MAN 23, CHARGED FOLLOWING DEADLY SHOOTING IN MARCH
A 23-year-old man is now charged with Murder, Causing Grievous Bodily Harm, Discharging of a Firearm and Discharging Ammunition, following the deadly shooting incident on Friday, March 23rd, 2018 that left one woman dead and a 17-year-old injured. The charged man remains in Police custody.
A second man, a 21- year-old is still in police custody as investigation continues.
If you have any information into this incident no matter how small, please contact the Chalk Sound Police Station at 338-5901, 941-8082, 911 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477.
TCI Athletes Achieve Historic 4 Medals at Carifta 2018
The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded historic achievements at the CARIFTA 2018 Games in Nassau, Bahamas by securing 4 medals.
The former Minister for Sports, Hon. Karen Malcolm, who held the portfolio for Sports until February 1, 2018 when it was transferred to Minister Hon. Edwin Astwood, attended the Games which commenced on Friday March 30th 2018. Also, in attendance at the Games was Speaker of the House, Hon. Dwayne Taylor.
Hon. Malcolm sent congratulations to the entire Team TCI for their outstanding performance; stating, "I want to congratulate the young people who have represented our country so well at CARIFTA. I was so proud to watch the performance of our young athletes from the sidelines. They all did an excellent job, however, I must applaud the admirable performance of those who obtained medals and achieved their personal best at the Games. I would be remiss if I did not offer congratulations to the coaches and the persons who accompanied the athletes to the Bahamas. Team TCI has made its mark. This is the first time a team has won four medals at a CARFITA Games."
The results of the medal placement are as follows:
GOLD Medalist, Wikenson Fenelon, won the Octathlon;
SILVER Medalist, Ken Reyes, who came second in the Under 20 Boys 800m;
BRONZE Medalists, 4 x 100m Boys Under 17, Joshua Meghoo, Wooslyn Harvey, Daveon Durham and Darren Pierret; and
BRONZE Medalist, Javelin throw from Katrell Pierre.
The Minister, Hon. Malcolm added; "We, as a nation must be extremely proud of the medalists. Their performance was superb and we have a great caliber of athletes. Watching them compete on an international stage was a lifetime experience. I am very impressed. Every member of Team TCI gave their best. This was demonstrated in their performance this year. It illustrates that discipline along with hard work and determination are definitely the keys to success. Again, I am so proud of their performance."
The Minister also stated that she was very pleased with the group of athletes who travelled to Jamaica to compete in CARIFTA Swimming Championships. Their performances were also excellent and although they did not achieve a medal, most of them achieved their personal best and gained exposure to the world of swim competition.
Minister Malcolm encourages all youth to get involved in competition; be it athletics or otherwise. She emphasized that her government will continue to invest in Sports. She further added; "It is the intention of my government to improve the conditions offered to athletes, improve facilities available for them, and strengthen the country's sport programmes in order to produce more world class athletes. I can assure everyone that Sports is a priority for My Government; we will be strengthening our investment in sports to allow our children to develop their individual abilities from an early age."
Impressive Showing for TCI 2018 CARIFTA Swimmers
The team of nine TCI swimmers had their best showing ever in the 2018 CARIFTA swim competition in Kingston, Jamaica last weekend. Stand out swimmer Luke Haywood, 14, made it to three finals in the breaststroke events: 200 meter, 100 meter (1:13.82 ), and 50 meter (33.09). Top female swimmer Arleigha Hall, 17, swam to a top 16 place finish in the 50 meter free style (28.46).
All nine swimmers achieved Personal Bests in 43 out of 45 events they entered. The TCI team also for the first time fielded two female relay teams in the 400 meter and 200 meter freestyle distances, with two of the female athletes swimming above their age group.
Six of the nine TCI swimmers train in Provo (Leon Cummings, Jack Parlee, Alex Maclaren, Georgia Greatrex, Calen Castillo, and Lillian Taylor), while three (Luke Haywood, Arleigha Hall, and Raine Monet Williams) train in UK, Bahamas, and US respectively.
National Coach Jessica Soderquist stated; "I am incredibly proud of our swimmers, not just for their commendable performance in the pool, but as athletes and outstanding individuals in and out of the water. As it is with all competitive sport, swimmers face challenges and roadblocks, disappointments and successes. This competition was no different and all of our athletes showed resilience, courage, commitment, sportsmanship and humility. The people and the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands should be very pleased to have them out there competing as ambassadors for this growing sport."
Team Manager, Caren Castillo said; "It was a great pleasure spending a week in Jamaica with the TCI CARIFTA Swim Team that not only made Turks & Caicos sports history, but served as wonderful ambassadors for the country. We can be proud of all of them."
Ben Stubenberg, President of the TCI Swim Federation added; "We are very happy with our swimmers who took on Caribbean swim powerhouses like Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guadeloupe, and Jamaica, among others. With proper competition swim facilities, we have no doubt there will be many more TCI swimmers in the finals and on the podium."
Jarrett Forbes, Director of Sports, expressed; "We are very proud of our CARIFTA Swim Team! They represented the TCI well, in performance as well as ambassadors to our country. We appreciate the effort that the athletes and coaches put into training and competition and we are aware of the challenges our swimmers face in not having access to high performance training facilities. So we applaud the athletes and coaches for such a stellar performance in CARIFTA 2018. As we aim to develop swimming facilities in the TCI, we encourage young aspiring athletes to consider swimming and help us to continue to develop swimming in the TCI."
Hon. Minister responsible for Sports, Edwin Astwood congratulated the athletes stating; "I commend the swimmers and coaches on competing well and achieving their personal best. No doubt that swimming is an up and coming sport in the TCI. The Ministry commits to providing support to the Swimming Federation and would like to encourage young persons to choose swimming."
The Hon. Minister expressed that swimming should be encouraged as a means of survival, as an avenue for healthy living and as a competitive sport. Hon. Minister Astwood hopes to have swimming as a sport representing the Turks and Caicos Islands at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
TCI Police provides Crime Update
Police in Grand Turk Arrested and charged a 20-year-old man on Sunday, April 1st, 2018 for the offence of Possession of Controlled Drugs, following a stop search. The man was placed on USD$1500 bail, to appear at the Magistrates Court on April 6th, 2018.
Police in Providenciales on Sunday, April 1st, 2018, formally charged an 18-year-old male with five counts of buggery, in relation to a report made on March 5th, 2018. The accused is in Police custody.
On Wednesday, April 4th, 2018. Police in North Caicos arrested and formally Charged a man of Bottle Creek, for Burglary and Malicious Injury to Property, following reports of two burglaries that were reported on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018. The Old Customs building was burgled and stolen was one HP Laptop computer. The Adelaide Oembler Primary School Tuck shop was also broken into. A number of food items, that included eggs, apples, cereals, cream, and bread were stolen. The man is currently in Police custody.
Burglary
Police are investigating a Burglary that occurred in the Bight Providenciales, on Sunday, April 1st, 2018. According to Police reports, it was reported that at 7:36 a.m. upon arrival to the restaurant, the owner noticed his business establishment burgled and ransacked. Missing were, one black 60 inch flat screen Television valued USD$1000, 1 black flat screen Sankey Television valued USD$1000, 1 black Plum cellular phone valued USD$40, 1 Internet box value unknown, a quantity of alcohol that included 19 bottles of mixed wines, 3 cases of mixed beers, 9 bottles of mixed liquor valued USD$500.
Police in Providenciales are investigating the burglary of the Champions for Christ School on Sunday, April 1st, 2018. Missing according to the complainant was one grey container containing snacks value USD$300 was reported missing along with cellphones, other important documents.
Suspicious Activity
Police are also investigating an incident that took place on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 where a 34-year-old woman reported to 911 that she jumped out of moving jitney after an attack and attempted kidnapping. The complainant was on her way from the Down Town area. The vehicle, a white Nissan car was driven by a slim built male with brown complexion.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force continue to appeal to the general public who may have any information that can assist in the detection of any crime to come forward, or contact the Chalk Sound Police Station at 338-5901, 941-8082, 911 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477.
FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 5TH APRIL 2018.
GENERAL SITUATION: A COLD FRONT AND ASSOCIATED FRONTAL TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHERN BAHAMAS CONTINUES TO MOVE FAIRLY QUICKLY SOUTHEASTWARD.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE FRONT AND TROUGH LINES IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AND CHOPPY SEAS.
TURKS & CAICOS
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS
SEAS: 1 TO 3 FEET OVER THE OPEN WATERS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 85F 30C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 71F 21C
SUNSET: 07:26PM SUNRISE: 06:56AM FRI.
MOONRISE: 12:21AM FRI. MOONSET: 11:25AM FRI
LOW TIDE: 05:16PM HIGH TIDE: 11:37PM
LOW TIDE: 06:05AM FRI. HIGH TIDE: 11:57AM FRI.
WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW: PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS LIKELY.
Trump Administration Seeks to Temper China Trade War Fears
President Donald Trump said Wednesday the United States is not in a trade war with China, after Beijing announced plans to impose tariffs on $50 billion worth of U.S. goods in response to a similar package announced by the United States.
In a Twitter post Wednesday, Trump contended, “We are not in a trade war with China, that war was lost many years ago by the foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the U.S.” He added, “Now we have a Trade Deficit of $500 Billion a year, with Intellectual Property Theft of another $300 Billion. We cannot let this continue!”
On the same day, White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Bloomberg News, “None of the tariffs have been put in place yet, and these are all proposals.”
Since the start of this week, the United States and China have been engaging in a tit-for-tat trade spat. On Monday, in response to earlier tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by the Trump administration, China started tariffs of up to 25 percent on 128 U.S. products, including fruits, nuts, pork, wine, steel and aluminum.
Later the same day, the U.S. Trade Representatives (USTR) proposed to increase tariffs on 1,300 imported goods from China, mostly aerospace, medical and information technology products.
Less than 12 hours later, China announced it plans to impose retaliatory duties of 25 percent on 106 politically sensitive American goods, including soybeans, automobiles and aircraft.
The proposed list is now entering a “public notice and comment process, including a hearing,” the USTR said. After this process is completed, the USTR will issue a final determination on the products subject to the additional duties.
China’s commerce ministry said the question of when the measures will go into effect will depend on when the U.S. tariffs become active.
China’s Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai told reporters on Wednesday, “Negotiation would still be our preference, but it takes two to tango. We will see what the U.S. will do.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders reiterated at Wednesday’s press briefing that this measure is now going through the review process, and “it will be a couple of months before tariffs on either side would go into effect and be implemented.”
“We’re hopeful China will do the right thing. Look, China created the problem, not President Trump. We’re finally having a president who’s willing to stand up and say enough is enough, we’re going to stop the unfair trade practices,” Sanders said.
She also warned if China doesn’t stop the unfair trade practices, the administration will move forward to the next step.
Scott Kennedy, deputy director of the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he believes that the U.S. and China are already in a trade war.
Source-VOA
US trade deficit widens in February
America's trade deficit widened in February as its international trade hit a monthly record.
The deficit was $57.6bn - the largest monthly gap between exports and imports of goods and services since 2008, the US Commerce Department said.
The figures come as President Donald Trump tries a variety of tactics to reset the balance between US imports and exports.
The deficit was larger than analysts predicted, as imports of services rose.
That reflected payments made to broadcast the 2018 Olympic Games, the Commerce Department said.
Overall, February imports were $262bn, rising 1.7% from January amid ramped up spending on items such as civilian aircrafts, computers and food.
Exports also rose 1.7%, reaching $204.4bn over the month, driven by sales of oil and natural gas and automotive vehicles.
The US recorded a monthly deficit in goods - the focus of much of President Trump's attention - with most countries, led by China at $34.7bn. However the gap with China shrank 2.3% from January.
Wells Fargo analysts said they expect to see exports and imports grow in coming months, with strong domestic demand leading to further widening of the deficit.
"A full-blown trade war between the world's two largest economies, should one develop, probably would not cause American exports and imports to go into reverse, but it could weaken growth in trade," they wrote.
China has initiated a complaint with the World Trade Organisation over the US plans to impose a 25% tax on Chinese-made imports worth about $50bn for what the White House says are unfair intellectual property practices.
The WTO circulated the request for consultation to members on Thursday, launching a discussion period before the complaint heads to formal dispute settlement process.
Mr Trump has said he wants America's deficit with China to decline by $100bn.
Economists say focusing on deficits, rather than total trade, is misplaced.
Source-BBC
TCIG Appoints TWO New Dental Hygienist
The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Dental Hygienist, Ms. Raymonda Brown and Mr. Deangello Germain in the Turks and Caicos Government's Dental Departments in Grand Turk and Providenciales, respectively.
Commenting on the appointment, Director of Dental Services Dr. Jameiko Harvey said; "I would like to welcome two of our very own, Ms. Raymonda Brown and Mr. Deangello Germain to the post of Dental Hygienist within the Dental Department. These two individuals are the first Dental Hygienist to be hired by the Turks and Caicos Government and will be helping to combat the fight on gum disease in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"I can say that I am very proud of these two individuals and the direction that the Dental Department is heading. As we look to reshape the way individuals think about their oral hygiene, in short order we will be reintroducing our mobile clinic in Providenciales which will help to eliminate the heavy traffic at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center and the roles of these two Hygienists will be critical in helping individuals to keep their teeth longer and to live a healthier life."
Mr. Deangello Germain, who is a former track star, trained and competed alongside the great Delano Williams, but put aside his sporting ambitions to pursue a career in dentistry. Mr. Germain having completed a Bachelors Degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Technology has returned home to serve his country, and has further aspirations to become a Dental Surgeon, having already been accepted into Nova Southeastern University in the USA, where he intends to complete a Bachelors degree in Biology before applying to Dental School.
Ms. Raymonda Brown redefines what it means to be dedicated as she was accepted to Dental Hygiene school some sixteen years ago and had to defer for personal reasons, but always kept in the back of her mind that one day she would finish what she started, so when the opportunity presented itself in the form of a Grant from the Civil Service Professional Development Fund to the APLUS Institute of Information Technology, Healthcare and Business in Toronto, Canada in 2016, Ms. Brown practically gave up everything to make her dreams come true.
Deputy Governor Anya Williams joined in congratulating both new appointees by stating: "I am pleased to congratulate both Raymonda and Deangello on their new appointments and to wish them much success in their new roles. Having had the opportunity to interact with them both I can emphatically state that they both are very passionate about their roles and about their profession.
"I am especially proud of their accomplishments and also of the efforts and accomplishments of the Dental Department through Dr. Harvey and the work that he continues to do to motivate young persons to pursue medical studies through the Clinic Exploration Program.
"I hope that their stories of success will continue to motivate others to pursue these most critical fields."
UK car registrations plunge in March
Car registrations plunged in March, according to figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Preliminary data shows the UK new car market shrank by 15.7% last month compared with 2017.
Demand for diesel vehicles fell 37%, but demand for petrol was flat and that for alternative fuel models rose 5.7%.
March 2017 was a record month as customers bought new vehicles ahead of a change in Vehicle Excise Duty.
New car sales fell for the first time in six years in 2017, with a 5.7% decrease to about 2.5 million vehicles.
Demand for diesel cars plunged by 17% last year, meaning the pace of decline for such vehicles in March has more than doubled.
Source-BBC
Google should not be in business of war, say employees
Thousands of Google employees have signed an open letter asking the internet giant to stop working on a project for the US military.
Project Maven involves using artificial intelligence to improve the precision of military drone strikes.
Employees fear Google's involvement will "irreparably damage" its brand.
"We believe that Google should not be in the business of war," says the letter, which is addressed to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai.
"Therefore we ask that Project Maven be cancelled, and that Google draft, publicise and enforce a clear policy stating that neither Google nor its contractors will ever build warfare technology."
The letter, which was signed by 3,100 employees - including "dozens of senior engineers", according to the New York Times - says that staff have already raised concerns with senior management internally. Google has more than 88,000 employees worldwide.
In response to concerns raised, the head of Google's cloud business, Diane Greene, assured employees that the technology would not be used to launch weapons, nor would it be used to operate or fly drones.
However, the employees who signed the letter feel that the internet giant is putting users' trust at risk, as well ignoring its "moral and ethical responsibility".
"We cannot outsource the moral responsibility of our technologies to third parties," the letter says.
"Google's stated values make this clear: every one of our users is trusting us. Never jeopardise that. Ever.
"Building this technology to assist the US government in military surveillance - and potentially lethal outcomes - is not acceptable."
Google confirmed that it was allowing the Pentagon to use some of its image recognition technologies as part of a military project, following an investigative report by tech news site Gizmodo in March.
A Google spokesperson told the BBC: "Maven is a well-publicised Department of Defense project and Google is working on one part of it - specifically scoped to be for non-offensive purposes and using open-source object recognition software available to any Google Cloud customer.
"The models are based on unclassified data only. The technology is used to flag images for human review and is intended to save lives and save people from having to do highly tedious work.
The internet giant is working on developing policies for the use of its artificial intelligence technologies.
Source-BBC