InterHealth Canada refutes a series of rumors
The CEO of InterHealth Canada, Mr. Roger Chessman and Public Relations Officer, Paul Baker, held a press conference earlier this week to refute a series of what they refer to as wholly false and in their view, malicious allegations which have been made, either explicitly or by implication, in certain organs of the media and in some cases most recently in the now defunct TCI Journal and the Turks & Caicos Sun. InterHealth Canada says it fully accepts that its involvement in the improvement of healthcare provision in and for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is a matter of legitimate public interest and debate. However, it said that public interest and debate, should be informed by the true facts and not based on falsehoods or innuendos.
“As an international company, InterHealth Canada is required to comply with the anti-corruption legislation in force in Canada and other jurisdictions in which it operates. Also and especially as a provider of healthcare services, InterHealth Canada has a strict Ethics Policy which was adopted by its main Board in 1998 and with which all its operating subsidiaries and their staff are required to comply. That Ethics Policy has been followed “to the letter” in all matters pertaining to the contract with the TCI Government,” a statement from InterHealth Canada said.
Among the allegations which have been made against InterHealth Canada, is that the contract, under which InterHealth Canada has financed, constructed and is now operating the new hospital facilities on Grand Turk and Providenciales, was not won through open and fair competition. Mr Chessman in addressing that allegation, said at the behest of the United Kingdom Government, the process by which the TCI Government procured and selected InterHealth Canada as the provider and operator of the new hospital facilities was carried out strictly in accordance with the Procurement Rules established by the European Union and with which the United Kingdom Government is itself obliged to comply.
InterHealth Canada also came under criticism in the media for its alleged association with Lord Ashcroft and/or one or more of his companies, a matter that the CEO addressed at this week’s press conference.
Refuting charges that InterHealth Canada had unethical dealings with members of the former TCI Government, Mr Chessman said, quote:- “Nobody who has ever held public office in the Turks & Caicos Islands has or ever has had, whether directly or indirectly, any shareholding or other interest or position in or with InterHealth Canada or any of its subsidiaries. Similarly neither InterHealth Canada nor any of its directors or Officers has or ever has had, whether directly or indirectly, any interest in the Turks & Caicos Islands other than through the contract for the new hospital facilities,” end quote.
Addressing the issue that InterHealth Canada engaged the services of Mr Paul Baker as its Public Relations consultant while he is also providing similar services to others and thereby allowing a conflicting interest to exist, Mr Baker said quote:- “I am journalist of 25 years experience, having worked for, and edited both news and sport on a number of daily publications in the UK. Since arriving in the TCI in March 2010, I have worked on a freelance basis and carried out paid writing and public relations duties for three organisations, namely - InterHealth Canada, Air Turks and Caicos and the TCI Weekly News.
I also continue to write on a freelance basis for a number of publications and websites in the UK and have untaken sports reporting work for PTV on a voluntary basis.
At no time have I ever carried out work for any organisations associated with Lord Michael Ashcroft.
My only involvement with the PDM came as a personal favour to Mr Doug Parnell, whom I know because our children attend the same school. This was limited to providing help and advice on press release layout and distribution. As part of that unpaid favour to a fellow parent, I distributed one press release on the PDM’s behalf in December 2010 as a demonstration for Mr Parnell. This in no way compromised any other roles I may have which are clearly not associated with this personal favour.
I have never written press releases on behalf of either Mr. Parnell or the PDM, a fact that the local media can confirm as all correspondence between them and the PDM comes directly from the office and pen of Mr. Parnell.
Lord Nigel Jones is a contact from my days working for the UK Press. As a member of the Parliamentary All Party TCI Committee, he has proved a very useful and informative contact for stories I have written for the TCI Weekly News," end quote.
The Inter Health Canada officials told journalists that their statement had been approved by the Toronto based Senior Management of InterHealth Canada which asks that its staff in the TCI be allowed to carry out their roles in the TCI, working with other stakeholders to provide the quality healthcare which the people of the TCI deserve, without the distraction of having to deal with unfounded allegations and rumours.
RTC News will have more from that press conference in a subsequent newscast.
(RFA) Wave Ruler begins a four day visit to Grand Turk today
Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) WAVE RULER is scheduled to make a Regional Engagement Visit to Grand Turk, from the 16th to 20th June 2011. This will be the third time the ship has visited the Turks and Caicos Islands, for regional engagement with the first visit in July 2008 to Providenciales.
RFA WAVE RULER has previously been stationed in the Far East, Persian Gulf and in the South Atlantic, supporting the Falkland Islands, as well as working in territorial waters around the UK.
A significant part of the Royal Navy’s presence is, patrolling the North Atlantic and Caribbean. RFA WAVE RULER’s primary role is to provide support to the UK Overseas territories and strengthen the UK Government’s commitment in the region. This role includes providing regional support in the event of natural disasters such as hurricanes.
A prime example is in September 2008 when RFA WAVE RULER assisted Grand Turk when hurricane Ike caused major damage through the island. Teams were deployed on various tasks, which included restoring power to the islands reverse osmosis plant; providing temporary roofing and restoring power to the health clinic as well as distributing bottled water and food.
With an extensive range of disaster relief stores, WAVE RULER is capable of providing food, water and shelter where required. Additionally the ship and her crew can provide medical and humanitarian aid, search and request facilities utilising the Lynx helicopter onboard, together with technical assistance utilising their training, skills, knowledge and experience.
Whilst at sea working in support of local defense and police forces, from a host of Caribbean nations together with the United States Coast Guard, RFA WAVE RULER conducts maritime patrols.
During the visit to Grand Turk WAVE RULER will be conducting Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief visits to enhance awareness of facilities available on Grand Turk, which will assist RFA WAVE RULER in preparing to provide future humanitarian aid assistance should the island require it.
The Captain said: “We are delighted to be in Grand Turk. WAVE RULER is in the Region to support UK Overseas Territories, provide regional support in the event of natural disasters and contribute to law enforcement. The Ship’s Company is looking forward to the visit and the opportunity to experience Grand Turk”.
McAllister hanchell addresses Joe Grant cay
McAllister Hanchell says publication of the finding that the payment of US$500,000.00 in relation to the Joe Grant Cay was bribery, can only be regarded as a deliberate attempt by the Government to poison the well of potential jurors
Former PNP government Minister McAllister Hanchell has accused the interim government of deliberately trying to poison the minds of any potential jurors by linking him and former Premier Michael Missick to bribery charges as a result of a $500,000.00 donation from Dr Cem Kinay.
Hanchell’s accusation comes on the heels of a government press release Wednesday which noted TCIG’s success in obtaining the recovery of Joe Grant Cay, following proceedings brought against the Star Platinum companies, controlled by Dr Cem Kinay.
That press release recorded a judgment that was handed down by the Court on Tuesday 14 June, in connection with the political donation of $500,000 made by Dr Kinay to Mr. Misick on 9 January 2007, where the Judge found there to be a very strong probability that the money was paid as a bribe in order to ensure that the Defendant companies obtained the benefit of the proposed development.
The Judge also found (paragraph 37): "The grant of development rights and the sale of the hotel land was grossly undervalued and the lease of the other land at substantially less than the market value, were all made at the instigation of Mr. Misick. The values, according to the judgement, were approved by Cabinet as the result of the suppression of evidence of what was at the very least a respectable alternative opinion from the Government’s own valuer, as to the true values. He said no satisfactory explanation was put forward for not reporting Mr Hoza’s valuations to cabinet; or for the payment of the $500,000 to Michael Misick. The Judge said not only did the Defendants get the development; they got it cheaply. According to the judgment, there is a very strong probability that Michael Misick, with the help of McAllister Hanchell secured the grant of these benefits to the Defendants as a result of this inducement."
The release went on to note that proceedings were issued in July 2010 following the identification by the Commission of Inquiry of Joe Grant Cay in its report, and the appointment of the Civil Recovery team. After initially defending the proceedings and filing a full Defence, it said the Defendant companies then defaulted on Court orders.
As a result, the Government applied for judgment, and the Government opted for a trial of the case, which was held on 6 June at the Court in Providenciales. The Defendants did not attend or give evidence at that trial. The Judge noted that the Government "could not simply rely on what was pleaded, but had to show what could be proven by evidence or admissions.
"I emphasise that this judgment should not be treated as a conclusive finding that any individual has acted corruptly. Nobody should be declared corrupt if he has not had the opportunity to defend himself at trial, and that has not happened in this case. The decision has been reached without any active participation by the Defendants, and without hearing from those alleged to have acted corruptly. That was because the Defendants chose to disregard court orders and to absent themselves from the hearing. No oral evidence was given, and there was no cross examination. Had this occurred the outcome could have been different. Conclusions which have been drawn are for the purpose of this case only," observed the Judge.
The Court subsequently ordered the return of the whole of Joe Grant Cay to the Government, subject only to a charge in favour of Temple Trust, which remains on one parcel of the land. The Court has also given judgment for damages to be assessed, and has awarded the Government the costs of the action.
Attorney General, Huw Shepheard described this as the first of the major civil claims arising out of the Commission's work to conclude. “We are pleased that the outcome is a successful one for the Government and the Civil Recovery team of EAPD and Chambers. Joe Grant Cay will now be rightfully returned to the Government's ownership," commented the AG.
But Mr. McAllister Hanchell in a statement to RTC News, said he read with interest the Government’s Press Release regarding the court’s decision in the Joe Grant’s case entitled “TCIG successful in recovering Joe Grant land: first judgment in major civil recovery case.”
Said Mr. Hanchell, “neither Michael Misick nor myself are defendants in those proceedings. No one gave evidence and the only party represented, was the Government. Dr. Kinay could not afford to be represented because he was prevented by a previous Court Order from spending money on legal representation to defend himself. His lawyers had to come off the record.
Hanchell said the publication of the finding that the payment of US$500,000.00 was bribery, can only be regarded as a deliberate attempt by the Government to poison the well of potential jurors, so that the SIPT (the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team), can be in a position to object to trial by jury.
“The strategy is clear. Today it may be Mike or me. Tomorrow, it can be any citizen of this country. You have been warned,” Mr. Hanchell said.
H.M New Governor to the TCI is Damian Todd
Mr Todd will take up his appointment in September 2011.
Mr Todd studied history at university and joined the FCO in 1980. He has done postings in South Africa, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Slovakia and Poland. He has worked in various jobs in the FCO London, including three years on the FCO Board as Finance Director, and spent five years in HM
Treasury.
On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Governor to Turks and Caicos Islands, Mr Todd has said “I am delighted to be appointed Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is not only a fascinating new job but also different from postings I have done before. I am looking forward to getting to know the people of the Islands and working with them on all the issues which we face.”
CURRICULUM VITAE
Full name: Damian Roderic (Ric) Todd
Married to:Alison
Children: Three
October 2007 – present: Warsaw, Her Majesty’s Ambassador and since April 2010 Regional
Director for the Central Europe Network (CEN.
2004 – 2007 -FCO, Finance Director
2001 – 2004-Bratislava, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
1995 – 1997 and 1998-2001- HM Treasury. Head of two EU policy Departments
1999 – 2001-UK Member of the EU Economic Policy Committee.
1997 – 1998- Deputy Head of Economic Relations Dept
1991 – 1995-Bonn
1989 – 1991-FCO, Economic Relations Department
1987 – 1989-Prague
1985 – 1987-FCO, European Community Department
1981 – 1984-Cape Town/Pretoria
1980 – 1981-FCO, Defence Department
Digicel clarifies revenue performance
Digicel Group Limited, a provider of mobile and data storage services, has clarified its report on the performance of its revenues, saying two markets have been stripped from its reporting of group results.
Last year, Digicel reported turnover of about US$2.15 billion, which it broke out as US$1.75 billion from Caribbean and Central American markets and about US$400 million from the Pacific operations.
On Monday, the telecoms reported that total revenue rose to US$2.23 billion in the period ending March 2011.
On the face of it, the numbers represent a 3.72 per cent improvement. Digicel, however, reported strong gains of 27 per cent.
"With subscribers up 6 per cent to 11.5 million across all 32 markets, revenues for Digicel Group Limited were up 27 per cent to US$2.23 billion, with EBITDA margins solid at 43 per cent following the successful integration of the Pacific," said the initial release, referencing all of the telecoms' markets, including those in Central America.
On Tuesday, Digicel Group spokeswoman Antonia Graham clarified in a short telephone interview, and later by email, that this year's results do not include income from operations in Honduras and Panama, in which group ownership amounts to 44 per cent, and are now being reported on separately.
She said the 27 per cent was calculated from a base of US$1.74 billion; and not the US$2.15 billion of revenue reported the previous year.
"Last year's headline revenue numbers included the revenues for all Digicel markets, including Digicel Pacific Limited, which was a sister company until 31 March 2010," said Graham via email.
"Digicel Pacific Limited was acquired by Digicel Group Limited on 1 April 2010 - hence the revenues of Digicel Pacific Limited are now fully consolidated with Digicel Group Limited."
The acquisition was valued at US$825 million.
"We are only disclosing revenues for Digicel Group Ltd — which this year comprises Caribbean, El Salvador and Pacific post the acquisition of Pacific on 1 April 2010 ... . The relevant comparative for Digicel Group Limited is US$2.23b this year versus US$1.74b for last year - 27 per cent increase - these are the numbers for Digicel Group Limited; these are the numbers you should use," said Graham, the group head of public relations.
"Anything else would not be accurate."
The privately owned company does not disclose net profit, but Graham said "there was a US$175 million improvement" in its bottom line at yearend March 2011.
Jamaica, which is one of the group's top markets and its base of operation, grew subscriber numbers by two per cent to remain at just over two million subscribers, said the PR head - which would amount to less than 40,000 new customers. The Irish Times reports that Digicel, which is selling its Honduras and El Salvador businesses to America Movil and buying its Claro Jamaican operation, expects to net no more than about 40,000 additional subscribers from the acquisition.
Digicel claims that it now has 25 per cent of the broadband market and that penetration of that market has increased from 17 per cent to 20 per cent since the launch of its 4G service in September 2010. More broadly, Digicel said revenue from its data segment grew by 105 per cent and now accounts for 15 per cent of service revenue.
Digicel's 11.5 million subscribers across 32 markets is up 6.5 per cent from 10.8 million in the previous year. Growth was strongest in its Haitian market, which added 400,000 new subscribers, Digicel said.
The telecoms and partner Scotiabank recently won the 2011 Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award for the mobile banking product 'Tcho Tcho'.
Its earnings before interest taxes depreciaton and amortisation, EBITDA, jumped by 27 per cent, from US$753 million to US$954 million, Digicel said.
"All of our markets have made a contribution to our reported profits - clearly our larger markets like Haiti," added Graham.
"Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad would contribute a larger share."
The telecoms is US$4.6 billion in debt, according to disclosures by Fitch ratings agency, which recently released a positive report on the company.
Digicel said it had US$600 million of cash reserves and is bullish about the future.
"We are optimistic in terms of our outlook for next year. We are continuing to invest in expanding our business in Haiti and Papua New Guinea and in selective rollout of 4G — based on HSPA+ — in several markets," said Graham.
Hewlett Packard settles Oracle case over Hurd job
Computer maker Hewlett-Packard (HP) has settled a lawsuit brought against former boss Mark Hurd as it tried to stop him joining rival Oracle.
Under the deal, Mr Hurd will give up about $30m (£19.3m) in HP shares he was given in his severance package.
He joined the database software maker a month after leaving HP.
Mr Hurd would keep "obligations to protect HP's confidential information while fulfilling his responsibilities at Oracle", the firms said.
'Advantage' claim
Oracle announced the appointment of Mr Hurd as co-president earlier this month.
Mr Hurd, a friend of Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison, was forced to quit HP after a sexual harassment investigation.
He denied any wrongdoing and a probe found that he had not broken harassment rules, but was in breach of HP's "standards of business conduct."
HP had claimed that Oracle would gain "a strategic advantage as to where to allocate or not allocate resources and exploit the knowledge of HP's strengths and weaknesses" as a result of hiring Mr Hurd.
But it now said it was confident Mr Hurd could perform all his duties without revealing HP's trade secrets.
Oracle and Hewlett-Packard are closely linked as companies, having worked together for 25 years to ensure their products were compatible.
Major technology firms have spent the last few years trying to straddle hardware, software and data storage in a bid to remain relevant.
Oracle recently took over rival Sun Microsystems, while HP has fought off Dell to take over the data storage company 3Par.
Online radio firm Pandora floats for $2.6bn in New York
The US internet radio service Pandora Media rose sharply on its debut on the New York Stock Exchange, before falling back.
The firm, which has yet to make a profit, had an offering price of $16 (£9.76) a share.
It rose as high as $26 a share on Wednesday before settling down to around $18.75.
The share price values the company at about $3bn, which is well above the current value of AOL, for example.
Pandora is the latest in a series of high-profile internet share sales, with LinkedIn already having floated and Groupon planning a listing.
LinkedIn has a market capitalisation of about $7bn.
Facebook is also expected to launch on the stock market in the next year.
Pandora started out as a music recommendation service called Savage Beast Technologies in 2000.
It changed its name in 2005 when it launched an internet radio service, which allows users to create custom radio stations by specifying which artists and genres they want to hear.
It has 94 million registered users and makes most of its money through advertising.
China's property rating downgraded on tightening credit
Rating agency Standard & Poor's has downgraded its outlook for China's property market from stable to negative due to the country's tightening credit policy.
The agency said as credit becomes more restricted there was a possibility of a downturn in the sector.
The news comes as latest data showed that foreign direct investment (FDI) in to China slowed down in May.
Rising property prices have become a hot political issue in China.
Restrictive policy
Beijing has been trying to rein in lending in an attempt to control surging property prices.
On Tuesday, China's central bank raised the reserve requirement ratio for the banks to a record high of 21.5%, effectively reducing the amount of cash that they can lend.
Government figures also showed that Chinese banks made fewer loans in May compared to April.
The agency said that all these measure are likely to hit the sector hard.
"We're likely to see more negative rating actions in the next six to 12 months," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Bei Fu.
"Tightened onshore credit conditions and increasingly restrictive government policy have deepened the market downturn," Ms Fu added.
Slowing investment
While authorities have been working towards restricting domestic credit, the rise in foreign investment in China has also slowed.
According to the commerce ministry, FDI was $9.2bn (£5.6bn) in May, a rise of 13.4% compared with the same month last year.
This was lower than April's 15.2% increase and less than half of March's 32.9% year-on-year surge.
Greek PM George Papandreou to unveil new cabinet
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is set to announce a new cabinet as a concessionary move as he seeks support for new austerity measures.
Mr Papandreou, who will stay in his post, says he will put the new government to a vote of confidence in the parliament.
Renewed fears that Greece will default on its debt have shaken markets.
The proposed measures are necessary to gain EU and IMF aid, but have
been met with fierce opposition in Greece.
Athens witnessed some of the most violent protests in more than a year on Wednesday as demonstrators went on to the streets and took part in a general strike.
Mr Papandreou had also faced the threat of a revolt in his socialist Pasok party over the controversial package.
'Road of duty'
Mr Papandreou, who came to power in 2009, has not indicated the extent of his ministerial shuffle, but correspondents say it may include the replacement of Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou.
The government is seeking approval for a package of 28bn euros (£24.6bn; $40.5bn) of cuts, due to take effect from 2012 to 2015.
The policies are required for the release of the next tranche of aid - 12bn euros - from the EU and IMF.
In an address on Wednesday, Mr Papandreou announced he would "continue on the same course".
"This is the road of duty, together with Pasok's parliamentary group, its members, and the Greek people.
"Tomorrow I will form a new government, and then I will ask for a vote of confidence," he said.
During talks, Mr Papandreou was said to have offered to step down to clinch a coalition, but later agreed to carry on.
EU commissioners are said to have a "profound sense of foreboding" about Greece and the future of the eurozone, according to leaked account of a meeting on Wednesday seen by the BBC.
Greece became the world's least credit-worthy nation after Standard & Poor's ratings agency downgraded it earlier this week.
On Wednesday, tens of thousands of activists and unionists gathered in Syntagma square in Athens, near parliament.
A further 20,000 people also demonstrated in Thessaloniki, police said.
The general strike was the third in Greece this year.
The events destabilised markets, with major indexes witnessing the biggest drop on Wednesday since 1 June, and the euro sliding more than 1% against the dollar.
Yields on Greece's 10-year bonds reached a record high of 18.4%.
Serena Out of Eastbourne Tournament
Serena Williams’ comeback run at Eastbourne ended today in the second round with a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 loss to top-seeded Vera Zvonareva.
According to the AP, Zvonareva came through a tense match in 3 hours, 12 minutes for only her second win in eight matches against the 13-time Grand Slam champion.
“I know I can do better,” Williams said. “I can improve and I’m so close to being there, it’s good.”
The No. 3-ranked Russian avenged her 6-3, 6-2 loss in the 2010 Wimbledon final, which turned out to be Williams’ last match for almost a year. Williams won her fourth title at the All England Club, but stepped on broken glass at a restaurant in July and needed two foot surgeries. She later developed blood clots on her lungs.
Williams showed her trademark tenacity in the third set, coming back from 5-2 down to make it 5-5, saving three match points at 5-4. But Zvonareva immediately broke again and a tiring Williams couldn’t muster another rally.
Williams lost on grass for the first time since dropping the 2008 Wimbledon final to her sister Venus. Today, Serena was awarded a Wimbledon seeding of No. 7, which is 19 places above her ranking.
Despite the loss, Williams is pleased with her preparations for the defense of her title — and even happier that the foot injury is no longer troubling her.
“It was a good two matches for me,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier with the amount of tennis I played so it’s good, just keep going.
“I haven’t played in almost a year, so I’m a little sore. But it’s good that I’m sore now because hopefully next week I won’t be as sore. (The foot) is holding up really well, and I’m just really excited about that.”