COLLECTIVE STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE RETAIL BANKING INDUSTRY
The Governor convened a Summit on 23 February 2012 of the heads of the retail banks operating in the Turks and Caicos Islands to discuss practical support for the small business community across the islands. The meeting was hosted by the Bankers Association of the TCI and was also attended by Lillian Misick, Chair of the Consultative Forum.
The Summit concluded that there is already considerable support available to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the TCI. This includes advice, training and support from the TCIG Small Business Unit and the strong determination of the retail banks to support and lend to sound small businesses. The Summit also concluded that there could be better coordination and mutual support between TCIG and the retail banks, working with the Banker’s Association.
The agreement to put in place a mechanism to enhance coordination between the TCIG Small Business Unit and the retail banks aims to provide active assistance to small businesses in preparing them to meet requirements for seeking financial support from local banking institutions. This new system will include specialist representatives of the Banker’s Association; officers from the TCIG Small Business Unit; and representatives from the Governor’s Office. The key objective of the mechanism is to provide practical support in the form of training, mentoring and advice to existing and prospective business people. By providing such additional support it is hoped to enhance the capabilities of the small business sector; improve the professionalism of their business planning and modelling; and, ultimately, make small enterprises across the TCI more attractive, credit worthy propositions for the banks.
The Summit agreed to meet again in June to assess progress and review the situation.
Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting the Governor said: “I felt it was important to issue this joint statement from the government and the banking industry to reassure small business operators and entrepreneurs considering entering the commercial world that there are sympathetic people in the local banking industry ready and willing to assist them in developing their businesses and achieving their goals.”
President of the Banker’s Association Anton Faessler added: “The banking industry welcomes the Governor’s initiative and is delighted to confirm that retail banking operations across the islands are able to offer a range of services specifically designed for small businesses and start-ups. These include tailored loans, lines of credit, business banking and financial advice. We welcome customers old and new to contact us to discuss their particular requirements in more detail.”
Police gives updates on crime in the TCI
During the past forty-eight (48) hours, Police in Providenciales responded to eight reports of a serious nature.
-
Five Burglaries— Blue Hills, Cooper Jack Bay & 3 Kew Town
-
One Attempted Burglary—Kew Town
-
One Robbery—Five Cays
-
One Wounding-- Airport Road
-
Two males were arrested on suspicion of Burglary
-
A male was arrested on suspicion of Burglary in connection with a report made on 20th February 2012
-
Two males were arrested on suspicion of Robbery in connection with a report made on 24th February 2012.
-
Two males were arrested on suspicion of Wounding in connection with a report made on 25th February 2012.
-
A male was charged for Burglary in connection with a report made on 29th January 2012.
-
Two males were charged for Burglary in connection with a report made on 16th February 2012.
-
A male was charged for Possession of Cannabis.
-
A male was charged for Assault on a Police Officer, Malicious Damage to Property and Resisting Arrest.
-
A female was charged for Malicious Damage to Property, she was later released on Police Bail with a surety to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court # 2 on 6th March 2012 to answer to the charge.
-
The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded its second road fatality for the year 2012 which occurred on South Dock Road Providenciales on Sunday evening 26th February 2012.Nichelle Farrington a 24 year old female succumbed to injuries received in a two vehicle collision on South Dock Road involving a white Kia Reo and a black Nissan Terrano.The late Ms.Farrington was the driver of the Kia.The driver of the black Nissan received serious non-life threatening injuries while the passenger a male received non-life threatening injuries. Both vehicles received extensive damages. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Traffic Enforcement Unit in Providenciales are continuing investigations into the cause of this vehicular collision.
North Caicos
-
One Burglary--Kew
Grand Turk
-
Burglary— Saunders Pond
New Public Relations Officer for Royal Turks and Caicos Islands
Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police have named a new Public Relations Officer (Special Constable appointment).
Paul Baker, who is currently working in a similar role at InterHealth Canada, will take up the post on March 1.
The 45-year-old brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked in public relations and journalism for more than 25 years.
Commissioner Colin Farquhar described the appointment as a “positive and progressive step” for the police.
He explained: “Police work is newsworthy and so it is essential that we communicate what we do, both accurately and effectively. Good public relations are crucial to any organisation but particularly so in the police service where openness and transparency are key.
“From dealing with serious crime to educating young people, our officers and staff are involved in many different projects and so we have plenty of important and positive things to say.
“Working with the community is at the heart of what we do and both the public and the media play significant roles in helping to solve crime and promote our islands as safe and pleasant places to live, work and visit.
“We are delighted to welcome Paul to the service and his extensive knowledge and experience will further help boost public confidence in the Royal Turks and Caicos Police and the work we do.
“We see this as a positive and progressive step and look forward to a long and successful association.”
Baker, who is married with two young children, began his career working on regional daily newspapers in England. He has since held a number of editorships and has written for national newspapers, television and radio.
He boasts extensive public relations and communications skills and has worked as a consultant to InterHealth Canada since the new hospitals opened in Provo and Grand Turk in April 2010.
“It’s a challenging role”, he said, “but one I am very much looking forward to. There is a great deal of good work being done by the police that goes unnoticed and it’s vital that we share these positive stories.
“There are many similarities between the police service and the hospital in terms of the need for honesty, openness and accountability and ensuring that the community has confidence in the service provided and those delivering it.
The public are the police service’s biggest asset when it comes to solving and preventing crime and so excellent communication between the two is paramount.”
South Base Refurbishment on Stream: Health Concerns Addressed by experts
Government employees may once again be working from the refurbished government offices at South base as soon as April this year, the Ministry of Works has announced.
The Engineering and Maintenance Services (EMS) in the Ministry of Works is currently carrying out the refurbishment of the buildings which were extensively damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008. The refurbishment will give additional office space for government departments and help TCIG meet its stated objective of significantly reducing high expenditure on rental accommodation.
The first phase of the renovations will bring the former Customs building back on stream by April and will give a saving of some $380 thousand per annum on rental expenditure. The other building, which formerly housed the Immigration Department, is slated for completion by August 2012.
South Base is an ex US Military base some 50 years old but the Ministry found that the damage sustained by Hurricane Ike was repairable at a reasonable cost. Special emphasis was placed on the health protection of workers and customers who will use the buildings. In that regard, the Ministry moved to address the concerns raised in some quarters about the presence of asbestos in the buildings. It called in various experts to test the materials used in the buildings and all reports show that no free asbestos was found in any of them.
The Ministry said a very different material, asbestos cement, was used as exterior cladding on the buildings at South Base. In normal use, this is a totally safe material and no special handling of the material is required as the asbestos is held tightly within the structure of the cement, the Ministry said. Asbestos cement in the form of water pipes, roofing and cladding is accepted all over the world and is still in use in a very many countries. Only when it is sawn, drilled or damaged, then subsequently inhaled, could it be a health hazard. The cladding on the buildings in South Base is painted which mitigates against this situation, the Ministry added.
Despite the acceptance of asbestos cement elsewhere, the Ministry decided to remove the asbestos cement cladding within the current refurbishment works. There will therefore be no asbestos, either free or captive within those building once the renovations are complete.
Nichelle Farrington succumbed to her injuries
The journalism family of the Turks and Caicos Islands was thrown into a state of mourning as former WIV reporter and photo-journalist Nichelle Farrington succumbed to her injuries on Sunday night in Providenciales after she was involved in a vehicular accident.
Reports reaching RTC state that it was just after 5 p.m. when the accident occurred on the South Dock Road with Farrington being severely injured.
Farrington is best known for her investigative reporting pieces and was even attached to NBC in the United States as an understudy. Her friends described her as a positive person and a lover of the spoken word as she often broadcast her poems and rap verses on You Tube and other social media.
We will have more on this tragedy in a subsequent newscast.
Son of Skatalites member killed in Jamaica
Relatives say the 32-year-old son of a founding member of the pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae band The Skatalites was fatally shot about an hour after accepting a music award for his ill father.
Ruth Brevett says her son Okine was killed Sunday by a gunman at the entrance of his home in the rough Seaview Gardens area of Kingston.
He was shot about 15 minutes after showing his 80-year-old father, Lloyd Brevett, an award from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association for the father's musical contributions. Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson handed over the award.
Lloyd Brevett was an original member of The Skatalites, a hugely influential band begun in 1964. The group made its mark by transforming everything from jazz to movie themes into ska style.
-AP
Reggae Artist Pressure Shot In St. Thomas
As the sun was setting and families were heading home about 6:30 p.m. Friday, gunfire erupted between Buildings 11 and 12 of Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing community, leaving music promoter Shamal Smith, 24, dead, and wounding St. Thomas reggae artist Delyno "Pressure" Brown and a 33-year-old acquaintance.
By 10:30 p.m. Friday, Pressure, 30, was home with his mother and father, trying to promote a new album over the phone with a fresh, single gunshot wound through his right hip.
"The bullet went straight through," said Pressure's father, Irvin "Brownie" Brown.
While Brownie was on the phone, Pressure told him to mention his latest feature, which has not been released yet and still lacks a title, he said.
Pressure, who lives in Florida and arrived Monday with a scheduled flight home Sunday, was set to perform tonight at Pilgrim's Terrace, Brownie said.
The show is scheduled for 10 p.m. with headliner Lady Saw, Pressure Buss Pipe, Selecta Avalanche and After Dark Empire.
Because of Smith's death, it is unclear whether the show will go on or whether Pressure will take the stage, Brownie said.
Friday night, Brownie said Pressure recalled the moments before the shooting, sitting with Smith and discussing tonight's show, which sold advanced tickets for $35.
The second surviving victim, who is Pressure's friend and a fellow musician, suffered gunshot wounds to the chest, police said.
Friday afternoon, Brownie first learned of the shooting with a phone call from his daughter in Texas, he said.
"I flew out of my house and went to the hospital," he said. "I saw the crowd up there.
"The police stopped me, and they told me they believed he was going to be all right," Brownie said.
Pressure ran to the home of a relative who lives in the housing community, Brownie said, and the relative helped him hitch a ride to cc on a safari taxi.
At 8:30 p.m., a police officer escorted a body to the Schneider Hospital morgue, according to police information.
When the rapid gunfire rang out, children ran from the scene, according to police information.
Three male suspects fled the scene, and one of the suspects pulled his shirt over his face while slinging a rifle, according to police information.
Police initiated a search from Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing community to Oswald Harris Court housing community.
No arrests were made by 11 p.m., said St. Thomas-St. John Police Chief Rodney Querrard Sr.
Querrard said the crime scene was crowded when police arrived because of the time of day.
"We had a lot of families getting home from work," Querrard said. "It was just before dark."
Querrard said he could not disclose how many spent shell casings were found at the scene.
Upon initial inspection, no cars bore bullet holes at the scene Friday afternoon, Querrard said.
The investigation is ongoing, and Querrard said police understand some of the crowd that formed after the shooting may already have been at the scene during the shooting.
"There were a lot of people in the area," Querrard said. "We're requesting any information from the community - anything that they saw. No matter how unimportant they believe the information is, please contact us."
RisingStarTV
The Killer mourns - Rodney Pryce, entertainment fraternity remember Ms Ivy
The music fraternity is in mourning, following the untimely death of Rodney 'Bounty Killer' Pryce's mother, Ms Ivy Williams. The name Ms Ivy is very familiar in the dancehall circles, for the most part, because Bounty Killer makes constant reference to her in song.
Bounty made the announcement on Twitter early Sunday morning, expressing his love for his mother and asking the rhetorical question 'why'?
"RIP to the world's greatest mom because she gave the world the greatest man. Ms Ivy Williams 1941-2012. Rest in peace mama, Love you more than ever and always life and death is the equation; it's inevitable and you lived an excellent life my mother, my mentor, my friend, my a whole lot of things. Why now Jah? You know what's best though!!!" Bounty Killer tweeted.
Throughout Bounty Killer's musical career he has continuously shown respect and appreciation for his mother, and has dedicated singles such as Mama on the 1990s 'Cuss Cuss' rhythm, Mama's Love and Pot Of Gold, featuring long-time friend Richie Stephens in her honour.
Bounty Killer's single Ms Ivy Last Son also gave him much attention on the dancehall circuit. The song is used in sound system clashes even today.
The Jamaican STAR made attempts to reach Bounty Killer for a follow-up comment but the artiste was in no mood to talk.
Bounty Killer's business partner and manager of Alliance Next Generation (ANG), Cross Cris, revealed that Bounty Killer was in a meditative mood.
pensive mood
"Bounty Killer is in a pensive mood right now with the passing of his mother who he holds in very high esteem. This has hurt him deeply and it is no secret to the world that his mother was his main motivation. He is in no mood now for an interview at this moment and I, Cross Cris, would like to publicly say condolences to the entire family and hope they can stay strong during this tough time," he said.
"Mama Ivy is a deeply God-fearing woman and we all know that she is in a better place at this time," he added.
The STAR also spoke with ANG artiste Iyara, who described Ms Ivy as being a happy woman.
"Mama Ivy a one of the best mothers. She is like my other mother, she always happy, loving and caring. She always show the youth around Bounty Killer love. A she first bring mi guh a church and mi ago miss har a lot. The entire ANG family will miss her, and sincere condolences to the entire family," Iyara said.
Many local artistes also took to BlackBerry Messenger to share hearts bearing their name in celebration of Ms Ivy's life.
Some of the artistes who parti-cipated in the RIP Ms Ivy love broadcast included Mavado, Sizzla, Darrio, Khago, Kiprich, Busy Signal, Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Quick Cook, D'Angel, Inna Wi Genes Records, and Captain Barkey.
Ms Ivy was 71-years-old at the time of her passing. She had been ill for a while and died in her sleep.
The Artist triumphs at the Oscars
Silent movie The Artist has triumphed at the Oscars, winning five awards including best picture, best director and best actor for Jean Dujardin.
Director Michel Hazanavicius - winning on his first ever nomination - thanked the dog, Uggie, who appears in the film but added: "I don't think he cares."
Dujardin said of his character: "If George Valentin could speak, he would say 'Wow! Victorie! Genial! Merci!'"
The film also won the Oscars for best original score and best costumes.
Martin Scorsese's Hugo also won five Oscars, mainly in technical categories.
Meryl Streep won best actress for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady - her 17th Oscar nomination and third Oscar win.
She thanked the Academy "for this inexplicably wonderful career".
"When they called my name I had this feeling I could hear half of America going: 'Aww no. Not her again'. But, you know, whatever.
"I look out here and I see my life before my eyes. My old friends, my new friends. This is such a great honour but the thing that counts the most for me is the friendships… Thank you. All of you, departed and here," she added.
Dujardin broke into his native French language in celebration shouting: "Wow, victory!"
"Thank you to the Academy. It's funny because in 1929, it wasn't Billy Crystal but Douglas Fairbanks who hosted the first Oscars ceremony. Tickets cost $5 and it lasted 15 minutes. Times have changed."
1929 was the last year that a silent movie won an Oscar.
Canadian actor Christopher Plummer became the oldest Oscar winner at 82 by taking the best supporting actor prize.
He was widely tipped to win for his portrayal of a father who comes out as a gay man after his wife dies in Beginners.
Plummer thanked his real-life wife who, he said, deserved "the Nobel Peace Prize for coming to my rescue every day".
The Help's Octavia Spencer won the best supporting actress Oscar and gave an emotional acceptance speech, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Thank you Steven Spielberg for changing my life...oh my God, thank you... I'm freaking out," she told the audience, after struggling up to the stage in a floor-length gown.
Best adapted screenplay went to Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash for The Descendants, starring George Clooney.
Veteran screenwriter and director Woody Allen won best original screenplay for Midnight in Paris but was not there to collect the award.
Muppets win
The first two awards of the night went to Hugo for cinematography and art direction.
Robert Richardson was cinematographer on Martin Scorsese's 3D film and Francesca Lo Schiavo was art director.
And later, the film about an orphan who lives in a train station picked up a further three Oscars, all in technical categories.
Best sound editing was won by Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty.
Hugo's Tom Fleishman and John Midgley won the Oscar for sound mixing and the film also picked up the award for best visual effects.
Rango won best animation, a first Academy award and nomination for director Gore Verbinski, who said it was "made by grown-ups acting like a bunch of children".
The film features the voice of Johnny Depp, who plays a chameleon.
Best animated short film was The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore.
The Oscar for costume design went to Mark Bridges for The Artist, who thanked the Academy "for making a lifelong dream come true".
The best make-up prize went to J Roy Helland and British artist Mark Coulier for The Iron Lady.
Iran's A Separation became the first Iranian film to win an Oscar when Sandra Bullock presented director Asghar Farhadi with best foreign language film.
Set in contemporary Iran, it tells the story of a marriage break-down.
Best film editing went to Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall for Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - the pair also won last year for The Social Network. Both films were directed by David Fincher.
The Oscar for best original song was won by Bret Mackenzie for Man or Muppet from the soundtrack to The Muppets.
Best documentary went to Undefeated, a film about an inner city American football team whose fortunes are turned around by a new coach.
The executive producer of the film was rapper Sean 'P Diddy' Combs.
Cohen stunt
Northern Ireland film The Shore won the best live action short film.
Saving Face, about a British-Pakistani doctor who helps women who have been injured in acid attacks, won best documentary short.
Earlier, Morgan Freeman introduced the evening before a comic video was shown of George Clooney waking up host Billy Crystal with a kiss - in a parody of his nominated film The Descendants.
Freeman said: "All of us are mesmerised by the magic of the movies. This magnificent event allows us to celebrate the present and look back at its magnificent past."
Crystal hosted the 84th Oscars ceremony at the Kodak theatre in Los Angeles.
He joked: "This is my ninth time - just call me War Horse."
On the red carpet, British comedy actor Sacha Baron Cohen turned up dressed in a white military uniform and sporting a beard and sunglasses, promoting his upcoming film The Dictator.
Cohen arrived holding an urn he jokingly claimed contained the ashes of Kim Jong Il, the late leader of North Korea.
Cohen then tipped the container on to American Idol host Ryan Seacrest
-
Courtesy of the BBC
'Act of Valor' takes Oscar weekend with $24.5 mil
The real-life Navy SEALs action flick "Act of Valor" topped the box office with $24.5 million over Oscar weekend.
Made with the collaboration of the Navy, the film stars active-duty SEALs in sequences filmed with live ammo.
The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com are:
"Act of Valor," Relativity Media, $2,476,632, 3,039 locations, $8,054 average, $24,476,632, one week.
"Tyler Perry's Good Deeds," Lionsgate, $15,583,924, 2,132 locations, $7,310 average, $15,583,924, one week.
"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," Warner Bros., $13,389,102, 3,350 locations, $3,997 average, $76,645,453, three weeks.
"Safe House," Universal, $10,926,145, 3,052 locations, $3,580 average, $97,622,705, three weeks.
"The Vow," Sony/Screen Gems, $9,916,774, 3,038 locations, $3,264 average, $102,924,117, three weeks.
"Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," Sony/Columbia,$9,006,135, 3,174 locations, $2,837 average, $38,038,217, two weeks.
"This Means War," Fox, $8,425,010, 3,189 locations, $2,642 average, $33,495,646, two weeks.
"Wanderlust," Universal, $6,526,650, 2,002 locations, $3,260 average, $6,526,650, one week.
"Gone," Summit, $4,770,360, 2,186 locations, $2,182 average, $4,770,360, one week.
"The Secret World of Arrietty," Disney, $4,351,115, 2,958 location, $1,471 average, $14,508,920, two weeks.
"Chronicle," Fox, $3,685,036, 1,797 locations, $2,051 average, $57,984,963, four weeks.
"Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace," LucasFilm Ltd./Fox, " $3,174,955, 1,618 location, $1,962 average, $40,444,585, three weeks.
"The Artist," Weinstein Co., $2,905,858, 966 locations, $3,008 average, $31,779,657, 14 weeks.
"The Woman in Black," CBS, $2,722,485, 1,727 locations,$1,576 average, $50,451,681, 4 weeks.
"The Descendants," Fox Searchlight, $2,133,442, 889 locations, $2,400 average, $78,460,135, 15 weeks
"Hugo," Paramount, $1,510,760, 501 locations, $3,015 average,$69,354,704, 14 weeks.
"Goon," Alliance, $1,270,000, 258 locations, $4,922 average, $1,270,000, one week.
"The Grey," Open Road, $800,285, 917 locations, $873 average, $50,179,091, five weeks.
"The Iron Lady," Weinstein Co., $694,982, 522 locations, $1,331 average, $25,721,579, 9 weeks.
"Big Miracle," Universal, $668,805, 628 locations, $1,065 average, $18,903,580, four weeks.