PM Skerrit reiterates support to Venezuela
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has reiterated Dominica’s support to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Mr Skerrit reiterated that commitment in his address at the XIII Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Agreement (Alba-TCP) in Cuba which was held yesterday, Sunday 14 December 2014.
“Dominica stands in total and absolute solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela,” Mr Skerrit said.
“You can count on us at any time to stand with you in the defence of your independence, in defence of your sovereignty, in defence of the progressive results that you have made since the start of the Bolivarian Revolution under President Hugo Chavez,” he continued.
The Prime Minister noted that an attack on Venezuela “is an attack on Dominica, an attack on the Caribbean”.
Cabinet Meeting for December 10th,2015
His Excellency the Governor, Hon. Peter Beckingham, chaired 30th meeting of cabinet on Wednesday 10th December 2014 at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present.
Madam Attorney General (Acting), Ms Khalila Astwood was in attendance in the place of Madam Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles.
· Approved contract awards for Ambulances in Providenciales, Grand Turk, South Caicos, North and Middle Caicos; Designing a water osmosis plant in Salt Cay as well as repairs to Five Cays road.
· Approved request from Trial Enterprises for import duty concession assisting with the renovation and restoration if the Historic Turks Head Inn Hotel in Grand Turk.
· Approved business application submitted by Turks Fleet Ltd seeking permission to operate in a restricted business activity under the Business Licensing (Amendment)(No.3) Regulations 2014.
· The Limited Partnership Ordinance, Companies Ordinances, Mutual funds Ordinance and Trade Marks Ordinance would be referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers and FSC with a view to including these amendments within the draft Companies Ordinance and subsequent legislation.
· Approved the application for long lease over parcel 60602/204, 205, 340 and road subject to the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance.
· Approved application for crown land, South Suburb, Grand Turk subject to the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance.
· Agreed that the Ministry of Finance should draft Terms of Reference for the appointment of a Project Manager to oversee a 2 year project through the infrastructure fund to centralize the tour operators and vendors in Grand Turk. Also a recommendation to have permanent police presence in the Cruise Terminal beach areas of Grand Turk. Tourist Board to look at redeveloping Tourism Booth through infrastructure fund in the Cruise Terminal in Grand Turk.
· Crown land unit to identify a location for Tour Operators including establishment of a tour operator and vendors facility, a tourist board help desk and taxi despatch centre.
· Agreed to the tendering of works for dredging of navigational channel at Sandy Point, North Caicos so it would be open for safe use by mariners.
· Approval of a fast track booth in Providenciales for Diplomats.
· Approved the formation and recognition of the Turks and Caicos Islands Fishing Co-operative Inc.
· Received and noted the report of the proposed amendments to the National Parks Ordinance and undertook to review the National Parks Committee's recommendations and thereafter present the report for Consultation.
· Governor to liaise with officials in the Dominican Republic to discuss a common fisheries protection policy to protect TCI waters.
· Recognised the problems recently faced by TCIG Department and offices on Front Street, Grand Turk and would look to devise a short term and long term strategy to dealing with the storm surge issues.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
InterCaribbean Airways new Services in Haiti, Jamaica and Dominican Republic
InterCaribbean Airways is pleased to announce the commencement of new non-stop services to and from Kingston, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to Port au Prince, Haiti .
InterCaribbean Airways began scheduled services on December 13th 2014, between Kingston Normal Manley International Airport and Port au Prince, Haiti, and also Port au Prince to Santo Domingo International Airport. With high hopes for this service, the business and leisure traveler will be able to enjoy this new service in just an hour of travel time.
In concert with the mission of the Ministry of Tourism, and Minister Stephanie Villedrouin to increase flights and build Haiti as a leisure destination, these new services will extend the travel options for the visitors to neighboring islands as an easy means to travel to Haiti and extend their vacation stays.
Seats are on sale, and bookable immediately at interCaribbean.com or calling our call centers and visiting our airport locations. Customers may also visit their preferred travel agency.
Said Trevor Sadler CEO of interCaribbean Airways, "We are pleased to offer these new routes to give the more choices and more connectivity across the Caribbean and support Haiti as it grows its appeal to the vacation visitor, while facilitating new business opportunities. We look forward to increasing the frequency and number of destinations we serve in the new year."
Dominican military 'linked' to US$22.0M bank fraud
National District prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso on Tuesday called for international cooperation in the Banco Peravia bank US$22.0 million fraud case and revealed that several military officials are being investigated for alleged links.
She said several types of request have been made for international cooperation and that assets have been seized. She also said several accounts of the bank’s executives have been frozen.
Reynoso said she has yet to receive the audits from the Banks Superintendence.
"The prosecution has begun a process of judicial confiscation of property belonging to Peravia bank executives. Various assets, including real estate properties, an aircraft among others ...we have seized,” the official said.
TCI GOVERNOR APPOINTS NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER
A new Commissioner has been appointed to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), it was announced by the Governor, HE Peter Beckingham, today Wednesday 10 December.
James Smith will take up the position in charge of the 280 officers and staff of the RTCIPF in February 2015, following the conclusion of the contract of his predecessor, Canadian Colin Farquhar.
"I am delighted that we have secured the agreement of Jim Smith to take over as the next Police Commissioner this February. He brings the most senior experience from both the UK and Caribbean, having been an Assistant and Deputy Chief Constable in the UK, and was previously also Acting Police Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service" said Governor Peter Beckingham, who approves all senior public appointments in the Territory.
"He was a Commander in London’s Metropolitan Police Service, where he was involved in the response to the London terrorist bombings, and introduced neighbourhood policing, a concept which we might usefully further develop here. He was also a senior officer in the Scottish police. His experience makes him a first class leader to take forward the men and women of the RTCIPF into the next stage of their professional and organisational development."
The Governor also paid tribute to the outgoing Commissioner. "I would like to take this opportunity to publicly recognise the contribution of Commissioner Colin Farquhar to policing here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which continues to benefit from one of the lowest crime rates in the Caribbean and is widely recognised as a largely safe and welcoming destination for our residents and visitors. I wish him well as he resumes his policing career in Canada".
Commenting on his appointment James Smith said; “It is a tremendous honour to be appointed Commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. I believe that my experiences in the UK and overseas have a lot to offer my new RTCIPF colleagues, and I look forward to discussing with them their ideas as to how we can use this knowledge and practical experience to serve all the communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
The RTCIPF Commissioner role was advertised locally, regionally and internationally. It attracted a field of nearly 30 applicants. Six candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by a panel comprising the Governor, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, Attorney General, Cheryl Astwood-Tull, Chair, Human Rights Commission, and Larry Covington, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Regional Security Adviser to the Caribbean Overseas Territories and a former UK police officer. They made a unanimous decision to appoint Jim Smith.
Sonia Bien Aime honoured for her achievements in sports
As a WOMAN OF WORTH, she soared to the top and forefront for her integrity as a leader in football. Sonia Bien Aime, a native of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is one of two women who preside over a Football Association globally!
Friday night at the Regent Palms Resort; Sonia was honoured for her achievements and as she put it, "surpassing her expectations..."
Sonia credited her mother, Mae Alice Forbes and thanked as well past and present members of the TCIFA.
Glasses were raised to celebrate the accomplishment!
The Sparkle Gala event was hosted by Women in Sports. The Charge from 2014 and the first honouree is for all to do everything within their power to invest in the development of girls in sports!
Sandals Resorts Win Big At World Travel Awards
Sandals Resorts International was the big winner for the Caribbean this year at the World Travel Awards held at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa on Anguilla last night.
Sandals won nine of the top awards including for the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company; the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand and the Caribbean’s Leading Conference Hotel for its Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in the Bahamas.
The company, founded by Jamaican Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, the 2014 Invest Caribbean Now Leadership Awardee, also took home the awards for the Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort and the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort for Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa.
Sandals also won the title of the Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel and the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Suite for its Sky Pool Suites at Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort & Spa; the Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort for Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Tennis & Spa Resort, Great Exuma, Bahamas and the Caribbean’s Leading Resort for its Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort, Jamaica.
Here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa copped the World's Leading All Inclusive Family Resort Brand 2014.
Other top awards and the winners Sunday included:
World's Leading Honeymoon Resort 2014 went to the Amanyara
World's Leading Hotel Spa 2014 - The Regent Palms, Turks & Caicos
The Regent Palms also copped the World's Leading Hotel Spa 2014
Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator – Island Routes Caribbean Adventures
Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction – Dolphin Cove, Jamaica
Caribbean’s Leading Airline – Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean’s Leading Airport – Sangster International Airport, Jamaica
Caribbean’s Leading Airport Lounge - Club Mobay -Sangster International Airport, Jamaica
Some 300 international hospitality industry leaders attended the 21st year which was hosted this year by award-winning actress Vivica Fox.
“It has been a privilege to welcome the leaders of international hospitality here to Cruisin-Art Golf Resort & Spa and to the island of Anguilla. Tonight has been nothing short of sensational and my heartfelt thanks go out to all those who have made our Grand Final 2014 such a success,” said World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said. “Congratulations to all of our winners; this is the recognition you so richly deserve.”
InterCaribbean releases statement concerning flight incident
Shouts of happiness and relief as an Inter-Caribbean Airways flight safely made an emergency landing at the Providenciales International Airport Sunday.
The quick actions of crew members of an Inter-Caribbean Airways flight is being hailed as heroic, as many residents who had flocked to the Provo Airport after they had gotten word that the plane was in trouble, watched with bathed breath as the flight made its approach and came to rest on its nose.
The flight was in route to Grand Turk from Provo, had to turn back to Providenciales because the front landing gear would not deploy.
A statement from airline officials confirmed the aircraft, operated by Inter-Caribbean Airways was involved in an incident at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands December 7, 2014 at about 1:45 pm. “The aircraft, a Beech 99, was operating JY 141 between Providenciales and Grand Turk. The aircraft’s nose gear would not deploy for landing. The aircraft safely landed on the main runway and met by Turks & Caicos Aircraft Fire Services.
The aircraft was carrying 2 passengers and 2 crew members on-board operating a flight that departed from Providenciales to Grand Turk. There were no injuries to passengers or crew. The Inter-Caribbean Emergency procedures were activated and the full resources of the company were mobilized to respond to the incident. Inter-Caribbean in cooperating with Turks & Caicos Civil Aviation and the Airport authority to secure the site and removed the aircraft from the runway in approximately 1 hr.
“The care of our customers, crew members, and their families is our highest priority” said Inter-Caribbean Airways CEO, Trevor Sadler.
No further details were given. Sadler said additional information is expected to be released.
Kanye West and Usher to receive 2015 BET honours
US rapper Kanye West will receive the visionary award at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) honours.
The 37-year-old is one of five acts to be honoured for their achievements in art, music, theatre, technology and business at the ceremony.
R&B star Usher, whose hits include Yeah and Confessions, will receive the music award for his two-decade career.
Phylicia Rashad, best known in the UK as The Cosby Show's Clair Huxtable, is to receive the theatrical arts award.
Her credits on Broadway and in regional theatre include August: Osage County, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Medea and Raisin in the Sun, for which she won a Tony Award.
Director of the National Museum of African Art, Dr Johnnetta Betsch Cole, will pick up the education award.
John W Thompson, who replaced Bill Gates as chairman of Microsoft earlier this year, will be honoured with the technology and business award.
West, who among the acts being rumoured as a headliner for next year's Glastonbury Festival, is one of the most successful rappers of his generation.
His sonically adventurous, genre-defying albums have generated hits like Gold Digger, Stronger and Black Skinhead, while his innovative live performances have incorporated ballet, Margiela masks and striking production design from Britain's Es Devlin.
The performer's notoriously spiky interviews and awards show interventions have also made headlines around the world.
The BET Awards were established in 2001 to honour African Americans and other minorities working in multiple disciplines.
Past honourees include Dr Maya Angelou, who received the literary arts award in 2012 and Whitney Houston, who received the entertainers award in 2010.
The 2015 Honours, presented by Wayne Brady, will take place at the Warner Theatre in Washington on 24 January and will be shown on the BET channel on 23 February.
Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest
A Palestinian minister has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank.
Palestinian medics told the BBC Ziad Abu Ein had died from complications related to tear gas exposure.
But several witnesses said the minister had been hit and shoved by soldiers. One said he had been hit in the chest by a tear-gas canister fired by them.
Israel's Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon expressed regret for the minister's death in a statement.The Israeli military (IDF) said it was investigating the incidents surrounding Mr Ein's death.
Israeli and Jordanian experts would attend a post-mortem examination, the IDF said. It has also proposed setting up a joint team with the Palestinians to investigate Mr Abu Ein's death.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation into the death and urged "all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid escalation".
Following the incident dozens of Palestinians reportedly gathered at the scene, near the village of Turmusaya, setting fire to tyres and throwing stones at security forces.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) meeting in Ramallah following news of the death of the minister, whom he called a "martyr".
Source-BBC