Bolt thrills in All-Star game
Jamaica's multiple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt pulled off a two-handed dunk and became the biggest track-and-field star to play basketball in prime time at the weekend.
Bolt rubbed shoulders with a list of celebrities and was a star attraction during 29 minutes on court in a celebrity basketball match, a precursor to the NBA All-Star game.
Bolt hit one of five shots missed both of his free throws and totalled just two points in his time on court as his East Team was thrashed 58-38 by the Western Team.
Snagging a high pass with his right hand nearing the end of the first quarter, the 6' 5" sprinter controlled the ball and then rose up for a two-handed slam but denied taking more than two steps to complete the shot.
"I got a little bit of skills. For me it was good and I want to dunk some more," he told a television reporter on court.
"Look at my strides. I took like two steps. That's it. Just two."
The Jamaican sprinter played alongside the likes of comedian Kevin Hart, singer Ne-Yo, rapper Common, actor Nick Cannon, and former NBA great Dikembe Mutombo.
Bolt opened his 2013 season with a rare run at 400 metres and has talked about expanding his programme for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Female trio Brick & Lace disbands
It started as a trio, then morphed to a duo. Now, sister-group Brick & Lace, comprising Nyanda and Nailah Thorbourne, are again in transition.
Nyanda Thorbourne is stepping away to pursue a solo career.
"I am both terrified and excited at the same time," she told the Jamaica Observer from her Florida base.
"After being one half of a group for so long, the time has come for me to find myself as a whole... to stand on my own two feet, and I am feeling the pressure. I try not to think about it too much so I am just concentrating on the music," Thorbourne said.
She spoke candidly about tensions which arose from creative differences and the vision each sister had for the group. But Thorbourne was quick to point out she is not averse to a reunion.
"It was just time. There was always a lot of tension and a wanting to explore and do different things. So we both felt this was something we needed to do at this time," she said.
"There was always the feeling that we had to compromise. If I wanted more of a dancehall feel for a song and she wanted more R&B; if a video should look this way and even on a photo shoot, who preferred which shot and angle," she said.
She stated that their competitive nature may have gotten in the way.
"Sibling rivalry may have become part of it, but the love is still there. I really just wanted to spread my wings, just wanted to fly and couldn't help but feel like there was a brick on my foot holding me down," Thorbourne said.
This led to her to just "breeze out, do me and whatever makes me happy."
'Doing me' includes a cover of Taylor Swift's Trouble, produced by The Chemist of the Black Lion Music Group. She said the song debuted at number 38 on the UK's Music Week Urban chart.
"I am working on more stuff right now including collaborations with deejays Bling Dawg and Assassin (Agent Sasco) as well as tracks produced by The Wizzard. I can't wait to get back to Jamaica and do some stuff. Jamaica gives me the edge I need."
Formed over a decade ago, Brick & Lace initially consisted of Nyanda, Nailah and Tasha Thorbourne. Tasha left the group, but continued as a co-writer.
The sisters recorded an album — Love Is Wicked — for American hip-hop artiste/songwriter Akon on his Kon Live Distribution label in 2007
Source-Jamaica Observer
Longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies at 80
Jerry Buss built a glittering life at the intersection of sports and Hollywood.
After growing up in poverty in Wyoming, he earned success in academia, aerospace and real estate before discovering his favorite vocation when he bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979. While Buss wrote the checks and fostered partnerships with two generations of basketball greats, the Lakers won 10 NBA titles and became a glamorous worldwide brand.
With a scientist's analytical skills, a playboy's flair, a businessman's money-making savvy and a die-hard hoops fan's heart, Buss fashioned the Lakers into a remarkable sports entity. They became a nightly happening, often defined by just one word coined by Buss: Showtime.
"His impact is felt worldwide,'' said Kobe Bryant, who has spent nearly half his life working for Buss.
Buss, who shepherded his NBA team from the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s to the current Bryant era while becoming one of the most important and successful owners in pro sports, died Monday. He was 80.
"Think about the impact that he's had on the game and the decisions he's made, and the brand of basketball he brought here with Showtime and the impact that had on the sport as a whole,'' Bryant said a few days ago. "Those vibrations were felt to a kid all the way in Italy who was 6 years old, before basketball was even global.''
[NBA world reacts to Buss' death]
Under Buss' leadership, the Lakers became Southern California's most beloved sports franchise and a worldwide extension of Los Angeles glamour. Buss acquired, nurtured and befriended a staggering array of talented players and basketball minds during his Hall of Fame tenure, from Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard.
Few owners in sports history can approach Buss' accomplishments with the Lakers, who made the NBA finals 16 times during his nearly 34 years in charge, winning 10 titles between 1980 and 2010. Whatever the Lakers did under Buss' watch, they did it big - with marquee players, eye-popping style and a relentless pursuit of success.
"His incredible commitment and desire to build a championship-caliber team that could sustain success over a long period of time has been unmatched,'' said Jerry West, Buss' longtime general manager and now a consultant with the Golden State Warriors. "With all of his achievements, Jerry was without a doubt one of the most humble men I've ever been around. His vision was second to none; he wanted an NBA franchise brand that represented the very best and went to every extreme to accomplish his goals.''
First Hip Replacement in TCI
Supporters of Medical Tourism as a potential revenue earner for the TCI are celebrating the first total hip replacement operations, using ground-breaking technology, at the Cheshire Hall Medical Facility last week. The operation was performed by a team of experts flown in from the USA on five overseas patients. While here for five days, the team also performed seven knee replacement operations on local TCI patients.
Medical Tourism is an untapped Market for most countries in the region, but for the Turks & Caicos Islands it has started to become a reality - with the TCI adding another first to its list. The first total hip replacement, using new technology, was performed here last week – and some might argue it was another milestone towards turning medical tourism into a profitable reality. This is something that is known to be dear to the heart of Premier the Honorable Doctor Rufus Ewing. What’s going on in the background is that Inter-Health Canada is working closely with a global healthcare and health services brokerage firm called Global MedChoices. Their team of surgeons and staff from Chicago stayed here for five days. It was led by Dr. James MacKenzie from Calgary who performed the first of the five hip replacements on people from overseas. The GMC team went on to perform a further 7 knee replacements for local TCI patients. Several local medical technicians made up the surgical team. The triumph of this landmark project for Inter-Health Canada was heightened because ground-breaking BHR Re-surfacing hip technology was used for the first time in the West Indies region. This technology tends to be used on patients who are young and active. The hip joint is like a ball and socket, and instead of removing the femoral head, as in traditional hip replacements, the ball is "shaved" with a series of bone cuts and capped with a metal implant. Richard Boddington, the chief operating officer with GMC said his surgeons had marveled at the state of the art facilities at Cheshire Hall. It’s hoped a pattern will now emerge where medical teams can be flown in and out from the USA for operations – while the patient remains here for post-operative treatment at Cheshire Hall staying when necessary at local resorts. Since June of last year nine residents have received total knee replacements.
TCI Police & Ministry of Border Control issues statement on Sloop
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A 28 foot Haitian sloop was detected at approximately 11:04 hours on Saturday February 16th, 2013 in the vicinity of French Cay. The vessel was located and intercepted by officers of the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force – Marine Branch.
The Haitian sloop was towed to the South Dock port by the Marine Branch and arrived at approximately 5pm. There were 57 individuals on board when intercepted consisting of (50) fifty males and (7) seven females, no children was on board. Officials from the Police, Border Control, and other Government and Non-Governmental agencies were on hand to assist with the processing of these individuals. The individuals were transported to the Detention Center for further processing and detention. There were no health or welfare issues. Repatriation of these persons to their homeland commenced today, Monday February 18, 2013.
Commendation is extended to all responders and agencies for their hard work and commitment to duty.
The communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands are encouraged to contact law enforcement with any information concerning the whereabouts of any illegal migrants or on pending sloop arrivals. The Police can be contacted anonymously on 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.
AIRPORTS AUTHORITY LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE FOR PROVIDENCIALES AIRPORT
Injured Nadal draws inspiration from Ronaldo
Rafael Nadal is drawing inspiration from the Brazilian soccer great Ronaldo as he returns from an injury.
With Ronaldo watching, Nadal won the Brazil Open on Sunday for his first title after a seven-month layoff caused by treatment of his left knee. Nadal said Ronaldo is "an example" to be followed because of his determination to rebound from a series of career-threatening knee injuries.
Despite winning again, the Spaniard is still bothered by his knee and said he is far from fully recovered, although he hopes the victory will mark a new beginning in his career.
"Ronaldo is an example to a lot of people because of all that he was able to achieve despite what he had to go through with all the knee problems in his career," Nadal said. "He is definitely an example to me. He's an example of determination and hard work."
Ronaldo overcame three serious knee operations. The former Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan forward won two World Cups with Brazil and holds the tournament's career scoring record with 15 goals.
"He was unstoppable, one of the best players of all time despite all the bad luck he had with the knee," Nadal said.
The Spaniard was out of action since last year because a torn and inflamed tendon in his knee, an injury he says is improving.
"I didn't have so many problems, I never needed the surgeries," Nadal said. "But I can imagine how hard it must have been for Ronaldo with the complicated surgeries that he had to go through."
Nadal beat former world No. 3 David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-2, 6-3 to win his 51st title and first since beating Novak Djokovic last June for his seventh French Open championship.
The Brazil Open was Nadal's second tournament since his return. He played at the VTR Open in Chile the week before, losing the singles and doubles final. The final in Brazil was only his eighth singles match since the comeback.
Nadal looked far from his best in his first two tournaments and said that the knee injury still limited him physically.
"There are days that the knee still hurts and it's very complicated," he said. "I need some time to keep improving and become more competitive again. Let's see how it goes."
The 11-time Grand Slam champion admitted the level of the competition in Brazil was not as high as in other tournaments.
Nadal will play another clay-court tournament in Mexico this month and hopes to be fully fit by the French Open. He hopes to play at Indian Wells, Calif., next month but hasn't made a decision.
"We are thinking day to day, week to week," the 26-year-old said. "We'll see how I feel before making a decision on where I'll be playing in the near future, it will depend on how the knee improves."
Girlfriend's mom: Why did he do this?
The family of Oscar Pistorius' slain girlfriend wants answers, her mother told a Johannesburg newspaper as the country waited to hear for the first time why prosecutors believe the iconic athlete murdered Reeva Steenkamp by shooting her multiple times on Valentine's Day morning.
June Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's mother, told the Times in a front page interview: "Why? Why my little girl? Why did this happen? Why did he do this?"
"Just like that she is gone," the paper quoted her as saying in what it described as an emotional telephone interview. "In the blink of an eye and a single breath, the most beautiful person who ever lived is no longer here."
Pistorius, who remains in custody in a red-brick, one-story police station in Pretoria, is set to return to court Tuesday for the start of his bail hearing. That hearing will be the first opportunity for the prosecution to describe evidence police gathered against the 26-year-old double-amputee runner and the reasons why he was charged with murder.
Pistorius' family denies he committed murder though has not addressed whether he shot her. When word first emerged about the killing there was speculation in the local media that Steenkamp had been mistaken for an intruder in Pistorius' home.
Steenkamp's funeral will also be held Tuesday in her hometown of Port Elizabeth on South Africa's southern coast, her family said. It would be a private ceremony at a local crematorium, closed to the public and media.
Steenkamp, a blonde model, law graduate and reality TV contestant, died last week of multiple gunshot wounds inside Pistorius' upscale house in a gated community in the eastern suburbs of the capital, Pretoria.
Police said they arrived in the predawn hours of Thursday to find paramedics trying to revive Steenkamp. Police said she had been shot four times. A 9 mm pistol was recovered from the scene and Pistorius was arrested and charged with murder the same day.
"All we have is this horrendous death to deal with ... to get to grips with. All we want are answers ... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this," June Steenkamp said in the Times.
Prosecutors said in Pistorius' first court appearance Friday that they would pursue a more serious pre-mediated murder charge against the Olympian and world's most high-profile disabled athlete.
In a statement initially given only to The Associated Press and two South African reporters over the weekend, Arnold Pistorius, Oscar's uncle, said the prosecution's own case would show there was no murder.
"We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation," Pistorius' uncle said, "and that the state's own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all."
The bail hearing, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will be the first time both the prosecutors and defense will show their hands about the evidence involved in the killing, said Stephen Tuson, an adjunct law professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
"There will kind of be a little trial within a trial," Tuson said.
Due to the gravity of the charges, Pistorius' defense lawyers will present their case first, trying to argue that their client is not a danger to the public and won't try to flee to avoid trial, Tuson said. They'll also have to show that he won't try to intimidate witnesses, nor pose a risk of sparking public unrest, the professor said.
The defense does have the opportunity to put Pistorius - who broke down and wept in his first appearance in court - on the stand to offer testimony on his own behalf. That likely won't happen, as prosecutors would then be allowed to ask him potentially incriminating questions, Tuson said.
Typically, defense lawyers read a prepared statement in court instead.
From there, prosecutors will offer their own version of events, likely bolstered by testimony from the lead investigator in the killing, Tuson said.
Pistorius has been in custody in Brooklyn police station in Pretoria.
His agent told the AP that there is no way to predict if he will ever run track again.
"For me it's too early to comment," Peet Van Zyl said. "I think it's still a huge shock and tragedy that took the world by surprise so I can't comment on that one (Pistorius' future career) or give any timeline to that at this point in time."
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Caribbean leaders, U.S. attorney general to meet in Haiti
When Jamaican officials snubbed a group of young Haitian soccer players who visited two years ago on the heels of a deadly cholera outbreak in their quake-torn homeland, a revolted Marguerite Rigaud immediately went into action.
In a matter of days, the Pétionville restaurateur had thousands of Haitians marching through the streets of Port-au-Prince protesting the boys’ mistreatment by a fellow Caribbean nation.
“I couldn’t believe that another black nation would do this to a sister nation. I found it revolting,” Rigaud said.
The rare demonstration of Haitian unity illustrated the disconnect that exists between Haiti and its Caribbean neighbors.
This divide, which goes beyond language and history, has made Haiti an outsider in the 15-member Caribbean Community regional bloc known as Caricom. But there will be an opportunity to mend fences when Caricom meets for the first time in Haiti on Monday and Tuesday.
As chairman of Caricom for a six-month term, Haitian President Michel Martelly will host Caribbean leaders as well as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for a round of talks on crime and security, regional trade and other matters.
“What this will do is push Haiti further into Caricom,” said Ambassador Earl Huntley, head of the Caricom office in Haiti.
But Rigaud isn’t so sure. “I personally don’t see the benefits of Haiti being in Caricom,” she said. “There is a big hypocrisy there. We in Haiti are 10 million people and we are an important market for them. But no matter where we go, we are badly received; we need to have a visa.”
The two-day gathering comes as Martelly attempts to raise his unlucky nation’s profile on the international stage, and Caribbean observers debate the future of the bloc as it prepares to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its formation in July.
But it has been an uphill battle for Haiti to feel like a full-fledged member of Caricom, which is comprised mostly of English-speaking former British colonies.
With the exception of the Bahamas, no Caricom country has an embassy in Haiti, and only Turks and Caicos, an associate member, has regularly scheduled flights here.
Meanwhile, Caricom’s biggest priority — allowing for the free movement of goods, services and skilled labors throughout its member states — doesn’t fully extend to Haiti. There are still restrictions on the movement of Haitian nationals.
“In assuming the chairmanship of Caricom, the Haitian government wants to show its willingness to integrate,” said Duly Brutus, Haiti’s ambassador to Caricom and the Organization of American States.
In its quest to strengthen political, economic and diplomatic relations with fellow Caribbean nations, Haiti will be pushing several issues, Brutus said. Among them: identifying possible commercial exchanges with Caricom countries to boost trade.
The body’s clout with trade matters was apparent Sunday when the foreign ministers met with the international candidates vying for the director’s general job with the World Trade Organization after they flew in to lobby Caricom’s support.
Meanwhile, merchants who usually line sidewalks were nowhere to be found on Sunday, and the route to their hotels was lined with flags of the Caricom countries.
At the Karibe hotel, where the summit will take place, artisans were setting up an exhibit of their work, and at Oasis, presidential security was making final arrangements for a state dinner on the final night, sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.
Haiti also hopes to benefit from the Caribbean’s tourism expertise as it seeks to reclaim its place as a leading tourism destination in the region.
“It should be remembered that during the 1950s and 1960s,” Brutus said, “Haiti was the second tourist destination in the region after Cuba.”
But for the region as a whole, regional transportation and trade, as well as crime and security, are expected to top the agenda. Holder will discuss the latter, which had become a vexing problem for many island economies, as they experience unprecedented hikes in violent crime.
Other issues expected to be raised include immigration. Both the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos have been besieged by illegal Haitian migration.
“From the perspective of the Turks and Caicos, it’s really more about our capacity to absorb some Haitian nationals,” said Premier Rufus Ewing, whose British-dependent territory is among the bloc’s five associate members.
“They represent a significant portion of our workforce, our most ready and economic source of labor,” Ewing said. “But we want to address our immigration policies, controlling illegal immigration and the recruitment of skilled laborers.”
Albert Ramdin, OAS assistant secretary general whose native Suriname is also a member of Caricom, said Martelly’s chairmanship represents an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Haiti and other Caricom members.
Martelly has asked Caricom to adopt French as an official language. A report on the costs of adding French and Dutch, spoken in Suriname, will be presented.
Haiti, Ramdin said, should seize the opportunity to not just “synthesize, but convince Caricom leaders of what role Haiti can play in the Caribbean.”
While Caricom leaders have long paid homage to Haiti’s slave revolt, which resulted in Haiti becoming the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere, many observers have questioned the extent of leaders’ commitment to the country.
“I accept that Caricom as a relatively poor region, cannot provide the financial assistance that developed countries can but it should have done, and be doing, much more in terms of scholarships, diplomatic support in international organizations,” said Reginald Dumas, a former Trinidad and Tobago ambassador who served as U.N. special advisor to Haiti.
For Daly Valet, editor of Haiti’s Le Matin newspaper, it’s a matter of finding a mutually beneficial relationship.
“We need Caricom and Caricom needs us more. I don’t really think our Caribbean neighbors get that,” he said. “The sun will rise again in, and for Haiti.”
Source-Miami Herald
Chavez back in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned home to Venezuela early Monday after more than two months of medical treatment in Cuba following cancer surgery.
Chavez's return was announced in a series of message on his Twitter account, saying "we will continue our treatment here."
"We've arrived once again in our Venezuelan homeland. Thank you, my God!!" the first of the three messages said. They were the first messages to appear on Chavez's Twitter account since Nov. 1.
"I'm clinging to Christ and trusting in my doctors and nurses," Chavez said in another tweet. "Onward toward victory always!! We will live and we will triumph!!"
Vice President Nicolas Maduro said on television that Chavez at arrived at 2:30 a.m. and was taken to the Carlos Arvelo Military Hospital in Caracas, where he will continue his treatment.
Chavez also thanked Fidel and Raul Castro, who have overseen his treatment in Cuba, and thanked his country's people "for so much love."
Chavez's return to Caracas came less than three days after the government released the first photos of the president in more than two months, showing images of him smiling alongside his daughters. The government didn't release any images of Chavez upon his arrival in Caracas.