Descendants of UK slave owners coming to apologize
Family members of John Gladstone, a former owner of enslaved Africans, will be arriving in Guyana later this week to participate in the launch of the International Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies (MiDias) at the University of Guyana (UoG).
The family also plans to apologize for their ancestor’s role in that dehumanizing period of world history.
“The Gladstone family, which includes several historians have today confirmed that they will in fact offer an apology given the role their ancestors had played here,” UoG said in a statement on Saturday.
John Gladstone was the father of four-time British Prime Minister William Gladstone, owned 2,500 salves and according to the UK Guardian, was the fifth-largest beneficiary of the £20 million fund (about £16 billion today) set aside by the British government to compensate planters when the Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833.
The paper also reported that in addition to making an official apology for Gladstone’s ownership of Africans, the 21st-century Gladstones have agreed to pay reparations to fund further research into the impact of slavery, through a £100,000 grant to the MiDias.
The Diaspora and Migration Centre is set up to pursue five specific areas of research interest including Diaspora and Migration in and around Academia, Youth, Technology and Vulnerable Communities, Indigeneity, Indentureship, and Slavery as specific and integral aspects of dispersion.
“The research track for Slavery and indentureship is the reason why it was deemed appropriate to launch the MiDias in this historically auspicious month in regard to the emancipation of enslaved peoples as well as the 200th anniversary of the 1823 slave revolution in Demerara,” UG added.
UoG says it has been collaborating for several years with a number of universities as well as the Guyana Reparations Committee on specific aspects of the impacts of the plantations’ enterprise of slavery and indenture as well as indigeneity on native populations, including relations being experienced today.
According to that publicly funded tertiary institution, as such UG and the Guyana Reparations Committee invited members of the Gladstone family, part of the heirs of slavery grouping to participate in the event since Quamina and his son John, who led the 1823 rebellions were enslaved on Gladstone plantations.
John Gladstone owned or held mortgages over 2,508 enslaved Africans in Guyana and Jamaica. After emancipation, he was paid nearly £106,000, a huge sum at the time. The Demerara rebellion in August 1823 began on one of his plantations. It was led by Jack Gladstone, an enslaved man forced to take his owner’s name, and his father, Quamina, who had been transported from Africa as a child.
About 13,000 Africans rose up in Demerara, a British colony that later became part of Guyana. Conditions for the enslaved were particularly brutal there. The plantations were the most profitable in the British Empire, with an enslaved person in Demerara worth twice that of one in Jamaica.
More than 250 enslaved Africans were killed and a further 51 were sentenced to death when the uprising was crushed. Many of the convicted were tortured, decapitated, and had their heads impaled on poles as a warning to others. Quamina’s body was hung in chains outside one of John Gladstone’s plantations.
Friday’s launch is being done in collaboration with the National Reparations Committee and Heirs of Slavery, a group that includes the Gladstones, at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre of the Turkeyen Campus and is expected to be attended by several elders, the Guyana Reparations Committee and other groups, students and senior potentates to witness the launch and receive the formal apology from the Gladstone family.
After the formal ceremony at the UoG, the moment will be marked by an inter-generational dialogue between students and youthful members of the Gladstone family, a linking of the University of Guyana Library with digital archives of the Council of World Missions and an exhibition of scholarly work throughout the day on the subject matter.
Source- Loop Caribbean News
TCI's Sports Commission Launches the Athlete Development Fund for grant applications
The Athlete Development Fund (ADF) developed by the TCI Sports Commission has officially launched for grant applications.
In June 2022, The ADF was initially launched, coinciding with the Turks and Caicos Islands' first Long-Term Athlete Development Symposium. This launch sparked the partnership between the private and public sectors for sport funding. The ADF is guided by a committee that determines and prioritizes investment strategies for sports associations, clubs, and athletes in an effort to enhance sports development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Key sponsors have committed funds that will finance awardees for 2023-24 and the upcoming year. The main objectives are to increase sporting participation opportunities and increase the Turks and Caicos Islands' capacity to compete and develop a sporting system that systemically achieves world-class results.
Funding is provided to eligible organizations and athletes for programming that supports Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) with a particular emphasis on High-performance Development. LTAD caters to grassroots programs at the primary and high school levels, leading the athletes to semi-professional and professional levels. This high-performance development could take the form of sports training camps, sports leagues and tournaments, and sports equipment.
The Director of Sports Mr Jarrett Forbes explained the importance of the ADF, "We strongly believe that sport is a positive pathway for building young people and consequentially building stronger communities. And we believe that there are many individuals who live in these islands or who have a strong interest in the TCI, who also believe in building strong communities… who find value in a safe, enjoyable and productive Turks and Caicos Islands."
The ADF also finds a path to tackle funding challenges, as while the Turks and Caicos Islands Government is steadily increasing its allocation for sports development, further streams of funding are essential.
Forbes explained this further, "Many countries around the region are heavily supported by the Olympic Solidarity Fund. However with the TCI currently not an associated member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), we do not receive Olympic Solidarity funding. Neighboring countries like the Bahamas, and Jamaica, and major countries like Canada and the United Kingdom’s sports systems are heavily funded by a National Lottery but in the TCI, we do not have such a sport funding system. We, therefore, found it important to find a way to provide additional resources to our sports organizations and athletes through the creation of the Athlete Development Fund."
During the press conference, Director of J&W Construction Samuel Harvey presented a $10,000 cheque adding to the pool of funds to serve the 2023/24 year of the ADF. J&W Construction also committed funding in the inaugural year of the ADF.
Mr. Harvey shared, "I believe in the going forward of the youth in this country and with sports...From the second this was shot to me I said, "Yes this is a good idea and I will guarantee you that J&W is going to back this project." We were hoping to be trailblazers."
In attendance was also the Minister of Education, Youth Sports, and Social Services, Hon Rachel Taylor. She shared, "The government understands the significant impact sports can have on a country. More importantly the youth of a country and the growth and development it can provide to both...Our young people want to see that we are interested and believe in them. Nothing shows belief like an investment. That is why I want to encourage the private sector to not just give to the fund but invest in the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands. TCIG has made intentional investments in sports and with private sector collaboration, we have the ability to transform lives because partnerships cultivate efficiency effectiveness, and productivity."
If you or your organization is interested in investing in the Athlete Development Fund, contact the Committee at info@tciathletedevelopmentfund.com.
About the ADF
The Athlete Development Fund (ADF) is designed to support the development of Turks and Caicos Islands athletes. Under the mantra "The future is now", funding is provided to eligible organizations and athletes for programming that supports Long-Term Athlete Development with a particular emphasis on High-performance Development.
The objectives of the ADF are to:
1. increase opportunities to participate in quality sport activities for all Turks and Caicos Islands, including under-represented groups;
2. increase the capacity of the Turks and Caicos Islands sport system to systematically achieve world-class results at the highest international competitions;
3. contribute to the provision of technical sports leadership within the Turks and Caicos Islands sport system; and
4. advance Turks and Caicos Islands' interests, values, and ethics in sport at home and abroad.
Mason Greenwood will not play for Manchester United after attempted rape charge dropped
Mason Greenwood will not play for Manchester United after an attempted rape charge against him was dropped earlier this year.
In a statement, the club said: "All those involved, including Mason, recognize the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.
"It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome."
The club added that after its internal investigation "the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged".
In 2022 a woman posted a video on social media in which she is bruised and bleeding, claiming she was attacked by the footballer.
In the video, a man said to be Greenwood, shouts at his alleged victim to "move your f****** legs up".
The woman replies that she does not want to have sex.
The man responds: "I don't give a f*** what you want, you little s***."
The forward was charged with attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behavior in October 2022. He was initially arrested in January of that year.
In February 2023 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had a "duty to stop the case" following the "withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light".
Those developments meant there was "no longer a realistic prospect of conviction" and led to the decision by the CPS to discontinue prosecution and drop the charges against Greenwood.
In a statement this afternoon Greenwood, 21, said: "I fully accept I made mistakes... and I take my share of responsibility".
He has always denied any criminal charges.
Greenwood called the decision to not play for the team a "collaborative" one between Manchester United and him and his family.
Last week the club said they were working "through the final stages" of their internal investigation into Greenwood, having completed the "fact-finding phase".
Richard Arnold, Manchester United's CEO, said the club's investigation "sought to collate as much evidence as possible to establish facts and context".
In an open letter to fans on Monday, he said timings had been "influenced by my desire to minimize the impact of the investigation on our men's and women's teams, as well as our Lionesses".
Mr. Arnold said the investigation "led us to conclude that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with".
He said: "While I am satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with, Mason's accepted that he has made mistakes which he takes responsibility for."
Protests have been held at the start of the new season, with some fans threatening to withdraw their support for United if the club reintegrates Greenwood into the team.
Among them is a well-known supporter and Countdown presenter Rachel Riley.
She said she wouldn't be able to remain a fan if Greenwood stays at United.
Source- Sky News
Pioneering wind-powered cargo ship sets sail
A cargo ship fitted with giant, rigid British-designed sails has set out on its maiden voyage.
Shipping firm Cargill, which has chartered the vessel, hopes the technology will help the industry chart a course toward a greener future.
The WindWings sails are designed to cut fuel consumption and therefore shipping's carbon footprint.
It is estimated the industry is responsible for about 2.1% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The Pyxis Ocean's maiden journey, from China to Brazil, will provide the first real-world test of the WindWings - and an opportunity to assess whether a return to the traditional way of propelling ships could be the way forward for moving cargo at sea.
Folded down when the ship is in port, the wings are opened out when it is in open water. They stand 123ft (37.5m) tall and are built of the same material as wind turbines, to make them durable.
Enabling a vessel to be blown along by the wind, rather than relying solely on its engine, could hopefully eventually reduce a cargo ship's lifetime emissions by 30%.
Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, said the industry was on a "journey to decarbonize". He admitted there was "no silver bullet" - but said this technology demonstrated how fast things were changing.
"Five, six years ago, if you would ask people in shipping about decarbonising, they would say 'Well, it's going to be very difficult, I don't see this happening any time soon'," he told the BBC.
"Five years later, I think the narrative has changed completely and everybody is really convinced that they need to do their part - everybody is just struggling a little on how we're going to do this.
"That's why we've taken the role as one of the larger players to underwrite some of the risks, try things, and take the industry forward."
The Pyxis Ocean will take an estimated six weeks to reach its destination - but the technology it is using has its origins in something much faster.
It was developed by UK firm BAR Technologies, which was spun out of Sir Ben Ainslie's 2017 America's Cup team, a competition sometimes called the 'Formula One of the Seas'.
"This is one of the most slow-moving projects we've done, but without a doubt with the biggest impact for the planet," its head John Cooper - who used to work for Formula One team McLaren - told the BBC.
He thinks this voyage will be a turning point for the maritime industry.
"I do predict by 2025 half the new-build ships will be ordered with wind propulsion," he said.
"The reason I'm so confident is our savings - one-and-a-half tonnes of fuel per day. Get four wings on a vessel, that's six tonnes of fuel saved, that's 20 tonnes of CO2 saved - per day. The numbers are massive."
The innovation has come from the UK but the wings themselves are manufactured in China. Mr. Cooper says a lack of government support in reducing the cost of imported steel prevents the company from making them here.
"It's a shame, I'd love to build in the UK," he told the BBC.
Experts say wind power is a promising area to explore, as the shipping industry tries to reduce the estimated 837 million tonnes of CO2 it produces each year.
In July it agreed to reduce planet-warming gases to net zero "by or around 2050" - a pledge critics said was toothless.
"Wind power can make a big difference," says Dr Simon Bullock, shipping researcher at the Tyndall Centre, at the University of Manchester.
He said new cleaner fuels will take time to emerge "so we have to throw everything at operational measures on existing ships - like retrofitting vessels with sails, kites and rotors".
"Ultimately we do need zero-carbon fuels on all ships, but in the meantime, it is imperative to make every journey as efficient as possible. Slower speeds are also a critical part of the solution," he told the BBC.
Stephen Gordon, managing director, at the maritime data firm Clarksons Research, agreed that wind-related technologies were "gaining some traction".
"We have the number of ships using this technology doubling over the past 12 months," he explained.
"This is from a low base, however. In the international shipping fleet and new-build order book of over 110,000 vessels, we have records for under 100 having wind-assisted technology today."
Even if that number dramatically increases, wind technology may not be suitable for all vessels, for example, where the sails interfere with the unloading of containers.
"The shipping industry does not yet have a clear decarbonization pathway and, given the scale the challenge, and the diversity of the world shipping fleet, there is unlikely to be a single solution for the industry in the short or medium term," Mr Gordon predicted.
John Cooper, of BAR Technologies, is more bullish though, saying the future for wind wings is "very rosy."
He also admits he takes a certain satisfaction in the idea of the industry returning to its origins.
"The engineers always hate it, but I always say it's back to the future," he said.
"The invention of big combustion engines destroyed the trade routes and the sailing routes and now we're going to try to reverse that trend, just a bit."
Source- BBC
ALERT #3 ON TROPICAL STORM FRANKLIN
Alert #3 on Tropical Storm Franklin was issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Monday 21st August, 2023 at 3:00 pm EDT.
…NOAA Reconnaissance plane is investigating Franklin…
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that Tropical Storm conditions could be experienced within the Turks and Caicos Islands within 48 hours.
At 2 pm EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located near latitude 14.5 degrees north and longitude 70.1 degrees west, or about 484 miles South of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Tropical Storm Franklin is moving toward the west near 4 miles per hour. A slow westward motion is expected through this afternoon. A sharp turn to the north is expected tonight or early Tuesday, and a generally northward motion is expected tonight or early Tuesday. Franklin will generally continue along a northward track later Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin will reach the southern coast of Hispaniola by Tuesday night, and pass east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 miles per hour with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast before Franklin reaches Hispaniola.
Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center.
Residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands should begin to make preparation for the possibility of Tropical Storm conditions beginning on Wednesday morning.
Original voice of Mario in Nintendo games steps down after 27 years
The original voice of Mario in Nintendo's video games is stepping down.
Charles Martinet has been in the role for 27 years - dating back to Super Mario 64 in 1996.
He also provided the voices of Mario's twin brother Luigi, and their nemesis Wario.
Nintendo has now announced that Charles will take on the brand-new role of "Mario ambassador".
The Japanese video game giant said: "He'll continue to travel the world sharing the joy of Mario and interacting with you all!
"It has been an honor working with Charles to help bring Mario to life for so many years and we want to thank and celebrate him."
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Martinet wrote: "My new adventure begins! You are all Numba One in my heart!"
The 67-year-old added the hashtag "#woohoo" - one of Mario's signature catchphrases.
In 2019, the American actor won the Guinness World Record for the most video game voiceover performances as the same character: 104 at the time.
Read more gaming news:
When will the next Grand Theft Auto Game be released?
Female gamers face online abuse
Martinet didn't star as the Italian plumber in The Super Mario Bros Movie, with Chris Pratt taking on the part, but did have a small role as his father Giuseppe.
At a Canadian gaming expo two years ago, Martinet told the crowd that he wanted to voice Mario "until I drop dead" - but said he would urge Nintendo to find someone else if he was no longer capable of doing it.
It's unclear who will succeed Martinet in the role, with Super Mario Bros. Wonder - the next game in the series - set to be released in October.
Source- Sky News
Twitter, now X, to remove blocking feature
The blocking feature will be removed for users of X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk has announced, claiming the feature "makes no sense".
The X boss said users will still be able to block people from directly messaging them, however.
But many people on social media said it will make it hard for people to remove abusive posts from their timelines.
It is the latest in a series of changes Mr. Musk has made since taking over the site in a $44bn deal last year.
Currently, when users "block" an account, it stops that account's posts from appearing in the blocker's timeline, and vice versa.
An account that is blocked can no longer send messages to the blocker, nor can it view their posts.
Former Twitter founder, Jack Dorsey, seemed to agree with Mr. Musk's decision, posting: "100%. Mute only".
But there are concerns that muting an account would not be sufficient protection from cases of harassment, abuse, or stalking.
The mute function currently only stops notifications about an account's posts. An account that is muted can still view the muter's posts and reply to them.
One user called Mr. Musk's decision a "huge mistake", saying there are "toxic people" on the platform whom users simply did not want to interact with in any way.
Removing a blocking feature could also potentially violate the terms and conditions of stores like Apple's App Store and Google Play.
Both stores have conditions stating that social media apps should allow users facilities to filter harassment or bullying.
It could mean X is no longer downloadable from those stores.
If the policy goes ahead, it is not clear if all those accounts which are blocked will automatically become unblocked.
Users do however have the option to make their account private, hiding their tweets from the public and only allowing accepted followers to view their posts.
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, made a series of changes when he took over the social media site, including sacking the company's top executive team and introducing a charge for the site's "blue tick" - or verification - feature.
Elon Musk is a prolific poster on X, and he's well known for not always being serious or following through on the many ideas he throws out to his 153 million followers.
X itself rarely responds to journalist queries so it's difficult to verify anything he states on behalf of the firm. But, as its owner, he's by default a significant, if unreliable, source.
The block button is an established tool for those who feel attacked, bullied, or simply want to shut out an account with whom they have a strong disagreement (and X is full of those).
Report an account and one of the first bits of advice you get is to either block or mute it while it is investigated. That's not unique to X.
Muting an account means you don't see it - but it still sees you. And being forced to remain visible to someone you are trying to avoid or feel afraid of seems like an unusual move.
Musk has been clear that he wants his "digital town square" to be a platform where all voices are heard, but he's running the risk of bumping up against both app store terms and conditions and social media regulations around protecting users from online harms.
Source- BBC
Race to evacuate city as blaze approaches
One of the largest cities in Canada's north is being evacuated amid warnings that a wildfire could reach it by the weekend.
The 20,000 residents of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, have been given until noon Friday (18:00 GMT) to leave.
As of Thursday morning, the fire was within 16km (10 miles) of the city.
Another fire is threatening the community of Hay River.
One evacuee told the CBC her car began melting as she and her family drove through embers while fleeing that town.
The Northwest Territories declared a state of emergency late on Tuesday as it battles nearly 240 wildfires.
Mike Westwick, the territory's fire information officer, has said that in the absence of rain, there is a chance the blaze will reach the outskirts of Yellowknife by the weekend.
"We're doing absolutely everything we can first and foremost to slow the growth and prevent that fire from making it to Yellowknife," he told broadcaster CBC early on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Shane Thompson, the region's environment minister, told reporters that the fires had "taken another turn for the worse" and represented a "real threat" to Yellowknife.
"I want to stress that the city is not in immediate danger," he said. "[But] you put yourself and others at risk if you choose to stay."
The premier of the Northwest Territories described the Yellowknife evacuation as "unprecedented".
"I know we are all tired of the word but there's no other way to describe the situation in the Northwest Territories," Caroline Cochrane said on Wednesday.
Some residents of Yellowknife had already begun leaving earlier on Wednesday after parts of the city were put on evacuation alert, meaning they could be asked to leave at a moment's notice.
"Watching the flights sell out and the prices go up I just kind of got to a point where we should leave," Ashley Maclellan, who fled with her baby south to Edmonton, told the CBC.
Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson pleaded with anyone remaining in the town to leave immediately.
The fire moved 30km in a few hours because of strong winds earlier this week, closing the only two highways out of the town. Then it stalled about 10km away from the town.
The road out of Hay River is "treacherous", the mayor said, and food and petrol supplies are getting low in the community.
Phone and internet services have also been down in the remote region.
Resident Lisa Mundy described how her bumper had begun to melt, her windscreen had cracked and her car had filled with smoke as she and her husband left the town with their two children on Sunday.
"You couldn't see anything - we were driving through embers," she said.
"[My six-year-old son] actually said to me, 'I don't want to die, mommy,' and he kept saying it so many times."
Canada's military has been co-ordinating airlift operations out of several communities in Northwest Territories' South Slave Region that have been threatened by wildfires in recent days.
Airlift operations out of Yellowknife are set to begin on Thursday afternoon, the territory's government said, with five flights scheduled to Calgary, in the neighboring province of Alberta.
The fires have launched the largest airlift evacuation effort in the territory's history.
The communities of Fort Smith, K'atl'odeeche First Nation, Hay River, Enterprise and Jean Marie River are all also under evacuation orders.
Enterprise, home to 120 people, is "90% gone" after a wildfire swept through this week, the community's mayor told the CBC on Tuesday.
Canada is having its worst wildfire season on record, with nearly 1,100 active fires burning across the country as of Wednesday.
Experts have pointed to a warmer and drier spring than normal as the reason.
Scientists say climate change increases the risk of hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires.
Source- BBC
Land Holdings Companies Transfer Duty Amendment Bill 2023 - 16 August 2023
Hon. Speaker,
Hon. Premier,
Hon. Members of this House of Assembly,
Strangers in the Gallery,
Persons tuning in via radio and streaming media, and
My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Good day,
Today, I stand in this honorable to table the Land Holdings Companies
Transfer Duty Amendment Bill 2023, which includes pivotal amendments
to the Land Holding Companies (Transfer Duty) Ordinance.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that this Bill stays true to our
Government’s commitment to fiscal prudence, while giving us the ability
to continue to grow our local economy at a pace that maximizes benefits
to our people and our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Speaker, for clarity, this Bill seeks to give the Minister of Finance
(through Cabinet) the authority to remit, either wholly or in part, the
duty payable on the transfer of an interest, or transfer of any equity
capital, in a land-holding corporation.
Mr. Speaker, simply put, this Bill will give our government, and future
governments, a strategic lever, that can be used to, when necessary,
dynamically adjust our economic policy to strengthen our ability to
achieve the best outcomes for our people and our beautiful nature
Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Speaker, consider, for example, a situation where a significant
investment opportunity comes to our shores.
Let’s say an international company with a reputation for sustainable and
responsible development wishes to establish a large-scale project that
promises employment for hundreds of our citizens.
Mr. Speaker, if such a development required a transfer of equity capital
in a land holding company, currently, it would not qualify for the (stamp
duty) concessions that are allowable on the property – e.g. land sales.
However, with this Bill Mr. Speaker, TCIG will have the ability to step in,
assess the broader socio-economic benefits, and if deemed prudent,
provide relief on the transfer duty; and in so doing, make our islands a
more attractive investment destination.
Mr. Speaker, for the record, not every transfer of capital in a land holding
company will qualify for remission. However, with this Bill, the Minister
of Finance (in Cabinet) will have the discretion to evaluate and respond
to situations in real time, thereby ensuring that every decision made is
in the best interest of our people and our beautiful nature Turks and
Caicos Islands.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, this Bill will act as a safety net for unforeseen
economic downturns or global crises.
Mr. Speaker, during challenging times, like the COVID-19 pandemic,
governments need every tool at their disposal to stimulate economic
activity, encourage investments and bolster economic resilience. By
having the ability to remit transfer duties, we are giving our government,
and future governments, a tool that can be used for swift, targeted
responses to economic challenges whenever they arise.
Mr. Speaker, to those people who may have concerns about this Bill, I
would like to state that it is not about previous revenue arbitrarily.
Instead, it is about giving TCIG the flexibility to make strategic fiscal
decisions, to assess the broader socioeconomic implications of each
transaction, and to act in the best interests of our people and our
beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, our regional and global competitors often
use such strategic incentives to attract and anchor investments that have
transformative potential. With this Bill, our Government is not just
leveling the playing field, but it is also signaling to the world that our
beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands is open to attracting
responsible, impactful, and transformative businesses.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, this Bill is not just about remitting
duties. It is about the bigger picture – i.e. creating a thriving, dynamic,
and resilient Turks and Caicos Islands.
It is about seizing opportunities and navigating challenges with agility.
It is about telling domestic and foreign entrepreneurs that the Turks
and Caicos Islands are the best place for their investments.
Mr. Speaker, in summary:
• Clauses 1 and 2 of the Bill make provision for the short title,
commencement, and interpretation of the Bill.
• Clause 3 of the Bill seeks to amend the Ordinance to insert a new
section 4A to empower the Minister of Finance to remit, wholly
or in part, the duty payable on the transfer of an interest or
transfer of any equity capital in a land-holding corporation.
• The amount of any duty remitted under the new section 4A(1)
in respect of the transfer of an interest or transfer of any equity
capital in a land-holding corporation shall for the purposes of the
Ordinance be deemed to have been paid in respect of that
transfer.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all members of this honorable House to consider
the long-term benefits and the doors of opportunities this Bill will open.
Let us act in unison, with foresight and ambition, to make a decision that
will undoubtedly write a new, prosperous chapter for our people and our
beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
With that Mr. Speaker, I now invite this Honourable House to debate the
Land Holdings Companies Transfer Duty Amendment Bill 2023.
Thank you.
Hon. E. Jay Saunders
Minister of Finance, Investment & Trade
Hozier would consider strike over AI threat to music
Irish musician Hozier has said he would consider striking over the threat artificial intelligence (AI) poses to his industry.
Hollywood actors and writers are currently striking over a row about better contracts and protection from the use of AI.
Hozier told the BBC's Newsnight he would be willing to join similar strike action in the music industry.
The singer added he was not sure if AI "meets the definition of art".
In July, Hollywood writers and actors manned picket lines for the first time in decades. Among their concerns was a proposal by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to keep "digital replicas" of actors.
But musicians are yet to follow suit regarding the threat AI poses to their own industry. The technology could be used to write songs or mimic well-known artists.
In April, a song that used AI to clone the voices of Drake and The Weeknd was removed from streaming services following criticism that it violated copyright law.
Asked if he could imagine going on strike over the threat AI poses to music, Hozier, whose real name is Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, said: "Joining in solidarity if there was… action on that? Absolutely."
"Whether [AI is] art or not, I think, is nearly a philosophical debate," the Grammy-nominated singer, well known for his song Take Me to Church, told presenter Victoria Derbyshire.
"It can't create something based on a human experience. So I don't know if it meets the definition of art."
Last week, the Financial Times reported that Google and Universal Music are in talks to license artists' melodies and voices for songs generated by AI.
During his interview, Hozier also discussed the death of fellow Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor.
The singer reflected that he was "walking on this road that she paved", after she ripped up a picture of the Pope on US TV in 1992, in protest against child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Her actions initially drew widespread condemnation.
Three decades later, Hozier's debut single Take Me to Church, which he said criticized the church's teaching of "shame about sexual orientation", reached number one in 12 countries and remains the 30th most streamed song of all time.
"I think sensibilities have changed," Hozier said of the difference in reaction. "I think part of it is because Sinead was a woman. I think a lot of it is she was one of the first who had the courage to stand up and say it.
"That was such a taboo at the time."
Hozier suggested the "mission statement" of his debut single is "more applicable now than it was 10 years ago".
"I'm not delighted about this, but I think in some ways it is more applicable… We didn't have LGBTQ+ free zones in the European Union 10 years ago," he said.
"We didn't have armed militia waiting outside of, you know, gay and queer spaces and with this sort of terrible threat hanging over that."
When asked if he would ever perform in Russia, Saudi Arabia, or other states that repress minorities, the artist described the issue as "a tricky one".
"Do we not repress minorities here? Or in America?" he asked, as he revealed he had turned down an invite to an event that was sponsored by the Russian state.
"I was invited to perform once in the Vatican City, which was interesting… They invited me to sing Take Me to Church, I believe, at one point."
"And you said no?" Derbyshire asked. "Oh yeah. That would've been fun," Hozier quipped.
The musician spoke to Newsnight in his only UK broadcast interview ahead of the launch of his new album Unreal Unearth.
The album, which is partly inspired by the Italian poet Dante's Inferno, and his experience of the pandemic, is released on 18 August.
Source- BBC