KB Homes demolished JamTurk Jaguar jump over Kischo.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association T20 competition sponsored by HAB Group commenced on Saturday 4th May 2013 at the Down Town Ball Park Providenciales. The first match KB Homes against JamTurk.
Jamturk who won the toss and elected to Bat and were Bowled out for paltry 105 runs from 17.1 Overs the top scorers were Douglas Brown with 28 runs which consist of 5x4 and Daryl Williams with 10 runs.
Bowling for KB Homes Mark Butler captured 3 wickets for 30 runs from 4 overs and Paul McKenzie claimed 2 wickets for 17 runs from 4 overs.
In reply KB Homes reached 106 runs from 9.4 overs with Gareth Butler scoring and unbeaten in 52 runs and Paul Collis not out with 17 runs.
Bowling for Jamturk Calvin Aaron took 1 wicket for 12 runs for 1.4 overs and Delano Hall had 1 wicket for 22 runs from 2 overs.
The Man of the Match Gareth Butler
Meanwhile on Sunday as the competition continue at the same venue Kischo won the toss and asked Jaguars to take first strike who then were dismissed for a respectable 174 runs from 19.4 overs top scorers were Mark Austin with 47 runs which was decorated with 6x4 and 1x6 and Terrence Thomas with 32 runs comprised 5x4.
Bowling for Kischo Vinod Panikar bagged 3 wickets for 41 runs from 4 overs and Pawankumar took 3 wickets for 31 runs from 4 overs.
When Kishco batted they made a valiant effort but fell short and were Bowled out for 158 runs from 20 overs. Vasu Rao top scorer with 43 runs 5x4 and Pawankumar contributed 5x4 and 1x6 and Lyod Lynch added 20.
Bowling for Jaguars Wineck Caleb snatched 3 wickets from 28 runs from 4 overs and Terrence Thomas 1 wicket for 15 runs from 3 overs.
Man of the Match Terrence Thomas.
Provo Chamber Elects New Officers
The Providenciales Chamber of Commerce has elected new officers to head up the Commerce for 2013-2015
term:
The incoming President is CEO of Digicel Mr. E. Jay Saunders. Mr. Saunders told RTC News that " he would like to see growth in the Chambers membership this year.
He added that he would like to bring value within the chambers, he said who but for the Chambers, to lobby to the government on behalf of all our members no matter how big or small.
Mr.Jay Saunders thanked out going President Tina Fenimore for her role over the past years and welcomed the new executive and looks forward to working with them "
The new members for the Providenciales Chapter are:
President: E Jay Saunders
Vice President: Sean Astwood
Secretary/Treasurer: Wendy Hill
Advisor: Clayton Been
Advisor: Kenny Rigby
Advisor: Jamie McAnally
Advisor: Colin Hartwell
First Caribbean bank shuts down rumor of closing
RTC News understands from residents in the community that customers affiliated with the First Caribbean Bank were rushing yesterday to close their accounts in relations to rumor that was generated within the public domain.
Since that occurrence, CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK has released a statement to RTC News that reads:
'CIBC First Caribbean wishes to inform the public that we are not closing our offices in the Turks & Caicos Islands."
‘CIBC remains committed to maintaining our presence and operations in the TCI including the full and nonsupport of our clients. We refute rumors that suggest otherwise.'
Just last week, A federal court in California authorised the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to serve a "John Doe" summons seeking information about US taxpayers who may hold offshore accounts in a Barbados-headquartered Caribbean bank.
The Department of Justice has identified the bank as the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB). It said the order was signed by Senior District Judge Thelton E Henderson.
The Department of Justice said the IRS summons seeks records of FCIB's United States correspondent account at the San Francisco-based bank, Wells Fargo NA and that the summons will allow the IRS to identify US taxpayers who hold or held interests in financial accounts at FCIB and other financial institutions that used FCIB's Wells Fargo correspondent account.
The Department of Justice said that, based on a petition filed by the government, the court granted the IRS permission to serve what is known as a "John Doe" summons on Wells Fargo.
"The IRS uses 'John Doe' summonses to obtain information about possible violations of internal revenue laws by individuals whose identities are unknown," the statement said.
CIBC First Caribbean is a major Caribbean bank offering a full range of market-leading financial services and Investment Banking. It is the largest, regionally listed bank in the English-and Dutch speaking Caribbean. The bank has over 3,400 staff; 69 branches, 22 banking centres, and seven offices in 17 regional markets.
TCIG Cracks Down on the Illegal Occupancy of Crown Land
The Turks and Caicos Government has restarted its Informal Settlement Containment Programme which aims to minimise squatting on public lands. On Tuesday May 7, 2013 the Joint-Law Enforcement Committee resumed government’s initiative to curtail the illegal occupancy of Crown Land.
The team comprising of personnel from the Lands Division, Planning and Immigration Departments, the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, among others, took to the area of Five Cay known as the “Wells” and posted notices on structures that were built without proper authorisation.
Notices to cease construction were placed on structures that are unoccupied and currently under construction. Eviction notices were served on individuals occupying structures that were constructed after November 2009. The developments being targeted are all located on Crown Land.
The Programme dates back to November 2009 when the initial joined-up government informal settlement containment operation was mounted. At that time Government announced its zero-tolerance policy on squatting. Due to the economic downturn and the need to balance resources there was a decrease in the number of coordinated and consistent operations to tackle squatting in the last few years.
The Crown Land Ordinance prohibits any individuals without the lawful authority to use or occupy, to construct any building or structure, or abandon any vehicle on Crown Land.
Anyone found guilty of such an offence is liable upon summary conviction, to a fine of US$10,000 or to imprisonment for six months and upon conviction on indictment to a fine of US$50,000 or to imprisonment for two years.
The actions undertaken by the Government this week, is in accordance with the law and is in an effort to minimise and eventually eradicate the problem, Director of Crown Lands Mr. Leroy Charles noted.
“It is recognised that individuals will be displaced as a result of the exercise; however the intention is not to forcibly remove persons and leave them without a home, but to give them adequate notice to find an alternative,” Mr. Charles said.
He continued: “The vision is to cleanup the areas on which individuals are building without permission. You will also find that persons have built in low-lying areas and within these squatter communities the houses are stacked at just a couple of feet apart and, generally, with poor sanitation; it’s a hazard which must be rectified because in the case of a natural disaster the consequences could be catastrophic.”
Mr. Charles also stated that the Joint-Law Enforcement Committee will continue to carry out its activities with emphasis detecting emerging incidents through continuous monitoring. In addition, links are being forged with land owners to assist them in identifying the various options that are available to them to combat this problem on privately owned lands.
PDM does not support Gun Amnesty
Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson states that the “PDM does not support Gun Amnesty”.
Mrs. Robinson says that the PDM supports Gun Amnesty Programs but cannot support the Gun Amnesty Program under the terms set out recently by the Commissioner of Police. In a Press Conference, the Commissioner said that all guns will be tested for its involvement in crimes where charges can be later brought. We believe that this term will doom the Program to fail and we believe that no one is going to turn in illegal guns under these conditions.
We strongly suggest that the Police remove this term and then we the PDM will support this and join its campaign. Whilst we want to solve crimes, the primary objective has to now be to get the guns off the street. We believe that this Program can work and we want it to work but the objective must be to get the guns off the street and not to deter persons to turn in illegal fire arms.
We also believe that the plan to increase the cost of licenses to carry legal firearms is also not a good move. From reports, recent criminal incidences that made the Media are believed to have involved the use of illegal fire arms. It is not fair to ask law abiding citizens licensed firearm carriers to pay more as a result. We believe that if there is a problem with licensed carriers that the individual or individuals ought to be dealt with and if necessary have their licenses revoked.
We believe that every effort must be made to encourage legal carriage of fire arms where necessary and nothing should be put in place to deter this.
We believe that the time is right for a Gun Amnesty but we believe that every effort must be made to encourage the widest possible participation in the Program
Post-Cabinet Press Release
His Excellency Governor Ric Todd chaired the meeting of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ (TCI) Cabinet on Wednesday, 8 May 2013 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk. The Premier and all Ministers were present at the meeting.
At this meeting Cabinet:
- Discussed again the draft Companies Amendment Ordinance and heard from companies registration staff from the Financial Services Commission further information on the nature of the proposed changes. Cabinet was informed that a partial change to companies registration dates would reduce the delays currently experienced when filings are received at present in December and January. The legislation would move the registration of ‘non-exempt’ companies to June of each year, whilst the deadline for ‘exempt’ companies would remain as December. The FSC representatives indicated this change would also assist the development of an online filing and payment system via the internet, which is scheduled for commencement in the near future. Cabinet agreed the draft Ordinance should be presented to the House of Assembly.
- Discussed the terms of a new Development Agreement with Beaches on Providenciales to cover both the original and former Veranda sites. Cabinet agreed that the Governor would be in a position to sign the new agreement subject to further consultation this week with local stakeholders and the finalisation of the document by the AG’s Chambers.
- Considered a proposal presented by the AG for a policy on the use and style of signs placed on Crown Land. Cabinet noted that there are similar policies in other countries in the region. The policy would introduce minimum standards for signage, their number and placement, establish a system for businesses to seek permission to erect a sign on Crown land and introduce a schedule of fees. The policy proposal was accepted and the AG was asked to prepare draft legislation to present as soon as practicable to Cabinet.
- Approved the granting of the ‘Authority to Survey’ to Mr Cecil Simmons, as required under Section 4 of the Land Survey Ordinance. AG’s Chambers will prepare the relevant instrument for the Governor to sign.
- Noted, and welcomed, that a contract had been awarded by the Procurement Board for the construction of a new two storey, twelve classroom block at the Ona Glinton Primary School, Grand Turk. The new building should address the shortage of teaching space at the school exacerbated by a fire in late 2010.
- Received a presentation from the Minister of Finance on proposed changes to the Hotel and Restaurant Ordinance to reflect Cabinet’s decision to broaden the implementation of Accommodation Tax during 2013 to cover various additional tourist related services. The proposed ordinance will also clarify the interpretation of what constitutes ‘accommodation’ and the administrative arrangements on the enforcement of the payment of the tax. Cabinet agreed the Ordinance should be amended and instructed the AG to bring forward the necessary draft legislation to be considered again by Cabinet before being forwarded to the House of Assembly.
- Reviewed a draft of a new version of the Air Transport (Licensing Air Services) Regulations prepared by the TCI Civil Aviation Authority and presented by the Minister of Finance. Cabinet agreed that the existing Regulations, dating back to 1953, be replaced as proposed. It was noted that the existing Regulations no longer reflected the current practice or principles of modern aviation undertaken by the TCI CAA. Cabinet further agreed that the new Regulations will be put into effect as soon as possible.
- Approved the terms of the draft Development Agreement with Desarrollos Hotelco Ltd for the development of a new branded hotel on Providenciales. (It was announced recently by the developer the hotel will be part of the JW Marriott brand.) Cabinet welcomed this further step towards a significant investment in the hospitality sector. The Governor will sign the new agreement after the developer has completed the requirements to receive outline planning permission from the Physical Planning Board and the agreement document has been finalised by the AG’s Chambers.
- Discussed the specific terms upon which to conclude an MoU with NCPA Ltd for the construction of a hotel and marina in the North Creek area of Grand Turk and indicated their support in principle for the project. The Minister of Finance was authorised to conclude the negotiations with the assistance of AG’s Chambers. Cabinet concluded that the Governor should sign an MoU with the developer once the negotiations are completed and the MoU document has been finalised. It was noted that the MoU will also set a timetable during which the developer must apply for outline planning permission. When this application is ready the Minister for Environment and Home Affairs will sign the relevant seabed licensing permission, which is a pre-requisite for the Physical Planning Board to consider a planning submission of this nature.
- Also, discussed the specific terms upon which to conclude an MoU with White Sands Ltd for the construction of a hotel extension in the South Base area of Grand Turk and indicated their support in principle for the project. Similarly, the Minister of Finance was authorised to resolve some outstanding matters with the developer with the view to conclude the negotiations, drawing upon the assistance of AG’s Chambers. Cabinet concluded that the Governor should sign an MoU with the developer once the negotiations are completed and the MoU document has been finalised. Thereafter, the developer must apply for planning permission in the normal way to the Physical Planning Board.
- The Premier and Minister of Finance explained their intention to lead a delegation to a special session dedicated to investments in TCI at the annual Invest Caribbean Now event in New York on 4 and 5 June 2013. This event would be a showcase for TCI and private sector funding has been sought to finance the event. The intention to stage a separate tourism and investment conference in TCI later in the year was also discussed. Further details for consideration will be available for the later conference in due course but Cabinet judged that both events were beneficial for the development of the TCI economy.
- Discussed the relatively high cost of telephone calls, both voice and data traffic, incurred by TCIG under the present telephony arrangements. To ensure the best possible value for money is achieved Cabinet, requested the Ministry of Finance and the IT Unit to consider the scope for a market testing exercise and report back on the potential savings if a comprehensive cross-government telephony package could be secured.
- Approved a new Telecommunications Policy to broaden the licensing and regulation of standards to include broadcast and internet print media. A working group under the auspices of the Telecommunications Commission will bring draft legislation to Cabinet within the next few weeks.
- Agreed to the emergency funding of a replacement reverse osmosis plant for Salt Cay. Given the importance of the matter, it was agreed to go ahead with the procurement immediately, subject to final confirmation of some particular details between the CFO and Minister of Government Support Services.
- Noted a plan put forward by the Minister of Government Support Services for a three-year Water Undertaking investment programme for Grand Turk and the family islands. This plan for the way forward on each island was accepted in principle, subject to allocation of capital spending in the budget process, with an additional requirement that the Ministry also consider options involving the possible co-funding of improvements with the private sector.
- Considered a proposal by the Minister for Environment and Home Affairs for an increase in the regulated taxi fares and to review these fares every two years. The basis upon which the fares are calculated for each journey would also be changed where two or more passengers are carried. An announcement will be made by the Minister in due course. There will be no change to the fares charged by the Grand Turk Cruise Centre taxi cabs, which were subject to a separate agreement in 2011.
- Agreed, following an strong indication of support from the residents of Grand Turk in a public consultation, to support the development proposed by Dolphin Cove on Grand Turk. The support is subject to the developer submitting a planning application and complying with planning and other relevant requirements. The Minister for Environment and Home Affairs will sign the relevant seabed licensing permission, which is a pre-requisite for the Physical Planning Board to consider in due course a planning application from the developer.
- Received from the Premier a draft of the Government’s legislative agenda to be pursued during the life of the Parliament. This agenda is being reviewed and prioritised by Ministers and the AG. Cabinet will review the draft agenda again at the next meeting with the view to finalising and publishing it as soon as possible thereafter.
- The Minister of Government Support Services informed Cabinet will be attending a conference in Trinidad between 22 and 24 May.
Michael Jackson's doctor 'was not vetted', his mother says
A lawyer for Michael Jackson's mother says the pop star's promoters failed properly to vet the doctor convicted of causing his death from a drug overdose, as a wrongful death lawsuit opens.
Katherine Jackson and his three children say AEG Live should be held liable for Jackson's death in 2009.
The promoters say they did no wrong and could not have foreseen Jackson's death on the eve of his comeback tour.
Millions of dollars are at stake in the trial, which could last up to 90 days.
Brian Panish, who represents Jackson's relatives, told a court in Los Angeles that AEG Live was the only party that maintained it was unaware of Jackson's addiction to prescription drugs"Over the years Michael's family and people who knew him believed he had a problem with prescription medication," Mr Panish told a jury of six men and six women.
"His stirring voice, his musical genius, his creativity and his generosity and his huge heart was extinguished forever," he said, adding that jurors would have to decide who was responsible for the star's death.
But AEG Live's lawyer Marvin Putnam said Jackson's closely guarded private life left the promoters in the dark about his drug dependence.
"The truth is, Michael Jackson fooled everyone," Mr Putnam said. "He made sure that no-one, nobody, knew his deepest darkest secrets."
The case, which is expected to focus on the last months of Jackson's life, his financial history and his overall health, could feature testimony from his children.
It is also reported that stars such as singer Diana Ross, director Spike Lee and music producer Quincy Jones may take the stand.
The trial is expected to focus on Conrad Murray, the former cardiologist who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 for administering a combination of sedatives and the anaesthetic propofol that killed Jackson.
The Jackson family claims in its suit, filed in 2010, that AEG Live had not properly investigated Murray's background before he was hired to serve as Jackson's personal physician.
Murray was to be paid $150,000 a month during the This Is It concert series, but Jackson died before the tour began.
Murray is in prison, appealing against his conviction.AEG Live is expected to argue that Jackson had selected Murray to be his personal doctor, and that Murray was not officially an AEG Live employee.
But his family are expected to argue the concert promoters put pressure on Murray to get Jackson ready for the gruelling tour schedule despite the pop icon's fragile health.
Famous members of Jackson's family, including his sister Janet, are also expected to attend the trial.
Source-BBC
Michael Jordan remarries
Michael Jordan got married over the weekend in front of a few hundred of his family and closest friends.
The Charlotte Bobcats owner exchanged vows with 35-year-old former model Yvette Prieto on Saturday in Palm Beach, Fla., Jordan's manager Estee Portnoy told The Associated Press yesterday.
The wedding took place at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea with nearly 300 guests in attendance, including Tiger Woods, Patrick Ewing, Spike Lee and Ahmad Rashad.
The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida, a luxurious private golf club designed by Jack Nicklaus. Jordan, 50, owns a home near the course.
There were fireworks at night as part of the celebration.
In lieu of wedding gifts, donations were made to the James R. Jordan Foundation. The wedding flowers were donated to the Jupiter Medical Center.
Iron Man 3 betters Avengers international debut
Audiences around the world flocked to see Iron Man 3 over the weekend, enabling the latest title from Marvel to beat the debut of Avengers Assemble.
The film, starring Robert Downey Jr as a metal-clad crime-fighter, made $195.3 million (£125.7m) in 42 markets ahead of its US release on Friday.
That tally exceeded the $185.1m (£119m) made by the Avengers blockbuster when it opened in 39 markets 12 months ago.
Crime yarn Pain and Gain was the top film in the US and Canada this weekend.
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Michael Bay's tale of bodybuilders who become kidnappers made $20m (£12.8m) between Friday and Sunday.
The mid-budget thriller, which also stars former wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, marks a change of pace for the director of Pearl Harbour and the Transformers films.
In his generally favourable review, the New York Times' A O Scott describes the film as "a stripped-down, modest enterprise in which no major American city is reduced to rubble".
Pain and Gain's success came at the expense of Tom Cruise sci-fi film Oblivion, which slipped down to second place after one week at the top of the US and Canada chart.
Yet its second weekend tally of $17.4m (£11.2m) was still way ahead of new release The Big Wedding, which could only manage a fourth place berth with its $7.5m (£4.8m) haul.
The marriage-based romantic comedy, which stars Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton and Susan Sarandon, had received a critical drubbing ahead of its release on Friday.
Baseball biopic 42 also managed to better The Big Wedding's lacklustre tally, earning $10.7m (£6.9m) from its third weekend in North American cinemas.
Animated comedy The Croods slips two places to five in this week's countdown, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
Iron Man 3 is the third 'stand-alone' vehicle for Downey Jr's wise-cracking superhero, a billionaire inventor and philanthropist who uses a hi-tech flying suit to foil dastardly schemes.
The character appeared in last year's The Avengers - released as Avengers Assemble in the UK - alongside fellow Marvel superheroes Captain America, Thor and the Incredible Hulk.
Source-BBC
Eurozone unemployment at record high as inflation drops
Unemployment in the eurozone has surged to a fresh record high, while inflation has fallen to a three-year low, boosting expectations that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates.
Unemployment in the 17 countries using the euro hit 12.1% in March, up from February's 12%, according to official figures from Eurostat.
In total, 19.2m people are now out of work in the region.
Separate Eurostat data showed that inflation slowed to 1.2% in April.
Greece and Spain recorded the highest unemployment rates in the eurozone, at 27.2% and 26.7% respectively, while Austria, at 4.7%, and Germany, at 5.4%, had the lowest rates.
Youth employment, defined as those under 25, hit 3.6 million in the eurozone. In Greece, 59.1% of under-25s were unemployed as of the end of January, while in Spain, 55.9% were unemployed.
Meanwhile, separate data from Eurostat showed consumer prices rose 1.2% in the year to April across the eurozone, a marked slowdown from March's 1.7% rise.
The slowdown, driven by a sharp fall in energy prices, means inflation in the eurozone is now at its lowest level since February 2010.
The figure was much lower than the fall to 1.6% that analysts had expected.
Economists said that the disappointing data had increased the likelihood of the European Central Bank announcing a cut in interest rates when it reveals its decision this Thursday.
``If an ECB rate cut on Thursday didn't look nailed-on before, it certainly does now,'' said Craig Erlam, market analyst at Alpari.
Marie Diron, senior economic adviser at Ernst & Young, added: ``It now seems pretty certain that it will lower interest rates."
A Reuters survey last week found that a majority of economists expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to cut the bank's main refinancing rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 0.5%.
If the ECB was to cut rates, it would mark its first reduction since July last year.