SURVEY AND MAPPING DEPARTMENT HOST STANDARDS REVIEW WORKSHOP
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s Survey and Mapping Department in conjunction with the Physical Planning Department and the Land Registry, are engaging current private sector and former surveyors, as well as other stakeholder agencies, to join in a workshop to review draft National Standards for Land Surveying in the Turks and Caicos Islands on today, Thursday, 18th May 2015.
It is envisioned that the Survey and Mapping Department will gain valuable input in reforming and modernising the Land Survey Ordinance, the procedures and the technology currently employed in the Land Surveying Industry here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Draft National Land Surveying Standards are set to replace the varying methods of land surveying with a single uniformed methodology that will provide professional Land Surveyors with a common approach to boundary definition and encourage the use of emerging technology in surveying practises.
The one-day workshop will see presentations from the Acting Director of the Survey and Mapping Department, Mr James Fritz and other members from his team. The presentations will focus on standards for positional and computation accuracies, field data acquisition methods, field survey operations and procedures, capturing elevation as part of the standard surveying procedures, among other things.
The Hon. Attorney General, Mrs Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles under whose purview this department fall, said of the workshop; “Establishing National Standards is a key component of the Department’s plan to position the Turks & Caicos Land Surveying System for the future and are designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the System for all stakeholders.
“It presents a valuable opportunity for public/private sector engagement and invites the full participation of members of the surveying industry and other interested stakeholders to ensure that the exercise produces comprehensive and relevant standards for the Islands.”
GOVERNOR VISITS SOUTH CAICOS
The Governor and Jill Beckingham visited South Caicos again on Wednesday 27 May. They spoke to all the children at both the Primary and High Schools , and heard a short performance by the Majorie Basden brass band (who played instruments some of which had been donated by the Governor’s Office) as well as songs by the primary school.
Speaking at the High School the Governor encouraged the school leavers to focus carefully on their next move, whether in higher education or the beginning of a career. He reminded pupils that TCI’s National Hero, JAGS McCartney had reached the level of Chief Minister in his early thirties.
The Governor also told the pupils of his positive and interesting meeting this week with TCI international sports star Delano Williams. “We agreed”, he said, “that all schoolchildren should be encouraged, both at school and home, to participate in extra- curricular activities, in sport, music or other pursuits. Not everyone can reach Delano’s exceptional level, but taking part in sports and other activities is so important for everyone at school in TCI.”
Jill Beckingham announced to both schools that she would be repeating her “Footsteps4 Good” walk across all the family islands, as well as Grand Turk and Providenciales, this October. She hoped that as many pupils and more would take part this year in the South Caicos section of the walk, which would be on Monday 19 October.
The Governor and Mrs Beckingham also visited the East Bay and Sailrock developments, and met senior representatives from both companies. “I was delighted to see so much progress since my earlier visits, and to hear of the quality of the building work in both new resorts “ the Governor said. “ I have followed both developments closely, and it is excellent that they hope to open for business within a year or less. These are precisely the sort of resorts we need to see in the family islands, and they should be a real catalyst for the local economy in South Caicos. There is bound to be a demand for more restaurants and other retail outlets which can only benefit the South Caicos community.”
The Governor and Mrs Beckingham also called on the residents of the Wellness Centre, and the Governor had brief meetings with members of the public service.
PDM TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS IN GRAND STYLE
"ONE PEOPLE ONE DESTINY ONE MOVEMENT"
The nation’s capital will come alive as the PDM celebrates its 40th year in grand style on the island of its birth. June 4 – 7th, 2015, PDMs will converge on Grand Turk to fellowship and unite under the theme: “One People, One Destiny, One Movement”.
On Thursday, June 4th a candle lighting ceremony is planned in memory of its Party’s first Leader, the Right Excellent Hon JAGS McCartney. There will be a time of reflection on the man who led the movement that has contributed to a change in representative politics.
On Friday, June 5th, members of the convention and PDM family will engage in community activities during the morning. That evening, a Legends Ball will be held at Yellow Man and Sons. During this time, former Leaders and early Freedom Fighters will be honored for their years of service and for their role in the Junkanoo Club Event, respectively. We will also recognize other national leaders in the persons of former and current Parliamentarians and former National Chairmen.
Saturday, June 6th will see Party business which will include a review of its work and platform and the election of Party Officers.
Later that evening, the Junkanoo Club Event will be commemorated by the hosting of a street party at the Junkanoo Club on Good Street. This date will mark the 40th Anniversary of the event which took place on June 6, 1975.
On Sunday, as a PDM family, we will worship together at the Salem Baptist Church.
PDM Leader says, “We are excited about this convention. We are forever grateful to those early brave men and women, our former national leaders and all those on whose shoulders we stand. There is a serious air of excitement and a spirit of celebration also in the air.
We are proud of our heritage and our Party. We will review our position as a Party, rally our base and leave united to achieve one goal and that is to become the Government of the Day.”
This historic occasion is geared towards uniting us all.
The PDM Leader noted that everyone is welcomed to share in the events that are open to the public. The business session on Saturday afternoon is for Convention attendees only.
PDM LEADER SERIOUSLY CONCERNED OVER RECENT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and when we can, we must help in whatever way as citizens. We are deeply saddened by these recent events and extend our best wishes to the victims who are recovering and then to express our deepest sympathy to the family of the victim that loss her life. May God comfort them and their families during this time.
TCIG SCHEDULED TO RELAUNCH NATIONAL YOUTH PARLIMENT
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services hosted a working group responsible for the re-launch of the TCI National Youth Parliament, today Thursday, 28th May 2015.
The working group consists of Hon. Akierra Mary Deanne Missick (Deputy Premier & Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services), Hon. Ruth Blackman (Government's Appointed Member), Hon. Clarance Selver (Opposition Appointed Member), Mrs. Lydia Butterfield (Deputy Clerk to House of Assembly), Ms. Jasmine Parker (Director, Youth Affairs Dept), Mrs. Dulcine Hall (Youth Officer), Ms. Sharoon Roberts, (Secretary).
Among other things, they will finalize the National Youth Parliament Program re-launch scheduled to take place the week of July 12th - 19th 2015, where aspiring Youth Parliamentarians between ages 18 -25 years will be invited to apply to for the program.
The TCI Youth Parliament will allow persons to participate in Regional and International debates on issues facing our societies, and our Youth Parliamentarians will also focus on Youth Governance in the Country and bring Youth Awareness education and training.
Deputy Premier & Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services, Hon. Akierra Mary Deanne Missick stated; "There will be many changes to the structure of the National Youth Parliament as we’ve come to know it.
“The re-launch will take into account the recently agreed Standing Orders for the Turks & Caicos Islands House of Assembly and our 2011 Constitution. Further, the make-up of the Youth Parliament will be brought into line with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations guidance on Youth Parliaments across the region."
Jay Z’s Tidal Could Lose Beyonce if Sony Isn’t Paid
A royalty dispute may cause Jay Z’s music streaming service Tidal to lose one of its flagship artists…who also happens to be his wife.
Bloomberg’s insider sources say that both Sony and Warner have been asking Tidal for huge advances in exchange for the rights to stream their artists’ catalogs.
While Tidal has apparently come to terms with Warner, it seems a deal with Sony has yet to be hammered out — and if Tidal is unable to pay its requested royalties, it could yank its roster from the service, including Beyoncé.
This is just one of the tidbits Bloomberg includes in its feature on Tidal. Among others:
* Tidal was apparently counting on a cash infusion from Sprint to help it pay Sony and Warner’s massive royalty requests but Sprint has specifically said that it has not made a financial investment in Tidal.
* While Tidal says it has 900,000 users, analysts who spoke with Bloomberg “suspect many have signed up for trials and will cancel when they have to start paying.”
The piece concludes by saying it’s still too soon to write off Tidal, but with Spotify and Pandora still going strong and with Apple’s new music streaming service on the horizon, things aren’t exactly looking great right now.
You can visit Bloomberg.com and read the entire “Tidal” article “That’s Business Man: Why Jay Z’s Tidal Is a Complete Disaster”
Source-Eurweb
Kanye West Settles Lawsuit Over Illegal Sample
Kanye West has settled a lawsuit over a sample he used on his "Bound 2". According to Billboard, paperwork was filed earlier this month to discontinue the lawsuit brought by Ricky Spicer, whose voice is heard on the 2013 song.
Spicer is a former member of a group called The Ponderosa Twins Plus One. He sued West, Roc-A-Fella Records, Universal Music Group and Island Def Jam Music Group back in late 2013, claiming he and his group's 1971 song, also called "Bound", was used on the "Yeezus" track without his consent.
He also stated that he hadn't received any compensation despite the massive success of 'Ye's song. He was seeking an injunction as well as damages for alleged violations of New York civil right of publicity law (section 51), unjust enrichment and common law copyright infringement.
Spicer's voice can be heard in the "Bound 2" chorus as he sings, "Bound, bound/ Bound to fall in love." Details about the settlement are unavailable.
Taylor Swift Goes Wedding Dress Shopping
Did Calvin Harris pop the big question to Taylor Swift? The country/pop star revealed to PEOPLE that she was hunting for a wedding dress this week, but it's not for her nuptials. The singer said she just helped her childhood friend, Britany Maack.
Swift was asked to be the maid of honor by the bride-to-be back in February. "Taylor, you are more than a friend, you are more than a best friend, you are my sister. I cannot imagine having anyone else by my side on my wedding day... Will you be my maid of honor?" Maack wrote in a sweet note to her friend.
The "Bad Blood" singer took her maid of honor duties seriously. In between her hectic schedule traveling the globe for her world tour, she took time to make a couple calls and arranged a special visit to the showroom of famed designer Reem Acra in New York City to help Maack find her dream wedding dress.
"Reem does the most amazing bridal designs, and Britany and I were looking through Vogue, and she pointed to this one gown, and I was like, 'I wonder if we could go to the showroom...' " she explained. "And sure enough, it was the best day ever. It was so amazing."
"I've never been a maid of honor before," Swift said. "This is my first time, and it's really, really important to me because this is my best friend, who I've known since I was born. And she's marrying someone I've known since I was 4."
Source-AceShowbiz
Judge Delays Hearing After Suge Knight Claims illness
Suge Knight's court hearing in his robbery case that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 27 was delayed. Judge Ronald Coen of Los Angeles Superior Court postponed the hearing after the rapper claimed he's too sick to leave his jail cell.
Ronald said that he initially ordered officials to forcibly escort the music mogul out of his downtown Los Angeles cell for the hearing, but he changed his mind. Instead, he decided to postpone Wednesday's hearing until Friday, May 29, the same day Suge's another hearing in his murder case is scheduled.
Ronald also gave Suge a warning to appear at the hearing. If Suge failed to do so, Ronald would order deputies to physically remove him from his cell, as court officials reported.
Suge was accused along with comedian Katt Williams of stealing a celebrity photographer's camera in Beverly Hills in September last year. However, both of them had pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, Suge's murder charge stemmed from an accident that happened earlier this year when he unintentionally ran over two men with his pickup truck in Los Angeles' parking space. One victim was killed, while the other was said to suffer from serious injuries. Suge is being held on $10 million bail on the charge.
Source-AceShowbix
Jeffrey Webb suspended as CONCACAF President
The Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Football Association (CONCACAF) on Thursday (28 May) suspended embattled president Jeffrey Webb of the Cayman Islands.
Mr. Webb, 50, was arrested a day earlier in Zurich, Switzerland as part of a United States-led crackdown on alleged corruption in football’s world governing body, FIFA. He is accused of seeking millions of dollars in bribes related to television deals. This is part of a US indictment that alleges corrupt acts to the tune of US$150 million, which has seen 13 other people either arrested or implicated.
The confederation named Senior Vice President Alfredo Hawit as CONCACAF President and also announced that Eduardo Li, another of the persons arrested, has also been dismissed.
“While we are profoundly disappointed by the allegations made by authorities that again, CONCACAF has been the victim of fraud, we remain committed to CONCACAF’s goal to develop, promote and manage the game of soccer,” said Mr. Hawit.
“We have now taken the appropriate steps to maintain our operations and continue to deliver on our commitments to all of our constituents, including our fans, members, as well as commercial and broadcast partners. We also continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation by governmental authorities, which have not placed any restrictions on our ongoing activities,” the newly-installed president added.
Meantime, CONCACAF’s executive committee appointed Victor Montagliani, the president of the Canadian Soccer Association, Justino Compean, the president of the Mexican Soccer Federation and Sunil Gulati, the resident of U.S. Soccer Federation to a special committee charged with the duties of evaluating and sustaining all of the business operations of the confederation.
The executive committee also placed General Secretary Enrique Sanz on a leave of absence to begin immediately. In addition, the confederation’s Deputy General Secretary, Ted Howard has been appointed by the executive committee as acting General Secretary. Mr. Howard takes over the administrative functions of the day to day business of the Confederation in absence of Enrique Sanz.
Source- Caribbean27news