UN Climate Conference Opens in South Africa
Representatives from nearly 200 countries have gathered in Durban, South Africa for a U.N. conference on climate change.
The 12-day meeting began Monday and will focus on efforts to extend the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire next year.
The Kyoto pact committed industrialized nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a set amount by 2012, but efforts to negotiate its successor have been on hold since the failure of the climate conference in Copenhagen two years ago. Few believe this conference will result in a new agreement, but delegates said Monday they are hopeful.
Tanzania's Richard Muyungi said he thinks the countries can overcome the challenges of the debate.
Meanwhile, Bolivia's Diego Balanza said delegates have to move past the previous climate conference failures.
He said delegates must push to secure large commitments, which were not achieved by prior talks.
Previous efforts have focused on how to balance the responsibilities of developed nations with those of emerging and still-developing countries.
The conference will also consider ways to raise $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund, which aims to help countries cope with global warming.
The world's two biggest polluters, the United States and China, will likely be a focus of the talks.
Earlier this month, U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States will use the meeting to urge emerging economies to do more to address global warming. Mr. Obama warned that “advanced economies can't do this alone.”
But last week, China called on developed nations to shoulder the responsibility of substantially reducing carbon emissions, saying they should be accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions during the past 200 years, and that developing nations lack the resources to take the same steps.
The U.S. never ratified the Kyoto pact, and has insisted any legally-binding agreement must also include developing nations.
Martin Stanley sends letter to Government Staff regarding Strike Action
RTC News has received a letter from the office of Martin Stanley in relations to a strike scheduled for Monday November 28th,2011.
The letter from Mr.Stanley reads:
We are aware that a strike has been called for Monday and Tuesday, 28 and 29 November.We hope that many staff will ignore the call to strike, not least because public servants provide vital services to the public, so that the victims of the strike will not be ‘government’ or ‘management’ but will rather be your fellow citizens. It is particularly important that we do not deprive them of essential services such as medical, ambulance, police, fire and social services. It is also important that we do not disrupt the tourist industry which contributes so massively to our economy, and whose taxes pay for a very large part of our wages.
Nevertheless, we do respect the right of non-essential staff to strike, subject to loss of pay for the period whilst not at work (see General Orders 3.3.28). Please also be aware that:
- · Absence from work on the day(s) when strike action has been announced will be treated as if you are striking unless you have a legitimate reason for absence. For example:
o You will be granted sick leave where the sickness has been certificated prior to the strike. In cases where sickness begins on the day of the strike, you should obtain a certificate from a medical practitioner (GO. 8.2.2). (The concession which permit’s one day’s sick leave to be taken without obtaining a certificate is suspended.) o Other reasons for absence will only be accepted if annual leave has been granted (and recorded in writing) in advance, or if there is clear evidence of the need to be absent other than for strike purposes e.g. caring for a member of the family where there are no alternatives . Discuss such cases with your manager who will advise you on obtaining appropriate evidence.
- · If you do not intend to strike, you should make every attempt to attend your normal place of work. If for any reason the office is closed or access is difficult (threatening picket lines for example) you should report to the nearest alternative government department and report to a supervisor or a senior officer so that your attendance can be recorded. Otherwise you may be treated as striking. If it is absolutely impossible for you to report to any government premises, you should telephone a senior manager or OPSM and explain your circumstances.
- · Permanent Secretaries have been asked to ascertain, as best they can, whether staff who strike on 28/29 November were also on strike on 22 November and report accordingly to OPSM. Such staff will lose pay for 22, 28 and 29 November. Permanent Secretaries will however assume that those who work on 28/29 November also worked, or tried to work on the 22nd.
- · s.27 of the Trade Union Ordinance makes it a criminal offence to attend at premises in such numbers or in such manner as to intimidate and it makes it an offence for even one person to attend at another's home to intimidate. The offence is punishable with a fine of up to $800 and/or 3 months gaol.
Martin Stanley
Chief ExecutiveTurks and Caicos Islands Government
Statement by Chief Executive re Strike & Rumours
Issued on behalf of Martin Stanley, Chief Executive, TCI Government:
“I have confirmed in writing to the CSA today (Sunday, 27 November) that we would like to meet them as soon as possible to work to avert any further strike action.
“However, it is not appropriate to meet when CSA members are on strike. Should the strike unfortunately continue through to Tuesday evening, the earliest that this meeting can take place is Wednesday, 30 November.
“The meeting will discuss the terms and conditions of employment of TCI Government employees. It is not appropriate for the CSA to link their ‘national issues’ to strike action by public servants. We will remind the CSA of the concessions and improvements that we made both last Spring and in my letter to Dr Ewing last Friday.
“While the current administration will continue to discuss national issues with key stakeholder groups, including the hoteliers, tourism and financial sectors as well as the CSA, we must bear in mind that decisions on many of those issues will more properly fall to be decided by any new incoming administration following elections.
“Finally, I would like to correct rumours that have been circulating about the strike:
1. “It is not true that we are planning further cuts to Civil Service pay – we appreciate the sacrifices already made by our colleagues and believe that we can make the saving and rebalance the civil service without further cuts.
2. “It is also not true that there are any plans to cut Kindergarten classes – indeed we are considering ways in which these vital early years of education can be further improved in conjunction with UNICEF.
3. “Nor is it true that a Royal Navy vessel is ‘lurking’ off the coast of TCI – this is ridiculous scaremongering.”
CSA Email to Public Servants
Dear Public Servants,
After meeting with the Interim Administration on Wednesday November 23, and with civil servants yesterday, there was a general agreement that the Administration failed to adequately address our concerns which led to a unanimous vote among those present at the meetings yesterday, to continue industrial action.
The CSA Management Council invited the Administration to engage in a meeting today, Saturday, November 26, to further discuss the outstanding issues with a view to resolving them and to avoid a strike, however, our requests have not been acknowledged.
Therefore the CSA Management Council with your majority support will be taking industrial action in the form of a strike against the Interim Administration for the reasons outllined below. The strike would take place November 28 and 29, 2011.
All Public Servants on Providenciales will gather at the parking lot of the Department of Immigration and Labour at 7:30 am where demonstrations will take place until 5pm.
All Public Servants on Grand Turk will gather at Emancipation square at 7:30 am. A motorcade will start from Emancipation Square and will end at the NJS Francis Building where demonstrations will continue until 5pm.
All Public Servants are asked to wear RED!
ISSUES
Failure to reduced the period of ban from the civil service from 4 years to 2 years
Failure to consider staff redeployment before voluntary or compulsory redundancy
Failure to complete a proper public sector reform assessment before redundancy
Unauthorized 10% salary deduction
Reduction of the period for housing allowance from 5 years to 3 years
Failure to provide gratuity for persons employed locally after April 5, 1992
Unfair pension policies
Unfair right sizing practices
Unfair salary deductions and regrading
Other National Issues
Increased taxation
Significantly reduced scholarship opportunities
Reduced social services support
Increasing unemployment
Reduced support for Youth programmes
Unfair Laws
Yet more arrests in Turks and Caicos Islands
The special investigation and prosecution team (SIPT) in the Turks and Caicos Islands has confirmed the arrest of two more individuals in connection with the ongoing investigations into allegations of widespread government corruption.
According to the first statement on Friday by the SIPT, a 43-year-old man had been arrested and bailed on Thursday.
Another statement later in the day said, “A 48-year-old-man was interviewed by the SIPT and has been charged today with conspiring to defraud the [Turks and Caicos Islands government]. He has been bailed to appear at Providenciales Magistrates’ Court on 6th December.”
Although the individuals arrested were, once again, not named by the SIPT, according to media reports the 43-year-old man referred to is a former minister of natural resources.
If so, the only person fitting that description about whom the 2008-9 Commission of Inquiry had much to say is McAllister ‘Piper’ Hanchell.
The possible allegations against Hanchell were spelled out in detail in the Commission’s 265-page final report of possible corruption, or other serious dishonesty in relation to past and present elected members of the legislature.
In relation to Hanchell, the Commission recommended criminal investigation by police or others in relation to him of possible corruption and/or other serious dishonesty including misfeasance in public office in relation to the following and other similar matters in recent years:
– Hanchell, in accepting from Arlington Musgrove payments totalling over $300,000 into the PNP South Caicos account purportedly as campaign funding for the February 2007 election, possibly entered into a corrupt transaction;
– Hanchell, in his office of minister for natural resources, entered into possibly corrupt and/or otherwise seriously dishonest transactions by offering on behalf of the government grants of Crown Land to himself and/or to companies that he substantially owned or controlled;
– Hanchell potentially abused his ministerial position by instructing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Natural Resources to allocate Crown Land to individuals of his choice, or to allocate, or instruct the Permanent Secretary or other of his departmental officers to allocate Crown Land to individuals identified and notified to him by fellow Ministers, in all or most cases without proper regard to the Crown Land Policy;
– Hanchell may have participated in possibly corruption arrangements in which offers of Crown Land were made to individuals, who had not applied for the land, with a view to the recipients of the offers selling the land on quickly to developers at a substantial profit for all the parties involved;
– A possibility of corruption and/or other serious dishonesty, including misfeasance in public office, in relation to Hanchell in the chain of events leading to secret payment by Dr Cem Kinay of $500,000 to Misick in January 2007;
– Hanchell possibly abused his ministerial position and/or acted corruptly or otherwise seriously dishonestly and/or in misfeasance of his public office, by deliberately undermining the authority of the Chief Valuation Officer, in relation to the valuation of land at Joe Grant Cay, by rejecting the valuations undertaken by him, with a view, possibly, to ensuring a swift completion of sale of the land to the consortium led by Dr Kinay at a very large undervaluation.
Caribbean News Now
Jimmy Cliff New Album “Sacred Fire” Drop November 29
Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff returns to music spotlight with a new album titled Sacred Fire, due in store November 29.
Sacred Fire was produced by by Tim Armstrong, guitarist with ska/punk band Rancid and will be released by Collective Sounds.
Prior to the digital release of Sacred Fire, fans will be able to purchase a limited edition, colour-vinyl version of the album. That collection will be available on Friday and features the bonus track, World Upside Down.
In a recent interview, Cliff said working with Armstrong was a fulfilling experience.
“Tim has such a great foothold in the tradition,” Cliff told The Examiner newspaper of San Francisco. “He woke me up to a lot of the things I had forgotten. I enjoy the creative spontaneity of collaborating with other people — I always want to try new things.”
Armstrong said he equally respectful the reggae icon.
“This is Jimmy’s record. I’m honoured to be a part of it,” Armstrong said.
Though his tours still draw large crowds, Cliff has not had a hit album since the Grammy Award-winning Cliff Hanger of 1985. That album sold over 500,000 units and earned gold status.
Jimmy Cliff was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year
-UrbanIslands
Loon Arrested In Brussels, Belgium Over U.S. Heroin Case
Former Bad Boy Records rap star Loon was arrested in Brussels, Belgium, after he was allegedly indicted for heroin trafficking charges in the United States.
Sources stated the rapper was arrested on November 22 at the Brussels Airport.
According to local paper Parlamento, Belgium officials invoked the Patriot Act to arrest the rapper, whose real name is Chauncey Hawkins.
Loon, who now goes by Amir Junaid Muhadith, was heading to Brussels for a lecture at the Islamic and Cultural Centre of Belgium when he was apprehended.
The rapper, who hit big with singles like “I Need A Girl Pt. 1″ and “Down For Me,” gave up rap in 2008 and converted to Islam.
Loon is currently being held at a prison in Vorst.
Lil Wayne Cancels Shows In Australia; Adds Dates In Africa
Rapper Lil Wayne has canceled a series of highly anticipated performances in Australia.
A date in Perth slated for tonight (November 25) was scrapped, as was a performance in Adelaide on Sunday (November 27).
Lil Wayne’s representatives said that scheduling conflicts will also prevent him from performing on Tuesday (November 29) in Melbourne.
According to reports, Lil Wayne will still perform with Eminem at Etihad Stadium on December 1.
Later in the month, Lil Wayne will head to Africa for a series of dates, for his first tour of the Motherland.
On December 7, Lil Wayne will head to Cape Town, South Africa, for a performance at the Bellville Velodrome.
His next stop will be in Johannesburg on Friday December 9 at the Coca-Cola Dome, followed by a newly added date in Durban on December 11 at Wavehouse.
All shows in Africa will feature Young Money acts Mack Maine, Gudda Gudda, Corey Gunz, Shanelle, Jae Millz and T-Streets.
Singer George Michael recovering
The 48-year-old singer - who was hospitalised on Monday, November 21, in Vienna, Austria - is being treated by medics in a private house in the Austrian capital city and is so far making good progress.
A friend of the singer explained: "He got ill. It's very cold in that part of Europe, and then he got pneumonia. He's responding well to treatment, very good. But he has to rest. He's got to let this illness run its course."
As a result of his illness, George was forced to cancel a number of gigs on his current 'Symphonica Tour', including one in Strasbourg, France, and two planned concerts in Cardiff, Wales, on November 26 and 27.
A statement on his website read: "With great regret, George Michael has been forced to postpone his November 26 and 27 shows in Cardiff, Wales, due to his ongoing illness. George was recently forced to postpone tour dates in Vienna and Strasbourg under doctor's orders after being diagnosed with pneumonia. He is currently receiving treatment."
His representative added: "Plans to reschedule these postponed tour dates will be provided when available."
George is set to remain in Vienna until he has fully recovered from pneumonia.
Last month, the Careless Whisper singer apologised to fans after he pulled out of a 'Symphonica' show at London's Royal Albert Hall due to back problems, a viral infection, and a high temperature. The concert has now been rescheduled for May 2012.
Mavado case put off until next year
The assault trial for dancehall deejay David 'Mavado' Brooks was delayed in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday until May 16.
The self-proclaimed 'Gully God' is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm emanating from an incident at a nightclub earlier in the year, which left a member of his entourage dead and a policeman injured.
Allegations are that on June 13 about 4 a.m. the complainant, who was a patron at the Quad nightclub in New Kingston, was involved in a tussle with the entertainer and members of his entourage, which ended with the member of the entourage being shot.
Further allegations are that the complainant was standing in the lobby of the nightclub when a group of about 20 men approached him and attempted to enter the building.
It was said that the men were behaving boisterously and pushing to get inside the club.
ATTACK CONTINUED
It is alleged that Brooks, who was part of the group of men, stepped on the complainant's foot while he was passing him.
It is further alleged that the complainant spoke to Brooks about what happened, but Brooks allegedly used his right hand and hit him on the left side of his face saying," ... a who you a deal wid?"
The complainant reportedly attempted to defend himself, but was pounced upon by about 20 men from the entourage who all hit him all over his body. It was revealed that the complainant identified himself as a policeman, but the attack continued nonetheless.
It is further reported that the complainant who was armed with his service firearm in his waistband, had to prevent a member of the entourage from disarming him, as the man reached towards his waist in an attempt to take the weapon.
In the process, a loud explosion was heard and a member of the entourage then pulled away Brooks from the complainant.
It was later revealed that one of the men from the group who had aided in the alleged attack on the complainant was shot.
The injured man died days later in hospital.