VOLUME 12 ISSUE 13

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

Website: www.suntci.com

VOLUME 12 - NO. 13

Email: sun@suntci.com

Tel: (649) 339-5879

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Fax: (649) 941-3281

www.facebook.com/tcisun

DEVELOPERS RECEIVED TOO MANY CONCESSIONS F

by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

ormer Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Delton Jones, testified in the ongoing highprofile corruption trial that investors and developers in Turks and Caicos Islands received too many concessions during the administration of former Premier Michael Misick.

Jones, who is the second witness to be called by lead prosecutor Andrew Mitchell, QC, said that this concern was shared by officials in his ministry and certain persons at the former TCI Invest.

“We thought that the economy was moving very well, so the amount of risks that a potential investor coming into the TCI would face would be reduced compared to earlier times, so we wanted to tighten up on granting so many concessions,” Jones told the court that is being presided over by Mr. Justice Paul Harrison.

Asked by Mitchell if he had any direct interface with any politicians about the issue of concessions, Jones, who is now based in Fiji, which is located in the South Pacific Ocean, said he would periodically talk to for Premier Michael Misick and former Minister of Finance, Floyd Hall about it.

“Broadly speaking the risks involved were reduced, so people (investors) would come anyhow,” Jones said in support of his stance on granting concessions.

In response to a question from Mitchell, Jones said that he was involved in a study that preceded the creation of TC Invest and it was stated that investors did not have to go through TC Invest for concessions, but they could have gone straight to the ministers.

Questioned further by the prosecutor about what role the Ministers had in relation to concessions, he stated: “To some extent, the level of concessions that were being offered were standard. Most of them came through law firms but you could tell by

Arrests made in Grand Turk murder - Page 6 Temporary hold on work permits, PRC - Page 5

Mr. Delton Jones

SEVERAL LUXURY YACHTS IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

The Turks and Caicos Islands continues to attract the rich and famous, both by air and sea.

Over the Easter weekend, several luxury yachts were seen berthed at the Blue Haven Marina, in Leeward, Providenciales.

One of the newest marinas in the region, the channel depth when entering the marina is 8.5 feet at low tide, and it offer slips for yachts up to 220 feet.

Several of the yachts are seen in this photograph.

looking at the proposals which law firm or entity was promoting the proposal, but ultimately it was the ministers in Cabinet that would have approved the concessions but that was within their authority.”

Jones, who is an economist, said his ministry had to establish a stabilization programme to control expenditure.

“One of the main issues was that while the economy was still growing, the rate of growth of expenditure far outpaced the rate of growth of revenue,” he said. “So while we had accumulated funds, based on the fact that you were spending more

than you were taking in, it meant that you were running down the past savings and effectively what it meant was that any money that was in reserves was actually being run down and that is why we had to put a stabilization plan in place.”

In relation to the spending of departments under former Premier Michael Misick, Jones told the court that between 2007, 2008 and 2009 it was “fair to say that it was a problematic area”, particularly in some heads such as hosting and entertainment, the Tourist Board and others that all presented challenges to the Ministry of Finance.

Jones also told the court that the responsibility of Government ministers was “broadly of a policy nature”.

He noted that ministers were not involved in fiscal policy on a day-today basis and they could not sign or authorise day-to-day expenditure, neither could they authorise money from the Consolidated Fund.

He stated that if Government ministers wanted to go outside of the budget, they could go to Cabinet and get approval and this was done in some instances.

Young people still going to Anglican Church - Page 7 Doug Parnell slams Oswald Skippings - Page 16

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

I Can’t Wait !!

dtci-postpaid-handset-sim-10x16.pdf

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

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94 1. 8 8 8 8

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS TOURIST BOARD MARKETING EXECUTIVE An exciting opportunity awaits you in the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board in the post of Marketing Executive. This position is based in London, England, U.K. and the successful candidate will support the promotion and positioning of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a preferred tourist destination in Europe and the United Kingdom through the provision of marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations services in the European Market.

No work permit, PRC applications until next month Applications for Turks and Caicos Islander Status, Permanent Residency Certificates Annual Residency, Labour Clearance Certificates, Business Visitors Permits and Home Owner’s Permits will not be accepted during the month of April.

This was announced in a press release from the Ministry of Immigration, Border Control and Employment.

The statement said that the implementation of the Immigration Ordinance 2015 and the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinances 2015 which takes effect April 01, 2016, requires the introduction of new documentation, processes, procedures and training of Departments of Employment Services, Immigration, and Registration and Citizenship and staff. This will take place throughout the month of April.

The business community

ESSENTIAL DUTIES Prepare and submit the annual marketing plan and budget for the UK/ European market. Prepare and submit monthly activity reports to demonstrate the implementation, completion and effectiveness of marketing activities. Act as primary signatory on Tourist Board’s bank account and prepare/submit monthly expense reports. Plan for, organize and evaluate consumer and trade shows, tourism conferences and other major tourism events in which the Tourist Board participates in the U.K. and Europe. Schedule and organize familiarization and press trips to the TCI. Oversee destination training for tour operators, reservations staff and travel agents. Coordinate and conduct sales calls. Develop and maintain relationships with major UK and European tour operators, airlines, travel agents, media representatives and trade publications. Source advertising and brand marketing opportunities for the destination with a variety of media and participate in the negotiations with said media houses. Write promotional pieces, proof copy and approve final content for features, supplements and promotional pieces published on the destination in trade and consumer publications. Work with digital and print media to design layout options for specific promotions undertaken by the Board. Develop and pursue co-operative marketing campaigns undertaken by the Board and the private sector Respond to general inquiries from the public, trade and media regarding the destination. Review and ensure updating of TCI’s marketing collateral, website content and the materials used for the TCI Expert Travel Agent program with respect to the U.K. and Europe. Gather market intelligence to inform the U.K./European component of the Tourist Board’s marketing plan and share the trends and developments in those marketplaces with key stakeholders. Collect new and updated destination product information to share with the trade and consumers. Maintain the relevant contact databases of industry partners and consumers who submit inquiries. Manage the destinations Public Relations Functions in the UK and Europe including that of its Italian Reps. Interface with relevant government ministries/departments, the tourism private sector and other entities as necessary. Provide general supervision of the Board’s Marketing Officer. Liaise with marketing staff in all TCI’s offices to share information on a consistent basis and to create synergies and opportunities for inter-office collaboration Provide strategic advice to the Senior Marketing Executives and Director to maximize the awareness of the destination to the target demographic. Comply with the policies, procedures and guidelines of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. Any other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Marketing, or Tourism Management/ Development, with at least 5 years relevant work experience. Sound knowledge of local tourism products and services. Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills. Excellent time management, organization and scheduling skills. Ability to work effectively with all internal and external stakeholders. Ability to work with minimal supervision. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The job is performed in an office environment for part of the time and other times the job holder will be required to be out in the field. The job holder will be expected to travel to locations for marketing/promotional activities and may need to stand for a long period of time. .

SALARY:

Salary for this position is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

For consideration please submit the following documents to chairman@ turksandcaicostourism.com or submit to The Chairman, Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, Stubbs Diamond Plaza, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: Cover Letter Current Resume Two (2) reference letters Current Police Record Resident Status

is advised that in order to facilitate training and to allow the general public to familiarize themselves with the new forms, processes and procedures, there will be a moratorium on all of the above applications.

Temporary Work Permit applications are the exception to this moratorium and may be submitted as per the usual process.

All applications currently submitted with the various Departments will continue to be processed.

All new and renewal applications, unless otherwise advised, may be submitted commencing May 2, 2016 Government said additional press releases will be issued to inform the general public on where and how to access application forms and information on application procedures.

This move is likely to cause major inconvenience within the business community.

Increase in NIB contribution ceiling

The National Insurance Board hereby reminds all employers and employees that the current ceiling on which contributions are paid will be increased with effect from April 1, 2016.

Since its inception in April 1992, the ceiling on which National Insurance contributions were paid on behalf of employees was restricted to $600.00 per week or $2,600.00 per month.

NIB’s director and CEO Mr. Walter Gardiner noted that on April 1, 2015, the contribution ceiling was raised for the very first time from $600.00 to $700.00 for weekly paid employees and from $2,600 to $3,000.00 for those paid monthly.

On April 1, 2016, the contribution ceiling will be raised from $700.00 to $810.00 for weekly paid employees and from $3,000.00 to $3,500.00 for monthly paid employees.

Mr. Gardiner explained that this raise in the ceiling on which contributions are paid will only affect employees earning up to $810.00 per week / $3,500.00 per month and will result in an increase in certain benefits they would be eligible to receive including: Sickness Benefit Maternity Allowance Injury Benefit Retirement Pension Invalidity Pension Disablement Pension Survivors Pension

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

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 15th 2016

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All Employers are therefore

NIB Director and CEO, Walter Gardiner advised to take notice of this ceiling increase and make the necessary arrangements for any increased payment of contributions due to the NIB as a result of the ceiling increase with effect from April 1, 2016.

For further information / clarification on the increase in ceiling, please contact any office of the National insurance Board at tel. numbers 946-1048 in Grand Turk or 941-5806 in Providenciales.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

Arrest in controversial Grand Turk murder

By Todeline Defralien

Police have arrested a number of persons in connection with the 2015 murder of Grand Turk resident of Kevino Smith.

On Wednesday March 30th a statement the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said, “There are some developments in the investigation of a murder that occurred on Grand Turk last year (2015). We will brief you with an update as soon as possible. Members of the public are asked to be careful of what they post on Social Media relating to this matter, in particular with the mentioning of names of persons who are or maybe involved.”

Another police statement said: “Police in Grand Turk and Providenciales have taken a number of persons into police custody for questioning in relation to the Kevino Smith murder investigations.”

Police Press Officer Kevin Clarke told The SUN, “On Wednesday a number of persons on a Grand Turk and Providenciales were taken into

Kevino Smith custody for questioning in relation to the Kevino Smith investigations but no charges have been made at the moment.”

Police reported that on Wednesday, March 4, 2015, about 11:45p.m., a report was made to the Grand Turk Police Station requesting police assistance at the residence of

same night officers conducted a search around the surrounding area for the suspect, but he was not located.

On Thursday, March 5, officers were called to Smith’s residence at Osbourne Road in Grand Turk, where an old unused pick-up truck was on fire, which the police, with assistance from persons in the community extinguished. Smith was not at the residence, the police said.

The police said that another vehicle owned by Smith was found in Breezy Brae on Thursday, March 5, and removed to the Grand Turk Police Station for investigation purposes, and on March 6, his mother Martha ‘Patty’ Smith, reported that she had not seen Smith since March 4, and that he had apparently gone missing. the Ashton’s Family in Breezy Brae, On Thursday, April 16, 2015, Grand Turk. police stumbled upon human remains

Two officers were reportedly believed to be that of the missing man dispatched to the scene, where an in the Breezy Brae. The police later occupant of the residence reported to confirmed that the remains were that them of an alleged serious incident of Smith. The police said also that involving the use of a firearm, and a number of tests would be done to Smith was fingered as the aggressor. determine how he died.

The police further reported that that

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

PLANT DIESEL MECHANIC DESCRIPTION

Responsible for carrying out effective preventative and corrective repairs to plant mechanical equipment and other company assets in a manner consistent with equipment manufacturer’s specification and standard mechanical tradesman practices.

MAIN DUTIES  Maintain a high degree of knowledge and familiarity with operating principles and manufacturer’s operating and maintenance manuals for all mechanical plant equipment.  Maintain, repair and install engines and associated equipment in the diesel generating stations in a manner consistent with manufacturer’s specifications to ensure continual reliable operation.  Diagnose mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic problems related to the effective operations of generation plant equipment.  Prepare comprehensive job reports and failures analysis report.  Competently use proper tooling during equipment repair and safeguard and maintain tools and other mechanical repair equipment.  Operate shop tools as needed to fabricate, repair, weld, solder, cut, drill, etc.  Maintain records and reports as required (including inventory of necessary parts).  Be available to respond to emergencies at all times outside of regular working hours, as may be required by plant contingency.  Display a profound knowledge of underlying theoretic and operating principle of all mechanical equipment used in diesel fired operation and to utilize this knowledge in developing the technical competence and capacity of assigned junior maintenance personnel.  Ensure that all work undertaken falls under the Company’s established safety and environmental policies and guidelines and are adhered to consistently.

 An Associate Degree or a two (2) year post-secondary program, preferably in mechanical engineering trades.  Minimum of 10 years’ experience in operations, installation and maintenance of rotating machinery in a power plant operations setting.  A high degree of familiarity and competence in diesel engine theory and operations, trouble shooting of mechanical and rotary equipment, and mechanical repair tooling.  Significant experience in failure diagnostics, trouble shooting and carrying out corrective maintenance/repair of Wärtsilä 20V32 generating units is required.  Experience in carrying out preventative maintenance as team leader for Wärtsilä 20V32 generating units up to the level of full engine overhaul is a mandatory requirement.  Above average analytical skills in math and principles of diesel engine machines.  Excellence in interpretation of engineering drawings and manuals.  Professional competency in written and oral communication skills (English).  Experience in installation, maintenance, and repairs of large generation units in particular Wärtsilä generating units.  A member of (Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists) or its equivalent..  Familiarity with and competency in the use of computers and standard computing software programs.

COMPENSATION Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is April 5 2016 to: Ruth Forbes Vice President Human Resources, Finance and CFO FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or rforbes@fortistci.com

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 7

LOCAL NEWS

Youth still keen on Anglican Church

number of our young person’s flocking to the Anglican Church as opposed to

Young people are still running away, so I guess each church gravitating to the Anglican Church is different. Some will move away and although there are many other some will flock towards according to denominations to choose from, says what the Church is doing in terms of Father Bernard Been. reaching out to our young people.”

Father Been, who is now When asked how he’s settling residing in Barbados, said young into Barbados, Been told the SUN people like the Anglican Church that it’s different from the Turks because of its structure and and Caicos Islands but he is making transparency. the adjustment. “Since relocating to

In an interview with The SUN Barbados it has been a settling and following the Fortis 2016 Plenary adjusting process. So far it’s been session at Beaches Resort, Father trying to settle and find a new home Been said, “When you are the only to live in and we’ve gotten that. So shop, everyone must come to you but now, that normal routine when you when other shops come along, people move from one place to another is have options and begin to shop around. what’s taking shape.”

In the English speaking Caribbean, Been said as far as church the Anglican Church, because the ministry is concerned, he has started English speaking Caribbean was working since January 2016 as colonized by the British, Church of the Priest-in-Charge of Holy Cross England came along with that and so Anglican Church in Society Hill, St. we have enjoyed being the only one for John. a long period of time.”

He said he is familiar with the

He added: “When the options church from when he was in Barbados came people began to exercise before, adding that the congregation their options. In one way it’s a has been very receptive. natural process. People will filter He continued: “I am also away, but we’ve seen also in some working along with a seminary where churches where our young people are we train our priest and I am working gravitating to the Anglican Church along with them in that process and because of its structure, transparency it’s been going extremely well, it’s a and accountability. We’re seeing a relationship between the Holy Cross

By Todeline Defralien

DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL SERVICES DESCRIPTION

To oversee all financial operations of the organization and direct corporate financial planning and analysis; responsible for the flow of financial information to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and where necessary, the executives, the board and external parties such as financial institutions, credit rating agencies and regulators.

MAIN DUTIES  Leads all accounting functions, financial capital planning, budgeting, forecasting, preparation of cost and performance trends / analysis for presentation to senior management, and accounting information systems.  Directs the delivery of cost effective and efficient accounting and financial systems, policies and processes that meet the current and future business requirements of the organization.  Ensures that the regulatory requirements for financial reporting are met.  Ensures that accurate and timely financial statements are prepared in accordance with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as applicable.  Oversees the external audit, reviews and analyzes results and recommends approval of the Audited Financial Statements.  Oversees the production of month-end, quarter-end and year-end financial statements for group reporting and management accounts.  Oversees the production of management information and financial analysis to support the development of long term strategic initiatives and business plans.  Ensures budgetary control, makes recommendations to encourage the continuous improvement of financial performance and implements

Priest-in-charge of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Society Hill, St. John Bernard Been and the seminary.”

He also revealed that he will be pursuing a doctorate in counseling, “In the not in the too distant future I plan to enroll in my Phd. program specializing in counseling. I don’t only want to counsel person who are in the work world but more so persons

in leadership roles. I want to counsel clergy and all those other persons who are burnt out, worn out and see how best we can help them on the road to recovery and so that they could be the best person that they could be, so that they can function on their job at a good level,” he ended.

relevant financial policies within the business.  Oversees management of cash, treasury and all other financial commitments on an ongoing basis.  Ensures compliance with all financial covenants on existing and future debt issues and metrics to maintain existing or improve corporate credit rating.  Overall control of all financial transactions and accounting matters.  Provides guidance on emerging trends in financial reporting standards relevant to energy and utility companies and in general.  Works with CFO in formulating financial strategies, long-term plans and debt issues.  Provides coaching, guidance and support, sets professional development plans to assist employees to reach their full potential.  Ensures consistent service delivery in a consultative and solutionsbased capacity to all levels of staff and with regard to financially related transactions, policies and procedures.  Ensures the team delivers the highest standard of teamwork and customer service.  Special projects as assigned by the CFO.  Other relevant duties that may be assigned from time to time

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting  CPA, CA ACCA or CMA qualified  Minimum of 10-15 years’ senior management experience  Minimum of 5 years’ utility experience  Minimum of 5 years’ experience with one of the “big four” auditing firms Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is April 5 2016 to: Ruth Forbes Vice President, Human Resources, Finance and CFO FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or rforbes@fortistci.com

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

PDM repeats calls for delay to introduction of Immigration bills

by Hon. Sharlene Cartwrigth-Robinson

Leader of the Oppisition

The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Leader wrote to the Minister of Border Control and the Premier in an attempt to have them reconsider the introduction of the Immigration and Turks and Caicos Islander Status Bill start date of April 1st.

We have based this on what we can only term as a serious growing uneasiness because of the air of uncertainty on the final Bills and Regulations and also on the fact that we believe that the planned and budgeted public education should come before the introduction and not after the introduction of the Bills. This point was made during the Committee Stage of the Budget when the Hon Leader inquired about the wisdom of public education after the introduction.

The PDM has over the past three years called for Immigration Reform and it is much needed but we have not failed on stating clearly our basic position: the need for the Government to consult with the people of this country and also the wisdom in using the census figures to develop a population policy and then allow this to inform the Law and Policies.

In 2014, the PDM was able to halt the Bill based on a technical vote stopping it from going to its second

Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson - Opposition Leader reading. The effect of this was that the Bill could only be brought in its same form after the current session was prorogued and a new session started.

The PNP Government did bring the Bill again in the new session and attempted to proceed without consultation. After much representation from the PDM consultations led by the Minister took place and was held on each major Island and carried live over RTC.

Whilst we encouraged our people (even through social media) to attend official meetings that would record their comments and inform the Government directly, the PDM met with groups and individuals on its details and also used our Radio Show to discuss the Bills clause by clause. We called on the Government publicly to slow down its process and this voice was joined

SENIOR HIGH VOLTAGE PLANT SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN Responsible to plan and supervise the construction, installation, modification, maintenance and repair of the company’s high voltage electrical distribution facilities. At the direction of the Senior Electrical Engineer, the Senior High Voltage Substation Electrician will perform and direct maintenance and install high voltage equipment and electrical control systems both in the Plant and Substations in a sound technical manner, to ensure the reliable operation and functionality of equipment, as per design specifications. This position is required to trouble shoot and repair the more complicated electrical equipment that other staff members are unable to. Mentoring of apprentices and less experienced electricians.

MAIN DUTIES

 Lead and participate in the layout, construction, installation, modification, maintenance and repairs to FortisTCI facilities by preparing and interpreting blueprints, plans, specifications, catalogue data and written and verbal instructions.  Plan, provide materials and schedule work for subordinate employees ensuring proper assignment, tooling and techniques in performance of duties  Mentoring of the existing work force through “hands on training and mentoring” in conjunction with training provided by outside trainers in order to assemble a knowledgeable and motivated electrical plant work force.  Maintain and install all rotating and stationary electrical equipment with particular emphasis on control systems and substation maintenance.

All such work will be performed with safety, efficiency and functionality of the FortisTCI system as the guiding factors.  Maintain and install all breakers and associated equipment at the plant and in Company Substations.  Prepare instruction manuals and consolidate manufacturer’s information into a form that can be used by others to trouble shoot and maintain electrical equipment.  To prepare cost estimates and material lists for various projects for the Senior Electrical Engineer.  Assist the Senior Electrical Engineer in the preparation of capital and maintenance budgets by the preparation of cost estimates as assigned  Be familiar with all Company policies and procedures (including those established by past practice) relating to the position and to observe and enforce same.  Plan and conduct work in a manner consistent with the company’s

by members of the Clergy and even a sitting executive member of the PNP Government.

The Bills were eventually passed and while distracting dialogue sought to focus on how many persons said no, with no real attention paid to the fact that the Bill was passed by a majority of the House and would have whether 8 persons shouted no or not, its passage occurred. The Bill now passed since late last year has been delayed in its introduction.

The PDM has spoken to these Bills on occasions following its passage and within the past few days, interests

by Islanders have been heightened.

While it is inconceivable that there are persons who are unaware of its content after years of on and off again dialogue, it is indeed possible and is so the case, having had a rushed consultations.

We have written to the Minister asking him to delay its introduction and to engage the people of this country in the planned and budgeted for public education on the two Immigration Bills.

We encourage the people of this country to get involved and pay keen attention to the many important issues raised and discussed and to use its voice to ensure that we live in a country where people are indeed center to a Government’s decision and development.

We await the Minister and his Government’s response.

Turks and Caicos Sun Suite#5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 339-5879 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Office Manager: Dominique Rigby 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.

commitment to the environment and ensure that subordinate employees are likewise in compliance.  Be familiar with safety and operating procedures of the company and see that all in the Electrical Plant Department follow them  Assist in the maintenance of statistical records required by the company  Be calm and competent in response to plant emergencies in a manner that inspires others to do likewise.  Operate Company vehicles as required and in adherence to company policy and the driving regulations of TCI authorities.  Be professional in dress and demeanor as befits an employee and ensure that a good public image of FortisTCI is maintained at all times.  Perform other duties as may be assigned and/or required by system contingencies from time to time.

DAILY DUTIES

 Plan a weekly outline of the work to be conducted and who is to do it in conjunction with the Senior Electrical Engineer.  Submit job reports and failure analysis reports as may arise due to equipment operating abnormalities  Select the correct manuals and procedures to be used by apprentices and direct them in how to follow the documentation.  Conduct other duties As assigned by Senior Electrical Engineer from time to time

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

 Associate’s degree in a related field or successful completion of a 2 year in a post- secondary education program, preferably in engineering trades with an emphasis on electrical technology.  Familiarity with PLC’s and their trouble shooting  Completion of Industrial Electricians apprentice program equivalent to the Red Seal program.  A minimum of 10 years’ hands on experience in high voltage application preferably in the power generation and distribution field as well as a demonstrated ability to lead others.  Familiarity with and competency in the use of computers and standard computing software programs particularly drafting.

COMPENSATION Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is April 5, 2016 to: Ruth Forbes Vice President, Human Resources, Finance & CFO FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or rforbes@fortistci.com

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

TCI promotes diversity of attractions at World Travel Market

growth not only from Brazil but also gaining more popularity with Grace from other Latin American countries,” Bay Beach recent recognition as the said Smith. best beach in the world by TripAdvisor,”

According to Ralph Higgs, said Higgs. “Exclusivity is another Director of the Tourism Board, the advantage. We have 40 islands and biggest challenge at the moment is cays, of which only 20% are inhabited,” to show that the destination is much he concludes. more than honeymoons and weddings.

In order to promote the “We are a very plural destination. We attractions, the Turks and Caicos have one of the largest coral reefs in the tourism team envisions actions world and a strong emphasis on water with the largest tour operators and sports and diving. Another important trainings for major travel agencies of attraction is the observation of whales São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and dolphins, which takes place Brasilia and Porto Alegre. “We will between January and March.” Higgs hold more than 40 trainings, including (L-R) Don Gardiner, Garde Allyn, Ralph Higgs, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith, Wayne Garland and also mentioned that the destination online sessions via Skype. In 2015 Mauricio Vianna at WTM-LA in Brazil has several food festivals during the we made over 30 big trainings at the

Brazil is becoming an the destination in the Brazilian month of November. capitals cities around the country,” increasingly important tourism market. Since then, the destination “Our beaches, the main concluded Mauricio Vianna of Net source market for the Turks and has had an increase in the volume attraction sought by Brazilians, are Hospitality.

Caicos Islands. For these reasons, a of Brazilian tourists and Brazil went delegation from the Turks and Caicos from being the ninth to the fourth attended the World Travel Market largest tourism source market for – Latin America (WTM-LA) with the Turks and Caicos, just behind the executives from the Tourism Board, United States, Canada and the United including the Honorable Porsha Kingdom.

Stubbs-Smith, Minister of Tourism, In meeting tour operators Environment, Culture and Heritage; and media professionals at WTM-LA, Ralph Higgs, Director of the Tourism the Honorable Porsha Stubbs-Smith Board; Gardè Alleyne, Personal stressed that Brazil is a major source Assistant to the Minister; Don of business for the destination. “Brazil Gardiner, Chairman of the Tourism became the fourth most important Board and Wayne Garland, Member source market for Turks and Caicos. of the Tourism Board.

We hope that with our presence and

For about more than a year, networking at WTM-LA we will foster Net Hospitality has been representing new relationships and continue to see Orinter, a major Brazilian travel operator, receives Net Hospitality and Turks and Caicos executives

Is Looking For the Following POSITION: DEPARTMENT:

Assistant Food & Beverage Manager Food & Beverage Service/Production

KEY RESPONSIBILITES: To manage the day to day Food and Beverage operations in conjunction with the Kitchen Office and Outlet Managers; In conjunction with the Purchasing Department, to supervise all food ordering in line with Company Policy; To monitor the performance of the food outlets and to ensure that standards of food production, presentation and service are maintained; To co-ordinate the production of all products ensuring specifications, quality targets and delivery timetables are met; to meet the company’s food cost target as set out in the Plan through implementing and maintain prudent and established costs; In conjunction with executive chef / management, to create menus for all outlets having regard to customer demand and company margins; In conjunction with management and the kitchen team to develop and achieve the departmental goals and strategies; to complete budgets and forecasts in accordance with the prescribed timetable; to ensure that costs relating to the kitchens, i.e. Payroll and expenses, do not exceed Plan through pro active control; In conjunction with Food and Beverage, to devise and organise food promotions as appropriate; In conjunction with the Personnel Department to recruit, select, and induct new staff for the department having regard for current employment legislation; to be fully conversant with current Health and Safety legislation affecting food preparation and service areas and to ensure that the laid down requirements are met To be fully conversant with: Food and Beverage policies and procedures affecting the Kitchen To comply with Company Health & Safety, and Fire Regulations and procedures.

To undertake any other reasonable task/request by Management

POSITION: Front Office Supervisor DEPARTMENT: Front Office KEY RESPONSIBILITES: Operational To provide a courteous, professional, efficient and flexible service at all times, following East Bayt Resort Standards of Performance; to have a full working knowledge and capability to supervise, correct and demonstrate all duties and tasks in the assigned Place of Work to the standard set. Please note that Master Task Lists are reviewed and changed on a regular bases reflecting change in trends, guest expectations and operating philosophies; to be entirely flexible and adapt to rotate within the different sub departments of the Rooms Division or any other Department of the hotel as assigned; To meet and greet guests at South Caicos Airport on arrival, and accompany guests to the resort; To perform all duties and tasks when rotated or assigned to another Department as per Master Task List for that Department; to handle guest enquiries in a courteous and efficient manner and report guest complaints or problems to supervisors if no immediate solution can be found and assure follow up with guests; to ensure guests settle their payment before leaving the resort, and accompany guests to South Caicos for departure.

Occasional Duties: To assist in carrying out quarterly, bi-yearly, yearly inventory of operating equipment.

To carry out any other reasonable duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Must be prepared to live full time in South Caicos beginning salary commensurate with experience Interested applicants may submit your resume with qualifications and experience to: info@saunders.tc

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

Statement from March 30th Cabinet meeting

Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 11th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 30 March 2016, at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.

All Ministers were present except the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture and the Hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning.

At this meeting Cabinet:

•Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on the award of contracts for the following projects in line with the provisions of Section 38 of the Public Procurement Ordinance: Development Fund Project No. 5238 – Equipment for the police; Development Fund Project No. 5116 – Purchase of software for information management at all schools; Development Fund Project No. 5046 – ICT upgrade for all schools; Development Fund Project No. 5235 – Antennae for Radio Turks and Caicos; Development Fund Project No. 5236 – Shore Club/Long Bay Subdivision Water Project;

•Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board to award contracts in line with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012 as follows – TR15/14 Replacement vehicle for the Deputy Governor’s Office; TR15/24 Medical supplies and equipment for the National Stepwise Health Survey; TR15/42 Furniture and equipment for the Wellness Centre, Grand Turk; TR15/48 Packing centre, Agriculture Centre (North Caicos); TR15/50 Furniture and equipment for the Juvenile Centre, Grand Turk; TR15/58 Road Development Programme, Bellfield Landing Road, North Caicos; TR15/61 Additional works, Community Clinic, Salt Cay; TR15/62 Furniture and equipment for the Sammy Been Building, Providenciales; TR15/67 Upgrading air-conditioning at the NJS Francis Building, Grand Turk; TR15/69 Furniture and equipment for the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage; TR15/72 Renovation works to the Police Station, Grand Turk; TR15/73 Fencing project, North Caicos Port; TR15/76 Rapid assessment of informal settlements in TCI; TR15/77 IT equipment and network installation for the RTCIPF; TR15/78 Furniture and equipment for the Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade; TR15/83 Consultancy review of the Providenciales Airport Master Plan; TR15/74 Construction of the Early Childhood Centre, Ona Glinton Primary School, Grand Turk; • Agreed a temporary moratorium of up to four weeks on the receipt of new applications for the processing of work permits (excluding temporary work permits), residence permits, permanent residency and Turks and Caicos Islander status to enable Ministry of Border Control and Employment staff to be trained on and the general public to familiarise themselves with the new forms, processes and procedures which are necessary to implement the requirements of the new Immigration Ordinance and the new Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance, both of which come into force on

1 April 2016, so as to provide an improved and more efficient service to customers;

• Advised Her Excellency the Acting Governor to approve a proposal to amend Section 68 of the Customs Ordinance 2009 (Duties, Drawback, Prohibitions and Restrictions) (the Ordinance) to allow reassessments of customs duty to be conducted as part of the post customs clearance process;

•Received a progress report on the work of the TCI Multi-Agency Compliance Task Force in the areas of prevention and clearance of litter; ensuring that all businesses have the required business licences; ensuring that food handlers are licensed and comply with conditions; ensuring that derelict vehicles are removed from both roadside and residential properties and preventing reoccurrences; prevention of squatting on Crown Land; and stopping and preventing unlicensed street vending. Cabinet agreed that the Task Force should henceforth operate under the auspices of the Joint Law Enforcement Committee (JLEC);

•Advised Her Excellency the Acting Governor to agree to the following appointments:

Prison Categorisation Board: George Blenman (Chair); Steve Barrett, Superintendent of Prison (Member); Lorna James (Member); Pamela Joseph (Member) to be appointed for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017.

Parole Board: Pastor Frederick Braithwaite (Chair); Steve Barrett, Superintendent of Prison; Elva Williams (Member); Carolyn Ingham (Member); Marie Carter Glasgow (Member) to be appointed for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017.

Prison Visiting Committee: Leo Missick (Chair); Jennifer Forbes (Member); Michael Robinson (Member); Belinda Lightbourne (Member); Mark Kendall (Member); Leo Selver (Member); Permanent Secretary; Director of Social Development; Superintendent of Prison; Karen Higgs (Member) to be appointed for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017.

Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission: Ejay Saunders (Chair); Arthur Hamilton (Member); Leron Ingham (Member); Pedro Ariza (Member); Marvin Simmons (Member); Diedra Been (Member); Permanent Secretary (Ex-Officio); Director General (Ex-Officio – Secretary) to be appointed for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2018.

Radio Turks and Caicos Board of Governors: Ryan Williams (Chair); Stanley Astwood (Member); Jermaine Fulford (Member); Audley Astwood (Member); Allison Ingham (Member); Permanent Secretary; Bridgette Newman (Secretary) to be appointed for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017.

•Reviewed and discussed proposed changes to the draft Development Agreement between TCIG and the developers of the proposed Toscana development site at Grace Bay on Providenciales for further discussion with the developers.

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.

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Page 12

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

Beaches Resort divers receive top accolades from PADI

Beaches Resort Dive Team

Professional Association of Diving Instructors— PADI, one the world’s leading scuba diver training organization awarded Ten Employees at Beaches Resorts with Elite Instructor status.

Elite Award program which is designed to recognize instructors worldwide are given based on the number of divers they certify annually and this year Beaches’ Jacques Nelson ranked top in the Caribbean region for certifying over 380 plus persons, which accounts for a large number of tourist that visits the Turk & Caicos.

“This is great a great recognition for our resort and our Dive team, we are very proud of our instructors for achieving this Elite status with PADI,” said Hotel Manager

Jamie McAnally who attend the award ceremony, “On top of that, PADI also recognized Beaches TCI as the top revenue hotel in the entire Sandals chain which ties into the number of instructions that they give over a year’s time and we actually received top producing instructor Mr. Jacques Nelson with 384 instructions for the year and that is awesome.”

Nelson has now certified hundreds of scuba diver and is well versed in the instructions and skills that they need to safely explore the beautiful barrier reef systems. “It was such an honor to be awarded with one of PADI top status,” Said Nelson, “For me teaching the art of diving not only job, but also a passion, the waters and the reef systems here are one of the best

in the works, I am happy that I get to share my passion with the hundreds of visitors that visits the TCI annually.”

Nelson along with Cleve Cooper, Lancelot Gordon, Roldson Lacossade, Dugald McLeod, D’kandro Bain, Mauro Palladino, Daniel Calo, Leonard Suckrajh and Taven Missick all received an elite instructor award from PADI.

“To be recognized as an Elite Dive Instructor by PADI is an honor” said Taven Missick working as a Dive Instructor with Beaches seven years, “I hope my achievement will encourage my fellow locals to become more interested in diving as a profession and aspire to receive similar accolades for their work”

With the TCI being one of the

ROYAL WEST INDIES RESORT ROYAL WEST INDIES RESORT, is looking for motivated proactive individuals to join its ‘Resort Team’ and contribute to this growing Condominium Resort. Candidates MUST want to actively participate in creating an excellent and professional guest experience.

•GENERAL MAINTENANCE •HOUSEMAN •GARDENER •LABOURER •POOL & BEACH ATTENDANT

Requirements: •MUST speak English and the ability to write and read English •Ability to maintain pools and hot tub chemicals and maintenance issues related to same •Fit and able for heavy lifting •Personality suited for the hotel industry •Must be customer friendly •Willing to work split shifts, holidays and weekends.

•Knowledge of waste water treatment plants •Knowledge of Commercial Laundry Equipment including propane systems •Air Conditioning systems, Fire Alarm systems, Domestic Water systems including Water Heaters •Irrigation systems •Greet and escort guests to room •Monthly housekeeping inventory •Daily replenishment of room items and restocking of closets •Daily cleaning of buildings •Must be able to work on weekends and public holidays

Jacques Nelson with Hotel Manager Jamie McAnally

Wages $6.50/hour

All resumes and applications must be forwarded to: Royal West Indies Resort P.O. Box 482, Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands You may also fax to: (649)946-5008

Tavan Missick & with Hotel Manager Jamie McAnally

top dive destinations in the world and Beaches TCI catering to over 3,000 guests per week, Beaches TCI plays a very important role in increasing dive interest by providing the ultimate dive experience to guest.

Manager of Watersports Johnny Suckrajh explained that he has the utmost respect and high regards for his team and this being the very first award ceremony for that department he hopes to see them rewarded annually for their hard work and dedication.

Throughout the world, PADI oversees over 6300 dive centers and resorts and more than 136,000 individual PADI professional issuing more than 24 million certifications around the world.

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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Page 14

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

PNP budget continues to neglect Five Cays

by Hon. Sean R. Astwood PDM Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister of Tourism, Investment & Trade

Every budget submitted by this Rufus Ewing led PNP Government from the time they took office in November 2012, has lacked funding for Five Cays. The PNP’s 2016/2017 Elections Budget is no different.

Despite me year after year, in the House of Assembly speaking on the needs of my constituency, this Government continues to ignore the needs of the residents of our community.

The people of Five Cays are a proud, hardworking, and resilient people. Our needs are no different from those of other constituencies. I often say Five Cays lives matter. I often say this because it appears that the only time Five Cays lives will matter to this PNP Government is when they come to seek votes this year because of the looming elections.

Every road project that is scheduled for this year is clearly identified in the budget. Old Airport road is in deplorable condition, South Dock Highway has pockets where water settles that increases the risk of accidents whenever it rains. Most subdivision roads in Five Cays are not paved and nearly impossible to drive on. Large potholes and uneven surfaces are shortening the useful lives of vehicles, and Chalk Sound roads need resurfacing. However no funds are budgeted for road works in Five Cays.

The Deputy Premier stated during her Budget address that other schools would be getting new buildings and $2 million plus in infrastructure works, while Enid Capron Primary School will only be getting a bathroom block despite her knowing that every day students and their teachers cross the street from Enid Capron Primary School to hold classes at the Felix Morley Community Center due to lack of classrooms. There are no funds budgeted to build additional classrooms at Enid Capron Primary School or to upgrade the existing building. Last year parents and teachers along with myself had to undertake some much needed renovations as this Government chose once again to ignore the needs of our community.

What was once a proud structure for the Community has now been reduced to an eye sore under this PNP Government. The Felix Morley Community Center is neglected and continues to deteriorate. Apart from a small section of the Center being used as a classroom, the Community Center is seldom used to benefit the Community. No funds were budgeted for regular maintenance and repairs of the Community Center. No funds were budgeted for programs to benefit the

Community.

South Dock Highway needs a serious cleaning and not just garbage but also unlicensed makeshift junkyards along the road side. The Premier passes these eye-sores every single day for the last three and half years and yet his elections budget fails to address these eyesores.

In addition to failing to budget for much needed roadworks, additional classrooms at ECPS, and regular maintenance of the Felix Morley Community center, this Government has frustrated private sector persons wanting to invest into our community.

• This PNP Government deliberately stalled a $12m Hotel Project in Five Cays that had the ability to do for Five Cays what Club Med did for Provo many years ago. This would have had a major positive impact on the lives or our residents. They intentionally stalled and frustrated the developer and eventually he invested into another area of Providenciales.

• This PNP Government deliberately delayed approval for the Dwayne Wade and Sandals Foundation project to renovate the Basketball Court at the Five Cays Community Center.

• This PNP Government deliberately and significantly reduced the number of street lights I requested for my constituency.

Many residents are living in areas with no street lights and with the continuing state of crime, these residents have many sleepless nights.

• This PNP Government deliberately refused to address the issue of illegal squatting, which is causing a number of civil and safety issues.

• This PNP Government refused to fix various roads that I had identified throughout the years. Some residents have to park at the bottom of hills and hike the rest of the way home to preserve their vehicles for a few more years.

It is important for the people Five Cays, South Dock Hwy and Chalk Sound to know that a PDM Budget would have included initiatives that reflected my vision for my constituency. A vision that would transform my community into to the example not just for other communities in the TCI but for communities in the region. Operation Facelift as I like to call it is the assigned name to my vision. A few of the major components of Operation Facelift are:

A fully funded Enid Capron Primary School that will be truly state of the art that will create the best environment for learning.

A transformed and fully utilized community center which will have After School Programs, a virtual library that would be available for students and entrepreneurs to do their research and clean safe environment for our youth to enjoy sporting activities

Sean Astwood with people of Five Cays like basketball, tennis etc…

A primary health care clinic for Five Cays. In our community of Five Cays, there is a great need for access to primary health care. Elderly residents,

utilities such as internet and lighting would be implemented in all our subdivisions. This would lend to the rebeautification of our community.

A proper housing development scheme would replace areas now and residents who do not have access occupied with illegal developments. to transportation, sometimes have While this PNP Government does difficulty accessing the Cheshire Hall not recognize the importance of my Medical Center. Residents of the Five Constituency to our Country, I do. Next Cays community that reside in areas to Grace Bay, we are the financial such as Silly Creek, Chalk Sound, center of Providenciales. When Tourist and Five Cays proper would benefit its our islands, they either land at our tremendously from this.

International Airport located in Five

A Fishing village would be Cays or one of the two FBOs located created. One that has proper slots for in Five Cays. When goods arrive in boats to dock and ramp access, a clean Providenciales, they either arrive at the disposal system for unwanted catch, Ports Authority located in South Dock, refuge, and hazardous waste such as Five Cays, or via the airport in Five oil bottles etc.., a full maintenance shop Cays. We have many established, well for boats, proper purchasing outlet for known and well respected companies individual small consumers, and a operating in Five Cays, such as Cargo traditional fishing village restaurant Express, Cairsea, AL Services, Inter designed to promote our culture while Caribbean Airlines, M Aviation, Sunny giving customers the opportunity to Foods, Airport Inn Hotel, the Landings taste the best fresh seafood in the Hotel and world.

Bugaloos restaurant. We also have

A vibrant tourism and resort the only seafood processing plant in industry would be established where Providenciales and all fuel companies the people of Five Cays can be the are located within my constituency. direct benefactors. I truly believe that We have so much to offer, most our people must emerge as equitable importantly is my people, however this stakeholders owning significant PNP Government continues to neglect segments of the resort and hospitality my constituency. sector in Five Cays.

Five Cays is waiting on a

Infrastructural development Government that has not written it off, such as roads, sidewalks, speed bumps a Government that does not see it as a for subdivision roads, street lights, \ ghetto. Five Cays is waiting on a PDM garbage disposal, landscaping and Government.

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS

Seven Stars Resort Community Foundation attends open day at MarionWilliams SNAP Centre

The Seven Stars Resort Community Foundation recently gathered at Marion Williams SNAP Centre in Kew Town, Providenciales for a special ceremony commemorating the facilities’ annual Open House.

This event was attended by Government officials including Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, Minister Of Youth Sports and Education Hon. Akierra Missick, Minister of Infrastructure and Planning Hon. Amanda Missick, Patron Mrs. Marion Williams, along with Director of Special Needs Unit, Teachers, Parents and Community well-wishers.

The SNAP Centre, which serves as a friendly environment to help further the development of children with special needs across the Turks & Caicos, unveiled a fullyupdated facility with media and video conferencing ability using funds raised by the Seven Stars Resort Foundation along with its corporate partners. The Centre added 8 desktop computers, 8 computer desks, a network computer and a 60-inch television for educational purposes.

“Our investment in the lives of these children and the institution is extremely important to the foundation and we have pledged our commitment to the school through a full adoption,” said Claudine EwingPratt, Director, Seven Stars Resort

Community Foundation.

“We will continue to support the technical needs of the school, the beautification of the landscape and will help establish the needed Apprentice Program. We’re very excited about creating more opportunities for persons of all abilities.”

Additionally, the building’s exterior and interior were painted, blinds were installed in all classrooms, new lobby furniture was added and security exterior lights and CCTV security cameras were connected along with protection for all external windows.

Seven Stars Community Foundation would like to extend sincere thanks to corporate companies for their generous contribution and participation during the fundraiser and a special thank you to Projectech Limited for partnering with completing all the work at the Centre.

To date, the Foundation has raised more than $100,000, contributing to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre, The Provo Children’s From left to right: Dadlie Metellus, Foundation Committee Member; Jean Occiliem, Landscaping Home and now, The Marion Williams Supervisor; Kevin Mcintosh, Facilities Manager; Claudine Ewing-Pratt, Director, Seven Stars Resort SNAP Centre. A fundraiser on behalf Community Foundation; Premier, Honorable Dr. Ewing; Ken Patterson, CEO, Seven Stars Resort) of the SNAP Centre will be held once a year to assist with progress. said Seven Stars Resort CEO, Ken face lift and media centre to connect

“I’m incredibly proud to be Patterson. “A number of great people the children to the 1 World Foundation part of such a wonderful team that volunteered their time and resources to special needs educators in Toronto & truly cares about the well-being of the see this project come to fruition and it’s New York.” children here on the island," wonderful to see the Centre with a

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This position is responsible for the leadership and direction of the organization’s activities in accordance with the goals and objectives of the organization which include safeguarding and growing the value of the organization and ensuring that Company’s service territory has safe, reliable electricity services, while providing sound returns to shareholders.

MAIN DUTIES

 Define and articulate the organization’s vision and develop strategies for achieving that vision  Give direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy and its annual goals and objectives.  Coordinate all aspects of the organization, including: human resources, engineering, electricity production and transmission, financing and commerce, regulatory, environment and safety.  Implement the strategic goals and objectives of the organization.  Promote a culture that reflects the organization’s values, encourages good performance, and reward productivity  Assure that the organization’s mission, programs and services are consistently presented in a strong positive image to relevant stakeholders.  Develops and monitors strategies for ensuring the long-term financial viability of the organization.  Manage the physical and human resources of the organization to achieve maximum results.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

 Post graduate degree in business or engineering

 Minimum of 20 years’ experience in the electricity utility industry  Minimum of 10 years’ experience at senior executive level in the electrical utility industry  Proven exceptional leadership skills  Extensive global knowledge of the electricity utility industry and regulatory frameworks  Extensive knowledge in leading utility power plant procurement and installation  Extensive knowledge of global and regional energy markets  Extensive knowledge of fuel specs and regional fuel supply chains  Extensive knowledge of emerging hydrocarbon market including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)  Extensive knowledge of renewable energy markets including solar and wind utility-scale and distributed generation systems.  Extensive knowledge of fuel hedging strategies  Extensive knowledge of Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) models  Extensive knowledge of new emerging electricity utility business model.  Extensive knowledge of demand side management  Extensive knowledge of global climate change issues  Extensive experience in risk management, disaster preparedness and recovery, and business continuity  Extensive experience in structured financing and debt placements in the Private Debt Markets.  Proven track record of leading investor-owned electricity utilities and creating shareholder’s value  Exceptional analytical skills  Excellent written and oral communication skills  Ability to deliver to strict deadlines and to work under pressure Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications

Deadline for submission of applications is April 5, 2016 to: Ruth Forbes, Vice President Human Resources, Finance and CFO FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@ppcltd.tc and rforbes@fortistci.com

Page 16

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

PDM chairman Doug Parnell responds to PDA leader Oswald Skippings

by Doug Parnell - Chairman of the PDM.

Mr. Oswald Skippings, selfappointed leader of the Peoples Democratic Alliance, continues his campaign to become the official Opposition.

In a recent press release, Mr. Skippings carried on his usual rant against the Peoples Democratic Movement for the PNP’s flawed election year budget. Mr. Skippings blames the PDM for Hon. Rufus Ewing wrapping up the budget session after giving his speech, which virtually shut, down the House of Assembly before all members of the Official Opposition and Key Government Ministers made their contribution to the Budget.

We do not know if it is the length of time that Mr. Skippings has been out of the House of Assembly or if his memory is lacking on the way the House of Assembly works, but the Premier under the current HOA standing orders was allowed to do this.

Instead of Mr. Skippings going after the Premier and the PNP Government for denying the public the right to hear a thorough debate of the Budget, Mr. Skippings, self-appointed Leader of the PDA, engages in his favourite activity of attacking the PDM.

Mr. Skippings mentions how many members of the Opposition did not speak and casually mentions that ‘some members from the Government side did not speak. Mr. Skippings is here by minimizing the role and responsibilities of Government Ministers.

Hon. Donhue Gardiner, Minister of Immigration and Labour did not make a contribution to the budget. In fact he did not even show up to the House of Assembly on the last day the budget was being presented.

Immigration and Labour are two of the main issues affecting the citizens of this Country. Hon. Porsha Robinson Stubbs, Minister of Tourism and Trade, our number one revenue generator, an industry in which most of our private sector residents are employed, failed to make a contribution to the Budget.

Instead of Mr. Skippings focus on the failures of Hon. Donhue Gardiner and Hon. Porsha Robinson Stubbs failing to give an account of their ministries, Mr. Skippings in his tunnel vision continues to use his energy to attack the PDM. Where Mr. Skippings criticism of the Premier shutting down HOA before ensuring that Hon. Gardiner and Hon. Stubbs give an account of their ministries to the citizens of these islands?

From the moment a budget is laid on the table of the House of Assembly, anyone can request a copy of the Budget.

Mr. Oswald Skippings as a former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament is aware of this. He should have requested a copy of the document and highlighted the issues that he and his party have with the budget. His party is formally registered so he does not have the luxury to sit back and throw stones at the Official Opposition instead of giving the citizens of this islands a concrete reason to vote for his party.

The Leader of the PDM delivered a powerful 3 hour response to the Budget that covered every salient point that would be of interest to the people and generally. She attacked their so called strategy, offered additional revenues, showed that the decisions to tax people mercilessly was a flawed approach that shrank the economy, hiked cost of living, cost of doing business and the spending power of the dollar.

She showed the pattern of revenue, expenditure and under spending noting also the fact that while growth was taunted, it was never reflected in its Budget figures.

She lamented that there was not one major project completed under this Government and therefore no real dent was made in unemployment, which she maintains is still high.

And with no major announcement in this Budget she noted that job creation was not planned. She pointed out that there has been progress for the Government and the UK and they could be happy but that there has been no progress for the people who are left in distress, confused and with so many leaving this country as they cannot seem to see where they fit in.

She highlighted the under spending, the wrong priorities, the fact that the Government made monies over the years and did spend largely on a flawed healthcare system while they year after year solidify work permit and other immigration status as a major revenue earner each year exceeding its targets in one case by $3 million and another by $1 million. With her usual focus on youth, she decried the little budgetary allocations and chastised the Government.

The Leader also showed where projects were recycled each year and now amassed in this final year for a big spending setting the stage for the PNP to campaign with the people’s own money. She also highlighted that the surpluses and payment of the debt meant nothing much to a people who only saw a broke down neglected country and people.

Before closing she highlighted the Party’s record on issues and outlined what a PDM Government

Doug Parnell would look like and pointed out also that the Government is revealing its own lie by doing things now that they before said were not possible because the Constitution, the CFO and Finance Laws had had their hands tied.

The PDM has not shortchanged its people even though the Debate was stifled and ended prematurely.

This unfortunate is how politically immature and old school politics seems to want the landscape to continue.

The PDM has fully represented its people from its scrutiny during the Appropriations Committee by our members, the Leader’s and other member’s responses, by other members issuing releases and appearing on Radio and TV Shows since the Budget’s passage and we will continue to shine light on a PNP Budget that they wish to passed in the dead of the night.

We encourage our people not to be distracted from the real issue and that is a flawed PNP Budget that continues to miss its own people’s priorities.

TRAINEE NEWS REPORTER The Turks and Caicos SUN newspaper is looking for a Trainee News Reporter.

We are seeking a motivated, energetic, creative and aggressive individual who can think and perform outside the box.

The successful candidate should be able to develop story ideas and gather information for the newspaper and newscasts, have sound interviewing and writing skills, a great work ethic, and a can-do attitude.

If you have the passion and natural curiosity to dig into the how and why of issues, we want you!

Proficiency in English and the ability to type quickly are a must.

This is an excellent opportunity for a young Turks and Caicos Islander to join the most advanced and leading media organisation in the country, and learn side by side with some of the very best in the business.

Send your resume with a cover letter to Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Hayden Boyce at haydenboyce@suntci.com

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

$78,000 to be won at 6th Annual Wine Cellar Golf & Fishing Tournament

the generosity of many local corporate sponsors.”

Excitement is in the air Adam Foster Manager at as organizers get ready for the Blue Haven Marina said, “It’s an 6th Annual Wine Cellar & Fishing absolute honor and privilege to be tournament. This four day event is associated with this competition and scheduled to take place on April 7th- tournament, with the pleasure of 10th at the Blue Haven Marina where hosting for the last four years now $78,000 could be won. and to be associated with something

At a press conference held at that has given $113,000 to back to Blue Haven Resorts on Tuesday March charities was a fantastic experience 29th PR Executive/Sales & Marketing for all of us involved. I think the only Rep of Gilley's Enterprises Desmond challenge that we’re going to face is Williams said, “This year is our 6th finding a place to put all the boats Annual and this event has evolved to because we’re kind of busy at the be one of the must do events in TCI. moment."

It all stems from longing to give back The four day tournament has to the TCI community. So far we have a big line up leading up to the main donated over $113,000 to local youth event, starting Wednesday April 7th, charities on the island and this year’s 2016 with the Calcutta and Captains' charities are the Edward Gartland Meeting (Fishing portion), the preYouth Centre and the Provo sailing party and bidding on boats begin (Tiki Club. This event is possible because of Hut). Then, 2 days of fishing (Friday

By Todeline Defralien

and Saturday, April 8th and 9th) are each followed by a fresh fish auction of the day's catch, music, entertainment and kid friendly games are hosted at Salt Bar & Grill at the Blue Haven Resort & Marina (Friday, April 8th @ approx. 4:30pm; Saturday, April 9th starting at 12pm). Complimentary berthing and preferred fuel pricing is offered to participants of the fishing tournament by Blue Haven Resort & Marina. Rounding out the weekend is the Golf tournament of the event, at Provo Golf Club, where 4 player teams vie for bragging rights and fantastic prizes as well as a silent auction.

A volleyball tournament is held on Saturday, April 9th. Interested teams of 4 players plus 2 substitutes may sign up by April 7th.

This year, well over 20 boats are expected to participate. New prizes include a $15,000 prize for Record

Wahoo (150+ lbs) and a $10,000 prize for the first hole-in-one on Hole 4 of the golf tournament. A pair of his/her Rolexes can be won by purchasing a $20 raffle ticket prior to the event, all helping to raise funds for the charities.

Organizers of the event said that this feels like the best way to kind of bring something together that’s specifically TCI such as fishing and golfing with giving back to the TCI community. It’s a family oriented event and they just hope that it continues to be a success.

The WCGFT is a not-for-profit charity event hosted every year with all proceeds donated to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre and another local charity (this year is Turks & Caicos Athletics Association) at equal portions. The last 5 Tournaments have raised $113,000.00 to help the different youth-oriented charity organizations.

PR Executive/Sales & Marketing Rep of Gilley's Enterprises Desmond Williams, Adam Foster General Manager of Blue Haven Marina, Representatives from the Edward Gartland Youth Centre and students, David Douglas President of Provo Sailing Club and the Blue Haven team.  Collect and preserve evidence including statements, photos and test results which may be used in court.  Effectively represent the Company in Court in power theft related cases and provide technical evidence.  Assist with informational presentations for both internal and external customers on power diversion.  Any other duties as may be assigned.

SENIOR REVENUE PROTECTION INVESTIGATION OFFICER Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified individuals for the position of Senior Revenue Protection Investigation Officer, FortisTCI, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

DESCRIPTION

This position has responsibility for investigating and reporting cases involving power diversion and billing fraud and is required to receive and respond to intelligence regarding fraud and suspected power diversion. The Senior Revenue Protection Investigating Officer is also responsible for regularly examining meters to determine whether or not evidence of tampering exists and is responsible for examining electrical wiring connecting meters to building circuits and external power lines with a view to ensuring compliance with industry safety standards and detecting incidents of fraud and power diversion.

MAIN DUTIES

 Prepare power theft reports and analysis as requested.  Work closely with the Transmission & Distribution Team to ensure that confirmed cases of power diversion is disconnected from the service line.  Work closely with the Administrative staff to investigate accounts with suspicious decreases in consumption.  Work closely with the Royal TCI Police Force during the investigation and prosecution of power diversion.  Assist with conducting meter audits throughout all service territories.  Recommend service connection upgrades where the service is susceptible to power diversion or inaccurate billing.  Recommend and participate in efforts to reduce non-technical losses.  Seek various means of gathering evidence in order to build case files.

ACADEMIC/TECHNICAL/MANAGEMENT: EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:  Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology.  Working knowledge of metering systems.  At least 6 years’ experience in utility services or related field.  A minimum of 3 years investigative experience.

CORE COMPETENCY SKILLS:

 High level of direct customer contact requiring excellent written and oral communication skills.  Must possess high ethical standards.  Police Record should be in good standing.  Knowledge of country laws and company policies and procedures applicable to illegal use of electricity.  Knowledge of safety practices and procedures.  Familiar with GPS and Mapping systems.  Goal-oriented and self-motivated to apply needed initiative.  Ability to work under pressure and in environments that may be adverse.  Ability to speak multiple languages would be an asset.  Valid Driver’s License is required.  Proficient in Microsoft Word & Excel.

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is April 5, 2016 Ruth Forbes Vice President, Human Resources, Finance and CFO FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@fortistci.com or rforbes@fortistci.com

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

AMANYARA

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

PROVIDENCIALES TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

Amanyara is looking for energetic, highly motivated individuals to join our team: FINANCIAL CONTROLLER The position of Controller is critical to the efficient and successful operation of both Hotel and Villas (private homes), having responsibility for maintaining & improving accounting systems, internal controls & processes. The Controller is responsible for ensuring financial results are maximized, through effective budgeting, forecasting and cost controls.

The role requires a team player with strong operational & financial focus, good judgment, passion, vision and exceptional leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities: 1) Assume responsibility for all day-to day accounting functions within the Hotel and the Villas, including banking, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, inventory, and cash management.

2) Lead the accounting teams, ensuring all daily operational & financial transactions are prepared accurately and in a timely manner. Hire, train, and evaluate the performance of the accounting team members.

3) Produce month-end & year-end financial statements in an accurate and timely manner, analyzing, understanding and communicating the relationship between actual results to budget and prior year and provide commentary on variances.

4) As an active member of the Management Team, assist the GM & Division Heads in budget preparation, business plans & the gathering of financial data for special projects & reports.

Recommend and implement cost savings strategies.

Job Requirements: Minimum requirement of a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/ Finance. Complete knowledge of hotel accounting systems and procedures, 8 to 10 years of Managerial Accounting/ Finance experience and; exceptional analytical ability required.

Advanced Excel skills, ability to plan, prioritize & implement effectively multi-task while working effectively in a fast paced and ever changing and challenging environment.

RESORT MANAGER Resort Manager oversee product stocking, accounting, and marketing efforts at the resort. As the resort manager, he/she will assisted in the management of the daily room inventory function, handled all guest requests and issues. Assisted with the evaluation and implementation of service and revenue programs. Supervised various department managers. The individual will oversee and approve marketing and sales campaigns, and will required to approve discounts drafted by your marketing and sales coordinators. Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER Oversee operations of all Food and Beverage outlets in a 5 star luxury resort, with a least 5 years’ experience as F & B Manager. Strong track record of maintain consistent standards, continually training outlet staffs and promoting an atmosphere of teamwork.

Strong Financial skills track record of building/increasing outlet revenue, experience implementing new F&B concepts.

Exceptional knowledge of different types of cuisine and wine including how menus are developed, pricing guidelines and how to improve results.

Duties Include: Plan and manage the Restaurant, Room Service and personal functions. Develop and implement special promotions and employees incentives; Create department budget and financial reports, and monitor status to adjust as appropriate.

EXECUTIVE CHEF Amanyara is looking for a creative and proficient in all aspects of food preparation, executive chef. He/she will be “the chief” and maintain complete control of the kitchen. Proven working experience at a 5 stars Luxury Resort as a head chef, excellent record of kitchen management and ability to spot and resolve problems efficiently and capable of delegating multiple tasks. Good communication and leadership skills, also keep up with cooking trends and best practices.

Plan and direct food preparation and culinary activities, Modify menus or create new ones that meet quality standards, Estimate food requirements and food/labor costs, arrange for equipment purchases and repairs, recruit and manage kitchen staff. Rectify arising problems or complaints. Give prepared plates the “final touch” Perform administrative duties, Comply with nutrition and sanitation regulations and safety standards; Keep time and payroll records, Maintain a positive and professional approach with coworkers and customers. BS degree in Culinary Science or related certificate IT MANAGER Candidate must have these qualifications: At least (5) Years’ experience, Cisco Unified Networking, Routing, Switching, Firewall, Bandwidth Management.

Cisco Call Manager VOIP, Unified Wireless, Micros Opera PMS, Micros 9700 POS, IP CCTV. Active Directory, Windows Server Administration, Linux Server Administration, Copper & Fiber Optic Cabling. General User end desktop repair / maintenance and administration TECHNICIAL SERVICE MANAGER Post-Secondary technical education required (or equivalent training and experience) The successful candidate must have at least 5 years’ experience running the engineering operations of a luxury resort located in a tropical environment. Responsible for the entire Engineering Department including guest room and multiple villa/home maintenance, refrigeration and air conditioning, power, kitchen, laundry and pool requirements, reverse osmosis plant, sewer, boiler, landscaping and pest control, vehicles and the resort’s firefighting system. The ideal candidate for this position will be a communicative leader with hands- on approach and advanced computer skills.

SENIOR OVERNIGHT DUTY MANAGER Must have Opera experience Computer literate, good word and Excel command necessary Previous night experience needed VILLA ACCOUNTANT Minimum of 2 to 3 years previous experience in a similar role in the accounting department of a luxury resort. Solid experience in preparing month-end P&L statements and proficiency in MS Office, Excel, Opera and Micros. Must have a Bachelors’ in Accountants be detail-orientated with good communication skills and the ability to communicate directly with Villa Owners with regards to billing issues.

All positions require a flexible schedule (which may include holidays, weekends and evenings) and extended hours on occasion. Salaries based on experience and qualifications.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE WEDNESDAYS ONLY 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. E-mail mstubbs@amanresorts.com

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

National Development through the Performing Arts ‘Targeting Youth Relations and Cultural Identification’

By Ryesha Higgs, TCI Patriot

As a young patriot of the Turks& Caicos Islands, I have relished in witnessing the development of my country; from a small, infrequently publicized island, to a now internationally renowned tourist destination and gradually urbanizing entrepreneurial hub.

Though it can be agreed upon that the TCI has undergone substantial political, social and industrial growth; it can still be agreed upon that there still remains the presence of areas within our country’s structure, that need to be addressed and developed.

As an academically and artistically inclined youth, I perceive the most significant areas to be, among others, the development of youth relations and the establishment of cultural identity. These areas of interest, though frequently overshadowed, are crucial to the national advancement of our country; it is my strong belief that these areas can be targeted and fortified as significant aspects of our country’s dynamic, through the introduction of a performing art industry.

Though many individuals may disregard the idea of performing arts as a method of strengthening youth relations and our country’s cultural identity, I urge you to think multilaterally.

Essentially, early evidence of the culture of the Turks and Caicos, provided in forms of folklore, supports the claim that our country

naturally incorporated performing art (including vocal, dance and theatrical means of expression) into its cultural structure.

With this being said, as a country, which continues to undergo periods of cultural assimilation, the boundaries of what the generic cultural traditions of our country are have been blurred. This has resulted in many residents of our island being unaware, unsure or ultimately oblivious to our heritage, the main group that suffers from this lack of cultural understanding is the youth. In a section entitled, Intangible Heritage, published by UNESCO (United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization) performing arts, namely music and dance were identified as “key features of cultural promotion.”

Performing arts initiatives, focusing on dance, music and theatrical storytelling should be incorporated not only into our educational systems, but also, our adult communities as methods of cultural enrichment and awareness.

As a country on the rise to global recognition, we must define our understanding of our island home; we are responsible for creating a defining line that separates us from a Caribbean region that is so closely linked.

Though at times we fail to realize this, hospitality is barely a distinguishing factor as multiple countries measure up to this sector of industry; the key factor in separating ourselves is through culture and as I have stated before, recognizing performing art as a

method of doing so can only strengthen our cultural identity.

I am aware that there may be multiple arguments brought forward in opposition to the necessity of incorporating the arts into our communities, on the grounds of financial practicality; however, the presence of already existing Performing Art initiatives in the TCI shows the plausibility and profitability of this niche market. The Not-for-Profit performing art initiative group, The Turks & Caicos Friends of the Arts, has existed in the TCI for approximately 14 years; striving to strengthen the arts community within our islands, this organization has hosted over 80 shows for the public, many of which are free of charge. In addition to this, the TCFAF bi-annually produces a theatrical production, known as a ‘PANTO’, which embraces the culture of our country and seeks to address societal issues through the use of satire, otherwise known as comic irony.

Moreover, the TCFAF uses all funds acquired through production to support rising artists interested in pursuing performing arts; personally I have been a beneficiary from this organization which has funded my artistic studies abroad at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem among multiple other schools throughout the United States. This organization goes to show that there exists within our islands, a unified arts community with individuals who had already dedicated

themselves to progression in this regard. Organizations and individuals are evidence to showcase the possibility of performing art as a viable industry; they also illustrate the existing passion for performing and creative arts throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, which should be addressed.

Even more importantly, we must identify that outside of ‘white-collar’ areas of occupation, the Turks and Caicos has given rise to naturally talented individuals, who have been born with gifts that can potentially result in stardom. It is within the best interest of our country to capitalize on the presence of natural-born performers, to show them that our country not only recognizes commerce, legal or medical based professionals, but professionals stemming from all niche areas of industry. The instillation of Performing Art programs into Communities can be phased in gradually through the creation of an Arts Commission, which can be added as a subdivision to the Department of Culture. Of course, a large-scale project like this cannot be developed overnight; however, financial investment from the TCI Government can assist in establishing the platform needed to jumpstart High school programs and community outreach services. All the Turks & Caicos Islands needs is to address the significance in strengthening our youth relations and cultural identity. From there, the importance of a Performing Art industry in assisting this cause needs to be recognized and developed.

Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Programme launched

The month of April will see the commencement of the Government’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) programme which will be managed by Invest Turks and Caicos with support from the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) and Ministry of Finance.

The creation of the programme is an acknowledgement of the importance the Government places on small businesses.

The Hon. Washington Missick, Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, stated ‘The SME sector is the lifeblood of any economy. In Turks and Caicos it accounts for 90% of all established businesses; contributes to around half of our GDP; and employs around 40% of the Islands’ workforce. It is extremely

important that we recognise and support these operations and create the business climate which facilitates growth, and encourages budding entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses.’

John Rutherford, Chief Executive of Invest Turks and Caicos, added ‘The successful running of this programme is a key objective for the Agency and we look forward to supporting the growth of the small business sector. We and our partners will be conducting a programme of town hall meetings throughout the islands, as well as promoting the programme through print, voice and social media.

Government is keen that priority be given to those companies and individuals that have new, innovative ideas, matched by a strong business

PROVO GOLF CLUB BARTENDER Provo Golf Club has an immediate opening for an experienced Bartender who is service oriented and can provide exceptional service to guest promptly and courteously, serving guests with an upbeat attitude and who is great at juggling tasks.

Position Description Responsible for preparing drinks for guest and serving them in a professional manner. The successful candidate should be well versed in bar service and drink preparation.

Requirements Must have 3 years or more experience preferably in hotel food and beverage industry. Must have a strong working knowledge of the bar and EPOS system. Excellent oral and written communication skills required.

Must be willing to work a variety of day/night and weekend shifts. Excellent people skills in order to communicate well with guests and staff. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly, bubbly personality is required. Wages for this position starts at $8.00 per hour commensurate with experience.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by April 22, 2016 at ronnie@ habgroup.com or fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

plan, and I would encourage all islander-owned businesses to attend a meeting to learn more about what type of business qualifies for these benefits, and how the process will work.’ T h e MSME Ordinance makes provision for the Government to provide Concession Orders to qualifying businesses which operate in identified priority business sectors. The Concession Orders will permit the company or start-up to specific benefits or reliefs depending on the size of the business. A p p l i c a t i o n forms for Concession Orders will be available from Invest Turks and Caicos offices at Courtyard Plaza, Providenciales, as well as at designated locations throughout the islands from 1 April. Processing of Concession Orders will commence in early May.Qualifying

business sectors are:

•Agriculture subsectors of a) market gardening, b) hydroponics, c) farm mechanisation, d) livestock and dairy development, e) agro-business and f)apiculture (beekeeping);

•Fisheries sub-sectors of a) fish farming, b) fish processing; c) farm mechanisation

•Manufacturing, processing and commercial cleaning services;

•Tourism sub-sectors of: a) bed and breakfast, b) vacation rentals, and c) tourism attractions.

•Physical infrastructure considered essential to the areas listed under the Agriculture and Fisheries priority areas;

•Technology and Innovation; •Arts and Music.

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

1.

Parcel 60715/102 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales. Single storey with three bedrooms, one bathroom, living/dining room and kitchen on 0.54 acre.

Registered Proprietor: Livingston Williams 2.

Parcel 60503/145 Blue Hills and Stamers Run, Providenciales. Single storey with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining area and storage area with an unfinished attached two storey with 2-two bedroom apartments on 0.38 acre.

Registered Proprietor: Sharon Elizabeth Rigby The auction will be held at the office of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 8th day of April 2016.

A reserved price will be fixed on all parcels and a deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.

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APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

A REWARDING CAREER WITH COMO HOTELS & RESORTS STARTS TODAY!!

At COMO, we create experiences worth re-living, experiences that inspire guests to travel and live differently.

PARROT CAY BY COMO HAVE THE FOLLOWING VACANCIES

Job Title: Job Summary

Regional General Manager

The General Manager is responsible for achieving optimal guest satisfaction and a good working environment to attain all set objectives. To achieve this, the General Manager should run the hotel in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures and Policies as set out by the company.

The General Manager shall see to the implementation of optimal and attractive products and services required to address the hotel’s target groups, based on pre-agreed marketing plans and budgets. The General Manager shall ensure the correct production and distribution of information and promotion materials as agreed to.

Guard the efficiency/productivity and the company results:  Draw up plans and budget concepts (revenues, costs, etc.);  Safeguard the realization, tracing and adjustment of deviations;  Developing improvement actions, carry out costs savings;  Guard/ controlling of cost price;  Delivering of data and proposals for the budgets and investments;  Safeguard quality of operations (internal & external audits); Manage the various Department Heads  Coordinate planning of Department Heads and Assistant Managers with regard to time-tables, work schedules, employment of employees within the different services; solving of bottle necks;  Coordination of the execution of activities via instructions to the Heads of Departments/ Assistant Managers, supervision of the execution;  Determination of the workforce, recruitment and hiring of new staff, supervision of sufficient introduction, execution of performance reviews and training of staff.  Be accountable for responsibilities of department heads in their absence; Implement the SOPs optimally in the hotel and act as a flag ship establishment for the brand. Prepare a monthly financial reporting Ensure an adequate administration, for the outgoing and incoming invoices, for the payment of invoices and for drawing up periodical management data.

Justify deviations and differences.

Other tasks  Handling complaints.  Other reliable to the above mentioned, tasks in order of the executive;  Handing over opinions and beliefs, decisions etc. to the executives;  Leading various internal and external meetings;  Supervise the fulfillment of the regulations of the employment  Correct use of Company’s corporate identity.  Maintain contacts with public authorities Other Managerial Positions:  Hotel Manager  Recreation Manager  Asst. Recreation Manager  Executive Housekeeper  Room Service Manager  Executive Chef  Regional Chief Engineer  Beach House Manager  Hotel Financial Controller

All Managerial position requires you to reside on the Island of Parrot Cay: OTHER POSITIONS K9 Dog Handler Restaurant Manager Clinical Massage Therapist Turndown Housekeeping Attendant F&B Server Banquet Server Resort Butler Guest Services Supervisor Head Baker Recreation Attendant

Chef de partie Accountant Private Estate Attendant Yoga/Pilates Instructor Wood Carver Housekeeping Supervisor Commis Chef Seamstress A/C Technician Private Estates Housekeeping Supervisor

Laundry/ Kitchen Tech Spa Receptionist Spa Attendant Spa Therapist Bartender Engineering Inventory Manager Commis de Cuisine Kitchen Steward

Salary for this position will be paid base on qualification and experience. Please note that all application must be submitted with a valid Police Record, two reference letters from previous employers or a notary public and current educational certificates. Must be willing to relocate.

Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address: Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: careers.parrotcay@comohotels.com

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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Leading the

Green-Energy Revolution

C.O.R.E.

Customer Owned Renewable Energy 







Uses customer owned Solar PV systems up to 10 kW in size for residential customers Commercial customers can use Solar PV systems up to 60 kW in size Net billing arrangement—Get credit for the avoided cost of generation Interconnect with the FortisTCI grid

U.O.R.E.

Utility Owned Renewable Energy 





FortisTCI covers installation, maintenance, and ownership of the rooftop Solar PV system and customers rent their rooftop space to FortisTCI Receive a credit for your roof space depending on the size of the Solar PV system (up to 10kW for residential and up to 60kW for commercial) Interconnect with the FortisTCI grid

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

Energy for Environment.

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

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

It’s Time to Lace ‘em Up Once Again!

FREE* *Registrations, prizes, breakfast, games, giveaways, t-shirts, and more!!

Registration forms are available at the Leeward Office or request them by email at: dkrzanowski@fortistci.com www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 | P.O. Box 132 1030 Leeward HWY, Providenciales, TCI

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

FortisTCI 2016 P caribbean Opportu in the Infor

F

ortis TCI hosted its fourth annual Plenary Session on Wednesday, March 30th, 2016 at Beaches Turks and Caicos in Providenciales under the theme ‘Caribbean Opportunities and Threats in the Information Age’.

The event was attended by a wide cross-section of the local business community and officials included Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, Acting Governor Hon. Anya Williams, Hon. George Lightbourne, Deputy Speaker Hon. Josephine Connolly and CEO and President of Fortis TCI, Mr. Eddinton Powell.

Speakers for the event were Hon.

Ow Pr M Di Pr Ec Co Ca Ch Co Be An Al wa sa Th fro

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

Plenary Session unities and Threats rmation Age

wen Seymour Arthur former rime Minister, Barbados, Melissa Macrchand Caribbean Strategy irector Global News Matters, rofessor Gilbert NMO Morris conomist, Larry Lawrence ountry Manager, CIBC First aribbean, Oswald Simons Deputy hairman, TCI Financial Services ommission and Father Bernard een Priest-in-charge, Holy Cross nglican Church in Barbados. ll who attended said that the event as a great one and organizers aid next year will be even better. he following are photo highlights om the even

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LOCAL NEWS

2

nd

Annual Easter Tea Party

Daughters of Zion would like to say thank you for supporting our second annual Easter Tea Party. Which was used to bring women together to fellowship to be empowered and inspired. We want to especially thank Mrs Sheba Wilson who did an awesome job as Guest Speaker, speaking on the theme “He arose a victor; so can you”. We encourage you ladies to remember that you can rise above all negativities or misfortunes and situations that may occur in your life.

May God bless you and again thanks for your support.

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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HEALTHY

LIFESTYLE

Autism rate among U.S. children held steady 2010-2012: CDC

Autism rates among U.S. children were unchanged between 2010 and 2012, but it remains too early to know whether a rise in diagnoses over the last decade has stabilized, researchers at the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said on Thursday.

In 2012, one out of every 68 school-aged children in the United States had autism, which is the same prevalence as in 2010, according to a new study by the CDC.

Still, some areas of the United States bucked the national trend, with autism cases rising in New Jersey, Wisconsin and Missouri, said the study's lead author, Daisy Christensen.

Also, autism may be under-diagnosed in other parts of the country and among black and Hispanic children, she said.

"We don't know why the prevalence of autism did not change significantly," said Christensen, noting that more time and data would clarify the trendline. "It's too soon to tell whether

the percentage of children with autism is stabilizing."

Autism, formally known as autism spectrum disorder, has become increasingly common in the United States over the last decade.

A decade ago, the CDC estimated that one out of every 150 children had autism, said Michael Rosanoff of the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

"Those 'one out of 150' children 10 years ago are now adults," he said.

"This is not just about early detection and early intervention; it's about providing services to a large autism population across the life span."

Some experts have cautioned that the apparent rise could come as parents and doctors grow more aware about diagnosing the disorder.

The CDC study found that timely diagnosis remains an issue, with fewer than half of autistic children receiving developmental evaluations by the recommended age of 3.

"Regardless of what the

A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia number is, we know autism is common," said Stuart Shapira, chief medical officer for CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

"Research shows that the

earlier a child with autism is identified, the better," he added. "The sooner the child starts receiving services, the sooner the child will reach his or her full potential."

Painful uterus condition may boost risk for heart disease

Women with an excess growth of uterine lining tissue may also be at higher risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new study.

The condition, called endometriosis, affects up to five million women in the U.S. Uterine tissue can grow on the ovaries, behind the uterus or on the bowels or bladder and can cause pain, infertility and very heavy periods.

“Many girls and women do not realize that distressing menstrual cramps and pelvic pain can be due to endometriosis,” said senior study author Stacey A. Missmer, director of Epidemiologic Research in Reproductive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“Girls and women can be treated through surgery that removes the endometriosis lesions or by hormonal medications including oral contraceptives,” but there is no outright cure, Missmer told

Reuters Health by email.

The researchers used data on more than 116,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, which ran from 1989 to 2009 – including about 5,200 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis.

Those with endometriosis were more likely than others to suffer a heart attack, to have coronary bypass or stent surgery, or to have angina, the chest pain that can be a sign of coronary artery disease.

The increased risk for these conditions was highest for women up to age 40, who were about three times as likely to have any combination of the heart disease end points as those without endometriosis. The difference in heart disease risk shrank at older ages.

As has been seen in the past, women who had their uterus or ovaries removed were also at higher risk for

coronary artery disease endpoints than others, the authors reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Systemic chronic inflammation, heightened oxidative stress and higher cholesterol levels associated with endometriosis may explain the link between the condition and heart disease risk, Missmer said.

“Additionally, endometriosis and coronary heart disease may share common genetic susceptibilities,” she said.

“From our study, we can conclude that surgical and hormonal treatments following endometriosis diagnosis may impact the risk of cardiovascular disease, but they did not negate the risk entirely,” Missmer said. “It is important for women with endometriosis— even young women— to adopt heart-healthy lifestyle habits, be screened by their doctors for heart

disease, and be familiar with symptoms because heart disease remains the primary cause of death in women.”

The new study used existing data from the past rather than following a group of women diagnosed with endometriosis recently, and it doesn’t really tease out the fine points of treatment for endometriosis, said Dr. Gaurang Daftary, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who was not part of the new study. “ There is a possibility that heart disease may have a link with endometriosis,” Daftary told Reuters Health by phone.

But it is still unclear whether treating the endometriosis, medically or surgically, impacts heart disease risk, and if so, in which direction, he said.

The study is a good starting point, but “it wouldn’t change my practice for a patient with endometriosis,” he said.

Don't screen all kids for developmental delays, Canadians say

Don't test children for developmental delays if they're not showing any signs of problems, a government-backed panel of Canadian experts advises.

The recommendation from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care largely mirrors U.S. recommendations regarding screenings for speech and language delays and autism spectrum disorders.

The advice applies to children ages one to four who have no signs or symptoms of developmental delays, said Dr. Brett Thombs, who is a member of the Task Force.

"If parents think their child is behind on some of their important milestones, this doesn’t apply to those kids," said Thombs, who is affiliated

with McGill University in Montreal.

Developmental delays can include, for example, problems with motor skills, speech, language, thinking, social skills and activities of daily life.

The Task Force writes in CMAJ that when these delays persist, children are at higher risk of learning difficulties, behavioral problems and functional impairments later in life.

For the new recommendation, the Task Force commissioned a review of existing evidence to see if the benefits of screening for developmental delays in all children ages one to four, regardless of whether they showed signs of problems, would outweigh the potential harms.

The screening tools are usually questionnaires that add up to a certain

number of points, said Thombs.

"Those points would determine if the physicians should act or be more concerned," he said.

Overall two relevant randomized controlled studies were found, but the Task Force found that the screening tools did not ultimately improve health outcomes among children.

Instead, the screening tools had very high rates of false positives, said Thombs.

Those false positives would lead to many children with normal development being referred for more testing, he added. Those referrals may take health resources away from children who would actually benefit from the services.

"We don’t recommend parents get their kids tested unless they have any specific concerns," said Thombs.

In February, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said it did not find enough evidence to recommend universal autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers between 18 and 30 months of age. Likewise, in 2015, the U.S. Task Force said there's not enough evidence to recommend universal screening for speech and language delay and disorders in children under age five.

"We’re not suggesting parents and physicians don’t keep ongoing surveillance," said Thombs. "If they have any concerns at all, they should have their physicians check it out."

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LOCAL NEWS

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Gus Motors

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Gus Motors is looking for Three (3) Qualified Mechanic Specialized on all cars who can work with little or no supervision.

Due date for applications is the 31st March 2016.

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APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

CARIBBEAN WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

NEWS NEWS Luggage from St. Lucia flight

Jet Blue makes contained £100,000 worth of emergency landing cocaine; French woman charged in Bahamas

A woman has appeared in court charged with attempting to smuggle £100,000 worth of cocaine through Gatwick Airport in tins of hot chocolate.

Border force officers at Gatwick found approximately 1.2 kilos of the Class A drug inside tins, which were hidden inside a suitcase, earlier this week.

The tins containing the drugs were intercepted on Monday (March 21) within a suitcase in the South Terminal.

The luggage had arrived on a flight from St Lucia.

Forensic tests are yet to be carried out to assess the purity, but it is likely the cocaine would have had a potential street value in excess of £100,000 once cut and adulterated.

The case was passed to the National Crime Agency for further investigation and Janelle Nicole Mariate, 21, a French national from Martinique, was charged with importing a Class A

cocaine drug.

She appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday 22 March and was remanded in custody until April 26.

Sue Young, Director of Border Force South, said: “In making this seizure, Border Force officers at Gatwick have taken dangerous Class A drugs out of circulation.

“Our officers are on the front-line of the fight to stop drugs, weapons, contraband and illegal immigrants entering the UK. Using detection dogs and the very latest technology, they are on constant alert to protect the country.”

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to smuggling should call our hotline on 0800 59 5000.

TT dollar depreciates

Bahamian authorities say all 97 passengers and crew on board a Jet Blue aircraft were not injured when the aircraft made an emergency landing at the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) on Friday evening,

The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) said that a Jet Blue 29 Embraer 190 travelling to the Bahamas from Washington Dulles Airport (KIAD) had declared an emergency due to a landing gear problem.

Aviation officials said that only the right main gear was extended, and that both the left main gear and the nose gear were not.

“The pilot in command made a decision to attempt a landing at LPIA, and after burning some fuel, executed a safe landing…with the use of both the left and right main gear only.

The nose gear was not extended. All passengers and crew were determined to be uninjured,” the CAD said in a statement

It said as a result of the incident, the main runway at LPIA was temporarily closed to allow for the removal of the aircraft and that aircraft operations continue on another runway with minimal delays

“The public is informed that the Accident and Investigations Unit of the Flight Standards Inspectorate will immediately conduct an investigation into this incident, with a view to determining the circumstances which led to its occurrence,” the CAD said praising various stakeholders, including the pilot “for a job well done”.

unemployment rate increased to 3.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2015, up from 3.2 per cent recorded in the previous three-month period.

Subsequent evidence of job cuts in the energy-related and construction sectors could point to potential dips in overall employment in 2016 unless compensated by absorption of the displaced workers in other areas.

Although an increase was registered in February 2016, headline inflation remained well contained by historical standards. According to the CSO’s Index of Retail Prices (RPI), on a year-on-year basis, headline inflation measured 3.4 per cent in February 2016 when compared to 2.4 per cent Trinidad Currency recorded in the previous month, and

The Trinidad and Tobago and that over the period January by roughly three per cent over the 6.2 per cent registered in February dollar exchange rate against the to mid-March 2016, it withdrew three-month period January – March 2015.

United States dollar depreciated by an roughly TT$1.5 billion via net open 21, 2016. The local dillar is being Despite the reduction in Value estimated three per cent over the first market operations, and rolled over a exchanged at US$0.15 cents) Added Tax (VAT) to 12.5 per cent three months of this year, the Central commercial bank fixed deposit valued It said that the oil rich twin from 15 per cent, the widening of the Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) at TT$1.5 billion on March 14 2016. island republic continues to face the range of items subject to the sales tax has announced.

“Since the last Monetary economic challenges posed by lower effective February 1, 2016, may have

It said that based on historical Policy Announcement at the end energy prices, operational issues and contributed in part to an increase in patterns ‘pass through’ effects to of January 2016, TT-US interest maintenance-related activities in the food prices. domestic prices could take about two rate differentials have been broadly domestic energy sector.

On a year-on-year basis, food to three months. favourable. The differential on the “Initial estimates suggest inflation measured 9.4 per cent when

“Liquidity in the domestic 91-day Treasury securities stood at that the energy sector contracted by compared to 4.5 per cent in January banking system remained at relatively 86 basis points as at March 15 2016, around five per cent (year-on-year) 2016. On the other hand, core inflation comfortable levels over the first three from the 67 basis points at the end of in the fourth quarter of 2015, while was relatively unchanged, measuring months of 2016. Commercial banks’ January 2016. On the other hand, the provisional information also allude 2.1 per cent in February 2016, when excess reserves at the Central Bank differential on the 10-year Treasuries to anaemic activity in the non-energy compared with 2.0 per cent in the averaged TT$3.8 billion (One TT held steady at 197 basis points, from sector. Early indications for 2016, previous month, the CBTT said. dollar =US$0.16 cents) daily during the 196 basis points over the same including a slowdown in new car It said that against a backdrop January and February 2016 rising to period.” sales and cement, are that the lull in of somewhat tepid domestic economic just over four billion dollars in the The CBTT said that reflective economic activity may have continued activity, low inflation and slow global first half of March.” of supply and demand conditions in into the New Year,” the CBTT added. growth, the CBTT has decided to

The Central Bank said it the foreign exchange market, the It said that the latest official maintain the “Repo” rate at 4.75 per utilized its various instruments to Trinidad and Tobago dollar exchange statistics from the Central Statistical cent at its March 2016 meeting. manage banking sector liquidity rate against the US dollar depreciated Office (CSO) indicated that the

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

US federal prosecutors block bail for ex-Jamaica beauty queen

A Brooklyn, New York judge has agreed to release on bail a JetBlue flight attendant and former Jamaican beauty queen charged with leaving 70 pounds of cocaine at Los Angeles International Airport, but US federal prosecutors immediately block the judge’s decision.

Marsha Gay Reynolds appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday supported by family, her minister, and a former New York City Councilman. She faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted.

Reynolds was given US$500,000 bail but Assistant US

Attorney Alicia Washington requested a stay until an appeal could be heard by a US federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles.

Reynolds had surrendered to police at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Wednesday.

US federal prosecutors argued Reynolds abandoned two pieces of luggage after she was randomly selected for checkpoint screening.

Reynolds, 31, kicked off her Gucci shoes and fled the airport leaving behind the drugs valued at three million US dollars, and according to media reports somehow made her

way home later to Queens, New York, where she surrendered to authorities.

“The defendant’s co-conspirator also has tried to flee to Jamaica as recently as last night,” Washington told Justice Viktor Pohorelsky.

Reynolds’ unidentified alleged co-conspirator has access to forged travel documents, Washington said.

Reynolds, a former beauty queen in her native Jamaica, is a graduate of New York University, and is studying to be a nurse at Mercy College while working for JetBlue, the Daily News said. She has been suspended from her job.

The judge okayed the bail bond, which will be secured by homes owned

by Reynolds’ mom and the Pentecostal minister.. She would be required to stay at her parents ’home in Queens but could attend school.

“Miss Reynolds is a very good young woman,” said Allan Jennings, a former New York City Councilman, stating that he was a spokesman for Reynolds’ family. “She’s done all the right things in life except for this one situation.

“She may not have been fully aware of what was in the bags,” he added.

BVI: Richard Branson Discusses Solutions for Sargassum Seaweed with OECS Ministers

Hon. Minister of Trade and Environment on Montserrat, Claude Hogan and Chief Fisheries Officer Alywn Ponteen, joined colleagues from the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda along with leading scientists and experts from around the world to discuss the ongoing issue of Sargassum Seaweed which is affecting the Caribbean and the very important tourism industry.

It is a high stakes event involving the UK’s FCO with expectations of immediate solutions to stem the problem to include making a business from Sargassum.

Branson is working with the OECS to develop a regional strategy to be implemented locally by member states. The OECS is acting as the technical moderator for the conference along with BVI technicians and Branson’s own team of environmentalists.

(L to R) Chief Fisheries Officer Alwyn Ponteen, Philanthropist and Investor Sir Richard Branson and Hon. Minister of Trade and Environment Claude Hogan.

“Sargussum seaweed is a Antigua have been asked to champion threat to tourism, the livelihood of the project to work with Branson fishers and the marine environment,” and his Virgin Unite charity to find Hogan noted. “Finding a strategy solutions to the problem. which we can action locally is the Minister Hogan said they dominant theme of the conference.” have identified some of the main

The environment ministers of issues but no single solution has yet Montserrat, the BVI, Anguilla and been formulated. “One of the bullets is

public education and information on Sargassum,” he said. There’s also the use of Sargassum as an animal feed.

Branson has also shared that energy must be given to conserving seafood and managing the catches of lobster in particular. According to Minister Hogan, the investor is willing to pay for his methods to be implemented and he has already agreed a marine project for Montserrat.

The billionaire who owns Moskito Island, along with nearby Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands has more than 400 companies under his Virgin Brand. Many of these companies, including Virgin and Virgin Holidays are in the travel industry. Moskito Island is part of the Virgin Limited Edition franchise, which features three villas and can house up to 22 guests for exclusive use according to the website.

St Lucia seeks new solutions amid spike in rape cases

Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony says St Lucia will have to look at “other solutions” to the spate of rapes on the island in recent months acknowledging that “it is clear that strong laws with stiff penalties are not enough”.

In recent days police have confirmed that there has been an increase in women being raped with a woman in her 20s being sexually assaulted in front of her one-year-old child.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Prime Minister Anthony said that like many St Lucians, especially women, “I feel a deep sense of outrage, revulsion and anger about the recent spate of rapes in our country.”

He described rape as “a brutal act of violence” telling the victims he wished he could “find the right words to comfort” them, as well as their

families and friends. experience. Should rape cases be

“It is true that there have heard before a jury?” he asked. been many incidents of rape in the He said men must be made to past, many of which have never been understand, that “no means no”; reported, but why is it that some men “silence also means no”. have suddenly felt emboldened to “For my part, I will ensure commit these crimes in recent times? that the police force implement my It is clear that strong laws with stiff suggestion that a dedicated unit be penalties are not enough. We have to established within the Police Force to look for other solutions,” he argued. investigate rapes and bring to justice

“We need to look seriously at those responsible for these heinous the suggestion that a sex offenders acts,” he said. list be created. In that regard, we He added that there may be must look at the experience of other other suggestions from the public, countries that have moved in that “including the need for self-defence direction,” he added. classes”, while “others want to legalise

Anthony said there is also the use of pepper spray”. a need to “review how rapes are He said the issue should evidenced in court,” noting “it is be tackled as a non-partisan issue, not right that a victim of rape has saying “this is not a “red” or “yellow” to undergo such trauma in giving issue” with reference to the two main evidence before a judge and jury. political parties here whose colours Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony

“Giving evidence is a are red and yellow. must express our collective outrage in dehumanising and traumatic “It touches all of us and so we one voice,” he added.

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Fidel Castro blasts Obama

Flag of Haiti

Haiti lawmakers approve second nominee for post of prime minister

It was second time lucky for interim President Jocelerme Privert after Parliament Friday approved his choice for prime minister less than a week after rejecting United Statestrained economist Fritz Jean.

Lawmakers in this Frenchspeaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country gave the nod to Professor of Administrative Law, Enex Jean-Charles, who has also served as an advisor to several heads of state.

The Senate had unanimously ratified his policy statement late Thursday. The Lower House Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of JeanCharles serving as a transitional government’s prime minister by a 78-1 vote with two deputies abstained.

Well known in politics since 1988 as “the friend of everyone”, the new interim prime minister is a graduate of the University of Missouri in Columbia, as well as the University of Brussels.

Since 1991, the 55 year0old is Professor of Administrative Law at the Faculty of Law and Economics (FDSE) of the State University of Haiti and has published numerous articles and research reports on the administrative policy development, local participation and decisionmaking in administrative matters.

He is the author of the Haitian Administrative Law Manual.

On Sunday, Privert watched

as legislators voted down Jean and the Provisional Electoral Commission (CEP) that is needed to organise the twice-postponed presidential runoff vote following President Michel Martelly’s departure from office on February 7 without any successor being elected.

Last week, Sandra Honore, the top U.N. envoy for Haiti, told the United Nations Security Council that Haiti was at a “critical juncture” in consolidating its democracy and the next few weeks would be decisive.

“It is with a feeling of a heavy load in an extremely difficult situation that I accepted the post of prime minister,” Jean-Charles had said after his nomination was announced on Tuesday.

Privert, who had earlier said he will wait for Jean-Charles to get the nod from parliament before naming members of the CEP, will now seek to move ahead with plans for development as well as fresh presidential elections scheduled for April 24.

Before his nomination was approved Jean-Charles said his government would apply the “technical recommendations” of a special electoral commission that examined the disputed October 25 first round presidential vote and made various proposals to improve polling and overall transparency.

No headline act in this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival

THIS year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will not feature a headline act.

According to the Tribune newspaper, the event will only feature Bahamian artists.

Despite this, Robert Sands, commissioner and chairman of the marketing committee for carnival, predicted that more tourists would attend this year’s event compared to last year.

He said the lack of a headliner won’t affect the way the event will be received, arguing that marketing of the festival has improved to such a degree that more visitors will book hotels this year than did last year.

He did not, however, give the Bahamas National Festival

Commission’s (BNFC) specific targets for tourism arrivals and hotel bookings.

The decision not to have a headliner is a significant and unexpected change from last year.

BNFC Chairman Paul Major and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe both suggested last year that a failure to secure a headline act well before the start of the 2015 festival hindered marketing efforts while possibly preventing the event from attracting more tourists.

And although Trinidadian soca artist Machel Montana was eventually contracted to headline the event, organisers were criticised for not securing a headline act sooner, allowing speculation to abound during the interim period

Former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro

Former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro is speaking out about President Obama’s trip to the communist nation. Castro, who hasn’t made a public appearance since July of 2015, was less than diplomatic in his assessment of the President’s visit.

“Listening to the words of the US president could give anyone a heart attack,” the 89-year old Cuban revolutionary said. “My modest suggestion is that he think and not try to theorize about Cuban politics.”

“Obama gave a speech in which he used the most syrupy

words,” said Fidel, who handed over power to his brother Raul Castro in 2006. “Nobody has any illusion that the people of this noble and selfless country will surrender glory and rights and the spiritual wealth that has come through the development of education, science and culture.”

Despite his advanced age and questionable health, the former communist dictator remains defiant.

“I would also warn that we are capable of producing the food and material wealth we need with the labor and the intelligence of our people. We don’t need any gifts from the empire.”

about who would be chosen.

Last year’s event was well received by Bahamians, attracting record numbers gathered in a single area. Nonetheless, the Christie administration still has much to prove to its critics regarding the sustainability and profitability of the festival.

Last year’s festival failed to create a profit for the government.

The event also went over-budget, costing the government $11.3m despite an initial budget of $9m.

Organisers nonetheless argued that the negative shortfall was not unusual for inaugural events and that the event would become more successful in the future.

The Tribune was told that the government will set aside about $3m to fund the event this year, though this has not been finalised.

Mr Sands said: “We’re not convinced that the headliner act is the only reason why people will come, although it’s one of the reasons they will come. The fact that this is the second annual festival, the wordof-mouth, the excitement of how successful it was last year, will push the event forward. The fact that we have promoted these events at other carnivals around the region will help as well. Lots of efforts are being

made to attract bodies in beds.

“We are collaborating significantly with key markets in the United States and promoting the event through social media, radio and billboards to attract individuals to this event. We expect numbers greater than last year and we have the momentum on our side.

The hotels are sensitised to the fact that carnival will be taking place this April, but it’s premature to say how this relates to hotel bookings.”

Mr Sands said organisers have learned to be more forward thinking while marketing the event, including by focusing on diaspora areas.

That the government will contribute less money to fund the festival this year should not impair their efforts to make this year’s event a bigger success, he said.

“We’ve been more visible this year. Last year was the foundation year. Many things we did then won’t be replicated this year.

The amount of money spent this year will be used more for execution and generation of tactics and marketing that will allow us to attract people to the event. We expect that next year we will spend even less money and that revenue generation will be even greater.”

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NEWS

Dad defends JetBlue beauty amid cocaine drama

The real-life “Jackie Brown” flight attendant who allegedly ditched two suitcases full of cocaine at a Los Angeles airport tearfully defended herself to her broken-up father.

“Somebody gave her the bag,” her sullen dad told The Post on Saturday outside the family home in South Jamaica, Queens.

The father, who wouldn’t give his name, recalled the emotional encounter with his little girl, 31-yearold Marsha Gay Reynolds, just before she landed behind bars on Wednesday.

“She broke down, of course,” he said slowly, in a hushed voice. “She said she didn’t know what was in” the luggage. “I’m not in a good place right now,” he confessed, looking at the ground.

Prosecutors aren’t buying her story and believe Reynolds had carried drugs before and only got cold feet after being randomly stopped at an LAX checkpoint for airline workers.

The incident came as “nothing less than a shock” to a longtime pal who told The Post he used to help Reynolds

with English homework while she was a student and track athlete at NYU, from which she graduated in 2007.

“She was just such an ordinary kid,” said the friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“I only remember her as the nice, thoughtful, beautiful girl who was going to college, working and keeping in shape,” he said.

The two met on a photo shoot in 2006, and he photographed and attended several of her birthday parties. In photos from her 25th birthday bash at a Queens venue in 2009, the glamour girl gracefully posed with friends in a pink and black gown.

The JetBlue worker was heading to board a flight to La Guardia Airport on Friday when she kicked off her Gucci heels, dropped her bags stuffed with 60 pounds of drugs $3 million worth and bolted, according to police.

“She knew if she dropped both [her bags and heels], she’d be able to run away more quickly,” said Marshall McClain of the Los Angeles Airport

Residents stand next to the wreckage of a bus, which plunged down a ravine, in Nahuala, Guatemala, March 28, 2016

At least 19 killed in Guatemala as bus plunges into ravine

At least 19 people were killed in Guatemala after the bus they were traveling in plunged down a 200-meter (660 feet) ravine in the west of the country on Monday, emergency services said.

Carlos Santizo, a spokesman for local firefighters, said the bus was going too fast when it went off the edge of the road near the town of Nahuala, some 160 km (99 miles) west of Guatemala City.

Nearly all those confirmed dead in the crash were adults, including one pregnant woman, Santizo told local radio. There was one minor among the dead, he said.

Between 20 and 25 people were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, said hospital spokesman Guillermo Ordonez.

Marcia Gay Reynolds’ father says his daughter had no idea she was carrying cocaine through the airport terminal Peace Officers Association. “She was then able to hotfoot it out of the terminal, down an up escalator while barefoot, where we assume she got into a car and took off to parts unknown.”

McClain told the Los Angeles Times he doesn’t think it was Reynolds’ first rodeo.

“I don’t believe anybody would trust a mule with that amount of dope the first time out,” he said.

Following the drug dump, Reynolds, who is a nursing student at Mercy College, caught a flight to New York and holed up in the Hilton hotel

near JFK Airport, sources said. She surrendered to authorities Wednesday and was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Brooklyn Judge Viktor Pohorelsky had granted Reynolds a $500,000 bail package Thursday but stayed the ruling until California authorities could weigh in. The following day, California federal Judge Andre Birotte Jr. ordered that she remain detained until she faces an arraignment for drug raps there on April 7.

Trump sounds off on abortion; criticism comes from all sides

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said on Wednesday that women who end pregnancies should face punishment if the United States bans abortion, triggering a torrent of criticism from both sides of the abortion debate, including from his White House rivals.

After MSNBC broadcast a clip of an interview with Trump, the billionaire businessman rowed back his remarks, first saying that the abortion issue should be handled by states and later that doctors who performed abortions should be the ones held responsible.

“The doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman,” Trump said in his last statement. “The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb.”

Trump’s earlier statements drew heavy fire from abortion rights supporters and opponents alike.

Abortion has long been a divisive issue in American politics, even though the procedure was legalized in a Supreme Court ruling more than 40 years ago.

Opposition to abortion has become a central plank in the platform of most conservative politicians.

Trump has won support from Republican voters for selling himself as a Washington outsider.

But the New York real estate tycoon, who once supported abortion access, has come under pressure from conservatives to prove he is truly one of them. At

“What Donald Trump said was outrageous and dangerous. I’m constantly taken aback at the kinds of things that he advocates for,” Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton told MSNBC. “Once again, he has showed us who he is.”

Dawn Laguens of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of the women’s health group, called Trump “flatout dangerous” in a statement.

Abortion was legalized in the United States in 1973, when the Supreme Court declared that a woman’s constitutional right to privacy protected her decision to end a pregnancy.

In the decades since, U.S. Republican presidential candidate there have not been enough Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally votes on the Supreme Court to in De Pere, Wisconsin, United States, reverse the ruling, but numerous March 30, 2016 states have passed laws aimed at the same time, he has drawn restricting abortion. criticism for comments that In the MSNBC interview, offended women and minority which is to air in full later on groups.

Wednesday, Trump said if the

“Of course, women United States banned abortion, shouldn’t be punished,” rival some women would seek to end Republican candidate John pregnancies illegally.

Kasich said on Wednesday, saying “There has to be some he opposed abortion except in form of punishment,” he said. specific cases such as rape.

Asked what form he would

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of advocate, Trump said: “That I Texas, the third candidate for the don’t know.”

Republican nomination for the Anti-abortion groups said Nov. 8 election, said Trump had Trump’s comments were at odds not thought through the issue. with their own stance. “In all the “What’s far too often neglected is positions the U.S. Conference that being pro-life is not simply of Catholic Bishops has taken about the unborn child, it’s also around the issue of abortion, they about the mother,” he said in a have not called for punishment statement. of women who’ve had abortions,” Abortion rights said Don Clemmer, a spokesman supporters were equally incensed. for the group.

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Italian nurse arrested over Man shot by police at Capitol complex serial killings of patients

A 55-year-old Italian nurse has been arrested on suspicion of murdering 13 elderly patients in the intensive care ward where she had worked for decades, police said on Thursday.

The “hospital ward killer”, as police have called her, administered lethal doses of a blood-thinning drug into her victims’ intravenous drips.

Twelve died of internal bleeding and one of cardiac arrest, police said.

They did not identify the suspect, who worked at a hospital in Piombino, a city on the Tuscan coast. The alleged murders all took place in 2014 and 2015, although she had worked there for many years prior to that.

Some of the victims,

men and women aged between 61 and 88, were found to have 10 times the normal dose of the drug Heparin in their bloodstream even though they had not been prescribed it.

The suspect was the only member of hospital staff working when all 13 of the suspicious deaths occurred, Carabinieri police commander Gennero Riccardi told reporters.

When she became a suspect and was transferred out of intensive care in October of last year, the mortality rate of the ward fell from 20 percent to 12 percent, he said.

“We do not yet know of a specific motive,” Riccardi said. “But the suspect suffers from depression.” She had been receiving psychological treatment for many years, he

added.

Police detained the woman late on Wednesday when she returned from a holiday with her husband. The families of the victims have not yet been informed that their relatives may have been murdered, police said.

Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin called the case “chilling, hideous,” in a statement in which she said: “It isn’t the first time that nurses have been found to be serial killers.”

Earlier this month, a nurse in the city of Ravenna was given a life sentence for murdering a patient with a lethal injection of potassium.

She is under investigation for some 10 more suspicious deaths and is appealing her conviction.

Sanders says party leaders may ‘rethink’ after wins

The other 15 percent is held by party power brokers who are free to vote as they like, meaning they could hold the key in a tight contest. Superdelegates include party leaders and elected senators, members of the U.S. Congress and governors.

After Saturday’s contests, the former secretary of state led Sanders by just under 300 pledged delegates in the race for the 2,382 needed to be nominated.

Adding in the support of super-delegates, which the party created in the early 1980s to give leaders more control over the nominating process, Clinton had 1,712 delegates to 1,004 for Sanders, according to a tally by Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders delivers a foreign policy RealClearPolitics.com. speech before a campaign rally in Salt Lake City, Utah March 21, 2016.

The U.S. senator from

Fresh from Democratic delegates may rethink their Vermont needs to win up to twopresidential primary wins over position with Hillary Clinton.” thirds of the remaining delegates the weekend in three U.S. states, Sanders also criticized to catch Clinton, who will keep Bernie Sanders said on Sunday Clinton’s reliance on wealthy piling up delegates even when he had political momentum that donors to fund her campaign. she loses under a Democratic could help him win the backing He cited a fundraising dinner Party system that awards them of Democratic power brokers in being hosted next month by proportionally in all states. his race against Hillary Clinton. actor George Clooney, where Sanders is turning his

Sanders easily won supporters will have to donate attention to his native New York, nominating contests in Alaska, at least $33,400 to attend, or where Democratic voters will Washington and Hawaii on $353,400, nearly seven times the divide up 247 delegates on April Saturday. His latest remarks annual median income, if they 19th. His campaign manager on reflect his plan to chip away at want “premium” seating.

Sunday wrote a letter to Clinton’s Clinton’s commanding lead in “It is obscene that manager insisting that a planned the number of delegates needed Secretary Clinton keeps going televised debate between the to win the party’s nomination for to big money people to fund her candidates in April be held in the the November election. campaign,” Sanders told CNN. state, which Clinton represented

Interviewed on Sunday “Our events, we charge $15 or as a U.S. senator for eight years.

by U.S. broadcasters, Sanders $50 for people to come. So, it’s Jeff Weaver said in the letter said Democratic “super- not a criticism of Clooney. It’s that the Clinton campaign had delegates,” who can change their a criticism of a corrupt finance resisted holding the debate in allegiance, might face pressure system.”

New York. to rally behind him because most About 85 percent of “Is the Secretary polls suggest he has a better the votes at the July 25-28 concerned about debating before chance than Clinton of beating a Democratic National Convention the people who twice elected Republican candidate. in Philadelphia, where a party her to the U.S. Senate?” Weaver “Momentum is with us,” Sanders, nominee will be chosen to face wrote. a senator from Vermont, said on the Republicans in the Nov. 8 Spokesmen for Clinton CNN’S State of the Union news election, are being determined by did not respond to requests for program. “A lot of these superstate nominating contests. comment.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa speaks to reporters about a shooting incident at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, March 28, 2016.

A man walked into the underground U.S. Capitol Visitor Center on Monday and was shot and wounded by police after he pointed what appeared to be a weapon at officers, police said.

The suspect, Larry Dawson, 66, of Tennessee, was in stable but critical condition at a hospital, Capitol Police said in a statement.

A female bystander who suffered wounds was also taken to the hospital, Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said at a news conference. Her condition has not been disclosed.

Police believe the weapon may have been a pellet gun as opposed to an actual firearm, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a law enforcement official.

Dawson has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a police officer while armed, Capitol Police said.

No police officers were injured, Verderosa said. He said it was unclear how many officers fired shots. A weapon was recovered on the scene and the suspect’s vehicle was found on Capitol grounds, he said.

“During routine administrative screening, the individual drew what appeared to be a weapon and pointed it at officers,” the police chief said.

Verderosa said the man was known to Capitol Police.

“Based on initial investigation, we believe this is an act of a single person who has frequented the Capitol grounds before. There is no reason to believe this is anything more than a criminal act,” Verderosa said.

Police arrested Dawson in October after they said he interrupted a House of Representatives session, shouting he was a “Prophet of God,” the Washington Post reported. A judge ordered him to stay away from the Capitol grounds, the newspaper said.

A U.S. government official said no evidence had materialized of a connection to terrorism.

On a day when the Senate and House of Representatives were not working and few lawmakers were in Washington, the Capitol building was briefly locked down, but then reopened for official business. The Capitol Visitor Center is used chiefly by tourists.

The U.S. Secret Service temporarily cleared tourists from an area around the White House.

At about the same time as the Capitol shooting, a woman was arrested at the White House Easter egg roll because she tried to move a temporary security barrier, the Secret Service said.

There was no relation between the Capitol incident and the White House arrest, a Secret Service official said.

More than 2 million people a year go through the Capitol Visitor Center, Verderosa said. He said it would be open for business as usual on Tuesday.

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WORLD NEWS

Mexicans burn Donald Trump effigies in Easter ritual

Mexicans celebrating an Easter ritual late on Saturday burnt effigies of U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, whose anti-immigrant views have sparked outrage south of the American border.

In Mexico City’s poor La Merced neighborhood, hundreds of cheering residents yelled “death” and various insults as they watched the explosion of the grinning papier-mâché mock-up of the real estate tycoon, replete with blue blazer, red tie and his trademark tuft of blond hair.

Media reported that Trump effigies burned across Mexico, from Puebla to Mexico’s industrial hub Monterrey.

The burning is part of a widespread Mexican Holy Week tradition where neighborhoods burn effigies to represent Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ according to the Bible.

The effigies are often modeled on unpopular political figures.

“Since he started his campaign and began talking about immigrants, Mexico, and Mexicans, I said ‘I’ve got to get this guy,’” said Felipe Linares, the artisan who crafted Trump and whose family has been making Judases for more than 50 years.

Trump, the front-runner to win the Republican nomination for the Nov. 8 election, has drawn fire in Mexico with his campaign vow to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to keep out illegal immigrants and drugs, and to make Mexico pay for it.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has said his country will not pay for the wall and likened Trump’s “strident tone” to the ascent of dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Trump, who has also aroused concern among many in his own party with his proposals, has accused Mexico of sending rapists and drug runners across the border and vowed to increase fees on some Mexican visas and all border crossing cards to help make Mexico pay for the wall.

Judas effigies are burnt in villages and towns in several Latin American countries such as Venezuela and in parts of Greece.

Anthropologists say the practice serves a symbolic function to overcome divisions and unite communities around a common enemy.

Linares has also done mock-ups of corrupt former union leader Elba Esther Gordillo and President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose popularity has been hit by conflict-of-interest scandals and the disappearance of 43 students at the hands of corrupt police.

Mexicans burn an effigy of U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump as they celebrate an Easter ritual late on Saturday in Mexico City’s poor La Merced neighborhood March 26, 2016

Electronic passport gates may make child trafficking easier: UK campaigners

Allowing children as young Wednesday that letting children as 12 to use electronic passport gates enter Britain without facing a trained at British airports would be a missed passport officer able to spot “very opportunity to identify victims of subtle” changes in behavior would be child trafficking, anti-trafficking a missed opportunity to spot victims. campaigners said.

“Removing the human

The UK Home Office (interior interaction could mean that fewer ministry) has started a six-month victims of trafficking are identified trial of eGates, which use facial at borders,” Chloe Setter, head of recognition technology, for children advocacy, policy and campaigns at the 12-17 years old at five major UK anti-child exploitation, pornography airports, including the country’s and trafficking organization ECPAT biggest airports, Heathrow and UK, told the Thomson Reuters Gatwick.

Foundation.

The electronic gates, which “Nothing can quite replace the direct can be used by any citizen of the human interaction of a person 31 European Economic Area (EEA) speaking to another person, looking at countries and Switzerland who holds their passport and asking questions,” an electronic passport, have until now Setter said in a phone interview. been available only for travelers of 18 The Home Office said trained and above. officers would be posted ahead of the Campaigners said on eGates to stop those they wanted to

question further.

“Border Force considered a range of factors when developing this pilot - including how best to ensure the safety of children taking part and how to mitigate against the risk of trafficking in line with our child safeguarding responsibilities,” the Home Office said in a statement.

It said the UK was following other countries, including Australia, Finland and New Zealand, where children of 12 and above were able to use electronic gates at airports.

Jakub Sobik, press officer of London-based rights group AntiSlavery International, said letting children use eGates would make it easier for traffickers to bring children into Britain.

“It sounds like it would increase the trafficking risk quite a

lot,” he said in a phone interview.

Setter said that ... children who were being trafficked occasionally sought help at airports by getting the attention of officers who checked their documents.

“It could be a really missed opportunity if they don’t have that chance,” Setter said.

The number of people identified as potential trafficking victims in Britain rose by 21 percent in 2014 to 3,309 - about one-fifth of them children, according to the National Crime Agency.

The government, which estimates that up to 13,000 people in Britain are victims of slavery, passed antislavery laws last year amid concern that not enough was being done to stop the practice, which affects tens of millions of people worldwide.

French minister under fire for linking veil-wearing to slavery

French Minister for the Family, Children and Women’s Rights Laurence Rossignol delivers a speech during the launching of the High Council for Equality between Women and Men (HCEfh) on International Women’s Day at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 8, 2016.

France’s minister for women’s rights came under fire on Thursday for saying Muslim women who wear veils were like black slaves in favor of slavery.

An online petition claiming over 18,000 people had signed it accused her of racism, and her words were denounced by an anti-Islamophobia campaigner.

“Of course there are women who choose (to wear the veil). There were African negroes, American negroes who were for slavery. I believe that these women, a lot of them, are militants for political Islam, and I confront them as militants, for the project for society that they represent,” the minister, Laurence Rossignol, said in an interview on BFM TV on Wednesday.

She was later reported to have apologized for the use of the word negro, but stood by her comparison of veil wearing to slavery.

“I strongly denounce these suggestions which stigmatize Muslim women,” Abdallah Zekri, president of the National Observatory on Islamophobia was quoted as saying by Le Monde newspaper.

Rossignol is a strong proponent of a French political tradition that seeks to keep religion separate from political and educational life.

The approach has created tensions in France about the wearing of religious symbols in schools and other public places. France has a Catholic heritage and is also home to the biggest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe.

Last year’s Islamist militant attacks in Paris have heightened concerns about the way Muslims in France are perceived by the rest of the population.

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Cuba’s Fidel Castro knocks sweet-talking Obama after ‘honey-coated’ visit

Retired leader Fidel Castro accused U.S. President Barack Obama of sweet-talking the Cuban people during his visit to the island last week and ignoring the accomplishments of Communist rule, in an opinion piece carried by all state-run media on Monday.

Obama’s visit was aimed at consolidating a detente between the once intractable Cold War enemies and the U.S. president said in a speech to the Cuban people that it was time for both nations to put the past behind them and face the future “as friends and as neighbors and as family, together.”

“One assumes that every one of us ran the risk of a heart attack listening to these words,” Castro said in his column, dismissing Obama’s comments as “honey-coated” and reminding Cubans of the many U.S. efforts to overthrow and weaken the Communist government.

Castro, 89, laced his opinion piece with nationalist sentiment and, bristling at Obama’s offer to help Cuba, said the country was able to produce the food and material riches it needs with the efforts of its people.

“We don’t need the empire to give us anything,” he wrote.

Asked about Fidel Castro’s criticisms on Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the

dignitaries.

The iconic figure’s influence has waned in his retirement and the introduction of market-style reforms carried out by Raul Castro, but Fidel Castro still has a moral authority among many residents, especially older generations.

Obama did not meet with Fidel Castro during his three-day visit, nor mention him in any of his public appearances. It was the first visit of a sitting U.S. president for 88 years.

Fidel Castro blasted Obama for not referring in his speech to the extermination of native peoples in both the United States and Cuba, not recognizing Cuba’s gains in health and U.S. President Barack Obama waves from the door of Air Force One as he ends his visit to Cuba, at education, and not coming clean on Havana’s international airport, March 22, 2016. what he might know about how South Obama administration was pleased “The president made clear time and Africa obtained nuclear weapons with the reception the president time again both in private meetings before apartheid ended, presumably received from the Cuban people and with President Castro, but also in with the aid of the U.S. government. the conversations he had with Cuban public when he delivered a speech “My modest suggestion is that officials. to the Cuban people, that the U.S. he reflects (on the U.S. role in South

“The fact that the former commitment to human rights is rock Africa and Cuba’s in Angola) and not president felt compelled to respond solid and that’s not going to change,” now try to elaborate theories about so forcefully to the president’s visit, I Earnest said.

Cuban politics,” Castro said. think is an indication of the significant Fidel Castro took power in a Castro also took aim at the impact of President Obama’s visit to 1959 revolution and led the country tourism industry in Cuba, which Cuba,” Earnest said. until 2006, when he fell ill and passed has grown further since Obama’s

After the visit, major obstacles power to his brother Raul Castro. rapprochement with Raul Castro remain to full normalization of ties He now lives in relative seclusion in December 2014. He said it between Cuba and the United States, but is occasionally heard from in was dominated by large foreign with no major concessions offered by opinion pieces or seen on television corporations which took for granted Cuba on rights and economic freedom. and in photos meeting with visiting billion-dollar profits.

Cyprus remands suspected hijacker who wanted to see ex-wife

flight to the holiday island where he asked for the release of female prisoners in Egypt, and to come in contact with his Cypriot ex-wife.

“When someone hasn’t seen his family for 24 years and wants to see his wife and children, and the Egyptian government doesn’t allow it, what should one do?,” he told Cypriot police in a statement.

Details of his claimed predicament were not available.

All hostages were released unharmed after a sixhour standoff.

The suspect allegedly commandeered the aircraft 15 minutes after takeoff from Alexandria. He approached a The man who was arrested after he hijacked an EgyptAir flight, which was forced to land flight attendant and showed off in Cyprus on Tuesday, gestures as he is transferred by Cypriot police from a court in the the belt, attached to a remote city of Larnaca, Cyprus March 30, 2016. control he held in his hand,

An Egyptian man connected to his claim of being investigating Officer Andreas accused of hijacking a passenger strapped with explosives, even Lambrianou told the court. plane and diverting it to Cyprus though the belt he wore is “The suspect asked all has told police he acted because believed to be fake, a police source passengers and crew to hand in he wanted to see his estranged told Reuters. their passports, then gave two wife and children, saying “what As he left the court messages to a member of the crew, should one do?”. compound in a police jeep, asking that the pilot be informed

The suspect, whom Mustafa stuck his hand out of an that he was a hijacker and wanted Cypriot and Egyptian authorities open window flashing the ‘v’ sign to land at an airport in Turkey, have identified as Seif Eldin for victory.

Greece or Cyprus, but preferably Mustafa, 59, surrendered on Egypt’s public prosecutor Cyprus,” Lambrianou said.

Tuesday after commandeering a has asked Cypriot authorities “In a note, he stressed domestic Alexandria-Cairo flight to hand over Mustafa, Egyptian that if the airplane landed on with 72 passengers and crew on state television reported, but a Egyptian territory he would board.

Cyprus police spokesman and immediately blow the plane up.”

A Larnaca court on a government official have said In Cyprus, Mustafa Wednesday ordered him to be that any talk of extradition right dropped an envelope on the held in custody for eight days on now was premature. runway addressed to a Cypriot suspicion of hijacking, abduction, Mustafa took charge woman, later ascertained to be threatening violence, terrorism- of the early morning flight by his ex-wife. In the letter, the related offences and two counts showing what appeared to be a suspect demanded the release of related to possession of explosives. belt stuffed with plastic wires and 63 female prisoners held in Egypt.

The latter counts were a remote control, directing the

Plan to raise California minimum wage to $15 clears key panel

Fast-food workers and their supporters join a nationwide protest for higher wages and union rights in Los Angeles, California, United States, in this file photo taken November 10, 2015.

A plan to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022 cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday, putting the state on track to become the first in the nation to commit to such a large pay hike for the working poor.

The measure, incorporating a deal Governor Jerry Brown reached with labor leaders and fellow Democrats in the Legislature, was approved on a party-line vote of 12-7 by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where a previous version of the bill had stalled last summer.

One Democrat, Tom Daly, joined six Republicans in opposing the measure, which now advances to the full Assembly for action as early as this week. It would then return to the Senate for a final vote.

If enacted, the bill would put California, home to one of the world’s biggest economies, in the vanguard of a growing number of U.S. states and cities that have moved in recent years to surpass the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009.

Supporters say such measures are necessary to help low-paid workers who have been slipping into poverty due to stagnant earnings and rising living expenses. Opponents say raising the mandatory wage floor puts undue strain on businesses still struggling to rebound from a prolonged U.S. economic slump.

The measure would gradually raise California’s hourly minimum wage from the current level of $10 to $15 by 2022 for large businesses and by 2023 for smaller firms.

It also would head off a pair of competing ballot initiatives lacking a provision to allow the governor to suspend the increases in hard economic times, a deal breaker for Brown.

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WORLD NEWS BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

FBI’s secret method of unlocking iPhone may never reach Apple

The FBI may be allowed to withhold information about how it broke into an iPhone belonging to a gunman in the December San Bernardino shootings, despite a U.S. government policy of disclosing technology security flaws discovered by federal agencies.

Under the U.S. vulnerabilities equities process, the government is supposed to err in favor of disclosing security issues so companies can devise fixes to protect data. The policy has exceptions for law enforcement, and there are no hard rules about when and how it must be applied.

Apple Inc has said it would like the government to share how it cracked the iPhone security protections. But the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has been frustrated by its inability to access data on encrypted phones belonging to criminal suspects, might prefer to keep secret the technique it used to gain access to gunman Syed Farook’s phone.

The referee is likely to be a White House group formed during the Obama administration to review computer security flaws discovered by federal agencies and decide whether

they should be disclosed.

Experts said government policy on such reviews was not clearcut, so it was hard to predict whether a review would be required. “There are no hard and fast rules,” said White House cybersecurity coordinator Michael Daniel, in a 2014 blog post about the process.

If a review is conducted, many security researchers expect that the White House group will not require the FBI to disclose the vulnerability it exploited.

Some experts said the FBI might be able to avoid a review entirely if, for instance, it got past the phone’s encryption using a contractor’s proprietary technology.

Explaining the policy in 2014, the Office of the Director of National Security said the government should disclose vulnerabilities “unless there is a clear national security or law enforcement need.”

The interagency review process also considers whether others are likely to find the vulnerability.

It tends to focus on flaws in major networks and software, rather than individual devices.

During a press call, a senior

A 3D printed Apple logo is seen in front of a displayed cyber code in this illustration taken March 22, 2016.

Justice Department official declined to request for comment about agency disclose whether the method used on participation.

Farook’s phone would work on other In his April 2014 blog post, phones or would be shared with state White House cybersecurity coordinator and local law enforcement.

Daniel, who chairs the review group,

Apple declined to comment said secrecy was sometimes justified. beyond saying it would like the “Disclosing vulnerability can mean government to provide information that we forego an opportunity to collect about the technique used. crucial intelligence that could thwart

The government reorganized a terrorist attack stop the theft of our the review process roughly two years nation’s intellectual property,” Daniel ago and has not disclosed which wrote. agencies regularly participate other On Tuesday, a senior than the Department of Homeland administration official said the Security and at least one intelligence vulnerability review process generally agency. A National Security Council applies to flaws detected by any federal spokesman did not respond to a agency.

With Galaxy S7, Samsung seen rediscovering its mobile mojo industry analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, wrote in a report.

“It looks like the sell-in numbers have been pretty good and analysts are raising their sales forecasts for the S7 this year,” noted HDC Asset Management fund manager Park Jung-hoon.

“The firm is pushing up volume in the mid-to-low tier to protect market share. Starting S7 sales about a month earlier than the S6 to take advantage of Apple not having new products out yet was also a good move.”

Getting Samsung’s mobile business back on track is important for Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee, the de facto leader of family-run conglomerate Samsung Group, to show his ability to manage the sprawling electronics-tofashion business, some investors say.

Samsung shares gained as much as 2.4 percent on Wednesday to an 18-week high. The stock is up by more than a fifth since mid-January following a 22 percent slide over the previous three months.

The two Galaxy S7 models A model demonstrates waterproof function of a Samsung Electronics’ new smartphone Galaxy S7 have won acclaim for their sleek design Edge during its launching ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, March 10, 2016. and the return from previous models of

Early indications of stronger- Korea’s most valuable company. features such as microSD card storage than-expected sales of new Galaxy But several brokerages on support and water resistance, though S7 smartphones suggest technology Wednesday upgraded first-quarter analysts noted the phones offer only giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is forecasts for what is still the world’s incremental upgrades and don’t look emerging from a two-year decline at top smartphone maker, citing a strong very different to their predecessors. its flagship mobile business. start for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Analysts had previously

Squeezed by Apple Inc in premium phones that were launched lowered their expectations amid signs premium products and undercut by earlier this month. of a further slowdown in demand for Chinese rivals like Huawei in cheaper Samsung likely shipped consumer electronics, and investors devices, Samsung’s smartphone profits 9.5 million S7 phones in the first took little heed earlier this month and global market share have fallen quarter, significantly more than the when Samsung’s new mobile chief Koh and sapped momentum at South initial estimate for 7 million, Jay Yoo, Dong-jin said S7 models would outsell

previous models following better-thanexpected pre-orders.

Samsung’s January-March operating profit was expected to fall 16 percent from a year earlier to 5.2 trillion won ($4.51 billion) - the lowest in six quarters - according to a Thomson Reuters StarMine SmartEstimate derived from a survey of 31 analysts.

But the Korea Economic Daily newspaper, citing an unnamed source, said Samsung’s quarterly profit will top 6 trillion won on S7 sales and a weaker South Korean won. Samsung said its earnings were not yet finalised, and it declined comment on sales or shipments for the new handsets.

“The majority opinion in the market was that sales would be weak because the S7 is little different from the S6, but that actually helps improve earnings,” Mirae Asset analyst Doh Hyun-woo wrote in a report, noting the similarity helped reduce component and development costs.

This helped Samsung launch the S7 models at a lower price than the S6 phones - up to 8.3 percent cheaper in the Korean market - at a time when the S7 had no serious competition other than the iPhone 6S models that were launched late last year.

Investors said the strong start for the S7 suggests Samsung has staying power in the smartphone business, though there’s no guarantee of a return to the years of record profits.

“From the investors’ perspective, there’s nothing wrong with making money without innovation,” said Lee Jin-woo at KTB Asset Management.

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U.S. succeeds in cracking Apple’s iPhone, drops legal action

The U.S. Justice Department said on Monday it had succeeded in unlocking an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters and dropped its legal case against Apple, ending a high-stakes legal battle but leaving the broader struggle over encryption unresolved.

The abrupt end to a confrontation that had transfixed the tech industry was a victory for Apple, which vehemently opposed a court order obtained by the Justice Department that would have required it to write new software to get into the iPhone.

“From the beginning, we objected to the FBI’s demand that Apple build a back door into the iPhone because we believed it was wrong and would set a dangerous precedent,” Apple said in a statement late on Monday. “As a result of the government’s dismissal, neither of these occurred. This case should never have been brought.”

But the larger fight over law enforcement access to encrypted information is by no means over. The technology industry is adamant that anything that helps authorities bypass the security features of tech products will undermine security for everyone.

Government officials are equally insistent that all manner of criminal investigations will be crippled without access to phone data.

At issue in the case was a countyowned iPhone used by Rizwan Farook, one of the husband-and-wife shooters in the December rampage in San Bernardino, California, in which 14 people were killed and 22 wounded. The couple died in a shootout with police after the attack.

After saying for weeks in court filings and congressional testimony that Apple possessed the “exclusive technical means” to unlock Farook’s phone, the Justice Department unexpectedly announced on the eve of a court hearing last week that an unidentified outside party had presented it with a technique that might open the phone without help from Apple.

In a two-page court filing on Monday, the Justice Department said the government had “successfully accessed the data stored on Farook’s iPhone and therefore no longer requires the assistance from Apple.”

It asked a federal magistrate in Riverside, California, to withdraw the

The Apple Store is seen in Santa Monica, California, United States, February 23, 2016. order compelling Apple to assist. government intends to deal with other

Apple had argued that the iPhone cases. government request and resulting court On a conference call for reporters order were a massive overreach that on Monday, a senior U.S. law enforcement would give courts unlimited authority official said it was too soon to say whether to force private companies to work as the government’s technique would work their agents. It argued that Congress had on other iPhones, or if it would share specifically declined to give the government information with Apple or other law such powers when it comes to electronic enforcement agencies. surveillance and data collection.

The FBI said in a statement it

“We will continue to help law would not comment on the technical steps enforcement with their investigations, as taken to access the phone’s data. we have done all along, and we will continue “The full exploitation of the phone to increase the security of our products as and follow-up investigative steps are the threats and attacks on our data become continuing,” David Bowdich, Assistant more frequent and more sophisticated,” Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Apple said in its statement.

Field Office, said in a statement.

Tech industry leaders including The Justice Department suggested Google, Facebook and Microsoft and more on Monday it would keep seeking than two dozen other companies filed unorthodox means of getting information, legal briefs supporting Apple. The Justice including through the courts when needed.

Department received support from law “It remains a priority for the enforcement groups and six relatives of San government to ensure that law enforcement Bernardino victims. can obtain crucial digital information to

The Justice Department’s apparent protect national security and public safety, discovery of an iPhone hacking technique either with cooperation from relevant presents thorny questions about how that parties, or through the court system when knowledge will be shared. cooperation fails,” Justice Department

If the government tells Apple about spokeswoman Melanie Newman said. the details, the company would presumably “We will continue to pursue all fix whatever vulnerability was used and available options for this mission, including thus render the method ineffective. If the seeking the cooperation of manufacturers government withholds the information, and relying upon the creativity of both the Apple could face a public perception public and private sectors.” problem about the security of its phones.

On Capitol Hill, critics of the

There are also a number of Justice Department’s efforts called for pending cases across the country where law further vigilance. enforcement officials are asking for access “Those worried about our privacy to iPhones. It is not clear if they will have should stay wary - just because the access to the break-in technique. government was able to get into this one

In one New York case, Justice phone does not mean that their quest for Department officials have to respond by a secret key into our devices is over,” said Tuesday to an Apple request to delay the Representative Darrell Issa, a California proceedings.

Republican who sits on the House Judiciary That could provide clues as to how the Committee.

Avon strikes deal with Barington Capital to avoid proxy fight Cosmetics maker Avon Products Inc (AVP.N) has agreed to give Barington Capital Group LP the right to approve the appointment of an independent director, in a bid to avoid a proxy fight with the activist investor.

The nominee would have to be jointly selected by Avon and its top investor, Cerberus Capital Management, to whom Avon sold a majority of its North America business earlier this month.

“We are pleased to have reached this settlement agreement with Barington, which allows us to avoid a potential proxy contest,” said Chan Galbato, Avon’s non-executive chairman.

The Barington Capital-led group has also agreed to withdraw its nominations for the Avon board elections to be held during the annual shareholder meeting scheduled for May 26.

Under the deal, Barington would vote in favor of all Avon nominees at the meeting. However, in the absence of a standstill agreement, Barington is not prohibited from agitating against the company in other matters.

The group, which owns more than 3 percent of Avon, had proposed a restructuring of the company in December, calling the appointment of Sheri McCoy as CEO a “mistake”.

Virgin America receives takeover offers: source

Virgin America flights landing in San Francisco, California, August 8, 2007.

Virgin America Inc (VA.O) has received takeover bids from JetBlue Airways Corp (JBLU.O) and Alaska Air Group Inc (ALK.N) as the U.S. budget airline backed by British billionaire Richard Branson explores a sale, a person familiar with the matter said Monday.

Asian airlines have also expressed interest in buying Virgin America, although they would have to partner with a U.S. bidder under foreign ownership rules governing U.S.

airlines.

The source asked not to be identified because the sale process is confidential.

JetBlue, Alaska Air and Burlingame, California-based Virgin America declined to comment.

In the past year, Virgin America has faced steep declines in unit revenue, or sales relative to flight capacity, as bigger rivals have added seats to gain share and take advantage of lower fuel costs that make it cheaper

to operate flights. A tie-up with another airline could give Virgin America more flights that would help it compete.

Analysts said a deal could make sense particularly for New Yorkbased JetBlue, which has room to grow on the U.S. West Coast. Both carriers fly the same type of aircraft, which means JetBlue would not need to train pilots or maintenance crew on how to operate Virgin America’s planes.

Buyers would benefit from Virgin America’s corporate accounts with major technology companies such as Facebook Inc (FB.O) and Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), Sterne Agee CRT analyst Adam Hackel said.

A buyer would have to assume Virgin America’s aircraft leases, likely at above market rates, however, and might have to hike its pilots’ lowerthan-average wages, JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker said in a research note last week after news of a potential sale broke.

Mega-mergers among larger U.S. airlines in the past decade have

reduced the industry to four top players: American (AAL.O), Delta (DAL.N), United (UAL.N) and Southwest (LUV.N), which control more than 80 percent of the market.

MJ Moltenbrey, a partner at law firm Paul Hastings and a former director at the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust division, said a deal with JetBlue or Alaska Air would likely pass an antitrust review.

“A combination of two of the smaller airlines would result in significant efficiencies by giving them a bigger footprint, and would make the merged airline a more effective competitor to the big three,” Moltenbrey said.

News of the offers, first reported by Bloomberg, pushed Virgin America’s stock up 10 percent, while JetBlue rose 3 percent and Alaska Air gained 1 percent.

Virgin America went public in November 2014 and has a market capitalization of $1.3 billion.

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APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

WORLD NEWS BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Music streaming company Spotify raises $1 billion in convertible debt

Spotify has raised $1 billion in convertible debt from private equity firm TPG Capital and hedge fund Dragoneer Investment Group, a spokeswoman for the music streaming service said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the deal on Tuesday.

The deal is expected to close at the end of this week,

Spotify spokeswoman Marni TPG’s growth arm, Greenberg confirmed to Reuters. which specializes in growth Terms were no disclosed. equity and middle-market Spotify is facing buyout opportunities, and special increasing competition from situations arm are investing in companies including Apple Inc’s Spotify.

Apple Music, Pandora Media Earlier on Tuesday, Inc and newer rivals such as SoundCloud launched a music Europe’s SoundCloud Ltd and streaming service in the United U.S. music producer and rapper States starting at $9.99 per Spotify CEO Daniel Ek speaks during a press event in New York May Jay Z’s Tidal. month.

20, 2015

Ford issues three recalls, including one that led to two fires

heaters in the affected vehicles with an updated version.

Heating blocks are standard equipment only in coldweather areas, which means most of the affected vehicles, are in Canada, where 3,993 vehicles will be recalled. Another 1,543 will be recalled in the United States and its territories, Ford said.

Ford said it was not aware how significant the damage was to the two MKCs involved in the fires.

Separately, Ford will recall 38,000 model year 2015 and 2016 low-roof Ford Transit vans to inspect and adjust side-curtain A woman has a drink as she walks past a logo of carmaker Ford at the entrance to a media air bags that may be incorrectly event for the launch of a concept car in Sydney August 13, 2013 positioned in some vehicles. The

Ford Motor Co (F.N) said to the recall of 5,536 SUVs in that lion’s share of those vehicles, 98 on Thursday it will conduct three country and in the United States. percent, are in the United States. separate safety recalls including Affected are 2016 model year Ford Ford said it is not aware one of sport-utility vehicles with a Explorers and Lincoln MKCs from of any crashes or injuries linked to defective engine heater that led to the 2015 and 2016 model years. this recall. two fires in Canada, in which no “The engine block design, Thirdly, Ford said it would one was injured. coupled with the particular block recall about 4,800 heavy trucks

About 48,000 vehicles are heater installed in these vehicles, F-650 and F-750 to replace parking affected by the three recalls, Ford causes the unit to be susceptible brake connector clips. Ford said said. to overheating when the vehicle it is not aware of any accidents Two under-the-hood is parked and the block heater is or injuries related to this defect fires in Lincoln MKCs caused by plugged in –increasing the risk of that affects certain 2015 and 2016 overheating block heaters were an underhood fire,” Ford said. model year big trucks. reported to Ford in Canada leading Ford said it will replace

Facebook’s Oculus starts shipping Rift virtual reality headset

Virtual reality company Oculus started shipping its highly awaited Rift headsets from Monday, about two years after the company was acquired by social media giant Facebook Inc (FB.O).

The earliest investors in Oculus’s fundraising campaign on crowdfunding website Kickstarter in 2012 started receiving their Rift headsets from Monday.

The first of the pre-orders will start shipping from mid-week, Oculus said. (ocul. us/1URqQIL)

The company, founded in 2012, launched a campaign on Kickstarter to raise $250,000. A couple of years later, Facebook bought Oculus for about $2 billion.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said that he saw virtual reality as the next major computing platform.

This year, HTC Corp (2498.TW) and Sony Corp (6758.T) are also set to launch their virtual reality devices as companies look to offer enhanced gaming and entertainment experiences to customers.

“The headset you can buy today is not Oculus’s most ambitious vision for virtual reality - but it’s a vision that Oculus has successfully delivered on,” Adi Robertson of technology website the Verge said in a review on Monday. (bit.ly/1pFhKBz)

The black headgear, priced at $599, comes with a remote, an audio system, a sensor and an Xbox One wireless controller.

Oculus said there were more than 30 games available on the Oculus Store and it would soon add feature-length movies and more content.

British EU exit campaign backed by 250 business leaders

The campaign for Britain to leave the EU has been backed by 250 business leaders including the former chief executive of HSBC, the Vote Leave group said on Saturday, hoping to counter the view that UK businesses back staying in the bloc.

The camps arguing for and against Britain staying in the European Union ahead of a referendum on British membership on June 23 have both made the economic impact of a ‘Brexit’ a cornerstone of their campaigns.

Last month, the bosses at more than a third of Britain’s biggest companies including major oil companies Shell RDSA.L and BP (BP.L) and its largest telecoms group BT (BT.L) said leaving the EU would put jobs and investment at risk.

On Saturday, Vote Leave, one of the groups supporting a British exit, unveiled its own list of backers including Michael Geoghegan, former Chief Executive of HSBC Group and Tim Martin, the boss of pubs group JD Wetherspoon (JDW.L).

“With our growing list of business supporters, Vote Leave will make that case that whilst the EU

Union flags and the Big Ben clocktower cover notebooks are seen on sale in London, Britain, Thursday December 17, 2015 might be good for big multinationals, “You have to question how for smaller businesses it acts as a this list has been compiled,” the paper job destruction regulatory machine,” quoted a spokesman for Caudwell as Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive of saying.

Vote Leave, said.

Vote Leave also said it was

However, the Sunday Times forming a Business Council to argue newspaper reported that two of the that EU membership was holding back well-known names on the list, John business.

Caudwell, founder of Phones4U, and That group will be headed by David Ross, the co-founder of Carphone John Longworth, who quit as director Warehouse, had not signed up. general of the British Chambers of

Commerce (BCC) lobbying group after he spoke out in favour of leaving the EU, accusing Prime Minister David Cameron of trying to scare voters into backing his case to stay in the bloc.

Meanwhile, the Times newspaper reported that hedge funds were planning to use exit polls to make big profits on the day of the referendum.

Under electoral law, it is illegal to publish the results of such polls while people are still voting but a private poll could allow traders to exploit moves in the currency market, with sterling expected to rise sharply against the dollar GBP= on the back of an “In” vote but decline if Britons vote for an exit.

Sterling fell to multi-year lows this week on a perceived rise in the chances of an EU exit, and on companies and fund investors hedging against it, though the currency later steadied.

“There is a lot of interest around Brexit, particularly from the big U.S. funds,” one unnamed broker told the Times.

The odds of a Brexit narrowed on Tuesday as the Brussels bombings were seen boosting the ‘Out’ campaign.

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY WORLD NEWS

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U.S. approves $3.2 billion sale of Boeing P-8A patrol planes to UK

A man walks past a Yahoo logo during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 24, 2016.

Yahoo sets April 11 deadline for preliminary bids: WSJ

Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) has set an April 11 deadline to submit preliminary bids for its web business and Asian assets, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources.

Yahoo asked bidders details regarding financing, conditions or approvals that would have to be met on their end, and what key assumptions they would be making by deciding to move forward with a deal, the Journal said, citing a letter sent to possible bidders. (on.wsj. com/1VQGCDh)

A deadline for preliminary bids in April could mean that Yahoo could close a deal by June or July, the Journal said.

Yahoo could not be immediately reached for a comment outside regular business hours.

The faded Internet pioneer launched an auction of its core business in February after it shelved plans to spin off its stake in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N).

Activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP, which owns about 1.7 percent of Yahoo, launched a proxy fight last week in an attempt to overthrow the entire board of Yahoo.

Telecommunications company Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) and publisher Time Inc (TIME.N) are among companies expected to bid for Yahoo’s core business, while some private equity firms are expected to team up to make offers.

Campbell Soup to switch to BPA-free cans by 2017

Campbell Soup Co, the world’s largest soup maker, said it would completely switch to cans that do not use the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) for their linings in North America by the middle of 2017.

Bisphenol A is used to stiffen plastics that some studies suggest pose health risks. It is a component in metal can coating and protects food from directly contacting metal surfaces.

The company said it began using cans with linings made from acrylic or polyester materials in March and will continue to introduce the new linings across the United States and Canada through 2017.

The products that will be packaged in non-BPA lined cans include all varieties of Campbell’s soups and gravies, Swanson broth and SpaghettiOs pasta, Campbell said.

The company said it was on track to have 75 percent of its soup portfolio in nonBPA lined cans by December.

California regulators last year added BPA to a list of chemicals known to cause harm. Containers containing any chemicals in the list might soon be required to carry a label explaining their dangers.

A P-8A Poseidon surveillance plane conducts flyovers above the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group on February 3, 2012 in this handout photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. government has approved the sale of up to nine Boeing Co (BA.N) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes to Britain in a deal valued at up to $3.2 billion, the U.S. Defense Department said Friday.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which oversees foreign arms sales, notified Congress about the potential sale on Thursday. Lawmakers now have 15 days to block the sale although such action is unlikely given close ties between the United States and the UK.

The proposed sale will enhance Britain’s capabilities

to provide national defense and contribute to NATO and coalition operations, DSCA said in a statement. It said the deal was a top priority for Britain.

Britain announced its intention to buy the submarinehunting patrol planes in November as part of a five-year plan that will increase spending by 12 billion pounds ($16.96 billion) to 178 billion pounds ($251.60 billion) over the next decade.

At the time, British Prime Minister David Cameron said the planes would help the UK protect its nuclear deterrent and fill a gap left by a much-criticized

decision to scrap the Nimrod spyplane program in 2010.

DSCA said Britain had retained core skills in maritime patrol and reconnaissance following the retirement of the Nimrod aircraft through personnel exchange programs that have left UK forces work on the U.S. Navy P-8A aircraft.

Additional contractors on the deal include ViaSat Inc (VSAT.O), Rockwell Collins Inc (COL.N), Spirit Aerosystems Holdings Inc (SPR.N), Raytheon Co (RTN.N), Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) and Harris Corp (HRS.N) and General Electric Co (GE.N), the agency said.

U.S. jury finds GM ignition switch defective but did not cause crash

A U.S. jury found on Wednesday that a defective ignition switch was not to blame for a 2014 accident in a General Motors (GM.N) car, the first trial to reach a verdict since the company recalled millions of vehicles with the part.

The eight jurors, who deliberated less than a day following a two-week trial in Manhattan, found that the ignition switch made the 2007 Saturn Sky involved in the crash on a New Orleans bridge unreasonably dangerous and that GM failed to warn about its safety risks.

But since they found the switch was not to blame for the accident, they awarded no damages.

The case was the second in a series of test trials over the ignition switch, which can slip out of place, causing engines to stall and cutting power to the brake, steering and air bag systems. A first trial ended without a verdict in January following allegations that the plaintiff gave misleading testimony. GM has admitted that some of its employees knew about the problems for years and has already paid roughly $2 billion in settlement and penalties.

In the case decided on

The GM logo is seen at the General Motors Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, Michigan October 26, 2015 Wednesday, Dionne Spain and Lawrence Barthelemy of New Orleans said they have suffered back pain and other injuries when a faulty switch in Spain’s car slipped out of position and caused it to crash, while GM said the accident was minor and the result of slippery roads.

University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias said it was difficult to extrapolate a clear signal from the verdict, but “If the jury found this defective, that seems pretty important in the long run.”

Kaitlin Tyler, the jury forewoman, said jurors did not debate much before concluding that switch was not responsible for the accident.

“Pretty much right away I concluded it was icy conditions

on the roadway,” said Tyler, a Manhattan resident.

Another juror, David Williams, said “unfortunately” no damages could be awarded since plaintiffs “never proved the car stalled.”

Both sides praised elements of the verdict Wednesday.

“The jurors studied the merits of the case and saw the truth: this was a very minor accident that had absolutely nothing to do with the car’s ignition switch,” GM spokesman Jim Cain said in a statement.

Randall Jackson, a lawyer for Spain and Barthelemy, said: “We think the jury’s findings are a victory for consumers and will advance the cause” of other plaintiffs.

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APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

LOCAL SPORTS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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TEAM TCI RETURNS FROM CARIFTA 2016

The Turks & Caicos Amateur win any medals during the games, the Athletic Association (TCAAA) and experience of competing on a regional Team TCI recently returned home scale was simply priceless for the after competing at the 2016 CARIFTA participants. “Many of the athletes did Games in Grenada. The CARIFTA exceptionally well and achieved their games were held during the customary personal best (PB) whilst competing,” Easter Weekend, March 26th to March said Coach Ford. “Ms Akia Guerrier 28, 2016. was able to beat her personal record

Team TCI consisted of as she advanced to the final of the 200 14 athletes that were chosen to meter dash and set a new national participate based on their performance record.” at previously held domestic Woodens Corvil, formerly of championships and results from meets the Raymond Gardiner High School, being held in Jamaica. The team and now a scholarship student of was escorted by head coach, Randy the Jamaica College succeeded in Ford; assistant coach, Alvitro Smith; a 4th place at the Poll Volt event. It chaperone, Gertrude Forbes; TCAAA is important to note that this is the President, Edith Skippings; as well as first time that Team TCI has ever guardian, Angela Terry Brooks. participated in this event on a regional

The group left the Turks & scale.

Caicos Islands on Thursday before Two female athletes; Zoe Butler the games and traveled to Jamaica and Rebecca Bernadine participated via Intercaribbean where they met in the 800-meter and both did their up with six of TCI team members and personal best times. Butler who is only Team Jamaica and traveled to Grenada 13 years old, is the youngest member on a chartered flight together. This of the team and she has a promising expedited travel arrangement was future in track & field to possibly made possible via the relationship participate again next year. Athletes, that the TCAAA has with the Jamaica Alivia Brooks and Angelica Hall were Athletics Administrative Association participants in the heptathlon, they (JAAA). completed the array of seven events

Even though Team TCI did not over a two day period and did the

country proud but were unable to receive medals for their efforts.

Ken Reyes made the finals for the 800-meter and also Colby Jennings was successful in making the finals in the 400-meter dash and achieved his personal best in this event. They both are athlete/students currently enrolled in an athletic scholarship program in Jamaica.

One of the highlights for Team TCI was the advancement of Ms Guerrier who broke both the 100-m and 200-m record in TCI that was previously held by Ms Rosalie Ingham. Based on the outcome of her performance of this Carifta games, Ms Guerrier now qualifies for the World Track & Field Championship which is to be held in Poland this year. She has also received a few scholarship offers, one being from Kent State University for her efforts in sports.

Team TCI was joined in Grenada by Minister of Education & Sports, Hon. Akeira Missick as well as acting Director of Sports, Ms Judith Robinson who cheered on the athletes from the stands.

TCIAAA President; Edith Skippings commented, “I am so proud of the work that our athletes have

put in over time. It takes a lot of commitment and training to be able to compete on a regional scale and our athletes have done their best and they should be commended for their efforts.

We need more coaches to work with our athletes and promote our athletic agenda.”

It is noted that the TCI Athletes may have the potential to do better if more track and field events are held throughout the year. Most local athletes only participate in their school and two major meets before they advance to the big leagues such as Carifta. According to Coach Ford, “I would like to stress to all athletes that there are many possible opportunities for persons who wish to participate in sports. Students have the opportunity of performing on a large scale and may even be awarded a scholarship to pursue tertiary education. So train if you must, but never give up.”

There were 26 participating countries throughout the Caribbean at the 2016 Carifta Games that was held at the National Athletic Stadium in St Georges, Grenada. Next year’s Carifta event will be held in Curacao and team TCI will be there to represent the country at its best and hopefully bring home a medal or two.

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WORLD

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

SPORTS NBC sells $1 billion in ads for Rio Olympics

NBC, a unit of Comcast Corp (CMCSA.O), said it had sold $1 billion in national ads for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as the network prepares to broadcast a rare Games where some of the most high-profile contests will air live in prime time for U.S. audiences.

NBC said in a statement on Tuesday that the Games, which start on Aug. 5, were on pace to generate the biggest Olympics advertising sales ever. The $1 billion figure includes national broadcast, cable and digital ad sales, the network said.

“We’ve surpassed the $1 billion mark four months ahead of (the 2012 Summer Games in) London,” Seth Winter, NBC Sports’ executive vice president of advertising Sales, said in a statement.

By nature of a short time zone difference between Brazil and the United States, the Rio games will feature more live events such as track and field and swimming than in London, over 17 consecutive nights in August.

U.S. advertisers have already bought out some inventory, but some prime-time advertising is still available on the main NBC broadcast network and cable channels, according to NBC.

The network has not yet revealed its streaming plans for online viewing but said digital ad sales were healthy. Live streaming

USA midfielder Carli Lloyd (10) is handed the championship trophy after USA defeated Canada in the 2016 CONCACAF women’s Olympic soccer tournament at BBVA Compass Stadium. USA won 2 to 0

The NBC logo is picture atop their office building in San Diego, California September 1, 2015 of events at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi generated tens of millions of dollars in advertising.

NBC signed on two years ago to pay $7.65 billion for the right to air six Olympic Games from 2022 to 2032 before any other U.S. media company could bid.

NBC and rival networks have been stocking up on live sports content, which is popular with advertisers because large audiences watch in real-time and cannot skip the TV commercials.

“The Olympics’ ability to dominate prime time for 17 consecutive nights is unmatched,” Winter said.

Official Olympics sponsors spend significant amounts on ad time from NBC, with some even

signing exclusive deals that keep other advertisers out of certain categories for the entire Games.

Shares of Comcast were down 0.3 percent at $59.90 in morning trading.

Sponsors have been announcing their rosters of athletes in recent weeks.

Citigroup (C.N) said earlier this month it was sponsoring gymnast Gabby Douglas, beach volleyball’s Kerri Walsh Jennings and rugby’s Carlin Isles.

Visa Inc (V.N), a global Olympics sponsor, is backing swimmer Missy Franklin and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first Muslim-American to complete in a hijab.

Five female U.S. soccer players to file wage complaint: NYT

Five prominent members of the U.S. women’s national soccer team plan to file a federal complaint on Thursday charging U.S. Soccer with wage discrimination, the New York Times reported, citing the players’ lawyer.

The players, including Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo, key players on the reigning World Cup and Olympic champion team, will charge that the women’s team is the driving economic force for U.S. Soccer, though its players are paid less than their male counterparts, the team’s lawyer said, according to the New York Times.

More doping tests or less viewers, world champion warns

Swimming authorities need to increase the number of doping tests to preserve the sport’s credibility and stop fans turning away according to Britain’s triple world champion and double world record holder Adam Peaty.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is investigating allegations of Russian state doping and an alleged cover up of positive tests in China that have rocked the sport.

China, who issued warning penalties to two swimmers on Monday who failed tests, and Russia have denied cover up claims.

Peaty, the 50 and 100 meter breaststroke world record holder who won three golds at last year’s world championships in Russia, said testing needed to be weekly to prove the sport was clean.

“I know testing week-onweek is expensive, but what is more expensive is swimmers coming out as cheats and then people not watching,” he was quoted as saying by British media. “I’ve just been tested three times in the past few weeks and that’s how it should be.

“I hope they catch the cheats before the Olympics because it’s going to ruin the sport otherwise. Olympic champions shouldn’t be someone who has cheated to get there.”

The 21-year-old, preparing for Olympic trials next month, said he could become a victim of association if he was successful at the Aug. 5-21 Rio de Janeiro Games.

“It’s ruining the reputation of all sports,” he said. “If it happens any more people are going to be looking on TV and saying, ‘he’s a cheat’.

“If I win Olympic gold and people look at me as a cheat because I’ve won, it’s hugely disrespectful.”

Russian sport was thrown into turmoil last year when a WADA report exposed endemic cheating and corruption in Russian athletics, resulting in the country being suspended from international competition.

Russia’s track and field team could miss the Olympics if the country fails to overturn the ban but Peaty was against blaming entire nations for the alleged swimming problems.

“Hopefully I’ll line up against Russians and they will be as hard

Adam Peaty of Britain reacts after winning the men’s 50m breaststroke final at the Aquatics World Championships in Kazan, Russia August 5, 2015 working as I am – that’s the way it because there are hard-working people. should be,” he said.

“I’m just going to race and

“If you line up against a doper, leave it to WADA and (International no matter from what country, it’s Swimming Federation) FINA to sort it wrong. But I’m not going to blame a out.” whole country. In my eyes that’s wrong

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

WORLD SPORTS

Canada’s Rogers to offer sports channels as streaming services

A sign stands in front of Rogers Communications Inc. building on the day of their annual general meeting for shareholders in Toronto, April 21, 2015.

Canada’s Rogers Communications Inc (RCIb.TO), the primary national broadcaster of National Hockey League games, said on Thursday it will begin selling its top sports channels online without a cable subscription.

Taking its cue from services like Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and Time Warner Inc’s (TWX.N) HBO Now, the Canadian cable provider said starting on Friday it will offer a streaming package of six Sportsnet channels for C$24.99 ($19.28) a month.

Rogers, also owner of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team, said it will be the first mainstream sports TV channel provider in North America to sell directly to consumers without requiring they have a subscription to cable or satellite.

The Toronto-based company said it hopes to attract sports fans who do not pay for more expensive television packages, and to do so without further eroding a shrinking TV subscriber base.

“We’re targeting the cord-nevers, the kids, the millennials, the university students who just don’t have that subscription and still want to have access to sports,” Bart Yabsley, president of Sportsnet and NHL for Rogers, said in an interview.

The head of Rogers’ media unit, Rick Brace, said the product is priced as a premium service designed to create “a distance between what you can get in the all-you-can-eat package on cable or the smaller packages.”

The move comes one month after new rules were imposed by Canadian regulators that force cable, satellite and telecom companies to offer a C$25 basic TV package and smaller packages of channels. All channels must be offered individually by the end of the year.

Rogers sells the same Sportsnet channels as an add-on to that basic package for C$18 a month.

Broadcast distributors are dealing with falling television audiences as younger viewers increasingly eschew bulky cable subscriptions in favor of content offered online.

Rogers and cable peer Shaw Communications Inc’s (SJRb.TO) joint venture Shomi has since August last year offered film and television content direct to consumers.

Rival BCE Inc (BCE.TO) has also launched a streaming TV service called Crave.

The four main North American professional sports leagues, for soccer, basketball, baseball and hockey, also offer some content direct to consumers online. Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) CEO earlier this month expressed interest in offering some ESPN programming direct to viewers.

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Philippine poll body says it will not stop Pacquiao-Bradley fight Elections to look into his April 9 bout, which has been billed as his last fight, because it would give him undue advantage in the polls.

“We are not in a position right now to stop it,” the head of the commission, Andres Bautista, told a news conference.

“That is not really within our control. There has been no formal complaint that was filed in accordance with our rules.”

The bout will be Pacquiao’s first since he lost a unanimous decision to unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the so-called “Fight of the Century” in Las Vegas last May.

In February, Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, Jr. pose for a photo during press conference at 37, lost a sponsorship deal with Madison Square Garden to announce the upcoming boxing fight on April 9, 2016 in Las Nike Inc, as the world’s largest Vegas. sportswear-maker canceled

The Philippine elections complaint to block it. its contract with him after he commission ruled on Tuesday Pacquiao, the former described gays as “worse than it would not stop a WBO eight-division world champion, animals”. welterweight fight between is a two-term congressman and More than 54 million Philippine boxing hero Manny a candidate for the Senate in people in the Philippines will vote Pacquiao and U.S. champion elections on May 9. for a president, vice-president, Timothy Bradley next month A former congressman 300 lawmakers and thousands of because there was no formal has asked the Commission on local government posts.

Motor racing: Vettel in less than fine fettle over qualifying

Formula One bosses would get it wrong even if they were selling ice cream and everybody wanted one flavor, Sebastian Vettel said on Thursday as the sport’s qualifying format drew further criticism.

The Ferrari driver told reporters at the Bahrain Grand Prix he was “as disappointed as probably anyone I know” the new system was not changed after failing on its debut in Australia on March 20.

“Put it this way, if you sell vanilla ice cream but everybody who comes to your shop is asking for chocolate ice cream,” explained four-times world champion Vettel.

“The next day you open you expect to sell chocolate ice cream but instead you just sell vanilla again.

“Usually you do what your clients would like you to do but you are not really doing the job if you do the exact opposite.

It’s something we can’t be proud of,” added the German.

Team bosses and commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone agreed after qualifying in Melbourne the elimination format had not worked and needed to be changed before Bahrain.

Instead of an exciting battle for pole position in the third and final phase, there were no cars on the track in the closing minutes in Australia as drivers sat in their garages and watched the clock tick down.

Drivers and others called for qualifying to revert entirely

Ferrari F1 driver Sebastian Vettel during the press conference following the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. to the 2015 format, or for the third and final phase to be held according to the old rules.

A subsequent vote failed to secure the required unanimity, however, and the format was kept intact with a promise it would be reviewed after this weekend’s race.

The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) wrote to Ecclestone and Jean Todt, president of the governing FIA, after Melbourne to call for a change in the decision-making processes and governance.

“We made it clear there’s something that’s not right and something has to change,” said

Vettel, one of the GPDA directors, with drivers expressing fears that fans would be turned off.

Triple champion Lewis Hamilton, who is not a member of the GPDA, said he backed the drivers’ stance but was not surprised to see the qualifying format stay the same “just because of the way Formula One is.

“There’s never like a clearcut decision,” he told reporters. “It is back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. One minute it is one way, one minute it is another way, the next minute it is another way.”

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

APRIL 2ND, 2016 – APRIL 9TH, 2016

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