Decision to be made on Digicel-Claro merger
A final and joint decision is expected to be made within the next two weeks, regarding the Digicel-Claro merger in Jamaica.
The joint decision will be made among Spectrum Management Authority, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC).
Minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz, told the press at a Post Cabinet briefing today that the entities mentioned above are still discussing the matter.
“There have been a number of consultations with agencies of Government in the information and telecommunications department. It has also had the input of the Attorney General’s department.
“There have been a number of pieces of information that have been required from the persons who applied (Digicel and Claro), some we have gotten and some we are unable to get because they are unable to give it to us based on where their own discussions and negotiations are,” Minister Vaz explained.
Earlier today, Vaz said the Government was weeks away from making a decision on the proposed Digicel-Claro merger.
Vaz had disclosed, he should be able to announce a decision before the end of summer.
Digicel announced recently that it signed an agreement with América Móvil, Claro’s parent company, to obtain its Claro business in Jamaica. The deal will also see Digicel selling its business in El Salvador and Honduras to América Móvil.
Mr.Otuonye resigns from the Forum
H.E Gov of the TCI, Governor Gordon Wetherill today, sent RTC news a copy of the letter to Mr. Otunnye.
Letter states:
As I have announced in a separate statement, Eugene Otuonye QC, is stepping down from his position as Chair of the Public Service Commission upon his appointment as Director of the Integrity Commission. I am glad to announce that Mrs Cynthia Astwood has accepted my invitation to succeed him. I am sure that, with her considerable experience of management of the Public Service, she will prove an excellent and effective successor. Gordon Wetherell Governor
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank renews MOU in support of Caribbean Youth Business Programmes
Following on strong regional growth and success in the past three years, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank has renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Caribbean Association of Youth Business Programmes, providing financial support and mentorship for the roll-out of micro-enterprise assistance throughout the region.
Under the terms of the MOU signed recently at CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Headquarters at Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados, the Barbados Youth Business Trust will continue in its role as the lead Programme with responsibility for fund management, sharing best practices, driving the start-up of new programmes and assisting with brand quality.
Signing the MOU which runs for three years from 2011 to 2013 and which is worth
US $ 340 000 to the Caribbean Group of Youth Business Programmes, were Executive Chairman of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Mr. Michael Mansoor, and Chairman of the Barbados Youth Business Trust, Mr. David Clarke who signed on behalf of the Caribbean Association of Youth Business Programmes.
In his comments, Mr. Mansoor congratulated the BYBT for its role noting it was anticipated that the funding made available through the CIBC FirstCaribbean Comtrust Foundation would allow for increased development of micro-enterprises throughout the region.
“CIBC FirstCaribbean remains committed to providing support for this programme across the region both financially and through mentorship of these young entrepreneurs; and we look forward to deepening our relationship with BYBT and the other Trusts in the region as we work together to further develop this area of economic development that is so vital to our region’s success,” said Mr. Mansoor.
Expressing his sincere gratitude on behalf of the region’s young entrepreneurs, Mr. Clarke said significant gains had been made since the signing of the first MOU in 2008, for which much of the credit had to go to CIBC FirstCaribbean.
“When the first MOU was signed three years ago, the accredited Trusts in the Youth Business International network were Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, and Belize. Since signing the MOU we have been able to get the Dominica Trust accredited, the Jamaica Trust has just completed their accreditation exercise and it is expected that they will receive their accreditation very soon this year. So we have moved from having four accredited Trusts to six accredited Trusts. We had no Trusts in St. Vincent, St. Lucia or Antigua, but we now have pilot programmes running in those countries, and we hope that by end of this new MOU we have moved from six to ten accredited Trusts,” Mr. Clarke said.
Noting that BYBT, which was registered in 1994, and started operations two years later, was a founding member of Youth Business International, and the third country in the world to adopt that model, Mr. Clarke said BYBT with the support of CIBC FirstCaribbean was well placed to lead in the development of the Caribbean group of youth business trusts. He said they hoped to replicate the Barbados experience in the other territories.
“The Trust in Barbados has put around 500 young people in employment in the last 10 years, who would not have had that opportunity, because we are providing business mentoring support, and providing some finance to get them operational. So there are a lot of young people who are not eligible for the banking sector, and we help them from that stage. It’s a partnership where we help to make them more bankable so they can move on to the next phase of lending agencies.”
Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police
The Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police in Providenciales, have charged a male subject for the Aggravated Burglary and Rape in connection with a report made to the Police on 20th June 2011.
This incident involved an elderly female who was attacked in her own residence.
The accused is scheduled to appear in The Providenciales Magistrate’s Court #1 on Thursday, 14th July 2011 to answer to these charges.
Royal Turks & Caicos Police sets the record staright
With speculations mounting about corruption inside the force and theft of exhibits, the Royal Turks & Caicos Police Force seeks to set the record straight with following release sent to RTC News.
On 7 July, the RTCI Police reported the overnight burglary to one of their own police stations. On 30 May, the Commissioner of Police had ordered police personnel to relocate to 5 Cays and to Chalk Sound Police Stations pending new accommodations elsewhere. The Main Station had been condemned approximately 16 years ago and no complete renovations were planned. The Commissioner ordered all exhibits moved to the secure facilities at Chalk Sound. There was a question of where to relocate a very large freezer full of illegal lobster. The Commissioner ordered security of the building pending the movement of exhibits. The RTCI Police acknowledge that two pistols, 14 rounds of ammunition, and a sum of money (amount being without pending investigation) were taken. Other exhibits were not touched, including drugs and other money.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Commissioner personally assisted in the movement of exhibits to Chalk Sound and the destruction of concluded exhibits and files. The Exhibit Custodian and a senior member of the RTCI Police have been provided operational guidance. Further, an Inspector has been named to ensure that enhanced procedures are in place, including seized money being place in a trust account at the local bank and other standard police operating procedures established.
The RTCI Police are aware of the rumours of an “inside job” as the thieves were very selective of the items taken. The investigation is continuing. Many members of the RTCI Police have expressed their concern in this lapse of security because it is not simply an embarrassment to the Commissioner but to the police service as a whole.
In other news, the Commissioner is deploying a second officer to Salt Cay and to Middles Caicos beginning 01 September 2011. The Commissioner has also established a two person Cold Case Unit to work full-time on the unsolved homicides. These files remain a concern for the community and to the RTCI Police.
Security has been enhanced at the Providenciales Airport (PLS) with additional uniform and plain clothes officers being deployed.
The noise complaints have continued and police will be taking more assertive actions to ensure the TCI remain “Beautiful by Nature.” Police have contacted local sponsors of events to request their adherence to the rules set out in licenses and park regulations. Moreover, the Licensing Department has agreed to consult with police in advance of issuing extended licenses.
Nineteen (19) cadets will be graduating from the RTCI Police Training School in Grand Turk on the 18 August 2011. It is expected that 8 will be posted to Beat and Patrol in Grand Turk and 11 will be posted to Beat and Patrol in Providenciales.
New member added to the Consultative Forum
H.E Governor of the TCI released thefollowing today:
I regret to announce that the Reverend Scott Brennen has decided to step down from the Consultative Forum. Following his transfer to the Bahamas, he has found it increasingly difficult to make himself available for meetings of the Forum. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking him for his service during his period on the Forum; and to wish him well in his Ministry in Eleuthera At the same time, I am pleased to announce the appointment to the Forum of Mr Bradley Coalbrooke, whose profile is attached. With his youth, and experience as an architect, I am sure that he will bring a fresh new perspective to the work of the Forum. Gordon Wetherell Governor
US suspends $800m of military aid
The US says it is withholding some $800m in military aid to Pakistan.
White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley told ABC television that Pakistan had "taken some steps that have given us reason to pause on some of the aid".
He said the US raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in May had affected ties but he insisted the relationship "must be made to work over time".
The $800m (£500m) equates to about a third of the annual US security aid to Pakistan, US officials say.
In figures submitted to the International Monetary Fund last autumn, Pakistan's defence expenditure in its 2010-2011 budget was put at $6.41bn - an increase of $1.27bn on the previous year.
Speaking on ABC's This Week programme, Mr Daley accepted that Pakistan had been "an important ally in the fight on terrorism. They've been the victim of enormous amounts of terrorism".
He added: "It's a complicated relationship in a very difficult, complicated part of the world. Obviously, there's still lot of pain that the political system in Pakistan is feeling by virtue of the raid that we did to get Osama Bin Laden, something that the president felt strongly about and we have no regrets over.
"Until we get through these difficulties, we will hold back some of the money that the American taxpayers have committed to give them."
The New York Times earlier quoted senior US officials as saying the suspension of military aid amounted to about one-third of the yearly US security assistance to Pakistan.
The paper said the move was to show US anger at the expulsion of US military trainers and to pressure Pakistan to step up its fight against militants.
The Times said some of the suspended aid had been earmarked as compensation for Pakistan's redeployment of troops to Afghan border areas to fight militants. Other cuts were in military equipment.
The defence department said in a statement: "The reduced presence of our trainers and other personnel means we can't deliver the assistance that requires training and support to be effective."
The BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani in Washington says this is clearly a strengthening of the US approach to Pakistan - more of the stick than the carrot - but there must be concern that taking away the money will stop the Pakistanis co-operating at all.
Washington still regards Pakistan as vital in the fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who use safe havens in Pakistan's tribal regions on the Afghan border.
But with Bin Laden known to have been living undetected almost next door to a major Pakistani military academy in Abbottabad, many in the US Congress have questioned the value of the US aid.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says Pakistan military sources have said they have heard nothing official of the aid suspension but that they have in any case been encouraging the US to divert funds from military to civilian programmes.
This may be an attempt to save face, our correspondent says, as the US move will undoubtedly hurt the Pakistani military.
Senegal suspends Hissene Habre's repatriation to Chad
Senegal has suspended its planned repatriation of Chad's former President Hissene Habre, who has been sentenced to death in his home country, Senegal's foreign minister has said.
The move followed an appeal by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.
Ms Pillay had expressed concern that Mr Habre could be tortured in Chad.
Mr Habre is blamed for killing and torturing tens of thousands of opponents between 1982 and 1990, charges he denies.
Senegal's Foreign Minister Madicke Niang on Sunday announced the government had reversed its decision to return Mr Habre following the UN plea.
Mr Niang told state broadcaster RTS that Senegal would hold talks with the UN and European Union to try to solve the situation.
Sentenced in absentia
Earlier Ms Pillay said in a statement: "I urge the government of Senegal to review its decision.
"As a party to the Convention Against Torture, Senegal may not extradite a person to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing he would be in danger of being subjected to torture."
Mr Habre, 69, has been living in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, since he was ousted in 1990.
A 1992 Truth Commission in Chad accused him of being responsible for widespread torture and the death of 40,000 people during his eight-year rule.
In 2008, he was sentenced to death in absentia for planning to overthrow Chad's government.
Senegal arrested Mr Habre in 2005, after he was charged by Belgium with crimes against humanity and torture.
Belgium has also been asking the International Court of Justice to have Mr Habre extradited to Belgium, where survivors have filed a case against him.
Many missing as Russian boat Bulgaria sinks on Volga
More than 100 people are missing and feared dead after a tourist boat sank on the Volga River in Russia.
Dozens of people were rescued after the boat sank in the Tatarstan region, about 750km (450 miles) east of Moscow. At least two deaths are confirmed.
More than 180 passengers and crew were believed to be on the Bulgaria, which was sailing from the town of Bulgar to the regional capital, Kazan.
Hopes of finding survivors faded as a rescue operation continued after dark.
Bad weather, mechanical failure on the aged craft and overcrowding have all been cited as possible reasons why the boat sank, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow.
Nearly 50 Russian divers were scouring the murky river early on Monday amid vanishing hopes that any survivors would be found.
"The results of the inspection show that the chance of us finding survivors is minimal," Interfax quoted an emergencies ministry spokeswoman in Moscow as saying.
The Bulgaria - a 55-year-old vessel which is believed to be owned by a local tourism company - was on a two-day cruise when it got into difficulty at about 1400 on Sunday (1000 GMT), sinking within minutes, says our correspondent.
The 80m (260ft) boat sank several kilometres from the shore near the village of Sukeyevo, about 80km south of Kazan.
One survivor described it as "a bad ship, a very old ship", which had already been listing to starboard when it set sail.
"She went under in three minutes," said the survivor, Nikolai Chernov. "There were no announcements or anything, she just listed to starboard and capsized and sank. That was it."
While dozens of people were rescued by another pleasure boat that was passing nearby, more than 100 are still missing.
Weeping survivors draped in blankets were shown on state TV, while relatives gathered at a port in Kazan waiting for news of their loved ones.
"My son-in-law telephoned to say that he held out his hand to his wife but she could not grab on," one man told Rossiya 24 state television. "He could not pull her out."
Around 30 children had gathered in a play area on deck just before the boat went down, said one survivor, who feared all may have drowned.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The Volga, a wide river, is popular with cruise boats at this time of the year, says our correspondent
India: Train crash in Uttar Pradesh kills dozens
At least 38 people have been killed and almost 200 injured in a train derailment in northern India.
Thirteen coaches of the Kalka Mail passenger train left the rails near the town of Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Rescue workers and locals were working into the night to try to free trapped passengers from the badly damaged carriages.
The train was travelling from Howrah near Calcutta to the capital Delhi and derailed at more than 100km/h (62mph).
'Upside down'
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed his deep concern over the accident, the second in a week in Uttar Pradesh, and has directed the railway authorities to use all available resources for the relief operation.
Soldiers were deployed to help in the rescue effort.
The cause of the derailment, about 120km (75 miles) south-east of Uttar Pradesh's capital, Lucknow, was not immediately clear.
Television footage showed carriages at skewed angles, with one on the roof of another and a third thrown clear of the train.
One passenger told CNN-IBN television: "We were sitting in our seats when suddenly everything turned upside down. When the train stopped we broke the glass windows to jump out on the track."
The driver was among those injured.
The BBC's Ram Dutt Tripathi in Lucknow says most of those hurt are being treated in hospitals in Fatehpur but the seriously injured have been taken to Lucknow, Kanpur and Allahabad.
The number of people on board was not immediately clear but reports said there may have been up to 1,000 passengers.
Accidents are common on the state-owned Indian railway, an immense network connecting every corner of the vast country.
It operates 9,000 passenger trains and carries some 18 million passengers every day.
On Thursday, 38 people died in Uttar Pradesh when a train hit a bus carrying a wedding party.