Santorum, Romney in Fierce Battle for Republican Nomination
U.S. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has attacked rival Rick Santorum as a political insider prone to big government spending.
Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, is in a battle with Romney for frontrunner status in the bid for the Republican presidential nomination. The nominee will take on President Barack Obama, A Democrat, in November's general election. Romney is a former governor of Massachusetts.
Speaking at an event Thursday in Arizona — one of two states holding primaries next week — Romney said his team is “the American people,” not the “insiders in Washington.”
The two men are running neck-in-neck in Michigan — the other state with a primary next Tuesday. Last week, some polls showed Santorum with a significant lead there.
In Arizona, polls show Romney ahead of Santorum. However, in polling nationwide, Santorum continues to have a clear lead, with nearly 34 percent support over Romney's 28 percent.
Fellow contenders Newt Gingrich, a former House of Representatives speaker, and Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, trail far behind.
A week after the primaries in Arizona and Michigan , voters in an additional 10 states head to the polls in what is known as “Super Tuesday.”
Diplomats: ‘Friends of Syria’ May Demand Entry of Aid Within Days
Diplomats say a group of Western and Arab-led nations gathering in Tunis to discuss Syria's worsening unrest may issue a demand for Damascus to allow the delivery of foreign humanitarian aid to hard-hit areas within days.
The officials say participants in Friday's “Friends of Syria” meeting are likely to call on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to order an immediate stop to his crackdown on an 11-month uprising, so that the aid can be delivered. Representatives of more than 70 nations and international organizations will attend the gathering, among them U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Ahead of the meeting, the United Nations named its former secretary-general Kofi Annan as a joint U.N.-Arab League envoy on the Syria crisis. It said his mission will be to end the violence and promote a peaceful resolution.
Tunisia's presidential spokesman said Thursday his government will propose a peacekeeping force to resolve the Syrian crisis.
It is not clear if the Friends of Syria will announce any punitive measures in the event that Syria rejects their demands. Residents of the central Syrian city of Homs say food, water and medical supplies are running dangerously low after almost three weeks of relentless bombardment by pro-Assad forces surrounding the opposition protest hub.
Russia and China have said they will not attend the Tunis meeting. Both powers have repeatedly blocked the U.N. Security Council from taking action against the Syrian government, saying the Council should not take sides in a domestic conflict.
Speaking on a visit to London on Thursday, Clinton said Syrian opposition forces resisting the government crackdown “will somehow, somewhere find the means to defend themselves as well as (to) begin offensive measures.” She did not elaborate.
Rebels of the Free Syrian Army have been urging the international community to arm them, but Western and Arab nations have been reluctant to agree, fearing foreign military intervention could make the situation worse.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Obama administration still supports a political resolution of the crisis. But, he said the Assad government's ongoing assault on the Syrian people is “heinous and unforgivable” and will require the United States to “evaluate” its approach “as time goes on.”
Rights activists say at least 40 people were killed across Syria on Thursday, in attacks ranging from mountain villages to areas near Damascus. They say the dead include 13 members of an extended family attacked by security forces in a village in the central province of Hama. The casualty figures could not be independently confirmed.
In other developments on Thursday, U.N.-appointed investigators in Geneva said they have compiled a list of Syrian officers and officials suspected of ordering security forces to shoot unarmed protesters, torture detainees, and shell residential areas. The investigators said Syrian leaders “at the highest levels” should face investigation for crimes against humanity.
The U.N. panel said Free Syrian Army rebels also have committed abuses, including killings and abductions, “although not comparable in scale.” In a report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council, the investigators estimated the death toll from the uprising at 6,400 civilians and 1,680 army defectors.
In earlier violence Wednesday, activists reported the killings of at least 74 people, including Marie Colvin, a prominent American war correspondent for Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik. The two were killed and several other reporters were wounded when shells hit a makeshift media center in which they were staying in the Homs district of Baba Amr.
In a video posted online Thursday by opposition activists, wounded French reporter Edith Bouvier said she needs urgent medical attention and asked to be evacuated quickly from Homs. The Syrian government expressed condolences for the deaths of Colvin and Ochlik but denied responsibility, saying the journalists were in the country illegally. Syria does not permit foreign reporters to travel freely and has kept most of them out.
World Leaders Focus on Somalia’s Future at London Conference
World leaders are in London for a one-day conference designed to help stabilize Somalia.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the conference is not meant to impose international solutions on Somalia. But he said the world will “pay a price” if it fails to help the Horn of Africa nation recover from violence, famine and poverty.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the 40-nation conference that Somalia is at a “critical” point. She said the world must help Somalia establish a stable government while keeping up the pressure on the al-Qaida-linked insurgent group al-Shabab.
Clinton added the international community would not extend the mandate of Somalia's weak transitional government beyond August, saying it is “past time” for Somalia to have permanent, representative leadership.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that before August, Somalia needs a new constitution, a smaller parliament, and presidential and parliamentary elections.
Somalia has endured two decades of civil war and poverty since the fall of its last stable government in 1991. More recently, it has struggled to deal with a devastating famine, as well as pirates and al-Shabab, which is seen as a threat to regional security.
The militants control large portions of Somalia but have been losing ground to offensives by Ethiopian, Kenyan, and African Union troops.
Clinton said the U.S. supports all Somalis who denounce violence, but said Washington is “adamantly opposed” to negotiating with al-Shabab. She said Washington is working to impose sanctions against all who seek to undermine Somali security or who delay the political transition.
She also announced an additional $64 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance for the Horn of Africa.
Gov't of Jamaica spending slashed by $22.3 billion
THE People's National Party administration has slashed the spending plan put forward by the previous government by $22,395,189 billion. The second Supplementary Estimates tabled in Parliament this afternoon shows that the previous $546,797,211 billion budget is now $525,245,740 billion.
Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips had indicated earlier this month that the budget would be revised downward due to the fiscal constraints the country is now experiencing.
Consequently several agencies have seen cuts in their recurrent and capital budgets.
Included in that is a $50 million cut in the recurrent budget of the customs department, a $53.1 million cut in the recurrent budget of the Tax Administration of Jamaica, an over $1.5 billion chop in the recurrent budget of the Police Department and a $102.904 million cut in the recurrent budget of the Department of Correctional Services
New White Paper Aims to Improve Public Accountability
A white paper summarizing proposed new and amended pieces of legislation to guide the future governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands was launched for public review on Monday 20th February 2012.
The White Paper has been approved by the Governor and has been presented to the Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum. It was prepared by the EU funded Legislative Review project team headed by Professor Rose-Marie Antoine which has spent several months with senior government professionals, its advisors, and special interest groups on a wide range of areas, touching all government ministries. The White Paper gives the public an insight into the policy issues involved, analysis of the issues and possible legislative direction being taken and a basis for consultation on these new laws.
The project is expected to address identified deficiencies and gaps in laws which are key to the governance process in the TCI, and develop more efficient and transparent modes of operation for the public sector.
This EU funded Project, and similar exercises being undertaken by the Attorney General's Chambers through its own resources and through UK funded drafters, will help the Turks and Caicos Islands meet one of the key milestones for a return to elected government, that is, the introduction of new Ordinances and amended legislation to address deficiencies in the existing legislative framework. The review and reform exercise should result in new laws which are compatible with the new Constitution and with regional and international treaty obligations.
The Territorial Authorizing Officer for the EU funded Project is the Turks and Caicos Islands, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the Project Working Group, Mr. Delton Jones, in welcoming the launch of the White Paper said:
"The Project is an important input to ongoing efforts to elevate public sector management through the institution of a series of political, economic and social development projects aimed at helping to restore the economic viability and good governance of the TCI.
The EU Project is thus one component of a wider initiative of stabilization and development towards a path of greater financial viability and sustainability being undertaken by the TCI Government. We are very thankful to the EU for providing the funding to enable the TCI to engage the services of the very experienced team of consultants to work along with the Working Group to undertake this very important legal review/reform project. I hope the populace would embrace the opportunity to make an input into the final laws through the consultative progress that is integral to the project.”
The key areas targeted for review and reform are:
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Regulation of Healthcare Facilities and Health Professionals
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Trafficking in Persons
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Regulation of Crown Land
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Integrity in Public Life
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Creation of a Fractional Ownership Scheme
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Improvements to the Land Registry
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Juvenile Justice, the Rights of the Child and Adoption
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Family Law and Domestic Violence law
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Public Service Reform
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Environment, including Public Health, Agriculture, Aquaculture and Waste Management
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Immigration
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Labour and Industrial Relations
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Upgrade of the International Financial Sector
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Companies, Commercial Entities and Investment
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Oversight to Implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT)
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Education
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Stamp Duty
The White Paper can be downloaded from the government website
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY LOOK TO THE FUTURE
The Turks and Caicos Financial Services Commission (FSC) hosted a gathering of the financial services industry, government representatives and its own board on Providenciales on Friday 17 February. The event was entitled ‘Sustainable Development for the Financial Services Sector’ and was aimed at improving communications between all stakeholders in the industry; identifying risks and opportunities for the future; and, highlighting legislative action designed to bolster the industry as it looks to expand.
The ‘Retreat’, characterised as ‘Vision 2015’, included presentations from the Bankers Association, Association of Licensed Trustees, the Insurance Managers Association and the Insurance Association. Areas of concern and ideas for future development were discussed in an open and constructive atmosphere with the intention that the suggestions and priorities will be considered by the FSC for possible inclusion in the FSC Action Plan 2012-16, which it aims to publish shortly. A first draft of the Action Plan was shared with the industry immediately ahead of the Retreat as a basis for consultation during the day.
The attendees received confirmation of the government’s support for the financial services in the TCI and the future development of the industry, and its backing for the FSC’s more proactive approach to compliance. The government emphasised that, for the future success of the TCI financial services sector, it must work hard to demonstrate that it meets with international regulatory standards and best practice. To illustrate this intent the Attorney General detailed the current programme to revise TCI’s legislation, which includes several measures relevant to the financial services industry.
Speaking at the close of the event Kevin Higgins, Managing Director of the FSC said: ‘Today’s event was a great opportunity to gather the FSC, industry representatives and the government in the same room in order to agree the challenges we face, and identifying areas we can move forward on together with the aim of securing the future of financial services in the TCI.’
Governor’s representative from the Governor’s Office, Philip Rushbrook, agreed: ‘The pooling of ideas; agreement of the existing risks to the industry; and the acceptance of the need for collaborative working to address the challenges faced by the financial services sector is vital for the long term future of the industry. I very much hope this will become
Teen Leadership Programme – Bringing out the Leader From Within
The National AIDS Programme/HIV Prevention Unit will be assisting the youth of our nation’s capital, Grand Turk with their responsibilities and their delivery of HIV/STI messages as Peer Educators within the High School and the community at large on Saturday, February 25, 2012.
This pilot project entitled, Bringing out the Leader from Within, will provide 20 deserving youth with the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills and supply them with the tools required to be our leaders of tomorrow.
Bringing out the Leader From Within, which is facilitated by Learn & Lead Educational Center, targets personal and group development and strives to empower all teens that participate in the programme. Participants will explore topics such as effective communication, team building, conflict and issue resolution, time and stress management, creativity and inspiration, and study skills through multimedia presentations, learning games and activities, discussions and drama.
The skills acquired during this training programme according to AID’s Coordinator, Mrs. Aldora Robinson, “forms part of the new strategy to address Youth Peer Education on a more local, cultural, cost effective and sustainable level. It is also a support to the new Health and Family Life Education Curriculum supported by the National HIV Prevention Unit through the DFID funded project.”
Mrs. Robinson also explained that the DFID project had concluded, therefore the ‘Bringing out the Leader from Within’ is one approach to sustainable HIV/AIDs youth programmes.
This 8 weeks programme is for Peer Educators and other interested youth between the ages of 14 – 17 years old and will take place on Saturday afternoons from 3 – 5pm in the Environmental Health Conference Room. Interested parties should contact the National AIDS Programme at #649 - 946 -1675 for more information and to register their teens.
48 Hour Crime Recap – Providenciales
During the past forty-eight (48) hours, Police in Providenciales responded to three reports of a serious nature.
One Burglary— Stammers Run, Blue Hills and responded to two Theft, one on the Old Airport Road & the second on North West Point
A male was arrested on suspicion of Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest & Malicious Damage to Property in connection with an incident on 17th February 2012.He was later released on Police Bail with a surety to return to the Five Cays Police Station on 22nd February 2012 to be further dealt with.
Another male was arrested on suspicion of Perverting the Course of Justice, he was later released on Police Bail with a surety to return to the Five Cays Police Station on 23rd February 2012 to be further dealt with.
A female was arrested on suspicion of Theft in connection with a report made on 18th February 2012, she was later released on Police Bail with a surety to return to the Five Cays Police Station on 29th February 2012 to be further dealt with.
There was another male who was charged for Burglary in connection with a report made on 1st February 2012.
Two males were charged for Burglary in connection with a report made on 14th February 2012, they were later released on Police Bail with sureties to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court # 2 on 22nd February 2012.
Separately, a male was charged for Obstruction & Escaping Lawful Custody in connection with an incident on 18th February 2012, he was later released on Police Bail with a surety to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court # 2 on 21st February 2012.
Grand Turk
Burglary—Palm Grove
Earlvin Basden (22yrs) was charged for Resisting Arrest, Assault on Police Officer, Disturbing The Peace, Using Offensive Weapon So As To Cause Fear, Indecent Language & Disorderly Conduct On Liquor License Premises. He appeared in the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court on Monday 20th February 2012 and was remanded in custody at Her Majesty Prison Grand Turk until 19th March 2012 when he is schedule to re- appear in the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court to be further dealt with.
TCI looking for bumper 2012 tourist arrivals
Last year The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomed their millionth visitor to the country, now on the heels of that prestigious landmark the TCI Tourist Board is optimistic for a sensational 2012.
The Tourist Board said it is expecting growing business from the Canadian market this year courtesy of addition of the new in season direct flight from the eastern Canadian city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“The destination continues to draw on its major source market, the United States with Canada in second place. The United States continues its dominance in arrivals to the destination due in part to major airlift to the destination that increased in 2011, namely JetBlue from New York and Continental from New Jersey,” the Tourist Board said in a release.
Director of Tourism, Ralph Higgs pointed out that the TCI that the increase in tourism arrival numbers served as good news for the country and the industry, since it represents the potential for growth in the short, medium and long term.
“Surpassing the one million mark is a major accomplishment for all of us, our partners and stakeholders in the industry and while we are pleased and proud we are also cognizant of the work that lies ahead,” Higgs was quoted as saying.
Stacy Cox, Executive Member of the TCHTA, said the arrival statistics for 2011 pointed to a very good year for the local tourism industry, declaring that the Hotel & Tourism Association was very happy to see the record-breaking number of arrivals to the island over the last two years.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, Dr. Hubert Fulford noted: “The destination and its people, partners in both public and private sectors should be proud of this milestone,” saying that no efforts should be spared in shoring up the arrival numbers.
MEN of Grand Turk Speak Out on TCI Status
"Men of Grand Turk" an established civic group met recently at the L.I.F.E. Center on Old Airport Road Grand Turk to discuss the Pathway to Citizenship.
Those sessions were chaired by Royal Robinson and Herbert Been where a signing drive hosted in the Kishco Parking Lot Grand Turk on February16th, with a goal of collecting 400 signatures in Grand Turk collected just over 350 signatures.
The following is the Men of Grand Turk’s proposal for acquisition of Turks and Caicos Islands status. It read in part:
There shall be one pathway towards Turks and Caicos Islander status, and that should be by way of being married to a Turks and Caicos Islander through the birth connection, having been married for a period of not less than 10 years continuously prior to application, that the spouse be of good character, has the ability to read and write English, pursue and pass a course of Turks and Caicos Islands studies at a recognized Turks and Caicos Islands’ Institution of learning.
Applications shall be made on behalf of the spouse by the Turks and Caicos Islander. There shall not be any ability to transfer Turks and Caicos Islander status by way of the person obtaining such status by way of a grant. Turks and Caicos Islander stratus by way of a grant shall have the ability of being revoked for infractions such as being away from the country for a period of 7 years and having run afoul of the law.
Unskilled workers should have no right to apply for a PRC. They should be given work permits for a maximum period of 5 years after which, they shall be required to leave the country for a period of 2 years before an application for another work permit on their behalf could be made.
Female work permit holders, on becoming pregnant in the Turks and Caicos Islands, shall be required to return to their country of residence before the third trimester of such pregnancy in order to give birth to their children. In the unlikely event that a child is born in Turks and Caicos Islands, a BOTC would be granted said child to allow him/her to travel.