BOYLE REVEALS SEVERANCE PAKAGES ON EXPRESSIONS
Patrick Boyle, Chief Executive, TCI Government, said in a release to RTC News: “On behalf of His Excellency the Governor and I, I would like to take this opportunity to thanks everyone who has volunteered to leave public life at this time for their service to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and wish them the very best for the future.
“Over the course of the past few weeks I have spoken to many civil servants who have told me about their new exciting plans for the future and see this as a real opportunity to take a new direction in their lives, whether retraining, re-entering education, setting up in business for themselves, or using their compensation to change their pace of life.
“Civil Service reform still continues and the five Permanent Secretaries and I are working hard to set up the new Ministries which will seek to continue to improve public services across the Islands.”
This following a recent sit down with RTC's Robert Hall for Expressions. Mr.Boyle revealed the following stats of the severance package to the Nation through Expressions.
- Budget for administering scheme, including payments to applicants, $8.3m
- 700 expressions of interest received, who all received quotes
- 500 people applied to go (both salaried and weekly paid)
- 399 severance proposals accepted – 134 rejected
- Salaried staff – 186 accepted, 60 applications rejected
- Weekly paid staff – 213 accepted, 74 rejected
- $7.8m paid to staff whose applications were accepted
- receiving an average of $19,548 per head
- highest amount received was $194,000, the smallest $975
- 399 severance proposals accepted – 134 rejected
NHIB, Ordinance Changes &FAQs
Changes to the National Health Insurance Plan Ordinance have brought about fruitful meetings and intriguing exchanges with stakeholders of the health care plan, nationwide. The executive team has compiled a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions, (FAQs) which have been addressed during these sessions and which offer an insight and clearer understanding of the changes and how they impact individuals, households and businesses.
In many households, there are two working parents. The NHIB has found parents want to know who is responsible for registering dependents as defined in the Ordinance. While the ultimate decision on which parent will do this is a personal one, we can confirm that only one parent has to register the dependants.
A: Only one parent has to register children/dependants. The form can be downloaded from the NHIB website, completed and presented with requisite documents to your employer who will begin deductions for up to three children/dependents per family.
Some people were uncertain about who falls into the category of dependant; we were happy to clarify this question.
A: A dependant is your child or children up to 18 years old, and can also be your child or children up to 25 years old who is enrolled full time in tertiary level educational facility, i.e., college. A dependant is also considered an individual whom you have adopted or have legal guardianship to who falls within the above described age perimeters and situations.
The new ordinance says that at least three dependants have to be paid for by a parent, but does this mean your other dependants are not covered in your health plan.
A: Once a parent is paying for at least three children/dependants per family, the remaining children/dependents will be covered by the plan. However, all children must be listed on the application in the registration process.
There were a myriad of questions coming from employers who want to better understand their role since the amendments. One FAQ is, “As an employer, am I obligated to also make a co-pay for my employees’ children?”
A: No, parents should pay the full amount of $10 each for their own children/dependants. However, as an employer, you are obligated to make the deduction for payment to the NHIB.
The issue of contributors who have multiple jobs is always a headlining issue at this scheduled meetings at places of employment, therefore it was no surprise when the question popped up.
Q: What if I have a second or third job, do I also pay for my children/dependants again?
A: No, as the parent taking on the responsibility to pay, you are required to pay only once at your main employer.
We recognize, at NHIB, that there is always the potential for contributors to find ways to avoid meeting that monthly payment. However, we strongly advise against it and we encourage parents to take the responsibility to ensure children are protected by this generous and affordable health care plan. Remember, unregistered dependants will be charged the full costs of medical care and will not be able to access benefits which come only for contributors to the plan.
Other FAQs are…
Q: I have heard that there is a new minimum monthly contribution to the plan, is this true?
A: Yes, this is true. It is now expected that every worker in the country will make a minimum contribution of $50 share; $25 by the employer and $25 by employee.
Q: I am already paying NHIB at one job; do I still have to pay at the other?
A: Yes, contributions are due from all jobs that one may have. The contribution rate is 6% p3r month, shared with 3% by the Employer and 3% by the Employee paid up to an income ceiling of $7,800. The minimum contribution for NHIB is $50 per month. .
Q: What if I am on vacation and away from the TCI, do I still have to make NHIB payments?
A: Yes, as long as you remain employed in the Turks and Caicos, you are required to continue payments as usual. In you absence, these would come from your vacation pay.
Q: What happens if I do not register my children/dependants in time?
A: Due to the amendments in the ordinance; all children/dependants are required to be registered and a payment of $10 per dependent/child up to three per family is expected. Failing to register your children/dependants will result in them being medically terminated from the NHIB plan. Parents are encouraged to register children/dependants immediately.
In this challenging economic climate, there are always questions about how unemployment affects payment and access to the plan. We have found these query to be leading concerns.
Q: If my wife is not working will she be covered by my personal payments to the plan?
A: Yes you can pay, but there is a spousal rate for your unemployed wife of $25 per month. As long as you have registered your wife as your spouse, which means you are legally married, (as this rule does not apply to common law marriage) and are paying the requisite $25 per month… your wife, and any spouse (i.e., husband) is covered.
Q: What if I am terminated from job, would I still be covered and expected to pay NHIB?
A: If you are terminated from your job,. there is provision for coverage to continue up to 90 days. However, one must file unemployment with the Labour Department and the NHIB. The NHIB gives you one month to make it aware of job termination in order for you to qualify.
The Turks and Caicos is also home to a robust ex-patriot labour force, so the NHIB has found many questions coming from the holders of work permits including what do I need to do to ensure I am registered with the NHIB?
A: All contributing legal work permit holders are covered under the plan. NHIB also advises this category of employees to move quickly to renew work permits long before they expire; 90 days prior to expiration is stated in the ordinance. NHIB is required to only permit legal workers into the plan.
The lading question, which has actually giving the NHIB the opportunity to explain the changes and the plan to employers and their employees is whether we would come in to address concerns? The answer is a resounding, “Yes! The NHIB has been and is prepared to be guests at meetings with companies to spell out and respond to queries on the plan and the recent amendments.
In giving the FAQs and their answers, Zaneta Burton, CEO of the National Health Insurance Board said: “The NHIB is an important partnership between contributors, the government and the public and it will be around for a very long time. The funds contributed keep this private public partnership going and ensures there is quality, accessible, affordable health care for all.”
Baby Mama Says Jaleel White is a Low Down Dog; He Responds
Jaleel White’s sparkly clean image is in the midst of being ruined by his ex.
The mother of his child is coming out with what she alleges to be the truth about the man. She told the press he used to beat her and cheat on her.
Bridget Hardy, who hasn’t been very public about anything the two had or what they have together, told Star magazine that he’s got a different and very ugly side.
“He blew up,” she told Star about a fight the couple had after she confronted Jaleel over evidence of cheating she says she found on his phone in May 25, 2010. “He hit me across the chest area,” she said.
But it doesn’t stop there.
“He pushed me into the toilet, and it broke. Water went everywhere, through the walls and even to the kitchen downstairs,” she says.
On top of all that, she claims he was verbally and emotionally abusive and called her white trash. She also said he offered her $200,000 to leave their daughter with him while she starts her own family.
But she also admitted White tried to cover up their pregnancy to protect his image. He wasn’t ready to be in a committed relationship Hardy explained.
The actor has responded to the allegations, which he claims are “hurtful” lies stemming from a “malicious police report” filed in connection with a bitter child custody dispute.
He says, “When you’re doing well in life, it’s par for the course certain individuals will try and knock you down. When the individual is also the mother of your only child it is particularly hurtful…
“The allegations made against me back in 2010 have suspiciously resurfaced in time to coincide with my new show on Syfy and ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ Bridget Hardy has consistently shown a knack for timing throughout our child custody disputes.”
White is hoping to resolve the matter for the sake of his little girl, adding, “My only hope is that when my daughter Googles her parents one day in her future, she sees that her father acted with class and dignity when pressed to the fire.
“Bridget Hardy is the mother of my only daughter in this world and without Ms. Hardy I would not have the treasure that is my daughter… I can assure all of my fans this is only residue from a child custody matter.”
Michael Buble nominated for Sony radio award
Canadian singer Michael Buble has landed a Sony Radio Academy award nomination for his music show on Magic 105.4.
The singer will go up against Fearne Cotton - also a first-time nominee - for her BBC Radio 1 show.
Chris Evans will go head-to-head in the best breakfast show category with 5 live's early morning programme, last year's winner.
The winners are due to be announced at a ceremony in London on 14 May.
Buble also faces a challenge for best music programme from 6 Music's Steve Lamacq.
The singing star's three-month long series of weekly shows was broadcast on Magic at the end of last year.
In the specialist music category, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood is nominated for his show on Absolute Radio.
The 64-year-old was named radio personality of the year in 2011.
This year's hopefuls for the prize are Radio 2 breakfast show host Chris Evans, Absolute Radio's Christian O'Connell and 6 Music's Lauren Laverne and Huey Morgan. Gemma Cairney from BBC Radio 1Xtra completes the shortlist.
In other major categories, 5 live colleagues Danny Baker and Richard Bacon are pitched against one another for speech radio personality of the year.
Evan Davis, one of the presenters of Radio 4's Today programme and Woman's Hour host Jenni Murray are among the shortlist for speech broadcaster of the year.
BBC Radio 2, 6 Music or Kerrang! Radio will ultimately be crowned UK station of the year.
This year's shortlist also includes BBC Radio Humberside's Betty and Beryl, who at 90 and 86 respectively become the oldest nominees in the academy's 30-year history.
The pair have made the entertainment award category for their regular appearances on David Reeves' show to discuss their week's activities.
They are up against more widely known radio personalities including Frank Skinner and Adam and Joe.
Popcaan hits US Billboard chart
Dancehall artiste Popcaan has once again tasted success with his Only Man She Want song debuting at # 89 on the R&B/HipHop Billboard charts.
Of the achievement, Popcaan told The STAR, "Entering the Billboard charts is a good achievement and also can help keep international focus on dancehall music. We are happy for this and grateful to all the fans and the industry people working to make it possible. We will keep making songs and work to build on all our success. Big up and respect to dancehall fans worldwide."
The STAR also spoke with the song's producer, Elvis Redwood and Johnny Wonder of Hapilos Entertainment, who were the distributors of the song, and they said they both had believed that it was only a matter of time before the song took off.
"Is a good feeling, as it was brought about by a combination of efforts from Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, So Unique Records and Hapilos Entertainment. I met Vybz Kartel, we had a long conversation and him seh mi a good producer and him ago give me the break," said Redwood.
Long time coming
According to Johnny Wonder, executive vice-president of Hapilos Entertainment, "We're proud of it (the song). It was a lot of hard work and it was a long time coming. Hot 97 took it up and pushed it and from there it started spreading to other stations like Power 105.
He added that the only regret he has is that Popcaan is not in the New York/Miami area to reinforce the song's success.
He said distributing and promoting the song was hard but worth it.
"You have to be maintaining things with the programme directors you know, communicating with them, and follow up on how well the record is doing. In the Caribbean core market, everybody already loved it so it was just to get it overseas," he said.
He compared its success to Gyptian's international hit, Hold Yuh, which earned a remix from superstar Nicki Minaj, saying that both took a while to finally bloom.
"It came out a long time ago and now it has finally blossomed. It has a whole new life in this region now, although people in Jamaica may say its old there. It came out in August and eight months later here it is. Hold Yuh took 18 months before it went big," said Johnny Wonder.
Star
Konshens to perform in Tobago
Mackeson One—The Event would take place on April 8 as the very first Caribbean Sand and Sea Sports Festival, which is set to be a yearly attraction. This convergence of dancehall and soca will take place at Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago. The headline performer is Jamaican superstar Konshens, who would perform alongside soca heavyweights Benjai and Swappi.
Currently, Konshens (Garfield Spence) is a worldwide phenomenon, as he has sold out concerts from Montego Bay to Germany and his new album, Mental Maintenance, recently took the number one spot on the iTunes music charts. He is arguably the biggest dancehall act at the moment and with the absence of Adija “Vybz Kartel” Palmer, the reggae star is in heavy demand all over the world.
The day is set to be one of fun, with football, volleyball and kayaking starting at 12 pm and going on until 6 pm, before the main event, which is carded to begin at 10 pm. Event promoter Shane Medford was elated about the affair as he stated: “This has been in the works for a long time now and I must give credit to the Tobago House of Assembly and the department for tourism in Tobago for believing in the Sand and Sea Sports Festival, as a new event with the potential to boost the tourism industry.”
Mackeson is the main sponsor and will be offering patrons special prices and surprises at the event. Slam 100.5FM has jumped on board as an event sponsor and will be the official radio station. Added to this, Slam is celebrating their one year anniversary and head of programming, Joel “Signal to Noise” Morris, said: “We are really excited to be a part of this event, some of our presenters and DJs will be coming to Tobago to introduce our progressive urban sound to the people.
This is in keeping with our initiative of supporting music and entertainment locally and around the region, pushing towards further integration. This is the only way we can penetrate the world market. It must be one Caribbean movement and it must start at home, in and around our islands.”
GM
Ray Charles Foundation Sues the Singer's Children
The Ray Charles Foundation is suing seven of the late singer's children for attempting to obtain copyrights on some of Charles' songs, The Wrap reports.
According to the lawsuit, Charles gave each of his children $500,000 in 2002 under the condition that they would not seek further inheritance claims on his musical estate. The Ray Charles Foundation, which provides funding for research into hearing impairment and educational programs, currently owns all the rights to the intellectual property of Charles, who died in 2002.
The foundation claims that several of Charles' children are now violating their agreement by seeking copyrights for more than 50 songs.
"In complete disregard of the confidence, trust, and belief in his own children that their father reposed in them," the lawsuit says, "by undertaking the actions described below in this Complaint, Defendents have reneged on and are in breach or other violation of this agreement."
According to the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Central California last week, the offspring in question applied in March 2010 to reclaim the copyrights of the songs, under a provision of the 1976 Copyright Act that is intended to allow artists to renegotiate their royalty rates after a certain number of years if the value of their work has increased.
The foundation claims that, in addition to the prior agreement not to seek any further portion of their father's estate, the "termination of transfer" rule does not apply because Charles had already renegotiated his royalty rates with his publishers in 1980. It also contends that some of the songs were works for hire, in which case the artist cannot claim the same rights.
The foundation's suit seeks to prevent the children from obtaining the copyrights, along with at least $500,000 from each defendant plus court costs, attorneys' fees and interest.
The Ray Charles Foundation argues that it would be particularly hard hit by the loss of those royalties because it is not allowed to solicit or accept any private donations.
"The self-serving attempts on the part of the Defendants to deprive The Foundation of its said intellectual property rights not only is contrary to the express wishes of their father and in breach of the agreement they signed and promises that they made," the lawsuit says, "but it is contrary to the best interest of those innocent parties who would be benefited by the grants made by The Foundation."
Source: rollingstone
Spain budget: Cuts to total 27bn euros this year
Spain is cutting 27bn euros ($36bn; £22.5bn) from its budget this year as part of one of the toughest austerity drives in its history.
Changes will include freezing public sector workers' salaries and reducing departmental budgets by 16.9%.
The government says it will raise 12.3bn euros this year, aided by an increase in tax for large companies.
Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the nation was in an "extreme situation".
"Our top priority is to clean up public accounts," she said.
"This is a moment that demands serious efforts to reduce spending but also structural reforms to cause the economy to grow and create jobs."
But economists are questioning whether the cuts will be enough to satisfy Spain's European partners.
'Insufficient' cuts
Last month Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy agreed with the European Commission to reduce Spain's deficit from 8.5% to 5.3% of GDP in 2012.
Javier Diaz Gimenez, professor of economics at IESE Business School in Madrid, said: "This [budget] seems to be non-credible.
"They will not be making the 5.3% target agreed with Brussels, because the cuts are insufficient given the growth forecast," he told BBC News.
This could mean further cuts are needed before long.
"I suspect that the government could be forced to implement further austerity measures later this year, with lingering economic downturn set to place additional strains on an already perilous budget deficit reduction plan," said Raj Badiani, an economist at IHS Global Insight.
The main risk is that the government's tax revenue projections for 2012 look too optimistic," he said.
There are concerns, however, that even the latest spending cuts could further damage the chances of getting the Spanish economy growing again. It is in recession and is expected to shrink by 1.7% this year.
Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said this would not happen.
"Our obligation towards Spanish people and the rest of the EU citizens is to get public accounts into shape," she said.
"Not at any cost, but with measures that support those citizens who need it the most and not paralysing a possible recovery or job creation."
Budgets slashed
Under the 2012 budget the unemployed will see their benefits maintained and pensions will continue to rise.
Consumers have also been spared some pain as VAT will remain at its current level.
Three US credit firms warn of security breach
Visa, Mastercard and Discover have warned that credit card holders' personal information could be at risk after a security breach.
The firms said there had been "no breach" of its own system, instead blaming a third party.
Security blog KrebsOnSecurity, which first reported the story, said industry sources believed more than 10 million cards may have been compromised.
Reports suggested the stolen details had been obtained in New York.
The Wall Street Journal quoted its own industry sources as saying card-processing firm Global Payments was the company that suffered the breach. Shares in the company fell by more than 9% on Friday.
Global Payments has not responded to requests for comment.
Concern
None of the three companies, which are the three of the largest credit card processors would confirm how many customers were affected.
Visa and Mastercard, also used for debit cards of major US banks, said they had notified banks of the breach.
Discover Financial Services said it was monitoring accounts and would reissue cards if necessary.
In a statement, Mastercard said: "[We are] concerned whenever there is any possibility that cardholders could be inconvenienced and we continue to both monitor this event and take steps to safeguard account information.
"If cardholders have any concerns about their individual accounts, they should contact their issuing financial institution."
Visa echoed Mastercard's statement, emphasising that its customers are not responsible for fraudulent purchases.
Gartner analyst Avivah Litan said she believed the breach was related to a taxi garage in New York City.
"So if you've paid a NYC cab in the last few months with your credit or debit card - be sure to check your card statements for possible fraud," she said.
Iran crisis: US to apply fresh oil sanctions
US President Barack Obama has approved the introduction of fresh sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil.
In a statement, Mr Obama said US allies boycotting Iranian oil would not suffer negative consequences because there was enough oil in the world market.
The move would allow the US to take measures against foreign banks that still deal with Iranian oil.
Iran is facing international pressure to address concerns over its nuclear enrichment programme.
Western countries suspect Iran of attempting to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran insists the programme is purely peaceful.
Mr Obama said in a statement that he would continue to monitor the global market closely to ensure it could handle a reduction of oil purchases from Iran.
The US president was required by a law he signed in December to determine by 31 March whether the market allowed countries to "significantly" cut their purchases from Iran.
'On notice'
A statement from the White House acknowledged that "a series of production disruptions in South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria and the North Sea have removed oil from the market" in the first months of 2012.
"Nonetheless, there currently appears to be sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil to permit foreign countries to significantly reduce their import of Iranian oil," the statement says.
"In fact, many purchasers of Iranian crude oil have already reduced their purchases or announced they are in productive discussions with alternative suppliers."
Under the law signed in December, countries have until 28 June to show they have significantly reduced the amount of crude oil they purchase from Iran or face being cut off from the US financial system