURKS & CAICOS AGGRESSOR II
Open Water Scuba Diving Instructor Requirements as follows:
• • • • •
Please send resumes to tcaggressor@express.tc
Post graduate degree in business or engineering Minimum of 20 years’ experience in the electricity utility industry Minimum of 10 years’ experience at senior executive level Proven exceptional leadership skills Extensive global knowledge of the electricity utility industry and regulatory frameworks Extensive knowledge in leading utility power plant procurement and installation Extensive knowledge of global and regional energy markets Extensive knowledge of fuel specs and regional fuel supply chains Extensive knowledge of fuel hedging strategies Extensive experience in risk management, disaster preparedness and recovery, and business continuity Extensive experience in structured financing and debt placements Proven track record of leading investor-owned electricity utilities and creating shareholder’s value Exceptional analytical skills Excellent written and oral communication skills Ability to deliver to strict deadlines and to work under pressure
Marketing Manager National Colony Realty is seeking to fill the position of a Marketing Manager. The successful applicant must have a degree in Marketing, with a minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience. The successful applicant must also possess a working knowledge in the Tourism industry, as well as being able to demonstrate significant experience in the following areas: ;; Fluency in Spanish and Portuguese. ;; Extensive experience in all aspects of developing and maintaining marketing strategies ;; Event organisation ;; Strong Understanding of Customer & Market dynamics ;; Willingness to frequently travel to Latin America ;; Strong Project management skills
Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications
Deadline for submission of applications is April 5, 2013 to:
Applications in writing with full Curriculum Vitae should be sent to:
National Colony Realty Ltd Grace Bay, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands 7987
Manager, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@ppcltd.tc fax: 649-941-4304
and copied to:
The Labour Department Butterfield Square Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands
7989
;;Valid Padi /SSI /Naui Scuba Diving instructor membership & liability Insurance ;;PADI/ SSI Enriched Air Instructor ;;Working knowledge of underwater camera systems ;;Computer literate ;;Be prepared to live onboard and work long hours including weekends and holidays ;;Starting salary $400.00 a week ;;Belongers need only apply
Minimum Requirements: • • • • • • • • • •
7980
3-5 years in busy kitchen.
48
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Sports National
Provo Hockey League finals:
Panthers, Lightning and Owls claim victory THE Carib Gaming Panthers ended their post season dream run in absolute delight as they dethroned the defending champions the TCBC Pirates in the Provo Hockey League (PHL) Midget Division final. After trailing behind the Flames and the Pirates in the regular season, the Panthers turned on the heat in the play-offs to knock out the former before dispatching of the Pirates 6-2 in the grand finale which was held last Saturday. With the win the Panthers have won the Da Conch Shack Cup for Midgets. Kennon Higgs led the attack for the winners with four goals while for the Pirates Gabriel DiotteJoly scored a pair.
Cup for Bantam Division teams. The youngster, who also made an assist, exploded to score four times in the 5-4 win over the Scotiabank
Sharks. Sebastian Turbyfield led the second place finishers with two goals and an assist.
The Mini Champions the Gracebay Car Rental and Sales Owls
MINI DIVISION Carson Greatrex played a supporting role in the Owls’ win over the Lobsters. Greatrex who has been a prolific scorer for his side made two assists while it was Khslif Fulford who scored twice in the 3-2 win. Tristan Grandsire scored both goals for the Lobsters. BANTAM DIVISION Cole Nickson was instrumental in the Coco Bistro Lightning winning the Da Conch Shack
Josh for Sports
The Panthers had a brilliant post season run. The end result was the Midget Division spoils.
The Lightning defeated the Sharks 5-4 to take the Bantam Division title.
Let’s get wet part IV: Conclusion
Vision of our sporting mecca JIBING CONTINUED JIBING is a maneuver to be mastered slowly and carefully. In light wind it can be easy, but in heavy going, the wind can take the boom around quickly and sometimes out of control. When a boat is progressing at a point of sail between a reach and close-hauled, it is always wise to come about when a change of direction is called for. Only when a boat is sailing well off the wind, on a very broad reach or a dead run, is it wise or proper to execute a jibe, and even then it should be attempted with extreme care. There is one more maneuver which will come in handy during the first phase of the learning process. LUFFING This is the practice of heading up without trimming sail. The wind is
By Joshua Gardiner purposely allowed to get around the leading edge of the sail and spill off to Leeward, fluttering the luff of the sail. This method dumps wind and slows the boat and in the process takes pressure off the rig. Luffing can be used when things get slightly hectic, or when the wind gets too strong for the rig to handle. The sail can be luffed to whatever
extent a skipper desires, depending on the strength of the wind.
can become the sailing Mecca of the Caribbean.
WHAT’S NEXT! A basic understanding of the maneuvers and point of sail provides the theory behind the art of sailing. But performing the maneuvers and understanding the dynamics of sail trim at each point are other matters entirely. The next step is to get aboard and learn the moves within the context of the sailing dingy. If you take on board with you a good understanding of the aerodynamics of the rig and the function of the basic components of the boat, plus a familiarity with the terms of sailing, you’ll be ready to master the process in real life.
SMALL AND MIDDLE SIZE BOATS I envision that we can introduce: (1) The first CARIFTA competition in sailing (sailing, canoeing and sculling). Local business sponsorship is a fore-gone conclusion. These competitions can be held on the Gracebay beach. (2) Power boat racing I envision this to be held: (A) One in Grand Turk (B) One in Provo Sponsorship can include entities such as American Airlines, ESPN and others. There can also be international invitations. (3) Semi-Mega Yacht It can begin in GT and end in Provo. Sponsors can include international franchises and reputable broadcasting mediums.
A TCI SAILING MECCA For a long time now I’ve been exhorting in this column that our TCI
This event can hopefully attract international boats of repute with millions in prizes. IN CONCLUSION These ventures will propel the TCI to a super-higher level in the eyes of the world as a tourist destination; it will focus on our beautiful by nature theme. Helicopters will follow these two last races and beam the feed to the world. At the same time our economy would jump by leaps and bounds because of these undertakings. As I’ve said before: (1) Without vision the people perished. (2) We are limited by the scope of our imaginations (3) Shoot for the farthest star and we can achieve at least father star. LET’S DO IT!
March 23 - 29, 2013
Sports National
49
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Williams makes Champs history – Clocks world leading 200M time – Breaks national records again DELANO Williams is on top of the world. Our beloved TCI athlete has not only etched his name in Jamaican Champs history, but has run the world’s leading time (to date) in the 200M for 2013. In the process the 19-year-old has broken two national sprint records and was a hair off of six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt 10-year-old 200M Champs record. He also missed the Class One 100M record by 0.07 second which was made by another international great, Yohan Blake, in 2007. MAKING HISTORY Running in his last ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships, in Jamaica, Williams defended both Class One boys’ sprint titles, a feat which was last achieved by Camperdown High’s Garfield Campbell, in 1986. His 200M victory is his third consecutive at the school event and has placed him as the first athlete since the late Lennox ‘Billy’ Williams in 1965, to three-peat. Even the great Jamaican athletes of the present have not had such an impact on the premier school championships. MEMORABLE MOMENT The Munro College captain described his last Champs to the Weekly News as “One of the most memorial moments in my life”. He placed it right up there with winning the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships 200m gold medal. His 20.27s over took Australian Joshua Ross’s 20.65s, set earlier this month, as the fastest 200m time for the year by any athlete in the
world. The Grand Turk born sprinter admitted that he was unaware that he was so close to Bolt’s long standing record. “My main focus was just winning.” Bolt holds the event record at 20.25s. The 20.27s is another record for the TCI. The event has been dominated by Williams, who also holds the national 100M and 400M records. 100M TRIUMPH Williams also made his mark in the 100M. Since working on his starting he has shaved off time in his sprint events with consistency. Last month he ran 10.32s to break the national record, at Champs he raced to 10.28s. His new PB is the fifth best time in the 100M for 2013. Jamaican Jermaine Hamilton is in the lead with 10.15s. Blake still holds the Champs record with a 2007 run of 10.21s. BRITISH ANTICIPATION Williams, who was unsuccessful in his bid to make the British Olympic team last year, but who has publicly agreed to try again for the 2016 Rio Olympics, was a big hit with the British media this week. Some dubbed him as the man to beat Bolt in 2016. What sparked their interest was the young Islander’s timing. No British sprinter has gone faster since 2008 when Christian Malcolm ran 20.25s. Williams 20.27s has been listed as the seventh fastest time in British 200m history. He is just behind: John Regis (19.87), Linford Christie (20.09), Darren Campbell (20.13), Julian Golding (20.18), Marlon Devonish (20.19) and Allan Wells (20.21).
Delano Williams became the first athlete to three-peat at Champs since the late Lennox “Billy” Williams did so in 1965.
TCI’s Delano Williams has the current world’s fastest 200M time for 2013. (Jamaica Observer photo)
TCAAA selects large squad for CARIFTA Games THE TCAAA has selected a large squad to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands at the CARIFTA Games set for the Bahamas from March 29 to April 01. National long jump champion Ifeanyi Otuonye will spearhead the team which includes a whopping 24 athletes. Of the lot, five are girls. Along with Otuonye, who is in college in the US, Jamaican school base athletes Angelo
Garland and Clifton Jean will also compete. Other U-20 male athletes include: Luke Cox, Shylon Parker, Junior Fils Aime, Frantzley Benjamin, Marckendy Antenor, Lucien Robinson, Javardo Smith, Wesley Chery and Kendino Adderly. The male U-17 athletes are: Courtney Missick, Khambrel Caley, Darly Francious, Edwin Forbes, Stanley Jean, Omel Gardiner and Woodens Corvil.
Jesthea Saunders is the only female athlete in the U-20 division. The U-17 girls are: Helcy-Ann Sauver, Myah Audea Simpson, Sanadia Forbes and Akia Guerrier. Alvirto Smith will travel as head coach while Donnavon Garvey is also on the coaching staff. Rosalie Ingham is team manager whilst Charlene Higgs is the team’s chaperone. Mrs. Edith Skippings, who is the president of the TCAAA, will also travel with the side.
Junior Fils Aime will run the 100M and the 200M in the U-20 category.
Jamaica school-based athlete Clifton Jean will compete in the 800M for the TCI.
50
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013
March 23 - 29, 2013
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
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LAND FOR SALE In beautiful Bottle Creek, North Caicos
.46 acres overlooking the creek, spanning King Road and Windsor Road
QUICK SALE
CALL 232-3508 or 946-4664
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
March 23 - 29, 2013