OECS to welcome Martinique as an associate member state
The French island of Martinique will become the newest member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in November, 2014.
Chairman of the OECS, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement during a press conference in St. Vincent following its 59th meeting at the weekend.
Mr Skerrit said Heads of Government noted the progress made to date in ongoing negotiations with Martinique and the state of preparedness of Guadeloupe to commence negotiations and the request of St. Maarten for associate membership of the OECS.
“The authority agreed to the draft ascension agreement as a basis for finalizing Martinique’s associate membership of the OECS”.
He said the Heads further agreed to the signing of this agreement at the 60th meeting of the Authority scheduled for November, 2014.
“We are very pleased with that decision,” Mr Skerrit said. He added that the citizens of Martinique, who have been calling for this for some time, would be happy that the negotiations are finally over.
He also commended the OECS Secretariat for its efforts in the negotiation process.
Source- DV News
Japan to provide US15m climate change aid to Caribbean countries
Japan is providing US$15 million to help several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries cope with the impact of climate change.
The “Project for Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership” will help Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Dominica and Belize build the capacity to cope with climate change.
The agreement was signed on the margins of the first ever Japan-CARICOM summit here on Monday that was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several CARICOM heads of governments.
Source-CMC
Liberia bans football over Ebola
Liberia has suspended all football activities in an effort to control the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
There was a risk of infection because football is a contact sport, the football association said.
The number of people killed by the virus in West Africa has now reached 672, the WHO says.
Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected, but patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
It spreads through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
This is the deadliest outbreak ever, with the first case reported in Guinea in February. It then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Lift restrictions
Last week, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, reported its first case – that of Liberian government employee Patrick Sawyer who was visiting the main city, Lagos.
All officials who had direct or indirect contact with Mr Sawyer, 40, had been placed under “observatory surveillance” by health authorities, Liberia’s finance ministry said.
It had also limited to four the number of people who can be in a lift at the same time, the ministry added.
Mr Sawyer was a senior official in the ministry, and died in Lagos five days after arriving in the city.
Nigerian authorities have so far identified 59 people who came into contact with Mr Sawyer and have tested 20, Lagos State Health Commissioner Jide Idris is quoted by the Associated Press (AP) news agency as saying.
The city’s First Consultants Hospital, where Mr Sawyer was treated, has been temporary shut down, Reuters news agency reports.
“The private hospital was demobilised and the primary source of infection eliminated. The decontamination process in all the affected areas has commenced,” it quotes Mr Idris as saying.
In a statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that 1,201 Ebola cases had been reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Of the 672 deaths, the highest number was in Guinea with 319, followed by Liberia with 249 and Sierra Leone with 224, it said.
“Between 21 and 23 July, 96 new cases and seven deaths were reported from Liberia and Sierra Leone. In Guinea, 12 new cases and five deaths were reported during the same period,” the WHO added.
The BBC’s Jonathan Paye Layleh in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, says that public awareness campaigns around Ebola have been stepped following the death at the weekend of renowned Liberian doctor Samuel Brisbane.
Liberia’s ex-football star George Weah has joined the campaign to create greater awareness.
“If one person gets affected, 100 persons will get affected, if 100 persons get affected, one million people will get affected,” Mr Weah said.
Many people are worried about the outbreak, and fewer people are going to restaurants and entertainment centres, our reporter says.
Most border crossings in Liberia have been closed to contain the outbreak and affected communities are being quarantined.
Source-BBC News
Israel Pounds Gaza
Israel's military stepped up its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country should be prepared for a long conflict in the Palestinian enclave, quashing any hopes of a swift end to the conflict.
Palestinian health officials say attacks from Israeli warplanes and tanks have killed at least 100 people Tuesday in the most widespread attacks since fighting began three weeks ago. The Palestinian death toll has climbed to more than 1,100, mainly civilians.
Israel has lost 53 soldiers, two Israeli civilians and a Thai worker since launching its offensive July 8 in response to rocket attacks from Hamas and its allies.
Israeli tank fire hit the fuel depot of the Gaza Strip's only power plant on Tuesday, witnesses said, cutting electricity to Gaza City and many other parts of the Palestinian enclave of 1.8 million people. Electricity already had been limited to several hours a day.
Israel targeted symbols of Hamas control, firing on the house of Hamas Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh before dawn on Tuesday, causing damage but no casualties, Gaza's interior ministry said.
Hamas said its broadcast outlets, Al-Aqsa TV and Al-Aqsa Radio also were targeted. Early Tuesday, at least two major explosions hit the media building, one of the tallest in Gaza, starting a fire on the roof and shaking surrounding buildings.
The television station continued to broadcast, but the radio station went silent.
The Abu Khadra government complex in Gaza City was badly damaged, and two mosques were hit. Residents also said 20 houses were destroyed during the night.
China Investigates Former Powerful Security Chief
China has announced it is investigating a man who used to be one of the country's most powerful politicians, former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang. The investigation is likely to boost already growing public support for Chinese President Xi Jinping's widening anti-corruption drive.
A brief announcement of the decision came late Tuesday from China's Xinhua news agency. In its report, Xinhua said the party's top investigating body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, had begun an investigation into Zhou Yongkang's suspected "serious disciplinary" violations.
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology political scientist David Zweig says the decision to go after Zhou is perhaps the biggest investigation since the Gang of Four at the end of the Cultural Revolution.
"This is a big deal and many, many people would worry that if you can go after people, you know members of the politburo standing committee after they stepped down, than many many (other) people would be vulnerable," Zweig said.
For months, China has been anticipating the announcement of an investigation into Zhou Yongkang.
Since late last year there have been numerous unconfirmed reports in foreign media that Zhou was the focus of a corruption probe. But when an official announcement did not come in March when the Communist Party held top-level meetings in Beijing, some began to question Chinese President Xi Jinping's commitment to stamping out corruption.
The Communist Party says it is in a life or death struggle against corruption - a problem that not only threatens the party and state, but also prospects for much needed reform.
KISHCO DETHRONE QUALITY SUPER KINGS
Amid the sizable crowd, the underdogs Kishco systematically beat the defending champions Quality Super Kings in the Finals of the 2014 TCICA T20 played yesterday at the Down Town Ballpark in Provo.
Batting first, after winning the toss Quality Super Kings were bowled out for a modest 118 runs, from 18.1 overs. Sheldon Henry was the top scorer with 34 runs, consisting of 4x4s and 1x6 while Kareem Jack added 24 runs, manufacturing 5x4s.
Bowling for Kishco, Lloyd Lynch claimed 3 wickets, for 21 runs, from 3 overs and, Sanjay Fatnani, took 2 wickets for 11 runs from 3 overs while Pawan Kumar also took 2 wickets, for 16 runs from 4 overs.
In reply, Kishco reached 119 runs for 4 wickets, from 17.4 overs. Si-mi-jo Devassy top scored with 62 runs, creating 9x4s & 1x6; teammate Anton Das chipped in 14 runs for the partnership.
Bowling for Quality Super Kings, Sheldon Henry and Sabuton John took 2 wickets each for 23 runs, from 4 overs.
First meeting of Turks and Caicos Islands Government Audit Committee
The Governor H.E. Peter Beckingham was in attendance at the first full meeting of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Audit Committee on Thursday, July 24, in Grand Turk.
As a result of several well reported corporate failures around the world, various Corporate Governance Codes place greater responsibilities on Executive Boards in both the public and private sectors. These Boards are now more clearly tasked with setting the organisation’s risk appetite and ensuring that controls are in place to manage risk within this. The Audit Committee is a crucial mechanism in supporting the Governor and Cabinet in meeting these obligations.
Addressing the Committee at its first full meeting, Governor Beckingham said: “The Audit Committee will be an important addition to the oversight aspect of the governance framework in TCI. The role of this Committee is a challenging one, and it needs strong, independent members who are able to apply their wide range of skills and experience.” Members of the Board are non-executive (i.e. drawn from the private sector,) and the Governor added: “The Committee is an excellent example of how the knowledge and expertise of the private sector can assist the public sector in meeting the significant challenges it faces.”
Deputy Governor's Civil Service Spotlight Article - June
This month the Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to recognize the contributions of the Project Management Division within the Ministry of Government Support Services.
The Project Management division is responsible for the implementation and management of all government funded infrastructure projects throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their primary duties are: to prepare budgets for TCIG projects; to prepare contract documents for tendering and construction purposes; to coordinate project execution teams for various government projects and to monitor and quality control projects on the various islands.
Headed by Mr. Mark Mc Aulay who is the Principal Architect in Grand Turk and Mr. Garvin Thomas who is the Project Coordinator in Providenciales, the team is comprised of: Project Architects - Mr. Leshem Fulford and Kacey Lewis in Providenciales, Trainee Quantity Surveyors – Treven Hamilton and Max Grant, Architectural Technician – Valentino Selver, Civil Design Engineer – Mr. Rolando Combinido and Assistant Architect – Kawa Williams in Grand Turk.
Commenting on the honoree this month the Deputy Governor had this to say: “I am pleased to recognize the valuable contributions of our PMD staff this month. These persons have a great responsibility in crafting, implementing and monitoring our projects around the islands. They have seen great success during their tenure in government and have made various contributions and achievements amongst themselves. Most recently they have overseen the completion of the: H.J. Robinson Administrative Block; Customs Warehouse in Grand Turk; the reconstruction of Ona Glinton Primary and repairs to the Causeway in North/Middle Caicos. Mr. Grant and Hamilton have recently successfully completed the Caribbean Development Bank CJET Estimating training program; Mr. Thomas the Disaster Risk Reduction Leadership and Management training program; Mr. Lewis the TCI CERT program; Mr. Fulford the Building GIS Applications in Support of Disaster Risk Management training program and Mr. Grant was the recipient of the Project Management Development Award for 2014; while Mr. Selver himself has helped to create an in house database for all government property, contracts undertaken by the department and PWD stores, while also assisting in providing AutoCAD training to students at the H.J. Robinson High School in Grand Turk. These are all laudable achievements and are worthy of being recognized so this month we say thanks to our PMD staff.”
Downing of MH17 May Be 'War Crime
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in rebel-held eastern Ukraine could be ruled a “war crime."
Navi Pillay said Monday in a statement "the horrendous shooting down" of the aircraft was a violation of international law that "may amount to a war crime." She called for a "prompt, thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation" into the downing of the plane.
Pillay said every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law in the Ukraine conflict, "including war crimes," will be brought to justice, "no matter who they are."
U.S. analysts say the Malaysian airliner was shot down by a missile near the Russian border on July 17. U.S. experts have concluded that a Russian SA-11 "Buk" missile downed the aircraft and that ill-trained rebels likely fired the missile, believing the aircraft belonged to Ukraine's military. Rebels have dismissed the charge.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian official said that analysis of the black boxes retrieved from the crash site showed it was destroyed by shrapnel from a missile blast causing a “massive explosive decompression.” Investigators in Britain, who downloaded the data, had have not commented. They said they had passed information to the international crash investigation led by the Netherlands.
Fighting in the area where the plane crashed has forced a team of international investigators to abandon plans to gain access to the site for a second straight day. The team of Dutch and Australian experts said earlier Monday the group was renewing efforts to reach the site.
Source-VOA
Japan PM Abe arrives in Trinidad
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife, Akie Abe, arrived yesterday for an official two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
From Piarco International Airport, Prime Minister Abe proceeded to the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, to pay a private courtesy call on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The Japanese Prime Minister then held a bilateral meeting with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne and later met with Jamaica Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller.
Today, there will be a Caricom-Japan Summit, which is scheduled to start around 9 a.m. at the Hilton Trinidad in St Ann’s.
After that, Abe will continue a series of bilateral meetings with Caricom heads. He is set to meet with the Barbados delegation at noon; Dominica at 12.20 p.m.; Grenada 12.40 p.m.; Guyana, 1 p.m.; Haiti, 1.30 p.m.; St Kitts and Nevis, 2 p.m.; St Lucia, 2.20 p.m.; St Vincent and the Grenadines, 2.40 p.m.; and Suriname at 3 p.m.
He is expected to leave Trinidad and Tobago at 5 p.m. today.
Before his arrival in T&T, Express Political Editor Ria Taitt was invited exclusively to submit two questions to Prime Minister Abe. Following are the questions asked and the answers he gave:
Source-TRINIDAD EXPRESS