Mo’Nique May Be Returning To TV With New Daytime Talk Show
Oscar-winning actress and “Queen of Comedy” Mo’Nique is looking to join Wendy Williams, Queen Latifah, and Ellen in competing for daytime television viewers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Baltimore native is working with ABC/Disney to launch a syndicated talk show. The program has not been officially set, but ABC Entertainment Group’s executive vice-president Vicki Dummer is said to be developing the show.
Mo’Nique previously hosted The Mo’Nique Show on BET. The late-night talk show featured celebrity guest interviews and musical performances. It was cancelled after two seasons.
The 45-year-old entertainer has also served as host of Showtime at the Apollo and Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School. She starred in numerous movies throughout her career including the 2009 film Precious which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Mo’Nique’s possible new talk show could begin airing as early as September 2014.
Attempted Burglary at Rihanna's House Caught on Camera
Some people apparently tried to break into Rihanna's Pacific Palisades mansion when the singer was in Australia over the weekend. According to a TMZ report, they drove to her mansion and went to the backyard before throwing a chair through a sliding glass door.
The intruders, who apparently were scared off by the alarm, left without entering the house. The attempted burglary was caught on security cameras around the house. Law enforcement officers said that they were conducting investigation into the case.
In other news, the "Diamonds" hitmaker recently called her favorite style icon Princess Diana a "gangsta." When asked about fashion in an interview with Glamour magazine, Rihanna said, "You know who is the best who ever did it? Princess Diana. She was like - she killed it. Every look was right. She was gangsta with her clothes. She had these crazy hats. She got over-size jackets. I loved everything she wore!"
In the magazine interview, Rihanna also said that she got updates on her stats via her fans' tweets. When asked if she felt "trapped" because everyone kept their eyes on her, the singer answered, "There's stuff like not being able to walk around as I please. I feel like I'm being watched. Always. Like, I want to tan topless somewhere, and I know I probably could never do that. Even if I'm upstairs in my bedroom, and the curtains are pulled, I feel like a paparazzo's outside on a boat somewhere or somebody's peeping."
Source-AceShowbiz
Elton John Drops F-Bomb at Paparazzi
Elton John lashed out at paparazzi who mobbed him during an outing on Monday night, September 30. John, who once called shutterbugs "rude, vile pigs," dropped the F-bomb when he saw them at Craig's in Los Angeles.
In a video obtained by TMZ, the "Candle in the Wind" singer is seen arriving at the eatery in a black car. A paparazzo can be heard asking, "Elton, so you're still good with Lady GaGa?" as he passes through the crowd. The singer replies, "Why don't you just f**k off?"
John apparently was so worked up that he appeared stumbling and almost falling down. He dropped another F-bomb as he entered the restaurant which is frequently patronized by celebrities. The Osbournes and New York Giants owner Steve Tisch reportedly were also in the restaurant that night.
John previously was quoted as saying that he wanted to "talk to her right now, but I can't get through to her," which sparked rumor of him having strained relationship with Lady GaGa. He later explained to Ellen DeGeneres that he was misquoted. "I'm not worried about her in the least. She's godmother to my two children," he added.
The 66-year-old singer is not the only celebrity who was recently involved in a clash with paparazzi. Kanye West was so angry when paparazzi approached him in front of his house at 4 A.M. on September 27. He later praised French paparazzi for staying quiet when doing their job.
"Don't ask questions. Just take the video. Don't do like the L.A. [paparazzi]," West told the photographers during his stay in Paris. "I like how you guys, like, move out here. You've got like total respect for yourselves, have respect for the people that you're photographing. Like, at 8 o'clock, you're not around peoples' houses, so, I just really appreciate and respect that."
Source-AceShowbiz
Miranda Kerr Says She Collects Underwear From Around the World
Miranda Kerr loves collecting underwear when she travels abroad. Orlando Bloom's wife talks about getting dolled up in a November issue of Cosmopolitan, saying that sexy underwear "gives you a spark."
“When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything off and put on my Stella McCartney silk robe," she tells the magazine. "I'll put on a red lip or red nails, and it lifts my mood. Sexy underwear also gives you a spark. I collect underwear from my travels. Lace, lingerie, bodysuits... they're like souvenirs."
Miranda, who married the actor in 2010, also gushes over her husband's acting in the spread. "Flynn says Mommy works and Daddy plays, because Daddy is in a play... so that makes sense. When I saw Orlando on Broadway in 'Romeo and Juliet', I was blown away. For someone to be able to learn all that and hold the energy to do it every day, six days a week - I have so much respect for him," she says.
The couple, however, keeps their distance in work lives. "We don't run lines though. We keep that very separate. That would be like me asking him to teach me how to catwalk," she adds.
Source-AceShowbiz
SHADOW MINISTER FOR BORDER CONTROL AND LABOUR DISAPPROVES OF MINISTER’S HANDLING OF IMMIGRATION
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Shawn Astwood has released the following to RTC on Immigration.
It is really disheartening to see the approach that we seem as a country to be taking towards Immigration. A few months ago in the House of Assembly we were told by the Minister of Border Control that a draft Bill was with the Attorney General’s Chambers. Since then the country has seen the Minister announcing bits of new policies that he and his Government intends to implement and now also having to defend its position regarding an alleged proposal from a Private Sector Organisation.
Whilst the Premier and his Cabinet are the leaders on policy design, there are rules that govern us which states that all major Policy must be announced in the House of Assembly first and also that there must be a consultation with the people of these Islands. Over the past 9 years, this country has been talking Immigration Reform and we believe that there must be some action in this area. The current Minister was the Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Immigration and subsequently the Change Manager. He is now the Minister and the responsibility yet again falls on him to bring a law and policies to this country that we can dialogue on and agree.
Read the rest of the Editorial on our Editorial page under press room.
OPPOSITION LEADER AND SHADOW MINISTER FOR BORDER CONTROL AND LABOUR DISAPPROVES OF MINISTER’S HANDLING OF IMMIGRATION
It is really disheartening to see the approach that we seem as a country to be taking towards Immigration. A few months ago in the House of Assembly we were told by the Minister of Border Control that a draft Bill was with the Attorney General’s Chambers. Since then the country has seen the Minister announcing bits of new policies that he and his Government intends to implement and now also having to defend its position regarding an alleged proposal from a Private Sector Organisation. Whilst the Premier and his Cabinet are the leaders on policy design, there are rules that govern us which states that all major Policy must be announced in the House of Assembly first and also that there must be a consultation with the people of these Islands. Over the past 9 years, this country has been talking Immigration Reform and we believe that there must be some action in this area. The current Minister was the Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Immigration and subsequently the Change Manager. He is now the Minister and the responsibility yet again falls on him to bring a law and policies to this country that we can dialogue on and agree.
Immigration is perhaps at the root of the majority of the problems that TC Islanders face and it requires a holistic approach. Recent announcements of intentions should be supported by numbers through the census and also futuristically by a Population Policy. Whilst we cannot wait on all the Studies to be completed, the urgent need for a Population Policy and a National Skills Database cannot be ignored. A system can be designed to address the immediate needs.
Contrary to what is being suggested, the Constitution does not stop the Government from dealing with the high level of unemployment or from reviewing our Immigration needs. We believe that the Government has found itself in a position where the need for revenue requires a certain level of work permits to be approved and maintained and there must be a serious effort to move away from this. This is a rather difficult place we acknowledge but there must be a balance strike. Too many of our people are unemployed and are losing hope daily. Hopelessness will only implode and can manifest itself in ways that we can ill afford.
We too often think that the face of the unemployed in this country are those who did not or barely completed High School, those who lack skills and qualifications or who do not want to truly work. We must realize that some of our brightest and experienced minds are unemployed: they are qualified, ready, willing and able. Last night I was again disheartened to see a qualified welder of over 30 years on the News speaking to the difficulty to find employment in his own country. We must make every effort to address our immediate issues and get our people to work. I have always encouraged persons to register and I know the discouragement when one hears no response but it is the only way that the Government will know how many jobs are required. I am calling on the Government to pay serious attention to the collection of this data and to then create a Jobs Policy, one that will plan for our youth as they leave School each year.
We will continue to do our country a disservice if we neglect to take a holistic approach to addressing our immigration problems: the high costs to repatriate the increasing number of illegal migrants when monies can be spent elsewhere, overcrowding at schools, drain on other social services, unemployment and underemployment, friendly processes that encourage an investor and business friendly environment, to say the least. We await the draft Bill and the Policies that will have be introduced as a consequence, we await the Government’s Full Statement on how it intends to combat illegal immigration, how it intends to ensure that our people are at work and its plans to create jobs and encourage growth, as well as the need to ensure that our people begin to take senior management positions in key areas in Government and the Private Sector and training. To this end I applaud the efforts of the companies that have come together to stage a Job Readiness Seminar. I encourage persons who are able to, to support this initiative.
It is time to get serious about Immigration and Border Control.
GOVERNMENT TAX INITIATIVES AND THEIR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT by PDM
The introduction of new taxes and the increase or verification of existing taxes seems to be a common feature with the PNP Party when they become the Government. What is disheartening about these taxes is the imbalance between the imposition of taxes and the corresponding social and economic benefit for the tax payers. What is further distressing is the fact that we seem not to have a close season for taxes. New taxes and increases are all year round and there seem to be norelief in sight for the poor and those who are becoming poorer.
VAT
The Economic Reports have concluded that our system of taxation as crude as it appears to be, has produced strong and reliable revenue for the Governments over the years. The Interim Administration was determined to introduce Value Added Tax to the Turks and Caicos Islands without the research, consultation or education on its operation, effects and benefits.
The PDM opposed the imposition of VAT and provided measures the Government should take in the event it no longer which wished to introduced VAT at 15%. The Government has betrayed the support and confidence of both the people and the Peoples’ Democratic Movement’s Members in the House of Assembly by pursuing a battery of tax initiatives that, as we told them, were not suitable or effective and tend to be inflationary when they are put into effect. The overall impact of the package of taxes that the Government is implementing is resulting in a tax level much higher than the 15% VAT. The Government has refused to go after taxes and revenues that are outstanding, reduce unnecessary expenditure especially in the area of travel, or take steps to stimulate the economy and create jobs for Turks and Caicos Islanders.
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
Despite the calls for a higher level of transparency in Government that is embodied in the Constitution, The Code of Conduct for Persons in Public life and the Statement of Governance Principles, just to name a few guidelines, this Government continues to behave in defiance of all guidelines and conduct business in a manner that not only lacks transparency but they refuse to be accountable to the House of Assembly or the people. At the last meeting of the House of Assembly, the Minister of Finance introduced and led the debate on a Motion to write off balances for loans to staff of Government and Bank balances in access of $5 million. This is a matter that is before the Public Accounts Committee and the Minister ought not to bring the Motion to write off millions without proper documentation. There was no mention of the Bank or Banks that had balances for the Government that the Government is seeking to use its numerical strength to write off. The people had a right to know the truth and there is a duty on the part of the Government to tell the people the truth, and it is the Official Opposition job to press the Government to disclose the truth behind the race to write off and forgive debts seemingly owed to the government, while at the same time the Government continues to levy more tax on the people to raise money.
NEW TAXES HIKES FOR OCTOBER 2013
The number of tax hikes since this government took office almost a year ago is a disincentive to business and a source of discouragement to the hard working people who are struggling to survive off stagnant incomes and wages, a marked reduction in the purchasing power of their disposable income and mounting inflation that seem to be triggered by Government’s frequent announcement of pending tax hikes.
The month of September has been particularly challenging for many, especially parents with school children, and those who are employed in the hospitality industry who are without an income because several Resorts and some restaurants have closed for more than a month.
As of 1st October the people of this country will be faced with:
1. Increase in fuel tax
2. Increase in telecommunication tax from 10 to 12%. This time the net has been enlarged to capture uses of the internet, television and prepaid cell phones.
Increase in fuel cost has an instant knock on effect on the cost of goods and services in an economy. Despite the government claim in July that the tax initiatives introduced would not affect the cost of food items, at best was anaesthesia before they extract more money from an already highly taxed population. Food prices have increased as a result. There is no regards for the needs of the poor. Essential food supplement for the aged and those who have dietary challenges have to pay 36% duties on Ensure or similar liquid nutritional drinks. Further, it is this government’s declared policy that they will not have prices monitored and they will leave it to market forces to determine what merchants charge for goods.
As important as the internet is as a research tool for students at all levels, this Government in an act of desperation has decided to place a tax on the internet use.
The actions of Government has not only broken the pockets of the poor and those who are about to become poorer, but the journey through this economic waste land , has broken the spirits and will of many to continue to try. The future for some is uncertain and bleak and we believe that the spike in non communicable diseases and subsequent morbidity and mortality is directly related to the pressures of life that has taken many of us back to the 1950’s: conditional access to health care, no power or water, no jobs, limited access to education for natives at all levels. On Providenciales there are hundreds of school aged children who cannot gain access to the class room because of overcrowding and the government’s inability to invest in school buildings, equipment and staff.
The government needs to roll out their Plan and vision for this country and start to deliver for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Increased taxation in the present hard times where there is no tangible social or economic benefit is not the way forward. If they cannot get the job done they should demit office and allow capable persons to govern this country and lead it in the Right Direction.
May God bless the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Premier, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing made clear his position on the AG
Following a release made by the Attorney General, Huw Shepherd, upon his return to the Country regarding his views of the criticisms of his re-appointment as the Attorney General of the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Premier, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing also made clear his position on the matter.
“As I have stated repeatedly, I have nothing against Huw Shepherd as a person. However, I have questioned the actions taken by him during the period of the Interim Administration and during the period of the elected government.”
“As a government, we will continue to press the Attorney General for the answers to the questions that we have asked of him, and we will continue to apply pressure for his recall by the Governor and the FCO.”
TCIG Partners with private Sector, NGOs to Reduce Strays, Promote Responsible Pet Ownership
The Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs is urging Turks and Caicos Islanders to support the Department of Agriculture’s newest partnership to reduce the number of stray animals on the islands.
The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) a partnership between TCIG’s Department of Agriculture, the Potcake Place, Zero Tolerance Committee and the TCI Hotel and Tourism Association aims to promote responsible pet ownership, promote the good relations among animal welfare stakeholders and promote adherence to the local animal control ordinances.
The Committee hopes to not only create awareness for responsible pet ownership but also to bring about solutions that will reduce the number of stray dogs while encouraging proper animal welfare through a public awareness campaign which starts on October 1. The programme comprises of radio and television advertisements, a massive spay and neuter clinic in collaboration with Pets Without Vets in Providenciales and the placements of bill boards across Providenciales and Grand Turk.
The ‘spay and neuter’ clinic will begin October 28 and run until November 1, 2013. Residents are being asked to call 245-9500 to arrange to have their animals spay or neutered.
The AWC carried outs its first fund-raiser in May this year and this public awareness campaign is one of several activities and events planned.
Crime & Incident Reports for September 30, 2013
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of incidents reported between Friday 27th and Monday 30th Septembe 2013 within the districts of Providenciales, including:
• 5 Burglaries- Preliminary investigations revealed that a 32inch Toshiba Flat Screen Television, a Blackberry, an Alcatel and a Samsung Galaxy 4 Cellularphone Phone, A Dell and an Acer Laptop Computer, Three (3) Turks and Caicos Islands Passports, one (1) Dominican Repulic Passport, a Swatch watch, assorted fashion jewelries and a PTV Box were stolen during these crimes.
• 1 theft- A Black Ipad and a quantity of books were stolen during the execution of this crime.
• 1 Assault Occasioniong Actual Bodily.
On the island of Grand Turk investigations are ongoing for the offense below which occurred also between Friday 27th and Monday 30th September 2013:
• 1 Attempted Burglary
• 1 Burglary- Preliminary investigations revealed that an Iphone was stolen.
• 1 Theft- One Alcatel Cellphone was stolen at the time of this offence.
If you have any information about any criminal activity, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.