Clinton, Trump Head to Must-Win States in Final Days of Campaign
Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are concentrating their efforts on North Carolina and Florida, two states seen by both campaigns as vital to winning the November 8 election.
Trump has four rallies scheduled along the East Coast Thursday, beginning in the northern Florida city of Jacksonville before heading to a stop in eastern Pennsylvania and finally finishing out the day with two stops in North Carolina.
Clinton, meanwhile, has two rallies scheduled in North Carolina, the first in Greenville, the second in nearby Raleigh. President Barack Obama will be campaigning on Clinton’s behalf in Florida, with an early morning stop planned for Miami and a later rally scheduled in Jacksonville – just 30 miles from Trump's event and at the same time.
Recent polling from both states shows the candidates in a virtual tie as the final week of the campaign comes to an end. The momentum seems to be in Trump’s favor, as he’s been able to close a four-point deficit in Florida and a three-point gap in North Carolina since the beginning of last week, according to a Real Clear Politics average of polls.
North Carolina and Florida are considered swing states because, unlike many other states, they could go for either political party during presidential elections.
For instance, North Carolina went for Obama in 2008 but switched in 2012 and supported Republican Mitt Romney. Florida voted twice for Republican George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 but switched and went to Obama in 2008 and 2012, with the 2012 election decided by less than 0.9 percent of the vote.
The two states are seen as particularly valuable swing states because of their high number of electoral votes: 15 in North Carolina and 29 in Florida. Only Texas, a Republican stronghold, and California, a Democrat stronghold, offer more electoral votes than Florida, with 38 and 55, respectively.
For Trump, Florida is a virtual must-win, as his chances of winning the election drop to single digits should he lose the state. Clinton, though, could conceivably lose Florida and still have about a 40 percent chance of winning. If either candidate were to lose both states, their chances of winning would drop significantly.
Realizing this, Trump has been spending virtually all of his time in Florida over the past few days, holding three rallies across the state just on Wednesday.
During a rally in Pensacola on Wednesday, Trump hit both Clinton and Obama, who he said should stop campaigning for her and get back into the Oval Office to create jobs and keep watch on U.S. borders.
Trump said a Clinton presidency would create an "unprecedented and protracted constitutional crisis." He said her handling of emails while secretary of state would remain an issue throughout her potential administration.
FBI Director James Comey said last week he is reviving the email investigation after declaring in July that Clinton was "extremely careless" in her use of a private email server, but her actions showed no criminal intent.
The FBI found emails it says may be germane to the Clinton case while carrying out a separate investigation into former U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner's alleged sexual online relationship with a 15 year-old girl.
Clinton predicted authorities would reach the same conclusion they did in July. "There is no case here," she shouted during a campaign event earlier this week.
Source-VOA
UNICEF calls for more investment in violence prevention in Jamaica
UNICEF says it is greatly concerned about the ongoing epidemic of violence against children, and is urging Jamaica and its international development partners to put more investment in efforts that focus on violence prevention.
According to reports by the Ministry of National Security’s Jamaica Crime Observatory, during the period 2011-2015, males aged 11-17 were more likely than females to be murdered, robbed or shot. Females in the same age group were more at risk of being sexually assaulted.
Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) statistics for 2014 indicate that 44 children were murdered, 138 were victims of shootings and aggravated assault, and 447 girls were victims of rape.
UNICEF said in a release Wednesday, that in order to address the root causes of the violence affecting the country, including children and their families, there is an urgent need for more community-based interventions designed to prevent and stem violence.
UNICEF pointed to the success of the Violence Interruption Programme, being implemented by the Peace Management Initiative and the Ministry of National Security – in response to concerns about the country’s high homicide rates.
It said that in 2015, the Violence Interruption Programme, working along with other stakeholders, helped to reduce murders by seven per cent and four per cent respectively in St James and St Catherine, two of the country’s high crime parishes.
“The programme, modelled on the approach of the USA-based “Cure Violence” programme, treats violence as a public health issue. Over 60 trained Violence Interrupters, who are highly-respected community residents, identify and detect potentially violent situations and the persons likely to get involved in conflict. They also interrupt potential violence by mediating conflicts and preventing retaliation, and make continuous efforts to influence the behaviour of persons who are most likely to get involved in shootings or murders,” UNICEF said.
The organisation called on the Government and other international development partners to consider making greater investments to expand the Violence Interruption programme, and to support similar community-based prevention efforts.
UNICEF, in partnership with the Government of Jamaica, started a new five-year country programme of cooperation in January 2017.
During this period, UNICEF said it will put heavy emphasis on supporting and advocating for programmes, policies and laws that seek to improve safety and justice for children, with a greater focus on violence prevention.
PREMIER EWING HAS TALKS WITH UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES MINISTER, BARONESS ANELAY
Premier, Dr. the Hon. Rufus Ewing yesterday met with Baroness Anelay, FCO Minister with responsibility for the Overseas Territories and had the opportunity to discuss a number of issues of importance to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Premier Ewing impressed upon Minister Anelay, the urgency of the state of affairs as it relates to illegal migration and the threat that it poses to the national security of the Turks and Caicos Islands for which the U.K. holds responsibility.
Premier Ewing advised the Minister that The Turks and Caicos is insisting upon greater support from the U.K. Government in the area of border security, defense and internal security. On the heels of the Premier's meeting with Minister Anelay the Premier requested of the Governor, Commissioner of Police, and Immigration Minister to execute a joint approach with regional assistance to combat illegal immigration and crime in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Minister invited the Premier to apply to the newly created U.K. OTs Complex Stability and Security Fund to address the need presented for greater border security.
Premier Ewing also discussed the issue of the status of the Chief Financial Officer in the TCI for which the Minister responded that it was unfortunate that they were unable to execute the request of the Premier as discussed with her predecessor but that she has already committed to the process of the position of the CFO being removed from the TCI constitution by Order in Council and also stated that that process should be completed by the end of March 2017. And is quoted as saying, "a promise made and that promise would be kept as I am a woman to my word".
Premier Ewing further requested of the Minister, an indication of the progress being made with the amendments to the Crown Land Ordinance previously submitted by TCIG to the FCO. The Minister reassured the Premier that the review is progressing well and positively save for responses that were requested from the TCI AG Chambers that were yet to be submitted. It is anticipated that this bill would be one of the first bills that Premier will bring to the House of Assembly after the upcomming General Election.
Premier Ewing described the meeting as being productive and very encouraging.
Val Kilmer denies Michael Douglas's 'misinformed' cancer claim
US actor Val Kilmer has denied he has cancer, following Michael Douglas's claim that his former co-star is ill.
"I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed," the Top Gun and Batman Forever star wrote in a Facebook post.
In a talk in London on Sunday, Douglas claimed that Kilmer was "dealing with" throat cancer - the same ailment that Douglas was diagnosed with in 2010.
Kilmer, however, said he was "rehabbing steadily" from "a swollen tongue" and had "no cancer whatsoever".
"The last time I spoke to [Douglas] was almost two years ago, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat," wrote the 56-year-old.
"I ended up using a team at UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles] and have no cancer whatsoever," he continued.
Kilmer is also known for his roles in films including The Doors, Heat and Tombstone.
Following Douglas's comments, it was reported that he had been reluctant to seek medical treatment due to his Christian Science faith.
Many Christian Scientists believe that diseases can be healed with prayer, although the Church does not forbid adherents seeking medical aid.
Source-BBC
Deputy Governor Extends Best Wishes To Miss H.J. Contestants
Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams on Tuesday, November 1st, 2016 met with the contestants of the 2016 Miss Helena Jones Robinson High School.
The pageant which is in its 3rd year, will take place on Saturday November 5th, 2016 and was launched as a part of the schools calendar of events. The theme of this year's pageant is "Our Heritage" and there are 8 contestants from Forms 3-5.
While addressing the group, the Deputy Governor reminded: "The road to success is paved with many obstacles, but the key is to remain determined and to persevere. As young ladies you are reminded to always carry yourself in such a manner that exudes poise and grace. Your high school and college years will later become a part of your legacy as such it is important that maximize every opportunity that is presented to you.
The purpose of your participation in this pageant is not to win a title or a trophy, but to have an opportunity to publicly display yourselves and your schools in a positive manner. I would hope that this pageant will help to motivate and to build confidence in your public speaking and leadership amongst other areas.
I commended the principal and staff of the school on ensuring the continuation of this event and am happy to have assisted in providing sponsorship for this years' trophies and awards. I encourage both students and members of the public to give their full support and wish the contestants and school much success.
In closing she added; "I would someday as well like to see a Mr. H.J. title being added to the slate of events as well."
WORLD TSUNAMI AWARENESS DAY 5TH NOVEMBER 2016
The date for the annual celebration was chosen in honour of the Japanese story of "Inamura-no-hi", meaning the "burning of the rice sheaves". During an 1854 earthquake a farmer saw the tide receding, a sign of a looming tsunami. He set fire to his entire harvest to warn villagers, who fled to high ground. Afterwards, he built an embankment and planted trees as a buffer against future waves.
The UN General Assembly has called on all countries, international bodies and civil society to observe the day, in order to raise tsunami awareness and share innovative approaches to risk reduction.
The debut World Tsunami Awareness Day focuses on education and evacuation drills. For the pass five (5) years here in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies has embarked on raising Tsunami Awareness by working with the public and private schools here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Some of the key activities undertaken in the past to promote awareness include:
Observance of annual Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Week in January
Tsunami evacuation drills were held with a number of the schools
In March 2013 on the Island of Grand Turk, a full scale Tsunami Drill was carryout where all public and private school participate in getting to the highest points on the island by foot as part of the Caribe Wave activity for that year. The Enid Capron and Ianthe Pratt Primary Schools also participated in evacuation drill in 2011 & 2015.
Participation in the regional annual Caribe Wave Tsunami Exercise which focuses on the different aspects of protocol of tsunami awareness.
Communication tests, tabletop/functional exercises and evacuation drills have formed part of this event in the past.
Production of educational materials – PSAs, brochures, newsletters
Drafting of a National Tsunami Response Plan and Standard Operating Procedures.
In recognition of the day DDME will be doing the following awareness activities:
Informative interviews on Tsunami Awareness
Appearing on Expression – 2nd November 2016
PSAs via Radio Turks and Caicos and other Radio Stations
We cannot forget the Indian Ocean Tsunami which occurred on 26th December 2004, that claimed the highest number of fatalities of residents and tourist alike and was one of the ten worst of all time recorded disasters. Additionally, recently following the Haiti Earthquake January 2010, the Turks and Caicos Islands were placed under a tsunami watch. In light of this we can no longer afford to focus on just hurricanes and flooding but need to look at other hazards that give very little to no warning but their impact is far more dangerous and deadly.
Going forward as part of DDME Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy, it will continue to work with its partners both public and private to increase tsunami awareness and resilience in the TCI through:
Updating and testing of National Tsunami Plan
Achieving international accreditation as a country that is 'Tsunami Ready' from the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) for Tsunamis and other Coastal Hazards.
Erecting of Tsunami Evacuation Routes
Production of Evacuation Maps
Establishing of an Early Warning System
Tsunamis are rare but deadly. Early warning saves lives. Know what to do and where to go #TsunamiDay2016 #LiveToTell
PREMIER EWING TO ADDRESS CRITICAL MATTERS WITH UK GOVERNMENT AT JMC
Today the Premier and Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, Dr. The Hon. Rufus Ewing will join other political Leaders of the United Kingdom (UK) Overseas Territories as they prepare to meet with Baroness Anelay, Minister of State for the Overseas Territories in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) at the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) at Lancaster House in London this week.
The JMC is the highest political forum under the 2012 White Paper, bringing together UK Ministers, elected Leaders and Representatives of the Overseas Territories for the purpose of providing leadership and a shared vision for the Territories. The mandate is to monitor and drive forward collective priorities for action in the spirit of partnership.
The critical areas to be discussed during the JMC plenary sessions by UK and Overseas Territories Governments include the relationship between the UK and its Overseas Territories as well as the relationship between the Overseas Territories and the European Union post Brexit.
The commitments to action agreed during the JMC will be encapsulated in a Joint Communique which will be issued at the conclusion of the two days of meetings.
Prior to the JMC Meetings Premier Ewing will meet with the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association Political Council on 31st October 2016, to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. This meeting is a follow up to the successful Pre JMC Meeting hosted by the Premier in Providenciales and Grand Turk in July.
During this visit to London, Premier Ewing will also engage in direct talks with the FCO Minister for the Overseas Territories, Baroness Anelay, on critical matters relating specifically to the Turks and Caicos Islands, particularly on the requested amendments to the Crown Land Policy which remains with the FCO for some weeks now, as well as the position of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) which was to fall away following the payoff of the UK Loan Guarantee.
These matters as well as other key initiatives will be the focus of the ministerial Government for the next six weeks, as the Executive remains intact following the dissolution of the House of Assembly on Thursday past, a move called for by the Premier during the final meeting last week. This ended the operations of the 10th Legislature until a new parliament is appointed by way of general elections, to be held on December 15, 2016.
Venezuela's gov't, opposition agree to tone down rhetoric
Members of Venezuela's opposition sat down with the government for talks aimed at defusing the nation's political crisis as embattled President Nicolas Maduro seeks to fend off an intensifying campaign seeking his removal.
The talks that extended until 2 a.m. Monday ended with both sides agreeing to tone down the heated rhetoric of the past few days and immediately open four thematic negotiations on topics ranging from human rights to the economy. Those talks will be mediated by a Vatican envoy and the former presidents of Spain, Panama and the Dominican Republic, all of whom were present at a museum in western Caracas to kick off the talks alongside Maduro.
The talks are mired in distrust. Many of the president's foes fear they could be a stalling tactic designed to ease pressure on the unpopular socialist leader, whom many Venezuelans blame for triple-digit inflation and widespread food and medicine shortages.
Fifteen parties belonging to the Democratic Unity opposition alliance boycotted the talks, saying they are not prepared to sit across from the government until it releases several jailed opposition activists and reverses its decision to cancel a constitutionally allowed recall referendum against Maduro.
"For an eventual dialogue to take place it has to be very clear from the outset that the aim is agreeing on the terms of a democratic transition in the remainder of 2016," the parties said in a statement.
The talks come as the opposition is stepping up its campaign seeking to force Maduro from office.
Last week it rallied tens of thousands of supporters across the country, and another protest has been called for Thursday at which the opposition is vowing to march to the presidential palace. Government foes haven't been allowed to get close to the palace since the 2002 coup that briefly toppled President Hugo Chavez, the late leader who installed the socialist administration.
The opposition-controlled congress, meanwhile, has begun a "political trial" against Maduro accusing him of neglecting his duties, though it is a largely symbolic gesture since the body doesn't have the power to remove a president under Venezuela's constitution.
Although he has threatened to arrest legislators if they go ahead with the trial, Maduro said Sunday night that he has an "absolute commitment" to holding a dialogue with the opposition.
"We're giving a chance to disarm the hatred, the intolerance, and open the door to love among the Venezuelans," he said in televised remarks from the museum.
Previous attempts have been made at having a dialogue between the opposition and the government, such as talks that followed a wave of deadly unrest in 2014. Those sessions calmed the streets but failed to produce any meaningful progress on key issues dividing Venezuelans.
Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, a Vatican envoy to the talks, hailed the start of the latest round of talks as something "very positive." He urged both sides to make concessions in order for the talks not to falter like the previous attempts.
"At the start of this journey, I ask you in the name of Pope Francis that each side agrees to some concrete gestures to give credibility to this process," said Celli, who is president of the pope's council for social communications. "The country is waiting for authentic signals to comprehend that dialogue is a reality."
Jesus Torrealba, who attended the meeting as head of the Democratic Unity alliance, said the opposition's patience is limited.
"Without freedom for the political prisoners in the next few days this process of dialogue can't continue," he told reporters after emerging from the meeting.
Source-
Clinton fends off FBI email fallout as polls narrow
Hillary Clinton battled to contain renewed FBI focus on her emails Sunday as Donald Trump blitzed western states in the tightening race for the White House.
Nine days before the vote, the 69-year-old former secretary of state hit the campaign trail hard in the battleground state of Florida.
Clinton blazed through brunch at an Irish pub, an African-American Baptist church, a soul food restaurant, an early voting site and a rally at a gay nightclub.
Much of her two-day visit to the Sunshine State focused on encouraging early voting. Clinton says a record 200 million Americans have registered to vote, 20 million of whom have already done so.
But her campaign was jolted when FBI boss James Comey announced Friday that his agents are reviewing a newly discovered trove of emails, resurrecting an issue Clinton had hoped was behind her.
The nominee's response has been to hit out at Comey's move as "deeply troubling" and to rally supporters to get out and vote, turning the tables on Trump by branding him as unfit to lead the nation.
"When you're knocked down, what matters is whether you get up again," she told a packed LGBT rally at a gay nightclub in Wilton Manors, just outside Fort Lauderdale.
"With Donald, it's always Donald Trump first and everyone else last. He abuses his power, he games the system and doesn't care who is left holding the bag," she added.
Allegations Clinton put the United States at risk by using a private email server while secretary of state were thrust back into the spotlight Friday when Comey revealed a renewed FBI probe into the matter based on a previously unknown trove of emails.
Trump — himself under fire for alleged sexual impropriety and facing misconduct allegations from 12 women —has gleefully seized upon Comey's move in an attempt to offset his own trailing in most polls.
The Republican campaigned hard Sunday, attending church in Las Vegas, before leading three rallies in Nevada, Colorado and Albuquerque, New Mexico, whipping up his support base against Clinton.
"We all know about Hillary's mounting legal troubles, that she has brought onto herself with her serial, wilful, purposeful and deliberate criminal conduct," he told the crowd in New Mexico.
"Hillary Clinton is not the victim, you the American people are the victims of this corrupt system in every single way and folks this is your last chance to save it," he said to chants of "lock her up."
The 70-year-old tycoon repeatedly has described her email issue as "the single biggest scandal since Watergate" -- the wrongdoing that brought down Republican president Richard Nixon in 1974.
The Clinton campaign has reacted with fury to Comey's move, demanding that he explain in detail why he had effectively reopened an inquiry declared complete in July.
"It was long on innuendo, short on facts," Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta told CNN.
The US Senate's top Democrat told the FBI chief that through "partisan actions, you may have broken the law."
"As soon as you came into possession of the slightest innuendo related to secretary Clinton, you rushed to publicize it in the most negative light possible," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement.
While the candidate looking to make history as America's first female president remains the overwhelming favorite, polls are narrowing.
An ABC News/Washington Post survey put the Democratic presidential candidate just one point ahead of her Republican challenger.
In Florida — a must-win state for the tycoon —Trump overcame a one-point deficit in September to enjoy a four-point lead, according to a New York Times Upshot/Siena College Research Institute poll.
According to US media, the probe was renewed after agents seized a laptop used by Clinton's close aide, Huma Abedin, and her now estranged husband, Anthony Weiner.
The disgraced former congressman who resigned in 2011 after sending explicit online messages is under investigation over allegations he sent sexual overtures to a 15-year-old girl.
The Washington Post wrote late Sunday that it learned from one US official that the total number of emails recovered in the Weiner investigation is close to 650,000 — although not all of them are relevant to the Clinton investigation.
US networks reported Sunday that the FBI had obtained a warrant to search the emails. According to CNN, discovery of the emails occurred weeks ago although the FBI did not reveal the matter until Friday.
Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway lashed out at Clinton.
"She just has to call her friend and confidante Huma Abedin and say tell us what's in the emails, tell us what's on the devices that you shared with your pedophile husband," Conway told Fox News.
Clinton's campaign has been overshadowed from the start by the scandal, but experts believe the FBI is unlikely to make significant progress before Election Day and few expect her to face charges.
Source-AFP
New Governor issues a release on upcoming TCI elections
HE the Governor over the weekend has issued the following release to RTC News on the upcoming elections.
"It has been brought to my attention that the Proclamation, fixing the election date for 5 December 2016, will not give officials sufficient time to prepare for the election, as envisaged by section 26 of the Elections Ordinance."
"Whilst the date of 5 December would be compliant with the constitution, in consultation with the Premier, it has been decided that it would be most expedient to postpone the date for the election. I am in discussion with the Premier as regards the new date. I will shortly sign an amended Proclamation giving effect to this decision."
"I would propose that consideration of whether or not to amend the Elections Ordinance should be on the agenda for Cabinet once the House has been recalled following the election."
Issued in the name of the Governor, HE Dr John Freeman.
This changes the scope of things which could result in the Premier amending the date for the upcoming elections.
Stay with RTC News as we track this story.