Body of a two-year-old boy Attacked by an Alligator Recovered
Florida rescuers have recovered the body of a two-year-old boy attacked by an alligator on the edge of a manmade lake at a Disney resort hotel, authorities said Wednesday.
His body was completely intact... The body has now been turned over to the Orange County medical office for an autopsy," Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters.
The boy was dragged underwater late Tuesday by the gator, despite his father's desperate attempts to save him.
Iran Sues US Over Frozen Assets
Iran has filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice to recover $2 billion worth of assets frozen in the United States.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani made the announcement in remarks Wednesday on state television. The tribunal also confirmed that the suit was filed, on Tuesday.
The U.S. Supreme Court announced in April that the frozen funds would be used to compensate the victims and families of victims of the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, and other attacks that have been linked to Iran.
Iran has denied any role in the attacks and rejected the court ruling, calling it theft.
Iran's claim says the U.S. legal proceedings violate a 1955 "treaty of amity" between the two countries that covers economic relations and consular rights. It has called on the United States to make full reparations to Tehran for violating its "legal obligations."
More than 1,000 Americans have joined a suit blaming Iran for providing material support to Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Islamic military group behind the Beirut bombing and the bombing of Saudi Arabia's Khobar Towers in 1996.
White House to Commit $220 Million to Supporting Ukraine
The White House plans to commit $220 million to Ukraine in support of economic, political, and energy reforms, Vice President Biden said in a meeting with Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman Wednesday.
"The Vice President expressed strong support for the prime minister's ambitious reform efforts and commended him for the bold reform steps his Cabinet has already taken in its initial two months in office," the White House said in a statement.
The Vice President also expressed deep concern about the rise of separatists in Eastern Ukraine, supported by Russia, urging Ukraine to fully implement the Minsk agreements, a cease-fire accord designed to end fighting between Ukraine’s government and the country’s pro-Russian rebels in the east.
Biden also assured Groysman that sanctions against Russia would not be lifted until it fully implemented the accord.
Since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, the U.S. and EU have imposed several rounds of asset freezes, travel bans and other penalties on Russia.
President Obama Set to Visit Orlando Following Mass Shooting
Following the worst mass shooting in American history and the deadliest attack in the United States since 9/11, President Obama and Vice President Biden travelled earlier to Orlando today to meet with the families of victims and first responders in the Orlando community.
Forty-nine people were murdered in Sunday’s early morning massacre and the President will offer his solace to those victims’ families. He also thinks it crucial to meet with survivors.
At Wednesday’s White House briefing, Josh Earnest said that “the profound sense of survivors’ guilt that some people are expressing is painful just to read and I think it is important for the President of the United States, on behalf of the country, to show his support for these families and for these individuals.”
Earnest spoke about the emotional toll of these events on the President, who has frequently traveled to the affected areas following catastrophes and attacks. “It would be impossible for him to not be personally affected by these kinds of conversations and these kinds of interactions," he said. "I think the President in the past has indicated that he draws on his faith as he considers fulfilling these kinds of responsibilities."
Obama is expected to meet with Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott, a supporter of GOP presumptive nominee Donald Trump. Scott has complained in recent days that the President has not directly called him, even as he has reportedly received calls from presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump and former President George W. Bush.
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.