Doug Parnell tells Kew Town bars to quieten down or face Government action
Operators of bars and restaurants in Kew Town, Providenciales, are being called on to cut down on or entirely cut out loud music and partying on Sundays.
And if the advice is not heeded action will be taken by the Government to ensure that the day remains sacred.
That was the warning issued to owners and operators of establishments in the area, by elected member for the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill constituency, Doug Parnell, during an address in the House of Assembly on Wednesday (May 31).
Parnell brought the issue, which has been an ongoing one for quite some time now, to the fore as he said he has received several complaints about the weekly disturbance from distressed families who would like to peacefully observe their Sabbath.
"This affects the families who are living in Kew Town, where you have the owners of restaurants and bars on a Sunday especially after church, would begin to play very loud music and dance and carouse.
"While I know that businesses and persons have a right, on a Sunday I would ask the proprietors of these establishments – I am not going to call anybody out but I think you know who you are – to please respect our Sabbath and our culture," the member implored.
He added that Sunday is a day that is held very sacred in the Turks and Caicos Islands and respect ought to be shown.
"I would call on you to please either eliminate this or greatly reduce the loud, boisterous noises that are coming from these bars.
"It would best if you do it now before you invite a Government action," Parnell warned, further appealing to operators to comply as quickly as possible.
Kew Town, located near Downtown Providenciales, is home to several small to medium size bars, discotheques and places where people congregate to socialise, particularly on the weekends.
This practice has led to numerous complaints over the years by residents about the constant loud music being played and other activities being carried out in the community at times when homeowners and their families are trying to rest.
While there are already breach of the peace laws in place, hardly any action is taken to enforce these laws in relation to the community disturbances on a Sunday.
However, Parnell's warning to operators could see actions being taken to ensure that the constant noises nuisance is cut out entirely and/or penalties being levied on the offenders.
LANDS DIVISION ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW DIRECTOR OF SURVEY & MAPPING DEPARTMENT
The Attorney General's Chambers would like to announce that with effect from Monday, June 5, 2017, Mr. Cyprian Smith, will assume the post of Director of the Survey & Mapping Department. After a tireless search locally and in the Caribbean, Mr. Smith was chosen from among 5 candidates from across the Region. Mr. Smith's selection was unanimously endorsed by the interviewing panel, supported by the Public Service Commission and has been formally appointed by the Deputy Governor.
Mr. Smith is a 2008 graduate from the University of Technology Jamaica, from which he obtained a Bachelor's (BSC) degree in Surveying and Geographic Information Sciences. He also holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA), with specialization in Project Management from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.
Mr. Smith began his Land Surveying career two (2) years upon his enlistment to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) and achieved the award for top performing student in the Land Surveying Technician's course at the University of Technology, for both years of the course.
He later pursued undergraduate studies in Surveying and Geographic Information. Upon completion of his Bachelor's degree, Mr. Smith was appointed JDF's Chief Land Surveyor, and he served in this capacity for approximately 7 years. During his tenure, he introduced new policies, procedures and operating systems and encouraged the implementation of new technology to improve the operational standards of the land surveying arm within the military. He also led the JDF's introduction of GIS in mapping and analyzing crime data. His appointment also saw him administering crown lands occupied by the military and lecturing various courses at the diploma level at the JDF Technical Training Institute (TTI).
Mr. Smith subsequently worked as a Project Manager for one of the leading land development companies in Jamaica, where he had overarching responsibility for the residential and commercial land development projects undertaken by the company.
Mr. Smith has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of surveying and land administration. The task of Director, though challenging, is openly accepted by Mr. Smith. He is most grateful and excited to be afforded the opportunity to lead the Turks & Caicos Government's Survey & Mapping Department.
As Director, Mr. Smith has statutory responsibilities that include authentication of all legal plans, mainly comprised of Fixed Boundary surveys and General Boundary surveys and the maintenance of GPS coverage of the islands and the control network which is vital to the cadastre. The coordination of the Departments survey services, including legal surveys, road surveys, control surveys, topographical surveys also fall under his remit. He will have responsibility for the maintenance and up-date of all spatial data, including the National Cadastral Framework, in both digital and graphical format. He will oversee the Survey and Mapping units of the Department and will interact on a daily basis with the Land Registry and the Crown Land Unit. In addition, he will have contact with other government departments including Public Works and Estate Management Departments, the Department of Physical Planning, Agriculture and others.
Commissioner of Lands, Mrs. Tatum Clerveaux, noted that; "Mr. Smith comes with outstanding credentials. He brings a reputation for effective management and team-building, and a first-class academic background, with complementary experience in the military and private sectors. I am therefore confident that he will be a catalyst who, with the support of his team, will help steer the Survey & Mapping Department into a new phase of professional excellence."
Culture Department Successfully Hosts James E. Simmons Model Sail Boat Races
The Nation's capital came alive on Saturday afternoon when the Department of Culture, under the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture, Heritage and Gaming hosted the James E. Simmons Model Sail Boat Races. Persons of all walks of life could be seen enjoying the activities of the afternoon. Students from the Ona Glinton Primary School opened with the singing of the National Anthem and the National Song while students from the Eliza Simons Primary School serenaded the crowd with the singing of local folk songs and the poem Mr. Ripsaw written by Miss Angela Freites, Cultural Officer. Entertainment for the event was provided by Full Force Ripsaw Band.
In attendance were members of the Simmons family who expressed their profound gratitude to the Department of Culture for seeing it fit to reintroduce the event. Remarks were delivered by the Department's Director, Miss Ludwina Fulford, Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Cheryl Ann Jones, Junior Ministry of Tourism and Great Grand Daughter of the late James E. Simmons, Zahria Ingham and Carl Simmons, son of Mr. Simmons.
Capturing the first, second and third prizes in each category were:
Category 1:
1. Curtis Simmons
2. Delphine Simmons
3. Mac Smith
Category 2:
1. Curtis Simmons
2. Jason Francis
3. Delphine Simmons
Slow Bicycle Race:
1. Taioma Taylor
2. Trevez Taylor
3. Romarl Benjamin
Kayaking:
1. Josh & Jarrett
2. Omari & Nevard
3. T-Jay & Teylen
RC Boat Race
1. Gordon Wilson
Anything that floats but a boat:
1. Herbert Adams
2. Mahki Wilson
3. Lion James
Minister of Culture, Hon. Ralph Higgs commented on the event; "I wish to commend the Department of Culture for revitalizing this event as it forms a part of our rich cultural heritage. It gives our youth a glimpse into the things we enjoyed as children and it highlights the boating history of Grand Turk and the other islands. Next year we are looking forward to having more participants involved and hope to host some boat building workshops leading up to the event."
Director Fulford and her team wish to express profound thanks to the community and sponsors for their support and encourages everyone to stay tuned for other activities of the department.
Another Sloop intercepted in Provo
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Marine Branch officers reported to RTC News that they intercepted an illegal Haitian Sloop at 12:01pm, six miles off South Dock, Providenciales.
The 30ft blue, white and red sloop bearing the name “Philo Byen Se Mal” supported by a 20 Horse Power Johnson Engine had onboard fifty-eight (58) males and seven (7) females from Haiti. Upon arrival at the South Dock, they were handed over to Immigration Officials and escorted to the Detention Centre for processing and detention.
A search for illegal drugs and firearms were conducted on the sloop, but nothing was found.
The communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands are encouraged to contact law enforcement with any information concerning the whereabouts of any illegal migrants or on pending sloop arrivals.
The Ministry of Border Control and Employment Reviews and Improves Passport Application Processing
The Ministry of Border Control and Employment recently undertook a review of the passport process in light of the numerous complaints from the public and their dissatisfaction with the process, especially the increased length of time being taken for the renewal of a Turks and Caicos Islands Passport.
The Ministry, this week, concluded several discussions with Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) and the members of the Registration and Citizenship department within the Ministry, in which it was identified that the key factors impacting the service delivery of passports are the lack of dedicated resources to the passport processing unit and the need for further knowledge development in the various British Nationality Acts and their applications. While these gaps are the main contributors to the significant delays, it was further identified that a smaller number of passport applications are being affected by incomplete submissions of documents by customers.
The passport application process is two-pronged, with a local approval process prior to them being uploaded electronically to the processing site utilized by HMPO for verification of details and the final printing of the passport facility.
On Tuesday May 30, 2017, management within the Ministry undertook a reassignment of duties among the personnel within the Registration and Citizenship Department to increase the number of resources that are now dedicated to the processing of passport applications. This, along with the temporary staff that the Ministry recently employed, will assist in decreasing the backlog locally, while efforts are being made to organize the much needed training in the BNA and other HMPO policies for the overall reduction in the inaccuracies being recorded in the application process.
While the Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Border Control and Employment regrets the inconvenience caused to its clients in recent months, management remains committed to ensuring that there is marked and noticeable improvements in the processing of passports and the delivery of all services that fall under the Ministry.
SCOTT WISEMAN UPDATES CARIBBEAN TOURISM MINISTERS, DIRECTORS ON EMERGING TRENDS AT CTO MARKETING CONFERENCE
With Travel Impressions' standing as the universally recognized leader for the travel agent market of Caribbean resorts and destinations, company president Scott Wiseman was tapped to deliver the keynote address at this morning's Caribbean Tourism Marketing Conference, staged by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and hosted by CTO Allied members in conjunction with the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel during Caribbean Week New York.
Wiseman addressed several issues of prominent interest to the Caribbean tourism and hospitality industries, beginning with a current assessment of tourism prospects for the region over the next 10 years. "You can look at any tourism barometer and see that travel to the Caribbean is trending upwards," Wiseman proclaimed to an audience of tourism ministers, directors of tourism and other regional tourism representatives from the public and private sectors.
While reaffirming Travel Impressions' commitment to the Caribbean, which he playfully pointed out was the company's "breadfruit and coconut butter," Wiseman cautioned attendees about some of the Caribbean's tourism-hungry neighbors, many of which are on pace to provide stiff competition in the coming decade. He noted Central American destinations such as Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua in particular.
Wiseman also stressed the importance of marketing for the Caribbean in order to remain at the forefront of warm-weather travel, while recognizing the financial constraints many destination tourist offices face in today's economic climate.
"All of us in the industry are facing budgetary issues," said Wiseman, noting: "Travel Impressions is a much leaner organization than we were 10 years ago," and acknowledging that the marketing budgets of Caribbean destinations "reflect this new paradigm as well."
Wiseman went on to explain, "Marketing is a lot like agriculture. It's an essential exercise to grow your tourism product. As decision-makers for your destinations, you're responsible for planting the seeds that will ensure your tourism appeal remains vibrant for years to come. This is true for destinations worldwide, but is especially crucial for the Caribbean because of your economic dependencies on tourism," said Wiseman, before launching into an extensive profile of the Millennial traveler and how the evolution of the human condition is changing the way savvy marketers are communicating with all generations.
"Pristine pictures in ads have given way to followed social media accounts that show more raw images, footage, and on-the-fly media sourced organically by influencers they trust or hope to emulate. This group and the rising generation are looking for more connected experiences-pictures and quick videos that are immersive, destination-specific, and happening in real time. They don't want to be sold; they want authenticity, visual storytelling, and virtual experience," explained Wiseman.
Wiseman pointed to research commissioned by ASTA, demonstrating how "Millennials are more likely to book their vacation through a travel agent than any other age demographic," hinting that Millennials are "a lot more complex than the 'selfie generation' label might suggest" and that the needs and wants of this up-and-coming demographic are driving changes to the "classic motivations that have inspired the travel choices of virtually everyone until Millennials came along.
"Millennials aren't coming to your shores to spend their entire week tanning poolside. They come to experience things worthy of their Instagram feed-and they want to cram as much into their vacation as possible," said Wiseman, emphasizing the prevalent "Fear of Missing Out"-popularized with the "FOMO" acronym-which Wiseman identified as something on which every destination should seek to capitalize.
While Wiseman covered Millennials in depth, he also pointed out that social media is a useful tool for marketing to older generations as well, including the baby boomer generation which is "adapting faster than ever to evolving technology," he said.
"We've learned to stop signing our Facebook posts with our names. We're becoming as fluent in emojis as any of these youngsters. We're tweeting, double-tapping, and adding filters to images of our kids, grandkids, and dogs with the best of them," said Wiseman.
Addressing multi-generational travel, Wiseman explained that while adventure travel and ecotourism are trending, Google searches for terms such as "Best Vacations for Kids Under 10, Inexpensive Family Vacations, Baby-Friendly Vacations, Family Trip Ideas, and Family Vacation Ideas with Toddlers were the top five breakout search trends" in the surging family travel category.
"With the growth of brands like Karisma, AIC Hotel Group, and AMResorts in the Caribbean, care, entertainment, and enrichment for young children is no longer an afterthought. Think kids clubs that are larger than life. Red Cross-certified staff. Complimentary use of tiny bathrobes, step stools, cribs, pack-and-plays. Bottle warmers and toys from 'toy lending libraries' delivered right to the rooms. Musical instruments on loan. Child-sized buffet tables in the show kitchens. Even baby food pureed fresh to order from organic local produce. The list goes on, and the Caribbean should feature heavily on it," Wiseman encouraged.
Wiseman acknowledged that "every island in the Caribbean is unique and has its own appeal" and encouraged the region's decision-makers to leverage it to their advantage.
"We've all seen the millions of pictures of sparkling white sand, crystalline turquoise waters, and swaying palms. It's expected of the Caribbean, but it's also cliché and almost ubiquitous," cautioned Wiseman, who encouraged destinations to "stand out" by showing their social media audience that their "beauty runs more than skin-deep."
Wiseman balanced his recommendation for differentiation by stressing the vital importance of collaborative marketing. "While it's important for each of you to maintain your own unique brand identity and in order to differentiate your tourism product from the Caribbean as a whole, there is a power derived from regional partnerships that you just don't see when destinations decide to go it alone.
"Over the past three decades, the Caribbean's greatest successes were achieved only when [the region] worked collectively. When the Caribbean Tourism Organization, and its private-sector counterpart, the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, are performing well-funded marketing together, the entire region benefits. And that's why I implore you to pool your resources and remain focused on marketing-and on social media marketing in particular. Because, while I see several destinations in the region embarking on successful social media strategies, I'm not seeing the same level of investment into regional campaigns that made the Caribbean brand what it is today."
Wiseman concluded his keynote remarks with a message on the importance of the travel agent distribution channel. "You won't find a better vehicle for shifting market share than the retail distribution channel," he said.
"In addition, the travel agent industry has had a resurgence in the past few years and a higher percentage of bookings are coming through retailers now than in previous years," noting that even "major airlines are beginning to offer agent incentives again ... because they know that one of the best ways to get the word out about their improved airlift from major gateways to the Caribbean is through these travel professionals."
Wiseman implored attendees to "work with your hotel associations to come up with a coordinated approach that will drive tourism arrivals and put heads in beds" and to "make building relationships with the retail sector a priority" in general, explaining that "there's little that's more valuable than becoming an influencer's default."
Wiseman reiterated Travel Impressions' commitment to the Caribbean several times throughout his keynote address, and did so again with tourism ministers and directors at the industry awards luncheon following the marketing conference. There, the top executive for the leading agent-only operator engaged them on strategies designed to ensure Caribbean destinations remain as vibrant and alluring in the coming years and beyond.
FORECAST 06th June 2017
Partly cloudy to cloudy, hot and humid with scattered showers and widely scattered thunderstorms mainly across the NW and Central Bahamas through nightfall. Maximum temperature 93ºF and minimum temperature 79ºF. Small craft should exercise caution for all areas through early afternoon.
Winds SSE to SSW at 15 to 20 knots, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots later, in the NW Bahamas and ESE to SSE at 15 to 20 knots at first, decreasing to 10 to 15 knots later in the Central and SE Bahamas. Seas 4 to 6 feet over all areas at first, decreasing to 2 to 4 feet later.
PUBLIC FORECAST JUNE 5TH 2017
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY AND HOT WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM THROUGH TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION COMES INTO EFFECT BY TONIGHT
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS TODAY, INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS BY TONIGHT OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET TODAY BUT BUILDING UP TO 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN BY TONIGHT.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY: 91F 33C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT: 79F 26C
SUNRISE: 06:20 AM
SUNSET: 07:57 PM
MOONRISE: 04:46 PM
MOONSET: 04:30 AM TUE.
LOW TIDE: 11:55 AM HIGH TIDE: 06:16 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:38 AM TUE. HIGH TIDE: 06:27 AM TUE.
EXTENDED FORECAST: TROUGHING ACROSS THE AREA WILL WEAKEN THROUGH TUESDAY AS RIDGE RE-ESTABLISHES ITSELF OVER THE ISLANDS.
White House, Trump attorney respond to Comey testimony
After former FBI Director James Comey's explosive public testimony on Thursday before the Senate Intelligence Committee both the White House and President Trump's private attorney took aim at Comey and his allegations.
As to the accusation that in his statements about Comey's firing, Trump had lied about Comey and the FBI, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, "“I can definitively say the president isn’t a liar,” adding that she thought it was insulting that such a question be asked.
While the president himself didn’t tweet in real time, his son Donald Trump Jr. argued that Comey would have known if President Trump was strong-arming him.
“Knowing my father for 39 years when he ‘orders or tells’ you to do something there is no ambiguity, you will know exactly what he means,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.
In a statement following Comey’s testimony, Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, disputed Comey’s recollections of his conversations with the president, including their discussion of the Flynn investigation.
“The president never, in form or substance, directed or suggested that Mr. Comey stop investigating anyone, including suggesting that that Mr. Comey ‘let Flynn go,’” Kasowitz said.
Kasowitz also disputed the president ever demanded loyalty from Comey. Comey said Trump told him during a one-on-one dinner, "I need loyalty, I expect loyalty." After the testimony Kasowitz said, "the president also never told Mr. Comey, 'I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.' He never said it in form and he never said it in substance."
Kasowitz also took aim at Comey's leak of the details of his recollections and memo to the press. "Today, Mr. Comey admitted that he leaked to friends his purported memos of these privileged conversations, one of which he testified was classified," Kasowitz said Thursday afternoon.
"We will leave it to the appropriate authorities to determine whether these leaks should be investigated along with all those others being investigated," he said.
But Comey did not say he had leaked the classified memo and not everything the president says in private is automatically “privileged” and therefore unable to be shared freely, unlike attorney-client privilege or doctor-patient privilege. Executive privilege is not absolute.
Also, the president would have to claim executive privilege before his conversations with Comey, not after the fact, according to Mark Rozell, author of Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy and Accountability.
ABC News' chief legal analyst, Dan Abrams, said the problem is Trump "waived confidentiality on it by discussing these matters publicly previously."
He added that one can't use executive privilege to cover up alleged misconduct, and that's "effectively what Comey is saying that he is doing here."
"So I think the notion that this is somehow privileged communications is simply not going to hold up," Abrams said.
Source-ABC
Prosecution rests their case in Bill Cosby sexual assault trial
Prosecutors on Friday rested their case in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial, five days after testimony began in Norristown, PA.
Though the comedian didn't testify, Cosby's own words were at the heart of the prosecution's presentation Friday -- specifically, his testimony in a 2005 deposition during which he admitted under oath that he'd obtained prescriptions for Quaaludes with the intention of giving them to women so he could have sex with them.
The prosecution says Cosby gave the same or a similar drug to Cosby's accuser, Andrea Constand, who maintains Cosby drugged her at his Philadelphia home in 2004, and then used his hand to sexually assault her, while also placing her hand on his genitals. Constand claims the drug she was given made her helpless to react. Cosby, 79, claims he gave Constand Benadryl and that the sex was consensual.
In his 2005 testimony, recounted in court Friday, Cosby also said he apologized to Constand's mother by phone for the sexual encounter, but did so because he didn't want her to think of him as a "dirty old man." He also admitted he feared that his reputation would suffer if Constand's accusations became public knowledge.
Constand, 44, testified earlier in the week. Cosby's sworn 2005 testimony was part of Constand's civil suit against him then, which was settled for an undisclosed sum and the deposition sealed. It was unsealed in 2015, just before the statue of limitations to criminally charge Cosby in the case expired.
If convicted of all three criminal charges against him, Cosby could be sentenced to 30 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
Sixty women have accused Cosby of drugging them, sexually assaulting them, or both.
Source-ABC