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.
Press Release : Polling Stations Announced
The Supervisor of Elections, Dudley Lewis, has announced the allocation of voters to polling stations for the forthcoming General Election on 9 November, today, Thu, 25 Oct 2012.
The Elections Ordinance requires him to allocate each elector to the appropriate designated polling station within their electoral district in any case where there is more than one polling station in that district.
This is done by the Supervisor providing a list to the presiding officer that details the persons who are to vote at that polling station by reference to the order of their family names.
The official list of voters to be provided to each polling station is specified in the Ordinance and it contains only the details of those persons who are allocated to vote at that station.
To be able to vote at the polling station, your details must appear on the official list for that station. This means that you have to vote at the polling station to which you have been allocated within your electoral district.
If you try to vote at another polling station in the electoral district to which you have not been allocated and where your details do not appear on the official list, you will not be allowed to vote and will be referred to the polling station to which you have been allocated.
If you wish to check which polling station you should attend, you can do so by contacting the Elections Officer at Tel: 946-2801, ext 11705 or ext 11703 or by checking the register of electors for your electoral district which has been deposited for inspection at the various places used for such purposes in each electoral district.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. It is an offence under section 40 of the Elections Ordinance to vote in more than one electoral district or at more than one polling station in the same district or more than once in the same district on polling day.
Polling Stations for Elections 2012
ELECTIONS OFFICE
WATERLOO PLAZA
WATERLOO ROAD, GRAND TURK
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
TELEPHONE NO: (649) 946-2568 OR 946-2558
FAX NO: (649) 946-2427
To: Sgt Henderson Williams
Police Headquarters
Headley Durham Building
Fr: Dudley Lewis
Supervisor of Elections
Date: October 18, 2012
Re: Polling Station – Venues
With reference to the above captioned subject, below is a list of the polling Station venues per electoral district for your perusal.
- Ona Glinton Primary ED 1 Grand Turk, North
- Eliza Simmons Primary ED 2 Grand Turk, South
- Mary Robinson Primary ED 2A, Salt Cay
- New Community Center ED 3 South Caicos
- New Community Center ED 4 A Conch Bar
- New Community Center ED 4 B Bambarra
- New Community Center ED 4 C Lorrimers
- New Community Center ED 4 D Sandy Point
- New Community Center ED 4 F Whitby
- New Community Center ED 4 G Kew
- Bottle Creek Library ED 4 H Bottle Creek
- Hope Missionary Baptist ED5 Leeward, Providenciales
Church Academy
- Ianthe Pratt Primary ED 6 The Bight, Providenciales
- Richmond Hill Preparatory ED 7 Richmond Hills & Cheshire Hall
- Osetta Jolly Primary ED 8 Blue Hills, Providenciales
- Five Cays Primary ED 9 Five Cays, Providenicales
- Bethany Baptist Church ED 10 Wheeland
Regards,
Dudley Lewis C.P.M
Supervisor of Elections
LIST OF NOMINATED CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS 2012
LIST OF NOMINATED CANDIDATES FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS 2012
GRAND TURK NORTH –ELECTORAL DISTRICT 1
1. George Alexander Lightbourne PNP
2. Derek Rolle PDM
GRAND TURK SOUTH – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 2
1. Edwin Astwood PDM
2. Rex Elton Swann PNP
SOUTH CAICOS – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 3
1. Edith Andrea Cox PDM
2. Norman Benjamin Saunders PNP
NORTH & MIDDLE CAICOS – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 4
1. Ashwood Leon Forbes PDM
2. Ricardo Don Hue Gardiner PNP
LEEWARD – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 5
1. Akierra Missick PNP
2. Ezra Ringo Taylor PDM
3. Bennette Williams IND
THE BIGHT – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 6
1. Dorell Monique Pratt/Delancy PPP
2. Sonny Alexander Forbes PDM
3. Porsha Monique Stubbs/Smith PNP
CHESHIRE HALL & RICHMOND HILL-ELECTORAL DISTRICT 7
1. Amanda A. Missick PNP
2. Isaac Oral Selver PDM
3. Edward E. Smith PPP
BLUE HILLS – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 8
1. Goldray McMillin Ewing PDM
2. Adrian Carlyle Williams PNP
3. Wendal D. Wilson PPP
FIVE CAYS – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 9
1. Sean Rickard Astwood PDM
2. Harold Charles PPP
3. Thomas “Clay” Ewing PNP
WHEELAND – ELECTORAL DISTRICT 10
1. Zhavargo J. Jolly PPP
2. Gregory O’Neal Lightbourne PNP
3. Vaden Delroy Williams PDM
ALL ISLAND CANDIDATES
1. Josephine Olivia Connolly PDM
2. Refus Washington Ewing PNP
3. Wayne Newton Garland PNP
4. Samuel Iotis Harvey PDM
5. Charles Washington Misick PNP
6. Royal Stevenson Robinson PNP
7. Sharlene Linett Cartwright-Robinson PDM
8. Carlos W. Simons PNP
9. Oswald McDonald Simons IND
10. Oswald Skippings PDM
11. Derek H. Taylor PDM
Taylor Swift on track to set record amid breakup rumors
Taylor Swift is on track to join the very short list of artists and groups who’ve had back-to-back albums sell a million units in a week.
In the Nielsen SoundScan era, which dates back to 1991, just the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync and Eminem have accomplished the fete, each with albums releasing between 1999 and 2002, Billboard reports.
If Swift’s “Red” hits the million mark by Sunday, the country-pop princess will become the first artist in a decade, and first ever female, to achieve the same success. Her last studio album, “Speak Now,” sold more than a million units during its debut week in November 2010.
But before we go deeming this Swift’s (potential) “best week ever,” we should note, the “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” singer reportedly parted ways with beau Conor Kennedy, according to US Weekly.
Agriculture Ministry estimates over $700m hurricane damage
The Ministry of Agriculture has reported an estimated $700 million in damage to the sector from Hurricane Sandy, which impacted the island Wednesday.
Agriculture minister Roger Clarke says that a preliminary assessment is indicating that some areas, particularly banana and farm roads, suffered considerable damage.
“The estimates coming out of 11 parishes indicate that we have suffered some $700 million worth of damage and that does not include St Thomas, Portland and parts of St. Catherine. Those areas were hit hard,” the minister said.
A team from the ministry, accompanied by representatives from the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will be in the field to carry out further assessments, he added.
According to Clarke, the ministry is working with the Development Bank of Jamaica to assist with resuscitation of the banana sector.
“I want to assure the farmers that the ministry will try to do what it can to help them back on their feet. We want to assist with seeds, planting material, fertiliser and chemicals. Whatever we can do, we are going to be there with them to get them back on their feet,” said Clarke.
Peru clashes: Two more die in Lima market protests
Two more people have died in street battles between protesters and Peruvian police trying to close La Parada, a sprawling market in the capital Lima.
Saturday's violence came after two people died in clashes on Thursday. More than 70 people have been arrested.
Police are carrying out a council directive to move the market from its current site due to hygiene concerns.
But vendors do not want to move to a newly constructed market which they say is too small and its rates too high.
The existing market is known as a place to buy stolen goods and contraband, say correspondents.
The two people killed on Saturday were said to be civilians. Another 27 people were reported injured.
Lima's Mayor Susana Villaran, who wants to move the market to a modern site a short distance away, has accused stall-owners of hiring criminals to throw rocks and clubs at riot police.
Police responded by firing tear gas and pistols, as well as using batons.
"All the real merchants who don't rely on criminals have said they want to move to the new market," Mrs Villaran, who hopes to be re-elected in polls before the end of the year, told RPP radio.
"We are regaining order and security in an area that has only been one of disorder, chaos, insecurity and filth."