Quarterly Town Hall Meeting in Salt Cay
The post budget round of Town Hall Meetings continued with the latest stop in Salt Cay.
The Premier, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Ministers gathered at the Salt Shed in Salt Cay on June 3rd 2019 to speak to and hear from residents. Over 40 residents were in attendance at the meeting including students from the Mary Robinson Primary School along with their teacher.
$6 mil was budgeted for investment in Salt Cay in Budget 2019/20.
Residents were updated on some National issues before being informed of the achievements and plans. Among the achievements mentioned:
- Repairs to the Mary Robinson Primary have been budgeted for in the amount of some $300 thousand. The project was tendered and a contract has been awarded. Repairs are expected to start in July 2019 and should be completed by January 2020.
- Contract awarded to CBMS to upgrade and improve Salt Cay’s sea defense (sea wall). Works are expected to commence in the coming weeks
- Runway and aerodrome repairs budgeted at 4.5 million at Salt Cay Airport. The contract has been awarded to Herzog and those works will be starting in the coming weeks
- Salt Cay Club House and the Methodist Church have been identified as Shelters for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season which started 1 June. Funds were allocated for repairs to those shelters and has move to the contract stage of the procurement process
- Ongoing are the repairs to the District Commissioner’s Office, those works are expected to completed later this year
- Funds have been budgeted for repairs to the town Tank and Salt Shed of some $100 thousand. Those tenders to be posted shortly.
It was also noted during the meeting that there has been interest expressed by a few international investors in developing Salt Cay.
Premier Robinson told residents that before any contract is signed TCIG will meet with residents to hear their thoughts and to discuss how they would like to see Salt Cay develop.
Other noteworthy achievements and plans: -
- MSME programme was recently expanded to benefit the sister islands (Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South, Middle and North Caicos). Amendments made allows for persons to apply for grants through the programme for Tourism related businesses. It was committed that Invest Tc would be coming to the Island soon to educate and answer questions about the programme
- Salt Cay like other sister islands has been added to the list to receive an incinerator and site attendant for the landfill site
- Plans to erect a donkey sanctuary are in the works for Salt Cay that will serve as a tourist attraction and habitat/ housing for the roaming donkeys. Officials will in the coming weeks carryout a donkey population assessment
During the meeting it was expressed that with the incoming development to the island, residents would like to see more paved roads.
The Premier and Minister of Finance noted the concern raised and said it will be looked at under Budget 2020/21.
CLASS OF 2019 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RESULTS
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services extends profound congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2019 for the success obtained during their tenure in secondary school.
The Class of 2019 comprises a total of 268 students. In keeping with the Education Policy 2005, 247 students are being recommended for graduation, which means they will receive a school leaving certificate or a high school diploma and participate in one or more of the graduation ceremonies (Valedictory Service HJRHS) & Prize Giving Ceremony (CHHS, RGHS and MBHS). 23 students will receive a Statements of Attendance.
The top performing students at each school are as follows:
|
H J ROBINSON HIGH |
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|
Amrita Rampersaud |
Valedictorian |
90.01% |
Distinction |
|
Llewvandra Basden |
Salutatorian |
85.13% |
Distinction |
|
Jaheim Jackson |
2nd |
83.26% |
Merit |
|
MARJORIE BASDEN HIGH |
|||
|
Leshante Cox |
Valedictorian |
84.85% |
Merit |
|
Belandy Joseph |
Salutatorian |
84.15% |
Merit |
|
Savannah Moore |
2nd |
81.05% |
Merit |
|
RAYMOND GARDINER HIGH |
|||
|
Jessica Corvil |
Valedictorian |
80.08 % |
Merit |
|
Avielle Brown |
Salutatorian |
79.06 % |
Merit |
|
Ruth St Fleurant |
2nd |
70.03 % |
Credit |
|
CLEMENT HOWELL HIGH |
|||
|
Ichner Belony |
Valedictorian |
88.7% |
Distinction |
|
Roods Bensly Pierre |
Salutatorian |
88.2% |
Distinction |
|
Conrad Howell |
2nd |
86.8% |
Distinction |
|
|
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Weather Report
GENERAL SITUATION: MID TO LOW LEVEL TROUGHING WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SOME POCKETS OF UNSETTLED WEATHER ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY.
ALL AREAS:
WEATHER: VARIABLE CLOUDINESS AND WARM WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS TONIGHT. PARTLY SUNNY, HOT AND HUMID WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ON WEDNESDAY.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS, BUT FALLING LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT TIMES OVER OPEN WATERS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 77°F 25°C
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURE 90°F 32°C
SUNSET: 7:55PM
SUNRISE: 6:20AM WED.
MOONSET: 9:23PM
MOONRISE: 8:22AM WED.
HIGH TIDE: 8:36PM & 8:56AM WED.
LOW TIDE: 3:07AM WED. 2:59PM WED.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESURE LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO REMAINS DISORGANIZED AND ONLY HAS A 20 PERCENT CHANCE FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS.
Barbados PM announces sale of LIAT shares
The Barbados government Tuesday night formally announced plans to sell its shares in the cash strapped regional airline, LIAT, but insisted that it was committed to regional transportation and would continue to hold minimum shares in the Antigua-based carrier.
Barbados along with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines are the main shareholders of the airline that employs over 600 people and operates 491 flights weekly across 15 destinations.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley in a statement to Parliament confirmed reports that Antigua and Barbuda would be seeking to replace her country as the largest shareholder government by seeking to acquire the shares Bridgetown would be outing up for sale.
She said that Attorney General Dale Marshall would lead the negotiations.
“There is only so much that Barbados can responsibly do at this time given our current circumstances and our current position on the journey which I referred to just now,” she said, having earlier made reference to the island's multi-million dollar agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to turn around the ailing economy.
“Therefore…notwithstanding our absolute commitment to regional air travel and notwithstanding the fact and given in fact that the studies have recommended a different module and restructuring for LIAT and given the inability of the government of Barbados to do for LIAT in the next five to 10 years what the government of Barbados did for LIAT in the last five to 10 years when we moved significantly to assume major shareholder responsibilities, we have taken the determination, a decision as a cabinet that it is time for us to step back while at the same time allowing other governments to continue with their proposals to restructure LIAT in the way which they have determined.”
Last month, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said he had received communication from his Barbados indicating that Bridgetown was willing to sell all but 10 per cent of its shares in the airline.
Antigua and Barbuda currently holds 34 per cent of the shares and if it acquires Bridgetown's shares, would have 81 per cent of the airline.
The government in a statement last month had said that “an offer was made for Antigua and Barbuda to acquire the LIAT shares owned by Barbados, through a take-over of the liability of Barbados to the Caribbean Development Bank.”
The Antigua and Barbuda government chief of staff, Lionel Max Hurst, said that “there are many jobs here in Antigua and Barbuda connected to LIAT and we intend to ensure that those jobs are not lost.
“Many of the route rights that LIAT now possesses would be utilized more fully if Antigua and Barbuda gets its way,” Hurst said.
Source-CMC
The Queen praises the 'courage and sacrifice' of D-Day
The Queen has paid tribute to the "heroism, courage and sacrifice" of those who died in the D-Day landings.
She was joined by 16 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, in Portsmouth to commemorate the 75th anniversary of history's largest combined land, air and naval operation.
Mr Trump, who was on the last day of his UK state visit, said D-Day "may have been the greatest battle ever".
Veterans of the landings in Normandy to liberate western Europe also attended.
Quoting a broadcast by her father, King George VI, at the time of the operation in World War Two, the Queen said the veterans of D-Day demonstrated "more than courage and endurance", showing "unconquerable resolve".
"The fate of the world depended on their success," she said. "Many of them would never return, and the heroism, courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten."
She thanked them "with humility and pleasure, on behalf of the entire country, indeed the whole free world".
The countries represented at the event have agreed to make a joint statement pledging to ensure the "unimaginable horror" of the war is not repeated.
Called "the D-Day proclamation", the 16 signatories - including the UK and the US - will commit to working together to "resolve international tensions peacefully".
On Thursday, further memorial services are planned to mark the 75 years since the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 - the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe.
The Queen told the crowd she was "delighted" to be able to thank veterans for their service.
She added: "When I attended the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, some thought it might be the last such event.
"But the wartime generation, my generation, is resilient."
Members of the armed forces and more than 300 veterans, who are all over 90 years old, attended the event in Portsmouth - one of the key embarkation points on D-Day.
Source-BBC
Apple leaves iTunes behind as it harmonises software
Apple on Monday announced enhanced privacy features as it harmonised software across its line-up of devices, while dropping its ground-breaking iTunes store as it gears up for new kinds of digital content.
Apple chief Tim Cook and other executives focused on privacy features as they unveiled software improvements for iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac computers at the technology giant's annual gathering of developers in Silicon Valley.
The company also revealed the demise of the iTunes online shop that changed the music industry.
“The future of iTunes is not one app, it's three,” said Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi.
“Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV.”
Launched in 2001, iTunes was the online shop to buy and download digital songs for Apple iPod players.
Lifestyles have since shifted to streaming music, video, podcasts, and more from the internet cloud as online data centres and high-bandwidth connections have given rise to on-demand entertainment expectations.
Apple has made a priority of selling digital content and services to the vast, global audience of people who use its devices as it seeks wean itself off iPhone sales in a cooling smartphone market.
APPLE SIGN IN
The audience at the Worldwide Developers Conference cheered for executives and improvements that promised to make it easier to make apps for Apple devices.
Next-generation iOS software powering iPhones coming out later this year was reworked “top to bottom” to be faster, according to Federighi.
Privacy protections being added to iOS mobile operating software included providing the option of giving apps permission to access location just once, instead of all the time, and letting users know when apps are tracking their whereabouts.
A new “Sign In With Apple” feature will be launched as an alternative to logging in using Facebook or Google accounts.
“This can be convenient, but it can also come at the cost of your privacy,” Federighi said.
“These log-ins can be used to track you.”
The iOS log-in feature will let people sign into apps using AppleID information, but provides the option of masking user names or e-mail addresses with randomly generated information.
“The entire experience is meant to help you have control over your data,” Federighi said, to applause.
“A lot of love for random addresses here.”
Apple also announced changes that will make iPads easier to use as auxiliary screens for Mac computers, and even perform a bit more like laptops themselves with capabilities like multiple windows operating simultaneously.
Apple also unveiled a new Mac Pro high-performance desktop computer aimed at professions, with a starting price of $5,999.
“It has a truly gorgeous design and remarkable performance to match,” Cook said of Mac Pro.
Apple previewed its iOS 13 for its mobile devices, which includes a “dark mode,” an upgraded maps application and faster access through its facial recognition sign-on.
Source-AFP
James Bond UK movie set rocked by blast
An explosion at Britain's Pinewood Studios on Tuesday rocked the set of the next James Bond film, causing damage to the stage and one minor injury.
The Sun newspaper said a triple blast hit the set after a stunt went wrong, taking off part of the roof and several wall panels.
One member of staff was crushed by debris falling down on him as he stood outside the studios, west of London, the tabloid said.
The official James Bond account on Twitter said: "During the filming of a controlled explosion on the set of Bond 25 today at Pinewood Studios, damage was caused to the exterior of the 007 Stage.
"There were no injuries on set, however one crew member outside the stage has sustained a minor injury."
The Sun quoted a source as saying: "It was utter chaos.
"There were three huge explosions and its blown part of the Bond stage roof off. A fireball was supposed to go through the set. That was the stunt but something has gone horribly wrong.
The place is now on total lockdown."
The film has been besieged by problems.
Bond actor Daniel Craig had to undergo minor ankle surgery after an injury on set.
Craig — who will play the legendary British super spy for the fifth time in the as-yet untitled film — sustained the injury during filming in Jamaica.
Oscar winner Rami Malek will play the villain in the long-awaited movie that is set to see Craig bow out after eight years as 007.
The 25th edition of one of the world's most enduring franchises will also see the return of Ralph Fiennes as Bond's boss and French actress Lea Seydoux.
The production has been repeatedly delayed over script disputes.
The delays were prompted in part by Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle's replacement by Cary Fukunaga in September.
The film is now due to open in cinemas in the United States, Britain and France on April 8, 2020.
Shoe giants urge Trump to end tariffs
Some of the world's biggest footwear firms are urging Donald Trump to end the US trade war with China, warning of a "catastrophic" effect on consumers.
A letter signed by 173 companies, including Nike and Adidas, says the president's decision to raise import tariffs will affect the working class.
They also warn that higher levies threaten the future of some businesses.
Mr Trump says that the trade deficit with China hurts the US economy.
The US president increased levies on $200bn (£157.3bn) worth of Chinese imports into the US from 10% to 25% more than a week ago after Washington and Beijing failed to reach a deal on trade.
China retaliated by announcing plans to raise levies on $60bn of US imports from 1 June.The footwear companies that signed the letter, including Clarks, Dr Martens and Converse, say that while the average US tariff on footwear is 11.3%, in some cases it can reach as high as 67.5%
"Adding a 25% tax increase on top of these tariffs would mean some working American families could pay a nearly 100% duty on their shoes," the companies wrote.
"This is unfathomable."
"It is time to bring this trade war to an end," the firms urged.
When he raised tariffs earlier this month, Mr Trump told companies that they could reduce costs by shifting production to the US.
However, the shoemakers and retailers say that while they have been moving their sourcing away from China: "Footwear is a very capital-intensive industry, with years of planning required to make sourcing decisions, and companies cannot simply move factories to adjust to these changes."
On Tuesday, a top business lobby in China released a survey of its members that found just over 40% had relocated, or were considering moving production facilities, outside of China because of tariffs.
The survey by the American Chambers of Commerce in China and Shanghai found one-third of respondents had delayed or cancelled investment decisions to cope with tariffs.
A recent escalation in the trade conflict - including tighter restrictions on Chinese telecoms giant Huawei - was creating fresh concerns for businesses in China, the group said.
Last week, the Trump administration added Huawei to its "entity list", which bans the company from acquiring technology from US firms without government approval.
Speaking to the BBC, the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in China, Tim Stratford, said its members had "real concerns" about the fallout from the US action against Huawei.
"Particularly in the wake of the decision to put Huawei on the... entity list, there are concerns that the government of China may decide to retaliate against American companies," Mr Stratford said.
A survey by AmCham found that slightly more than 40% of its members had relocated, or were considering moving, outside of China because of tariffs.
The group represents more than 900 US companies working in China.
Plane manufacturer Boeing, pharmaceuticals firm Pfizer and soft drink giant Coca-Cola are among the US companies AmCham represents in China.
Last year, Boeing opened its first completion plant for its 737 passenger plane in eastern China, near the city of Shanghai.
Boeing's president of China, John Bruns, said he was "nervous" about the "challenging environment" caused by the tit-for-tat tariff war.
China and the US have been engaged in a fractious dispute over trade since the early days of Mr Trump's presidency.
Source-BBC & US Dept.of Commerce
Rihanna declared world's richest female musician
Singer, makeup entrepreneur, lingerie designer and now the first black woman to head a top luxury fashion house — Rihanna has racked up a US$600 million fortune to become the world's richest female musician, Forbes said Tuesday.
The 31-year-old — born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in Barbados — has amassed wealth exceeding that of Madonna (US$570 million), Celine Dion (US$450 million) and Beyonce (US$400 million), whose husband Jay-Z was just named the world's first billionaire rap star.
Rihanna's ranking puts into fresh perspective one of her signature lyrics — "work, work, work, work, work," which opened her 2016 dancehall smash "Work."
Since bursting onto the scene in 2003, she has spun her triumphs in music into entrepreneurial gold, launching her makeup brand Fenty Beauty — co-owned by French luxury giant LVMH — in September 2017 online and with Sephora.
The line found success not least thanks to Rihanna's fame both on and offline, with some US$570 million in revenue last year after just 15 months of business.
She makes the majority of her money from touring and musical releases, according to Forbes, but also co-owns her Savage X Fenty lingerie line.
In May, Rihanna launched a groundbreaking partnership with LVMH to launch a luxury fashion brand based in Paris that will make ready-to-wear clothes, shoes and accessories.
A new large-scale luxury label — especially one led by a black woman — is a huge development in the fashion world, with Rihanna's line Fenty sitting alongside legacy brands like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Givenchy at the conglomerate headed by Bernard Arnault.
"I just want to see things from my perspective. I'm a young black woman who loves and embraces all of the young people's ideas and energies — I'm so about that," she told AFP in Paris recently.
"It is about turning all of that into something luxurious for this fashion house."
The singer's explosive rise to music mega-star and global fashion icon did not come without tribulations, including her father's bids to profit off her name and a highly publicised domestic violence case that saw her then-boyfriend Chris Brown charged in 2009 with assaulting her.
In addition to her venture into luxury fashion, Rihanna has hinted at dropping a new reggae album this year.
"I never thought I'd make this much money, so a number is not going to stop me from working," she told The New York Times' T Magazine in May.
"Money is happening along the way, but I'm working out of what I love to do, what I'm passionate about."
Source- AFP
Jaguar-Land Rover and BMW join forces on electric cars
BMW and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are to join forces on developing electric car technologies.
The car giants said they would work together to develop electric motors, transmissions and power electronics.
Both firms have struggled to maintain profit margins amid falling car sales and higher costs as well as the need to invest in future technologies.
Car firms are being forced to make low emission vehicles to meet more stringent anti-pollution rules.
There have been a number of similar tie-ups aimed at sharing the costs of developing electric cars.
Volkswagen and Ford, for example, are working together on new vehicles. Meanwhile, rivals FiatChrysler and Renault are exploring a $35bn tie-up.
BMW board member Klaus Froehlich said: "Together, we have the opportunity to cater more effectively for customer needs by shortening development time and bringing vehicles and state-of-the-art technologies more rapidly to market."
BMW and Jaguar Land Rover said they will save costs through shared research, shared production planning, and by jointly buying electric car components.
Jaguar Land Rover is still run by former BMW managers, including Ralf Speth the company's chief executive who spent 20 years at BMW prior to joining JLR.
BMW has been developing an electric motor, transmission and power electronics in one housing that it calls "Gen 5" of its "eDrive" technology.
A joint team of BMW and JLR engineers in Munich will further develop this Gen 5 technology, then both companies will produce their own electric drivetrains, BMW said.
JLR will produce these drivetrains at its Wolverhampton plant, which employs 1,600 people.
Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover's engineering director, said: "We've proven we can build world-beating electric cars but now we need to scale the technology to support the next generation of Jaguar and Land Rover products."
Car manufacturers are increasingly open to sharing electric car parts because the technology is expensive.
"Carmakers are much less precious about sharing electric car technology because it is much harder to create product differentiation with electric car tech. They all accelerate fast, and everybody can do quality and ride and handling," according to Carl-Peter Forster, a former chief executive of Tata Motors and a former BMW executive.
JLR is owned by Indian car giant Tata Motors.
Source-BBC