The Premier's 'shuttle diplomacy' London; says - fp Turks and Caicos

May 21-27, 2009 | 

Turks & Caicos 

www.tcfreepress.com fp 

volume 19, issue 17 

The Premier's 'shuttle diplomacy' London; 

says "HMG & TCIG should be Partners" 

On the 18th of May, The Premier of the Turks and Caicos, 

The Hon. Galmo W. Williams MP met with The Hon. Gillian 

Merron - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and 

Commonwealth Affairs, on the issue of the recent happenings in 

Turks and Caicos, with a view to discussing Merron's perspective 

on the suspension of the Turks and Caicos constitution. It was an 

interesting time to meet; since, the British parliament was enthralled 

by the very questions that arose out of the recent Commission of 

Inquiry in Turks and Caicos, a fact not lost on the media that took 

time to interview the Premier as he was leaving meetings at the Palace 

of Westminster. 

During the meeting Merron explained that the British Government 

and her office in particular, took a grave perspective on the situation 

as described in Mr. Justice Sir Robin Auld's Interim Report. She 

argued that, from that report, she read that the system of check and 

balances in Turks and Caicos had broken down, and no part of the 

system seemed able to the check any other part. 

The fp made this point previously in search of a definition of the 

term "systematic" in Justice's Auld's report. This point became critical. 

In discussions between The Premier and his team of advisors (including 

the Deputy Premier, The Hon. Royal S. Robinson MP, 

MBE), and British officials, much turned on the meaning p 5 

of "systemic corruption". The Premier admitted that the 

H.E. Governor Wetherell, 

along with various officials 

from the Turks and Caicos 

police force, including Edward 

Hall, Turks & Caicos Islands 

Commissioner of Police and 

Larry Covington, the Overseas 

Territories Law Enforcement 

Adviser visiting from the UK, 

opened up a public discussion 

about the current concerns of local 

residents regarding crime. 

The purpose of the Town 

Hall style meeting was to collect 

feedback from members of the 

community regarding the issues 

of greatest concern to them. 

Although many were concerned 

about the timing and choice of 

location for the meeting, the con- 

cerns of the public were brought 

to the attention of those responsible, 

namely the Governor. 

Governor Wetherell and his 

panel patiently listened to questions 

and comments from the 

more than 150 people present. 

Issues were raised on a number 

of topics, but the most resonant 

ones being community involvement 

in policing, immigration 

and its possible effects on crime, 

police presence, training of the 

police and their behaviour and 

most importantly, communication 

between the public and the 

police force. 

The lack of communication 

on both 

parts seems to have p 5 

"We will work together to improve everyone's lives. That is what we WILL DO." 

- Larry Covington, the Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser 

PPC Mascot “Electro Gecko” Revealed 

and Student Artists Awarded 

By Kazz Forbes 

free press fp 

Governor Address Citizen's Concerns on Crime 

H.E. Governor Gordon Wetherell calls a Town Hall meeting to allow citizens 

to bring their concerns and suggestions to his attention regarding crime . 

Serving approximately 9,500 customers or 80% of the electricity clientele here in the 

Turks and Caicos Islands, the lone source of electricity for the islands of Providenciales, 

North Caicos and Middle Caicos, PPC (Provo Power Company Ltd.) decided they needed 

a mascot to become the friendly face of the company. PPC organised an art competition 

amongst the primary and high schools throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands challenging 

them to imagine, design and name a mascot using the gecko lizard as inspiration. PPC also 

provided the various institutions with the needed art materials. 

Awarding the winners of the Mascot Competition and unveiling the mascot “Electro 

Gecko” at a prize giving ceremony held on Wednesday, May 20th 2009 at the Enid 

Capron Primary School situated in the constituency of Five Cays, Providenciales, the 

eager and proud winners awaited their prizes. 

Student of the British West Indies Collegiate, Raul Vazque Chairez was successful 

at capturing first place for designing the winning mascot; Tyson Romulus 

of Eliza Simons Primary School won the second place prize and both Dwayne 

Hamilton and Marcus Lightbourne of Enid Capron Primary School captured third 

place prize. The name “Electro Gecko” was brought from the creative 

mind of Colin Sterling. Prizes arranged from a desktop computer, digital 

cameras and iPods from PPC’s company executives. 

UK Parliamentary Under Secretary, Gillian Merron and Premier, the Hon. Galmo 

W Williams 

p 2 

insidepeek 

2 Hurricane 

Season, Don’t 

be Caught Short 

13 Business 

17 Lifestyle

2 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Local 

Hurricane Season, Don’t be Caught Short 

Even though the Turks and 

Caicos historically have not been 

nearly as heavily influenced 

by hurricanes as many other 

Caribbean islands, riding on 

experience for last year’s disastrous 

Hurricane Ike, Fidelity 

Insurance Agents and Brokers 

is now looking to help home 

owners prepare for this year’s 

upcoming season. One of the 

critical mistakes home owners 

made before Ike arrived is undervaluing 

their homes to keep 

their insurance premiums down 

and being left with high bills to 

pay for repairs or even replacement 

of their homes. 

“It will soon be June 1st, the 

official start of the 6 month 

Hurricane Season,” said Stanford 

Charlton, Country Manager for 

Fidelity Insurance Agents and 

Brokers, at a press briefing on the 

matter. “One of the most vexing 

problems to occur, or that comes 

to light after the passage of a 

hurricane, is the vast amount of 

buildings that are underinsured.” 

What is Underinsurance? 

When an insurance policy 

is written, an amount is determined 

as the value of the home 

or property being insured. This 

number is the amount the insurance 

company will pay in the 

event of a loss or damage due to 

a hurricane. 

When a person insures a 

building for a lesser amount than 

the current rebuilding costs, the 

insurance premium paid is not 

representative of the actual risk. 

That is underinsurance. People 

who are underinsured are subject 

to the insurance industries 

Condition of Average Clause 

which in essence, reduces the 

claim according to the percentage 

of underinsurance, relative to 

rebuilding costs. 

“For instance, if you insure 

for only 50% of the rebuilding 

costs, you will only receive 50% 

of ANY valid claim made, minus 

any deductable,” explained Mr. 

Charlton. So for example, a 

claim by you of $50,000 would 

only see the Insurance Company 

paying 50% of your loss, which 

is $25,000 minus the policy deductible. 

You, therefore, have to 

foot the bill for the outstanding 

$25,000 plus the deductable.” 

How to Avoid Underinsurance 

Stan Charlton said that the 

best way to avoid underinsurance 

is to get a property appraisal 

every two years and insure for 

the rebuilding costs as appraised. 

In between appraisals, he also 

advised, increase your sums 

NHIP and You 

For NHIP to work for anyone, it must include everyone! The 

plan is mandatory to all legal residents of the Turks and Caicos 

Islands and is dedicated to the health and wellness of all residents, 

offering security and peace of mind. Here is some information on 

how the NHIP pertains to specific groups of people. 

1. I am retired and receive a pension from the NIB. Will I be 

able to join the NHIP and how much will I have to pay? 

As a retired person receiving an NIB pension you will be able 

to join the NHIP and have all your medical needs covered. If 

your pension is under $500 per month, you will not pay any 

contributions. If your pension is above $500 per month, you 

will pay only 2.5% of your pension as your full contribution to the NHIP. 

insured by the inflation factor 

mentioned in your appraisal and 

make adjustments for any improvements 

you have made that 

add value to your home. 

In an effort to help in this 

matter, Fidelity has teamed up 

with BCQS to provide a 50% 

discount on home appraisals for 

Fidelity customers. This means, 

you can have your home appraised 

by the experts at BCQS, 

who bring along their 30 years 

experience in the Caribbean, to 

evaluate the current rebuilding 

costs of your home. The home 

appraisal takes into consider- 

2. How will health care for illegal immigrants be dealt with under NHIP? 

Illegal immigrants are not entitled to benefits under the NHIP and will not be able to enroll in 

the NHIP. If an illegal immigrant requires emergency care at the hospitals, the staff will stabilize 

the patient for discharge, and require payment from the immigrant or their family in full at the 

time of service. They will also report the illegal immigrant to the Department of Immigration to 

take steps for repatriating the person to his/her own country. 

3. I am retired and have a Government pension and a NIB pension. Will I pay on both 

pensions? 

You will be required to pay 2.5% on each pension that exceeds the minimum amount of $500 

per month. You will only pay contributions up to your maximum earnings from all sources of 

income combined, of $7800 per month. 

4. What is the policy on tourists receiving health care since they would not have contributed? 

Tourists will not be eligible for the NHIP, but may, from time to time, need to use the health care 

facilities. In this case, they will need to pay in full directly for services. Any monies collected by 

Interhealth Canada, will be shared equally with the NHIP, to keep your costs as low as possible. 

This could be the basis of medical tourism which is important to diversify our economy. 

For further information, to make a submission or have your questions answered please visit the 

NHIP website: WWW.TCINHIP.TC or contact:- Desiree James, Project Director, National Health 

Insurance Plan, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands. Cell# 649-231-1808, email: djames@tcinhip.tc 

ation all the rebuilding costs and 

is the basis for which your home 

will be insured. 

The benefits of this appraisal 

are twofold. One, you eliminate 

the risk of the “Underinsurance 

Clause”, which means any claim 

would be repaid at the full 

amount minus the deductible. 

Second, you are insured that 

you will not fall short in the 

event of damage to your home 

due to a hurricane. 

Also important to note: Under 

a hurricane watch, no full 

coverage policies can be written, 

therefore it is key to arrange your 

policy early to be sure you will 

have the appropriate coverage in 

times of need. 

Insurance premiums have 

risen in 2009 as a result of 

last year’s hurricane season. 

However, Mr. Charlton was 

pleased to announce that 

Fidelity was able to negotiate 

with the two financially strong 

AM Best Rated A- (Excellent) 

companies that Fidelity represents 

for lower than suggested 

rates. In addition, Fidelity is 

currently offering a newly introduced 

10 month interest-free 

premium payment plan. 

Front Row: Electro Gecko, PPC’s Mascot - Dwayne Hamilton, 3rd Place winner - 

Raul Vazque Chairez, 1st Place Winner - Marcus Lightbourne 3rd Place Winner 

Back Row: Edditon Powell, President of Customer and Corporate Services - 

Daphne Penn, Manager of Corporate Services - Allan Robinson, Vice President 

of Customer and Corporate Services 

PPC Mascot “Electro Gecko” Revealed 

and Student Artists Awarded 

from 

p1 

“It was very competitive, a good incentive on the 

behalf of PPC to involve the schools to create the 

company’s mascot. The selection was tough due to the 

number of entries and the excellency of the work, but 

the outcome was amazing” said Mr. Allan Robinson, 

Vice President of Customer and Corporate Services. 

Through incorporating the Electro Gecko, the Provo Power 

Company Ltd. brand will be featured in numerous pieces of the 

company’s collateral and the company’s community initiatives. Mascot 

“Electro Gecko” will become synonymous with energy conservation 

practices and the development of youths throughout the various 

islands – two important intensification areas for the company.

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 3

4 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Local 

The grand opening of the 

new Italian Village was a 

star studded event, six stars 

to be exact. Not only were 

there Hollywood stars Lou 

Ferrigno “the original Incredible 

Hulk, Real Housewife of New York 

Bethany Frankel , 90210’s Jennie 

Garth, local stars H.E. Gordon 

Wetherell and the Premier Hon. 

Galmo Williams, and Caribbean 

Beaches Receives First 

6 Diamond Award 

in the Caribbean 

A Birds Eye View of the Opening Party of the Italian Village. 

The grand opening spectacle 

was nothing less than just that, 

an Italian extravaganza. 

stars like Jamaican Prime Minister 

Bruce Golding and, there was also 

the presentation of not one, but two 

of the coveted Six Star Diamond 

Awards, a the first in the Caribbean. 

The grand opening spectacle 

was nothing less than just that, an 

Italian extravaganza. With honored 

invited guests and Hollywood 

stars, the ribbon cutting ceremony 

was only the beginning of the 

party. However, for Sandals Resorts, 

Butch Stewart (Chairman) and his 

son Adam (CEO), receiving the 

honored travel award was a highlight 

of the evening. 

The Six-Star Diamond Award 

and Six-Star Diamond Green 

Award were bestowed upon Butch 

Stewart by the American Academy 

of Hospitality Sciences, which is 

Chairman 

Gordon Butch 

Stewart and 

CEO Adam 

Stewart with 

Joe Cinque 

of American 

Academy of 

Hospitality 

Sciences 

receiving the 

Caribbeans 

First Six 

Diamond 

Awards 

Turks and Caicos Premier the Hon. 

Galmo Williams commented that 

he appreciated the partnership 

with Beaches and looks forward to a 

further positive relationship in the TCI. 

renowned worldwide for awarding 

excellence in the global travel and 

luxury services sector. The Green 

Award was in honour of Beaches 

Resorts’ major environmental 

thrust and the Six Diamond Award 

in honor of their amazing service 

and commitment to the travel 

industry. President and 

CEO, Mr. Joseph D. 

Cinque, commended p 25

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 5 

The Premier's 'shuttle diplomacy' London; says "HMG & TCIG should be Partners" 

from 

Interim Report caused him great concern 

and sadness. However, he argued that in 

setting matter right, he did not hesitate 

p1 to act on 10 of the 19 recommendations 

his administration drew from Sir Robin's report, and 

he argued that such actions evinced an intention to 

be bound by the particulars, not only in the Interim 

Report, but also the Final Report. 

The Premier put to it to Under Secretary Merron that 

she should consider the work his administration had 

already done in the past 45 days to put things right in 

TCI, as described in The Cockburn Town Declaration; 

which, according to him, emphasized that commitment 

of his government to reforms. He reiterated that he 

preferred General Elections to suspension; particularly 

of the House of Assembly; since that would undermine 

the principle tenet of democracy. 

Merron, told The Premier that she heard him on 

that issue and that his position was understandable. 

However, she explained that she was uncertain his 

position could be accommodated. She said she would 

look at his submissions and study The Cockburn Town 

Declaration in light of the Final Report. 

The Premier and Deputy Premier sounded a warning 

that "further care and consideration should be 

taken with respect to suspension because Turks and 

Caicos was in a precarious economic position and that 

Interim Government, not equipped nor particularly 

concerned with economic grow and development." The 

Deputy Premier stated further that: "these two pillars 

of TCI's economic health could not be separated." He 

said further that, "with the U.S. falling further into 

economic trouble and with 80% of our tourists coming 

from there, and with the decline in government 

income by nearly 50%, Turks and Caicos needs both 

reform as advised by Sir Robin and bold economic 

leadership." He argued further, “ that we can provide 

both under the supervision, guidance and partnership 

with Her Majesty's government." 

Governor Address 

Citizen's Concerns 

on Crime 

from 

caused a great deal of bitterness 

between the police 

and the community. Several 

individuals commented that 

p1 they had lost faith in the police 

force and at the same time, the police 

expressed their frustration with the lack 

of recognition for the positive contribution 

it has made. 

“Turks and Caicos Island residents are 

customers of the police. We want our 

customers to be satisfied and pleased 

with our quality of service,” commented 

Superintendent Dave Ryder. He also 

explained the processes he has planned to 

execute over the next months to improve 

the service they are currently providing. 

However, the feedback from this meeting is 

meant to help shape those plans. 

The Superintendent, along with his UK 

counterpart, committed that they are planning 

and preparing to respond to all of the 

issues raised. "We met just as recently as last 

week with representatives from the UK and 

all other overseas territories to see how we 

can address and improve the situation. We 

have a very forward thinking plan,” he said. 

Superintendent Dave Ryder 

The Cockburn Town Declaration 

United to Stop the Suspension of the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands 

We, the Elected Members of the Cabinet believe that the intended Suspension or Partial Suspension of the 

2006 Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution is redundant; 

Fully convinced that the Suspension or Partial Suspension of the 2006 Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution 

will undermine our democracy; 

Conscious of this we hereby Declare that we have undertaken and will undertake the following measures 

for the peace, order and good governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as recommended by Mr. Justice Sir 

Robin Auld; 

1. REFORM GOVERNMENT FINANCES 

• To implement the Fiscal Stability program 

• We have implemented End of Year rationalization of government expenditures 

• Supporting the independence of the Auditor General’s Office 

2. REFORM SERVICE CRITERIA FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT 

• To establish a physical office for the Registrar of Interest 

• Executed the Ministerial Code of Conduct (Cabinet has assented to and signed on, which has been awaiting 

the signature of the British Appointed Governor since April 1st 2009) 

• Passed the Integrity in Public Office Bill 

• Initiated Campaign Finance reform 

3. IMMIGRATION REFORM 

• Currently completing Legislation to convert immigration from a Department to a force, reducing the 

political influence therein. 

• Implementing a new Permanent Resident Certificate criteria 

• Implementing a new Belongership (Citizen) criteria 

4. GOVERNMENT LAND REFORM 

• Establishing a Crown Land Commission 

• mplementing the Crown Land Manual 

• Imposed an indefinite moratorium on the dissipation of the Land Assets 

5. ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT 

• Establishing a comprehensive E Government for the efficiency, proficiency and transparency of governance 

in TCI, including but not limited to establishing an electronic interface (internet) between the 

Government, Departments and Agencies, the Government and the electorate, the Government and 

CARICOM, the Government and the world; the impact of which will be better, transparent monitoring 

and record-keeping of government decisions, implementation and impacts. 

Some ideas being considered are 

increased community involvement or 

volunteers from the community and closer 

work with community neighborhood 

watch groups, as well as the improvement 

of the 911 system that is already in process. 

“Community engagement is critical to our 

success,” Ryder explained. 

The K-9 Unit was another possibility on 

the table, “We have started negotiations 

to bring back the K-9 Unit,” said Police 

Commissioner Hall. Bringing back the 

police station in the Bight is also being 

considered, but on this issue, resources 

seem to be a problem. 

One of the largest obstacles currently 

affecting the police seems to be the lack 

of resources: financial, man-power and 

equipment. The current budget was 

presented at $14 million, which all sides 

deemed to be too low for the tasks at hand. 

However, given the current financial situation 

of the Turks and Caicos Government, 

other avenues are being explored to ad- 

dress the financial restrictions. 

Sponsorships were repeatedly suggested 

as a possibility to bring in funds or needed 

items such as vehicles and equipment. "We 

are looking into the possibilities of sponsorships, 

as it works with great successes 

in many other countries such as the UK, 

Canada and US." One generous member 

of the community immediately stood up 

and offered an office space in the Ports 

of Call along with all utility expenses as a 

contribution he was prepared to make to 

help with the situation. 

This example demonstrates the overall 

tone of the meeting. While the members 

of the community are enraged by the situation, 

they are prepared to get involved 

and do what is necessary to solve the 

problem. At the same time, the message 

from the Governor and the police is that 

they are in the process of making changes 

and residents should expect results soon. 

The Governor said the meeting is 

meant to be the first of many to come, as 

Larry Covington, the Overseas Territories Law 

Enforcement Adviser 

feedback from the public is critical to 

changing the situation. Larry Covington 

stressed that things will be done to 

combat the problems. “There will be 

challenges, but I believe we must identify 

the problems and solve them. We need to 

work together to improve everyone’s lives. 

That is what we will do.”

6 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Local 

Provo Students Get 

Up Close and Personal 

with their Environment 

Students from across 

Providenciales received 

the chance to get up 

close and personal with 

the plants and animals 

with which they share their 

environment. It was all part of a 

large workshop arranged by the 

Turks and Caicos Sporting Club. 

All primary school students in 

Providenciales were invited to 

learn about their local environment, 

to discover interesting and 

entertaining facts about the ecosystems 

it supports, and to meet a 

few friendly animals from the Cay. 

Ambergris Cay’s resident 

Naturalists Will Hobbs and 

Lindsay Mensen shared an insight 

of the environment surrounding 

us all with the children in a total 

of six workshops geared towards 

different age groups from kindergarten 

to 5th grade. 

The children learned about 

the four types of Mangroves that 

grow in the Turks and Caicos, 

specifically the Red Mangrove. 

They were educated about the 

benefits for the animals and 

the tropical dry forests that are 

abound in the TCI. They were 

even able to touch and feel a 

Turks Head Cactus and learned 

that it received its name from the 

Turkish hat called the Fez. From 

brush to cacti, the naturalists 

demonstrated the importance of 

natural resource stewardship. 

The highlight of the show was 

the Rainbow Boa Lindsey that 

Will brought along from the Cay. It 

was almost impossible to keep the 

excitement of the children in order 

when the boa came out of his box. 

The children all had the chance to 

touch the snake and observe his 

behavior and even surprised them 

in some cases . The most common 

comment heard was, “he was not 

slimy, I thought snakes were slimy.” 

The children were enthusiastic 

and excited to have the opportunity 

to learn more about the 

environment they live in every 

day. Each student also received 

an Ambergris Cay coloring book 

and will have the opportunity to 

display their artwork at the Provo 

International Airport as part of the 

Digicel, Turks and Caicos Sporting 

Club sponsored art display in the 

departure lounge. 

The Environmental Learning 

Centre was officially opened on 

Ambergris Cay in November of 

2008. Since that time the members 

of the Turks and Caicos Sporting 

Club have hosted numerous events 

organized to educate about the environment 

on the Cay and in the 

whole of the Turks and Caicos. 

These six workshops provided 

a chance to share that knowledge 

with all the children on 

Providenciales. Organizing them 

was a large undertaking and was 

made possible by the generous 

sponsorships from Digicel, 

Lee & Astwood Architects and 

Simon Wood. 

“We are extremely proud to 

be able to support the Turks & 

Caicos Sporting Club and TCI 

Elementary Schools for the 

upcoming Interactive Discussions 

Series,” says Jeffrey Lee, Lee & 

Astwood Architects Ltd. “As the 

Architect for the Ambergris Cay 

Environmental Learning Centre, 

where the resident Naturalists 

are based, we look forward to 

continuous partnerships between 

the private and public sectors in 

developing Environmental learning 

programmes.” 

Along with the Department 

of Environment and Coastal 

Resources, the Department of 

Education, the Providenciales 

International Airport and Turks 

& Caicos Tourist Board and the 

Turks and Caicos Sporting Club 

the Naturalist Interactive Visit 

offered the opportunity to almost 

2600 children in Providenciales, 

to gain knowledge about the environment. 

It was one of the largest 

such activities ever undertaken in 

the TCI.

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 7 

Local 

Dancescapes 

returns with 

an eclectic 

mix of dance 

The dance troupe that inspired young Turks & 

Caicos students and aspiring dancers returned 

to the country and held master classes and 

dance demonstrations in select schools from 

May 11-14, 2009 with a main production shown 

on the 15th and 16th at Brayton Hall in Providenciales. 

Dance choreographers Louis Kavouras and Jennifer 

Deckert led the dance troupe which was composed 

of the University of Nevada –Las Vegas (UNLV) and 

By: Kazz Forbes 

The third form students at Raymond 

Gardiner High School of Bottle Creek, 

North Caicos on May 19th, 2009, were 

lectured on various topics surrounding the 

business world as part of their Career Day 

observation. Each year, third form students 

are advised about possible professions in 

the business world and taught fundamental 

points about choosing, maintaining and 

surviving in the career field of their desire. 

Such day “Career Day” is important to 

third formers as it facilitates in the selection 

of specific subjects required as a main focus 

when entering the forth form, which will be 

studied for the entity of their high school 

University of Wyoming (UW) students. 

The brainchild of lighting and scenic designer 

Peter Jakubowski from the University of Nevada – 

Las Vegas, Dancescapes is comprised by dancers 

from both UNLV and UW. The troupe’s visit was 

sponsored by the Turks & Caicos Friends of the Arts 

Foundation (TCFAF), whose mission is to promote a 

heightened appreciation of the performing and visual 

arts in the TCI. 

years. These subjects range from business to 

sciences and technical subjects. 

Speaking on “Motivation and the 

Workforce” was Ms. Lavern Skippings, 

Marketing and Public Relations Manager 

at Dellis Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands. She 

brought an interactive and youthful approach 

that shed light on intrinsic motivation 

and engaged students in activities with 

a driving force to educate, enthuse and 

reinforce the students’ positive performance. 

“As a proud graduate of Helena J. 

Robinson High School of Grand Turk, I 

will always cherish and recall my high 

school days and so therefore I was very 

thrilled to engage into discussion with 

these students about motivation. From the 

time I spoke to Ms. Hunter, the school’s 

guidance counsellor, I immediately 

prepared a presentation with a colourful 

twist and other elements for the students 

to relate to. I saw that they were highly 

motivated and looking forward to moving 

on to the fourth and fifth form as I stressed 

the importance of selecting school subjects 

beneficial to their career choice” said 

Ms. Skippings. “In my job working for the 

global organization of Dellis Cay, I can see 

how important motivation, hard work and 

a solid education as a basis for a good business 

development is.” said Ms. Skippings. 

The Youth Centre also helped in sponsoring the troupe. 

While in residency, the dance group presented an 

eclectic mix of work ranging from classical ballet 

to contemporary modern and jazz dance at the Star 

Gazer Dance Studio, Edward Gartland Youth Centre, 

and schools such as Ianthe Pratt Primary School. 

They also gave lecture demonstrations, reaching 

more students this year and taught master classes for 

the local dancers. 

Career Day at Raymond Gardiner High School 

Lavern Skippings, Marketing & PR Manager Dellis Cay, presenting at the Raymond Gardiner High 

School Career Day in North Caicos 

Focusing on future career development, 

Skippings gave pointers on making oneself 

more marketable in lecture of professionalism, 

computer etiquette, dressing the part, 

choosing healthy job references and practising 

good habits at school that will lean 

onto becoming effective and efficient in a 

working environment. Students took part in 

gaming activities and winners were awarded 

with gift items from the Turks and Caicos 

Tourist Board and Dellis Cay. The students 

will hopefully take away the importance of 

moving forward with school with a positive 

outlook for the future and a motivation to 

work hard for their achievements.

8 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Regional 

Travel Website “Orbitz” Campaigning for Cuba 

President Obama has sent 

Americans in a furry of speculation 

following his signals last 

month that he would entertain 

options of lifting some travel 

restrictions to Cuba. Cuba has 

been off the list of possible 

travel destinations to Americans 

since the late sixties, however 

with so many Americans having 

ties to Cuba and the possibilities 

of new travel destinations, 

Obama seems to have opened 

Pandora’s box. 

Clinton 

Named UN 

Envoy to Haiti 

The UN announced this week the appointment 

of former U.S. President Bill 

Clinton as Special Envoy to Haiti. U.N. 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named 

President Clinton to the position in the 

hopes of attracting investment to the 

Western Hemisphere's poorest nation and 

help stabilize the country. 

"It is an honor to accept the secretary 

general's invitation to become special 

envoy to Haiti,'' former President Clinton 

said in a statement to The Miami Herald. 

'Last year's natural disasters took a great 

toll, but Haiti's government and people 

have the determination and ability to 

`build back better,' not just to repair the 

damage done but to lay the foundations 

for the long-term sustainable development 

that has eluded them for so long." 

The United Nations says that low labor 

costs, proximity to the United States and 

Canada, and the duty-free access it will 

enjoy in the U.S. market for the next nine 

years could underpin future economic 

growth. Clinton is poised to help encourage 

development in the region. Currently 

Clinton is using his Clinton Global 

Initiative foundation to help the desperate 

country turn around. 

Microsoft Corporation will be providing 

Jamaica with the software called the Child 

Abducting Tracking System - CATS, which 

is used by major police forces worldwide to 

help track missing children. 

The software valued at an estimated 

J$18-million (US$200,000) provides data 

that links all police forces throughout the 

world and will allow Jamaica to tap into 

that source to access information that 

will assist in the search when a child goes 

missing. Microsoft will also provide the 

training for members of the Jamaica police 

force and will be responsible for upgrading 

the equipment. 

The announcement was made by 

Jamaican Minister of State, Bobby Montague 

who has responsibility for the Department 

of Local Government in the Office of the 

Prime Minister, at the launch of the Ananda 

Alert system by Prime Minister Bruce 

Golding at Jamaica House. The Ananda 

Alert was named in tribute to 11-year old 

Although Obama only is 

considering revising the restrictions 

for those with family ties to 

Cuba, others are jumping on the 

band wagon in hopes of capitalizing 

on the possibilities. 

Online travel company 

Orbitz, launched the Web site 

Open Cuba (http://www.opencuba.org), 

on Monday, where 

Americans can sign a petition 

supporting an end to all travel 

restrictions to the country. The 

company says it will deliver the 

Photo courtesy of UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe 

Ananda Dean who was murdered last year. 

Mr. Montague said representatives of 

Microsoft will be visiting Jamaica next 

month to conduct workshops and to look 

of at the existing facilities with a view to 

determining the extent of the company's 

assistance. Microsoft's commitment was 

made at last week's Commonwealth Local 

Government Conference in the Bahamas. 

Under the Ananda Alert programme, 

when a child goes missing, a report is made 

to the nearest police station or by calling 

119. The police will then alert all Ananda 

Alert stakeholders including the media 

houses, mobile companies, local authorities, 

parish councils; and these will then mobilize 

community groups. 

After 12-hours, photos of the missing 

child are placed on electronic/mobile 

billboards, in shops, supermarkets, community 

centre, church halls, schools and post 

offices. There will also be a website at which 

information can be accessed. 

petition to the president and 

Congress later this year. 

However, their intentions are 

not entirely politically motivated, 

as signers get a $100 

gift certificate they can apply 

toward a Cuban vacation if the 

government allows unrestricted 

travel and when Orbitz can 

book the trips. 

"We've taken the position that 

Americans should have the freedom 

to travel anywhere in the 

world," said Orbitz spokesman 

Brian Hoyt, noting that the U.S. 

government imposes no restrictions 

on travel to North Korea, 

Iran and "other places where governments 

don't see eye-to-eye." 

Thousands have signed the 

Open Cuba petition, according 

to Hoyt, who said that Orbitz is 

hoping to play a major role in 

what he described as a grassroots 

movement. "We're . . . inviting 

others in the travel industry 

and Cuban American groups as 

well," he said. 

Others are also jumpin on 

the band wagon and hoping to 

capitalize on the opportunity. 

AirTran Airways says it wants 

to be one of the first airlines 

to operate scheduled flights to 

Cuba if restrictions are eased, 

AirTran CEO Bob Fornaro told 

analysts recently. 

"It would be my guess that 

probably four or five airlines 

would like to enter the Cuba 

market when the time comes," 

he said. 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Bill Clinton speak with the students during a visit at the Cité Soleil school feeding programme in Haiti March 2009. 

Microsoft Helping Jamaica to Save Children

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 9 

Regional 

Jamaica Taking 

Jerk on the Road 

Jamaica gave the world Jerk cuisine and since 

then it has become a culinary phenomenon 

which has found its way onto menus in restaurants 

worldwide. Visitors from around the 

globe have been drawn to Jamaica to sample this 

delicious style and flavor of cooking which was 

believe to have originated with the Maroons, 

former slaves. 

Riding on the heels of the success of Jamaican 

Jerk, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund 

Bartlett recently announced plans for the island’s 

“Jerk Trail”, Jamaica’s newest – and spiciest – attraction. 

On the Jerk Trail, visitors can eat their way 

through Jamaica, sampling this cuisine and the 

secret recipes the cooks hold near and dear. “Jerk 

cuisine has made its way onto menus worldwide, 

but we invite travelers to come Jamaica and 

sample this dish the way it was meant to be experienced 

– in our laid back, tropical environment,” 

Mein Schiff (My Ship), the first ship in the new TUI 

Cruises fleet, was named this week in Hamburg, Germany, 

in a celebration that marked a significant step for the 

joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and 

TUI AG. The new brand is designed to serve the German 

cruise market, where some 906,000 Germans took cruises 

in 2008, and where that number is forecast to increase by 

11 percent in 2009. 

Following a short inaugural cruise, Mein Schiff will sail 

in the Baltic for the 2009 summer season (May through 

October). It will offer two- to 14-night sailings from 

said Minister Bartlett. “The Jerk Trail creates a 

culinary adventure featuring the distinct flavors 

of Jamaica, along with its breathtaking natural 

beauty and truly unique culture, as visitors travel 

across the island from Negril, through Montego 

Bay and Ocho Rios, to Kingston, ending in the 

home of Jerk – Port Antonio.” 

The Trail currently features 10 of the hottest 

places to try Jerk cuisine in Jamaica: 

• Supreme Jerk Centre, Green Island 

• Border Jerk Centre, Ramble 

• Ultimate Jerk Center, Discovery Bay 

• Scotchie’s, Greenwich Park 

• Ocho Rios Jerk Center 

• Lyming at Walkerswood 

• G&B Jerk Centre, Victoria Road 

• Pon Di Corner Jerk Center, Black Hill District 

• Blueberry Hill Jerk Center 

• Unique Jerk Center, Hope Bay 

• Boston Jerk, Boston Bay 

The Origins of Jerk 

The technique of “jerking” is thought to have originated with the Maroons, descendents of slaves 

who were freed from their Spanish masters and lived in the island’s most remote mountain areas. 

Meat is first marinated for hours in an incendiary mixture of peppers, pimento seeds, scallion, thyme 

and then cooked over an outdoor pit lined with pimento wood. (The Maroons did the cooking 

underground to camouflage the smoke.) The low heat allows the meat to cook slowly, retaining the 

natural juices while becoming infused with the flavor of the wood. 

German Cruise Line Set to Sail into the Caribbean Market 

ports such as Kiel and Hamburg in Germany, and Palma 

de Mallorca, Spain. The ship then will reposition to the 

Caribbean for winter (November 2009 through April 2010), 

home-porting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 

The cruise will leave from Mallorca and sail 14 days 

across the Atlantic to the Dominican Republic, where it 

will offer two 7-day Caribbean Cruises. The cruise will 

make stops in Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua 

as well as a second cruise offering stops in Martinique, 

Dominica, St. Maarten and Gaudeloupe. 

The 1,914-guest Mein Schiff was formerly Celebrity 

Cruises' Celebrity Galaxy. The ship left the Celebrity fleet 

on March 16, 2009, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her transformation 

began during her crossing from the Caribbean 

to Europe and was completed in 38 days. The ship is now 

tailored to German guests, their tastes in food, entertainment 

and amenities, and it will provide a contemporary/ 

premium cruise experience. 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and TUI AG announced 

their intentions to form TUI Cruises on December 10, 

2007. Each company holds a 50 percent interest in the 

joint venture.

10 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

A National Hero 

This coming Monday the Turks and 

Caicos will be celebrating National Hero 

Day. It is a day set aside to honor a man 

who is known to have changed the face of 

government for the people of the Turks 

and Caicos. With all that is going on surrounding 

the political scene, his work is 

more relevant today than ever. 

The current political make up of the 

Turks and Caicos came into effect in 1973 

when The Bahamas became independent 

and the islands got their own British 

governor, responsible for defense, internal 

security and foreign affairs, and their own 

legal jurisdiction. The office of administrator 

was abolished, and a chief secretary 

and financial secretary were added to the 

executive council. 

Although the structure of the government 

was strikingly similar to that of today, 

the social make-up was something different 

entirely. Through the work of JAGS 

McCartney and all those who stood up for 

the fairness and unity of the people of the 

Turks and Caicos, Unity was achieved. 

In 1976, the People’s Democratic 

Party (which was later renamed People’s 

Democratic Movement PDM) was elected 

to a four year term in office by winning 

Hon James Alexander George Smith McCartney 

He Kept our country firm and free, 

He let us into victory, 

May 9, 1980 he passed away, 

But in our memories he shall stay, 

He left so many loved ones behind, 

With tender memories and thoughts so kind, 

I cannot ask for another to lead the way, 

To provide the freedom we have today, 

And that’s why every National Heroes Day, 

We remember Hon James Alexander George Smith 

McCartney. 

Kandice Melissa Smith 

Precious Treasures Primary School 

Discovery Bay Drive, Providenciales 

Honourable 

McCartney was 

instrumental in 

the establishment 

of the ministerial 

form of internal 

self - government 

in the Islands 

five of the eleven contested seats, while 

an independent who had won another 

seat aligned himself with them. The 

Honourable JAGS McCartney became 

the youngest in-office leader in the 

Commonwealth at the age of 31 and was 

elected the first Chief Minister of the Turks 

and Caicos Islands. 

Honourable McCartney was instrumental 

in the establishment of the ministerial 

form of internal self - government in the 

Islands. Another of his notable achievements 

was his efforts in the development 

of the Club Med Hotel. He also made 

representations to the United Nations on 

behalf of his people in order to jump start 

this development in the country. 

Honourable McCartney was reputable 

for his kindness and bravery, his uncanny 

ability to relate to all persons, and his ability 

to see beyond political affiliation. Many 

stories are told of where he helped people 

recover their properties, which was unfairly 

taken and ensure that the poor and 

disenfranchised rights were upheld. He 

helped many people no matter who they 

were or where they were from. 

In honour of him and his dedication to 

the people of the Turks and Caicos, the 

Grand Turk International Airport was 

named after him. 

Today, the life and death of the late 

Hon. James Alexander George Smith 

McCartney is commemorated on National 

Heroes Day, which will be celebrated on 

Monday May 25.

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 11 

Local 

Home Again, the Middle Caicos Co-op 

Happy at Home in Middle Caicos 

After almost five years 

operating a retail outlet 

in Providenciales, the 

Middle Caicos Co-op 

has relocated back to its 

roots in Middle Caicos. The Co-op 

is a not -for-profit venture whose 

goals are to promote the traditional 

handcrafts of the people 

of the Turks and Caicos, and 

facilitate maximum income for 

the artisans. They primarily focus 

on straw crafts – plait bags and 

fanner baskets, but also promote 

traditional model sailboats – hand 

carved from the local gum-elemi 

trees. Most recently a project with 

black and white photography is 

capturing the hearts of the island 

and the people who produce these 

traditional crafts. 

The Co-op was located on the 

beach in Blue Hills for two and 

half-years and in the Market Place 

for the two years prior to that. 

However, when Hurricane Ike 

heavily damaged their location 

on the beach, founder of the Coop 

Sara Kaufman and husband 

Daniel Forbes decided to take the 

Co-op back home. 

“It was a fabulous location to be 

in Blue Hills on the beach, but it 

just was not cost effective for us 

as there simply were not enough 

tourists. So after the hurricane 

damage Daniel suggested we bring 

it back home and it has been a 

great decision,” Sara explained. 

“After ten years since we started 

in 1998 with 6 artisans, we have 

come full circle back to Middle 

Caicos with 60 artisans now in 

the network. We have a great arrangement 

here in Middle Caicos, 

with the new artisan studio and 

outlet a perfect complement to 

have the new shop right next to 

Daniels Café., and all located by 

the sea shore in Conch Bar. It 

is going really well, and it all 

worked out positively.” 

The traditional artisans and 

their crafts have been slowly dying 

out in the Turks and Caicos 

and from 1998 The Middle 

Caicos Co-op’s goal is to promote 

the traditional lifestyle that is still 

active today in Middle Caicos. 

Sara has worked diligently over 

the past ten years to preserve and 

promote the work of the local 

people and is proud of the new 

Co-op shop and the projects they 

have up and coming. 

“We are getting more and more 

day-trippers here. The ferry has 

contributed a great deal to making 

the island accessible. For the 

local women, and few men, who 

produce the crafts, it is now a 

reliable source of income. We 

have also produced one set of 

postcards, two calendars and we 

are poised to put together a book. 

In addition, we also house the 

Middle Caicos Sailing Association, 

which promotes the traditional 

model sailboats - traditional toys 

hand carved from local trees with 

old sheets cut for sails,” Sara said. 

The Valentines Day Cup model 

sailboat races, now in its tenth 

season, is another success for Sara 

and Daniel in bringing to life a 

traditional craft and sport. 

One of Sara’s goals is to create a 

museum or archive for the artisan’s 

work. She has been collecting 

pieces over the years, as some of 

the patterns are no longer available 

since the specific artisans have 

past. The black & white photography 

project overlaps with this 

interest in preserving the faces and 

lifestyle of the artisans and their 

island. An exciting opportunity to 

showcase the photographs, along 

with exceptional strawwork pieces, 

has been offered by The Courtyard 

Plaza, where from May 30th until 

June 6th a special Middle Caicos 

Co-op exhibit will be on display. 

“We are very excited about the 

opportunity to do this exhibit. 

Although we have done two smaller 

exhibits in the past this is really 

taking it up a notch in quality and 

size and I am so excited about the 

opportunity to make it accessible 

to a much greater number of 

people.” This special exhibit will 

then be moving to the Department 

of Culture in Turtle Cove for a 

further ten days. The exhibit is 

available for groups, schools and 

organizations to arrange viewings , 

and open from 10 am to 3pm daily. 

Members of the public will be 

welcome to come and view both 

the photography which captures 

the artisans at work on their 

craft as well as some of the items 

themselves. “We will be featuring 

some of the higher end, more 

artistic basket work,” says Sara of 

the items which will be on display, 

“You can also purchase the amazing 

photos in variations from single 

prints to some trip-tics ( 3 panel 

sets) we put together for this show.” 

Sara, with the ongoing support 

of many close friends, has made 

it a priority to raise awareness of 

Middle Caicos and to preserve the 

traditional lifestyle there - this 

island has been her home now for 

15 years. Through the Co-op, she 

has worked to preserve the traditional 

hand crafts of the people 

which are a very specific part of 

that lifestyle. Working with Provo 

tour operators and local hotels she 

encourages eco-tourism activities 

and sustainable development 

for Middle Caicos - and was the 

originator of the Crossing Place 

Trail project. Through her work 

at Forbes Forbes & Forbes Ltd, ( 

her husband’s realty company), 

she champions generational land 

claims with impeccable research, 

fights for public beach accesses 

and facilities , while promoting 

Middle Caicos to those who realize 

the treasure here. 

The Middle Caicos Co-op 

works to preserve and promote 

the ancestral work and lifestyle of 

the people of the Turks and Caicos. 

On Providenciales evidence of this 

traditional lifestyle is almost nonexistent. 

The Middle Caicos Co-op 

Exhibit hosted at the Courtyard 

Plaza is a perfect opportunity to 

experience, remember and take 

home a piece of Turks and Caicos 

history. The Middle Caicos Coop 

welcomes questions, custom 

orders, volunteers and visitors – 

please email middleciaocs@tciway. 

tc ir call 231-4884/946-6132. For 

information about the upcoming 

exhibit at the Courtyard Plaza 

please email the Co-op, call Sara 

or contact The Courtyard Plaza 

at 941-8958 or via email at info@ 

courtyardplazatci.com

fp 

TCI Resort 

Developments 

Going Global 

New Marketing 

Strategy That is 

Opening Doors 

BUSINESS

14 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Madarin Oriental is 

known world wide 

for its unparalleled 

quality of service.

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 15 

Amanyara is apart of the world renowned Aman resorts. 

Nikki Beach is knows as luxury, five-star hotels in the world's most exotic destinations. 

The development of large scale real estate projects has been a 

major driver for the Turks and Caicos economy over the last 

decade. As the development costs have risen steadily with increasing 

land prices, wages and commodity prices, developers 

have become more reliant on a successful hotel management 

operation following the sales and construction phase, in order to make 

the return on investment worth their while. 

As the hotel room availability has grown steadily, each resort has 

been forced to offer unique selling propositions to their clients and 

to increase the global marketing efforts. Especially in the currently 

challenging economic times this has proven more relevant than ever. 

Over the last couple of years of development in the Turks and Caicos, 

some developers have started to recognize the value that the affiliation 

with a leading and globally known hotel management company can 

bring. Amanyara, the Regent Palms, Nikki Beach, the freshly launched 

Gansevoort Turks and Caicos and the future Mandarin Oriental Dellis 

Cay are some prominent examples in Turks and Caicos. 

Michel Neutelings, Vice President for Dellis Cay, which will be a 

Mandarin Oriental branded resort, says: “We see three major benefits 

that a globally recognized hotel management company can bring to the 

table for a developer: Firstly, expertise gained around the globe with 

the planning, conception and execution of all operations of a major 

resort including extensive staff training programs based on years of 

experience in other resort locations. After all, any resort is only as good 

as the service staff, functioning as the face to the customer that delivers 

the unmatched experience to the guest. 

Secondly, as with any brand experience in any industry, the hotel 

management brand delivers a promise of consistent quality and of 

a very specific type of experience to be shared with like-minded 

individuals. A guest of the Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay can expect 

the same unequalled level of service and dedication of any Mandarin 

Oriental everywhere, be it in Hong Kong, London, New York or the 

Turks and Caicos. No leading resort can afford to disappoint that 

brand promise, which creates a huge commitment to excellence by the 

management company. 

Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, a Wymara Resort; Gansevoort resorts are 

considered full-service urban and lifestyle resorts. 

Thirdly, a leading hotel management company has access to a fantastic 

sales, marketing and PR network, which plays an important role in 

promoting the property and generating a constant flow of guests. With 

the Dellis Cay partner Mandarin Oriental for instance, we are expecting 

their very loyal fan base to embrace the private island exclusivity 

with Mandarin Oriental service levels. 

The affiliation of Dellis Cay with Mandarin Oriental has actually 

been a very important confidence building factor for many of our buyers 

providing them ease of mind and a very positive outlook in terms 

of their investment.” 

Rob Ayer, Developer of the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, Wymara 

Resort, explains: “Hotel brands and management companies bring 

expertise, economies of scale and a loyal clientele to a new operation 

A hotel management 

brand delivers a promise 

of consistent quality and 

of a very specific type of 

experience to be shared with 

like-minded individuals. 

such as ours. We were able to ramp our occupancy rates and get the 

operational standards in place that much quicker than a home grown 

management team. 

From a real estate stand-point, Branded properties command a premium 

price over non-branded properties because of their international 

marketing reach and consistent level of service. Our owners take comfort 

in knowing that their property will be well managed and marketed 

internationally, thereby protecting and improving their investment.” 

The influx of global brands to the Turks and Caicos helps to generate 

global recognition and awareness for the Turks and Caicos Islands, 

which in turn generates a positive impact for all business on the islands. 

Jobs are created, expertise provided and financial investments made 

that help to increase the overall standard of living for all TC Islanders.

16 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Business 

The New Marketing Strategy That 

is Opening Doors in the TCI 

It goes without saying that 

the make-up of the real 

estate market has changed 

significantly over the past 

12 – 18 months in the Turks 

and Caicos. What was once a 

large seller’s market has turned 

the way of most other world 

markets to a buyer’s paradise. 

As part of this change in the 

tides, marketing of real estate is 

also seeing a new face in the TCI. 

Many predict that with foresight 

and a positive outlook Real 

Estate investments in TCI now 

offer good opportunities. There 

is potential that an investment 

in real estate in the TCI offers 

a stable equity position and as 

some sellers are offering competitive 

prices. 

To capitalize on this positive 

potential, some developments 

on island are offering 

“Open House” viewings, which 

have practically been a family 

pastime in North America and 

specifically in the United States 

as a way to view real estate options. 

On any sunny weekend 

afternoon suburban streets 

in America are spotted with 

“Open House” signs. American 

families pile in the car and 

cruise around looking at what 

is on the market sometimes just 

satisfying their curiosity of how 

the other half live. Whatever 

their intentions, open houses have been 

a successful tool for selling real estate 

for the past half a century. 

Although the Turks and Caicos Islands 

are tightly connected to the North 

American economy, this unique selling 

tool has not been widely used in the 

TCI, until now. Recently we saw the first 

“open house” signs entering our stage all 

over Providenciales. So what has caused 

the shift in thinking and the marketing 

strategy and what is the real point of the 

“open house”? 

“Traditionally open houses are held 

to encourage and invite customers to 

come and look at a property,” said Jeff 

Miick of Palm Ventures developer of 

the Courtyard Plaza, recently offering a 

TURKS & 

CAICOS 

GERMANY 

Honorary Consul 

Queen’s Landing # 3 

Grace Bay 

Providenciales 

P: +649-231-2110 

F: +649-941-5969 

german.consul.tci@gmail.com 

regular open house every Saturday from 

10am to 2pm of their commercial center. 

. “Over the past few years, customers i.e. 

tourists, were coming to us and we never 

really needed to take advantage of this 

tool. However, the market has shifted 

and we are having to change our strategy 

and thinking to attract the customers 

to entertain the idea of buying in this 

market, we want our investors and businesses 

- both retail and professional - to 

know that they can not only run their 

business, but invest in the ownership of 

their commercial suite. The concept of 

commercial ownership is new to the TCI, 

so our Open Houses give us the opportunity 

to showcase the center and explain 

that so far, the returns on investment are 

AUSTRIA 


Winton Meadows/Everglades Road 

No. 14, Nassau 

P: +242-364-3297 

F: +242-364-3297 

Austrian.honcon@hotmail.com 

BELGIUM 


P.O. Box CB-11090 

Nassau 

P: +242-357-8856 

nassau@diplobel.org 

good and positive, ” explained Jeff. 

Open Houses do just what they say; 

open up the doors to anyone who is 

interested in walking into an available 

property to see it with their own eyes 

while it is at the same time staffed by a 

sales agent or realtor to answer questions. 

“It is important to get the customers in to 

the locations to see what is available and 

to have the chance to explain to them 

what is on offer and possibly help them 

put together a package that can help 

them get into a unit in these challenging 

economic times,” said Jeff. 

The Courtyard Plaza is just one example 

of the “new” paradigm in real estate 

in the Turks and Caicos. Others, such as 

the Villa del Mar and Grace Bay Realty 

EU Honorary Consuls in the TCI & Bahamas 

GREECE 


Olympia Building, West Bay Street, 

P.O. Box N7682, Nassau 

T: +242-323-3495 

F: +242-323-3523 

ITALY 

Honorary Vice Consul 

IBM House - 3rd Floor 

East Bay Street 

P.O.BOX SS 6377 

Nassau 

P: +242-351-2662 

F: +242-351-2682 

clients, are also opening their doors on a 

regular basis to attract the more cautious 

buyers in this market. The old “wait for 

them to come to us” strategy is no longer 

working and those who want to sell are 

finding new ways of reaching their customers. 

Especially since in the past many 

sales were generated pre-construction, 

this tool was not very common. Now 

developers can show off their construction 

quality and instill confidence in the 

selective buyers perusing the market. 

These cautious buyers want the opportunity 

to speak to someone personally and 

have a true sense of being courted before 

they are going to make an investment. 

An open house is one way to offer them 

exactly that. 

NETHERLANDS 

Dutch Consulate 

Gladstone Rd. North Waste Ltd., 

Nassau 

P: +242-3616398 

F: +242-3616842 

netherld@mail. 

bahamas.net.bs 

SWEDEN 


Cable Beach Manor Hotel, West Bay 

St., Nassau 

P: +242-327-7944 

F: +242-327-7782 

wiberg@mail1.coralwave.com

fp 

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 17 

Putting the Gourmet in Graceway 

Three Tasty Foods That 

Decrease Blood Pressure 

College is No Longer a 

Four- Year Experience 

LIFESTYLE

18 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Lifestyle 

Putting the Gourmet in Graceway 

Graceway Gourmet in Grace Bay opened its doors to its 

new, gourmet grocery store at the end of March. The bright 

and open store is filled with one of a kind organic fruits and 

vegetables, fine meats and exquisite cheeses and to add to 

the upscale flavor, resident Chef Josh is cooking up gourmet 

meals for take away. 

Josh Carlton is the first chef on Providenciales to call a 

grocery store kitchen his office. With their first full time 

chef on staff, Graceway Gourmet is leading the “take out” 

concept to a new dimension. Josh and his staff are preparing 

delectable meals and packing them for individual sale and 

take out. The available delicacies range from Caesar Roasted 

Chicken with Linguini to Mediterranean Olive Pasta, or 

Vegetable Lasagna with Roasted peppers and Arugula. Chef 

Josh offers something to satisfy every taste bud. 

The Graceway Gourmet is targeting to provide high 

quality foods as an alternative to dining out all too often, 

while still offering every day staple items and general merchandise. 

A wide selection of regional food items as well 

as an extensive meat and cheese selection is on offer. The 

metaphorical “icing on the cake” is the bakery department, 

which makes a wide selection of cakes available for purchase, 

even as a slice to go. 

The new offerings at the Graceway Gourmet have given 

Grace bay residents a completely new option when looking 

for a lunch or dinner. You can grab some of Chef Josh’s 

pre-prepared Tenderloins and baked potatoes and head 

back home for lunch on the terrace: restaurant quality food 

in the comfort of your own home and without the extensive 

work that is normally involved. 

Or, for those who like to take the time to prepare a little 

something special at home, starting this week you will be 

able to get recipes and tips from Chef Josh right here in 

the “fp” using the large selection of specialty items offered 

at the Graceway Gourmet. 

Every week Graceway Gourmet’s Chef Josh will be sharing 

with our readers some of his amazing recipes. You will 

find everything from quick and easy recipes, to healthy 

recipes, and even some recipes for you to cook together 

with your kid’s!

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 19 

Healthy Living 

Three Tasty Foods That Decrease Blood Pressure 

Hypertension is an important public-health challenge worldwide. More 

than a quarter of world’s adult population, totaling one billion, are estimated 

to have it. 

The risk of developing hypertension goes up with age as the arteries 

stiffen and lose their elasticity. While some people eventually need medications 

to control their blood pressure, others are able to normalize their 

readings through simple lifestyle changes. 

One of the most important lifestyle factors for controlling elevated blood 

pressure is diet. Not only is salt restriction important; other vitamins and 

minerals also appear to play a role in controlling blood pressure including 

vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Studies have even shown 

that specific foods can have an effect on blood pressure. If you’re trying to 

reduce your blood pressure through diet, here are three tasty foods you’ll 

want to consider. 

Foods that decrease blood pressure: Dark chocolate 

How could something so yummy have so many health benefits? While 

dark chocolate has been shown to promote heart health, it also seems to 

lower blood pressure, according to studies. It appears that the flavonols 

found in cocoa products help to relax blood vessels which causes blood 

pressure levels to drop. Studies have shown that dark chocolate can reduce 

systolic blood pressure readings by up to five points. This may not sound 

like a lot, but it’s enough to cut the risk of stroke by up to ten percent. Of 

course you shouldn’t go overboard and eat an entire chocolate bar since 

chocolate is high in fat and sugar; but two small squares of dark chocolate 

per day may be just what the doctor ordered. 

Foods that decrease blood pressure: Pomegranate juice 

The juice of the pomegranate fruit has already been shown to have 

cholesterol lowering benefits, but it also appears to lower blood pressure 

naturally too. A study conducted in Israel showed systolic blood pressure 

drops of up to twenty-one percent after supplementing with pomegranate 

juice for twelve months. Pomegranate appears to inhibit the activity of an 

enzyme known as angiotensin-converting enzyme that raises blood pressure. 

A group of medications known as ACE inhibitors which are marketed 

as blood pressure medications have the same activity. 

Foods that decrease blood pressure: Bananas 

Another food that decreases blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensinconverting 

enzyme is bananas. A Johns Hopkins study showed that eating at least two bananas each day dropped blood pressure readings by up to ten percent. Not only do 

bananas inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme, they’re also a rich source of potassium, a mineral that’s important for blood pressure control. 

Are you ready to add these tasty foods that decrease blood pressure to your own diet? They can be eaten alone or combined with one another to create delicious, heart friendly 

recipes. Some possibilities are a chocolate banana split with low fat ice cream or a layered yogurt parfait with dark chocolate sprinkles. How about combining them all into a 

tasty, fruit smoothie? Who says eating healthy has to be boring? These tasty foods that decrease blood pressure a sure way to please your taste buds as well as your arteries. 

Diet Pills: Should You Use Them for Weight Loss? 

Diet pills may sound like a simple solution to 

weight control. What could be simpler than 

popping a pill to lose weight? The weight loss 

industry has taken advantage of the desire 

of so many to lose weight quickly and easily 

by making available a variety of over-the-counter diet 

aids. Often, when it sounds too good to be true it is. The 

unfortunate reality is that when you use diet pills, you’re 

using products that are not safe. In addition, the claims 

made by the manufacturers are often exaggerated or even 

downright false. 

Another issue with over-the-counter diet aids is their 

safety. Many so-called “metabolism boosters” contain 

ingredients that can raise the blood pressure and heart rate 

which may be dangerous if you have high blood pressure 

or underlying heart disease. Yet these products are freely 

sold in stores and other outlets, such as the Internet, without 

a prescription. One such metabolism booster, Ephedra, 

was banned in the U.S. for a period of time due to the 

number of deaths and injuries related to use of diet pills 

containing this substance. 

Are there ways to safely use diet pills? There are over-thecounter 

diet aids that have been shown to be effective for 

weight loss such as Alli. Alli is a lower dose, nonprescription 

version of the prescription drug Orlistat that helps 

to prevent fat absorption by the intestinal tract. Even this 

relatively safe drug is not without significant side effects. It 

can result in loose, foul smelling stools and stool leakage 

which is certainly not a desirable effect when you’re out in 

public. There are also few long term studies on the safety 

and effectiveness of this over-the-counter diet aid. 

Most diet aids are only meant to be used on a short term 

basis, but some people use diet pills as a longer term crutch. 

Plus, anyone has access to these pills even people who 

obviously don’t need them such as teenagers and anorexics 

suffering from eating disorders who may be seriously 

jeopardize their health using these products. 

There are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss and 

most often the quick plans come with large risks. The bottom 

line is that over-the-counter diet aids are no substitute 

for a healthy diet and a consistent exercise plan. Without 

these two factors, you will regain the weight even if you 

manage to use diet pills successfully. If you don’t feel comfortable 

losing weight on your own, a safer option would 

be to seek out the services of a nutritionist or join an online 

group such as Weight Watcher’s so you can approach 

weight loss from a healthy, longer term perspective. There 

is no “quick fix” or easy solution when it comes to weight 

control. Don’t put your health at risk by using unregulated 

over-the-counter diet aids to solve your weight problems 

when you can do it the right way.

20 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Lifestyle 

College is No 

Longer a Four- 

Year Experience 

In today's world, college is no longer a four-year 

journey. Students sometimes graduate in five, six, 

or even seven years with their Bachelor's degree. 

What's taking them so long? 

For many students, college is their first time away 

from their parents on a regular basis. They are in this 

new environment where they're introduced to new 

experiences every day. Whether it's a club, sorority/fraternity, 

sport, or extracurricular activity, students are 

taking longer in school in order to devote more time to 

these other things. 

Is this a good or a bad thing? If they're involved in 

these other activities and passing their classes, then it's 

most definitely a good thing. They'll take longer to get 

through school, of course, but they will emerge with a 

more well-rounded education. Through these things, 

students learn how to be leaders, how to deal with others 

on an adult level, how to be a part of a team, or a 

new skill. 

These students' debt with school loans will be higher, 

yes, but as more well-rounded individuals, they will 

be more likely to land higher-paying jobs and will pay 

those loans off faster than someone who raced through 

school in four years or less. 

If the students are partaking in these activities and 

failing classes on a regular basis, then something is 

wrong. Their priorities may be out of order, and school 

may have been pushed to the back burner in favor of 

having more fun with their newfound friends. Having 

friends is great, but in college, school should come first. 

That's why they came in the first place. 

At some point, some of these young adults are weeded 

out by being academically disqualified and thrown 

out of the school. Many of the remaining students 

clean up their act enough to scrape by and graduate, 

while the rest receive a wake-up call and realize that 

they need to get their priorities straight. 

By taking the time to enjoy the new experiences of 

college, students gain a variety of new skills to take 

with them into the workforce, something their fouryear 

counterparts won’t understand. They may even 

look back at their experience and regret not taking the 

time to enjoy themselves while they were there. 

College is no longer a four-year journey, and many 

students are beginning to realize that fact and embrace 

the experiences that they get to have in their five or six 

or even seven years in school. 

Stress & University 

By Havana Handfield 

According to Dr. James C. 

Dobson, “there are very few 

certainties that touch us all in 

this mortal experience, but one 

absolute is that we will experience 

hardships and stress at 

some point.” Dr. Dobson must 

have been contemplating his 

university experience when he 

made this statement. In everyday 

life and particularly in the university 

setting it is inevitable that 

you will hear someone say “I’m 

stressed out.” 

Ironically enough, April 23rd 

2009 was “less stress” day at 

Northern Caribbean University. 

The day was aimed at “lowering 

our stress levels”. While the 

effort is worthy of applaud, do 

they really expect people to not 

be stressed out on the day before 

finals? Ridiculous! Stress is a 

foreseeable part of the university 

experience and although there is 

some supposed positives of stress, 

they are very much out numbered 

by the negatives. Stress has effects 

that can prove harmful to our 

health and negatively affect our 

academic performance. 

Long-term stress can lead 

to serious health problems. 

Conditions like insomnia, 

hypertension, anxiety, tension 

headaches and more are linked to 

chronic stress. Additionally stress 

can cloud your judgment. There 

have been cases where stress has 

caused students to turn to drugs 

that only worsen the situation. 

Stress also affects your self-esteem 

causing you to feel hopeless. 

It might also encourage thoughts 

of suicide if it becomes severe; 

it may also affect your memory 

retention and may compromise 

• 

Northern 

Caribbean University 

Campus Facts 

NCU was founded 

in 1907. 

• It is the oldest 

private tertiary 

institution in Jamaica. 

• NCU is owned 

and operated by 

the West Indies 

Union Conference 

of Seventh-day 

Adventists. 

• 35 countries are 

represented in the 

student population 

your future outlook. You do not 

need a scientist to tell you that 

these conditions will affect your 

ability to perform academically. 

In essence it is important for 

everyone, but especially university 

students to find means of reducing 

stress. It is unlikely that stress 

will be completely alleviated but 

• The student 

population is 5,300 

• No. of Faculty and 

Staff Members 

total 453 

• There are 43 

Undergraduate, 

6 Graduate and 

2 Postgraduate 

programmes 

• Average Tuition per 

semester is $4,066.00 

it can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary 

stressors, surrounding 

yourself with a positive support 

system and properly managing 

your time. Stress is only a small 

roadblock on the road to success. 

It will only defeat you if you let it. 

Take control of daily activities and 

be stress free.

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 21 

Features 

The Education Minute 

Begin The 

Discussion Now 

By Gale Royal-Morris 

Contrary to what some may think, peer pressure is more than “just” 

a phase that children go through. My dictionary defines peer pressure 

as “social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain 

action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.” 

With that noted, peer pressure can be negative or positive; in 

this article, I will highlight one of the most important things an adult 

can do to help children stand strong against the negative pressures 

peers may impose. 

In an article titled Helping Your Teen Handle Peer Pressure, by 

Dr. Pam Cook, it is stated, “one reason many teens submit to negative 

peer pressure is because they lack self-confidence and a positive 

self-concept.” If we are not building self-confidence in our children 

and making it known to them at as early an age as possible that they 

are unique individuals and that they have special talents and gifts that 

make them interesting and important, who will? 

I am not telling you to praise your children falsely. (In fact, as 

you see in my previous articles I am against that) However, when 

we offer words of encouragement to our sons and daughters we are 

putting a vision in their minds and allowing them to visualize their 

capabilities. In doing so, it is important to point out that in order to, 

fulfill their dreams, if you will, they must choose their friends carefully. 

(I am sure I do not have to elaborate on this point). We want 

to stress to them that they are leaders and not followers. That they 

set the standard (i.e. no drugs, promiscuity etc.) and the “friends” 

who wish to step outside those standards are interfering with their 

(your child’s) vision. 

I always stress the importance of a healthy dialogue with children. 

Some of us may question whether or not we should talk to young 

children about “adult” issues or if we should really tell them they are 

doing well since they should do well anyway. Just know that while 

we spend time contemplating the answers, their friends maybe talking 

to them about subjects that are inappropriate and their peers may 

bully them and try to make them feel as if they are nothing. Sadly, 

once the influence from their peers has begun to take root, it may 

be difficult to stop that growth and begin forming a new mindset. 

We are their first teachers and it is important to teach them that the 

people they choose to have as friends can influence their dreams in a 

way that is positive or negative. 

Pinababantayang mabuti ng Pangulong Gloria 

Macapagal-Arroyo ang presyo ng mga gamit sa paaralan, 

gayundin ang mga dapat sunding patakaran sa 

pagsisimula ng klase sa Hunyo 1. 

Ang utos ng Pangulo sa Kagawaran ng Kalakal at 

Industriya (DTI) ay ginawa sa pulong ng Gabinete sa 

Phela Grande Convention Center sa General Santos 

City noong Mayo 20, 2009. 

Mahigpit ding ipinagbilin ng Pangulo na tiyaking 

nasusunod ang utos niyang huwag maningil ng ‘fees’ 

sa pre-school hanggang ika-4 na baitang at sa Ika-5 

baitang hanggang mataas na paaralan, kusang-loob 

na kontribusyon ang maaaring hingin sa ikalawang 

buwan ng pasukan. 

Binigyang diin ng Pangulo na hindi na sapilitan ang 

uniporme at ang mga paaralan ang bahala sa identification 

cards ng mga mag-aaral. 

Iniutos din ng Pangulo na ispeksiyunin ang lahat ng 

PHILIPPINES 

Bantayan ang presyo ng school supplies - Malacanang 

paaralan at magsagawa ng earthquake drills. 

Sa one-on-one regional interview rito, sinabi ng 

Pangulo na dapat mag-karoon ng pagkakataon ang lahat 

na makapag-aral, lalo na ang mga dukha na siyang 

unang-unang pinag-uukulan ng pansin ng gobyerno. 

Sinabi ng Pangulo na tinutugunan ng gobyerno 

ang karaniwang problema tuwing pasukan na gaya 

ng kakapusan ng silid-aralan, mga guro at pagtaas ng 

halaga ng gamit sa pag-aaral. 

Iniulat ng Kagawaran ng Pagtuturo sa pulong ng 

Gabinete na sa kabuuang 10,533 silid-aralan na target 

gawin sa taong ito, 4.644 na ang nagawa mula noong 

Enero hanggang Abril ng taong ito at 2,286 pa ang 

kasalukuyang tinatapos para magamit sa pasukan sa 

Hunyo 1. 

Sa kabuuan, sabi ng DepEd, 426,766 na ang silidaralan 

at inaasahan nila na ang kabuuang papasok sa 

pre-school, mababa at mataas na paaralan ay aabot sa 

22.44 milyong lahat at dito ay 87 porsiyento ang papasok 

sa paaralang bayan. 

Ginagawang kasalukuyan ang pasilidad sa tubig ay 

10,805 na matatapos ang iba ngayong buwang ito at 

ang iba naman ay sa Hunyo. 

Sa taong ito, 8,823 bagong guro ang kinuha kaya 

ang student ratio ay 1:36, samantalang ang mga aklat 

ay 75.2 milyon para sa Matematika, Ingles at Filipino/ 

Makabayan. 

Ang nalalapit na pasukan, sabi ng Pangulo ang 

nagpapasigla sa pagtu-tulungan sa ilalimng Brigada 

Eskwela ng DepEd upang ayusin, linisin at pinturahan 

ang mga paaralang bayan. 

Nasa punong tanggapan ng DepEd sa Lungsod ng 

Pasig ang Balik-Eskwela Action Center na bukas mula 

Mayo 25 hanggang Hunyo 5 upang tiyakin ang maayos 

na pagbubukas ng mga klase sa pakikiisa at tulong ng 

iba-ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan.

22 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Atlantis Arrives at Hubble 

Space Telescope for Repairs 

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched 

last week on a mission to repair and 

update the Hubble Space Telescope. 

After having suffered only minor 

damage from its May 11 launch 

at the Kennedy Space Center, the Space 

Shuttle Atlantis arrived at the Hubble 

Space Telescope May 13 to begin the 

high-risk task of repairing the 19-year-old 

orbiting observatory. 

Located approximately 350 miles above 

earth and in the middle of heavy space junk 

traffic, NASA's seven-person crew conducted 

five spacewalks to install two new instruments, 

thermal blankets, repair two existing 

instruments, refurbish subsystems and 

replace gyroscopes and batteries. The result 

will be six working, complementary science 

instruments with capabilities beyond what 

is now available, and an extended operational 

lifespan through at least 2013. This 

is planned to be the final shuttle flight to 

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. 

So what is the Hubble Telescope and why 

is it such a big deal? 

Sink or Swim 

Materials you will need: 

• A Bowl 

• Water 

• An Orange 

• A Friend 

Science Corner 

Steps: 

1. Fill the bowl with water. What 

happens to the orange? 

2. See if your friend can get 

the orange to sink. 

3. Take the orange and peel it. 

4. Place the peeled orange back in the 

bowl of water. What happens this time? 

The Hubble Space Telescope is a permanent 

space-based observatory. Located high 

above the Earth’s atmosphere, the Hubble 

is the most powerful telescope ever created. 

Hubble’s cameras, spectrographs, and guidance 

sensors produce amazing images of 

very distant astronomical objects. 

What has the Hubble Space Shuttle helped 

scientists to discover and understand? 

The Hubble Telescope has unlocked many 

secrete of the universe. The Hubble allows 

scientists to see the outer limits of our universe. 

Scientists have been able to see new 

galaxies and understand a bit about how 

planets, stars, and galaxies are created. The 

Hubble has helped to confirm the existence 

of Black Holes. Read about Hubble's Top 

Science Findings. 

FACTS & FIGURES 

• STS-125 is the 124th space shuttle flight 

• Among Hubble's greatest discoveries: 

determining the age of the universe 

(13.7 billion years) 

• The farthest objects Hubble has seen 

are galaxies more than 12 billion light 

years away. 

• Hubble can't observe the sun or 

Mercury, which is too close to the sun. 

How does the Hubble Space Telescope 

work? 

The Hubble Telescope is an example of a 

Cassegrain reflector telescope. Light enters 

the telescope and is reflected by a series of 

special mirrors. These mirrors reflect visible, 

infrared, and ultraviolet light. The instruments 

aboard the Hubble interprets the 

light to generate the images which scientists 

can study. A more extensive discussion on 

how the Hubble works can be found here. 

You can take a tour of the Hubble Space 

Telescope here. 

Where in the universe is the Hubble 

Telescope right now? 

The Hubble Telescope orbits the Earth 

traveling at a speed of five miles per second! 

One full trip around the Earth only takes 97 

minutes. In a single year, the Hubble Space 

Telescope will travel over 150 million miles. 

Last Weeks Results: 

Temperature Experiment 

So what happened when you put your experiment in the freezer? Did the 

water rise to the top? 

Water becomes a solid when it freezes. The water expands when it freezes 

and becomes less dense that the oil. This causes the water to rise to the top. 

Answer: 

The orange sinks because the orange peel if full of trapped air pockets, therefore 

making the orange light for its size (so it floats). When you remove the peel (including 

the air pockets) the orange weighs a lot for its size. Then it sinks because the 

orange is denser than the water.

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 23 

Weekly Horoscopes for May 21-27th 2009 

Aries March 21-April 19 

This week cars will not be a good means of transportation for you. If 

you can, avoid driving in your car this week. Use public transportation 

or walk whenever you can. If you do have to drive places this 

week be prepared for complications that might make you late. Be sure 

to watch your speed and always use your signals, or you might be 

faced with a ticket. 

Taurus April 20-May 20 

Recently your career hasn't been everything that you had hoped 

for. This is the perfect week to make changes that will help make 

you happy. Reevaluate the field you are working in, if your interests 

have changed you might want to make a big career change. If you 

like your job but just need a change, try for the promotion you have 

been wanting. 

Gemini May 21-June 21 

This is the perfect week for you to indulge. Whether you love to shop 

or you love to eat, let yourself go a little wild this week. Everyone 

needs a break from their self restraint, and to have a chance to fully 

enjoy themselves. So whenever it is spending an extra night out with 

friends, having a piece of triple layer chocolate cake, or buying that 

new Gucci handbag, just be sure to have fun this week. 

Cancer June 22-July 22 

You have been avoiding going to the doctor, but this week you need 

to take time for your regular checkups. If you always fear the worst, 

when going to the doctor, rest assured everything will work itself out. 

You just need to be aware of any complications, before they become 

bigger problems. 

Leo July 23-August 22 

Your relationships will flourish this week. You will see big improvements 

in both friendships and intimate relationships. This is the 

perfect week to stay home and get close to your loved one. If you are 

not in a relationship, this week is a great opportunity to get to know a 

lot of new people. Just remember, the closer you get to some people, 

the more you realize your not compatible. 

Virgo August 23-September 22 

Make sure you get credit for everything you do at work. Many times 

the great ideas you have, and all the hard work you do can be overlooked. 

This week you need to make sure you shine your brightest. 

In the next few weeks a lot of changes will be happening in your 

workplace, this week will be the deciding factor in if these changes are 

good or bad for you. 

Libra September 23-October 22 

You know something, either a big secret or just a feeling you have 

been having. This week you need to tell someone else this information. 

If you a keeping a secret make sure, this secret is not hurting 

anyone. If you have a gut feeling about something, tell someone else, 

you might be surprised to find they feel the same way. 

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 

Don't fight the feelings that you have been having. You feel the way 

you do for a reason, don't ignore it. If you need to let someone know 

how you feel about them, don't be afraid just let them know. If you 

have feelings about a situation you are in, use your feelings to carefully 

consider if you should change what you are doing. Listen to 

your heart. 

Sagittarius November 22-December 21 

You have been feeling lost and not knowing your place in the world. 

This week you will learn that you can be a rebel, really care about 

something and make a difference. You care about what's going on 

around you, use that as inspiration to start making big changes in 

your life and in the world. 

Capricorn December 22-January 19 

Enjoy your fantasies this week, they give you the perfect chance to enjoy 

yourself and escape reality for a little bit. So dream big this week. 

If you need extra inspiration, read some of your favorite books and 

watch your favorite movies. Imagining yourself as a fictional character, 

will let you release your inhibitions and go wild. 

Aquarius January 20-February 18 

Don't believe rumors that you hear this week. The people starting 

these rumors are just trying to get a reaction from you, and want 

to hurt you. If you buy into rumors, you can ruin relationships and 

cause distrust. You know in your heart who to believe, trust yourself. 

Pisces February 19-March 20 

You might feel like you have been going crazy, and that nobody understands 

you. This week spend time, with some special in a place you 

love. This will help you see all the answers, and help you feel more 

grounded. When you completely understand what you want, your 

needs will become more clear to everyone around you. 

JANRIC 

CLASSIC 

SUDOKU 

Fill in the blank cells using numbers 1 to 9. Each number can 

appear only once in each row, column and 3x3 block. Use logic 

and process of elimination to solve the puzzle. The difficulty level 

ranges from Bronze (easiest) to Silver to Gold (hardest). 

Rating: Silver 

Solution on page 27

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 25 

The Clique Girlz attend the grand opening of Italian Village & Pirates Island 

Waterpark 

Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC 

Peter Facinelli, Jennie Garth and Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals and Beaches 

Resorts 

Bethenny Frankel , Maria Menounos, Debi Mazar, Catherine Bell and Jenna Elfman attend the grand opening of Italian 

Village & Pirates Island Waterpark at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa 

Beaches Receives First 6 Diamond Award in the Caribbean 

from 

p4 

the Stewart family for not considering 

the short term gains, but looking into 

the future and extending the Beaches 

brand in such a magnificent way in the 

Turks and Caicos. 

Travel agencies from across the world got up one 

after the other to thank the Stewart family for their 

commitment in these challenging times and hard 

economic waters. The Turks and Caicos Premier Hon. 

Galmo Williams also thanked Mr. Stewart for the 

partnership they have continued to share over many 

years in the TCI. 

Mr. Stewart reminisced about his first trips to the 

Turks and Caicos in the early nineties, a time when 

only one flight a day at most came from Miami. The 

Turks and Caicos have come a long way since then 

and in great part due to the commitment of the 

Sandals, Beaches Resort. Today with it’s over 1,200 

employees, Beaches is the single largest private 

employer in the Turks and Caicos. With the addition 

of the new Italian Village, Beaches now boasts well 

over 600 hotel rooms and is proud to have not only 

the largest pool and largest Jacuzzi in the Caribbean, 

but also the biggest water park in the Caribbean. At 

maximum capacity, the Beaches resorts and Spas can 

entertain more than 1500 guests. 

The engagement of Sandals in the Turks and Caicos 

has added vitally to the country’s growth. This new 

expansion and addition of the Italian Village has 

extended the Sandals commitment and with strengthened 

a partnership for the continued effort to grow 

tourism and the economy on the islands. Jamaican 

Prime Minister Mr. Golding said it best, “We are experiencing 

the worst global turmoil in three generations, 

economies across the world are in retreat, business is 

on the decline and may ventures are slipping in these 

turbulent times; at this same time, Sandals is skipping 

and sliding. The resilience of the Sandals Company and 

their powerfully appealing product reflects the spirit of 

this enormous story of Beaches.”

26 Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 

Jobs 

Changing jobs should 

be a strategic decision 

In this day and age, remaining with one company 

for your whole working career is extremely rare. 

It does happen occasionally, but it is very much 

the exception. So, what are the things to consider 

before you make the leap to change companies or 

speak to your managers about moving within your 

current organization? 

Changing jobs needs to be a strategic decision 

rather than a knee-jerk response 

Remember that when employers consider candidates 

they tend to prefer candidates that have not 

jumped positions every few months. This is a sign of 

immaturity, unprofessional character and probably 

bad work ethic. This is the most important reason 

not to jump ship at the slightest problem. It is far better 

to try and see if whatever problems you are facing 

can be amicably resolved. 

Differentiating between small issues that can be 

resolved and big problems that cannot be solved by 

talking to the managers in your company is key. Too 

often people are afraid of what they consider to be 

confrontational and they do not talk to their supervisors 

about the things that are affecting them and 

causing them to lose interest or motivation in their 

work. Sometimes rational discussion can go a long 

way and put you back on track with your company 

and your career. Of course, this assumes reasonable 

employers which may not always be the case. If your 

employers are not reasonable then looking around 

discretely may be the only option. 

When considering a move, remember that the 

TCI is a small place. One way or another, everyone 

knows everyone, and professionally, there is a very 

small pool of people. Therefore it is more important 

than in places with more anonymity to always 

leave a company with the best possible relationship. 

Suddenly not turning up for work without advising 

or discussing your issues with management is 

one way of burning your bridges behind you. Other 

ways also include stealing, deleting files, yelling 

profanities at management, destroying company 

property or other such vicious actions that may 

feel like a good stress reliever but in the long term 

will do you a lot more harm than good. Can you 

imagine when you next go for interview what you 

will say when asked how you left your last job? 

Good luck explaining poisoning the boss’ parrot 

to them. Or worse still – being interviewed by an 

ex-colleague or a friend of a friend who knew what 

happened. Actually, it would be unlikely you would 

be interviewed. Bad news travels fast. 

The strategic decision of whether or not to move 

jobs needs to consider questions such as – can I 

achieve the career goals I want with this company? Is 

this the career for me? Is it time to take a break from 

work entirely? What are the prospects for building 

my career blocks outside of this company? Are 

the career prospects, pay & benefits good enough 

to make me stay in an environment that makes me 

unhappy 8 hours of each day? Each of these considerations 

speaks to very different issues – career 

planning, work/life balance, and a healthy working 

environment and each of these has different answers. 

Whatever your motivation for changing jobs, try 

to come to a reasonable agreement with your current 

employer. This is the best way of keeping your 

options open. Compromise if you have to on when 

your last day at work is, or whether you are paid the 

one day of holiday you are owed. In the long term, 

good relationships in the working community will 

be more useful. 

Dr Kellie-Ann Evans-Hall is Vice President of 

Human Resources at International Banking Group. 

She has a PHD in Continuing Education, a Masters 

in Training and Human Resource Development and a 

BA in English. For further information on tips for job 

applicants see www.ibgtci.com/jobs. 

Spotlight on Tourism: 

Training & 

Development 

Manager 

Dr Shelly-Ann Whitely has the kind of resume of experience 

and training certification that is usually reserved for 

individuals twice her age, serving as a reminder to all of the 

benefits of training. 

Starting her tenure as Assistant Training Manager at Beaches 

Resort and Spa in October 2004, Shelly-Ann was given the 

responsibility of helping the Training Manager with the numerous 

programs offered by the Beaches Training Department. 

Four years on and now as Head of Training and 

Development, Shelly-Ann provides a living example of the 

peerless training and edu- 

cation scheme offered by 

the resort, holding every 

certification available from 

child care to customer 

service, fire safety to first 

aid and many more. 

Shelly-Ann gained 

her Bachelor’s in Hotel 

and Tourism from 

Dr Shelly-Ann Whitely 

Fact Box 

Name Dr Shelly-Ann Whitely 

Home St Elizabeth, Jamaica 

Position Training and 

Development Manager 

Years at BTC 4 

the University of the West Indies, her Master’s in Human 

Resources from Nova Southeastern University and her 

Doctorate from Revans University and despite her long list of 

awards, finds the personal aspect of her role the most rewarding 

treating it as more of a social responsibility than a piece of 

paper. 

“At Beaches, we have numerous available for our team 

members and whether it be something as ‘straightforward’ as 

learning a new language all the way up to training on how 

to run a hotel property, they are all designed to develop the 

individual’s career prospects and themselves as people. Aside 

from the TCI Government, we are the largest employer on 

the island and the resort itself is deeply entrenched in the 

community of these islands so it’s only right that we offer that 

much more,” Shelly-Ann explained. 

“We don’t view our team members as ‘employees’, we see 

them as people and professionals. We offer as many training 

and development opportunities as possible as it empowers 

them and opens new doors in life and at work’, she added. 

Whether a Beaches team member wants to speak fluent 

Spanish or become a qualified fireman, one thing is for sure, 

they couldn’t get a better training manager than one who has 

every qualification in the book and the experience to match. 

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For job ads, classifieds, real estate ads and more 

Call (649) 941-5615 or email sales@tcfreepress.com

Free Press | May 21-27, 2009 27 

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The Premier's 'shuttle diplomacy' London; says - fp Turks and Caicos

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