VOLUME 11 ISSUE 12

MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015 VOLUME 11 - NO. 12 $1.00

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Continued on Page 5

POWER BILLSGOING DOWN

CARIFTA TEAM, EGYC ARE RECPIENTS OF 2015 WINE CELLAR GOLF, FISHING TOURNAMENT: The Edward Gartland Youth Centre and the Turks and Caicos Islands Amateur Athletics Association (TCAAA) on behalf of the 2015 Carifta Track and Field team are the beneficiaries of the 5th Annual Wine Cellar Golf & Fishing Tournament, held recently. Each entity received US $22,500.00. The organizers of the event said that their sponsors showed up in a big to demonstrate their support for the event. They said that they anticipate that those sponsors, including the media, will be on board for next year’s event.

As oil prices continuing to tumble worldwide, Fortis

TCI says it is committed to passing on the savings to customers in the Turks and Caicos Islands. A press statement from the company revealed that February marks the sixth consecutive month that FortisTCI customers will see reduced electricity bills as a result of declining fuel costs locally and in the world market. The largest decrease in fuel will be felt this month (March) with a 21% reduction from the previous month and a 36% reduction from a peak of $0.2447 in August of last year. FortisTCI President and CEO Mr. Eddinton Powell said,

“The lower fuel factor, as a result of what is happening in the world market, is good for our customers who are seeing much-needed relief on their electricity bills. Moreover, FortisTCI is committed to long-term reduction in the cost of electricity in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and in that regard, we continue to explore infrastructure development that would streamline and simplify our fuel supply chain which would reduce, on a long term basis, the cost of electricity to our customers.” Mr. Powell added that the Company is also committed to integrating renewable forms of generation, like wind and solar, into the energy mix. “However, we will not support changes that increase the cost of electricity to our customers, or reduce the safety and reliability of our service,” he said. Mr. Powell noted that subject to agreement with Government, the Company will introduce its Customer Owned Renewable Energy (CORE) and Utility Owned Renewable Energy (UORE) programs this year. These programs will allow our customers to connect Photo Voltaic (PV) systems to the electricity grid. The Company’s CEO continued:

“We are experiencing obstacles from the Government’s Planning Department that

will make the development and possible deployment of wind energy technology in the Turks and Caicos Islands almost impossible, and unless these barriers are overcome, they will bring our planned wind initiatives to a halt.” Looking ahead, fuel prices remain volatile. As usual, customers are encouraged to practice good energy saving habits. Crude oil prices in the world market began to tumble in July of 2014 and reductions

were first seen in the supply chain to the Turks and Caicos Islands in September 2014. The Fuel Factor for February 2015 landed at $0.1566 (which appears on customers March 2015 bills). The fuel factor has not reached these lows since 2010 with the lowest calculation being $0.145 in October that same year. The Fuel Factor (or Power Cost Adjustment), in accordance with the TCIG Electricity Ordinance Section 32, is a monthly charge that

represents the cost of fuel used to produce the electricity consumed by each respective customer. (That is, the Fuel Factor apportions the cost of fuel to each customer based on the customer’s kilowatt-hours (kWhs) usage.) The Fuel Factor mechanism enables FortisTCI to recoup the cost of fuel charged by the Company’s fuel supplier, and the calculations are validated monthly by the Energy and Utilities Commissioner’s Office.

Fuel Factor adjustments, sometimes called “Energy Supply” or “Power Cost” adjustments, depending on the primary source of energy (diesel, coal, hydro, nuclear, wind, or solar), are common cost-recovery mechanisms in the utility industry worldwide. In the Caribbean, because diesel fuel is the most common means of producing electricity, the term “Fuel Factor” is commonly used by utility companies.

LOCAL NEWSPage 2 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015

LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL NEWS


LOCAL NEWS

Third Turtle and West Caicos projects on hold

The cost of fuel varies from country to country, depending on such factors as deep-water port infrastructure, and ultimately by cost of fuel in the world market. As world-market prices fluctuate, so does the Fuel Factor. Diesel remains the most economical means for

electricity generation in the TCI, as is the case for the entire Caribbean, and for comparable small, isolated, island utilities throughout the world. Indeed, this is even the reality for the US state of Hawaii and for Sir Richard Branson’s private Island, Necker Island, in the British

Virgin Islands; venue of the recent meeting of the Carbon War Room and some regional governments on renewable energy, including the TCI Government. To date, Necker Island has no reported utility solar energy infrastructure.

POWER BILLSGOING DOWN

FortisTCI President & CEO Eddinton Powell

Continued from page - 1

The United States-led sanctions against Russia over its annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine have affected at least two resort developments in the Turks and Caicos Islands. At government’s post cabinet news briefing on Friday, March 20, 2015, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing conceded that two of the country’s most troubled developments – the West Caicos Development on the Island of West Caicos and the Third Turtle Development in Providenciales have hit a snag because their Russian-backed financiers have backed out somewhat. “There are some stalls on both the West Caicos project, and to some extent, the Third Turtle because both of these projects were indeed affected by the decline in the Russian economy,” the premier revealed. He said that the projects’ pause is just a matter of financing. “Both of them are backed by Russian investors, and because of the decline in the Russian economy in terms of the value of their dollar etcetera, and the call by their leader of most of those persons of wealth to remain in Russia and spend in Russia,

it has impacted the various companies to which they are aligned, and hence stalled the two projects,” the premier said. The premier pointed out that developers in the Caribbean have been finding it challenging to get financing for their projects in recent time, despite the world economy showing signs of marked improvements. “Even though the global economy has improved in terms of cash and capital, what we found throughout

the Caribbean is that there is much difficulty in persons and developers finding capital to fund hospitality projects, and that is why most major banks have difficulty in lending because of the significant loss that they have experienced in lending for the purposes of developing hotels. “And so, quite a number of developments and developers here have had difficulty accessing and finding capital to fund their various projects, which tend to lead to delays in most of them,” he said. He noted though that there are several projects currently on the table set to complete this year primarily because their funding comes from the resort brands themselves. He said however, that there is a great deal of interest in Turks and Caicos because of the level of opportunities it presents to investors and the return projected due to its performance in tourism. The premier was unable to say when the fortunes for the Third Turtle and the West Caicos Project would change. “Seeing that we have been having some delays in these projects because of financing and funding, I am now going to reserve my comments on some of them. A lot of them that we have on the table right now should come to

fruition, but I don’t want to count my chickens before they are hatched,” he said. In the meantime, Premier Ewing said that the two developments in the Cooper Jack area of Providenciales are showing signs of moving forward, with one of them set to break ground before year-end. “There are two Cooper Jack developments, one is in formal negotiations with government, and hopefully we will go towards a development agreement in the next couple of weeks, and they also hope to break ground this year. “They seem to be well financed – again – financed by a brand, which is a well recognized five-star brand. The other one, they are seeking to get a five-star brand, they have not reached the stage of an MOU just yet, and so, we have to wait until they reach to that stage,” the premier noted. Meanwhile, Premier Ewing said that about five resort developments should break ground between this financial year and next financial year.

“I would probably say the number of resorts expected to come on stream this financial year is two. I would probably say the next year there will be an additional three,” the premier said.

By Vivian TysonSenior Sun Editor

Media barred from police officer rape case The media was barred from covering the Constable Andrew Missick rape hearing at the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court 1 on Old Airport Road. When Members of the media took up their positions inside the courtroom on Thursday, March 26, 2015, court officers asked them to vacate the room because the case was a closed matter. Some media practitioners at the court found the request befuddling on the basis that they had covered several sexual offense matters prior, without hindrance. Missick, 36, and described

as an officer with the beat division of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, was accused of the sexual offense recently. He was said to have been charged earlier in the week and brought to court to answer the charges. His lawyer Ashwood Forbes told reporters that the court ordered Missick to submit to a DNA extraction, and he was taken from the courthouse to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre to have the procedure done. As reporters waited for him to emerge at the front of the court, like any other accused, Missick was

whisked to the back of the building, normally used by employees of the court, where he was hurriedly placed inside a police cruiser, which immediately sped away from the scene. This marks the second time recently that Magistrate’s Court officials had blocked the media from covering a police officer charged with an offense. Reporters were also forbidden to cover the Mikhail Hinson arson case. Constable Hinson was fingered in the burning of two police vehicles, including a newly acquired police cruiser as they parked at the Chalk Sound Police late

last year. Hinson was slapped with five charges – four counts of malicious damage to property and one count of setting fire to a building. The barring of the press from covering the event led some members of the media to believe that the officer was getting preferential treatment. On the first day of the hearing, a detective told members of the press that he received strict instruction from the court not to allow reporters in the courtroom, offering no explanation then. Defense attorney Ashwood Forbes, who represented

Hinson, told reporters at the time that the prosecution made an application for the court to bar press coverage. He said that the media was barred because there were sensitive matters they did not want to release in the public domain. This time Forbes did not give a clear reason as to why the media was barred from the court sitting. Magistrate Clifton Warner granted Missick $15,000 bail with one surety. He is to return to the Grand Turk Supreme Court for sufficiency hearing on May 1.

Premier Hon. Rufus Ewing


Cortez Simmons’ life sentence is closure for Kaziah Burke’s family

The family of murder victim Kaziah Burke believes that the life sentencing of convicted murderer Cortez Simmons brings some level of closure to the pain and suffering the family has been experiencing since Burke’s brutal death on April 13, 2013. Speaking shortly after Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale handed down the sentence after a 12-member mixed jury found Simmons guilty, Burke’s mother Hilda Caley, told reporters that she believes justice was delivered. Simmons murdered Caley’s son and was acquitted for the murder of her nephew Shamard Ingham, who was gunned down in 2007 in Glass Shack, Providenciales. “Justice has been served,” she said. Caley broke down in court on the penultimate day of the trial as lead prosecutor Evans Welch painted a graphic picture as to how Burke was slaughtered at Uncle Dough’s Bar. Eleven jury members found Simmons guilty, with just one maintaining that the evidence as too circumstantial to be swayed, forcing Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale to accept a guilty by overwhelming majority. Initially, two members of the jury found Simmons not guilty, but Ramsay-Hale urged them to deliberate some more to get a unanimous verdict. Earlier Ramsay-Hale informed the jury in the three and a half week trial, that the lynchpin evidence was the testimony of Simmons’ friends Booker Odena. Odena had told the court that he yanked a gun from Simmons’ hand and returned fire after the two, who was among a group of men at Digicel Cinemas came under heavy gunfire from other men, about three weeks before Burke’s death. Odena said he returned the weapon to Simmons on request, shortly after the shooting had subsided. Odena told the court that he initially denied firing a weapon during the incident, but recanted after the police showed him a surveillance tape with him hammering away.

Ramsay-Hale pointed out that the defense, led by Roy Ledgister, painted Odena as being a liar and could not be trusted, and if they do not believe his testimony, should return a not guilty verdict. The defense, which closed first, discredited most of the prosecution witnesses. Ledgister said that customs broker Lavardo Ewing, who was fired from Tropical Shipping Cargo Handlers on money-related issues, had an axe to grind against Cortez Simmons, whose father Carl Simmons is the owner of the entity. Ewing had told the court that he was at his store on Airport Road on the night of the shooting and saw Simmons’ white Toyota Tacoma leaving the scene after the shooting. Ledgister told the court that Shanice Dean, who testified after Ewing, told the court that it was Ewing who told her the truck’s make. She testified that she only saw a white truck leaving the scene. Ledgister said that Larry Francis, cousin of the deceased, told the court that he saw two vehicles speeding from the scene, and the white truck was none of them. He drew reference to Simmons’ friend Jerard Forbes, who said he did not see Simmons or his truck at the scene.

He said that the gas station attendant, who said he saw the attack, described the shooter as being of dark complexion, which Ledgister, said could not have been Simmons because he is of light complexion. He said no one saw Odena taking or giving back the gun to Simmons despite the venue having a number of strategically placed surveillance tapes. He said that without a CCTV, Simmons would have been the accused hooter at the cinema. Ledgister also questioned the presentation of photograph bearing Simmons’ truck. The prosecution said that the photos were not presented to the court in sequence, claiming that the ones the court did not see bore the inside of the vehicle, showing that the police contaminating the truck, and possibly leaving gun powder residue on the driver’s door handle. He said the evidence presented planted Cortez Simmons as “the only fish left in the net”. He said there was no dispute that the gun used to kill Burke was the same gun fired by Odena at the Cinema, and the question should be, who took that gun to Uncle Dough’s Bar that night. Welch argued that no one in Odena’s position, including Ledgister, would be willing to tell the truth

initially, and that he lied about the incident because of his human instinct, only confessing when shown the surveillance tape. He said that blaming Simmons could not mitigate Odena from police charge, and so he had nothing to gain from claiming he took the gun from Simmons. Welch said that Jerard Forbes testified that plans were made by himself, Simmons, Walter Cox and others at Rent-a-Buggy, to spend the evening at Uncle Dough’s Bar, which he said begged the question as to who took the gun, featured in the Digicel Cinema shooting, to Uncle Dough. He reminded that Forbes told the court he knew Simmons to be the only one on Providenciales who drove a white Toyota Tacoma, and Ewing saw the white Toyota Tacoma leaving the scene. He said also that Simmons’ ex-girlfriend Aisha Freites, said that she was dropped off and later picked up by Simmons in the white Toyota Tacoma truck when she visited her aunt in Leeward Palm. Welch also reminded the court that Freites said Simmons drove the truck for the two years they were in a relationship, and saw no one else driving it.


Tourist Board and LIME bring Cultural Fish Fry to Grand Turk

Grand Turk will play host to the destination’s most popular cultural experience as Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and LIME partner to bring the weekly Island Fish Fry to the nation’s capital. Several local vendors have signed up to be a part of the bi-monthly event which will take place at the Victoria Public Library on the first and last Thursday of each month, beginning Thursday, March 26, 2015. Similar to the Island Fish Fry line up in Providenciales, there will be entertainment by local bands, a Junkanoo Rush and cultural performances. Mr. Ralph L. Higgs, Director of Tourism,

speaking to the establishment of the fish fry in Grand Turk commented, “We are constantly seeking new opportunities to give visitors an authentic experience of the Turks and Caicos Islands throughout the length and breadth of the destination. At the same time, it is also important for us to remind our locals to be proud of our heritage. Over the past two years, the weekly Island Fish Fry has allowed us to bridge the gap between tourist and locals, by fostering camaraderie and genuine hospitality which we hope can be replicated in the nation’s capital.” Thursday’s inaugural fish fry in Grand Turk will feature live band performance by

Mega Force Band and will feature cultural performances, and giveaways by LIME. Vendors will have local food and beverages on sale beginning at 12:00noon, with the official opening at 5:30pm. Vendors registered for the initial launch of the Island Fish Fry in Grand Turk include: The Spot, Cockpit Lounge, The Sand Bar, John’s Ocean View Bar & Grill, Earl’s Café, and Barbie’s Restaurant. Other interested persons should contact Miss Candesha Swann at the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board on (649) 946-2321 or via email at [email protected] to be a part of the event in the upcoming weeks.

Cortez Simmons Kaziah Burke Hilda Caley


LOCAL NEWS


Government rejects recommendation to close Grand Turk hospital

Government has rejected the advice of consultants who recommended closing the Grand Turk Hospital. Hardes and Associates who were hired by Government had said that the facility was being underutilized and has not measure up to its value for money, hence the recommendation. However, Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing said during a post-cabinet news conference last Friday (March 20, 2015) that closing the institution could have social and medical ramifications. “I know that it is an expensive hospital to run. It was not closed when we were at our lowest during the Interim Administration, so I don’t see why it should close now that we are getting back on track with our finances. We will make sure that how we operate it is cost effective, value for money, affordable and continue to be affordable,” he said. He said that the auditors made the inference because the patients’ service, especially, is grossly underutilized, but said government is looking at ways to better employ ways to utilize the facility for emergency and stabilization services as opposed to regular in-patient services. “What we ought to do, in my initial reaction, is for us to do everything in our power to maintain competency and skills sets in Grand Turk and keep the basic framework to deliver all the levels of care that is right there now that meet the basic need of that community. It is not our initial reaction and intention to even consider closing that hospital,” the Premier said. The premier told the news conference that government will review the available data in the report and other data not included, to acquire additional information, to make a sound decision on

how to best utilize the facility. “…How we can increase medical tourism; how we can possibly transform more patients from Provo to Grand Turk for recovery and recuperation; how we can utilize it to do more surgical procedure in Grand Turk or as opposed to Provo. There are many options that are available, and this is what the Ministry of Health, now having had that report, and using additional information, will take the opportunity to consider, and as far as I am concerned, from our initial reaction standpoint, the complete closure of the hospital is not an option for me,” the Premier added. He said that in a few months the Turks and Caicos Islands is poise to experience exponential growth in the area of construction, which he said could increase the population of the country on Grand Turk, from which he said the medical facility could benefit. “I can think of the social impact that is why it is not going to close, because we also have to look at it in the context of the development plan for the country. At a time now we are poised for major construction happening in the Turks and Caicos Islands, in Providenciales in particular in this year and the subsequently years, likewise in Grand Turk

– major construction that will increase the population base in those communities. “I don’t see the situation that we are in now, where the population will increase and projected to increase; the government revenue is increasing and continue to increase, why should we make a decision to close the hospital?” he said. Closing the hospital, the premier surmised, could put lives in jeopardy in terms of transfer and services being available on that island. He said that the auditors looked at situation from bed utilization, but said that those numbers are tied to health and social considerations to those figures.

“And so, you just can’t take the figures alone and look at it and make a decision, you have to look at the context of everything else in arriving at such determinations,” the premier said.

Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing

Athenee Harvey corruption trial set for July 6 The corruption trial date for Athenee Harvey, Permanent Secretary in the Finance has been pushed back to July 6, 2015. Harvey, who is represented by attorneys Ariel Misick and Jahmal Misick of Misick and Stanbrook, has been charged with two counts of corruption. She appeared in the Supreme Court, Providenciales on Monday, March 23, 2015, seemingly prepared for her matter to go forward. A jury pool was

also present and ready for selection. Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, adjourned the matter shortly after it was called up, citing heavy court workload. Ramsay-Hale told Harvey that she could not send her case to another judge because they, too, were also backed up with work. The judge told Ms. Harvey that the case will be heard in Grand Turk instead of Providenciales, and that it

should take approximately five days. Harvey was arraigned in the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court on December 1, 2014. The charges against Ms Harvey stem from a situation when she and several members of her family returned from a Carnival cruise in Grand Turk with several pieces of luggage and were engaged in a controversial dispute with Customs officials. She was charged by the

Integrity Commission, for the incident, which was reported to have taken place over the summer. In a news released on November 3, 2014, Director of the Integrity Commission, Eugene Otuoyne QC, said that after a meticulous investigation, the Commission decided to arrest and subsequently charged the PS with two offences of corruption contrary to section 44 of the Integrity Commission

Ordinance. She was granted $2,000 station bond. Harvey, on November 3, 2014, also issued a news release through her lawyer Jahmal Misick of Misick and Stanbrook, claiming her innocence and maintaining that the charges against her were without merit and that she was confident of vindication. As a result of the charges against her, Harvey was suspended pending the outcome of the case.

LIME’s purchase of IslandCom approved

Government has given the green light for telecoms giant LIME to acquire the country’s third telecommunications provider Islandcom. Minister of Environment and Home Affairs Hon. George Lightbourne made the announcement during a post-cabinet news briefing at the Premier Office on Friday, March 20, 2015. “The approval was granted about two days ago, so in my opinion, it should be a smooth transition. We are not against a private company purchasing the assets of another private company,” the minister said. On February 26, 2015, Jan Remmelg, LIME’s CEO for Northern Caribbean Cluster, told a news conference at its Leeward Highway headquarters that both his company and Islandcom agreed to a purchase

deal, and they dispatched the notice to the Telecommunications Commission for its approval. The undisclosed Islandcom buyout is part of LIME’s $1.05 billion regional network upgrade. The announcement came on the heels of LIME’s Superfast Broadband upgrade launch a week prior.

Under the purchase transaction, LIME will assume the networks, licenses, spectrum and subscribers. Not only will the deal give LIME automatic access to Islandcom’s customer base, but also pave the way for LIME to acquire the prized LTE portfolio, cementing its position as possessing the fastest mobile network in the country when the network is launched in the near future. Remmelg told reporters that at the news conference that in order for LIME to grow, data connectivity will have be a huge part of its platform. “What I mean by data connectivity is both mobile and broadband at home. It’s for consumers, it’s for corporate customers; be able to have that data connectivity with speed and reliability. Providing, as a starting point, the Superfast Broadband with speeds up to 90 megabits per second is game-changing,” he said.

He said also that LIME is committed to offering what he termed as a fully convergent offering, which is fixed, mobile, broadband and TV. To this end, the company has secured acquisition of one of the Caribbean and Central American’s most sophisticated cable companies - Flow. Columbus International operates under the brand of Flow – broadband and TV. It operates in a number of countries in the Caribbean. “They provide two things –best in class TV service; they are providing broadband services as well. So with the proposed merger, you see that LIME is also getting a best-in-class TV service, and very soon they will be able to provide the full sweep of service to all our customers. He said that purchasing of Islandcom should cement LIME’s position as the number one telecoms provider in Turks and Caicos.


Hon. George Lightbourne


LOCAL NEWS

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development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The International School of the Turks and Caicos Islands seeks to recruit

FULL-TIME CLASS TEACHERS for September 2015

There are few things which are likely to have more impact on a young person’s future than the quality of the school they attend. So we work hard to ensure that everyone who sends their child to ISTCI is happy with that choice.

It is our belief that every child deserves the very best start in life and we make it our purpose to provide just that to all the children who enter our doors. We endeavour to provide the best possible teaching and curriculum; we want every child to make progress and achieve the very best they can; but most of all we want the children at the ISTCI to be happy and enjoy their life with us.

At the heart of our school ethos is to develop and challenge the whole child –– producing students with high aspirations and confident independence.

We pride ourselves on the fostering of strong values: mutual understanding, respect for others and high personal endeavor form part of our students’ everyday lives. Being part of the ISTCI is about more than school work though. We offer our students an array of worthwhile and exciting experiences which they can carry with them for the rest of their lives, which we believe will prepare them to be successful global citizens.

We are seeking full-time, enthusiastic and committed Class Teacher s to join our talented and successful team.

A successful candidate will be:•An outstanding teacher•Focused in helping children achieve high levels of progress in a happy and effective learning environment

•A graduate with qualified teacher status (primary) and preferably at least 3 years’ successful teaching experience

•Experienced across the primary age range•Able to demonstrate a thorough recent knowledge of the English National Curriculum

•Committed to differentiation and SEN inclusive practice•Able to effectively monitor, assess, record and report on pupils’ progress•Confident in working within and contributing to a supportive team •In possession of good interpersonal skills and work well in teams•Possess secure IT skills •Be able to contribute to the development of extra curriculum opportunities•Possess the desire to work closely with parents and to support school events•Possess a willingness to work collaboratively and plan across the curriculum.

Please apply with resume and covering letter to, [email protected] including details of 2 references, who can be contacted in support of your application.

Closing date for applications is Friday 10th April 2015Interviews will take place in the week beginning Monday 13th April 2014

IGA is seeking a qualified individual to fill the position of:

SUPERMARKET FLOOR MANAGER

This position is responsible for overall management of supermarket retail / floor operations. Job responsibilities and requirements include:

•Bachelor’s degree in Food Services Management with a minimum of (2) years Retail Supermarket experience in Culinary Arts with extensive knowledge in meat selection and procurement

•Monitor overall management of the Food Service Department to ensure that food items are prepared and presented in an acceptable manner

•Monitor overall store quality, cleanliness, stock levels, merchandising, sales growth, profitability (e.g., by analyzing operating reports, payroll sales reports, shrink reports, etc.), and taking appropriate action to improve performance

•Wide-ranging knowledge in areas such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Inventory management programs

•Must be Proficient retail and wholesale accounting and good business practices related to documentation and record keeping

•Manage department inventories by tracking weekly sales reports, orders product and supplies so as to meet customer requirements along with the company’s gross profit goals

•Skilled in ordering methods and practices for inventory control•Ability to utilize computer systems/information for improved operational results

•Strong current product knowledge of the retail industry and knowledge of Supermarket facility management

•Will be required to work nights, long hours, weekends, and holidays•Experience in ISS / Droste Operating Systems is an added plus

Pay will commensurate with qualifications and experience

Deadline for summiting application is April 3rd 2015

Submit applications to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: [email protected]

Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews

Newly opened Graceway Smart offering exciting new products

When Graceway Supermarkets opens the new Graceway Smart supermarket in Downtown Providenciales on Saturday 28th March, the bright, modern store will features an exciting line-up of new products carefully selected to meet the needs of the “Smart” shopper. Graceway Smart is located in the Town Center Mall and will open its doors to customers at 7:00am on Saturday March 28th following a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by community leaders and some local business people. During the grand opening festivities, the new Graceway Smart supermarket will be giving-away thousands of dollars of Smart gift vouchers, gift-bags and a host of other fabulous items. Working with its strategic partners Inter-Caribbean Airways, Digicel and Lime, round trip flight tickets worth $1,500 each, an iPhone 6+, handsets and airtime are also up for grabs! Graceway Smart is a one-of-a-kind store offering great value in its Produce, Meat, Deli & Bakery, Grocery, Liquor, Dairy & Frozen departments, complimented by an all-new section offering thousands of “dollar deals” and special buys. Quality and service levels associated with Graceway will be maintained, but these will be delivered in a new format which combines new product lines and direct purchasing with these efficiencies being passed on to customers in the form of lower prices – a factor that is sure to set the Smart supermarket apart from all the competition. Turks and Caicos Islander Tamell Seymour has been appointed manager of the new store. A University degree and several years in various management

positions at Graceway IGA prepared Tamell for his new position. In typically upbeat fashion Tamell said, “I’m excited about the opportunity I’ve been given to open the first Smart supermarket in Downtown Provo and to be with a company that recognises talent”. His team of 40 service minded staff are ready to meet the needs of the Downtown residents. Many of these staff were recruited at the recent Graceway job fair and have gone through an extensive training programme in preparation for opening. “We have been working extremely hard to get the store ready for our customers and we are eager to serve their needs. We are committed to providing the Downtown customer with the finest products and service at unbeatable prices” Tamell comments. The opening of the new 30,000 sq. ft. store is the result of a successful collaboration between Butterfield Gold and Graceway Supermarkets. As a result of which, Graceway has redeveloped the site in Butterfield Square originally occupied by Island Pride, the store that previously served the island so well. The opening of the new Smart supermarket represents an important milestone in the revitalisation of Downtown Provo. “Graceway Supermarkets is pleased to be servicing the residents of Downtown Provo and surrounding areas and is proud to be part of the ongoing redevelopment of the area” says Ken Burns, General Manager of the Graceway Supermarkets Group.

“We hope the opening of this new Downtown store will provide impetus for further commercial and residential

development and employment opportunities in the area”. Additionally, Graceway looks forward to continuing its support of schools and other social and sporting programs in the Five Cays/Kew Town area. Graceway was founded in 1998 and Graceway Smart is the latest addition to its Flagship Store – Graceway IGA on Leeward Highway and its specialty store – Graceway Gourmet in Grace Bay. The opening of this new store at this time demonstrates Graceway’s commitment to the Turks and Caicos Islands and Downtown Providenciales and also its confidence in our economy.

STORE FEATURES:

Produce: Carrying a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, selected to meet the tastes of the Downtown communities Meat: A selection of quality fresh and frozen meats for the value orientated shopper Dollar: 1,000’s of specially selected items all retailing at $2 including household, grocery, automotive, pet, health and beauty productsDeli / Bakery: Full selection of oven fresh breads, cakes and pastries, including a delicious selection of ready-to-eat entrees for breakfast, lunch and dinner.Dairy: An extensive line up of cheese, yogurt and milk products.Liquor: All-new liquor store open from 7:00am – 9:00pm daily (except on Sundays) selling beer, wines and spirits.Health and Beauty: A complete health care section to cover all your daily requirements.


LOCAL NEWS


LOCAL NEWS

www.cxc-store.com

CSEC print past papers available in regional bookstores.

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Margaritaville seeks to identify: HACCP Supervisor, Maintenance Personnel et al.

HACCP SupervisorSUMMARY: Keeps track of HACCP principle and monitors company’s compliance with quality and safety measures; suggests ways to eliminate risks and potential health hazards to staff and guests. Train employees on the principles of HACCP, among other supervisory duties.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Certification in HACCP manufacturing/ Catering (at least at level 2) and 2 years experience

REQUIREMENTS: -Management skills –Able to use Word & Excel, operate at a supervisory level, apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions

-Able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Able to write simple correspondence.

-Ability to create & implement HACCP program for Margaritaville Grand Turk

-Able to work flexible hours including, weekends, night shift and public holidays

-Able to keep accurate logs of HACCP activities carried out

maintenance perSonnel

This self motivated individual must be an all rounder, with certification and at least 2 years experience in the field as a refrigeration technician. Skills in plumbing, electrical repairs and carpentry would be an asset. Salary will be based on experience.

Other available positions are Chef, Bartenders, Servers, Retail Captain, Retail Associate, Electrician, Store Clerk, Dining Room Captain, Cook, Stilt Walker and Kitchen Helpers.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Application along with resume must be submitted by 7th April, 2015 to the office of : Margaritaville Grand Turk Grand Turk Cruise Center South Base, White Sands Beach Grand Turk, T.C.I. B.W.I

While we welcome and appreciate all applicants, only persons short-listed for an interview will be contacted.

Government won’t tax commercial banks, says Minister of Finance

Government has no intention of taxing the commercial banks in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This was stated by Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Missick and the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands Hon. Rufus Ewing who said if they tax the banks they would pass it on to residents. Speaking at a press conference on March 20th, 2015 at the Premier’s Office in Providenciales, Missick said:

“We just rolled back the domestic financial tax financial services tax, because people where squealing that charges were showing up on their bank accounts and statements and then of course it affects everything including the charges on their mortgage payment so individuals need to be very cautious and we also have to be very careful.” According to a recent report from the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the total assets of the commercial banking sector in the Turks and Caicos Islands increased by 3 per cent and now stand at approximately $1.8Billion, According to the report, although loans remain the largest asset category of the sector, the upward movement of the sector’s asset base over the past four years was largely as a result of increased deposit holdings

(placements) at affiliated institutions. The seven banks regulated by the FSC are: Bordier Bank, British Caribbean Bank, CIBC First Caribbean International Bank, Hemisphere Bank, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and Turks and Caicos Banking Company. The FSC noted that over the last fiscal year, placements at parent and other affiliated companies remained high, as there was only moderate credit demand and limited investment opportunities. “At March 31, 2014, loans and placements accounted for 88% (58% and 30% respectively) of the total assets of the banking sector, as was the case at the end of fiscal 2013 (59% and 29% respectively). The investment portfolio of the sector remained modest at $124.3M ($119.3M in 2013) and represented 7% of the total assets,” the report added. Noting that retail banking margins are very thin, Misick added:

“I wouldn’t advocate taxing the banks because you would have to pay and I would have to pay I wouldn’t advocate increasing the fee structure. As it stands at the moment all they do is pass it down but either way at the end of the day someone has to pay it”. The Premier Hon. Rufus Ewing although reports stated that the Canadian banks in the region are in

trouble, when you look at Turks and Caicos Islands they’re stronger than the other banks in the region. He added: “That’s good because it’s good to be in a stronger position and one of the other issues is that you have to take it into consideration that we are not considering is the cost of doing business and transactions right now, with all of the laws which are coming to play with respect to FACTA and all the recommendations of the CFATF”. He continued: “The cost of

performing compliance and looking at bank accounts is exorbitant, so much so that the US banks and the Caribbean based banks are having issues/problems maintaining relationships with the US banks because of the high so-called perceived risk and also compliance issues and the cost of the compliance being maintained, and so we have to be careful how we put even more stress and on the banks within your jurisdiction”.

(Left) Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing (Right) Hon Washington Missick

By Todeline Defralien


LOCAL NEWS

WE RESERVE THE RIGHTTO LIMIT QUANTITIES.

Open Regular Business Hours 7am to 9pm 7 days a week

Located downtown in Town Center Mall

easter sunday 7am to 9pmNo alcohol sales, Friday april 3

prices effective saturday, march 28 thru sunday, april 5, 2015

45 oz

Country Crock

$6

18 ct

MediumEggs

3/$7

24 pk/.5 ltr btls

Niagara Water

2/$9128 oz

Top Job Bleach

$2

64 oz, Assorted Varieties

Sunny D3/$6

6 oz

Close-UpToothpaste

$2 50 oz, (Clean Burst or Free)

Arm & Hammer or Purex Laundry Detergent

$58 Mega RollScott Paper Towels8 RollAwesome Paper Towels

$11

Nature’s OwnBread

2/$6

5 lb

Robin Hood Flour

2/$8

4 lb

Jack Frost Sugar

2/$6

48 oz

Crisco Vegetable or Canola Oil

$5

32 oz, All Flavors

Distinction Milk

3/$5

5 oz, In Water

StarKist Tuna5 oz, In Water or OilBumble Bee Tuna

$1

128 oz

HawaiianPunch

2/$5410 gram

Distinction Evaporated Milk

6/$5

24 oz

Hunt’sKetchup

$2

32 oz

GatoradeThirst Quencher

$2

15.5 oz, Berry Colossal Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Tootie Fruities or Golden Puffs

Malt-O-Meal Cereal2/$5

12 Roll

Essential EverydayBath Tissue

$10

6 oz,Assorted Varieties

La Yogurt6/$5

PlasticCups

2/88¢PRICES GOOD

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.


LOCAL NEWS

Our company consist of a diversified group of companies, ranging from financial services to hotels and resorts as well as other industries.

We are now looking for a candidate for the following position:

Applications are invited for the position of Forensic Accountant

We require an individual who is CPA or CFE qualified. You must have the ability to analyze a myriad of detailed, complex transactions. You must be detail oriented and able to decipher complicated financial statements and knowledgeable in legal and accounting practices.

Must have skills and experience in the following areas:

•Bankruptcy •Insolvency •Reorganization•Fraud•Data collection•Data preparation•Data analysis and reporting.

The ability to read Spanish is preferred.***Salary for this position will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Belongers need only apply.Please Submit Applications to:

[email protected] copy should also be submitted to

the TCI Labour Department.Submissions to be no later than April 3rd, 2015

Belongers need only apply.

Londolozi Ltd is inviting suitable applications for the following position:

CHEF DE PARTIE

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Head Chef, the kitchen team member will assist in the preparation and service of all sections in the Kitchen.

Duties and Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

•Working with the Head Chef and the kitchen team to maintain high standards in the quality of food both as to its preparation and its presentation

•Working in all areas of the kitchen depending on the daily needs of Head Chef.

•To observe all Company Food Hygiene and Health and Safety policy•To assist the Head Chef, to check the completeness of all food and kitchen equipment sent to each function

•To assist the Head Chef to check the completeness of all suppliers’ deliveries and the correctness of their invoices

•To set out, maintain and monitor high standards of cooking and presentation

•To be aware of current food trends with regard to presentation and style and help with new menu ideas and menu design

•Ensuring kitchen is left clean and tidy at all times•Ensuring that all completed food is correctly wrapped, labeled and put in out-fridge for each event

•To ensure that all completed jobs are fully checked off before it leaves the unit

•Ensuring the venue kitchen is left spotlessly clean and tidy and that all equipment and un-used food is packed ready for transportation

Salary for this position will commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please Submit Applications to:[email protected]

A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department.Submissions to be no later than April 3rd, 2015


‘Stinking laundry waste water’ upsets

landlord, tenants Lee Penn, a resident and landlord of Kew Town on Providenciales, is calling on the Environmental Health Department to urgently address a disaster waiting to happen on his premises, which has begun to make the lives of both himself and his tenants miserable. The problem – pungent-smelling water being constantly released on his property almost on a daily basis from a nearby sewer connected to a laundry, with which he shared borders. He said that the issue has been longstanding, but became unbearable in recent days. At times, according to Penn, the flow of water on the property is heavy to the point of tenants having to struggle to find suitable places to walk. “It has a foul scent, the tenants are not happy with it, and something needs to be done before any serious confrontations come up. Some of the complaints from the tenants are that the yard constantly floods and the water is foul-smelling, and it affects them night and day,” he said. Penn revealed that while the problem has been longstanding, it had stopped for a while, but reemerged in recent days. He invited The SUN to the location, and was greeted with an awful smell, which strongly permeated the air.

“I called the public health; they haven’t showed up, at least not yet, and I am not sure if they are going to come,” he lamented. Penn, who also lives on the property, said that the problem had abated after he constructed a concreste fence, but the laundry owner accused him

of encroaching on his property and subsequently hired a bulldozer to demolish it in October 2010. That matter, Penn said has been filed in court but was yet to come up. Penn said that he has acquired the property since moving to Providenciales in 1988.

Lee Penn, owner of a property in Kew Town, points to water on his property that he said was released from a sewer connected to a laundry next door. He is calling on the Environmental Health Department to address the matter.

DIGICEL LAUNCHES TCI’S FIRST AND

ONLY LTE NETWORK


LOCAL NEWS

DIGICEL LAUNCHES TCI’S FIRST AND

ONLY LTE NETWORK TCI’s best, largest and fastest network, Digicel, just got better with the launch of its LTE network – becoming the first and only LTE service provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands. With speeds up to 20 times faster than any other mobile network on the island, LTE from Digicel will deliver the very best mobile data experience in TCI, meaning customers can download, share and stream all their favourite movies, videos or music in a matter of seconds without any buffering. In addition, with 94 percent population coverage, Digicel customers can enjoy these blistering speeds from almost anywhere on

Providenciales, Grand Turk and North Caicos. The remaining islands will be covered in the near future. To mark the launch, Digicel is giving customers a chance to experience the fastest network with the best value deals on the latest and greatest LTE smartphones. Postpaid customers get 5GB of data and voice for free for 1 month with handsets being offered for free on specific voice plans. Prepaid customers will get 3GB of data for free for 1 month. Customers will also be able to benefit from Rdio & Netflix. Customers who already have LTE phones can enjoy the blistering fast speeds at the same prices

they are currently paying for 4G As part of its LTE commitments, Digicel is also investing into communities across TCI by providing free broadband services in each government school. To date, half of the schools have been provided services and the rest will follow over the course of the next few months. As an expansion to this project, Digicel will in the coming months begin to outfit community colleges and public high schools with a Smart Classroom of the future. These classrooms will boast the latest technology such as smart boards which will make the learning experience more interactive and engaging.

Digicel Turks and Caicos CEO, Erik Staaf, said, “At Digicel, we are committed to delivering the very best customer experience to our customers across TCI – and with the launch of our superfast LTE network today, we are doing just that! LTE service from Digicel will not only support growth in the country but will also transform how people will use the mobile internet going forward. Digicel will also use the opportunity to provide free internet to all government schools to support the growth of our children – placing them at the forefront of education through technology in the region.”


LOCAL NEWS

WANTED

1 Domestic WorkerSalary $6.00 per hour

6 days per weekContact 231-3617

SEEKS1 Cashier

Salary $6.25 per hour6 days per week

Contact 347-1323

VIP BARBERSHOP & BOUTIQUE

L.P.S

Seeks1 Cashier

Must be able to speak English and CreoleMust be willing to

work late hoursSalary $6.00 per hour

Interested person should contact 431-0388

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Experienced in all aspects of digital photography and work�ow, plus several years practice in creative

wedding, portrait and commercial photography. Self-motivated, willing to work weekends and

holidays you must also be a customer service fanatic.Email all resumes/links to

online portfolios to [email protected]

CARIBBEAN DREDGING AND DEVELOPMENT LTD

Is seeking for a Experience DiverApplicant much be able to work

six days per week. Including weekends and public holidays.

Salary negotiableMorris Plaza #22, Airport Road

Contact 341-9408 or Email

[email protected]

Aj’s Auto Parts & Accessories

Is looking for a cleaner/helperWho can handle tough greasy

cleaning and surroundings of a work shop. Belongers only

need to apply contact 649 2450105.

Samuel Wilson Seeks

1 LabourSalary: Negotiable

Phone number: 431-0388

beauti elegant braiding Salon

1 Hair Stylist

Salary: 5$ per hour

Mondays to Saturdays9:00am To 5:00pm

6 days a week Phone number: 3460402

SPARKLE CLEANING SERVICES

Needed Urgently:Four (4) Cleaners/Car washersDuties: Washing and detailing

automobilesWages: On a commission basis

Qualification:Honest, hardworking, highly

motivated, Friendly, must be able to work under

minimum supervision and flexible hours,

Ability to safely operate motor vehicle.

Experience is essential.Closing date for application is

30th, March 2015Sparkle Cleaning ServicesSuite 5, Southside Plaza,

Five Cays Road, ProvidencialesTel: (649)241-0237

Email: [email protected]

KADEEN AGENCY

ON bEhAlf Of its CliENt is lOOKiNG fOr AN

AssistANt OffiCE MANAGEr

DutiEs will iNCluDE AssistiNG iN ruNNiNG A GrOwiNG

busiNEss, Must bE AblE tO DO OrDEriNG, priCiNG Of GOODs,

COllECtiON, DEAliNG with CustOMErs, COMMuNiCAtiNG with OvErsEAs vENDOrs EtC.Must hAvE At lEAst thrEE YEArs ExpEriENCE. sAlArY

$300 pEr wEEK

CONtACt 231-6565

experienced JournaliSt and reSearcher

Seeking a full-time qualified and experienced journalist. Applicant

must have at least 5 years experience at a minimum of 3

different publications. Bachelor’s degree in journalism required.

Applicant also must have experience working in a fast-paced office environment and ability to

produce content on deadline.Applicants should be technology savvy and comfortable working in a high tech and fast moving

environment. Working weekends, public holidays and long hours is

not uncommon.Email all resumes, references and

previous work to [email protected]

Gemini Secretarial and Consultant

is seeking the following persons for its clients

(Pelican Gaming, Saint Jean shop and Sonny Forbes);

2 laborers to work 6 days a week, salary $6.00 per hour

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

1 technician to work 6 days a week, salary with experienceHours 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Please contact: (649) 241 7278 for more information.

CARPENTERResponsibilities

•Maintain buildings and facilities•Prepare framing for cement•Put in flooring•Monitor and replace weather strippings•Maintain buildings interior and exterior•Inspect buildings and facilities for needed services and repairs

Submit Applications to Human Resources at The West Bay Club Tel; 946 5050

Software Analyst/Network Administrator

Hallmark Trust Limited is seeking a Software Analyst/Network Administrator based out of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands.

The ideal candidate will possess a university degree at a recognized technical university and have a minimum of 5+ years’

experience as a software analyst/network administrator at a major bank and/or financial institution. The position will require liaison with financial institutions in the Caribbean and Latin American

and therefore require proficiency in fluently speaking, reading, and writing in both English and Spanish.

The position will also entail installation of hardware and software, custom software development, e-commerce, network maintenance,

website creation, Biometric security systems and MS office and QuickBooks support.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Interested persons should submit a detailed resume of qualifications to: Hallmark

Trust Limited

Attn: Human ResourcesP.O.Box 656

Courtyard Plaza, Suite 1AProvidenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

WilliamS StorageMr. Stephenson Morris, or anyone connected to him, is not, and has never been, authorised to enter into any agreement on behalf of Williams Storage, or collect any money for rental of their units anywhere.

If you have paid any money to Mr. Stephenson Morris, or anyone acting on his behalf, supposedly for Williams Storage, or if you have any receipt, or purported lease signed by Mr. Stephenson Morris, in the name of Williams Storage, please bring all such documents to our office at Williams Storage II, the Industrial Park, Cheshire Hall, Providenciales, between the hours of 10 AM and 1 PM, Monday to Friday, or please call the office on 941 8561.


LOCAL NEWS

Job Title: Chief Operation Officer Type: PermanentLocation: WIV/Caicos Television Holding Ltd. Leeward Highway, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

Chief Operations Officer - Market

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer of Digicel will be responsible for all facets of the business operations and must possess deep operational knowledge with broad strategic insight. They must be able to adapt constantly to a fast-changing corporate and external environment. They must possess a mastery of change, an ability to help translate strategic vision into action; and they must ultimately be able to help the business to innovate and to grow. Responsibilities:

•Provide Commercial plan design, implementation and monitoring support until arrival of Commercial Director at end of Month

•Assume operational program management and oversight responsibility for monitoring, driving, problem solving, resourcing and reporting on day to day progress for all key Operational change projects - in particular Technical roll-out, Regional Fightback and Sales and Distribution activities.

•Tracks and reports on Board and SMT actions to ensure daily execution excellence and on-time implementation of critical activities across business units.

•Participates in the development and preparation of short-term and long-range strategic plans and budgets based upon broad organization goals and objectives.

•Directs the development and installation of internal procedures and controls, to promote communication and adequate information flow, and thereby solidify management control and direction of the enterprise.

•Discovers and supports innovation, technological improvement and growth opportunities for the business and gains approval for their implementation

•Supports strategy development and communication across the organization to ensure that all individual objectives are aligned with the strategy

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:•Advanced degree in Business or related discipline•Minimum of 10 years of working experience with at least three years at senior level

•Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills including the ability to articulate progress, issues and recommendations in a concise manner

•Superb attention to detail, strong analytical skills and the ability to deliver results to tight deadlines in a fast paced and dynamic environment

•Superior leadership skills and the ability to organize and motivate cross-functional teams

•Ability to work in a team environment and on own initiative with the desire to learn new skills

•Strong customer focus•Skilled user of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Interested Applicants should forward their resumes to [email protected]

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

butterfield gold

Two (2) LabourersApplicant must be physical, able-bodied individuals capable of lifting heavy loads and assisting the Electrican.

Wages: starting from $6.00 per hour

Submit applications to by April 3, 2014 to:Butterfield Gold Ltd.,

Human Resource DepartmentTown Center Mall

ProvidencialesTel: 649-946-4211

5th Avenue Water Servicesis seeking to employee one person as a

Part-Time LabourerDuties:Daily work duties include but are not limited to daily cleaning of raw sewage treatment, screens of debris, filters, pipes, valves, submersible pumps, etc., under supervision of plant manager. Will be required to wear OSHA approved PPD (personal protective device) provided by the Company.

Must be available for emergencies that require additional hours during evenings and weekends. Must be able to communicate in English.

Please submit applications in person to our administrative office located at Turtle Cove Landing attention: Mr. Roger Darville.

Cutoff date for applications is April 6, 2015.

Digicel TCI’S New CEO Erik Staaf With twenty years of experience in the Telecommunications industry Erik Staaf has recently joined the Digicel group as the new CEO of the Digicel Turks and Caicos Islands Branch. He was introduced at the Fire and Ice restaurant at Blue Haven on March 25th. Staaf is originally from Sweden but has lived in the UK for 30 years. Mr. Staaf said he has worked several general manager companies at Telefonica 2, Jabra, Motorola, Xchanging and also for Virgin Digital Help. Mr. Staff said that his background was really about developing inside led propositions that take innovation to the next level. Mr.Staaf says that the major

challenge for the industry in general is providing a better customer experience and taking the customer experience to the next level. He said Digicel Group passionately believes that they want to provide the best internet experience that they can for their customers as well as the best entertainment solutions. So on the 25th of March they launched one of the key components in make that happen and that is ‘Digicel LTE’ which is the fastest mobile internet in the country, which is 20 times faster than any mobile internet on the island and a 4 to 5 million dollar investment. Mr. Staaf says that Digicel always welcomes competition but at the end of the day it is about providing

the best value for the customers, which is why they came into the market, to

try to take the value, the network and the customer care to the next level, which Mr. Staaf says they have done very successfully to date. “This is an important day for us in terms of investment and taking things to the next level, and clearly with LIME and Islandcom the landscape may change but today the key focus is us take mobile internet to the next level through the LTE,” he said. Mr. Staaf also mentioned that he is very happy to be in the TCI, “I have been here for about three months and it’s an absolutely unbelievable place. I’m very much enjoying my time here. I am a part of the Digicel team and would like to thank the people that made me feel so welcome on the island.”

By Brandy Laporte

Digicel TCI’s new CEO Erik Staaf


LOCAL NEWS


Complaints Commissioner important for good governance,

says Mrs. Cynthia Astwood,

Complaints Commissioner Mrs. Cynthia Astwood has stressed the importance of her office to the good governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In a recent interview with the SUN on Tuesday March 24th, Mrs. Astwood said, “It is important because we are there as a protection for good governance and it is another outlet where persons can come and complain if they feel like injustices have been done to them within anybody within the public service or a statuary body and then they can come back and we can carry out an investigation to make sure that the proper procedures and policies where followed so we can come to a resolution that we can make sure it doesn’t happen again.” She added: “Since I have taken office we have had a number of complaints that have come into the complaints commission which have been resolved, and there are some that are outstanding, or there are some that are beyond the control of the complaints commission. There are certain areas we cannot interfere with like the judiciary, legislative council, cabinet, the governor, those are areas that we cannot and the public service, we can only interfere with matters that have to do with the public service after the individual had exhausted all the revenues in the public service and they still feel disgruntled and as a result of feeling disgruntled they will come back to us to ask us for our assistance and that is when we would get involved and see how we can deal with it along with them and come up with some sort of resolution.” Astwood said the complaints commission is in full effect to assist the public of the Turks and Caicos Islands and will take on the cases of disgruntled Islanders only after exhausting the complaints processes within any government department or statutory body concerned. “We aim to play our part in improving public services by providing citizens with form of recourse when good service standards are not met,” said Astwood. The Complaints Commission can investigate any action taken by a public body, including: grievances and conflicts in the workplace; performance issues, discrimination; harassment; corruption; maladministration, such as delays, bias, negligence, abuse of power, failing to give reason for a decision, not following through on a commitment. “My office is working to ensure that every government ministry and statutory body in the country has a named individual responsible for investigating complaints,” Astwood continued. “We will work with each of these public bodies to constantly seek ways of improving their systems and service provided to the Turks and Caicos Islands public. Only if

that complaint is not handled in a professional manner, where no satisfactory resolution has been reached, can a complaint be submitted to the Commission. “In making this announcement today, we hope to begin to educate the wider population about their rights and duties in a democratic society.” In carrying out investigations the Complaints Commissioner has the same powers as a Magistrate, and is able to enter and inspect any premises of any public office and, where necessary, retain or copy documents. Complaints can be filed privately and in writing to the Complaints Commissioner, Tony Clarke’s Building, Waterloo Road, and Grand Turk; via email at [email protected]. The office can be reached via telephone on 649-338 2927. The Commission cannot investigate complaints about the Governor, Cabinet, House of Assembly, Justices, Magistrates, the Police or Chief Auditors, where separate complaints arrangements are in place. The Complaint Commission of the Turks and Caicos Islands is one of six constitutional bodies that exist to protect good governance one of our objectives is to improve public services by investigating what you believe and if your complaint has not first been properly dealt with and by a public body and taking necessary action. The complaint commission is there to deal with complaints of individuals who feel that their complaints were not being properly dealt with by the public service and they will come to the complaints commission as a last resort. Mrs. Astwood said “Bearing in mind that the onus is on the individual to ensure that they have used all possible avenues and have exhausted them before they come to the complaints commission”. She also added that “The reason why I’m here today is to bring about a sense of awareness to the public, as to what is the function and the role of the complaints commission because I want to ensure that persons know about its availability and know about its function and know how to use it if and when the need arises.” Astwood said she can investigate grievances, conflicts in the workplace, performance issues, discrimination on the basis of race, sex and age and harassment and corruption in the work place and mal-administration. “I took office in 2013 and I had to re-establish the Complaints Commission and in so doing we had to identify an office, we had to get staffing because when I took office I was the only person employed in the office for a while and it took us a while because of financial implications,” she said. “Now with the new budget being passed, we were fortunate enough to have a subvention which enables me to have an administrative officer and now I have recently got an investigation officer.”

Complaints Commissioner Mrs. Cynthia Astwood


LOCAL NEWS

Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and Cockburn Town Medical Centre Turks and Caicos Islands - BWI

Turks & Caicos Islands Hospital is currently seeking applications for the positions listed below.

•ED Physician Theatre Nurse•General Surgeon Dialysis Nurse•Internal Medicine Physician NICU Nurse•Anaesthetist Medical Technologist•Infection Control Nurse•Pediatrician •Pharmacy Technician (with oncology experience)•Physical Therapist •Radiographer•Clinical Pharmacy Manager•Midwife

pOsitiON: sitE DirECtOr

lOCAtiON: COCKburN tOwN MEDiCAl CENtrE

As a member of the Senior Management Team reporting directly to the CEO, the Site Director is responsible for effectively managing the overall operations of Cockburn Town Medical Centre on a day-to-day basis. Among the duties are:

1.Serve as the site liaison between the facility and members of the community, public agencies and public officials, representatives from tourism (such as the cruise terminal and ship medical teams), etc.2.Liaise with the Facilities Management duty manager to ensure the overall security and safety of the building and its grounds.3.Provide on-site leadership for the emergency and disaster response and serve as disaster liaison for external disaster situations as appropriate.4.Work closely with nursing and medical staff leaders to effectively manage patient admission, bed utilization and discharge and take actions to address issues as required.5.Seek out opportunities to enhance practice in all areas, including clinical quality, patient experience, operation effectiveness and appropriate use of financial resources.6.Liaise with the CEO and other members of the Senior Management Team to keep them informed of key issues or concerns; participate with other senior leaders in strategic planning and decision-making around allocation of human, capital and financial resources.7.Participate in the administrator-on-call rotation for both Cockburn Town Medical Centre and Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.

requirementS:Bachelor’s degree is required, Master’s degree preferred; five years of demonstrated progressive hospital management experience required; clinical qualification preferred.

poSition: inventory clerkLocation: Cheshire Hall Medical Centre

To work with the Purchasing Manager in improving purchasing/Inventory of consumables and equipment for the hospital. Creating purchase orders, booking stock onto site, communicating with suppliers, checking inventory levels for reordering, delivering items around the hospital

•Maintain system of ordering materials, supplies and equipment.•Responsible for maintaining the appropiate inventory levels of various departments.•Responsible for the distribution of supplies to various departments•Communicate with the department representatives for supplies requirements confirm of order quantity, pricing and availabiltiy.

•Check all devilieres/packages and distribution appropriately•Ensure accuracy of all orders•Generating purchase requisitions for the departments under office purview•Organise storage and catalogue supplies/equipment in accordance with department and hospital policies.•Assist with invoice problem resolution•Order follow up ( telephone/email communication).

RequirementsHigh School Diploma and/or further education, exposure to inventory and purchasing practises. All positions require a minimum 5 years experience and training from recognize institution. Remuneration packages will be based on qualification and experience. Submit resume and references to: [email protected] . Application Deadline: Friday 10th April 2015


upGrADE YOur CArEErArE YOu A hiGh pErfOrMiNG, rEsult DrivEN prOfEssiONAl?

if sO, wE wOulD liKE tO spEAK with YOu tO jOiN Our DYNAMiC tEAM iN thE CApACitY Of:

retail SaleS aSSociate (baSed in turkS & caicoS iSlandS)

AppliCAtiONs ArE iNvitED frOM iNDiviDuAls with A sOliD bACKGrOuND whO will bE AN AGGrEssivE AND ENthusiAstiC sAlEs rEprEsENtAtivE pErsONAlitY whO CAN ArtiCulAtE C&w’s vAluE prOpOsitiON tO ExECutivE lEvEl DECisiON-MAKErs.

thE suCCEssful CANDiDAtE NEEDs tO bE AblE tO wOrK iN A tEAM ENvirONMENt AND will bE rEspONsiblE fOr suppOrtiNG thE rEtAil sAlEs tEAM.

main accountabilitieS are:•pErfOrMs ADMiNistrAtivE sAlEs suppOrt rElAtED ACtivitiEs tO OptiMizE thE sAlEs OutCOMEs Of thE rEtAil sAlEs DEpArtMENt

•liAisE with rElEvANt iNtErNAl rEsOurCE tEAM fOr tiMElY fOllOw-up tO All iNCOMiNG lEADs AND EMAils tO CONvErt tO sAlEs

•EffECtivElY COMMuNiCAtE C&w’s prODuCts AND prOCEssEs iN DEtAil tO CustOMErs

•wOrK ClOsElY with sAlEs ExECutivEs tO prOviDE prODuCt fEEDbACK

•ADvisE CustOMErs ON prODuCt fEAturEs, DEtAil Of sErviCEs AND thEir COst. •rECEivE CustOMEr ENquiriEs Or issuEs As thEY ArisE, iNvEstiGAtE/rEsOlvE/EsCAlAtE/CONsult with CrEDit CONtrOl, sErviCE DElivErY Or OthEr DEpArtMENts As rEquirED.

•CONDuCt fOllOw-up ACtivitiEs AND upDAtE CustOMErs ON A tiMElY bAsis thrOuGh tO rEsOlutiON. •prOCEss rEquEsts fOr sAlEs OrDErs utiliziNG thE jOb OrDEr sYstEM

•A MiNiMuM Of fOur (4) CxC pAssEs At thE GENErAl prOfiCiENCY lEvEl, iNClusivE Of ENGlish lANGuAGE, MAthEMAtiCs Or ACCOuNts

•2 – 3 YEArs Of sAlEs ExpEriENCE

•ExCEllENt vErbAl AND writtEN COMMuNiCAtiON sKills

•AbilitY tO spEAK ANOthEr lANGuAGE (spANish, frENCh, EtC.) •pOssEss AN ENtrEprENEuriAl spirit

•KNOwlEDGE Of Ms OffiCE AND pC•AbilitY tO MANAGE MultiplE tAsK priOritiziNG EffECtivElY

•CustOMEr sErviCE fOCusED

•EffECtivE plANNiNG AND OrGANizAtiON sKills

•ExCEllENt prEsENtAtiON sKills

to explore thiS exciting career opportunity pleaSe Send your application and reSume no later than april 3rd, 2014 to [email protected] or fax to: 1-876-920-9336

Juvenile prisoners set fire to their block Normality has returned to the juvenile section of Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk after inmates reportedly set fire to their beds on Tuesday (March 24, 2015), triggering forced evacuation and brief hospitalization. The SUN understands that the four inmates on the block not only set fire to building in which they were locked, but also vandalized everything they could, including the bowl and face basin. The fire also affected the protective custody section located at the back part of the building. That section housed three adults. The fire was started, it is understood, by the incarcerated youth

as a protest for not getting enough food, sufficient break time and other privileges that they believe were lacking or not being delivered on time.Two of the four juveniles and an adult from the protective custody section were rushed to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. Prison source said that quick action by prison officials resulted in the preservation of life. A source also told The SUN that prison officials were forced to prevent what could have been an ugly situation at the Cockburn Town Medical Centre when the adult prisoner attempted to pulverize one of the juveniles for putting his life in

danger. It understood that the inmate slammed his junior colleague to the ground, sparking prison officers to jump into action and restrain him. “One of the prison officers complained of twisting his back while trying to restrain the inmate from beating the juvenile. He was so upset that they set the place on fire to the building. When the juveniles lit the fire they trapped themselves in the building because they lit the fire at the door section,” the source said. He said that they were only taken from the building after the flames were extinguished. The source said that the four boys were relocated to the general

population for repair work to commence on the building. The source said that new beds completed with mattresses have been installed there, as well as a new face basin and toilet bowl. The walls were also repainted. Two of the juveniles, it is understood, have been returned, while the other two have been retained in the general population after being classified as the ringleaders, which they vehemently denied. The source said while prison officials said that disciplinary actions would be taken against the lads, said it would be difficult to bring charges against them because all of them have denied that they started the fire.

TRAFFIC OFFENDERS GATHERING: The Providenciales Magistrate’s Court on Old Airport Road was bursting at the seams with accused traffic violators, who turned up at the location on Thursday (March 26, 2015) either to pay fines or challenge their charges against them. The spot was congregated by the unknown to society’s prominent. A police officer at the scene said that the violations were many. He said it ranged from speeding, driving without seatbelts, driving without proper documentation, including driver’s license, car registration and insurance. He said the fines ranged from in the hundreds to the thousands. Photo shows individuals accused to have infractions congregate outside the court’s entrance.

TIKI HUT

SeeksKitchen Helper

$6.00 per issue

Contact 331-0221

SHAY CAFÉ

SEEKSWAITRESS

SALARY $6.00 PER HOURS6 DAYS PER

WEEKMUST WORK WEEKENDS

AND ON CALL

CONTACT 432-0221

PALM VENTURE CONSTRUCTION

SEEKS1

CARPENTER$9.00 PER

HOUR5 DAYS PER

WEEK

CONTACT 331-0221


LOCAL NEWS

Digicel says it’s the leading telecommunications provider in TCI

Digicel is now a positioned to be the leading total communications provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands, says new CEO of Digicel Mr. Erik Staaf. “That means we are providing best in class mobile services, be that from a post-paid to a prepaid services; that means we are providing best in class home broadband services; that means we are providing the richest entertainment and TV content on the island with things like Sports max, and the HBO max, and our gold

packages,” Staaf said at the launching of Digicel LTE at the Fire and Ice Restaurant, in Leeward on Wednesday, March 25th. “We are taking entertainment to the next level and it also means that we are providing business services to our corporate customers, helping them to be more effective and more efficient as they are working.” Mr. Staaf added that Digicel LTE will provide the fastest mobile internet in the Turks and Caicos Islands. “There are two key components of this strategy. Number one is the fact that

Digicel is your home of internet and we already have the market leading broadband internet”. Also the second part of it is being your home of entertainment and we are bringing those worlds together. It is about being able to access the internet and able to access your media where ever you want to go. We are on this mission to really take this customers experience to the next level making it the possible best going forward. Digicel LTE is 20 times faster than before. That means no more buffering. It means a great customer experience.”


Digicel New CEO Mr. Erik Staaf

Education Ministry praises Digicel Deputy Director of Education Mark Garland says the Education Department is happy to be partnering with Digicel because they endeavor to ensure that the partnership will provide students with quality education. “We cannot discuss quality education without emphasizing the importance of technology,” Garland said at the Digicel 4G LTE launching held at the Blue Haven Fire and Ice Restaurant. “Throughout the Turks and Caicos

Islands we have ten government primary schools and four government high schools. It is our intention to ensure that we provide meaningful technological learning experiences and opportunities for every school which accommodates those students, not just for Providenciales or Grand Turk, but for South Caicos, North Caicos, and Salt Cay and Middle Caicos Etc. It is or our intention that every child has an opportunity to obtain this quality education that we boast about or at least seek to provide.” Garland says that it is their

intention that through partnering with Digicel the classes will become digital classes, and those classes will offer students experiences far beyond what the text book and chalkboard has to offer. “We want to ensure you that we are committed to helping to execute whatever programs that you would like to implement in our schools. We realize that in order to provide quality education it has to be with a collaborative effort,” he added. Mr. Garland shared his own definition of the acronym for Digicel

- Diligently Inventing Great Ideas

Concerning Education and Learning. He added that every year the education department comes up with a theme that is used throughout the year that guides their endeavors, activities, aims and objectives. The theme for this year is ‘Unite for Quality Education: Better Education for a Better World’. The theme highlights that throughout the year they will be partnering with stake holders, parents ad with the community in order to provide this quality education for the citizens and the residence of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

By Brandy Laporte

Digicel’s new 4G LTE will revolutionize business Digicel’s new 4G LTE will revolutionize the way business is done in the Turks and Caicos Islands, says Desmond Wilson, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Government Support Services. “We at the Turks and Caicos Islands government follow the implementation of Digicel 4G LTE network with great interest, and we are confident that with the introduction of these new services that the market place will revolutionize in the way businesses is done in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Wilson said.

“We anticipate that the new 4G LTE services will lead to benefits to the consumers and businesses in these islands and that we’ll see a surge of innovative and valuable new service packages, products and pricings. We congratulate team Digicel as you are the first mobile provider to introduce 4G LTE technology to the mobile telecommunication landscape in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Wilson noted that Digicel promises to be committed and to provide the highest quality mobile services and will offer consumers a dynamic array of products and services which will continue to

keep true competition alive here in the Turks and Caicos Islands and also to bring savings to the market. He noted that Digicel pledges to be responsible corporate citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands, adding that within six months of their launch they will perform the following: Free internet connection services for all government primary and secondary schools and community colleges, subsidize device and data bundle for both student and teachers, one digital classroom with equipment and training for every public high school and one per each campus of the community college.


Desmond Wilson, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Government Support Services


Graceway IGA Supermarket invites applications from suitable qualified individuals to fill

the listed vacancies:

it analySt

Requirements/Qualifications

•Must have at least a bachelors or higher degree in Computer or Information Systems

•A minimum four years on the job experience as an information technology programmer/analyst (SQL language preferable) is required

•Experience in data processing, computer information systems, data communications, networking, systems analysis, and computer programming is a must.

•Ability to conduct training and informational sessions.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

•Supporting all hardware related issues and reviewing all new hardware capabilities as required, such as cash registers, scales, and database and POS systems.

•Assist in resolving any software issues, review and upgrade of all new software packages.

•Maintaining good documentation relating to all IT related work plans and schedules such as backups and flowcharts.

•Overseeing the systems implementation and taking ownership of the systems work stream within the Process re-engineering project including any new systems for Graceway IGA Supermarket.

•Assisting with updating and improving the current Graceway IGA website.•Providing reports generated from systems as requested by senior management – operational, financial or IT based.

Pay will commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Retail Store Manager

This position is responsible for the management of the supermarket’s retail operations. Main duties and requirements include:

•Over 8+ years experience in Supermarket Retail with a minimum of five years in a managerial position to include management of individual departments.

•Strong character reference from known individuals in the supermarket industry•Excellent people skills, including the ability to teach and train staff.•Must have computer knowledge in areas such as Microsoft Excel and Inventory management programs.

•Proficient in the understanding of retail and wholesale accounting and good business practices related to documentation and record keeping.

•Skilled in ordering methods and practices for inventory control.•Ability to utilize computer systems/information for improved operational results.

•Strong current product knowledge of the retail industry and knowledge of Supermarket facility management.

•Will be required to work nights, long hours, weekends, and holidays.

Pay will commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Floor Care Specialist

Requirements / Qualifications:

•Experience in floor care and maintenance.•Experience in waxing, wax removal, stripping, buffing and vacuuming large surface areas.

•Experience in operating and maintaining heavy duty floor care machines.•Experience in using proper safeguards such as warning signs and safety cones to alert customers and employees to potential hazards such as wet or slippery floor surfaces;

•Be knowledgeable cleaning programs and adhere to manufacturer’s label instructions for the safe and proper use of all chemical products

Duties and Responsibilities include: •Monitor inventory of cleaning supplies and submit purchase orders or requests to store management;

•Oversee cleaning and maintenance of the supermarket.•Responsible for the total store floor care on a daily basis.

Salary Range: 6.50 - $7.00 per Hour

Retail Floor Positions Job Requirements

All applicants must be able to read, speak and understand the English Language and will be expected to sit and pass an in-house Math and English Test.

•DELI / BAKERY ASSISTANT (1)•BAKER (1)•Warehouse Clerk / Stocker (1)

Salary Range: $6.50 - $7.00 / Per Hour

Deadline for submission of applicants is April 11th 2015Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex

or email: [email protected]

Graceway IGA Wins Prestigious Retailer

Award IGA Global has announced that Graceway IGA Turks and Caicos, has been named 2015 IGA Caribbean International Retailer of the Year. Brian Horrigan, Director of Business Development for IGA broke the news late last month “…I am delighted to share with you that Ken Burns and Graceway IGA of the Turks and Caicos, have been named as 2015 IGA International Retailer of The Year. Graceway IGA and Ken will be honored at the annual Global Rally Awards of Excellence Banquet in Orlando next month along with 3 other winners from the USA, 1 Winner from Australia and 2 from China…” Mark Batenic, CEO of IGA International was delighted to visit the Turks and Caicos and the Graceway IGA. He was indeed satisfied with the operations, employees and our 400 plus items representing the IGA Brand; and happy to name us as the recipient of this year’s award. This is the second time that Graceway has won this prestigious award, being the recipient in 2008. Graceway IGA is not only recognized for its excellence in retailing, or its provision of quality products and exceptional customer service, but also for its continued commitment to the community of the Turks and Caicos. IGA is particularly proud of its contribution in the areas of education and sports over the years especially the sponsorship of the Primary School Basketball Program and the Scholarship Program with British West Indies Collegiate where seven deserving students are currently receiving full scholarships straight through to the A-Level program, and which one has successfully completed. IGA continues to provide

sponsorships to charitable organizations across the Turks and Caicos and have set up a “till initiative” where IGA customers can also make contributions to their favorite charity through the “Charity of the Month” program. IGA has, during a holiday initiative, partnered with the Salvation Army and some of the local churches in providing food for distribution to at least 1000 families across the TCI. It has also partnered with the Red Cross to bring relief to the victims of hurricane Cristobal last year. IGA enjoys hosting students from schools, and sporting bodies across Providenciales, and allows the use of its facilities to promote their programs. Participation in an ongoing lunch program and distribution of fruits to schools during Caribbean Wellness Week are two programs IGA continues to support. Graceway IGA is grateful to its dedicated staff and loyal customers with whom it shares this award. The Directors wish to congratulate the winning management team including Uroy Williams, Mev Philman, Emanuel Otin, John Smagacz, Jino Defraulin, Leroy Carter, Jamal Ewing, Tamell Seymour, Tina Williford, Thomas Watkins, Terrence Hibbert, Victor Sanchez and Shade Wilson, who together with their staff and other support staff have made this recognition possible. A press release from the company said: “Graceway is committed to our customers and community and will continue to bring you the largest selection and best quality products at the lowest prices everyday. Thank you for your continued support and making Graceway IGA the best supermarket in the Caribbean.”

Government elaborates on Kraft recall

Kraft Foods is recalling about 6.5 million boxes cases of original flavor Kraft Macaroni& Cheese because some of the boxes contain small pieces of metal. The boxes have “best when used by” dates ranging from Sept. 18, 2015 through Oct. 11, 2015 and are marked with the code “C2.” They were sold throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and in some countries in the Caribbean and South America. The recall covers 7.25 ounce boxes that were sold individually and in packs of three, four and five. It covers 242,000 cases of the product. Kraft Foods Group Inc. said Tuesday it is aware of eight incidents of consumers finding metal in the boxes, but hasn’t been informed of any injuries. It says consumers shouldn’t eat the macaroni and should return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. Kindly contact the Environmental Health Department via telephone number 338-2143/44 for information on proper disposal of same.



LOCAL NEWS

Often the best, most valuable and lasting relationships begin with a promise. They are the relationships that are nurtured over time, strengthened and deepened during the

challenging times, and flourish and shine in the good times.

At RBC our relationship with our clients, employees and the communities in which we operate are of utmost importance. Our clients are at the centre of everything we do, our employees are

the ambassadors and standard bearers of our Brand, and our communities are the foundation from which our opportunities and successes grow.

It is with this understanding of the impact of a great relationship, that we are pleased to bring to you our new Brand

Promise: “It’s All About YOU.”

One of the keys to an enduring relationship is listening; we know it is important. You, our valued clients, have told us what you expect from your Bank; and we will continue to look for opportunities to bring the best, most innovative products and services to You.

The Brand Promise “It’s All About YOU” crystallizes our commitment to YOU, the client, that we will continue to go the extra mile to get the job done and we will strive to get it right the first time, every time we serve you; and when we don’t we will work to make it right.

Our promise acknowledges that our clients are the key to our success and reminds each member of our RBC Team that our focus is to help you achieve your financial goals and create the future that you want.

Through a comprehensive campaign which begins today, we hope to tell a story of our commitment and of our connectivity that will be borne out by the quality of our service and community involvement.

We thank each and every one of you for your continued loyalty and your dedication to RBC and we commit to work every day to deliver the very best to you.

At the end of the day, It’s All About YOU!

Regards, Sanfra FosterCountry Head and Branch ManagerRBC Royal BankTurks & Caicos Islands

Your RBC team is working for YOU

Caring for

RBC is proud to support and build strong communities

Working with YOU to build stronger communities across the Turks & Caicos Islands

Tell us how RBC helped you achieve your goals for a chance to win a weekend getaway!Log on to rbc.com/caribbean

Our commitment extends far beyond supplying the products and services that meet your financial needs. We understand that we are only as strong as the neighbourhoods in which we live and work, and so at RBC we are dedicated to empowering people through significant investments in the communities in which we operate.

As we serve our communities our goal is to make a positive and sustainable impact through investments in education, the arts

and culture, health, environment, sports and social services.

None of this would be possible however without the tireless efforts of our employees who remain passionate about participating in the bank’s volunteerism programme which allows them to nominate a charity of choice for financial support.

At RBC we understand that caring for YOU means partnering with others to build stronger communities.

® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence.


Often the best, most valuable and lasting relationships begin with a promise. They are the relationships that are nurtured over time, strengthened and deepened during the

challenging times, and flourish and shine in the good times.

At RBC our relationship with our clients, employees and the communities in which we operate are of utmost importance. Our clients are at the centre of everything we do, our employees are

the ambassadors and standard bearers of our Brand, and our communities are the foundation from which our opportunities and successes grow.

It is with this understanding of the impact of a great relationship, that we are pleased to bring to you our new Brand

Promise: “It’s All About YOU.”

One of the keys to an enduring relationship is listening; we know it is important. You, our valued clients, have told us what you expect from your Bank; and we will continue to look for opportunities to bring the best, most innovative products and services to You.

The Brand Promise “It’s All About YOU” crystallizes our commitment to YOU, the client, that we will continue to go the extra mile to get the job done and we will strive to get it right the first time, every time we serve you; and when we don’t we will work to make it right.

Our promise acknowledges that our clients are the key to our success and reminds each member of our RBC Team that our focus is to help you achieve your financial goals and create the future that you want.

Through a comprehensive campaign which begins today, we hope to tell a story of our commitment and of our connectivity that will be borne out by the quality of our service and community involvement.

We thank each and every one of you for your continued loyalty and your dedication to RBC and we commit to work every day to deliver the very best to you.

At the end of the day, It’s All About YOU!

Regards, Sanfra FosterCountry Head and Branch ManagerRBC Royal BankTurks & Caicos Islands

Your RBC team is working for YOU

Caring for

RBC is proud to support and build strong communities

Working with YOU to build stronger communities across the Turks & Caicos Islands

Tell us how RBC helped you achieve your goals for a chance to win a weekend getaway!Log on to rbc.com/caribbean

Our commitment extends far beyond supplying the products and services that meet your financial needs. We understand that we are only as strong as the neighbourhoods in which we live and work, and so at RBC we are dedicated to empowering people through significant investments in the communities in which we operate.

As we serve our communities our goal is to make a positive and sustainable impact through investments in education, the arts

and culture, health, environment, sports and social services.

None of this would be possible however without the tireless efforts of our employees who remain passionate about participating in the bank’s volunteerism programme which allows them to nominate a charity of choice for financial support.

At RBC we understand that caring for YOU means partnering with others to build stronger communities.

® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. ® Registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence.


LOCAL NEWS


OPEN 7AM TO 10 PM,7 DAYS A WEEK Open Regular Business Hours

Easter Sunday 7 am to 10 pm.Reminder: No Alcohol Sales,

Friday, April 3, 2015

5 lb

Carrots

2/$73 lb bag

GalaApples

2/$6

Mangos4/$5

Eggplant$130

lb

6 oz

Blueberries2/$6 1 lb

Strawberries2/$9

GreenPlantaines

4/$2

8

GreenPeppers

5/$2 5 lb bag

IdahoPotatoes

2/$4

Red or WhiteGrapes

$200lb

Green Cabbage

3/$5

3 lb bag

Bananas2/$5

Frozen

Whole Turkeys

$119lb

1 lb

Saltfish2/$9

12 oz

Bar SChicken Franks

4/$5

1 lb, 30-40 ct

RawShrimp

$9

Quality, Service and Value at

20% Off Any Case(12 bottles mix or match)

of wine, your choice!

F ay, p 3, 5QQQQQQQQQQuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaallllllliiiiittttyyyyy,, SSeerrvviiccee aanndd VVaalluuee aatt

SmokedPicnics

239lb

10 lb

Chicken Leg Quarters

2/$13


LOCAL NEWS

WE RESERVE THE RIGHTTO LIMIT QUANTITIES.

Open Regular Business Hours Easter Sunday 7 am to 10 pm.Reminder: No Alcohol Sales,

Friday, April 3, 2015

OPEN 7AM TO 10 PM,7 DAYS A WEEK

Quality, Service and Value at


18 ct

Medium Eggs

3/$7

45 oz

Country Crock

$6 48 oz

IGA Vegetable Oil48 oz

Crisco Vegetable or Canola Oil

$5

32 oz, All Flavors

Distinction Milk

3/$5

24 pk/.5 ltr btls

Niagara Water

2/$9

5 oz, In Water

StarKist Tuna5 oz, In Water or OilBumble Bee Tuna

$1

128 oz

HawaiianPunch

2/$5

128 oz

Top Job Bleach

2/$4


YoplaitGo-Gurt

2/$7


Sunny D3/$6

6 oz

Close-UpToothpaste

2/$4

12 oz, Individually Wrapped Slices

IGA Cheese2/$7

7.3 oz

IGA Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

5/$4

410 gram

Distinction Evaporated Milk

6/$5

50 oz, (Clean Burst or Free)

Arm & Hammer or Purex Laundry Detergent

$5

24 oz

Hunt’sKetchup

2/$4

32 oz

GatoradeThirst Quencher

2/$4

8 Mega RollScott Paper Towels8 RollAwesome Paper Towels

$11

loaf

Nature’s Own Bread

2/$6

5 lb

Robin Hood Flour

2/$8

4 lb

Jack Frost Sugar

2/$6

15.5 oz, Berry Colossal Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Tootie Fruities or Golden Puffs

Malt-O-Meal Cereal2/$5

64 oz

IGA or Old Orchard Apple Juice

$3

12 Roll

Essential EverydayBath Tissue

$10


La Yogurt6/$5


IGA Shredded Cheese

2/$7

PlasticCups

2/88¢

PRICES GOOD WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

LOCAL NEWSWORLD NEWSPage 26 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015

LOCAL NEWSWORLD NEWSMARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015 TURKS & CAICOS SUN Page 27



Fortis TCI Spring Fun Walk and Run a success

Fortis TCI based In Providenciales hosted the 7th annual Spring Fun Walk and Run. This was another successful year that the community of Providenciales came out in large numbers to bring in spring and promote a healthy lifestyle and beginning the season off on the right foot on the 21st of March, 2015. The whole outset of the event was to encourage participants to step into spring on a healthy foot. The event attracted well over 500 participants and spectators. They all came out for an amazing morning with family and friends for the healthy food and fun fitness activities. The morning started off with a warm-up, followed by the walk, run and

cycling events. There were also servings of the traditional TCI Saturday hot breakfast along with activity stations and health screenings. The President and CEO of Fortis TCI Eddinton Powell said that since he moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands, he has noticed a difference in the mornings and in the evenings. He has seen people walk and run alongside the roadways, on the sidewalk and in the gym more. This means that people have become more health conscience and are living healthier lifestyles. “We as employees of Fortis TCI and members of the TCI community want to be a part of this healthy movement and will continue to promote healthy living through this event and others just like it each year.”

The event kicked off with the prizes being awarded to the different categories. The top male in the 10k route was Lofton Seymour, and the top female Rebecca Bernadine. The top male Fortis employee in the 10K was Verdieu Nore, and the top female Fortis TCI employee was Kebba Morgan. Each of the four winners took home a Nutribullet Pro 9000 to help them to maintain their healthy lifestyle. The first place cyclist Cameron Thompson was awarded a Sigma ROX 5.0 cycling computer, and the first child to cross the finish line as Justin Parker who took home a Kindle fire HD6. Scotiabank took home the prize for the largest corporate group. With 28 employees in attendance the group left with gym bags and exercise goodies.

By Brandy Laporte

Auditors infringing on government policy

Saying that the robust venue collection is where it is because of compliance, Finance Minister Hon. Washington Misick stopped short of saying that the Auditor General hired to review government finances overstepped his bounds. The Auditor General, who painted a damning report on government collection, said that last year the Dr. Rufus Ewing administration granted concessions to 108 companies to the tune of over a million dollars, but was owed more than $300,000 by those companies. The auditor blamed poor collection mechanism for the lack of collection. However, the finance Minister and Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, during government’s post cabinet news briefing on Friday, March 20,2015, at the Premier’s Office in Providenciales, asserted that the auditor was hired to certify whether or not finances represents it’s operation and not on government policy. “The situation is simply this; the auditor is not hired to comment on government policy. The function of the auditor is to provide a certification as to whether the government’s accounts represent a true and fair view of its operation – that is the function – not

to comment on government policy,” Misick emphasized. He said that there will always be outstanding payments in accounting, and so government will always own individuals and entities and entities and individuals will always owe government, saying that the PIFA report gives the one of the strongest ratings in several years, making it way ahead of most of its Caribbean

counterparts. “I take issue when people comment government policy when their job is not to comment on policy. Government policy is left up to the people you elect. We set the policy; it is not the auditor’s job to comment on policy,” the finance minister reminded. For his part, Premier Ewing, said that if one thing his government is good at is collecting from its debtors, and at the same time, the granting of concessions to stimulate economic growth. “If someone wants to get in business and build a business, as a government, you need to look at the spinoff, revenue, the net effect that government revenue will get from that business established. But not only government, you need to look at the benefits that that business brings to the people in the community, by creating jobs, and giving other businesses work in terms of being able to service the other businesses. “And so, it is always in government’s best interest, from standpoint, where possible, to facilitate business development through concession. As long as government sees the economic value of that concession – meaning that government gets a direct benefit for the future, giving up on the frontend but collecting it on the backend. “So, you are not losing; its money you never had. If the business doesn’t

get established, its money you never had, and that’s why we don’t budget for future revenue because its money you don’t have and never had, but if you are able to give concession, and persons are more motivated, or can more financially able to start the business, then you would find that businesses are established, and all of a sudden that is a new revenue stream for government or revenue source for government, new source of employment for people and new source of services for the wider community,” the premier pointed out. He argued that when audit reports and individuals begin to “cloud and prejudice” the minds of individuals relating to government concession, look at concession as fraudulent, or a channel for wasting millions, it is a wrong concept. “Let us analyze and look at the macro economic impact of that concession granted and what it has done for the economy. So, even while certain persons in government don’t believe in concessions, I certainly do. “And as long as I could afford it from a tax revenue standpoint, I will continue to advocate for it to assist Turks and Caicos Islanders especially because that’s the next stage I want to get to, make sure that Turks and Caicos Islanders can benefit and establish their businesses,” the premier said.


Hon. Washington Misick


CORPORATE COMMUNICATION SENIOR WRITER, EDITOR &

MEDIA SPECIALISTTo ensure the Company consistently projects a favorable image to its customers and stakeholders by coordinating and implementing public relations and enterprise-wide programs designed to demonstrate the Corporate Values and effectively manage the flow of information related to FortisTCI to employees, general public and other stakeholders.

main dutieS

•Assist the Corporate Communications Manager with the development and implementation of strategic corporate communications plans;

•Research, draft, and edit all external communications (and internal communications as needed) independently with a high level of creativity and attention to detail. This responsibility includes but is not limited to; press releases, brochures, web content, advertisements, speeches, feature articles and stories, fact sheets, newsletters and corporate reports;

•Assist the Manager of Corporate Communications to ensure the quality, effectiveness and consistency of all types of communications, both internal and external, as it relates to strategy, message, tone and style;

•Offer informed and strategic recommendations on internal and external communications initiatives;

•Assist with the planning and execution of events for internal and external stakeholders, throughout all FortisTCI service territories;

•Promote the Company’s image through positive community events, cause-oriented initiatives, as well as sports and youth development programs;

•Ensure that the written content of the Company’s website is accurate and updated regularly;

•Monitor closely all forms of media locally and regionally (TV, Radio, Print & the Internet) to ensure the Company’s brand and image is maintained;

•Build and sustain a positive relationship with members of the media;•Help to promote effective internal communication channels to improve information dissemination throughout the company;

•Conduct tours of corporate headquarters and plant facilities when necessary;

•Support the Corporate Communications Department with any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Academic/Technical/Management: Experience and Qualifications:

•Bachelor Degree in any of the following courses Mass Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising or English. Master’s Degree a plus

•Minimum of 5 years of dedicated journalism or business communications experience, including writing and editing in a corporate environment with increasing levels of responsibility required. Writing in British English a plus

•Must have strong writing and speaking abilities•Website and newsletter design layout experience is a plus•Demonstrate an intermediate or advance computer graphic skill is a plus

•Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher•Must be fluent in the English language (Spoken and written)

Core Competency Skills:

•Superb written and verbal skills;•Excellent editing and proofreading skills;•Exceptional organizational, leadership and planning skills;•Active team player, confident, creative and resourceful; •Matured individual who values honesty and integrity; •Exceptional multitasking skills; able to meet all deadlines;•Experienced liaison-builder with external and internal stakeholders, and staff at all levels;

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is April 2, 2015:

Dr. Kellie-Ann Evans-HallManager, Human Resources

FortisTCI LimitedP. O. Box 132, Providenciales

Email address: [email protected] or [email protected]

REVENUE PROTECTION FIELD OFFICER

To maintain and monitor all meters installed in the field, facilitate the day to day metering activities and assist with the detection and investigation of power diversion matters.

main dutieS

•Read utility meters via Automated Meter Reading Technology for upload into billing system.

•Provide quality information to the Supervisor in regards to irregularities, damaged equipment, meter access issues and faulty service connections.

•Perform disconnections, reconnections, rechecks and closures as approved work orders are assigned.

•Take and save photos of meters where necessary.•Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects and damage such as broken seals.

•Conduct energy audits in line with Company Policies.•Assist with the detection, investigation and disconnection of irregular connections as per the Power Diversion Policy.

•Handle external customer enquiries courteously and if unable refer promptly to supervisor for action.

•Be committed to providing customer satisfaction in line with Company standards.

•Operate company vehicles as required.•Follow all safety regulations as outlined in accordance with EUSA manual and follow EUSA work procedures.

•Become familiar with the Company policies and practices as they relate to meter reading and customer service.

•Be properly dressed in uniform provided, maintaining a neat appearance.

•Other responsibilities which may be assigned.


•5 years of metering and/or electrical experience required.•Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field•Must possess a valid Turks and Caicos Driver’s license.•Must possess a clean police record.


•Must be able to carry out the physical work as required.•Must be able to operate the various tools used in the daily operations.•Must be able to work with little or no supervision.•Excellent team player and team building skills•Excellent written and oral communication skills •Ability to deliver to strict deadlines •A keen eye for details•Goal-oriented•Self-motivated


Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form)

is April 2, 2015:



Email address: [email protected] or [email protected]

LOCAL NEWSCARIBBEAN NEWSMARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015 TURKS & CAICOS SUN Page 31

Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala have vacancies for the following position: Executive Assistant ManagerTo support General Manager in all aspects of the resort operations and to maximize the satisfaction for each and every guest. In the absence of the General Manager, the Executive Assistant Manager will be in charge of the operation and therefore must meet all the requirements that are set out by COMO Hotels and Resorts.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Confers with General Manager, Island Director and department heads to review activity, operating and sales report. Recommends needed change in programs or operations. Monitors and maintain financial accounting records and prepare reports as required. Monitor maintenance progress in relation to furniture, fixtures and equipment conditions. Recommends improvements and prepare status report. Prepares, allocates and manages hotel operating budget. Identifies areas in which upgrades are needed or reduction can be made. To meet, greet and bid farewell to all guests of the resort. Perform daily and weekly property inspections to ensure that property grounds, physical plants and work areas are maintained to standard and all resort safety equipment are in good working condition. Ensures hotel staff complies with all safety and health requirements of the resort. Liaisons with guest staff and vendors to resolve conflicts courteously and professionally. Ensures resort supplies are ordered and stocked in advance of need. Ensure proper use and care of all property equipment and supplies. Initiate safety training. Demonstrate visible presence while on duty and be readily available and easily approachable by guests and staff. To maintain a positive, professional and natural manner with all guests and staff. To contribute to the planning, development and implementation of the property policies and goals, maximizing standard of guest service, occupancy rates and revenue goals. Acts as hotel public relations and promotes the property within the hotel industry, local community and trade associations. To communicate with the heads of department to ensure adequate coordination and operations implementation. To regularly update the General Manager on all operations achievements and key issues To participate in preparation of the resort strategic plan, marketing plan and goals program. To attend all other meetings as required by the administration team and chair meetings as and when instructed by General Manager. To cultivate strong work relationships and communication with hotel staff, while maintaining an “Open Door” policy to gain comfortable chains of communication with staff. Inspect rooms for VIP guest. Responds to all guest and employee emergencies.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: Meeting management Decision making Scheduling Excellent organizational and time management skills – ability to prioritize daily tasks. Professional verbal & written English. Analyses and interpret hospitality industry journal. The ability to effectively present information to management, public groups and potential clients. Define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw conclusion. An in depth knowledge of administrative duties, clerical procedures and supervising office systems. Practical experience with Power point, MS Word, Excel and unified messaging system. Attention to detail. Ability to perform effective judgment in recognizing scope of authority. Reliability in protecting confidential information.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to sit, stand, walk, talk and listen for a lengthy period of time. Must possess good vision.

Experience Essential

College degree in related field. 3 to 4 years experience minimum or combination of education and experience Second language French or Spanish will be a plus

Other Managerial Positions:Beach House ManagerPower House Technical Consultant Spa ManagerF&B Director

Candidates interested in the above positions will be required to work long hours, live on property and are

expected to work during the night, weekends and Public Holidays.

OTHER AVAILABLE POSITIONS:

Recreations Attendant Spa TherapistRoom AttendantJunior ButlerTurndown Attendant Spa ReceptionistPilates Instructor Housekeeping Attendant

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

Only suitable candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Forward your resume to the Human Resources Department at the following address:

Parrot Cay Resort and COMO Shambhala, P.O. Box 164 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Ph: (649) 946 7788, Fax: (649) 946 7749 Email: [email protected]

Private Estates Chief EngineerExecutive ChefUtilities Supervisor FrontOffice Manager Head ChefPlay by COMO Manager

Asst. Food and beverage Director Executive Sous ChefAssistant Restaurant ManagerGuest Services Manager (Private Estates) Spa Attendant Supervisor

Food & Beverage Server Resort ButlerLaundry & Kitchen Technician Bar SupervisorSous Chef Bartender Carpenter Resort Butler

PlumberCertified Electrician StewardSpa Attendant Private Estates AttendChef de PartieSpa Therapists Recreation Attendant

LOCAL NEWSCARIBBEAN NEWSPage 32 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015

JUNIOR PLANT OPERATOR

To assist the Senior Operator in effective systems control, continual system condition monitoring, efficient generation unit dispatch, and timely response to system contingencies, in a manner consistent with standard operating procedures and specific instructions of the Plant Control Superintendent or other senior Operations Management personnel.

Under the general direction of the Senior Operator, the Junior Operator must ensure that all necessary activities to ensure the functional operations of generating units and response to system abnormalities that may occur during the course of shift duty, is carried out in a manner that ensures uninterrupted service continuity within acceptable systems parameters, and the highest level of fuel efficiency without compromising safety of fellow employees, the general public or system equipment.

Main Duties

•Starting, monitoring, servicing and stopping generating units as required, or directed by the Senior Operator, in a manner consistent with standard operating procedures.

•Assist in ensuring that accurate and neat records are logged of all events and data occurring on the system.•Respond in a calm efficient manner to prevent system interruption and in the event that it does occur to restore power to the system efficiently and safely after any plant interruptions.

•Assist the Senior Operator when called to do so in reporting any abnormal data to the appropriate persons in a timely manner and take prompt action to prevent or minimize any outages, prevent injury to employees and the general public and/or damage equipment under the control of systems operations (for example abnormal temperatures or pressures or other key generator parameters must be reported to the Plant Mechanical Superintendent or in his absence to other senior Operations personnel).

•Assist the Senior Operator when called upon, to inform appropriate Operations personnel in the event an outage occurs external to the plant, in a timely accurate and efficient manner.

•Respond to customer inquiries in a polite and efficient manner when outages occur.•Operate company vehicles and equipment as required and consistent with company policy and safe operating procedures.•Ensure that plant equipment is monitored and engine operating services are carried out in a manner consistent with the company’s efficiency targets and environmental responsibility commitments.

•Be properly and neatly attired in the uniform provided, ensure consistent and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) provided and ensure the adherence of subordinate shift personnel.

•Perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time, including overtime duties when other junior operators are unable to perform scheduled shift duties.

•Continual monitoring of generating and Distribution system parameters.•Efficient corrective response to system abnormalities.•Accurate logging of system parameters as directed.•Other duties as may be assigned and/or required by Plant Operations contingencies from time to time.


•Associates Degree, preferably in engineering or related field.•Familiarity with and competency in the use of computers and standard computing software programs is required.•Be able to do mathematical calculations at community college level.•Must have completed the MEA Operators training program or equivalent.


•Above average analytical skills in math and electrical theories and diesel generation parameters•Demonstrable aptitude for interpretation of engineering drawings and manuals•Professional competency in written and oral communication skills in English•Good communication skills.•Ability to function effectively under emergency situations and thinks clearly and effective and deliver within deadlines and to work under pressure •Self-motivated, solution oriented and positive in outlook•Team player


Deadline for submission of applications (inclusive of a cover letter, resume and a FortisTCI application form) is April 9, 2015:



Email address: [email protected] or [email protected] Fax: 649-946-4532


CARIBBEAN NEWSWORLDNEWSCARIBBEAN NEWS

Barbados plans to remove the Queen as head of state

Barbados could remove the Queen as its head of state, almost 400 years after it was colonised by the British. The island was under the UK’s control from 1627 up until independence in 1966 and has remained a constitutional monarchy ever since. But the Prime Minister has laid down his plans for Barbados to become a republic with a ceremonial President in time for the 50th anniversary of independence next year. Speaking on Sunday evening, Freundel Stuart told a branch meeting of his Democratic Labour Party (DLP)

that the change would happen over the coming year. George Pilgrim, general secretary of the DLP, said a draft bill proposing the Queen’s removal will be voted on by Parliament but the government does not expect any opposition. “This will move the country through to the next major step in the process of nationhood,” he added. “(The Prime Minister) said he found it awkward in the year 2015 to have to stand up and pledge allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen.” Barbados will retain its links with the British crown though its

membership of the Commonwealth, he said. The official British Monarchy website says the Queen is not involved in the day-to-day business of Barbados’s government but “continues to play important ceremonial and symbolic roles”. “The Queen’s relationship to Barbados is unique,” it continues. “In all her duties, she speaks and acts as Queen of Barbados, and not as Queen of the United Kingdom.” While acting for the island, she is officially known as “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Barbados and of Her other Realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth”. Plans to make Barbados a republic have been floated several times in recent years. In 2005, the then Prime Minister Owen Arthur outlined his proposals for dropping the Queen in favour of a locally elected president but the process was not completed. In the same year, Barbados made the Caribbean Court of Justice its final court of appeal, rather than the London-based Privy Council, which has long served as the highest court

of appeal for many former British colonies. Downing Street said it was not aware of the decision but a spokesperson for Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I expect the approach will be consistent with self-determination, decisions around this being a matter for the people involved.” The Queen is sovereign of 15 Commonwealth realms, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said change in Barbados was a “matter for the government and people” to decide. In 2012, Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller also pledged to replace the Queen as head of state. The monarch last visited Barbados 26 years ago in 1989 for the 350th anniversary of the Barbados parliament – one of the oldest in the world. Prince Harry took a three-day trip there in 2010, when he played in a polo match for his charity Sentebale, and Earl and Countess of Wessex were the last British royals to visit the nation last year.

Queen Elizabeth II

The Bahamas defends immigration policy before Human Rights Commission

Rihanna joins Bolt for Puma’s largest campaign

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Bahamas has stoutly defended its immigration policy and dismissed as “false, baseless and malicious” allegations by human rights groups that the policy had trampled on the human rights of people in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez, addressing the Infer-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on Friday, said the allegations made by the Grand Bahama Human Rights Association (GBHRA) were untrue as it relates to the new immigration policy that came into force late last year. Gomez told the IACHR that Nassau has a history of respecting human rights that

“predates our independence. “Indeed, our support of Haiti and its people in the attainment of economic, political and social stability emanates from an abiding and unflinching belief in the dignity of our shared human condition,” Gomez told the IACHR commissioners, who convened the hearing based on specific allegations made by the GBHRA president Fred Smith about the mistreatment of illegal Haitian immigrants in The Bahamas. Smith had submitted written documents to the IACHR on the issue and earlier this week, the international human rights group, Amnesty International said it was seeking information from the Bahamas government regarding its migration reform policy. Amnesty said it was seeking the information amid allegations that the “reforms” might be “leading to human rights violations and enhancing discrimination in the country”. Nassau last year implemented a series of migration policies and reforms, including new requirements for migrants residing in the country, such as holding a residence permit for children to be able to enroll in schools.The government had also announced that, by

November 1 last year, everyone living here would be requested to hold a passport of their nationality. In his statement to the IACHR, the GBHRA president said that “the Government of The Bahamas has embraced Fascism and Nazism in a targeted campaign to commit genocide against Haitian nationals”. But Gomez told the meeting that the human rights group had also compared the Detention Centre in his country to the infamous Auschwitz camp. “These lies cannot be left unanswered. It is my solemn duty to protect the name and reputation of our people. That is the sole purpose of my attendance here today. Let not my good manners detract from the depth of outrage collectively felt by the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas at the defamation of our country.” Gomez said that notwithstanding the failure of the petitioners to identify a victim of human rights abuses in The Bahamas “or of a single failing in our domestic juridical institutions to provide adequate redress we appear as Portia to demonstrate the purity of our response to the demands of upholding human rights in good and bad times when even our neighbours fail to respond.” Gomez said that the new dormitories built at the Detention Center cost over one million US dollars and that the bunk beds, bathroom and toilet facilities were state of the art. “Hardly a concentration camp, much less Auschwitz. Note also the furniture and facilities at the safe house rented from the Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau and The Bahamas. Would the Catholic Church not qualify as a part of civil society? Here they participate in a private public partnership to protect young people. Would the Catholic Church partner with purveyors of genocide? Yet this is what the Petitioners would have you believe.”

Puma, the global sports brand, will include US/Barbadian singer Rihanna in its Forever Faster campaign which embodies the spirit of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.It signals Puma’s further alliance with celebrity icons birthed in the region. “In 2015, world-class athletes like Usain Bolt and Sergio Agüero will be joined by a new face: style icon Rihanna,” stated Puma in its recently released annual reports 2014. Rihanna, at 27, will assume the role of global brand ambassador and creative director for Puma Women’s Fitness and Training. “Rihanna’s unique feeling for style and innovation will be vital in product development here,” stated Puma, which made 84 million euros in consolidated net earnings for its 2014 annual year-on-year revenues of 2.97 billion euros. This represented a tripling of

net earnings year-on-year. The “Forever Faster” campaign -- the largest brand campaign in Puma’s history

-- was launched in August and met with a “very positive response” from consumers and retailers, the company stated. The campaign aims to show that ‘Puma is back in sports’. “No other female superstar embodies our brand as well as she does. Rihanna is the global brand ambassador for the Puma category Women’s Training and at the same time is assuming the role of creative director for this area. In this role, Rihanna will incorporate her special flair for style and innovation in our products,” stated Puma in its report on Rihanna, who was born in Barbados but currently lives in the US. The annual report added:

“Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, thus embodies the mission statement ‘Forever Faster’”.

Rihanna Usain Bolt

LOCAL NEWSCARIBBEAN NEWSPage 34 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Bahamian Government minister under police investigation

EMBATTLED Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) MP for MICAL V Alfred Gray has been relieved of his Cabinet post as minister responsible for local government amid a police investigation into allegations that he used his power to interfere with the judicial process. But according to the Nassau Tribune, he still retains his post as minister of agriculture and marine resources. Prime Minister Perry Christie made the announcement in the House of Assembly last week. “In reference to the allegations recently made against Minister Alfred Gray, the member for MICAL, I am advised that the honourable attorney general has referred the matter to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for a thorough investigation,” Mr Christie said. “As a result of this development, Minister Gray has invited me to relieve him of his ministerial responsibility for local government pending the outcome of the police investigation. “In all the circumstances, I consider that this is the correct thing to do.” The prime minister said he has advised Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling to transfer the

local government portfolio from Mr Gray to Minister of Financial Services Hope Strachan. “This change will take place with immediate effect. The member for MICAL is to be commended Mr Speaker for his responsible approach to this matter,” the prime minister added. “This is to be favourably contrasted, Mr Speaker and clearly this Parliament will be plunged into this kind of debate, with cases under the former administration involving allegations of serious and major impropriety on the part of various ministers in separate and unconnected matters. In none of these cases did any of these FNM ministers stand down from all or any part of their ministerial position pending the

outcome of any investigation that may have taken place.” Mr Christie also read into the record a letter given to him today by Mr Gray. In that letter, Mr Gray said the allegations against him are false but urged the prime minister to launch an impartial, i n d e p e n d e n t investigation into the accusations. Mr Gray also wrote that he expects to be vindicated at the

end of the investigation. A statement released today by the Office of the Attorney General confirmed that Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson has referred the matter to police for investigation. “The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in its

Preamble and elsewhere enshrines an abiding respect for the rule of law. Fundamental to the rule of law is the separation of powers and independence of the judiciary. Allegations of executive interference have been levied against a minister of government in relation to a matter involving a resident of Mayaguana. “The attorney general today referred this matter to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for a thorough investigation,” the statement said. Mr Gray has been under fire since the Free National Movement accused him of abusing his power after he contacted the Mayaguana island administrator last week to offer what Mr Gray has called “legal advice” regarding a young man convicted in his constituency. Although Mr Gray has confirmed that he did contact the island administrator, he has strongly denied that he in any way attempted to sway the course of justice. It was claimed by the FNM that following a phone conversation between Mr Gray and administrator Zephaniah Newbold, the latter granted the release of the man he had convicted just days earlier. Mr Newbold is a local magistrate.

V. Alfred Gray

Electioneering gimmicks will not fool Guyanese – President Ramotar

THE promises of Mr David Granger on the sugar sector and the Amaila Falls Hydropower project represent a transparent electioneering gimmick that I am confident will not fool the Guyanese people.”Strong words from a resolute President Donald Ramotar, who, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, minced no words in responding to sentiments expressed by Granger at the Guyana Manufacturing Services Association (GMSA) luncheon on Tuesday. The presidential candidate of the Alliance

of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) speaking to GMSA stakeholders said, “We will also develop hydroelectric power within a project which we have identified as the Potaro Basin Development Authority which could embody the present Amaila Falls.” On the question of the sugar sector, he added,

“We are not going to throw the sugar industry through the window…there is no quick fix, but we are not going to dissolve the sugar industry… it is too big to fail.” The promise of “cheaper energy” and the assurance of support for an industry that is “too big to fail” are not new ideas, according to Mr Ramotar, Granger’s opponent in the race for the presidency. “These are initiatives, assurances and deliverables that this Administration (the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration) brought to the table,” he said. The incumbent President contends that the political Opposition’s stance on support for the sugar sector is a matter of public record, which includes a massive protest last April by sugar workers when the $6B subvention to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was threatened by the parties’ one-seat majority in the National Assembly, which currently stands dissolved. The $6B allocation to the sugar industry, battling climate change and other challenges, was hit in day one of the 2014 Budget debates with Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) maintaining that the

monies represent a handout and contending that good monies are being thrown after bad. Prior to this, APNU, in March 2014, through its member Tony Vieira, called for the significant scaling down of operations at the state-owned GuySuCo. He suggested that those lands used for sowing sugar cane be now used instead for fish farming and cane-derived ethanol. For that matter, he feels that Guyana should get out of the sugar business entirely, because of a number of factors militating against it, such as heavy rainfall; the need for several tons of cane to yield just one ton of sugar; and the inordinate length of time it takes to get the cane to the factory due to a shortage of labour. The ruling party would not hear of it, and in response made it clear that it will continue to work to ensure that the sugar industry remains relevant, and that its employees are secure in their jobs. “The changes in their position are not going to be overlooked. The Guyanese people are aware of what happened. I think Mr Granger is insulting the intelligence of our people,” Mr Ramotar said. Despite its challenges, the current Administration has consistently maintained that the industry remains relevant to the health of the national economy. In 2013, sugar exports accounted for 8.3 percent of total exports valued at US$112.2M, and the industry contributed 3.9 percent of the country’s GDP.

President Donald Ramotar,

Energy investors heading to the Caribbean NEW YORK – An increasing number of investors are heading to the Caribbean as regional countries look for new sources of energy. The energy landscape in the United States has transformed radically in the last few years, and its neighbors have, too,” said CNBC TV in a report on Saturday, noting that Caribbean countries import nearly 99 percent of their

energy, largely in the form of petroleum products. It noted that two countries in the region, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, have, for years, played a “big role” in covering the energy needs of the rest of the region. “But, with Venezuela experiencing an economic implosion, other Caribbean nations are looking for new sources of energy.” It said US interests are

in a particularly good position to invest in the Caribbean’s energy needs as oil prices have fallen. “The Caribbean could offer investors tremendous opportunities,” said Charles K. Ebinger, senior fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the non-profit Brookings Institution. Opening relations with Cuba this year could be “quite dramatic,” Ebinger said.

Cuba is planning wind projects and hopes to produce 24 percent of its own electricity in 15 years, and Puerto Rico hopes that 20 percent of its electricity comes from renewable energy by 2035. The report pointed to World Bank data which indicates that between 2009 and 2013, foreign direct investment in the Caribbean nearly doubled to US$217 billion. Edgar van der Meer, a

senior analyst at NRG Expert, a London- and Toronto-based energy intelligence and market research publisher, said that capital is finding its way into a variety of Caribbean industries, including energy. Ebinger urged investors interested in the Caribbean to look to the wind and solar energy markets, as well as the tourism market, “which will benefit from cheaper and more efficient energy”.


CARIBBEAN NEWS

Guyana Defends Oil Concession in Waters Claimed by Venezuela

Guyana’s government on Saturday rejected the latest objections raised by neighboring Venezuela over the granting to ExxonMobil Corp. of an oil and gas concession in Caribbean waters claimed by both nations. Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said in a statement that the project would continue, saying that Guyana has authority over the offshore area in dispute. Rodriguez-Birkett released the statement a day after an advertisement appeared in Guyana newspapers expressing the unhappiness of Venezuela’s government with Exxon starting exploratory drilling in the 26

million-acre tract earlier this month. The ad said Venezuela

“reserves the right to execute all actions in the diplomatic field and in accordance with international law that might be necessary to defend and safeguard the sovereignty and independence of Venezuela.” Rodriguez-Birkett said Guyana rejects such threats. “The Republic of Guyana has full and unfettered authority to unilaterally explore - with or without partners - and exploit the living and non-living resources within its jurisdiction. Any act or objection to the exercise of such jurisdiction is contrary to

international law,” her statement said. In 2013, the Venezuelan navy expelled a seismic vessel working for the U.S. energy company Anadarko in the general area of Exxon’s concession and detained its crew for about a week before releasing them. Rodriguez-Birkett said such actions have undermined United Nations efforts since 1989 to mediate in the dispute. “Venezuela has on many occasions taken actions and issued statements that are inimical to that process even while it was in full operation - this includes both military actions and strident statements by high officials of Venezuela,” she said.

Royal Caribbean Adds to China Fleet BEIJING—Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is adding to its fleet of ships in China, where the cruise industry and competition within it are heating up. China is now Royal Caribbean’s third-largest market by revenue, after the No. 1 U.S. and No. 2 Europe, a swift move up from No. 50 just five years ago, said Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean’s international operations. To cater to that market, the Miami-based cruise company is bringing a fifth ship, Ovation of the Seas, to China in April 2016, he said. The company is developing dry docks in China for servicing ships and port infrastructure for future cruise routes, he said, declining to disclose financial details. “Potential growth here is greater than the U.S. market,” said Mr. Bayley.U.S. is currently the company’s largest market, at about 50% of its revenue. In the next decade, Mr. Bayley said, he expects China’s cruise industry may match that of the U.S., where Royal Caribbean carries more than two

million passengers each year. Expansion comes as China has become the world’s largest travel market by outbound tourists, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, which estimates that 109 million Chinese traveled abroad in 2014, up 11% from the year earlier. While Chinese are still new to cruises, many are increasingly willing to test out the waters. Last year, China had 697,000 passengers, up 79% from 2013, according to industry group Cruise Lines International Association. That number was just shy of the 701,000 total passengers from all other

Asian markets combined in 2014, the group said Royal Caribbean is revving up amid increased competition. Rival Carnival Corp. has said it was in talks with state-owned China Merchants Group to form two joint ventures that will build cruise ports and ships. The company signed last year a memorandum of understanding with China State Shipbuilding Corp. to convert one of its yards to build cruise ships in partnership with Italy’s Fincantieri SpA. Regional cruise companies are also jumping into the game.

Genting Hong Kong Ltd. said earlier in March it plans to expand its fleet through a $550 million acquisition of luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises from NYK Group Americas Inc., a unit of Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen K.K. “We like to be out in front of the competition,” said Mr. Bayley. The new ship, which will be launched out of the northern Chinese city of Tianjin and sail to countries such as Japan and South Korea, will offer bumper cars, disco roller skating and basketball, he said. He said Royal Caribbean is doubling its marketing spending this year to build brand awareness through TV commercials and digital ad campaigns. He declined to give financial details. Royal Caribbean has also been increasing its partnerships with travel agencies. In November, it struck a joint venture with Ctrip.com International Ltd., one of China’s largest online travel sites, creating a new line called SkySea Cruises that will begin operations with one ship, the Golden Era, out of Shanghai beginning in May.

The Royal Caribbean Cruises ship Mariner of the Seas is docked at the international passenger port in Shanghai.

Delaware family poisoned in

Caribbean condo WILMINGTON -- A Tatnall School administrator and his family poisoned by a banned pesticide at a luxury resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands

“have stabilized and are showing improvement’’ after returning to the United States, their spokesman said Tuesday. Steve Esmond, the head of Tatnall’s middle school; his wife, Dr. Theresa Devine; and two teen sons were sickened during a vacation in the Caribbean island of St. John. The boys, who are in 11th and 9th grade, respectively, at Tatnall, remain in critical condition but all four are getting “tremendous medical care stateside,” said Wilmington lawyer James J. Maron, who is acting as the family spokesman. Maron would not say where the family is being treated, citing their need for privacy while recuperating. Meanwhile, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigators are conducting air samples of the $800-a-night unit at Sirenusa resort, officials said Tuesday. The EPA said they suspect the family was exposed to the pesticide methyl bromide after it was used to fumigate a room at the complex on March 18, four days after the Esmonds arrived for an eight-night stay. The family began showing ill effects on Friday, when they began having seizures, Maron said.They were taken to island hospitals and airlifted back to America by Monday, Maron said. Methyl bromide is an odorless pesticide that can be fatal or cause serious central nervous system and respiratory system damage, according to the EPA. Because of its “acute toxicity,” the pesticide is restricted in the United States and its territories, which include the Virgin Islands, to outdoor use only by certified applicators in certain agricultural settings, the EPA said Monday. Methyl bromide liquid and vapors do not irritate the skin and it can take a couple of days before symptoms ranging from mild to serious appear, according to the EPA. Investigators have confirmed that methyl bromide was applied inside units at the Sirenusa resort “to deal with indoor bugs,” and that the agency knows who applied the chemical, said Judith Enck, administrator for EPA’s region 2, which includes the Virgin Islands. Investigators will be “working backward’’ to determine if other tenants have become ill at Sirenusa or other places where the contractor has fumigated rooms, she said by phone Tuesday from St. Thomas.

“It’s possible people have fallen ill and not known it.”

Traffic snarled across Trinidad as police block roads

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Police in Trinidad and Tobago on Monday blocked major roadways and paralyzed traffic in the twin-island Caribbean nation amid a salary dispute with the government. Roadblocks forced exasperated

motorists to sit in traffic jams for hours. The gridlock kept passengers from reaching the airport, prompting some airlines to delay flights, and forced several businesses and schools to close. Many students were unable to take end-of-term exams. While police are negotiating for higher pay, union officials did not describe the gridlock as a job action. But police welfare association official Roger Alexander implied the police roadblocks would last all day, suggesting that people “walk with your breakfast, lunch and dinner.” He told a morning TV program the roadblocks across the twin-island country were meant to “show the importance of the police on the ground.” The islands’ national security

minister met Monday afternoon in an emergency meeting with leaders of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to try to ease the impasse. Police are demanding a 14 percent salary hike. It’s not clear what the government is offering. Opposition lawmaker Jack Warner urged police to rethink negotiation tactics, saying thousands of law-abiding citizens were being “imprisoned in vehicles that are stranded in the traffic.” “The innocent public should be made to pay the price for the dispute between the police and the government,” Warner said in a statement. Trinidad and Tobago is the second biggest energy producer in the Caribbean after nearby Venezuela.


WORLDNEWSCopilot intentionally destroyed

plane, prosecutor says

PARIS — Ignoring the captain’s frantic pounding on the door, the co-pilot of the Germanwings jet barricaded himself inside the cockpit and deliberately rammed the plane full speed into the French Alps as passengers screamed in terror, a prosecutor said Thursday. In a split second, all 150 people aboard were dead. Andreas Lubitz’s “intention (was) to destroy this plane,” Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said, laying out the horrifying conclusions French investigators reached after listening to the final minutes of Tuesday’s Flight 9525 from the plane’s black box voice data recorder. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the conclusions brought

the tragedy to a “new, simply incomprehensible dimension.” The prosecutor said there was no indication of terrorism, though he did not say why investigators do not suspect a political motive. The inquiry is instead focusing on the co-pilot’s

“personal, family and professional environment” to try to determine why he did it, Robin said. The Airbus A320 was flying from Barcelona to Duesseldorf when it lost radio contact with air traffic controllers and began dropping from its cruising altitude of 38,000 feet. The prosecutor said Lubitz did not say a word as hemanually set the plane on an eight-minute descent into the craggy French mountainside that pulverized the plane.

He said the German co-pilot’s responses, initially courteous in the first part of the trip, became “curt” when the captain began the mid-flight briefing on the planned landing. Robin said the pilot, who has not been identified, left the cockpit when the plane reached cruising altitude, presumably to go to the lavatory. Then the 27-year-old co-pilot took control of the jet as requested. “When he was alone, the co-pilot manipulated the buttons of the flight monitoring system to initiate the aircraft’s descent,” Robin said. The pilot knocked several times

“without response,” the prosecutor said, adding that the cockpit door can only be blocked manually from the inside. The co-pilot said nothing from the moment the captain left, Robin said.

“It was absolute silence in the cockpit.” The A320 is designed with safeguards to allow emergency entry into the cockpit if a pilot inside is unresponsive. But the override code known to the crew does not go into effect — and indeed goes into a lockdown — if the person inside the cockpit specifically denies entry. During the flight’s final minutes, pounding could be heard on the cockpit door as the plane’s instrument alarms

sounded. But the co-pilot’s breathing was calm, Robin said. “You don’t get the impression that there was any particular panic, because the breathing is always the same. The breathing is not panting. It’s a classic, human breathing,” Robin said. No distress call ever went out from the cockpit, and the control tower’s pleas for a response went unanswered.Air traffic control cleared the area to allow the plane to make an emergency landing if needed, and asked other planes to try to make contact. The French air force scrambled a fighter jet to try to head off the crash. Just before the plane hit the mountain, passengers’ cries of terror could be heard on the voice recorder. “The victims realized just at the last moment,” Robin said. “We can hear them screaming.” The victims’ families “are having a hard time believing it,” he added. Many families visited an Alpine clearing Thursday where French authorities had set up a viewing tent for victims’ relatives to look toward the site of the crash, so steep and treacherous that it can only be reached by a long journey on foot or rappelling from a helicopter.

This picture circulating on the internet and social networks allegedly shows Andreas Lubitz, posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in California.

Saudi Arabia leads air strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels

Warplanes from Saudi Arabia and Arab allies struck Shi’ite Muslim rebels fighting to oust Yemen’s president on Thursday, a gamble by the world’s top oil exporter to check Iranian influence in its backyard without direct military backing from Washington. Riyadh’s rival Iran denounced the assault on the Houthi militia group, which it backs, and made clear the kingdom’s deployment of a Sunni coalition against Shi’ite enemies would complicate efforts to end a conflict likely to inflame the sectarian animosities fuelling wars around the Middle East. But a senior Iranian official ruled out military intervention. Warplanes bombed the main airport and the nearby al Dulaimi military air base of the Houthi-held capital Sanaa, residents said, in an apparent attempt to weaken the Houthis’ air power and ability to fire missiles. A Reuters witness said four or five houses near Sanaa airport had been damaged. Rescue workers put the death toll from the air strikes at 13, including a doctor who had been pulled from the rubble of a damaged clinic. Warplanes struck Houthi fighters near Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia, tribal and Houthi sources told Reuters.Yemen’s crisis is escalating, with

Iran backing the Houthis, and Sunni Muslim monarchies in the Gulf supporting Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his fellow Sunni loyalists in Yemen’s south. “We will do whatever it takes in order to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling,” Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, told a news conference in Washington. In Aden, a local official reported that fighters loyal to Hadi retook the airport, a day after it was captured by forces allied to the Houthis advancing on the city. The facility remains closed and flights are canceled. Said Arabia also canceled flights to its southern airports. Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV reported that the kingdom was contributing 100 warplanes to operation “Storm of Resolve” and more than 85 were provided by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan. Jordan and Sudan said their forces were involved in the operation. Egyptian naval and air forces were participating, with four naval ships en route to secure the Gulf of Aden. Pakistan was considering a request to send ground forces. A Saudi official familiar with defense matters told Reuters that a

“land offensive might be needed to restore order.”


Obama slows withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan

President Barack Obama granted Afghan requests to slow the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and said he would maintain a force of 9,800 through the end of 2015 while sticking to a 2017 exit plan. Capping a day of VIP treatment for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the White House, Obama said the U.S. force would be kept at its current strength to train and assist Afghan forces, who took over responsibility for the fight against Taliban and other Islamic militants at the start of the year. Obama said the pace of the U.S. troop reduction in 2016 would be established later this year and the goal

remained to consolidate U.S. forces in the country in a presence at the Kabul embassy at the end of 2016.Under a previous plan U.S. forces were to have been cut to about half of the current level of just under 10,000 by the end of 2015, but U.S. officials said improved relations with Afghan leaders contributed to a revision of the plan. “It was my assessment as commander in chief that it made sense for us to provide a few extra months for us to be able to help on things like logistics,” Obama said during a joint news conference with Ghani at the White House. “The date for us to have completed

our drawdown will not change,” he said. “Providing this additional timeframe during this fighting season for us to be able to help the Afghan security forces succeed is well worth it.” A senior U.S. official told Reuters last week the U.S. military bases in Kandahar and Jalalabad were likely to remain open beyond the end of 2015. Since arriving on Sunday, Ghani has been feted by the Obama administration and is due to address Congress on Wednesday. The welcome contrasts sharply with frosty relations that developed between Washington and Ghani’s predecessor Hamid Karzai. Ghani has repeatedly expressed

gratitude to the American military and at the White House spoke about meeting the widow of Major General Harold Greene, the highest-ranking U.S. officer killed during the 13 years Americans fought in Afghanistan. “The 2,215 Americans that have died, must not die in vain. They must leave behind a legacy of a stable Afghanistan,” Ghani said. Some U.S. lawmakers had also called for a slower drawdown of troop levels. U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry, a Republican who leads the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said the decision announced on Tuesday was

“appropriate.”

Jesse Jackson Jr. to be released from prison

Former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. is set to be released from prison on Thursday to a halfway house in Washington, D.C., after spending roughly half of his 30-month sentence behind bars, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy said on Wednesday. Kennedy, a friend of Jackson, said that he met with the former Illinois lawmaker at an Alabama prison on Monday. Kennedy said Jackson told him his wife, children and parents will be coming to get him on Thursday, before going to D.C. “I think he’s doing great,” said Kennedy, noting that the last time he had seen Jackson, he was being treated for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and was dealing with the prospect of criminal charges. “Obviously, he was a lot more relaxed and at ease with himself and with his past and had a sense of resolve that he knew what he had done

was wrong and now he looked forward to living and trying to be useful,” Kennedy said. Jackson, 50, once considered one of the most promising black politicians in the country, was sentenced in August 2013 to 30 months in prison for misuse of campaign funds. Jackson, the son of civil rights leader the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., had pleaded guilty to misusing about $750,000 in campaign funds on luxuries such as fur capes, celebrity memorabilia, mounted elk heads and a Rolex watch. His wife, Sandi, a former Chicago city council member, was sentenced to one year for falsifying tax returns that failed to report the campaign money as income. The judge ordered Sandi Jackson to report to prison 30 days after Jesse Jackson Jr. was released to reduce the impact on their two children. Jackson Jr. served in Congress from 1995 until he resigned after re-election in 2012, citing health reasons. He was treated for at least six weeks for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic.He was also sentenced to three years supervised release and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service. Sandi Jackson was given 12 months supervised release after she serves time in prison and 200 hours of community service. Kennedy said Jackson was concerned about his wife going to prison, but “he’s seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Jesse Jackson Jr. leaves his sentencing hearing in Washington, August 14, 2013.

UK court rules Prince Charles letters to ministers can be disclosed

Britain’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that 27 “frank” letters written by Prince Charles to ministers in 2004-2005 can be disclosed to the media, a step that could cast doubt over the political neutrality of the future king. The Guardian newspaper has sought for a decade to obtain the letters sent to ministers under then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, but successive

governments have acted to prevent publication for fear of undermining the position of the heir to the throne. Prime Minister David Cameron said the Supreme Court judgment was

“disappointing” and the government would now consider how to release the letters. “This is about the principle that senior members of the royal family are able to express their views to government confidentially. I think most people would agree this is fair enough,” Cameron said. A spokeswoman for Charles at Clarence House, his official London residence, said this was a matter for the government. “Clarence House is disappointed the principle of privacy has not been upheld,” she said. Under Britain’s unwritten constitution, the royal family is supposed to remain politically neutral. Queen Elizabeth has steadfastly kept her opinions to herself during her 63-year reign. Charles, in contrast, has expressed views about subjects close to his heart such as nature conservation, architecture and genetically modified crops. His letters to ministers, nicknamed “black spider memos” because of his scrawled handwriting, are potentially controversial if they create the perception that he disagreed with the government and attempted to influence policies.

Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, departs after a visit to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, March 19, 2015.

Putin says Western spies plot against Russia before polls President Vladimir Putin accused Western spies on Thursday of plotting to undermine his rule and “destabilize” Russia before elections by using public organizations for their own goals. At a meeting of Russia’s Federal Security Service, a successor to the Soviet-era KGB, Putin took aim at non-governmental groups which receive foreign funding, saying Moscow would not relax its scrutiny of

their activities. “The attempts by Western security services to use public, n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations and non-political groups for their own benefit, mostly to discredit the authorities and destabilize the situation in Russia, have not stopped,” Putin was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. “Actions are being planned for the time before the election

campaigns in 2016 and 2018,” the former KGB spy told leading members of the FSB, referring to next year’s parliamentary election and a later presidential poll. In 2012, after mass protests against him, Putin approved a law to force non-governmental organizations which engage in “political activity” to register with the Justice Ministry as

“foreign agents” and file a report to officials every quarter.

Opposition groups say Putin is trying to silence groups which criticize his human rights record and fueled the biggest protests against him in 2011-2012. Since then, critics say he has raised pressure on foreign-funded groups which criticize his stance on Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists in the east are fighting government forces. Putin said he was always open to dialogue

with the opposition, which since the protests has lacked the unity to pose a real threat to the Russian leader and whose leaders fear for their security after the murder last month of Boris Nemtsov, one of the organizers of the mass protests three years ago. “We always listen to constructive criticism of the authorities’ action or lack of action at any level and this dialogue is always useful and simply necessary,” he

said. “But it would be pointless to have debates with those who take orders from an outsider, in the interest of ... another country.” He praised the security services for thwarting the work of more than 300 foreign spies and agents and called on them to tighten procedures to protect state secrets, especially about the military, as today

“it was especially important”.


Young Mexican in need of transplant denied visa by the US

HERMOSILLO, Mexico - A young Mexican who urgently needs a heart and liver transplant has twice been denied a U.S. visa to go to the Mayo Clinic for treatment, he and his family said Wednesday. Jose Chua Lopez, 20, was born with a heart defect and could die if he doesn’t receive the transplants, said his mother, Myra Lopez Martinez. “My world has fallen down,” Chua said. “This needs to be fixed quickly.” Martinez said Chua has an appointment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in 10 days, but was turned down for a visa Tuesday by the U.S. State Department for the second time. The State Department declined to comment specifically on the case, citing confidentiality rules. But spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that

“our team is looking into it. So we’ll see if there’s more information they can provide.” Chua, whose father is an Arizona

resident, had a U.S. visa until he was 15. But when it expired, his family didn’t renew it because they didn’t have money to pay for more trips. U.S.-based Consejo de Latinos Unidos, which helps uninsured people secure medical care, stepped in to try to get Chua to the Mayo Clinic. The organization’s director, Kevin Forbes, said the case was mishandled at the U.S. Consulate in the northern city of Hermosillo, where Chua lives. He said that consulate officials processed an application for a tourist visa when they should have told Chua to apply for a humanitarian visa and that they then failed for weeks to respond to queries about his status. “We have dealt with around two dozen similar international cases,” Forbes said. “They have never denied us a visa. It’s the first time this has happened.” Forbes said the family would file a visa application on humanitarian grounds shortly and he hopes the

problem will be resolved in two or three days. He called the situation an

“absolute abomination.” Chua’s heart has only one ventricle, causing circulation problems that mean blood reaches only one of the four chambers, said Dr. Ernesto Duarte, who treats him. Chua underwent three open-heart surgeries between the ages of 5 months and 12 years, including a cardiac implant that stopped working properly in 2013. At this point Chua’s liver has also been damaged, so he needs a double-organ transplant, a procedure that is not performed in his home country. “The experience in Mexico for a transplant of that complexity is nil,” Duarte said, adding that “nobody can be sure that he won’t deteriorate at any moment.” The doctor added that in severe cases, not performing the surgery in time can make a transplant impossible

later. Chua’s family lives in a modest, one-story home in a potholed suburb of Hermosillo, capital of Sonora state. He shares a room with his brother. Thin and pale with his body swollen from his condition and marked by scars from his operations, Chua is nevertheless active and optimistic about the future. He dreams of becoming a doctor, even though his health problems have so far made it impossible to attend college, work or stand up for long periods. Family and friends in Hermosillo organized fundraisers, sold tamales, hamburgers and seafood and held raffles to defray the initial cost of his potential treatment at the Mayo Clinic. “We needed $15,000 and we put together a little bit more, just for the evaluation” said Lopez. “Afterward, the double transplant would cost around $2 million. ... For now, I don’t want to think about that.”

Singapore pays tribute to Lee Kuan Yew Singapore (AFP) - Singaporeans wept on the streets and queued in their thousands Wednesday to pay tribute to founding leader Lee Kuan Yew after his flag-draped coffin was taken on a gun carriage to parliament for public viewing. More than 26,000 had filed past the coffin before sundown, a government spokesman told AFP, and thousands more were in line outside despite warnings that it could take them up to eight hours to view the casket. After a two-day private wake for the family, Lee’s coffin was taken early Wednesday from the Istana government complex, Lee’s workplace for decades as prime minister and cabinet adviser, to the legislature. It will lie in state there until the weekend. The 91-year-old patriarch died Monday after half a century in government, during which the city-state was transformed from a poor British colonial outpost into one of the world’s richest societies. The government led by his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, apparently surprised by the heavy turnout on day one, announced that Parliament House would stay open for 24 hours a day until Saturday night due to the “overwhelming response from members of the public”. Lee will be cremated on Sunday after a state funeral expected to be attended by several Asia-Pacific leaders even though he was just an MP when he died. Applause and shouts of “We love you!” and

“Lee Kuan Yew!” broke out as the dark brown wooden coffin, covered by the red-and-white Singapore flag, emerged from the Istana in a tempered glass case perched on a gun carriage pulled by an open-topped military truck. Earlier, in scenes that evoked Singapore’s colonial past, the carriage stopped in front of the main Istana building, from where Britain administered the island, as a bagpiper from the local

Gurkha Contingent -- a special guard force -- played “Auld Lang Syne”. As the motorcade left the government complex, many in the crowd along the route to parliament were in tears as they raised cameras and mobile phones to record the historic event. Some threw flowers on the path of the carriage, while office workers watched from high-rise buildings.President Tony Tan and his wife Mary were the first to pay their respects, bowing three times before Lee’s closed coffin in the parliament’s foyer. Queues snaked around the central business district despite the tropical heat and humidity. In true Singaporean fashion the crowds were orderly, with free drinking water and portable toilets set up for mourners. Police commandos helped direct traffic flow and priority queues were created for the elderly, pregnant women and disabled. People from all walks of life turned up to honour the authoritarian former leader known by his initials

“LKY”. “These are amazing scenes. I have not seen anything like this in my lifetime,” said bank executive Zhang Wei Jie, 36.

“LKY is the founder of our country. It is a no-brainer that we have to pay respect. We have taken some time off from work, my supervisor is also here somewhere in the crowd.” R. Tamilselvi, 77, brought two of her granddaughters, each clutching flowers. “Lee Kuan Yew has done so much for us,” she said. “We used to live in squatter (colonies) in Sembawang, my husband was a bus driver. Now my three sons have good jobs and nice houses. The children all go to school. What will we be without Lee Kuan Yew?” Lee first became an MP in 1955 and served as prime minister from 1959, when Britain granted self-rule, to 1990. He led Singapore to independence in 1965 after a brief and stormy union with Malaysia.Singapore now has one of the world’s highest per capita incomes and citizens enjoy near-universal home ownership, low crime rates and first-class infrastructure. Lee was criticised, however, for ruling with an iron fist, jailing dissidents and forcing political opponents into bankruptcy and self-exile with costly libel suits.

A man puts up a poster of Lee Kuan Yew at his shop in Singapore, on March 25, 2015

Distractions a Problem for Teen Drivers An eye-opening new study on teens and driving today reveals that distracted driving may be a much bigger problem than previously thought. With car crashes being the No. 1 killer of US teenagers, researchers at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed almost 2,000 videos from cameras mounted in vehicles

that captured the actions of teen drivers in the moments right before an accident. The study was unusual because researchers rarely have access to crash videos that show what drivers were doing in the seconds before an accident as well as what was happening on the road. AAA examined more than 6,842 videos from cameras mounted in vehicles,

showing both the driver and the view out the windshield. Thanks to the videos, the foundation found that distractions were a factor in nearly 60 percent of the moderate to severe teen crashes studied. That rate was more than four times the previous official estimates from police reports. Distractions included texting and talking on

cellphones, changing tunes on the radio and even grooming.

“The most common was talking to someone in the vehicle,” said Robert Sinclair of AAA New York. AAA said it hopes the findings of the study will make parents more aware of the magnitude of the problem and the potential for disaster.

In 2012, Aaron Deveau, then 18, became the first driver in Massachusetts to be convicted of vehicular homicide by texting. Prosecutors said Deveau was texting Feb. 20, 2011, when his vehicle swerved across the center line of a street and crashed head-on into Donald Bowley’s truck, killing the 55-year-old father of three.


BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGYCARIBBEAN NEWSBUSINESS & TECHNOLOGYBUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Apple co-founder says Apple Watch

Will Flop

Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak doesn’t have a lot of faith in the Apple Watch. He recently opened up about his thoughts on the forthcoming smartwatch and robot technology in an interview. Wozniak (who is the lead engineer for Primary Data) thinks it’s great Apple is redefining technology with exciting new projects. However, he thinks Apple’s pricing for the device is not a savvy move. The watch’s price, which ranges from $350

to $10,000 is outrageous. He even admitted he wouldn’t spend $10,000 for the expensive Edition version unless it came with a special feature or app that would make wearing it all the time worthwhile. He further elaborated that when customer purchases a high-end watch, they don’t buy the watch for apps; they buy the watch for prestige. He explained that the real difference between a $10,000 watch and a $17,000

watch is only the band. The Apple Watch comes in three style options: Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition. The Watch Sport version is the most affordable, featuring an anodized aluminium case, strengthened Ion-X glass and durable bands in bold colors. The moderately expensive version is the Watch. This version features a stainless steel case, sapphire crystal and a wide range of stylish bands. The most expensive version, the Watch Edition, features an 18k gold case, sapphire crystal and beautifully crafted bands. Steve Wozniak also opened up about the future of technology and robots. He has a strong interest in artificial Intelligence. He sees the good and the bad that could come from emerging technologies. He believes computers will eventually take over. People will build devices to do the work for them, and the devices subsequently will take over jobs currently held by human beings. He isn’t sure if people will win or lose once robots take over. He jokingly said if AI technologies end up treating people like pets, he’s going to treat his pet extra nice.

Apple watch

All 650 UK MPs to receive

iPad Air 2 All 650 MPs will be given an iPad Air 2 and a laptop in the wake of the general election in May. The House of Commons Commission announced the hardware refresh on Tuesday, which will cost around £200,000 for each year of the Parliament’s tenure. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Chi Onwurah, who first discovered the information, was highly critical of the government’s decision to lock MPs into Apple’s iOS operating system over what she called a “device independent digital platform”, according to Computerworld. “As we saw with Nigel Mills and Candy Crush, MPs will be using the games, and the iTunes and other features on the iPad,” the MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central said. “Locking some of the most powerful people in the country into a platform that most of my constituents can’t afford seems like a mistake. “And that’s without mentioning the tax avoidance issue. I’m pushing for a device independent digital platform for Parliament.” Commission chairman and Liberal Democrat John Thurso said that due to their use across Parliament since 2012, iPads are “integrated with current business processes and infrastructure”. “A move away from the Apple operating system at this time would incur costs to change these processes,” he said. “Our requirements are for a secure, SIM-enabled tablet with a good life expectancy and capable of supporting future upgrades. “The Apple iPad Air 2 meets these requirements and is competitively priced when compared with similar models.” According to the Times, MPs will be issued with the 16GB WiFi + Cellular iPad Air 2, priced at £499. Whether they will be allowed to choose between the silver, space grey and gold colour versions remains unclear. Currently 209 MPs within the House of Commons own an iPad. Prime Minister David Cameron is a well-known fan of the tablet, and has joked of his love for playing popular games Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja on the device. “It’s quite good, to get your frustration out. If you can’t have a reshuffle, play Fruit Ninja,” he said in 2012.

Facebook brings apps, businesses to Messenger service

Facebook Inc (FB.O) on Wednesday opened up its Messenger service for developers to create apps and for shoppers to communicate directly with retailers, as the Internet company seeks to expand its reach. The new features mark Facebook’s latest effort to transform its mobile messaging service into a full-featured platform with the same pull with consumers and businesses as its flagship 1.4-billion user social network. Facebook unveiled the new features at its annual developer conference in San Francisco, for the first time allowing developers to create apps that function inside the Messenger service used by more than 600 million people. Messenger will feature more than 40 different apps in the next few days, allowing users to send each other sports clips, animations and other items, Facebook said. Among the first apps will be those from ESPN and The Weather Channel.

“This is just the first step toward creating better sharing experiences across this whole family of apps,” Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on stage at the conference. Facebook has amassed a collection of mobile apps in recent years, including photo-sharing app Instagram and messaging service WhatsApp, which Facebook acquired for $19 billion in 2014. But the spotlight was on Messenger during the first day of the two-day event. Facebook hopes to turn its messaging service into one that operates independently of the company’s social media network as it faces intensifying competition from Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) and Google Inc (GOOGL.O), as well as fast-growing messaging apps such as Snapchat and WeChat. Facebook partnered with online retailers Zulily and Everlane to let consumers contact them directly on Messenger to change online orders, such as the color of a shirt, for example,

and be notified when a purchase has shipped. The service will be available in a few weeks. David Marcus, Facebook’s head of messaging products, said in an interview the service was likely to expand to businesses besides retailers. Purchases can be made by sending a message, provided the store has the consumer’s payment information, Marcus said. But he declined to say whether Facebook might eventually process such retail purchases directly in Messenger. The new Messenger apps are meant to improve conversations between users, Marcus said. The ESPN app offers short animated sports clips that fans can send to friends. Facebook must pre-approve apps that seek to be integrated into its Messenger service, rather than downloaded separately. But any developer is free to add basic features that will make portions of their apps compatible with Messenger.

Branson says Virgin working on electric cars

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson’s Virgin Group may take on Tesla Motors Inc and other companies in developing electric cars, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. Branson, whose empire ranges from airlines to music stores, mobile phones and spaceships, said electric cars may be next. “We have teams of people working on electric cars,” Branson told Bloomberg TV in Miami where his Virgin Racing team competed in the all-electric Formula E race that involves battery-powered cars.

“So you never know, you may find Virgin competing with the Tesla in the car business as we do in the space business. We will see what happens.” Branson’s Virgin Galactic is a commercial spaceflight company that competes with SpaceX, which was founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. “We are working with the Virgin Formula E team to develop the plan for next season’s cars,” Virgin Group spokesman Nick Fox told Reuters. “Our aim is to build a leading engine and car for next season. Maybe ultimately that could be used in the broader car market in the future.”

LOCAL NEWSBUSINESS & TECHNOLOGYPage 40 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015

Smartphone use changing our brain and thumb interaction, say researchers Typing text messages, scrolling web pages, and checking your email on your smartphone could be changing the way your thumbs and brain interacts. That’s according to researchers from the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and University of Fribourg. Dr Arko Ghosh, of the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, led the research which involved using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the cortical brain activity in 37 right-handed people, 26 of whom were touchscreen Smartphone users and 11 users of old-fashioned cellphones. A total of 62 electrodes were placed

on an EEG cap worn by subjects to record how the brain processed touch from their thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Brain activity was then compared with the individual commands recorded by each individuals’ phone logs. “We measured people’s brain activity using a bunch of electrodes on the scalp and what these maps indicate is essentially how much of the variance between people we could explain by just looking at the phone logs, so how much brain activity can be explained by looking at people’s history of use on the phones alone,” said Ghosh.

Pointing at brain scans on his computer he added: “For instance these red spots here indicate when you measure the signals of these electrodes a lot of the differences between one person and the next can be explained simply by how much phone they were using in the previous ten days.” Electrical activity in the brains of smartphone users was shown to be enhanced when all three fingertips were touched. According to research student Magali Chytiris, activity in the cortex of the brain associated with the thumb and index fingertips was directly proportional to the intensity of phone

use, as quantified by built-in battery logs. “This activity is related to the amount of use from the past days of phone use,” said Chytiris.

“So we used the logs, the battery logs, from the phone and we found that if the EEG recording was just after the peak of high intensive use then the brain activity was higher.” Ghosh says the results suggest that repetitive movements over the touchscreen surface reshape sensory processing from the hand, with daily updates in the brain’s representation of the fingertips. He believes that cortical sensory processing in the contemporary brain

is continuously shaped by personal digital technology. “Most superficially what we found was that smartphone users have a brain that processes touch differently than people who don’t use smartscreen touch phones,” said Ghosh.

“However, if you dig a bit deeper into the data what you essentially see is that the most recent usage that people accumulated on their smartphones that reflected on the way that brains processed information from their fingertips. So essentially these day-to-day fluctuations that we encounter through our daily lives they imprint

on the brain on the way that it processes information from your hands.” Ghosh says that smartphone use is an ideal way to explore the everyday plasticity of the human brain. “It gives us a very good excuse to go back and look into the phone logs in greater detail to understand how our digital histories could be used to understand brain function and develop real world solutions by studying the real world example of brain plasticity,” he said. The team published their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology.

US urges companies to do more to fight cyber crime

Cyber crime is probably the biggest risk facing companies across the world, and they need to do more to help governments tackle the problem, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin said on Wednesday. “Each of us must recognize this risk is perhaps the most pressing operational risk of our time,” she told the CityWeek conference in London. Financial services firms were making substantial investments in reinforcing their resilience to cyber attacks but they needed to embed this resilience into their existing business units rather than grafting improvements on top of them, she said.

“Such an approach creates multiple levels of defense,” Raskin said. Shorter term “fixes” included sharing information within the sector, focusing on security of third party vendors used by financial service firms, and engaging in a “proactive preparedness effort”, she said. But the risks went far beyond financial services, she added. Cyber threats undermined freedom of expression and hampered global economic recovery, and governments needed to ensure international legal principles that respect state

sovereignty and human rights apply to conduct online as well as offline, Raskin said. “We now need to develop consensus around ways to respond to this threat,” she told the conference. The enormity of the task should not be underestimated as combating cyber crime was like talking about going to Mars and back in a single day, Raskin said. The number of electronic devices in the world has mushroomed from 500 million in 2003 to 12.5 billion by 2010 and could reach 50 billion by 2020, increasing the opportunity for cyber crime.

FAA plans new steps to speed up commercial drone use

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration plans to unveil new steps soon to make it easier for companies to use drone aircraft for specific business operations, according to people with knowledge of the matter.Commercial drone flights are generally banned in the United States, except in a small number of cases where the FAA has granted an exemption. The has agency received more than 750 requests for exemptions to the ban, but has awarded only 48. Now the U.S. aviation regulator intends to streamline the process by no longer requiring companies with exemptions to obtain a new certificate of authority for each new use of a drone, the people familiar with the matter said. The FAA could announce the change

next week, ahead of a congressional hearing on drones scheduled for Tuesday, these people added. The FAA had no immediate comment. The agency has been taking measured steps to ease restrictions on commercial use of drones. The change in policy could be a positive signal to a wide swath of companies that are pushing for federal regulators to remove barriers to commercial uses of automated aircraft, and help foster growth of an emerging sector of manufacturers and service providers built around drone technology. The rule changes also would be a boost for companies that already have exemptions from the commercial drone ban, such as Chevron (CVX.N), Berkshire Hathaway’s BNSF Railway Co (BRKa.N), State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co, and a number of film and media companies. Those companies could get more flexibility to use pilotless aircraft for rail and pipeline inspections, crop surveys and aerial photography for commercials or movies. Companies awaiting exemptions from the overall ban could also benefit, including Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and Yamaha Motor Co (7272.T).

An Amazon delivery drone is seen in this undated handout photo.

Ford recalls over 220,000 vehicles in North America for three issues Ford Motor Co said on Wednesday it is recalling more than 220,000 vehicles in North America for potential issues with door handles, vacuum pump relays and sensors. The No. 2 U.S. automaker said it is recalling 212,911 Ford Explorer SUVs and Ford Police Interceptor utility vehicles from model years 2011 to 2013 because a spring that controls the interior door handle may become loose and cause the door to become unlatched in a side-impact crash, increasing the risk of injury. Ford said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue. Affected are 194,484 vehicles in the United States and its territories, 12,392 in Canada and 6,035 in Mexico,

the company said. Dealers will inspect all four interior door handle assemblies and repair or replace at no cost as needed.Ford said it is recalling 1,725 Lincoln MKT limo and hearse vehicles from model years 2013 to 2015 for a vacuum pump relay issue that could result in an underhood fire. The company said it was aware of two fires, but no accidents or injuries related to the issue. There are 1,586 affected vehicles in the United States and 139 in Canada. Dealers will replace the vacuum pump relay and related wiring at no cost. Ford said it also is recalling 6,472 F-Series Super Duty ambulance vehicles from model years 2011 to 2013, and similar vehicles from with 6.7-liter

diesel engines from model years 2014 and 2015 because an exhaust gas temperature sensor issue may fail to incorrectly identify a high temperature condition in the vehicle. The company said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue, including any patients riding

in the ambulances and emergency vehicles.Affected are 6,322 vehicles in the United States, 96 in Canada and 54 in Mexico. Dealers will update software on the affected vehicles at no cost to address the issue.

Ford Explorer


The Alexandra Resort & Spa is inviting applications for the following positions:

FINISH CARPENTERRESPONSIBILITES•To perform layout fabrication, repair of equipment and structures using wood, glass, plastic, sheet metal and lead.

•General rough inside and outside carpentry work.•Performs carpentry on new construction jobs. •Must be able to manually lift 50# on an intermittent basis. Heavier loads will be handled using other methods

•Provides general maintenance, which includes but is not limited to minor electrical, plumbing, mechanical repairs, appliance repair, drywall, painting

•And any other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Engineer

REQUIREMENTS:•At least 4 or 5 years experience with at least 3 or more those years in a four

star resort property •Three or more years experience in a resort or condominium environment•High school diploma•Completion Certificate of a recognized apprentice program•Equivalent combination of education, training and experience in carpentry

trade.

ROOM ATTENDANTSTo ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the assigned guestroom, work areas and equipment. Must be able to push and pull carts weighing up to 150lbs and be able to climb flights of stairs several times daily.

LABOURERSTo assist in maintaining the buildings of the resort. Must be able to lift 50lbs, bend, stand for long periods of time and must be able to push and pull carts weighing up to 250lbs. Be able to lift 50lbs., bend and stand for long periods of time. Must be able to speak English and understand instructions. Must be in excellent health.

GARDENERSTo assist in, maintaining the grounds of the resort. Duties to include: removal of trash, weeding, mowing, planting, pruning, watering and application of chemicals. Must be of good character. Be able to lift 50lbs., bend and stand for long periods of time. Must be able to speak English and understand instructions. Previous experience is a must. Must be in excellent health.


A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department.Submissions to be no later than April 3rd, 2015


Blue Haven Resort is inviting suitable applications for the position

of Spa Therapist:

Job Requirements/responsibilities:

•Must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a luxury resort and spa. •Graduate from an accredited school of massage and esthetics with a massage certification and esthetic certification.

•The ideal candidate needs to be qualified in Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, Hot Stone Massage, Prenatal massage and Reflexology. Esthetic treatments such as facials, body scrubs and wraps.

•Must possess excellent communication skills.•Must be a team player.•Must have a keen desire to serve the public.•Training and experience in recognized professional product modalities welcomed.

•You will be required to work weekends and public holidays.•Candidate will be required to perform mobile services on board yachts, location and in room treatments.

•Professional training for product lines will be provided.•Reception and treatment booking experience required. •Serve as a catalyst to promote spa services to hotel guests.•The position is commission based.


A copy should also be submitted to the TCI Labour Department.

Submissions to be no later than June 20th, 2014Turks and Caicos Islanders need only apply.

1045 Leeward Highway Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands BWI Phone: 649-339-2277 Fax: 649-339-2286

BUTTERFIELD MOTORS,

LTD.

Is looking for experienced applicant for the follow position

automotive mechanic

Key Functions:Repair automobiles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Perform the duties of a mechanic involved in inspecting, repairing, fabricating, rebuilding and maintaining. Mechanic repair virtually any part on the vehicle or specialize in the transmission system.

Job Duties and Tasks:•Mechanic coordinates activities of technicians, conducts research and testing procedures and ensures the customer’s vehicle is fixed.

•Plan work procedures, using charts, technical manuals, and experience.•Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing vehicles, engines and transmissions.•Examine vehicles to determine extent of damage or malfunctions.•Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.•Test drive vehicles, and test components and systems, using equipment such as infrared engine analyzers, compression gauges, and computerized diagnostic devices.

•Perform routine and scheduled maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups.

•Repair manual and automatic transmissions.•Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

•Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

•Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to the job.

•Use of computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

•Provide guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

•Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Skills:•Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives to repair vehicles.

•Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

•Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

•Managing one’s own time and the time of others. Teaching others how to do necessary tasks.•Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

•Bilingual (English/Spanish) •Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.•Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Qualifications:•Mechanical certification from accredited institution.•Thorough knowledge of all vehicle repair aspects including, but not limited to: Engine, Transmission, and Electrical among others.

•10+ years experience in Automotive Repair, with minimum 5 years in Chevrolet Brand vehicles. •Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

•Service assistant must have extensive practical experience in vehicle servicing and repairs, together with experience in supervising technicians and dealing with customers.

•Proficiency with computers to input necessary data and communicate with management. •Experience with Customer and Personal Service. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

general auto body Shop

Job Description:Ensuring that repairs in the Service department are performed correctly and efficiently and that

the service department maintains a high level of customer satisfaction in the Body Shop.

Job Duties and Task-Perform the following repairs or replacements: •Auto body repair mechanic will repair damaged vehicles after traffic collisions and other accidents. They also repaint the vehicles once the repairs are complete.

•The auto body technician is responsible for repairing a wrecked or damaged car and restoring it to its original condition. The auto body technician’s job is to remove dents when a car has been in an accident.

•The auto body technician also fixes cars that have been vandalized or have become worn due to wear and tear or by weather. Technicians must have the ability to work on a variety of different cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles that need repair work.

• Auto body technician should know the correct procedure and the correct equipment and tools to get the job done. He must know how to prepare a car with the correct putty. Masking of the vehicle must be done to ensure that the chrome, windows and other parts don’t get paint on them

•Minor electrical system repairs, Surface preparation for refinishes, Minor Cab Accessory repair/replacement, Minor Cargo Box repairs

•Maintain work area appearance and safety•Other projects and tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Skills & Experience•10 years of related experience (or an equivalent combination of related education and experience) required.•High School Diploma or equivalent required•Vocational/technical school preferred•Certification of completion of technical school specializing in the repair/refinish •Working knowledge of tools of trade (including welding equipment, paint equipment, shop machines, and power tools) required•Body Shop Procedures Certificate •The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The associate must regularly lift and /or move up to 25lbs/12kg, frequently lift and/or move up to 50lbs/23kg and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100lbs/45kg. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the associate is regularly required to stand; walk; sit and talk or hear. The associate is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arm

Competitive Salary commensurate with work experience and qualifications.

All interested applicants should submit an updated resume by e-mailing [email protected]

LOCAL NEWSBUSINESS & TECHNOLOGYPage 42 TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 27TH, 2015 – APRIL 3RD, 2015


BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

HJ Heinz buying Kraft and building a $28 billion food giant

NEW YORK — H.J. Heinz Co. is buying Kraft Foods, creating one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world with annual revenue of about $28 billion. The Kraft Heinz Co. will own Kraft, Heinz, Oscar Mayer, Ore-Ida and large stable of other brands. Eight of those brands have annual sales of $1 billion or more and five others log sales between $500 million and $1 billon every year. The deal to bring together the two companies, each more than a century old, was engineered by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital. The two will invest another $10 billion in the new company. The merger comes as well-established food producers struggle to keep up with shifting appetites. Consumers are seeking more unprocessed foods, and have migrated away from one-time staples of the American diet.Buffett, however, said both companies have a strong base. He has been investing steadily on both of them for quite a while.

“I think the tastes Kraft and Heinz appeal to are pretty enduring,” Buffett said in a telephone call to the business news channel CNBC. The massive deal materialized rapidly, Buffett said, having been in the works for only about four weeks or so. There are plans for at least four new products this year, Buffett said, and that there is a lot of freedom to sell

the company’s products outside of the U.S. and Canada. Since splitting from Mondelez International Inc. in 2012, Kraft’s business has been primarily concentrated in the U.S. and Canada. All of its manufacturing capacity is in those two countries, according to the company’s annual report. Kraft Heinz will maintain headquarters in Pittsburgh, where Heinz is based, and also in the Chicago area, where Kraft resides. Shares of Kraft jumped nearly 34 percent Wednesday before the opening bell. Kraft shareholders will receive stock in the combined company and a special cash dividend of approximately $10 billion, or $16.50 per share. Each share of Kraft will be converted into one share of Kraft Heinz. Current Heinz shareholders will own 51 percent of the combined company, with Kraft shareholders owning a 49 percent stake. Annual cost savings estimated to be $1.5 billion are expected to be booked by the end of 2017.

Buffett and 3G Capital snapped up Heinz in a deal valued at $23.3 billion two years ago. Heinz CEO Bernardo Hees will become CEO, Alex Behring, Heinz chairman and managing partner at 3G Capital, will be chairman. Kraft CEO and Chairman John Cahill will become vice chairman. The Kraft Heinz board will include six directors from the current Heinz board. Those six directors will include three members from Berkshire Hathaway and three members from 3G Capital. The current Kraft board will appoint five directors to the combined company’s board. The deal still needs a nod from federal regulators as well as shareholders of Kraft Foods Group Inc., but the boards of both companies unanimously approved it. The planned closing is set for the second half of the year. Kraft Heinz plans to keep Kraft’s current dividend per share once the transaction closes. Kraft has no plans to change its dividend before the deal is complete.

This file photo shows containers of Heinz ketchup on the shelf of a market

Google poaches Morgan Stanley’s CFO Google Inc hired Morgan Stanley Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat as its own finance chief, a sign Google is aiming to rein in costs as it invests in new businesses such as self-driving cars and internet-connected eyeglasses. Porat has helped execute a sweeping cost-cutting strategy across several business lines at Morgan Stanley. The bank cut its expenses, excluding compensation, to 29 percent of its revenue last year, down from 34 percent in 2012. Google’s costs have jumped as the company embarked on an increasing number of ambitious projects. Last year, the company’s revenue grew 19 percent, while total expenses rose 23.4 percent, a trend that alarmed some analysts. “You want someone to come in there and push back against the free spenders,” said Colin Gillis, an equity research analyst at BGC Partners, a brokerage, adding that investors hope Porat will be that person.Google’s shares rose as much as 2.5 percent on Tuesday after Porat’s appointment was announced by both companies. She will start her new job on May 26. Porat is the latest among a string of Wall Street executives to leave an industry that is increasingly regulated to move into the more free-wheeling technology sector, where fortunes can be built fast but businesses can also become irrelevant overnight.Total compensation to Google’s departing CFO was twice as much as Porat’s for the three years through 2013 - $62.2 million vs $29.6 million, according to public filings by the companies. Google has not disclosed how much it expects to pay Porat. She joined Morgan Stanley in 1987, and led Morgan Stanley’s investment banking business for tech companies during the Internet boom, working with Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc, among others.Some analysts took her appointment as a sign Google acquisitions could pick up.

Porat ran the investment banking business for financial companies including banks, and during the financial crisis she became Morgan Stanley’s point person with regulators and other government officials in Washington. Porat, 57, was considered a potential candidate to become chief executive whenever current CEO James Gorman steps down. But several high-level Morgan Stanley sources who have spoken to Reuters about succession planning over the past two years said she was not seen as a top contender. Instead, they pointed to two other executives – Gregory Fleming, 52, who runs wealth management and asset management, and Colm Kelleher, 57, who runs investment banking and trading – as more likely contenders. Some observers saw gender bias at play, given her qualifications and Wall Street’s history as a male-dominated industry. At an event last year, Porat criticized the lack of female leadership in corporate America as “an embarrassment.” “If a woman ‘leans in,’ but is leaning against a door that is nailed shut, no amount of leaning will bust down the door,” she said. “So I think we must hold our organizations accountable where they control the doors by demanding clarity and transparency around succession planning.” Critics have also accused Silicon Valley’s culture of being hostile to women. Ellen Pao, a former partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, is suing her firm for discrimination. The trial heads into final arguments on Tuesday.

WALL STREET IS LESS FUN

Porat joins an array of bankers, analysts, and other executives that have left Wall Street as strict post-crisis regulations have made the business safer and stodgier. Some of these executives have headed

into the technology sector, including Anthony Noto, once an investment banker at Goldman Sachs Group Inc, who last year became CFO at Twitter Inc. In 2010, Mary Meeker, a widely followed tech analyst at Morgan Stanley, left the bank to join Kleiner Perkins. Porat has ties to Silicon Valley, having spent much of her childhood in California and attended Stanford University, where she serves on the board of trustees. She has spent time building her connections with Washington. During the financial crisis, she led the Morgan Stanley teams advising the U.S. Treasury on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the New York Federal Reserve Bank on American International Group Inc.

Morgan Stanley Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat. Morgan Stanley announced that Porat, 57, would be leaving at the end of April to head back to Silicon Valley where she has professional and personal roots, to become CFO of Google.

German court bans Uber’s ridesharing service BERLIN - A German court banned Uber from offering its ridesharing service nationwide on Wednesday, adding to the company’s troubles in Europe. Frankfurt state court spokesman Arne Hasse said the ruling

banning the UberPop service from offering rides with drivers who don’t have taxi permits was issued Wednesday. The ruling can be appealed. The ruling stems from a suit brought against Uber by a German taxi

association, which was heard in Frankfurt because it is one of several German cities where Uber launched operations. The court issued an injunction banning Uber from operating last summer but lifted it a few weeks later,

saying that while it considered Uber’s practices illegal an emergency injunction wasn’t justified. Uber also has hit trouble in the Netherlands, Spain and France, which has effectively banned its service.

Uber said it regrets the Frankfurt court’s ruling, calling it “a defeat for all those who want more choice in their personal mobility.” It added that it is “working on an alternative ridesharing offer that we are

adapting specifically to the formalities in Germany,” but didn’t elaborate. Taxi associations accuse Uber of allowing its drivers to skirt safety and insurance regulations that conventional cabs have to abide by.


LOCAL SPORTS

“TCI MEN’S NATIONAL BEACH SOCCER TEAM TO TRAVEL TO EL SALVADOR FOR THE CONCACAF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP”

CONCACAF’s Beach Soccer Championship serves as a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifying tournament for teams from the CONCACAF Confederation. The 2015 tournament will be held at Estadio de Futbol Playa in Costa del Sol, El Salvador on March 28- April 4. The official draw, in which TCIFA’s Executive Committee member responsible for Beach Soccer and the coach of the TCI Men’s National Beach Soccer Team (Tamara Hall, and Ricardo Henry, respectively) attended in late January of this year, revealed four groups of participating member associations. The groups were labeled A-D, in which the Turks & Caicos Islands was drawn at random into group B, along with Trinidad & Tobago, Guadeloupe, and Mexico. Tamara Hall noted that “The TCIFA and its Beach Soccer Standing

Committee are overjoyed to have the TCI Men’s National Beach Soccer team entering into this year’s Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifying tournament. Our national team is comprised of many young and enthusiastic players with a deep passion for the game, and I believe that this, along with their skills, will be the driving force towards our success.” In preparation for the upcoming tournament, number of practice sessions were increased and intensified. In light of this, FIFA certified Beach Soccer Coach, Eduard Loewen, was invited for a second time to host a beach soccer course on March 12-16, 2015. The team worked on defense patterns, defending & attacking corners, and defense formations. The course also included informative outdoor interactive training sessions and games. Special attention, in this

regard, was given to the technical and tactical aspects of the game. Taking part in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, are sixteen countries overall, with nine teams hailing from the Caribbean zone, five from the Central American zone, and two from the Northern American zone. Two top teams from each of the four groups will advance into the Quarter Finals. One top team from each group will then advance into the semi-finals, of which the remaining two finalists will compete for advancement into the 2015 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Portugal, July 9-19, 2015.

The TCI Men’s National Beach Soccer Team consists of players Sean O’Neill, Ian Jones, James Rene, Patrick Slattery, Alexander Bryan, Marco Fenelus, Makenson Cadet, Peterson Evariste, Herby Magny, Christopher Bryan, Carlo Guilaume, and Wildens Delva. Travelling along with the team will be, Tamara Hall (Team Manager), Ricardo Henry (Head Coach), Craig Harrington (Technical Director), Fraser Dods (Team Doctor), and Dominique Rolle (PR Manager). We wish the TCI Men’s Beach Soccer National Team All the best and good success in the tournament.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2015 KICKOFF! PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands; Wednesday, March 19, 2015 - The Turks & Caicos Islands Women’s Football League (WFL) kicked off this past Sunday, March 15th, 2015 at the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association’s (TCIFA) National Academy. The event was opened with greetings from Ms. Candace Hanchell, Executive Director responsible for Women’s Football, this was then followed by a beautiful rendition of the country’s national song which was sang by Ms. Christma Jean Louis, member of the women’s national team. The first game of the season saw AFC Academy U15 girls –v- AFC Academy senior team. Approximately nineteen members of the U15 girls exuded confidence as they prepared for the game in a well conducted warm up session. The senior Academy team discussed their strategy in preparation for the kick off. The first half was very impressive as the

U15 girls were able to hold off the senior Academy team and prevented them from scoring. It was evident that the U15 girls skills and fitness level has improved as they were able to gain possession and carry the ball. This half produced no goals for either of the teams. The tempo was upped during the second half by the senior Academy team, as they continuously made quick passes and made many attempts on goal. These attempts proved beneficial as they were victorious with a final score of 0 –v- 4 for the senior Academy team. Scoring for the senior Academy team were Vanessa Joseph (1 goal), Christma Jean Louis (1 goal), Veneisha Alfrena (1 goal) and unfortunately U15 girls scored an own goal. The U15 Academy girls left the field in high spirits as they chatted about their next game and what strategies and plays they will implement to secure

their first win. Coach Olivia Gravely of the U15 Academy Girls expressed her delight and enthusiasm with the girls’ performance for the day and stated

“given that today is the first league game that the U15 girls has ever played, I am quite impressed with the turn out and the level of performance.” Coach Ronald Graham of the senior Academy team congratulated the U15 Academy girls on a job well done and stated “I am looking forward to working with some of the U15 girls in the near future as they will eventually get older and will have to be a part of the senior Academy team. I am also pleased of the senior Academy team’s results today; however, we do have to work on raising the level of fitness.” On Sunday, March 22, 2015 the WFL will see Net Rockers, FC –v- AFC Academy U15 Girls at the TCIFA’s National Academy. The public is invited to attend.


LOCAL NEWS

ST. KITTS vs. TURKS AND CAICOS

Saint Kitts and Nevis

18. Juliani Archibald6. Orlando Mitchum17. Zephaniah Thomas5. Tesfa Robinson7. Ryan Robbins14. Mudassa Howe13. Thrizen Leader15. Errol O’Loudhlin11. Atiba Harris10. Harrison Panayuotou3. Gerard WilliamsTechnical: Jeffrey HazelCHANGES8. Tishan Hanley x Robbins (53)2. Nile Walwyn x Leader (81)20. Barnes x Panayuotou Evansroy (90‘)

Turks and Caicos Islands28. Ian Jones8. Herby Magny25. Marcdonald Fenelus2. James René5. Wildens Delva17. Dady Aristide21. Widlin Calixte4. Alex Bryan11. Marco Fenelus7. Billy Forbes (Captain)15. Alcide Evens

Technician: Craig HarringtonCHANGES20. Fred Dorvil x Aristide (51 ‘)

27. Lenford Singh x Delva (70)GOALS: SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS: (1-0) Atiba Harris (18 ‘), (2-1) Orlando Mitchum (41’), (3-1) Orlando Mitchum (45), (4-1) Tishan Hanley (68 ‘), (5-2) O’Loudhlin (85’), (6-2) Mitchum (90’). TURKS AND CAICOS: (1-1) Billy Forbes (21 ‘), (4-2) Tesfa Robinson (ag 73’).REFEREE: Sherwin Moore (Haiti). He drove straight red to Mudassa Howe (26 ‘), St. Kitts and Nevis.STADIUM: Warner Park (Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis). Fought the good fight until the endDespite pressure from the Turks and Caicos Islands until the very end of the game, with a collapse of defense at the very end St. Kitts defeated the TCI with a final score of 6-2. The series between St. Kitts and Nevis and Turks and Caicos, which will rival El Salvador in the second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches, provided more drama than expected. St. Kitts came to impose conditions from the start utilizing three effective strategies: possession, occasions and pressing. The home side, forming a 4-4-2 with diamond in the middle displayed a faster, more aggressive approach to address the ball and, above all, more forceful on

the mark. That was why the first quarter of an hour was a flurry of opportunities for St. Kitts, albeit squandered, they had lost three clear opportunities, including a penalty for a foul in the area over the steering wheel Atiba Harris Thomas crashed Zephaniah the bar, after 12 minutes. In this section the local goalkeeper, Juliani Archibald, only touched the ball twice. The first was for a goal kick after a deflected shot and the second to contain a soft shot Vinceroy Nelson. At 18’ St. Kitts drew first blood when Atiba Harris crossed the ball into the net after a pass of central depth from a teammate. After 21 minutes Turks and Caicos responded to St. Kitts when their goalkeeper, misjudging a split shot, let the ball bounce and lost an attack from Billy Forbes who anticipated the window of opportunity and lobbed the ball into the net. Then came an error from Howe of St. Kitts who collided with excessive force with Dady Aristide and drew a red card. The two errors caused panic in the local public, but apparently not in the team, despite the adversities, St. Kitts continued to dominate with a complacent rival defense which conceded a goal within minutes but was ruled out for technical violation.

At 41 minutes, St. Kitts scored a goal from a ball that was travelling on goal-line despite a series of defensive rejections from the corner, giving a jump in the lead to the home team.However, Turks and Caicos was determined to continue fighting.Still, at 45 ‘, St. Kitts shook another defensive rejection and with a powerful left hook, solidified the score at 3-1.

SHOW OF ERRORS

The second half highlighted the shortcomings of both teams. The first to raise his hand for error was goalkeeper for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Ian Jones who could not reach the byline but soft shot from outside the box of Tishan Hanley at 68 minutes and 4-1. That anxiety grew to such an extent that the house began advancing lines almost by inertia. Turks and Caicos continued to press with attacker Billy Forbes creating a couple of arrivals, one of which ended with own goal from defender Tesfa Robinson in 73 minutes’.Despite a surge of confidence at 4-2, team TCI could not make the best of opportunities from Marco Fenelus and Lenford Singh, because in the final minutes of the game O’Loudhlin scored two more goals (85 ‘) and Mitchum (90’) decreed the blunt end at 6-2.

TCIFA’S Gianni Ascani Appointed FIFA Referee

TCIFA’s most recently appointed FIFA referee was given his first assignment. Gianni Ascani will be flying the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Flag in the prestigious Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup tournament in Dallas, Texas, USA. The annual tournament has been scheduled to occur from March 29 to April 5, 2015; and attracts club teams from all overthe United States, South America, Central America, Africa and Europe. The Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup is the oldest international youth football tournament in the United States, and one of the largest and most highly competitive youth football tournaments in the world.

This tournament will compromise of seven age groups ranging from under-13 to under-19. “I am honored to represent the TCI and TCIFA at the Dallas Cup. I am currently investing as much extra time as possible to prepare myself and get fitter. This includes extra running, and strength exercises, analysis of game situations, polishing my knowledge on the laws of the games, etc,” says Gianni. “It will be exciting to meet all these referees from North America, Japan, Australia, Europe, and to exchange experiences. There will also be top youth teams from all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Spain

and England.” Gianni went on to express that international exposure from the Dallas Cup would, indefinitely, play an important part in his personal and professional development. Sonia Bien-Aime, President of the TCIFA noted that “this is, no doubt, a great opportunity for Gianni and the TCIFA, as it gives our youth and senior officials something to aspire to. As Gianni enters an arena with other professional referees from around the world, we have every confidence in him that he will represent the Turks& CaicosIslands and the TCIFA very well.” We wish Gianni all the best.

Gianni Ascani


CARIBBEAN SPORTSUsain Bolt will not win Rio 2016 100m final’. So who will?

Rio 2016 will be a miserable Olympics for Usain Bolt and Great Britain. That’s if the predictions of Dutch company Infostrada come to pass. The statistics firm tracks events around the world in all Olympic sports, then converts those results into a formula to predict who will win each Olympic medal. At London 2012, Infostrada almost exactly forecast the British team’s total of 65 medals. This time around, the latest update of its “virtual medal table” suggests the United States will once again lead the way, ahead of China, while Britain suffers a spectacular slump -- and Bolt misses out on men’s 100m gold for the first time since 2004. Team GB’s bosses have set a target of bettering their 65-medal tally from 2012. But Infostrada says they’ll do well to reach 45 in Rio. “It’s bad news,” admits Simon Gleave, head of analysis at Infostrada Sports. “GB is not going to perform anything like it did in London. “We should expect a drop-off anyway, because London came with all sorts of advantages as the hosts, but this drop-off -- as it stands -- is quite large.” Track cycling leaves a gaping hole in British medal hopes. Infostrada’s algorithm gives the Britons just one gold medal and

two silvers in the Rio velodrome, in stark contrast to the seven Olympic titles won on their home track in 2012. Recent world championship failures are to blame. In triathlon, a run of recent fourth-place finishes for defending Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee means he doesn’t even make the top three in 2016. His brother, Jonny, is forecast to pick up silver. ‘Bolt has competed in nothing’That, however, pales in comparison to one huge absence at the top of the Rio podium. Jamaican legend Bolt, 28, is predicted to miss out on Olympic 100m gold next year. “We’ve got Bolt second at the moment, behind Justin Gatlin,” says Gleave. Gatlin, the American who served a four-year drugs ban between 2006 and 2010, won bronze at London 2012 -- where Bolt completed his second successive Olympic treble, winning 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold meals. Bolt has dominated the 100m for the better part of a decade, winning the world titles in 2009 and 2013 alongside his two Olympic gold medals. Only in 2011, when he false-started, has he missed out. So how come Infostrada doesn’t rate his chances? “It’s because of the lack of events he has taken part

in,” explains Gleave. “Bolt has competed in nothing that goes into this (formula) since 2013, whereas Gatlin has competed in a ton of events.” In other words, Bolt’s preference for racing only on rare occasions earns him a penalty. Gleave concedes that Bolt should, in reality, not be so easily written off -- pointing out that Infostrada also had Bolt missing out on gold at London 2012, a prediction that was blown apart in an Olympic record time of 9.63 seconds. If Bolt competes, as expected, at this summer’s World Championships in Beijing, a gold medal there would be likely to restore his place above Gatlin in the rankings. “In a way, that’s what makes this nice,” says Gleave, defending the system. “It’s dynamic, it changes all the time. “If someone returns to the top, we can watch that happening over the weeks and months before the Olympic Games starts.” There’s better news for Michael Phelps. The 29-year-old American, an 18-time Olympic champion, looked set to retire after London 2012 but has instead launched a comeback. Despite few race appearances since 2012, his performances are strong enough for Infostrada’s formula to declare him a multiple medalist at Rio 2016 -- if he qualifies.

Usain Bolt

West Indies captain deflects questions about leadership after WCup loss

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - West Indies captain Jason Holder had to deflect more questions about his leadership Saturday after the team’s 143-run loss to New Zealand in the quarterfinals of the Cricket World Cup. There were concerning signs of dissent on the field against his captaincy as it seemed senior players such as Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy and Sulieman Benn were countermanding Holder in setting fields while Martin Guptill hit his record 237. Not so, Holder said. This was just evidence of the West Indies’ consultative leadership style. “When we play cricket we always

ask for input from our players,” he said. “(Darren) Sammy’s a senior player and (Sulieman) Benn is also a senior player so we always try to get input from everybody and always get the best views about how to get batsmen out at a particular stage of the game. “The ball was going all over the place at one stage and when people are set it’s difficult to contain them. It was just one of those days when we didn’t execute our game plan and we paid for it.” The West Indies have been through many upheavals in recent times with selection controversies, player rebellions and even questions over Holder’s appointment to

the captaincy at the age of 23. Holder now has to deal with the appointment of Phil Simmons as the team’s new coach, though he said he was looking forward to forming a partnership with the former player. “Obviously, Phil Simmons is named the new coach,” he said.

“Our main focus at this point is to get ready for the England series. We’ll obviously sit and have some discussions and come up with a plan going forward. “I’m looking forward to working with him, it’s my first time working with him so I’m just looking forward to that.” Holder said he was proud of the way he had conducted himself

in the captaincy in often difficult circumstances. “I think I’ve taken a lot, I’ve been through a lot,” he said. “There’s been criticism coming left, right and center and I’m proud of myself the way I stood up. “I’m not one to shirk away from responsibility or dip my head when things get tough. I expected a tough job when I accepted the captaincy. It’s been a tough time but we’ve had some very good times and I’ve learned a lot just in terms of how to manage our players and get the best out of our players. It’s been a challenge, yes, but one that I’ve enjoyed.”


WORLD SPORTS

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 12