Kiwanis launches fundraising initiative
The Kiwanis Club of Grand Turk with its Sponsored Youth Program, The Builders Club of HJ Robinson High School joins with representatives from other Civic Organisations to launch the fundraising initiative for the community Christmas Tree today at the Emancipation Square (also known as the Clock Tower) at 3pm. The brief Ceremony will last approximately half hour and the general public is invited.
A single wooden tree will be planted and will include a “thermometer” that will be periodically updated to show the monies being raised. There will be a total of 8 trees erected around the Island.
We wish now to encourage the general public to support all efforts to raise monies for the much needed community Christmas Tree. Our goal is $25,000.00. An account number will be announced shortly where contributions can be made as well as other avenues for receiving your contributions. All Civic Organisations on Island have agreed to work together to realize this and will throughout the year be hosting joint as well as separate events.
We anticipate your support to better our community and to ensure that we hold onto our traditions that foster the spirit of oneness.
Carlos Simons responds to AG
In a follow up to a release sent to RTC News by AG Huw Sheppard, PNP has responded with the following:
Today the Attorney General issued a press statement regarding proceedings issued in his name on behalf of TCIG against the Progressive National Party (PNP) for recovery of the Party’s headquarters located on Airport Road, Providenciales. The Statement sets out in some detail the nature and amount of TCIG’s claim.
I am instructed by the PNP in the matter of the claim (except at this stage for the matter of service) and make the following comments on its behalf.
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I do not consider that TCIG has as yet “served civil proceedings on the Progressive National Party” as the statement asserts. I believe that their method of service does not meet the requirements of TCI procedural law and until the mistake is corrected, the Party has no formal notice of the proceedings and does not have to respond. That issue has been brought to the attention of the Attorney General’s Chambers, but might in the end require the attention of the Court.
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I believe that the trespass claim is entirely misconceived. The Party has been in open possession of the Airport Road property since at least 2005 with the full knowledge of the leaders of every Government Department concerned with dealings in crown land and with their acquiescence, if not consent. This includes the then Governor, Richard Tauwhare who throughout remained the ultimate authority for the management and disposition of crown lands. This is the same Governor of whom and from whom the people of the TCI have heard nothing since his departure and in respect of whose role in the matters now under investigation no one in the FCO has seen fit to explain. That is disrespectful.
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Provident Management Services Ltd did not sub-lease six offices in the Headquarters building to PNP MPs. Provident leased the offices to TCIG. Those leases were signed off on behalf of TCIG by the Head of Department having control of the relevant vote. Furthermore those leases were identical to leases entered into by TCIG in Grand Turk, South Caicos and North and Middle Caicos for the constituency offices of Members of Parliament, including constituency offices for PDM Members of Parliament. That assertion is therefore false.
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The PNP has never disputed TCIG’s right to a reasonable annual rent, nor payment of the market value of the land. That is therefore a non-issue, the litigation of which can only be justified in the context of the gravy train that the SIPT and Civil Recovery teams now ride on the backs of the TCI people.
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As for damages for trespass, I believe any reasonable person would agree that the land has been developed and improved rather than injured. I would also be surprised if anyone, regardless of their political allegiance would agree (even if TCIG were to win its case) that pulling down and destroying a perfectly good building makes any kind of sense.
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The settlement discussions to which the AG refers were not successful because they were not undertaken in good faith by him and his clients, the Governor and the FCO. They are hell-bent on issuing this final embarrassment to the PNP as an institution. The Party is hell-bent on ensuring its survival as a pillar of the parliamentary democracy that our constitutions since 1976 have provided for, and to ensure that the Party is a force for good in the affairs of our country.
I am specifically instructed to call upon the AG, the Governor and the FCO to withdraw these unnecessary proceedings, the consequence of which will only enrich the Civil Recovery team lawyers at the expense of the TCI taxpayer. In keeping with my instructions I invite the AG and the Governor to return to the negotiation table and make a good faith attempt to reach a reasonable settlement of these issues and thereby save some of the $33 million they have committed the TCI people to paying their lawyers over the next several years.
In any case, the PNP is committed to rigorously defending and defeating these spurious claims brought by the Interim Government, purportedly on behalf of the people.
Carlos W. Simons QC
Attorney
Progressive National Party.
CRIME REPORT FROM THE TCI
In the recent crime report provided to RTC News by the Royal Turks & Caicos Police Force.
IN NORTH CAICOS:
A MAN was arrested in North Caicos on suspicion of burglary and rape, yesterday.
IN GRAND TURK:
THIEVES made off with two computer modems from the back room of a store in Hospital Road.
The Lynks modems were taken sometime between 8.20pm on Saturday night and 7am on Monday.
A POWER pack and coils were taken from a boat moored at North Creek.
STAVON Harris of South Caicos was jailed for four weeks after pleading guilty to a charge of wounding when he appeared in the Magistrate Court.
Anyone with information any crimes 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.
DIGICEL KICK START ACADEMY VIDEO WINS PRESTIGIOUS GOLD ADDY AWARD
Digicel proudly received the prestigious Caribbean Advertising Federation (CAF) Gold ADDY award for its 14 minute mini-documentary about the Digicel Kick Start Academy.
The annual Digicel Kick Start training programme sees over 800 aspiring young footballers from across the Caribbean and Central America put through their paces by England and Liverpool football legend, John Barnes. From the initial 800, 40 of the best footballers are chosen to train at the Digicel Academy under football coaches from the esteemed Sunderland Academy from the English Premier League.
Spearheaded by Digicel – and produced in conjunction with OGM Communications and Advance Dynamics Ltd. – the mini-documentary follows the journey through the week-long Academy and is set to an inspirational music score. The mini-documentary topped the “TV Self-Promotion” category of the respected annual advertising awards.
Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, Karl Donnelly, said; “We are thrilled to have won this prestigious award for our Kick Start Academy documentary. The Digicel Academy is a once in a lifetime experience for these aspiring young footballers – and this video tells the story of the passion and determination required – and displayed – by them to get there.
“For us at Digicel, it underlines our commitment to the development of football at a grass roots level – but also demonstrates the importance and influence of the sport in bringing young people together and teaching them invaluable life skills,’ concluded Donnelly.
Director of Photography at Advance Dynamics Ltd., Kerry Gibbons, said; “It is always fulfilling to work on a project we strongly believe in and enjoy. But to be recognised and rewarded for it by the industry is truly an added blessing. The production team was excited from the onset to work on the Digicel Kick Start Football Academy and poured ourselves into the project. We were determined to deliver a product that all parties involved could be proud of – as well as one that is appreciated by the Caribbean people as a whole.
“On behalf of the production team, we express our heartfelt gratitude to OGM Communications T&T and Digicel Group for trusting us with this fantastic opportunity,” concluded Gibbons.
CAF President Christopher Guinness praised the high quality of entries his adjudication panel received for 2011 saying he fully expected several of the regional winners to gain entry into the 4th District American Advertising Federation Competition scheduled for Saturday 14th April 2012.
The full video can be viewed at http://www.digicelfootball.com/en/clinics
Attorney General v Progressive National Party: commencement of proceedings
RTC News received the following from the AG's Chambers On 13 March 2012.
The statement reads, the Turks & Caicos Islands Government served civil proceedings on the Progressive National Party seeking the recovery of the land upon which the PNP Headquarters is constructed, together with damages. The claim arises from the PNP's trespass following its construction of the PNP headquarters on Airport Road, Providenciales on Crown land to which it had, and has no title.
After construction of its headquarters in 2005/6, the PNP subsequently appointed a management agent, Provident Management Services Ltd to manage the property. During the last administration, Provident sub-leased six offices in the headquarters to PNP MPs for a total of $465,083.61 over approximately three years, which was paid by the Government. The Government seeks the return of that sum, to which Provident was not entitled together with other damages.
The Government seeks a number of remedies for the trespass:
- damages for the PNP's trespass on the land, based on a reasonable annual rent until possession of the land is returned to the Crown;
- the repayment of the $465,083.61;
- an order that the headquarters are pulled down and destroyed;
- damages for returning the land to its former state; and
- interest and costs
Attorney General Huw Shepheard commented: "When the current administration first became aware last year that the PNP's headquarters had been built on Crown Land to which the PNP had no title, my Chambers wrote to the PNP setting out the claim that the Government had. It had been our hope that matters could be settled amicably without the need for proceedings. Unfortunately, discussions with the PNP have not been successful. In those circumstances, the Government has been left with no choice but to bring these proceedings for trespass and damages to recover this plot of Crown land and what is properly owed to the Government".
NEW TCI FINANCIAL TO PASS INTO LAW
The Governor signed the new Public Finance Management Ordinance into law yesterday, Monday, 19 Mar 2012. This follows on from signing the National Audit Office Ordinance last Friday.
Both will be published in the Gazette on Fri, 23rd March. They will both commence from the start of the new financial year on the 1st of April 2012.
This is a major achievement. Completion and introduction of the PFM Ordinance takes the TCI one step closer to fulfilment of the milestones set out by UK Ministers in the Written Ministerial Statement published in December 2010.
It was also a requirement of the EU for the release of EDF 9 funds to the TCI, that new PFM legislation should be in place before the end of 31st March 2012.
Completion of the National Audit Office Ordinance provides additional legal measures to support stronger management and scrutiny of the management of public money.
The UK’s National Audit Office previously noted that the NAO Bill is exemplary and could be used as a benchmark for all UK Overseas Territories and even other Caribbean nations.
The Public Financial Management Bill sets out the high standard of public financial management framework that the UK expects from its Overseas Territories.
This includes measures to strengthen the management of public finances; improve medium term fiscal planning, to put value for money first, to limit borrowing, and to deliver greater public sector accountability to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In addition to the strengthened public financial management provisions, the enactment of the NAO Bill will allow for the new National Audit Office to be established for the TCI providing a further layer of oversight and required accountability for the spending of public money.
Enactment of both Bills before the start of the new financial year will allow ample time for implementing the laws and embedding new higher standards of public financial management and oversight ahead of new elections planned for later in 2012.
‘21 Jump Street’ leaps to No. 1 with $35M debut
Audiences headed back to school for the TV update “21 Jump Street,” which opened as the No. 1 weekend movie with $35 million.
Sony’s action comedy starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as cops going undercover as high school students took down the animated hit “Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax,” which had been the top flick the previous two weekends.
Studio estimates Sunday put Universal’s “The Lorax” in second-place with $22.8 million, raising its domestic total to $158.4 million.
At No. 3, Disney’s costly sci-fi dud “John Carter” dropped sharply in its second weekend. The Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation took in $13.5 million, down 55 percent from its anemic opening weekend and lifting its domestic total to a measly $53.2 million. “John Carter” reportedly cost $250 million to make.
While tanking in the United States, “John Carter” has done decent business overseas. It took in $40.7 million this weekend to push its international haul to $126.1 million and its worldwide total to $179.3 million.
In narrow release, Will Ferrell’s Spanish-language B-movie spoof “Casa de mi Padre” opened solidly at No. 9 with $2.2 million. The Lionsgate release played in just 382 theaters, compared to 3,121 for “21 Jump Street.”
Based on the 1980s TV show that made Johnny Depp a star, “21 Jump Street” casts Hill and Tatum as rookie cops posing as teens to root out crooks peddling a psychedelic new drug at a Los Angeles school.
Rather than doing a straight update of the TV show, Sony turned “21 Jump Street” on its head for the big-screen, retooling it as a comedy that helped pack in the under-25 crowd, which made up half of the audience.
“I just think you had to make it relevant, and action comedy was the way to go. And they did make it very relevant to a young audience,” said Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony. “The guys, Jonah and Channing, were just killer together. They had incredible chemistry and certainly were the attraction for younger crowds.”
Hollywood’s box-office hot streak finally cooled off a bit, with overall business down for the first weekend this year. Domestic revenues totaled $108 million, off 6 percent from the same weekend last year, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
That’s likely to be just a hiccup for Hollywood, though, with business expected to soar again next weekend as the adaptation of the best-seller “The Hunger Games” hits theaters.
Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian said “The Hunger Games” could have an opening weekend well above $100 million and might surpass the $116.1 million debut of 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland,” which holds the record for best domestic premiere in March.
Dergarabedian attended “The Hunger Games” premiere and said that “fans were lined up, camped out for days. I hadn’t seen that since the ‘Twilight’ movie. But unlike ‘Twilight,’ which was dominated by the female audience, there’s huge interest from males in this movie.”
With a huge summer season ahead that includes the superhero tales “The Avengers,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” Hollywood has a strong shot at setting a revenue record this year.
So far, domestic revenues are at $2.16 billion, 16 percent ahead of last year’s.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “21 Jump Street,” $35 million ($7 million international).
2. “Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax,” $22.8 million ($11.6 million international).
3. “John Carter,” $13.5 million ($40.7 million international).
4. “Project X,” $4 million ($5.6 million international).
5. “A Thousand Words,” $3.8 million.
6. “Act of Valor,” $3.7 million.
7. “Safe House,” $2.8 million ($3.5 million international).
8. “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” $2.5 million ($5 million international).
9. “Casa de mi Padre,” $2.2 million.
10. “This Means War,” $2.1 million ($9.2 million international).
John Carter flop to cost Walt Disney $200m
Walt Disney has said it expects to lose $200m (£126m) on its movie John Carter, making it one of the biggest flops in cinema history.
The film, about a military captain transported to Mars, could result in an $80-120m loss for Disney's movie business during the current quarter.
Disney shares fell 1% in after hours trading after the announcement.
The firm is still likely to make a substantial quarterly profit, though, thanks to its TV businesses.
Tarzan
It is estimated that John Carter cost $250m to make and it is likely that Disney spent another $100m on marketing.
Reviewing the film on BBC 5 Live, Mark Kermode said: "The story telling is incomprehensible, the characterisation is ludicrous, the story is two and a quarter hours long and it's a boring, boring, boring two and a quarter hours long."
The film's director, Pixar's Andrew Stanton, had previously had great success with films such as Finding Nemo and Wall-E.
The John Carter film is based on a series of books written by the author of Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs.
The series began with A Princess of Mars in 1912 and ended with John Carter of Mars, published after the author's death in 1964.
The film has taken no more than $184m at box offices worldwide, with cinema owners receiving about half of that total.
It is difficult to compare losses on films, as studios reveal little financial detail and allowances have to be made for inflation.
The Hollywood Reporter says that last year's biggest flop was Mars Needs Moms, which cost $150m to make and only took $39m at the box office.
Disney will be hoping for success from other big budget movies due for release later this year.
The list includes The Avengers, due to be released in May, and Brave, set to be released by Disney Pixar in June.
--BBC
Chris Rock, Chuck D to Present at Rock Hall Induction Ceremony
Chris Rock and Chuck D will be among the presenters for this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony next month April.
The comedian is due to induct the Red Hot Chili Peppers into the hall at the ceremony at the Rock Hall in Cleveland on April 14. He’s a big fan and has been a friend of the band for a while, reports the AP.
Rock will join Chuck D, who will induct the Beastie Boys; Bette Midler, who will induct the late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro; John Mellencamp, who will induct former tourmate Donavan; and Stevie Van Zandt, who will induct the Small Faces/The Faces, which included Rod Stewart.
The ceremony will be broadcast on May 5 on HBO.
Bobbi Kristina’s Ring Mystery Cleared Up; Not Getting Married
Miss Bobbi Kristina Brown would like you to know that yes, she’s has been wearing a sparkly bauble on her ring finger, BUT she’s NOT planning on getting married anytime soon.
The AP says a rep for Brown’s mother, the late Whitney Houston, says the 19-year-old is “simply wearing her mother’s ring” and that she’s not engaged.
Rumors about a possible engagement flew after the 19-year-old was spotted snuggling with friend/”brother” Nick Gordon while wearing the ring.
Bobbi Kristina has been the subject of intense scrutiny since her superstar mother died last month.
Houston left her entire estate, said to be worth over $20 million, to Bobbi Kristina, her only child.