Deputy Governor discusses South Caicos visit concerns
As a part of the Deputy Governor's tour of the family islands, a senior team of Government officials visited the island of South Caicos on Thursday, June 27th, 2013.
During her visit the Deputy Governor took the opportunity to host devotions and a staff meeting at both the Primary School and also the Marjorie Basden High School.
She also met with Special Needs Coordinator Mrs. Noreane Lightbourne and visited the Clinic and Wellness Centre among other government departments.
Commenting on the visit the Deputy Governor said:
"It is always a pleasure to visit the island of South Caicos and to engage with the people there, but I was quite alarmed at the state and working conditions of many of the staff.
“Due to a combination of several government properties being destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Ike and a general lack of maintenance, several staff are working in substandard accommodation which certainly inhibits their ability to work effectively.
“The Acting Permanent Secretary Ian Astwood has taken note of this and will raise these matters with his Minister. I have also brought these concerns to the Premier and other Ministers’ attention. In the meantime it is my intention to move several staff into temporary accommodations.
“The schools on the other hand are in immaculate condition, but are in need of new computers, sporting equipment and other supplies which will be addressed in the new budget."
Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Related Charges
Officers of the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force and Customs Department have detected a significant amount of Cannabis and Cocaine hidden onboard motor vessel Luchador that originated out of Haiti. Lissia Henry (31 years old) of Haiti who was M/V Luchador’s mechanic was formally charged for the offence of Attempted Fraudulent Evasion, Possession of Controlled drugs with Intent to Supply namely cocaine and Possession of Controlled drugs with Intent to Supply namely cannabis. On Tuesday July 2, 2013 Henry pled guilty to all of the charges laid against him, which related to an incident at the dock at Grand Turk on Wednesday June 26, 2013.
RTCIPF Commissioner Colin Farquhar today commended Police and Custom officers for the swift and professional method in which the case was wrapped up. “I am extremely pleased with the hard work and dedication displayed. The search of this vessel was arduous. Ass’t Supt. Clifford Henry displayed great leadership and the search team displayed great tenacity,” Commissioner Farquhar said.
Commissioner Farquhar’s comments were made after Lissia Henry entered Guilty Pleas to the charges. Henry was given custodial sentences of 16 months, 14 months, and 12 months respectively to run concurrently in Her Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk; with deportation being recommended upon completion of his sentence.
There are currently a number of persons charged and awaiting trial for other drug related offences. Commissioner Farquhar took the opportunity to warn drug traffickers that the Police and the Customs Department are working in partnership to combat drug trafficking in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Korean Passenger Jet Crashes in San Francisco, 2 Dead
An Asiana Airlines passenger jet carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew members crash landed at San Francisco International Airport Saturday, killing at least two people. More than 100 people were hurt, with some in serious condition.
Flight 214 originated in Shanghai, China and stopped in Seoul, South Korea before heading to San Francisco on the west coast of the United States.
Various reports say the tail of the Boeing 777 hit the runway before the plane crashed and caught fire. No distress signal from the cockpit was issued before the crash.
Teams of investigators are headed to the sight of the wreckage to determine the exact cause of the crash, which occurred in good weather.
Television pictures show the plane on the ground with its tail missing and one wing appearing to have collapsed. The top of the fuselage is burned through. Debris from what appears to be part of the tail is scattered along the runway.
Witnesses say the plane approached the runway at an awkward angle and upon landing, wobbled and spun around, its tail breaking off.
Officials say among those onboard were 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans, 61 Americans and one Japanese national. The identities of two people killed are not currently known.
President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers go out to the families that lost a loved one and all those affected by the crash. He also expressed his gratitude to the emergency crews who first responded to the disaster.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says there is no indication of terrorism. It will work with the National Transportation Safety Board, Korean investigators and Boeing as the probe unfolds.
Investigators hope the flight data recorders will give them vital information into what caused the crash.
Target founder Douglas Dayton dies at 88
Douglas Dayton began the remaking of his family’s company and helped reinvent American retailing when he launched the first Targetstores in 1962.
The former Dayton’s Department Store executive and Twin Cities philanthropist died Saturday at the age of 88 after a months-long battle with cancer.
The youngest of the five Dayton brothers who took over their father’s eponymous department store in downtown Minneapolis in the 1940s, Dayton got his start in the business after wartime service as a sergeant in an infantry division that won him the Purple Heart and attending college at Amherst.
The Dayton brothers “were damn good department store merchants in our heyday,” Dayton recalled in a May interview. He served as a store manager, taking note along the way of the rise of discounter Kmart and the threat it and others posed to full-service department stores.
Dayton was an early proponent of the family trying its hand at the discount business. In 1960, he and a like-minded Dayton’s merchandiser were charged with planning the launch of what became Target.
Dayton was named Target’s president and the company invested $4 million to open the first four Targets two years later in the Twin Cities suburbs of Roseville, Crystal, St. Louis Park and Knollwood.
“Target was the best job I had,” he recalled.
By the end of Target’s first year, Dayton told his disbelieving brothers that he thought the discount business could double their early estimates of $50 million in annual revenue in just a few years.
His confidence was bolstered when he starting hearing customers refer to Target as “Tarzshay.” The fledgling company was establishing itself as something new — an upscale discounter that attracted customers for its bright stores and attractive merchandise, not just low prices.
“I remember telling my brother Bruce that we were going to do $100 million and he sent me a nice note when we did it in 1968,” Doug Dayton recalled in the May interview. “We laughed at that one. It took about 10 years to get to $1 billion in sales but I think we put down a good base.
By the time Dayton was recalled to Dayton Hudson corporate headquarters in 1969, Target was on its way to becoming the retail force that would one day eclipse its parent. Minneapolis-based Target is now No. 36 on the Fortune 500.
Dayton spent two years as senior vice president of administration for Dayton Hudson, but found he didn’t enjoy the work like he had at Target.
“I didn’t cotton to that staff job,” Dayton said in the May interview.
He retired and began a second career as a venture capitalist, small-business owner, community volunteer and philanthropist.
He spent nearly two years after his retirement from Dayton’s leading a team of volunteer executives that found ways to make state government more efficient and effective.
Dayton is survived by his wife, three sons, a stepdaughter, six grandchildren and his brother, Bruce. Gov. Mark Dayton is his nephew.
-StarTrubine
Acting Governor Addresses Graduates
Acting Governor Anya Williams attended the 2013 graduation exercise of the HJ Robinson High School on Grand Turk.
She also attended their thanksgiving service on Sunday. In her address to the students, Mrs. Williams said:
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you the 2013 Graduating Class of the HJ Robinson High School.
“When you walk out of these doors tonight you will no longer be high school students, but will instead be considered to be young men and women. This will come with great opportunities, but also great responsibilities.
“Decision making in most instances will now be left to you; as your parents over the years would have helped you to groom you into the mature young men and women I see before me today, but you must never forget the principles that your parents, teachers, preachers, relatives or even in some cases friends would have taught you. These principles will help to guide you throughout life and will ensure that you do what you ought to do.
“This ceremony marks a major accomplishment in your life, but it is only the beginning, as your road to success has not been completed and in many instances has only just begun.
“Your time in high school could be considered as a tumultuous one. You see I can vividly remember that 5 years ago, your first school term was significantly delayed by the visits of Hanna and Ike, which not only took with them many of your homes and prized possessions, but also devastated your school and reshaped your expectations of what your high school experience would be like.
“I’m sure many of you loved the fact that school for most of you did not begin until October that year, but hated the fact that many of your classrooms and homes were still without power and many other basic necessities.
“It took your school many years to recover, with much more work still to be done, but despite the lack of infrastructure and other key resources, both students and teachers still persevered. That perseverance allowed you to be here today and to remain focused despite the many challenges.
“You must take that same perseverance that you have held onto over the past 5 years, with you throughout the remainder of your life and know that no matter how your circumstances may change or whatever obstacles may come your way, you must always remain resolute and determined to accomplish your goals.
“Today is only the beginning for you; where you go from here is left to you, but I ask that you order your footsteps in a way that will allow you to make a positive mark in society and in this our Beautiful By Nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Once again I congratulate you and look forward to hearing great things from each and every one of you going forward.”
Unlawful Entry and Drug related charges
RTC News has learned that after a thorough investigation by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the charge of Unlawful Entry has been laid against 33-year-old Yohanna Carol-is Rodriquez and 28-year-old Wendy Margarita Vargas Bveno of the Dominican Republic. The charge of Possession of controlled drugs has also been laid against Yohanna Carolis Rodriquez.
The charges of two (2) counts of assisting illegal entry, one (1) count of Possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply and one (1) count of Possession of controlled drugs have been laid against 35-year-old Yohany Antonio Cabrel.
The charges are relating to an incident, which is alleged to have taken place on Wednesday June 26th, 2013 in Providenciales.
Cabrel, Rodriquez and Bveno are presently being detained at the detention center to appear in the Magistrate’s Court #1 tomorrow (Wednesday July 03, 2013) at 9AM to enter a plea to their respective charges.
Permits Now Required to Import Animal and Plant Products
The Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Home Affairs and Agriculture is advising all commercial and non-commercial importers that a Permit is now required for the importation of all animal or plant products.
As of May 1, 2013, importers of products that fall under rules governing the importation of Controlled Commodities and Regulated Articles MUST apply for a permit prior to importing their goods. This requirement is in accordance with Part 5, Section 34 of both the Plant and Animal Health Ordinances 2012.
Under Part 5, section 34 (3) of both the Plant and Animal Health Ordinances 2012 “A person who imports, or attempts to import, a regulated article in contravention of this section commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years, or both.”
Import permits are integral to the Department of Agriculture’s biosecurity measures that seek to protect and safeguard the health of the people, plants, animals, and environment of the TCI.
In keeping with the Plant Health and Animal Health Ordinance (2012), The Turks and Caicos Islands Plant and Animal Health Divisions have conducted stakeholder sensitisation fora in Providenciales and Grand Turk to advise key stakeholders of the rules and regulations governing the importation of plant and animal products.
The implementation comes seven months after the November 1, 2012 enactment of the new Ordinances giving stakeholders time to familiarise themselves with the new processes. Importation of Controlled Commodities and Regulated Articles into the Turks and Caicos Islands without an import permit is an illegal importation and goods can be subject to seizure and or destruction.
CDEMA Head on Official Visit to TCI July 2 to 4
Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Mr. Ronald Jackson will visit the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) July 2 to 4, 2013, to meet with senior government officials on the implementation of Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) in the TCI’s approach to managing disasters and emergencies.
CDM is the Strategy which addresses all hazards through all phases of the Disaster Risk Management Cycle – prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, by the public and private sectors, of civil society and the general population in hazard prone areas. It also involves risk reduction and management assessment and the integration of vulnerability assessment into the development approval planning process, with the emphasis on reducing risk.
The objective of the meeting is to raise the level of consciousness of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands on the importance of investing in Disaster Risk Reduction in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It will seek to:
· Update the Government on their return on investment in CDEMA, that is, what CDEMA has been able to do over the period in relation to supporting the Turks and Caicos CDM Programming.
· To share the new CDM Strategy for the period 2013-2023.
Mr. Jackson’s is scheduled to meet with Ministers of Government, the Permanent Secretaries and the Director of Disaster Management and Emergencies as well as members of the National Disaster Executive.
It is expected that the mission will seek to foster a greater spirit of collaboration and cooperation with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government while broadening partnerships in areas of mutual interest as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction agenda.
Mr. Jackson will leave the islands on Thursday 4th July 2013.
Premier off to CARICOM Heads of Govt. Meeting
Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing left the island on July 2, for the 34th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Port of Spain, Trinidad from July 3 to 6, 2013.
The meeting is expected to focus on the effects of the sluggish economic climate on member states of the Caribbean Community and “the framework within which the Community can achieve growth and development” amidst the current environment, a communiqué from the Secretariat in Guyana states.
The Heads of Governments of the 18-member body and its associate membership are also scheduled to discuss issues relating to the region’s slow recovery from the global economic crises; the heavy debt burdens of some members and the effects policies by international financial institutions have had on the economies of CARICOM.
The Fact-Finding Mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands is also scheduled to present its findings at this meeting of the Heads. The Mission to the TCI was directed by the Community Council - the second highest organ of the Community- to review the situation in the territory in light of the November 2012 return to Parliamentary democracy. TCI is an associate member of CARICOM.
It is anticipated that the Heads of Governments will also explore options for a new direction for the body during this Thirty-Fourth Meeting, which marks the Community’s 40th year of existence since the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in July 1973.
Hon. Ricardo Don Hue Gardiner, Minister for Border Control, who will be attending the 8th meeting of the International Labor Organization for Ministers of Labor, will join the Premier later. Premier Ewing will be accompanied to the CARICOM meeting by his Head of Secretariat Mr. Ronlee James.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Youth and Sport, Hon. Akierra Missick will act for Premier Ewing during his absence. The team will return to the island on July 7.
UK Travel Partners Dive into Turks and Caicos
Top-rated dive operators and journalists from the United Kingdom (UK) explored the pristine waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands this week, on a dive familiarization trip with the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. This initiative was a sound venture with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and the group is expected to visit sites there as well. The tour operators consisted of The Scuba Place, Ultimate Dive, and Dive Worldwide along with journalist from Diver Magazine and Sport Diver Magazine, the two main dive magazines in the UK.
“Diving is one of the niche markets we promote heavily in the UK,” says Traci Knight, Regional Marketing Executive (UK) for the Tourist Board. “These familiarization trips present an opportunity to some of our travel partners to explore the destination first-hand, below and above water, and enable them to better market and sell the Turks and Caicos Islands to their clients.”
Knight continues, “We’re delighted that we were also able to host journalists from the two main diving publications in the UK, who will ensure we get optimal coverage. We have a mutually beneficial relationship with these magazines; their readers learn about new and exciting places as we receive and welcome the great exposure.”
During their stay the group set out on daytime and nighttime diving excursions with Dive Provo and completed an eco-tour around the mangroves with Big Blue. They were treated to dinner each night compliments of Mango Reef, Las Brisas Restaurant and Bar, Flamingo Café and Tiki Hut. Their itinerary also included an island tour visiting the Conch Farm and the Cheshire Hall Plantation, and enjoyed a delectable lunch at Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl sampling the many varieties of conch dishes on menu. Accommodation during the trip was provided by Ports of Call Resort and Villa Renaissance.
After wrapping up their series of adventure in the Turks and Caicos, the group headed to Nassau where they will visit numerous dive sites and places of interest.