AG on Michael Misick being high flight risk
Attorney General Huw Shepheard told the public today that former premier Michael Misick was regarded by the Brazilian Government as a high flight risk. He was responding to an open letter written by the former premier from his Brazilian prison cell - pleading for the extradition proceedings against him to be dropped. He wants to return immediately to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr Misick says he has repeatedly stated his willingness to return. He has dismissed suggestions that, if freed from extradition proceedings, he might abscond. He says he has given his word of honor to the people of the TCI that he can be trusted to return. Here’s ------ with more on this story.
REPORTER: Attorney General Huw Shepheard points out that Mr Misick is the subject of an extradition request made in accordance with the relevant Treaty in place between the UK and Brazil. He was held in accordance with the terms of this Treaty, under a provisional arrest warrant. Supporting documentation would be provided by the TCI authorities within the required 60 days from arrest. Then the Brazilian Courts and authorities would make their decision.
This legal process in Brazil must now be followed. That Mr Misick is being held in prison until the process is completed is a matter for the Brazilian authorities. Mr Misick will also have the opportunity to influence the time the process takes, by deciding whether to contest the extradition and/or deciding whether to pursue his political asylum appeal, or not. Previous to his arrest in Brazil, Mr Misick had a over a year long window of opportunity to return to the Turks and Caicos to face questions. Unfortunately, despite assurances that he would return to TCI, he clearly never arrived. His continued non-appearance and reluctance to come willingly is why an Interpol Red Notice was finally sought and granted.
Mr Shepheard added that when Mr Misick visited the TCI, usually by private plane, after his resignation as Premier he was free to do so. It appeared he only stopped coming when he knew his arrest was actively sought. The fact that the Brazilian authorities had retained Mr Misick in custody reflected the view that Mr Misick was a high flight risk. The British Consulate-General in Rio De Janeiro was providing consular assistance to Mr Misick which included visits to check on his welfare. He had a prisoner support pack which provided useful advice on rights, expectations, and who to turn to for support. The Attorney-General said Mr Misick was receiving the same level of consular support available to all British citizens detained in a Brazilian prison. Consular officers had also explained to close family members how to apply for a prison visit pass from the Brazilian authorities in order to visit Mr Misick. He ended by saying that the former premier’s current situation was clearly complex and there were many decisions yet to be made by him and the Brazilian authorities that would affect how long it took to conclude. It was, said the Attorney General, in everyone interests that the legal processes were properly followed at all times.
This is Damon Bovie & Chris Jarrett reporting for RTC News.
Hon. Akierra Missick host Parent Teacher Association meeting in Provo
The Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture the Honorable Akierra Missick hosted a Parent Teacher Association meeting for all public schools on Providenciales to address concerns relating to the safety of students. The meeting was held at the Gustavus Lightbourne Complex on January 11th.
Minister Missick addressed concerns arising out of the recent incident at Clement Howell High School as well as some of the measures that will be put in place to tackle school safety issues. She said there was now a ‘zero tolerance policy’ in place. The school was an environment of learning, rules and regulations. The life of the many would not be threatened by a few. She referred to section 34 of the Education Ordinance which provided for the “disciplining of students who continually break the rules”.
Minister Missick noted that among government’s priority was the establishment of a new educational facility that will address the needs of pupils who could no longer be accommodated in the school system due to gross misconduct. The Minister noted that government was fully aware of its responsibility to ensure that access to learning continued for all school aged children - but that this could be in various types of institutions.
The message was reinforced by the police who were close partners with the school. They will post a community liaison officer at the school for the rest of the school term, while other measures are put in place. The police called upon parents and the community to report any behavior that would seem potentially dangerous. Several other measures were announced as department officials informed parents that the schools will be adhering to a strict time for clearing the school compound on afternoons, to avoid loitering and parents will be called upon to play a more active part at school in ensuring that their children are picked up on time.
Minister Missick also reiterated the TCIG’s commitment to making the school environment a safe and healthy one for children and called on members of the schools’ communities to do their part in making it a reality.
Holocaust survivor visits TCI
An opportunity to hear a first-hand account of what it was like to be a Jewish slave in Hitler’s evil Nazi Third Reich from a Holocaust survivor will be presented to the public in Providenciales on Thursday evening February 7th. Rena Finder, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, will share memories of her time in Oskar Schindler's factory, one of the most compelling times in history. It will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Brayton Hall. The evening is free and open to the public with a screening of the award-winning filmSchindler’s List from 2pm till 5:15pm followed by Finder’s moving talk. Seating begins at 6 p.m.
The program is a project of the Provo Jewish Community and its sponsors including: Fortis TCI, Beaches, Amanyara, Butterfield Gold, Grace Bay Car Rental, Gansevoort and Parrot Cay. The Provo Jewish Community is partnering with the Ministry of Education to ensure high school students would not only be a part of this important moment, but to also become better acquainted with one of the more tragic stories in history said Rabbi Sholom Bluming. Mrs. Finder will talk separately for the High Schools on Wednesday the 6th of February. Rena Finder was 10 years old when she and her family were captured by Nazis.
As one of the remaining survivors of the Holocaust, she will share what it felt like as she watched her family torn apart by hate and ignorance. What it was like to lose her father, to be tortured – along with her mother - for nearly a year and then to be rescued by a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler whose bravery inspired the 7-time Academy Award-winning Steven Spielberg film Schindler's List. In a recent interview, Rena Finder had this to say:
We as a people have not learned. The biggest crime is not so much hate but indifference. Every single one of us has the power to participate, the power to help another person, the power to intervene when we see an injustice done.
This is the first time Rena Finder will tell her inspiring story of survival in The Turks and Caicos Islands.
Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands conference hold referendum on gambling
The 201st Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands conference of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas is intending to hold a referendum expressing its strong opposition to all forms of gambling on January 28th. The Conference Organizers say gambling is a subject of tremendous concern to all citizens of the Bahamas. In a statement today the Ministerial and Lay Delegates at the annual session reiterate their strong and uncompromising opposition to gambling in all its forms.
The Ministerial and Lay Delegates give the reasons for taking their principled stand against gambling. Firstly they point out that many religious leaders see gambling as the concept of gaining something by means of luck or chance at the expense of others. That makes it incompatible with the teaching of Scripture, which calls upon Christians to use their God-given abilities and talents to work for or earn the same: by the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat bread – Genesis 3:19. They also point to Proverbs, Matthew, and Thessalonians for further clarification. Gambling, they say, encourages laziness, avarice and greed – fostering dependence upon chance rather Divine Providence and dedication to duty as taught in the Bible. They say further that gambling can greatly disrupt or even destroy home and family life. The most powerful argument against gambling from a moral perspective, however, was the “law of love” as expounded by Jesus in “The Sermon On The Mount in discussions with His religious contemporaries Matthew, Mark, and John. They say this is all in keeping with the teaching of John Wesley in his famous sermon on the use of money. Whatever may be the outcome of the Referendum, the Methodist Church will continue to hold tenaciously to its position that gambling is morally wrong.
Australian Open tennis ... Azarenka keeps her eye on the prize to retain title
Victoria Azarenka kept her eye firmly on the prize despite a host of distractions to rally from a set down and retain her title with victory over Li Na in a dramatic Australian Open final yesterday.
The Belarussian had to block out an often blatantly hostile crowd, sit through two lengthy timeouts for Li's injuries and bide her time as a firework display lit up Melbourne's skyline before she finally extinguished her Chinese rival's hopes with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Li twice needed treatment after heavy falls - the second time blacking out momentarily after banging her head on the court.
Azarenka looked stunned and then relieved at the end of the 160-minute contest when she realised she had won her second grand slam title, ensuring she would retain the number one world ranking to boot.
Even in her moment of triumph, however, the lukewarm response of the crowd on Rod Laver Arena was a reminder of the controversy surrounding her semi-final win over Sloane Stephens.
"This one is way more emotional," she said. "It's gonna be extra special for me, for sure ... you're the only one who knows what you've been going through these two weeks.
"So it's definitely an emotional one and it's going to be special."
It was a second loss in a Melbourne Park final in three years for Li but the Chinese had been more concerned about her health after the second fall.
"I was a little bit worried when I fell down, my head hit the floor and for two seconds I couldn't really see anything. It was totally black," she said.
"So when the doctor and the physio came out on to the court, I sat up, but it took a long time to fully come around ... I could hear this ringing in my ears."
If the 16 service breaks and a high unforced error count - Li had 57 - meant the match was not one for the real purists, there were some fine rallies and it lacked nothing in incident.
Azarenka's controversial medical timeout in her victory over American Stephens - which left the Belarussian fending off allegations of gamesmanship - clearly won her few friends in Melbourne and there was no doubt who was the crowd favourite.
Former French Open champion Li had been roared on to court like a local hopeful and every point she won was greeted with huge applause, even on the many occasions that it derived from a Azarenka error.
Mixed with the traditional Chinese sporting war cry of "jia you", one voice from the crowd shouted: ‘C'mon Sloane’, while another responded to the Belarusian's trademark grunts by shouting: "Quiet please, Azarenka".
"What happened with Sloane, it was a big deal, for sure," Azarenka said referring to the criticism she received for taking a lengthy timeout immediately after blowing five match points against Stephens.
"But I take it as a great learning experience and just try to live the moment and take the best things out of what happened and move forward."
REAL INJURY
Li double-faulted on her very first serve and was broken immediately but that only set the pattern on both sides of the net for the first set.
The Chinese recovered to dominate the opening stanza, ramping up the forehand that was once her weakness and hitting some blistering winners with her backhand.
Azarenka had raced out to a 3-1 lead in the second set when Li took her first tumble, turning on her left ankle and crashing to the ground.
The Chinese had the joint strapped and came out firing to get back to 4-4 before Azarenka upped her game again and levelled the match when Li went wide with a forehand.
It was Li's turn to go ahead in the third set and she was 2-1 up when play was called to a halt for 10 minutes for a firework display in honour of Australia Day.
Li took her second fall on the first point after resumption and lay prone on the floor receiving attention.
"Listen it was a real injury!" she said to laughter in her news conference.
"Maybe if I hadn't fallen down, it would have been another story. You never know. But the reality is I fell down, so nothing can change."
Azarenka quickly grabbed what turned out to be the decisive break and dominated the rest of the match, ensuring she would retain her title when another Li forehand sailed long.
"In this kind of matches you always have to take the opportunity of the important moments," Azarenka said. "In the second set, in the third set, that's what I was doing better.
"In the first set, she was really on top of me, I think, she was really going for her shots and making everything happen."
American twins Bob and Mike Bryan later became the most successful men's pair in grand slam history when they won their 13th doubles title.
The 34-year-olds beat the Dutch pairing of Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-4 to break the record of 12 grand slams they had shared with Australians John Newcombe and Tony Roche.
With two locals in the boys' final for the first time since 1994, the home crowd was guaranteed at least one celebration for Australia Day.
Nick Kyrgios beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6, 6-3 to take the honours, while 15-year-old Croatian Ana Konjuh was too good for Czech second seed Katerina Siniakova and took the girls' title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Netball: Cookey predicts bright future for England
England netball captain Pamela Cookey says the sport is in the best condition ever after her team's international series whitewash against world number ones Australia.
Cookey led her side to three consecutive victories against the reigning world champions - the first time ever for England, culminating in a 58-51 win at the National Indoor Arena on Saturday.
Before the series, England had only beaten the Diamonds twice in their histories but with wins in Bath, London and now Birmingham, captain Cookey thinks the sport can only progress from here.
"With more people getting on the court than ever before - not just in schools, but in clubs and at universities - the more competition we have for our places, makes us play better," she told BBC Sport.
According to national funding body Sport England, almost 160,000 women play netball every week , 40,000 more than in 2008 - a remarkable rise considering the sport is yet to join the high-profile Olympic programme, so was unable to showcase itself in the recent home Games.
This growth at the grassroots level helped lead to a £6.6m improvement in the sport's funding to £25.3m over the next four years.
Dancing up a storm on Jamaica Night at Jazz & Blues
There was a full moon over the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Thursday, but this could have gone unnoticed as it was the stars on stage at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival who shone brightest.
For the second year running, organisers went for an all-Jamaican line-up for opening night and the artistes chosen did not disappoint
The performance of the night has to go to the ‘Reggae Ambassadors’ Third World who brought down the curtains.
Taking the stage at 2:20 am, Third World used the event as a kick-off to their 40th anniversary world tour, and delivered an entertaining set.
An exciting opener featuring a marching band would set the stage for a performance featuring all the favourites which have made this group popular — Sense of Purpose, Forbidden Love, Committed, Conscious Reggae Party, Reggae Ambassador, 96 Degrees, Magnet and Steel, Try Jah Love, Now That We Found Loveand more.
In a night of sparkling performances, Third World was not the only standout. Following closely was the duo Chaka Demus and Pliers.
The singer and deejay showed why they stamped their class on British charts back in the early 1990s.
Sounding crisp and clear, they had the ample audience dancing to hits like She Don’t’ Let Nobody, I Wanna be Your Man, Tease Me, Twist and Shout, Bam Bam and the mega hit, Murder She Wrote.
Another moment of high entertainment came from the quartet LUST, who turned the event into the reggae dance party it was billed. You’re the Inspiration, Run Free, Sweetness of Your Love, Just as I Am as well as solo hits from the members, went over well.
Cocoa Tea, the little man from Rocky Point in Clarendon, had the jazz audience eating out of his hands as he dropped a string of hits. So did ‘Mr Performer’ Ken Boothe who sang and danced into the hearts of many, his voice sounding crisp against the cool night air, belying his 50 years in the music industry.
Ernie Smith and Pluto Shervington dropped a ‘tune fi tune’ set — alternating their well-known hits from the 1970s.
Smith opened with Bend Down and Shervington followed with Dat Ting There; Smith’s Pitta Patta was answered by Shervington’s Your Honour; when Smith dropped Tears on My Pillow, Shervington answered with Ram Goat Liver; when its was time for Duppy Gunman from Smith, Shervington responded with I Man Born Yah. They would call a truce, closing with the duet That’s The Kind of People We Are.
There were two women on the line-up, Alaine and Nadine Sutherland. Sutherland would later confess to the Jamaica Observer that she was struggling with a bad case of food poisoning, but still got her audience going. Alaine warmed hearts with her set.
The dance party theme played out with deejay Admiral Bailey giving a De La Move master class during his well-received stint.
Patrons also danced through the sets of Eric Donaldson, Leroy Sibbles and Lloyd Lovindeer who closed with the hit Pocomania Day, in tribute to former Chalice singer Trevor Roper who died recently.
During the night, Ken Boothe and Third World were recognised for 50 and 40 years, respectively, in the Jamaican music industry.
JJ Abrams to direct Star Wars VII
Sci-fi director JJ Abrams will head up the seventh Star Wars film, Lucasfilm owner Walt Disney Co has said.
Star Wars creator George Lucas said he was the "ideal choice" to direct the movie - due out in 2015 - adding "the legacy couldn't be in better hands".
It will be scripted by Oscar-winning writer Michael Arndt.
Abrams, who co-created Lost and directed the Star Trek reboot, said he was "more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid".
In October, Disney announced it had bought Lucasfilm for $4.05bn (£2.5bn) and was committed to three new films.
Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who will produce the films, said Abrams was "the perfect director to helm this".
"Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise - he understands the essence of the Star Wars experience," she said in a statement.
Abrams, who has also directed films including Mission: Impossible III and Super 8, said in a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times that, "as a kid, Star Wars was much more my thing than Star Trek was".
The original Star Wars trilogy - which consists of the original film in 1977, 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi - was always envisioned by Lucas as the central chunk of a nine-movie cycle.
The films followed the fortunes of young hero Luke Skywalker, cocky pilot Han Solo and the feisty Princess Leia as they battled against the Galactic Empire.
A trilogy of Star Wars prequels - 1999's The Phantom Menace, 2002's Attack of the Clones and 2005's Revenge of the Sith - followed.
Disney has previously said Lucas would remain as a creative consultant on the series.
In October, he revealed he had written story treatments for the seventh, eighth and ninth instalments which he would hand over to Kennedy.
Amour among contenders for 2013 Cesar Awards
Oscar hopeful Amour (Love) is up for 10 prizes at this year's Cesars, France's prestigious annual film awards.
But the shortlist is dominated by surprise hit Camille Rewinds (Camille Redouble), which has 13 nominations.
The crowd-pleasing comedy follows a young woman who goes back in time to her teenage years.
Emmanuelle Riva - recipient of one of Amour's five Oscar nods - will be up for best actress at next month's Cesar ceremony.
So is Rust and Bone star Marion Cotillard, who has also been nominated for a Bafta for her performance.
Rust and Bone, about a whale trainer whose life is irrevocably changed by a tragic accident, has nine nominations in all.
They include citations for best film, best music and best director (Jacques Audiard).
Dark fantasy Holy Motors, which divided critics at Cannes last year, also received nine nominations, including best film and best actor (Denis Lavant).
The latter faces competition from Amour's Jean-Louis Trintignant, while Holy Motors' Edith Scob competes with Amour's Isabelle Huppert in the supporting actress category.
Ken Loach's The Angel's Share, Ben Affleck's Argo and Denmark's A Royal Affair are among the titles shortlisted in the foreign film category.
Some 3,400 people from across the French film industry took part in the voting process to determine this year's nominations.
The awards, hosted by actor and former Eurotrash presenter Antoine du Caunes, will be presented on 22 February in Paris.
The Academy Awards take place two days later in Los Angeles, two weeks after the Bafta Film Awards in London.
Mazaruni River crash…Police play crucial role, 10th body recovered
Yesterday, the search and rescue team in the Mazaruni River recovered yet another body which has been identified as that of Ricky Boob of Barr Street, Kitty. This latest recovery has taken the death toll to ten.
On Friday the team recovered the bodies of, Kevon Ambrose of, Vergenoegen, East Bank, Essequibo; Deon Moses, 33 of Norton Street, Georgetown; Keanu Amsterdam, 17, of Barr Street Kitty; and Francisco Alves a Brazilian national.
The team had earlier recovered the remains of Jermaine Calistro, 27, of Boodhoo Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE); Ulric Grimes, 39, of Salem, EBE; Christopher Narine, 21, of Parika, EBE; and Zahir Baksh, 34, of Kaneville; EBD, Christopher Narine, and 52-year-old Jewan Seeram.
With the death toll reaching ten the team has said that it is still searching for other victims.
Initially there were reports that nine persons were missing following the deadly mishap.
The search for the other missing persons is continuing with the involvement of the Joint Services, Maritime Administration (MARAD), miners and public-spirited individuals of the community. Little known and hardly talked about has been the role of the police. They were integral to the search and recovery. A source said that some media houses credited the Coast Guards with finding bodies when in fact the discoveries were made by the police.
Initial reports are that one boat carrying passengers was coming out from one location while another laden with fuel was heading in the opposite direction. The incident occurred at a ‘blind turn’ in the vicinity of Crab Falls.
Transport Minister Robeson Benn had reported that the two boats, one with 12 passengers and another, collided around 12:30 hours on Tuesday.
Several other persons were treated at the Bartica Regional Hospital for injuries. These included 40-year-old Francisca Helena Rodrigues, a Brazilian of Bartica; Marion Ferreira, 19, of Parika; Aubrey Bowen, 29, of Parika; Donita Daniels, 22, of Parika, and Devon Thomas, one of the boat captains. The other boat captain has been identified as Kobesh Persaud.
It has since been known that both vessels could have seen each other even before they entered the turn at the Crab Falls. One of the vessels should have yielded.
Another shortcoming was the absence of adequate lifejackets. Many of the men were probably macho and refused to wear the vests. At the same time, there were not enough in the boats. These vests could have severely reduced the number of fatalities one of the operators said.