Peterson will rejoin Vikings against 49ers
Asked if the Bills’ pass rush would have had a different level of success had Adrian Peterson suited up for the Vikings in Friday night’s preseason game, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier kind of smiled and said, “Well, I think every team that we play, they’re going to have a plan for Adrian Peterson when you line up. So that’s all I’ll say about that.”
That’s one reason the Vikings aren’t overly concerned about a first-team offense that’s slogged through two preseason losses with only one drive that’s lasted longer than three plays or gone farther than 15 yards. After all, it’s tough to assess an offense built around Adrian Peterson when Adrian Peterson isn’t around said offense.
That will change in the first half of Sunday’s nationally televised preseason game against the reigning NFC champion 49ers in San Francisco. Frazier wouldn’t say how long Peterson will play, other than he will not play into the early part of the third quarter, as most starters typically do in the third preseason game.
The Vikings also will game plan for the 49ers, something all teams typically do only for the third preseason game. So look for the Vikings to try to re-establish their run-oriented identity against the 49ers rather than continue experimenting with their passing game.
“Without Adrian Peterson in our scheme, it impacts our offense tremendously because he’s the focal point,” Frazier said. “Yeah, it definitely makes a difference. That will be obvious when we open up the season. It’s obvious if you look at us from a season ago and it showed on Friday night [in a 20-16 loss at Buffalo].
“We didn’t come into that ballgame saying we wanted to show Buffalo or anyone that we could be a dominant run team. We wanted to be able to do some things in the passing game. You saw us go up-tempo in what we call our red-ball offense. We were working on some things that we wanted to take a look at, and we’ll do more of that this week as well. Our identity has not changed.”
As for details of the plan for Peterson on Sunday night, Frazier would only say, “We have some set things in place that we want to see with him in the lineup. Not ready to divulge what those are right now. But we do have a plan for Adrian on Sunday night.”
TROPICAL STORM Erin-Alert1
The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, Grand Turk, 15th July, 2013.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has issued News Item #1 on Tropical Storm Erin; residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands are to being asked to monitor the track of Erin in the event the Turks and Caicos Islands is affected.
According to the Release ERIN MOVING AWAY FROM THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS, AT 11:00 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM ERIN WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.4°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 26.5° WEST.
ERIN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST (WNW) AT 15 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS FORECAST TRACK …THE CENTER OF ERIN WILL CONTINUE MOVING AWAY FROM THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
Turks & Caicos Resorts Take Top Honours on Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best”
Discerning readers of Travel + Leisure were once again asked to cast their votes for the hotels and destinations that define the very best in travel. One of the most robust lists to date, Travel + Leisure’s 18th Annual Poll saw four Turks and Caicos resorts ranked amongst the ‘Top Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas’.
Making its ‘World’s Best’ debut on the list at #23 is the Key West Luxury Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos (formerly the Veranda Resort) with a score of 88.65. Claiming its prominence at #19 the Somerset on Grace Bay also makes its debut with a score of 89.33. The publication noted the Somerset on Grace Bay for its European façade, décor and top-of-the-line amenities.
No stranger to the list, the Grace Bay Club makes a splash on the Travel & Leisure list with a score of 89.49, well enough to claim #17. According to Travel + Leisure, the luxurious Grace Bay Club is one of the original sirens of the Turks and Caicos. The Mediterranean-style resort is revered for sporting a clean, contemporary look (sleek, dark wood furniture, a white-and-cream color palette), its family-friendly villas, and their eco-conscious kids’ program. Grace Bay Club previously made Travel + Leisure’s ‘World’s Best Hotels’ list most recently in 2009 and 2007.
The sole resort cracking the Top 10, and making an impressive ‘World’s Best’ debut, with a score of 90.75 is the Seven Stars Resort at #9. Travel + Leisure likened the resort’s 113 spacious rooms to mini apartments, with marble flooring, four-poster beds, and fully equipped kitchens. The beachside scene is described as posh, with the publication giving an extraordinary nod to service, noting that attendants roam the resort and beach offering Evian spritzes to lounging guests.
“These rankings further solidify the caliber of accommodations and standard of hospitality services offered in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” commented Mr. Ralph Higgs, Director of Tourism. “They help to strengthen our brand in the marketplace and encourage our resorts and their teams to continue to give visitors optimal satisfaction throughout their stay.”
The four resorts gave the Turks and Caicos the second highest number of resorts making the Top 25 list behind Jamaica with seven resorts. Nisbet Plantation Beach Club in Nevis was ranked #3 ‘Top Resort in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas’, whilst two resorts in St. Lucia, Anse Chastanet Resort, and Jade Mountain claimed second and first respectively .
In the same publication, Travel + Leisure readers may have noticed tremendous co-branding for the Turks and Caicos with Ford, a well-known American icon. The advertisement, promoting Ford’s 2014 Explorer, essentially plays on quality by asking, “Turks or Caicos?”, communicating that when you choose Ford, you’re guaranteed quality; same as selecting a visit to the Turks Islands or the Caicos Islands.
Travel + Leisure is a reputable publication specializing in leisure travel. The magazine is well-known for its travel photography, its spectacular front covers and amazing articles featuring upscale environments. Its World’s Best Award has been announced every August since 1995.
SHADOW MINISTER GOLDRAY EWING WELCOMES OPENING OF LOBSTER SEASON BUT SAYS GOVERNMENT HAS TO STEP UP
The Opposition is disappointed in the lip service being paid in the Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs to the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs which performs crucial roles in managing our environment and natural resources.
Whilst we welcome the opening of the lobster season, we lament what the catch may be - having full knowledge that there are an increasing number of poachers on the Banks while the season remains closed for local fishermen. The Government has to turn its attention to providing the Department with the much needed resources to police our waters. The boats are now inadequate and prove no match for the high powered boats used by the poachers. As an immediate need, there must be an allocation made for the upgrading of the existing vessels and for a real, joint effort between DEMA and the MARINE BRANCH of the Police.
Our Fishing Industry remains crucial to many persons and communities. A few months ago, a question was posed to the Minister asking the value of the Industry. I am now calling on the Minister of Home Affairs to ensure that this Study is conducted so that this Government can be convinced- as we already are- as to the importance and possible benefits that can be derived from a focus on this Natural Industry. We believe that this Industry can once again become very vibrant.
Crime & Incident Reports for August 15, 2013
RTC News understands that on Wednesday 14th August 2013 at 9:30pm a report was made of a Burglary at Norway Road Kewtown, Providenciales. Police Officers met with the complainant who informed officers that she and her roommate was at home in the kitchen when they heard her southern door open. Upon making checks she noticed her green female handbag which contained a valid Dominican Passport, one (1) grey Prada sunglasses, NHIP and NIS cards along with some cash. Her room mate also missing one Black iPhone 4 Cellular. The Police are conducting investigations into this matter.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police are investigating a Burglary which occurred on today’s date in Marigold Way, Kew Town Providenciales. The complainant reported to Police officers that he secured his home at 10pm on Wednesday 14th August 2013 and went out. When he return at 1:30am on today’s date he noticed his Air Condition Unit was pulled from his window and his western bedroom window broken. Nothing was reported stolen. Further investigations are continuing into this matter.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police are also investigating an Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm report which occurred in the Blue Hills area on Wednesday 14th August 2013 at 9:17pm. When Police Officers arrived on scene complainant stated that two males were fighting in the area and begin throwing rocks hitting two (2) bystanders. Both persons were taken to the Chesire Hall Medical Centre and later released. A 37year old male of Leeward Highway, Providenciales was arrested in relation to that incident.
Arrests and Charges.
On Wednesday 14th August 2013 a 24 year old male of Providenciales was arrested suspicion of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. This is in relation to a Fatal Accident which occurred on Thursday 1st August 2013.
A 35 year old male of Wheeland, Providenciales was arrested and charged for Buggery. He was taken to the Magistrate’s Court where he was not allowed to enter a plea. He was given bail to return to the Supreme Court on Grand Turk for a sufficiency hearing on October 4th 2013. The charge was in relation to a report made on Tuesday 30th July 2013.
On Wednesday 14th August 2013 a 22 year old male of Kew Town Providenciales was arrested and charged for Forgery and Uttering Forged Documents. The was charged in connection to a report that was made on July 21st 2013.
Also, on Wednesday 14th August 2013 a 30 year old male of North Ridge, Grand Turk was arrested and charged for Violent Language and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily. The charged was in relation to a report that was made on Tuesday 13th August 2013.
Sentence:
On Wednesday 14th August 2013 Chatto Moore of Breezy Brae, Grand Turk was ordered to pay a fine up to $850 to the Magistrate’s Court also compensation of $50. This order was made after he pled guilty to the charges of Common Assault, Indecent Language and Disorderly Conduct. He was given twenty (28) days to pay the fine and compensation or eight (8) weeks imprisonment.
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.
PROVIDENCIALES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT- TERMINAL BUILDING GOING UP
Trade Mission TCI-Haiti
“Trade Mission TCI-Haiti” organised by the Haitian Consulate in conjunction with the Providenciales and Grand Turk Chambers of Commerce, took from the 9th – 13th August 2013.
Supported by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Investment Unit, the main objectives of this mission were: a) to highlight Haiti assets as an international trade hub; b) to identify commercial and business opportunities ideally suited for the TCI private sector participants; c) to engage in dialogue with Government officials on ways to develop and enhance trade between TCI and Haiti; and d) to explore avenues for trade agreements and further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The delegation departed Providenciales for Haiti on Friday, August 9th arriving in Cap-Haitian where they were welcomed at the airport by the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Stephanie B. Villedrouin, who accompanied the delegates on tours of the Citadel Laferrière in Milot and the Museum of Money in Cap-Haitian. Mrs Villedrouin in expressing her happiness about the visit stated that she is looking forward to “leading a reverse trade mission to the Turks & Caicos Islands to discuss further a partnership between the two countries on tourism related initiatives.”
On Friday afternoon the delegates were treated to lunch by the members of the Chambers of Commerce of the Northern region of Haiti and the Tourism Association, and that evening they attended the “Celebration of the Festival of the Sea” hosted the Minister of Tourism.
Saturday morning saw the delegation touring the Industrial Park of the North, where they witnessed among other thing paint being manufactured. Next, the team visited a number of farms, including a multipurpose farm that grows Sisal, Egg Plant, Thyme, and other plant products; while raising bees – for use in the production of honey and wax – and livestock.
The delegates flew to Port-au-Prince late Saturday afternoon where they stayed at the newly completed Best Western Premier in Pétion-Ville. On Sunday morning the delegation visited the Museum of Haitian National Pantheon and the Boutiliers Observatory. Monday morning saw the delegates attending a Press Conference and a presentation on “Doing Business in Haiti” by Andy Rene, General Director of Center For Facilitation of Investment (CFI), whereby in the afternoon the delegates attended a lunch meeting with the Minister of Finance and Commerce, Wilson Laleau. That evening business meetings were arranged for the delegates by the Haitian Chamber of Commerce (CCIH), who matched the delegates with Haitian business of suitable commercial interests. The trip ended on Tuesday with the delegates attending a lunch meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture.
After a packed 5 days the delegation arrived back in the Turks & Caicos at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The members of the included:
Mrs. Margarette Lemaire, Consul/Commercial and Cultural Affairs
Hon. Akierra D.M. Missick, Deputy Premier - Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, and Library Services
Mr. E. Jay Saunders, CEO Digicel TCI /President Providenciales Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Arthur Been, Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment
Mr. Kingsley Russel Been, Chairman Tourism Board
Mrs. Rebecca Astwood, Director of Investment Unit
Mr. Peter Keriggan , Director EDS Ltd
Mr. Andrew Tolleson, PE, D.GE Owner & CEO Tolleson Limited Company
Mrs. Deborah Manos, Owner of Tradewinds
Dr. Simon Anthony Slattery, MB.BS. MAS., Inter Island Medical Services
Mrs. Hazel Hegewald, Regent Palms Hotel
Mr. Philip Mcrae Robinson, Inter Islands Builders
Mr. John Spencer Missick, Green Acres Farm
Mr. Darrel Emmanuel Missick, Green Acres Farm
Mrs. Deandra Hamilton, Journalist Magnetic Media Corp
Mr. Donald Metellus, PDG Radio VHTC
The delegates flew on Sunrise Airways, a new start-up airline based in Port-au-Prince. Sunrise a co-sponsor of the Trade Mission has just entered the final stages of securing the necessary approvals to begin scheduled flights between Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Telecoms company Cable & Wireless to quit UK after 140 years
Cable & Wireless Communications, the last remnant of a telecoms empire that once employed 54,000 people around the world, is to leave the UK.
After 140 years as a British company, CWC is relocating its headquarters from Holborn in central London to southern Florida, transferring about 100 jobs to the United States.
CWC will keep its London listing, but the remaining UK ties of a company that was built to connect the far-flung regions of the British empire have been gradually severed.
In 2010 the firm was demerged from its UK network, which was placed in a separately listed company, Cable & Wireless Worldwide. That business was bought by Vodafone last year.
More recently CWC has sold its networks in the Channel Islands, the Falklands and the Isle of Man so that it can focus on operations in Panama and its Caribbean stronghold.
The Bahraini national carrier Batelco has bought the British isles operations, as well as those in the Maldives and Seychelles, and is in talks to acquire CWC's Monaco business.
As part of its retrenchment to the pan-American region, CWC has also disposed of its Macau network, selling it to Citic Telecom for $750m (£490m).
Chief executive Tony Rice, who has overseen the transformation, will make the move to Florida, where the preferred locations are currently Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
"The group is now focused on a single region with low penetration for data services and strong growth potential where we have scale and market leadership," said Rice. "This focus will create a more unified, effective and cost-efficient group."
Assembled from a number of British telegraph companies founded in the 1860s, Cable & Wireless was merged with the Marconi operations in the 1930s and nationalised shortly after the second world war as the government sought to exercise closer control of key strategic assets.
In 1981 it became the first company to be privatised under Margaret Thatcher, and was later the first UK operator to offer an alternative telephone service to British Telecom, via its subsidiary Mercury Communications.
Poor investments slowly whittled away the group's scale. During the dotcom boom chunks of the family silver were sold, including the One2One mobile phone business (now T-Mobile).
Some £5bn of the proceeds were put into creating a web-traffic carrier by buying internet companies, mainly in the US.
The idea was ahead of its time. Without traffic to fill the brand new fibre networks, price-cutting became ferocious.
In 2003 the firm rang up a loss of £6.4bn, from revenues of £4.4bn. The Caribbean, where Cable & Wireless was on many islands a monopoly provider, was the only part of the business still making a significant profit.
CWC now makes $586m in revenues in Panama and $1.12bn a year from the Caribbean. Its Monaco business generates $236m a year in revenues.
Announcing full-year results on Wednesday, Rice said further job cuts over the coming two years would help create $100m a year of savings.
Snowden case: Brazil 'concerned' after UK detention
Brazil says the detention under British terror laws of one of its citizens at London's Heathrow airport caused "grave concern" and was "unjustified".
David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald who published documents leaked by Edward Snowden, was held at Heathrow for nine hours on his way to Rio de Janeiro.
He reportedly had his mobile phone, laptop, DVDs and other items seized.
Mr Miranda was later released by British authorities.
Mr Greenwald called his partner's detention an "intimidation" and a "profound attack on press freedoms".
Under the Terrorism Act 2000, UK police can hold someone at an airport for up to nine hours - but the power must be used appropriately and proportionately and is subject to independent scrutiny.
Amnesty International says the incident shows the law can be abused for what it described as "petty and vindictive reasons". "At 08:05 on Sunday 18 August 2013 a 28-year-old man was detained at Heathrow Airport under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. He was not arrested. He was subsequently released at 17:00," said a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police.
Mr Greenwald said the British authorities' actions in holding Mr Miranda amounted to "intimidation and bullying".
"They never asked him about a single question at all about terrorism or anything relating to a terrorist organisation," he told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme.
"They spent the entire day asking about the reporting I was doing and other Guardian journalists were doing on the NSA stories.
"The principal point, since they kept him for the full nine hours, is to try and send a message of intimation and bullying.
"I don't understand why they don't realise that all it's going to accomplish is the exact opposite effect - I'm going to report more aggressively and with a more emboldened mind," Mr Greenwald told the BBC.
The Brazilian government issued an official statement soon after the release of Mr Miranda. The foreign ministry document says there was no justification for detaining an "individual against whom there are no charges that can legitimate the use of that [anti-terror] legislation".
It also says Brazil expects incidents "such as the one that happened to the Brazilian citizen today" not to be repeated.
Mr Miranda was flying back from the German capital, Berlin, to Rio de Janeiro, where he lives with Mr Greenwald, when he was detained in transit through Heathrow.
In Germany, he had met US film-maker Laura Poitras, who has also been working on the Snowden files with Mr Greenwald and The Guardian. according to the newspaper.
Following his detention at Heathrow, Brazilian government officials and Guardian lawyers were called to the airport, The Guardian says.
The NSA has broken privacy rules and overstepped its legal authority thousands of times in the past two years, according to documents leaked by Edward Snowden.
The incidents resulted in the unauthorised electronic surveillance of US citizens, it is alleged.
Mr Snowden, a former NSA contractor, has leaked top secret documents to the US and British media.
He has been given asylum in Russia.
Source-BBC
Government,private sector representatives meet CAL’s executives -air fares, customer services among key concerns addressed
Chairman of the Board of Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), Mr Philip Marshall has assured that the people “ are important to the heartbeat of Caribbean Airlines,”
He gave this assurance yesterday during a meeting with representatives from the government including Acting Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Irfaan Ali, Minister of Public Works and Transport Robeson Benn to address several concerns including air fares and customer services, the in-transit process and security checks of Guyanese passengers at Piarco International Airport, Caribbean Airlines’ capacity and CAL’s flag carrier status among other issues.
According to Mr Marshall, the fact that the delegation is meeting with the government and private sector representatives points to its willingness to forge new partnerships that will address the issues affecting their customers.
The CAL included Airport Manager Mr Carl Stuart, Chairman of the Board of CAL Mr Philip Marshall, CEO (ag) Mr Jagmohan Singh and Corporate Secretary Ms Nalini Lalla.
Meanwhile, according to Ali, this engagement is critical to combating the negative perceptions perpetrated against CAL. Given this fact, Ali assured that the government, and by extension the people of Guyana, recognise the role that CAL has played in attempting to fill the gap in Guyana’s airlift capacity.
Ali impressed the need for both CAL and the Government of Guyana to improve the partnership and to formulate a strategy that would define the way forward in the best interest of all stakeholders involved.
“The relationship that the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce have with CAL is one that is positive, collaborative, and one that seeks to bring the best services and products to CAL customers, especially Guyanese and tourist utilizing the services” Ali stated.
One of the critical means of accomplishing this, he added, was to establish a formal communication structure through which important concerns can be quickly directed to the senior management of Caribbean Airlines.
The acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister elaborated further that in the upcoming two weeks customers of CAL can expect better services and airfares. He also mentioned that for the upcoming Christmas season, Caribbean Airlines will be adding 30% increase seating capacity to accommodate the heavy travelling during that period of the year.
The CAL Chairman stated that although there are constraints Caribbean Airlines will continue to build improved partnerships with Guyanese travellers.
On the issue of pricing, the chairman said that the next step is for CAL to review the current price structure so that all customers could benefit.