TCI Police officer formally charged for taking money from lost wallet
A police officer who was accused by a member of the public of robbing a civilian’s wallet of money is now suspended from active duty.
Winston Grant is off the job as a member of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands police. A report today issued by the TCI Police does not name Grant, but does say “A Police Officer was arrested and charged with the criminal offence of theft on Thursday, August 2, 2018. The officer, who was granted bail in the sum of US $3,000, appeared in court on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, and is currently on suspension from duties.”
It is alleged that officer Grant, while off-duty, found a wallet in the parking lot of the IGA Gourmet grocery store, took the cash from the wallet and then discarded of the wallet in nearby bushes.
The act is reportedly caught on camera.
Public Notice from the Ministry of Infrastructure on the closing of Blue Hills Roundabout
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning and in particular the Public Works Department, in collaboration with Herzog Caribbean Limited, would like to advise the general public that effective Friday August 17th, 2018 to Monday, August 20th, 2018, Herzog Caribbean Limited will be resurfacing Blue Hills Roundabout as part of the Road Development Phase II project. Works will commence on Friday August 17th and Herzog will aim to have the roundabout reopened to the public in advance of the August 20th deadline.
During this time, detours will be required to avoid the active work zone. Traffic controllers and Police assistance will be stationed at various locations to help give necessary directions to motorists, thereby ensuring safe and efficient operations. Please thoroughly review the detour map to better understand impacts to your daily commute.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning together with Herzog Caribbean Limited apologize in advance for disruptions caused by this work. It is the intention of both the Public Works Department and Herzog to expedite the schedule and minimize disruption to the public.
As such, we thank you for your patience and understanding, as we work to improve the roads in Providenciales.
Cocktail Week Winner Joins Team TCI
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI (August 7, 2018). PROVIDENCIALES, TCI (August 7, 2018) – The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) is excited to welcome Wridju Mukherji, winner of the 2018 Cocktail Week Bartender Competition, to Team TCI.
Mukherji, an employee of Amanyara Resort, took the top spot over his five competitors during the Cocktail Cook-off and Bartender Competition earning himself a cash prize of $1,000 in addition to securing his spot on Team TCI for their 2019 season. The event, held on July 28th at The Landing Restaurant & Bar, was the grand finale of Cocktail Week and a joint venture between The Wine Cellar and the TCHTA.
Speaking on the talent displayed by the bartenders during the event, Stacy Cox, CEO of the TCHTA, said, “The Turks and Caicos Islands has a tremendous reputation when it comes to culinary talent, and that talent certainly includes our many skilled and creative bartenders and mixologists as well”. Cox also commented on her organization and their partnership with The Wine Cellar for this event, “This is our second year working with The Wine Cellar and it continues to be a great partnership. Together we’re able to highlight the amazing culinary professionals in the TCI and showcase their commitment to their craft while simultaneously identifying potential members for our award-winning Team TCI”.
This year’s event saw a large gathering that enjoyed the thrill of the competition and had the opportunity to sample all of the competition cocktails. The bartenders represented six local venues: The Shore Club, The Pavilion at The Somerset, Grace Bay Club, Kalooki’s, Amanyara, and Pelican Bay Restaurant & Bar at Royal West Indies Resort.
Turks & Caicos Cocktail Week was a three-day event, starting with the highly anticipated “Hendrik’s Most Unusual Brunch” hosted by Kalooki’s restaurant in Le Vele Plaza on July 26th. Following that was “The Perfect Pair “– Zacapa Rum and Indian Cuisine at Garam Masala on the 27th, the “TCHTA Bartender of the Year” competition at The Landing on the 28th, and the “Ketel One Tapas Brunch” at The Shore Club on July 29th. Special guest Martin Gutierrez, renowned mixologist of the Le Petite Maison in Miami, Florida, hosted a clinic during the week with a focus on showing the competing bartenders how to incorporate fresh, local fruits and vegetables into their spirited creations in order to make them more unique and alluring. Gutierrez was also a judge for the bartender competition.
While Mukherji took home the top prize and will now be a part of the award-winning Team TCI when they compete in the 2019 Taste of the Caribbean Competition, there were other winners as well. Delorno Mosley of Kalooki’s and Markenson Deetjeen of Pelican Bay tied for second place, with David Campbell of The Pavilion taking third place.
Cox concluded the event by saying, “We’re creating avenues to get our bartenders and the TCI brand international exposure. I congratulate Wridju Mukherji and all the other competitors on a job well done, and I encourage them to continue working at their craft as they better themselves and the TCI culinary scene”.
U.S. gives Bahamas $1.4 million to tackle corruption
The Bahamian government yesterday signed an amendment to the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics Control Law Enforcement with the United States, which would provide over $1.4 million to fight crime and corruption throughout the country.
“This most recent amendment will result in the United States providing over $1.4 million for law enforcement, professionalization support and rule of law, transparency and anti-corruption reform in The Bahamas,” said Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, during the press conference. “Additional activities will include assistance with legislative reform, the creation of anti-corruption bodies and the provision of training, technical assistance and equipment to law enforcement and the financial, judicial, and civil society sectors.”
Minnis said the additional support from the U.S. will also help to facilitate the advancement of the country’s national security strategies to reduce crime, strengthen the borders and reduce the recidivism rate.
“Moreover, the scope of the amendments to the existing agreement with respect to transparency and anti-corruption will support public sector modernization and the ease of doing business,” he added.
“This lends well to the aggressive targeting of systematic corruption by my government which aims to reduce the significant burden which corruption places on the public purse; to further stimulate foreign direct investment by enhancing confidence in our institutions; improve the quality of and standard of government services and to decrease the level in inequality.”
USVI governor meets with US vice president, seeking additional support for hurricane recovery
US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp met with Vice President Mike Pence at the White House on Monday to discuss the status of and to report on the territory’s preparations for the current hurricane season.
Mapp thanked the vice president and the Trump administration for its support in assisting the US Virgin Islands recover from the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The governor also requested White House support in addressing the bureaucratic hurdles the territory has faced in order to accelerate the recovery process.
Mapp discussed with the vice president ways in which the administration could facilitate a faster and stronger recovery in the territory. He raised the need to waive certain rules on the FEMA Sheltering and Temporary Emergency Power (STEP) program and allow FEMA to fund permanent roofing on approximately 4,000 storm damaged homes in the Territory.
With significant damages to schools and other traditional hurricane shelters, as well as thousands of homes in need of repair, the governor urged the vice president to allow the use of FEMA funding to replace blue tarps and install permanent roofs to building code standards over the next few months. The permanent roof program is estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars per home, with the total project cost estimated to exceed $250 million.
Bahamian Junior Baseball League of Nassau experience success this summer
Heading into its 30th season of organized baseball in the country, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau is gearing up for a transformative year in which more exposure is granted to players, and the level of play continues to improve.
Fresh off a third-place finish at the 2018 PONY Bronco (12-and-Under – 12U) Caribbean Zone Championships in Yaguate, San Cristóbal, and the Dominican Republic, the JBLN recently sent two teams to the Miami International Baseball Tournament in Miami, Florida, USA. The week-long tournament is organized by the World Baseball Foundation.
Teams from all over the United States (U.S.), the Caribbean and Latin America participated, and both of the Bahamian teams advanced to the medal rounds. The 10-and-under (10U) team fell in the final to a team they defeated a year ago, while the 18-and-under (18U) team lost its semifinal game on a play at the plate in the final inning.
In the 10U division, the top seeded Academia Latinoamericana A team, from the U.S., defeated the third seeded JBLN All-Stars, 5-3, in the championship game, to complete an undefeated tournament for them. In the 18U division, the second seeded JBLN All-Stars fell to third seeded Osos de la Chorrera, out of Panama, 4-3, in the semifinals. With a runner on third and one out in the final inning, the runner tagged and headed home on a deep fly ball to right in an attempt to tie the game. The runner was called out at the plate, and the Panamanian team prevailed.
The 10U team finished round-robin play with a 1-2-1 win/loss/tie record. They tied Academia Latinoamericana B team in their first game, 0-0; defeated the Curacao Eagles, out of the Netherlands Antilles, in their second game, 11-3; lost to Academia Latinoamericana A team, in their third game, 12-5; and lost to the Chivas Cubs, out of the US, in their fourth game, 10-9.
The JBLN All-Stars then went on to defeat the Cubs in their semifinal game, 11-6, before losing to Academia Latinoamericana A team in the final.
The 10U games were played at the Grapeland Baseball Complex and the Brothers to the Rescue Memorial Park in Miami.
Georgia Hall wins Women's British Open
There was something in the air as Georgia Hall strode down the 18th fairway at the Women's British Open with a three-shot lead over playing partner and nearest rival Pornanong Phatlum.
But it wasn't the smell of victory, it was the stench of her dad's four-day-old, unwashed socks.
After shooting an opening-round 67, Hall -- a superstitious golfer, to say the least -- ordered her father and caddie, Wayne, not to change or wash his socks for the rest of the Open.
"I'm quite superstitious and my dad is even worse, so he was like: 'I'm going to keep them on. It's going to be worth it, hopefully,'" the 22-year-old Hall told the BBC. "It was.
"They weren't smelly after day one, but after four days ... yeah, they were."
Hall began day four one shot behind Phatlum, but a birdie on 16 and a double bogey from her Thai opponent on 17 handed Hall the advantage.
Standing on the 18th green, even a bogey couldn't stop Hall from turning a dream into reality.
Sunday's victory was not only Hall's first major, it was her first win of any kind of the LPGA Tour or Ladies European Tour.
Fox Sports to broadcast 2018 Hero CPL in Australia
Pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports has renewed an agreement for exclusive rights in Australia to the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 cricket competition.
The four-year deal has been signed as the 2018 CPL season gets underway today (Wednesday).
Fox Sports Australia will provide live coverage of all 34 games during this year’s CPL, which runs until September 16.
Australian cricketers set to compete in this year’s tournament include Steve Smith, David Warner, Chris Lynn, Ben Cutting and Chris Green.
Venezuelan President survives apparent drone assassination attempt
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro survived an apparent assassination attempt Saturday after several drones armed with explosives flew toward him during a speech at a military parade.
Live footage of the event showed him suddenly looking up startled mid-speech, while beside him his wife, Cilia Flores, winces after a loud bang.
Dozens of soldiers are also seen scattering during the event to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Venezuelan national guard in the capital of Caracas.
Seven members of the national guard were hurt during the attack, which the president blamed on far-right elements and Colombia's outgoing president, Juan Manuel Santos.
A Colombian presidential source said that Maduro's accusations were "baseless."
"I'm alive and victorious," Maduro said in a national television address hours after what he described as an assassination attempt.
The president added that there were two explosions, seconds apart, and that he initially thought they were fireworks as part of the military parade.
Venezuela's Minister of Communication, Jorge Rodriguez, said preliminary information showed the explosions came from several "drone-type flying devices" containing explosive charges that detonated in the vicinity of the presidential stage and in some areas of the parade.
Mazda, Suzuki Admit to Cheating on Emissions and Fuel Economy Testing
According to a Nikkei report, Mazda and Suzuki are the latest Japanese automakers to come forward with evidence of tomfoolery in the arena of emissions and fuel economy testing.