Twelve Haitian migrants escape from detention centre
It has not yet been disclosed whether any of the twelve illegal Haitian migrants, who escaped from the detention centre at South Dock, have been recaptured.
The twelve were among the 139 illegal Haitian migrants who were towed to South Dock and placed into custody at the detention centre last Friday morning after their vessel was intercepted two miles off French Cay.
A multi-agency statement released by the governments press office this morning, said immigration authorities have completed the repatriation of the passengers on the two sloops intercepted in the territorial waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands last Wednesday and Friday.
The Police reported that Fridays sloop carried 139 prospective irregular immigrants; 115 males and 24 females. No children were identified. The 45 foot wooden sloop was intercepted two miles off French Cay and towed to South Dock.
Wednesdays sloop, intercepted seven miles north-east of French Cay, carried 117 persons, including 90 males, 21 females and ten children.
"In line with the TCI National Contingency Plan all subjects were brought ashore by the Police on other vessels and handed over to Immigration Officials for detention, processing and repatriation as appropriate, via the Detention Centre at Five Cays.
Twelve of the persons held on Wednesday were reported to have escaped from the Centre and are being sought by the police.
Repatriation began with the children who were received on Friday by IoM officials in Haiti to be looked after in safety while their families are traced.
The repatriation to Haiti is undertaken in conjunction with the Haitian authorities to ensure that proper arrangements are made to receive and resettle the would-be migrants, especially the children and otherwise vulnerable migrants.
Meanwhile in an updated release this afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that "Last night (Monday), it rescued approximately 125 individuals from a grossly overloaded vessel transiting in international waters off the north coast of Haiti.
The U.S. Coast Guard says it continues to work closely with TCI Marine Division and Police Force personnel while continuing patrols in the waters between the Turks and Caicos, and Haiti and the Windward Passage in order to protect life at sea."
Teenager battles for life after accident in Bahamas
A Unites States teenager with Turks and Caicos roots is battling for his life after sustaining serious injuries in a tragic accident in Nassau Bahamas, while his sister nurses a few broken bones.
The community of the Turks and Caicos Islands and abroad, have been called upon to offer prayers for a teen, with Turks and Caicos roots, who has been left battling for his life after being involved in a tragic accident in the Bahamas.
The social networks have been bombarded with prayer requests for Cameron Clemens a.k.a. Squally who was critically injured in a road traffic accident in Nassau.
According to information reaching our news desk, and confirmed by a family member, Squally suffered several broken bones throughout his body and face, including a broken back; a punctured kidney; the collapse of both lungs; and is reportedly in a coma and on life support.
Squally is also reportedly suffering severe hemorrhaging of the brain. Doctors are trying to stabilize Squally before transferring him to the Childrens hospital in Miami, possibly this evening for specialist medical attention.
One family member told RTC News that Squally, age 16, who lives in Tennessee, was visiting with family members in Nassau for the Christmas holiday. At the time of the accident, he was accompanied in the vehicle that he was driving by his 13 year old sister Sanadia Hall, when, in an attempt to avoid hitting a child who pulled out in front of him, he struck a tree, sustaining the serious injuries.
The family source told RTC News that Nadia received a broken arm, a fractured shoulder on the other arm and broke two of her ankles. She is expected to return to the TCI tomorrow to be with family members.
Squally and Nadia are the great-grand children of Mr. Oscar and Mrs.Mercedes Harvey of South Caicos.
Wind-song Resort in Providenciales in the TCI the backdrop for two Caribbean vacation episodes of Baseball Wives
TV fans of the reality TV show Baseball Wives,, would be delighted when they see scenes of the Turks Caicos depicted in two of the episodes; thats because the Vh1 Reality Television show, Baseball Wives went way outta the ballpark, shooting two Caribbean vacation episodes at the luxurious, Wind-song Resort in Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The cast of seven attractive baseball wives was filmed against a panoramic backdrop of gorgeous turquoise sea from atop one of Windsongs posh penthouse suites, as well as on the resorts pristine white sandy beach in the heart of world famous Grace Bay.
With views almost as expansive as the outrageous drama of the colorful cast, Windsong was considered a welcome diversion for cast and crew from the series regular shooting location in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Major League Baseball Spring Training is held.
The reality series follows five wives, ex-wives and girlfriends of Major League Baseball players and veterans of various teams as they face the challenges of coping with marriage, gossip, fame and each other.
The cast includes Anna Benson (wife of retired Arizona DiamondbacksPitcher Kris Benson), Tanya Grace (ex-wife of retired Chicago Cubs First Baseman Mark Grace), Chantel Kendall (ex-wife of Kansas City Royals Jason Kendall), Brook Villone (wife of Ron Villone) and Jordana Lenz.
Baseball Wives airs Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern Standard Time, and the episodes filmed at Windsong will air in early this month.
The Windsong Resort is a boutique, luxury oceanfront Caribbean resort on 435 feet of Grace Bay in Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands, overlooking the islands best coral reef. Amenities include an oceanfront pool and spa, Jojos Café, fitness center & spa, complimentary non-motorized watersports, and lively evening entertainment at the Havana Club.
For more information, call 1-800-WINDSONG (946-3766), or (649) 333-7700, or visit www.windsongresort.com.
Brits look to Caribbean for pension property
A surge in interest has been reported for Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) approved property in the Caribbean from disgruntled Brits unhappy with their pensions.
It's not hard to see why the Caribbean is becoming a real draw not just for investors looking further afield for growth potential beyond European borders but also a relatively safe haven for their cash.
There are some fantastic deals available on Caribbean property, which allow even those on average incomes to invest in property in prime locations on the Caribbean islands. It is even possible to use a SIPP to fund the entire purchase and benefit from guaranteed rental.
Developers of 5-star resorts on Islands such as St Vincent are reporting occupancy levels of between 80 and 90% in 2011, with 40% occupancy already secured for 2012. This compares to this time last year where no advance bookings had been made.
This spectacular improvement is largely down to endorsements from sporting celebrities and the opening up of resort holiday agencies in the US. Buccament Bay on St Vincent has also just been awarded PADI 5-Star status by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors adding to its appeal for holiday makers.
The Caribbean has also been one of the world's major recipients of foreign direct investment, alongside this the recently announced $45m airport terminal in Antigua will bring jobs growth and tourists in even greater numbers. To cater for the expected increase in tourism, the Caribbean is undergoing a period of major modernisation of infrastructure to cope with the developing needs of an economy that has boomed despite the slowdown being experienced in the US and Europe.
Jon Ainge Director of International Property Success commented, "I believe Caribbean property offers investors an unprecedented opportunity to benefit not only from great mortgage deals, but also another place to invest hard earned cash sitting in a pension and earning very little. In the current climate the Caribbean offers far more than sun, sea and sand to those seeking to get away from it all -- and that includes the gloom in Europe at the moment."
Arab League: Snipers Still Threaten Syrian Cities
The Arab League chief says snipers and gunfire remain a threat in Syrian cities, despite the presence of League monitors.
Speaking in Cairo Monday, Nabil El Araby called for an immediate cease-fire in Syria. He said Syria's military has withdrawn from inside cities, but that snipers are still killing people and making it difficult to distinguish who is shooting whom.
The Arab League has sent monitors to Syria to check on its compliance with a League plan for peace after a nine-month crackdown on anti-government protests. The plan requires the Syrian government to remove security forces and heavy weapons from the streets, start talks with the opposition, free political prisoners and allow monitors into the country.
El Araby said 70 monitors are in six Syrian cities, with 30 more monitors to join them soon. He said the monitors have secured the release of about 3,500 prisoners in Syria so far.
Activists say more than 150 people have been killed across Syria since the observers began their mission last week. On Monday, security forces killed at least three more civilians in Homs and the town of Douma, near Damascus.
Also Monday, Reuters quoted the director of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as saying that army defectors captured dozens of security force members by seizing two checkpoints. Rami Abdelrahman said the operation took place in northern Idlib province. It was not immediately clear how many people were killed or captured by anti-government forces in Monday's attack.
The United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 people have died in Syria's violence since March during a crackdown on protests inspired by the Arab Spring democracy movement. The government of President Bashar al-Assad claims armed terrorists are driving the revolt.
Syrian authorities, under increasing international pressure, agreed last month to allow the Arab League monitoring mission. The deal required the government to give monitors freedom of movement through most of the country except for sensitive military sites.
Iran's rial slides against US dollar on fresh sanctions
Iran's currency has continued to slide against the US dollar after the United States imposed fresh sanctions targeting its central bank.
According to media reports, the rial was being traded at 17,800 to the dollar by money changers in Tehran.
The US has threatened to take action against foreign financial institutions dealing with the Iranian central bank.
The central bank's website showed the exchange rate as 11,180 rial to one US dollar.
Gayle sparkles on field once again, but Thunder lose
Opener Chris Gayle hit another half-century and his West Indies compatriot Fidel Edwards took two wickets, but their Sydney Thunder team lost by five wickets to Hobart Hurricanes in the Twenty20 Big Bash League yesterday.
Playing at Bellerive Oval, Jamaican Gayle top scored with 53 off only 33 balls in a total of 138 for eight off 20 overs after Sydney Thunder won the toss.
Left-hander Gayle's innings contained five sixes and two fours before he was second out with the score 91 in the 14th over, after sharing a partnership of 53 in 7.5 overs with Sean Abbott, who made 39.
Barbadian fast bowler Edwards then bowled former Australia opener Phil Jaques without scoring in the third ball of the innings and also removed fellow opener Jonathan Wells for 29, but spurred by an unbeaten 41 of 32 balls with five boundaries from former England batsman Owais Shah, Hobart Hurricanes triumphed with eight balls to spare.
Edwards ended with two for 33 off four overs, while Gayle had a solitary over which cost 16 runs without taking a wicket.
On Friday, Gayle slammed 75 against Melbourne Renegades, who won by six runs.
The win was the fourth in as many matches for Hobart Hurricanes, who are at the top of the table on eight points. Sydney Thunder are on four points, also from four matches.
Senegal Music Star Youssou Ndour Running for President
World-famous Senegalese music star Youssou Ndour has officially entered the presidential race in his country.
Ndour said Monday on the television station he owns that he will challenge President Abdoulaye Wade in the February election. The 52-year-old singer had announced in November he was taking time off from music in order to focus on politics, saying he had founded a new movement called “Fekke Maci Boole,” meaning “I am engaged” in the local Wolof language.
Ndour — named by Time magazine in 2007 as one of the world's 100 most influential people — has long used his music to deliver political messages. He has also emerged as an outspoken critic of President Wade.
The 85-year-old president is seeking a controversial third term, despite a constitutional two-term limit. Mr. Wade's supporters say he can run because the law was not in effect when he was first elected in 2000.
Senegal's Constitutional Court has yet to rule on his eligibility.
Tunisia Seeks Guarantees to Extradite Former Libyan PM
Tunisia's visiting president says his country would extradite former Libyan prime minister Baghdadi al-Mahmudi to Tripoli to face charges of abuse of office, if Libya would guarantee his physical safety and a fair trial.
President Moncef Marzouki told a joint news conference with Libyan leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil that the ex-prime minister could be handed over for trial in Libya “after establishing a democratic state and civil institutions.”
Mahmudi fled across the border to Tunisia soon after Moammar Gadhafi's rule collapsed in August. Tunisian courts have twice approved Libya's extradition request for the former leader, who is fighting against it on the grounds that he applied for refugee status in Tunisia.
Amnesty International has urged Libya's neighbor not to extradite Mahmudi, saying he risks being subjected to “serious human rights violations.”
The former prime minister was the highest-ranking member of Gadhafi's inner circle in detention until Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, was captured by forces loyal to Libya's new rulers in November. Libya insists it will try Seif al-Islam even though it does not yet have a functioning judicial system.
Moammar Gadhafi himself was captured and killed in Libya in October under questionable circumstances.
In a separate development Monday, Libya published a draft electoral law that bans candidates for office who held positions of responsibility under Gadhafi or benefited financially from his rule.
The bill bans former officials from running for office who are accused of torturing Libyans or embezzling public funds, active members of the Revolutionary Guard and opposition fighters who made peace with Gadhafi.
It also gives women 20 seats in the 200-member national assembly. The election is scheduled for June.
National Transitional Council chief Jalil stressed that the proposed legislation is merely a draft and still could undergo changes.
India Opens Stock Market to Foreign Investors as Its Economy Slows
On January 15, India opens its stock markets for the first time to individual foreign investors who will be able to directly buy and sell Indian equities.
Until now, foreign investors could only invest through mutual funds or institutional investors.
New Delhi expressed hope that the move will attract more foreign funds, and reduce market volatility, as well as reverse last year's trend that saw foreign investors pulling out billions of dollars from the Indian economy.
But many economists say the move is not likely to have an immediate impact when the allure of Indian stock markets has faded amid a faltering economy. They say India's economic growth for 2011 will not reach the nine per cent level the government had forecast.
The European debt crisis and sluggish Western economies are blamed for the drop in outside investors, but domestic factors also have played a role. India has been dealing with a series of interest rate hikes, rising inflation and a weakening national currency.