Ban on Poultry and Pork Products from Dominican Republic
The Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs is reminding the public that there is a ban on the importation of poultry and pork products and live pork and poultry from the Dominican Republic (DR) into the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The ban was implemented in 2008 as a result of outbreaks of a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza (H5N2) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF) in the DR, and has remained in place due to the inability of that country to provide evidence to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that it is disease free. The OIE is the international agency with responsibility for monitoring animal diseases worldwide.
The Dominican Republic first confirmed that cases of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in 2007. On February 6, 2008 officials in the DR reported the outbreak and submitted their findings to the OIE. For public health reasons, the TCI must uphold the ban since the OIE has not been able to confirm that the DR is free of H5N2 (the strain of the bird flu found there) or the Classical Swine Fever.
International rules require that countries that have reported outbreaks of serious animal health diseases must have their meat processing facilities, livestock farms and laboratories inspected and ratified by the OIE. This endorsement provides importing countries with standards on which to allow importation of products from exporting nations since animal diseases are a threat to human and livestock health.
The Animal Health Division has also instituted requirements that if adhered to, should allow for safe importation of animal products into the TCI.
In 2010, the TCIG initiated contact with various agencies with a view to reviewing the situation with the DR because of the traditional trading relationship between that country and the Turks and Caicos. However the situation remains. Due to the high risk of contamination, however, residents are being urged not to buy pork or poultry products or live pigs and poultry from the Dominican Republic and importers are being reminded that these products will not be given clearance for landing until such time as the TCI obtains confirmation that the ban has been lifted.
Minister of Education in London for pre-G8 Tax Meeting
Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, Culture, Hon. Akierra Missick left the Turks and Caicos Islands on June 11, 2013 to represent the Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing at several meetings in the United Kingdom.
Whilst in London, the Minister is scheduled to attend a bilateral meeting with Hon. Mark Simmonds, Foreign and Commonwealth Minister for the Overseas Territories and will join more than 150 delegates at a pre-G8 conference hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at Lancaster House on Saturday June 15, 2013.
The meeting is being held ahead of the G8 summit, the annual meeting of the leaders of the world’s eight wealthiest nations, at the Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland, June 17 to 18. It will bring together heads of Government and Ministers from non-G8 countries; ministerial representatives from each G8 partner country; Chief Ministers and Premiers from the Overseas Territories and Senior representatives from the private sector, International Organisations and Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The Minister will return to the Turks and Caicos Islands on June 16th 2013
Investors Urged To Open Their Wallets To The Turks & Caicos
U.S. and Chinese investors are being urged to "open their wallets" to investment opportunities in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The call to action came from the Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing and his finance minister, C. Washington Misick, at the 2013 Avalon Invest Caribbean Now forum held in New York City on June 5, 2013.
Dr. Ewing shared several opportunities currently available for investment in the TCI as well as expansion and infrastructure enhancements planned by his Progressive National Party government.
These include the expansion of the Providenciales International Airport; the Caicos Causeway Project that will stretch from Providenciales to South Caicos; the development of College Park catering for medical, trade and hospitality schools and the establishment of technology parks on the island as part of a Software Development Economic Special Zone.
The Premier and Minister Misick also disclosed opportunities for the development of AP/EP branded hotels of quality on the island to boost the island's hotel room stock; yachting tourism via marina development; a deep water port among several others.
GRAND TURK NEW REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT ON SCHEDULE
Minister of Government Support Services Hon. George Lightbourne is assuring Grand Turk residents that water shortages will soon come to an end.
The Minister along with Permanent Secretary of GSS Ian Astwood visited the Grand Turk Reverse Osmosis (R/O) Plant Site yesterday, June 6, 2013, and left the site confident that if all goes according to plans the plan will be commissioned on target for July 2013.
Currently, construction of a new facility to house the brand new plant, the existing two plants, and office spaces to accommodate the plant manager and staff is underway. Construction started February 2013 and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for July 27, 2013.
At present, water on the island of Grand Turk is being produced by two R/O plants which together produce four hundred (400) gallons of water per day. Once the new facility is completed and the new R/O plant is installed water production should increase to six hundred (600) gallons of water per day.
Minister Lightbourne said: “I am pleased with the progress of the construction and looking forward to providing the residents and visitors alike with reliable water supply on the island”.
Over A Dozen Caribbean Governments For Invest Caribbean Now Forum
More than a dozen Caribbean governments will gather in New York City this morning for the third annual Invest Caribbean Now Forum.
Two premiers, a chief minister, a governor; seven ministers of governments and two commissioners will join more than a hundred delegates, including from China; the U.S. government and the private sector, for the Avalon Invest Caribbean Now Forum at the Radisson Hotel in mid-town, Manhattan.
The event comes on the heels of last night's opening reception for speakers, sponsors and VIPS, which was hosted by the Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency and the Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands at the Yale Club in NYC.
In brief remarks, Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing, reitereated his country is ready and open to boosting investments in the TCI.
Other governments who will attend the forum today will include Dr. Orlando Smith, Premier of the British Virgin Islands; Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes; Governor John De Jong, Jr. of the United States Virgin Islands; Finance Minister Washington Misick of the Turks & Caicos Islands; Minister of Tourism of Trinidad Stephen Cadiz; Minister of Tourism of Antigua, John Maginley; Minister of Tourism, Nevis, Mark Brantley; Minister of Tourism, Sports & Culture, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Cecil McKie; Minister of Tourism & International Transport, International Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs of St. Kitts, Ricky Skerritt and Minister for Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries, St. Lucia, Lorne Theophilus; Commissioner of Tourism for the US Virgin Islands and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Beverly Nicholson Doty; Commissioner, St. Eustacius, Nicholas Sneek and Assemblyman Tracy Davidson-Celestine, Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary, Division of Tourism and Transportation of Tobago were among governmental dignitaries.
Anthony Eterno of the Caribbean Affairs Office of the US State Department, will speak on the US' view on investing in the Caribbean and Xiaoguang Liu, Consul in charge of economic & commercial affairs at the Consulate General of China in New York, will also speak on Wednesday morning on the
China-Caribbean opportunities that exist as part of a panel on China and the Caribbean.
The sold out Forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp with a welcome by emcee Kara Coleman, news anchor of One Caribbean Television and opening remarks from founder of ICN and CMO of Hard Beat Communications, Felicia Persaud.
This will be followed by remarks from CTO Chair Nicholson-Doty and a speech by Eterno; Premier Dr. Ewing and his finance minister, Washington Misick.
Two panels will then follow - one on Development, Tourism & Beyond with Heather Flossiac of Belle Vue Properties of St. Lucia; E. Jay Saunders, CEO of Digicel TCI; Brian Lilly, founder of One Caribbean Television and Ganesh Ramanathan, creative director at Hard Beat Communications and the other on China and the Caribbean that will feature Liu; Johnny Liu of the
American Chinese Commerce Development Association and Li Li, managing director of the Chinese American Business Development Center.
The panels will be moderated respectively, by Dr. Grace Lappin, managing director of Avalon Partners and Arthur Piccolo of the New Sports Group, who is replacing Martin Mohabeer of Spackman Capital.
The formal forum will wrap up at 10:30 a.m. with a presentation by Miguel Reyna - Director, Port Business Development and Asset Management, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd and the ICN corporate leadership award presentation to Royal Caribbean International. An hour long doing business and networking session will bring the curtains down on ICN 2013.
The Avalon Invest Caribbean Now Forum comes on the heels of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's Caribbean trip on May 28th for the signing of the United States - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, (TIFA) and the first visit to Trinidad & Tobago by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, which will take place from May 31 to June 2.
Invest Caribbean Now is organized annually by The Caribbean Tourism Organization and digital media solutions company, Hard Beat Communications
, during Caribbean Week in New York.
ICN 2013 is sponsored by marquee sponsor Avalon Partners; gold sponsors, The Turks & Caicos Islands Investment Agency and Royal Caribbean Cruise, Ltd; bronze sponsor, One Caribbean Television
and supporting sponsors, The Chinese American Business Development Center, the American Chinese Commerce Development Association and No-Jet-Lag.
DEMA Cautions Swimmers: Look-out for Jelly Fish, Report Sightings
Arising out recent reports of jellyfish stings, the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) would like to caution swimmers to the possible presence of jelly fish in the Grace Bay Area and urges visitors in particular to be on the look out.
On Sunday June 2 and Monday June 3 three individuals swimming in the Grace Bay, near Club Med were reportedly stung by jellyfish. The victims were treated at the Myrtle Rigby clinic and released.
DEMA Officers swam the area where the incidents took place on Tuesday June 4, but were unable to locate any jellyfish. Nevertheless, the Department is urging swimmers in the Grace Bay area to swim with caution until further notice.
Jellyfish vary in size from approximately one inch in diameter to up to 12 inches. The stings come from tentacles that can drag as much as 36 inches from their bodies. Swimmers are therefore advised to avoid jellyfish whenever they see them and report any sightings to DEMA at 941-5122.
Jellyfish problems in near shore areas, usually resolve themselves in a few days, as tides take the animals back out to sea. DEMA appreciates the cooperation of visitors and the public in this matter.
MINISTER OF HEALTH TO ATTEND THIRD PAN-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Minister with responsibility for Health and Human Services Hon. Porsha Stubbs -Smith will leave the island today June 5, 2013 for Aruba where she will attend the “The Third Pan-American Conference on Obesity, with Special Attention on Childhood Obesity” (PACO III).
PACO III is supported by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and aims to identify regional actions to prevent childhood obesity and promote regional cooperation on the prevention of childhood obesity in interested countries.
The meeting is expected to provide ministers and delegates with an increase awareness of the importance of preventing childhood obesity as well as a compilation of technical documents on practical activities to promote physical activity and healthy food.
During the meeting will run from June 5 to 8, and cover the following:
· The development of partnerships to conduct activities with communities and families
· Procedures to conduct physical activity and for food culture at the population level.
· Identification of indicators to evaluate the training / intervention
· Development of healthy environments in the community, schools, and workplaces.
One of the objectives of this meeting is to increase well qualified human resources and health educators to prevent childhood obesity in countries participating in this project.
Minister Stubbs -Smith will be accompanied by TCIG Epidemiologist Dr. Terese Maitland. The Minister will return to the TCI on June 9.
Speech to Caribbean Association of Insurance Regulators, Monday, 3 June 2013 at the Regent Palms Resort, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
May I wish a very warm Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) welcome to all of the Caribbean Association of Insurance Regulators (CAIR) to this their annual conference. I am glad to see a number of TCI colleagues and residents here too.
I hope that all our visitors enjoy their stay and come back soon with their families and friends!
This conference takes place in the context of a fast moving and challenging world for the global financial services industry. The forthcoming G8 meeting at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, is the manifestation of the determination of the G8 Chair, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the world’s leading nations to raise global standards of transparency with regard to tax and beneficial ownership.
I know that the global reinsurance business – a truly global industry – is determined to stay at the forefront of this issue, working consistently to achieve the highest standards.
In this changing environment you know better than anyone that the ability to adapt, innovate and change is critical to success in insurance and reinsurance.
TCI’s prosperity is based upon being a high end tourist destination. Premier Ewing is currently in New York leading a strong public and private sector team to the Caribbean Tourism Conference.
We have a smaller financial services sector than some other Overseas Territories but we want to build on its successes and to further develop it.
To be clear, we are not a tax haven. We are a low tax jurisdiction.
We want TCI to compete in the world financial services industry through the quality of our products; the strength and credibility of our industry; the ease of doing business; and the skills of our practitioners.
The TCI Government is determined to work in partnership with the financial services industry. Given my responsibility for the regulation of the financial services sector I want to take this opportunity to underline the importance I attach to good, modern, high quality regulation. TCI is committed to improving industry regulation in our insurance sector – new domestic insurance legislation is currently being considered and is a specific example of this.
The TCI also is determined to play its part as a partner to regulators across the Caribbean region.
As you know, TCI is the leading domicile for a specific re-insurance product, the Niche Hybrid Re-Insurance Company, previously known as the Producer Owned Reinsurance Company, the famous PORC. It occurs to me that we might try to find a catchier name than Niche Hybrid Re-Insurance Company . Marketing matters!
The Conference and Workshop this week focuses on the management of risk. This is central to your role. It is very much a theme for TCI Government, as we develop the opportunities and deal with the challenges in front of this beautiful but fragile country. And not least as we enter the Atlantic hurricane season.
You carry a heavy responsibility for the protection of the policy holder across the region as well as the health of the industry. What you do matters to the insurance business, to the economy and to individuals across the Caribbean. I hope that this week’s conference will be valuable in discharging these responsibilities.
Finally, may I repeat my welcome and wish you an interesting and successful conference and a very enjoyable time.
H.E. Governor Todd
Ciara Gets Sued for Backing Out of Gay Event
Hip-hop/R'n'B singer Ciara may not have only lost a $10,000 payday but has also gained a major headache as West Hollywood gay bar The Factory filed a lawsuit against her for allegedly bailing out of a gay event scheduled at their venue during L.A. Gay Pride week. The Factory accused the 27-year-old singer of backing out of their deal to perform at the venue after they had already promoted her appearance.
Although the gay bar admits to having been advised by CiCi's camp that she is not allowed to perform at The Factory due to restrictions on her contract with the L.A. Pride event, she made it appear that she could show up on the gay bar's own event without any problems, making it a done deal. Ciara was supposedly booked for the Friday night pre-gay parade bash from which she eventually bailed out of.
The Factory is now suing the "Body Party" artist for breach of contract, asking to be compensated back not just for the money they spent on promoting her gig at their gay bar as well as the sales that they lost due to the non-appearance.
When asked for comment, Ciara's rep said there's no cause for a lawsuit as a deal was never sealed in the first place between her client and the gay bar since Ciara had already committed to perform at L.A. Gay Pride on Saturday night. The rep also said The Factory continued to promote Ciara's supposed appearance in their bar despite being already notified against it early last week.
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Bruno Mars Feels Grateful for Fans' Support Following Mother's Death
Bruno Mars spoke out for the first time after her mother's death nearly a week ago. The 27-year-old singer took to Twitter on Thursday, June 6, to thank his fans for their support, saying, "So thankful for all the love during the most difficult time in my life. Ill be back on my feet again soon.Thats what mom wants, she told me."
Mars' mother, Bernadette Hernandez, died from a brain aneurysm on Saturday, June 1, at the age of 55 at the Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Philippine-born Bernadette came to Hawaii and worked as a singer and hula dancer. She encouraged her son's interest in music from a very young age.
When Mars was nominated for seven Grammys, Hernandez said that she was so proud of his son. "I knew this was going to happen but not this extent," she said. "I still think of him as my baby and keep forgetting he is a grown man."
Mars was very close to her mother. He had her mother's name tattooed on his shoulder. Mars also wrote, sang and recorded a song entitled "I Love You Mom" when he was just 4 years old.
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