Turks and Caicos politicians try to shed responsibility for health care contract
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With a poor standard of health care costing residents on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) an exorbitant amount of money, the Progressive National Party (PNP) – the ruling party immediately prior to the imposition of direct rule by Britain – is making an extraordinary effort to distance itself from the failure and high cost of the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP).
PNP deputy leader Carlos Simons has now joined leader Dr Rufus Ewing in trying to shift the blame onto the interim administration and possibly former Governor Gordon Wetherell, who reportedly signed off on the plan shortly after his arrival in August 2008, apparently during a period of pre-occupation with the damaging effects of two back-to-back hurricanes. This was a full year before direct rule came to the islands and some 18 months before the NHIP began operations. Simons has claimed it was not the plan put in place by the PNP but “the maladministration of the direct rule government.” “The health plan was launched by the current (interim British) administration,” said Simons. However, the process of choosing a third party health provider was completed by late 2006 and, eight months before Wetherell’s arrival, the health care contract was formally signed by the PNP administration while his predecessor, Governor Richard Tauwhare, was in office. The lead-up to the plan’s concept and the use of a third-party provider was apparently being structured as early as late 2003, shortly after the PNP took office. However, disagreements on the plan’s structure raised concerns on the part of then Health Minister Karen Delancy. While Delancy had the primary responsibility the plan as minister, it was nevertheless Ewing, as director of medical services, who was given authority over the decision making process. This upset Delancy, who felt that the process was so tainted she later provided a sworn statement describing what she viewed as an improper process to the special investigation and prosecution team (SIPT) headed by special prosecutor Helen Garlick. The first of Delancy’s concerns was the construction of the two hospital buildings and assuming her sworn statement is correct, recent claims by Ewing that he was not involved in the contracting of the building of the hospitals would appear to be untrue. In fact, in a continuing attempt to distance himself from the controversial plan, Ewing told a television audience last week that it was the direct rule government that “commissioned” the hospitals. However, the Delancy statement tells a different story. She swore that, five years prior to the suspension of the constitution and the imposition of direct rule, at a February 4, 2004 meeting, Ewing was present, along with Allan Forest, the general manager of hospital contractors Johnston Construction, and Michael Ashcroft, a principal of Johnston. Also at the meeting was then chief minister Michael Misick and finance minister Floyd Hall. Delancy testified in her statement: “Misick, Floyd Hall and Ewing spoke at length about the hospitals project... the impression I gained was that it was highly likely that Johnston International would be awarded the hospitals (building) contract.” Johnston Construction was in fact awarded the contract without a bid tender. Then PNP supporter Royal Robinson was assigned the responsibility as liaison between the PNP government and contractor Johnston. Robinson has since acknowledged that Ewing was in fact a key part of the process, stating publicly that Ewing was a member of the inner circle that contracted with Interhealth Canada as the health services provider and with Johnston Construction as the hospital building contractor. The two small two-storey hospitals built under the contract – one in Provo with 20 beds and the other in Grand Turk with 10 beds – are encumbered by a mortgage of $235 million. If the mortgage runs its full 24-year course with interest, the buildings will have cost TCI residents half a billion dollars. Later in her statement, Delancy speaks of the process for selecting the third party health care provider. At a meeting only two months later, in April 2004, which was held at the Cleveland Clinic in Miami, Ewing, Floyd Hall and Cynthia Astwood were present with Delancy. At this meeting, discussions were conducted as to the possibility of the Cleveland Clinic participating in the provision of health care in the TCI. The Delancy statement appears to reinforce more recent comments by government CEO Patrick Boyle that Ewing was a central player in the formation of the NHIP, a position Ewing has now tried at length to deny. While Interhealth Canada was eventually selected as the secondary care provider, Ewing remained, as director of medical services, in charge of all the primary care clinics around the islands until his resignation from the civil service in March of this year. Current Governor Ric Todd described the then Ewing-run health services as a “poor level of primary health care”. When officials in the interim administration were questioned last week on the matter of responsibility for the health care debacle, a source is reported to have said, “This is a deal the interim administration inherited.” |
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Tropical Storm Leslie creeps northwards towards Bermuda
Tropical Storm Leslie continued to churn in the central Atlantic, slowly heading towards Bermuda, where the National Hurricane Center in Miami said the system may strengthen to a hurricane and brush the island later this week.
At 5:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, the centre of Tropical Storm Leslie was located about 500 miles south-southeast of Bermuda, moving toward the north near 3 mph. A slow northward motion, which may be erratic at times, is expected over the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph, with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible and Leslie could become a hurricane in a couple of days.
Swells generated by Leslie will continue to affect Bermuda, the US east coast from central Florida northward, the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands for the next several days. These swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Michael has also formed over the central Atlantic and the centre was located about 1,210 miles west-southwest of the Azores, moving toward the north-northwest near 7 mph. A north-northwestward to northward motion is expected through Wednesday and a turn toward the north-northeast is forecast to begin Wednesday night and continue on Thursday. Little change in strength is forecast during the next day or so and there is currently no threat to land.
Bahamas must consider income tax, says former minister
A key advisor to the Christie administration says income tax must be considered in The Bahamas to curb its rising debt levels.
James Smith, a former state minister of finance, told Guardian Business that the government should look at all options. The chairman of CFAL added that he is a strong proponent of value-added tax (VAT), although he is open to any system that corrects the course of the economy.
"This no tax issue is simply not the same discussion anymore," he explained. "Five years ago, income would have been off the table. But I suspect it will come up. The time has come to look at all options, to the extent The Bahamas has stopped promoting itself as a tax-free jurisdiction. I think we can begin to move away from that model."
The top business leader will be a mediator for at least one panel discussion at the upcoming National Symposium on Tax Reform, held at The College of The Bahamas from October 25 to October 26. The two-day, televised event is chaired by Prime Minister Perry Christie, with Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes agreeing to serve as patron.
While adding to the national dialogue on this fundamental issue, the symposium plans to submit a paper for consideration to government on the way forward for tax reform.
For his part, Smith told Guardian Business the landmark event is simply a natural economic progression. Tax information exchange agreements (TIEA) and compliance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) have been well documented over the years.
"Something has to be done to reform dramatically the tax structure. The existing structure cannot service the growing economy. We'll end up with increasing deficits, to the point where the debt to GDP ratio would be hard to finance locally and broad. Questions will be raised on our ability to service our own debt," according to Smith.
Although the debt-to-GDP ratio is estimated at 54 percent, the CFAL chairman pegged it at 65 percent including contingent liabilities, such as the Bahamas Development Bank and Water and Sewerage Corporation.
Dionisio D'Aguilar, the president of Superwash and chairman of AML Foods, highlighted the country's persistently narrow tax base as the key problem. He felt reform must target those professions that have historically paid very little tax, such as lawyers and accountants.
"They contribute a very small amount of their income to the treasury, whereas a good store contributes an enormous amount," the retailer said.
Declaring himself "pro VAT", the top businessman also said the government must become more organized and aggressive in how it collects existing taxes. More specific penalties must come into play for individuals that fail to pay their share.
The government could also do more to impose insurmountable hurdles for business entities that fail to comply in time.
Smith pointed out, in the next several weeks, the prime minister intends on presenting government with the much-anticipated "white paper" on tax reform. The tax symposium next month will surely go a long way in paving the way for this historical document.
"The symposium is very timely, with the white paper expected sometime before Christmas," he added.
Republished courtesy of the Nassau Guardian
EXTRA FUNDING SECURES PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES FOR ALL
TCIG has now approved the funding to secure the 63 children’s places at three private schools.
Every child in the Turks and Caicos Islands who requires a primary school place will be given one this financial year thanks to an additional $68,000 of funding rovided by the TCI Government it was revealed today, Wed, 5 Sep 2012.
Two hundred and thirteen children were registered for school this year. TCIG initially had funding in place for only 150 children, leaving 63 four year old students were left without a school place on Providenciales.
These students were already on the Department for Education’s official waiting list having registered for school earlier in the year. The students will be put into three classes one each at three private schools. The agreement will cover the basic salaries for three class teachers one at each school. This announcement follows a proposal by Director of Education, Edgar V. Howell, to Chief Executive Officer Patrick Boyle made via Permanent Secretary Desiree Lewis.
“I am aware that this year TCIG is faced with the problem of overcrowding in its schools, in particular on the island of Providenciales,” said Patrick Boyle CEO of TCIG. “Whilst this is clearly only a short term stop gap, I have tasked the Department of Education to now develop a sustainable solution to this recurring issue.”
There are three public (non fee paying) primary schools and one public high school on Providenciales serving approximately 2,600 students.
PROCUREMENT LAW TO PROTECT PUBLIC PURSE
A further piece of essential legislation to help protect the Turks and Caicos Islands poor commercial decisions by Government was the most significant agenda point at His Excellency the Governor’s Advisory Council meeting on Grand Turk today, Wed, 5 Sep 2012.
The draft Public Procurement Bill is one of a number of pieces of legislation being introduced as part of the body of legislative and regulatory changes designed to protect the public sector and its finances. This is one of the milestone related pieces of new legislation that will be made law before the election in November. It will also be considered by the Consultative Forum.
Following the enactment of the Public Finance Management Ordinance 2012 in March, it was concluded that a further specific procurement ordinance was necessary to reduce the opportunity to circumvent procurement procedures and ensure significantly improved management and accountability in all future procurement activities.
Itis intended that the following proposed improvements to the governance and accounting mechanisms will apply to TCI Government, public and statutory bodies, and include:
·The need for all public servants engaged in procurement to refer to this and related Ordinances, such as the Public Finance Management and Chief Financial Officer Ordinances when considering procurement matters.
·Creation of a statement of principles that public servants will be required to apply.
·Creation of a central contract management cell led by a Director of Contracts to oversee the process and provide advice as required
·Introduction of disciplinary and legal processes where Elected Members and/or Public Servants deliberately circumvent the provisions of the Ordinance
·The intentional splitting of a large procurement requirement into smaller lots to get round bidding requirements is a new offence
·Achieving Value for Money and encouraging competition are always to be prime considerations before procurement is undertaken.
·Introduction of reporting arrangements relating to contracts for capital projects with a life time value above that set by the Permanent Secretary Finance and all other contracts / amendments above the reporting threshold set by the Permanent Secretary Finance via the Gazette and/or Government web-site to provide transparent information to the general public.
·Setting out clear responsibilities of the Procurement Board (also known as the Tender Board)
·Defining the stages of the procurement process
It is recognised that previous TCI Governments, particularly during the period 2005-2009, negotiated poorly and mismanaged several important contracts. Notably:
·Contracts were entered into for exceptionally long periods with little or no financial benefit for the people of the TCI, with little or no opportunity to renegotiate or end the contracts without severe financial penalty to the public purse.
·There was no transfer of risk to the contractor either in terms of their expected performance or financial penalties for poor performance.
·Negotiations were often led by the proposed contractor and once a contract was signed, continuing contract monitoring is generally poor or more often non-existent.
·There have been instances where financial guarantees requested by proposed contractors have been agreed at the end of the evaluation of tender phase without Ministry of Finance knowledge or approval.
·It is apparent that Government procurement was so poorly coordinated and it is very unlikely that Value for Money is being achieved.
“Ensuring that public money is spent wisely and for the benefit of the taxpayers of the Turks and Caicos Islands is critical to the reforms that we are implementing to assist the incoming locally elected government with achieving better value for money in future procurements,” said Patrick Boyle, Chief Executive, TCI Government.
“It is clear that too many contractual decisions were taken in the past that did not sufficiently take into account the future longer term needs of the taxpayer. It was not right that some development agreements, for example, were signed for immediate short term gain, often for a duration of decades without any opportunity for renegotiation or sharing of success as that business grew. These days, procurement is a specialist role and this proposed law will make sure that this skill set is included at the heart of all future public sector commercial contracts.”
Feedback on the proposed legislation should be submitted togovernorgt@fco.gov.uk by 17.00hrs on Fri, 14 Sep 2012.
Employment Services Department ramps up safety and Health Campaign
The Employment Services (formerly Labour) Department has planned a series of lectures aimed at increasing public awareness of occupational health and safety and to enhance knowledge of the general public about safety at work as well as in the home.
The talks are designed to prepare residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands to recognize their rights to safety and health at work. They are also intended to sensitize employers and employees about the importance of developing and implementing Occupational Safety and Health Standards in the workplace.
The first lecture in the series will be held on Wednesday September 5, 2012 at 6:00pm at the Environment Centre on Lower Bight Road (opposite the children’s park), Providenciales. Guest Speaker Mr. George Penn, Community Fire and Safety Officer, Turks and Caicos Rescue Service will speak on Fire Safety in the Home.
Mr. Penn’s talk is expected to prepare home owners, domestic workers, caregivers and baby sitters among others to respond quickly to hazards. The lecture series is in keeping with TCIG’s commitment to recognize World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
On April 28, of this year, TCIG joined with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in recognizing World Day for Safety and Health at Work and made a commitment to continue educating the public on issues regarding a safe and healthy environment at home and in the work place.
CAICOS CAUSEWAY CONTRACT SIGNED
Governor Ric Todd stated on 5th September, that he had signed a $2.042m contract with Cove Construction to carry out the much anticipated repair of the Caicos Causeway.
His Excellency had previously intended for work to begin on the causeway linking North and Middle Caicos by 30 Jun 2012. However, the agreement of the contract took longer to negotiate as a number of options as to how the work could be carried out, considering the technical implications of each of these alternatives and calculating the final price all had to be agreed.
The extent of the repairs necessary to this iconic structure has meant the Interim Administration’s investment has also increased from $1.35m to more than $2m.
The works will now begin in November 2012, following this year’s hurricane season, and are due for completion by May 2012. They will involve:
·The reconstruction of the causeway including filling and resurfacing both the bridge and its approaches
·Improving the barriers that protect the causeway from tides and winds
·Repairing the bridge’s waterproof membrane
·Replacing the existing street lights with new solar powered units
·Removing casuarinas trees and replacing mangroves
The work on the Caicos Causeway is one of the key infrastructure projects highlighted in this year’s budget, which also included repairs to the Millennium Highway, the replacement of the decrepit Reverse Osmosis plants on Grand Turk in 2012/13 and Salt Cay in 2013/14, as well as investment in schools.
“As a regular visitor to all of the family islands, I am very sensitive to the importance of the causeway in the daily lives and businesses of the people of North and Middle Caicos. I have said that rebuilding the causeway is a high priority for the interim administration, so I am delighted the contract is signed and work will soon be underway,” said Governor Todd.
“I am sorry that the work did not begin when I said it would before this hurricane season, but this was for good reason. We wished to be certain that the works carried out provided a long term solution to achieving a permanent road connection between the two islands and avoid the problems associated with the previous attempt. It is too important to the people of these two islands for that. I hope that the residents will look back this time next year and be pleased with their ability to use the causeway with greater ease.”
Actor Michael Clarke Duncan died of natural causes
Green Mile actor Michael Clarke Duncan died of natural causes, a US coroner has confirmed.
The 54-year-old died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday. He had not recovered from a heart attack he suffered in July.
Meanwhile, tributes to the actor have continued to pour in.
Bruce Willis, who starred with Duncan in Armageddon, called him "a great human being". He added: "I will miss Big Mike in a big way."
Duncan had credited Willis for recommending him to The Green Mile director Frank Darabont.
He was later nominated for an Oscar in 2000 for his role as a death row inmate in the film.
Willis and Duncan went on to star in another three films together including The Whole Nine Yards and Sin City.
Director Michael Bay, who gave Duncan his first major role in Armageddon, penned a lengthy tribute about the actor's time on set, which was posted on his official website.
"It was a great time I will always remember, how proud I was to watch him grow into an actor," he said.
"We found him in a gym. He cried at the first audition because he was so proud to audition for a Michael [Bay] and Jerry [Bruckheimer] movie, he just wanted to make his mom proud.
"We gave him the role in the room."
But, Bay recalled, the star "sucked" on his first day in front of the cameras.
"I remember looking to Ben Affleck and thinking we might need to fire him.
"But I told him 'Mike, I hired you for you. I want the sweet, Mr Clarke Duncan I met in that room'. I said, 'the audience is going to fall in love with you'.
"He looked and smiled with deep voice and said 'OK.'
"From then on out he became the most improved actor on the set. That was the award he got at the end of the film. Everyone loved him, his infectious spirit and great belly laugh."
Actor Tom Hanks made similar comments about his former co-star. "He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of The Green Mile. He was magic. He was a big love of man and his passing leaves us stunned."
Green Mile director Frank Darabont added: "Michael was the gentlest of souls - an exemplar of decency, integrity and kindness. The sadness I feel is inexpressible."
Duncan is survived by his mother Jean, sister Judith, and fiancee Reverend Omarosa Manigault.
The actress and reality TV star told Radar Online she was "devastated" by the actor's death.
"He was the love of my life," she added.
Craig Harvey of the Los Angeles coroner's office said that Duncan's personal physician had signed the death certificate, and there was nothing to suggest officials need to review the case.
Patti LaBelle settles assault lawsuit, woman's attorney says
Patti LaBelle has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a complaint that she verbally and physically assaulted a mother and her 18-month-old daughter in a Manhattan apartment lobby two years ago, the mother's lawyer said Wednesday.
The agreement ends a lawsuit that accused the singer of "yelling, screaming obscenities, throwing water and drenching with water, attempting to strike and physically injure" Roseanna Monk and her child, Genevieve, in the lobby of Trump Place on Manhattan's Upper West Side on November 11, 2010.
LaBelle, her lawyer and representative did not immediately respond to CNN requests for comment on the settlement filed in a federal court in New York.
A jury trial had been scheduled for late November, but U.S. District Judge John Koeltl signed an order dismissing the case at the request of each side Wednesday morning.
LaBelle, who lived in the same apartment building as the Monks at the time, denied the allegations in her initial response to the lawsuit last December, according to court documents.
Read more entertainment news on CNN's Marquee Blog
Monk's lawyer, Samuel Davis, told CNN Wednesday that it "took a bunch of depositions" before LaBelle "recognized that she was going to have to face the music."
The singer apparently was upset because she thought the child was wandering around the lobby unattended, Davis said.
"LaBelle besieged them with such ferocity, before she doused them with water, that the baby was crying hysterically," Davis said. "LaBelle would not desist."
Davis called the incident violent and traumatic. "The baby went from crying hysterically to vomiting," he said.
The incident caused a change in the child's personality for several months, he said.
"She went from being the most outgoing, saying 'hi' to everybody in the lobby of her building, to being clingy and shy," he said.
"Patti is a nice lady, but she has some anger issues," Davis said.
The Monks will donate the payment to charity, as Davis will do with his legal fees, which LaBelle must pay, the attorney said.
Source-CNN
Tom Cruise lawyer denies reports he 'auditioned brides'
A lawyer for Tom Cruise has denied claims that the Church of Scientology embarked on a long-term "auditioning" process to find the actor a new partner, after his 2001 divorce from Nicole Kidman.
Bert Fields called a Vanity Fair report, previewed on the magazine's website, "long, boring and false".
He said it was "a rehash of tired old lies" run in the supermarket tabloids.
Cruise and his third wife Katie Holmes divorced in July this year.
The article, written for October's edition of Vanity Fair, claimed the top-secret project was led by Shelly Miscaviage, the wife of Scientology leader David, in 2004.
Special correspondent Maureen Orth said she was told by "several sources" that actresses were quizzed by fellow Scientologists to find a suitable partner for Cruise, one of the organisation's most prominent proponents.
Actress Nazanin Boniadi, who was born in Iran and raised in the UK, told the magazine she was approached in 2004 and "audited", before being selected to date Cruise.
The article alleges their first date was conducted "with an entourage of Scientology aides", but the relationship faltered after a few months and ended in 2005.
The Church of Scientology has spoken out against the feature in a statement.
"There was no project, secret or otherwise, ever conducted by the church to find a bride (via audition or otherwise) for any member of the church. Never."
It claimed the magazine relied on a small group of "anti-Scientologists" for information, who had "shamelessly exploited Tom Cruise's divorce by spreading false and invented tabloid stories."
Vanity Fair says it stands by the story and has denied claims that it paid its sources.
Orth is a long-time contributor to the magazine, who has interviewed Vladimir Putin and Margaret Thatcher, as well as writing investigative articles about the allegations of sexual abuse levelled against pop star Michael Jackson.
Cruise married Holmes, with whom he has a daughter Suri, in an Italian castle in November 2006.
The actress filed for divorce at the end of June this year and the couple announced they had agreed a settlement several weeks later.