Kerry: 'Determined' to Reach Mideast Peace Deal
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he is "determined" and "committed" to reaching a peace deal with Israel and the Palestinians.
Kerry said in an interview broadcast Thursday by Israel's Channel 2 television, that he is not insulted by those who call him obsessed by the Middle East.
Kerry extended a trip to Paris by a day Thursday to meet again with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
A senior State Department official said Kerry and Mr. Abbas held "an in-depth discussion about the core issues" on Wednesday. The State Department says the peace talks are at an important point.
Kerry has set an April 29 deadline for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel has said that deadline could be extended.
The talks began again in July after a three-year lull. Israel has freed a number of Palestinian prisoners while the Palestinians dropped their demand for Israel to stop settlement construction.
Both sides continue to disagree over such touchy issues as the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem in a possible Palestinian state.
Source-VOA
UN's Ban Wants 3,000 Troops Quickly Sent to Central African Republic
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is asking the Security Council to quickly send at least 3,000 more troops to the Central African Republic, where religious violence is spinning out of control.
Mr. Ban Thursday urged that the additional forces be deployed within the coming days and weeks, and be equipped with aircraft.
More than 7,000 African Union and French forces are already in the C.A.R. and the European Union has promised to send another 1,000 soldiers.
Mr. Ban also proposed $38 million in financial and other support for the African Union forces.
The Central African Republic was plunged into chaos a year ago when minority Muslim rebels toppled the president and went on a looting spree.
The violence led to a majority Christian militia. Fighting between Muslims and Christians has killed hundreds since December and forced close to 1 million people to flee for their lives.
CARICOM expresses concern over Venezuela protests
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has expressed concern about the confrontations that have taken place in Venezuela over the past few days in the course of demonstrations.
In a statement deploring the deaths of at least four people arising from the resulting acts of violence, the regional body called for respect of the democratically elected government.
“In all democracies, citizens have the right to air their views and differences, however, this must be done within the constitutional framework and not through violent demonstrations. No democratic society can reasonably pursue disorder or any unwarranted subversion of democratic institutions,” said CARICOM in a statement issued on Tuesday.
CARICOM has called on all parties to take the necessary steps to refrain from any further action that would hinder a peaceful resolution of the differences and a return to peace and calm in the country.
On Tuesday, thousands of protestors flooded the streets of Caracas, Venezuela's capital, after troops arrested opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on charges of fomenting unrest against the government and violence that has killed at least four people.
The demonstrators blocked traffic in the streets of Caracas as a security vehicle holding the 42-year-old Harvard-educated economist crawled at a snail's pace after he surrendered to security forces during an opposition rally.
It’s feared that Lopez's arrest could galvanize the opposition and spur more street demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro.
Seismologist warns powerful earthquake a warning for the Caribbean
It was good news for members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization when the CTO Chairman revealed the industry is finally looking up.
“The state of the Caribbean’s tourism industry is solid, with positive signs that a recovery is in progress,” said Beverly Nicholson-Doty.
The CTO Chairman led a press conference from Government House, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas USVI on February 10 where she delivered the State of the Industry Report for 2013.
Nicholson-Doty said there were strong indications of recovery in the industry, chiefly, that visitors were spending more money.
“One of the strongest indicators of progress is the rise in estimated visitor spend, with expenditure growing faster than visitor arrivals for the first time in three years,” she said.
According to the Chairman, visitors to the region spent more than 28 billion dollars in 2013, an increase of 2.3 per cent when compared to 2012.
“The hotel sector performed even better, recording a rise of more than 7.5 per cent in room revenues…average room rates were up nearly US $10 to $186, the average revenue per available room also grew by about $10 to $125 and occupancy levels were at 67 per cent.”
She said that since the start of the year, the region has recorded an increase in seismic activity.
“We have been seeing elevated activities in our region in the Trinidad area and in the Antigua area. So yes, our regions have been showing particular zones. Even east of St. Lucia we have been tracking a little elevation. So there are little zones that are manifesting elevation.”
The seismologist, who has long warned the region to expect a massive earthquake, cautioned this could still occur and insisted that Caribbean countries must be earthquake ready.
“Every day that passes the occurrence of that earthquake is closer to us. And certainly the activity that we are seeing in the region is a cause for concern that this earthquake may be a little sooner than later.
“But of course we are unable to give a date, time and place because there are a number of areas along the Eastern Caribbean Arc in which this earthquake can occur. We have had our major earthquakes between Antigua and Barbuda and north of Martinique and north west of St. Lucia and north west of the Paria Peninsula and so it’s got a big choice.
“And so all of us in all our countries we need to be prepared because we do not know just where this big earthquake will occur. But what we do know no matter where it occurs because earthquake waves travel it means that even if you are 200 kilometers away from that big earthquake you can experience significant tremors.
Latchman said that while earthquakes in the Barbados zone are “a little different from what we would have along the islands of the Eastern Caribbean where the earthquakes occur in a denser pattern… we would expect to see on average, every year, an earthquake in the magnitude 4.1 to 4.5 range and 5 of them in the 3.6 to 4.0 range”.
She said most of these earthquakes “occur very close to the island of Barbados.
“So Barbadians should not have a complacency that earthquakes in the Eastern Caribbean do not affect them. An earthquake along the arc just needs to be large enough and in 2007 most Barbadians would have felt the earthquake that was located north of Martinique at a magnitude 7.3 and caused damaged in Barbados,” she said, noting that in 1953 the earthquake that occurred north west of St. Lucia also caused damaged in Barbados.
“So Barbados has had impact from earthquakes in the past and I am convinced that Barbados will have impact from earthquakes in the future.”
She said she was urging Caribbean nationals to visit the Unit’s website in order to get up to date information on earthquakes and even tsunamis.
Source-CMC
CTO Chairman – Caribbean tourism rebounding
It was good news for members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization when the CTO Chairman revealed the industry is finally looking up.
“The state of the Caribbean’s tourism industry is solid, with positive signs that a recovery is in progress,” said Beverly Nicholson-Doty.
The CTO Chairman led a press conference from Government House, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas USVI on February 10 where she delivered the State of the Industry Report for 2013.
Nicholson-Doty said there were strong indications of recovery in the industry, chiefly, that visitors were spending more money.
“One of the strongest indicators of progress is the rise in estimated visitor spend, with expenditure growing faster than visitor arrivals for the first time in three years,” she said.
According to the Chairman, visitors to the region spent more than 28 billion dollars in 2013, an increase of 2.3 per cent when compared to 2012.
“The hotel sector performed even better, recording a rise of more than 7.5 per cent in room revenues…average room rates were up nearly US $10 to $186, the average revenue per available room also grew by about $10 to $125 and occupancy levels were at 67 per cent.”
Jamaican caught with drugs at the Airport
Police have arrested and charged 41-year-old Jamaican Alburn Augustus Cato with four drug offences.
Cato was charged with possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and attempting to import six pounds of marijuana when he arrived in Barbados yesterday.
He was interviewed by the Police after landing at the Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday morning and Customs officials found the drugs concealed in his luggage.
When he appeared in the District B Magistrates Court today, Cato pleaded guilty to the charges.
He was fined $15 000 forthwith or two years in prison each for trafficking and possession with intent to supply. He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the count of possession, and reprimanded and discharged on the charge of importation.
Source-NationNews
GOVERNOR MEETS DEVELOPERS OF NEW TCI JW MARRIOTT HOTEL
The investors behind major new hotel developments planned for Providenciales met with the Governor and Jill Beckingham on Monday, 17 February 2014.
The Venezualan group Desarrollos are developing two or three hotels in Grace Bay, including one for JW Marriott.
They plan to open a new nine storey 380-room JW Marriott Hotel and Casino, with a gourmet specialty restaurant, a three-meal-a-day restaurant, a lobby bar and lounge and a pool bar & grill.
The hotel will also have 1,300 square meters of meeting space, including a ballroom; as well as a 962 square meter spa and fitness center, a kids/teen club, three swimming pools and a 901 square meter casino.
Mr and Mrs Walter Stipa, and their son Roberto and daughter in law , flew in to Grand Turk from Aruba, where they have already developed a resort, together with advisers to the Group.
They had lunch at Waterloo before being given a brief tour of Grand Turk by the Governor and Mrs Beckingham.
“I was delighted to have an opportunity to meet these important investors in Turks and Caicos” said Governor Beckingham.
“It provided me with an opportunity to underline the country’s commitment to welcome new, up-market developments in Providenciales.
"The investors re-affirmed their confidence in the Turks and Caicos, and we agreed to aim towards a starting date of the last quarter of this year for their first project.”
Pastor to be invited to join Justice Working Group
A member of the Turks and Caicos Pastoral Fraternity is to be invited to join the Justice Working Group, announced Governor Peter Beckingham today, Wednesday, 19 February 2014.
Governor Beckingham said: “I was pleased to have a full and candid exchange with members of the Pastoral Fraternity at Waterloo today. We covered a great deal of ground, ranging from youth unemployment, healthcare, human rights and the public service.
“I emphasised to the Ministers that I was keen to hear from them about the concerns of their congregations, and the role of their churches in working within the community. I thought it was a valuable exchange, and we agreed we should meet periodically. At the Fraternity’s suggestion I will also be asking one of the Pastors to join the recently established Justice Working Group, and I also hope to meet soon with their fellow pastors in Providenciales.”
The visiting pastors were: Pastor Vernon Malcolm, Chairman of the Fraternity; Rev Julia Williams; Pastor Marilyn Forbes; Pastor Dennis Swann Rev Mark Christmas; Bishop Austraham Hamilton; Tomlinson Skippings; Pastor Oswald Skippings; Canon Mark Kendal.
Mrs. Shanta Lewis is LIME’s Valentine’s Winner
It is the still the season for giving and LIME’s customer Mrs. Shanta Lewis won a pair of Samsung Galaxy S4s, compliments of LIME TCI.
Mrs. Lewis won the phone in the LIME’s Valentine’s promotion where customers participated by texting LOVE to 4946 for a chance to win 2 Samsung Galaxy S4s. The promo ran up to February 15, 2014.
Mrs. Lewis said, “I am overly excited to have won these phones.” She continued, “I was not expecting it and I would like to thank LIME.” Mrs. Lewis did send a text and she was entered along with the many others who tried to capture the prize.
Acting GM Lacal Palmer noted, “LIME knows that communicating is important and this gives the winner an opportunity to share the cheer in being the winner of the Valentine’s promotion. “ Ms. Palmer continued, “LIME would like to thank all the customers who participated in this promotion and congratulations to Mrs. Lewis.”
For those who still want a chance to win, LIME’s text for FREE shopping compliments of LIME and Graceway IGA is still open. Customers can participate via texting Fish Fry to 4946 to be entered. The winner will soon be drawn.
LIME is creating valuable moments with customers and the company is helping to brighten someone’s day.
Burglary & Forgery keeps the RTCIPF busy
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) are investigating a number of incidents reported between Tuesday February 18, 2014 and Wednesday February 19, 2014 within the districts of Providenciales, including:
• (1) Burglary: Preliminary investigations revealed that during the commission of this Burglary, a quantity of gold jewelry along with a quantity of clothing and shoes were stolen.
• (1) Forgery: Initial investigations revealed that during the commission of this crime, suspicious documents were submitted to obtain a Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) Passport. A 36-year-old male has been arrested in connection with this report. Investigations continue.
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. All calls are answered by Miami Dade Police and no one from the RTCIPF will know who called. Only the information received will be provided to the RTCIPF. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.