Man arrested and charged for a series of serious offences.
A sufficiency hearing date has been set for a 31 year old male who appeared in the Providenciales magistrate’s Court yesterday (Wednesday 31st October) afternoon on gun related charges.
The young man was arrested in Providenciales on Tuesday 30 October 2012 and charged for Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Possession of Firearm with intent to endanger life, two counts of discharging a firearm, Attempted Murder, Possession of Ammunition with the intent to enable endangerment of life and Wounding with intent.
According to a Police, a 20 year old man received minor injuries to his upper right arm after a gunman opened fire on a vehicle in which he was a passenger on Friday 19 October 2012 near the Miniature Golf Club.
Inspector Grantley Williams said these charges are very serious. “It shows that a person’s life was in immediate danger and luckily it did not result in a fatality,” he said.
“We continue to urge members of the public who know of anyone who may have illegal firearm or ammunition in their possession to report this to the authorities,” Williams added.
The man was taken to court yesterday afternoon. He is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court for a sufficiency hearing on 7th December 2012.
Tourism Environmental Awareness Month
The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board is once again making plans to host its annual Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (TEAM).
The Tourist Board will officially launch TEAM this coming Monday, November 5th, 2012 at 11:00am at the Board’s Providenciales office.
During the launch, they will present their TEAM’s calendar of events and schedules for the month.
RTC News will have a further release, outlining the initiative in a subsequent newscast.
Ukraine’s Tymoshenko Refuses to End Hunger Strike
Ukraine's jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko is refusing to end a hunger strike she began this week to protest alleged widespread vote irregularities in Sunday's parliamentary polls, which have been described by U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as “a step backward” for the nation's democracy.
Ms. Tymoshenko — in custody at a hospital in northeastern Ukraine — called election tallies favoring the ruling party of political arch-foe President Viktor Yanukovych “a total falsification.” Her refusal to eat was relayed by opposition party leaders outside the hospital in Kharkiv, and amplified in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
With 99 percent of the vote counted Thursday, Ukrainian media reports show the president's ruling party ahead with just over 30 percent of the vote. Ms.Tymoshenko's United Opposition Fatherland party was running second with 25.4 percent.
Sunday's elections spawned a firestorm of protests from international observers who found widespread campaign irregularities, including evidence the ruling party used state funds to finance campaign activities. Monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also accused the ruling party of restricting the free low of campaign information.
The 51-year-old Ms. Tymoshenko was not allowed to vote Sunday. She was charged last year with abuse of the office of prime minister for her approval of a 2009 natural gas imports deal with Russia. She was found guilty and is serving a seven-year prison term that has drawn protests from a host of Western governments and human rights organizations.
Earlier this week the United States renewed charges that the Tymoshenko conviction was politically motivated and called on the government of Viktor Yanukovych to put an end to what it said was the selective prosecution of political opponents.
Phelps says he may be back in 2016 as a golfer
Michael Phelps says the only chance he'll be competing again at the 2016 Olympics is if he finds a way to succeed in golf.
Phelps joked Tuesday during a visit to Rio de Janeiro that even though his mom, Debbie Phelps, wants him to be swimming for medals again in 2016, he'll only make it to the games if "somehow" he becomes "an amazing golfer." That, he added, was "very unlikely" to happen "over the next three years."
He said, "I have already told her I will not be competing, so do not get her hopes up."
Golf will be returning to the Olympics in Rio after an absence of more than 100 years.
During his promotional trip, Phelps visited a pacified shantytown and gave swimming lessons to local kids at a public training centre.
PM outlines billions in Sandy damage
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has outlined almost $5 billion in damage resulting from the passage of Hurricane Sandy.
This afternoon in parliament, the Prime Minister provided the preliminary figures received from the various agencies.
She said the estimates have put damage to the agricultural sector at approximately $1.5 billion.
And she detailed $170 million in damage to schools, $160 million to health facilities and damage totaling about $11.4 million to resources in the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Department of Correctional Services.
However, Simpson Miller says the biggest hit was to Jamaica’s roads and infrastructure, totaling about $1.1 billion from heavy rains in September and $2.6 billion from Hurricane Sandy.
And Simpson Miller says assessment of damage to homes is currently underway and she expects the exercise to be completed by tomorrow.
The Prime minister says the Labour ministry will be issuing vouchers to some needy citizens, but would not say exactly what other assistance would be provided.
Buju sentencing postponed
Buju Banton was scheduled to appear in court in the United States today to hear if his 10-year jail term will be increased by five more years.
This follows last month’s decision by the US Court of Appeal for the 11th Circuit to agree with prosecutors and reinstate Buju’s firearm possession conviction.
The appeals court had also ordered that the case be sent back to the trial judge for him to decide whether Buju should be retried on the firearm charge or sentenced to the five years allowed under the sentencing guidelines.
Buju, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, was convicted of the firearms charge at his trial in February, but it was later thrown out by the trial judge.
The Grammy-winning artiste was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and using a telephone to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence.
He was given a 10-year prison term for those convictions and was appealing against them when the high court made the order regarding the firearm charge.
Even though the US Appeal Court has turned down his case, Buju has indicated that he is prepared to continue his legal fight to overturn the convictions.
Last month he parted ways with his long-time attorney David Oscar Markus and hired civil rights attorney Chokwe Lumumba to take over his appeal.
GTBA President ready for GTBA
President of the GTBA, Trent Dickenson says that this season is just as special as the last one and thanked all those who assisted last season. The theme for the 2012-2013 season is, 'Every young Life Matters'. The GTBA previously conducted a clean up at the Palm Grove Basketball court which was damaged by Hurricane Ike some years ago. Since then, the GTBA has undertaken to supply the park with bleachers seats, made court repairs and partially building the parks fence. Mr. Dickenson urged all interested teams to remember the cause and complete an official registration form, as a reminder the form must be submitted by the deadline November 2nd, 2012. He told RTC Sports that each team will be comprised of 8-12 members, one of whom must be identified as the team’s captain and principal contact person for the team as GTBA rules. When asked about the age group, Mr. Dickenson said that participants can join the league from 14 and up. The League will be played at the Palm Grove Recreational Park. In closing the President said that, 'It is the intention of the Association to expand as time progresses and eventually be a part of the Grand Turk culture for years to come.'
South Caicos HB Boys defeated Steelers plus other PABA results
Action continued over the weekend in providenciales as the PABA continued with the basketball tournament. - South Caicos Harbor Boys defeated the Steelers 72-59. Steelers Cameron Henry scored 20 pts,3 stls. Kirk Adams of the HB boys had 14 pts, 5 rebs, 2 stls. In the second game the Flyers defeated the Shottas 74-50. Sugar Ray Smith of the (Shottas) scored 12 pts and had 10 rebs. Jordan Garland(Flyers) 17 pts and 2 stls. The Predators defeated the Customs 50-45. Michael Taylor of the (Predator) scored 12 pts,7 rebs,5stls. Derek Hanna(Customs)scored 18 pts and had 2 rebs. On Saturday, the Stallions defeated the Cobras 79-51. Ray Harris of the (Stallions) scored 12 pts and had 6 assists. Madding of the (Cobras) scored 12 pts, grabbed 6 rebounds and had 3 assists. In a shocking turn of events the Police defeated the knights 76-65. Kjauna Doughty(Police) scored 22 points and had 9 rebounds. Peterson Sylvan of the (Knights) had 20 pts, 5 rebs, 3 assists and 3 steals. There will be no games this weekend but the PABA returns next week.
St.Lucia Marks 2nd Anniversary of Hurricane Tomas
St.Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has urged St. Lucians to take a moment to pay respect to the 14 persons who died as a result of Hurricane Thomas which swept through the island on this day two years ago, leaving over US$100 million in damages and many homeless. Dr. Anthony made the call in a written statement, entitled “A Day Never To Be Forgotten”, in remembrance of the victims of Hurricane Tomas. “Today marks the second anniversary of the passage of Hurricane Tomas. On that day, not only was the landscape of our beautiful island battered, but many families were left homeless, displaced, in pain and in sorrow, mourning loved ones,” the prime minister said. “I urge Saint Lucians to take a moment to reflect on that sad day, paying our respects to the 14 lives which were lost during this unfortunate ordeal. The trauma of the people of Fond St Jacques and Columbette in Soufriere as well as other parts of Saint Lucia must remain etched in our minds. We must not forget them and their families. Let us also continue to share that spirit of love, concern and generosity which swept over our nation in the aftermath of Tomas,” he added. “While we often argue that we should have been further with our efforts to rebuild our island, where we are now serves as a reminder of what we have survived as a nation. Many lives have not returned to normal, many homes will never be normal because of the loss of life, but as a people, we continue to reach within and look above for hope and strength to face each passing day. I encourage all Saint Lucians to participate, in their own special way, in the remembrance of October 30, 2010,” he said. Hurricane Tomas was the 19th named storm and 12th hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.
US ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY TO TNT
The United States has issued a warning to its citizens to exercise vigilance when travelling in or visiting Trinidad in the wake of two recent incidents in the Westmoorings and Glencoe areas, including the home invasion of Congress of the People (COP) member Rocky Garcia. The security warning was uploaded on the United States Embassy's website in this country, asking US citizens to "review your personal security plans; remain aware of your surroundings, including local events; and monitor local media outlets for updates". On the night of October 16, an armed man entered Garcia's Glencoe home through a window and proceeded to rob his wife and daughter of cash, jewelry, cellphones and other belongings before escaping. The following day the home of a Westmoorings family was also robbed by a man who entered the building through a skylight window, the US Embassy warning stated. The US Embassy warning stated: "We strongly recommend that US citizens travelling to or residing in Trinidad and Tobago enrol in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). "STEP enrolment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the US Embassy or nearest US Consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have internet access, enroll directly with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate."