Bolt cites poor execution in farewell race
Usain Bolt has described Saturday's 100 metre performance at the Racers Grand Prix as one of his worst ever. Bolt clocked 10.03 seconds to beat Jevaughn Minzie 10.15 and Nickel Ashmeade 10.18 in his final race on Jamaican soil. But the 30 year old world record holder for both the 100 and 200 metres says the objective was met.
“My execution was poor, my start was poor as always, I think in the last part I sort a lost it a little bit. It’s my first race since January so I didn’t expect anything spectacular so I just wanted to come out here, stay injury free, put on a show for the crowd and tell them thanks for the support over the years,” said Bolt.
Bolt is scheduled to race again on June 28 in Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
Warriors beat Cavs to win second NBA title
The Golden State Warriors are 2016-2017 NBA champions. After blowing a 3-1 NBA Finals lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers last year, the Warriors made sure history didn’t repeat.
Led by Finals MVP Kevin Durant, the Warriors defeated the Cavs 129-120on Monday night at Oracle Arena in Game 5 of the Finals to win the best-of-seven series 4-1 and their second NBA championship in three seasons.
Unlike last season, the Warriors led this series 3-0 before falling Friday night to the Cavs, who needed a record-setting offensive performance to push the Finals back to the Bay Area.
Durant finished with 39 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Steph Curry rebounded from his Game 4 meltdown with 34 points and 10 assists. With the victory, Golden State wrapped up a 16-1 postseason run after finishing the regular season 67-15.
Lebron James led the way for the Cavs with 41 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists while Kyrie Irving supported with 26 points and 6 assists.
DIGICEL CALLS FOR GOVTS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS AND TAX REVENUE
With many more countries around the world getting on board with efforts to ensure that online giants like Facebook, Google and WhatsApp obey the law and pay their fair share of taxes, Digicel is once again urging governments in the region to do the same. This time, the call comes with greater need for policy-makers to protect consumers, as well as revenues for governments, while ensuring a level playing field for telecoms operators that have continuously invested billions in building out world-class network infrastructure throughout the Caribbean.
Speaking at a Telecommunications and Media Forum hosted by the International Institute of Communications (IIC) recently, David Geary, General Counsel for the Caribbean at Digicel Group noted; “The online players have argued that the internet provides them with a ‘cloak of regulatory invisibility’ and that the law of the land does not apply to them because they are on the internet. What we are witnessing is a world-wide realisation among policy-makers that law and regulation must apply to the online world.”
In his presentation to a group of industry experts, Geary observed that unregulated online players pose a number of challenges for the local economies in which they operate. He also noted that online players have not only been eating away at revenues for the government through avoidance of taxes and fees for institutions like the Universal Service Fund, but also have helped to facilitate communications between criminals by failing to assist the police with tracking calls and messages sent online.
“We now see countries like EU, Germany, Ireland and the UK proposing regulation in a bid to prevent the transmission of harmful content including hate speech and support for terrorist causes. These issues are also relevant in the Caribbean, so we need to get on board too with the right policies and legislation and do everything we can to protect our citizens and the economies of the Caribbean,” said Geary.
He continued; “The online players are a growing part of the economies where they deliver services, and when it comes to contributing to these economies, they must abide by the same rules as everyone else. Simply because you provide a service online shouldn’t mean that you can avoid contributing to the country where you are earning your revenue. Collection of taxes is very important to countries in the developing world, as these rules are designed to protect consumers and to prevent abuse.
The 2017 IIC Telecommunications and Media Forum, which was hosted in Miami in May focused on discussions around OTT services and content, with a debate around regulatory frameworks, fiscal arrangements and consumer protection.
Man discovers invasive lizard species in his backyard
A BIGHT resident, Keno Clarke discovered a Cuban knight anole lizard in his backyard attempting to attack his pet cat.
The species of lizard is indigenous to Cuba. It was first brought to the country hidden in imported plants and is classified as an invasive species by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).
Clarke said he thought the animal was an invasive species that was either brought to the country as a pet and escaped, or was released into the TCI's natural environment.
He added that his first instinct was to protect his pet, but was intrigued by the look of the animal as he had never seen one like it before.
Bryan Naqqi Manco, a DECR expert on invasive species, explained that the animal was introduced to the TCI a few years ago before agricultural laws were strictly enforced.
He said: "Anyone who is importing plants or animal commodities is required to go through a process with the Department of Agriculture; with exotic species like lizards and snakes or small animals.
"This is often reviewed by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources too.
"We now have in place a lot more restrictions on imported plants and the Department of Agriculture is a lot more vigilant now that they have the capacity to inspect shipments.
"These lizards made it here before the department was functional and active."
Naqqi Manco explained that the lizards are a major threat to the Islands because of their large appetites and lack of fear.
"They are not animals that are too much bothered by predators in their native environment. They do not have much fear of anything," he said.
"They will eat other lizards, small mammals, birds; including nestlings and eggs. They will eat some vegetation, but mostly other animals.
"They are a threat to our native lizards and snakes, to other birds and they can be a small threat to people, just in the manner that they will bite very hard."
The DECR is urging anyone who comes across a plant or animal that seems unfamiliar to the TCI, to take a picture of it and contact the office immediately.
The public is advised to not try to catch, trap or touch unfamiliar plants or animals because they may be poisonous or aggressive.
The knight anole is a species of lizard in the Polychrotidae family, and the largest species of anole. Other common names include Cuban knight anole.
It grows to a length of 13 to 20 inches including the tail. A few specimens have reached up to 24 inches.
Baby boy death sparks questions about NHIP coverage
THE DEATH of an infant boy on Sunday (June 4), born a few months premature, has attracted the attention of the Premier and the National Health Insurance Board after an online furore broke out about health coverage.
The baby, who is the son of two popular local personalities, passed away due to complications with his birth that could not have been attended to at the TCI Hospital, this publication has learned.
Konnor Smith was set to be airlifted overseas for treatment, but passed away before the arrangements were finalised.
Media reports, and some social media interactions, threw the blame on the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP), with a number of accusations being bandied about favouritism and preferential treatment.
It is alleged that the Smith family wanted the baby to be airlifted to a country that is not covered under the NHIP, and that this caused a number of delays as efforts were being made to work out an appropriate arrangement.
Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, took to the airwaves shortly after the online dispute erupted, first to clarify her Government's position as well as to address what she called rumours in relation to the incident.
During an appearance on the Expressions Radio show this past week, she sent out condolences to the bereaved family, and called on residents to desist from spreading inaccurate information.
She stated: "There are policies that are in place as it regards to NHIP and it is so important that no one plays politics with the lives, especially, of children.
"Despite the rumours, I want to say that as the Minister of Finance thank you to the Minister of Health who had responsibility for this matter earlier."
She added that she will become involved in the issue later on from a financial standpoint.
Directly addressing the rumours, the Premier said that the WhatsApp message that has been circulating accusing two members of Cabinet of seeking preferential treatment in the matter is wholly inaccurate.
She stated that while the members are related to the family, neither of the Cabinet members called her to ask for any preferential treatment.
InterHealth Canada then also distanced itself from any wrongdoing in the child's death.
The hospital statement read: "The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is committed to excellence in service in accordance with evidenced based guidelines.
"Our heartfelt condolences is extended to the family on what is a challenging time.
"We are unable to provide further information due to respect for the parents and family and in accordance with patient confidentiality policies."
NHIP then chimed in with their expression of condolences at the death of baby Smith, stating they are "aware that there has been a lot of misinformation, innuendo and fallacies in the public domain about the level of assistance that was offered to the family regarding the care of baby Smith".
The organisation added that they acted collaboratively with TCI Hospital, the Ministry of Health and the parents of Konnor Smith within the established policies and norms of the Treatment Abroad Programme.
"We continue to uphold the highest standards of ethical practice which precludes us from publicly discussing or disclosing confidential information about the assistance offered or provided to our beneficiaries.
"We wish to reassure the public of our commitment to managing the Treatment Abroad Programme within the existing policies and procedures that have been established for the benefit of all our beneficiaries."
Deputy Police Commissioner introduces police code of ethics
NEW Deputy Police Commissioner, Trevor Botting, has introduced a code of ethics intended to guide police on the many aspects of their profession.
The document is available to the members of the public online and discusses the integrity of officers, leadership skills and abilities, respect, selflessness and honesty.
Deputy Commissioner Botting said that being part of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) carries great responsibility in ensuring the safety and security of the Islands and its communities.
He added that all police officers work to the highest possible standards, as they provide a service to those who live, work and visit the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"The introduction of the code of ethics does not mean to say that the police service has not been acting ethically, but what it does is it pulls a set of standards of professional behaviour into one document.
"It is a code, but it's guidance for officers. If you look into the code, which I am sure you have read, you will see that it gives examples of behaviours which are expected and ones that will be considered against the code," he said.
The Deputy Commissioner also made it clear that these rules are not only aimed at one part of the organisation but to everyone, including the leaders.
He said: "This is not one problem that we have in one part of the organisation; we are all accountable.
"It is important we made it public because I have a responsibility for managing on behalf of the Commissioner, the standard and the behaviour of the integrity of the force.
"This gives my officers a real baseline of how they should behave. It has become a document which is bespoke for the police service which I think is important because I think that then resonates with officers and puts some context into their job."
Residents are encouraged to have a thorough read through the code of ethics document.
It is available to the public online at www.tcipolice.tc/code-of-ethics
TCIG APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE
The Turks and Caicos Government is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Keshia Handfield to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Revenue within the Ministry of Finance Revenue Department.
Ms. Handfield holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Master's Degree in International Business from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida where she graduated in 2011.
Commencing her employment with the Turks and Caicos Government in July 2012, Ms. Handfield previously served as a Human Resource Officer within the Office of the Deputy Governor before being appointed to the role of Tax Officer within the Revenue Department in December 2012 and later promoted to Senior Tax Officer in March 2015. In February 2017, Ms. Handfield was appointed to serve as an Acting Assistant Commissioner of Revenue.
Ms. Handfield since her tenure in the Revenue Department has gained extensive experience in Audit and Investigation Unit and has participated in numerous TCIG funded training programs including:
• Institute for Internal Auditors (IIA) Training in Atlanta Georgia in March 2014
• CARTAC Audit Training in September 2014
• CARTAC Customs Post Clearance Audit Training in January 2015
• Professional Attachment to Inland Revenue Jamaica in March 2016
Commenting on her appointment Ms. Handfield stated the following: "During my tenure in the Revenue Department I have had the opportunity to greatly contribute to helping the department meet its revenue targets and have had the opportunity to supervise a dynamic team that shares the same goals as I do. I am excited to take on this new role as it has always been my personal goal to excel within the Ministry of Finance and to assist in working towards making the Revenue Department one of the most efficient agencies within TCIG. I am certain that the department can progress and attain this goal through our continued stewardship and the hard work and dedication of our well-motivated team."
Deputy Governor Anya Williams extended her congratulations and best wishes to Ms. Handfield and stated that: "The Revenue Department is one of governments most vital departments as it plays a key role in the collection, monitoring and enforcement of TCIG's revenues. As the Deputy Commissioner of Revenue, Ms. Handfield will be responsible for assisting in the development of systems and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the Revenue Department.
"She will be responsible for leading on the development and monitoring of the department's budgets and financial projections which include the direct monitoring of Accommodation Tax which is TCIG's 2nd largest revenue earner and also Business Licensing which falls under the remit of the Revenue Department. I take the opportunity to congratulate Keisha on her new appointment and to wish her all the best. She has certainly proven her abilities over the last 5 years since joining our HR team in 2012. We were certainly saddened to lose her to the Ministry of Finance, but she always noted that Finance was her passion, that it was her desire to excel in that area and she has certainly done just that!"
Former Clement Howell student becomes senator in the Bahamas
A FORMER Clement Howell High School pupil has been appointed as one of four opposition senators in the Bahamas.
Attorney at law JoBeth Coleby Davis along with three other senators received their instruments of appointment during a swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Nassau, on May 23.
Speaking at the ceremony, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said the Progressive Liberal Party will cooperate and support the newly elected Government of the Bahamas "generously and in good faith".
"We are after all instruments of nation building not agents of national disunity or unnecessary conflict."
The new senators are Fred Mitchell, former Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, who will serve as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; Dr Michael Darville, former Minister of Grand Bahama, will act as the voice for Grand Bahama; Clay Sweeting, businessman and former PLP election hopeful from Spanish Wells, will serve as a voice for the people from the family islands; and attorney JoBeth Coleby Davis, who represents a new voice in politics but comes from a family who have served their country in the political arena.
In his bio, Coleby Davis ascended to the upper echelons of government, came from humble beginnings being born in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on July 17, 1984, to Wayde T Coleby and Irma L Coleby nee Bootle.
She attended Walter Parker Primary School up to the sixth grade. After that her family relocated to the United States, where she attended middle school and high school.
However, relocation had it so that JoBeth would complete and receive her high school diplomacy from Clement Howell High School in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
She gained her dual Bachelor of Law degree with Business Management at Keele University, UK in 2009 and completed her bar vocational course at Nottingham Trent University in 2010.
She holds an LLM in Energy Law and Policy from the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Coleby Davis has been called to the Bar of England and Wales, and the Bahamas Bar.
She completed her associates degree in Law and Criminal Justice at the College of the Bahamas.
According to a press release, Coleby Davis has in the past worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia as a contracted compliance officer for five years while attending law school.
She worked alongside bank lawyers and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) to ensure organisations were efficiently and effectively adhering to laws and regulations.
She was responsible for commercial customers of the bank, carrying out due diligence, risk management and inspections of their operations for compliance with the financial policy of the FSC.
Coleby Davis has extensive knowledge of the legal system in the Bahamas, including the Petroleum Act and Petroleum Regulations, which she has relied heavily on in executing her duties.
At present, she serves as in house legal counsel at Bahamas Petroleum Company.
She is responsible for compliance and risk management of Bahamas Petroleum Company licences, government relations and works closely with the management team to advice on legal and commercial risks associated with day to day business operations.
She also served on the board of 'Real Property Tax Appeal Tribunal' during 2012 to 2017, where she was able to learn and contribute to the amnesty program and assisting with re-evaluation of various properties that were victims to the decline in the real estate market.
Her main platform and interests are ensuring the present government continues the work to modernise the Bahamian economy, more specifically energy conservation and sustainability.
She completed her dissertation as the final stage in her bid for an LLM, and her topic was 'Promoting sustainable development in the Bahamas: Overcoming the barriers and creating renewable energy in a safe and affordable way'.
In addition, Coleby Davis is a part of the millennial era, where she like many others holds the leadership of the Bahamas accountable to ensuring the Bahamian economy, legislation, and implementation thereof meets the modernisation standards that have been set by the international community.
Coleby Davis is the granddaughter of the late Granville Coleby who during his life served the Progressive Liberal Party as a stalwart councillor up to his passing.
In addition, the late Edwin Coleby who also served as a senator under the PLP administration is also her grand-uncle.
Recently she married Donavon A Davis Jr, a system engineer and also the grandson of Lionel Davis who served as MP for Fox Hill.
Bipartisan support for hotel, restaurant and tourism tax bill
AN AMENDMENT to the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Tax Ordinance to require restaurants to remit the taxes they derive from the deposits made on cancelled bookings and to keep proper records has been passed in the House of Assembly.
Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson read the amended bill in the House on Tuesday (May 30) calling for the full support of the Assembly.
In short, the amended bill seeks to correct "mischief" by imposing certain duties on the part of proprietors causing them to keep records and dealing out penalties for non-compliance, the Premier said.
She further explained the amendment - It seeks to amend the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Taxation Ordinance to provide for the imposition of a duty on proprietors to keep a record of deposits and receipts for reservation and services and of the cancellations of those reservations.
It also seeks to amend the prohibition of proprietors collecting tax on any deposit paid and for which the reservation was cancelled and the amount forfeited by the proprietor in respect of the cancellation.
It also amends the imposition of a duty on proprietors to remit to the Permanent Secretary of Finance the tax that the proprietor collects on deposits paid, the creation of an offence and penalties for the collection of any tax on deposits paid and for any failure to remit any such taxes collected by the proprietor to the PS Finance.
It also imposes a duty on proprietors that own premises that are used for the purpose of habitually meals for rewards to keep proper books and records.
Also, it paves the way for the imposition of a duty on proprietors that own premises that are used for the purpose of habitually providing meals for reward to permit to the PS Finance to inspect these books, records as well as other documents in respect of designating a restaurant.
And finally, the amendment allows for the creation of an offence and for penalties for obstructing the Permanent Secretary Finance from entering premises that are used for the purposes of habitually providing meals for rewards to inspect any books, records and other documents.
"I believe the mischief jumps out at us as to why we need to bring this amendment and I believe that it should receive full support in the House," the Premier said.
Governor's appointed member, John Phillips, in supporting the bill stated that he understands the need to curb some shady practices.
However, he questioned whether local restaurants that do not cater to tourism to any significant amount, would also be required to keep similar records and be subject to inspections on the basis that they may be receiving a substantial income from tourism and therefore should be remitting taxes.
He stated that if these establishments are required to keep such records, some of the smaller local restaurants may have difficulty complying.
The amendment bill was given full support by members of the House and subsequently passed.
Commenting later in the Assembly on the support thrown behind the amendment, was Minister of Tourism, Ralph Higgs.
Higgs said: "It shows that when the political parties decide to work together we can achieve great things for our people.
"I can assure you that my Government is committed to bringing forward in a proactive way, bills that would improve the lives of our people and we ask our friends from the other side to let's continue this spirit of cooperation and this spirit of bipartisanship to do the work of the people."
In short, the bill requires proprietors to keep records, the length of time those records should be kept which is 24 months, and it gives the power to the permanent secretary to enter premises to have the books produced at a certain time.
There is also a penalty for failure to comply.
Star of 60's Batman series dies at 88
Adam West, best known as the actor who portrayed TV's camp, original Batman, has died at age 88.
A family statement posted to West's official Facebook page reads: "It's with great sadness that we are sharing this news...Adam West passed away peacefully last night after a short but brave battle with leukemia. He was a beloved father, husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
There are no words to describe how much we'll miss him. We know you'll miss him too and we want you to know how much your love and support meant to him throughout the years. Hug your loved ones today."