CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN LAUNCHES NEW MOBILE BANKING APP
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, June 23, 2016 –
CIBC FirstCaribbean recently launched its new user-friendly mobile banking app for smartphones which is yet another innovation by the regional bank to provide customers with banking solutions that fit their lives.
“The new Mobile App joins a series of innovations introduced to help the bank’s customers determine the banking experience they want – in essence control over how and when they bank is entirely in the hands of the client,” said Trevor Torzsas, Managing Director of Customer Relationship Management and Strategy.
Mr. Torzas said the app “was something our customers have been asking for and the initial feedback since its launch has been excellent. We are giving our customers here in The Bahamas additional options when banking with us.”
Mr. Torzsas said the new app “proves that CIBC FirstCaribbean is the bank that fits seamlessly into our clients’ lives. All the enhancements that we have put in place over the past two or three years are part of our promise to deliver innovative products and services that truly meet our clients’ individual needs.”
“Banking that fits your life - that is what we are ultimately aiming to provide to all our customers and our products were the obvious place to start and our Mobile Banking App is just one of those innovations,” the bank executive noted.
He added that the bank “already offers one of the best internet banking services in this region; and this combined with the new Mobile App and the improvements we are making to our ABM fleet means that our clients need never set foot in a banking hall, unless they’ve come to apply for a loan…and even that is now possible online!”
Much like its internet banking, the new app, accessed via Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows devices, affords users the convenience of checking their account balances, transferring funds, paying bills and locating branches and Instant Tellers™, all from their mobile device.
He said the app was a “significant step in our being able to add value for our customers who can now do their banking from the palm of their hand. Today’s individual increasingly has a lifestyle that is fast-paced that affords them little time to spend in a queue in the banking hall. Our Mobile Banking App will forever change the way they interact with the bank. Combine this with our online application process and paperless statement delivery and you have a best in class digital banking service for the tech-savvy who are always on the go.”
Mr. Torzsas noted that the bank which has almost 250 years of combined experience in the region will continue to invest in a strong line up of services such as its recently launched chip and pin technology for its merchant clients to ensure the highest standards of security.
It will also be moving to the same secure chip and pin technology later this year for all its credit card clients in order to give an even greater degree of protection against any attempts at compromising accounts.
He said the bank will also continue to invest in building a foundation to service its retail, wealth, business banking and large corporate clients by continuing to build close relationships with them as “we drive a client centric approach to everything we do”.
In furtherance of this objective CIBC FirstCaribbean recently expanded its ABM network in TCI bringing the total number of ABMs up to 10, the bank upgraded its ABM network with a new machine at the entrance of the Grace Bay Branch, and new remote machines at IGA Smart, IGA Gourmet and the TCI Cruise Port in Grand Turk. The existing machine at Grace Bay was also replaced with a new one.
In addition, a $1.4million remodeling of the Leeward Highway Branch is expected this summer, announced in April by CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director of Retail, Mark St. Hill.
Robbery at Gaming Parlor Parking Lot
Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a report of a Robbery that was made on Sunday 26th June 2016 in the parking lot of a Business Establishment on the Airport Road.
At 10:49 AM Police responded to the Slots of Fun Gaming Parlor located on the Airport where the complainant stated that he was about to enter his vehicle in the parking lot with a bag containing an undisclosed large sum of money when a white Honda car with three males drove in the yard. One of the males about 5’8” wearing a black shirt with white mask, the second height unknown wearing a white shirt with a mickey mouse mask carrying a silver and black pistol and the other he was unable to see. One of the males fired a shot at him while the other got out of the vehicle and took the bag containing the cash and took off.
A Crime scene was established and investigations are ongoing.
No one was injured during this incident.
If you were on the Airport Road or in the area of Airport Inn when these incidents occurred and have information that can help the police in their investigation please contact Chalk Sound Police Station 338-5901.
To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1- 800 8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc.
The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Law Enforcement conduct joint operation at Bars and Night Clubs
On Friday 24th June 2016 between the hours of 7:40 PM and 9:30 PM Police Officers, Immigration and the Integrity Commission conducted a joint operation at a number of Bars and Night Clubs on Providenciales.
The operation was conducted in search of illegal persons, illegal activities and checking the status of the bar operators liquor licenses.
During the search a total of eight (8) suspected illegal females and three (3) suspected illegal males from several bars were detained for immigration purposes and questioning.
4 charged for the death of Kenley Walters
Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police have arrested and charged four (4) men of Providenciales for the death of Kenley Walters that occurred Saturday 27th December 2014.
On that date Police Officers responded to a report of a fight at the 2005 Night Club located on Aviation Drive, Providenciales. When the Police got there, they were informed a male who was stabbed had been taken to the hospital. Upon reaching the hospital officers were informed that 19 year old Kenley Walters succumbed to his injuries.
A Crime scene was established and the investigations began.
The 4 males ages 16, 20, 24 and 25 were taken to court earlier today where they were not allowed to enter a plea. They were remanded to custody will return to court on 5th August 2016 for a sufficiency hearing.
Thomas Watkins Jr Sentenced to 5years Imprisonment
In the Supreme Court today, 27 year old Thomas Watkins Jr who was on trial for Wounding with intent, attempted wounding with intent and Possession of firearm with intent to cause fear to another was found guilty for one of the offences based on the evidence.
On Friday 1st January 2016 around 6:13am, police officers responded to a report of shots being fired in Dennis Yard area of Five Cays Providenciales. The complainant told officers that he was sitting in the yard with (5) five other persons when Thomas approached them and asked a question.
When one of the guys held up his head, Thomas pulled out a gun and started shooting. The victim ran into two other masked man who also began shooting at him. He managed to get away but received a gunshot wound to the head.
He was taken to the hospital where he was treated and release. No on else was injured.
PDM PARTY CONVENTION
The 41st National Convention of the People’s Democratic Movement was held on Providenciales June 24-25, 2016, under the theme VICTORY IS A MUST! This year’s event kicked off in Blue Hills at local restaurant Kalooki’s to present the 5 at large candidates that will be contesting the upcoming general election.
Joining Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, Hon. Derek Taylor and Hon. Josephine Connolly, the incumbent at large members, are Mrs. Karen Malcolm and Mr. Robert Been Jr. The mood was festive, celebratory and victorious.
Saturday, June 25th, 2016, was the party’s business session, where delegates learned in more detail of the work of the party around the islands and received the reports from party officers.
Election of Officers of the party took place during the business session of the convention, which saw the opening for nominations of all officers. Party leader, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Deputy Leader Hon. Sean Astwood and National Chairman Douglas Parnell returned unopposed.
The following persons were additionally elected to office: -
Mr. Karl Bain 1st Vice Chair
Mrs. Patricia Saunders 2nd Vice Chair
Mr. Princie Harris Party Whip
Mr. Joseph Connolly Assistant Treasurer
Ms. Gladyss Kennedy Assistant Secretary General
Bro. Charles Garland Party Chaplain
Mr. Llewellyn Handfield, Trustee
Mr. Charles Garland Trustee
Hon. Derek Taylor Trustee
This means newcomers Sabrina Green & Louis Astwood did not make it on the ticket for the upcoming elections.
PDA Leader Oswald Skippings comments on the UK’s exit from the EU
Leader of the PDA. Oswald Skippings is 2nd leader of a political party to have commented on the UK’s exit from the EU and is sounding off on on the grave effects that this will have on the TCI.
In his release to RTC, Mr. Skipping says and I quote:
The recent advent of BREXIT afforded the British people to make a bold move to determine their own destiny as they decided by majority, and to the dismay of their Prime Minister, to exit the European Union.
While the British populace is uniting and embracing the timely opportunity to take authority and control their destiny as it relates to issues such as their money, their immigration, their security, their jobs and their social services, the British Government and its local administrators in collusion with locally elected officials, seem hell bent on opening up our doors for mass immigration to the extent of widening the franchise, leaving our borders unprotected facilitating the escalation of mass and dangerous crime, taking away from us the control of our money, and giving our jobs to foreign work permit holders thereby impoverishing and disempowering our people.
This British European Union shift has changed the financial dynamics of the entire world however temporary and slowed down commerce and brought the British pound down to its lowest in history, not to mention the escalation of the volatility of the financial market. Consequently, the threat of a United Kingdom breakup has become even more real and does nothing to calm the fears of the global community including the Turks and Caicos and its remaining Overseas Territories.
Moreover, during the next few years while Britain negotiates what their actual relationship with the EU will be, the possibility of an even greater economic fallout is possible. One possibility is that our free-flow immigration relationship with the EU will automatically change along with the likely British passport changes and the future of EU grant funds to the Turks and Caicos will also be uncertain.
Closer to home, the economic stability of the United States is heavily dependent on its ability to negotiate mutually beneficial arrangements with allies and other friendly jurisdictions and because of the global political, economic and industrial intricacy, that ability may now decrease, not to mention that when the US sneezes, the Turks and Caicos catches influenza.
However, regardless of past mistakes and misdeeds, we cannot as a Turks and Caicos people continue any longer to be apathetic and complacent and remain immersed and lamenting in our dreadful past, we must awake and arise and take our country back. This is a wake up call for our clueless Turks and Caicos leaders to end this political mediocrity and step up both their political and economic governance to avoid a relapse into recession and economic disruption.
Because of a Draconian Colonial constitution and an impotent political directorate, we are being left drifting, merely going along with the flow and now more than ever, we need gifted, bold and visionary political leadership with proactive, creative and innovative ideas. Leaders who are able to plan and put in place strong economic, social and political strategies and progressive policies that would demonstrate that we are prepared for self-determination when the Turks and Caicos people so decide.
Therefore for this upcoming election, the Turks and Caicos electorate has to become more politically conscious and much more election savvy in order to end our subservient and powerless status and secure a comfortable, safe and prosperous niche in this global community, a universally coveted position that only the Progressive Democratic Alliance is equipped and committed to accomplish in these difficult and trying times for our Beautiful By Nature Turks and Caicos Islands and its disempowered people.
God bless our Turks and Caicos! End Quote.
Many of you may recall that the Premier the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing responded on the exit on Expression of Friday Morning last.
Chile storm into Copa final, set up rematch with Argentina
Chile stormed into the Copa America final here Wednesday, beating Colombia 2-0 in a weather-disrupted semi-final that took more than four hours to complete.
The defending champions advanced to a repeat of last year's final against Argentina on Sunday after a whirlwind start left Colombia chasing the game.
Chile, who had destroyed Mexico 7-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday, picked up where they left off, scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes to take a grip on the contest.
Bayer Lever-kusen midfielder Charles Aran-guiz opened the scoring in the seventh minute before Jose Pedro Fuen-zalida made it 2-0 after 11 minutes.
German cinema attacker takes hostages before being killed by police
A masked gunman stormed a German cinema Thursday afternoon, taking hostages before he was killed by police, officials said.
The rifle-wielding man entered the cinema in Viernheim, near Frankfurt in western Germany, shortly before 3 p.m. local time, Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth said.
Police received reports of four shots fired.
German public TV initially said 25 peoplewere injured, but it wasn't clear if they were shot or hurt in other ways.
The U.S. Embassy in Germany said officials are looking into the possibility that tear gas might have caused some of the injuries, spokeswoman Jackie McKennan said.
OAS chief urges support for vote on removing Venezuela's president
The leader of the Organization of American States urged member countries Thursday to support efforts in Venezuela to hold a referendum on removing President Nicolas Maduro from office.
At a special meeting of its Permanent Council on the political and economic crisis in oil-rich but beleaguered Venezuela, OAS secretary general Luis Almagro said the country is in the midst of a "grave disruption of constitutional order."
But the four-hour meeting ended with no decision on measures against Venezuela.
Venezuela's oil-dependent economy, saddled with the world's highest inflation rate, is in a dramatic free fall because of the drop in crude prices, and Maduro's government has jailed opposition leaders.