Signing Signal $500M Three Hotels Deal for Grace Bay
Three agreements have been signed that will see three luxury resort style hotels built at a cost of $500m in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd and developer Desarrollos Hotelco Group it was announced today, Tue, 30 Oct 2012.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will see nearly 400 five star guestrooms added to the Grace Bay area though the first hotel to be built on an 10.5 acre site adjacent to the landmark Seven Stars Resort.
The MOU also covers Hotelco’s plans to build a further two luxury resorts with a further 500 guest rooms, also in the Grace Bay area; they will confirm the premier brands at a later stage.
Consultancy firm KPMG TCI has been employed by Hotelco to complete a full social and economic impact study for the properties.
“This is the best possible vindication of the new Turks and Caicos Inward Investment Policy, management structure and approach to attracting inward investment on the best terms for the taxpayers of the Turks and Caicos,” said His Excellency, Governor Ric Todd.
“This confirms that major international investors are impressed by the reforms that we have made over the past three years and, despite global economic difficulties, see the Turks and Caicos Islands as a great place in which to invest and to do business.
“Our economy has been growing since 2010, by some 4.3% alone last year, and is now set fair for future economic growth. The people of TCI have every reason to be proud of these achievements and to look forward to the future with optimism."
Pedro Vera of Hotelco added, “ We were attracted to TCI because it is a high end tourism destination with great potential , friendly and welcoming people and an excellent investment climate. We look forward to investing in TCI and being a participant in bringing luxury resort brands to these islands.”
Desarrollos Hotelco first visited the TCI in March 2011 . The TCI Government Investment Unit has been in close dialog with the developer since February 2012. Desarrollos then worked with Horton Realty and the Investment Unit to secure the 10.5 acre Soldaco site. A second parcel of land, known locally as the ‘Mandalay site’ was also secured in Grace Bay. It is on this site that Desarollos proposes to build the two further hotels.
The Investment Unit has facilitated technical meetings with the planning department and airports authority to ensure a co-ordinated approach to working with the new developments, to help ensure the sustainable and supported growth of the Islands’ infrastructure needs and airlift capacity.
Desarrollos is based in Venezuela where it owns three hotels managed by Marriott. It has also developed a Ritz-Carlton resort on Aruba.
English FA to probe claims of racist abuse by referee in Chelsea match
English football has been plagued by racism scandals in the past year, and now its ruling body must deal with what is thought to be the first case of racial abuse by a Premier League referee.
League leaders Chelsea made a complaint over "inappropriate language" used by ref Mark Clattenburg during Sunday's controversial 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United.
Chelsea's complaint focused on comments made to two of its players in two separate incidents.
Clattenburg had already infuriated the European champions by sending off two of their players, dismissing Fernando Torres for diving even though he had been fouled and then allowing United's winning goal to stand even though television replays showed it appeared to be offside.
With the issue of racism in English football under intense scrutiny, and following in the wake of Chelsea's own problems with captain John Terry's ban for racially abusing an opponent, the allegations against Clattenburg come at a time when the Football Association is under pressure to be seen to be taking a strong stance.
"I can't think of any previous such incident in the professional game off the top of my head," an FA spokesman told CNN.
"In grassroots football, yes, I can recall incidents but in the professional game I would have to check the record books."
The FA said on Monday they had launched an investigation into the allegations, while Clattenburg has welcomed "the opportunity for the facts to be established."
"We have lodged a complaint to the Premier League match delegate with regard to inappropriate language used by the referee and directed at two of our players in two separate incidents during (the) match," Chelsea said in a statement said on Sunday.
"The match delegate will pass the complaint to the Football Association. We will make no further comment at this time."
British media have reported that one of the players involved was Chelsea's Nigeria international John Obi Mikel.
For the past year, the Blues have been at the heart of a racism row after an incident involving Terry and Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October 2011.
The FA found Terry guilty of racially abusing Ferdinand, even though a court had earlier cleared the former England captain.
The FA -- which requires a lower burden of proof than an English criminal court -- barred the 31-year-old for four games for the incident and also fined him £220,000.
--CNN
Bolt, Blake Back In Training
Olympic double-sprint champion Usain Bolt and world 100m champion Yohan Blake were both expected back at training yesterday, as the two prepare for the upcoming season, with the IAAF World Championships in Moscow the clear highlight of 2013.
Bolt, fresh from a globetrotting vacation which saw him making stops in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Rio de Janiero - host city for the 2016 Olympic Games - will be keen to pick up where he left off last season.
The 26-year-old IAAF World Athlete of the Year nominee became the first man to repeat an Olympic Games sprint double with 9.63 and 19.32 runs in the 100m and 200m, respectively, inside London's Olympic Stadium; and capped another impressive season as the winner of the 100m in the lucrative Samsung/IAAF Diamond League series.
Blake is the only man to have beaten Bolt this year and only the third since 2008 in a 100m or 200m, with back-to-back wins in both sprints at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures Limited National Senior Championships in early season.
Blake's only losses were dealt by Bolt in the Olympics finals and although he has spent much of his off-season playing cricket - his self-proclaimed true love, Blake is settling back down to business, as he gets ready to prepare himself for the defence of the 100m title he won in Daegu, South Korea in 2011.
Both athletes are conditioned by noted track and field coach, Glen Mills, at the University of West Indies, Mona-based Racers Track Club.
Pollard, Narine, Bravo Uncertain For CT20
Cricket officials in Trinidad and Tobago have given mixed signals over the availability of leading players Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo for next year's Caribbean T20 tournament.
Media reports in Port-of-Spain have suggested a measure of uncertainty over the players available to help Trinidad and Tobago defend their title when the tournament takes place January 6-21.
Pollard and Bravo have declined to confirm their participation when contacted by Trinidad's Newsday, the paper reported.
make himself available
Narine, currently attending a West Indies camp in Barbados, has not been available for comment.
"Previously, before he left for the World Cup, Pollard had indicated to me that he will make himself available. I haven't spoken to him since then (about it) and I didn't get to talk to Sunil (yet)," said Azim Bassarath, president, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB).
"Kieron had said, however, that in the contract he had signed, there was a space left for the Caribbean T20. It is more than likely that they will be representing TT - Pollard, Narine and Bravo."
Pollard has been signed by the Adelaide Strikers, while Narine has been snapped up by the Sydney Sixers for the Australian Big Bash, which runs from December 7 to January 19.
Dwayne Bravo, who last played for the Sixers, is uncertain since he is currently recovering from an injury.
"I can't say with any certainty (whether they will be playing for TT) right now," said TTCB Communi-cations Manager Suruj Ragoonath.
"We should be finding out within the course of this week."
In 2011, Pollard and Dwayne Bravo missed the regional tournament after opting to play the entire Big Bash tournament. But earlier this year, both players represented Trinidad and Tobago in the WICB tournament as the Red Force successfully defended its regional crown.
Source-CMC
IMC/SportsMax Acquires Premier League Rights In Caribbean
International Media Content Limited (IMC), parent company of SportsMax Limited, has been awarded the live audio-visual broadcast rights for all 380 Barclays Premier League (BPL) football matches per season for seasons 2013/14-2015/16 in the Caribbean.
"We are extremely pleased that IMC has invested in our live broadcast rights in the Caribbean. IMC, via SportsMax, is currently our live broadcast rights partner and has provided excellent coverage of the Barclays Premier League for the past 10 years," said Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore.
"We look forward to further developing our working relationship with SportsMax as they continue to deliver a premium offering that will showcase the Barclays Premier League to our Caribbean fans."
President & CEO of SportsMax Limited, Oliver McIntosh, says the announcement is "great news".
"This is great news for both the company and fans of the Barclays Premier League in the Caribbean that IMC has been awarded the rights for the BPL through the 2015-2016 season," he said.
"For 10 years now, SportsMax has provided coverage of the BPL, this season increasing the number of matches we show to five each weekend and ensuring that all BPL matches each weekend are broadcast.
"Our coverage has attracted many new fans of the BPL across the Caribbean as SportsMax has enhanced coverage with its SportsMax Zone programme and media partnerships promoting the BPL. We look forward to three more excellent years," McIntosh stated.
Cissy Houston releases the $20 Million Inheritance to Bobbi Kristina
Bobbi Kristina is nearly home free to play with her $20 million inheritance.
Grandmother Cissy Houston has backed off her stronghold of Whitney Houston’s money and giving the singer’s only child what she wants.
After the singer passed, Cissy and Pat Houston filed legal papers to keep the 18 year old from spending the money irresponsibly and too soon.
The court ruled that she would receive the funds in three different waves: 10 percent when she turns 21 (that’s a nice $2 million), a bit under 20 percent at the age of 25 ($4 million to set up for adulthood), and the remainder after she turns 30 ($16 million).
Sounds reasonable enough.
However, the case has been dismissed since Bobbi and Cissy couldn’t reach an agreement, reports TMZ. But Whitney’s original plans for the payout have gone unchanged.
Source-TMZ
Terry Callier, US soul jazz singer, dies at 67
Chicago-born singer-songwriter Terry Callier, who collaborated with Massive Attack and Beth Orton, has died at the age of 67.
Callier, who began his career at 17 when he signed to Chess records, recorded his final album in 2009.
Hidden Conversations was written and produced with Bristol collective Massive Attack.
He also worked on Orton's Mercury prize nominated album, Central Reservations. Callier died in hospital in Chicago.
The news was confirmed by record label Mr Bongo, which worked with him on six albums between 2001 and 2009.
His funeral will take place on 3 November in his home city and a memorial is planned for London. The date is yet to be announced.
Many musicians have taken to Twitter and YouTube to pay tribute to the jazz and soul musician.
Orton shared a YouTube video with fans, saying: "This was one of the best nights of my life. Such a privilege and joy - RIP dear Terry Callier."
Tim Burgess of The Charlatans posted: "The world has lost another beautiful voice. Rest in peace Terry Callier."
Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody posted a video of Callier's track Ordinary Joe, saying: "Terry Callier RIP. A great soul-folk legend. A sad day."
David Buttle, founder of Mr Bongo, wrote on the company's website: "I first worked with Terry when recording him at the Jazz Cafe in Camden, London in the late 90s. This was a spiritual home for Terry's fans; most nights that he played you could hear a pin drop when he sang and many people passed out, overwhelmed by the light that shone from him."
Callier was born on 24 May, 1945.
He grew up singing alongside soul singers Jerry Butler, Major Lance and Curtis Mayfield.
"That was a dynamite neighbourhood. All of us were doo-woping at the time in different groups," Callier wrote on his MySpace page.
He released his first single Look at me now in 1963.
Callier released three jazz-funk albums in the 1970s but in the 1980s, he left music behind after he was granted custody of his only daughter Sundiata, and re-trained as a computer programmer.
"When I got custody of my daughter I had to give up music to raise her properly, she needed me and the music business just didn't seem like a viable option at that point," Callier said, although he continued to perform.
His music career was resurrected in the early 1990s when his Chess/Cadet recordings were re-discovered by acid jazz fans in the UK.
He sang vocals on Massive Attack's single Live With Me, which was released in 2006.
Glen Washington Earns A Second Grammy Nomination
Veteran reggae artiste Glen Washington is celebrating his second Grammy nomination.
The artiste was last nominated in 2004 for his studio effort called Wanna Be Loved and now for his latest album Glen Washington Masterpiece.
"I wanted to do an album with a variety of songs with different vibes and melodies and having achieved that we decided to call it Masterpiece," said Washington.
The artiste expressed excitement and a feeling of accomplishment after the announcement.
"I am elated about the nomination, it is a good vibe and a good feeling. I was anticipating something nice to happen because we recorded each song step by step like a project. I told my producers that we should be hitting Billboard with this and we ended up getting nominated for a Grammy.
"Just being nominated for a Grammy is an honour because it shows that they are taking note of my work and getting the Grammy would be the ultimate vibe," Washington said, pointing out that each song on the 17-track album is making its own impact.
"Different songs are making different moves and even songs that I didn't expect to peak are showing that the album is a real Masterpiece. I am getting good feedback," he said.
The Grammy nominee says the key to getting nominated for the coveted award is to create decent material.
"You have to make world songs, songs that people can relate to and use sensible tracks that people can dance to, songs that children can listen to and keep away from the derogatory. Your music should be able to be played right across the board," he said.
The artiste is currently in the United States and plans to embark on a tour of Europe in 2013. The album can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon.com.
Source-Jamaica Gleaner
Buju for court today
IMPRISONED Jamaican entertainer Buju Banton will know today if he will be slapped with an additional five years in prison when he appears in the US District Court in Tampa, Florida.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was ordered re-sentenced on a gun charge following his failed appeal on a 10-year, drugrelated sentence in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.
However, despite the threat of additional prison time, Banton’s new attorney Chokwe Lumumba has asked Judge James Moody to reduce his sentence after it was revealed that a female juror had breached federal court regulations by studying the Pinkerton Law during the course of Banton’s second trial.
The law was used by prosecutors to connect him to a firearm, although he was miles away at the time the gun was found in the possession of a co-conspirator who was purchasing cocaine in a government-controlled warehouse in Tampa.
The juror, Terri Wright, has reportedly admitted to a Florida-based media house that she violated federal regulations and researched certain aspects of the case online during the trial to have a better grasp of the issues when deliberation started.
Lumumba refused to speak to the media yesterday and said, via an assistant at his office, that he would be available for interviews after today’s re-sentencing hearing.
Wright’s admission has opened a lifeline for the artiste, and Lumumba has been adamant that his client could seek a retrial or even a dismissal of charges when he files a request for a hearing on the matter before the court.
He may face opposition from the prosecutors in the case who may seek to have the request thrown out and push for Banton to languish for another five years.
However, Banton’s previous attorney David Oscar Markus said that, given the new revelation, his former client has a chance of serving a shorter sentence.
Markus had also written a letter informing Moody that Banton should be given a reduced sentence of five years and a day as he was a first offender, who had the backing of his entire country and has carried charitable works.
“I’m rooting for Buju. He doesn’t deserve 10 years in prison, let alone 15. The jurors violated the judge’s order and that’s why it went from a first vote of 10 to two for not guilty to a conviction. I really hope Buju gets the relief he deserves,” Markus told the Jamaica Observer via electronic mail yesterday.
Banton had requested that he be allowed to remain in prison during the sentencing hearing, but that request was thrown out by Judge Moody.
He is currently listed on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website as inmate number 86700-004 and is being housed at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Miami, Florida, a low-security facility which houses male inmates.
Yesterday, prison authorities removed him from that facility and took him to a holding cell in Tampa to await his fate.
If he manages to escape being slapped with additional time Banton is due to be released on March 1, 2019.
His two co-conspirators, Ian Thomas and James Mack, both had guilty pleas and were sentenced to 51 months each.S
Source-Jamaica Observer
Hotels brace for Sandy fall-off
President of the JHTA Evelyn Smith told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that local hoteliers were closely monitoring the effects of the storm on the US cities as major damage to these markets could have serious implications, even for the upcoming winter tourist season which begins on December 15.
“... It is clear already that this hurricane will have an economic impact on the sector,” Smith told the Observer.
Yesterday, several flights in and out of the resort city of Montego as well as the Jamaican capital, Kingston, were cancelled as the storm bore down on Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey.
Sandy forced the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets in the United States, while sending coastal residents fleeing for higher ground because of a mix of high winds, heavy rain and a surging wall of water up to 11 feet tall.
Smith, meanwhile, explained that if Americans suffer serious damage from the hurricane they could think twice about going on a vacation, but this would be dependent on whether they were forced to pay a penalty for cancelling their hotel bookings.
She noted further that the closure of airports in Philadelphia and New York — two of the sector’s major feeder markets — has significantly impacted a number of guests who were scheduled to arrive here yesterday.
“Pennsylvania is one of the states which has been doing very well for Jamaica as US Airways feeds out of that area,” Smith said. The impact, she added, has been two-way with some visitors not being able to leave Jamaica as all flights into Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York were cancelled yesterday and this could continue into today.
The JHTA head said individual hotels have been giving guests discounts for the extended stay, while some persons have relocated to less expensive accommodations.
Hoteliers, she said, are closely monitoring the situation to determine their next move should the situation prolong. “We will be monitoring after the storm passes and may discuss and make recommendation to members but it will be an individual property decision as to what happens with their guests,” Smith said.
Occupancy levels in the island’s hotels was about 55 per cent, according to Smith, who noted that this varied from property to property. “Some properties will have 100 per cent occupancy, at this time, while some have 80 per cent and some 20 per cent,” Smith said.
Source-jamaicaobserver