DEPUTY GOVERNOR MATERNITY LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS
Deputy Governor of the Turks and Ciacos Islands, Hon Anya Williams, has begun her maternity leave, it was announced by the Governor’s Office today, Thursday, 27 February 2014.
During her absence her duties will revert to Governor Beckingham as head of the TCI civil service, assisted by the remaining staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor and the TCI Government Human Resources Directorate. Mrs Williams will return to office at the beginning of May 2014.
Violent clashes at Venezuela march
Venezuelan police and opposition demonstrators have clashed at the end of a march that gathered tens of thousands of people in Caracas.
Several people were injured, as police fired tear gas and activists hurled stones in the Altamira district.
Supporters of left-wing President Nicolas Maduro marched in central Caracas and other cities.
Ten people have now died in nearly two weeks of protests, which Mr Maduro has called a coup attempt.
He says the violence is part of a strategy devised by right-wing groups, with the support of the US, to destabilise his government.
“We have a strong democracy. What we don’t have in Venezuela is a democratic opposition,” Mr Maduro told thousands of his supporters in Caracas.
Mr Maduro was elected last April, following the death of Hugo Chavez, who was in office for 14 years.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who was defeated in last year’s presidential election, led a march in the capital.
He spoke against the arrest, on Tuesday, of fellow opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, accused by the government of inciting violence.
Mr Capriles called on his supporters to carry on protesting, but to avoid any form of violence.
“There are millions of reasons to protest, there are so many problems, so many people suffering. But his movement we have built must be different,” he said.
The opposition’s main grievances are rampant crime, high inflation and the shortage of many staples. It blames the economic problems on the left-wing policies of the past 15 years.
Opposition demonstrators also took part in marches in western Tachira and Merida states.
The current wave of protests began on 12 February. Three people were shot dead at the end of those marches in Caracas by unknown gunmen.
Daily protests have been held in the capital for the past 11 days.
Source-BBC News
Caribbean can pool resources to cash-in on lucrative Chinese market
A world economist has suggested that the upswing in the global economy will filter down to the Caribbean.
Dr. C. Fred Bergsten Director Emeritus of the Peterson Institute, an international Economic think thank - told the first ever Caribbean Economic Forum staged by the Central Bank of Barbados on Wednesday that the worst of the global recession has passed and the region must now look to new economic interests as it repositions itself.
According to Bergsten, the Caribbean must release its grip on traditional trading partners such as the United States and Europe and look towards new partnerships and linkages with the world’s emerging markets; Latin America, Brazil and more so East Asia and China.
“The truth is neither North America or Western Europe are the new dynamic leaders of the world economy. The emerging markets of developing countries around the globe now account for the half of the world economy, they are growing three times as fast as high income, traditional economic power houses and that’s where the dynamism is and so to have a good shot at expanding dynamic economic growth in this region I think you need to diversify beyond those markets.”
He believes China is a potential goldmine for the region’s tourism dependent economies which have been losing their market share in the US and British markets.
“China is already the second largest spender in tourism in the world, over a 100 billion dollars but it’s only begun. China is going to explode as a source of tourism. There is going to be a tsunami of Chinese tourists flooding the world over the next several decades and if the Caribbean can get a small slice of that huge market it would do wonders for the economy.”
But even as he tells Caribbean economies to diversify, Bergsten warns countries to choose their niche markets wisely. He says when small economies try to pursue too many ventures they run of the risk of doing nothing well.
“I believe in the principle of comparative advantage and that says do more of what you do best. Now if you are a huge, continental economy like China or the US and a few others, you can provide a wide variety of industries and services and some agriculture as well. But if you are a small economy I think you really have to emphasise those few things that you do best and try to make sure you do them well and really well means you do them on a competitive basis.”
Bergsten believes Tourism is the game changer for the Caribbean – which he says already has a competitive edge.
He tells Caribbean countries to pool their resources to cash in on the lucrative Chinese market.
“If you develop targeted strategies for increasing airlift from China to the Caribbean via either Europe or the West Coast of the United States, if you could put together packaged deals where Chinese tourists could go for three days to Barbados, three days to Antigua, three days to St. Lucia….if you could put together what I think would be somewhat new, creative devices of that type you might be able to tap a massive, new market,” he said.
Source-Caribbean360
New OECS director general appointed
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has announced the appointment of St Lucian Dr Didacus Jules as the organisation’s new director general.
Jules, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will take up his new position on May 1, 2014.
He replaces Dr Len Ishmael, who demitted office at the end of December 2013.
“The Authority is confident that the correct choice has been made and we look forward to working with Dr Jules in ushering in a new dispensation at our organisation,” said OECS Chairman and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer.
He said the nine-member regional grouping had canvassed widely and received applications for the position from across the region and beyond.
Source-Caribbean Media Corporation
Jamaicans in US support ganja decriminalisation but urge caution
The push by the Jamaican ganja lobby for authorities to decriminalise the use of the weed has won broad-based support within the Jamaican diaspora here.
However, there is also deep concern that the move should not impact negatively on relations between Jamaica and the United States. In that regard, many here are urging caution in dealing with the issue.
"We cannot afford to do anything that will anger the United States on this matter," said Joan Pinnock, an attorney and head of the Jamaica American Bar Association for the North East US.
She said that for medical and economic purposes: "I absolutely support decriminalisation of the use of marijuana... My concern, though, is that if this is done, many Jamaicans may think that the widescale and indiscriminate use of the drug is okay. We need to be reminded that while some states have legalised the use of marijuana to some degree, the Federal law against its use remains in place.
"As an attorney I have seen the consequences that our people have endured for using ganja. Every month there is a plane that carries mainly young men who have been deported to Jamaica after being convicted for the use of ganja. I fight to protect them, but it's not easy," she said.
Pinnock's views are shared by Irwin Clare, head of the Diaspora Advisory Board for the North East US.
Pointing to the US where 22 states and the District Of Columbia have varying laws allowing the use of marijuana, Clare argued that "Jamaica has a history of promoting decriminalisation of ganja and should not now be left behind on what seems to be shaping into a worldwide movement".
But he, too, suggested that the Jamaican Government be wary that US Federal laws do not recognise the use of ganja.
Dr Charles Anderson Sr, a Buffalo-based physician, also gave support to decriminalisation but urged more research on the harm ganja can do to the human brain.
The St Mary native, who is head of the Health and Medical Committee of the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organisations, said that there was no doubt that the indiscriminate use of ganja could have negative consequences.
"The good part is that it could be a medical bonanza," he said.
Decriminalisation has also found favour with Desmond Clarke, immediate past president of the Jamaica National Movement and Patrick Callum, head of G2K New York, the young professionals affiliate of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party.
Sharon Gordon, co-founder and chair of the Coalition To Preserve Reggae Music, is not worried about the US response to decriminalisation, insisting that: "Jamaica has waited too long to get this done. I don't feel we will have any problems with the Americans, given the trend the matter is taking here."
But Gordon said care must be taken that "our young people will not be able to use ganja freely".
Source-Observer
Paulwell says Jamaica must not be left behind as world takes on Marijuana
Jamaica will this year join a virtual tidal wave of countries across the globe in decriminalising ganja, forerunner to the establishment of a medicinal marijuana industry estimated to be worth billions of dollars.
The undertaking was given to the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce (CCMRT) by Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell, according to one of the main taskforce leaders, Delano Seiveright.
In a press statement yesterday, Seiveright said Paulwell, who is also the minister of science, technology, energy and mining, told members of the taskforce at a meeting last Thursday that “ganja will be decriminalised in Jamaica this year and emphasised that Jamaica cannot be allowed to be left behind on the issue”.
“He also reiterated the multiple economic, social and cultural benefits that Jamaica stands to gain if the laws are adjusted sooner rather than later,” Seiveright said.
He said the meeting held at the PCJ Auditorium in Kingston had agreed to the formal launch of the Future Ganja Growers Association next month to spearhead the establishment of a local ganja industry, which advocates swear will pump billions of dollars into the Jamaican economy.
If Paulwell’s promise becomes reality — a strong possibility because of bipartisan support in the Parliament — Jamaica could be the first Englishspeaking Caribbean country to decriminalise ganja and usher in a new era allowing Jamaicans to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes under State regulation.
Legalisation or decriminalisation of the weed has been sweeping the globe, led by the United States where Colorado, followed by Washington, has demonstrated the earning power of marijuana. America’s tax take has already been put at an estimated US$100 million a year.
Jamaica’s Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce comprises the Ganja Law Reform Coalition, the National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja and several members of civil society. The group is chaired by University of the West Indies, Mona Principal Professor Archibald McDonald. Other leading Ganja Law Reform advocates sitting on the taskforce include Paul Chang and Paul Burke.
The taskforce also reiterated that a compulsory condition of involvement in the growers association was agreement by members not to take any part, directly or indirectly, in the growing/cultivation of ganja until there is a legal and regulated framework in place.
The association, according to the press statement, would “represent the best interests of the various stakeholders, giving primacy of place to the traditional ganja cultivator for a specified period”.
It would lobby the Jamaican Government for the establishment of “a properly regulated cannabis industry in all aspects, cultivation, agro-processing, medicinal and its many and varied by-products”; and promote control, education and taxation “as important planks of a regulated cannabis industry”.
Source-Jamaica Observer
Profits at 'China's twitter' surge
Profits at Sina Corp, owner of China's largest Twitter-like site Weibo, surged in the fourth quarter, boosted by a jump in advertising revenue.
It reported a net profit of $44.5m (£26.7m) in the October-to-December period, up from $2.4m a year ago.
The numbers come amid reports that Sina is planning to list Weibo in the US and that it plans to raise nearly $500m by selling Weibo shares.
Weibo claims that it has over 500 million registered users.
China is the world's biggest internet market and social networking sites have become increasingly popular with users.
As a result, many firms have turned to the medium to advertise their products and services in an attempt to attract new customers, helping boost growth of companies such as Sina.
According to the firm's latest numbers, advertising revenues at Weibo rose to $56m during the fourth quarter - a 163% jump from a year earlier.
"The strong performance of Weibo's advertising and value-added services in the fourth quarter allowed us to end 2013 with strong top line and bottom line growth," said Charles Chao, chief executive of Sina.
The China Internet Network Information Center said in its annual report that almost 28 million people abandoned Weibo last year.
The fall marked the site's first drop in usage amid a government crackdown on so-called 'rumour mongers' online.
Weibo's surge in popularity gave users new opportunities for self-expression, but it also attracted the attention of authorities who moved swiftly to silence voices online.
A law was introduced to allow the Chinese government to jail microbloggers and dozens more were arrested.
Web users are believed to have migrated to mobile messaging platforms.
Mr Chao of Sina said the firm "will continue to focus on growing Weibo's user base and user engagement" in the current year.
LinkedIn testing Chinese language site
Professional networking service LinkedIn has launched a beta or test version of its Chinese language site.
The firm said the move is aimed at offering a more localised service to its users in China.
It is expected to boost LinkedIn's growth in China - where rival social networking firms such as Facebook and Twitter continue to remain blocked.
China is the world's largest internet market with more than 500 million internet users.
LinkedIn said it is also creating a joint venture with Sequoia China and China Broadband Capital to "help connect more than 140 million Chinese professionals with each other and with our more than 277 million existing members globally".
"Our mission is to connect the world's professionals and create greater economic opportunity - and this is a significant step towards achieving that goal," the firm said in a blogpost.
LinkedIn's English language site has been available in China for over a decade.
It already has four million users in the country.
LinkedIn said the Chinese language site will incorporate features aimed at helping local users drive more value from the service.
It has integrated Sina Weibo, China's largest Twitter-like service, into the platform that would allow members to import their Weibo contacts to their LinkedIn profile.
Members would also be allowed to link their LinkedIn account to their WeChat account, one of China's most popular mobile messaging services.
LinkedIn said that despite being present in the country for such a long period it was still in a "start-up phase" in China.
"We believe that the experience of our local team, combined with the considerable market expertise of our joint venture partners, position us well to explore our growth options in China," it said.
Source-BBC
Walt Disney World increases prices at its theme parks
Disney has raised the price of a one-day ticket to its Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida by $4 to $99 (£59.50).
Magic Kingdom is the world's most visited theme park, with more than 17 million visitors in 2012.
Ticket prices at other parks within Walt Disney World, including Epcot and Hollywood Studios, also jumped by $4.
The hike comes after Disney reported surging revenues from its theme park businesses.
In 2013, Disney made $671m from its theme parks - a 16% increase from the same period in 2012.
Overall, its parks brought in $3.6bn in revenue in 2013, a 6% increase from 2012, according to the firm's most recent financial filings.
The boost in revenue was "primarily due to increased guest spending at our domestic parks and resorts, which reflected higher average ticket prices and food, beverage and merchandise spending," according to Disney.
Disney said that the majority of visitors to its parks buy tickets for multiple days.
The company has theme parks throughout the world, with locations in Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong.
According to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association and technology company AECOM, Disney's theme parks globally had more than 126 million visitors in 2012, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
Source-BBC
Netflix agrees Comcast streaming deal
Netflix has agreed a deal with Comcast, the biggest internet service provider in the US, that will see its videos streamed faster and more smoothly.
The multi-year deal will see Netflix servers connected directly to Comcast's network, removing third parties that slow down streaming speeds.
However, Comcast said Netflix would not get "preferential network treatment".
The terms of the deal, including whether Netflix was paying for it, were not disclosed by the firms.
"The companies have established a more direct connection between Netflix and Comcast, similar to other networks, that's already delivering an even better user experience to consumers, while also allowing for future growth in Netflix traffic," Comcast said in a statement.
The move comes just days after Comcast confirmed a deal to acquire Time Warner Cable for about $45bn (£27bn).
According to some estimates, the combined company would control more than one-third of the US high-speed internet market.
Netflix, a TV and movie streaming service, has 44 million subscribers - majority of them in the US.
The deal may see the firm enter similar deals, known as interconnect agreements, with other internet service providers across the country.
Source-BBC