Minibus plunges into sea, four dead, several missing in St.Vincent
Residents across St. Vincent and the Grenadines are in mourning Monday after a bus carrying at least 18 people, including 14 school children, plunged into the sea, killing at least four people.
St Vincent authorities said three students were killed, one other missing and at least 10 others have been injured and taken to hospital.
Police in Owia, a community on the northwestern tip of the island, said that the accident occurred at Rockgutter, a community between Owia and Fancy.
The rough seas were said to be hampering the efforts to retrieve the bodies and crisis centres have been established in Kingstown and the northern part of the country.
A grief stricken Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, speaking on national radio, said the “entire nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines…has been touched by this tragedy.
“We all grieve and ask God for guidance and strength as well as we lean on one another,” he said, noting that the recovery of bodies from the sea is ongoing.
“Some of the questions you have are not fully answered, that will come in due time, right now it is the task of making sure that everyone is accounted for. We cannot yet give up hope because there are hope we can find additional survivors as inhospitable as the conditions are, we have to hope…and we have to put the pieces back together and to see what we can do to try to ensure that this…tragedy does not happen again,” Gonsalves said.
“It was a terrible accident and I think everyone’s heart is really heavy because of what has taken place,” he added.
At 12:20 pm, The Milton Cato Memorial Hospital has temporarily suspended visiting hours due to mass casualty situation.
According to reports from the Searchlight Newspaper’s Facebook page, “a section of the Accident and Emergency Unit has been transformed into a counseling area where some family members are receiving counseling at this time.”
Source-Carib360
DEAR EDITOR, THERE IS NO MORE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO OUR COUNTRY
Good day Turks and Caicos.
My name is Avi Adams, and I am writing to you today as a concerned citizen. I rarely ever have much to say publicly about social issues going on in the country, especially when it comes to politics. I now find myself extremely emotional and saddened by our culture and society.
I guess I should say lack of culture more so than anything. It’s no secret that within recent years we’ve seen an increase in violence, delinquency, robberies, murders and grand theft. something that once upon a time, we were not accustomed to. What’s crazy about this is that in the last ten years or so, we have since become accustomed to these events happening. In more current times, our nation has become plagued by the proliferation of gangs; because of this we have suffered a number of deaths, community intimidation, economic decay and withdrawal from civic engagement. We have people who live in Blue Hills (Phase 1 or Phase 2), Long Bay, Kew Town, who are burdened by robberies; who cannot leave their homes for an hour or two without it being broken into, or the fear of it being broken into. This is so disturbing to me because ALL OF US no matter where we live, turn a blind eye to these situations far too often. Why do we do it; because it is not happening directly to us? Since when did we become a selfish country? Since when, we are not our brother’s keeper? What happened to social responsibility? Please tell me Turks and Caicos…..please, I beg you.. Since when, do we not care about each other? Since when, do we not help build each other’s houses? I remember when I couldn’t go to Mrs. Dolly shop to buy a box of matches without her calling my parents, to find out if they sent me for them.
In my honest opinion, about 10% of our population has gone off to become educated and help uplift our country, but instead WE came back and we forgot our morals, our ethics, our principles; standards that our country was founded on; standards that was passed down from generation to generation. We forgot that we were even privileged the opportunity to travel and study abroad, an opportunity that a lot of our brothers and sisters never had (but we say we are gracious and humble…lol).
We became selfish, and believe that we are successful because we came back, got good jobs and great homes, but we lost our beliefs and integrity simultaneously. We became a capitalist country like the USA that always thinks about MONEY instead of GOD and each other. We came back and instead of supporting our people and serving our people, we turned our backs on our people. We came back and discouraged our people; we told them that they were LAZY and don’t want to work. We called them stupid, uninterested and apathetic; I have heard this countless times from the biggest officials all over (Private and Government). However, if you have been EXPOSED to the lifestyle in the USA or London, you would think and act differently from someone who has been here all of their life and is accustomed to a more relaxed, easygoing lifestyle. All of you college grads out there just because the USA or any country does it, that does not make it better, just different. Let’s follow our own traditions and beliefs. The ones we had when we were so much happier.
The craziest thing about it is that half of us who went to college still can barely afford to live so we ensure both parents are working, why? Because we covet vanity! We want all the nicest things in the world; we want the biggest house and nicest car. The down fall is that we sacrificed our kids, our spirituality and beliefs. Honestly, I hate to see a kid in church with an Ipad. What’s the use if we aren’t going to demand them to listen to the word? Turks and Caicos we cannot allow TV, internet, music and this sinful world to bring up our children, aka our future, anymore. We are creating criminals, idols, who have no sense of pride for their bodies, for our people or the country at large. This must cease. Too many times we turn a blind eye and don’t care until the person is in our house stealing or dating one of our “so called” good children.
For those of you who think this is just in Providenciales “the wild wild west”, you would be wrong. I was in Grand Turk over the weekend for a funeral. A great family man had died, Mr. Jackie Williams. He was a man who was a patriot to his country and his family, being married 51 years and someone in my opinion we should marvel over. Mr. Jackie was my friend Kyle Williams’s father. He and I have been friends well over 20 years, since we were 9 years old. Truth be told, I probably haven’t even been the best friend over the years but I felt compelled to be there in his time of need. What disturbed me is that Kyle has so many friends who live in Grand Turk (Just take a ride by the Pink Bar). How many of them were at the funeral? I recall seeing 2 others beside myself and two of us actually flew in from PLS so actually 1 from Grand Turk. All his “so called” friends were either too busy because they were working, sleeping or doing something else they'd rather do. People it’s time to put others first!!! We are putting MONEY before everything. Please note I have not written this just to put it out there, I am writing this because it is time to get our CULTURE back. I realize not everyone will agree with me about everything I have written down, but if you do agree that we need to take control of our country again, I am asking that we meet at St. Monica Anglican church on February 16, 2015 6pm.
The reason for this meeting is for all of us to put forth all of our ideas on how we can regain our culture and country, then prioritize and accomplish them. People don’t let the good fight that J.A.G.S. fought for us, go down in flames because we have become selfish. If we do not do something now, in 20 years it will be worse and maybe uncontrollable. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU ARE NOT APART OF THE SOLUTION YOU ARE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO MORE TURNING A BLIND EYE TO OUR COUNTRY, JUST BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE DOING OK.
Please remember to bring ideas when you come. I ask that we come prepared to discuss what goals we are planning to set and how we will accomplish them. Honestly I have so much more to write but will save it for the meeting. I want to wish everyone the happiest New Year ever and let you know the TIME IS NOW. Please don’t say you are to busy, My pastor always says”The Devil’s biggest job is to keep us busy”. No matter how much work you do, if it isn’t for God, it doesn’t get you any closer to HEAVEN.
Numerous of us has done the ice bucket challenge for ALS, well I would like to challenge you to take back our neighborhoods, rebuild our communities, support our locals, learn to be brothers and sisters and inspire our youth. Martin Luther King says, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it” The decision is yours. There is no more “I ain't in it”.
Netflix: VPN crackdown claims 'false', says executive
Netflix has criticised "false" reports it has been cracking down on customers using a work-around to watch media blocked in their area.
The company denied reports it had stepped up its attempts to block access via virtual private networks (VPNs).
Netflix said its existing policy against the use of VPNs to circumvent geographical content barriers remained unchanged.
But it said its service would still work via some VPNs.
"The claims that we have changed our policy on VPN are false," said Netflix's chief product officer Neil Hunt.
Speaking at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, he said: "People who are using a VPN to access our service from outside of the area will find that it still works exactly as it has always done."
He was speaking in response to widespread claims that the popular media streaming firm had begun a crackdown on customers who used VPNs at the behest of studios unhappy at their licensing arrangements being ignored.
They followed complaints by Netflix users on Reddit that their normal VPN setups were no longer working.
Netflix said it did routinely block the work-arounds using "industry standard" techniques, but there was no special effort being undertaken to block more of them than usual.
Coca-Cola to cut up to 1,800 jobs worldwide
Drinks giant Coca-Cola is set to cut up to 1,800 jobs worldwide as it continues cost-cutting efforts.
Coca-Cola reported a 14% fall in earnings for the July to September quarter last year and sluggish revenue growth.
The job cuts will affect the firm's Atlanta headquarters, as well as its international operations.
The firm said it had already started to inform those workers who will be affected by the cuts.
"[We have begun] the process of informing associates in the United States and in some international locations about the impacts to their departments," a spokesperson from Coca-Cola said in an emailed statement to the BBC.
The firm said further cuts would be made by different departments at various times.
"We have identified 1,600 to 1,800 positions in Corporate, Coca-Cola North America and Coca-Cola International that will be eliminated in the coming months," the spokesperson said.
Coca-Cola has a global workforce of about 130,000.
Source-BBC
US economy adds 252,000 jobs in December
The US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.8%, according to Labor Department figures.
In addition, figures for the number of jobs created in October and November were both revised upwards.
The jobless rate is now at its lowest since June 2008.
But weak wage growth and low inflation are likely to give the Federal Reserve pause for thought over raising interest rates.
The increase in jobs was higher than expected with the strongest growth in professional and business services, construction, healthcare and food services, according to the data released by the US Labor Department.
However, there was little improvement in December for part-time workers wishing to work more hours, and average hourly earnings fell by 5 cents after rising 6 cents in November.
The fall in the jobless rate was largely due to a drop in the number of people seeking work.
Over the whole of 2014, job creation averaged 246,000 a month.
Source-
Chris Brown Ready To Marry Karrueche Tran, But Still Love Rihanna
Chris Brown is ready to walk down the isle with his current girlfriend Karrueche Tran. But that doesn’t mean Rihanna is totally out of the equation.
Brown and Tran briefly split over the holidays but reconciled just before Christmas.
During their split Chris Brown went on a rant during a concert and also on social media accusing his on-again off-again girlfriend of cheating on him with Drake while he was being rot in jail for months. Both Tran and Drizzy denied the allegations.
Breezy later apologize saying he love her and that he was just emotional.
Source connected to the couple also told Urban Islandz that Brown is acknowledging his flaws and want to grow up and to prove that he wants to marry her and start a family.
“He knows his flaws and lately he has been more accepting of them and everyone can see he is trying really hard to work on them, we all know Chris love Karrueche and she is a great girl. But there comes a time when he will have to step up to the plate and he is starting to do that,” the source told us.
“He told his close friends that to prove himself to her and the world he is going to marry her,” the source added.
The couple spend Christmas together with his family and some of her family.
“Today was a really inspiring day and also a Great CHRISTMAS. Being able to bring people together with joy and laughter is something we need,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Chris will always love Rihanna but he knows deep down that he may have lost any chance he had with her for good. Their last breakup wasn’t really pleasant but it happens and you can’t go back in time and change what happen,” the source says.
“No one really understand the connection between him (Chris Brown) and Rihanna except them. But people have grown up like we all do and grown up decisions will have to be made,” the source revealed.
Since their reconciliation during the holiday, Chris Brown has been spoiling Karrueche Tran with gifts and affection.
He bought her a dog and some diamond ring for Chris Brown and we’re told he is planning an over the top surprise for her for Valentine’s Day.
West Indies beat South Africa by four wickets
West Indies defeated South Africa by four wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series at Newlands here Friday.
Scores:
SOUTH AFRICA 165 for four off 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 51 not out, Faf du Plessis 38, David Miller 24; Sheldon Cottrell 2-33)
WEST INDIES 168 for six off 19.2 overs (Chris Gayle 77, Marlon Samuels 41,Dwayne Smith 20; Imran Tahir 3-28, Wayne Parnell 2-39)
CARICOM issues message of condolence to the Government and people of France
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has extended its deepest condolences to the Government and people of France following the ‘despicable attack’ on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo which resulted in the deaths of journalists and policemen.
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in his message, said the savage attack on one of the pillars of democracy, freedom of expression, is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a free press. He said the 12 people slaughtered will have laid down their lives in defence of a basic tenet of a free society.
Masked men armed with assault rifles stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices on Wednesday killing twelve persons, including two policemen, and wounding eleven others.
The full text of the message reads:
“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is horrified at the despicable attack on the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo resulting in the deaths of both journalists and policemen.
This savage attack on one of the pillars of democracy, freedom of expression, is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a free press. The 12 people slaughtered will have laid down their lives in defence of a basic tenet of a free society.
The Community extends its deepest condolences to the Government and people of France, the proprietors of the publication and especially the families of those tragically cut down in this senseless act of cowardice.”
Source-CMC
France 'faced down' attacks but still under threat says Hollande
France "faced down" Islamists who were behind the deaths of 17 people in three days of attacks but still remains threatened, the country's president and prime minister said Friday.
Speaking in a televised address shortly after commandos killed the three gunmen responsible for the wave of terror, Hollande hailed the "courage" of French security forces -- but said France "has not finished with the threats targeting it".
Prime Minister Manuel Valls, speaking separately to TF1 television, said: "We are confronting an unprecedented terrorist challenge."
Valls said of this week's violence: "There will be a before and an after of what happened."
Paris has been on its highest state of alert since Wednesday when two of the gunmen stormed the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper, killing 12 people.
Fears of a jihadist campaign took hold the next day when a policewoman in a southern Paris district was murdered in the street by a third gunmen.
On Friday, events came to a climax with two hostage-takings, in Paris and in a town to the northeast by the Islamist gunmen. French commandos simultaneously stormed both sites, killing the men.
Hollande said "these fanatics have nothing to do with the Muslim religion" -- a message aimed at preventing a backlash against France's Muslim community, Europe's biggest, which is estimated at over four million.
He called the hostage-taking in Paris, which took place in a Jewish supermarket in the capital's east, "an appalling anti-Semitic act". More than a dozen people held by the gunman were freed after the commando raid, but four others died.
He also called for public vigilance and unity.
The horrific wave of violence elicited statements of sympathy and support for France from around the world. On Sunday, a mass rally to honour the dead and condemn the week's violence is planned in Paris. Hollande said he would attend the rally, together with several foreign leaders, including the leaders of Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy.
Valls, meanwhile, vowed the government would investigate the events of the week to answer several "legitimate" questions. Among them how the gunmen -- who were known to the police, and two of whom were on a US no-fly list -- could mount such operations.
"We owe a duty of truth to the victims, to their families, and to our compatriots," he said.
Source-AFP
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM WEST INDIES CRICKETER KIERAN POWELL
Following recent media and public speculation regarding my absence from regional and international cricket, I would like to make known the following:
During the conclusion of the first West Indies vs New Zealand Test match in Jamaica in June of last year (2014), I requested a meeting with West Indies Team Manager Richie Richardson and the then-Coach, Otis Gibson, in the Team Room we had been allocated at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
At this meeting I advised them that I would be needing to take a break from international cricket to deal with a personal issue. The conversation concluded with Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson conveying their understanding and stating that they hoped that I would return to the West Indies squad as soon as I was available to do so. I had then relayed a detailed account of that same conversation, in writing, to my own Management, so as to have made them aware of my actions.
Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson went onto assure me that their next steps would include advising West Indies Board officials, including West Indies Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus, Head of Cricket Operations, Roland Holder and the West Indies Selection Panel at the time, that I had made myself unavailable and that they would be advising the Team Media Manager to put out a Press Release to announce my forthcoming absence from the team.
I then went back to my hotel room and received a phone call around 20-30 minutes later from the then-Chairman of Selectors, Clyde Butts, requesting that I come to his room. I duly did so and Mr. Butts proceeded to advise me during our meeting, that he had been informed of my
decision and wished me the best of luck but hoped that I resolved my personal issues quickly so that I could re-join the team as soon as possible. I had built a very good rapport with Mr. Butts over the years and his support meant a lot to me. I left his room feeling that my situation at the time was made clear to the primary parties within the immediate Team Management structure.
On Friday the 13th of June, 2014, the day after I had advised the Team Manager and Coach of my unavailability, I was asked to complete a Performance Review by Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson, which took place in Mr. Richardson's room that morning.
Following the above meetings, I was not given any further steps nor indications that anyone else would be attempting to contact me. I assumed, even if anyone did wish to contact me, that there were several modes available for them to contact me by, including via my Manager, who also represents Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin and Richie Richardson; or via my father, who, himself, is a former West Indies Cricket Board Director and is a close associate of several Board officials, including West Indies Cricket Board President, Dave Cameron.
The next actions I saw in relation to my request for leave of absence from the team, was when a Media Release from the West Indies Cricket Board stated that myself and Marlon Samuels had been "axed," despite the fact that I had asked for time off for a personal reason days before any such Release had gone to press.
The next contact I received from anyone within the West Indies Management structure, thereafter, was from Mr. Gibson in the first week of July, to check on my well-being. He then contacted me again in the last week of July - again, to check on my well-being. No mention of my return to cricket was discussed in either phone call. Mr. Richardson had also contacted my father and my Manager on several occasions regarding me.
Furthermore, Mr. Cameron, had inquired from my father about my return to international cricket, on more than one occasion, particularly during the period of the 2014 Caribbean Premier League. Mr. Cameron had gone so far as to ask my father to request that I contact him, which I did immediately.
During my initial conversation with Mr. Cameron, he stated that he had not been made aware by anyone in the Board or Team Management, of the circumstances surrounding my leave of absence from the West Indies team. This obviously bewildered me as I knew that not only had I had a meeting with the Manager and the then-Coach of the West Indies team on the 12th of June, but I had also had a chat with the Chairman of Selectors that same evening, following the announcement of my decision.
Mr. Cameron went onto agree that the Board had a duty of care towards me as a player and that he did not feel due process had been followed. During my conversation with Mr. Cameron, I made it clear that not only had I had a meeting with Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson on the 12th of June outlining my circumstances and my request for leave of absence, but that I had also seemingly received their support on the matter at the time.
Mr. Cameron then went onto re-iterate that he felt I remained a strong contender for the role of future Captain of the West Indies team; a statement which he had made in public and in the media, and a statement which I was humbled by.
Given the mis-communication and mis-management following my meeting with Mr. Richardson and Mr. Gibson, I ensured that my Management was in the room when I had the (phone) conversation with Mr Cameron, on this occasion.
By this time, because I was frequently being inquired about and contacted by Board officials and Team Management, I revisited my position and made the decision to make myself available for the West Indies' tour of India in September.
I spoke with current Coach, Stuart Williams, on the 11th of September regarding returning to the international team. The conversation was positive and Mr Williams asked that I take the relevant measures to ensure my re-admission into the team. I then contacted the now Chairman of Selectors, Mr. Clive Lloyd, as well as Mr. Cameron and Mr. Pybus.
During my conversation with Mr. Cameron, I communicated my wishes to make myself available for international cricketing duties again. This time there was an awkward hesitancy throughout the conversation - less than four weeks after our initial conversation where he had been extremely encouraging about my return to international duty. He stated during our conversation that I had not been practicing, which was assumed on his part. He then asked me to contact Mr. Pybus, which I immediately did.
During my conversation with Mr. Pybus, he stated that he had made numerous attempts to contact me but had been unsuccessful. I responded that various people from both the Board and Team Management, had by then, contacted me several times, including the President of the Board and the Coaches and Manager of the West Indies team, therefore, I was baffled as to why Mr. Pybus would have been unable to contact me. Furthermore, he claimed that I had simply "walked off the job" when this was utterly untrue. I had explicitly made my unavailability known to both the Team Manager and the then-Coach. In fact, the Media Release put out by the West Indies Cricket Board announcing the team for the second Test against New Zealand back in June 2014, went so far as to say that I had been "axed", when I had already made myself unavailable.
Mr. Pybus insisted that I write a letter to him outlining my plans to return to cricket. He also pressed me to divulge details of my personal issue which I did not wish to discuss. He then went onto imply, in my opinion, that my future position in the squad would be compromised if I was not willing to disclose this information, which I felt was coercive, intrusive and unjust. He went onto suggest that I return to grass-roots level cricket, in my bid to make a comeback. In my mind, I immediately compared this to other situations in the recent past, in which senior players in the West Indies team, had not been expected to follow same protocol and I wondered: why me?
Following this conversation, I felt confused and flabbergasted as I had been contacted numerous times by Board officials and Team Management regarding my return to international cricket. Having made myself available, I felt I was now being made an example of.
On the 26th and 27th of September, I was sent several messages requesting that I contact West Indies selector Courtney Browne as a matter of extreme urgency. I spoke with Mr Browne who conferenced called in Chairman of Selectors, Mr. Lloyd. The reason for the call, they advised, was simply to inform me that they had not forgotten me. Mr. Lloyd went onto say that he felt that I was a future leader for the West Indies team. The call ended shortly after this. The episode left me astonished and befuddled as it seemed completely nonsensical that senior officials would contact me so vehemently and with such urgency, simply to advise me that they had not forgotten me.
However, determined to seal my position back in the West Indies squad, I called both selectors back separately and advised them both of my immediate availability. I specifically asked whether there was a possibility of being selected for the West Indies' tour of India. I was not provided with a firm answer by the selectors, but I persisted and asked whether I may be considered for the West Indies A team tour of Sri Lanka, so as to prove my match fitness, because there was no domestic cricket on in the Caribbean region at the time. Again, I was not provided with a firm answer. Feeling deflated and confused by several months of roller coaster events, I made a firm decision to take a step away from the game in its entirety, to reflect and refresh.
There have been numerous reports in the media and in the public domain about my absence from the game of cricket, ranging from alleged struggles with "acute fatigue syndrome" to apparently being "in exile." My Management has also been unfairly condemned for not speaking out about my absence from cricket. I would like to categorically, state on record that I am doing well and remain focused but that I am taking time away from the game. While I appreciate the support and loyalty I have received from people around the world, I would like to use this opportunity to ask that the media and the public respect my right to privacy and I look forward to returning to international cricket and to the game I love so dearly, in the near future.