Cuba, US meet on immigration amid disagreements
Senior US and Cuban diplomats met in Havana yesterday to discuss immigration issues in an encounter that was expected to turn to more contentious matters, such as the detention of an American man whom Cuba accuses of spying.
Heading the talks for the US is Roberta Jacobsen, the US principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. It was not clear who was representing the Cuban delegation.
Talks got under way yesterday morning, said Gloria Berbena, a spokeswoman for the US Interests Section, which Washington maintains instead of an embassy.
The gathering will focus on a 17-year-old agreement under which the US issues 20,000 visas to Cubans a year. But diplomats on both sides use the twice-yearly meetings to detail a long-standing list of complaints.
The Cuban delegation never fails to voice its opposition to Washington's 48-year trade embargo, which Havana says has placed a stranglehold on the island's economy.
American diplomats are sure to raise the issue of Alan Gross, an American subcontractor jailed by Cuba for more than a year without charge on suspicion of spying, as well as what they consider Cuba's spotty human-rights record overall.
US officials have made clear that there is little hope for improved relations while Cuba holds Gross. They have also continued to call on Cuban authorities to open up the island's political system to democratic reform.
Relations between the two Cold War enemies have been sour for more than half a century, since shortly after Fidel Castro's revolution turned the island into a Soviet ally.
Hopes that President Barack Obama would usher in a new era in bilateral relations are long gone, replaced by the usual recriminations from both sides.
According to leaked American diplomatic cables, Cuban President Raul Castro -- Fidel's brother, who has been running Cuba since 2006 — approached Washington about opening backdoor talks with the White House, but was rebuffed.
Source:AP
International drug lord sought over £7m ganja haul
POLICE in the United Kingdom are hunting down an international drug lord in connection with the seizure of £7 million-worth of ganja, shipped via Jamaica from Cuba last year, reports the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.
The drugs were individually parcelled and labelled, leading Northamptonshire police to believe that they were intended to be distributed throughout the UK. Police said their investigation had now centred on one individual.
"Enquiries were made internationally with other law enforcement agencies and these are continuing," said Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies. “We are looking to arrest a man in connection with this seizure and we maintain an open mind as to the eventual destination of this drugs consignment, but we don’t believe, at this time, it was intended for Northamptonshire.”
The haul, believed to one of the biggest ever seized in the UK, weighed a total of 1.3 tonnes and was found on a lorry travelling between Daventry and Corby in April last year.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com
Turks and Caicos Banking Company restructures its operations
The Turks and Caicos Banking Company, the country's oldest independent private bank, has announced plans to restructure its operations by consolidating its activities into its new headquarters in Regent Village on Grace Bay Road in Providenciales, where it will continue to serve its Grand Turk clients. This will formally take effect upon final approval of the Financial Services Commission.
In a media release, Turks and Caicos Banking Company said it has decided to close its offices in Grand Turk with immediate effect. The Bank just recently acquired new premises at The Regent Village on Grace Bay road as a permanent headquarters of the islands. The release said that as a private bank which specializes in global asset management, and with the assistance of modern technology, the location of physical offices is not of primary concern, unlike commercial banks which operate tellers and check-clearing facilities.
We are very proud of our history in Turks and Caicos and see a bright future for the bank and its clients throughout the Islands," said Anton Faessler, TCBC President. "Our new office provides us with an opportunity to expand and enhance our products for all of our clients,he added.
As a private bank, TCBC has been a leader in providing offshore banking services to its clients for over 30 years, and has been consistently profitable throughout its existence. The company established its head office at Caribbean Place in Provo in 2002 and moved to its new location earlier this month.
With assets approaching $100,000,000, assets under management of $45,000,000 and a strong balance sheet, TCBC works closely with its clients in areas including wealth management, lending, and currency management. In addition it has correspondent banking and brokerage relationships with leading financial institutions throughout the world.
Extended deadline to comment on revised recommendations for constitutional and electoral reform
Ms Kate Sullivan, TCI Constitutional and Electoral Reform Adviser, today outlined the next steps for her review of constitutional and electoral arrangements in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Following the interest shown by Turks and Caicos Islands residents throughout 2010, Ms Sullivan added a second opportunity for the public to comment on formal proposals for change. Her revised recommendations were published in November for this purpose and the deadline for comments and reactions was 14 January 2011.
Ms Sullivan said: I welcome the responses I have already received to my revised recommendations from individuals and groups in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am also grateful to the Consultative Forum for convening yesterdays meeting. I would like to give some more time for reflection on the discussion in the Forum, and to provide the opportunity for further comments on my revised recommendations.
Once British ministers have considered the recommendations for possible constitutional change, a draft constitutional Order in Council will be prepared to incorporate those changes. It is hoped that the draft Order will be ready for publication in the Turks and Caicos Islands in February. This will be followed by a further period of consultation.
In order to not impede this important next stage of the process, Ms Sullivan is encouraging all interested persons to submit their views on her revised recommendations as soon as possible. The final deadline for comments on these is 31 January. Interested persons are welcome to make a written response to some or all of the revised recommendations. Such responses can be made via:tciconstitution@hotmail.com
or
PO Box 68 Grand Turk
Ms Sullivan has published her report on the Governors Office website and copies are available from the Governors Office in Grand Turk at Waterloo and from the Governors Office in Providenciales at the Hilly Ewing Building.
Turks and Caicos constitutional deadline extended
The first sitting of the Consultative Forum for the New Year on Tuesday raised several issues that Turks and Caicos Islanders are viewing with interest.
Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) Douglas Parnell requested an extension of the time for residents to submit suggestions to constitutional reform specialist Kate Sullivan. Sullivan had set a deadline of January 14 but Parnell asked that this be set back to January 31.
It was learned that, late on Tuesday, Governor Gordon Wetherell approved Parnell's request.
This will give Sullivan additional time, not only to obtain suggestions from individuals, but also to review the report submitted by the All Party Constitutional reform group. It was Parnell who also called for the formation of this committee.
The All Party group is headed by Attorney Wendell Swan, who also appeared before the United Nations Committee on Decolonization. This All Party group conducted meetings around the islands seeking suggestions from all interested parties. The All Party Group suggestions include a process for recall of any parliamentarian.
This recall provision, which was not part of the 2006 Constitution, could have served as the mechanism for removal of Michael Misick as premier. Late in the term of the last internal government, Misick refused to resign and, when a motion of no confidence was proposed by the three-member PDM opposition, it was.
However it appeared the motion had wide support among the majority of members of the then ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) and during a party caucus Misick was forced to resign, with Galmo Williams taking over the party leadership and premiership until the report from the Commission of Inquiry and a Order in Council resulted in direct rule being imposed by Britain.
Sullivan, who was appointed by the British Labour government prior to the May 2010 general election in the UK, conducted two series of meetings.
In the first series, many reported her as aloof and dictatorial. However, after the change of government in Britain, Sullivan was reported to be much more open to input by islanders. In fact, her second set of recommended changes, which she authored post election, incorporated several key changes islanders insisted upon. One was the arbitrary expansion of the voting franchise in favour of a path to citizenship in a process similar to the larger democracies (the USA requires a minimum of five years of productive residency).
Sullivan's second series of meetings in Grand Turk, North and Middle Caicos were viewed by islanders as consultative and constructive. However, in the most populated island of Providenciales (Provo) she was forced to close the meeting early due to loud demonstrations and the burning of her recommendations in the parking lot.
On a second occasion she was also met by angry protesters at the Provo Airport. Most of the protesters were identified as PNP activists. Clayton Greene himself told the country on television this week that he was part of the crowd at the airport confronting Sullivan
An anticipated third round of meetings was cancelled by Sullivan when she established the January 14 write-in deadline.
Appearing at the Tuesday Forum meeting was Carlos Simons, who previously chaired the Forum and who resigned to seek the leadership of the PNP. Simons is viewed as a reformer but was only able to obtain one third of the needed leadership support at the PNP's August convention. At Tuesday's Forum meeting he promised to propose a set of recommendations of his own. These, he said, may or may not be approved by the PNP.
Also appearing from the PNP was former chief minister and now national chairman, Norman Saunders. Saunders told the Forum that his view of Sullivan's recommendations were that she would frame a TCI constitution which is based on the premise that TC Islanders are criminals.
Saunders son, EJ Saunders, choose not to attend the forum meeting, claiming prior commitments.
Saunders did issue a statement read on Radio Turks and Caicos, which was not directly related to the constitutional reform process or Tuesday Forum meeting.
Missing at Tuesday's meeting were invitees Galmo Williams and Clayton Greene, the current leader of the PNP.
Greene sent a letter to the Forum saying he would not attend because he did not agree with the suspension of the constitution. Therefore, he does not recognise the Consultative Forum, which includes Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Another former chief minister, Derek Taylor, told the Forum that it was his belief that the suspension of the 2006 Constitution was caused not by constitutional weakness but by human misdeeds and therefore this is what must be guarded against in selection of future leaders.
Parnell said that it was important to get the constitutional changes right because the suspension and changes to a constitution are a difficult process.
The PDM leader said, In order to get it right, the process must include time for debate or some form of referendum as there are varying points of view.
On the issue of political campaigns, Parnell spoke to the high cost of mounting an election campaign. He did however ask for restrictions on contributions from any foreign non-belonger entities.
Parnell also said all contributions must be available for review by the Integrity Commission.
Advisory Council meets
The Advisory Council held its first meeting of the year on 12 January at the NJS Francis building, in Grand Turk.
Councilors discussed the presentation on Constitutional and Electoral Reform which took place the previous day in Grand Turk. They noted the constructive atmosphere in which the meeting was held and the participation of different sectors of the community.
The Council discussed the new Crown Land Policy with Crown Land Advisor, Mr. Jon Llewellyn and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and District Administration, Mrs. Mary Harvey. Members of the Council considered suggestions made by members of the public during the consultation exercise on Crown Land policy last year. The same recommendations on Crown Land policy are scheduled to be presented to the Consultative Forum later this month.
The Permanent Secretary Home Affairs and Public Safety Ms. Denise Saunders, accompanied by Mrs. Desiree Downes from the Attorney Generals Chambers presented a paper amending the Road Traffic ordinance. Representatives of the Grand Turk Taxi Association also presented their views on amendment and described issues that were specific to Grand Turk. The Council recommended some minor amendments before the paper progressed to the Consultative Forum.
The Council took the time to meet with the press for a briefing on the issues raised during the meeting and to answer questions from the public and various media houses.
The Taxi Association was represented by Mr Earle Fulford, President, Mr. Moses Ambritton, Vice President, and Mr. James Ingham Treasurer of the Association.
21 year old Garrick Tucker charged with Aggravated Burglary
Police in Grand Turk have charged Mr.Garrick Tucker a 21 year old Turks and Caicos Islander for Aggravated Burglary.
This is in connection with an incident which occurred at the Osprey Beach Hotel in Grand Turk on Sunday night 9th January 2011.
Garrick Tucker will appear in Providenciales Magistrate's Court # 2 on Friday 14th January 2011 at 9:00am to answer to the charge.
TCI to host Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist, Church in the Caribbean and the Americas
The annual session of the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands Conference of the Methodist, Church in the Caribbean and the Americas will convene at Wesleyan Methodist Church in Blue Hills Providenciales from today 13th to the 24th January 2011 under the theme PURSUING OUR MISSION TOGETHER THROUGH COMMITTED AND RESPONSIBLE SERVICE.
The Conference will commence with a Ministerial retreat from today Thursday to Friday, followed by a Ministerial session on Saturday. Lords Day Sunday will be devoted to worship services at the Various Methodist Churches where Probationer presbyters and evangelists in training, will do their trial services.
On Monday at 2.15 p.m., the flag-raising ceremony, chaired by the Vice President Mrs. Judy Munroe, will take place during which time the flags of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands will be raised followed by the Conference flags. The representative session commences at 5.30 p.m. and during the evening, the welcome and communion service will take place at 7p.m.
Conference continues with sessions during the day and evangelistic and open air services during the evening as well as the annual Conference Prayer breakfast on Saturday. The official Conference service will be held at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 23rd January.
Conference will be chaired by the President, Bishop Rev Derek C O Browne who is presiding over his first Conference since becoming Bishop of the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands Methodist Conference. Delegates will come from through the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos as Well as representatives from the Connexional Conference headquarters in Antigua.
RTC News will have more as the Conference progresses.
TCHTA's Caesar Campbell heads a team of 17 to Jamaica
A visionary and creative small hotelier in Jamaica believes the Caribbean Marketplace travel trade convention that opens in Port Antonio, Jamaica this weekend, is a unique opportunity to highlight the contribution of the region's smaller hotels and resorts to the international draw of the Caribbean and a team of 17 from the TCI, will be among those benefitting from the experience.
The team is headed by Caesar Campbell, CEO of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, the TCHTA and includes other members of the TCHTA, the Tourist Board and tour operators.
Dr. Paul Rhodes, who runs the Great Huts eco-themed property in Port Antonio, said the hundreds of travel and tourism movers and shakers visiting Jamaica for the convention, offer "the face of the Caribbean - we smaller hotels" - a rare chance to share unique stories about the appeal of a "down-home" hospitality experience.
"We in the smaller hotels offer what customers are yearning to experience when they travel to the Caribbean on vacation - human interaction and cultural connections," said Dr. Rhodes, a medical practitioner-turned resort owner and community volunteer.
Dr. Rhodes believes Jamaica and the Caribbean's smaller hotels are part and parcel of the people-to-people experience for which many Caribbean countries have become renowned.
"Our staff have chosen careers in this industry to learn from our guests, to share our indigenous culture and music, our amazing cuisine, but more importantly, to make new friends and share the warmth of the Caribbean," said the hotelier whose property sits within a stone's throw of Port Antonio's Boston Bay.
Rhodes congratulated the Jamaican government and the private sector for their tireless efforts to open the brand new Montego Bay Convention Centre in time for Caribbean Marketplace which is expected to host more than 1,300 members of the travel and tourism trade.
Caribbean Marketplace opens on Sunday, January 16 and culminates with a Jamaican musical extravaganza on Tuesday, January 18, 2011.
TCHTA's CEO Caesar Campbell, heads the team of 17 from the TCHTA, the Tourist Board and tour operators, at this years Caribbean Marketplace on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Alison Capron parts ways with WIV
As of January 10th 2011 Alison Capron former WIV 4 news anchor and reporter, parted ways with WIV 4 News. Ms. Capron has expressed thanks to the public for their unwavering support and encouragement over the years that she has been employed at WIV 4 News.
Capron said .Without the consistent supportive feedback from the community, I could not have achieved all that I have up to date the public has been my motivation over my past two years working with WIV News. There is no better feeling then knowing you have been a valuable asset to your community.
She is also thanking WIV 4 News for their support during her employment with the company Capron stated
I want to thank Nigel Wardle, Director of WIV Group for his belief in my potential and for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow. I would also like to thank Teri Davis WIV Administrator for her guidance and leadership. I must also thank my hard working co-workers for their daily support.
Capron stated that she plans to continue to be involved in the community by beginning a new venture in Public Relations through her Capron Communications Consultancy Firm.
Commenting on her new endeavor, she said Having been intimately involved in the PR and news business in the Turks and Caicos . Capron Communications is aptly positioned to provide expert advice to local businesses wanting to position their brand within the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Anyone wishing to contact Capron Communications can email caproncommunications@gmail.com or reach Alison Capron at (649) 232-5052.