Mystery surrounds death of former top Haitian prosecutor
Mystery surrounds the death of Claudey Gassant, the former commissioner of the Government of Port-au-Prince, whose body was found at his residence in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on Saturday.
Gassant, who is best known for his role as the investigative judge tasked with finding out who murdered journalist Jean Léopold Dominique and a security guard on April 3, 2000, was due in the United States to attend a conference on Haiti's widening insecurity over the last weekend.
He had been living in the neighbouring Dominican Republic with his family and the death is now being treated as “suspicious”, with some media outlets reporting that he may have committed suicide.
The national investigation department officials have visited the house to determine the axact cause of the death.
Gassant was secretary of state for justice under the Préval Government, consul of Haiti in Santiago, and former director general of the Anti-Corruption Unit (2019-2020).
“I am devastated by the news of the death of my friend Claudy Gassant in the Dominican Republic. Honest, courageous and competent, he has always proven himself in all the positions he has occupied. An independent investigation is called for,” said Frantz Exantus, the secretary of state for communication.
Former prime minister, Laurent Lamothe said he was saddened at the death of his friend, adding “Gassant… is no longer with us. Peace to his soul. Goodbye, Claudy.”
Haiti's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Smith Augustin confirmed the death, adding “we've lost, in a dramatic way, one of our most savvy experts on penal procedures.
“I will miss the friendship and the intelligent conversations I regularly had with him on how we could be useful to Haiti besides involvement in politics.”
Source-CMC
USA stun Mexico in extra time to win Gold Cup final
The United States claimed their seventh Concacaf Gold Cup title on Sunday night with a thrilling 1-0 extra time win over defending champions Mexico in Las Vegas.
Miles Robinson headed in the winner, soaring over Mexican defender Edison Alvarez deep into extra time and bouncing it past goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera to set off a wild celebration at Allegiant Stadium.
“I am happy we got the win,” said Robinson. “Just awesome, crazy emotions. I knew if I could get open and get a half step then I could finish it.”
Matt Turner was also superb in goal for the upstart Americans, who finished undefeated in the biennial North American showcase tournament.
This was the American team's first Gold Cup title since 2017, and avenged their defeat to Mexico in the 2019 final.
The USA has now defeated Mexico in back-to-back tournaments for the first time. They also beat Mexico in extra time in the Concacaf Nations League final in early June.
The game was played in Las Vegas but it might as well have been Mexico City, with the flag-waving, sold-out crowd of over 60,000 a sea of Mexican supporters in green and red.
It was a familiar scene for the American team, used to being treated like a visiting team on home soil whenever they play Mexico.
Seeking their ninth Gold Cup win, Mexico controlled the first half but the USA fought back after the break, carrying their momentum into extra time.
Robinson scored the winner in the 118th minute after teammate Kellyn Acosta sent a deep free kick into the 18-yard box.
The USA made the final due to to Turner's heroics, despite fielding one of their youngest line-ups ever in a Gold Cup.
Both Turner and Talavera made huge saves Sunday to keep it scoreless through regulation.
Turner, who plays for the New England Revolution of the MLS, started every game and posted five shutouts.
He is hoping his performance in the Gold Cup will earn him a spot on the national team for World Cup qualifying.
Mexico came out flying to start the second half and had a trio of chances in the first seven minutes, but they were unable to find the target.
That's when the US started to create some quality chances that were missing in the first half for them.
Source-AFP
Delta Variant: COVID-19 B.1.617.2 identified in Turks and Caicos Islands
On July 30 2021, the Ministry of Health received the results of genomic sequencing which was conducted through the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on samples from the TCI.
These samples were shipped by the National Public Health Laboratory in the TCI from positive samples identified through local PCR testing. Sequencing was undertaken in order to identify if recent cases were caused by any of the variants identified internationally. Previously, the gamma and alpha COVID-19 Variants were confirmed in the TCI.
An additional 8 (eight) samples were sent for analysis from which 4 (four) cases of the Delta B.1.617.2 variant were identified. This represents 50% of samples sent in this last batch testing positive for the Variant of Concern (VOC). All of the individuals completed quarantine and have recovered.
The Delta variant was first detected in India, October 2020. As of May 11 2021, The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it to be a VOC. Presently there are a total of 4 (four) VOC’s that have been classified as such by the WHO: Alpha (UK), Beta (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil) and Delta (India). VOC’s exhibit mutations that enable the virus to be more transmissible (easier to spread), more virulent (causes more severe disease-hospitalizations and death), and may negatively affect the efficacy of vaccines.
The evidence of additional COVID-19 variants being detected locally highlights the need for all TCI residents to remain vigilant in protecting themselves and one another through the use of face coverings, frequent hand-washing, physical distancing and getting vaccinated.
The public is reminded to;
1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
2. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
3. Maintain physical distancing of 6 feet between persons
4. Wear face coverings in public settings (covering nose and mouth)
5. Avoid mass gatherings or crowds
6. Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or use disposable tissues
7. Comply with public health measures
8. Stay home where possible, especially if you are a member of the vulnerable group
9. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 which include; cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, fever, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell-please stay home and contact the Health Hotlines on 232 9444 or 333 0911
10. Do not visit health care facilities if you have symptoms or signs of COVID-19, call the Health Hotlines for guidance unless your symptoms are severe
11. If you are under quarantine by the Public Health Team, please remain at home and comply with the guidance provided to you.
12. If you are contacted by the Public Health Team as a part of contact tracing activities, please provide all of the information requested to assist them in their investigations
13. Get tested-visit your community testing sites for free testing offered by the Ministry of Health
14. Stay informed with the latest information from the Ministry of Health by visiting our website on https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/ or other credible sources
15. Register online to get the COVID-19 vaccine which is available to all TCI residents 12 years old and above.
Tesla profit surge driven by record car deliveries
Tesla has reported surging profits, despite shortages of semiconductor chips and congestion at ports hampering production.
Sales rose to $12bn (£8.6bn) in the three months to the end of June, up from $6bn a year ago, when its US factory was shut down.
The electric carmaker said it delivered a record 200,000 cars to customers in the same period.
It added that public support for greener cars was greater than ever.
The company, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, reported on Monday that profits soared off the back of strong sales.
Profits for the second three months of the year were $1.1bn, up from $104m last year, bolstered by sales of its cheaper Model 3 sedan and Model Y.
In an update to investors on Monday, Tesla said: "Public sentiment and support for electric vehicles seems to be at a never-before-seen inflection point.
"We continue to work hard to drive down costs and increase our rate of production to make electric vehicles accessible to as many people as possible."
Tesla added that how quickly it could produce cars throughout the rest of the year would depend on the supply of key parts of its vehicles, with demand at "record levels".
On a call with financial analysts on Monday, Mr Musk said: "At this point, I think everyone can agree, electric vehicles are the only way forward."
Mr Musk said during the call that the global chip shortage "remains quite serious" and manufacturing would hinge on this "slowest part of the supply chain".
He also described late-night calls with suppliers in an attempt to resolve shortages.
As a result, there were growing waiting times for Tesla cars, especially across Europe, the company said in its results.
It will look to start production at its new Berlin "gigafactory" as soon as possible. It has been plagued by delays, although the company bills it as "the most advanced high-volume electric vehicle production plant in the world".
It will ramp up the manufacturing of its cars at its California hub in the meantime.
Mr Musk was also reportedly seen visiting Luton earlier this year, sparking rumours he may be considering a Tesla factory in the UK.
Other car giants such as Ford and General Motors have been forced to suspend production temporarily in some US factories, having been hit by the global shortage of semiconductors.
Source-ABC
Illegal Vessel Landing on July 25, 2021
On Sunday 25th July 2021 around 8:30 p.m. the Immigration Department was informed of possible illegal vessel landings. This triggered a standby notice for the Department Enforcement Unit.
The Unit was later informed by 911 operator that a vessel had landed in the North West Point Areas of Providenciales and that migrants were seen walking the beach and nearby road.
Nine Officer responded for debriefing and dispatch to the named area. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police also responded to 911.
After several hours of inspection in the area, one male person was apprehended from the vessel. Further checks were conducted in the areas on the morning of July 26, 2021.
This recent landing takes the total number of successful landing for this Financial Year 2021/22 to 4 which is identical to that of the same period last year. In addition, the spending for the period remains a concern as the number of persons repatriated from vessel landing for the first four months of this Fiscal Year total 724 or 59 percent of the total for last year that was 1230 persons.
US$2,446,420.00 has been appropriated for Repatriation and Expenses in the 2021/22 Budget. As at July 27, 2021, US$952,909.34 has been spent. Spending include airfares, rations, security etc.
The Ministry and Department continue to solicit the support of thepublic is being urged to provide the Police or Immigration Officials with tips, or any information related to this or any other illegal landing or persons residing and or working illegally.
We also encourage the public to submit information or tips anonymously in English, French or Spanish either to www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA on 1-800-84477.
International cruises from UK to restart
International cruises will be able to start again from England from Monday 2 August after a 16-month break.
People arriving at UK ports who have been fully vaccinated in the US and the EU will also not have to quarantine, the UK government said.
It's part of a plan to relax isolation rules for US and EU arrivals in the UK.
An industry body said travel agencies, hotels, tour guides, port operators and other firms would benefit from cruises restarting.
Domestic cruises have been allowed to run from May but international cruises have been prohibited.
The government said that international cruise travel advice "will be amended to encourage travellers to understand the risks associated with cruise travel and take personal responsibility for their own safety abroad".
Under the new rules, from 04:00 BST on Monday 2 August, fully vaccinated US and EU travellers arriving from amber countries will not need to quarantine or take a test on day eight of their arrival.
However, they will still need to take either a pre-departure test and a PCR test on the second day after they arrive.
And travellers from France are not exempt.
Arrivals will also still need to complete a Passenger Locator Form.
Under-18s will be exempt from isolation, and some will not have to test, depending on their age.
The UK government said the rule changes would help to reunite family and friends whose loved ones live abroad.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the reopening of travel was "progress we can all enjoy".
On its website, P&O Cruises said following their UK summer staycations, its Britannia ship will begin planned western Mediterranean itineraries on 25 September, while its Iona vessel will launch on the same date.
However, it said due to the current traffic light system, a "number of itineraries have had to be cancelled".
Cruises on Ventura have been paused until 3 October 2021, while cruises on its Azura ship have been halted up until 10 December 2021. Some others have been delayed until 2022.
The global cruise line industry has been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2019, it contributed more than $154bn (£110bn) to the global economy, according to the trade body Cruise Lines International Association, before the shops were all anchored due to the lockdown.
Carnival, which made a profit of $3bn in 2019, reported a loss of $10bn in 2020 after its revenues plunged 73%.
Cunard's first UK cruise will sail on August 13 with international cruises beginning in October.
Both firms are part of US giant Carnival cruises, which is one of the world's biggest cruise companies.
Source-
U.S. senator contacts Taiwan representative over auto chip shortage
American Senator Debbie Stabenow said Thursday she had contacted Taiwan's representative to the U.S. regarding the global shortage of automobile chips, which she estimated was caused mainly by reduced shipments from a major Taiwanese semiconductor company.
"U.S. manufactures of automobiles, home appliances, and other products, are being forced to shut down a line or a plant temporarily because of a single company in Taiwan, which has reduced its shipments of semiconductor chips to our manufacturers," Stabenow said at a confirmation hearing for U.S. Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai.
The Democratic senator from Michigan said she had raised the issue with several people in the new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and also with Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Washington.
In response, Hsiao told reporters in Washington that she had explained to several members of Congress, who had expressed similar concerns, that chip manufacturers in Taiwan had been forced to reassign production in 2020 because of a sharp drop in orders, as automakers had anticipated poor sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a decision made by the private sector, Hsiao said, adding that chip manufacturers in Taiwan are now working to increase production to meet market demand.
Meanwhile, Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the Virginia-based U.S.-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC), said Thursday that Stabenow's remark on the issue was "incorrect and misleading."
The chip supply issue facing the American automobile industry is "primarily a function of the industry itself miscalculating its production needs," Hammond-Chambers said in a statement on the USTBC website.
The flow of semiconductor chips is a commercial matter, with companies placing orders based on expected demand, and those orders are executed along legally contracted boundaries, he said.
"The absence of enough chips to run American plants is absolutely not a function of any deliberate punitive actions by a Taiwan company," Hammond-Chambers said. "It is instead the result of American manufacturers failing to order enough chips."
In recent months, the U.S. has been seeking help from Taiwan, home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, to alleviate the shortage of automobile chips.
In a letter dated Feb. 17, U.S. National Economic Council Director Brian Deese broached the issue with Taiwan's Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua, according to the White House.
Earlier in the month, more than 30 Taiwanese business leaders took part in a virtual discussion between the U.S. and Taiwan on enhancing supply chain cooperation and development goals in the semiconductor industry.
However, no agreement was reached on how to quickly alleviate the shortage of automotive semiconductor chips, Wang said.
In a related development, President Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order to review the global supply chains used by four key industries to prevent shortages of semiconductors, medical equipment and other products.
(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Chung Yu-chen) of FocusTaiwan
Oculus recalls Quest 2 headset pads after skin rashes
Virtual-reality headset-maker Oculus is issuing a recall for the foam padding in its Quest 2 headset, warning it can cause skin irritation.
Facebook-owned Oculus said only a "very small percentage" of users were experiencing the problem.
But it is offering a free cover - made of silicone - to all Quest 2 owners.
Facebook also announced it was "pausing" Quest 2 sales and from 24 August all Quest 2 headsets would come with the new silicone cover.
The revamped headset would also have twice the internal storage, for the same price.
The problem with skin irritation was widely known among VR enthusiasts online and Facebook has previously operated a replacement programme for the small number of people affected.
But this new "voluntary recall", following discussions with US and Canadian safety regulators, is global in scale, with Facebook emailing many of its Oculus customers.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said it had received 5,716 reports of irritation "including rashes, swelling, burning, itching, hives and bumps".
But only 45 incidents had needed medical attention.
And those numbers were out of an estimated four million headsets sold in the US.
Facebook's VR and AR teams head Andrew Bosworth said: "While the rate of reports is small and the majority of reported cases are minor, we're committed to ensuring our products are safe and comfortable for everyone who uses them."
Source-BBC
Simone Biles withdraws from Olympic individual all-around competition "to focus on her mental health"
Following "further medical evaluation," American gymnastics superstar Simone Biles has withdrawn from Thursday's final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics "to focus on her mental health," USA Gymnastics announced.
"Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals," the sport's national governing body said in a statement Wednesday. "We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."
Jade Carey, who had the ninth-highest score in qualifications, will compete in Biles' place in the all-around on Thursday, according to USA Gymnastics.
Biles, considered the greatest gymnast in history, had qualified in all six of the women's gymnastics finals at the Tokyo Olympics -- team, individual all-around, vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor. The 24-year-old was on track to win an unprecedented six gold medals during the Games, with the aim of becoming the first woman since 1968 to win back-to-back titles in the all-around -- a competition that tests individual gymnasts on each of the four apparatuses.
The decision to withdraw came on the heels of Biles' early exit from the team final on Tuesday, after a rare stumble on her first vault.
Afterwards, Biles spoke with her coach and a trainer before walking off the competition floor, leaving teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum to finish the event. Team USA ultimately placed in second, winning a silver medal, while Russia's team took the gold.
Source-ABC
DOMINIQUE DURHAM APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL
The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Dominique Durham to the post of Director of the Housing and Community Renewal Department within the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development.
Mr. Durham joined the public service in 2017 as a Senior Quantity Surveyor after having returned to the Turks and Caicos Islands from United Kingdom where he was employed as a Quantity Surveyor at Bouygues and a Surveyor at CBRE Limited where he gained extensive experience in project management.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree (First Class Honors) in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management from the University of Greenwich (2012) and a Master’s Degree in Quantity Surveying from the University of South Bank (2015). He is also a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Commenting on his appointment Mr. Durham said:
“I am humbly grateful and honoured for the opportunity to continue my service with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development in my new role as Director of Housing.
I thank God for his continued favour and for those that supported me and valued my expertise and ability throughout.
My experience within the industry has given me valuable insight into the housing needs within our communities and I am highly enthused about this exciting challenge and look forward to working with the Government to actively progress its housing and development goals to ensure safe, quality and equitable homes for future generations in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams in extending congratulatory remarks on Mr. Durham’s appointment said:
“We extend sincerest congratulations to Mr. Dominique Durham on his appointment as the Director of the newly established Housing and Community Renewal Department which will be responsible for leading on the development of a National Housing Policy which will seek to expand first time home ownership opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands by working in collaboration with the Planning, Survey and Mapping and Crown Land Departments to identify crown land for the construction of low costs housing and other initiatives, as well supporting current homeowners in retaining equity in their current holdings.
Dominique joined the public service in 2017 as our Senior Quantity Surveyor within the Ministry of Physical and Infrastructure Development and has been an asset to the ministry and government in regards to his work, advice and assistance on the Turks and Caicos Islands Capital Program.
Prior to returning to the Turks and Caicos he gained extensive experience in the United Kingdom where he provided advice to lending institutions on projects in the range of £60m - £400m.
Mr. Durham is more than capable of taking on this new role in helping to shape future housing opportunities in these islands and we wish him and the Department of Housing and Urban Renewal much success as it seeks to fulfill a key mandate in these islands.”