Gaming industry under threat
The gaming industry of the Turks and Caicos Islands is under severe threat. That revelation was made by the Finance Minister Hon C. Washington Missick in response to a question at Thursday’s sitting of the House of Assembly meeting on Government’s policy on gaming licenses regarding casinos attached to a hotel; stand-alone casinos and slot parlors.
Hon. Missick said there are a lot of issues, and the ‘helter-skelter’ way that gaming is taking place in the TCI, is not in the best interest of this country. Ultimately he said a lot of work will have to be done to regularize the industry.
Tourist Board has announced 21st annual kite flying competition for Easter Weekend
The Tourist Board has announced that the 21st annual kite flying competition will be held during Easter Weekend on Providenciales, Grand Turk, North Caicos and South Caicos. On North Caicos, the event will be held at Horse Stable Beach on Saturday, March 30th at 10:00am.
On April 1st, it will take place at the Kid’s Park on Providenciales; at the Local Village on Grand Turk and Regatta Village on South Caicos. All kite flying events will start at 10:00am.
A day of family fun is planned with activities to include an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, bouncing castles, super slides, Island music and tasty local dishes and drinks on sale.
Prizes and trophies will also be awarded for the largest kite, most artistic kite and best traditional kite on each Island.
A kite making workshop will also be presented in conjunction with the National Trust.
For an application or additional information please contact the Tourist Board offices at (649) 946-2321 or (649) 946-4970 or visit the website at www.turksandcaicostourism.com
23 Killed in Bus Accident in Pakistan
A Pakistani official says at least 23 of the country's soldiers were killed in a bus accident in northern Pakistan.
The official says the soldiers were traveling on the bus Saturday when it slid off a road and into a ravine in a mountainous region. Several other people were on board the bus at the time.
The military says the soldiers were on leave going from the Swat Valley to the city of Gilgit.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Egypt Deports 7 Palestinians to Gaza
Egyptian media say seven Palestinians deported by Egyptian authorities have arrived in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinians were detained a few days ago at an airport in Cairo for security reasons, after arriving on a flight from Syria.
After an investigation showed no illegal activity, authorities released the Palestinians and began extradition procedures.
In recent weeks, Egyptian authorities have been destroying smuggling tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border. The tunnels are used to bring fuel, food and construction materials into the territory, and to sneak in weapons and militants.
The Gaza Strip is largely under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
Zimbabwe Polls Close on Constitution Referendum
Polls have closed in Zimbabwe on a referendum for a new constitution that would limit the terms of a president for the first time in the country's history.
The proposed constitution would allow presidents to serve only two five-year terms.
Eighty-nine-year-old President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, both support the draft constitution, so it is expected to be approved. Authorities say they expect the official results of the referendum within five days.
Mr. Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for more than three decades, and even under the new constitution, he could remain on the job another 10 years, if re-elected.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai says the new constitution will provide proper checks and balances in the government.
"This is a new political dispensation. And I hope it is setting a new political culture: from the culture of impunity to the culture of constitutionalism.''
The two men entered into a power-sharing agreement to govern Zimbabwe following deadly violence that marred elections in 2008, but they have remained at odds. Scattered violence has occurred ahead of Saturday's referendum.
The new constitution would clear the way for presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, ending the power-sharing deal and curbing some presidential powers. A new constitution would replace the 1980 blueprint written for the country when Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain.
Trinidad journalist fired for posting “racist” remarks on Facebook
Journalist Darryl Heeralal was dismissed Monday after he posted racist remarks on his Facebook page regarding protest action by residents of a poor neighbourhood following a vehicular accident that left four people dead, including a mother and her two daughters, on Sunday.
Police have identified those killed as 27-year-old Hady Paul, her children eight year old Akasha and seven year old Shakira. One unidentified person later died in hospital.
WIN Communications, which runs a television station here, said that it was “shocked, taken aback and in many ways repulsed by comments” made by the journalist, it described as a freelancer.
“WIN Communications wants to condemn in the strongest possible way such statements. They in no way reflect the views of this company, its management or any of its employees,” the company said in a statement.
According to the Facebook postings attributed to the journalist who said “I make no apologies” there were also calls for citizens to shoot the protestors in the head “and plant cabbage on them”.
Win Communications said that the media are charged with a “very sacred responsibility, one that puts the onus on us to represent the views of all the people.
“That responsibility is even deeper in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, which comprises a mixture of ethnic as well as social groups. Even more than politicians, the Media in Trinidad and Tobago must guard jealously the fundamental values that allow us to transcend racism and divisiveness, and champion the cause of togetherness and national unity.
“WIN Communications believes deeply in those fundamental principles, and we have worked assiduously to safeguard that,” it added.
“It is an affront to every employee in this company, as it is to the country as a whole, to make statements that seek to divide or condemn along lines of race. Even worse in a way that seems to incite violence against any particular race,” the company said, adding that it had held discussions with Heeralal, who “who will no longer be affiliated with Win Communications in any capacity”.
Meanwhile, police said that they had been able to clear sections of the Beetham Highway on Monday after the residents staged a second day of protest following the incident in which a vehicle driven by an off duty police officer crashed into the pedestrians.
On Sunday, police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the angry residents who complained of a cover-up by police and accused the driver of being drunk at the time of the accident.
National Security Minister Austin “JacK” Warner also visited the area on Monday and like the police promised a full investigation into the accident.
Caribbean 360
Haiti's judicial system a concern for Amnesty International
As a judge summons former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier to appear in court on Thursday after defying previous orders, a special advisor with the international human rights group, Amnesty International, is expressing concern about Haiti’s judicial system.
“In Haiti, where the judiciary still suffers from structural deficiencies inherited from the dictatorship years, bringing former President Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier to justice over his alleged responsibility for crimes, such as torture, killings and disappearances during his time in office is proving particularly challenging,” said Javier Zúñiga.
He said the former leader showed contempt for the justice system and victims by failing to appear at two previous hearings for his alleged involvement in those crimes.
Magistrate Jean Joseph Lebrun has since issued a summons for him to appear in court this week to determine whether Duvalier should again face charges for human rights abuses committed during the nearly 15 years of his brutal regime.
Zúñiga said the backdrop to the case “sees Haitian authorities showing little real interest in pressing for Duvalier to be held accountable for his actions”.
He pointed to several public statements in which President Michel Martelly has hinted at pardoning Duvalier and said the former Haitian leader has continued to take part in public events, “despite having being placed under house arrest while charges against him are investigated.
“Just as troubling, Duvalier was recently granted a diplomatic passport, a further sign that other powers of the state are inclined to ensure impunity from prosecution for the former dictator.
“This is despite the fact that there seems sufficient evidence to prosecute Duvalier for widespread arbitrary detentions, torture, deaths in custody, killings and disappearances that took place under his regime,” he added.
Crime Stoppers International to focus on Trafficking in Human Beings at International Conference
The date has been set for the 34th Annual Crime Stoppers International Conference to be held in Barbados.
A number of enforcement aganecies such as such INTERPOL, UN Office of Drugs & Crime (UNODC), UNICEF and others will attend the September 29th – October 2nd 2013 confernc which will be held under the theme Re-inventing for the Future”.
At this event and over the strategically over the next three yers, Cirm Stoppers International will focus on:
1) Corruption, Financial Crimes and the Financing of Terrorism. Issues that will be addressed include Money Laundering, Payment Card Fraud, Bribery, Embezzlement etc. At the Conference we are aiming to sensitize our members of the types of interventions that we wish to embark upon in this area.
2) Crimes Against Children and Trafficking in Human Beings. Issues which will be addressed include; cyber bullying, child sexual abuse and trafficking. In the area of Human Trafficking, it should be noted that the global news agency CNN has already confirmed their attendance and will be delivering a presentation on the Freedom Project. We are currently in discussions with the CNN Freedom Project to determine the role that each individual local Crime Stoppers program can play in helping to end modern day slavery.
3) Intellectual Property (IP) Crimes and Trafficking in Illicit Goods. In this regard, we are partnering with organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL)/INTERPOL to determine the type of interventions that we as Crime Stoppers can undertake.
In addition to the above, delegates will also have the option to attend specialized 3-hour training sessions in the areas of: strategic planning, proposal preparation and project planning, website and social media, investigating intellectual property crimes, and human trafficking sensitization.
Machel escapes jail time!
Machel Montano has been ordered to pay a total of $27,200 in fines and compensation in the assault case which saw victim, Russel Pollanais hospitalized for some time.
The soca ambassador was found guilty on five charges- four of which were for assaulting Zen nightclub patrons Gerard Bowrin, Brandis Browne, Janelle Lee Chee, and Russell Pollonais in April, 2007.
The fifth charge was for Montano’s use of obscene language.
Fellow accused Kernel Roberts- the son of the late Lord Aldwyn ‘Kitchener’ Roberts., was ordered to pay a total of $24,000 in fines and compensation.
Integrity Commission issues Guidance
The Integrity Commission has announced it has prepared and issued guidance notes for registered political parties and candidates taking part in the by-election on the 22nd of March for Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, Electoral District 7. The guidance notes cover donation and expenditure limits permitted during the by-election period and the reporting requirements following the election.
The guidance notes also cover the requirements for notices to be submitted to the Commission by nominated candidates - and the subsequent declarations which will need to be filed by the successful candidate thereafter. The reporting requirements are designed not to place any significant additional burden on the parties or individual candidates. Political parties already have to record daily donation and expenditure information throughout the financial year. The guidance notes have already been sent to the political parties. They are available on the Commission’s page of the government website: www.gov.tc. Hard-copies can also be obtained at the Commissions office in Grand Turk.
Eugene Otuonye QC, Director of the Integrity Commission told RTC News the Commission was conscious of the relatively short timeframe available to the parties. It was with this in mind that it was trying to minimize the burden placed on parties and candidates and also to ensure transparency and consistency in the process.