Pakistan, NATO Hold Border Talks Following Deadly Attack
Representatives of the Pakistani army, NATO and Afghan forces have met for talks in an effort to improve coordination along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The meeting Wednesday in Pakistan's border town of Torkham is a sign of easing of tensions between the United States and Pakistan after NATO airstrikes accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last year.
Pakistan was outraged by the attack on two of its Afghan border posts in November and retaliated by closing its border to transit of NATO supplies for its troops in Afghanistan.
Last month, Pakistan's army rejected a U.S. military probe into the November 26 cross-border coalition attack. The army said it did not agree with U.S. findings that American forces acted in self-defense and with appropriate force after being fired on by Pakistani soldiers.
U.S. defense officials blamed inadequate coordination by both American and Pakistani forces.
But tensions seemed to have eased slightly, with Pakistani officials saying in recent days the government should reopen its border to NATO supplies as long as it can negotiate higher fees.
In Washington, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State department, Victoria Nuland, said Wednesday that the United States has made great efforts and invested a fair amount of U.S. taxpayers' money into education and microlending programs, flood relief and all kinds of economic opportunity programs for Pakistan because it believes that a strong Pakistan is in the interest of both sides.
Ties between the two countries were already strained following last May's U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden and repeated U.S. drone strikes targeting militants in Pakistan's northwest.
Pakistani officials say the latest drone attack, which took place in the North Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday, killed 10 people.
Officials say two missiles hit a compound suspected of belonging to militants. Security officials say the dead included foreigners and locals.
Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama publicly acknowledged for the first time that the United States uses drone strikes against militants in Pakistan.
Mr. Obama defended the operations, which have greatly increased during his administration, saying they are used for “very precise, precision strikes” in the fight against al-Qaida.
The Washington-based New America Foundation says drone strikes in Pakistan have killed between 1,700 and 2,700 people in the past eight years.
Pakistan rejects the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.
Majority Supports Obama on Drone Strikes, Troop Drawdown
A new poll indicates that President Barack Obama has the overwhelming support of Americans for his use of drone strikes against terror suspects and his planned troop drawdown in Afghanistan.
According to the ABC News/Washington Post survey released Wednesday, 83 percent of those polled say they approve of the president's use of unmanned drone aircraft against the terror suspects. Two out of three respondents said they favor the use of the drones specifically against Americans in other countries who are terror suspects – potentially touchier legal territory.
Seventy percent said they approve of President Obama's decision to keep open the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention center. In 2009, Mr. Obama signed an order temporarily suspending military court proceedings at the base and promising its closure. But the U.S. Senate blocked funds needed for the transfer of prisoners from the facility. U.S. officials have since said prospects for closing the prison are small, given broad opposition in Congress to such a move.
In addition, 78 percent of the poll's respondents said they support Mr. Obama's plans to draw down troops in Afghanistan. Among Democrats, 93 percent said they want to see the troops leave Afghanistan, compared to 64 percent of Republicans.
One thousand people were surveyed for the poll earlier this month. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Marley sculpture erected at UTech
THE University of Technology (UTech) yesterday unveiled a sculpture of late Reggae icon, Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, at its Papine campus in St. Andrew.
The piece, which has been erected in the institution’s Caribbean Sculpture Park, was designed by Russian sculptor, Gregory Pototsky, and presented as a gift to the institution and, by extension, the government and people Jamaica.
The unveiling of the Bob Marley sculpture coincided with the 67th anniversary of the late Reggae exponent’s birth, and was one of two pieces formally presented to UTech. The second was a sculpture, dubbed: “People’s Organism”, designed by Jamaican artist and Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) alumnus, Warren Buckle.
Youth and Culture Minister, Lisa Hanna, in welcoming the gesture by Pototsky, noted Bob Marley’s focus and commitment to uplifting the ordinary person, through Jamaica’s foremost cultural and musical art form, Reggae. She said the late musician had touched and inspired the lives of millions globally, including Pototsky, adding that “his legacy lives”.
Hanna said the sculpture would be as a lasting monument between the people and governments of Jamaica and Russia, noting that it “will stand as a lasting reminder of our friendship and cooperation”.
Threat of chutney soca court battle
Southex promoter George Singh is threatening legal action against the promoters of an alternative competition to his Chutney Soca Monarch competition—citing copyright infringement.
Singh has written to promoter of the rival competition, former San Fernando mayor Ian Atherly, stating he would take whatever action is necessary to protect his company's reputation and trade name.
Atherly recently launched a National Chutney Soca Monarch competition, produced by the National Chutney Foundation (NCFTT).
The NCFTT has countered Singh's claim, stating its name was incorporated through an Act in Parliament to which the name of Chutney Soca Monarch was developed and promoted since 1994.
The NCFTT stated it was prepared to be represented in any court proceedings to justify its claim.
Singh noted the similar competition names would create confusion in the minds of the public, making them believe the events were related.
The 2012 Chutney Soca Monarch Competition was relocated this year from its birthplace at Skinner Park, San Fernando, to the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain. It takes place on Saturday.
The move triggered Atherly to launch the new competition—The National Carnival Chutney Soca Monarch—to be held at Skinner Park on February 18.
Singh has stated the Chutney Soca Monarch was a registered name to the directors of Southex Event Management Company Ltd.
"Please desist from advertising this event under the name or banner immediately, as you are infringing our rights, and can do irreparable damage to the reputation of this event which was established 17 years ago and has now become a national event and one of the two most important events in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival," he stated.
Singh said the name—Chutney Soca Monarch—distinguishes his show from any other chutney soca competition "...and your use of the name 'National Chutney Soca Monarch' amounts to a passing off your show as ours and is an infringement of our registered trade name, and is deceptive, in the sense that it is capable of deceiving the public into believing that your show is ours, which it is not", the letter stated.
However, the NFCTT has said its 2012 National Carnival Chutney Soca Monarch was approved and all advertisements in relation to the promotion should continue without fear of any breach of related laws.
Bunji rocks bSquare
AN ELDERLY woman yesterday threw her hands in the air and completely surrendered to soca music at Woodford Square in Port-of-Spain as she took part in the Bmobile ‘Soca In bSquare’ free midday concert, which runs daily for this entire week.
The petite woman smiled heartily and pounded her chest and ‘ramajayed’ with gay abandon in the scorching heat as veteran Calypsonian Baron (Timothy Watkins) belted out his 1984 hit “Feeling It”.
Baron, who performed alongside Fay-Ann Lyons Alvarez and her husband Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) with the Asylum band, were the first in the line-up of artistes who will perform at the Square this week. Bunji treated his fans to new favourites like “Runaway”, “So and So” and “Tun Up”, before going into a medley of old songs. He even delved into some free styling which hyped many of his fans.
His wife, Fay-Ann greeted her fans with past hits like “Start Wining”, “Heavy T Bumper” and “Call Meh”, before going into her collaboration with Baron “All Over” and then ending with “Miss Behave” .
Both the young and old took up virtually every inch of Woodford Square waving and swaying throughout the one-hour concert. Some who walked with their umbrellas to shield the sun found themselves swaying their umbrellas from side to side while others had their eyes fixed on the stage not wanting to miss out on any action.
Over the years, bmobile has donated to various charity events at the week long concerts. In what is the sixth year for this concert, bmobile will try a new approach and treat children from various institutions to VIP treatment and photo opportunities with their favourite soca star. Yesterday Chinapoo Police Youth Club and Kids In Need of Direction (KIND) were the first schools to be treated. Today’s offering will be Raymond Ramnarine and Dil E Nadan, Rikki Jai and K Rich.
Reggae sensation Beres Hammond headlines regatta closing party
Beres Hammond who is the biggest name in contemporary Reggae will be the headline act for the Sunday night close out party of the 2012 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta on Kimsha Beach.
Hammond, (born Hugh Beresford Hammond, 28 August 1955, Annotto Bay, Saint Mary, Jamaica) is a world-renown reggae singer who is best known for his romantic lovers’ rock and soulful voice. While his career began in the 1970s, he reached his greatest success in the 1990s and continues to thrill audiences today.
Don’t be deceived by his cool profile because his playful smile, unassuming demeanor, the beard and the cap and the spectacles as these might lull you into forgetting that you’re in the presence of an awesome musical talent, Jamaica’s greatest practicing singer/songwriter. Beres remains cool, though he knows that he’s one of a handful of people responsible for maintaining a mighty legacy of soulful reggae music—a select group of artists like Toots and Gregory, like Dennis and Bob. “Father bless me with a song,” he pleads on the last cut of his latest album, Music Is Life, “to make the whole world sing along. Regardless of the race, regardless of the taste.” For Beres the blessings just keep coming, and the world is just starting to catch on.
Over the course of a 30-year career, Beres has poured his smoky-sweet voice — an instrument of subtlety and power reminiscent of an Otis Redding or a Teddy Pendergrass — over every kind of riddim track, from the funked-up reggae jams of the fusion band Zap Pow to the lush instrumentation of his album Soul Reggae to the spare digital beat of his 1985 dancehall breakthrough “What One Dance Can Do.”
Hammond left his fame in Jamaica for New York in 1987, after being tied up as thieves ransacked his house during a home invasion. There he recorded the Have a Nice Weekend album and the duet single “How Can We Ease the Pain” with Maxi Priest – the 2010 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta headliner.
Hammond returned to Jamaica briefly to record Putting Up Resistance, which was significantly harder than his typical ballads, produced by Tappa Zukie, which spawned the hits “Putting Up Resistance” and “Strange”. He signed with Penthouse Records in 1990 and returned to Jamaica permanently to record the dancehall smash “Tempted to Touch”, with producer Donovan Germain. This is perhaps his best known song in the United States and United Kingdom.
Beres started building his home studio in the early ’90s, setting the trend among successful reggae artists to take over their own production duties. But his spontaneous method of composing, and his unwillingness to compromise, made a home studio the natural choice. Beres’s home studio attracts a steady stream of Jamaica’s most talented musicians.
The ’90s proved to be Hammond’s decade, during which he blazed a trail of modern classics for a variety of producers, from the strugglers’ anthem “Putting Up Resistance” (Tappa) to lovers’ laments like “Come Back Home” (Star Trail) and “Double Trouble” (Steely & Clevie). Now garnering interest from major studios such as Elektra Records, Hammond recorded five more albums in the 1990s as well as several compilations, establishing himself as one of the top lovers rock artists. His first album of the new millennium was 2001′s Music Is Life, which featured an appearance by Wyclef Jean – the 2011 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta headliner, and contributions from Earl “Chinna” Smith andFlourgon. The album spawned several hits, including “They Gonna Talk”, “Rockaway” and “Ain’t It Good To Know”. The 2004 release Love Has No Boundaries, had guest spots by Buju Banton and Big Youth.
In 2007 he returned to Jamaica to perform at the Opening Ceremony for the Cricket World Cup. He released yet another album in 2008, A Moment in Time, on VP Records, which featured the single “I Feel Good” and the album “Just a Man” in 2010.
One thing is for sure, even if you have never heard of Beres Hammond, you can be confident his live show will ignite the “SERIOUS FUN” vibe that has made the St Maarten Heineken Regatta World-Famous.
Join us in St. Maarten March 1 – 4, 2012 for the 32nd edition of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and experience Beres Hammond live in concert Sunday March 4. All the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta parties are free and open to the public. Food and drinks are available each night. Secure Safe Parking is available March 4 at Kim Sha Beach and Port de Plaisance.
For full information on the 2012 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, including entry information, the Notice of Race, photos, videos, party and band information, and much, much more, visit www.heinekenregatta.com.
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.