UK PM poised for protocol change ahead of crisis talks
The UK government is poised to introduce legislation which would allow ministers in London to override parts of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, a senior government source has said.
Boris Johnson is due to visit Belfast later to encourage the restoration of Northern Ireland's government.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is refusing to enter the assembly because of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
It was designed to ensure free trade continued across the Irish land border.
The recent assembly election on 5 May cemented a majority for those who accept the protocol, including the new largest party, Sinn Féin. But it has been opposed by unionist politicians.
The DUP has argued the protocol has eroded the foundations devolution was built on and undermined Northern Ireland's position in the UK.
Despite signing up to the deal himself, Boris Johnson agrees changes are needed.
Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, he said the protocol was out of date and did not reflect the reality of a post-Covid era with a European war and a cost of living crisis.
He added that he was open to dialogue but warned the UK would have to act if the EU did not change its position.
A senior government source said that barring any last minute changes, the government would introduce the legislation to strip away parts of the protocol to enable easier trade.
Such legislation would have to go through parliament however, which could take months.
Some fear that should the UK act unilaterally, it could spark retaliation from European countries and ultimately a trade war - the last thing many businesses and households want at the time of a cost of living crisis.
The last crisis at Stormont took three years to resolve.
Boris Johnson wants this one to be sorted much more quickly but others won't hold out the same hope.
During his flying visit he'll urge the parties to get back to work - in truth a message aimed mainly at the DUP which argues the stumbling block remains the protocol.
The party says it won't promise anything until it sees action from No 10.
Those first steps are expected to be announced by the government on Tuesday.
Already Sinn Féin has accused the prime minister of playing politics and Dublin warned that any unilateral action will mean retaliation from the EU.
Solving political problems requires trust on all sides - something in very short supply right now.
Source-BBC
Second hand Electric models car sales higher
Second-hand car sales have risen this year, boosted by a sharp increase in the number of used electric vehicles on the market.
Sales of used cars in the UK rose 5.1% between January and March, compared to the same three months last year.
But the market for electric cars, which only makes up a small percentage of the overall second-hand market, more than doubled in size.
Electric car sales were "energising" the market, the SMMT said.
The most popular models overall were the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, and Volkswagen Golf. But consumers appeared keen to snap up more environmentally-friendly cars where possible, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed.
"Zero emission vehicles [are] starting to filter through in larger numbers to consumers looking forward to driving the latest and greenest vehicles," Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said.
"Although there is some way to go before we see the recent growth in new EVs replicated in the used market, a buoyant new car market will be vital to help drive fleet renewal which is essential to the delivery of carbon savings," he said.
Sales of used battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which run purely on electric power, grew from 6,625 to 14,586 in the first three months of the year, a rise of 120.2% from a year earlier.
Plug in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) which together make up a larger share of the used car market also changed hands in greater numbers, totalling just under 50,000 vehicles.
Smaller models continued to be more popular for buyers in the second-hand market. Larger multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) , declined by 7.5%, followed by luxury saloons which were down 3.4%.
Black was the most popular colour choice accounting for one in every five cars sold.
A shortage of semiconductors and other electronic components was holding back supply in the new car market, said David Leggett, editor of specialist news site Just Auto.
He said it was therefore unsurprising that there had been a boom in the second-hand market. "The prices of used cars soared over last 12 months," he said.
The ramp up in sales of second-hand electric vehicles in particular was set to continue over the next few years as more new stock fed through to the used car market, Mr Leggett added.
"We are at a fairly early stage still in terms of the impact of BEVs on the new car market and seeping through to the stock of cars out there," he said.
As challenges within the electric car market over charging and consumer hesitation over adapting to the technology recede, he predicted a "transformation" of first the new and then used car markets.
Used car prices have risen, generally, by 30-40% in the last two years, according to KPMG.
Source-BBC
US Coast Guard offloads US$5.6 million in cocaine seized in Caribbean Sea
The United States Coast Guard says the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier and Caribbean Corridor Strike Force agents have offloaded 626 pounds of cocaine seized in the Caribbean Sea, with an estimated wholesale value of about US$5.6 million, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The US Coast Guard said the offload of the contraband resulted from a go-fast vessel interdiction on April 28, in the Mona Passage near the Dominican Republic.
The interdiction is the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force.
The coast guard said that on the morning of April 28, the crew of a Coast Guard HC-27J Spartan aircraft detected a suspect vessel north of Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
“Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the cutter Joseph Napier that arrived on scene with the suspect vessel,” the US Coast Guard said. “Upon detecting the presence of the Coast Guard cutter, the occupants of the suspect vessel were observed jettisoning multiple bales of suspected contraband into the water and attempting to flee the area toward Dominican Republic territorial waters.
“Once in Dominican Republic waters, the crew of a Dominican Republic Navy vessel interdicted the suspect vessel and apprehended three Dominican Republic nationals who were aboard,” it added.
The US Coast Guard said the crew of the cutter Joseph Napier recovered 11 bales of the jettisoned suspected contraband, which tested positive for cocaine.
“Safeguarding the nation’s southernmost maritime border is among our top priorities,” said Captain Gregory H. Magee, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander. “You can expect to see many more of these interdictions from the Coast Guard, federal and local law enforcement, and from our Dominican Republic Navy partners as we work together to stop drug smuggling go-fast vessels at sea and prevent them from making landfall in Puerto Rico.”
The US Coast Guard said special agents supporting the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force are leading the investigation into this case.
Source-CMC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FRIDAY 13TH MAY 2022
GENERAL SITUATION: A BROAD AND DEEP LAYERED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NORTH OF THE AREA WILL PULL ABUNDANT TROPICAL MOISTURE NORTHWARDS ACROSS THE BAHAMAS TODAY MAKING FOR AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE ISLANDS THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: HAZARDOUS BEACHING AND BOATING CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TODAY DUE TO MODERATE SWELLS…A MODERATE THREAT FOR WATERSPOUT AND/OR FUNNEL CLOUD ACTIVITY CONTINUES…BEACHGOERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN VIGILANT DUE TO ROUGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG NORTH AND EAST COAST BEACHES…THERE IS ALSO THE THREAT FOR A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL.
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS & TURKS & CAICOS
WEATHER: MOSTLY CLOUDY TO OVERCAST AND BREEZY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT…SOME SHOWERS WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET NEARSHORE BUILDING UP TO 8 FEET OFFSHORE IN NORTH TO NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS MAINLY ALONG ATLANTIC EXPOSED SHORELINES.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY 84°F 29°C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 71°F 21°C
SUNSET: 7:45PM
MOONRISE: 5:21PM
LOW TIDE: 12:17PM & 12:57AM SAT
HIGH TIDE: 6:35PM FRI & 6:51AM SAT
WEATHER OUTLOOK: 11:00 AM (FOR TOMORROW/WEEKEND)…LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT NORTH OF THE AREA THROUGH SATURDAY PULLING A PLUME OF TROPICAL MOISTURE ACROSS THE BAHAMAS…THIS WILL RESULT IN AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN ACROSS THE BAHAMAS INTO THE WEEKEND…
Police hunts for a jitney driver following crime against School Children
The Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit is actively investigating a report of an unknown male who is operating what appears to be an illegal jitney. He picked up a school girl and subjected her to a sexual attack. The victim is now safe and being cared for.
We are seeking the assistance of families and communities in disseminating this information that is of vital importance to both government and private schools to put measures in place for the safety of children after school.
Parents and guardians are asked to be aware and take precautions and make provisions for their children to be collected safely from schools by someone who is trusted and to desist from allowing their child / children to ride home in illegal jitneys.
Parents and guardians are also asked to listen to your children and teach them not to keep unsafe secrets. Most abusers cultivate strong relationships with children before progressing to sexual offences. Often, they start by testing a child’s boundaries by being inappropriate in other ways such as buying them gifts, giving them money and making them feel special. Parents and guardians should look out for these signs and alert the police.
The RTCIPF Safeguarding Unit has specially trained officers who will deal with any reports in strict confidence. They will listen to you and support those most vulnerable.
Any information can be passed to the police at 911 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously; or contact the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit on telephone number 649 2326696 / MASH 338 4013
LOCALIZED FLOODING DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
The Public Works Department, in the Ministry of Physical Planning & Infrastructure Development, would like to advise the general public that we are aware of the various areas around Providenciales, which experienced high levels of water due to recent rains and that the situation will shortly be addressed through short and long-term strategies.
The Public Works Department, will continue to address the excess silt on the roads, maintain road shoulders and monitor the various wells and drains to ensure that they remain clean and where necessary install additional drainage wells. Contractors are also reminded to create temporary (and later permanent) drainage for all inclined / sloped construction accesses that lead directly onto a public road, in order to avoid contributing to factors that create some of these flood events. Our colleagues at the Department of Planning will make regular site visits during this period to ensure that persons are in compliance with this requirement.
The Hon Akierra Missick, Minister of PPID stated “We confirm that we do have drainage wells in the these areas and plans are in place, including the necessary financial allocations, for desilting programs, including the clean out of existing wells, installation of additional wells, constructing of a retention pond, improve the capacity of the road pumps (where identified), building of road side drainage, installation of culverts, review road levels and implement concrete road edge curbs to direct and assist in the removal of water in a faster and more efficient manner. PPID has undertaken long term measures to address this and other issues through the Transportation and Shoreline Master Plans, and we will also address them through our Public Investment Program Budget, particularly, as we go into the 2022 Hurricane Season. We urge motorists to use good judgment during heavy rains and not to test the limits of their vehicles either.”
The Ministry of PPID as part of its 2022/2023 Public Investment Program Budget, has received approval for a program which will among other things address the drainage challenges on the various islands of the TCI, which US$ 3 Million is budgeted for this financial year.
In the interim, the Public Works Department is doing all that can be done, to ensure that the waters subside as quickly as possible, via the various strategically placed pumps, wells and drains around Providenciales and we thank the public for their patience at this time.
Sloop Headed to Turks and Caicos Islands Intercepted by US Coastguard
The TCI is facing constant activity on the high seas, keeping law enforcemet & the Marine branch busy in keeping the illegal sloops out of our waters.
RTC News was iformned by the RTCIPF that at around 9:15am on Monday 9th May 2022, a sloop, believed to be heading to the Turks and Caicos Islands was identified by our close law enforcement partners, the US Coastguard around 21nm south of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The RTCIPF Marine Branch was deployed and the Immigration Enforcement were informed. However, the vessel was intercepted by a US Coastguard Cutter and the persons on board will be repatriated back to Haiti. The total number of persons on board was 212.
Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting said, “I am grateful to our close collaborative partners from the US Coastguard who intercepted this large vessel which was believed to be headed to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through working together with the USCG and colleagues from the Bahamas Defence Force, we are deploying a strong collaborative defence of the borders and territorial waters of the TCI, Bahamas and the US.”
MAY IS FOSTER CARE MONTH
The month of May is not only Mental Health Month, but it is also Foster Care Month. The Department of Social Development and Welfare, along with the Ministry of Home Affairs, joins the rest of the world in
celebrating National Foster Care Month under the theme “Relative and Kin Connections: Keeping Families Strong”.
The Department expressed the importance of foster care saying that as a community, it is crucial that we come together to recognize the important role foster care parents play in caring for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, and supporting family reunification.
They went on to say that this month, we must focus on the importance of kinship care, identifying and strengthening family connections and maintaining positive community ties which can make all the difference in the lives of children.
The department mentioned the activities for this month will focus on the importance of foster care. For the month the May, they will provide educational workshops with current foster care parents; self-care or Health and Wellness Day for foster care parents and foster care children; and a Recruitment Drive and Community Awareness Campaign
POLICE NEWS IN THE CAPITAL & CITY
In the early hours of this morning, Monday 9th May, a series of gunshots were heard in the North Back Salina area of Grand Turk, where a young male has become the victim of gun violence.
The Police reported that they are currently investigating the murder of the young male who was shot several times. The identity of the victim has not yet been divulged to the public.
On Sunday, at about 12:30am, it was reported that a sloop had landed at Northwest Point when a boat was found on the shore. The police also reported that whilst the vessel was detected by the Coastal Radar Station, the vessel was too close to the coast to be intercepted by the RTCIPF Marine Branch, despite the Police boat being in the area at the time.
The Police and Immigration Enforcement were subsequently deployed to Northwest Point after several suspected illegal migrants were seen in the area.
Later that day at around 8:30pm, the Coastal Radar Station alerted the Police Control Room that they were tracking a target seven miles off the coast of Providenciales. The RTCIPF Marine Branch subsequently intercepted a boat carrying suspect illegal migrants at just after 9pm.
The vessel and persons were detained and brought into South Dock. The Police reported that forty-nine persons, including three children were handed over to the Immigration Enforcement Team and taken to the Immigration Detention Centre.
On Saturday, 7th May, at about 3:41am as police officers were on patrol, they conducted a stop and search on a male who was seen in the vicinity of the First Caribbean Roundabout. The police reported that during the search, two laptops, along with other items were found in a backpack that the man was carrying.
Police Officers subsequently made inquiries and discovered that the said laptops were stolen from a location along Leeward Highway, which appeared to have been burglarized.
The male was then arrested on Suspicion of Burglary, and the case remains an active burglary investigation.
Golden State Warriors dominate Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks edge out Boston Celtics
Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson combined for 78 points as the Golden State Warriors dominated the Memphis Grizzlies to lead their Western Conference semi-final series.
In the first one-sided game of the best-of-seven series, the Warriors won 142-112 to take a 2-1 lead.
In the Eastern Conference play-offs, the Milwaukee Bucks edged out the Boston Celtics 103-101.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points as the Bucks moved 2-1 ahead.
The Celtics had mounted a late comeback in Saturday's game three, bouncing back from 13 points adrift to take a one-point lead with one minute and 49 seconds remaining courtesy of Jaylen Brown's pair of free throws.
But Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday put the Bucks back ahead, a lead they didn't again relinquish despite late attempts from the Celtics with Al Horford landing what would have been a game-tying basket milliseconds after the buzzer had sounded.
In San Francisco, Curry made a team-high 30 points, while Thompson added 21 and Poole 27 off the bench in the Warriors win.
Curry's total was the fourth time in these play-offs that he had made 30, and moved him past Paul Pierce and Kevin McHale into 21st place on the NBA's all-time post-season scoring list.
The Grizzlies' Ja Morant led the game with 34 points but had to miss the final six minutes after appearing to clash knees with Poole.
Grizzlies' coach Taylor Jenkins later said Poole had "grabbed his knee and yanked it", with Morant later tweeting - and deleting - that Poole had "broke the code".
Poole denied he had intentionally hurt his opponent.
"I hit the ball and I was going for the ball. Obviously, you don't want to see anybody get hurt. I'm not even that type of player. I respect everybody," he said.
"Hopefully he gets better, and we can see him out there next game. I don't even play like that for real. That's not my type [of] game."
Source-BBC