16 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 27 - November 2, 2012
Gov’t forces sale of Emerald Cay – Civil recovery team reclaims $8m in stamp duty GOVERNMENT coffers were boosted by more than $8 million this week following the forced the sale of Emerald Cay. Owners of the luxurious private island estate avoided paying the required stampduty during its sale in 2006 and racked up a multi-million dollar bill. In June 2011 the civil recovery team obtained a judgment against Emerald Cay Limited and Worldwide Commercial Properties Limited following the discovery of the lack of payment. It was subsequently quantified at just under $9.3m by the court earlier this year, with interest and costs. Since then the government has been seeking to enforce that judgment by forcing a sale of Emerald Cay. On Monday the property was sold and the government received the total sum of $8.13m by way of a cash payment. The payment brings to a conclusion one of the most significant cases of the government's civil recovery programme. Attorney General HuwShepheardsaid: “We are delighted that the judgment handed down earlier this year has been
satisfied. “Whilst obtaining judgments such as this is highly important and demonstrates the government's determination to deal with stamp duty evasion, the receipt of such a large sum represents another significant recovery to the benefit of the Islands. “It also represents another very good result for the civil recovery team and their on-going efforts” In accordance with the approach set out in the 2012/13 budget speech in May, this windfall receipt will be used to pay down TCIG debt. The civil recovery team, led by London law firm Edwards Wildman, was engaged in December 2009 following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report by Sir Robin Auld. To date, the team has recovered $15.5m in cash and nearly 2,500 acres of land for the government in more than 40 separate claims with more significant recoveries expected. The Emerald Cay payment follows the earlier summer settlement of the Salt Cay litigation with the return of a large part of that island to the government's hands and a payment of $7m in cash.
Constitution clear on environmental protection WITH another week passed and no decision on the proposal to dredge the Leeward channel, stakeholders continue to raise their concerns over the impacts of dredging on the environment. That said, the 2011 Constitution came into effect last Monday and is clear on the protection of the environment. Section 18 of the Constitution says, “The Legislature and the Government shall, in all their decisions, have due regard to the need to foster and protect an environment that is not harmful to the health or well-being of present and future generations, while promoting justifiable economic and social development. “To this end the Legislature and the Government should adopt reasonable legislative and other measures to protect the built heritage, the wildlife and the land and sea biodiversity of the Islands that— (a) limit pollution and ecological degradation; (b) promote conservation and
biodiversity; and (c) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources.” Last week, Governor Ric Todd, said the final say on the dredging the Leeward channel will be left up to the Planning Minster. Currently Todd is the Minister of Planning. Blue Haven Marina and Resort recently announced that by summer 2013 it will be able to cater to yachts up to 180 feet and according to a report by Sarah Bensimon for ‘All at sea Caribbean’ Blue Haven Marina and Resort intends to make its plans a possibility through “plans for maintenance dredging” that will bring its capacity to 12 feet, which is projected to be completed by winter 2013. According to widespread speculation, Blue Haven Marina and Resort was initially the Leeward Marina, which was once owned by Lord Michael Ashcroft. (VANESSA NARINE)
On Monday the Emerald Cay property was sold and the government received the total sum of $8.13m by way of a cash payment
Social worker from Curacao named regional unsung hero for 2012 FOR the second year running, a candidate from the Dutch territory of Curacao has been named CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Regional Unsung Hero. Gerda Susanna Gosepa was chosen from among 17 nominees who were named Unsung Heroes in their respective countries, and whose work was considered for honour by the programme’s regional judging panel. The runners up for the 2012 programme were Mr. Bonti Liverpool of Dominica, and Vincentian, Edward Williams. The three Unsung Heroes for this year were selected by a judging panel comprising a number of eminent Caribbean persons, including: Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth; Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies; Sir Neville Nicholls, former President of the Caribbean Development Bank; Mme. Justice Marie MacCormack, first female justice of the High Court of Barbados; Mr. A. Leonard Archer, former High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to CARICOM; Mr. Jones P. Madeira Court Protocol and Information Manager in the Judiciary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; and Mr. Charles Williams, former Chief of the Carib Community in Dominica. Gosepa was singled out for her work as a volunteer and social worker in depressed areas of Curacao. She has been instrumental in helping to shape the lives of many residents of the villages of Flip, Seru Fortuna and Groot Kwartier. Over the years, she has helped dozens of families, especially single-parent ones, with the tools to better their lives and move ahead socially. She is being credited as one of the key persons that helped with the turnaround of the village of Seru Fortuna in the eighties and nineties. Seru Fortuna is a housing project that was developed
by the Housing Authorities in the late 70’s. The area is infamous for its social problems relating to poverty, crime, drugs, illiteracy, and other problems common in these types of neighbourhoods. In the remote village of Flip in Banda Bou, she has contributed to many social, cultural, educational and literacy projects, especially for the youth, which have helped many of them to surpass their social isolation. In the 70’s she worked as a volunteer and leader for Fundashon Gogorobi, a foundation that organizes social, cultural and educational activities for the residents of Groot Kwartier. Ms. Gosepa was born and raised in Groot Kwartie and at the age of 70, she still volunteers with Fundashon
Gogorobi. She has also been an advocate of women rights and has been an active volunteer for Union di Muhenan Antiano (Antillean Women Union), a women’s empowerment organization that was formed in 1977. Ms. Gosepa has contributed to the development of UMA’s quarterly magazines, workshops, seminars, and theatre plays that dealt with the issue of women’s empowerment. In the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Gertrude Saunders-Forbes was awarded the local CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Unsung Hero award, recognized for an active role in the community through her work with the Girl Guides and is known for doing a multitude of charitable deeds. Unsung Heroes is in its ninth year.
Unarmed officers arrest armed suspect OFFICERS attached to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Street Crime Unit, while in the districts observed a subject who was wanted for questioning in relation to an ongoing investigation, who they arrested. At approximately 9:30 am on Monday, 22 October, while attempting to apprehend the subject, he escaped into a wooded area off the Leeward Highway. During the chase, one of the officers came upon a second subject who pulled a gun, who was allegedly wearing mask and a bulletproof vest. He reportedly fired a shot at one of the officers and a struggle ensued, which resulted in a round being discharged from the suspects firearm and the suspect being shot. Neither of the officers were
armed at the time of this incident. The officer who was involved in the struggle suffered injuries, which required medical attention. The suspect who was shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and is still hospitalized. The second suspect was arrested on Tuesday morning, 23 October. Investigations are continuing into this matter. Commissioner Farquhar said, “Policing is a high-risk activity and police officers are often in harm’s way. Incidents like these reinforce the need for officers to be appropriately equipped, trained, and paid. “I commend the actions of the two officers and I am extremely thankful for the outcome. The officers’ actions no doubt prevented another crime or crimes that could have ended tragically.”