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.
Taylor Swift’s $35.7 million year tops Billboard’s Money Makers list
Taylor Swift is No. 1 again: The singer is the top act on Billboard’s just-released Top 40 Money Makers list for last year.
Swift earned more than $35.7 million, 17 percent more than the take-home pay of last year’s top-earner, Lady Gaga. U2 was second with $32 million. Artists’ rankings were based on U.S. income sources from tours, albums sales and publishing royalties.
Adele took the No. 10 spot on the list. Though she canceled most of her U.S. tour because of issues with her vocal cords, her “21” sold more than 5 million units in 2011. Country artists had a banner year, occupying 11 of the 40 slots on the list, including Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley. Among the other names that made the Top 40 list: Katy Perry, Journey, the Glee cast, Sade, Britney Spears, Bob Seger, Elton John and Motley Crue.
Billboard’s top ten and the earnings.
1. Taylor Swift — $35.7 million
2. U2 — $32.1 million
3. Kenny Chesney — $29.8 million
4. Lady Gaga — $25.3 million
5. Lil Wayne — $23.1 million
6. sade — $16.3 million
7. Bon Jovi — $15.8 million
8. Celine Dion — $14.2 million
9. Jason Aldean — $13.4 million
10. Adele — $13 million
Gannett News Service
China raises fuel prices for second time in a month
China has raised the price of petrol by about 6% and diesel about 7% for the second time in 2012, as it struggles with the rising cost of crude oil.
Global oil prices have been high because of tensions with key supplier Iran.
The move is aimed at ensuring domestic fuel supplies and to help local refiners cut heavy losses.
Analysts said this was a sign the government is less concerned about inflation.
Price worries
Rising prices have been a problem in China since the global financial crisis led authorities to introduce a stimulus package.
Consumer price inflation peaked in July last year at 6.5% before easing.
In February, the rate of inflation was 3.4% from a year earlier, which is below the government's target of 4%.
"It's a bold move by the National Development and Reform Commission... looks like inflation has fallen off quite sharply recently, so it is a good politically-timed window," said Gordon Kwan from Mirae Asset Management in Hong Kong.
High prices, especially of food and fuel, have previously led to unrest in Chinese cities.
Under China's fuel-pricing system, domestic fuel prices can be adjusted when a basket of international crude changes by more than 4% over a period of 22 days.
Refiner benefits
The hikes are higher than market expectation of an average 3% rise. They come after crude prices rose more than 10% in February.
Fuel prices were last raised in China in February by around 3% to 4%.
After the increase on Tuesday, benchmark diesel will be about $1.22 (76p) per litre and 90-octane petrol about $1.17, although prices vary by region.
Refiners had been urging the government to raise fuel prices, to help them pass on some of the higher cost of crude to consumers.
Manning goes from Colts to Broncos, with pending deal likely worth $95 million
The Denver Broncos got their Man. Make that Peyton Manning.
Pending final contract negotiations, Manning will join John Elway’s Broncos with hopes of winning another Super Bowl.
So much for Tebowmania.
Still to be decided is what happens to last season’s quarterback sensation, Tim Tebow.
The Broncos and Manning agent Tom Condon spent Monday working out parameters of a deal expected to be worth about $95 million over five years after the NFL’s only four-time MVP called Elway, the Broncos’ revered QB-turned-executive, and told him he had decided to come to Denver.
Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams also said Manning let him know that he had picked the Broncos. Adams released a statement Monday confirming the Titans were out of the running and later said to The Tennessean: “He called me himself and told me he wasn’t coming, that he made his mind up to go with Denver.”
Besides the Titans, the San Francisco 49ers had been a finalist in the chase for Manning, who turns 36 on Saturday and missed all of 2011 because of multiple neck surgeries.
ESPN first reported the record-setting quarterback instructed his agent to negotiate the details of a deal with the Broncos, less than two weeks after the Colts released him rather than pay a $28 million bonus.
“I think it’s a great place for him,” Broncos defensive end Robert Ayers said outside the Broncos’ complex. “I don’t think he made a bad decision. I think he made a great decision. Hopefully we can prove him right and hopefully we can win a lot of games here.”
Despite being sidelined all of last season, Manning’s success in the past — the Colts averaged a 12-4 record from 2001-10 — made him by far this offseason’s top potential signing and perhaps the most desired free agent ever.
He was wooed to Denver by Hall of Fame quarterback Elway, who led the Broncos to two Super Bowl championships and now serves as their vice president of football operations.
Elway, who retired from the game after winning his second straight title in 1999, never sounded all that convinced Tebow was the answer at the sport’s most important position and now could trade the enormously popular but flawed QB.
Tebow energized the Broncos in leading them to the playoffs last season — and has fans all over the country — but his play was erratic.
“I wouldn’t say I feel bad for him,” Ayers said. “It’s a business. And I’m pretty sure Tim understands that. ... We wish him luck, no matter what he does. I hope he’s here. He’s a great leader, a great locker room guy.”
Manning was cut loose March 7 by the Colts. The move marked the end of an era, a 14-year alliance between the team that drafted Manning No. 1 overall and the QB who brought Indianapolis from football irrelevance to the 2007 Super Bowl title and a second appearance in the NFL championship game three years later.
But with Manning’s rehab continuing, the Colts decided it was time to rebuild from top to bottom, and they are expected to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the top pick in April’s draft.
Two days after standing alongside Colts owner Jim Irsay at an emotional farewell news conference, Manning began his free agency tour in the place it was ending: Denver. Manning landed on Tebow’s turf with all the trappings of star treatment — flown to town on a chartered plane, then spending the day with Elway, coach John Fox and general manager Brian Xanders.
From there, Manning crisscrossed the country in search of a new team, as various clubs courted a guy with more than 50,000 yards passing, nearly 400 touchdowns and 11 Pro Bowl selections. After Denver, next up was a meeting with the Arizona Cardinals, and he also spent time speaking with — or throwing for — the Titans, 49ers and Miami Dolphins, with TV cameras and even helicopters often on the trail.
In the end, though, Manning decided he wanted to trade in his Colts horseshoe helmet for one adorned by a Bronco. The move would allow him to stay in the AFC, a conference he knows well and one considered weaker than the NFC at the moment, and would re-establish the tantalizing prospect of playing against his brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli, in a Super Bowl. They already have three titles in the family.
Manning-to-Denver also creates a fascinating dynamic with Tebow, only months after the former Heisman Trophy winner was the focus of the NFL regular season and perhaps the most talked-about athlete in sports, a polarizing figure both because of his style of play — as far as possible from a classic, dropback passer — and his outspoken religious beliefs.
After taking over a struggling team, Tebow led the Broncos to comeback victory after comeback victory, struggling for three quarters before starring in the fourth quarter and overtime. With an offense transformed into a spread option attack built on Tebow’s running, and a strong defense that kept games close, the Broncos won the AFC West title.
Tebowmania reached its apex in the playoffs, when he threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas on the very first play of overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. The next week, though, Tebow was smothered by the New England Patriots, who easily eliminated the Broncos 45-10.
A little more than two months later, Tebow could be on the trading block.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper chimed in, saying he hoped Tebow wasn’t going anywhere.
“He’s a young man, right? And a year or two of working under John Elway and Peyton Manning, you know, I’m not sure any other quarterbacks around the country get that opportunity,” Hickenlooper said.
Tebow isn’t the only domino that could fall now that the offseason’s biggest free agency question is seemingly settled.
San Francisco could decide to keep its own free-agent QB, Alex Smith, who went to Miami for a visit with the Dolphins after the 49ers’ flirtation with Manning became public. If Smith does go back to the Niners, perhaps Miami will look to trade for Tebow, who played in college at Florida. The Titans, meanwhile, probably will stick with grooming Jake Locker, who was a first-round draft pick a year ago.
Denver, meanwhile, could try to give Manning some new targets, because they still have millions of dollars in salary-cap space available. The Broncos did not exactly have a wealth of wideouts last season, other than Thomas, and they lost Eddie Royal to the San Diego Chargers as a free agent.
Eric Decker struggled to catch Tebow’s erratic passes, and was plagued with drops, but would seem a perfect fit for Manning’s precise passing game.
Ayers said he hoped the Broncos would be able to persuade other free agents to join the Broncos, such as Manning’s former Colts teammates Jeff Saturday and Dallas Clark.
Running back Willis McGahee tweeted: “To all my free agents across the nfl, I think u know what time it is.”
Former teammates of Elway’s were just as excited, with Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe tweeting: “I think (at)Terrell—Davis and I should round up the old gang and make a comeback.”
“I got my cleats,” Davis fired right back, “I’ll meet u (at) Dove Valley!”
--AP Sports
Contracts Put Gayle Return In A Bind
A proposed move that would have seen the return of talismanic opener Chris Gayle to the West Indies team and ended his yearlong impasse with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has been stalled.
A high-level meeting in St Vincent earlier this morning, chaired by the country's prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, and involving WICB Chief Executive Ernest Hilaire, WICB President Julian Hunte and Gayle, had been expected to produce a solution.
However, a source close to the negotiations in St Vincent told CMC Sports that while a deal had been reached and agreed to by the WICB and CARICOM, Gayle was yet to sign off.
CMC Sports understands that the deal would have seen both Gayle and the WICB acknowledging that mistakes had been made during the impasse, but agreeing to move forward in the spirit of compromise.
The deal would have seen Gayle available for the current series against Australia which ends on April 27.
Gayle, however, is contracted to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League which runs from April 4 to May 27 and for Somerset in the English County Twenty20 tournament.
The IPL clashes with both the current Australia tour and West Indies tour of England from May 5 to June 24.
Contractual agreements
CMC Sports understands that Gayle is keen on fulfilling all his contractual international T20 obligations.
Speculation was rife during the second one-day international on Sunday as word slowly emerged that talks were ongoing to find a settlement to the dispute.
Gayle, who attended the funeral for the late Runako Morton in St Kitts on Saturday, was present for the game at Arnos Vale, triggering further speculation he could suit up as early as Tuesday for the third match of the series.
The dominant left-hander has not played for West Indies since the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan last March, after being sidelined for controversial public criticisms of the WICB and team coach Ottis Gibson.
He had been mandated by the board to withdraw his comments before he could be considered for selection, but the player refused.
Only recently, Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller called for an end to the impasse and subsequently raised it at the CARICOM Interses-sional meeting in Suriname March 8-9.
--CMC