I-Octane's 'Crying To The Nation' for Valentine's Day release
Digicel Brand ambassador and popular singjay I-Octane will be releasing his debut album on the day designated for lovers - Valentine's Day.
It's definitely a musical love affair with the singjay and his many fans as he drops Crying To The Nation, which is a 16-track joint-venture deal with VP Records and Scikron, owned by Robert Livingston.
Among the featured tracks on the album are Rules of Life, Help I Please, L.O.V.E. Y.O.U., The Master's Plan and the very popular Lose A Friend.
The album will also see I-Octane doing collaborations with other artistes such as Albarosie, Tarrus Riley, and Agent Sasco.
Tomorrow, VP records will kick-start the album's promotion with the shooting of the music video for the second single of the album L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. Scenes will be shot at Big Yard and several other locations across Kingston.
Produced by Christopher Birch, the video will be done under the direction of Scorpio 2.
L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. seems to have hit all the right notes where his fans are concerned, as the song is now in the number-two position on Fi Wi Choice.
That is not the only song from the singjay sitting pretty on the charts. Burn Dem Bridge is in the number-one spot on Fi WI Choice and Hype TV top 20 Singles chart. the video is number one on CVM's Hitlist.
Commenting on his success, I-Octane said he is happy that the hard work put in by himself and his management is bearing fruit.
"It's a great feeling and I am looking forward to even more success," he said.
Promotion for the album will continue in earnest following the shooting of the music video, as I-Octane will fly out on the following day for a promotional blitz in the States, where he is expected to do several radio and television interviews among them a MTV performance.
Following his return to the island on Monday, February 13, he will head for Guyana where he has a show booked for February 17 and there will be sharing stage with Morgan Heritage and Keri Hilson.
In other news, the singjay has signed a two-year radio commercial deal with Guinness where his voice will be heard throughout the Caribbean.
PIPER charged by SIPT
Former Minister of Natural Resources McAllister Hanchell was earlier today interviewed by members of the SIPT team in Providenciales and charged on grounds which are still unknown to this radio station at this time.
Hanchell in a statement to RTC confirmed today’s events and presumed his innocence.
The former Minister said quote: “I was invited by Special Investigations and Prosecution Team (SIPT) to attend an interview today February 7th, 2012 of which I attended of my own will. I was subsequently charged and will appear before the Chief Magistrate in connection with the charge. I am innocent and will defend this charge. I will not be commenting further at this time.”
Hanchell is the latest in a list of prominent businessmen and women in the country who have been summoned, interviewed and charged by the SIPT during their lengthy investigation process.
SIPT hearings now on March 9th
The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) eagerly awaited hearings into alleged wrongdoings by members of the Turks and Caicos Community have been postponed until next month.
RTC has been made aware that defence lawyers have requested more time to prepare their arguments and present their clients cases as they deem the time frame given by SIPT to be unreasonable given the fact that some documents were only recently received.
The persons who were scheduled to appear at the preliminary hearings are Jak Civre, Floyd Hall, Lisa Hall, Richard Padgett, Lillian Boyce, Jeffrey Hall, Chal Misick, Samuel Been, Melbourne Wilson, Earlson Robinson and Quinton Hall.
On January 25th, Special Prosecutor Helen Garlick wrote a letter to the Registrar of the Supreme Court and the lawyers for the defendants requesting the postponement, following that, Chief Justice Edwin Goldsborough made an order stating that all of the defendants and their lawyers will be excused from attending the preliminary hearing which was slated for Grand Turk.
The Chief Justice also ordered that on March 9th 2012 at 10 a.m. or so soon thereafter as lawyers may be heard, the Court will determine such sufficiency hearings as can be determined on that day, and adjourn any such hearing as cannot be determined that day to a further hearing, giving further directions in relation to sufficiency hearings as may be appropriate.
Lord Ashcroft's Caribbean bank asked to hand over documents
An insolvency practitioner appointed by the British Virgin Islands courts to trace the assets of Oxford Ventures Limited has been granted powers to request information from the British Caribbean Bank (BCB), an Ashcroft business based in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
This is the latest saga surrounding the controversial Lord Michael Ashcroft as more fallout and public scrutiny is placed on his business dealing sin the Caribbean and especially the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Oxford Ventures, which collapsed in 2010, is the ultimate parent company of Johnston International, a construction and engineering firm that went bust in the same year with debts of $30m and is now under scrutiny in the TCI and the UK. Oxford's main creditor was BCB.
Last week, in a libel action brought by Ashcroft against the Independent, the paper's lawyers claimed the Tory peer was linked to Johnston which, they alleged, had benefited from a property boom in the TCI "knowing this boom was being created through systematic corruption".
Ashcroft insists he has had no "economic beneficial or legal interest" in Johnston since he sold it in 1999.
Ashcroft's exact relationship with Johnston remains unclear. In 2010 the company told the Observer through its lawyers: "Lord Ashcroft has had no interest (whether legal, beneficial, economic or managerial) since 1999 when Johnston was the subject of a management buyout from a public company, which was disclosed fully."
Ashcroft's relationship with Johnston came under further scrutiny in court last week. The peer is pursuing a libel action against the Independent's former publisher for a series of stories examining how the company benefited from a property boom in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where the peer is a "Belonger", a citizen entitled to certain privileges. He has built a school on the island, donated to charity and is credited with delivering much-needed jobs.
David Price, defending the paper, said that "what is being stated" about Ashcroft is "that he funded this boom; he constructed this boom, through Johnston, knowing this boom was being created through systematic corruption".
Price continued: "He [Ashcroft] is not the corrupter. The corrupter is (Former Premier) Michael Misick."
Documents obtained by the BBC's Panorama programme, however, suggest its chief executive, Allan Forrest, who was also a director of Oxford Ventures, reported to Ashcroft and also believed the peer owned Oxford.
Chris Johnson of CJA Associates, the insolvency practitioner charged with unpicking Oxford's collapse, was last week given new powers by the TCI courts to request documents from Ashcroft's bank. BCB has previously declined to provide Johnson with requested documents. On Friday the bank confirmed it would hand over Oxford's bank statements.
"We have now obtained a court order in the Turks which empowers us to receive such documents," said Johnson.
The Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Oakeshott, said he would be tabling parliamentary questions to establish what British officials in the TCI knew about Johnston.
72 Hour Crime Recap – Providenciales
As unemployment rises, the police are kept busy with the ugly face of crime keeping the RTC Police Force busy.
During the past seventy-two (72) hours, Police in Providenciales responded to ten reports of a serious nature.
Three Attempted Burglaries---Kew Town, Blue Hills & Behind Glass Shack
Seven Burglaries—Long Bay, Richmond Hill & 5 Blue Hills
A male was arrested on suspicion of Burglary.
A male was arrested on suspicion of Aggravated Burglary.
A male was charged for Theft in connection with a report made on 26th January 2012, he was later released on Police Bail with a surety to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court # 2 on 15th February 2012 to answer to the charge.
Two males were charged for Burglary in connection with a report made on 29th January 2012, they were later released on Police Bail with sureties to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court # 2 on 12th February 2012 to answer to the charge.
Bernard Colebrooke who was charged for Attempted Murder, Robbery, Conspiracy to Rob, Carrying Firearm with intent to Rob, Discharging Firearm in relation to the incident at the RBC on 13 January 2012 appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court # 1 on Friday, 3 February 2012. He was remanded in custody until 9 March 2012 when he is scheduled to appear in the Grand Turk Supreme Court for a Sufficiency Hearing.
North Caicos- Burglary--- Bottle Creek
Grand Turk- Burglary--- Close Haul Road
A male was arrested on suspicion in connection with the above report of burglary, he was later released pending further investigations.
A female was arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with a report made on 14 January 2012; she was later released pending further investigations.
Michael McIntosh who was charged for wounding appeared in the Supreme Court in Grand Turk on Friday 3rd February 2012, he was remanded in custody until 17th February 2012 when he is schedule to appear in the Grand Turk Supreme Court.
Prison Inmates Graduate from Anger Management Training
Efforts by prison authorities to assist prisoners' development and change continue to show results with the graduation of a batch of inmates from Anger Management and "Just Think" courses on Friday 3rd January 2012.
Fourteen males and one female graduated from the programmes which were facilitated by Rev. John Malcolm for the Anger Management course and Officers Lawanda Jennings and Robert Lewis for the Just Think course.
The graduation ceremony was a joint collaboration by the Ministry of Home Affairs, under which the Prison falls, and the Ministry of Health and Human Services. It was attended by Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Ms. Barbara Higgs, Undersecretary of Health and Human Services Ms. Charlene Higgs, and Prison Superintendent Ian Sargent.
Acting Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs Ms. Higgs stated that:
"The ongoing work in this area between the two Ministries has had a significant impact on the delivery of interventions offered to offenders.
The two courses have been run side to side and it has demonstrated a positive impact in relation to the rehabilitation initiatives within the Government departments. The course work in both programs has led to a reinforcement of message in relation to how a prisoner can overcome poor decision making and take positive steps to control potential anger. Providing interventions within the custodial environment is essential in ensuring that offenders develop coping skills when returning to society."
BHP Billiton profits fall on lower iron ore prices
Falling commodity prices have pushed down profits at the world's biggest mining company, BHP Billiton.
The Anglo-Australian company reported a 5.5% annual drop in first-half net profit to $9.9bn (£6.2bn).
It also warned of a volatile outlook due to Europe's debt crisis and slowing demand from China.
The prices of benchmark commodities like iron ore, copper and coal have gradually fallen over the last few months.
During the same period in 2010, BHP recorded profits of $10.5bn, a record in Australian corporation history.
Shares in BHP Billiton fell by 1.1% in early trading in Sydney.
Since the start of the year its shares have risen by 11%, outperforming the broader Australian market.
The results come after rival miner Xstrata formally announced plans to merge with Glencore, the world's biggest commodity trader, in a $90bn deal.
'General weakness'
Despite the fall in profits in the most recent period, revenues increased by 9.7% over the same period to $37.5bn.
"We expect volatility in commodity markets to persist as the European sovereign debt crisis and general weakness in the manufacturing and construction sectors... are expected to weigh on customer behaviour and sentiment," the company said in a statement.
It added it would stick to its timetable of spending $80bn on significantly expanding its operations by 2015.
One area where BHP Billiton is looking to increase its activities is in the oil and gas markets.
Last year it bought the US shale gas firm Petrohawk for $12.1bn (£7.5bn), its largest acquisition to date.
However analysts say the focus on natural gas could hurt BHP Billiton's profits for some time, as US gas prices have almost halved since last June.
Meanwhile, rival Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto said it will pump a further US$3.4bn into expanding iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
It wants to increase operations in the Pilbara by 50%.
"We believe we have the best quality iron ore expansion projects anywhere in the world," said Rio executive Sam Walsh. "They are high return, low-risk investments that are highly value-adding for shareholders.
Greek leaders postpone meeting as euro exit discussed
Pressure is rising on Greece's national unity government to agree tough reforms demanded by the country's lenders.
Greek party leaders once more postponed plans to meet on Tuesday and approve terms of a new bailout.
This comes as the European Commission's Neelie Kroes told a Dutch newspaper that there would be "absolutely no man overboard" if Greece left the euro.
But Prime Minister Lucas Papademos' office told the BBC that a draft agreement has been finalised.
A formal sign-off on the reforms demanded by international lenders - including a 20% cut to the minimum wage, pension cuts and civil service job cuts - is hoped to be concluded on Wednesday, the BBC's Athens correspondent Mark Lowen said.
Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also told public radio that a Greek exit from the eurozone now would be less risky than if it had happened in 2010 when its debt crisis first broke.
"There is less risk now," Mr Rutte said. "It is in our interest that Greece remain [in the eurozone] and to achieve that it must do all it has promised to do but if that does not work out, then we are stronger now than a year and a half ago."
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday there would be "unforeseeable consequences" if Greece left the euro.
"I will have no part in forcing Greece out of the euro," she said.
Meanwhile, public transport and the country's ports ground to a halt as two of the largest Greek public sector unions began a strike on Tuesday in protest at spending cuts, tax rises and job losses.
Police had to use tear gas to prevent some protesters on Syntagma Square from breaking a cordon around the parliament building.
The government held meetings with EU, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank delegates on Monday.
Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the negotiations were "so tough that as soon as one chapter closes another opens".
At the same time, as part of Greece's new 130bn euro ($170bn; £110bn) bailout deal, private sector lenders are negotiating with Greece to write off up to 70% of the value of the money that the Greek government currently owes them.
The leader of the left-wing Syriza party coalition, which is not part of the interim government, repeated a call on Tuesday either for Greece's debts to be written off, or else for the country to pause its debt repayments for three years.
"The debt is not sustainable," Alexis Tsipras told Greek television channel SKAI.
"With the [debt restructuring], most of the [bailout] money will go to the banks and to the bondholders."
The Greek trade unions called for an end to the policies promoted by the government and the so-called "troika".
In a petition delivered to parliament, the unions expressed "opposition to measures included in the new memorandum which, aside from the dramatic impact on workers, it is also a confession of the dead-end economic policy followed and its adverse consequences on real economy".
"The Greeks have to realise that we Dutch and we Germans can only sell emergency Greek aid to our taxpayers if there's evidence of good will."
A similar message was delivered with a more optimistic spin by Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the "eurogroup" of eurozone finance ministers, who said he had no doubt that Greece would remain within the eurozone, provided that it met its obligations to other members.
"The euro will outlive us all," he said.
On Monday, Greece agreed to pass a new law allowing more government employees to be fired - it is likely to lead to 15,000 civil service jobs being cut.
They are also likely to agree to a 20% cut in the minimum wage, BBC correspondents in Athens say.
The Greek economy is expected to suffer a fifth consecutive year of recession this year, and has already shrunk 12% since 2008.
BP ups dividend as profits rise
BP has raised its dividend to shareholders by 14%, the first increase since the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, following sharply higher profits.
Replacement cost profit, which is profit stripping out the effect of oil and other price movements, for the three months to the end of December 2011 was $7.6bn (£4.8bn).
This compares with $4.6bn for the same period in 2010.
For all of 2011 BP's profit was $23.9bn compared with a $4.9bn loss in 2010.
BP's dividend was raised to 8 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2011.
Amid intense political pressure, the company suspended dividend payments to shareholders for the the first time in 60 years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
"BP's earnings certainly benefited from oil prices, and investors will no doubt welcome the rise in dividend payments," said Saket Vemprala, oil analyst at Business Monitor International.
"However, the legal liabilities stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill continue to weigh on the company's shares, and we would not be surprised to see a financial settlement between the company and the US government."
BP is asking contractor Halliburton to pay for all costs and damages that arose from the Gulf of Mexico spill. The trial between BP and its contractor Halliburton is expected within weeks.
BP has so far paid out $8.8bn in damages claims.
The blast at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 workers and created the worst offshore spill in US history.
BP's profits were boosted by the price of oil which has remained at relatively high levels of about $100 a barrel throughout the final three months of 2011.
Separately on Tuesday, BP's chief executive, Bob Dudley, told the Reuters news agency that the company was set to begin a new project in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mr Dudley said BP had agreed with Chevron and BHP, its partners in the project, to go ahead with the investment.
The US government lifted the ban on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in October 2011.
Brazil's Itau Unibanco has record profits in 2011
Itau Unibanco has posted the highest-ever annual profits for a bank from Brazil.
Itau Unibanco, the biggest private bank in Brazil, said net profits rose almost 10% to 14.6bn reais ($8.5bn, £5.3bn) in 2011 from the previous year.
The bank is also the largest in Latin America and primarily exposed to its fast-growing countries.
But the bank's profits fell annually in the last three months of the year, as Brazil's economy slowed.
"In the domestic scenario, the trend towards slowdown in the economic activity was consolidated," the bank said.
Brazil's official IBGE statistical bureau said in September that it expected 3.5% growth in 2011 - compared to 7.5% in 2010.
In the last quarter of 2011, the bank registered net profits of 3.7bn reais, down 5.4% from the same period a year earlier.
Brazil's central bank has had high interest rates for many years, encouraged by fears of a return to the runaway inflation that plagued the country in the 1980s and early 1990s.
At the end of 2011, the benchmark central bank rate was 11%.
Itau Unibanco has a market capitalisation of about $90bn - about 50% bigger than Goldman Sachs - and has a 25% share of the Brazilian market.