TCIG SIGNS $220M MOU WITH COOPER JACK DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cooper Jack Development Limited to build a $220 million dollar hotel, spa and residences today, April 2, 2015.
The proposed development will consist of a mixed-use, 281-bedroom resort consisting of a five-star stand-alone hotel of 100 bedrooms and suites, 76 condominium units and 3 luxury villas. The total project site area is situated along 20.92 acres in the Cooper Jack area of Providenciales.
“This new luxury hotel development is indeed indicative of the confidence investors have in the TCI economy and we welcome yet another group that is keen to invest in the TCI ” said TCI Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing.
“Additionally, a new hotel development in the Cooper Jack area now brings about a new frontier of luxury resorts in yet another location away from the Grace Bay area, which means further diversity not only in the sector itself but also in real estate market”.
Minister of Finance, Washington Misick stated; “This new development speaks directly to the investment climate in the country and also its attractiveness to high end developments. This is an exciting time in the TCI and we welcome this new development”.
The construction work is expected to begin in the 3rd quarter of 2015 and last for approximately 2 years.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT SIGNS $224M RITZ CARLTON AGREEMENT
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government has signed a Development Agreement with the Desarrollos Hotel Group to build a $224 million dollar Ritz Carlton hotel, resort, casino & spa in the Grace Bay area of Providenciales, April 2, 2015.
The proposed development will consist of 124 luxury hotel guest rooms, penthouses, resort residences and associated facilities. The new resort will be managed by the Ritz Carlton Hotels Company L.L.C., an international luxury hotel brand operating 84 hotels and resorts in 26 countries.
“This European Plan style hotel development provides a welcome diversification to the TCI tourism sector as it is more of a traditional hotel, rather than the previously prevalent condominium model in the TCI,” said TCI Premier Dr Rufus Ewing. “At the same time, it further develops the luxury tourism offering in this destination with the addition of such an important luxury brand in Ritz Carlton.”
“This is a welcome boost for the people and businesses of the TCI, especially in our construction sector,” added Minister of Finance, Washington Misick. “This announcement clearly consolidates our position as one of the fastest growing, and strongest economies in the Caribbean. The financial stability of the TCI clearly provides the right environment for international investors to come here and grow their businesses.”
The Desarrollos Hotel Group has already developed and owns four Marriott Hotels, of which one is the Ritz Carlton Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa.
It is anticipated that construction work will begin in November 2015 and last for approximately three years.
FortisTCI Prepared for Projected Growth with Arrival of Third Wartsila Engine
A third Wartsila 20V32 generating unit, purchased by FortisTCI Limited (the Company) in August of 2014 arrived in Providenciales (Provo) today. This latest engine will replace a recently retired Caterpillar unit at the Company’s power plant in Provo, offering increased fuel efficiency and enhanced reliability. The purchase also adds to the major capital investments made in the Turks and Caicos Islands by FortisTCI to ensure that the Country has one of the most robust and reliable electricity systems within the region.
The contract for the newest 8.7 Megawatt (MW) Wartsila engine was signed for on June 10, 2014 and will place the Company in a position to meet projected load growth based on economic development forecasts through 2018. Reliable electricity is a precursor to economic development and is one of the first assessments potential investors will make regarding their investment decisions. The unit will be commissioned in September of this year at the Provo plant, which serves customers on Providenciales, North and Middle Caicos, as well as the Cays between Provo and North Caicos (excluding Parrot Cay).
FortisTCI President and CEO, Eddinton Powell said, “The load on the electricity system is determined by our customers’ aggregate demand, and FortisTCI must be in a position to meet that demand. Failure to do so would result in rolling blackouts and an unstable electricity grid, a situation common in our region. Moreover, the Turks and Caicos Islands is a high-end tourist destination which must have state-of-the-art electricity infrastructure. Because of the high quality of our system, we offer a competitive economic advantage to the Turks and Caicos Islands, helping to attract direct investment that contributes to the continued economic development of the country.”
The utility business is highly financial-capital intensive, and the Company must invest to efficiently meet the load demand at all times. The new Wartsila engines are amongst the most technologically advanced in the world and have helped to reduce our carbon footprint through lower exhaust emissions over the past several years. FortisTCI has invested millions of dollars’ in infrastructure, from generation and transmission & distribution (T&D) systems to customer service support and delivery infrastructure. The company has also taken the lead in exploring alternative sources of energy, including renewable energy.
In addition, FortisTCI has engaged consultants to investigate the feasibility of off-loading solutions that will facilitate streamlining the Company’s fuel supply chain, which has the potential of further reducing the cost of electricity to our customers.
NIB Announces increases to take effect in April
The Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board informed the general public of the following increases in various benefits provided by the National Insurance Program which will take effect on April 15, 2015.
1. Increase in minimum Retirement Pension
The minimum retirement pension will increase from $335 per month to $370.00 per month
2. Increase in minimum Invalidity Pension
The minimum Invalidity Pension will increase from $335 per month to $370 per month.
3. Increase in Funeral Grant
Funeral grant will increase from $2000 to $2,190 for the contributor and from $1300 to$420 for a dependent of the contributor.
4. Increase in Maternity Grant
Maternity Grant will increase from $500 per child $550 per child
5. Increase in minimum Widow/ Widower’s Pension
The minimum Widow / Widower’s Pension will increase from $250 per month to $270 per month
6. Increase in minimum Children’s Pension
The minimum Children’s Pension will increase from $100 per month to $110 per month
7. Increase in Non Contributory Old-Age Pension
Non Contributory Old-Age Pension will increase from $250 per month to $275 per month
Deputy Director Mr. Walter Gardiner will be sitting down with Expressions to discuss the following next week on Radio Turks & Caicos before resuming his radio show NIB & You on Tuesdays at 11am.
Amendment effective January 1, 2015
8. Retirement Pension Calculation Formula
The formula for calculation of retirement pension has been amended from being previously based the best three years of the last 10 contribution years to now being based on the best five years of the last 10 contribution years effective retroactively January 1, 2015.
Hon. Sean Astwood returns to the Turks & Caicos Islands
The Peoples Democratic Movement is extremely excited to announce the return of their Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament for Five Cays, Hon Sean Astwood.
Hon Astwood has been overseas seeking medical treatment and returned to the islands on Sunday, March 29. 2015.
We are pleased to report that he continues to recover and we are assured of a full recovery. He is currently spending time with his family and will make a statement in due course but wishes to state the following until that time-
“There is no place like home. I am grateful for the prayers, love and support shown during what can only be described as a frightening experience. At the outset, I wish to thank those who attended me during my illness - the physicians and nursing staff at home and stationed at Doctors’ Hospital."
"I am thankful to the residents of Five Cays who held a Prayer Service on my behalf and those others who continued the work in the great constituency of Five Cays. I wish to assure the people of Five Cays, the PDM and the entire Turks and Caicos that I will be back stronger than before. I see this for what it is and that is a test in many respects and I am even more confident in my vision and plans. I continue to solicit your prayers as I continue to fully recover. May God bless you all and may He continue to bless these Turks and Caicos Islands” says Hon. Sean Astwood.
Members of the House of Assembly & Appropriations Committee were thrilled to hear of the return of the Member to the Turks & Caicos islands including supporters of the PDM Family.
March was observed as National Nutrition Month
The month of March was internationally and locally observed as National Nutrition Month. The theme for this year’s observation was “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.”
Nutrition in Demand, a local non profit aimed at raising awareness to health and healthy eating, hosted a number of activities to mark the month long celebration.
Registered Dietitian and director of the non-profit, Mrs. Tamika Handfield said, “March is not the only time we bring awareness to the importance of nutrition, but this is a time when health professionals around the world put the spotlight on nutrition.” Mrs. Handfield added, “This year’s theme encourages you to consume fewer calories, read food labels and get daily exercise; all of which leads to a healthier lifestyle.”
As part of the month’s celebration, Nutrition in Demand held Nutrition education and culinary classes with various schools including: B.E.S.T Institute in Providenciales, Doris Robinson Primary in Middle Caicos and Adelaide Oemler Primary school in North Caicos. Children learnt about the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and the foods they should be choosing for breakfast. To reinforce the teaching points, the students were also involved in a cooking activity. They made 100% whole wheat and, with supervision, were responsible for all the cooking steps involved—measuring, mixing, cracking eggs and cooking the pancakes. Using fruits, the children were asked to create faces on their pancakes. Mrs. Handfield said, “This was done as a way to show the children that eating healthy can be fun.”
A student from Adelaide Omeler had this to say about their school visit, “It was a fun and educational day! We learned about healthy breakfast foods. Now, when my mom goes to the store, I will tell her to buy whole wheat flour because it actually tastes better than the regular flour.”
Nutrition in Demand also collaborated with Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Beaches Resorts to bring a healthy eating seminar to the students of the Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays. Hundreds of children at the school received whole grain cereal, low fat milk and fruit as part of the Big Breakfast initiative of the Sandals Foundation.
In addition to all of this, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) was produced for television and radio to further bring awareness to the month long celebration. A workshop for the Fillipino community had to be reschedule for a later date.
CHTA EDUCATION FOUNDATION ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FROM TURKS & CAICOS
Turks & Caicos students and industry professionals are encouraged to apply for a scholarship from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) so they can pursue higher education or professional development in the tourism and hospitality field. Scholarships are awarded with support from CHTAEF sponsors including Virgin Holidays, Interval International, FirstCaribbean International Bank, Johnson & Wales University and Florida International University.
Scholarships are awarded for study at any approved college or university including, but not limited to, the University of West Indies and local community colleges throughout the Caribbean.
Scholarship recipients will be advised of their approval status and, if accepted, the amount of their award, no earlier than May 25, 2015.
"We encourage all of our hospitality students and professionals to apply for scholarships offered by the CHTA Education Foundation," said Stacy Cox. "The tourism industry is a vital economic resource for our country and these scholarships present an opportunity for motivated individuals to pursue higher education and career training regardless of financial need," she added.
Education and training are essential in order to be successful in any work field and through their scholarship program, CHTAEF is offering students and professionals financial assistance to pursue their careers in the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Richard S. Kahn, chairman of CHTAEF. "Since 1987, we have awarded approximately US$2 million in scholarships and grants to applicants and we have observed many successful scholarship recipients build exemplary careers in the tourism and hospitality industry," added Kahn.
In 2014, CHTAEF awarded US$136,308 in scholarships to 29 Caribbean nationals pursuing a higher education or professional development in hospitality and tourism after receiving more than 60 applications.
CHTAEF awards worthy Caribbean nationals who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hospitality and tourism industry with scholarship money to enhance or further their expertise. This includes academic tuition scholarships, short-course professional development tuition scholarships, work experience placement opportunities, and grants for tourism and hospitality teachers for furthering their education or to gain industry work experience.
Jay Z promotes 'artist-owned' music streaming brand
Some of the biggest names in entertainment have re-launched the music subscription service Tidal, which they are billing as the first artist-owned platform for music and video.
At an event in New York on Monday, Madonna, Beyonce, Kanye West, and 13 other performers announced they had become co-owners of Tidal.
The service launched last October, but was recently bought by rapper Jay Z.
It is hoping to compete with the likes of Spotify, Deezer and Google Play.
However Tidal offers 25 million music tracks, fewer than the 30 million offered by many rival services.
As well as a standard subscription for $9.99 a month, Tidal offers a "high fidelity" option for $19.99, which claims to deliver better sound quality.
Singer Alicia Keys spoke on behalf of the artists as they all lined up on stage at Skylight at Moynihan Station in Manhattan.
Describing the event as a "graduation", she said the artists hoped Tidal would alter musical evolution.
"So we come together before you on this day, March 30th, 2015, with one voice in unity in the hopes that today will be another one of those moments in time, a moment that will forever change the course of music history."
Their mission, she said, goes beyond commerce and technology.
"Our intent is to preserve music's importance in our lives,'' she said.
Source-BBC
Venus Williams beats Caroline Wozniacki at Miami Open
Venus Williams remains on course to meet sister Serena in the Miami Open final after upsetting world number five Caroline Wozniacki in the last 16.
The American beat her Danish opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-1) in 98 minutes.
The 34-year-old, who was out of action for seven months after being diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome in 2011, has now won seven of her past eight matches against top-10 ranked players.
Sister Serena beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
The 33-year-old will meet Sabine Lisicki in the last eight after the German beat Sara Errani 6-1 6-2.
Venus, meanwhile, faces Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, who recovered from the loss of the opening set to beat Polish seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska 5-7 6-0 6-4.
Source-BBC
Robin Williams' Wife and Children's Fight Over His Property in court
A legal battle between Robin Williams' widow and children over his estate is going to be taken to court. Attorneys for both parties are scheduled to appear before a San Francisco probate judge on Monday, March 30 to settle the matter, the Associated Press reports.
Back in December, the late actor's third wife Susan Schneider filed a lawsuit against Robin's three kids from previous marriages, Zak, Zelda and Cody, claiming that some property at the house where she lived with Williams were "unilaterally removed" from their house "days after Mr. Williams's untimely death."
In a response to Schneider's lawsuit, Williams' children said Susan's petition added "insult to a terrible injury" and was a premature attempt to change their father's instructions and "prevent them from receiving what their father wanted them to receive."
According to Williams' will, his children should inherit his memorabilia and awards in the entertainment industry among other particular personal items. However, Schneider argues that since he wanted her to continue to live at the Tiburon home, this could mean that his children are only entitled to property that he kept at another home he owned in Napa.
Williams died August 11, 2014 of asphyxia due to hanging. It was later revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and had been battling depression prior to committing suicide in his home in Tiburon.
Source-Aceshowbiz