NIB takes Businesses to Court for non-payment
The National Insurance Board has taken a few business persons to court over the non payment of contributions here in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The following NIB matters were heard in the Providenciales Magistrates Court # 2 at IGA Complex, Leeward Highway.
NIB v Lofton Morley for failing to pay national insurance contributions and additional charges in the amount of US $31,915.85 for the period September 2009 to December 2009 and August 2010 to March 2011. There were 16 complaints laid against the defendant in this matter and guilty pleas were entered in respect of 14 of those complaints. Sentencing in this matter was deferred to March 12, 2014.
The trial of the matter NIB v Lofton Morley on an application for Judgment Summons following the defendant’s default on a court order to pay the National Insurance Board the amount of US $37,788.24 was concluded. The defendant was ordered to pay the debt in installments of US $500.00 per month commencing March 31, 2014 and continuing each month until the debt is extinguished.
Also, on Friday February 21st 2014, Defendant Coleta Williams of Whole Gospel Christian Acadamy appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court to answer to a Distress Warrant filed by the NIB for the levying of $224,008.40. The matter was adjourned for 9:00AM Friday September 19th 2014.
Then on Friday February 21st 2014, Defendants Terrence Astwood and Wayne Higgs of BAT Security were scheduled to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court to answer to a Distress Warrant filed by the NIB for the levying of $6,025.00. The defendants failed to appear. A warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest.
Defendants Joanne and Manuel Hernandez of Hernandez Construction, who appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court to answer to a Distress Warrant filed by the NIB for the levying of $47,526.69. The matter was adjourned for 9:00AM Monday April 7th 2014 pending settlement.
Separately, Defendants Dwaine and Denver Pratt of Chrystal Pools Services appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court to answer to a Distress Warrant filed by the NIB for the levying of $15,593.40. An order was made for the Defendants to pay to NIB $15,593.40 in monthly installments of $500.00 commencing February 28th. The matter was adjourned for 9:00AM Wednesday June 11th 2014.
The final case heard on Friday February 21st 2014 included Defendant Arlene Jennings formerly of Horse-eye Jack Restaurant and Bar was scheduled to appear in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court to answer to a Distress Warrant filed by the NIB for the levying of $5,627.79. The matter was adjourned for 9:00AM Wednesday June 11th 2014 pending settlement.
CARICOM and Canada Assist Suriname to Incorporate Regional Integration and the CSME into School Curricula
Approximately four hundred teachers in Suriname will be trained on the operations of the Caribbean Community and CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The sessions begin on Monday 3 March, 2014 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Paramaribo and will run until 24 March, 2014. The activity in Suriname falls under the CARICOM Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP) and its Information Flows component. The CTCP is executed by the CARICOM Secretariat with the assistance of Canada.
The teachers are selected from all Junior High Schools throughout Suriname and they will be exposed to presentations focusing on integrating CARICOM and the CSME into the subjects of Geography, History and other social sciences. The presentations will be made by the Suriname Ministries responsible for Trade and Education and are based on booklets and documents developed by the CARICOM Secretariat. The Department for Curricula Development in the Ministry of Education will play a pivotal role in ensuring the facilitation of the training.
The activity is part of the CARICOM Secretariat’s efforts to create and enhance information channels to enable increased participation of CARICOM stakeholders in decision making on regional integration. Suriname decided that teacher training and curricula development were priority areas for the Dutch speaking South American CARICOM Member State.
Other CARICOM Member States participating in the CSME are also benefiting from the CTCP. However Suriname is the first to implement an activity relating to improving its information flows for the CSME. Other Member States have also requested teacher training and the development of other information channels under the CTCP.
Venezuela on the brink
The sound of banging pots began well before dawn. Out on the streets of Caracas on February 24, the barricades were going up across the south and east of the Venezuelan capital. Tree trunks, blocks of concrete, burning tires and smoldering trash brought traffic to a halt. In some areas demonstrators slicked the road surface with oil or spread spikes to keep away government forces.
It was the same picture in other big cities across Venezuela this week. With impressive co-ordination, opposition radicals were sending a message to President Nicolás Maduro: Beatings, bullets and tear gas will not deter us. “Look, this is a sacrifice,” says a barricade-builder in San Cristóbal in the southwestern border state of Táchira, where the protests began three weeks ago and tensions are highest. “It doesn’t matter if it takes a month, two months, three months. We have to get rid of this government.”
The protests started because of anger over violent crime, inflation and shortages of food, medicines and other basic goods, but the authorities’ harsh treatment of demonstrators has fuelled the rage. More than a dozen people have been killed since the regime’s response turned violent on February 12, half shot in the head.
Most of the deaths have been at the hands of security forces or civilian gunmen backing the government: On February 26 the authorities announced that seven members of the intelligence services have been charged with murder. The Venezuelan Penal Forum, a human-rights group, says that it has documented 18 cases of torture among the hundreds of detainees. More than 500 complaints about abuses remain to be investigated. Dozens of amateur videos show an excessive use of force on the streets.
Moderate leaders of the opposition Democratic Unity alliance are struggling to control the radicals, whose figurehead, Leopoldo López, has been in custody since February 18. On February 22 former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, governor of Miranda state, told a mass rally in the capital that there were “millions of reasons to protest,” but that for protesters to barricade themselves in their own districts played into the government’s hands. That call has fallen on deaf ears.
There are signs of fracture within government ranks too. The official line of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela is that the opposition is trying to mount a “fascist coup.” A “truth commission” has been proposed to investigate “violence promoted by far-right groups.”
Nonetheless, Capriles’ calls for the authorities to cease repression and to free political prisoners were echoed on February 24 by José Gregorio Vielma Mora, a Socialist who is governor of Táchira state. Vielma acknowledged abuses and said that the economic crisis was behind the protests.
Although Vielma later retracted these comments, presumably under pressure from the government, his words were the first public evidence of tensions within the regime. They were all the more significant because the governor, a retired military officer, took part in the 1992 coup attempt by the late Hugo Chávez, founder and “eternal leader” of the Socialists, and is highly regarded by many former comrades.
Meanwhile the country’s economic woes worsen. In an effort to blunt the impact of the protests, Maduro decreed that this Carnival weekend—which coincides with the so-called “Caracazo” of 1989, when economic hardship led to days of looting and a massacre by the army—would begin on February 27, two days earlier than scheduled. With many offices and stores already closed because of the protests, an extended holiday will exacerbate pervasive shortages.
Extreme economic hardship is just around the corner in Venezuela, and with it the likelihood that anger against the regime will spread.
Source-Guardian Media
Absolut Karnival Takes Carnival by Storm in Trinidad and Tobago
Absolut is proud to announce that the world-renowned vodka will be unveiling its newest flavor and bottle, Absolut Karnival, at one of the world's most prominent carnival celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago. The passion fruit and orange blossom-flavored limited edition Absolut Karnival will capture the transformative energy of Carnival.
Inspired by carnival and launched in a big way, Absolut will be participating, or "playing mas" as it is known locally, in Port of Spain for the first time with the bottle's exclusively designed characters. The Absolut Karnival Cocktail truck that features the distinct shape of the Absolut bottle will be strutting down the parade route with one of the island's most revered bands, Harts.
The alignment with Harts joins one of the island's most premium bands with the premium vodka brand. The family owned band that has been around for more than 50 years and has won Carnival five times is welcoming the Absolut Karnival Cocktail truck for the first time.
Absolut unveils the newest Karnival bottle design, featuring artwork by the Brazilian graphic novel artist and writer Rafael Grampa. The five characters symbolize freedom, spirit, smoothness, style and happiness; elements that are vital to the joy and celebration of carnival.
All five characters, along with stilt walkers, will be playing mas on Carnival Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 with "masqueraders" and Absolut personnel will be handing out complimentary samples.
Look for the Absolut Karnival Cocktail truck playing mas with Harts and get your taste of Karnival.
The Absolut Company has the worldwide responsibility for the production, innovation and strategic marketing of Absolut Vodka, Malibu, Kahlua, Wyborowa, Luksusowa and Fris. Absolut Vodka is the world's fourth largest premium spirits brand. Every bottle of Absolut Vodka is produced in Åhus, southern Sweden. Malibu is the number one rum-based coconut spirit in the world, sold in more than 150 countries. Kahlua coffee liqueur is the world leader in its category. The head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden. The Absolut Company is a part of Pernod Ricard, which holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector.
Source-PRNewswire
3.6-magnitude quake felt in northeast region
A 3.6-magnitude quake was felt Friday night at 9:14 PM local time in the northeast region, about 19 kilometers west-southwest of Sabana de La Mar, and 70 kilometers northeast of Santo Domingo, at a depth of 22 kilometers.
According to the United States Geological Survey, there were reports of light shaking centered in the south of the country but there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Machel retains Power Soca Monarch
Defending Power Soca Monarch king Machel Montano retained his title despite getting stiff challenges from Hollice "Mr Kill@" Mapp, Neil Iwer George and Destra Garcia at the 2014 International Soca Monarch competition at the National Stadium in Port of Spain on Friday.
The Carnival showpiece, dubbed "Fantastic Friday", saw Montano used a host of dancers, including break dancers, and less props as he's renowned for in his presentation of "Ministry Of The Road."
Clad in a yellow suit and black tie, Montano was able to energise the crowd as his dancers went through a high intensity routine while a member of his supporting cast attempted to smash up a piece of road, the one noticeable prop used, with a sledgehammer.
Mr Kill@, who was considered a serious contender to dethrone Montano, finished in a historic three-way tie for second with Destra Garcia and Neil Iwer George.
During the performing of his immensely popular "Rolly Polly", the Grenadian soca artiste did a handstand on the back of two of his rolly polly dancers before introducing his major prop, a rolly polly machine.
He had a slim young lady enter the machine to be subsequently transformed into a 'Rolly Polly' woman, almost four times her original size.
Iwer, as usual, showed he still possessed the uncanny ability to get the crowd to respond to his every urging while delivering "Mama Oye" while Garcia gave a polished performance of her 2014 hit "Mash Up."
But they were unable to remove the king off his Power throne.
In the Groovy category, however, Kerwin Du Bois was able to accomplish what the others failed to do - dethrone Montano.
Du Bois' "Too Real" proved to be too groovy for Montano's "Happiest Man Alive" as he won the approval of the judges and the crowd.
Montano took second with "Big People Party" securing third position for Darryl "Farmer Nappy" Henry and Garcia rounding out the top four with "First Time."
Results
Power Soca Monarch
1. Machel Montano - :Ministry Of The Road"
2. Hollice "Mr Kill@" Mapp - "Rolly Polly"
2. Neil Iwer George - "Mama Oye"
2. Destra Garcia - "Mash Up"
Groovy Soca Monarch
1. Kerwin Du Bois - "Too Real"
2. Machel Montano - "Happiest Man Alive"
3. Darryl "Farmer Nappy" Henry - "Big People Party"
4. Destra Garcia - "First Time"
Source-Trinidad Express
US Economic Growth Slower Than First Thought
The U.S. economy grew more slowly than first thought in the last few months of 2013.
Friday's report from the Commerce Department says the world's largest economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.4 percent in October, November and December.
That is eight-tenths of a percent slower than a preliminary estimate published one month ago. Officials routinely revise the figures on gross domestic product expansion as more complete data becomes available.
Government experts say the latest figures show disappointing retail sales and a less favorable picture of trade and inventories than initially thought.
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Thursday that foul winter weather had slowed some sectors of the economy recently.
Source-Voa
Russian Parliament Approves Use of Troops in Ukraine's Crimea Region
The Russian parliament has approved President Vladimir Putin's request to use the Russian military in Ukraine's Crimea region, further raising tensions between the neighbors.
Saturday's vote made official what Ukrainian authorities have described as an ongoing deployment of Russian troops in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
Russia's upper house of parliament also recommended that President Putin recall Moscow's ambassador from the United States.
That move comes just one day after U.S. President Barack Obama expressed concern about reports of Russian troop movements in Crimea and warned Russia not to intervene in Ukraine, saying there would be consequences.
Earlier Saturday, the newly appointed pro-Russian prime minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, claimed control of the region's military and other security forces. He appealed to Mr. Putin for help in restoring "peace and calm."
Crimea, part of Ukraine since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, is now the focus of turmoil after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted a week ago.
At a meeting of the interim government in Kyiv Saturday, Ukraine's newly appointed Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk demanded that Russia stop what he called its "provocations" in Crimea, and said the Ukrainian military in the majority Russian area is on high alert.
Russia has said its troop movements in Crimea, where it leases a naval base in Sevastopol, conform to agreements with Ukraine. But Ukraine's acting defense minister said 6,000 additional Russian troops have been deployed on Ukrainian soil.
Ukraine also has refused to recognize the Crimean prime minister, with acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov issuing a statement declaring Aksyonov's appointment a violation of Ukraine's constitution.
Aksyonov was appointed by the Crimean parliament earlier this week as tensions soared over Crimea's resistance to the new authorities in Kyiv, who took power last week.
Source-VOA
Egypt's New Cabinet Sworn In
Egypt has sworn in a new cabinet after the previous government surprised the country by resigning less than one week ago.
Interim President Adly Mansour picked Ibrahim Mahlab as the new prime minister on Tuesday and tasked him with forming a new government. Mahlab has decided to keep some of the former ministers in his new government, including Egypt's army chief, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, as defense minister and Muhammad Ibrahim as interior minister.
Mahlab headed Egypt's mammoth state-owned construction company during the rule of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and served as the housing minister in the interim cabinet that resigned on Monday.
Mahlab vowed at a news conference to "crush terrorism in all corners" of Egypt and restore security.
Egypt has been hit with a wave of labor strikes protesting the government's economic failures as the country heads toward expected presidential elections in April.
Defense Minister Sissi is expected to run for president.
Former interim prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi had headed the government since July, when the army ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP
Pakistani Taliban Announces Cease-Fire to Revive Peace Talks
The Pakistani Taliban says it will observe a one-month cease-fire to allow peace talks with the government to resume.
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid announced Saturday the senior leadership of the militant group had instructed all of its subgroups to abide by the cease-fire.
The cease-fire comes as Pakistani forces have bombarded militant hideouts in the northwest with airstrikes in recent days. Previous negotiation attempts broke down when insurgents in the northwest said they had killed 23 Pakistani troops.
The Pakistani Taliban has wanted to overthrow the government and establish its own hard-line form of Islam across the country. Militant attacks have killed tens of thousands of Pakistanis.
Source-VOA