Police defends use of tear gas on ‘riotous mob’
The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has defended its decision to use tear gas to disperse protesters in Salisbury last week.
Farmers and residents of Salisbury blocked the public road in Salisbury on 11 May 2015 over deplorable farm access and village roads.
Some police officers, who attempted to clear the blockage, were attacked by protestors with stones and bottles. One police vehicle was damaged as a result of the stones that were pelted at the police.
After several warning by senior police Matthew Cuffy, the protesters refused to clear the streets and as such, tear gas was used in order to restore vehicular access.
This decision to use tear gas has been widely criticized by members of the public. It was reported in the media on Tuesday 19 May that some residents of Salisbury are planning to take action against the police for using the tear gas.
But police public relations officer, Claude Weekes said on Wednesday 20 May, the police is mandated by law to maintain law and order.
He said the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has, by law, an arsenal of weapons and ammunition in compliance with United Nations Conventions and international law and that it does not look to having any confrontation with the citizenry as it is “a civilian force not a military”.
“However, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force must deal with acts of lawlessness whenever they arise. By law we are mandated to do so,” Mr Weekes noted.
He said the police force had to deal with a “riotous mob at Salisbury” and in dealing with the riotous mob, it “used force that was necessary, reasonable, lawful and justifiable in the circumstances”.
“The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force did not use weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons or white burning phosphorus. The ammunition used fall under the United Nations conventions and international law,” Mr Weekes added.
Source-Dominica Vibes
Lung cancer vaccine developed by Cuba heads to US
Cuba has attracted worldwide medical attention for developing and manufacturing a breakthrough lung cancer vaccine, and that treatment will reach the United States very soon.
With improved relations between the two countries, Cuba has allowed American scientists to study and explore the Caribbean communist states’ medical achievements, particularly the lung cancer vaccine Cimavax.
Lung cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in Cuba, and Cimavax was developed by the island’s Centre for Molecular Immunology to help treat the often fatal disease.
The treatment works by stimulating the immune system to attack the tumour, making the immune system more efficient in fighting the cancer.
The vaccine creates a protein that causes the immune system to attack the epidermal growth factor (EGF) hormone, which helps tumours grow. This “starves” the tumour and prevents it from growing.
“The Cimavax vaccine induces [an] immune response,” Dr Kelvin Lee, of the Department of Immunology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, told ABC News. “The tumour is being starved.”
Source-Caribbean360
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT - POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 14th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 20th May 2015 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present except; Hon. Premier, Hon. Minister of Finance and Hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage who participated by telephone conference for specific items;
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Received an update from the Minister of Border Control and Labour on the transfer of passport printing to the United Kingdom and the contingencies being put in place for the issue of passports in emergency situations. Further information will be published by the Ministry in due course;
• Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on the award of a contract for the development of a Grand Turk Master Plan. The focus of the plan is to create a design concept that would capture future development opportunities along the major corridors of Grand Turk, the revitalisation of the historical downtown area and the preservation of historical architecture;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the issue of a license to the Thompson Cove Property Owners Association to dredge the shoal in the Thompson Cove inlet canal, of which the dredge materials (sand) will be used to re-nourish the beach in Thompson Cove. The license is granted subject to conditions including planning approval and a satisfactory Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve the issue of a license to Sun Rise Ltd and Emerald Point Ltd for the expansion of the existing canal to allow for construction of the boat dock located in Leeward Providenciales. The license is granted subject to conditions including planning approval and a satisfactory Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve an order to commence the 2014 Revised Edition of the Laws. The Revised Edition of the Laws Ordinance provides for the revision and consolidation of the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands as at the 31st December 2014;
• Received a report from the Minister of Finance and noted the substantial progress being made to implement the Government’s strategy for debt refinancing. The Government remains on target to refinance its debt by February 2016;
• Advised HE. the Governor to approve amendments to the National Insurance (Benefit) Regulations 2015 and take the necessary actions to bring the amended regulations into operation as soon as possible. The Regulations are being amended to correct the weekly minimum payment in respect of retirement, invalidity, survivors and old age pensions.
RTC News will have more on Cabinet at the Premiers next press conference.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE NEW PAY ARRANGEMENTS ON MAY 21st,2015
Turks and Caicos Island (TCI) civil servants are set to benefit from their new increased salaries which are paid today, Thursday, 21 May 2015.
This follows the TCI government previously announcing its Pay and Grading review, which will see $9m being invested in attracting, retaining and rewarding front line public workers.
The increases are targeted at those with the required technical and professional competencies, especially those working in the fields of education, health, immigration and firefighters.
“90% of our civil service is set to benefit from significantly increase remuneration,” said Head of the TCI civil service and Deputy Governor Anya Williams. “And everyone will benefit from the improved structures and the reintroduction of future pay increments.
“Not one person will see their earnings reduced, although the most senior levels of management, such as the Permanent Secretaries, are not receiving any increases. This implementation will benefit our efforts to attract and keep the right calibre of people in our public sector by rewarding their competencies and roles.”
The new system will also benefit government by absorbing a complicated and inconsistently applied set of allowances into one simpler, fairer and more appropriate pay and grading structure. It has been designed to be transparent, fair, equitable and reflect the major differences in responsibility and skill levels. It will allow the TCI public service to have a structure for the proper and transparent management of remuneration.
The benefits of implementing the new pay and grading system are:
A simplified structure for fair and equitable remuneration of public officers and waged staff
Systems and structures that ensure accountability in allocating remuneration and rewards fairly and justly and according to procedure
Line of sight between resources available to government with contribution made by effective people in well-designed jobs
Linking performance and incremental progression
Meeting equality of opportunity objectives
Enhanced transparency and integrity.
The cornerstone of the new pay and grading system is job evaluation which involved establishing grade level standards for each grade which are essentially a set of criteria that distinguish the compensable factors at the differing levels by describing features at each level.
The new system was developed through extensive consultation via a working group, including the Civil Servants Association, and the senior executive.
TCI Hospital receives Diamond Level Accreditation
In a follow-up to a media release in late April, The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is pleased to announce that it has again achieved Diamond accreditation, the highest level awarded by Accreditation Canada International (ACI) within its Qmentum International Program.
The Qmentum International Accreditation Program is internationally recognised for promoting excellence in healthcare. Accreditation awards are graded with facilities receiving Gold, Platinum or Diamond according to the quality of care delivered to patients.
Dr. Eric Parsons, Interim CEO said, “Receiving diamond level accreditation by Accreditation Canada International clearly demonstrates the commitment of the hospital and its staff to ensure patient safety and to deliver high quality and patient centered care”.
He added, “I would like to congratulate the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital team on this significant achievement. All credit goes to the dedicated staff for their hard work and commitment to the delivery of healthcare to all residents and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
Accreditation occurs on a three-year cycle, with a full, on-site survey every three years. The process includes extensive measurement of performance against more than two thousand criteria across 15 standards of organizational performance, including patient safety and quality of care, infection prevention and control, medication management, to name a few.
The survey team from ACI spent five days at the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital. It was an intensive process of assessing performance against international standards on both the Cheshire Hall and the Cockburn Town Medical. The surveyors observed activities, interviewed patients and staff all of which provided them with the required data to award the Diamond level.
This is another proud moment for TCI Hospital and InterHealth Canada TCI Ltd.
Bambarra Rum sponsors TCI Rally Team
Stan Hartling and Paul Horton are heading to Barbados this week in preparation for the Rally Barbados international racing event, which is being held from Friday, May 29th until Sunday, May 31st.
The event is one of the largest motor sport events in the Caribbean with approximately 100 race teams competing from over 17 countries, including some from as far away as New Zealand.
Over 20,000 spectators normally line the roads at this annual Barbados event in a carnival type atmosphere, with music, food and drinks everywhere. This is the 25th year that Rally Barbados has been hosted so the festivities and attendance are expected to be at an all time high.
Bambarra Rum is helping to raise the profile of TCI in the event and is sponsoring the highly modified BMW M3 that will be driven by Stan Hartling. The BMW will be fully wrapped in Bambarra Rum livery as will be the team’s race suits and spectator shirts.
More than 25 people, including members of the Bambarra Rum organization, are scheduled to fly to Barbados to cheer on the Turks and Caicos team and enjoy the racing action.
Stan Hartling expressed his sincere gratitude and excitement to Hon. Galmo Williams and Althea Ewing Williams for their support in helping to bring more awareness to motorsport and to TCI’s involvement at such events. “Bambarra Rum is now the “Racing” Spirit of the Turks and Caicos Islands” he stated.
Hartling will be working hard to gain back some of his position against Horton after a shattered rim and shock tower left him out early in last month’s Shake Down event in Barbados.
Horton will be running his Mark I Vintage Escort that is boasting a new Duratec engine in the Super Modified 7 group, while Hartling’s BMW will be running in the Super Modified 12 class. Horton presently is going into the up coming event holding an impressive 1st place in SM7 with Hartling at 3rd in SM 12.
Motorized Sloop intercepted with 142 migrants – Five Cays
A 36-foot Haitian sloop with a 175 horse power Yamaha engine was detected at approximately 4:16AM on (Tuesday May 19, 2015) heading towards the Five Cays area of Providenciales. The vessel was detected by the radar station and intercepted by officers of the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force – Marine Branch.
The Haitian sloop was escorted to the South Dock port by the Marine Branch and arrived at approximately 5:11AM. Officials from various Police units, Border Control, and other Government and Non-Governmental agencies were on hand to assist with the processing of these individuals. There were 142 individuals on board when intercepted consisting of (61 females and 79 males and 02 juveniles).
10 persons attempted to escape by jumping overboard. Three made it to shore but were later captured by Immigration and Police officers. The other seven were in distress in the water and had to be rescued by Police. Two of those who were rescued were given medical assistance by medics for taking in too much salt water.
All 142 individuals were later transported to the Detention Center for further processing and detention. Plans are currently progressing for the repatriation of these persons to their homeland within the next few days. The communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands are encourage to contact law enforcement with any information concerning the whereabouts of any illegal migrants or on pending sloop arrivals.
The Police can be contacted anonymously on 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.
GOVERNMENT OUTLINES FINANCIAL YEAR PERFORMANCE
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) government generated a US$77.3m operating surplus for the financial year ending 31 March 2015 it announced today, Wednesday, 13 May 2015.
The surplus further consolidates the Islands’ position as one of the strongest economies in the Caribbean region, with a 16% increase in recurrent revenue for the year to $246.5m.
The performance was built on record breaking visitor numbers to the TCI, and improved tax collection by both the Customs and the Revenue Control Unit.
Import duty was the single largest source of government income accounting for $61.6m of its revenue. Hotel and tourism tax contributed $51.8m; Customs Processing Fees $28.6m; Stamp Duty $25.8m; work permits and residency fees $17.6m; fuel tax $8.6m.
Government recurrent expenditure was also controlled at $161.9m, 7% below the projected spend for the period. In recognition of the 2014-15 underspend, $6m has been carried over to the new financial year to be spent mainly on infrastructure projects.
“This positive financial performance has allowed the government to increase our spending in key areas of social development, with a 32.7% budget increase this year for the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, and a 27% increase for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Library Services,” said Minister of Finance Washington Misick.
“We will continue to work hard to build sustainable sources of revenue, generate surpluses, maintain public spending and reduce our debts.”
The TCI is in discussions with a number of financial institutions as it prepares to refinance a UK-guaranteed $170m bond when it matures in February 2016. The TCI intends to issue invitations to tender for this requirement in the autumn of 2015. It is the TCI’s intention to use the $110m already held in reserve in the Sinking Fund, plus an additional contribution from the first half this financial year 2015-16 to repay most of the bond, with the balance being covered by new bank debt or a bond issue.
France to cancel Haiti’s debt
French President Francois Hollande has announced that France will cancel all of Haiti’s debt.
In an address at the opening of the memorial and cultural centre in Guadeloupe on Sunday, Hollande said Haiti’s debt of US$81.2 million will be cancelled.
The President, who is scheduled to visit Haiti on Tuesday, however rejected demands from activists to pay billions in reparations.
Haiti, which became the world’s first black republic after winning its war of independence in 1804, agreed to pay the debt in exchange for official recognition from France in 1825.
In 2001, France passed a law that recognized the slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity.
In 2010, then French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Haiti in the aftermath of an earthquake that killed upwards of 100,000 people. That marked the first visit from a sitting French president in the nation’s history.
Source-CMC
'Substantial' El Nino event predicted
The El Nino effect, which can drive droughts and flooding, is under way in the tropical Pacific, say scientists.
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology predicted that it could become a "substantial" event later in the year.
The phenomenon arises from variations in ocean temperatures.
The El Nino is still in its early stages, but has the potential to cause extreme weather around the world, according to forecasters.
US scientists announced in April that El Nino had arrived, but it was described then as "weak".
Australian scientists said models suggested it could strengthen from September onwards, but it was too early to determine with confidence how strong it could be.
"This is a proper El Nino effect, it's not a weak one," David Jones, manager of climate monitoring and prediction at the Bureau of Meteorology, told reporters.
"You know, there's always a little bit of doubt when it comes to intensity forecasts, but across the models as a whole we'd suggest that this will be quite a substantial El Nino event."
An El Nino comes along about every two to seven years as part of a natural cycle.
Every El Nino is different, and once one has started, models can predict how it might develop over the next six to nine months, with a reasonable level of accuracy.
How can we predict El Nino?
In the tropical Pacific Ocean, scientists operate a network of buoys that measure temperature, currents and winds. The data - and other information from satellites and meteorological observations - is fed into complex computer models designed to predict an El Nino. However, the models cannot predict the precise intensity or duration of an El Nino, or the areas likely to be affected. Researchers are trying to improve their models to give more advance notice.
A strong El Nino five years ago was linked with poor monsoons in Southeast Asia, droughts in southern Australia, the Philippines and Ecuador, blizzards in the US, heatwaves in Brazil and extreme flooding in Mexico.
Another strong El Nino event was expected during last year's record-breaking temperatures, but failed to materialise.
Prof Eric Guilyardi of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading said it would become clear in the summer whether this year might be different.
"The likelihood of El Nino is high but its eventual strength in the winter when it has its major impacts worldwide is still unknown," he said.
"We will know in the summer how strong it is going to be."
The El Nino is a warming of the Pacific Ocean as part of a complex cycle linking atmosphere and ocean.
The phenomenon is known to disrupt weather patterns around the world, and can bring wetter winters to the southwest US and droughts to northern Australia.
The consequences of El Nino are much less clear for Europe and the UK.
Research suggests that extreme El Nino events will become more likely as global temperatures rise.