TCIG Statement re Meetings with CSA
In the ongoing negotiations between the CSA and the Interim Government, RTC News has received the following release:
“Our negotiating team intends to meet with the Civil Service Association on Thursday 1st December to continue discussions on the terms and conditions of employment of TCI government employees.
You may recall we last met the CSA on Wednesday 23rd November after which we responded positively to a number of the CSA’s suggestions, including:
- That voluntary severance payments should be based on salaries before the 10 percent reduction imposed last year
- Our intention to slow down the pace of the voluntary severance program, and
- An offer of further discussions with the CSA and the wider public service, about the totality of the public service remuneration package, including the phasing out of the 10 percent salary reduction, improvements to the pension scheme, gratuities, bonuses, etc. as soon as money becomes available.
The government’s negotiating team, led by Susan Malcolm and Mark Greenway, and including Chief Financial Officer Hugh McGarel-Groves will now have detailed discussions with the CSA with a view to averting further strikes and beginning the detailed consultation process outline at (3) above.
I welcome the return to work by public servants today following the two day strike on Monday and Tuesday, and look forward to government services getting back to normal.”
Getting to Zero in the TCI
A target of zero tolerance for stigma and discrimination as the TCI joins the rest of the world in remembering those who died from and those living with HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day, December 1st 2011.
The international theme for this year’s observance is “Getting to Zero” which refers to zero new infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS related deaths. The TCI’s AIDS Department has used this to create a local theme “Getting to Zero through Community Participation towards Eradication,”
AIDS Coordinator, Aldora Robinson stated:
“We have a very high level of stigma and discrimination still within our communities and we seriously need to work on this. Getting to zero discrimination would reduce the amount of persons who present for treatment and care late, zero discrimination would reduce the amount of persons who not only present late, but often die simply because of fear of discrimination.
As I normally say and will continue to say, in order for TCI to reduce the impact of HIV on our society we need to change our behavior and attitudes. Nelson Mandela once said “you can never change society if you haven’t changed yourself.”
The Department said it undertook several successful programmes over the past year geared towards behaviour change. It has revised the healthy living curriculum within the primary and high schools bringing it in line with the regional Health Family Life Education (HFLE); strengthened local capacity to develop policies; re-established a multi-sectoral committee for a more board based approach; and set up a health and wellness programme for the tourism sector with a promise to assist the sector early in the new year with its work plan activities.
The Department has also completed two research studies to inform its strategic decisions and ensure that they are evidence based and sustainable.
“Over the years much has been done; knowledge has increased through our various prevention efforts, access to treatment and care has increased, awareness of human rights for persons living with HIV has improved and there has been progress made in the area of policy and legislation”, Robinson said.
The Department said its staff did an outstanding job over the year, despite the lost of one of its former staff-member, Mrs. Keziah Nash.
Its advice to the TCI on this world AIDS Day and the following holiday season is:
“Season’s greetings and remember to stay safe, abstain, be faithful to one partner or use a condom. Watch your drinking as it impairs your judgment and put you at risk for contracting HIV. Get tested, know your status!”
Adele all the rage at Grammy nominations
Even though Kanye West walked off with the most Grammy nominations Wednesday night, the chatter backstage was all about Adele.
West's seven nominations was one more than that of the 23-year-old British songstress. And she was the clear favorite among many of the artists to take home the most trophies at next February's awards show.
"I feel sorry for anybody whose got to go up against Adele this year," said country artist Jason Aldean, who said he was thankful Adele was not competing in the three categories he is nominated for.
Bruno Mars's "Doo Wops & Holligans" is pitted against Adele's "21" for album of the year and record of the year.
Mars gathered six nominations Wednesday, adding to the seven he got last year.
"Adele's awesome, but I heard she beats up little puppies," Mars joked backstage after the live Grammys nominations telecast Wednesday night.
Kimberly Perry, lead vocalist for best new artist nominee The Band Perry, said Adele's "21" album is the most-often played music on the group's tour bus.
It's uncertain if Adele will have recovered enough from this month's throat surgery to sing at the February 12 show, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said. The procedure to repair a "recurrent vocal cord hemorrhage" forced cancellation of the remainder of her 2011 shows.
Wednesday night's one-hour Grammy nominations telecast began and ended with Lady Gaga performances, including a finale with country duo Sugarland.
Gaga, nominated in three categories, is up against Adele for the highest honor -- album of the year -- with "Born This Way."
In addition to Adele, Mars and Gaga, the album of the year nominees include Foo Fighters' "Wasting Light" and Rihanna's "Loud."
Other artists with impressive collections of nominations include Lil Wayne and Skrillex with five each.
Indie favorites Bon Iver is up for four Grammys, including best new artist, best song and best record.
Album Of The Year:
21— Adele
Wasting Light— Foo Fighters
Born This Way— Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans — Bruno Mars
Loud — Rihanna
Record Of The Year:
"Rolling In The Deep" — Adele
"Holocene" — Bon Iver
"Grenade" — Bruno Mars
"The Cave" — Mumford & Sons
"Firework" — Katy Perry
Best New Artist:
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
Song Of The Year:
"All Of The Lights" — Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters
(Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
"The Cave" — Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
"Grenade" — Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt,
songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Holocene" — Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
"Rolling In The Deep" — Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
POP FIELD
Best Pop Solo Performance
"Someone Like You" — Adele
"Yoü And I" — Lady Gaga
"Grenade" — Bruno Mars
"Firework" — Katy Perry
"F***in' Perfect" — Pink
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Body And Soul" — Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
"Dearest" — The Black Keys
"Paradise" — Coldplay
"Pumped Up Kicks" — Foster The People
"Moves Like Jagger" — Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
DANCE FIELD
Best Dance Recording:
"Raise Your Weapon" — Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
"Barbra Streisand" — Duck Sauce
"Sunshine" — David Guetta & Avicii
"Call Your Girlfriend" — Robyn
"Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites" — Skrillex
"Save The World" — Swedish House Mafia
ROCK FIELD
Best Rock Performance:
"Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" — Coldplay
"Down By The Water" — The Decemberists
"Walk" — Foo Fighters
"The Cave" — Mumford & Sons
"Lotus Flower" — Radiohead
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance:
"On The Backs Of Angels" — Dream Theater
"White Limo" — Foo Fighters
"Curl Of The Burl"— Mastodon
"Public Enemy No. 1" — Megadeth
"Blood In My Eyes"— Sum 41
Best Rock Album:
Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul— Jeff Beck
Wasting Light— Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown— Kings Of Leon
I'm With You— Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Whole Love— Wilco
ALTERNATIVE FIELD
Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver— Bon Iver
Codes And Keys— Death Cab For Cutie
Torches— Foster The People
Circuital — My Morning Jacket
The King Of Limbs— Radiohead
R&B FIELD
Best Traditional R&B Performance:
"Sometimes I Cry" — Eric Benét
"Fool For You" — Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
"Radio Message" — R. Kelly
"Good Man" — Raphael Saadiq
"Surrender" — Betty Wright & The Roots
Best R&B Album:
F.A.M.E.— Chris Brown
Second Chance — El DeBarge
Love Letter — R. Kelly
Pieces Of Me— Ledisi
Kelly— Kelly Price
RAP FIELD
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
"Party" — Beyoncé & André 3000
"I'm On One" — DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
"I Need A Doctor" — Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
"What's My Name?" — Rihanna & Drake
"Motivation" — Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
"All Of The Lights" — Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Best Rap Performance:
"Look At Me Now" — Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
"Otis" — Jay-Z & Kanye West
"The Show Goes On" — Lupe Fiasco
"Moment 4 Life" — Nicki Minaj & Drake
"Black And Yellow" — Wiz Khalifa
COUNTRY FIELD
Best Country Solo Performance:
"Dirt Road Anthem" — Jason Aldean
"I'm Gonna Love You Through It" — Martina McBride
"Honey Bee" — Blake Shelton
"Mean" — Taylor Swift
"Mama's Song" — Carrie Underwood
Best Country Song:
"Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" — Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy, songwriters (Thompson Square)
"God Gave Me You" — Dave Barnes, songwriter (Blake Shelton)
"Just Fishin'" — Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
"Mean" — Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
"Threaten Me With Heaven" — Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O'Brian, songwriters (Vince Gill)
"You And Tequila" — Matraca Berg & Deana Carter, songwriters (Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter)
AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD
Best Americana Album:
Emotional Jukebox— Linda Chorney
Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down— Ry Cooder
Hard Bargain— Emmylou Harris
Ramble At The Ryman— Levon Helm
Blessed— Lucinda Williams
Best Blues Album:
Low Country Blues — Gregg Allman
Roadside Attractions— Marcia Ball
Man In Motion— Warren Haynes
The Reflection — Keb'Mo'
Revelator— Tedeschi Trucks Band
Best Folk Album:
Barton Hollow— The Civil Wars
I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive— Steve Earle
Helplessness Blues— Fleet Foxes
Ukulele Songs— Eddie Vedder
The Harrow & The Harvest— Gillian Welch
Reggae
Summer In Kingston-Shaggy
Wild And Free- Ziggy Marley
Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life- Stephen Marley
Reggae Knights-Israel Vibration
Harlem-Kingston Express Live!-Monty Alexander
Madonna settles noisy neighbour dispute
Singer Madonna has settled a dispute with her neighbour, who took legal action against the star over the noise she made in her New York apartment.
In 2009 Karen George filed legal papers complaining that Madonna was repeatedly using the flat as a rehearsal space.
Ms George said she was driven from her apartment at times by the "unbearable" noise and vibrations".
Madonna's lawyers said the matter had been resolved, but no further detail has been released.
In 2009 Ms George said dance routines subjected her to "blaring music, stomping and shaking walls" for up to three hours a day.
She also launched legal action against the management company of the Manhattan building, saying it had failed to act on her complaints.
Madonna did attempt to subdue the noise, but Ms George said it did not work, according to an August court ruling that turned down the singer's effort to dismiss the legal action.
The singer had always maintained that the noise levels never breached legal limits.
However, she claims she has since built a studio elsewhere and no longer uses the apartment for rehearsals.
Madonna moved into the seventh-floor apartment in the building, which overlooks Central Park, following her divorce from film director Guy Ritchie.
Lenny Kravitz accepts French honour
Rock star Lenny Kravitz has been presented with one France's highest cultural awards.
Culture minister Frederic Mitterrand made the musician an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters at a ceremony in Paris.
He told Kravitz, whose hits include Let Love Rule and Are You Gonna Go My Way, "you freed yourself of the barriers between black and white sound".
The star said he got his first break at a French music festival in 1989.
The Trans Musicales festival in Rennes transformed his career "overnight", he told the Associated Press news agency.
"I know it sounds like a fairy tale but it's true," he said.
He added that he was "particularly touched" to be decorated in France, a country that believed in him when he was misunderstood at home.
"In my early days, it didn't work at all in the United States but that night triggered everything, as if all the good energy was concentrated here."
Inter-racial issues
The star has a long association with France, living in the country several months of the year and recording tracks at the Chateau des Condes, a castle located abut 100km from Paris.
He also wrote and produced French star Vanessa Paradis' self-titled 1992 album, which spawned the international hit single Be My Baby.
Kravitz's albums regularly chart in upper reaches of the country's top 100, his latest album peaking at number seven - much higher than it managed in either the US or UK.
Called Black and White America, the record tackles inter-racial issues - in particular those faced by his black father and white mother in 1960s New York.
Other people to be inducted into l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres include Paradis, Martin Scorsese, Bob Dylan, George Clooney and Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.
Bob Marley's granddaughter charged for ganja
A case involving the granddaughter of reggae legend Bob Marley was brought before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.
She is 26-year-old Donisha Prendergast who has been charged with possession of ganja.
On the day, Prendergast did not appear but her lawyer asked that a warrant be issued and execution stayed until December 13, as Prendergast is currently overseas.
The crown is alleging that on Monday November 21, about 3:17 p.m., officers were conducting search duties along Water Lane in downtown Kingston when a red BMW X5 being driven by the accused was signalled to stop.
It is alleged that when the vehicle was searched, three clear plastic bags containing vegetable matter resembling ganja was found.
Further allegations are that a white cigar item resembling a ganja spliff burnt at one end was also found.
High drama among Kartel’s fans
CHANTS of ‘World Boss’ permeated the air outside the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court in Half-Way-Tree yesterday, in anticipation of dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is facing two murder charges, conspiracy to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of ganja charges.
From early morning a small gathering of mostly women held vigil at the back gates of the court to catch even a glimpse of the deejay.
While the matter was before the court the gathering, which grew to at least 20 persons, found ways to amuse themselves as well as curious onlookers.
Minutes after 11:00 am, word filtered that the matter was rescheduled for February 23. The group surged forward as it was understood that Kartel was in the prisoners’ holding area. And, this sent a wave of excitement through the group.
The women began dancing and singing lines from Kartel’s Jail for Me.
“Babylon say jail for me, then the judge set bail for me. Smaddy tell the jury, Jah control mi destiny,” they sang in unison.
An onlooker, with a tattoo across her lower back reading ‘Shawdy’ (no relation to the artiste), boldly declared: “Mi nah move till me see Kartel, the real World Boss!”
Another stated: Me have to see Kartel today. Mi waan see if him still brown.”
It would be another hour-and-a-half before they got a quick look at the deejay.
During this time, Kartel’s supporters entertained themselves — there were headstands and handstands.
And, as the midday sun grew hotter so too was the comedy. One member of the group opened her umbrella to shield herself from the direct sunlight. She was soon joined by another. This did not go down well with the owner of the umbrella who promptly shifted and stated: “Since you a bleacher like me, you mus’ walk wid yuh own umbrella.” This sent pals of laughter through the crowd.
At 12:55 pm, Kartel’s partner — 'Shorty' — arrived with lunch for the incarcerated deejay. At this point, the women went quiet.
By 1:15 pm, excitement peaked as the prisoners being returned to the Horizon Remand Centre began boarding the police vehicle. The crowd rushed the gates to catch a glimpse of Kartel. 'Shorty' stood anxiously in front, fidgeting with her car keys.
At 1:22 pm, their moment arrived. Greeted with deafening screams, Vybz Kartel emerged from the ‘bull pen’. He grinned widely and their cheers went up, then in a second he was out of sight in the heavily tinted vehicle.
The women waved, running behind the speeding vehicle, as their ‘world boss’ was whisked away.
JA.OBSERVER
HIV infections rate fall by 20 percent – Ban Ki-Moon
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, in his message for World AIDS Day, which is celebrated the world over today, said that the number of new HIV infections has fallen by more than 20 per cent since 1997.
He is also urging all concerned to act on the investment framework put forward by UNAIDS and to fully fund the global investment target of up to $24 billion, annually.
“Heading into the fourth decade of AIDS, we are finally in a position to end the epidemic,” Ban said in his message.
He added that the progress indicates that the vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths could be realized.
“The number of new HIV infections has fallen by more than 20 per cent since 1997. New infections are continuing to decline in most parts of the world.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the region most affected by the AIDS epidemic, HIV incidence has decreased in 22 countries,” the UN secretary general mentioned.
According to him, treatment has averted 2.5 million AIDS-related deaths since 1985.
“Last year alone, 700,000 lives were saved. Some 6.6 million people, nearly half those who need treatment in low and middle income countries, are now receiving it.”
Nevertheless, Ban stressed that to end AIDS, greater results are needed to be delivered.
“This year in June, the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on AIDS adopted bold targets for 2015: reduce the sexual transmission of HIV by half, eliminate new infections in children, provide treatment for 15 million people living with HIV, end stigma and discrimination, and close the AIDS funding gap”, he said in his message.
“With strong political will, reasonable financial resources and a firm human rights-based approach, we can achieve all of these targets.”
Ban urged all concerned to act on the investment framework put forward by UNAIDS and to fully fund the global investment target of up to $24 billion annually.
“The results would offset the upfront costs in less than one generation,” he said.
“We must build on the political commitments, investments, energy, activism and determination that have brought us to this turning point. “Momentum is on our side. Let us use it to end AIDS – once and for all,” Ban concluded.
KNEWS
Ruling party leading in Guyana vote count
The ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has taken the lead for control of the 65 member National Assembly after more than 35 per cent of the ballots cast in Monday's regional and general elections had been counted.
Preliminary figures released by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to date show that the PPP/C, which has ruled Guyana for the past 19 years, has obtained 77,998 votes as compared to 70,833 for the main challenger, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
The GECOM said that of the 166 304 valid votes counted to date, the Alliance for Change (AFC) had received 17, 470, while the United front (TUF) had accumulated a mere 503 votes.
A total of 475,496 voters were eligible to cast ballots to elect members to the National Assembly and so far 35.08 per cent of the votes cast had been counted.
The APNU, which includes the main opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) has complained of voter irregularities and the intimidatory presence of a number of PPPC candidates at a number of polling stations.
The grouping has requests calls by the PPPC for ballots cast at several polling places to be recounted. Both APNU and AFC have said that they would not participate in the recount
CMC
Jamaica PM: I will not cover up corruption
PRIME Minister Andrew Holness said he will not seek to cover up any form of corruption in his Government, but will instead take firm and decisive action.
Holness, who was addressing supporters in Alligator Pond yesterday during the party’s Manchester road tour, said as a leader he is never afraid to make firm decisions.
“If there are things wrong in our Government, we are not hiding it because we don’t stand for corruption,” Holness said. You have a leader who takes firm decisions when it comes to that, and that is what the Jamaican people want; it means as your leader, that is what you will get, strong and decisive leadership,” he added.
The prime minister’s pronouncement comes a day after his transport and works minister Mike Henry stepped aside following the damning auditor general’s report into the controversial US$400-million Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme.
Following the report, the prime minister relieved Henry of the responsibility of the Chinese-funded JDIP and transferred it to the Office of the Prime Minister. Also, head of the National Work Agency Patrick Wong was sacked from his job, and today the permanent secretary, Dr Alwin Hales will be going on vacation leave.
Yesterday, Holness made it clear that the party which he leads would not be covering up the issues. “So when they ask me who is responsible, I don’t tell them to go ask the PNP (People’s National Party), I say I am responsible; I take responsibility. I deal with the matters,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister, who declared the JLP as a party of truth and transparency, said there has been a lot of talking going on. “One man, as him hear a little rumour, him run and make a big thing [of it], then it is proved there is nothing in it at all. You call those people mischief makers and rumour mongerers,” he said.
In what was a definite shot at the Opposition People’s National Party, Holness said his party does not seek to hide information from the public. “We don’t go to court and beg the court not to put our business in public. When they have Trafigura, they go and plead and beg the court not to put their business in public,” he said.
Meanwhile, Holness told the jubilant supporters that a big event [general election] is coming up and a number of people are nervous and anxious because they know “when the day comes, them going to lose them shirt”.
Said the prime minister: “Of all the people who have already made up their minds that the Labour Party has done well despite all the problems and challenges, when you take stock and count up what the PNP has done and what the Labour Party has done, the answer is clear, there is only one way and that is the Labour Party way. I know when the time is set, whichever day it is, you all will be ready to put the argument to rest,” Holness said.
Deputy JLP leader Desmond McKenzie urged the labourites to turn out for a mass meeting in Mandeville this Sunday, when the election date is likely to be announced.
The JLP held the road tour in the parish in a bid to shore up support for newcomers Danville Walker, Colin Virgo and Timothy Scarlett who are hoping to wrestle the seats in traditional PNP strongholds.
Source: jamaicaobserver