EDITORIAL: SACRIFICING EDUCATION ON THE ALTAR OF LAW AND ORDER
In 1991 when C. Washington Misick became Chief Minister of our country, he was offered a development package by the British government that included the building of a prison. Mr. Misick asked that instead of allocating those funds to prison building, if it could be reassigned to the building of the Community College. He was told no! the money was earmarked for that purpose, and if you want to make use of those funds, that was what it was going to be spent on. Mr. Misick then advocated for the prison to be built in Middle Caicos for a number reasons in particular. The first one being that it would create some employment opportunities in that island, the use of agriculture as a rehabilitative exercise would be beneficial and seeing that it would be isolated from regular community activities, it would act as a deterrent. The British put nix to those proposals and said that the prison would be built in Grand Turk and available land must be found on which to erect it. It was their “British taxpayers’ money”, so it was a take it or leave it scenario. We know what happened. Johnston Construction built the prison in Grant Turk and the rest was history!
The same mentality that obtained in the 1990s can still be seen today, and they are using our money that we raised to carry out their agenda. Now that is the galling part. Even though they are responsible for preparing the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to relieve themselves of the yoke of colonialism, they continue to pay scant regard to that responsibility. Their focus is on law and order and the social, economical and educational advancement of the people over whom they lord just go out the window.
Let us examine things in the light of the recently “debated” budget for 2012/13. It can be said that I have taken a fool’s comfort in the number that there will be a projected surplus of some $3.7M. Since that is a significant “millstone”, that had to be met in order that elections can take place this year, I have no problem with that. However, it is the underlying numbers that give me pause and a reason to be concerned. As is captioned above, I would concentrate on the stark disparity between education and law enforcement.
I understand from the PS/Finance that the reduction in allocation for scholarships has been reduced to $2.65M this year because there are 70 or so returning students that no provision needed to be made for. But when I looked at the outturn of $3.823M for last year, something is definitely wrong with that picture. What was not said, was how many scholarships would be available to be given to students wanting to study abroad on government sanctioned programmes. While it is clearly laudable that, if programmes can be offered at the community College, that overseas funding should not be made available. If it is the express intention to build capacity at home, I am all for that once it does not take away from the beneficial experience of a proper education.
However, when you look at the subvention for the Community College this year, you would see that there is a reduction of some $200K. That does not reflect the stated pronouncement or policy decision. If it clearly the view that there should be more home grown educational attainment, then there must be a commensurate uptick in the subvention to reflect such a policy.
The numbers then reflect that in addition to staffing and other costs of the Education Department, there is just $4.25M allocated for ongoing education and training. The law and order component of the budget paints a different picture. First of all for SIPT and civil recovery there is $13.4M and added to that close to another $1M for the conversion of the former Myrtle Rigby Health Complex into additional court rooms to accommodate the impending trials of those persons that have had their sufficiency hearings and must attend at the Supreme Court on charges that include conspiracy and money laundering. Those amounts in and of themselves represent THREE times that for education. So you can see what the priority of the British continues to be with respect to Turks and Caicos islanders.
They see no problem in underfunding education or the social safety nets that would bolster the self-worth of the people of this country. Their response then, as it is now is to build bigger prison systems to take care of those persons that have fallen by the wayside because they were not given adequate opportunities to avail themselves to a proper education that would take them off the streets and into meaningful and beneficial occupational pursuits!
The British over the years have abdicated their responsibility to our country. They have failed in their oversight over time, and when the proverbial mess hits the fan, then, their reaction is to yank the chains of control, take absolute change and then do really nothing to alleviate the situation. On the one hand, they have said they have put in place systems that should work. However, instead of allowing that to happen, they put in another layer to insulate and isolate themselves fro the people that they are responsible for.
If you tell a child that the fire is hot and will burn him and every time he goes near the flame you pull him back, he will never know what the real effects are. Sometimes you have to allow him to get burn so that he can of his own volition put in mitigating measures to protect him from getting burn again in the future.
So what we can see from the 2012/13 budget is that it reflects the priorities of our British masters rather than what is required by the rank and file Turks and Caicos Islander. As flawed as the Consultative Forum might be, many of their members spoke to these inconsistencies. But like everything else, Todd will grin, smile and say in spite of what you who are feeling it say, I know best for you and would act accordingly and sign into law whatever Appropriations Bill that he sees fit so to do!
Royal s. Robinson, MBE
Police News
POLICE are investigating a burglary at a property in Pete Court, Kew Town.
The apartment was entered sometime between 9.30am on Thursday and 6.45pm the same day.
TWO laptop computers and a quantity of jewellery were taken during a break-in at a house in Kakeka Street, Grace Bay.
The incident occurred between 7.30am and 11.15pm on Thursday.
A WHITE 1993 Land Rover Discovery 3 REO was stolen from the side of the road by the Seven Stars roundabout in Grace Bay, sometime on Monday.
A QUANTITY of cannabis was seized by officers patrolling in the Bight, yesterday.
The drugs were taken away and will now be destroyed.
GRAND TURK
A MOTORIST was fined a total of $1,500 when he appeared before Magistrates in Grand Turk.
Jason Smith, was found guilty of dangerous driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed driving and using a vehicle without valued insurance.
TRACEY Prospere was fined $250 after being found guilty of driving without a seatbelt by Magistrates in Grand Turk.
SOUTH CAICOS
A QUANTITY of Acer and HP laptops computers were taken from the School for Field Studies in South Caicos.
The theft occurred sometime between 7.30pm on Wednesday and 7.20pm on Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 911 or Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477.
Tips can also be left in English, French or Spanish at www.crimestoppers.tc or by becoming a friend of Crimestoppers TCI on Facebook.
Crime prevention tips are also available by visiting www.tcipolice.tc
TCI prepares for 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Turks and Caicos Islands preparations for the forthcoming 2012 Atlantic Hurricane continue apace Horatio Tuit, Assistant Director, TCIG Department of Disaster Management will explain later today, Fri, 25 May 2012.
Tuit will speak at a multiagency meeting held on Providenciales where the initial hurricane forecast for this year will be promulgated and he will remind all involved that disaster preparation is everyone’s business, the Department for Disaster Management’s theme for 2012.
The following activities are part of the TCI’s preparations:
- Hurricane Preparedness Meeting: Provo - 25th May 2012
The DDME is holding a preparedness meeting in advance of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season today and involve at all Response Agencies in Providenciales as well as the District Commissioners' Office in North and Middle Caicos. The meeting will receive from DDME the Hurricane Forecast for 2012, a briefing on the updated Disaster Management Structure for TCI and the Standing Operating Procedures for the Emergency Operations Centre. It is also expected that the various agencies represented will update the DDME on their state of preparedness.
- United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories & Bermuda: 5th Annual Disaster Management Seminar - 28th to 30th May 2012
This is an annual meeting for Directors of Disaster Managers and staff of the Governor's Offices from the five UK Caribbean Overseas Territories & Bermuda to meet and finalise plans ahead of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. They are supported by departments from the United Kingdom Departments that would normally provide support to the Overseas Territories in the event of an emergency. The UK Departments being represented includes Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development, Ministry of Defence.
The conference will also be attended by representatives from CDEMA, US SOUTHCOM, US Coast Guard, NOAA/NHC, Norwegian Cruise Lines, British Red Cross and Consular Services from Washington and Bridgetown.
- Disaster Management Briefing for Advisory Council: Provo - 31st May 2012
Members from the Disaster Management Fraternity from TCI, Caribbean and the UK will take the opportunity to brief members of Advisory Council on the response capability and mechanisms that will be available to respond to the TCI in the event that the territory is impacted during this hurricane season.
- Disaster Management Exercise: Provo - 31st May & 1st June 2012
A Disaster Management Exercise will be held in Provo to test the functioning of the Emergency Operations Centre. It will expose members of the EOC to a scenario based on a hurricane making landfall in Provo. The exercise will commence on 31 May with the territory under threat from a hurricane and the DM Executive receiving a briefing from the Director DDME. On 1st June, the exercise will resume with the territory under Hurricane Warning and the EOC being activated and making final preparations before the hurricane makes landfall. It then continues with the hurricane making landfall in Provo and the EOC is operational at first light, preparing an initial brief for the Governor and the Executive Group.
Health Prevention Measures promoted throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI)
Public health officials have contacted all medical staff across the Turks and Caicos Islands in an effort to ensure that all possible data is gathered to help resolve an outbreak of diarrhea and vomiting being experienced in Providenciales.
Public and Environmental Health officials have been visiting hotels in Providenciales daily to educate hospitality staff about what additional hygiene measures they can put in place to prevent and reduce the spread of infection. Everyone affected is being asked to report immediately to a physician for treatment and to provide samples to help identify the cause of the infection.
Additional staff has been brought in from elsewhere in the TCI to address this issue. The TCI authorities are in regular contact with the appropriate regional health organizations such as the Pan American Health Organisation, World Health Organisation and CAREC, including their reference laboratory in Trinidad.
The Chief Executive of the Government and the senior management team met earlier today to ensure that all available resources are made available to support the public health effort.
The TCI Ministry of Health and Educations (MOHE) advice to the general public is to:
- Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before eating
- Carefully wash all tinned food products before opening
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, especially:
- before preparing and or eating meals
- after using the toilet
- after being out in the public
- after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- after handling trash or garbage
- before treating a cut or wound
- if you have been around someone who is ill
Hand washing is the single most important preventative measure to decrease the risk of infection. Hand washing should be frequent and thorough (scrub soap into hands for at least 15 seconds before rinsing, then dry with paper towels, a clean towel or blower).
If you become ill:
- Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and the need for medical attention
- Drink bottled water or water that has been boiled
- Drink clear liquids such as Gatorade and clear soup
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly
If You Have Nausea/ Vomiting/ Diarrhea and or cramping:
- Report to the nearest health care facility
- Stay at home until your symptoms have resolved and follow your health care providers instructions
The MOHE will continue to provide you with information to optimize your health.
NEW DEAL IS GOOD FOR TAXPAYERS AND LOAN HOLDERS
A better deal for taxpayers and lower payments for loan holders are the main benefits of the Turks and Caicos Island Government’s decision to restructure TCInvest it was announced today, Friday, 25 May 2012.
First Caribbean Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and Scotiabank will each take on a share of the TCInvest loan book in a deal that will net around $11m for the TCI taxpayer.
The 240 loans in the deal will potentially save loan holders thousands of dollars thanks to the lower rates of interest offered by the private banks rather than those of the former statutory body.
TCInvest charge an interest rate of between 6.5% and 12% on loans. The new bank rates for the same loans will be charged at rates between 4.75% and 9%.
Someone with a $100,000 mortgage will be at least $200 a month better off under their new terms at the banks. Over a typical 20 year loan term this would save the mortgage holder in the region of $50,000.
TCIG has negotiated terms with the three banks that mean the banks will pay up to 50% of all the associated fees of transferring mortgages, for example, such as legal fees and loan processing charges. TCIG will waive any stamp duty, penalties and fund any residual costs associated with transferring the loans. Those individuals with more than one loan will be offered the opportunity to consolidate their loans into one arrangement to secure better terms. The Banks will begin the process of contacting these clients in the very near future.
There are also 85 non-performing loans, with a face value of $6m; TCIG is currently looking at two options to address this portion of the portfolio and negotiations are still being concluded.
The money raised from this process will be used by the Government to pay off TCInvest’s debt with the Caribbean Development Bank, European Investment Bank and National Insurance Board, which is guaranteed by the Government. This will allow TCIG to enter into negotiations in 2016 regarding refinancing its remaining national debt in a stronger position.
“This announcement emphasises why Government had to take action over TCInvest,” said Patrick Boyle, Chief Executive, TCI Government. “Due to the unclear way that TCInvest historically issued its loans in the first place, we simply had no clear idea what our financial liabilities would be."
“We have taken this affirmative action, therefore, to create the best possible deal in the circumstances for the taxpayer, and one that reduces significantly the monthly bills for those holding these loans.”
St Kitts-Nevis agrees landmark debt restructuring deal
A St Kitts and Nevis government delegation led by prime minister and minister of finance, Dr Denzil Douglas, has secured a landmark “stock-of-debt” restructuring deal from Paris Club creditors after an intense negotiation session held in Paris, France, on Thursday.
The discussions with the Paris Club were focused on how best to support the government’s economic transformation efforts through the restructuring of the debts owed by St Kitts and Nevis to the United Kingdom and the United States. The approach to the Paris Club was part of the comprehensive debt restructuring program launched by the government in June 2011.
After six rounds of complex negotiations, the government and the Paris Club agreed at the multilateral level to restructure over 20 years the entire stock of debt outstanding to the Paris Club, including the arrears. A grace period on principal repayments of seven years will also apply. Concessionary rates of interest will apply to the rescheduling.
In addition, the Paris Club confirmed during the negotiations that further concessions from the Paris Club creditors at the bilateral level are likely. The government expects that these concessions could involve the outright cancellation of over 60 percent of the debt treated at the multilateral level on 24 May 2012, as well as other additional concessions.
During the negotiations the Paris Club saluted the results of the government’s economic reform drive and general debt restructuring effort to date. The Club’s members, who include representatives from the world’s developed economies, acknowledged that the government’s determination to tackle the country’s problems in a decisive way will help ensure that St Kitts and Nevis is well placed to withstand the headwinds of an increasingly uncertain international environment.
The Paris Club also indicated that it was the government’s commitment to a sound macroeconomic course, as well as the approach taken with the general debt restructuring, that persuaded the group to grant restructuring terms that are exceptional for a country in the upper-middle income category.
Speaking after the signing of the agreed minutes, Douglas commented: “We understand that the negotiations were tougher and took a little longer than the Paris Club had expected. This may be the case, but it was important for us to have the opportunity to explain our situation properly, and to secure the right agreement for us.”
The prime minister added, “Even before we take into account the additional concessions from our creditors that are expected to come at the bilateral level, the agreement signed in Paris yesterday has no precedent in the Caribbean, and is amongst the most concessional ever to have been granted by the Paris Club to an upper-middle income country anywhere in the world. We are delighted at this recognition of our efforts, and thank the Paris Club for its support.”
The prime minister was accompanied during the negotiations by Janet Harris, Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and by the financial advisors from White Oak Advisory LLP.
The bilateral agreements that will implement the 24 May 2012 agreement, and that are expected to incorporate the additional concessions, are scheduled to be signed later this year.
CUOPM
Caribbean Telecommunications Union seminar to hear update on network security
Delegates to the 10th Ministerial Strategic Seminar of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), which opens in Miami on May 29, will receive an update by Fortinet Inc, a world leader in high performance network security, on network threat landscape trends, vulnerability and the best ways to mitigate them.
The update and recommendations will be provided by Pedro Paixao, vice president of international sales for Fortinet.
Paixao will outline the new threat trends and the security solutions that are currently available to today’s network administrators. In his presentation at the two-day seminar, a follow-up to a similar CTU meeting in Barbados last December, the Fortinet executive will also explain why it is important to be ready to protect and recover from directed cyber attacks and how to create an actionable cyber security action plan.
“We fully support the work of the CTU in promoting the adoption of cutting-[edge technology that enables Caribbean countries to be more competitive at the global level,” Paixao said. “Fortinet has been active in Latin America and the Caribbean region since 2003 and has worked a number of different groups to help educate public and private sectors on the importance of having a sound security strategy when planning a network expansion.”
The CTU’s Ministerial Strategic Seminars create a forum for technology executives to explain the impact of today’s emerging technologies, listen to the concerns of ministers, their secretaries, technocrats, senior policymakers and regulators and provide the necessary insight for informed decision-making.
The seminars seek to educate senior Caribbean government and regulatory officials in order to advance the social and economic development agendas of Caribbean countries.
This 10th Seminar will focus on the need for the Caribbean to participate more actively in global discussions and within international organizations that have a fundamental role concerning internet governance. The seminar will delve into the mechanisms that are open to the region to participate in these organizations and will discuss a framework that will enable the region to effectively represent its interests.
Caribbean News Now
Bahamians outraged by “shacks and huts” travel report.
An American journalist who reported that “the poorest Bahamians typically create makeshift homes out of straw…” felt the full weight of Bahamian fury earlier this week.
Freelance journalist Nellie Day, whose article “What types of houses do people live in the Bahamas?” was posted on the website www.travels.com, provoked howls of protest from hundreds of understandably outraged islanders who read it online.
The offended Bahamians fought back, sending a barrage of blistering criticism to her Twitter feed. Others threatened to e-mail the host website and lodge complaints about the inaccuracies of the article.
The deluge of righteous indignation paid off, with the website, agreeing to take down the article.
In a story that read more like fiction than fact, Day also contended that “lower and lower-middle class” Bahamians dwell in “small beach shacks and huts” that are often built from “straw or wood”, materials which “are readily available along the beach” or at “industrial and retail outlets”.
The article was accurate in some respects, but many readers who left comments online said they found the inaccuracies “insulting”. Some called for Day to publish an apology.
On her Twitter feed, the freelancer, who is believed to be based in California, claimed she had visited and researched the Bahamas before she wrote the article.
“For the record, on this Bahamian story, I have travelled to the Bahamas, I did talk to locals and I did research what other agencies had to say,” she said.
Day’s “travel and research” nevertheless inspired her to state that many Bahamians make their living “farming or selling trinkets at the local straw markets” in her article. Some people jokingly commented that she must have visited the Bahamas in the 1960s.
The torrent of Bahamian invective prompted a response from Travels.com.
“The article in question was written by a freelance contributor, and not by a member of our staff. We have reviewed the article and determined that it does not meet the standards for our site, because of the number of factual inaccuracies in it,” a spokesperson said.
“Therefore, the article has been deleted from our site. It will take time for this change to show up on all of our servers, but the article will definitely be completely removed within the next 12 hours.
“We do sincerely apologise for any trouble or offense that this article caused,” the response concluded.
Caribbean 360 News
Amnesty urges probe into over 70 bloody Kingston deaths.
On the second anniversary of a bloody military operation in West Kingston that claimed the lives of some 70 civilians and two members of the armed forces, the human rights watchdog Amnesty International is pushing for an inquiry.
The violent upheaval unfolded when security forces clashed with individuals loyal to then-fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke who were attempting to block his arrest.
Now, two years after the deadly clash, Amnesty is backing calls by the public defender and other civil society groups for government to get the inquiry underway.
“As Jamaica commemorates the second anniversary of the proclamation of the state of emergency, it is time for the Government of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to appoint an independent commission of inquiry with a broad mandate and powers. This will be a decisive step to ensure that investigations into the allegations of human rights violations during the 2010 State of Emergency are completed and that these investigations result in justice and remedy,” Amnesty stated in a press release.
The human rights watchdog cited the case of Paulette Wellington, mother of Sheldon Gary Davis, who was allegedly killed by security forces during the first week of the State of Emergency after reportedly being arrested at his home on May 30, 2010 in Denham Town, West Kingston.
Four days later, after searching frantically for him, Wellington received confirmation that he was dead. A policeman told her that another officer shot him when he tried to take a soldier’s gun.
According to Amnesty, however, other men who were in custody with Davis said they saw a police officer put him under a mango tree and shoot him.
Wellington and others with relatives who died in the incident are still waiting for justice and a chance to find out how their loved ones died, Amnesty said.
“Two years have passed since the two-month-long state of emergency was declared, during which time several other people like Sheldon Gary Davis were suspected of having been unlawfully killed by the security forces and hundreds of others are believed to have been unlawfully arrested,” the release said.
The human rights watchdog also drew attention to an interim report from Public Defender Earl Witter, based on 1,000 civilian complaints about the conduct of the security forces during the State of Emergency, which is to be presented to Parliament. The report is expected to outline the initial findings and what Government support is required to conclude the investigations.
Amnesty indicated that the delay in publishing this report was because of the government’s forensic inadequacies.
“Shortcomings in the forensic services are one of the reasons for the long delay in the investigations. In particular, the resources available at the ballistics laboratory were deemed to be inadequate to deal with such a high number of cases, especially given that the laboratory already had a backlog of 2,000 requests in October 2010 for cases prior to the state of emergency,” said the group.
Among the many families awaiting answers about the circumstances of their relatives’ deaths during the state of emergency is that of businessman Keith Clarke, who was killed at his upper St Andrew home by a special joint forces team during the manhunt in May 2010.
But, according to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewelyn, her office had not been able to rule on the case.
In a release, Llewelyn said that she had appointed a team, comprising two deputy directors and two Crown Counsel, to review the huge file on the investigations into the killing which sent shockwaves through the country.
But despite its voluminous nature, the file lacked critical information.
“Having considered all the statements and other material on the file, it was discovered that there is need for further and better particulars touching and concerning an important aspect of this matter that is still to be furnished by the investigators. Having consulted with my team, I am therefore of the view that a ruling cannot be rendered at this time,” the DPP stated.
Llewelyn said her office wrote to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) on May 9, 2012 requesting that this outstanding material be furnished as soon as possible so that she can complete the review and render a ruling in the matter.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has again expressed alarm at the number of extrajudicial killings in the country.
“The number of people killed weekly by police officers in dubious circumstances in Jamaica continues to be unacceptably high. In the first six days of March 2012, the killing of 21 people by police officers spiked a wave of criticism against the way the police conduct its operations in marginalised inner-city areas,” the human rights advocate group declared.
Caribbean 360 News
Lady Gaga Indonesia concert cancelled
Lady Gaga has cancelled a concert in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, citing security concerns, after protests by religious groups.
Police in Indonesia had refused to issue a permit for the US pop star after Islamic groups objected to her show, claiming it was too vulgar.
The hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had threatened to try to stop Lady Gaga getting off the plane.
Indonesia is officially secular but has more Muslims than any other country.
More than 50,000 tickets had been sold for the 3 June event. Promoters said they would offer refunds.
Police had said they would only issue permits for the concert - part of her Born This Way Ball concept tour - if the flamboyant singer agreed to tone things down. Instead, her management pulled the plug on the show.
'Nothing holy about hatred'
"Lady Gaga's management has considered the situation minute to minute, and with threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga's side is calling off the concert," Minola Sebayang, lawyer for promoters Big Daddy, told reporters.
"This is not only about Lady Gaga's security, but extends to those who will be watching her."
Big Daddy President Michael Rusli said: "I think everyone including the government itself would have hoped that the show would go on. But of course along the way we have to review all the planning and we have to be mindful of what is happening in the media, what is happening in Indonesia itself."
Just hours before the announcement, Lady Gaga wrote on her Twitter account: "There is nothing holy about hatred."
The singer has nearly 25 million followers on Twitter - the highest number on the social networking site.
The Islamist FPI had threatened violence if the concert went ahead, calling Lady Gaga a "devil's messenger" who wears only a "bra and panties".
Habib Salim Alatas, the group's FPI Jakarta chairman, said the cancellation was "good news" for Indonesia's Muslims.
"FPI is grateful that she has decided not to come. Indonesians will be protected from sin brought about by this Mother Monster, the destroyer of morals," he told AFP news agency.
He added: "Lady Gaga fans, stop complaining. Repent and stop worshipping the devil. Do you want your lives taken away by God as infidels?"
Indonesia's conservative Religious Affairs Minister, Suryadharma Ali, also welcomed the cancellation.
"I strongly believe this cancellation will benefit the country," he said.
"Indonesians need entertainment and art which have moral values."
This is not the first time that Lady Gaga has faced objections during her Asian tour.
Her concert in South Korea in April was made an adults-only event following protests from Christian groups.
Protests also took place in the Philippines, with Christian groups accusing her of being blasphemous.
She is scheduled to play three shows in Singapore this week before moving on to New Zealand and Australia.