JAGGER’S GIRLFRIEND FOUND DEAD, P. 34 EU, US Set Sanctions In Ukraine Crisis Page 24 VOL 23 NO. 255 Tuesday, March 18, 2014 PHILIPSBURG--Lawyers Jeroen Veen and Willem Nelissen of Lexwell Attorneys-at-Law successfully argued in a recent case that all European Union (EU) citizens, currently 28 nationalities, have to be treated no differently than Dutch citizens when applying for residency in St. Maarten. The Court of First Instance agreed. According to a press release from Lexwell Attorneys, the court handed down a landmark decision on Friday, March 14, in the Continued on page 7 PHILIPSBURG--Tax Inspectorate employees are fully capable of conducting the tax collections in the country. That was the stance of several Members of Parliament (MPs) during Monday’s continuation of the plenary session of Parliament on development of the inspectorate, particularly, problems between the manager and staff of the Audit and Criminal Investigation Department. Finance Minister Martin Hassink, answering questions posed by MPs in the first round of debate on March 10, said government has a service level agreement (SLA) for this year with the Tax Accountants Bureau BAB of Curaçao for a sum of NAf. 400,000. BAB personnel come to the country at various times during the year for tax controls. These visiting tax collectors do not receive any commission on the money they collect. National Alliance (NA) MP Louie Laveist said, “It is time for them [BAB – Ed.] to go…when NA wins the election is gone, they gone.” He was “offended” that a “platoon of people” are brought in from Curaçao to do work people in the country can do. Independent (former NA) MP Frans Richardson said, “Someone said we can’t do it,” and this was why BAB was given the job. He said he stood firmly behind the local people and their ability to carry out the work. Independent (former NA) MP Patrick Illidge said, “We can do it ourselves…it is time we give our people a chance.” The MP added that he will continue his fight for “people who look like me.” On the issues in the Audit and Criminal Department, Hassink said this was an internal matter and was being dealt with as such. Results of a quick scan of the department will be implemented. NA parliamentarian George Continued on page 9 IN BRIEF Philipsburg PENSION SYSTEM The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour says it is “searching vigorously” for incentives to cushion the effects of the ageing of the population and enhance the financial standing of the elderly. Page 3. MISSING FRENCHMAN The police are requesting public help in the case of a missing person. Page 4. Philipsburg ALLIANCE READY “Throw it down,” National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Louie Laveist said Monday night in response to United People’s (UP) party leader MP Theo Heyliger’s statement that he does not want elections during the hurricane season. Page 3. U.S. 0.75 CENTS / NAf. 1.50 / EC$ 1.75 A camera-phone captured the moment when a Dutchman was arrested outside Le Grand Marché on Bush Road on Monday. ~ After release in Curaçao ~ CAY HILL--A Dutchman was arrested outside Le Grand Marché on Bush Road on Monday on an extradition warrant issued by American authorities. R.G.K. is wanted in the United States for importing drugs, Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Tineke Kamps confirmed. He is in custody pending extradition. R.G.K. is the former bodyguard of Member of Parliament Romain Laville and a former police officer. He had been arrested in Curaçao previously on the same extradition warrant for exporting drugs from St. Maarten to the United States, after being named as a suspect of the crime, which was committed over 2012 and 2013, Solicitor-General Taco Stein confirmed. However, R.G.K. had appealed his extradition to the United States, leading to his immediate release on February 6. The Curaçao media reported that the case had thrown up a number of methods used by the police in the process of locating the suspects that were not according to Curaçao law and without knowledge of the authorities in Curaçao. The judges ruled that, as residents of Curaçao, suspects should be afforded protection against actions that are not permitted under Curaçao law. K. has a home address in St. Maarten. Stein said, “The St. Maarten authorities believe that a different interpretation could be given to the extradition request and, as a result, it was decided to arrest K.” Editorial 2 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Not so easy Member of the Inter American Press Association Published by The Caribbean Herald NV Bush Road 22 St. Maarten Dutch Caribbean P.O.Box 828 CoC # 6997.0 RBC Royal Bank St. Maarten USD acc. 8200000002129383 NAf acc. 8200000404075271 President R.F.Snow Managing Director Mary Jane Hellmund Publisher/ Managing Director Paul De Windt Editorial Gordon H. Snow (Managing Editor) Rajesh Chintaman (Night Editor) Margaret Brooks (Email Editor) Judy Fitzpatrick Alita Singh John van Kerkhof Michael Granger Thomas A. Burnett Jr. (Sports) John Halley (photos) Marie Brown (assis.) Correction Saresa Gray Sharon van Arneman Lesley Vieira Clive Hodge Phyllis Meit Doran Joseph Kathren Weeks Correspondents Suzanne Koelega (Neth.) Brenda Carty (Anguilla) Althea Merkman (Statia) Teodor Stan (Saba) Bob Morgan(Saba-photo) Robert Luckock (St. Martin) Lay-Out Richard James Rodolphe O. Boirard Stephen Morris Operations Manager/ Managing Director Steven De Windt Office Manager Mijke Stenz Rosalie Davis (assis.) Accounting Ada van Luling Mercedes De Windt Advertising Moira Marcelle (Chief) Stephanie Culbert Harmen Rijsdijk Cecilia Vazquez Saskia Van Leeuwen Latoya Philips (assis.) Graphics Mark Martelly Evadney Henriques Chanaz Calor Cleon Frederick Mark Persaud Special Editions Lisa Burnett Claudienne Peterson Lucinda Frye Reception Ethlyn Joubert CALLING THE DAILY HERALD ST. MAARTEN Telephone 542-5253/542-5597/ 542-0931/543-7236 FAX 542-5913 E-Mail: dherald@sintmaarten.net advertising@thedailyherald.com editorial@thedailyherald.com classifieds@thedailyherald.com ANGUILLA/264-497-3138 SABA 416-2381/416-2881(sales) 416-1191(edit) teodor_stan@yahoo.com STATIA 318-2401/318-2936/ fax 318-2136 WEATHER Today: Mostly sunny and breezy. Winds: East to Southeast, 8-17mph. Sea conditions: Light to moderate. Seas: 4-5 feet. Forecast high: 29°C 84°F Forecast low: 24°C 75°F SYNOPSIS: The Atlantic high-pressure ridge continues to support a relatively dry and stable atmosphere over the region. Expect moderate winds and no significant rainfall during this forecast period. Outlook until Wednesday evening: Fair to partly cloudy, with no significant precipitation. Sunrise: 6:18am. Sunset: 6:23pm. SMART PLAY SXM DAILY NUMBERS CURAÇAO 8829 7593 4646 27983 46822 93025 5123 6165 7790 Results displayed are provided as a service to readers of The Daily Herald and are QRWRI¿FLDO. Date March 18 March 18 March 18 March 18 March 18 Vessel Place Mein Schiff (2) Pier Aidaluna Pier Norwegian Getaway Pier Celebrity Eclipse Pier Independence of the Seas Pier ST. MAARTEN POLICE STATION Philipsburg tel. 542-2222 Simpson Bay tel. 545-5500 HOT LINE 108 EMERGENCY 911 FIRE DEPARTMENT Tel. 542-6001 or 919 HOSPITAL Medical Center, Cay Hill 24-hour Emergency Service tel. 543-1111 or 910 AMBULANCE Philipsburg tel. 542-2111 or 912 MEDICAL EMERGENCIES For medical emergencies after clinic hours, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 am and during weekends and holidays, all patients of hereunder mentioned family doctors can go to the emergency room of the St. Maarten Medical Center, tel.: 543-1111 (ext. 1): Dr. A. Arrindell, Dr. F. Bouman, Dr. F. Bus, Dr. H. Deketh, Dr. A. Herles, Dr. G. van Osch, Dr. G. Spencer, Dr. P. Arrindell, Dr. G. Bryson, Dr. J. Datema, Dr. G. Foeken, Dr. L. Knol, Dr. A. Raghosing and Dr. U. Tjaden. SXM Animal Welfare Foundation Ambulance Team 520-8887 CRIME STOPPERS ANYMOUS TIP LINE: 543-TIPS(8477) TELEPHONE INFO Tel-em: 542-2211 Arrival 6:00 6:30 6:45 7:00 7:30 Departure 19:00 18:00 18:00 17:00 18:00 Agent Maduro Maduro Maduro Maduro Maduro WEATHER INFO: 123 ST. MAARTEN TOURIST OFFICE Krippa building, Juancho Yrausquin blvd. #6, tel. +1 721-5490200, fax. +1 721-542-0664 ST MAARTEN ZOO Madame Estate: tel. 543-2030 Open daily 10 am - 6 pm. October-March 9 am - 5 pm. Admission: Adults: $10, kids $5. COLE BAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL: meeting 1st. Thursday of month at Sun Flower Kinder Garten School, Union Rd. Cole Bay at 7:30pm SERVICE CLUBS ROTARY ROTARY meeting at Divi Little Bay, every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m.(Tuscan Restaurant) Rotary Mid Isle meets every Tuesday 7-9 pm, Mary’s Boon, Simpson Bay. Rotary Sunrise meets every tuesday at 6:45 am. at Air Lekkerbek. Rotary club St. Martin Nord meet at the Grand Case Beach Club Sunday at 8 p.m. LIONS meeting at the Upper Princess Quarter Community Centre Lions Den in Sucker Garden every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. ST.MAARTEN LEO CLUB meeting at the Lions Den every 1st, 3rd Saturday every month at 11:00 am KIWANIS meets at Wifol Building on Thursday each month at 7.30pm. Kiwanis Key Club of the St. Maarten Academy meeting at the St. Maarten Academy every Friday at 1.30 p.m. UP leader Theo Heyliger has not made scheduling the upcoming elections any easier with his suggestion to hold them outside of the hurricane season (see Monday paper). Nevertheless, he prefers to stick to the current term in office for Parliament that ends on 10-10-14. Considering the latter, the vote should take place early September at the latest. Elections are normally on Friday, but in any case September 5, the 19th anniversary of category four Hurricane Luis and the widespread devastation it caused on the island in 1995, probably is not a favoured choice. As the Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1, going to the polls before that means by the end of May. Preparations then must start in April as the 45th edition of St. Maarten’s Carnival is being celebrated. Perhaps this is all still possible, but it seems a bit short notice. More practical probably would be to avoid only the traditional height of the hurricane season in August and September. However, the local schools used as polling stations are closed during July and the teachers who help man them are on holiday. Many voters also tend to use the summer vacation to go abroad, which could lead to an undesirably low turnout. On the other hand, June may not be ideal either, because of the crucial exams and tests at the end of the academic year. Interrupting the education of the local youth at that time even just for one day is hardly an attractive option. So, deviating from what would be the expected date at the end of August or beginning of September might not be as easy as it sounds. At this point, any such change will have to be arranged sooner rather than later. Agenda St. Maarten / St. Martin KIWANIS SOUALIGA 1st & 3rd Monday 7:00pm Holland House JCI St. Maarten (JAYCEES) meeting at the Philipsburg Jubilee Library every last Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Business attire required. PHILIPSBURG TOASTMASTERS CLUB bimonthly sessions every first and third Thursday of every month at the Library conference room at 8:00 p.m. ST MARTIN MUSEUM Frontstreet 7, Philipsburg, tel 542-4917 Opening hours from March 1st: Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday & Sundays: closed. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Mon-Sun, 6-7pm, Red Cross Building, Airport Road. Saturday and Sunday at Mullet Bay beach next to restaurant 8.30-9:30am. Tel. 581-1875 / 544-3203 St. Maarten AIDS Foundation 55 Welfare road tel +5532626/ +5884636 www.sxmaidsfoundation.org ; Facebook: sxmaidsfoundation NATURE FOUNDATION ST. MAARTEN Tel. 544-4267, Fax. 544-4268.Email: info@ naturefoundationsxm.org ANIMALS R. FRIENDS ! "! Email: arf_sxm@yahoo.com, www.arfsxm.org PHILIPSBURG JUBILEE LIBRARY Ch.E.W.Vogestr. 12, Tel. 542-2970. Open: Mo: closed, Tu/We: 9-12.30 / 2-8, Th: 2-8, Fr: 9-12.30 / 2-5, Sa: 10-1. WOMEN’S DESK, Frontstreet 141 (opposite Tel-Cell). Monday - Friday 9am-5pm. Tel: 542- 7940, Fax: 542-7941. E-mail: womensdesk@sintmaarten.net SAFE HAVEN, providing shelter and support to victims of family violence. POB 636; Hotline: 9333; Office 9277; Fax: 9368 CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, E.C. Richardson street 11-b; Tel. 542-1000/542-1008; Fax: 542-1001 FRENCH HONORARY CONSUL, POBox 803, Philipsburg. Tel: (00590) 879989. Fax: (00590) 879625. E-mail: Stanislas.GRAIRE@ wanadoo.fr COAST GUARD NA&A, (24 HRS): 113 LEGAL AID CENTER, Law Clinic, open every Saturday 9:00am - 12.00 noon. Free advise on personal legal issues. Administration Building, tel. 5422337 THE RED CROSS, ST. MAARTEN, Airport Road, #34 Simpson Bay, Tel. 545-2333/2304, Fax. 545-5263. Cell. 586-5330 (24/7) Email: info@redcross-sxm.org SALVATION ARMY Union Rd 59 Cole Bay POBox5184 Tel/fax:5445424 (721)544-5424 / 5534682 email: jona_augusto@hotmail.com Facebook: SXM Salvation Army ST.MAARTEN CHAPTER OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN holds their general monthly meetings every third Monday at the Delta Hotel at 7:00 pm. DIABETES FOUNDATION OF ST. MAARTEN, Free blood-glucose testing every Thursday from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at the Philipsburg Pharmacy Voges street, Philipsburg (opposite library). Tel.: 542-3001 USO St. Maarten/St. Martin (USA military), contact Janet Lambert 5577616 or 00590 590 294406. SKALCLUB ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN meets 1st Tuesday of the month. For location call: 5424432 (Jennifer). ST. MARTIN POLICE MUNICIPALE tel. (00590) 590 87.61.55 GENDARMERIE tel. (00590) 590 52.30.00/02 FIRE DEPARTMENT tel. (00590) 590 52.30.40 AMBULANCE Tel. (00590) 590 52-00-52 Cell. (00590) 690 57-13-28 Fax. (00590) 590 29-08-11 HOSPITAL tel. (00590) 590 52 25 25 DISPENSAIRE Marigot 8 a.m. - 3p.m. tel. (00590) 590 87.50.93 DISPENSAIRE Orléans 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. tel. (00590) 590 87.37.21 C.R.O.S.S. (Center, Research, Organization, Rescue, Security) is on stand by 24 hours at 0596 709292. SERVICE CLUBS ROTARY Club Sunset restaurant, Grand Case Beach Club every Thursday at 7:45p.m. LIONS First and third Tuesday at Nadaillac, Marigot at 7.30 p.m. KIWANIS: See St. Maarten. MUSEUM ST. MARTIN located Fichot Street nr 7 (behind the Catholic Church) Open from 9am to 1pm, and from 3pm to 5pm tel. (00590)590 56.78.92. Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Potholes have rendered this stretch of road in Cay Bay (Daily Extra intersection) unusable. Water has consistently eroded the foundation of the road for quite some time. Motorists who are familiar with the problem often swerve onto the other lane to avoid having to navigate their vehicles around the holes. Other unsuspecting motorists have blown out tires in these holes. PHILIPSBURG--“Throw it down,” National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament Louie Laveist said Monday night in response to United People’s (UP) party Leader MP Theo Heyliger’s statement that he does not want elections during the hurricane season. Laveist told the press Heyliger’s statement is “a blatant attempt” to blind the people with “smoke and mirrors politics.” If Heyliger insists on “tumbling down” PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten/St. Martin (www.vacationstmaarten.com) has been named in the Top 10 Most Popular Destinations Worldwide in 2013 among American travellers, according to Fodor’s Travel. St. Maarten/St. Martin is the only Caribbean island to appear in the top 10 on the Fodor’s list. Of the 7,500 destinations Fodors.com covers around the world, the leading travel publisher identified the top 50 worldwide travel locales in 2013 based on destination-guide page views from natural searches by American visitors to Fodors.com, which receives more than 4.5 million unique visitors each month. The destination was named the seventh most popular worldwide destination in 2013, keeping company in the Top 10 with such alluring destinations as Paris, New York City and Maui, HI. “We are honoured to be featured among the top destinations worldwide by Fodor’s Travel as the tribute reflects the satisfaction that visitors have felt from their trips to our island,” said Edward Dest, interim director of tourism for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. St. Maarten is also the only Caribbean island with more than one establishment ranked on TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Favorite Fine Dining Restaurants - Caribbean 2013 list, defining the destination as a stand-out culinary experience for visitors and reinforcing its reputation as the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com. the current UP/Democratic Party/Laville coalition after the UP party congress on Sunday, he should do so, because NA is “ready to govern and represent the people.” Laveist called Heyliger’s latest statements as his “second attempt” to topple the current coalition; the first being the UP leader’s statement about not wanting any agreement on the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten. “You have the majority … throw it down. Don’t use hurricane as an excuse.” The NA parliamentarian said, “For a man with over 2,500 votes, he is not representing the people.” Heyliger has “not said a word” about the people who have lost their jobs from the downsizing of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the doubling up of social insurance SZV premiums, and the increase in cost of living augmented by the construction of the Simpson Bay Lagoon Causeway. “This is misrepresentation of the votes he got.” Heyliger’s “main thought and focus are on elections,” while the focus of NA is on “the interest of the people.” 3 P H I L I P S B U R G - -T h e Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour says it is “searching vigorously” for incentives to cushion the effects of the ageing of the population of St. Maarten as well as enhancing the financial standing of the elderly. The Ministry has commissioned a feasibility study on strengthening the second and third layer pensions in the country. The goal is to determine the (social-economic) feasibility of a mandatory pension layer for St. Maarten. The feasibility study will be carried out by Buck Consultant N.V. This consultancy is based in the Dutch Caribbean with the relevant Actuary, Risk Management and Research expertise, as well as extensive knowledge of the current pension system. The scope of the work will be carried out over the coming months and will cover contacting internal as well as external stakeholders. The effects of the ageing of the population and the problems that accompany such are already emerging and the social-economic implications are major, as it is evident that the support for the elderly cannot be solely based on the current state pension AOV or on the financial assistance provided by Government, it was stated in a press release. Ageing of the population will eventually exhaust the formerly mentioned resources if it is not managed responsibly. By increasing the AOV and indexing the financial assistance there will be some relief in the near future. “It is important for us to guarantee a comfortable life for our retirees, and most importantly to make sure our resources are strong for those that reach pensionable age,” said Minister of Public Health Social Development and Labour Cornelius de Weever. “The feasibility study will further guide us on the implementation and the way forward regarding our pension system.” According to the release issued by the cabinet of the minister, it said countries around the world are experiencing a dramatic increase in life expectancy. People are living longer and ageing of the population comes about as longevity persists. This ageing causes a shift in the structure of a population and as a result adjustments are needed that will cushion the effects of this shift. Implications will arise in key areas such as social security, healthcare and welfare, etc. St. Maarten is no exception to this trend it was stated in the release. PHILIPSBURG--Management of GEBE has said it is deeply saddened by the passing of former Managing Director and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors Julius Lambert, who passed away on March 15, 2014. He was 67 years old. “Our hearts go out to his wife, his children and his family during this tragic time,” a release from GEBE read. “Mr. Lambert’s passion and energy left an indelible mark on NV GEBE. The president of the managing board, supervisory board of directors, executive management team and employ- ees are strongly committed to carrying on Mr. Lambert’s vision of continued success for the company, and to fully embrace Mr. Lambert’s energy, enthusiasm and dedication.” President of the managing board Romelio Maduro stated that Lambert was a true leader and had the wellbeing of GEBE close to his heart. “His name and legacy will live on forever within our company. His focus and his dedication towards this company should encourage us that we should strive for excellence in all that we do,” the release concluded. 4 Islands Steve Machy has not been seen since running off on Saturday. SIMPSON BAY--The police are requesting public help in the case of a missing person. Frenchman Steve Gerard Raynald Machy, born in France on November 27, 1987, arrived at the airport in Grand Case at 5:00pm on Friday, March 14, according to a police press release. Machy had been through a relationship breakdown in France and had just become the father of a daughter. Machy came to St. Maarten to visit and stay with friends on Simpson Bay Road. He MARIGOT--French side marine trades association Métimer is inviting all charter boat operators, for sail yachts or motorboats, to an important meeting on Tuesday, March 18, at 6:00pm at the Métimer offices in Marigot. This meeting is in advance of the meeting to be held in the Préfecture on Wednes- day, March 19, with representatives from Maritime Affairs on the subject of new legislation regarding Navires d’Utilisation Commerciale (NUC). Attendees on Tuesday are invited to give their input on this legislation. The meeting will include a presentation of the decree 84-810 of August 30, 1984, division 241, THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 was found by his friends on Simpson Bay beach around 4:00pm Saturday, March 15. He had severe sunburns and stated that he had fallen asleep in the sun. He was taken home to be taken care of. His friends had made plans to go out for dinner and have some drinks with him around 8:00 that evening. When they were all ready to leave, Machy jumped out of the window of the car and took off running. He has not been seen or returned home since then. Steve Machy has no documents or money with him and speaks only French. Anyone who may have seen or knows the whereabouts of Steve Machy should contact the police by calling 911. Steve Machy is the second young man who has gone missing under strange circumstances in the last few months. Manoel Maragnes of Guadeloupe went missing just before Christmas and has not been seen since. Both these young men have families who want to know where their relatives are. Anyone who can help is requested to call the police. and the letter of introduction from Maritime Affairs for the meeting. The Métimer offices are in the Centre Hotel, passage Louisiana, next to driving school Munier and in front of hairdresser Fashion Style. More information can be obtained from President of Métimer, Bülent Gülay Tel. (0690) 37.81.81. A woman who was seriously injured in a traffic accident near the entrance road to Divi Little Bay Resort was taken to the hospital with a suspected broken leg. PHILIPSBURG--Another person has been seriously injured in a traffic accident near the entrance road that leads to Divi Little Bay Resort. A vehicle attempted to overtake a jeep on Little Bay Road, but the driver hadn’t noticed that the jeep was in the process of turning left into the resort entrance. The jeep collided with the car, which moved to the left and crashed into a woman pedestrian who was walking nearby, as well as into some cars parked nearby. The pedestrian ended up underneath the parked cars as a result of the force of the collision. The woman is believed to have broken her leg, and may have further injuries. The parked car had to be jacked up to remove her from underneath. The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics, and was taken to St. Maarten This vehicle overtook the jeep that was in the process of turning left, and subsequently hit the pedestrian. Medical Center (SMMC) accident to take place at for further treatment. this location in the last few The accident is the third months, with a fatal accident and another injury accident having taken place since November last year. People using the road have asked the question of when measures will be taken to Body Piercing, make the location a safer Tunnel Earrings place for road users. Leather Bracelets and much more... Just Arrived The date of the Calypso Barbara/Calypso Eliminations as reported yesterday was incorrect. The date of the show will be Saturday, April 5. The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) apologises for the error. Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Minister Maurice Lake (fourth from right) doing a walk-through in Nazareth along with residents and officials from Ministry VROMI. PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Maurice Lake was invited by residents of Nazareth Road, Dutch Quarter, to discuss issues of concern within their neighbourhood. The residents pointed out their main concerns, which were the upgrading of Nazareth Road (main), Christopher Maccow, Monrovia Road, Amsterdam Road, John Philips Road and Felix Marlin roads, better street lighting in the neighbourhood and a better structure where it concerns the pickup of garbage in the area by the designated waste hauler. This week, milled asphalt will be applied to the three streets that were of a concern to residents. “I have instructed my ministry to draft a plan of action. In my back-to-basics approach, and the people have come to know this over the past nine months, I meet with the people or community council to hear their issues of concern and, from there, I have my ministry draft a plan of action. After that, you start addressing the concerns of the people,” the minister said. “My ministry will also follow-up with NV GEBE with respect to the concerns of lack of proper street lights. When you have this type of thing, people fear for their safety, and we all, as stakeholders, have a responsibility to create a safe environment for our people, leading to a better quality of life for all,” Lake said on Monday. Staff from Ministry VROMI was also present for the meeting. PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Vice President Stuart Johnson has tendered his resignation from the Democratic Party (DP) with immediate effect as vice president and party member, citing as his reason DP’s “lack of cohesion” and the practice of a “top down leadership approach with no regard for the general membership. Johnson is a former candidate, DP youth wing president and one of the founding members of the Chapter for Professional Young People (CPYP). After several discussions with his family, friends and his support team, Johnson has decided not be a candidate on any party slate in the upcoming general elections. Johnson thanked the DP leadership, board, members and supporters for embracing him and for seeing him once again as candidate material with the quality it seeks. DP President Michael Ferrier, reacting to Johnson’s announcement, said Johnson was asked to sign documents necessary for the party to be registered in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and he declined to do so. This led to Johnson being asked by the president to cooperate or resign. Johnson opted to resign. The party is willing to welcome Johnson back if he so wishes, Ferrier said, Johnson, strong supporter of DP and an active member since age 14, wrote in his letter to DP long-time leader, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams that the main reason for distancing himself from the party is that DP has “failed to embrace its candidates who undoubtedly can positively contribute to our country.” Johnson is confident his former party leader Wescot-Williams understands first-hand the need for change, after all she did leave the PDP to join DP some twenty years ago. “Politically, our paths will cross again as our country needs leaders who can make nonpartisan decisions for the betterment of our young country,” he said. St. Maarten as a young country “desperately needs” more strong community oriented people who can continue to con- 5 tribute genuinely without having to seek political office, said Johnson. “Evaluating the past four years of country, I have closely observed the progress and lack thereof in some cases. There is more work to be done. Our education system, quality health care, affordable housing for our people and our road network should be the focus of the upcoming governing term.” PHILIPSBURG--All bands and troupes taking part in Carnival 2014 are invited to a meeting on Tuesday night, March 18. The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) urges all bands and troupes to make a serious effort to attend this meeting to obtain vital information. The meeting for the troupes will be at 7:00pm, followed by one for the bands at 8:00pm. The meeting will take place at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg. 6 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 PHILIPSBURG-- The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise held its second induction for the term 20132014 during the Rotaract Week celebration on Friday, March 14, at Carl and Sons Café on the Pondfill. Some 5 new members were welcomed into the Rotaract family. The new members joining the club are Kimberley Duzong, Lerissa Rey, Shudeska Leonard, Katherine Richardson and Nicole Peters. President Norissa Anatol congratulated the 5 new members and encouraged them to be the best they can be and remember to put service above self in anything you think, say or do. The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten is a service club where four types of activities take place in varying degrees: professional development, leadership development, service projects and social activities. Together, these four areas ensure a balanced programme and provide important experience and opportunities for the personal development of each Rotaractor. The Club encourages people between the ages 18 and 30 to become a member of the organisation and give back to the community. The Rotaract Club of St. Maarten Sunrise meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 7:00pm at the Holland House Conference Room. The club’s next general meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, and young people are invited to attend. For more information about the club you can visit the Facebook page: “RotaractSunrise St Maarten” or send an email to otaractclubsunrise@hotmail.com. This ditch on Sucker Garden Road, in front of Petelco Building, is “a good example” of a place where the mosquitos that spread chikungunya and dengue virus, breed, said a concerned resident in an e-mail accompanying the photos he submitted to this newspaper. Government and other community organisations have urged residents and businesses to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas to safeguard themselves as well as visitors. Some people have been taking the calls seriously while others have not. Islands EU citizens admitted case of a Slovakian plaintiff against the Minister of Justice. The Court agreed with Veen and Nelissen that, based on European legislation as well as the DutchAmerican Friendship Treaty, all European citizens should be admitted by law to reside in St. Maarten, in the exact same way as European Dutch citizens are. The judge held: “From the treaties cited by the plaintiff, it is unmistakably clear that, in St. Maarten, the principle of non-discrimination applies to nationals of all EU Member States, including Slovakia, when compared to Dutch citizens, and that no less favourable treatment than that of third-country nationals, including Americans, is the norm.” Nelissen told this newspaper late last night that the principle of non-discrimination had been laid down in a decision of the European Commission in 2001 and expanded on in a later decision that became effective as of January this year. These decisions became applicable to Sint Maarten as well due to its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) status with the European Union. Nelissen stressed that, like Dutch nationals, European Union citizens wishing to reside here still will need to submit proof of ability to maintain themselves financially, as well as their police clearance (proof of good conduct). He also noted that under the principle of non-discrimination mentioned above, Sint Maarten 7 Continued from page 1. citizens also are free to seek residence in any of the 28 European Union states. According to Veen and Nelissen, this decision will have far-reaching consequences for St. Maarten’s immigration policy. Similarly, the immigration policies of the other former Netherlands Antilles islands Curaçao and Aruba could be affected. Their respective Immigration Ordinances are similar to that of St. Maarten and they too have OCT status with the European Union. Nelissen said that as far as he knew there had not yet been a similar case filed in the courts of either Aruba or Curaçao. However, he and Veen expect the Sint Maarten government to appeal the verdict. If that happens, the case will be dealt with in the Joint Court where another victory for the plaintiff would set a direct precedent for Curaçao and Aruba as well. SIMPSON BAY--Although it has more than 200 stores around the world, most of them in Europe, Blanc du Nil, which opened its first airport store at SXM in 2012, moved into a bigger unit at SXM Airport on Monday, March 17. The company had participated in the new commercial strategy of the airport and the unit it opened on Monday is a result of it winning the bid for that landside location. “We’re happy to launch our new store at the airport. It is the first store we have at an airport, so it’s a new challenge,” said Managing Director Gilles de Sola, who has been in St. Maarten for 16 years. Blanc du Nil also has stores in Philipsburg and Maho. “We’re planning to target all the airports,” De Sola continued, adding that there are extensive plans to expand primarily in the US. “St. Maarten is important for the Blanc du Nil headquarters because we’re going to use the experience at the Princess Juliana International Airport when we open at other airports.” Blanc du Nil specialises in white cotton clothing for men, women and children. “All of them are timeless and easy to maintain,” according to De Sola. “Nicer things are coming,” he revealed, as the store moves from the airside to the much larger unit downstairs. “We’re happy that Blanc du Nil has made SXM the first airport where this wellknown brand would operate,” said SXM Airport Managing Director Regina LaBega. “We wish them the best of luck as we continue to partner for a win-win situation for all.” 8 THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk is being called to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament to provide information about the input of the Dutch government at the upcoming Kingdom Conference in Aruba. The Second Chamber has scheduled a general debate with the minister on Tuesday, March 25. The sole agenda of the two-hour meeting is the input of the Dutch government at the Kingdom Conference in Aruba on April 2. Member of Parliament Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA requested to have a debate with Minister Plasterk. Plasterk will represent the Dutch government at the conference, along with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK. The Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations has asked the minister to send a letter to Parliament prior to the debate to explain the input of the Dutch government at the conference. Islands Van Laar pointed out that it was common practice in other Parliament committees to speak with the concerned minister before his/ her visit abroad. The Daily Herald reported last week that economic cooperation between the countries of the Kingdom and children’s rights in the Dutch Caribbean are expected to head the agenda of the conference in which all Kingdom partners will participate. The issue of children’s rights is of paramount importance to Van Laar. He would like to see the countries at the conference take the first steps to draft a children’s rights plan for the Kingdom, have the countries bundle their efforts in this area and create projects that would benefit children and improve their situation on the islands. Last year’s report of the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF Netherlands on the rights of children in the Dutch Caribbean requires a serious follow-up, according to Van Laar. He wants a clear commitment from Minister Plasterk. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 “We need a real follow-up, not empty steps,” he told The Daily Herald. The UNICEF report concluded that children’s rights were being violated in the Dutch Caribbean. A number of countries in the Kingdom consider children’s rights an important topic, while others are a bit slower in their response to the UNICEF report and the need to improve children’s rights. “We hope that all countries will join in this effort,” said Van Laar, who has brought up the issue of children’s rights several times since November last year. Van Laar also mentioned this point at the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom in Curaçao in January this year. Heading the St. Maarten delegation will be VicePrime Minister and Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson. Curaçao Prime Minister Ivar Asjes will lead the Curaçao delegation while the host of the conference, Mike Eman, will head the Aruba delegation. More vehicles were towed away during police road checks yesterday morning. PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Police Force started to conduct road checks on Wednesday, March 12, on drivers of motor vehicles who had not paid their road tax for the year 2014. These road checks were held both during the day and also at night, at different locations in St. Maarten. As of Wednesday, March 12, until Sunday, March 16, a total of 152 motor vehicles were towed and a total of 217 fines were given to drivers who were driving their vehicle on the public road without having paid their road tax. These traffic checks will continue and the numbers of vehicles towed and fines given are likely to increase. Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 PHILIPSBURG--The plenary session of Parliament to approve the revised Rules of Order was suspended Monday night due to a lack of quorum. Only seven Members of Parliament were present in the General Assembly Hall of Parliament House at the time of the roll call. At least eight of the 15 MPs are needed for a plenary session to continue. United People’s (UP) MP Jules James asked for the roll call while National Alliance (NA) MP Louie Laveist was speaking. James left the hall after requesting the roll call. With his departure, only NA parliamentarians Laveist, William Marlin, George Pantophlet, and Hyacinth Richardson, former NA independent MPs Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Frans Richardson and President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell (UP) [were left, Ed]. The meeting will have to PHILIPSBURG--President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell says she had upheld the rules of Parliament and applied them according to the Rules of Order. Alluding to the urgent meeting of Parliament called by the National Alliance (NA) fraction in parliament in a letter dated February 25, based on article 27, paragraph one and three of the Rules of Order, a meeting has to be held within 14 days. Arrindell said convocation was sent out to all members on February 27 for the meeting about the Princess Juliana International Airport to be held on March 7, at 10.00am, which is within the 14 day period. “On March 7, at 10:30am, due to a lack of quorum, the Chair opened the gathering and had the names of the members called off to ascertain that the number of members required to be present for deliberations and decision making was not complete,” she said. “Based on article 29, paragraph two, of the Rules of Order, in such a case the meeting should be called again within four times 24 hours.” “On March 10, the Members of Parliament were notified by letter that this meeting will take place on March 25, at 2:00pm, which is again well within the four times 24 hours period as stipulated by article 29, paragraph two, of the Rules of Order. I would like to let the people know that article 29, paragraph two, of the Rules of Order only stipulates that the meeting should be called within four time 24 hours,” she added. “This article does not make mention that the meeting should also be held within four times 24 hours, and therefore I, as the chairlady of Parliament, acted in full accordance with the Rules of Order of the House.” She said the constitution and democracy “is well and alive” in St. Maarten. Locals to do tax collection Continued from page 1. Pantophlet, as did other MPs, requested copies of the quick scan. He asked for attention to be paid to further training employees. The merging of the Tax Inspectorate and Receiver’s Office is still being worked on by the ministry. This still-to-be-completed project did not sit well with MPs who see the need to merge the operations to better the quality of service to the public. Dealing with outstanding casino controller’s fees, which total several million guilders, Minister Hassink informed MPs that the court has ruled that these fees cannot be collected using the regular tax collection regulations. Collection must be done based on procedures laid out in the civil code, a much lengthier process. An amendment to the tax legislation is in the offing to allow for these fees to be collected through the regular tax payment channels. Meanwhile, Laveist said he would also seek a change to the tax legislation to regulate the taxing of people who receive lump sum payments such as severance pay. He wants them to face fewer taxes. be reconvened in the coming days. The debate on the revised rules started out with Marlin objecting to Arrindell calling on Dr. Lloyd Richardson to give an outline of the draft changes to the rules. Marlin said it was a plenary session, not a central committee meeting, so the speaker’s list must be adhered to by Arrindell. Laveist seconded Marlin’s point. Prior to that, Democratic Party (DP) MP Leroy de Weever had asked Arrindell to call a recess, but that was not granted. The meeting continued with Marlin making his statements about the pending changes. He said making revisions would be for nothing, because several of the current rules are not followed by Arrindell. He pointed out that the rules call for MPs to see the budget of parliament, but this has never been shared with MPs outside of the presidium. Also, the rules of the scheduling of urgent meetings are not faithfully followed. Laveist, before he was interrupted by the roll call and the suspension of the meeting, repeated some of his concerns raised in the central committee meeting on the revisions earlier this month. Following the suspension of the meeting, he said UP has “no regard for democracy and best practices.” 9 United People’s (UP) party representatives visited the Civil Law Notary Office of Francis Gijsbertha where the articles of incorporation of the UP party as an association were signed off in the presence of Civil Law Notary M.F. Mingo, allowing the party to comply with the new electoral law of the country. The 2014 elections will be under a new set of rules that political parties will have to meet. From left are UP representatives Joe Richardson, Brenda Meyers-Wathey, Mingo, Franklin Meyers, UP leader Theodore Heyliger and Al Wathey. PHILIPSBURG--Lenovo and its local partner, Antek IT Solutions, organised a Lenovo Technology briefing at Divi Little Bay Resort on Thursday, March 13. Information technology professionals from businesses in St. Maarten and (semi)government organisations were invited. Lenovo is a computer manufacturer. Tech Data, one of the biggest Lenovo products exporters in the United States, was represented at the session. The event was opened by Antek Managing Director Leo Ligthart. Lenovo Ambassador Rodney Holder said while being number one is nice, the bigger achievement is the quality of the products. He said business lines ThinkCentre, ThinkPad, ThinkStation and ThinkServer are high-quality products with failure rates that are much lower than the competitions’ products. Innovation is very important at Lenovo and products are continuously improved. A good example is the new model computer “ThinkCentre Tiny” – a computer with the same power as a regular desktop, but in a very small housing – the size of a cigar box. This model has rapidly become the biggest selling Lenovo computer. Lenovo is also looking at other and new markets. Two years ago, Lenovo purchased EMC Iomega and is now developing that product into a world-class backup solution. More recently, the Motorola mobile division was purchased, and soon, Lenovo will enter the mobile phone/ devices market in the Americas region. And very recently, the acquisition of IBM’s X-series server division was announced. At the end of the event, two Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 units were raffled among the attendees. Lenovo business model products can be purchased through Antek, the Lenovo business partner and warranty provider for St. Maarten and surrounding islands. The consumer products can be purchased through Antek and other vendors on the island. Also in attendance was Lenovo Manager for Central America and the Caribbean Territory Domingo Alonso. 10 PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) Member of Parliament (MP) Leroy de Weever says his party plans to call all governmentowned companies, starting next week, to give an account of their financial statement and general position. The MP called on other Islands parliamentarians to job DP in its call to bring the government-owned companies into Parliament to be questioned. He said a request for the meeting will be submitted to Parliament this week. De Weever, speaking in Monday afternoon’s plenary session of Parliament about issues at the Tax Inspector- PHILIPSBURG--In an effort to improve compliance by government bodies with investigations by the Bureau, the Ombudsman met with the Minister of Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecom TEZVT on Friday, March 14. Parties discussed issues arising from the complaints filed against the Ministry and other pertinent matters of concern. The Ombudsman requested to be enlightened on, in particular the license procedures and the inspections of noise pollution that are carried out by the Ministry and the collaboration with the Police department on this matter. Noise pollution was also discussed in a meeting with the Police department and the Ombudsman on March 12, 2014. The Ombudsman stressed the importance of transparency, citizens being updated on the status of requests filed with Government and the public being properly informed on the various processes via flyers and information brochures. The Minister explained that his ministry is presently reviewing all policies and where there were no policies, the ministry is busy drafting policies in order to make the process transparent and less bureaucratic. Other challenges such as understaffing within the ministry are also being addressed. The Ombudsman said although she recognises the challenges, there were certain areas that can be improved immediately without any policy or new procedures being required such as updating the clients on the status of their requests and giving proper service. The meeting was fruitful. Specific agreements were made and deadlines set for follow up and submitting of documents by the Ministry to the Ombudsman, it was stated in a press release by the Bureau. Ombudsman also held discussions with the Police management on March 12 regarding internal complaint procedures to be instituted by the Police and other matters regarding filing a statement at the station by citizens. The meeting was held on invitation of the police. AANKONDIGING THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 ate, said the governmentowned companies are operating like “governments within themselves.” Those companies that are refusing to pay dividends are shorting government’s coffers. Government is “getting a shakedown” from the companies and government, to fill its revenue gaps, shakes down the small taxpayers, he said. The MP called the government-owned companies “job centres” for the country, but questioned who was benefiting from these centres. Finance Minister Martin Hassink has “no control” over the way governmentowned companies are run or over the investments that they make. He believes that all ministers should be jointly responsible for decisions related to government-owned companies and that all decisions should be co-signed by the prime minister. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams (DP) had announced to the press on February 26 that government-owned companies must now seek the permission of government as its shareholder before proceeding with any sale, transfer or reduction of the number of its company shares, giving out shares, changing the statutes of the company, or liquidating or merging the company. The shareholder’s approval is also needed, according to Wescot-Williams, for a government-owned company’s dividend policy, multi-annual investment plan, yearly budget and the appointment of managing directors. The new requirements are part of the national decree, approved in October 2013, which outlines the appointment of ministers as shareholder’s representatives. The Daily Herald publisher Paul De Windt (front row, second from right) was one of the invited speakers during a seminar on “Law and Media” at Landhuis Bloemhof in Curaçao last Friday. It regarded the 30-year anniversary of the Antillean association of jurists AVJ (photo courtesy Antilliaans Dagblad). PHILIPSBURG--The office of the Representative of the Netherlands in St. Maarten can no longer be missed. Besides the Dutch flag, the office on Front Street is also beautified with banners stating “Europese verkiezingen.” The elections for the European Parliament will take place on May 22. The Representation wants to draw attention to the elections and the fact that citizens of St. Maarten have the right to vote. The office encourages Dutch residents of St. Maarten who are over the age of 18 to register at the Dutch Representation office to vote. Those who want to vote in St. Maarten can do so by registering at the Office of the Representation at Front Street 26, before April 10. The registration forms are available at the office, but can also be downloaded at www.stemmenvanuithetbuitenland.nl . As soon as the voting forms are available, the Representation will invite by e-mail those who have The European election banner outside the office of the Representative of the Netherlands in St. Maarten. registered to pick up the forms or have them sent to their home address. People can fill in their voting form and deliver it in a sealed envelope to the Representation’s office by May 22 at 3:00pm. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 CUL DE SAC--The Chuchubi Foundation celebrated Aruba Day on Sunday, March 16, with the annual motorcade and award ceremony at the Emilio Wilson Park. This year’s celebration was not as elaborate as customary as the foundation had concentrated its efforts on Aruba’s 60th Carnival. Two people were honoured this year for their contribution to the St. Maarten society: Patricia Pantophlet, for her contribution to unionism, not only in St. Maarten, but also to the Caribbean; and Felecito Arrindell, for his contribution to Carnival and his contribution to sports in the form of Taekwondo classes. Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah WescotWilliams expressed her congratulations to all Arubans living in Aruba, St. Maarten and elsewhere, and wished them a very happy and joyous Aruba Flag and Hymn Day 2014. “I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone from Aruba, and with Aruba roots or Aruba connections, a very happy ‘Dia di Himno y Bandera 2014.’ Aside from the fact that we Islands Cu9ab: Patricia Pantophlet (left) and Felecito Arrindell were honoured for their contributions to St. Maarten society. are all connected through at the Caribbean Blend on The celebration contin- (“Aruba Blend of Voices our common history, St. Boardwalk Boulevard, with ues at 8:00pm on Saturday, and After Party”). The enMaarten and Aruba have the Control Band, will be March 22, with the show trance fee is US $10, with always enjoyed a special re- from 7:00pm until 12:00am and dance at the Rock entertainment by Control lationship between our two on March 18. Café at Port de Plaisance Band. countries. “Many of us from St. Maarten, myself included, have spent many years in Aruba whether it is for work, education and family ties, and with that in mind, I would like to wish Aruba and Arubans a very happy Aruba Day and you should be proud in the achievements which you have made as a country,” commented the prime minister. The foundation will be attending the morning Lenten Service at the Philipsburg Methodist Church at 6:15am on March 18. The meet-and-greet party PHILIPSBURG--The University of St. Martin (USM) will commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Concordia with a lecture on Thursday, March 20, from 7:00 to 8:30pm. Caribbean Studies lecturer Alex Richards will speak at the session. The 366 anniversary of the signing of the Treaty will be observed on March 23. USM says it chooses to commemorate the Treaty not only because it is the foundation of the island’s history, but because the date is often overlooked. “This reality is very unfortunate especially of the fact that the content of the treaty affects the current relationship between French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten. USM Dean of Academics Francio Guadeloupe said many residents are not well informed on the current cross-border relationship between the two sides of the island. In his opinion, there are particular points that need to be addressed such as how was the signing of the Treaty of Concordia “unintentionally subversive of the way the colonial overlords” in The Hague and Paris divided “Soualiga” into St. Maarten and St Martin. Other points are how the treaty of Concordia can be a lesson from an outermost region (St. Martin) and an overseas country and territory (St. Maarten) to France and the Netherlands (main players of the European Union) on a multicultural conviviality that works. How do the islanders make the Treaty of Concordia a living document in creating a more economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable island, is another issue he says needs to be addressed. 11 Participating among others are Cedric Rey, Walter (“Wally”) Havertong, Singing Olivia, Joe Olivacce, Lena Brown, Shadira Arrindell, Dorothy Laveist and Boby Otley. Tickets are available at Oasis, Texaco Star Mart, Van Dorp (both outlets), Adolphus Richardson Office Centre, and from members of the Chuchubi Foundation. The Chuchubi Foundation takes this opportunity to congratulate all Arubans and friends of Aruba living in St. Maarten, and wishes them happy “Himno di Bandera.” 12 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 AGENDA ST. EUSTATIUS Police Station 182333 Emergency 111 Hot Line 108 Fire Department 120 Hospital 182211/182371 Landsradio 182210 Post Office 182207 St. Eustatius Historical Foundation Museum 182288 Winair Office 182362 Lions Club meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at the “Den” next to the Airport Drug Prevention Foundation meets every Tuesday 5:30pm at the Golden Era Hotel. Coastguard NA&A 113 St. Eustatius National parks: Gallows Bay: 318 2884 SABA Police Station The Bottom, tel. 4163237 Emergency 111/112 Hospital The Bottom, tel. 4163288/4163289 Fire Department Airport Flat Point tel. 4162210 SATEL The Bottom, tel. 4163211 WINAIR, Airport Flat Point, tel. 4162255/2713 Taxi Service Airport Flat Point, tel. 160 Administration Building The Bottom, tel. 4163311/4163312/4163313 Tourist Office Windwardside, tel. 4162231 Harbour Office Fort Bay, tel. 4163294 Saba Marine Park Fort Bay, tel. 4163295 Nature & Hike Guide James Johnson The Bottom, tel. 4163307 Service Club Saba Lions Club general meeting every 1st and 3rd Tuesday 8:00 p.m. at Eugenius A. Johnson Center. Coastguard NA&A 113 Red Cross General meeting every last Monday, 6 p.m, Eugenius A. Johnson Center. ANGUILLA EMERGENCY Police 911 Fire 911 Ambulance 911 Police Station 497 2333 Hospital 497 2551 Dental clinic 497 2343 Radio Anguilla 497 2218 Tourism Department 497 2759 Crimestoppers 0800 7777777 AIRLINES American Eagle 497 3501 Winair 497 2748 Liat 497 5000 Air Anguilla 497 2643 Trans Anguilla 497 8690 COURIER SERVICE DHL 497 3400 Federal Express 497 2719 UPS 497 2239 SERVICE CLUBS Rotary Club of Anguilla Meets at Da Vida every Thursay at 6.00 p.m. Soroptimist International Day Care Centre 4.30 p.m. 2nd Tuesday in each month Tel: 497 3509 Lions Club Meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 5.30 p.m. at the Arts and Crafts Centre Tel: 497 6259 Interact Club of Anguilla Meets every Friday at 3.15 p.m. at theAlbena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Toasmaster club meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday at 6.45 p.m. at La Vue, South Hill Subscribe to PHONE 5425253 13 SABA--On Friday, March 14, a collision between two cars took place around 4:25pm on Lambert Hassell Road in Saba, a police report stated. While overtaking, one of the cars collided with the other, with material damage as result. The left front corner and the left door of the first vehicle were damaged, while the right front and rear door and the metal above the right rear tire of the second vehicle were damaged. There were no injuries. Cu13b: Zeelandia Beach, where sand is found in abundance, making it a perfect place for turtles to nest. ST. EUSTATIUS-- The first leather-back of the season deposited her nest on Thursday at Zeelandia Beach. She was a few weeks early but the Sea Turtle Conservation programme is happy to see the return of the leather-backs no matter when they arrive. Leatherbacks are critically endangered. The past years have seen a decline in the numbers of this species coming to nest but at the same time there has been an increase in the Green and Hawksbill numbers. During the last months many people have been illegally removing sand from the beach. The National Parks Foundation would like to remind the general public that removing sand from Zeelandia is a punishable offense. Sand can be purchased at the local company at a price very much below the fine that is applicable if caught. The sand is being removed from the area where the Leather-backs traditionally nest and if this illegal ac- tivity continues it could destroy nests. Nests are also at risk from vehicles driving on the sand which could crush them. Driving on the sand is a punishable offence on the protected beach. Certain other activities are not allowed on the beach during nesting season, such as bon-fires, activities that cause loud noise, that have bright lights and that cause any sort of disturbance to nesting females. The Sea Turtle Conservation Programme is working hard to prevent this through education and lobbying local government to enforce existing regulations. Night patrols and daily morning track surveys have commenced. People who would like to accompany the patrols and those who would like to be called to the beach when a turtle is encountered are very welcome to sign up at the National Parks Visitor Centre in Gallows Bay. Call the National Parks office on 318-2884 or email research@statiapark.org ANGUILLA--The Department of Social Development has released its activities for the observance of Social Work Month 2014. The theme for this year is, “All People Matter.” As customary the majority of activities will be held during the week of March 16 as Social Work Day is Tuesday, March 18. The week started on Sunday, March 16, with a service at the St Mary’s Anglican Church followed by a staff picnic later in the day. During the week social workers will be visiting the various clinics and the Princess Alexandra Hospital to meet and share information with clients. On Tuesday the workers plan to take part in the Careers Fair at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Campus B auditorium. On Thursday there will be a games evening at the Tender Loving Care Senior Citizens’ Home and on Friday a Soup Kitchen for persons in need. The staff will have a lunch and motivational presentation at Viceroy Hotel later in the month. for signing up or for more information. This year the National Parks is seeking funds to have some turtle related educational events for the general public. There will be more information on this once funds have been secured said Marine Park Manager Jessica Berkel. 14 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Cu13c: Historian Walter Hellebrand (right) gives a tour to the Governor of Aruba as Governor Berkel listens in. ST. EUSTATIUS--On Monday, Island Governor Gerald Berkel said he was pleased to welcome the Dean of the University of Aruba to St. Eustatius as a follow-up to Berkel’s visit to Aruba. Dean Glenn Thode will be hosting a special infor- The article “Ceremony held to launch Saba Electricity Company” published on page 13 of the Monday, March 17, edition of The Daily Herald stated in error that the “unveiling of the SEC logo was done by Edwina Linzey, wife of SEC founder Rufus Linzey, and his daughter.” The SEC logo was unveiled by Edwina Linzey, the widow of late Elmer Linzey, founder of Saba’s first electric company, and their daughter, Janet Linzey. Elmer Linzey’s brother, Rufus Linzey, was not present at the ceremony. The Daily Herald regrets this error. mation evening for parents and students of the Havo 4 & 5 classes where he will inform students regarding the opportunities for furthering their education on tertiary level at the University of Aruba. Choosing a university in the Caribbean that has affiliation with Dutch universities can provide a very valuable and cost effective alternative to continuing studies in the Netherlands or USA. Berkel invites all to come out and be informed directly, and there will be plenty of opportunity to pose any questions that prospective students may have. The meeting on Tuesday, March 18, at the Gwendolyn van Putten School begins at 7:00 pm. Berkel thanked the Dean for his prompt response to the request for a visit to provide Statia students and parents with information on the educational options the university can provide. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 ST. EUSTATIUS-- Since February 19, St. Eustatius has a new Chief of Basic Police Care in the person of Sylvester Dieteren. This year marks his 32 year work anniversary at the Ministry of Defense. In 1992 he transferred to the Royal Marechaussees (KMar). Dieteren looks forward to this new challenge. “I look forward to not only my stay but also my tasks on Statia in a positive way. The size and reception by the different officials, including the members of the Island Council and the Executive Council, feel like a warm blanket.” Dieteren brings a lot of experience to this new position. Before coming to St. Eustatius he worked as Head of the section Executive Support at the brigade at South Brabant in Eindhoven. Dieteren took over the position of Chief Basic Police Care from Bas Germs who held the position on St. Eustatius six months before him. In the past 21 years at the Royal Marechaussees, Sylvester Dieteren has worked in different task fields: Conflict and Crisis management, Immigrant flows, Intelligence, Enforcement and Detection. He has always worked in managerial positions in the different opera- islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. Besides that KMar also handles the police tasks at the airports and supports the Police on Saba and St. Eustatius. Speaking with the new Police Chief Sylvester Dieteren about his stay after almost one month on the island, he said that he loves the island and his work. He Cu13a: Chief Sylvester Dieteren at his introductory to the Acting Gov- spoke of comparing the isernor Kenneth Lopes Centre by outgoing Police Chief Bas land with the Netherlands, and said that although the Germs. tional services and has also is responsible for border size is different, the work managed the Mobile Unit control at the airports and remains the same. He is (ME) and the Special Unit sea borders on the three content with the police (BE). The Mobile Unit has as primary task to prevent or to combat disturbances of public order. During football competitions or demonstrations you will often see the ME on the street. All work- ANGUILLA--Last week the Merwyn Rogers, with repreers of the ME carry out nor- Ministry of Tourism hosted sentatives from the Departmal police work daily. Being sessions to discuss Anguilla’s ment of Environment, the Dea Me’er is therefore not a “Amerindian” heritage and the partment of Physical Planning, side job. Fountain Cavern. The sessions the Anguilla Tourist Board, the The BE is a special unit were conducted by Alissandra Anguilla National Trust and that steps in during aggra- Cummins, a member of the the Historical and Archaeovating circumstances where UNESCO Executive Board logical Society. there are major threats of and the World Heritage Com“The objective was to examviolence. mittee. For many years Anguil- ine possibilities for creating an “Following my placement la has been aiming to have the attraction in the vicinity of the here on St. Eustatius I will Fountain Cavern on the World Fountain Cavern where Anbe placed on Bonaire as Heritage listing but as Cum- guilla’s rich Amerindian heriTeam Leader Border for mins pointed out this is a long tage and archaeology can be the duration of three to five and rigorous process. show cased,” said Rogers. “A years,” Dieteren said. The working committee for cross-section of stakeholders The Royal Netherlands the Fountain Cavern was es- was previously presented with Marechaussees (KMar) tablished last year and includes a concept for an Amerindian Islands 15 work on the island and loves his job. The only thing that is really different is the special culture of the island, to which he is adapting. Looking back over the past weeks of his arrival, there have been two criminal acts of violence. Along with his team, he is working diligently to solve these crimes, as well as any other unsolved cases. In his statement last week to the public he encouraged any one that may have witnessed a crime to call the police at 318-2333. The community is upset about the latest violent crimes that took place, particularly the assault of an elderly man at his home. Some years back a 95-yearold man was beaten in his home, and died shortly after. The people of Statia hope that Dieteren, along with his police department, will be successful in working towards a safer island, and return it to the crime-free island many people remember from years past. and Archaeology interpretation centre,” he said. Jasmin Garroway from the Ministry of Tourism added that unlike most other islands in the region, Anguilla has a wealth of documentation, artefacts and other evidence of the presence of Amerindians. “These are some of the ingredients which Anguilla must use to create an authentic heritage tourism product,” she said. During her stay, Cummins, a Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, participated in several field visits including the Fountain Cavern, the Big Spring and the Heritage Museum. President of the Anguilla National Trust, Avon Carty, said that the Trust members are happy to join in plans for the Fountain Cavern. She noted that the possibility of again working towards having the Fountain National Park and possibly other sites listed as World Heritage Sites would be very beneficial in Anguilla’s thrust towards a sustainable tourism development. She also said that some of the island’s treasures could be lost if they are not preserved. 16 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 ST. KITTS--A US newspaper is reporting that St. Kitts and Nevis is at the forefront of a cruise ship and hotel building boom. According to the Baltimore Post-Examiner, St. Kitts and Nevis is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas in both area and population, has 53,000 inhabitants and measures 104 square miles – less than twice the size of the District of Columbia. “Yet it’s at the forefront of a cruise ship and hotel building boom that shows no sign of slowing down,” wrote Larry Luxner, a news editor of The Washington Diplomat and former editor of CubaNews. “In early 2013, the government said it would spend US $31 million to build a second cruise pier at Port Zante that’ll be able to accommodate two Oasis-class cruise vessels – the world’s largest passenger ships – one on either side. Construction is expected to be completed by November 2014, just in time for the 2014-15 cruise ship season,” wrote Luxner, who was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and is based in Bethesda, Maryland, since 1995. Larry who has reported from every country in the Western Hemisphere quotes Jonathan Bass, CEO of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) as saying that the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) is indeed a timely response to the challenges faced with respect to berthing facilities. “The unprecedented growth in the cruise tourism subsector that St. Kitts has experienced over the past six years has placed tremendous pressure on our berthing infrastructure – particularly on those days when more than Chronixx ST. KITTS--Chronixx joins Tessanne Chin and Beenie Man on stage at the 18th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, Thursday, June 26, to Saturday, June 28, 2014. Chairman of the Festival Executive Committee Faron Lawrence said Chronixx is a legend in the making, will put on a spectacular performance, and will capture the more youthful and energetic atmosphere at the Festival. “Chronixx is a very exciting artist to watch on stage with international appeal and his performance will enhance the diversity and variety of talent that the St. Kitts Music Festival has become renowned for in the Caribbean.” Chronixx is building an impressive catalogue, with songs such as “Behind Curtain,” Tell Mi Now,” “Here Comes Trouble,” “African Heritage” and his patriotic Jamaican anthem “Smile Jamaica.” The St. Kitts Music Festival features a wide range of musical styles on the popular market, including R&B, Jazz, HipHop, Reggae, Soca, Calypso, Gospel and Contemporary music. Past artists have included such prominent acts as John Legend, Lionel Richie, T-Pain, Michael Bolton and K.C. and the Sunshine Band. For more information about the St. Kitts Music Festival, visit www.stkittsmusicfestival.com or its Facebook page. three large vessels request berthing.” Under the MOU, Massachusetts-based Jay Cashman Inc. will invest all the money necessary to build the pier. During the 30-year concession, SCASPA will continue to manage and operate the cruise facility. “The cruise sector of the tourism industry has been going through tremendous growth over the last six years,” said Tourism Minister Ricky Skerritt, noting that the sector saw a jump from fewer than 200,000 visitors to more than 700,000 during that time. “The improvements in downtown Basseterre, development of shops, restaurants and key attractions, and increasing the number of certified taxi and tour operators in anticipation of demand growth, have clearly had a very positive impact on the experience that St. Kitts offers to visitors,” he said. In November, Prime Minister Denzil Douglas announced that St. Kitts will get its first high-rise buildings – in the form of the EC $70 million Prime Hotel and Condominium project to commence in May 2014. Located in the hills of St. Kitts overlooking Basseterre National Park, the project will consist of a 70-room, eight-storey major hotel and nine multi-floor buildings with 324 one-bedroom condos built into the hillside, with views of Basseterre. The principal investor is Gholam Abbas Fahim, who gained St. Kitts citizenship more than a year ago. Prime Minister Douglas announced earlier this year two projects by Russian investors involving combined investment of EC $50 million. The first is the EC $37 million Ocean Grove project, which consists of 50 two-bedroom villas, and the second is the Windswept Residence Club of nine villas at a cost of EC $13 million. Ocean Grove is a joint venture between Christophe Harbour Development Co. and Canada’s Apex Capital Partners Corp. Dwarfing all these projects is Paradise Haven on the island of Nevis. Asia Pacific Investment House recently raised EC $50 million toward the project’s total price tag of EC $250 million. The government says more than 1,000 local jobs will be created by Paradise Haven, a 500-acre golf and beach resort that will include villas, condos, retirement and family residences as well as a five-star hotel and a health and wellness spa. 17 From left, front row: PM Douglas, Governor General Lawrence, Commissioner and Mrs. Walwyn with awardees (back row) #484 Dore, #780 Simon, #722 Caesar, #546 Walters and #708 Fahie (SKNIS photo). ST. KITTS--Outstanding officers in Division “B” of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force were recognised for their service to the community during the 4th Annual Police Award Ceremony held on Saturday, March 15. The Governor General and the Prime Minister joined members of the High Command and other ranks of the agency at Garvey’s Estate Great House in Boyds Village to pay tribute to officers stationed from Old Road West to Tabernacle. Constable #722 Vivian Caesar received prizes in several categories including Most Outstanding Constable of 2013 at the Sandy Point Police Station, Promotional Exam Passes and Most Case Files Submitted at Court. The exemplary performance earned him the title of Division B’s Most Outstanding Constable of the Year, for the second time in a row. Caesar spoke about the ingredients of his success. “Dedication! You must love what you do and do it with a passion,” he emphasised. “I just want to thank each and every one again who helped me in this award ceremony – those who continued to push me. This is just a stepping and a starting for Caesar. I’m going for it next year again.” Other constables recognised as Most Outstanding in their respective stations were #484 Patrice Dore of the Tabernacle Police Station, #546 Marsha Walters of the St. Pauls Police Station, #780 Marcella Simon of the Old Road Police Sta- tion and #708 Kevin Fahie formerly of the Dieppe Bay Police Station. Additional awards in various categories were presented to Constables #450 Mark Handley, #540 Kashina Burke, #593 Andrea Battice, #643 Tamika Hodge, #707 Daniel Davy, #752 Jemie McGuire and #26 Anthony Kelly. Head of the ministerial portfolio for police, Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, summed up his congratulations in two words. “Two of the most powerful words in the English language are, ‘Well done,’” he stressed. “And that is why we are here this evening, to say to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, well done. Today, crime is dramatically down and the nation owes this to the men and women in this room and to … your colleagues who are elsewhere throughout the Federation.” Commissioner of Police Celvin G. Walwyn highlighted that a strong support system is necessary for the police to succeed. “I know that those of you who are being awarded tonight for going above and beyond sometimes, your family [has-Ed.] to make sacrifices, so I want us tonight to thank the families who support us in our job,” Commissioner Walwyn stated. “I want to thank the community, especially those of you who have been using Crime Stoppers to contact the police and helping us in our fight against crime.” The Division B Police Award Ceremony was held under the theme “Collaborating with the Community in Problem Solving.” Two persons from the community, namely Joseph Buchanan and Ernest Wigley, were saluted for their support to the police. WILLEMSTAD--Corpses of a man and woman were found early Monday morning in Curaçao in the woods at Bullenbaai. Police said it regards locals, but did not immediately release their identities. A report came in at 6:50am that a man body was encountered along the dirt road from Willibrordus to Bullenbaai. The patrol that responded soon found a woman corpse in the bushes nearby as well. The woman had on a pink blouse and blue shorts, while the man wore a dark shirt and khaki pants. They had both been shot in the head. The victims had not been reported missing and the bodies were confiscated for an autopsy. Spent bullet cartridges found on location are also being studied. There have been eight deaths as a result of violence on the island so far this year, compared to three during the same period in 2013. 18 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 AMSTERDAM--Financial services group ING has postponed plans to sell details of its customers’ spending patterns to advertisers and has apologised for the upset. The bank has sent an open letter to customers saying that “we were not clear enough about this very sensitive issue. “The reactions make it clear there are many questions and concerns about the protection of customer information. I am very sor- ry,” said ING Nederland Director Nick Jue in the letter. Members of Parliament (MPs), consumer groups, the central bank and financial services regulator AFM have all said they are unhappy about the plans, revealed by the Financieele Dagblad earlier this month. In a poll for television consumer show Kassa, over 70 per cent of ING clients said they were considering switching to a new bank. In the letter, Jue said: “Let A M S T E R DA M - - E n g i neering pension fund PMT has agreed to lower pension pay-outs after all, after earlier defying the Dutch central bank and refusing to do so. The fund had a coverage ratio of 103.8 per cent at the end of 2013, and that means pensions should have been cut. The fund’s 120,000 pensioners will face a 0.4 per cent reduction from May 1, news agency ANP says. The PMT is the country’s third biggest pension fund. THE HAGUE--Too many women in the Netherlands work part-time and this is contributing to low labour productivity and less economic growth, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) secretary-general Yves Leterme told the Algemeen Dagblad on Monday. The former prime minister of Belgium told the AD about 77 per cent of Dutch women have a part-time job. Less than four work three days a week and 23 per cent work four days a week, Leterme said. “Is that really what they want?” Leterme asked. “I don’t know. It could be necessary for women to BONAIRE--Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) has requested that all guest accommodations and restaurants forward their upto-date information for its website www.tourismbonaire.com . The latter is currently being renewed. “A functional website is of crucial importance for a destination considering the digital trend,” according to TCB. The new website can also be viewed on desktop, tablets and mobile phones, is more visual and includes an SEO function. It will be multilingual with English, Spanish and Dutch, plus, in the future, an option for German and Portuguese. TCB has already requested all accommodations and restaurants to forward up-to-date information and pictures. Those who haven’t yet are asked to do so as quickly as possible. The required information from accommodations includes: the type of accommodation, contact information, address and description of the accommodation, facilities and services, with a maximum of three pictures of high resolution. The required information from restaurants is: contact information, address and description of the restaurant, reservations, category and a maximum of three pictures of high resolution. The information can be forwarded to angelodomacasse@tourismbonaire.com . Islands/Dutch Kingdom me say it once again. ING will never share your details with third parties, let alone sell them.” The bank says it will now discuss with client groups how it can best help them save money. That, the bank says, was the main reason for launching the trials. However, Retail Banking Chief Hans Hagenaars told the FD earlier this month the ING plan would be a way of defending the bank’s position in the face of new competitors. “If it generates extra fees, we will not ignore them,” he said. “But if earning nothing is the price we have to pay to win acceptance in society, then that is a choice we must make.” However, companies may have to pay ING for approaching their clients, although that has not been decided, the FD said. do so or that companies don’t allow them to take on full-time jobs. Why would women work more in other, similar countries?” Last year education minister Jet Bussemaker caused a heated debate when she pointed out that just 48 per cent of Dutch women are considered financially independent. Bussemaker also took women to task for giving up their careers when they have children. Earlier this year, accountants’ group Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) published research showing the income gap between men and women in the Netherlands has reduced, but remains wide compared with similar countries. While more generous childcare systems would help encourage women to work more, it is also a luxury issue, PWC economist Jan Willem Velthuijsen told the AD. “In Scandinavia, families cannot live on 1.5 salaries but in the Netherlands they can.” 19 Election posters in Amsterdam (Dutchnews photo). AMSTERDAM--D66 is the clear local election favourite among international workers and expats in an online poll carried out by website DutchNews.nl. D66 can count on the support of over 24 per cent of international voters, more than double the next most popular parties, the PvdA, with almost 12 per cent, and the SP, with 11 per cent. Groen Links is next, with 10.3 per cent and the VVD is fifth, with 9.6 per cent. Over 2,000 people took part in the online poll. “Support for D66 has never been so big in our pre-election polls,” says editor of DutchNews.nl Robin Pascoe. “The PvdA were always the biggest party, but their support has more than halved since September 2012. The VVD, by contrast, has never been popular under internationals.” A DutchNews.nl poll earlier in the campaign showed that finding affordable housing was by far the biggest election issue in the expat community. “People seem to think all expats are rich and can afford to pay 2,000 euros a month for a one-bedroom flat,” said Pascoe. “Housing is a real problem, especially in Amsterdam.” Another important issue is the participation declaration, which Social Affairs Minister Lodewijk Asscher wants all new arrivals in the Netherlands to sign. “Some 75 per cent of our readers say the contract is insulting and will do nothing to improve the integration of foreigners into Dutch society,” says Pascoe. “They see this as yet another attack on all international workers.” A number of international candidates are also standing in the local elections. For example, there are eight first-generation Polish women representing parties in The Hague, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Breda, Diemen, Heusden and Westland. American comedian Greg Shapiro is last on the list for D66 in Amsterdam. DutchNews.nl has set up a special website section with summaries of the main par- ties’ political programmes to help expats and internationals decide who to vote for. “The government is planning to increase the residency requirement to vote in the local elections from five to seven years for nonEU nationals,” says Pascoe. “So it is very important that expats and internationals make use of their democratic rights. In both Amsterdam [60,000 expat voters – Ed.] and The Hague [40,000 expat voters – Ed.], their support could make all the difference.” The poll was run on the DutchNews.nl website up to Sunday, March 16. The poll does not include the PVV because the party is only standing in The Hague and Almere. URK--Some 200 fishermen from Urk have gone on strike and the fishing village’s fish market has been shut in protest of low prices for plaice and sole. The fishermen claim they are being offered less than cost price for the fish and have called on colleagues in Scheveningen and on the Wadden Sea island of Texel to join the protests. “We are catching great fish at dump prices,” spokesman Renze de Boer told RTL news. A spokesman for the Urk fish wholesalers told RTL consumers will not yet feel the impact of the strike because there are enough frozen supplies at present. The spokesman said he understood the trawler men’s position, but said prices have been depressed by oversupply. 20 Regional BRIDGETOWN--British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will present his budget on March 19 in a speech to the British Parliament. The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) will be listening carefully to see if the Chancellor is yet prepared to recognise the widespread concern that exists in the Caribbean and among the Caribbean community living in the UK about the damage being done and the lack of fairness in the way in which the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) is applied. The duty on flights from London to the Caribbean will increase to 85 pounds sterling (US $140) per person in economy from April 1, 2014, unless Osborne announces a change. By this point, APD on flights to the Caribbean will have increased by 35 pounds sterling (US $58) or 70 per cent since 2009. This compares to an increase of just 2 pounds sterling (US $3) or 18 per cent from London to Europe and 24 pounds sterling (US $40) or 53 per cent to the US. As CTO has pointed out over a number of years, the current structure sees duty on flights from the UK to Miami, Florida, charged at lower rates than that on flights to Bridgetown, Barbados, even though they are the same distance from London. Moreover, even though Hawaii is 3,000 miles further away from London, the duty on flights there is also lower than on those to the Caribbean. Osborne, who leads the British Treasury, noted the anomaly in the fourband structure of APD in his 2011 budget speech, when he said: “…we are consulting today on how to improve the existing and rather arbitrary bands that appear to believe that the Caribbean is further away than California.” Despite this, and a lengthy consultation in which the Caribbean participated, no change has been made to the discriminatory aspect of the duty. The CTO recognises that all governments are required to raise revenue, but believes that this should not be at the expense of the economies of regions like the Caribbean which are tourism dependent. Nor should it be the case that the Caribbean’s Dias- PARAMARIBO--Police say they have arrested a married couple in connection with the murder of a man whose headless body was found in a ditch last year. “It is the first time in the history of Suriname that through DNA research evidence was produced to solve a serious criminal case,” police said in a statement Friday. According to the statement, Dayanand K. (35) and his wife Sandhia K. (36) were arrested on Thursday as the likely killers of Eduard Rayan Goudland. The dread- locked man was found lying dead in a ditch in District Nickerie in western Suriname on August 5; his head lay about 10 metres from the rest of his body. Dayanand K. and his wife were suspected of the beheading and were arrested early on, but released not long after as police could not find enough evidence to prove that they did it. Blood from spatters that forensic detectives found around and inside the couple’s home was in the meantime sent abroad for further DNA George Osborne THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 pora in Britain should be penalised when for cultural reasons they return for funerals, weddings and other important family events. The British Government’s own statistics suggest that Caribbean destinations are seeing below-average arrivals from the UK. This is reflected in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s figures, which demonstrate that Eastern Caribbean nations continue to suffer reduced arrivals from the UK compared to other feeder markets such as the USA and Canada. In some Caribbean countries up to 40 per cent of total arrivals by air are from the UK, making any reduction in visitors economically challenging. It is not surprising, therefore, that many Caribbean countries are currently suffering extreme economic challenges. Many of those are countries which are highly dependent on the UK market. The CTO, along with Caribbean governments, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Diaspora groups in the UK, the World Travel & Tourism Council and partners from the British travel industry such as airlines and tour operators have since 2009 been campaigning against the steep increases in APD. The Caribbean therefore hopes to see the Chancellor introduce measures that address its concerns, on March 19. research. “This research has proven beyond a doubt that this involved blood from the victim Eduard Goudland,” police said. A warrant was obtained and the couple arrested. Police appeared elated and encouraged with the ground-breaking breakthrough. “We will continue implementing these types of modern techniques to bring clarity in other serious crimes that have not been solved yet,” the release said. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados--The Barbados government says it is laying the platform for positive economic growth in the future by making the necessary adjustments and seeking to rebuild the various sectors of the economy. The Freundel Stuart government has embarked on a retrenchment programme to trim the public service by almost 3,000 in the coming months as it seeks to reverse an ailing economy. But a government statement quoted Finance Minister Christopher Sinckler as giving an assurance to the new British High Commissioner, Victoria Dean, that the government is moving towards rebuilding the economy. Sinckler said that in addition to making the necessary adjustments in the economy, government was also seeking to rebuild and enhance the tourism product, develop the international business and financial services sector, especially in non-traditional markets such as Latin America; roll out an alternative energy sector, and reform the sugar industry. “The cutting of expenditure is a painful exercise but it is one that has to happen because the alternative is much worse and you do not want to visit the alternative on those who are least vulnerable in your community; so we have to make the adjustments and that is what we are doing. “We are confident about what we are doing…and we are trying to work on other things to ensure that discomfort does not last longer than is necessary,” he said. Sinckler told the British diplomat that there were some structural inefficiencies in the economy that had not been addressed but pointed out that Government was trying to clear the way for the private sector – the local and foreign - to reinvest. He said that the Bill, which would make provision for the Economic Partnership Agreement to be given the force of law in Barbados, should be debated in Parliament shortly, and expressed the view that it would be a very serious, wide-ranging and nonpartisan discussion. The government statement quoted Mrs. Dean as Christopher Sinckler describing the island’s tourism offer as “fabulous”, but expressed the view that there was a need for prod- uct diversification and investment. “The Minister agreed, and said a number of things were being done to enhance the tourism industry. The High Commissioner said both countries needed to explore ways in which they could collaborate and promised further discussions on the areas” the statement said. ~CMC~ The Barbados Landship in action at the launch of the Church Village Green, Bridgetown’s newest recreational space. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados--As Historic Bridgetown welcomed its newest green space, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, stressed that not only must notable buildings be protected, but civic areas constructed for the enjoyment of citizens and tourists alike. “Historic cities such as Bridgetown face a myriad of challenges such as migration of communities, development pressures and competing interests from town planners and business entities. Bearing these challenges in mind, the World Heritage Committee of [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation-Ed.] UNESCO has called for discussion on how to properly regulate the needs of modernisation for historic urban environments, while at the same time preserving the values embedded in historic and inherited townscapes and in particular heritage sites,” he stated. At the time, he was addressing the opening ceremony of the Church Village Green Saturday evening, moments after the Constitution River Redevelopment Project was officially launched. He noted that the two projects were in keeping with his ministry’s vision and served as models of regeneration: “something we need to pursue with some alacrity seeing the number of abandoned historic buildings located in our World Heritage property.” “These are buildings that can be restored and repurposed with respect to use. But Historic Bridgetown is much more than historic buildings, but about civic spaces, the memories and the stories that help to define this 400-year-old cityscape,” he added. The minister nevertheless stressed that much was still to be done to preserve the World Heritage property, particularly the buildings and other spaces, which are in need of restoration. As hundreds of Barbadians gathered in the area, which boasts an amphitheatre, fish pond, and facilities for entrepreneurs to showcase their craft, the minister also urged them to keep the surroundings clean. “I wish to implore you not to let it fall into a place of disuse and disrepair, nor to let it become a place where posters are posted on the steps or on the walls or where litter is thrown around. Let each one of us play our part in ensuring that this part and the nearby Constitution River remain free of pollution, free of litter and free of posters,” he pleaded, gaining the applause of those in the audience. ~ The Barbados Advocate ~ US/World THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 NEW YORK--Astronomers announced on Monday that they had discovered what many consider the holy grail of their field: ripples in the fabric of space-time that are echoes of the massive expansion of the universe that took place just after the Big Bang. Predicted by Albert Einstein nearly a century ago, the discovery of the ripples, called gravitational waves, would be a crowning achievement in one of the greatest triumphs of the human intellect: an understanding of how the universe began and evolved into the cornucopia of galaxies and stars, nebulae and vast stretches of nearly empty space that constitute the known universe. “This detection is cosmology’s missing link,” Marc Kamionkowski, a physicist of Johns Hopkins University and one of the researchers on the collaboration that made the finding, told reporters on Monday at a press conference at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Gravitational waves are feeble, primordial undulations that propagate across the cosmos at the speed of light. Astronomers have sought them for decades because they are the missing evidence for two theories. One is Einstein’s general theory of relativity, first published in 1915, which launched the modern era of research into the origins and evolution of the cosmos. The general theory explains gravity as the deformation of space by massive bodies. Einstein posited that space is like WASHINGTON--A late winter storm landed a final punch on the U.S. midAtlantic states on Monday, dumping more than a foot (30 cm) of snow in some places, shutting schools and federal offices and cancelling flights. Traditional green worn on St. Patrick’s Day was hidden under the winter coats of children enjoying one more sledding day and of road crews manning plows ahead of the official start of spring on Thursday. No change in the cold weather in the eastern United States is likely for the next week, said meteorologist Brian Korty of the National Weather Service. “You’re going to see oscillations in the temperature but I think on the whole the temperature is still going to probably stay below average,” he said. He said a few snow flur- ries would linger until the afternoon, but the storm that hit Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and southern New Jersey had largely moved out to sea. The storm dumped 7 inches (18 cm) of snow on Washington, the secondheaviest snowfall the capital has recorded this late in the season, Korty said. Hundreds of thousands of federal government employees were ordered to stay home in the Washington area. Schools, colleges and local governments shut throughout the affected region. An intercity commercial bus with 58 passengers aboard veered off the snowy Interstate 95 highway about 30 miles (48 km) south of Washington early on Monday and flipped onto its side, Virginia State Police said in a statement. Four passengers on the A specialized array of superconducting detectors used by the BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) telescope at the South Pole to capture polarized light from billions of years ago is seen in this undated NASA handout picture. a flimsy blanket, with embedded stars and planets causing it to curve rather than remain flat. Those curvatures of space are not stationary, Einstein said. Instead, they propagate like water in a lake or seismic waves in Earth’s crust and so are “gravitational waves” that “alternately squeeze space in one direction and stretch it in the other direction,” Jamie Bock, a physicist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena and one of the lead scientists on the collaboration, told Reuters. The other, much more recent theory that predicted gravitational waves is called cosmic inflation. Developed in the 1980s, it starts with the well-accepted idea that the universe began in a Big Bang, an explosion of space-time, 13.8 billion years ago. An instant later, according to the theory, the infant cosmos expanded exponentially, inflating in size by 100 trillion trillion times. That made the cosmos remarkably uniform across vast expanses of space and also super-sized tiny fluctuations in gravity, producing gravitational waves. Although the theory of cosmic inflation received a great deal of experimental support, the failure to find the gravitational waves it predicted caused many cosmologists to hold off endorsing it. That may change after the announcement on Monday. “These results are not only a smoking gun for inflation, they also tell us when inflation took place and how powerful the process was,” Harvard University physicist Avi Loeb said in a statement. The strength of the gravitational waves’ signal is tied to how powerfully the universe expanded during the brief era of inflation. The measurements announced by the astronomers on Monday are nearly twice as large as cosmologists predicted for gravitational waves, suggesting a great deal more could be learned about how inflation worked. The gravitational waves were detected by a radio telescope called BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization). The instrument, which scans the sky from the South Pole, examines what is called the cosmic microwave background, the extremely weak radiation that pervades the universe. Its discovery in 1964 by astronomers at Bell Labs in New Jersey was hailed as the best evidence to date that the universe began in an immensely hot explosion. The microwave background radiation, which has been bathing the universe since 380,000 years after the Big Bang, is a mere 3 degrees above absolute zero, having cooled to near non-existence from the immeasurably hot plasma that was the Pedestrians walk in the street to avoid snow on the sidewalks in the Capitol Hil neighbourhood in Washington on Monday. Princess Tours Inc bus suffered serious injuries. The driver has been charged with reckless driving, and a police spokeswoman said, “The speed was too fast for the road conditions.” The highest snowfall recorded was 13.5 inches (34 cm) in Singers Glen, Virginia, about 130 miles (209 km) west of Washington. In the midst of the storm on Monday, Virginia State Po- lice had recorded 359 traffic crashes and 228 disabled vehicles. In Philadelphia, where 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) fell, Frank Barder, 59, said the snow had cut into his regular landscaping business even though he had worked plowing and salting 15 times during a long, cold winter. “I’ve been waving the white flag for the last couple of weeks,” said Barder. Snow and ice snarled travel at the start of the work week, with about 750 flights canceled and 1,600 delayed, according to FlightAware.com, which tracks air flights. The most severe impact was at Washington’s Reagan National Airport, where runways were briefly closed as crews cleared snow. 21 universe in the first fractions of a second of its existence. The background radiation is not precisely uniform. And like light, the relic radiation is polarized as the result of interacting with electrons and atoms in space. Computer models predicted a particular curl pattern in the background radiation that would match what would be expected with the universe’s inflation after the Big Bang. “It’s mind-boggling to go looking for something like this and actually find it,” Clem Pryke, a physicist at the University of Minnesota and another lead scientist on the collaboration, told reporters. “Theorists are forever sending the experimentalists on wild goose-chase missions. When we first saw hints of a signal we totally didn’t believe it.” WASHINGTON--A group of 28 U.S. attorneys general has urged Walmart and four other big retailers to stop selling tobacco products, saying they should not be available in stores that provide health care services. The group sent a letter on Sunday to chief executive officers of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, supermarket operators Kroger Co, Safeway Inc, which operate pharmacies, and drugstore chains Walgreen Co and Rite Aid Corp. “Pharmacies and drug stores, which increasingly market themselves as a source for community health care, send a mixed message by continuing to sell deadly tobacco products,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneider man said in a statement on Monday. Wal-Mart, Walgreen, Rite Aid and Kroger all said they were reviewing the letter, while Safeway did not respond to requests for comment. Schneider and Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewiness led a group of 28 states and territories, including Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Puerto Rico and Guam calling for the change. 22 SEATTLE--A California man who prosecutors say was on his way to Syria to join an al Qaeda splinter group was arrested on Monday near the U.S.-Canada border in Washington state on a terrorism charge, federal officials said. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement that 20-year-old Nicholas Teausant, an Americanborn convert to Islam, had planned to cross into Canada and travel on to Syria to join Islamist militants. A criminal complaint outlining the accusations against Teausant said he wanted to join an al Qaeda splinter group, the Islamic State of US/World Iraq and Syria, which it said was also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. “My designs have me staying there [in Syria] and being on every news station in the world,” the criminal complaint quoted Teausant as telling an FBI informant last month. “I’m going to be a commander and I’m going to be on the front of every single newspaper in the country,” he said. “Like I want my face on FBI’s top 12 most wanted. Because that means I’m doing something right.” The complaint said Teausant planned to join the THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 group to engage in jihad, or Islamic holy struggle, and to fight the Western-backed Free Syrian Army, which is battling the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s civil war. ISIL, a small but powerful force that emerged from the Sunni Islamist insurgency in neighbouring Iraq and has attracted many foreign militants to its ranks, opposes the Assad government but has also fought rival rebel factions. Teausant also spoke of wanting to target the subway system in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, according to the U.S. complaint, but dis- continued his involvement over fears authorities had caught wind of it. Teausant was arrested near the border in Blaine, Washington, on a charge of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. In a brief court appearance in Seattle on Monday, he showed little emotion as his lawyer asked that his case be transferred to California, a request granted by the judge. Teausant faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He was ordered to remain in custody pending his transfer to California. Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards announces his run for congress in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Monday. NEW ORLEANS--Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, who had served an eight-year prison term on racketeering charges, said on Monday he will seek election to the U.S. Congress. The 86-year-old Democrat, who was released from prison about three years ago, will campaign for the seat currently held by Republican Bill Cassidy, who is running for the U.S. Senate. “I’ve given a great deal of thought to this ... and I acknowledge that there are good reasons why I should not run ... but there are better reasons why I should,” Edwards told reporters at the press club in Baton Rouge, part of the district he is seeking to represent. “I haven’t had this much attention since the trial,” he quipped. Edwards said he is eligible to run for the U.S. House seat because nothing in the U.S. Constitution precludes a felon from becoming a member of Congress. “I am positive I can run and I am confident I can win,” he said. Edwards said improving access to health insurance for Louisiana residents is a priority. He criticized current Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a Republican, for refusing to accept expanded Medicaid coverage in the state. A populist politician in the tradition of Louisiana’s famous 1920s governor Huey Long, Edwards is known as an advocate for the poor, which helped him become one of the most popular elected officials in the state’s history. He served four terms as governor, winning elections for the post in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. “I served this state for many years ... and I hope that my record will justify people considering supporting me,” he said. If he should win the Nov. 4 general election, it would mark a return to Washington for Edwards, who served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives during the late 1960s before seeking the governor’s office in 1971. Edwards served two terms as governor in the 1970s. He was elected again in 1983 and then faced his first federal trial after being indicted in connection with the awarding of hospital operating licenses in the state. He was acquitted, but his reputation suffered. Still, Edwards managed a comeback for a fourth term in 1991 after landing in a runoff with Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. Voters’ fear of Duke becoming governor produced a groundswell of support for Edwards and led to a popular bumper sticker that read: “Vote for the crook - it’s important.” After winning the election, Edwards enjoyed a revival of his popularity, but it was during that term that he came under federal scrutiny in connection with the state’s licensing of riverboat casinos, and a federal jury convicted him on charges of extorting money from companies seeking licenses. He has always maintained he was innocent. International THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday that it will require tough decisions and risks to achieve peace with Israel and said now is the time for leaders on both sides to “embrace this opportunity.” In White House talks overshadowed by the Ukraine crisis, Abbas said “time is not on our side” in U.S.brokered negotiations with Israel and called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go ahead with the scheduled release of a final group of Palestinian prisoners by the end of March. Obama, who met Netanyahu two weeks ago, made clear that he was not giving up on the troubled U.S.-led peace process despite widespread pessimism about reaching a “framework” deal that would extend talks beyond an April deadline. “It’s very hard,” Obama said. “We’re going to have to take some tough political decisions and risks if we’re able to move it forward, and I hope that we can continue to see progress in the coming days and weeks.” Obama insisted that, after decades of on-off negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the likely parameters of any elusive final peace agreement are well known. “Everybody understands what the outlines of a peace deal would look like, involving a territorial compromise on both sides based on ‘67 lines with mutually agreed upon swaps that would ensure that Israel was secure but would also ensure that the Palestinians have a sovereign state,” Obama said. Abbas agreed that a solution should entail a Palestinian state built on borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war, though Netanyahu has declared that Israel would never completely return to earlier lines it considered indefensible. Abbas insisted that the Palestinians, in past international agreements, had already “recognized the state of Israel.” But he stopped short of reiterating his position on Netanyahu’s demand that Abbas explicitly recognize Israel as a Jewish state if he wanted peace - something the Pal- U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (L) at the White House in Washington on Monday. President Obama on Monday urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make tough decisions and take risks for peace with Israel, saying he hoped to see progress in U.S.-brokered negotiations in coming weeks. estinian president has previously said he will not do. Looming over the peace effort is the question of whether Israel this month will carry out the release of a final batch of Palestinian prisoners, which it agreed in order restart negotiations last year. U.S. officials fear that if Israel scraps the release the peace talks could break down. “Mr. President, we have an agreement with Israel that was brokered by Mr. Kerry concerning the release of the fourth batch of prisoners,” Abbas told Obama. “We are hopeful that the fourth batch will be released by the 29th of March because this will give a very solid impression about the seriousness of these efforts to achieve peace.” Secretary of State John Kerry brought Israel and the Palestinians back into negotiations on July 29 after a three-year gap, and 23 said at the time that “our objective will be to achieve a final status agreement over the course of the next nine months.” As the April 29 deadline approaches, U.S. officials have scaled back their ambitions, saying they are now trying to forge a non-binding “framework for negotiations” by then. Kerry himself suggested on Feb. 26 a full peace deal could take a further nine months but even that prolonged timeframe faces widespread skepticism. The two sides do not appear to have made much visible progress on narrowing their gaps on the major issues in the more than sixdecade dispute, which include borders, security, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem. “I believe that now is the time for not just the leaders of both sides but also the people of both sides to embrace this opportunity,” Obama said. 24 International THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 The U.S. and its allies in Europe have announced sanctions against Russia, including visa bans and potential asset freezes after Crimeans voted to secede from Ukraine SIMFEROPOL/BRUSSELS--The United States and European Union imposed personal sanctions on Monday on Russian and Crimean officials involved in the seizure of Crimea from Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognising the region as a sovereign state. The moves heightened the most serious East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War, following a disputed referendum in the Black Sea peninsula on Sunday in which Crimea’s leaders declared a Soviet-style, 97-percent vote to secede from Ukraine. Within hours, the Crimean parliament formally asked that Russia “admit the Republic of Crimea as a new subject with the status of a republic.” Putin will on Tuesday address a special joint session of Russia’s Combination photo of Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov (L) and Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov. VIENNA--World leaders are expected to call next week for more action to minimise civilian use of highly-enriched nuclear fuel to help prevent al Qaeda-style militants from obtaining atomic bombs, a draft summit statement shows. Holding a third nuclear security summit since 2010, in The Hague on March 24-25, leaders from 53 countries - including U.S. President Barack Obama will say much headway has been made in reducing the risk of nuclear terrorism in the past four years. But they will also make clear that many challenges remain and stress the need for increased international cooperation to make sure that highly-enriched uranium (HEU), plutonium and other radioactive substances do not fall into the wrong hands. Analysts say that radical groups could theoretically build a crude but deadly nuclear bomb if they had the money, technical knowledge and fissile materials needed. “This summit focuses on strengthening nuclear security and preventing terrorists, criminals and all other unauthorised actors from acquiring nuclear materials that could be used in nuclear weapons, and other radioactive materials that could be used in radiological dispersal devices,” the draft said. “Achieving this objective remains one of the most important challenges in the years to come.” The text obtained by Reuters was dated from early this year and a few bracketed parts showed changes are still possible. The Dutch hosts say the aim is a summit communique “containing clear agreements” to prevent nuclear terrorism by reducing stockpiles of hazardous nuclear material, better securing such stocks and intensifying international cooperation. Referring to a push to use low-enriched uranium (LEU) as fuel in research and other reactor types instead of more proliferation-prone HEU, the draft said: “We encourage states to continue to minimise the use of HEU through the conversion of reactor fuel from HEU to LEU, where technically and economically feasible. Similarly, we will continue to encourage and support efforts to use non-HEU technologies for the production of radio-isotopes, including financial incentives.” EXISTING SANCTIONS FURTHER MEASURES Leaders of G7 industrialized nations considering alternative venue for summit due to take place in Sochi in June. Russia risks losing its status as G8 member Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suspending talks on Russia’s entry to 34-member group of world’s most advanced economies EU has suspended talks with Russia on wide-ranging economic pact, and visa-free agreement which would have eased Russian travel to 28-member bloc EU freezing assets and banning travel of 21 individuals blamed for Russia’s incursion into Crimea. U.S. also targeting 11 Russian and Crimean government officials Possible EU-wide ban on arms exports to Russia could be agreed, but France has said it intends to continue with $1.7 billion deal with Moscow to supply two helicopter carriers Western nations could more strictly enforce existing due diligence and money-laundering regulations, impacting many Russian businesses that lack transparency U.S. considering Iranstyle sanctions on Russian banks, isolating them from global transaction system. International banks could leave Russia and halt all trade EU could apply more strict energy market competition rules to Gazprom, slowing development of new Russian pipelines to Europe and hurting gas exports State Duma, or parliament, which could take a decision on annexation of the majority ethnic-Russian region. That would dismember Ukraine, a former Soviet republic once under Moscow’s thumb, against its will. Kiev and the West said the referendum, held under armed Russian occupation, violated Ukraine’s constitution and international law. Russian forces took control of Crimea in late February following the toppling of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich after deadly clashes between riot police and protesters trying to overturn his decision to spurn a trade and cooperation deal with the EU in favour of cultivating closer ties with Russia. U.S. President Barack Obama slapped sanctions on 11 Russians and Ukrainians blamed for the seizure, including Yanukovich, and Vladislav Surkov and Sergei Glazyev, two aides to Putin. Putin himself, suspected in the West of trying to resurrect as much as possible of the former Soviet Union under Russian leadership, was not on the blacklist. A White House spokesman declined to rule out adding him at a later stage. Amid fears that Russia may move into eastern Ukraine where there is a significant Russian-speaking community, Obama warned that “further provocations” would only increase Moscow’s isolation and exact a greater toll on its economy. “If Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine, we stand ready to impose further sanctions,” he said. A senior U.S. official said Obama’s order cleared the way to sanction people associated with the arms industry and targets “the personal wealth of cronies” of the Russian leadership. In Brussels, the EU’s 28 foreign ministers agreed to subject 21 Russian and Ukrainian officials to visa restrictions and asset freezes for their roles in the events. They included three Russian military commanders in Crimea and districts bordering on Ukraine. There were only three names in common on the U.S. and European lists Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov, Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov and Leonid Slutski, chairman of the Russian Duma’s committee on the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), grouping former Soviet republics. The EU blacklisted Yanukovich earlier this month. The U.S. list appeared to target higher-profile Russian officials close to Putin, including a deputy Russian prime minister, while the EU went for mid-ranking officials who may have been more directly involved on the ground. TORONTO--Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who made global headlines last year after admitting he had smoked crack cocaine, was caught up in fresh controversy on Monday after a new video showed him agitated and apparently swearing outside city hall. The video was taken on Saturday evening by the 13-year-old son of a woman who shared the footage with CTV News. CTV said the woman did not want to be identified. Ford said last year he had smoked crack, probably in a “drunken stupor”. He also said he had quit drinking, but in February he acknowledged he had since been drinking, though not excessively. CTV News posted a censored version of the short new clip on Sunday, but said it had not confirmed the video was authentic. CTV said the woman was with her son on Saturday evening when they came across the mayor. In the blurry, dark video, a woman off camera says: “I just want to tell you, you’re awesome,” and asks the mayor to have a picture taken with her son. Later in the video Ford tells several unidentified men that he needs a taxi to get home, and then starts to shout something that CTV censored. CTV said that he swore loudly. Asked by CTV on Sunday whether he had been partying, Ford said: “Give me a break, guys.” The mayor could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday morning. Many bars in Toronto celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, on Saturday. A security personnel email leaked to local media last year said the mayor had been intoxicated at city hall on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day 2012, carrying around half-empty bottle of brandy and trying to find a car he had actually left at home. Ford later apologized, saying he had been “a little out of control”. In January, another video emerged of Ford ranting and slurring his words at a suburban restaurant. He admitted he had been drinking when the video was shot, calling it a “minor setback”. RUSSIAN COUNTER-MEASURES Initial response likely to include visa bans and asset freezes in Russia against officials identified as being responsible for western policy towards Ukraine Source: Wire agencies More drastic steps could see Moscow retaliating against Western interests in Russia by seizing property and assets of U.S. and European companies Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS International THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 KUALA LUMPUR--The copilot of a missing Malaysian jetliner spoke the last words heard from the cockpit, the airline’s chief executive said, as investigators consider suicide by the captain or first officer as one possible explanation for the disappearance. No trace of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been found since it vanished on March 8 with 239 people aboard. Investigators are increasingly convinced it was diverted perhaps thousands of miles off course by someone with deep knowledge of the Boeing 777-200ER and commercial navigation. A search of unprecedented scale involving 26 countries is under way, covering an area stretching from the shores of the Caspian Sea in the north to deep in the southern Indi- an Ocean. Airline chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya also told a news conference on Monday that it was unclear exactly when one of the plane’s automatic tracking systems had been disabled, appearing to contradict comments by government ministers at the weekend. Suspicions of hijacking or sabotage had hardened further when officials said on Sunday that the last radio message from the plane an informal “all right, good night” - was spoken after the tracking system, known as “ACARS”, was shut down. “Initial investigations indicate it was the co-pilot who basically spoke the last time it was recorded on tape,” Ahmad Jauhari said on Monday. That was a sign-off to air traffic controllers at 1.19 TRIPOLI--U.S. special forces have seized a tanker that fled with a cargo of oil from a Libyan port controlled by anti-government rebels, halting their attempt to sell crude on the global market. Gunmen demanding regional autonomy and a share of oil wealth had managed to load the ship, which escaped Libya’s navy and triggered a crisis that prompted parliament to sack the prime minister. A U.S. SEAL commando team boarded the tanker Morning Glory from a Naval special warfare rigid inflatable boat as it sat in international waters off Cyprus on Sunday night. The seizure was approved by U.S. President Barack Obama and requested by the Libyan and Cypriot governments, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said. No one was hurt in the under two hour operation, and no shots fired. Two AK47 rifles were found and the three Libyans holding the ship remained in U.S. control, he said. “The Morning Glory is carrying a cargo of oil owned by the Libyan government National Oil Company. The ship and its cargo were illicitly obtained” from the Libyan port of Es Sider, Kirby’s statement said. The standoff over Libyan oil and the tanker debacle have deepened the chaos testing Tripoli since the civil war that toppled Muammar Gaddafi nearly three years ago. With its army still nascent, a weak government has been unable to impose its will on former anti-Gaddafi fighters and militias who now use their military muscle to make demands on the state, often by targeting the vital oil sector. At least in the short term, the tanker’s seizure by U.S. forces is likely to prevent any more attempted oil sales by the rebels, who in August took control of three export terminals accounting previously for 700,000 barrels a day of exports. “Oil is the economy’s artery. The government will not allow anyone to fool around with the assets and resources of the Libyan people,” the Libyan government said in a statement. It was the second time in six months that U.S. forces have become involved in Libya. A commando team snatched a suspected al Qaeda suspect off the street as he returned home from prayers in the capital Tripoli in September. The Cypriot foreign ministry said the vessel was now heading west in the Mediterranean with a U.S. military escort. An American crew from the USS Stout, a guided missile destroyer, got the tanker underway toward Libya on Monday. The Stout voyage was expected to take up to four days, the officials said. a.m., as the Beijing-bound plane left Malaysian airspace. The last transmission from the ACARS system - a maintenance computer that relays data on the plane’s status - was received at 1.07 a.m. as the plane crossed Malaysia’s northeast coast. “We don’t know when the ACARS was switched off after that,” Ahmad Jauhari said. “It was supposed to transmit 30 minutes from there, but that transmission did not come through.” The plane vanished from civilian air traffic control screens off Malaysia’s east coast less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian authorities believe that someone on board shut off its communications systems. Malaysian police are trawling through the backgrounds of the pilots, flight crew and ground staff for any clues to a possible motive in what is now being treated as a criminal investigation. Asked if suicide by the pilot or copilot was a line of inquiry, Malaysian Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said: “We are looking at it.” But it was only one of the possibilities under investigation, he said. Intensive efforts by various governments to investigate the backgrounds of everyone on the airplane had not, as of Monday, turned up any information linking anyone to militant groups or anyone with a known political or criminal motive to crash or hijack the aircraft, U.S. and European security sources said. One source familiar with U.S. inquiries into the disappearance said the pilots were being studied because of the technical knowl- 25 Selamat Omar shows a picture of his son, flight engineer Mohd Khairul Amri Selamat who was onboard the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Malaysian police are investigating the aviation engineer who was among the passengers on the missing Malaysia Airlines plane as they focus on the pilots and anyone else on board who had technical flying knowledge, a senior police official said. edge needed to disable the ACARS system. Many experts and officials say that, while the jet’s transponder can be switched off by flicking a switch in the cockpit, turning off ACARS may have required someone to open a trap door outside the cockpit, climb down into the plane’s belly and pull a fuse or circuit breaker. Who- ever did so had to have sophisticated knowledge of the systems on a 777, according to pilots and two current and former U.S. officials close to the investigation. LONDON--A fugitive Sicilian mafioso arrested in Britain last year after living a quiet suburban life under an alias for two decades won a battle against extradition on Monday when the court found that Italy’s prison overcrowding could breach his human rights. Domenico Rancadore, 65, came to Britain in 1994, cutting all contact with his family in Italy and establishing himself as “Marc Skinner” in Uxbridge, west London, where he lived undetected for over 20 years with his wife and two chil- dren. After being tried in his absence in Italy, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for mafia-type criminal association between 1987 and 1995. Rancadore’s life under the radar came to an end when he was arrested at his London home last August. His daughter told the court she believed an ex-boyfriend had told police who he was. But after seven months in custody, senior district judge Howard Riddle discharged Rancadore at London’s Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Monday. In his judgment, Riddle said he had originally intended to order Rancadore’s extradition based on assurances from Italy that the conditions of his detention would not breach his human rights under European law. But he said a recent higher court decision that found overcrowding in Italian prisons could be a breach of human rights had bound him to discharge Rancadore. “My intended decision ... was based squarely on my acceptance of an assurance that has recently, and in similar circumstances, been rejected by a higher court,” he said. Italy holds around 62,000 detainees in jails built for fewer than 48,000, according to official data, and prison rights campaigners say some have more than two-and-a-half times the number of inmates that they were designed for. The European Court of Human Rights last year ordered Italy to address the problem, and the Rome parliament has since passed a law extending the use of electronic tagging and assigning more drug addicts to treatment centres instead of prison. Rancadore’s lawyers had said his detention could put him at risk of inhuman treatment and worsen his already poor health. Labourers work at an upside-down house under construction at Fengjing Ancient Town, Jinshan District, south of Shanghai, China on Monday. Workers are putting the final touches on this eccentric tourist attraction built at the “China Folk Painting Village”. Furniture will also be placed upside down in the house, which is expected to open the public in April, according to local media. 26 International LONDON--British archaeologists have found what they say is the world’s oldest complete example of a human being with metastatic cancer and hope it will offer new clues about the now common and often fatal disease. Researchers from Durham University and the British Museum discovered the evidence of tumours that had developed and spread throughout the body in a 3,000-year-old skeleton found in a tomb in modern Sudan in 2013. Analysing the skeleton using radiography and a scanning electron microscope, they managed to get clear imaging of lesions on the bones which showed the cancer had spread to cause tumours on the collar bones, shoulder blades, upper arms, vertebrae, ribs, pelvis and thigh bones. “Insights gained from archaeological human remains like these can really help us to understand the evolution and history of modern diseases,” said Michaela Binder, a Durham PhD student who led the research and excavated and examined the skeleton. “Our analysis showed that the shape of the small lesions on the bones can only have been caused by a soft tissue cancer ... though the exact origin is impossible to determine through the bones alone.” Despite being one of the world’s leading causes of death today, cancer is virtually absent in archaeological records compared to other diseases - and that has given rise to the idea that cancers are mainly attributable to modern lifestyles and to people living for longer. According to the World Health Organisation’s cancer research agency, new cancer cases rose to an estimated 14 million a year in 2012, a figure seen rising to 22 million within the 20 years. Yet these new findings, published in the Public Library of Science journal PLOS ONE on Monday, suggest cancer is not only a modern disease, but was around in the Nile Valley even in ancient times. Binder said the discovery should help scientists explore the underlying causes of cancer in ancient populations and give fresh clues about the evolution of cancer in the past. Ancient DNA analysis of skeletons and mummies with evidence of cancer can be used to detect mutations in specific genes that are known to be associated with particular types of cancer. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations So Se Pyong addresses a session of the Human Rights Council on the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. GENEVA--China dismissed on Monday a U.N. report alleging North Korea has committed crimes against humanity, effectively confirming the fears of human rights advocates that Beijing will shield its ally from international prosecution. The report, published in February, accused the reclusive country of mass killings and torture comparable to Naziera atrocities and said officials, possibly even Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un himself, should face the International Criminal Court (ICC). Chen Chuandong, a counsellor at China’s mission in Geneva, told the U.N. Human Rights Council that the independent commission of inquiry had made unfounded accusations and recommendations that were divorced from reality. “The inability of the commission to get support and cooperation from the country concerned makes it impossible for the commission to carry out its mandate in an impartial, objective and effective manner,” Chen said. China, as a member of the U.N. Security Council, would have the power to veto any move to refer North Korea to the Hague-based ICC. Diplomats had already warned China was likely to object to the report, which also criticised Beijing for its treatment of North Korean defectors. But Michael Kirby, chief author of the report, said he was convinced North Korea’s leadership would eventually face the ICC for crimes documented in the commission’s archives, which hold the testimonies of hundreds of witnesses. “I have lived long enough to see things that looked impossible come to full fruit,” Kirby told a news conference. “The independence of East Timor, the independence of the Baltic states and other steps following the fall of the Berlin Wall are all indications that things can happen that don’t look certain now. They won’t meet media deadlines but they will occur.” Kirby, a retired Australian judge, had opened the debate by challenging the United Nations to take action. “Contending with the scourges of Nazism, apartheid, the Khmer Rouge and other affronts required courage by great nations and ordinary human beings alike,” he said. “It is now your solemn duty to address the scourge of human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” Kirby said the findings were unequivocal, and demanded closure of political prison camps believed to hold up to 120,000 people, many suffering starvation and mistreatment. “They are required to live on rodents, and on particular kinds of grass if they can get it, on lizards and other sources of protein. The numbers who die of starvation is very high.” But Chen said the report was based on information and interviews collected outside the country, without first hand information. “The question then arises: can such an inquiry be truly credible?” ISTANBUL--Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen has described a crackdown on his followers by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as “ten times worse” than anything meted out after coups by the secularist army. Erdogan accuses Gulen’s Hizmet (“Service”) network, which has built quiet influence in the police and judiciary over decades, of orchestrating a graft investigation which has grown into one of the biggest challenges of his 11-year rule. He has responded by tightening government control of the courts and reassigning thousands of police officers and hundreds of prosecutors and judges, in what his aides say is a drive to cleanse the judiciary of Gulen’s influence. In his first major interview in Turkish media since the graft scandal burst into the open in December, the U.S.based cleric, whose worldwide network of followers say they number in the millions, said he was the victim of a campaign of slander. “In the wake of the Sept. 12, 1980 military coup, the authorities tracked me for six years as if I were a criminal. Raids were carried out. Our friends were harassed. In a sense, it became a sort of lifestyle for us to live under constant surveillance in a coup atmosphere,” he said. “What we are seeing today is 10 times worse than what we saw during the military coups,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with the Zaman newspaper and its English-language edition, both close to his movement. (www.todayszaman.com) The accusation is a strong one, given Turkey’s history. Turkey’s army toppled four VATICAN CITY--The Roman Catholic Church, Church of England and alAzhar, the Cairo-based seat of Sunni Muslim learning, came together on Monday for a rare display of interfaith action among them in calling for an end to modern slavery within 20 years. Their joint statement setting up the “Global Freedom Network” they declared that “physical, economic and sexual exploitation of men, women and children” trapped 30 million people worldwide in slavery. As well as establishing a world day of prayer for victims of slavery, the faiths agreed to “slavery-proof their supply chains and investments and to take remedial action if necessary” and press governments and companies to do the same. Relations between the Vatican and the Church of England are cordial, even though they differ over women bishops and gay issues, while Rome’s ties to al-Azhar are thawing after three years of frosty separation. Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, who signed the document for the Vatican, said Pope Francis had described human trafficking and modern-day slavery, raging from forced sex work to indentured agricultural labour, as a “crime against humanity”. He said the rare example of cooperation between the Catholic and governments in the second half of the 20th century before Erdogan’s Islamistrooted AK Party brought a decade of economic and political stability. Rights groups accused the generals of widespread torture and killings after coups in 1960 and 1980. Erdogan, however, has couched the feud in equally historic terms, evoking the memory of one of his political heroes Adnan Menderes, a prime minister overthrown by the military in 1960 and hanged along with two ministers a year later. Menderes eased curbs on religion, much as Erdogan has done, allowing thousands of mosques to reopen, opened new religious schools and legalised the call to prayer in Arabic. He too was accused of increasingly authoritarian rule. Anglican communities and al-Azhar in Cairo could help build closer ties between the faiths. “I think it’s the first time we have worked together like this,” he told journalists at the signing ceremony, adding that interfaith relations required careful study and treatment. “But for other questions, human questions, the common values of humanity we can work together and this can be important for the theoretical path,” he said. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and the spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, said in a statement that Anglicans and Catholic had been in close dialogue with each other since 1966. “We are now being challenged in these days to find more profound ways of putting our ministry and mission where our faith is and being called into a deeper unity on the side of the poor and in the cause of the justice and righteousness of God,” he said. “We are struggling against evil in secret places and in deeply entrenched networks of malice and cruelty.” Al-Azhar froze relations with Rome in 2011 after then-Pope Benedict condemned attacks on Christians in Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria and said they showed the need for better protection of religious minorities in those countries. Mahmoud Azab, who signed the agreement for al-Azhar’s Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, said the experience of the past three years of strained relations with the Vatican had shown that meeting simply to talk “was not sufficient”. After the election of Pope Francis a year ago, he said, “as soon as we saw positive signs, we resumed (contacts) right away. We were just looking for an agenda.” The initiative was associated with the Walk Free Foundation, a charity set up by Australian iron ore mining magnate Andrew Forrest to combat modern-day slavery. Forrest said the campaign was not connected with efforts to improve conditions for low-paid workers around the world, which he said was a separate issue from slavery. But Azab said that minimally paid work could “prepare the ground” for slavery. Business THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 LONDON--Vodafone has agreed to buy Spain’s largest cable operator Ono for 7.2 billion euros ($10 billion), the latest hefty deal in a European telecoms sector starting to rebuild as the region recovers from a recession. The British group said on Monday it would use some of the $130 billion proceeds from the sale of its U.S. arm to acquire Ono, with a superfast cable network and 1.9 million customers, to create a stronger challenger to market leader Telefonica. The deal for private equity-owned Ono is Vodafone’s third purchase of a European fixed-broadband asset in two years, following similar moves in Britain and Germany, enabling it to offer fixed-line and mobile services, pay-TV and broadband, while saving money on building and operating its networks. The agreement, which DETROIT--General Motors Co announced new recalls of 1.5 million vehicles on Monday and in a virtually unprecedented public admission by a GM chief executive, Mary Barra acknowledged the company fell short in catching faulty ignition switches linked to 12 deaths. “Something went wrong with our process in this instance, and terrible things happened,” she told employees in a video message posted online. Barra said the company is changing how it handles defect investigations and recalls. In the last two months, GM has recalled more than 3.1 million vehicles in the United States and other markets. The actions started with last month’s recall of more than 1.6 million vehicles for faulty ignition switches. The latest recalls cover airbag wiring harnesses, brake parts and other components across several models. The Detroit automaker said on Monday it would take a $300 million charge in the first quarter, primarily to cover the costs related to the ignition-switch recall and the three new recalls. Barra previously apologized for GM’s failure to comes as the French market undergoes a similar transformation, could also spark more consolidation within Spain as players such as France’s Orange seek out acquisitions to avoid falling behind. Orange has been linked with Jazztel, Spain’s fourth-biggest telecoms operator, while Yoigo, owned by Sweden’s Teliasonera, is also seen as a likely target, analysts say. Shares in Vodafone were up 1.4 percent in midday trading, outperforming the FTSE 100 index, and shareholders have generally been supportive. “Historically, Vodafone has been a pure mobile operator,” Henri Tcheng, a partner at consultants BearingPoint said. “But the future of telecoms includes convergence between very highspeed broadband, mobile and fixed so I would describe this as a compulsory move for Vodafone. “It is quite a high valua- A woman walks past an Ono shop in Leganes, near Madrid, Spain on Monday. tion, but in any given country the cable operator is in a unique place for mobile operators. So even if it is expensive, it is not a bad deal.” Ono, which had been in the process of preparing for a stock market flotation, has 1.9 million customers on its network that covers 70 percent of Spain, or 7.2 million households out of a total of around 16 million. Having built the network later than other cable and telecom companies, Ono can achieve broadband speeds of up to 200 megabits per second, or up to 20 times the average of rival networks. Chevrolet cars are seen at a GM dealership in Miami, Florida in this file photo from August 12, 2010. catch the faulty ignition switches sooner. In Monday’s video, she said GM is “conducting an intense review of our internal processes and will have more developments to announce as we move forward.” The decade-long process that led to last month’s ignition-switch recall of such older GM models as the 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion has led to government criminal and civil investigations, congressional hearings and class-action lawsuits in the United States and Canada. All ask why GM took so long to address a problem it has said first came to its attention in 2001. Barra said on Monday that the company was working with the supplier of the ignition switches, Delphi Automotive, to add a second production line for replacement parts and that customers would receive a detailed notice by mail during the second week of April. The latest recalls cover more than 1.5 million newer crossover utility vehicles, luxury sedans and full-size vans. While there were reports of engine compartment fires in two dealerowned Cadillac XTS sedans, the company said it has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the three new recalls. GM said the latest recalls include 1.18 million midsized crossovers to repair an issue that could lead to the nondeployment of side airbags. It said it will repair the wiring harness of seatmounted side airbags. Affected are some 20082009 and all 2010-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC And its footprint in more rural areas fits well with the superfast network Vodafone is currently co-building with Orange in major cities including Barcelona and Madrid. Vodafone said on Monday it would not commit to a second stage of the roll-out with Orange. Acadia crossovers, some 2009 and all 2010-2013 Chevrolet Traverses and some 2008-2009 and all 2010 Saturn Outlooks. Most of the vehicles were sold in the United States, but some are in Canada and Mexico. The automaker also is recalling 303,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana full-size vans to replace plastic material in the passenger instrument panel to meet federal head-impact crash standards for unbelted passengers, a spokesman said. Affected are vans from model years 2009 through 2014 that are rated to carry up to 10,000 pounds including the vehicle’s own weight, the spokesman said. Most were sold in the United States, but also in Canada, Mexico and other markets. In the XTS, a brake booster pump wiring issue can lead to overheating, melting of plastic parts and a possible engine compartment fire, the spokesman said. There were two reports of fires in unsold cars on dealer lots in June and September last year as well as two cases of melted components. 27 HAVANA--Cuba is laying plans to move to a single currency, a reform that many feel is one of the toughest challenges facing President Raul Castro as he tries to kick-start the Communist country’s moribund economy. For years Cuba has had two currencies -- the peso (CUP), in which most wages are paid and local goods priced, and the convertible peso (CUC), used in tourism, foreign trade and some stores carrying imported goods. The peso, says the government, will remain and the CUC will become history. Economists applaud the government plan, but secrecy over the all-important details of how and when the change will come is causing some anxiety in the country. News this month that state companies were ordered to prepare for unification and that personnel are being trained for what the government dubs “Day Zero” has added to the worry. Cuba is a country where almost the entire economy is in state hands and most prices fixed. Companies must exchange convertible currency and CUCs, pegged to the dollar, with the government at the official exchange rate of one peso, while the CUC has been valued for years at 24 pesos by state-run exchange offices. Which currency to hold on to, if any, has become the talk of the town. “Since I have no idea what is going on I have decided to spread my money among many currencies, like the dollar and euro,” Raul, who runs a Havana restaurant, said, refusing to give his last name as by law he can only accept local currency. “The clients pay with whatever money they have, and I work out the exchange rate,” Raul said with a laugh as he stood at the door of his Havana business. Foreign and domestic economists are unanimous that the current monetary system and fixed exchange rates mask inefficiencies, make accounting difficult and undermine other reforms. But they also believe unifying the currencies is perhaps the most difficult and socially disruptive of a series of market-oriented reforms. 28 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Regular: one insertion $5 /full week (6x) $25. Highlighted (border around ad): one insertion $7 /full week (6x) $35. Commercial rate (grey block): $65 for one full week. Nissan X-trail 2004, automatic for sale. Price $5,000. Call:520-5094. 2003 Toyota Corolla, manual windows, 17” rims, A/C, CD player, $4,000. 2005 Hyundai HD65 Dump Truck, A/C, power windows, in perfect working condition. Asking $11,000. Tel:524-4636. 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander, automatic, in good condition. Price $7,300 negotiable. Call:581-6764. 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara, silver, standard jeep. Asking $7,000. Call:554-0282 or 559-0569. body kit, orange color, standard transmission, needs minor repairs. For more information contact:586-7015. 2007 Nissan Tiida, fully loaded, automatic, $6,500 negotiable. 1998 Ford Windstar, automatic, in good condition, engine needs work, driving, $1,500 negotiable. Call:520-7392. 2008 Nissan Almera fully loaded, in great condition, price negotiable. 2003 Chrysler Sebring, luxurious, in great condition, price negotiable. Call to make an offer, 587-7840 or 526-7815. 2008 Nissan Almera, 4 cylinder, automatic, dual airbags, white, A/ C, all powers, radio, low mileage, excellent condition, inspection until February 2016. Price $5,800 negotiable Tel:581-0337. 2008 Toyota Yaris, automatic, 80km, $4,500 negotiable. Tel:(011)590-690-82-94-22. 2009 Toyota Yaris, cold A/C, automatic, alarm, new tires, low miles, inspection until 2016, color silver, very clean and well maintained, Sedan model. Call:524-7470. 2010 Kia Sportage, in great condition, ready to go Aux, power windows and CD player. Serious enquires only!! Call for information:526-3294. model. New shocks, breaks, wheels, seats, roof and radio. $10,000 or nearest cash offer. Call Tracy 523-6681. For sale:Hyundai Sonata 2007, white, excellent condition low millage. Everything original from fabric supper good condition. Very good deal. Call:553-2168/522-5253 Pay drive and go. For sale:Lexus ES 350, well equipped, only 21,750 miles, like new. Call:520-1760. Ford Fiesta 2011, like new, under warranty, silver, automatic, lady driven, sold by owner, $13,000. Tel:553-8578 or 520-8578. Hyundai Santa Fe, 2006, automatic, first owner, in very good condition, $8,800. Call:554-8407. Boutique closed, leftover inventory, brand new clothing and shoes from Spain and Germany, all together 100 pieces and 45 pieces of shoes, good price. Call:586-7081. For sale:Lifting slings for crane trucks and crane operators, different lengths and widths. Priced to go fast!! Call:522-1952. For sale:Sofa bed $125, vacuum cleaner $20, shower door $50, small round table $25. Tel:5421851 or 553-3061. 2 times BCD Kaila Marrs women’s small $200. Also Scubapro wet suit $50. Call:(011)590690-88-93-23. Engineering Business for sale. All inventory, NV, machineries, 3 vehicles and tools included. The business is operating at the moment. Price $80,000 or best offer. Serious inquires call:5266138 3 bedroom/3.5 bath house in Mary’s Fancy on 1800m2 land for US$395,000. Front commercial road side land 765m2 for US$195,000. Great Investment opportunity. Call:520-6786 for appointment. Oysterpond French side for sale by owner, Villa 180m2, 3 bedroom with terrace 250m2, land 2005m2. Information: www.digi-post.com/hugo Pricing Classifieds with photo: personal: $40 per week (max. 30 words with one picture) Commercial: $85 per week (max. 30 words with one picture) apartment, two bedrooms, 2 bathroom, elegantly, furnished, 24/7 security, gym, pool, excellent social areas. Panoramic view. Available April 1st. No brokers please! Fo r more information:(1721)588-7462/ 544-4498. Pelican Key:Aggressively reduced 2 bedroom/2,5 bath condo, own garage for immediate sale. Fully furnished & equipped, fantastic kitchen, common pool. Valid appraisal: $562.000. Priced to sell at $395,000. Call fast:(1721)522-5131. Cole Bay, Almond Grove:2 bedroom, 2 bath furnished with combedroom, 2½ bathrooms mon pool, $2,000. And 2 bedsplit level home, Fully room/2 bath furnished $2,500 with Furnished. Newly interior 24/7 security. Call:581-6418. designed by celebrity designer, $340,000. Must Cole Bay, lagoon garden big 1 See! Dawn to Dusk N.V. By bedroom/1 bath furnished, close to appointment only, call Dawn the pool with terrace and common pool, furnished $1,400 monthly or (1721)587-8619. unfurnished $1,150. Call:581-6418. Urgent sale by owner. Rice Hill Garden 1909m2, excellent view. Cupecoy Beach Club, studio The right place for a dream house, $1,500. 2 bedroom $2,800. 2 bed$175,000. Contact:580-2184, 553- room $3,000 with common pool and security. Available May 1st. 1184, 586-3509. Call:581-6418. Cupecoy private home, May 1, 2014, Two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, swimming pool, fenced (1)2 bedroom/1 bathroom apart- yard, gated parking, new kitchen, ment in Oyster Pond Estates, quiet office, laundry, $3,000, yard, pool neighborhood with spacious rooms maintenance, satellite TV, Internet. with A/C and rolling system shutters. Call:(721)520-1042/520-1029, Price $1,000 & 1 month deposit.Avail- cupecoyvilla@gmaiI.com able immediately Call:520-5074. For rent:Point Piroutte, furnished, 1 & 2 bedrooms, affordable for one bedroom with common pool, rent in St. Peters and Middle Re- $1,050 per month. Call:587-4464 gion. Price range $500-$600. or 520-4464. Call:586-7874. For rent:Saunders, Betty’s Es1 bedroom Cole Bay next to Al- tate, Poinsettia Road, 2 bedroom, mond Grove residential area fully 2 bathroom, semi furnished with furnished totally renovated, new 2 beds, 2 A/C’s, fridge, stove, prikitchen, bath tiles etc, available vate parking. Available April 1st. April 1st, $750 per month. Call Rent $1,050, utilities not included. 554-4002 or 526-9146. Call:548-4297/588-4058. rent:2 1 studio fully furnished including warehouses, approximately utilities US$700, in Pointe Blanche. 240m² each, $2,000/month 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment unand $4,000 deposit each. furnished US$1,200, Cole Bay. 4 Phone:580-0889. bedroom/2 bath house with own yard, unfurnished US$1,600, St. L.B. Scot Road:3 bedroom, 2 Beacon Hill:Oceanfront condo’s. John’s. Call:520-6786. bathroom unfurnished apartment Great location, gated commuwith spacious open living area nity. 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms. 3 bedroom, 2 bath house, kitchen, and kitchen. Quiet area within a Call:580-4852. dining/living room, store room, 2 car gated property with ample parking. garage, 2 porches, unfurnished, Call:588-7962 for more information/ Cole Bay, Lagoon Garden, on the quiet area, nice view, Betty’s Es- site visit. lagoon, nice apartment with 1 bed- tate. Price $1,200. Available immeroom, 1 bath and studio, common diately. Call:556-7620/581-2808. Large, upstairs 2 bedroom fully pool, $195,000. Call:581-6418. air conditioned house. Located in Almond Grove, furnished 1 a secure, private, enclosed yard/ Cupecoy:Brand new 1 bedroom bedroom, bath, kitchen, terrace, private parking. Location:Middle fully furnished condo near the parking, ocean views, $1,200 plus Region on the main road. $1,050 beach, restaurants & bars. Proper- GEBE. Call:554-0849. p/m negotiable. Serious callers only. ty with pool, amazing ocean view, Call:520-4372. security & fitness. Price $200,000. Almond Grove:Single house Storage Call:(011)590-690-77-56-70. for rent, unfurnished 2 bedroom, 2 bath, large covered terrasse, Warehouse, 103 L.B. Scott For sale:2 building, 2 apartments plenty parking and fenced garden. Road. We store it all big or on each. $540K. Located within 3 Very nice view, US$3,000. Please small, very easy access. We have yard space for cars and minutes, driving within 3 minutes call:587-2205. contianers. Call driving distance from Philipsburg. Great location and investment. Almond Grove:Spacious open today:(721)527-3326/5865458. Please call:586-3375. living area, gourmet kitchen, 2 bedroom/2 bath, beautiful ocean Maho:La Terrasse, one bedroom One bedroom condo, view from privacy of large covered fully furnished, high floor, terrace, Blue Mall. Great ocean view. terrace. Airco, full laundry, shut- beautiful ocean views, pool, ocean, For quick sale below market ters, 2 car parking. $2,500/month. beach, garage, 24/7 security. Availprice, $375,000. C a l l : ( 7 2 1 ) 5 2 3 - 0 9 1 0 , able April thru October (7 months), palmvillasbc@yahoo.com Phone:(1721)523-7049 or $1,350/monthly. Includes A/C & 690-69-72-16. cable. Call:(721)522-6096. Apartments for rent. Quiet area, La Terrasse, Maho, one bedroom close to Philipsburg. Ready to New 1 & 2 bedroom semi furnished apartment. Great investment re- move in, fully furnished. 2 bedroom apartment for rent in nice quiet area. turn, common swimming pool, very $1,650/month. Free satellite TV Call for more information:586-7874. secure. Sale price $185,000 for and internet, private parking, gated, quick sale. Phone:(1721)523-7049 intercom, nice view! Tel:554-8979. One bedroom studio apartor 690-69-72-16. ment for rent. Newly built, beautiful bedroom, Beacon Hill for rent, unfurnished and lovely designed with ceramic three bath, town house with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms unit, tiles, own private porch. $450 per spectacular views. Located new kitchen and bathrooms, large month, light and water included. near the medical school with porch and laundry room, $1,150. Contact:553-5987, 550-99751 or excellent rental income Call:581-5590. 547-0290. potential, deeded land, security, and large community Brand new furnished studios Cole Oyster Pond (1 unit) one bedroom pool. Price reduced to Bay. $600 centrally located. Maho: apartment with washer & dryer, air$310,000. Contact:(1721) Lovely, well kept studio, $950. 1 co, microwave and security alarm. bedroom apartment $1,350. Both US$700 or furnished $800 monthly. 524-6757. fully furnished, close to all ameni- Call:527-6112 or 520-8658. ties. Call to come view 526-3631. 4 Apartment building for Sale, guaranteed 10% Return On Investment. Priced for immediate sale at US$445K. Possible for expansion, ocean view. Call:520-6786. Pelican Key for rent:Single house with infinity pool, big lounge fully equipped kitchen, master bedroom/master bath, office. Upper level 2 bedroom, 2 bath, big storage place, US$2,800. Tel:587-2205. Pelican Key, for rent, brand new townhouse, furnished, 2 bedrooms, 2 bath, terrace 50 sq.m with panoramic view, US$2,000. Please call:587-2205. Pelican Key, Rancho Cielo, 3 bedroom condominium for rent, 3 bath, partly furnished and common pool. Ocean View, $2,000 monthly. First & last security deposit required. Call:526-0375. bedroom apartment available. Furnished, A/C, cable TV, flat screen TV & DVD, wash machine, garden, private entrance, on a hill, no pets. Fresh! US$950 excluding electricity and cable. Call:553-0221. Email: pelicandreams@yahoo.com Pelican Key:Furnished, beautiful ocean view, single house with garden and private pool, big lounge, fully equipped kitchen, master bed/master bath, office, upper level 2 bedroom/2 bath, US$2,800 monthly. Please call:587-2205. Pelican Key:Large 1 bedroom apartment for rent. Fully furnished & equipped. Steps to beach and pool. Fantastic ocean view, onsite security, $1,800 per month, long term. Call:526-5278. Email: rjhennessey@rogers.com Pelican Key:Single house for rent with private pool and garden, partially furnished. US$3,000 a month. Please call:587-2205. (No agents please). Pelican Key:Very nice 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with solarium terrace and large covered terrace overlooking the ocean, in excellent condition, $2,100. Call:544-2251 or 588-3300. Pointe Blanche, Mount Vista:1 bedroom bungalow, self contained, fantastic ,furnished high class, pool, garden and absolute best view in SXM. Includes Gebe and internet $1,500 plus deposit. Call:5230709. Pointe Blanche:1 bedroom/1 bath, fully furnished, in hotel complex, common pool, nice view, balcony, $980, immediately available plus 1 bedroom/1 bath in private villa, fully furnished, long/short term. Call:(1721)522-5131. Pointe Blanche:Nicely reduced! Great view! Gated 2 bedroom/2 bath apartment, unfurnished, fully equipped, aircos, storage, beautiful kitchen, balconies, generator, free internet, hurricane shutters, immediately available, $1,180, parking on premises. Call:(1721)522-5131. Simpson Bay Beach! Beautiful, bright 3 bedroom/2,5 bath house, downstairs, new kitchen, renovated, security bars, huge living, storage, parking, $1,750. Also 2(small)bedroom/1(small)bath apartment, $980 both unfurnished. Call:(1721)522-5131. Simpson Bay Beach:2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, across the beach, parking and furnished $2,500 per month. Call:581-2278. Simpson Bay Yacht Club, very nice and totally renovated 1 bedroom, 1 bath with spectacular lagoon view with 24/7 security. $1,800 unfurnished or $2,000 furnished. Call:581-6418. Simpson Bay, Puerta Del Sol, great studio with very nice furniture’s, balcony, lagoon view, private parking and security, $1,500 monthly. Call:581-6418. Simpson Bay:Short term rentals(hostel rooms), $20ppp night, $120/pp week, $450/per month, private room $59/per night, $350/per week. 1 bedroom furnished place $650/month including utilities plus deposit. From April 1st. Call:550-6820. Simpson Bay:Student housing, private air conditioned units with common area, fully furnished, utilities, cable, Wi-Fi, cold/hot showers, washer/dryer, safe in unit, 2 minutes from the beach, short term available. Call:553-2706. South Reward:3 bedroom/2 bathroom, very spacious home, hot/cold water, A/C, ceiling fans, big yard, private parking and gated. Ocean view excellent, neighborhood and very quiet. Available immediately. $1,300/monthly. Call:522-0888. Spacious beautiful villa style 1 bedroom apartment located in Cole Bay with beautiful view. Conveniently situated near shopping & restaurants, $900-$1,350 with satellite and free internet. Serious inquiries only. Call:586-3011 Weymouth Hill:Spacious semifurnished 3 bedroom house. Amazing view! 2 bathrooms, Gebe $1,800. Mary’s Fancy:3 bedroom, unfurnished family house, 3.5 bathrooms, private porch for each room! Impressive storage space! $1,800. Call:586-3631. N.V. in Statia, is seeking one Baker. Baker must be proficient in the making of Cakes, Pastries and a variety of Breads. Interested persons must call:(599)3182469 or (599)523-7514. looking for an experienced commercial diver with underwater experienced, diving skills a must. Contact Deon at (1721)554-2979. Playschool located at Poinsettia Road #10, Betty’s Estate is in need of additional staff. Qualifications are:SPW or LBO diplomas, permanent papers or Dutch passport a must. Contact:580-8955/ 548-3839. is looking for mechanic with 3 years minimum experience. Please call:522-2552. Atlantis Casino looking to hire a chef with experience and must have valid papers. Call:5239891. I am looking for a job as a seller, housekeeping, cleaning or babysitting. Serious and flexible woman. Call:586-7081. Opinion THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Huge Flea Market@NTBC New Testament Baptist Church on March 29th, from 9am-5pm, Household items, plants, clothing on sale@great discounted prices. Everything must go. Call:5234436/586-5544 for further information. FOR ONLY $175 FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR $95 FOR 6 MONTHS Dear Editor, Lack of detention and prison space result in the release of criminals: Modular jail/custody facilities may be short-term answer A trickle of suspects has started to depart the national prison facility in Pointe Blanche. The Prosecution Service announced last Friday that two suspects were sent home because of overcrowding. Due to the rebuilding of parts of the prison, there were less than 30 detention places. The suspects were detained for fire-arm possession and one suspected of human smuggling. The suspects are now allowed to await the remainder of the investigation into their cases at home. Three prisoners, who had nearly completed their sentences were released in order to create space in the national prison. In addition, as a result of detention space, the Prosecution Service chose not to take into pre-trial detention two persons suspected of money laundering. An urgent meeting has taken place between the Head Prosecutor, Chief of Police and Prison Director with respect to finding a solution and drafting an advice for the Minister of Justice. Crime is one of the great challenges for democratic governance. The lack of prison space and detention holding areas is not only a St. Maarten challenge, but also a regional one. Caribbean prison services have met to discuss this and many other issues related to the prison system. Prison reform is seen as essential in order to meet the challenges of corrections now and in the future. Some regional countries are promoting the use of new and emerging technological advances in corrective services. The Bahamas for example has introduced an Electronic Monitoring Programme to reduce the prison population According to the report, “Prison: problems and challenges for the Americas,” commissioned by the Organization of American States (OAS), the incarceration of millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean is a major security problem that manifests itself into prison overcrowding among many other challenges, including social rehabilitation and reintegration to prepare inmates to re-enter civilian life. The United States of America prison population is the largest in the world. Prison over-population and overcrowding are problems that few countries manage to avoid. The next Parliament of country St. Maarten will have to delve into the Dear Editor, Reading in the local media the saga that is going on about zoning plans for Simpson Bay, the useless community meeting that was held in February, building a pier in Simpson Bay, first of all, before you even think about destroying our peaceful village, start by fixing our roads, our sidewalks and stop filling in our lagoon. This corrupted government seems to destroy, don’t matter the cost, there is no more places for them to sell, no more projects to enrich themselves and their family; first they were focused on Cay Bay, that didn’t sit well with Cay Bay residents, that went calm. We of Simpson Bay will not allow it either, my ancestry originated from this once peaceful fishing village, which is the second city of St. Maarten. Furthermore, I don’t vote for none of them, never did, never will and I encourage everybody to do the same. Back then people said a lot of bad things about our village; we were of no interest to these crooks. Now they want to just do what they want with our village. I’ll die first the day they think that they going to put a pier here, and in response to Mr Laurence with his article in The Herald of last week: you were the first one who started the filling of the lagoon (Snoopy Island, Isla del sol) and also the filled-in lagoon from where Scotiabank is today, who did you fill it in for? Now today only rich people own expensive condos on our filled-in lagoon, and to Madame Prime Minister, you are a Simpson Bay woman and if you have any power to stop this zoning plan for Simpson Bay make an effort to do so because elections are just around the corner but whoever comes out, this must be stopped . J.H. Full name withheld on author’s request matter of our prison system and look at ways and means to fight crime and how our prison system will look 10 to 20 years from now. The previously mentioned report says the prison systems in Latin America and the Caribbean are in a profound crisis. The obvious deterioration of our prisons, the report says, is not just the fault of prison authorities; instead it is a function of the low priority attached to this issue in the public policies that states pursue. “In almost every country of the hemisphere, prison problems are invisible to the public eye, mainly because the citizenry – and therefore policies – have focused more on punishing those who commit crime than on rehabilitating them. Where policies on crime are concerned, many factors and combinations of factors have conspired to cause this crisis.” The Cayman Islands, in order to meet international prison and detention human rights standards, is investing in building a modular custody/jail prefabricated facility to house persons. The structures are portable and have a life span of 20+ years. The facility is semi-permanent and can be relocated to another site at minimal expense. The facility is custom designed and can withstand 150 mile per hour wind speeds – category 5 hurricane. The company that 29 can supply these structures is Eagle Modular which has created similar structures for locations in Canada and the United States. The mentioned structures could be a temporary solution to current prison and detention housing challenges, as well as having juvenile prisoners housed separately. Roddy Heyliger 30 By Eugene Robinson WASHINGTON -- Here is what Democrats should learn from their party’s loss in a special House election in Florida last week: Wishywashy won’t work. Republicans are obviously going to make opposition to the Affordable Care Act the main theme of their campaigns this fall. Democrats will be better off if they push back hard – really hard – rather than seek some nonexistent middle ground. The contest between Democrat Alex Sink and Republican David Jolly in Florida’s 13th Congressional District was almost like a laboratory experiment. The House seat was held for decades by the late C.W. “Bill” Young, a Republican, but voters are evenly balanced between the two parties. Sink was better known, having narrowly lost a race for governor in 2010; Jolly had deeper roots in the community. Neither displayed an overabundance of charisma. Jolly’s narrow victory – he won by about 3,500 votes out of about 184,000 cast – is not a death knell for the Democratic Party’s prospects come autumn. But it does suggest Opinion how Democrats should not run in close races. Jolly has to run again in November, and if Sink gets another shot at him, I’d suggest she do things a bit differently. Jolly ran what amounted to a one-note campaign: Repeal Obamacare. Given the large number of retirees in the district, he hammered away with the untrue GOP claim that the health care law somehow weakens Medicare. Jolly followed his party’s leadership in declining to propose a coherent set of different health insurance reforms to replace the ACA. Sink defended President Obama’s signature achievement but added the caveat that she wants to “keep what’s right and fix what’s wrong.” This is the course of action most voters would prefer, according to opinion polls. But as a campaign position, “fix what’s wrong” sounds weak and equivocal – especially when contrasted with the bold GOP promise of repeal. That promise, of course, is dishonest. House Republicans have already staged 50 meaningless votes to repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act, knowing that none of the measures had a prayer of making it through the Senate. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Even if the GOP were to control both chambers, Obama would veto any repeal bill that reached his desk. Democrats facing close contests this fall should play offense on Obamacare, not defense. They should tell voters that the ACA is a landmark achievement – the biggest expansion of access to health care in decades, fulfilling a long-held progressive dream. They should accuse their GOP opponents of playing voters for fools by cynically pretending that repeal is just around the corner. Democrats should talk about what’s right with the ACA. They should talk about the millions of formerly uninsured Americans who now have coverage. They should talk about the millions of others who are covered for the first time under Medicaid. They should talk about the young people who are able to be covered under their parents’ policies. They should talk about the diabetics and cancer survivors who now cannot be denied coverage because of their conditions. The Democratic Party has long taken the position that no one should have to declare bankruptcy because of illness, that no one should have to choose between paying for medicine and paying the mortgage. If Democrats can’t proclaim these beliefs with pride, why on earth are they running? Being positive rather than negative on Obamacare won’t be enough, however. Democrats also need to give their voters a compelling reason to go to the polls – and that means explaining, in the most urgent terms, just what is at stake. Today’s Republican Party is not “conservative” by any rea- sonable definition of the word. It is a radical party seeking to dramatically alter the social compact by which we have lived for decades. Republicans, if they could, would slash Social Security benefits and turn Medicare into a voucher program. They’re the ones who threaten the safety net for seniors, not Democrats. Republicans refuse to invest in our decaying infrastructure. They want to do away with government regulation that has given us cleaner air, healthier food, safer workplaces. They seek ultimate control over women’s reproductive rights and have already made it oppressively difficult to terminate a pregnancy in many states. Instead of comprehensive immigration reform, they propose “self-deportation.” The Republican agenda is dangerously wrong for America. The majority coalition that elected Obama twice isn’t accustomed to voting in midterm elections. Democrats need to explain why this year has got to be an exception. By Fareed Zakaria was slipping from his grasp. After the Olympics ended, he acted swiftly, sending his forces into Crimea. It was a blunder. In taking over Crimea, Putin has lost Ukraine. Since 1991, Russia has influenced Ukraine through proRussian politicians who were bribed by Moscow to listen to its diktats. That path is now blocked. Princeton’s Stephen Kotkin points out that in the last elections, in 2010, Viktor Yanukovych, representing to some extent the pro-Russian forces, won Crimea by nearly a million votes, which is why he won the election overall. In other words, once you take Crimea out of Ukraine – which Putin has done – it becomes virtually impossible for a pro-Russian Ukrainian to ever win the presidency. Remember Ukraine is divided but not in half. Without Crimea, only 15 percent of the population will be ethnic Russian. In fact, the only hope that Russia will reverse course in Crimea comes precisely because Putin might realize that his only chance of maintaining influence in Ukraine is by having Crimea – with its large Russian majority – as part of that country. As important as losing Ukraine, Putin has triggered a deep anti-Russian nationalism around his borders. There are 25 million ethnic Russians living outside of Russia. Countries such as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, with significant Russian minorities, must wonder whether Putin could foment secessionist movements in their countries as well – and then use the Russian army to “protect” them. In any case, Russia has had to bribe countries with offers of cheap gas to join its “Eurasian Union.” I suspect the cost to Moscow just went up. Beyond the near-abroad, Russia’s relations with countries such as Poland and Hungary, once warming, are now tense and adversarial. NATO, which has been searching for a role in the post-Cold War era, has been given a new lease on life. Moscow will face some sanctions from Washington and, almost certainly, the European Union as well. In a rare break with Russia on the U.N. Security Council, China refused to condone Russia’s moves in Crimea. Moscow’s annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia was recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela and two island nations in the South Pacific. That might be as many as will recognize the annexation of Crimea. I have generally been wary of the calls for American intervention in any and every conflict around the world. But this is different. The crisis in Ukraine is the most significant geopolitical problem since the end of the Cold War. Unlike many of the tragic ethnic and civil wars that have bubbled up over the last three decades, this one involves a great global power, Russia, and thus can and will have far-reaching consequences. And it involves a great global principle – whether national boundaries can be changed by brute force. If it becomes acceptable to do so, what happens in Asia, where there are dozens of contested boundaries – and several great powers that want to remake them? President Obama must rally the world, push the Europeans, and negotiate with the Russians. In this crisis, America truly is the indispensable nation. WASHINGTON -- The crisis in Ukraine was produced by two sets of blunders, neither emanating from Washington. The European Union’s vacillations and, most significantly of course, Russia’s aggression created the problem. But it will be up to President Obama to show the strength and skill to resolve it. For years, the European Union has had an ambivalent attitude toward Ukraine, causing instability in that country and opposition from Russia. The EU’s greatest source of power is the prospect of membership in its union. This magnet has transformed societies in the south and east of Europe, creating stability, economic modernization and democracy. For that reason, it is a weapon that should be wielded strategically and seriously. It was not in the case of Ukraine. Ukraine is the most important country in the postSoviet space that Russia seeks to dominate politically. If Europe wanted to help Ukraine move west, it should have planned a bold, generous and swift strategy of attraction. Instead, the EU conducted lengthy, meandering negotiations with Kiev, eventually offering it an association agreement mostly filled with demands that the country make massive economic and political reforms before getting much in the way of access, trade or aid with Europe. But let’s not persist in believing that Moscow’s moves have been strategically brilliant. Vladimir Putin must have watched with extreme frustration in February as a pro-Russian government was toppled and Ukraine Opinion THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 31 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, sayeth the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. JEREMIAH 29:11 It is with our deepest sadness we announce the sudden passing of our beloved mother, adopted mother, grandmother, godmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend: Dear Editor, Reading in today’s (Monday) edition of The Daily Herald about the algae blooms in Simpson Bay Lagoon, one has to ask yourself whether there is a correlation regarding the occurrence of algae in the two areas that were most heavily silted during the construction of the causeway? At both ends of the causeway during its construction there was an almost constant flow of solid material in solution from broken dredging pipes to poorly contained settlement areas. Passing through the lagoon by boat you could see large slicks of sediment washing away from both sites due to the discolouration of the water with no containment booms to prevent the spread. If you snorkel in the lagoon you can see a good two inches of silt in these areas covering all the flora and fauna, literally choking the life out of it by smothering it and cutting out the light also. The sea grasses and other plants covering the lagoon floor produce oxygen into the water which supports life from the microscopic to the fish and birds we see every day. It is a delicate balance that has evolved over thousands of years and that can be disturbed sometimes irreversibly by man’s actions. So what I’m wondering is this: as algae blooms are often seen in contaminated, polluted or nutrient-poor water can we conclude that the extensive impact of large construction in the lagoon has led directly to signs of sickness in the lagoon’s ecosystems? Furthermore, could any further development including the present filling-in with sand at the Western end of the causeway actually tip the balance too far to the point where nature’s ability to restore the equilibrium is unable to redress the damage already done? Minister Lake talks about transparency and responsibility of governance, of listening to the voices of Dear Editor, Because of unscrupulous behaviour and because it has become the thing to do, and taking into consideration the latest developments in the political arena, I am asking myself if a fall of government is in the making. Let me mention a few reasons which directed my thoughts. There was never a divorce between the UP and DP, it was a separation of bed and board; even though it is said that politics make strange bed fellows it would be future political suicide for whatever is left of DP and NA if they would attempt to form a coalition. There are four independents who have indicated that money could be a motivator and we are assuming where the money is supposed to be; there are department heads already indicating which direction they are ready to take and people retiring from their jobs with the intention of going into politics, or eventually taking up a ministerial position; quitting, because of possible conflict of interest. All of the above which has become public secret are indications why all of a sudden the hurricane season could be a threat to the election. Because of all the reasons given above and more, one party feels strong and wants elections as quick as possible to avoid the other parties to pick up momentum and not wait till August or September. Even though there is still a marriage like I repeated before, “it is in no politician’s interest for the other politician to be successful.” So, are we looking towards SWW-IV or early new elections? Again, the people are not in the minds of the politicians. I will never forget “Max and them goin’ get mad but I have to do what I have to do.” And, have you noticed people, that there is a sickness in the coconut trees? How long ago were those trees planted and are they not a threat to the other plants on the island? Russell A. Simmons the people, well I think it is time to listen to the voice of the lagoon and put a halt to any further filling or development until the results of the test samples collected by the Nature Foundation are published. Don’t forget that the causeway was built without being debated in Parliament, without the Public being able to comment, without detailed plans being on public display, without publishing the financing or contracting and with Ministers denying it was going ahead right up to the moment the first pile was driven in. A precedent has been set. Andy Murphy-Laws CLAUDINE SOLAURE ARRONDELL (Affectionately known as TUTSY) Born March 4th 1966, rested on March 11th 2014 Daughter of Mr. Albert Jacques Arrondell and Mrs. Donat Arrondell-Glasgow both beceased. Left missing her are: Her children:Mariska Arrondell (France) and Chevez Arrondell (Sxm) Grand daughter: Taiina Arrondell (sxm) God Children: Letitcia, Britney and Kyle Adopted children: Guillaume (Sxm), Germain (Sxm), Marie (Gpe), Junior (France), Sadie (Sxm), Jeanelle (Sxm) and many more too numerous too mention Brothers: Donald Glasgow (UK.), Luc Arrondell (Martinique) and Eddie Alexandre (Sxm), Mario Biabiany Sisters: Chantal Arrondell (Sxm), Minerve Clements (Sxm), Brigette Arrondell (Sxm), Rose Davis (Sxm) and Marie-Claude Brooks (Gpe) Aunts and Uncles: Anaiis Hanson – Gombs and fam (Sxm), Pulcherie Hanson- Gibbs and fam (Sxm), Haiis Hanson and fam (Sxm), Constance Hanson – Gombs and fam (Sxm), Albert Hanson and fam (Sxm), Clive Hanson and fam (Sxm) and President Aline Hanson. Close Cousins: Marjorie Duzon-Glasgow and siblings, Modest Glasgow and siblings, Edossie Glasgow and siblings, Louis Glasgow and siblings, Ferdinand Glasgow and siblings, Gloria O’Brien and siblings, and many more too numerous to mention. Her in–Laws: Teresa Kabondo-Glasgow (Zimbabwe), Phara Augustin (Sxm), Arlette Arrondell (Martinique), Ursel Biabiamy (Sxm) Nieces and Nephews: Wendy, Stacey, and Kasey Alexandre (France/USA), Jasmine and Janice Richardson (Sxm), Jennifer and Gregory Arrondell (Martinique), Naliona, Adrie, Adrienne and Minairis Simon/Clements (Holland), Shana, Sean, Shadana Arrondell (Sxm), Nikisha Henry-Glasgow (Sxm), Daryl and Dimitri Glasgow (England), Talic Kabondo-Glasgow (Zimbabwe), Nikisha, Ayisha and Kiki Davis (Sxm) Vanessa Brooks (Sxm) Eight Great nephews and nieces Very close friends and collegues too numerous to mention in Sxm, Anguilla and Guadeloupe. Collectivite de Saint Martin and The Toast Masters French and Dutch Side and all of her loving Neighbours. The late Claudine (Tutsy) Arrondell, was related to the: Arrondell, Glasgow, Clements, Alexandre, Davis, Brooks, Fleming, Kabondo, Chittick, Carty, O’brien, Atalide, Cocks, Beauperthuy, Lake, Flanders, Jermain, Hanson, Rohan, Kruythoff, Barry, Viotty, Brill, Gombs, Woods, Barrot, Larmony, Arnell, Simon, Duncan families. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday. March 19th 2014, at Christ Ambassadors Ministries in Concordia. Viewing from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm (Tributes 1.00 pm to 2:00 pm) Service commences at 2:00-3:30 pm Following the service, internment will take place at Marigot Cemetery. Transportation: There will be buses available to transport people from the parking lot of the Omni Sport Complex to the Church in Concordia and then to the Cemetary in Marigot. The buses will start running from 12:00 noon. Our sister, mother, the late Claudine S. Arrondell (Tutsy) was a very colourful person so we ask that people attending avoid dressing in black & white. Thank you. 32 Comics THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 By Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (March 18) – You’re easily inspired this year, and that can get profitable. Until August your career advances through creativity and social networking. Take time for love this summer, and romance flowers. After August, work action surges. Cut out the fluff, and focus on what you love. Build partnership and teamwork. Journal your emotions. Nurture health and spirituality with exercise and peace. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) – Today is an 8 – Tension eases naturally. Completion fosters creativity. Take advantage, and invent. A partner makes you laugh. Resist buying on impulse. Find a treasure in your own closet. Meditate on love, and it begins to show up everywhere. Taurus (April 20-May 20) – Today is a 9 – Domestic luxuries like candles and hot water don’t cost much. Treat yourself to blissful moments at minimal expense. Save up for your future. It could get romantic. You see a diamond in the rough. Gemini (May 21-June 20) – Today is a 7 – Act on short-term goals. Finish what you promised. Adapt to recent unexpected developments. Love definitely figures in the plan. Your past good deeds speak well for you. Compromise. There’s a reward available. Invest in your career. Cancer (June 21-July 22) – Today is a 6 – Beautify your home. Take a chance on romance, and make corrections as needed. Let your heart fly free. It may not fit your pictures. Let go of assumptions, and enjoy the ride. Kindle and rekindle love. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) – Today is a 7 – There’s a nice benefit coming in, and you have plenty to say about it. Don’t brag about how much you’ve made. Pay back a debt. Talk about your ideals for how it could be. Take an emotional inventory. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Today is a 9 – Encourage a change for the better, an endeavor for mutual profit. Compromise is required. Set up rules to insure fair competition. Follow through, don’t just talk about it. Make it sexy. Don’t give up. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) – Today is a 9 – Improve living conditions. Don’t disrupt your whole structure by upgrading workplace technology yet. A new idea needs work. The truth gets revealed. Use your imagination at home. Provide motivation, and stand firm on rules. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) – Today is a 7 – Cut entertainment spending, and wait a bit longer on a planned purchase. Consider an interesting suggestion. You’re in the middle of the action. Listen with fascination. Romance is kindled. A lovely moment presents itself. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) – Today is a 7 – You can charm your way through a maze. Discover the boundaries and limitations. Get help from friends with connections or special talents. Passions could flare. Hold your temper. There’s a lovely prize at the end. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – Today is a 7 – Plan for the long haul, but take action on immediate needs. Discard junk to make space for new possibilities. Ask interesting questions, like “what do I love?” You’re starting to figure it out. Make lists. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) – Today is an 8 – Flirt with a proposal without committing yet. Draw someone in with your charm. There may be hidden costs... you can play later if you want. Get into studies that develop new understanding. Dally around with an idea. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) – Today is a 7 – Let others know what you want. It may include confronting authority. Friends are there for you. Let your partner negotiate on your behalf. Love sets you free. Share your appreciation in secret notes. Send treats. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Dear Queenie, The other day I was cleaning out my husband’s car and I found a black lace bra under the seat. When I asked him about it he said he bought it for me for my birthday which was coming up in a few days and it was supposed to be a surprise. He said if I didn’t believe him he could show me the store where he got it and even the rack it was on. But it wasn’t my size and it didn’t have any store tags on it, but he said of course he took the tags off because it was going to be a gift. And I know he has lied to me before. Queenie, should I believe him this time?—Doubtful Dear Doubtful, Let’s see: The bra apparently was not gift-wrapped or even wrapped up at all, no tags on it, not your size (and I would assume your husband has a good idea what size bra you wear; even if he does not know the relevant number, he should be able to show the salesperson about what size you are) and not stashed safely in the car’s glove box or trunk, but just thrown on the floor of the car under the seat. And you know he has lied to you before. Why on earth would you even consider believing him this time? For that matter, why do you stay with this liar? Only notices of fund-raising events for non-profit or educational organisations will be placed in the Events/Notices column. Notices/Events should be sent to notices@thedailyherald.com in the format used on this page. Do not send fliers or press releases to this address. EVENTS Saturday, March 22 Youth Gathering 2K14 Organised by Joshua Generation Youth Ministries Place: Lord`s Chamber Ministries in Marigot Time: 8:00pm With performance by QUE from Trinidad, Castel, Kalisha, Torch, Jejo, DRJ and more. For more information call: 721 580-6796 / 0690 26.93.66 NOTICES Study Course Shiloh home care and personal assistance is registering children for a study course on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. For more information call: 0690 26 93 66 / 0590 87 78 80 or E-mail: shiloh971@gmail. com Volleyball Open United Volleyball Club is registering interested youngsters for the United Academy Open House at the St. Maarten Academy PSVE campus. All youngsters should wear sneakers and be prepared to participate in sports activities. For further information, call Keishan at 550-3435, Stephanie at 527-8146, or Rhoda at 520-1136. Volleyball St. Maarten Volleyball Association (SIMVA) invites senior volleyball players over the age of 15 to try out for the male and female volleyball teams that will represent St. Maarten in the ECVA senior championships in July and August. Practice sessions are on Monday and Thursday from 7:30-10:30pm at 7(/ Community 33 the PSVE gymnasium in Ebenezer Estate. Also reminding terfield’s parking lot or call Inez at 553-3020. Thank you for all volleyball enthusiasts that open practice continue every helping us to help the animals of the island. Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Registration for cycling schools Swim Classes Comité de Cyclisme Territorial de St. Martin (CCTSM) is Carib Swim Team is now registering persons interested in calling on parents to inscribe their children into a cycling team training at their pool in Cole Bay daily from 3:00 to school. Clubs and contact persons: Velo Club de Grand Case 8:00pm. Also registering students for “Intro to Swim Team” (VCG), St. Elmo Arnell (0690) 58.24.21; Jeunesse Cycliste lessons designed for person 5 years and older. Contact info@ de La Savane, Dany Dormoy (0690) 88.00.54 in French caribswimteam.org or 721-5817637 for more info. Quarter; SXM Sport Evasion, Jean Paul Rousseau (1-721) 580-6176 in Marigot; Association Sportif de Marigot, Steve Adult Classes Galvani (0690) 10.03.73; and Mo Trouble Cycling Club, Independent Learning Instructors are now registering stu- Robert Benders (1-721) 522-8433 in Dutch St. Maarten; or dents and adults courses in English Language, Book-Keep- Cycling Committee President Rigobert Benjamin (0690) ing & Accounting, GED and other. For more information 22.82.35. call 522-5318 or 542-2168. Household Survey Department of Statistics (STAT) is currently visiting every French Classes household/dwelling unit to gather basic information from The French Language Lab is now registering adults for an the occupants. For more information call tel. 549-0235 or Interactive French Beginner’s Course. This program caters email: statinfo@sintmaartengov.org to adults who wish to learn to speak French. Classes start April 8. Registration Deadline: April 3. For more informa- Swimming Classes tion, call 527 1209 or e-mail frenchsxm@outlook.com Mr. Busby Swim Instructor is now registering children and adults for swimming classes at Divi Little Bay on the beach. Swim, Snorkel, Scuba diving For more information call 524-5137 or email rawlybusby @ Team of the Alfredo Foundation for Swim, Snorkel & Scuba gmail.com. diving announces that 2014 class starts on April 6, at 9:00am at Divi Little Bay beach under the grape trees. This course is Pre-Selection Practice free of charge and is dedicated to the age group 16 to 40 with St. Martin PONY League reminds all players that pre-selecthe intention of encouraging every non-swimmer to fairly tion practice session have begun. Players are reminded that good swimmer to complete this summer course to become all selections will have to be formed by April 30. May 1, is a certified Padi Open Water Diver. Registration starts in the confirmation date of our participation to the Caribbean March. Send your request to: alfredofoundation.sxm@live. Zone Tournament. Practice will take place at John Cooper/ com Jose Lake Sr. Ballpark every Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 3:00-6:00pm. Practice for players on the French side Informational Workshops will be at Louis Vanterpool Stadium in Marigot on Tuesdays The Division for Educational Innovations in collaboration and Thursdays, 4:00-6:00pm. All players are reminded that with SIFMA invite parents/guardians of children 0-4 years only players in full practice uniform will be allowed on the and early childhood professionals to informational work- field and only players who attend practice regularly stand a shops. All workshops for the day-care centres in the vicin- chance to form part of the final selection. Players are also ity of Lower Princess Quarter will be held at the Belvedere reminded to take a copy of their passport to the Pony League Community Center on Tuesdays on Thursdays from March 6 office at Cannegieter Street 93, Philipsburg. to 20 between 7:00 and 9:00pm. Registration is free of cost and will take place at your child’s day-care centre/pre-school. Homework Guidance Study Buddy Homework Guidance Program is accepting Singers wanted students in need of assistance with their studies. Especially Les Miserables musical play is looking for potential and com- Milton Peters College and Sundial School students, primary mitted singers to participate in the choir and as solo singers. school fifth and sixth grade pupils. Students of other high If you want to be part of the rehearsals, please call 520-1737 schools can apply Contact: 522-0952/ 580-6862. to join. Sign up and vocal training is free. Afterschool Programme Fair Registration No Kidding With Our Kids Foundation has availability in St. Maarten Youth Council Association is registering organi- different age groups at its Retreat and Sucker Garden locazations and individuals for participation in their pre-Easter tions. For more information and registration, call 542-4910 Fair at the Rupert I Maynard Youth Community Center on or 542-4925, or e-mail: nokasa@caribserve.net . Saturday March 29 and April 5. Price per table: US$50 for one day, $ 80 for two days. For more information call 548- Female Soccer Team 5022, 550-8971, 559-0038 or email sxmyouthcouncil@hot- Oualichi Women’s Soccer Association is recruiting experimail.com. enced or new female soccer players. The Association has a youth team (age 6-12) and a women’s team (age 12 and up). Women’s Retreat For more information on practice days and possibilities: ouaLadies prayer group “God Answers Prayer” is now register- lichisoccer@gmail.com, mobile: 587-9180. Facebook: Oualing women for an All-day Women’s Retreat on Good Friday, ichi Women’s Soccer Team. April 18, at the Belair Community Centre from 10:00am to 4:00pm. All women are invited to attend this event. Speaker: Learn Something New Sharon van Arneman. Register now until April 2. Call 554- Kid Connect Activity Center in Cole Bay is, in addition to 9590 or email allbecauseofgrace@hotmail.com to register. our regular After-School programme, now offering “Learn Something New” After-School Programmes. Introduction to Donate Your Plates Cooking, Gardening and Table Manners are available afterSt. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, located at Front school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and on Saturdays. Street 7 (Speetjens alley) is accepting old license plates Cooking for adults is also now available. Call 522-8928, 526during opening hours on weekdays between 10:00am and 6152 or 581-4110. Email us your questions to fun@kcsxm. 4:00pm. Proceeds are used to finance museum educational com and visit our site www.kcsxm.com for more information. projects. For more information call 542 4917 After School Old Licence Plates Joann’s After School is now registering children ages 4-16 Please donate your old licence plates to the St. Maarten Ani- years for its afterschool programme. For more information mal Welfare Foundation. Our logo shop is located at Ches- call 524-0401 or email: joaan38@hotmail.com Call: (011) 336 4088 3586 People 34 NEW YORK--Fashion designer L’Wren Scott, the girlfriend of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, was found dead from an apparent suicide in her Manhattan apartment, police said on Monday. Scott, a former model whose slim-fitting, dresses were favourites among Hollywood’s A-list stars such as Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams and Penelope Cruz, was found hanging from a scarf. “We are investigating it as a suicide,” said New York police Detective Kelly Ort. Police said they had preliminary information that Scott was 49, although that had not been confirmed by her family. Jagger, 70, said through a spokesperson that he was “completely shocked and devastated.” Scott’s family issued a state- ment asking for privacy. The glamorous pair had been dating since 2001 and were often seen at celebrity events, with the 6-foot, 3-inch tall, ravenhaired Scott towering over her rock-star boyfriend. The news of Scott’s death stunned friends, clients and fellow designers. Kidman, a friend of 25 years, was “heartbroken and in shock right now and unable to say anything,” her spokeswoman said. Her death followed the untimely deaths of two giants in fashion who succumbed to suicide: British designer Alexander McQueen, who had suffered from depression, died in London in February 2010 at the age of 40, while his close friend, British fashion editor Isabella Blow, died in 2007 at the age of 48. TV 15 (local) Channel 115 SXM Cable Tuesday, March 18 8:00am AVS News (r) 8:30pm Replay DComm 9:00am Caribbean Newsline 9:30am Caribbean Workout 10:00am Caribbean Passport 10:30am Speaking of Everything 11:00am Music Videos 5:00pm Music Videos 5:30pm Caribbean Newsline 6:00pm DCOMM Productions 6:30pm Caribbean Workout 7:00pm TBA 7:30pm AVS News 8:00pm Oral Gibbes Live 9:00pm Music Videos 9:30pm Carib Medical/Robbie’s Lottery 10:00pm Music Videos/Caribbean Lottery 11:00pm AVS News 11:30pm Caribbean Newsline BVN (Dutch/Flemish) TV Channel 122 SXM Cable Channel 23 WTN Tuesday, March 18 12:00pm VRT Journaal 12:35pm Café Corsari 1:20pm Keuringsdienst van Waarde 1:50pm Van de Straat 2:20pm Tijd voor MAX 3:05pm NOS Journaal 3:10pm Sesamstraat 3:25pm 10 voor… 3:35pm Het Klokhuis 3:50pm NOS Jeugdjournaal 4:00pm ROX 4:25pm Blokken 4:50pm Thuis 5:15pm Dagelijkse kost 5:30pm EenVandaag 5:55pm NOS Sportjournaal 6:00pm VRT Journaal 6:45pm De Wereld Draait Door 7:35pm NOS Journaal 8:00pm Weerbericht Europa/Afrika 8:05pm Red Star Line 9:00pm Den Troep 9:30pm Nieuwsuur 10:25pm Weerbericht Amerika & Cariben 10:30pm Pauw & Witteman 11:15pm Terzake 11:50pm Iedereen beroemd THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Scott became one of New York’s most famous designers over the last decade, with a sensibility that catered to women’s desire to feel powerful and sleek. “She pushed aside interest in what was happening in fashion trends and on the runways, and designed for women, to give them confidence with their bodies in looks that were so beautiful,” said Eric Wilson, the fashion news director at InStyle magazine. Fashion, Music Worlds Grieve Police said a female was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in an apartment building in the upscale Chelsea neighborhood. Fire officials, who responded to a cardiac arrest call, said the woman was dead when they arrived. Julie Bolcer, of the city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, said the office had not received the body nor begun work to determine the manner of death. “Given the timing, that individual will probably be examined tomorrow and if everything is straightforward, the cause and manner of death would be available by tomorrow,” she said. Foul play was not suspected, police said. A single bouquet of yellow daffodils was placed in front of the glass-fronted, high-rise building where Scott lived. Police cordoned off its entrance as a swarm of media gathered across the street. The Rolling Stones were on tour, currently in Perth, Australia. It was not known Musician Mick Jagger and designer L’Wren Scott pose following her Fall/Winter 2012 collection during New York Fashion Week in this February 16, 2012 file photo. whether they would cancel their concert there, scheduled for Wednesday. Musician and fashion friends of the couple took to Twitter to express their grief. “Devastated to have lost my friend,” tweeted rocker Bryan Adams, who has photographed Scott. “Rest in peace my dear I’m gonna miss you. Condolences to all that were close to her.” Jagger’s first wife, Bianca, said she was “heartbroken to learn of the loss of the lovely and talented L’Wren Scott. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.” American fashion designer Marc Jacobs said: “You’ll forever be missed.” The British Fashion Council described Scott as a woman who inspired many. “She will leave behind an exceptional legacy however we are so proud to have had her in our midst. At this sad time our thoughts are with her friends and family,” it said in a statement. What Women Want Scott, born Luann Bambrough, was raised in Utah by adoptive parents. The dark-haired beauty started her career as a model in Paris before becoming a stylist and designer. Her love of fashion began when she made her own clothes as a teenager, according to her website. As a model in Paris, Scott became more interested in making clothes than modeling them. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as a stylist and designed privately before creating her own collection. Her styling background was important to who she was as a designer and she was constantly shopping for the women she dressed, Wilson said. “That experience gave her an incredible amount of ammunition when she started designing her own clothes. She knew what worked best for all body types,” he said. It was unclear if Scott had shown any signs in her work or personal life that foreshadowed her death. She canceled a planned show for her fashion label at London Fashion Week last month. The last collection that she showed in September 2013 was inspired by Japanese culture and featured embroidery and sleek lines: white below-the-knee dresses belted at the waist; red, black and white skirts, shorts and jackets; a bold yellow dress and pants. Scott collaborated with many in the fashion and beauty industry, including Lancome for her first makeup collection, and designed Italian-made shoes, handbags, eyewear and a small holiday collection for Banana Republic last year. TeleCuraçao Channel 130 SXM Cable Channel 8 WTN Tuesday, March 18 6:00am Mi, Bo, Nos Salu 6:30am Moru Bondia 9:30am Ban Halsa e Standarte 10:00am Tosti 11:00am Dun’e un Chens 12:00pm Boletin di Merdia 1:00pm Bo Tra’i Merdia 3:30pm Telsell 4:00pm Video Zoo 5:00pm Solo ta Sali pa nos tur 6:00pm Bonochi Korsou 7:00pm TeleDeporte 7:30pm Garros 8:00pm TeleNotisia 9:00pm Wega di Number Korsou 9:10pm Partisipashon di Morto 9:15pm Pagina Sosial 9:30pm Gameshow Bai E! 10:30pm TBA 11:00pm TeleNotisia (r) TV-CARIB (local) Channel 10 WTN Tuesday, March 18 6:30am Facing the Day 7:00am TV-CARIB Informer (r) 7:20am AVS News (r) 7:40pm Noticias en Español (r) 12:05pm PJD2 Viewpoint Program Rotation 5:00pm Playtime 6:30pm Caribbean Sports 6:40pm DComm 7:00pm In Depth by Andrew Bishop 7:30pm Fitness with Bella 8:00pm TV-CARIB Informer 8:20pm AVS News 8:40pm Movie/Special Program 10:00pm Noticias en Español 10:20pm Spanish Programs/Movie Program Rotation People THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 LOS ANGELES--A Los Angeles judge on Monday ordered R&B singer Chris Brown to remain in jail at least until a probation violation hearing next month after the judge expressed concern about his ability to stay out of trouble. Brown, 24, was arrested last Friday when he was dismissed from a Malibu, California, rehabilitation facility, triggering a violation of the singer’s courtordered treatment related to his 2009 assault of his then-girlfriend, the singer Rihanna. The singer’s probation violation hearing is scheduled for April 23 and is complicated by a misdemeanor assault case he faces in Washington, D.C. on April 17. Brown was dismissed from the rehab center for vio- lating four in-house rules, including inappropriately touching a female client on the elbow, initially refusing a drug test and making a provocative statement, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Brandlin said. Brown told a group session at the rehab center that “I am good at using guns and knives,” the judge said, reading from a report filed by the center, saying this was troubling. “I have concerns about his inability to stay out of trouble,” Brandlin said before ordering Brown held without bail, departing from a pattern of giving Brown the benefit of the doubt as long as he remained in rehab. Brown, dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit after spending the weekend at Los Angeles County’s aging Men’s Central Jail, was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs as his mother Joyce Hawkins sobbed. “None of these things rises to the level, in my humble opinion, to be remanded into custody,” argued Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, whose request to have the singer change into a gray suit he had brought for him was denied. “He has the current prospect of sitting on ice for six weeks, which is longer than the standard probation violation,” Geragos added. The attorney had argued that extraditing Brown to Washington for his trial would been a long and costly process. He warned that the Washington case could be delayed if Brown was not able to attend. A man reacts to coloured water being splashed over him during Holi celebrations in the southern Indian city of Chennai on Monday. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India. LOS ANGELES--Rapper Kanye West was placed on a two-year probation on Monday and ordered to complete community service and anger management sessions after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from an altercation with a photographer last year, a court spokeswoman said. Grammy-winning West, 36, did not appear at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse and the no contest plea was entered on his be- half by his attorney Blair Berk. Photographer Daniel Ramos attended the hearing with his attorney, Gloria Allred. West was placed on probation for 24 months and will have to complete 240 hours of community service and 24 anger management sessions. The rapper will be formally booked but will not have to spend any time in jail. He will be required back in court for a restitution hearing and progress update on July 17. West and Ramos were in- volved in a scuffle outside of the Los Angeles International Airport in July, which was captured in a video posted on celebrity news website TMZ. It showed the rapper appearing to lunge at Ramos. West has become a frequent target of paparazzi after striking up a romance last year with reality TV star Kim Kardashian. The couple’s first child, a baby girl named North West, was born in June, and they are now engaged to marry. 35 People stand along 5th avenue during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York on Monday. NEW YORK--About one million spectators, mostly dressed in green, streamed into New York on Monday for its St. Patrick’s Day Parade, even as the city’s mayor and beer companies that previously sponsored the event dropped out amid concerns that organizers excluded gay groups. Parade organizers in New York and Boston, two of the most liberal U.S. cities, have long excluded openly gay marchers, saying that doing so would conflict with the group’s Roman Catholic heritage. Protests over the exclusion came to a head this year, with newly elected mayors Bill de Blasio of New York and Marty Walsh of Boston skipping their cities’ parades in protest. On Sunday, brewery Guinness said it would join Heineken in dropping sponsorship of the parade as it faced protests from local gay rights groups. On the sidelines of the parade in New York, gay rights groups staged a small but fervent protest on Monday urging people to boycott marching or watching. “Those who stand with the parade are making a clear choice to endorse bigotry,” said Emmaia Gelman of the group Irish Queers, which organizes yearly protests of the parade. “When sponsors finally stop paying for religious-right homophobia, the parade can go back to being Irish.” Organizers of the 253-yearold parade said that gay and lesbian marchers could participate, but not carry signs or banners that expressed gay-rights messages. Publishing magnate Ru- pert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp, voiced support for the parade’s organizers. “Where will this end?” Murdoch mused on Twitter. “Guinness pulls out of religious parade bullied by gay orgs who try to take it over. Hope all Irish boycott the stuff.” As the floats, bands, dancers and Irish-American groups made their way down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to the sound of bagpipes and loud cheers from the crowd, some onlookers said they had put concerns aside to enjoy the spectacle. “I have a son who is gay,” said Bridget Farrell, who had traveled to New York from her home in Dublin to see the parade. “Everybody has the right to parade. As far as I’m concerned everyone is equal.” Threatened boycotts by gay rights groups in the days leading up to the events prompted sponsors of the New York and Boston parades to drop their financial backing for the event. Diageo , parent company of Guinness, whose dark, creamy stout is a fixture of St. Patrick’s Day parties, said in a statement it hoped the New York policy would change by next year. Heineken and Sam Adams brewer Boston Beer Co cited concerns about exclusionary policies when they dropped their respective support of the New York and Boston events. 36 GERMANY- Borussia Dortmund’s notoriously hot-tempered coach Juergen Klopp has barred fans from watching the team train this week as he seeks a calm lead-up to the side’s Champions League Round of 16 second leg tie against Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday. Klopp was banished to the stands for dissent in a 2-1 loss to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday as Dortmund lost their fourth league game of the season on the weekend prior to a Champions League match. He should cut a more passive figure this week, however, as Dortmund go into the return leg with Zenit as overwhelming favourites to advance to the quarter-finals following their convincing 4-2 victory in Russia last month. Klopp was quick to play down his latest indiscretion on Saturday, saying he had done nothing wrong when he questioned the referee over a decision. “When you have 80,000 fans in an emotional state and only one person does not understand it then you are out,” said the coach, who was also sent off in a Champions League group stage match at the start of the season. “I only shouted ‘why are you not calling it?’ although I did it with my by now world famous facial expression,” he told reporters. Klopp’s dismissal could be seen as an unwanted distraction but his players appear determined to maintain their focus on the main target of the season with the Bundesliga title destined to remain in Munich. “On Wednesday, we have the next big game and we do not believe we are through yet,” defender Marcel Schmelzer said. “St Petersburg will demand everything from us.” Injury Concerns Klopp has had to contend with Sports a host of injuries since the start of the season and Wednesday’s game will continue the trend as several key players miss out, including Sven Bender, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Ilkay Guendogan. There is some good news, however, after Robert Lewandowski returned to action on Saturday and has been ruled fit to face the Russians. Playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also expected to return despite missing Saturday’s game but Marco Reus remains a doubt. “We have reached a point where we can compensate for any absences and still play good football,” Klopp said. Zenit have bigger concerns, going into the match under the guidance of new coach Sergey Semak, who replaced Luciano Spalletti earlier this month. The 38-year-old has been handed a caretaker role at the club, though he lost his first game in charge, a 1-0 defeat to CSKA Moscow last week. THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Defender Cristian Ansaldi and forward Andrei Arshavin missed the loss against the reigning Russian Premier League champions through injury and the side go into this week’s match on a dreadful run of form in Europe’s elite club tournament. Zenit have failed to win any of their last four games in the Champions League, qualifying for the Round of 16 with a solitary win in the group stage. “Ahead of the Dortmund game, we need to stay united. This is a time when we have to demonstrate that we are unit- Intense Divas remain undefeated in St. Eustatius Volleyball at ed,” keeper Yuri Lodygin told ditorium. reporters. “This concerns the game and everything surrounding it. We need to make sure that we support one another. “It is never easy when a head coach leaves, but we have already had time to reflect on this. We need to make sure ST. EUSTATIUS--VolleyNo Limit’s Layo Woodthat we answer questions about ball continues at the Earl ley had eight points and our mental state going into the Merkman Sports Audito- six kills while Alvin Robins game. Everything else is fine.” starting at 7:30pm, in the women’s division, No Limit meets Progressive and, rium this evening. No Limit had eight points and five later, in the men’s group, takes on Golden Girlz at kills, also three blocks. Peace Makers take on 7:30pm and, in the secThursday, March 20, Thunderz. ond game, a male division match up, Thunderz faces Continued from page 40. No Limit. Intense Divas continued matches they have played around.” Michel has to choose betheir winning streak Satur- in England. day, beating Progressive 25- That sorry sequence began tween former Argentina 19, 25-23 and 25-13. Divas with a 4-0 loss at West Ham forward Javier Saviola, who top the women’s division as United in the old European missed the first leg due to Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965 injury and who would make they have not lost a set. Top scorer for Divas was and has continued since his 100th appearance in EuAmerikinia Lopes Robins with subsequent defeats at ropean club competition, with 13 points and eight Tottenham Hotspur, Liv- and Paraguayan Nelson kills. Dee Solis led Pro- erpool (twice), Newcastle Valdez for the lone attackgressive with 10 points and United, Chelsea, Manches- ing role in place of Nigerian ter United (twice) and Ar- striker Michael Olaitan. eight kills. Olaitan was kept in hospiIn the male division, Dy- senal (three times). namite took over first place But they arrive at Old Traf- tal for a week following his by beating Peace Makers ford buoyed by a compre- dramatic collapse during 3-0; 25-16, 25-22 and 26-24. hensive title victory, even the Athens derby against Top scorer for Peace Mak- if Sunday’s 2-0 win over Panathinaikos on March ers was Juliun Bass with Panthrakikos was achieved 2 due to viral myocarditis, but although he has no seriseven points and seven behind closed doors. ous condition he is not yet kills, and Rient Hassell had Domestic Superiority ready for action. six points and five kills. While United have been Defensive midfielder Ivan Richinelle Harrigan had eight points and five kills in the unfamiliar position Marcano is also expected of looking up at the lead- to be fit after being rested for Dynamite. Thursday, intense Divas ing pack in the Premier over the weekend. “Michael will be missed bested No Limit in straight League, the Piraeus club sets 25-18, 25-19 and 25-23. have been head and shoul- because against United he Amerikinia Lopes-Robins ders above their domestic was amazing,” said Michel. Among those United will led the winning effort with rivals this season. Spanish coach Michel is be keeping a close eye on is nine points and eight kills. Zaskia Brown had five not getting carried away 21-year-old Joel Campbell, points and four serves aces. with their chances of reach- the Costa Rican internaNo Limit’s Minushka ing the last eight for the tional who is on loan from Arsenal. Woodley was good for six first time since 1999. He scored an excellent points and five kills while “We aim to do what we alteammate Tireine Lopes ways do and that is concen- goal to seal the 2-0 win in had four points and four trate on our own game,” he Athens and caused the said. creaky United defence kills. “We know our opponents problems with his pace and In the male game, defending champions Dynamite very well and we know that movement. rolled over No Limit in 2-0 is not a serious advan- Moyes could shake up his three straight sets of 25-23, tage. We need to score team following Sunday’s to make sure we make it defeat with Nani, Javier 25-17 and 25-13. Richinelle Harrigan domi- difficult for them as we Hernandez and Jonny Evnated with 19 points, 14 know that United have a ans all training again after strong desire to turn the tie injuries. kills and four blocks. UNITED St. Maarten Soccer Association President Owen Nickie (l) met with Victor Stancululiscu from Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Marketing expert Stancululiscu spent six days in St. Maarten discussing ways the local soccer association can work with businesses to increase the popularity of the sport through advertising. The soccer association has had visits from several CONCACAF officials in the fields of coaching, refereeing and legal affairs as St. Maarten looks to become a member of the football world governing body FIFA. Major League Baseball scout Fermin Coronel stopped by the St. Maarten Little League on Pond Island to say hello to the boys. He talked with the group for 30 minutes on what scouts look for. He briefly mentioned the five tools of baseball, speed, hitting for power, hitting for average, arm strength and fielding. He continued emphasizing the importance of school, good grades, discipline and respect for others including the other team, coaches and umpires. Coronel has been a scout for 12 years and is now involved in the Dutch Caribbean Baseball Academy in Curaçao and is trying to generate interest in a Dutch Caribbean Baseball Tournament. the Earl Merkman Sports Au- Sports THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum (C) and Ronnie Hira run between the wickets as Pakistan’s bowler Sohail Tanvir (L) looks on during their warm-up match of ICC Twenty20 World Cup at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka March 17. Pakistan laboured to a six wicket victory. BANGLADESH-Ireland survived an inspired spell of swing bowling from Zimbabwe’s Tinashe Panyangara to scrape through for a three-wicket win on the last ball of their Group B encounter in Sylhet on Monday. Chasing 164 for a St Patrick’s Day victory, the associate nation seemed to be cruising against their test-playing opponents after opener Paul Stirling’s 34-ball 60. Stirling hit nine boundaries and a six and with captain William Porterfield (31) added 80 runs for the opening wicket but Panyangara’s double strike in the 15th over brought Zimbabwe back in the game. Panyangara (4-37), who was smashed for 18 in his first over by Stirling, also dismissed the dangerous Kevin O’Brien (17) in the 18th over and returned to bowl the final over of the innings with Ireland needing four runs for victory. In the final over, Ireland lost Ed Joyce (20) to Panyangara and Max Sorensen to a run out off successive balls but managed to scamper for a bye off the last delivery for the winning run with wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor missing a run out. Earlier, captain Taylor (59) hit six fours and two sixes and anchored Zimbabwe’s batting as his team posted 163 for five in their twenty overs after being put in to bat. Elton Chigumbura hit 22 off 13 balls with two sixes in the last over to take Zimbabwe to a competitive total after Irish spinners George Dockrell (2-18) and Andy McBrine (2-26) restricted them in the middle overs. In the day’s late match, Stephan Myburgh (55) hit seven fours and two sixes to register his maiden T20 international fifty and give Netherlands a comfortable six-wicket victory against the United Arab Emirates. Tom Cooper, who also picked up two wickets with the ball, remained unbeaten on 34 off 26 balls as Netherlands reached their target of 152 with seven balls to spare. Paceman Ahsan Malik picked up three wickets for 16 runs as the UAE were bundled out for 151 after opting to bat first. NETHERLANDS CHEAT? edly available for the Dutch team after narrowly missing out on the Sheffield Shield final,” Gruijters said in the video. “Tom Cooper is probably the best batsman eligible to play for the Netherlands. “Fact two, on the same day, some team mates and I had talked about Tom’s availability. We all agreed that no one was injured, so it would be impossible for Tom Cooper to play. “Fact three, the next morning, the 14th of March, the coaching staff called me to their room. They told me that I would have been in the first eleven had Tom Cooper not been available. “We need someone to be injured they said, we need you to have a scan so that we can get the ICC’s approval.” The 22-year-old, who has played five one-day internationals and eight T20s for Netherlands, said he was bullied into having a scan on a long-standing back-injury. “The scan showed I have a bad back. No surprise there. I have had a bad back for years, just like others have had bad shoulders and bad knees,” he added. “Like all sportsmen, I have learned to deal with the limitations and the pain. In fact, my back is better than it has been in a while. I think I am in the best form possible for this tournament.” The KNCB said Gruijters’ version of events differed from that of the team management’s. “The Board... regrets the controversy which has arisen following the departure of Tim Gruijters from the Dutch squad at the World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh.” it said in a statement on its website. “The account of Tim Gruijters himself regarding the course of events differs from the account of the team management in Bangladesh. “The KNCB Board has as a result of the current controversy initiated an investiga- LONDON-- A commotion about Formula One’s new quieter cars could hit the sport’s revenues and lead to teams getting less money if promoters take legal action, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday. Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker said after Sunday’s season-opener that he was not happy with the reduced decibels and Formula One was “clearly in breach of contract”. “It’s not what we paid for. It’s going to change,” Walker told the Melbourne Age newspaper, adding that he had spoken to a ‘horrified’ Ecclestone about it. “It will be an issue for promoters all around the world.” Ecclestone told Reuters in a telephone interview that Walker was “probably going a bit over the top with what he’s saying” but added that the Australian was not alone in his concern. “I’ve had one or two promoters get in touch with me today and they said how unhappy they are,” said the 83-year-old billionaire. “I spoke to (Ferrari president) Luca di Montezemolo just now and Luca said he’s never had as many emails on his desk complaining and saying this isn’t Formula One.” Formula One ditched the old and raucous 2.4 litre V8 engines at the end of last season and replaced them with less fuel-thirsty and more muted 1.6 litre V6 turbo power units with expensive and complicated energy recovery systems. Ecclestone has long been a critic of the change and has warned repeatedly that the sport risked losing a key ingredient for the paying public by turning down the volume that was such a big part of the show. “I’m disappointed that I was right when I said what was going to happen. I’m sorry that it’s happened,” he said. 37 tion and shall take evidence from all the relevant parties in order to gain understanding of the course of events.” Netherlands will open their World T20 campaign later on Monday against the United Arab Emirates at Sylhet. Strawberry Jam Asked whether promoters might see an opportunity to renegotiate their contracts downwards as a result, Ecclestone acknowledged that might become an issue. “It’s not (a concern) at the moment but it could well be,” he said. “If the promoters say ‘Listen, this ain’t what I bought and I ain’t going to pay for it or I don’t want to pay as much’ or whatever, then it is a concern. “We give the teams a percentage of the revenue we receive. So if we are receiving less revenue, whatever the case may be, certainly the teams wouldn’t get as much. So it’s going to cost them,” he added. The Briton, who has seen the global glamour sport go through numerous engine eras from V12 to V10 and V8, questioned whether promoters like Walker could win their argument in any court of law, however. “I don’t know whether he has (got a point),” he said of Walker’s comments about a breach of contract. “Let’s assume he hasn’t got a point as far as the legal side is going. Then you have to look at it from a moral side. If you went into the supermarket today and bought some strawberry jam and you got peanut butter you’d probably be a bit pissed off. “It’s good quality peanut butter, but he’s saying it isn’t what he bought,” added Ecclestone. “Whether the contract describes what he’d bought, the strawberry jam with so many strawberries, I don’t know. I doubt it. I think he bought the FIA Formula One world championship. Which is what he’s got.” Germany’s Nico Rosberg won Sunday’s race for a dominant Mercedes while quadruple world champion compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who won the last nine races of 2013 for Red Bull, retired early on with engine trouble. Despite dire predictions of no cars finishing the race, so uncertain was their reliability, 13 of the 22 drivers were classified in the final results. “I am surprised that as many cars finished. I didn’t think the racing was super,” said Ecclestone of what he had seen. “What was good from the public’s point of view I suppose was that we didn’t suddenly see Sebastian disappear into the night. Whether we are going to see (Mercedes’ Lewis) Hamilton or the other one (Rosberg) do that, I don’t know. “I’ve got to suspect that we will.” SAO PAULO-- A Brazilian company has created a rival to the official World Cup ball and given it the name Gorduchinha, or Little Chubby, the moniker many Brazilians wanted in the first place. The predominantly white ball is painted with a stylised Brazilian flag and carries the declaration, “Created by Brazilians.” It is meant to compete with the official World Cup ball manufactured by adidas and given the name Brazuca in an online poll of one million fans last year. Adidas say Brazuca, a playfully slang word for native Brazilians, summed up the country’s irreverence and the name being feminine conformed to the Brazilian stereotype of the ball as a woman, to be caressed and cared for. However, some Brazilians, including 1994 World Cup winner and outspoken Congressman Romario, complained that Gorduchinha never even made the short list. They said the name, which was coined in the 1970s by a well-known radio commentator Osmar Santos, was more Brazilian than the FIFA-imposed choices on the original shortlist of three. Sports goods manufacturer Penalty have capitalised on the controversy by releasing a ball they baptised Gorduchinha. Penalty is using Santos to promote the ball it said was representative of the country “everyone recognises as the country of football.” Continued from page 40. 38 Sports THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) hits an RBI single against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Tempe Diablo Stadium, Arizona. Angels won 8-7. Kole Calhoun hit a walk-off home run, the second of his two hits against the Giants. He also stole a base. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports.) BARCELONA-Lionel Messi has played down the importance of individual achievements and said the key thing is for Barcelona to continue making history as a team after he became the La Liga club’s record scorer on Sunday. A product of Barcelona’s academy and still only 26, Messi netted a hat-trick in their 7-0 drubbing of Osasuna at the Nou Camp, taking the Argentina forward’s tally to 371 goals and surpassing Paulino Alcantara’s mark of 369 set between 1912 and 1927. Messi’s latest treble means he is only one goal short of equalling Hugo Sanchez’s La Liga goals total of 234 to join the former Mexico striker in second on the alltime list and is closing in on record marksman Telmo Zarra, who scored 251. The four-times World Player of the Year’s next chance to add to his haul is in Sunday’s La Liga “Clasico” at leaders Real Madrid, when a win would put Barcelona within a point of their arch rivals and defeat would deal a severe blow to their chances of a fifth domestic league title in six years. “The important thing is that the team continues to make history,” Messi said in an interview on Barcelona’s TV channel on Monday. “This group of players has won everything and deserves to continue achieving important things,” he added. “It’s an honour to be able to be part of the history of such a great club.” Messi appears to be hitting top form at just the right time with Barcelona through to the last eight of the Champions League and next month’s King’s Cup final, when they will play Real in a repeat of the 2011 showpiece. Coach Gerardo Martino needs his Argentina compatriot to be on song to help revitalise their La Liga campaign and put recent poor performances, including defeats at Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad, behind them. “After Valladolid we were on the receiving end of some tough criticism,” Messi said. “We were the first to know that we hadn’t done things well and that we have to win everything if we want the league and everything else we are playing for. “We hope to see a good version (of Barcelona at the Bernabeu) and to get a good result to maintain our title challenge. “It’s a unique chance to close the gap to Madrid. It’s very difficult because we are the away team and playing a great side but we will try.” LONDON-- Hull City owner Assem Allam’s pledge to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers next season suffered a setback on Monday when the Football Association was advised by its membership committee to reject the request. “The FA can confirm its Membership Committee met on Wednesday (12 March) and has made a unanimous recommendation to The FA Council to reject Hull City’s request to change their playing name to Hull Tigers from next season,” a statement on the FA’s website said. The recommendation will now be discussed and voted upon at a full FA Council meeting on April 9 before which Allam can make another submission to change the Premier League club’s name after 109 years. Egyptian-born Allam, who bought his local club in 2010 having established successful businesses in the area, believes a change to Hull Tigers would help generate more revenue but his plan provoked fierce opposition from fans. Allam has said he would walk away from the club if the FA turned down his request to change the name. Hull face third tier Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals next month MIAMI-- After missing last year’s Sony Open, both world number one Rafa Nadal and 17-times grand slam winner Roger Federer return to South Beach this week along with their box office punch. There will be no shortage of tennis glitterati around Miami for the next fortnight with 19 of the top 20 men’s and women’s players in action at Crandon Park but perhaps none more welcome than Federer and Nadal as their absence last year left a hole that could not be filled. Nadal and Federer are box office gold for any tournament and with the Spaniard missing due to a knee injury and the Swiss maestro on an extended break last year’s attendance dropped 5.5 percent to 308,000. “Anytime you have two stars the size of Roger and Rafa, guys who are bigger than the sport, bigger than tennis, missing it hurts,” tournament director Adam Barrett told Reuters on Monday. “These guys are superstars, they draw crowds whether they are at the airport, a hotel or walking through a mall. “Anywhere they go they are going to bring additional crowds both tennis and non-tennis folks.” With a promising weather forecast and lineup that includes world number one Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, defending men’s champion Andy Murray and three-time winner Novak Djokovic the Sony Open could set record ticket sales this year. “A lot of it has to do with how the draw unfolds,” Barrett said about a possible attendance record. “A lot of years when you set record attendance you get intriguing matches. “Every year you wait, you let it unfold, we will be close to records every year. The only thing that really takes records out of the equation is rain.” The women’s main draw gets underway with firstround matches on Tuesday while the men’s main draw begins Wednesday. After a first-round bye, Nadal will open action against the winner of Dutchman Robin Haase and Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who will be chasing his 600th career win. Third-seeded Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka along with big hitters Canadian Milos Raonic and American John Isner lurk as danger men. But it is the bottom half of the draw where the real intrigue lies with world number two Djokovic, fresh off a win at Indian Wells, twotime winner Federer and holder Murray all eager to add another Miami title to their resumes. For Murray, who maintains a residence in Miami, the Sony Open will be a bit of a home game but his road back to the final is a daunting one with a possible last-eight clash with Djokovic and a semi-final meeting with a re-energised fifth seed Federer, coming off a runner-up finish in In- dian Wells. Williams, a six-time winner in Miami, will open her title defence in the second round against either Italian Francesca Schiavone or Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova. Fourth seed Sharapova is on the same side of the draw as Williams along with in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta, who is carrying the momentum from her victory at Indian Wells. The other side of the draw features second-seeded Australian Open champion Li Na of China, third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, the 2012 champion and runner-up at Indian Wells, and Venus Williams, who has three Sony titles in her trophy case. OAKLAND - Jarrod Parker, who was favored to be the Oakland Athletics’ Opening Day starter entering spring training, will undergo elbow surgery and miss the Major League Baseball season, the team said on Monday. The right-hander was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday and was examined on Monday because of soreness and tightness in his pitching forearm. Parker had forearm issues last season as well and previ- ously had Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow in 2009 while in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ system. The 25-year-old recovered from that surgery to post a 13-8 record with Oakland in 2012 and last season went 12-8 with a 3.97 earned run average, yielding 178 hits in 197 innings to help the A’s win the American League West title. This spring, Parker had struggled to a 10.61 ERA in three starts. Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa (36) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at JetBlue Park. The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports.) Sports THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 AS Roma’s Miralem Pjanic (L) and Udinese’s Maurizio Domizzi fight for the ball during their Italian Serie A soccer match at Olympic stadium in Rome March 17. AS Roma won 3-2. ITALY-- Francesco Totti made an instant impact on his return from a buttock injury when he scored one goal and helped set up another in AS Roma’s 3-2 Serie A win over Udinese on Monday. Second-placed Roma were also helped by an outstanding display from goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis as they stayed three points clear of third-placed Napoli, who rode their luck to beat Torino 1-0 with a controversial late goal by Gonzalo Higuain. Roma made only a small dent in Juventus’ lead as the champions stayed 14 clear points clear at the top and on course for a third successive title following their 1-0 win at Genoa on Sunday. But it was an important win in the battle for a Champions League place, with only the top two going directly into the group stage. A third place finish earns a place in the twoleg final qualifying round. One club-man Totti, in remarkable 22nd season at Roma, is still hugely influential and his side had failed to score in their last two games without him. The 37-year-old put them ahead in the 22nd minute when he fired in a rebound from 12 metres for his sixth goal of the campaign after Udinese’s teenage goalkeeper Simone Scuffet parried Gervinho’s shot. Roma went further ahead after half an hour with a lethal counter-attack. Totti released Gervinho with a raking diagonal ball and the Ivorian showed superb control as he controlled the pass, beat his marker and flicked the ball inside for Mattia Destro to add the LONDON- - Didier Drogba will be a part of the Chelsea family again one day, manager Jose Mourinho predicted on the eve of Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray. Mourinho told reporters the 36-year-old Galatasaray striker was such an important part of Chelsea’s history that it was inevitable that he would be a Stamford Bridge employee again at some point in the future. Drogba’s contract expires at the end of the season and media reports have linked him with a role as player-coach at the London club. At a separate news conference earlier, the Ivorian also said he would like to return to Chelsea one day. “He is one of the most important players in the history of this club. All we Chelsea supporters agree with that,” said Mourinho who goes into the home second leg with an advantage after drawing the opening match in Istanbul 1-1. “We don’t say he is the most important because it’s not fair for other people who were at the same level and were of the same generation. second. De Sanctis, who had already denied Emmanuel Badu, then made a brilliant one-handed stop to turn away a goalbound shot from Antonio Di Natale, earning him a congratulatory pat from the Udinese striker. Giampiero Pinzi pulled one back six minutes after the re-start before Greek international Vassilis Torosidis restored Roma’s two-goal lead with a low shot from the edge of the area. Dusan Basta made it a nervous final 10 minutes for Roma when he hooked home after another De Sanctis save. “Not playing was difficult but the important thing tonight was to win and maintain the pace. We have Napoli on our heels,” Totti told Sky Sport Italia. “De Sanctis produced some great saves tonight. He has so much experience and directs the defence so he is a goalkeeper who makes a difference.” “His return has to happen one day, when I don’t know. As a player, as a coach, as an ambassador, next year, in four or five years, 10 years, I don’t know,” added Mourinho. “But when a person gives so much to a club and a club represents so much to a person, as in this case, I think he has to be back one day.” The Portuguese said it was not the right time to discuss a possible Drogba return. “We know he is a free agent at the end of the season but this is not the right moment to speak about this,” said Mourinho. “Is he the same player at 36 that he was at 26? I think nobody is but he’s one of the best strikers in the world, that’s for sure.” WASPISH MOOD The Chelsea manager was in generally waspish mood on Monday, perhaps as a reaction to his team’s controversial 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday. Mourinho was sent to the stands in stoppage time and also had Ramires, for a horrible two-footed lunge, and fellow Brazil midfielder Willian, for two bookable offences, 39 Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain (L) shoots past Torino FC’s Cesare Bovo to score during their Italian Serie A soccer match at Olympic Stadium in Turin March 17. Napoli won 1-0. ITALY-- Napoli survived two shots against the woodwork before Gonzalo Higuain scored a controversial last-gasp goal to give them a 1-0 win at angry Torino in Serie A on Monday. The Argentine forward got clear of Kamil Glik and fired his shot past Daniele Padelli in the 90th minute to give Napoli three important points in the race for a Champions League place. The hosts were furious, claiming that Higuain had tripped Glik but the referee allowed the goal to stand. Midtable Torino had plenty of chances and Cesare Bovo smashed a 25-metre shot against the post just before the half hour with Pepe Reina well beaten. Riccardo Meggiorini also hit the post with only Reina to beat after he sprung the offside trap as Torino slumped to their fourth successive defeat without scoring. Ciro Immobile, dropped from the Torino starting line-up, forced Reina to save with his legs after coming on and then fired over from 12 metres when it seemed easier to score after Jasmin Kurtic dispossessed Valon Behrami and rolled the ball to him. Napoli, who have won four and drawn two of their last six league games, have 58 points. sent off. The Portuguese refused to talk too much about the Villa match for fear of bringing the game into disrepute and said he had no interest in accepting counterpart Roberto Mancini’s offer to treat him to dinner in the event Galatasaray knock Chelsea out. “I don’t do things because I win or I lose,” said Mourinho. “After matches what I have in my mind to do, I do, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose. “Some coaches say if we win tomorrow it’s a free day for the players, with me it’s not. With me it’s a free day when I think it’s a free day. “After the game tomorrow I don’t have in my plans a meal with somebody who has the same job as I have and the only thing we have in common is we are both football managers, nothing else.” Mourinho was not happy to be questioned about Ramires’s sending-off at Villa Park. “Don’t you have other things to ask about that game other than Ramires’s tackle in minute 92?,” the Chelsea manager replied. “Do you think in that game the most important thing to happen was Ramires’s tackle? In that case I don’t want to answer. “We cannot have a reaction to what happened at Villa Park because if we have a reaction it will bring the game into disrepute. We just close our mouths and keep going.” Mourinho suggested the challenge from Ramires was built on frustration. “I feel that what happened in minute 92 was a consequence of the other 91 minutes we played before that,” he said. “I’m sorry if I’m wrong or you don’t agree with me but if you want to ask you should ask what led to that tackle, not about the tackle. “Ask about what makes that tackle happen. That is my opinion,” said Mourinho. WORLD CUP and controversies and five of the 12 venues missed a Dec. 31 completion deadline originally set by FIFA. “We will have all the stadia ready,” Rebelo said. High crime rates in Brazil are another worry and here the minister offered limited reassurance. “The country will be prepared to welcome the tourists, the delegations with all the care necessary,” Rebelo said. He played down the threat of a terror attack but said that visitors had to be wary of street crime. Continued from page 40. “There is the common crime - the police, the military, everything is being done,” he said. However, Rebelo said he believed that more fans would decide to go to Brazil, the spiritual home of skilful soccer, as tour operators put more rooms back on the market and prices fell. “I think these tourists will go back to the idea of participating, both domestic and foreign fans. There will be places for people to stay.” 40 THE DAILY HERALD, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 NETHERLANDS-- Netherlands cricketer Tim Gruijters has accused team management of cheating by forcing him out on medical grounds so they could bring in Tom Cooper as a last-minute replacement for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. Monday Netherlands eased to a six-wicket win against first-timers United Arab Emirates in the opening round at Sylhet Stadium. Opener Stephan Myburgh hit a punishing 36-ball 55 with two sixes and seven boundaries to help the Netherlands overhaul a modest 152-run target with seven balls to spare. Cooper was 34 not out with four boundaries and a six. It was a clinical finish by the Netherlands who are vying to progress from Group B for a place in the main rounds. Ireland upset Zimbabwe by three wickets in the same group earlier in the day. Six qualifiers along with hosts Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are competing in the first round and winners of each group will then contest the Super-10 round with the top eight Test nations; -- Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, England, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and the West Indies from March 21. “It’s clear that the Dutch coaching staff decided to misuse the rules, hoodwink the ICC, and get Tom Cooper in for me. It’s a disgrace, it’s a cheat, and I would like to state that I do not want to be part of it,” he said in a Youtube video. The Netherlands cricket board (KNCB) said it had launched an investigation. The International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed Gruijters to be replaced in the Netherlands squad by Australian-born Cooper earlier this week due to a lower-back injury. Cooper, whose mother is from the Netherlands, became available for the World T20 when his team South Australia failed to qualify for the Sheffield Shield final after the last stage of roundrobin games ended on Friday. “Fact number one, on Thursday the 13th of March, Tom Cooper became unexpectContinued on page 37 MANCHESTER, England- If history was the only deciding factor then Manchester United would be highly fancied to overturn their 2-0 first leg defeat against Olympiakos and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday. But the reality for manager David Moyes and his stuttering team is that present form, rather than past successes, will have a far bigger influence at Old Trafford. United’s unimpressive season reached a new low on Sunday when they were crushed 3-0 at home by bitter rivals Liverpool, a result that left last season’s champions seventh in the Premier League with just a remote possibility of a topfour finish. Their only realistic hope of competing alongside Europe’s elite next season would now appear to be by somehow winning the competition for a fourth time in May, starting by knocking Olympiakos out on Wednesday. Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young (21) and Indiana Pacers forward David West (21) scramble for a loose ball during the second quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Pacers won 99-90. In other action Hawks bested Bobcats 97-83 and Nets beat Suns 108-95. (Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports.) Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal tries to play a ball as India’s captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni breaks the wicket to dismiss him successfully during their warm-up match of ICC Twenty20 World Cup at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka March 17. India lost by 5 runs. Chasing 154 for a win, Team India were all out for 148 in the final over. Suresh Raina top scored with 41 and Lasith Malinga took 4 wickets. “The players are well aware of what it means on Wednesday and what we have got to do,” Moyes said. “We’ve got something to go for so hopefully we can do that.” Misfiring United, who last failed to qualify for the Champions League 18 years ago, have no guaran- tees at all of achieving their aim against the Greeks who have just won their domestic title for the fourth successive season, the 16th time in 18 campaigns they have ended as champions and the 41st in all. Their head-to-head record, and the Greek side’s woeful record on the road against English clubs, does offer hope. Until Olympiakos triumphed in Athens on Feb. 25, United had won all four of the previous matches between the clubs. They have also won all five matches they have played against Greek clubs at home while Olympiakos have lost all 11 of the Continued on page 36 LONDON-- Mass protests against inequality are unlikely to disrupt the World Cup in Brazil, the country’s sports minister Aldo Rebelo said on Monday. Crime rather than terrorism posed a greater threat to soccer fans heading to Brazil for the June-July tournament, the minister added at a speech in London. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets during the Confederations Cup last year to protest against spending on the World Cup and insufficient investment in public services such as transport, health and education. There are concerns that such protests could flare again in large cities during the World Cup but Rebelo said there was no union, church group or social organisation seeking to foment unrest. “Protesting is a right but destruction and threats to life, this is not protesting, this has to be combatted,” he added. “We all know that Brazil is an unequal country. Football has no responsibility for inequality in Brazil,” Rebelo told an audience at London’s King College. Disparate protest groups used social media last year to coordinate their plans. Rebelo said that they could have halted the Confederations Cup - a dry run for the World Cup - had that been their aim. Race Against Time Brazil is racing against time to complete stadiums, airports, communications infrastructure and transportation systems as the June 12 opening day approaches. Such concerns are typical of major sports events but Brazil’s preparations have been plagued by delays Continued on page 39