United Airlines Adds Service to Providenciales from Houston this Summer
The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board is delighted to announce that United Airlines will be increasing flight services to Providenciales this summer. Commencing this past Saturday June 6, United Airlines introduce direct service from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Providenciales International Airport (PLS). The Boeing 737-900 service is seasonal and will operate on Saturdays only.
United Airlines currently operates up to eight flights per week from its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), to Providenciales.
Commenting on the additional flight, Mi-la-gros Uri-ar-te, United’s Director of Onshore Latin America & CRB Sales, said: “We are delighted to be announcing increased service to Providenciales. The Houston flight complements our existing service to Newark, which we serve eight times weekly from Providenciales during summer. Our increased services this summer will give travelers more flexibility and more choice when flying to the island."
Minister of Tourism, Honourable Porsha Stubbs-Smith expressed pleasure that United Airlines acknowledges Turks and Caicos as one of the foremost destination in the Caribbean
“The addition of United’s new flight from Houston, further underscores the appeal of our islands to the traveling public and the confidence our airline partners have in us as a destination,” said Honourable Stubbs-Smith.
With Providenciales recent distinction as TripAdvisor’s ‘World’s Best Island’ still gaining international attention, the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board is keen to improve connectivity to the destination.
“The new Houston route will undoubtedly expand connectivity to the destination and make the Turks and Caicos more accessible and attractive to potential visitors from the Southwest and Western regions of the United States a sign of great things for the future of our tourism market,” said Ralph L. Higgs, Director of Tourism.
Similarly, the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) expressed excitement in adding a new flight from another major gateway to the schedule at the Providenciales International Airport.
“We are confident that flights to the Turks and Caicos will continue to increase during and outside of the normal tourism season,” said TCIAA’s Terminal and Marketing Manager, Lavern Reynolds.
Tourism officials are committed to fostering the new Houston route and are engaged in ongoing conversation with United Airlines, to increase services to the Turks and Caicos. The Tourist Board and its partners are taking an active role in ensuring that the Turks and Caicos tourism product is sustainable, resilient, and beneficial to investors, visitors and local residents alike.
The People’s Democratic Movement emerges stronger from its 40th Convention
The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) emerged stronger after its annual convention held on Grand Turk, the nation’s capital. Three days of events saw the party electing its officers, working in the community, speaking to the future and honoring the service of those who served the party during its existence.
Party Leader, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, solidified her position as leader when delegates overwhelmingly elected to keep her and Deputy Leader Hon. Sean Astwood to communicate a message of confidence and stability. The PDM elects its officers every year at the business session of its annual convention.
Election of Officers of the party took place during the business session of the convention, which saw party leader, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Deputy Leader Hon. Sean Astwood returned unopposed after a motion was moved by Hon. Goldray Ewing that the positions be retained. Delegates in attendance supported this motion, with 51 out of 54 delegates openly voting to support their continued service in an unprecedented vote of confidence in their leadership.
Party Leader and Leader of the Opposition stated, “I am humbled by the outpouring of such overwhelming support for my leadership, and through God’s grace, he will lead us on to victory at the next general elections.”
She added that it was reassuring that party members expressed support not just in herself but also in her team and the work that they have been doing over the past year.
“We have been vocal and proactive when it comes to representing our people, we have defeated bad legislation designed to hurt the pocket books of the people, and the delegates seem to remember and appreciate this work”, she said.
Deputy Leader Hon. Sean Astwood was also retained. Although he was stricken by illness earlier in the year, Astwood appeared strong and vibrant and participated in all sessions and events of the 40th Convention.
Astwood stated, “Through God’s mercy and grace I am back with the fold to continue to fight.”
He also thanked those in attendance and across the country, “God answered the prayers of thousands of persons across this land to heal my body and I am forever in their debt.”
Also elected was a new National Chairman, Doug Parnell, who had remained out of frontline politics for the past three years due to an illness with his five year old son.
Parnell commented,” I thank the party for affording me the time to be with my family during a very challenging period for us and I am honored that the convention has shown such strong support for me.”
Parnell’s son was diagnosed with childhood leukemia in July 2012 and has been receiving treatment in Miami. He is in complete remission and cured of the illness.
The newly elected national chairman vowed to support the team in Parliament and get the party’s machinery in top shape.
“I will do my best to support this awesome and hard working team we have in Parliament and help the leadership prepare the party for its upcoming election campaign,” he said.
Although speculation on Parnell running for elected office has excited the party’s base, Parnell said, “Whether or not I am a candidate will not affect my support for the PDM and its leadership; I am a PDM and I encourage all those supporters to share my excitement and rally behind this team. ”
The party attended worship service on Sunday at Salem Baptist Church and was exhorted by Pastor Chad Archbold to remember where real true power comes from.
The PDM held their 40th Convention in the Capital
The 40th National Convention of the People’s Democratic Movement was held on Grand Turk June 4-7, 2015, under the theme ONE PEOPLE, ONE DESTINY, ONE MOVEMENT! This historic event saw activities centered on honoring the political giants that founded the party, and leaders that guided the party during its 40-year existence and the future of the movement and its relevance for the nation.
A candlelight vigil was held on Thursday night to remember the country’s sole national hero The Most Excellent Hon. JAGS McCartney. On Friday, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and her fellow MPs Hon. Edwin Astwood, and Hon. Derek Taylor committed to a day of service to the community by painting the children’s park in North Back Salina.
Friday night was the Legends Ball where party delegates, stalwarts, former leaders, Members of Parliament, party supporters and well-wishers and Rt. Hon. Dorothy McCartney dined together in an elegantly decorated ballroom adorned with a magnificent display of party colors. The keynote speaker Dr. Hubert Fulford delivered a speech focused on inclusiveness and the oneness of the PDM. He said that the convention’s theme in its 40th year captured accurately the motivations behind Jags’ dream for the nation.
The night also saw speeches delivered by former leaders, Douglas Parnell, Floyd Seymour and Derek Taylor, who all echoed the call for party unity ahead of the next general election. But it was the speech delivered on behalf of the youth by Creshell Bain that captivated the audience enjoying the evening’s event, as she exhorted the youth to look to the stability and inclusiveness offered by the PDM as some of the traits that will make the youth strong and successful.
Introduced and described by former Deputy Speaker Dwayne Taylor as a fierce fighter on behalf of the people, leader of the party Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson spoke to the future of the party and its relevance to the people today. She highlighted a list of demands issued by JAGS McCartney in the Junkanoo Club on June 6, 1975, and said that the aims and objective of the PDM remain steadfast in the full pursuit of those demands issued by JAGS but reminded the attendees that, without forming the government, those demands are just a wish list. She implored all in attendance to bind together as ONE PEOPLE, with ONE DESTINY and declared that together the PDM remained ONE MOVEMENT!
Saturday, June 6, 2015, was the party’s business session, where delegates learned in more detail of the work of the party around the islands and received the reports from party officers.
Election of Officers of the party took place during the business session of the convention, which saw party leader, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Deputy Leader Hon. Sean Astwood returned after a motion was moved by Hon. Goldray Ewing that the positions be retained. Delegates in attendance supported this motion, with 51 out of 54 delegates openly voting to support their continued service in an unprecedented vote of confidence in their leadership.
The following persons were additionally elected to office: -
Mr. Douglas Parnell - National Chairman
Mr. Karl Bain - 1st Vice Chair
Mrs. Patricia Saunders - 2nd Vice Chair
Mr. Princie Harris - Party Whip
Mr. Kelvin Williams - Assistant Treasurer
Ms. Gladyss Kennedy - Assistant Secretary General
Pastor Terrence Smith - Party Chaplain
Mr. Llewellyn Handfield - Trustee
Mr. Charles Garland - Trustee
Hon. Derek Taylor - Trustee
Deputy Premier Returns From Caribbean 2030 Conference In UK
Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sport & Libraries, Hon. Akierra Missick recently returned from the United Kingdom after attending a conference in London, England, 1-3 June 2015.
The Wilton Park’s meeting, which was centered around the theme ‘Caribbean 2030: New Thinking For A New Generation’ was designed to tap into the thinking of future Caribbean leaders.
Caribbean 2030 was held in association with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Caribbean Policy Research Institute Foundation and the Caribbean Council.
The agenda for the three-day meeting included presentations and group discussions on drivers for change and new thinking, the key challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean and managing risks and improving resilience.
Hon. Missick stated; “Receiving the invitation to speak at Wilton Park was an honour. I presented on the improvement of education standards in the Caribbean, which focused on continuous teacher development and support, parental involvement in learning and developing an adaptive curriculum approach to learning.
“Discussions were very rewarding, delegates were not always in agreement but solutions always remained the common goal.
“In the end the TCI was applauded for our approach to good governance and policy development, namely the developments and strengthening of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, Complaints Commission, Integrity Commission and Public Financial Management Ordinance.”
Wilton Park is considered one of the world’s leading institutions for in-depth discussion of international policy issues and challenges.
Caribbean 2030 was held in association with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Caribbean Policy Research Institute Foundation and the Caribbean Council.
Serena Williams wins 20th Grand Slam
Serena Williams won a dramatic French Open final against Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova to claim her 20th Grand Slam title.
The American, ranked number one, needed two hours and one minute to win 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 at Roland Garros.
Safarova, playing her first Grand Slam final, led by a break in the decider but Williams won the last six games.
The 33-year-old becomes the third player - male or female - to win 20 major singles titles.
Only Germany's Steffi Graf on 22 has won more since the open era began in 1968, with Australia's Margaret Court collecting 24 between 1960 and 1973.
Victory at Wimbledon in July would see Williams hold all four major titles at once, having managed the feat already in 2003.
There had been doubts over whether the 2002 and 2013 French Open champion would even make it to court for Saturday's final after a debilitating bout of sickness.
Williams had visibly struggled in Thursday's semi-final, coughing and looking close to tears, and then cancelled all media commitments, only practising two hours before the final.
The rest appeared to have had the desired effect as she took the first set with a break in game four and powered on in the second.
She had won all eight matches she had played against Safarova and, serving at 4-1, 40-15 in the second set, there appeared no possibility of the American faltering.
However, three double faults in the game brought Safarova unexpectedly back into the contest, and the Czech kept herself alive again four games later with a backhand winner.
Safarova, 28, was now much the sharper in terms of footwork and she dominated the tie-break before moving ahead with a break at the start of the decider.
Williams was now struggling to keep calm, screaming at herself after errors and picking up a warning for her language from the umpire, but she proved once again why she is the undisputed number one.
Safarova double-faulted for the first time in the match to bring Williams level at 2-2 and the top seed ratcheted up the pressure.
Another heavy return helped her break for 4-2 and a left-handed forehand followed in the next game as Williams reached for every shot in the book, sealing victory with her seventh break of the match.
Most Open era Grand Slam match wins |
||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Victories | Titles |
|
Martina Navratilova |
306 |
18 |
|
Chris Evert |
299 |
18 |
|
Steffi Graf |
278 |
22 |
|
Serena Williams |
273 |
20 |
|
Venus Williams |
224 |
7 |
|
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario |
210 |
4 |
Source-BBC
Police in shooting incident at Granny Hill
Officers of the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating the circumstances surrounding an Attempted Robbery and shooting in Five Cays overnight.
About 12:58AM (Saturday 06 June 2015), police were called to Granny Hill following reports of two males being armed with firearms who tried to rob a male.
Police officers on patrol nearby responded and were confronted by two masked males who pointed firearms at the officers. As a result of that confrontation, one of the masked males sustained a gunshot injury. The other masked male escaped on foot.
Emergency services were contacted and efforts were made by Medics to administer medical treatment while being transported to Chesire Hall Medical Centre. The male suspect was pronounced dead some time later at Cheshire Medical Centre.
The male suspect identity is known to police but his identity will not be disclosed until next of kin has been notified.
A crime scene was established along Granny Hill and police are conducting a full investigation into this incident.
Due to the serious nature of this incident, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. James Smith has contacted the Royal Cayman Police Force to conduct an independent investigation into this incident. The special investigators will be arriving in Provo this Monday June 08th 2015.
Police are appealing for public assistance into this incident and are urging anyone who has any information that could assist police, to come forward.
Reporting suspicious activities might help the Police identify a suspect or a crime trend. For activities in progress, call 911. Otherwise, call the Police at 941-3327 or use the untraceable, anonymous Crime Stoppers Miami number at 1-800-(TIPS) or 1-800-8477. No names or numbers are requested and only the information provided is passed on to the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force.
Dozens Killed in Nigeria Market Blast
Officials in Nigeria said more than 30 people have been killed in a bomb blast in Yola, the capital of Adamawa state, in Nigeria's northeast where the militant group Boko Haram is active.
Sa'ad Bello of the National Emergency Management Agency said the blast happened late Thursday in the busy Jimeta Market as buyers were doing last-minute shopping for the day. He said at least 31 people died and 38 others were being treated in area hospitals.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast, although Boko Haram extremists have carried out similar attacks.
The group has stepped up its attacks in recent days, since new President Muhammadu Buhari announced he is moving the base of anti-Boko Haram operations from the capital, Abuja, to the northeastern city of Maiduguri, known as the birthplace of the Islamist militant group.
On Thursday, human rights group Amnesty International said more than 8,000 Nigerians have died as a result of the government's campaign to stamp out the insurgent group.
Amnesty said its researchers found more than 1,200 people have been executed since 2009 during raids by the Nigerian military. It also said at least 7,000 more have died in custody because of torture, thirst, hunger or severe overcrowding in jails.
The rights group said senior military officials had full knowledge of the detentions and high death rate, but took no action to halt the abuses.
Amnesty is calling for Nigeria's new government to launch an investigation.
Dozens of people have died in attacks in Nigeria's northeast since Buhari's inauguration a week ago.
Maiduguri is the largest city in restive northeastern Nigeria, with a population of two million, among them hundreds of thousands of displaced people from other parts of Borno state.
On Tuesday, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said in coming weeks, a multinational force to fight Boko Haram will become operational.
Troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon have been helping Nigeria fight the militant group, which has staged attacks in all three neighboring countries.
More than 1.5 million Nigerians have been displaced by the nearly six-year-old Islamic uprising in Nigeria’s northeast. Amnesty International says the conflict has killed an estimated 17,000 people.
Tsipras tells lenders not to humiliate Greece over debt
Greece's prime minister has warned international creditors not to impose humiliating terms on his country as it seeks urgently needed bailout funds.
Alexis Tsipras said negotiations were at a "critical" stage, but that the lenders' proposals were "not realistic".
He was briefing parliament amid growing opposition in his leftist Syriza party to the creditors' proposals.
Earlier Greece delayed Friday's €300m (£216m) debt repayment to the IMF.
Mr Tsipras described the EU-IMF lenders' plan as a "bad moment for Europe" and a "bad negotiating trick".
He accused Greece's lenders of massively backtracking on measures agreed in recent months, and of failing to see the need for an end to austerity in their latest offer.
A call for debt relief was a key part of the Greek plan.
The lenders' proposals were put forward when Mr Tsipras met the head of the eurozone's finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this week.
Denouncing their offer on Friday, Mr Tsipras said: "The strangulation of a country is a matter of moral order which conflicts with the founding principles of Europe."
He said the aim of any deal should be "for a solution and not to... humiliate a whole people".
He said his own proposals were the only "realistic" option.
Many of his own MPs are expected to object to any concessions by Athens.
All four scheduled repayments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in June will now be combined into a single payment at the end of the month.
'Empire' and 'Transparent' Lead 2015 TCA Awards
Nominees for this year's Television Critics Association annual awards are unearthed. FOX's hip-hop drama "Empire" and Amazon's comedy "Transparent" dominate the pack with four nods each, including a fierce battle for the coveted Program of the Year.
"Empire" leading lady Taraji P. Henson is nominated for Individual Achievement in Drama. She is joined by other contenders like Viola Davis ("How to Get Away with Murder"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men"), Matthew Rhys ("The Americans", and Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul").
Meanwhile, "Transparent" star Jeffrey Tambor is vying for Individual Achievement in Comedy along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep"), Gina Rodriguez ("Jane The Virgin"), Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer"), and Constance Wu ("Fresh Off the Boat").
HBO leads the network count with 7 nominations including two for "Game of Thrones". ABC, CBS, AMC, and FX follow with 5 each, while Netflix manages to snatch one for the new show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt". Winners will be announced August 8 as part of the summer TCA press tour.
Individual Achievement in Comedy:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "Veep" (HBO)
Gina Rodriguez - "Jane The Virgin" (The CW)
Amy Schumer - "Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)
Jeffrey Tambor - "Transparent" (Amazon)
Constance Wu - "Fresh Off the Boat" (ABC)
Individual Achievement in Drama:
Viola Davis - "How to Get Away with Murder" (ABC)
Jon Hamm - "Mad Men" (AMC)
Taraji P. Henson - "Empire" (FOX)
Matthew Rhys - "The Americans" (FX)
Bob Odenkirk - "Better Call Saul" (AMC)
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information:
"CBS Sunday Morning" (CBS)
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (Comedy Central)
"Frontline" (PBS)
"Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (HBO)
"60 Minutes" (CBS)
Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming:
"The Amazing Race" (CBS)
"The Chair" (Starz)
"Dancing with the Stars" (ABC)
"RuPaul's Drag Race" (Logo)
"Shark Tank" (ABC)
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming:
"Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" (PBS)
"The Fosters" (ABC Family)
"The Legend of Korra" (Nickelodeon)
"Sesame Street" (PBS)
"Switched at Birth" (ABC Family)
Outstanding New Program:
"Better Call Saul" (AMC)
"Empire" (FOX)
"The Flash" (The CW)
"Jane the Virgin" (The CW)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, and Specials:
"Bessie" (HBO)
"The Honorable Woman" (SundanceTV)
"The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" (HBO)
"Olive Kitteridge" (HBO)
"Wolf Hall" (PBS)
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy:
"The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
"Inside Amy Schumer" (Comedy Central)
"Jane the Virgin" (The CW)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix)
Outstanding Achievement in Drama:
"The Americans" (FX)
"Empire" (FOX)
"Game of Thrones" (HBO)
"Justified" (FX)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
Heritage Award:
"Friends" (NBC)
"Late Night/Late Show with David Letterman" (NBC/CBS)
"The Shield" (FX)
"Star Trek" (NBC)
"Twin Peaks" (ABC)
Program of the Year:
"The Americans" (FX)
"Empire" (FOX)
"Game of Thrones" (HBO)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"Transparent" (Amazon)
Source- AceShowbiz
MINISTER’S RESPONSE TO THE TURKS AND CAICOS SUN NEWSPAPER
I refer to the swirling debate that is ongoing regarding statements made by me in the House of Assembly during its last sitting. My statements were made during a passionate debate in which I expressed my personal view. It is unfortunate that this stand taken for Turks and Caicos Islanders, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was taken out of context. I have been painted in a light that is 100 degrees removed from all that I am and all that I have stood for and defended over the entirety of my professional life, my political life and my adult life generally. I can only call these tactics malicious and rife with intent to cause discord among the people living within our shores.
I refute any notion that I am a Xenophobe and, notwithstanding my utterances, wish to be judged by my record rather than by an impromptu bombast. I say without fear of contradiction that the Progressive National Party in and out of Government is among the most inclusive and tolerant and liberal in the region.
To put my passionate if not stately remarks in context, TCI is home to some 45 different nationalities none of whom have ever been restricted in the celebration of their national festivals. The Haitian and Jamaican in particular have been an integral part of the collage that is Turks and Caicos for as long as I can remember. Generations of them have assimilated into our society so that today there is not distinction between their children and mine.
We extend a warm and friendly welcome to all who come to our shores legally and with goodwill, in any category of activity required by our economy and social system, we extend a hand of cooperation and friendship, and even a pathway to citizenship for those who meet the criteria and who have a genuine respect for our people, our way of life and our laws.
I am passionate about my duty to this country both as a citizen and as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet, and I am passionate about my people, but to my immigrant friends, I have not turned my back on you; I have simply turned my face to the future; a future in which you are welcomed to share if you would stand with me to build this land, and so I stretch out my hand.