Dominique Gardiner Appointed as Crown Counsel
The Turks and Caicos Islands Civil Service is pleased to congratulate Ms. Dominique Gardiner on her appointment to the post of Crown Counsel with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s Attorney General’s Chambers.
Ms. Gardiner obtained her undergraduate degree with honours in Law with Accounting & Finance from the University of Liverpool in June 2016 and in July of 2017 completed the Legal Practice Course along with an MSc in Law and Business from the University of Law in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Commenting on Ms. Gardiner’s appointment Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams said; “We are pleased to formally welcome Dominique to the Turks and Caicos Islands Civil Service. Ms. Gardiner interned with the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Financial Services Commission during her studies and after completing did a joint pupillage with the Attorney General Chambers and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in pursuit of being called to the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar which was accomplished in July 2018. Ms. Gardiner was temporarily appointed to the post of Crown Counsel prior to her appointment and we are pleased to now have her permanently join our Chambers team.”
In commenting on her appointment Ms. Gardiner said; “The opportunity to serve as Crown Counsel within the Attorney General’s Chambers is one that I am truly grateful for. I am eager to contribute to the Chambers’ efforts of upholding the rule of law in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and to working along with highly skilled, experienced and hard working professionals. My aim going forward is to provide high caliber legal support and representation to the Public Service as I develop in this profession.”
The Hon. Attorney General QC said; “It is a pleasure to welcome Dominique Gardiner into the Civil team in Chambers. The employment and development of bright young Turks and Caicos Islander attorneys is a core goal of our succession planning. Dominique comes to the post with a stellar academic record and has made an impressive start. She will add value to the work being done by the civil division and in Chambers generally. We are very pleased that she has chosen to start her career with us.”
Commissioner James Smith on Yearly Crime Statistics for April 2018 – March 2019
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is pleased to report that we have seen a continued drop in crime overall when compared to the same period last year. We have achieved a reduction of 3% when compared to 2017/2018, with 94 fewer crimes reported. While we welcome this decrease, it is concerning that the murder count has risen from 4 in 2017/2018 to 8 reported during the 2018/2019 period. These crimes have a major impact on the country and we continue to use all available investigative means to arrest those responsible.
Burglaries and aggravated burglaries have also increased by 36 percent with 377 burglaries reported in 2017/2018, compared to 510 burglaries reported 2018/2019.
In drug-related crimes, persons reported for the possession of drugs has seen a decrease. In 2017/2018, 79 crimes were reported compared to 66 crimes in 2018/2019. Offences of possession of drugs with intent to supply are from 16 crimes to 13 crimes for the same period.
The use of firearms in committing crime puts citizens in fear and always has the potential to end in tragedy. I am pleased to report that firearms-related crimes are down by 48 percent with 137 reported in 2017/2018 compared to 72 from the period 2018/2019. In reference to the recovery of firearms, for the 2018/2019 period, a total of 13 firearms and 178 rounds of ammunition were recovered. We continue to look for ways to restrict the availability of illegal firearms coming into the country and work closely with partners in law enforcement to tighten control and make full use of our ballistic examination technology.
We are also pleased to report a 17 percent decrease in the number of Robberies across the country, these are down to 98 offences for the period 2018/2019 when compared to 2017/2018 when there were 118 offences reported. This decrease has been the trend over the last two years and we will be keeping a strong focus on these crimes to continue to bring these numbers down further.
Following the implementation of CCTV in Providenciales and the second phase due to commence in Grand Turk along with the application of other technology and our increased vehicle fleet numbers, we anticipate continued success in this regard.
We work very hard to protect our highly valued tourist sector and compile statistics to re-assure visitors and investors that the country remains a very safe destination. In this regard crimes against tourist have seen a modest reduction from 64 in 2017/2018 to 62 in 2018/2019. Again, this follows a downward trend from the year 2016/2017 when there were 108 incidents.
For the 2018/2019 financial year, a total of 214 persons were arrested and charged and have faced or are facing the courts for crimes committed, while a total of 230 persons were arrested on suspicion for crimes committed and further enquiries ongoing.
This year we have placed a strong focus on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults with the provision of a purpose built centre and specialist training. We continue to invest in training for our officers to ensure they are properly prepared to deal with the many and complex issues they face on a daily basis. We rely on the active participation of our communities to assist in the fight against crime and anti-social behavior.
I would ask householders and businesses to do everything they can to make it difficult for burglars to enter their property, perhaps by installing a home security system, keeping all doors and windows closed and secured when not at home or during the hours of darkness, and keep shrubbery and trees trimmed. Be a good neighbor and keep an eye on each other's property, reporting anything suspicious to the Police.
Weather for the week
General Situation: A surface trough along with a mid to upper level trough across the Central Bahamas continues to trigger unsettled weather across the entire Bahamas with some severe weather occurring at times through Thursday. The mid to upper level trough will shift across the NW Bahamas and weaken on Thursday as it completely dissipates by Friday. Meanwhile building high pressure ridge north of the Bahamas will produce moderate to strong breezes over the area through Thursday, then it will weaken and shift eastwards through Sunday.
Wednesday 01st – Partly cloudy, breezy to windy and warm with the chance of isolated showers in the NW Bahamas during the daytime, turning partly cloudy to fair and warm at night with the slight chance of a shower. In the Central and SE Bahamas cloudy to occasionally overcast and windy with scattered showers and widely scattered thunderstorms, some becoming heavy to severe at times during the daytime through nightfall. Maximum temperature 83°F and a minimum temperature 74°F. Small craft advisory across the entire Bahamas becomes a caution across the Central and SE Bahamas later. Winds E to SE at 15 to 25 knots across the entire Bahamas early but decreasing to 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas later and dropping to 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas later. Seas 5 to 8 feet across the entire Bahamas early, falling to 4 to 7 feet later in the Central and SE Bahamas later and 3 to 5 feet in the NW Bahamas. Light to moderate NE’ly to E’ly swells overall areas.
Thursday 02nd – Variable cloudiness, warm and humid with some scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms during the daytime through nightfall. Maximum temperature 86°F and a minimum temperature 74°F. Small craft advisory across the NW and SE Bahamas early becomes a caution across the Central and SE Bahamas later. Winds E to SE at 15 to 25 knots in the NW and SE Bahamas early but decreasing to 12 to 18 knots in the NW Bahamas as winds become 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas later. Seas 5 to 8 feet over NW and SE Bahamas, falling to 3 to 5 feet in the NW Bahamas later and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas with light to moderate E’ly swells across the Bahamas.
Friday 03rd – Variable cloudiness, very warm and humid with scattered showers and widely scattered thunderstorms mainly across the NW and Central Bahamas, generally clearing across the Central and SE Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 88°F and a minimum temperature 75°F. Small craft should exercise caution in the Central and SE Bahamas. Winds SE’ly at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the NW Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas but higher in moderate NE’ly to E’ly swell across the Bahamas.
Saturday 04th – Mostly cloudy to overcast, very warm and humid with lingering showers or possible isolated thunderstorms mainly across the NW Bahamas during the daytime. Turning fair and warm at night. Maximum temperature 88°F and a minimum temperature 75°F. Small craft should exercise caution across the Central and SE Bahamas but decreasing across the Central Bahamas by afternoon. Winds SE to S at 10 to 15 knots in the NW Bahamas, falling light and variable at times and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the Central and SE Bahamas, falling to 10 to 15 knots in the Central Bahamas later. Seas 2 to 4 feet in the NW Bahamas, falling light and variable at times and 4 to 6 feet in the Central and SE Bahamas becoming 2 to 4 feet in the Central Bahamas later. Lingering E’ly to SE’ly swells across the entire Bahamas.
Sunday 05th – Partly sunny, very warm and humid with the chance of few isolated showers in the NW and Central Bahamas during the daytime, turning partly cloudy to fair and warm at night time. Partly cloudy to cloudy and very warm with the chance of passing showers during the daytime through nightfall. Maximum temperature 89°F and a minimum temperature 75°F. Small craft should exercise caution in the SE Bahamas early. Winds ESE to SSE at 10 to 15 knots in the NW and Central Bahamas, falling light and variable at times and E to SE at 15 to 20 knots in the SE Bahamas, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots later. Seas 2 to 4 feet over the NW and Central Bahamas and 4 to 6 feet in the SE Bahamas, falling to 2 to 4 feet later.
Dissipating E’ly to SE’ly swells expected overall areas.
Beachgoers and mariners should be vigilant due to rough surf and the high risk of dangerous rip currents mainly along the north and east coast beaches during stated advisories. Mariners should exercise extreme caution for ocean swells and possible severe weather activity over parts of the Bahamas as stated.
22nd National Academic Awards Ceremony for May
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture & Library Services and the National Council of External Examinations will host the 22nd National Academic Awards Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, 10th May 2019 at Horse Stable Beach, North Caicos. The ceremony will be hosted by the Raymond Gardiner High School, under the theme: Perseverance: The Hallmark of Excellence.
This Ceremony aims to recognise the academic achievements of the Class of 2018 in their final examinations in secondary schools. Inclusive of the three (3) National Scholars, Briann Gardiner of Raymond Gardiner High, Caitlin Lewis of TCIPS Comprehensive High and Zaria Ingham of Maranatha Academy, 140 students from nine (9) secondary schools will be recognised.
All the awardees attained the minimum requirement of five (5) passes in their external examinations, including English Language and Mathematics.
Hon. Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services, commends all of the awardees on their sterling performance in the 2018 external examinations. “You have every reason to be proud of your achievements. I am delighted to share this moment with you and to participate in the ceremony where we will highlight your academic successes and reward you for your accomplishments to date. On behalf of the Government and people of these islands I wish you good success in your future endeavours. May God’s favour rest on each of you.”
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LAUNCHES ITS FIRST OUTREACH PROGRAMME, “GROWING TCI: HAND IN HAND WE GROW”
As part of the Department of Agriculture’s mandate to promote public awareness on agriculture production, we cordially invite you to be a part of our First Agriculture Outreach Programme.
Come interact with the us as you learn:
- How to Start a Backyard Garden
- What agriculture inputs you need
- What is the cause of some of your gardening issues
- New planting ideas
- From other Backyard Gardeners
Venue: Downtown SMART Carpark, Providenciales
Date: Friday 3rd May, 2019
Time: 10 am - 2pm
For more information, you may contact us at:
The Department of Agriculture
16 Parade Avenue, Buttersfield Square
Providenciales
1(649)3385269
Boyz n the Hood"director John Singleton dies
Critically acclaimed director John Singleton has died at the age of 51 from complications following a stroke. His family removed him from life support today, April 29.
The filmmaker had initially checked himself into a hospital after experiencing pain in his leg, which was triggered by a recent flight from Costa Rica. He was then placed in a medically induced coma.
His family noted that Singleton suffered from hypertension, and that more than 40% of African-American men and women have high blood pressure. The family asked that everyone visit Heart.org to recognize the symptoms.
In a statement, his family said that Singleton "passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends." Details of a memorial service will be announced at a later time.
Born in South Central Los Angeles, California in 1968, John Daniel Singleton was best-known for his 1991 directorial debut, Boyz n the Hood, which examined urban and racial tensions through the eyes of three childhood friends growing up in South Central L.A. amid poverty and gang violence.
The coming-of-age drama, which received widespread critical acclaim, starred Cuba Gooding, Jr., Laurence Fishburne, and rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube. The film was later nominated for two Oscars -- Best Director and Best Original Screenplay-- which made Singleton the youngest filmmaker to receive nominations in those two categories. It also made him the first African-American to be nominated for best director.
After his initial film success, Singleton was tapped by pop icon Michael Jackson to direct the music video for “Remember the Time," which he followed up with his next film, Poetic Justice, starring Jackson’s sister, singer Janet Jackson.
Singleton’s other films included Higher Learning, a drama following the lives of three college freshmen; Rosewood, based on a true story of racial violence in Florida in the 1920s; a remake of the 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft; the action film 2 Fast 2 Furious; and Four Brothers, starring Mark Wahlberg and Tyrese Gibson.
Singleton also dabbled in television. He directed episodes of such shows as Empire, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and Billions. More recently, he co-created the hit FX series Snowfall, about the crack epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles.
Singleton is survived by his mother, Sheila Ward, his father Danny Singleton, and his children Justice, Maasai, Hadar, Cleopatra, Selenesol, Isis and Seven.
Source-ABC
Guaido declares 'final phase of Operation Freedom' in Venezuela
The leader of Venezuela's opposition, Juan Guaido, on Tuesday declared he was "beginning the final phase of Operation Freedom" after a dawn address in which he was flanked by men in military fatigues and armored vehicles in the capital Caracas.
Venezuela's Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez called Guaido's action a "coup" on Twitter, adding that the government is "deactivating a small number of traitorous military personnel."
"We call on the people to remain in maximum alert so that, together with the glorious Bolivian armed forces, we defeat this attempted coup and preserve peace. We will win," he said.
Guaido, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly and has been recognized as president by dozens of other countries, has led months of protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro, yet Tuesday marked his boldest attempt yet to involve the military in the removal of the Venezuelan leader.
Speaking with opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez by his side, Guaido declared the "start of the end of the usurpation" in a video, which he said was filmed in a military airbase in Caracas, La Carlota.
Lopez, who is under house arrest, said on Twitter that he was released by the military.
"Our armed forces today, valiant soldiers, valiant patriots, valiant men connected to the constitution have come to our calling, we have come to this calling," Guaido said in the video.
Guaido has called for nationwide demonstrations on May 1, and said his announcement signaled the start of that protest a day early.
He later tweeted, "At this moment I am meeting with the main military units of our Armed Forces, beginning the final phase of Operation Freedom."
Guaido has spent the last few weeks visiting towns and cities outside Caracas, drawing large crowds in his bid to pressure Maduro to step down.
Juan Guaido made a dawn address flanked by men in military fatigues and armored vehicles in Venezuela's capital Caracas.
It is unclear whether Guaido's move will gain traction. "The situation is under control," Maduro's Communications Vice Minister Isbemar Jimenez told CNN on Tuesday. "All military garrisons support Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro."
United States Sen. Marco Rubio, a vocal critic of Maduro, urged Venezuela's military to support Guaido on Twitter.
"This is the moment for those military officers in #Venezuela to fulfill their constitutional oath & defend the legitimate interim President (Guaido's) in this effort to restore democracy. You can write history in the hours & days ahead," he wrote.
Guaido emerged from obscurity when he was named president of the National Assembly on January 5. His arrival to the political scene has re-energized opposition to Maduro's government.
The 35-year-old has promised a transitional government and free elections to end the rule of the socialist Maduro regime, which has overseen the once-wealthy oil nation's descent into economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis.
Source-CNN
Apple defends removing parental control apps
Apple has defended its decision to remove a number of parental control apps from the App Store, citing security concerns.
Several app-makers complained to the New York Times that Apple had taken their products off sale when it launched its own similar tools.
But Apple said the apps were removed because they "put users' privacy and security at risk".
It said the apps had been given time to make changes to meet Apple's rules.
The latest version of Apple's iOS mobile operating system added Screen Time tools, which let people see how much time they spend using their favourite apps.
The tools also let parents control how much time their children can spend on apps and websites.
Some app-makers claimed Apple had removed their products from the App Store after Screen Time was launched, and said it was trying to limit competition.
However, in a blog post, Apple said it had taken action against apps that were using "risky" Mobile Device Management (MDM) to control children's smartphones.
Many corporations and organisations use MDM to control what employees do on their phones. It lets businesses keep an eye on what staff are doing, and even wipe their phones remotely.
Apple said it was not appropriate for family-focused time management tools to use MDM.
"MDM gives a third party control and access over a device and its most sensitive information, including user location, app use, email accounts, camera permissions, and browsing history," Apple said in a blog.
"It is incredibly risky - and a clear violation of App Store policies - for a private, consumer-focused app business to install MDM control over a customer's device.
"Contrary to what The New York Times reported over the weekend, this isn't a matter of competition. It's a matter of security."
The company said it had given a number of affected apps 30 days to submit updated software that did not break its rules. It said many of the companies did make changes and were not removed.
Source-BBC
Police launch new inquiry into Gosport hospital deaths
A new criminal investigation is to take place into the deaths of hundreds of patients who were given "dangerous" levels of painkillers at a hospital.
An inquiry found 456 patients died after being given opiate drugs at Gosport War Memorial Hospital between 1989 and 2000.
A review has since been carried out by Kent and Essex Police to assess if there was "sufficient new evidence".
Relatives have been told a "full investigation" will begin.
Three previous investigations into 92 of the deaths by Hampshire Constabulary resulted in no charges being brought.
Assistant Chief Constable Nick Downing, head of serious crime at Kent and Essex Police, met relatives at a meeting in Fareham.
He said he hoped the investigation would be "some comfort" to them.
He said: "This investigation is not about numbers, it is about people - specifically those who died at the hospital and the loved ones they have left behind.
"This is a highly complex and emotive case that some family members have been living with for more than 30 years, and I would like to thank them for their continuing patience and understanding during this process."
In a statement read on behalf of the families, Bridget Reeves, whose 88-year-old grandmother Elsie Devine died in the hospital in 1999, said there had a been a "cover-up culture" surrounding previous investigations.
She said: "We challenged and we challenged when we saw the corrupt evidence that so-called experts had submitted but the CPS slammed the door shut in our faces.
"This immoral disaster was perpetuated by a club culture ... officials protected each other.
"Our loved ones were killed and our lives destroyed."
Ian Sandford, whose mother also died in Gosport, added: "Frustration doesn't even come near. They should have sorted this out a long time ago.
"All I want to hear is a good result."
Families were told the process would take up to nine months to decide whether charges would be brought.
The Gosport Independent Review Panel report, published in June 2018, found there was a "disregard for human life" at the hospital.
It also found an "institutionalised regime" of prescribing and administering amounts of opiate medication that were not clinically justified.
The report said the quality of previous police investigations had been "consistently poor".
It found whistleblowers and families were ignored as they attempted to raise concerns about the administration of medication on the wards, which was overseen by Dr Jane Barton.
Dr Barton retired after being found guilty by a medical panel of failings in her care of 12 patients at Gosport between 1996 and 1999.
Source-BBC
Cricketer jailed for five years for rape of woman
A "foul sexist" cricketer has been jailed for raping a sleeping woman.
Ex-Worcestershire player Alex Hepburn assaulted the victim at his Worcester flat after she had consensual sex with his then teammate Joe Clarke in 2017.
The 23-year-old was found guilty of rape earlier this month and sentenced to five years at Hereford Crown Court.
Judge Jim Tindal told him the sexual conquest "game" he had set up on a WhatsApp group, was "laddish" behaviour that "demeaned women".
He told Hepburn he had "arrogantly" believed his victim would consent, during the attack.
"You thought you were God's gift to women," he said.
"You did see her at that moment as a piece of meat, not a woman entitled to respect."
Hepburn was found guilty of one count of oral rape and cleared of one rape charge following a retrial at Worcester Crown Court.
The woman woke up after a night out on 1 April and wrongly believed she was having sex with Mr Clarke before realising it was actually Hepburn, the trial was told.
Hepburn posted rules of the "stat chat" game about many women he and Mr Clarke could have sex with on a WhatsApp group a week before the rape.
His bid to collect "as many sexual encounters as possible" as part of the game was "foul sexism", Judge Tindal said.
"It demeaned women and trivialised rape - a word you personally threw around lightly," the judge said.
"Only now do you realise how serious rape is."
In a victim impact statement, read to the court by prosecutor Miranda Moore QC, the woman said she suffered recurring nightmares in the form of "a repeat of the rape", which had also led to the collapse of her relationship with her then boyfriend.
Describing her ordeal as evil and a "heinous crime", she added: "I take off my hat to anyone who can hold down a healthy happy relationship, after being raped.
"I am flooded with guilt that I can't ever seem to escape."
The trial was told the woman met Mr Clarke in a nightclub before returning to his flat where they had sex.
He left his bedroom during the night to be sick and remained passed out in his bathroom.
Hepburn found the woman asleep on a mattress after arriving back at the flat "alone, drunk and frustrated" and he "saw a chance" and attacked her, the court heard,
The woman only realised it wasn't Mr Clarke when Hepburn spoke in an Australian accent.
Hepburn's barrister, Michelle Heeley QC, said her client had expressed "true remorse", adding: "He has lost everything: his career, his good character and ultimately his liberty."
Source-BBC