Volume 8 Issue 48

Website: www.suntci.com Email: [email protected] Tel: 649-946-8542 Fax: 649-941-3281 www. twitter.com/suntci

DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012 VOLUME 8 No. 48 $1.00

TURKS ANDCAICOS ISLANDSWILL HAVE VAT

AIR TURKS AND CAICOSANNOUNCES NEW ROUTETO SANTO DOMINGO

RECORD NUMBER OF WOMEN IN HOUSE OF

ASSEMBLYSTORY ON PAGE 7 STORY ON PAGE 13 STORY ON PAGE 17

MINISTERS SALARIES CUTAll other MPs receive increases

The Premier and Cabinet Ministers inthe Turks and Caicos have had theirsalaries cut, while all other Membersof Parliament, including theOpposition Leader, the Speaker, theDeputy Speaker, Elected andAppointed Members, have receivedpay increases.

This was all revealed and confirmedon Friday November 30th, during the firstsitting of the House of Assembly sinceBritain imposed direct rule on August14th, 2009.

Under the Ministers and Others(Salaries and Allowances) Bill which waseventually passed by the House Fridayafternoon, the salaries are as follows:

• Premier - $140,000 or $11,666per month; a decrease from $150,000 ayear or $12,500 per month during the lastHouse of Assembly, when the Premieralso received an additional $11,500 amonth in allowances;

• Deputy Premier - $126,000 or$10,500 a month; a decrease from$135,000 a year or $11,250 per monthduring the last House of Assembly whenthe deputy also received an additional$6,000 in allowances;• Cabinet Ministers - $113,400 ayear or $9,450 per month; a decrease from$125,000 per year or $10,416 per monthduring the last House of Assembly whenMinisters also received an additional$5000 a month in allowances).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

It was a sense of pride when the House of Assembly at the NJS Francis Building in the country’s capital, Grand Turk, was open on Wednesday,November 28, signaling an official return to democracy for the Turks and Caicos Islands, after three and a half years of direct rule from Britain.The event was marked by a colourful swearing-in ceremony punctuated with pomp and pageantry. Earlier in the day, House Members and otherdignitaries – foreign and local – worshipped at the St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Anglican Church. Joining fellow members of the House, their spousesand dignitaries on the steps of the parliament building are: newly-elected Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing (third from right – front row), his wifeDr. Dawn Perry-Ewing (fourth); Her Excellency Deputy Governor Anya Williams (second right), her husband Darren Williams; and Leader of theOpposition Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson (fifth from right) and her husband Lorne Robinson. See photos on Pages 23-25

BY HAYDEN BOYCEPUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

GOV’T TO FOCUS ON TOURISM,CONSTRUCTION, FINANCIAL SERVICES

STORY ON PAGE 11

HISTORIC HOUSE OPENING

LOCAL NEWSPage 2

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Speaker of the House ofAssembly’s salary was increasedfrom $48,000 a year or $4000 amonth to $75,000 a year or$6,250 a month, while theDeputy Speaker is now making$72,000 a year or $6,000 amonth, up from $36,000 a yearor $3000 a month.

The Leader of theOpposition’s salary was raisedfrom $48,000 a year or $4,000 amonth to $75,000 a year or$6,255 a month.

Elected and AppointedMembers are now making$70,000 a year or $5833 amonth, whereas in the past,Elected Members were paid$36,000 a year or $3000 amonth, and Appointed Members$30,000 a year or $2500 amonth.

The changes in salaries andallowances were recommendedon November 6th 2012, by theIntegrity Commission,comprising chairman Sir DavidSimmons, QC, of Barbados;Gary Brough, Bishop ClarenceWilliams, Paul Harvey andMartin Green.

In outlining the underlyingprinciples of theirrecommendations, theCommission identified sevenpoints against which salaries andallowances should bedetermined.

These were:1. Members of the House

of Assembly must be

remunerated at a level that isproportionate to theresponsibilities associated withmembership of the House;

2. Levels of payment mustadequately reward publicservice and render such serviceas satisfying to the Member:

3. Levels of payment mustbe so reasonable andproportionate that they serve asa disincentive to members tobecome corrupt;

4. There must be adifferentiation between paymentto Ministers who will serve asfull-time officials and other MPswho will be free to pursue theirprivate occupations while stillserving in the House;

5. Levels of payment mustreflect the realities of publicservice in a smallCommonwealth jurisdiction;

6. Levels of payment mustbear relativity to that which isaccorded to MPs in theCommonwealth Caribbean’

7. Levels of pay must takeaccount of cost of living.

The Integrity Commissionexamined and analysed what ispaid in other countries in theCaribbean, such as Anguilla,Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,Barbados, The Cayman Islands,Jamaica and Montserrat.

In addition, it took intoaccount the salaries of MPs inBermuda and the CaymanIslands, which it was noted aremore financially andeconomically robust than theTurks and Caicos Islands.

Ministers salariescut - Cont’d

Turks and Caicos SunSuite # 5, Airport Plaza

Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

Tel: (649) 946-8542/ (649) 241-1510Fax: (649) 941-3281Email: [email protected]

Read us online at www.suntci.com

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden BoyceSenior Editor: Vivian TysonJournalist/Web Designer: Patrina Moore-PierreGraphics Editor: Joleen GrantOffice Manager: Dominique RigbyDistribution Manger: Kelano HowellAdvertising and Marketing Manager-Patrina Moore-Pierre

The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiaryof The SUN Media Group Ltd.

We are committed to excellence in journalism,educating and informing our readers, servingand satisfying our advertisers and assisting inthe overall development of the Turks and

Caicos Islands.

SEVENS STARS’ CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGThe entrance to the Seven Stars Resort was the centre of attention on Saturday, November 24, when that hotelstaged its Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. The main feature of the event was the appearance of Santa Claus, wholater doled out goodies to children, who were only too eager to oblige. Ken Patterson, Managing Director of SevenStars, said for the last six Christmases, Sevens Stars has been guaranteeing the lighting at the round-a-bout garden,which has become a perennial spectacle for guests and locals alike. However, he said that since last year the resortstarted a new tradition of having a tree-lighting ceremony, to which children of staff and guests are invited. Pattersonsaid that this year’s tree lighting ceremony was much bigger than last year’s, due to word of mouth of the eventgetting around. He said that Seven Stars Resort believes in the development of the community and the sustenanceof a pristine Turks and Caicos Islands, which is why it has been playing an integral in critical programmes, such asthe clean-up campaign, especially in the Grace Bay area. Seven Stars was also one of the host hotels for the nowpopular Caribbean Food and Wine Festival, which itself has been committed to developing young Turks and CaicosIslanders in the culinary arena, through its Little Chefs Programme. Patterson is seen here with Santa, turning onthe switch to the Christmas tree, which is seen in the background.

Page 3DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL NEWSPage 4 NOVEMBER 16TH - NOVEMBER 24TH, 2012 TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWSPage 4 TURKS AND CAICOS SUN NOVEMBER 3RD - NOVEMBER 10TH, 2012


LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL NEWSPage 7


Despite pleas from the Rufus Ewinggovernment to defer Value AddedTax for a year, until alternativerevenue measures are devised, theBritish Government is adamant thatthe tax system will be implementApril 1 next year.

The Rufus administration hadasked Minister for OverseasTerritories, Mark Simmons to delayVAT’s implementation while it workedon other dependable, less burdensomerevenue stream methods. Ewing saidthat when crafted, the methods wouldgo up for public scrutiny throughnumerous consultations.

However, Minister Simmons madeit clear during a joint news conferencewith Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing onTuesday, November 27, at the RegentPalms, that he was not convinced thatthe newly-elected government couldcome up soon enough with a systemsuitable enough to replace thecontroversial tax.

“I remain to be convinced that thedeferral of VAT for any length of timeis desirable. I would prefer to see theVAT implemented whilst the ongoinganalysis was taking place. And, at thatpoint, if it is found that it was notnecessary to have the VAT, the rate

could be reduced or it could thensubsequently be reducedsignificantly,” Simmons said.

While conceding that a significantnumber of Turks and Caicos Islanderscould be against VAT, Simmons saidthat he was impressed with the effortsof Premier Ewing and other politiciansto which he spoke, on theircommitment to continue fiscalprudence of the TCI.

“To that end, within thatarchitecture, if there is an alternativesustainable revenue stream, that can bedemonstrated is either not necessary atall or should be at a lower rate, orshould be deferred, prior to VATcoming into play next April, then, Ihave said that I would look at it. And

that’s the conversation that the Premierand I had this morning (Tuesday,November 27),” Simmons asserted.

In the meantime, despite thedisagreement, Minister believed thatthe Foreign and CommonwealthOffice and the Turks and CaicosIslands Government would have apositive relationship, which he said didnot necessarily mean both would agreeon all issues.

“Friends will disagree. Butultimately what we have got to do is tofind a way in this partnership to ensurethat TCI continues to move forward;that it continues to use this opportunityfor the reinstatement of democracy asa launch pad to drive economicdevelopment, drive job creation and

diversify the economic base of TCI,”Simmons argued.

The Premier, meanwhile, said thathis government had identified anumber of revenue-based strategies,and would be moving to conductfinancial modeling of each of thestrategies, with the aimed of comingup with a suitable model to improvethe country’s revenue position. He wasconfident that the objectives would beachieved.

“We will have several strategiesthat we would aim to bring forward, inan attempt to improve our financialposition. We would look at the impactof each of those strategies before theend of the month of December. And,hopefully, the minister could look atthem.

“The models would be based onsound financial principles, currenttrends, realistic and reliableprojections, based on inwardinvestment opportunities or proposalsthat we have on the table. And to seewhat economic returns that we wouldhave, and then make some riskassumptions. We would then showwhat those projections actually eithermeet or exceed the revenue projectionsput forward by the FCO,” Ewing said.

He told the media corps that someof the revenue methods were alreadyin existence, but government would belooking at ways to maximize thestreams.

Turks and Caicos Islands will have VATBY VIVIAN TYSON

SUN SENIOR EDITOR

UK Overseas Territories Minister Mark Simmons (centre) makes a point, while Governor Ric Todd(left) and Premier Hon. Rufus Ewing look on

Marine Biologists at the Caicos Conch Farmin Leeward are now successfully growingfour distinct species of warm water fin fish insaltwater tanks and ponds on shore andexpect to begin a fifth species in the nearfuture.

Pictured here are Cobia & Pompano. Inaddition to these species, the Conch Farm is alsogrowing Mutton Snapper and Nassau Grouperand expects to start Yellowtail within 90 days.

The fin fish now growing at the ConchFarm are under development as future“broodstock” to produce a reliable supply offish eggs to support commercially farming thesefish in local waters.

The growing fish are available for viewingby the public during the Conch Farm tour andBelongers with children are invited to tour thefarm as our guests without charge.

Conch Farmnow growing

fish

The Cobia fish (pictured here) is on of the four species thatThe Conch Farm will be growing

Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing headed to London onFriday November 30th for the first JointMinisterial Council (JMC), which will beattended by UK Ministers and representativesfrom the UK Overseas Territories.

Governor Ric Todd will also be attending thesummit and both of them will attend a series ofpreparatory meetings at the Foreign andCommonwealth Office on Monday December 3rd,before the JMC itself, which runs from December 4thto 5th.

Hosted by Overseas Territories Minister MarkSimmonds MP the JMC brings together Governors,

Commissioners, Premiers, Chief Ministers andelected representatives from across the UK’sOverseas Territories.

One of the main issues for discussion at the JMCis the implementation of the Overseas TerritoriesWhite Paper which seeks to further develop the jointsecurity, sustainability and success of the UK and itsOTs.

This is the first JMC session which replaces theannual Overseas Territories Consultative Conference.

Deputy Governor Anya Williams will be swornin as Acting Governor for the period 30 Nov-9 Dec2012, while Akeirra Misick will be acting as Premier.

Premier Ewing andGovernor going to London

Job Opportunity

Senior Litigation SolicitorA senior litigation solicitor is required for a new firm based in Providenciales. Thesuccessful candidate will be a qualified solicitor with at least ten years of post-qualification experience in appropriate litigation disciplines: commercial, corporate,construction, insolvency, negligence, compliance, fraud and related matters.Excellent communication skills, experience with solicitors’ accounts, ability tomanage files and work independently is essential, together with the requisiteexperience in preparation of cases to instruct counsel and direct client relationships.Experience in mediation/A.D.R. will be considered an advantage.Salary commensurate with experience.Please send application in writing to: Unit 007 SDR Complex, 176 South DockRoad, P.O. Box 666, Providenciales

LOCAL NEWSPage 8


CAIRSEA SERVICES LIMITEDREQUIRE ONE (1) LABOURER

Salary: $5.00 per hourMust be reliable, hardworking & honestHours: 8-5 and some weekends & holidaysApply in person

WANTED

1 LABOURER6 days per week9:00am to 5:00pm

Contact Kendal Thomas 241-9747

An English newspaper whichprinted articles suggesting that LordAshcroft had corrupt links withformer Premier of the Turks andCaicos Islands, Michael Misick hasbeen asked to make a public apologyto Ashcroft in a British court.

According to reports in the UKmedia, Lord Michael Ashcroft hasreceived a public apology at the HighCourt over articles published in TheIndependent newspaper concerning hisbusiness interests in the Turks andCaicos Islands.

His QC told a judge in Londonthat - despite a disclaimer - "thearticles published, when read as awhole, tended to link Lord Ashcroft's

name with allegations of scandalouscorruption".

Giving the background to the libelaction, Mark Warby, representing theConservative peer, told Mr JusticeEady that the November 2009 articlesreferred to Michael Misick, the formerpremier of the Turks and Caicos "anda man widely alleged to have beeninvolved in corrupt activity".

Mr Warby said: "Mr Misick wassaid to have led a 'lavish lifestyle'. Thearticles stated that loans had beenmade to Mr Misick by a local bank.The bank was described as 'LordAshcroft's bank'."

The QC told the judge one articlesaid: 'There is no suggestion that Lord

Ashcroft or his companies wereconnected in any way to the allegedbribery and corrupt property deals forwhich Mr Misick is now beinginvestigated'.

He added: "However, the articlesas a whole will have given at leastsome readers a very differentimpression - both articles werepublished prominently: the first was afront page splash, and the second atwo-page spread."

Mr Warby told the judge:"Independent News & Media nowaccept that, despite the disclaimer, thearticles published, when read as awhole, did tend to link Lord Ashcroft'sname with allegations of scandalouscorruption.”

"Independent News & Mediawishes to make absolutely clear that ithas found no evidence whatsoever thatLord Ashcroft or his companies havein any way been involved withactivities in the Turks and Caicos

Islands concerning politicians, publicofficials or others which might beconsidered to represent bribery orindeed any other corrupt practice."

With the apology and "the otherconfidential terms agreed, LordAshcroft is prepared to let the matterrest".

Julia Varley, appearing on behalfof Independent News & Media, toldMr Justice Eady that she acceptedeverything Mr Warby had said "andapologise to Lord Ashcroft for theembarrassment he has been caused bypublication of the articles".

Major UK newspaperapologies to Lord Ashcroft

Lord Ashcroft

PALMS VENTURES LTD SEEKS1 LABOURERTo work 6 days per weekSalary $5.00 per hourContact 331-6251

RUSSEL JENNINGSOF SOUTH CAICOS FERRY

SEEKS

1 LABOURERSalary $6.00 per hourContact 341-9479 POSITION: LABOURERCleaning and maintaining of yard and help with the loadingand offloading of fuel tankers. Assist with warehouse duties.Must be willing to work weekends, and some holidays.

WAGES/SALARY: 7.50 per hour.Interested persons should submit their resume along with acover letter to the following:The ManagerMr. McAllister HanchellCaicos Oil Ltd.,P.O. Box 653, South Dock Road,Providenciales, Turks & Caicos IslandsThe deadline for receipt of all applications is December15, 2012

LOCAL NEWSPage 9


CASABLANCA CASINO

Grace Bay-Providenciales

Position Available:Night Auditor

- Minimum of 5 years experience inthe casino industry cash desk- Full knowledge of accountingproduces- Full knowledge of table games- Verities and balances entries andrecord of financial- Transaction reported by variousdepartmentsPlease submit all application andresume by December 6th, 2012

To Casablanca Casino Grace bayHR manager-Maryann Ingraham244-4665

WANTED ONE GARDENERTo clean and keep garden free ofweeds and shrubs and removinggarbage. To maintain and clean pool and poolarea. Applicant must be of good characterand totally flexible and able to reside onpremises. Salary $5.00 per hour.

WANTED ONE DOMESTICWORKERTo clean and maintain a private home.Duties include cleaning floors, windows,disposing of garbage.Applicant must be of good characterand totally flexible and able to reside onpremises. Salary $5.00 per hour

Interested persons should contactthe Office Manager at 941-4500.

PALMS VENTURES LTD SEEKS1 LABOURER

To work 6 days per weekSalary $5.00 per hour

Contact 331-6251

Positions available:

Front Desk Agent Front Desk Supervisor with H.R. Experience preferred

but not necessary.Belongers only need apply.

Please apply in person no phone calls acceptedPorts of Call Resorts

Elva Swann Talbot Seeks1 LABOURERSalary $5.00 per hour

Contact 242-0388

In the Supreme Court inProvidenciales, on Wednesday 28November 2012, a 56 year old maleof Middle Caicos was found guiltyfor six (6) counts of ObtainingProperty by Deception and was

sentenced to 18 monthsImprisonment.

Vernon Forbes was also ordered topay restitution of $28,700 byNovember 28, 2013 or an additionaltwo (2) years Imprisonment.

During 2007 to 2008, six non-nationals fell victim to Forbes scheme.Vernon Forbes sold varying size lots ofCrown land, to the unsuspectingvictims.

According to the Commissioner ofCrown Land Tatum Clerveaux: “TheCrown Land Unit and the PlanningDepartment began working closelytogether in 2009 to curtail whatappeared to be a proliferation of self-helped development in the Five Caysarea. The placement of legal notice todiscontinue development, from thePlanning Department and the Crown

Land Unit, on the illegal structures ledto the victims coming forward. It didnot take long for the Departments torealise that what was happening wasmore than just sqatting; but alsounscrupulous individuals wereengaged in selling Crown land forpersonal gain.

The matter was brought to theattention of the Financial Crime Unitof the Royal Turks and Caicos IslandsPolice, for further investigation.Forbes is the third individual chargedwith selling property by deception.

Vernon Forbes sentenced forfraudulent sale of Crown land

You may have heard of ‘go fast boats’, well, self-styled toymaker, Walter ‘Bobby’ Morris hasprototyped a marine vessel he dubs ‘Slow Fast Boat’. The ‘Slow Fast Boat’, according to Morris,when fully developed, will have the ability to use both engines and sails – sails for slow speedand the engines for fast speed. Morris said that the dual mobility vessel was developed to assistboaters stranded at sea due to malfunction engines, to reach land, by applying its sails element.Morris told The SUN that he was willing to partner with any financier who is willing to fund theproject. The toymaker, who is seen in photo displaying the prototype, said that he would wastelittle time in getting the design patented, for fear of it being pirated by others, as was the case inthe past, according to him.

TOYMAKER UNVEILS ‘SLOW FAST BOAT’FOR CHRISTMAS

Tropical Imaging/Brilliant is looking for the followingtalented people

EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATOR ANDCUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

Tropical Imaging requires an experienced administrator/customer service specialistwho will be heavily involved in the company’s “back end” client support services.Applicants should have at least 7 years commercial work experience and be able todemonstrate the ability to manage multiple ongoing tasks, have well-definedcommunication skills in person, on the telephone and written correspondence, be ateam player and be a fanatic for attention to detail and customer service. You will becomfortable dealing with customers face to face as you are via email or videoconferencing. Ideal applicants will also posses a commercial drive and acumen forsatisfying customer’s needs. Putting together proposals for clients will be somethingyou enjoy.

Applicants will also need to be fast learners and be willing to learn Mac basedsoftware, Photoshop editing, Quickbooks and other online software. Applicantsshould be technology savvy” and comfortable working in a “high tech” and fastmoving environment.Email all resumes/links to [email protected]

DION RAMSEY/DRS BUILDING LTDSEEKS

1 LABOURERSalary $7.00 per hourContact 242-5334

LOCAL NEWSPage 10


CONCH FARM LABOURER/SEA GARDENER

TRADE WIND INDUSTRIES, LTD (TWI) ProvidencialesTWI is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill a position as aLabourer/Sea Gardener. A Conch Farm Labourer/Sea Gardener’sdaily duties involve hands on care for juvenile and adult conch andincludes, but is not limited to; feeding, waste removal, cleaning,sorting, harvesting, processing, removing the animal, peeling themeat and cleaning the shells. The successful candidate must be a strong, competent andexperienced swimmer & snorkeler. This is a physically demanding jobin the outdoor environment and involves spending much time wet orin the sea. Other staff duties include site maintenance, trash removaland assisting other employees. Persons interested in this positionshould submit their resume to [email protected] .

Salary: $7.50 per hourBELONGER PREFERRED

The Sports Commission is denyingthat it discriminated against Haitianconcert promoter Joseph Vixaille,who complained that the facilitymanager for the GustarvusLightbourne Complex, which herented for an event on Sunday,November 25, ordered the showcancelled minutes before start time.

Vixaille, who reported the matter toThe SUN, said that a dispute overelectricity connection caused theconcert’s forced cancellation. He said asa result of the show’s abrupt ending, hehad lost approximately $10,000 -including the $1,100 security depositpaid for the facility and fees paid for anartiste to be flown in from Florida.

Vixaille explained that about threehundred patrons had already paid andentered the complex, and a largernumber waiting to gain entry, when thefacility manager told them they couldnot gain electricity access from certainsection of the building.

“ Mr. Frankie Grant (technician)was the guy who set up the soundsystem for me. People were in the linewaiting to come in because I brought aguy from Miami for the concert. About

6:30pm the guy (facility manager) wentto Frankie and said ‘you cannot use a210 connection from the building’. ButFrankie said to him, ‘I have been usingthis facility for over five years and thatis what I use all the time’.

“And he (manager) told Frankie thathe could not allow him to use 210 fromthe building. I didn’t know what to dobecause people were already payingtheir money. More than 300 people werealready inside and the line (outside) wasvery long. And’ the guy (caretaker) saidwe cannot continue the concert. He saidone of two things was going to happenand that was either we changed thesystem or he refunded me the money.He was so rude to me, I could not evenunderstand why,” Vixaille said.

However, Chairman for the SportsCommission, Rodney Cox, who toldThe SUN that he ordered the facilitymanager to file a report on the incident,said that Vixaille had violated procedureby trying to connect from the electricalpanel box that was off limts. Coxpointed out that the caretaker hadreceived strict orders not to allowanyone to connect from the box sincethe facility had a near miss of beingcaught fire when an illegal connectioncaused the previous box to catch fire.

“He told them to hook up the

power the proper way, and because he(Vixaille) said he couldn’t do it, he toldthem that, since they could burn theplace down doing that connection, hecould not allow them to make that kindof connection. Now, if that building hadbeen burnt down, it would be a problemon the facility manager.

“We told him not to allow anybodyto go inside the box; make them do adirect hook-up. A direct hook-up couldhave been done, but the guys did notwant to do it. He decided to cancel theshow, and said he was going to go on theair to say the Sports Commission

discriminated against Haitians. And thatwas wrong for him to do,” Cox fumed.

Cox continued: “The SportsCommission does not discriminateagainst anyone, no matter where you arefrom; whether Haitians, Dominicans; nomatter the background of the person. Wedid not stop him from having the show;all the guy asked him to do was hook upthe thing the right way. It is illegal to goinside the box, and if Fortis came thereand saw that, we (Sports Commission)would get in trouble,” Cox noted.

The Sports Commission Chairmansaid that he had ordered that the securitydeposited collected from Vixaille bereturned in full, and that he should notbe turned away if he desired to stagefuture events at the facility.

However, Vixaille remainedadamant that a plot had been hatched todiscriminate against people of hisdemographic, because others hadsuffered similar fate in the past.

“The reason I called itdiscrimination is that this is not the firsttime that this has happened; they did thisto Pastor Solomon. They turned the ACoff on him while he was having a bigevent going on for his radio stationanniversary. And Pastor Alces Dor washaving an event here and they turned thelights off on him,” Vixaille said.

Sports Commission deniesHaitian discrimination claim

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Doves Security Services is seeking qualified candidates for theposition of Systems Specialist/Systems Integrator.Candidate should posses at least an Associate Degree in electronicsor management of information systems as well as a projectmanagement certificate from a recognized tertiary intuition as wellas industry certifications A+, network+, security+ ITIL, MCTS &MCSA/MCSE, CCTV, CEHFI.The candidate is required to have at least 10 years experienceworking with various aspects of information technology and securitysurveillance & access control systems; pc’s servers, securityequipment, POS systems (alarm integrated), Alarm systems, CCTVsystems, access control systems, switches & routers & integratedbuilding management systems and home automation systemsThis position requires an advanced IT Professional with in-depthknowledge of building management systems, project management,advanced CCTV systems & access control systems in the followingareas; residential, commercial, shipping & logistics, police airportshopping centers supermarkets and gated communities.The candidate will be responsible for all the maintenance of systems(IT, fire, Alarm, CCTV, BMS)and server equipment for Doves SecuritySystems as well as all of its client locations in the Turks & CaicosIslands.Must have installed similar applications, reference sites/applicationwill be checked.SAlary: $15.00 per hourONLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS MAY APPLYQUALIFIED BELONGERS WILL BE GIVEN FIRST PREFERENCE

Systems Specialist/Systems Integrator

Joseph Vixaille

I Variety StoreSeeks

Store ClerkTo work full timeSalary $5.00 per

hourContact:344-0981

ONELABOURER

NEEDEDSalary $5.00 per

hour5 days per week

Contact:U. Robinson at232-3117

LOCAL NEWSPage 11


WEST BAY CLUB

Sous ChefMain DutiesTo deputise in the Head chef’sabsence.To ensure that all kitchen staff arefamiliar with the day’s requirements.To ensure that the necessary stocksare on hand at the right quality andquantity.Salary Range $18,000 per annumnegotiable dependant on experienceOnly Belongers Need ApplyClosing date for applications isDecember 5th, 2012

Kindly submit all applications atWest Bay Club Front Office orthru fax at 941-8695

G & GConstruction

SeeksONE

CARPENTERSalary $8.00

per hourContact:242-0388

Tourism, construction and thefinancial services industries are thethree main pillars on which theRufus Ewing-administrationintends to bank on in order toreturn the country to prosperity.

The government’s intentionswere highlighted in the ThroneSpeech delivered by His. Excellency,Governor Ric Todd, at the Opening ofthe House of Assembly onWednesday, November 28, whichmarked the official return ofdemocracy to the TCI.

The government said that itsprimary agenda is to improve theeconomy, educating and empoweringits people, creating opportunities forthe workforce, moving towards selfreliance in some key areas, restorenational pride, achieving desiredstandards in health care and securingthe country’s borders.

The government noted thatsuccessful strides in those areaswould give the administration thegumption to initiate dialogue alongthe pathway to independence.

A tourism and investment

conference within the first 100 daysof this administration is slated to beone of the economic vehicles that theGovernment will use to returnprosperity to the country. This, thegovernment said, would be supportedby marketing and promotionalstrategies.

Acknowledging that Tourism andits subsidiary industries will be themain economic driver for theforeseeable future, the Rufus Ewingadministration said that it plans toaugment the industry by reviewingand revising the strategic plan andalign it with the national developmentplan, while seeking to diversify theproduct.

Ecotourism, sports tourism,cultural tourism, heritage tourism andmedical tourism are some of theavenues that the government said itwould pursue to buttress the product.The government said that it plans toend the seasonality of local tourismby venturing into non-traditionalmarkets such as Asia, Europe andSouth America.

The administration said it alsoplans to revitalize sustained anddependable international travel at theJAGS McCartney International

Airport in Grand Turk, by mountingdialogue with international airlines,primarily from the United States. Thedevelopment of a seaport on SouthCaicos is also another of the plans bythis administration.

The government noted that itwould open dialogue withpractitioners within the financialservice industry, as well asinternational professional servicesproviders, to seek ways to make theindustry more viable.

In the meantime, the governmentsaid that it was seeking ways to findalternative revenue sources to theValue Added Tax (VAT), which itintends to put to all stakeholders forfurther consultation. It said that itwould be taking steps to resumerevivable stalled hotel projects byholding talks with developers.

The government said also that theplans to expand the ProvidencialesInternational Airport would bereviewed, to ensure that tourism thelong term growth of the sector wouldbe provided for in case futureexpansion needs arises. The Ewingadministration also declared that itwould overhaul the South CaicosAirport, to foster future tourismgrowth on that island.

Turning to health care, thegovernment said that it would berushing to addressing the deficienciesat all levels of that sector byembarking on a number of measures.The construction of primary careclinics within the community is oneof the ways the administration plans

to address the matter. The National Health Insurance

Plan (NHIP) is also set to be placedon the examination table, with theintention of ensuring that childrenunder 18, the unemployed and theelderly get coverage, whiledeveloping a pharmaceuticalmechanism to provide affordablemedication especially to those inneed.

The administration said that itwould also fully establish and activatethe hospital contract managementteam, a clinical service review boardand appoint a new Turks and CaicosIslands Government representative, asprovided for in the hospital contract.This, it said, would ensure value formoney. The administration said alsothat it plans to conduct a financial andclinical audit of the two hospitals, andapply penalties where necessary.

The administration pledged alsothat it would embark on a thrust tomake the public service more efficientand effective in its service delivery,by providing training and other toolsfor that sector. It said that it wouldalso reinstate the 10 percent salarythat was deducted about two yearsago, while conducting a review forsalaries and allowances.

Recognition would also be givento public servants who performexemplary in the execution of theirduties, with the establishment of thepublic service incentives awardsprogramme, while working with theCivil Service Association to establisha civil service credit union.

DIRECTOR OF PORTSJOB OPPORTUNITYThe Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a statutorybody, with its main office in Providenciales, is seeking to recruitan experienced professional to fill the position of DIRECTOR OFPORTS

Minimun Qualifications:Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Business,Public Administration or in a related field. A minimum of fiveyears in progressively responsible leadership roles is required.Candidates must have experience in leading an organization, oroperating a unit of similar size, scope and complexity.

Candidates who possess experience in marine services ormaritime related business, transportation and logistics,shipping, aviation, economic development, workforcedevelopment, large-scale commercial or industrial real estatedevelopment, or environmental services, are preferred.Additionally, experience reporting to an elected or non-electedboard, or working closely with elected officials andunderstanding the role of staff work in relation to elected officialis essential.

The successful candidate will be expected to work out of theProvidenciales office, but will be required to spend a reasonableamount of time at the Grand Turk office.

Full details of the job, guidelines for submission of applicationsand general information about the Ports Authority may berequested by emailing [email protected].

ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED FORINTERVIEW.

THE PORTS AUTHORITYOf

THE TURKS AND CAICOSISLANDS

Gov’t to focus on tourism,construction, financial services


GET BREAKING NEWSHave you visited our new website?

www.suntci.com

Weekly Polls SportsWeather Flight informationDirectory Dining Guide

Access our epaper!

LOCAL NEWSPage 12


JOB VACANCYSENIOR CORPORATE MANAGER

ABOUT THE JOB:The Senior Corporate Manager will lead, manage and motivate arelationship team comprised of Credit Managers, Credit Officers andClient Service Officers with the objective of efficiently managing aportfolio of corporate clients by providing world class relationshipmanagement, top quality risk control and overseeing personaldevelopment of team members. This role will be responsible formaximizing customer profitability by driving revenue growth throughgeneration of loans, deposits, fee income and cross-selling of allapplicable bank services to existing customer base, identifying andsoliciting bank services of non-customer.The Senior Corporate Manager will direct the relationship team,develop an intimate knowledge of all customers in the assigned clientportfolio, coordinate all aspects of the client relationship and effectivelywork with the relationship team in providing high quality customerservice and satisfaction. This role will have accountability of the creditquality of the assigned client portfolio, reviewing credit requests asrequired to ensure compliance with the bank credit quality standardsand ultimately is accountable for the customer experience.

ABOUT OUR OFFER• Sources, originates new clients and foster high quality businessopportunities with existing clients through proactive idea generationand selling.• Recruit and manage a comprehensive portfolio of approx 75-100corporate clients, to include borrowing and non-borrowing accounts in

diversified sectors of business.• Manages and significantly grows the existing portfolio by building andbroadening the scope of the client relationship and increasing ‘walletshare’ of the client’s investment and banking business services.• Monitors and controls accounts within the assigned client portfolio.• Develop and deliver targeted financing solutions for clients.• Sell customized financing and banking solutions using a diagnosticapproach.• Successful candidates should expect to commit to a minimum 3 yearterm.• Flexible working hours are required to meet client demands.

ABOUT YOU• Relationship builder with expert ability of influence and negotiate towin-win solutions.• Strong and mature team builder and player.• High degree of initiative, a self-starter and self motivated.• Graduate status with a minimum of 5 years experience in thebusiness/financial world.• Proven origination, business development, deal closing andrelationship management skills to successfully lead and drive aCorporate banking team.• In-depth understanding of the Corporate business, financingsolutions, credit suite of products and the set of products availableacross FirstCaribbean.• Strong understanding of financial options and applicability to variousbusiness scenarios.• Ability to network externally and develop strong connections with thebusiness community and government.

SALARY RANGE: $70,043 - $90,657Benefits include Life Insurance, Health Insurance and preferred rateson banking and services commensurate with qualifications.

Applicants are requested to submit their resume with a cover letter Via email by December 7th 2012to: [email protected]: 649-941-1601/941-1616FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited thanks all applicants for theirinterest, however only those under consideration will be contacted.

The intervention of Governor’sAppointed Member, John Phillipsbroke the strict party line vote for theSpeaker of the House of Assembly onWednesday during its first sittingsince democracy was suspended in2009.

However, the nomination of electedAt-Large Member for the PDM,Josephine Connolly, for Deputy Speaker,received wide bipartisan support. Hernomination received no objections.

Hon. Robert Hall was given the nodby all members of the ProgressiveNational Party (PNP) Government, butreceived the thumps down from theopposition Peoples DemocraticMovement (PDM) members. Whencalled upon by the Governor’s

Appointed Members for their votes,former chair of the now defunctConsultative Forum, Lillian Missick,voted against Hall’s appointment, whilePhillips voted for him.

Hall had resigned his radioprogramme – Expressions – earlier thisyear, with the intention of running forleadership of the PNP, but laterrescinded that objective and lined upbehind one of candidates for leadershipof that party.

It was announced last week at theend of a National General Council(NGC) meeting that Hall would benominated as Speaker of the House.That body also selected retiredlongstanding House Clerk, RuthBlackman, as the Government’sAppointed Member, from a short listthat also included colourful party activistDevon Williams.

During his acceptance address, Hallunderscored the challenges of thecountry and called upon both sides ofthe political divide to put aside theirdifference for the upward mobility of thecountry. He also promulgated his

commitment to ensuring dignity in theHouse of Assembly during sittings,while challenging others to do same.

“As Marcus Garvey said many,many years ago, ‘the ends you serve thatare selfish will take you no further thanyourself but the ends you serve that are forall, in common, will take you intoeternity’. I pledge to uphold the dignity ofthis House, and urge all you to doaccordingly. Familiarize yourself, if youhaven’t already, with the standing orders– that must be almost like your Bible ofthis House,” he said.

Hall also cautioned House Membersagainst performing acts that could lead towhat he described as the indignities of thepast, and leading again to Britishintervention.

“We will never, ever go down thatroad again. I pray that God be with us alland, God bless these Turks and CaicosIslands,” Hall noted.

Robert Hall elected Speaker ofHouse of Assembly by one vote


Hon. Robert Hall

Make your home look like someone is living in it, e.g. don't closeyour curtains. In daytime this shows your house is empty. Also,use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights and radios onwhen it goes dark. You can do this even if you are just going outfor the evening

Going away for the holidays?

LOCAL NEWSPage 13


The increased number of womenelected and appointed to the House ofAssembly could soften the tone ofdebates; at least that is what HouseSpeaker Hon. Robert Hall is hopingfor.

Of the 19 member House, seven arewomen, the highest number of femaleselected or selected to that body since therecording of democracy first took placein these islands. The country alsowelcomes its first female Leader of theOpposition in Hon. Sharlene CartwrightRobinson.

Minister of Education, Youth, Sportand Culture Hon. Akierra Misick hasbecome the country’s second femaleDeputy Premier. Lillian Boyce brokethat glass ceiling in 2009, when she wasselected by former premier Mike Misick,

to serve as the country’s first deputypremier, after his fallout with then deputypremier, Floyd Hall.

Five of the six women whocontested November 9 elections weresuccessful. The lone unsuccessfulcandidate was Edith Skippings, whocontested the tough South Caicos seatagainst the seemingly irremovableNorman Saunders, who, over a numberof years had turned back numerouschallenges.

The females elected from thegovernment side are: Deputy PremierMisick, who was ushered in by thepeople of Long Bay and its environs;Minister of Environment and HomeAffairs Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith of theBight Constituency; and Hon. AmandaMissick, Minister of Health and HumanServices, who was elected by the peopleof the Cheshire Constituency. HonorableRuth Blackman, a former longtime clerk

of the House of Assembly is theGovernment’s Appointed Member.

In addition to Hon. SharleneCartwright Robinson, the other femalemember of the opposition elected to theHouse is Deputy Speaker, Hon.Josephine Connolly. Both are At-Largeparliamentary winners. Lillian Missick,one of the two Governor’s AppointedMembers, rounds off the seventh femalein the House.

In his address to the House ofAssembly shortly after being sworn in asSpeaker of the House, Hall highlightedthe increased participation of females inlocal politics.

“The Deputy Speaker is a lady; theDeputy Premier – a lady; three ministers– ladies; the Honourable Leader of theOpposition – a lady. I hope I am not

deluding myself when I say that perhapswe will see a softer, gentler touch to theaffairs of this honourable House,” Hallsaid.

In the meantime, if Premier Ewinghas his way, the House could see awoman performing the role of HouseChaplain. Premier Ewing has signaledhis intention to nominate Rev. Dr. JuliaWilliams, former president of the Turksand Caicos Islands Community College,to serve in that capacity.

However, the House speakerdeclared that since that matter was not onthe roster for the sitting, it could not gothrough. And so, the Premier wasexpected to once again renew his bidwhen the House resumed on Friday,November 30. But at press time adecision was not made.

Record number of women in House of Assembly


AMBERGRIS CAY SERVICES LTD.(IN RECEIVERSHIP)

SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT POSITIONAmbergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) is seeking to fill a temporary post onAmbergris Cay for the period 13th December 2012 to 6th January 2013. Theavailable position is for a

SPECIAL EVENTS SOUS CHEFJOB SUMMARY:Responsible for assisting in the management of all facets of the day-to-day operationof the Restaurant Facility on Ambergris Cay, providing exemplary food and beverageservice to visitors to the Cay over the Christmas and New Year period. This verydemanding job requires high skill levels, assisting in planning, coordination,organization and monitoring of all Restaurant activities, as well as hands-onpreparation of a wide range of high quality and creative dishes for a discerningclientele.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:1. Assist in planning, preparation and presentation of all meals for guests onAmbergris Cay.2. Delivery of outstanding food services to a professional standard.3. Excellent hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of local and international cuisines.4. Assist in the direct supervision and coordination of all kitchen activities.5. Assist in all other duties as required by the Lead Chef.6. Must be able to work irregular hours, to include nights, weekends, and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS:1. 10 years relevant experience, including 5 years as Sous / Events Chef, operatingin a high quality and high pressure environment, providing fine-dining in aninternational environment.2. International experience of working on special event arrangements;3. Excellent communication skills and a pleasant, professional demeanor.4. A resourceful personality.5. Must work and reside on Ambergris Cay for the indicated period.6. Excellent references are essential

Salary: Commensurate with experience.Closing date for applications: Tuesday, 4th December, 2012.

Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership)Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (649)-941-3777 ; Fax: (649)-941-3778.

Page 14

LOCAL NEWS TURKS AND CAICOS SUN DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012

Any delay in the introduction ofValue Added Tax (VAT) in the Turksand Caicos Islands would require achange in legislation and theGovernor will have the final say.

This was stated in the House ofCommons on November 19th byBritain’s Minister for OverseasTerritories Mark Simmonds who wasasked if he will allow the Governmentof the Turks and Caicos Islands todelay the introduction of VAT if itwishes to do so.

Simmonds replied: “The InterimGovernment in Turks and CaicosIslands decided to introduce VAT.Consequently the VAT Bill was signedinto law on 18 July 2012 and willcome into force on 1 April 2013. Anydelay would require a change inlegislation. Before giving assent tosuch legislation, the Governor wouldneed to consider if it was consistentwith the Constitution and theStatement of Governance Principles inforce.

This requires the new Turks andCaicos Islands Government toformulate and conduct macro-

economic and fiscal policy for thesustained long-term prosperity of thepeople of the islands, and to managepublic funds according to establishedprinciples of value for money,affordability and regularity and in theinterests of long-term financialstability.”

Earlier this month, Simmonds toldthe House of Commons that “the

introduction of value added tax is adecision for the Turks and CaicosIslands Government”.

Both the Progressive NationalParty (PNP) and the People’sDemocratic Movement (PDM) haveexpressed their opposition to VAT.

Even if the two parties were to joinforces in the House of Assembly andseek to repeal the VAT Bill, theGovernor still has reserve powersunder the Constitution that can over-ride that decision.

Section 72 of the Constitutionstates:

(1) If the Governor considers thatthe enactment of legislation isnecessary or desirable—

(a) for the purpose of securingcompliance with an internationalobligation;

(b) to ensure compliance with theStatement of Governance Principlesfor the time being in effect;

(c) to ensure that sufficient fundshave been appropriated, within fourmonths of the commencement of eachfinancial year, for the effectiveoperation of committees of the House

of Assembly, the courts, the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers, and eachinstitution protecting goodgovernance; or

(d) to give effect, with or withoutmodifications, to the recommendationscontained in a report of an ElectoralDistrict Boundary Commission, but,after consultation with the Premier, itappears to the Governor that theCabinet is unwilling to support theintroduction into the House ofAssembly of a bill for the purpose orthat the House is unlikely to pass a billintroduced into it for the purpose, theGovernor may, with the prior approvalof a Secretary of State, cause a bill forthe purpose to be published in theGazette and may (notwithstanding thatthe bill has not been passed by theHouse) assent to it on behalf of HerMajesty; but the bill shall be sopublished for at least 21 days prior toassent unless the Governor certifies bywriting under his or her hand that thematter is too urgent to permit suchdelay in the giving of assent and soinforms a Secretary of State.

VAT delay in TCI will require changein legislation, says UK minister

Britain’s Minister for Overseas Territories MarkSimmonds

A decision on the future of AlvinParker as Director of Sports couldbe determined by next month wheninvestigations are expected to wrapup in the misappropriation of fundsallegation leveled against him by theSports Commission.

Chairman of the SportsCommission, Rodney Cox, told TheSUN that investigations wereongoing, and that the body wasadvancing steps to piece the missingelements of the probe so as to arrive ata conclusion.

Parker was placed onadministrative leave in the summerafter the Commission said it suspectedfunds misappropriations, believed tobe orchestrated by Parker; and to thatend, he was sent on leave pending theoutcome of the investigation. Coxstressed that Parker should beperceived as innocent of theaccusations until proven otherwise.

“Currently Mr. Parker is still onadministrative leave. We are justwaiting on the conclusion of theinvestigations to find out what we aregoing to do after that. I had a meetingwith the ministers and permanentsecretaries yesterday (Monday,November 26), so we are just waitingon the audit to finish, and I hope it can

finish before the end of the year, so wewould know what to do,” Cox said.

The Sports CommissionChairman, since Parker’s suspension,has somewhat taken on aspects of thedirectors’ role. He however, expresseda desire to relinquish such positionwith alacrity either back to Parker orto someone else.

“I am hoping that it finishes soon,because I don’t want to stay in thisposition for longer than required, withso many people judging me, trying tomake it seems I was trying to take thisjob. I am quite comfortable in SouthCaicos; I don’t need to be in Provo. Iam running the South Caicos officefrom up here (Provo), and I shouldn’tbe doing that.

“But I am doing it because I knowits importance, so I am just trying tohelp out a situation. But I would liketo tell people, Mr. Parker is still thedirector; I am not acting director, andI am not the deputy director. I paid Mr.Parker his cheque every month, so IKnow who is the director. I amcurrently supervising the office untilthe decisions are made, “Coxemphasized.

Meanwhile, Cox stressed that hecould not say much on theinvestigation since he did not want tocast aspersion on Parker before thefacts are in. A source close to theprobe told The SUN though, thatinvestigators had requested copies of

Sports Commission cheques tenderedat banks and other enterprises, in orderto complete their investigation.

Parker has been credited for muchof the sports development in the Turksand Caicos Islands over the past fiveyears. Under his watch, the TCI hasupped its performance at the CariftaTrack and Field Championships,snaring gold not only on the track, butalso in field events. He was alsocredited for breathing new life inbasketball and also played a great role

in softball development. Earlier thisyear Parker was presented with acontainer load of softball and baseballgear from an American donor. Thegear has since been distributed acrossthe Turks and Caicos Islands.

Parker’s last major rites before hewas suspended from office wasleading a delegation to the UnitedKingdom to support track prodigyDelano Williams, who was seeking tomake the UK’s 200m team for thesummer Olympics.

Decision on Sports DirectorAlvin Parker’s fate by next month


Job OpportunitySENIOR PROFESSIONAL

SUPPORT PARALEGAL WANTEDFOR LITGATION TEAM

An experienced Professional Support Paralegal is required fora new firm based in Providenciales. The successful candidatemust demonstrate experience and knowledge of having dealtindependently with all matters relating to contentious practice,litigation, employment law dispute resolution and alternativedispute resolution. Must have excellent communication skills,both written and oral and be capable of production ofdocuments and forms as required. Must have vehicle andclean driving record. The applicant must be able to workovertime when required due to case urgency. References willbe required. Remuneration based on experience – commencing $40k perannum.

Please send application in writing to: Unit 007 SDR Complex,176 South Dock Road, P.O. Box 666, Providenciales

LOCAL NEWSPage 15


STORM WATER FLOOD RISKMANAGEMENT STUDY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OFINTEREST

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCIG) has received financing fromthe Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of a Storm Water Flood RiskManagement Study and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing toeligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDBwill be made only at the request of TCIG and upon approval by CDB, and will be subjectin all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The FinancingAgreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of anypayment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, tothe knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations SecurityCouncil taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party otherthan TCIG shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim tothe proceeds of the Financing.

The Ministry of Government Support Services (MGSS), the Executing Agency, nowwishes to procure consultancy services for the conduct of the Storm Water Flood RiskManagement Study.

The objective of the consultancy is to enhance the capacity of TCIG to manage the riskof storm-water flooding across the Turks and Caicos Islands through the conduct of aStorm Water Flood Risk Management Study, incorporating the key flood riskmanagement elements of prevention, protection, preparedness, emergency responseand recovery. The duration of the assignment is expected to be six months.

MGSS now invites interested eligible firms of consultants to submit Expressions ofInterest for the provision of these consultancy services.

Consultants shall be eligible to participate if:

(a) in the case of a body corporate, it is legally incorporated or otherwise organised in aneligible country, has its principal place of business in an eligible country and is morethan 50 percent beneficially owned by citizen(s) and/or bona fide resident(s) of eligiblecountry(ies) or by a body(ies) corporate meeting these requirements;

(b) in the case of unincorporated firms, the persons are citizens or bona fide resident orresidents of an eligible country; and

(c) in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make anyarrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefitsof the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of aneligible country.

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB.In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to technical competence,qualifications and experience, local and regional experience on similar assignments,financial capability and existing commitments. All information must be submitted in

English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

One original and four hard copies of the Expressions of Interest must be received at thesecond address below no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, andone hard copy must be sent simultaneously to CDB at the third address below. Thesealed envelope containing each submission should include the name and address ofthe applicant and shall be clearly marked “Expression of Interest – ConsultancyServices – Storm Water Flood Risk Management Study”.

Following the assessment of submissions, a short-list of not less than three and notmore than six applicants will be provided with full terms of reference and invited tosubmit technical and financial proposals to undertake the assignment. TCIG reservesthe right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially orin its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not short-listing any applicantand will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation andsubmission of Expressions of Interest.

1. Address for further information: Mr. Norman A WattsEngineering SupervisorPublic Works DepartmentMinistry of Government Support ServicesSouth Base Grand TurkTURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Tel: + (649) 946-2801 Ext 10902Fax: + (649) 333-1951Email: [email protected] 2. Address for submission of Expression of Interest:

The Chairman of the Tender BoardN.J.S. Francis BuildingPond StreetGrand TurkTURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

3. Address for submission of additional copy of Expression of Interest:

Procurement Officer Procurement Policy UnitCaribbean Development BankP. O. Box 408, WildeySt. MichaelBARBADOS, W.I., BB 11000

Tel: + (246) 431-1600Fax: + (246) 426-7269 Email: [email protected]

This Request for Expressions of Interest supersedes that which was posted onDevelopment Business Online on October 29, 2012 with Ref. No. CDB31-10/12.

GOVERNMENT OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

The Grace Bay Beach in the Turksand Caicos Islands will be seekingto reclaim the title of the World’sLeading Beach Destination, whenthe 2012 Grand Gala edition of theWorld Travel Awards takes place inDeli, India on December 12.

Grace Bay Beach will be seekingto unseat Mauritius’ Trou AuxBichesAitutaki, which won the titlelast year, when Grace Bay Beach wasnot even dominated. Last year, too,Grace Bay Beach lost the title for theCaribbean’s Leading Beach, whichwas won by the seven mile NegrilBeach in Jamaica. However, this yearit returned to the top of the podium inthat category at the Caribbean leg ofthe event, which was held locally atBeaches Turks and Caicos ResortVillages and Spa.

The dazzling beach strip inProvidenciales will once again go upagainst some of the world’s mostpopular beach destinations, includingOne Foot Island, Cook Islands; Bora

Bora, Tahiti; Cancun, Mexico; CapeTown, South Africa; Copacabana,Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Goa, India;Maldives; Maui, Hawaii, USA;Mauritius - Trou Aux Biches;Montego Bay, Jamaica and Negril,Jamaica; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Saadiyat beach, Abu Dhabi, UAE;Seychelles - Praslin Anse Lazio;Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Sydney,Australia; and The Algarve, Portugal.

The world famous beach strip isnot be the only local entrantjockeying for top world positions atthe global tourism showpiece, as theluxurious Grace Bay Club has beennominated in a whopping fourcategories.

Grace Bay Club has beennominated in World's Leading AllSuite Hotel category alongside AlSondos Suites by Le Méridien,Dubai, UAE; Amandari, Indonesia;Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE; Hotel LesOttomans, Turkey; Jamaica Inn,Jamaica; Sandals Royal Plantation,Ocho Rios, Jamaica; The Oberoi SahlHasheesh, Egypt; and Tower Club atLebua, Thailand.

It is also nominated in theWorld's Leading Hotel & Residencescategory, being pitted against 51Buckingham Gate Taj Suites andResidences, England; Cape RoyaleLuxury Hotel and Residence, SouthAfrica; Conrad Bangkok Residences,Thailand; Hotel AKA, New York,USA; Siam Kempinski HotelBangkok, Thailand; The Residencesat Las Ventanas, Mexico; and WDoha Hotel and Residences, Qatar.

Grace Bay Club also made thecategory of World's Leading LuxuryAll Suite Hotel and World's UltimateService Award in Hospitality. In theWorld’s Leading Luxury All SuiteHotel category, Grace Bay Club willgo up against Amandari Resort &Spa, Bali; Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE;Elounda Peninsula, Greece; GrandVelas Riviera Nayarit, Mexico;Raffles Makkah Palace, SaudiArabia; Romney Park All Suite Hoteland Spa, South Africa; The TidesHotel, Florida, USA; and TheVenetian, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

In the World's Ultimate ServiceAward in Hospitality, the local resort

will go up against Dukes Hotel,London; Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas;Grosvenor House Dubai; Hotel ArtsBarcelona; Mandarin Oriental,Bangkok; The Oberoi Gurgaon,India; The Plaza, New York; and theSt. Regis Bali Resort.

Beaches Turks and Caicos ResortVillages and Spa was nominated forthe World's Leading Family Resort. Itwill try to wrest the title from someof the most popular resorts aroundthe world, including Dusit ThaniLaguna Phuket, Thailand; ForteVillage Resort, Italy; Fujairah RotanaResort & Spa - Al Aqah Beach, UAE;Hayman Island Resort, Great BarrierReef, Australia; Jebel Ali Golf Resort& Spa, Dubai, UAE; Kemer ResortHotel, Turkey; Khalidiya PalaceRayhaan by Rotana, Abu Dhabi,UAE; Le Royal Méridien BeachResort & Spa, Dubai, UAE; LilyBeach Resort & Spa, Maldives; LlaoLlao Hotel & Resort, Argentina;Nexus Resort Karambunai, Malaysia.

Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa,United Arab Emirates, won the titlelast year.

Grace Bay Beach, GBC seekworld titles at WTA Grand Gala


LOCAL NEWSPage 16


VACANCYApplications are invited for the position of

FINANCIAL / MANAGEMENTACCOUNTANT

Location – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos IslandsEducational requirements – Bachelor’s degree in finance andaccounting or equivalentProfessional requirements – US Certified Public Accountant orUK Chartered Accountant; practical experience in the financialservices sector with management accounting is preferred.Knowledge in accounting IT systems is necessary.

ONLY BELONGERS NEED APPLY.Please submit applications to:Human Resources, P.O. Box 270, Providenciales, Turks andCaicos Islands

By Royal S. Robinson, MBE

The recently held Swearing inCeremony and its attendant activitieshighlighted the need for a properlyestablished Protocol Unit ofgovernment. You may say why this inthe present scheme of things whenthere are other pressing andcompeting areas that are in dire needof funding. Protocol represents theexternal face of a country and is theimage that everyone, near and far seesas projecting the people of ourcountry. We are heavily engaged in the tourismbusiness where image is everything!We cannot let our side down bysloppy and unprofessional work. Wecannot let others that come into ourmidst just do things that are notproper and let them get away with it,because they think that it is fine anddandy to do. We must at all cost resistsuch an imposition.

You might properly wonder whatI know about protocol. I can tell youthat when 1985/86 when Sir LyndonO. Pindling, then Prime Minister ofthe Bahamas was having a majorchallenge from the FNM, in order toshore up his base, among the Turksand Caicos Islanders in the Bahamas,he made a state visit to us here. The

persons in charge of the protocol forthat visit throughout our country wereCheryl Francis, now Chand and RoyalRobinson. So I can speak with someauthority having put on, what in thosedays was a spectacular series ofevents!

The House of Assembly is thepeoples’ House and does not comeunder the purview of the Governor.He cannot enter that chamber exceptby the leave of the Members or aspecific request on his part to bethere. Otherwise, he would beconsidered as any other strange, who,can but only seat in the strangers’gallery and not be in the well of theChamber. So Governor Todd was wayout of his place to dictate who shouldand should not be given invitations toattend that Ceremony or any otherceremony of the House of Assembly.The guest list is certainly not hisprerogative, and never was. He mustremember that even though he mighthave a lot of power under the presentConstitution, he is not all powerful aswhen he was chief cook and bottlewasher under the InterimConstitution.

The Speech from the Throne isgenerally one of the highlights in thecalendar of Westminster styledDemocracy. It sets out the

government’s agenda for the ensuingsession of Parliament. It establishesthe priority of the government goingforward. Because of its singularimportance, it is read by the Monarchor the Monarch’s representative, whoin our case is the Governor. But it isnever the Governor’s speech! For asitting Governor to think or believeotherwise is utter nonsense. So whenthis Governor was trying to insist thatthe recent Throne Speech was his toprepare and deliver, was totallyridiculous and outside the years ofestablished norms. But that is whatyou get when you have a man in highoffice who is so full of himself, thathe pays scant regard for what istraditional!

The second part of the deviationfrom protocol, I would put downsystems failure as a result of theGovernor’s interference in theprocess. You might not personally likethe holders of certain officers, butonce the persons hold such offices,then you must respect them in them.Cases in point, initially, the HaitianAmbassador to the Bahamas was notinitially, properly looked after. It wasonly after I pointed out the goodlygentleman to the ushers that he waseventually seated within the House ofAssembly. Equally egregious, was thefact that a former two time ChiefMinister, in the person of O.O.Skippings, a former Member and

Deputy Speaker, Dwayne Taylor,former Ministers of Education andTourism in the persons of ArabellaSmith and Wayne Garlandrespectively, and I as a formerDeputy Premier were seated outside!Nowhere in hell could that have beenright or proper! I made noise forSkippings, because in the scheme ofthings, he had seniority.

I say these things now, so that inthe future, those mistakes would nothappen again. So I come full circle tomy original premise about the needfor a fully staffed and functioningprotocol unit. We have some personsthat had previously been involved inthat business and they should beharnessed to lead such a unit. Therewould be the need to recruit youngtalented Turks and Caicos Islanders tofill the necessary roles. Of equalimportance would be the need to, fora short period to enlist the support ofthe Protocol Office of the Bahamas inthe initial effort. I do not think thatthere is a Caribbean country is moresteeped into protocol and the pompand pageantry of such statelyoccasions as the Bahamas, so learnfrom the best!

I must say that all is not lost. Foreven with the abovementionedhiccups, the event was well attendedand appreciated by the people of ourcountry. The return to representativedemocracy was well anticipated andwe were in awe of the event andwaited with bated breath as some ofthe events unfolded. Would RobertHall succeed as Speaker? Would theGovernor read what was written?Many of us were keeping our fingerscrossed in the event that things did notgo to plan and that pandemoniumwould have broken out.

I can safely say God bless thepeople of the Turks and CaicosIslands for their steadfastness in theface of great adversity.

Royal Robinson was a formerDeputy Premier and Minister of

Finance and Health in theProgressive National Party (PNP)

Administration.

A PROTOCOL OFFICE MUST BE ESTABLISHED

ROYAL ROBINSONCONTRIBUTER

LOCAL NEWSPage 17


AMBERGRIS CAY SERVICES LTD. (IN RECEIVERSHIP)SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT POSITION

Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) is seeking to fill a temporary post onAmbergris Cay for the period 18th December 2012 to 6th January 2013. Theavailable position is for a PASTRY CHEF. JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for assisting in the management of the day-to-daypastry operation of the Restaurant Facility on Ambergris Cay, providing exemplaryfood and beverage service to visitors to the Cay over the Christmas and New Yearperiod. Performing additional responsibilities, although not detailed, as requestedby the Lead Chef and/or Sous Chef

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:1. Assisting the Lead Chef and Sous Chef with all back house operations;2. Assist in planning, preparation and presentation of meals for guests onAmbergris Cay.3. Preparing and cooking necessary food items as advised by the Lead Chef orSous Chef4. Cleaning and maintaining kitchen work stations5. Keeping all necessary stocks organized 6. Delivery of outstanding food services to a professional standard.7. Excellent hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of local and internationalcuisines.8. Must be able to work irregular hours, to include nights, weekends, and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS:1. 5 years relevant experience operating in a high quality internationalenvironment.2. International experience of preparing food for special events.3. Excellent communication skills and a pleasant, professional demeanor.4. A resourceful personality.5. Must work and reside on Ambergris Cay for the indicated period.6. Excellent references are essential



AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTDPOSITION AVAILABLE

Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking an employee on a month to month basis to filla post on Ambergris Cay. The available post is for a

POWER AND INCINERATOR PLANTOPERATOR

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Maintain Fuel Farm, gray tank, generator tank and tractor fuel in accordance withinternational standards.• Maintain and supply treatment to fuel tanks. • Maintain and control stocks of fuel.• Maintain inventory of spare and repair parts, materials and tools to ensurecontinuous functioning without discontinuity.• Provide weekly and monthly reports on fuel.• Check all piping for leakage.• Report any and all matters to Facilities Manager• Basic power plant maintenance.• Incinerator maintenance & operation and all related tasks • Ensure all work sites are left in a usable and safe condition.• Participate in fire training.

REQUIREMENTS - APPLICANT MUST BE AND OR HAVE:

• Able to work with little or no supervision.• Must have at least three (5) years of experience in the related fields• Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off.

Salary: Between US$30,000 to US$36,000 per annum

Closing Date for Applications is Friday December 4th, 2012.

Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd, Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (649)-941-3777; Fax: (649)-941-3778.

Air Turks & Caicos, the nationalflag carrier of the Turks & CaicosIslands, is proud to announceflights into Santo Domingo,starting December 14th, 2012.

Air Turks and Caicos ChairmanLyndon Gardiner said the new routeis being introduced to satisfy agrowing customer demand for directservices between the Turks and

Caicos and the Dominican capital. He said it also opens up the TCI

tourism market to easier connectionsfrom Europe, South, and CentralAmerica - as the Dominican Republicis already a popular vacation spotwell known to these travelers withmany daily flights from thesedestinations.?

Gardiner told SUNtv that this

announcement reaffirms hiscompany’s 20 year commitment toserving passengers needs.

Commencing December 14th, theone hour and fifteen minutes flightwill operate four times weekly onTuesday, Wednesday, Friday andSunday - using the company’s fleet of30-passenger planes. These aircraftoffers comfortable seating, lavatory,

galley and friendly flight attendantservice. With connection services toThe Bahamas, Jamaica and Haiti, theSanto Domingo route allowspassengers to travel with ease on AirTurks and Caicos for their entirejourney.

To introduce the new route, AirTurks & Caicos has on offer a specialfare - $150 each way (plus taxes).

Air Turks and Caicos announcesnew route to Santo Domingo

The Salvation Army launched its Christmas Red Kettle Drive on November27, in front of the Graceway IGA Supermarket. The Red Kettle drive issynonymous to the Christmas season since funds collected from thatinitiative are primarily used to brighten the lives of individuals during thattime of the year. This year the Royal Bank of Canada added its support tothe Red Kettle initiative, joining Graceway IGA Supermarket and others.Toure Holder, Branch Manager for the Royal Bank of Canada, who madean undisclosed donation at the event, urged other local businesses to joinin the cause to bring smiles to the face of the less fortunate this Christmas.Ken Burns, Manager for IGA Supermarket and his finance director, EdithCox, made donation on behalf of the enterprise. Both also urged the publicto contribute to the cause. Leslie Foss of the Chrysalis Fun Run donated$3,000. Major Lester Ferguson, Lieutenant Colonel Raphael Mason andSalvation Army Advisory Board Chairman Todd Foss, also urged the publicto contribute whatever they could to the cause, stressing that no sum wastoo small. The Precious Treasures Primary School provided musicalentertainment for the event. In photo Burns and Cox made the donationon behalf of Graceway IGA Supermarket.

SALVATION ARMY KICKS OFFCHRISTMAS KETTLE DRIVE

LOCAL NEWSPage 18


Business enterprises are called upon to play aleading role in the “I Believe” initiative aimedat raising funds to primarily assist schools withbasic but critical amenities for schools and thepublic library on Providenciales.

Heath Francis, who heads the organizationwith his wife Tameka, said that the organizationwas currently undertaking a raffle book sale drivethat has a number of attractive prizes, includinga trip to New York. The individual that sells themost tickets stands to win $1,000.

Francis said that companies which havedecided to assist in book sales would get 10percent of the total sales, which would then placeon a large carbon cheque and presented as theirdonation towards the public library.

Companies currently engaged in the sales oftickets are Digicel TCI Cinemas, Marco Travel,Escape Salon and Spa and LIME TCI.

“We are still awaiting others that we havecontacted. Those companies willing to assist inthe worthy cause can contact me on 244-1079 oremail me at: [email protected], to get theircompanies involved,” Francis said.

The drawing of the prizes for I Believe isscheduled to take place on December 22. Francissaid the funds collected would be divided amongstthree schools – the Clement Howell High School,the Enid Capron Primary School and the AlphaChristian Academy.

As part of the I Believe Programme, Francissaid that he was in negotiations with the GracewayIGA Supermarket, the Graceway Gourmet Storeand the Do It Centre, to initiate a Christmas ToyDrive. He said that this initiative would allow formembers of the community to purchase and, ordrop off of toys at the collection drums that wouldprovided at the locations for the Holiday Season.

Francis said that students are enthusiasticabout selling books in a bid to gain the $1,000

prize. From the Clement Howell High School,Oshin Whyte is said to be in the lead, but her leadmay not be big, as a number of other students werebreathing down her neck in terms of ticket sales.

The same could be true for Alpha ChristianAcademy, where Jonelle Beckford is in the lead.The race is reportedly tight at the Enid CapronPrimary School, with no clear cut leader emergingas yet.

The Francis’ decried the sad state of affairsthat some of these schools were in. According tothem, some of the facilities were badly in need ofsanitary upgrade. They also said that, especiallyat the Clement Howell High School, there was achronic lack of desks and chairs, resulting insome students having to stand during class time.

They said also that some of the classes at theClement Howell High School are had no properchalk board on which to write.

They stressed the point that a number ofpersons in the community may be willing to assistwith the upgrade of some of these schools butwanted to find the proper way of doing, and so,the I Believe initiative has provided the avenue.

The couple said that after materials under theprogramme are sourced for school repairs, theywould be organizing a students’ work day thatwould see the pupils assisting in repairing brokenareas. By applying this method, they argued,students would be more appreciative theirsurroundings and would take better care.

‘I Believe’ programme gathers momentum

The ‘I Believe’ banner which shows two of the topping ticket-selling students

Page 19TURKS AND CAICOS SUN DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012



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After three and half years of direct rule from the United Kingdom, the Turks and Caicos Islands officially returned to self rule, with the opening ofthe House of Assembly at the NJS Francis Building in Grand Turk on November 28. The event was a mixture of pomp and pageantry, and which wasattended by both local and foreign dignitaries, including from the Bahamas. The event included a march past by members of the Royal Turks andCaicos Islands Police Force and inspection of the Guard of Honour by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd. The opening of the House was precededby an ecumenical service at the St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral Anglican Church in Grand Turk. Self rule in the TCI was suspended on August 14, 2009,following recommendations from a commission of inquiry report into government operation. The following are photo highlights of the event.

Page 25Page 24 TURKS AND CAICOS SUN DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012TURKS AND CAICOS SUN DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012



LOCAL NEWS


LOCAL NEWSPage 46 TURKS AND CAICOS SUN NOVEMBER 24TH - DECEMBER 1ST, 2012


Page 30

NEW YORK- Teenage actor Angus T.Jones of the comedy "Two and a HalfMen" apologized Tuesday for a seriesof interviews denouncing his own show,an episode that has rivaled formercolleague Charlie Sheen's meltdown asan off-screen oddity.

Speaking to religious media outlets,the 19-year-old Jones has called theCBS comedy "filth" and "veryinappropriate" and talked about how hisreligious awakening has affected hisattitude toward life and work.

"Two and a Half Men," television'sthird most popular comedy, remainsheavy on sexual innuendo even withAshton Kutcher replacing bad-boySheen following his firing for drug useand a subsequent public meltdown.Jones, who started on the show when hewas 10, plays Jake Harper, son of theuptight character portrayed by Emmywinner Jon Cryer.

In a statement issued late Tuesday,Jones said he had the highest regard forall of the people he has worked with onthe comedy, including creator ChuckLorre and Warner Bros. studio chief

Peter Roth."I apologize if my remarks reflect

me showing indifference to anddisrespect of my colleagues and a lackof appreciation of the extraordinaryopportunity of which I have beenblessed," said Jones, who reportedlymakes $350,000 an episode. "I neverintended that."

Jones wasn't at the studio lot for a

rehearsal on Tuesday. He's notscheduled to appear on the two episodesthat are being filmed before the end ofthe year, said a person close to the showwho spoke on condition of anonymitybecause Warner Bros. and CBS haven'tcommented publicly on Jones. Hischaracter has recently joined the Armyand his airtime has been cut down.

His real-life adventure came tolight on Monday, when he said in avideo posted by the ForerunnerChronicles in Seale, Ala., featured himtalking about not wanting to be on "Twoand a Half Men" anymore.

"Please stop watching it," Jonessaid. "Please stop filling your head withfilth."

In a radio broadcast, "The Voice ofProphecy," recorded for the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Jones'birthday in October, Jones described hisreligious path. He has been attending aSeventh-day Adventist Church in theLos Angeles area.

Jones said he felt drawn to Godafter a tough time in his life when hisparents were going through a divorce

and he experimented with drugs."I never drank," he said. "That was

one thing God protected me from, andI'm still a virgin. God protected me fromthose things."

Jones said that "it's very weird thatI'm on a television show, especially nowthat I am trying to walk with God. Mytelevision show has nothing to do withGod and doesn't want anything to dowith God." Still, he said he had no plansto get out of his contract.

In another interview posted onTuesday with Christianity Today, Jonesdescribed himself as a "paid hypocrite."

"Even though it's my job to be anactor, I have given my life to God," hesaid. "I am very comfortable and firmin that, but I still have to be on thisshow. It's the No. 1 comedy, but it's veryinappropriate and the themes are veryinappropriate. I have to be this person Iam not."

"Two and a Half Men," which hasseen its ratings tumble this fall with amove to Thursdays, is now behind "TheBig Bang Theory" and "ModernFamily" in the comedy ratings.

'Two and a Half Men' actor apologizesafter criticizing the show as 'filth'

Angus T. Jones

Actress Lindsay Lohan was arrestedoutside a New York nightclub on an assaultcharge early Thursday, police said, while inCalifornia, she was charged with recklessdriving and lying to police over a car crashin June.

Lohan, 26, was arrested shortly after4:00 a.m. (0900 GMT) on a third-degreemisdemeanor assault charge after punchinganother woman in the face at a club inManhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, NewYork police said.

The charges in California were moreserious, and could result in the "MeanGirls" actress having her probation revokedand being sent back to jail.

Lohan's publicist and attorney did notreturn calls for comment on Thursday.

Lohan, who has been to rehab, jail andcourt numerous times since a 2007 arrestfor drunk driving and cocaine possession,is currently on informal probation,following her January 2011 conviction forstealing a gold necklace from a Californiajewelry store.

A Los Angeles judge had lifted herformal probation in March but told her tocomply with all laws and stay out oftrouble.

Police in the beach city of SantaMonica said Lohan was formally chargedon Thursday with reckless driving andlying to police after telling them she wasnot driving the Porsche that smashed into a

truck on a busy highway. No one wasseriously injured in the collision.

Lohan was also charged withobstructing an officer in his duty. A courtdate has not been set, Santa Monica policesaid in a statement.

In New York, Lohan was accused ofpunching a 28-year-old unidentifiedwoman multiple times in the face, saidNew York Police Sergeant John Buthorn.The victim sustained "minor, minorinjuries," he said.

The actress was released from policecustody later on Thursday morning.

The two incidents come during a roughweek for the former child star, once one ofthe most promising young actresses inHollywood.

Her most recent performance, as screenlegend Elizabeth Taylor in the TV movie"Liz & Dick," was panned by critics. CableTV channel Lifetime said Monday that amodest 3.5 million Americans watched thefilm, which premiered last weekend.

Lohan's recent visits to New York havebeen peppered with run-ins with police andpublic spats.

Last month, police were called to theLong Island home of Lohan's mother, DinaLohan, after a loud argument, though noarrests were made. In September, Lohanwas arrested in Manhattan after apedestrian told police her car had struckhim in an alley, but charges were not filed.

Lohan arrested in NY, chargedalso for California car smash

R&B star Mary J. Blige was hit witha lawsuit on Wednesday alleging theGrammy winner and her husbanddefaulted on a $2.2 million bank loan.

According to court documentsfiled in New York State SupremeCourt in Manhattan, Signature Bankis seeking to recoup the original loanplus $58,000 in interest.

Blige, 41, who has sold morethan 50 million albums worldwide,and her husband Martin Isaacs tookout the loan in October 2011 anddefaulted in July 2012, the suit alleges.

Blige's publicist declined comment on the lawsuit. Thesinger's attorney did not immediately return a request tocomment.

The lawsuit also names Blige's production company, MaryJane Productions Inc.

The lawsuit is the latest financial headache for the New YorkCity native. The "Family Affair" singer's charity, The Mary J.Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement ofWomen Now Inc, was accused earlier in this year of mishandlingfunds and cheating scholarship students.

Blige acknowledged the problems in a June interview."The lives of young women are at stake," the singer told

Reuters when asked about the allegations. "I feel what they feel.I don't want them to suffer. I promised them something and I'mgonna deliver. Period."

R&B star Mary J. Blige

R&B star Mary J.Blige sued for

defaulting on $2.2million loan



LOCAL NEWSFUN & GAMESPage 36 JUNE 19TH - JUNE 26TH, 2009TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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Page 32

READ MORE ON PAGE 34

HIGHLIGHTS

Bolt named WorldAthlete of the Year

Lawrence Duprey and other formerCL Financial officials may facecharges of conspiracy to defraud andconceal millions of dollars asinvestigations into the wheeling anddealing at the collapsed conglomerateget under way, according to a reportpublished in the Sunday Guardianonline newspaper.According to the report, “as the Statebegins to build its case, investigationshave revealed questionabletransactions taking place at CLFinancial Ltd from as far back as1992.”“Serious allegations of fraud havebeen discovered, compounded withmultiple breaches of the Insurance Actand fraudulent trading under theCompanies Act. Instances in whichdepositors’ savings were taken toadvance personal interest also formvital evidence. Before the collapse ofthe conglomerate in 2009, CLFinancial controlled over $100 billionof assets in at least 28 companiesthroughout the region and the world,”the report states.The group’s financial interestscovered several industry sectors,

including banking and financialservices, energy, real estate andmanufacturing and distribution. ThisSunday Guardian exposé examines theallegations about the “unlawful acts”which led to the demise of thefinancial giant—and left mogulLawrence Duprey claiming he waswithout “a damn cent.”A letter obtained by the SundayGuardian that Director of Public

Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspardand sent to Attorney General AnandRamlogan in September said, “Thelosses arising from the collapse wereso large that it is difficult to conceivethat they all resulted from honest bututterly incompetent managementcoupled with a sudden economicdownturn.”In the letter, Gaspard concluded thaton the basis of the documentsforwarded to him that officials of CLFinancial had a case to answer. “Thereis sufficient material before me to saythat CLICO appears to have beenmanaged with a reckless disregard ofthe regulatory framework provided bythe Insurance Act.Consequently, I am satisfied that acriminal investigation should beconducted into whether those whoconstituted the controlling mind ofCLICO committed breaches of theInsurance Act and similar relatedbreaches of the Companies Act,”Gaspard stated.In addition, Gaspard said, there is alsoample material to justify aninvestigation into whether moreserious offences—conspiracy to

defraud and larceny—were committedby the “controlling minds” of CLICO,CLICO Investment Bank Ltd (CIB),CLICO Energy and CL Financial.“CIB had an important role insupplying what in reality wereworthless fixed deposit notes to boostthe paper strength of other companies.The basis of such a case would be thatthere was a conspiracy to defraudCLICO policyholders and mutual fundinvestors by using assets and funds ofCLICO in a way which wascompletely contrary to their interestand whether that amounted tolarceny,” he said.The investigation, Gaspard said,would deal with whether there wereconspiracies to defraud the State: • Bydisguising the true financial conditionof companies that regulators had toreport on • By failing to seek approvalfor the CLICO Energy saleSÉ• By the Oman Methanol dividenddiversion Gaspard also warned that itwould cause “consternation” topolicyholders of CLICO if they wereto hear there was to be noinvestigation when there were suchcompelling grounds for one.

Former Chairman Lawrence Duprey mayface criminal charges in the CLICO affair

Lawrence Duprey

Former US president JimmyCarter joins volunteers

building homes for HaitiansPORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Former United States president Jimmy Carterand his wife have joined volunteers from across the world in building 100homes for residents in Leogane, 18 miles south of the capital, which borethe brunt of the 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people andleft more than a million others homeless.

The Carters are joining the 29th annual Habitat for HumanityInternational project where volunteers are helping to construct the homesthroughout the course of the week.

Last year 100 homes were built during the Carter Work Project, and anadditional 50 homes were built in the community by volunteers from theIrish non-profit, Haven.

"We were both deeply moved by the experience in a country we haveknown and loved for years. We have a deep personal investment in the futureof Haiti and are happy to be building 100 homes in Leogane again this year,”Carter said.

Chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity International, JonathanReckford, said “even though nearly three years have passed since the 2010earthquake, there remains a dire need for adequate shelter in Haiti for manywho were displaced from their homes, so we are bringing the Carter WorkProject back to Leogane to help more families and to raise awareness of theongoing efforts to rebuild lives.

“We sincerely thank all the volunteers, sponsors and especially theCarters for their dedication to improving the lives of our Haitian partnerfamilies who are eager to have safe, decent homes."

Each year since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have volunteered withHabitat for Humanity for one week, building homes and hope in 14 countriesaround the world and providing inspiration to millions of people around theworld who share Habitat's vision of a world where everyone has a decentplace to live.

Cuba no threatto Barbados

Barbados should be preparing to exploit available opportunities in Cuba ratherthan fearfully anticipating crippling competition if American restrictions on thatcountry are eased.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Maxine McCleansaid this was the stance she was personally taking, and one others in Barbadosshould also adopt.

She was speaking in the Senate as members debated the Value Added Tax(Barbados Network Programme) (Validation) Bill, 2012, which containsprovisions to make the lives of Barbadians returning home much easier.

McClean said the island’s foreign policy reflected its appreciation about theimportance of continual engagement with countries like Cuba.

“In recent times many people have been saying our tourist industry needsto start to fear the opening up of the Cuban market and I say to myself ‘that isa very strange way of thinking, that’s a very negative way of thinking’,” theminister said.

“In these things we should see opportunities in the same way that many ofour regional neighbours have done so and what I see as that country’s politicalsystem and economic system evolves is the opportunity for creative persons totake advantage of that evolution and to see it as potential for partnership, rather(than) seeing it as potential competition, which would do damage to us.

“But my way of thinking perhaps is one that should be adopted by a lot ofother people and really and truly there are opportunities for that to happen,” sheadded.

The official said Government was keen to fully engage its large Diaspora,in addition to making it easier to reconnect with the land of their birth or descent.

“Barbadians in the Diaspora, whether they are there as part of a Governmentassignment, whether they are there as private citizens and so on … are makingsignificant contributions and in fact helping to shape and execute our foreignpolicy,” she said.


CARIBBEAN NEWSPage 33


There is no “sunset” or end date forthe UK-drafted Framework for FiscalResponsibility now contained withinthe Cayman Islands PublicManagement and Finance Law, UKofficials confirmed Thursday.

According to the CaymanianCompass, during his first visit to theCayman Islands, British OverseasTerritories Department DirectorPeter Hayes – who replaced formerdirector Colin Roberts in October –fielded questions during a pressconference about the fiscalframework document and otherissues.

“[The Framework for FiscalResponsibility] doesn’t sunset,” Mr.Hayes said. ‘But it’s not somethingthat we would see as cast in stoneforever.”

Right now, the frameworkagreement – signed by Premier

McKeeva Bush in November 2011and passed into law by legislatorsthis month – sets guidelines oncertain areas like governmentspending and borrowing, biddingfor public projects and rules forfinancial reporting.

The document prevents theCayman Islands from entering intoany further long-term borrowing tosupport public projects through June30, 2016. The only exception to thatrule is in the case of naturaldisasters affecting the Islands.

“One would hope, as thefinancial management situationdevelops and as the guidelines comeback within the debt limits…thenobviously we want to make sure theFramework for FiscalResponsibility is keeping pace withcircumstances,” Mr. Hayes said.

Cayman Islands Governor

Duncan Taylor elaborated. “There’s a timetable to get the

government finances back into aposition where they meet all theborrowing guidelines,” Mr. Taylorsaid. “At that stage, assuming weget there, then some of the ability ofthe minister in the UK to have a sayin the setting of the [CaymanIslands] budget falls away.

However, the principles ofsound management will stay in thefinance law, and that could includenew rules for things like publicproject procurement.

“We may well have a newprocurement law,” Mr. Taylor said.“What you may find is those basicprinciples that are in the Frameworkfor Fiscal Responsibility might beincorporated into some other bit ofthe Public Management and FinanceLaw at some stage.”

The governor also sought todownplay fears that the enactmentof the fiscal framework wouldsomehow hold up the ForCaymanInvestment Alliance negotiationsbetween government and the Dartgroup of companies. However, henoted that the UK’s financialadviser may wish to have a wordwith both parties involved in theagreement.

The negotiations include aproposal to relocate a section ofWest Bay Road along Seven MileBeach and build a wastemanagement facility in BoddenTown.

“It’s not a procurement processas such,” he said. “You’re not in acompetitive tendering positionbecause you’re looking at someswaps there between whatgovernment have and what Darthas.”

UK fiscal framework in Cayman Islands may stay in law

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Trinidad and Tobago’snational security minister Jack Warner is beinginvestigated by the United States Federal Bureau ofInvestigations (FBI), the daily Express Newspaper hasreported

The FBI probe is based on money-launderingallegations against Warner, a former FIFA vice-president, the paper reported in its online editionMonday.

The charge against Warner stems from hisrelationship with Chuck Blazer, former GeneralSecretary of CONCACAF, the football federation forNorth and Central America and the Caribbean.

“As a matter of long-standing policy, we do notcomment on law enforcement matters.” the UnitedStates Embassy in Port of Spain said in a statement.

The Embassy was responding to questions onwhether FBI officials will be in Trinidad and Tobagoto gather evidence.

Blazer was the whistle-blower into the bribes-for-votes allegations made against Warner and Qatarfootball official Mohammed bin Hammam at a lastyear’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) meeting inPort of Spain.

Blazer’s allegations, leading up to FIFA’spresidential election last year, resulted in Warner’sresignation as vice-president of FIFA, president ofCONCACAF and president of the Caribbean FootballUnion.

Last year, Blazer was also the subject of an FBIenquiry for allegedly hiding a multi-million-dollaroffshore account.

At the time, the FBI was examining evidence thatpayments may have come from the CFU during thetime of Warner’s presidency.

In September, newly-appointed CONCACAFpresident Jeffrey Webb said the finances ofCONCACAF under Warner’s tenure, were still beingprobed by the United States Internal Revenue Service(IRS).

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williamshas been quoted as saying he had not been informedof any investigation.

However the Financial Intelligence Bureau (FIB)of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is

reportedly investigating the matter.But speaking at a public forum of the ruling

United National Congress (UNC) on Monday night,Warner denied he was the subject of any investigation.

Warner said there is a clear agenda among somesections of the media to destabilise the People’sPartnership Government and threatened a lawsuitagainst the Express newspaper.

“FBI probes Jack Warner is the headline today.

Million dollar probe on Jack Warner. The intention isto get Jack. In their blighted thinking if Jack Warnergoes…all falls down.

“But this government will not fall! Look at all thenegative articles in that same newspaper. Jack today,Anand tomorrow and Kamla every day,” Warner said,noting that he had already charged instructed hislawyers to send pre-action protocol letters to themedia house.

FBI Investigating TrinidadSecurity Minister Jack Warner

HAMILTON, Bermuda – Following hisarrest for the possession of marijuana, acandidate from the ruling ProgressiveLabour Party (PNP) has pulled out of therace for next month’s General election.

Late Wednesday, the PLP said a newcandidate to replace Makai Dickerson wouldbe unveiled on Thursday morning.

Dickerson, described as a rising star bythe PLP, was due to challenge OppositionLeader Craig Cannonier in DevonshireSouth Central in the December 17 election.

Dickerson’s resignation followed hisadmission earlier this week that police foundhim in possession of a “very small” amountof marijuana in September before he wasrolled out as a PLP candidate.

“After much reflection, I have decided tostep down as a candidate. I do this becausethis election is too important and mypersonal shortcomings shouldn’t cause anyfurther distractions for my party and thevoters of Bermuda during this importanttime,” he said in a statement.

“I appreciate that my party supports meand offered to give me a second chance but I

believe that the future of our country is atstake and I don’t want my personal situationcausing unnecessary problems for my party.”

On Monday, the PLP said it was taken bysurprise by news of Dickerson’s arrest.

National Security Minister WaynePerinchief acknowledged the PLP was“caught on the backfoot” when Dickersontold the party about his arrest a few daysago.

Dickerson said in an earlier statement: “Imade a mistake. I ask my God, my familyand my community for forgiveness.

He is due to appear in court just beforethe general election.

More than 80 candidates, including nineindependents , are due to contest the electionin which the PLP, which now holds 24 of the36 seats in the House of Assembly, is seekinga fourth term in office against a backdrop ofcontinuing gang violence, eight per centunemployment and a national debt of US$1.4billion.

The 18-month-old One Bermuda Allianceholds an 11-point lead over the PLP inopinion polls

Bermuda elections candidatecaught with marijuana steps down

CARIBBEAN NEWSPage 34


BARCELONA—Usain Bolt won theIAAF World Athlete of the Yearaward for the fourth time yesterdayover US hurdler Aries Merritt andKenyan runner David Rudisha. TheJamaican sprinter, who defended his100 and 200 metre gold medals atthis summer’s Olympic Games, hadpreviously won the award in 2008,2009, and 2011.United States sprinter Allyson Felixtook home the women’s WorldAthlete of the Year award.

“For me this is a great honour towin a fourth time. I really workedhard and I was really focused thisyear. This season was one of mytoughest. I had my ups and downs,even though we don’t like to talkabout them,” said Bolt, who thankedhis coach and the fans at thissummer’s Olympics. “The Londongames were magnificent. Fans werethere in the stadium from ten in themorning, I had never seen anythinglike that.”

Jamaica’s Minister in charge ofSports Natalie Neita-Headleycongratulated Bolt as well as hisCoach Glen Mills who was awardedthe Lifetime Coaching Award. “Thenation is particularly pleased that thehighest governing body of the sporthas seen them worthy of these awardsin this, the 50th year of Jamaica'sindependence,” said Headley.

“Having gained the premierindividual award in internationalathletics, Ambassador Bolt has againmade a remarkable achievement bybecoming the first man to be namedthe World Male Athlete of the Yearfor the fourth time. Coach Mills hasbeen awarded the Lifetime CoachingAward, showcasing the impact that hehas had not only on athletics inJamaica, but the world. These awardsare further proof that Jamaica's sportindustry has the potential to propel usfurther toward our economic

development goals,” Headleydeclared.

In 2003, Bolt and Felix won theRising Star awards for the mostpromising young athletes of the year.

Felix won the 200-metre gold medalin London after settling for silverfour years earlier in Beijing. “Idecided to rededicate myself evenharder and it was a blessing indisguise. I was able to work harderthan ever before and finally it allcame together,” she said.

The other finalists for thewomen’s award were New Zealandshot putter Valerie Adams and Britishheptathlete Jessica Ennis—both goldmedalists in London. Merritt won theInspiration Award for his season,which included a gold medal and aworld record in the 110 hurdles.

Rudisha, who was named Athleteof the Year in 2010, won thePerformance of the Year award forhis record-setting gold medal run inthe 800 metres. Javelin throwerKeshorn Walcott of Trinidad andBahamas sprinter AnthoniqueStrachan won the Rising Star awards.The awards were announced on thefinal day of the IAAF’s 100thanniversary celebration.

Bolt named World Athlete of the Year

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados –TheBarbados Light & Power HoldingsLtd. (LPH) has announced that it hassigned letters of intent to acquirecontrolling interest in DominicaElectricity Services Ltd. (DOMLEC)from WRB Enterprises Inc. ofTampa, Florida, and its affiliatedentities.

DOMLEC is the sole electricutility for the island of Dominica,serving 34,000 customers. WRBowns 52% of DOMLEC, with 21%held by Dominica Social SecurityScheme and the remainder by otherinvestors.

According to the joint releaseissued by the two companies, theyare working to complete thetransaction within a matter of weeksas they aim to have it finalised beforethe end of 2012

"The acquisition of DOMLEC isconsistent with our strategy to builda business of scale in the Caribbean,"said LPH Managing Director PeterWilliams. "We believe ouroperational expertise, and ourcommitment to stabilizing customercosts by introducing alternativesources of energy for electricitygeneration, create new potential foradding value to the benefit ofcustomers in Dominica. We also lookforward to maintaining a productiverelationship with local investors,including the Dominica SocialSecurity Scheme."

“WRB is proud of ourassociation with DOMLEC, and withaccomplishments at the companyover many years,” said WRB'sPresident, Bob Blanchard, Jr, of the

company which owns WIV Cable inTurks and Caicos Islands and onceowned Turks and Caicos Utilities inGrand Turk. “This has not been aneasy decision but we have come toknow LPH and believe this decisionwill enhance the capacity ofDOMLEC to serve its customers.”

Mr. Blanchard added that LPHand WRB are working together toimplement a continuity plan toensure change of control activitiesoccur with customer service andemployee alignment as a priority.

LPH and WRB have also agreedthey will collaborate in the future ondevelopment of new renewableenergy projects in the Caribbean.

Light & Power Holdings, aninvestment company with electricitybeing its core business, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emera Inc., anenergy and services company basedin Halifax, Nova Scotia. LPH has amajority interest in Barbados Lightand Power Company Limited, whichhas been serving electricitycustomers in Barbados since 1911,and holds a minority interest in St.Lucia Electricity Services. TheCommon Shares of Light & PowerHoldings are quoted on the BarbadosStock Exchange.

WRB Enterprises is based inTampa, Florida. In addition toCaribbean holdings in electricutilities, cable television andtelecommunications, WRB has morethan 50 years of experience in heavyequipment, banking, real estate andother industries. The company is oneof the largest shareholders of theBank of Tampa (Florida) andCenterState Banks (Florida).

Prince Albert of Monaco, Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, US sprinter Allyson Felix and IAAF(International Association of Athletics Federations) President Lamine Diack pose for photographers

during the IAAF´s Athlete of the Year Award marking its centenary on November 24, 2012

Barbados power companyseeks to acquire Dominican

electricity company

Page 35

Samples taken from Arafat corpse for

poison testsREAD MORE ON PAGE 38

HIGHLIGHTS

AMBERGRIS CAY SERVICES LTD. (IN RECEIVERSHIP)SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT POSITION

Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) is seeking to fill a temporary poston Ambergris Cay for the period 18th December 2012 to 6th January 2013. The

available position is for a

RESTAURANT HOST/MAITRE'D.JOB SUMMARY:Work alongside with the Lead Chef and Sous Chef to organize and direct theactivities of all the Food and Beverage department of the restaurant facility onAmbergris Cay to ensure an exceptional level of customer service and satisfaction.Providing exemplary food and beverage service to visitors to the Cay over theChristmas and New Year period. This very demanding job requires high skilllevels, assisting in monitoring of all Restaurant front house activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:1. Supervising of the waiting staff, welcoming guests and assigning them to tables,taking reservations, and ensuring that guests are satisfied.2. Assist in presentation of all meals to guests using the restaurant facility onAmbergris Cay.3. Delivery of outstanding services to a professional standard.4. Excellent knowledge of a wide variety of local and international cuisines.5. Assist in all other duties as required by the Lead Chef & or Sous Chef.6. Must be able to work irregular hours, to include nights, weekends, and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS:1. 5 years relevant experience operating in a high quality environment, providing afine-dining experience in an international environment.2. International experience of working on special event arrangements;3. Excellent communication skills and a pleasant, professional demeanor.4. A resourceful personality.5. Must work and reside on Ambergris Cay for the indicated period.6. Excellent references are essential

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday, 10th December, 2012.Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership)Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (649)-941-3777 ; Fax: (649)-941-3778


CAIRO - Thousands of Egyptiansprotested against President MohamedMursi on Friday after an Islamist-ledassembly raced through approval of a newconstitution in a bid to end a crisis overthe Islamist leader's newly expandedpowers.

"The people want to bring down theregime," they chanted in Tahrir Square,echoing the chants that rang out in thesame place less than two years ago andbrought down Hosni Mubarak.

Mursi said the decree halting courtchallenges to his decisions, which sparkedeight days of protests and violence byEgyptians calling him a new dictator, was"for an exceptional stage" and aimed tospeed up the democratic transition.

"It will end as soon as the people voteon a constitution," he told state televisionwhile the constituent assembly was stillvoting on the draft, which the Islamistssay reflects Egypt's new freedoms. "Thereis no place for dictatorship."

The opposition cried foul. Liberals,

leftists, Christians, more moderateMuslims and others had withdrawn fromthe assembly, saying their voices were notbeing heard.

Thousands packed Tahrir and hit thestreets in Alexandria and cities on theSuez Canal, in the Nile Delta and south ofCairo, responding to opposition calls fora big turnout.

The disparate opposition which hasstruggled to compete with well-organisedIslamists has been drawn together andreinvigorated by the crisis. Tens ofthousands had also protested on Tuesday,showing the breadth of public anger.

But Islamists have a potent politicalmachine and the United States has lookedon warily at the rising power of a groupthey once kept at arms length now rulinga nation that has a peace treaty with Israeland is at the heart of the Arab Spring.

Protesters said they would push for a'no' vote in a referendum, which couldhappen as early as mid-December. Ifapproved, it would immediately cancel

the president's decree."We fundamentally reject the

referendum and constituent assemblybecause the assembly does not representall sections of society," said Sayed el-Erian, 43, a protester in Tahrir andmember of a party set up by oppositionfigure Mohamed ElBaradei.

"Leave, leave," some chanted,another anti-Mubarak slogan.

In the Cairo mosque where Mursisaid Friday prayers, some opponentschanted against him but backers quicklysurrounded him shouting in support,journalists and a security source said.

Thousands of Mursi supporters alsoturned out in Alexandria.

The plebiscite on the constitution is agamble based on the Islamists' belief theycan mobilise voters again after winningall the elections since Mubarak wasoverthrown in February 2011.

Despite the big numbers opposed tohim, Mursi can count on backing from thedisciplined Brotherhood and Islamist

allies, as well as many Egyptians who aresimply exhausted by the turmoil.

"He just wants us to move on and notwaste time in conflicts," said 33-year-oldCairo shopowner Abdel Nasser Marie."Give the man a chance and Egypt abreak," he said.

But Mursi needs the cooperation ofjudges to oversee the vote, though manywere angered by Mursi's decree that theysaid undermined the judiciary. Somejudges have gone on strike.

The assembly concluded the voteafter a 19-hour session, quicker than manyexpected, approving all 234 articlescovering presidential powers, the status ofIslam, the military's role and rights ofcitizens.

In one historic change, the presidentwas limited to eight years in office afterMubarak served for 30 years. Itintroduced a degree of civilian oversightover the military - though not enough forcritics.

Egyptians protest after draftconstitution raced through

WORLD NEWSPage 36


AMBERGRIS CAY SERVICES LTD. (INRECEIVERSHIP)

SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT POSITIONAmbergris Cay Services Ltd. (In Receivership) is seeking to fill a temporary post onAmbergris Cay for the period 18th December 2012 to 6th January 2013. Theavailable position is for a RESTAURANT HOST/MAITRE'D

JOB SUMMARY:Work alongside with the Lead Chef and Sous Chef to organizeand direct the activities of all the Food and Beverage department of the restaurantfacility on Ambergris Cay to ensure an exceptional level of customer service andsatisfaction. Providing exemplary food and beverage service to visitors to the Cayover the Christmas and New Year period. This very demanding job requires highskill levels, assisting in monitoring of all Restaurant front house activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:1. Supervising of the waiting staff, welcoming guests and assigning them to tables,taking reservations, and ensuring that guests are satisfied.2. Assist in presentation of all meals to guests using the restaurant facility onAmbergris Cay.3. Delivery of outstanding services to a professional standard.4. Excellent knowledge of a wide variety of local and international cuisines.5. Assist in all other duties as required by the Lead Chef & or Sous Chef.6. Must be able to work irregular hours, to include nights, weekends, and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS:1. 5 years relevant experience operating in a high quality environment, providing afine-dining experience in an international environment.2. International experience of working on special event arrangements;3. Excellent communication skills and a pleasant, professional demeanor.4. A resourceful personality.5. Must work and reside on Ambergris Cay for the indicated period.6. Excellent references are essential



Forensic experts took samples fromYasser Arafat's uncovered corpse inthe West Bank on Tuesday, trying todetermine if he was murdered byIsraeli agents using the hard-to-traceradioactive poison, Polonium.

Palestinians witnessed thefuneral of their hero and longtimeleader eight years ago, but conspiracytheories surrounding his death havenever been laid to rest.

Many are convinced their iconwas the victim of a cowardlyassassination, and may stayconvinced whatever the outcome ofthis autopsy. But some in the city ofRamallah where he lies deplored theuncovering of his body on Tuesday.

"This is wrong. After all thistime, today they suddenly want tofind out the truth?" said constructionworker Ahmad Yousef, 31. "Theyshould have done it eight years ago,"he said.

Arafat's body was uncovered inits grave and samples were removedwithout having to lift the corpse fromthe ground. As a result, the plannedreburial ceremony with full militaryhonors was called off.

The tomb was resealed in hoursand wreaths were placed byPalestinian leaders including PrimeMinister Salam Fayyad.

"The state of the body wasexactly what you would expect tofind for someone who has been

buried for eight years. There wasnothing out of the ordinary," HealthMinister Hani Abdeen told a newsconference.

French magistrates in Augustopened a murder inquiry into Arafat'sdeath in Paris in 2004 after a Swissinstitute said it had discovered highlevels of polonium on clothing of hiswhich was supplied by his widow,Suha, for a television documentary.

The head of the Palestinianinvestigation committee, TawfiqTirawi said the forensic procedurewent smoothly. A Palestinian medicalteam took samples and gave them toeach of the Swiss, French andRussian teams.

"We need proof in order to findthose who are behind thisassassination and take it to the ICC(International Criminal Court)," hesaid. "When we have proof, we willgo to the ICC for it to be our first caseto try those whose policy isassassinations."

Jordanian doctor Abdullah alBashir, head of the Palestinianmedical committee, said about 20samples were taken and analysiswould take at least three months.

"In order to do these analyses, tocheck, cross-check and double cross-check, it will take several months andI don't think we'll have anythingtangible available before March orApril next year," said Darcy Christen,

spokesman for Lausanne UniversityHospital in Switzerland that carriedout the original tests on Arafat'sclothes.

Arafat was always a freedomfighter to Palestinians but a terroristto Israelis first, and a partner forpeace only later. He led the bid for aPalestinian state through years of warand peacemaking, then died in aFrench hospital aged 75 after a short,mysterious illness.

No autopsy was carried out at thetime, at the request of Suha, andFrench doctors who treated him saidthey were unable to determine thecause of death.

But allegations of foul playsurfaced immediately, and manyPalestinians pointed the finger atIsrael, which confined Arafat to hisWest Bank headquarters in Ramallahfor the final two and a half years ofhis life after a Palestinian uprisingerupted.

Israel denies murdering him. Itsleader at the time, Ariel Sharon, nowlies in a coma from which he isexpected never to awake. Israelinvited the Palestinian leadership torelease all Arafat's medical records,which were never made publicfollowing his death and still have notbeen opened.

Polonium, apparently ingestedwith food, was found to have causedthe death of former Russian spy

Alexander Litvinenko in London in2006. But some experts havequestioned whether Arafat could havedied in this way, pointing to a briefrecovery during his illness that theysaid was not consistent withradioactive poisoning. They alsonoted he did not lose all his hair.

Eight years is considered thelimit to detect any traces of the fast-decaying polonium and Lausannehospital questioned in August if itwould be worth seeking any samples,if access to Arafat's body was delayedas late as "October or November."

Not all of Arafat's family agreedto the exhumation.

Arafat's widow watched herhusband's uncovering on televisionfrom her house in Malta.

"This will bring closure, we willknow the truth about why he died. Iowe this answer to the Palestinianpeople, to the new generation, and tohis daughter," a tearful Suha toldtimesofmalta.com.

Samples taken from Arafatcorpse for poison tests

Yasser Arafat

Palestinians win implicitUN recognition of

sovereign stateThe 193-nation U.N. General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approvedthe de facto recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state after PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Abbas called on the world body to issue its long overdue"birth certificate."

There were 138 votes in favor, nine against and 41 abstentions. Threecountries did not take part in the vote to upgrade the Palestinian Authority'sobserver status at the United Nations to "non-member state" from "entity."

The assembly approved the upgrade despite threats by the United States andIsrael to punish the Palestinians by withholding funds for the West Bankgovernment. U.N. envoys said Israel might avoid harsh retaliation as long as thePalestinians did not seek to join the International Criminal Court.

The much-anticipated vote came after Abbas denounced Israel for its"aggressive policies and the perpetration of war crimes" from the U.N. podium,remarks that elicited a furious response from the Jewish state.

"Sixty-five years ago on this day, the United Nations General Assemblyadopted resolution 181, which partitioned the land of historic Palestine into twostates and became the birth certificate for Israel," Abbas told the 193-nationassembly after receiving a standing ovation.

"The General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate ofthe reality of the State of Palestine," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded quickly, condemningAbbas' critique of Israel as "hostile and poisonous," and full of "falsepropaganda."

"These are not the words of a man who wants peace," Netanyahu also saidin a statement released by his office in Israel.

At least 17 European nations voted in favor of the Palestinian resolution,including Austria, France, Italy, Norway and Spain. Abbas had focused hislobbying efforts on Europe, which supplies much of the aid the PalestinianAuthority relies on. Britain, Germany and others chose to abstain.

The Czech Republic was unique in Europe, joining the United States, Israel,Canada, Panama and tiny Pacific Island states likes Nauru, Palau and Micronesiain voting against the move.

After the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice calledfor the immediate resumption of peace talks.

WORLD NEWSPage 37


WASHINGTON — SuperstormSandy packed a bigger economic punchthan most people had thought.

In its sweep through the Northeast,the storm halted sales at major retailersat the start of the crucial holidayshopping season, closed factories andslowed home sales in one of the mostdensely populated areas of the country.

On Thursday, for example, Kohl's,Target and Macy's blamed the storm forweak sales in November. Macy's andNordstrom Inc. reported their firstmonthly sales drop since late 2009,when the U.S. economy was justemerging from the Great Recession.

And the government said this weekthat new-home sales plunged 32 percentin the Northeast last month and nearly12 percent in the South. By contrast,sales surged nearly 63 percent in theMidwest and nearly 9 percent in theWest.

Sandy is being blamed for about$62 billion in damage and other lossesin the U.S., most of it in New York andNew Jersey. It's the second-costlieststorm in U.S. history after HurricaneKatrina, which caused $128 billion indamage in inflation-adjusted dollars.

New York is seeking $42 billion infederal aid, including about $9 billionfor projects to head off damage in futurestorms. New Jersey is seeking nearly$37 billion in aid, including $7.4 billionfor future projects.

Still, reports this week showed thatthe economic damage was confinedmainly to the Northeast. In other partsof the country, the economy picked upin early November, when many NewYorkers were still without power.

And next year, rebuilding efforts inthe Northeast could help jump-start the

broader U.S. economy. That's especiallytrue if Congress and the White Housereach a budget deal that prevents sharptax increases and spending cuts fromtaking effect in January.

Homes must be rebuilt, cars need tobe replaced and many people are likelyto step up spending once the storm'simpact starts to fade. All that wouldhelp accelerate growth.

The U.S. economy grew at amoderate 2.7 percent annual rate fromJuly through September, thegovernment said Thursday. Weakergrowth is predicted for the October-December quarter.

Sandy shut down businesses fromNorth Carolina to Maine and cut offpower to 8 million homes in 10 states.Many people could not go to work andweren't paid for weeks.

Applications for unemployment

benefits rose to an 18-month high in thefirst week of November, driven by asurge in applications in New York, NewJersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Such applications have fallensharply since. But the increase earlierthis month will likely depress jobgrowth for November. Manyeconomists predict that net job growthfor November will range between25,000 and 75,000 — well below the171,000 jobs added in October.

A Federal Reserve survey releasedWednesday said economic activity inOctober and early November slowedfrom the previous six-week period inthree of its banking districts coveringterritory from Philadelphia to Maine.That contrasted with the Fed's nineother banking districts, which allreported improvement in growth.

"The storm caused bottlenecks in

the production process," said JoelPrakken, senior economist atMacroeconomic Advisers. "If you don'thave electric power and transportation,you can't do a lot of things."

The lingering damage from thestorm is weighing on the economy at atime of great uncertainty caused by theapproaching "fiscal cliff." That's thename for automatic tax increases andspending cuts that will take effectwithout a federal budget agreement.

Most economists predict economicgrowth will slow to an annual ratebelow 2 percent in the October-December quarter. And some say therate will likely be closer to a meager 1percent. Prakken said the storm couldend up lowering the growth rate by ahalf percentage point.

But by next year, Prakken saidcleanup and rebuilding will start to addto U.S. economic growth.

Many analysts say the region ispoised to rebound quickly. Economistsat the New York Federal Reserve Banksaid Thursday that they expect theeconomy in the New York region to beback on track by early 2013. Recoveryin hard-hit New York communities likeLong Beach and the Rockaways willtake longer, though.

In the first three months of 2013,the economy's growth could rebound toa rate of 2.5 percent, said Nigel Gault,chief U.S. economist for IHS GlobalInsight. Gault predicts a 0.4 percentagepoint boost from the rebuilding andother factors related to Sandy.

"We think that growth will improveas we go through 2013, but that iscontingent on us not messing things upby going over the fiscal cliff," Gaultsaid.

Sandy delivers heavy blow to US economy

IDG News Service - Research In Motion has introduced the BlackBerry DevAlpha C, a smartphone developers can use to test their applications and getready for the launch of the BlackBerry 10 QWERTY device next year. Thecompany also said developers will be able to trade their Alpha devices for afully functional limited edition BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

Step-by-step, RIM is getting developers ready for the Jan. 30 launch ofBlackBerry 10, when the company will introduce one all-touch smartphoneand one more traditional model with a QWERTY keyboard.

RIM has already distributed 7,500 all-touch testing devices to developers;its latest move aims to ensure that applications can run on the QWERTYsmartphone as well, the company said

RIM isn't providing any technical details on the BlackBerry Dev Alpha C,but does detail what developers have to do to get one.

The company is making a limited number of phones, and they will bereserved on a priority list for developers who have demonstrated that they arebuilding at least two apps for BlackBerry 10.

Developers' rankings on the list are based on a point scheme, wheredevelopers get 50 points for ported Android applications; 250 points for native,WebWorks and Adobe Air applications; and 1500 points for applicationscertified using the Built For BlackBerry program, according to the blog post.

Developers who already have an Alpha all-touch device or are aBlackBerry Elite member will start with 200 points.

RIM prepsdevelopers forBlackBerry 10QWERTYsmartphone

Sandy is being blamed for about $62 billion in damage and other losses in the U.S., most of it in NewYork and New Jersey.

Carla Bruni supportsFrance's gay marriageplan in opposition toher husband, Sarkozy

PARIS - France's former firstlady Carla Bruni says shedisagrees with her conservativehusband Nicolas Sarkozy andsupports a plan to allow gaymarriage and adoption.

In an interview with theFrench edition of Vogue for itsDecember issue, the 44-year-oldformer supermodel and singersaid: "I'm rather in favourbecause I have a lot of friends —men and women — who are inthis situation and I see nothingunstable or perverse in familieswith gay parents."

France's Socialists are pushing a billthat could see gay marriage legalizedearly next year, defying criticism from religious leaders and Sarkozy'sown UMP party.

Bruni says, "my husband is opposed for reasons linked to his politicalvocation, because he sees people as groups of thousands rather thanpeople we know personally."

France's former first lady Carla Bruni

Page 38

READ MORE ON NEXT PAGE

HIGHLIGHTS

Greek debt tobe reduced

The US economy grew at anannualised rate of 2.7% in the thirdquarter of the year, revised data hassuggested.The figure is significantly higher

than the 2% initial estimate that theCommerce Department released justbefore the presidential election.Much of the growth was due to

companies rebuilding theirinventories, and is not expected to besustained.The first estimate itself had beaten

analysts' expectations, and fuelled thesuspicions of some Republicans.The growth rate for the second

quarter was confirmed at 1.3%.The revised data confirmed that a

9.5% jump in spending by the federalgovernment during the quarter -compared with a 0.2% decline theprevious quarter - played an importantrole in the pick-up in growth.What the first estimate had failed

to pick up was the scale of restockingby private-sector businesses.

This inventory build-up effect -which typically provides a temporaryboost to economic activity early on inthe recovery from a recession - added0.77 percentage points to the pick-upin the overall growth rate in the thirdquarter, the Commerce Departmentsaid.Other factors that boosted growth

included the continued rise inconsumer spending, stronger exports,and a slight rebound in homebuildingactivity from historically low levels.There were also some negative

factors in the data, including furthercuts in state and local governmentspending, and a fall in construction ofcommercial property.Developments in the US housing

market are being watched closely byeconomists, as they are likely todetermine the durability of therecovery.Normally, periods of recovery in

the US economy are led by residentialconstruction, as building firms quickly

get back to work on a backlog ofprojects as soon as the recession isover.But this time round, the recession

was in large part caused by thebursting of a housing market bubble,that left behind a glut of unsoldhomes, bankrupted manyhomebuilding firms, and saw thesharpest and most sustained collapsein homebuilding activity in recordedUS history.Further evidence that the housing

market may be on the mend wasprovided by the National Associationof Realtors on Thursday.Its index of pending home sales -

which tracks sales that have beenagreed but not completed, andprovides an early indicator of marketactivity - rose 5.2% to 104.8 inOctober, its highest level in five years,despite subdued activity in the northeast due to the impact of storm Sandy.Some Republicans had expressed

incredulity at a string of unexpectedly

strong economic figures released inOctober, in the run-up to thepresidential elections.The initial growth estimate

followed jobs figures that showed theunemployment rate falling inSeptember from 8.1% to 7.8% - itslowest rate since January 2009, andwell below market expectations.The positive jobs data came

shortly after Mr Obama put in a poorperformance during the first of the threepresidential debates, and promptedsome Republican supporters to callfoul.However, the latest growth estimate

strengthens the evidence that the USeconomy genuinely enjoyed a reboundover the summer.Meanwhile, weekly data on the

number of people claimingunemployment benefits, also releasedon Thursday, added to the picture ofrecovery.The number of claimants fell

23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 393,000- the second such fall in as many weeks,suggesting that a sharp run-up in thenumber of claimants in parts of the USstruck by storm Sandy four weeks agomay prove to be temporary.The claimant count had been

averaging about 375,000 before thestorm struck, and peaked at 451,000.

US economic growth rate revised up to 2.7%

President Barack Obama made anopening bid in budget talks withRepublicans that calls for a $1.6trillion tax increase, a $50 billioneconomic-stimulus program and newpower to raise the federal debt limitwithout congressional approval, abroad set of demands Republicansviewed as a step back in talks to avoidlooming tax increases and spendingcuts. The proposal, offered by TreasurySecretary Timothy Geithner as hemade a round of meetings withcongressional leaders in the CapitolThursday, calls for increasing tax rateson incomes over $250,000, a one-yearpostponement of looming spendingcuts in defense and domesticprograms, and some $400 billion insavings over 10 years from Medicareand other entitlement programs.The details of the proposal were

described by congressional GOPofficials. Earlier in the day, after GOPleaders met with Mr. Geithner, theymade plain they didn't like what theyheard."No substantive progress has been

made in the talks between the WhiteHouse and the House over the last twoweeks," said House Speaker JohnBoehner (R., Ohio), who also spoke toMr. Obama on the telephone

Wednesday night.The administration had taken a

"step backward, moving away fromconsensus and significantly closer tothe cliff, delaying again the real,balanced solution that this crisisrequires," Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said in awritten statement released by hisoffice.The White House offer in some

sense amounts to a formal start of thenegotiations, which could take manytwists and turns before any possibledeal is consummated. The White

House didn't have an immediatecomment.Democratic and Republican aides

have a good sense of what concessionsthey are willing to offer, but neitherwants to go first for fear of losingleverage. Republicans have said theywon't negotiate on taxes until theWhite House steps forward withconcrete ideas for addressingentitlement spending. The WhiteHouse won't talk about entitlementsuntil the GOP bends on taxes.Despite its formal offer, the White

House has signaled it wouldn't insist

tax rates on upper-income Americansrise to Clinton-era peaks as part of adeficit-reduction deal. Earlier Thursday, Democrats said

they were confident an agreementcould be reached by Christmas. Thecomplex negotiations are designed toavert the cliff—the combination of taxincreases and spending cuts that arescheduled to kick in at the start of thenew year if Congress and the WhiteHouse fail to intervene.Mr. Boehner's tone was a change

from earlier this week when he said hewas optimistic a compromise could bereached. While he said conversationswith the president and Mr. Geithnerwere direct and frank, he called onDemocrats to offer specific spendingcuts and changes to entitlementprograms such as Medicare andMedicaid they would put on the tabletoward a potential deal."All eyes are on the White House,

the country doesn't need a victory lap,it needs leadership," Mr. Boehner saidat a news conference in the Capitol.The $400 billion from entitlementsavings, the same number contained inMr. Obama's 2013 budget proposal, isseen by Republicans as being well offthe mark.

GOP rejects cliff offer from Obama

US politicians have been negotiating furiously to try to resolve the fiscal cliff


BUSINESS & TEchNologyPage 39


North Caicos Contracting Ltd seeks

-1 Industrial EquipmentMechanic/Driver

With minimum 3 years experience and references Salary $12.00 per Hour

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BRUSSELS — The 17 EuropeanUnion nations that use the euro havestruck an agreement with theInternational Monetary Fund on aprogram to reduce Greek debt and putAthens on the way to get the nextinstallment of its much-needed bailoutloans.

The first disbursement is set totake place December 13, said Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the eurogroupof finance ministers, after Tuesday'sdecision.

Mario Draghi, President of theEuropean Central Bank, said marketsshould pay heed. "It will certainlyreduce the uncertainty and strengthenconfidence in Europe and in Greece."

This was the third time in the lasttwo weeks that finance ministers fromthe eurozone had tried to hammer outa deal on the next installment ofbailout money — some €44.6 billion($57.8 billion).

In Athens, Prime Minister AntonisSamaras welcomed it as a greatvictory. "As Greeks, we foughttogether. And tomorrow a new daybegins for all Greeks."

And the EU lauded all Greeks forholding their country back from thebrink.

"We strongly believe in the Greekcapacity to recover. The Greek peopleare courageous people. They are

willing to bring their country back onthe path of growth," Juncker said.

The so-called troika of theEuropean Central Bank, IMF and theEuropean Commission, which is the27-country EU's executive arm, havetwice agreed to bail out Greece,pledging a total of €240 billion ($310billion) in rescue loans — of which thecountry has received about €150billion ($195 billion) so far. In return

for its bailout loans, Greece has had toimpose several rounds of austeritymeasures and submit its economy toscrutiny.

Greece is predicted to enter itssixth year of recession shortly and hasa quarter of its workforce out of a job,and there had been fears it might beforced to drop out of the eurozone,destabilizing other countries in theprocess.

The main aim of the bailoutprogram is to right Greece's economyand get it to a point where it canindependently raise money on the debt

markets. It has been clear for monthsthat the country is far from achievingthat goal. The talks have centered ontrying to get Greece back on the pathto sustainability by reaching anagreement on how the country's debtload can be reduced.

Juncker said the agreementincludes:

— A plan to reduce Greece's debtlevel to 124 percent of its grossdomestic product by 2020 and below110 percent by 2022. The IMF hadoriginally insisted on a debt-to-GDPratio of 120 percent by 2020.

—A cut of 100 basis points on theinterest rate charged to Greece by othereurozone member states — excludingthose that are also receiving bailouts.

—A 15-year extension of thematurities of loans from other countriesand the eurozone's bailout fund, theEuropean Financial Stability Facility,and a deferral of interest payments byGreece on EFSF loans by 10 years.

"This is not just about money,"Juncker said. "It is the promise of abetter future for the Greek people andfor the euro area as a whole."

The head of the IMF, ChristineLagarde, also said the agreement wassignificant.

"We wanted to make sure thatGreece was back on track," Lagardesaid. "If you put it all together it is asignificant amount."

Greece will get €34.4 billion($40.84 billion) straight away and therest in separate installments in January,February and March.

The political agreement reachedTuesday will have to be submitted toparliaments in some countries. Afterthat, the finance ministers plan to holdanother meeting, either in person or bytelephone, to give final approval to thedisbursement.

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Eurozone and IMF reachdeal to reduce Greek debt

THE GRAND TURK INN IS HIRINGAN ASSISTANT MANAGER REPORTINGDIRECTLY TO THE OWNER TO RUN THE

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International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde (R), Luxembourg's PrimeMinister and Eurogroup chairman Jean-Claude Juncker (L) and European Economic and Monetary

Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn address a joint news conference after an euro zone financeministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.


LOCAL NEWS

The TCICA T20 Night Match a major success

By Michael PereiraA fine all round performance by Earl Henry enabled team B to beat team ‘A’ in the T20 cricket match that was played under flood lights on Friday 23rd of November 2012 at the Meridian Field in Grace Bay. The match started at 7:15pm with team ‘B’ Captain Ancell Williams winning the toss and elected to bat and chalk up 142 runs for five wickets from 20 overs

Spectators enjoying the match.Team ‘B’

Top scorers were Earl Henry with an unbeaten 68 runs which was decorated with 9x4 1x6 and Jitender Ganglani contributing 29 runs 4x4. Bowling for Team ‘A’ Robert Johnson, Winick Caleb and Damian St Ange taking one wicket a piece.

When team ‘A’ batted they reached 108 runs from 12.3 overs. Top scorers were Winick Caleb

with 24 runs 4x4 and Vikram John also contributed 24 runs 4x. Bowling for team ‘B’ Earl Henry captured 4 wickets for 32 runs from 3.4 overs and Ancell Williams claimed two wickets for 15 runs from 3 overs.

The TCICA would like to express their profound thanks to the TCI Rugby Association for the use of the field and their warm hospitality.

TCIFA prepare for International Beach soccer

In preparation for the TCIFA’s first ever Beach Soccer Festival next month against visiting teams from the Bahamas and Minnesota, players from the association’s girls youth academy managed to get in a training session and practice game last weekend on the newly installed Beach Soccer pitch at the TCIFA facility.

Although not fully completed, the pitch has now been laid so that the players can get in some last minute preparation before the end of year tournament.

Around 20 players took part in the morning session before returning to compete in an entertaining friendly game. In the first game on the new surface a U16 team beat a TCI Select team by a 5-2 margin. Kadine Delphin opened the scoring for the U16 Team before Sarah Cenary dribbled past the keeper to level the game after the first period.

However, 3 goals in the second period saw the u16 team sail to a 4-1 lead. Crystal stirling scored twice and Shinaydine Pluviose also found the back of the net. The final period was a equally balanced as Marie Dorellus scored for

the Select Team before Monae Gooden added one more goal for the U16 Team.

Both teams enjoyed the experience and found the playing surface ideal for playing Beach Soccer as the sand was not as soft as they are used to when playing their league games on Grace Bay Beach. Star forward Yarielny De la Cruz said “the sand is perfect for us to show off our Beach Soccer skills, but as the pitch is bigger than what we normally play on we will need to work hard on our fitness levels”.

Technical Director Matthew Green was delighted that the players have finally been given a chance to play on a full sized Beach Soccer pitch. “We have not had the best preparation for the tournament as normally we would be training for an event like this for several months, so our players will be going into these games with very little time together.

Many of the young players have exams to prepare for and the older players have work commitments but I am confident that our girls will give it their best shot when they play next month. This event will be a good way of judging how we can compete in this form of the sport

at international level. The Bahamas team have been playing this sport non-stop for a while now and will be keen to perform well against their neighbours, so the games should be very exciting”.

The festival will run from the 14th-16th December. Please contact the TCIFA on 941 5532 / 231 1860 if you are interested in attending the event or participating in any of the TCIFA programmes.

Action from Beach Soccer league


LOCAL NEWSLOCAL SPORTSTAG Rugby Championships

The AVIS National Inter-schools TAG Rugby Championships were held this last Saturday Nov 17th at Meridian Field. They were a great success and the TCIRFU would like to extend many thanks to everyone for coming down and participating in or supporting the inter-school championships.

There were over 600 players and supporters attending the event throughout the course of the day and it shows that rugby is gaining more and more momentum, especially in the schools. Thanks too to all the teachers who are actively pushing the sport of rugby in the schools. The competition was held across 4 age groups with both boys and girls competing together and the TCIRFU, would like to extend congratulations to the winners of the respective grades:

Under 8: Enid CapronUnder 11: Ianthe PrattUnder 14: British West Indies CollegiateUnder 17: Clement HowellThe TAG Champs were followed by a game

of Sevens Rugby between the U19’s from Provo and the U19’s from North Caicos, narrowly won by Provo. The TCIRFU’s Rugby Development Officer,

Jamie Tait, had this to say after the event. “There was a great atmosphere down at the field and I'd like to thank those who stepped up to referee, assist with teams, or helped out in any way.

The day went smoothly and we were even

treated to an exciting match of full contact seven a side rugby between Providenciales and North Caicos, who showed themselves to be full of potential in running the established Provo players close.”

Enid Capron (Under 8 champs) with their PE teacher Darian Forbes, and TCIRFU Coaches Craig James, Augustine Modeste and Eion O’Sullivan

Provo Basketball League updateIn game one of the Provo Basketball League played on November 22, South Caicos (Harbour Boys) defeated Predators 51-46. Harbour's Alvardo Parker scored 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks and 51steals. K. Adams had 14 points. Predators Troy Saunders shot 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals. J. Clearveaux shot 13points.

In game two - Knights defeated North Caicos (Spartans) 58-42. Knights’ P. Sulvin scord 20 points, 4 reboundss,3 assists, 1 block, 2 steals. A. Gardiner shot 16 points. Spartan’s E. Williams shot 11points,

4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. L. Hall shot 8 pts.In Game three, Flyers defeated Steelers 63 – 62.

Flyers Anthony Pratt scored 12 points, 52 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 steals. J. Garland sank 10 points. Steelers’ K. Missick shot 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assist, 3 steals. C. Henry shot 12 points.

In games played on November 23, Steelers defeated North Caicos (Spartans) 72– 56 in game one. Steelerss Cameron Henry scored 29 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. L. Skippings shot 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. S. Williams collected 9 rebounds. Spartans’ E. Williams

18points, 1 rebound, 1 assist. J. Harvey grabbed 9 rebounds.

In game two Knights defeated Cobras 60 - 45. Knights’ A. Gardiner shot 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block. Cobras’ D. Campbell scored 8 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound.

In Game 3, Flyers defeated Customs 79 - 62. Flyers R. Fulford scored 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. A. Pratt had scored 11points. Customs’ B. Forbes registered 13points. H. Francis grabbed 5 rebounds.

The TCICA T20 cricket competition continued on Saturday 24th November at the Down Town Ball Park with the Police recorded a win against KB Homes. KB Homes won the toss and asked Police take first strike who then posted a massive 233 runs for 3 wickets from 20 overs. Ira Baptiste plunder the bowling with boundary filled 79 runs which was punctuated 13x4 6x4 and Kavin Mars scoring 53 runs 8x4 1x6.

Bowling for KB homes Paul Mackenzie, Paul Slattery and Dax Bruton taking one wicket each

In reply, KB Homes put up a grand fight but failed at the end and reach 218 runs for six wicket 20 overs. Gareth Butler with 62 runs 5x4 3x6 and Vikram John also with 62 run 9x4 1x6 were principal contributors and Craig James made 20 runs

Bowling for the Police Lyndon Tyson, Ira Baptiste and Garvin Bruno had one wicket each

The man of the match was Ira BaptisteMeanwhile on Sunday 25th November 2012 at

same venue Jaguars Maul the Quality Kings after

winning the toss Quality Kings decided to bat and were dismissed for a meager 107 runs from 17.2 with Earl Henry top scoring with 32 runs and Ian Heath scoring 20 runs

Bowling for Jaguars Mark Henry, Winick Caleb and Terrence Thomas took two wickets each

In reply, Jaguars reach 108 runs from 11.5 overs with Terrence Thomas top scoring with 38 runs and Nuwan Bodihinayake adding 31 runs

Bowling for Quality Kings Anish Thomas claimed two wickets for 34 runs from 3 overs

The man of the match Terrence Thomas.

Police arrest KB Homes and Jaguars maul Quality kings

The man of the match was Ira Baptiste

Jaguars came out on top

Page 42

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property inthe Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for thefollowing vacant positions. Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language bothwritten and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays andweek-ends. The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Come and join our winning team!!!

The Human Resources Department is looking for:

ASSISTANT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER The Assistant Human Resources Manager assists theHuman Resources Manager in promoting employeesatisfaction, ensuring compliance with labor laws andmaintaining the highest level of standards in the Resort.

He/ She is also responsible for planning, managing,controlling, and coordinating benefits, team memberrelations and discipline. They also assist in thedevelopment and formulation of policies, proceduresand practices to support the operational needs of theResort.

Skills Level of EducationBachelor degree in a relevant field

Essential requirementsThe individual we are looking for should possess thefollowing skills and qualities:

- A strong understanding of labor and employment law- Minimum of 5 years of Human Resources experience- Must have strong decision making skills- Strong oral and written communication skills- Ability to work effectively in a team environment andtake initiative- Excellent organizational skill- Ability to communicate at all levels

The Administrative Department is looking for:

ASSISTANT DEPARTURE LOUNGE/ARRIVALMANAGER

The individual is responsible for all departures andarrivals of guests from the airport to the Resort. Thisincludes welcoming / greeting of guests at the Airportand ensuring that the Transfers from the Airport gosmoothly to the Resort. This aspect also includes theDeparture Lounge process for all departing guests fromthe Resort to the Airport. Responsibilities also includeAll VIP Transfers and delegation and assignments toVIP Drivers on a daily basis and follow ups with VIPTransfers. A Team Player who is willing to take on newchallenges in the workplace, share and learn from adiverse Team and excel in the Hospitality Industry.Applicant must have a keen knowledge of the historyand general knowledge of the Turks and CaicosIslands.

Suitable applicants must possess: • At least three (3) years’ experience in working withCostumers Services and at least two (2) years inworking within the Hospitability Industry. • A High School Diploma and obtained a Diploma orAssociates Degree in Hospitality Management. • Three (3) references from an esteem establishment ora reference from previous workplace.

SECURITY MANAGERInterested applicants must possess:

Requirements:• Diploma / Degree in a relevant field.• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in the security. • Good knowledge and understanding ofSecurity & Safety regulations.• Able to advise the team on Security & Safetyprovisions, development and systems.• Strong leadership qualities with excellent

interpersonal and communication skills.• Computer literate • Excellent health and clean working record.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTInterested applicants must possess:• Bachelor of Science in relevant field• 10 years Administrative experience • Confidential• Proficient in Word, Excel and Microsoft Outlook• Highly detailed orientated and well organized• An excellent communicator

The salary for the positions indicated above range from$23,000.00 to $40,000.00 per annum

Applications giving full details of qualifications andexperience should be sent to:[email protected] or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn:M McClean-Vaughn

The Human Resources DepartmentBeaches Turks and CaicosP.O. Box 186Lower Bight Road

and

The Labour CommissionerLabour DepartmentProvidencialesTurks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than December 14th 2012Otherwise, please call for additional information tel # 649-946-8000 ext 4138

Vacancies exists for the following discipline. Suitablyexperienced and qualified Belongers are encouragedto apply:-

• SYSTEMS ENGINEER• IT ENGINEER• MEDICAL CODER• PORTER• PHARMACIST TECHNICIAN• REGISTERED NURSE• REGISTERED NURSE (MIDWIFE)• SENIOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST• PATIENT ADMINISTRATION SUPERVISOR• GENERAL PRACTITIONER

• Pediatrician Only appropriate qualified persons should apply.Preference will be given to qualified BOTC -Turks andCaicos Islands and persons with Belonger Status.

Please forward your CV [email protected]

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

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1 LabourerSalary $5.00 per hourContact 241-5559


EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITY

Administrative AssistantAn Insurance Agency and Brokerage is seeking adynamic, outgoing proactive person, with a backgroundin Administration and Customer Service with aminimum of 4 years experience in General & MotorInsurance.

Job entails the processing of applications, policydocuments, client renewals, supervision and assistancewith claims. Secondary languages will be an assetalong with any accounting knowledge or computertraining with In-Visage or TAM Software Systems.

Kindly send resumes to:Human Resource ManagerP.O. Box 355Providenciales

Page 43

HIGHLIGHTS

READ ON PAGE 44

Ronaldo and LionelMessi headline FIFA

finalists

As emotional as anyone has ever seenhim, Ricky Ponting lost his customarycomposure when telling team-mates ofhis decision to retire from internationalcricket on the eve of the third Testagainst South Africa in Perth.

For so long the stony-facedembodiment of Australian cricket,Ponting and other members of thesquad wept as they came to terms withthe fact a Test career that began at theWACA ground in 1995 would end atthe same ground 17 years later. "I triedto tell them a lot, but I didn't get muchout," Ponting said. "As I said to theboys this morning, they've never seenme emotional, but I was this morning."

If the decision drew a previouslyunseen well of feeling from withinPonting, its reasons were coldly logicaland team-oriented. After failing twicewith the bat in Adelaide and thrice inthis series, having given himself thebest possible lead-in via domesticcricket Ponting concluded that he wasno longer good enough to perform atthe level he preferred. For so longPonting's watchword had beenconsistency - now he spoke ruefully of"consistent failure".

Other considerations includedchoosing the best circumstances inwhich to allow his successor in thebatting order to get started, a questionPonting had also pondered whenhanding over the captaincy to Clarkein 2011. As befitted a man whoseproudest career achievement is to haveplayed in more Test wins than anyother cricketer, Ponting was also keenfor the announcement to inspire, notovershadow, Australia's tilt at theworld No. 1 ranking in this match.

"It's a decision I thought long andhard about, put in long considerationabout the decision, at the end of theday it was about my results and myoutput in this series so far," Pontingsaid. "It hasn't been to the levelrequired for batsmen and players in theAustralian team. My level ofperformance hasn't been good enough.

"I want to be a consistentperformer, and if you look back overthe last 12 or 18 months I haven't beenable to perform consistently. I've hadmoments of really good stuff, andprolonged moments of cricket that'sbeen below my expectations andbelow a par level for me, so therehasn't been one dismissal or onemoment, it's just been in my own eyesreasonably consistent failure. That'swhy I believe the time is right now tobe making this decision."

Following a poor start to the Testseries with low scores in Brisbane and

Adelaide, Ponting said he was troubledby the "tentative" manner of hisdismissals. In Adelaide he was bowledtwice in the same match for only thesecond time in a career that began in1995.

That double was the catalyst for atypically frank interview with his firstTest captain Mark Taylor on ChannelNine on the fourth morning inAdelaide, in which Ponting said hewas soon to be discussing his futurewith the selectors. Discussions aboutretirement commenced during the Test,though Ponting said he always retainedthe support of the selectors, and madethe call himself.

"I believe so, there's been all sortsof things in the papers the last coupleof days and I know certainly with mycaptain and my coach I couldn't havehad any more support from thoseguys," Ponting said. "They've been theones who've been most verbal abouttheir support.

"This is not a decision that's beenmade by the selectors, this a decisionthat's been made by me, and I'd like tothank all those guys for the supportthey've given me over the last 12months. There were probably momentswhen they thought long and hard aboutending my career and I'm glad I've gotthe opportunity to finish this way andon my terms."

The effect of Ponting's retirementwas writ large across the red eyes ofthe captain, Michael Clarke. Insumming up the few days leading upto the announcement, Clarke becameso teary that he recalled the welling upof emotion that accompanied KimHughes' exit as captain in 1984. While

the reasons were entirely different, thefeeling was equally strong - Clarkecould not answer another questionabout his team-mate, friend andpredecessor as captain.

"I didn't have a feeling it wascoming," Clarke said. "Ricky spoke tome after the Adelaide Test match andmade his decision I guess over the lastfew days. The boys are obviouslyhurting at the moment. He's been anamazing player for a long time. [Deepbreath and starts to tear up]… andthat'll do me for today. Sorry, I can'tanswer that."

Ponting will play out the domesticseason for Tasmania and the HobartHurricanes in the BBL. He does notyet know what will be ahead of himbeyond the summer, but gesturedtowards his wife Rianna and childrenwhen queried about what the futureheld.

"I've got a few months of cricketyet, which I am really looking forwardto. I really enjoyed the start of thisseason playing cricket with Tasmaniaand back with some of my mates -really I place I haven't spent a lot oftime for near on the last 20 years. SoI'll enjoy that for what it is, but this ismy new team here," Ponting said,pointing to his family.

As for the question of hiscontribution to cricket, Ponting had asimple and affecting answer. Whiledelivering it he came close to tearsagain, those his team-mates had shareda few hours before.

"I know I've given cricket my all,"Ponting said. "It's been life for 20years. Not much more I can give."

Ponting to retire after Perth Test

Ricky Ponting

Quarterback Michael Vick still hasn't passedhis imPACT concussion test and thereforehasn't been cleared to practice, thePhiladelphia Eagles said Thursday. Vick tookthe test again on Wednesday and didn't pass.Nick Foles will take the practice snapsThursday and is likely to start his thirdstraight game.

The Eagles, who have lost seven straightgames, will try to avoid their longest losingstreak in 44 years when they face theCowboys on Sunday.

Foles has thrown for 542 yards with onetouchdown and three interceptions in threegames since replacing Vick during a 38-23home loss to the Cowboys on Nov. 11.

Vick spent Tuesday night being sized for

a protective skull cap that he plans to wearunder his helmet when he returns to play tosafeguard against suffering anotherconcussion.

At the urging of neurologist Dr. DimiBarot, Vick met at his home with UnequalTechnologies Corporation CEO Rob Vito tobe measured for the new "dome'' devicemade of the company's ConcussionReduction Technology.

Vick had Unequal retro-fit his helmetwith similar padding upon returning from aconcussion in September 2011. The samecompany designed protective Kevlar devicesthat enabled Vick and Cowboys quarterbackTony Romo to play with serious rib injuriesin recent seasons.

Michael Vick failsimPACT test Veteran point guard Derek Fisher is returning to the

NBA after signing a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. TheMavericks are thin at point guard as Dominique Jonesmade just his third career start for the team Wednesdaynight against the Chicago Bulls because starter DarrenCollison has a sprained right middle finger.

The position has been a bit of a concern for theMavericks in the early going as Collison has struggledat times.

"Right now, the point guard position is a challengefor us," coach Rick Carlisle said Wednesday. "I thinkDerek can help us."

Fisher, 38, averaged 5.6 points and 2.7 assists in 63games with the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma CityThunder last season. He had a more expanded role in theThunder's playoff run, averaging 6.3 points and 22minutes per game. This will be his 17th season.

The Mavericks, who had 15 guaranteed contracts,released forward Troy Murphy to create a roster spot forFisher.

Mavs signDerek Fisher


Page 44

WORLD SPORTS TURKS AND CAICOS SUN DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 8TH, 2012

Darren Sammy, the West Indiescaptain, is eyeing a whitewash in theforthcoming five-match ODI seriesagainst Bangladesh which will help theteam improve its one-day rankings.But like he had repeatedly said duringthe recently concluded Test series,beating the home side won't be easy.

"5-0 gives us five ranking points.4-1 gives us one and 3-2 might lose usranking points," Sammy said. "I willlet the guys know of this but first wewill look to win the series. If we playto our potential, it [5-0] is possible. Wewill take one thing at a time now,tomorrow is the first game of the five-match series."

After the Dhaka Test, Sammy hadsaid that they were able to push for awin because they took the Bangladeshchallenge seriously. The situation gota little out of control in the second Testwhen Bangladesh put up a decent firstinnings total, thanks to No. 10 AbulHasan's debut hundred, and the 184-run tenth wicket partnership sharedwith Mahmudullah. West Indies rodeout that challenge again, anddominated the rest of the game to winthe series 2-0.

"Bangladesh keep coming backwhen you think they're down. In thelast Test, the No. 8 and No. 10 put on

a partnership in the first innings," hesaid. "We are not taking them forgranted. But once we play to our fullpotential, we could be a verydestructive force."

West Indies switched into the one-day mode with a massive win in thewarm-up game against BCB XI onWednesday. The highlight of thatgame, which could also be aforewarning for Bangladesh, was WestIndies' total of 361 under the newfielding restrictions. Chris Gayle, whodidn't play in that game, was the only

batsman without a big score in theTests but Sammy believes it is a matterof time before he fires with the bat.

"Our batsmen took responsibilityto score the bulk of the runs in the Testseries. We have at least six guyscoming in for the ODI series. They allhad a go, and they scored a lot of runsin the practice match, so it is tough toselect the team with such benchstrength.

"Chris [Gayle] turns up anytime.He is the best batsman in limited-overscricket right now. He's the most

dangerous in any format. I am notworried about him. He has his routine,and has scored all over the world.Good for us if he's due some runs, notfor Bangladesh."

Sammy's captaincy and patiencewill be tested under the new rules ofhaving just the four fielders outside the30-yard circle for 35 overs during thematch. He said that the umpires haveassured of helping out the captainsduring this series if an extra man isstationed outside the circle by mistake,though he has already devised a plan toremember the new rule.

"I will just remember to keep mid-off or mid-on up. I have studied it quitewell and I think I have trained my brainto keep monitoring. We have enoughsenior players in the team to help mealong, and the umpires said they'll lookout for the odd fielder outside."

Sammy said that the new rule isgoing to put pressure on the fieldingteams, especially on the spinners.However, he said that it also presentsan opportunity to cut the singles down.

"Teams were scoring 300-plus withfive guys outside the circle. Now it isonly four. I feel sorry for the spinners,they have to find an extra way to bowland be economical. We have to findone person in the ring which could putmore pressure on the batsmen, and noeasy singles to get."

West Indies aiming for a whitewash

LAS VEGAS -- Dale EarnhardtJr. didn't win the championshiphe thought was possible midwaythrough the 2012 Sprint Cupseason, but that didn't impact hispopularity. Earnhardt wonNASCAR's NMPA MostPopular Driver Award for the10th consecutive year onThursday, tying Bill Elliott forthe longest streak. He movedwithin six of Elliott for the all-time lead at 16.

"Aside from honesty, one ofthe qualities I admire the most ina person is loyalty,'' Earnhardtsaid after receiving the award atthe Myers Brothers Luncheon."Loyalty is a word I use quite often to describe our fans. This is agreat example of loyalty.

"I'm completely humbled and honored to accept this.''Earnhardt ended a 143-race losing streak in June with a victory

at Michigan. He led the point standings for two weeks midwaythrough the year and was top five in points for the first 25 weeks.

He finished 12th in points after having to miss two Chase raceswhile recovering from a concussion -- his second in six weeks -- atTalladega Superspeedway. The other was suffered in a late-Augusttest at Kansas Speedway.

Earnhardt still had one of his better seasons, finishing with 20top-10s, one shy of his career record. He led 358 laps, 25 fewer thanthe three previous years combined.

The improvements from the previous season have him optimisticfor 2013.

"I wish we were going to race on,'' Earnhardt said late in theseason. "I'd just race on through to February and start back over againif it were up to me.

"I really enjoy being at the track and driving cars. It's been a goodyear, but this should be par for the course. It's been a good year, butwe want to be a lot better than this. I'm not ready to stop trying to bebetter."

West Indies cut a dejected bunch after their last loss

Dale EarnhardtJr. most popular

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

SAO PAULO -- Lionel Messi, CristianoRonaldo and Andres Iniesta are thefinalists for FIFA's world player of theyear award. They were picked from a listof 23 candidates for this year's Ballond'Or, with Messi looking to become thefirst player to win the award four times.The Argentina and Barcelona playmakerwon the award the last three years. "Ithink they are perfect picks. There is nodoubt these players are among the best,"said former Brazil great Ronaldo, a three-time award winner. "Messi and Ronaldoare really the only ones with a chance ofwinning, that's how it's been recently."

The winner will be announced inSwitzerland on Jan. 7. The only otherplayers to have won the FIFA award threetimes are Ronaldo and former Francegreat Zinedine Zidane.

The finalists for the women's worldplayer award are five-time winner Martaand America duo Alex Morgan and AbbyWambach.

They led the United States to its thirdstraight Olympic gold medal in London.Wambach made the shortlist last year,finishing third in the voting.

"Women's football was at its best thisyear," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said,noting the record crowds attending thematches at the London Games.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque,former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiolaand Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinhowere in the running for the world coachof the year award. The women's coach ofthe year award nominees are France'sBruno Bini, Japan's Norio Sasaki andformer U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who ledthe team to the gold at the 2012 Games.

The Puskas Award for the best goal of

the year will be presented to RadamelFalcao, Neymar or Miroslav Stoch.

The 25-year-old Messi won hissecond Golden Boot award this year forscoring the most goals in Europe'sdomestic leagues last season. He hasscored 82 goals this calendar year, puttinghim only three shy of Gerd Mueller'srecord.

Messi won last year's Ballon d'Orprize over Cristiano Ronaldo, who scoreda team leading 46 goals last season forReal Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo -- the winner in2008 -- was one of the six nominees fromReal Madrid, along with Xabi Alonso,Karim Benzema, Iker Casillas, MesutOezil and Sergio Ramos. In addition toMessi and Iniesta, the 23-player list alsoincluded Barcelona players XaviHernandez, Gerard Pique and SergioBusquets.

Iniesta finished second to Messi inthe 2010 vote.

Seven Spain internationals made the23-name list and all three in the shortlistplay in the Spanish league.

"This shows how strong the footballis in Spain, not only in the clubs but alsothe national team," FIFA secretarygeneral Jerome Valcke said. "We have avery strong (Spanish) football system inplace."

Manchester City striker MarioBalotelli and Brazil forward Neymarwere also in the running. ManchesterUnited striker Wayne Rooney was theonly English player on the list, whileUnited teammate Robin van Persie alsowas a candidate after being the PremierLeague's leading scorer last season forArsenal.

Ronaldo and Lionel Messiheadline FIFA finalists


LOCAL NEWS


LOCAL NEWS


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Volume 8 Issue 48

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