Windies going back to Sri Lanka at month end
West Indies will return to Sri Lanka at the end of this month to contest three one-day internationals (ODIs).
A five-match series to be contested at three venues being inaugurated to stage World Cup matches was shelved because of heavy rain in the country last December, and the three day/night matches are to make up for this.
The newly built Suriyawewa Stadium in the southern Hambantota district will stage the first ODI on January 31.
Last two matches
The Premadasa Stadium in the capital city Colombo will host the last two matches on February 4 and 6.
Both venues will stage World Cup matches, so the matches will give the two sides, as well as cricket officials, a chance to test the readiness of the facilities for the cricket's marquee limited-overs event, which begins on February 19.
Sri Lanka will co-host with India and Bangladesh after Pakistan was eliminated from the joint arrangement due to security fears.
The Sri Lankans and Darren Sammy's West Indies drew 0-0 in a three-Test series last year, which was badly affected by rain.
Apple sets new record with sales of $27 billion
Apple reported results on Tuesday for its best-ever quarter, with revenue of $26.7 billion driven by holiday iPad and iPhone sales that were much better than forecast. Apple's profit of $6 billion also set a new record.
The Cupertino, Calif., company sold 7.3 million iPads in the quarter, easily surpassing the expectations of nearly every Wall Street analyst. Those sales essentially matched iPad sales from the previous two quarters combined.
The iPad's success is coming from multiple sources. While Apple's Macintosh computers have always struggled for traction in the business world, Apple said the iPad is generating strong crossover interest from business customers. Around 80% of Fortune 100 companies have deployed the tablet for their employees.
Apple also announced that it sold a record 16.2 million iPhones, just before the smartphone goes on sale on the Verizon Wireless network, beginning next month.
"We had a phenomenal holiday quarter," CEO Steve Jobs said in a prepared statement. "We are firing on all cylinders and we've got some exciting things in the pipeline for this year including iPhone 4 on Verizon, which customers can't wait to get their hands on."
The company sold 4.1 million Macintosh computers and 19.5 million iPods during the its fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 25. Mac sales were at an all-time high, but still a bit below analysts' expectations. On a conference call with analysts, that raised a question about whether the iPad was cannibalizing Mac sales.
"Yeah, I think there is some cannibalization, but there is also a halo effect," said Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, referring to the way sales of one Apple product can lead to sales of other Apple gizmos. "If this is cannibalization, it feels pretty good."
The company also noted that iPad sales will likely fall back somewhat in the current quarter, since the tablet proved to be a hot holiday purchase. The iPod follows a similar trend, with holiday-quarter sales typically doubling the average sales from the other three quarters.
Apple continues to add new revenue streams. The $4.4 billion in iPad sales during the quarter come from a product that didn't exist a year ago -- the tablet computer first went on sale in April. The company also expanded its chain of retail stores, which reached $1 billion in sales for the first time.
The news comes a day after Jobs temporarily stepped down from his job, taking his second medical leave of absence in two years, and his third since 2004.
In the conference call following the financial results release, some analysts asked about Apple's business plan for the future -- especially if Jobs does not return to the company.
In response, Cook said the Apple team has "incredible depth of talent and a culture of innovation that Steve has driven, and excellence has become a habit."
He added: "We have incredible hope for the future of the company."
Apple usually provides a conservative outlook for the current quarter, but this time the company blew away analysts' forecasts. The company said it expects earnings of $4.90 per share on revenue of $22 billion this quarter, compared to Wall Street's expectation of $4.47 per share on $20.8 billion of sales.
Shares of Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) rose more than 1% afterhours, after closing down 2% on Tuesday, in the first day of trading following Jobs' announcement.
Charges filed against 'Baby Doc' Duvalier in Haiti
Extraordinary drama unfolded Tuesday in Port-au-Prince as charges were filed against former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, government sources told CNN.
It was not immediately clear what the charges were.
A judge will have 30 days to investigate and decide whether the accusations merit moving forward with a case against Duvalier.
Earlier in the day, the former leader was taken into custody at his hotel and transported to a downtown courthouse for a hearing. After hours of questioning, Duvalier was allowed to return to his hotel.
A flurry of intense legal activity preceded Duvalier's emergence from the Karibe Hotel, where he had been since his mysterious return to Haiti on Sunday.
His hands free of handcuffs, he made his way down three flights of stairs and waved to a small crowd of supporters before heavily armed police escorted him away in a waiting white van.
Outside the hotel in the swanky suburb of Petionville, throngs of journalists had waited for Duvalier's appearance amid speculation that the former despot would be arrested.
Several hundred people lined the downhill road from Petionville to downtown Port-au-Prince to show support. Some held photos of Duvalier when he was in his prime and banners.
Duvalier shocked the world by returning to his homeland Sunday night after some 25 years of exile in France. He is accused of pillaging the country, siphoning money from Haiti's treasury into his family's pockets during his rule, which ended with a popular rebellion in 1986.
Human rights groups have sounded a call for justice for atrocities committed during his 15 years of rule.
Under Duvalier's presidency, thousands were killed and tortured, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians fled into exile, according to Human Rights Watch.
Michele Montas, a Haitian journalist who has fought for democracy and is a former spokeswoman for the United Nations secretary-general, said Monday night that she plans to file a criminal complaint against Duvalier.
"We have enough proof. There are enough people who can testify. And what I will do is go to a public prosecutor, and there is a public prosecutor that could actually accommodate our complaints," she said on CNN's "Parker Spitzer."
The United Nations said Tuesday that Duvalier's presence in Haiti had taken the global body by surprise and it "clearly raises issues of impunity and accountability." Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said a range of human rights abuses and corruption issues surround Duvalier.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told reporters Tuesday she hoped for a peaceful resolution to the tensions in Haiti.
"I think that it is clearly a tense and fragile time in Haiti, given the unresolved issues around the election, given the cholera epidemic, and it's certainly in the interests of the people of Haiti for there to be peaceful and cooperative efforts to resolve the outstanding issues related to the elections," she said.
It's still unclear why Duvalier decided to go back to Haiti, and speculation is mounting over what he hopes to accomplish.
His presence certainly added to a bubbling cauldron of political turmoil sparked by a presidential election mired in controversy.
"Obviously this is an important and crucial time for the people of Haiti," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
"Any political leader or any former political leader should focus not only on him or herself, but on making progress towards a set of important elections," Gibbs said, adding that such people should dedicate "their time and their energy toward the reconstruction of the country."
Journalist Amy Wilentz, author of "The Rainy Season: Haiti Since Duvalier," said the "Baby Doc" media circus was taking the focus off Haiti's leadership crisis.
"It's a giant sideshow to the electoral debate," she said.
Preliminary results of the November 28 election placed former first lady Mirlande Manigat in a runoff with Jude Celestin, the candidate backed by Haiti's unpopular President Rene Preval. However, international monitors charged fraud and a subsequent election review put Celestin in third place. Observers suggested he be eliminated from contention.
Preval's government has not officially commented on Duvalier's return, though some Haitians, craving a father figure to lead the nation out of crisis, have commented favorably on the old days of Duvalier.
Back then, the streets were safe, said Port-au-Prince resident Jean Etienne. People could walk outside at night and food was cheap, he said.
But Garry Pierre-Pierre, editor of the New York-based Haitian Times, blamed the father-son Duvalier dynasty for a nation struggling to regain footing. He said the scars still run deep from an era when no one trusted each other.
Pierre-Pierre said he hopes justice will finally prevail.
"If there is a bright sport," he said, "finally we have to face that decision that we have never faced straight up. We've been in denial about what happened during the 29-year reign of dictatorship of the Duvaliers."
Duvalier was supposed to have held a news conference Monday but it was canceled and he remained huddled inside the Karibe until he was taken away Tuesday.
Henry Robert Sterlin, a Duvalier associate, told reporters that Duvalier returned because he was moved by the anniversary of last year's tragic earthquake and because he missed his native land.
"He's deeply hurt in his soul after the earthquake," Sterlin said. "He wanted to come back to see how is the actual Haitian situation -- of the people and of the country."
Sterlin said he did not know how long the former leader had planned to stay.
The Duvalier family ruled Haiti for three decades, starting in 1957 when Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier was elected president. He later declared himself president for life. When he died in 1971, he was succeeded by his son, then only 19.
SOURCE:CNN
Bank calls in the receivers to Newstead Belmont
Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort went into receivership yesterday after Butterfield Bank recalled a multi-million dollar loan.
The luxury Paget property will continue to run, although receivers Ernst and Young have not ruled out selling some, or all, of its assets to recoup the loan.
Butterfield Bank would not say how much the outstanding loan was for, or how long the hotel property had defaulted on it.
A bank spokesman said the company did not take the decision lightly but it was in the best interest of its shareholders and stakeholders.
The resort which boasts 104 hotel rooms, 74 residential units, an 18-hole golf course and world-class spa was the first new large luxury hotel to open on the Island in 30 years.
Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were at the ribbon cutting as owner Kevin Petty said the new development ushered in a tourism renaissance for the Island in 2008.
Yesterday, Mr Petty said he was shocked when he was told the hotel was in receivership at 8am.
The telephone call came after 18 months of negotiations to restructure the financing of the property. However, negotiations broke down neither side will say why last Tuesday and the bank served Belmont and the related companies with a formal demand to repay the debt in full.
“I was not expecting the bank to make a demand for repayment at this time and I was certainly not expecting to come to work [Monday] and find that my first appointment was to be with people from Ernst and Young who have been appointed private receivers under the terms of Belmont's debentures (documents that either create a debt or acknowledge it) with the bank.
“I am in a state of shock and I am taking advice as to what the next steps may be for myself personally, the companies, the creditors, the fractional owners and the resort's employees.
“It is a most unfortunate situation but I am determined to do what I can to protect my employees and keep the resort operating.”
Mr Petty added he would continue to try and raise capital and repay the loan, saying he has already invested ten years of his life and millions of his own money.
“I have sacrificed everything to keep this project alive and I don't intend to simply walk away and lose it all if I can possibly avoid it,” he said.
“I will continue to work with the bank and receivers and hope that this is the shortest receivership in history and the project ultimately succeeds down the road.”
An Ernst and Young spokeswoman said: “Operations will continue to run under the management of the receivers. The receivers do not anticipate any immediate impact on day-to-day operations of the businesses.
“The receivers will focus on reorganising and restructuring operations to facilitate business continuity with a view to a sale of the assets as a going concern.”
A bank spokesman said they were the primary mortgage lender for the property. A spokeswoman for Ernst and Young said they were not in a position to comment on any additional mortgages yesterday.
The two restaurants on the property, Blu and Beau Rivage, are independently owned and not a part of the receivership.
When asked why the bank recalled the loan, a bank spokesman said: “The bank is exercising its legal right to place into receivership the assets of Newstead Belmont Hills Shuttle Ltd, Newstead Belmont Hills Hotel Ltd, Belmont Hills Golf Course Management Ltd and Belmont Hills Property Ltd, which were put up as collateral for various credit facilities extended by the bank.
“The bank took this action following default on payments of principal and interest owed by the companies on loans advanced by Butterfield.
“The decision was not taken lightly, but Butterfield feels it is appropriate at this juncture, and the decision to place the assets into receivership is in the best interests of the bank's shareholders and all other stakeholders.”
In 2009 the bank had $94.3 million worth of credit provision on “hospitality loans” for two properties.
By November 2010 a bank executive said the figure had risen to almost $114 million.
Previously the bank had declined to name either of the properties that had secured the loan. Newstead has long been speculated as one of the properties and a bank official confirmed it yesterday.
Newstead's receivership is the second in the past twelve months. In July last year Pink Beach Club was put in receivership.
Magnitude 7.2 quake hits Pakistan
A major 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked a remote area of southwestern Pakistan early Wednesday, shaking many parts of the country and causing widespread panic, said meteorologists.
The quake was centered in Baluchistan province, the country's most sparsely populated area, said the United States Geological Service. It occured at a depth of some 50 miles (84 kilometers), it said.
Its exact epicenter was in a remote area some 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of the Baluchistan capital of Quetta, said chief Pakistani meteorologist Arif Mahmood.
Local TV reports said the quake was felt throughout several provinces. Many residents in the country's largest city, Karachi, ran out into the streets once the quake started, said the reports.
There were no immediate reports of damage, said Mahmood, the meteorologist. But quakes of this strength can cause widespread destruction.
Tremors lasting at least 20 seconds were also felt as far away as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and in India's capital, New Delhi.
Earthquakes often rattle the region. A magnitude 7.6 quake on Oct. 8, 2005, killed about 80,000 people in northwestern Pakistan and Kashmir and left more than 3 million homeless.
Second Phase of National Conversation to begin in TCI
The first phase of the National Conversation lasted two weeks and this new phase will last another two weeks before completion. I am pleased to report that the dialogue has gone extremely well thus far.
The first Official event on Program was the appearance of the Lead Coordinator, Mrs Sharlene Cartwright Robinson on the popular Talk Show, "Expressions" with its host Mr Robert Hall. Mrs Robinson used the opportunity to encourage the public to join The National Conversation and to present the Program of Events over the next three weeks. During the interview, a number of issues surrounding the economy and the rising crime were addressed. Callers were invited and the following issues were raised: the lack of fort coming information (openness) and transparency on the part of the Interim Government, unemployment, difficulty with former convicts being re-employed, need for education and dialogue on vital Bills for passage.
Mr Derek Taylor, longest serving Chief Minister followed on Friday. He was able to identify decisions made over the past year that may have compromised or eroded the revenue of these Islands and he also offered possible new ways of revenue generation for the Government. He called for a change in our attitude as a people and he also called on the British Government to look at the New Zealand’s Model on Public Sector Reform which allowed for persons who were laid off by the Government to be absorbed by the Private Sector in a pre arrangement.
The first week saw the appearance on Expressions of two former Chief Ministers, Norman Saunders and Washington Misick. Again our Leaders offered their insight on how they see the state of affairs in these Islands. They both shared recommendations on going forward. Mr Misick accepted that we have made mistakes but that we are not 100% at fault. Mr Saunders feels that a return to elected Government is the solution to the majority of the problems we face.
For the first time on Monday, December 7th, 2010, all Coordinators of the National Conversation appeared together on the PTV Talk Show "On Your Mind". Mrs Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Mr Drexwell Seymour and Rev Dr Conrad Howell (who is the Host of "On Your Mind") weighed in on issues of national issues, the Rosindell’s Speech, the role of the Forum and the National Conversation Program.
On Tuesday, December 8, 2010, Lead Coordinator for the National Conversation made an Appearance on Popular Radio Station Blaze where she together with Mr Donhue Gardiner discussed the Kate Sullivan’s Recommendations on Constitutional and Electoral Reform.
A Panel on the Economy was held at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex on the evening of Tuesday, December 8, 2010. A Panel of four persons discussed different matters relating to the economy and the audience was allowed following the Presentations to ask questions and to also make recommendations.
Mr Royal Robinson spoke to the Role of TC Invest and as a former Director of the Agency (previously named Development Board) he was well poised to answer questions from the audience. Recognizing how important the Agency with its various arms (Banking, Inward Investment and Small Business Development) is to the economy of these Islands, he made suggestions so as to improve the efficiency of the Agency.
Mr Seymour gave an overview of how Government makes it monies and expressed the need for a steady stream of revenue but discourages the new taxation plans being considered. He offered a few suggestions on how to move forward with a sound call for greater openness and transparency in dealing with the Government’s finances.
Mr Gordon Kerr a resident of over 20 years spoke to the role of the Financial Services Commission. As a member of the Board since its inception, Mr Kerr was properly positioned to address this. He spoke to the overregulation of the Industry which still brings only nominal revenue to the Government’s coffers. He spoke to the need to challenge some of the regulatory measures. He also spoke to the uncertainty of the present climate in the TCI and the negative impact this is having in attracting investors.
Mr Simon Wood, a resident of over 20 years and an established Architect in a leading Architectural Firm. He spoke of the shortsightedness on the part of successive governments to rely almost solely on the construction industry to fuel the economy. He pointed out that we often defined development with construction and usually equate more construction with positive economic development. He reminded us that not all physical development is positive and
Representatives of the Ministerial Fellowship took to the airwaves on Faith FM 98.9. Rev Pedro Williams, President of the TCI Baptist Union addressed the topic of National Identity generally. He said we must embrace those things that make us unique – our dialect and other practises. He made a clarion call to patriotism. Pastor Bradley Handfield addressed the topic of "Who We Are". He explored this topic by looking at the history of Britain as to how she established herself as a nation and called on us to identify and take pride in who we are, the heirs of hard working slaves that were let here on barren land and left to fend for themselves. He call on TC Islanders to embrace all those who were born here and to establish clearly who are Turks and Caicos Islanders. Bishop Bryan Cox spoke led on the topic of culture. He spoke of the use of culture in Churches so as to encourage pride in national symbols. Rev Conrad Howell spoke on the issue of appreciating who we are.
As we closed the second week, we had the benefit of a Release from MP Andrew Rosindell and the Joint Ministerial Statement made by British Ministers. The National Conversation Program welcomes the list of milestones to the extent that it allows for pointed dialogue. To this end, we agreed to revise the Program. We have also taken into account the feedback and the requests of many of our citizens who had not had the opportunity to listen to the various Interviews over Expressions and The Panel on the Economy. To this end, we are trying to negotiate times with various media houses to replay for the benefit of the Public. Whilst this is ongoing, the Program will gear discussions surrounding Electoral Reform, the Civil Service, Belongership and Immigration generally. The Full Revised Program is as follows:
Meetings throughout the Islands will be as follows:
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Public Meeting in Grand Turk at 6pm
St Stephen James Hall aka Baptist Sunday School Hall
Thursday, January 20, 2011 Meeting with the Political Parties and Poll Workers on Electoral Reform at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex at 5:30pm
Public Meeting at 7:30pm at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex, Providenciales
Friday, January 21, 2011 Expressions on Radio Turks and Caicos at 10am
Guest: Dr Linda Williams on Civil Service and Education
Meeting with the Media at 10am (Providenciales)
Meeting with the Pastors at 2pm (Providenciales)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 Public Meeting at the Community Center, Conch Bar, Middle Caicos at 3pm
Public Meeting at the Community Center, Whitby, North Caicos at 7pm
Saturday, January 29, 2011 Community Center, Salt Cay at 6pm
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 Iris Stubbs Primary School, South Caicos at 6pm
FEBRUARY 16, 2011 REPORT RELEASED
Discussions will be held with Members of the Police Force, Financial Experts, Immigration Enforcement and the Civil Service Association.
In the main time we are exploring the possibility of erecting a Website that will upload the Events of The National Conversation so that persons will be able to listen at their leisure.
Thanks to all the participants thus far. This National Conversation Program has seen the coming together of talents and resources and we wish to thank Mr Gregg Been, Techno Sounds, the Sports Commission, RTC especially Mr Robert Hall and Expressions, all the media houses for your coverage, and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Jai's jewellery robbers faces the TCI law
Four people have been committed to the Supreme Court to be tried for robbing the Jai’s jewelers store in Grace Bay of 15 Rolex watches worth $193,966 in July.
During a preliminary inquiry on Jan. 10, Magistrate Clifton Warner set March 12 for a plea and direction hearing for Wilkie Arthur, Jo’Ram Rigby, Roxanne Lockhart and Lorenzo Ceasar.
Suspects Dorlens Zomar and Franklyn Saintelmon were set free.
Arthur and Ceasar remain remanded in custody at Her Majesty’s Prison. Lockhart and Rigby were further released on conditional court bail.
The suspects were charged with the midday robbery of the Grace Bay location of Jai’s on Saturday, July 10. Shortly after noon, a woman helped the robbers get into the upscale guarded store.
The woman pretended to drop her purse in the entryway, allowing the robbers to rush the security guard manning the of the store door.
Two of the masked men were armed with guns and the third had a cutlass.
The robbery was captured on security cameras.
Police recovered a .22-caliber revolver, clothing worn by the suspects and two vehicles, but none of the watches.
Atlantic Caribbean Line will end services to TCI
Atlantic Caribbean Line (ACL) the main carrier for local shipping company Cairsea Services Ltd, will stop shipping to the Turks and Caicos Islands from Jan. 25.
However Cairsea intends to continue service using other carriers and allow for a smooth transition for customers.
According to local media reports, a circulated email explained that- Caribbean Connection Import/Export, Pamar Logistics and Cairsea will be providing the same or improved services for local customers.
Ken Shields, president of the Ft. Pierce, Fla.-based carrier, is quoted as stating: "We enjoyed many good years in Provo and developed a number of nice relationships with our Provo customers, our partners at Cairsea Services, and our Provo ACL team members. This decision was a very difficult one, but we feel it is in the best interest of the long-term viability of our company as a whole."
ACL also serves Freeport, Grand Bahama Island and Nassau in the Bahamas from their headquarters in Ft. Pierce, Fla. Cairsea is managed by Rodney and Sharon Thompson.
Disaster Management Staff To Enhance Language Capabilities
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government officers at the forefront of managing natural disasters and emergencies in the TCI are preparing themselves to be able to communicate more effectively with wider sections of the diverse TCI community.
Five officials of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) and the Ministry of Home Affairs will undertake computer based language training programmes designed to help them communicate more effectively with local Spanish and French speaking communities.
Director of Disaster Management Jamell Robinson said “The training will improve the ability of the DDME and the Ministry of Home Affairs to deliver on their core overall objectives to all communities of the TCI. It also provides the opportunity for personal development of the participants in the programme.”
The Rosetta Stone TOTAL e Language programme was purchased for the TCI by the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency Coordinating Unit (CDEMA CU) through the support of the Institutional Support and Capacity Building for Disaster Management in the Caribbean.
“The training uses the Rosetta Stone TOTALe Language Programme which involves all modes of language learning: speaking, listening, reading and writing,” he said.
Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission
As part of its on-going commitment to the advancement of human rights in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the TCI Human Rights Commission will continue its participation in the project Building Human Rights Capacity in the UK Overseas Territories.
A workshop, originally scheduled for November last year but postponed due to the passage of hurricane Tomas, has now been rescheduled for January 17th through 21st with the UK trainers holding sessions in Grand Turk and Providenciales.
The project is being sponsored by DFID in partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The goals of the workshop are to:
- Increase the commitment by Overseas Territories Governments and partners to an improved human rights agenda
- Increase the awareness and capacity of governments and civil society to address human rights issues in the long term
- Strengthen human rights reporting and monitoring arrangements in accordance with relevant international treaties
This is the second in a series of proposed workshops to be held. The aim is to provide all participants in the training sessions with the foundation/building blocks about human rights and to address the needs of particular government departments and civil society in order to enable them to apply rights in practice/in their work. The training will seek to address matters that arise in the various Government Departments and other institutions and agencies such as Immigration, Labour, SPICE, the Police, Education, Health, Social Services, Gender Affairs, NGOs, Media, Business/Corporate Community, Statutory Bodies, Youth Affairs, Courts and Civil Society Groups.
Participants will, among other things examine;
- the role of civil society in promoting and protecting human rights
- rights as regards to gender equality, access to justice, immigration and labour rights, and
- how best to encourage civil society to monitor human rights, advocate for greater human rights protection, lobby authorities and use the international machinery for human rights protection.