NATIONAL MUSEUM OF TCI REVEALS EXPANSION PLANS ON 20th ANNIVERSARY
The Grand Turk based National Museum of the Turks and Caicos will reveal ambitious $3m expansion plans on its 20th anniversary on Wednesday, 23 November 2011.
A second museum site at The Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales is currently under development and a visitor center at the building site will be finished early in 2012
The Museum’s mandate is to collect and preserve the cultural and natural history of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
It tells the story of the Islands from their formation millions of years ago through the arrival of the Native Americans, the Spanish and French explorers, the Loyalist Planters, and shipwrecked slaves from Africa. Its story is illustrated with artefacts are already in the Museum’s collections.
The new site is designed to make it easier for the Museum to reach out to the larger population of TCI residents and visitors on Providenciales, where it is intended that it can become a key education resource for school students too.
In time the two sites will also present the history of the TCI but also reflect the differences between the Caicos and the Turks islands.
The Molasses Reef Wreck has been the main exhibit on Grand Turk for almost 20 years. Moving it to the Museum at Grace Bay will place it closer to its original location and give an opportunity to upgrade it to modern standards.
The space it occupied in the Grand Turk location can then be filled with artefacts telling the story of HMS Endymion, a 44-gun British warship that went down in 1790 at the southern end of the Turks Islands Bank.
Other planned new exhibits appropriate to Grand Turk include the history of diving in the TCI, starting with the early helmet diving pioneer Jeremiah D. Murphy in the 1850’s and including free-divers Jacques Mayol and Tanya Streeter.
Established in 1991 in the Guinep House, Cockburn Town, the National Museum is located in one of the oldest buildings on Grand Turk. However, given its age and position on the Atlantic coast, a second site is also essential to preserving the Museum’s work.
UK GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS NEW STRATEGY WITH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES LEADERS
The UK Government’s new strategy for its Overseas Territories will be at the heart of discussions at the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) on 23-24 November.
Hosted by Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham MP, the meeting will bring together Premiers, Chief Ministers and elected representatives from across Britain's Overseas Territories. Discussions will focus on the UK Government’s strategy and look forward to the proposed 2012 White Paper on the Overseas Territories. There will be sessions on a wide range of subjects including: aviation safety, good governance, criminal justice, economic development, and environment and climate change.
The Council will be attended by Ministers from the Departments for International Development; Transport; Environment; Energy and Climate Change; the Treasury; Home Office; Ministry of Defence; Culture, Media and Sport; and Business, Innovation and Skills.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Henry Bellingham MP said:
“I am delighted to welcome elected leaders from the Overseas Territories to this year’s meeting in London. Much has happened since Territory leaders gathered here 12 months ago and I am delighted that the UK Government has developed and agreed a clear strategy towards the Territories focused on increasing our engagement with them; working together to strengthen good governance arrangements, public financial management and economic planning, where necessary; and developing external support for the Territories.
A strong demonstration of our increased support for the Territories was provided by this Government’s decision to build a new airport on St Helena. I will be joined at the meeting this year by several colleagues from across the Government. This is a sign of the strengthening engagement of the whole of the UK government with the Overseas Territories.
I look forward to discussing with Territory leaders their ideas for the development of our partnership which will help us develop our thinking for the White Paper on the Overseas Territories that we intend to publish next year.”
The United Kingdom’s 14 Overseas Territories, spread across the globe, are diverse communities. They range from the island of Pitcairn with its 47 inhabitants, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, to Bermuda, which has a population of over 62,000 and is one of the world's major financial centres. The total population of the territories is around 239,000.
The Consultative Council, held annually since 1999, is a forum for discussion of key policy issues between British Ministers and Heads of Overseas Territories' Governments. The Council meets once a year in London. The Territory leaders attending this year's OTCC are:
Hon Hubert Hughes, Chief Minister, Anguilla; Kitty George, Councillor, Ascension Island; Hon Paula Cox JP MP, Premier, Bermuda; Hon Dr Orlando Smith, Premier, the British Virgin Islands; Hon McKeeva Bush, Premier, the Cayman Islands; Dick Sawle and Jan Cheek, Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Falkland Islands; Hon Reuben Meade, Premier, Montserrat; Rodney Buckley, Councillor, St Helena; Ian Lavarello, Chief Islander, Tristan da Cunha.
The Foreign Secretary announced in September the main principles of the Government’s new strategy towards the Overseas Territories. This included cross-Government agreement, endorsed by the Prime Minister, that each Department should recognise its responsibility to engage with the
In addition to the Council meeting, leaders and elected representatives will attend a reception hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association as well as having bilateral meetings with Mr Bellingham.
Developing a New Pathway to TCI Status
A Public consultation on a fair and transparent process for acquisition of Turks and Caicos Islander status was launched by the TCI Government today, Thursday, 17 November 2011.
The establishment of a clear pathway to TCI status is one of the eight milestones to be met before new elections are held next year.
The consultation document identifies key considerations and presents a series of questions which it is inviting submissions. The questionnaire can be downloaded from the government website www.gov.tc. The public consultation runs until 17th February 2012.The completed questionnaires should be returned to citizenship@gov.tci.
Questions include whether or not a points system should be used to determine Turks and Caicos Islander status and to award Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs).
This approach had been recommended by a 2004 Immigration Review Commission which attached points to such attributes as age, type of occupation, level of skills, level of income, country of origin, ethnicity and ability to speak and write English.
Another key consideration is the pathway to PRC and the public can have a say on what should be the qualifying time for a person who qualifies by working; and whether qualification by working should be limited to only certain categories of workers, for example.
Public comment is also invited as to whether or not to maintain the three current classes of PRCs or merge them into a single category without limitation or restrictions. The three classes are i) those carrying wholly unrestricted rights to work; ii) those carrying the right to work for any employer and in any occupations with specific exceptions; and iii) those carrying no right to work.
People can also express a view on using the migration and citizenship system to attract potential investors in property and business enterprises. They can say what they consider the right level of investment and if the PRC should be issued in advance of making an investment.
TCI TO HOST GROUNDBREAKING INFECTION CONTROL CONFERENCE
TURKS and Caicos Islands is preparing to host its biggest ever medical conference.
Delegates from around the globe will flock to Provo later this year for Infection Control In Paradise.
The two-day event, orgainsed by InterHealth Canada (TCI), takes place on November 18 and 19 at Brayton Hall.
The conference is being sponsored by a host of organizations including Lime, Masters, American Hospital Supply, Steris and AESCULAP.
Infection control is one medicine’s current hot topics, especially in the Caribbean where diseases such as cholera and dengue fever are widespread.
Conference organisers have attracted some of the world’s leading authorities on the subject, including keynote speakers Professor John Oxford from the Royal London Hospital, and former Globel Health Leadership award winner, Dr Terese Maitland.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the TCI and it’s medical professionals”, explained InterHealth Canada medical device reprocessing manager, Susan Borden.
“Infection control is a huge topic right now and InterHealth Canada is very pleased and proud to be hosting such an important conference here in Provo.”
Anyone wishing to register or wanting more information should contact Susan Borden on 9412800 or 2469337. Alternatively you visit www.interhealthcanada.tc/index.html
Greek budget will 'cut deficit' by 2012
The new Greek government has submitted its plans for next year's budget, promising to almost halve the deficit.
Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos predicted the deficit would fall from 9% of GDP this year to 5.4% in 2012 due to a write-off of debt held by banks.
The cut, of up to 50% of Greece's debt held by commercial banks, is part of the eurozone's latest bailout deal.
Mr Venizelos said banks would be given different options over how to take part in the debt deal.
Coalition government
"There won't be one model for Greek banks and foreign banks (alike), but there will be two or three variations and anybody can pick the one that suits them," he said.
The budget is being proposed by the new coalition government headed up by the former head of Greece's central bank Lucas Papademos.
Passing it is required in order to keep receiving EU bailout funds under an agreement reached in October. Greece has been relying on international bailout funds since 2010.
Mr Papademos said the EU deal made Greece's national debt "totally sustainable".
The budget predicts that, excluding interest payments, Greece would post a primary surplus in 2012 of 1.1%.
However, austerity measures in Greece have had a severe impact on the economy. The economy is expected to shrink by a total of 5.5% this year and 2.8% next year.
If the economy performs worse than expected, as it did in 2011, there are concerns that Greece may again fail to cut its deficit significantly.
Source-BBC
Boeing sets record with $22 billion order
Emirates Airlines' position as the biggest all-time orderer of Boeing jets lasted all of four days.
Boeing announced Thursday that Indonesia's Lion Air has set a record with a nearly $22 billion order of jets. The U.S. company had previously counted the jets in its sales order, but didn't disclose the buyer until the announcement.
The deal -- which will be signed Friday at the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia, with President Obama in attendance -- includes orders for 29 737-900s and a whopping 201 of the new 737 MAXs, along with options for 150 additional future aircraft for Indonesia's largest carrier.
"With 230 airplanes at a list price of $21.7 billion, this deal when finalized will be the largest commercial airplane order ever in Boeing's history by both dollar volume and total number of airplanes," according to a statement from Boeing.
Boeing could not confirm that the new 737 MAXs will be built in the United States, where the 737s are made. "We're still evaluating our options right now," said Boeing spokesman Doug Adler. "We'll probably have better idea in 6 to 8 months."
News of the deal came just four days after Boeing announced an $18 billion order with Emirates for 777 jets.
Boeing also announced Thursday that it has committed to a $2.4 billion deal with Singapore Airlines, which has been listed as an unidentified customer since finalizing its order in August.
Shares of Boeing (BA, Fortune 500) eased 0.5% to $66 in midday trading.
Source-CNNMONEY
US reviving tariff on Caribbean travellers
CARIBBEAN, Canadian and Mexican travellers will now have to pay a US$5.50 tax if they enter the United States by air or sea.
A US-Colombia free trade deal, passed last month, includes a clause that removes an exemption from the tariff for travellers from the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.
Those countries had been exempt from the fee since 1997 under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but Canadian officials say American legislators, needing fresh cash for government coffers, have resurrected it.
Canada's International Trade Minister Ed Fast said the Canadian government is disappointed with the new measure.
"Raising taxes at the border just raises costs on consumers," he said in a statement.
He said Canadian officials have raised concerns about the removal of this exemption at the "highest level".
"We will continue to raise Canada's concerns with US lawmaker," Fast said.
US Ambassador David Jacobson told a business meeting in Ottawa that a "Buy American" clause wouldn't hurt Canadian business as much as continuing trouble in the US economy.
Jacobson said US President Barack Obama's failed attempt at a stimulus bill would have improved the US economy, "which is the best way to help the Canadian economy".
The return of the tariff comes as Canada and the US are supposed to be finalising the details of the Beyond Borders deal, which officials say will improve trade and security at the same time.
But Jacobson said whether America or Canada charges travel fees doesn't affect the relationship between the two countries.
"This fee is not in any way an action against Canada and will not have any effect on the progress of the ongoing discussions surrounding the 'Beyond the Border' initiative," he said.
"The elimination of the exemption was necessitated by the budget situation in my country. It is paid by American citizens and foreign nationals alike, just like Canadian citizens and non-Canadian citizens pay fees at Canadian airports," he added.
Bahamas sees 40 per cent hike in visitor arrivals from Latin America
THE Bahamas saw a 40 per cent hike in visitor arrivals from Latin America for June and July, with Copa Airlines' four-weekly flights behind 98 per cent of the increase, according to statistics out of its Ministry of Tourism.
Copa's Vice-President of marketing and communications, Marco Ocando, described the new route as a contender for the airline's most successful to date in a meeting with Bahamian media. Sitting in the boardroom of the airline's Panama head office, he said Copa has begun to look at the feasibility of graduating the new destination to daily service.
"We are very satisfied and happy with the performance of the route and we are making the studies necessary to try and work for daily frequency," Ocando said. "We're pushing for it, but the route is doing the job itself."
Ocando is predicting that at the pace the Nassau route is growing, it could set a new record at the airline for the shortest time to move to daily service. That could mean significant growth in stopover visitors from growing Latin American markets.
Still, Ocando was careful to caution against any premature expectations for daily or any expanded service, saying the company must feel an expansion would be sustainable over the long term.
"We are in the trial period -- we're having a honeymoon. But the important thing in marketing is the repurchase and the retrial ensuring that people have a great time and they themselves want to [return] and enjoy it more."
Overcoming language barriers would be a key to supporting service expansion, according to the Copa executive. The number of affluent people in Latin America able travel to The Bahamas may be strong and growing, but according to Ocando, those people "don't necessarily speak English".
Ocando's language concerns follow results from MoT exit-surveys of Copa passengers.
On the upside, over two-thirds of respondents - about 68 per cent - said they would "definitely" recommend the destination to friends and relatives, with an additional 10 per cent saying they would 'probably' recommend it.
Anyone looking to improve that number, however, would consider the 44 per cent of respondents who said better Spanish-speaking skills in The Bahamas would have improved their vacation experience.
Language problems were identified in 38 per cent of the respondents' comments. Experiencing Panama as a non-Spanish-speaking visitor brought home the reality of how incapacitated and helpless visitors could feel in a country where communication was predominated by a 'foreign' language. And that is with the advantage of having a tour guide to translate, a bilingual airline representative along, and speaking English - which many Panamanians in hotels, restaurants, retail stores and other tourist attractions spoke or were attempting to learn.
Ocando's advice to The Bahamas was to formulate a plan to narrow the language divide, and to commit to that plan. Copa itself faced and faces language issues, he said. To address the English/Spanish language gap some years ago, the company implemented a policy that required employees to have some level of proficiency in English, with additional training available for those who needed it once they were hired.
Many who hoped to be employed with the airline started to learn or hone their English skills as a result, he said.
Today, the company faces the Portuguese/Spanish/English communication gap as it grows its Brazilian business. It's taking a variety of measures to better service those travellers' communication needs including, for example, printing in-flight magazines in all three languages, or running special Portuguese editions. It's also analysing the feasibility of offering Portuguese language training to crew-members.
Language was likely to be a shared challenge with other Caribbean countries that may compete with The Bahamas for market share. For example, Copa plans to introduce service into Jamaica by the end of December, according to Ocando.
It currently has service into St Martin, which also is not a Spanish-speaking destination. He said he's curious to see which destination adapts best to the language challenge.
"The one that better adapts will ultimately win the question," he said.
Of the Copa travellers responding to the MoT survey, 42 per cent said stores closed too early, 24 per cent said that items were too expensive and 20 per cent disliked the limited variety of shops. Twelve per cent said they were bored or had nothing to do and another 10 per cent said that either sales people were pushy or people were unfriendly.
In addition to language challenges, it highlights that many other opportunities exist to improve the visitor experience. As those issues are addressed, the benefits would likely accrue to Anglophone visitors, too.
(Courtesy of The Nassau Guardian)
St Lucia, Royal Caribbean ink port deal
The St Lucia government Tuesday signed a multimillion-dollar agreement with the United States-based Royal Caribbean International to develop Port Castries into a cruise-ship destination in the southern Caribbean.
The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority chairman Isaac Anthony said that the US$25-million plan for Port Castries is part of a wider redevelopment project for the capital, Castries, to transform it into a modern and attractive city, which the government is beginning to roll out.
The project may span 10-15 years, Anthony said.
"To those behind the plan for Port Castries, the change is to be done in phases and would involve most of the Castries waterfront. The redevelopment of this prime piece of real estate will include a vendors' craft market, a waterfront pedestrian zone, a new ferry terminal complete with shops, restaurant and car park," said Anthony, who is also the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
He said the plan will be implemented in a manner that did not require any financial outlay by the government.
"I was encouraged by the IMF's (International Monetray Fund) recently concluded Article 1V consultation on St Lucia that it had endorsed the government's decision to pursue public-private partnership as a strategy for creating and promoting growth while keeping the national debt within manageable limits," Anthony said.
- CMC
Long Service Employees Recognised at FortisTCI’s Awards Ceremony
On Wednesday, November 09, 2011, FortisTCI honoured fifty-six of its employees with Long Service Awards at the Company’s Staff Appreciation and Recognition Dinner.
Human Resources Ms. Judy Missick, who gave the opening remarks at the event, reminded staff that their continued commitment to FortisTCI, and
the execution of their daily tasks, give form and shape to the vision and mission of the Company. Ms. Missick also reminded the employees that the
high level of service, which is extended to customers, is dependent to a great extent on the performance of each member of the team, whether
employed for one year or thirty years.
Employees serving five or more years with FortisTCI were honoured for reaching these milestones during the Ceremony, with Japhus Rigby receiving
a standing ovation for his 30 years with the Company. Representatives from the T&D department also made a heartfelt tribute to Juancita Ewing, who
has been with the Company for 28 years but is currently on sick leave.
Guest speaker Mr. Stanley Marshall, Fortis Inc’s President and CEO, expressed his gratitude stating, “We are here tonight to recognise outstanding achievements and years of dedication and commitment.
Fortis Inc made a promise to staff five years ago when we took over ownership of the Company. We promised to provide you with infrastructural developments,
which would enable you to carry out your daily tasks more effectively. We promised to provide you with the support needed to enhance your workforce,
thus creating a Company with human resources necessary to extend reliable and excellent service to all customers. We have employees here this
evening who have served for more than 25 years and that tells me they have faith in the Company and have claimed “ownership” of FortisTCI. I would
like tonight to therefore congratulate all staff members for demonstrating the same faith in the Company that we demonstrated five year ago.”
The evening’s proceedings also saw recipients of FortisTCI’s Customer Service Training programme, being presented with certificates from
facilitator Bridgette Thomas of BNC Consulting Group. Guests were also entertained by the sweet sounds of saxophonist Janardo Laporte and soloist
Nicole Cox and received a surprise guest appearance by the Company’s mascot Electro Gecko.