Beached Vessel Unlikely to Affect Grand Turk Port Traffic
A 700 ton trading vessel, Mega One Triton registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, has drifted and beached at the Governors Beach On October 25, 2012, in close proximity to the port of Grand Turk due to the high winds and rough seas resulting from the passage of Hurricane Sandy.
At the present time, the vessel does not pose a threat to other vessels using either the Commercial or Cruise ports and it is unlikely to affect entry to either facility.
Director of the Port Authority Terry Smith noted that DEMA, Customs and the Ports Authority have conducted initial assessments and have been in contact with the owners of the vessel.. Plans are also in place to carry out a detailed assessment of the vessel as soon as the weather improves. The assessment will include:
- A damage assessment by the owner to determine if there are any leaks or other damages that would impede removal;
- An assessment of the engine room and generator; and
- An assessment of the area around the vessel by DEMA to determine if any environmental damages have resulted when the weather conditions improve.
Deputy Chief Maritime Officer of DEMA, Carey Skippings said: "The weather forecast suggests that high winds will continue throughout the remainder of this week.. This will delay the transport of equipment from Providenciales to Grand Turk which is needed to move the vessel".
PFAU Publishes first Political Party Donations Registers
The Integrity Commission's Political Financial Activities Unit (PFAU) has begun receiving weekly donation returns from the Political Parties who have now registered with the Commission. The weekly returns are required to be submitted to the Commission under the Political Activities Ordinance (the Ordinance) which came into force on 28 August 2012. The Ordinance gives the Integrity Commission responsibility for ensuring that political parties and candidates comply with their respective legal obligations under the Ordinance.
The weekly returns contain details concerning all donations received by the parties, including the name of the donor, the amount of the donation, when it was received in addition to other relevant details.
The Commission is pleased to confirm that all registered parties have been complying with their obligations to provide these returns in accordance with the Ordinance.
Under Section 37 of the Political Activities Ordinance, the Integrity Commission is required to maintain a register of all donations received by registered political parties.
In addition, the Commission will ensure that arrangements are put in place for the register containing this information to be accessible for members of the public and available for public inspection under Section 74 of the Ordinance. The Commission has therefore compiled this information on a register which is now available and accessible on the Commissions page of the government website: www.sov.tc. This has been utilised on a temporary basis until such time as the Commissions website is fully operational. Eugene Otuonye QC, Director of the Integrity Commission stated that "publication of this Information and making it readily available to the public of TCI is an important part of the Commission’s function in ensuring transparency and integrity of the process".
Turks & Caicos Continues Progress to March 2013 Budget Surplus
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) remains on course to meet is strategic objective of returning a surplus this financial year according to the administration’s report on quarter two (Q2) financial performance published today, Mon, 29 Oct 2012.
The report shows that in first six months of the 2012/13 financial year (Apr-Sep 2012), TCIG enjoyed an overall revenue surplus of $5.72m, which was $0.9m above the budge and an improvement of $10.0m on the same period last year.
Overview
Recurrent Revenues for Q2 (Jul-Sep 2012) stood at $53.2m versus Recurrent Expenditure of $37.3m, resulting in a Recurrent Surplus of $15.9m. This surplus was then used to fund Non Recurrent Expenditure of $6.6m, Capital Contributions of $1.8m, Debt payments of $7.3m and Herzog planned repayments of $0.5m, resulting in an overall Net Revenue Account Deficit of -$0.4m for the quarter.
The increase in debt payments made during the quarter was a result of TCIG’s commitment to reduce the level of outstanding debt through the use of windfall receipts collected this financial year. As such the unbudgeted NIB receipt of $6.1m received during the quarter was used to make an unbudgeted payment of $6.0m on TCIG’s Revolving Credit Facility.
For the year to date a $5.72m Net Revenue Account Surplus was recorded. Total Recurrent Revenues stood at $102.4m versus Recurrent Expenditure of $72.6m, Non Recurrent Expenditure of $10.8m, Capital Contributions of $3.5m and total Debt payments of $8.9m.
Revenue
Income for Q2 (Jul-Sep 2012) was $9.7m or (22%) above budget and $9.4m or (22%) above last year, despite there being challenges in relation to Accommodation Tax, Stamp Duty on Land and Work Permits and Residency Fees.
Total Year to Date Revenue was $7.8m or (8%) above the budget and $18.9m or (20%) above last year, due primarily to the effect of windfall payments from Civil Recovery of $7.3m, and from the TCI National Insurance Board (NIB) of $6.1m.
Expenditure
Q2 Recurrent Expenditure was $1.3m above budget, but $5.1m below 2011/12. Savings compared to the previous year were primarily due to $4.7m being saved in employment costs as a result of the Voluntary Severance Scheme implemented last year.
Year to date Recurrent Expenditure totalled $72.6m, which was marginally ahead of the budget by $0.06m, but below the 2011/12 figure by $3.7m.
‘One off’ Non Recurrent Expenditure was in line with the budget, and $4.8m below last year. The improved performance is due to reductions in payments of Historic Liabilities of just $0.3m and civil recovery costs of $4.1m.
Conclusion
This commitment to publishing quarterly public financial statements is one of the new reforms brought about by the UK-led Interim Administration, and is also a legal requirement of all future Governments after the general election of 9 Nov 2012.
“This report continues the Government’s commitment to the transparent reporting of its finances, a cornerstone of good governance,” said Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the TCIG Civil Service.
“It also provides information about the steps being taken by the Government towards delivering a fiscal surplus in the financial year ending March 2013, as required under TCIG’s 2012/13 budget. Progress towards this objective was instrumental in facilitating fresh elections in this Territory. As this report shows, although things are improving, significant challenges remain and continuing tight cost control will be required to deliver the budgeted revenue surplus.”
Hurricane Sandy Slows US Presidential Campaign
Hurricane Sandy is playing havoc with the U.S. presidential election campaign.
As the massive storm barreled toward the East Coast of the U.S., both President Barack Obama, the Democratic incumbent, and his Republican challenger, wealthy businessman Mitt Romney, cancelled some of their scheduled rallies.
Mr. Obama returned to Washington to oversee the country's emergency preparations in advance of the center of the storm coming ashore.
He cancelled a campaign event in Florida on Sunday as well as planned campaign stops Monday in the mid-Atlantic state of Virginia, one of eight states that political analysts say will decide the November 6 election and a state that could be heavily impacted by the storm. The president also called off Tuesday's stops in Colorado and Wisconsin.
Mr. Romney also called off campaign appearances in Virginia. But he planned to continue campaigning Monday in two battleground Midwestern states away from the storm — Ohio and Iowa. He cancelled a night-time rally in Wisconsin, as well as his Tuesday appearances.
Officials: Afghan Raid Kills Insurgents, Civilians
Afghan officials say a joint Afghan-NATO operation has killed at least four Taliban insurgents and two civilians in eastern Afghanistan.
The joint raid took place Monday in the Qalai-e-Qazi area of Ghazni province.
NATO said “several insurgents” were killed and at least one detained during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. The coalition said security forces retaliated after coming under fire from insurgents.
The coalition did not mention any civilian casualties.
But Afghan officials say at least two civilian bystanders, a man and a woman, were killed in the raid.
Applications for 2013/14 Chevening Scholarships now open for TCI applicants
Applications for Chevening Scholarships, the prestigious global scholarship programme of the UK government, are now open today, 29 October 2012.
RTC News learnt that the deadline for applicants from the British Overseas Territories is Mon, 1 Dec 2012.
The Scholarships, which are funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations, operate in over 100 countries worldwide, and this year will support about 700 students.
They are awarded to exceptional individuals with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s degree, in any subject and at any UK university.
The Scholarships aim to support UK foreign policy priorities by creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision makers around the world.
Chris Watmough of the Governor’s Office in Grand Turk told RTC News: “The Chevening programme provides a unique opportunity for leaders of the future to build a global network of continuing professional significance. It enables talented individuals to establish social, cultural, academic or commercial partnerships with the UK. With 2012 marking the launch of our global website, www.chevening.org, we expect this year’s Chevening Scholarships to be more accessible than ever before.”
Scholars are personally selected by British High Commissions and British Embassies throughout the world, sometimes in partnership with sponsoring organisations.
Chevening alumni have an excellent record of rising to positions of leadership across a wide range of fields: including politics, business, the media, civil society, religion, and academia. Some work as MPs, leading journalists, or policy advisers to NGOs and think tanks; others occupy senior positions in commercial organisations.
Alumni include Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati; Sergei Stanishev, the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria; Alvaro Uribe Velez, the former President of Colombia; Marek Belka, the former Prime Minister of Poland; and Gega Mgaloblishvili, the former Prime Minister of Georgia.
Priority subject areas vary from country to country and applicants should check the country pages of www.chevening.orgbefore submitting an application for a Chevening Scholarship.
The Chevening programme began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international scheme. Scholars come from 116 countries worldwide and 700 scholarships were awarded in 2011-2012. There are over 41,000 Chevening alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.
Death toll from Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean stands at 65
Haiti is still suffering from the impact of Hurricane sandy which hit the impoverished nation last week.
Officials raised the storm-related death toll across the Caribbean to 65, with 51 of those coming in Haiti, which was pelted by three days of constant rains that ended only on Friday.
As the rains stopped and rivers began to recede, authorities were getting a fuller idea of how much damage Sandy brought on Haiti. Bridges collapsed. Banana crops were ruined. Homes were underwater. Officials said the death toll might still rise.
The country's ramshackle housing and denuded hillsides are especially vulnerable to flooding. The bulk of the deaths were in the southern part of the country and the area around Port-au-Prince, the capital, which holds most of the 370,000 Haitians who are still living in flimsy shelters as a result of the devastating 2010 earthquake.
Sandy also killed 11 in Cuba, where officials said it destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of houses. Deaths were also reported in Jamaica, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Authorities in the Dominican Republic said the storm destroyed several bridges and isolated at least 130 communities while damaging an estimated 3,500 homes.
Tornado hits Bermuda
A tornado — or water spout — has hit part of Somerset village causing extensive damage. Its not yet known if the tornado is linked Hurricane Sandy — as Bermuda is still on a tropical storm warning as the hurricane Sandy whips up strong winds and dangerous rip currents.
The weather on the US East Coast has caused some cancellations:
The United flight from Newark scheduled to arrive at 2.58pm, the American Airlines flight from Miami due in at 8.05pm and the American Airlines flight from New York due to arrive at 8.55pm have all been cancelled.
The Enchantment of the Seas is also not calling at Bermuda.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar expresses concern for Jamaica
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar spoke with Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller of Jamaica to convey concern, on behalf of the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, for the people of Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
The Prime Minister expressed her sadness at the news of two deaths that have been reported as a result of Hurricane Sandy “Our heartfelt prayers are with the people of Jamaica at this time”, stated Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, “we are also very concerned about the well-being of our Caribbean brothers and sisters in Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas and will continue to monitor developments in that regard.”
The Prime Minister assured Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller of Trinidad and Tobago’s readiness to assist our CARICOM neighbour.
At present, there have been no reports of Trinidad and Tobago nationals in need of assistance.
$1.7m RECONSTRUCTION OF HJ ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL TO BEGIN
For quite sometime residents of Grand Turk have been calling on H.E Governor Todd and the Interim Administration to repair the HJ Robinson high School.
RTC News has learnt that a $1.7m contract to begin the construction of new classrooms, offices sports facilities at the only Government High School on Grand Turk was signed by His Excellency the Governor, Ric Todd, on, Friday, 26 Oct 2012.
Under the terms of the deal J&H Construction will build a new block that contains five new classrooms, and upper floor for administrative purposes and a new basketball court at the HJ Robinson High School.
New funding for the refurbishment of the School was announced in this year’s Budget in the Spring along with a number of other infrastructure projects including a new Reverse Osmosis Plant (RO) for Grand Turk, a new courthouse in the Myrtle Rigby Building, the Middle/North Caicos Causeway and the Millennium Highway resurfacing..
This project had been scheduled to commence in September 2008 but damage from Hurricane IKE both here and across the Island meant that it was stopped due to a previous lack of funds.
In addition to the new construction, the works will entail the removal of rotted timbers and rested steel works and replacing of the necessary materials for the completion of the works on the areas started before September 2008.
The works are due to be completed in six months.
"I take great pride in getting things done," said Governor Todd. “In my inauguration speech I said I would do everything to ensure that elections happened here in 2012, to develop the economy and to ensure effective and transparent government.
“In this year’s budget, which remains on course to return a surplus, we prioritised capital and maintenance spending and, in particular, a number of infrastructure projects that are essential to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In signing this contract we have completed the key civil engineering projects that we set out to do in the Budget.” said Governor Todd.