Sports Minister Hugh Robertson hints at Fifa breakaway
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has suggested England could break away from Fifa if it does not address allegations of corruption within the organisation.
Former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman claimed four Fifa members sought "bribes" in return for backing England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.
"There is a desire to try and work and change Fifa from the inside," Robertson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"If Fifa proves unable to do that, then I would say all options are possible."
Triesman, a former chairman of England's 2018 bid, accused members of Fifa's executive committee of "improper and unethical behaviour" during the campaign process.
During a parliamentary inquiry into England's failure to host the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday, Triesman alleged Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz, Brazilian Ricardo Teixeira and Thai Worawi Makudi sought "bribes" in return for backing England's bid.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has pledged to take action if any evidence of wrongdoing is presented to football's world governing body.
But Sports Minister Robertson has urged Fifa to adopt greater transparency in its bidding process and conduct similar internal reforms implemented by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics campaign scandal.
"The first thing is the allegations are brought to the attentions of Fifa and make sure that happens in concert with the FA," he said.
"We have to back that up with evidence and I would hope Fifa follow the example of the International Olympic Committee, who went through a similar process after Salt Lake City.
"There is nobody currently bidding for the 2018 Winter Olympics who doesn't believe their system is fair and transparent - Fifa needs to be in the same position."
However, in a subsequent interview with the Press Association, Robertson advised against canvassing support to re-stage the 2018 vote process.
England were knocked out in the first round with only two votes when Russia were awarded the tournament, while Qatar were named 2022 hosts.
"There is no practical chance of the process being re-run - that would be a huge admission of failure by Fifa," added Robertson.
"I think we have to be honest as a country that Lord Triesman made these allegations in Parliament but they are going to be very difficult to actually prove because these were just conversations he had with individuals."
Concacaf president Warner said he "laughed like hell" when he first learned of Triesman's allegations that he had asked for around £2.5m to build an education centre in Trinidad.
"I hold my head tall because I can stand up and tell the world I never accepted anything," he told Trinidad publication Newsday. "People who know me would be totally dismissive of that nonsense."
Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has insisted that the voting process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups was conducted cleanly.
Australia, beaten by Qatar in the 2022 voting, has already played down suggestions it could ask for a re-vote.
"Ultimately, this is a question that needs to be directed to Fifa, the governing body," said Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
"We were very disappointed. We put in a bid which was impressive and we pursued that bid in an ethical and impressive way."
Meanwhile, Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said sports leaders must fight against corruption to prevent the type of scandal shaking Fifa.
Rogge said there was "always the threat" of unethical behaviour in sports management but stressed that claims made by Triesman and others on Tuesday must be backed "by solid proof".
DIGICEL to bring spotlight on young footballers with schools’ football competition
Digicel, Guyana’s leading mobile communications provider, is once again leading the way in the development of sports in the country. The company announced yesterday that it will soon be launching a countrywide schools’ football competition. The Digicel Schools’ Football Competition will kick off in June this year and will feature over one hundred school teams in the Under-19 category.
According to Digicel CEO, Gregory Dean, the initial response to the tournament has been incredible. “We have written to several schools across the country and many of them have already indicated their willingness to participate. The Digicel Schools’ Football Competition will not be centered in the city. Instead, the matches will be played in various Community Grounds around the country, encouraging widespread participation.
“Digicel recognizes the importance of developing the talent and skills of the young players and we sincerely believe this competition will lend to the overall improvement of football in Guyana,” Dean added.
The Ministries of Education and Culture, Youth and Sport have already signaled their support for this tournament which is expected to bring the spotlight on Guyana’s best young footballers.
Digicel has been involved in a wide range of football initiatives designed to support the development of football not only in Guyana but also in the Caribbean and Central America. Digicel, which has operations in 32 countries worldwide, sponsors 17 Football Federations and Leagues, as well as the Digicel Caribbean Cup and the Copa de Naciones Digicel in Central America.
Digicel also spearheads the Digicel Kick Start Clinics in the Caribbean and Central America, which offer young footballers the opportunity to train with renowned footballers such as Liverpool legends, John Barnes and Ian Rush, as well as spend one week with UK Premier League Clubs, Sunderland AFC and Manchester City.
Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund invests in hotel and conference centre in Port au Prince
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will invest $2 million to complete construction of a major hotel project in Haiti that was abruptly halted following the devastating 2010 earthquake.
The 130-room Oasis Hotel was fully funded and construction was well underway prior to the quake. While the building itself remains structurally sound, work on the project ceased when several of the original Haitian shareholders perished, while others suffered severe financial losses, making them unable to meet their investment commitments to the project.
“The Oasis Hotel symbolizes Haiti ‘building back better,’ and sends a message to the world that Haiti is open for business,” Clinton Bush Haiti Fund’s vice president of programs and investments, Paul Altidor said. “For Haiti’s recovery to be sustainable, it must attract investors, businesses and donors all of whom will need a business-class, seismically-safe hotel.”
In addition to bedrooms, Oasis will have significant meeting space and other business amenities.
Fewer than 100 hotel rooms survived the quake in Port-au-Prince, and today Haiti has a critical shortage of hotel space that meets even the most basic standards for business travelers. Jerry Tardieu, chief executive officer of SCIOP S.A., the Haitian corporation that developed and promoted Oasis, highlighted that the project’s environmental and safety standards will serve as a model for future such developments in Haiti.
In mid-2010, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, provided $7.5 million in financing to restart construction of the hotel, which has a total cost of $29 million, but more funding was needed.
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund’s $2 million equity investment catalyzed new funding sources for the project, encouraging large investments from other groups that closed the funding gap. Investors included members of the US Haitian diaspora.
Oasis is creating employment for close to 400 workers in the construction phase, and will create 200 permanent jobs, 75% of them for women. The hotel will source nearly all of its goods and services from local vendors, providing added economic benefits to the community. Additionally, there will be 12 retail spaces, some of which will sell locally manufactured goods, Haitian paintings, and artisan crafts.
Based on its experience and local market statistics, the IFC estimates that each job in a hotel project of this nature in Haiti generates three indirect jobs in the community.
In addition to its equity investment, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will make a $100,000 grant to create a training facility for the hospitality industry that will be available to all Haitians looking for employment in this sector.
Both the Oasis Hotel and the affiliated training facility will be managed by Occidental Hotels and Resorts (OHR), a Spanish global hospitality chain.
Jamaica officially out of recession, says PM
Prime Minister Bruce Golding says Jamaica is now officially out of the recession, with the country registering modest but positive growth in the January to March quarter of this year.
Golding made the announcement during his presentation in the 2011/2012 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
He said a detailed analysis of the out-turn and the projections for the future will be presented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) at a press briefing scheduled for Wednesday, May 18.
Additionally, the prime minister said that the government is well on its way to reducing the country’s Debt/Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio to 100 percent or below by 2016.
He pointed out that the Debt/GDP ratio of 128 percent, which was recorded at the end of March, was well within the ceiling of 139 percent as set out in the Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The programme calls for it to be reduced to 100 percent by 2016 and we are already clearly on the right trajectory to achieve that. If we focus our efforts seriously on investment and growth, we will reach that target even sooner,” he stated.
In the meantime, the prime minister said the government is significantly concerned about the number of people falling below the poverty line.
He said the increase in the poverty level is directly attributed to the decline in the economy, loss of jobs and the significant drop in remittances in 2009.
Golding said the impact of these factors has been mitigated by the provision of increased benefits through the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), the allocation for which has been increased from $1.7 billion in 2007 to over $4.0 billion this year.
“Even after allowing for inflation, this represents a real increase of more than 60 percent,” he stated.
“Increased welfare provisions can do only so much to ease poverty. Getting the economy back on a path of growth, doing everything possible to facilitate and accelerate that growth is what will rescue people from poverty. This is our area of focus,” the prime minister added.
Trinidad minister acted improperly, says attorney general
Trindiad and Tobago Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has found that Minister Mary King had “acted improperly in failing to disclose her interest and disqualify herself from the entire process” regarding the award of a $100,000 contract.
He also concluded that a prima facie case was made out and the matter be referred to the Integrity Commission for further investigation.
The attorney general’s findings led to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar advising President George Maxwell Richards to revoke the appointments of King as Minister of Planning, Economic and Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs, as well as a Government Senator with immediate effect.
A release from the Office of the President confirmed the disclosure made by Persad-Bissessar to reporters just after 12 noon on Tuesday following a meeting she held with the president.
No discussions on a successor, says St Kitts-Nevis PM
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas said on Tuesday he has never discussed with anyone that Minister of Education and Information, Sen. Nigel Carty will succeed him as prime minister.
“Succession in the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party is determined by the membership of the party,” said Douglas, who dismissed the question from a female caller on his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister”.
The question from the caller was apparently prompted by written and verbal statements made by former Cabinet minister Dwyer Astaphan.
“There is no truth whatsoever that I ever sat in any privacy with any former minister or present minister to discuss my succession with regard to Nigel Carty,” said Douglas.
“I have consistently said within the workings of the Labour Party, a party in terms of what we call constituency caretakers and successors, that Nigel Carty is a fit and proper person to succeed me in my Constituency, St Christopher 6, which I represent in Parliament,” responded Douglas.
“At the end of the day, although Nigel Carty, is one of such persons, there are several others of course, but Nigel Carty definitely is one who can succeed me as the Labour Party Representative in Constituency #6 (Newton Ground/Harris) and in the final analysis of course, it will be determined by the members of the Labour Party, who in that Constituency, when the time comes will make that decision,” said Douglas.
“I have never discussed with anybody, Nigel Carty succeeding me as the prime minister or even as the political leader of the Labour Party. That is false. It is a lie and a deliberate lie, fabricated and perpetuated by those to achieve their own personal agenda,” said Douglas.
“It is a lie and it has nothing to do with the capacity of the Hon. Sam Condor to succeed me Prime Minister. The Hon. Sam Terrance Condor has in fact been serving as the Deputy Prime Minister and has in fact served as the Acting Prime Minister. He has the capacity,” said Douglas, again stressing that the statement made by Astaphan and repeated by others “is absolute nonsense.”
US$48M rice deal sealed with Venezuela
Government yesterday announced that it has finalised a US$48M rice deal, the largest to date, with oil-rich neighbour Venezuela. The agreement comes at a time when Guyana is set to also announce a bumper first crop of almost 200,000 metric tonnes (mt).
Speaking at a press conference at his office, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud disclosed that the latest contract is for 30,000mt white rice at US$800 per mt and 50,000mt of paddy at US$480 per mt.
Also at the press conference was General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Jagnarine Singh.
GRDB, based on projections, has revised upwards its first crop rice target from 180,000 mt to 200,000mt.
This year, despite heavy rains in the first two months, the annual production is expected to surpass last year’s high of 360,000mt by almost 35,000mt.
According to the officials, the first shipments are expected to leave within days.
The payments to farmers come directly from Venezuela’s Petro-Caribe fund, an account established for oil payments from Guyana.
This latest agreement is the fourth of its kind since being brokered by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez. Venezuela had been thoroughly satisfied with the deal because of Guyana’s proximity.
Yesterday, Persaud assured that the prices are competitive when compared to the world figures.
Initially, farmers were cautious about the deal and despite invitations were slow to export directly.
However, authorities have confirmed that the Venezuela deal has seen a rush of applications, with GRDB now urging for farmers to form groups and export en bloc.
According to the Minister, Venezuela has evolved to now becoming a prized market.
While Guyana will continue to hold onto its CARICOM and other international markets, efforts will move to further diversify. However, Persaud assured, this will not be at the expense of losing any of the current markets.
Traditionally, Guyana has been exporting almost 75% of its rice to Europe, a situation that is gradually changing.
The Minister also disclosed that the country is moving to introduce more value-added rice products.
Rice demands have grown within recent months and Guyana, with improved strains, is poised to capitalize, the official said.
Addressing concerns about the transparency of the rice deal, Persaud was bemused, saying that the contracts are all public knowledge with advertisements for rice farmers to have a chance to cash-in being widely circulated.
Issues of delays at the Venezuelan port that cost Guyana huge sums of demurrage fees are also being addressed, Persaud asserted.
Both countries have technical teams in place to ensure that the quality of rice and paddy are of the required standards.
Largest part of Turks and Caicos population left out of constitutional meetings
The schedule for the final round of consultations with Turks and Caicos Islanders and residents to obtain their views on the proposed constitutional changes has been issued.
While meetings are planned for every populated island, including tiny Salt Cay with less than 100 residents, no meeting is scheduled for Providenciales (Provo), with a population of 25,000. Instead, the constitutional review team has opted to not face islanders but conduct a call-in radio show.
This has been viewed by many in the TCI as a move to avoid a repeat of the confrontations that occurred when constitutional consultant Kate Sullivan conducted her second round of meetings. Sullivan’s recommendations were burned in a parking lot and locals, angered by her recommended changes, spoke out loudly.
Sullivan and Governor Gordon Wetherell were also targeted at the Provo airport when Britain’s Minister responsible for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham, arrived to announce that elections scheduled for July 2011 were being postponed.
The constitution, which was revised in 2006, was suspended in part on August 9, 2009, when Britain imposed direct rule over the Turks and Caicos. The interim government is headed by Wetherell, who took up his post in July 2008 but is due to demit office no later than August this year.
The decision to not have meetings in Provo is also being viewed as another sign that the interim government and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London are seeking to impose their will on the future running of TCI affairs.
Douglas Parnell, leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) immediately forwarded a very strong letter to Bellingham, objecting to the decision to skip meetings n Provo.
Parnell is reported to have told Bellingham that not having public meetings in Provo was unacceptable and, in his view, a move to divide the islands and islanders.
Parnell also said the Interim government has been a disappointment. The PDM leader further expressed concern that the promise of a new deal for the overseas territories by the British Conservative-led coalition government has yet to be seen.
It has been learned that Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, a vocal member of the Consultative Forum, has also sent a letter to London complaining about the decision to avoid meetings in Provo.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Voted #1 Beach in the World
It's Official: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Voted #1 Beach in the World
The wildly popular online travel site, Trip-Advisor, which provides information or reviews on over 400,000 locations across the globe, has released its latest official list for 2011 on the Top 25 Best Beaches in the World and Providenciales, commonly referred to as the hidden gem of the Caribbean; the last of the true exotics, here in the Turks and Caicos, won the top honor with the #1 spot.
Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales, has also received awards from Conde Nast, as well as other travel magazines. The hidden gem of the Caribbean, "Provo", as the locals call it, welcomes travellers with soft, white sands, turquoise waters, and a year round temperature in the 80's.
The Tuscany on Grace Bay recently won recognition on Trip-Advisor with the #7 spot in 2011's Top 25 Hotels in the world, along with a spot in the Top 10 for Service in the Caribbean and Mexico. "We also made an appearance on the Ellen De-gen-er-es Show in March. And, with the U.S. economy recovering, good things are happening and it's time to celebrate!" said, the Tuscany's General Manager, Terria Missick. To that end, the resort is running a new promotion, "How Will You Spend Your Two Free Nights?"
The Tuscany on Grace Bay is giving away 2 nights for free when guests pay for 5. That comes out to a savings of 29% for a seven night stay -- not shabby for an unforgettable Turks and Caicos vacation. Terria said finding other ways to spend the extra time and money in paradise, like bone fishing, world-class scuba diving, amazing cuisine, family snorkel adventures, is easy.
Located within close proximity from Providenciales International Airport, The Tuscany on Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos offers the ultimate in luxury and privacy, with each of the thirty oceanfront three bedroom suites having a distinct ambiance and décor. Whether one is in the mood for a unique adventure like whale watching or a week of testing one’s skills at the Provo Golf Course, staff at the resort say The Tuscany which is secluded, yet close to everything, will not disappoint its guests.
The Tuscany's General Manager Terria Missick encourages people with questions to connect at facebook.com/thetuscanyresortongracebay. She said with a pristine stretch of Grace Bay Beach at its doorstep, The Tuscany won't have any problem finding takers. The simple title of a recent TripAdvisor review from a Norristown, Pennsylvania, guest sums it up well, "Heaven on Earth." Terria enourages anyone wanting to take advantage of the offer, which is good for travel from now through December 17, 2011 to call 1-888-997-7686.
Former Minister under the Progressive National Party (PNP) searched, at the Miami International Airport
McAllister Eugene Hanchell, a former Government Minister under the Progressive National Party (PNP) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was
detained for about an hour and searched, at the Miami International Airport last Thursday May 5, 2011. He was not arrested.
Hanchell, who is also known as Piper, said airport authorities told him they had reports that he was travelling with more than $10,000.
In a press release to RTC, Hanchell said he departed Providenciales on May 5th on an American Airlines flight en-route to Norfolk, VA, for the
purposes of visiting his oldest son Fabian Hanchell, listed in the Navy of the United States of America before his 6 month deployment to defend his
great Country, USA.
He noted that upon his arrival, two (2) uniformed male United States Border Control Officers were checking each passenger's passport upon
disembarkation from AA flight no. 1594. When I presented his documentation he was asked to accompany the officers.
“During my walk to be processed at Immigration I noticed two (2) non-uniformed officers a male and female all wearing identification badges
joining us.
Immediately, after I was processed through Immigration accompanied by four (4) officers we walked downstairs where I was processed at Customs. There
I asked what this was all about, after travelling to the United States of America for more than half of my life this process is unusual,” Hanchell
said.
The former PNP Minister said he was told by the officers that that they were advised from Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands that he
was suspected of taking $10,000.00 or more concealed in his carry-on luggage and was asked if he had ever taken that amount of cash or currency
otherwise into the United States of America.
“My reply was no. I was asked to take everything out of my pockets, which was approximately $1,500.00 in cash, a telephone, a pen and a credit card
holder.
An officer began to search my bag and halfway through the search he advised me that I can put the cash in my pockets and leave the remaining
items and proceed with the other officers to a room inside the general customs area for a few questions.
I replied to the officers that I reserve my right to be present while my bag is being searched. They continued the search in my presence and then
closed the bag. I was asked if my telephone is unlocked, I said yes. Then they kept my telephone, Credit Card holder and Travel Itinerary and
proceeded to a room within the general customs area,” Hanchell related.
He said he was asked the same questions as mentioned above, (and) shortly thereafter was told to remain in the room while they processed this
information. “They later returned to the room to inform me that they made a few phone calls and were waiting to hear from their sources. Shortly
thereafter they returned for a second time and said that I checked out and that I was free to go and good luck to my son in the US NAVY. My reply to
them was to tell the BRITISH TO GET OFF MY BACK!” Hanchell added.
Hanchell said the officer said they could not reveal their source but smiled at him. “Here I took the opportunity to tell the Officers that it
is public knowledge that I am former member of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, where there was a public commission of inquiry into
allegations of Corruption commissioned by one white retired British Judge who further recommended a Criminal Investigation which is currently
ongoing.
I was told that whenever I travel into the USA again I may be subjected to the same checks. I offered my Telephone number and asked for the officers
number in return so that I can inform them myself of my travels to the USA because I have nothing to hide. The officer told me not to worry because
they will know when I am travelling,” he said.
Hanchell said the entire ordeal took no more than one (1) hour and never at any time was he arrested. He said he flew to Virginia Beach, VA as
scheduled and is having a wonderful time with his oldest son.
The former PNP Minister said his reason for issuing release is first and foremost for the sake of completeness because we live in a culture of
rumors and secondly, to mainly expose the British occupation for their harassment in the Turks and Caicos Islands towards Turks and Caicos
Islanders and their continuous attempt to embarrass us all.
Hanchell in his press release said the British continues to use former elected Politicians as their conduit. “I for one will not be used and will
expose them every opportunity I have. This is not the first time they have tried to intimidate me, they have intervened the banking credit processes
and prejudice the Physical Planning Board Process as it relates to me.
However I remain confident and not afraid. I am a victim of Political exploitation by Britain in a modern day coup d'état, re-colonizing and
marginalizing of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people for their now obvious occupation and control of our Country,” said the former Minister.