Ministry of Works, Housing and Utilities Update on Water Supply in Grand Turk
The Water Undertaking of EMS wishes to advise the public that the problem at the RO Plant in Grand Turk is resolved. However, service will be restored to most areas on a gradual basis due to the ongoing process of building pressure in the pipe network to areas furthest from the RO plant. Areas likely to experience a delay in their water supply being restored include, but are not limited to: Sections of Breezy Brae, Ridge, Light House Road/Lower Breezy Brae, North Creek, Cork Tree and sections of Over Back.
The Water Undertaking apologizes for any inconvenience caused and will continue to work to ensure that all areas of Grand Turk receive water at the earliest possible time.
Climate Change Consultancy
Four development entities – DFID, FCO, DEFRA and JNCC, plan to develop a Climate Change Programme specifically targeted to the UK Overseas Territories.
They are inviting interested parties to apply for a consultancy to design the programme. The consultancy will identify the scope and best way to deliver an appropriate climate change programme for the UK OTs and develop a business case for it.
This programme will fill a gap identified in recent reviews of current climate change programmes which show that the Overseas Territories are not eligible to benefit from some programmes, and those which they can access do not fully meet their needs.
The consultancy has a start date of 20th February 2012 and is due for completion on 31st May 2012.
A full outline of the Terms of Reference with background information is attached. You may also contact the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) in the Ministry of Environment and District Administration.
Severe Winter Weather Continues Its Hold on Europe
Severe winter weather continues to dominate in many European countries with air and road travel disrupted and gas supplies running low.
The hardest-hit country is Ukraine, where temperatures as low as minus 32 degrees Celsius have left at least 122 people dead. Oleksandr Heits, head of a rescue unit in Kiev, said many of the victims are homeless citizens of Ukraine's capital.
“There are many homeless people coming here. It is minus 20 to minus 25 degrees Celsius outside. We're heating them up with tea. Some of them are staying for a night here. We're heating, feeding them and then they leave. Some citizens are bringing clothes and food for the homeless.”
Snow and extremely low temperatures have also gripped the Balkans, where many people are trapped in their homes or vehicles and six have been reported dead. The government of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared a state of emergency Saturday. In parts of coastal Croatia, where snow is very rare, army units were deployed to rescue trapped citizens.
Russia's gas export monopoly, Gazprom, says that it has been unable to satisfy gas shortages in at least eight European nations, ranging from Italy to Poland.
Further south, Rome, the Italian capital, is suffering from the heaviest snow fall in decades. Authorities have been forced to close several tourist sites, including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Hundreds of people were rescued Saturday from a ferry that got stuck off Italy's Civitavecchia port, a frightening experience as described by some passengers.
“We were transferred from the ship to another, in the cold of the night, we were freezing, they made us get off the ship in conditions of a clear emergency, over planks, with the sea on our left, with the snow and the ice, without life jackets because there weren't any, not even in the cabins, among other things. I'm speechless.''
Authorities at London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest, have announced a 30-percent decrease in flights as that city braces for as much as 15 centimeters of snow predicted to fall later on Saturday.
Electricity was cut off in many snow-bound places across Europe.
The Siberian cold front that has much of Europe in its grip is expected to ease next week.
Russia and China Block UN Resolution on Syria
Russia and China on Saturday again vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria condemning President Bashar al-Assad's nearly year-long crackdown on his people and calling for him step down.
Thirteen remaining member states voted in favor, including the United States, France and Germany.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon condemned the failed resolution, saying the Security Council has “lost an opportunity to take unified action” to help end the crisis. Mr. Ban said the inconclusiveness on Syria “undermines the role of the United Nations” in a time it needs to have a “unified voice.”
After the vote, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice expressed Washington's disappointment with Russia and China, but she maintained that the U.S. will not give up or turn its back on Syria.
“The United States is disgusted that a couple members of this council continue to prevent us from fulfilling our sole purpose here: addressing an ever deepening crisis in Syria and a growing threat to regional peace and security.”
Russia defended its decision, saying members of the council have been undermining the opportunity for political settlement by calling for a regime change, pushing the opposition towards power and feeding methods of armed struggle.
“The draft resolution that was put to a vote did not adequately reflect the real state of affairs in Syria, and has sent an unbalanced signal to the Syrian parties.”
Churkin said Russia is committed to ending the bloodshed and will send Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the foreign intelligence service chief, Mikhail Fradkov, to Syria Tuesday to meet with President Assad.
Syrian ambassador Bashar Ja'afari accused members of the United Nations of supporting what he called “armed terrorists” for the violent crackdown against Syrian citizens.
“I would like to stress, Mr. President, in this context that the Syrian Arab Republic — which is a founding member of this world organization — has been targeted by some powers to punish it as a result of its commitment to international legality, especially in areas of defending the rights of people. Today, Syria is a sacrifice of a crisis manufactured by parties who do not want good for Syria and its people.”
The U.N. vote came just hours after U.S. President Barack Obama condemned Damascus for what he called “the Syrian government's unspeakable assault against the people of Homs” that killed more than 200 people early Saturday. He also urged the council to take a stand against President Assad's “relentless brutality” and again called on him to step down, saying he “has no right to lead Syria and has lost all legitimacy with his people and the international community.”
The government in Damascus has denied the assault and said the reports were part of a campaign by armed groups to influence the outcome of the U.N. vote.
Syrian opposition supporters, meanwhile, buried the dead Saturday from what they called a “massacre” in Homs. Angry mourners chanted slogans against the Syrian regime as they carried the coffins of the victims.
In the Damascus suburb of Daraya Saturday, Syrian security forces opened fire on a crowd during what was reportedly a sympathy march for Hom's victims, killing at least 12 people.
The violence sparked protests outside Syrian embassies across the Middle East and Europe Saturday. Protesters stormed Syrian embassies in Berlin, London, Athens, Cairo and Kuwait City, clashing with guards and police.
Tunisia has expelled Syria's ambassador and decided to end its recognition of Mr. Assad's government.
“The reality is that Russia and China have today taken a choice to turn their backs on the Arab World and to support tyranny rather than the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”
Chinese ambassador Wang Min said Beijing supports Moscow's stance on the resolution and called for more discussions on the divisive parts of the paper.
“It is regrettable that these reasonable concerns are not taken into account. To put through a vote when parties are still seriously divided over the issue, will not help maintain the unity and authority of the Security Council or help properly resolve the issue.”
US Senator: China Cannot Avoid ‘Arab Spring’
A leading U.S. senator and one-time presidential candidate is warning China, “the Arab Spring is coming.”
Republican Senator John McCain made the comment to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun Saturday during a high level security conference in Munich.
McCain, in his Arab Spring warning, referenced the recent self-immolations by Tibetan monks to protest Chinese rule in Tibet. He said, ” there is not a way that you will be able to stifle it completely because of these devices,” while pointing to a mobile phone.
Meanwhile, reports from Tibet say three more Tibetans set themselves on fire Friday in the town of Serthar in Sichuan province. Two survived and one is feared dead.
In the past year, 16 other Tibetans, mostly Buddhist monks and nuns, have died by setting themselves on fire in protests against Chinese rule.
Regional tensions intensified in March of last year when a young Buddhist monk, demanding the return of exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, set himself on fire and died at a monastery in Sichuan.
China seized control of Tibet more than 50 years ago, forcing the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders to flee to northern India. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of wanting to separate Tibet from the rest of China, a charge that he denies.
Many Tibetans accuse the Chinese government of working to erode their culture and faith, and resent the large-scale migration of China's ethnic Han majority into Tibetan areas.
McCain also raised concern about China's activities in the tense South China Sea. Several East Asian countries claim part of the sea, which holds abundant natural resources, but China claims the entire area as its own.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang told the conference that as his country continues to develop it has a bigger stake in peace and stability. He said, “There is no reason for us to upset the situation.”
Russians Brave Cold to Rally For Fair Elections
Despite bitter cold temperatures tens of thousands of protesters turned out in Moscow and other Russian cities Saturday to demand fair elections, but also to support the government.
Russian news media say up to 35,000 people participated in the rally in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square. But organizers say there were many more. Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, says the big turnout in the cold weather shows that people want change.
“It is a fantastic success. Especially with this dogged cold. And this is no joke. When more than a hundred thousand people go out in the street with this cold weather, it means that they are really fed up.”
Protesters shouted slogans and carried banners saying “Russia without Putin.” Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will run for a third presidential term in March 4 vote. Polls show that he will win the election.
Russian media say that many more pro-government demonstrators gathered in another location in Moscow Saturday. Moscow media reported some complaints from state employees — teachers, nurses, and post office workers — that they were forced to attend a pro-Putin demonstration. But Prime Minister Putin said it would not be possible to gather so many people if they did not want to come.
“So many people came, I don't think anyone expected it. Honestly, I didn't expect it either. According to official information, there were about 134,000 and according to Moscow authorities' data 190,000. Certainly when the authorities organize something there's always talk about
the administrative resources. I don't rule out that there were some elements of these resources here as well, but it's not possible to gather 134,000 or 190,000 just on administrative resources alone. It's not possible. It's quite obvious that the people came to express their position and this is connected to their support of what we are doing.''
Opposition politicians claim Mr. Putin's United Russia party stole one million votes in the December parliamentary vote in order to maintain control of the lower house. The leader of the Left Front movement said it was a wake-up call for many Russians.
“Russia has radically changed after December 4th's dishonest elections. People started to feel that they are citizens and that many things depend on them, that there is a need to obtain real change from the authorities and to put these authorities under the control of the people.”
Mr. Putin served two presidential terms from 2000 to 2008 before becoming prime minister. Moscow has since extended the presidential term to six-years.
Jamaican ambassador calls on US to improve policy alignment towards Caribbean
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks has called on the US government to improve the alignment of the various aspects of US domestic and foreign policy targeted toward Jamaica and the Caribbean, in order to support development goals, and ensure that economic and social gains are not erased.
She pointed out that “often, actions taken by the US in pursuance of one aspect of domestic or foreign policy, have unintended consequences for our countries and undermines the efforts of other US agencies to achieve the overall goal of a more secure third border with the Caribbean.”
Marks made her comments on Wednesday as she testified on Capitol Hill before the United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics control hearing on US-Caribbean Security Cooperation.
She told the US lawmakers that “if the Caribbean is truly a valued ‘third border’ of the United States, then the region must be treated with the same degree of economic considerations as the other two if there is to be an improvement in the existing security cooperation between the USA, Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole.
She said, “Jamaica believes that socio-economic development is the most critical pillar of the counter-narcotics, anti-crime strategy. Yet, for too long, scant attention has been paid to this pillar, which, despite our combined efforts amounting to millions of dollars and hundreds of expended human lives we have not been able to have the lasting effect that we desire.”
Marks noted that “Jamaica’s vulnerability based on its geographical location and porous national borders remain a major challenge since the security measures implemented at both our controlled and uncontrolled ports and at our unprotected coastline are currently insufficient to deal with the various ingenious methods employed by traffickers.”
The Jamaican envoy said to the US senators: “Our chief recommendation to you today, is to place social and economic development at the forefront of co-operation with the Caribbean in the area of security. Let us not ignore the umbilical relationship between an under-developed economy, social vacuums and narco-trafficking.”
“I would suggest that Jamaica’s effectiveness as a partner in the fight against drug trafficking can only be sustained by a clear policy alignment for Jamaica’s socio-economic development. I ask that the US take steps to ensure that its positions in the IMF, World Bank and IADB, are consistent and are focused on supporting socio-economic development as an effective weapon in the fight against drug-trafficking,” Marks said.
As an example, Marks pointed to the current threat to the nearly 70-year-old programme that provides US farmers with thousands of seasonal farm workers from Jamaica.
She said, “While one department of the US Government is strongly recommending to the government of Jamaica the importance of ‘even’ seasonal employment as an alternative to the narcotics trade for unemployed young men – another US department has, through unilateral action, caused major harm to the programme. This has resulted in my government being severely hampered in carrying out our obligations to protect our nationals and to ensure their welfare and that of their families in Jamaica.”
The ambassador further pointed to the “elimination of the tariff on imports of ethanol into the USA; with the bang of a gavel, the ethanol industry in Jamaica will collapse, and we will lose hundreds of millions of dollars in investment — an investment that was made based on the incentive of the USA 1981 Caribbean Basin Initiative”.
She noted that “given that as much as 80 percent of all Jamaica’s exports to the USA have, at one point, been ethanol, it is clear that our economy will suffer another massive economic blow, which will further erode our gains in the area of security.
The Jamaican ambassador emphasized that “fixing this problem of non-alignment of economic and security goals will not cost the USA any additional monetary expenditure.”
The Jamaican government, she said, “applauds the US administration for its timely recognition of the responsibility of the USA as the major source of demand for narcotics trans-shipped through the Caribbean sub-region, and further appealed to American government and people to strengthen their commitment to controlling the demand that continues to fuel this trade which has so adversely affected many lives in this hemisphere of ours.
Marks told the US lawmakers that her country welcomed the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) partnership between the USA and Caribbean Countries, which she said had definitely enhanced counter-narcotics cooperation.
Marks was invited to testify before the US Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, by chairman Senator Dianne Feinstein and co chair Senator Charles Grassley to provide an assessment of the current security situation in Jamaica and to offer recommendations for enhanced US-Caribbean counternarcotics cooperation.
Caribbean News Now
LIAT to review strategies to ensure survival
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says shareholder governments of the regional airline LIAT have come up with a short-term plan to ensure the survival of the airline.
Gonsalves, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, met in Barbados on Wednesday to discuss the way forward for the airline.
Gonsalves told members of the media that the shareholder governments have come up with a number of options to keep the cash strapped carrier servicing the region.
He said the issue of fleet renewal and fleet expansion also came up for discussions.
Gonsalves said that, last year, the airline lost an estimated EC$46 million for the year, compared with a loss of $20 million the previous year.
Caribbean News Now
HOVENSA refinery closure USVI’s ‘worst nightmare’
The sudden announcement last month that thousands of United States Virgin Islands residents would be on the breadline from the middle of this month has pushed the island government into crisis mode.
While not disclosing any details, government officials are assuring the public that the it has a plan to assist the thousands of people who will lose their jobs when the HOVENSA oil refinery, the largest in the Caribbean, closes.
However, Labour Department Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr. has been candid in his assessment of what the closure of the refining operations of the plant – a joint venture between the Hess Corporation and Petroleos de Venezuela SA – will mean for the USVI.
“Our worst nightmare is now a reality, and the serious implications for the Virgin Islands, especially the island of St Croix, is cause for grave concern,” said Bryan. “This event will affect every man, woman and child in the territory as its implications are far-reaching.”
The closure of the refinery, which is the largest employer in the territory, will mean the termination of employment for 1,018 employees, and up to 1,200 who work for HOVENSA’s contractors.
It could mean an additional 10 percent of the territory’s workforce is put out of work, and raising St Croix’s unemployment rate to 18.7 percent.
After formal shutdown of the refinery, most of those employed at HOVENSA will continue working through a transition period. Thereafter, approximately 100 people will remain to work at the oil storage terminal.
Bryan said the USVI was resilient, and would work together to forge ahead.
“When serious crisis strikes, we always pull together for the greater good of our people,” he said.
Officials at the refinery, which is one of the 10 largest in the world, announced last month that losses totalling US$1.3 billion in the past three years, and which were projected to continue, were the major reason for the closure.
Caribbean 360 News
Colts' Peyton Manning cleared for contact
Peyton Manning has received the OK from his surgeon to start taking hits again.
A spokesman for Dr. Robert Watkins said in a one-paragraph email sent late Thursday night that the Colts' star was cleared to play.
ESPN, citing unidentified sources, first reported Manning had been cleared.
The Colts contend that is nothing new because Manning was cleared to practice in December, a move that would have also allowed the quarterback to start playing again. But it backs up Manning's contention from earlier this week that his recovery from September neck surgery is on schedule.
"Peyton Manning underwent a thorough medical re-evaluation as part of a postoperative visit with his surgeon," Watkins' statement read. "As a result of this examination, Manning is medically cleared to play professional football."
Colts owner Jim Irsay responded in a tweet: "Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts."
Irsay said a team statement was coming later Friday.
The four-time league MVP missed the entire 2011 season after having his third neck surgery in 19 months, a fusion of two vertebrae. There have been concerns that the injury might end Manning's 14-year NFL career.
However, Manning has sounded increasingly confident about his recovery and told reporters earlier this week that he was not planning to retire.
He's been throwing at least two months, including a session Tuesday with several of his teammates.
Even if Manning can take the hits, there is no guarantee he will remain in Indy. The Colts owe Manning a $28 million roster bonus on March 8. If they don't pay it, they could risk losing him in free agency.
There have been growing indications that the Colts may be ready to part with their longtime franchise player.
New general manager Ryan Grigson said Thursday the team must put aside the sentimental reasons for keeping Manning and make a decision based on what's best for the team. Team owner Jim Irsay is expected to make that call.
"You can't do things to where you are going to hurt the whole franchise with other decisions that you know might hurt at the moment, but in the end they help the sum of the parts," Grison said. "It is a tough deal in this business, and it happens at every position, it happens with coaching, it happens with people in personnel and it is completely part of the process and the business."
Irsay and Manning are scheduled to meet again next week. Irsay told reporters earlier Thursday that he had nothing new to report.
That would be a welcome respite in Indy after four chaotic weeks.
Last month, the Colts fired vice chairman Bill Polian, general manager Chris Polian, coach Jim Caldwell and most of Caldwell's assistants. The flurry of moves prompted Manning to go public with his complaints, which drew a strong rebuke from Irsay.
The two appeared to mend fences Friday.
And the Manning story has continually upstaged Indianapolis' first Super Bowl week.
Thursday was no exception. With speculation swirling about Manning's future, his presumed successor - Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, expected to be taken by the Colts with the No. 1 pick - came to town and told reporters he wants to start immediately.
A few hours later, Grigson acknowledged that he met with Manning for 20 minutes last week, calling it a straightforward conversation between two regular guys. New coach Chuck Pagano said he also spoke with Manning last week. Nobody provided details of the conversation, though.
"We're in a holding pattern in that respect," he said when asked if the uncertainty would prevent the Colts from doing business with their soon-to-be free agents. "Until it is (resolved), we're going to go about our business as usual."
Before the night ended, Watkins joined the chorus by confirming that Manning was healthy enough to play.
Source:AP