Statement from TCIG CEO Patrick Boyle on strike with Firefighters
In light of the strike going on at the PLS airport which hased ceased all air traffic operations, TCIG CEO Patrick Boyle issues the following statement to RTC news.
"The wildcat strike was called following firefighters responding to letters received last week explaining that they were to be transferred from TCIG to TCI Aviation Authority management," said Patrick Boyle, Chief Executive, Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
"This straightforward transfer would have guaranteed their continuity of service and preserved their terms and conditions, and allowed more coherent management at the airport. To be clear, the job expected of them and how they are financially rewarded would not change.
"Responding to their demands today, I said that I would stop the transfer - they can stay as they are if that is what they prefer. However, the fire fighters want to be made redundant from TCIG, for them to receive lump sum compensation payments totalling $3m between them, and then for them to carry on doing the same job for the TCIAA.
This is clearly not a good use of TCI taxpayer's money. "Providenciales currently has enough staff to allow it to operate light aircraft. One of these has been sent to South Caicos Airport to collect additional staff there.
When these arrive shortly in Provo, larger aircraft will begin to take off and land again this evening."
FORUM ATTEMPTS TO DEBATE BILLS AGAIN ON 13th March 2012
THE THIRTY-FIRST (31st) SITTING OF THE CONSULTATIVE FORUM OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WILL CONVENE ON TUESDAY 13th DAY OF MARCH 2012 IN THE NJS FRANCIS BUILDING, POND STREET, GRAND TURK AT 10:00 O’CLOCK.
LIKE THE LAST SESSION THAT WAS NOT ATTENDED BY THE AG HUW SHEPPARD & CEO MARK BOYLE, THE FOLLOWING AGENDA IS SCHEDULED:
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CROWN LAND BILL 2012
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PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2011
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PENSIONS (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2011
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PENSIONS (VALIDATION) BILL 2011
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NATIONAL INSURANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 2011
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PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT BILL 2012
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NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE BILL 2012
RTC WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF TODAY'S MEETING.
Police 24 hour crime recap 09-03-12
POLICE are investigating a burglary which took place in Blue Hills.
A Dell laptop and two cell phones were among items taken following the break-in, which occurred between 8.15am and 11.15am on Thursday March 8.
AN ACER laptop computer and items of clothing were taken by thieves who broke into a house in Cooper Jack Road, sometime between 10.15am and 2pm on Thursday March 8.
OFFICERS are appealing for information after intruders entered a home in Blue Mountain Road on Thursday (March 8) afternoon.
THIEVES made off with a silver Dell computer and a table after smashing their way into an apartment in Wheeland, Blues Hills.
The incident took place sometime between 11am and 6.30pm on Thursday (March 8).
A MAN is being questioned by police after a quantity of electric copper wire was stolen from a business premises in South Dock Road.
A MAN was arrested on suspicion of an attempted burglary that took place in December.
YOUTH NOT LEFT OUT OF INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Turks and Caicos Youth will be exposed to world renowned speaker and mentor, Dr. Myles Munroe thanks to the generosity of Pastor Bradley Handfield and the
initiative of the National Leadership Conference (NLC) Steering committee members.
"We want to ensure that the baton of leadership in The Turks and Caicos can be passed on to able-bodied and able-minded youth. We have determined
that the sort of excellence we see at these very early stages should be given the chance to glean from prestigious and prominent people like Dr. Myles,"
said Pastor Handfield, lead organizer.
Rev. Handfield, an educator who once served as a Head of the Geography Dept at Clement Howell High School; explained that select sixth graders will
be given complimentary passes to the conference, an effort spareheaded by Rachel Taylor, Principal of Enid Capron Primary School, Five Cays.
"We have also been in talks with the Vice-President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Provo Branch - Mr Samuel Forbes - to ensure
he has a group of his student leaders in attendance. Students who can benefit and then go back and share that knowledge" The National Leadership Conference is a first in what will be a series of sessions in 2012 to get Turks and Caicos Islanders ready for the return to elected government.
There are four elements to the NLC 2012:
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Official Opening Ceremony, Community Fellowship Centre on Sunday March 11, 2012 at 3 p.m. LIVE on Radio Turks and Caicos.
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Day Session, Brayton Hall featuring five speakers: Leon Williams, Corporate Leadership; Charlene Paul, Financial Leadership; Bishop George Fulford, Family Leadership; Bishop Derek Browne, Integrity in Leadership and Tremmaine Swann-Harvey, Youth Leadership. Session runs from 8am-3pm.
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Two evening sessions, Beaches Resort Villages & Spa featuring Dr. Myles Munroe 7-10 .m.
MAN ARRESTED AT PROVO AIRPORT
RTC News understands that Police, acting on information received, today (Thursday March 8) arrested a man as he disembarked a flight from Jamaica at the Providenciales International Airport.
The arrest is in relation to an unsolved murder that is being investigated by the RTCI Police Cold Crimes Unit (CCU).
No further updates was submitted to our news team in relations to this story.
PRINCIPAL CLEMENT HOWELL CLEARED
The Attorney General’s Chambers issued the immediate release to RTC News concerning Lloyd Fearon.
The Attorney General’s Chambers has reviewed the police investigation involving the Principal of Clement Howell School, Mr. Lloyd Fearon.
It is the opinion of the Attorney General, in the exercise of powers under section 39 of the Constitution, that it is not in the public interest to institute criminal proceedings against Lloyd Fearon.
This decision has been reached following a full investigation of the facts and circumstances; including the background of a highly volatile and disruptive gathering of students, the lack of intent to cause injury on the part of Mr. Fearon, and the requirement on him to maintain order and discipline in a hostile environment,
Background/rationale for decision
- Clement Howell School has a student population of over a thousand students. There are at least six security personnel employed at the school to keep order and to carry out searches of students, as required.
- On February 8, 2012 a violent fight broke out attracting over a hundred students to observe, many of whom formed a barrier to stop the guards from stopping the violence.
- Eventually the two students involved in the fight were brought to the Principal’s office. The students outside remained unruly.
- Mr. Fearon requested that all students return to classes. This instruction was not complied with. As a last resort he began swinging the cane to move the students to their classrooms. The student, subject of the complaint, was hit in the leg once with the cane causing a welt.
- Witnesses described the student subsequently following behind Mr. Fearon and challenging him in what was described as a threatening and derogatory manner. The student did not comply with repeated requests to return to class, and was struck with the cane for a second time before returning to class.
- Upon going home at the end of the school day the student’s father reported the matter to the police. A report was taken and the student was brought to hospital for consultation. Two bruises were recorded and no medical treatment was administered at the hospital.
Police 24 hour crime recap for 08-03-12
DETECTIVES have recovered the vehicle they believe was used in the attempted theft of an ATM in Grace Bay.
Three masked men entered the car park of the IGA Gourmet at 2.40am on Wednesday in a white van, which they used to smash a large window in the foyer.
The culprits, who were all dressed in black, then tried to drag the International Bank ATM out of the supermarket with a metal chain tied to the bumper.
They were unsuccessful in their bid and escaped empty-handed, however the registration plate from the vehicle was left at the scene.
Investigations revealed the van, a white Chevy, belonged to the Seven Stars Resort and was stolen from the complex shortly before the attempted theft.
Police officers on patrol later discovered a white Chevy van with smashed rear windshields and a chain tied to the bumper, abandoned in the Long Bay area.
Witnesses to the incident are still being sought and anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477
POLICE are investigating a burglary in Blue Hills.
A house was broken into and ransacked with a number of items stolen.
The incident took place between 12.15pm and 5pm on Wednesday March 7.
A MAN was arrested by police in Provo on suspicion of causing malicious damage to property.
A WOMAN was arrested on suspicion of causing malicious damage to property. She was charged with the offence and released on police bail.
IN GRAND TURK
A MAN was arrested on the suspicion of possessing a controlled drug, believed to cannabis.
GRAND Turk police arrested a teenager in connection with an alleged wounding offence.
Cure Clears the Air
REGGAE artiste Jah Cure has apologised to fans who were disappointed when he failed to turn up at a show at the Victoria Park venue in St Vincent on Saturday night.
The Unconditional Love singer had been slated to headline 'Irresistible Temptations' which also featured Trinidadian artiste Orlando Octave.
Jah Cure, whose real name is Siccature Alcock, contends he was not given a deposit and that the promoter violated his contractual obligations.
Many Jah Cure fans left the venue disappointed having paid as much as EC$50 ($1,535 approximately).
Jah Cure tweeted: "St Vincent, I'm sorry for every thing that happened tonight due to the lack of organisation on the part of the promoters who have been giving nothing but excuses! I look forward to returning to deliver great music in a show by a legitimate promoter some time soon. Jah live!"
He later tweeted again: "Promoter failed to meet his contractual obligations so I could not perform. Sorry St Vincent, I shall return, I'm super disappointed."
The show would have been his first performance in St Vincent and the Grenadines since 2008.
Olivier Martinez Confirms Engagement to Halle Berry
Halle Berry, who has famously said she will never get married again, is now confirmed to be getting married again.
“Yes, of course it’s true,” her fiancé Olivier Martinez, 46, told the Miami Herald over the weekend, confirming his engagement to Berry, 45.
Martinez, who was in Florida to promote the opening of his new restaurant, Villa Azur, took the opportunity to correct reports about the jeweler who made Berry’s engagement ring: Robert Mazlo, a Parisian jeweler, created it.
“There is a jeweler taking credit for doing the ring, and it’s a lie! They have nothing to do with this,” Martinez told the Herald.
Usher Not Trying to Pay for Tameka’s Lawyers in Custody Battle
New documents filed in the ongoing legal battle between Usher and his ex Tameka over the custody of their two kids reveal that the singer is refusing to pay her request to foot her $50,000 legal bill, reports TMZ.
In the court docs, Usher claims that Tameka has consistently defied court orders and filed frivolous motions, like the one trying to force him to take a drug test.
Usher claims he’s already paid $25,000 for her attorneys and has shouldered the brunt of the finances associated with this case, especially when it comes to their kids.
In the documents, Usher states that Tameka’s actions “directly harm the best interests of the minor children. Clearly, such actions should not be tolerated, much less rewarded.”
A judge has yet to rule.