IDB, OAS warn Caribbean to strengthen cybersecurity
Leaders of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Organization of American States (OAS) have called on the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to step up their efforts on cybersecurity following the release of a new study, carried out by the two institutions with the support of Oxford University. The report shows the region is highly vulnerable to potentially devastating cyber-attacks.
The 2016 Cybersecurity Report, ‘Are we ready in Latin America and the Caribbean?’, says that four out of every five countries in the region do not have a cybersecurity strategy or plans for protecting critical infrastructure. Two out of three countries do not have a command and control center for cybersecurity. And a large majority of prosecutors lack the capacity to punish cybercrimes.
The report analyzes the state of preparedness of 32 countries based on 49 indicators. It is the first significant examination of the level of preparedness in Latin America and the Caribbean against the growing threat of cybercrime.
Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Brazil, México, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia have achieved an intermediate level of preparedness, but lag advanced countries like the United States, Israel, Estonia and the Republic of Korea.
“This report is a call to action to protect our citizen and our critical infrastructure for the 21st Century,” said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno.
“Our region arrived late to the Industrial Revolution. We cannot miss the opportunity provided by the Digital Revolution. Because of this, cybersecurity must be a priority.”
OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro emphasized that cyberspace is increasingly becoming an integral part of the daily life of people in the Americas, and is indispensable to their total development.
“That is why we have to regard cybersecurity like any other kind of security: an issue of the highest priority for our people, without which we expose ourselves to potentially catastrophic losses,” he said.
“In this context, our motto, of ‘more rights for more people’ signals our commitment to continue working to strengthen the capacity of our countries to protect our people, our economies and the critical infrastructure of our region.”
The IDB and OAS experts say the risks of abuse increase as Latin America and the Caribbean join the digital revolution.
The region is the fourth largest mobile market in the world. Half its population uses the Internet and there are countries in Latin America that process 100 per cent of their government purchases electronically, they pointed out.
“And the risks will multiply with the advent of ‘The Internet of Things’, where not only computers will be interconnected, but a universe of smart devices and sensors will monitor and control virtually everything we use every day,” they added.
The evaluation of the readiness of cybersecurity policies in the region consists of 49 indicators in five areas: policy and strategy, education, culture and society, legal framework, and technology. The report includes technical data on each country.
Sixteen countries in the region have no coordinated capacity to respond to incidents. Only four rank above the intermediate level of maturity in this respect. And just six have a structured programme of education in cybersecurity, which includes budgetary stability as well as mechanisms for research and the transfer of knowledge.
Policeman in Trinidad to stand trial for trafficking Colombian women
In Trinidad and Tobago’s first human trafficking case, a 55-year-old suspended police officer has been committed to stand trial on 13 charges of human trafficking and prostitution.
Constable Valentine Eastman was yesterday found to have a case to answer at the end of a preliminary inquiry that was heard in camera before Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington.
The police officer, who served in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service for more than two decades, is accused of receiving the three Colombian women into the country or transporting or harbouring them for the purpose of exploitation between March 3 and March 24, 2013.
It is alleged that he took the trio to a brothel for the purpose of exploitation and prostitution.
Eastman was charged a month after the alleged offences occurred and his preliminary inquiry began in September 2014. Sixteen witnesses were called to give testimony.
He will continue on bail. However, the amount has been reduced from TT$350,000 (US$53,338) to TT$250,000 (US$38,098) with surety, or a cash alternative of TT$120,000 (US$18,287).
Non-payment of taxes main weakness in region’s economies, says ECLAC
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has called for measures to tackle nonpayment of taxes, cautioning in a just released report that tax evasion is one of the main weaknesses of the tax systems in the region’s economies, accounting for US$320 billion dollars in 2014.
Tax revenues are the cornerstone of the basic financing of modern State, and it is therefore vital to prioritize the creation of a tax culture in which evaders are effectively punished, according to the ECLAC document, ‘Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2016’, which was launched earlier today.
The ECLAC report states that fiscal non-compliance represents 2.2 points of gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of Value Added Tax (VAT) at the regional level, and 4.1 GDP points in terms of income tax. While ECLAC said it acknowledges the difficulties of bringing those numbers down against a backdrop of reduced economic buoyancy, it called for increased efforts to avoid a substantial loss of potential tax resources.
According to the document, there was an across-the-board decline in VAT evasion up to 2007-2008, although that favourable trend was reversed due to the financial crisis. The Commission describes the need for more in-depth reforms of the structure and administration of VAT. Similarly, with income tax evasion there has been no significant progress in recent years.
The Fiscal Panorama 2016 states that, Latin America recorded a slight average reduction in fiscal accounts, and reached a fiscal deficit of three per cent of GDP and public borrowing of 34.7 per cent of GDP last year. Out of the 19 countries studied, 11 simultaneously increased their fiscal deficit and public debt as a proportion of GDP.
According to the report, the slowdown in economic growth and the worsening terms of trade have had dramatic effects on the public finances in many of the region’s countries, with many having to carry out significant fiscal adjustments.
ECLAC outlines an uneven future at the regional level, with most South American countries remaining saddled with uncertainty because of the slowdown in China and other emerging nations in 2016, while Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean will benefit from positive growth rates, and from falling oil prices in the latter two sub-regions.
In order to protect and boost public investment and growth, the United Nations Economic Commission highlights the need to strengthen counter-cyclical institutional arrangements to reduce harmful cycles of expansion and contraction of public spending. Fiscal adjustments should therefore aim to attract investment that leads to growth, according to ECLAC.
The report affirms that 2015 was marked by a loss of income from non-renewable natural resources, although this was offset by higher tax revenues resulting from reform. On average, the region increased its tax burden by 0.2 per cent of GDP, mainly thanks to improved collection of income tax.
The main conclusions of the Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2016 will be presented at the first session of the XXVIII Regional Seminar on Fiscal Policy, which will be opened tomorrow.
Officers trained to operate new speed Measurement Devices
19 officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have been trained and Certified to operate new Speed Measurement Devices. Both Doppler Police Traffic Radar, as well as Police Speed Laser. Four of the students have gone onto an advanced "Speed Measurement" class and will be certified as "Speed Measurement Instructors.”
The training course which ran from Monday 7th to Friday 11th February 2016 is designed to improve the effectiveness of speed enforcement though proper and effective use of radar speed measurement instruments.
“Speed contributes to crashes, which contribute to injuries, fatalities and property damages” said the Instructor Sergeant Mike Kanyan of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office in Florida. “Officers are now trained to operate and to properly use the ‘Moving Radar’ which is as the name implies. When a police vehicle is in motion, it is able to track vehicles approaching and receding, that is both in front and behind the patrol vehicle and also able to track multiple targets at once,” Kanyan said.
The officers who are now able to use this new method of speed radar, now has the knowledge of the development, fundamental concepts and related principles of police traffic radar and also understand the process of giving court testimony in cases involving the radar or laser speed measurement.
There’s no such thing as speeding safely,” said Kanyan. “Speed alone, regardless of any other factors, including how good a car you may be driving, or how good of a driver you may be, increases both the likelihood and the severity of a crash,” he added.
Sergeant Mike Kanyan has been with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office since 1981 and is currently assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Unit for the past 8 years. The Sgt. is a "Speed Measurement Instructor" for over 25 years.
During his tenure as a Law Enforcement Deputy, he has been a Patrol Deputy, Field Training Deputy, Field Training Supervisor; currently assigned to the Traffic Traffic Unit which includes Police Motorcycle Unit, currently holding the rank of Sgt. As well is also an Instructor at the Sheriff's Office Training Center.
Lavern Smith Plead Guilty to firearm charges
On Wednesday 9th March 2016, Lavern Smith of the Bight Providenciales, who plead guilty for Carrying a firearm and three counts of carrying ammunition will be sentenced on Monday 21st March 2016.
The facts are, on Tuesday 27th October 2015 at around 9:30 pm officers from the Tactical Unit were patrolling in the Bight area when upon reaching a business establishment they saw Mr. Smith who was wanted by police for another matter behaving in a suspicious manner with a backpack on his back, and as officers approached him he ran to the back of the building. Officers went to the back of the building where they apprehended him.
A search was made in his backpack where one (1) BLACK Hi-Point 40 Caliber Pistol, Nine (9) rounds of 9mm Caliber ammunition, two (2) ROUNDS OF 22 Caliber ammunition, one (1) black holster, two (2) face masks, one (1) black and white hand glove and a pair of scissors were found.
When asked by officers if he owns a license to carry the firearm and ammunition he told them no. He was arrested and later charged with the offences.
Police confirm death of 16 year old in South Caicos
Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are confirming the death of a 16 year old female on South Caicos yesterday.
At around 4:21pm (Monday 14th March 2016) Police Officers responded to a home on Swann Street, where the father of the deceased stated that he last spoke with his daughter around 8pm the night before (Sunday 13th March), prior to her going to bed.
The following morning at 7:30am he left home for work, leaving his daughter in her room sleeping. Upon his return home at 4pm, he found his daughter unresponsive.
Medical personnel arrived on scene some time later and were un-able to revive the female.
She was pronounced dead at 4:51pm.
Police have begun their enquiries, noting that post mortem will be conducted to confirm the exact cause of death.
Caricom Secretariat gets energy monitoring equipment under GIZ/REETA Programme
Energy monitoring equipment was handed over to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat on Tuesday, 8 March 2016. The equipment, worth more than US$20,000, was donated by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance (REETA) Programme. The equipment forms part of the development cooperation between the Government of the Federal Republic of German and the Secretariat.
Ms. Carol Corbin, Programme Manager, Administrative Services, received the equipment on the behalf of the Secretariat from Mr. Glynn Morris, Energy Advisor in the GIZ/REETA Programme. The handing over was held on the compound of the Secretariat. The equipment will provide sub metering for monitoring the consumption of electricity by the major devices within the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters Building. The equipment will also enable the collection of detailed temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide data, which is necessary for the monitoring of indoor air quality and comfort.
Energy monitoring is a key activity within the CARICOM Building Energy Efficiency Project (CARICOM BEEP) that has been underway since January 2015. The BEEP concept was developed by the Energy Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat and utilises a protocol that constitutes a "mix" of energy management practices and principles, energy efficiency applications and renewable energy use. In this, the first phase of the CARICOM BEEP, the energy management practices applied have already yielded significant energy and financial savings to the Secretariat. The financial savings are already being reinvested in efficient air conditioning systems, which will generate additional savings. Future phases of the project will include the implementation of efficient lighting devices, insulation to reduce the heating caused by incoming solar radiation, automated energy management controls, building occupancy sensors, and solar power generation.
Through the use of the energy monitoring equipment, the CARICOM Secretariat will have better quality data and information related to the building's energy use and can identify, at any point in time, how much electricity is being used and the consumption of major devices within the building. This will improve the ability of the facilities managers to better respond to excessive and inefficient usage, thereby improving the energy management practices that are already being applied and providing "greater control" over consumption and costs.
The high cost of energy is of concern to the Executive Management of the CARICOM Secretariat. Paying the energy bills continues to divert funds from other areas, necessary for the efficient operation of the organisation. The CARICOM BEEP has been mainstreamed within the Secretariat and a Project Management Committee, chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General, is providing oversight. Activities under the programme are aimed at reducing energy costs to improve the economic situation of the organisation. They are also aimed at providing example and proof to Member States of the tangible benefits that can be derived from addressing the efficiency with which energy is used in public buildings across the Region, as promoted under the CARICOM Energy Policy and the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C‑SERMS).
The positive experience of the BEEP activities in the CARICOM Secretariat has also led to an expansion of the initiative across the Community to support other major administrative buildings, including the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission Headquarters in Saint Lucia.
Paba development league finals
The curtains came down on the 2015-2016 PABA Development league as the Wesley Methodist Sting Rays defeated the Tci Community College Admirals in a nail biting game.
The fans were treated to an exciting game of many lead changes and spectacular plays by both teams. It was a match up of experience from the college versus youth of Wesley Methodist where youth and athleticism prevailed in the end.
At the sound of the final horn the Sting Rays led by Captain Shardanno Clarke edged out the Community College 49-44.
Mr Clarke led the way for the Sting Rays with 16 points, 19 rebounds 2 blocks, Rajun Valentine supported him with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal.
Randy Rigby sustained an injury early in the 2nd quarter but was able to lead the scoring for the College with 21 pts 7 rebs, 3 asts, 7 stls. Captain Dalevon Hardware added 8 pts, 15 rebs, 1 asts, 1 blk, 3 stls.
In the supporting game CHHS Senior secured third position after defeating the CHHS juniors 36-34. Fedloir Semora scored 16 pts, 8 rebs for the seniors and Marcus Ulysse dished out 15 pts and grabbed 15 rebs for the CHHS Juniors.
It was a fitting end to the development league season as the PABA has achieved its objective of promoting the development of Basketball at a competitive level in Providenciales.
Up next for the PABA youth players are the summer programs which is set to begin Monday 4th July 2016.
GOVERNOR AND DEPUTY GOVERNOR LAUNCH NEW PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC SERVICE AND BUSINESSES
The Governor and Deputy Governor announced on 7 March an initiative to bring private sector expertise to the public sector. Under the overall programme recently launched by the Deputy Governor of "Vision 20/20: Creating Excellence in the Public Sector" the new scheme aims to encourage public sector departments to learn from some of the efficiencies introduced in the private sector.
The launch the scheme, "Public-Private Partnerships – Enhancing Service Delivery", three senior businessmen in Turks and Caicos Islands have agreed to share some of their expertise with senior members of the public sector. Ken Adams, The Do It Center and Building Materials, Gilly Williams, The Wine Cellar and Turks Head Brewery, and Robert Brace, Graceway - IGA, Smart and Gourmet, will attend occasional meetings of Government Departments to hear about some of the problems public servants face, and discuss with them how to improve efficiency in those departments. The businessmen will initially focus on alternative energy, the work permit system, infrastructure implementation and road safety certification.
Commenting on the initiative the Governor Peter Beckingham said:
"I am grateful to these three senior and successful businessmen for giving up their time to discuss ways in which the public sector can learn from business. Everyone in TCI will know how their businesses operate successfully and efficiently, and I am confident the advice they can offer will help public servants look at their operations in new and different ways.
"All Government Departments in the UK now automatically have on their Boards senior members of the private sector, so we can learn from their example how our own public sector can benefit from business. We are fortunate to have the free services of these three businessmen to support the departments. I have been keen to get the public sector more engaged with business, and I am confident this is a great way of starting".
Deputy Governor Anya Williams said: "My focus over the next year is going to be unrelentingly on generating more efficiencies in our public service. I know there are areas where we can improve delivery standards to the public, and engaging three highly experienced businesspeople in this way is bound to help find ways of making improvements. I look forward to working with all three businessmen and having them help us with our work."
Robert Brace, Graceway, said: " From my time in business with some of Europe's large companies I have seen how the public sector can benefit from closer working relations with companies. It is very common in many European countries for these sorts of exchanges between the private and the public sector to take place. I am pleased to see this sort of co-operation happening in the Turks and Caicos. I am sure that Gilly Williams, Ken Adams and I can, at least at the margin, help to bring some efficiencies and a new way of looking at services offered by the public service."
TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 8th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 9 March 2016, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present.
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Agreed to the use of contingency funds for the RTCIPF to purchase a replacement police patrol vehicle for one that was written off in an incident during an operational deployment. The cost of the replacement vehicle has been covered by insurance;
· Approved the draft Flag and Coat of Arms (Regulation) Bill 2016, as amended, for forwarding to the House of Assembly for approval. The Bill and subsequent legislation will prescribe and guide the use of the national flag, the coat of arms and the national song as well as other national symbols;
· Agreed to the formulation of a TCI Climate Change Committee and approved draft Terms of Reference for the Committee and the selection of Committee members as follows: Director of the Office of the Premier (Chair); Director, DEMA; Director, Public Health; Director, Environmental Health; Director, DDME; Energy and Utilities Commissioner; Policy Analyst, Office of the Premier; and two representatives from the private sector;
· Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board to award contracts in line with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012 as follows – TR15/41 National skills audit consultancy; TR15/52 Design and build of a green fitness park at Leeward in Providenciales;
· Approved, as a result of a Supreme Court Order of 22 December 2015, a payment of $20,000 to be made from the National Forfeiture Fund (NFF) to the wife of Mr David Smith as a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the residential property owned by Mr Smith under a Confiscation Order of 25 April 2012 in order for Mrs Smith to purchase a residential property for her and her four young children; and approved a further payment of $34,500 to be made from the NFF to the National Colony Realty company for professional services for marketing and selling the property to the satisfaction of the Crown under an agreement of 27 March 2015;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to renew a casino licence for a further ten years to BK Partners Ltd based on the same terms and conditions as the original licence;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the re-appointment of the following members to the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board for a period of one year from 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017 in accordance with the TCI Tourism Ordinance – Don Gardiner (Chair); Crystal Greene (Deputy Chair); Wayne Garland; Brenda Lightbourne; Lloyd Stubbs; Jayne Hutchinson; Bianca Harvey Garland; and Permanent Secretary (ex-officio);
· Agreed that the 2015/16 lobster (crawfish) season should be extended to 31 March 2016;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of the following members to the Immigration Appeals Tribunal for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017 - Edward Hall; Alice Malcolm; Paul Beresford; Oswald Williams; and Fuller Gardiner Sr. Cabinet also advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of Edward Hall as Chair of the Appeals Tribunal and Martha Missick as Secretary of the Appeals Tribunal for the same period;
· Received an up-date on a construction in the Princess Alexandra National Park and noted that following the Ministry’s discussions with the owners the structure has subsequently been removed;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of the following members to the Zone 1 (Turks islands, South Caicos, East Caicos and Ambergris Cay) and Zone 2 (the remaining islands) Work Permit Boards –
Zone 1: Arthur Lightbourne (Chair); William Fulford (Grand Turk Member); Allan Dickinson (Salt Cay Member); and Emily Saunders (South Caicos Member).
Zone 2: Sheba Wilson (Chair); Veldon Robinson (Middle Caicos Member); Kadra Handfield (North Caicos Member); and Owenta Coleby James (Providenciales Member).
Cabinet also advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to the appointments of Kirk Forbes, an Immigration Officer based in Grand Turk, as Secretary of the Zone 1 Board and Deserika Glinton, an Immigration Officer based in Providenciales, as Secretary of the Zone 2 Board;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to make amendments to the Customs (Government Transit Shed and Queen’s Warehouse Rent) Regulations to reduce customs warehouse rents and agreed that Customs should undertake an exercise to clear existing goods in store by offering a maximum charge to the equivalent of 90 days storage fees under the new rates;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve an amendment to the Customs Tariff to reduce the rate of import duty on green coffee beans from 15% to zero.