Pope Francis hits out at global 'cult of money'
Pope Francis has called on world leaders to end the "cult of money" and to do more for the poor, in his first major speech on the financial crisis.
Free market economics had created a tyranny, in which people were valued only by their ability to consume, the pontiff told diplomats in the Vatican.
"Money has to serve, not to rule," he said, urging ethical financial reforms.
Meanwhile, the Vatican's own bank announced it would publish its annual report for the first time.
The Institute for Works of Religion, which has been at the centre of various financial scandals in recent years, is to hire an external accountancy firm to ensure it meets international standards against money laundering.
The bank would launch a website and publish its annual report in an effort to increase transparency, new president Ernst Freyberg said.
The institute is considered one of the world's most secretive banks.
Hurricane Week Clean-up begins
As part of its preparedness exercise for the upcoming Hurricane Season which runs from June 1 to November 30, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) will be working with community members and groups to clean up areas around the Turks and Caicos Islands.
On Saturday May 18, 2013 between 8am and 12 noon the Team will be in West Road and its environs. Residents of Grand Turk are asked to join the clean-up exercise. Participants and interested individuals are asked to meet at the John Missick Fish Market at 8:00am.
If you live in West Road please, bag and place any refuse or unwanted items outside your homes for pickup during this cleanup exercise. In addition the DDME is appealing to residents to assist with the loading of the pickup trucks.
Be ready, It Only Takes One Storm.
Minister of Haitian Diaspora commits to working with TCIG
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing met today, May 16, 2013 with the Hon. Dr. Bernice Fidelia, Minister of the Haitian Diaspora to discuss the issues and concerns of the government in respect to illegal migration of Haitian nationals to the TCI.
Minister Fidelia along with a delegation of senior officials from the Haitian Government, travelled to the TCI at the invitation of the Premier to have frank discussions on how the two nations can work together to address issues of border security, illegal squatting, deforestation (illegal charcoal making), trade relations and potential investment opportunities.
The Hon. Fidelia gave strong commitments to working with the TCI Government through its Council to aid in communicating the various laws of the Turks & Caicos Islands to the local Haitian community, but more importantly the Haitian people living in the North Coast to inform them of the realities of illegal travel to Turks & Caicos Islands and the legal approach if they desire to visit and work in the TCI.
The Premier expressed delight and congratulated the Hon. Minister on behalf of the TCI Government on the upcoming flag-day celebrations, which commemorates their independence and commitment to strengthening the relations between Haiti and TCI through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The Minister of Health Hon Portia Stubbs gives her address WHD
The Minister of Health Hon Portia Stubbs in her address gave us five concrete steps to minimizing High Blood pressure, not just on World Hypertension day but for everyday living.
A Message to mark World Hypertension Day
From Honorable Porsha Stubbs-Smith
Minister for Health and Human Services
On 17 May 2013, we in the Turks and Caicos Islands will join with the rest of the world in celebrating World Hypertension Day. This year’s theme is “Healthy Heart Beat - Healthy Blood Pressure”.
The world marks World Hypertension Day with activities and campaigns that focus on the causes and consequences of high blood pressure. This week I invite you to visit any of our Primary Care Clinics throughout the TCI and get your blood pressure checked for free.
World Hypertension Day has been established to highlight the preventable stroke, heart and kidney diseases caused by high blood pressure and to communicate to the public information on prevention, detection and treatment. So each year, worldwide May 17th is designated Hypertension Day
Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in the vessels. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure the harder the heart has to pump.
The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of damage to the heart and blood vessels in major organs such as the brain and kidneys.
If left uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to a heart attack, an enlargement of the heart and eventually heart failure. Blood vessels may develop bulges (aneurysms) and weak spots that make them more likely to clog and burst. The pressure in the blood vessels can cause blood to leak out into the brain and cause a stroke. Hypertension can also lead to kidney failure, blindness, and cognitive impairment.
The health consequences of hypertension can be compounded by other factors that increase the odds of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. These factors include tobacco use, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, lack of physical activity, and exposure to persistent stress as well as obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes mellitus.
1. Everyone can take five concrete steps to minimize the odds of developing high blood pressure and its adverse consequences.
2. Healthy diet: Avoiding harmful use of alcohol i.e. limit intake to no more than one standard drink a day
3. Physical activity: regular physical activity and promotion of physical activity for children and young people (at least 30 minutes a day). Maintaining a normal weight: every 5 kg of excess weight lost can reduce systolic blood pressure by 2 to 10 points.
4. Stopping tobacco use and exposure to tobacco products
5. Managing stress in healthy way such as through meditation, appropriate physical exercise, and positive social contact.
Let us focus our attention on the prevention and control of high blood pressure, as a means of reducing the number of people affected, both now and in the future, by cardiovascular disease.
Thank you
Porsha Stubbs-Smith
Minister of Health and Human Services
There is an information exchange made available from a Speech by Permanent Secretary of Health , that displays about Hypertension at strategic locations (hospitals, banks, etc.),
Other activities planned to celebrate World Hypertension Day include Airing of PSA’s on Hypertension throughout the week of May 17th-24th via local radio stations and Health Matters Recording aired at 7pm on May 20th by Health Team and Workplace visits for Health Screenings & Nutrition Counseling - Island wide on May 21st.
Hypertension is one of the most important causes of premature death worldwide and the problem is growing; in 2025, an estimated 1.56 billion adults will be living with hypertension.1
Permanent Secretary for Health Desiree Lewis in recognition for World Hypertension Day also had her message for the TCI
The MOH is encouraging each and everyone within the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond to incorporate exercise in your daily schedule, stay active and know your numbers – blood pressure, cholesterol levels as well as your weight and height. A healthy blood pressure will result in a healthy heart beat.
The Ministry invites one and all to listen to their local radio stations for further activities celebrating World Hypertension Day.
World Hypertension Day - Healthy Heart Beat – Healthy Blood Pressure
Friday May 17, was World Hypertension Day, this years theme is “Healthy Heart Beat, Healthy Blood Pressure.
The Ministry of Health will be hosting a number of health promotion activities for starting with the launch of Grand Turk Road street event on the 22nd May at 5:30pm in A Walk/Run/Cycle Event starting from Library Tennis Court, the Ministry will host a Mini Health Expo at Cheshire Hall and Cockburn Town Hospital on 24th May at 9:00am simultaneously.
World Hypertension Day is so important because globally, nearly one billion people have high blood pressure (hypertension); of these, two-thirds are in developing countries like the Turks and Caicos Islands. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer" because it often has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not realize they have it; that is why it's important to get blood pressure checked regularly. World Hypertension day therefore provides a platform to sensitize the public about information on the prevention, detection and treatment of high blood pressure or hypertension. Hypertension or high blood pressure has become such a topical issue and recognized internationally by the World Health Organization (WHO) who identified it as the leading cause of cardiovascular deaths and hence had dubbed it as the number one public health priority on World Health Day this last April under the theme “Control Your Blood Pressure”.
Therefore knowing about Hypertension is vital because signs and symptoms are often unnoticed, and global rates continues to increase and reflects that one in every three individuals is affected by high blood pressure which if left untreated can lead to fatal heart attacks, debilitating strokes, and chronic heart and kidney disease. Hypertension affects mainly persons of colour, persons with family history of hypertension or diabetes and persons who lead a sedentary lifestyle or who are overweight or physically inactive.
Interniza McCartney of Health Matters sat down with RTC and explained that high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable. You can promote a healthy heart beat and a healthy blood pressure by ensuring that you practice the following lifestyle changes:
• Reducing salt in the diet
• Eating foods that are rich in magnesium, potassium, and calcium
• Avoiding harmful use of alcohol
• Getting regular exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding tobacco use
For further information on Hypertension and a healthy heart, kindly contact the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Health Planning and Promotion Unit or any of our Primary Health Care Units throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands via Tel contact 649-946-2801.
North Korea Test-Fires 4th Short-Range Missile
North Korea fired its fourth short-range missile in the past two days into waters off its east coast on Sunday, despite calls for restraint from South Korea and other countries in the region, as well as the United Nations.
The latest launch into the Sea of Japan, confirmed by South Korean Defense Ministry officials, follows three coastal launches on Saturday that rattled the region.
North Korea routinely tests short-range missiles into coastal waters. But the latest launches, which analysts say may have included rockets from a new multiple launcher, come at a time of heightened North-South tensions. Since March, Pyongyang has repeatedly threatened to attack South Korea and threatened the United States with nuclear strikes.
A South Korean defense official said Saturday the North's intentions with the launches were not clear. He said South Korea's military was watching for any additional launches or other provocations.
The United States, Russia and the United Nations have all issued renewed calls for restraint from North Korea. A spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry called the latest weapons tests a "deplorable" provocation.
Radical Islamist Killed in Tunisia Street Protests
Tunisian authorities say a street battle between radical Islamists and police has killed one Islamist protester on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis.
Authorities said the man, in his late 20s, died of injuries sustained in Sunday's fighting in the Etadhamen district. The radical activists, also known as Salafists, threw stones at Tunisian police to protest a government ban on their annual conference in the center of the country.
Police fired tear gas to break up the violent protest and arrested about 20 demonstrators.
Tunisian authorities deployed a heavy security presence in the central town of Kairouan to block the Salafist gathering, which had been scheduled for Sunday with thousands of activists expected to attend. Some Salafists in Kairouan also threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas.
The Tunisian government banned the conference by the Ansar al-Shariah group as a threat to public order. The group openly supports al-Qaida.
Ultraconservative Muslim groups have been trying to expand their influence in Tunisia. Secular Tunisians have expressed alarm, fearing the Salafists will try to impose their strict views on other people and undermine individual freedoms and democracy.
Afghanistan, India to Discuss Military Aid
Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to discuss increased military aid with Indian officials during his visit this week to New Delhi.
The trip, which begins Monday, follows recent cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A spokesman for the Afghan president says Mr. Karzai will ask for assistance for the strengthening of the country's military and security institutions.
Afghanistan and India signed a strategic partnership in 2011 which included India's training of Afghan forces as they prepare to takeover security from foreign troops in 2014.
Pakistan has also offered a strategic partnership to Afghanistan, but little progress has been made on the pact.
Earlier this month, border guards from Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged fire at a mountainous shared-border region. Both sides accuse the other of firing first.
Tensions are high between the neighbors over the deadly cross-border attacks, as well as, accusations by both that the other is harboring militant groups that easily cross the border and launch deadly attacks.
Funeral Held for Slain Pakistani Politician
Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral of a Pakistani politician shot dead in Karachi.
Zahra Shahid Hussain was killed late Saturday after being approached by two unknown gunmen outside her home in Karachi.
Pakistani politician and former cricket star Imran Khan, leader of Pakistan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, blamed Saturday's slaying of Zahra Shahid Hussain on the rival Muttahida Qaumi Movement party, or MQM.
The party has denied any involvement.
Zahra Hussain was a senior vice president of PTI, which finished third in last week's parliamentary election and accused MQM of vote-rigging.
Her funeral was held as Karachi held a partial re-vote Sunday in response to those claims.
Governor to attend leadership event in London
His Excellency Governor Ric Todd leaves the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to take part in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) annual leadership event today, Friday, 10 May 2013.
Todd will attend this event, which will take place in London from 13 -17 May, in his capacity as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The principle session will be in the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre on 14 May 2013.
The event is attended by UK Ministers; senior officials from the FCO and other Government Departments; and Governors of the UK Overseas Territories, Ambassadors and High Commissioners from around the world to discuss policy, activity and to share ideas and experience. There are also discussions with stakeholders including Parliamentarians, business and commentators.
The Governor will take the opportunity to meet UK Ministers to update them on the situation on TCI and lead one session in the margins of the main events where he provides a personal account of the challenges of leading a technocrat interim administration and returning TCI to self government.
Attorney General Huw Shepheard has been sworn in as Acting Governor until Sunday, 12 May, when the role will transfer to the Hon Anya Williams upon her return from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Caribbean Head of Public Service Leaders conference in St Lucia followed by two days personal leave. This arrangement will continue until Governor Todd’s return to office on Monday, 20 May 2013.