Fatal attack in São Paulo
At least five students have been killed in a shooting at a school in São Paulo state in Brazil, police say.
One adult was also killed in the attack at the Professor Raul Brasil state school in Suzano.
Two "armed and hooded adolescents" had carried out the attack, police said. Media reports said both of the gunmen were also dead.
São Paulo state governor João Doria tweeted that the victims had been "cruelly murdered".
The shooting happened at about 09:30 local time (12:30 GMT).
"When I arrived at the school... it was chaotic. Teachers, workers, everybody was running," Juliano Simões de Santana, who lives near the school, told Folha de S.Paulo newspaper (in Portuguese).
Source-BBC
Prime Minister May in final push to convince MPs to back deal
Theresa May is making a final bid to save her Brexit deal ahead of a crunch Commons vote.
Battling a sore throat after late night talks with the EU, the prime minister urged MPs to back her "improved deal" or risk "no Brexit at all".
But some leading Tory Brexiteers and the DUP, who keep her government in power, have rejected the deal.
They say the legal assurances secured by the PM are not enough to prevent the UK being tied permanently to the EU.
Sir Bill Cash, a leading Brexiteer, said: "In the light of our own legal analysis and others we do not recommend accepting the government's motion today."
Sir Bill was part of a panel of legally-trained Brexiteer MPs who examined the PM's revised deal, concluding that it did not deliver the binding changes MPs had demanded.
Another Brexit-supporting Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg said he had not yet decided which way to vote.
Conservative MP Simon Clarke, leaving a meeting of the ERG, said a "majority" of the group would vote against the deal.
The DUP said in a statement that "sufficient progress has not been achieved at this time".
MPs will pass judgement on the revised version of her deal at about 19.00 GMT.
Commons Speaker John Bercow did not select any of the amendments to the government motion that had been tabled by MPs.
With husband Philip watching from the public gallery, Mrs May made a final plea to MPs to "come together" and "prove beyond all doubt that democracy comes before party, faction or personal ambition".
"This is the moment and this is the time," she said.
"Back this motion and get the deal done, because only then can we get on with what we came here to do - what we were sent here to do.
"We cannot serve our country by overturning a democratic decision of the British people."
The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March. MPs voted overwhelmingly to reject the PM's deal on 15 January by 432 votes to 202.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that "after three months of running down the clock" the prime minister had "achieved not a single change to the withdrawal agreement".
He said it was the same "bad deal" MPs had rejected in January and Labour would be voting against it again because it "risks people's living standards", jobs and the NHS.
As things stand the number of switchers seems far less than required to avoid another defeat for the prime minister. Last time out she was beaten by a record 230 votes.
One cabinet minister guessed the number tonight might be around 150. Everyone is guessing still.
But this looks like another dreadful day for Number 10, and another moment when doubts will be on display about not just the divorce deal with the EU, but about the prime minister's leadership too.
Something has changed yes, but not enough.
Charles Walker, vice chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, said defeat for the government in the vote later would lead to a general election.
He told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "If it doesn't go through tonight, as sure as night follows day, there will be a general election within a matter of days or weeks.
"It is not sustainable, the current situation in Parliament."
He added: "She will lead us into that general election. We haven't got time for a leadership election."
Downing Street said: "We are not preparing for and we do not want a general election."
It comes after Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told MPs the legal risk of being tied to the EU after Brexit "remains unchanged".
He added that the new assurances secured by the PM did "reduce the risk that the United Kingdom could be indefinitely and involuntarily detained" in the Irish backstop if talks on the two sides future relationship broke down due to "bad faith" by the EU.
He defined "bad faith" as a "pattern of refusing to accept reasonable proposals" on the Irish backstop.
But he said the question of whether a satisfactory post-Brexit deal on a permanent trading relationship can be reached remained "a political judgment" - and he said MPs should back the PM's deal.
In his advice, Mr Cox said "the legal risk remains unchanged" that if a post-Brexit trade agreement can not be reached due to "intractable differences", the UK would have "no internationally lawful means" of leaving the backstop without EU agreement.
Mrs May earlier addressed a meeting of Conservative MPs, in an effort to change the minds of those opposed to her deal.
Conservative MPs leaving the meeting suggested half of those who voted against the deal last time will switch to support it later, said BBC's Chief Political Correspondent Vicky Young.
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said she believed the prime minister's deal would go through "otherwise instability will follow which would be so unwelcome".
But Brexit-backing former foreign secretary Boris Johnson told MPs: "I am afraid this deal has now reached the end of the road and if it is rejected tonight I hope that it will be put to bed."
He said the only option to preserve the UK's "self-respect" was to leave on 29 March, without Mrs May's agreement, and then negotiate a free trade deal.
But the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tweeted that the idea of a "transition period" without the withdrawal agreement agreed with Mrs May was a "dangerous illusion" with no legal basis.
Brexiteer Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns said the UK should leave the EU "without a bad deal", adding that the country needed to look "beyond the borders of the EU".
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable told MPs Brexit will "make this country poorer, weaker and less secure" and called for people to have the final say in another referendum.
And leading Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve warned "we are about to do a serious and historic mistake", describing Brexit as "self-mutilation".
The SNP's leader at Westminster Ian Blackford urged the prime minister to "extend Article 50 and bring forward another EU referendum".
He earned a rebuke from Speaker John Bercow for accusing Mrs May of "sitting there laughing" while he was "talking about the rights that will be taken away from our young people" by Brexit.
Source-BBC
EU names five C'bean countries on new blacklist
The European Union (EU) today named five Caribbean countries on a new list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions which it said had been based on an “an intense process of analysis and dialogue steered by the commission”.
The EU finance ministers said that based on the commission's screening, they have blacklisted a total of 15 countries.
They said, of those, five, namely Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa, Guam, American Samoa and the United States Virgin Islands have taken no commitments since the first blacklist adopted in 2017.
The European finance ministers said that Barbados, United Arab Emirates and Marshall islands that were on the 2017 list and moved to the grey list following commitments they had taken, are now back-listed for not having followed up.
The European said that seven other countries, namely Belize, Bermuda, Dominica, Aruba, Fiji, Oman and Vanuatu were moved from the grey list to the blacklist for the same reason. They said another 34 countries will continue to be monitored in 2019, while 25 countries from the original screening process have now been cleared.
“The list has proven a true success with many countries having changed their laws and tax systems to comply with international standards,” the EU said, adding that over the course of last year, the commission assessed 92 countries based on three criteria: tax transparency, good governance and real economic activity, as well as one indicator, the existence of a zero corporate tax rate.
“Today's update shows that this clear, transparent and credible process delivered a real change: 60 countries took action on the commission's concerns and over 100 harmful regimes were eliminated. The list has also had a positive influence on internationally agreed tax good governance standards.”
Last month, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their 30th Inter-sessional summit in St Kitts-Nevis said the blacklisting of CARICOM countries by the EU has wrought considerable reputational damage to the community.
“Despite all member states, with the exception of one, being removed from the EU blacklist, the damage inflicted is irreparable and has consequential implications for building member states' economic and climate resilience given their inherent vulnerabilities,” they said in the communique issued at the end of the two-day summit.
Source-Jamaica Observer
THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS CIVIL SERVICE JOINS WITH THE ROYAL TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS POLICE FORCE IN MOURNING THE LOSS OF PC MACQUENCY CARTER
The Turks and Caicos Islands Civil Service joins with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in mourning the loss of PC Macquency Carter
“The passing of Officer Carter or “Quincy” as we all affectionately knew him, has sent the entire Turks and Caicos Islands into a state of shock and grief.
Quincy was a well-mannered, devoted and respected Police Officer who loved his job as a Police Officer as much as he loved his family and his zeal for life.
He was a highly skilled officer who dedicated over a decade of service to the RTCIPF and served across various islands and in various capacities, but was most proud of his service to the Tactical Unit where his level of skill and precision was greatly admired. He was a member of the RTCIPF Police Band and also spent a significant amount of time mentoring troubled young men throughout the islands and the various high schools.
In recent weeks Quincy was assigned as a CPO to the Governor and worked from the Office of the Governor/Deputy Governor in Providenciales where his level of professionalism and attention to detail continued to be placed on display.
Quincy’s personality was bigger than life and he was loved and well respected across the entire Turks and Caicos Islands where he will be a great miss.
Our hearts grieve for this great loss and we extend our deepest sympathies to his entire family most especially his children A’Zhi and Adonai Carter, his grandmother Mrs. Valeria Houseman, his siblings Aretha, Moses and Mauqueita, aunts, uncles and the rest of the family circle.
You have served your country well and we are forever grateful for your service Macquency.
Rest in Heavenly Peace!”
Deputy Governor
Anya Williams MBE
ATTORNEY FULFORD CALLS POLICE REQUEST FOR FIGERPRINT FOR POLICE RECORD UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IN BREACH OF HUMAN RIGHTS
REFUSE TO GIVE YOUR FINGERPRINTS TO THE POLICE FOR POLICE RECORD AS THE REQUEST IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND IN DIRECT CONTRAVENTION OF THE POLICE FORCE ORDINANCE.
By Mark FULFORD LLB
If the Police are requesting a fingerprint when you apply for a Police Certificate it is in breach of the Police Force Ordinance Cap 18.01 and your constitutional rights.
When you provide a finger print it can leave a sweat deposit and therefore it is possible to obtain a person’s DNA from that sweat deposit. If the sweat was classed as fluid from a tissue then it should be classed as an intimate sample and therefore a Court order and written consent would be required but then it can only be taken from a person in police detention.
People come to our shores and automatically assume that we all have no sense and they can do as they like to us without any fear of us defending ourselves. That’s because we have always been an accommodating and welcoming set of people, but don’t take our kindness for weakness and this is exactly what Commissioner James Smith is doing to us by asking ALL of us to give him our fingerprints.
Our biometric rights are protected in the constitution of the TCI, and if the Police think that we will just give up our constitutional rights without it being lawful, they are wrong and all general applicants for Police Records who has NEVER been convicted of an offence should refuse to give their fingerprints unless and until Commissioner James Smith can show you the law which overrides your constitutional rights. The Rehabilitation of Offenders “Amendment” Ordinance 2017 does not give the Police the powers to request fingerprints for general applicants for Police Records. This law ONLY give the Police the powers to request fingerprints FROM applicants who are rehabilitated (convicted) offenders who have not been re-convicted
The storing of fingerprints in a database violates the right to privacy enshrined in s9 of our constitution and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. I call on the Commissioner for Human Rights to advise the Police to cease the implementation of the taking of fingerprints from general applicants as to do so would be a violation of our Human Rights.
Mark A Fulford – Attorney
Flow & RTCs Sports Watch brings Nationals 19’ to listeners across the Turks & Caicos
The 2019 Inter High School National Track & Field Championships was launched at a press conference today at the Department of Sports to commence the most anticipated weekend in sports in the Turks and Caicos.
Full service communications and entertainment provider delivering market-leading video and broadband services, Flow TCI, is today named the official broadcast partner and exclusive telecommunications sponsor for Nationals 19’, providing fans across the TCI with over six hours of live coverage daily via RTC89FM.
“Flow is committed to work collaboratively with the media to help deepen the impact and reach of the National Championships, as well as extend creative possibilities and maximise public value. We therefore welcome your presence at the National Championships and encourage you to promote the triumphs of our young athletes,” stated Acting Country Manager, Flow TCI, Audley Gibbs.
For the first time in the history of the National Championships sixteen schools from across the islands will be participating over the course of the three day holiday weekend. Additionally, coverage will feature live commentary from the RTC Sportswatch duo, Amin McCartney and Donovan Fulford with extended coverage from Sharon Simons & Trevor Cooke via live audio streaming on RTC89FM & Flow TV Ch.104.
Chris Jarrett, Director of Radio Turks and Caicos, and avid sports enthusiast shared in light of this partnership, “Flow is definitely raising the bar for sports in Turks and Caicos and we are thrilled to be a part of this event sponsored by Flow and look forward to powerful synergies like these in the future. This is a great weekend for sports, so let’s take our students higher in love with track through Flow, RTC89FM, and Sports Department.”
Flow customers can also look forward to special deals this weekend. Flow customers activating an XL Prepaid Combo plan will get TRIPLE the data to share their favourite memories, and will automatically enter for a chance to win one of several all access VIP passes to Spring Bling Weekend featuring international dancehall artiste, Kranium.
“Flow is the home for sports in Turks and Caicos & in the Caribbean. Our mission is simply to connect communities and transform lives and we see our role as a sponsor of the National Championships as delivering on that commitment,” shared Flow Marketing Communications Executive, Darron Hilaire Jr.
Be sure to check out the Flow booth all weekend long at the 2019 Inter High School National Championship to top up, activate, and sign up for all your mobile and entertainment needs.
Desperate Housewives star charged in exam cheating scheme
Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman is among more than 40 people charged in a US college cheating scam, according to unsealed court records.
The alleged scheme involved helping students cheat on entrance exams, as well as getting non-athletic students admitted on fake athletic scholarships.
Elite schools Yale, Stanford, and Georgetown were among the destination universities.
There was no suggestion that the schools were involved in wrongdoing.
The defendants are largely wealthy and also include CEOs of major companies.
"These parents are a catalogue of wealth and privilege," said US Attorney Andrew Lelling at a news conference about the case on Tuesday.
According to the charging documents, Ms Huffman made a "charitable contribution" of $15,000 (£11,500) to participate in the scheme on behalf of her eldest daughter.
She allegedly arranged to use the scheme a second time, for her younger daughter, before deciding not to do so.
Ms Huffman was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. She was secretly recorded discussing the scheme with a co-operating witness.
The papers said the co-operating witness met with Ms Huffman and her husband, the actor William H Macy, at their Los Angeles home and explained the scam to them. The witness said the pair "agreed to the plan". Mr Macy was not indicted.
The actress Lori Loughlin, best known for starring in the US sitcom Full House, was among those indicted.
Ms Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli - who was also indicted - "agreed to pay bribes totalling $500,000 in exchange for having their two daughters designated as recruits" to the University of Southern California (USC) rowing team, the documents said. Both their daughters are currently studying at USC.
Federal prosecutors in Boston charged William "Rick" Singer, 58, with running the alleged scheme through his company Edge College & Career Network.
Mr Singer is expected to plead guilty on Tuesday in Boston federal court to charges including racketeering, money laundering, and obstruction of justice.
According to the FBI, athletics coaches at various institutions were also involved in the scheme - recommending the fraudulent applicants internally and pocketing bribes in return.
"This case is about the widening corruption of elite college admissions through the steady application of wealth, combined with fraud," Mr Lelling said.
"There can be no separate college admission for wealthy, and I will add there will not be a separate criminal justice system either."
In all, 33 parents were charged as well as 13 athletics coaches and associates of Mr Singer's business.
Source- BBC
Turks and Caicos Hosts UWI Open Campus Council Meeting
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) will host the 2019 Council Meeting of The UWI Open Campus. The meeting will be held on Friday, March 15, 2019 at the Shore Club Resort on the island of Providenciales. This is the first time the Turks and Caicos Islands is hosting the Open Campus Council Meeting.
Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth will address the public session of the meeting, which starts at 9:30 am TCI time.
During the Council meeting, a number of issues will occupy the attention of delegates. These include the Principal’s Report to Council (Open Campus 2017/2018 Annual Report), the Audited Financial Statements, Audit Committee Report, The UWI Open Campus Alumni Report, and the Annual Report of the Global Affairs Canada/Strengthening Distance Education in the Caribbean (GAC/SDEC) Project.
The major discussion point will be the Principal’s Report, which will describe the Open Campus’ contribution to the achievement of The UWI Triple A Strategy. In the Report, Dr Longsworth will outline accomplishments by the Open Campus under the three pillars of the Triple A Strategy: Access, Alignment and Agility.
The Council Meeting will be held under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Dr June Soomer.
Opening of TCI Country Site
This year’s Open Campus Council meeting takes on special significance as the Open Campus Country Site will reopen in the Turks and Caicos Islands on the same day of the Council meeting. The new Open Campus Country Site in Turks and Caicos is located at Town Centre Mall on the island of Providenciales.
The Site will be officially opened by Honourable Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth, during an official ceremony on Friday March 15 starting at 6:00 pm.
Distinguished Lecture
Following the opening of the Open Campus Country Site, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies will deliver a distinguished lecture on the topic of Reparations. The lecture will take place in the foyer of the Town Centre Mall and starts at 7:30 pm.
“The UWI Open Campus is delighted to re-establish our physical presence in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” stated Dr Luz Longsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Open Campus. “This places the Open Campus in a better position to work strategically with the Government of the TCI and the TCI Community College in building the territory’s human resource capacity and meeting its training needs.”
Hon. Williams celebrates International Women's Day
As the country celebrates International Women's Day, Minister the Hon. Delroy Williams took time out to reflect on women in the TCI in his 2019 message.
My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, as we join the rest of the World in celebrating International Women's Day which is observed annually on March 8th , I wish to pay special tribute to all women throughout the length and breadth of our country.
As a people, we take great pride in having a notable number of women in leadership roles and in key positions in both the public and private sector in almost every facet of society.
On behalf of my ministry and my government, I wish to congratulate all women on their various accomplishments, as we honor and celebrate the contributions they continue to make to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In many ways, women represent the strong fabric that keeps society together and shapes the world in which we live. It is obvious that many of our women have successfully mastered the theme and I can boldly say that our country would not be where it is today without the sacrifice, hard work and dedication that our women have made over the years and continue to make.
As we celebrate this year under the theme, "Balance for Better”, I wish to pledge the support of my Ministry and my government to continuing to develop and strengthen programmes that will advance the rights of women and encourage more of them to strive for excellence and contribute to the development of our country.
Today I also wish to encourage the older women in our society to ensure that the younger ones are not left behind or at risk. We are living in a rapidly changing society and world, so I urge you to be excellent role models for them.
Once again it is my pleasure to wish all women a Happy International Women’s Day 2019.
PREMIER SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE AMNESTY
On February 18th, the following Bills were read in the House of Assembly for the first time and it was publicly announced that the Debate would take place on March 4th and 5th :
- The Hotel Tourism and Restaurant Taxation Bill (HRTT) which provided an overhaul to the Law passed since 1985 allowing for a modernization of the law and a strengthening of the collection of taxes;
- The HRTT (Amnesty) Bill which allowed for an Amnesty commencing April 1st and allowing for a waiver of all penalties and payable on any outstanding taxes due and payable under the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (Taxation) Ordinance for the years up to and including the year ending 31 March 2019.
- The HRTT (Validation) Bill which sought to ratify past actions.
Regrettably not all persons were able to hear the Debate in the House of Assembly where three serving former Ministers quite adequately shared their thoughts on why we were where we are today.
Of particular concern was the Amnesty Bill that offers relief to 41 local and expatriate owned Businesses. I offer again the following facts as stated during the Debate:
- There has been NO WRITE OFF OF TAXES for any Business.
Financial Implications
- There are currently 41 establishments that are in arrears position of which 7 have been refferred to AG Chambers, 15 have paid the entire principal amount but not the interest (not accruing), and 19 have made no payments. (interest accruing).
- Of the 19 businesses, Beaches TCI and Club Med collectively account for 96% of the amount outstanding. Should these businesses opt to benefit from the Amnesty, $28,638,820 of principal will be collected and $85,191,912 in interest will be forfeited.
- Total amounts in arrear of principal and interest are $29,684,123 and $89,147,690 respectively as at January 31, 2019.
- On the matter of Beaches, three former Ministers of Finance currently serving correctly summed up the situation as it relates to Beaches. Hon Derek Taylor spoke to the fact that the actions should be considered for what it is: a cleaning up exercise; Hon Royal Robinson offered that it was a matter that the issue has run on so long and now the “chickens have come home to roost and certain adjustments must be made” and Hon Washington Misick stated that he believe that this was a genuine oversight by all Governments: PDM and PNP since 1997. I agree with all save for the fact that I have every reason to believe that the immediate past Minister of Finance had knowledge of this matter and in fact his Party has issued a Release saying that he commissioned the Audit that revealed the Findings. The Audit covered September 2014 – August 2016 and it revealed that though Beaches and successive Governments operated on the understanding that it should pay 60% of the 12% tax, there was no written evidence save a letter written by Hon Washington Misick in 2014 confirming this to be the practise. Despite the findings revealing the oversight on the part of all successive governments, my Government has requested the payment of the full 100% of taxes for this period. I wish to thank the Revenue Control Unit for its work. In addition I wish to assure the public that Beaches and Club Med continues to pay its monthly taxes before the statutory deadline.
As it relates to Club Med, who since its opening has been allowed to pay 40% of the 12% tax under a Development Agreement. This Development Agreement has since expired and the former Administration had continued to collect under the same rate under the expired Agreement.
To this end, the Revenue Control Unit had to assess both establishments on 100% and this is the matter before us.
- Only Penalties are proposed to be written off. Penalties under the current Ordinance calculates monthly at 10% compounded. For an amount outstanding of $29,684,123, the total penalties are $89,147, 690. To be clear all businesses owing under this Audit are now attracting 240% in interest/penalty on the original taxes owed. As an example if a business owes $10,000 in taxes, it now attracts a penalty/interest of $38,000.00 for the Audit period. While penalties have been put in place to deter late payments, we believe the rate of 10% compounded monthly was too onerous and have reduced the rate and how it is calculated going forward under the new Ordinance passed on Monday.
- I wish to confirm that local businesses will benefit under this Amnesty. Despite there being no request by the Opposition for a list of proposed beneficiaries, I now release the list of businesses that stand to benefit under the Amnesty Program and encourage them to take advantage of the offer that allows payment plans for up to 2 years. I appeal especially to locally owned businesses that have popular standing. We are more than happy to be able to provide such an opportunity.