Seismic centre repeats warning of major earthquake
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded off the coast of Antigua last Friday (May 11) is a warning that the Caribbean should prepare for a much more severe earthquake to come.
This warning has again been sounded by the Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad and Tobago.
In confirming that an earthquake occurred 50 miles east of the Antigua and Barbuda capital around 5 a.m, seismologist Dr Joan Latchman reportedly stated that the region has not seen its largest earthquake for more than a century and, based on the historical data that indicated that the region has recorded a major earthquake every 100 years, the islands of the English-speaking Caribbean were overdue for one.
Dr Latchman has stated that the pattern in which earthquakes have occurred in the region has been consistent, although authorities cannot predict when and where it will happen.
This time last year the Trinidadian seismologist also warned residents of the region to brace for a major earth movement.
Speaking during a three-day visit to Nevis to make a presentation on disaster preparedness, Dr Latchman said Caribbean islands lie in an area of relatively high earthquake activity and that an earthquake of 8.0 could hit the Caribbean any day based on the patterns previously recorded.
According to the Seismic Research Centre, there have been a number of small earthquake activities taking place off Antigua & Barbuda although they have not been felt by residents.
Philmore Mullin, head of the National Office of Disaster Services has stated that Antigua & Barbuda would not only be very vulnerable to earthquakes but also tsunamis.
The region was earlier this month put on notice to prepare for tsunamis by the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO.
Caribbean 360 News
Montserrat cops under review.
The Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS) is currently undergoing a review by a three-man team led by Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) law enforcement advisor Larry Covington.
Governor Adrian Davis, with the approval of the Cabinet, agreed to invite an outside team to review the operations of the island’s police service following incidents that have led to internal reviews of police officers and the resignation of Paul Morris, Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The three-man team comprises Covington; Alwin James, the Acting Deputy Commissioner from the British Virgin Islands, and Deputy Commissioner Tony Ennis from the Cayman Islands.
The team will meet with a range of key persons with the aim of making recommendations to support the Royal Montserrat Police Service by looking at the strategic, tactical and operational competencies of the force and delivery of service.
Former Deputy Commissioner Morris gave no reason for his resignation earlier this year. During his tenure he was responsible for the overall administration of the RMPS including training, development and budget. He previously served as superintendent of police from 2000 to 2004.
His resignation came in the wake of RMPS officer Sergeant Ottley Laborde being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, wounding, disorderly conduct and threatening language, stemming from an incident in December last year.
The former commissioner led the investigation into the police brutality case and worked with visiting officers to complete the final report.
A public version of the current review team’s report will be made available, according to the governor’s office.
Caribbean 360 News
Strauss-Kahn Countersues New York Hotel Maid
Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is countersuing the New York hotel maid who accused him of sexually assaulting her.
His $1 million lawsuit says the maid, Guinea native Nafissatou Diallo, cost him not only his IMF job, but political opportunities including the French presidency.
The suit also says the maid's accusations caused Strauss-Kahn extraordinary pain and anguish.
Diallo's lawyers call the lawsuit a publicity stunt.
Diallo accused Strauss-Kahn of sexually assaulting her last year in the luxury hotel where she worked. The charges were dropped when prosecutors questioned Diallo's credibility — but not before Strauss-Kahn was forced to step down as IMF chief.
The incident also destroyed Strauss-Kahn's political career in France, where the Socialists had touted him as a likely presidential candidate in the election.
Strauss-Kahn still faces a civil suit in New York.
Hollande and Merkel hold euro talks in Berlin
Newly inaugurated French President Francois Hollande has pledged to work with Germany to resolve the EU's economic crisis.
He was speaking in Berlin following talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hours after being sworn in.
Both leaders said they wanted to keep debt-stricken Greece in the euro. They will hold an informal summit on 23 May.
Mr Hollande said "everything must be put on the table by everyone" that could promote growth.
He included the possibility of eurobonds, which would pool the debts of eurozone nations, backed by all 17 member governments.
Germany has always rejected the idea of eurobonds.
During his election campaign, Mr Hollande said he wanted to renegotiate the EU's fiscal pact, which will require its signatories to balance their budgets. Mrs Merkel has said the terms of the agreement cannot be changed.
"As president of the [French] republic, I want to renegotiate what was accepted at a certain stage to give it the dimension of growth," he said, standing alongside Mrs Merkel at a news conference in the German capital.
For her part, Mrs Merkel said France and Germany were willing to "study the possibility of additional growth measures in Greece".
Greece is struggling to enact the austerity measures required by the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in return for a bailout of 130bn euros ($170bn; £105bn).
Both Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel said they wanted Greece to stay in the euro.
"We wish to have Greece within the euro and we know that the majority of the Greek population agrees with us," Mrs Merkel said.
As the eurozone's two biggest economies - and biggest contributors to its bailout funds - Germany and France are key decision-makers over the strategy supposed to pull Europe out of crisis.
According to official figures released on Tuesday morning, the French economy showed no growth in the first quarter of 2012. Growth in the final quarter of 2011 was also revised down to 0.1% from 0.2%.
However, Germany's economy grew by a stronger than expected 0.5% in the first three months of the year.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Hollande was sworn in for a five-year term, becoming France's first Socialist president in 17 years.
In his inauguration speech, Mr Hollande said he wished to deliver a "message of confidence".
The new president said he was fully aware of the challenges facing France, which he summarised as "huge debt, weak growth, reduced competitiveness, and a Europe that is struggling to emerge from a crisis".
He named Jean-Marc Ayrault, leader of the Socialist group in parliament, as his prime minister.
Shortly after the ceremonies, Mr Hollande departed for Berlin.
But his plane was apparently hit by lightning and had to turn back to Paris.
No-one on board was hurt, and Mr Hollande resumed his journey on a second plane, arriving 90 minutes later than scheduled.
Mrs Merkel described the lightning strike as "a good omen".
Ratko Mladic goes on trial over Bosnia 'war crimes'
Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic is set to go on trial on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide.
He is the last of the main protagonists in the Balkan wars of the 1990s to face an international trial in The Hague.
He is accused of orchestrating the week-long massacre of over 7,000 Muslim boys and men at Srebrenica in 1995.
General Mladic calls the accusations "monstrous" and the court has entered a "not guilty" plea on his behalf.
Now nearly 70, Gen Mladic spent 15 years on the run before being apprehended by Serb forces last May and sent to The Hague.
He has been awaiting trial in the same prison as his former political leader Radovan Karadzic, who was arrested in 2008 and is now about halfway through his trial on similar charges to Gen Mladic.
Crimes halved
Judicial authorities have rejected defence calls to delay proceedings, most recently a petition to have the Dutch presiding Judge Alphons Orie replaced on grounds of alleged bias.
The number of crimes of which Gen Mladic - who is in frail health - stands accused has been almost halved to speed up his trial.
Gen Mladic is accused of committing genocide and other crimes against Bosnian Muslims and Croats in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing that began in 1992 and climaxed in Srebrenica in 1995.
Then, Serb fighters overran the Srebrenica enclave in eastern Bosnia - supposedly under the protection of Dutch UN peacekeepers. Men and boys were separated off, shot dead and bulldozed into mass graves - later to be dug up and reburied in more remote spots.
Gen Mladic is also charged over the 44-month siege of Sarajevo during which over 10,000 people died.
These were the worst atrocities in Europe since the end of World War II, says the BBC's world affairs correspondent Peter Biles in The Hague.
Over 200 hours, the prosecution will make its case against Mladic, taking testimony from over 400 witnesses.
Death fear
Pre-trial hearings have been characterised by ill-tempered outbursts from Gen Mladic, who has heckled the judge and interrupted proceedings.
"The whole world knows who I am," he said at a hearing last year.
"I am General Ratko Mladic. I defended my people, my country... now I am defending myself."
The case has stirred up strong emotions among watching survivors, with some shouting "murderer" and "killer" from the court gallery.
Many fear that Gen Mladic, who suffered at least one stroke while in hiding and remains in frail health, could escape judgement by dying mid-trial.
The architect of the Balkan wars, former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, died in detention in his cell in 2006, before receiving a verdict.
Sina, China's largest internet portal, swings to loss
Sina Corp, China's largest internet portal and media website, has swung to a loss in the first three months of the year.
Its first quarter net loss was $13.7m (£8.6m) compared with a profit of $15m in the same period last year.
The company said advertising revenue jumped 9%, sending its shares up 10% after hours.
However that was outpaced by rising costs, mostly on its Twitter-like microblogging site Weibo.
Weak market
Sina makes most of its revenue from online advertising and analysts said the Chinese online advertising market has been softening.
Sina also blamed slowing economic growth in China for its losses.
"Our brand advertising business got off to a relatively slow start in the first quarter due to the softening of macroeconomic conditions in China," said Charles Chao, Sina's chief executive.
Sina said most of its spending was on hiring employees and setting up infrastructure for its micro-blogging business.
New rules
The company also said it would continue to invest in Weibo's potential.
"The initial feedback from advertisers on our Weibo advertising is encouraging, and we believe it is critical that Sina continues its significant investments in social media and related initiatives," said Charles Chao, Sina's chief executive.
Weibo already has 300 million users.
Recently Chinese authorities disabled the commenting function on microblogs, including Wiebo, for three days. Officials criticised the spreading of "unfounded" rumours.
In Beijing, users now have to register with real identities to post online.
Masseur drops sex assault claim against John Travolta
One of the two male masseurs who accused actor John Travolta of sexual assault dropped his $2 million lawsuit on Tuesday, but the lawyer for the second masseur said he was going ahead with that case and was confident of success.
The unidentified man, referred to as John Doe No. 1, who claimed that the Hollywood star groped him during a massage session in Beverly Hills in January, filed a notice dismissing his lawsuit with federal court in Los Angeles.
The man was reported last week to have said he got the wrong date of the alleged incident after photos and restaurant receipts surfaced putting the "Saturday Night Fever" actor in New York on the same day.
"The case has been dismissed, but that doesn't mean it can't be refiled," the plaintiff's attorney, Okorie Okorocha, told Reuters.
Okorocha said he still will be going ahead with the lawsuit against Travolta, representing a second unidentified man, John Doe No. 2, who claimed that Travolta rubbed his leg, touched his genitals and tried to initiate sex at a private appointment at an Atlanta hotel on January 28.
Asked whether he was concerned about the credibility of John Doe No. 2's suit in light of the first masseur's dismissal, Okorocha said "Not at all. I'm not worried about anything with John Doe 2."
Celebrity news website Radar Online said on Tuesday that it had obtained emails it claimed were written by the Atlanta masseur to his employers that made no reference to the alleged incident involving Travolta.
Radar Online said the emails were written the day after the alleged encounter and that the masseur was asking to be demoted.
A third man, cruise ship worker Fabian Zanzi, claimed last week on a Chilean TV show that Travolta offered him $12,000 to have sex while on a cruise in 2009, but he has not filed a lawsuit against the actor.
Travolta's lawyer Martin Singer has vehemently denied claims from all three men, calling them "absurd and ridiculous." He did not immediately return calls for comment on Tuesday on the first plaintiff's decision to drop his legal action.
Travolta, 58, has been married to actress Kelly Preston since 1991. He found international claim with the movies "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" in the 1970s, before going on to grittier roles in "Pulp Fiction."
The latest allegations against the actor are unlikely to affect his career according to celebrity image experts, who say Travolta has overcome speculation about his sex life in the past without any negative impact on his popularity.
--Reuters/OMG
GOVERNOR’S TOUR REPORTS PROGRESS ON MILESTONES AND POSITIVE COMMUNITY ACTION
Governor Ric Todd’s quarterly tour of the Turks and Caicos Family Islands continues apace with dates and time now announced for Grand Turk and Provo following on from successful visits to North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
His Excellency will hold public meetings at 6.30pm sharp at the Ona Glinton Primary School Grand Turk on Tuesday, 22 May, and again at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Centre Providenciales on Thursday, 24 May 2012.
The first four meetings have allowed The Governor to provide an update on progress towards achieving the milestones and to provide the people of the TCI with an opportunity to speak to him directly and for the Governor to listen to and discuss their concerns.
Issues raised and actions arising from the first four meetings include:
North and Middle Caicos – visited 10 and 11 May accompanied by Permanent Secretaries Anya Williams and Clara Gardiner
- The Governor confirmed that his previous action to progress work on the Ciacos Causeway was well in hand with repairs due to start in June 2012
- Permanent Secretary Anya Williams confirmed that TCIG’s proposed new bankers Scotiabank are required to install ATMs in North and South Caicos and possibly for the weekly visit of banking staff to the islands to stop Islanders having to travel to Provo to do their banking. Further details will be provided when these negotiations are completed.
- Governor Todd has expressed disappointment with the lack of progress in completing the clinic on Middle Caicos – and he expects this to be finished by his next visit in three months time
- He has agreed to look at the management arrangements for doctors and nurses on these islands with a view to creating an improved rota system to allow staff sufficient time of from their demanding jobs
South Caicos – visited 14 May accompanied by Permanent Secretaries Desiree Lewis and Wesley Clerveaux
- Governor Todd officially opened the new South Caicos Community Centre which will be used for meetings, shows and social events. It is also the new hurricane shelter.
- He visited the new police station which is still under construction.
- The Governor will speak to the Commissioner of Police about local policing arrangements following concerns expressed about local crime on the Island
- Moves to create central stocks of key pharmacy drugs on the Island were also welcomed by the community representatives
Salt Cay – visited 15 May accompanied by Permanent Secretary Susan Malcolm and TCIG Director in the Governor’s Office James Astwood
- Businesses on Salt Cay reported that they had enjoyed a very good tourist season this year
- The community reported that they would like their own single political representative for Salt Cay and raised issues relating to water supply and local services.
- The Governor also visited the recently refurbished airport building
“I very much enjoy my regular visits to the four family Islands,” said Governor Todd. “I have now been to each of them at least three times in my eight months on TCI . My Permanent Secretary colleagues have found this their first such tour to be of tremendous benefit as they can see for themselves the impact that decisions taken in Grand Turk have on the ground across the islands and to engage with people about what their Ministries are doing. I know that they have taken on board what they have learned from these visits and are keen to make it part of how both they and the Government does business there in the future.
“I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome and courtesies that were extended to me during all of my visits so far. I appreciated that there is a real appetite for the return of a locally elected administration – a common cause that unites us all.
“I will continue to work as hard as I can towards achieving the milestones which are already making TCI an fairer, better governed and more open society, and look forward to UK Minister’s decision on elections later this year.”
“I am now very much looking forward to my public meetings on Providenciales and Grand Turk next week.”
NEW STATUS CARDS MAKES IDENTIFYING BELONGERS EASIER
A single free card that provides statutory proof of Belonger/Turks and Caicos Islander status will be available free of charge to those who register before 29 June 2012.
As of today some 2,861 persons had registered to vote ahead of the closing date of 29 June. Six thousand nine hundred and sixty four persons were registered to vote in 2007.
The move to a more efficient and secure system to verify status was confirmed by Clara Gardiner, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Border Control and Labour, today, Tue, 15 May, when providing an update on the voter registration and proof of Belongership process currently underway.
The Ministry is ‘piggy-backing’ the current election registration process to verify the status of Belongers. This data is being shared with the Elections Office to inform the electoral roll. It is the people registered on this database who will be eligible for a new Belonger Status Card.
The move to a single card has been planned by the Ministry since early in 2011 when it officially recognised the security and fraud caused by the existence of a variety of unsecure documents such as wet stamps and the use of letters, not provided for by statute, to confirm Belonger status.
Since then TCIG officials have been working towards the production of secure documents and the phasing out of all non-statutory stamps and letters.
“It is widely known that only persons who are Belongers of the Turks and Caicos Islands are able to vote in a general election,” said Clara Gardiner. “However, the majority of persons who acquire this status via birth or descent do not have an official card or certificate to prove this.
“We have bided our time until the registration process was launched, to introduce the Belonger Status Card in order to make it easier for people – they only need to register once. By replacing all other documents which have been used to confirm Belonger status it will be easier for people to claim the privileges that are available to Belongers, including voting in General Elections.
“I am greatly encouraged by the current level of registration, which is already around 40% of the total from the total of the 2007 election, with around six weeks left until the registration deadline. That said, I would encourage everyone who can to consider their civic duty and come out and register. By doing so they can not only take advantage of this time limited free Status Card offer but also make sure that they can take advantage of all of the other privileges that being a Turks and Caicos Islander proffers.”
Legislation will be brought forward soon. It is likely that those persons who do not register by 29 June will be charged a fee, to be determined, for their Belonger Status Card, in future. The first batch of cards should be ready for collection from Government Offices by the end of July 2012.
The figure of 2,861 voter registrations to 15 May is broken down as follows:
- 1,578 – Provo
- 584 – Grand Turk
- 447 – North Caicos
- 160 – South Caicos
- 58 – Middle Caicos
- 34 – Salt Cay
TRIBUTES PAID TO TCI’S FIRST FEMALE POLICE OFFICER
TRIBUTES have been pouring in following the death of the TCI’s first female police officer.
Ethel Ingram Pinder passed away at the Doctor’s Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas, in the early hours of Monday (May 14), aged 68.
Mrs Pinder joined the ranks of the RTCI Police Service in 1964, paving the way for a steady and continuous influx of women officers ever since.
Leading the tributes was Inspector Irene Butterfield, who described Mrs Pinder as a ‘pioneer’.
She said: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Ethel Ingram Pinder and our thoughts and prays are with her family and friends at this very difficult of times.
“Mrs Pinder had the honour of being the first ever female officer to join the RTCI Police Service and therefore can be considered as a true pioneer.
“The Service was completely male-dominated in those days and it was naturally a huge challenge and struggle being the only woman among the ranks.
“But it was a challenge she rose to with great distinction and she was definitely the pacesetter for all us women officers who have followed.”
She added: “Since 1964 the number of female officers has risen steadily year by year and so we thank Mrs Pinder for her amazing and dedicated contribution.”
Born in Over Back in Grand Turk, Mrs Pinder was educated at the now Helena Jones High School.
After giving many years service as a constable, she relocated to Freeport in the Bahamas before returning to her beloved Turks and Caicos Islands, where her only son, Durando, is a serving police officer.
Assistant Commissioner Rodney Adams said Mrs Pinder’s legacy will live on in the history of the TCI.
“The passing of Ethel Ingham Pinder, the first female to join the ranks of the RTCI Police Service, is indeed a sad day for many of us”, he explained, “and as an organisation we say thanks to the family for lending their loved one to us.
“Mrs Pinder has led the way for female officers and has truly made her mark in the history of our country.
”Sleep on and take your rest, we love you but the lord loves you best. May her soul rest in peace.”
Meanwhile Commissioner of Police, Colin Farquhar, added: “Firstly, on behalf of the RTCI Police Service, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ethel Ingram Pinder.
“Mrs Pinder was a truly remarkable woman who gave many years of dedicated service to both the Police Service and the community at large, and she will be sadly missed.
“As the first ever woman officer to employed in the TCI, she set the standards for others to follow and I’m proud to say that women now, quite rightly, make up a large proportion of the RTCI Police staff with many holding senior ranks and positions.”
Mrs Pinder is survived by her husband, three daughters and a son.