Comey blasts White House in Senate Testimony
In Senate testimony, Comey blasts White House 'lies,' efforts to 'defame me'; says he took inquiry over Flynn as "direction" to drop investigation
Former FBI Director James Comey testified for more than two hours Thursday before the Senate Intelligence committee about the circumstances that led to his firing by President Donald Trump and the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.
In his opening remarks, Comey described the immediate aftermath of his firing, explaining his belief that the White House engaged in a campaign to damage his and the bureau's reputation.
"Although the law requires no reason at all to fire an FBI director, the administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI by saying that the organization was in disarray, that it was poorly led, that the workforce had lost confidence in its leader," said Comey.
"Those were lies plain and simple," he continued. "And I am so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them and I am so sorry that the American people were told them. I worked every day at the FBI to help make that great organization better."
Comey also described a series of uncomfortable interactions with Trump, in which he says the president requested his loyalty and pressed him to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired after the White House said he had misrepresented the nature of his contact with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Comey also said he told the president that he was not the subject of an FBI investigation.
Comey declined to say whether his closed-door, one-on-one meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, at which he says Trump asked him to "see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go," amounted to obstruction of justice. "I don’t know, it’s Bob Mueller’s job to sort that out,” he said, referring to the special counsel who was chosen to oversee the investigation into potential ties between the Kremlin and Trump’s presidential campaign. Comey informed the committee he has handed over all memos on his conversations with Trump to the special counsel.
But Comey did make clear that he took the alleged request as a "direction," not a suggestion. “General Flynn at that point in time was in legal jeopardy,” Comey testified. “There was an open criminal investigation in connection with the Russian contacts.”
Comey declined to answer questions about other targets of any investigation who may have been members of Trump's campaign in the open session -- a classified hearing followed in the afternoon -- although he did acknowledge that at the time of his dismissal there was no open investigation directing targeting Trump personally.
Comey told the committee he decided to take notes of his meetings with Trump because of “the nature of the person” with whom he was dealing.
“I was honestly concerned he might lie about the nature of our meeting, so I thought it really important to document,” Comey told the committee.
He also told the committee that after witnessing the changing administration explanations of the reason for his firing he decided to leak non-classified details of his memos over the Flynn interaction to the press through a friend in the hopes that a special counsel would be appointed.
Comey also reiterated his claim make in his written statement Wednesday that at a private dinner Trump pressed him for personal loyalty, even subtly suggesting his job hinged on it.
On a number of occasions, Comey reiterated the findings of the U.S. intelligence community earlier in the year -- that Russia attempted to influence the outcome of the election.
"There should be no fuzz on this whatsoever. The Russians interfered in our election during the 2016 cycle," Comey said. "They did with purpose. They did with sophistication. They did it with overwhelming technical efforts, and it was an active-measures campaign driven from the top of that government.
"It's not a close call. That happened. That's about as 'unfake' as you can possibly get. And it is very, very serious, which is why it's so refreshing to see a bipartisan focus on that. Because this is about America, not any particular party."
Gov't makes plans to protect TCI's coastline
A FEASIBILITY study and designs for coastal protection works in Grand Turk, North, Providenciales and Salt Cay will be rolled out soon.
A shoreline management plan will also be created to protect the Islands' coastlines, using climate-resilient approaches.
This comes as the board of directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved funding to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The project will be supported by a $440,000 loan, a $50,000 grant allocated from resources provided by the European Investment Bank under the Grant Facility for Climate Action Support to CDB, and counterpart funding of $289,000 from TCI Government.
The provision of the loans and grant come directly on the heels of the CDB's recently concluded 47th annual flagship event held in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
The CDB has since approved millions in loans and grants for 10 borrowing member countries for numerous development projects and initiatives.
According to a CDB press release, chief of economic infrastructure division of the CDB, O'Reilly Lewis, underscored the importance of coastal defense to the TCI's tourism industry, the country's main economic engine.
"Tourism is the main pillar of TCI's economy, with its coastal and marine resources as the basis of the sector.
"The loss of critical beach assets due to coastal erosion, as well as the other anticipated changes resulting from climate change, would potentially have significant negative implications for settlements, tourism sites and livelihoods resulting from the reduction in coastal and marine economic activity," he said.
Lewis pointed out that the feasibility study and designs derived from the technical assistance project will provide the TCI Government with viable designs for climate-resilient infrastructure solutions to safeguard social and economic development, economic growth and livelihood security.
The shoreline management plan will strengthen TCI's capacity to sustainably monitor and manage the country's beaches and related coastal assets.
It will also assist the Government with the development of a more comprehensive integrated coastal zone management plan.
The intervention is consistent with the bank's strategic objective of supporting inclusive growth and sustainable development within its borrowing member countries.
It also aligns with CDB's corporate priorities of promoting disaster risk management and climate change mitigation and adaptation; and improved protection and sustainable management of natural resources.
With regards to investment in the region, the CDB plans to inject some $110 million into climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience projects across the region.
On Wednesday (May 24) the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) signed a financing agreement in Providenciales.
The cash will support investment projects in the Caribbean, under CDB's climate action policy.
The 100 million euro climate action initiative, is EIB's biggest loan to the Caribbean to date.
It supports nine projects in seven countries across the Caribbean, including the Turks and Caicos Islands.
CDB's president Dr. William Warren Smith and EIB vice president responsible for the Caribbean, Pim Van Balle-kom, signed the new agreement during the recent 47th Annual Meeting of CDB's Board of Governors.
Van Balle-kom said that the signing of the new climate action loan with CDB is the result of a fruitful partnership that has lasted for almost four decades.
He said: "This partnership is currently supporting CDB's efforts to mainstream climate action to help its borrowing member countries, which are all considered small island developing states, to adequately tackle risks related to climate change, said Balle-kom.
"Caribbean countries face economic and social challenges, which must be addressed, whilst ensuring resilience to climate change," he added.
Smith pointed out that through this new line of credit, the CDB will be able to provide to its borrowing member countries much needed low cost financing to address the climate impacts already affecting these countries.
"The line supports our ongoing work to build climate resilience and the adaptive capacities of BMCs, as they work towards their goal of achieving sustainable development,” he said:
"The signing of this agreement reinforces the longstanding partnership between EIB and CDB, and signals strengthened cooperation between our two institutions," Smith added.
Under the Climate Action Framework Loan II, appropriate investments will be made in climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, road transport, water infrastructure and community level physical and social infrastructure that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to the impacts of climate change.
According to CDB's website, a healthy pipeline of climate action projects, amounting to more than $300 million, has been developed with support of an EIB-funded technical assistance programme.
WEATHER FORECAST-04-06-2017
A STREAM OF MOISTURE FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL GENERATE SOME UNSETTLED WEATHER MAINLY OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
MOSTLY CLOUDY AND WARM WITH FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS PARTS OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR SHOWERS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING VARIABLE AT TIMES IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMP.: 90°F 32°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMP.: 79°F 26°C
SUNRISE: 06:20AM SUN. SUNSET: 07:57PM SUN.
MOONRISE: 03:55PM SUN. MOONSET: 03:53AM MON.
LOW TIDE: 11:10AM SUN. HIGH TIDE: 05:30PM SUN.
LOW TIDE: 11:49PM SUN. HIGH TIDE: 05:41AM MON.
DECR'S ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARDS
The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) is hosting the annual Environmental Stewardship Awards, on the 5th of June, 2017. The award ceremony coincides with World Environment Day and World Oceans Day held on the 5th and 8th of June respectively. DECR takes this opportunity every year to honour those individuals and organisations that have kindly contributed their time, to the DECR throughout the year, in order to promote conservation and an environmentally sustainable TCI.
"My Ministry is committed to strengthening environmental education and stewardship throughout the Islands. The award recipients have significantly contributed to the realization of this goal and have displayed exemplary commitment to stewardship and sustainability,” commented Minister Honourable Ralph Higgs.
“It is indeed a pleasure for us to pay special recognition to these individuals whose invaluable assistance to the Department has afforded us the opportunity to go beyond our expectations. I would like to commend the recipients for their unwavering contribution and support and look forward to having more persons involved in the conservation of our environment in the upcoming years," Higgs added.
This year, a total of 36 recipients will be honoured at a ceremony to be held at the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources, Lower Bight Road, Providenciales.
If you, your school or organisation would like more information on how you can assist DECR in keeping the TCI Beautiful by Nature, or you would like to sign up as a Community Conservation Partner, please contact the Department's Environment Outreach Coordinator, Amy Avenant, at 338-4176 or environment@gov.tc.
Facebook Launches Features to Connect US Elected Officials
Facebook announced three new features Wednesday that are intended to boost civic engagement among users in the United States on its platform by connecting them more easily with their elected representatives.
The new offerings come as the social media juggernaut has sought to rehabilitate its image as a credible source of information following a wave of criticism after last November's presidential election that the company did too little to combat misleading or wholly fabricated political news stories during the campaign.
Among the features, Facebook will now allow a user to turn on a "Constituent Badge" to identify himself as living in his elected official's district. The opt-in badge will be visible when a user comments on content shared by his federal, state and local representatives.
Facebook also announced "Constituent Insights," which allows elected officials and other users to find local news stories that are popular in their districts.
"District Targeting" creates a new preset audience selection that lets politicians' pages target posts to people likely to be their constituents.
Facebook has continued to come under attack from prominent Democrats and some technology experts despite a raft of changes it has made in recent months that seek to help users consume more legitimate political news.
Hillary Clinton, who ran for president as a Democrat last year but lost to President Donald Trump, a Republican, said last week that Facebook was flooded with false information about her during the campaign and that people were understandably misled.
She said she wanted Facebook to curate its network more aggressively.
Opposition’s appointed Member promises to hold the Premier’s feet to the fire regarding 100% Service Charge
The opposition’s appointed member, Hon Royal Robinson promises to hold the Premier’s feet to the fire to ensure and hotel workers get their 100% Service Charge and encourages hotel workers to do the same
Robinson in a press release to RTC News, noted that since coming to power, even up to the latest House of Assembly meeting this week, no movement has taken place to ensure that the hotel workers get their 100% Service Charge – one of the promises made by the government.
TCIFA Holds Referee Training in TCI
As our country grows, so does our sports!
The TCIFA told RTC Sports this morning that referees are needed for the advancement of Football better known as soccer.
The event is scheduled for June 1st through 4th, 2017 and will be held at the Venetian Road behind the IGA at the TCIFA field.
Assisting the volunteers will be Former Fifa Referee & Head of Refereeing in the Bahamas is Dianne Ferreira-James.
Patrice Senior this morning told RTC Sports that the courses will be held in the evenings between 6pm to 9pm on Thurs and Friday while on Saturday from 9am to 4pm.
The move to increase referrers is critical for the growth of the sport said Senior, she further added that we have 2 Fifa approved officials who are performing well in Trinidad now at the CONCACAF Championship Club finals.
This specific course has been created for females, Fifa is looking for 25 refs as well as youth referees are needed to officiate in the youth league at the TCIFA to groom the youth until they become qualified for the bigger matches.
We asked Ms. Senior about the experiences or qualifications, in response, no knowledge or ability to play foot ball is needed, just the willingness to get fit and learn the sport.
Registration is on going now for both men and women interested.
RTC Sports understands that the training will be free with equipment, training, food and refreshments.
Regional Anti-Doping Meeting and Training to Combat Doping in Sports
The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) will host its board meeting and results management training in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands with its 17 member countries to fortify doping control across the Caribbean region.
Sponsored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the board meeting and results management training is designed to provide member countries with enhanced adjudicating capabilities to hear doping cases in the Caribbean.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA’s) Legal Affairs Director for Olympic Sport, Mr. Onye Ikwuakor, will facilitate the training.
The board meeting and training form part of the Caribbean RADO’s mandate to value and foster doping free sport in the Caribbean and level the playing field for clean athletes.
The Caribbean RADO’s member countries include Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, The Bahamas, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks & Caicos Islands and Trinidad & Tobago.
TCI touted as ideal investment banking option
Private investment banker Bordier Bank this week hosted its second annual investment conference at Beaches resort.
Its aim was to enhance the attractiveness of the Turks and Caicos Islands as an ideal investment banking option to outsiders.
The conference was held from May 10 to 12, and kicked off with a cocktail reception on Wednesday, where the local media met and chatted with one of the three partners of the international bank as well as the bank's local chief risk officer Kenrick Walters.
"We are very happy to be hosting this conference yet again this year, last year we had a very successful conference with our alternative investments area, and this year we are continuing on that theme generally, but we are sort of broadening that to include new ideas about traditional investments," Walters told the press.
Walters pointed out that while Bordier offers the traditional investments - stocks, bonds etc - they also offer alternative abilities to access different products and markets that are not easily accessed anywhere in the Caribbean region.
"So, we think that with that value added it gives us a competitive advantage that we have been really, really happy to build over the years."
Evrard Bordier, as managing partner and chief executive officer of Bordier & Cie (Singapore), attended the event on behalf of its international arm.
Bordier also serves as president of the board of Bordier International Bank & Trust, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands since 2000.
Expanding a little more on the banking areas, as outlined by Walters, he stated: "You can divide the investments into two categories - the public investments which are the trade and investments in the market and what we call the private market which is basically private investments such as private equity, private debts.
"And I think as an institution we try to offer the whole range from the most liquid like treasure bills or cash to the most illiquid in the private market which we hold for ten years or more in order to see the results, but obviously with much greater gains."
"So, we are trying to offer this whole range and we would like to offer tomorrow (Thursday) what private banking is all about in today's age and how to stay relevant as a private bank, but also how to access this type of investments, both public market and private market," Bordier explained.
Among local investors, the guests who were anticipated to attend as well as present during the conference hailed from as far away as Vietnam, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Switzerland and several other countries.
Speakers at the event included Michel Juvet who addressed Macro Economics and Major Market Commentary; Borzou Azima focus on hedge funds; Robert A. Janson and Jonathan Colligan spoke on private debt and equity opportunities; Linda Nethery on captive insurance and alternative risk solutions.
Evrard Bordier on the future of private banking, Mark Yaxley on physical ownership of precious metals; and Peter R. Ryder on focus on Vietnam.
And of course, Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson was expected to give presentations on the Turks and Caicos Islands' financial services industry.
George and Amal Clooney welcome twins
George and Amal Clooney's twins have arrived.
The actor and the human rights attorney have welcomed a son named Alexander and a daughter named Ella, the Oscar winner's publicist confirmed to ABC News.
In a statement, the rep said, "Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine. George is sedated and should recover in a few days."
Clooney, 56, and Amal, 39, were first linked in 2013 and married in Italy in 2014. The Oscar-winner, long regarded as Hollywood's consummate bachelor, has said that he felt he was "marrying up" when it came to his wife.
“Everything’s different now. Actually it is. I was going to make a joke but it is actually," he said during a 2015 appearance on ABC's Good Morning America." "I couldn't be happier."
Earlier this year, Clooney confirmed that he was going to be a first-time father.
"It's exciting," he said during an interview with a French television program Rencontres de Cinema. "We're really happy and really excited and it's going to be an adventure."