VOLUME 13 ISSUE 09

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

VOLUME 13 - NO. 09

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‘THE STREET KNOWS WHO’S DOING CRIME’

Premier concerned about crime, pleads for co-operation with police

By Todeline Defralien

T

urks and Caicos Islands Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson Premier has expressed about crime in the country, saying that “the street” (certain members of the community) and some parents know who the culprits are, but they are not cooperating with the police.

And she has made a strong plea to the community to come together and fight crime as it has the potential to destroy all of the gains which the Turks and Caicos Islands has made and can possibly achieve.

Speaking during a press conference held on Thursday March 2nd, 2017 at her Providenciales office, the Premier said: “I really want to appeal to Turks and Caicos today. I really need to appeal to you on two fronts. The streets knows who’s doing a lot of what is happening, make no mistake about it. We can blame the police if the police were victims or witnesses to every crime, but the street is clearly aware of who is doing what.”

She added: “And some parents are fully aware of who is doing what.

And the truth is, before you become a victim or before your family becomes a victim, say something. If you don’t want to be named, we have the Crimestoppers tip the hotline that you can use and you need to be a part of the solution.”

The Premier said Government will have challenges in providing all the resources that we need to assist, but they are going to do the best with what they have.

“The police are going to be challenged,” she said, “even with the shortage of resources, but their greatest challenge beyond that is the people not willing to cooperate. We are not that big of a country that we don’t know who is doing what. And I really want to also encourage those of you we see a number of theft of vehicles we see a number of home invasions. God forbid, we have to wrestle that quickly, because I can’t imagine what it is like. I have been a victim but I have never been at home to have someone come in and I really

CIBC FirstCaribbean showcases $1.5M renovation of Leeward branch

C

IBC FirstCaribbean hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, February 28th, 2017, to celebrate the re-opening of its recently updated branch at Leeward Highway.

The changes, which include several technological upgrades, will improve the experience of its customers by introducing more interactive services. The branch also features a drive-thru Automated Banking

sympathize with those who have had that experience.”

Premier Cartwright-Robinson said she want to encourage the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to not leave valuables lying around in their vehicles to make themselves victims of crime, and to also make sure that your doors and windows are secured.

She added: “One of the initiatives that we are going to rollout is that we are going to encourage persons to have their own home camera systems and I will let you know in short order how the Government is going to be supporting that. At the end of the day we are all a part of crime fighting and we need to begin to mend fences with the police, as it was it were, if there’s a standoff between us, and we’re also going to be helping and leading the way with that. As it relates to our12-point plan you will see legislation, you will see the recourses, you will see policies very quickly on what we can implement and we are going to do that and quite publicly.”

The Premier said that in addition to

Machine and three lobby machines.

Cutting the ribbon of the new and improved branch are PDM Chairman Hon. Doug Parnell, FirstCaribbean Turks and Caicos Country Manager, Mr. Larry Lawrence, Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Anya Williams, CIBC FirstCaribbean CEO, Gary Brown and Managing Director of Retail and Business, Mark St. Hill. (See Page 24 &25 for more photos)

patrolling our seas, her government will also be scrutinizing those who come through the airports.

She added: “Sometimes we like to believe that those persons who become undocumented in this country are those who come on the sloops when in fact many of them were legal and now are overstayers. We have heightened the Ministry in terms of making sure that it is very much now a part of National Security. You would also see changes in the Department of Road Safety which is also going to be a part of any initiatives that we’re going to take forward as well.”

Premier Cartwright-Robinson also told the public to not set themselves up to be victims, they need to report and not be discouraged into feeling that it makes no sense reporting.

She also appealed to the public to be careful in how they use social media.

She said, “Is is the most insensitive thing to send around a video of a dying human being. It doesn’t matter what the allegation is,

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson he is a human being. That is distasteful.

It is not who we are as a people. I also want to condemn, if it is in fact so, that a WhatsApp message has been going around with a named alleged victim of rape. Let us be a little more responsible in our use of social media. We are not helping if we are doing those sorts of things. We want to make sure that what we are doing is responsible and we are aiding in the fight against crime. Let us respect each other’s dignity more than anything else, let’s use social media responsibly.”

Delay in SIPT corruption case - page 5

PDM supports 12-storey development - Page 11

CIBC FirstCaribbean’s ABM in TCI sets Caribbean record - Page 10

VRBOs to be regulated - Page 7

Co

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Governor visits Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies

His Excellency the Governor visited the Department for Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) in Providenciales on 24 February.

Commenting on his visit the Governor said: “Proper preparation for potentially hazardous events, whether a hurricane, flooding or other disaster, is crucial to public safety.

I therefore have brought forward the timelines for contingency meetings and planning on the

part of the Public and Emergency Services before the crucial period from June onwards. Our first meeting of ministries and services was held last month and others, including of the Executive Policy Committee, as well as a disaster preparedness exercise, are scheduled for March.”

He added: “As part of my own preparations I have engaged closely with DDME and used my first visit to the department’s main offices to meet the staff and

review facilities and contingent supplies and communications systems. I was impressed by the commitment and professionalism of the DDME team. I was reminded also however of the requirement for all relevant government ministries and services to play their role in the work of preparation. People in TCI deserve no less than proper preparations on their behalf and the best protection it is possible to provide.”

Female charged in Kevino Smith murder investigation

As investigations into the murder of Kevino Smith continue, on Friday 24th February 201, Detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have formally charged and cautioned a 28-year-old female of Grand

Turk with Attempting to Pervert the Course of Justice.

Two other females who were previously arrested have been released from all bail obligations.

A total of three (3) men and one (1) female have

been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Kevino Smith who was reported missing by his family on Friday 6th March 2015.

After continuous and extensive searches, his body was found on Thursday 16th April in the

Breezy Brae area of Grand Turk by members of the Community.

The 31-year- old female appeared in the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 2nd March 2017. A sufficiency hearing date has already been set for the three men.

Police investigate weekend firearm related incidents

Police are investigating a number of firearm related incidents that occurred on Providenciales over the last weekend.

Around 11:26 p.m. on Saturday 27th February 2017, complainant reported to the Police that he had just arrived home in an area in Five Cays, when he was approached by an unknown masked man dressed in full dark clothing with a gun in his hand and demanded money. The culprit struck him on the

right side of his face with the gun after he told him he had no money.

The victim was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where he was treated and later discharged.

At 1:53 a.m. on Sunday 26th February 2017, Police responded to an area on the Leeward Highway to a report of an Attempted Robbery and Discharging of Firearm.

The complainant was met and told officers that he was alerted of someone in his yard and upon making

checks he noticed three (3) masked men dressed in white clothes trying to break into his home. He also stated that they attempted to break into his neighbor’s house and fired three gunshots before making off. Checks were made in the area but no one was seen.

Also on Sunday 26th February 2017 around 8:25 p.m., Police responded to the an area on the South Dock Road and met a complainant who told officers that upon her arrival

at home, she was approached by a masked short built dark male who came out of the bushes, pointed a gun at her and demanded money. The culprit escaped on foot with a brown MK purse which contained a small amount of cash and Insurance Cards.

The victim was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment due to minor abrasions received on her arm.

Investigations are ongoing in these incidents.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

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MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 5

LOCAL NEWS

Delay in SIPT corruption case

The corruption case against former Premier Michael Misick and others has been delayed until March 20, 2017, because the presiding judge Mr. Justice Paul Harrison is unavailable until that time.

The case was supposed to have resumed on February 27th, the date by which Judge Harrison gave Misick to find a replacement Queen’s Counsel, after Ralph Thorne, QC, resigned suddenly from the case by email.

Misick has since hired prominent Trinidad lawyer Senior Counsel Reginald “Reggie” Armour, who is president of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago, chairman of CARICOM’s Council of

Legal Education (CCLE), and a judge in the Eastern Caribbean Court.

When the court resumed on Monday, January 30th, 2017, after a month-long Christmas break, Mr. Justice Harrison said that Misick asked for a two-month break so he can find a replacement senior counsel, but Harrison expressed concern that this request will have an impact on the trial and the other defendants.

“This application must be examined with a sense of balance because it affects and impacts the court, every defendant and also Senior Counsel Reginald Armour counsel who are involved in the case,” Misick is also represented by the judge said, describing the request Arian Kayne, a lawyer from the UK, for an adjournment as a “two-month while Jahmal Misick of the law firm holiday”.

Misick and Stanbrook is his

Former Premier Michael Misick local instructing attorney. The lead prosecutor is Queen’s Counsel Andrew Mitchell from the UK.

Filipino arrested in death of Ensley Rolle

A 34 year-old Filipino man was arrested on suspicion of murder, in relation to the death of 29 year-old Ensley Rolle who was killed on Wednesday 22nd February 2017 in the area of Kew Town Providenciales.

The man was not charged.

The decision on whether charges will be laid or not will be a recommendation from Ms.

Jillian Williams, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The male is presently on a $20,000 police bail and will return to the station on Monday 27th March 2017.

Under the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the DPP has the final say in whether charges can be brought against anyone.

Around 3:40 a.m. police and emergency

services were dispatched to an area in Norway Kew Town after a report was made that a man was caught inside of a home.

Upon arrival, officers met the Filipino who stated while he was asleep, Rolle entered his home and upon confronting him, an altercation ensued.

Rolle died of stab Ensley Rolle wounds.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Margaritaville Grand Turk currently seeks to employ the following persons: •STILT WALKER •STORES KEEPER •STORES PORTER •DINING ROOM & RESTAURANT CAPTAIN •SERVERS •HOST/ HOSTESS •HOUSEKEEPERS, BUSSERS & RUNNERS •BARTENDER •BARBACK •HACCP SUPERVISOR •CHEF •KITCHEN HELPER •COOKS •ASSISTANT COOKS •RETAIL MANAGER •STORE CLERK •COST CONTROL CLERK •ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR •GENERAL MANAGER/RESIDENT MANAGER Persons must be able to work long hours, holidays and weekends and be willing to work as part of a team.

Submit applications accompanied by a resume to the Human Resource Department at nrobinson@ margaritavillecaribbean.com or by faxing to 649-946-1514.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 31ST MARCH 2017 While we thank every applicant for their interest in Margaritaville Grand Turk, only short-listed persons will be contacted. Belongers will be given preference.

Londolozi Ltd is inviting suitable applications for the following position: Security Officer

Position Description

Security Officer is responsible for: insuring a safe environment for Beach House guests and associates; patrolling; documenting; reporting; and following-up on safety and security hazards or infractions. This individual may also be required to carry out more general guest service tasks, such as delivering items to guest rooms.

A Security Officer must demonstrate the ability to remain calm in emergencies, and balance excellent guest and associate relations skills with safety and security. The successful applicant must be available to work multi shifts, holidays, weekends and overnight.

Job Requirements

➢ Guest Oriented with previous resort/hotel experience is a MUST ➢ Must have working knowledge of all procedures and processes Loss Prevention ➢ Must be computer literate with excellent communication skills written and oral ➢ Should be able to use a computer, demonstrate professionalism, excellent verbal and written communication skills. ➢ CPR and First Aid Certification Preferred ➢ A valid TCI driver’s license

Salary for this position will commensurate with qualification and experience.

Please Submit Applications to: hr@beachhousetci.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department.

Submissions to be no later than March 10th, 2017 Belongers need only apply.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

TCI Budget will be late but worth the wait, says Premier

Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson said the Turks and Caicos Islands Budget will be late but worth the wait.

She explained that the budget will be late because on assuming office in December 2016, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Government learnt that the budget process had actually stopped.

“In the last few months we’ve had actually have to begin the entire budget process and finalise it. We are pleased that already we’ve had pretty much agreed the new spend which is the recurrent budget and I can say to you that you will see spending in the area of law enforcement, policing, primary health care but in particular in policing and prison and you will see

quite a bit of support from this new Government.”

Robinson said the Fiscal Strategic Policy Statement has already been sent to the UK, adding that it was recently amended because Government just signed what is known as EF11 which is EU Funding which actually gives us budgetary support for the year 2016/2017 over 40 months beginning the year 2017.

Meantime, the Premier noted that she will soon be presenting a provisional warrant when the House of Assembly meets, that will allow the country/the government to continue to function until the budget is actually passed.

“Constitutionally we are required to pass a budget by July, but want to lay any fears or concerns. We are very much on track with that and we want to do that very much earlier

Jamaican man shot multiple times

than the constitutional deadline. The process is moving swiftly and nicely and as the Minister Finance, I want to thank the budget team and the Ministry of Finance generally for moving this budget forward as quickly as possible,” she stated.

Robinson said there will be some capital projects that will be desperately needed in terms of major infrastructure and to give the country a facelift, while addressing immediate needs in the different islands.

“You will look forward to this budget that is not comprehensively a PDM budget because we are holding over a number of projects that we have since approved in coming to office before the swearing in. My Ministers and I sat with the Permanent Secretaries and we agreed what projects we would want to continue and have been continuing quite a

Detectives are investigating a shooting incident that left a 24-year -old male of Jamaica with multiple gun-shot wounds about his body.

Around 10:50 p.m. on Tuesday 28th February

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD POSITION AVAILABLE Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill a post on Ambergris Cay on a MONTH TO MONTH basis. The available post is for a PLUMBER. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: •Maintaining all aspects of the Water and Sewage Treatment Plants (watering, osmosis station, water heaters, swimming pools and lodging) in accordance with international standards; •Check and maintaining all piping for fire Hydrant system •Check and maintain all underground distribution water piping system •Daily reading of all water meters •Maintaining all kitchen equipment in all of the buildings •Maintain and control safety of all LPG Gas (Propane) operating equipment •Control stocks of LPG Gas (Propane) •Being responsible for maintenance of irrigation and performing trouble shooting for irrigation system •Ordering of spare parts to ensure consistent functioning without discontinuity; Requirements - Applicants must have and or be: •At least Ten (12) years of experience in plumbing •A high school diploma or equivalent •Attentive to details and self-motivator •Able to understand and speak English fluently •Able to work with little or no supervision •Physically fit, dependable and hard working •In possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License •Willing to work on a Month to Month contractual basis •Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off •Must be able to live and work in a isolated island environment with only 20 or so other persons.

Closing Date for Applications is March 14th 2014 Salary: $30, 000 to 35,000 per annum.

Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson bit. In fact, we have still have a few projects that are outstanding and we want to really in this year ambitiously move forward and continue the capital program, complete it so that in the beginning of 2017/2018 when you see a full PDM budget we will be coming with full capital program that is all ours,” Premier Cartwrigt-Robinson said.

2017, police responded to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where the victim was met.

He told officers that while in Jacklyn Smith Yard, off Venetian Road Providenciales, he heard a number of gun shots being fired. He then felt pain

about his body and realized he was shot. He was taken to the hospital where he remains in serious condition.

The location was visited and a crime scene was established. Investigations are ongoing into this matter.

BOHIO IS SEEKING CHEF DE PARTIE REQUIREMENTS: *minimum 5 year culinary experience in a full service , dining establishment *post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience *must have strong knowledge of kitchen inventory and ordering process and the ability to supervise a staff under the direction of the Executive Chef *must be able to work morning, nights and weekend on a schedule *excellent culinary technique and ability to work the line during all meal periods *exception customer service orientation complying with company service culture *must be fluent in English and French, written and verbal form DUTIES WILL INCLUDE *coordinate the inventory and disbursement of all supplies with F&B Manager *inspect and ensures the proper set up and readiness of each item on menus *supervise daily food preparation *ensure a level of quality portion control and plate presentation is adhered to consistency *work closely with staff to exceed guest expectation

SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY A Senior Associate Attorney is required for a firm based in Providenciales. Applicants must have at least 7 years post qualification experience. Duties include assisting and developing criminal and common law department, undertaking a variety of work including all aspect of criminal defence work, employment, wills and probate, family matters such as adoption, child/spousal maintenance, divorce, and human rights work.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Application must be submitted no later than 5th February 2016 to: Employment Department F Corporate & Management Services Limited Tel 649-339-6275 Fax 649-941-4777 Email oa@fcorporatemsl.com

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Vacation Rentals by Owner will be regulated, says Premier

By Todeline Defralien

The increasingly popular but controversial Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) industry is about to be regulated in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson said this regulation is being done to make sure that TCI’s tourism product and its tourists are protected.

Speaking during a press conference held at her office in Providenciales on Thursday March 2nd, 2017, she said: “We want to do that from two stand points and that is to make sure that we are not losing revenue and to makes sure that it is regulated and also the issue of national security, because we want to know who is renting where. In the recent unsettling environment as it relates to crime, we want to know where people are (staying) in this country and it is important to know where the Tourist are in these stand alone villas and heavily-bushed and not well lit areas.”

She added: “I don’t want to give the impression that all of them (VRBOs) are illegal or unregulated but it is an industry that has to be

managed and managed better.”

Recent investigations by the SUN revealed that many owners of villas, condominiums and some private homes in Turks and Caicos Islands are making significant sums of money from renting their properties, but many of them are not paying accommodation taxes to Government.

The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association and TCI Chamber of Commerce Chamber are speaking out against it and they raised the matter when their directors recently met recently Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and members of the new administration and to address concerns facing the private sector.

They called on Government to regulate the use of condos as private rental properties.

“This is a practice which not only undermines the accommodation sector but allows persons to evade paying taxes,” the two organisations said in a press statement.

“ An area also identified was that of private home owners using platforms like Airbnb, VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) etc. to secure bookings, an emerging

business which needs regulating as it can be a revenue source for the administration in the collection of government tax.”

A check on the VRBO.com site revealed that there are 951 rental properties in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including 876 on the island of Providenciales. Some of the properties are renting for as much as US$5,000 per night.

The SUN understands that some of these properties pay their accommodation, but others have found ways to beat the system

Airbnb is an online marketplace and homestay network enabling people to list or rent shortterm lodging in residential properties, with the cost of such accommodation set by the property owner.

It also has a number of properties for rent in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Last year, The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association applauded the region’s leading umbrella tourism private sector organization, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), and its efforts to find solutions to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid rise of the

online vacation home rental industry and other sharing economy businesses being fueled by hosting platform companies like Airbnb and Uber.

CHTA released a Resource Guide to support TCI’s local efforts to create a level playing field through the taxation and regulation of the sector and its engagement in local public and private sector tourism development efforts.

“This is a timely and helpful document with broad implications for TCI and the Caribbean in general.

We are fully supportive of the need to create a level playing field and look forward to working with government to advance the recommendations provided by the CHTA report,” said Stacy Cox, TCHTA’s Executive Director.

The Caribbean has seen explosive growth in the short-term vacation home rental business.

Taking advantage of new technology platforms, many residential owners throughout the world are sharing in tourism revenues by providing accommodations through marketplaces or host platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway which have emerged as the industry’s top leaders.

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD

POSITION AVAILABLE

POSITION AVAILABLE

Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitable applicant to fill an available post on Ambergris Cay ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS. The available post is for a LABOURER/HOUSEMAN

Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking an employee on a month to month basis to fill a post on Ambergris Cay. The available post is for a POWER AND INCINERATOR PLANT OPERATOR:ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Job Summary: •Assisting the Housekeeping Team with daily housekeeping duties.

•Cleaning of guest’s homes, staff dormitories, offices.

•Ensuring that the housekeeping area is kept in a tidy manner at all times.

•Clean and maintain all housekeeping equipment as required.

•The Employee will operate in the safest possible manner at all times.

•Requirements - Applicants must be and or have: •At least three (5) years of experience in Housekeeping •A high school diploma or equivalent •Attentive to details and self-motivated •Able to understand and speak English fluently •Able to work with little or no supervision •Physically fit, dependable and hard working •In possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License •Able to understand and follow policies and procedures of the department •Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off.

Salary Scale: $8.00 per hour paid fortnightly.

Closing Date for Applications is 14th March, 2017 Applications must be addressed to: Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778

•Basic power plant maintenance and operation.

•Incinerator maintenance & operation and all related tasks •Maintain Fuel Farm, generator tank and tractor fuel in accordance with international standards.

•Read and interpret data from various meters and/or gauges which monitor the equipment’s operation.

•Familiarity of the operations of Power and Incinerator Plants •Ensure the safe operation of the equipment •Maintain and control stocks of fuel.

•Maintain inventory of spare and repair parts, materials and tools to ensure continuous functioning of the equipment without discontinuity.

•Provide weekly and monthly reports on fuel.

•Check all piping for leakage.

•Report any and all matters to Facilities Manager •Ensure all work sites are left in a clean, usable and safe condition.

•Participate in fire training.

REQUIREMENTS - APPLICANT MUST BE AND OR HAVE: •Ability to understand and follow safety and operating procedures and instructions •Solid work history, including demonstrated ability to work safelyMaintain and supply treatment to fuel tanks.

•Able to work with little or no supervision.

•Must have at least three (9) years of experience in the related fields •Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay fulltime with rotated weekends off.

Salary: Between US$30,000 to US$36,000 per annum Closing Date for Applications is 14th March, 2017 Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd, Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777; Fax: (649)-941-3778.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Report from March 1st Cabinet meeting

His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 5th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 1 March 2017, at the N J S Francis Building on Grand Turk.

All Ministers were present except the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication.

At this meeting Cabinet:

•Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve a mutation and rectification and then a tender for applications for the commercial lease of combined Crown Land Parcels 60610/305 and 306 at Norway and Five Cays, Providenciales, in line with section 34 of the Crown Land Ordinance 2012; •Approved a Provisional Warrant Resolution for forwarding to the next sitting of the House of Assembly for the withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of an amount not exceeding $85,067,096 for the continuation of government business for the first four months of Financial Year 2017/18 pending passage and entry into force of an approved Appropriation Ordinance for 2017/18;

•Advised His Excellency the Governor to appoint the following as members of the International Finance Marketing and Promotions Working Group (IFMPWG), the body set up to advise the Minister of Finance, Trade and Investment on the strategic direction and promotion of the TCI financial services sector, for a period of 18 months with effect from 1 April 2017 – Mr Peter Savory (Corporate Management/Trust Administration); Mr Kenrick Walters

(Banking); Mr Norman Hamilton (Insurance); Mr Clayton Been (Corporate Management/Trust Administration); Mr Mark Lindsay McCann (Trust Administration); Mr Jonathan Katan (Bar Association); Mr David Stewart (Trust/Financial Industry Association); Governor’s Office representative; FSC representative; AG’s Chamber’s representative; Ministry of Finance representative;

•Approved the renewal of the lease agreement for the Premier’s Official Residence on Grand Turk for a period of four years with effect from 1 March 2017;

•Discussed a paper prepared by the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services on ongoing management issues at the National Health Insurance Board;

•Agreed to extend the 2016/17 lobster season from 15 March to 31 March 2017;

•Noted the recommendations of the Public Procurement Board to award contracts in line with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012 as follows – TR16/20 Upgrade and extension of the Providenciales morgue and equipment; TR16/33 Repairs to the Lands Division building, Grand Turk; TR16/34 Enhancement of the Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration System for the Revenue Department; TR16/40 Construction of a classroom block, Long Bay High School Phase III; TR16/48 Mental Health Home Phase III, Grand Turk; TR16/51 Replacement roof, Waterloo Phase II;

•Received an information paper from the Ministry of Home Affairs updating Cabinet on progress

Intercaribbean airways is seeking to fill the position of Airline executive:

on emergency works at HM Prison to be discussed further at the next meeting of Cabinet;

•Received a briefing by the Hon. Attorney General on her attendance at the recent Financial Action Task Force Plenary Meeting at the OECD in Paris including steps required to be taken by TCI to meet its financial services related international commitments in relation to the Global Forum on the Exchange of Tax Information’s assessment of TCI set for the third quarter of 2017 and the CFTAF mutual evaluation of TCI which is set for the first quarter of 2018 and, in particular, commitments related to beneficial ownership

•Agreed adjustments to the Fiscal Strategic Policy Statement 2017/21 to be submitted to the UK Government to take account of planned revenue and expenditure related to the European Union grant provided to TCI under the European Development Fund (EDF) 11;

•Received a briefing by the Hon. Premier and HE the Deputy Governor on their recent attendance at the annual EU/Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) meeting in Aruba including on TCI assuming the Chair of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association and on the signing of the Financing Agreement of the EDF 11;

•Received a briefing by the Hon. Deputy Premier on his recent attendance at the twenty eighth intersessional meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Guyana including on regional security issues and correspondent banking;

THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: 1.Providing managerial and administrative responsibility for the domestic and international base operations.

2. Ability to make Responsible, strategic and tactical decisions that might affect safety and/ or security of ground handling and station operations.

3. Ability to provide proper management of all station managers with respect to supplies, documents, manuals, and other equipment that is required for proper station operation.

4. Ability to lead the process of opening new stations, including the hiring of personnel as needed, and the appointment of station managers, as needed.

5. Experience in establishing appropriate policy, instruction, and procedures for individual stations.

6. Promotion of communications and coordination within all stations.

7. Ensuring all station personnel are properly trained to perform their duties in a safe and competent manner.

8. Provides resources and environment that fosters safe operating practices.

9. Experience in establishing budgets for staff, equipment, materials, and operating functions.

10. Ensures ground handling operations and station operations for passenger and cargo operations are conducted in accordance with applicable regulations and standards of the TCI CAA and interCaribbean Airways manuals at all stations.

11. The airline executive is the Manual Control Authority of the Station Operations Manual and the Ground Handling Manual.

12. is a participating member of the SMS Management Meeting Group, the Operational Safety and Security Advisory Group and for ensuring that he/she and all personnel under his/her authority have a full working knowledge of their duties and responsibilities with respect to the SMS program. Works within the SMS to establish quality control plans and inspection programs within the station network.

13. Conducts all-station telephone conference meetings with all station managers on a regular basis for the purposes of reviewing operational concerns, safety concerns, and to help with station logistical readiness issues.

14. Coordinates directly with the Security Manager for matters regarding the security of station and ground handling operations.

15. Assembles necessary data for the completion of IATS Standard Ground Handling Agreement for outsourced ground handling activities and coordinates agreement signing and execution with the Chief Executive Officer or Accountable Manager.

16. has the authority and responsibility for the management and supervision of functions and activities within the scope of company-wide policy and guidance for cargo operations, including revenue cargo, non-revenue cargo, and COMAT.

Salary to commensurate with experience, interested applicants apply to HR@intercaribbean.com

Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 348-6838 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Graphic designer Information Technology and Production Manager: Kelano Howell Todeline Defralien Reporter

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.

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD POSITION AVAILABLE

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: 1.Possess a working knowledge of UK Aviation Regulations for Off-Shore Territories (OTAR), ICAO and IATA aviation practices and standards, US FAA Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), and Dangerous Goods Regulations.

2.Past experience and knowledge of ramp and aircraft operations.

3. Other skills to be determined and evaluated by the Chief Executive Officer, based on prior experience and necessary skills, knowledge and training.

4.Must speak, read, write, and understand the English language. Additional requirements include the ability to physically carry out the work scope involved.

Turks and Caicos Sun

Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill a post on Ambergris Cay on a Month to Month Basis. The available post is for a:

CARPENTER Job Summary:

•Maintaining all furniture (wood floors, fences, decorations, lodging) in accor dance with international standards •Maintain buildings interiors and exteriors •Inspect municipal buildings and facilities for needed services and repairs •Ordering of spare parts to ensure consistent functioning without discontinuity •Participation in training against fire •Any other duties as may be assigned

Essential Functions:

•Apply preventive maintenance to all buildings on Ambergris Cay •Ensure all work sites are left in a usable and safe condition •Keep work shop clean and in order •Maintain inventory of spare and repair parts and tools •Keep a daily log of tasks •Prepare a preventative maintenance schedule •Perform other related duties as required

Requirements - Applicants must be and or have:

•At least two (8) years of experience in carpentry •A high school diploma or equivalent •Attentive to details and self-motivator •Able to understand and speak English fluently •Able to work with little or no supervision •Physically fit, dependable and hard working •In possession of clean police record and valid TCI driver’s license •Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay fulltime with rotated weekends off.

Salary: $10 - $12 per hour Closing Date for Applications is 14th March, 2017

Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

BLUEHAVENTCI .COM

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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6 4 9 . 9 4 6 . 9 9 1 0

Blue Haven Marina Builds a Playground for Extraordinary Minds Ashley Learning Centre On February 25th, the team at Blue Haven Marina took a break from work on the docks to help those in need. The team gathered boat captains, crew and staff to participate in IGY Marinas’ annual community outreach project, “Inspire Giving Through You”, where each member of the IGY marina group across the Americas and Caribbean heads out into their community where they operate to support a local charity or nonprofit organization for a day of giving back.

Adam Foster, General Manager for Blue Haven Marina in Leeward, Providenciales, said they had met with various charities to decide which non-profit organization they could contribute to that would benefit the most from what they could potentially offer. In meeting some of the children at Extraordinary Minds Ashley Learning Centre in Provo, Mr. Foster said, “The kids really touched our hearts and we could see the school desperately needed assistance. The indoor area is quite small so we thought building a playground for the children would be a good fit for what we could do.”

The huge task began at 8am with collecting equipment and supplies, and went right through to sundown before celebrating a hard day’s work at Blue Haven Resort’s Salt Bar & Grill. Foster said, “We are really pleased with the turnout from captains and crew this year – the biggest ever - and hope next year the numbers continue to grow. We had 4 volunteers from Blue Haven Marina, 2 from IGY, 18 captains and crew, and 19 from the school (including parents, teachers and students) assist us on the day”.

The playground construction consisted of a brightly painted fence surrounding the play area in front of the school, faux grass flooring that will be safe for the children to play on, a sand pit with toys, three hand-made and painted picnic tables with benches, potted plants and flowers, overhead canvas shade sails, and a pathway for wheelchair access going through the playground from the school to the entrance of the playground.

Blue Haven Marina extends thanks to its corporate sponsors who assisted, including Do It Centre for donating the majority of building supplies, Environmental Arts for providing discounted potted plants, and PTS Equipment for donating the use of all gardening and construction tools. IGY donated t-shirts for everyone to wear and balls for the children to play with. Lunch for the workers was provided by Blue Haven Resort and Blue Haven Marina then put on a thank you event at Salt Bar & Grill for everyone to celebrate afterwards with some well-earned food and drink with dance performance entertainment by The Breezy Beach Dancers.

Ms. Angela Williams, founder of Extraordinary Minds Ashley Learning Centre, whose daughter attends, gave a heartfelt thank you and certificates of appreciation to all the boat crews and sponsors who had helped. With relatively little prior assistance received for the school, Ms. Williams explained they had been trying to increase awareness in the community and requests for help had for a long time not been acknowledged. She beautifully expressed how grateful she was for the work which had been achieved that day and pointed out that the large number of volunteers was quite overwhelming and unexpected.

The team at Blue Haven Marina hopes this project will bring many smiles to children’s faces and that they will get great learning experiences and enjoyment out of the playground. The school currently has seven children attending, with a waitlist of six further children requiring the school’s special services.

Perhaps with this expansion, it may be possible for additional pupils to attend. The same day, IGY Marinas’ “Inspire Giving Through You” program was also conducted in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Columbia and Cabo San Lucas.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

CIBC FirstCaribbean’s ABMs in TCI most widely-used among 17 Caribbean countries highly used in terms of volume, the Turk, we’ve put one in the cruise port employees across our forty-four number of times. When you come and also so over the course of the last twelve thousand employees now we are

Despite having a population see it not working it’s because we are to eighteen months our ATM network included in CIBC so between CIBC of approximately 31,000, residents of constantly stocking. We have to restock has essentially moved from eleven over who has forty-four thousand employees the Turk and Caicos Islands use the it every time it is down and that is why the course of a year and a half.” and we have three, every week five Automatic Banking Machines (ABMs) we increased the number of ABMs.”

Hill said that CIBC employees are selected going beyond at CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Leeward He stated that they are having FirstCaribbean Bank aim is through given exceptional customer experience branch more than any of the 17 a challenge right now with the drive innovation, come with developments and that is usually started by the Caribbean countries where the bank through ABM, and the vendor is every quarter, and o make the lives of customer writing to us nearly every operates. bringing a part so that it can be fixed. their staff easier with tools. week so employee across the Caribbean

This was revealed by Mark St. Hill added: “It is the most He continued: “We now have is included in that five. That is showing St. Hill, Managing Director of CIBC widely used of seventeen Caribbean business banking, for the first time that we are really moving towards FirstCaribbean’s Barbados-based countries. If you look now in Grace we have out in something called the the journey and are we there yet? No, head office and Larry Lawrence, Bay, we now have a stand-alone ABM ‘Origination behavioral and credit score because if you ever say you are there Country Manager, during an interview within the branch. So we have one cards’ and that now means the business the competitor will beat you,” Hill with media after the ribbon cutting outside and we have put one inside, banker does not have to do physical explained. ceremony at the Leeward Highway but this is actually a good problem for annual reviews and that transit to Turks and Caicos Islands is branch on Tuesday February 28th, us. We have no problem deploying the spending more time with clients. The the number three performing branch 2017.

ABM’s, so this is extremely good; but other thing that we are piloting now in the country and the Leeward High

CIBC FirstCaribbean operates what it says to me as a society you have with car loans is the automation of bail branch in the TCI is currently number in Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, The adopted modern ways of banking and of sale and our staffs have to outside of five.

Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin that is the way we want to change the our own forms have to go fi8ll another The Managing Director said, Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, region. We want the region to adopt form and take it to the registry and “At the end of the year we give a price Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts, these methods.” we are now working to automate that called the ‘Branch of the year, so TCI St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent When asked by The Sun what so we are challenging ourselves every won two years ago in the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago. All of those is the cause of the machines being quarter to come with something that and now they are at number five will countries have larger populations than down? CIBC FirstCaribbean Turks eliminates and makes the response they win? That is up to them but the Turks and Caicos Islands except for and Caicos Country Manager, Larry time much faster.” performance here I great. It is profit Anguilla and the BVI. Lawrence added: “Persons are open Forty percent of the time centre so it is weight among the loans,

“Clearly the population here to the alternate channels and you which they are trying to get into one insurance, consumer loans, mortgages, has adopted the use of what we call would notice that we’ve recently had hundred percent of the time CIBC creditor life and some other products the alternate channels and as using one at Grace Bay Gourmet and also FirstCaribbean deliver a car loan to I that they have some targets to meet the ABM’s which is kudos to the TCI,” Grace Way Smart because again it’s customers within forty-eight hours and and it’s based on that. I8t also speaks St. Hill said. “From our statistics, we because of the high usage rate and consumer loans. positively about the economy here, so measured the usage and the TCI the convenience factor that we’ve had “We have something called the economy seems to be rebounding so (Leeward Highway Branch) is the most to put on an additional two in Grand amazing moments where five I wish TCI all the best.”

By Todeline Defralien

Turks & Caicos Islands National Insurance Board TENDER NOTICE GENERATOR AT THE HON. HILLY EWING BUILDING, PROVIDENCIALES Quotes are hereby invited from suitably qualified and experienced Technician in possession of a valid Turks and Caicos Islands business license in the appropriate category for the supply and installation of a turnkey solution Backup Electricity Generation System (BEGS) expected to provide electricity service in the event of short and long term utility failure at the National Insurance Board (NIB). The BEGS must be capable of providing sufficient amperage capacity to supply ALL current and future anticipated loads at this Hon. Hilly Ewing Building, Providenciales.

All tenders should be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to: THE CHAIRMAN TENDER COMMITTEE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD GRAND TURK TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Clearly marked: TENDER OFFER FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF STANDBY BACKUP GENERATOR FOR THE NATIONAL INSURANCE OFFICE, PROVIDENCIALES to be received no later than 12: 00 noon on Friday, March 17, 2017.

All 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.

Turks & Caicos Islands National Insurance Board Request for Proposal Mobile Telephone Services The National Insurance Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands wishes to invite proposals from suitably qualified service providers in possession of a valid Turks and Caicos Islands business license in the appropriate category to submit a proposal for the provision of MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR ITS STAFF GROUP PLAN. All proposals should be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to: THE CHAIRMAN TENDER COMMITTEE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD GRAND TURK TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Clearly marked: PROPOSAL FOR STAFF GROUP MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICES, GRAND TURK to be received no later than 12: 00 noon on Friday, March 17, 2017.

All 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.

Failure to mark and seal the tender offer correctly may render the tender offer incomplete and not acceptable. The envelope shall not indicate its origin in any way.

Failure to mark and seal the tender offer correctly may render the tender offer incomplete and not acceptable. The envelope shall not indicate its origin in any way.

Tenders received otherwise by email or fax will not be considered.

Quotes received after the deadline will be returned unopened.

Tenders received otherwise by email or fax will not be considered.

Quotes received after the deadline will be returned unopened.

All tender prices must be valid for at least ninety (90) calendar days from the tender submission date.

All tender prices must be valid for at least ninety (90) calendar days from the tender submission date.

Further information is available on the NIB website at www.tcinib.tc.

Or contact:

Further information is available on the NIB website at www.tcinib.tc.

Or contact: MISS RHESA CARTWRIGHT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD HILLY A EWING BUILDING PROVIDENCIALES TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Email: rhesacartwright@tcinib.tc Tel: (649) 941-5806/5906

MISS RHESA CARTWRIGHT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD HILLY A EWING BUILDING PROVIDENCIALES TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Email: rhesacartwright@tcinib.tc Tel: (649) 941-5806/590

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

PDM Government supports 12-storey development

By Todeline Defralien

The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) Government is in full support of the 12-storey development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During a press conference at her Providenciales office on Thursday, March 2nd, 2017, Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, said, “My Government is anxious to go forward with developments in this country. Yes, and we want to manage and make sure that it’s development that our people will benefit from.

Yes, we are keen to meet with the developers and to find out exactly the direction that they would like to go.

My Minister of Border Control and Deputy Premier Sean Astwood would have already begun some dialogue with the developers. We meet them already several weeks ago, myself and the Deputy Premier, and I know that they are eager to go forward but they are still a lot of ground work to be done.”

The Premier said that the Government and the country have to be positioned and ready for anything above seven storeys.

“Just to respond to the Leader of the Opposition (Washington Misick), we have never condemned any project.

What we have called for consistently is consultation to that project. It will certainly need to go through

environmental impact assessment (EIA) to see whether where it is located, to see whether 12 storeys can happen on those grounds. There are environmentalists and planners who believe we can’t, but at the end of the day we are nowhere near finalising.

Are we prepared to move forward with them? Yes we are, but at the end of the day the environment itself will dictate whether it is possible to house 12 storey’s and if it is we are going to make sure that our people are poised to benefit from it,” she explained.

Robinson stated that an announcement will be made soon in terms of not just the employment drive but a skills drive where they will need to know “who’s out there and what skills they have out there” that can be trained and be used even in the construction phase.

In relation to a physical development plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Premier said she was disappointed to hear that the Leader of the Opposition “chuckle it off as if that is going to be something that is going to be stifling”.

She added: “Any country with limited resources and small land space as we do, would want to plan how we’re going to use the rest of land that is available. The national physical development plan is actually something included in legislation that the former Government, of which the

NOTICE

Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulation, 1990 An application, REGISTERED PR 12957 Eric Dexter Chung and Ruel Barrington Chung for the development of three (3) open bar unit in Grace Bay on Providenciales, have been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Development Permission on 60906/77. (Notice: Block and Parcel are zone tourist related) Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, within twenty eight (28) days of publication of this Notice.

Date Posted: March 2nd 2017 Turks & Caicos Islands National Insurance Board REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Project Manager – New Enterprise System The National Insurance Board is seeking a Project Manager to produce a Request For Proposal (RFP) for vendors for the design and development of a new enterprise system.

Full details may be obtained from the NIB website at www.tcinib.tc.

Or contact: MISS RHESA CARTWRIGHT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD HILLY A EWING BUILDING PROVIDENCIALES TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS Email: rhesacartwright@tcinib.tc Tel: (649) 941-5806/5906 Tender Reference No: TR 17/03 To be returned by 12:00 Noon on Friday, March 17, 2017 To:

The Chairman National Insurance Board Tender Board Grand Turk Turks and Caicos Islands RE: New Enterprise System Project Manager

Leader of the Opposition was a part of, actually made a commitment to do in two years. That is a parliamentary deadline that we’ve now passed over one year and this new administration have just put out the tender for the physical development plan; some $500,000 this year and $500,000 next year, to make sure that we manage and that is what you are going to find from us. We are going to manage and we are going to plan.”

The Premier noted that too often people of the TCI have allowed the country to “just boom and they woke up and realise that it develop this way and they are stuck with the way that it is developed”.

She added: “We should plan for the limited recourses in this country and we will never shy away from the fact that we want to and will deliver for this country a national physical development plan. The last one expired since 1997 that is irresponsible.”

In February 2017, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal brought by two hotel developments, Tuscany Strata Corp. and The Venetian Strata Corp., that are opposed to the 12-storey development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The judges, Mr. Justice Elliott Mottley (president), Mr. Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer and Madame Justice Paula Ma Weekes, said they will give their written judgment in

about two weeks.

In July 2016, Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale dismissed the judicial review into Government’s decision to raise the building height and density in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

She stated then: “It is clear from the Premier’s evidence that TCIG has considered that the potential impact of the 12 storey developments on the environment can be mitigated by imposing particular planning standards and requiring rigorous environmental impact assessment before any development is permitted.

Although Ms. (Kathleen) Wood states that she cannot see how an informed opinion on adverse environmental impacts could be reached without a strategic environmental assessment, I do not accept the proposition that because no such assessment was undertaken, that TCIG failed to discharge the duty imposed on it by section 18 of the Constitution. The test is not whether the TCIG or the Premier got it right when it determined that the question of the impact of such developments on the environment would be considered at the stage when planning approval is sought. The test is whether they understood the Constitutional objectives of fostering and protecting the environment and took those objectives into account and it is plain from the evidence that they did.”

Graceway IGA Supermarket invites applications from suitable qualified individuals to fill the listed positions currently held by work permit holders: MEAT MANAGER Job Requirements and Responsibilities: •Responsible for superior service goals of the department • Supervise department staff to include scheduling, training and assigning duties •Implement all merchandising programs •Ensure standards of Department presentation and operations are met; including cleanliness and sanitation, inventory control, rotation, quality, ordering, variety standards, signing, seasonal schematic • Responsible for ordering and inventory control to meet department goals •Ensure the Department has the highest quality of product available for customers •Monitor to ensure variety standards are followed, as well as 100% compliance on ad item display •Ensure paperwork, as set by the Company is followed • Perform all other related duties as assigned by management •Responsible for the sales and profitability of the department by supervising the daily operations of the meat department •Must have previous experience in Droste Systems •Will be required to work nights, long hours, weekends, and holidays •5+ years Fresh Meat Buying and Cutting Experiences •Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications, Experience with Food link Online Preferred, Strong communication and negotiation skills Starting salary range is based on qualifications and experience DELI BAKERY MANAGER Job Requirements & Responsibilities • Is responsible for the overall sales and profitability of the department Ensure the Department has the highest quality of product available for customers •Ensure company standards of safety, proper food handling practices, sanitation and productivity are maintained •Monitor food preparation methods, portion sizes, and garnishing presentation of food to ensure that food is prepared and presented in an acceptable manner •Ensure standards of department presentation and operations are met; including cleanliness and sanitation, inventory control, rotation, quality, ordering, variety standards, signing, seasonal schematic •Must have at least ten (10) years experience in running a Deli / Bakery department of a large retail / wholesale supermarket •Experience in Food and Nutrition and Menu Planning. Inventory management and spoilage reduction techniques are essential •Must have the ability to meet department’s profitability requirements and gross profit margin analysis •Must be computer literate and have excellent communication, organizational and people management / training skills and be extremely customer service oriented •Proven experiences in rotating, handling, stocking, and merchandising Deli products are required •Will be required to work nights, long hours, weekends, and holidays and must have previous experience in Droste Systems Deadline for submission of applicants is March 15th 2017 Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com •Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Beaches TCI Trains Staff in Autism Awareness

Beaches Resort recently partnered with Sesame Workshop to bring a highly effective Autism Sensitization training to the Turks & Caicos. Over three hundred team members and thirty- two teachers from the local schools were trained as part of a Workshop to provide individuals with greater understanding of autism and support for families that vacation at the resort.

Hosted by Maria Del Rocio Galarza, Assistant Vice President at Sesame Workshop, staff members from thirteen departments attended the training exercise which was open for front line staff and others who have daily interaction with children.

The training also puts participants on a path to receiving certification on Autism Awareness.

Beaches TCI also opened the training to the community as the resort had participants from the

Local Teachers attends Autism Awareness.

The Sesame Workshop’s three movement primary schools— Autism Awareness, Director and Enid Capron Primary, Ianthe Pratt Chairman, Maxcia Rigby said, “It’s “See Amazing in All Children” was Primary, Oseta Jolly Primary where very important for us to attend originally launched as a nationwide over Thirty-two teachers were trained different workshops related to initiative in Jamaica to provide Autism. These types of workshops greater understanding and acceptance in Autism Awareness.

Rachel Handfield, Principal are beneficial to our teachers and our of autism and offers families, with of the Osetta Jolly Primary School students. The more information our children on the spectrum, ways to expressed here gratitude for the teachers are able to receive, the more overcome common challenges and training, “We are grateful for the they can pass on to our children to be simplify everyday activities.

Staff members are set to partnership with Beaches in assisting able to advance to mainstream school with the development of the teachers and to have a chance at a better life.” receive additional training during Monique Graham, Training a workshop in March spearheaded skills in that area. The entire staff attended the workshop and they Manager at Beaches TCI said; “We by the International Symposium on were very excited about the positive are a brand that caters to all needs of Cognitive Research and Disabilities interaction and the information they our visitors and this integral training where they will be officially certified gathered. They are more equipped allows us to ensure that we have the in Autism Awareness.

Beaches TCI notes that and confident in the teaching of ability to properly cater to our guests.”

Fedeline Julien, Kids between January 2016 and January students who exhibit symptoms of autism. The workshop was very Program Manager at Beaches TCI 2017, 14,438 children from newborns educational and also motivational for praised the program for bringing to 17 year olds stayed at the property. our teachers and we look forward to awareness to the wider staff on During that same period, the hotel autism as she said that it is important saw an additional 180 children with another one in the future.’

The resort also welcomed for staff members to know how to autism. teachers from Hope Foundation for interact with the children.

Teachers attend autism

Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services visits Mental Health Home

On February 27th, 2017, the Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, Hon. Edwin Astwood, conducted a walk-through of the newly constructed Mental Health Home in Grand Turk. This building represents the completion of phase 1 of the project and is designed to accommodate up to 12 low risk clients. The objective of the home is not only to provide accommodations for persons with chronic mental illnesses, but to also allow them to

receive the therapeutic support and this home will also allow clients persons in our communities suffering psychiatric interventions necessary who are currently being treated from mental illness and a support to maintain their mental health. overseas to return to TCI and receive to their families. He further stated

Phase 2 of the project, which continued care and management. “I am elated to see the completion of includes the construction of two The Director of Mental Health and phase one of the construction of the additional buildings, will commence Substance Dependence stated that Mental Health Home, located at the shortly and is expected to be “this project is yet another example Old Grand Turk Hospital compound. completed by February of next year. of the Government’s commitment Phase two is scheduled to commence This final phase will allow for the to take care of persons with mental later this year”. accommodation of 11 more persons illnesses”.

For more information

According to the Hon. Edwin concerning this project contact and will include a unit to manage persons who are acutely mentally ill. Astwood the services that this home the Director of Mental Health and It is envisioned that once complete, will offer is a much needed service for Substance Dependence on 3383612.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 13

Delleriece Hall Country Manager

Anissa Bootle

HR & Business Support/ PA to General Manager

Cynthia Adams Retail Sales Manager

Joanne Missick Corporate Sales Manager

Darron Hilaire Marketing Communications Executive

Kevin Carmichael Finance Manager

Audley Gibbs Networks Operations

Andrew Adams Customer Service Supervisor

It takes great people to deliver great service.

We’d like to introduce you to some of them.

Visit discoverflow.co for more

Page 14

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

Finance Department

It takes great people to deliver great service.

We’d like to introduce you to some of them.

Kevin Carmichael Finance Manager

Visit discoverflow.co for more

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS

9th annual Star Awards Exceeds Expectations

Turks and Caicos held its very own “Oscars” on Thursday, February 23, 2017 when weeks of planning and hard work culminated in the presentation of 18 Awards to the industry’s best by the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.

A packed-house at the Tropicana Show and Supper Club, cheered on and applauded the 164 Star Awards nominees selected by employers in the sector as well as tourism partners, as they waited anxiously to hear if their names would be called to receive one of the coveted Awards. At the end of the night the lucky winners were: •Heart of Hospitality - Dennis Been – Windsong Resort •Ambassador of the Year - Sherman Lopez – Beach House •TCHTA’s Shining Star - Lauren Callighen – The Palms •Employee of the Year - Shanice WilliamsGansevoort TCI •Supervisor of the Year - Duval Phedre – The Sands on Grace Bay •Manager of the Year - Jessica Rigby – Gansevoort TCI •Housekeeper of the Year - Carlton Salmon – Beaches TCI •Bartender of the Year - Carlton Waite – The Palms •Chef of the Year - Edwin Gallardo - Seven Stars Resort and Spa •Hospitality Hero - Kirkford Gardiner –

Immigration Department •Taxi Driver of the Year - Edward Barranco – Beaches TCI •Fan Favourite - Roxanne Wade – Beaches TCI •Hotel of the Year - Point Grace Resort •Hotelier of the Year - Urmas Karner – The Somerset Resort on Grace Bay and Tendra Musgrove - Villa Del Mar •Restaurant of the Year - Graces’ Cottage, Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar and Parallel23 •Allied Member Restaurant of the Year Mango Reef •Entertainer of the Year - Chrystal “TESS” Charles •Allied Member of the Year - The Wine Cellar

During her remarks to patrons attending the event Stacy Cox TCHTA’s Executive Director stated, “The pursuit of excellence in our sector can never be obtained without the continued dedication and commitment of every worker. Excellence is also, of course, about hard work. It is the hard work of everyone sitting here tonight that propels us forward.

I salute you all. Your efforts will never be understated nor hidden, because of you our destination remains top of mind among travelers throughout the world.

Despite global challenges our sector has proved to be resilient. This is a resilience I see in all our workers and it is because of our collective determination we are able to overcome these challenges. I encourage you to keep our tourism product and brand flying high by working closely together to achieve sustainable growth of the sector.”

Cox added, “This year’s event surpassed our expectations. I am so honoured to be a part of this event, our Committee worked around the clock for the past months securing sponsors, working with the members and KPMG, all to ensure that the event comes off seamlessly. Managing the entire process takes a lot of dedication and commitment and I am truly grateful to the team. We must also say congratulations to the five lucky winners of the Star Awards Raffle, including Zaneta Burton who won the top prize of a 4-night stay at Parrot Cay Resort.”

Guest speaker for the night was Psychologist Darron Turnquest, Director of Youth in The Bahamas challenged the attendees, “While you pursue excellence you must note that there is dignity in your craft, instead on working in the job you have, work in the job you desire, because the industry needs leaders and not managers.”

TCHTA also extended special thanks to Corporate TCI for supporting the event, ensuring that every winner walked away with a trophy and prize. Sponsors for the event were:

Digicel, ScotiaBank and the Ministry of Tourism, Fedex, Caicos Express Airways, AIB Hotel and Restaurant Supplies, The Wine Cellar, CSC Insurance Brokers, Graceway IGA, COMO Parrot Cay Resort, Cargo Express Services Ltd, CIBC FirstCaribbean, TCIAA, TCI Sun Newspaper, Delta, Zemi Beach House Resort and Spa (Anguilla), BVICCHA, Grace Bay Club, The Palms, The Sands, The Hartling Group, Do it Center, Caicos Dream Tours, Delta Airlines, KPMG.

It takes great people to deliver great service.

We’d like to introduce you to some of them.

Cynthia Adams Retail Sales Manager

Anissa Bootle HR & Business Support/PA to General Manager

Networks Department

Edith Skippings Business Support

Audley Gibbs Networks Operations Lead

Andrew Adams Customer Service Supervisor

It takes great people to deliver great service.

We’d like to introduce you to some of them.

Retail Sales Department

Visit discoverflow.co for more

Visit discoverflow.co for more

Page 16

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

How Could I Be Putting In So Much Effort And Not Losing Weight?

By Dr. Marsha Barnett

Whilst exercise should be a way of life in the pursuit of fitness and good health, many persons exercise to lose or control their weight. And it can be disheartening if all those hours on the treadmill and lifting weights aren’t materializing in a reduction in the number we see when we look at the scale. So how could you be working this hard and yet the number on the scale stays the same, or worse, is moving in the wrong direction? Before you panic and throw in the towel, consider these common reasons and make the adjustments required.

•Are You Eating Too Much?

Many studies show that we tend to overestimate the number of calories we burn whilst exercising and as such, persons may eat more as a reward or because they think the exercise will burn those extra calories.

However, it is much easier to consume an extra 500 calories in a hamburger than to burn it walking for almost two hours and so weight loss tends to be more heavily reliant on what we do in

the kitchen than at the gym.

If you are not certain about your intake, a food journal is a good idea. Whether you write or take pictures, chronicle everything you eat for the week. You might be surprised to find hidden calories in snacks or that extra serving of your favorite.

•Are you gaining muscle?

Muscle is denser than fat and as such it weighs more although it takes less space. If you are unable to get your percentage body fat monitored like at the gym or with a nutritionist, one way of testing this is by checking your measurements and the fit of your clothes. If you are gaining muscle and not fat, your measurements will tend to come down and your clothes fit more loosely.

You can turn this around by altering your workouts to focus more on cardio and by reducing the weights you lift whilst increasing the reps for adequate burn.

•Have You Been Doing The Same Thing For Too Long?

ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS TO S.P.I.T ON YOUR 8TH YEAR IN OFFICE ON TRIAL WORK SINE DIE FEBRUARY 2017 WIGGER

If you have been losing weight and you have hit a plateau, you may not only need to make changes to your exercise routines but also to your diet. Most persons reduce their calories when trying to lose weight and prolonged low calorie dieting can sabotage our efforts by slowing the metabolism rate as our bodies try to hoard whatever little calories come its way. In order to rev your metabolism back up, you may need to look at your intake and feed your body additional calories from healthy food. Also, add some new exercise routines such as plyometrics (jump training) or interval training to your program to rev up your calorie burn and challenge your body in new ways.

•Is There A Medical Reason For This Weight Gain?

Medical conditions such as an underactive thyroid or hormonal abnormalities, can lead to weight gain or make weight loss difficult.

Certain medications like steroids, some antidiabetic medicines and even contraceptives also can lead to weight gain. So, check with your physician to

frustrated woman on scale rule out these or any other medical reason for the gain so that once again the scale can tip in your favor.

*Dr. Marsha Barnett is a general practitioner who also specializes in dermatology.

For questions or comments, please contact at drmarshabarnett@ gmail.com

Alexandra Resort is inviting applications for the following positions:

NIGHT AUDITOR RESPONSIBILITIES •Ensuring that all charges and credits are posted accurately to guest accounts; that the telephone call accounting system reporting has been completed and system is functional •Balancing all credit card charges to cashiers reports and hard and soft copies are balanced with credit card folios •Organizing the night audit work in an orderly manner for distribution to the accounts department •Closing out of accounts and resetting the system for the next days op eration •Conducts analytical review of all daily Front Office and Room transac tions reports and to rectify and discrepancies.

•Acting as Manager on Duty and maintain an open line of communica tion between guests, team members and management.

•Performing Front Office duties, processing express checkouts and as sisting guests as needed during the shift

JOB REQUIREMENTS •Must have 3 or more years previous experience as a Night Auditor in a resort or condominium environment •Proficient in Microsoft office and Visual one is a MUST •Clear communications skills (written and oral) •Must be able to work nights, weekends and holidays Salary payable is in the range of $30,000.00 - $35,000.00 per annum.

Please Submit Applications to:

hr@wihl.com A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department.

Submissions to be no later than March 10th, 2017.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 17

LOCAL NEWS

Government should resurrect the Joe Robinson cultural model

By Clyde Greene

For a while now I’ve been having conflicting thoughts about the fact that in the Turks and Caicos Islands there seems to be a saturation of talent shows, modeling shows and other pageant shows.

This is indeed a testament to the wealth of talent in these beautiful islands. I respect the craft of the individuals who work so hard to put these different extravaganzas together, which to me indicates their knowledge and commitment to their art.

I think persons like Courtney Robinson and Kazz Forbes are to be commended for their ability to search out talent, nurture it and then display it for everyone to enjoy.

However, if you’re like me, you’ve asked yourself the question, how far will one’s talent get them in the Turks and Caicos Island today?

If we examine Turks and Caicos culture today, it is fair to conclude, at least in my estimation, that our authentic culture has been diluted to the American way, with very little authenticity or recognition of the real Turks and Caicos Islands

way.

Could this be because there is no real incentive for our kids to keep TCI culture alive especially since it is so much easier to become drenched in the American culture by simply overdosing on American monopolized TV shows and news broadcasts?

Not very long ago in these islands, if you were a student who recognized and displayed any cultural talent, chances are you were recruited to tour with Joe Robinson and his cultural team. Where has that spirit of cultural pride gone in the Turks and Caicos?

A talented student was given the opportunity to see the world removed from the shores of Turks and Caicos Islands. Some of our country’s most prominent performers and talents got their jump-start touring and representing the Turks and Caicos Islands under the leadership of Mr. Joe Robinson.

The Wilson Brothers from Overback, the Dean Brothers from Blue Hills, the Archbold Brothers from the Weeds, and so many more, were influenced by the exposure they received while touring with the

cultural team.

I don’t think it would be a bad idea for our Government to explore the possibility of resurrecting a program like Joe Robinson’s that would allow students to express the Turks and Caicos culture while gaining exposure away from our beautiful shores and at home.

I think it could be argued that Mr. Robinson saw the bigger picture, even back then when we were virtually unknown to the world.

I think Mr. Robinson believed in the philosophy that education and culture, if used collaboratively, could promote these islands. He certainly did his part.

Would his undertaking be difficult today? Yes, maybe, but I can almost bet it would be less difficult today than it was during the time Mr. Robinson led the program.

Our country has the human resources available to take on such a challenge, in persons like Courtney Robinson, who, if I’m not mistaken, toured with Joe Robinson on the cultural team, and more importantly has proven that he is more than capable of evaluating and assessing talent.

We also have Mr. Kazz Forbes, who has taken the country by storm in the arena of fashion and photography and Mr. David Bowen whose life story has been about touring the world dancing and entertaining.

Our country needs to solicit the knowledge and expertise of these men, and others like them, in an effort to rebuild the broken bond between education and culture and what it means to the advancement of its people.

It was through the collaborative efforts of education and culture that afforded so many boys and girls to be exposed to opportunities that triggered their interest, stoked their curiosity and cemented their dreams. We have a window of opportunity that has been closed since Joe Robinson moved away.

He set the example and proved that it worked. We would have failed him if we continue to live in a country where children’s dreams are forsaken and our culture forgotten, especially when we have the tools right at our finger tips to rescue the forsaken and save the forgotten.

11.Encourages businesses to utilize the various programs offered by the CED. 12.Assist in the continued development of CED’s strategic plan.

13.Refers clients to other resources and professionals when necessary.

14.Travels throughout the islands to deliver services to MSMEs, as well as occasionally work evenings.

15.Performs other job related duties as assigned.

Business Advisor Required ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION The CED is a non-profit organization which supports potential and existing entrepreneurs with business consulting in a variety of business start-up and management topics, as well as the provision of targeted training programs.

BUSINESS ADVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION Reports directly to the CED Director, the Business Advisor works directly with start-up and existing entrepreneurs to diagnose business health, provide guidance on business operations, provides confidential, one-on-one counselling and coaching in all areas of business, including market feasibility, business planning, financing, marketing, peer to peer mentoring and human resource development. The Business Advisor will also assist clients under the TCI Government’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Program regulations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 1.Provides business counselling at the CED office or at the site of the MSME business.

2.Provides technical assistance to MSME clients in research and development of business plans, marketing plans, loan proposals and related business development requirements.

3.Provides advice and assistance in the establishment and maintenance of business and financial records, in compliance with relevant regulations, guidelines and standards.

4.Liaise with Invest TCI staff and other relevant partners on matters to meet the objectives of the TCI Government MSME Program.

5.Utilizes Neoserra Data Base to document client activity in an accurate, timely and comprehensive manner, and utilizes the data base software to manage business caseload and produce reports.

6.Develops, promotes, coordinates and delivers business management training programs in a variety of topics.

7.Collaborates with public and private sector stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the CED. 8.Participates, as assigned to promote local business and economic development within various sectors.

9.Communicates with the business owners in a professional, patient, ethical and sincere way.

10.Stays aware of global and national market trends and the changing needs of MSME sector.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 1.Highly customer service oriented.

2.Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with small business owners in a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

3.Ability to develop business plans, marketing plans, financial strategies and business loan proposals.

4.Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

5.Knowledge of the 2015 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Ordinance and related Regulations.

6.Knowledge of sound, practical business practices of MSME operations.

7.Ability to gather data, compile information and prepare reports.

8.Knowledge of banker expectations of the small business owner.

9.Knowledge of basic business accounting and software such as QuickBooks.

10.Skill in the use of Microsoft Office and related applications.

11.Skill in dealing with business owners and their staff.

12.Skills in assessing business training needs, whether the assessment methods are formal or informal.

13.Ability to develop and deliver educational programs and/or workshops.

14.Skills in relating to the business owner and adult learner.

15.Ability to analyse situations or market needs, and communicate these effectively.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS 1.Completed Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Entrepreneurship from an accredited institution.

2.Minimum of one year’s experience related to the essential functions specified.

3.Past or current business ownership/management experience .

4.Experience in counselling and/or advising small businesses .

5.Small business finance/banking experience is preferred.

6.Holder of a valid driver’s license.

Salary: $45,600 to $48,000 per annum based on qualifications and experience, To Apply: Submit applications before March 15, 2016 to: Chairman, CED Board of Directors, Unit B203, Graceway House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Email: info@cedtci.tc Phone: 941-7233

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

CIBC FirstCaribbean showcases $1.5M upgraded branch

By Todeline Defralien

Emphasizing a commitment to better client experience and excellent customer service, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank recently showcased the $1.5million renovation to its main branch at Leeward Highway, Providenciales.

Several technology upgrades were also made at the branch to take advantage of industry advances with a view to introducing interactive customer engagement services.

The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Tuesday February 28th, 2017 where it saw the attendance of Deputy Governor Anya Williams, CIBC FirstCaribbean Turks and Caicos Country Manager, Larry Lawrence, Managing Director Mark St. Hill and CEO of CIBC FirstCaribbean Gary Brown.

In his brief remarks, CIBC FirstCaribbean Turks and Caicos Country Manager, Mr. Larry Lawrence said, “The investment in this facility is further evidence of the commitment of CIBC FirstCaribbean in the Turks and Caicos Islands in particular and the region of a whole. It is yet another very strong demonstration of the bank’s commitment to offering superior services in an atmosphere that is both welcoming and accommodating to our clients and our staff. You the clients are the reason why we are here and we will continue to seek out new and creative ways to ensure that our every point of contact with us is one characterized by the extraordinary service.”

Managing Director Mark St. Hill, who is based in the bank’s Barbados headquarters, added: “It is by no chance that we use the sign ‘there’s no place like home’ and we

Islands Bee Carwash & Auto detailing

Is seeking a person to wash and auto detail cars To work 6 days a week Salary $6.25 per hour Contact # 346-6278

Jeff Forbes

Is seeking a live in Caretaker To work 5 days a week Salary $250 per week Contact # 341-4402 #589239

Country Manager Larry Lawrence Managing Director Mark St. Hill want to treat our braches like home. requests was additional ABM’s and I We spend a lot of time here every day am pleased to say that we now moved and we want to make you our most from two ABM’s to four.” important asset, our customers feel CIBC FirstCaribbean like home. I am truly excited at what Leeward Highway branch now has your team here has accomplished in a three ABM’s on the inside and one at short time frame. I would like to thank the drive through. all of you for the hard work and hard The branch is designed in working men and ladies involved in zones; retail banking, a new loan and this project.” mortgage centre, business banking,

He continued: “I believe corporate banking including dedicated we only started this project as corporate services representatives, late as October, November and we and a section for the local operations transformed this in a very short space teams. of time, so I have to commend all St. Hill said the main involved. Just a few months ago I was improvements to the Leeward branch here with the team for the launch of mirror what they are doing across our CIBC Home and Auto Insurance the Caribbean region and they will program. Back then, several of our continue to do so with one goal in customers expressed some concerns mind, which is to offer a better client at the limited services that we were experience. He said they are also offering. As I recall, chief of your moving towards making excellent concerns was the urgent need for customer service and better client additional ABM’s. I am really pleased experience their way of life because to see Todeline from the Turks and this is the only thing that will Caicos SUN as she was one who differentiate them from others. expressed gratitude and thanks that .

Meantime he added, “When we were going to invest $1.5 Million in you come in any of our banking halls renovating this branch and one of her we are in a real sense welcoming you

TCI Consulting Services Ltd. Seeking one (1) responsible driver Must be willing to work 6 days a week. Must be willing to work on holidays/weekends.

Collect payments and complete logs and reports Proven working experience as a driver; a valid driver’s license; good driving record with no traffic violations.

Interested applicants please apply with full CV to jobsinformation.tci@gmail.com

Flamingo Café and Take Out

Seeking a Waitress Salary $6.25 To work 6 days per week Contact # 246-3137 #589238

LABOURER WANTED

CEO Gary Brown to our home, we are determined that every time you visit us our home will be pleasant, easy and number one.”

CEO Gary Brown said the $1.5million renovation demonstrated to the community that CIBC FirstCaribbean is serious about their business here in TCI.

“The investment that was made here is not inconsequential and I think that it demonstrates that we want to provide the best services for our clients. As I told my team many times over the years that I’ve been associated with FirstCaribbean, there’s no reason for us to be here except for our clients,” Brown said. “We need to embrace that in everything we do, whether it is our back office or our front office, middle office or any part of our business. We need to embrace our clients and we are going about that by investing in our business, investing in our people and making sure that we can indeed provide the kind of upto-date modern services throughout all of our branch network especially here in the TCI which we have a very important part to play.”

Reliable Consultant Agency

Touch of Class

On behalf of Bernie Williams Seeks a Caregiver From Monday to Friday Salary $6.50 per hour

Thomas Saunders Grand Turk To work 6 days per week Salary $7.00 per hour Contact 231-0925

Back to D’ Island

Is seeking a Sales person To work 5 days a week Salary $6.25 per hour Please contact 343-7336

#589234

•Help clients take prescribed medication •Assist clients with personal care hygiene •Help clients with physical therapy exercises Contact # (649) 241-5563

Ishmael N. Munroe

Is seeking a Domestic Worker To work 4 days per week Salary $6.25 per hour Please contact: 242-2495

Is seeking a Nail Technician To work 6 days a week Salary $6.50 per hour Please contact Joyce Rigby at 244-0469 # 589235

Faith Baptist Church

Is seeking a Classic Guitar Player Is seeking 1 Secretary To work 5 days per week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 341-3515\341-3515 #589222

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 19

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.

Provo Water Company Ltd is seeking suitable applicants to fill the following positions.

POSITION: (2) PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS QUALIFICATION: 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, 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

Salary Range:

US$ 36, 000 – 48, 000 per annum

POSITION: SYSTEM DESIGN ENGINEER MINIMUM QUALIFICATION: •Registered Civil Engineer •At least 5 t years’ experience in civil works with emphasis waterworks and piping networks.

•Have a strong knowledge of hydraulics and piping design calculations.

•Effective organization skills and ability to work effectively both in a team setting and independently •Computer proficient with exposure in Microsoft Word and Excel and hydraulic modeling software.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The System Design Engineer works under the direction of the head of the Engineering Department. This individual provides technical direction and management for the design compliance and construction works leading to the maintenance of the islands waterworks system.

This position can be adapted to either primary or construction or facility maintenance functions.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO: •Provide Surveys, Designs and detailed engineering for proposed waterworks, civil works, engineering projects, modifications and maintenance.

•Monitor and Record hydraulics input - output data such as system’s pressures, velocities and flows including pumping stations and water storage facilities for engineering design task.

•Carry out continuous engineering studies, investigations and design calculations for the maintenance of water supply system in the island.

•Provide cost-effective solutions to waterworks requirements/ situations and establish review procedures to minimize cost growth.

•Perform Engineering field surveys for establishing boundaries and limits, developing contours and profiles, piping routes and levels.

•Develop company standards for all construction and or facility maintenance works.

•Apply standard practices and techniques in specific engineering assignments, including proficiency in use of engineering/project scheduling tools.

•Provide technical assistance to the Operations and Maintenance Department •Ensure that the integrity of master plans is maintained and maintain and update the general site plans for all waterworks facilities including new connections and facilities.

•Ensure all subcontractors employed to execute engineeringconstruction tasks conform to applicable company standards for security, safety, environmental controls, hazardous materials and underground utilities.

Salary Range: US$ 36, 000 – 48, 000 per annum

All applications (inclusive of cover letter, CV & copies of qualifications) must be submitted by 10th March, 2017 to: Managing Director Provo Water Company Limited Grace Bay Road, PO Box 39 Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands provowater@tciway.tc Only applicants selected for an interview will be notified.

Page 20

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

Graceway Trading Ltd is a seeking suitably qualified applicant to fill the following position: FINANCE ANALYST Job Requirement & Responsibilities: •ACA/ACMA/CMA/CPA qualified with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in a financial analysis position •Management and development of pricing system and processes •Detailed gross margin analysis to identify and correct pricing anomalies •Support Pricing & Logistics Managers maintain the accuracy of company databases, recommend and implement controls to prevent database inaccuracies from occurring •Review and develop freight and duty allocation methodologies to ensure accurate cost allocation to individual products.

•Extensive experience of querying databases using computer programming languages (eg SQL) •Detailed knowledge and practical experience of accounting software (eg SAGE) •Advanced Excel skills essential including the use of pivot tables, VLookup functions and embedded logic formulas •Act as the link between Finance and IT, representing the Finance team at IT Steering Committee meetings •Ad-hoc analysis to support operational decision making, including new product and vendor assessment •Strong written and verbal communication skills •Attention to detail and flexibility to manage multiple tasks Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience Deadline for submission of applicants is March 11th 2017 Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracwayiga.com Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews

The Shore Club is now accepting applications to fill the following position outlined below.

VILLA MANAGER The Villa Manager has overall responsibility for every aspect of the Villa operation and for the performance of each individual member of the villa. The main emphasis in this role is on customer service, the key objective being to deliver a world-class hospitality service and to create unique and memorable holiday experiences for every client. A ‘can do attitude’ is required. You will be expected to fulfil the following responsibilities: •Must have minimum 10 years’ experience in similar capacity as a villa Manager in branded luxury hotel/resort •Post-secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience •Must have knowledge of laundry operations •Customer service delivery + guest satisfaction (inc catering, transport, games/entertainment, child care, technology/communications) proactive communication with guests to ensure all queries are answered and any special requests are met at the earliest opportunity •Extensive experience in housekeeping (laundry, cleanliness and presentation throughout the villa) •General villa maintenance -coordinating with engineering •Completion of all financial + non-financial paperwork •Communication with Guest Relations and housekeeping pre-arrival + post departure We are looking for the following experience and personal attributes: •Positive and flexible attitude •Highly professional with a 5-star service mentality •Proactive •Great attention to detail Salary for this position is $40,000.00 per annum and is based on previous experiences and qualifications.

If you have an upbeat, outgoing personality, you are encouraged to apply. All candidates must be fluent in English and available to work a rotating and flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays. A clean police record and professional references is required.

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD TENDER NOTICE FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE HILLY A. EWING BUILDING PROVIDENCIALES 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 Janitorial Services for the Hilly A. Ewing Building, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

SCOPE OF WORK 1.Polish furniture and clean fixtures 2.Clean lunchroom and kitchen (wash dishes, clean counters, cupboards, refrigerator, stove etc.)

3.Clean bathrooms (clean toilets, face basins, floors, etc.)

4.Clean windows and doors; 5.Clean book shelves; 6.Remove all trash from offices, kitchen and bathrooms; 7.Steam clean upholstery every six months; 8. Maintain tile floors by stripping, buffing and polishing once weekly; 9.Vacuum carpeted areas; 10.Dust blinds SUPPLY OF MATERIAL Pricing is to include the supply of cleaning material, disinfectant, deodorizer, toilet paper, hand towels and soap as and when required.

EQUIPMENT All equipment needed to perform the task is to be provided by the service provider.

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 March 17, 2017.

For consideration, apply to the Human Resources Department at The Shore Club, Long Bay Beach, Providenciales, TCI or e-mail: careers@theshoreclubtc. com. Prospective applicants who are Turks & Caicos Islanders, kindly send copies of your application to Employment Services. Closing Date: March 17, 2017.

Christelle Petit

Seeks 1 babysitter To work 6 days per week Applicant must be honest, reliable and hardworking Salary is negotiable Contact 343-0912 #589236

New Star Construction

Is seeking a laborer in South Caicos To work 6 days a week Salary is negotiable Contact # 244-2912

Carl Robinson

Is seeking Auto Body Repair Helper To work 6 days per week Monday-Saturday Salary $6.25 per hour Please call 243-0483

THE CHAIRMAN TENDER COMMITTEE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS TENDER: JANITORIAL SERVICES - PROVO Tel: (649) 946 1048/49 Fax: (649) 946 1362

Global Tech Solutions Ltd.

Technician needed seeking experienced and trainee technicians to service banking and office equipment Salary and benefits commensurate with experience.

Applicant should have belonger status in TCI Please email resume, references and proof of belonger status to jobs@bbsl.com

Harvest Variety Store

Is seeking a Cashier To work 5 days per week Salary $6.25 per hour Contact 232-1339 #589233

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 21

!

W E N

TE A D

Munich 1972

Join Us For A Story Of Healing & Resilience

Thursday, March 16, 2017 at Brayton Hall an evening With Dan alon

program Details

The 1972 Olympics began with the promise of peace, brotherhood and sportsmanship. That promise was shattered just days later before the eyes of the world. Dan Alon was a fencer for the Israeli team at the 1972 Munich Olympics and one of the only survivors of the terrorist massacre of his team.

6:30pm – Doors open 7:00pm – program Begins

A question and answer session will follow The event is FREE and open to the public

Today, as threats of violence continue worldwide, we come together in the belief that there is strength in unity – that peace and solidarity triumph over the division intended by such horrific acts. Join us for the riveting story of a man who faced modern-day terror and his resolve to pave a pathway for a peaceful future.

For more information contact Rabbi Sholom Bluming at Rabbi@JewishTCI.com A Project of the Provo Jewish Community

With Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

E. Jay SaundErS & Family

miSick & Stanbrook attornEyS

Page 22

8

th

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

Presents the:

Annual FortisTCI

National Science & Technology Fair A joint effort with the Department of Education

Wednesday, March 8th - Thursday, March 9th, 2017 Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex Downtown, Providenciales 2016’s Winners: Maranatha Academy

This year’s winners will attend the Intel International Science and Enginering Fair in Los Angeles, California

www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | 1030 Leeward HWY, Providenciales, TCI

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Turks & Caicos National Museum Foundation

Page 23

History and Cultural Heritage Quiz Support our students during Education Week

Date:

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Time:

10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

Venue:

Brayton Hall BWIC Campus, Venetian Road, Providenciales

Sponsored by:

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

Highlights from the CIBC FirstCaribbean Re-opening of the Leeward Highway branch C

IBC FirstCaribbean hosted a ribboncutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of its recently updated branch at Leeward Highway, Providenciales, on Tuesday, February 28th, 2017.

The changes, which include several technological upgrades, will improve the experience of its customers by introducing more interactive services.

The branch also features a drive-thru Automated Banking Machine and three

lobby machines.

Attending the event were Deputy Governor, Hon. Anya Williams, CIBC FirstCaribbean’s CEO, Gary Brown, TCI Country Manager, Larry Lawrence, Managing Director of Retail and Business, Mark St. Hill, as well as other clients and dignitaries.

Here are photographs from the cocktail reception.

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LOCAL NEWS

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MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Security boosted for accountants in Oscar gaffe who froze backstage

Security has been stepped up for the two accountants responsible for botching the Oscar best picture announcement, their company said on Thursday, as the ceremony’s stage manager said the pair had to be pushed onstage to set things right after the gaffe.

Accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said security was provided at the homes of Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz following Sunday’s blunder, in which an envelope mix-up led to the announcement of the wrong film as best picture winner during the live TV broadcast.

PwC gave no details but celebrity website TMZ.com said the pair had received death threats on social media and that photos of their homes had been Martha Ruiz (L) and Brian Cullinan of PricewaterhouseCoopers confer on stage after the Best Picture was mistakenly awarded to ‘La La Land’ instead of ‘Moonlight’ posted online.

Cullinan, who posted The winner of best was just shocking to me.” a now-deleted backstage photo picture was African-American “I still do not understand of Emma Stone on Twitter just independent film, “Moonlight.” the delay,” Natoli said. “Brian before the gaffe, and Ruiz were “We watched for about should have run out there on his barred on Wednesday by the 10 more seconds, and during own. Martha should have run Academy of Motion Picture Arts that entire time, Martha was out there.” and Sciences from taking part no more than five feet away Natoli also blamed in the Oscars ceremony or ballot from us. When ‘La La Land’ was smaller, less legible writing on counting ever again. announced, she did not try to the winner envelopes.

Oscar show stage get my attention, she did not say “We know that Brian was manager Gary Natoli told anything. And she’s supposed to taking pictures backstage when Hollywood website TheWrap that have memorized the winners,” he should not have been, and not the two had frozen backstage Natoli told TheWrap. paying attention... And there was when things went wrong during More than a minute the new design of the envelope, the climax of Sunday’s ceremony. passed before Cullinan said which we had complained about

Natoli said he was backstage that something was to the Academy,” Natoli said. standing near Ruiz when wrong.

PwC, which has actors Warren Beatty and Faye Backstage crew were overseen Oscar balloting for 83 Dunaway incorrectly announced “trying to get Brian to go on stage, years, said on Thursday the two on stage that musical “La La and he wouldn’t go,” Natoli said. accountants were still employed Land” had won the top award for “And Martha wouldn’t go. We had by the company. best picture. to push them on stage, which

Factbox: Key winners at the 89th Academy Awards The 2017 Academy Awards, the highest honors in the movie industry, were handed out at a ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel.

Following is a list of winners in key categories for the awards, also known as the Oscars: Best Picture “Moonlight” Best Actor Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea” Best Actress Emma Stone, “La La Land” Best Director Damien Chazelle, “La La Land” Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight” Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis, “Fences” Best Original Screenplay “Manchester by the Sea” - Written by Kenneth Lonergan Best Adapted Screenplay “Moonlight” - Screenplay by Barry Jenkins; Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney Best Animated Film “Zootopia” Best Foreign Language Film “The Salesman,” Iran Best Documentary Film “O.J.: Made in America” Best Original Song “City of Stars” - “La La Land.” Music by Justin Hurwitz, Lyrics by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul

Neverland Ranch back on market with cut price, no Michael Jackson reference

Michael Jackson’s famed Neverland Ranch in California is back on the market at a much reduced price of $67 million and with no mention of the late pop star in the real estate listing.

The sprawling 2,700-acre (1,100-hectare) estate, which once featured a zoo and theme park rides and where Jackson was accused of molesting a boy, is being touted for suitability for wine-making, keeping horses and a “lifestyle of relaxation and entertaining on a grand scale.”

The estate, which was renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch several years ago, was last offered for sale in May 2015 at $100 million but failed to sell.

Jackson, who died from an overdose of the anesthetic Propofol in 2009 at age 50, bought the property in Los Olivos,

about 120 miles (193 km) north of Los Angeles, in 1987 for $19.5 million.

After financial troubles, in 2008 he handed over the title to the ranch to investment firm Colony Capital LLC, which held his $23 million loan on the property.

Neverland, a name taken from the “Peter Pan” tale of a boy who refused to grew up, became Jackson’s favorite retreat. It also was where he entertained young boys, one of whom brought molestation charges against the “Thriller” singer that resulted in a 2005 trial and Jackson’s acquittal.

The ranch’s famous railway has now been removed but the listing by real estate company Coldwell Banker shows that the floral clock with the word Neverland remains.

Other than that, the listing makes no mention of Jackson.

A general view of the train station at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, California

$135

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HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE Home-cooked meals, hold the TV, linked to less obesity

Adults who never watch TV during family meals and eat mostly home-cooked food are much less likely than others to be obese, according to a recent U.S. study.

Past research has suggested that more frequent family meals are linked to lower obesity, but in the current study of more than 12,000 Ohio residents, eating at home, rather than out, and without the television on, was tied to lower obesity risk regardless of how often family was present.

It may be difficult for some families to eat a meal together every day, but they may be able to have healthier habits for the meals they do share, researchers conclude in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Families’ mealtime practices vary, and may be associated with adults’ obesity,” said lead author Rachel Tumin, of the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource

Center in Columbus.

“Adults might eat more food when they are watching TV, and meals that are not home-cooked may be less healthy than meals that are homecooked,” Tumin said by email.

To determine how family meal practices affect obesity risk, the study team analyzed data from the 2012 Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey on for 12,842 adults who had eaten at least one family meal in the past week.

The participants answered questions about how often they ate meals at home with their family, how often they watched TV while eating and how many of their meals were home-cooked.

The researchers used selfreported height and weight data to calculate each participant’s body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height. People with a BMI over 30 were considered obese, and one third of participants fell into this category.

Overall, 52 percent of

respondents ate family meals six or seven days per week, 35 percent ate family meals about every other day and 13 percent ate meals with family one or two days a week.

About a third of adults watched TV during most or all family meals, while another 36 percent did not watch any TV or videos during meals. For 62 percent of adults, all of the family meals they ate were cooked at home.

Researchers found that the number of meals people ate with their family was not linked to their likelihood of being obese.

Adults who cooked all of their family meals at home, however, were 26 percent less likely to be obese, compared with those who ate some or no home-cooked meals.

People who never watched TV during meals had 37 percent lower odds of being obese than those who always watched TV or videos during

family meals.

While eating more family meals may be beneficial for health, the quality of meals is important as well, said Jerica Berge, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis who studies family meal practices.

“It’s not just eating more of them that matters, it is important to consider other factors such as the healthfulness of the food eaten at the meal, the emotional atmosphere at the meal, or whether there are distractions at the meal (e.g., TV),” Berge, who was not involved in the study, said by email.

“Turn off the TV when having family meals and use it as a time to check in about the day, current events, and fun future plans,” Berge said.

Tumin also advised leaving the TV off during meals, adding, “People who may not have time to cook their own meals could still consider buying healthy foods for family meals.”

Children of depressed mothers at risk for unintentional injuries

Children under age 5 are more likely to accidentally get injured if their mothers are having a depression or anxiety episode, according to a study in the UK.

The rates of child poisonings, small fractures and minor burns increased during these episodes – with poisonings more than doubled when mothers suffered both depression and anxiety - but there was no link to more severe injuries such as third-degree burns or femur fractures, researchers found.

“Maternal depression and anxiety are common.

Maternal well-being is key to giving children a good start in life, affecting their emotional and physical health,” said lead author Ruth Baker of the University of Nottingham.

“Injuries are still one of the leading preventable causes of death in preschool

children, yet few studies have examined whether maternal mental illnesses affect that risk,” she told Reuters Health by email. “Most studies focus on depression alone.”

Baker and colleagues analyzed hospitalization data for more than 200,000 children born between 1998 and 2013 and followed them from birth through their fifth birthdays. They also identified episodes of depression and anxiety in each mother’s primary care record, as well as prescriptions for antidepressants and anxiety medications. The research team focused on poisonings, fractures and burns as the three most common preventable injuries in young children.

They found that a fourth of mothers experienced one or more depression or anxiety episodes, and

unintentional injuries were higher during these periods.

More than 2,600 poisonings, 6,000 fractures and 4,200 burns were reported. Children had a 52 percent higher poisoning rate, for example, during depression episodes, a 63 percent higher poisoning rate during anxiety episodes, and a 230 percent higher poisoning rate during depression with anxiety episodes.

Similar to poisonings, fractures and burns were highest during combined depression and anxiety episodes.

“Due to depression or mental illness, these households often aren’t kept hazard-free and don’t safely store poisonous or sharp objects.

Young children may also be able to access dangerous areas of the home such as stairways and

windows,” said Kieran Phelan of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio, who wasn’t involved in the study.

In the U.S., unintentional injuries may be particularly common in lowincome households that don’t have access to healthcare, unlike the families who have universal healthcare access in Britain, he added.

“That’s likely to get worse in the U.S. over the next few years, given current talks of changing the healthcare system,” Phelan told Reuters Health. “It’ll make it more difficult for lowincome and working moms to get insurance.”

One limitation of the study is that the researchers relied on hospitalization data and mental illness diagnoses. Many injuries likely go unreported, and many mothers likely have

depression or anxiety but aren’t diagnosed by doctors, the study authors write in the journal Injury Prevention.

The British database used for the study also didn’t link the health data for children to fathers or other caregivers.

“New studies are looking at the associations between paternal mental health and childhood injury, and we’re seeing that higher paternal involvement reduces injuries,” said Takeo Fujiwara of Tokyo Medical and Dental University in Japan, who wasn’t involved with the study.

“To prevent childhood injuries, we need to take care of mothers and other caregivers in terms of mental health,” Fujiwara told Reuters Health. “Few studies focus on how to really help our caregivers.”

Americans stressed over politics, poll shows

In January, just before added to its annual survey a question the team that designed the survey.

“That relief, that you could President Donald Trump was about the outcome of the election. More inaugurated, Americans reported than half, or 52 percent, of 3,511 adults exhale all the stress, I think that feeling more stressed than they had in polled said that the hotly contested hasn’t occurred,” she said in a phone at least a decade, since the American race triggered a significant source of interview.

Psychological Association first began stress in their lives.

Two-thirds of Americans taking the public’s temperature in

By January, anxiety over the reported that they feared for the future outcome of the then-settled presidential of the nation in January, when they 2006.

Results of a new poll of more election slipped, but it remained at 49 were asked the question for the first than 1,000 adults show that anxiety percent, the survey of 1,019 adults time. Wright described the number as levels remained stable for the usual top found. “shocking.”

Also in January, 57 percent of stress-inducing culprits: money, jobs Moreover, the January poll showed a statistically significant those polled reported that the current and the economy.

But since last spring, increase in Americans’ stress levels for political climate stressed them out.

Fear cut across party lines: 72 psychologists say, their clients have the first time since the survey was first been talking about a new worry – the conducted 10 years ago. percent of Democrats and 59 percent of 2016 U.S. presidential election and “There was a sense that there would be Republicans described the future of the its aftermath. So in August, the APA, a relief after the election,” said Vaile U.S. as a significant source of personal which represents 115,000 psychologists, Wright, a psychologist and member of stress.

The poll results mirror what University of Minnesota psychologist William Doherty said he and his colleagues have seen during therapy sessions.

About two-thirds of his patients in St. Paul, Minnesota are stressed about the political climate, and most of the rest are caught up in their own personal tragedies, he said in a phone interview.

Doherty’s clients who are stressed over politics complain about trouble sleeping, stomachaches and jaw pain. For example, he said, one Democrat in her 40s watches the news, sleeps poorly and is disturbed about a strained relationship with family members who support Trump.

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FUN & GAMES

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

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Come and join our winning team at Seven Star Resort & Spa The following positions are currently available Housekeeping Attendant / Room Attendant Clean, stock, and provide turn down service for guest rooms to ensure cleanliness and guest satisfaction while caring enough to do it well by adhering to the Resort Commitments and standards.

Duties and Responsibilities •Provide turn down service by partially removing and storing bedspread, replenishing amenities, linens, and supplies and filling ice bucket as requested by guest •Wipe down tub and sink area •Sign for room keys and restock cart •Visually inspect room for cleanliness and appearance of room •Strip and make beds, change linens •Dust all furniture thoroughly •Replenish amenities, linens, and supplies in guest room •Vacuum entire room and empty trash •Convert rooms, beds etc. to meet guest request •Respond in a timely manner to guest requests for items and/or other information Job knowledge/Skills/Abilities •Ability to work conscientiously, meets deadlines, follows instruction and directions, with minimal supervision and detailed oriented •Ability to stand, sit, kneel constantly to handle specific details or demands of quality and speedy guest services •Ability to work with cleaning agents by extending arms over head, bending and stooping •Ability and desire to handle the heat as the layout of the resort’s rooms dictate •Ability to push, lift and/or pull equipment up to or more than 100 lbs •Ability to scrub and scour surfaces, extend arms over head to perform cleaning tasks, and work in confined spaces •Willing to work long hours in all weather conditions •Additional language abilities preferred Salary range: USD12,000 to USD 13,500 per annum. Position currently held by a work permit holder Woodwork Specialist/tradesman Candidate will be responsible for furniture repairs and rebuilds various objects in wood, cardboard, PVC, etc. Assemble, disassemble and repair hydraulic locking arms, locks, boards, doors, furniture, wooden shelves. Prepare special carving and woodwork on a daily bases for room refurbishment.

Requirements: •At least 5 years of related work experience •Must understand detailed architectural drawings, schematics, shop drawings and blue prints.

•Must have experience operating equipment such as saws, routers, drills and sanders •Must have basic mathematical skills •Ability to determine measurements and attention to detail •Physical ability to lift up to 100lbs, walk, jump and bend Wages: USD6.25 to USD$7.60 per hour. New position F&B Director We are looking for a professional Food and Beverage Director to be responsible for managing all F&B operations/outlets and for delivering an excellent guest experience.

The successful candidate will be able to forecast, plan and manage all F&B orders, staff and finance. The goal is to maximize sales and revenue through customer satisfaction and employee engagement. The ideal candidate must have at least five years’ experience in a managing a 5 star Hotel F&B Department.

Duties and responsibilities: •To oversee the presentations and service of all Food and Beverage products to ensure highest standard of quality at all times •Manager all F&B outlets and work closely with the Food and Beverage Managers, Supervisors and the Executive Chef •Ensure proper handling, cleaning and sanitation of equipment, meeting Resorts Health and Safety standards •Prepares the annual food and beverage budget and monthly forecasts for food and beverage needs and expenses along with performing human resource functions including scheduling, evaluating, and training staff. Control labor and operating costs through effective scheduling, budgeting, purchasing decisions, and inventory control while focusing on creative revenue generation solutions to maximize profit •The ability to be visible in the operation, recognize and maintain relationships with regular guests •Communicate with employees and managers to ensure operational needs are met as well as attend regular operational meetings to ensure effective coordination and cooperation between departments •Maintains an up to date working knowledge of all resort amenities as well as any special events Requirements: •Proven food & beverage management experience •Working knowledge of various computer software programs (MS Office, restaurant management software, POS) •Ability to spot and resolve problems efficiently •Mastery in delegating multiple tasks •Communication and leadership skills

•Up to date with food and beverages trends and best practices •Ability to manage personnel and meet financial targets •Guest-oriented and service-minded •Culinary school diploma or degree in food service management or related field Salary range: USD48,000 to USD50,000 per annum and is based on experience and qualification. Position currently held by a work permit holder.

Pastry Chef We are looking for an experienced Pastry Chef to prepare a variety of desserts, pastries or other sweet goods. Must be skilled in baking high quality treats and should be matched by creativity to develop new amazing tastes and recipes. The ideal candidate will be wellversed in culinary arts with a passion for sweet and delicious creations.

Duties and responsibilities •Prepare a wide variety of goods such as cakes, cookies, pies, bread etc. following traditional and modern recipes •Monitor stocks for baking ingredients such as flour, sugar etc. and make appropriate orders within budget •Check quality of material and condition of equipment and devices used for cooking •Guide and motivate pastry assistants and bakers to work more efficiently •Identify staffing needs and help recruit and train personnel •Maintain a lean and orderly cooking station and adhere to health and safety standards Requirements: •Proven experience as Pastry Chef, Baker or relevant role •Great attention to detail and creativity •Organizing and leadership skills •In depth knowledge of sanitation principles, food preparation and baking techniques and nutrition •Working knowledge of baking with ingredient limitations (pastries that are gluten free, sugarless etc.)

Salary range: USD35,000 to USD44,800 per annum and is based on experience and qualification. Position currently held by a work permit holder Hotel IT Manager Responsible for the ongoing maintenance and operation for all of the Information Technology implemented within the Hotel. The position is responsible for the daily operation, support, and security of the technology and data that support and enable the business operation.

•Supervise all daily and weekly IT procedures in the hotel •Design; Implement Preventive Maintenance for all IT hardware & Software •Will be fully in charge of IT Dept. and all of its related issues •Checking daily backups, all system interfaces, Server hardware and logs •Managing IT supervisors and clerks, assigning their daily jobs, and training them on all needed theoretical and practical procedures, troubleshooting and support within corporate standards •Work and manage suppliers for any Software/ Hardware conflicts •Follow up all claims that are being forwarded to IT Dept.

•Document, archive all correspondence and troubleshooting, follow up suppliers’ visits and maintenance •Develop and adapt any ideas that bring IT services to higher management •Recover any gaps that might face IT Dept. and come up with plans to advance its operations •Assist existing/new properties when it is required Requirements: •A minimum of five years in a management or supervisory position responsible for the ongoing operation of Information Technology/systems •Has training capabilities for troubleshooting and support •Good knowledge in LAN, Security, wireless, IP Telephone, and hospitality solutions and software •Able to work flexible hours, holidays and weekends •Ability to communicate effectively •Physical ability to run, walk, jump and bend •Willing to work in all weather conditions •A solid understanding of the hospitality business and the application of Information Technology to that business •Proven project management and budgeting skills •Ability to communicate with all levels of management •Proficiency in mainstream PC desktop applications, and the effective use of Internet technology and services •Strong communication skills both verbal and written •Practical understanding of Front Office procedures •Familiarity with Delphi, POS and other Hotel applications •Strong technical skills including PC and Networks, knowledge of NT and/or Unix Salary range: USD30,000 to USD48,000 per annum and is based on experience and qualification. Position currently held by a work permit holder.

OTHER POSITIONS: •Guest Services Agent •Hostess

•Maintenance Team Leader

Bellman F&B Runner/Server Tailor

Salary range: USD12,000 to $17,000 per annum and is based on experience and qualification. Some positions currently held by a work permit holder.

ONLY CANDIDATES MEETING ABOVE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED Candidates should apply to Seven Stars Resort & Spa, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales via e-mail at hr@sevenstarsgracebay.com for consideration or should leave CV’s at the security building for the attention of HR. Prospective applicants who are Belongers kindly send copies of your application to the board.

Application deadline: March 15, 2016

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GENIA GANICHE LATOUCHE

Seeks to employ a Domestic worker in Grand Turk To work 5 days per week Salary $6.50 per hour Please contact Genia at tel no.

3439417

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

Alcica Duverna

D’Belle Beauty Salon

Palm Ventures

L&S Construction

Is seeking a Domestic Worker Someone who is good with elderly persons Needs to be on time with flexible hours Salary starts at $7.00 per hour No Belongers have applied for this position Contact 331-0221

Is looking for a Barber To work 6 days per week 8 hours a day Salary $6.25 per hour Person should be honest and hardworking and show up at a timely manner Please contact 245-5325 No Belongers have applied for this position

Is seeking 2 Handymen Persons should be willing to work 6 days per week Salary $7.50 per hour Please Contact 331-0220 No Belongers have applied for this position

Is seeking a Domestic Worker Persons should be able to clean offices, bathrooms and all common grounds To work 5 days per week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 331-0221 No Belongers have applied for this position

AG Construction

Earlene Smith

Marie Missick

Is seeking a Domestic Worker Someone that is flexible and can work 6 days per week Person is suppose to be friendly and good with kids Salary $6.25 per hour Contact 332-3504 No Belongers have applied for this position

Is seeking a Domestic Worker Person should have his or her own ride Person should be good with kids and animals Salary $6.25 per hour Contact 331-0220 No Belongers have applied for this position

Island Vibe Tours

Larry Gray

Is seeking 1 Parasailing Captain Must have at least 5 years experience To work 6 days per week Salary $110.00 a day Contact 231-8423\342-4291 BELONGERS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST REFERENCE #589223

Is seeking 1 Domestic Worker To work 6 days per week Salary $6.25 per hour Please contact 244-6158

Humphrey Prospere Is seeking a Labourer in Grand Turk To work 6 days a week Must be able to work holidays and weekends Wages starting at $6.50 per hour BELONGERS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST REFERENCE Contact #241-0990 Between the hours of 9:00am - 4:00pm Monday-Friday Position is currently held by a work permit holder

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Faith Baptist Church

Is seeking a Classic Guitar Player Is seeking 1 Secretary To work 5 days per week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 341-3515\341-3515 #589222

Is seeking a Contractor Helper Persons should be able to do heavy lifting and clean up areas moving inventory back and forth from warehouse to site Salary $7.00 per hour All interested persons should contact 331-0221 No Belongers have applied for this position

WANTED In South Caicos

CARIB CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

Silly Creek Water Sports Looking for an Assistant Manager for a full time position

Seeks to employ 1 Labourer in Grand Turk To work 5 days a week Salary 6.50 per hr Please contact John Godet at Tel no. 2411529 or 332152

BOHIO IS SEEKING

•Candidate must have a valid Boat Captain’s license •Must have a certification for instructing water skiing and wake boarding •CPR + first aid diploma

1 Domestic Work must work 5 Days a week salary $6.25 per hour Contact - Paula @341-6924

LINDA CESAR AUGUSTIN

PADI DIVE INSTRUCTOR

Required The successful candidate will have: •MSTD PADI Master Dive Instructor certification •Mature and flexible attitude •Experience in a resort type environment, ideally in the Caribbean •Excellent written and spoke English •Excellent references Candidates should apply in writing, including a cover letter, resume and references to info@bohioresort.com.

New Life Worship Center, UPC, Is accepting resumes for position of Missionary Coordinator Candidates should be able to cast God’s vision and endeavor to assist in leading others to fulfill their purpose in God, foster partnerships between other charitable organizations and starting new congregations To work 5 days a week Salary $6.25 per hour Send resumes to: Attention: New Life Worship Centre, UPC Kishco Plaza, Leeward Hwy or email to derek655@hotmail. com by March 9th, 2017

Seeks to employ a Domestic worker in Grand Turk To work 5 days a week Salary $6.50 per hr Please contact LINDA at tel no.

244-1451

Augusten Atgur

Is seeking a Supervisor for Grand Turk Cruise Center To work 4 days per week Salary $300 per month Contact 344-3502\332-0477 #589220

Salary is $10.00 per hour Please reply to info@sillycreekwatersports.com This position is currently held by a work permit holder #589227

Nice & Easy Construction Is seeking a Labourer To work 5 days per week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact number 344-5557/ 241-0952

SUNSET CAFÉ SOUTH CAICOS SEEKS 1 Kitchen Helper Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 342-0160 or 331-0221

SAVOR LTD SEEKS Is seeking 1 Baker Starting Salary $8.00 an hour Must Have 5 years experience or more in baking deserts Italian bread, event cakes and creative designs 1 Kitchen Helper $6.25 per hour Needs to be able to work 6 days per week and flexible hours Contact: 342-6266 No Belongers have applied for this position

Versace Bar & Lounge

Is seeking 4 Bar Maids 1 Cashier To work 6 days a week Salary $6.50 per hour Contact: 441-3231 /332-1726

#589226

Super Cuts Barber Shop is seeking • 2 Barbers • 1 Labourer • 1 Domestic Worker • 1 Beautician • 1 Cashier To work 5 days per week Salary $6.25 per hour Please Contact Alex Higgs #243-5406 #589225

Walqui Joseph Is seeking a Domestic Worker Must be willing to work 3-4 days Salary $150.00 per week Please Contact 345-9172 or 341-4201 #589219

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

CARIBBEAN WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS NEWS

DNA leader Branville McCartney resigns from The Bahamas Senate

LEADER of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Branville McCartney has resigned as Leader of Opposition business in the Senate, effective immediately.

Mr McCartney told The Tribune on Thursday at a press conference that Loretta Butler-Turner, who appointed him, has sowed seeds of confusion and the DNA must disassociate itself from her antics.

In a statement, Mr McCartney said: “Every decision I have made since entering frontline politics has not been made lightly. Whether it was to leave the FNM, to lead the DNA or most recently, to accept the post as leader of opposition business in the Senate, I have carefully and prayerfully considered my moves as a public figure.

“It was no different when accepting the appointment as leader of Opposition business in the Senate. I accepted with the understanding that the Democratic National Alliance was separate and apart from any other opposition force, but would lend its voice, ideas and strength in official opposition to this failed Christie administration.

“Let the record reflect that when the electorate called for a more pragmatic opposition, the DNA was the first and only party to answer.

“However, today I informed Her Excellency the Governor General

Branville McCartney that I am resigning my Senate post with immediate effect.

“The leader of the official opposition has, unfortunately, only sown seeds of confusion since assuming her post, bringing no real leadership or focused ideas to the fore.

“As leader of the DNA, in consultation with the executives of the party, I feel that we must now divest ourselves of the farce that has become the official opposition and fully direct our efforts to securing victory in the next general election.

“Famed US astronaut Chris Hadfield once said leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about ‘keeping your team focused on a

goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter’.

“By this standard, there currently exists no opposition party or personality in the House of Assembly that exemplifies the traits of true leadership.

“Change clearly will not come from within; to that end we must continue our mission to affect change from outside Parliament until elections are held.

“To the people of the Bahamas, we say that if you want a government serious about fighting crime and putting the fear of God into these

savage criminals who apparently have free reign on our streets, look to the DNA; if you want an end to this corruption that pollutes and perverts governance in our country, look to the DNA; if you want real accountability for where in the world our billions of tax dollars have been funneled without our knowledge, look to the DNA; if you want a government that stands for you and will return power and prosperity to the rightful owners of The Bahamas, look to the DNA.

“I encourage all Bahamians to register to vote and come with us to rid ourselves of the poisonous yoke of the failed parties that have brought this country to its knees. To our supporters throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the mission has not changed.

The goal has not changed. Our resolve has not changed.

“We will continue working day and night to provide a worthy alternative to the dysfunctional status quo. It was an honour to once again represent the Bahamian people, however briefly, but it is clear the Bahamian people will be better served by a DNA not complicit in the dysfunction that hobbles Parliament at this time.

“The Bahamian people deserve better, and better is in your DNA. May God protect and keep the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

Former government minister threatened following radio remarks about Vybz Kartel

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) condemned death threats that have been made against former government minister, Lisa Hanna.

Who is its spokesperson on youth and culture, Lisa Hanna.

Police said they were investigating the threats made on social media after she called for recordings of dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel and other murder convicts to be banned from the airwaves.

Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adijah Palmer, is currently serving a life sentence for murder

Head of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime (CTOC) branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifford Chambers, said a profile of

Former government minister, Lisa Hanna risk against Hanna will inform the police as to whether additional security will be assigned to her.

“As it is right now, there is

a certain additional risk profile that is being conducted, and based on the outcome of that, we will decide whether we are to increase her security,” Chambers said, adding that in her capacity as MP, Hanna is assigned close protection personnel.

In the statement, the PNP said that while it respects the rights of people to disagree with the views expressed by others, it is unacceptable for citizens to resort to threats.

The opposition party said that it is pleased that the police are treating the matter seriously and expects that it will be investigated speedily.

Hanna had come under much criticism after she appeared on a local radio programme on Thursday calling for the ban.

Her comments come amidst ongoing discussions about how violence in the country is intertwined with certain negative aspects of popular culture.

During the discussion, Hanna questioned whether corruption is involved in the recording of songs by the incarcerated DJ.

Asked whether the music of convicted persons should be banned from the electronic media, Hanna responded, “… I am prepared to have that discussion [with a view to] coming to a decision that says, in the best interest of our country, we have to identify what rules are rules and what privileges are privileges. If you are convicted, perhaps it is [that] your music need not be played on the radio.”

US working with Trinidad and Tobago to fight money laundering and terrorism financing

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The United States is providing Trinidad and Tobago with assistance in combating money laundering and terrorism financing, the US Embassy here announced Tuesday.

It said that John Murphy, an economic crime advisor from U.S. Treasury, is here assisting the government as part of Washington’s ongoing partnership with the government building capacity in the security sector.

“This technical assistance

is based on an agreement signed between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago in August 2016. The U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Technical Assistance Economic Crimes Team, funded by the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, provides capacity and technical assistance in anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism in various countries.”

The embassy said that

during his stay here, local stakeholders established a Trinidad and Tobago Financial Crime Working Group to work collaboratively in effective implementation of anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism procedures.

It said that Murphy, a specialist in financial crimes, began his work with U.S. Treasury’s Office of Technical Assistance in 2012, with projects in Africa, Central America and the Caribbean.

Most recently, Murphy

served as the Team Lead in Ghana and Jamaica.

Prior to his work overseas, Murphy was a subject matter expert/advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section in Washington, D.C., and served for 21 years as a law enforcement officer with the New York City Police Department in both the Organized Crime Investigation Division and the Joint Organized Crime Task Force, the Embassy added.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Cuba begins clinical trial of HIV vaccine

HAVANA,Cuba – A therapeutic vaccine aimed at reducing the viral load of patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is currently in phase one of a clinical trial, in which its safety is studied.

According to Yayri Caridad Prieto Correa, a researcher from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) here said that the nine patients involved in the trial did not show any adverse effects or toxicity, which is the main objective of the phase.

After preclinical studies in laboratory animals, and tests in the small group of humans, it was shown that the immune response of the organism is enhanced thanks to the use of the vaccine, although Prieto Correa insisted on not creating false expectations.

She told the Cuban News Agency that this is a multi-year project, and will take time which will include testing phases with a greater number of seropositives in which large-scale and comprehensive efficacy will be tested to determine whether or not to continue with its use.

She emphasized, that the country’s scientific institutions, and in particular the CIGB should keep the search for vaccine candidates against HIV among its research priorities, although prevention is still the main method of avoiding contagion.

She added that the goal is to replace the current tripartite therapy, combining several methods that prevent the development of HIV, highly effective because the retroviral inhibitors block the spread of the virus, but can cause

collateral damage and force in some cases the suspension of the treatment for a time.

The proposal presented

by Prieto Correa and a team of researchers at the first Congress BioProcess 2017, which takes place in Camaguey, shows signs of efficacy, however she noted that it does not cure the disease.

Its administration is carried out simultaneously through the mucosal route, with the use of spray and intramuscular vaccination, and it has been preliminarily verified that it diminishes the viral load in the CD8 cells.

According to the Cuban Ministry of Public Health 31 years after the first case diagnosed in the country with HIV, transmission by blood and its derivatives and motherto-child transmission were eliminated.

Massy Trinidad All Stars wins Panorama competition though she had secured her

PORT OF SPAIN, The band received 280 points.

Trinidad _Massy Trinidad All The celebrations position by contesting in the Stars won the 2017 Panorama continue with the controversial preliminary rounds.

There are several competition here, three Calypso Monarch finals at points clear of the defending the Queen’s Park Savannah former monarchs in the line-up champions, Desperadoes, as with the St. Vincent and the for Sunday including Dr. Hollis the Carnival activities continue Grenadines national, Lornette Liverpool (Might Chalkdust), here on Sunday.

“Fya Empress” Nedd Reid, Weston Rawlins (Cro Cro), Kurt Allen.

All Stars playing singing in position seven.

Former culture minister Need Reid needed the the local tune “Full Extreme” secured 286 points to beat intervention of the High Court Winston “Gypsy” Peters, won win from a field of 11 bands. to ensure her position in the line- won the TT$200,000 (One Tt Desperadoes was one of five up after the Trinbago Unfired dollar =US$ 0.16 cents) Ex bands that played the tune Calypso Association (TUCO) Tempo competition on Friday by the Barbados singer Peter had removed her following a night is also contestant in the Ram “Good Morning Crop legal threat by another singer, “Big Yard” show.

They are among 16 Over”. Third place went to BP Lynette “Lady Gypsy” Steele Renegades that also played the that Nedd Reid was ineligible other artistes trying to dethrone tune by the Barbadian artiste. because of her nationality even Devon Seales, who won last year.

Haiti names new prime minister

PORT AU PRINCE, of Haiti (UNDH) and a member Haiti – President Jovenel Moise of the American College of says he has appointed Dr. Jack Gastroenterology.

Guy Lafontant , a professor of Under the Haitian gastroenterology at the Faculty Constitution, the next step for of Medicine and Pharmacy of the the new prime minister will be State University of Haiti (UEH) to select his cabinet and present as the country’s new Prime himself before the Parliament in Minister. order to obtain a vote of confidence

He replaces Enex Jean- on his policy statement.

“The vote is held by Charles, who submitted his letter of resignation earlier this month public vote and with an absolute to allow the new head of state majority of each of the two (2) to enter into discussions with Chambers. In the case of a vote of the Presidents of both Houses of no confidence by one of the two (2) Parliament for his successor, as Chambers, the procedure starts stipulated in the Constitution. again,” the Constitution notes.

“After a second round of One legislator, Gary consultations with the presidents Bodeau told reporters that the of both Houses, I chose Dr. Jack “President of the Republic made Guy Lafontant as Prime Minister,” his choice. It is up to the Prime Minister-Designate to find a Moïse said in a statement.

Dr. Lafontant, 56, majority to have his general policy married and a father of three, is ratified. He needs 60 deputies an unknown political figure. He and 16 senators.” has been pursing his medical Moise was sworn in career for 30 years and is also as Haiti’s 58th head of state professor of gastroenterology at after winning the November 20 the University of Notre Dame presidential election last year.

St. Lucia Opposition leader warns of protest against $2Billion project

Leader of opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Philip J.Pierre

CASTRIES, St Lucia – Leader of the main opposition St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Philip J.Pierre, has warned of the possibility of street protests over the controversial Desert Star Holdings Limited (DSH) project slated for the south of the Island.

At a news conference on Thursday, Pierre said over the past few weeks there has been a sustained campaign from civil society for the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) to be more accountable by providing more details about the $US 2.6 billion project.

“The St Lucia Labour Party is once more calling on the UWP to dialogue with the people of the Island on unacceptable sections of the agreement and we reserve the right to bring our protests to the streets, if government fails to heed to our just requests,” Pierre told the news conference .

Pierre recalled that the SLP has been very clear in its pronouncements on the initiative, indicating that there should be no DSH project unless the deal is renegotiated.

He stated that the UWP has responded by saying that it is attempting to renegotiate parts of the agreement.

“We have heard certain government ministers agree that there are clauses that are unacceptable,” the Castries East MP stated.

He said the government has indicated that it has finalised the agreement for phase one of the DSH project which is the race track component.

Nevertheless Pierre said there has been no indication as to whether the concerns expressed by the SLP and civil society have been addressed.

He told reporters that the SLP has been informed that there will be a formal signing ceremony on March 8 and preliminary works have started at Beausejour in Vieux Fort.

Pierre reiterated a call to the government to answer several questions relating to the DSH project, including whether the land for the race track will be leased at $US 1 for ninety-nine years, whether an environmental impact assessment has been completed and if the race track has received Development Control Authority (DCA) approval.

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MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Guyana Court of Appeal rules presidential term limits unconstitutional

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana government said it would appeal to the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), a ruling by the country’s Court of Appeal that presidential term limits are unconstitutional.

By a majority two to one verdict, the three-member Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal that had been filed against a ruling by then Chief Justice, Ian Chang in July 2015.

Chang had ruled that the Constitutional Amendment, Act No. 17 of 2001, which limits presidencies to two terms is invalid because such a decision requires a referendum.

The former Chief Justice said Article No.17 of 2001 is without legal effect because it does not comply with other articles of the Constitution dealing with repugnancy, democratic society and sovereignty belonging to the people which require a referendum for any alteration.

Lawyers for the plaintiff, Cedric Richardson, had argued that the Constitution could have been amended only by a referendum rather than by at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly.

In his affidavit, Richardson said that the purported alteration

of the Constitution by Act 17 of 2001 would curtail or delimit the electorate’s choice of Presidential candidate by rendering ineligible for the candidature any person who has been re-elected once as President.

Attorney General Basil Williams Wednesday said the State would appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal to the CCJ, which is the country’s highest and final Court.

In the ruling, Justice B.S. Roy and the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh voted against the appeal with Chief Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards voting in favour.

In her dissenting decision, the Chief Justice said the amendment to limit presidential terms to two is “not unconstitutional.

“The people of Guyana in whom sovereignty lies exercise their sovereignty through representatives of Parliament and Local Democratic organs,” she said, adding that sovereignty of the people is exercised by their representatives and so the amendment did not alter, dilute, affect or amend Articles 1 and 9 of Guyana’s constitution.

The Chief Justice said that the people themselves gave that power to Parliament to change the

Action to deal with deportees from United States

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – A former police commissioner is warning that St. Lucia should be prepared for a possible influx of criminals among persons being deported from the United States as a result of the new immigration policies of President Donald Trump.

“My advice would be that you have a National Security Advisory Council which should meet and start discussion about ways and means that if such a thing would happen, how they would handle the situation,” Cuthbert Phillips.

He said that while he does not have all the facts and does not know exactly what will happen, based on what is being heard, the country should start to prepare in the event that St. Lucians living in the United States are deported.

Phillips, who served as the island’s top cop from 1982 to 1988, said there are two categories of deportees that could be expected– persons who have been staying illegally in the United States and criminal deportees who have committed crimes in the US.

On Thursday, Trump celebrated what he called “a military operation” to round up and deport undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes or caused violence in the United States.

“We’re getting gang members out, we’re getting drug lords out, we’re getting really bad dudes out of this country – and at a rate that nobody’s ever seen before,” Trump told a function at the White House.

Heads of Government emphasised the importance of the long-standing relationship between the Community and the United States of America. They further noted the strong family links between the peoples of the Community and the United States.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their inter-sessional summit in Guyana last weekend, said they were looking forward to continuing the fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship with the new US administration.

constitution within the various levels of entrenchment, and affect people’s right to vote or choose who should be their president in keeping with certain restrictions.

She said that the appellant had failed to prove the amendment that provides for term limits was unconstitutional.

But the Chancellor of the Judiciary said any law that would have the effect of suppressing the right to freely elect someone of their choice would be unconstitutional.

“The people are entitled, in keeping with democratic principles

to freely elect their representatives,” Singh said, noting that further disqualification will further diminish the sovereign and democratic entitlements of the Guyanese people.

The Chancellor said that the “deeply entrenched” Articles 1 and 9 of Guyana’s Constitution could only be changed by referendum to achieve legal validity and efficacy and described as an “incredible” a request by Williams to find that the proceedings were void from the inception because there was a reference to the non-existent Article 17 of 2001 instead of Article 17 of 2000.

“It was an error and that’s what it is,” he said, adding that no evidence had been led to show that anyone had been prejudiced or disadvantaged.

Lawyers for the plaintiff, Cedric Richardson, had argued that the Constitution could have been amended only by a referendum rather than by at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly.

In his affidavit, Richardson said that the purported alteration of the Constitution by Act 17 of 2001 would curtail or delimit the electorate’s choice of Presidential candidate by rendering ineligible for the candidature any person who has been re-elected once as President.

Teen suffers memory loss after school fight

A secondary school the following day. But they had report to the police station and student in Trinidad is now to take him back the next day to the ministry and went to the suffering from partial memory because he was experiencing school, but she claimed the school loss after he was knocked severe head and back pain. was playing down the incident. unconscious during a fight with “He could not walk, they “Suppose this child got a lash and another child in a classroom last had to be toting him as a baby fall down and the children panic week. whole of last week.” and leave him and he died?”

The relatives of the She said the doctors at She said she was in 14-year-old Form Two San the hospital said he suffered communication with the other Fernando West Secondary head trauma, but no CT scan was boy’s parents, but they have now School student have reported the done because the machine was referred them to their lawyers. incident to the police, and are now not working. However, she said “The police not doing demanding a full investigation the parents of the other boy paid anything, the ministry not doing by the Ministry of Education. for a CT scan for her grandson at anything, because the ministry

A video of the fight, a nursing home and the results supposed to get back to us, up to which has been circulating on were normal. now we have heard nothing.”

Facebook, shows the two boys However, she said the Pancham said her fighting in the classroom when child’s uncle paid for another grandson never complained the victim hits his head on the CT scan and an MRI at another before about being bullied in wall and falls to the ground nursing home. The MRI showed school. unconscious. nothing was wrong with the “I want some justice for

The boy’s grandmother, child’s spine, but the CT scan this child,” she said.

Bina Pancham said she was not showed his brain was swollen Pancham said she was pleased with the way the school and this may be the cause of his now considering applying for a handled the situation. Pancham memory loss. transfer because her grandson said they do not know what led to Recalling the incident, is afraid to return to school. the fight, because her grandson, she said the principal called and She called on the ministry to who plays cricket for the South told her the child had fainted. implement measures to eradicate Zone Under-15 team, cannot Pancham said she told them to bullying in schools. remember anything. call the ambulance. When they Contacted by telephone,

“Right now my grandson were about ten minutes away the grandfather of the other like a vegetable. He cannot from the school, she said the child said the family was not remember anything or anybody,” principal told her the ambulance at home. However, he said the adding the child cannot even came and a teacher was going to matter was in the hands of their remember relatives and people the hospital with him. lawyers and the police. Last he has known all his life. “He “He was admitted to month, a nine-year-old boy had don’t even know who his the ward on Tuesday night and to undergo surgery to repair the grandfather is. He don’t even Wednesday morning when his bones in his right elbow after he know his mother, he did not even mom went to tidy him up he had was allegedly beaten by a bully know he had a brother.” one set of bruises on his skin. in school. However, a subsequent

She said her grandson This child did not remember he report provided to the ministry spent the night at the San was in a fight. This child did not said the boys may have been Fernando General Hospital after remember anything.” involved in a play fight while the incident and was discharged She said they made a imitating wrestling moves.

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WORLD

NEWS

Trump administration has found only $20 million in existing funds for wall

President Donald Trump’s promise to use existing funds to begin immediate construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border has hit a financial roadblock, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The rapid start of construction, promised throughout Trump’s campaign and in an executive order issued in January on border security, was to be financed, according to the White House, with “existing funds and resources” of the Department of Homeland Security.

But so far, the DHS has identified only $20 million that can be re-directed to the multi-billion-dollar project, according to a document prepared by the agency and distributed to congressional budget staff last week.

The document said the funds would be enough to cover a handful of contracts for wall prototypes, but not enough to begin construction of an actual barrier. This means that for the wall to move forward, the White House will need to convince Congress to appropriate funds.

An internal report, previously reported by Reuters, estimated that fully walling off or fencing the entire southern border would cost $21.6 billion - $9.3 million per mile of fence and $17.8 million per mile of wall. DHS officials did not respond to a request for comment on this story.

Trump has said he will ask Congress to pay for what existing funds cannot cover and that Mexico will be pressured to pay back U.S. taxpayers at a later date.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has said he will include funding for a border wall in the budget for next fiscal year. He has estimated the cost to be between $12 billion and $15 billion.

Many Republican lawmakers have said they would vote against a plan that does not offset the cost of the wall with spending cuts.

In the document it submitted to Congress, the DHS said it would reallocate $5 million from a fence project in Naco, Arizona, that came in under budget and $15 million from a project to install cameras on top of trucks at the border.

The surveillance project was awarded to Virginia-based Tactical Micro, but was held up due to protests from other contractors, according to the DHS document. Tactical Micro could not be reached for comment.

The DHS only searched for extra funds within its $376 million budget for border security fencing, infrastructure and technology, so it would not have to ask for congressional approval to repurpose funding, according to the document.

Contractors cannot begin bidding to develop prototypes until March 6 but more than 265 businesses already have listed themselves as “interested parties” on a government web site.

Those interested range from small businesses to large government contractors such as Raytheon.

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MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

U.S. attorney general faces storm over meetings with Russian ambassador Several congressional Republicans called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday to recuse himself from investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election after it emerged he met last year with Russia’s ambassador but did not disclose the contacts in Senate testimony.

The revelation about Sessions, Republican President Donald Trump’s top law enforcement official, rekindled questions about ties between Trump associates and Russia that have dogged the early days of his presidency.

They come at a time when Trump and Republicans who control Congress are trying to move past early administration missteps and focus on issues important to them including immigration, tax cuts and repealing the Obamacare healthcare law.

Top Democrats in Congress demanded the resignation of Sessions, who was a close adviser to Trump during his 2016 election campaign, and the

appointment of an independent, impartial special prosecutor with no attachment to the Trump administration to examine the Russian role in the election.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi accused Sessions of lying under oath during his Senate confirmation hearing. “The law has been broken,” she told reporters.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Sessions had misled Congress over his contacts with the ambassador and should resign for the good of the country, adding it would be like “Alice in Wonderland” if the administration were to approve Sessions’ investigating himself.

Sessions, a former U.S. senator, received Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in his office in September, the Washington Post reported. The other encounter was in July at a Heritage Foundation event that was attended by about 50 ambassadors, during the Republican National Convention, the Post said.

The Justice Department

confirmed the two meetings, saying they were in Sessions’ capacity as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and there was nothing untoward about them. Sessions also denied any wrongdoing.

During his confirmation hearing in January, Sessions responded to a question from Democratic Senator Al Franken that he did not “have communications with the Russians” during the course of the presidential campaign.

Allegations over contacts between Trump aides and Russia before his inauguration on Jan. 20, and the charge of Russian election interference which the Kremlin has denied, have swirled around the early days of Trump’s presidency.

Trump has accused officials in former Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration of trying to discredit him.

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the election campaign as part of an effort to tilt the vote in Trump’s favor.

George W. Bush Breaks Down His Affection for Michelle Obama: ‘We Just Took to Each Other’

To some, they might says Bush. “I needle her a little seem an unlikely twosome: a bit and around her, I’m fairly former president and former lighthearted. [The Obamas] are first lady from two different around serious people all the administrations, different time and we just took to each political parties, different other.” generations and different Asked about that sweet upbringings. moment at the Smithsonian, he

But George W. Bush says: “When I saw her, it was a tells PEOPLE that he feels a real genuine expression of affection.” fondness for Michelle Obama.

And then there’s the work with

“She kind of likes my military personnel, military sense of humor. Anybody who families and veterans that likes my sense of humor, I Obama did as first lady through immediately like,” says Bush, her Joining Forces initiative with in an interview to launch Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the former his first art book and new vice president. That’s right up exhibit, Portraits of Courage: A Bush’s alley. He has dedicated Commander in Chief’s Tribute to most of his post-presidency to America’s Warriors, a collection the cause of wounded warriors— of his paintings of post-9/11 war ensuring through wellness and veterans. employment programs at the

Bush, 70, notes that George W. Bush Presidential he was regularly seated beside Center that those wounded in Obama, 53, at official events war get the health and career like Nancy Reagan’s memorial assistance they need to make a service, an interfaith memorial full and successful transition to service for Texas police officers civilian life. last year, and the September There, he and his wife 2016 dedication ceremony in Laura say, is where they hope Washington, D.C., to mark the to work with both Michelle and opening of the Smithsonian’s Barack Obama.

National Museum of African “I think they’re American History and Culture. interested in, also, doing things There, photos of the two of them with our troops of course now in cuddling on stage went viral. their after-life, as I call it,” says

“I can’t remember where Mrs. Bush. else I’ve sat next to her, but I Adds the former probably have a few wise cracks president: “It’s going to take and she seemed to like it okay,” them a while to find their footing

and figure out how they’re going to do what they want to do. But if there’s a way to be symbiotic, we’ll do so.”

Former Prez George W. Bush and former first lady Michelle Obama

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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WORLD NEWS

What Are Barack And Michelle Obama Doing Now? Memoirs Will Make Former First Family Very Rich

Barack Obama’s previous books about his life and family were published by Penguin Random House.

But the publisher that paid about $10 million for the rights to George W. Bush’s White House memoir is also clamoring to secure the Obama contract.

Books from former presidents are sure things for publishers. Bush released “Decision Points,” in 2010 and it soon became a New York Times bestseller. Bill Clinton’s “My Life” earned him $15 million after it was published by Knopf in 2004.

Barack Obama was the first black president. Michelle Obama was the first black first lady. They exited the White House in January when President Donald Trump moved in. They opted to continue living in Washington, D.C., while building a

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama presidential library in Chicago.

Obama could soon cash in on their White House fame. The famous couple is expected to sell their memoirs for a record sum of money, with a number of big-name book publishers

such as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster fighting to lock down the deal, media outlets reported Tuesday.

At least one of the proposed contracts is valued at $60 million, “a

U.S. pounds al Qaeda in Yemen with more than 20 strikes

The United States said it carried out more than 20 precision strikes in Yemen targeting al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Thursday, in what appeared to be the first major operations against the group since a January raid by U.S. commandos.

The Pentagon said the strikes, which were first reported

by Reuters, targeted al Qaeda militants, heavy weapons systems, equipment, infrastructure and fighting positions.

They were carried out in the Yemeni governorates of Abyan, Al Bayda and Shabwah.

“The strikes will degrade the AQAP’s ability to coordinate external terror attacks and limit their ability to use territory seized from the legitimate government of

Yemen as a safe space for terror plotting,” Navy Captain Jeff Davis said, using an acronym for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Jan. 29 raid, the first of its kind authorized by new President Donald Trump, was hailed as a success by the White House and other U.S. officials.

Still, critics questioned the value and effectiveness of an operation which killed women and children, as well as several militants and a Navy SEAL.

Trump, citing information from his defense secretary, told Congress on Tuesday that the raid yielded valuable intelligence that would “lead to many more victories in the future.”

The U.S. military did not estimate the number of militants

killed in the strikes, but residents and local officials in southern Yemen said that at least nine suspected al Qaeda militants died in two separate incidents.

They said four men believed to belong to al Qaeda died in a strike on a building in alSaeed, an area of Shabwa province home to the al-Awaleq, the extended clan of Anwar al-Awlaki, a militant and U.S. citizen killed in by U.S. drone in 2011.

Another five suspected al Qaeda fighters died when a missile fired by a drone struck a vehicle carrying weapons while traveling on a road between alWadie district and the area of Moujan, in Abyan province, some 40 km (25 miles) away, according to a local official.

Syrian army announces recapture of Palmyra from Islamic State

The Syrian army said on Thursday it had recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State for the second time in a year, with help from allied forces and Russian warplanes.

Islamic State retook Palmyra in a surprise advance in December, after having been driven out eight months before.

“With backing from the Syrian and Russian air forces, units of our armed forces recaptured the city of Palmyra, in cooperation with the allies,” the military said in a statement.

The army and Iranianbacked militia advanced inside

Palmyra on Thursday as Islamic State withdrew completely, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said.

Islamic State militants retreated to areas in the east, the Observatory reported.

Government forces took control of swathes of Palmyra and conducted combing operations to clear mines on Thursday, it said.

During Islamic State’s first occupation which ended in March, the ultra-hardline jihadist group destroyed some of Palmyra’s priceless

archaeological heritage and is believed to have razed other parts of the historical ruins since regaining control in December.

Islamic State is on the back foot in Syria after losing territory in the north to an alliance of U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led militias, and to Turkey-backed Syrian rebels.

The Syrian army is also fighting Islamic State in the area east of Aleppo, where it is pushing to reach the Euphrates river, and in the city of Deir alZor, where it controls an enclave that is besieged by the jihadist group.

record sum for U.S. presidential memoirs,” Financial Times reported Tuesday. The final deal is expected to be announced this week. Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis refused to comment, CNN reported.

Michelle Obama and Barack Obama won’t be penning their life stories together. Instead, each is expected to write their personal account about their days in the White House. They are being represented by lawyer and literary agent Bob Barnett.

Michelle Obama will be in tough competition to out sale her husband’s book. His previous tomes have both been popular. “Dreams from My Father” from 1995 earned $6.8 million in royalties, while “The Audacity of Hope” was a bestseller in 2006.

U.S. charges 19 in international fraud, money laundering scheme

U.S. authorities on Wednesday charged 19 people with taking part in a complex international fraud and money laundering ring that tricked companies and consumers out of millions of dollars.

The charges were part of an international sweep Wednesday, in which police in the United States, Hungary, Bulgaria and Israel arrested 17 individuals accused of money laundering and wire fraud, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Channing D. Phillips announced at a press conference.

Authorities from the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Federal Bureau of Investigation say they uncovered the organized crime groups in 2011 when they discovered a makeshift call center operated out of a Washington hotel room.

The operation was used to post phony car ads online advertising cars, luring customers with prices far below market value.

Once the customers placed a deposit for the cars, the fraudsters would cut off contact and disappear with the money, authorities said.

“Money mules” would then withdraw the cash and transport it in bulk to a network of money launderers in Europe, authorities said.

After investigating that scheme, authorities say they learned members of the group, which spanned Europe, Israel and the United States, had also scammed unnamed German and Portuguese companies out of millions of dollars in phony transactions in 2014 and 2015.

Using fake email addresses to impersonate the chief executive or president of a company, authorities say the defendants would instruct mid-level employees to wire hundreds of thousands of dollars for a “secret” financial transaction, such as a corporate acquisition.

But the bank accounts were controlled by the criminals, who disappeared with the money, authorities said.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

WORLD NEWS

Egypt’s Mubarak acquitted in final ruling on 2011 deaths

CAIRO — Egypt’s top appeals court issued a final ruling Thursday that effectively acquits former President Hosni Mubarak on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his nearly threedecade reign.

The Court of Cassation rejected an appeal by prosecutors, allowing an acquittal verdict from 2014 to stand. The judge also rejected a civil petition for compensation from families of some of the hundreds of protesters killed during the 18-day Arab Spring uprising.

Mubarak and his interior minister, Habib al-Adly, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2012 on charges of failing to protect the lives of demonstrators, but another court threw out the verdict two years later, citing technical flaws in the prosecution.

The ailing 88-year-old Mubarak was flown by helicopter to the courtroom from the Cairo military hospital where he has resided for most of the last six years, and where he served a three-year sentence for corruption charges in a separate case.

He sat in a wheelchair in the defendant’s cage during the hearing.

When the charges against him were read out, he responded: “It did not happen.” Later he exchanged smiles and winks with a dozen or so supporters in the courtroom, including

Ousted former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is escorted by medical and security personnel into an ambulance at Maadi Military Hospital, where he is hospitalized, after an ambulance helicopter landed from the Cairo Police Academy--turned--court, in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, March 2, 2017.

Egypt’s top appeals court found Mubarak innocent of complicity in the killings of protesters during 2011 Egyptian uprising. his two sons — Gamal, who was once groomed to succeed him, and Alaa.

Mubarak does not face any other charges and is technically free to go, but it was unclear whether he would leave the hospital, where he has been under informal house arrest in recent years.

Mubarak and figures from his government were widely vilified in the months after the uprising, but many have gradually returned to public life since 2013, when the military

overthrew his freely elected successor, the Islamist Mohammed Morsi, after a divisive year in power.

Since then, the government has waged a heavy crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands of people, mostly Islamists but also scores of secular and liberal activists, including some of those who led the 2011 uprising.

The government has also banned all unauthorized demonstrations.

Negad Borai, a prominent human rights lawyer, conceded that

Seven Baltimore police officers arrested on racketeering charges

A protester looks on as clouds of smoke and crowd control agents rise shortly after the deadline for a city-wide curfew passed in Baltimore, Maryland April 28, 2015, as crowds protest the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody Seven Baltimore police officers were arrested on Wednesday on federal racketeering charges for robbing and extorting up to $200,000 from victims, along with stealing guns and drugs, prosecutors said.

Many of the alleged shakedowns took place while the Baltimore Police Department was under intense media scrutiny and facing a U.S. Justice Department civil rights investigation for the 2015 police-involved death of a black man that plunged the largely African-American city into turmoil.

A grand jury last week indicted six detectives and a sergeant on charges of extorting money and robbing residents, filing false court paperwork and

making false overtime claims, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland said. The indictment was unsealed on Wednesday.

“These are really simply robberies by people wearing police uniforms,” U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein told a news conference.

The officers, all members in 2015 and 2016 of a gun-crime investigation unit, stole firearms, drugs and cash ranging from $200 to $200,000 from victims, some of whom had not committed crimes, Rosenstein’s office said in a statement.

The investigation began about a year ago as an outgrowth of a federal Drug Enforcement Administration probe into a drugtrafficking ring, Rosenstein said.

One of the officers also faces a charge of possessing and planning to distribute heroin.

The officers had initial appearances on Wednesday in a U.S. court in Baltimore and were ordered held pending detention hearings, a spokeswoman for Rosenstein said.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said: “Reform isn’t always a pretty thing to watch unfold, but it’s necessary in our journey toward a police department our City deserves.”

The head of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police union, Gene Ryan, said in a statement he was “very disturbed” over the charges, but declined further comment until the cases were resolved.

All the officers are charged with racketeering conspiracy for robberies and extortion while part of the guncrime unit. Five of the seven are charged with racketeering for shakedowns before they joined the task force.

They face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count.

Baltimore was torn by rioting in April 2015 after a black man, Freddie Gray, died from an injury suffered in police custody.

Six officers were indicted, but none were convicted.

Baltimore and the Justice Department reached agreement last month on a consent decree that calls for police reforms. The decree is awaiting approval by a federal judge.

there was not enough evidence for Mubarak to have been found guilty of the specific charges he faced, but said he still blamed Mubarak’s long autocratic rule for Egypt’s woes.

“Mubarak is now technically an innocent, but he killed the future of a country, both directly and indirectly.

The question now is how we move forward as a nation,” he said.

International and local rights groups say the freedoms won in the 2011 uprising have been lost since then, and that the security services today are even more brutal and repressive than under Mubarak.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who as military chief led Morsi’s overthrow, has defended the government’s actions, saying they are needed to restore political and economic stability after years of unrest.

After a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, el-Sissi said his government is trying to strike a “balance between human rights and security measures.”

He suggested that Germany would have taken similar action if it faced “the same threats and attacks.”

An Islamic State affiliate based in the northern Sinai Peninsula has carried out scores of attacks in recent years, mainly targeting Egyptian security forces. A recent wave of attacks on Christians in northern Sinai led hundreds to flee.

New York’s Catholic Church seeks $100 million loan to pay priest victims

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York is seeking permission for a $100 million mortgage on some of its valuable Manhattan property to fund its compensation program for people sexually abused by its priests, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

The archdiocese said last October it would compensate people who had accused priests of abusing them as children, including those prevented by statutes of limitations from filing civil lawsuits. It said at the time it would seek loans to fund the payouts, which are being decided by two independent arbitrators.

On Monday, the archdiocese filed a petition in New York state court in Manhattan seeking approval for a one-year mortgage from JPMorgan Chase on land it owns behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral; the Lotte New York Palace hotel is located on the site. The petition was necessary under a New York law governing the use of church property, Joseph Zwilling, an archdiocese spokesman, said in a telephone interview.

“Because we have begun the process of paying out the compensation to victims, the archdiocese has taken this short-term loan to cover the payments,” Zwilling said.

The archdiocese is accepting new applications from victims who had not previously come forward, and it will take out a longerterm loan once it has a clearer idea of the total compensation amount later this year, Zwilling said.

Under the first phase of the compensation program, 144 people who had previously complained of abuse filed claims. The archdiocese has made 64 offers of compensation so far, of which 44 have been accepted, Zwilling said. He said the archdiocese would not discuss the size of the payouts until the program was completed.

Most cases of abuse happened two or three decades ago. All of the accused priests are either dead or have been removed from ministry after an internal board reviewed the accusations, Zwilling said.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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WORLD NEWS

Canada not convinced it will see surge in people crossing border

Canada sees no signs of a coming surge in asylum seekers illegally crossing the border from the United States, a senior government official said, even as a steady stream of people continued to walk across the frontier.

Several hundred people, mainly from Africa, have defied winter conditions to enter Canada since Jan. 1. They are fleeing President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, migrants and refugee agencies say.

A briefing by Canadian officials was the first of its kind and comes as the Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau comes under increasing domestic political pressure to deal with the influx.

Trudeau must also ensure the issue does not complicate his relations with Trump.

Security experts predict more will try to come as the snow melts and the weather warms.

But officials told the briefing it was too early to say whether a trend was developing and noted the number involved was still very small compared to the roughly 26,000 people who ask for asylum in Canada on average every year.

“There is no reason to believe that simply changes in weather patterns is going to lead to

The former border crossing used by refugees as they walk from the United States to enter Canada at Emerson, Manitoba, Canada February 25, 2017 (an) increase,” said one official, Later the same morning, who spoke on the condition of at the same spot, Ayala saw police anonymity. arrest seven people who said they

As dawn broke on were from Eritrea.

Thursday, Reuters photographer Reuters could not Dario Ayala watched the Royal independently verify nationalities Canadian Mounted Police arrest a of people crossing the border on group of five - a man, two women Thursday. and two children - after they Government officials scrambled across a ditch near the acknowledge an increase in Quebec town of Hemmingford, on people seeking asylum this year the border with New York state. while insisting they have enough The people said they came from resources to cope.

Syria.

Although no one has

An RCMP officer yet been charged by the police standing on the Canadian side for illegally crossing the border, warned the group they would be all those detained are checked detained if they crossed. to make sure they do not have

“Sorry, sorry, we have convictions for serious crimes. no choice,” said the man. Once in “We are not releasing Canada, they were detained, and anyone we have concerns about,” driven off for processing. another official told the briefing.

Beau Biden’s widow having affair with his married brother

The widow of Joe Biden’s late son Beau Biden has started a romantic relationship with Beau’s brother Hunter Biden, the former vice president’s younger son.

Hallie was devastated when her husband, Beau, died after suffering from brain cancer in May 2015. But she has since struck up a romance with Beau’s brother Hunter, 47, who has separated from his wife, Kathleen. We’re told Hallie and Hunter are now officially a couple.

The astonishing family drama caps a difficult period for the Bidens following the death of Beau at age 46. The former vice president cited the death of his elder son as one of the reasons he decided in October 2015 against running for president.

Former Vice President Biden confirmed the relationship to Page Six and said that he and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, have given their blessing to the couple.

He told us in an exclusive statement, “We are all lucky that Hunter and Hallie found each other as they were putting their lives together again after such sadness. They have mine and Jill’s full and complete support and we are happy for them.”

Hunter, a lawyer who has three daughters — called Naomi, Finnegan and Maisy — with estranged wife Kathleen, also told Page Six, “Hallie and I are incredibly lucky to have found the love and support we have for each other in such a difficult time, and that’s been obvious to the people who love us most. We’ve been so lucky to have family and friends who have supported us every step of the way.”

Hunter and Kathleen Biden separated in October 2015, five months after Beau’s death.

CNP

Beau, the former attorney general of Delaware, and Hallie have two children, named Natalie and, confusingly, Hunter.

Behind scenes, Ivanka encouraged Trump’s change of tone

Behind the scenes at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka was a key advocate for the more measured, less combative tone he struck in his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, officials said.

The biggest speech of Trump’s month-old presidency was the product of a 10-day effort with his top aides.

While he unveiled no significant changes to policy, the tone of Trump’s speech was a far cry from his bleak “American carnage” inaugural address when he took office on Jan. 20.

The Republican president dropped some of the fierce rhetoric that had been a staple of his first weeks in office. He called for national unity and avoided a repeat of his attacks on Democratic opponents and media organizations.

Polls conducted immediately after the speech showed a clear majority of Americans approved of the softer approach and aides described Trump as buoyed by the reception.

A senior White House official said Ivanka Trump made recommendations for the speech during a brainstorming session in the Oval Office on Sunday, helping her father decide on a new approach aimed at easing concerns over whether he had

the right temperament to govern effectively.

“He had a lot of voices around him giving him ideas and suggestions that he incorporated, but he really set out to achieve that optimistic tone and that was something she was supportive of. She encouraged him to do that,” one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“She had a role,” said another. “She helped set the tone.”

Ivanka Trump also persuaded her father to speak favorably about affordable child care and paid family leave, policies she has long backed and which could draw support from Democrats in Congress, said another official with some knowledge of how the speech evolved.

“Her fingerprints are visible on the tone, but especially on those parts of it like maternity leave that matter to her,” the official said.

‘REACHING OUT’

Ivanka Trump, 35, the president’s older daughter, has emerged as an influential informal adviser for her father, particularly on issues important to women and minorities.

After his election victory last November, she stepped away from her business interests in New York to move to Washington

U.S. Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress - Washington, U.S. 28/02/17 - Ivanka Trump (C), her husband Jared Kushner (R) applaud another guest saluted by President Donald Trump during his speech to Congress. and is frequently seen at her diplomacy.

Qaeda in Yemen. father’s events.

The couple have been At the speech on

A White House official among the president’s closest Tuesday, Owens’ widow, said Trump was the principal confidants since his election Carryn Owens, wept openly author of the speech but had campaign, and Kushner also when Trump led the crowd a lot of help in drafting it, helped in the drafting of the in applauding her husband’s including from his daughter. speech to Congress. service. Standing next to her

Trump made the final Others involved in was Ivanka Trump. changes to his speech during a the last round of deliberations Presidential historian marathon session on Tuesday, were White House aides Hope Thomas Alan Schwartz of working closely with Vice Hicks, Kellyanne Conway and Vanderbilt University said President Mike Pence, chief Sean Spicer. Ivanka Trump it was hard to find a similar strategist Steve Bannon, chief was not in the sessions on example in recent history of a of staff Reince Priebus and Tuesday. presidential daughter having chief speechwriter Stephen Ivanka Trump a big influence.

Miller. accompanied her father to “It’s a way of reaching Ivanka Trump’s Dover Air Base in Delaware out on social issues and social husband, Jared Kushner, is on Feb. 1 to welcome home the welfare issues or issues that a senior White House adviser remains of U.S. Navy SEAL sometimes the Republicans with particular interest in William “Ryan” Owens, who are less identified with,” he trade deals and Middle East was killed in a raid on al said.

Page 40

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

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HAB LIMITED

HAB Limited is seeking an experienced, professionally qualified Quantity Surveyor/Estimator. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate considerable experience in the preparation of all precontract construction documentation including but not limited to; detailed take offs, bills of quantities, specification production, material scheduling.

The candidate will also need to be experience in the coordination and control of various design consultants employed in the pre contract design process with relevant input to the design process. The candidate will be required to demonstrate a familiarity with relevant industry standard compute software such as Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Design Review and Collaborative Project management software as well as standard Microsoft Office products. Applicants for this position will possess relevant industry recognized qualifications in addition to 15 years or more practical experience.

The remuneration for this position is circa $100,000 p.a. and is commensurate with experience.

Please submit applications to: Veronica Rigby, HAB Limited, P.O. Box 124, Regent House, The Regent Village, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, Tel: (649) 9465126; Fax (649) 946-5191; Email: ronnie@habgroup.com.

Interested Belongers must also submit copies of their application to the Commissioner of Labour & Work Permit Board Zone 2. Position currently held by a work permit holder. Closing date for application is March 20, 2017.

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MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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BUSINESS &

TECHNOLOGY

Apple’s next iPhone could charge faster than before

Apple’s upcoming iPhone, expected to launch in September, could charge faster than previous models, according to a new analyst report.

Apple will use “Type-C Power Delivery” technology, along with a new “L-shaped” battery pack design, which enables faster charging, according to a research note from supply chain soothsayer and KGI Securities analyst MingChi Kuo seen by 9to5Mac and Apple Insider.

However, the next iPhone’s “fast charging” will take place through Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector port, according to the research, because Apple collects royalties from its accessory ecosystem, and that the Lightning port is actually smaller than a USB-C port.

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal floated the notion that the next iPhone could use the standard USB-C port, which some Android devices use.

Apple is widely expected to launch

three new iPhones this fall — two successors to the current iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and a higher-end, possibly “pro” model with a better screen and a $1,000 price tag.

Here’s what we think we know so far: •All new iPhones could have wireless charging.

•The highest-end iPhone 8 could have a casing made of “forged stainless steel” and a back made of glass.

•The home button and fingerprint sensor could be built into and under an edge-toedge screen on the high-end model.

•It’ll sport a double-lens camera, like on the iPhone 7 Plus.

•New 3D-sensing technology enabling “some form of facial/gesture recognition.”

•A launch date in the fall — likely in September, as usual.

McDonald’s U.S. turnaround shifts to technology, speedier service McDonald’s U.S. turnaround shifts to technology, speedier service McDonald’s Corp announced a push to embrace apps aimed at speeding up service at drive-thrus, which account for about 70 percent of its U.S. business, as the fast-food chain looks to woo back diners.

The company’s U.S. restaurants have suffered four straight years of traffic declines, resulting in 500 million lost transactions since 2012. As part of the push for greater convenience in the United States, which contributes more operating income than any other global market, McDonald’s will also offer curbside pickup of orders to reduce wait time at drive-thrus.

McDonald’s will start to roll out “mobile order and pay” in the fourth quarter and have it available at all of its roughly 14,000 U.S. restaurants by year-end, Chris Kempczinski, president of McDonald’s USA, said at the company’s investor meeting in Chicago on Wednesday.

Customers who use the app will have the option to pick up orders at drive-thru windows or in designated curbside delivery parking spots, where a restaurant worker will hand off orders. Customers could also choose to pick up orders at restaurant counters.

Service times at McDonald’s have recently slowed, and the new initiatives are expected to cut wait times, shorten drive-thru lines and

prevent customers from skipping visits due to long delays, said Jim Sappington, McDonald’s executive vice president of operations, digital and technology.

McDonald’s has lagged other fast-food restaurants such as Domino’s Pizza Inc , Panera Bread Co and Starbucks Corp in its use of digital technology.

The goal is “progress over perfection,” said Sappington, who added that McDonald’s will also debut “mobile order and pay” in about 6,000 international locations by year-end as it works to add a loyalty program and customization.

Mobile ordering should reduce errors and significantly cut the time it takes to handle large, complex orders. The new initiatives could shift some 20 percent of drive-thru orders to curbside delivery and another 20 percent to drive-thru pickup only, executives said.

“Decongesting” the drive-thru in such a way could result in 20 more cars per hour and incremental sales, said Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook.

McDonald’s also plans to expand delivery in the United States, which it is testing with UberEATS in Florida, and begin trying it in other countries.

McDonald’s said it would use a part of the savings from refranchising restaurants outside the United States to get to 2,500 “Experience of the Future” restaurant revamps by the end of 2017. Those restaurants include self-service kiosks, table service and reconfigured kitchens designed to slash the distance a restaurant’s workers walk on a given day by as much as seven miles.

Shares of McDonald’s closed up 1.1 percent at $129.05 after hitting a nine-month high of $129.99.

U.S. jobless claims near 44-year low

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to near a 44-year low last week, pointing to further tightening of the labor market even as economic growth appears to have remained moderate in the first quarter.

The stronger labor market and rising inflation could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this month. Several Fed officials have in recent days suggested the U.S. central bank could increase borrowing costs soon.

“The jobs market is strengthening and we are near full employment. The Fed is worried that the jobs market will overheat and that is fanning the discussion of a March rate hike,” said Ryan Sweet, senior economist at Moody’s Analytics in Westchester, Pennsylvania

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 19,000 to a seasonally adjusted 223,000 for the week ended Feb. 25, the lowest level since March 1973, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

It was the 104th straight week that claims remained below 300,000, a threshold associated with a healthy labor market. That is the longest stretch since 1970, when the labor market was much smaller. It is now at or close to full employment, with an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent.

Economists had forecast new claims for unemployment benefits dipping to 243,000 in the latest week. The government reported on Wednesday that the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index jumped 1.9 percent in the 12 months through January, the biggest gain since October 2012. The PCE price index increased 1.6 percent in December.

The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell 6,250 to 234,250 last week, the lowest reading since April 1973.

A survey from the Fed on Wednesday showed the labor market remained tight in early 2017, with some of the central bank’s districts reporting “widening” labor shortages.

“Workers are not being laid off in large numbers,” said Rob Martin, an economist at Barclays in New York.

Yahoo says about 32 million accounts accessed using ‘forged cookies’

Yahoo Inc , which disclosed two massive data breaches last year, said on Wednesday that about 32 million user accounts were accessed by intruders in the last two years using forged cookies.

The company said some of the latest intrusions can be connected to the “same state-sponsored actor believed to be responsible for the 2014 breach”, in which at least 500 million accounts were affected.

“Based on the investigation, we believe an unauthorized third party accessed the company’s proprietary code to learn how to forge certain cookies,” Yahoo said in its latest annual filing.

These cookies have been invalidated so they cannot be used to access user accounts, the company said.

Forged cookies allow an intruder to access a user’s account without a password.

Yahoo also said in December that data from more than 1 billion user accounts was compromised in August 2013, making it the largest breach in history.

The company said on Wednesday that it would not award Chief Executive Marissa Mayer a cash bonus for 2016, following the independent committee’s findings related to the 2014 security incident.

Mayer has also offered to forgo any 2017 annual equity award as the breaches occurred during her tenure, Yahoo said.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

WORLD NEWS BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

J.C. Penney to close up to 140 stores, offer buyouts

J.C. Penney plans to close 130 to 140 stores and offer buyouts to 6,000 workers as the departmentstore industry sags in competition with online sellers and nimble niche retailers.

The company said it would shutter 13% to 14% of its locations and introduce new goods and services aimed at the shifting preferences of its customer base.

The cuts come amid mounting challenges for once-stalwart department-store chains such as Macy’s and Sears, which are also aggressively closing stores to shed costs as shoppers flock to alternatives.

Macy’s recently announced plans to cut 100 of its 675 full-line stores.

Sears said it plans to close 150 stores, including 108 Kmart locations, leaving it with more than 1,300.

“It became apparent to us that our footprint was too large,” Penney CEO Marvin Ellison told investors Friday, and the closures will “allow us to raise the overall brand standard of J.C. Penney” and invest in remaining stores.

A list of Penney stores to close will be released in mid-March.

Liquidation sales are expected to take place by the second quarter.

The closures mark a departure from Penney’s relatively steady store count over the last 15 years.

The company had 1,021 stores as of Jan. 30, 2016, according to corporate documents, down from a high of 1,108 in 2009.

“This is just a market correction,’’ Farla Efros, president of HRC Retail Advisory, said in an

A JC Penney store interview. “There were too many more plus-size clothes. And the stores, and too many retailers and too company will shift all of its women’s much noise in the market.’’ shoe departments toward “open-sell”

Online competition, fast- environments, reducing the need for fashion retailers such as H&M and sales workers to have to hunt through Forever 21 and discounters such as back rooms to find them the right pair.

T.J. Maxx have undermined Penney’s Ellison told investors that the company business. Ellison said the company would “pivot our retail strategy toward is responding by overhauling its non-apparel.” products. Penney is adding toys, That includes a plan to beauty products, appliances and “significantly expand” toy sales after home goods as it tries to appeal to the encouraging results from toy sales in customer base. Some 70% of the base a limited number of stores during the is composed of women. And 70% of all holiday season, Ellison said. customers own their home.

Despite the moves, Penney’s

The appliances push, paired projected that sales at stores open with the introduction of new home at least a year would to relatively installation services, is targeted stagnant overall -- from a 1% decline at swiping business from ailing to a 1% increase. competitor Sears.

That projection “reduces

The retailer is also reducing conviction” in the company’s long-term its emphasis on women’s apparel strategy after a previous projection of previously geared toward business 3% annual growth through 2019, UBS outfits and formal wear. Instead, the analyst Michael Binetti said in a note company is adding athletic and leisure to investors. wear, widening the availability of Nike “They are moving to match and Adidas items and introducing consumer shopping preferences,

which should spark opportunity,” Greg Portell, lead partner in the retail practice of consultancy A.T. Kearney, said in an email. “But the challenge will be to execute new merchandising and marketing strategies.”

Penney expects to save $200 million in annual costs in connection with the store-closure plan, including the shuttering of two distribution centers. It will record an initial pretax charge of $225 million to cover the initial closure costs.

In a related move, the retailer said it would offer a “voluntary early retirement program” to about 6,000 workers, including corporate, store and supply chain workers.

Ellison said many workers affected by store closures would be hired to fill jobs vacated by employees who accept buyouts.

Penney said that sales at stores open at least a year fell 0.7% in the fiscal fourth quarter, which included the crucial holiday shopping season. Overall, net sales were down 0.9% to $3.96 billion, while the company swung from a loss of $131 million to net income of $192 million.

But the company said that discounts dragged down profitability and warned that its women’s clothing business struggled.

The company’s stock fell 4.8% to $6.53 at 1:44 p.m.

“The department store concept is being put under severe pressure by multiple prevailing trends,” Portell said. “Other channels are simply better suited to drive those consumer promises.”

American Express escalates high-fee card competition

American Express Co will begin to offer this month $200 a year in Uber rides, plus other new perks, on its Platinum charge cards as it fights to protect its high-end market from JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc.

The new Platinum benefits will include richer credits for spending, access to more airport lounges, special dining and entertainment options and free use by family members of an American Express Gold card, according to Janey Whiteside, general manager of Global Charge Products, Benefits & Services for American Express.

The changes, which will start on March 30, will also raise the annual account fee for card holders to $550 from $450.

Both JPMorgan and

Citigroup, which has a $450-per-year Prestige card with its own mix of spending credits and perks, are using cards to try to eat away at American Express profit margins, which have long been higher than their own.

The banks have also acted because banking regulations imposed after the financial crisis generally favor investing in card businesses over capital markets.

In August, JPMorgan stirred up the high-end card market when it introduced its $450-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve card with an initial sign-up bonus worth as much as $1,500, plus $300 in annual travel credits and high credits for spending.

The bank started making the cards out of metal to give them a luxurious feel.

American Express will now

start using metal for its Platinum cards. Since 1999 it has been using metal for its Centurion card which carries an annual fee of $2,500 on top of an initiation fee of $7,500.

The new Platinum benefits include up to $200 of payments for Uber rides within the United States.

The card already offers $200 in annual credits for airline fees.

The increased competition has been a boon to websites such as NerdWallet.com and ThePointsGuy.com, which compare card costs and benefits from

a consumer viewpoint.

American Express began working on the changes in the Platinum card before JPMorgan brought out its Sapphire Reserve c a r d , Whiteside said in an interview on Wednesday.

“This is a response to listening to our customers,” she said. “We are always looking at ways to bring value to our card members.”

American Express kicked off the premium card market in 1966 when it introduced its Gold card, Whiteside said. It brought out the Platinum card in 1984.

More Wells Fargo customers may be affected by sales scandal

More Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) customers may have been affected by a scandal over phony accounts than previously believed, the third-largest U.S. lender said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

Wells Fargo had previously estimated that up to 2.1 million customers may have had checking and credit-card accounts opened in their names without their permission over a period of several years.

As part of an expanded review there could be “an increase in

the identified number of potentially impacted customers,” Wells said.

The search for unauthorized accounts now covers a broader time frame, from 2009 to September 2016.

An ongoing analysis of customer data may also be turning up more affected customers, according to Wells’ annual 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In a separate filing, the bank said it expects to release findings of the review ahead of its annual meeting on April 25.

Wells initially disclosed the number of affected customers as part of a $185 million settlement in September, leading to multiple government probes, lawsuits and an internal review, and hurting Wells Fargo’s reputation.

Thousands of employees were fired over customer abuses, which stemmed from aggressive sales targets implemented by managers. Wells’ then-CEO John Stumpf abruptly left the bank because of the scandal.

Wells has been working

to repair the damage, in part by determining whether customers were charged improper fees or had their credit scores hurt by the phony accounts.

The San Francisco-based lender does not expect that any additional remediation efforts will have a “significant financial impact.”

However, it said the review could lead to more legal or regulatory proceedings, reputational damage and other negative consequences.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 43

We hire smiles!!!

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond All-inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions. We hire the personality and train the individual.

Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends. The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that applicants will be contacted for an interview via Text Message.

The Entertainment and Kids Kamp Departments require: ✓

The Food and Beverage Department requires: ✓ ✓

Reports to: Director of Entertainment

Food and Beverage Manager Assistant Food and Beverage Manager

Reports to:

To engage the guests and their children to participate in activities, attend shows and special guest events. Part of the responsibility as an Entertainment is to create lasting memories while on vacation.

Managing Director

Plans and directs the functions of administration and planning of the Food and Beverage Department to meet the daily needs of the operation. Clearly describes, assigns and delegates responsibility and authority for the operation of the various food and beverage sub-departments, e.g., restaurants, banquets, etc. Develops, implements and monitor schedules for the operation of all restaurants and bars to achieve a profitable result.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: As an entertainer/ player under the Creativiva umbrella they must have one or more of the following skills to qualified: • Singers - vocal and minor acting and dancing performances

Applicants should satisfy the following criteria: • College or University Degree (Hospitality Management,) and or equivalent experience.

• Demonstrate knowledge of an ability to manage Food & Beverage operation, obtained through hotel school, university and / or equivalent experience and apprenticeship training • Minimum of five (5) years’ experience as a Manager in Food and Beverage The Food and Beverage and Assistant Food and Beverage Manager positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders and persons with On Island Status (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Should a suitable local applicant not be found a permit application will be submitted.

The salary for the position indicated above is negotiable and dependent on experience. ✓

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Minimum three experience as Restaurant Manager in an international firstclass hotel/resort.

• Experience managing a restaurant with over 300 persons seating area The Restaurant Manager position is currently held by a Work Permit Holder (however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time.

Should a suitable local applicant not be found a permit application will be submitted.

The salary for this position ranges between $ 25,000.00 and $35,000.00 The House Keeping Department requires:

•

Other type of circus artists - ground circus acts (i.e. contortion, cyr wheel, juggling, hand stand, hand-to-hand duo, other)

•

Comedians - comedy and physical comedy performances

•

Floor Acrobats - floor acrobatic tricks, tumbling passes (somersaults, rolls, handsprings, tucks, layouts, twists)

•

Dancers - dance performances of various genre (contemporary, jazz, modern, ballet, hip-hop, other)

•

Actors - acting, minor singing and dancing performances

•

Rigger - responsible for rigging and taking down the aerial apparatuses to the truss bar safely (includes climbing up the trussing while wearing a safety harness), and for bringing the apparatuses down and lifting them up during the shows

The Watersports Department requires: ✓

Scuba/ Dive Instructor

Reports to: Watersports Manager The main function of the Scuba/ Dive instructor is to supervise all activities of the dive experience. The Dive Instructors take care of the guest and equipment.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Certified PADI/NAUI Instructor; • Basic Compressor Certification (an asset) (MAKO); These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders and persons with on-island status (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time. Should a suitable local applicant not be found a permit application will be submitted.

The Stewarding Department requires:

Room/ Turn down Attendant

Reports to:

Aerialists - performing aerial acrobatic tricks on apparatuses (i.e. aerial silks, aerial hoop, aerial trapeze), which are rigged to the truss above the stage (min 5.5 meters)

Director of Food and Beverage

Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of Food and Beverage and within the limits of established Sandals Resorts policies, procedures, oversees and directs all aspects of the Restaurant operation at the level of standard and quality established by the company.

✓

•

Recruitment on island is being undertaken for these positions, should suitable local applicants not be found permit applications will be submitted.

Restaurant Manager

Reports to:

Player (Creativiva)

✓

Executive Housekeeper

Steward/Labour

The Room Attendant assumes primary responsibility for guestroom cleaning and servicing. The Housemen are responsible for delivering clean linen and clearing dirty linen from Room Attendants’ trolley. The general maintenance of all corridors and walkways on assigned floor/section are also the responsibility of the Housemen. The Public Area Cleaner/ Attendant is responsible to service all other areas and offices.

Reports to:

Stewarding Manager

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift and bend.

• No allergies to chemicals or dust • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

Standard Specifications: Qualifications and Experience: • Physically fit with the ability to lift over 30 lbs.

• No allergies to chemicals • Minimum 2 years’ experience in a related position.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders and persons with on-island status (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time. Should a suitable local applicant not be found a permit application will be submitted.

These positions are currently held by Work Permit Holders and persons with on-island status (note however more than one is required). Recruitment to fill these positions is underway at this time. Should a suitable local applicant not be found a permit application will be submitted.

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $6.75 per hour

The range for these positions is $6.25 to $10.00 per hour

Under the guidance and supervision of the Stewarding Manager and Stewarding Supervisors within the scope of established Sandals Resort & Spa policies, the Steward will ensure that all aspects the stewarding operation are performed accordingly.

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or placed in the secure drop box at the service gate or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales

and

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road

and should reach not later than March 10th 2017

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LOCAL SPORTS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

Women’s Football on the rise in Turks & Caicos Islands FIFA Women’s Football Administration Course

Cup Qualifying stage for the FIFA U15 WWC.

As the year of 2016 concluded, FIFA Women’s Intermediate and most people and entities were Coaching Course wrapping up and closing off loose ends, Turks & Caicos Islands TCIFA hosted a FIFA Football Association (“TCIFA”) began Women’s Intermediate Coaching preparation for 2017, opening a new Course on January 8th-12th, 2017 chapter for Women’s Football by with returning FIFA Instructor, hosting its first ever Women’s Football Andrea Rodebaugh. Rodebaugh is a Administration Course conducted former player of the Mexico Women’s

by FIFA Instructor, Mrs. Yolanda National Football team and the Camacho Kortman. Kortman, who former coach of the Mexico Women’s has sat on the FIFA’s Committee for U20 team who participated in the Women’s Football and the Women’s U20’s Women’s World Cup, Chile in World Cup, during December 9th- 2008. The course saw participation 13th, covered topics such as Strategic of approximately fifteen male and Planning, Networking, Budgeting, female coaches from the islands of Time Management, Marketing and South, North, Middle Caicos and Communication and much more. As Providenciales. The coaches were a result of the course, the TCIFA exposed to more advanced tactical and Women’s Football Committee, as technical aspects of football. Coaches well as other participants, were able were also given an opportunity to host to regroup and focus on recruiting advanced training sessions with the and retaining a larger eligible pool TCIFA’s U17 Girls. of players with dedicated energies The TCIFA in collaboration with on having a TCI Girls U15 National FIFA continues to invest in Coaching Team by the year 2020, ready to Education. TCIFA is committed to compete in the CONCACAF World empowering its coaches by creating

these opportunities which increase and broaden their knowledge.

TCIFA Women’s Speed Soccer League

The much anticipated Women’s Speed Soccer League took flight on Sunday, January 8th, 2017 with five teams competing for the coveted title as champions. Women’s Speed Soccer was introduced by TCIFA in November of 2013. Speed Soccer is a five aside game where each team is allowed a maximum of ten players.

The games consists of two halves of ten minutes each, with a two minute interval at half time. There are no age restrictions or football experience required to play the game.

This year’s participation ranged from the typical footballer to Soccer Moms, Rugby players, and females who have never played a team sport prior to the event. Each Sunday, TCIFA’s artificial turf was brought to life with the vibrant colors of team shirts as players exerted much needed energy. The ten minutes for each half quickly whisked by, as players

hurriedly and aggressively tried to score without having any penalties or conceding the ball to their opponents.

After several rounds of games, Sunday, February 5th, 2017 saw the final games of the Speed Soccer League.

Team “Lit” captured the championship title with “Baby Bistro Babes” in 2nd place. Following 2nd place was “Wild Cats” at 3rd place, “Concherors” at 4th place, and “International Divas” at 5th place. The ever athletic and young Enie Jean Louis of Team “Lit” captured both titles of Top Goal Scorer with a total of 5 goals and Junior MVP. The Senior MVP title was captured by the dedicated Joan Whent of “Bay Bistro Babes”.

For more information, please contact TCIFA Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Candia Ewing, at 946-5532 or cewingtcifa@ gmail.com Address: TCIFA National Academy Venetian Road Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands

TCI Rising Stars Club

A new chapter has open for the TCI RSBC on the 24 of February, in the Nation Capital Grand Turk. Here are highlights from GDT Rising Stars Basketball Club. Head Coach Jarrett Forbes and team did an excellent job with the grand opening of over 40 registered campers at the N.J.S Francis Basketball court.

Tiger School of Shotokan Karate quickly gaines momentum in Providenciales

Licensed as a not for profit in 2016, the Tiger School of Shotokan Karate has quickly gained momentum in Providenciales. Started by the vision of Sensei Jean Paul Dareus (Dan II), the school now has twenty registered students, most of whom are below the age of 12. This month marked a new chapter in the lives of 8 of these students who were handed their next level belts after intense training and external examinations.

Shotokan is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts

by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945) in Japan. Sensei Dareus says that his training in Shotokan covers the Kihon, Kata and Kumite required at each level.

The school’s president,

Sandeep Jagger, explains that the Tiger school of Shotokan karate vision is to build a strong and vibrant karate community by offering karate training and services. He believes karate can

reduce household abuse by empowering women to defend themselves and for children to learn discipline and dedication. He hopes that the school can provide training to the police force and security companies one day as well. He wishes for there to be a Turks & Caicos Islands national Shotokan Karate team. He explains that he would like to have a team in place for the XXXVI SKIF Mexico National Championships on July 20th to July 23th, 2017 in Puebla; México or for the X SKIF Pan-American Championship, on August 16th to August 20th, 2017; Buenos Aires, Argentina. None of which will be possible without sponsorship and assistance from the business community. He further explained that school participation may reduce gun violence and substance abuse in teens/

young adults by offering scholarships for troubled teens to study the sport!

Upon asking about fees and requirements to join, the school’s administrator Eliphat Regis said that there are no requirements, just interest in Karate. He mentioned that the school meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm at Wright Hook next to NAPA and charges a standard fee of $100 per month per student to cover basic expenses. Persons interested could come to view the students train and decide thereafter whether it is for them.

Persons wishing to contact the school are requested to do so by calling the school administrator on 649 342 5250. The school has a Facebook page and a website which shows photos and videos.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN

SPORTS

Usain Bolt: ‘No hard feelings’ after losing Olympic gold

Usain Bolt may have lost one of his Olympic Caribbean island’s relay team now leaves him with gold medals after compatriot Nesta Carter tested eight Olympic golds. positive for a banned substance -- but the Jamaican The loss of that 2008 medal has not, the says he has “no hard feelings” towards his sprint 30-year-old says, changed his mind about retiring at relay teammate. the end of this season.

Carter, 31, has appealed to the Court of “If it had come before the Olympics, maybe Arbitration for Sport against the decision to strip it would have taken a little bit away from me and I him and the Jamaican team of their 2008 Olympic would have thought about it,” he said of competing 4x100 meters relay gold and is awaiting a hearing. at Tokyo 2020.

But, as it stands, Bolt can no longer claim to “But the fact that I got the chance to say have completed the “triple triple” of nine successive ‘the triple triple,’ it kind of made me feel good.”

Olympic sprint titles.

Key to Bolt’s retirement decision was the

Bolt, who once said returning one of his gold workload involved in preparing for major races and medals would be “heartbreaking,” is philosophical events. about the matter -- though he says he is yet to speak “To do four more years of this, it’s tough. It’s with Carter. not easy to motivate yourself year after year. I’ve

“It’s just one of those things that happens accomplished all I’ve wanted to so it would be very in life,” the 100m and 200m world-record holder told hard to motivate myself.”

CNN before the Laureus World Sports Awards in He also remains phlegmatic about about Monaco last month. losing more relay golds.

“Until I see him I can’t really say he did it “When it comes to individual gold medals, on purpose or it was a mistake or I should be angry. I’ve done my part. I’ve won three times. If I lose all Until I actually sit down and look at him face-to- of my relay gold medals, for me, I did what I had to face and talk to him, (I) don’t know how I’m going to do with my personal goals and that’s what counts react.” for me.

In January, the International Olympic “I did the work. My team came through and Committee announced it had disqualified Carter they helped, but if something goes wrong and I lose after a reanalysis of the sprinter’s urine and blood my relay medals, it’s just one of those things.” samples from Beijing resulted in a positive test for Bolt, who plans to hang up his running the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine. spikes after August’s World Championships in

At last August’s Rio Olympics, Bolt London, says he is looking forward to traveling the cemented his status as an all-time great by becoming world and watching sporting events he had been the only man to win all three sprint events at three unable to attend because of his training schedule.

Olympic Games -- but the decision to punish the “There have been NBA games that I would

Usain Bolt love to go courtside to watch,” Bolt said. “There have been so many things that I wanted to travel or to go and see. I haven’t had a chance to see Formula One ever and that’s something that I’ve always (wanted to do).

“These are the things I look forward to when I can travel and want to see big events, sporting events.”

The Manchester United fan also said plans were “in the pipeline” for him to train with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund once the athletics season concluded.

If that plan comes to fruition, Bolt might be called upon for one final sprint test -- against the German football team’s very own speedster PierreEmerick Aubameyang.

In November, the Gabon international threw down the gauntlet to Bolt.

“I’m waiting for you man,” Aubameyang exclusively told CNN, challenging him to a 30-meter showdown. “I hope to see you one day, and let’s do this challenge!”

Flow and Manchester United Team up to deliver the Ultimate Football Experience to Caribbean Footballers

Up-and-coming Caribbean footballers between the ages of 13 and 16 will not be able to contain their excitement, as news breaks that Flow and Manchester United will host The Ultimate Football Experience, a skills-based competition, supported by the Caribbean Football Union. The programme seeks to give youngsters, the chance-of-a-lifetime to participate in a talent development football camp; and even earn a trip to Old Trafford, Manchester to see Man Utd vs Crystal Palace on May 21st 2017.

The good news gets even better as registration opens this week for the football competition which runs from March through to May 2017. Here’s how it works: skilled boys and girls can register online at https://discoverflow.co/flowmanutd.

Registered participants will then be instructed to appear at designated football festivals across all Caribbean markets in which Flow operates.

The participants will engage in a

Manchester United Soccer School’s international programme, which has been specially devised for the campaign and will be delivered by CFU coaches. Throughout the competition Manchester United legends will also be making an appearance at the festivals to offer their tips and advice.

This is a proven Manchester United Soccer School programme designed to build and test the skills of young footballers across the globe.

As the competition evolves, two participants from each market, along with their respective coach, will advance to a two-day skills session in Trinidad and Tobago to experience one-on-one training with CFU and Manchester United Soccer School Coaches. There, they will participate in a series of drills designed by the coaches and compete for the chance for two finalists and their coach to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

Considered to be the highlight

of the development initiative the two winners along with their coaches will travel to the world-famous football stadium to witness first hand Manchester United’s final Premier League game of the season against Crystal Palace. This VIP experience will also include a visit to the Manchester United Museum and Tour, taking in the history of the club followed by a tour of the iconic stadium.

Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold said, “Youth development is at the heart of this Club’s traditions and success. The Manchester United Soccer Schools were developed to help spread this spirit to as many children as possible. In recent years our partners have been instrumental in helping the great work of our Soccer Schools coaches reach young people around the world. We’re proud to work with Flow on this project.”

“Like Manchester United, Flow also has a deep sense of

commitment to youth development as can be seen by our support of several programmes throughout the region that help to hone the skills of young footballers,” said Garfield Sinclair, Flow’s newly appointed President of the Caribbean. Sinclair also said “We’re therefore proud to work in partnership with Manchester United to offer this once in a lifetime experience to our talented youngsters across the region.”

The Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) President Gordon Derrick gave a ringing endorsement of The Ultimate Football Experience, as he added: “The CFU is proud to be a partner with Flow on this exhilarating and beneficial initiative. Hundreds of young footballers in 15 countries – half of the CFU’s membership – will have the opportunity to compete, hone their skills, and, for the finalists, live the dream. I am confident that this partnership will bode well for the future of football in the region.”

CONCACAF opens new office in Caribbean to support growth

MIAMI – CONCACAF in football,” said CONCACAF announced the opening of President Victor Montagliani. a new office in Kingston, “This new location strengths Jamaica, as part of its our Confederation’s ability to effort to accelerate football operate efficiently and in a development throughout the fully integrated way, in order region. to continue driving long-term

“Opening the new growth across the region.” office in the Caribbean In 2017, CONCACAF represents a major step is expected to triple its towards our ONE CONCACAF investment in Caribbean Vision. It reaffirms our focus competitions as compared to on serving all 41 Member previous years. Additionally, Associations, while investing in order to boost development

efforts in this zone, nearly 80 percent of the ONE CONCACAF financial assistance program is allocated to Member Associations from the Caribbean. Through this new office, the Confederation aims at ensuring that the investment is effective, efficient and focused.

Jamaica’s strategic location will help streamline the operations of regional competitions, while

facilitating engagement with key stakeholders; including federations, partners, government and fans.

C O N C A C A F Caribbean Football Director, Horace Reid, one of the region’s most accomplished administrators, will head the office. In his previous role with CONCACAF, Reid led competition-related aspects of Confederation tournaments, including the Gold Cup, the

Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League and multiple age-group events.

The new location will begin operating in March at The Courtleigh Corporate Centre in Kingston.

With headquarters in Miami, as well as an office in Guatemala City, Guatemala, the Confederation serves member nations and promotes football development throughout the region.

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WORLD

SPORTS

Roger Federer: “I just think it’s still the beginning of the comeback,”

Federer stunned

by Russian Donskoy in Dubai

Roger Federer blamed a lack of commitment for his shock 3-6 7-6(7) 7-6(5) loss to world number 116 Evgeny Donskoy of Russia in the Dubai Open second round on Wednesday.

Swiss Federer, playing his first tournament since winning his 18th grand slam title at the Australian Open in January, wasted three match points in the second set and led 5-2 in the third before the 26-year-old Donskoy fought back.

Third seed Federer, seven-times champion in Dubai, surged 5-1 ahead in the deciding tiebreaker but qualifier Donskoy reeled off six points in a row to secure a remarkable victory.

“Maybe I wasn’t really committed enough, I think,” the 35-year-old Federer said.

“Commitment in tennis is a big thing.

Today I wasn’t, really. That sort of is a feeling you get and it trickles in an entire game.

“Legs also felt slower out here tonight. I felt tired all day. I tried to get myself in shape, and, you know... It’s just a tough loss tonight. So many chances. It was crazy. There’s no excuses there.”

Federer, who skipped last year’s tournament because of a knee surgery which sidelined him for the back end of the season, refused to be downbeat over his first loss of the year.

“I just think it’s still the beginning of the comeback,” said Federer, who is scheduled to play at Indian Wells next week.

“I got to take the positives out of playing again in a tournament where I feel I’m quite healthy. I’m happy I got over the (groin) injury I sustained at the Australian Open.”

Donskoy will next face French seventh seed Lucas Pouille, who beat qualifier Marius Copil 6-1 6-4, in the quarter-finals.

Top seed Andy Murray, who is playing in his first tournament since a fourth round defeat at the Australian Open, beat Guillermo GarciaLopez 6-2 6-0 to reach the quarter-finals, where he will face Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

Golf’s governing bodies propose ‘fundamental’ rule changes

The elimination of “ball moved” penalties and reduction of time allowed to search for a lost ball are among several fundamental rule changes that have been proposed by golf’s governing bodies.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A have also proposed relaxing rules for putting greens, water hazards and bunkers, and allowing players to take a twostroke penalty when faced with an unplayable shot in a bunker.

The proposed changes, which reduce the rules governing the game to 24 from 34, will be settled in 2018 and take effect on Jan. 1, 2019, the governing bodies said in a statement on Wednesday.

Another change would rely on a player’s “reasonable judgment” when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line,

area or distance, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong. And another would impose a limit of 40 seconds for players to play a stroke.

Golfers around the world can offer their feedback on the proposed changes over the next six months.

“Our aim is to make the Rules easier to understand and to apply for all golfers,” said David Rickman, executive director for governance at the R&A.

“We have looked at every Rule to try to find ways to make them more intuitive and straightforward and we believe we have identified many significant improvements.

“It is important that the Rules continue to evolve and remain in tune with the way the modern game is played, but we have been careful not to

change the game’s longstanding principles.”

The “ball moved” rule caused controversy at last year’s U.S. Open, where Dustin Johnson’s victory was threatened by his being docked a shot after the ball moved fractionally when he grounded his putter next to it on the fifth green.

Johnson played the closing holes not knowing whether he would be given a stroke penalty that might have denied him the title on a technicality, although he eventually finished four strokes clear.

In December, the governing bodies introduced a new local rule to eliminate the penalty after the USGA came under fire from Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, among others.

Warriors’ Durant out indefinitely with knee injury

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant has suffered a knee sprain and will be out indefinitely, the National Basketball Association said on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the team’s bid for a third straight trip to the finals.

Durant suffered the injury early in the Warriors 112-108 loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday when teammate Zaza Pachulia fell backwards into his left leg.

He was taken to a Washington area hospital where he underwent an MRI, which revealed Durant had suffered a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain and a tibial bone bruise.

The Warriors, who have the best record in the league at 50-10, said in a statement posted on the team’s Twitter feed that Durant will be re-evaluated in four weeks and could play again before the end of the regular

Feb 28, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) holds his knee after being injured against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter at Verizon Cen season. reigning MVP Stephen Curry to

Durant, the 2014 NBA form a Dream Team in Oakland. most valuable player, rocked the He leads the team in scoring (25.8 league last year when he left the points per game), rebounding Oklahoma City Thunder to join (8.4 rpg) and blocks (1.7 bpg).

Trump golf club appeals $5.77 million loss over membership fees

A Florida golf club owned by U.S. President Donald Trump appealed a federal judge’s ruling that it pay $5.77 million to former members for refusing to refund their deposits when they wanted to resign.

The Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, filed a notice on Tuesday saying it will ask the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to review the Feb. 1 ruling by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra.

Its notice did not provide the legal basis for the appeal.

Marra, who sits in West appeal.

Palm Beach, Florida, ruled after It said the club was a non-jury trial that the golf “suffering financially” when club had no right to keep the Trump bought it, and that deposits of 65 members involved “we presented overwhelming in the lawsuit, even as it barred evidence that the plaintiffs’ them from using the club. memberships were never

He said the golf club recalled.” breached contracts that the The president was not members had signed with Ritz- a defendant, but the judgment Carlton, which owned the club was believed to be the first before Trump took it over in late against a company he controlled since he took office on Jan. 20.

2012.

The Trump The appeals process Organization said shortly after typically takes at least several Marra ruled that it would months.

MARCH 4TH, 2017 – MARCH 11TH, 2017

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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WORLD SPORTS

Every NBA Finals contender’s biggest question for the rest of this season

What a difference a month can make.

On Feb. 1, there was zero doubt the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers would collide for the NBA championship once again this June. Then Kevin Love and Kevin Durant each suffered knee injuries, and now there’s the slightest chance someone else might squeeze into the 2017 Finals.

With that in mind, we’re taking a look at each Finals contender’s biggest question headed into the final month of the season.

On the other hand, perhaps Kevin Durant’s injury leaves the door open for the Clippers to surge to their first NBA Finals ever. Even a Western Conference finals appearance might be enough to keep the band together for one more year.

The Celtics point guard made a huge impact in Boston’s victory against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, as he always does — but the Cavs weren’t anywhere close to full strength.

In the postseason, a healthy Cleveland team will go right at Washington Wizards: Are they Thomas on every possession until the really the second-best team in the Celtics prove they can stop anyone Eastern Conference? with their All-Star leader on the court.

And according to ESPN.com, Boston

One of the hallmarks of a true surrenders 122.8 points per 100 championship contender is being a top- possessions to the Cavs, Raptors and 10 team in both offensive and defensive Wizards when Thomas plays. efficiency. The Celtics have a great There’s no denying how Toronto Raptors: Will “playing offense ... and are 20th in defense. The awesome the two-time All-Star is ugly” be the best way to knock off Raptors have a great offense ... and are on offense, and he’s certainly a netthe Cavs?

19th in defense. positive for the Cetlics. But in a seven The Wizards, meanwhile, game series against the East’s elite,

We’ll give the Raptors the are 10th and 11th in those respective Thomas might help prove Boston’s benefit of the doubt with Kyle Lowry’s categories despite a ridiculously slow undoing. health; if the All-Star point guard isn’t start to the season. The Washington healthy, then the rest of the season squad we’ve seen since December could Houston Rockets: Can you knock really doesn’t matter in Toronto very well knock off both Boston and off a favorite by burying them in anyway.

Toronto in the postseason before falling 3-pointers?

Assuming that, Toronto has a to the Cavs in the conference finals. brand new identity with Serge Ibaka Or John Wall’s team could It took less than a season for and P.J. Tucker. The Raptors are flame out in the first round. Anything the Rockets to become the perfect Mike going to punch you in the mouth over is possible in the East this season.

D’Antoni team: a top-three offense with and over — metaphorically, that is — a league-average defense everyone and try to beat you in an ugly brawl.

San Antonio Spurs: Can Kawhi thinks is much, much worse than that.

They’re the polar opposite of last year’s Leonard carry a team on his back

Still, Houston’s not going to Warriors team that failed to conquer to the Finals? try to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the the Cavaliers with finesse.

Warriors in the postseason. GM Daryl

There’s probably not enough With all due respect to Morey admitted as much this week talent north of the border to really LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs depend when he said his team will try to ride threaten Cleveland, but here’s hoping entirely on The Klaw to lead them to 3-point-shooting variance to an NBA we get to find out in the playoffs. the promised land. For now, he’s only Finals berth. When you’re going to be playing 33 minutes per game; come the a massive underdog either way, why Los Angeles Clippers: Is this the playoffs, he’ll be out there for at least not see if you can get red-hot from deep last hurrah?

40 minutes a night. and beat Golden State at its own game?

Coach Gregg Popovich will put Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin can his team in the best position to defeat Cleveland Cavaliers: How much become free agents this offseason, and the mighty Golden State Goliath does LeBron James have left in you have to wonder if they’re sick of despite the overwhelming odds. If the tank? running it back with the same squad Leonard can take the next step as a only to come up short every year. CP3 bona fide superstar and prove he’s a Wednesday night was the 17th could head to New York to play with top-three player in the NBA, the Spurs time this season LeBron played more Carmelo Anthony, and Griffin could will have a chance to shock the world. than 40 minutes, four more than he decide to take his talents to Oklahoma did all of last year. Deron Williams City to join forces with Russell Boston Celtics: Is Isaiah Thomas a will help take some of the playmaking Westbrook. weakness waiting to be exploited? burden off of LeBron (and Kyrie

Lebron James Irving), but judging by Cleveland’s loss to Boston, we shouldn’t expect the King to lighten his load over the final month of the season.

He swears he’ll be fine once the playoffs roll around, and maybe he’s right. There are no back-to-backs in the postseason, after all. Yet if LeBron keeps trying to win games for the Cavs with Kevin Love and J.R. Smith on the sidelines, he might peter out just as the Finals roll around.

Golden State Warriors: Will Kevin Durant be 100-percent healthy?

Before Tuesday night’s catastrophe, we wondered which player would step up as the fifth in the Warriors’ crunch-time lineups. That’s been Golden State’s biggest question all year, really.

Durant’s knee injury changed all of that. He should be back in plenty of time to work his way back into the rotation and knock off any light rust he accumulated on the sidelines. The nightmare scenario for the Warriors, though, is Durant suffering another injury because he comes back too soon.

Without a healthy KD, the Warriors simply don’t have the firepower to outgun the Cavaliers in a Finals rematch. That’s the risk you take when you gut your depth to build a superteam.

Athletics position as top Olympic sport far from secure

Athletics’ proud position session of athletics but now you as the number one Olympic sport might be flipped to the red button. is far from secure, according to “That’s a function of Britain’s triple jump champion- course of Britain being more turned broadcaster Jonathan successful but no longer can Edwards, who also says the athletics take its position for Diamond League needs to focus granted and certainly not after more on big names and less on Rio.” equality.

Although the athletics program

Edwards has seen the in the 2016 Games produced sport from both sides, from a spectacular and memorable hugely successful competitive performances on the track, not career that brought him least Usain Bolt’s “triple triple” of Olympic, world, European and sprint titles, it took place against Commonwealth gold and a world a backdrop of thousands of empty record that still stands, through seats, even for high-profile to 14 years as a pundit and evening sessions. broadcaster, and says it faces “That venue and those tremendous challenges. crowds did not look good so that’s

“It’s absolutely not why London is so important secure,” he said of the sport’s self- for athletics, to say ‘here’s a styled position at the heart of the sport that matters , a sport Olympics. that’s important, it’s worth your

“Having worked with the attention’,” Edwards said at an BBC I’ve seen how they changed event to promote August’s world their editorial policy towards championships in the British athletics over the course of the capital. last few Games, where once it “The 2012 Olympics stood would have been unheard of not out as the best of anything I’ve to be live for the whole evening experienced as an athlete and

broadcaster and the Anniversary you have as many opportunities Games in the same stadium was for a women’s discus thrower as great and I think this, with Usain a men’s 100metre runner. But Bolt’s, and probably Mo Farah’s I think the meetings need to be swansong, will be electric. more market-driven, frankly and

“But there’s no question less sport purist-driven. that athletics, as a sense of “I think athletics should occasion, has tailed off over the start to think less about trying last 20 years or so and it faces to jazz it up with novelty like some real challenges.” the Nitro event (a radical new

International Association team-based format rolled out in of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Australia last month) but make president Sebastian Coe has the most of what is an incredibly also voiced concern and recently exciting, pure form of sport. announced several changes in “But at the moment for format to the flagship Diamond a broadcaster and a fan it’s hard League series. to find a sense of continuity. How Edwards, however, said that the many people in the UK knew tweaks needed to go much further about (South African Olympic in an attempt to win back the lost 400m champion) Wayde van audiences.

Niekerk? Nobody. You need

“If you look back to the to build personalities over the mid-90s you had Zurich, Brussels, season or several seasons.

Rome, London etc, which were “So in trying to be fair big meetings, they would put on and equal across all events I events almost stand-alone events,” think athletics has lost a bit of the he said. marketability that you need to

“Now you have the punch your weight in the current Diamond League, which is all climate because there is so much very fine and equitable in that sport going on out there.”

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