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.
BP's profits edge lower but beat forecasts
Oil giant BP saw profits edge lower in the first three months of the year.
Underlying replacement cost profit, which strips out the effect of oil price movements, was $4.2bn (£2.6bn) - down from $4.7bn for the same period a year ago.
However, the result beat analysts' forecasts of $3.27bn.
When the one-off gain from BP's sale of its interest in joint venture TNK-BP is included, the firm made $16.6bn in the quarter.
"These results represent a strong start to 2013 across all of our businesses," said BP chief executive Bob Dudley.
Asset sales
BP attributed the better-than-expected result to a greater share of new production coming on stream from major projects in Angola and the North Sea, helping to compensate for the production it has lost due to asset sales.
The company has been selling assets in order to raise funds to cover the costs arising from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
The firm said the cumulative cost of the Gulf of Mexico spill, one of the worst environmental disasters in US history, remained at $42.2bn.
Underlying production of oil and gas, excluding the impact of asset sales, rose 2% in the quarter compared with the same period a year ago.
However, BP said that total oil and gas production was down 5% on a year earlier, primarily due to the sale of its stake in the TNK-BP Russian joint venture.
It also warned that production was likely to fall further in the second quarter of the year due to asset sales.
As well as the sale of its TNK-BP stake, BP also sold its Texas City refinery in the first quarter.
BP said its exploration projects remained on track, and it planned to drill 15 to 25 exploration wells by the end of the year.
BP is carrying out a share buyback programme - aimed at returning $8bn to shareholders over the next 12-18 months.
'Higher risk'
Societe Generale analyst Irene Himona said the results marked a strong quarter for BP, despite the fall in profit.
"It's a very good number. They beat consensus materially. So clearly a strong operational performance that's very encouraging."
However, Keith Bowman, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, remained cautious.
"Underlying progress is being made. However, until the uncertainty of US legal settlement is lifted, BP remains a higher risk investment in a traditionally lower risk sector," he said.
Source-BBC
Deutsche Bank surges as share issue cheers investors
Deutsche Bank's shares rose almost 7% in early trading, as its decision to issue shares to boost its capital reserves and strong first-quarter results cheered investors.
Germany's largest bank has issued 2.96bn euros (£2.9bn) worth of stock in a bid to reassure investors over the strength of its balance sheet.
The new shares are part of Deutsche's plans to raise 4.9bn euros in total.
Its pre-tax profit rose 28% to 2.4bn euros from 1.9bn euros a year ago.
The bank said it would also sell 2bn euros of debt.
Deutsche Bank, Germany's biggest bank based on market capitalisation, has been under pressure from regulators to increase its capital reserves in order to give it a bigger buffer against potential crises such as the 2008 global financial crisis.
Until now, Deutsche has resisted calls to issue fresh shares in order to do so, because it would dilute its existing equity. Its share sale will increase the number of existing shares by about 10%.
However, Deutsche Bank's co-chief executive officer, Anshu Jain, said the decision to raise fresh funds followed meetings with regulators and shareholders, who made it clear that resolving the capital issue needed to be a "top priority".
Mr Jain said that the bank decided on the capital increase so it could meet its goals for stronger financial reserves "in one fell swoop".
As a result of the capital increase, Deutsche says its tier-one capital - the level of top quality assets held in reserve as a buffer against financial troubles - will increase to 9.5%, up from 8.8% at the end of March.
The ratio puts it comfortably ahead of new rules on capital requirements, due to be bought in by 2019 under the international agreement known as Basel III.
"We are now among the best capitalised banks in our global peer group," added Mr Jain.
Mr Jain said that the bank's bigger capital cushion would open the door to higher dividend payments. Since 2009, Deutsche Bank has kept dividend payments steady at 0.75 euros.
Source-BBC
Caribbean resort investors fear for their homes
British investors in the financially troubled multi-million dollar Caribbean investment firm Harlequin Property are afraid they could lose tens of thousands of dollars and even their own homes after Harlequin’s sales division filed for administration last week.
Some of the investors remortgaged their own homes in order to fund their deposits on properties in vacation resorts planned by Harlequin and, now that the company has stopped paying the interest on the remortgages, which it agreed to as part of the deal, their homes may be in jeopardy.
Harlequin has taken more than £300 million (US$453 million) in deposits for at least 6,000 properties across six Caribbean resorts, but only built around 300 at Buccament Bay in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Harlequin said last week: “Due to unfounded negative publicity in the public domain that has been instigated since 2011, the day-to-day UK sales business of Harlequin Property has become increasingly challenging, to the point that it is now almost impossible.
“The underlying business model of the Harlequin group is strong and the directors are confident that, with the external finance and property completions anticipated, our investors will see significant development at our resorts in the near future.
“Investors can be assured that the company sees no reason why these circumstances would threaten their investment with Harlequin. In fact, the measures set out above are a means of further securing their investments from external and contrary interests."
Harlequin recently halted work on its two multi-million dollar resorts in Barbados, owing employees two months’ salary, the Barbados National Insurance Scheme (NIS) about $80 000 (US$40,000) and several local businesses and contractors in excess of $3 million.
The company was also in the news when its owner, British businessman Dave Ames was accused of bribing the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in order to gain citizenship.
Ames, 60, has rejected the accusations that he had offered Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves a “suitcase of money” in return for citizenship in SVG, where Harlequin is developing a luxury resort.
The BBC sent reporters to the Caribbean and later accused Gonsalves of accepting a suitcase of money from Ames in order to receive his citizenship.
Meanwhile, Harlequin has moved out of its offices in Barbados, and the majority of its senior managers have reportedly packed up and left.
In a statement at the time from its British office, Harlequin said it was in the process of restructuring elements of its business.
Fish the Mega Boss Retained Calypso Monarch Crown --- Roxxy
Ten participants including the reigning King Fish "the Mega Boss" took the Bada Bing alleged bribery investigation as their topic for the 2013 NAGICO Calypso Finals held Sunday night at the Festival Village. The idea seemed a bit too monotonous and it appeared as though calypsonians did not look very hard for more pressing issues that are affecting the community or the small man to use as inspiration to send their messages across to the persons they elected to office.
Roxxy (Roxanne Webster) hit home with her second song when she challenged the judges and those involved in the Calypso Finals to be fair when judging and to give the youths and upcoming singers a chance to move up the ladder. Roxxy brought on stage a number of youths to depict how much the youths of the island are left behind while winners are selected based on who they know or what connections they may have with the judges or those in charge of the show.
The ten participants including the reigning King who was defending his title all jumped on the Bada Bing scandal in one way or another. King Beau Beau depicted what was shown on tape involving Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge (Willy Bounce) when he brought a painted white man on stage on a desk with his laptop and gave the now embattled MP a number of fake hundred dollar bills. Even though King Beau placed a lot of effort in depicting corruption, he did not score enough to be one of the winners. He said Patrick Illidge (Willy Bounce) is his friend but he was there to tell the truth. Beau Beau said even though the Bada Bing recordings were done since 2012 it was kept in the dark just in time for carnival so he could sing about it since the I-3 Member of Parliament took the stage last year when he sang his song and vowed to make a change.
Another Member of Parliament that was mimicked Sunday night was MP Romain Laville who is accused of threatening MP Jules James with a gun. A strange performance during the 2013 Calypso Finals were a number of Police Officers (mostly Bavpolers) were used by the calypsonians to get their messages across. These officers were fully dressed in their uniforms.
At the end of the show which lasted until 3am, supporters and onlookers were judging among themselves as they waited for the judges' decision. It was clear that Roxxy's message created a stir among the crowd. Some people said she made their blood boil as she was singing. Her words were clear and the message was based on what has been taking place on St. Maarten for years. Among those that were discussing were veteran singers and culture icons who said that if the judges cheat or crowned someone else as the champion Sunday night it would show favoritism.
Just before 4am the judges delivered their scores and the thoughts of crowd became a reality when Roxxy was declared first runner up. The judges awarded Roxxy with 820 points for her overall performance. She was awarded with a check of $3,500 from the main sponsor NAGICO Insurances and a trophy. The Mighty Brat came in second with 807 points, he received a check of $1,500 and a trophy.