Rooney puts United 10 points clear, Chelsea lose
Wayne Rooney's hot scoring streak continued yesterday as he fired Manchester United 10 points clear in the Premier League title race with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Fulham. Overshadowed by Robin van Persie this season, Rooney showed his predatory instincts after 79 minutes at Craven Cottage when he punished a defensive error to grab an unconvincing win that turned up the heat on Manchester City who play today.
Faltering European champions Chelsea suffered their second late collapse this week, going down 3-2 at Newcastle United having led 2-1 with goals from Frank Lampard and Juan Mata.
Newcastle's new signing Moussa Sissoko equalised and then capped a superb home debut with a last-minute winner to increase the pressure on Chelsea's interim manager Rafa Benitez whose side conceded twice late on in a midweek draw at Reading.
Third-placed Chelsea have won only once in six games in all competitions and alarm bells are ringing about their hopes of sealing a top-four finish that brings a Champions League spot.
With Tottenham Hotspur playing today, Everton had a chance to move above them into fourth but had to fight back for a 3-3 draw at home to struggling Aston Villa, who led 3-1 before Marouane Fellaini's double spared the home side's blushes.
Lukas Podolski scored in the 78th minute to hand Arsenal a 1-0 win against visiting Stoke City, a result that helped the Gunners close in on the Champions League qualification places.
Manchester United have 62 points from 25 games with City, who host Liverpool on today, on 52 and Chelsea on 46.
Spurs, who visit West Bromwich Albion today, have 42 points along with Everton while Arsenal are on 41.
Despite a yawning gap at the top, Rooney said the title was far from being in the bag.
"We're in a good position but we're not getting carried away," he told ESPN. "Let's see where we are with three or four games to go."
BELOW-PAR UNITED
United were not at their best and had an escape in the first half when Fulham's Brian Ruiz hit the inside of the post with a volley, although they carved out plenty of chances and Patrice Evra and Rooney were both denied by the woodwork.
A scrappy second half came to life late on when Fulham defender Philippe Senderos misjudged a high ball and Rooney raced clear to put United in front.
van Persie was needed at the other end to clear a Senderos header off the line as United hung on for their 20th league victory of the season.
"I think it was a really determined performance and it wasn't easy because Fulham played their part. 1-0 doesn't do the game justice," said United manager Alex Ferguson.
Any thoughts of putting some pressure on the Manchester clubs in the title race are long gone for Chelsea who were left reeling after another late horror show.
Benitez said his side should have been awarded a penalty and the hosts reduced to 10 men after striker Demba Ba, signed from Newcastle last month, was left bloodied by a clash with Fabricio Coloccini after trying to turn in a rebound before halftime.
"It was a penalty and a red card," Benitez told Sky Sports, saying Ba, who was replaced by Fernando Torres, had suffered a broken nose in the incident.
"If it had been in the middle of the park it would have been a free kick and maybe a yellow but in the area it's a penalty and red because it was a clear chance."
Worryingly for Chelsea, they appear to be running out of steam and conceding late goals just as the season reaches a critical point in the battle for a top-four finish.
It was the case again yesterday as Sissoko turned the match on its head after Chelsea had seized control.
Jonas Gutierrez gave Newcastle the lead after 41 minutes with a header but Chelsea replied after the break with Lampard's fierce shot and a curler from Mata.
Former Toulouse midfielder Sissoko, one of several French signings for Newcastle during January, tapped in a 68th minute equaliser after Chelsea keeper Petr Cech parried Papiss Cisse's shot.
'PAYING US BACK'
Sissoko then crashed home a 90th-minute winner after a cut-back from Davide Santon.
"I remember watching him for Toulouse 14 months ago, and I thought he was the one for us," Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said.
"We accelerated (the deal) because he was going to come in the summer and he's paying us back handsomely."
David Moyes's Everton seemed to be slipping to only their fourth league defeat of the season after Christian Benteke's double helped Villa into a 3-1 lead at Goodison Park.
However, Fellaini took the game by the scruff of the neck, scoring with a low shot 20 minutes from time and then heading an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time.
At the bottom, a missed penalty by Adel Taarabt cost relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers victory against struggling Norwich City as they drew 0-0 at Loftus Road.
QPR's fourth league draw in a row means they are now six points from safety after Reading beat Sunderland 2-1.
Southampton drew 2-2 at Wigan Athletic, meaning none of the bottom six sides before kickoff lost.
West Ham United beat Swansea City 1-0 thanks to a goal from on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.
Steyn blasts Pakistan out for their lowest Test total
South Africa held a 411-run lead over Pakistan at the close of the second day of the first Test at the Wanderers yesterday with seven second innings wickets still in hand after dismissing the visitors for their lowest Test score of 49. Fast bowler Dale Steyn took six for eight - his best figures at home, as Pakistan were bowled out in 29.1 overs four runs short of their previous worst-innings total.
Graeme Smith then decided he would not enforce the follow-on and at the close his side were 207 for three in their second innings.
Openers Smith and Alviro Peterson (27) raced to 82 before the latter skied an Umar Gul delivery and Mohammed Hafeez completed the catch.
Smith reached his 37th Test 50 before he was caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed two runs later and Jacques Kallis (7) perished trying to force the scoring rate when he was caught in the deep by Asad Shafiq.
Hashim Amla (50 not out) and AB de Villiers (63 not out) then put on 108 runs to take South Africa to the close.
Steyn dismissed Mohammed Hafeez (six) in his first over of the day as the opener got a faint edge that went straight through to de Villiers, one of a joint South African record of six dismissals in the innings for the keeper.
Debutant Nasir Jamshed (2) was trapped in front by Steyn and, although the batsman challenged the decision, the third umpire upheld the dismissal.
Younus Khan (0) lasted just five balls before he pushed forward to a full Steyn delivery and edged to Smith at first slip to leave Pakistan reeling at 12 for three.
Azhar Ali and captain Misbah-ul-Haq took the score to 36 when Azhar (13) fended a vicious bouncer from Kallis to de Villiers.
Misbah (12) became Kallis' second victim in controversial circumstances after Billy Bowden gave a caught-behind decision not out and South Africa reviewed. There appeared to be no evidence of a nick on the hot spot replay but third umpire Steve Davis from Australia chose to overturn the decision.
Asad (1) was next to go as he chased a wide delivery from Vernon Philander and succeeded only in edging to de Villiers. Two balls later and a reckless Gul (0) flayed at another wide delivery off the same bowler, Smith pouching the catch.
By lunch Pakistan had stumbled to 40 for seven and just two balls after the interval Saeed Ajmal (1) became Steyn's fourth victim, this time de Villiers pulling off a wonderful diving catch in front of first slip.
Steyn got his fifth when he induced an edge from Sarfraz (2), before the sorry innings came to a close when Rahat Ali edged to Faf du Plessis in the slips and was out for a duck. Steyn was once again the wicket-taker.
SOUTH AFRICA first innings 253 (J. Kallis 50; Mohammad Hafeez 4-16)
PAKISTAN first innings
M. Hafeez c de Villiers b Steyn 6
N. Jamshed lbw Steyn 2
A. Ali c de Villiers b Kallis 13
Y. Khan c Smith b Steyn 0
Misbah-ul-Haq c de Villiers b Kallis 12
A. Shafiq c de Villiers b Philander 1
S. Ahmed c de Villiers b Steyn 2
U. Gul c de Villiers b Philander 0
S. Ajmal c de Villiers b Steyn 1
J. Khan not out 8
R. Ali c du Plessis b Steyn 0
Extras: (lb-3, w-1) 4
Total: (all out, 29.1 overs) 49
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-12, 3-12, 4-36, 5-37, 6-39, 7-39, 8-40, 9-41.
Bowling: Philander 9-5-16-2, Steyn 8.1-6-8-6, Morkel 6-3-11-0 (w-1), Kallis 6-2-11-2.
SOUTH AFRICA second innings
G. Smith c Ahmed b Gul 52
A. Petersen c Hafeez b Gul 27
H. Amla not out 50
J. Kallis c Shafiq b Ajmal 7
A. de Villiers not out 63
Extras: (lb-4, w-1, nb-3) 8
Total: (for three wickets, 53 overs) 207
Fall of wickets: 1-82, 1-87, 3-99.
Bowling: Umar Gul 9-2-25-2 (w-1), Junaid Khan 11-1-41-0 (nb-3), Rahat Ali 11-1-44-0, Hafeez 3-0-15-0, Ajmal 16-1-59-1, Younus Khan 1-1-0-0.
The TCI awaits Governors response to VAT Repeal
With the elected Government and the Opposition having spoken and voted on the issue of Value Added Tax earlier Friday February 1st 2013, all eyes are on His Excellency the Governor, Ric Todd for his response to the vote to kill off the 2012 VAT Ordinance.
Governor Todd said on Friday evening that he had been informed about the decision of the House of Assembly on the Turks and Caicos Islands Value Added Tax (Repeal) Bill 2013.
He referred us to Section 73 of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011 which sets out the procedure under which a bill becomes law.
He told RTC news he intends to discuss this matter with his colleagues in the Cabinet on Wednesday 6th February 2013.
VAT Repeal in the TCI
The Assembly has voted by 16 votes to two to repeal the Interim Administration’s 2012 Value Added Tax Ordinance following an eight-hour debate in the House today. However, that may not be the end of VAT in the TCI.
Local leaders on Friday have been accused of ‘misleading political theatrics’ by the Governor’s appointed representative in the Assembly, the Honorable Lillian Misick. She says they should know very well that the Ordinance cannot be repealed under the Constitution as it stands without the agreement of the Secretary of State and Governor....acting on behalf the British Government. Here's Chris Jarrett with more on this.
According to research by Radio Turks and Caicos, a Repeal Bill does not become law until the Governor has assented to it - and the Secretary of State has signified Her Majesty’s assent. This assent has to be proclaimed in the Gazette. In layman’s terms, the Governor can refuse to give assent to the repeal of the Ordinance if he regards it to be inconsistent with the Constitution, or inconsistent with the Statement of Governance Principles. The Governor must also decide whether it would affect the integrity or independence of the public service, the administration of justice or any institution protecting good governance. Section ‘f’ of the Constitution Order reads that unless the Governor has been authorized by a Secretary of State he cannot regulate the privileges, immunities or powers of the Assembly or its members. So is Lillian Misick correct? Has today been a moment of history – or has it been just pure theatre?
Join Lynette Thomas on Monday February 4th, 2013 at 7am for a sit down interview with the Speaker of the House, the Honorable Robert Hall.
This is Chris Jarrett reporting for RTC News
House of Assembly on VAT
Moves by the elected Government and the Opposition to vote for the repeal the Interim Administration’s TCI Value Added Tax Ordinance of 2012 have dominated Friday’s meeting of the House of Assembly on Grand Turk.
Both the Premier, the Honorable Dr Rufus Ewing, and the Leader of the Opposition, the Honorable Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, spoke at length against the introduction of VAT on April 1st. The Opposition Leader spoke first and referred to what she described the lack of adequate consultation with the public and the Government’s own advisory bodies during 2011 and 2012.
She appealed for democracy to prevail when it was clear almost the entire country rejected VAT. She accused the British Government of not heeding some its own eminent tax experts in the UK and of ignoring the decision of the Cayman Islands and other Caribbean jurisdictions not to introduce VAT. She suggested the current tax regime could be boosted to provide the necessary revenues required by TCIG to both govern the country and pay off its loan commitments.... assisted for example by the current number of people employed in the VAT Uni
The Premier spoke for three quarters of an hour on the issue of Value Added Tax and made it clear the people of the TCI were screaming ‘No’ to it. The elected Government had consulted widely and were satisfied there were suitable alternatives to its introduction. His Government had no choice in their mandate to the electorate to move for the repeal of the 2012 Ordinance.
The lone voice speaking in favour of the 2012 TCI VAT Bill was the member appointed by the Governor, the Honorable Lillian Missick.
Several other members of the House spoke in the debate – all against the introduction of VAT. One that won resounding applause came from the Deputy Speaker the Honorable Josephine Connolly. She said the elected assembly had the moral and constitutional authority to repeal the VAT Ordinance and called on the Secretary of State in London, the Governor, and the Chief Financial Officer to take a step back on an issue that had damaged the standing of UK representatives in the TCI.
Plant pest surveillance programme begin on Grand Turk and North Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Plant Health Services Unit commenced its Fruit Fly Surveillance Programme in Grand Turk on January 29, 2013. The programme has been initiated to among other things protect the country’s domestic crop production and to provide an early warning system for potential pest infestation.
The programme was first launched in October 2012 on the North Caicos and after several weeks of monitoring, no fruit flies for other harmful pests have been found. The absence of the flies is always a positive for the program and by extension, the country.
Due to increased pest threat levels in the Caribbean Region, the Department of Agriculture with guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recognised the need for a coordinated approach to the management of fruit flies across all islands to protect TCI’s agriculture and other plant resources.
Fruit Flies are known to attack a wide range of fruit and vegetables mangoes, papaya, orange, guava, tomatoes worldwide. They have the potential to negatively impact TCI’s ability to trade in horticultural, fruit and vegetable produce both domestic and international markets.
Fruit fly traps are currently being placed across North Caicos and Grand Turk respectively, to trap for the purpose of identifying fruit flies and other non-target pests that may be present. The Fruit Fly Surveillance Programme will help the TCI to protect economically important crops and plants; establish pest free areas; implement pest management systems on all islands and assist in efforts to re-evaluate and bolster our bio-security measures to prevent harmful invasion of such pests.
Those residents who see the traps, are being asked NOT to interfere with them. Those used so far are McPhail – they come with a Yellow base and clear top; and the Jackson trap which is made of hard cardboard type material and constructed into a triangular shape.
The Department of Agriculture is also urging the public to support the programme by contacting the department if they see maggots on fruits or adult flies on fresh produce. Please call or write to the Department of Agriculture at planthealthservicestci@gmail.com or 649-946-5801 to report your sightings.
Advocates Legal Group attacked Attorney General Huw Shepheard
A group of TCI lawyers calling itself Advocates Legal Group has today attacked Attorney General Huw Shepheard for issuing a warning last week which they claim amounted to intimidation and threats to freedom of speech.
The Attorney General spoke of irresponsible and scurrilous defamatory attacks on the judiciary and respected public servants by anonymous editors of websites - and in some sections of the media. He warned this might lead to prosecution.
The Attorney General’s intervention followed what he claimed were attacks on the Judiciary, the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Public Servants and on the judicial and legal system as a whole. He said it should be born in mind that the Judges could not respond themselves.
Such behaviour - scandalizing the judiciary - carried a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and the possibility of life imprisonment. He added that public officers who disclosed confidential information to websites should know that they could face prosecution for unauthorized disclosure and penalties of up to ten years imprisonment - and a fine of up to $50,000.
The Advocates Legal Group say they feel compelled to respond because they found the warning high handed, vexatious and wreaking of intimidation of the highest order. The Constitution gave a guarantee of freedom of expression.
The threat of 10 years imprisonment was not acceptable when the press published and freely expressed factually-based concerns about what they described were ‘manifest flaws and shortcomings’ in the justice system under the present dispensation. The Attorney General’s threat to imprison by invoking the antiquated concept of contempt by way of scandalizing the court failed to recognize the following: Such a law was now obsolete and employed in England years ago as a means of silencing legitimate criticism of judges – but was no longer used there.
The defamed should sue the publisher but not threaten either lawyers or the press. The Group suggested the Attorney General should be more concerned about compromises in the system of justice, selective prosecution, and the impasse between the Governor and the government over VAT. It should also concern itself with the use of prosecutorial powers to pressure confessions and settlements.
The lawyers’ counter statement has been signed by Mark A Fulford, Noel T Skippings, Arthur Hamilton, Ashwood Forbes, and Courtenay Barnett.
TCI citizens still opposing VAT
People in the TCI opposed to the introduction of Value Added Tax appear to be growing in confidence they will get their way.
The Premier, the Honorable Dr Rufus Ewing, says he’s confident the Government’s Fiscal and Strategic Policy Framework Document will provide a package of tax-raising measures for the financial year 2013/14 that will far exceed income raised by the imposition of Value Added Tax. He said the Government remained committed to the repeal of the Interim Administration’s 2012 TCI Value Added Tax Bill.
He had replied to a letter from the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister Mark Simmonds who remains committed to the introduction of VAT explaining the Government’s position.
Soundings from business experts and leading professionals throughout the TCI had produced sensible alternative measures to VAT and the contents of the Framework Document would be fully debated in Cabinet on Friday said the Premier.
Governor Todd Reflects on locally elected Government
His Excellency Governor Ric Todd has published a statement reflecting from HIS perspective the first three months of locally elected government as the anniversary approaches. Governor Todd chairs the Cabinet and is responsible for ensuring good governance in the TCI. He has written about his experiences since the general election on Friday 9th November.
“I think that the people of the TCI can be satisfied with the progress of democracy and the appointment of a newly elected Government. As a key partner in developing this nation, the British perspective sees many positives in the manner in which Government business has been conducted so far. This provides a good platform for future progress. Many of the members of the House of Assembly and the Cabinet are new to their roles, as indeed are a number of senior public servants, but their desire to serve the people of TCI to the best of their abilities is there for all to see. From my side, I have regular meetings with the Premier and other Ministers and Cabinet meetings are conducted professionally and cordially; I thank my fellow Cabinet members, from the Premier down, for their support in this.”
Arguments that there were somehow two governments operating here were simply confused. The long standing Constitutional arrangement agreed by TCI’s own political and civil leaders as far back as 2006, and refreshed in the TCI Constitution Order 2011, clearly laid out the roles and responsibilities, the checks and balances, that were required to ensure the ongoing good governance of this country.
“I think that many of the challenges to the Constitution, the law, Integrity Commission rules and codes of conduct are either politically motivated or ill-informed as to their contents. Quite simply, the TCI Government and the UK share responsibility for the Territory, with each delivering to their Constitutional responsibilities.
The Governor said that when Britain made the $260m loan guarantee to TCI’s debtors, after the maladministration of the past, it provided multi-million dollar proof of its commitment. The people should not forget TCI’s national debt and where he United Kingdom stood financially only a few years ago when the government was essentially bankrupt.
Whilst the national debt is smaller than at the height of the financial crisis, it is still too large for TCI to sustain after the debt guarantee expires in 2016 and has to be brought down by the Government, therefore, to something more manageable and less expensive to refinance.
Governor Todd went on to address some specific issues that have arisen over the first three months of elected Government. VAT had been one of the bigger issues in the media recently. His regret was that the advantages of VAT had not been as well communicated as they might have been. This perhaps meant that the noise of the well orchestrated and very well privately funded anti-VAT campaign had rather dominated the debate. UK Ministers have consistently made clear that they were open to credible and sustainable alternatives to VAT, and had been awaiting proposals on this for some time.
I have always said that Government should be open, transparent and accountable. But I very much regret that private exchanges of e mails between members of the Cabinet and the content of discussions in Cabinet have been leaked to the media. In one particular case, given false reporting, I am obliged to set out the facts. I informed the Premier privately and then Cabinet on 24 January that I found unacceptable the nomination of an individual to the board of an important Statutory Body because that individual had made a racist insult and threatened violence against a public servant. If anyone thinks that racist abuse and threats of violence against named individuals is an unimportant or petty issue or that those who aspire to elected or public office should make such abuse and threats in public let them say so.
Governor Todd say he was confident all responsible people on TCI, and especially political, social and clergy leaders, would support him when he said that there was no place for personal abuse and insults in that debate. As President Obama noted in his inauguration speech, insults are not debate.
Lance Armstrong: UCI shuts down its independent commission
The independent commission set up by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to investigate the Lance Armstrong doping scandal has been disbanded.
World (Wada) and US anti-doping (Usada) agencies refused to co-operate with it.
The inquiry will now be replaced by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
UCI president Pat McQuaid described the change as "the best way to examine the culture of doping in cycling in the past and to clear the air so that cycling can move forward".
McQuaid added that the commission was being disbanded following talks with Wada president John Fahey.
"Fahey confirmed Wada's willingness to help the UCI establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), as well as saying that Wada had no confidence in the existing independent commission process," added McQuaidHowever, both Wada and Usada had previously said they would not co-operate with the UCI's inquiry, which had led the UCI to conclude that any report would be dismissed as "not being complete or credible".
The independent commission was adjourned last week until 31 January, with Baroness Grey-Thompson telling UCI counsel Ian Mill: "It amazes me that we've had no documents whatsoever."
After announcing its decision to shut down the independent commission, the UCI said the TRC process would launch later this year - and that its report would be published in full.
McQuaid added: "We will now focus our efforts on establishing a TRC with which we expect Wada to be fully engaged, to look at doping in professional cycling, as well as the allegations contained in the Usada reasoned decision.
"The work that has so far been undertaken by the commission will be shared with the TRC."
The UCI had agreed to provide an amnesty for those giving evidence to the independent commission.
Last week, British cycling coach Sir David Brailsford questioned the need for a truth and reconciliation process, saying: "Already I think there is a wealth of information that you can actually start taking action on and putting tangible things in place."