VOLUME 12 ISSUE 10

MARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016 VOLUME 12 - NO. 10 $1.00

Website: www.suntci.com Email: [email protected] Tel: (649) 339-5879 Fax: (649) 941-3281 www.facebook.com/tcisun

Continued on Page 2

Jitney situation must be addressed, says

PDM - Page 5

New partnership between Government and private

sector - Page 16

Peter Savory gets top award - Page 17

More locals employed at

hospitals - Page 8

KAREN DELANCY DROPS LORD ASHCROFT BOMBSHELL

Clement Howell High School dominates national high school track and field championship 2016 The Turks and Caicos Islands National Inter-High School Track and Field Championship was held at the National Stadium in Providenciales between Sunday March 6th and Tuesday March 9th where the students of the various high schools displayed some great performances on the track. Last year’s winners the Clement Howell High School was again named the Inter High School Championship winners for 2016. Champion Girls for the event were Akia Guierrer and Sanadia Forbes of the British West Indies Collegiate and champion boys Emmanuel Agenor and Lavardo Campbell of Clement Howell high school.

Karen, Delancy, a former Cabinet minister in the previous Michael

Misick administration, shocked the courtroom while giving evidence in the corruption trial when she revealed that the former premier brought British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft into a meeting with senior health department officials who were discussing building hospitals in Turks and Caicos Islands. Delancey, who was fired from Cabinet by Misick, was the first witness called by lead prosecutor

Andrew Mitchell, QC, in the high-profile case against Misick, some of his former Cabinet ministers and local lawyers, which is being heard before Mr. Justice Paul Harrison. During the trail, which started on January 18th, 2016, some defence lawyers had expressed concern that Lord Ashcroft, who owns British Caribbean Bank, formerly Belize Bank, and his son Andrew Ashcroft, who once managed the bank, appeared to be off-limits. When Delancy revealed that Misick brought Lord Ashcroft to the meeting there was a buzz in the

courtroom which had about 25 persons in the public gallery. The prosecutor, Mitchell, then said: “I have nothing to hide about Lord Ashcroft, but it’s not relevant to the issues at this stage.” Delancy did not elaborate on the Lord Ashcroft’s presence at the meeting, but she told the court that Misick and former Deputy Premier Floyd Hall were present along with two senior health department officials who had threatened to resign because they had issues with her as Minister of Health.Delancey said one of those persons who

wanted to quit was the current Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing, who was Director of Medical Services at the time. She said that Misick accused her of “micro-managing” the department and it subsequently led to her being relieved of the Ministry of Health post.During her testimony, which concluded on Friday, March 11th, Delancey, who was Minister of Health from August 18th 2003 to May 4th, 2004, gave a detailed outline of her tenure in the Michael Misick administration, clearly indicating that they had an adversarial relationship from a very early stage.

by Hayden BoycePublisher & Editor-in-Chief

LOCAL NEWSPage 2 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

She said, for example, that during her fist budget speech in 2003, she expressed concern about the high cost of overseas referrals and she used the word “nepotism”. She said Misick told her she should not have used that word and that “politicians don’t handle the word nepotism”. She added that this was the subject of a meeting at his residence in Grand Turk, where Norman Saunders Snr,

Royal Robinson, McAllister Hanchell, Arabella Smith and Jeffrey Hall were present. Delancy said she was told that if she could not get along with Dr. Ewing she would have the ministry of health taken away from her. Noting that she was not allowed to run her ministry as she liked, she also told the court that former Premier Galmo “Gilley” Williams, who was not a minister at the time, told her

at one point that if anyone had to go from the Ministry of Health it would have to be her and not Dr. Ewing. Delancy said she was disappointed when the Ministry of Health was taken from her and given to Floyd Hall. She said she was fired from Misick’s Cabinet for not supporting a Gambling Bill and for absenting herself from the House of Assembly when it was being debated.

KAREN DELANCY DROPS LORD ASHCROFT BOMBSHELL

Karen L. Delancy

MARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016 TURKS & CAICOS SUN Page 3

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Page 4 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016

Located at The Regent Village649.941.4144 • www.thevix.com

Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

is waiting for your

Second floor premiere office space

LOCAL NEWSMARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016 TURKS & CAICOS SUN Page 5

LOCAL NEWS

OASIS DIVERS is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions. The successful applicants must:

OASIS DIVERS is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates for the following positions. The successful applicants must:

TOUR DEVELOPMENT/SAFETY STANDARDS TRAINER/SUPERVISORASSISTANT MANAGERMinimum of five (5) years’ experience in Tour Development /Safety Standards in a service oriented business.Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the management, and training of staff and development of safety standards operating procedures for staff.Valid Driver’s LicenseHighly Professional and Ethical standards of Leadership with a passion for nature and the environment.Positive and disciplined attitude toward work in a fast pace, multi-tasking customer service oriented business, with ability to handle complaints and work under pressure.Excellent verbal and written communication, with Networking skillsExcellent analytical, inter-personal and customer service skills.Ability to recruit and appraise staff performance as well as have a strong track record of fostering team work and motivating staff with multi-cultural differences.Must be willing and able to work outdoors, flexible hours, including on weekends and public holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business

Suitable candidates that do not meet the above requirements may, at the sole discretion of the Company’s management team, may be eligible to benefit if they demonstrate a clear willingness to embrace the Company’s in-house training initiatives and established standard operating policies and procedures. Preference will be given to documented Turks and Caicos Islanders. Preference will be given to documented Turks and Caicos Islanders

Written applications only and accompanying CVs/resumes must be addressed to the Manager at the following address:

-Have at least 10 years’ experience in management in the hospitality industry and at least 5 year experience in tourism industry

-Accounting expertise and knowledge in Quickbooks and other accounting software.-Possess the ability to remain calm in a high stress environment-Be well spoken with English as primary language-Have a valid passport-Be at least 25 years old-Have a clean criminal record-Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including on weekends and Public Holidays, as necessary to meet the challenging needs of the cruise ship schedule and/or reasonable needs of the business

Cee’s Plaza, Suite No. 1Church Folly

PO Box 86Grand Turk

Turks & Caicos Islands

Cee’s Plaza, Suite No. 1Church Folly

PO Box 86Grand Turk

Turks & Caicos Islands

OASIS DIVING, LTD.c/o EPIC Corporate &

Consultancy Services Ltd.Phone: 649-946-1128Fax: 649-946-1128

Email: [email protected]

OASIS DIVING, LTD.c/o EPIC Corporate &

Consultancy Services Ltd.Phone: 649-946-1128Fax: 649-946-1128


Controversy over air services into South Caicos Turbulence is being experienced between InterCaribbean Airways and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority regarding air services into South Caicos. The issues first surfaced when InterCaribbean Airways issued a press release saying it “regrets the continued disruption of flights to and from South Caicos”. The release stated: “We like the travelling public are dismayed with the state of the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) at South Caicos (XSC). The unreliability of the RFFS has been ongoing for nearly two years now with acute unreliability/un-serviceability or reported sabotage of equipment in recent weeks which have severely impacted our ability to deliver reliable air service to the community of South Caicos and to support the recent spike in travel to the island due to the opening of the resorts there. During the last two weeks alone we have made numerous request to have the RFFS upgraded to enable us to operate into South Caicos with our Embraer E120 aircraft which have all been denied. We have inquired of Turks & Caicos Airport Authority (TCIAA) what is really happening and why they are not able

to ensure a reliable RFFS but have not received any satisfactory response or explanation.” According to the airline, it was only on February 29th that TCIAA CEO advised them that the RFFS vehicle was fully repaired. “Yet, two days later our request to upgrade flights was refused on the grounds that TCIAA was not able to provide the requisite RFFS service for the E120. Finally late on Friday 3rd March we received information from them that “due to loss of Rescue and Fire Fighting coverage ALL flights are suspended”. Suffice to say the TCIAA CEO has not responded to our last request for updated information, so we are not in a position to advise when normal flight operations to/from South Caicos would resume,” the airline stated. “All correspondence between the CEO of TCIAA and InterCaribbean executives have been copied to various Government Officials including the Premier and the Minister for TCIAA so there is confidence that Government is fully aware of the situation. We find it ironic that the TCIAA chooses to issue a press release (without copying InterCaribbean), while it fails to adequately communicate

with InterCaribbean as a principal stakeholder at the airport. Equally alarming, and of particular not,e is the fact that this is not the first time in recent weeks the TCIAA has said that the RFFS equipment has been sabotaged, but yet we understand an offer to provide safe guarded overnight secure parking for the equipment was declined by the Airport Authority. When all this is taken in context, one may reasonably conclude that providing the required RFFS and thus keeping the airport operating at South Caicos is of a low priority to TCIAA. We call on the Government and the TCIAA Board to examine the matters surrounding the RFFS at this airport and to provide an account to all stakeholders as the steward of this Public asset,” the press release from InterCaribbean continued. The Airports Authority responded saying “it is unfortunate that a release was made that did not state the facts at hand”. According to the TCIAA: “The facts of the matter are, that there was no suspension of normal flight operations into South Caicos (XSC) on neither this weekend nor the weekend prior. The Turks & Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has made

a release to inform the public of their inability to upgrade from a normal Category 3 operation which currently accommodates all domestic aircraft’s except for the Embraer Aircraft. This was due to past sabotage, which is outside of the control of the TCIAA. It is indeed emphasized that flight operations continued by both domestic airlines during the period in question contrary to the press release sent out by an airline.” The TCIAA said that on March 4th the TCIAA in collaboration with the TCI Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was successful in the full restoration of the upgrade from the category 3 to category 4 to facilitate the operations of the Embraer in question. Measures have been put in place to prevent further damage from reoccurring. The regulators, CAA traveled into South Caicos on InterCaribbean first flight and returned to Providenciales on the last flight, indicating that operations were normal at this time on Friday. The TCIAA said it remains committed to operating in a safe and secure environment and to be in compliance with all safety standards and procedures as set by the regulators.

Introduction of business licence checklist The Revenue Department continues to strengthen Customer Service initiatives with the introduction of a Business Licence Application & Renewal Checklist. The checklist is designed to indicate to applicants the licences, clearances and other supporting documents required for each business type and activity. A checklist must be attached to all applications and incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please note that the Revenue Department reserves that right to request any

further information as deemed necessary to process a Business Licence application. The introduction of the checklist is intended to increase transparency and mitigate delays in processing. The Officers of the Revenue Department are available to address any concerns. Meantime, the Revenue Department reminds Business Licence Holders to settle delinquent accounts on or before March 31st 2016. All businesses with business licensing

arrears at that date will be issued notices of suspension and revocation as prescribed in Sections 10 & 11 of the Business Licence Ordinance. Business Licence Holders are reminded that a Business Licence is not transferrable and as such, the sale of a business or transfer of shares must be immediately followed up with a cancellation notice to the Revenue Department. The new owners are required to acquire a new Business Licence through the application process.


LOCAL NEWS

STAFF VACANCY – DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCESApplications are invited from interested and suitably qualified individuals for the position of Director of Human Resources, FortisTCI, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Description

The Human Resource (HR) Director’s role is to provide expert leadership in the design, development and implementation of HR policies, programs and services including recruitment and staffing, performance management, benefits and compensation administration, organizational development, employee relation and training. The incumbent will direct the HR function and promote an employee-oriented organization culture enterprise wide that emphasizes continuous improvement, team- work, engagement, high performance and quality. The HR director will ensure that the company operates in accordance with HR policies, and government ordinances and regulations. As a member of the senior management team, the HR director will understand and successfully implement the organization’s vision, mission and values.

Main Duties

Be familiar with all relevant labour/immigration laws, ordinances and guidelines of relevant statutory bodies and ensure the company is in compliance with same. Direct the design, development, implementation and revision of HR polices, practices and procedures and ensure that every aspect of human resource incorporate the vision, values and culture of the company. Plays a leading role in the development of HR strategic objectives, departmental goals and systems. Provide oversight and direction of HR department and activities; including HR staff development including training and coaching. Responsible for the manpower planning and oversight of talent management program. Oversee the payroll and benefit programmes ensuring that cost effective benefits are in place aimed at employee satisfaction and retention. Oversee the Employee Assistance Programme, including the company’s wellness program. Oversee the administration and maintenance of human resource information systems. Leads the compensation program and conduct competitive market/salary survey to maintain compensation practices that help to recruit and retain top performing employees. Responsible for the preparation of the annual HR budget, analyzing variances and initiating corrective measures. Responsible for the recruitment process and ensures that the company’s recruitment and hiring practices and procedures are adequate to recruit and hire top performing employees. Ensure the resolution of disciplinary matters (inclusive of investigative support to

departments) in accordance with company policies and procedures. Provide oversight for enterprise wide training and development policies/programs and initiatives. Responsible for the development of the HR’s business continuity plan and contribution to the related committees. Oversee the implementation and maintenance of Investor In People accreditation. Any other duties assigned by Vice President, Human Resource, Finance & CFO.

acaDeMic/technical/ManageMent: experience anD Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management/Development or other related discipline from an accredited university; Masters degree a desired plus. Ten (10) or more years’ experience in Human Resource Management; minimum (7) seven years in senior management role/directing the HR function. Experience in strategic planning and execution. In-depth knowledge of applicable employment laws and regulations. Strong understanding of human resource management principles, practices, and procedures.

abilities anD skills: Ability to build strong trust relationships and maintain positive relationships internally and externally Ability to develop HR programs and policies based on business requirements Ability to communicate clearly the work priorities and direction of the department Ability to lead change processes, strong project management and time management skills Ability to maintain confidentiality Strong business acumen, diplomatic and negotiation skills Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills Tact and ability to deal with difficult situations Solid numerical and budgeting skills Excellent team player and team building skills Ability to deliver to strict deadlines and to work under pressure Must be goal oriented and self-motivated Must possess strong, organisational, multi-tasking, analytical and problem solving skills Must have an excellent working knowledge of MS Office software programs, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and various databases.

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is March 20th, 2016:

Ruth ForbesVice President of Human Resources, Finance and CFO

FortisTCI LimitedP. O. Box 132, Providenciales

Email address: [email protected] or [email protected]: 649-946-4532

Report from March 9th Cabinet meeting His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 8th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 9 March 2016, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales. All Ministers were present. At this meeting Cabinet: •Agreed to the use of contingency funds for the RTCIPF to purchase a replacement police patrol vehicle for one that was written off in an incident during an operational deployment. The cost of the replacement vehicle has been covered by insurance; •Approved the draft Flag and Coat of Arms (Regulation) Bill 2016, as amended, for forwarding to the House of Assembly for approval. The Bill and subsequent legislation will prescribe and guide the use of the national flag, the coat of arms and the national song as well as other national symbols; •Agreed to the formulation of a TCI Climate Change Committee and approved draft Terms of Reference for the Committee and the selection of Committee members as follows: Director of the Office of the Premier (Chair); Director, DEMA; Director, Public Health; Director, Environmental Health; Director, DDME; Energy and Utilities Commissioner; Policy Analyst, Office of the Premier; and two representatives from the private sector; •Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board to award contracts in line with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012 as follows – TR15/41 National skills audit consultancy; TR15/52 Design and build of a green fitness park at Leeward in Providenciales; •Approved, as a result of a Supreme Court Order of 22 December 2015, a payment of $20,000 to be made from the National Forfeiture

Fund (NFF) to the wife of Mr David Smith as a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the residential property owned by Mr Smith under a Confiscation Order of 25 April 2012 in order for Mrs Smith to purchase a residential property for her and her four young children; and approved a further payment of $34,500 to be made from the NFF to the National Colony Realty company for professional services for marketing and selling the property to the satisfaction of the Crown under an agreement of 27 March 2015; •Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to renew a casino licence for a further ten years to BK Partners Ltd based on the same terms and conditions as the original licence; •Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the re-appointment of the following members to the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board for a period of one year from 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017 in accordance with the TCI Tourism Ordinance – Don Gardiner (Chair); Crystal Greene (Deputy Chair); Wayne Garland; Brenda Lightbourne; Lloyd Stubbs; Jayne Hutchinson; Bianca Harvey Garland; and Permanent Secretary (ex-officio); •Agreed that the 2015/16 lobster (crawfish) season should be extended to 31 March 2016; •Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of the following members to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017 - Edward Hall; Alice Malcolm; Paul Beresford; Oswald Williams; and Fuller Gardiner Sr. Cabinet also advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of Edward Hall as Chair of the Appeals Tribunal and Martha Missick as Secretary of the Appeals Tribunal for the same period; •Received an up-date on a construction in

the Princess Alexandra National Park and noted that following the Ministry’s discussions with the owners the structure has subsequently been removed; •Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of the following members to the Zone 1 (Turks islands, South Caicos, East Caicos and Ambergris Cay) and Zone 2 (the remaining islands) Work Permit Boards – Zone 1: Arthur Lightbourne (Chair); William Fulford (Grand Turk Member); Allan Dickinson (Salt Cay Member); and Emily Saunders (South Caicos Member). Zone 2: Sheba Wilson (Chair); Veldon Robinson (Middle Caicos Member); Kadra Handfield (North Caicos Member); and Owenta Coleby James (Providenciales Member). Cabinet also advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of Kirk Forbes, an Immigration Officer based in Grand Turk, as Secretary of the Zone 1 Board and Deserika Glinton, an Immigration Officer based in Providenciales, as Secretary of the Zone 2 Board; •Advised His Excellency the Governor to make amendments to the Customs (Government Transit Shed and Queen’s Warehouse Rent) Regulations to reduce customs warehouse rents and agreed that Customs should undertake an exercise to clear existing goods in store by offering a maximum charge to the equivalent of 90 days storage fees under the new rates; • Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve an amendment to the Customs Tariff to reduce the rate of import duty on green coffee beans from 15% to zero. Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.


LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS TOURIST BOARDCHANGE MANAGER

Purpose: This consultative role is tasked with the implementation of the National Tourism Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan. The successful consultant will work along with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage, the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and all key stakeholders to manage and monitor the implementation of the Strategic Plan. This role will facilitate the change management process and build capacity for same within the Tourist Board. Reporting to the Director of Tourism, this position is based in Providenciales with a contract period of eighteen (18) months.

ESSENTIAL DUTIESImplementation

Develop a clearly defined implementation plan regarding the five pillars of the Strategic Plan within the set time frame.Build and maintain positive working relationships with tourism stakeholders, government agencies, and community groups; enhance Belonger participation and ownership of the Strategic Plan.Work closely with all tourism stakeholders to facilitate the implementation, education and promotion of the Strategic Plan in the family islands.Oversee the development of educational collateral, brochures, and advertising for the implementation of the Strategic Policy Plan.Ensure communication and distribution of promotional, collateral and public information materials related to the strategic plan.

DeliverablesDevelop a budget for the implementation and continuity of the Strategic Plan.Develop an implementation timeline and process relative to the Strategic Plan.Facilitate the change management process using the “Train the Trainer” approach.Provide quarterly reports on the implementation progress and activities to the Director of Tourism, and keep the Director informed on matters of relevance.Manage the day-to-day operations in relation to the execution of the strategic plan.Manage the budget associated with the implementation/execution of the strategic plan.Liaise with the Director of Tourism, government departments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other relevant entities to execute/complete the strategic plan goals/activities.Ensure the Tourist Board’ structure is aligned with the Caribbean Tourism Organization report of 2013.Ensure that all stakeholders are consulted in the process.To manage the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Policy and Implementation Plan.

Comply with the policies, procedures and guidelines of the TCI Tourist Board; enforce and advise of any changes in laws and policies which may affect the Tourist Board Perform other duties related to the implementation process as directed by the Director of Tourism.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLSA Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, Public Relations, Marketing, Business Management or a related field with a minimum of 5 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience Three or more years of tourism management experience.Management skills including ability to work with all Tourist Board staff and a self-motivator.Considerable knowledge of TCI’s Strategic Policy Plan, with the ability to administer all aspects of the plan.Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with the key stakeholders, the Director of Tourism, the Board of Directors and the Ministry.Well-developed analytical and problem solving skills.Proficiency in MS Office software, Word, Power Point, Publisher and Excel.Excellent oral, written communication and presentation skills.Excellent social and interpersonal skills.Good health and high energy level.

WORK ENVIRONMENTA dynamic work environment.Interface with relevant government ministries and departments and tourism private sector entities.Goal accomplishment within an environment of change and flux.Work hours may extend to evenings, weekends and holidays.The job is performed in an office environment for part of the time and other times the job holder will be required to be out in the field. They will be exposed to a range of environments and temperatures. The job holder will be expected to travel to locations for meetings, presentations and activities and may need to stand for a long period of time.Ability to travel locally, regionally or internationally.

SALARY:Salary for this position is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

For consideration please submit the following documents to [email protected] or submit to The Chairman, Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, Stubbs Diamond Plaza, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands:

Cover LetterCurrent ResumeThree (3) reference lettersCurrent Police RecordResident Status

Only persons shortlisted for an interview will be contacted in this regard.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 21st 2016

PDM Leader says jitney situation must be addressed

I was appalled to see an argument between one of our senior, long serving Taxi drivers and an alleged jitney driver in the front of a resort. The argument was captured on video and shared on social media. It was a public display of a huge problem that this Government continues to ignore - that of the presence of illegal jitneys.

unfair to legal taxi Drivers

This is a symptom of a bigger problem which I raised only last week in Parliament. Taxi drivers who are legal road users and have to pay for licenses, TCIAA fees, NHIP and NIB should not have to compete with illegal public transportation. The Government must see how unfair this is and how frustrating this is and is becoming.

allegeD role of hotel Workers

We are also informed that there is a practice of some front desk workers at different resorts/hotels calling illegal public transportation for hotel guests. We need not reiterate, but we will again address the risk

this poses should tourists be hurt in any way. This practice if true, must cease forthwith and we are calling on those resorts/hotels where reports have been made to you to ensure that your guests are entering legal public transportation.

loss revenue

We continue to be baffled that

this Government has not seen the loss in revenue with this unregulated industry as a catalyst to address this issue if nothing else motivates them to act. We continue to be equally baffled that this Government has not moved to protect legal road users, to provide safe and insured public transportation for the public. The excuse of the Constitution tying their hands or having no cash to address

pressing issues does not apply to this situation, though not to any at all. We await a reason from the Government as to why this situation continues unaddressed.

public appeal

We again publicly call on the Government to address this matter with haste and to see the risks to passengers and legal road users, unfairness to taxi drivers and loss of revenue that this situation left unresolved continues to bring. We are aware of the apparent “gray” area that exists as to which law enforcement arm should be policing these vehicles. We maintain that there is a joint role for Road Safety and the Police and if left much longer, we fear that people will begin to take matters in their own hands. Nonetheless, we urge the Taxi Drivers who have been patient for long to remember our brand but to also see the importance in standing together resolutely to address this Government on this and other pressing issues. Members of my Team will visit hotels to address the allegations against staff and will today address our concerns to the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.

By Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson

Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson


LOCAL NEWS

Turks and Caicos SunSuite#5, Airport Plaza

ProvidencialesTurks and Caicos Islands

Tel: (649) 339-5879Fax: (649) 941-3281


Read us online at www.suntci.com

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce

Office Manager: Dominique Rigby

Graphic designerInformation Technology

and Production Manager: Kelano Howell

Todeline DefralienReporter

The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary

of The SUN Media Group Ltd.

We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the

overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

INVITATION TO BID FOR SECURITY SERVICES

AT THE NIB NORTH and SOUTH CAICOS OFFICES

The National Insurance Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands wishes to invite tenders from suitably qualified persons in possession of a valid Turks and Caicos Islands business licence in the appropriate category to provide Security Services for its offices on the islands of

North & South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Interested eligible bidders should contact the National Insurance Board for detailed specification for tendering at the following address:

MISS RHESA CARTWRIGHT DEPUTY DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES

NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARDHILLY EWING BUILDING

PROVIDENCIALESTURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Tel No. 649-941-5806 or Email: [email protected]

All information submitted shall be in the English Language and must be delivered in accordance with the instructions to bidder. Each bid should be submitted in a sealed envelope and should be sent to the address below no later than 1200hours on Friday, April 15, 2016.

THE CHAIRMANTENDER COMMITTEE

NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARDGRAND TURK

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDSTel: (649) 946 1048/49Fax: (649) 946 1362

Tender: TRN 16-04 National Insurance Security Service North Caicos / South Caicos

The bids will be opened at a Tender Board Meeting shortly thereafter.

The National Insurance Board does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender offer and will not accept responsibility for any costs

incurred by the bidders.

PROVO GOLF CLUBProvo Golf Club is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following opening. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

GOLF PROFESSIONAL

JOB SUMMARY•Provide competent golf instruction to members and guests.

•Run Golf Clinics for larger groups needing instruction.

•Assist with organizing charity golf events at PGC.•Fully co-ordinate group events from start to finish.•Assist in tournament sales and set up. •Assist in budgeting and forecasting.•Assist in a variety of other Professional Golf duties at PGC.

REQUIREMENTS•Must have membership in PGA of America or Canada.

•Strong computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher.

•Minimum (2) years or more experience as a Golf Professional.

•Proven organizational skills.

The remuneration for this position is commensurate with experience. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by March 28, 2016 at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephoned to schedule an interview.

More locals employed at TCI hospitals

The numbers are now going up and more locals are now holding job positions at the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospitals. This statement was made by the CEO of TCI Hospitals Daniel Carriere on Monday March 7th at the launch of the Ready Observation Program held at InterHealth Canada in Providenciales. Daniel Carriere, the new Chief Executive Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospitals said “Since I’ve been here it’s been made very clear to me that one of the key elements of my job and that I was supposed to do is encourage and develop opportunities for people that are here in TCI, people that are residents of TCI. I have not wavered on that and we’re continuing to look at strategies in terms of how best to do that.” Carriere stated that under the CL (Clinical Management) consist of 30% locals and under the FM (Facilities Management) side they’re doing better in that area, with about 65% of the people employed are locals. He added: “What we want to do is move the numbers up in both categories, clinical and also on the facilities management. That gives you an idea on how broad the spectrum of

potential job opportunities are.We’re very committed in doing that and we’ll do everything we can to promote that and at the end of the day our success will be measured in terms of how we move those numbers up.” Carriere said the hospital’s challenge as an organization includes working with Government, the Ministry of Education and the schools in terms

of promoting, educating and exposing people to the potential futures they have in a healthcare setting. “Our other challenge is to ensure that when these people graduate they have a place to come back to,” he said. “There’s no point in hyping careers in healthcare when people that are from the TCI cannot come back home and work and be gainfully employed.” Carriere said that what they have to do is make sure that their strategic planning around manpower is such that they have openings for these people when they’re successful and if they want to come back home. Carriere is a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal Recipient. He was recognized for his commitment to establish advanced health care services closer to home for the residents of York Region, Simcoe County, and South Muskoka. He is a member of the Ryerson University School of Health Services Management External Advisory Committee, an Executive member of the Canadian College of Health Service Executives, past member of the Princess Margaret Advisory Committee on Oncology, and most recently President and CEO, Spectrum of Hope Autism Foundation and President of Centric Health, to name a few of his many distinguished positions.

Daniel Carriere, the Chief Executive Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospitals

By Todeline Defralien



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braised oxtail and beans peas & rice | cole slaw stewed chicken peas & rice | fried plantains | cole slaw

braised short ribs sweet potato mash | baked mac & cheese steamed grouper rice | steamed veggies

escabeche snapper filet peas & rice | baked mac & cheese stewed peas jasmine rice | cole slaw | roasted vegetables

All specials include a non alcoholic beverage. Taxes and service fees applicable.

OPEN DAILY FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.

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LOCAL NEWS

Grand Turk Cruise Center is currently accepting applications for motivated individuals interested in the following positions listed:

HESS TECHNICIAN:Grand Turk Cruise Center is currently seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the position of HESS Technician. Ideal candidates must be well apt in the area of Environmental Health Sciences, be computer literate and have a strong command of English Language (oral and written). Additionally the successful candidates must possess relevant experience associated with the position (minimum of 3 years work experience) and, or knowledge in the areas outlined below:

•Operation of Waste Water Treatment Plants•Operation of Recreational Water Facilities (RWF) – Commercial Swimming Pools and Flowrider

•Monitoring of Water Treatment Processes and Reporting of data•RO Plant operations

SECURITY OFFICERS:•Must have training in CPR and First responder.•Ensure the safety and security of passengers, tenants and their employees, personnel and guest at the GTCC.

•Secure / prevent access to restricted areas by unauthorized persons•Job related experience with increasing levels of responsibility•Effective human relations skills in oral and written communication

ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT: Required Qualifications & Experience:

•Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting/finance from an accredited university.

•Minimum of 3 years work experience in Accounting.•Accounts Payable / Receivable.•Strict adherence to confidentiality and trustworthiness will be a requirement of this position.

•Strong organizational skills and ability to meet tight month-end deadlines.•Possess strong knowledge of accounting software and excel.•Ability to work independently and a willingness to work extended hours, including weekends and public holidays.

CARPENTER & GENERAL MAINTENANCE:This position requires experience in carpentry and general maintenance skills such as building, painting and masonry, to facilitate maintenance of all buildings and public areas in optimum condition.

•Assisting in line handling for docking cruise ships as needed. •Inspect ceiling, floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.

•Knowledge of pool and fountain maintenance would be an asset.•Knowledge of plumbing and/or masonry would be an asset.•Assisting in any various tasks, necessary to keep GTCC operating to the highest standard.

Applicants must be willing to work nights, weekends and holidays. Must be able to lift minimum of 50lbs, have a strong command of English Language (oral and written); and able to work well as part of a culturally diverse team.

WAGES BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE.Interested parties are encouraged to send resume to:

Grand Turk Cruise Center Human ResourcesPhone: 946-1040

Fax: 946-1041E-Mail: [email protected]

ONLY BELONGERS NEED APPLY

PDM leader responds to allegations of dishonestly serving the people of

Turks and Caicos Islands.

It is rather unfortunate but I have found it necessary to respond to misinformation placed in the public domain regarding my role and that of my Party in the drafting, presentation and carriage of the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) (Special Provisions) Bill 2015 passed January 27th last year. Whilst I do not usually respond to attacks on my personal character and service to the people, my Party and I found it necessary to do so in this instance as this goes to the root of the misconception on the part of too many members of the public as to the role of the Opposition and the powers available to it in serving from this place. I have never misled the people of this country and categorically deny all allegations that I am a liar and that I am compromised on any issue allowing myself to be limited and dishonest to obtain votes. On the contrary, I have had to speak to many tough issues over the years that has offended many as my role does not allow me to dodge issues and fly beneath the radar. I came to this office in 2012 with a pledge to serve my people fearlessly and selflessly. To this end, I make the following statements: The Leader of the Opposition and all other back benchers cannot bring money Bills or money Motions. The fundamental issue at hand more importantly is the perceived role of the Opposition versus reality and the powers available to us. The money Bill alleged to have been brought by myself could not be brought. As I do not sit in Government and specifically in Cabinet, I am not allowed by the House Rules called Standing Orders to bring any money Bills or Motions. Non - Cabinet members cannot increase expenditure or make decisions on how the monies can be spent. That rest with the members of Cabinet which is comprised of the Governor, as Chair, the Premier, the Ministers, the Attorney General and the Deputy Governor. This is why we have had to craft the Motion as we did as it relates to Pensions and Gratuities and the issues relating to those civil servants who left the Service and have disputes of payments. The wording in the old version of the Standing Orders and the new Standing Orders which governs who can bring money Bills and money Motions remain the same and was in place since the beginning of Ministerial Government:

PUBLIC MONEY

Except on the recommendation of the Governor signified by a member of the Executive Council the Legislative Council shall not:— (a) proceed upon any bill (including any amendment to a bill) which, in the opinion of the person presiding in the Council, makes provision for imposing or increasing any tax, for imposing or increasing any charge on the revenues or other funds of the Islands or for altering any such charge otherwise than by reducing it,

or for compounding or remitting any debt due to the Islands; or (b) Proceed upon any motion (including any amendment to a motion) the effect of which in the opinion of the person presiding in the Council is that provision would be made for any of the purposes aforesaid.

1.the leaDer of the opposition DiD not craft the attorney general’s

bill

No member of the PDM nor myself assisted in drafting this Bill which was the sole work as usual of the AG’s Chambers when Bills are brought and especially for those brought by the AG herself who answers for the Public and Civil Service in the House.

2.the leaDer of the opposition nor any MeMber of her

teaM DiD not bring any Money bills or Motions

A copy of the Parliamentary Agenda shows the Bill was brought by the Attorney General on January 27, 2015. (Attached)

3. the pDM’s position

There were prior discussions with myself which I raised with my Party as to whether we would be opposed to the MOF being allowed to retire as a former Chief Minister. This discussion included but expanded beyond the Parliamentary members and NO ONE expressed any objection to the allowance of the Minister of Finance to retire as a former Chief Minister. During one of our many Pre Parliament meetings when the Bill was then crafted and presented, I raised the matter with my team and the objection was to the back pay and not to having a former Chief Minister retire as a Chief Minister like the others. Our objection which I voiced in the House of Assembly as the lead on the Bill was to the back pay, how it was calculated and the justification for it. There was a period where I was invited to bring a resolution to allow for the MOF to retire as a former Chief Minister but even on retirement, the increase in expenditure that would result barred me under the Standing Orders from assisting in this way.

We still believe that all former Chief Ministers should be allowed to retire at that level.

4. reQuest for inforMation continues

The AG stated orally and it was contained in the Explanatory Memorandum of the House that the matter was raised with and approved by the Integrity Commission and that other pension anomalies were raised. Since February 9th 2015, we have requested information on the other pension anomalies, the calculations of the back pay and other queries from the Debate. These requests were made in writing by email again on April 1, 2015 and again as recent as last week March 6, 2016. We invite the public to

understand how government works, to access public records for truth: copies of Parliamentary Agendas and the Standing Order of the House are all public documents and then of course,

all meetings of the House of Assembly are aired publicly over Radio, it is important to listen when you can. We remain committed to serving our people honestly.

By Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson

Opposition Leader Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson


LOCAL NEWS

Bullying is a very serious issue Today, I write about a very serious topic: Bullying. This sadly happens everywhere and many people do not take it seriously because some people think it is a part of growing up and that it builds character but in my opinion - it does not - it is a serious thing. It leads people to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and in severe cases suicide. I am interested in this topic because I see it happening around me and it hurts me. It pains me to see people being hurt by others who feel the need to put other people down to build themselves up. It hurts so I want you to know what it does to others and why others feel the need to do it. Some people bully others because they are forced into it by their friends; they have a lot of anger so they direct it at other people. Some do it simply because they see it being done around them, in films, by friends or even their own parents and they then think that it is okay for them to

do it also. People are bullied in different ways whether it be mental, physical, cyber or emotional. Each of these different types of bullying is hurtful in their own way but one of the most commonly used ones is cyber bullying. This is because a person can bully someone anonymously and they can continuously attack the person without the victim knowing who it is. Also whatever goes up on the internet stays there so this can have an effect on the victim immediately as well as later on in life. The victim is often bullied because they are seen as different, weak or unable to defend themselves, have low self esteem, are not very popular, have few friends, do not get along well with others and are seen as annoying, provoking or antagonizing others for attention In bullying a person rarely has one role to play. Those who are bullied sometimes bully others. Youth who both bully others and are bullied are at greatest risk for mental health,

and academic problems. Studies also have shown that adults, including parents, can help prevent bullying by keeping the lines of communication open, talking to their children about bullying, encouraging them to do what they love, showing kindness and respect, and encouraging them to get help when they are involved in bullying or know others who need help. So if bullying is happening to you tell someone. Here are some tips to help the bully stop. Avoid isolating yourself. The bully looks for people who will not have any friends to stand up for them and stop them. Have confidence. Bullys look for people who have low self esteem and will not stand up for themselves. Do not show signs that the bullying is affecting you and just ignore them. The bully does what they do to get a reaction and to feel superior so if you give them what they want they will not stop. So ignore them and they will lose interest in you. Most importantly if you see bullying happening or if it is

happening to you, tell someone you trust and stand up to the bully the next time they hurt you, So that we can stop bullying one bully at a time!

By Zahrya Musgrove

Zahrya Musgrove

Police Investigating a number of offences

Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of offences that occurred over the past weekend. On Saturday 5th March 2016 around 1:49 am complainant reported that he heard a loud noise from the outside of his home in Dock Yard and upon making checks he noticed a man known to him beating another known male. Police responded to the area and met the aggrieved who stated that he was beaten about the body and hit with a bottle on his head by a man he knows. He was taken to CHMC for medical treatment. Also, on the same date at around 11:45 am complainant reported that the storage room of a building located in Long Bay was burglarized. Officers responded to the area where the complainant was met. He told officers that the laundry room of the building was secured on Friday 4th March 2016 and upon his arrival today, he made the discovered of the break in and five (5) televisions (three (3) 55inches and two (2) 32inches missing. Another complainant reported to Police that the Tuck Shop at the Adelaide Oemler Primary School was secured on Thursday 3rd March 2016 at 2:45 pm and on Saturday 5th March 2016 at 8:20 pm it was discovered broken into. Missing were one box of M&M candy, one box of Candy, one box of Munch Bars and one box of warheads candy. On Sunday 6th, March 2016 in the early morning Police responded to a home on Breezy Brae

where a complainant stated that her home was secured at 5 pm the today before (Saturday 5th March 2016). When she arrived home at 2:26 am she discovered the house broke into. Three bedrooms were ransacked, and a black iPod was missing. Also on Grand Turk on today’s date (Monday 7th March 2016), a complainant reported to officers that at around 4:15 am while in the districts he noticed the door of the Dominican Supermarket located on Pond Street open. As a result, officers visited the store and observed an East wooden door with hangers pulled off, and the inner glass door was broken. The store Manager was met and stated that the Supermarket was secured at 5 pm on Sunday 6th March 2016. Stolen were some meat from a cooler, a few bottles of Hennessy, Coconut Bambara Rum and three (3) cases of Budweiser can beer. Officers are also investigating two separate reports of wounding that occurred earlier this morning at 809 Club located on Blue Hills Road, Providenciales. At 3:28 am officers responded to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where two males (brothers) were being attended to by doctors in the emergency room for serious stab wounds. Also, at 4 am, a 19year old male reported to the Police that while at the said Club he had an altercation with two men who he believe are brothers which resulted in a fight, causing him to receive two wounds to his right arm. Investigations are ongoing on all offences.

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WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDE:

OPEN DAILY FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.

B L U E H A V E N R E S O R T & M A R I N A | B L U E H A V E N T C I . C O M

+ 1 . 6 4 9 . 9 4 6 . 9 9 0 0 | C O N T A C T @ B L U E H A V E N T C I . C O M

Happy Hour | Daily 5:00 pm - 7:00 pmEnjoy 30% of beverages and cocktails at Salt Bar and Grill.

Friday Night Oysters and Bubbles, & Live EntertainmentPre-dinner oyster and bubbles menu available.

Thursday Night Salsa dancing & Live Entertainment Starting April 7th enjoy a free salsa dance lesson, for Fire & Ice

patrons followed by salsa dancing under the stars!


LOCAL NEWS

Ready Observership Program collaborates with the Clinical Exploration program in TCI

The Education Department at the TCI Hospital announced the formal collaboration of the TCI Hospital Ready Observership Program and the TCI Clinical Exploration Program which is co-ordinated by Dr. Jameika Harvey of the Ministry of Health on Monday March 7th 2016. In 2014 the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital in conjunction with the Ministry of Education launched the Ready Observation program. The Ready Program specifically target students in the Science departments of Public and Private High Schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands to expose them to options for careers in the Healthcare Industry. The Ready Program offers two phases; Phase one is Visual and Oral Presentation and phase two which is One week summer observation at the TCI Hospital. Coordinator Dr. Jameika Harvey of the Ministry of Health said, “Five years ago when I started the Clinic Exploration Program I started it alone and I had high hopes for the program and what you are witnessing is the result of hard work and dedication, not just from the Ministry of Health but from the private sector. The ultimate goal for the program was to form partnerships with not just the local practices or the government practices but with also the private sector.” Harvey said five years ago he actually started to get the hospital on board with the program but it was unsuccessful at that time so he is happy to see that this program is actually a reality. Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant Chief of Medical Services at InterHealth Canada added: “From the TCI Hospitals’ perspective, there

is no reason for us to stand alone in ensuring that we build local capacity here within the TCI healthcare setting. For us specifically 30% of our staff is actually persons here for the TCI and our mandate really is to build on that capacity. When we think about collaboration with Dr. Harvey with his Clinical rotation program we can only see what we’re doing here and strengthening even further.” She added: “We have doctors, we have nurses but there’s so many other professions here within the hospital that we need and our intention is to sensitize young people even before they start thinking about a specific career in medicine as to what are those other aspects that we need in the healthcare setting and I’m asking students to really sign up, to work hard towards it because this is a foundation building exercise that we’re doing.” Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture said it’s important to train Turks and Caicos Islanders in the various disciplines in the medical field.

“Over the last few years our scholarship policies reflects an increase in applications and awards for students in the various disciplines in the medical fields. We are so grateful with the CEP program along with the Medical Program which will allow our students/our young people to get an opportunity to really see the various disciplines that’s contained in a hospital whether at a pharmacy or a private clinic. Without that first hand ability to see what happens outside of a hospital, inside of a hospital, inside a pharmacy you’re really unable to know the various opportunities that’s there for you,” Hon. Misick said. Senga Brubaker who went through the program said, “I thought the program was the best thing ever. It actually worked out really well for me. When I found out about the program it gave me that opportunity to see what else there was in the medical field. It helped me open my horizon of what there was for me to do because I had an idea but it wasn’t entirely settled on anything yet. Being able to go through

it and meeting all of the different sponsors and mentors who helped guide you through and they explained how they got into where they got and they gave you a different perspective on how to go through things.” The Turks and Caicos Islands Clinic Exploration Program (TCI CEP) was developed to create awareness of the wider range of careers available in both the Public and Private Health sector in the TCI; while also providing adequate and modeled mentorship to students. The Program is mutually beneficial to the students and the health sector. Students are presented with first-hand experience, which not only allows them to make informed decisions on a career in health, but also prepares them for the world of work and provides relevant experience for their resumes and University application. In turn the health sector benefits through the provision of an additional supply of human resources to assist with meeting the demands of providing high quality health care to our citizens.


Beaches & Sandals Foundation Celebrate Teacher’s Appreciation Day With North Caicos Teachers

Over 25 North Caicos teachers visited Beaches Resorts last week to celebrate their 2016 Teacher’s Appreciation Day in style. The resort hosted educators from Raymond Gardiner High & the Hubert James Primary to an elaborate tour featuring some Sesame Street friends and a grand luncheon at the resort’s Reflection Restaurant in the Caribbean Village. This is the third time the resort and the foundation has hosted an Education Week teacher’s appreciation luncheon for the local government schools and the charity is looking forward to working diligently with the group of educators not only to enhance the overall operation of the schools but also work to closely with the teachers by providing support.

“It is nice to be appreciated for the all the work that we do”, said Janet Walkin, principal Raymond Gardiner, “celebrating teacher’s appreciation day at Beaches gave the staff different feel on how it was to vacation in TCI and the management and staff went over and beyond to make us feel special. It was an amazing day; we have created fulfilled memories to last a life time. We are very grateful.” Organizer of the Luncheon and Public Relations Manager for the Resort, Elanor Finfin Krzanowski, also commented on the event, she said,

“Teachers are the ones who provide education for pupils and in turn shape the future of the Turks & Caicos Islands and that position deserves to be recognized and most of all celebrated,” she continued,

“I am so happy the resort was able to look outside of Providenciales to recognize educator on islands that are often over looked due to their proximity,” she said, “I am so happy that we were able to include the North Caicos Educators this year to celebrate for the wonderful men and women who go above and beyond the call of duty at the government schools.” Across the Caribbean, Sandals and Beaches Resorts has adopted a total of 27 schools and has supported thousands of teachers that are responsible for nurturing future presidents, billionaires, business tycoons, and history makers of the Caribbean. The foundation works closely with them to provide practical support by helping to maintain the school curriculum and education.

Elanor Finfin Krzanowski with Comonseta Campbell of Hubert James School

From L-R (Members of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Jameika Harvey and representatives of the Ministry of Health, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture Hon. Akierra Misick, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, CEO of TCI Hospitals Daniel Carriere, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant Chief of Medical Services at InterHealth Canada, Senga Brubaker and Public Relations and Marketing Manager / Patient Advocate Takara Bain.)


LOCAL NEWS

VACANCY FOR A PART-TIME CARETAKER

The British West Indies Collegiate is looking for a dependable, enthusiastic and hard-working person to be the caretaker of the school, with responsibility for maintaining and repairing the school campus and ensuring that it is kept clean and safe for students, staff and other users. This is a part-time position, but may become a full-time post in years to come. There will be an initial probationary period.

Hours of work: Normally 18 hours per week; 3.30– 6.30 p.m. on school days, and 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Saturdays.

Pay: $15 per hour, negotiable if trade qualifications are held.

reQuireD Qualifications:•Complete integrity•Good handy-man skills, including M.E.P., building repair, painting and gardening.

•Own vehicle•Own cellphone and computer for communication•Ability to liaise with contractors and to monitor their work•Ability to identify and order required equipment and supplies •Willingness to deal with trespassers and other threats to the school’s security

•Willingness to sweep and collect debris in the play areas and car- park daily

•Willingness to work additional hours during the evenings and weekends as necessary, and to attend to emergencies whenever they arise

BWIC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and its staff must share that commitment. Candidates will need to provide references, a certificate of good health, and permission for an enhanced background check.

Note: No services will be needed and no wages will be paid during school holidays.

HAB LIMITEDHAB Limited is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following position. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

RESORT FINANCE MANAGERJob Description

•Responsible for all aspects of Resort and Strata Corporation accounting up to production of Trial Balance.

•All Balance Sheet reconciliations, including bank, credit card accounts and supplier statements.

•Reconciliation of Sales Reports and Accounts Receivable and supervision of Accounts Payable processing and Payroll.

•Reconciliation and preparation of bank deposits.•Payment of purchase invoices and raising of cheques as applicable.•Preparation of Strata invoices/statements and corresponding with owners regarding statement queries.

•Preparation and processing of weekly/monthly payroll and Social Security returns

•Preparation and processing of monthly Accommodation Tax returns

•Preparation and processing of monthly Service Charge payments

reQuireMents•Should have at least (ten) 10 years experience in an Accounts Office.

•Must hold a minimum of a Degree in Accountancy.•Must be proficient in MS Office application and Quickbooks. •Must have a good understanding of Accounting Procedures.•Work with minimal supervision.

The salary range for this position is $30,000 - $41,000.00 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by March 28, 2016 at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Position is available immediately. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

Bradley Theodore paints portrait of first Chief Minister JAGS McCartney at local restaurant

Turks and Caicos Islands world renowned artist Bradley Theodore painted a spectacular piece of the first Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands at popular restaurant Crackpot Kitchen which is owned by Nikita (Chef Nik) Skippings. This painting was done on February 24th, 2016 at the restaurant while persons were dinning. Theodore, who lives in New York, studied computer graphics in college and after four years he quit school and decided to paint. He left the Turks and Caicos Islands when he was six months old and is making a big name for himself, traveling to places such as London, Paris, Japan and Hon Kong. He has around 50 art works around the world. Theodore told The SUN that the reason he choose to paint a photo of the late JAGS McCartney because ‘he

had a lot of swag’. The painting took about four hours to complete.This specific painting had a lot of people and locals impressed and is said to bring back a piece of history to the Grace Bay strip. Owner Nikita (Chef Nik) Skippings posted via social media Facebook on February 26th “Turks and Caicos Islands son of the soil and world renowned artist Mr. Bradley Theodore @bradleytheodore alongside his beautifully artistic master piece of TCI First Chief Minister Hon. James Alexander George McCartney. Bringing a piece of history back to life on Grace Bay Strip at Crackpot Kitchen Restaurant Bar & Grill.” Theodore encourages people in the Turks and Caicos Islands to embrace art.

Lobster season coming to an end The Department of Environment & Maritime Affairs (DEMA) would like to remind all fishing interests that the last day of the lobster season is Thursday, 31 March, 2016. No lobster can be caught, landed or sold after midnight. As a reminder, please

note that failure to comply with the closed season will result in prosecution in court under Section 3, Part 1(12) of the Fisheries Protection Regulations. During the closed season it is illegal for fishermen to land or trade in lobsters and for restaurants and hotels to serve

lobsters. DEMA therefore urges all fishing interests to ensure that they have NO lobsters in their possession at the end of the season. Please also be reminded that in the remaining days of the season, berried lobsters (or lobsters with eggs) MUST be returned to the

water. DEMA appeals to citizens, residents and visitors in the Turks & Caicos Islands, to uphold the Fisheries Regulations, and urges all responsible citizens to call DEMA at 338 4170 or [email protected] to report any violations.


LOCAL NEWS

HAB MANAGEMENT LTDHAB Management Limited is seeking suitable applicants for the

following position:

LABOURERS

Candidates must be physically capable of hard manual labour outside on a daily basis. Previous experience is preferred. Candidates must

be willing to work holidays and weekends when required.

Wages starts at $6.50 per hour.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants

will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview. Closing date for applications is March 28, 2016.

HAB MANAGEMENT LIMITED

HAB Management Limited is seeking applicants for the following position:

HOUSEKEEPERJob Description

Candidates will be responsible to clean guest rooms as assigned, ensuring the hotel’s established standards of cleanliness.

Requirements

Should have four years or more experience as a Housekeeper in a Hotel. Must have knowledge of proper cleaning techniques. Maintain positive guest relations at all

times. Should be able to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Wages $6.50 per

hour.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by March 28, 2016

at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacte by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

PIONEER MANAGEMENT LTDPioneer Management Limited requires a full time certified Waste Water Technician:

Applicant must have an industrial chemical engineering degree from a recognized university and have 5+ years field experience. Operator must have excellent experience for the following processes: Extended Aeration, SBR (sludge batch bioreactor systems), MBR (membrane bioreactor systems) and secondary reverse osmosis processes. Applicant must have excellent laboratory skills to include analysis such as sedimentation calculation, suspended solids calculation, dissolved oxygen content, bacterial analysis and identification, chemical oxygen demand and have computer skills to log and track trends for each analysis. Experience with flat sheet and spiral wound membrane systems is a must. Written English and Spanish are required to communicate with laboratories in South America. Salary of $300.00 per week varied on experience. Swing shift hours, weekends and holidays will be required.

Please submit resume via email to [email protected] or fax 946-5191 before March 28, 2016. Suitable applicants will be contacted for by email or telephone to schedule interviews.

PROVO GOLF CLUBProvo Golf Club is seeking suitable applicants for the following

position:

LABOURERS Candidates must be physically capable of hard manual labour

outside on a daily basis. Previous experience is preferred. Candidates must be willing to work holidays and weekends when

required.

Wages starts at $6.50 per hour.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants

will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview. Closing date for applications is March 28, 2016.

Governor and Deputy Governor launch new public private partnership

The Governor and Deputy Governor a announced on March 7th an initiative to bring private sector expertise to the public sector. Under the overall programme recently launched by the Deputy Governor of

“Vision 20/20: Creating Excellence in the Public Sector” the new scheme aims to encourage public sector departments to learn from some of the efficiencies introduced in the private sector. To launch the scheme, “Public-Private Partnerships – Enhancing Service Delivery”, three senior businessmen in Turks and Caicos Islands have agreed to share some of their expertise with senior members of the public sector. Ken Adams, The Do It Center and Building Materials, Galmo "Gilley" Williams, The Wine Cellar and Turks Head Brewery, and Robert Brace, Graceway - IGA, Smart and Gourmet, will attend occasional meetings of Government Departments to hear about some of the problems public servants face, and discuss with them how to improve efficiency in those departments. The businessmen will initially focus on alternative energy, the work permit system, infrastructure implementation and road safety

certification. Commenting on the initiative the Governor Peter Beckingham said:

“I am grateful to these three senior and successful businessmen for giving up their time to discuss ways in which the public sector can learn from business. Everyone in TCI will know how their businesses operate successfully and efficiently, and I am confident the advice they can offer will help public servants look at their operations in new and different ways.

“All Government Departments in the UK now automatically have on their Boards senior members of the private sector, so we can learn from their example how our own public sector can benefit from business. We are fortunate to have the free services of these three businessmen to support the departments. I have been keen to get the public sector more engaged with business, and I am confident this is a great way of starting”.Deputy Governor Anya Williams said:

“My focus over the next year is going to be unrelentingly on generating more efficiencies in our public service. I know there are areas where we can improve delivery standards to the public, and

engaging three highly experienced businesspeople in this way is bound to help find ways of making improvements. I look forward to working with all three businessmen and having them help us with our work.” Robert Brace, Graceway, said: “From my time in business with some of Europe’s large companies I have seen how the public sector can benefit from closer working relations with

companies. It is very common in many European countries for these sorts of exchanges between the private and the public sector to take place. I am pleased to see this sort of co-operation happening in the Turks and Caicos. I am sure that Gilly Williams, Ken Adams and I can, at least at the margin, help to bring some efficiencies and a new way of looking at services offered by the public service.”

L-R: Mr Robert Brace, Governor Peter Beckingham, Deputy Governor Anya Williams and former Premier, Mr Galmo Williams

Man dies in house fire Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force have launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that cause a fire that claimed the life of a man earlier this morning. Shortly after 12 am on Sunday 6th March 2016, Police and fire

emergency services were dispatched to an area in Blue Hills Providenciales, where a wooden structured house was on fire. Upon arrival on the scene, a traumatized occupant of the house was seen and informed officers that she was awaken from sleep by heat and upon making checks she noticed

the house was on fire and ran outside. She also told officers that she believe her brother was inside. Firefighters extinguished the fire and discovered the corpse of Arsene Pierre of Haiti inside of the house. Eyewitnesses stated that they

were unable to get in and assist the brother because there was an explosion from the section of the house where he was in. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.


LOCAL NEWS

Applications are invited for the position of Senior Finance / Project Manager.

the applicant Must possess the folloWing;

•Professional Qualifications in Finance, CFA designation required•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

VACANCY TCA HANDLING IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

RAMP AGENTS/CLEANERS/FLIGHT COORDINATOR

•Good command of the English Language•High school graduate

•Willing to work shift pattern including weekends and holidays•Clean Police record

•Valid driver’s license

FLIGHT COORDINATOR:•Valid FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate

•Five (5) years Dispatch experience•Five (5) years Aviation experience•Exceptional communication skills

•Strong technical knowledge of aircraft performance, navigation, weather and air regulation

Ramp Agent Starting salary $7.50 per hourFlight Coordinator-based on qualification/experience

Submit application along with photograph to:

General ManagerTCA Handling

Town Centre MallProvidenciales

Peter Savory gets international recognition for financial services sector in TCI

Respected accountant, Mr. Peter Savory, received international recognition for the many contributions he has made to the Turks and Caicos Islands financial services sector spanning several decades. Mr. Savory received this prestigious award last week Friday March 4th, 2016 at the Alexandra Resort in Providenciales. In December, Mr. Savory became the first local resident to ever be awarded the STEP Founder’s Award for Outstanding Achievement, which is an award given to members who have made a long-term contribution to the Society above and beyond that normally expected of a member through office in their branch or elsewhere in the voluntary life of the Society. Mr. Savory, one of the founding members of STEP Turks and Caicos Islands, was nominated from among a list of other candidates by the current leadership of the local branch, which includes: Yesicha Robinson Dip. ITM (Committee Member), Andree Piche TEP (Secretary/Treasurer), Nikeira Stuart (Vice Chairwoman), and Tamiko Smith TEP (Chairman). His unflinching, unwavering commitment to the trust industry, which has manifested itself in many forms over the years, proved to be the deciding factor. Mr. Savory has been closely involved in many of the Turks and Caicos Island’s legislative developments, including

the Companies Ordinance 1981 and Trusts Ordinance 1990. He has also played an integral part in many promotional efforts for the industry, including most recently, the Financial Industry Association. As Mr. Savory joins a list of elite professionals from around the globe who have received the award in the past including high profile attorneys, accountants, wealth managers, etc, a special ceremony in the month of February will be held to

formally present Mr. Savory with the much deserved award. The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners is a professional organization providing education, training, representation and networking for its members who are professionals specializing in trusts, estates, executorships, will writing, administration and related taxation issues. Full members of STEP are the most experienced and senior practitioners in the field of trusts and

estates. Full members of STEP are entitled to use the designation TEP which stands for Trust and Estate Practitioner. Members of STEP are drawn from a variety of professional backgrounds and include lawyers, accountants, bankers, trustees and trust administration professionals. There are various different routes to STEP membership, including the well-known STEP Diploma in International Trust Management and a Qualified Practitioner route.

Mr. Peter Savory pictured receiving his award



INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS LICENCE CHECKLIST

The Revenue Department continues to strengthen Customer Service initiatives with the introduction of a Business Licence Application & Renewal Checklist.

The checklist is designed to indicate to applicants the licences, clearances and other supporting documents required for each business type and activity. A checklist must be attached to all applications and incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please note that the Revenue Department reserves that right to request any further information as deemed necessary to process a Business Licence application.

The introduction of the checklist is intended to increase transparency and mitigate delays in processing. The Officers of the Revenue Department are available to address any concerns.

PRESS RELEASEMarch 3, 2016

Revenue DepartmentTown Centre Mall Hibiscus SquareProvidenciales Grand TurkTel: 649-338-5234 Tel: 649-338-2061Fax: 649-941-8649 Fax: 649-946-2686

Website: http://gov.tc/revenueEmail: [email protected]


LOCAL NEWS

INTERCARIBBEAN AIRWAYS

is seeking suitable qualified pilots to operate its EMB120 fleet.

Applicants must have the following:

Captains : Valid Air Transport License, Pic type rating - 3500hrs fixed wing total time including 1,500 hrs Multi engine, 500hrs

Turbine and minimum 100hrs on Type.

First officer: Commercial Pilot License, Sic type rating 500hrs fixed wing total time, 250hrs Multi engine and 25hrs on Type.

Please send resume to [email protected]

TECHNICAL DIRECTORThe Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association requires a full-time Technical Director to continue to implement & conduct its National Schools/Youth/Women’s & National

Team Programmes throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Director, should hold either the UEFA ‘A’ or ‘B’ Coaching License or similar, a degree in either Sports and Physical Education or Sports and Fitness Science, Emergency First Aid and hold a clean full drivers license. He or she will need extensive experience in the organisation and structuring of coaching programmes at all levels of football, experience

of coaching at international level is essential.

Applications by fax or email together with suitable references by February 15, 2015 to:

The General SecretaryTurks & Caicos Islands Football Association

Fax no: 1 649 941 5554Email: [email protected]

HAB MANAGEMENT LTD HAB MANAGEMENT LTDCLEANER Cook

Responsibilities: The successful applicant will be responsible for the general cleaning of communal areas, sweeping and mopping of floors, cleaning of windows and removal of trash. The applicant

will also be responsible for any other duties assigned in regards to general cleaning.

Requirements: The successful applicant must be able to work with little to no supervision, capable of performing manual labour outside on a daily basis, should be physically fit, hard working

and reliable.

Wages: $6.50 per hour

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by March 28, 2016 at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or

telephone to schedule an interview.

Main DutiesPrepare food items of consistent quality in accordance with production requirements and quality standards while maintaining a safe sanitary work environment. Start prep work on food items needed for the menu of the day. Organize all of the various prep items needed from different areas to ensure that all items are in place and ready for service. Inform the Manager of any shortage of supplies that need restocking before items

completely run out.

RequirementsApplicants must have a minimum of three-year culinary experience working in a restaurant. Comprehend and follow recipes and cooking techniques. Must have thorough knowledge and understanding of food service sanitation standards. Thorough knowledge and understanding of standard kitchen equipment and its use. Applicants must be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required by management. Perform other duties as assigned, requested or deemed necessary by management. Applicants will be required to work on a full time basis. Must be able to walk, stand or stoop for the duration of shift (at least 8 hours). Applicants must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. Applicants must be detail oriented, must be hardworking and a team player. Work with minimal supervision. Salary

commensurate with experience and training.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by March 28, 2016 at [email protected] or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

National Development (Part 2)

Investment in our people can be shown in a variety of ways, yes skills training is critical, but having integrity, issues of morality, fairness and objectivity valued and practiced in daily decision-making processes on the job would result in a most productive outcome in our country. Leaders in the public service must be willing to make those tough decisions on behalf of the people, for the greater good and not for friend, family, politics and the like. That’s what the position and salary is about, making objective decisions, having high ethical and professional standards and being respected for making the right decisions for the people, country and national development-it fosters sustainability. We all can recall an incident where someone was passed up for a promotion that really deserved it and we all felt it would have made the organisation better, this may be a rare occasion but it occurs. However, on the other side, what happens when the person who’s promoted may be qualified/not qualified; yet unsuitable for the position, lacking leadership and integrity principles and although their output on paper appears well, the organisation is failing, persons are disrespected, work relationship and ethics don’t exist and the organisation’s overall goal is somewhere in the distance fading away. Additionally, we have all seen the effect of internal succession planning where a head of department favours one person for succession planning, not objectively, and

instead of training three potential candidates, invests in one person, hence that one person feels entitled, is given the job as the successor retires and the department is left in shambles. Why? Because the best of the best was not given an opportunity to try out for the part, but was given to the one that was hand-picked. The other side is where, the head/leader has all the ideas in their head, doesn’t communicate this goal/vision to the others and if they were to die, transfer or move out of the service department- all is lost without them- is this leadership or poor management. We all need to work towards the written organisational goals; this message needs to be clear, valued and shared by all in the organisation. Succession planning programmes should be outlined at all levels, with transparency and objectivity in order for the organisation to be successful and productive. This is something that should be shared with locals and contract workers and be a part of the performance appraisal process- how many other persons have you trained or passed on a skill to that can benefit the organisation. If you were to leave the organisation, who else is there to provide the equivalent or even better service that you now provide. Or does it go over better as being wanted, as the department is left lacking after you are gone, not because of your character but because of the skill set of the one person who got to go on all the trainings, never shared anything with anyone, hence the only one that benefitted and not the department/country as what should be the intended purpose.

Then, there are situations where, persons who are more qualified are making less than the new-comers (new comers fall in the bracket of those who may be qualified, but have no experience, may have experience but not qualified and those who have been in the position a long time but have not produced), not that their position or job description is more demanding but because, someone up top favours them. This may result in the persons who are doing an honest work and committed to their jobs, to either be demotivated or provide suboptimal services to the people while others may use it as a reason to justify some dishonest act. Finally, the issue of denying persons their rightful compensation, be it increment, days off, overtime, acting allowances or whatever reason that an employer deserved remuneration and the heads of departments, neglect to sort out the necessary paperwork and ensure that those below them are compensated fairly and as they would have wanted to be. Who oversees this process and ensures all our civil servants are being paid their fair share? Who gets penalized if this isn’t done. Who speaks out for the ones who are less likely to read, to know their rights, to ensure that their rights are not being violated? Isn’t this the job of the heads of departments and leaders of government to advocate on behalf of their employers’- those beneath them? One may ask- how does this relate to national development? The way we treat people says a lot about national development-think about it, it’s sad but these things happens

every day….National development is long overdue, people investment is a must; and while we have made some strides, we still have miles to go before we sleep. This article was to simply acknowledge some of the gaps that need to be addressed to make a better TCI, to foster people development. I love my beautiful islands, we have come a long way; but there is much to be changed and change doesn’t occur overnight; however, we must be willing to accept that we need to change, as this is the first step towards a real change. Here are some little actions that can assist in the meantime; living the word of God in our daily lives and how we relate to others, having prayer and the word of God in our schools, having the National Anthem and National song sang in schools every day, having flags flown high at every office/place of business and schools and each student, worker, staff member have a turn at heisting the flag. This not only will help to stimulate some TCI pride but also allow those who come to live amongst us to appreciate TCI as well. Have the National anthem and song sang at every ceremonial event. Have a snapshot of TCI History and Culture as a part of the employer orientation packages for all TCIG Employers. And lastly, but most important, we must love each other, treat everyone with respect, embrace our differences, work towards our weaknesses, have integrity, be fair, transparent and objective and love our country the TCI. Be persons who are respected for having integrity, competence and professionalism.

By A TCI Patriot


Provo Water Company Ltd is seeking four (3) suitable applicants to fill the following positions.

POSITION: PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ENGINEERQUALIFICATION:

1. Must be a graduate of Civil or Mechanical Engineering with at least 5 years of continuous professional work experience under the same capacity.2. Must have at least 2 year minimum experience in water line maintenance under a water utility company setting.3. Knowledgeable on the principles of hydraulic engineering related to water supply and water distribution.4. Well verse on engineering mathematics and economics.5. Familiar with Construction methods, materials and equipment.6. Knows how to apply the principles and methods of statistical analysis.7. Must be computer literate.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Preventive Maintenance Engineer plays a vital role in keeping the integrity and efficiency of PWC’s water distribution system. Application of scientific and methodological process in dealing with the existing line problem is the main concentration while subduing the new ones in occurrence before becoming PWC’s major concern.

The responsibilities and tasks of the Preventive Maintenance Engineer may vary from role to role depending on the call of the situation. Under the technical setting, one must be flexible and must engage in multi-tasking to ensure immediate application of required corrective actions. Following is the PM Engineer’s job description which includes:

•Applying knowledge of civil engineering under the preventive maintenance setting of a water distribution system which includes pipeline positioning, hydraulic analysis, and structural design and control systems.

•Development of preventive maintenance database, including data input, monitors, audits and maintains the accuracy of the PM data base system at all times.

•Designing preventive maintenance strategies, procedures and application methods;

•Planning and scheduling planned and unplanned maintenance work;

•Carrying out quality inspections on the main distribution system and formulate technical recommendation for system’s enhancement;

•Diagnosing breakdown problems in the distribution line and provide technical assistance for the application of corrective action;

•Anticipating technical problems and developing solutions for recommendation at an early stage;

•Arranging procurement requisition of needed fixtures, fittings or components for a specialized problem in the water main;

•Communicates with preventive maintenance program vendor’s technical support staff regarding software upgrades, needed program modifications, and technical issues;

•Maintaining infrastructure master plan and mapping database of all accomplished preventive maintenance task;

•Oversees data input in CMMS and Asset Management software;

•Provides technical and administrative support to engineering works and field operations as required;

•Assists in the integration of maintenance software with GIS, GPS, CMMS, AutoCAD, Hydraulic Modeling Software, financial inventory and utility billing/customer databases;

•Develops, produces and assists in generating regular and special preventive maintenance system reports;

•Researches, gathers data, analyzes and documents PWC’s needs to automate current processes in addressing problem areas and improve existing workflow within preventive maintenance system;

•Provides technical assistance in the operation, configuration, diagnostics, and troubleshooting of preventive maintenance program;

•Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures for preventive maintenance task;

•Directs implementation and procedural modifications in the preventive maintenance function;

•Formulates and coordinates the implementation of Provo Water’s asset management plan;

•Prepares monthly Preventive Maintenance report and maintains records and documents in accordance with PWC policy.

Salary Range: US$ 36, 000 – 48, 000 per annumAll applications (inclusive of cover letter, CV & copies of qualifications) must be submitted by 22ND March 2016 to:

Managing DirectorProvo Water Company Limited

Grace Bay Road, PO Box 39Providenciales

Turks and Caicos [email protected]

Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified.


2016 Plenary Session Date—Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Time—9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Venue—Beaches Turks & Caicos

Melissa Marchand: Caribbean Strategy Director for Global News Matters. "The Digital Age - Opportunities and Challenges”

Featuring:

The Rt. Hon. Owen Seymour Arthur: Former Prime Minister of Barbados

Prof. Gilbert NMO Morris:

Economist

"A Road Map For Caribbean Prosperity In

An Increasingly Globalized and Technologically Driven

World”

www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 1030 Leeward HWY, Providenciales, TCI

"Economic Development - Global and Regional Opportunities and Challenges."

Limited seating available. Contact [email protected] today to

reserve your space.

RESERVE YOUR SPACE



C.O.R.E.

Uses customer owned Solar PV systems up to 10 kW in size for residential customers

Commercial customers can use Solar PV systems up to 60 kW in size

Net billing arrangement—Get credit for the avoided cost of generation

Interconnect with the FortisTCI grid

Energy for Environment. Energy for Good. ™

U.O.R.E.

FortisTCI covers installation, maintenance, and ownership of the rooftop Solar PV system and customers rent their rooftop space to FortisTCI

Receive a credit for your roof space depending on the size of the Solar PV system (up to 10kW for residential and up to 60kW for commercial)

Interconnect with the FortisTCI grid

Visit us for details about how you can participate in our Solar Energy Programs!!

www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 1030 Leeward HWY, Providenciales, TCI

Leading the Green-Energy

Revolution

Customer Owned Renewable Energy

Utility Owned Renewable Energy


LOCAL NEWS

National High School Track and Field Champions

highlightsThe Turks and Caicos Islands National Inter-High School Track

and Field Championship was held at the National Stadium in Providenciales between Sunday March 6th and Tuesday March 9th. The event saw a number of spectacular performances especially on the track. Good performances came from not only the traditional schools but also the new ones as well. Last year’s winners the Clement Howell High School was again named the Inter High School Champions for 2016. The following are photo highlights of the event.


LOCAL NEWS




LOCAL NEWS

North and Middle Caicos Causeway Officially Reopened

The Minister of Infrastructure Housing and Planning, Hon. Amanda Missick, confirmed that the reconstruction of the North/Middle Caicos causeway has been completed and that that Causeway is now fully open to traffic between the two islands. The Public Works Department in the Ministry would like to thank the general public, especially regular users of the causeway, for their patience while the works were being carried out and apologize for any disruption. The causeway has been reconstructed and is of a much higher standard than previously. The causeway has been enhanced by the raising of roadway sections, the reinstallation of a smooth bituminous pavement and the facilitation of additional waterways underneath. Other enhancements also include signage, solar powered lighting and pavement markers. This was the second phase of reconstruction after the damage sustained by Hurricane Hanna in 2008; the first phase was completed in August 2013 and the second recent phase commenced on 18 May 2015. The total cost of rebuilding both phases was just over $5m. The Acting Governor, H. E. Anya Williams, Hon. Premier and Minister Amanda Misick among other Ministerial Colleagues and MPs, PWD, JACA (Contractor), public servants and other well-wishers

in the Community of North and Middle Caicos, attended the ribbon Cutting ceremony on March 8th, 2016 at 10:30 am at the site to celebrate the official reopening of the Missick Williams Causeway. The official reopening also commemorates the passing of Javern Missick and Marco Williams in 2007. Many of their family members and friends were present to celebrate and assist in the ribbon cutting of the causeway, which was named “Misick-Williams Causeway” in their honor. The Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, Hon. Amanda Misick stated; “The reconstruction of the North to Middle Caicos Causeway is critical to the people of these islands. The economy, residents’ livelihoods and the growth of the islands, on a whole is dependent on good infrastructure between the islands and the causeway is a vital link. Our Government has agreed and is 100% committed to fund the rebuilding and upgrading of the causeway to help these islands prosper. The connection between these islands also means economies sharing infrastructure and facilities which make the lives of those dependent on them safer and more pleasant.”The Minister also expressed her sincere thanks to all the persons in her Ministry and Department of Public Works for their undying efforts to bring this project to fruition.


HEALTHYLIFESTYLEKids who skip lunch are missing out on

essential nutrients Children who skip lunch may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals from the rest of their meals and snacks, a study suggests. Researchers examined nutrition information for almost 4,800 school-age kids and found that about 7 to 20% skipped lunch at least once a week. “Overall, the lunch meal is very important for helping children meet their nutrient needs, especially for fat-soluble vitamins A and D, minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium that are important for healthy bones, and dietary fiber,” study coauthor Alison Eldridge of the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, told Reuters Health in an email. Previous studies have focused on nutrient intake and breakfast skipping or snacking, but no one had looked at what happens when kids miss lunch. Eldridge and her colleagues wanted to fill that gap, so they examined information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2009-2010 and 2011-2012. On any given day, about 7% of 4- to 8-year-olds, 16% of 9- to 13-year-olds, and 17% of 14- to 18-year-olds skipped their lunches, the research team reported February 16 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The youngest kids were more

likely to skip lunch on the weekends, and girls ages 9 to 18 were more likely to skip lunch during the week. Almost a quarter of black and Hispanic teens skipped lunch, and about 30% of black children ages 9 to 18 missed lunch on the weekends. Kids who missed lunches tended to be deficient in vitamins A, D, E, and K, along with several essential minerals.But while children who missed lunch also consumed less protein, fiber, and total fats, their total intakes of sugar and solid fats was no different than in kids who ate lunch.

“We were surprised at the number of children and adolescents skipping lunch, especially on the weekends,” Eldridge said. “We were also surprised that the children and adolescents who skipped lunch ate similar amounts of ‘empty’ calories, compared to those who ate lunch.” Eldridge said childhood is an important time for building habits that could impact life-long health.

“Parents have an important role in modeling good eating behaviors, by offering a variety of nutrient-dense foods to their children, and by encouraging children to eat regular meals,” Eldridge said. Sandra Arevalo, Director of Nutrition and Community Outreach at Community Pediatrics Program of Children’s Hospital at Montefiore

Medical System in New York, said lunch also helps regulate appetite and metabolism. “Children who don’t eat lunch at school and spend long hours with an empty stomach tend to snack more when they return home and eat larger dinners,” said Arevalo, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Many children don’t eat breakfast either, making their first meal at home after returning from school.” Arevalo said by email that one or two meals per day aren’t enough to provide all the nutrients a child needs to grow strong and healthy.

“Start by making sure that your child always eats something before going to school,” Arevalo said. “Quick and nutrient rich foods to eat in the morning include whole grain cereals with low fat milk, a yogurt parfait, a cereal bar with a cup of low-fat milk, a fruit and/or vegetables smoothie, egg, cheese or turkey sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread.” Arevalo also suggests packing healthy snacks such as yogurt, sandwiches, fruits, or fresh vegetables and dip, for days when kids might not like the school lunches.

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama prepares lunch with elementary students during the annual fall harvest of the White House Kitchen Garden at the White House in Washington

Dancing may reduce risk of dying from heart disease Moderate intensity dancing, like moderate intensity walking, is tied to a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. “It is not surprising that moderate-intensity physical activity is protective against cardiovascular disease mortality,” said lead author Dafna Merom of the University of Western Sydney in Australia. “I actually was surprised that light-intensity dancing was not protective; I would expect that if the benefits of dance can be attributed to the social and affective aspect of dancing than I would expect light-intensity dancing to be beneficial,” Merom told Reuters Health by email. Merom and her colleagues pooled 11 population surveys form the U.K. between 1995 and 2007, including more than 48,000 adults age 40 and

older with no heart disease at baseline. The surveys included questions about frequency, duration and intensity of dancing and walking over the previous four weeks. These answers were linked to the National Death Registry. Only about 3,100 of the 48,000 people surveyed reported dancing of any intensity. Two-thirds of the group said they walked at any intensity.People who danced tended to be younger, have a lower body mass index, were less likely to have long-standing illnesses and got more overall physical activity than non-dancers. During follow-up, there were 1,714 deaths due to cardiovascular disease. People who reported moderate intensity dancing and walking were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who did not, even after accounting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, alcohol

use, body mass index, chronic illness, psychosocial distress and total physical activity, as reported online now in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The minimum recommended amount of moderate-intensity activity is 150 minutes a week, but this pooled analysis did not include a direct measurement of how much people were dancing, Merom said. “I would advise for those who find walking somewhat boring or those that like to challenge themselves to try dancing,” she said. “First, you can reach higher intensity than in walking while dancing, it may be for short intervals but this all adds up, and you get some of the benefits associated with vigorous-intensity physical activity.” “But dance is also hard on the brain, as it is a highly coordinated activity and requires skills and

learning,” she said. All styles of dance tend to have slow or quick tempo options, and the quicker the better for heart health, Merom said. “A large body of literature over 60 plus years shows that energy expenditure from physical activity reduces risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. I-Min Lee of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, who was not part of the study. “We now increasingly realize that how this energy is expended – from walking, biking, swimming, dancing, playing with children, etc. – doesn’t matter, so long as it is moderate in intensity.” “I think what is important is that we need to stick with being physically active – and to do so, one must do what one likes,” Lee told Reuters Health by email. “So if you like to dance, great! If you don’t and prefer to walk – then walk.”

China signals price cuts for cancer drugs, imports China has signaled its intent to cut prices of medicines used to treat serious diseases such as cancer, part of a wider drive to reduce the cost of healthcare for patients in the world's second-biggest economy. The National Health and Family Planning Commission is negotiating a pilot program with drug firms to lower the price of five drugs, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Li Bin,

the head of the commission. The high cost of healthcare is a major point of contention in China, where low levels of state health insurance coverage means patients and their families often burn through savings to buy drugs to treat chronic disease. "We are taking measures to satisfy people's need for drugs, especially to resolve issues of high-priced patented drugs and patients unable to afford medicines,"

Li said on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing. China's drive to lower the price of drugs is one of the main challenges facing drug firms in the world's second-largest medicine market, where growth has slowed markedly over the past couple of years. Beijing is also supporting domestic firms to take a bigger share of the market. Li said the pilot scheme would seek to reduce the price of the five

drugs by over half, adding the drugs were currently expensive because they were patented or imported. She did not name the drugs or the companies which made them. China's cancer drug market is led by Swiss firm Roche Holding AG, followed by China's Qilu Pharmaceutical, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine, Jilin Aodong Pharmaceutical Group and Britain's AstraZeneca PLC, Deutsche Bank said in a 2015 report


FUN & GAMES


FUN & GAMES


LOCAL NEWS

ADAMS HAIRBRAIDING

NEED1 Hair braider

Applicant must be honest reliable & hardworking & courteous to customers

Contact 342-3525

LP CONSTRUCTION

SEEKS4 Professional MasonsSalary $15.00 per hour

Contact 345-8326

Gus Motors

Gus Motors is looking for Three (3) Qualified Mechanic Specialized on all cars who can

work with little or no supervision. Due date for applications is the

31st March 2016.For further information I can be contacted at 941-5208/231-4681.

DARDS GROCERIES

Bottle Creek North CaicosSeeks

1 Domestic WorkerSalary $6.25 per hour

Contact 946-7076 or 431-4371

SUNSHINE BARBERSHOP

SEEKS1 Barber

Salary $12.00 per hourContact 344-9562

KOSTCO SUPERSAVERS SEEKS

2 Sales Managers - $12.50 per hour

3 Labourers -$7.00 per hour

1 Cook - $6.50 per hour

3 Domestic Workers - $6.25

Must be able to work flexible hours

Contact 941-3739

MOTHER KING powerful spiritual healer and advisor

miracle worker truly gifted solves all

problems reunites lovers overpowers all

obstacles and calls enemies by name call

now for your free reading

704-771-3565

ISLAND VIBES TOURS

SEEKS1 Parasail Caption

Must have at least 5 years experience

Salary $80.00 per hour

WANTEDDomestic worker

Wage: $6.25 @ hour,

5 days a weekContact info : Steven I. F.

BournePO Box 105

Leeward Highway

Diamond Cleaning Services

Seeks1 Domestic Worker


Mon-Fri8:00am to 12:00pmContact 241-7600

from Mon-Fri between the hours of

9:00am to 4:00pm

WHATTA BURGA

Seeks1 Barmaid


Contact 246-5022

HARD LIMESTONE BOULDERS AVAILABLE

FROM JAMAICA

[email protected]

1-876-791-8889

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited of Graceway Plaza, Leeward Highway, 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 CAP 9.01: Parcel 60603/37, Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hills, Providenciales. The property has a total acreage of 1.58 acres and comprises of:

a. a concrete warehouse building with a total floor area of approximately 2.800 square feet;

b. the accommodation provides five units which are either being used as office or storage units with bathroom facilities.

Parcel 60609/86, Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hills, Providenciales. The property has a total acreage of .70 acres and comprises of:

a. a single story residential dwelling with a total floor area of 2050 square feet and approximately 273square feet of porch;

b.an entry porch/open concept living/dining room/kitchen powder room, two bedrooms, bathroom, master bedroom, en-suite master bathroom, walk in closet and rear porch with concrete balusters.

Devaughn GlintonThe auction will be held at the offices of Karam Missick attorneys, P.O. Box 926, A 201& A 202 Regent Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales, at 10 o’clock in the morning on Monday the 28th day of March, 2016.

A reserve price will be fixed on the Property. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.

Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (649) 9417430.

ExpEriEncEd Journalist and rEsEarchEr

Seeking a full-time qualified and experienced journalist. Applicant must have at least 5 year experience at a minimum of 3 different publications. Bachelor’s degree in journalism required. Applicant also must have experience working in a fast-paced office environment and ability to produce content on deadline.

Applicants should be “technology savvy” and comfortable working in a “high tech” and fast moving environment. Working weekends, public holidays and long hours is not uncommon.

Email all resumes, references and precious work to [email protected]

Salomon Sewing and Dress Fix

Is seeking one tailor 6 days a week

Salary $6.50 per hourTelephone number: 242-5459


CARIBBEAN NEWSWORLDNEWSCARIBBEAN NEWS

Cayman finance firms guilty of hiding funds for US clients

Two units of a Cayman Islands financial institution have pleaded guilty to helping US clients hide money as the US crackdown on tax evasion reaches beyond Switzerland, officials said Wednesday. Cayman National Securities and Cayman National Trust, affiliates of Cayman National Corporation, admitted in a US federal court to conspiring with US clients to hide more than $130 million in offshore accounts from the Internal Revenue Service and to evade taxes on income earned from those accounts, authorities said. It was the first conviction of a non-Swiss financial institution for tax-evasion conspiracy, the US Justice Department, the IRS and the US district attorney in Manhattan said in a joint statement. Under plea agreements, the two companies in the notorious Caribbean tax haven must pay $6 million in penalties and provide the

files of non-compliant US taxpayers to the office of Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York. “We are committed to finding and prosecuting not only banks that help US taxpayers evade taxes, but also individual taxpayers who find criminal ways not to pay their fair share,” Bharara said in the statement.

“We will follow them no matter how far they go to hide their accounts, whether it is Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, or some other tax haven.” Between at least 2001 and 2011, the companies helped US clients hide funds in the accounts of Cayman-registered shell companies and trusts. The clients could trade in US securities from those accounts without reporting

the activity to the IRS. The tax-dodging scheme earned more than $3.4 million in gross revenues for the two firms. At their peak in 2009, they had about $137 million in assets under management relating to the sham accounts. Since 2009, when Swiss bank UBS was fined $780 million for helping US clients avoid taxes, the United States has considerably strengthened its battle against tax evasion. Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act that took effect in July 2014, the banks of about 110 countries must turn over account information on US clients to the US government, or face a 30 per cent withholding tax on the bank’s US earnings. A two-year disclosure program with Swiss banks closed in January with 80 banks agreeing to provide information on clients hiding their assets from taxes in exchange for non-prosecution.

One Hundred Dollar Bills

Trinidad judge reserves ruling in election petition case

A High Court judge has reserved her ruling in a case in which the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) is seeking to have stuck off, a petition filed by the United National Congress (UNC) regarding the outcome of one of the 41 constituencies contested in the September 7 general elections last year. Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes is contending that the notice of the petition challenging the results of the La Horquetta/ Talparo, which was won by Communications Ministers Maxie Cuffie, was filed outside of the five day period prescribed by the Representation of the People’s Act. “We say the petition was presented on the 19th to the (Assistant) Registrar who took it into custody. There was a failure to comply with the time (for service) in election petition matters. It is a harsh result but that is what the Act requires,” he added. But former attorney general Anand Ramlogan said the court must apply the purposive and contextual interpretation to the Act, arguing that the presentation of the petitions included the physical lodging of the document as well as official acknowledgement or receipt of the petitions by the Registrar as evidenced

by the court’s seal or stamp. He said the petition presented to the court should be allowed and not struck down on a technicality as it was an argument for the administration of justice and any doubt should result in favour of the petitioner. Justice Mira Dean-Armorer, who heard the legal arguments on Thursday, said she would give her ruling at a later date since she needed time to consider the positions advanced by the lawyers for both sides. The La Horquetta/ Talparo constituency, which Cuffie won by 2, 822 votes, is one of six being challenged by the UNC, the biggest partner in the People’s Partnership government that lost the general election by a 23-18 margin. In November, last year the Court of Appeal, by a majority ruling, dismissed an application from the PNM and the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) challenging the decision of Justice Dean-Armorer to grant the UNC permission to pursue the petitions. The UNC has argued that the decision f the EBC to extend the closure of the poll stations in Trinidad by one hour was illegal. Hearing of the petitions will take place from June 27 to 30.

Barbados bans drones Barbados on Wednesday announced a 12-month prohibition on the importation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.It said that the new measure comes into effect from April 1. The Customs & Excise Department said the ban would allow the authorities to complete a legal framework to govern the use of these devices and determine the number in operation in Barbados. A spokesperson for the Customs & Excise Department said that during the last two years

in particular, there had been a significant increase in the number of RPAS for commercial and recreational use being allowed entry into the country. “This has contributed to the unregulated growth of drones and the inability of the regulatory authorities to ascertain the numbers in operation,” the spokesperson said. Despite the positive use of drones, the official stated, concerns had been raised here and internationally about the potential for their misuse and the risks posed to safety, security and privacy by their unregulated use.

Jamaica slow to put women in positions of political power, UN report says Jamaican women are largely cut off from positions of political power and need affirmative action as well as commitment from political parties to boost opportunities and train women for leadership, according to a United Nations report. Despite having had some prominent women leaders such as former Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, the Caribbean island falls short of its own target of having women in 30 percent of decision-making positions, said the report by the U.N. Development Program (UNDP). Women make up just 20 percent of Jamaica’s cabinet ministers, senators and mayors, it said. The

30 percent target was part of a national gender policy set out in 2011. Education among Jamaican women does not lag that of men, “yet in some areas in Jamaica we are still forced to ask, ‘Where are the women?’” said Elsie Laurence Chounoune, UNDP’s representative to Jamaica, at an event on Tuesday releasing the report in Kingston. “One of these areas is political representation,” she said. Women in political leadership help advocate for pay equity, just inheritance laws and maternity leave, the report said.

While women often make up the majority of party membership, they perform low-level jobs as field and election workers and campaigners that seldom translate into leadership positions, it said.Even after being elected to parliament, women struggle to take leadership positions. In the last Jamaican parliament, no committees were headed by women, it said. Parties trumpet the importance of gender equality but “shirk active commitment,” it said.The report recommended instituting a quota, rather than a target, of 30 percent of women in leadership positions.


CARIBBEAN NEWS

The Bahamas investigating American’s botched surgery claims The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) is investigating reports that a Minnesota man, who reportedly underwent surgery at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), was a victim of a botched procedure at the hands of local doctors. PHA initiated the investigation yesterday after a Fox 9 news story highlighted Jake Beiersdorf ’s “rough” visit to the country’s premier public hospital. The story, titled, “Paradise Island trip turns into medical horror story for Minnesota man”, detailed the incident that reportedly left Beiersdorf sporting a foot-long scar across his abdomen. The article was posted on Fox 9’s website on Monday and updated yesterday.

Beiersdorf, who visited Paradise Island in January to work at an annual poker tournament, reportedly visited PMH in January after he experienced sharp pains in his lower right side. He told Fox 9 news that he wanted in the hospital for hours before he was told that his appendix needed to be removed. He said when he came out of surgery he was surprised to see the huge scar. “I freaked out,” Jake reportedly told Fox 9.He added that the scar was “not the prettiest picture”. Beiersdorf claimed that doctors told him that the long scar was the result of his appendix bursting. He said doctors told him they had to “clean out his insides”. Describing the

conditions of the hospital, Beiersdorf claimed that there were 15 people in the room with him.“It’s not a clean room at all,” he said. “The whole facility was disgusting.” He also claimed that during a follow-up visit a few days later, officials changed his dressing in a storage closet. Beiersdorf said when he returned to the U.S., his father took him to the emergency room at a Minnesota hospital. He said the doctors there made a surprising discovery. “They came out and told me that my appendix was still inside of me, when they opened me up,” he said. He said the doctors also told him that his appendix was healthy, although they reportedly still removed it to avoid any future problems. Beiersdorf told Fox 9

that the ordeal still makes him angry. When contacted for comment, PHA Director of Communications Judy Terrell said: “We are aware of the report and it is under investigation.” Terrell said she would be able to give more information following the investigation. In a Facebook post yesterday, cardiothoracic surgeon and former director of PMH’s Accident and Emergency Department Dr. Duane Sands said the story is one-sided. “Without divulging specific information, the story is one-sided and factually incomplete and inaccurate,” he said. “I hope that the same enthusiasm to spread this story is demonstrated for the retraction. Despite the challenges, excellent care is provided at PMH/PHA every day.”

Caribbean countries urged to fully develop energy sector Caribbean countries have been told that reducing energy costs will help the region improve growth and strengthen competitiveness. But at the same time, regional policymakers face conflicting objectives. On the one hand, investment in an effective energy reform strategy would have long-term benefits, while on the other, few countries have fiscal space to embark on ambitious investments to reform the energy sector. The situation confronting the region in its energy sector is discussed in a paper titled “Caribbean Energy: Marco Related Challenges’ written by a number of financial experts

including the prominent Grenadian-born economist, Arnold McIntyre, and released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They argue that the substantial decline in oil prices since mid-2014 does not obviate the need for energy sector reform.

“The impact of the oil price decline is global, so it has not improved relative prices for the Caribbean compared with its trade partners. Moreover, competitiveness challenges are escalating, with the appreciation of the US dollar (expected to continue over the next few years with the normalization of US monetary policy) and the potential opening of Cuba

to US tourism and trade. “Hence, any gains from recent oil price declines should be seen as a temporary breathing space that gives the English speaking Caribbean some time to catch up with the cost reductions needed to compete successfully in a more open region,” they wrote in the paper. They said that the case for Caribbean energy sector reform rests on two pillars. These are the current poor state of the energy sector, with infrastructure and institutional frameworks needing upgrades to eliminate high-cost inefficiencies and enable diversification; and the fact

that the macro-impact of current large energy bills remains significant, even since the recent oil price decline. The study notes that the cost of electricity in the Caribbean has been persistently high over the past two decades, and has eroded competitiveness. “This is largely due to serious inefficiencies in the power sector and dependence on expensive imported petroleum products. In turn, these problems have contributed to the region’s high cost of doing business, have increased external sector vulnerabilities, and have undercut growth in many Caribbean economies.”

They said that while Caribbean countries have very high access to electricity, other than in Haiti, the countries use expensive off-grid supply to compensate for deficiencies in utilities. According to World Bank indicators, Caribbean countries have, on average, above 90 per cent electrification rates. However, off-grid self-generation is commonly used by large hotels and some commercial establishments, given low reliability of utilities and frequent power outages. The authors say the single most important cost problem is the region’s heavy dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels.

Former foreign minister declines

reappointment to Senate Arnold Joseph ‘AJ’ Nicholson, the colourful leader of Government Business in the Senate and foreign minister in the former People’s National Party (PNP) Administration, has said farewell after 27 years in representational politics. Nicholson, a staunch ally of former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, told his leader a polite but hesitant ‘no’, Jamaica Observer sources said, when she offered to keep him on the Opposition benches in the Senate, where his booming voice and penchant for strident debate were familiar features of Friday afternoons on Duke Street. “It was an immense honour and privilege for me to have served in leadership for so many years and to represent Jamaica in Government,” Nicholson said when contacted by the Sunday Observer. “I am moving now into a new direction in my life and career, where I will have the opportunity to spend more time with my family, return to the international lecture

circuit and to the Bar,” he disclosed. “Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to interact with some of Jamaica’s finest professionals within the civil service,“ he said. “I am grateful for all the help they have given me in delivering on my various portfolio responsibilities. I will always recall their kindness, proficiency and industry in their various areas of work.” The Bar includes a return to regional courts where Nicholson is remembered in legal circles for membership on the team of Jamaicans who defended the Grenada 17 accused of the murder of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and three of his ministers – the event that led to a United States invasion of the tiny eastern Caribbean island in October 1983. Nicholson’s decision not to continue in the Senate comes in the wake of the excruciatingly tiny 32 to 31 seats defeat by the Jamaica

Labour Party (JLP) over the PNP in the February 25 General Election which took place three days before his 74th birthday. Born in Rock River, Clarendon, Nicholson attended Excelsior School in 1953 and did a brief stint at the Income Tax Department before enrolling, in 1961, at University College of the West Indies, later renamed University of the West Indies (UWI), where he read for a degree in economics. At UWI he was heavily influenced by the late great cricketer Frank Worrell, later attributing his passion for regionalism to Sir Frank. That passion would gain flight in the fight for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) when he served as deputy chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the establishment of the CCJ from 1995 to 2007. Nicholson garnered experience as an accountant by Barclays Bank in London and returned to Jamaica to

become the first Jamaican to be hired by the first Jamaican bank, Jamaica Citizens Bank, at its establishment. A black power advocate, his disillusionment with racism at the bank, which was partowned by Americans, led him to pursue law in England. He was called to the Bar at Middle Temple Inn of Court, London, in 1971 and had the distinction of being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1995. Nicholson worked and learnt at the feet of the

late Ian Ramsay, one of the undisputed icons of legal history in Jamaica. Among his numerous cases were celebrated trials such as the Green Bay trial, in which several young men were allegedly lured to their deaths by soldiers; the Claudie Massop case featuring the killing by police of the feared Tivoli strongman; and the trial of Charles Johnson for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Michael Manley Government in the heady 1970s.

AJ Nicholson making a presentation in the Senate.


CARIBBEAN NEWS

No Obama meeting with Fidel Castro, says

White House The White House has ruled out an encounter between President Barack Obama and revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in Cuba this month and is confident the Cuban government will not create obstacles to a meeting between Obama and dissidents in Havana, a top adviser said on Wednesday. Despite the goal of improving ties between former Cold War foes, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Obama would not use his trip to meet Cuba’s demands that he shutter Radio and TV Marti, U.S. broadcasters created to transmit anti-communist programing to the island nation. Obama plans to hold talks with Cuban President Raul Castro during his historic March 20-22 visit but will not meet with Castro’s brother, a legendary figure who took power in a 1959 revolution and led Cuba for 49 years. “We’ve had no discussion about that meeting taking place, and we certainly wouldn’t seek it,” Rhodes, who was one of the negotiators in secret talks that led to a thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations, told Reuters in an interview. Asked if a meeting was ruled out, Rhodes said: “Yes.” A meeting with the elder Castro could overshadow a trip that is meant to focus on the future of the U.S.-Cuba relationship rather than its troubled past. Castro, 89, stepped down from power after a series of health problems and rarely leaves his Havana home, though he occasionally meets visiting dignitaries. The White House has said

previously it did not expect a Fidel Castro meeting to occur but did not say it was ruled out. The administration made clear when it set up Obama’s trip that he would meet with anti-government dissidents in Havana despite the Cuban leadership’s objections to what it sees as meddling in the country’s internal affairs. Rhodes said the list of participants had not been finalized and the meeting would take place in a U.S. facility, which suggests the U.S. embassy or ambassador’s residence. That meeting would take place after official events with Raul Castro. Cuban dissidents in the past have reported being detained in their homes or picked up by police en route to major international events such as summits or papal visits, but Rhodes said he did not anticipate that happening for Obama’s trip. “We haven’t worked out

the logistics, but ... they have not suggested that they will throw up those types of obstacles,” he said, adding the United States would be watching whether Cuba detained or harassed activists in connection with the visit. Two of Cuba’s most prominent dissidents, Berta Soler and Jose Daniel Ferrer, were detained on Tuesday, according to dissident groups. Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser, on Wednesday met with Cuban-American activists and U.S. human rights advocates and told them Obama would meet Cuban “independent civil society” representatives chosen by his aides, the White House said. Obama’s Republican critics have accused him of playing down human rights concerns in order to pursue rapprochement with Cuba, which began in December 2014 and is now seen as a major piece of his foreign policy legacy.

A picture of former Cuban President Fidel Castro is seen inside a private shop under refurbishment in Havana, February 24, 2016.

Cubans released from The Bahamas now in Florida The two Cubans held unlawfully in prison in The Bahamas for almost three years are now working in South Florida. Carlos Pupo Mendoza and Lazaro Seara Marin told The Tribune yesterday that they feared for their lives after they were labelled a national security risk by Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell. The men are each suing the government for $5m and Mr Mitchell for $1m. Writs were filed on Friday against Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Mr Mitchell, and Commissioner of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services Patrick Wright, seeking damages for assault, battery, false imprisonment,

malfeasance in public office and breaches of constitutional rights. The suit against Mr Mitchell is seeking damages for defamation of character, and malfeasance in public office in his personal capacity. The men are now working hard to restore normalcy to their lives after their “traumatic” and unlawful incarceration, according to Mr Marin’s brother Yeisnier Ferrer, who translated for the pair. “They felt that their life was in danger after what Mr Mitchell said about them being a national security risk,” Mr Ferrer said from Florida.

“They were afraid because people would recognise them and point them out. They had to run from people, they were afraid for their life.” He added: “They are reunited

with family members and are back to normal life. Both men are working, their plan is to stay here and continue with their lives. They’re trying to get back on their feet having their normal lives again.

“It’s a victory,” he added. On February 18, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Isaacs ruled they were unlawfully detained in prison. The next day, Mr Mitchell announced that an investigation had been launched into why the Supreme Court was persuaded to free them. Mr Mitchell said that the men posed a risk to the country’s national security.The men left the country on February 27, but did not wish to disclose by what means. According to Mr Ferrer, Mr Mendoza now has a driver’s licence

and is working in construction. Mr Marin is working at a golf course. Mr Ferrer said: “Freedom feels good but they still have (a) confusing mentality about that prison. They are traumatised.” Mr Marin added: “Bahamas has good people but the part that we lived wasn’t very good. We had a lot of unnecessary problems with a lot of gangs because of where we were.” The pair said they felt targeted because of their nationality, and also sent a warning to their fellow countrymen living in the Bahamas, as well as other oppressed minorities. They warned minorities to be on alert given the high crime level, which they felt had been made a political issue to the detriment of migrant communities.

New Jamaica PM names Cabinet, warns corruption

will not be tolerated Prime Minister Andrew Holness Monday named an 18-member Cabinet that he says will lay the blueprint for economic growth, create jobs and reduce public debt in Jamaica over the next five years. Holness, 43, who led his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to a one seat majority victory over the then ruling People’s National Party (PNP) in the February 25 general election, also warned members of his administration that “corruption will not be tolerated in this government”. He told the audience following the swearing ceremony that for the government to be successful

“the people who form the government must be willing to sacrifice first and to defend the long-term good of the country over short term expedient gratification. “I believe that our political process is evolving and that the people who form this government have made that sacrifice and we are defending the long-term good of the country”. Holness said that the focus, priority and direction of his administration “is to grow the economy, create jobs and reduce public debt to sustainable levels. “I have organised the government to accomplish this,” he said, making reference to the combination of some of the ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture with Industry and Commerce. “This is a clear signal of intent to accelerate and intensify the vertical integration of agriculture into commercial activity, not just with agro processing but with marketing and finance. Any deep reader would see the intention to create a production mode in the growth network,” he added. The Cabinet includes some ministers who had served previously in a Holness government, including Audley Shaw, who retained the post of Minister of Finance, Ed Bartlett, the Minister of Tourism and Dr. Christopher Tufton, the Minister of Health. “The structure of the Cabinet is an important signal to the country especially investors and entrepreneurs who want to understand the direction, priority and underlying ethic…of the government,” he said, adding that he is confident that the members of his cabinet “will do all these things”.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness


WORLDNEWS

New York officer who shot black teen will not be prosecuted

Federal prosecutors have decided not to pursue criminal charges against a white New York City police officer accused of shooting an unarmed black teenager to death in the Bronx in 2012 in a case that has drawn attention from civil rights advocates. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said there was

“insufficient evidence” to pursue charges against the officer, Richard Haste. His statement marked the end of an investigation into the death of Ramarley Graham, 18, who was shot inside the bathroom of his Bronx apartment after being followed by police officers. The evidence in the Feb. 2, 2012, shooting indicated that Haste believed Graham had a firearm and was reaching for it, Bharara’s office said. Bharara’s statement came shortly after he met with Graham’s parents, Constance Malcolm and Frank Graham, who held a news conference along with more than a dozen supporters outside the U.S. attorney’s offices after the meeting.

Malcolm called the decision a “slap in the face,” saying Haste “murdered my son.” “Same as usual, black life doesn’t matter,” Frank Graham said, adding that they would push for Haste’s termination. The New York Police Department said it would proceed with an internal disciplinary process. Haste’s lawyer, Stuart London, said that while there were “no winners,” Haste was “gratified” that he would not face prosecution. Bharara’s announcement comes amid heightened attention on excessive use of force by police against minorities. New York City police officer Peter Liang was convicted of manslaughter last month for his shooting of an unarmed black man, 28-year-old Akai Gurley. In 2014, a grand jury declined to charge a New York City officer in the chokehold death of another unarmed black man, Eric Garner, sparking nationwide protests. A federal investigation is ongoing.

Haste was indicted by a grand jury in the Bronx on state manslaughter charges in June 2012. A judge dismissed the indictment, finding that the grand jury received improper instructions. Police have said that several officers who had seen Graham on the street - including Haste - suspected he had a gun because of the way he moved his hands near his waist.

Haste and a partner followed Graham to his apartment building and kicked down his apartment door. Haste shot Graham in the chest in a bathroom, police said. In January 2015, New York City agreed to pay $3.9 million to resolve a federal lawsuit by the Graham family over the killing.

Constance Malcolm (L) and Frank Graham (R) parents of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham cry as they attend the arraignment of New York Police officer Richard Haste in Bronx Supreme Court, in New York, June 13, 2012.

Obama in ‘excellent’ health, still using nicotine gum: doctor

Coast Guard suspends search for man who fell off Royal Caribbean ship

President Barack Obama is in excellent health thanks to daily exercise and a good diet, driving his cholesterol level lower than it was a year and a half ago, his doctor said on Tuesday. Obama, 54, a former smoker, continues to use nicotine gum once in a while and takes medication for occasional acid reflux symptoms, the president’s physician, Ronny Jackson, said in a memo released by the White House. The results from Obama’s physical examination last month showed that his total cholesterol level fell to 188 from 213 in May 2014. His weight dropped to 175 pounds (79 kg) from 180 over that

period. Obama is 6 feet 1-1/2 inches (1.87 meters) tall. “The president’s overall health remains excellent and is improved from his last formal assessment,” Jackson wrote. Obama’s last assessment was released in June 2014. “His adherence to a healthy diet and a consistent exercise program has resulted in an improved lean body mass and lower cholesterol level. All clinical data indicates that the president is currently very healthy and that he will remain so for the duration of his presidency.” Obama leaves office in January 2017.

U.S. President Barack Obama plays a shot to the 18th green as he finishes a round of golf with friends at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii in this December 28, 2015 file photo. U.S. President Barack Obama is in excellent health thanks to daily exercise and a good diet, driving his cholesterol level lower compared to a year and a half ago, his doctor said on March.

The Coast Guard has called off the search for a Texas man who fell from a cruise ship off the coast of south Florida. David Mossman, 46, was on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. He fell about 100 feet from the 10th deck late Friday. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter and an aircraft to search for Mossman. On Sunday, however, the Coast Guard announced it was suspending the search. “We want to extend our

condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Mossman as the decision to suspend a search is never an easy one to make and is done with great care and deliberation,” said Chris Eddy, search-and-rescue technical specialist at the Coast Guard’s 7th District. “Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and an exhaustive search, our crews were unable to locate him.” Navigator of the Seas has 15 decks, 10 pools and whirlpools, and 16 bars, clubs and lounges, according to Royal Caribbean.

David Mossman, 46, was on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.

WORLD NEWSMARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016 TURKS & CAICOS SUN Page 37

WORLD NEWS

Supreme Court sides with lesbian over parental rights

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned an Alabama judicial ruling that had refused to recognize a gay woman’s parental rights over three children she adopted with her lesbian partner and raised from birth. The court took the relatively unusual step of reversing the Alabama Supreme Court without hearing oral arguments in the case. Cases are decided in that fashion when a lower court ruling is considered to be particularly counter to Supreme Court precedents. None of the eight justices dissented. The adoptive mother, identified in court papers as V.L, said she was overjoyed with the ruling. “When the Alabama court said my adoption was invalid and I wasn’t their

mother, I didn’t think I could go on. The Supreme Court has done what’s right for my family,” she said in a statement. The court said in an unsigned opinion that the Alabama court was required to recognize the woman’s parental rights because they

had been legally endorsed by a court in Georgia. The ruling said the Alabama court’s interpretation of the law was “not consistent” with prior Supreme Court decisions. Under the U.S. Constitution, state courts are required to recognize judgments issued by courts in

other states. The Alabama Supreme Court, led by outspoken conservative Chief Justice Roy Moore, has a history of hostility to gay rights. For example, it dragged its feet in implementing the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling last June legalizing gay marriage nationwide. The Supreme Court had already intervened in the case once before. In December, the court ordered that the Alabama ruling be put on hold while the woman filed a formal appeal of Alabama Supreme Court’s September ruling. Lawyers for the woman say the Alabama ruling had “effectively stripped V.L. of parental rights over the children she had raised since they were born.” V.L. was formerly in a relationship with a woman

identified as E.L., who is the birth mother of the three children, 13-year-old and 11-year-old twins. In 2007, a court in Georgia granted V.L.’s petition to adopt the children in a move that E.L. agreed to at the time. The couple split in 2011 and disagreed over custody arrangements. V.L. filed papers in Alabama seeking joint custody. Lower courts ruled in her favor before the state’s high court ruled in favor of her former partner. The state appeals court said it did not have to endorse the Georgia court’s adoption order. But the Alabama Supreme Court said that the Georgia court did not have jurisdiction to issue the adoption order. The two women were not married.

A general view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington June 8, 2015.

Texas set to execute man who killed ex-wife and four other people

Texas is set to execute on Wednesday a man who fatally shot five people in 1997 with a hunting rifle in a killing spree launched when he found his ex-wife having sex with other men. Coy Wesbrook, 58, is set to be put to death by lethal injection at 6 p.m. local time at the state’s death chamber in Huntsville. If the execution goes ahead, it would be the 535th in Texas since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, the most of any state. Wesbrook told a court he went to the Houston-area home of his ex-wife, Gloria Coons, seeking to reconcile. When he arrived he found other people in the residence and began drinking with them, court documents showed. Two men slipped away into his wife’s bedroom and when he went in, he found her having sex with one of them. He then went to his truck to fetch his gun. He went back and fatally

shot anyone who was still on the premises, killing his ex-wife, Antonio Cruz, Ruth Money, Anthony Rogers and Kelly Hazlip.He then calmly walked to his truck and waited.

Wesbrook, a former security guard, could be overheard saying “I did it. I did it. I did what I had to do,” neighbors testified. One man he shot dead was in the yard and the other victims were found inside. All had been shot at close range and his ex-wife was shot last, court documents showed. It took a jury about 90 minutes to sentence him to death. Lawyers for Wesbrook have tried unsuccessfully to have the execution halted arguing his rights have been denied and he is mentally impaired. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle published on Monday, Wesbrook said he spends his time studying the Bible, reading religious books and listening to gospel shows on the radio. He also said he is ready to die. “I’m looking forward to it,” he told the paper.

Death row inmate Coy Wesbrook is shown in this undated Texas Department of Criminal Justice photo

Philippine court shakes up election race by allowing

Poe to run The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a senator who spent much of her life in the United States is eligible to run for president, reversing a decision by the election commission and putting her in line to reclaim her position as frontrunner. Voting 9-6, the judges allowed first-term Senator Grace Poe to run in the May election, said court spokesman Theodore Te, a decision that will shake up what is now a tight race to succeed President Benigno Aquino. Poe, 47, was abandoned as a child in a church and adopted. She moved to the United States when she was a student and settled there. She had been leading opinion polls, but questions about her citizenship allowed three of her four rivals to catch up. “This is a victory for the Filipino people, for those oppressed ... a victory for women,” Poe told a cheering crowd at an international women’s day celebration at a park in Manila. “Women’s role goes beyond looking after homes, we can do a lot of things. Let’s make 2016 the year when women triumph in government.” Aquino, in power since 2010, is barred under the constitution from seeking a second term.The election is being closely watched by investors who fear the political succession could derail average economic growth of more than 6 percent a year and derail efforts to crack down on corruption made under Aquino. Aquino’s chosen successor, former interior minister Manuel Roxas, is lagging behind in opinion polls, coming third behind Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was in a statistical tie with Poe in the latest independent poll. Poe has campaigned on a pro-poor campaign, promising to build on Aquino’s program of creating jobs and building infrastructure, which have helped propel one of Asia’s fastest growing economies.Edmund Tayao, a political science professor at Catholic-run University of Santo Tomas, said the court ruling could boost Poe’s numbers by at least 10 points, boosting her chances of winning the May vote. “This might not be not on the same level of a black swan as it was in 2010 when democracy icon Cory Aquino died, but it could be a game changer,” Tayao said, referring to the landslide victory of Aquino after the death of his mother, who had also been president.

David Cameron to seek re-election as Witney MP in 2020

David Cameron has told the BBC he will seek re-election as the Conservative MP for Witney at the 2020 general election despite standing down as prime minister this Parliament. The prime minister ruled out running for a third term in office ahead of the 2015 general election. He said if he won he would serve the full five years of this Parliament, until 2020, and then leave Number 10. Mr Cameron has been the MP for Witney, in Oxfordshire, since 2001.He was re-elected in 2015 with a

majority of 25,155. Speaking to BBC deputy political editor James Landale last March, Mr Cameron had said:

“I’ve said I’ll stand for a full second term, but I think after that it will be time for new leadership. “Terms are like Shredded Wheat - two are wonderful but three might just be too many.” There has since been much speculation over who will succeed him as prime minister, with Mr Cameron tipping Home Secretary Theresa May, Chancellor George Osborne and London Mayor Boris Johnson as potential leaders. Mr Cameron was asked

at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday if he would resign as PM if the UK voted to leave the EU - against his recommendation - in June. He replied: “No”.

David Cameron


WORLD NEWS

Iran tests more missiles, says capable of reaching Israel

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday that it said were designed to be able to hit Israel, defying U.S. criticism of similar tests carried out the previous day. State television showed footage of two Qadr missiles being launched from northern Iran which the IRGC said hit targets 1,400 km (870 miles) away. Tests on Tuesday drew a threat of new sanctions from the United States. “The reason we designed our missiles with a range of 2,000 km is to be able to hit our enemy

the Zionist regime from a safe distance,” Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the ISNA agency. The nearest point in Iran is around 1,000 km from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iranian agencies said the missiles tested on Wednesday were stamped with the words

“Israel should be wiped from the pages of history” in Hebrew, though the inscription could not be seen on any photographs. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told Israel Radio the tests showed Iran’s hostility had not changed since implementing a nuclear deal with world powers

in January, despite President Hassan Rouhani’s overtures to the West. “To my regret there are some in the West who are misled by the honeyed words of part of the Iranian leadership while the other part continues to procure equipment and weaponry, to arm terrorist groups,” Yaalon said. The IRGC maintains dozens of short and medium-range ballistic missiles, the largest stock in the Middle East. It says they are solely for defensive use with conventional, non-nuclear warheads. Tehran has denied U.S. accusations of acting “provocatively”, citing the long history of U.S. interventions in the Middle East and its own right to self-defense. The United States said it would raise Tuesday’s tests at the U.N. Security Council, where resolution 2231 calls on the Islamic Republic not to develop missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Washington also imposed sanctions against businesses and individuals in January over another missile test in October 2015. But the IRGC said it would not bow to pressure.

A ballistic missile is launched and tested in an undisclosed location, Iran, in this handout photo released by Farsnews on March 9, 2016

ISIS commander still alive, badly wounded:

Syria Observatory The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that Islamic State’s military commander was badly wounded but still alive, appearing to contradict U.S. officials who said he was likely killed in a U.S. air strike. The U.S. officials said on Tuesday that Abu Omar al-Shishani, also known as Omar the Chechen and described by the Pentagon as the group’s “minister of war”, was targeted near the town of al-Shadadi in Syria. Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said he had been badly wounded but not killed and had been moved to Islamic State’s base of operations in Raqqa for treatment.

“He did not die,” Abdulrahman said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says it gathers its information from all sides in the conflict. Reuters had no way to independently verify the report. Born in 1986 in Georgia, which was then still part of the Soviet Union, the red-bearded Shishani had a reputation as a close military adviser to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was said by followers to have relied heavily on Shishani. The strike itself involved multiple waves of manned and unmanned aircraft, targeting Shishani near al-Shadadi in Syria, a U.S. official said. The Pentagon believes Shishani was sent there to bolster Islamic State troops after they suffered a series of setbacks at the hands of U.S.-allied Arab and Kurdish forces on the ground. An official in the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has been fighting Islamic State in the al-Shadadi area, said on Tuesday it had received information that Shishani was killed but had no details and had been unable to confirm the death. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Senior Islamic State leader, Abu Omar al-Shishani, also known as Omar the Chechen.

Fate of lawsuit brought by Trump model to be decided this month

A judge will decide by the end of this month whether to proceed with a proposed class action lawsuit filed by a Jamaican fashion model against Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s modeling agency, the judge’s office said. Alexia Palmer accuses Trump Model Management LLC of lying to the federal government in its work-visa application that said she would be paid a $75,000-a-year salary while living in the United States, according to court documents. Instead, according to court papers, Palmer received a total of $3,880.75 during the three years she was under contract with the agency. The complaint alleges “fraudulent misrepresentation” and violations of U.S. immigration and labor laws. It asks for $225,000 in back pay. The suit was originally filed in October 2014. A decision on a pending motion by Trump Model Management to dismiss is expected by the end of March, the clerk for Judge Analisa Torres, who is presiding over the case in the U.S District Court, Southern District, told Reuters. If Torres rules the case can proceed, it could revive attention on Trump’s foreign labor practices at a time when the celebrity billionaire’s rise in American politics has riveted the world’s attention. Trump’s lawyers have called the case “frivolous” and

“without merit.” In court

documents, they said Palmer wasn’t an employee and was more than adequately compensated for a “very brief stint as a fashion model,” which they say amounted to less than 10 days of work over three years. Reuters could not independently confirm that assertion. “At the end of the day, this model just didn’t have a successful career, and we fully expect to win,” said Lawrence Rosen, a lawyer for Trump Model

Management. Although Trump owns the modeling agency, the suit does not name him. Trump’s campaign spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said in a statement that Trump Model Management’s treatment of Palmer was in line with “standard practice in the modeling industry.” Palmer’s lawyer, Naresh Gehi, says his client was cheated of earnings and seduced by a life of glamour that never materialized.

“The visa application the company filed with the government requires that people are paid the full amount,” Gehi said. “It’s a requirement.” Palmer, who was 17 when she came to New York in 2011, was not available to comment. Sylvia Ayass, a lawyer who has worked with models on visas like Palmer’s, said agencies typically pay what they state on visa applications. Trump has won Republican frontrunner status in the 2016 election in large part by positioning himself as a champion of the American worker who will deport illegal immigrants, build a wall with Mexico and do away with the off shoring of U.S. jobs. This is not the first time Trump’s labor practices have drawn criticism. A Reuters story published in August revealed that Trump’s companies sought to import at least 1,100 workers on temporary visas since 2000. Of those, 250 were filed for foreign fashion models, according to the Reuters analysis of federal Department of Labor data.

Model Alexia Palmer, who is suing Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s Trump Model Management LLC of lying to the federal government, is shown is this undated handout photo released on March 8, 2016.

Australian Navy says seizes huge weapons cache headed for Somalia

An Australian Navy ship has seized a huge cache of weapons near Oman’s coast from a fishing vessel bound for Somalia, the navy said on Monday, exposing a possible violation of a U.N. Security Council arms embargo. The United Nations has a decades-long arms embargo in place against Somalia, which has been mired in conflict since civil war broke out in 1991. The Australian navy, which patrols waters around the Indian Ocean as part of an international maritime force, said it had seized nearly 2,000 AK-47 rifles, 100 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 49 PKM machine guns, 39 PKM spare barrels and 20 mortar tubes from the fishing vessel. “The weapons were seized under United Nations sanctions, which authorize interdiction on the high seas of illicit weapons destined for Somalia,” the navy said in a statement.In 2013, the U.N Security Council eased some of the embargo restrictions, allowing the Western-backed government in Mogadishu to buy light weapons to bolster its armed forces in the battle against Islamist al Shabaab insurgents, who are aligned with al Qaeda.One Western security source said the street value of the Australian Navy haul appeared to be more than $2 million.


WORLD NEWS

WHO: Sexual transmission of Zika more common than thought

Sexual transmission of the Zika virus is more common than previously thought, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, citing reports from several countries. After a meeting of its emergency committee on Tuesday, the U.N. health agency also said there is increasing evidence that a spike in disturbing birth defects and neurological problems are caused by Zika, which is mostly spread by mosquito bites. When WHO declared the explosive outbreak in the Americas to be a global emergency last month, it said that the evidence that Zika was responsible was only circumstantial. WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said “reports and investigations in several countries strongly suggest that sexual transmission of the virus is more common than previously assumed.” The U.S. is investigating more than a dozen possible cases of Zika in people who may have been infected through sex. Dr. Bruce Aylward, who is directing WHO’s response to Zika, said the cases seen so far of sexual transmission of Zika have been from men to women. He doubted sex would play an important role in the disease’s spread. “The mosquito is undoubtedly still the main driver of transmission,”

he said. Chan also said nine countries have now reported increasing cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare condition that may be linked to Zika and can cause temporary paralysis and death in people of all ages. She said that problems connected to Zika, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, are now being seen not just in women of child-bearing age, but children, teenagers and older adults. Zika is also now spreading to new countries, WHO said. It noted local transmission has now been reported in 31 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. “All of this news is alarming,” Chan said. Despite the lack of definitive evidence proving that Zika causes birth defects and neurological problems, Chan said officials shouldn’t wait for definitive scientific proof before making recommendations. “Microcephaly is now only one of several documented birth abnormalities associated with Zika infection during pregnancy,” she said, adding that it can cause growth problems, injuries to the central nervous system and fetal death.WHO’s emergency committee called for “intensified” research into the relationship between new clusters of babies born with abnormally small

heads and other neurological disorders. It said particular attention should be given to studying the genetics of the different Zika virus strains and establishing studies to determine if there is a causal relationship. The agency also noted it was important to continue studying whether other factors could be responsible for the jump in microcephaly and neurological problems, including whether several causes combined might be to blame. Aylward explained that scientists were focusing on diseases as the main suspect, noting the evidence seems

“really compelling that you’re looking at an infectious process here.” So far, cases of babies born with small, deformed heads linked

to Zika have only been confirmed in Brazil and French Polynesia, though officials say they expect reports from other countries once the virus has been circulating there long enough to affect pregnant women. Colombia has reported several suspected cases of microcephaly. “Women who are pregnant in affected countries or travel to these countries are understandably deeply worried,” Chan said. WHO recommends pregnant women avoid travel to areas with ongoing Zika outbreaks and that if their partners travel to affected countries, they should practice safe sex or abstain from sex for the duration of their pregnancy.

China’s Margaret Chan, General Director of the World Health Organization

Trump already a tainted name in Indonesia after Muslim ban remarks

Few villagers living near a half-built golf course in Indonesia’s West Java province know the name Donald Trump, and fewer still are aware that one of his firms will be managing a six-star hotel and luxury

resort in their backyard. But in the capital Jakarta, a growing number of Indonesians want the U.S. presidential candidate and his businesses banned from the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation after Trump pledged to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States if elected. The anger simmering across the Pacific is a likely preview of the strained relations a Trump presidency could expect not only in Indonesia, but from the rest of the Muslim world. Indonesia, whose more than 200 million Muslims largely practice a moderate form of Islam, has close relations with the United States. Many Indonesians think highly of President Barack Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Jakarta. “If (Trump) continues his racist position, it will bring danger to American assets,” Hasanuddin, a parliamentarian who is also a member of the assembly’s commission overseeing foreign policy, told Reuters.

“Donald Trump’s arrogance could be harmful for U.S. citizens around the

world.” Fadli Zon, the deputy speaker of the house, told Reuters he would seek restrictions on U.S. trade and investment if Trump became president.The United States is Indonesia’s second-largest export market, worth about $16 billion last year, and is a popular study destination with children of the elite. An online petition, set up anonymously, is urging Indonesian President Joko Widodo to ban the billionaire and his businesses from the country and has received more than 45,000 signatures. “Donald Trump doesn’t want Muslims of the world to enter the United States... so we should do the same to him,” signatory Ayu Dyah wrote on the petition website. “Condemn, refuse and boycott every Donald Trump business and his affiliations...We should prove that we have power.” Widodo has not responded to the petition. Trump’s comments on Muslims have already provoked strong reactions elsewhere, with British politicians in January debating barring the real

estate tycoon from entering the country, where he also has business interests. The hostility toward Trump could threaten his company’s expansion efforts into Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Indonesian lawmakers and government officials said. “It’s just his statement hurts many people in this Muslim-majority country,” Edy Putra Irawady, Indonesia’s deputy chief economic minister, told Reuters. “Surely it will be a black shadow for his business.” Representatives for Donald Trump did not respond to requests for comment. Trump Hotels Collection last year announced a partnership with Indonesia’s PT Media Nusanta Citra (MNC) to manage new luxury hotels on Bali and in West Java, the Trump unit’s first foray into Asia. In Bali, one of Asia’s most popular holiday destinations, Trump Hotels will operate a six-star hotel built atop a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean and Tanah Lot, a popular sea temple located on a small rock formation.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Cadillac, Michigan, in this March 4, 2016 file photo.

U.S. Air Force faces shortage of fighter pilots: officials The United States Air Force is facing a shortage of more than 500 fighter pilots which is expected to widen to more than 800 by 2022, Air Force officials said on Tuesday. The shortage stems from a reduction in the number of active duty fighter squadrons, according to a statement by several Air Force officials at a U.S. Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing. “Without these fighter pilots, the Air Force will be very challenged to continue to provide the air supremacy upon which all our other forces depend,” the Air Force officials said in the written

statement. The statement said the shortage would affect air operations expertise and lead to a “gradual erosion of fighter pilot experience in test and training.” Speaking with reporters after the hearing, Lieutenant General James Holmes, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements for the Air Force, said the shortage had been caused by a decrease in the number of squadrons, which produce about four experienced fighter pilots a year. There are currently 54 squadrons in the Air Force,

compared with more than 100 fighter squadrons at the time of the Gulf War in 1990-1991. “The remaining active component fighter squadrons do not produce enough experienced fighter pilots to meet all of the staff, test and training requirements,” the statement added. Holmes said to deal with the issue, the Air Force would likely put new active duty pilots into guard and reserve squadrons to gain experience.

“But ultimately we’re going to have to increase production and we’re going to have to increase absorption

so we can fix the problem,” he said. Holmes told lawmakers at the hearing that the Air Force would provide a plan next year try to retain as many pilots as possible in the short term. Lieutenant General John Raymond, deputy chief of staff for operations, said retention was made difficult by airlines hiring thousands of fighter pilots. According to a 2015 study by the Rand Corporation, the Air Force faced a persistent shortage because there was a gap between the requirements for a fighter pilot and the Air Force’s capacity to train them.

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Chinese pilot project could bring electronic

tracking to all cars

The southern city of Shenzhen became the first in China to issue electronic IDs to 200,000 vehicles as part of a pilot project that could eventually allow the real-time tracking of all cars, the state-owned company providing the technology said. The first batch of IDs was issued to eight types of vehicles including heavy duty trucks, vehicles for carrying hazardous materials and school buses, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASC) said in a statement which was also posted on

Wednesday on the website of the central government agency that oversees state-owned companies. If successful, the project will be expanded to all private cars in the city, the statement said. The government has in the past trialled projects in Shenzhen before rolling them out across the country. The project could pave the way for autonomous driving, which requires vehicles to communicate with each other and traffic infrastructure in real-time, but also raises concerns over

invasive government measures amid efforts to register every Internet user’s real name. The electronic markers will use radio-frequency identification that can be used in conjunction with traffic monitoring equipment, the CASC statement said, adding that it would help cut down on fake license plates and other illegal activity, while also allowing accurate data gathering for “smart traffic applications”. Issuing set identities for every car could also help implement targeted transport policies, such as those proposed by Wang Fengying, the general manager of Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor and a representative in parliament this week. On Monday, Wang filed a proposal that would make petrol more expensive for gas guzzlers by requiring a card to be issued and linked to every car based on the fuel economy of the model, with more efficient vehicles paying less.Wang similarly proposed a law suggesting a system of taxes and fees for cars based on how much they drive among other data.

Pedestrians walk across a bridge as cars travel along a main road on a hazy day in central Beijing August 12, 2011.

Chipotle’s shares drop after latest food safety incident

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc fell more than 6 percent in morning trading on Wednesday, a day after the popular burrito chain operator said it would temporarily shut a Massachusetts restaurant after four employees fell sick. Chipotle is trying to repair its reputation after a series of food-safety incidents, including two E.Coli outbreaks that sickened about 50 people in 14 states and two separate norovirus outbreaks in Massachusetts and California. “We suspect that investors and consumers will be sensitive to this announcement, particularly in light of the adverse news flow over the last six months at Chipotle,” CRT Capital analyst Lynne Collier said in note to clients. “The publicity around this news announcement will be another negative data-point that may affect consumer demand.” Chipotle’s sales have fallen sharply since the E. Coli outbreaks late last year. Sales in the quarter ended Jan. 31 were down 18 percent compared with the third quarter. The restaurant hit by the latest food scare, in the town of Billerica, outside Boston, was closed for a full cleaning, company spokesman Chris Arnold said on Tuesday. The company and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that no customers were known to be sick. “This is under investigation by local health department,” Massachusetts DPH spokesman Scott Zoback said by email. Chipotle did not immediately respond to requests for comment or additional information on Wednesday. The company temporarily closed all of its U.S. restaurants on Feb. 8 during prime lunchtime hours to hold staff meetings on food safety. Up to Tuesday’s close of $524.69, the company’s stock had fallen about 18 percent since the first E.coli outbreak was reported on Oct. 31.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is seen in uptown Washington, February 8, 2016.

The Samsung S7’s camera now rivals the iPhone It’s difficult to justify paying for a high-priced, top-end smartphone these days — unless, that is, you want to take good pictures. In this Age of Instagram, a great camera is one of the few reasons to pay $650 or more for the latest smartphone, instead of $200 or $300 for a budget phone that does texting, Facebook and Web surfing just as well. Samsung’s phone cameras have shown tremendous improvement in just a few years. The new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones take much better pictures than last year’s S6 models. In fact, they’re now basically neck and neck with Apple’s iPhones, meaning that you no longer have to compromise on picture quality if you prefer Android. I took more than 2,000 still shots and a few videos using 10 smartphones from Samsung, Apple, LG, Huawei and Motorola. To make the comparison clearer, I focused on indoor and night settings, such as museums, bars and New York’s Central Park at night. Even budget phones can take great shots in good light, but only great phones take good shots in poor light. I was impressed with the S7’s ability to capture Central Park’s unlighted Bethesda Fountain at night. Shots from most other phones appear pitch black, save for a faint outline

of the fountain’s statue and some distant light from building windows. The S7 was also more likely to get the focus right on its own, without having to choose a focus area first by touching the phone screen. Even with touching, focusing sometimes takes a second or two on other cameras. I don’t get that lag with the S7, meaning fewer missed action shots. The lens and image sensors on the S7 aren’t large enough to match the capabilities of full-bodied SLR cameras, but the phones borrow some of the focus and light-capturing technologies found on more sophisticated shooters. These technologies combined result in brighter, sharper images in low light. The S7 also has a wider-angle lens than last year’s S6 models, one that now matches iPhone hardware. It captures more of what’s in front of you. Among other things, people don’t have to squeeze together as tightly for group shots. Samsung also corrected some design deficiencies in earlier models. The S7’s camera lens no longer protrudes awkwardly, as it did on the S6. Its screen turns into a flash for low-light selfies, just like the latest iPhones. (That means my selfies now look awful because of their subject and not

the low light.) The S7 also takes photos in a standard 4-by-3 rectangle, not the wider 16-by-9 frame of the S6. While overall megapixel count is lower on the S7, that’s entirely a consequence of the narrower width, which yields a photo like an S6 shot with its far edges chopped off. Many indoor shots come out yellowish, possibly reflecting the yellowish nature of indoor lighting. On the S7, books look as though they’ve yellowed from being out in the sun too long. Egg whites on a burger don’t look so white (though bacon comes out brighter, with more detail). Faces are more orange than usual. Odd colors can make pictures look better, but they often don’t seem natural. Of all of the phones I tested, the S7 and iPhone 6S produced the most consistent low-light photos. The S7 shots typically had better focus, while the iPhone pictures looked more natural, with colors typically mirroring how you see things. The S7 has also cloned Apple’s Live Photos feature, in which the camera captures short video clips as it’s taking still photos. The feature is on by default on the iPhone, but you need to turn it on with the S7. Unlike the iPhone version, Samsung’s Motion Photo has no sound.

a Samsung Galaxy S7, left, and S7 Edge are displayed during the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2016 event on the eve of the Mobile World Congress wireless show, in Barcelona, Spain. Samsung’s phone cameras have shown tremendous improvements in just a few years. The new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge phones take better pictures than last year’s S6 models. They are neck and neck with Apple’s iPhones, such that you no longer have to compromise on picture quality if you prefer Android.



Bangladesh loses $100 million, allegedly to

Chinese hackersThe Bangladesh central bank says it is working to recover some $100 million allegedly stolen by Chinese hackers from an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.Authorities have given few details about how the money disappeared. But Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith says authorities are considering suing the U.S. bank over the money’s apparent transfer to accounts in the Philippines.Muhith said the U.S. bank has “no way to avoid their responsibility.”The New York Fed put out a brief statement through its Twitter account on Monday, saying “Regarding hacking reports, there is no evidence of attempts to penetrate

Federal Reserve systems & no evidence Fed systems were compromised.” Offices of the bank, one of 12 U.S. federal banks across America, were closed at night and officials were not immediately reachable for further comment.The Bangladesh Bank said it managed to recover some of the funds, but gave no details. It has also tracked down those still missing and is working with the anti-money laundering agency in the Philippines, which has been ordered by a court in the country to freeze the accounts while the issue is being investigated. Bangladesh also is working with World Bank cyber and forensic experts, the bank said in a statement.The country’s leading Bengali-

language Prothom Alo newspaper reported Wednesday that at least 30 transfer requests were made Feb. 5 using the Bangladesh Bank’s SWIFT code, out of which five succeeded in effecting transfers.Economist Mamun Rashid, who previously headed Citibank NA in Bangladesh, said he was sure the country would be able to recover the full amount.

“Bangladesh is a client of the Federal Reserve Bank. They must take the responsibility for this incident,” he said. “But we have to see whether we have lodged our complaint properly.”Since hacking has been a threat for years, he said clients should not suffer if depositing with large banks. “A client’s right must be protected.”

U.S. jobless claims hit five-month low as labor market strengthens

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, hitting its lowest level since October, pointing to sustained strength in the labor market that should further dispel fears of a recession. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 259,000 for the week ended March 5, the lowest reading since mid-October, the Labor Department said on Thursday. “The labor market continues to be the light shining through the foggy state of the global economy ... the recent improvement in a host of economic data should provide a bit of relief that the expansion still has legs,” said Jim Baird, chief investment Officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Jobless claims are being watched for signs of labor market weakness following a recent massive stock market sell-off that caused a tightening in financial market conditions amid slowing global growth and fears the U.S. economy was heading into recession. So far, the jobs market remains on strong footing, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 242,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate holding at an eight-year low of 4.9 percent. The recession fears have also been soothed by strong consumer spending at the start of the year, as well as signs of some stabilization in the troubled manufacturing sector. A tightening labor market and firming inflation could see the Federal Reserve gradually raising interest rates this year. The U.S. central

bank hiked its benchmark overnight interest rate in December for the first time in nearly a decade. “A data dependent Fed should be focused on these developments and see that the most up-to-date, high-frequency measure of economic activity in the U.S. shows no signs of slackening growth in response to market volatility and developments abroad,” said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics in New York. The Fed is, however, not expected to raise borrowing costs at its meeting next week. U.S. stock were little changed after opening higher following the European Central Bank’s decision to lower key interest rates and expand its bond purchase program in an effort to stimulate growth in the euro zone. The dollar weakened against a basket of currencies and U.S. Treasury debt prices fell. E c o n o m i s t s polled by Reuters had forecast claims slipping to 275,000 last week. Claims have now been below the 300,000 threshold, which is associated with healthy labor market conditions, for a year - the longest run since the early 1970s. The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell 2,500 to 267,500 last week, the lowest level since late October. The claims report showed the number of people still receiving benefits after an initial week of aid dropped 32,000 to 2.23 million in the week ended Feb. 27. The four-week average of the so-called continuing claims fell 4,500 to 2.25 million.

A job seeker fills out papers at a military job fair in San Francisco, California, August 25, 2015.

Oil prices ease off multi-month highs

Oil prices dipped on Thursday, after hitting three-month highs this week, with analysts warning that larger gains would be unwarranted as refineries enter seasonal maintenance and a global glut weighs. Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $40.75 per barrel at 1329 GMT, down 32 cents from their last close, having earlier this week peaked at $41.48, the highest level since Dec. 9. U.S. crude CLc1 was down 1 cent at $38.28 per barrel, having hit $38.51 on Tuesday, also its highest since Dec. 9. “Fundamentally you would expect prices to weaken from here because we’re about to head into peak refinery

turnaround season,” said Virendra Chauhan, an analyst at Energy Aspects. “We expect weakness in the physical market as demand from refineries comes off.” Global demand for crude oil typically dips when refineries around the world enter seasonal maintenance in spring, ahead of peak summer demand. Prices rose as much as 5 percent on Wednesday, after a big gasoline inventory drawdown in the United States overshadowed record-high crude stockpiles. But analysts warned that a global crude production overhang of more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) showed few signs of abating. The focus lies on a

potential agreement to rein in output between producers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, and non-OPEC exporters including Russia. Yet beyond announced talks about freezing output near record levels - which Latin American producers said on Thursday had been delayed - no deal has been reached. Barclays said there was no talk of a production cut during a research trip to Saudi Arabia and the country’s goal was to keep production at around 10.2 million bpd over the next five years. Most analysts expect the oil glut to last into 2017 or even 2018, resulting in low prices. Only by 2020 is there a consensus for prices to rise towards $70 a barrel, based on low investment in production. The European Central Bank cut all three of its interest rates and expanded its asset-buying program on Thursday, delivering a bigger-than-expected cocktail of actions to boost the economy and stop ultra low inflation becoming entrenched. Surprising markets, it cut its main refinancing rate to zero from 0.05 percent. The dollar strengthened against the euro in the wake of the news, potentially hampering dollar-traded oil imports.

Pump jacks are seen at the Lukoil company owned Imilorskoye oil field, as the sun sets, outside the West Siberian city of Kogalym, Russia, January 25, 2016.

WORLD NEWSBUSINESS & TECHNOLOGYPage 42 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 12TH, 2016 – MARCH 19TH, 2016

German court rules against use of Facebook “like” button

A German court has ruled against an online shopping site’s use of Facebook’s “like” button on Wednesday, dealing a further legal blow to the world’s biggest social network in Germany. The Duesseldorf district court said that retailer Peek & Cloppenburg failed to obtain proper consent before transmitting its users’ computer identities to Facebook, violating Germany’s data protection law and giving the retailer a commercial advantage. The court found in favor of the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Association, which had complained that Peek & Cloppenburg’s Fashion ID website had grabbed user data and sent it to Facebook before shoppers had decided whether to click on the

“like” button or not. “A mere link to a data protection statement at the foot of the website does not constitute an indication that data are being or are about to be processed,” the court said. Peek & Cloppenburg faces

a penalty of up to 250,000 euros ($275,400) or six months’ detention for a manager. The case comes on the heels of a January ruling by Germany’s highest court against Facebook’s “friend finder” feature and an announcement last week by Germany’s competition regulator that it was investigating Facebook for suspected abuse of market power with regard to data protection laws. Facebook’s ability to target advertising, helped by features such as its “like” button, drove a 52 percent revenue jump in the final quarter of

2015. Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, is one of the world’s strictest enforcers of data protection laws and its citizens have a high sensibility to privacy issues. “The ruling has fundamental significance for the assessment of the legality of the ‘like’ function with respect to data protection,” said lawyer Sebastian Meyer, who represented the consumer group in the case. “Companies should put pressure on the social network to adapt the ‘like’ function to the prevailing law.”

The association has also warned hotel portal HRS, Nivea maker Beiersdorf, shopping loyalty program Payback, ticketing company Eventim and fashion retailer KiK about similar use of the “like” button. It said that four of those had since changed their practices. A first hearing in a case it has brought against Payback is due in a Munich court in May. Peek & Cloppenburg said that it had changed its deployment of the “like” button last year and now required users to activate social media before sharing data with Facebook. It said it would wait for the court’s written reasons for its judgment before deciding whether to appeal. A Facebook spokesman said:

“This case is specific to a particular website and the way they have sought consent from their users in the past. “The Like button, like many other features that are used to enhance websites, is an accepted, legal and important part of the Internet, and this ruling does not change that.”

A man walks in front of the Facebook logo at the new Facebook Innovation Hub during a preview media tour in Berlin, Germany, February 24, 2016.

Big U.S. banks to take on tech rivals with instant payments

Depositors at some of the largest U.S. banks are finally going to get the chance to do something quick and simple: send money to another person’s account instantaneously by mobile phone. The idea has been in the works for at least five years, and in the meantime, Silicon Valley has made incursions into the industry’s role as a payment intermediary. But now, big banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp, Wells Fargo & Co and U.S. Bancorp are starting to plug into a system they jointly own, called clearXchange, that will allow each others’ customers to transfer money in a flash when they split a dinner check, rent payment or vacation bill. “What we are doing now is delivering payments in real time, which is what our customers have asked for,” Mary Harman, managing director for payments at Bank of America, said in an interview. The bank is one of two that have started rolling out the system to customers. While technology companies like PayPal Holdings and Facebook Inc already offer snazzy payment apps that appeal to young consumers, the banking industry has a crucial advantage because it controls how quickly money actually moves between bank accounts. Individuals transferred some $200 billion to one another using mobile phones and computers last year, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. Bank executives and analysts who closely track payment systems say that if clearXchange is fast, functional and user-friendly, banks can make up for lost ground. Bank of America plans to announce on Wednesday that its customers can transfer funds

instantly through clearXchange with customers of U.S. Bancorp, which said last week that it was plugged into the speediest part of the network. JPMorgan Chase & Co and Capital One Financial Corp representatives told Reuters they plan to offer the service later this year. Wells Fargo & Co said on Wednesday that it is working to roll out instant payments in the middle of this year. Analysts expect PNC Financial Services Group Inc will also start this year. A representative declined to comment. Those six banks are among the seven largest by deposits in the United States. Regional bank BB&T Corp is also one of the seven owners of the network, but is not ready to announce its plans, a spokesman said. Citigroup, which has the fourth most U.S. deposits, has not joined clearXchange. A spokeswoman declined to say why.

Citigroup uses an older network called Popmoney, which is owned by Fiserv Inc, for person-to-person payments. Today, if a customer wants to transfer cash to another person digitally — whether on an app like Paypal’s Venmo, or through an individual bank’s payment transfer system, like Chase’s QuickPay — it usually takes one to three days for money to move to an account at another institution. On clearXchange, the cash can move instantaneously with the tap of a finger. The initiative is particularly important for banks as their customer base shifts from a generation that cashed paper checks and got mortgages by walking into a branch, to one that goes online first to transact and borrow. It’s important for banks to cater to 18-to-34-year-old Americans in the so-called Millennial generation as they enter their prime years for borrowing and saving

A sign outside the headquarters of JP Morgan Chase & Co in New York, September 19, 2013.

Nikkei snaps three-day losing streak on improved

risk appetite Japanese stocks rose for the first time in four days on Thursday after a bounce in oil prices overnight strengthened risk appetite, while exporters benefited from a weaker yen and expectations of further easing from the European Central Bank. The Nikkei share average rose 1.3 percent to 16,852.35. Medical Electronics Company Hoya Corp gained 1.9 percent after Deutsche Bank upgraded it to “buy” from “hold,” citing healthy balance sheet and a “multitude of strategic options” for mid and long-term investors. The Topix subindex for electric and gas shed 3.1 percent after a Japanese court ordered operations at two of Japan’s four on line nuclear reactors to halt, dimming prospects for further restart. The operator of these two reactors, Kansai Electric Power Co Inc, plunged 14.7 percent and weighed heavily on the index. The broader Topix climbed 1.5 percent to end the day at 1,352.17 with all but two of its 33 subindexes in positive territory.



Wall Street falls as ECB’s Draghi signals end to rate cuts

Wall Street reversed course and slipped sharply into the red in volatile trading on Thursday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi signaled an end to further rate cuts. Stocks had jumped earlier in the day after the ECB pushed deposit rate deeper into negative territory and

increased its asset-buying program to 80 billion euros a month from 60 billion euros in an effort to boost growth in the region. “This is a classic case of ‘buy the rumor and sell the news’,” said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of Sarhan Capital in New York. “Over the last few weeks,

stocks had soared in anticipation of more easy money, and now that we’ve got the news, stocks are selling off,” Sarhan said. Crude prices, the stock market’s other major driver, fell after Reuters reported that a proposed meeting between major oil producers to discuss an output cut was unlikely to take place without Iran’s participation. Brent crude was off more than 2 percent. [O/R] At 12:31 p.m. ET (1731 GMT), the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was down 107.41 points, or 0.63 percent, at 16,892.95, the S&P 500 .SPX was down 10.84 points, or 0.54 percent, at 1,978.42 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was down 31.36 points, or 0.67 percent, at 4,643.02. All 10 major S&P sectors turned negative, led by the energy sector .SPNY, which fell 1.13 percent. Exxon (XOM.N) was off 1.3 percent at $81.35. The S&P financial sector .SPSY was down 1 percent, led by a 2 percent fall in JPMorgan (JPM.N) shares. While economic data from Asia

and Europe show faltering growth, a recovery in the U.S. economy has been gathering momentum. U.S. jobless claims fell more than expected to their lowest levels since October, pointing to sustained strength in the labor market that should further dispel fears of a recession. The Fed has said it is on track to raise interest rates gradually this year, but its decision will depend largely on the economy’s capacity to absorb an increase amid the global economic turmoil. The Fed is set to meet on March 15-16. Shares of Dollar General (DG.N) were up 8.2 percent at $81.41 after it reported better-than-expected same-store sales growth. Rival Dollar Tree (DLTR.O) was up 2.9 percent. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by 1,966 to 988. On the Nasdaq, 1,850 issues fell and 831 advanced. The S&P 500 index showed 29 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 50 new highs and 47 new lows.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York March 9, 2016.

Fed to raise rates by mid-year,again before year-end

The U.S. Federal Reserve will hike rates again by end-June and once more before year-end, according to economists in a Reuters poll who are generally as convinced or even more about the trajectory of rates than a month ago. Fed rate-setters meet next week to decide monetary policy. While policymakers are expected to keep rates on hold then, conflicting economic data in the recent past has clouded the outlook among policymakers and forecasters alike. Still, economists polled this week gave a 60 percent chance of rates rising by mid-year, encouraged in part by a strong jobs report for February. Financial markets are pricing in a similar probability only by November. Explaining how his conviction for a rate hike by mid-year has increased, JPMorgan economist Dan Silver said there were concerns economic growth was really losing momentum at the start of the year but those risks have now receded. “The latest round of indicators, mostly the January reports on retail sales, industrial production and combining them with the payroll report for February - they’ve all kind of reduced those fears.” But Federal Open Market Committee members do not appear as united on the outlook for rates as they were ahead of the decision in December, when they raised rates for the first time in nearly a decade. In the past week, Fed Governor Lael Brainard argued for patience in raising rates while Vice-Chair Stanley Fischer warned inflation is showing signs of accelerating, suggesting a preference for tighter policy.

A strong labor market but relatively weak wage inflation has thrown up a challenge for Fed Chair Janet Yellen to provide a clear picture of the policy path, especially as most global central banks remain disposed to ease. The European Central Bank went beyond all expectations on Thursday, cutting all three of its interest rates and increasing the size of its bond buying program. But unlike the ECB, the Fed is expected to carry on in the opposite direction, pushing the fed funds target rate up to a range of 0.50 - 0.75 percent in the second quarter and to 0.75 - 1.00 by year end, from 0.25 - 0.50 percent now, according to median forecasts in the poll. A survey last week of the Wall Street primary dealers - banks who do business directly with the Fed - showed similar results. [FED/R] “As long as the labor market data remain on track and the signs of somewhat higher inflation come to fruition, then it is likely the FOMC will act unless there is another episode of volatility in financial

markets,” said Terry Sheehan, economist at Stone & McCarthy. The U.S. economy has now added 200,000 or more new jobs in all but four of the past 12 months, increasing by 242,000 in February -- some 50,000 more than expected. At the same time, economic activity has remained relatively modest, as has inflation.Still, the consensus from over 100 forecasters is the economy will maintain a steady pace of growth, a little higher than an annualized 2 percent rate, about where it’s expected to be in the current quarter, until at least Q2 2017. The probability of a U.S. recession over the next 12 months is seen as only 15 percent, down from 20 percent in last month’s poll. But inflation, as measured by the core PCE price index, is not expected to rise near the Fed’s 2 percent target even as far out as the middle of next year. That still relatively weak inflation outlook could stand in the way of further hikes, especially with weakening global trade, a strong dollar and ongoing concerns about China’s economic slowdown.

Snow covers the grounds of the U.S. Federal Reserve in Washington January 26, 2016.

Twitter doles out stock, cash bonuses to retain

talent: WSJ Twitter Inc has been sweetening employee compensation packages to retain talent as the company’s user growth stalls and it stock price slides, the Wall Street Journal reported. Four top executives left the company in January, the biggest leadership exodus since co-founder Jack Dorsey returned as chief executive last year.The departures added to concerns about the company’s ability to make its product more engaging and generate more money from advertising. Twitter has been offering cash bonuses to some employees, ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 as an incentive to keep them around for another six months to a year, the Journal reported on Wednesday. The company has also granted varying amounts of restricted stock depending on when the employees started working, intending to make up for the value lost since they joined the company, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Twitter’s shares have lost more than 60 percent of their value over the past 12 months. “Competitive compensation, strong leadership and a confidence in the direction of the company are all key elements to having top talent,” a Twitter spokeswoman said in an email. “We are investing in all three areas to ensure we maintain these employees,” she said, without providing further details. Dorsey said in October he would give a third of his stock in the company, a stake of about 1 percent, to the employee equity pool. Later that month, he spoke about

“hiring and investing in talent” and the need for “bold rethinking.” Twitter showed no growth in users in the fourth quarter. That was the first time that had happened since the company went public in 2013.


When I was watching Calvin Francis push around defensive linemen bigger than him at a recent Nike camp, I couldn’t help but feel like a proud dad. I know we’re not supposed to get attached to the subjects we cover in this business, but we do. And, having watched the athlete they’ve called Big Baby almost since he arrived in the United States, it was easy to be proud of a kid who has set goals and gone out and accomplished them. Not that I had anything to do with his accomplishments, but when I first met the shy, pudgy, baby-faced Bahamian/Haitian kid three years ago, he had lofty goals. He wanted to be a big-time college football lineman, but what I saw was 300 pounds of roly-poly on a 6-foot — if that tall — frame. They called him Big Baby and just looking at his face it was obvious why. “When I met him, he was he was just a big ole baby,” says Elijah Williams, formerly the head football coach at Orlando Oak Ridge High and now the head coach at Orlando Jones High. “He had a soft-spoken voice, real shy. Now he’s opened up more, he talks more, he’s more mature and he’s finally coming into his own. “Football has always been the easy part for him. He’s always one of the strongest kids, one of the hardest-working kids in the weight room. But I’ve seen him transfer from a real shy big baby to a young man.”Coach Will was the one who introduced me to Francis during his freshman season at Oak Ridge. Williams saw the potential in the baby-faced kid. Francis was dead set on becoming a big-time football player, and it has been that sheer desire that has driven him to the player he has become.He came to the U.S. following in the footsteps of his brother and sister before him. His parents of Bahamian and Haitian descent still live in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “My mom will come to Florida sometimes to visit, but my dad doesn’t.

… But he’s going to try to make it for my graduation, though,” Francis said. As Williams puts it, Big Baby has been on his own since he’s been here, bouncing back and forth between his sister’s and brother’s homes. What he has accomplished is a testament to

his inner strength and desire to be not just the best football player, but the best person he can be. “Sometimes it’s hard, but I think about why my dad let me come to Orlando and that was to get a better education and to have a better opportunity to make a better self, a better person of me,” Francis said. Football has, however, played a major role in his life path.

“It all happened when I came to Orlando to visit my brother and sister and when I was on the plane I was just talking to this guy and he said I could be a good football player,” Francis said.

“I came to Orlando and my brother and all his friends — he played football — and they said I could really be a good football player if I worked at it. “When I went back home to Turks and Caicos and talked to my dad and he thought about it and said it was a good idea. Back home stuff is going bad. It’s not the best place to raise your kids. So he decided to let me come and stay with my brother and sister.” So he made the big move and it was a little difficult in the beginning. He had to transition to his new world. He also had to get used to his new nickname once he hit the football field. Oak Ridge assistant coach Travis Gabriel, who is now at Orlando Boone High, came up with Big Baby and it stuck. At first it was a nickname, and it at least gave Francis a feeling that he was a part of something, like he belonged. As he got older and more mature, however, Francis wasn’t too sure about that nickname. In fact, last year he said it was time to retire that nickname and he needed a different one. Former Oak Ridge head coach Tyrone Sapp even said, “Yeah, he don’t want that baby part anymore. He just wants to be big.” He’s certainly evolved from the big baby who arrived five years ago. He started every game since his sophomore season at Oak Ridge, and this year he has transferred to Jones to be with his former head coach Williams. “Coach Will took me in since I was a freshman. He takes care of me like I’m his son. I’d do anything for him and he’d do anything for me,” Francis said. Williams has been most impressed with what Francis has done off the field. And it’s not just his

3.8 GPA or his membership in the National Honor Society. It’s the other little things that Francis does on his own every day that impresses Williams. “I’ve known him a long time. His parents aren’t here but he has his brother and sister. I taught both of them when they were in school and they’re basically his parents,” Williams said. “But he does a good job of keeping himself grounded. He really doesn’t have a parent figure saying, hey, ‘It’s time to go to sleep,’ or ‘Do your homework,’ or ‘Don’t go here, don’t do this.’ He just self-manages that. “That’s the type of kid he is. I think a lot of kids in his situation would have fallen by the wayside, but he gets up and goes to school on time, does his homework, all on his own. It speaks volumes for the type of kid he is.” Francis shrugs off what he does as if he’s just living the normal ways of life.

“My dad told me at an early age that I was going to have to start doing stuff on my own,” Francis said. “Since then I’ve been able to do a good job of taking care of myself. He showed me how to be a good young man, be responsible and not depend on too many people. … say ‘Yes sir, yes ma’am’ … I just got adjusted to it since I was like seven.”But to most people who know him, he’s still Big Baby. While tossing opposing linemen around at the Nike camp two weeks ago, coaches, players and parents were all yelling at “Big Baby” for encouragement. That’s the problem with

nicknames. It usually isn’t a person’s choice, nor is it the nickname owner’s choice to stop the use of the nickname. So it continues, even as Francis continues to get bigger and better.He’s strong, too. He bench presses 360 pounds, squats 525. He’s starting to make the transition to playing offensive center from guard and he is also getting recruited as a defensive tackle. So far he has offers from Akron, UMass and Toledo, but he’s aiming for bigger schools. “That’s what most coaches want me to play. Florida State [line] coach [Rick] Trickett, he’s likes me at center, too,” Francis said.”I just gotta pray on it. I ain’t worrying about it [offers] … just let them start coming in.” Others have seen his steady improvement. He's ranked as the No. 63 overall player in the state by 247Sports.com's 2017 composite rankings and he's No. 20 in the Sentinel's 2017 Central Florida Super60.He’s 6-foot-3, 315 pounds of far more muscle than baby fat now and he no longer wastes his energy on trying to stop the use of his Big Baby nickname. “I guess because of my face. I ain’t got no hair yet. … I like the name, so I’ll just keep rocking with it,” he said.

“I’m proud. All my hard work is paying off. One more year of high school and I’m on to the next level where I was to be. If pro football comes about, then that will be another opportunity for me to look forward to.”

LOCAL SPORTS

Calvin Francis of TCI doing well in American football

By By Chris Hays


LOCAL SPORTS

TCIFA EXECUTIVES AT EXTRAORDINARY CONCACAF & FIFA CONGRESS

TCIFA delegates, Paul Slattery (1st Vice President), Candace Hanchell (Director Responsible for Women’s Football and Club Licensing) and Paula Garland (Director responsible for Events and Fundraising) represented the Turks & Caicos Islands at the recent CONCACAF and FIFA Extraordinary Congresses held respectively on February 25 and 26, 2016. Both Congress were held in Zurich, Switzerland home of FIFA’s head offices. February 25th, 2016 saw the historic passing of CONCACAF reform agenda as it relates to its anti corruption stance. Significant reforms included; but were not limited to the transformation of the CONCACAF Committee into the CONCACAF Council, which will be led by the CONCACAF President. Under these reforms there will also be various independent committees such as Audit and Compliance, Finance, Compensation and Governance. The reforms also included eligibility checks which are to be conducted by the independent Ethics Committee, however; prior to the formation of the said committee, a third-party vendor will conduct the eligibility checks on the members of standing committees, judicial bodies and senior confederation

officials. The current reforms have allowed CONCACAF to reserve the right to audit any Member Association or union receiving CONCACAF funds for a specific purpose to ensure that such funds are being used for the said purpose. On May 12, 2016 CONCACAF Member Associations will elect three independent non-voting members who will also serve on the CONCACAF Council. February 26, 2016 FIFA passed significant reforms, and it was also the day for the most anticipated and historic elections in the Association's history. All 207 member countries were present, however; all but two were able to vote, as both Indonesia and Kuwait were on suspensions. After two rounds of voting Gianni Infantino of Switzerland emerged as the duly elected ninth president of FIFA. President Infantino will sever the final three years of the remaining four-year term of Former President, Sepp Blatter, prior to his resignation. FIFA statutory reforms included but are not limited to the following: presidents being limited to three terms of four years in office; disclosure of salaries; a new council to replace the current executive committee which will feature a female representative

from each confederation. There were also statutory principles of good governance implemented such as compulsory independent audit reports, and independent judicial bodies to ensure separation of powers on all levels.

As a member in good-standing with both CONCACAF and FIFA, TCIFA exercised its right to vote with respect to the proposed reforms of both CONCACAF and FIFA and to vote on the election of the current President.

TCIFA Executives

Friday Night Lights – Match ReportPolice RFC v Hurricanes RFC – 4th March 2016

The evening of Friday, 4th March 2016 at the Meridian Field, Provo, saw the big rugby showdown between the Police RFC and the Hurricanes RFC. Two sides with great rivalry for the other battled it out in a game that would be action packed from start to finish. Both teams fielded players from across the Islands, but special thanks must go to Aussie Dickenson for bringing over some noted rugby talent from Grand Turk to add to the action. Notable Grand Turk players who featured in the game were Bendy and Trevor. The latter was awarded Most Improved Player of the Year at last year’s TCIRFU Annual Awards, and went on to score a try in the game. Within minutes of kick off, the

Hurricanes found themselves in the lead with a try the result of a Luis Turbyfield blind side kick, followed up by Franko “The Rhino” Mompremier, who took the ball over the try line to score the first five points of the game. Luis then went on to covert the try, adding another two points to the Hurricane’s score. This, however, was just the beginning. Subsequent play found the ball regularly in open play with both sides scrapping for possession. The Police quickly gained control with the ball being passed out from the rucking forwards via scrum half, CJ, who passed to Myron Rolle, who was able to hit the wing at speed to take the ball over the try line, to score the first of his two tries of the night. Gareth Butler

then went on to covert Myron’s first and second tries. The game was never clear-cut, with play regularly going from one end of the field to the other. However as the match progressed, the Hurricanes began to assert their dominance with tries from Tyrese Taylor, Paul McKenzie, Lincoln Outten, and Davidson. Luis Turbyfield was able to convert all but two of the kicks, helping to take the Hurricanes through to win, with Davidson’s try being the difference that secured victory for the Hurricanes. The Police battled valiantly to the end with further tries from Sean O’Neill, Augustin Modest and Hayden Stevens. Ugo Teixidor was able to convert all but one kick, but this was still not enough to overcome the

Hurricanes. Despite the loss, Man of the Match was awarded to the Police’s Myron Rolle for his sterling efforts in the exciting game. As with previous encounters between the Police and the Hurricanes, one thing is guaranteed - pure rugby action to the end! Final score: The Police RFC 33 – The Hurricanes RFC 38 Be sure to “LIKE” and regularly visit TCIRFU’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TCIRFU) for details of the next rugby fixtures. With visiting sides coming to compete with TCI’s national team, and a forthcoming international fixture in Dominican Republic at the end of April, there promises to be exciting times ahead for rugby in TCI!


WORLD SPORTSFlorida soccer consultant pleads

guilty in FIFA probe A Florida-based sports marketing consultant pleaded guilty in a U.S. court on Tuesday as part of an investigation of corruption in soccer and FIFA, its world governing body, saying he had schemed to bribe some officials in the sport. Miguel Trujillo, 65, pleaded guilty during a hearing in federal court in New York to four counts, including conspiracy to commit money-laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “I know what I was doing was wrong,” Trujillo said in court. Under an agreement with prosecutors, Trujillo pledged to forfeit $495,000. U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie approved his release on a $1.5 million bond. Trujillo, who prosecutors said is a Colombian citizen and a U.S. legal permanent resident, is among 42

individuals and entities charged as part of a U.S. investigation of schemes involving more than $200 million in bribes and kickbacks sought by soccer officials for marketing and broadcast rights to tournaments and matches. The investigation has sent Switzerland-based FIFA and other governing bodies into an unprecedented crisis. Gianni Infantino,

FIFA’s newly elected president, has vowed to lead the organization out of years of scandal. In addition to consulting work, Trujillo was a “match agent” licensed by FIFA to negotiate and arrange soccer matches between national associations, prosecutors said in a news release. Starting in about 2008, Trujillo

paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to high-ranking officials of FIFA and other governing bodies, in connection with media and marketing contracts as well as international friendly matches, according to the news release. Appearing separately in the same court on Tuesday, Rafael Esquivel, another of the 42 defendants, pleaded not guilty to receiving bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of tournament marketing rights. Esquivel, a former president of the Venezuelan national soccer federation and a former executive committee member of the South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL, was arrested in Zurich in May. He agreed to be extradited to the United States last month.

The FIFA logo is seen outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland December 17, 2015.

Rafael Nadal says weary of doping rumors

Rafael Nadal on Wednesday defended his training methods and vehemently denied he had ever used a banned substance to get an edge or to speed up recovery from injury. Nadal was at the Indian Wells tournament discussing Maria Sharapova’s failed drug test -- “She should be punished” -- when he seized the opportunity to scotch unfounded rumors that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.

“I have never had the temptation of doing something wrong. I am very far from that, doping,” said the 14-time grand slam winner, who has been hard hit in recent years by injury. “I am a completely clean guy. I worked so hard during my career that when I get injured I never take nothing (banned) to be back quicker.” Throughout his trophy-laden career Nadal, 29, has been periodically

dogged by whispers of doping. “I heard it a few times again about doping from my person and I am a little bit tired with that,” Nadal said, adding that he sees himself as an ambassador for tennis and wouldn’t tarnish his image as a role model for young players. “I believe in the sport and the values of the sport,” the Spaniard said. “The sport is an example for society. It is an example for the kids and if I am doing something that goes against that, I will be lying to myself, not lying to my opponents.” Nadal said over the course of his career he has taken advantage of some new treatments for his knee problems, like stem-cell therapy and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, often known as blood spinning. “I have been open all my career. I never tried to hide nothing that I did,” Nadal said. “I did PRP and then I did stem cells. “The first time with PRP it worked fantastic and the second time it was bad. I had to stop playing tennis for seven months. “And with stem cells I used it two times on my knees and it worked

very well. “I am not doing, never did, and never going to do something wrong.” Nadal added there is a Spanish team doctor who monitors what medication the players are taking to make sure it is safe. “He has been the doctor for all the Spanish players for a number of years. I would never take nothing that he doesn’t know about,” he said. Former world number one Sharapova announced Monday that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January. Sharapova tested positive for Meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list this year. Nadal said Sharapova deserves to be punished as an example to others. “It is difficult to imagine that something like this can happen. But mistakes happen,” he said. “She should be punished. “I want to believe it is a mistake for Maria. She didn’t want to do it. But obviously it is negligence. She must pay for it.”

Throughout his trophy-laden career Rafael Nadal, 29, has been periodically dogged by whispers of doping

What’s new in Formula One for 2016 season The new Formula One season starts with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 20. The following details the major changes for 2O16: Formula One’s governing body has accepted a new format under which the slowest drivers are eliminated as the three sessions progress, rather than at the end of each phase, as was the case last season. The first session lasts 16 minutes with the slowest driver eliminated after seven minutes. Another six will follow at 90-second intervals with 15 going through to the second phase.

The second session lasts 15 minutes with the slowest driver eliminated after six. The same 90-second sequence follows until eight drivers are left. The final 14 minutes sees one driver eliminated after five minutes and then one every 90 seconds until two are left fighting for pole position with 1-1/2 minutes remaining. Azerbaijan makes its Formula One debut with the European Grand Prix in Baku on June 19. The calendar has a record 21 races, with Germany returning after a year’s absence.

Sauber Formula One driver Felipe Nasr of Brazil (L) leads Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland during the fourth testing session ahead of the upcoming season at the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain, February 25, 2016.


WORLD SPORTS

Peyton Manning says goodbye to NFL playing days

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning bid an emotional farewell to the National Football League on Monday after an 18-year career that established him as one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks. “Today I retire from the game of pro football,” Manning, who capped his brilliant career by helping Denver win the Super Bowl last month, told a packed news conference in Denver. “It was the right time.” Manning, who battled back from a foot injury that cost him six games last season, said he would surely miss the game. “When someone thoroughly exhausts an experience they can’t help but revere it. I love the game,” he said.

“So you don’t have to wonder if I’ll miss it. Absolutely. Absolutely, I will.” Manning, who turns 40 later this month, retires as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and yards and as the only five-time winner of the league’s Most Valuable Player award. The cerebral signal-caller left the football stage on a high-point, becoming the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl and first to win with two different teams following the NFL crown he won with the 2006 Indianapolis Colts. Manning, who became the face of the NFL as a glamour quarterback and ubiquitous TV pitchman, has been hailed for his meticulous preparation

and ability to find holes in opposing defenses as he surveys them at the line of scrimmage. Recently, however, he has come under fire off the field. He was among the athletes cited in a lawsuit filed by a group of former female students who are suing the University of Tennessee over its handling of sexual assault complaints made against student-athletes. Manning was also hit by a recent allegation that he had human growth hormone sent to his house in 2011 while he was recovering from neck surgery. Asked about the sexual assault allegation that goes back some 20 years ago, Manning said: “This is a joyous day and nothing can overtake this. “It’s sad that some people don’t understand the truth and the facts. I did not do what has been alleged.” Manning then returned to pleasant reminiscences of his NFL career, thanking teammates from the Colts and Broncos and saying he would also treasure some of the rivalries he had with opposing players. Manning also thanked his family, which represents NFL quarterbacking royalty in his father Archie, a former New Orleans Saints standout, and brother Eli, who won two Super Bowl MVP honors in wins with the New York Giants. “There’s no way to measure or properly express what a family like

mine can mean,” he said, with his mother, father, older brother Cooper and Eli all in attendance. “And (wife) Ashley, your support is as potent a motivator as any man can have. “I’ll miss recapping the game with my dad, and checking to see if the Giants won and calling Eli as we’re both on our team busses,” he added. “I’ll miss that handshake with Tom Brady and I’ll miss the plane ride after a big win with 53 teammates standing in the aisles laughing and celebrating during the whole flight.”

All that said, Manning was looking forward to his future and “a whole new world of possibilities.” Manning said he gave the NFL his all.

“There were other players who were more talented, but there was no one who could outprepare me, and because of that I have no regrets. “I fought a good fight and finished my football race, and after 18 years it’s time. “God bless all of you, and God bless football.”

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speaks during his retirement announcement press conference at the UCHealth Training Center.

Sponsors ditch Sharapova, despite her textbook apology

Nike and other sponsors swiftly distanced themselves from Maria Sharapova on Tuesday after the world’s highest-earning female athlete outed herself as a longtime user of a recently banned drug. Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer and German luxury car company Porsche quickly

followed the sportswear giant, suspending their support of the five-time Grand Slam winner after she announced on Monday that she failed a drug test for meldonium at the Australian Open in January, days after the substance was banned. Many other athletes have attacked the messenger,

challenged the results or blamed others after being confronted privately by positive tests for banned drugs. Sharapova went public instead, taking full responsibility and effectively throwing herself at the mercy of the International Tennis Federation. “I know that with this, I face consequences,” Sharapova said, waving away a question that invited her to blame her doctor or someone else on her team. “I have to take full responsibility because it’s my body and it’s what I put into my body and I can’t blame anyone but myself,” she said. “At the end of the day everything you do is about you.” The former world No. 1 could face a lengthy ban, possibly ending her season and preventing her from competing for Russia at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Much more costly would be losing the advertising revenue that has made her the top earning female athlete for 11 straight years, according to Forbes. “We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues,” Nike said in a statement. TAG Heuer said it has abandoned talks on renewing its sponsorship, which expired in December, “in view of the current situation.”

Porsche said it has “chosen to postpone planned activities” with Sharapova “until further details are released and we can analyze the situation.” And Evian, the water company, said it “will follow closely the development of the investigation.” Industry veterans were surprised by how quickly these companies backed away from such a bankable performer. Sharapova earned an estimated $29.5 million last year alone, the vast majority off the court.

“She’s a one-woman marketing machine,” said Nigel Currie, a British-based sponsorship consultant. But marketers have become more sensitive to doping scandals after the public denials of athletes such as Lance Armstrong or Barry Bonds, especially in the age of social media. “Waiting around makes a brand look indecisive,” said branding expert Allen Adamson, founder of Brand Simple Consulting. “When in doubt, you don’t want to be connecting your brand with an athlete who has not played by the rules.” Still, none of Sharapova’s sponsors have cut ties altogether, and other athletes have rebounded from scandals: Nike stuck with Tiger Woods after he

apologized for cheating on his wife, and welcomed back Michael Vick after he served time for an illegal dog fighting ring. Though Sharapova did a “textbook” job of owning up to her mistake, questions linger, including whether she listed the drug among her medications when she was tested in Australia, said Paul Swangard, who lectures at the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. Answering those questions could determine how quickly Sharapova, 28, can return to competition, which would be her best way of quickly rebuilding her image, Swangard added. “If she is banned at the age that she is at, she might not have a chance to use her playing ability to rebuild her credibility.” Sharapova has dropped to No. 7 in the WTA rankings, and due to injuries, she has played just three tournaments and the Fed Cup final in the last eight months since Wimbledon. This raises the possibility that sponsors may have acted quickly in part because her brand isn’t as strong now, said Manish Tripathi, assistant professor of marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

Maria Sharapova poses for photographers as she launches a new watch for TAG Heuer in New York. Three of Maria Sharapova’s major sponsors are cutting ties with the Russian tennis star after she acknowledged failing a doping test at the Australian Open. Sportswear giant Nike, Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer and German luxury car company Porsche moved quickly to distance themselves from the five-time Grand Slam winner after she announced the positive test at a news conference in Los Angeles on Monday, March 7, 2016.


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