MISS TCI UNIVERSE 2013, SNWAZNA ADAMS LENDS A HELPING HAND
Young ladies from some of the Primary schools in Providenciales, are learning first-hand what it takes to become a beauty queen.
The recently crowned Miss Turks and Caicos Universe beauty queen Snwazna (SNOW-WAN-NA) Adams is doing what she loves best; working with the youth.
For several weeks now, SNOW-WAN-NA, a teacher at the Clement Howell High School, has been serving as pageant coach, facilitating training and grooming sessions with the students at the Oseta Jolly Primary School in Blue Hills for their upcoming pageant.
“It is an exciting learning experience working with the young children of the Oseta Jolly Primary School. They learn very quickly and are very enthusiastic about the upcoming competition, SNOW-WAN-NA said.
The excited beauty queen said it is so nice to see them having so much fun and learning from one another, while she too is learning from them.
“Each of their personalities is so different which makes this experience more pleasurable and exciting. I am very happy to be a part of this event” said the excited beauty queen, SNOW-WAN-NA added.
The Miss and Mr. Oseta Jolly Primary pageant will be held at the Marantha High School’s Auditorium at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 30th, 2013.
Crime & Incident Reports for 21st May, 2013
The Royal Turks & Caicos Police in Providenciales are investigating a residential Burglary, which was reported on Sunday May 19th. It has been determined that the burglary occurred between 4:45PM on Saturday May 18th and 2:30AM on Sunday May 19th. Missing are a Black IBM laptop and a Portable Toshiba Hard Drive.
Police in Provo are also investigating a Robbery, which was reported on Monday May 20th, at 3:38AM. A resident of Blue Hills was robbed while waiting for a ride home in the vicinity of Walkin Marine Shop on Blue Hills Road. Five black males drove a dark colored jeep next to the complainant. Two of the male suspects, wearing all dark clothing, exited the vehicle, demanded and stole a cell phone, watch and chain. All five males then escaped in the said vehicle traveling towards the Blue Hills area. Investigation into this incident is ongoing.
The Royal Turks & Caicos Police are also investigating an incident of fighting in a Public Place, which was reported on Monday 20th, 2013 at 12:36AM.
A resident of Kew Town reported that there were two persons at a business place in Kew Town fighting. The two suspects were throwing stones and bottles during the commission of this crime. Responding officers failed to locate the two subjects after a search of the area.
Investigation into all three of these criminal incidences, are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Police are offering motorists some tips on why it’s not ok to leave valuables on display in your vehicle. Police ask that you
- •DON’T tempt thieves by leaving items on display
- •DO lock your vehicle at all times and
- •DO park in a secure, well lit area – in other words, use secure parking lots.
Items that Police say are of particular interest to thieves that should never be left in vehicles are MP3 systems; Mobile phones; Laptops; Wallets or purses; credit and debit cards, Cash or cheque books; Electrical items; Jewelry; Power tools and Vehicle registration documents.
Police advise drivers to empty their cars before someone else does!
Police also ask that you trust your instincts. If something doesn't seem right in your neighborhood or your school, it probably isn't. Reporting suspicious activities might help the Police identify a suspect or a crime trend. For activities in progress, call 911. Otherwise, call the Police at 941-3327 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477.
You can also visit their web site at www.tcipolice.tcor www.facebook.com/RTCIPFfor more information.
NATIONAL HEROES’DAY 2013 MESSAGE Delivered By The Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson
I pay homage to each of you in our respective places. A pleasant morning to the family of the Late JAGS McCartney especially today’s honoree, Mrs Dorothy McCartney.
We are here at this familiar place celebrating National Heroes Day and focusing our attention on the sole named National Hero, the Late Hon JAGS McCartney.
In 2009, I was asked to address the Nation as the Guest Speaker at that year’s National Heroes Day Celebration. In that Address I called this nation to not only a time to celebrate but also to reflect and review: To celebrate the life of Late Hon JAGS McCartney, to reflect on the times of our country and life and then to review our role as citizens, individually and collectively. That call is just as relevant today as it was then.
Today I celebrate the life of my Party, PDM’s first Leader and one of its founding members but also the country’s first Chief Minister and only named National Hero, JAGS. His name is well known but his life is not as well - known as it ought to be. We cannot truly appreciate him if we do not take the time to learn about him. This year I am trying to encourage us all to find out more about him and to learn from his life all the attributes that makes him a great leader, a uniting national figure but above all a model citizen.
Yes we forget that he was just a citizen as we are just citizens. He was not a superhero with super powers. He was chosen in a time when people were prepared to fight, to rally around a cause and to stand up for the rights of others even when it didn’t really affect them. That was period when ordinary citizens became extraordinary, not from spinach like Popeye nor from the yellow rays of the earth’s sun like Super Man. He had no tricks, no super powers just armed with a vision and a passion. Like Gatorade’s slogan, he operated from “the wind from within”. He could have sat down and ignored the issues until it affected him directly but he knew he could do more and there are others among us who knows that we can and should be doing more. He did not wait for external sources to move him. We too often look to leadership to move you when all leadership does is ignite the passion within that ought to already be there but too many appear passionless, spineless and careless with the blessing of citizenship in this Beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands. This, my brothers and sisters if it doesn’t kill us, it will surely cause our death.
This year, I celebrate our National Hero through six quick lessons for us taught by the life he lived:
JAGS had a heart problem and he was given a crutch by nature. He could have sat back and people would have given him a pass to be a mediocre citizen but he pushed himself No doubt his family would remind him but he listened to the inner voice. Whatever personal crutch life or people have given us, we must challenge ourselves and listen to the inner voice.
No matter what role you are called to played, the youth must always be central. Everything we do must be for their betterment and for their upliftment. We must be mindful that we do not handicap them or rob them of the future they deserve. Ignore the youth and watch your country go down a slippery slope and I say no more. He embraced the youth. He involved himself in Programs to help in the positive development of them and he used sports as a powerful tool in his hand as well.
To those citizens who answer the call to leadership, remember God has allowed you to be there so we ought to serve as unto to Him. Like JAGS, we must not govern in ignorance. He educated his followers and made sure they understood the issues. He demonstrated unity and despite the fact that many did not like or appreciate his efforts, he represented all regardless of their political persuasion or which Island they came from. He impressed on his people the need to stand together as one Turks and Caicos Islands if only for survival of our nation. Can this call be more relevant at this time? Prophetic I would say.
He did not discriminate. He was all inclusive and he made everyone feel important. Those whom society rejected, he involved recognizing that everyone has a purpose and a part to play. He represented peoples from all walks of life and on all issues– from behind the wheels of an Old Truck called Mother Africa to defend young men abused by Police to Nurses/Civil Servants bid for fairer employment terms, to persons requiring medical care, to those who lost their properties, to fighting for greater powers for local representatives…sounds familiar.. He never gave up and neither should we. The issues are many but they will only be managed when we honestly identify them, address them and work together to resolve them selflessly.
Life was not perfect for JAGS, he had many distractors, some traitors and those who hated him for his passion and for his vision. Who does he think he is? A little black boy from the Garden. But he kept the bigger picture before him. There will be people who will fight your vision, your dream, your plan, but look past them and keep a stepping. There are people who will fight against the vision for a country where there is equality, freedom and justice for all. But we must step on them if we must and plod on to a brighter day.
He was no supernatural being. He was a simple ordinary guy who refused to take up space or become another statistic. It must be painful for those who worked with him to watch a lot of what was gained in his period falling away. We still can repair, we can still rebuild and we can still make these Islands the best little nation. We just have to each find his/her place. No leader can do it alone, there must be enough people committed to the cause who themselves understand the life of service. There must be a cause bigger than you and your selfish desires. These times call for selfless servants with a vision and a plan and a heart for the people. Refrain from the tearing down in order to build yourselves up but respect the opinions of others and the differences in opinion.
I say God bless this great lady who today is being honored and who stood with him when many of us would not have. She obviously shared in the vision and today we are honored that she is honored. We are happy that a recent bit of legislation once defunct has been revived so that she becomes the first honoree under the National Honors and Awards Program.Mrs McCartney, a strong woman who had to hear the dream perhaps even in his sleep, who had to listen and share on matter that he could not share with others, who became a widow and a single mother and remained our honorable first lady to this day. I salute you.
JAGS believed that the power of the people was greater than the people in power, what say ye Turks and Caicos? People in power – Government and opposition are your servants and you ought to demand a higher level of representation, transparency, honesty, integrity in public office, and ACTION.
You ought to demand of yourself as well…educate yourselves, serve with everything in you knowing that wherever you find yourself you can either positively or negatively impact another’s life and you can either negatively or positively impact the development of these Islands.
Stop, and ask yourself what are you doing for your country? Are you giving your best or are you taking up space? Are you the problem of which you speak? Your contribution may not be national but it can impact our nation’s development significantly. You may not be recognized but serving without a desire to be recognized makes you a better citizen as helping others, helps you.
A small boy was walking along a beach at low tide, where countless thousands of small sea creatures, having been washed up, were stranded and doomed to perish. A man watched as the boy picked up individual creatures and took them back into the water.
"I can see you're being very kind," said the watching man, "But there must be a million of them; it can't possibly make any difference." Returning from the water's edge, the boy said, "It will for that one."
I charge us all, make a difference, one life at a time and be a hero to someone. Wherever we find ourselves and whatever good we find to do, do it with humility, passion, mercy, commitment, integrity, honesty, compassion and with a conviction. It is then and only then will you remain hopelessly devoted to the cause. This is the only way to keep the dream alive.
Be a good citizen, that is all I ask of you.
Grilled chicken breast strips recall
California-based chicken producer Foster Farms is recalling about 6,165 pounds of its ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast strips because the strips contain wheat and soy -- known allergens -- which are not listed on the labels of its packages, federal agriculture officials said.
The mislabeled packages were discovered when a customer complained, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said in announcing the recall Tuesday.
The problem occurred when labels for another chicken product that does not contain wheat or soy were inadvertently used, food safety inspectors and officials at Foster Farms said.
There have been no reports of adverse reactions from the sale of the mislabeled products, officials said.
The chicken breast strips being recalled were sold in 4.5-pound cases containing 12, 6-ounce trays of "Foster Farms Grilled Chicken Breast Strips Boneless & Skinless With Rib Meat 97% Fat Free," with an identifying case code of "000606."
The recalled product bears the establishment number "P-20923" inside the USDA mark of inspection and a use-by date of "JUN 22 2013" printed on each tray.
They were produced April 23 and were distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Based in Porterville, Foster Farms is a family-owned company that has been operating since 1939, according to the company's website.
Email probe starts in Trinidad
A team of six police officers have been appointed to investigate purported emails, the contents of which, were read out in Parliament on Monday by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley during his no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Government.
This was revealed yesterday by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson who confirmed that copies of the alleged emails were handed over to him by PM Persad-Bissessar.
The emails, described as bogus by members of the Government during debate on the no-confidence motion, contain conversations allegedly between Persad-Bissessar and senior members of her Cabinet, about the Section 34 issue.
“The investigation is in full flight and a team has been assembled,” Richardson said. “They are working as we speak.” Richardson said the team is comprised of officers pulled from various arms of the Police Service including the Fraud Squad and Cyber Crimes Unit.
Asked whether it would have been more prudent, in the interest if transparency, to secure the services of international investigators, DCP Richardson said he is confident the integrity of the investigation will not be compromised.
“My gut feeling and I speak here as a career police officer, is that we here in Trinidad and Tobago are the best persons to police Trinidad and Tobago! That is manifested by what is happening now. We have been having good results,” Richardson said. Richardson said it was too early to determine whether the Cyber Crimes Unit would be incapable of conducting an investigation.
Not wanting to give a time frame for completion of the investigation, Richardson said he is nevertheless hoping it could be wrapped up, in the shortest possible time.” He said no one has been interviewed and no electronic items seized by police, for analysis, from those implicated in the alleged email ring.
Asked if Rowley could be charged for failing to report to police evidence of a potential crime, in that by his own admission in Parliament, Rowley said he had these emails — one of which allegedly carried threats on the life of a reporter — for six months, Richardson said: “You’re asking me to assume the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).”
“To say that Dr Rowley may be charged for an offence of failing to report...I will not be doing that. The investigation will reveal these things in the fullness of time.
Whether Dr Rowley has committed a breach of the common law or the law or whatever, I can’t say. That is not for me to say. I would seek advice as we go along in this matter,” the senior officer said.
Source-Newsday
Assault on Qusair Intensifies Ahead of Hezbollah Speech
Syrian anti-government activists say Syrian troops have launched the heaviest barrage of gunfire yet in a week-long battle to re-take the strategic town of Qusair from rebel fighters.
The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday that the barrage of shelling and rocket fire on the main roads of town is at its most intense since the offensive began last Sunday.
The rebels are fighting to hold Qusair as a means of protecting their supply lines to Lebanon.
Saturday's assault on Qusair by Syrian forces and fighters from Lebanon-based Hezbollah comes ahead of a key speech later in the day by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. The speech marks the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. The anniversary is marked each year as a major military victory.
On Friday, Russia said the Syrian government has agreed in principle to attend a proposed international conference on ending the civil war and setting up a transitional government.
But a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday it is not possible to set a date yet because it is not clear yet who will speak for the Syrian opposition.
Russia and the United States have proposed opening the peace conference next month in Geneva. A senior U.S. State Department official confirmed to VOA that Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet Monday in Paris on the latest plans for the talks.
More than 80,000 people have been killed and several million displaced since the start of the rebellion against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad more than two years ago.
The State Department says involvement in Syria by Lebanese-based Hezbollah militants risks dragging Lebanon into a foreign war. Fighting this past week between backers and opponents of the Assad government killed 23 people in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli.
France begins first stage of Mali military withdrawal
France has begun the first major stage of its military withdrawal from Mali, four months after sending troops to push Islamist rebels out the north.
A convoy of lorries left a French base outside the capital, Bamako, on its way south to Ivory Coast.
France began withdrawing some of its 4,000 troops from the country in April.
They plan to gradually hand over to the Malian army and a UN peacekeeping force, which will deploy in July ahead of planned nationwide elections.
Saturday's withdrawal comes just two days after Islamist rebels targeted an army barracks and French-run uranium mine in neighbouring Niger, killing 21 people. French special forces helped Nigerien soldiers end a hostage siege at the barracks on Friday.
It is not known if the attacks will affect French troop deployments.
'Surplus to requirements'
The French intervention in Mali in January was prompted by Islamist rebels' increasing control of the north and their advance further south towards Bamako.
The militants had taken advantage of weak central government after a coup in March 2012 and the inability of Malian forces to secure territory. Major towns such as Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu fell, and a strict form of Islamic law was imposed.Within weeks of launching their offensive, French and Malian soldiers, backed by fighter jets and helicopters, forced the rebels out of urban areas. However, some fighters retreated to hideouts in the mountains and desert, from where they have launched isolated attacks.
The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Bamako says the French intervention has been immensely popular, and most Malians have dreaded the beginning of the withdrawal.
The convoy leaving Bamako for Abidjan is impressive in its size, but the French insist it is simply carrying equipment and vehicles that are surplus to requirements, our correspondent adds.
Tanks and most heavy patrol vehicles will remain in northern Mali for now.
France still has 3,800 troops in its former colony. It says their number will be down to 2,000 by September and 1,000 by the end of the year.
The United Nations' Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma) is to be composed of 11,200 soldiers and 1,440 police officers. The force says it will be deployed to help establish stability and to rebuild the Malian armed forces.
Last week, more than $4bn (£2.6bn) was pledged at an international donor conference in Brussels to fund the Malian government's plan for a "total relaunch of the country".
It includes rebuilding government institutions, repairing damaged infrastructure, organising presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north and stimulating the economy.
Source-BBC
Sweden riots spread beyond Stockholm despite extra police
There has been a sixth night of rioting in Sweden's capital, Stockholm, despite police reinforcements being deployed.
Cars were set alight in poor suburbs inhabited largely by immigrants, although the unrest was reportedly not as serious as on previous nights.
The rioting also spread outside the capital for the first time on Friday, with youths torching vehicles and buildings in two towns.
The US and UK meanwhile warned their citizens to avoid affected areas.
The UK Foreign Office advised people to stay away from large gatherings in the Stockholm suburbs of Husby, Hagsatra, Ragsved, Skogas, and to take care and monitor local reports.
The riots began on Sunday in Husby, a deprived, predominantly immigrant area in the north-west of the capital.
It is believed they were sparked by the death of an elderly man nearly a week before, who was shot by police after he allegedly threatened to kill them with a machete.
On Friday, Stockholm's police force was reinforced by specially trained officers from the cities of Gothenburg and Malmo, both of which have seen rioting in recent years.
Parents and community leaders also toured the streets to reason with trouble-makers, and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt held an emergency meeting.
Source-BBC
11 Dead in Philippines Clash
Authorities in the southern Philippines say at least 11 people have been killed in a clash between government troops and a Muslim militant gang.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan said seven Philippine marines and at least four members of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group died early Saturday in a firefight on the outskirts of Patikul town on the island of Jolo.
Tutaan said at least nine other marines were wounded in the close-quarters fight.
Abu Sayyaf, long active in the southern Philippines, first appeared in the 1990s and is listed as a terrorist organization by Washington and Manila. It is accused of carrying out some of the worst terrorist attacks in recent Philippine history.
The group, which uses kidnappings and extortion to raise money, claimed responsibility for the 2004 bombing of a ferry near Manila Bay that killed more than 100 people. The group is thought to have fewer than 400 members.
17 Dead in Pakistan School Bus Accidental Blast
An explosion on a school bus in eastern Pakistan Saturday has killed 16 children and one teacher.
A police officer in the city of Gujrat said the 17 victims burned to death when their bus caught fire in the blast. He said several other children were injured and hospitalized.
Earlier reports had said all the victims were children. They were en route to school when the accident took place.
The bus was powered by both natural gas and petroleum. Local police say the fire was caused by a spark from a short-circuit when the driver switched from one type of fuel to the other.
Gujrat is about 200 kilometers southeast of the capital, Islamabad.