Nineth Cabinet Meeting for April 25th in the TCI
His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 9th meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday, 25 April 2018, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication and the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Gaming.
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the issuing of a public tender notice for the lease of Crown Land Parcels 20313/22, 20313/23 and 20314 on South Caicos in accordance with Section 34 of the Crown Land Ordinance;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the grant of a 25-year lease over Crown Land Parcel 60603/18 on Providenciales to Allan Grant on behalf of Allan's Trucking for the construction of a mechanics shop and storage facilities;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the issuing of a public tender notice for the lease of Crown Land Parcel 60804/142 on Providenciales in accordance with Section 34 of the Crown Land Ordinance;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the re-parcelling of Crown Land Parcel 10203/309 and Parcel 10203/157 subject to agreement between the proprietor and administrator of Parcel 10203/157 and TCIG;
· Approved a proposal, subject to amendments being made and returned to Cabinet, for an amnesty on penalties on outstanding arrears of hotel and tourism tax payable under the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (Taxation) Ordinance to be presented in due course to the House of Assembly for approval;
· Endorsed TCI's membership of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) and authorised the TCI Competent Authority to exchange financial information of multinational entities registered in TCI via the Country-by-Country Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement signed by TCI in June 2017;
· Approved business licence applications by Sky Poultry Farm Ltd and Stanbrooks Law to operate businesses in areas of restricted business activity in accordance with the Business Licensing Regulations;
· Approved a MSME Concession Order to Sky Poultry Farm in relation to its business operation on Providenciales in accordance with the MSME Development Ordinance 2015;
· Agreed to circulate to Cabinet for approval a policy on the waiver of customs duties on materials imported by individuals to replace items destroyed or damaged in the September hurricanes;
· Approved appointments to the National Honours and Awards (NHA) Committee for a period of one year with effect from 25 April 2018;
· Approved appointments of members to the District Boards of Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay and South Caicos;
· Approved the compilation and terms of reference of the TCI National Recovery Task Force to co-ordinate the post-hurricane recovery effort in TCI;
· Noted an information paper from the Ministry of Finance up-dating Cabinet on progress following publication of the consultancy report on the review of TCI's Statutory Bodies;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the draft National Investment Policy 2018;
· Approved the write-off of both Business Licence and Scholarship Contribution Arrears and instructed the Attorney-General's Chambers to prepare the necessary documentation for forwarding to the House of Assembly for approval;
· Received an up-date by His Excellency the Governor on the hurricane preparedness meeting held at the DDME Office in Providenciales on 23 April;
· Received an up-date by the Hon. Premier on matters relating to the Board of the NHIB and on the recruitment of a new CEO of Invest TCI;
· Was informed by the Hon. Premier of her request to His Excellency the Governor to prorogue the House of Assembly on 27 April;
· Received an up-date by the Hon. Attorney-General on progress on TCIG's engagement with the EU Code of Conduct Group in relation to the exchange of tax information;
· In response to a request by the Hon. Minister for Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services, received an up-date by Her Excellency the Deputy Governor on progress on contracts for the repair of roads on Grand Turk.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Trees planted at Cheshire Hall Plantation for Earth Day
Members of the community from various sectors converged at Cheshire Hall Plantation on Friday, April 20th, 2018, to plant trees and support environmental goals that address our planet's environmental challenges.
The tree-planting event was sponsored by Beaches Turks & Caicos and was hosted by the Turks & Caicos National Trust, in collaboration with students and teachers of Clement Howell High School's Environmental Club, and DECR's Pine Recovery Project Manager Bryan Manco.
The above-mentioned activity was a follow-up to an Earth Day 100 Trees Initiative which started in 2016, initiated by Beaches Turks & Caicos, through Public Relations Manager, Elanor Finfin Krysnowski and TCNT's Executive Director, Ethlyn Gibbs-Williams.
The National Trust was grateful to receive the gift of trees as the site has lost 30% of its trees as a result of the devastating effects of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. Approximately two dozen native trees were added to the Cheshire Hall Plantation landscape, including four (4) Caribbean Caicos Pine saplings.
Caicos Pine is an endemic tree, regarded as the National Tree of the Turks & Caicos Islands, and is an important part of the country's ecosystem. A recovery project is currently underway.
The Turks & Caicos National Trust is an ardent supporter of environmental protection and advocates for safeguarding the country's natural heritage. This Earth Day tree planting exercise will certainly encourage the efforts of the National Trust in propagating native plants in the nursery at the historical site.
Earth Day, or the International Day for Mother Earth, is the largest civic day in the world that promotes the importance of trees and keeping the earth clean and green.
Trees have a very important role in absorbing carbon, cleaning and cooling the air; stabilizing soils; recycling nutrients for agriculture and supporting habitats for wildlife - just a few of their gifts to humanity.
Let's keep planting trees!
Another Illegal Sloop Landing
The Ministry of Border Control and Employment and the Immigration Department confirm that an illegal vessel landed on Providenciales on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
Thirty five (35) persons were apprehended in the areas of Lil Bluff, North West Point, Chalk Sound, Dock Yard and the Bight as a result of an apparent illegal vessel landing on Providenciales.
The operational response included the Tactical Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the Immigration Enforcement Unit, Division B.
These persons are being processed and remain detained at the Detention Center until repatriation.
The Enforcement agencies of the Turks and Caicos Islands are again asking anyone with information concerning planned and landed arrival of other sloops to contact the Police anonymously on 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477.
The public is reminded that it is an offence to harbour illegal persons. Persons found guilty engaging in such activities are liable to a fine of US$20,000 or a term of imprisonment of four years, or both in accordance with Section 99 of the Immigration Ordinance 2015.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.
Oil at $75 as Iran sanction fears mount
Oil prices hit $75 on Tuesday, the highest level in nearly three and a half years, as fears mounted over the prospect of new US sanctions on Iran.
Brent crude jumped for the sixth consecutive day, trading as high as $75.27 before falling back slightly.
The US will decide by 12 May whether to abandon a nuclear deal with Iran and re-impose sanctions.
Such a move on the third-biggest oil producer in the Opec cartel threatens to further tighten global supplies.
Oil prices have been rising since the 14 nations in Opec, as well as other producers including Russia, decided to restrict output last year.
In November they agreed to extend those cuts until the end of 2018.
Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM said the prospect of President Trump pulling the US out of the nuclear accord that Iran signed with world powers in 2015 was the most significant element of Brent's recent rally.
"All bets are off on the US staying in the nuclear agreement," he said.
The US president has said that unless European allies fix what he has called "terrible flaws" in the accord by 12 May, he will restore US economic sanctions on Iran.
The other nations that signed the deal - the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China - all want to keep in place the agreement, which has halted Iran's nuclear programme in return for most international sanctions being lifted.
Restoring US economic sanctions on Iran would be a severe blow to the pact.
Stephen Innes of futures brokerage OANDA said new sanctions against Tehran could push oil prices up by as much as $5 a barrel.
The Opec production curbs have reduced stockpiles, but those cuts have been partially offset by a surge in US oil output.
Meanwhile, demand in Asia - the region that consumes the most oil, has hit a record high, prompting the opening of new refineries in China and Vietnam.
Brent was up 14 cents at $74.90 by 1100 BST, while US crude rose 51 cents to $69.15 - its highest price since 28 November 2014.
French & US President meets in Washington
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of "big problems" if it resumes the nuclear programme it agreed to curb in a 2015 international accord.
Speaking in the White House Oval Office as he hosts French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Trump called the Iran deal "a disaster" and "insane".
The US president has been threatening to reject an extension of the Obama-era nuclear pact by a 12 May deadline.
Mr Macron is in Washington lobbying Mr Trump to preserve the pact.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to visit Washington on Friday to make a last-minute bid to dissuade the president from potentially torpedoing the agreement.
"It won't be so easy for them to restart," Mr Trump said on Monday when a journalist asked him about the possibility of Iran relaunching their nuclear programme if the deal is scrapped.
"They're not going to be restarting anything. They restart it they're going to have big problems, bigger than they've ever had before.
"And you can mark it down - they restart their nuclear programme, they will have bigger problems than they've ever had before."
He added: "We're not going to allow certain things to happen that are happening. The Iran deal is a disaster. They're testing missiles. What's that all about?"
Mr Trump's stark warning comes a day after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened "severe consequences" if the US withdraws from the nuclear deal.
Mr Rouhani did not specify what retaliatory action Tehran might take. But his Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, has said a probable response would be to restart the enrichment of uranium - a key bomb-making ingredient.
Under the agreement, Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme, which it maintains was for peaceful civilian purposes, in return for an easing of economic sanctions.
Mr Trump has long complained that the deal - signed by the US, Iran, Europe, Russia and China - does nothing to halt Iran's support for militant groups in the region such as Hezbollah.
During the meeting, Mr Macron spoke in French and then translated into English, saying: "The Iran deal is an important issue but we have to take a far broader picture which is security in the overall region."
"What we want to do is to contain Iran and its presence in the region," he added.
At one point during the meeting, Mr Trump wiped away "dandruff" from Mr Macron's shoulder.
"We do have a very special relationship," Mr Trump told journalists gathered in his office.
"In fact I'll get that little piece of dandruff off.
"Little piece! We have to make him perfect. He is perfect."
Earlier in the day, Mr Macron and his wife were welcomed to the White House with a military ceremony and a 21-gun salute.
Source- BBC
British royals Princess Kate, Prince William welcome a baby boy
Britain's royal family just got bigger by one: Prince William and Princess Kate have welcomed a baby boy.
Kate, 36, delivered a son in the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital, Kensington Palace announced Monday morning. The newborn, the third child of William and Kate, weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces at birth. He was born at 11:01 a.m., local time. No name was publicly revealed.
William, 35, was present for the birth of his third child, according to Kensington Palace.
"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."
William and Kate have two other children: four-year-old George, their first child, and two-year-old Charlotte.
Source-ABC
Prince's family sues hospital and Walgreens; new album of unreleased material coming in September
Prince's family is suing the hospital that treated the legendary singer the week before he died, The Star Tribune reports.
In the wrongful death suit, the family claims the Trinity Medical Center in Illinois improperly treated Prince's first overdose, ultimately leading to his second and fatal overdose a week later.
The family is also suing Walgreens for dispensing opioids to Paisley Park manager Kirk Johnson that were intended for Prince.
"What happened to Prince is happening to families across America," attorney John Goetz said on behalf of the family. "Prince's family wishes, through its investigation, to shed additional light on what happened to Prince."
The state and federal criminal investigation found the singer was taking Vicodin with fentanyl. The source of the deadly substance could not be found, so authorities closed the case with no arrests or criminal charges.
The investigation also found that the singer refused medical testing and treatment.
Prince died on April 21, with his family filing suit exactly two years later.
In other Prince news, his estate has announced a new album of unreleased music from the star, which will be released on September 28, according to Variety.
"Last week, the release of "Nothing Compares 2 U" was the first piece of music to come from our collaboration with the estate, and now we’re working on a release for the fall -- a full-length album," Troy Carter, the entertainment adviser for Prince's estate, tells Variety. "Michael Howe, who’s been working with us on the archive, has done a tremendous job of finding some special pieces of work, and one of the pieces that he found, all of us fell in love with it and decided this was special enough for fans to hear. So we’re putting the final touches on it -- it’ll come in the fall."
Source-ABC
Cuban President Raul Castro to step down
Cuban President Raul Castro steps down Thursday, passing the baton to a new generation in a transition that brings to a close the Castro brothers' six-decade grip on power.
"We have come a long way... so that our children, those of the present and those of the future, will be happy," Castro said in one of his last speeches as leader last month.
The 86-year-old has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined his brother Fidel, who seized power in the 1959 revolution.
Between them, father of the nation Fidel and younger brother Raul ruled Cuba for nearly 60 years, making the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helping keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union.
On Thursday, that chapter of history will come to a close when the National Assembly elects a new president of the Council of State, catapulting the island into the post-Castro era.
The assembly will begin gathering on Wednesday, although the vote itself will take place on Thursday, with members widely expected to select current First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, a gray-haired 57-year-old who has climbed the party ranks and has been Raul Castro's right-hand man since 2013.
"There will be a sense of renewal, and there will be a sense of continuity," said Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.
The outgoing president will remain at the head of the Communist Party until its next congress in 2021 — when he turns 90 — time enough to ensure a controlled transition and to watch over his protege when, inevitably, old-guard communists challenge his reforms.
Cuban political scientist Esteban Morales said the two would likely work in tandem, with Castro continuing to act as the ideological figurehead, while Diaz-Canel concentrates on the "very complex and difficult" task of running the government.
The heir to the Castros will be faced with modernising the economy at a time when Cuba's key regional ally Venezuela, its source of cheap oil, is stumbling through an acute economic crisis, and amid a resurgence of the US embargo under President Donald Trump.
On the island, the transition is fuelling moderate debate between fervent Castro-ites and their critics, who expect few changes after the election, in which they have no direct participation. Cubans last month elected a new National Assembly, whose 605 members are tasked with voting in the new president.
"They are changing the government, but it's still the same kind, it's always going to be influenced by the Castros. Even if it's another man, it's always going to be a Castro government," said Ariel Ortiz, an unemployed 24-year-old in Havana.
Retiree Raul Garcia, 79, said: "They say that Raul is leaving the presidency, and that another, younger, man will come. That's logical. But Raul is not leaving; Raul will always be with us, like Fidel."
As if to underscore a sense of continuity, the authorities are not planning a special ceremony for the assembly vote. And foreign journalists, anxious for an early look at the new president, have not been invited.
"We will continue... the path of the revolution. The triumphant march of the revolution will continue," said Diaz-Canel after voting in last month's assembly elections.
However, despite striving for a low-key transition, there's no getting away from the fact that this represents a monumental change in Cuba.
It will be the first time in almost six decades that the Cuban president will not be named Castro, will not be part of the "historic" generation of 1959, will not wear a military uniform and will not be the head of the Communist Party.
If elected, Diaz-Canel is expected to be able to make up for his lack of revolutionary pedigree with the support of Castro watching benevolently from his perch atop the all-powerful Communist Party.
The level of responsibility given to the old guard in the new government will be closely watched as a measure of how quickly change can be wrought by Diaz-Canel.
He will be expected to build on the reforms introduced by Castro in recent years, particularly those giving greater latitude to the island's tourism industry and small business sector. The date of the historic vote is heavy with symbolism.
It falls on the 57th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion, when the CIA tried to overthrow Castro in 1961, an episode Havana has long proclaimed as American imperialism's first great defeat in Latin America.
President Trump considering posthumous pardon of boxer Jack Johnson
President Donald Trump said in a tweet that he is considering a posthumous pardon of Jack Johnson, the first black boxing heavyweight champion.
"Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson," the president tweeted Saturday. "His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial. Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a Full Pardon!"
Trump said he received a phone call from Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone, who told him about Johnson’s life story. The White House did not say when the call occurred, but Trump and Stallone have been acquaintances for years.
In 1913, Johnson, who was black, was convicted by an all-white jury with violating the Mann Act after transporting a white woman he was dating across state lines for “immoral purposes.” Johnson served one year in prison.
Johnson, a boxing legend and major figure in 20th-century sports, bucked racial barriers and racism until his death in 1946.
Johnson’s great-great niece, Linda Haywood, has led the charge for Johnson to receive a rare posthumous pardon, according to official reports.
In recent years, Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Harry Reid, R-Ky.; and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, have advocated for Johnson’s name to be cleared. This year, McCain; Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; and Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., reintroduced legislation urging a posthumous pardon.
“Jack Johnson is a boxing legend and pioneer whose reputation was wrongly tarnished by a racially motivated conviction more than a century ago,” McCain said in a statement. “Despite this resolution passing both chambers of Congress several times in recent years, no pardon has been issued to date. I hope President Trump will seize the opportunity before him to right this historical wrong and restore a great athlete’s legacy."
Source-ABC
Governor’s Opening Statement at Media Breakfast in Provo
H.E. the Governor, Dr John Freeman, held a media breakfast on 12 April. Among the reflections and points he made in his opening statement were the following:
“I want to start with some reflections on the past year or so, including of course the dreadful impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria last September. I want especially to touch on the UK’s role over that period and I want also to look forward somewhat, given the approach of the 2018 hurricane season.
But I want to open by praising all those involved in recovery efforts since last September. I want to praise the public and private sectors alike, but I must emphasise and commend the key role played by the hotels and tourism sector (including the cruise company in Grand Turk) in the revitalisation of the Islands. I want to empathize with all those directly affected by hurricane damage, including not least school students and their parents, all those awaiting repairs to their homes (and businesses) whether by publicly-funded renovation or via insurance pay-outs. I have seen the continuing impact myself, not least in the family islands of Grand Turk and South Caicos. I too lost my home in Grand Turk and am awaiting repairs to my official Residence, Waterloo – a symbol of the Capital of Grand Turk and one of the few truly historic public buildings in TCI.
Looking back, we all, I suspect, need to recall that there was a pre-Irma and Maria period, such was the huge impact of the hurricanes. In any case, some issues that had been under discussion before the hurricanes (e.g. the Prison and its needs) were made more urgent still as a result of the hurricanes.
Issues that were current before the hurricanes came, included some affecting the security of these Islands and their residents. There were concerns then about crime levels (and especially aggravated crimes) and border security. The National Security Council then as now, had a key role in drawing together the many strands and agencies involved in assessing and providing security: including the RTCPIF, Border Control and Immigration, Home Affairs for the Prison and other aspects of crime prevention (e.g. child protection). The wider community also, then as now, had parts to play in support of security agencies, and I applaud the way the private sector was ready to contribute and is now directly supporting crime prevention by gifting certain equipment. Together we are all helping to make a difference; year-on-year crime statistics support this assessment. But there is still much to be done in the continuing fight against crime and in dealing with the security of our borders in terms of bearing down on illegal migration. All of these issues require a whole-of-Government approach and adequate funding.
The hurricanes did not help in this regard. In terms of border security, the damage done to the radar system was a case in point. So too were the challenges faced by the already challenged Prison. Ensuring security at the prison during and following the hurricanes was a very difficult task and the then Prison Superintendent and his team showed real professionalism and courage in their response, but they needed additional help. The Superintendent showed great personal courage at critical points and provided much of the assessment which pointed the way to needed improvements at the Prison.
Both before the hurricanes (e.g. through the UK-financed Security Needs Assessment Report and by means of the FCO’s Prison Advisor’s Report) and since, the UK has sought to play its part in meeting the challenges evident both before Irma and Maria visited and following the hurricanes. As Governor I am very grateful indeed for all assistance provided (and being provided still) to TCI by the UK Government in this regard.
Let me refer more specifically to the kinds of assistance provided and still being provided, by the UK to TCI:
- First, immediately following Irma and Maria: the direct assistance and support given by the UK Armed Forces and DFID. That initial assistance (supplies, repairs etc.) was vital to early recovery. TCI and other UK Territories in the Caribbean affected by the hurricanes, received relief costing the equivalent of tens of millions of US Dollars. This was given as an expression of UK solidarity with all those affected.
- Secondly, over the succeeding few months: ways were explored to provide ongoing, longer-term, advice and assistance. Advice was offered, e.g. on future resilience in communications between the Islands; on vector control; on Airport security (a team of British Engineers remained in TCI till late November and assisted in this regard) and in other ways.
- Thirdly, direct assistance with recovery was and remains, extensive and important. Let me illustrate this with the following examples:
- The Radar system: this has been overhauled and is now fully operational. Cost to UK: USD 500K
- Vector control: equipment, chemicals and vehicles. Expected to be completed within next two months. Approximate cost to UK and TCI around USD 900K.
- HM Prison: temporary assignment of SERCO Prison officers (to reflect advice on Prison officer numbers in the Prison Advisor’s Report): cost since deployment in November 2017, over USD 1.4M.
Prison projects: perimeter fence lighting repairs (up to USD 128K) and internal zone fencing (up to USD 270K).
Other examples of UK assistance:
- Providenciales Children’s Home: repairs, generator replacement, etc, ongoing: total cost USD 50K
- National Museum, Grand Turk: replacement of air conditioners, including specialist units for preservation of artefacts: USD 52K
I should mention also support for work to deter and respond to a recent surge in illegal migration: UK assistance in terms of the deployment of RFA Mounts Bay and deployment of a RCIP helicopter, the extra costs of which in terms of accommodation and transport of the two crews, were met by the UK.
In terms of preparation for the 2018 hurricane season, UK assistance provided already last year (e.g. generators) will continue to be relevant in the months ahead. Of course there are needed repairs to shelters and replenishment of hurricane supplies, and these are all issues under discussion in TCIG. In terms of disaster preparedness – the key Committee is co-chaired by me and the Premier – we met in January and March and we have another planning meeting scheduled for later this month. DDME will clearly play a key co-ordination role in this process.”
H.E. The Governor touched on some other issues in his opening remarks, which were also covered in his answers to later questions from journalists present.