TURKS AND CAICOS GOVERNMENT CABINET STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 15th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 3rd June 2015 at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except Hon. Minister of Education, Youth, Libraries and Sport, Hon. Minister Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the grant of a long-term (99 years) lease over 0.46 acres (approx) of accreted land lying seaward of Parcels 60905/214 & 60906/227 to Desarrollos Turks and Caicos Limited and a license for use of the beach front jetty located adjacent to their development;
• Advised HE. the Governor to grant approval for the survey and mutation of the following Crown Land parcels for the purpose of creating road reserves and/or road easements; (a) The survey and mutation of Crown Land Parcel 60002/54 in order to create a road reserve/easement to provide access to Parcels 60002/374-381 in Providenciales; (b) The survey and mutation of Crown Land Parcels 10506/94 & 114 in order to create a road reserve and to provide an alternative road access to Parcel 10506/96 and other neighbouring parcels, situated in Block 10506, South Suburbs, Grand Turk; (c) The survey and mutation of Crown Land Parcel 10506/114 in order to create a road reserve as an extension to the existing road parcel (Parcel 10506/35), in order to provide direct access to the public road in the area to Parcels 10506/31-34 & 36, situated at South Suburbs, Grand Turk;
• Approved a report from the National Parks Committee setting out proposals for revisions to the National Parks Ordinance and revisions to protected areas. Cabinet requested that the proposals be released for public consultation in due course;
• Advised HE. the Governor to enter into a lease agreement for the former TCI Bank building in Providenciales. The building will provide centralised accommodation for the departments currently under the management of the Ministry of Finance, namely Customs, Revenue Control Unit and Treasury;
• Advised HE. the Governor to grant approval to negotiate a compensation settlement (subject to valuation) with the various proprietors, in respect of land acquired by TCIG for the development of a bypass from Kew Rural to Kew Township, following Tropical Storm Cristobal;
•. Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Telecommunications Commission: Telecommunications Commission for the period June 19, 2015 to March 31, 2016; Heather Allen, Chairman (Attorney-at-Law),Andre Garneau, Member (Attorney-at-Law), Shaveena Been, Member (Accountant), Terrance Robinson, Member (Business/Technical), Herbert Ingham, Deputy Chairman (Business/Technical), Pedro Ariza, Member (Business/Technical), Permanent Secretary (MHTC), Ex-officio Member, Director General, Secretary. The appointments are made In accordance with Part II, Section 3 (1-4) of the Telecommunications Ordinance;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Prison Visiting Committee; Perry Missick, Chairman, Father Mark Kendall, Member, Jennifer Forbes, Member, Michael Robinson, Member, Leo Selver, Member, Belinda Lightbourne, Deputy Chairman, Jennifer R Lightbourne, Member. The appointments are made in accordance with section 44 (1) and (2) of the Prison Regulations;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Parole Board; Montel Archibold, Chairperson, Bernadine Smith, Member, Carolyn Wilson, Member, Permanent Secretary (MHTC), Member, Prison Superintendent, Member, Director of Social Development, Member. The appointments are made in accordance with Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Parole of Prisoners Ordinance;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the following appointments to the Radio Turks and Caicos Board of Governors; Vaughn Hinds (Business / Technical), Chair, Cheryl Ann Foreman, Member; Tijuana Rasheida Ewing, Member (Attorney At Law), Jermaine Fulford, Member, (Business/Technical), Desiree James, Member (Accountant), Permanent Secretary, (MHTC), Member, Senior Government Press Officer, Member. The appointments are made in accordance with Section 3 of the Radio Turks and Caicos Ordinance;
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
TCI wins Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Student Colloquium
Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith recently traveled to New York City to attend CTO’s Caribbean Week; where the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College tourism team participated in the annual Student Colloquium.
The competition challenges students to present creative ideas for sustainable tourism projects or business initiatives in the Caribbean. Caribbean week is the largest and most effective event on the Caribbean calendar. It is a celebration of the sights, sounds and unique vacation experiences and business offerings that the region offers.
This year’s forum saw 4 countries battling for the championship with Turks and Caicos being victorious, bringing home the first place prize. St. Lucia came in at 2nd place, the Bahamas at 3rd and Jamaica with the 4th position. The team presented on the lionfish and its effects on the tourism industry, particularly the coral reefs. Students proposed that a lionfish festival would be an ideal event, to address the impact of these creatures.
Judges were very impressed with TCI’s performance stating “Whilst the presentation was an original, it is one that should garner the attention of the Caribbean Region.”
Minister Stubbs-Smith stated; “All teams were creative, passionate and represented their countries well, however, I must express a huge congratulations to team TCI, I am immensely proud of the job in which they’ve done and continue to look forward to our future participation in events such as these as we continue to bring recognition to the TCI.
“I’m also proud of the collaborative efforts between the Ministries of Tourism and Education, and the Tourist Board and the TCI Community College, when we all work together as a team anything can be accomplished.”
Minister Stubbs-Smith is accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Desiree Lewis, and Director of Tourism, Mr. Ralph Higgs. The delegation returns to TCI on Saturday, 6th June 2015.
Caribbean countries record growth in tourist arrivals
The Caribbean recorded a six per cent increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Richard Sealy has said.
Sealy, who is also the Barbados Minister of Tourism, told a news conference here that the Caribbean had “bolted out of the gates” in 2015 as the region recorded its 17th straight quarter of growth with nearly eight million visitors coming to the region during the first four months of the year.
Sealy, who is attending the CTO sponsored Caribbean Tourism Week that ends here Friday, said that the Caribbean continues its rapid growth rate from 2014 when arrivals grew by 5.3 per cent to 26.3 million visitors
“We’ve bolted out of the gates with a six per cent rise in arrivals over the first quarter of 2014. Arrivals to the Caribbean estimated to be 7.9 million in the first three months. This is the fifth consecutive year in which arrivals grew during the first quarter and the 17th quarter of continuous growth,”” he said.
Sealy said that the United States market “continues to be our most productive,” with arrivals from that market showing an increase of 5.6 per cent.
The Canadian market grew an equally impressive 5.4 per cent with Cuba and Dominican Republic among the destinations recording higher levels of arrivals
In the accommodation sector, all leading hotel performance indicators were positive.
There was a modest increase of 1.3 per cent in the number of rooms available in the first quarter, the largest increase for this quarter in the last seven years
Historical first quarters highs were also recorded for Room Occupancy (77.8%), Average Daily Rate (US$239.84) and Revenue per Available Room (US188.25)
In cruise, passenger arrivals slowed in the first quarter with the Caribbean registering a 3.4 per cent rise, compared to a 4.3 per cent growth in 2014 over 2013
An estimated 8.6 million cruise passengers visited the region in the first quarter with the best performing destinations being the French island of Martinique (34.2%), Puerto Rico (26.2%), Antigua & Barbuda (18.6%) and Jamaica (15.9%).
Sealy said that the outlook for the remainder of the year is positive with growth expected to be moderate and uneven among member countries
“However, overall tourist arrivals are now anticipated to rise at least six per cent over 2014, In the cruise sector, the momentum gained in the first quarter could be reduced as cruise ships are repositioned away from the region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sealy said that the region is not overly concerned about Cuba as a competitor, now that the United States is improving ties with the Communist island.
Seal said more tourists visiting Cuba will be a good thing for the Caribbean on a whole.
“Cuba is not a problem for the CTO or the Caribbean. We are not afraid of what is happening in Cuba. As a matter of fact Cuba is a member of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and has been for some time,” Sealy told reporters.
“There was even an occasion when a Cuban minister of tourism attended Caribbean week…he was given a visa to come to this country because of Cuba’s membership with the CTO. So whereas this whole idea of visiting Cuba is new for Americans, it is not new at all for any of us.”
With only the US restricting travel, three million foreigners arrived in Cuba last year, according to the government, making it the second-most visited island in the Caribbean after the Dominican Republic, which attracted more than five million visitors.
Cuba’s largest source market (Canada), is also a major source market for other countries in the Caribbean.
“Canadians love Cuba and we are already trying to get business from Canada alongside of Cuba so the competition from Cuba is not new,” Sealy said.
“Where I’m from, in Barbados, the United Kingdom is our largest source market and so I have to compete against Cuba to get Brits because they are going to Cuba and that is the simple reality – 56,000 rooms and three million tourists a year, Cuba is already a player in tourism. And for us in the CTO and for those of us involved in tourism in the Caribbean Cuba is not new.
“More people coming to Cuba mean more people coming to the Caribbean and therefore the natural thinking of us at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation is that it can only auger well for us. Those persons who were not previously coming to the region that are now coming to the region via Cuba can only redounded to our benefit and we look forward therefore to seeing Cuba’s full integration into this whole system of offering tourism services,” the CTO Chairman added.
As part of improving ties between the countries, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro said they would work first to restore diplomatic relations.
Source-
DIGICEL RE-LAUNCHES MY DIGICEL APP LOADED WITH EXTRAS AND A BRAND NEW LOOK AND FEEL
Digicel today unveiled its new look My Digicel App that boasts dozens of cool new features like managing your Digicel account, access to social media newsfeeds and a customer feedback portal – making it the go-to place for all things Digicel. In addition, the app is free to use meaning customers are not using a single MB of their data to access the information and content available on the app.
The newly-designed app introduces a user-friendly interface that comes with a whole host of new features such as allowing customers to send top up to any Digicel phone, locally or internationally, view account information, opt in and out of plans and see the latest promotions and offers – all of which is available 24-hours a day, free of charge to customers.
The app also includes social media feeds so that customers can connect with Digicel through Twitter and Facebook and take advantage of exclusive offers that are only available through the app.
Digicel Group Chief Commercial Officer, Claudio Hidalgo, said; “We are excited to be introducing our newly-designed My Digicel App that makes it easier for customers to access all of our services free of cost at any time using their smartphones. The new app boasts all the great features that customers have come to know and love, as well as a host of new ones such as sending credit to friends and family at home and abroad and accessing Digicel’s social media newsfeeds for the latest updates.”
“We wanted to create one place where our customers could access all things – from sending and receiving top up, to activating plans, accessing special offers and getting the latest news - the new My Digicel App does just that. The app also includes a feedback feature where customers can share their views on the app and its functionalities so that we can work to improve it on an ongoing basis,” concluded Hidalgo.
Jack Warner to tell all
Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has said in a dramatic TV address that he will reveal all he knows about corruption at the world football body.
Warner, who said he feared for his life, said he could also link FIFA officials to general elections in his native Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.
He is one of the 14 people charged by the US over corruption at FIFA.
Another top FIFA official and key witness, Chuck Blazer, had admitted accepting bribes.
The admissions came in a newly released transcript of Blazer's guilty plea from 2013, as part of a wide-ranging US criminal case that has engulfed FIFA and led President Sepp Blatter to resign.
The US justice department alleges the 14 people charged worldwide accepted bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than US$150 million (£97m) over a 24-year period.
Four others had already been charged, including Blazer.
Jack Warner, a key figure in the deepening scandal, said he had given lawyers documents outlining the links between FIFA, its funding, himself and the 2010 election in Trinidad and Tobago.
He said the transactions also included FIFA chief Sepp Blatter.
CARICOM Secretary-General mourns death of 'oustanding' son of Dominica
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has extended deep sympathy to the Government and people of Dominica and the family of the late former President His Excellency the Honourable Dr. Nicholas J.O. Liverpool, DAH, OCC.
In a Message of Condolence to Dominica Prime Minister, the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit, the Secretary-General described the late President as a “man for all seasons”, “a national and Regional treasure”, and hailed his contribution to his country and CARICOM.
The text of the Message of Condolence reads:
I was truly saddened to learn of the death of His Excellency the Honourable Dr. Nicholas J.O. Liverpool, DAH, OCC, former President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, though I knew he was ailing.
I join with the Government and people of the Caribbean Community to express deep sympathy to the Government and People of Dominica, and the family of the late former President.
This outstanding son of Dominica rose to his country’s highest office and has earned the highest awards that could be bestowed by his country and by the Caribbean Community.
This was the measure of the man who served Dominica and the Region for more than 40 years.
His indelible contribution to the field of law is inscribed not only in his publications, but also in the hundreds of students who passed under his tutelage at the University of the West Indies as both Lecturer and Dean. It is also enshrined in his judgements during his time on the bench in several jurisdictions across the Caribbean Community. The University of Ghana also benefitted from his expertise as a lecturer.
This legal luminary did not confine his skills to that profession, as he also served as Dominica’s Ambassador to the United States. Dr. Liverpool also found time to indulge in his passion for the cultural aspects of Dominican life as well as farming.
Truly he was, as described in his citation read at his conferment with the Order of the Caribbean Community in 2008, ‘a man for all seasons’.
Prime Minister, Dominica and the Caribbean Community has lost a national and regional treasure who, through his deeds and service, left the world a better place than he found it.
May he rest in peace
Israel PM Netanyahu attacks Orange boss
Israel's Prime Minister has attacked the boss of the French telecom giant Orange for looking to pull out of a deal with an Israeli partner.
On Wednesday, Orange CEO Stephane Richard said he would back out of an agreement with Partner Communications.
Campaign groups say Partner is active in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Benjamin Netanyahu criticised what he called Mr Richard's "miserable statement".
Partner controls close to 28% of Israel's mobile market and while Orange has a licensing deal with Partner, allowing it to use the Orange brand name, it does not have a controlling stake in the company.
On 6 May, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a Paris-based NGO, said: "Partner is building infrastructure on confiscated Palestinian land and offers services to settlers and the Israeli army."
Jewish settlements on occupied territory are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Neither Israel nor Partner commented on the FIDH report.
The BDS campaign group - that Israel says works to "delegitimise" the state of Israel - had also previously called on Orange to sever its ties with Partner.
At a conference in Cairo on Wednesday, Mr Richard said: "I am ready to abandon this [partnership] tomorrow morning but the point is that I want to secure the legal risk for the company.
"I want to terminate this, once again, but I don't want to expose Orange to a level of risk and of penalties that could be really sizable for the company."
Mr Richard said the decision was made because of Orange's ties to Arab countries. "I know that it is a sensitive issue here in Egypt, but not only in Egypt," he said.
"We want to be one of the trustful partners of all Arab countries."
Mr Richard did not directly cite allegations made by the FIDH and BDS groups.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, called for the French government - that has a 13.45% stake in Orange - to act.
"I call on the French government to distance itself publicly from the miserable statement and the miserable action of a company that is partially owned by the government of France," he said.
"Simultaneously, I call on our friends to say in a clear and loud voice that they object to any kind of boycott against the Jewish state."
The culture minister, Miri Regev, called for Mr Richard to be fired, and the deputy foreign minister, Tzippi Hotovely, in a letter, asked him to clarify his comments.
She said she wanted Mr Richard "to refrain from being party to the industry of lies which unfairly targets Israel".
Throughout Israel, Orange's signs were covered with Israeli flags on Thursday and the terms #BoycottOrange and #Orange trended on Twitter in Israel.
On Thursday, the French company sought to clarify its position, and said it "had not intended, in any way, to engage in a political debate".
A statement (in French) said that Orange no longer wanted to maintain licensing agreements in countries in which it was not the actual operator, and that this was the reason it was looking to withdraw from Israel.
Source-BBC
IMF asks US Federal Reserve to delay rate rise
In an unusual move, the International Monetary Fund urged the US central bank to delay any rise in interest rates until 2016.
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said the Federal Reserve should wait to see "more tangible signs of wage or price inflation".
The IMF believes that "pockets of vulnerability" in the US economy have emerged.
These could cause serious trouble for the wider economy, Ms Lagarde said.
"Deferring rate increases would provide valuable insurance against the risk of disinflation, policy reversal and ending back at zero policy rates," the IMF's report said.
And because of the global implications of a rate rise, communication from the Federal Reserve was vital, it added. The fund suggested monthly press conferences from the central bank. Currently they have six a year.
Many Washington watchers have predicted an interest rate rise this year.
But recent economic reports have been mixed, including data showing that the US economy shrank by an annualised 0.7% in the first quarter.
The IMF said this would "unavoidably pull down 2015 growth, which is now projected at 2.5%". For 2016, the forecast is for 3%.
That is still better than Wednesday's projection from the think-tank, the OECD, which cut its forecast to 2% for this year.
Ms Lagarde also said commented on the US dollar, saying the IMF believes it is moderately overvalued.
That marks a change compared with a previous assessment.
"Continued over appreciation is a potential risk and should not be discounted," she said.
On Greece, she said that she was "confident" that the Greek prime minister would keep his word when he had said "don't worry" about the next payment due on Friday.
The Hobbit first edition fetches £137,000 at auction
A first edition of JRR Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, with an inscription in Elvish written by the author, had sold at auction in London for £137,000.
The sale smashes the previous record for a sale of The Hobbit, set in 2008 when a first edition sold for £60,000.
Tolkien gave the book to Katherine "Kitty" Kilbride, one of his students at Leeds University in the 1920s.
The Elvish verse is an extract from Tolkien's The Lost Road, part of his 12-volume History of Middle-earth.
The Hobbit introduced the character of Bilbo Baggins and the "one ring" that would feature again in his Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Sotheby's had expected the first edition to fetch up to £70,000 at Thursday's auction of children's books and illustrated works.
Source-BBC
Serena Williams reaches final despite illness
Serena Williams fought back to beat Timea Bacsinszky and reach the French Open final despite struggling with illness.
The top seed took 10 games in a row to win 4-6 6-3 6-0 and set up a final against Lucie Safarova on Saturday.
Williams, 33, has been unwell throughout the tournament and struggled as temperatures soared in Paris.
The American world number one is trying to win her third French Open and 20th Grand Slam singles title.
"I'm not sure how I did it," Williams said on court afterwards. "I just thought I didn't want to lose without a fight."
Earlier on Court Philippe Chatrier, 13th seed Safarova fought back to beat Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and become the first Czech woman to reach a Roland Garros final in 34 years.
Williams claimed her fourth victory in this tournament from a set down, something she has never managed before at a Grand Slam.
She looked down and out for the first set and a half against Bacsinszky, with the Swiss 23rd seed showing no nerves on her major semi-final debut.
Williams, meanwhile, wrapped herself in ice towels at the changeovers, shuffled slowly between points and looked close to breaking down at times.
Bacsinszky, 25, cracked a backhand return winner to go 3-2 up and served out the set, before moving a break up in the second after converting her sixth break point.