Weekly News Volume 28 | No. 42 | October 18 - 24, 2014
Price $1.00
Turks and Caicos
FOR ADVERTISING CONTACT:
tcnews@tciway.tc
the national newspaper of the turks and caicos islands
ON THE WEB tcweeklynews.com
PRETRIAL
BOYCOTT Michael Misick’s defence lawyer will not be attending the highly anticipated pre-trial hearing for the upcoming corruption trial. 5 PAGE
TCI joins the Caribbean’s renewable PAGE energy race 4
Immigration Bill 2014 thwarted in parliament PAGE 4
Emergency meeting called to discuss Ebola threat to TCI
PAGE 6
2
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
3
4
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
TCI joins the Caribbean’s renewable energy race THE TCI deepened its commitment to advancing renewable energy by joining the Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge on Thursday (October 16). Premier Rufus Ewing, and Justin Locke, Carbon War Room’s operations director, signed a memorandum of understanding. It committed to working together to reduce the Islands’ dependence on fossil fuels through increased renewable energy production and improved energy efficiency. The Ten Island Challenge provides the Government with the opportunity and platform to define and realise its own vision of a clean economy. In order to achieve this vision, the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson, and Rocky Mountain Institute will provide a range of technical, project management, communications, and business advisory support services. Sir Richard Branson, co-founder of Carbon War Room, said: “With the addition of Turks and Caicos, the Ten Island Challenge continues to expand its efforts to transform Caribbean economies and help the region achieve independence from fossil fuels.” The Ten Island Challenge works to accelerate the transition of Caribbean island economies from a heavy dependence on fossil fuels to renewable resources. Caribbean economies suffer from some of the highest electricity prices in the world contributing to their national debts, and slowing efforts toward sustainable development. Despite an abundance of sun and wind, Caribbean islands have implemented relatively low amounts of renewables to date. The Ten Island Challenge, with
partners Carbon War Room and Rocky Mountain Institute, is tackling this by identifying the technical and commercial solutions that can facilitate low-carbon energy use in the Caribbean. In 2013, Sir Richard Branson committed his home of Necker Island, British Virgin Islands to serve as a ‘demo’ island in the challenge, and, in February of this year, US energy giant NRG Energy was awarded the contract to transition the island to renewables. A press conference was held on Thursday with Premier Ewing and Locke when the agreement was signed. The move builds on a commitment made by Governor Peter Beckingham at the Creating Climate Wealth Islands Summit in February. During that conference the Turks and Caicos Islands expressed interest in joining the challenge. He said: “I am under no illusions that converting some of TCI’s current 100 per cent dependency on fossil fuel will be challenging, but we must work closely with the utility Fortis to see how we and they can build on their initial plans for solar and wind power.” The other countries that have committed to the challenge are Aruba, St Lucia, St Kitts, The British Virgin Islands and San Andres Province, Colombia. Members of the Carbon War Room hope to get ten Caribbean countries to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels. The Carbon War Room is a global non-profit, founded by Sir Richard Branson and a team of like-minded entrepreneurs. It accelerates the adoption of business solutions that reduce carbon emissions at gigaton scale and advances the low-carbon economy. The organisation focuses on
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 Rebecca Bird - News Editor Delana Isles - Senior Reporter Daisy Handfield - Staff Reporter Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Cord Garrido-Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large) Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams - Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/tcweeklynews Twitter: twitter.com/tcweeklynews1
Premier Rufus Ewing signs up to the challenge at the Premier's Office in Grand Turk
solutions that can be realised using proven technologies under current policy landscapes. Since 1982, Rocky Mountain Institute has advanced marketbased solutions that transform
global energy use to create a clean, prosperous and secure future. An independent, non-profit thank-and-do tank, it engages with businesses, communities and institutions to accelerate and scale
replicable solutions that drive the cost-effective shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. For more information on the Carbon War Room visit www. carbonwarroom.com.
Immigration Bill 2014 thwarted in parliament – Ministers’ absence propels Opposition victory By DELANA ISLES THE READING of the troublesome Immigration Bill, which has been through years of consultation already, was this Thursday (October 16) defeated by the Opposition. The defeat – seven yes and eight no – came as a result of the abstention from voting by the two Governor’s appointed members and the absence of two ministers of Government who were present in the House of Assembly prior to the vote being taken. The two are – Minister of Health and Human Services, Portia Stubbs-Smith and the Minister of Government Support Services, George Lightbourne. Following the adjournment of the House, Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson told the Weekly News that the defeat is not so much the Opposition’s victory as it is a defeat for the Government. She also believes that the absence of the ministers was very telling. “It isn’t really about us; the two ministers didn’t even stay to vote. “So at the end of the day he [the Premier] has to get his camp in order. They have problems,” she said.
Minister of Border Control and Labour, Don-Hue Gardiner
Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson
She also reiterated her position that the bill needs a lot more consultation. “There have been several years of consultation on the bill and there are still critical areas from the people that they would like to see in the Immigration Bill. “Our position is, before you even take it to where the minister’s trying to take it, you should go out on public consultation rather than going through this process, having it voted down or making a grave mistake that the people of the country told you not to do in the first place.”
The bill was first read in the assembly on September 14, but on Thursday morning when the minister rose to read the bill for the second time and for it to be debated immediately thereafter, the Opposition benches dug in their heels. A call for a division of the votes as to whether this should go ahead resulted in the defeat. The minister, Don-Hue Gardiner subsequently laid the bill together with the regulations on the table of the House so that it may be published continued
5
October 18 - 24, 2014
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
5
Former Premier’s defence lawyer will not attend pre-trial hearing By DELANA ISLES MICHAEL Misick’s defence lawyer will not be attending the highly anticipated pre-trial hearing for the upcoming corruption trial. Courtenay Griffiths QC told the Weekly News that an appeal related to the trial without jury decision is pending and the case should not be going ahead. During a telephone interview this week, Griffiths said he was astonished that the Registrar of the Supreme Court, David Chetwynd, is still pushing ahead with the pre-trial hearing when he and the prosecution know very well that the defence is making an appeal. They object to a recent Appeal Court judgement that denied the defendants’ appeal of the Supreme Court’s decision to disallow a trial by jury. When this publication contacted Chetwynd on Tuesday (October 14), he confirmed that Judge Paul Harrison is travelling to the TCI next Tuesday morning to conduct a hearing. But, according to Griffiths, he might very well be carrying on a hearing with hardly any of the lawyers there as he believes that not many of the attorneys plan on attending. He said that he knows for a fact that one lawyer will be there; as for the others, quite unlikely. “The main point that we talked about in the Court of Appeal is that the tribunal wasn’t independent. “And we indicated that we were going to be appealing to the Privy Council, and now we need the leave of the Court of Appeal to take the matter to the Privy Council; we have a constitutional right to this,” Griffiths stated.
However, the next time the appellate court sits is in January, as confirmed by the registrar this week. Chetwynd also told this publication that as far as he is aware there has not been confirmation of an expedited hearing to grant leave to appeal to the Privy Council. Griffths pointed out that he is not aware that a request from the registrar has been made for that hearing. “Now given that we are arguing that the judicial tribunal is not independent, how can we appear before that court in the interim?” he questioned. While the trial is still set for December 1, when opening remarks are to be made by the prosecution, even the justices in the Court of Appeal – when it last convened - were sceptical the October and December dates were realistic. “I think that with the connivance of the registrar they are trying to push to get the trial started this year, even though they have appreciated that that appeal is outstanding,” Griffiths accused. He reiterated that a trial cannot go ahead until the outstanding matter of the appeal is resolved, and that the registrar and the prosecution are aware of this. “Despite the public utterances by the Court of Appeal, they are still trying to forge ahead with the hearing in front of Harrison next week. “How can that be done?” the aggravated lawyer asked. He added that the defence have been trying to get in contact with the Court of Appeal to have their objections heard, but have been frustrated at every end. “I am becoming particularly concerned with the attitude of the registrar,” he added. Not only Griffiths is concerned
however; the President of the Court of Appeal, Edward Zacca had indicated as much when the matter of the transcript of the Richard Padgett sentencing hearing was discussed in September. The court learned at the time that the registrar had instructed the stenographer to discontinue transcribing the notes of the hearing, when Griffiths made a request for a transcript. AWAITING DECISIONS The lawyer also pointed out that they have still not received the appeals court reasons for denying their appeal. “How are we supposed to go ahead with a trial when we don’t know the basis of the judgement and why our appeal was rejected?” “This is really Alice in Wonderland stuff,” Griffiths stated. He added: “We haven’t had a response from the Supreme Court, or the Court of Appeal, we asked for an expedited hearing so that the matter can be resolved regarding our objections and to date no one has responded to me. “Massive emails that have been passing between Chetwynd, Hatmin (Senior Deputy Registrar) and the judges – we have been badgering them and they are still going ahead blindly as if the objections have not been raised and don’t exist.” “I am not here to say that Mike (Misick) is not guilty, that’s not my job, it’s my job to argue it, but at the end of the day the court needs to resolve it.” The lawyer said that he has never in his 30 plus years on the job come across a situation like the current one. “One where the registrar who is supposed to be the main administrator
Queen’s Counsel, Courtenay Griffiths
of the court, and whose duty and responsibility is to ensure that the court is run efficiently and justly, is behaving in this kind of way. “Who does he think he is?” Meanwhile, the defendants are still set to appear before Judge Harrison on October 21. Five years since the Sir Robin Auld Commission of Inquiry and only one criminal conviction has been handed down, while the trial of Misick and his co-defendants still
cannot get started. Since Misick’s arrival back in the Turks and Caicos Islands in January this year, there has been a push to get the process moving, but delays and appeals have been plaguing the case all year, with one still pending. But the trial is set to commence on December 1, despite the obvious roadblock of the appeal, and with no indication to date of there being an early sitting of the Court of Appeal to expedite matters.
Immigration Bill 2014 thwarted ... continued from
4
and brought back to the House for debate at later date. It is the same bill, he told the members. The Opposition leader then rose to suggest that the Government may want to consider during the period of the delay of the debate to go back to the people on the bill. She stated that this would help in moving it forward in the House. No indication was given from the Government benches if they
will be or are even considering this proposition, however. The bill seeks to, among other things, make new provision for the acquisition of Islander status in the TCI; for the control of entry to the Islands and for employment and carrying on business of people who are not Islanders and to make provision for claiming asylum by refugees. The Opposition has accused the Government of putting things in the bill that were never consulted on.
6
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day
Governor after 12 months LAST week Peter Beckingham celebrated a year as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands. For 12 months he has been responsible for defence, external affairs, international and offshore financial relations, internal security including the police force, appointment of public officers and general orders for the public service. How do you think he has performed in his role as Governor so far?
Changed nothing
In a word we are unimpressed with this Governor. He borders on being another Poston. The interim government still grinds forward not because it has to but because another government with relatives of the allegedly corrupt one are still holding the reins. Beckingham has changed nothing and done nothing except allow the Government to pass out the few favours they control. It happened before under lacklustre governors who contributed next to nothing. His appointment promised to bring in development but because of the PNP legacy he has failed. Only one or two left over resorts were legalised under Todd. Now Beckingham joins the PNP in proposing in Cabinet 14 storeys and allowing captured dolphin attractions.
Justice delayed
Is he responsible for our court system as well? For it is a disaster with it taking years and years and years for honest people to try to access justice; as all can see happening in the ‘can’t start’ court trials of our past political leaders. And if he is not responsible why is he so silent about this abomination? Why does he not speak out? As the British do promise in their Magna Carta: “To no one will we delay or deny justice or right.” Does he not care about the people of the TCI as this statement explains: “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Failure
Let’s see - defence fail, external affairs fail, financial relations fail, internal security fail. Need I say more?
Need real leaders
We look forward to Beckingham leaving. He is a figurehead and little else. Why has he not questioned the election procedure that gave us a weak minority Government of left over family members? Why has he not questioned why the integrity commission has no integrity of their own? Why does he allow the Electrical Commissioner and British civil engineer, both foreign nationals, to do nothing yet collect unearned fat salaries? Why has he not trained the civil servants or overhauled our poor police force which are less honest than the general population? He is never seen in the family islands. Is he too old to travel? With our weak Government we needed real leaders and instead we got this Ewing-Misick Government and Beckingham.
Address issues
Very difficult to answer. He has a very large portfolio. 1. The Haitians are still there and coming in illegally. 2. Crimes still not being solved. 3. Send him back. He serves no purposes - sure hope that we are not paying him. 4. He needs to address the public health issues, Ebola and mosquitos.
Covering up
Beckingham is covering up for this Doctor Premier who hides from his creation with his poor Government.
They both have the sole agenda of protecting the British and Canadian investors behind our inexcusable super expensive healthcare and electrical provider failures.
A waste
Governor Peter Beckingham is a complete waste of the Queen’s appointment. No one single accomplishment. The TCI is definitely not at war with anyone, therefore peace is omnipresent, and big sister America will surely watch over us because of proximity to their shores. Name one appointment that the Governor has made on his own other than the recommended political recycle and inept persons in everserving owned capacities. As far as external affairs, international and offshore financial relations, Britain owns the TCI, and these matters are dictated to the TCI by the Chief Financial Officer through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Absolutely no decision-making on behalf of the Governor. The police, under his watch, is a classic case of alienating among the cadre. Police stealing, police burning property including their own vehicles, police providing false statements to the court, allowing potential offenders to escape justice, and of course, police brutality. This Governor even meddles with local authorities, intervening in personnel disputes, public service matters and overriding ministerial Government’s decision.
Become a contributor Want to become a contributor or have a suggestion for a Talk Back topic for us? What questions do you think we should be putting to the public? And what are your thoughts on it? Call our news team on 946 4664 or email tcweeklynews@gmail.com
Emergency meeting called to discuss Ebola threat to TCI PREMIER, Rufus Ewing on Thursday (October 16) indicated to the House of Assembly that an emergency meeting with the disaster management team has been called to discuss the threat of the deadly Ebola virus to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Ewing’s statement to the House came after a member of the Opposition; Clarence Selver rose to comment on the very real threat of the deadly disease to the Islands, given its close proximity to the USA and the tourism industry, a significant portion of which comes from the US. The Premier said that the executive policy group of the disaster management team would have met on Thursday afternoon to strategize on the TCI’s
coordinated response to Ebola. He has since promised to keep the public informed. Last week Friday (October 10), in a national address, Ewing stated that Cabinet has given its approval for the Ministry of Health to access the Emergency Contingency Fund to step up the TCI’s preparedness and capacity to respond to Ebola. “This will allow for an increase in environmental health offices, other public health staff, materials and supplies (personal protection equipment, quarantine facilities) in the event the disease reaches the TCI,” he told local press at the meeting at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales. He also stated that approval has been given by Cabinet for the ministry to access the contingency fund to combat the chikungunya and
Premier Rufus Ewing
dengue fever viruses. This money will go to the various health departments so that they can significantly stock up the activities in public health education, eradication, and treatment of mosquito breeding sites, fogging, supply of mosquito repellents, surveillance and treatment of the two diseases. Ewing added that the ministry will continue to keep the public updated, but that the public needs to do their part – get rid of mosquito breeding sites in and around their homes and other premises. He also warned that the Environmental Health Department has been instructed to be vigilant in enforcing the environment laws, especially those pertaining to the indiscriminate storage and disposal of old cars, tires, water collecting
garbage receptacles around premises. He further reassured that the ministry is working vigorously to alleviate the problem caused by the two viruses and that fogging excises should have resumed by Saturday (October 11) with more in the coming weeks. There have been 17 confirmed cases of chikungunya so far, with 109 suspected cases all of which have been reported to CAPHA. Since start of the year, 154 suspected cases of dengue fever tested positive out of about 335 clinically suspected cases. In the case of both diseases, the majority occurred during the last two months during the rainy season and after the recent flood. (DELANA ISLES)
October 18 - 24, 2014
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
7
Wetherall talks financial crime Parliament to consider repeal at Bermudian conference of Trial Without a Jury law By DELANA ISLES THE CONTROVERSIAL Trial Without a Jury Ordinance 2010 is up for repeal in the House of Assembly. The private member’s bill was on Wednesday (October 15) read for the first time by Government’s Appointed Member, Ruth Blackman. Blackman wants the members to consider her proposal to pass a new law to repeal the 2010 ordinance, which was enacted by former Governor Gordon Wetherell. The bill applies to issues such as proceedings for offences committed after the commencement of the ordinance; proceedings for offences committed before the commencement of the ordinance where they have not yet commenced. However, the bill notes that proceedings shall be considered started in cases where charges have been instituted but the trial has not yet commenced. This means that the trial of former Premier Michael Misick, his eight co-accused and his brother, Thomas ‘Chal’ Misick charged with corruption related charges will not be affected if the repeal law is passed by the assembly and enacted by the current Governor. That matter is currently engaging the court’s attention.
It has been long held that the Trial Without a Jury Ordinance was a deliberate attempt by the British to secure convictions against Misick and the others. That ordinance dictates that a judge may order that a trial be conducted without a jury if he is satisfied that the interests of justice so require. The law states that in making such a determination, the judge shall have regard to all circumstances prevailing, including the nature of the charges, the complexity of the issues or matter to be determined and any steps which may reasonably be taken to reduce the complexity of the trial. He may also consider the length of the trial and any steps which might be reasonably taken to reduce its length. The law further states that the judge in making his determination may also consider the likelihood that if a jury were selected, pre-trial publicity may influence its decision or if there is any information tending to suggest that jury tampering may arise. All of the above considerations, with exception of the last (jury tampering), were named as reasons he, Judge Paul Harrison, ordered that Misick and his co-accused should be tried by a judge alone. That decision has since been upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Extra $350,000 allocated for high school repairs AN ADDITIONAL $350,000 will be spent on maintenance and repairs at Clement Howell High School in Blue Hills, Providenciales. The Ministry of Education has made a supplementary budget request for the finances to assist with revamping the site. Akierra Missick, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, made the announcement during a press conference at the Premier’s Office in Providenciales on Friday (October 10). “What we have struggled with is that under the Ministry of Government Support Services, their maintenance line budget is woefully entirely too small to commence proper works,” she said. The minister explained that she has also requested more cash for repairs across the 14 other public schools in the TCI. She said that the previous allocation was $350,000 for two year upgrade of all of the schools, but the true cost is closer to $1.5 million. The plan is to fully repair Clement Howell High School before focusing
on the remainder of the campuses. Missick encouraged parents, students and community groups to continue to get actively involved in taking care of the country’s schools. In September students, staff, parents, well-wishers and even Premier Rufus Ewing grabbed a paintbrush and gave Clement Howell High School some much needed TLC. All of the school’s classrooms received a lick of paint, holes were patched, shutters mended, grass weeded and floors cleaned at the educational facility. Head teacher Kadean Cunningham said that that the condition of the school following the initiative is a “marked improvement” and added that it was “tremendous” that the children were so positively involved. In June the Weekly News exposed the shocking conditions at the neglected high school. Filth, mould, exposed wires, peeling walls, shattered tiles and broken furniture were just some of the major problems that inflicted the school.
THE FINANCIAL Services Commission (FSC) and the financial services industry must work more closely, more confidently and more transparently together, according to Gordon Wetherell. The former Governor was speaking at a financial crime and compliance seminar in Bermuda last Thursday (October 9). Wetherell, a key speaker at the event discussed the global economic downturn, poor public financial management, the Commission of Inquiry, suspension of large portions of the constitution and hurricane Ike. The second annual event was hosted by yCompliance, an online service provider involved in providing compliance solutions to its clients. More than 200 government officials and financial industry decision-makers attended the seminar at the Fairmont Southampton. “It will be important that the FSC makes full use of the talent and experience available to it on its board,” Wetherell said during his comprehensive speech. “Equally important is that the FSC and the financial services industry work more closely, more confidently and more transparently together, in pursuit of what should be their common interest, than was always apparent in my time at least.” He added that the Government too has a key role to play by ensuring that, when it is ready, new legislation finds its way onto the statute book. “But there is good cause for
Former Governor Gordon Wetherell
optimism. The FSC is now in a much better position than it was in 2008 with positive consequences for its and the industry's reputation internationally and for its own ability to do its job locally, improving its performance on on-site inspections, closing loopholes, imposing penalties for regulatory breaches etc. “Our aim during the interim administration was to provide the FSC with a combination of support and non-interference in the carrying out of its duties. “I believe that this helped create a conducive environment and I hope that the elected Government afford it the same space in which to do its job.”
Under the tree
Gordon Wetherell was appointed on August 5, 2008, replacing Richard Tauwhare in the position of Governor. On August 14, 2009, he assumed political control when the British government imposed direct rule on the Islands. yCompliance was launched in 2012 by a group of highly qualified professionals in their respective fields, with the goal of providing a single platform were professionals can access high-quality, easy-toaccess and affordable compliance solutions for different sectors. More on Wetherell’s speech in next week’s edition of the Weekly News.
By Benneth Williams
8
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
More cash for new high school ADDITIONAL money is going to be set aside for the construction of a new Government high school in Providenciales, Premier Rufus Ewing has announced. The as yet unconfirmed quantity of cash will go towards phase one of the much anticipated project which is set to be completed before August next year. The build has been designed to cut down on overcrowding at the country’s largest educational facility Clement Howell High School in Blue Hills. Once a contractor has been selected, several classrooms will be created at the Long Bay plot for first and second form students along with bathroom and administration facilities. During a press conference at his Providenciales office on Friday (October 10) Ewing explained that the increase in finances is due to the structure of the school being modular and no longer a purpose built container classroom school. He said that the Ministry of Education has made submission for the increased funding in the
supplementary budget. During the same press conference Akierra Missick, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, went into further detail. She explained that when the Government came into office members were presented with several options to address overcrowding in public schools – such as rent, buy or build. They decided to construct a new purpose built school and phase one was included in the latest budget process. “During the course of preparing the tenders and having the various meetings with potential contractors we have been made to understand from the Ministry of Government Support Services, who are the project managers, that the funding needed to be bolstered a bit more.” The second phase of the project, which will see third and fourth form classrooms built, will be provided for in the 2015/2016 budget. The final phase will be funded in the 2016/2017 budget – or earlier if funding is available. “But in reality as I’ve stated
several times this project will be phased over three financial years,” Missick said. On September 24 the Ministry of Education issued a tender notice asking for bids for the “splitting of Clement Howell High School”. It included the “infrastructure upgrade, purchase and retrofitting” of the new facility, the notice said. A pre-bid meeting was held on September 30 at the site in Long Bay at 10.30am. For years children of high school age have been packed into Clement Howell High School in Blue Hills leading to severe overcrowding. According to Government figures there are currently more than 930 pupils being educated at the facility which was originally built for about 300 students and subsequently expanded. The cramped conditions have created a plethora of problems including accelerated wear and tear of the buildings and furniture, lack of resources and teachers, huge class sizes and increased student disruption.
Mike calls on CARICOM to observe what is happening in TCI IN A press statement on October 10, former Premier Michael Misick congratulated the former Premier of the Cayman Islands McKeeva Bush, on clearing his name of corruption charges. Misick congratulated Bush on being found not guilty by a jury in what he called “a British Government conspiracy to tarnish it and have him ousted from politics in the Cayman Islands.” The TCI former Premier said that Bush’s acquittal shows that a justice system made up of a jury of peers works. He is also calling on the Caribbean community and fellow Caribbean leaders to take a real interest in what is happening in the Turks and Caicos Islands, “especially Jamaica and Barbados where our judges come from.” He stated that a trial by jury is a long standing mechanism geared for dispensing true justice and removal of this system can only be deemed as undemocratic. “No matter what, we will continue to fight for our freedom and the liberation of our country. “Our people, political and social leaders have to expose this
Former Premier Michael Misick
conspiracy in the Turks and Caicos Islands so that true democracy, the rule of law and true justice not manufactured justice can prevail,” the former Premier stated. He said that is his belief that what is happening to him and his colleagues is similar to what has happened to Bush. “We are experiencing a modern day coup d'état.” He further stated that the British government and successive Governors have done everything in their power to tarnish his and his coaccused names including changing the law and the constitution in an attempt to prevent them from getting
a fair trial – to wit, a jury trial. “I believe that if it is right to have a jury trial in the Cayman Islands it must also be right to allow a jury of our peers to judge our guilt or innocence here in Turks and Caicos Islands. “I believe the justice system here is controlled and manipulated by Helen Garlick, SIPT and others for a specific outcome of their creation.” Misick added that these people seem to get what they want; both civil and criminal. He believes that Bush’s verdict illustrates that the justice system can work in a British overseas territory if it is not tampered with by external whims and fancies, namely the British government and their appointed British Governors. He stated: “It is no coincidence that democratically elected leaders of British overseas territories have been faced with unfounded corruption charges and the people of the Cayman Islands, once given a chance through the jury system have exposed this British government conspiracy. “Here in the Turks and Caicos Islands we are desperately in need of an independent judiciary.”
October 18 - 24, 2014
Teachers now need a Bachelor’s degree to work for Gov’t TEACHERS hoping to work in the public school system in the Turks and Caicos Islands will no longer be accepted with a degree lower than a Bachelor’s degree. This is according to the Minister of Education, Akierra Missick who was responding to query from the Opposition on Wednesday (October 15) in the House of Assembly. The issue came up when the Leader of the Opposition, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson asked the minister to clarify statements she had previously made with regard to TCI Community College’s (TCICC) associate’s degree no longer being accepted. The minister clarified that it is not a case that the associate degree from the community college is not worth the paper it is written on; rather it is a strategic decision by Government to upgrade the level of education of teachers in the public school system. “In order to work for TCI Government, teachers need to have a Bachelor’s degree.” She stated that the ministry along with the human resources management directorate have set the teacher recruitment requirement of all teachers to public schools that they should have no degree lower than a Bachelor’s degree level. “What the Government has done to assist those current teachers who
Minister of Education, Akierra Missick
hold an associate’s degree is to create that special block of scholarships whereby $200,000 plus is set aside to assist them in upgrading their skills to a higher level in education and leadership,” the minister said. She stated that the decision also creates a proper path for educators who would like to move through the ranks from teachers, heads of departments, vice principals, etcetera. (DELANA ISLES)
Mercy Committee to meet soon to consider requests ATTORNEY General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles has announced that the Mercy Committee, which has powers to pardon convicts, will be meeting soon to consider a number of requests. The announcement was made at the last sitting of the House of Assembly on October 15 in Grand Turk. The committee has only met once since its formation in 2013, and that was to set its terms of reference. That session was chaired by former Governor Ric Todd on September 6, 2013. Its members have the ability to advise the Governor to pardon, give a respite from punishment or substitute a less severe punishment to convicted persons. The committee is comprised of the Governor, the Attorney General and four other members appointed by the Governor, following nomination by the Premier and Leader of the Opposition. These members are Emily
Saunders, Mervin Cox, Oral Selver and Father Bernard Been. They are all appointed for a three year term effective from July 1. After consultation with the Mercy Committee, the Governor may in Her Majesty’s name and on Her Majesty’s behalf grant pardon to any person convicted of any offence against the law and grant in the Islands a pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions. He is also be able to grant a respite to any person, either indefinite or for a specified period, from the execution of any punishment imposed on him or her for such an offence. He also has the power to give a less severe form of punishment to a convicted person. The Governor may also reduce the whole or any part of a sentence passed for such an offence or of any penalty or forfeiture otherwise due to Her Majesty on account of such an offence. (DELANA ISLES)
October 18 - 24, 2014
Jury selected in trial of murdered British man A TWELVE member jury has been empaneled in the murder trial of teenagers Stanford Forbes Jnr and Miseal Castillo. The two are accused of killing British national, Anthony Quinn in May of 2013. On Tuesday (October 14) the jury was selected to a packed courtroom of family members and workmates of the late Quantity Surveyor, who was highly regarded by his colleagues and friends. However, Castillo, whose lack of legal representation was one of the reasons the trial took so long to get under way, was still unrepresented as he was not satisfied with the choice of lawyer being provided to him through legal aid. That matter was subsequently settled after he agreed to attorney-at-law Clayton Greene’s representation. The judge, Joan Joyner, is set to hear evidence from witnesses from Friday (October 16). Quinn met a tragic end on the morning of May 13.
NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Murdered: Anthony Quinn
The 34-year-old man’s body was discovered nearby the beach in Technology Drive, near Heaving Down Rock. He was last seen alive leaving Jimmy’s Dive Bar in Ports of Call, in Grace Bay at about 4.30am the same day. Police investigations later led to the arrest of the two teenagers.
Haitian president may travel to TCI to sign MOU next month A MEMORANDUM of Understanding (MOU) between Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands will be signed this November, the Minister of Border Control and Labour has announced. He told media representatives last week Friday (October 10) that the Haitian President, Michel Martelly has also expressed an interest in travelling to the TCI to sign the document. But if not, the minister and the Governor, Peter Beckingham will travel to Cape Haitien to get it done. The document, which targets areas such as immigration and mechanisms to be put in place to deter the illegal migration of Haitian nationals to the TCI, has been agreed to, Gardiner said. He noted that the only thing that remains to be firmly decided is where the signing will take place, but that it will happen next month. The minster and the Governor met with Martelly last July while at a special meeting in the Bahamas, convened by Bahamian prime minister Perry Christie. On their return to the TCI, they told the local press that the Haitian
Minister of Border Control, Don-Hue Gardiner
Governor Peter Beckingham
president was very receptive to their overtures that something needs to be done about the illegal activity. A key component of the MOU is the establishment of a monitoring group, consisting of personnel from both countries. These people will be tasked with monitoring the progress of the arrangements and how it is actually working to deter migrants and to
ensure a safe and human repatriation of migrants. “I believe that we in some measure have to give the arrangements an opportunity to work and I believe that given the commitment expressed by the Haitian president that we have found a willing partner to work towards decreasing the incidence of illegal migration between our two countries,” Gardiner said at time. (DELANA ISLES)
TCI hospitals give back and host exposition THE TCI Hospital team at the Cockburn Town Medical Centre recently presented the Helena Jones Robinson High School in Grand Turk with more than $1,500 dollars in cash, towards the purchase of an electric school bell. The much needed funds were raised during this year’s Nurses’ Week celebration, a ‘Nurses in Concert’ event, where nurses displayed their talent through dance and song. The nursing staff was well supported by Primary Health Care and Wellness Centre teams. Meleck Cummings, site director at the Cockburn Medical Centre, said that they would like to use the opportunity to express appreciation to everyone who made contributions towards the concert. These persons included their MC, Huntley Forbes Jr, Father Mark Kendall and the Anglican Church family who provided the venue. Rienwald Lewis, principal of the HJ Robinson High School, said that that the delivery came as a surprise. “We are extremely grateful to Cummings and the TCI Hospital team, for taking the time to get to
know the students of the HJ Robinson High School, recognising our needs and embracing our mission.” On a similar note, the Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital celebrated MDR International Week from October 12 to 18 under the theme ‘The team that gets it clean’. To commemorate this event, the MDR Department hosted a grand exposition on Thursday (October 16) in the lobby of the hospital, inviting science students from the Clement Howell High and the Wesley Methodist schools to attend the exposition. There were presentations, educational interactions by the MDR team, displays, games and prizes for students. The Medical Device Reprocessing Department is responsible for processing surgical instruments, supplies and equipment, while providing support to patient care services with their responsibilities encompassing cleaning and decontamination, sterilisation, assembly, storage and distribution of surgical instruments needed for patient care.
9
Rienwald Lewis Principal of the HJ Robinson High School, TCI Hospital nursing staff and Meleck Cummings, site director at the Cockburn Town Medical Centre
Students from the Clement Howell High and the Wesley Methodist schools attended a hospital exposition
10
October 18 - 24, 2014
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.
History versus heritage Dear Editor, The month of October has been designated National Heritage Month here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and I would like to explore what the differences and similarities are between what we come to know as our history versus our heritage. My interest was awakened in this topic after I listened to a recent Breakfast Club Show with host Tamika Handfield and engineer Allan Forbes discussing what we in the TCI should celebrate as our heritage. Allan, as usual, made a very nuanced argument that a lot of the things we are celebrating as heritage are essentially circumstantial because of being poor at the time of the origin of many of our practices, such as the eating of flour pap, or using the flour bag for clothes, and so on. I believe he has a point because as soon as we could have done better, we did better. For instance, in the American
south today a lot of what is known as soul food came from slaves and or ex slaves only having access to the scraps or unwanted parts of animals. So out of necessity they made what is now accepted as great meals, but in truth if you have an option to eat a pork chop versus pig intestines ie. chitterlings, which would you readily eat? I bet that pork chop is getting ‘chefed up’ first. So again I ask, what is the difference between history and heritage? Or better yet, at what point does history become your heritage and do you get to select the good parts and leave the rest as history? I believe heritage, like culture, with time, if you do something often enough, it becomes a part of you whether it originated out of necessity or it was imported and became a part of your social fabric. We often say if you don’t know where you’ve been it’s hard to chart the course for where you are going. I believe this to be true. I also believe that this is why it’s
important to learn and remember historical events though it doesn’t automatically make something our heritage. The things we like we keep, ones we don’t we discard. It’s that simple. The point is, rarely do you hear or see countries celebrating or embracing bad things as their heritage. Germany does not celebrate the holocaust as their heritage but rather see it as a part of their history. The western world doesn’t claim slavery as their heritage but rather a part of their history. For us in the TCI, the fishing industry is definitely a part of our heritage as it continues today. Ripsaw music is a part of our heritage and continues today. Again, trade with Haiti is a part of our heritage and also continues today. And there are many more clear-cut examples. In conclusion, I believe there is a distinction between history and heritage, but it’s up to us to decide what falls under which category while being educated on them both. Be blessed, Jamell Robinson, Leeward Palms, Providenciales
Impending health crisis Dear Editor, At a time when the world is on health watch for deadly diseases, it is a shame that our elected Minister of Health refuses to answer serious health questions. I am praying for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in lieu of Ebola now reaching the United States. Considering that most of our tourists will be arriving from that destination. I have several questions to pose to the Health Minister as a concerned citizen. Are airport officials trained in screening for this virus? Do we have the necessary equipment to screen passengers to determine whether they are infected coming through our airports? Should persons fall ill, are we capable of testing for Ebloa? Should we have persons infected with Ebola, where will they be kept in isolation? Are our health professionals trained to handle persons with Ebola? Do we have the necessary protective gear for our health workers? Are we looking into importing the vaccine used in the US for treatment
of Ebola? Should someone die from Ebola are we prepared to properly dispose of the body and prevent further infection? Is the Government of the TCI contacting HMG for emergency funding for Ebola preparation and/ or for managing the spread of the dengue or chikungunya? Is the Government taking the advent of these infections seriously or are we just going to allow our borders to remain open to who so ever will may come? With a numerous persons arriving illegally weekly, are we doing enough to protect our people or are we all on the mercy of God? With little to no information reaching the public concerning preventative measures and the Government’s action plan in dealing with these viruses, perhaps we should put pressure on HMG or the Governor for information and compliance. If we fail to act it most certainly will be to our demise. Euwonka Selver, Long Bay, Providenciales
Moving stage right COMMENTARY
ACTORS are assigned positions in each scene so the story plays to the audience as written. During rehearsal actors are asked to move stage left or stage right. The star is usually centre stage. Our Premier is complaining that the Opposition leader is “upstaging” him. It seems he views himself as the star who must be centre stage, not off to the left. In my view the voters, residents, his family and his own actions have put him in that position. In the 2012 election PDM’s Sharlene Cartwright Robinson received more votes than now Premier Rufus Ewing and other at large candidates. PNP received only 44 percent of the votes.
The collective vote in Grand Turk and Providenciales gave the lead to the PDM party. It was the tiny districts that mysteriously eked out PNP district wins with pluralities of 11, 17 and 30 votes. Remember also that during the pre-election, the now Premier and then civil servant organisation chieftain called for a civil servant Government shut down. Only a handful of Government employees showed up for a day or two. The images of Rufus Ewing, alone with signs pinned on him or networking with the airport shut down crowd are still etched in people’s minds. We must also remember the changes suggested by Ewing from Blue Hills were better than what the Government’s leader has brought to
parliament. The PNP media online is taking issue with the Premier’s leadership. Blaming his minister for his Government’s lack of needed infrastructure work has in my opinion moved this minister several steps to the right. He now turns green with a good dose of blue added to his yellow. Then realising there is a better target to blame, the Premier joins the minister attacking the British engineer who has a position off the stage and somewhere in the middle of a cornfield. Sweetcorn at that! Legislative and budget fixes, proposed the legal way by the Opposition, have been ignored or discarded. To get anything done there must be willingness to compromise. This is called leadership.
By David Tapfer
David is a retired mobile hydraulic engineer and business executive. He has been married to Middle Caicos native Yvette Robinson Tapfer for 25 years and has lived in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, since 2002. David formerly served as branch chairman of the PDM from 2008 to 2011
The 44 percent have now found out that the goody train is rather empty and has run out of steam. All of us must pay down the PNP debts which fuelled the last PNP administration. Then there is this thing called healthcare. We now have expensive pretty buildings with no real caregivers. The country now doomed to pay
one billion plus for the next 20 years. We have already paid $240 million. Out go sick people to Nassau, the Dominican Republic or Jamaica. Take your pick, what is worse - PNP run flood and mosquito control, the health system, education, welfare, immigration, real work opportunities or the cost of living?
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 11
First place winner, Jonnathan Hosey's poster that won the poster segment of the competition
NHIP announces winners of poster and essay competitions By Daisy Handfield A PRIZE giving ceremony was held at the NHIP headquarters in Grace Bay on Providenciales on Friday (October 10) to announce the winners of the second annual essay and poster competition.
As part of NHIP’s fifth anniversary celebration (October 1), the company hosted this competition, inviting students from the ages of six to 18 of all schools in the TCI to participate. The theme for this year’s competition was ‘NHIP is you’, giving students the opportunity to
describe what the theme meant to them in their drawings and written expression. Stania Ingraham administrative assistant for the company said that given the short time frame they had to work with, they were pleased with the amount of entries submitted by the schools. “Thank you to the judges for taking the time out of their busy schedules and last, but not least, the media for being here with us today and realising the importance of recognising our hardworking students and celebrating their accomplishments.” The top three winners of the
First and second place winners of the poster competition, both from the Shining Stars Preparatory school
poster competition were Jonnathan Hosey, only eight-years-old from the Shining Stars School, Thamara Pierre, aged 11, from the Shining Stars School and Brinei Jones, 10, from Newman’s Prep. For the poster competition, Naisha Charite, nine, from the Best Institute placed first, Vijay Kalliecharan from
The International School who is also nine placed second, and Jamesh Clare from the Marjorie Basden, 14, placed third. The entries were judged independently by experienced people in the community; one being a journalist and another one being a professional of the arts.
Digicel and InterCaribbean Airways announce promotion winner
Marketing specialist for Digicel, Trina Adams, Christin Greene and CEO of InterCaribbean Trevor Sadler
THE WINNERS of the Digicel and InterCaribbean Airways text to win promotion were announced during a press conference at the Digicel Store on Leeward Highway on Tuesday (October 14). Digicel customer Christin Greene was elated when she was contacted and informed that she was the winner of a round trip ticket to the Dominican Republic plus $400 cash spending money. Greene, a pastry intern with Crackpot Kitchen Restaurant, said she hopes to visit Santiago in the Dominican Republic and looks forward to a wonderful time. Digicel and InterCaribbean
Airways teamed up on September 1 to launch the text to win promotion which gave customers the opportunity to win a roundtrip ticket plus spending money to popular destinations such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. Trina Adams, marketing specialist for Digicel, said: “September’s text to win promotion was extremely successful. “We have not received this level of participation in a while and hope that the momentum continues over the next two months.” CEO of InterCaribbean Airways Trevor Sadler said that he was happy to present Greene with a round trip
ticket to the Dominican Republic on InterCaribbean Airways. The promotion will continue to run for the months of October and November. People who wish to participate and win a trip to Haiti during the month of October should text ‘FIND’ to 7171 from their Digicel phone for a chance at walking away with the grand prize. The cost to play is $0.75 per text. Games run for a month long period and winners are announced 48 hours following the close of the game. Winners are free to redeem their prize up to 12 months following their win.
12 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
Bishop voices concerns about healthcare system THE TCI healthcare system is costly and may require “extensive and sweeping” corrective measures, according to Bishop Laish Boyd. The Anglican head of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands offered his latest views on the two neighbouring countries during the 113th session of synod on Tuesday (October 14). The event took place at the Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau, Bahamas, before a crowd of dignitaries including the prime minister Perry Christie and Governor’s representative Oswald Ingraham. Among the topics Bishop Boyd spoke about included immigration, crime, the recession and political leaders. He offered great praise to the TCI on its progress in most sectors but voiced concern about the healthcare system. “While many improvements in services and the delivery of same are evident, it is costly for individuals to access services and extremely costly for the Government to administer,” he said. “These are serious concerns which may require extensive and sweeping measures to correct.”
In opening his speech Bishop Boyd praised Governor Peter Beckingham for his service to the country so far. “I applaud his ‘let’s work together to build this country’ approach. I note the emphasis on a policy seeking to return power to the people. This is a good sign. “There is no magic wand. Things will not happen overnight. But press on TCI and do not be discouraged. We love you. We support you. Weather the storms. Remain faithful.” The bishop also commended Premier Rufus Ewing, Leader of the Opposition Sharlene CartwrightRobinson and the parliament “Press on,” he said. “The present legislative reality presents some challenges and frustrations for a legislator, but you persevere with a view for a better day - which is coming, by the way. It will not always be like this.” He encouraged both sides to work together even more than ever, despite the pull of party loyalties and party supporters. “There is so much that you legislators can accomplish in spite of the legislature limitations, but one of the greatest things that you can do for the soul of the nation is to work
Bishop Laish Boyd expressed worries about TCI’s healthcare
together more.” He said that was aware that a constitutional review process underway in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “This is a good thing and I pray that this process would consult widely in as many sectors as possible, and develop a culture of awareness and consensus that will move the constitution forward,” Bishop Boyd went on to talk about the topic of immigration in the TCI.
Schools due for inspection this year THE COUNTRY’s Governmentrun schools are due for inspection this year, and the results are likely to be made public. According to Akierra Missick, Minister for Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services, inspections take place every three years. The process has already begun and assessments of all the schools are expected to be completed by December. The minister was answering a question in parliament on September 22 on whether inspection reports would be put in the public domain. She responded: “The higher education board is also currently conducting inspections of the tertiary level educational facilities and they’re expected to be completed this month, possibly next month.” The minister explained that the Education Ordinance
Minister Akierra Missick
requires that the results are gazetted but not made publicly available. She added: “At this stage we cannot see an issue with having the reports in the public domain but this would be something that we would have to discuss with the stakeholders being the schools that are under inspection by the terms of the education ordinance.”
Missick explained that inspections will become easier once the Government completes the development of school standards. These are currently being worked on with assistance from the Jamaican Ministry of Education. “We have already received permission to adopt and amend their assessment form to suit our local needs and they have consented to come in and train our officials in the same manner that may be beneficial to all concerned,” she said. The condition of the TCI’s public schools have come under a lot of scrutiny lately after it emerged that maintenance was not being kept up to date. The Government carried out a lot of repair work over the summer but parents continue to voice concern on whether it will continue.
“I note with great pleasure that Governor Beckingham has been made concrete attempts to address the matter of undocumented Haitians in the Turks and Caicos Islands in particular, and how that country might best approach this concern. “Everyone welcomes this discussion and I wish it a healthy and a fruitful development as you seek to grapple with a pressing reality.” He stressed that immigration with respect to all nationalities remains a sore point in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “In many instances the concerns are legitimate. I urge the relevant agencies as follows: always enforce the law, and seek to be fair. “This is the only way to function wholesomely, to right the wrongs, to be transparent, and to restore public confidence in the system.” He spoke next of crime which he described as a “major concern” and said that it is important that all relevant groups – such as the Government, judiciary and the police - need to play their part and improve in certain areas. “However citizens are the largest group of crime-fighters and so we have to call family members, neighbours and friends to greater honesty and integrity so that the law enforcement agencies will have less work to do,” Bishop Boyd explained. “We acknowledge that their personnel are stretched to the limit in the face of impossible odds. “Law enforcement brothers and sisters, we know that you carry a
heavy load. But hold on, be honest, be fair, treat your clients with respect, stay away from corruption, brutality and malpractice.” He urged them to be bigger than those who they investigate and detain. “Let us together not give up this fight against crime. Let us work together: the community must work with law enforcement and law enforcement with the community.” The Bishop spoke briefly on the topic of the global economic recession which he said is felt in some form in every quarter. “We in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands live this reality. Without going on and on about it, we know what we have to do: spend less, save more, be more prudent with what we have – in other words: be disciplined. “The bottom line is that we need to learn as much as we can from this recession. In other words: let’s not waste a good recession by not benefitting from it as much as we can.” Finally the bishop urged leaders, both political and religious, to aim high and behave impeccably. “The persona of a leader is always bigger than him or herself,” he said. “The shadow cast by a leader goes far and wide. Leaders in church and government, private sector, social, civic and community leaders need to engage in responsible behaviour, behaviour that our children and young people – and the whole society – can look at and emulate.”
National parks review completed A REVIEW of the list of national parks and protected areas has been completed and is being discussed by various Government departments before consultation. The National Parks Committee has written and circulated a draft report on the review, according to Akierra Missick, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. The minister was responding to a question in the House of Assembly at the end of last month on behalf of the absent Minister for Environment Home Affairs, Amanda Misick. The question asked was if it is the Government’s intention to make an order removing the undeveloped island of Silly Cay from the Chalk Sound National Park. Missick responded that Silly Cay is subject of a lease and added that it is the subject matter of legal action before the court.
“So I can’t really give you too much on that bit. But I can tell you this - the National Parks Committee was established to review the existing national parks and provide recommendations on adding to or extracting from the current list of protected areas.” She said that environmental considerations were paramount along with other factors. “The National Parks Committee has concluded their draft report on the review of the existing national parks which includes this cay and the document’s currently under review by the various Government departments for consultation.” During her budget address at the House of Assembly in July Amanda Misick explained that the National Parks Committee had been constituted to review and make recommendations and amendments for the National Parks Ordinance.
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
NEWS 13
Minimum wage review delayed due to staffing problems “THIS is not a small minor undertaking, this is something that may well impact very heavily on the lives of so many people.” That is according to Minister of Border Control and Labour Don Hue Gardiner who was speaking in the House of Assembly recently about the promised minimum wage review. He confessed to parliament that the advisory committee assigned to the task has been unable to carry out expected work because of staff vacancies and “life events”. But added that in any case work must take place at a steady pace because the results of a minimum
wage change could adversely affect many people. In April Cabinet approved a proposal for a feasibility study on adjustments to the statutory minimum wage. Members also agreed to the establishment of an advisory committee to conduct the study. According to a press statement the committee would be comprised of Commissioner of Labour Michelle Fulford-Gardiner, economist Edward Hall Jr and senior labour officer Chantania Handfield-Bacchus. In the House of Assembly on September 22, Leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright
Robinson asked for an update on the work of the committee. Gardiner answered: “Regrettably the work of the committee has not commenced due to unfortunate life events effecting key members of the group and certain staff vacancies in the various, relating to the persons who are carrying out the work.” He went on to say that the end of last month to mid-October would see the consultations throughout the Islands among key stakeholders. Concurrently the results from the household consumption and cost of living index and the poverty assessment study would be
documented and summarised in an effort to compare current wages with cost of living, the minister said. “There are no further delays that are beyond the control of the committee. There is a commitment to having the work completed by the middle of November this year.” Carwright Robinson then asked Gardiner if he was fully aware of the works of the committee. He explained that the committee has compiled a list of stakeholders in the various islands that they will need to consult with and laid the framework for the consultation. The minister said that members of parliament should not expect a
Scores of unwanted pet pregnancies avoided MORE than 80 pets were spayed and neutered last week during another affordable veterinary clinic, this time in Providenciales. The Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) organised and ran this year’s sixth clinic at its office in Suzy Turn. Dr Meghann Kruck and her vet techs Tracy Lange and Jenna Nikodym performed 82 surgeries during the four-day clinic. This amazing team from Kindest Cut, a low cost high quality spay and neuter programme based in Minnesota, spayed 35 dogs and 11 cats and neutered 23 dogs and 13 cats. They also a removed of a large ulcerated mass from a Grand Turk dog, performed an eyelid tacking, and removed a smaller growth from three dogs. As well as all the Providenciales animals, dogs and cats were brought in from North Caicos and Grand Turk to see the vet. The Department of Agriculture provided identifying microchips which were implanted during surgery, and all dogs were licensed. This was Kindest Cut members’ third visit to the TCI this year. A team ran a clinic in Grand Turk in January and another team was stationed in North and Middle Caicos in April. They have performed a grand total of 259 surgeries in all three islands. A press release from the TCSPCA on Wednesday (October 15) said: “Dr Kruck is committed to arranging three visits a year to the TCI to provide professional vet care for the animals of the Islands.”
It added that the Government’s chief veterinary officer Dr Mark Butler is very supportive of the ongoing collaboration between TCIG and the TCSPCA to provide pet surgeries. “The TCSPCA spay and neuter programme is a crucial part of animal control in the TCI and pet owners throughout the communities are making appointments for their animals to have the surgery and to keep their vaccinations up to date. “The Provo clinic would not have been possible without the support of local businesses and restaurants and the dedicated TCSPCA volunteers who made all the appointments, manned the phones, prepared paperwork, cleaned surgical instruments and cages. “Special thanks to Pampered Paws - several pets boarded there and the well-known business also provided vital post-surgery care for several animals. “Special thanks also to Heather Forbes, founder of the Potcake Foundation, for donating $2,500 towards the veterinary supplies needed for the surgeries, the Sands for providing wonderful accommodations for the vet team, Mango Reef, Hemingways, Bay Bistro and Tiki Hut for dinners and Top of the Cove, Sharkbite, and Mis Amigos for lunches.” Pet owners with animals that have not yet been spayed or neutered can contact the TCSPCA on 941-8846 to book an appointment for the next clinic. Anyone wishing to donate time or funds to the TCSPCA can visit their office at Suzy Turn or visit the website www.tcspca.com.
Grand Turk pup Bits after surgery to remove a mass from his side
Surgeons work to neuter and spay numerous TCI animals
decision imminently. “It is not possible to make an informed decision on an issue that is so vital to the continued success of our economy willy nilly. “This is not a small minor undertaking, this is something that may well impact very heavily on the lives of so many people who rely on certain jobs and the abilities of firms to provide those kinds of works for people. “If we are to increase the minimum wage above what they can afford they may well go out of business and people who are now employed may not be able to find the work that they have.”
14 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
National Heritage Day
Primary school celebrates National Heritage Day BY DAISY HANDFIELD THE INTERNATIONAL School of the TCI celebrated National Heritage Day early on Friday (October 10) to educate the students of the school on the importance and value of the TCI culture. Throughout the fulfilled day, the students learned the TCI national song, made flags, learned about the national heritage of the TCI through the planting of a native garden and learnt the important symbols of the TCI and how these are relevant to its heritage. Principal Katie Hinks said that the children had a wonderful time learning about the heritage of the country that they were so fortunate enough to call their homes. “National heritage day is terribly important, I think it is fundamental that we teach our children about the heritage of the country where they live if they are going to grow up with an appreciation and understanding places of the world. “We celebrated what we had learnt, at the end of the day, with an assembly where we were joined by parents.” The children were all given a gift of the 'Explore the Turks and Caicos Islands' colouring book in remembrance of the day. Hinks said that they are planning an exciting curriculum focus for the whole of the second school term based around the TCI. “Social studies topics will be divided up between the different grades in order that children are all reaching their grade appropriate learning objectives whilst developing
Students from the International School of the TCI took part in a series of events to acknowledge National Heritage Day
Beautiful flags of the TCI made by the children
their knowledge and understanding of the historical, geographical, biological and environmental areas of this beautiful country.” The International School of the
TCI aims to provide a broad and well balanced academic and social programme, based on the British National Curriculum for children from two to 11 years of age.
Sponge, Cotton and Sisal Fest set for this weekend MONTH long heritage activities continue this weekend with the Sponge, Cotton and Sisal Fest in North and Middle Caicos. The festival follows the Salt Festival in Grand Turk and Salt Cay, and the Seafood Fest in South Caicos, which were both held as part of National Heritage Month celebrations. At the end of the month a Maritime Heritage Fest will be held in Providenciales to round up the family friendly activities. The Sponge, Cotton and Sisal Fest is set to kick-start on Saturday (October 18) with a ‘Heritage site selfie contest’. Participants will get a list of 40 cultural and heritage sites from Sandy Point all the way to Lorimers Creek. They must take a ‘selfie’ photograph at as many points as possible before the time runs out, and the participant with the most amount of selfies will receive a cash prize. There will also be a heritage trail walk for health, heritage and history and a beach picnic at Bambarra Beach. That evening at Horse Stable Beach stage a ‘Remember when’ show will be held with comments and commentaries from the elders of the community along with ripsaw music and cultural performances. On Sunday (October 19) all churches in Middle and North Caicos are invited to observe and dedicate some aspects of their service to
the topic of heritage and its role in religion. Both communities will be treated to a gospel concert by ‘The Gospel Pioneers’. There will be an afternoon matinee at the Conch Bar Community Centre and an evening concert at Horse Stable Beach Stage. Both performances will see the inclusion of praise and worship teams from Middle and North Caicos. All these events are free to the public. Director of Culture David Bowen spoke to the Weekly News last week about the month of heritage activities. “I think very too often cultural festivals turn out to be a band playing, a DJ playing and some rum drinking and whining up,” he said. “The whole idea was to celebrate traditional culture that includes the elders and the young people, not exclude them.” He explained that organisers hoped to create awareness of an appreciation for the country’s heritage and develop national pride among citizens. “Every island has its own subculture and we want to encourage that,” Bowen said. “This is for the community; this is why every weekend there is something dedicated to each particular island so that they can experience was their culture is, their particular style of cooking, their particular style of rake and scrape.” More details on the final festival will come in next week’s newspaper.
A day to embrace national equality and togetherness THE TCI’s national youth ambassador Donte Francis delivered words of pride and encouragement during his National Heritage Day address on Monday (October 13). He spoke of the importance of celebrating language, food, music, dress and the people’s indelible spirit. Donte’s passionate speech was not delivered in person but distributed across social media channels in order to connect with the country’s young people. He wrote: “To all Turks and Caicos Islanders, residents and visitors, today we celebrate our first National Heritage Day. “Today is the day in which we celebrate all that was inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and
bestowed to future generations. “We thank God that on this special day in history that we can look back at our achievements as a people and be proud of where we have come and be even more driven to where we should go. “Being the National Youth Ambassador, I am proud to be someone who can inform our youths about our historical achievements laid down by distinguished persons such as our only National Hero and first Chief Minister, Hon JAGS McCartney. “This is a day we embrace national equality, and togetherness. We must be proud of our language, food, music, dress and our indelible spirit to overcome any challenge that comes our way. “We must never put any shade or be ashamed of who we are or as we
Donte Francis
say in our native tongue ‘who we is’. “Many of our teachers and other professionals claim that we must always speak ‘proper’ English. “As Turks and Caicos Islanders, we have various words that make up
our very own dialect or as we call it ‘talking TI’ such as ‘to-rack-ly,’ meaning later on or ‘yinna’ meaning you all, just to name a few. “As a student of linguistics I have learned there is nothing wrong with speaking the tongue in which we inherited from our ancestors as it is just another means of communication. “In the word of the great Clement Bethel: ‘Preserve your heritage, speak proper English, only when necessary.’ “As we celebrate this day, we remember those who come as tourists. We hope they will experience what the Turks and Caicos can offer. “I echo the words of Miss Turks and Caicos 2014, Shanice Williams: ‘This is what has and will distinguish us from every other nation in the world. It is our unique marker; our
signature across history and it is what follows us into the world even as it brings the world to us.’ “It simply means that we can show our visitors the true taste of TCI, our pristine and white sandy beaches, from Salt Ponds to the Conch Farm. Turks and Caicos we must stand proud of what we offer to the world. “In closing, Turks and Caicos Islanders we must stand strong knowing where we come from and ‘who we is’. “We must continue to embrace what is bestowed and inherited in our very own ‘beautiful by nature’ country. “We are a nation of accomplishments and this National Heritage Day 2014 is a great testament to embrace these accomplishments.”
October 18 - 24, 2014
NEWS 15
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
National Heritage Day
‘Join our hearts and join our hands’ – Premier PREMIER Rufus Ewing gave a heartfelt speech on the TCI’s culture and heritage on Monday (October 13) during National Heritage Day celebrations. He spoke to a crowd at the Downtown Ballpark following a grand procession of cars bearing national flags which arrived from several different communities on the island. He said: “My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, I give God all the praise and glory. It is with tremendous pride that I as Premier and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage extend congratulations to all residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands on this historic day, as we together recognise and celebrate the first National Heritage Day. “Today, history will truly be made as all persons of us and among us, will join together in a grand celebration of unity as we demonstrate how proud we are as a people and as a country. “This October 2014 celebrates not only this historic first National Heritage Day, but observes the historic first National Heritage Month during which we celebrate our music, our dances, our cuisine, our folklore, our traditional maritime heritage and our historic industries of salt, seafood, sisal and cotton. “As you are already aware, festivals have commenced throughout
our islands to commemorate those aspects of our culture that are unique to specific island settlements. “From Grand Turk to Salt Cay, to South Caicos our people have embraced this revival of our culture with open arms, and I wish to congratulate the people of Grand Turk and Salt Cay on the past weekend and the people of South Caicos this weekend for the tremendous spirit and pride with which our heritage was displayed. “The passion and enthusiasm of these festivals have not only kindled a similar spirit of national pride in our youth who travelled to these islands to participate in these various activities, but have also warmed the hearts of my generation and our parents as well. “I was particularly encouraged after watching performances by the primary school children of Salt Cay, the Iris Stubbs Primary Rip Saw Band in South Caicos and the Blue Hills Breezy Beach House Dancers, that our culture is still very much alive here in our Islands. “I along with my Government will commit to ensuring that the level of participation by our young children continues to grow, and in so doing ensure not only the preservation of our heritage for our own enjoyment but also enable the evolution of larger and more dynamic cultural
festivals that will attract many a visitor to our shores. “It is therefore with great excitement that I look forward to the Sisal and Cotton Festival in Middle and North Caicos this coming weekend and the Maritime Festival here in Providenciales on the final weekend. “I invite you all to enjoy these as well and at the close of this month we, as Turks and Caicos Islanders, will have had a tremendous amount to be proud of, and for this I thank all who would have participated and contributed in one way or the other. “Today as we embrace our nation, our brothers and our sisters and the richness of our heritage, so too must we continue to embrace all citizens and ethnicities residing amongst us.
“As we acknowledge the presence of the many cultures which today make up the Turks and Caicos Islands, we welcome all with the caring compassion for which we are known. “Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans and the many other nations within our islands, today I say to you all however, though you will celebrate your origins, I encourage you to join with us to celebrate the present, as this is your home. “Join with us in our ways, and uphold our heritage, as the future is ours together. “So to all I say, today is our day! Today is our day! Today is the day when we shall put aside our differences, political, social, ethnic or racial to come together as one and on one accord as we celebrate all things Turks and Caicos. “Today is a proud day, today is a great day and the only day that will be greater in the history of these Islands, will be that day when we celebrate together as a people and as an independent nation. “We recognise and hail this historic day as yet another step along that great road to nationhood. “However, let us first remember that we as a people must always embrace who we are, and our origins, no matter how humble, as
Residents fly flags for National Heritage Day PROUD Turks and Caicos Islanders up and down the country waved or displayed their national flag on Monday (October 13) as a sign of cultural pride. The event took place on the TCI’s first National Heritage Day – a public holiday devoted to island unity and demonstrations of togetherness. At 3pm residents were invited to display and wave their Turks and Caicos Islands flags during a nationwide float parade. Hundreds of members of the public decorated their cars, trucks, bicycles and vans with the blue, white and red flag and drove them across their respective islands. Citizens in Salt Cay, Grand Turk, North Caicos and Middle Caicos all took part in the procession. Meanwhile in Providenciales
vehicles moved from the communities of Leeward, the Bight, Five Cays and Blue Hills and converged at the Downtown Ballpark. There Premier Rufus Ewing read his National Heritage Day speech and attendees took part in a soccer game hosted by TCIFA and softball games hosted by the Softball Association. There was also be food vendors serving delicious local cuisine, TCI music and entertainment. Director of Culture David Bowen told the Weekly News last week: “I was moved to do this because too often I would hear from our locals about other cultures flying their flags and having their international day. “Now that we have our international day I think it should be about flying our flags.”
Grand Turk residents wave their flags to celebrate National Heritage Day (photos by www.grandturkevents.com)
these alone can determine where we are going. “For if we are to reach that triumphant day of selfdetermination, then we must begin to embrace ourselves and to love ourselves, to love each other and to love everything that the Turks and Caicos Islands has to offer. “It means that we must renew our kinship and once again strengthen family values by being our brother’s keeper, raising respectful children and caring genuinely for our elderly, as these core values will restore a sense of community. “Let us take greater pride in our surroundings, as by these actions and with a true spirit of patriotism, we will demonstrate daily that we are Turks and Caicos Islanders, and we are proud of these beautiful by nature islands that we call home. “I am charging us all this day, to begin this journey with pride, let us wave our flags, join our hearts and join our hands, and as we salute the toil and sweat of our fore-fathers and our generations of long ago, let us shout with joy, in one accord and as one people, ‘we are proud to be Turks and Caicos Islanders.’ “I congratulate you my fellow people and I celebrate you. May God bless us all and may he bless these beautiful by Nature Turks and Caicos Islands, now and always.”
16 NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Attendees enjoy a fun after-party in the Regent Palms’ pink themed courtyard
Shoppers browse the endless collection of clothing and accessories
In the Pink nets $30K for Cancer Society BIGGER and better than all previous ‘In the Pink’ events, this year’s annual cancer fundraiser at the Regent Palms tallied just over $30,000. Held last Saturday (October 11), the sixth event of shopping, dancing and mingling drew massive support from the local and corporate community. Over the years, the amount of money raised by organisers has steadily increased as the team of organisers implement new, creative ideas. Karen Whitt, general manager
of the Regent Palms and chair of the event, said she was once again thrilled with the turnout and that the event keeps growing; with more clothes, a larger amount of shoppers and a more spectacular after-party in the courtyard. “Meeting our target again was only possible because of the generous support of our patrons, donors, corporate sponsors and volunteers who gave from the heart to make this event possible. “We are so grateful for the outstanding support we continue to receive year after year… and
we are extremely excited to support such a worthy cause,” she said. Whitt is very proud of the team that she said has been there from the beginning, except now they have attracted the assistance and commitment of their friends also. Room hostesses MaryLou Vanderheide, Foluso Ladejobi, Josephine Connolly, Lucille Lightbourne (National Cancer Society president) and their friends all worked in transforming the suites into shopping bliss for patrons. The glitzy pink-themed event
saw a wider than ever collection of new and gently used clothing, shoes, accessories and even some designer items that attracted a frenzy of buyers waiting to snag the unbelievable bargains. Attendees were impressed that the team’s mission to raise funds for the Turks and Caicos National Cancer Society is as strong as when they began, and the fact that they have outdone themselves year after year shows their commitment. This year, the committee added to the proceeds by incorporating the
Pink Poker tournament and they are already discussing new ideas to add even more excitement to the next event. In the Pink was created to honour breast cancer survivors, raise awareness about steps individuals can take to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer, and raise money to assist those persons locally who require additional assistance with extensive treatments. The funds are all donated to the National Cancer Society who in turn donates it to cancer patients battling the disease.
TCI celebrates World Mental Health Day BY DAISY HANDFIELD LIVING with schizophrenia was the theme of the mental health conference held at the Regent Palms on Friday (October 10) in Providenciales geared at educating people on mental health. Separate from this conference, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence (DMHSD) under the Ministry of Health and Human Services hosted a number of events in observance of World Mental Health Day. The theme for this year’s international celebration observed on October 10 was also ‘Living with Schizophrenia’. The conference was attended by approximately 30 people from various sectors of the community, including healthcare professionals, civil servants from various Government departments and
relatives of people living with schizophrenia. Guest speakers included Doreen Quelch Missick, Director of the Human Rights Commission, Patrick Prince, clinical psychologist within the DMHSD, and Diana Dizon, psychiatrist within the DMHSD. Attendees were educated on topics such as the nature, course and etiology of schizophrenia; effective treatments and relapse prevention, as well as schizophrenia and human rights. Alicia Malcolm, director of the DMHSD, said that she was pleased with the level of participation of the attendees. She added that she is hopeful that attendees will share the valuable information they learnt with others and also continue to put into practice when working with persons who have mental illness. In addition to the conference, the
The conference was attended by approximately 30 people from various sectors of the community
department also held a mental health awareness walk ‘Stride for change,’ which took place on Saturday (October 11) at 5.30am. This event signified the official launch of the department’s antistigma and discrimination campaign.
The theme for this year’s international celebration observed on October 10 was ‘Living with Schizophrenia’
People from all walks of life turned out bright and early to show their commitment to increasing awareness about mental illness. Malcolm said that the department plans to continue its efforts to raise public and professional awareness
about mental illness and to dismantle the barriers of stigma. She said that they also aim to live in caring communities where there is compassion for and a determination to effectively and respectfully cater to their mental health needs.
October 18 - 24, 2014
NEWS 17
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Spotlight on the Immigration Task Force DEPUTY Governor Anya Williams recognised the Immigration Task Force this week as part of a series of spotlights on Government departments. The head of public service praised the civil servants for preserving national security and thanked them for all their hard work. “The Ministry of Border Control and Labour’s Immigration Task Force plays a very vital role in the Turks and Caicos Islands and in my belief is second only to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in terms of ensuring our national security,” she said in a press release on Tuesday (October 14). “Although it clearly has many important functions, I wish to spotlight those key tasks associated with the preservation of national security.” She said that these functions act as deterrent to people who arrive on the TCI’s shores without adequate
documentation. And those who try to do this are being increasingly detected, arrested and repatriated as necessary. “Clearly, the Immigration Task Force is essential to the operations of the Border Control and Enforcement Department, culminating the efforts of intelligence, compliance and investigation,” Williams said. “Theirs can be a challenging job, yet the team conducts its operations in a professional, lawful and humane manner, with desperate people who have often risked everything that they have to try and get here illegally.” The Immigration Task Force works closely with other key agencies such as the police, HM Customs and the Employment Services Department. “It is to their credit that their work is driven by intelligence and evidence, always ensuring that
The Immigration Task Force are Wendy Seymour, Demardo Clare, Bjorn Griffiths, Velika Brooks, Adonni Garland, Lorenzo Wilson and Tito Forbes
their efforts are complaint with our ordinances. “So, on behalf of their fellow public servants and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands I would like to recognise and sincerely thank each and every member of the Immigration Task Force for everything that they do on our behalf.” The Deputy Governor’s Office launched the ‘Spotlight: TCI Civil Service’ on January 29 and the Ministry of Health was the first to be commended. The programme aims to celebrate the contributions of civil servants
Governor’s wife plans 100km walk for charity JILL Beckingham, Governor Peter Beckingham’s wife, announced plans this week to walk more than 100km across the Turks and Caicos Islands. She hopes that the venture will help to raise $20,000 for various charities throughout the country and invites the public to join her. Her announcement came during a press conference at Blue Haven on Tuesday (October 14) just as the Beckinghams celebrate a year in the TCI. She explained: “I started a walk/run in Mumbai in 2011 called Footsteps4Good which still continues and I decided it would be fun, challenging and worthwhile to try for something similar in Turks and Caicos.” The seasoned walker said that travelling across a “good deal” of the six inhabited islands seemed the natural target. “I have been in touch with many schools on the route and I believe that a good many pupils will be turning out to support me and at the same time walk to raise money for their schools. “I hope that many others will join in along the journey, especially in
Jill Beckingham is excited to begin her walk for charity
Grand Turk and on the last day in Provo.” TCI running group Provo Road Runners is collaborating with the Governor’s wife on the project. Group chair Abria Henry said: “When Jill approached us about supporting Footsteps4Good we quickly decided this was a great event to back, using our experience of arranging charitable runs/walks. “We are delighted to be involved with it and look forward to seeing many people turn out on November
1.” Sponsorship pledges are invited from supporters, and participants can select their charity of choice to receive the cash. The walk will begin in Grand Turk on Saturday, October 25, and continue in Salt Cay and South Caicos on Sunday and Monday, October 26 and 27. Beckingham will then continue to Middle and North Caicos on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 28 and 29. Finally she will walk from Amanyara in Providenciales to Clement Howell High School on Thursday, October 30, and from the school to the Children’s Park in the Bight on Friday, October 31. She will finish with a major walk and run organised by Provo Road Runners on Saturday, November 1, from IGA to Blue Haven in Leeward where there will be light refreshments, games and prizes. Registration is $20 and participants will receive a t-shirt. Further information about the event can be obtained from Jill Beckingham at jillbeckingham@ hotmail.com or from Provo Road Runners on 232-8852 or at provoroadrunners@gmail.com.
across the Islands and features a particular ministry, department or staff member every month. It is part of the strategic vision and plan for 2014 that deputy Governor Anya Williams highlighted last year.
Other departments recognised during the monthly spotlight include the Treasury, social workers, school principals, primary healthcare workers, the disaster recovery team and the project management division.
The Towers of Babel Art is our language
For more information email towersofbabel101@gmail.com or visit www.towersofbabel.weebly.com
Heartless By Mr OMG
What is the difference between love and hate? Lately it’s hard to say, they say love makes people do crazy things, but taking the life of the one you love is just heartless. So I ask the question again; what is the difference between love and hate? I love you so much but still I cheat, I love you so much still my fist your face will meet. Love, a word that once described beautiful things, but all I see is blood, when love opens up the earth, taking the life of those he love, when the earth shake both sinners and Christian alike died, even the little boys and girls, why the price of love require the sacrifice of blood, and the crazy part about it, it’s always the blood of the innocents, is it me or something just don’t make sense, still like educated fools we turn a blinded eye to the facts, we turn a blind eye or should I say blind faith. While the fate of my people is death, I guess my question is if your killing for love what am I dying for? And I had enough of your religious war while we still killing each other please tell me; who is rightly winning? Love and hate; just words that lost their meaning, like doing good with bad intention and doing bad with good intention, I guess the key word is intention, intention, intentions. What is your intention, is it ‘til death do us apart, or was that your intention from the start, you said; if I love you I must give you my heart, now like living dead we walk around heartless, so we treat each other like nothing, but we love you, we take the life of our brothers and sisters, but hey we still love you. I am preaching stop the hate, while love is killing me, so I ask the question one more time; what is the difference between love and hate? Heartless.
Lifestyle... 18
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
GARDENING
How does your garden grow
Gumbo limbo tree GUMBO limbo tree (Bursera simaruba) is a Turks and Caicos Islands native tree. The gumbo limbo tree is big and beautiful, with showy red bark and interesting branches low to the ground. It develops unusual red bark that peels back, reminiscent of sunburned skin, which also gives gumbo limbo the nickname of ‘tourist tree’.
These trees take up a lot of space with thick, low branches that stay near to the ground, so the tree fits best in a large yard. The wood is lightweight, soft and easily carved it used to be used to make carousel horses. But in spite of these characteristics of the wood, a gumbo limbo is considered one of the most wind tolerant trees and can withstand
Weekly Recipe
Chocolate layer meringue INGREDIENTS • 1 cup hazelnuts, ground • 6 egg whites • Pinch of salt • 1 1/2 cups caster sugar • 2 tsp corn flour • 1 tsp white vinegar • 500ml cream, whipped • 200g dark chocolate, melted • 2 tbsp Kahlua, optional METHOD • Preheat oven to 180°C and line two trays with baking paper. • Blitz hazelnuts in a food processor until coarse crumbs (do not grind too finely or they will become greasy). • Beat egg whites and salt to stiff peaks, then add sugar gradually and beat for 10 minutes until mixture is very thick and glossy. • Lightly mix in corn flour and vinegar, then fold through hazelnuts.
• Divide mixture in half and spread onto baking trays to form two 22cm circles. • Bake five minutes at 180°C, then turn oven down to 120°C and continue cooking for one hour. Turn oven off and leave meringues in oven to cool. • For the filling, melt chocolate and add 1/4 cup whipped cream. Add chocolate mixture to remaining whipped cream and if using Kahlua gently fold through to combine evenly. • Place one meringue on a large serving plate and spread with chocolate cream. Top with second meringue. • Decorate with extra melted chocolate or cream and berries, if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve. • Recipe comes courtesy of www. taste.com.
hurricane winds. It is one of the prettiest salt tolerant trees, making it a welcome shade tree for beach properties. It’s also popular with wildlife the berries it produces in summer are a favourite with birds. On island the gumbo limbo is a medium grower you can plant in full sun to partial shade. Most seen in home landscapes are around 15 or 25 feet tall, though the tree can reach 40 feet. Generally this tree can lose its leaves in winter but with our warmer winters or it may retain some foliage. No soil amendments are needed, though adding top soil or organic peat moss to the hole when you plant certainly won’t hurt. Trimming a gumbo limbo tree is only necessary to remove too low branches to allow for foot traffic or where the branches extend over a driveway. These trees are drought tolerant once established. They’ll do best with regular irrigation and time to dry out between waterings. At the very least, water during dry spells. Fertilize three times a year - in spring, summer and autumn with a good quality granular fertiliser. Plant 15 to 20 feet from the house if you can. Any closer and you will be calling in a tree trimming company in the future. Avoid placing near a drive or walk so roots and lower branches
BY DENIS Belanger - NATURE SPLENDOR
Denis is a passionate landscape architect who enjoys the creative process and his clients’ joy when projects come to life. Contact Denis at Nature Splendor for your landscaping, installation or garden maintenance needs. For more information call 332-3381 or email denis@naturesplendor.net.
don’t become a problem as the tree matures. This tree is also a natural antidote of the poisonwood. The tree’s sap when applied using bark from the gumbo limbo, relieves rashes, stings and burns. Gumbo limbo trees grow in the
same vicinity as the poisonwood trees and should be found and its remedies applied promptly to avoid the serious first and second-degree burns my unlucky comrade suffered. Tea made from its leaves is also said to treat fever and low blood pressure.
October 18 - 24, 2014
Lifestyle... Makeup and skin care
19
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Thea LoweGangasingh
Thea Lowe-Gangasingh is a professional makeup artist based in Providenciales certified with Chic Studios NYC. To book an appointment for any occasion with Thea Makeup Artistry email info@theamakeupartistry.com or call 242-4627.
Prepping skin for a flawless makeup application WEARING makeup can brighten up the face and add ‘oomph’ to your overall look. Prepping skin beforehand is just as important as the makeup application itself; failure to do so can highlight and reveal dry/rough patches on the lips or face wherever product has been applied. Following the tips below to treat and prevent such problems will make for beautiful glowing skin and a flawless makeup application every time: Drink water to hydrate the skin from within; if you are dehydrated it will be evident in your skin. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have tons of benefits for your skin and body. These are found in fish, fish oil, avocados, seeds and nuts. Limit alcohol and smoking as it can dry out the skin and cause premature aging. Cleanse skin to remove excess dirt, oil, environmental bacteria, residue and makeup. If you have sensitive skin, avoid cleansers with scents and strong ingredients like hydroxyl, glycolic acids and witch hazel which can induce redness and irritation. Gently exfoliate face, neck and lips two to three times per week to remove the build-up of dead skin cells and reveal the new skin underneath. It is best to use an exfoliator with small circular granules as irregular, rough ingredients may cause more harm than good by tearing and damaging the skin. Tone skin after cleansing/exfoliating to remove any residue, minimise pores and balance the skin’s PH level - persons with sensitive skin should avoid this step. Use a serum before applying a moisturiser to infuse a rich concentration of anti-aging ingredients into the skin. Serums are made of very small molecules, so it absorbs quickly and deeply into skin. Moisturise face using the appropriate formula for your skin type: a) Normal skin - Non-comedogenic, oil free moisturiser. b) Dry skin - Moisture rich creams containing humectants or occlusive agents to attract and seal water into the skin. c) Oily skin - Oil free moisturizer d) Combination skin - Apply a moisturiser formulated specifically for combination skin, or you can treat dry areas separately. e) Sensitive skin - Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and fragrance free moisturisers have less possibility of causing irritation and allergy. Apply under-eye cream (using ring finger). Apply a lip balm to moisturise, soothe and soften lips – blot off excess before applying lip colour. Apply a silicone primer to face before foundation as it creates a smooth base for foundation. Primer acts as a protective barrier preventing your moisturiser and skin’s oils from mixing with your makeup. Wear sunscreen daily to prevent sunburn and signs of premature aging. You can wear a foundation containing broad-spectrum SPF15 or higher.
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
By Dr Mark Osmond
Children and dental decay I WAS interested to read that a new survey conducted in the UK found that tooth decay affects over 10 percent of three-year-olds, a number which rises to 25 percent by the age of five. Public Health England (PHE) researchers checked the teeth of nearly 54,000 children at nurseries, children’s centres and playgroups and found 12 percent of children had evidence of tooth decay. These youngsters had an average of three teeth that were decayed, missing or filled. Although we don’t have the studies done here, this is definitely something that I see here in Turks and Caicos Islands, particularly amongst certain segments of our community and there are definitely some things we can learning from the UK. Researchers in the UK identified a particular type of decay known as early childhood caries, which is
something I see amongst some of our children here. Bottle caries affects the upper front teeth and spreads quickly to other teeth. It is linked to the consumption of sugary drinks in baby bottles or sipping cups and this is something I see commonly given to young babies here in the form of chocolate milk, sugar water or Milo. The recommendation is that parents should give their children sugary foods and drinks in smaller quantities and less often. It is also urged that sugar should not be added to weaning foods or drinks. Parents and carers should also start brushing children’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appeared and supervise their brushing until they the age of seven or eight (or older if you know your child is unreliable.) Sandra White, director of dental public health at PHE in the UK, said while there had been significant improvements in oral health over the
years, the findings are worrying. “Tooth decay is an entirely preventable disease which can be very painful and even result in a child having teeth removed, which is stressful for children and parents alike.” Dr Christopher Allen of the British Dental Association said: “Parents and carers may feel that giving sugar-sweetened drinks is comforting, but in reality it’s more likely to cause pain and suffering as it is the major cause of tooth decay in toddlers. “It’s never too soon to take your toddler to the dentist - ideally no later than 18 months - because dentists can identify and treat tooth decay at the earliest stage and advise parents on tooth brushing and prevention.” These recommendations are as relevant to parents here in TCI as they are to those in the UK and I would encourage all parents to try to follow them.
POLICE SAFETY TIPS
Protect your surveillance system hard drive MOST times when someone purchases a security system, it’s so they can have a recorded record of events that can be reviewed and analysed at a later time. Unless you plan to view your cameras remotely and never record or review past video footage you will need a storage device or (CCTV hard drive) to record to. Everyone’s storage requirements vary. In many cases one week of storage might be fine, assuming that you would be aware that an event had taken place within that one week time frame. If you are a business owner, someone who travels, or someone who leaves their properties unattended for long periods of time, you might need more storage. This is due to the fact that it may be weeks or even months before you realise that you need to go back and review your recorded video. One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying a security system is to try and save money by purchasing less storage. If in fact a crime does take place
By Audley Astwood Audley, a former police detective and broadcaster, is currently the press officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. His main focus is on crime prevention and community policing. For more information call 941-4448 or visit www.tcipolice.tc.
the most important thing is that the video is still there to be reviewed. When you have a storage device or drive installed it will keep recording until the drive is full and then overwrite the oldest recordings first in order to store new video. In that respect it’s very similar to a television DVR such as one supplied by your television cable company. When calculating how much drive space you need it’s helpful to know two basic things. First, how many cameras will you have? Second, how many days of recorded video to you want to have stored at any time. Other factors include the resolution your cameras will be set to record at, the video frame rate, and how many hours per day you will be recording. I will stress at this time that it is always best to have optimal picture resolution to better identify
perpetrators in the event that a crime is committed. Once you have this basic information you can do some standard calculations to find out how much CCTV hard drive space you will need for your DVR. Instead of turning this in to a math class I recommend that you contact a security company which specializes in security camera installations. I will also make you aware that criminals are stealing DVRs from homes and businesses in an effort to leave no clues behind for police. DVRs should not be in plain sight or placed in a location that makes it easy for it to be found. Every effort should be made that even if the DVR’s location is discovered, it is well protected in an area that cannot be easily breached.
20
Regional News
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Mourners pay last respects to Haiti’s ex-president, Duvalier – Denied state funeral Haiti’s former president, JeanClaude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, was laid to rest on Saturday, marking the end of a political dynasty notorious for its corruption and abuse of human rights. At a private funeral, family, friends and political allies filed by a coffin covered in a red and blue Haitian flag to pay their last respects to Duvalier, who died a week ago, aged 63. The self-proclaimed former “President for Life” was overthrown by a popular rebellion in 1986. As a former head of state, Duvalier was potentially entitled to an official state funeral. But the government quietly quashed the idea, considered inappropriate by many Haitians for a man accused of widespread human rights abuses as well as looting the state’s coffers to indulge a jet set lifestyle, both in office and during a golden exile in France. “Many loud voices rose to demonize this man and his time in power,” retired Colonel Joseph Baguidy, a close friend of Duvalier, told the mourners. “For us who have lived at his side, there is no doubt that this man who was so devoted to the service of his nation and its people will eventually benefit from the favourable judgment of history,” he added, to a standing ovation. Among those absent at yesterday’s ceremony in a Catholic high school
At a private funeral, family, friends and political allies filed by a coffin covered in a red and blue Haitian flag to pay their last respects to Duvalier, who died a week ago, aged 63.
chapel were Haitian President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. Martelly’s administration is considered close to figures from the Duvalier era, and last Saturday the president paid tribute to Baby Doc on Twitter as “a true son of Haiti.” In attendance were Duvalier’s ex-wife Michele Bennett, his companion in later life, Veronique, and a smattering of former military officers. Duvalier’s death marked the final chapter in a dynasty that ruled Haiti with an iron fist from 1957 to 1986.
He inherited power in 1971, aged only 19, from his father, François ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier, and earned a reputation for wanton misrule in the western hemisphere’s poorest country.. After his bloody overthrow, Baby Doc spent 25 years in France. He returned to his Caribbean homeland in January 2011 to face charges of corruption and crimes against humanity for abuses by the army and paramilitary forces under his rule. Duvalier consistently denied any responsibility for abuses committed while he was in office. (Reuters)
October 18 - 24, 2014
Bush: Opponents have used all their ‘conspiratorial ammunition’ FORMER premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush, has again called his recent court sessions the result of a conspiracy against him. Bush was found not guilty on charges of corruption last week. He was initially charged last year with 11 counts of official misconduct and breach of public trust in a case that led to his removal from office and one which stirred up antigovernment sentiment in the British Caribbean territory. The 59-year-old was accused of using his government credit card to withdraw $50,000 cash in casinos in the United States and the Bahamas. He denied the accusations, saying the cash was obtained legally under rules that existed at the time. In a written statement he said that his opponents have used up all of their ammunition. “I indicated from the very start that I had done nothing wrong and that these charges were nothing more than the result of a conspiracy to remove me from power and had no basis whatsoever.” My opponents, who participated in the conspiracy and encouraged it for the purposes of removing me from my democratically elected position as premier, have used all their conspiratorial ammunition. They will now have to participate in the next election, not on conspiratorial theories against me, but by providing the people a clear and precise path as
McKeeva Bush was charged last year with 11 counts of official misconduct and breach of public trust in a case that led to his removal from office and stirred up anti-government sentiment in the British Caribbean territory.
to their policies and how they intend to enhance our economy, provide an inclusive working environment for all those who participate in the growth of our economy and how they intend to provide jobs and opportunities for our future generations so that they may enjoy a reasonable standard of living.” Bush said that despite the stress, severe financial losses, the difficulties and the embarrassment which he endured, there were positives from the incident. He indicated again that he was the most investigated person in the Western Hemisphere and again he was not found guilty of a crime.
Bahamas: 42-page plan ‘shows nation’s readiness’ for Ebola threat THE government has prepared a 42page document that outlines exactly what “needs to be done” and “what will be done” should the Ebola virus reach Bahamian shores, Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez said on Monday. Dr Gomez said the report, which has been worked on for months, is just a part of a national health protocol established by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Public Health, in collaboration with its private and public partners to deal with significant public health threats such as Ebola. “Ministry of Health has a plan to address the Ebola issue,” he told The Tribune. “It is a plan that has been developed over a period of months and a lot of work has gone into it. “It is a thick document, about 40 pages, and so anybody who is out there espousing that the ministry has not done anything is not telling the truth.” Dr Gomez was responding
to concerns from FNM Deputy Chairman Dr Duane Sands who last week questioned the government’s ability to deal with an Ebola crisis. He accused the government of being “slow” to execute an effective policy to minimise the risk of the Ebola virus. Dr Sands, who is also a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, said the possibility of a person who has been exposed to Ebola who then travels to the Bahamas is “remote” but real. He said while many countries have instituted precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the virus, there has been no proactive strategy implemented in this country. However, public health officials have maintained there are protocols in place to identify people with the virus and properly isolate and treat them. Dr Sands’ comments came after a man in Dallas, Texas, died after testing positive for the Ebola virus. Thomas Duncan travelled to the US
from Liberia on September 19 and died on October 8. A Dallas nurse who came in contact with him has also now tested positive for the virus. The US Centres for Disease Control said the nurse may have contracted the virus due to a “protocol breach”. A teenage boy from West Africa was hospitalised in Miami Dade with Ebola symptoms last week. However, according to international press reports, the teen, who has not been identified, tested negative in a preliminary exam conducted by the Florida Department of Health’s lab in Miami. Last month, a Ukrainian man working on a freighter en route to New Orleans from The Congo, West Africa, was airlifted to Nassau showing signs of illness. He died in Doctors Hospital two days after his arrival. However, the Centres for Disease Control confirmed that the man died from malaria and not the Ebola virus.
Jamaica policemen are hunting the killers. (Credit: Flickr)
Jamaica police hunt killers following brutal murder of four men in payroll heist JAMAICA police were continuing the search for gunmen who shot and killed four men transporting two million dollars (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.0089 cents) to pay employees of a Chinese firm constructing a section of the North/South link of Highway 2000. Police said the men, identified as Courtney Courbourne, 38, Carlton Scott, 37, Greg Harris, and another man identified only as Kirk, were shot and killed during the daring daylight robbery that the parliamentary representative for North Central St Catherine Natalie Neita-Headley
described as vicious and brutal. Police said the vehicle transporting the men overturned as it appeared the driver was attempting to escape but was impeded by the narrow roadway. “Reports received are that the men intercepted the vehicle and opened fire while they were making their way to the community,” police told the Jamaica Observer newspaper. “The criminals then went over to the injured men as they lay suffering from gunshot wounds, and fired several additional shots. The men then took off with the payroll,” the paper reported.
October 18 - 24, 2014
Regional News
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
St. Vincent places ban on three West African States due to Ebola scare ST. VINCENT and the Grenadines has placed a ban on nationals from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea entering the island, as Caribbean countries continue to put in place measures to deal with a possible outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the region. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that the measure was taken given the lack of infrastructure on the island to deal with the Ebola virus for which there is no known cure. Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea are the three West African countries most affected by the Ebola virus. “Because we didn’t consider that we had the infrastructure, necessarily, to deal with an onrush of people if they were to come from any of those West
African countries which we have named specifically,” Gonsalves said. On Tuesday, the Grenada government said it was considering suspending travel visas to nationals from the West African countries, noting that with the mortality rates climbing in the affected countries and the potential of spread becoming more and more eminent, the move to suspend the visa could soon be taken. “Amidst tougher immigration and border control restrictions currently being employed in some countries and contemplated by others, the Government has decided to adapt this measure in the best interest of safeguarding the Public Health of the country.” (CMC)
Illegal Jamaicans causing TT$1B in revenue annually There are 19,000 illegal Jamaicans living in Trinidad and Tobago who are feeding off State resources and causing this country to lose over TT$1 billion in revenue annually, according to National Security Minister Gary Griffith. In a release yesterday, Griffith supported the actions taken by immigration officers at the Piarco International Airport, in relation to the 13 Jamaicans who were denied entry on September 30, stating that they were found to be in breach of several immigration requirements. He said the immigration officials were doing their job and the authorities cannot act as a “rubber stamp” when it comes to allowing people into the country. “It is to be noted that at this present time, there are more than 19,000 Jamaicans in Trinidad and Tobago who have entered at legitimate ports of entry, but who have remained illegally and cannot be accounted for,” stated Griffith. Describing the statistics as “alarming”, Griffith said this means “that these people are dependent on State resources such as education and health care, may be employed and are not subject to taxes, which amounts to a loss of revenue of over TT$1 billion per annum”. Griffith said the carte blanche facilitation of entry of visitors into Trinidad and Tobago, without proper checks and balances as stipulated in the Immigration Act, creates the potential for an exponential increase in criminal
activity, since the majority of these persons will have no fixed place of abode in this country and are unable to work or acquire a source of income. Immigration officers, he said, receive extensive training in various interviewing and profiling techniques, which, coupled with information communicated from Intelligence Agencies via the Border Management System (BMS) ensures that an informed and unbiased decision is made regarding admission or refusal of persons seeking entry. He reiterated that there was no abuse of authority in refusing entry to the 13 Jamaicans and immigration authorities carry out their duties and play a pivotal role in securing this country’s borders while facilitating the free movement of Caricom nationals as enshrined in Chapter lll of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Griffith said Caricom nationals do not have an automatic entry into Trinidad and Tobago, and they must meet immigration requirements. He noted that Article 46 (3) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas makes provision for each member state to protect its citizens. “This ultimately means that the immigration authorities of any member state may deny the entry of a Caricom national where it has been determined on reasonable grounds that the entry of the person would be detrimental to the interests of its citizens,” stated Griffith.
21
Butler-Turner to bid for FNM leadership FREE National Movement Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner on Monday formally announced her intent to run against current Leader Dr Hubert Minnis at the party’s convention next month. Mrs. Butler-Turner said that although she was “grateful” for Dr Minnis’ services, the government needs to be corralled by a “firm leader of the opposition who will keep both eyes on them inside and outside Parliament.” Her announcement came days after she told The Tribune she had not made a decision on whether she would run for the party’s top post due to her “shock” at a snap convention called by Dr Minnis last week. “The opposition cannot wait and run out the clock until the next election,” she said at a press conference at her home. “Given our constitutional role, we must be a more effective opposition today. I am running for leader because I believe that the FNM needs the quality of leadership that will attract more independent voters and young people, as well as a growing number of PLPs who are disturbed by the direction of the country today. “The question of leadership today is not who is the best man for the job,” she added. “As Dr Martin Luther King Jr reminded us, it is not about the colour of one’s skin, but the content of one’s character. So too, the question of leadership today is ‘who is the best person for the job?’ “I believe that I am the most capable individual at the time to unite, to reignite and to lead the opposition in order to defeat a failed government.” Last month, FNM insiders told The Tribune tension was brewing
Mrs. Butler-Turner said that although she was “grateful” for Dr Minnis’ services, the government needs to be corralled by a “firm leader of the opposition who will keep both eyes on them inside and outside Parliament.” (Photo: David Mackey - Mackey Media Ltd/ TheBahamasWeekly.com)
between Dr Minnis and his deputy over the likelihood that she would challenge him when the party holds its next convention. The sources maintained that a “war” was escalating between the two, and said the apparent rift was not good for the party, adding that the tensions increased the need for an early convention. Last week, FNM executives met in a last minute meeting and decided to hold the party’s convention on November 21, instead of early 2015 as originally proposed. Mrs ButlerTurner was in her constituency in Long Island at the time. When she was advised of the purpose of the meeting, she sent Dr Minnis a letter which warned him that he was playing “a very dangerous game.” She later told The
Tribune that had Dr Minnis “bothered to advise” her of the meeting, she would have informed him that it was not a good idea to hold a convention “on such short notice.” The Long Island MP yesterday said her decision to go head-to-head with Dr Minnis came in response to “the call of many FNM’s and the call of Bahamians far and wide, young and old, and from throughout our country,” and after consultations with the FNM’s Constituency Association. She also said the government is “out of control” and the opposition must be led by someone who can “mount an effective opposition to a ruling party that has put their own interests above that of the Bahamian people.” “Prime Minister Perry Christie has given long years of service to the country, and I thank him for that,” she said. “But, he has led a government that has failed dismally to deliver on their many promises to the Bahamian people. He has failed to lead. “I wish to offer a new style of leadership and a clear vision about our shared future. I wish to build within the FNM a strong, inclusive team and party. I seek to lead my party to office so that we may offer the Bahamian people real and credible change and a new direction.” When contacted for comment on Mrs Butler-Turner’s announcement Dr Minnis would only say he had “no response.” Mrs. Butler-Turner did not take questions from the media after her announcement. However, updates placed on her Facebook page over the weekend foreshadowed the move and spoke of brewing “cannibalism” within the FNM’s base.
Pre-teen about to give birth in Guyana DOCTORS at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in Guyana are monitoring the condition of a 12-year old girl who is about to deliver her first baby. The child was admitted to the country’s premier medical institution last Saturday after she was air-dashed from the Lethem Hospital where she was first taken after she began experiencing abdominal pains. “She is due and we are monitoring her condition closely,” a source at the hospital’s Maternity Ward told this newspaper. Kaieteur News understands that the child, who hails from a place called Caponarib in the Rupununi district, is claiming that she was impregnated by her stepfather. “She was first taken to Lethem and she told the nurses there that her stepfather got her pregnant,” a resident of Lethem informed.
However, the man has vehemently denied the allegation. According to reports, the man had also previously impregnated the child’s older sister. He reportedly admitted that he is HIV positive and had infected the child’s mother. However, HIV tests conducted on the pregnant child returned a negative result. A source close to the child’s family told Kaieteur News that her mother is defending her reputed husband, claiming that her daughter is mentally challenged. Police however have detained the child’s mother and her reputed husband as they continue their probe. The woman could not say however, who else might be responsible for her daughter’s present condition. An official of the Child Care and Protection Agency of the Ministry of Human Services said that the unit is aware of the situation and is keeping
a close eye on it through its Welfare Officers. The latest incident comes to light days after a 15-year-old Amerindian girl gave birth to a full term baby at the Lethem Hospital. The man who was responsible for impregnating her was released by police last Friday on $50,000 bail after spending three days in custody. In January this year, an Amerindian Chief from Region One was remanded to prison after he was charged on two counts of rape committed on his own daughter who is just 10-years-old. The man was arrested after medical officials in Region One realised that the 10-year-old is four months pregnant. She had gone to a community health centre complaining of feeling ill. Because of the child’s age, medical officials had to abort that pregnancy.
22 NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Entertainment Walking Dead breaks US cable TV record THE fifth series opener of US drama The Walking Dead has been watched by 17.3m people, breaking cable viewing records. It marks the biggest cable audience for a nonsports programme in the US, according to television viewing figures tracking company Nielsen. The post-apocalyptic horror, which stars British actor Andrew Lincoln, held the previous record of 16.1m for its fourth season debut last year. The end of the series also set a new benchmark for a finale with 15.7m. Sunday’s return to the air also triumphed in the valuable 18-49 age range with 11 million viewers. Its nearest scripted rival was popular comedy The Big Bang Theory, which pulled in 6.9 million people in that key demographic.
Andrew Lincoln is one of the main characters of The Walking Dead.
The serial, which is shown on AMC in the US, is screened on Fox TV in the UK. Variety reported that the show also reached record levels for the number of people obtaining the show illegally, with piracy tracking firm Excipio logging 1.27 million downloads in the first 24 hours after transmission. But the level of piracy for TV series Game of Thrones
pushes The Walking Dead into second place, with its fourth series premiere registering 1.86 million illicit downloads. It added that Fox has rushed the show to some 125 markets around the world in a bid to thwart piracy. The hit show tracks the fortunes of sheriff Rick Grimes - played by Andrew Lincoln - as he attempts to survive flesh-eating zombies.
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
23
24
Entertainment
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
Kors and Berry try to design an end to global hunger HUNGER isn’t glamorous, but Michael Kors and Halle Berry are using the power of fashion and Hollywood to help the U.N. World Food Programme provide meals for children around the world. Thursday is World Food Day, but the celebrities are rallying support all month long to raise funds for WFP’s School Meals program with the #WatchHungerStop campaign. The issue of hunger has been an important one for designer Michael Kors for decades. He started his charity work in New York in the late 1980s with God’s Love We Deliver, a nonprofit organization that provides nutritious meals to seriously ill people. And as the Kors fashion empire grew so did the designer’s mission. “I think the amazing thing about the hunger initiative with the World Food Programme is that everyone has the possibility to pitch in,” Kors says. “You don’t have to be wealthy. You don’t have to be a certain age. You don’t have to live in a certain geographical area. Everyone can really contribute.”
Brown’s statement resonates with some of the Twitterverse. His post has nearly 30,000 retweets and 22,000 favourites.
Actress Halle Berry visited Nicaragua this summer to see the work of the U.N. World Food Programme.
Kors started the #WatchHungerStopcampaign with the World Food Programme in early 2013 and brought on Berry a few months later. “She’s a great mother, a terrific human being and a great actress. She is very glamorous also,” Kors says. “She does the whole thing and makes it look effortless. We want to spread
the word that anyone can make a difference.” As of July, #WatchHungerStop has provided 5 million meals to children, and Kors says the campaign wants to continue to “make some more noise” about hunger. Over the summer, Berry visited a WFP site in Nicaragua, the secondpoorest nation in the Americas.
Chris Brown thinks ebola is a form of population control Add Chris Brown to the list of celebrity conspiracy theorists. The troubled R&B star offered his personal insight into the Ebola outbreak, writing on Twitter, “I don’t know ... But I think this Ebola epidemic is a form of population control. S--t is getting crazy bruh.” He has 13.7 million followers, many of whom disagreed with his assessment — or just wanted to poke fun at the “Don’t Think They Know”
singer. Brown, who served 108 days in jail earlier this year for violating his probation related to his conviction of felony assault against Rihanna, seemed to rethink sharing his opinion, posting soon after, “Let me shut my black ass up!” Despite his detractors, Brown’s statement resonates with some of the Twitterverse. His post has nearly 30,000 retweets and 22,000 favourites.
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
25
26
Entertainment
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
US author John Grisham questions child porn jail terms AUTHOR John Grisham has criticised the US justice system for handing down “harsh” prison sentences to those viewing indecent images of children. The American said some of those jailed had probably had too much to drink and should have faced lesser punishments. But the 59-year-old writer told UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph that he had no sympathy for “real paedophiles”. His comments have attracted criticism from child abuse charities and some legal experts. Mr Grisham, who has sold more than 275 million books during a 25-year career, used the interview to launch a wide-ranging attack on America’s judicial system for sending “too many people” to prison. He focused his anger on the length of imprisonment imposed on
Mr Grisham said a “good buddy” of his had been jailed for three years for looking at child pornography.
offenders who download images of children being sexually abused. He said a “good buddy” of his had been imprisoned for three years for viewing child pornography on a website labelled “sixteen-year-old wannabe hookers” when his drinking was out of control. “We have prisons now filled with
Call 946-4894 or stop by our Leeward Highway store today
Clothes now Available
guys my age. Sixty-year-old white men in prison who’ve never harmed anybody, would never touch a child,” he told the Telegraph. “But they got online one night and started surfing around, probably had too much to drink or whatever, and pushed the wrong buttons, went too far and got into child porn.”
Pena said she got her big break after bribing a Disney security guard to let her see a casting director.
US actress Elizabeth Pena dies at 55 US actress Elizabeth Pena, who appeared in films including Lone Star and Rush Hour, has died at the age of 55. Pena was also known for TV shows like sitcoms I Married Dora and Modern Family, in which she played the mother of Sofia Vergara’s character Gloria. Other film credits included La Bamba, Jacob’s Ladder, Batteries Not Included and Down and Out in Beverly Hills. Pena’s manager told the Associated Press news agency she died of natural causes after a brief illness. The Cuban-American actress was a familiar face from her dramatic and comedic roles on the big and small screens. She caught the eye in 1986’s Down and Out in Beverly
Hills, playing the maid Carmen alongside Bette Midler, Richard Dreyfuss and Nick Nolte. She won the role, she said, by bribing a security guard at Disney Studios to let her in to see the casting director after an agent had told her she was not attractive enough for the role. That led to parts in in the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba and alien comedy Batteries Not Included. On TV, she played a Hispanic housekeeper who married her employer in I Married Dora. After playing the wife of Tim Robbins’ Vietnam veteran in Jacob’s Ladder, she won an Independent Spirit Award for her role in murder mystery Lone Star alongside Matthew McConaughey and Chris Cooper.
NO HIGHER THAN
$50
BIG AND SMALL
Kesha signed with Dr Luke’s Kemosabe label when she was 18
Kesha accuses producer Dr Luke of sexual and emotional abuse KESHA has sued producer Dr Luke for alleged sexual and emotional abuse. The singer, 27, also claimed he threatened to harm her career. Court documents show Kesha, whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert, has accused him of forcing her to take drugs and drink alcohol so that he could sexually abuse her. In response, Dr Luke has said the allegations are malicious lies and “defamatory”.
The producer, 41, has worked with lots of major acts including Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. Kesha also said she remembered waking up naked after the producer, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, forced her to take “pills”. The documents state that she could not remember how she ended up in the place where she woke up. (BBC)
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
27
28
World News
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
WHO says major Ebola outbreak in West ‘unlikely’ A MAJOR outbreak of Ebola in the US and elsewhere in the West is unlikely given the strong health systems, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says. US President Barack Obama also said the risk of Americans getting the virus was “extremely low”, although he ordered a “much more aggressive response”. The US is investigating how a nurse infected when treating a victim in Texas was allowed to travel on a plane. Officials are trying to trace the 132 people who flew with Amber Vinson. The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. EU health ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss the crisis, including increased screening of travellers and the possibility of sending more troops to West Africa to help contain the virus. Meanwhile, US federal health officials will appear before a congressional committee on Thursday to answer questions about their handling of the crisis. Christopher Dye, WHO director of strategy, said the introduction of Ebola into the US or other countries in Western Europe was a matter “for very serious concern”. “The possibility that once an infection has been introduced that it spreads elsewhere, is something that everybody is going to be concerned
The disease has killed about 4,500 people so far, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
about,” he said. But he added: “We’re confident that in North America and Western Europe where health systems are very strong, that we’re unlikely to see a major outbreak in any of those places.” Earlier, President Obama said the likelihood of a widespread Ebola outbreak was “very, very low”. However, he promised a “much more aggressive” monitoring of Ebola cases in the US. Britain, Canada and the US have introduced increased screening of travellers arriving at airports from West Africa. France said on Wednesday that it would begin checks from Saturday on passengers arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from the
Guinean capital, Conakry. US health officials are facing new questions about the response to Ebola infections in Texas. Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person to be diagnosed in the US with Ebola after he flew in from Liberia. He was treated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital but later died. In testimony prepared for Thursday’s congressional hearing, Daniel Varga, the chief clinical officer for Texas Health Resources, apologises for mistakes made in treating Mr Duncan. “We did not correctly diagnose his symptoms as those of Ebola. We are deeply sorry,” he says. Two nurses, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson, contracted Ebola after treating Mr Duncan.
October 18 - 24, 2014
Family of pre-teen accused of killing old woman does not want him back home: attorney THE family of a 10-year-old boy accused of beating a 90-year-old woman to death does not want him in back home, their attorney said. Tristen Kurilla, of Damascus Township, Pa., who was charged as an adult with homicide, has been at a county prison since his arrest on Saturday. Bernard Brown, the family’s lawyer, filed a petition to have the boy returned to his father or moved to a juvenile detention center. But this request was withdrawn shortly after. The boy’s parents, who are “an emotional wreck,” do not feel comfortable having custody of him at the moment, Brown said. It would be more difficult for the family to visit if Tristen were moved to a juvenile detention facility, the closest of which is
about 80 miles away. The family believes he is being treated well in county prison, where he is housed alone in a separate cell away from the general population. Tristen has also been given opportunities to play and draw in coloring books, the attorney said. Nevertheless, Brown still intends to have the case transferred to juvenile court if possible. The boy had to be charged as an adult because the crime of criminal homicide is excluded from juvenile law, a prosecutor said. Judges can move the cases to juvenile court later, as they see fit. Marsha Levick, chief counsel of Philadelphia’s Juvenile Law Center, thinks it is obvious that the case should be handled in juvenile court. (NYdailynews)
Cameron promises ‘one last go’ at EU migration curbs DAVID Cameron has said action is needed to curb EU immigration and pledged to have “one last go” at negotiating a better deal for the UK in Europe. Speaking in Kent, where there is a by-election next month, he said: “We need further action to make sure we have more effective control of migration.” Last week the Conservatives lost a by-election to the UK Independence Party, which wants the UK to leave the EU. Lib Dem Nick Clegg accused the Tories of “blind panic” at UKIP’s rise. Labour has said it backs further restrictions on migrants’ ability to claim benefits, with leader Ed Miliband saying this must be based on “contribution, responsibility and fairness”. UKIP’s migration spokesman Steven Woolfe, said Mr Cameron was “running scared” saying: “This is hot air from a cold, hard, calculating politician whose interests are saving his own skin and not the jobs of the British people.
David Cameron said that the UK needs “further action to make sure we have more effective control of migration”.
“With this latest PR trick he is seeking to pull the wool over our eyes for he knows in advance that the EU will never restrict free movement of European migrants.” According to The Times the prime minister has promised backbench Conservative MPs a “game-changing” announcement on immigration, which would “almost certainly” come before Christmas.
Some Conservative MPs are understood to be pushing for the announcement to be made before the Rochester and Strood byelection, triggered by the defection of Conservative MP Mark Reckless to UKIP, on 20 November, at which immigration is expected to be a major factor. Among the “radical” options being considered by the government is an “emergency brake” on immigration from some EU countries, according to the Times. The Sun newspaper goes further, saying Mr Cameron will “demand the right to limit European immigration” as the “price of staying in the EU”. But it says details of the proposed restrictions - which could involve caps on arrivals from certain countries or an “Australian-style” points system operating within the EU - have yet to be finalised. At the moment the European Union has freedom of movement rules, which means everyone can move to live - and in most cases have the right to work - in any member state. (BBC)
Teen Alexandra Olaru allegedly suffocated her newborn baby to death and then burned the body.
Romanian teen killed newborn, then cremated body in stove to hide pregnancy A ROMANIAN teen suffocated her newborn baby and then burned its body in a stove to stop her parents from finding out about the pregnancy, police said. Alexandra Olaru, 17, reportedly gave birth to the tiny tot at her Silvilesti, Gorj County, home when her mom and dad were out for the night. She allegedly smothered the infant’s face with a pillow and threw its corpse into a wood-burning oven. Nobody knew about the incident until Olaru confessed to school friends, reports The Mirror. They told a teacher who called the cops.
The teen was detained. During questioning she reportedly confessed to the horrific crime, said prosecutor spokesman Emil Mota. She is currently undergoing psychiatric tests and, if found sane, will be charged with murder. “At first we thought she was making up some sick sort of joke, but as she went into more detail we began to realise it was probably true,” said her best friend Iona Bibesco. “We had absolutely no idea she was pregnant nor that she had gone to such terrible measures to keep it from us,” added her father Marcel Olaru. (NYdailynews)
October 18 - 24, 2014
World News
29
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Rape increases by 29% in England and Wales Mr. Morales was first elected president in 2005 and took up office in 2006.
Bolivia’s Evo Morales rules out fourth term
BOLIVIAN President Evo Morales has ruled out running for a fourth term in office in 2020, as exit polls from Sunday’s election suggest he has won an unprecedented third spell as leader. He told the BBC that by 2020 he was more likely to want to return to work on his farm in Central Bolivia, and spend his time visiting old friends. Mr Morales has governed since 2006. His critics have accused him of becoming increasingly autocratic and seeking to prolong his time in office. Mr Morales said that the government plans he had proposed during his campaign were not tied to him personally being in power. “I understand this Latin American way of thinking that everything is always about a single person, but I
don’t like it,” he told BBC Mundo’s Ignacio de los Reyes in La Paz. “This is a government plan, it is not the plan of a [specific] president. Whoever comes after 2020 will need to commit to our patriotic agenda, therefore there is no need for Evo to be president until 2025.” He said he had not even considered changing the constitution to allow him to stand for a fourth term. He said that by 2020 he would be looking forward to returning to the rural area of Central Bolivia where he grew up. “My big desire is to go back to Chapare, improve my farm, maybe build a couple of cabins to welcome former presidents,” he said. He also suggested paying a visit to allies such as former Brazilian President Lula and Uruguayan President Jose Mujica.
There were 22,116 recorded rapes in the year to June, a rise of 29% on the year before, police figures released by the Office for National Statistics show. Victims are “more willing” to report rape, Crime Minister Norman Baker said. Separate statistics from the Crime Survey for England and Wales showed overall crime fell by 16% to 7.1m. The overall figure covers crimes against households and adults in England and Wales, and this type of crime is at its lowest level since the survey began in 1981. John Flatley, head of crime statistics at the ONS, told the BBC the increase in recorded rapes was driven by two main factors. “We have seen over the last few years a notable rise in victims coming forward to report historical offences. “But this recent set of figures shows quite a change in that pattern, with 73% of the rise due to current offences. “So victims are coming forward now to report recent occurrences rather than historical ones and it’s certainly the case the police are taking
action to improve their recording and handling of rape investigations.” The ONS figures also showed a 48% increase in knife-point rapes, from 199 to 294. Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker said alleged rape victims were now more willing to come forward than in the past. He added: “We’ve improved the police recording of these terrible crimes and consequently we’re now seeing an official increase.” Chief Constable Jeff Farrar, national lead on crime statistics for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said it was “reassuring” to see an increase in the reporting of sexual offences. “This shows that victims of abuse have greater confidence that if they report to the police they will be listened to, taken seriously and their report will be investigated fully, regardless of when the offence took place,” he said. ‘Year-on-year reduction’ Overall, police-recorded crime was stable, though fraud and shoplifting increased. Hate crime showed an increase of 5% to 44,480 incidents in the yearlong period, up from 42,236 the
UK lawmakers pass symbolic motion on Palestinian state BRITISH lawmakers voted on Monday to recognise Palestine as a state, a move that will not alter government policy, but carries symbolic value as Palestinians pursue international recognition. Britain does not classify Palestine as a state, but says it could do so at any time if it believed it would help promote peace between the Palestinians and Israel. Prime Minister David Cameron abstained from the vote, which was called by an opposition lawmaker, and Cameron’s spokesman earlier said foreign policy would not be affected whatever the outcome. The vote was closely watched by Palestinians and Israelis seeking to gauge the readiness of European countries to act on Palestinian hopes for unilateral recognition by UN member states. The final motion, which passed by 274 votes to 12 stated: “That this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of
Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution.” The vote comes just as Sweden’s new centre-left government prepares to officially recognise Palestine, a move condemned by Israel, which says an independent Palestine can only be achieved through negotiations. Lawmakers who backed the motion said it would increase pressure on Israeli and Palestinian authorities to revive the stalled peace process. “Its purpose is very simple, based upon the belief that the recognition of a state of Palestine, alongside a state of Israel will add to the pressure for a negotiated two-state solution and may bring that prospect a little closer to fruition,” said Jack Straw, who served as foreign minister between 2001 and 2006. Only 286 of 650 lawmakers voted, with many outside the government choosing to abstain. The ballot is non-binding and will not force Britain, once the colonial ruler of Palestine, to change its foreign policy. (Reuters)
A dead mouse was found at the bottom of a McDonald’s coffee cup in Canada.
Canadian man discovers dead mouse at bottom of McDonald’s coffee cup A CANADIAN man claims his McDonald’s added a dead mouse to his morning cup of coffee. Ron Morais of Fredericton in New Brunswick shared the gory cup with a dead rodent at the bottom to CBC News. “I always take the lid off to get my last sip of coffee. And when I took the lid off, there was a little bit of a surprise in my coffee cup,” he told the station. “It was a dead mouse.” The customer added the mouse had been in the cup for a while and left “a few little, shall we say, presents” in the drink. Jennifer LaHaye was with her co-
worker when he made the disgusting discovery. “Oh my God, there’s a mouse in my coffee,’ is what he says. I turn around and look at him,” she told the station.”The first time I looked, I actually looked and it’s real, he’s not joking.” McDonald’s issued a statement to the station that the local public health company and a pest control company investigated the franchise and found no evidence of a pest problem. The company said it would investigate further and cautioned people not to jump to conclusions.
previous year. Race hate crimes were also up 4% to 37,484 incidents and religious hate crimes were up 45% to 2,273 offences. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said statisticians believed this was driven by higher levels of hate crime in the wake of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in May last year. On the overall crime figure, Mr Baker said the government was “cracking crime”. He said: “The public at large can have confidence that this is going in the right direction. I think people are less worried about crime than they were.”
Islamic State ‘being driven out of Syria’s Kobane’ THE Islamic State militant group has been driven out of most of the northern Syrian town of Kobane, a Kurdish commander tells the BBC. Baharin Kandal said Islamic State (IS) fighters had retreated from all areas of the border town, except for two pockets of resistance in the east. US-led air strikes had helped push back the militants, she added. It comes as the new UN commissioner for human rights described IS as a “potentially genocidal” movement. Baharin Kandal, who commands Kurds fighting in east Kobane, said in a phone interview with the BBC’s Kasra Naji that she hoped the city would be liberated soon. Ms Kandal said her militia group had been receiving arms, supplies and fighters but she refused to say how, our correspondent on the Turkish border near Kobane says. The battle for Kobane, which is also known as Ayn al-Arab, is regarded as a major test of whether the US-led coalition’s air campaign can push back IS. Meanwhile, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein, the new UN human rights commissioner, described IS as the antithesis of human rights and “a diabolical, potentially genocidal movement”.
30
Job Listings Services Auto sales real estate
Brama Kumaris
Raja Yoga
Classifieds
Meditation Centre Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephone 946-4760 & 332-4101
www.bkwsu.com Email: bkpadma@bkwsutci.com
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
946-4664 Fax: 946-4661
Email: tcnews@tciway.tc
Website: tcweeklynews.com
Service Coordinator required to conduct a range of activities including vacation planning and aerobic services. The applicant must speak fluent English and be capable of maintaining a website and other social media outlets, and also have experience coordinating accommodation and activity options across the islands. The applicant must be formally trained in a variety of fitness disciplines including Yoga and Pilates, provide their own vehicle, and must be willing to work alone for extended hours including early mornings, late evenings & weekends.
Send resume to info@amphibioustravel.com before 28th October. Job starts in November 2014 with a starting salary of $400/week. 10508
FOR SALE
Construction scaffold and roof tiles for sale CONTACT: 431-1591 OR 231-3788
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
CLASSIFIEDS 31
PRICED FOR Amazing Value! QUICK SALE Lot for Sale
Beautiful hillside, water front lot in Paw Paw Joe, North Caicos South
$50,000
(or nearest offer) Also additional seven acres plus in Kerr Mount (inland) contact Veronica at 1-242-327-8011 or 1-649-232-3508, (242) 676-3592
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
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!! The largest readership in the Turks & Caicos
PRICE SLASHED
PRICE SLASHED $175,000 FOR QUICK SALE
$180,000 CASH! House and ½ Acre land Richmond Hill 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Fully furnished
Call: 231-3788
32 CLASSIFIEDS MACKEY’S TIRE SHOP TIKI HUT
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
ELITE GAMING
DIVA’S BEAUTY SALON
Is looking for a
Is looking for a
October 18 - 24, 2014
HELP WANTED Counter Server
contact: 941-5341 10452
BAR 2 Cosmetologist TENDER To work 6 days Repairman TO WORK 5 DAYS is looking for
To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour contact: 941-4440
per week salary $250.00 per week.
A WEEK. SALARY: $6.50 PER HOUR.
10496
CONTACT: 331-6076
CHARTERED ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE STERLING PROPERTY CONSULTANTS
BUILDING THERMOGRAPHER
Capable of producing detailed building energy audits Suitable candidates will have an internationally recognized building thermography qualification and previous experience in producing energy audits for buildings located within the Caribbean region. Salary is on commission basis only. Applicants should deliver their CV and a Cover letter to: The Managing Director, Sterling Property Consultants, 2B Courtyard Plaza, Leeward Highway, Providenciales 10459
Front Desk / Receptionist Position Description
This is a full-time position. This person will provide excellent service to guests who come in to our spa as well as provide guidance and assistance with retail products. We are looking for someone who has an awareness of the importance of intention in their work on a daily basis. This person takes pride in his/her own appearance and well-being and believes learning never ends. He/ she is committed to continuing education.
Job duties include:
• Scheduling guest massage and spa services while implementing proper procedures • Greeting guests and escorting to waiting areas • Educating guests on services • Maximize books for each service professional in a fair and consistent manner • Closing sales and encourage guests to pre-book services • Product recommendations • Executing standard telephone procedure using appropriate customer service etiquette • Confirming appointments • Informing service professionals of daily
10492
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
Seeks to hire a qualified
We are looking for the best, brightest and experienced guest services professionals with a solid sales experience.
contact: 442-0750
Currently hiring FT & PT positions for Counter Server. Hours include daytime, evening, weekend and holidays. Applicant must be outgoing, trustworthy, willing to learn, take direction from superiors. Fluent reading and writing in English is mandatory. Duties include serving customers, some food prep work, cashiering and cleaning counters and tables. Prior experience preferred but not mandatory - a great attitude will prevail! Belongers need only apply. Applications should be submitted online at momentous. bamboohr.com/jobs or in person at Neptune Crt. Upstairs at (Momentous Ltd.) during business hours (10 am - 3 pm).
10489
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $7.00 per hour.
Tire
IS LOOKING FOR
10488
Chef
Grace Bay, Providenciales
schedules and/or any adjustments • Resolving guest challenges, utilizing support from the Spa Manager when necessary • Responsibility for balancing and checking register drawer • Performing other duties as assigned
Responsibilities & Other Information
• Reports to Spa Management • Interacts primarily with guests, involving the utmost in professionalism, ethics and confidentiality. • Interacts with other team members and management, involving the utmost in professionalism and teamwork.
Minimum Requirements
• Experience: One year previous experience in similar environment. • Excellent client service, communication and organization skills. • Ability to manage time effectively • Ability to perform basic computer skills • Self-motivated and ready to go above and beyond. • Flexibility to work weekends and evenings. (6 days a week) • Team player. • Goal-oriented. • Fluent in English and French
Salary
• Base salary + commission on retail sales
Please send your resume to: m.noel.masso@gmail.com 10499
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
CORPORATE SALES/ ACCOUNT MANAGER The Corporate Sales/Account Manager is responsible for maintaining and retaining all existing Corporate Business as well as securing new sales for Islandcom products and services to business, government and other key individuals or accounts in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Corporate Sales/ Account Manager must meet and preferably exceed established sales quotas and goals on a monthly basis and must be available on a 24/7 basis to deal with Customer issues and questions.
Job Requirements
• University degree or Associates degree in Business, sales or marketing; or equivalent experience • Minimum 5 years related experience in telecommunications sales or marketing to business customers, billing procedures; customer care expertise and back office technical skills • Excellent written and spoken English language communication skills; other languages a plus • Self starter with excellent team work skills and ability to work independently and without supervision • Computer literate including full command of Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Other required knowledge
• Mathematics –knowledge of arithmetic, statistics, and their applications are required • Sales and marketing-knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products and services. This includes sales strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales measurement systems. Ability to solve telecommunication device problems and understand the functionality of telecommunication device without always relying on customer care. To continuously improve knowledge and abilities in this area. • Must be available and accessible on a 24/7 basis to respond to Customer issues and queries • Administration and management- knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic sales planning and time management. • Economic and Accounting- Basic knowledge of accounting principles and practices. For example- calculating measuring commissions, gross sales, cost of sales, net profit, customer credits, etc. Please submit all application to:
Islandcom Telecommunications Ltd. Graceway House, Unit A-108 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI Fax: (649) 941-8199 Email: cv@islandcom.tc
A & G ELECTRICAL Is looking for a
Is looking for a
Acting on behalf of our client Kevin & Son’s Construction is looking for a
farmer Electrician Plumber To work 6 days per week salary
BAYVIEW MOTORS Is looking to employ an experienced
Automotive Technician
This individual must possess the following: • Adequate tools to perform his duties • Must be able to work with little or no supervision • Must be experience using computerized diagnostic equipment • Must possess a valid driver’s license • Must be a holder of automotive repair certification ASE or equipment Salary is commensurate with experience Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview Please send your resume to symondg@bayviewmotors.com or drop off in person Monday –Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
contact: 231-4619
ADVERTISE
ATTORNEY-CORPORATE/ COMMERCIAL
$33
PER WEEK
CALL 946-4664
To work 5 days per week salary $8.00 per hour.
contact: 241-5922
10451
Bayview Motors Ltd. P.O. Box 619, Leeward Highway, Providenciales
STORE CLERK Store Clerk needed to work in North Caicos Monday to Saturday. Must have valid driver’s license and should have own transportation. Must speak fluent English. $5.00 per hour.
Solicitor or Barrister required with a minimum of 15 years post-qualified experience and with the following additional qualifications: - Extensive experience in international taxation, trusts and financial services - Experience in large commercial transactions - Proven ability to manage a team of professionals and willingness for training of junior colleagues and other technical staff - Must be called to the TCI Bar or eligible for admission - STEP member or willingness to sit requisite exams - Willingness to travel to and possibly relocate to the firm’s other international offices - Knowledge and dealings with Middle Eastern and Latin American markets an asset Belongers are particularly encouraged to apply. Apply in writing, with CV and cover letter to Christian Papachristou via fax to (649) 946-4484 or cp@bishopslegal.com with a copy to the Labour Office, Providenciales.
10453
ONLY
10494
contact: 243-6877
10455
$5.00 per hour.
Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.
Contact Mr. Holton Williams phone # 946-7358/946-7084 or Labour Department, Phone # 946-4245.
REGISTERED LAND ORDINANCE, CAP 9.05
NOTICE LOST LAND
CERTIFICATE TITLE NUMBER 60000/3
SECTION ISLAND N.W & N. CENTRAL PROVIDENCIALES
Whereas, ALBERT ALEXANDER GRANT of Blue Hills, Providenciales as personal Representative of JOHN CORNELIUS GRANT (deceased), has declared that the Land Certificate for the above mentioned title number(s) registered in his/her/their name was inadvertently mislaid and cannot be found. Take notice that I, Naomi Been, Acting Deputy Registrar of Lands, shall issue a new land certificate for the said title six weeks of the date of the first publication of this Notice in a local newspaper and the Gazette. Dated this 8th day of October 2014. Signed ................................................................ Witnessed ..........................................................
10468
ALVERIA DUNCOMBE
IN THIS SPACE!
CLASSIFIEDS 33
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS C & J PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
SALES!!!
Due to change of season we are selling lots of items at discount prices. Towels, curtains, bathroom sets, bathroom coordinates, napkins, cups and glasses, canisters, mixing bowls, serving trays and much more for your house.
10483
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
10512
October 18 - 24, 2014
34 CLASSIFIEDS GTC LIMITED/ BELLA LUNA
Judith Swann is looking for a
COOK
Musician labourer To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
contact: 242-3868
10462
10461
Call contact: 331-6763 for an interview. Please send all applications to P.O. Box 543
GOD’S INSTRUMENT MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL Is seeking a full-time
• Must have 5 years experience on the line with Italian Cuisine • Must be willing to work weekends, evenings and holidays • Must be available 6 nights a week • Must be able to read and write English • Must work well with others and work well under pressure • Must have clean police record Salary $8.00 per hour Closing date for application is October 25th, 2014 Belongers Only need apply
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Must be able to play more than one instrument Interested person can email resumes to: alcesdor@ hotmail.com Salary based on your performance and experience
10467
PRITON DEVELOPMENT LTD. SEEKS
Inventory Controller
Interested persons should be dependable and send applications via fax at (649) 941-4034 C/o Alliance Realty Ltd. 10490
The Executive Chef will manage a select team achieving the highest standards of food production, while developing an appetizing menu of recipes, using quality fresh ingredients. Candidates must possess an accredited Food Handler Certification Certificate.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • • • •
Oversee daily food preparation team, inventory control and ordering Qualified to ensure equipment operation /maintenance Organize special event catering events Create weekly cost reports in Excel with food cost protection
REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Food Handler’s Certificate • Prior experience in managing a team of minimum 10 kitchen staff and catering background • Premise and liability accountability with contract managed service experience is required • The ideal candidate will posses a bachelors degree and a minimum of 5 years related culinary management experience as a Head Chef in a high volume restaurant 5 star hotel or resort • Previous experience with controlling food and labor cost, demonstration cooking, menu pricing and creation • Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Power Point for presentations • Must be able to work flexible hours, catering events, nights, weekends and holidays Salary will be based on qualifications.
If you possess all of the above, please send resume and cover letter to:
TCICHEF@GMAIL.COM Deadline for application: October 24th, 2014 Please note ONLY short listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews.
MECHANIC
WANTED
10469
The Meridian Club On Pine Cay
Must be willing to work 5 days per week salary $10.00 per hour send resumes to: information. kar@gmail..com
Turks & Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: manager@meridianclub.com Ph:649-941-7011 Fax: 649-941-7010
10460
• Must have at least 5 years experience. Must have good knowledge of construction and construction equipment and must be familiar with ordering procedures. • Must be able to work on holidays, must be able and willing to work with a large team. • Salary is based on experience
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager at The Meridian Club on Pine Cay Salary: $22,000 to $32,000 /year depending upon training, experience, work record and capability.
Sales Representative – Islandcom (Grand Turk Office) Islandcom Wireless is in search of a Part-Time Sales Representative for its Grand Turk office. Responsible for meeting growth, and revenue targets as well as providing world class customer service. Responsibilities: • Meet and exceed quotas on predetermine sales objectives • Exceed customer satisfaction goals to ensure customer retention; uphold the Islandcom service reputation and brand • Build solid productive relationships with all levels of customers within the community • Flexibility to match the changing needs of the business • Create & foster a positive, successful, & professional work environment Requirements: • 1-2 years or retail wireless sales preferred • 1-2 years of customer-service oriented, marketing, event promotion, or outside sales experience considered • Superior interpersonal and communication skills • Possess the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with the ability to multitask • Aptitude for sensing and responding to a wide range of shopping types • Ability to listen carefully and actively • Excellent problem-solving skills • Understand and demonstrate integrity, respect and the ability to develop positive relationships with management, customers and peers • Flexible for scheduling 10457
Duties: This job is hands-on meal and service preparation requiring 60+ hours per week and reports directly to the Executive Chef. Assist Executive Chef and entire kitchen and bar staff with meal preparation, banquet presentation, and menu items served at the bar. Expedite and assist breakfast team to ensure quality of the breakfast menu. Assist breakfast staff with weekly specials. Help put away orders, manage inventory and assist chef with menu development of new and existing items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Assist Executive Chef with plating and cooking for dinner service. This position will oversee sanitary food handling and storage practices under the direction of the Executive Chef.
Qualifications Required: - - - - - - - -
Minimum of Degree in culinary arts at accredited college or university. Minimum of 2 years experience as Sous Chef or equivalent in 5 star restaurant. Minimum of 2 years experience in supervising and managing kitchen and wait personnel. Must be skilled in handling all duties specified and pass an on-site skills evaluation by Executive Chef. Must be willing to reside on Pine Cay, a small private island, on a full time basis. Must furnish health certificate or be willing to undergo medical examination to ensure freedom from communicable disease. Must be willing to work weekends, nights and holidays Working knowledge of English (written and verbal)
Starting Date: November 2014 Note: The Meridian Club offers breakfast, lunch and dinner to its guests and members. Proficiency with seafood preparation a must. Creativity and flexibility and ability to get along with long-term staff essential. Contact Person and Contact Information: Beverly Plachta, Resort Manager. Fax to 649-941-7010 or email to manager@meridianclub.com a copy of resume with your contact information (mailing address, e-mail address, phone number) Resume must include min. of 3 references with contact information and how you knows these people. Also include copy of passport, police report. All qualified applicants will be interviewed within 2 weeks. 10463
CLASSIFIEDS 35
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
CASA BLANCA CASINO
SARAWACK LTD.
MACKEY’S TIRE SHOP
Is looking for a
Technician helper
IS LOOKING FOR
LABOURER
With the following skills: Electronics, powered tools handling, operator, building wiring, inventory control, driver’s license, over 5 years experience Contact: zolieng@yahoo.com
TO WORK 6 DAYS / WEEK. SALARY: $7.00 / HOUR
CONTACT: 244-4665
BETWEEN 9AM TO 5PM
10474
Hernandez Human Resource Employment Agency
Is looking for a
is looking of behalf of our client, B & M Construction and The GrandView on Grace Bay following positions,
To work 6 days per week salary $6.00 per hour.
1 Fine Wood Linker 1 Labourer 1 Gardiner / Greens Keeper
contact: 941-4440
10454
10465
PRITON DEVELOPMENT LTD.
STONE FABRICATOR SITE SUPERVISOR SEEKS
Must have at least 8 years experience. Applicant must have good knowledge of construction. Must have good managerial skills and able to handle problems swiftly and amicably. Must be able to work on holidays, must be able and willing to lead a large construction team. Salary is based on experience. Interested persons should be dependable and should send applications via fax at (649) 941-4034. C/o Alliance Realty Ltd. Deadline for application is October 21st 2014.
10485
- The successful applicant must have five years experience - Must be able to fabricate marble and granite slab products according to specification and schedule - Must be able to assist the foreman in charge at warehouse and on job site - Must be able to read blueprints, layout jobs from blueprints, operate water cooled tools, match colors of materials, glue materials, fill holes in materials, operate grinders, stone router and clean up after daily shifts . - Perform duties and direction from supervisor, good knowledge of the English language an asset.
Belonger only may apply by sending a resume to: hernandezemploymentservices.8@ gmail.comdead line. October 20, 2014.
10466
October 18 - 24, 2014
ADVERTISE
IN THIS SPACE! ONLY
$33
PER WEEK
CALL 946-4664
Salary commensurate with qualifications
1047
MASSAGE THERAPIST Professional Massage Therapists needed in the Grace Bay area
Principle duties include:
Line/Cook
• Perform consecutive 50-minute quality massage therapy sessions. • Design specific sessions based on client’s individual needs. • Promote the health and wellness benefits to clients of receiving massage therapy on a regular basis. • Create excellent experience for members/guests through friendly and helpful attitude. • Help maintain professionalism and cleanliness of therapy rooms and common areas. • Assisting at the front desk.
• Knowledge of Deep Tissue and other various modalities preferred. • Minimum 2 years of experience in the field of desired position, preferably in a 4 or 5 star hotel. • Must be customer service oriented and able to communicate effectively with clients, spa management and sales staff. • Available to work 6 days a week/7 hours a day. • Understands and believes in the healing benefits of massage therapy and bodywork. • Fluency in English and French
Positions requirements:
Salary:
•
Knowledge required.
of
Swedish
Massage
Commission.
Please send your resume and a copy of your diploma to: m.noel.masso@gmail.com
VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!
the largest readership in the turks & caicos
Pelican Bay Restaurant and Bar is situated on Grace Bay Beach at the Luxury AllSuite Royal West Indies Resort. Pelican Bay delights guests with exceptional all-day dining; an outstanding variety dinner menu; and the most delectable breakfast and Sunday Brunch
10500
• Must have 10 years Culinary Experience • Knowledge of food costing and controls, monthly inventory, • Knowledge of food hygiene and safety, menu planning, managing and scheduling staff, • Prep food for Breakfast/lunch /dinner • Ability to understand menus follow recipes, basic sauces/ butchery. High level of food hygiene is • required. • Must be willing to scrub, clean, mop, floors walls and equipment
Assistant Restaurant Manager
The successful applicant should posses a minimum of 5 years experience in the field including • Applicant must be able to host and execute banquets up to 150 • Responsible for the selection of wines as costing and menu print • Use of micros POS system, Applicant should be able to both operate and program the POS. • Maintains safe, secure, and healthy environment by establishing, following, and enforcing sanitation standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations; securing revenues; developing and implementing disaster plans; maintaining security and sprinkler systems, parking lot and walkways. • Maintains ambiance by controlling lighting, background music, linen service, glassware, dinnerware, and utensil quality and placement; monitoring food presentation and service.
For more information on job descriptions, please contact info@pelicanbaytci.com or 431-1689. Please call for an appointment, bring along your resume and resident status
10501
Please email resumes to info@stonesource.tc or PO Box 952, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Deadline for applications is October 31, 2014
household duties and care for two children. Must be able to live in, $5.00 per hour.
RODNEY JEAN
Richmond Hill Preparatory School
is looking for a
Needs a
trained primary school teacher
labourer labourer To work 5 days To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour.
10502
10505
With more than five years’ experience. Interested persons should.
contact the principal at 946-4958
WARD’S CONSTRUCTION Is looking for a
contact: 343-6154
10503
Domestic Worker Needed to perform
Please call 345 8833
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
per week salary $6.00 per hour.
contact: 231-6601
10513
36 CLASSIFIEDS
Notice Of Sale By Public Auction Meridian Mortgage Corporation Ltd. as Chargee, pursuant to its charge and the Registered Land Ordinance, hereby gives notice that it will cause to be sold the property listed below by Public Auction, to be held at the office of Meridian Financial Group, Le Vele Plaza, Grace Bay and Providenciales at 10.00 a.m. on Monday, 3rd of November, 2014. Title No. 10508/19, South Suburbs, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands. The subject property comprises a total land area of approximately 0.54 acres. Location
The subject property comprises vacant ocean front land located on the south coast of the Island of Grand Turk. Parcel 19 comprises 0.54 acres. The land has good elevation with a ridge midway through the lots North to South.
Title
Absolute
Proprietor
Andrew J. Newlands
Approximate Area
0.54 acres Title No. 10508/16,17 & 20, South Suburbs, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands. The subject property comprises three adjoining ocean view lots. The lots are regular shaped, slight undulating topography with a total registered area of 1.78 acres.
Location
Title No. 10709/38, Salt Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands. The subject property comprises a total land area of approximately 2.40 acres. Location
Parcel 10709/38 is located on the south end of Salt Cay is ocean front with an approximate ocean frontage of 215 linear feet. Title
Absolute
Proprietor
Russel Alexander Garland
Approximate Area
2.40 acres
Location
Title No. 60900/245/K64, Leeward Going Through, Turks & Caicos Islands. Unit 7302 Ocean Club, The subject property comprises a third floor unit of approximately 1,570 square feet base on information taken from the resort plan within the established Ocean Club condominium resort located on Grace Bay Beach on the Island of Providenciales.
The subject property comprises vacant ocean front land located on the south coast of the Island of Grand Turk.
Title
Absolute
Proprietor
Turquoise Investment Holdings Ltd.
Parcel 16 & 17 are adjacent to each other and parcel 20 is two lots to the north, Parcel 16 comprises 0.74 acres, Parcel 17 comprises approximately 0.64 acres and Parcel 20 comprises approximately 0.40 acres. The land has good elevation with a ridge midway through the lots North to South.
Approximate Area
1,570 sq.ft.
All Parcels can be sold separately. Title
Absolute
Proprietor
Border Holdings Limited
Approximate Area
0.74, 0.64, and 0.40 acres respectively Title No. 10709/39, Salt Cay, Turks & Caicos Islands. The subject property comprises a total land area of approximately 2.42 acres.
Location
The property comprises vacant land.
Location
The property comprises vacant land.
The topography of the land rise to its central portion and slope down steadily to its water frontage. This land therefore enjoys some views out over the turquoise waters and surrounding coastline.
Parcel 10709/39 is located on the south end of Salt Cay is ocean front with an approximate ocean frontage of 215 linear feet based on the block plan provided. Title
Absolute
Proprietor
Wayne Newton Garland
Approximate Area
2.42 acres
Title No. 50305/34, Kew Rural, North Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands. The subject land is located to the southwestern limits of North Caicos, close to the settlement of Kew and on the road to Bellfield Landing which lies a mile or so to the west. Bellfield Landing historically provided the principle port for loading harvests of Island cotton off the Island. More recently (2006/2007) a deep water channel was partially dredged through the Dellis Cay/Parrot Cay channel to the west. It was intended that a deep water dock would be developed so sea freight could dock directly. The works however were not completed and the ongoing maintenance of the channel has since been intermittent, as such only shallow draft boats are able to access this area. It does however continue to provide the main port of entry for containers and materials into North Caicos.
Title
Absolute
Proprietor
Royal Sephenson Robinson
Approximate Area
15.00 Acres (653,400 sq. ft.)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION ARE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST, FROM MERIDIAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION LTD.
Meridian Financial Group P.O. Box 599, Le Vele Plaza, Grace Bay Road, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, B.W.I Tel. (649) 941-3082. Fax (649) 941-3223
10486
October 18 - 24, 2014 GENESISAUTO MOBILE REPAIRS LOOKING FOR 2
MECHANIC TECHNICIAN
LOOKING FOR
DOMESTIC WORKER
Must have a valid driver license from A-H Must be able to work holiday and weekends Must be able to understand computer systems, programs and diagrams.
Applicants must call 649 946-5919, Monday to Saturday 7.45 to 5pm
Applicants must call 649 241-4156 Monday to Saturday 7.45 to 5pm Pay set @ $12.00 per hour
MECHANIC – $13.00 PER HOUR
– $5.00 PER HOUR
10477
10476
GOD INSTRUMENT MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH IS LOOKING FOR
TEACHER TO WORK 5 DAYS PER WEEK SALARY BASED ON QUALIFICATION
EMAIL: alcesdor @hotmail.com
NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
1. Parcel 51212/24 Bottle Creek Central, North Caicos.
Vacant lot on King’s Road, approx. 0.74 acre overlooking Bottle Creek. Registered Proprietor: Wilbert Ebenezer Handfield
2. Parcel 60400/383 Chalksound, Providenciales.
Vacant lot on Chalksound Drive, approx. 0.66 acre. Registered Proprietor: Joseph Arthur Skippings
3. Parcel 10401/237 East Suburbs, Grand Turk.
Single storey with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room, family room, living/dining room on 0.28 acre. Registered Proprietor: Brenda Lee Lightbourne
4. Parcel 60900/122 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales.
Single storey with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open concept kitchen and living room on 0.62 acre. Registered Proprietor: Hensley Anderson Capron
5. Parcel 60003/74 Northwest and North Central, Providenciales.
Single storey with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and living room on 0.26 acre. Registered Proprietor: Beatrice Bethel Galloway
6. Parcel 60604/17 Norway and Five Cays, Providenciales.
Single storey with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, powder room, kitchen, laundry room, living/dining room on 0.27 acre. Registered Proprietor: Delores Oleta Rigby
7. Parcel 50201/66 Whitby, North Caicos.
Undeveloped land located north of King’s Highway near Whitby settlement, approx. 0.5 acre. Registered Proprietor: Frankie Narine Soman
8. Parcel 50301/32&33 Kew Rural, North Caicos.
Undeveloped land west of Sandy Point residential settlement and southeast of Kew settlement, approx. 2.0 acres. Registered Proprietor: Frankie Narine Soman
9. Parcel 50301/37 & 38 Kew Rural, North Caicos.
CLASSIFIEDS 37
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Vacant lot within northern Whitby, approx. 1.22 acre. Registered Proprietor: Frankie Narine Soman
The auction will be held at the offices of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 24th day of October 2014. A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids. 10471
Information Systems Manager SALARY:
Salary will commensurate qualifications and experience
with
•
LOCATION:
•
REPORTS TO:
•
Providenciales
Chief Executive Officer
SUBORDINATES:
Systems Administrator
•
SUMMARY / PURPOSE OF JOB:
• • • •
This is a managerial position, which has systems wide responsibility for shaping the direction of the Information Technology Department of the NHIB. Providing technical and strategic direction to the Systems Administrator, The IS Manager develops and implements the Department strategies plans; develops new IT systems; conducts technology needs assessments; develops implements and monitors IT Department and Divisional policies sand procedures and develops and maintains training manuals and is expected to generate results that are deemed acceptable when: IT policies and procedures re developed and implements to govern the activities of the department; IT systems are designed to meet the requirements of the users; systems operate efficiently and with minimal down time; security measures are in place to maintain the integrity of the system and to safeguard security measure area in place to maintain the integrity of the systems and to safeguard client confidential data and backup and recovery systems are in place to facilitate the recovery of lost or damaged files.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
• Developing policies, procedures, standards and controls or effective management of the IT Department • Designing, implementing and evaluating IT projects • Designing training plans for all system users • Providing departmental and system reports to facilitate decision making • Developing and ensuring continuous updating of manual to guide the
•
operations of the department and the use of IT systems Ensuring that systems are in place to recapture lost or damaged files Identifying and sourcing new technology to enhance the capability and capacity of the systems Developing, monitoring and assessing preventative maintenance schedule to ensure continued reliability of the systems Managing and supervising the use and allocation for all IT resources Ensuring service quality management Preparing the departmental budget Monitor security/fire systems Chair Disaster preparedness committee Any other duty deemed appropriate and consistent with the position, professional qualification and skill set as directed by the Chief Executive Officer
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: • Internal – All departments • External – Hospital, Pharmacies
Vendors,
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: • • • •
Budgeting Team Leadership Good problem solving skills Strong written and oral skills including computer literacy in the main processing, spreadsheet and presentation graphics programmes. • Human Relations
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Master’s Degree in Information Technology, • Business Management Experience • At least five (5) years on the job experience to acquire the necessary competencies to effectively respond to the challenges of the job. • Auditing and Systems Needs Analysis • Systems Development and Management • Networking • Database Development and Management • Research and Development • Project Management
Deadline for submission is October 17th, 2014. All Applications should be addressed to:
Human Resources Manager National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc 10479
IS LOOKING FOR
PASTRY CHEF TO WORK 6 DAYS PER WEEK. MUST HAVE 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE SALARY: $350.00 PER WEEK
CONTACT:946-5234 OR EMAIL: pierrik@tciway.tc 10475
VIP LOUNGE AND BAR IS LOOKING FOR 2
VENARD HANDFIELD Is looking for a
CASHIERS LaboUrer TO WORK 6 DAYS PER WEEK. SALARY: $6.00 PER HOUR
CONTACT: 347-0591
10481
LE BOUCHON
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
To work 5 days per week salary $5.00 per hour
contact: 332-6614
10497
LIVE-IN COUPLE REQUIRED TO WORK IN A PRIVATE VILLA
Full time Spa Receptionist/ Retail
Is looking for a
We are looking for the best experienced guest services professional with a solid sales experience. One year previous experience in similar environment, fluent in English and French, available to work 6 days/week.
painter To work 5 days per week salary $10.00 per hour.
Salary
Base salary + commission on retail sales
Send resume to: m.noel.masso@gmail.com
10499
contact: 232-5420
MARTINEZ AUTO REPAIRS
A couple is required to work in a private villa, a Cook and Housekeeper. This is a live-in position and accommodation is provided for a couple possessing the following skills:
VILLA COOK
The successful candidate must possess the following: • Preferably at least 5 years experience in a luxury hotel or restaurant or as a personal cook in a private residence • He/she must possess the ability to prepare a range of international cuisine,(Asian, fusion cuisine, French, Italian), as well as cater to guests individual dietary preferences that include vegetarian, vegan, kosher, organic diets etc. • Full ability and responsibility to take on menu planning and food preparation for house parties BBQ’s, business meetings • Maintain the cleanliness and proper sanitation of the kitchen at all times including deep cleaning of appliances, pots and pans, kitchen tools etc. • Exercise good cost control presenting monthly monitoring and replenishment of stocks and supplies • Computer literacy would be an advantage but no essential with the ability to record and present invoices and purchases in an accurate manner
SEEKS
2 Mechanics • Must have at least 10 years’ experience and be able to work with little supervision. Must be able to work on holidays and weekends. Salary to be negotiated and is based on experience. • Candidates must possess relevant skills, and a clean police record. • Deadline for applications is October 21st 2014.
Please fax resumes to 941-4034, only qualified persons will be contacted for an interview.
10456
SKYLINE DISTRIBUTORS LTD. /SKY INDUSTRIES IS LOOKING FOR A QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED APPLICANT FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITION;
HOUSEKEEPER/BUTLER
A self-motivated, highly detail orientated individual is required to work in a luxury villa The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to use their own initiative and have a good command of English as well as excellent communication skills. • He/she must be prepared to sometimes work long hours, weekends and holidays • The successful candidate must possess the following: • Housekeeping experience in a luxury or 5 star hotel or residence since attention to detail is essential • An awareness of cost control and energy saving • Ability to run errands, go shopping etc. • He/she may be required from time to time to assist private cook in the serving of meals so an F&B background would be beneficial • Preferences will therefore be given to individuals who are flexible and able to multitask BOTH CANDIDATES MUST ALSO: • Be willing to work flexible hours, weekends, holidays etc. • Be able to work within a team, be reliable and trustworthy • Be extremely well presented and have a good command of English • One must possess a clean driving license in order to run errands • Must be prepared to carry out other duties when guests are not in house • Preference will also be give to individuals who have worked within a 5 star luxury environment Salary dependent on experience Note this is a live-in position only
Suitable qualified candidates must apply in writing with resume details to P.O. Box 143, Providenciales or email: jessica@thesource.tc
DAVIS CONSTRUCTION
10516
38 CLASSIFIEDS
10464
All interested applicants, please send resumes to PO Box 762. Preference will be given to experienced and qualified Belongers. Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.
OFFICE MANAGER
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, assumes the most senior responsibility for all aspects of the business. This individual will be recruiting staff, performing office and administrative functions, promoting the business activities, customer interaction, vendor relationships. Must have a vehicle, valid drivers’ license and be willing to work holidays and weekends. 4 year college degree with a related field, 5+ years’ experience in a business of this nature or similar to. Safety & occupational health certificate is required. Strong computer/ POS, organizational and analytical skills. Detail oriented, excellent communication skills, cooperative attitude, hands on work ethic. Salary: $31,000 + per annum, depending on experience.
STORE CLERK
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, assumes responsibility for all aspects of purchasing and import documentation on international purchases for the Operations, including: costs of goods analysis to comply with budgets, maximizing revenues through price negotiations, maintain inventory and stock control, communicate between management and suppliers on shortages and order fulfillment, coordinate deliveries and shipments, receive and unload shipments, ability to multi task and work under pressure within a fast-paced work environment. Strong negotiation, mathematical, analytical and communication skills. Must have a vehicle, valid drivers’ license and be willing to work holidays and weekends. 5+ year’s experience in procurement. Strong computer/POS organizational and analytical skills. Salary: $24,000 + per annum, depending on experience. 10493
October 18 - 24, 2014
ELITE GAMING Is looking for a
MERCEDES BEAUTY SALON
Is looking for a
Salon Technician Helper To work 6 days To work 5 days per week salary $8.00 per hour.
per week salary $5.50 per hour.
contact: 243-4272
contact: 346-9905
10515
Medical Officer ANNUAL SALARY:
Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience
LOCATION:
Providenciales
10514
REPORTS TO:
Chief Executive Officer
SUBORDINATES:
SUNSET PHARMACY
Operations Manager/Patient Benefit Coordinator
TCI CENTRAL CONSULTING ACTING ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS IS LOOKING TO FILL THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS
PHARMACIST TO WORK 6 DAYS PER WEEK. SALARY: $6.00 PER WEEK
This is a managerial position, which has departmental wide responsibility for activities and direction of the Operation department and NHIP Emergency Overseas Treatment Programme; Providing technical leadership to the Insurance Operations team, the Medical Officer formulates polies and procedures to enhance the impact of the department; monitors patients overseas to assess their progress and report to the CEO; verify the eligibility of each claims, ensure staff is properly supervised and trained; and customer concerns addressed; as well as ensuring appropriate cost efficient health care services with best medical practices in place.
WAITRESS PAINTTER LABOURER TILE LAYER
IS LOOKING FOR
CONTACT: 346 8896
10491
10487
DOMESTIC WORKER
JOANEL TAILOR SHOP
QUEEN OF THE SEA
IS LOOKING FOR
KITCHEN HELPER SALARY: $5.00
TAILOR
TO WORK 6 DAYS PER WEEK. SALARY: $6.00 PER HOUR
PER HOUR
MESSENGER BAPTIST CHURCH
SPOTLESS CLEANERS
10484
CONTACT: 341-3426
10482
CONTACT: 341-1405
IS LOOKING FOR
Is looking for
Domestic
worker SUPERVISOR Salary: $5.00 per hour
Contact: 341-5811 or 241-3609
10478
Representatives/
SUMMARY / PURPOSE OF JOB:
IS LOOKING FOR
CONTACT: 941-5137
CLASSIFIEDS 39
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
WILLING TO WORK 6 DAYS PER WEEK AND HOLIDAYS. SALARY: $6.50 PER HOUR
FAX RESUME: 941-3338 10472
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
• Manages the medical aspects of the NHIP Emergency Overseas Treatment Programme; • Manages all aspects of the Operations department inclusive of all staff assigned to the department; • Manages and develop the Operation Department Budget with the view of ensuring that the Department expenditure remains within or below the Budgeted ranges; • Developing policies, procedures, standards and controls or effective management of the Operations Department • Collection of statistics form ICL (the hospitals) and the private providers as required by management and the actuary • Liaise with the NIB to identify number of employment injury and occupational disease cases. • Enforces cost-reduction strategies and recommends initiatives in the management of patient’s care; • Prepare Quarterly performance reports and trend analysis • Recommends and monitors systems and procedures to facilitate achieving of objectives within the area of responsibility; • Verifies and signs-off on overseas provider claims in order to ensure veracity of claims as well as conducts value for money audit; • Advise on the adjudication of claims by Beneficiaries in special circumstances, outside the scope of usual and customary benefits, including overseas claims • To make recommendations to the Board on policy decisions such as but not limited to; reimbursement and to recommend accreditation standards in line with the Health Practitioners Board or other authorized
Agency. • Conducts a sample survey of health care providers and facilities to derive baseline data on the availability and quality of services as well as the capacity and readiness to meet the demands of the NHIB; • Coordinates activities and provides advice to the NHIB team charged with the specification and costing of the service benefit package and in the development of provider payment systems; • Convenes and takes the lead in meetings and other mechanisms aimed at defining criteria for inclusion in the NHIB provider network, as well as developing norms and protocols for quality assurance utilization reviews, access to overseas care, and modifications ( inclusion and exclusion) of items in the benefit package; • Collaborates with other members on the NHIB team in the design and implementation of activities related to accreditation of health providers; • Collaborates with other members of the NHIB team in defining and developing contractual agreements with local and overseas providers for services within the benefit package; • Assists in the development of detailed terms of reference and procedures for the activities of the NHIB Medical Review Committee. • May perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or any other person authorized to give instructions or assignments • Any other duty deemed appropriate and consistent with the position, professional qualification and skill set as directed by the Chief Executive Officer
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
• Internal – Chief Financial Officer, Insurance Claims Manager, Nurse Case Managers, Claims Officers, IT, Registration and Accounting Officers • External - Members of the public, Ministry of Health and other TCIG Ministries, TCI Hospitals, International medical providers, Insurance Third Party Administrators MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: • Principles, practices and techniques of medical case management • Budgeting • Team Leadership • Good problem solving skills • Strong written and oral skills including computer literacy in the main processing, spreadsheet and presentation graphics programmes. • Human Relations
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Medical Doctor with at least 7 years’ experiences a full time practitioner in primary care and hospital settings with the necessary competencies to effectively respond to the challenges of the job. • Business post graduate Degree • Business Management Experience • Knowledge of the NHIB Ordinance and Regulations • Current (Good Standing) Registration with TCI Health Practitioners Board • Experience with health insurance operations such as member of medical review panel will be an asset.
Deadline for submission is October 24th, 2014. All Applications should be addressed to:
Human Resources Manager National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: recruitment@tcinhip.tc 10480
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Is looking for a
To perform household duties and care for two children. Must be able to live in, $5.00 per hour.
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.
Food & Beverage Director
Housekeeper To work 6 days per week salary $5.50 per hour.
Please call 345 8833
This position is responsible for managing all activities of the Food & Beverage Departments for the organization. The daily operation of vessel’s Beverage Sales Operation including the effective administration, supervision and execution of programs consistent with the company standards and goals of providing excellent service while generating maximum revenue.
contact: 432-0221
10505
10509
JOB ADVERTISEMENT
Y.A.3.B. CONSULTANCY SERVICES acting on behalf of our clients J.C. WALKIN
Sales Clerk $6.00 per hour
Waitress $6.00 per hour
Essential duties include but not limited to: Directs the activities of restaurant service personnel, Bartenders, Beverage Attendants, Host/Hostess. Directs and ensures the implementation and execution of corporate policies and procedures. Controls, measures and reports Outlet sales performance on a daily basis and takes required corrective action to ensure operations are in accordance with the company standards and objectives. Creates new opportunities and maximizes existing ones to generate extra revenue. Maximizes profitability by increasing turnover (revenue and covers). Ensures that department’s operational budget is strictly adhered to and that all costs are strictly controlled. Recommends measures to control/reduce costs. Works closely with the Controller and provisioning in regards to inventory taking, cost control, loading, ordering and storing. Ensures that all bars are counted after each shift and investigates discrepancies. Assures correct pouring and ensures proper void handling. Requirements: College or University degree in hospitality management, business administration or related field preferred. International equivalent suffices. 4-6 years restaurant operational management experience in 4/5 star hotels, restaurants. Fluent in English, both verbal and written. A second language is preferred. Experience in managing a large multi-national staff. Extensive knowledge of varying brands and quality of liquors. Knowledge of new and old world wines including food and wine pairing. Ability to read, interpret and demonstrate the preparation of drink recipes. Ability to investigate and solve guest complaints, follow up and meet/exceed guest expectations. Extensive knowledge of Micros POS and Opera
M & A CLEANING SERVICES Cleaner $6.00 per hour
PROVO ENTERTAINING
J.C. BEAUTY SALON
Nail Technician $6.00 per hour
KENNETH MCDONALD HALL Laborer $6.00 per hour
CLEVINSON LIGHTBOURNE Domestic Worker $5.50 per hour
JONATHAN & ELIZABETH SWANN North Caicos Farmer $5.50 per hour
Contact: 649-344-4540
10506
Decco (TCI) Ltd
Project Director Decco (TCI) Ltd. has a requirement for a professionally qualified and experienced Project Director to join our team for the construction of a high quality, condominium resort development project in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI.
Chef de Cuisine
The Chef de Cuisine will train and manage kitchen personnel and supervise/coordinate all related culinary activities; estimate food consumption and requisition or purchase food; select and develop recipes; standardize production recipes to ensure consistent quality; establish presentation technique and quality standards; plan and price menus; ensure proper equipment operation/maintenance; and ensure proper safety and sanitation in the kitchen. The Chef must have the ability to manage in a diverse environment with focus on client and customer service is essential to success in this role. Previous experience with control food and labor cost, demonstration cooking, menu development, and pricing and development of culinary team preferred. The ideal candidates will possess a bachelor's degree or related culinary degree with four or more years of industry and culinary management experience. Caribbean experience an asset.
The Project Director will be responsible and accountable for the overall management, control and administration of a new project, and the construction team, from mobilization to the successful completion and hand over of the Works. Such responsibility and accountabilities will include: • • • • • • • • • •
Jr Sous Chef
Report directly to the Sous Chef. The position is responsible for assisting kitchen personnel and all related culinary activities; assist in the estimate food consumption and requisition or purchase food; assist in the selection and developing of recipes; assist in establishing presentation technique and quality standards; assist in planning and pricing menus; ensure proper equipment operation/maintenance and ensure proper safety and sanitation in the kitchen. Must have the ability to work in a diverse environment with focus on client and customer services are essential to success in this role. The ideal candidate should possess an associate’s degree or related culinary degree with two or more years of industry and culinary management experience.
Mobilization and site establishment; Master Schedule and progress reporting; Procurement; Value and Cost reporting; Overall contract administration; Change management and co-ordination; Document Control; Oversight of project health and safety procedures; Oversight of site based QA/QC systems; Oversight of works testing, commissioning and hand over.
Requirements:
The successful candidate will require a proven track record in similar projects and a combination of knowledge, skills and experience, as follows: • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Building Construction discipline. • Minimum 15 - 20 years post-graduation experience in Project/Construction, with at least 10 years spent in Management at a senior level. • Chartered member of an internationally recognized engineering or building professional institution. • Demonstrated financial management and control experience including cost and value reporting. • Extensive experience in the successful completion of high quality hotels and/ or condominium resort developments in the Caribbean region. • Strong team building and leadership skills and capabilities. • Salary based on experience.
Cook
2-3 years experience as kitchen helper or cook in luxury hotel or fine dining restaurant. Able to speak & read English, follow directions consistently, good attendance, good hygiene, likes to cook.
Servers
10507
Provide guests with food and beverage service – restaurant, bar, room service, beach & pool. Able to work on feet all day, good math skill, experience in fine dining service an asset. 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
PALM MANGEMENT
Domestic Worker needed
Written applications with personal details and a full current resume showing education, qualifications and career experience to date should be sent by facsimile to (649) 946 4663 and no later than 27 October 2014.
10505
40 CLASSIFIEDS
October 18 - 24, 2014
41
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology
Stem cells help nearly blind see RESEARCHERS say that human embryonic stem cells have restored the sight of several nearly blind patients -- and that their latest study shows the cells are safe to use long-term. According to a report published this week in The Lancet, the researchers transplanted stem cells into 18 patients with severe vision loss as a result of two types of macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes progressive loss of sight. Nine had Stargardt macular degeneration, the leading cause of juvenile blindness, and nine had dry atrophic agerelated macular degeneration, the most common cause of
UNITED MANUFACTURER Is looking for a
In October 2014, a study showed that stem cells could help people with macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes progressive loss of sight.
vision loss in people over 50. There are currently no approved treatments for either condition. The Mayo Clinic defines macular degeneration as occurring when tissue in your
macula, a spot in the center of your retina, thins and breaks down. Stem cells can help rebuild this tissue. All 18 of the study’s patients were followed for three years. Researchers saw no signs of rejection of the cells and no abnormal growth, tumor formation or unwanted tissue types in any of the patients during that time period. On average, the vision of the patients improved about three lines on the standard eye chart. Patients in a control group who did not receive a stem cell transplant did not show similar sight improvement. Human embryonic stem cells come from eggs that are
fertilized in vitro that are used for research. They have the potential to develop into any type of cell in the body. “This is the first report showing that the cells are safe in the long term and that they can actually help people,” said Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer at Advanced Cell Technology, which funded the study. “You can turns these into insulin-producing cells for diabetes, heart cells to treat heart disease. They can be turned into nerve cells to treat Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease or stroke.”
FLOWER GIRL
Wanted urgently
Floral Designer
Must have thorough knowledge in the floral business with 3-5 years experience.
Call: 231-3788
Professional Massage Therapists needed • Knowledge of Swedish Massage required. • Knowledge of Deep Tissue and other various modalities preferred. • Minimum 2 years experience in the field of desired position, preferably in a 4 or 5 star hotel. • Available to work 6 days a week/7 hours a day. • Fluency in English and French
Manager/ Supervisor Must be willing to work 6 days per week salary $9.00 per hour.
Salary: Commission
Send your resume and copy of your diploma to: m.noel. masso@gmail.com
10510
contact: 331-0221
10500
CHEF
and health regulations pertaining to food storage, preparation and service • Responsible for meeting payroll budget • Work schedule is determined by the GM and normally consists of ten or more hours per day, five or more days per week Job Requirements: • at least 1 year experience as a Chef • prior experience working in the Caribbean and remote locations is a must • able to reside full-time on Middle Caicos and or provide own transportation • perform duties as necessary e.g. special orders, buffet presentations, VIP parties, wedding and promotions • excellent culinary training skills • strong verbal and written communication skills • able to maintain cost controls and adhere to budgeting guidelines • must be extremely polished and have a professional demeanor If you want to be a part of this culinary team then we want to hear from you
CV/ Resumes accepted by email only contact: reservations@bhresort.com
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS:
• Measure, make or alter uniforms for new employees. • Take care of basic alterations requested by guests. • Inform the linen room supervisor for replenishing sewing supplies. • Repair and maintain uniforms for all hotel employees. • Keep a detailed record of the daily work. • Convert discarded linen into usable items for re-circulation. • Padding and cover furniture such as chairs, bedheads and sofas upholstering. Complete items or particular parts such as chair or sofa arms. • Craft work on individual pieces of renovating or re-upholstering old furniture. • Planning the work, advising on fabrics and estimating costs. • Preparing patterns and templates. • Cutting out fabric. • Fixing webbing and springs • Covering frames with padding and fabric using stitching, staples, tacks or glue • Making cushions. • Adding trimmings such as piping, fringing and buttons. • Organize and take inventory of all fabric materials. • Keep the tailoring area clean and tidy. • Assume duties and tasks assigned by Superiors
Education, Qualifications & Experiences
• You must be qualified and trained with professional tailoring skills and made previous experiences in a similar position for a minimum of 5 years preferable within a hotel. • Good command of English is an advantage. In addition, we are also currently recruiting for the following: • Kitchen Cooks
Closing Date October 31, 2014 Suitably qualified candidates should apply via email to Seven Stars at:
10511
Duties and Responsibilities: • Communicate directly with resort GM and employees • Select, train and manage kitchen staff in the proper preparation of menu items, equipment and safety measures • Schedule employees in accordance with business activity and labor budget • Must have own tools to perform assigned duties • Know all menu items and be able to assist and train other employees • To test and develop recipes that distinguishes the culinary offerings of the restaurant • Maintain compliance with government
TAILOR/UPHOLSTERER As a Tailor/Upholsterer you are responsible for daily tailoring/upholstery duties as instructed by Superiors while adhering to hotel policies and procedures and your role will include:
MUDJIN BAR AND GRILL, BLUE HORIZON RESORT MIDDLE CAICOS • The desired candidate must be a strong leader and effective communicator • Must efficiently delegate tasks to the staff, pay great attention to detail, make quick decisions under pressure and be patient when dealing with staff and customers • Directly in charge of: food costs and procurement, special functions, daily menu and maintaining quality standards
Seven Stars is seeking a suitably qualified candidate to fill the position outlined below. The ideal candidate must possess experience in a luxury resort environment, as well as a professional, outgoing and friendly demeanor with a strong command of the English Language (oral and written).
hr@sevenstarsgracebay.com for consideration Candidates must possess relevant skills, experience, and a clean police record. ONLY CANDIDATES MEETING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE CONTACTED.
10516
42
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Science & Technology
‘Giant leap’ to type 1 diabetes cure THE hunt for a cure for type 1 diabetes has recently taken a “tremendous step forward”, scientists have said. The disease is caused by the immune system destroying the cells that control blood sugar levels. A team at Harvard University used stem cells to produce hundreds of millions of the cells in the laboratory. Tests on mice showed the cells could treat the disease, which experts described as “potentially a major medical breakthrough”. Beta cells in the pancreas pump out insulin to bring down blood sugar levels. But the body’s own immune system can turn against the beta cells, destroying them and leaving people with a potentially fatal disease because they cannot regulate their blood sugar levels. It is different to the far more common type 2 diabetes which is largely due to poor lifestyle. The team at Harvard was led by Prof Doug Melton who began the search for a cure when his son was diagnosed 23 years ago. He then had a daughter who also developed type 1. He is attempting to replace the approximately 150 million missing beta cells, using stem cell technology. He found the perfect cocktail of chemicals to transform embryonic stem cells into functioning beta cells. Tests on mice with type 1 diabetes, published in the journal Cell, showed that the lab-made cells could produce insulin and control blood sugar levels for several months. Dr Melton said: “It was gratifying to know that we could do something that we always thought was possible. “We are now just one pre-clinical step away from the finish line.”
Leaves absorb significantly more CO2 than climate models have estimated.
Scientists were able to transform stem cells into insulin-producing beta cells.
However, his children were not quite so impressed: “I think, like all kids, they always assumed that if I said I’d do this, I’d do it.” If the beta cells were injected into a person they would still face an immune assault and ultimately would be destroyed. More research is needed before this could become a cure. Sarah Johnson, from the charity JDRF which funded the study, told the BBC: “This isn’t a cure, it is a great move along the path. It is a tremendous step forward. “Replacing the cells that produce insulin as well as turning off the immune response that causes type 1 diabetes is the long-term goal.” Prof Chris Mason, a stem cell scientist at University College London, said: “A scientific breakthrough is to make functional cells that cure a diabetic mouse, but a
major medical breakthrough is to be able to manufacture at large enough scale the functional cells to treat all diabetics. “This research is therefore a scientific and potentially a major medical breakthrough. “If this scalable technology is proven to work in both the clinic and in the manufacturing facility, the impact on the treatment of diabetes will be a medical game-changer on a par with antibiotics and bacterial infections.” Dr Gillian Morrison, from the University of Edinburgh, agreed that this “represents a real advance in the field”. She said: “The next important challenge will be to find ways to maintain these cells inside the body so they are protected from the immune response and have longterm function.” (BBC)
UK tops WHO gullet cancer table and obesity may be factor The UK has the highest rate in the world of one of the two main cancers of the food pipe or gullet, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Men are about four times as likely as women to develop adenocarcinoma (AC), a type of oesophageal cancer, it says. Obesity could be a factor in the development of the disease, partly because of excess stomach acid. Obesity campaigners said UK gullet cancer figures were “a tragedy”. The UK had the highest rate of AC gullet cancer in the world for both men and women, according to figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO. It was followed by the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and New Zealand in terms of AC cancer rates. The latest figures, from 2012, show the UK had a rate of 7.2 new
cases per 100,000 for men, and 2.5 per 100,000 for women. Dr Melina Arnold, the lead author of the WHO study, told the BBC obesity was one of the main risk factors for AC because of increased acid reflux and other factors. A fall in the number of people infected with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which reduce stomach acid, may also have led to more gullet cancer, she said. Men are much more likely to develop gullet cancer than women, but the reasons for this are unknown. “There is no clear scientific evidence explaining why are men more likely to be affected than women,” Dr Arnold said. “Sex hormones have been suggested to offer protection against this tumour in women. Breastfeeding, for instance, has been shown to decrease the risk for oesophageal AC
in women. “Men are also more likely to have a higher waist circumference, and these particular fat tissues produce hormones that have been suggested to increase the risk of AC.” The National Obesity Forum, a lobbying group, said the rate of gullet cancer mirrored a rise in the rate of obesity. Spokesman Tam Fry said that deaths from oesophageal cancer in the UK were “a tragedy”, and a warning that obesity could lead to “devastating conditions”. The risk of the other main type of gullet cancer, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is increased by smoking and drinking alcohol, said the WHO. Very hot drinks, high-temperature cooking methods and poor mouth hygiene have also been linked to the disease, it said. (BBC)
Climate change: Models ‘underplay plant CO2 absorption’ GLOBAL climate models have underestimated the amount of CO2 being absorbed by plants, according to new research. Scientists say that between 1901 and 2010, living things absorbed 16% more of the gas than previously thought. The authors say it explains why models consistently overestimated the growth rate of carbon in the atmosphere. But experts believe the new calculation is unlikely to make a difference to global warming predictions. The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Working out the amount of carbon dioxide that lingers in the atmosphere is critical to estimating the future impacts of global warming on temperatures. About half the CO2 that’s produced ends up in the oceans or is absorbed by living things. But modelling the exact impacts on a global scale is a fiendishly complicated business. In this new study, a team of scientists looked again at the way trees and other plants absorb carbon. By analysing how CO2 spreads slowly inside leaves, a process called mesophyll diffusion, the authors conclude that more of the gas is absorbed than previously thought. Between 1901 and 2100 the researchers believe that their new work increases the amount of carbon taken up through fertilisation from 915 billion tonnes to 1,057 billion, a 16% increase. “There is a time lag between scientists who study fundamental processes and modellers who model those processes in a large scale model,” explained one of the authors, Dr Lianhong Gu at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US. “It takes time for the the two groups to understand each other.” The researchers believe that Earth system models have overestimated the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by about 17%, and think their new evaluation of plant
absorption explains the gap. “The atmospheric CO2 concentration only started to accelerate rapidly after 1950,” said Dr Gu. “So the 17% bias was achieved during a period of about 50 years. If we are going to predict future CO2 concentration increases for hundreds of years, how big would that bias be?” Other researchers believe the new work could help clarify our models but it may not mean any great delay in global warming as a result of increased concentrations of the gas. “The paper provides great new insights into how the very intricacies of leaf structure and function can have a planetary scale impact,” said Dr Pep Canadell from the Global Carbon Project at CSIRO Australia. “It provides a potential explanation for why global earth system models cannot fully reproduce the observed atmospheric CO2 growth over the past 100 years and suggests that vegetation might be able to uptake more carbon dioxide in the future than is currently modelled. “Having more carbon taken up by plants would slow down climate change but there are many other processes which lay in between this work and the ultimate capacity of terrestrial ecosystems to remove carbon dioxide and store it for long enough to make a difference to atmospheric CO2 trends.” Many experts agree that the effect is interesting and may require a recalibration of models - but it doesn’t change the need for longterm emissions cuts to limit the impact of carbon dioxide. “This new research implies it will be slightly easier to fulfil the target of keeping global warming below two degrees - but with a big emphasis on ‘slightly’,” said Dr Chris Huntingford, a climate modeller at the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. “Overall, the cuts in CO2 emissions over the next few decades will still have to be very large if we want to keep warming below two degrees.” (BBC)
October 18 - 24, 2014
Sports Interational
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
43
Odegaard makes history as European qualifying’s youngest player
A skirmish between Serbian and Albanian players broke out on the pitch.
Albania players ‘bruised & bloodied’ by Serbia violence ALBANIA players were left “emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught” by the violence that caused their Euro qualifier with Serbia to be abandoned, says the nation’s football association. Players and fans clashed in Belgrade after a flag with a political message was flown into the stadium by a drone. Uefa has charged both countries’ FAs. In a lengthy and emotive statement, the Albanian FA condemned the “racist violence” of the Serbia players and “negative propaganda” of their FA. “With cuts and bruised and bloody traumas to the head, the Albanian side was understandably emotionally shaken and psychologically distraught, unable to play the beautiful game in such an ugly, ugly situation,” read the statement, written by Albanian FA marketing & PR director Gazmend Malo. “Yet the Serbian media has gone into high gear trying to put the blame on our beautiful boys, even contorting such ridiculous stories like the one that involves the Prime
Minister’s brother as the person controlling the drone. “Some Serbian media went as far as to declare that Olsi Rama was arrested, which he certainly wasn’t, but the vile nature of negative propaganda thrives on such lies. “It is disheartening to hear recent statements of the Serbian Football Association, that do not muster the courage to take responsibility for their complete failure at organising a safe international sporting event. “The Serbian side seems unable to condemn the violence, extremism and racism that was displayed at Belgrade, but rather, they seem too busy weaving political statements that do not serve any purpose but to defend the shameful acts of racist violence and the unsportsmanlike conduct of their players, fans and security staff.” The statement also defended the use of a drone to fly the flag, which bore the Albanian blackeagle insignia, a map of a notional ‘Greater Albania’ and the faces of Ismail Qemali and Isa Boletini, two important figures in the era that centred around the country’s independence in 1912.
James wants a shorter season to protect players LEBRON James wants a shorter season. Before the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against theIndiana Pacers on Wednesday, James, arguably the best player on the planet, said that he doesn’t care about the length of games, but he thinks there are too many of them. You can add LeBron to the list. Earlier Wednesday, Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki said that he’d like the season to be trimmed from 82 games to the “mid-60s.”Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said this week that he thinks “everybody agrees”that the season is too long. The NBA is experimenting with a 44-minute preseason game on Oct. 19, but the consensus from players seems to be that this won’t get them more rest. We
LeBron James wants the season shortened. (USATSI)
can’t know exactly how coaches would handle it, but my guess is that stars would still play major minutes and role players would find their playing time reduced. Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum didn’t exactly censor himself on the matter
FEW 15-year-olds can claim to make history, but Martin Odegaard is fast accumulating a clutch of firsts in football. By coming on as a second half substitute in Norway’s clash with Bulgaria on Monday, he became the youngest player ever to appear in European Championships qualifying at just 15 years and 300 days. He is already the youngest player to represent his country -- featuring in a friendly with United Arab Emirates in August -- as well as the youngest player, and scorer, in the country’s top league. And Odegaard didn’t look out of place during his 27-minute cameo, as Norway beat Bulgaria 2-1 in its Euro 2016 Group H clash. No wonder then, that scouts from clubs all over Europe -- including English Premier League pair Manchester United and Liverpool -- are on the tail of one of the continent’s hottest prospects. “In the beginning it was unreal and a little bit surreal that all these clubs wanted Martin, but it’s strange what you can get used to,” his father Hans Erik Odegaard told CNN last month. “Almost every top European club has been in touch.” Ex-Norway international Morten Gamst Pedersen has
Martin Odegaard grabbed another slice of history on Monday, coming on as a substitute during Norway’s clash with Bulgaria to become the youngest player ever in European Championships qualifying history at 15 years and 300 days.
described Odegaard’s potential as “unbelievable,” while manager Ronny Deila -- who gave the teen his Stromsgodset debut before joining Scottish club Celtic -- says he can “become the best in the world.” And if the teenager’s ascent in the
game carries on at this pace, soon he and his father will have a big decision to make on his future. “I saw from a very early age that ‘he had the feeling,’ but I remember very well when I knew he’d be quite good,” Odegaard’s father, a former footballer at Stromsgodset and Sandefjord, added. “I was still playing and Martin must have been no more than eight. I was out on the pitch running some intervals. He was, as always, with me. When I was finished I wanted to go home, but we couldn’t before he had done 50 more shots (at goal). “Then I understood he also had a talent for training and that is the most important talent you can have.” It is conceivable Odegaard may get to showcase his talents on one of the biggest soccer stages of all given Norway’s impressive start to its Euro 2016 campaign. That 2-1 victory, earned thanks to goals from Tarik Elyounossi and Havard Nielsen, put Norway third in its group, behind Croatia, who are top, and Italy. Croatia thrashed Azerbaijan 6-0 while Italy edged past Malta 1-0 thanks to a first senior goal for Graziano Pelle, who plays for Southampton in the English Premier League. (CNN)
Marquez seals second MotoGP crown in Japan IT TOOK a little longer than most people expected but MotoGP whiz kid Marc Marquez wrapped up a second world title in Japan. The 21-year-old finished runner-up behind compatriot Jorge Lorenzo -- and crucially ahead of the legendary Italian Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa -- to take an unassailable 82-point lead in the championship with three rounds to go. The landmark means Marquez beat Mike Hailwood’s record, set in 1963, to become the youngest ever rider to win consecutive titles. But perhaps more importantly for his Repsol Honda team, he did it at Motegi. This track is sacred ground for Honda. The Japanese giants designed and built the track; it is where they test their cars as well as their bikes, and it also houses Honda’s museum. As such, the pressure to perform here is intense. Perhaps because of this, no Honda rider had ever managed to clinch the championship here -- until now. In the end it was an efficient performance from the reigning champion, but there was no sense of inevitability. Rossi blasted into the lead, while a muscular pass from Lorenzo saw Marquez fall back to seventh place on the race’s first corner.
The 21-year-old finished runner-up behind compatriot Jorge Lorenzo -- and crucially ahead of the legendary Italian Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa -- to take an unassailable 82-point lead in the championship with three rounds to go.
The champion fought his way up to fourth on the second lap, but Lorenzo looked to be a man on a mission, first breaking the lap record and then ducking past his Movistar Yamaha teammate Rossi on lap five to take a lead he would maintain to the line. For Marquez the key was to finish ahead of Pedrosa and Rossi, and gradually he settled into the task. Easing past his fellow Spaniard, he then closed the gap on the Italian. After 14 laps he finally caught him, but his first attempted pass saw the wily Rossi immediately bite back to
retake second. A lap later though and Marquez took advantage of the Honda’s superior cornering to slip inside the Yamaha’s line. It was all he needed to do, and the remaining eight laps saw him cement his place and cross the line in comfort. The sea of red-clad Marquez fans in Motegi’s packed stands erupted. Marquez had talked before about the burden of expectation as his season unfolded, and he appeared as relieved as he was delighted to finally seal the title.
44
Sports National
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
Josh for Sports
National Sports award I STAND to be corrected or maybe my memory serves me short—whatever the case maybe, the time has long past for this country to have some kind of national sports achievement awards. All sports persons, who have contributed to the development of national sports or have represented the TCI internationally, should be recognised by the citizens of this country. NOT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT Contrary to what one may be inclined to believe, these awards should not lie on the shoulder of any government, but should be incumbent upon a national TCI sporting body. This is to say that every national sporting body existing within the TCI should form a unified
By Joshua Gardiner
body to promote the awareness, pride and national contribution of our athletes and officials. KEEP ‘POLITICKS’ OUT When partisan politics become involved in national sports honour awards the process becomes curryflavoured and corrupted.
These bodies will come together to raise funds from cooperate society to construct a national Sports Hall of Fame, thus creating a national structure. Solicit the government or corporate society to donate a piece of land that will become a national landmark. This new structure should stand out as a source of historical significance, in which students/ citizens/residents will be able to visit and learn about the pace-setters of national sports—even long after they are gone. ANNUAL INDUCTEE Each year an inductee’s instalment banquet should be held; this event can also act as a fund raiser. EXAMPLE This Hall of Fame claim will go
back to the 1940s leading up to 2014. There are persons such as Mae Wood, Helena Robinson, Morris Hanchel, Lovey Adams, Tom Saunders, the Malcolms, the Quelches, the first CARIFTA team, the first Commonwealth Games team, national medal winners, contributing coaches, and participants from the numerous sports available in the TCI. Someone has to take the initiative to kick-start this project. This is bigger than self and will exist as long as there is a country by the name of Turks and Caicos Islands. OTHER IDEAS I envision a tremendous amount of possibilities for this country in sports, but I don’t have the energy,
resources or time to spear-head these initiatives. OTHERS For years I’ve envisioned a Provo mile (on the road—down town) on Christmas Day. Also I would love to see a Grand Turk one-miler. 3K ROAD RUN/WALK FOR JESUS I spoke with Pastor Dale Taylor about this idea. He would invite all the churches to compete in a 3K race in different classes: pastors, deacons, bishops; in male, female and age groups categories. Sports is a medicine, let’s drink it TCI, Love Josh
Jaguars back, but new cricket competition light on teams FOUR teams will battle from this Saturday in a Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T20 cricket competition at the Downtown Ball Park (the venue for the competition). Jaguars who sat out the last competition, will field a squad, but a number of other teams are missing. Among those missing are recent T20 champs, Kishco,
runners up Quality Super Kings, and Beaches. Police, Jam Turk and KB Home have all returned. The four teams will battle from Saturday to December 7. In the opener, according to the fixtures, KB Homes will play Jam Turk, while on Sunday Police will meet Jaguars. Each team will play a minimum of eight games.
Iceland shock Netherlands 2-0
Luis Turbyfield has been instrumental in his team’s run. (Photo by John Moore)
Turbyfield confident about US school’s title chances NATIONAL footballer Luis Turbyfield is optimistic that his US high school can take the MIAA A Conference title this year in Baltimore. The 18-year-old, who is on a football scholarship, has helped the Archbishop Curley High School to four consecutive victories.
To date, Turbyfield, who plays left midfield, has scored two goals, including a 19-yard scorcher; he also has three assists to his name. With five regular season games left the TCI sportsman (also a national rugby player) feels that his school’s current momentum will propel them to the playoffs and then to the title. Over
the last two seasons the high school has advanced to the semis twice. “I’m very confident that we are going to the semis again….I have hope and faith that we can win the title this year.” In the nine-team league, the top six will advance; with a 6-7 record Archbishop Curley are currently fifth.
The biggest shock of this week in European Championships came in Reykjavik where Iceland made it three wins out of three after beating Netherlands 2-0. It is the first time in Iceland’s history it has won the opening three matches of a qualifying campaign without conceding a goal. Just like he was in the win over Latvia on Friday, Gylfi Sigurdsson was Iceland’s hero, scoring twice in a famous win over a side that finished third at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Sigurdsson, who plays in the English Premier League with Swansea, grabbed his first from the penalty spot after Stefan de Vrij fouled Birkir Bjarnason, firing powerfully past Jasper Cillessen. Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben had a chance to level matters but he wasted a glorious chance, heading wide from a pinpoint Daley Blind
cross. And he would be made to pay for that miss as Sigurdsson doubled his account with a fierce volley into the roof of the net following a corner. Netherlands had opportunities in the second half as it pressed to get back in the game but Iceland could have added to its tally on the counter attack. Iceland, who are managed jointly by former Sweden manager Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrisson, are now six points ahead of Netherlands, who are languishing in third. The other clashes in Group A saw the Czech Republic triumph 4-2 in Kazakhstan while Latvia and Turkey drew 1-1 in Riga. Elsewhere, much-fancied Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw withBosnia in Group B, Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko’s opener canceled out by Radja Nainggolan.
October 18 - 24, 2014
Sports National
45
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
American football coming to the TCI
Ryan Jones was a quarterback at the McGill University in Canada.
FORMER Canadian university quarterback Ryan Jones is excited about spreading American football to youngsters in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Jones, who is coordinating with Shanga Rigby and Calvin Williams to start a local league in 2015, is preparing to kick start the initiative with an American football camp later this month. The event will run from October 26th to December 14th at the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) ground and will cater for children (both boys and girls) between the ages of 7-10 and 11-15. Jones, who played the sport for 18 years, including a stint at the McGill University, has been living in the TCI for 10 years and has always wanted
to spread the game. Now that he is settled with three children he feels he is ready to start a programme that can produce results. “I would love for TCI to have enough for two or three teams in each age group, for the kids to have fun, experience team work and competition, and the community able to experience football culture.” Jones said that American football is a community sport and that in the USA and even Canada it is part of growing up, raising self-esteem, promoting team work and sharping skills in listening, studying and community outreach, which he feels will build stronger communities in the TCI. Down the road Jones not only sees vibrant programmes, but opportunities to get talented youngsters scholarships to play the
sport in the USA. “To play pro football you essentially have to go to college— discipline, education, and football have always gone together.” When he starts this month end he will supply the young players will the essentials: helmets and shoulder pads. He said the programme is designed to give the skill set, discipline, rules, and conditioning required to play the game. “The kids will be moving nonstop for 60 minutes going through passing, catching, running, tackling, blocking, kicking, receiving, rules, plays, conditioning, etc… all designed to be 10 minute sessions and all designed to be fun as well.” Jones can be further contacted via email: ryanjonestci@gmail.com or by telephone: 649-232-4109.
10th Annual Commonwealth Games Beach Olympics:
South Back Salina crowned zone champs SOUTH Back Salina were crowned zone champions at the 10th Annual Commonwealth Games Beach Olympics last Saturday in Grand Turk. The event though saw a revitalisation of sports in the capital island. A release from the TCI government office pointed out that: “hundreds of children accompanied by their parents gathered at Governor’s Beach for a day of fun, sports and competition”. Some of the children had a workable knowledge of certain sports, while for others the entire affair was a learning experience. “We saw the swimming competition taking off with children of all ages; some came to just learn how to swim. The facilitators from Ocean Academy and Big Blue out of Providenciales truly worked the swimmers that they never wanted to leave the water,” the release said. Swimming was not the only sport; participants also competed in volleyball, rugby, horseback riding, weightlifting, cultural games and a new sport Boules (the objective is to throw or roll heavy balls as close as possible to a small target ball), which grabbed the interest of both adults
The 10th annual Commonwealth Games Beach Olympics was fun for both participants and officials.
Children had fun competing in a number of events, including horseback riding.
and children. Despite the novelty touch, the day’s event was competitive and participants were well decked in their zoning colours to represent their districts. Those in North Back Salina were called the green team; South Back Salina the orange team; West Road the red team; and those in Over Back the purple team. In the volleyball competition it
PLEASED President of the Commonwealth Games Association, the organiser of the event, Rita Gardiner, was pleased with the outcome of the event and high in praises for companies who successfully partnered. Kia Motors sponsored the t-shirts; Chloe and Ben of Big Blue and Greg Doolittle of Ocean Academy, out of Providenciales, gave their
was the TCI Community College who walked away with the trophy and cash prize. The strong woman contest was won by Rose-Anna Henry, while national weightlifter Ronald Parker won the strongman award. The horseback racing competition was won by Josh Smith whilst many other children received medals and prizes for wins in other sports.
time and worked diligently with the swimmers; while Grand Turk Liquors, Palm Grove Variety Store, Rosa’s Variety Store, Walter Gardiner, Wally’s Restaurant, Cee’s Food Store, Do It Center, Jack Shack and Bohio Resort also contributed. Zone leaders and volunteers were also praised for taking time out of their busy schedule and assisting with this event.
46
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014
LAND FOR SALE In beautiful Bottle Creek, North Caicos
.46 acres overlooking the creek, spanning King Road and Windsor Road
QUICK SALE
CALL 232-3508 or 946-4664
October 18 - 24, 2014
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
47
48
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
October 18 - 24, 2014