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.
Two survive St Vincent plane crash
Two men survived, reportedly suffering only soft tissue injuries, after the small private plane they were flying in crashed in Georgetown, on the windward side of St Vincent, yesterday.
The pilot, St Lucian Wayne McDiarmed, and his co-pilot, Marvin Fabian Peka of Grenada, remained in hospital overnight.
They were on board a Cessna C-337 Skymaster on their way to Carraicou from St. Lucia when the plane went down after 2:30 p.m.
A man who said he saw the crash told I-Witness News that the plane seemed to have lost power and was gliding before it clipped some trees and went down.
Leon Yearwood, a security officer at the Langley Park Airstrip, said he rushed to the scene to help the crash victims, assisted by other residents.
Another man, who did not want to be named, told the online news site that by the time he arrived, one of the men was already out and people in the community came out and “did a good job in saving the [other] guy’s life”.
Source-caribbean360
Dozens die in new tremor near Everest, Nepal
A major earthquake has struck eastern Nepal, near Mount Everest, two weeks after more than 8,000 people died in a devastating quake.
At least 37 people have been killed and more than 1,000 injured, officials say. At least 17 have also died in India.
The latest earthquake hit near the town of Namche Bazaar and sent thousands of panicked residents on to the streets of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.
It had a magnitude of 7.3, compared with the 7.8 of the 25 April quake.
The latest quake struck at 12:35 Nepali time (06:50 GMT) and was centred about 76km (47 miles) east of Kathmandu, in a rural area close to the Chinese border.
The quake was felt in northern India, Tibet and Bangladesh. India's home ministry said 16 people had been killed in the state of Bihar, and one more in Uttar Pradesh. Officials in China said one person was confirmed dead in Tibet.
Rescue helicopters have been sent to districts east of Kathmandu, that are believed to be worst hit. Police in Charikot, 80km north-east of the capital, said 20 people had died there.
A spokesman for Nepal's government told the BBC that 31 of the country's 75 districts had been affected.
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala called for "courage and patience" and urged all those who had assisted Nepal since the 25 April quake "to once again extend your helping hand".
At least four people were killed in the town of Chautara, east of Kathmandu, where a number of buildings are reported to have collapsed.
The International Organisation for Migration said bodies were being pulled from rubble there.
Krishna Gyawali, the chief district officer for Chautara, said there had been a number of landslides.
Landslides were also reported by Save the Children in Sindhupalchok and Dolakha.
MARINE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY 10TH MAY 2015.
NO GALE WARNINGS BUT WINDS MAY GUSTS UP TO 25 KNOTS OR MORE AND VISIBILITY MAY BE REDUCED TO 3NM OR LESS IN HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
GENERAL SITUATION: AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD OVER THE ISLANDS GENERATING SUNNY AND HOT CONDITIONS OVER THE ISLANDS.
FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY HOT AND HUMID WITH SOME AFTERNOON SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, TURNING FAIR AND HUMID TONIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF A SCATTERED SHOWER OR TWO.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST-SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN MODERATE NORTHERLY SWELLS.
FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY ,HOT AND WINDY TODAY WITH THE CHANCE OF A BRIEF PASSING SHOWER AND THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS, TURNING FAIR AND WINDY TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION.
WINDS: EAST-SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET IN MODERATE NORTHLY SWELLS.
SUNRISE 6.28 AM SUNSET: 7.45 PM
MOON SET: 12:15 PM MOON RISE: 1:33 AM MON
LOW TIDE: 7:24 AM HIGH TIDE: 1:24 PM
LOW TIDE: 6:32 PM
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAY: AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE THE DOMINANT WEATHER FEATURE ACROSS THE ISLANDS FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, GENERATING, SUNNY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS ACROSS THE ISLANDS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SEE LATEST NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM ANA…
FORECAST FOR MONDAY:
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY HOT AND HUMID, WITH SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY, TURNING FAIR AND HUMID AT NIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF A SCATTERED SHOWER OR TWO.
WINDS: EAST-SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN NW BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR TUEDAY:
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY HOT AND WINDY, WITH SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY, TURNING FAIR AND HUMID AT NIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF A SCATTERED SHOWER OR TWO.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET
WEATHER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY 09TH MAY 2015
THIS IS THE FORECAST FOR THE BAHAMAS FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW SATURDAY 09TH MAY 2015
GENERAL SITUATION: THE OUTER BANDS OF TROPICAL STORM ANA CONTINUES TO CREATE SOME ISOLATED UNSETTLED WEATHER OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS
FOR ALL AREAS
WEATHER: FAIR AND MILD TONIGHT, MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT TOMORROW WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: EAST-SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS
SEAS RUNNING: 3-5 FEET OVER THE OCEAN WITH MODERATE NORTHERLY SWELLS
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE IN NASSAU 88F 31C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE IN NASSAU 72F 22C
SUNRISE AT 6.28 AM SUNDAY AND SUNSET AT 7.45 PM SUNDAY
MOONRISE AT 12.45 AM SUNDAY AND MOONSET AT 12.15 PM SUNDAY
HIGH TIDE AT 12.51 AM SUNDAY AND LOW TIDE AT 7.24 AM SUNDAY
MARINE FORECAST FOR 1:00PM SATURDAY 09TH MAY, 2015
MARINE FORECAST FOR THE BAHAMAS FOR 24 HOURS FROM 1:00PM SATURDAY 09TH MAY, 2015 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 1530 UTC
NO GALE WARNINGS…BUT RESIDENTS AND BOATERS PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS SHOULD BE VIGILANT AND TAKE ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AS THE POSSIBILITY OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND WATERSPOUTS CONTINUES OVER THE AREA.
GENERAL SITUATION: OUTTER BANDS OF TROPICAL STORM ANA ALONG WITH A MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE SOME INSTABILITY IN OUR ATMOSPHERE. MEANWHILE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL GRADUALLY REBUILD OVER THE AREA.
ALL AREAS
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, FALLING LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT TIMES, EASTERLY AT 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND EASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 5 TO 8 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS OR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS BUT ISOLATED SHOWERS EXPECTED ELSEWHERE
MOONRISE: 12:45 AM SUN. HIGH TIDE: 12:25 PM
MOONSET: 12:15 PM SUN. LOW TIDE: 06:30 PM
HIGH TIDE: 12:51 AM
LOW TIDE: 07:24 AM SUN.
MARINE FORECAST FOR SATURDAY 9TH MAY 2015
THIS IS THE BAHAMAS MARINE FORECAST FOR 24 HOURS FROM 6AM, SATURDAY 9TH MAY 2015, ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 0930 UTC.
WARNINGS: CONDITIONS WILL BE CONDUSIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF FUNNEL CLOUDS AND WATERSPOUTS SO RESIDENTS AND BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT DURING THESE EVENTS.
GENERAL SITUATION: OUTTERBANDS FROM NOW TROPICAL STORM ANA ALONG WITH A MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROF ACROSS THE BAHAMAS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME INSTABILITY ACROSS THE ISLANDS RESULTING IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
ALL AREAS
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NW AND CNTRL BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SE BAHAMAS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NW AND CNTRL BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE SE BAHAMAS
WEATHER: FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
MOONSET 11:15AM & MOONRISE 12:45AM SUN
LOW TIDE 6:29AM & HIGH TIDE 12:25PM
LOW TIDE 6:30PM & HIGH TIDE 12:51AM SUN
EXTENDED FORECAST: AS ANA LIFTS NORTHWARDS AWAY FROM THE BAHAMAS ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE ISLANDS RESULTING IN A FRESHINING OF THE WINDS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY:
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION
WINDS: SE’LY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND E TO SE AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS
WEATHER: CHANCE OF A FEW SHOWERS OR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
FORECAST FOR MONDAY:
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION
WINDS: E TO SE AT 15 KNOTS IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS…WINDS WILL BE GUSTY AT TIMES
SEAS: 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS
WEATHER: CHANCE OF PASSING SHOWERS OR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS