India to fund construction of specialty hospital in Guyana
Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon said on Wednesday that the EXIM Bank of India has approved and made available the funding at concessionary terms for the construction of a specialty hospital at Liliendaal in Guyana.
When completed, the hospital will provide services including cardio-related and cosmetic surgeries and organ transplant. Construction is anticipated to commence by the first quarter of 2012.
Luncheon said that site preparation, which includes drainage of the land and the provision of the necessary utilities (water, roads, etc.) that are required for the operationalisation of the institution, is a fairly expensive undertaking that was not covered in the financial arrangement between the government of Guyana and the government of India through the EXIM Bank.
Last month, the Indian government indicated that its approval of the “soft loan” to fund the construction of this state-of-the-art facility will not only become part of what is being offered within the public health system, but will also allow Guyanese to access the best quality tertiary health care at an affordable cost because government will be entering a partnership with a management group that will deliver those services.
In February this year, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and then Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran visited India to finalise the agreement to construct 250-bed hospital.
Caribbean News Now
Mel Gibson's Ex Wife Takes Half His Estimated $850 Million in Divorce Settlement
Mel Gibson is now legally single after his divorce was finalized Friday in a Los Angeles courtroom, but bachelorhood came at a heavy price.
Robyn, his ex-wife of nearly 30 years and the mother of their seven children, is walking away with half his fortune, once estimated to be as high as $850 million (according to the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2006) in what is considered the biggest divorce payout in Hollywood history.
Because the couple didn't have a prenuptial agreement, Robyn, 55, was legally entitled to half of everything he earned during their marriage.
Among Gibson's estimated assets: more than $600 million grossed by The Passion of the Christ alone; $100-plus million in real estate investments worldwide (he bought an island in Fiji for $15 million in 2005); and $75 million for film and TV projects for which Gibson, 55, executive produced.
It appears some of his wealth has already been transferred to Robyn, in particular two Malibu homes worth a combined $22.5 million. As for film residuals, Robyn is entitled to half of every future check Gibson receives for the rest of his life.
"I left my wife because we had no spiritual common ground," Gibson told his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva in secretly recorded tapes she made of the actor in February 2010.
During his custody battle with Grigorieva, in which the Russian musician accused Gibson of domestic violence, Robyn filed a sworn statement in July 2010 stating that "Mel was a wonderful and loving father" and never abused Robyn or their kids.
Gibson met Robyn, at the time a dental nurse, in the late 1970s after the American-born actor, who moved to Australia when he was 12, had filmed his breakout role in Mad Max.
George Michael: 'Incredibly fortunate to be here'
Returning to London after weeks of being treated in an Austrian hospital for severe pneumonia, singer George Michael revealed Friday his illness was much more serious than his representatives had said previously.
"I'd say (it was) touch and go for a couple of weeks," said Michael. "We played it down. I didn't want to worry my fans too much."
He said he got "streptococcus-something. It's a form of pneumonia, and they spent three weeks keeping me alive, basically."
He appeared thin and breathless and said he was "trying to get over the tracheotomy."
But, he said, the experience was life-changing -- "I'm a new man."
"I don't want to take you through all of it, because some of it I want to protect my family from," he said. "... But it was basically by far the worst month of my life. I'm incredibly, incredibly fortunate to be here and incredibly fortunate to have picked up this bug where I did. Apparently, the hospital in Austria that they rushed me to was absolutely the best place in the world I could have been to deal with pneumonia. So I have to believe that somebody thinks I've still got some work to do here."
The illness prompted Michael to cancel the remainder of his European tour. His representative, Connie Filipello, said in announcing the cancellations last month that Michael was "on the mend" and "receiving medication."
He said Friday he was sorry that he had not contacted fans, but he had been in no shape to do so.
"But I promise them, absolutely without question, the plan is to play to every single person who had a ticket," he said.
Michael said he also wants to play for the doctors who saved his life.
He grew emotional as he said, "I've spent the last 10 days since I woke up literally thanking people for saving my life, which is something I've never had to do before and never want to have to do again."
Asked what kept him going, he said, "My family. The thought of all the people I still have to play to ... the fact that I've been so lucky, and the fact that I still have plenty to live for. I have an amazing, amazing life, and if I wasn't spiritual enough before the last four, five weeks, then I certainly am now."
Disney: 'The Avengers' will be in 3-D
Hulk smash! Right into the theater!
Walt Disney Pictures announced today that "The Avengers" will be converted to 3-D for its May 4, 2012 release.
The news shouldn't be a huge surprise -- Disney is undergoing the same 3-D conversion process for "John Carter," and director Joss Whedon expressed his love for 3-D at an EW-hosted Comic-Con panel in 2010.
The studio also announced today that a previously untitled 3-D Walt Disney Animation project, a fairy tale, has been titled "Frozen" and slated to open November 27, 2013.
At the studio's D23 convention last August, filmmakers from sister animation studio, Pixar, indicated that they were also eyeing a 2013 holiday season debut for an untitled Pixar film about dinosaurs; that movie, however, does not yet have an official release date.
Finally, an untitled Marvel Studios project has been moved from June 27, 2014 to April 4, 2014.
Government Error Could Give Buju Banton Big Break In Case
Incarcerated reggae superstar, Buju Banton maybe able to get a big break in his case following his Lawyers appeal in Georgia Appeal Court earlier this month.
According to new reports, Banton could walk free from his 10-year sentence on drug-related charges after his attorneys discovered that the U.S. government may have violated the Speedy Trial Act.
The act states that any defendant involved in a case must be brought to trial by the government within a 70 day window; a right guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment in the American constitution. Additionally, said right is generally afforded to defendants so that they not subjected to unreasonably lengthy incarceration prior to a fair trial.
Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was arrested in December of 2009, but only face trial in September 2010, almost 10 months after his arrest. Furthermore, Federal Judge James Moody pushed back the singer’s trial date several times before the commencement of the trial which ended in a mistrial.
Banton’s second trial took place in February 2011, four months after his first trial ended. He was then convicted on three charges and sentence to 10 years behind bars.
According to writer Jodee Brown of the Examiner.com, The U.S Supreme Court has developed a four part test considering length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and the prejudice to the defendant in judging speedy trial claims. Any violations of the Speedy Trial Act could spark the dismissal of a criminal case given the state’s inability to bring the case to trial within a reasonable amount of time.
Buju Banton was recently moved from a Texas prison and is now housed in Miami, pending the outcome of the appeal in Georgia Appeal Court.
Report on Projected Impacts of Sea –level rise on the TCI as a result of Climate Change
The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources is pleased to announce the completion of the Caribsave Climate Change Risk Atlas (CCCRA) Phase One document that was done in the Turks Caicos Islands, as part of a regional study to develop an atlas showing the impact that Climate change can have on the Caribbean Islands in the future.
This document was developed as a way to give an evidenced based inter-sectoral view of the vulnerabilities and the adaptations that can be made to circumvent the affect that climate change can have on the major economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands tourism.
The main basis of this project is to give a detailed model of climate change for each of the countries selected. The projections for this document were done utilizing three scenarios.
The CCCRA Phase one, which was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID); will provide the Turks and Caicos Islands with valuable information on the following areas:
• Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure and Settlements
• Community Livelihoods
• Gender
• Poverty and Development
• Agriculture and Food Security
• Energy
• Water Quality & Availability
• Comprehensive Disaster Management
• Human Health
• Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Fisheries
The climate change model was able to demonstrate on large scale the affects of global climate dynamic. To attain this data a combination of Global Climate Models (GCM) and a downscaled Regional Climate Model (RCM) was used to investigate the climatic changes for the TCI.
RCMs were also used to simulate the climate at a finer spatial scale over a smaller area allowing the projections of the GCMs to be downscaled attaining a clearer physical representation of the climate of the area being investigated.
The field study sites include notable resorts, ports and an airport runway that are at less than 6 m above sea level. Beach area losses in Turks and Caicos were also calculated for 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m and 3 m scenario (Table 1). At a 0.5 m SLR scenario, more than half of the beach area will be lost in Grand Turk West Shore (53%) and Historic Cockburn Town (65%). All (100%) of the beach area will be lost in Historic Cockburn Town under a 2 m SLR scenario, with all (100%) of the beach area in Grand Turk Cruise Centre and Grand Turk West Shore under a 3 m SLR scenario.
It is important to note that the critical beach assets would be affected much earlier than the SLR induced erosion damages to tourism infrastructure due to SLR-induced coastal erosion. Indeed, if erosion is damaging tourism infrastructure, it means that the beach will have essentially disappeared.
The assessment also looked at other sectors such as Health, Tourism, Social sector, Agriculture, land allocation and development planning, disaster management and much more.
The Department of Disaster Management in collaboration with the DECR worked with members of Caribsave that came to carryout site visits and data collection. Data were retrieved through site visits, questionnaires, focus groups and historical data.
The Department strongly encourage all members of the public to read at a minimum, the summary document and maybe this would serve as a springboard towards TCI starting to take the issue of Climate Change more seriously.
The finalized document can be found on the DECR website: www.environment.tc.
OPSM has begins to distribute voluntary severance package
The TCI Government's Office of Public Service Management (OPSM), on Friday confirmed to RTC News that it began distributing 697 voluntary severance package quotations to civil service applicants this morning.
These quotations outline the compensation package available to individual applicants, should they decide to apply for voluntary severance, and TCIG accepts their application.
The quotation pack according to OPSM, also includes the application form should individuals wish to proceed. It also provides details of the support package that would be made available to successful volunteers.
This support includes financial advice from a variety of sources such as TC Invest and all the locally represented banks, CV and interview skills advice, general careers advice, how to identify private sector job opportunities, vocational and academic training and skills courses.
Each individual will have three weeks to consider their own offer and decide whether or not to apply.
Police in Provo arrest 3 in connection with the RBC robbery
Police in Providenciales are making headway in their investigations into the armed robbery at the Royal Bank of Canada a week ago today, which led the death of one of two security guards who were shot during the incident, which occurred last Friday, December 16.
That victim has subsequently been identified as 58 year-old Haitian National Guil-laury Wilfred, 58.
The two security guards were surprised by a couple of gunmen as they were in the process of making a cash drop-off at the bank. The gunmen openedfire on them before making off with an undetermined amount of cash.
A source from the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre told RTC News that two men were rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre following the shooting incident at the Royal Bank of Canada.
Both were suffering serious gunshot wounds and were initially treated by the trauma team in the emergency department.
He said one of the victims, who suffered damage to his liver and kidney areas, was rushed to the operating theatre but sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Our InterHealth Canada source said the second patient, who was shot in the chest and stomach regions, also underwent life-saving surgery and was taken to the high dependency unit where his condition was described as critical but stable.
Our source said this afternoon that he continues to make progress and is expected to be discharged today or tomorrow, in time for the Christmas.
Our InterHealth Canada Spokesman also said the man’s wife gave birth to a baby girl last Sunday – a double gift of life for the family.
Meanwhile, Media Relations Officer, Detective Inspector Calvin Chase in his 24 hour crime update today said three (3) males are presently in custody assisting the Police as it relates to that Murder/Robbery at RBC on 16th December 2011.
Chase said during the past twenty-four hours Police in Providenciales responded to four (4) reports of a serious nature, namely two (2) Burglaries –Blue Hills & Airport Road, one (1) Attempted Burglary – Blue Hills and one(1) Theft – Old Airport Road.
During the same period one male and one female were arrested for Possession of Cannabis.
A male was also charged for Burglary and Wounding as it relates to a report made on 19th December 2011.
Here in Grand Turk, Police in Grand Turk responded to one (1) report of serious nature namely Burglary-Backsalina.
Christmas Treats for Foster Children 2011
Christmas is a time of giving, sharing and receiving. What better way to celebrate Jesus’ gift to mankind and express the joy of the season, then with children. The Department of Social Development in collaboration with the Grand Turk Cruise Center sponsored this year’s Christmas Treats for Foster Children. The special-separate party was held upstairs Margaritaville, on Thursday, December 22 2011 at 4pm.
The children enjoyed a delicious meal, as they took in the ambiance, sang Christmas Carols, recited poems and presented special ‘Thank you’ messages to Mr. Young and his team. A major highlight of the occasion was the appearance of Santa Claus, who came loaded with Gifts, big and small. Santa called each child by their names, as they collected their presents and took pictures with Santa.
The organizers behind it all, Mr. John Young, GT Cruise Center Manager and his team brought BIG smiles and Christmas cheer to the Foster Care children in our service program of Grand Turk and South Caicos. His warmth and generosity will forever be remembered in the hearts of our Foster Children.
Tiffany Thomas, Senior Social Worker stated:
“I was elated to see all the children in our Foster Care program in Grand Turk, out to spread the Christmas Holiday Season. On behalf of the Department of Social Development, and the Ministry of Home Affairs & Public Safety, I would like to convey my gratitude to Mr. John Young, who was forthcoming and considerate in hosting the Christmas Treats for Foster Children 2011. This event was a success and I look forward to future joint partnership with the Grand Turk Cruise Center. Thanks a million!!”
Britain’s Prince Philip Treated for Blocked Coronary Artery
The husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, has undergone surgery to treat a blocked artery in his heart that Buckingham Palace said had caused him chest pains.
A palace spokeswoman said the prince had undergone a “minimally invasive procedure” that inserted a coronary stent. She said he will remain in the hospital for a short period. But it is not known whether his hospitalization will disrupt Christmas plans for the royal couple
The 90-year-old prince had been admitted to the specialist Papworth Hospital in Cambridge on Friday.
Prince Philip, who was born in Greece in 1921, has been with Queen Elizabeth during her entire time on the British throne, which this year was her 60th. They were married in 1947.
Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, is their eldest child.
Prince Philip, who is also called the Duke of Edinburgh, has been known for his good health, tireless spirit and outspoken views.