“TOURISM IS KEY…UNLOCK ITS POSSIBILITIES” SAYS PREMIER
My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, the month of November marks the official start of our Tourist Season, and it is with a profound sense of gratitude and thanks to God, that despite the many challenges facing the world and the world’s economies, it is with perseverance and fortitude we are blessed to usher in, what is projected to be, yet another remarkable year in Tourism and tourist arrivals to the shores of these beautiful islands.
Tourism remains a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounting for more than 50% directly and indirectly, and employing over 32% of our nation’s population. Thanks to this well-developed industry, our tourist arrivals rose 10% from 968,000 visitors in 2012, to just over 1 million in 2013 and these figures are projected to be far surpassed this year, as visitor arrivals for the first quarter of 2014 boasted an astounding 41% over the same period in the previous year.
Our continued growth speaks of a well-developed industry that has proven to be robust and resilient to the effects of the failing world economies and continues to support our economy and to appeal to travelers, largely from North America, Europe and the Caribbean.
Our unique product which goes above and beyond the sun, sand and sea, is a portfolio of high end luxury condo hotels, vacation villas and amenities and a diversity of natural attractions, people and local culture across our archipelago of islands that delivers on our promised values of total visitor satisfaction. It is estimated that there will be a further $600 million in hotel, condo and marina investment injected into our economy over the next two years. It is on the solidity of the performance and projections of our vibrant tourism industry that the Standards & Poors Credit Rating Agency rated us as a BBB+ with a stable outlook most recently.
While we must recognize and appreciate the success of our tourism industry, and celebrate the thousands of employees who serve our many guests, we cannot afford to become complacent or take our industry for granted. There has evolved today a new era in Tourism, and we must prove to be agile and adaptable in our efforts to meet the ever-changing needs of the traveler.
In 2013, the traditionally slow months of June, July and August showed the highest increase for the year in stop-over visitors over the same period in 2012 and this trend is now extending into the lowest months of September and October, as we introduce new programmes and initiatives to attract visitors to our shores. The once clearly defined seasonal tourism, to which we are accustomed, is slowly evolving to be a year-round cycle, and this is excellent news for the many businesses and households that thrive on this industry. But this paradigm shift brings with it different travelers with different expectations than before, which challenges us to do things differently than we did before.
We have indeed been blessed to experience continuous growth in tourist arrivals, especially in the face of the fiercely competitive travel destination market, but we can no longer merely talk about sustainable tourism. If we are serious about retaining our position as a formidable destination of choice, we must be ready to continuously rethink and redesign our strategic approach to tourism, as manifested in our efforts to meet the needs our guests as well as our efforts to capture the attention of the modern-day traveler.
We are therefore challenged to be accountable as a Government, as a country and as a people, to don our social responsibility to do our utmost to protect and develop our tourism product. Towards this end, we are currently preparing a revised National Tourism Strategic Plan which will be the framework for the sustainability of the industry and guide the nature of development and policies for the future. But there is also a need for each of us to also play our part in keeping our beautiful islands clean of refuse and free from pollution and communicable diseases that can also be major deterrents for visitors.
We are challenged to break free of our comfort zones and be innovative in our approach to the modernization and relevance of our industry. We must seek to develop a framework of cutting-edge technological networking, secured financial resourcing and responsible product diversification that will deliver sustainable economic growth and stability while building our resilience to the many environmental, health and social threats in border security, natural disasters, diseases and other health issues that threaten economies the world over, especially in small island developing states.
Tourism in these beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands must continue to stand apart from the rest, in offering the finest in seven-star luxury and culturally rich experiences for our visitors while promoting the safety and security of guests and residents alike. We must continue our efforts in promoting responsible sustainable economic growth and development for the preservation of nature’s gift of earth, to ensure that we, and generations to come, benefit from the natural aesthetics of this stunning archipelago of islands that we call home.
Tourism is our key and I believe that we can, and must, unlock its possibilities, but we can only do so together. This requires commitment from us all and it requires partnerships with Government, corporations and other organizations for a revolutionary approach to supporting and promoting our tourism industry.
May God continue to richly bless these beautiful by nature Islands.
REMARKS MADE BY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AT THE OPENING OF TOURISM CONFERENCE
“The new vision of the tourism policy for the TCI”.
Colleagues, leaders in the tourism sector, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
I am delighted to have been asked to extend greetings to you in such an important forum. You will, over the next two days, help to shape the new vision of the tourism policy for the TCI. I say welcome to this Beautiful by Nature Isle to those that are visiting.
I have no doubt that for the foreseeable future, tourism will remain the mainstay of our country’s economy. I am equally convinced that there is much more we can do to improve our product and offering to satisfy and woo our guests. There must be a deliberate plan and course of action concerning this and this is the all important first step. Though we term this a “new vision”, there must remain certain consistencies and determinations without compromise – it must be sustainable; it must be trendy and flexible; we must continue an open dialogue with those whom we cater to; we must attempt to keep their experience unique and exclusive; and extremely important, it must be environmentally friendly.
The greater success of our tourism product depends on these type for guiding and informing us periodically. We must have a continuing dialogue with those to whom we cater and a buy in by all residents who must understand the role we each play in making and maintaining this country as a leading premier destination.
I congratulate the Tourist Board and the Ministry, as well as those of you who consider yourselves stakeholders. You have shown that this is important enough to participate with your presence and ideas.
Apple iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus coming to LIME Caribbean Markets
LIME, the only authorised carrier in the English-speaking Caribbean of the Apple® iPhone® 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, has announced their expected arrival just in time for the holiday season.
Considered globally as the most sought-after smartphones to hit the market, the arrival of this latest innovation in the line of iPhones to LIME Caribbean markets is eagerly awaited.
The roll out of iPhones within the region, courtesy of LIME, starts from mid-November and will be available in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Martin Roos, CEO LIME Caribbean said, “It’s time to upgrade to the biggest advancement in iPhone history - iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus. Once again LIME is pleased to be the carrier of choice to deliver the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to the region. Our aim is to deliver the best handset range, value-packed data propositions and ultimately great customer experience where the customer defines excellence.”
The LIME Caribbean CEO also added, “This collaboration with Apple to provide the world’s most in-demand smartphones for the people of the Caribbean is further evidence of our commitment. We are in an exciting phase of our upgrade journey and the coming of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus also reinforces that.”
iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus feature stunning 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina® HD displays and are packed with innovative technologies in an all-new dramatically thin and seamless design that is still comfortable to hold and easy to use. Both models are better in every way, and include: the Apple-designed A8 chip with second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture for blazing fast performance and power efficiency; advanced iSight® and FaceTime® HD cameras; and ultrafast wireless technologies.
The new iPhones come with iOS 8, the biggest release since the App Store℠, featuring a simpler, faster and more intuitive user experience with new Messages and Photos features, predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType™ keyboard and Family Sharing. iOS 8 also includes iCloud Drive℠, so you can store your documents and access them from anywhere.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users also have access to the revolutionary App Store, which offers more than 1.3 million apps to iPhone, iPad® and iPod touch® users in 155 countries around the world.
PDM'S SHADOW MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT CELEBRATES WITH NATIONAL TRUST
The PDM Shadow Minister for the Environment on Friday, October 31st, 2014 together with a small group led by the National Trust walked the Bird Rock Point Field Trail.
This activity was preceded by the Official Opening Ceremony at Bird Rock Point in Long Bay, which saw the attendance of various stakeholders including the Hon Leader of the Opposition, Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson.
"It is so important that we protect our heritage and our natural environment. For me, it brought back memories of stories told to me by my mother who walked this field trail while playing vital roles in the trade industry of yesteryear. It was certainly a privilege to be a part of the first group to tour this historical site.
I wish to encourage persons to embrace the opportunity and expose our children, residents and tourists to this positive and beautiful part of our history. I wish to remind us all that protecting these sites is everyone's business" says Hon Ewing. " I also wish to extend my very best wishes to the Natural Trust and pledge my support and that of my Party to your continued and sterling efforts to preserve and protect our heritage."
The development of Bird Rock Point is the current project of the Turks and Caicos National Trust. It consists of 111.08 acres of land and is one of the historical sites of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Army Chief Takes Power in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso's army chief has taken power in the country following the resignation of longtime President Blaise Compaore.
General Honore Traore told reporters Friday in Ouagadougou that he was taking on "the responsibilities as head of state."
Traore said his administration would begin talks with political stakeholders immediately with a view to restoring "normal constitutional order."
The general first exerted power Thursday when he announced plans for a transitional government and ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew after violent protests in the capital against Compaore.
Compaore announced his resignation Friday and called for a 90-day transition leading to elections.
Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the secretary-general was following Burkina Faso developments with "great concern" and was urging "calm, restraint and dialogue."
Dujarric said the U.N. special envoy for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, had arrived in Ouagadougou as part of a joint mission that includes the president of ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and the African Union commissioner for political affairs.
Chambas is expected to meet with all political stakeholders as well as religious and traditional leaders.
Former colonial power France quickly said it welcomed Compaore's resignation. It called for calm in the West African nation and said it supported the "rapid holding of democratic elections."
Burkina 24 television reported that the former president left his palace in a heavily armed convoy.
Compaore ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years after seizing power in a 1987 coup.
Unrest broke out Thursday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a constitutional amendment that would have allowed Compaore to run for another term. The government withdrew the amendment after hundreds of protesters stormed and set fire to the parliament building.
More protesters gathered in the streets of Ouagadougou on Friday, but there was no repeat of Thursday's violence.
Some material for this report came from Reuters.
TCIG COMMENTS ON FSC’S CALL FOR DISSOLUTION OF BAFL SERVICES
The Government, through the local media, recently learned that the Managing Director of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mr. Kevin Higgins has filed a petition with the courts to liquidate the insurance company, British Atlantic Financial Services Ltd (BAFSL), formerly known as British American Insurance. The Government regrets this course of action taken by the FSC, an action that, if effected, can have a devastating impact on the investments and life savings of the 2600 BAFSL policy holders.
The Premier, upon receiving details of the actions of the FSC, met with the Management of BAFSL to ascertain the circumstances which led to and surrounding the FSC's actions. The Premier also wrote to the Governor who, under section 37 (1) c of the TCI constitution, has responsibility for the regulation of the financial services, to seek clarity and his intervention in the matter that is before the courts, in order to prevent liquidation of the company and to explore other positive avenues that will minimize financial loss to the many policy holders.
“It is indeed unfortunate that Mr. Higgins stated in his interview with the TC weekly News that this failure of BAFSL or his actions could have been avoided if the necessary regulations were in place and if the Insurance Legislation was passed. It must be clearly stated, that since the start of this administration the Government, in the House of Assembly, has supported the presentation of all proposals recommended by the FSC to strengthen the regulatory framework within the financial services industry.
These efforts have been recognized locally and internationally. Furthermore, in this regard, the Government presented to the House of Assembly a Domestic Insurance Bill drafted by external drafters who were instructed by the FSC, but later withdrew it in order to address several substantive issues. That Bill is currently in the late stage of extensive but necessary redrafting by the Attorney General's Chambers on instructions from the FSC, and will be reintroduced to the House of Assembly as soon as completed.
“The Government will continue do all in its powers to ensure proper management of this situation by the FSC, to avoid the liquidation of BAFSL and to minimize loss to its many policy holders,” Premier Ewing commented.
Jazz & Blues signs Mariah Carey
Global superstar Mariah Carey has been confirmed as the headline act for the 19th annual Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival next January.
Carey, regarded as the best-selling female artiste of all time, will be making her first-ever appearance in the Caribbean, and her signing is being seen as a major triumph for the world-renowned festival, scheduled for January 29 - 31 at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Jamaica's north coast.
"Welcoming Mariah Carey to Jamaica's shores is truly exciting and we are extremely pleased to announce this iconic star as our headline act for 2015," festival producer Walter Elmore said yesterday. "Her agreeing to perform on our stage is a testament to the quality of our production. We are the only festival in the Western Hemisphere to present Mariah Carey since her last tour in 2006."
Yesterday, Carey was quoted as saying that she was anxious to perform in Jamaica.
"I'm thrilled to be performing in Jamaica for the first time ever," she said. "I can't wait to connect with my Jamaican fans and I am really looking forward to spending some time pon de island as well."
Carey has sold more than 200 million records and has logged 18 Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 singles, more than any solo artiste in history.
With her distinctive five-octave vocal range and prolific songwriting and producing talent, Carey has defined the modern multi-format performer.
She has received multiple Grammy Awards, 21 American Music Awards, Billboard's Artiste of the Decade Award, the World Music Award 2014 Pop Icon and Artiste with Most Number 1 Singles in America Awards.
She has also won BMI's Icon Award for her outstanding achievements in songwriting, among other notable accomplishments.
The multi-platinum artiste, who was born in Long Island, New York, made her debut with the self-titled set Mariah Carey in June 1990. On August 4 that year the set peaked at Number 1 on the Billboard charts.
Yesterday Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival promoters said her set list for Jamaica is expected to be an exciting mix of her biggest fan-favourite pop and dance hits, R&B ballads, and hip-hop jams, along with popular selections from her critically acclaimed CD, Me. I am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse.
"Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is all about creating memorable musical experiences," Elmore said, "and patrons can expect a fantastic show for 2015. We have more acts to announce in the coming weeks that will certainly delight our audiences."
Source-Jamaica Observer
San Francisco Giants beat Kansas City Royals
San Francisco Giants sealed their third World Series title in five years with a 3-2 victory over Kansas City Royals in the deciding match of the series.
The Royals, who won their only title in 1985, had taken the best of seven series into a finale with a 10-0 win.
But Madison Bumgarner pitched five scoreless relief innings, striking out four while allowing only two hits.
The left-hander was named the World Series Most Valuable Player as the Giants won their eighth overall title.
Bumgarner, 25, originally credited with the game-seven win before an official scorer's change gave him only a save and handed Jeremy Affeldt the win, allowed only one run in 21 World Series innings with 17 strikeouts and only one walk.
He lowered his career record World Series earned run average to 0.25, having allowed one run in 36 innings on 14 hits, with five walks and 31 strikeouts - the best earned run average among pitchers with at least 25 innings.
"It's truly incredible what he did," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I just can't believe what he accomplished."
Bumgarner, who also won the World Series with the Giants in 2010 and 2012, said: "I was concentrating on making pitches. I wasn't thinking about how many innings I was going to go, or how many pitches or anything like that. I was just thinking about getting outs."
Source-BBC
Roman Polanski freed after US extradition bid
Film director Roman Polanski has been released after being questioned by prosecutors in Poland over sex offences in the US.
He has been wanted by US police since 1977 after fleeing the country before he could be sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
US authorities contacted Polish officials as Polanski attended the opening of a Jewish museum in Warsaw.
The director of The Pianist and Chinatown was questioned in Krakow.
"Roman Polanski said he would comply with all requests made by prosecutors in this case and provided his address," Police justice ministry spokesman Mateusz Martyniuk told AFP.
"Prosecutors therefore decided not to arrest him in connection with a possible US extradition request."
The Polish government confirmed that the US had contacted authorities asking them to arrest Polanski after he travelled to Warsaw for the opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Mr Martyniuk said Polanski's extradition was still possible, but as the US had not yet forwarded an extradition request, Polanski "is a free citizen and is free to travel".
Source-BBC
Barclays sets aside £500m in currency probe
Barclays has set aside £500m to cover potential costs from investigations into currency trading.
Barclays is among several banks being probed relating to alleged rigging of currency markets.
It also set aside an extra £170m to compensate customers wrongly sold PPI.
The bank reported a rise in pre-tax profits for the first nine months of the year to £3.72bn from £2.85bn a year earlier as costs and bad loans fell.
The Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority are among more than dozen regulators across the world probing alleged fixing of currency markets.
It is alleged that traders used online chatrooms to plan the fixing of benchmark prices.
Several investment banks, including Barclays and HSBC have already suspended currency traders due to the investigation by the FCA.
Financial Conduct Authority chief Martin Wheatley has said that currency manipulation was "every bit as bad" as the Libor scandal, where banks including Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS paid fines totalling about $6bn relating to Libor fixing.
Barclays shares rose 2% in London to 224.90 pence.
Barclays reduced its provision for customers mis-sold interest rate hedging products by £160m, with the bank saying its review of customers sold the products was nearly completed.
The deals were mainly sold to businesses and aimed to control interest rates. As rates fell to historic lows in the wake of the financial crisis, business customers were often stuck on much higher interest rates.
The lender booked a £461m gain on assets it acquired when it bought the North American business of Lehman Brothers.
Investment bank pressure
For the three months to the end of September, most of Barclays' businesses saw profits rise except its investment bank and Africa business. Third-quarter pre-tax profit in investment banking shrank to £284m from £465m, a performance chief executive Antony Jenkins described as "disappointing."
"We see [third quarter] results as a clear indication of a deleveraging investment bank under significant pressure," said Chirantan Barua, an analyst at Bernstein Research. The £500m currency trading reserve means it "looks like" the lender is "close to settling", he said in a note to clients.
Operating costs, which includes staff wages, dropped faster than expected, said Mr Barua.
Mr Jenkins is trying to rein in pay and plans to cut 19,000 jobs by 2016, with more than 9,000 to go in the UK.
Source-BBC