US Congresswoman seeks presidential pardon for Garvey
US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke is seeking presidential pardon for one of Jamaica’s National Heroes – Marcus Mosiah Garvey who was charged with US mail fraud.
Clarke – the daughter of former New York Council woman Una Clarke hopes that Garvey will be exonerated before US President Barak Obama leaves office in January 2017.
In a recent address to the Jamaica Diaspora here, Clarke said that two other congressmen from the Congressional Black Caucus – House Ways and Means Committee – Chairman and friend of Jamaica Charles Rangel of New York and the Dean of Congress, the longest serving member of the House, Representative John Conyers of Detroit – would join her to lead the charge in ensuring ensure that the Jamaican National Hero received the presidential pardon and that his name is reclaimed.
On January 12, 1922, while residing in the United States, Garvey, founder of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with mail fraud.
In 1925, Garvey began serving a five-year sentence in a US penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia.
After several appeals, his sentence was eventually commuted by President Calvin Coolidge, and he was deported to Jamaica.
Observers and political and legal analysts say that while Garvey did not commit any criminal acts, “his politics were on trial.”
Over the years, several organizations and governments including Jamaica, have lobbied the US authorities to expunge Garvey’s record.
Robbery at Ocean View Bar
The RTCIPF told RTC News that shortly after 12am earlier Wednesday morning, officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force responded to a report of a Robbery that occurred at a bar on Grand Turk.
At 12:23am complainant reported that four (4) slim built, dark males, height unknown, dress in dark clothing and wearing mask entered the Ocean View Bar located on West Road with a baseball bat and demanded money. After taking a cash register containing an unknown amount of cash and a lady’s handbag one of the man hit the bar-maid with the baseball bat causing injuries to her forehead and both arms. All four men then made their escape in an unknown direction.
A crime scene was established.
The victim was taken to the Cockburn Town Medical Centre where she was treated and later discharged.
Investigations are ongoing in this matter.
If you were in the area of Ocean View Bar or West Road during that time and may have seen or heard something the police are urging you to call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc, Chalk Sound Police Station 3385901. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.
Senior citizens in North & Middle Caicos was Blessed with a Cheer of Life
Senior citizens in North & Middle Caicos was blessed with a cheer of life, when one of their sons of the soil returned to the Garden island to offer an appetite of musical cheer.
Marvin Handfield told our news desk that the idea was birth from his parents who often asked when was he coming back to perform for his native family.
Handfield added that he gathered some friends and through together the event called a celebration of love featuring Dexter Landy and other acts. Handfield told us about his labor of love, for the event.
On patron Llewyn told RTC after the event that the highlight for him was watching a 97 year old senior dance and pranced to the selections.
The Event was well supported and also saw the DC for North Caicos in attendance.
CARPHA CONFERENCE TO THE TCI
A large delegation will be visiting the Turks & Caicos next week for a Health Conference.
Premier the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing in the House this morning shared the plans of that conference.
Premier the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing speaking about the Carpha conference & on other Health events in Providenciales.
GSAT results higher this year than last year
The GSAT results are in and the Deputy Premier informed the country the percentages are higher in passes this year as oppose to last year.
The Minister for Education shared the good news in the House of Assembly.
Deputy Premier & Minister for Education, the Hon. AK Missick.
The Minister moments ago told RTC News that congratulations are extended to all who passed the GSAT examinations. To all who were not successful, as Minister we are proud of your efforts and encourage you to continue to work hard as you prepare to re-sit these examinations.
The Turks & Caicos National Trust, TCI’s Heritage Preservation Organization is gearing up to launch yet another development project.
Jonathan Sayao told RTC News that they are partnering with Windward Development Company, developers of Blue Cay Estate.
The Annual General Meeting on June 23rd, 2016 at the Blue Haven Marina Conference Room at 6:00pm to learn more about the project.
NEW GOVERNOR TO THE TCI
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth has announced that we’ll be seeing a changing of the guards in the form of a new Governor.
Peter Beckingham who has been in the Turks & Caicos, as Governor for the last 3 years will hand over the reigns to Dr John Freeman, CMG, who has been appointed as the next Governor.
Mr. Beckingham will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service when he leaves TCI in October. Dr Freeman will take up his appointment during October 2016.
Dr. Freeman has been in the service since 1977 in various appointments within the Ministry of Defense, in 1983 through to 1986 he was a Member of the UK Delegation to Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe meetings in Helsinki and Stockholm (at the Conference on Disarmament in Europe). Between 1986-1989 he served the FCO as Head of South Africa Section. Dr. Freeman was the Senate Liaison, to the British Military Government in Berlin, and subsequently Head of the Political Section in the Berlin Office of the British Embassy in Germany.
The new appointee also spent 3 years from 1991 as FCO,
Deputy Head of the Eastern (later Central) European Department, and, secondly, as Head of the Security Co-ordination Department. While servicing the FCO, Freeman was Her Majesty’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN agencies in Vienna. His resume also boasts the role as Her Majesty’s Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control [from 2005] and Her Majesty’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Conference on Disarmament [from 2004], Geneva among other notable achievements in serving the crown.
Commenting on the announcement, the Governor, Peter Beckingham, said "Jill and I will be sad to leave the Turks and Caicos.
We have had three very happy years here, the work has been stimulating and everyone was most welcoming.
Our two daughters and our new grandchildren have also loved visiting. I hope we can see many friends, colleagues and business contacts before we leave in October; Jill is planning another Footsteps4Good in September, so that will be a great opportunity to catch up with lots of people across the Family islands."
The incoming Governor is married with 2 children and will be leaving Buenos Aires, as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to serve as Governor in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
FIFA sacks top official over bonuses worth millions
FIFA on Monday sacked deputy general secretary Markus Kattner for financial 'breaches' involving secret bonuses worth millions of dollars, according to sources close to an inquiry by the world body.
Kattner's downfall topples another member of ex-president Sepp Blatter's inner circle at football's world body.
Kattner, a 45-year-old German-Swiss national, had been acting general secretary after previous general secretary Jerome Valcke was also dismissed for irregularities.
"Kattner has been dismissed from his position effective immediately," the world body said in a statement.
Andy Murray beats Radek Stepanek in five sets at the French Open
Andy Murray finally beat 37-year-old qualifier Radek Stepanek to avoid a shock French Open first-round defeat.
The British world number two, trailed two sets to one when play was suspended on Monday because of bad light.
Murray, 29, won the fourth set but was pushed hard by his Czech opponent before winning the deciding set to clinch a 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-2 7-5 victory after three hours and 41 minutes.
The last time Murray lost in the first round of a Grand Slam was in 2008.
Murray joins compatriots Aljaz Bedene, Kyle Edmund and Heather Watson in the second round, while Johanna Konta and Laura Robson play their first-round matches later.
He will face French wildcard Mathias Bourgue, who is ranked 164 in the world, in the next round.
Significant damage to Syrian airbase by Russian forces
New satellite imagery appears to reveal extensive damage to a strategically significant airbase in central Syria used by Russian forces after an attack by so-called Islamic State (IS).
Four helicopters and 20 lorries were destroyed in a series of fires inside the T4 base last week, the images from intelligence company Stratfor suggest.
The cause of the fires is unconfirmed.
A pro-Kremlin website said the helicopters had been used by "used by both Russian and Syrian air forces".
Russia has not officially commented on the incident.
A Russian opposition website quoted Syrian sources as saying "a large fire in the Syrian part of the T4 airbase spread to the fleet of vehicles, and after a fuel tank exploded four Russian helicopters nearby went up in flames".
"The cause of the fire is being established," it added.
Google's Paris HQ raided in tax probe
French finance officials have raided the Paris offices of US internet giant Google as part of a tax fraud investigation.
Reports say about 100 tax officials entered Google's offices in central Paris early in the morning.
Police sources confirmed the raid, but Google itself has so far made no comment.
Google is accused of owing the French state US$1.8bn in unpaid taxes.
The tax arrangements of international companies have come under close scrutiny recently.
Several have been accused of using legal methods to minimise their tax bills.
In Google's case, its tax structure allows it to pay tax in the Republic of Ireland, even when sales appear to relate to the UK.