Kerry Washington Calls Out Beyonce For Explicit Performances
Kerry Washington wants Beyonce to stop shaking her booty and start empowering young women to get higher eduction and eat healthy.
Who knew the Scandal star has beef with Beyonce. According to sources over at Dish Nation, Kerry Washington is angry that Beyonce is staying with Jay Z amidst the cheating scandal.
“Kerry thinks Beyonce should spend less time shaking her booty and more time pushing other agendas, like the value of education and healthy eating, as well as promoting book reading.”
“To Kerry, it seems like Beyonce is sending a message to young women that standing by your man, even if he cheats on you, is perfectly acceptable.
While Kerry’s peers, like Beyonce, exploit themselves for career advancement, she’s happy to keep her private life under wraps and let her talent do the talking. Kerry wishes Beyonce would do the same.”
Source-Urban Islandz
Kartel's Conspiracy Trial Delayed
The corruption trial of popular entertainers Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim failed to start today because of late serving of documents and unsettled legal representation for an accused.
Gaza Slim, whose given name is Vanessa Saddler, and Kartel whose given name is Adidja Palmer along with Andre Henry, have been charged with attempting and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in 2011.
Attorney-at-Law Nicole Burgher, who appeared for Gaza Slim, complained to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court this afternoon that, she had just been served five witness statements and therefore was not able to peruse the documents.
She asked presiding magistrate Simone Wolfe-Reese for an adjournment.
Burgher was standing in for Saddler’s attorney Pierre Rogers who is off the island.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for Henry, Peter Champagnie, said his representation for the accused needs to be settled.
After hearing the lawyers’ concerns, the magistrate adjourned the case and set a mention date for Thursday. Wolfe-Reece says she is very disappointed with the issues that delayed the trial.
Meanwhile, Kartel’s attorney Tom Tavares-Finson was represented in court today by his son, Christian. He told the court that the team is ready and prepared for trial.
Charges were brought against the three after Saddler filed a police report claiming that she was robbed at gunpoint by a man she identified as Clive “Lizard” Williams.
Williams is the man Kartel has since been convicted of killing.
Police investigators alleged that the report by Saddler was an attempt to assist Kartel’s case.
Kartel, who is serving a life sentence, turned up at court today wearing a grey T-shirt and orange cargo shorts.
Source-JA.Gleaner
RBS may sell 'Queen's bank' Coutts International arm
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is looking into selling Coutts International, the overseas arm of the private bank that has the Queen's account, in a move that could raise £600m ($1bn).
A number of potential buyers around the world are thought to be interested in buying all or part of the bank, which was founded in the 18th century.
Coutts International operates in seven countries and has 1,200 employees.
It would see Coutts split into two, one based in the UK and one in Zurich.
The latter would run its operations that manage about £20bn in countries including Hong Kong, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The internal memo to staff said: "We will... work with local management teams to explore options including merging the remainder of the current Coutts International business, considering joint ventures or a sale, thereby reducing RBS's footprint internationally."
It added: "There are no immediate changes for individuals in these businesses and it is important that we continue to work together to deliver for our customers."
Coutts's international operations were slimmed down two years ago after the Royal Bank of Canada bought its Latin American, Caribbean and African private banking arms.
Coutts is one of more than 100 Swiss banks which have come forward to help US prosecutors looking into possible tax avoidance by private banking clients.
RBS is 81% owned by the taxpayer after a £45bn rescue in 2008 brought on by the financial crisis.
Recently its quarterly financial performance showed a £1bn profit, outstripping expectations to such an extent the release of its figures was brought forward by a week.
Source-BBC
Chiquita subject of $611m bid to rival Fyffes merger
Two Brazilian companies have made a $611m (£363m) bid for US banana group Chiquita.
Juice maker Cutrale and conglomerate Safra have offered $13 a share, a 29% premium to Chiquita's closing share price on Friday.
Chiquita shares jumped 31% in New York after the bid was announced.
The offer rivals the proposed merger between Chiquita and Irish fruit firm Fyffes, announced in March. Shares in Fyffes fell 15% in London.
The merger would create the world's largest banana company worth $1bn.
But the two Brazilian companies said their offer "is clearly more favourable to the Chiquita shareholders than the proposed merger with Fyffes".
The global banana market is currently controlled by four firms, Chiquita, Dole Food Company, Fresh Del Monte and Fyffes, according to the United Nations.
Source-BBC
Government Support Services Ministerial Delegation off to Nassau, Bahamas
Hon. George Lightbourne, Minister of Government Support Services, left the jurisdiction accompanied by the Director General of TCI Telecommunications Commission, Mr. John Williams, to attend the 30th Annual Trade and Exhibition Show being held 10th – 15th August 2014 in Nassau, Bahamas.
The event is being hosted by CANTO; an organization that is recognized as the leading trade association within the ICT sector for shaping information and communication in the Caribbean. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Strategic Allegiances for Sustainable Broadband Development’ and Ministers of Telecom/ICT, Operators, Regulators, Suppliers and other industry professionals from around the world are all expected to be in attendance. According to CANTO “It is the only event that brings all stakeholders together, under one roof, to discuss issues facing the region, showcase cutting edge technology products and services, educate delegates via knowledgeable presentations and inspirational keynotes and offer dynamic networking services”.
Minister Lightbourne accepted the invitation and looks forward to engaging with key stakeholders in the industry with the view of finding ways to reduce the cost for the majority of local proletariat. He also looks forward to finding ways of accelerating the reach of broadband to our populace regardless of social strata or geographical location. This conference also offers the Minister an opportunity to explore the possibility and feasibility of implementing ICTs in the educational sector and in the mainstream society.
“Technology is no longer a luxury, but a necessity; no longer an option but a must as it is necessary for TCI to remain on the cutting edge of technology” said the Minister.
Public Health Emergency of International Concern on the Ebola Virus
On August 6-7th 2014, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a meeting regarding the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West and Central Africa. As a result of this meeting, the Ebola virus disease has been deemed a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This is cause for concern for every country in the world including the Turks and Caicos Islands; thus, the Ministry of Health and Human Services wishes to inform the general public about this highly contagious and deadly virus.
The Ministry of Health has already met with its Regional partner, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in order to assess the level of risk to the TCI. CARPHA has advised that there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in the Caribbean, and overall, the risk of becoming infected with the Ebola virus in this Region remains low. Notwithstanding, the TCI is putting in place measures in order to respond to this potential threat. Standard precautionary measures are in place including isolation facilities, protective equipment and procedures for handling patients’ bodily fluids. Information has been shared with local health professionals so that they are able to recognize a patient presenting with symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease, a travel history to an affected area and also timely alert and report to the national surveillance authorities.
Ebola virus is a viral hemorrhagic fever. It is a severe and often fatal disease. The virus originated in the Central Africa rainforest and is thought to have spread to humans by handling or butchering of infected animals such as monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, forest antelopes, porcupines or bats.
A recent outbreak of EVD started in March 2014 and originated in Guinea. Since this outbreak, the disease has spread to neighboring countries. As of August 6th, 2014, the total number of cases that have occurred as a result of the EVD in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone stands at 1,779, including 961 deaths. This shows a death rate of 53%. According to WHO, Ebola outbreaks can have a death rate as high as 90%
An infected person will typically develop symptoms such as fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, and intense muscle weakness. These symptoms start suddenly; 2 to 21 days after becoming infected, but onset of symptoms are more common 8 to 10 days after exposure. Additional symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, rash, chest and abdominal pain, severe weight loss and impaired kidney and liver function. The infected person may bleed internally, and from all orifices of the body i.e. ears, eyes and mouth.
Transmission requires direct contact with blood, mucous and other body fluids or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen, of infected living or dead persons or animals. The Ebola virus can survive for several days outside the body, including on the skin of an infected person. A person is infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus is not spread through food or water. Anyone who has close contact with or handles bodily fluids from an infected person is at greater risk of becoming infected; this includes hospital workers, laboratory workers and family members caring for patients.
Currently there are no vaccines or specific treatment or cure for Ebola virus disease. Patients need to be treated in intensive care with strict isolation to prevent spread of the infection.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services is liaising with regional and international partners on a regular basis to receive updates about the number of cases detected and recommendations for travel and response. Although travel to the affected region is not restricted, the Ministry strongly discourages non-essential travel at this time because of the extent of the current virus outbreak. In addition, we would like to advise all persons with a history of recent travel to affected countries be aware of the symptoms and signs of Ebola and report to their healthcare providers early if they develop symptoms within three weeks of traveling. We also encourage the general public to take the following precautions:
- · Practice good personal hygiene at all times
- · Be aware of the risk factors of EVD (travel to affected countries, contact with bodily fluids of affected persons)
- · Be aware of the symptoms and signs of EVD and seek medical advice earl
The Ministry of Health and Human Services will be hosting stakeholder meetings in the near future in addition to making plans and preparations in response to the threat of Ebola. Updates on the Ebola virus disease will be shared with the general public as the situation develops
The Power of One
When someone thinks about the power of one, what often comes to mind is the power of one person who can make tremendous change through their diligence to a cause and over time change a community, a country or even the world. We have examples of these types of people scattered throughout history. There is Martin Luther King Jr. with the Civil Rights movement in the USA; Mahatma Gandhi with the push for Indian self-determination in non-violent resistance of the British Empire, and Galileo who dared to think the world was round in a time when all learned men “knew” it was flat.
Well, that’s not what I am going to speak to here. What I have noticed over time in the Turks and Caicos is that we find ourselves in the position where we have only one go-to person for whatever field, profession, or industry. That’s not to say in reality we do not have more than one person with said expertise within the TCI in any given area; however, once we deem someone the “Guru of X”, well, without any doubt that’s usually the person used. In politics, we look to the same few families for leadership. When it comes to hosting shows, we have a few go-to people on each island and the same applies in the education or tourism sectors and others. The interesting part is that once that trust is placed in a person they hold the designation until it is seen fit to designate someone else, and the prior holder becomes immediately obsolete.
I believe that this practice is the lingering effect of actually having only one expert in any given area in our recent history; precisely because of our relatively small size and islands segmentation, in addition to our late development as a country. This resulted in your doctor being the only doctor you had for many years. You knew only one mechanic, one dentist, one primary school teacher, one grocery store owner and so forth. I say that to point out that all this has now changed and we do have many Turks and Caicos islanders with significant expertise often in multiple sectors. All they need is that opportunity to contribute. We have grown to the extent that we are more than a singularly minded people. I believe this type of Power of One is perpetuated by the insecurities of some that love being the gate keeper of knowledge and to be looked upon with reverence. If there is someone else who knows what the go-to person knows, this is of no consequence; they are of no use. They fail to realize that the more knowledgeable people we have, the greater the possibility of building a strong nation.
One of the reasons I respect President Obama more than most of the current leaders on the world stage is that when he was to select his Cabinet, he chose the most talented persons available to get the job done. Most notably was Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. Think about it for a minute; he picked his rival to be the face of USA Foreign Affairs after having gone through a sometimes acrimonious primary process that went on way longer than it had to. No doubt he put his country first and was comfortable enough in his own skin to choose competent persons to shoulder responsibilities and not let the fear of sharing the spot light be his driving motivation. Imagine how much growth/ strength we will experience in our country if instead of restricting ourselves to that one go-to person, we also utilize the services of equally competent individuals.
Stay Blessed,
Jamell Robinson
TCIFA TO HOST VISITING TEAM FROM NEW YORK!
In an effort to increase the level of play of its Academy members, the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) will be hosting a tournament with a team out of New York this month, August 2014 - to do just that.
Through its Visiting Team Program, driven by its players, coaches and referees, the National Association is excited to host the Manhattan Soccer (Boca) Club B16 Team. This game-centric approach by the TCIFA allows long-term development to occur through a deeper understanding of what makes players successful at the highest level.
The Manhattan Soccer Club is a Youth Soccer Club based in Manhattan, New York - that comprises of both a girls and boys divisions and play competitive soccer at the Premier level and as well as in Division I, and some of the lower divisions. It is the largest football club in New York City with most of its teams competing in the Westchester Youth Soccer League.
The B16 team that will be visiting consists of footballers that have been together since the age of nine (9), finishing a perfect 9-0-0 in league play this season. The team has been playing in a division with teams a year older then they are, and finished a remarkable run of their own to take second place. They scored 40 goals this spring, an average of more than four per match, signaling that they will be a force to be reckoned with next year.
This is their third tournament in the Turks & Caicos for the B16 team; and while here, they will be pitted against the Football Academy’s U16 team, which is coached by Oliver Smith. It is hoped that next year, they will host the TCI’s U17 Boys in New York in 2015.
As a sport, football continues to grow in the Turks & Caicos, young players in this country need the proper environment to compete against more seasoned players. By having teams visit, this program provides the optimum development environment for the nation’s top youth football players. Coaches and referees by emphasizing development through meaningful competition.
The game schedule is as follows, all games to be held at the TCIFA Academy Complex on Venetian Road, Providenciales:
Sunday, August 10th
Game one 5:30pm Kick Off
Monday, August 11th
Game two 5:30pm Kick Off
Tuesday, August 12th
Beach tournament 4:30pm Start
Wednesday, August 13th
Game three 5:30pm Kick Off
THE PDM FINDS PASSPORT CHANGES REGRESSIVE AND CALLS OUT GOVERNMENT ON ISSUE
The PDM has issued a release to RTC News, when they first learned of the UK’s intention to issue passports for the Turks and Caicos Islands sometime last year during a Meeting of the Appropriations Committee, when the Permanent Secretary for Border Control, Mrs Clara Gardiner mentioned it in passing as she sought an increase in expenditure for the purchase of passports.
On that occasion the Leader of the Opposition as Chair of the Appropriations Committee inquired into the policy as it relates to the treatment of emergency situations and the proposed process. It appeared to be in its infancy stage but we found that Bermuda Government in a Statement issued last year said that it would lead the way in challenging this issue as an Overseas Territory.
We wish to remind the people of this country that these talks or dialogue will be with the PNP Government as it is the Government and not with the Opposition PDM Party. The Government has only within the last few days spoken for the first time to this issue. There were no updates provided and we now see the dialogue emerging again with the Minister confirming the UK’s decision. What the Minister of Border Control did not say is what his Government did do to engage the UK or the sister Overseas Territories on this matter. The PNP Government must tell the people of this country what representations were made on the people’s behalf.
We believe this intention to print passports in the UK is regressive and believe that the full process should remain in these Islands even if UK personnel were attached.
In light of the difficulties that we are aware that persons are encountering now with the lengthy process for British passports, we are convinced that this system may not be any better. We have real concerns about efficiency and we are also curious as to what will constitute an emergency. Persons can not find themselves in this country as some did this year without any Travel Documents especially since we do no longer issued other Travel Documents. We also believe that this may negatively affect revenues for these Islands as well. There are many more unanswered questions and the people need to hear from the Government on this issue.
The PDM believes that if this Government has not yet engaged the sister Overseas Territories or the UK, then it must do so as we believe that this step to be regressive and not in the best interest of our people.
Minister of Border Control, Hon. Donhue Gardiner made an appearance on RTC’s Expressions on Monday August 11th, 2014 where he discussed the passport issue among other topics with Rev. Conrad Howell.
TCI pledges further focus on economy following full credit report
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has pledged to further improve the islands’ economic prospects and attract new investment following the publication of Standard and Poor’s detailed ratings analysis.
Published by the ratings agency earlier today, the report outlines the detailed analysis behind the islands' new credit rating and provides specific actions to improve its score.
These include further modernisation of public services and maintaining the focus on reducing government debt given the islands’ relatively narrow economy which is focused on high-end tourism.
Commenting on the report, Finance Minister Honourable Washington Misick said:
“Our Government is firmly committed to broadening and strengthening our islands’ economy. This objective and independent analysis will help us make this a reality and attract new investment to our islands.
“First and foremost must be keeping our public finances in order and delivering a balanced, responsible budget. In the long run, this will attract more private investment, reduce the cost of living for future generations and allow us to invest more in public services and infrastructure.”
His Excellency Governor Peter Beckingham said:
“This provides further evidence that TCI is on the way to becoming a prosperous nation with the chance to be a true Caribbean success story.
“The report is right to recognise how the islands’ strong links with the UK bring in new investment and benefits the economy.
“The Government’s plan to strengthen public finances, backed by Britain, has allowed it to get its finances in order, steadily reduce debt and to attract new investment. This must continue.”
The independent research from Standard and Poor’s is supplementary to the islands’ first credit rating released in July 2014. The independent report’s main findings include:
· TCI enjoys favourable growth prospects based on its well-developed tourism industry
· TCI’s relationship with the UK ‘serves as an anchor for economic policies’
· The ‘stable’ outlook is based on S&P’s expectation of successful implementation of recent measures designed to modernise the public sector and strengthen governance.