Haiti pulls envoy over Dominican Republic court decision
The Haitian Government said Tuesday that it is recalling its ambassador in the Dominican Republic's capital over a court ruling that strips Dominican citizenship from the children of Haitian migrants.
The decision by Haiti's foreign affairs ministry came almost a week after a ruling by the Dominican Republic's Constitutional Court. It decided to block citizenship for thousands of people born to Haitian migrant workers since 1929. This could affect some 210,000 Dominican-born people of Haitian descent and around 34,000 born to parents of other nationalities.
"The Chancellery is very concerned about this decision," the Haitian foreign affairs ministry said in a statement announcing the ambassador's recall.
Dominican officials have promised to create a path to legal residency for those whose birth certificates are voided, but have provided no details on how this might work.
The court ruling is certain to aggravate already uneasy relations between the two countries, which share the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Tension has grown between the neighbours after the Haitian Government this summer imposed a ban on Dominican chicken and eggs, citing an erroneous report of avian flu in the Dominican Republic.
Haitian officials acknowledged the error but kept the ban in place, without explaining why.
Source-AP
Jack not bothered by Ian’s ‘thou shalt not lie’
Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner yesterday did not seem too bothered by statements made on a People’s Partnership political rally on Monday night by Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne.
Warner described Alleyne’s appearance on the platform at Harris Promende San Fernando as “trumped up”.
On Monday night, Alleyne denied a claim by Warner that he had been approached by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to be Minister of National Security.
The television host also lampooned Warner’s platform style, alluding to the fact that Warner always claims to have bombshells on persons, but constantly defers revelation of these supposed bombshells by saying, “but not tonight”.
“Unlike certain people, I am not going to say, tonight is not the night,” Alleyne said. “I am not going to say, not tonight, next week...not tonight. I am going to say tonight is the night.”
Alleyne continued, “Tonight is the night I never spoke to the PM; I spoke only to the AG related to matters of crime. To Jack Warner remember this, ‘thou shalt not lie!”
Warner was yesterday reluctant to respond to these remarks.
“If Ian Alleyne said so, then fine,” Warner said. “I will talk on Thursday.”
On Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statement that a vote for the ILP was a vote for the PNM given how third parties split the vote and hand an advantage to the PNM, Warner said, “I don’t have time to take on that. I am not going to speak to that. I am talking Thursday.”
However, National Security Minister Gary Griffith, speaking with the media at the airport last night following the departure of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to Panama, said that if Alleyne has access to information on crimes that can be used by law enforcement to arrest people, he would be willing to work with him.
Griffith noted that “anyone who wants to be part of the system for us to go after the criminal elements, and to try to weed them out, I am more than happy and willing and able to work with those individuals, whether they be...political opponents, NGOs, business organisations and especially Mr Ian Alleyne.”
He continued: “The one thing that Mr Alleyne has shown is...what we had lacking for the last few years, which is that access to proper information which can be turned to intelligence and the utilised for successful operations.”
“If it is that we can utilise Mr Ian Alleyne, and he is willing to work with us, I am more than willing. I am looking forward to it,” he added.
On the allegation by Independent Liberal Party interim political leader Warner that his portfolio was offered to Alleyne, Griffith responded that it was “really irrelevant” and he was focusing on the job he has to do.
Source-TNT Newsday
JLP Rules Out Public Debate In Holness-Shaw Contest
Only days after challenger Audley Shaw publicly challenged Andrew Holness to a public debate, the Electoral Commission, established by the Standing Committee of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to monitor the conduct of campaign activities, has banned all forms of media face-offs.
In a letter to both Shaw and Holness yesterday, the three-member commission said it had decided that "any media face-to-face or face-off confrontation format between the Shaw team and the Holness team or their supporters is prohibited in this election campaign".
The commission stated that it took note of a television programme involving Gregory Mair and Derrick Smith, from the Shaw and Holness teams, respectively.
The letter further stated that with the media being inundated with commentaries and statements, some disrespectful, it was timely for every one to be reminded that the JLP was engaged in an internal election to elect its leader, a process that involves approximately 5,000 delegates.
Source: Ja.Gleaner
“IT’S NOT A GAME, IT IS SERIOUS BUSINESS”
Following discussions with himself and the Premier, Dr. Hon. Rufus Ewing, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Washington Misick will no longer have Lottery & Gaming as a part of his portfolio.
This decision comes following a request made by Hon. Misick for a transfer of responsibility for Lottery & Gaming to another Minister to avoid the possibility of perceived conflict of interest.
In April of this year, Cabinet imposed a one-year Moratorium on the issuance of new gaming licenses in an effort to address the concerns raised by the Ministry of Finance, and the 2008 Caribbean Financial Task Action Force report, which suggested that the Gaming Industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands was non-compliant to international standards. The moratorium, is intended to give Government the time needed to develop legislation and policies to regularize the industry,
“We as a Government have a job to do. We are taking a number of measures to show the world that we are not a rogue Government. We are making every effort in our financial sector to ensure that we are compliant to international standards and can be respected as a fair and transparent financial services center. Our Lottery & Gaming industry should not be an exception.”
“I take the job that the people have given me very seriously. It is not a game, it is serious business. While I have done my part in declaring my interests in this matter and have refrained from inclusion in decisions made with regards to Lottery and Gaming, I think that it is in the best interests of everyone for the responsibility to be transferred in order to avoid misconception and my integrity coming into question and that of our Government,” the Minister said.
Despite the imminent transfer, and as is the responsibility of all Cabinet members, Hon. Washington Misick will continue to enact his position of exclusion on decisions made relating to this Industry.
The responsibility for Lottery & Gaming will be transferred to Dr. Hon. Rufus Ewing, Premier and Minister of Tourism, effective October 1, 2013.
PDM met Digicel bosses in the TCI last week
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Members of the Opposition met last week with representatives of Digicel during one of their routine visits to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson led the team comprising of elected Provo Members Hon Goldray Ewing and Hon Vaden Williams and Party Chairman and appointed member Hon Clarence Selver.
The Digicel Team included local CEO EJ Saunders, PJ Mara, Director of Digicel and Chairperson of the Digicel Foundation, Lisa Lewis.
The Opposition felt that the dialogue was enlightening and useful. The Digicel Representatives used the time to share what Digicel was accomplishing locally, regionally and internationally whilst highlighting its donations through its Foundation. The Opposition welcomed their apparent strong sense of social responsibility and identified some of the social needs that it believes that corporate giants such as Digicel can lend assistance to. The Opposition raised the matter of expatriate employees and placement for local staff. Digicel shared its commitment to training and succession planning for local staff as well as the Company’s goal to localize its managers in a comprehensive succession plan in the many companies that it serves. The Opposition welcomed this commitment and pledged to further identify areas for sponsorship of local projects and programs.
The Opposition believes that it is important that there exists strong ties and open and frequent dialogue between the Government, Opposition and the private sector.
Cuban Man found dead in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police are conducting an investigations into the death of a 54 year old male whose lifeless body was found at around 4:29pm in the Millennium Heights area of North West Point, Providenciales.
Augustin Perez of Guanajay Cuba, was found laying lifeless on his back in a bushy area of Millennium Heights with a small laceration to his forehead.
A witness stated that he along with Perez were in the bushes doing some work. He (the witness) left Perez alone and went to go get something for both of them to eat and upon his return he found Perez unresponsive.
Perez was pronounced dead at 5pm by Dr Bernardo.
An autopsy will be conducted to determined the cause of death.
Influenza Activity in the Caribbean
The Caribbean, like other regions in the Americas, experiences seasonal influenza activity. Improved health monitoring by Ministries of Health is providing more timely and detailed information on viruses currently circulating in the Region. This has resulted in the recent confirmation by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus from samples received from St Vincent.
The identification of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus from persons seen at health care facilities in St. Vincent is as a result of the increased investment by Ministries of Health, CARPHA and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in laboratory services and surveillance.
In the Caribbean, the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is the most commonly identified influenza virus circulating in the Region and this is not an unexpected finding. There have been no deaths related to this incident and all patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital. In addition, Ministries of Health in the Region are aware of the situation and are closely monitoring their health facilities.
CARPHA and PAHO would like to advise members of the public to practice respiratory hygiene measures in order to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses. You should cover your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief, or use your elbow, if sneezing or coughing. You should safely dispose of used tissues; wash your hands with soap and water after coughing and sneezing and before and after meal preparation, eating and use of the toilets. Alternatively, you may use an alcohol based hand-sanitizer.
Further information on respiratory viruses including influenza may be found at the PAHO website: http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3154&Itemid=2498
Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Salutes World Tourism Day 2013
The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board salutes the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in its declaration of 27 September, 2013 as World Tourism Day under the theme, “Tourism & Water: Protecting Our Common Future”. In light of this proclamation, we would like to remind the citizens of our planet that our world has become a small global village in which our actions have far reaching consequences.
The inhabitants of our small islands are not immune to the negative effects of the destruction of the rainforest in Indonesia, Brazil or Guyana; or to the pollution of the world’s lakes and oceans. These natural features – our oceans, coral reefs, rivers, and lakes are to be use for our enjoyment, protection and our legacy for future generations. It is then no coincidence that these fine attributes are the bedrock of our global tourism industry.
Minister of Tourism, Dr. the Hon. Rufus Ewing thanks the UNWTO for highlighting the importance of tourism to the global economy and for bringing awareness of water to our planet’s and personal survival. He also noted, “The Turks and Caicos Islands is home to the world’s third largest barrier reef system and an abundance of marine life; the fabric of our entire industry is largely centered around water. Water is life, we must preserve it.”
Director of Tourism Mr. Ralph Higgs stated, “The theme Tourism & Water: Protecting Our Common Future is very fitting and truly speaks to the Turks and Caicos Islands as our main industry, and greatest revenue generator, is Tourism. Our ocean, reefs and marine life are our largest natural attributes, and perhaps are the main attractions for persons visiting the Turks and Caicos.”
Mr. Higgs also echo the sentiments of the chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the USVI Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty as he stated, “Water is the most important contributor to human survival. Sometimes residents of the country take our water resource for granted as it seems so abundant, but this resource is not never ending or indestructible.”
The Director would like to urge citizens, tour operators, and visitors to be responsible and practice sustainable programs as they use the Turks and Caicos largest natural resource, so that it will remain valuable for generations to come.
Asylum Seekers at Top of Australian PM Trip to Indonesia
New Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has arrived in Indonesia Monday on a visit that will likely be dominated by his tough policy on asylum seekers.
Mr. Abbott began his visit in Jakarta by laying a wreath at a national cemetery honoring Indonesia's war heroes, hours before his scheduled meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The meeting between the two leaders comes several days after at least 36 asylum seekers were killed when their boat sank in Indonesian waters.
The new Australian leader won national elections earlier this month on a "stop the boats" pledge to end the constant stream of asylum seekers sailing from Indonesia to Australia.
Under the new policy, the Australian navy has been ordered to prevent the boats from reaching shore, and turn them back around whenever possible. The policy has upset Jakarta, warning that it violates Indonesia's sovereignty.
Australia's government has been under domestic pressure to stop the influx of asylum seekers from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Hundreds of people have drowned in recent years trying to make the dangerous journey to Australian territory.
Mr. Abbott is also hoping to use his first foreign trip as Australian prime minister to bolster trade relations between the Asia-Pacific neighbors. He will be accompanied by more than a dozen Australian business leaders.
Source-VOA
US Government on Verge of Shutdown
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to meet on Monday afternoon, allowing itself just hours to reach a compromise with the House of Representatives on a spending bill before a midnight deadline for a partial shutdown of the U.S. government.
Republican lawmakers are insisting that any measure either delay or defund President Barack Obama's signature health care law, intended to provide coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has promised that a spending bill passed by the House in the early hours of Saturday morning, which would delay key parts of the Affordable Healthcare Act, known as Obamacare, for one year, will not be approved.
The measure has highlighted the deep divisions between Republican and Democratic politicians.
Democrats say Obamacare has been duly passed and is now the law of the land. It gives low income individuals and people without health insurance the chance to buy a low-cost, federally subsidized policy so that families will not face financial ruin in the event of a serious illness.
Republicans say the program is confusing and not ready. They also say that the law hurts the economy by imposing more taxes and by forcing small businesses to provide coverage for their employees.
Obama has said he will not let the law be gutted.
If nothing is passed by both houses of Congress by midnight Monday, all but the most essential government services will start closing down. Tourists will find national parks and museums off limits while anyone needing a passport or help with taxes would have to wait. More than 1 million civil servants may not get paid during the shutdown.