Finance Minister withdraws the Business Licensing Amendment Bill 2014 in the House of Assembly
Members of the Opposition Peoples Democratic Movement and other stakeholders in the business community, will get to make an input into how business is done here in the TCI.
Minister of Finance Hon. C. Washington Missick made this known to members of the House of Assembly when, instead of presenting the Business Licensing Amendment Bill 2014, he sought to withdraw the Bill indefinitely.
Here’s the Minister’s rationale for taking that position, a move commended by the Speaker of the House.
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In reference to the Business License, all island member, Hon. Derek Taylor raised the concern that many businesses in the Turks and Caicos Islands are in limbo because they have no licenses, which is why the Finance Minister reiterated the need to get maximum support from all concerned.
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Minister of Finance Hon. C. Washington Missick, withdrawing the Business Licensing Amendment Bill 2014 during this week’s sitting of the House of Assembly.
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National Hero’s Day, a celebration to be held on Monday 26th May
Plans are well under wayto observe National Hero’s Day, acelebrationin honor of the late JAGS McCartney, the country’s first Chief Minister and only named National Hero.
The annual event will take place at the JAGS McCartney National Memorial Park at 10 a.m. on Monday 26th May, a national holiday in the TCI.
This year’s National Hero’s Day celebration will be held under the theme “Discipline, Production, Tolerance – Visualizing and Embracing New Possibilities.”
As an added feature of the programme, an unveiling ceremony will take place.
RTC News will have further details of the upcoming National Hero’s Day, celebration in a subsequent newscast.
Team TCI takes on the CFU Women Caribbean Cup
The Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association will host Group 3 of the inaugural CFU Women's Caribbean Cup
The Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association will host Group 3 of the inaugural CFU Women's Caribbean Cup, which will include teams TCI, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and St. Kitts & Nevis.
Matches will be played at the TCIFA National Academy as follows:
May 23 - Cayman vs St. Kitts & Nevis @ 5pm while the TCI vs Bermuda @ 7pm
May 25 - Bermuda vs Cayman @ 5pm & the TCI vs St. Kitts & Nevis @ 7pm
May 27 - St. Kitts & Nevis v Bermuda @ 5pm & Team TCI vs Cayman @ 7pm
Football fans and the general community are encouraged to please come out and support Team TCI!!!
International Day of Biodiversity to be celebrated in the TCI
May 22nd will be observed globally as “International Day of Biodiversity.”
According to a press release from the TCI National Trust, when one think about biological diversity and conservation, they're likely to quite accurately name eastern Africa, the Amazonian rainforest, and perhaps Madagascar as very special places where remarkable plants and animals live.
The Turks & Caicos Islands National Trust recognizes that while it is true that these places have plenty of ecological species, island nations, including our “Beautiful by Nature” Turks & Caicos Islands, have a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Islands and their surrounding ‘near-shore’ marine areas, constitute unique ecosystems, often comprising many plant and animal species that are endemic – in other words, found nowhere else on Earth. The legacy of a unique evolutionary history, these ecosystems are irreplaceable treasures.
They are also key to the livelihood, economy, well-being and cultural identity of Islanders.
Here in the Turks & Caicos Islands this year, highlight for the international celebration of Biodiversity Day on Thursday May 22nd is on the biological richness of the islands. The TCI National Trust said the theme, “Island Biodiversity,” was chosen to coincide with the designation by the United Nations General Assembly of 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States.
It is in this regard, that the Turks & Caicos National Trust is launching a biodiversity awareness campaign, aimed at disseminating information about the TCI’s endemic species, as well as invasive plants to students, planners, managers, relevant government agencies, and the general public.
For this purpose, the National Trust is distributing posters of the endemic and invasive species, and will conduct talks and presentations at different schools and agencies.
In further support of habitat conservation and preservation, the Trust has also announced that through the Sandals Foundation, and with help from the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), a mangrove planting exercise was initiated at Little Water Cay (LWC). Over one hundred red mangrove seedlings were planted this week, and a follow-up activity at LWC is now being planned.
“Turks & Caicos is blessed with natural beauty endowed with splendid biodiversity. Let us conserve and appreciate them. Spread the word!” the National Trust said in its release.
For more information about the National Trust conservation projects and how you can help, you may contact them at (649) 941-5710 or send an e-mail to tc.nattrust@yahoo.com.
World Travel Awards guests heads to Greece
World Travel Awards has revealed a full three-day itinerary of events and activities on offer to guests at the Europe Gala Ceremony 2014 on August 1st-3rd.
Offered in conjunction with hosts Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, the programme will present a series of unrivalled networking opportunities and is guaranteed to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Guests arriving ahead of the Gala Ceremony on Friday August 1st will be treated to a traditional welcome with a host of delicious Greek produce on offer at the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso. Set amid dramatic scenery overlooking the sea, and offering a breathtaking sunset, the networking opportunity is sure to start the event in style.
On August 2nd industry leaders will be offered a series of enviable choices, including an organised tour around the Greek capital Athens and a private visit to the New Acropolis Museum – recently voted one of the best museums in the world. Alternatively, guests are invited to enjoy an indulgent spa treatment at the award-winning Divani Apollon Thalasso Spa or a chance to unwind at the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso private beach.
On Sunday August 3rd, guests can sit back, relax and enjoy a cruise around the Saronic Gulf. The closing event on the itinerary will present a final, post-event, networking opportunity in a relaxed atmosphere, with delectable Greek produce available to delight the taste buds.
World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2014 is being held on August 2nd at Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso in partnership with the Greek Tourism Ministry, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, and the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises and will include top entertainment and the presentation of the most coveted awards in the industry.
Over 2,500 nominees will be hoping to secure sufficient votes from industry professionals and members of the travelling public invited in order to win a prestigious World Travel Award with voting concluding on June 23rd.
World Travel Awards President, Graham Cooke, said: “Working closely with Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso we have put together a whistle-stop tour of Greek highlights.”
He added: “Nominees and winners attending the Gala Ceremony are invited to take advantage of the tours on a complimentary basis and we look forward to welcoming them in August.”
Niki Fotiou, Marketing & PR Manager, Divani Collection Hotels, added: “Our goal is to organise truly memorable moments for everyone to share. We want to offer to our guests a real taste of Greece and all that Athens has to offer.
“We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to our hotel for the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2014.”
Acting Govenor's remarks at Beaches Key West Village Opening
Vandalism Halts TCIG’s Programme to Trap Stray Dogs
The Department of Agriculture has suspended the trapping of stray dogs due to the consistent, theft and deliberate destruction of the equipment used to humanely trap the animals.
The Ministry of Environment and Human Affairs says that that it deeply regrets the suspension of the programme which is designed to reduce the number of stray and feral dogs on the islands thereby reducing the risk to life and property as a result of accidents or public health issues resulting from disease or bites.
Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Mark Butler noted: “Vandalism has rendered all of our traps completely inoperable and prevent the continued removal of stray dogs from our communities. It will also curtail the gains we have made to reduce the stray dog population especially in Providenciales where the vandalism is most prevalent.”
The Ministry has found it difficult and expensive to replace and repair the traps. In one week 10 traps were deliberately destroyed; and in the past year alone, another 17 were either stolen or damaged. Each trap costs $400.00.
In addition to trapping, the Department of Agriculture has in recent months, responded to the appeals from citizens to find more humane and innovative ways to control strays by collaborating with animal welfare groups to hold spay and neuter clinics and through the mounting of a public awareness campaign to educate the public on acceptable pet ownership and care.
The Ministry advises individuals who are engaging in the destruction of government property that their actions constitute a crime. All acts of vandalism will be reported and if caught, perpetrators will be put before the courts.
It is unforgiveable that the very residents who complain about stray dogs are the culprits who destroy the government’s property so willing and with disregard for the possible impacts strays can have on public health and the country’s tourism product.
The Department urges all responsible and civic minded residents to report these acts of vandalism and those who are responsible to the Department of Agriculture and or the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
The Department also takes this opportunity to remind residents to become responsible animal owners by ensuring that their dogs are spay or neutered, licensed and kept on their property.
World AIDS Vaccine Awareness Day
The Turks and Caicos joins the rest of the world in observing AIDS Vaccine Awareness Day which is observed on the 18th of May each year; there remains an urgent need to find an AIDS vaccine. We know that it is possible to begin to control the HIV epidemic using existing interventions, but a vaccine will be a critical component of the long-term strategy to end the AIDS epidemic.
· There has been dramatic success in increasing access to HIV treatment, care and existing prevention options, and these efforts together are starting to reduce HIV incidence and mortality—but new interventions are needed to make a lasting, decisive impact on the epidemic.
· While we work to ensure broader access to HIV testing and treatment as well as existing HIV prevention options, we must to continue to look for additional ways to prevent HIV, including a vaccine.
· Even a partially effective vaccine would help to sustain the impact of expanded access to treatment and existing prevention options.
The road to an AIDS vaccine is not easy. Vaccine development can be a slow, iterative process. But after 30 years of the HIV epidemic, researchers believe we’re closer to a vaccine than we ever have been.
· The AIDS vaccine pipeline is increasingly diverse. More than 30 AIDS vaccine clinical trials are underway, testing a variety of candidates and vaccine concepts. However, most are early stage trials (phase I and II) testing for safety and immune responses; there are no ongoing efficacy trials.
· The current challenge is to continue moving promising strategies forward without delay. Researchers urgently need to develop a clear, prioritized plan for managing the pipeline of vaccine candidates in order to prevent duplication and to accelerate study of the most promising products (AVAC 2014).
The Ministry of Health and Human Services and the National HIV Prevention Unit wishes to thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, advocates, policy makers and scientists who are working together to find a safe and effective AIDS vaccine.
200 TEACHERS HONOURED IN GRAND TURK BANQUET
JPMorgan, HSBC and Credit Agricole accused of euro rate-fixes
The European Commission has accused JPMorgan, HSBC and Credit Agricole of colluding to fix a key euro benchmark borrowing rate - Euribor.
JP Morgan and HSBC will fight the charges. Credit Agricole will study the European Commission's findings.
Penalties for the guilty are up to 10% of annual revenue.
Euribor is a cousin to Libor, which is used to set trillions of dollars of financial contracts from complex financial transactions to car loans.
In December, the Commission imposed fines totalling 1.04bn on Barclays, Deutsche Bank, RBS and Societe Generale as part of the same investigation.
Barclays escaped a fine as it had notified the Commission of the existence of the cartel, and the others were granted a 10% reduction in their fine for agreeing to a settlement.
The EU's competition body said: "The Commission has concerns that the three banks may have taken part in a collusive scheme which aimed at distorting the normal course of pricing components for euro interest rate derivatives."
JP Morgan said it had "co-operated fully with the European Commission throughout its investigation." The bank said it believed that the competition concerns were "without merit", and added it intended to "defend itself fully".
HSBC said: "We intend to defend ourselves vigorously."
The Commission's investigation has centred around concerns that the banks may have manipulated the pricing of interest rate derivatives - financial products which are used by banks to manage risks associated with interest rate fluctuations.
The products derive their value from "Euribor", a benchmark interest rate which is the eurozone equivalent of Libor.
Source-BBC