NEW TRACK FROM POLICE COMBO BAND
POLICE have been hitting the beat…….in more ways than one.
Aside from patrolling the streets of the TCI, officers are proving they have plenty of rhythm too.
The RTCI Police Combo Band has broken new ground by releasing a single which they hope will have islanders dancing the nights away.
And despite having only just hit the turntables, In The Party is already a big hit with fans.
Keyboard player, Sgt Carl Lightbourne, explained: “We are proud to have released this new single and we hope everyone enjoys it. It’s our first ever and we are really pleased with it.
“It’s a number designed to get people on their feet and having a good time, and so far the feedback has been really encouraging and supportive.
“The band is all about having fun and giving something back to the community. Recording In The Party was a great experience and we are hoping to write and record more of our own work in the future.”
The RTCI Police Combo Band has been going for many years and was particularly popular in the 80s and 90s.
In The Party was written by American-based record producer David Lightbourne, aka Jak – a TC islander and brother of Carl – and he’s hoping it will see the band’s popularity surge once more.
He explained: “For me it’s been a pleasure to have worked on this single. I grew up listening to The RTCI Police Combo Band and in those days people truly loved and appreciated associating with the police and listening to the music.
“As a result they were willing to support and help the police in their work and there was a really strong bond between the community and the force - something we hope we can help strengthen once more through this song.
“The band, and this project in particular, demonstrate the human, friendly face of the RTCI Police and I’m certain it will go a long way towards even better engagement, especially between officers and young people.”
The RTCI Police Band is made up of Sgt Carl Lightbourne (keyboards), PC Stanley Landy (drums/vocals), Sgt Malcolm Smith (bass), PC Michael Francois (vocals) and PC Jago Moore (vocals).
Commissioner of Police, Colin Farquhar, added: “This is a fantastic initiative and I congratulate The RTCI Police Combo Band on their excellent single.
“We are a diverse service with many talented people from many different backgrounds and our officers do so much great work out in the community such as music, sport and charity events.
“I am sure everyone will thoroughly enjoy listening to the song and here’s hoping the band will go on to enjoy many more successes in the future.”
Anyone wishing to download the track can do so at http://www.mediafire.com/?5n03zeenss8p81z
POLICE RECORDS INCREASE
FEES for obtaining police records and certificates of character are set to rise.
RTCI Police will raise the cost of the service from $5 to $10 from June 1.
The move comes as part of an efficiency drive within the force, being overseen by new Director of Corporate Services, Peter Davis.
But despite the increase, Mr Davis insists the service represents ‘good value for money’, with the TCI’s fees remaining one of the lowest in the Caribbean.
He explained: “We have recently undertaken an extensive review of this service and what is clear is that the $5 we charge for police records and certificates of character doesn’t actually cover the cost of producing them.
“The $5 fee has been in place for many years and it has not changed despite continued inflation and other revenue considerations.
“Producing police records costs a lot of money in terms of staff hours, facilities and critical resources and so the increase is long overdue. But I would like to stress that even at $10 there is no profit and so the RTCI Police will not be making money from this.”
He added: “We acknowledge that this is an essential public service with people needing these important documents for immigration and employment purposes. But even at $10, the service remains great value for money and one of the cheapest in the Caribbean.
“I know of many other places where the public are charged more for similar police services and making money from this is certainly not our motive. Instead, it is simply a case of covering costs in production and making the best use of the budget in service provision.”
Meanwhile Mr Davis revealed that a corporate service review within the police service is on-going and will bring further changes.
He added: “The budget for the RTCI Police service is increasingly under pressure and ways of achieving savings and best value have to be found. The focus of maintaining police services whilst reducing cost and wastage.”
“We are looking at many different aspects of the organisation to see where savings can be made and where more resources can be directed towards day to day policing on the streets of the TCI.
“It’s a challenging process in change, but one that will remain ongoing as we seek to make this public sector service as cost effective and efficient as possible.”
Digicel, International Banking Group and Enid Capron Primary School Partner to Clean Up Five Cays.
The settlement of Five Cays is shining a little brighter thanks to Digicel, International Banking Group (IBG) and the Enid Capron Primary School who teamed up on May 5th to give the community an extra shine shortly after Earth Day. The cleanup campaign attracted participation from over 90 persons from the three organizations who came out to volunteer their time and clean trash from along the roadsides in Five Cays.
The partnership between the three organizations came about after Digicel announced its Go Green campaign to become the ecofriendly telecommunications GREEN leader in the Turks & Caicos market. IBG who are pursing similar initiatives contacted Digicel to forge a partnership in its Go Green efforts. The Enid Capron Primary naturally joined the cause since the Five Cays community was the selected area for the cleanup campaign.
“International Banking Group’s decision to partner with Digicel in this event is a result of our awareness of the needs within our community”, said Kenny Bovell, General Manager. “We are pleased that we can continually make a difference in our community and especially one that deals with environmental awareness. It is our hope that this event will become an annual event and that this will encourage the entire community to become more environmentally conscious”, he said.
As a result of the volunteers’ hard work and dedication to the cause, some 250 bags of garbage were collected, including bottles and cans which were separated into recycle and non-recycle materials by the students.
Trina Adams, Marketing Specialist for Digicel, stated that the cleanup campaign was indeed a success and it was especially great to see so many students from Enid Capron Primary take part in the cleanup. Adams further stated that she thought the students learnt the importance of keeping their community clean and volunteering their time for a good cause.
Additionally, Mrs. Rachel Taylor, Principal of the Enid Capron Primary stated that she is always enthused when it comes to community initiatives especially in the area of helping to maintain a cleaner community. The support of the students are always encouraging as this creates an opportunity not only for the students to give back to the community but to allow them to model the behaviours that will remain with them as they learn to keep their environment clean, green and pristine. The introduction of the Recycling Programme at the school works hand in hand with the numerous Cleanup Campaigns creating a greater awareness of cleanliness. Thanks to DIGICEL for their relentless efforts in helping to improve the lives of the students and residents of Five Cays. Together we can make a big difference.
The organizations hope to continue their partnership going forward and look forward to partnering with other organizations in the TCI which are attempting to go green.
Thirteen to compete at Shanghai Meet
Thirteen Jamaicans, including former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell, are listed on the provisional entry list to compete at Shanghai Diamond League meet on Saturday.
Powell will be trying to return to winning ways after losing the men’s 100-metre dash on the line to American Justin Gatlin in Doha’s Diamond League meeting last week.
Gatlin won in 9.87 seconds, one hundredth of a second ahead of Powell.
Powell heads the men’s 100-metre field in Shanghai. There are three other Jamaicans down to compete in the sprint. They are Nesta Carter, Mario Forsythe and Michael Frater.
400-metre hurdler Kaliese Spencer has switched to the women’s 400 metres to compete with world leader Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams.
Anneisha McLaughlin and Aleen Bailey are down to compete in the women’s 200 metres, while Dwight Thomas will run in the men’s 110-metre hurdles.
The other Jamaicans down to compete are Isa Phillips, Mardrea Hyman and Sheree Francis.
Panday to know fate tomorrow on his UK bank account charges
Former prime minister Basdeo Panday is expected to know his fate tomorrow after a second trial into charges of failing to declare a London bank account. Magistrate Marcia Murray is expected to deliver her decision when the matter resumes at 10 am in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrate’s Court.
At yesterday’s hearing, Panday’s lawyer, David Aaronberg, QC, continued legal arguments that the lead investigator had failed to interview people pertinent to the matter and therefore the case was incomplete. Aaronberg argued the prosecution failed to prove Panday had benefited and at the time of signing the statutory declaration, he had not been “deliberately evasive or untruthful about the accounts.”
Aaronberg said Panday’s wife, Oma, was the “true beneficial owner of the account.” On Monday, Aaronberg made an application to have the matter dismissed on the basis the prosecution had failed to prove its case. Panday is on trial for allegedly failing to declare a London bank account, contrary to the Integrity in Public Life Act, and is accused of failing to disclose the account at National Westminster Bank plc, Wimbledon, London, to the Integrity Commission for the years 1997 to 1999.
In March 2006, Panday was found guilty and sentenced by then Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nichols to serve two years in prison, the maximum penalty under the law. He appealed the decision and the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered, which was upheld on appeal to the Privy Council.
On Monday, Aaronberg hinted the investigation against Panday was politically motivated and said the former prime minister had not committed any wrong by failing to declare the accounts. Aaronberg said Panday was being prosecuted under the Integrity in Public Life Act 1987 but that prior to the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000 public figures were not required to declare assets belonging to their spouses.
Responding to Aaronberg’s closing arguments, prosecutor Timothy Cassel, QC, said monies being deposited and withdrawn from the account during the years 1997 to 1999 were “wholly disproportionate” to Panday’s yearly earnings as the prime minister.
Caribbean islands fingered in Croatian drug ring.
Nine Croatians, one Serb and a Columbian have been arrested in police raids on Martinique and in the Dominican Republic as the net closed on an international drug ring last week.
The major bust took place on Martinique where the drugs were hidden in packages of mustard and coffee on a yacht rented by the Croats in Martinique.
In all, 11 people suspected of smuggling 174 kilos of cocaine from Columbia to Europe were arrested in a multi-state international police operation according to media reports.
It was the first major cocaine smuggling operation masterminded and carried out by Croats, Dinko Cvitan, the head of Croatian anti-drugs agency, was quoted as saying.
Croatian, Dutch, Italian and French police and the US anti-drug agency DEA were involved in the bust following investigation that opened in October 2011 at the behest of the Croatian police.
The cocaine, estimated to be worth eight million euros, was destined for three potential buyers in Europe, whose identity wasn’t revealed, the reports said.
Cvitan said the suspects were known to possess property whose value far exceeded their legal earnings, and which will be confiscated if they are found guilty.
The Balkans has become a major route for cocaine smuggling from South America to Europe in recent years, a business mainly involving Serbian and Montenegrin citizens.
Caribbean 360 News
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".