Dominica Labour Party wins 15-seat victory
The Dominica Labour Party (DLP) has recorded a historic feat by winning a fourth consecutive term in office.
The DLP won the 8 December 2014 general election with fifteen (15) out of 21 constituencies while the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) won six (6) seats.
The DLP won the following seats;
1. Castle Bruce Constituency by 154 votes,
2. Grand Fond Constituency by 12 votes,
3. Cottage Constituency by 836 votes,
4. Portsmouth by 1032 votes,
5. Soufriere by 506 votes,
6. Paix Bouche by 916 votes,
7. Vieille Case by 902 votes,
8. Roseau Valley by 102 votes,
9. Petite Savanne by 673 votes,
10. La Plaine by 154 votes,
11. Mahaut by 397 votes,
12. Grand Bay by 1060 votes,
13. Salybia by 729 votes,
14. Colihaut by 484 votes,
15. St Joseph by 197 votes
The United Workers Party won the following seats;
1. Roseau North by 578 votes,
2. Roseau Central by 45 votes,
3. Roseau South by 243 votes and
4. Salisbury by 304 votes
5. Marigot by 636 votes and
6. Wesley by 132 votes
The Dominica Labour Party is headed to Benjamin’s Park in Portsmouth to celebrate the victory.
Source-Dominica Vibes News
FBI official says 'no attribution' to North Korea in Sony hack probe
A senior FBI official said on Tuesday that the agency has not confirmed widely held suspicions that North Korea is behind the unprecedented cyber attack on Sony's Hollywood studio.
"There is no attribution to North Korea at this point," Joe Demarest, assistant director with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's cyber division, said while speaking on a panel at a cybersecurity conference sponsored by Bloomberg Government.
The comment casts at least some doubt on the widely held belief that North Korea has definitely been determined to be the culprit in the massive attack on the Hollywood studio, leaving room for other theories to emerge.
Cybersecurity researchers who have analyzed the malicious software used in the attack say that technical indicators suggest North Korean hackers launched the attack. People close to separate investigations being conducted by Sony and the government have told Reuters that North Korea is a principal suspect, yet a North Korean diplomat has denied that his nation is involved.
Demarest also said that there has been no confirmation of government involvement to date, though he did not elaborate.
FBI spokesman Joshua Campbell said the agency is continuing its search for the attackers but had no additional information.
Demarest's brief comments were the first public remarks by a senior FBI official about its investigation into the unprecedented attack on U.S. soil. Hackers stole vast quantities of data, then used malicious software to wipe data on computers, shutting down much of the Sony Corp unit's network for more than a week.
FBI representatives plan to meet with Sony employees on Wednesday to provide them training in cybersecurity practices, Campbell said.
Source-Reuters
US Supreme Court rejects BP's oil spill challenge
The US Supreme Court has rejected oil giant British Petroleum's (BP) legal challenge to a compensation deal over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
It means BP will have to make the payments that stem from the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
BP argued that the deal meant it could fall prey to inflated or bogus compensation claims.
The settlement agreement has no cap, but BP initially estimated that it would pay roughly US$7.8 billion to compensate victims.
It now says it can no longer give a reliable estimate for how much the deal will cost.
Windies name World Cup 30
The West Indies Cricket Board Selection Panel yesterday named the 30-man provisional squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2015.
The squad includes several players who are yet to play at the One-Day International level.
These are left arm seamer Kenroy Peters; Imran Khan, the experienced leg-spinning allrounder; off-spinner Ashley Nurse; 19-year-old fast bowler Marquino Mindley; Evin Lewis, the 22-year-old left-handed opener and Jonathan Carter, the left-hander from Barbados.
West Indies will play in Pool “B” in the preliminary round of the 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup. They will do battle alongside defending champions India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.
Before the tournament West Indies will have warm-up matches against England and Scotland.
Full Squad: (Barbadian players in bold) – Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Imran Khan, Leon Johnson, Evin Lewis, Nikita Miller, Marquino Mindley, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kenroy Peters, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.
West Indies Match Schedule
Monday, Feb 9: warm-up vs England – SCG, Sydney (day/night)
Thursday, Feb 12: warm-up vs Scotland – SCG, Sydney
Monday, Feb 16: vs Ireland – Saxton Oval, Nelson
Saturday, Feb 21: vs Pakistan – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Tuesday, Feb 24: vs Zimbabwe – Munaka Oval, Canberra (day/night)
Friday, Feb 27: vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney (day/night)
Friday, Mar 6: vs India – WACA Ground, Perth (day/night)
Sunday, Mar 15: vs United Arab Emirates – McLean Park, Napier
Man arrested after dawn raids in Bermuda
Police staged an early-morning swoop in three parishes today as the hunt intensified for those responsible for the murder of Prince Edness on Sunday.
As a result, a 20-year-old Southampton man is in police custody and another man is still being sought by police.
A police spokesman said: “We would like to apologise to all the affected neighbourhoods that may have been inconvenienced as a result of our activity.
“We would also like to thank members of the public who have worked with the police and encourage continued community assistance to bring the offenders to justice.”
Armed police were present in force in the area of Shelton Road, Devonshire, and Curving Avenue, Pembroke, at about 6am. There was a similar action in Southampton.
Mr Edness was murdered on Sunday at about 8pm after being chased to a residence in the area of South Avenue and Sunnyside Park in Southampton. Early responders from the Bermuda Police Service took up pursuit, but the chase was abruptly ended when the gunmen turned fire on an officer, disabling his vehicle on Middle Road.
In keeping with a new initiative that began in September, when Police targeted drugs at a Deepdale residence, members of the Police Community Action Team fanned through the surrounding areas to keep residents informed.
This morning, operations began in Shelton Road, off Happy Valley Road, before proceeding towards Curving Avenue, where the road was shut to traffic for a period.
Meanwhile, in the Seymour Drive area of Southampton, off Middle Road, a team of officers have been on foot to communicate with residents.
Police are advising residents Island-wide to come forward with any information that may assist in the case, no matter how irrelevant it may seem.
Source-The Royal Gazette
Ministry of Education Prepares for 18th Annual National Academic Awards
On October 28th 2014, the National Academic Awards Council on External Examinations accepted the recommendation of the Sub-Committee for the list of awardees that will be recognized at the 18th Annual National Academic Awards Ceremony. The Ministry accepts the recommendation of this committee and congratulates all the students on a job well done.
The basic criteria guiding their selection is that each student had to pass Mathematics and English A as a part of a minimum of five (5) subjects passed over four external examination sittings; two in fourth form and two in fifth form.
One hundred seventeen (117) students from eight secondary schools around the country qualified to be recognized at this year’s ceremony. Twenty-seven more students qualified to be recognized this year as opposed to the total from last year. Our students are therefore working to attain the new standard and this is very encouraging.
The performances of the students will be recognized in five (5) award categories. They are as follows:
Presentation 1 - Student’s passing 5 to 9 subjects (86 students)
Students passing 10 or more subjects (26 students)
Presentation 2 - Students Passing English A and Mathematics
Presentation 3 - Best Performing Student By Category (Business, Foreign Languages, Hospitality, Humanities, Science, Technical/Vocational Education, Prevocational/Career Development Education (3 students))
Presentation 4 - Students Attaining 5 or more General 1’s or A’s at one sitting
Presentation 5 - Best Performing Students – (the recipients of National Scholarships)
The honour of hosting this year’s ceremony goes to Wesley Methodist School on the strength of the performance of Leroy Penn. He amassed fourteen passes over the period of his eligibility. Natalia Williams of the H.J. Robinson High School captured second place and third place goes to Devonte' Smith of British West Indies Collegiate.
Worthy of recognition are Natalia Williams of the H.J. Robinson High School and Krischan Cox of Marjorie Basden High School who earned positions on the CXC Regional Merit Lists. The lists highlight the top ten performers that sat examinations in the entire region in the various subjects for a particular sitting. Natalia Williams tied for tenth position in Food and Nutrition out of ten thousand one hundred fourty six (10,146) students. Krischan Cox tied for seventh position in the subject Building Technology : Woods out of a total of two thousand three hundred eighty (2,380) students.
Students from Government schools sat examinations in thirty (30) subjects; up from twenty-nine the previous year, the additional subject was Economics. Out of thirty (30) subjects sat twenty three (23) subjects had pass rates between 70 % and 100 %. While Mathematics did not fall into that category the pass rate improved to 54.72%.
Generally we continue to perform exceptionally well in the practical areas, the Pure Sciences and Business Studies. In the practical areas, with the exception of Visual Arts which was already attaining 100% passes, Building Technology: Construction and Woodwork, Technical Drawing, Food and Nutrition, Clothing and Home Economics Management all improved upon last years pass rate. Collectively, the pass rate for the subjects was 92.84%
In the Business area, Principles of Business, Office Administration, Electronic Document Preparation and Management and Information Technology all improved upon last years pass rate. Collectively, the pass rate for the area was 88.71%.
When we add the performances of students from non-government schools, which continue to show improvement in the quality and quantity of the passes earned, clearly and undeniably, our schools despite their challenges are making strides in the right direction. They are accomplishing it through hard work and dedication, and anchored on the guidance, encouragement and wisdom of dedicated and committed teachers and parents. This is a trend that the National Council hopes will be the norm for the majority of students attending our educational institutions around the country.
While this is encouraging, what is also undeniable is that there is still room for improvement. As a result, on our end, we will continue to take initiatives geared towards encouraging our students to strive to continue to improve the quality of their results.
In closing, the National Academic Awards Council congratulates all of the awardees that will be recognized at this year’s ceremony. We also encourage the administrations of the various schools, in conjunction with their teachers and supported by parents to continue to foster an environment that encourages students to strive for excellence.
Further, the Council extends an invitation to the public to join us at the Wesley Methodist School, in Providenciales on Friday, December 12th at 10:00 am as we recognize the accomplishments of our students.
CWC and Columbus Promise to Protect Consumer Interest
Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International today announced plans to launch a series of special “Customer Panels” in 14 markets throug- Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) and Columbus International today announced plans to launch a series of special “Customer Panels” in 14 markets throughout the region, beginning Monday, December 8, 2014.
Designed to spark a constructive discussion about the proposed merger, these panels will present customers of both companies with a direct and organized platform to voice their concerns, share their opinions and express their service expectations. The panels will also provide the two companies with an opportunity to gain first-hand feedback to aid in the development of a new, consolidated strategy built around their customers’ appeals.
CWC and Columbus will also use the panels to give customers and stakeholders a greater understanding of how the merger will impact the Pan-Caribbean region. These discussions will highlight the pro-competitive nature of this deal, as well as the far-reaching benefits it will have on the development of the region’s infrastructure and the furthering of its general information and communication technology (ICT) agenda.
John Reid, president of Columbus Communications indicated that, “our goal is to meet or exceed customer expectations and place their needs at the very heart of the combined company. These panels provide an excellent opportunity for our customers to understand the vision of the new Company and the benefits that they will enjoy as a result of this merger”.
While both companies have engaged in similar events in the past, these customer panels will provide CWC and Columbus with a chance to directly address this unique situation. Given their ambition to become the region’s first 21st-century telecommunications provider, the panels will allow the organizations to make informed decisions, once approvals are given and when they are ready to consolidate their efforts to make the new
Cable & Wireless Communications’ Shareholders Vote Overwhelmingly in Favour of Merger with Columbus International
Shareholders of Cable & Wireless Communications plc (“CWC”), the parent company of LIME, today voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Columbus International Inc. (“Columbus”), operator of the consumer brand, Flow.
Following the announcement of the transaction on 6 November 2014, shareholders attended a General Meeting in London today to vote on the merger and demonstrated their support by voting almost nine in ten shareholders in favour of the deal.
The combined business of CWC and Columbus will deliver broader pro-consumer product offerings and improved services; inject state-of-the-art TV and next-generation super-high-speed broadband technology into the combined business; deliver huge cost saving and operational efficiency opportunities to the Business and Government sectors and provide rapid and seamless fixed mobile convergence through a premier network platform.
The combination of the two companies is consistent with global industry trends where convergence of fixed and mobile networks, increasing content consumption growth, and continuing development of online applications are driving requirements for higher bandwidth, fixed line networks and TV capabilities.
Commenting on today’s shareholder approval, Sir Richard Lapthorne, CWC's Chairman said:
"I speak for the whole Board when I say that we are very pleased we have received shareholder approval for this acquisition which will significantly enhance CWC's growth profile and accelerate the progress towards each of the strategic goals we unveiled in May. It will also create a fully converged telecommunications business which, with the support of host Governments and Regulators, will provide the Caribbean with leading edge communications capabilities that will be as good as anywhere in the world."
Phil Bentley, CWC's Chief Executive Officer said:
"We know we have to work closely with Governments and Regulators to ensure that our customers benefit and that competition is not compromised - and that's a commitment we've happily made to all our stakeholders; a commitment we intend to uphold.
In the discussions we have already had with Governments and the Regulators, we have emphasised our belief that this transaction will be good for bringing further investment to our markets. The merger is good for our employees, the communities we serve and, most importantly, our current and future customers.”
Deputy Premier attends state recognized funeral service for Dr. Myles Munroe
Hon. Akierra Missick, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth & Library Services travelled to Nassau, Bahamas last week to attend the funeral of Dr. Myles Munroe. Mary Lightbourne Head of Secretariat, in the Deputy Premiers Office, joined Hon. Missick.
A commemoration service for Dr. Myles & Pastor Ruth Ann Munroe took place on Wednesday, 3rd December 2014 at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
The result of a tragic plane crash on 9th November 2014, Dr. Munroe and eight others passed away while trying to land at the Grand Bahamas International Airport. He is survived by his son Chairo and daughter Charissa.
Hon Missick said; "The world has lost a giant of a man and we mourn and celebrate with the people of the Bahamas today.
“I was proud to be able to share the people of Turks & Caicos Islands condolences with our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas including the Prime Minister, Hon. Perry Christie.”
Members of TCIG Trained by Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Ministry of Health is was represented at a workshop sponsored by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) which was geared at bolstering the Region’s preparedness for Ebola and other high risk threats by strengthening of capabilities of Caribbean Member States to manage possible outbreak situations.
The “Infectious Shipping Training” (November 17-19, 2014) focused on categorization, packaging and shipping of infectious substances. Successful participants received certification for a period of two years to package and ship Category A, infectious substances. The training was done in accordance with The World Health Organization (WHO) Guidance on regulations for the Transport of Infectious Substances 2013-2014.
The purpose of the workshop was to remind laboratories of the procedures that they should follow at all times when handling samples. The participants learnt how to handle infectious substances safely and work in a safe laboratory by mitigating the risk.
Mr. Andrico Garland, Medical Technologist TCI Hospitalstated; “I was privileged to have been among 13 participants from 12 Caribbean countries. I am now an IATA certified Category A Professional and prepared to continue my contribution to TCIG”
Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith, Minister of Health & Human Services acknowledged; “The Turks and Caicos Islands now have 4 Medical Technologists Certified as Category A Professionals. These 4 Medical Technologists are the only persons trained to handle and package infectious substances such as Ebola specimens.
“In addition to being trained and certified, the participants who have been trained at this workshop will become trainers in their respective institutions and countries. This is another example of the Governments commitent to strengthen its internal resources by utilizing all opportunites to do so.”