NIB takes more clients to court
The National Insurance Board on Friday September 23rd 2016 saw defendant Romeo “Ron” Higgs appearing in the Providenciales Magistrate’s court to answer to an application for a writ of execution filed by the NIB for the levying of $5,500.00. The matter was set for trial on October 27th 2016.
Also on Friday September 23rd 2016, the defendant Lofton Morley of Direct transport appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s court to answer to an application for a writ of execution filed by the NIB for the levying of $3,600.00. The matter was set for trial on October 27th 2016.
Separately, Defendant Norma Goodridge was scheduled to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s court to answer to a writ of execution filed by the NIB for the levying of $8,750.00. The matter is set for trial on October 27th 2016.
Defendant Edwin Hernandez Cueto appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s court to answer to complaints filed by the NIB for failing to pay contributions and additional charges as an employer in the amount of $1,511.52. The matter was adjourned for mention on October 27th 2016.
Japan PM seeks Cuba's help amid N Korea nuclear 'provocations'
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded a visit to Cuba Friday with condemnation of North Korea's nuclear "provocations" and a request for help from Pyongyang's ally Havana to pursue a "world without nuclear weapons."
Abe, the first Japanese premier to visit Cuba, discussed the nuclear question in meetings with both Fidel and Raul Castro, the brothers who have ruled the communist island since 1959.
"Japan, the only country to suffer a nuclear attack in war, is determined to continue working to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, with the help of Cuba and the rest of the international community," he told a press conference, speaking through a translator.
The comment came after Abe condemned North Korea's recent nuclear weapons tests in his meeting Thursday with President Raul Castro.
"North Korea continues provocations including nuclear tests and the launch of ballistic missiles, which is posing a different level of threat to the region and Japan," he told the president, according to a read-out of their conversation from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
"I know Cuba has had a friendly relationship with North Korea. Having said this, I would point out that the peace and stability of East Asia is crucially important for Japan."
He invited Castro to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese cities levelled by US atomic bombs at the end of World War II, to witness firsthand the destruction of nuclear weapons.
The Cuban leader said he "strongly wished" to accept the invitation before stepping down in 2018, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Abe also pressed for new efforts on nuclear disarmament in his meeting with former president Fidel Castro, Cuban state media reports said.
Japan said Abe had also asked for the Cuban government's "understanding and cooperation" on the sensitive issue of Japanese citizens believed to have been kidnapped by North Korea to train spies for the reclusive communist state.
North Korea caused outrage in Japan when it admitted in 2002 that it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 80s to train agents in the country's language and customs.
Five of those were allowed to return home but Pyongyang has insisted, without producing solid evidence that the eight others died.
Abe arrived in Cuba Thursday, a day after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
There, he also hammered home Japan's concern over North Korea's test earlier this month of what Pyongyang called a miniaturized nuclear bomb suited to a long-range warhead.
Abe told leaders gathered at the UN that the world has to find "new means" to stop North Korea's nuclear programme.
"The threat has now reached a dimension altogether different from what has transpired until now," he said.
Arriving in Havana, Abe said he wants to "open a new page" in Japanese-Cuban relations, after the historic rapprochement between Havana and Washington, Tokyo's close ally.
To that end, he announced a new sports exchange program in which Japan will send coaches to train Cuban baseball players -- a shared passion -- and invite Cuban gymnastics coaches to Japan.
He also broached Japan's call for UN reform, thanking President Castro for his "renewed support" for Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council.
Turning to China -- another Cuban ally with problematic relations with Japan -- Abe told Castro he was "seriously concerned" with Beijing's actions in the East and South China Seas, which include building artificial islands capable of hosting military airbases.
Source- AFP
Shooting in Parking lot
Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are searching for suspects in connection with a shooting in a parking lot on South Side Plaza located on Aviation Drive Providenciales that left one man wounded.
Police responded the area around 2:55 AM this morning (Friday 23rd September 2016) after reports of a fight and gunshots fired were made to 911. Upon arrival at the scene, four shots were heard, and a number of persons were seen running from the area. An unknown male wearing blue jeans and light blue shirt brandishing a silver handgun was seen, and as officers approached him, he ran into the nearby bushes and made good his escape. Police also responded to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where a 24-year-old male was seen with a gunshot wound to his leg. He informed officers that he received the wound while at the area of the shooting.
The male was treated and later discharged.
Police are seeking the assistance of witnesses who were in the area during the time of this incident and may have seen what happened or can identify the male or persons who were shooting, please call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc, Chalk Sound Police Station 338-5901/941-8067. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.
CONTRIBUTION IN PARLIAMENT By Hon Leader of the Opposition
In her two minute speech today in Parliament, the Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Leader of the Opposition raised several critical issues ranging from matters relating to education, health and public service.
She stated her concern as a parent and representative as to the seeming lack of preparedness for the reopening of schools this year in terms of the outstanding repairs, the lack of text books available and the shortage of teachers in critical areas.
She said that the physical plants/schools have not been repaired and this is visible from the Schools that she has already visited. She said it is a frustrating experience for parents to try to secure text books that are not on Island and further that the lack of teachers for critical areas is also posing a problem. She called on the Ministry to address these concerns today for the people of this country.
Hon Cartwright Robinson also raised concerns about matters in the area of health. She cited her concern about the closure of the vital National Health Insurance Board due to the sick out over the last two days and called on the Government to resolve the issues with the staff. She raised the matter of the fight against Zika citing her recent experience in South Caicos on Saturday where mosquitoes were widespread and stated that she thought that greater care would be taken during this time when we are told that we now have 11 cases. She said that she believe that the Government should state the Islands on which these cases are so as to raise a different level of awareness so that individuals themselves will also take care of their surroundings and Islands.
Hon Cartwright Robinson also mentioned, though not for response in the House of Assembly, the need for the Government to ensure that we do not lose our Chief Dental Officer who is a Turks and Caicos Islander. She reminded the House of one of the reasons why she brought the Motion to introduce pensions and gratuities for post 1992 civil servants so as to not only attract but to also retain the best and brightest.
She closed by wishing all civil servants, a Happy Civil Servants day.
US officer charged in death of black man in Tulsa
The district attorney in the southern US city of Tulsa on Thursday charged the police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man with first-degree manslaughter.
The shooting of Terence Crutcher on Friday, recorded by dashboard cameras and a police helicopter, lead to heightened tensions between yet another US police department and African-Americans.
In the video, the 40-year-old man is seen with his hands up and leaning against his car. He is then shot once by officer Betty Shelby and falls to the ground.
In a court filing, the Tulsa district attorney's chief investigator Doug Campbell said Crutcher was shot when reaching into his car's driver's side front window. Another responding officer used a Taser at the same time.
Campbell also said Crutcher had been mumbling to himself and that Shelby had made statements after the shooting that she had been "in fear of her life" during the confrontation.
"Officer Shelby reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation from a confrontation with Mr Crutcher, who was not responding to verbal commands and was walking away from her with his hands held up, becoming emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted," Campbell said.
Crutcher, who had no gun, died at a hospital from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Shelby was charged with a felony count of first-degree manslaughter -- heat of passion, which carries a minimum sentence of four years in prison if convicted. In the charging document, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweller called her actions "unreasonable."
The Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights probe into the incident, parallel to the investigation being carried out by the local authorities.
Demonstrators in Tulsa, in the state of Oklahoma, had demanded that the officer be punished. But protests have remained peaceful so far, unlike in Charlotte, North Carolina where the shooting death of a black man at the hands of police on Tuesday set off two nights of clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators.
PDM RESPONSE TO PREMIER'S INTERVIEW
It is obvious to everyone except The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands that he has all but given up. His approach of blaming the Leader of the Opposition Honourable Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson for every short fall of his government demonstrates that what is required to lead our country is over and beyond his political and diplomatic capabilities.
The unassuming listener of the show on Tropical Vibes hosted by Shaun Malcolm may have been perplexed when Hon. Ewing suggested that Hon. Cartwright-Robinson's presence on the Consultative Forum during the period of interim administration was the PDM in corroboration with TCIG's budgetary cuts.
Yet at the same time, he dissolves himself of reckless behavior as Civil Service president when he led them for purely political purposes causing the blocking of the airport road, acts of vandalism causing electricity outages, the cancellation of flights and the turning away of arriving passengers to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2011 when the country could hardly afford it due to the global financial crisis and the suspension of the constitution. But, now that his time is running out after he has had political power and could have offered more help to those dedicated civil servants on whose backs he rose to the Premiership his explanation to the service is that now he has a duty to the entire country and he is wearing a different hat. He abandoned them after his bid for elected office!
Dr. Rufus Ewing did well to camouflage his way through the institutions of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government appearing as though he cared when all along the goal was a political end, these institutions are meant to protect the people and he has gotten away scot-free from his heavy-handed influence during the Misick-PNP and the British-interim government.
Go figure why his government has not been able to attract any meaningful investment to the Islands? Still he blames the British and the PDM government for his ineptitude when it is really his inability to properly set government policy that attracts investment.
He speaks the talk of a warrior standing up to the British, albeit unconvincingly. The tough talk about the many hurdles he claims only his government could overcome in the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands is undone and seems weak when he blames the Leader of the Opposition for not helping him negotiate better terms for his party's headquarters.
His government's financial accomplishments were at the expense of the hardworking Turks and Caicos Islander families who have had to suffer the burden of paying for his tough talk but his pockets are full from high salaries, higher than Michael Misick's with his desire to even make it higher God forbids if he were to be re-elected. As far as the Premier's claim about the Leader of the Opposition's position on the CFO we remind him that he and his Minister of Finance have taken credit for all the financial decisions up to this point!
His interview highlights how poorly he has represented the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and revealed his Machiavellian mind trip, his duplicity and double-dealing nature, which will live in the hearts and the minds of the people until election day.
And for the record the PDM will not be used by the PNP in their election campaign of blame, gimmickry and misguidance in an attempt to pollute the airwaves with half-truths. The Premier's attempt at tough talk came across as tacky and desperate.
GRAND TURK NAMED AMONG THE WORLD’S TOP CRUISE DESTINATIONS
Cruise Critic®, the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has announced the winners of its first-ever Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, naming the top cruise destinations in the world, based on consumer ratings submitted with reviews on the Cruise Critic website. The awards name award-winning destinations across 15 regions, worldwide.
Grand Turk was named the second best cruise destination in the Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda cruise port region, with cruisers particularly enamored with the island’s beautiful beaches, great shopping, and friendly locals.
JamieInWyoming, a Cruise Critic reviewer, gave a glowing review on her stop at Grand Turk stating, “We did not want to leave... The water at Grand Turk is warm and crystal clear. We might have been the last people back on the ship, because I was too busy asking the locals about living expenses and taxes. I want to retire there.”
According to a recent survey by Cruise Critic, selecting a cruise destination is the most important part of the planning process for both first-time cruisers (28%) and experienced cruisers (29%).
“Cruising offers the unique opportunity to sample a number of destinations at once,” explains Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor of Cruise Critic. “Because of that, it’s important to carefully select your itinerary so that you’re able to make the most of your time in port. With so many available options, this list of destinations personally recommended by cruisers themselves provides invaluable insight into the cruise destinations across the world to help cruisers choose the best options.”
St. Maarten was the top-rated Eastern Caribbean Island, with St. Thomas, St. Kitts and King’s Wharf in Bermuda ranking third, fourth, and fifth behind Grand Turk, respectively. Bonaire was named the highest-rated Southern Caribbean Island, and Cozumel the top destination in the Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya.
Castaway Cay – owned by Disney Cruise Line – ranked highest among cruise line private islands, and topped all Caribbean categories combined. Cruisers praised the island’s clean, beautiful beaches and multitude of options for both kids and adults.
River cruise port cities were the top-rated category as a whole, with all of the top five destinations receiving the highest marks across the board. Paris was rated the best river cruise destination, with reviewers naming the city’s beauty, museums and gardens as particularly impressive.
As for the best cruise destination in North America, San Francisco was named to the top of the list in the U.S. & Canada category.
First-place winners in each category include:
Top-Rated Alaska Port: Glacier Bay
Top-Rated Asia & South Pacific Port: Mystery Island
Top-Rated Australia & New Zealand Port: Sydney
Top-Rated Baltic & Scandinavia Port: St. Petersburg
Top-Rated Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas & Bermuda Port: St. Maarten
Top-Rated Southern Caribbean Port: Bonaire
Top-Rated Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya Port: Cozumel
Top-Rated British Isles & Western Europe Port: Amsterdam
Top-Rated Eastern Mediterranean Port: Venice
Top-Rated European River Port: Paris
Top-Rated Western Mediterranean Port: Barcelona
Top-Rated Hawaii Port: Kauai
Top-Rated Mexican Riviera & South America Port: Puerto Vallarta
Top-Rated U.S. & Canada Port: San Francisco
Top-Rated Cruise Line Private Island: Castaway Cay
For the full list of winners, visit the 2016 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards.
Cruise Critic boasts the world’s largest online cruise community, with more than 160,000 cruise reviews, covering approximately 500 cruise ships and over 300 worldwide ports. Awards are based on reviews submitted for cruises taken over the past year.
TCI Observes Caribbean Wellness Day 2016
To observe Caribbean Wellness Day, last Saturday, 10th of September, under the theme "Healthy Children, Healthy Environments", the communities of West Road, Overback and North Backsalina participated in a cleanup campaign. Residence in the West Road area cleaned their yards and left the bags of garbage at the road side to be collected while the Overback community engaged its residents in a general cleanup. The North Backsalina area also engaged in a general cleanup mainly in the Garden area.
"The cleanup was a huge success, with communities taking ownership for their areas including the churches within the 3 communities. This is the beginning of many cleanup campaigns to come as we engage each community within the Turks and Caicos Islands", said Director of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit, Mrs. Aldora Robinson.
"Zika is a major threat and we must ensure a clean community to remove all breeding mosquito breeding sites. No mosquitos, no Zika. Major collaboration between stakeholders like the Environmental Health Department, TCI Red Cross who provided materials and other support, Fortis TCI, Clyde Holiday, community Churches and residence within the various communities."
On the Island of Providenciales, at 5 am the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence held a Suicide Prevention Walk to raise awareness about the issue of suicide. This was the second year of the observance, which helps to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental illnesses.
According to local statistics, there were 7 suicide related deaths since 2009. As part of the observance, depression screening day was also held on September 12th at the general hospitals and government operated clinics. This event provided an opportunity for interested persons to be screened and given advice on how to manage depression symptoms.
In the evening, another successful event was held, Torch for Health, where the Hon. Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing, Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, ran the Torch for Health onto the field of the Downtown Ballpark at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sport Center and passed the Torch to our very own Olympian, Mr. Delano Williams, who then completed a run around the track in front of the attendees and the softball federation. There were booths for information on various diseases and screening. Also participating, were the Diabetic Association and Cancer Society.
MARINE FORECAST MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016
THIS IS THE MARINE FORECAST FOR 24 HOURS FROM 1.00 PM MONDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016
GENERAL SITUATION: A WEAK TROUGH NEAR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS ALONG WITH A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDING FROM NEAR BERMUDA TO THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WILL ENHANCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SHOWERS OR A POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORM. MEANWHILE A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL PRODUCE LIGHT WINDS AND FAIR WEATHER OVER MOST OF THE BAHAMAS
FOR ALL AREAS
ADVISORY: BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: VARIABLE AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EASTERLY AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS RUNNING: 1 TO3 FEET OVER THE OCEAN FOR ALL AREAS
WEATHER: ISOLATED SHOWERS OR POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS NEAR TROUGHS
SUNSET AT 7.09 PM AND SUNRISE AT 6.58 AM TUESDAY
MOON RISE AT 9.39 PM AND MOON SET AT 9.50 AM TUESDAY
LOW TIDE AT 4.41 PM AND HIGH TIDE AT 10.41 PM AND LOW AGAIN AT 4.55 AM TUESDAY AND HIGH AGAIN AT 11.12 AM TUESDAY
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SEE LATEST NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM KARL..SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A LARGE BUT WELL DEFINED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF CAPO VERDE ISLANDS IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IS LIKELY TO FORM LATER TODAY OR ON TUESDAY. FORMATION CHANCE THROUGH THE NEXT 48 HOURS IS HIGH, ABOUT 70 PERCENT AND FORMATION CHANCE THROUGH 5 DAYS IS HIGH, ABOUT 80 PERCENT.
Former Head Coach to meet with lawyers over sacking
Axed West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons could be contemplating legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over his abrupt firing last week.
Reports in international media said the 53-year-old Trinidadian was expected to meet with his legal team in coming days to discuss the matter and would then decide on a course of action.
“Phil is currently in the UK and is supposed to meet his lawyers within the next 72 hours,” a confidante of Simmons, who requested anonymity, was quoted as saying.
“His next course of action would be influenced by the advice they give.”
Simmons’ sacking was announced by the WICB last Tuesday as the West Indies team prepared to leave Barbados for Dubai to begin their Twenty20 and One-Day series against Pakistan.
The move followed weeks of speculation about Simmons’ future, and WICB President Dave Cameron had sidestepped the controversial issue following the board of directors’ meeting in Dominica last week.
“At the appropriate time [we will speak on the Simmons matter],” Cameron said when asked if Simmons would be fired.
“We have to continue the discussions internally, and at the appropriate time we will make any announcements that are deemed necessary.”
In a cryptic release three days later, however, the WICB said it had taken the decision to relieve Simmons of his duties at the Dominica meeting.
“In recent times, based on the public pronouncements of the coach and the approach internally, we have identified differences in culture and strategic approach,” the WICB release said.
Simmons took up the position in March last year after taking Ireland to the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
He was suspended seven months later over controversial comments regarding team selection for the tour of Sri Lanka, but was reinstated following the series after issuing a public apology.
Simmons oversaw West Indies’ capture of their second Twenty20 World Cup title in India last April and then helped guide them into the final of the Tri-Nation Series in the Caribbean last June.
Source-CMC