Shadow Minister Celebrates Recent Tourism Wins
Over the past years these Islands have captured coveted awards that continue to strengthen our place as a leading world tourist destination. Our natural beauty has positioned us for some of these awards but none would be possible without the hard work of many of our tourism partners and their staff. I wish to congratulate the recent awardees, Regeant Palms, Amanyara and Beaches on capturing Caribbean's Leading Spa Resort, Caribbean's Leading Villa and the Caribbean's Leading All Inclusive Family Resort respectively. To year after year solidify our place like this is encouraging but imagine if we were all as committed to making this country the number one sought after destination in the world. It is so important that we each realize our roles. These times call for a more aggressive and comprehensive strategy and plan that markets these Islands while simultaneously ensuring that our residents understand that we are all ambassadors and that we each play an important role in keeping our islands beautiful by nature but more so by choice.
We are yet to see a serious approach to Tourism by this Government and I am disappointed that the promised Tourism Conference is nowhere in sight. Moreover, there isn’t a greater effort to develop our product and enhance our visitor's experience.
We must not rest on our laurels; more can and must be done. Tourism remains our mainstay and we must protect what we have whilst expending every effort to increase our arrivals especially our long stays. Also the need to have our people's positive participation in the Industry at all levels cannot be overstated.
Regards,
Hon Sean R. Astwood
DEMA spearheads TCI clean-up for International Coastal Clean-up Day, 2013
The Department of Environment and Marine Affairs (DEMA) is spearheading a Clean-up of beaches and the sea floor in areas around the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in Celebration of International Coastal Clean-up Day, this Saturday September 21, 2013.
The Department is working with residents, government workers and private organisations in the TCI to clean-up beaches and other coastal areas including roads and will oversee an underwater clean-up, in support of the Ocean Conservancy’s coastal clean-up day efforts. The Day has been celebrated worldwide for more than 25 years.
Each year on International Coastal Clean-up Day volunteers from all over the world gather along coastlines and waterways to participate in the massive clean-up effort. Last year, more than half a million volunteers participated, collecting more than 10 million pounds of trash over a distance of nearly 18,000 miles.
DEMA is being supported by the Environmental Health Department (EHD), Tourist Board, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, schools, NGOs such as TC Reef Fund, and the migrant workers’ associations. Water sports operators will spearhead the underwater clean-up.
Last year 63 bags of trash consisting of beer cans, bottles, plastic bottles, soda cans and other general debris were collected in areas around TCI. The years event is expected to be even more successful that last year’s.
DEMA is encouraging community groups and organisations to participate in this years International Coastal Clean-up Day, because the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands depends on keeping them beautiful by nature.
In Providenciales, the group will assemble at 7:00 AM at the Bight Park for short briefing before being dispatched to work. On Grand Turk the clean-up will take place on Friday September 20, starting at 9:00 am at both the Sunset Cabana beach and North Beach (just south of Bohio). Any interested individuals or groups are encouraged to contact the DEMA Office at Tel No. 941-5122 or send an email to environment@gov.tc for further information.
$11,346.00 VALUED STAY AT PARROT CAY RESORT TO BE AUCTIONED AT ‘GLAM & CHIC COCKTAIL PARTY
Valued at $11,346.00, a three night stay at Parrot Cay Resort will be auctioned off at the Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organization’s fundraising ‘Glam & Chic Cocktail Party’ this Saturday, September 21st at Brayton Hall of Providenciales. The highest bidder will enjoy the luxury of a one bedroom villa.
Tucked away amidst the crystal-clear waters of the Turks and Caicos, Parrot Cay is one of the most secluded and exclusive resort islands in the northern Caribbean. Just 35 minutes by boat from Providenciales, Parrot Cay beckons with over a thousand acres of pristine white-sand beaches and lush tropical landscapes. Much more than a resort, Parrot Cay is a sanctuary – a mystical place in which to renew your spirit and discover your bliss.
Parrot Cay’s award-winning Shambala Retreat soothes, restores and nurtures with Asian-inspired holistic therapies. The island’s world-class cuisine tempts the palate while nourishing the body. Parrot Cay’s lavishly appointed guest accommodations, styled in understated elegance, surround you in tranquility and comfort. And the attentive staff provides discreet, meticulous service.
The ‘Glam & Chic Cocktail Party’ which starts at 7:00pm will provide complimentary welcome cocktail and hors d'oeuvres from 7:00pm - 9:00pm and boasts of an electrifying entertainment lineup featuring Band Boys V6, DJ Colors, Soulful Sax with Dex, Soloist Khambreal Garland, a Saint George Fashion House Fashion Showcase and a performance by Chrystal Charles. Admission is $25.00 presold and $30.00 at the door. Tickets are sold at the Unicorn Bookstore. Call 941.5458, 331.9363 or 333.3030.
Premier Partners: Saint George Fashion House, Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and Turks and Caicos Friends of the Arts Foundation. Proud Sponsors: Parrot Cay, TCI Sun Newspaper, Caicos Express Airways, Tremm Jocale, Fetish TCI, TCI Weekly Newspaper, Everything TCI, Got U Covered, Visual Storytelling and The Unicorn Bookstore.
All proceeds will benefit the Turks and Caicos Islands representation at Miss Universe 2013 Moscow, Russia. Miss Universe 2013 will be the 62nd Miss Universe pageant and will be held on November 9th 2013, at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe 2012 from the USA will crown her successor at the end of the event. This will be the first time Russia will host. The pageant will be televised on NBC and Telemundo.
For additional information visit www.MissTCI.org and www.ParrotCay.com.
Premier’s HOS Appointed Gets Training in Isle of Man.
Head of Secretariat in the Office of the Premier, Mr. Ronlee James in currently in the Isle of Man on a one-week training programme designed for support staff of senior government officials. The Programme will run from Monday September 16 to Thursday 19 September2013.
During this period Mr. James will meet and work with members of the Isle of Man government and senior officers in the Legislature; observe the recording and ratifying of executive decisions and experience first hand, the operations of government.
The visit was arranged by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in coordination with the Isle of Man Government and funded by the FCO.
Mr. James left the TCI on September 6, 2013 along with Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing for the Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Oversees Territories Governments in Gibraltar. On September 12, he attended his first meetings as the TCI Sherpa or Emissary in preparation for the Annual Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Conference (JMC) for Leaders of British Oversees Territories (BOT) scheduled for London in November.
As Sherpa, Mr. James is the personal representative of the Premier and is responsible for aiding in the development of agenda items for meetings of BOT leaders. The role is expected to contribute to a deepening of the relationship between the UK and its Overseas Territories.
In the lead up to the meeting, the Sherpas are expected to work along with the leaders to among other things:
(i) identify the issues which were priorities for the Territory and UK Governments and the action that leaders wanted to initiate;
(ii) draft a communiqué which reflected those aspirations and identified concrete priorities for joint action
(iii) Plan and organise other meetings/events during the week of the meetings.
Mr. James will return to the islands on September 22.
CLAIMS AGAINST DEPUTY GOVERNOR FABRICATED SAYS POLICE COMMISSIONER
Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) Commissioner Colin Farquhar confirmed today, Tuesday, 17 September 2013:
“There is no case to answer for Acting Governor Anya Williams following, what have proven to be, frankly, scurrilous suggestions that she had verbally abused my officers at Grand Turk Police Station on 31 July 2013.”
Reports of this incident were investigated by the RTCIPF Professional Integrity Unit.
“Our procedures require us to investigate complaints of wrongdoing, which my officers have completed thoroughly. Our primary investigations found that the claims were without foundation and were fabricated. These initial conclusions have now been borne out by the concluded investigation,” Farquhar concluded.
NFL: Manning vs Manning, BRONCOS 41, GIANTS 23
It was billed as the Manning Bowl, and halfway through the game, it was a mostly even, if desultory, duel between the quarterbacking brothers, Eli and Peyton.
But as was the case in their two previous N.F.L. meetings, Peyton had the superior weapons and comrades in arms. And by the second half, the Manning matchup ceased to be a fair fight.
As Peyton quickly and efficiently ran a multifaceted, balanced and diverse Denver offense, Eli was left to resuscitate a one-dimensional, dysfunctional and doomed Giants attack. In the end, the undefeated Broncos, with considerable help from their quarterback, routed the winless Giants, whose quarterback was one of many on the home side enduring a difficult game.
With 31 second-half points Sunday, Denver (2-0) turned a 1-point game into a rout, running away with a 41-23 victory that dropped the Giants to 0-2.
Statistically, Peyton also won the individual battle with his younger brother, throwing for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception. Eli had one largely meaningless touchdown pass late in the game and threw four interceptions.
“It was tough and not what we planned,” Eli Manning said. “In the first half, we had good opportunities but kept settling for field goals. In the second half, we got down by a couple of touchdowns and started pressing. Some things got away from us.”
Peyton Manning said he was relieved that the head-to-head clashes with his brother were probably over. Although the Broncos and the Giants could meet in the Super Bowl, they are not scheduled to meet again in the regular season until 2017.
“I think both of us are glad it’s over with,” Peyton said. “Postseason is one thing, but I don’t think I’ll make it to the next regular-season one, so I think this will be the end of it. I’ll be happy about that.”
For the Giants, irregular play at quarterback was one of many problems, and certainly not the most disconcerting. For the second consecutive game, the Giants’ running game was fruitless and feeble. Last week, the Giants brought back the bruising veteran Brandon Jacobs, hoping his heft and experience could revive a once-vaunted running attack.
But Jacobs ran for 4 yards on seven carries. The starting running back David Wilson, the goat of last week’s loss at Dallas because of two fumbles, kept his hands on the ball, but he ran for only 17 yards on seven carries. Altogether, the Giants had 23 rushing yards, after gaining just 50 the week before.
“To not be able to run the ball and to have so few running attempts, it’s just not our style,” Coach Tom Coughlin said.
Asked if the fault was with the running backs or the offensive line, Coughlin spared neither.
“We’re not running through many arms, and we don’t have a clear path,” he said. “We’re certainly not knocking them back off the ball.”
Defensively, the Giants have given up 77 points in two games. The Broncos had more than 400 yards of offense, 109 of it on the ground, and the Giants’ defense forced only one turnover, a fumble on the game’s first possession.
The Denver second-half blitz was spurred by halftime adjustments in the Broncos’ run blocking that unleashed Knowshon Moreno, who had 93 yards on 13 carries.
“In the first half, we were stopping the run and putting the onus on Peyton to beat us,” Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said.
The Giants limited the Denver rushers to 34 yards in the first half and trailed, 10-9. “But then in the second half, they started being able to run and pass, and that was backbreaking,” Tuck said. “You can’t let Peyton have it both ways — pass and run.”
While the Broncos were growing more varied, the Giants were all but giving up on the run. Passing plays on nearly every down allowed the Denver defensive front to rush Eli Manning, unbridled by worries about Giants rushers. And the Broncos’ secondary could get into a ball-hawking mentality. The result was one-sided.
“We’ve got to get more balanced on offense,” Giants guard Chris Snee said. “We’ve got to run the ball. It’s that simple.”
Denver began the second half on the march as Peyton Manning, who completed 30 of 43 passes, led a nine-play, 53-yard drive that culminated with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker. The Broncos’ offense, operating without a huddle, moved quickly and fluidly through a backpedaling and increasingly befuddled Giants defense.
Peyton Manning frequently added to the confusion. On the touchdown pass, Manning faked to a running back and deftly flipped the ball over drawn-in linebackers to a wide-open Welker in the end zone. That gave the Broncos a 17-9 lead.
On the succeeding possession, a series of passes from Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, who had another strong game with eight catches for 118 yards, soon gave the Giants a first down at the Denver 4. It took five plays, but Jacobs eventually bulled into the end zone, cutting the Denver lead to 17-16.
The Broncos came right back, scoring on a 25-yard run around right end by Moreno. Then, on the Giants’ first play of the next possession, a pass intended for Rueben Randle was broken up by defensive back Tony Carter. As Carter deflected the pass, it ricocheted backward and bounced off his heel. It then bounded into the air and was intercepted by Chris Harris at the Giants’ 36.
That led to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to tight end Julius Thomas early in the fourth, giving Denver a 31-16 lead. An 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Trindon Holliday put the game out of reach.
Eli Manning, who was 28 of 49 for 362 yards, threw a late touchdown as well as a late interception. Manning has seven interceptions in his first two games.
The Giants’ squandered opportunities in the first half could have been summed up by one drive, when tight end Brandon Myers tripped at midfield when he had an open path to the end zone. Randle also lost a nearly certain touchdown when he was stripped of the ball a foot from the goal line. Later in the same possession, a third-down pass slipped through Myers’s hands at the 1.
Still, Coughlin said the situation was not entirely dire. “We have 14 games left,” he said. “We’ve been 0-2 before and fought our way out of it. We can do it again, but our performance has to improve greatly.”
Source-NY.TIMES
Brian Lara to travel to India with T&T for Champions League
West Indies batting legend Brian Lara will travel to India with the Trinidad and Tobago team for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, commencing on September 17 in Mohali.
Although not a formal part of the team management, Lara during his visit will play a dual role of tourism ambassador and a mentor for the Red Force.
Keen to help the team during the competition, the former West Indies skipper said: "I am just going to be there, not a part of management but as a former cricketer I am willing to lend a hand in any way I can. I hope I will have a chance to interact with the guys while in India and whatever way I can help. I have always had an open door policy and I look forward to working with the guys, the management, the captain Denesh Ramdin and all the players."
As a T&T Sports Ambassador, Lara had played a similar role as unofficial adviser to the team during the recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League.
"It's an honour to be part of the upcoming trip. I'm happy to be associated with Trinidad & Tobago's participation. We have a team that will make us proud," he said. The Ministry of Tourism have sponsored the T&T team to help them prepare for the T20 tournament in India.
The Denesh Ramdin-led team, which includes mystery spinner Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree, will take on the added responsibility of marketing T&T on the international stage.
The T&T team, which is all set to leave for the subcontinent on Monday, will play a warm-up game before opening their campaign against Brisbane Heat in Ranchi on September 22.
Source-IndiaExpress
Floyd Mayweather Jr. outclasses Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez
Floyd Mayweather Jr. remained the undefeated champion and toughest fighter pound for pound on the boxing scene Saturday. He proved more than Mexico's Saul "Canelo" Alvarez could handle.
Even though the fight was one-sided, the score had one judge seeing it as a draw. Still, the victory went to Mayweather in a majority decision. Mayweather was favored 117-111 and 116-112 on two ringside scorecards while a third had the fight 114-114. The Associated Press scored it 119-109 for Mayweather.
"I just listened to my corner, listened to my dad," Mayweather said. "My dad had a brilliant game plan, and I went out there and got the job done."
It was judge Cynthia J. "CJ" Ross who scored the bout a draw, drawing criticism from fans, according to USA Today.
Was she wrong: Nevada State Athletic Commission director said no.
"Just because a judge's scorecard ends up even, doesn't mean the judge necessarily thought the fight as a whole was even," Kizer told USA Today. "It could be that a judge has six rounds for each fighter, but the six rounds she gave fighter A, she gave them to him easily and the six rounds she gave fighter B, they were really close rounds. That's pretty much how it was last night."
In a media conference Sunday, Mayweather said he plans to fight two more years, a span that will include four fights.
Mayweather improved to 45-0 with his victory over Alvarez at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas. He added another piece of the junior middleweight title to his collection in a fight that was fought at a 152-pound limit.
By the late rounds, Mayweather had reduced Canelo to a punching bag. While the champ looked fresh and ready for more, Alvarez was exhausted to the point of not being able to keep his gloves up in defense.
"He's very talented, very elusive," Alvarez said.
Early in-fight scoring gave Mayweather every round. His jabs were crisp and on the button. Canelo tried to save himself in the 12th and final round with his only hope—a knockout of a man he could barely touch.
As fans chanted "USA-USA" in homage to Mayweather, the hopes of Mexico faded as Alvarez away at the final bell.
In the end, Alvarez proved nothing more than easy money for Mayweather. The undefeated champion dominated Alvarez from the opening bell and won a majority decision in a masterful performance that left no doubt who the best fighter of his era is.
Source-SN
Djokovic, Nadal, Murray shine on national duty
Novak Djokovic produced a masterful performance yesterday to help Serbia roar back to defeat Canada 3-2 and set up a Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic.
On a weekend in which the sport's biggest names, with the exception of Roger Federer, put their individual schedules to one side and donned national colours instead, Djokovic helped ensure Serbia stayed on course to repeat their 2010 triumph.
Rafael Nadal, fresh from winning his 13th grand slam title at the U.S. Open, helped Spain crush Ukraine to retain their place in the World Group while world number three Andy Murray steered Britain back amnost the elite with three points in his side's playoff victory over a weakened Croatia.
In a sport where individual prizes dominate the calendar the Davis Cup is often regarded as a sideshow but try telling that to the 15,000 fans who produced a deafening roar in Belgrade.
Serbia trailed 2-1 going into Sunday's two singles rubbers before Djokovic levelled the tie with a 7-6(1) 6-2 6-2 win over Milos Raonic before Janko Tipsarevic beat Vasek Pospisil in straight sets to spark wild celebrations.
Canada had dreamed of a first Davis Cup final appearance when Daniel Nestor and Pospisil won a doubles cliffhnager on Saturday but their hoeps were ultimately crushed.
"This is one of the sweetest wins of my career and I hereby wish to thank my team mates for their support. See you right here in the final against the Czechs," Tipsarevic said.
"I think it will be a pretty open match against the Czech Republic. They have Tomas Berdych of course and have a strong doubles team. It's going to be very tough and I expect a very dramatic final."
There was nothing dramatic about the Czech's demolition of an Argentina side missing the muscle of Juan Martin del Potro.
Berdych and Radek Stepanek had put the 2012 winners 2-0 ahead on Friday and then teamed up to win the Saturday doubles.
"It's definitely very exciting; Davis Cup means a lot, it's special for us, for the whole country," said Stepanek.
"We loved so much delivering the trophy last year - it never gets old and we'd like to keep that trophy because it's beautiful."
Like Murray, Nadal was playing in the Davis Cup for the first time in two years. Showing no sign of fatigue after his U.S. Open exploits he was unstoppable, winning his singles against Sergiy Stakhovsky for the loss of four games and then partnering Marc Lopez to doubles victory.
Murray beat Ivan Dodig 6-4 6-2 6-4 to give Britain a 3-1 lead and put them in next week's draw for the World Group.
"I'm looking forward to playing against some of the biggest countries in the world it will be exciting and hopefully I can be part of it," Wimbledon champion Murray told Eurosport.
Switzerland and the Netherlands beat Ecuador and Austria respectively in their playoffs while Germany beat Brazil and Australia ended Poland's hopes of a first World Group appearance with a 4-1 victory in Warsaw.
Belgium and Japan were the weekend's other playoff winner.
Barbados to get new stadium, says PM Stuart
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Barbados could have a modern stadium in the not-too-distant future to replace the near 43 year-old facility in Bridgetown.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said that there are positive signs to indicate a new stadium for the island. He said that recent bilateral talks with China have yielded ‘pomising results’. “We have been talking to the Government of the People’s Republic of China in respect to a number of initiatives related to the Government’s sports programme and those discussions are ongoing and we confidently expect that we should be able to get some critical assistance in that area,” he said. The Prime Minister, noting that the Chinese had earmarked US$1.5 billion towards infrastructure development in the Caribbean, is confident that a new stadium was in the offing for Barbados.
“We have been having discussions and in the fullness of time, we should have a very modern national stadium, something of which we can all be proud.” Regional governments have given priority to the construction or renovation of stadium facilities. Most islands have a modern faciltity to host international matches including cricket, football and track and field.