Lima's first woman mayor Villaran 'survives recall vote'
The first woman mayor of Peru's capital Lima, Susana Villaran, has narrowly survived a vote to depose her from office, exit polls suggest.
They indicate that Ms Villaran was backed by about 52% of voters.
The campaign to recall her was backed by the conservative opposition who accused her of being inefficient - a claim denied by Ms Villaran.
In 2010 she also became the first left-wing politician to be elected as mayor of the capital.
About six million people were eligible to cast their ballots in Sunday's vote.
The electoral commission has promised to announce the official results on Monday.
After her victory three years ago, Ms Villaran, a human rights activist, promised to tackle corruption in Lima, which is home to a third of Peruvians.
Ms Villaran's supporters have accused the country's business elite and powerful conservative politicians of trying to oust her because of her progressive social policies.
Greek footballer banned for Nazi salute
A Greek footballer has been banned for life from playing for the national team after making a Nazi salute.
AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis, 20, made the gesture to celebrate his winning goal during a Saturday match.
The Greek football federation called it "a severe provocation" that insulted "all the victims of Nazi bestiality".
Katidis denied he gave a Nazi salute. "I am not a fascist and would not have done it if I had known what it meant," Katidis said on his Twitter account.
The player - a former captain of Greece's under-19 team - was fiercely criticised on social media for the salute after scoring the winner in AEK's 2-1 victory over Veria in the Olympic stadium on Saturday.
He insisted he was simply pointing at a team mate in the stands.
The club have asked him to explain himself at a board meeting next week.
But AEK's German coach Ewald Lienen has backed Katidis.
"He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He most likely saw such a salute on the internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means," he said, according to Reuters news agency.
The Supervisor of Elections has announced that By-Election is set for March 22
The Supervisor of Elections Dudley Lewis has aannounced that based on the ruling of the Supreme Court in the matter between the Attorney General and Ms. Amanda Anisha Missick; and considering the withdrawal of the challenge against Amanda Missick brought by Oral Selver and the withdrawal of the challenge against Oral Selver brought by Althea Ewing Williams; there will be a By-Election in the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill 7th Electoral District 7 as planned on March 22, 2013.
Therefore, both Candidates Mr. Oral Isaac Selver representing the People's Democratic Party (PDM) and Ms. Amanda A. Misick, representing the Progressive National Party (PNP) are eligible for the by-election.
Mr. Lewis has also cautioned the public against the publishing of false information about the withdrawal of any candidate. Under section 75(1)(b) of the Elections Ordinance, it is an offense to publish false information against any candidate in an effort to win votes for another.
Section 75 (1)(b) states that every person who before, or during an election, knowingly publishes a false statement of the withdrawal of a candidate at such election for the purpose of promoting or procuring the election of another candidate, shall be guilty of an illegal practice and shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine of $2,000 and be incapable during a period of five years from the date of conviction, of being registered as a voter or of voting at an election.
Queen's Counsel Ariel Misick secured victory in Emerald Cay case
Queen's Counsel Ariel Misick secured the victory in the Emerald Cay case against TCI Attorney General Huw Shepheard, the Civil Recovery Unit and the Registrar of Lands.
British law Lords have dismissed an appeal that was brought by TCI Attorney General Huw Shepheard, the Civil Recovery Unit and the Registrar of Lands over the recovery of unpaid stamp duty and penalties in relation to the sale of the private island of Emerald Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Turks and Caicos Islands Queen's Counsel ArieMisick secured the victory at the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on Wednesday.
The Council, the highest court in the land, overruled several earlier judgments in hearings devoted to the same case. The latest appeal was heard before Lords Hope, Kerr, Reed and Carn-wath and Sir John Chad-wick, who delivered the judgment.
The Privy Council found that the Registrar of Lands operated outside of the law in dealing with the stamp duty issue surrounding Emerald Cay.
Once owned by American billionaire Tim Blixseth, Emerald Cay is located off Silly Creek and Chalk Sound, on the island of Providenciales.
NEW CHAIRMAN AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR NHIP
With the Vision of ensuring that the National Health Insurance Plan is feasible and workable in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Executive Drexwell Seymour has accepted the appointment of Chairman of National Health Insurance Board.
The appointment made by the Minister of Finance is for three years.
Mr.Seymour General Manager of LIME will be joined by Deputy Chairman Mr.Clayton Been.
The National Health Insurance Plan was established in 2009 in the Turks and Caicos Islands with its goal to facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable and quality health care services to all its beneficiaries as specified in the ordinance.
Mr. Seymour said his vision is to ensure that the National Health Insurance Plan is feasible and workable for its clients.
Here’s Damian Wilson with more.
“Mr. Seymour said he does not want to see any increase in rates, but rather find ways and means to reduce the health care expenditure.
Since the construction of the 2 hospitals and the implementation of NHIB, the country has seen a significant decrease in overseas treatment abroad.
“I would like to continue to work with the Board to ensure we can further reduce this cost by utilizing the regional providers and to encourage more treatment locally,” Mr. Seymour added.
The newly appointed chairman said he wants to ensure that the vision of the TCIG government is implemented; that vision he said,
includes the plan of extending benefits to persons who are unemployed, but registered at the Labor Office.
“The NHIP is a great plan for the TCI but it is important that we promote and increase the awareness of this Plan.
The public will be more informed and much focus will be on Educating the public on the services and benefits provided. “There are a number of success stories that need to be made public and much misunderstanding about NHIP.
One which is NHIP and Inter-Health Canada are separate entities, Mr. Seymour said.”
He said there are individuals who include the cost of InterHealth Canada as a cost of NHIP; this he said is totally misleading. A certified public accountant Mr. Seymour believes that his appointment by the Minister was based on his back ground in accounting. Mr. Seymour worked at both KPMG and Price Waterhouse, locally and in Canada. He has also served on other boards such as TCI Invest and National Insurance Board.
Mr. Seymour has as his Deputy former manager of Inward Investment with TCInvest, Mr. Clayton Been.
Mr. Been is a senior executive with over two and half decades of corporate and operational management experience in economic development and corporate restructuring. He is an Innovative leader and motivator with sound convictions, values, morals and business ethics.
Other members of the NHIP Board are Mr. Wilbur Caley who was acting chairman from the time the first chairman Mr. John Smith resigned ; Dr.Sam Slattery, Madeline Mills, Beverly Williams, the three are original board members. Also on the Board are Representatives from InterHealth Canada and the National Insurance Board. Ex officio members include the Permanent Secretaries of Health and Finance; and the Chief Medical Officer.
This is Damian Wilson for RTC News.
Stomach Bug affects Grand Turk
The stomach Virus that has made many people ill in Grand Turk has still not been specifically identified.
The stomach virus that has made many people ill over the past two weeks in Grand Turk, has still not been specifically identified according to the Premier and Minister responsible for health, the Honourable Dr. Rufus Ewing this afternoon. But, he says that laboratory tests are still continuing to try to identify the exact type of virus it is.
It is still not known whether the virus originated from the water supply at MargaritaVille at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, or whether it arrived onboard one of the cruise ships that came to Grand Turk earlier this month.
Dr. Ewing said that of this moment there is only one person on Grand Turk suffering seriously from the diarrhea and sickness bug.
Premier Ewing on Hague
Premier the Honorable Dr. Rufus Ewing hit back in the Assembly Thursday at critical comments made about him by Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague in a letter made public on Wednesday.
Mr. Hague accused the Premier of misleading both the TCI and Caribbean leaders at the CARICOM Conference last month about Britain’s policy and intentions in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Premier told the House it never ceases to amaze him how the people of the TCI were constantly reminded about the allegations of corruption by the last PNP Administration and reminded at specific and opportune times.
Here’s Dale LeVack with more.
The Premier cited two examples - the press release by the Governor one day before the November General elections and secondly the press statement by the Secretary of State one day before the General Elections, reminding the people of this country about the corruption of the past PNP Administration.
On Wednesday another expected, (but coincidental in its timing) letter by the Secretary of State, reminded the people that the previous PNP Government left behind a chaotic situation, including (through incompetence, abuse of power and corruption), rapidly deteriorating public
finances. He said there were many people in the TCI who were currently being accused of engaging in corruption. Despite the many allegations, he said they should be considered innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
Premier Ewing went on to say that any system in which high officials of Government, such as the Secretary of State and the Governor could prejudice the minds of Judges as to one’s guilt or innocence, is a potentially unfair system. Any system where people who ought to be politically neutral, intentionally or strategically make statements as facts that might influence the judiciary or electorate, is indeed corrupt.
He was using the power of his office to respond to the Secretary of State so as to expose the corruption that was taking place in the name of Good Governance.
This is Dale LeVack for RTC News.
The Ministry of Border Control and Labour confirmed that 16 Cuban detainees have absconded
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The Ministry of Border Control and Labour confirmed tonight that 16 Cuban migrants who were caught illegally entering the TCI on October 2nd last year - and released by a judge on bail - have absconded.
Apparently, they travelled to Miami over the past weekend.
The Ministry says details surrounding their escape from Providenciales are sketchy and are being investigated by the Police, Immigration and Customs Departments and other relevant agencies.
Here’s Chris Jarrett with more.
“Due to the sensitive nature of this incident, TCIG says it must ensure that the outcome of this investigation is not jeopardized. The Ministry has pledged, however, that the public will be kept informed.
Unclassified information that has not yet been reported will be released when it becomes available.
TCIG says border agencies will continue to protect the country’s borders.
It is asking for patience, understanding and cooperation from the public.
Individuals who have information and by so doing bring the investigation to a speedy conclusion, are encouraged to contact the Police or the Immigration Department.
The Ministry has told RTC that five Cuban nationals who did not seek release through the court remain in detention at the Five Cays Detention Center and are awaiting feedback from their asylum application.”
This is Chris Jarrett reporting for RTC News.
Cabinet wants to broaden accommodation tax to other services
The Cabinet has been looking closely at raising more money this year through taxation following the deferment of Value Added Tax -and has started by targeting the housing, hotel and tourism sector.
His Excellency Governor Ric Todd chaired Wednesday’s meeting held at the NJS Francis Building on Grand Turk where the members discussed proposed changes to taxation legislation. These involve amendments on stamp duty rates and an increase in accommodation tax from 11% to 12%.
The Cabinet also wants to broaden accommodation tax to other services and plug a loophole in the Hotel and Restaurant Taxation Ordinance on the definition of premises for board and lodging. The Cabinet is drafting legislation for new stamp duty rates and hiking accommodation tax to 12
per cent to become law on July 1st this year.
Cabinet made it clear it requires key elements of the draft Financial Strategy and Policy Statement to be completed and agreed that further work should be done as quickly as possible to finalize the FSPS.
Given the approaching end of the Financial Year, Cabinet agreed to an additional meeting next week Wednesday, 20th March.
Here’s Damian Wilson with details of the rest of the Cabinet business.
The Cabinet agreed to put to the House of Assembly a minor technical change in terms used in the legislation relating to money laundering. It will also support the Governor in approving inter-related legislation on companies and the proceeds of crime and regulations concerning Anti Money Laundering - and Prevention of Terrorist Funding,
non-profit organizations and companies fees. Cabinet also gave the go-ahead to approve two contracts on fencing and well drilling for the building of Grand Turk’s a new reverse osmosis plant on Grand Turk. The Cabinet discussed a paper on the Medium Term Outlook of the Port Authority. It underlined the role of ports in the development of TCI; looked to the new Port Authority Board to play a key role in this; and agreed the importance of drawing up a strategic plan for the development of ports on TCI. Cabinet further agreed to recommend to the Governor that he appoint Ms Denika Been as Secretary of the Port Authority Board. The Cabinet confirmed its commitment to the creation of a strong and effective Exchange of Information Unit in the Ministry of Finance and agreed that the appropriate level of resources for the Unit would be agreed in the budget round.
This is Damian Wilson for RTC News.
Premier’s World Kidney Day Message 2013
Leading doctors and campaigners all across the world today called for action to address acute kidney injury (AKI), as new estimates show that death rates from AKI, are over 100 times than those caused by MRSA, one of the best known super bugs.
Figures compiled by the Kidney Alliance for World Kidney Day, estimate that 2011/12, death rates from AKI were between 62,000 and 210,000 compared to MRSA, which caused 364 deaths in 2011, a number which had fallen by a quarter from the previous year.
The Premier and Minister of Health and Human Services Honourable Dr. Rufus Ewing, this morning brought greetings on the occasion of World Kidney Day 2013 under the theme: Acute Kidney Injury - “Stop Kidney Attack!”