Turks and Caicos Weekly News

Weekly News Volume 27 | No. 07 | February 23 - March 1, 2013

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Help restore

democracy – Premier petitions CARICOM to support ‘full restoration’ of democracy

IN A powerful presentation to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Monday, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, bemoaned the current state of affairs in the Turks and Caicos Islands, stressing that it has the potential to throw the nation into a “state of chaos”.

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Premier, Dr. Rufus, Ewing standing with heads of government at the 24th inter-sessional meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community

Forceful VAT registration ON THE CARDS

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Seven crimes per day in 2012, crime stats PAGE 

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First hip replacement performed at local medical centre PAGE 

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Editorial

What tidings will the Governor bring?

IT HAS been said from Roman times that the 'Voice of the people is the voice of God'.

This coming week we expect to learn how Whitehall has decided to react to that voice against Value Added Tax (VAT).

We have it on good authority that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Whitehall have been this week dissecting Premier Ewing's CARICOM speech given last Monday at CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

We especially love this excerpt from the Premier's speech:"In the words of Sir Lynden Pindling: ‘We (the Government) must take the worst and make them better, we must take the lowest and take them higher. “‘We must take the saddest and make them happier. We must take the sickest and make them healthier and we must take the poorest and make them richer.’

“I have no doubt that all that the governments represented here today subscribe to that vision.

“It was that vision that propelled Toussaint L'Ouverture into action.

That vision drove Eric Williams, Alexander Bustamante, Forbes Burnham, Errol Barrow, Lynden Pindling and a slew of others, to challenge the status quo.

“So too are the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands inspired.”

Whitehall and the FCO have also especially been analysing CARICOM's measured response to that speech, where CARICOM decided to keep the TCI situation under close review and to raise concerns with representatives of the British government.

Thank goodness! That means we actually have a chance that Whitehall will do the right thing and not attempt to silence the voice of the people raised in TCI, now expressed in a democratic unanimous vote in the House repealing VAT. We understand from sources that the official Whitehall response will be a reluctant recognition of the democratic repeal of VAT but to save some face by ensuring the CFO inserts and enforces higher austerity into our overdue budget.

If this turns out to be true it is a fate less than economic death by VAT and TCIG can relatively easily make up the $10 million projected shortfall.

But we do not hold our breath on it as we know intimately the capacity of the Brits to ignore common sense, if only out of pure arrogance and ego.

We do not propose to particularise in any way the volumes that have been discussed elsewhere in the public domain by now on VAT in the TCI and what appears to us to be the few, and highly questionable, arguments made in favour of VAT. One need not be a Nobel Prize winning economist to see a very simple truth - that VAT is fraught with too many serious risks and uncertainties to be foisted onto a small island economy such as ours, which is just now especially fragile and vulnerable.

And even the British mandarins proposing it projected only $10

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

February 23 - March 1, 2013

The forceful VAT registration looms

BY VANESSA NARINE

THE February 22 deadline for registration was reviewed on Friday by the Finance Ministry and while the new date was not announced up to press time, a more controversial move by the Value Added Tax (VAT) Unit is looming – forceful registrations.

The Unit’s Commissioner has legal authority to register businesses who do not register themselves.

Coordinator of the VAT Unit, Dorika Talbot, confirmed to the Weekly News that the 2012 VAT Legislation makes clear the Commissioner’s powers, as well as the penalties for non-compliance.

According to her, the Commissioner, under the legislation, has the authority to collect any information needed to register a business, therefore will be able to enforce compliance.

Talbot said: “Although the VAT Ordinance does not come into effect until April, section 28 of the Interpretation Ordinance makes provisions for the department to do what is necessary to bring the ordinance into effect.”

The unit’s coordinator noted that the unit has a list of 487 potential registrants and by March staff will complete 75 per cent of the advisory visits to assist businesses with queries they may have about the new tax regime.

She called for businesses to contact the Revenue Department for information on proceeding further.

OUTRAGE Members of the business community have expressed outrage at the indication of forceful registrations.

Several proprietors have not yet registered; some in protest of VAT and others biding their time waiting on decision from Governor Ric Todd or UK Minister for the Overseas Territories in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Mark Simmonds, on the House’s vote to repeal VAT. President of the Chamber of Commerce, Tina Fenimore, told the Weekly News that the Chamber is “totally appalled” at the audacity of such a “heavy-handed” move.

She said: “There has been absolutely no consideration for 95 per cent of the business community and the majority of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ population.

“This is dictatorship and the worst part of this entire decision is that it is not a well thought out decision with the VAT Unit itself not seeming to be prepared for implementation of VAT. “At this point the mention of VAT angers business people.”

Advisor and Director with the Chamber, as well as a businessman, Allan Hutchinson, said the UK’s approach to implementing a new tax

million in additional revenue a year for TCIG. Let us put that in perspective. Of a national annual budget in the vicinity of some $200 million last time we checked, that $10m represents only five per cent.

We have had conversations with various shop owners around about town.

We asked: "If you were presented with a new product to sell, which could raise an additional five per cent in revenue, but which most all of your customers are shouting ‘NO, we do not want it, we strongly object to that stuff, if you sell it we'll go elsewhere,’ would you go ahead with it?”

Not a single one of them said he would be willing to gamble his whole shop/business on that new scheme or product which was projected to raise only five per cent additional revenue, but which risked his whole business if it did not work!

This simple analysis was always enough for us.

So, we have come to the view that VAT was never really about raising TCI Government revenue.

VAT is about enforcing for the Brits greater control and gaining on-going access to detailed (banking and other) information in our island economy about persons of interest.

The mandarins are well paid by the TCI public purse, do not have a thing financially to lose or risk by VAT, and much worse there is a whole squad of British lawyers being fed by the TCI public purse, who stand to gain even more in continued fat legal fees for possibly years to come.

All whilst the whole economy languishes under the yoke.

So, we shall see this coming week what is to come of our first steps towards a return to democracy.

Should there be the apprehended Whitehall hard line, we fear for our territory that the die will be cast much earlier than expected.

As one very long time resident 'paper Belonger' said to us this week, (himself originally an Englishman no less!): “Choice between VAT or independence, I am for independence!"

The VAT issue presents perhaps the first time the otherwise conservative business community in this territory - TC Islanders and expatriates alike have become sympathetic to the rallying cry for independence!

regime will not work.

“This kind of approach does not bode well in a country where democracy is supposed to have been returned.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands’ economy needs partnership between the private sector and the Government if it is to grow and this is not partnership.

“Governments do not create jobs or grow the economy, the private sector does that.”

According to him, the imposition of forceful registrations will create more difficulties and has a strong potential of affecting the projected revenue targets set under VAT. Hutchinson made it clear that businesses are growing increasingly uneasy with the current state of affairs.

NOT PRACTICAL Finance Minister, Washington Misick, when contacted by the Weekly News, stressed that forceful registrations are not practical and will result in the creation of more problems.

Misick said: “In terms of legislation, giving the Commissioner these powers seems possible, but practically it will not work.

“If the entire business community stands up against VAT, I do not see how this will work.”

He pointed out too that the private sector is the engine of growth in any economy and such a move will negatively impact the business community, doing further damage that the talk of VAT has already done.

“In any case I do not think the Unit will be ready for the April 1 deadline,” Misick said.

The Finance Minister declined to comment further on the matter, noting that there has not yet been a response from Minister Simmonds on the way forward with VAT. There has not been any word either from the Governor who is currently away on vacation and expected to return on Monday (February 25).

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, raised the issue of taxation without representation at the two-day Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting in Haiti on Monday.

He said: “While we maintain that VAT will not work in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we are more concerned, as you can see, that the principle of democracy and good governance, which mandates that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands through their elected officials, must have an opportunity to consider any measure that seeks to impose an additional tax burden on them or to otherwise alter their tax structure, a principle that is being sacrificed on continued 

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, gives opening remarks upon arrival in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

NEWS

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Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, addresses CARICOM Heads of Government

Help us restore democracy – Premier petitions CARICOM to support ‘full restoration’ of democracy

BY VANESSA NARINE IN A powerful presentation to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Monday, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, bemoaned the current state of affairs in the Turks and Caicos Islands, stressing that it has the potential to throw the nation into a “state of chaos”.

He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, I am calling on the community and the individual member states, to keep the situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands under review.

“I urge you to stand with us, not on one or other specific policy, but on the question of democracy.

“I invite you, to advocate on the international stage for the full restoration of the institutions of true democracy in our islands and to support our cries for removal of the spectre of colonial influences of the past, as we fight for our rights on our journey towards true self.”

He added: “On November 9, 2012, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands were granted the ability to exercise their democratic right to elect a representative government following a three year period of direct rule by United Kingdom government.

“Though these elections have indeed led to the restoration of ministerial government, the overall state of political affairs remains less than desirable in our islands.”

Speaking at the 24th inter-sessional confidential two-day meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti, the Premier gave his assurance that he will work to prevent the TCI’s decent into chaos.

DETERIORATING DEMOCRACY However, he underscored the underlying factors that are eating away at democracy in the TCI, expressly the actions of UK officials functioning in various respects locally.

Forceful VAT registration ... continued

the altar of despotism.

“If His Excellency, the Governor, refuses to assent to the repeal bill, he would have said in no uncertain terms that the voice of the people is the voice of God, only so long as God and the United Kingdom government are singing in chorus.

“I cannot stress with sufficient strength nor overstate the significance of these events. The question is not one of taxation, but rather, one of democracy.”

The House majority voted to repeal VAT over three weeks ago now, but the repeal is not legal until the Bill is assented to by the Governor, who referred it to the Attorney General’s (AG)

Chambers for advice and also sent it on to Minister Simmonds, for consideration.

The VAT registration threshold for businesses not already registered for Accommodation Tax will be set at a turnover of $200,000 in annual gross sales, which is the highest threshold in the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda are the next highest at $110,000).

The VAT registration threshold for businesses already registered for Accommodation Tax will be set at a lower threshold of $50,000 to mitigate against any loss of tax revenue from businesses with turnovers between $50,000 and $200,000.

VAT is set at 11 per cent.

Ewing said: “The restoration of true democracy is still a far way off.”

He told the CARICOM Heads of Government that under the direct authority of the United Kingdom government, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands witnessed: 1. The implementation of new laws such as ‘The Trial Without Jury Law’ and amendments to the laws governing the admissibility of hearsay evidence. To the extent that these laws are intended to be retroactive, they erode the confidence in the judiciary that must underpin every democracy and challenge the very rule of law that the interim administration was charged to promote.

2. The approval of budgets without debate, so that there was no opportunity for the ordinary citizen to influence in any way, how his tax dollar was being spent.

3. The transfer of protected pension funds from the National Insurance Fund to the Consolidated Fund.

4. The implementation of laws facilitating the imposition of taxation against the wishes of the people.

The Premier described these actions as “abuses” on the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

He said: “In the Turks and Caicos Islands, we are today being governed by a constitution that was conceived in White Hall, and was for all intents and purposes thrust upon the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, at a time when they were without representation.

“The 2011 Constitution is merely a by-law for the continuance of direct rule under the pretext of representative democracy.

“Distinguished colleagues, friends, we seize the opportunity of this audience to reflect briefly on the evolution of events in our country over the past three years, so that you may better appreciate our realities and come to understand that our yearnings are not unique.

“The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands wish simply to serve democracy because they

are confident that if they serve democracy, democracy will in turn serve them.”

COMMITTED Ewing acknowledged the findings of Sir Robin Auld’s 2008 Commission of Inquiry, which suggested that there were significant deficiencies within the administrative arm of government and eventually saw the suspension of the TCI’s 2009 Constitution for three years.

However, he made clear the commitment that exists locally to all the principles of democracy and the tenets of good governance.

The Premier said: “As a government, we are committed to strengthening where they exist and creating where they do not exist, all those institutions that promote democracy and good governance.

“Guided by that commitment, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands by and large welcomed the need for reforms and for the strengthening of governance systems.

“We acknowledged that the allegations of corruption and maladministration necessitated investigation, we have however always been concerned that the inquiry was left to a lone commissioner and we have always maintained that the suspension of our constitution and the establishment of an interim administration, was an inappropriate response to the Commissioner’s findings and ran counter to every principle of democracy and good governance.”

JUSTICE On that note, Ewing stressed the inherent principles of the justice system.

He said: “Our sense of what is right and decent and fair compels us to question even to this day, why it is that former Governor Tauwhare, who was a member of the Cabinet for a significant period of the last elected government’s term, has not been required to speak to his involvement in the alleged wrongdoings.

“Your Excellency, as you would expect, I am slow to comment on judicial processes, but I would betray my duty to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands if I did not express our concern that in relation to the criminal investigations that followed the Commission of Inquiry, persons who were charged criminally have avoided the criminal process by paying millions of dollars into the treasury before they were even called upon to answer the charge.

“This type of action is abusive and nothing short of corrupt. It is the more egregious, because those who have to date been able to purchase their justice, have not been Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“When those who dispense justice are allowed to see black or white, rich or poor, expatriate or Belonger, what they dispense ceases to be justice.

“When justice is for sale and when laws are implemented and made retroactive, arguably in an effort to secure particular convictions, the justice system and the system of justice is being challenged and democracy is under siege.”

The Premier pointed out also that the constant “infractions of democratic principles and insults to the ideals of elected government” caused him to write to the First Secretary of State, The Rt. Hon. William Hague, MP - Minister of Foreign Affairs - requesting the recall with immediate effect, of senior UK appointed dignitaries responsible for the named actions.

He called on CARICOM to further condemn the attack on democratic values in the TCI, in support of the “full restoration” of democracy.

Ewing said: “There has always been a commitment in CARICOM for democratic values and a concern for basic human rights.

“CARICOM has never been afraid to condemn any circumstance that is an affront to democracy or denies the basic human rights to any people.

“In this regard we wish to thank the community for its pronouncements thus far.”

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

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

To register or not?

THE majority of the House of Assembly members voted almost four weeks ago to repeal the 2012 Value Added Tax (VAT) legislation.

However, until it becomes law, the VAT Unit continues with its work in an effort to register businesses under the new tax regime.

Should the unit continue with its current registration effort and should businesses cooperate with the process, with a decision on VAT still pending?

A question of HMG’s interests

Don’t we wish government worked like that?

Who would have the executive authority (not to mention the will) to turn that vote/decision into a department policy?

It’s a case of gamesmanship as it is clear that businesses and the government are unprepared for the effective implementation on HMG’s timeline.

It’s further not in HMG’s interest to discontinue registration effort, especially in the event that the House of Assembly’s democracy will be quashed.

The resulting delay in implementation would be too embarrassing.

Pay attention

The people have spoken!

The British need to pay attention to democratic principles.

This is the kind of thing that sparks violence and civil disobedience!

Hands tied

The hands of the officials in the VAT Unit, as well as business proprietors are currently tied.

The unit employs civil servants who have to continue its work, since the repeal is not legal until the Governor signs off on it, or Minister Simmonds steps up and says something.

Businesses, under the 2012 VAT Legislation,

are in a similar position – it is either register or be in breach of the law.

With the implementation date so close and with the actual registration process having ended on February 22 (Friday), the UK officials should have said something by now.

The whole implementation is reflective of haphazardness.

A resolution must come first

It seems that they are insisting on this. It is also strange that businesses have to register like this.

I suggest they do not register until this matter is resolved.

Businesses should remain in a holding pattern until the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) decides to respect the wishes of the people of the TCI. It would be tragic if they were to say to the international community, we do not care what the elected representatives of the people of the TCI are saying.

If they insist, this will be a very telling statement on their part.

Stupid is as stupid does

I just finished watching a rerun of the movie Forest Gump. His famous saying applies here: “Stupid is as stupid does.”

VAT cannot work, will not work and is doomed.

From the halls of parliament to the Conrad Howell show, the numerous anti-VAT TV commercials paid for by business.

Businesses are closing until VAT passes over like the angel of death. If we had a business we would just close down for the duration.

It is principally true what the editor of this paper said in last week’s editorial. The AG and CFO are weak leftovers from the mother country.

Governor Todd is just following orders.

Stupid is as stupid does.

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Promised audits of InterHealth Canada not yet begun

BY VANESSA NARINE THE financial and clinical service audits of the local hospitals, functioning as a result of the controversial InterHealth Canada deal, have not yet started.

Former Health Minister, Amanda Misick, in her last public statement noted that her Government had “begun the financial audit of the hospital and put systems in place for the conduct of a clinical audit.”

According to her, both of these will have the effect of reducing hospital costs and improving clinical care, in addition to holding the hospital accountable for any defaults under the contract.

Misick said that her Government “established the TCIG representative, the Clinical Services Review Board and the Contract Management Team that will be responsible for the managerial oversight of the hospital contract.”

However, in an interview with the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, Jill Magri, she noted that neither the financial or clinical services audits have started.

Magri said she was aware that the committees to undertake the audits were established, but to her knowledge they were not yet active.

“To my knowledge there has not been a formal meeting of the committees,” she said.

The new CEO made it clear she welcomes the work to be done under both audits and will cooperate fully.

The Weekly News spoke to Finance

Former Health Minister, Amanda Misick

Minister, Washington Misick, who explained that he believes the delay with the financial audit was the need for a review to the Terms of Reference (TOR) of KPMG, the firm that will be handling the audit.

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing audit, advisory and tax services.

Misick added further clarification to the second audit, stating that he believes the clinical services audit will commence once the financial audit is completed.

The full version of the contract, which included 187 separate files and a mind boggling 7,665 pages, was leaked last August.

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

The ‘exit clause’ in the InterHealth

contract is reported to have a penalty cost of $125 million, exclusive of the $125 million mortgage on the hospital buildings, which has a reported 12 per cent interest rate.

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

Governor Gordon Wetherell signed the contract in late 2008 following negotiations and decisions made by the then Health Minister Lillian Boyce, Finance Minister Floyd Hall and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Rufus Ewing, currently the leader of the Progressive National Party.

Under the contract, the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP) was established in April 2010 and Ewing had the responsibility for managing primary care in TCI, while InterHealth Canada took over the responsibility for hospital management and secondary care.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Hugh McGarel-Groves in mid-June said NHIP was an absolute scandal and the biggest financial mess the interim administration has had to deal with.

According to him, NHIP is now reported to be costing the people of the TCI $60m annually or approximately 40 per cent of government revenue.

The NHIP has proven to be a tremendous burden on the Government and many locals are dissatisfied with the coverage provided.

Last October, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, noted that InterHealth Canada could have to forfeit on the deal, if it is found that they have breached performance clauses – something the financial and clinical audits will assess.

Acting Attorney General Desiree Downes

Principal Legislative Drafter now acting AG PRINCIPAL Legislative Drafter, Desiree Downes, is now acting as Attorney General (AG).

The Guyanese national took on the responsibilities after former acting AG, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, went on leave on Wednesday.

Downes has been with the AG’s Chambers since 2002, starting out as Legislative Drafter.

The AG, Huw Shepheard, has been away since mid-December due to health complications.

He is expected back sometime in mid-March.

Shepheard’s services are paid for by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG).

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEWS

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Civil servants to get 10 per cent by month end THE Turks and Caicos Island Government (TCIG) has confirmed that come month end, public servants and members of the TCI Police Force will see the reinstatement of 10 per cent of their salary in their pay packets.

Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Anya Williams, said: “Earlier this month my team and I, along with the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance met with the civil service to discuss the recommendations of the Pay and Grading Review, which is critical in bringing about much needed change in the civil service.

“The new structure will not only address many of the anomalies that currently exist in government, but will seek to adequately compensate staff for their work and will assist in attracting more qualified persons to the civil service going forward.

“This coupled with a new Public Service Ordinance and innovative training and mentoring programs will help to revolutionise the civil service and will help to make the civil service a model employer of choice.”

The 10 per cent reinstatement which took effect on February 1 will be paid to eligible public officers and police officers whose salaries were cut in 2010 as part of the interim government’s cost cutting exercise.

The reinstatement is the first phase of a comprehensive

review of government salaries and the remuneration system, and a commitment

by TCIG to implementing the recommendations of the 2012/2013 Pay and Grading Review.

The review was designed to make the pay structure of public servants more equitable, reflect the major differences in responsibility and skill levels, promote fairness and provide a structured and transparent system for remuneration.

Starting with the 10 per cent reinstatement, it is the intention of government to implement the new pay and grading structure in the 2014/2015 financial year or sooner, pending the country’s financial situation at the end of the second quarter of this year.

Allowances will also be reinstated to the levels prior to the reduction.

Newly appointed officers, officers appointed with a salary outside of the current scales and those whose jobs were recently upgraded and filled such as Heads of Secretariat, personal assistants and those employed to the Tax and Radar Units are not eligible for the 10 per cent reinstatement.

Civil servants will not receive retroactive payments.

The 10 per cent reinstatement is expected to add around $4.5 million to the annual wage bill.

Premier Ewing with CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irvin LaRocque and President Martelly

Restoration of true democracy a far way off, CARICOM

BY VANESSA NARINE

REPRESENTATIONS made by Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, at the 24th inter-sessional meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seem to have yielded the desired results.

CARICOM recognised the state of political affairs as “less than desirable” and agreed that the restoration of true democracy is still “a far way off”.

The Caribbean community decided to continue to keep the situation under close review and to raise concerns with representatives of the British government.

The communiqué said: “The conference received with interest the address made by the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“It was the first meeting of the community at which the Turks and Caicos Islands had been officially represented by a democratically elected government since the

Seven crimes per day in 2012, crime stats

BY DAISY HANDFIELD CRIME reports stood at 2,704 for 2012 and Acting Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Superintendent, Kendall Grant, said the average number of crimes per day was seven.

However, at a press conference on Tuesday at the Police Headquarters in Providenciales, he noted that the crime rate for 2012 was slightly reduced compared to the previous year.

In 2011, the reported number of crimes was 2,883, with 26 of these classified as “no crime”, bringing the total to 2,857. Of that number, 516 cases were solved.

In 2012, of the total crimes committed, 11 were classified as “no crime”, bringing the total of serious crimes down to 2,693.

The police department solved 775 of these crimes, according to Grant, who added that an additional

63 cases from previous years were solved in 2012 – bringing the total of solved crimes to 838.

The Acting CID Superintendent explained that the police force is looking at new and improved approaches to reduce crime.

NEW CRIME UNIT As part of the strategy to tackle crime, a ‘Major Crimes Unit’ is being developed to focus on the cases that remain unsolved.

Grant said: “The police are currently working with 2009 and 2014 strategies to try to decrease the crime rate.”

According to him, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) has set several targets for 2013, including: The general reduction of crime; building upon what they already started with a stronger focus; Seeking to address reoffenders; Implementing positive ventures

for young adults to turn to; Partnerships with school; Partnerships with the Liquor Licensing Board to investigate how the young children obtain alcohol and drugs; and Improving service delivery.

Grant said the force will be divided into 10 teams to be more accessible to the community.

He explained that two teams will be in Grand Turk, one in South Caicos, one in Middle and North Caicos and the remaining six teams in Providenciales.

Superintendent for the RTCIPF, Wayne Jones, said: “Our duty is to work collectively with members of the public.

“The police are the police and the public are the police so we need to work together.”

Jones stressed that police are determined to defeat these challenges and fight against crime.

suspension of its constitution in August 2009, and a three-year period of direct rule by the United Kingdom government.

“The conference noted with grave concern that, though the elections of November 2012 had led to the restoration of representative government, the overall state of political affairs remained less than desirable and the restoration of true democracy was still a far way off.

“The 2011 Constitution, conceived in London and thrust upon the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands when they were without representation, was viewed as a mere by-law for the continuance of direct rule under the pretext of representative democracy.

“Of additional concern were the challenges emanating from the workings of the justice system in relation to the criminal investigations that followed the Commission of Inquiry, and what was portrayed as ‘constant infractions of democratic principles and insults to the ideals of elected government’.”

CARICOM welcomed Ewing’s affirmation of the TCI’s commitment to the Caribbean community, as well as expressed appreciation for the pronouncements of the community on the situation in TCI. The meeting was held in Portau-Prince, Republic of Haiti, from February 18 to 19 and President of the Republic of Haiti, Michel Joseph Martelly, presided over the 24th inter-sessional meeting.

On the agenda was strengthening the regional crime and security agenda and architecture, the arms trade treaty, the report on the regional architecture for financial stability, the British American insurance company/colonial life insurance company (BAICO/CLICO), the OECS economic union in the context of the revised treaty of Chaguaramas, matters related to transportation in the region, CARICOM regional aid-for-trade strategy, the region’s preparations for the united states foreign account tax compliance act (FATCA), the introduction of interpretation services for meetings of the conference, the WTO gaming case between the governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the United States of America and reform process in CARICOM. Other members of the conference in attendance were the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable

Winston Baldwin Spencer; the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie; the President of the Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Donald Ramotar; the Premier of Montserrat, Honourable Reuben Meade; the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Dr. the Hon. Kenny D. Anthony; the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves; and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Kamla PersadBissessar.

Dominica was represented by Honourable Colin McIntrye, Minister of Employment, Trade, Industry and Diaspora Affairs; Jamaica was represented by Honourable Arnold J. Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Suriname was represented by Honourable GinMardo Kromosoeto, Minister of Regional Development, Land and Forestry Management; Barbados was represented by Mr. Charles Burnett, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Belize was represented by Ambassador Alexis Rosado, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Associate Member in attendance was the Premier, Turks and Caicos Islands, Honourable Dr. Rufus Ewing.

Special Guest in attendance was the Attorney-General of the United States of America, Honourable Eric Holder Jr. Secretary-General, Erwin LaRocque, noted the historic nature of the meeting being the first held in Haiti.

In his statement, he stressed the importance of change in the operations of the community as it moves forward after 40 years.

He said: “The circumstances which fashioned our approach to integration have changed, the nature of the challenges which we face has changed, our society has changed.

Therefore, so must we.

“As we go forward to the next 40 years, in accepting that the imperative for integration of our small states is undeniable, we also have to accept that we must change our modes of operation if we are to deliver to our people the standard of living they desire.”

8

NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Police to tackle increasing incidents of reckless driving

BY DAISY HANDFIELD THE increasing incidents of reckless driving have not gone unnoticed by the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force (RTCPF).

And Press Liaison Officer for RTCPF, Audley Astwood, in an interview with the Weekly News, made it clear that the Force will be stepping up efforts to address this serious problem.

He acknowledged that reckless driving is a major factor in a number of road fatalities and injuries.

Astwood stated that officers will be coming out full force, especially on the least expected days, the weekends.

He said: “Speed is one of the leading causes of death on Turks and Caicos roads. It is also a behavior that is very easy to eliminate – Just.

Slow. Down.

“Speed increases the risk of vehicle collisions; it comes with a high price.

“Crashes causing damages and injuries take a huge toll on insurance and other costs; however, from a public safety perspective, the greatest cost of speed is trauma and human life.”

Astwood pointed out that many individuals believe that the Police “go hard” on them, just to increase revenue collection for the

Press Liaison Officer for RTCPF, Audley Astwood

Government.

“This is not the case, we are more concerned about protecting the lives of people, which is why we have to punish persons who violate the law,” said Astwood.

The Press Liaison noted that there are a numbers of reasons to reduce speeding while driving, including the fact that: It reduces the likelihood of a crash but also reduce the severity of injuries when crashes occur.

It reduces the effects of impact.

The effect of vehicle impact is possible by maintaining a safe driving speed.

By driving at a safe speed, you have more time to react and more distance for braking.

Ideally, you want your speed at impact to be zero (or better yet: no impact at all).

In order for the vehicle to decelerate to zero, it needs to travel through the stopping distance.

Stopping distance takes into account the road conditions, your reaction time, the distance between your vehicle and possible point of impact, and the speed of the vehicle.

You do have control of your speed.

A pedestrian hit at 30km/h has a 90% chance of surviving.

A pedestrian hit at 50km/h has an 80% chance of being killed.

Astwood appealed for local drivers to heed the call for caution or face the consequences.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TCI to better champion ideals of CARICOM, Ewing THE TCI has not been as public in its support of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as it could be, but that will change, according to Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing.

At this week’s CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Haiti, Ewing said: “We may not have been as bold as we could have been in championing the ideals of the community.

“We may have failed to look within the region for the assistance in strengthening our institutions and building our democracy.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands has a vested interest in CARICOM, not least because we have living and working among us, citizens from perhaps every member and associate member of the community.

“Your Excellency, please know that the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands is committed to this region as we strive to build our small nation.

“I want to make clear that that commitment is not at the expense of our willingness to continue to work with the United Kingdom government.

“The government of the United Kingdom must by now realise that the Turks and Caicos is not

Premier Ewing and other CARICOM Heads of Government chat with CARICOM's Secretary General and Chairman

prepared to go along with all that they propose just to ‘get along’.

“The partnership only works, if, notwithstanding our status as Overseas Territories, Her Majesty’s Government recognises that we also carry the mandate of a constituency, whose interest we have a duty to represent.”

The TCI’s status as an Associate Member of CARICOM was suspended in 2009, following the suspension of the 2009 Constitution.

With the return to democracy and the bringing into force of the 2011 Constitution, the country was able to return to CARICOM. (VANESSA NARINE)

Nomination day set for March 1 PREPARATIONS for the March 22 by-election in Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill Constituency continue.

And Supervisor of Elections, Dudley Lewis, on Wednesday announced that nomination day is set for March 1 at the Gustarvus Lightbourne centre between the hours of 10:00am until 1:00pm and then 2:00pm until 4:00pm.

Lewis noted that potential Candidates for this by-election must register their names and party symbols with the Returning Officer

appointed on or before the date set.

According to him, prospective candidates should also obtain nomination packs, read them and complete the required nomination form and satisfy themselves that they meet the nomination requirements.

Nomination forms have to be submitted to the Returning Officer together with a Treasury deposit receipt of $500 and copies of the nomination pack can be collected from the Election Office in Grand Turk and Providenciales.

Illegal Haitian immigrants repatriated Police on scene of Monday’s accident caused by reckless driving

Reckless driving causes collision between two vehicles AN ELDERLY woman, unmanned up to press time, was rushed to the hospital on Monday, after a reckless driver of an unknown vehicle sped around a roundabout, downtown Providenciales, causing two other vehicles to collide.

The two other vehicles, a waste disposal truck and a red pick up, were not badly damaged.

The elderly woman, who had minor injuries, was driving the red pick up.

The driver of the waste disposal truck, Amoce Lamour, explained that

the unidentified driver’s recklessness cause the woman to apply her brakes abruptly, causing his vehicle to hit the rear end of her pick up.

According to the police, investigations into the accident are continuing.

IMMIGRATION authorities completed the repatriation of 57 illegal Haitian immigrants on Wednesday, according to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, Ms. Clara Gardiner.

The illegal immigrants were apprehended when a 28-feet Haitian sloop was detected at approximately 11:04am on Saturday, February 16, in the vicinity of French Cay. There were 50 males and seven females, but no children on board.

Officials from the Police, Border Control, and other Government and Non-Governmental agencies were on hand to assist with the processing of these individuals.

The individuals were transported to the Detention Center for further processing and detention. There were no health or welfare issues.

The vessel was located and intercepted by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force – Marine Branch. The sloop was towed to the South Dock port by the Marine Branch and arrived at approximately 5:00pm.

Gardiner noted that communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are encouraged to contact law enforcement with any information concerning the whereabouts of any illegal migrants or on pending sloop arrivals.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

9

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

FacetoFace

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A series that seeks to engage the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands on issues and act as a medium through which they can hear from prominent personalities on current concerns, including on politics, development and the environment, among others. Send comments to vanessanarine@gmail.com

The waiting game WITH just over a month until Value Added Tax (VAT) is expected to be implemented, tensions are building in not only the business community, but also in the wider Turks and Caicos Islands society.

The House of Assembly majority voted to repeal the 2012 VAT Legislation on February 1, but there has been no word from UK overseers on the way forward since.

The repeal is not legal until the bill is assented to by Governor Ric Todd, who referred it to the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers for advice and also sent it on to Minister

Simmonds, for consideration.

For the large part it is a waiting game.

However, it should be noted that essentially the waiting game is to delay doing something so that you can see what happens or what other people do first.

The people of these Islands have spoken on the matter, a message reiterated in the House of Assembly, so the UK knows what will happen.

The reasoning for the delay in work from UK officials on the repeal is somewhat mindboggling.

Facts are that the people do not

AG waiting on SIPT report to proceed with stamp duty fraud inquiry

BY VANESSA NARINE ATTORNEY General, Huw Shepheard, when asked for an update into the promised probe into the possibility that stamp duty fraud was being aided by local legal practitioners, said he is still waiting for a completed report by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT).

However, there was no further comment as to when the report may be completed.

It has been over a year, since the AG said he instructed SIPT’s Helen Garlic to investigate the matter.

Shepheard, on August 31, 2011, had asked SIPT to find out if locally practicing lawyers have been illegally arranging land sales to underpay stamp duty owed to the government.

The AG made the request after Supreme Court Justice G.W. Martin ruled in June 2011 that two companies involved in the 2006 sale of Emerald Cay avoided more than $1m in stamp duty in “a carefully crafted scheme of tax evasion” that would not have been possible without the assistance of attorneys.

American billionaire, Timothy Blixseth, who bought the property for $28 million, denied any wrongdoing in the transaction.

The attorneys, Timothy O'Sullivan and Gordon Kerr, who, according to Justice Martin, carefully crafted the documents to disguise the true sales price, are members of the law firms of Miller, Simons and O'Sullivan, and Misick and Stanbrook respectively.

The firm’s managing partner, Carlos Simons, at the time was not been named as being involved in this

want VAT; the Finance Minister has put forward proposals to raise over $16m, that is $6m more than the $10m VAT is projected to bring in – although to date we still do not know how that $10m was arrived at – so if the UK is worried about their $260m loan guarantee, their fears should have been somewhat allayed.

The delay in a pronouncement, coupled with the continued efforts of the VAT Unit, has the business community at a disadvantage.

Without a clear view on the way forward, most businesses have resorted to not registering with the Unit and incur what may become unnecessary costs if the repeal becomes law.

On the other hand, bigger businesses, those with significantly larger inventory, will be thrown into chaos if they wait till the last minute and are not ready for VAT, if the repeal is not approved.

Also concerning is the fact that the VAT Unit is clearly not ready to implement VAT. It is clear that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

with VANESSA NARINE

has a responsibility to make a decision and do so quickly, bearing in mind the many implications of a pronouncement that is further delayed.

NO IS NOT AN OPTION That said, the FCO also has to bear in mind that no is not an option for the people of the TCI. The decision of the FCO has become more than a matter of a new tax regime; it has become a matter of the true return of democracy to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The House Speaker and Deputy Speaker, leaders of both political parties, as well as concerned stakeholders have reiterated points to underscore this.

This week, Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, took the matter of taxation without representation to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), appealing for them to support the “full restoration” of democracy in the Islands.

The line of action taken by the FCO, as it relates to VAT, has seen this matter spiral beyond just tax –

but a matter of democracy for the TCI and a matter of image for Her Majesty’s Government.

Whatever the causes or the rationale of the current situation, the Turks and Caicos is moving forward and into a critical stage of the nation’s development, in the interest of making a comeback economically.

At the end of the day, major decisions like this will see the people of these Islands living with the consequences that will ensue after ‘D’ day, not the nation’s British overseers.

The problem is here at home and should be tackled right here in the manner best for the people.

Politicians, while not advocating for violence, have warned of widespread civil disobedience and serious destabilisation of the nation’s economy if the repeal vote is not respected – an understandable reaction in the current predicament.

However, as partners in control of the nation’s affairs, both local politicians and UK officials, have to act responsibly, be it in matters of meeting financial obligations or in terms of transparent and accountable governance – in the interest of the welfare of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In the on-going melee of big talk and more talk, the focus must be the people of these Islands.

First hip replacement performed at local medical centre ATTORNEY General Huw Shepheard

deal.

At the close of the case against the Emerald Cay buyers, Justice Martin said: “It is disappointing that any attorney should so far neglect his professional obligations as to become involved. I invite the Attorney General to investigate and if thought appropriate to consider making a formal complaint to the Bar Council.”

The judge asked the AG to investigate the transaction to see if a formal complaint should be made against lawyers under the Legal Profession Ordinance.

Because stamp duty is a major source of government revenue, Shepheard said he also wanted “to establish whether the practice of deliberate underpayment has prevailed more widely throughout the TCI and if so, whether there is evidence of the commission of criminal offences.”

Shepheard said the investigation will require more expertise than TCI police possess, hence his decision to refer the matter to the SIPT, which has been investigating allegations of corruption in former governments and other matters since 2009.

MEDICAL tourism is an untapped market for some countries in the region, but for the Turks and Caicos Islands it is fast becoming a reality.

Last week, the country’s health sector took another step in this direction with the first total hip replacement surgery performed at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

A team of experts from Global MedChoices (GMC) performed the surgery, taking their lead from Dr. James MacKenzie, from Calgary Canada who performed the first hip replacement.

The organisation brought five patients from Canada to have procedures performed in the TCI. Another first in the West Indies region was a hip replacement using the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) technology.

This technology may be used in patients that are younger and active.

The hip joint is like a ball and socket, and instead of the removal of the ball (femoral head) as in traditional hip replacements, the ball is "shaved" with a series of bone cuts and capped with a metal implant.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) with GMC, Richard Boddington, said: “We are very happy with the quality of the facility and the surgeons have marvelled at the state-

Richard Boddington and Dr. James MacKenzie

of-the-art facility.

“Global MedChoices’ participating programmes are strategically positioned to broker services to all major revenue generating segments of the medical tourism market.

“As an offshore entity, we rotate surgeons into foreign surgery centres and hospitals within global developing global healthcare markets that incentivise and subsidise foreign development in the medical travel trade.”

The team from GMC, accompanied by other medical professionals from Cheshire Hall, was also in Grand Turk where they performed seven knee replacement surgeries on local TCI patients.

This was in addition a further seven knee replacements done in Providenciales.

The first of such surgeries was performed last year.

Global MedChoices is a global healthcare technology and health services brokerage firm.

10

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

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

The TCI’s shambolic judicial system Dear Editor, The TCI’s justice system has recently provoked an onslaught of public criticism. Most of the criticism is long overdue, fair, and reasonable.

The Attorney General and the president of the Bar Association, however, have come running to its defence with less than subtle threats of fines and imprisonment.

Those threats, in turn, have rightfully caused even wider public indignation.

In a criminal justice system that is adversarial with a prosecution and defence on opposite sides, an independent judiciary is critical, but at the top of most lists of criticisms are grave concerns about the independence of the local judiciary.

There is a perception that there is little distinction between the FCO, the SIPT, the former legislature, the Governor, the local judiciary.

Also that the criminal justice system has been compromised, having been sewn up to ensure convictions of the SIPT’s targets, regardless of the evidence of actual guilt or innocence.

This is part of the case against the TCI’s criminal justice system.

There has been a systematic and methodical overhaul of the law over the last three years, most notably the constitutional right to trial by a jury of one’s peers, to make specific convictions much easier.

There has been constant tinkering with laws, in some cases immediately after a challenge reveals limitations

on certain investigative powers.

The changes that have been made erode our constitutional freedoms and rights in order to stack the deck in favour of the SIPT. Critics say it is like playing a board game against an opponent who has the ability to change the rules mid-game, and who frequently does so.

Judges have apparently engaged in verbal exchanges with persons in the guest gallery in open court, answering complaints about the adequacy of seating arrangements with opinions about the extravagant and misplaced spending choices of local government and the merits of the complaints, eerily echoing sentiments frequently expressed by the Governor.

On certain SIPT applications the court has deferred its statutory obligation to keep proper records of its proceedings to the SIPT. We know of no other jurisdiction where this happens, but in any event the clear casualty of that choice is the perception that the TCI has an independent and impartial judiciary.

There are reports that the SIPT is misleading the judiciary on basic principles of law and on issues of fact and that the court is mindlessly and blindly accepting self-evidently false and material assertions of fact, dancing around what should be obvious.

There are reports that the Governor’s office has been speaking with the judiciary on sensitive political matters before the court,

apparently only to get an update.

Given the Governor’s frequently expressed political opinions critics argue that he should not be communicating with the judiciary at all on undecided cases, even for an update.

What is interesting about the threats is that most of the public criticism has been the charge that there is no separation of powers and that the judiciary has become the handmaiden of the FCO. In a March 2011 speech the Chief Justice of England and Wales championed freedom of the press as one of two fundamental institutions in a free and democratic society; the other being an “independent judiciary” separate from the executive or government.

He said that both are interdependent, and that in the absence of a free press an independent judiciary is not likely to flourish or fulfil its true constitutional purpose.

He insists that in a properly functioning liberal democracy both protect each other.

We think there is merit to that view and, indeed a judge finally discovered the fortitude to call out the SIPT on a request to ridiculously restrict the travel plans of one of its targets.

Sometimes the obligation to apply the law without favour requires encouragement from a free press.

Yours, Jonathan Gardiner.

Is the TCI beach really public or not?

Dear Editor, I would like to bring to the attention of the public an issue that occurred in the Turtle Tail area of Providenciales on the beach.

On Saturday, January 2013, my wife and grandson along with two family members decided to take a drive to the beach, to do an activity that our family has traditionally enjoyed doing for many years - looking for welch.

When they arrived at the area the public access to the beach was blocked with fill.

They then decided to use an alternative entrance they knew about just a few steps away.

This yard had an uncompleted building on it with an open access to the beach.

They were in the water for about 20 minutes only to see the next door neighbour’s dog running towards them in the water, and the owner following and shouting: “What are you doing here, what are you doing on my property?”

At this time, one could only imagine the fright of my four-yearold grandson as he was approached by this big ferocious dog.

My grandson had never been afraid of dogs but since this incident he is afraid of the smallest dog and even the family dog that he was so accustomed to.

The neighbour began cursing and calling my family derogatory names and asking them to get off her beach.

Her husband then called the police and refused to let up on the dog until the police said they were on the way.

During her conversation with the police she replied: “Why would they need to use my small beach, when

COMMENTARY

Confusing, almost amusing IN the rush to pretend they have an agenda to someday run the affairs of the TCI this new government who promised to hit the ground running has collided head on with confusion and from where we stand down right curious and almost amusing stuff.

Some expected them to bring back the credit card good times and the unregulated giveaways that brought us into abject insolvency.

We have no problem with debt as long as it is serviceable and well secured by something worthwhile.

We have a $120m, 12 per cent loan on two hospitals. That is an astonishingly high golden $4m per bed and we elected the man central to that fiasco to the top job.

He ignores this giving its ministry

By David Tapfer to a gal who wanted first, a much fatter salary. Meanwhile Ewing says to grow the population you need even more health care.

If he believed this, why as one of our only doctors did he become a politician and what some call a timid one?

Meanwhile the Deputy Governor, Anya, a real thinker, warns that another Carnival cruise problem at Grand Turk could be a bigger health care disaster.

Then we have my representative for Middle and North Caicos. Is he chasing resurrection of St. Charles Place, Royal Reef and North Caicos Yacht Club to some portion of their promise of real employment? How about the North Caicos International Airport? All promises made, promises blown.

No, the Don wants to beat up the poor illegal refugees from our neighbor, Haiti. When that made massive international news he ground his transmission into reverse and began to preach making long term residents legal. If you have resided in the TCI for 40 years you

just might need some kind, any kind of status, he says. Obviously the last real rep for North-West, Clarence would do a better job for the biggest most promising islands.

No sooner does Donahue preach growing the population than his Premier says again we don't have enough schools.

Ten years after the PNP took over and not one new Provo public school.

That will now be solved by Education Minister Akierra Missick who will rent another building for a school and second one for a bad boys’ home.

Then she will cut class size in half by hiring more teachers.

Now we know what Washy was talking about when he said there were 250 government jobs open. Do we have 250 unemployed teachers or does Jamaica? How do you pay the rent and

there are bigger beaches out there.”

This was not the first incident where my family was asked to leave the public beach.

The family and the neighbour both gave their explanation to the police of what occurred.

They were told that it was their word against her word.

The police also said that my family had trespassed on private property even though it was not her property and also replied that the beach was public.

What was a more interesting turn of events is that I along with my family attended the Five Cays Police Station to make an official report of the incident just to be told by the police that they could not take a statement because no one was injured.

After the turn of events I felt compelled to write to the media to highlight what is happening in our country.

Where is the justice in this country? It is our public beach now, what next?

I would like if the authorities could look into the beach access situation, by pointing out the locations of all beach access for the benefit of those who come to live among us and the public at large.

This will prevent a reoccurrence of this kind of situation that has the potential to give rise to racial and discriminatory issues that we are not accustomed to in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

God bless, Rev. Daniel Delancy, Pastor of Miracle Revival Mission Church

the wages while you are still trying to pay off the consolidated loan for $260m the PNP blew?

Akierra then swings left and touts sending our hospitality students off to remote and cold Switzerland.

Dream on!

Not to be outdone Minister Porsha Stubbs-Smith is chasing stray dogs. Did her Scotia Bank experience qualify her for dog catcher? Almost amusing.

We have yet to hear from the Minister of Works off in Grand Turk North. Maybe he wiping his brow after dodging the court bullets as he meets with our esteemed engineer on how to sew up the causeways road made of plastic cloth.

Meanwhile back at the ranch the real agenda was one instigated by the PDM to side track VAT. Brought by private member PDM's Sharlene Cartwright Robinson it was passed by everyone except the two governors appointees. Loyalty has no bounds.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Medical Centre gets new CEO THE Cheshire Hall Medical Centre has a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jill Magri, who told the Weekly News that her current priority is improving quality of healthcare.

“I have both a background in hospital administration and in healthcare delivery, having worked as a CEO, a COO (Chief Operations Officer) and a Chief Nursing Officer.

My role here will see me bringing these together,” Magri said.

In an interview on Monday, the new CEO noted that she officially took up her post on January 28 and since then she has met with Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, former Health Minister, Amanda Misick, and Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Health and Education, Desiree Lewis.

Magri acknowledged the controversy surrounding the InterHealth Canada deal and pointed out that the contract sets out terms for delivery of healthcare to the TCI community.

On that note, the new CEO added that she welcomes the work of the Clinical Services Review Board and the Contract Management Team, which will be responsible for the managerial oversight of the hospital contract.

Magri said: “There is a lot of history in terms of the origin of the contract and I know I cannot avoid connection to that, but I am hopeful that the ‘fruits of my labour’ will speak for itself.

“Going forward, while I welcome the work of the two committees, my focus is more about improving the services being delivered to the TCI

Four guilty of attempted murder – Sentencing to take place next week

Cheshire Hall Medical Centre new Chief Executive Officer Jill Magri

community.”

When asked about specific areas that need attention in the push for improved service delivery, the new CEO explained that it is still early and specific areas have not yet been identified.

“The overall aim is to better serve the community, so whatever the areas are we will be working in that direction,” she said.

Magri’s prior post was Field Surveyor (Administrator and RN) at Joint Commission International, an international accreditation body that currently surveys over 450 organisations in 49 countries, assuring that each one meets rigorous international quality and patient safety standards.

She also volunteers her time twice a year on charity medical missions to Mexico to facilitate health services for those in need.

Magri replaces Roger Cheesman as CEO. (VANESSA NARINE)

Deadline for applications to the CDB-sponsored workshops extended CLOSING date for the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) sponsored skills training workshops being offered by the Ministries of Government Support Services and Border Control and Labour has been extended to Friday (February 22).

Both Ministries are urging small and medium contractors and vendors to participate in a series of workshops and seminars aimed at improving their management, job estimation skills and understanding of the new procurement ordinances.

The workshops, which start on February 25, will run until March 1 and are designed to prepare the smaller entrepreneur to better compete in the highly competitive marketplace.

The programme is being sponsored by the TCIG in collaboration with the CDB’s Technological Consultancy Services (CTCS) is a series of workshops aimed at petty, small and medium contractors and vendors.

NEWS 11

The Computerised Job Estimation Tool (CJET) Workshop will run from February 25 to March 1.

The Management Techniques Workshop will run between February 26 and March 1.

A One day Procurement Seminar is also scheduled for the morning of February 25.

The Management Techniques Workshop will include key business modelling concepts and will prepare participants to use internationally accepted management techniques, tools and concepts including computerised cash flow management.

Prospective participants may pick up application forms at the Local District Commissioner’s Office (North Caicos 946-7108, Middle Caicos 946-6100, South Caicos 946-3211 and Salt Cay 9466985); Ministry of Border Control and Labour (Grand Turk, 9462801); and at Employment Services (Providenciales, 946-2801).

FOUR young men have been found guilty of attempting to kill a helpless security guard after stealing his deposit bag containing a massive $75,000.

Unarmed Dwaine ‘Fully’ Fulford, of the Security Centre, feared for his life as he fled from robbers at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in a hail of gunfire last January.

He collapsed to the ground when a bullet pierced his body but luckily survived the serious injury.

On Wednesday (February 20) a jury found Daniel Been Junior, Darrison Nash, Odessa Williams and Bernard Colebrooke guilty of robbery and attempted murder.

They await sentencing.

The three week trial before Justice Joan Joyner and a seven member jury panel at Providenciales Supreme Court began on Thursday, January 31.

Representing the defendants, who all pled not-guilty, was attorney Oliver Smith and for the Crown prosecution was senior counsel Leonard Franklyn.

During the trial all four of the accused exercised their right to silence.

The court heard that on January 12, 2012, Danrick Smith drove the four men to the bushes by Royal Bank of Canada on Leeward Highway, Providenciales, in a maroon Ford F250 truck.

Smith said they were all dressed in black and one of the men was holding something that looked like a gun.

A few hours later he got a call to

pick the men up and on arrival he heard one say: “Mission failed.”

The next day on January 13, 2012, he again took the men to the bank where he left them in the bushes for a second time.

Various witnesses revealed that two of the masked men went into the lobby of the bank and the other two remained outside.

A hapless customer then entered the bank and was immediately pulled to the ground by one of the men. He was ordered to remain there and stay quiet.

Just before 6pm security officer Dwaine Fulford arrived at the bank in a Security Centre van along with armed guard Lofton Morley and driver Simeon Richardson.

Following a quick security check Morley and Richardson remained at the van while Fulford dashed into the lobby in order to make a deposit of $75,291.59 on behalf of money transfer agency CAM. On entering the bank he saw a shadow of a man and was told to “freeze”. He dropped his bag and bolted from the scene down the hill.

One of the men fired a gun repeatedly at the fleeing Fulford who was pierced with a bullet and collapsed to the ground in pain shouting: “I got shot.”

A hospital report later revealed that the bullet entered his buttock and exited his stomach by his bellybutton.

The men then held the gun to the frightened customer’s head and used him as a shield in order

to flee the bank before making their escape to the back of the building.

More than 15 people were called as witnesses during the lengthy trial including RBC branch manager and country head Toure Holder, numerous members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, victim Dwaine Fulford, armed guard Lofton Morley, security officer Simeon Richardson and driver Danrick Smith.

In addition CCTV footage of the robbery was shown along with physical evidence such as bullet shells which supported various testimonies.

On Wednesday following two hours of private discussion on a number of legal issues Judge Joyner offered her closing comments to the jury.

She summed up the case and advised them on various points of law including joint enterprise, common purpose, foreseeability, direct and circumstantial evidence, identification, accomplices, alibis and inconsistencies.

She then went through the charges and listed the possible verdicts before allowing the jury to depart to make their decision.

They returned within two hours with a verdict that all of the men were guilty of both charges.

Been, Nash, Williams and Colebrooke were remanded in custody to await sentencing by Justice Joan Joyner at Providenciales Supreme Court on Monday, March 4. (RB)

LIME customers continue to win LIME’s customers won a total value of $2,000 of groceries in a recent IGA shopping spree promotion.

Jamy Williams, Jellicia Malcolm, Ambiori Hall and Livingstone Lightbourne were each presented with a $500 shopping spree at the Island Fish Fry event.

Customers who topped up $20 or more were eligible for the prize.

LIME also had a ‘pay early and win’ offer for the month of January.

A first prize of $1,000 cash was won by Ms. Consuela HandfieldSkippings, Mr. Dave Gillet won second prize of $600 account credit and a third prize of $400 account credit was captured by Mr. Henry Handfield.

LIME’s customers also got a

chance to win in the month of February when Mrs. Paula Stubbs won the prize of dinner for two at Grace Bay Club.

Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs were treated to a limo ride to and from dinner and they thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Mrs. Paula Stubbs said: “Thanks LIME! We had a wonderful time.

I was so happy to have won this prize.”

General manager, Mr. Drexwell Seymour, said: “This demonstrates that LIME is committed to giving back to customers.”

He continued: “Customers at LIME have a chance to win when they use our products and services and the company will continue to give opportunities to win great

prizes.”

There will be a second LIME draw in the month of February and this will take place on February 28, where a customer will win a weekend stay at Parrot Cay. Customers who sign up for a new ADSL account in the month of February will receive free rental, a free modem and two months’ free rental.

Those who sign up for a postpaid mobile account will receive a new handset and customers who top up $20 or more will also be entered for a chance to win in the second draw.

Each Thursday at the Island Fish Fry powered by LIME, there are other chances for customers to enjoy special offers.

12 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Officials gear up for Education Week 2013 PLANS for this year’s Education Week are full steam ahead with officials putting the final touches on the line-up of exciting activities.

This Wednesday the Ministry of Education, in partnership with Fortis TCI, held a press conference at the power company’s head office in Providenciales to discuss activities for Education Week 2013.

This year’s theme for Education Week is ‘Centres of learning, focusing on partners in education, helping to strengthen the education of the Turks and Caicos Islands’.

Education Week kicks off on March 1 with a parade from the Market Place down to the Town Centre Mall. The parade will involve all of the partners in education.

Director of Education, Edgar Howell, said the science fair is one of the main features of the week’s activities and will be held on March 6 and 7 at the Gustavus Lightbourne

Sports Complex Howell noted that the science fair is broken down into three sections: the exhibition, the creative art and graphics pieces and the quiz competition.

He said: “In the past we saw some creative and talented pieces, we expected the same and even better for 2013.

“I am delighted that Fortis TCI decided to continue to not only work with primary and high schools but they also continue making an impact in providing scholarships for their own employees who will have an opportunity to go abroad to gain skills and then come back to work in Turks and Caicos.

“I hope that this will serve as an example to students when choosing their career paths.”

Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Tamera Robinson, said: “I am excited to see what the students

Students from participating schools in this year’s science fair

are bringing to the table this year.”

This year seven schools will be participating in the science fair and there is expected to be several monetary prizes and trophies up for grabs. (DAISY HANDFIELD)

Some journalists along with lecturer Royston Martin (left) pay close attention to a presentation from colleagues

Journalists benefit from Reuters workshop MEDIA personalities boosted their knowledge, brushed up on their reporting skills and got ready to raise the standards of journalism here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

This was the result of a workshop sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as requested by local media who continue to show interest and commitment in satisfying the public’s desire for informative and accurate news updates.

Governor's spokesman Neil Smith said: “The foreign office is pleased to help to grow the media in the Turks and Caicos … press freedom and the right to know helps to maintain a healthy democracy.”

The four-day workshop, facilitated by Royston Martin of the esteemed Thomson Reuters Foundation, ran from February 14 to 17 at the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).

Martin’s court reporting lectures focused on tips to encourage journalists to report with more confidence on matters of a civil and criminal nature.

The sessions sought to provide a clearer understanding of the judicial system while exploring ways to give a fair, balanced and compelling report.

It explored the UK context and how it may apply to the Turks and Caicos as well as examination of past and present cases for a thorough discussion and understanding.

Present at one of the court reporting sessions was senior council Yaa McCartney from the Attorney Generals Chambers, who provided support with legal matters and answered questions on laws in the TCI. Pleased with the “energy and excitement” of the four days, instructor Martin said: “The most fascinating point for me is how

advanced a lot of the journalism skills are among the group I worked with, despite the fact that there are no particularly big training facilities near here.

“Yet some of the best skills of journalism are certainly being exercised by some pretty junior journalists who seem to have a strong commitment to improving their work.”

Another Reuters representative, Mike Riley, engaged media representatives in separate sessions focused on journalists code of conduct and forming a media society.

Reily, who supplied tips on the establishment of a media association in the TCI, also conducted a seminar in Grand Turk to help the ministers and government better understand the media.

He said that the day-long session successfully covered “how to interact better with the media and why the media is important in society”. (KH)

Acting Premier congratulates Grenada’s Keith Mitchell on election win ACTING Premier, Akierra Missick, congratulated Grenada’s Dr. Keith Mitchell following the victory of his party, the New National Party (NNP), at Tuesday’s polls.

In a press statement this week Missick revealed what she wrote to the new country leader.

“I write on behalf of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to offer congratulations to your New National Party for its resounding victory in the February 19 general elections, and to commend you on your return as Prime Minister of Grenada,” she said.

“The overwhelming mandate given to you by the people of Grenada amply represents the tremendous confidence they have reposed in you to advance their

development and chart a bright future for your country.

“We in the Turks and Caicos Islands have taken note of the sterling contribution which you previously have made not only to Grenada, but also to the Caribbean in general and CARICOM in particular.

“We wish you great success as your new government embarks on navigating the challenges and embracing the opportunities which present themselves to small developing countries like ours.”

Mitchell’s party won all 15 seats in Grenada’s Parliament to regain power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by outgoing Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.

Ten schools will compete in spelling bee finals THE NATIONAL Primary Schools Spelling Bee competition was held at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex in Providenciales on Thursday.

After hours of spelling, 10 schools were successful in making it to the finals.

The schools competing in the finals are BEST Institute, Champions for Christ, Charles Hubert James, Enid Capron, Ona Glinton, Oseta Jolly, Precious Treasures, Provo Christian, Richmond Hill and Wesley Methodist.

The competition started off with 18 schools, and then gradually narrowed down in each round.

Education officer and coordinator for the competition, Sarah Kennedy, said the event has been going on for over 30 years and every year the students seem to be more equipped.

Kennedy said: “The spelling bee is going good so far, both students and the coaches are enthusiastic about the event.

“Our partners in education really stepped out this year.

“We have also noticed that more schools participated this year; Newman’s Preparatory School being one.

“Even though we don’t have a major sponsor, I want to thank everyone that stepped out and helped.”

Coaches stressed that the students have been thoroughly preparing for the event since last year.

When the students were asked about their final expectations, they all had the same goal in mind - to win.

Education officer for the public schools in the TCI, Louise Thomas, awarded the eliminated schools with gift bags containing Kindles, for all of their hard work.

The finals will be held at the Beaches Resort in Providenciales on Friday.

The Weekly News will have the final update on the event, in next week’s edition.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

NEWS 13

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Insights for your Innerspring

How to Think BIG

PART TWO

SEVERAL decades ago a famous scientific study was conducted on primate behavior.

The essence of the study was that

monkeys were introduced to reward (a bunch of bananas at the top of a pole); as well as punishment (an indiscriminate electric shock administered to some subjects climbing the pole).

Because punishment was introduced

this week

Friday, February 22 to Saturday, February 22 conditioned comfort. Happy Hour specials from 4-7pm MondaySaturday

Friday, February 22  Providenciales Primary School 2nd Annual Great Family Skate!

Lace up your skates and join us for PROVIDENCIALES PRIMARY SCHOOL'S 2nd annual GREAT FAMILY SKATE, a fun, family friendly night of great music and great skating at the Graceway Sportscentre.

Food and drinks for sale and prizes for winners of the puckshooting contest (we'll provide the sticks).

Dance area will be set up for those not skating. Children must have adult supervision and wear a helmet while in the rink. Entry fee: $10/skaters, $5/non-skaters (non-skaters under 3 are free). For tickets and/or more information, contact Haley Weldon:hfweldon@ gmail.com Fun starts at 5:30pm

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

 Get into the weekend mood with the intense and electrifying Tae-Bo class at Graceway Sports Centre from 6pm to 7pm. Free for fitness members, $12 for non-members.

Visit www.gracewaysports.com for more information or call 4426349.  Craig Archibold gets the party started at the Regent Palms from 7pm on Friday nights with the sound of classic Caribbean and Motown tunes. Call 946-8666 for details

Saturday, February 23  If you are looking for a serene and relaxed way of starting your weekend, bring your yoga mat at Graceway Sports Centre every Saturday at 9am and let David Bowen lead you into the wonderful world of yoga! Amazing fees for an amazing class! More info at 442-6348.  Mums and Tots Dance Party classes are held every Saturday at Graceway Sports Centre for mothers and their little ones.

Mothers, bring your little ones to dance, jump, twist and shake!

Children have fun learning movement basics to fun music and mums get a light exercise while spending quality time. Mums and Tots classes begin at 10am and cost just $10. Dads are welcome!

Call Shara Bowen on 244-1103 for more details.

Got an event you wish to advertise?

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

as individual subjects were going for a reward this introduced fear into the group and those ones who had felt the shock held back anyone who was trying to go for the reward.

Even when new subjects were introduced into the study who knew nothing about the original reward and punishment scenario; they would eventually prevent other new subjects from moving towards the reward because of the influence of those who were there even before them.

If fluent and coherent language was possible with these primates and they were asked why they were preventing these new subjects from getting the reward they would not be able to tell you.

They themselves could not come up with a plausible answer but could only say that it’s because someone before them stopped their forward progress.

The results of this study are so similar to human behavior. Many persons in our society want to think big but there are so many around them who prevent them fearing some form of punishment will spring upon them for trying or that they may even get the reward, thereby surpassing them.

Quite often these persons who had such great drive and determination soon wilt under the deflating words and disapproving looks of those sedentary observers around them.

Very soon no one is going for the

By Whitney Bain reward, no one is trying and yet the reward is so close.

The bumble bee is a case study in defiance. When one considers everything about the bumble bee one comes to the conclusion that it should not fly; but it does! Observing it you would think that failure is a foregone conclusion in its case. Surely the bumble bee will break its wings under the sheer weight of its body and tumble uncontrollably to the ground with a thunderous splat! But wait, the bumble bee just floats effortlessly in the air, flapping its wings in a graceful rhythm; with it flying is second nature.

Everyone looking on is saying that the bumble bee should not be able to fly; but no one told the bumble bee. In its mind it wants to fly and it does.

All the laws of physics that are applied here are quashed because the bumble bee defies it and succeeds against conventional wisdom.

So, are the laws of physics more real than the desire of the bumble bee to fly?

Clearly, the laws of physics are trumped in this case.

What could we achieve if we did not listen to those knots on the log of life, those benchwarmers, and those Monday morning quarterbacks?

What long-standing belief could we squash just because we have the desire to do what it says we can’t? What are you pursuing? Go after it! What are you considering to do? Just do it!

Stop listening to what people say can’t be done and do it!

Our societies and neighborhoods can be better but it will take us to make it so.

We can become smarter, stronger, and braver; but it takes effort on our part to make it so.

Dr. Schwartz, in his book ‘The magic of thinking big’, leaves the reader to contemplate these final words: Grow BIG by thinking BIG! 1. Don’t sell yourself short. Conquer the crime of self-deprecation.

Concentrate on your assets. You are better than you think you are.

2. Use the big thinker’s vocabulary.

Use big, bright, cheerful words.

Use words that promise hope, victory, happiness, pleasure; avoid words that create unpleasant images of failure, defeat and grief.

3. Stretch your vision. See what can be, not just what is. Practice adding value to things, to people and to yourself.

4. Get the big view of your job, the next grade level or your next business venture. Think; really think your present job, grade or business is important. Promotion to the next level depends mostly on how you think towards your present job, grade or business.

5. Think above trivial things. Focus your attention on big objectives. Before getting involved in a petty matter, ask yourself, “Is it really important?”

Undoubtedly, the unfettered mind is a powerful thing and unlocks possibilities for itself and all those around it. Will those with unfettered minds please stand up and do something!

autism awareness Spectrum of hope – By Nicole Cox

Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole Part One I WAS just about to unload a megaton bomb of information on disorders, delays and look-a-like symptoms when I stumbled across some articles that bring it so close to home.

So, I willingly interrupt the current broadcast to bring you a series of articles that can clarify so much….or can they?

I invite you to come down deeper into the rabbit hole!

“Is It Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or ADD/ADHD?” This week we will look at ‘Understand the difference between sensory processing problems and attention deficit disorder (ADD/ ADHD) in children, by Priscilla Scherer’, from the June/July 2004 issue of ADDitude magazine.

Scherer said: “I remember the day I knew our daughter had a problem.

We were rushing to an appointment, hustling along a crowded sidewalk on a humid summer day. I was cautioning Elisabeth about something, dragging her behind me the way you sometimes do with an almost-four-year-old. The traffic was loud and smelled of exhaust, a kid on a bike was blowing a whistle, and the storefronts were bursting with bright vegetables and flowers.

“Suddenly, my daughter stopped

in her tracks and screamed -- a long, loud scream of agony and frustration -- prompting everyone around us to turn and glare.

“Later, when I asked her why she screamed, she said she didn’t know, she just couldn't control the impulse.

“There was more. Elisabeth was terrified of playground swings and of walking barefoot in grass. She hated crowds and washing her hair. But these I chalked up to developmental angst.

“I knew almost nothing about sensory integration (SI). Only when Elisabeth was evaluated, at age five, as having Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) by an occupational therapist trained in SI, did I begin to understand her perplexing behaviors.

“I remember another day, too, about two years later. Sitting in our school district’s offices with the "special education committee" assigned to evaluate my daughter’s needs, I became furious as the psychologist -- who had never seen my daughter -- pronounced her symptoms as "clearly ADHD," on the basis of a checklist she held in her hands. She was as dismissive of SPD (also known as SI dysfunction) as I was of ADD/ADHD, each of us refusing to entertain the possibility that the other’s diagnosis was correct.

“As it turns out, my daughter has both. But it took another year or so

for me to learn the similarities and differences in the two conditions, or co-morbidities, and to accept treatment for ADHD.” Parents have to examine symptoms side by side, and sometimes end up making some striking parallels, as well as several disparities.

The two conditions don’t necessarily go hand in hand, but they often do.

“Many neurological problems overlap,” explains educator Carol Stock Kranowitz, author of ‘The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Integration Dysfunction’, “Often, a child who has dysfunction in one area will have dysfunction in others.”

According to Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., director of the Sensory Processing Treatment and Research (STAR) Center at the Children’s Hospital in Denver, the correlation of ADD/ADHD and SPD symptoms is shown by a new national study of children ages two to 21 done at the University of Colorado.

Parents reported that, of children who showed symptoms of either ADD/ADHD or SPD, 40 per cent displayed symptoms of both, When ADHD and SPD do coexist, however, it’s important to distinguish one from the other because their treatments are different.

Lifestyle...

14

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

The Dentist and you  Mark Osmond BDS (Lond) LDS RCS (Eng). Mark Osmond Dental Clinic - (649) 432 3777, drmosmond@gmail.com or Find us on Facebook

Soda and your teeth YOU may have read recently in the press about a 25-year-old man in Australia who has been fitted with dentures due to the fact that he drank so much soda that he lost all his teeth.

According to the reports, the man refused to drink water and instead was drinking six to eight liters of sugary coke per day. Although his dentist had warned him about the risks, he still refused to change his habits and ended up with such severe dental decay that it gave him blood poisoning. Ultimately he had all of

Amazing Apple Bread

Dr Mark Osmond his teeth removed and dentures fitted.

This is obviously quite a shocking and extreme story but it does provide a good illustration of how sugar, and particularly sugary drinks, can be a threat to dental health.

Sugar and Teeth When you drink sugary drinks, the naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth use the sugar to make acid. It is this acid that attacks the teeth and creates tooth decay and cavities. Your mouth becomes an acid environment for about 30 minutes before your saliva balances (buffers) the acid and your mouth returns to a more neutral state. If, like the man in Australia, you are constantly drinking soda

throughout the day your mouth will never have chance to ‘recover’ and it will maintain the acid environment all day. It is then inevitable that your teeth will be under attack from that acid and decay will ensue. The format of a liquid means that the sugar easily swills around the mouth and very effectively coats the teeth.

You might be surprised to know that it isn’t just the sugary sodas that are bad for your teeth. Energy drinks such as Gatorade and Red Bull are high in sugar as are regular fruit juices. Also watch out for many of the so-called ‘heathy’ flavoured water or vitamin drinks as these can often contain significant amounts of sugar. It is definitely worth reading the packaging.

Acid and Teeth Some drinks may not be high in sugar but can be as damaging to your teeth as they contain acid, which can go to directly attack your teeth. Diet sodas are a good example as they are

health Tip 

A favorite bread recipe, it is moist, sweet, and delicious bread with a crispy crust.

Ingredients • 2 eggs • 2 cups white sugar • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 2 cups apples, peeled and diced • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt • 1 teaspoon baking powder Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan.

2. Beat eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl; add apples.

3. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a separate bowl; add to apple mixture and stir just until evenly combined into a thick batter.

Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cover loaf pan with aluminum foil; continue baking until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes more. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away APPLES belong to the Rose family of plants and are joined in that family by a wide range of very popular foods, including apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, and almonds.

According to research, foods in the Rose family are simply too diverse in their nutrient value to allow for any one single recommendation about the number of servings that we should consume from this family on a weekly basis.

However, when focusing specifically on apples, several anti-cancer studies show daily intake of this fruit to provide better anti-cancer benefits than lesser amounts.

So there is some truth to that old

phrase, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

The health benefits of apples vary from their antioxidant content and their cardiovascular support to their ability to support blood sugar regulation and to decrease the risk of asthma.

While not as developed as research in other areas, preliminary health benefits of apples have also been established for several agerelated health problems, including macular degeneration of the eye and neurodegenerative problems, including Alzheimer's disease.

In animal studies, prevention of bone loss has also been an area of investigation, particularly related to the phloridizin content of apples.

sugar-free but are high in acid. If you drink an acidic drink, for example fruit juice at breakfast, do not brush your teeth immediately afterwards.

This might sound counter-intuitive but this is because the acid causes the tooth enamel to de-mineralize (soften) and immediate brushing can brush away the softened enamel.

Waiting 30 minutes will enable the enamel to re-mineralize and then you can safely brush.

Recommendations As much as possible I would recommend cutting down on soda and view it as a special-occasion treat rather than an everyday occurrence;

as well as being bad for teeth soda is not considered good for you general health either. If you do have a soda, a drinking straw can be a useful tool as it directs the drink straight to the back of the mouth, helping it to avoid contact with the teeth. Also, drinking a glass of water immediately afterwards can help to wash away the sugar from the teeth…. Although dropping the soda and just drinking the glass of water is even better!

Finally brushing twice a day and regular visits to the dentist will ensure that any problems are detected and treated early and, unlike our Australian friend, you are not left with dentures before your twenty-sixth birthday.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Lifestyle...

GARDENING 

15

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

How does your garden grow

YOUR DIET

ASK TAMIKA

BY TAMIKA HANDFIELD

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

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

Aloe

ALOE, is a genus containing about four hundred species of flowering succulent plants.

The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe".

Aloe are indigenous plants from Africa and have been introduced into the West Indies where they are extensively cultivated. They are succulent plants belonging to the Lily family.

People often confuse Aloe with Agave which is also a succulent plant, but belongs to the Agavaceae family.

What people are most surprised about the Aloes is that they will flourish, which you wouldn’t be able to see if you were to keep it as a house plant.

Aloe is very easy to grow in sandy or gravel type soils with good drainage. A single plant will expand considerably as it produces its offsets. Divide the crowded clumps periodically. It likes full sun to partial shade. Plants grown in partial shade usually look healthier and darker green. The Aloe plants in full sun will problably have yellow leaves.

The aloe is very tolerant of drought, although the tips of the leaves may wither and curl during hot, dry periods. Supplemental watering will keep the leaves plump and juicy, but this is a great desert garden plant. It also could be used as a ground cover. They are very salt tolerant, and a good choice for a seaside garden There are generally only two kinds of Aloes that we find in the TCI. The most popular one is the Aloe Vera. The transparent gel from the pulp of the meaty leaves is used for thousands of years to treat skin infections, burns, and numerous

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

other dermatologic conditions. You will see this species flowering yellow during the spring time.

Soap aloe, oppositely, doesn’t have any medicinal benefit for the skin. Rather, you should avoid having the gel from this plant on your skin as it could irritate it. This specie grows in a stem-less rosette, and produces little offset rosettes around its margin. The main rosette gets up to about a foot and a half tall and just as wide. The lance-shaped leaves are thick and succulent, pale green with white speckles. The leaf margins are armed with sharp, dark brown teeth. Throughout much of the summer, soap aloe sends up a purplish branched stalk about 2 ft

(0.6 m) tall, orange or red flowers.

Another interesting Aloe is the Aloe Barberae, it is a striking sculptural tree aloe reaching up to 30 feet in height. The branching is forked or dichotomous and eventually forms a spreading, rounded crown. It leaves are arranged in a dense rosette, they are long, narrow, deeply channeled and curved. The leaf surface is dark green with a toothed margin. The inflorescence is simple or divided into three side branches. The racemes are cylindrical and its tubular flowers rose pink (green-tipped). It forms an excellent focal point in the garden.

It is easily distinguished by its grey, smooth bar. It thrives in cultivation and is easily propagated.

Stroke and Heart Disease

LAST week a new study made headlines in American news: ‘Southern Diet Sends Stroke Risks Soaring’.

Appearing as an ABC News article, the study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, stated that people who regularly ate foods traditionally found in the southern diet had a whopping 41 per cent increased risk of stroke -and in African-Americans, it was 63 per cent higher risk.

These are some staggering statistics not only for the American population, but these numbers also have implications for us in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The term African-American, refers to the Blacks or people from African descent. If you look around in the TCI, you will see that the majority of our population is Black.

Secondly, the foods we eat are very similar. No, the foods may not be exactly the same, but the methods of preparation are almost identical--battered, slathered in butter, deep-fried and laden with salt.

If you are familiar with foods in the Southern cuisine then you know those foods are all very pleasing to the palate but very bad for the arteries. Southern staples such as chicken-fried steak, deep-fried gizzards and candy-sweet tea compared with island staples like peas and rice loaded with pig’s tail served with oxtails, baked macaroni and cheese and potato salad are very high in fat, cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fat; all of which promotes our risk of suffering a stroke or developing heart disease.

All of the excess fat floating around in the blood leads to our platelets becoming sticky increasing the chances of clots forming.

Clots can cause a stroke or a major heart attack.

One way to prevent this is to eat a diet that is low in fat, especially the bad fats, but adequate in the healthy fats.

Limit or avoid foods like doughnuts or other fried foods and increase your intake of avocados, nuts, fish (salmon, sardines, tuna), olive and canola oil. Participating in regular, vigorous exercise four to five days a week also promotes a healthy heart. Find activities that you like and do those with your friends.

During this Heart Awareness Month, learn more about foods that are heart protective and help to reduce your risk of developing a stroke.

For more help in selecting foods that heart healthy, contact me for an appointment.

ACCU Medical Nutrition is based in Graceway IGA Plaza, Providenciales.

Call 946 8308, 242 3978 or 442 3978.

16

Regional News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NNP wins Grenada elections in historic clean sweep 65-YEAR-old Keith Claudius Mitchell entered into the history of Caribbean politics when he led his New National Party (NNP) to a clean sweep of the 15 seats at stake in Tuesday’s general election, becoming the first political leader here to achieve the feat, having previously done so in 1999.

Mitchell, whose NNP had been booted out of office in 2008 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of outgoing prime minister Tillman Thomas, said however he hoped to leave a legacy of having united the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Preliminary results showed that the NNP, which had only four seats in the last parliament, had been able to attract many of 62, 146 people who were eligible to cast a ballot in the general election.

In the Bahamas: Court Dismisses Paedophile’s Appeal Over Sex With Girl,11

BEFORE dismissing the appeal of a paedophile who challenged his 39-month jail term for having sex with an 11-yearold girl, Court of Appeal judges told the man his actions were “extremely serious and egregious”.

That said, Justices Anita Allen, Stanley John and Neville Adderley rejected the appeal of Alexander McPhee and affirmed the sentence handed down by Justice Vera Watkins in May of last year.

McPhee was unanimously convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in December 2011.

According to the testimony of the victim, the abuse took place every night for a sevenmonth period between July 2006 and February 2007.

Law enforcement officers were notified when the matter was reported on February 21, 2007 by the girl’s mother and grandmother.

McPhee was sentenced to seven years in prison in May 2012.

However, Justice Vera Watkins, who presided over the matter, subtracted the time that McPhee had spent in custody on remand, resulting in his prison term being reduced to a little more than three years.

(Tribune242.com)

“As I watched your faces through the campaign...I am even more deeply committed that all of us must be a united family,” Mitchell told supporters who had gathered at the Tanteen playing ground on the outskirts of the capital to celebrate the victory.

“I have accepted the awesome responsibility that you have placed on my shoulders, me and my team,” he said, adding he was accepting the challenge with “the greatest humility”.

Mitchell, who will be sworn into office on Wednesday, said “I have asked Almighty God what have I done to deserve this, insisting “this is not a Keith Mitchell victory, it is your victory.

He said he wants his legacy of 30 years in public life to be “that I have done all I can to unite the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique”.

The results was a bitter blow for Thomas and the NDC that sought to portray itself as a united party following the infighting that led to the dismissal and resignation of senior cabinet ministers including tourism minister Peter David and foreign affairs minister Karl Hood.

Former Cabinet minister Glyniss Roberts, who along with David, Hood and prominent trade unionist Chester Humphrey, were booted out of the NDC last year, did not fare well as leader of the National United Front (NUF) during the election.

She along with two other NUF candidates had contested the elections but the results showed that the party was not a force to reckon with.

For his part, Thomas headed a number of senior cabinet ministers including finance minister Nazim Burke that were trounced by relatively new comers to the politics.

Thomas polled 1,153 votes as against 1, 288 for political newcomer Clifton Paul, a retired teacher, while Burke Burke was swept aside in the St. George’s North East constituency by the relatively unknown candidate, Tobia Clement, a lecturer at the St. George’s University here, who later told reporters that “I say to God be the glory”.

Thomas had conceded defeat soon as it became apparent that the NNP would sweep the polls and NDC deputy chairman Kent Joseph appeared on television to congratulate the NNP.

Stanford investors sue Antigua, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank A GROUP of former investors of the Antigua-based Stanford International Bank (SIB) has filed a civil lawsuit here against Antigua and Barbuda and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), claiming that they aided jailed Texas billionaire Allen Stanford in his massive US$7 billion Ponzi scheme.

The former investors, calling themselves the Official Stanford Investors Committee, are seeking repayment of at least US$90 million in loans that Stanford allegedly made to Antigua and Barbuda.

“Antigua knowingly provided necessary assistance to Stanford’s US$7 billion Ponzi scheme and, in exchange, received millions of dollars in loans whose repayment terms Stanford did not enforce,” the committee alleged in a complaint filed in Dallas federal district court.

Stanford, 62, was convicted in March of masterminding the Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors through the sale of bogus certificates of deposit at the SIB. He is currently serving a 110-year sentence in a Florida federal prison as he appeals his conviction.

Testimony at Stanford’s trial revealed that the financier allegedly bribed former Antigua banking regulator Leroy King to falsify

audits certifying SIB’s investment returns and misleading US securities regulators investigating Stanford’s operations. King is yet to be extradited to the US to face criminal charges.

The former investors have separately sued the ECCB, which nationalised Stanford’s other financial institution in Antigua, the Bank of Antigua, after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seized Stanford’s enterprises on suspicion of fraud in February 2009.

“The considerable value of the Bank of Antigua, believed to be in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, should be distributed as compensation to its rightful owners, Stanford’s victims and creditors,” said the committee in the lawsuit.

In an earlier suit, Tom Bayko, Antigua and Barbuda’s attorney, said the island was protected from such litigation by foreign sovereign immunity.

Ralph Janvey, Stanford’s courtappointed receiver, has also filed another lawsuit against 23 former Stanford Financial Group Company executives, claiming breach of fiduciary duty. The former directors and officers of Stanford’s operations include three executives convicted of furthering the Ponzi scheme. (CMC)

February 23 - March 1, 2013

US$11M worth of cocaine seized in Guyana Anti-narcotics agents on Tuesday intercepted approximately 314 kilos of cocaine hidden in a container of lumber at the Guyana Timber Products Inc. at Soesdyke, Linden and up to press time three men, including a Dutch national, were in custody in connection with the find.

The cocaine, just over 692 pounds and with a street value of US$11M ($2.2B Guyana dollars), was being prepared for export to Holland at the time of the bust, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) boss James Singh said.

CANU ranks as well as officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Drug Enforcement Unit spent hours inspecting each log in the container. The cocaine was wrapped in one pound parcels and was carefully concealed in the hollowed-out logs, which were then carefully fitted back together. One log held as much as 18 parcels.

Officials left the lumber yard, located at Lot 80 Public Road, just after the Linden/ Soesdyke

Highway junction heading in the direction of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri late yesterday afternoon.

Guyana Timber Products Inc is a Dutch-owned operation with a Guyanese Managing Director and Chairman. The company has an office at Shantinikhetan Street, Prashad Nagar and at Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

Singh told Stabroek News that the discovery was made some time between 10am and 11am.

He explained that the officers were searching a container that was already loaded with timber and the cocaine was “found in the timber.”

Two Guyanese are among those arrested and Singh said that at the moment others are not being pursued in connection with the case. He said that this discovery is probably the second largest in recent times, as the cocaine in soap powder bust made last December netted 325 kilos.

(Stabroek News)

St Lucia latest Caribbean country to join PetroCaribe

THE St. Lucia government says it expects to accrue major benefits for the island following the decision of Castries to join the Venezuelan oil initiative, PetroCaribe.

“This will make it possible for the country to receive a regular supply of petroleum products from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangements that are currently being utilized by several other nations in the Caribbean,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Energy.

It said that the decision to join PetroCaribe had been taken against a background of ever-escalating fuel costs and the adverse impact this was having on the economy, which is totally dependent on imported petroleum products.

“While our government is committed to making the transition to renewable sources of energy, St Lucia will continue to rely on imported petroleum as its main source of energy for the foreseeable future. PetroCaribe gives government greater flexibility to manage and stabilise the prices of petroleum products on the local market.”

The statement said that equally importantly is that the revenue derived from the PetroCaribe arrangements will be used to invest in social development programmes and social infrastructure in St Lucia, as has been done successfully in

neighbouring Caribbean countries.

“Government believes there is tremendous benefit in St Lucia entering into these arrangements at this time, as it allows us to learn from the mistakes and challenges that have been encountered by our sister islands and put measures in place to ensure that these problems do not feature in Saint Lucia’s context.”

The statement said that PetroCaribe will provide a measure of certainty in the supply of petroleum products to St Lucia regardless what happens with the proposed sale of the Hess Oil Terminal Facility by its owners, the Hess Corporation.

The decision to join PetroCaribe had been strongly opposed by the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) which complained about the possibility of a further increase in debt, while a local financial expert cautioned against St. Lucia joining the oil alliance stating that Caracas had isolated itself far too much from the world financial markets and global community.

PetroCaribe provides for several Caribbean countries to purchase oil from Venezuela on conditions of preferential payment. The alliance was launched in 2005 and was aimed at strengthening the countries that are members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). (CMC)

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Regional News

Haiti to benefit from CARICOM membership HAITI’s membership in CARICOM and its anticipated participation in the regional single market present opportunities for improving the lives of the Haitian people, CARICOM secretary-general Ambassador Irwin Larocque said.

Speaking at the CARICOM heads of government meeting in Port-auPrince, Ambassador Larocque said the lives of Haitians will improve through co-operation and economic benefits that can be derived from commerce and trade.

Addressing the Opening Session of the 24th Inter-Sessional Meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, Ambassador Larocque said some of these benefits have already begun to be realised.

“For example, the work of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS, and soon, with collaboration among the universities of the region, as well as the one way duty free access to the other Member States of CARICOM for some of your products,” he said.

Haiti is hosting the Meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM for the first time, and Ambassador Larocque said there is “no greater indicator, symbolic and substantive, that Haiti has taken its rightful place within the Caribbean Community.”

“This is certainly one occasion that the use of the word historic is most fitting,” he said. “Ten and a half years after its formal accession as a Member State of CARICOM, for the first time a President of Haiti is Chairman of CARICOM.

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

“Also for the first time, Haiti is hosting a Meeting of the Heads of Government.”

Mr Larocque said the fact that the country “has been able to rise above its monumental challenges of the recent past” and take over leadership of our Caribbean Community is testimony to the strength and resilience of its people.

“These are attributes which have earned you, the Haitian people, the admiration of all the Caribbean and should serve as an inspiration to your brothers and sisters in the region as we all confront the tough social and economic challenges of this time.”

Secretary-General Larocque said there is an added significance to Haiti’s assumption of the leadership of the Caribbean Community.

“This year we celebrate our 40th anniversary and what better way to begin that commemoration than having our most recent member leading the way. For, even as we look back with justifiable pride in our achievements over the last 40 years, we must embrace the promise of our future through accepting new ideas and seeking new perspectives.

The achievement of the past is no guarantee of success in the future.

“Therefore, so must we. As we go forward to the next 40 years, in accepting that the imperative for integration of our small states is undeniable, we also have to accept that we must change our modes of operation if we are to deliver to our people the standard of living they desire,” Ambassador Larocque said.

(Tribune242.com)

Mobile money just steps away in Jamaica JAMAICA is not too far away from seeing money remitted from overseas being sent to mobile phones.

The Development Bank of Jamaica’s (DBJ’s) non-commercial pilot, which will test loan disbursements over mobile networks over the next year or two, could give the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) the remaining piece of information it needs to provide the complete regulatory framework for mobile money, as it is called.

But the technology needed to provide wide-ranging mobile financial services is already here.

Transcel developed the software that will deliver high-level, secured financial transactions for the pilot.

The company, which will also manage the micro accounts, is positioning itself to be a major service provider when commercial use of mobile money gets the allclear from the central bank.

Its mobile money application, which works on feature phones used by 70 per cent of Jamaica’s population and which uses GPRS to make financial transactions across the networks, enables it to rapidly deploy its service on a wide scale.

“GPRS, by design, is an interoperable service,” said Hugo Daley, Transcel’s CEO. “In terms of our core transaction framework, it is a web services integration framework which is specifically designed to connect very quickly to networks. Just like with NCB, we could connect with credit unions…. within half a day.”

He was referring to the arrangement Transcel has with National Commercial Bank (NCB) under DBJ’s pilot, which connects the service provider to NCB’s network that by extension is connected to the cross-bank, nationwide automated banking machine (ABM) network provided by JETS, called MultiLink.

NCB will hold DBJ funds in a trust account, which is to be accessed by approved microfinance institutions (MFIs) for on-lending, and will also act as the central bank’s certifying agent.

The BOJ requires that persons’ identities be verified by a qualified agent, or, in other words, individuals wanting to use mobile money services have to physically appear at an entity regulated by the central bank, in this case, NCB. But that should change soon enough.

The mobile money pilot includes a fourth and final phase, which, after extensive consultation with the central bank over the course of the project yields all the necessary guidance for mobile money to go ahead, aims to “open services to a wide market, and open a wider array of payment mechanisms, and transfer mechanism”, according to Daley.

“Rather than have to go to an NCB agent they go to a qualified network approved agency under the BOJ guidance,” he said. That could be anywhere, from a supermarket to an outlet that sells lottery tickets.

The central bank has already issued guidance on certain electronic

retail payments — which doesn’t necessarily cover more complex transactions like lending — and will start taking applications from investors interested in becoming service providers in April.

That set of guidance establishes capital and liquidity requirements for agencies, but it also relaxed know your customer (KYC) rules that make it more difficult for the unbanked to become a part of the formal financial system.

For instance, mobile money customers won’t have to verify their source of funds, provide proof of address and occupation/business details for accounts below $50,000.

Although designed over four, threemonth phases, the DBJ’s project may take longer than a year. Discussions among the development bank, Transcel, NCB and the BOJ in between phases may be lengthy and any stage of the project could conceivably run longer than three months.

But when the full range of mobile money services are ready to be rolled out, it may revolutionise the financial sector.

“The motivation behind mobilising social benefit transfers (such as remittances) is to make small transfers feasible and to avoid the waste in terms of the bureaucratic and physical process in transfers that exists today,” said Daley. “Just as in Kenya, the likelihood is that the total volumes of money that will go into the institutions that support these transfers will get less.”

Urgent and drastic action needed to combat regional crime – Opines T&T PM TRINIDAD and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar warned regional leaders yesterday that they need to adopt “urgent and drastic action” to deal with the scourge of transnational crime in the Caribbean.

Addressing the leaders at the 24th intersessional summit here, Persad Bissessar, who has lead responsibility for security within the quasi Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Cabinet, said “I fear we have found ourselves in a very serious situation and we are running out of time as the scourge of transnational crime is slowly taking over the region.

“The time has come, colleagues, for urgent and drastic action.

Globalization has caused us to redefine the concept of national security,” she told the meeting that is also being attended by United States

Attorney General Eric Holder.

Crime and security is a major item to be considered by the leaders and a CARICOM Secretariat statement said the “discussions will be taking place against a backdrop of high levels of crime in many of the member states with the use of firearms being of particular concern”.

The Trinidad and Tobago prime minister said that the emerging reality for governments is that criminal activity is more often than not influenced and precipitated by external factors, transnational in nature.

“This is particularly true for many of our countries, where external influences have dictated the development and growth of specific crimes, such as drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and money laundering, which have in turn mushroomed and influenced other activities which now directly impact on the security of our nation states.

“I think that we can all agree that

traditional state-centered security or security built on the notion of only protecting the borders of the nation state can no longer address the modern-day security concerns,” she said, noting that the threats facing the region are non-traditional and “we must therefore find non-traditional unique ways of confronting and overcoming them”.

She told her colleagues the evidence is clear, the motivation is unquestionable.

“We again today have an opportunity to unify and harmonize our approach to security in the region.

“We do have a track record of success in this regard. We did it in 2007 for the hosting of Cricket World Cup. We created a single domestic travel space. We provided resources for the establishment of a CARICOM Operations and Planning Staff (COPAC).”

She said the enabling pieces of legislation were passed in most

“We are running out of time,” Trinidad PM tells leaders at the CARICOM Intersessional summit.

CARICOM countries, including the Treaty on Security Assistance, The Visiting Forces Act, The Visiting Police Forces Act, to name a few of these statutes.

“If we could have done it back then for an international sporting tournament, what’s to prevent us from doing what is required for the sake of the security of our citizens?

“The fundamental role of any government in a democratic society

is the protection of the individual rights of its citizens. To effectively discharge this responsibility, demands that governments be cognizant of and respond to a myriad of threats to the State, which may originate both internally and externally.”

She said the ongoing objective for Caribbean leaders should and must be the creation of a safer CARICOM, in perception and reality. (Caribbean 360)

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World News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Italy election: Berlusconi tax letter causes outrage SILVIO Berlusconi is trying to buy votes in Italy’s election on Sunday by sending out letters promising a tax rebate, his rivals have alleged.

Centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani labelled it a “scam”, while the leader of a smaller party accused Mr Berlusconi of committing a crime.

The letter was sent to voters in swing regions of Italy.

It vows to scrap the unpopular property tax brought in under exPrime Minister Mario Monti and pay voters back.

Mr Berlusconi had already made the pledge on the campaign trail, but putting it in a letter to voters outraged his opponents.

“If I’d crossed paths with Berlusconi after the letter was sent, I’d have told him he’s a cheat,” said Mr Bersani, whose long-time lead in the polls has been gradually cut back

by Mr Berlusconi.

Former anti-mafia prosecutor Antonio Ingroia, who leads new left-wing Civic Revolution party, said on his website: “With the letter sent to Italians promising money in exchange for votes, Berlusconi has committed one crime, possibly two.”

He called for Mr Berlusconi to be prosecuted.

House ‘sacred’ The letter came in an officiallooking envelope, headed: “Important notice: reimbursement of

Pope Benedict XVI will stand down from February 28.

Mr Berlusconi says houses are “sacred” and should not be taxed.

IMU 2012.”

“The refund will be available either through a transfer into your bank account, or to you personally at the counter of the post office,” the letter said, according to Reuters.

It was sent to millions of households in Sicily, Veneto, Campania and Lombardy - key regions which could decide the result of the election, which is held on Sunday and Monday.

The IMU tax amounts to 0.4% of the value of a property owner’s primary residence, and is comparable to similar taxes levied elsewhere in Europe.

Polls have shown it is the most unpopular of the budget measures

brought in by the Monti government to try to restore confidence in Italy’s finances.

Market confidence in Italy collapsed during 2011 because of its very high debt burden, and only began to recover after Mr Berlusconi resigned as prime minister and Mr Monti took over.

Mr Berlusconi has declared: “The house is sacred. It should not be taxed.”

But Mr Monti, who is also heading an election coalition, retorted: “When I said that Berlusconi would try to buy the votes of the Italian people with the money of the state, I didn’t think he would [do it] to the letter.” (BBC)

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pleads guilty to $750,000 campaign fund scheme FORMER U.S Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., once a high-rising Democratic star, pleaded guilty Wednesday to misuse of campaign funds for personal reasons, including buying Michael Jackson, Bruce Lee and Martin Luther King Jr. memorabilia.

“Sir, for years I lived in my campaign,” he told a federal judge, later briefly dabbing his eyes with a Kleenex. “I used monies that should have been used for campaign purposes, and I used them for myself personally, to benefit me personally.

And I am acknowledging that that which the government has presented is accurate.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson, his wife and three other Jackson children were in the court of U.S. District Judge Robert Wilkins for a legal doubleheader of family misery.

Sandi Jackson, the former congressman’s wife, was scheduled to plead guilty on related tax charges later in the day. She walked into court with him, hand-in-hand, and at one point dabbed her eyes with several fingers as he pleaded guilty.

Wednesday’s sessions were the latest events in the stunning downfall

Pope considers changing Vatican constitution POPE Benedict XVI is considering changing the Vatican constitution to allow a vote for his successor to begin before March 15, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Wednesday.

Benedict, 85, shocked the world last week when he announced his intention to stand down effective February 28, citing the frailty of old age.

Existing rules say the Roman Catholic Church’s cardinals should

start voting on a replacement from 15 to 20 days after the papal throne becomes vacant. With Benedict’s resignation due to start February 28, the cardinals’ conclave ordinarily would start no sooner than March 15.

But Lombardi has said that because Benedict was leaving the papacy through resignation rather than death, the Vatican would explore the possibility of selecting a new pope sooner than normally prescribed. (CNN)

Saudi Health Ministry under fire in case of girl and alleged HIV-tainted blood THE case of a 12-year-old girl who reportedly received a transfusion of HIV-positive blood has sparked outrage across Saudi Arabian society, with angry calls for the health minister to resign.

In this ultraconservative Islamic kingdom, where HIV and AIDS remain taboo subjects and open criticism of government officials is relatively rare, the case of Reham alHakami has prompted unprecedented widespread discussion of both issues.

Mohammed Almadi, of the government-backed Human Rights Commission that is investigating the case, said Reham, who has sickle cell anemia, received a blood transfusion

on February 12 at the main hospital in Jazan, her village. A few hours later, a team from the hospital came to her house to tell the family that the blood was HIV-positive.

She was then airlifted to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. It remains unclear whether Reham has tested positive for HIV. “This was a case of negligence,” Almadi said.

Widespread online chatter and subsequent discussions in the Saudi media prompted the Health Ministry to issue a statement Monday calling the incident a “critical error” and apologizing to the girl, her family and Saudi society.

Former Chicago congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. arrives at the U.S. District Federal Courthouse in Washington, where he entered a guilty plea to misusing $750,000 in campaign funds.

Magdalene laundries: Irish Prime Minister issues apology

of Jackson, 47, who served 17 years in Congress before resigning last fall. He’s been beset by the federal criminal investigation, diagnosis of bipolar disorder and disclosure of his own philandering. He resigned in November after winning an easy re-election.

He told Wilkins that he has been under the care of a psychiatrist and treated for alcohol addiction but

THE Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), Enda Kenny, has formally apologised on behalf of the state for its role in the Magdalene laundries.

Some 10,000 women and girls were made to do unpaid manual labour in laundries run by Roman Catholic nuns in Ireland between 1922 and 1996.

More than a quarter of those who spent time in the laundries had been sent there by the Irish state.

that he fully understood the charges against him. In waiving his right to a trial and pleading guilty, he said, “I’ve never been more clear in my life. I fully understand the consequences of my actions.”

The government seeks restitution of $750,000 taken from his campaign funds. Federal sentencing guidelines could result in a five-year prison term and $250,000 fine.

Mr Kenny apologised to all the women affected.

He said their experiences had cast a “long shadow” over Irish life and that it had been “humbling and inspiring” to meet them.

“For 90 years Ireland subjected these women, and their experience, to a profound indifference,” he said.

“By any standards it was a cruel and pitiless Ireland, distinctly lacking in mercy. (BBC)

February 23 - March 1, 2013

World News

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

19

White House unveils trade-theft battle plan

Bulgaria has been under eight days of nationwide protests.

Bulgaria’s government resigns amid protests BULGARIAN Prime Minister Boyko Borisov tendered his government’s resignation Wednesday after eight days of nationwide protests over high energy bills, his office said.

The protests against soaring electricity bills have morphed into wider discontent over austerity and the way the country is being run, the official Bulgarian News Agency reported.

Parliament will vote Thursday on whether to accept the Cabinet’s resignation, the government said.

If it is accepted, the president will announce an election date.

“We will perform our functions until the election of a new Cabinet

and we will do everything possible to ensure continuity,” Borisov said in the formal resignation letter read to parliament, according to the Bulgarian News Agency.

The government has done its best to respond to the protesters’ demands, the news agency quoted Borisov as saying.

Borisov, who has been prime minister since 2009, earlier told lawmakers his GERB party would not be part of a caretaker government.

Bulgaria, a country of just over 7 million people, held its first free multiparty elections since the Second World War in 1990, according to the CIA World Factbook. (CNN)

THE White House was expected to announce a raft of anti-hacking measures a day after a report linked China’s military to prolific cybertheft.

Possible actions include fines or other trade enforcements against China or any other country found guilty of hacking.

The US says it has repeatedly raised concerns with China about cyber-attacks and stolen trade data.

China’s military says the report by a US-based security company is flawed, lacking “technical proof”.

Executives from GE and American Superconductor, both of which do business in China, are expected to attend as the White House rolls out its strategy.

FINGER POINTING “The strategy that we are releasing today co-ordinates and improves US government efforts to protect the innovation that drives the American economy and supports jobs in the United States,” a White House official said.

“This strategy is not focused on any one country, nor is it focused on cyber-security exclusively, though

cyber does play an important role in the strategy.”

Tuesday’s detailed report by Mandiant identified a Shanghai highrise used by China’s military as the probable home of hackers to whom it attributed multiple attacks on US companies.

The group, labelled in the report as APT1, was staffed by hundreds of proficient English speakers, Mandiant said.

APT1 had hacked into 141 companies across 20 industries, stealing hundreds of terabytes of information including blueprints, business plans, pricing documents, user credentials, emails and contact lists.

China’s government has long been suspected of a role in cyber-hacking.

But the issue has become more high-profile in recent months following widely reported hacks into media outlets including the New York Times.

That incident followed the newspaper’s report on the wealth of outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao’s relatives.

On Tuesday, state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland

Nick Clegg said Labour had undermined confidence by getting its immigration estimates wrong.

Clegg warns against EU migration ‘guesstimates’ Rafael Correa thanked his supporters outside the presidential palace.

Ecuador election: President Rafael Correa wins new term ECUADOR’S President Rafael Correa has been re-elected for a third term with more than 50% of the vote.

His main challenger has admitted defeat.

Addressing his supporters in the capital, Quito, Mr Correa called for “another four years of revolution”.

First elected in 2007, the socialist leader is widely credited with bringing political stability to a nation that suffered decades of protests and coups.

But critics accuse Mr Correa of

being a dictator in the making.

The 49-year-old US-trained economist has been accused of implementing policies that have served to strengthen his hold on power and erode the influence of political opponents and private media.

But his so-called “citizens’ revolution” has made him popular with many ordinary Ecuadoreans and has won him friends among other Latin American left-wing leaders. (BBC)

NICK Clegg has refused to reveal estimates of the number of Romanians and Bulgarians expected to come to the UK when restrictions on their right to work are lifted next year.

The deputy PM said the figures were not “precise”, more like “guesstimates”.

Making them public would not help “public confidence in the immigration system”, he told LBC Radio.

Ministers were contradicting themselves and were “in a hopeless mess” over the issue, Labour’s Chris Bryant said.

People from Romania and Bulgaria have been free to live in the UK and anywhere else in the EU since 2007, but in the UK have either had to apply for one of the limited

work permits available, been selfemployed or worked in a specific list of jobs such as seasonal agricultural ones and domestic servants.

According to the ONS, in July 2012 there were 94,000 people who were born in Romania and 47,000 people who were born in Bulgaria resident in the UK. Ministers say that the impact of the transitional controls, and the fact that eight other EU countries will see those restrictions end at the same time as the UK at the end of 2013, make forecasts difficult.

Speaking on his weekly LBC phone-in show, Mr Clegg said the government had “estimates, but they are estimates”, adding, when asked to reveal them: “I don’t think it helps public confidence in the immigration system.”

said that the issue had come up “in virtually every meeting we have with Chinese officials”.

Estimated losses from cyberespionage and theft of trade secrets totalled more than $300bn (£195bn) in 2012, according to Representative Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

The Mandiant report argued that it was “highly unlikely that the Chinese government is unaware of an attack group that operates from the Pudong New Area of Shanghai”, citing the country’s rigorous monitoring of internet use.

But China has flatly denied any connection with the activity outlined in Mandiant’s report.

A Chinese ministry statement, posted on its website, said that many hacking attacks were carried out using hijacked IP addresses.

It also suggested that the “everyday gathering” of online information was being wrongly characterised as spying.

Texan toddler mauled to death by pit bull A TEXAS toddler was mauled to death by a pit bull as the canine’s owner watched the bloodshed from his doorway and did nothing to stop it, according to the child’s parents.

Isaiah Aguilar, 2, was playing with his sister outside his home in Sabinal, Texas, shortly before the attack. The girl blew up a balloon for her younger brother, but it blew into their neighbor’s backyard.

Little Isaiah chased after it toward a tied-up female pit bull.

“My daughter (saw) somebody open the door and look out and said he just shook his head and shut the door,” said Richard Aguilar, the boy’s father.

The child’s screams drew his father and brother to the scene. By the time they arrived, the bloodied youngster was no longer breathing, reported local ABC-affiliate KSAT. “He had bites all on his arms, puncture wounds to his stomach, and bites on his neck,” Aguilar said. “There was a lot of blood.”

Aguilar was almost attacked by the dog before seizing his dying son and calling for help.

Another neighbor performed CPR to no avail.

Police arrived and brought the child to a hospital in Uvalde, where he was declared dead.

The pit bull is under quarantine in Uvalde until tests are performed on the boy.

20 NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Regent Palms celebrates eight years with top awards THE REGENT Palms celebrated its eight year anniversary and two very coveted accolades at its magical award winning Spa on Tuesday (February 19).

It was named ‘World’s Leading Spa Resort’ by the World Travel Awards, an organisation that recognises excellence across the global travel and tourism industry.

Another significant achievement it captured was the highest rank on The Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Poll of ‘The Top 270 Spas’ in the North America, the Caribbean

and Hawaii.

General manager Karen Whitt said: “We’re delighted with eight years and the awards we’ve received in spite of all the challenges and competition.”

“It takes an army to make something as magical as this a success and tonight is all about celebrating and saying thank you to all of those collective forces that have played a role.”

Very cognisant of the fact that consumers have a choice and that competition in the region is stiff, she said: “At the Regent Palms we pay very close attention to details and over the years have introduced the highest level of personalised service and amenities to guests.

“We’re always trying to be on the cutting edge and being

in a leadership role as opposed to a following and I think that’s what sets us apart.”

The five-star beachfront resort houses 72 luxury suites just steps away from the world renowned Grace Bay beach.

Located within the property is the award-winning Parallel 23 and more casual Plunge restaurant, both run by executive chef Ingo Moller.

The resort also features high-end retail shops, an infinity pool and swim-up bar, croquet lawn, tennis and other chic personalised services.

Its remarkable spa, nestled in an enchanting tropical oasis, integrates ingredients and rituals from the Caribbean and Asia and focuses on health, wellness, fitness and mental

and physical transformation.

“The Regent Spa embodies the ‘East meets West’ concept as our talented therapists from all around the world from places like Bali and Jamaica combine their backgrounds with uniquely indigenous treatments for our guests,” explained Whitt.

“It makes us incredibly proud to see that our guests are thrilled with the Regent Palms’ Spa experience and are continually voting us among the top resorts in the Caribbean.”

Guests, including employees, business associates and government officials, enjoyed fine wines and champagne, delicious hor d’oeuvres and live music at the celebratory event.

(KH)

Celebrating in the magnificent Regent Spa

Last year’s top model, Washanda Regristre, with local dentist, Mark Osmond

Mark Osmond’s dental clinic partners with TCI top model THERE are many assets that a fashion model must have as dictated by clients of model agencies, such as a certain build, height or look.

Models must be tall, fit, attractive, personable, photogenic and, importantly possess a great smile.

A smile, like the eyes opens them up to unlimited opportunities for networking and overall marketing appeal.

This week, local dentist, Mark Osmond extended his services to the contestants in the upcoming TCI Top Model

contest.

Contestants in the 2013 TCI Top Model Contest will not only receive a complimentary consultation, but also dental cleaning which will improve their smile.

Commenting on the partnership, Osmond said: “A beautiful smile is an important asset for any model and we are really excited to work with all the TCI Top Model Contestants to help achieve that.

“Having seen the high standard and success of

previous years, we are thrilled be part of this great Turks and Caicos initiative and wish all the girls the best of luck!”

The 2013 TCI Top Model Contest and Fashion Extravaganza is set for the Williams Auditorium in Providenciales on Saturday, May 4.

The event is designed to give people residing in the Turks and Caicos Islands interested in careers in the fashion and creative industry an opportunity to debut and showcase their talent.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

21

22 NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Spotlight on Salt Cay

Upholding the rights of a cow!

By Candy Herwin COWS were always an integral part of community life, along with the mule, fowl and family hog.

They were kept in the yard and fed with blades offloaded from the visiting Caicos sloops.

On both the north and south end of the island watering wells were kept clean and provided water for the livestock.

The cows belonged to families and were often sold prior to Christmas to Grand Turk merchants providing the owner with extra pennies to buy ham, oranges and candy cane for the children.

Today the cows are still owned by families but they are left to roam wild.

The water wells have long since deteriorated and are toxic, the grass is scarce and the will to take care of the cows has long since dissipated.

To date we have counted over

92 cows wandering through the bush and at dusk many of them are seen transporting their sore, skeletal bodies to the island’s waste dumping ground.

Here, together with the feral cats, wild donkeys and many chickens, they slowly lumber into the huge pit to find any source of nourishment amidst the often hot and smouldering embers from the previous day’s fire.

With little patience they tear apart the plastic bags and with their broken and worn teeth chew upon the cardboard boxes and scavenge for daily soft waste.

They are forever searching for food, and their only access to fresh water is when the heavens open and it pours with rain.

In many ways I am reminded of the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ when the traveller was beaten and left for dead.

It was only the Samaritan who was moved with compassion and

Today the cows are still owned by families but they are left to roam wild

came to the traveller’s rescue. We see the hunger of the cows but keep walking by!

At the recent town meeting we were assured that a comprehensive Animal Control and Welfare programme is being developed.

However, ownership of cows, in one way creates a dilemma, because the cows are viewed by the local community as an insurance against hard times.

So what is the answer?

1. The cattle could be fenced in, fed and nourished on Salt Cay, but

there is a lack of manpower and continuous funding for this project.

2. Lew’s Barge from Provo could possibly ship the cows to North Caicos where the land is lush and the farmers are already established.

A fee could be paid to the owners to relinquish their cattle.

3. Recently a visitor to the island and a member of the World Vet Organisation said that a team of eight veterinary experts would examine the cows, provide treatment and neuter the bulls. The vets only require official permission, board

and lodging.

Regardless of the necessary action to be taken, the Salt Cay community would like to cooperate with government departments and find a way to control the cowherds and the developing subsidiary issues that arise, such as swarming flies, rodents, fleas and possible contamination of fresh water supplies in the many household tanks.

As the renowned philosopher Immanuel Kant once stated: “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.”

February 23 - March 1, 2013

NEWS 23

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Chrystal Charles impresses the crowd with her amazing vocals and steamy moves

Some of the brilliant minds behind the 2013 Miss Universe Turks and Caicos Pageant

Sizzling six makes first public appearance

THE SIX beauties revealed last week as contestants in the upcoming Miss Universe Turks and Caicos pageant made an entrance at their first social event hosted at Beaches Resort Villages and Spa. Making their debut public appearance at the cocktail party last Saturday were Snwazna Adams, Crystal Coleby, Cortrina Cooper, Vanessa Hall, Tymant Dean and Frenica Williams, dubbed by organisers as “the sizzling six”.

Doubling as the first social affair and fundraiser for the Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organisation (MTCUBO), the event saw a splendid turnout of supporters.

Attendees delighted in a tasty assortment of finger foods and beverages and enjoyed fabulous entertainment by Crystal Charles.

At the end of the evening some patrons even won prizes like movie tickets and gift cards in a raffle drawn.

President of the Organisation Kazz Forbes was happy with the support the event received and expressed how pleased he was to be awarded the opportunity to produce the 2013 Miss Universe TCI Beauty Pageant.

Forbes promised that the winner will have more than a beautiful face; she will also have a voice.

He said “The next Miss Turks and Caicos Universe will enter celebrity to boost many social causes, as a goodwill ambassador she will be affiliated with many community and grass roots organisations such as RAPPORT and the Cancer Society.

“She will become an activist for social issues such as HIV awareness, drug abuse and domestic violence.”

The event allowed the wellgroomed girls to mingle and refine their social skills while maintaining elegance and poise - all necessary attributes for a contestant to not only stand out among other beauties but ultimately to capture the crown.

In preparation for the competition, contestants are partaking in a packed schedule of classes and workshops on interviewing and presentation skills, elegance and poise, health, skincare and self-esteem.

They also participate in scheduled fitness programmes and are keenly being observed and advised by the brilliant minds currently involved in the organisation.

Before the final competitions on

April 25 to 27, the girls will make some additional public appearances including the Rake and Scrape Festival in North Caicos on March 2, a wine and cheese party also in March and another cocktail party in early April.

The public is invited to vote for their favourite Miss Turks and Caicos Universe contender in an online ballot, which will gain the leading contestant of the poll the title of ‘Miss Popularity’.

Because tickets to the first affair were sold out, organisers encourage those interested in attending upcoming events to purchase their tickets early.

Further details on the beauties, the organisation and more information on the full calendar of events can be found on the official website www.

MissTCI.org. (KH)

President of the Organisation Kazz Forbes flanked by the six sizzling contestants

wishes

Look who’s turning 3!

Supporters and organisers toast to the sponsors and team who makes it all possible

TCIAA launches new website for Provo Airport

THE Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) launched a new website for Providenciales International Airport on Monday.

It is part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and availability of information to both locals and tourists travelling to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The new website offers quick and easy access to essential information on Providenciales International Airport and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

It boasts a modern, colourful design and comprises a booking engine for accommodation, interactive flight schedule and pertinent travel information.

It also offers a special feature: a database of more than 275 businesses in the Turks and Caicos Islands that visitors to the islands can patronise.

Other new functions include a photo gallery, Google map application and a news section.

The website address is www. provoairport.com.

Happy Birthday to a sweet, loving, gorgeous little gentleman…Christian Wanye Cadeyn Williams.

You are such an amazing son, brother, nephew, and cousin that we love soooo much!

Words can't express the joy that fills our heart just to see u smile.

Wishing God's Blessings on your life now and forever.

With love from your parents Christina and Wayne, siblings Kiera, Tre, and little Neah; your grandparents Michelle and Gladstone Pratt and Janet and Wayne Williams; and the entire family circle wishes you a splendid day with extra kisses from Mama Lena and Ma Betty, your aunts and uncles; also your godparents, Teacher Maria and our 'partner in crime' Mychay will ensure that you have a great day.

We love you Cadeyn!

Send your special occasion to: Weekly News, Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, PO Box 52, Providenciales or email to tcweeklynews@gmail.com. Free of Charge!

Please limit your messages to 150 words.

24

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Digicel wins TCI telecoms commission bid AFTER a two-stage bidding process that ran for about six months, the Turks and Caicos Islands Telecommunications Commission selected Digicel TCI as the winner to receive the “prime” 700 MHz (LTE) spectrum.

Digicel TCI’s application best met the commission’s requirements, which among other things, required the applicants to state how and when they plan to roll-out LTE (Long Term Evolution) and to outline the benefits that the country should expect to receive from the planned roll-outs.

Digicel TCI, the only carrier to be awarded its preferred 700 MHz

spectrum block (ie. Lower B&C), submitted a bid that exceeded the deployment requirements set by the commission.

It included a commitment to give back to the country by providing free internet service to all public and government schools including both campuses of the Community College; subsidised 4G LTE devices and data bundles for all students and teachers in the country; and each public and government secondary and post-secondary school – including both Community College campuses – with a digital classroom free of charge.

Let’s Talk Law David Cadman is a litigation attorney and partner with Griffiths & Partners. He was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1996 and as an attorney in the Turks & Caicos Islands in 2005.

The New Law on Divorce in Turks and Caicos A NEW law relating to divorce came into effect on 28th December 2012. It replaces the law relating to divorce and other family matters in the Islands and deals with money matters. The most important changes are the addition of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ as a basis for divorce, the Court’s new powers in respect of money matters and the assistance of judges in trying to encourage divorcing spouses to agree financial arrangements. The practical effect of the new law is likely to be the end of contested divorces, with the focus being on agreement about arrangements for children and dealing with finances.

Under the new law, the ground for divorce is that the marriage has “broken down irretrievably” on the basis of either adultery, desertion for two years, divorce by agreement after two years’ separation, separation for five years, or on the basis that the other spouse has behaved in a way that the person seeking the divorce cannot reasonably be expected to live with them. However, the new law prevents divorces ordinarily taking place during the first three years of marriage.

The new law does provide for some encouragement to spouses to reconcile but the addition of unreasonable conduct as a basis for divorce means that the Court will find it hard to resist the conclusion that a spouse who wishes to divorce can be prevented from doing so by the other spouse’s objection, wherever the truth lies about their allegations. As a consequence, as in other countries with a similar law, contested divorces are likely to become a thing of the past.

When it comes to children and finances, the new law provides the Court with extensive powers to deal with matrimonial property and income for the wellbeing of the spouses and children of the family.

This now includes ‘property adjustment orders’ which can adjust the ownership of matrimonial assets and income. The Court may also order the sale of property and deal with the proceeds, taking into account income, earning capacity, age of the parties, standard of living of the family before the breakdown and other factors. The Ordinance also provides that it will be the duty of the Court to have regard to all the circumstances of the case, including financial needs of the children. In practice, the Court will not grant a divorce unless it is satisfied about arrangements for the welfare of every child of the family and the Court may make various orders in relation to the custody and care of children of the family.

Under this new law, Judges will be able to give guidance about agreements for financial arrangements. This is a very important in avoiding disproportionate expense of court proceedings. The assistance of judges in helping parties to agree the terms of their divorce has proved to be very effective in other countries. It requires, of course, full and frank disclosure of all income and assets, with penalties for failure to provide it.

Overall, the theme of this new law is that divorce and the breakdown of family life is very sad indeed. Spouses are to be encouraged to reconcile but if they cannot, the interests of all the parties, children especially, are that the family’s resources are best applied to their future wellbeing rather than expensive and acrimonious litigation.

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Cultural Director David Bowen, third from left, takes a break from his MC gig and joins in the festivities

NEWS 25

The crowd enjoys the day’s events on the beautiful Bambarra Beach (CayLight Photos)

Valentine’s Cup pulls large crowd BAMBARRA Beach, Middle Caicos, buzzed with excitement on Saturday (February 16) in what has become one of the most exciting national events of the island - Valentine’s Day Cup Model Sailboat Races.

A bevy of locals and tourists turned out to the event which has been held on the beautiful beach every Valentine’s weekend since 2000.

This year about two dozen model sailboats from the Middle Caicos Sailboat Association (MCSA) fleet, along with about ten other boats went in with their captains for the competition.

Boats less than 24 inches to over 40 inches participated in the four different categories of the competition which saw a few first time sailors as winners along with some reappearing ones.

The oldest captain to take part in the competition was Carlin Forbes, 86, while the youngest was six-yearold Hanna Chaplin.

Director of Culture David Bowen kept the crowd entertained and Commodore Mark Parrish called the exciting race events.

On the beach spectators enjoyed the competition, delicious local food, games and entertainment from Febb and the Sea Breeze Ripsaw band.

The not-for-profit organisations on the beach had a successful day raising funds from food and craft sales with over $1,000 raised by the MCSA from sales of hats and t-shirts.

This year the MCSA plans to move all the model sailboats to a location in Conch Bar where boat builders and carvers can share their skills and where tourists can visit.

Model Sailboats ready for the competition (CayLight Photos)

Founder Daniel Forbes said he was pleased that the event, which began among friends, has grown to

this magnitude.

He added that he was especially glad that the Tourist Board and many

large organisations like Islandcom are stepping in and helping to make it what it is today. (KH)

RFA Wave Knight to visit Grand Turk

THE Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Knight (A389) will arrive in Grand Turk on February 27 for a four-day visit during her deployment to the region on Atlantic Patrol Tasking North (APT(N)).

This is a year round commitment to the UK’s five Caribbean Overseas Territories, wider regional Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Counter Narcotics Operations.

During Wave Knight’s visit the Commanding Officer will host a working lunch with the Governor, Premier and members of the Disaster Management Team.

Plans are also afoot for some Grand Turk school children to visit the giant ship too.

The Royal Naval support ship has loaded Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) and UK Department for International Development (DfID) stores to support relief operations in the region.

Prior to deployment the ship’s company of Wave Knight completed a HADR training package which tested and developed the ship company’s ability to plan and deliver support to relief operations.

Speaking of the visit, the Ship’s Commanding Officer said: “My ship’s company and I are very much looking forward to the visit and to making and remaking relationships whilst being able to liaise with disaster management authorities regarding our capabilities.”

“Our flexibility and capability is ably demonstrated by Wave Knight’s action packed programme.

“This time last year operations East of Suez and this year operations in the Caribbean, with a major refit en route. 2013 promises to be no less busy and satisfying.”

The RFA Wave Knight is a 31,500 tonne Fleet Tanker which has the ability to refuel other naval vessels at sea from its three beam rigs and one stern rig as well as carrying dry stores.

She is particularly suited to disaster relief as she can make her own drinking water and electricity.

The ship has recently under gone a refit at Cammell Lairds in Birkenhead following on from her last deployment, which ended in March 12.

This saw her supporting the international naval effort east of Suez, providing not only fuel for

The RFA Wave Knight (A389)

coalition ships and aircraft but also carrying out frontline and anti-piracy duties.

The vessel is a Wave Knight-class Fast Fleet Tanker of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

She was launched in 2000 and accepted into service in 2003.

She is the second ship to bear this name in RFA Service.

Wave Knight and her sister, RFA

Wave Ruler, replaced the elderly Olna and Olwen, 36,000 ton fast fleet tankers built at Swan Hunter and Hawthorn Leslie respectively in the 1960s.

The ships are crewed by 77 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and supported by five Royal Naval personnel for helicopter and weapons systems operations.

This vessel is able to operate in

support of amphibious forces, antisurface and anti-submarine warfare operations and protection of vital sea areas and shipping.

Founded in 1905, the modern RFA is an essential element of the how the Royal Navy operates with freedom around the globe and is fully integrated into frontline groups of warships at sea and naval headquarters ashore.

The RFA supports a wide spectrum of operations from high tempo up threat war-fighting to counter-piracy, disaster relief, counter-narcotics, law enforcement and evacuation operations.

Perhaps best remembered for its role in the 1982 Falklands Conflict with the loss of RFA Sir Galahad.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Service is a flotilla of 13 Naval Support Ships delivering afloat support to UK and Allied Armed Forces around the world.

Owned by the Ministry of Defence, it is manned by British civilian sailors who are trained to Merchant Navy Standards prior to undertaking the military training required to operate alongside the Royal Navy.

26

Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate

Classifieds TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Brama Kumaris

FOR RENT

3-bedroom apartment $1100.00 per month it will be available May 1st.

contact: 946-4664

February 23 - March 1, 2013

946-4664 Fax: 946-4661

Email: tcnews@tciway.tc

Website: tcweeklynews.com

FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ

Raja Yoga Meditation Centre Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephone 946-4760 & 332-4101 www.bkwsu.com Email: bkwsu@tciway.tc

FOR SALE

Is looking for a

Labourer to work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

contact: 242-2548

7797

Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788

A & M CLEANING Is looking for a

1 BEDROOM 1 BATH RICHMOND HILLS FULLY FURNISHED WASHER & DRYER $750.00 PER MONTH

3 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM

Greens keeper To work 5 days

per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 343-3123 ACRES OF DIAMOND Is looking for a

FULLY FURNISHED WASHER DRYER 1,200.00 PER MONTH SECURITY SYSTEM FOR SALE OR FOR RENT

CUSTOM DESIGN KITCHEN $800.00 PER MONTH

2 BEDROOM 1 BATH NEWLY RENOVATED $900.00 PER MONTH

CONTACT: 231-3788

ASSISTANT MANAGER SOLAR • Knowledge of the renewable energy sector as it relates to commercial and utility scale projects • Knowledge of solar energy systems on both a commercial and utility scale with regard to engineering, procurement and construction • A minimum of 10 years sales and marketing including experience in selling energy systems to commercial and government verticals

• Proficient in the management of Agency and Distribution Agreements • Strong communication skills in English, both verbal and written • Strong relationship selling and presentation skills • Knowledge of Microsoft Office with excellent proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint • Remuneration by commission only • Willing to work flexible hours

APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT THEIR RESUME VIA EMAIL TO: caribbeansunpowertci@gmail.com Only Turks and Caicos Islander need apply. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Amazing Value!

Lot for Sale

Labourer

To work 6 days per week salary starts at $5.50 per hour.

Contact: 941-3112

PRICE SLASHED

7856

1 BEDROOM 1 BATHROOM HOUSE

Caribbean Sun Power

Applicants must have the following qualifications:

7838

FOR RENT

CLASSIFIEDS 27

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

In Gated/Planned Community in Long Bay. Flamingo Crossing lot comes with full set of House Plans, all underground utilities, etc.

$49,999 o.b.o.

Call 231-3788

FOR QUICK SALE PRICE SLASHED $180,000 CASH! House and ½ Acre land Richmond Hill 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Fully furnished

Call: 231-3788

$175,000

7843

February 23 - March 1, 2013

COX LABOUR SERVICE

IDEAL PETROLEUM

DELUXE CAFÉ

Is looking for

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Is looking for a

ISLAND CHEFS

COLASCO Is looking for a

Is looking for the following positions:

Labourer Gas attendant Must be willing to work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour

Cook Labourers To work 5 days Salary starting at Contact: 231-6710 or 231-4234

7858

per week salary $6.00 per hour. contact: 241-4072

Contact: 342-8927

7842

Labourer To work 5 days a week Monday – Friday. Salary $5.00 per hour.

G & G CONSTRUCTION Is looking for a

To work 5 days per week salary $8.50 per hour must have at least 5 years experience.

Contact: 231-1489

•Planning •Shopping •Prepping •Cooking •Packaging •Custom menus

•Fresh •Low fat •Healthy •delicious •Clean up •Dinners, parties etc.

Contact: 341-4271

G&J Retail a Sales Clerk/Cashier For Retail Outlet. 6 days per week. $5.00 per hour.

Contact 231 6920

Labourer

7808

Contact: 649-242-1016

Mechanic

7841

To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour. contact: 241-2962

7853

$5.00 per hour.

PERSONAL CHEF SERVICES

7748

28 CLASSIFIEDS

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

NOTICE

Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990 An application, REGISTERED PR 11450, by ALBERT A. GRANT for The development of a Fuel Depot Facility with Office Building, Fuel (Gas, Diesel & Propane) Tanks, Boundary Fencing and Gate & Ancillary Facilities, has been submitted to the Department of Planning for Consideration of Development Permission on 60605/102, South Dock Area On Providenciales.

Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Downtown, Town Center Mall, Providenciales, within twenty-eight (28) Days of publication of this Notice.

Dated Posted: 13th, January, 2013

BNC Consulting Group is seeking qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders to fill openings with its restaurant client. Prospective candidates must possess relevant skills and experience. Exceptional interpersonal skills, a clean police record and a strong command of the English language is required. Interviews will be conducted for the following openings

7854

7833

CBMS LTD. PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS, BWI PHONE: 649-941-3400 Fax: 649-941-3401

VACANCIES

BAR SUPERVISOR

– responsible for supervision of bar staff; inventory of supplies, food and liquor; stock requisitions; training, scheduling and evaluating staff; coaching and motivating employees; welcoming and acknowledging guests; resolving guest queries and complaints. Must be 18 years of age or older with five years’ experience. Knowledge of POS and prior supervisory responsibilities required. Extensive knowledge of mixology, wine, spirits and champagne. Must be energetic and personable, honest and trustworthy. Ability to work flexible schedule including early mornings, late shifts, weekends and holidays required.

RIG TRUCK DRIVER

Applicant must have 5 years experience driving a tractor trailer with experience in dump trailers.

Mechanical ability would be an asset

LABOURERS

Applicant must be prepared for heavy work, breaking cement bags, loading trucks and stevedoring of cement and gravel. Applicant will also be required to assist mechanics as needed

HEAVY DUTY MECHANICS W/ ELECTRONIC SPECIALIZATION

Applicant should have specialization in electronic wiring with extensive knowledge of caterpillar equipment. Must have 5 years minimum experience in diesel heavy equipment, able to fabricate and weld, possess own tools and transportation and be able to work without supervision

BARTENDER

– responsible for set-up, mixing of drinks, service and clean up of bar area. Must be 18 years of age or older and have two full years of bartending experience. Extensive knowledge of mixology, wine, spirits and champagne. High energy professional who is passionate about guest satisfaction. Ability to work flexible schedule including late shifts, weekends and holidays required.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

Applicant must have substantial experience in all aspects of heavy equipment operation including crane operation. Seven (7) years minimum experience required. A mechanical aptitude would be beneficial

PROFESSIONAL WELDERS

Submit resume to Bridgette Thomas at bthomas@bnccgroup.com for immediate consideration or call 332-2565. References required.

Salaries for the above positions are commensurate with level, experience and education.

Minimum experience 5 years needed. Applicant must be able to weld aluminum and iron, be versed in TIG and MIG welding, able to fabricate and manufacture components out of metal, able to work independently

ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED 7849

All applicant must be prepared to work long hours including weekends and evenings as required. Please reply with reference and clean police and driving records wages will be based on experience

7851

February 23 - March 1, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS 29

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

NEW RESORT OPPORTUNITIES Guest Services Manager

• Follow all Health & Safety policies • Other duties as assigned

Summary:

Qualifications:

• Reporting to the General Manager - responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: • Responsible for the Management of Front Office, Reservations, Housekeeping, Laundry, PBX and Owners Relations ensuring adherence to department policies, procedures and service standards • Hire train and develop team members, ensuring employees are knowledgeable of all departmental objectives and policies. Conduct performance reviews as required • Ensure proper staffing and scheduling throughout the division in accordance to productivity guidelines • Establish & Maintain close working relationships with all departments of the resort, retail tenants and third party vendors to ensure maximum cooperation, productivity, morale and guest service • Conduct inspection tours in areas of responsibility to ensure desired standards of quality, cleanliness, service and controls are maintained • Manage Guest Services revenue and expenses: maximize departmental profit and control costs • Developing and nurturing relationships with clients, return guests and group contacts • Attend to guest comments verbally and written in order to ensure proper attention to all guest requests, queries and concerns • Consistently offer genuine, professional, hospitable service • Communicate through pre-shift briefings, emails and departmental meetings all necessary information to ensure smooth operations • Compliance with all Health and Safety policies • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and leadership skills • Highly organized, results-oriented with the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure • Degree or Diploma in Hospitality Management • Fluency in English (Spanish as additional language desirable) • Minimum of 5 years previous managerial experience in luxury hospitality • Must have a sense of style and ability to focus on detail • Ability to work independently, multi task and prioritize responsibilities • Strong guest service orientation and training skills background required • Knowledge of IQ Ware Property Management System • Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Guest Service Agent Summary:

• Reporting to the Guest Services Manager / Assistant responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: • Consistently offer professional, friendly and hospitable service • Greet, check in and settle guest accounts while ensuring all service standards are followed • Assist all guest requests in an informative and timely manner • Follow department policies, procedures and service standards

• Proficient in the English language (verbal & written), second language is an asset • Ability to work independently, multi task and prioritize responsibilities • Guest oriented - remains calm and courteous at all times • Previous Property Management System experience an asset • Computer literate in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Power Point) • Must be able to type 25 words per minute • Ability to work with others • Hospitality Diploma is an asset • Must be flexible in terms of working hours including nights • Previous cash handling experience • Responsible & reliable Physical Aspects: (include but are not limited to): • Frequent standing and walking throughout shift • Occasional lifting, pushing, pulling

Room Attendant Summary:

• Reporting to the Housekeeping / Guest Services Manager responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: • Consistently offer genuine professional hospitable service • Responsible for the daily cleaning of guest rooms and public areas to resort standards • Cleaning duties include but are not limited to - dusting, bed making, soiled linen / terry removal, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, inside window cleaning • Return of lost property following correct procedures • Follow departmental policies and procedures and service standards • Report necessary maintenance issues • Responsible for maintaining own pantry with operational supplies • Report observations, requests & inquiries, and Guest concerns to Supervisor • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications: • • • • •

Previous housekeeping experience an asset Responsible & reliable Ability to work well within a team with minimum supervision Guest Focused - remaining calm and courteous at all times Guest-oriented, have a energetic personality, display initiative & attention to detail • Proficient in English language (verbal and written) • Can multi task and prioritize responsibilities Physical Aspects of Position (include but are not limited to): • Standing and walking throughout shift • Lifting and carrying up to 20 lbs.

• Kneeling, pushing, pulling • Ascending or descending ladders and stairs

Restaurant Supervisor Summary:

• Reporting to the Restaurant Manager - responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: • Consistently offer professional, friendly, hospitable service • Oversee restaurant operations ensuring compliance with

• • • • • • • • •

departmental standards and meeting / exceeding guest expectations Knowledgeable of all food and beverage products Ensure proper staffing and scheduling in accordance to productivity guidelines Communicate through pre-shift briefings, and departmental meetings all necessary information to support the operation Train Team members in all job aspects – service, product knowledge and technical skills Capitalize on revenues by upselling and controlling expenses Handle guest concerns in a timely and professional manner Follow resort policies, procedures and service standards Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety policies Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Previous Food and Beverage Supervisory experience • Degree or Diploma in Hospitality Management • Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and leadership skills • Fluency in English (1 additional language desirable) • Ability to work independently, multi task and prioritize responsibilities • Strong guest service orientation and training skills background • POS experience – (IQ Ware desirable) • Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) • Basic First Aid Physical Aspects: (include but are not limited to): • Constant standing and walking throughout shift • Lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs.

• Pushing, pulling, lifting

Bartender Summary:

• Reporting to the Restaurant Supervisor / Manager, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following: • Consistently offer professional, friendly, hospitable service • Knowledgeable of all food and beverage products • Attend to guest service requests in a timely and professional manner • Capitalize on revenues by upselling and controlling expenses • Follow resort policies, procedures and service standards • Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety policies • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications • • • • • •

Previous Bartender experience Can work well under pressure in a fast paced operation Strong guest service orientation Can work independently and prioritize responsibilities POS experience – (IQ Ware desirable) Team player – works well with and supports team colleagues • Previous cash handling responsibilities • Responsible & reliable • Basic First Aid Physical Aspects (include but are not limited to): • Constant standing and walking throughout shift • Lifting and carrying up to 20 lbs.

• Pushing and pulling • Ascending or descending ladders and stairs

Send application to

Careers@bluehaventci.com Closing date: Saturday March 9th, 2013

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

JOB ADVERTISEMENT Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is a contemporary luxury full service boutique resort on Grace Bay Beach. We are looking for driven and energetic professionals with Five Star experience and who are committed to achieving excellence by ensuring Five Star standards and services are continuously delivered.

Corporate Manager

Labourer Needed

Essential duties include but not limited to: ;;To uphold and comply with Gansevoort Hotel Group Standards at all times. ;;Promoting the Gansevoort culture at every opportunity and stay true to its core values. ;;Provide exceptional customer service to all hotel guests, making their stay as comfortable and accommodating as possible while achieving team and Brand goals. ;;Manages all Guest Service operations to ensure profitability, cost controls and quality standards to ensure total guest satisfaction. ;;Ensure prompt and courteous service to guests, and to ensure that all guest experiences are distinctively supreme. ;;Coordinates staffing and logistics for all major group movements and special requirements. Responsible for all internal and external communications; employee liaison and press releases for the Corporate Office. ;;Timely reports to the Corporate Office in New York and liaise with the General Manager on property. ;;Ensure all Front Office staff is in compliance and kept up with the latest customer service techniques and Gansevoort Hotel Group Standards. ;;Monitors training and colleague’s progresses to ensure Gansevoort standards are implemented and followed. ;;Participates in all necessary training as directed by Gansevoort, New York. Reviews VIP reservations and ensures proper handling of VIPs and groups, administers amenity orders and resumes for incoming guests. ;;Computes and creates daily VIP arrival manifests to include arrival, departure information, room assignments, guest preferences and distributes to all department heads through the daily meeting. ;;Be responsive to guest’s requests by communicating their needs to appropriate departments in a prompt and courteous manner. ;;Protect confidential data and restrict communications of same only to authorized persons. ;;Perform other duties as directed by the General Manager or any other authorized Executive.

Skills/Qualifications: ;;To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. ;;Must have Gansevoort Hotel Group experience. ;;Must be a Certified Concierge ;;8 - 10 years’ experience in a luxury resort environment with experience in Front Office, Concierge and Management. ;;Strong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, train, develop, mentor and motivate a team. ;;Self-motivated and dependable with an exceptional work ethic and strong problem solving skills. Must be experienced in conflict resolution. ;;Proficiency in MS Office, Opera PMS and Micros POS. ;;Ability to prepare reports, effectively present information, and provide timely response to queries. ;;Ability to effectively deal with colleagues and customers, some of whom require high levels of patience, tact and diplomacy to defuse anger and collect accurate information. ;;Deadlines oriented with the ability to multi-task and establish priorities. ;;Strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in the English and Spanish. ;;Professional appearance and demeanor.

Interested applicants can contact our Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm on (649)941-7555. E- Mail cover letter outlining your interest and supporting experience in a particular position along with your Resume or C.V. to hr@wymara.com 7865

Is looking for a

Bonded Warehouse facility requires a labourer to do general cleaning, maintenance and movement of cargo.

Salary: Starting at $6:00 per hour for 40 hour work-week.

Labourer To work 5 days

Contact Cargo Express Services, in person, at 70 South Dock Road or fax application to 941-5525 Application deadline: March 1, 2013

Oversees daily activities of Guest Services Department to provide guidance and leadership to all staff. Responsible to ensure consistent quality of customer service is provided to all guests in accordance with Gansevoort standards. Tasked with representing the Gansevoort brand and reputation in the public, through both oral and written communications. Essentially, he or she becomes the face of the organization, interacting with employees, clients, the media etc.

FRANCISCO REYES

COLASSCO

per week salary $5.00 per hour.

7816

30 CLASSIFIEDS

contact: 242-2548

2 Kitchen Helpers

Is looking for a

Labourer To work 5 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.

contact: 231-1489

7860

• Minimum 5 years experience • Working in a kitchen as a Line cook in a VERY high volume Restaurant.

• Must have knowledge of taking inventory daily.

• Pay rate is $5/hr Please submit Resumes at the restaurant at

499 Bay Rd. Blue Hills, Providenciales TCI Phone: (649)-946-8877

7866

CARIBBEAN CRUSIN’ LTD. Is seeking to hire a qualified person to fill the position of

Operations Manager Duties: • Maintain and review the schedule of services, both prearranged ferry trips and custom charter trips. Check, record and balance the number of guests on all trips whether scheduled ferry or charter.

• Monitor and control the receipt of funds and the payment of funds related to the daily operation of the business. Ensure that an accurate record of all receipts and expenditures is kept.

• Maintain and review the maintenance schedule of all vessels and vehicles owned by the business. Ensure that all vessels and vehicles are maintained according to company policy.

• Supervise Train, Motivate, Discipline, and Review and generally manage all other staff.

• The continuity and success of the business relies on satisfied customer experiences. The operations manager is responsible for ensuring that the customer satisfaction rate remains and that scheduled ferry trips and charter schedules are honoured in a timely fashion.

• The manager will be responsible for all vehicles and vessels that are conducting company business at all times of the day.

• Qualifications • 3 years experience on a Passenger Vessel in local water • 5 years experience in Marine Management • Proven track record in corporate and personnel management • Local Capitan’s license • Maritime safety certification • Salary commensurate with experience and commission base on revenue generated.

• Hours of Work The Ferry Schedule is from 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Saturday and 9:30am to 5:15pm on Sundays.

Human Resource Manager Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Fax: 941-3223. Tel: 941-3082 7812

February 23 - March 1, 2013

1 Kitchen Helper Minimum 5 years experience working in a kitchen as a Line cook in a VERY high volume Restaurant.

Must have knowledge of taking inventory daily. Pay rate is $5/hr Please submit Resumes at the restaurant at 499 Bay Rd. Blue Hills, Providenciales TCI Phone: (649)-946-8877

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

VERNESA QUELCH Is looking for a

Labourer To work 4 days per week salary $5.00 per hour Duties: Clean around the yard and do other maintenance

Contact: 231-1932

7799

Is seeking suitably qualified Belongers to fill the positions outlined below. Ideal candidates must possess luxury resort experience, a professional, outgoing and friendly demeanor, and a strong command of the English language (oral and written). Salary is based on experience and qualifications.

Landscaping Supervisor

The Landscaping Supervisor plans and coordinates the work activities of the landscaping department, and oversees gardening and greenhouse operations, insect control, and grounds repairs.

Essential Duties:

• Work with resort management to develop working sketches for the refurbishment, improvement, or expansion of landscaped areas.

• Plan, schedule, assign, and supervise all landscaping activities, including but not limited to, seeding, weeding, cultivating, and general care of resort grounds.

• Plan and supervise cultivation, pruning, spraying, and transplanting of a wide variety of shrubs and trees.

• Prepare requisitions and distribute materials and equipment for grounds maintenance work.

• Minimum Requirements: • Five years experience as a groundskeeper with supervision responsibility for a grounds crew.

• Extensive knowledge of planting and vegetation maintenance, pesticide applications, and landscape design.

• Considerable knowledge of budgets and cost estimating of landscaping projects.

• Ability to lead a crew of workers and conduct training and informational sessions.

• Ability to maintain favorable relationships with management, crew, vendors and suppliers.

• Excellent communication and organization skills.

Other immediate openings:

Property Superintendent

– responsible for the oversight of employee housing, including general property upkeep, unit inspections, maintenance repairs and other assigned duties.

Maintenance Technician – must have luxury resort experience.

Appliance Technician

– experienced in the repair of refrigerators, washers and dryers, and restaurant kitchen equipment

Restaurant Hostess

– must be personable with exceptional communication skills. Excellent demeanor and polished presence for fine dining restaurant.

Closing Date: March 4th, 2013 Suitably qualified candidates should apply in writing or by phone to the following:

Bridgette Thomas BNC Consulting Group, Ltd website: www.bnccgroup.com email: bthomas@bnccgroup.com phone: 649-332-2565

CLASSIFIEDS 31

CHEF NEEDED

Applicants must have at least 5 years experience specifically with Italian cuisine. Be fully capable to coordinate all dining operations including: Managing the kitchen and all its staff, overseeing meal preparation, planning of daily menu, orders and purchasing, staff scheduling and supplies. A great sense of hygiene, willingness to work with dynamic team. Must have excellent employment history in the industry complete with references. Must be willing to work irregular hours, shifts and long late hours.

Applicants without complete references need not apply. $12/hr based on qualification. Contact Global Services at (649) 331-1809

7815

SAUCIER NEEDED

Applicants must have formal culinary experience. Must be able to perform mathematical calculations in order to convert recipes and inventory. Must have highly advanced culinary and artistic skills, full comprehension of entire kitchen departments and different product identification. Must have experience in regional Italian cuisine and be very knowledgeable about produce, spices and oils found throughout the region. Must be able to assist the Chef in all his duties. Fully trained in the proper health and hygiene regulations in regards to staff, kitchen cleanliness, storage and handling of food. Must be willing to work irregular hours, shifts and long late hours. $10/hr depending on experience and qualifications.

Contact Global Services at (649) 331-1809 7814

ADVERTISEMENT OF WINDING UP PETITION IN THE SUPREME COURT OF Petition No. W-1/13 THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS IN THE MATTER OF EMERALD CAY LTD. AND IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CAP 16.08) BETWEEN: REGENCY INTERNATIONAL ESTATES LTD Petitioner - and EMERALD CAY LTD. Respondent A Petition to wind up the above-named company, Emerald Cay Ltd, whose registered number is 010952, of P.O. Box 560, Upper Floor (East Wing), The Beatrice Butterfield Building, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands presented on 21st January 2013 by Regency International Estates Ltd of Salt Mills Plaza, Suite #22, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands claiming to be a creditor of the company will be heard at the Supreme Court, Dr. Malcolm’s Building, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on Date: 7th March 2013 Time: 9:30 a.m. (or as soon thereafter as the petition can be heard).

At the above hearing, the Court may: (1) make the winding-up order applied for; (2) dismiss the petition; (3) adjourn the hearing conditionally; (4) adjourn the hearing unconditionally; (5) make an interim order; (6) make any other order it thinks fit.

Any person intending to appear on the hearing of the Petition (whether to support or oppose it) must give notice of intention to do so to the Petitioner in accordance with Rule 4.16 by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 6th March 2013.

The Petitioner’s address for service is Salt Mills Plaza, Suite #22, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

Dated the 19th day of February 2013.

KELCI TALBOT Is looking for a

7845

MIRACLE RESTAURANT & BAR Is looking for a

WANTED

MARICE SIMMONS Is looking for a

Labourer Labourer

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 332-3022

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

DOMESTIC

WORKER Needed to work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

contact: 345-3966 or 342-6274 7837

Email info@misickstanbrok.tc or fax: 649-946-4734 7852

NADA ENTERTAINMENT

FEMALE SINGER

• Who can sing in English, Brazilian, Spanish and French • Must have a car and own equipment

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 341-8593

MALE SINGER

• Who plays the guitar and can sing in English, Brazilian and French and can play any style, needs to have a car for his transportation and his own equipment • Must be able to program songs

7846

PUBCO LTD./ DANNY BUOY’S

SEEKS

Cocktail Waitress

Is looking for a

Janitor

Applicant must have 2 years experience, must be reliable and friendly.

Applicant must be neat and tidy and present a positive image, and must be able to willing to work shifts, weekends and holidays.

Wages start at $6.00 per hour.

Application deadline is February 28st 2013.

To work 6 days per week salary starting at $5.00 per hour.

Interested persons should send applications via fax at (649) 941-4034. C/o Alliance Realty Ltd.

Contact: 946-5921

WANTED

IDEAL PETROLEUM Is looking for the following positions:

Labourer/ Handyman – salary $6.00 per hour

Kitchen Helper

– must be able to understand and speak Creole salary $6.00 per hour

Domestic Worker/ Babysitter

Labourer

Gas Pump Attendant Must be willing to work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

– salary $6.00 per hour

Contact: 231-0098

7840

Must be willing to work 5 days per week

Contact: 245-6962

JOB VACANCY Position:

Catering Management Trainee Supervisor

The ideal candidate Minimum of three years’ experience at a reputed catering establishment, (hospital environment is a plus), Certification in Nutrition Food Hygiene and Health & Safety would be advantageous. Good financial and commercial acumen, strong management & communication skills and excellent knowledge of computer applications.

Email: mrblou@hotmail.com

BK PARTNERS LTD.

Must be willing to work 6 days per week

ICC&SCo is offering an exciting opportunity to one enthusiastic individual who has passion for food, strong interpersonal skills, and a high level of motivation to be based primarily at Grand Turk with flexibility to work at Providenciales as required.

The ideal candidate will assist the Catering Manager in organizing and executing food & beverage services at InterHealth Canada Hospitals, whilst meeting customer expectations, food and hygiene standards and financial targets.

7857

Waitress

A/C Technician salary – $10.00 per hour 2 Labourers salary – $6.50 per hour Domestic Workers salary – $6.50 per hour Electrician salary – $12.00 per hour 2 Barbers salary – $6.50 per hour

Contact: 342-8927

7834

Degree/ diploma in Catering; further qualification in Business administration/ Finance, Certification in Nutrition, Food Hygiene, and Health & Safety would be advantageous.

1. Maintains a professional manner and high level of customer service at all times.

2. Responsible for ensuring safe and timely preparation, cooking and dispatch of meals for patients and cafe include special diets, staff, visitors and any catering functions in accordance with facility management strategy and contract KPI’s.

3. Checks meals prior to service for quantity, quality and appearance.

4. Serves clients which include staff, patients and families, providing a high quality, efficient, friendly and client-focused service at all times.

5. Maintains compliance by all catering staff and reviews a comprehensive food safety system covering receipt, inspection, storage and issue and cooking of all foodstuffs.

6. Ensures all food and non-food items required by service are ordered and maintained in line with service needs and budgetary requirements.

7. Communicates with and provides expert advice to catering service team/hospital staff/patients/public in the provision of an effective and efficient catering service.

8. Maintains, in conjunction with the Chef and Catering Supervisor, all appropriate control records for the production, issue, distribution and service of food.

9. Assists Chef /Catering Supervisor in the development, introduction and review of local health and food safety guidelines and procedures. Implementation and monitoring of HACCP controls.

10. Complies with TCI hygiene, health and safety policies and procedures in accordance with legislation and local practice requirements.

11. Ensures safe working practices at all times and supports the implementation of best practice policies.

12. Maintains confidentiality of all information and material received or communicated at TCI Hospitals.

13. Attends in-services and participates in continuing professional development opportunities.

14. Performs other professional duties as may be assigned within his/her scope and ability.

15. Assists with all aspects of FM working of team contract compliance and achievement of contract KPI’s.

16. Devising and implementing staff development plans.

17. Driving Revenues, cash controls, managing margins percentage of gross profit in accordance with agreed budget. Achievement of budgetary targets.

18. Introducing marketing strategies according to changing customer needs, changing environment and customer.

Only B.O.T.C -Turks and Caicos Islands and persons with Belonger Status may apply.

Remuneration package is based on qualification and experience.

Please address your resume showing qualifications and experiences to:

Recruitment@interhealthcanada.tc

7859

32 CLASSIFIEDS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS 33 TDMG CONCORDIA

Somewhere Café and Lounge

Wanted

Is looking for a

is looking for a

BARTENDER

Driver

For a 30ft jet drive diesel engine vessel, with at least 5 years’ experience. Applicants must be able to perform daily maintenance of the boat as well as providing personal assistance to its elderly owner. Applicants must be honest, hard working, reliable and willing to travel to Pine Cay daily.

Carpenter To work 5 days per week.

Applicants must be able to provide at least three years of experience as a bartender.

7835

Please send applications to Savory & Co., F205 Regent Village West, Providenciales, 946-4602

Finish

for the upcoming 2012-2013 season

Domestic Worker

Applicant must be hard working, honest and reliable.

Experience preferable.

Please send applications to Savory & Co., F205 Regent Village West, Providenciales, 946-4602 7836

Salary $7.00 per hour.

Contact: 941-3446

Qualified applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to do the following:

• Have the knowledge to successfully produce cocktails from a large variety of liquors with a focus on accuracy.

• Be versed in MICROS POS system.

• Work independently behind the bar, maintaining one’s space.

• Work composed under pressure.

• Display a high level of comfort in customer service by engaging guests while working.

• Participate in daily cleaning responsibilities as they are outlined by supervisors.

• Be cost conscientious when expediting drinks to ensure the guest receives the same drink every time.

• Be highly motivated while working and be able to be on time for scheduled shifts.

• Applicants should apply in person with a resume and cover letter to be considered.

• Belongers given preference.

REQUIRED AT NORTH CAICOS

EXPERIENCED CARPENTER/ LABOURER Experienced carpenter/ labourer required for full time work at, North Caicos. Must be willing to work six days a week. A demonstrated ability to work unsupervised with excellent communication skills is essential for the position.

Salary is $5.00 per hour.

7844

Please apply no later than 16th March, 2013 at handmy@tciway.tc or contact on telephone No. 232 7101.

Belongers only need apply. 7830

Ministry of Finance, Trade / Tourism Revenue Control Unit

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT Payment of Taxes, Licenses, Duties, Fees, Permits, etc.

The end of the current financial year April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013 is fast approaching, and the business community including individuals and companies is advised to take note and adhere too the payment of all outstanding commitments to government in the form of taxes, licenses, duties, fees, charges, permits, etc. Payment for all government services rendered in this year and prior years must be done before March 31, 2013.

To avoid any disruptions and processing delays when doing business in TCI and with TCIG, it is in the best interest of the business community to be registered and compliant with all the required agencies and quasi-bodies of government such as; Employment Services Department, Immigration, Road Safety, Crown Land Unit, Business Licensing, Revenue Control Unit, National Insurance, National Health Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Port Authorities, etc. Several departments of government are reviewing and modifying their compliance strategies which may in some way affect your day to day operations. Should you encounter this experience, please ensure that you are in good standing with the relevant government entities.

These government entities provide services for public consumption for which there is a fee, charge, levy or an annual renewal license or permit. You are required and obligated by the various legislations to honour that commitment by the payment of the appropriate fee, levy, charge, etc in a timely manner required by law.

Failing to honour this obligation will result in legal action and prosecution under the various ordinances for the offense or offenses committed. Failing to meet the compliance requirement by the various departments of government, including statutory bodies could see a reduction in services and possible delays in benefits.

Kindly note that this is the final appeal to the community to ensure reasonable steps have been given to inform the public of their obligations to pay any and all outstanding debts to the Crown in any form due before legal action is taken.

34 CLASSIFIEDS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

BAY BISTRO

Ocean Club Resorts

BAY BISTRO is looking for a

Is looking for a

VACANCIES Is looking for qualified, experienced applicants for THE POSITIONS OF:

• LABOURER • BELLMAN • GARDENER • BELLSTAFF SUPERVISOR • GARDENING SUPERVISOR All applicants must be able to present a clean Police Record if offered a position. Wage commensurate with experience. Individuals must be willing to work holidays and weekends on a flexible schedule dictated by business demands. Ability to speak English is mandatory.

Please drop off resumes at the Ocean Club Front Desk to the attention of the Human Resource Manager, or via email to diane@oceanclubresorts.tc Preference will be given to experienced and qualified Belongers.

Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

GOVERNMENT VACANCY

Assistant Customs Officer

Kitchen Helper

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 946-5396 7800

BEAUTY & BEYOND is looking for a

Waitress

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 946-5396 7803

Massage Therapist Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary based on commission.

contact: 941-8928

7820

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

the largest readership in the turks & caicos

GOVERNMENT VACANCY JOB TITLE: HEAD OF INTERNAL AUDIT

EPARTMENT: Customs Department MINISTRY: Finance

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONBILITIES: An exciting opportunity awaits you in the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for the post of Head of Internal Audit. The post has recently been established under section 16 (1) of the Public Finance Management Ordinance 2012 where it is referred to as the Chief Internal Auditor. The successful candidate will develop the work already started to set up and shape this key function of the governance framework to provide independent assurance on the adequacy, reliability and efficiency of the systems of internal control, the suitability of corporate governance arrangements and that appropriate risk management strategies and processes are in place. The appointment is for an initial period of three years with possible extension.

JOB SUMMARY The post holder will be responsible for general customs duties, which will include and is not limited to: maintaining Customs Intelligence Database; assisting at the Transit Shed, Airport FBO and Bond Warehouse; carrying out Post Audit Verifications; as well as monitoring Bond Accounts. He/She is also expected to: monitor the entrance and clearance of aircrafts and vessels; examine passengers and their luggage; inspect cargo; process customs entries to ensure the correct application of duties and taxes; conduct search and rummage of vehicles and aircraft and inspect duty free shops and private bonded warehouses. Other duties include assisting with department filing and other office related duties, seizing prohibited goods, as well as verifying and classifying merchandise.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The successful candidate must possess three (3) Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) passes, two (2) of which must be Mathematics and English and he/she must be knowledgeable of Microsoft Office Suite. The job requires the candidate to be analytical with the ability to deal with several situations at any given time, giving priority, based on the situation and the officer must be able to execute such duties with confidence and in a calm, methodological manner. He/She must also have good oral and report writing skills.

SALARY T8-T13 $18,240 - $22,080 PER ANNUM Serving officers should apply through their Heads of Department. Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page.

Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 946-1582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov. tc with the subject line being: Assistant Customs Officer. Applications sent by post or brought by hand should have the subject: Assistant Customs Officer Application clearly marked on the envelopes.

Successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 21st February, 2013 ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED 7810

The position requires a Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance and at least (3) three years of senior internal audit experience including contracted out audit services.

Must be a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, holding either the CIA or CMIIA designation, or a member of one of the professional bodies covered by the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or an international equivalent. Having Certified Fraud Examiner (or equivalent); Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or equivalent. Previous experience of internal audit in a public sector environment is highly desirable.

SALARY: $62,500.00 per annum Serving Officers should apply through their Heads of Department. For persons recruited outside the Turks and Caicos Islands, the following benefits are offered in addition to basic salary: A two or three year extendable contract; housing allowance, end-of-contract gratuity of 15% of salary, return passages for a family of up to two children under the age of 16 years, duty free personal shipping imported within six months of the appointment.

For more information on the Job Description please contact the Human Resource Management Directorate, Telephone 649-946-2801, Extension: 10321, E-mail: recruitment@gov.tc All resumes with contact information and two letters of reference, copy of passport photo page and a police certificate should be addressed to the Human Resource Director, Human Resource Management Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 649-946-1582 Previous Applicants Need Not Reapply

ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20th February 2013

7811

February 23 - March 1, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS 35

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

GOVERNMENT VACANCY SCHOLARSHIP OFFICER DEPARTMENT: Scholarship MINISTRY: Education, Youth, Sports and Culture LOCATION: Grand Turk

Internal Auditor Duties and Responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY To provide secretarial support and services to the Scholarship Secretariat/Unit.

To ensure that correspondence are acknowledged, responded and dispatched in a timely manner. To ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is available to policy and senior decision makers in a timely manner.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Collects student applications and prepare and disburse notification letters acknowledging receipt and status of application.

• Maintains all materials (e.g. brochures, application forms) and arrange for distribution in response to requests.

• Under the supervision of the Scholarship Secretariat Manager prepare and dispatch scholarship award letters, bonds, brochures, etc. to scholarship recipients.

• Assists with processing tuition and subsistence payments for overseas and local scholarships.

• Prepares tuition payment cover letters and couriers packets for disbursement and keep a log-book of the same.

• Prepares documents and make arrangements for scholarship board meetings.

• Receives all telephone calls pertaining to scholarships and direct them to the appropriate officer.

• Relays the status of student application or scholarships.

• Maintains the scholarship database for local and overseas scholarship and grant recipients.

• Ensures that entries are posted and filing is done on a daily basis.

• Prepares statistical reports on student enrolment, completion dates.

• Adheres to all Public Service codes, rules and regulations • Other related tasks as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES • • • • • • • •

Ability to type accurately.

Good computer skills Good organizational skills Ability to follow instructions and act upon them in a timely manner.

Ability to work as a part of a team Knowledge of smart stream system MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: A certificate in Corporate Secretary ship or an Associates Degree in Business Administration • A minimum of four years experience in a related field.

SALARY: $T22 $26,940 per annum Serving officers should apply through their Heads of Department. Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a Cover Letter, two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer), copies of educational certificates, a Police Certificate and a copy of the Passport photo page.

Applications should be addressed to the Office of the Human Resource Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Facsimile: 9461582 or sent by email to: recruitment@gov.tc with the subject line being: Scholarship Officer Application. Applications sent by post or brought by hand should have the subject: Scholarship Officer Application clearly marked on the envelopes.

;; To work with the management and the board to ensure a system is in place which ensures that all risks are identified, analyzed, and controlled on a periodic basis ;; To plan and organize an annual audit plan, and carry out regular operation’s audit in accordance with the plan. ;; To liaise with the external auditors and ensure that each party is not only aware of the other's work but also well briefed on areas of concern ;; To make recommendations on the systems and procedures being reviewed, report on the findings and recommendations and monitor management's response and implementation ;; To review internal processes and controls for the purpose of ensuring financial information is properly processed, reported, and safeguarded. ;; To review and report on the accuracy, timeliness and relevance of the financial and other information that is provided for management ;; To research discrepancies of financial information and/or documentation for the purpose of ensuring accuracy of data. ;; To provide assistance to staffs in using accounting system, implementing updates to policies and procedures and other related activities. ;; To respond to inquiries from a variety of sources (e.g. staff, government auditors, government agencies, etc.) for the purpose of providing information related to accounting issues and clarification as needed. ;; To conduct any reviews or tasks requested by the board, the audit committee, CEO or CFO, provided such reviews and tasks do not compromise the independence or objectivity of the internal audit function ;; To provide both management and the audit committee with an opinion on the internal controls. ;; Perform other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of NHIB.

Person specification ;; Must be a Certified Public Accountant, or Certified Internal Auditor or equivalent professional designation ;; A degree or related certifications or trainings in Information Technology ;; A working experience in Microsoft Dynamics GP and Plexis Claims Management is preferred ;; Knowledge of audit procedures, including planning, techniques, test and sampling methods involved in conducting audits ;; Knowledge of computerized accounting and auditing record keeping systems ;; Ability to gather, analyze and evaluate facts and to prepare and present concise oral and written reports ;; Ability to maintain current knowledge of developments related to business matters of interest to internal audit, particularly legislation changes and developments as they affect NHIB, and new auditing techniques ;; and practices ;; Ability to establish and retain effective working relationships with co-employees and to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing ;; Ability to be able to work efficiently with little or no supervision

Salary Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience within the range $42,000 to $48,000 per annum.

Deadline for Submission is February 22, 2013.

All Applications should be addressed to:

Successful applicants will work in accordance with the Public Service Ordinance.

Only qualified Belongers will be considered for this position.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 22nd February, 2013 7809

Zaneta Burton Chief Executive Officer National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: Zburton@tcinhip.tc

36 CLASSIFIEDS

EDNA STERLING Is looking for a

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

CARIBBEAN CONSTRUCTION

February 23 - March 1, 2013

DAVID HUGH SAUNDERS

Is looking for a

Is looking for a

Labourer Carpenter Labourer 7821

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

to work 5 days per week salary $7.00 per hour.

contact: 242-2686

7818

contact: 345-5982

7806

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour. contact: 231-1006

Y.A.3. B. Consulting Agency Acting on behalf of our clients is looking to fill the following positions:

Been Mep Co. Ltd.

DOMESTIC HELPER NEEDED Please apply via telephone 649 241 7907 if interested

7827

GESNER GUERRIER

Carpenter – $8.00 per hour

G Spot

Waitress – $6.00 per hour

Penn Construction Gardner – $6.00 per hour

Nessy Restaurant Waitress – $6.00 per hour

IT Manager

Contact: 344-4540

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

HOLE IN THE WALL

VILLA COOKS

UPSTAIRS BAR & GRILL

Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Chef de Partie, Demi Chef, Commis Chef and Pastry Chef in a luxury resort, cruise ship, private estate or 5-star restaurant. Should possess a working knowledge of Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. This is a live-in position. Extended working hours required when villa is occupied.

Domestic Worker

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 241-6565 7826

GORDON SUPPLY

VILLA HOST

LaboUrer Sales Clerk

Minimum 2 years’ experience working in a 5-star resort, private estate or luxury motor yacht with solid food and beverage service experience. Must be immaculately presented, fluent in English and possess the confidence to communicate directly with villa owners and renters. A friendly, outgoing yet professional demeanor is required. Must be self-motivated, disciplined, flexible and hard-working.

This is a live-in position and extended working hours are required when villa is occupied.

Salary must commensurate with qualifications

Resumes can be faxed to 9413425 and the Labour Department, Providenciales as soon as possible

7817

Cashier

Is looking for a

NEEDED Must be certified level 2 minimum of 3 years teaching experience.

Contact: 242-2927 7804

LABOURER

Must be reliable, strong, able to help clean ponds and swimming pools, hard working and willing to work under the sun all day. Should be able to speak reasonable English. Previous experience beneficial.

ISLAND ESCAPE TURKS & CAICOS LTD.

KITEBOARD INSTRUCTOR

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 team, ensuring all daily operational & financial transactions is 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) Review and continually improve internal controls, processes and procedures to ensure financial information is complete & accurate and to ensure the security of assets.

5) 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.

Chef Waitress

Is looking for a

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.

Labourer Must be able to do plumbing and electrical work. Must be able to work flexible hours.

Salary $8.00 per hour

Contact: 244-4665 7798

INCOME AUDITOR

Minimum 3 years previous experience in a similar role in a luxury resort. Must have solid experience in reviewing and verifying accuracy of hotel/restaurant revenues and preparation of daily, weekly and month-end reports. Advanced computer and mathematical skills required. Must also be detailorientated with good communication skills.

NIGHT AUDITOR

Minimum of 2 years previous experience in a similar role in a luxury resort. Must have solid experience in preparing night audit reports and journals, making corrections and adjustments and balancing revenue and settlement accounts. Advanced computer skills required including Micros, Opera and Excel. Must be prepared to work the night shift.

All positions require a flexible schedule (which may include holidays, weekends and evenings) and extended hours on occasion. Salaries based on experience and qualifications. BELONGERS ONLY MAY APPLY. APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE WEDNESDAYS ONLY 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. E-mail mstubbs@amanresorts.com 7825

February 23 - March 1, 2013

for sale

CLASSIFIEDS 37

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS REQUIRED FOR RESIDENCES AT NORTH CAICOS

Paradise Ltd

is seeking

Assistant Store Manager • Must have 15 years of experience in retail management, proven sales track record and proof thereof.

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree is required. Financial background with extensive knowledge of finance and accounting.

Pure breed Apricot female Toy Poodle

Store Clerk

GARDENER/ LABOURER Experienced gardener/ labourer required for full time work at two residences and hardware store at the Bottle Creek and Whitby, North Caicos. Must be willing to work six days a week.

A demonstrated ability to work unsupervised with excellent communication skills is essential for the position. Work description includes maintenance to gardens and exterior of premises, car wash, offloading containers, garbage disposal, minor house repairs, dog care, etc. Salary is $5.00 per hour.

Call 442-8888 ON THE RUN MINI MART Is looking to fill the following positions:

Labourer Housekeeper Child Caregiver

Must be willing to work 5 days per week salary negotiable

Please apply no later than 13th March, 2013 at handmy@ tciway.tc or contact on telephone No. 233 7101.

Belongers only need apply.

7822

Y A 3 B Consultanting Agency Acting on behalf of our clients is looking to fill the following positions:

Judy Mini Bar

Waitress $6.00 per hour

Jadam Ltd.

Maintenance Man $8.00 per hour

WBC Managing Ltd.

Baggage Handler $6.00 per hour

Lessy Restaurant Waitress $6.00 per hour

Contact: 344-4540

Assistant Manager and Clerk Position Requirements: • Excellent command of English language, secondary language of Spanish preferred.

• Ability to work early mornings, late nights, weekends and holidays.

• Clean police record.

• Organized detail oriented team player with excellent communication skills.

Belongers need only apply.

Salary will commensurate with experience.

Applicants please apply to paradise.provo@gmail.com.

Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

7824

MANGO BAR & RESTAURANT Is looking for a

Barmaid

To work 6 days per week salary $5.00 per hour

Contact: 247-0187 or 346-4245 LAMONT’S TAKE-OUT Is looking for a

TEONA SPA

Is looking for the following positions:

Domestic Worker/ Cleaner

Massage Therapist Esthetician Nail Technician

7773

WARD’S CONSULTING AGENCY Acting on behalf our clients Complete Construction, Anny Garcias Saloon, Turquoise Island Ventrures, Peureton Josusia Higgs is looking to fill the following positions:

7829

Salary commensurate with experience.

Contact: Debra Garland @ 243-6748

• Must have 10 years of experience in a retail/accounting/clerical position and proof thereof.

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in business. Degree in marketing preferred.

• Demonstrate computer proficiency and in-depth knowledge of QuickBooks, Excel, Adobe and Microsoft Word.

To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.

Contact: 242-5919

7859

Cosmetologist Kitchen Helper Domestic Worker Carpenter Salary starting at $6.00 - $7.00 per hour

Contact: 345-7512

7861

THE VENETIAN

Contact: 941-5051

PAINTERS REQUIRED Applicant must have 5 years painting experience Applicant must be able to work weekends as needed Tasks are not limited to painting only Applicant will be required to assist in other areas at construction sites including cleaning up Applicants must be able to work unsupervised Salary $6.00 per hour.

Apply to Southern Construction Ltd. 649-231-6089 or fax: 649-946-4084 Application deadline is March 3rd, 2013 7801

2 Barmaids 2 Labourers

Needed to work 6 days per week.

Salary $5.00 per hour.

Email info@ misickstanbrok.tc or fax: 649-946-4734 7863

Is looking for a

Masseuse Must have at least 5 years experience must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.

contact: 941-3512

7864

38 CLASSIFIEDS

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION SALES FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas) Ltd as Chargee pursuant to the Registered Land Ordinance hereby gives Notice that it will cause to be sold by Public Auction the following scheduled properties outside the offices of Miller Simons O’Sullivan, Second Floor, The Beatrice Butterfield Building, Butterfield Square, Providenciales at 10:00 a.m. on 5 March 2013.

1. Title No. 60101/21 K2&3, North West Point, Providenciales

Registered Proprietor: North West Point Resort Ltd. Comprising approximately 570 feet of frontage onto the reef projected white sandy beach and excellent views of the North Shore. Upon this has been constructed two condominium buildings containing units. This property also contains on site facilities included gated entry, restaurant/cabana area, swimming pool, deck area and gardens. This unit has 1,572 square feet and is known as unit 102 in Building B1. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open plan living/dining area, living area, balcony/veranda and closet space.

2. Title No. 60101/21 K29 North West Point, Providenciales

Registered Proprietor: North West Point Resort Ltd. Comprising approximately 570 feet of frontage onto the reef projected white sandy beach and excellent views of the North Shore. Upon this has been constructed two condominium buildings containing units. This property also contains on site facilities included gated entry, restaurant/cabana area, swimming pool, deck area and gardens. This unit has 1,572 square feet and is known as unit 102 in Building B2. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open plan living/dining area, living area, balcony/veranda and closet space.

3. Title No. 60101/21 K36, North West Point, Providenciales

Registered Proprietor: North West Point Resort Ltd. Comprising approximately 570 feet of frontage onto the reef projected white sandy beach and excellent views of the North Shore. Upon this has been constructed two condominium buildings containing units. This property also contains on site facilities included gated entry, restaurant/cabana area, swimming pool, deck area and gardens. This unit has 2,223 square feet and is known as unit 201 in Building B2. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open plan living/dining area, living area, balcony/veranda and closet space.

4. Title No. 60101/21 K37, North West Point, Providenciales

Registered Proprietor: North West Point Resort Ltd. Comprising approximately 570 feet of frontage onto the reef projected white sandy beach and excellent views of the North Shore. Upon this has been constructed two condominium buildings containing units. This property also contains on site facilities included gated entry, restaurant/cabana area, swimming pool, deck area and gardens. This unit has 1.556 square feet and is known as unit 203 in Building B2. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open plan living/dining area, living area, balcony/veranda and closet space.

5. Title No. 60400/330, Chalk Sound, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Karen Rigby This property is located on the south side of Chalk Sound drive.

The property has a single storey residence with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining, utility closet and a front and rear porch. The property has no external improvements in terms of driveway or parking aware. The total floor area is 1,832 square feet.

6. Title No. 10304/142, 143, 144, Central, Grand Turk Registered Proprietor: Whale Watchers Ltd

Comprising 0.96 acre parcel containing a partially complete commercial development located on Front Street, Grand Turk with the potential to be used for office or residential units.

7. Title No. 60609/24, Norway & Five Cays, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Claudine Pratt

Comprising 0.21 acre parcel containing an apartment building with two single storey apartments, both with two bedrooms. The property is accessed by an asphalt surfaced main road via the gated entrance of the two apartment properties. The approximate gross external floor area of the whole apartment building is approximately 2,976 square feet, including the area of the covered decks amounting to 576 square feet.

9. Title No. 60505/250, Blue Hills & Stamers Run, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Samuel Jules

Comprising 0.26 acre parcel with bare land containing indigenous bush and small trees. The property is located between Blue Hills and the northern part of Kew Town and is accessed by turning on Bible Street, the second turning on Blue Hills Road, heading towards the T-junction and taking the northern hand turn to the end of the road and the property is the last lot on the left below the ridge land.

10. Title No. 60719/87 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales

Registered Proprietor: Gregory Raymond Pinder and Lisa PhillipsPinder Comprising 0.74 acre parcel with bare land containing dense native shrubbery and the rear of the plot overlooks the canal. The property is located in the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill area of Providenciales.

11. Title No. 60400/284, Norway & Five Cays, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: BNA Ltd

Comprising 1 acre parcel with a partially completed block structure, dense mature native vegetation and small trees. The property is located on Chalk Sound Road, approximately half a mile beyond the Silly Creek Estate junction on the northern side of the road. The property has a view of the Chalk Sound National Park.

12. Title No. 60713/90/K9, Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Ivan Gregory Kennessey

Located in the Queen Angel Development comprising of studio, one, and two bedroom villas, which can be found in the Turtle Cove area. The property is Unit A201, a second floor one-bedroom corner unit in Building A. Unit A201 has a 1,275 unit entitlement and 1,275 square foot gross external area. The unit is unfurnished and comprises one bedroom, one bathroom, open kitchen/living/ dining area, utility closet and storage space. The unit also has use of the resort facilities including the communal swimming pool and deck.

13. Title No. 51201/22, Bottle Creek Central, North Caicos Registered Proprietor: Samuel Handfield

Comprising 1.75 acre parcel with a commercial building that is currently operated as a supermarket. The property also contains a bathroom, storage facilities, a loading area and office space. The gross floor area of the building is approximately 5,100 square feet.

The property is located along Kings Road in North Windsor, Bottle Creek Central.

14. Title No. 51203/37, Bottle Creek Central, North Caicos Registered Proprietor: Samuel Handfield

Comprising 0.55 acre parcel containing two structures that are currently in poor condition. The main house contains three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen and a living room area. The gross floor area is approximately 1,225 square feet. The annex building is a split level building that was previously used as a general store and a one-bedroom apartment. The gross floor area is approximately 1,063 square feet.

Located on the south-western tip of Providenciales, in the area known as Norway & Five Cays. A two story house on 1.03 Acres of land. The house is not yet completed with only snagging items, minor finishing items and some site works left to be completed.

Once completed the gross floor area of the residence will be 2,435 square feet. The property benefits from approximately 120 linear feet of iron shore frontage onto the Chalk Sound with impressive 180 degree views being enjoyed to the west.

15. Title No. 51302/11, Bottle Creek South, North Caicos

8. Title No. 10406/88, East Suburbs, Grand Turk

16. Title No. 51108/106, Bottle Creek North, North Caicos

Registered Proprietor- Lorraine/Laureen Williams

Registered Proprietor: Samuel Handfield Comprising 10.2 acre of undeveloped land and is currently being used as a local farm with native produce. The property also contains a small thatched shed that is used for storage of the farming materials and tools. The property is located on the west side of Bottle Creek Road.

Registered Proprietor: Garnett and Rosemary Jolly

Comprising 0.62 acre parcel with a gated townhouse development consisting of ten two-storey two bedroom townhouses, with a small swimming pool, deck, gazebo, marl driveway, car parking, limited landscaping, BBQ area and a surrounding security fence and wall.

The property is located in the Major Hill district of Bottle Creek.

17. Title No. 60719/110 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Finbar Grant

Comprising 0.59 acre parcel with a two-storey detached residence, a guest suite and a single-storey guesthouse and is located in the residential sub-division in Discovery Bay. The two-storey detached residence has four/five bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, library, a substantially complete cinema room, laundry room, kitchen, breakfast room, family room and a separate office. The guest suite contains a bedroom, bathroom and a kitchenette. The single-storey guesthouse contains a studio with a bedroom and bathroom and a separate efficiency unit with a bathroom, bedroom and kitchenette. The property also contains a swimming pool and a concrete boat dock.

18. Title No. 60907/226/K4 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Michael Eugene Misick

Located at the Providenciales Golf Club in the development known as The Palms. The property is unit 4 and is a two-storey, two-bedroom townhome comprising 1,282 square feet. The unit benefits from discounted of the golf course, tennis courts and has communal access to the swimming pool and parking area in front of the unit.

19. Title No. 61113/217 Long Bay Hills, Providenciales Registered Proprietor: Robin Roselitta Cox

Comprising 0.85 acre parcel located in the Long Bay Hills sub-division near the Conch Farm and the Marina at Heaving Down Rock. The property contains a two-storey building and a single storey building.

The two-storey building contains one two-bedroom unit and two one-bedroom units, all with open living space. The single-storey building contains a two-bedroom house with open living space.

20. Title No. 51105/46, Bottle Creek North, North Caicos

Registered Proprietor: Obed Nathaniel Gardiner Comprising 0.78 acre parcel located in Major Hill in the Bottle Creek North section of North Caicos. The property is in a developing residential sub-division and contains three buildings. The first building consists of a two-storey ten-unit apartment building, with four two-bedroom units and six one-bedroom units, all with open living space. The second building consists of a part single-storey and two-storey seven-unit apartment building, with two two-bedroom units and five one-bedroom units, all with open living space. The third building consists of a two-storey two-bedroom unit with open living space on the upper level and a storage and workshop area on the lower level. The property is lightly landscaped with native mature trees and plants and has a gazebo and a front boundary wall.

21. Title No. 60715/210 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales

Registered Proprietor: Lincoln Hudson Ferriera

Comprising 0.54 acre parcel with bare land containing dense indigenous bush and mature trees and is accessed via turning off the unpaved Turtle Creek Drive, which runs from the west of the Shell Station and proceeding southerly until the T junction, the subject land is accessed by taking the western turning and following the road until just before the canal starts to curve, where the subject land is located on the right hand side immediately fronting the canal.

M & S Trust Company Limited. as Chargee pursuant to the Registered Land Ordinance hereby gives Notice that it will cause to be sold by Public Auction the following property outside the offices of Miller Simons O’Sullivan, Second Floor, The Beatrice Butterfield Building, Butterfield Square, Providenciales at 10:00 a.m. on 5 March 2013.

1. Title No. 10102/14 North East Suburbs, Grand Turk Registered Proprietor: Daniel Stevenson Simmons

Comprising a 15-acre parcel with bare land. The property is located in the North East Suburbs in ‘The Ridge’, with frontage on North Creek and Lighthouse Road. The property has views over North Creek and the western shoreline.

7867

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Sports National

Armstrong won’t cooperate with USADA probe CYCLIST Lance Armstrong will not cooperate with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation of performanceenhancing drug use in the sport, an Armstrong attorney said Wednesday.

USADA had given Armstrong -- who publicly admitted such drug use last month -- until Wednesday to decide whether he would cooperate under oath with investigators as part of a possible path to altering his USADA-imposed lifetime competition ban.

“Lance will not participate in USADA’s efforts to selectively conduct American prosecutions that only demonise selected individuals while failing to address the 95% of the sport over which USADA has no jurisdiction,” Armstrong attorney Tim Herman said in a written statement Wednesday.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart

Lance Armstrong will not cooperate with the US Anti-Doping Agency although he admitted to using drugs during his career last month.

issued a statement Wednesday saying that “over the last few weeks (Armstrong) has led us to believe that he wanted to come in and assist USADA, but was worried of potential criminal and civil liability if he did so.”

Pistorius case: Top detective brought in SOUTH Africa’s top detective is to take over the Oscar Pistorius inquiry amid attempted murder accusations against current lead officer Hilton Botha.

Detective Botha was removed pending the result of an investigation into seven counts of attempted murder.

National police commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega announced the change after a third day of testimony at Mr Pistorius’s bail hearing.

Mr Pistorius, 26, denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29.

Ms Steenkamp died after being shot three times at Mr Pistorius’ home on 14 February.

‘NO EMBARRASSMENT’ Ms Phiyega said the police had received feedback from state prosecutors about Det Botha only on Wednesday.

She described him as an “experienced detective” who was not yet facing any

Milan stun Barcelona in Champions League BARCELONA stand-in coach Jordi Roura suffered another agonising display on his competitive return to the stadium that effectively ended his playing career.

Twenty-four years on from suffering a cruciate ligament injury while playing for Barcelona in the San Siro, that same old sinking feeling returned for a man holding the reins as regular coach Tito Vilanova undergoes medical treatment for a tumor in New York.

Fielding a strong side against a Milan team that failed to beat the Spaniards in last season’s four European Champions League meetings, Barcelona lost the first leg of the last 16 clash 2-0.

After a tight first half, Kevin-Prince Boateng broke the deadlock after 56 minutes when drilling home from the edge of the box after a Riccardo Montolivo drive was deflected into his path.

Nine minutes from time, fellow Ghanaian Sulley Muntari sealed Milan’s first Champions League win over Barca in 13 years after he stylishly finished off a sweeping move involving Stephan El Shaarawy and new signing M’Baye Niang.

The victory was especially satisfying for the Milan hierarchy and club president Silvio Berlusconi, who may hope the unexpected win represents a good omen as the 76-year-old tries to

39

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

criminal charges.

However, she said she was using her authority as national police chief to ask Lt Gen Vinesh Moonoo to take over the Pistorius case.

Gen Moonoo is reported to be a veteran of some 30 years service. He will work with the police chief in Gauteng province on a case Ms Phiyega said required attention “at a national level”.

She denied that the decision to replace Det Botha was embarrassing for the police.

The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani,

Oscar Pistorius might have also killed his athletic career.

in Pretoria, says the claims against Det Botha refer to a 2009 incident in which he and several other officers allegedly opened fired on a minibus taxi carrying seven passengers when the driver apparently

disobeyed an order to stop.

In court on Thursday, defence and prosecution lawyers offered their final arguments.

The magistrate was expected to issues his ruling on Mr Pistorius’s bail application on Friday.

Lead defence lawyer Barry Roux asked for the charge of premeditated murder to be downgraded, and said Det Botha’s contradictory evidence on Wednesday had undermined the prosecution’s case.

A Dynamic Mobile Service provider seeks to recruit for the following post:

Business Process Improvement Analyst Reports to: General Manager

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF JOB: The Business Analyst is responsible for a full range of activities which ensure the operational effectiveness and excellence of the business unit. The Business Analyst will design and document workflow and make appropriate recommendations that will positively impact operational effectiveness. The Business Analyst will track and analyze business unit trends and make appropriate recommendations that will positively impact the unit.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Goalkeeper Cristian Abbiati and Kevin-Prince Boateng celebrate Milan’s unexpected 2-0 win over the tournament favourites.

return to office in this weekend’s Italian elections.

Following last year’s comprehensive 3-1 aggregate defeat against Lionel Messi and colleagues in the Champions

League quarterfinals, Milan overhauled their squad -- with Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Alessandro Nesta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among those moved on.

Norwani Services limited Is seeking the following for clients

Housemen, Security Guards Labourers, Accounts Trainers Sales Clerks, Waiters Domestic Workers, Waitress

Salary $5.00 per hour Contact (649) 946-8289

• Works with appropriate personnel to allocate personnel time to project tasks and to track progress of their work.

• Takes assigned project from original concept through final implementation.

• Defines, develops and implements quality assurance practices and procedures, end user test plans and other QA assessments.

• Responsible for ensuring that all documentation accurately reflects the current status of changes and outstanding issues so that business requirements reflect application features and functions.

• Manages specific application quality assurance and help desk activities including the tracking of bug reports and change requests and ensuring their timely resolution.

• Responsible for the overall success of testing, including results verification and release sign-off.

• Ensures continuing operational quality by documenting bug fixes and enhancements assigning tasks to developers, testing and releasing updates.

• Analyzes discrepancies in service or performance and makes recommendations for updates.

• Defines project scope and objectives.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS & FUNCTIONAL SKILLS: • Minimum 5 years’ experience in telecommunication, including underwriting, marketing, business analysis and project management is preferred • Proven project management and leadership skills, including the ability to gather clear business requirements.

• Proven ability to develop, document and maintain operational policies and procedures, including the designing and documenting detailed process flows, and the development of operational performance and quality metric standards and reports.

• Proven experience working with Excel and developing and maintaining various analyses and reporting tools.

• Excellent Organizational and Communication Skills.

• BA degree business or related field preferred. Equivalent work experience considered

Interested applicants should forward their resume to hrtci@digicelgroup.com 7823

40

Sports National

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

WIV Provo Premier League:

Sharks make late run, but AFC Academy too strong

Grand Turk Stallions battled hard against the Harbour Boys.

PABA Night League:

GT Stallions defeat Harbour Boys MARCUSSON Lightbourne scored 18 points in a low scoring encounter as GT Stallion stayed undefeated in the Provo Amateur Basketball Association (PABA) Night League.

The win was against the dominant South Caicos Harbour Boys.

Lightbourne added six boards and three steals in the 45-42 points win last Saturday night, while K.

Williams assisted with 12 points.

For Harbour Boys Alvardo Parker finished with 12 points, 11 boards, six blocks and four steals, while J. Paul made 11 points, eight rebounds, six steals and four assists.

Another front runner, defending champions, the Flyers, had an easy win over Customs.

That game ended 88-54. Steve

Brass had 18 points while A. Cash added 16 points, seven boards and five assists. M. Forbes led Customs with 18 points and five boards; while E. Taylor had a game high 14 rebound to go with his nine points.

GT Stallions and the Flyers will battle this weekend at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex court in a key match-up.

THE SWA Sharks scored twice in the late second half, but earlier damage done by the AFC Academy left them two goals short in the latest clash of the WIV Provo Premier League.

The Academy were already on the front foot when the game started with a big squad, the Sharks were on the opposite end of the spectrum since they were missing some key players.

It wasn’t long before this attitude was translated on the pitch when a counter-attack found the Academy three against one in the Sharks penalty area after 26 minutes and Jerry Liluce managed to slot the ball home. The game was fairly scrappy and bad tempered throughout the first half and not a particularly great advert for football, but to be fair the unusually poor quality of the pitch surface and a host of stoppages of various kinds really did not help. Although the Sharks managed to carve out a few opportunities that could have changed things, including a great long shot from Basil McGregor and a close chance that fell to Courtney Tain, none were taken and it was the Academy who scored a second when they sprung the Sharks off-side trap with Herby Magny finishing well.

Shortly afterwards, Myrohn Pereira was injured with a broken nose after bravely challenging in defence and

had to go off and was replaced by Peterson Evariste.

The second half was more of the same with the fitter, faster Academy testing the Sharks’ defence on a number of occasions with few chances offered by the resolute Academy defence. Ascani and Rene both played well, together with a battling Kelly Louima in defensive midfield.

After 61 minutes, Peterson Evariste for the Academy had a good run down the left and managed to break into the box and score at the near post and soon after a goalkeeper error from a Herby Magny shot saw the Sharks 4-0 down after 70 minutes.

At this point the Sharks made a third substitution, gathered themselves together, went for broke and started to play some better football. The Academy gave away a foul just outside the box on 79 minutes and the ever dangerous Richie Lock curled a great free kick into the top left hand corner. Ten minutes later, McGregor had a second long shot which found the top right hand corner of the net, but the game ended 4-2 in favour of the younger side.

President’s Player of the Week went to Gianni Ascani who, for the second week running, had a very good game in defence.

Josh for Sports

Let’s get wet A FEW years ago, the Provo Sailing Club embarked on a programme of teaching children in Provo the fundamentals of sailing.

The objective was to prepare our people to compete in national and international events. As you know, sailing is a most enjoyable sporting event which is practised world-over.

Before you start sailing you need to know some general things about your boat and how it responds to the wind and water.

The important basics are: 1.

The wind and how to understand and use it.

2. The classic points of sail and what they mean.

3. The seven basic maneuvers.

The most basic of all is to understand the character of the

water is a better wind indicator than almost anything else. Waves are created by the wind, but only certain waves are indicative of the wind in your immediate surroundings.

By Joshua Gardiner wind you use. A sailor must be aware of the wind’s direction, strength and how it affects his boat at all times. At first this takes much concentration, but it soon becomes second nature.

SEEING THE WIND The wind, of course, is invisible. It is simply the air in motion; but how it affects the water can reflect its direction and strength. In fact, the

SWELLS Swells are large, long period waves that travel great distances. Although swells are first caused by wind—A storm at seas can originate far away and can travel against “local” current and wind. Swells that travel inshore from a great distance are often called ground swells when they fetch up in the shallow coastal banks.

They usually do not reflect immediate weather conditions.

WIND WAVES Although wind waves are caused by local wind, they can grow in storm swells that are acted upon by a large weather pattern in deep water.

The wind waves you’ll find will be

– Small boat sailing theory those caused by the wind inshore.

Sometimes wind waves can ride on ground swells and act against the direction of a swell, causing a confused sea. Usually, wind waves are the biggest waves you’ll be dealing with.

Note that wind waves always travel in the overall direction of the local wind. They’re the ones that break on the top and create those foamy crests called whitecaps.

RIPPLES Ripples are the smallest of wind waves, and always show the latest trend in the wind’s direction and strength. Groups of ripples may appear on the water’s surface as dark patches, called “Cat’s Paws”.

By the movement of those dark patches, you can tell where small, localised gusts are forming and in what direction they are moving.

Sometimes Cat’s Paws group to form whole sheets of ripples which show as huge dark blotches on the

surface and indicates strong gusts.

It’s important to learn to see the smallest ripple on the water’s surface, even if that surface is lumpy with larger wind waves. Sometimes, the larger waves will reflect what the wind’s direction was one or two hours ago, while the smallest ripple will show the current trend.

Probably the best way to understand the nature of the wind is to observe it as it affects the water. Note the progress of the Cat’s Paws on a windy day and learn to use your senses to detect the wind.

Feel the wind on your face, and listen to its rush on your ears.

When you get out on your boat, you will find your increased sensitivity a great help to mastering the conditions.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK…

February 23 - March 1, 2013

Sports National

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

Williams runs down double at Western Champs – breaks national 100M record

Angelo Garland has a new PB in the 400M.

Western Champs:

Garland wins 400M with new PB TCI’s Angelo Garland who teamed up with Delano Williams two weeks ago to help their Jamaican high school Munro College break a five-year-old Milo Western Relays 4X400M record, has dominated the 400M race at the 2013 Hanover Cooperative Western Union Western Championships.

At the U-20 Boys’ 400M final,

which took place at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, Garland ran a new personal best.

He raced past the field to finish with a time of 48.93 seconds.

The youngster has had a good season thus far and promises to erase more time off his PB in events to come. He will team up with Williams again this weekend in the Gibson Relays.

LAST year he won the World Junior Championships 200M title, made international headlines about possibly representing the UK at the Olympics, while still breaking records at a tender teenage age.

This year TCI’s most accomplished athlete, Delano Williams, has made headlines once again by dominating the Boys’ Class One 100 and 200 metre sprint events at the 2013 Hanover Cooperative Western Union Western Championships.

Williams not only defended his two titles, but he did the shorter race in record time, which is also a national record for the TCI. “I was very ecstatic about the race, especially knowing that I’m not doing any speed work as yet.”

Williams ran the 100M in 10.32 seconds (1.5m/s) to erase his previous best of 10:34s.

BATTLE ON Running against the Jamaicans (who have dominated the sprinting world) was no easy task, but according to Williams the battle was always against 2011 World Junior 100M champion Odail Todd from Green Island High School.

At the 60M mark Todd was

Delano Williams (left) of Munro College crosses the finish line first in 10.32 seconds to win the boys Class One 100m final at the Hanover Co-operative Western Union Western Championships at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. Odail Todd (Green Island) was second in 10.39s and Gawain Williams of Herbert Morrison (right), third in 10.54s. – (Photo by Paul Clarke/Jamaica Gleaner photo)

slightly ahead, but Williams, who captained Munro College, hit full stride to run him down in record time. Todd’s 10.39s was his PB. SORE MUSCLES The 200M battle was not easy for Williams and although he won that race in a time of 20.79s, he did so in a lot of pain. “My muscles were really sore so I didn’t do as well in the 200m as I would have wanted; this was due to situations not under my control. Overall I’m satisfied

with the race.”

DOMINATING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS The two wins have placed Williams in a league all by himself, since he has now become the first athlete to win the events three consecutive times.

Although he will run the Gibson Relays this weekend, his main focus is on Jamaica’s biggest school event: the Boys’ and Girls’ Champs next month where he aims to defend his sprint titles.

TCIFA hosts first ever US Soccer USSF E Coaching Licence It was another first for the TCIFA last weekend as the local football association hosted a US Soccer USSF E Coaching Licence. Never before had US Soccer conducted a course outside of their own country so it was a great honour that the Turks and Caicos was chosen for this inaugural event.

Twenty two local coaches battled over three days in a range of practical and theoretical exercises led by course instructor Dean Wurzberger, a 30-year veteran of coaching and education in the USA. The course focused on the skills required to coach players aged 9-12 years, but attention was also given to more general areas such as health and safety, nutrition and personal coaching development.

Vice president Oliver Smith, who initiated the course after completing his US Soccer B Licence last year, was pleased with how the course was received. “Not only was the event a historic one, but it brought home to us the need for quality coaching education here in the Turks and Caicos and the positive

multiplier effect that this will have on the development of our coaches and more significantly our players.

We all were reminded by Dean of the role we play in passing on life lessons to the young players that come under their tutelage. It was a welcome reminder”.

Technical Director Matthew Green was equally delighted with the progress made. “We have an excellent group of coaches in our programme and it was great to see them benefit from this type of exposure. They clearly learned a lot during the course and now it is up to us to push them further so that they can improve the levels of play amongst our academies”.

Green added: “Dean did a great job in getting our coaches active during the practical sessions, making them feel at ease and confident with their assigned topics. Coaching is not an easy job and with so many of our coaches being young I was worried that few of them might be a bit nervous, however they all did a great job and represented the association with confidence and pride”.

Course instructor Dean Wurzberger with our animated local coaches and TCIFA officials.

Wurzberger was full of praise for the TCIFA, stating: “Since I stepped foot off the plane I have been treated like royalty. Everybody has been incredibly friendly, helpful and professional in all aspects.

The association is extremely well organised and the coaches were a joy

to work with. Coupled with excellent facilities, the TCIFA has a bright future and is clearly moving in the right direction.” Equally impressed with the natural beauty of the islands he added: “I hope US Soccer can send me down here again in the future to work in such a beautiful

environment with warm, caring and friendly people”.

TCIFA President Chris Bryan added that further goals for the TCIFA will be to focus on coaching development. “We have spent several years building up our player base, now we need to make sure that our players get the best coaching available. Courses like this clearly show our intent to improve in all levels and hopefully more of these types of courses will be held in the future”.

Teenage coaching prodigy Yarileny De La Cruz who assists with the U-7 Academy on Monday evenings was full of praise for the TCIFA and Dean Wurzberger.

“There are probably few associations that would allow young coaches like me to participate in this event so I am really happy I was given this chance to learn more about the game and improve my coaching skills. Coach Dean was a great person to work with; he made us all feel special. I hope he will return here one day so I can show him how good a coach I have become”.

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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013

February 23 - March 1, 2013

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

43

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44

TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS

February 23 - March 1, 2013