FIRST BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED TO INVEST TCI
The creation of a new inward investment agency for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) took a major step forward with the appointment of its first Board members, it was announced today, Friday 17 April 2015.
The TCI Cabinet appointed two Turks and Caicos Islanders, Anton Faessler as Chair, and Mrs. Tremaine Swann-Harvey as Deputy Chair of Invest TCI.
Once the full Board of Directors is appointed, it will be the responsibility of that Board to appoint staff for the new Agency in the usual way, including a chief executive and other senior positions. Turks and Caicos Islanders are encouraged to apply for these roles at the appropriate time.
Separately, on 20 November 2014, the TCI Government issued open tenders for consultancies for the TCIG Business Reform Strategy. One consultancy was for a Programme Director to lead the Business Reform Strategy initiative and the other consultancy was for an Investment Promotion Expert to assist the Board to develop institutional capacity; to strengthen and support investment promotion and economic development and; develop practical tools for the planning and managing of investments. Interested Bidders were invited to apply for one or other of the consultancies. Two tenders from within the TCI were received. In line with the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012, the Public Procurement Board recommended that the contract should be awarded to TCI permanent resident Colin Heartwell’s consultancy firm British West Indies (BWI) Consulting. Heartwell is the Director of the National Insurance Board and would have to be released before his firm takes up this consultancy work with the Invest TCI agency.
“I am very excited by the potential of Invest TCI, given that we are already one of the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean,” said Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick.
“Our economy can only benefit by having an expert team working to bring together the needs of business and government in a more co-ordinated and coherent manner.”
Invest TCI will work with investors who want to do business in the TCI, as well as advising government on how it can create the right environment to encourage trade and streamline the investment process. It replaced the defunct TCInvest, following the coming into force of the Invest Turks and Caicos Ordinance on 1st April 2015, and is planned to be operational by 1 July 2015.
The new Invest TCI agency will build upon the resources of the Ministry of Finance’s Investment Unit, transforming it into a fully functioning statutory body independently operated by a Board of Directors, Chief Executive and other key professionals.
TCIG RESPONDS TO THE DESARROLLOS SAGA
The long awaited response has been issued by TCIG in response to recent media reports concerning civil legal action in the US involving developer Walter Stipa and his companies, the Turks and Caicos lslands Government states the following in relation to Stipa’s $224m development there:
“The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government takes its governance and anti-corruption responsibilities very serious indeed.
“As such, we have carried out appropriate due diligence works with regards to Mr Stipa's Desarrollos Hotelco group and their proposals in the TCI. As due diligence is an ongoing process, we continue to request information from Desarrollos and other sources.
“Since 2012, this work has been led by the Government’s Investment Unit using several internationally recognised systems for corroborating and checking investor information, including: Thomson Reuters’ World-Check, a leading global ‘know your customer’ software system; Lexis Nexis’ World Compliance, another leading anti-money laundering, and risk and compliance screening tool. As part of the Government’s due diligence requirements the Desarrollos Hotelco group has also provided corporate documentation to substantiate shareholders and directors.
“In addition, the Desarrollos Ritz Carlton development in the TCI is being substantially financed by Marriott, a world leading luxury hotel chain. Marriott too met with the TCI Government to demonstrate their commitment to the success of this five star development. Desarrollos and Marriott have a proven track record of having already developed four successful resorts together in the Caribbean region.
“We are aware of the civil lawsuit against members of the Desarrollos Hotelco group. We are in receipt of representations from their attorneys, and note that those involved have filed defences in the US courts.
“Despite local speculation to the contrary, the development land for the five star Desarrollos Ritz Carlton development was purchased privately. No Crown Land has been transferred or leased to the Desarrollos Hotelco group.
However, an application has been made for the leasing of a parcel of land of 0.46 acres in size. The land was publicly tendered and the tender having now closed, is being processed in accordance with the requirements of our Crown Land Ordinance.”
TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT.
Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 11th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 15th April 2015 at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present at this meeting.
Cabinet received a presentation from the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage setting out proposed revisions to the National Parks Ordinance. The revisions follow a review of the protected areas undertaken by the National Parks Committee. Cabinet reviewed the revisions and made recommendations for inclusion in a National Parks Order. The matter will return to Cabinet in due course for further consideration at which point it will be released for public consultation;
• Received an update from the Minister of Border Control and Labour on the migration of British passport issuance to the UK. Printing of passports in the UK will commence in June 2015. The Ministry will issue a press release to inform the general public about the new arrangements in due course;
• Advised Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, to approve the following appointments to the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Board of Governors in accordance with Section 4 of the Community College Ordinance 2009; Deveraux Malcolm (Chairman), Keno Forbes (Deputy Chairman), Rendono Williams (Member), Elwood Harvey (Member), Sharon Simons (Member), Principal TCICC (Member), Mary Lightbourne (Secretary), Permanent Secretary Education (Ex- Officio), Permanent Secretary Finance (Ex-Officio);
• Advised Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, to approve the following appointments to the Education Advisory Committee in accordance with Section 8 of the Education Ordinance 1998; Thashena Adderley (Chairman), Renanldo Forbes (Deputy Chairman), Daphny Williams (Member), Cereocia Pratt (Member), Tamera Robinson (Member), Georgina Been (Member), Garde Alleyne (Secretary), Permanent Secretary Education (Ex-Officio), Chairman TCICC Board of Governors (Ex-Officio);
• Advised Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, to approve the following appointments to the Higher Education Advisory Board in accordance with Section 14 of the Universities, Colleges, and Training Institutes Ordinance; Elry Lightbourne (Chairman), Sonia Williams (Deputy Chairman), Jerry Clerveaux (Member), Nadene Harvey (Member), Jennifer Glinton (Member), Mary Lightbourne (Secretary), Permanent Secretary Education (Ex-Officio), President TCICC (Ex-Officio);
• Advised Her Excellency, the Acting Governor to approve the appointment of the following members to the Fisheries Advisory Committee in accordance with Part V of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance; Director DEMA (Chairman), Franklyn Lockhart (Member), Kingsley Been (Member), Doreen Cox (Member), Philip Robinson (Member), Samuel Been (Member);
· Advised Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, to approve the following appointments to the respective Caicos District Boards;
Middle Caicos District - District Commissioner (Ex-Officio), Ernest Forbes (Chairman), Ilona Smith (Member), Garnett Outten (Member), Evan Williams (Member), Brenda Harvey (Member), Cabrine Harvey (Member), Veldon Robinson (Member), Supervisor Public Works (Ex-Officio), Police Officer (Ex-Officio), Environmental Health Officer (Ex-Officio), Clerical Officer to DC Middle Caicos (Secretary);
North Caicos District - District Commissioner (Ex-Officio), Celab Taylor (Chairman), Tueton Williams (Member), Lawrence (Mack) Campbell (Member), Melva Williams (Member), Norma Taylor (Member), Dorothy Gardiner (Member), Stephen Walkin (Member), Supervisor Public Works (Ex-Officio), Police Officer (Ex-Officio), Environmental Health Officer (Ex-Officio), Clerical Officer DC North Caicos (Secretary);
South Caicos District - District Commissioner (Ex-Officio), Kathleen Durham (Chairperson), Alvin Parker (Member), Norman Cox (Member), Kenrick Hall (Member), Raquel Basden (Member), Patrice Thomas (Member), Wally Lewis (Member), Supervisor Public Works (Ex-Officio), Police Officer (Ex-Officio), Environmental Health Officer (Ex-Officio), Clerical Officer DC South Caicos (Secretary);
Salt Cay District - District Commissioner (Ex-Officio), Allan Dickenson (Member), Gladys Kennedy (Member), Holton Dickenson (Member), Maurice Simmons (Member), Patricia Simmons (Member), Candida Herwin (Member), Gary Lightbourne (Member), Supervisor Public Works (Ex-Officio), Police Officer (Ex-Officio), Environmental Health Officer (Ex-Officio), Clerical Officer DC Salt Cay (Secretary);
Cabinet advised Her Excellency, the Acting Governor, to approve the appointment of the following private sector members to the Board of Invest Turks and Caicos Islands; Anton Faesler (Chairman) and Tremmaine Swann-Harvey (Deputy Chairman). The appointments commenced on the 1st April 2015 for a three year period.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT APPOINTS NEW DISTRICT BOARDS
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government today announced the establishment of the much anticipated District Boards for the Islands of North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay as the springboard on the new pathway towards local empowerment in the management of Government services and activities in these islands. This initiative will also see three new District Commissioners being hired in the islands of Salt Cay, Middle Caicos and North Caicos, for which the Government is currently in the recruitment process.
The new boards, consisting mostly of Turks and Caicos Islanders who ordinarily live in or are descendants of the island to which they are assigned, will have the responsibility of assisting the District Commissioners, who themselves will now have enhanced roles, in the management and development of the island communities.
The Boards will consist of a Chairperson and six island representatives, along with the District Commissioner, Supervisor of Public Works, Senior Police Officer and Senior Environmental Health Officer of that island who will serve as Ex-Officio members.
The recent passage of the Government Budget for fiscal year 2015/2016 appropriated some $500,000.00 for the maintenance works in these islands as a separate vote which will ensure that these necessary activities are not overlooked, as was previously the case, when lumped together with the maintenance needs of the larger islands.
The votes will now be managed by the District Commissioners as a part of their expanded portfolios and will be designated for the regular upkeep of schools and other buildings, roads, drains and street cleaning, along with other maintenance services, thereby allowing works to be carried out in a more timely fashion.
On April 1st of this year, during the second phase of a Cabinet Portfolio shift which began in January, responsibility for the District Administration fell to the Office of the Premier, and on release of this recent announcement by Cabinet the Premier.
“The re-establishment of the district boards and the reinforcement of the portfolios of District Commissioner in each of these islands will ensure a robust mechanism for the management and prioritization of the affairs of these communities and will fulfil the Government’s mandate to restore power to the people.
"This new approach will also bring much needed work and small contracts to the skilled workers in the islands through the guarantee of available funds for the regular maintenance and upkeep of Government interests in the islands. This strategic management of the island communities demonstrates my Government’s commitment to ensuring that the needs of the people are met in these islands” said Premier the Dr. the Hon. Rufus Ewing.
“The new district boards will play a vital role in having their input included in the developments of these islands going forward and we as a government look forward to working with them” said Minister for Border Control and Development and also representative for North and Middle Caicos Honourable Donhue Gardiner.
PDM SPEAKS OUT ON RECENT HEADLINES RELATING TO RITZ CARLTON PROJECT RECENTLY SIGNED
The PDM in a release to RTC expressed their concerns on Ritz Carlton.
The people of these Islands have recently learnt of a possible law suit against participant developers in the Ritz Carlton Project recently signed by the Rufus Ewing led Government on April 1, 2015 and set to commence in November 2015. Like the people of these Islands, we awaited the Government’s response but nearly a week later since this information has been released, there is still no word from the Government.
The signing of this deal and this Government’s multiple announcements over the past years gave comfort and legitimately so to the residents of this country that due diligence was done and that the Rufus Ewing led PNP Administration was satisfied with the Report. We believe that there is sufficient cause for the Government to address the fears and confusion that rests with the people of these Islands. We are therefore calling on the Government to address its people on this important issue.
The PDM and the people of these Islands wish to be assured that this project is a viable one especially following the revelations that this Rufus Ewing led PNP Government has committed substantial investment concessions. This project has given the country great pause to expect the anticipation of much needed investment into the country and the country needs to be assured that it is the type of investment that we welcome in this new chapter of our country’s existence.
On behalf of the people I will publicly ask in the House of Assembly several questions that are pertinent and relevant.
But we must ask publicly now, WHY ARE THESE ISSUES being ignored by THE GOVERNMENT and why is it that the Rufus Ewing led PNP Government is NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS the TCI people about it?
We welcome an urgent closure to this matter.
That was the full text from the People's Democratic Party.
RTC made several attempts to reach out to members of the Government but were unsuccessful.
Speaker of the House visited South Caicos today
The island of South Caicos and in particular the students and teachers of the Iris Stubbs Primary and Marjorie Basden High School were honored with the presence of the Hon. Robert Hall, speaker of the House of Assembly.
Before leaving Grand Turk Hon. Hall explain to Radio Turks and Caicos that for sometimes he had planned to visit all Government schools and eventually private schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands to speak with them about our history, social and political duties with a view of developing an appreciation for how far we have come from despite the various obstacles.
For nearly 2 hours the speaker, a former teacher and Minister of Education held the staff and students attention as he spoke of the present
Taino Indians as early as 700 AD becoming of the Europeans 1492
The Bermudians in the late 1600
The ship wreck of the Slave Ship off East Caicos
1976 Elections and beyond
The forming of the Government Legislature
The Judiciary
The Executive and
His role as speaker
At the end of each presentation at both schools there was a live question and answers period with several questions from students and teachers.
There were renditions at both schools.
Digital music matches physical sales for the first time
Digital music revenues matched physical sales for the first time in 2014, thanks to strong growth in the streaming market.
The digital market rose 6.9% to $6.9 billion (£4.6 billion), representing 46% of all global music sales, reported the music industry body IFPI.
CDs, vinyl and other physical formats also accounted for 46% of the market, with rights for performances, films and advertisements making up the rest.
But overall revenue slipped by 0.4%.
Pharrell Williams's Happy was the most-downloaded single globally in 2014, with Taylor Swift the most popular artist, the IFPI said.
The London-based body also noted that vinyl sales had increased by 54.7%, and now account for 2% of global revenues.
UK sales drop
The global recorded music industry was worth $14.97 billion (£10.1 billion) last year, down from $15 billion (£10 billion) in 2013.
Although the rate of decline has slowed since the mid-2000s, it is the second consecutive year of falling music sales.
A brief upturn in 2012, when global revenues rose 0.3%, now appears to be an aberration.
But the picture varies from country to country. The US, the world's largest music market, saw an overall increase of 2.1%.
Japan, where falling CD sales have dragged down the global industry in recent years, saw an increase in digital revenue for the first time in five years, as streaming services gained a firmer foothold.
Other large markets saw declining sales - including France (down 3.4%) and the UK (down 2.8%).
And 37 countries - including Sweden, Mexico, Spain and South Korea - saw streaming revenue overtake download income.
Source-BBC
Trey Songz Releases Surprise 'Intermission' EP
Fresh off finishing his European tour with Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz surprised his fans on Tuesday, April 14 when he unexpectedly released a new EP. The R&B crooner made all songs off the project called "Intermission" available on his SoundCloud and then alerted his fans via Twitter, writing, "Just a lil Intermission," alongside a link to his website and a trailer for his upcoming album "Trigga Reloaded".
The EP opens with "Intermission (Intro)" and features five full tracks including "Don't Play", "Boss", "Good Girls vs Bad Girls", "Talk About It" and "Change". These songs will hopefully keep fans entertained until Trey's anticipated LP comes on June 23.
"Trigga Reloaded" is a re-issue of the 30-year-old heartthrob's sixth studio effort, 2014's "Trigga". The updated version will have additional new songs including single "Slow Motion" which he debuted earlier this year.
"With Trigga Reloaded, I wanted to give records like 'Slow Motion' and other records that I had no place for a home," he recently explained "Reloaded".
Source-Ace.Showbiz
Game of Thrones Periscope broadcasts anger HBO
Games of Thrones broadcaster HBO has sent "take down" notices to Periscope, the live-streaming video app owned by Twitter, after users of the app broadcast episodes of the hit show on Sunday night.
HBO also said Saturday's online leaks of four episodes had come from within a group that had received preview DVDs.
Twitter maintains that the Periscope app complies with US copyright law.
But HBO indirectly criticised the video streaming company.
"In general, we feel developers should have tools which proactively prevent mass copyright infringement from occurring on their apps and not be solely reliant upon notifications," HBO said in a statement.
Periscope's terms and conditions make it clear that users should respect intellectual property rights, but the app currently only reacts to copyright infringement allegations rather than trying to prevent them happening in the first place, HBO believes.
The long-awaited series five of Game of Thrones aired in the US on Sunday and in Europe on Monday.
Source-BBC
Soul singer Percy Sledge dies aged 74
US soul singer Percy Sledge, famed for his song When a Man Loves a Woman, has died aged 74.
Steve Green from talent agency Artists International Management Inc confirmed to the BBC that he died at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday.
"He was one of my first acts, he was a terrific person and you don't find that in this business very often," said Green. "He was truly a standout."
Sledge had surgery for liver cancer in January 2014 but soon resumed touring.
Sledge's debut single When a Man Loves a Woman reached the top 10 twice in the UK and topped the US Billboard chart for two weeks in 1966, when it also got to number four in the UK chart.
During an interview for the the 2013 documentary Muscle Shoals, he recalled his first recording of it.
"When I came into the studio, I was shaking like a leaf. I was scared," he said, adding that it was the "same melody that I sang when I was out in the fields. I just wailed out in the woods and let the echo come back to me".
He told BBC Radio 6 Music's Craig Charles in a 2011 interview that he came up with the melody for When A Man Loves A Woman, but signed away the rights of the song to Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright, because "I didn't know any better".
"I had the melody in my mind so I gave that song to them," he said, adding they then created the lyrics.
Sledge did not contest the agreement, saying: "I felt like if God fixed it in my mouth to give it to them I won't change anything about it.
"I'm satisfied with what I wrote but I cut my kids out of so much because I gave it to someone else - I just wasn't thinking."
Music producer David Gest was among those paying tribute to the singer.
"I am so saddened by the death of my good friend Percy Sledge. I was fortunate enough to have him perform on three of my legends of soul tours and he was absolutely amazing to watch, be it singing When A Man Loves A Woman or Dark End Of The Street," Gest told BBC News.
"Percy was one of the great performers and a man that knew the true meaning of the word 'soul'. Sleep well my friend."
BBC Radio 2 DJ Tony Blackburn added his feelings to those paying tribute on Twitter, and said: "Sad to hear that Percy Sledge has died. I wonder how many times I've played When A Man Loves A Woman. RIP."
Musician Bootsy Collins paid tribute on his Facebook page with the words: "Just lost another legend funkateers, Mr Percy Sledge."
Paul Gambacini told the BBC that When a Man Loves a Woman was "one of the all time classic songs".
"This was the essence of soul, dripping with feeling. It never had a time, it was in a world of its own, so it was timeless," he added.
The track reached number two when it was re-released in the UK in 1987 after appearing in Oliver Stone's film Platoon, and was featured in several other films such as The Big Chill, The Crying Game and a 1994 Meg Ryan drama named after the song itself. It was also the soundtrack to a Levis advert in 1987.
It was the first US number one recorded at Alabama's Muscle Shoals studio, where Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones would later record.
The track also scored a first gold disc for Atlantic Records, whose executive Jerry Wexler called the song "a transcendent moment" and "a holy love hymn."
It remained Sledge's biggest hit and helped sustain a long touring career in the US, Europe and South Africa, averaging 100 performances a year. His other chart successes included Warm and Tender Love, It Tears Me Up and Take Time to Know Her.
The song found new life in 1991 when Michael Bolton's cover of the song topped the Billboard chart.
Before his music career, Sledge worked in the cotton fields around his hometown of Leighton in northwest Alabama, before taking a job as a hospital nurse in the early 1960s.
A patient heard him singing while he worked and recommended him to record producer Quin Ivy.
The singer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and was a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife and children.
Source-BBC