Taliban IDs New Leader, Confirms Mansoor Death
Afghanistan’s Taliban says Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada has been appointed the new chief of the group following the death of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.
In a Pashto language statement on Wednesday, the Tailban also formally confirmed Mansoor was killed in a U.S. drone attack last week.
“Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada has been appointed as the new leader of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) after a unanimous agreement in the shura (the supreme council), and all the members of shura pledged allegiance to him,” the Taliban statement said.
President Barack Obama confirmed on Monday that Mansoor was eliminated because he was blocking Afghan peace and reconciliation efforts.
The new Taliban leader was a deputy to Mansoor along with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the notorious Haqqani network.
Haqqani has retained his position while the son of the group’s founder, Mullah Yaqoob, has been appointed as a second deputy to the new Taliban chief.
Haibatullah is described by some Afghan observers as “a typical village type” Islamic cleric, like the group’s founder, Mullah Omar, and expect his two deputies to play the central role in Taliban military affairs.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed the responsibility for Wednesday’s bombing on a minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul which killed at least ten people.
Golding to chair Caricom Review Commission
PRIME Minister Andrew Holness yesterday announced that former Prime Minister Bruce Golding will chair a Caribbean Community (Caricom) Review Commission to be established by the Government.
He said that the commission would aim at positioning Jamaica to take full advantage of benefits available under the Caricom umbrella.
“The time has come to fully assess the benefits, opportunities and challenges of Caricom, and to assert ourselves in such a way that Jamaica gets the full benefits that membership in Caricom promises,” he said.
He added that the review commission will evaluate the effects that Jamaica’s participation in Caricom has had on Jamaica’s economic growth and development, with particular reference to trade, investment, international competitiveness and employment creation; and analyse Caricom’s performance against the goals and objectives enunciated in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and identify the causes of any shortcomings.
May 22nd was observed as International Day for Biological-Diversity.
This year, the Turks & Caicos National Trust leads the celebration of the month-long celebration of Biodiversity Day with its campaign called “Selfie for Biodiversity”. The National Trust is calling on the general public to submit “selfies” that show commitment and efforts to protect biodiversity.
Photos should highlight TCI’s wild flora and fauna, various ecosystems, even efforts, campaigns and programs covering diverse topics under biodiversity such as coastal clean-ups, tree-planting activities, fisheries and tourism, among others. This is in line with this year’s theme: Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and their Livelihoods.
The National Trust challenges groups and individuals to heighten their interest on biodiversity issues and support efforts aimed at the protection of biodiversity.
Biodiversity is not only a variety of life, but also a way of life, that according to Jonathan Sayao. Sayao added that there is a need to take charge of protecting biodiversity. He says sometimes, we only bask in the beauty of nature, but we rarely take efforts to protect the wildlife endemic to the Turks & Caicos and their natural habitats.
Capture biodiversity at its best and inspire people to act. Take a selfie!
You can post selfies on the Turks & Caicos National Trust Facebook page. The best photos will be featured at the exhibit planned for World Environment Day in scheduled for June.
Formation of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources
The Maritime and Shipping Department informed RTC news that on 1 April 2016, the Maritime Department separated from the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), to form the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).
As a result of this separation, the Maritime and Shipping Department is once again operating on its own although the Department is still currently located at the National Environmental Centre on the Lower Bight Road.
The department RTC has learned will be relocating in the near future.
The Department is advising all local Captains or Skippers who are operating small commercial vessels, in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and carrying passengers, that they are to be in possession of a boat masters license.
Where the Captain or Skipper of a vessel is operating the vessel and is not in possession of a Boat Master's License, and where the vessel does not have a certificate of inspection, the Captain, Skipper or owner are to immediately contact the Department.
Vessels that are being driven needs to be fully compliant and in possession of a Certificate of Inspection from the Maritime and Shipping Department.
Persons failing to comply with these regulations will be prosecuted to the full extent of the Merchant Shipping Regulations and the Small Commercial Vessel Code added the release.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning contracted the services of a Consultant
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning contracted the services of a consultant, the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) to assist with reforming the legislative and regulatory framework governing the Turks and Caicos Islands energy sector.
Work on the amendment of the Electricity Ordinance and the improvement of the regulatory framework began with Castalia Strategic Advisors back in 2012, Charting a Roadmap for Improving the Regulatory Framework for the Electricity Sector in the TCI; was restarted in October 2015, with the retention of RAP as the consultant.
During the course of the consultancy, meetings were held with FortisTCI, the TCHTA, the Chambers of Commerce, and members of the Renewable Energy Association. The process now seeks further input from the wider public to ensure all issues are considered and adequately addressed.
A Draft Report with proposed recommendations can be downloaded from the website, http://www.gov.tc/images/DRAFT_REPORT_TCI_ENERGY_SECTOR_REFORM.pdf.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Housing and Planning, is extending an invitation to members of the public to participate in the Consultation Meetings scheduled for Grand Turk this Wednesday May 25, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Anglican Church Dillon Hall and for Providenciales - Tuesday May 31th 2016 at 6:30PM at Tropicana.
Among a number of deliverables, RAP was tasked with reviewing and modernizing the Electricity Ordinance and designing a regulatory framework for the energy sector consistent with policy objectives to:
1. Protect the interests of consumers, investors and the public.
2. Ensure and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the electricity sector and the economy as a whole.
3. Facilitate the promotion and introduction of renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and other viable technologies; thereby reducing dependency on fossil fuels, consistent with government policies.
4. The promotion of energy efficiency initiatives, projects and programmes to reduce energy demand and costs.
5. Establish effective measures for the implementation and monitoring of service level standards.
Public Statement on Turks and Caicos Islands' Commitment to exchange Beneficial Ownership
In recent developments around beneficial ownership information, transparency is fast becoming a key subject in the fight against criminals using complex structures to hide financial assets, to avoid paying their fair share of taxes which may subject these entities to illicit financial activities.
The business of offshore financial services, wealth management and asset protection is a legitimate one but a number of businesses have taken advantages of the gaps and loopholes in the system. Turks and Caicos Islands' supports the global initiative being proposed to devise a standard to protect the legitimacy of the financial system.
Turks and Caicos Islands' sovereign partner; the United Kingdom is among one of the G5 countries proposing to lead the initiative on beneficial ownership transparency and have invited the territories; Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories to play an active part in the designed and implementation of the international standard.
To-date, the Turks and Caicos Islands, along with the rest of the CD's and OT's have given the UK its assurances to play an active role in the development of the standard on beneficial ownership information by the recent signing of Exchanges Notes and Technical Protocol to the establishment of a register or electronic database holding beneficial ownership information with limited access to enforcement agencies, including regulatory authorities.
With the anti-corruption summit being hosted by the UK this week in London, the territories will feature strongly for their role in the offshore industry, and the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the fight against tax evasion, money laundering and terrorist financing will be stated in their efforts to actively participate in the global Initiative on developing the standard.
Stakeholders, corporate businesses, financial associations, interest groups, etc., are invited to comment and provide feedback, advice, input in any form helpful to Turks and Caicos Islands' active participation in the design of the international standard on beneficial ownership information and transparency.
Residents are asked to submit your feedback by email or hard copy document to the Exchange of Information Unit or the Premier Office no later than 31st May 2016.
Further contact details can be obtained from the Turks and Caicos Islands' Government website: http://www.gov.tc/
GSAT EXAMS STARTS TODAY
The 2016 GSAT examinations begins today in the Turks & Caicos and across the region.
Students on the family islands jorneyed to their centers this morning to sit the two day exam which started with math.
Deputy Premier & Minister for education, the Hon. Ak Missick wished all the students success during the morning report.
Australia Defeats the West Indies
Australia defeated the West Indies by six wickets in the second match of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday.
Scores: West Indies 116 all out off 32.3 overs; Australia 117 for 4 off 25.4 overs
Novak Djokovic Completed the Rare Career Tennis
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic completed the rare career tennis Grand Slam by defeating Britain's Andy Murray at the French Open.
Djokovic, the world's top ranked player, rallied from a first set loss to beat the second seeded Murray in four sets at Rolland Garros in Paris, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
With the victory, Djokovic becomes only the third man to hold all four major tennis titles at one time. The last one was Australian Rod Laver, who did it in the same calendar year in both 1962 and 1969. The other was American Don Budge, who won all four titles in 1938. Djokovic won last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open and this year's Australian Open before winning the French title.
Tiger Woods 'not physically ready' for tournament return
Former world number one Tiger Woods says he will not be "physically ready" to play in next week's US Open.
Woods, 40, who has had three operations to fix back problems and last played a tournament in August 2015, had registered to play at Oakmont.
But the 14-time major winner will now miss both the US Open and the Quicken Loans National at Congressional.
"I am making progress, but I'm not yet ready for tournament competition," Woods said on his official website.
Woods missed the Masters in April for only the second time since his debut in 1995.