Fortis Contributes to the Turks and Caicos 911 Programme
FortisTCI has made a contribution to a much needed cause in the Turks and Caicos islands after donating $2000 to TCI’s 911 Emergency Communication Centre.
This now traditional “holiday” donation, done in place of sending company Christmas cards, is made possible each year by their parent company Fortis Inc as they give FortisTCI’s employees the chance to express community support.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands develop, FortisTCI realises the importance of having a successful 911 centre. Daphne Penn, FortisTCI’s Customer Service Manager said, “With 911 serving as a central foundation in cases of emergencies, this year we found it appropriate to assist with the completion of those programmes headed by their team, such as the street naming project.”
The 911 Programme has struggled with erecting street signs in areas that have a high call volume, making it difficult for emergency personnel to determine if they are in the right location when out in the field. Penn added that, “having and knowing your exact street address in any emergency can make the difference in receiving a faster response. FortisTCI is pleased to be a part of this effort.”
911 Manager Tammika Lall was joined by Commissioner Colin Farquhar, and other members of The Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force. They were equally ecstatic after learning that the programme was chosen as this year’s beneficiary. Lall stated, “We are very thankful for this donation. It will be of advantage to everyone, especially those who can now look forward to having a street sign posted in the near future. Thank you Fortis, from the bottom of our hearts.”
Fortis Inc. ensures that each of their subsidiaries is able to give back to local organizations and worthy causes that impact the community at large. Past recipients include The Turks and Caicos Diabetic Association, The Turks and Caicos Heart Foundation, The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre,
The Special Needs Association of Providenciales and The National Cancer Society.
Digicel 1,000,000 All Pass Winner is Jerome Louissaint
January 2012 marks another milestone for Digicel’s All Pass Plan. The hugely popular All Pass plan launched in July 2010 provides the Best Value for customers to call locally, regionally and internationally.
In May 2011, less than a year after it’s launched, Digicel proudly announced it had reached 500,000 activations and celebrated the milestone by awarding the 500,000th All Pass subscriber Lilio Malbranche won $500 Cash, A Blackberry Torch and 1 year free on the VIP Pass Plan which is the All Pass Plan plus unlimited Blackberry data service for 24 hours.
Less than eight months later, Digicel’s All Pass Plan has once again reached a significant milestone, its 1 millionth activation!
This year Digicel awarded Jermone Louissaint, the 1,000,000th All Pass subscriber a grand prize of $1000, a new Blackberry Torch and 1 year free on the VIP Pass Plan. Louissiant, a Security Officer with The Security Center in Providenciales was overwhelmed with the news.
Jerome Louissaint speaking with RTC News on winning the 1 millionth all pass plan.
Head of Marketing Ava-Dayne Fulford said “With over $150 million in savings, The All Pass Plan has been very successful and has provided tremendous value to customers. “The popularity of the All Pass goes to show that Digicel’s Best Value plans appeal to our customers and allows them to reach out to more of their loved ones in more places” .
Akita Holdings responds
In a press release sent to RTC News from Akita Holdings on the Press Statement Issued by His Excellency, the Governor, Rick Todd’s media briefing on January 24th, 2012 along with Laurence Harris, partner in charge, Edwards Wildman Palmer, the international law firm undertaking the civil recovery programme in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The claim brought against Akita Holdings Limited by the Government in the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands concerns two matters. The first matter is a lease of a parcel of land in South Caicos. That lease has expired and the land belongs to the Government. Akita does not occupy the land and never claim that it was entitled to the land after the expiry of the lease. There is a sum due for rent prior to the expiry of the lease, which Akita has never disputed.
The second claim relates to land at South Dock from which Akita carries on its business. This land was properly obtained by Akita and the claim will be vigorously defended.
As the claim is the subject matter of legal proceedings, no further statement will be made.
Sincerely,
Akita Holdings
Early this week RTC aired a press conference where Mr. Lawrence Harris in charge of Edwards, Wildman, Palmer the International law firm undertaking the civil recovery programme mentioned Akita Holdings in the press conference.
French tourist dies after DIVING ACCIDENT
RTC News understands that on Thursday January 26, at around 9.30am a 55-year-old French tourist was rushed to the emergency department of the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre following a diving incident off Provo.
The patient was brought to shore by boat and met by an ambulance, with paramedics administering treatment throughout the journey.
Intensive treatment was continued by a team of highly-skilled doctors and nurses at the hospital, but sadly this proved unsuccessful and the man was pronounced dead just after 10am.
A post mortem will now be held to determine the cause of death.
Inter Health Canada would like to express its deepest sympathy to the deceased’s family members and friends
CARPHA to collaborate with CTO on Quality Tourism
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which started its operations this month under Interim Director, Dr. Jerome Walcott, former Minister of Health, Barbados was a subject of discussion at the Council of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, held during the Market Place Conference in Nassau, in the Bahamas on 22 January 2012, according to Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
It was disclosed that after receiving a presentation by Dr. Edward Greene, Coordinator of the CARPHA Resource Mobilization Committee on its vision, mission and developments, the Caribbean Tourist Organization (CTO) Council agreed that there were several areas for collaboration with this new Agency. These include using its information and communications system to increase the awareness of CARPHA and the public health agenda for the Region, join forces to reduce the threats of health and environmental threats for the sustainability of healthy tourism and supporting CARPHA’s surveillance programme.
The specific activities to be promoted are accurate and timely information on trends and health risks, disease prevention and control, detection of and response to health emergencies and establishing standards for managing and monitoring information and international health regulations
CARPHA which already has attracted a wide range of partners in Canada, UK, the European Union, USA and Brazil, has received an undertaking from the CTO of its willingness to be engaged in training and capacity building for workers in the tourism sector in the areas of food safety, environmental management and monitoring and promoting the Wellness Revolution in the Caribbean. It also agreed that Mr. Hugh Riley, CTO President will represent the organization on CARPHA Executive Board .These and other matters will be discussed at the 3rd Meeting of CARPHA’s Executive Board to be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in early March 2012.
Honourable Ricky Skerrit, Minister of Tourism St Kitts/ Nevis Chair of the CTO Council, commended the Caribbean Community “for taking this bold step to create a viable public health agency that would no doubt be of great benefit to the people of the region and in particular to those in the tourism business”.
CARPHA is a consolidation of the following five Regional Health institutions into one agency: Caribbean Epidemiological Centre (CAREC), Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), Caribbean Health Research Centre (CHRC) , Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory (CRDTL).
CARICOM Heads of Government ratified CARPHA by signing the inter-Governmental Agreement in July 2011 making the agency a legal entity
Trinidad and Tobago has agreed to host CARPHA and new facilities for laboratory and research, surveillance and administration functions are scheduled to be completed by the end 2014. In the meantime CARPHA’s main activities would be hosted at CAREC
New bill tackles child porn, genital mutilation
THE newest version of the Children's Bill to be debated in Parliament is a consolidation of much-needed legislation and could make a difference in children's rights locally, head of the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and child rights activist, Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, has said.
Mahabir-Wyatt said this particular piece of legislation has been one of those to have suffered years in delays due to changing governments, but she is encouraged by the latest version, which appears to have greater detail than previous documents.
The current incarnation of the bill is an amalgamation of various packages that have been put forth over the past decade and which have continuously been withdrawn for amendments and clarification.
The Children Bill has also been one of those pieces of legislation that has suffered fallout from changes in governments, with successive governments attempting to make the bill their own before passing it.
Mahabir-Wyatt said the present bill appears to have provided clarity on a number of issues that child rights activists have clamoured for and she is hopeful that this package may see more success in Parliament.
It will also go a long way to providing legislative framework that supports this country's signature on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and will give more power to the Children's Authority, as the go-to body for children's issues.
"This is a cleaning up of what should have been cleaned up long ago," Mahabir-Wyatt said.
"This bill could make a huge difference."
Mahabir-Wyatt said some may question the inclusion of issues such as "genital mutilation", which may be seen as irrelevant to local society.
She said, however, that T&T is becoming increasingly "international", with heavy migration into the country from the Middle East and Africa, both with some cultures that practise genital mutilation on women and girls for religious and social reasons.
"This can be preventative," she said.
"As we see more migrants coming into the country, they may also bring their traditions with them. Or some sect or cult may decide that it is necessary for cultural reasons."
The bill also clarifies issues related to child pornography and what constitutes sexual assault on a minor.
The document specifies that any object or part of a person inserted into the orifice of a child, defined not only as the "vagina" and "anus" but also as the ear and mouth, may constitute the sexual abuse of a child.
"The previous legislation was not as detailed," Mahabir-Wyatt said.
Definition was also needed on child pornography, which the document provides.
"This is a growing problem here and with everyone now being able to record things, it is getting worse," she said.
Commenting on the recent spate of child deaths and abuse to have made the news, Mahabir-Wyatt said these incidents do little to change the local belief that children must be beaten and abused to be disciplined.
On January 20, six-year-old Josiah Governor died after being beaten by his stepfather, Ronnie John, for not completing his mathematics homework.
Neighbours in Laventille said the child had been abused most of his life.
Last Wednesday, 12-year-old Everton Vasquez hanged himself after being beaten with a belt by his grandmother, who said she did it to discipline the boy.
Last Monday, an eight-year-old pupil of Blackman's Private School reportedly had his head flushed in a toilet by a teacher, also an act meant to discipline.
Mahabir-Wyatt said children "have the sense of time" and when living with abuse, will often assume that "it will always be this way".
"When another child is murdered, we solemnly stand by and watch ministers cry real tears, and, sometimes, move to pass yet another bill into law, but twenty years goes by and still children get 'punished' by being beaten to death by their care-givers," she said.
"On a Monday we read that Josiah Governor died following a beating from his stepfather who used the excuse that Josiah had not done his math homework. Week after week, the neighbours had heard the nightly beatings and howls of pain. And done nothing.
"A week later we read that a 12-year-old boy committed suicide after being beaten by his grandmother. This, too, was a common practice. These two incidents took place while the trial over the murder of little Amy Anamanthudo was being heard in the courts. She was only four when she was beaten to death, only one incident in a little life filled with beatings, cigarette burns and other brutalities. In the same week we read a report of a teacher flushing a child's head in a toilet, in the same school that my family had to remove a five-year-old grandchild from for having been physically and emotionally abused 20 years ago. The more things change, the more they remain the same, apparently. And in each of the above cases of abuse, the adult perpetrators show little or no remorse."
She added:
"Children die in this country from the abusive actions of adults, and still, and still, grown men and women say of the children in their care: 'If you don't beat them, they won't learn', or 'Well, I was beaten when I was a child and I turned out all right'.
"What makes such people think they have turned out all right? Is flushing a child's head in the toilet the action of an adult who is 'all right'? I once had a man who was buggering his two young sons say the same thing to me: 'So what is wrong with that? They did it to me when I was a child and I turned out all right!'"
What children learn from being beaten, she said, is that violence against weaker persons by strong ones is how to get one's way.
Pilot pays up
LIAT pilot and admitted drug trafficker Keith Richard Otway Allen escaped a long prison term and should be back home in St Vincent and the Grenadines today after paying fines totalling $1/4 million yesterday.
The fines were about twice the value of the 65 pounds of cannabis which Allen was arrested for smuggling into Barbados on November 23.
The sentence, handed down by Magistrate Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell in the District “F” Magistrates’ Court, brought an end to a matter that featured two Methodist preachers appearing as character witnesses for the pilot, and several adjournments after Allen’s guilty plea.
Through his attorney Sir Richard Cheltenham, Allen (pictured here leaving the court) paid the fines as is evidenced by the receipt from the court.
Antigua-Barbuda ambassador a ‘no show’ before PAC
Ambassador David Shoul failed to make an appearance before the Antigua and Barbuda Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday afternoon, after being summoned by the chairman of the committee.
Shoul was asked to prepare himself by bringing certain relevant documents and to be ready to answer questions from the chairman of the committee. The PAC had invited Shoul to provide answers regarding the US$52.5 million Chinese power plant recently constructed at Crabbs Peninsula.
The PAC is established by Section 98 of the Constitution, which mandates a review of all government spending by examining and considering government accounts. The chairman of that committee is always the leader of the parliamentary opposition.
Former prime minister and current leader of the opposition, Lester Bird, as chairman, wrote to Shoul one week earlier, seeking to question him on the Chinese power plant, since the ambassador has been credited by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer with playing a pivotal role in the negotiations for the plant.
Shoul had a letter delivered to the office of the leader of the opposition on Monday, indicating only that he had received the former prime minister’s letter. On Tuesday afternoon, the PAC members waited in vain for Shoul to show up. All the written questions were instead handed to the auditor for onward transmittal to the ambassador.
Negotiations for the Chinese power plant began in 2008, when a price tag of US$18 million was initially mentioned. The amount climbed to US$30 million by the time a funding agreement was entered into with the Export/Import Bank of China in June 2008. Later adjustments took the cost to US$47 million. The total cost has now climbed to US$52.5 million.
Examination of the installed plant has shown that the engines, the alternators and other parts of the plant are not new, though both Shoul and Spencer have each claimed otherwise. In fact, they both deem questioning of the quality of the delivered plant, by the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) and thousands of Antiguans and Barbudans, as unpatriotic and diminishing of the relations between China and Antigua and Barbuda.
Bird has promised to continue to pursue answers and to seek to get to the bottom of the issue.
By Caribbean News Now contributor
Etta James: Stars attend funeral of Blues legend
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Los Angeles for the funeral of US rhythm and blues star Etta James, who died earlier this month at the age of 73.
Civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton gave a rousing speech about her rise from poverty and drug addiction to make music that crossed racial divides.
He read a statement from US President Barack Obama, who praised her part in "our nation's musical heritage".
Stars Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera performed some of her hits.
Etta James died on 20 January after battling leukaemia.
Trailblazer
In his eulogy, Rev Sharpton described Etta James as a "bridge of American culture that changed the culture of the world".
Etta James helped break down the culture curtain of America before the Civil Rights Act of 1964," he said. "She was able to get us to sing the same rhythms and melodies."
He began the two-hour service by reading the statement from President Obama, who danced at his inaugural ball to Etta James' most famous song At Last.
"Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation's musical heritage," Mr Obama said.
Stevie Wonder performed three songs, including Shelter in the Rain, while Christina Aguilera performed a version of At Last.
"Out of all the singers that I've ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me," Ms Aguilera said before her performance.
Rebuilt career
Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins to a teenage single mother in 1938.
Raised mainly by friends and relatives, she began singing when her grandparents took her to a Baptist Church, where she joined the choir as a soloist.
Later in San Francisco she formed a singing group, but it was not until 1960, when James became a solo artist, that she began to achieve musical recognition.
However, her success in the 1960s was hindered by an addiction to heroin, and she was forced to rebuild her career after quitting the drug in 1974.
Although she was popular on the R&B circuit throughout her career, mainstream success eluded her for many years.
She did not receive her first Grammy Award until 1994, for the album Mystery Lady, which consisted of covers of Billie Holiday songs. In 2003, she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
She leaves husband Artist Mills and and two sons Donto and Sametto.
Tyler Perry Casts Romeo Miller as Co-Lead in New ‘Madea’ Movie
Earlier this week when Romeo Miller Tweeted: “Got offered the lead n Tyler Perry’s next movie. This should be fun ha…” — we knew something was going down, but not the specifics. Now we know.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mr. Miller, along with Denise Richards and Eugene Levy and more will star alongside Perry in “Madea’s Witness Protection.” Shooting starts this coming week at Perry’s studios in Atlanta.
Levy will play a man who, after his investment company goes belly up due to embezzling, is put in witness protection with his family, which is forced to move from a wealthy Connecticut neighborhood to Madea’s home in the South. Richards is set to play Levy’s wife. Miller, 22, will play a man who believes Levy is responsible for his church’s investments being wiped out and wants to take the law into his own hands, writes The Reporter.
Also in the cast are Doris Roberts, Devan Leos, Tom Arnold and Danielle Campbell. Perry, who wrote the script and is directing, produces with Paul Hall and Ozzie Areu.
Miller’s last on screen appearance was in “Jumping the Broom,” in which he played the young buck vying for the attention of an older lady played by Tasha Smith. Of course we all know his father Percy Miller, who at one time was known as the rapper and actor, Master P.
On another note, remember when the “Madea” movies were all black? Interestingly, the casting of this film reflects what Perry stated recently about all-black-cast films becoming extinct because they don’t “travel” (not successful) outside the US.
Obviously Tyler Perry practices what he preaches.