BAYERN REACH FINAL, P. 56 Cameras Still In The Frame Page 44 VOL 21 NO. 288 Thursday, April 26, 2012 Police at Ho Supermarket after last night’s robbery. ST. PETERS--Police arrested last night three of four men they believe had robbed two supermarkets in St. Peters earlier in the evening. They also confiscated a gun from the men. Eyewitness reports reaching The Daily Herald last night said four young men dressed in black and wearing masks had entered and IN BRIEF Philipsburg WON’T BUCKLE Government and people of St. Maarten “shall not buckle under any type of intimidation,” says Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams. Page 3. Philipsburg AVAILABLE DOCTORS Create a General Practitioner’s (GP) post in St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) that will be managed and operated by GPs, and cancel the arrangement between GPs and SMMC to see patients in the emergency department at night and on weekends. Page 4. Philipsburg DEBUT ALBUM Local youth string band group Tiny and the Boys officially will launch its debut album “Passing the Torch,” at Pink Pearl restaurant on Front Street today, Thursday, starting at 6:00pm. Page 8. robbed Man Chung supermar- robbed the nearby Ho Supermarket on L.B. Scott Road around ket on St. Peters Road. They en8:00pm. The men reportedly fled tered from the back of the superthe scene and within minutes Continued on page 7 PELICAN--A robber jumped over the counter at Hollywood Casino Wednesday afternoon and stole a rather large sum of money, police spokesman Inspector Ricardo Henson reported Wednesday. It is believed that tens of thousands of US dollars were taken. The robber fled the scene in a white Kia Picanto with no licence plates. The vehicle was Continued on page 8 U.S. 50 CENTS / NAf. 1.-- / EC$ 1.25 PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice Roland Duncan has responded to a newspaper article headlined “Worries about St. Maarten as drug smuggler haven.” The article in question stated that of the total world production of cocaine a third is smuggled via the Caribbean. These statements were made in the Dutch Parliament during a debate held in the Second Chamber on Thursday, April 19. Referring to the article which quoted the Dutch MPs, the minister noted that there was no mention of “the exact figures of how much drugs which appear in Europe or America actually come from or have passed through St. Maarten’s borders.” Duncan said the use of container Continued on page 9 THE HAGUE--The Inter-parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom, which had been scheduled for early June in The Hague, will most likely not go ahead due to the political situation in the Netherlands. Chairwoman Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations Brigitte van der Burg discussed the fate the fiveday meeting with the chairpersons of the Parliamentary Kingdom Relations Committees in Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten earlier this week. Van der Burg informed the Committee for Kingdom Relations during a meeting on Wednesday, “Considering the fall of the Dutch cabinet, the pending elections and the changed political relations, we wondered whether there was any sense in continuing with this consultation,” said Van der Burg. According to Van der Burg, the chairpersons decided that they would all go back to their committee to discuss a calling-off of the consultation. “It is after all a costly affair for the islands to travel to The Netherlands for these meetings,” she said. Chairman of the Committee for Kingdom Affairs and InterParliamentary Relations Roy Marlin stated due to the collapse of the Dutch Government and the planned elections that would bring possible changes in the composition of the Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations in the Dutch Second Chamber, it was decided to propose to the respective inter-parliamentary committees to postpone the IPKO meeting until January 2013. The chairpersons agreed to hold a video conference in late June to discuss the progress that has been made by the work groups in the Continued on page 10 Editorial 2 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Think again Member of the Inter American Press Association Published by The Caribbean Herald NV Bush Road 22 St. Maarten N.A. P.O.Box 828 Bankers: RBTT Bank St. Maarten USD acc. 212938 NAf acc. 40407527 President R.F.Snow Managing Director Mary Jane Hellmund Publisher/ Managing Director Paul De Windt Editorial Courtney Gibson (Editor in Chief) Gordon H. Snow (Managing Editor) Rajesh Chintaman (Night Editor) Judy Fitzpatrick Alita Singh John van Kerkhof Michael Granger Thomas A. Burnett Jr. (Sports) John Halley (photos) Editorial Assistant Marie Brown Correction Saresa Gray Sharon van Arneman Lesley Vieira Clive Hodge Margaret Brooks Dorothee Illis Phyllis Meit Marga Hart 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 Stephanie Culbert Muriel Berthé 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 Sanny Ensing Claudienne Peterson Lucinda Frye Reception Ethlyn Joubert CALLING THE DAILY HERALD ST. MAARTEN Telephone 5425253/5425597/ 5420931/5437236 FAX 5425913 E-Mail: dherald@sintmaarten.net advertising@thedailyherald.com editorial@thedailyherald.com classifieds@thedailyherald.com ANGUILLA/264-497-3138 SABA 4162381/4162881(sales) 4161191(edit) teodor_stan@yahoo.com STATIA 3182401/3182936/fax 3182136 NEVIS 469-0607/fax 0606 ST KITTS 466-8609 WEATHER Today: Generally partly cloudy, with locally a brief light shower possible. Winds: Easterly, 8-19mph, occasionally 20-25mph in gusts. Sea conditions: Tranquil to moderate. A few Northwesterly swells may cause more breakers on our North-facing shores Seas: 3-4 feet. Forecast high: 30°C 86°F Forecast low: 24°C 75°F SYNOPSIS: A generally dry and stable air mass is expected to prevail across the islands during this forecast period. However, an isolated shower could occur over the islands at times. SPECIAL FEATURES: None. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK: None. Outlook until Friday evening: Variably cloudy, with a brief light shower possible. Sunrise: 5:48am Sunset: 6:32pm Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte’s letter to his St. Maarten counterpart Sarah Wescot-Williams confirms that the MFK/PS/MAN government in Willemstad is dead-set against the US $150 million bond loan for the Harbour Group of Companies with repurchase facility provided through the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS). Schotte’s biggest coalition partner PS leader Helmin Wiels in any event had made that abundantly clear already. Schotte went as far as to say he would “tolerate no resistance” to his plans to annul the arrangement, as though he and his cabinet are in a position to dictate matters to Philipsburg. The young prime minister had better think again. The two new autonomous countries within the Dutch Kingdom that came out of the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles have exactly the same status. While it’s true that Curaçao formally owns 75 per cent of the shares of the Central Bank and St. Maarten only 25 per cent based on the difference in size of their respective economies and populations, each has a completely equal say in the joint monetary authority. Moreover, a similar bond loan of 300 million guilders was provided to Curaçao’s utility company Aqualectra in the recent past. Of course, that was done under the former PAR-led Antillean Government and the Schotte-cabinet spoke out against it soon after taking office on 1010-10. The fact is, however, that the Aqualectra deal was made and obviously cannot be reversed, so that a precedent has been created. In addition, governing is supposed to be a continuity and firm agreements made by states cannot be changed without consequences every time a new political wind blows. That is also the case for what was stipulated as part of the constitutional reforms with accompanying debt relief, including the consensus laws that Wiels now wants to cancel unilaterally, but also the monetary union, with shared Central Bank and common currency. Adjustments such as a possible choice for dollarisation instead of the envisioned Caribbean guilder always can be discussed, but have to be approved by all parties concerned, including the Netherlands. Considering that the Dutch Cabinet in effect has fallen and early elections are due in September, it’s highly improbable that The Hague will entertain any major changes until then, while even the new government to take office after that is more likely to wait until the five-year evaluation period for the new relations ends in 2015. Rather than trying to intimidate St. Maarten, Schotte should deal with his coalition partner who seems to be pushing Curaçao towards independence, for which the people did not vote. If the MFK/PS/MAN government wants so badly to decide everything on its own, perhaps it should hold a referendum on getting out of the Kingdom and ask the voters if they want to give up their Dutch passports in the process. 5429 89381 2790 4790 58299 0982 3117 73217 5487 RESULTS DISPLAYED ARE PROVIDED AS A SERVICE TO THE READERS OF THE DAILY HERALD, AND ARE NOT OFFICIAL. ALL WINNING NUMBERS ARE TO BE VERIFIED AT ROBBIE’S LOTTERY MAIN OFFICE. Date Vessel April 26 Freedom of the Seas 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) Place Arrival Departure Agent Pier 7:15 17:00 Maduro TELEPHONE INFO Tel-em: 542-2211 Weather Info: 123 ST. MAARTEN TOURIST OFFICE W.G. Buncamper road, Vineyard Building, tel. 542-2337, fax. 542-2734 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 meeting at Great Bay Beach Hotel, every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. Rotary Mid Isle meets every Tuesday 7-9pm, Le Charolais Restaurant, Royal Islander Club, Maho Plaza. 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 Agenda St. Maarten / St. Martin the St. Maarten Academy meeting at the St. Maarten Academy every Friday at 1.30 p.m. 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-Sat, 6-7pm, Red Cross Building, Airport Road. Saturday and Sunday at Mullet Bay beach next to restaurant 8.30-9:30am. Tel. 552-2120 / 544-3203 AIDS COORDINATOR Suzette Moses tel 5422078 Health Department, e-mail: hivpmtsxm@yahoo.com. 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: 5427940, 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 cell:5477353 Sun 9:00am, Tue 7:00pm, Wed 6:30pm, Thu 7:00pm, Sat 4:00pm 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, Thursday, April 26, 2012 3 ~ Schotte wants harbour bond annulled ~ PHILIPSBURG--Government and people of St. Maarten “shall not buckle under any type of intimidation,” said Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams in reaction to a letter from Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte indicating his government’s wish to annul the bond issued for the Harbour Group of Companies. Schotte stated his government’s intention to annul or seek annulment of the harbour bond in a letter to Wescot-Williams on April 19. He also added that he will “tolerate no resistance” to his government’s plans. The letter also contained “a hardly veiled threat of criminal prosecution in the matter,” according to a statement from Wescot- PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) management team and staff have committed to the challenge of “change for the better” through the executing of its new housing plans. Their commitment was given in the course of an evaluation performed by two independent appraisers with Human Resources and Organisation. The foundation said it recognises that there is room for improvement to develop a stronger organisation, and the future will be dedicated to this cause. A plan for development of housing within 60 days of the commencement of the term was presented by the SMHDF management team headed by Managing Director Henry Lynch in January 2011. Presentations of the new vision for execution of housing were made to the Supervisory Board, Council of Ministers, Minister of Housing and by financial institutions during the first quarter of 2011. The plan for the development of 15 homes in Belvedere was launched during SMHDF’s 15th anniversary celebration in June 2011. This project was the first to be executed by SMHDF since the completion of the current Belvedere project 15 years ago. The project, which included completion of apartments in Hope Estate, Phases I and II, was executed by the government of St. Maarten. During the handing over of Hope Estate I in November 2010, then-assistant to the managing director Henry Lynch publicly committed to the realisation of the mandate issued by the Minister of Housing and Supervisory Board for more housing for the people of St. Maarten. In addition to the 15-house development in Belvedere, scheduled to commence in the next 30 days, the SMHDF management team has formulated plans for the construction of homes in Blue Mountain and Foga to begin this year. These plans were endorsed by the SMHDF Supervisory Board and commended by Minister of Housing Theodore Heyliger, who assigned several parcels of land to SMHDF to assist in meeting the goals set by management. “We also recognise the potential benefits that could arise from this opportunity. SMHDF stands to further strengthen its relationship with key stakeholders and continue to grow in the housing market, whilst pursuing its automation and growth strategy. “Notwithstanding this change, our management, together with the staff and Supervisory Board, remains committed to continuing to deliver on the promise of more housing for the St. Maarten community,” SMHDF stated in a press release. Williams’ office Tuesday. Government has already sought legal counsel on Schotte’s letter. This is not the way two governments should deal with each other, the prime minister said. She was also very adamant that the Government of St. Maarten could no longer sit back and accept the damage that the debacle surrounding the Central Bank is causing the image of St. Maarten. Wescot-Williams stated on Sunday that she has already made it very clear that neither of the two countries could “unilaterally interfere” in matters related to the joint Central Bank matters without taking into consideration the bank’s charter. She added that the Curaçao Government has never countered the arguments of the Central Bank concerning its role in the bond issuance, and that principle in the bank’s considerations for guaranteeing the bond is St. Maarten’s economy and the need for economic activities benefiting St. Maarten to continue to develop. Wescot-Williams added that the intimidation was levied at St. Maarten nominees on the supervisory board of the Central Bank. “It should be noted that both the Governments of Curaçao and that of St. Maarten have appointed these members.” “Acts of protest are part of any democracy; however, when representatives of the people not only take part but use intimidation tactics to drive their message home, and incite citizens against one another, it is a sad day for the same democratic principles,” said the prime minister about the protest on Curaçao in front of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten headquarters on April 21. In photo: Adesh Baharani of Joe’s Jewellery, Project Leader Nikima Groeneveldt-Hickenson and Raj Lala of Ballerina Jewellers, (Standing) VSA Secretary-General Jorien Wuite, VSA Minister Cornelius de Weever and Head of Labor Affairs, Peggy-Ann Dros-Richardson. PHILIPSBURG--Joe’s Jewellery and Ballerina Jewellers stores have signed partnership agreements to prior on-the-job training for participants of the “Employability through Training” project, a part of the governmentsupported Social Economic Initiative (SEI). PHILIPSBURG--Hulda B. Richardson Road at the intersection of Middle Region will be temporarily closed to vehicle traffic today, Thursday, from 9:00pm to 5:00am Friday, according to the Department of Communications. Motorists are advised to observe directional signs for a smooth transit through the area via detour roads. The road closure is connected with the infrastructure upgrading works as part of the Middle Region rehabilitation project. The contractor apologizes for any inconvenience this temporary road closure may cause. The two Front Street jewellery stores will accept participants from the ongoing project once they have completed the other theoretical and practical parts. They will reserve spaces in their companies to be filled by participants in need of on-the-job training. Some six companies have committed to the project as training partners. The partnership agreements were signed on Wednesday morning in A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall by Project Leader from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Nikima Groeneveldt-Hickenson with Adesh Baharani of Joe’s Jewellery and Raj Lala of Ballerina Jewellers. VSA Minister Cornelius de Weever, VSA SecretaryGeneral Jorien Wuite and Head of Labour Affairs Peggy-Ann Dros-Richardson were present at the signing. De Weever commended the companies for signing to work in the interest of St. Maarten. He called the project “a great initiative to get the unemployed employed.” A total of 31 participants, five men and 26 women, are in the first batch being trained for positions in the labour market. They will also be assessed by a job coach and placement officers for readiness to enter the work field, and for their ability to interact socially in addition to acquisition of relevant skills. The majority of the present batch has indicated a preference in the hospitality field. The “Employability through Training” project will cater to some 250 people with Dutch nationality between the ages of 15-55. 4 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 ~ Gives recommendations to improve services ~ Members of No Limits Band were presented with a cheque for US $1,000, T-shirts, caps, water bottles and cup coolers from Gulf Insurance Ltd. on Wednesday April 25, at the company’s office on Bush Road. In the spirit of Carnival and wanting to give back to the community, Administrative Assistant Remijda Euson and Accounting Assistant Charissa Flanders presented No Limits Band founder Leroy Illis and band member Milouska Illis with the items. In photo (from left): Remijda Euson, Leroy Illis, Charissa Flanders, Milouska Illis. EINDHOVEN--Dutch advice and engineering bureau DHV will be guiding several construction and renovation projects to improve health and medical care in Bonaire. DHV is already active in St. Eustatius and Saba where it assists local health care organisations to define and design future housing projects of the islands’ nursing homes and medical centres. In Bonaire, DHV will guide NETTLE BAY--Sailing couple Claudia Couture and Tassio Jacques has planned a clean-up of Nettle Bay for Saturday from 9:00am at Layla’s Beach Restaurant and Bar. The French Canadian/ Brazilian couple encourages residents and environmental groups to join them in their continued environmental sustainability work. Couture and Jacques are on a stopover in St. Martin as part of their long-term and independent film project titled: “Terra d’Agua” and have decided to do the beach clean-up. “We would like the community to get involved with the clean up,” said Couture. The couple’s work is chronicled on their blog: www.terradagua.com Anyone interested in joining the clean-up can visit the website. the extensive renovation and expansion of the San Francisco Hospital and the adjacent nursing home Kas di Kuido. Both facilities are operated by the Mariadal Foundation. Total cost of the construction, which lasts three years, is US $30 million. The project in Bonaire will be built according to sustainable, environmentally friendly standards. The project fits in the vision of the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sports VWS to bring health care facilities on the Dutch ‘public entities’ up to the Dutch level of quality. The first steps to make the Mariadal Foundation an organisation that focused on patient care instead only providing the necessary tasks started in February 2000. San Francisco is Bonaire’s only hospital and has 36 beds. The hospital provides internal health care, emergency care, general surgery, orthopaedics, ENT specialism and eye care. PHILIPSBURG--Create a General Practitioner’s (GP) post in St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) that will be managed and operated by GPs, and cancel the arrangement between GPs and SMMC to see patients in the emergency department at night and on weekends, was one of several recommendations presented to Public Health VSA Minister Cornelius de Weever by Health Inspector Earl Best. The Health Inspectorate is “very surprised” by the agreement between GPs and SMMC concerning GP care during the night and weekends in the emergency room, Dr. Best said. This means that almost none of the general practitioners are available at night or on weekends, and that the emergency room does “figurative work” and most of the time has a long waiting line. “This affects the quality of care provided negatively.” Most GPs can be consulted by telephone during office hours; however, home visits to less ambulant patients and emergency visits are not provided by many GPs, said Best, adding this is an explanation for the fact that many GPs do not possess “a doctor’s bag anymore.” The recommendation, which has to be addressed by the VSA Minister, physician organisations, SMMC and health insurers, stems from a quality and service survey carried out by the ministry. The 20 doctors who operate as GPs had to fill out a questionnaire dealing with the subject of the survey. All of the clinics, except one GP who refused to cooper- ate, were visited by the inspectorate, explained Best in his presentation in A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall on Wednesday morning. The inspectorate also recommended the development of a registration system for general practitioners and establishment of requirements for necessary training and GP skills; as well, a sound professional communication between GPs, pharmacists and medical specialists and improvement in the quality of the patient files. Improved quality of care by developing evidencebased diagnostic and treatment protocols/guidelines for common medical conditions and the urgent introduction of an electronic health record (EHR) were outlined as very necessary. GPs will have to ensure the practice (clinic) is easily accessible for the disabled and proper technical maintenance of equipment, Bess pointed out from the findings. The most important part of the survey, according to the inspector, was to examine whether the GPs complied with the conditions for qualitatively responsible care, given the fact that no substantive guidelines on the medical content exist on St. Maarten. GPs have two organisa- tions, Windward Islands Medical Association (WIMA) and St. Maarten Medical Association (SMA) that provide peerto-peer contacts and to organise common and continuous training. “Yet it is striking that in St. Maarten professional communication about the individual patient and the organisation of care is a major problem; and not just between the GPs and the medical specialists but also between GPs and pharmacists,” Best said. “Of course both parties have responsibilities in improving this issue. Except for inter-professional contacts within WIMA and SMA, the peer-to-peer contacts within the GP group needs improvement.” The quality of patients’ files is “often very poor.” This differs considerably from the GPs using an electronic patient record (EPR) and those who do not. “St. Maarten has no accreditation for GPs. Vocational training is not mandatory. During the interviews it was often unclear how GPs maintained their skills,” Best said. Minister De Weever said the report establishes a baseline for the ministry to work with and build on to improve the health services to the community. HAPPY BAY--Team Daniel Gibbs will host a beach party at Happy Bay on Sunday for family, friends and supporters from 12:00pm. “Let’s get together to share a moment of recognition, appreciation, friendliness, around family, friends and in the presence of our friendly supporters and members,” the team said in a statement. For more information call 0590 590 510027 or 00 590 690 1498 45 or e-mail: unionpourlademocratie@ gmail.com Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Christmas in April? No, it is just a reminder from St. Maarten Animal Rescue Team (SMART) and Animal Welfare Foundation that last Christmas’ gifts of puppies or kittens are now old enough to spay or neuter. The two groups are offering US $20 pet sterilisation certificates at Dutch side vet clinic for Dutch side residents with their own transportation. The certificates do not need to be used during International Spay Month, but must be claimed by April 30. WILLEMSTAD--The dismissal of Cesar Prince as director of Curaçao’s lottery foundation Fundashon Wega di Number Kòrsou (FWNK) was apparently unreasonable. In summary proceedings the judge also decided to allow him an advance on his compensation. “It concerns a net amount,” said Prince’s lawyer Molly Stewart. Although she refused to mention the amount she said the costs involved are for FWNK. The ruling is a temporary provision. The definite amount will be de- termined in a basic court procedure. However, Stewart stated that Prince still prefers to settle the case outside court. “This is quicker, easier and involves fewer costs for all parties. Prince wants to get this situation over and done with as quickly as possible.” Prince took FWNK to court after the board had dismissed him. In a letter dated November 29, 2011 he was informed that his employment would terminate on December 31. Prince’s former employer accused him of unauthorised conduct and dissent concerning the set-up of a Lotto game; also that he had already reached the retirement age. He disagreed with the plans and filed an injunction. During the court session, FWNK’s lawyer Lisanne Asjes requested that Prince’s demands be declared inadmissible or at least dismiss his claims, because there was no question of a pressing interest to justify the summary case. In any case, the foundation does not want Prince to re- 5 turn as a forensic investigation is still in progress and they no longer trust him, she added. Although the board was authorised to dismiss Prince, the question remained whether such was unreasonable. Prince had based his defence on a continuing contract up to and including December 31, 2013. The judge stated that this proposition was correct and that the dismissal was apparently unjust. Meanwhile, Sithree van Heydoorn has been appointed interim director. 6 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 WILLEMSTAD --Curacao’s Minister of Economic Development Abdul Nasser el Hakim (MFK) wants to strengthen the ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He discussed this during his working visit to Abu Dabi with Minister of International Trade sheikh Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi. She is a member of the royal family and said to be one of the most influential persons in the United Arab Emirates. Given that Curaçao is considered to be a hub for Western Europe, North, Central and South America is very interesting for the UAE, according to the minister. Within this framework, he offered to organise a trade mission with participation of Curaçao and The Netherlands. During his visit, El Hakim also spoke with sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed al Maktuom, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emirates Airlines. The minister tried to persuade the sheikh into sponsoring Curaçao Space Expedition and Curaçao Airport City. According to El Hakim, the sheik was impressed with the projects and indicated he and the CEO of the commercial centre of Dubai would visit Curaçao. The minister is in Dubai to attend the “Global Aerospace Summit.” “Curaçao will be the first airbase for space flights. The first flights will be executed in 2013,” El Hakim stated. He also met with representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During this conversation, he spoke about the possibility of FAA assisting Curaçao with drawing up the necessary legislation to make the space flights possible. The minister also gave information on the Curaçao Airport City master plan. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School grade six pupils paid a visit to the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard facilities in Simpson Bay on Tuesday, April 24. Coast Guard officers explained the training process and gave a tour of the building and vessels. Pupils boarded the Coast Guard’s cutter Poema, where they learned about radar technology, at-sea safety procedures and the different weapons used by officers. WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao’s Minister of Finance George “Jorge” Jamaloodin (MFK) intends to travel to The Netherlands soon. His visit to The Hague has to do with the collapse of the Dutch cabinet headed by now caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) and pending matters in the interest of Curaçao. Rutte resigned after negotiations between coalition parties VVD and CDA together with “tolerating partner” PVV on taking financial measures within the framework of the increasing budgetary deficit had floundered. Rutte informed the Second Chamber of Parliament, which debated which Police officers were last night investigating an armed robbery by masked men at Man subjects should be marked as Chung Supermarket. controversial and therefore will no longer be handled by the outgoing cabinet. Sources in “Fòrti,” the seat of the government of Curaçao, report that Jamaloodin Continued from page 1. intends to travel to The market, robbed it and fled the same criminal outfit Netherlands soon to discuss into the darkness. involved in last night’s two among other things matters No information was availrobberies. concerning the Kingdom Tax Two supermarkets robbed able up to press time about how much money had been stolen during the two robberies. However, as police continued their investigations into the two robberies, they arrested three of the four suspects in the yard of a well-known house at Tangerine and Apricot Roads in St. Peters around 9:20pm. Six similar robberies were executed in less than 30 minutes at six Chinese supermarkets and restaurants in the St. Peters area recently and reports suggest that those robberies were committed by members of Police inside Ho Supermarket shortly after it was robbed by four masked men Wednesday night. 7 Regulation BRK. Curaçao wants the outgoing Ruttecabinet to finalise the new agreements on the fiscal treaty. Considering that a few drafts are already on the table, Jamaloodin wants to have a meeting with outgoing Dutch State Secretary of Finance Frans Weekers. The new agreements are to become effective on January 1, 2013 and could mean a zero rate for tax on dividends or at least a rate lower than the current one. Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague Sheldry Osepa could not offer any details, but said, “There are several matters that we certainly consider controversial, top- ics on which we had strong discussions. These are on the table due to one of the coalition partners. There are also issues we’d like to see settled.” Leader of coalition party Pueblo Soberano (PS) Helmin Wiels stated during a press conference that the collapse of the Dutch cabinet will not have any consequences for Curaçao. According to him, in the past, consecutive cabinets had not brought any policy on how the Dutch Government treats Curaçao. “The Dutch politicians don’t determine this policy, but Dutch civil servants. They decide what happens, therefore, nothing will change.” Islands 8 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 The white Kia Picanto used in the robbery. Daylight robbery Continued from page 1. later found abandoned in the vicinity of Cappuccino bar-restaurant. Residents in the area complained of a heavy gasoline smell coming from the car and on arrival, police found a jer- ry-can in the vehicle. Police were trying to locate the robber, Henson said. WILLEMSTAD--Yet unaware of the bad news awaiting him, Curaçao’s biggest current Major League Baseball (MLB) star Jair Jurrjens said “I’m not the type that gives up easily.” “I’ll continue to work hard. I’m simply doing my best, I can’t do more than that. I’m still the same Jair Jurrjens, it’ll come back. I’ll keep on fighting,” the pitcher stated. Minutes later, he was called into the office of Atlanta Braves’ General Manager Frank Wren, who calmly told him he would be moved from the major leagues down to the “minors” with Triple-A affiliate Gwinnet. “We’re giving Jair the chance to fight his way back and regain his condition. Hopefully he’ll return to us a stronger person. He doesn’t have any injury or health problems, he’s simply not in form, that can happen,” Wren said in explaining what he called a tough decision. ARUBA--With the arrival of two experts from “Eurcarinet” the Aruban Government wishes to stimulate research institutions and the local business community to compete for European tenders regarding research and innovation. As it concerns a complex matter, lectures and workshops are being given. For that matter, a consortium consisting of utility companies WEB and Elmar, the University of Aruba, the Dutch Technical Reseach Institute TNO, a poly-technical university in Milan and a university in Greece, is already competing for a tender regarding energy. With the information meetings and training, the Eman-cabinet hopes to create more interest to participate in research- and innovation initiative programmes of the European Union (EU) such as KP7, which stands for a research and technological development programme for which the EU reserved over 50 billion euros. The programme ends next year and its successor “Horizon” that will run until 2020, is about to begin. This programme has an even higher budget of 80 billion euros, Humphrey Vrolijk explained. He’s not only the contact person for Aruba on this programme, but also for the rest of the Dutch Caribbean. The reason why so many billions are being spent is that Europe wishes to keep up with the US and Japan, which lead in investments in research and innovation. Europe wishes to overtake that knowledge backlog, but not by itself; thus the endeavour to work together internationally as much as possible. There’s another motive: with the economic crisis in mind, through these investments the EU can boost economies of less-developed areas again. For that reason Eurcarinet was formed in April 2010, a platform consisting of research institutes and other expertise groups from Europe and the Caribbean to chart which research themes could be done together and by what parties. No Aruban entities have a seat on this platform, but the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) on Curaçao does. Today, Wednesday, Eurcarinet is there for its annual meeting, to view the participation status, in particular, for the new tender round for KP7 that is to begin again in July. For those wishing to participate, there’s still 11 billion euros in the training programme that will end next year. It’s up to Vrolijk to attract more candidates from the Dutch-speaking islands. Since his appointment last year, he’s been very busy giving more publicity to the EU-programmes. Peo- ple are also being trained on Aruba to draw up the complex quotations for the EU-tenders so that Aruba doesn’t miss out on funding, knowledge and opportunities, he said. In any case, the island now has a consortium of Aruban institutions to compete for a research project on energy. It mainly involves socalled “smart grids.” Vrolijk explained that there’s an EU-budget of 66 million euros for this, but that doesn’t mean the entire amount will go to one winner of the tender. A maximum of 5 million euros is usually available for each candidate, which for that matter depends on the number of participants per bidding call. In any case, participation of the Aruban institutions fulfils the current government’s wish to create a centre for energy innovation and with that build up a knowledge economy. Tapping EU-funds is certainly one way to realise this research infrastructure, said Vrolijk. PHILIPSBURG--Local youth string band group Tiny and the Boys officially will launch its debut album entitled “Passing the Torch,” at Pink Pearl restaurant in Front Street today, Thursday, starting at 6:00pm. “After several long years of work, and with the generous support of government and several sponsors, we believe we have a product that is truly a historical record and of important cultural significance,” group leader Tyrone Phelipa stated Wednesday. The group will pay homage to Tanny and the Boys, with the CD launch being a special tribute to their legacy, “and an affirmation of our commitment to carry the torch that they have left for us,” Phelipa said. Passing the Torch is described as the first full album recorded by a youth string band in St. Maarten. It features rearranged traditional music played on traditional instruments, including one passed down from the original Tanny and the Boys. Copies of the CD will be available for purchase after the official baptizing. Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 9 Smuggling paradise Continued from page 1. scans and electronic equipment in Europe and America by far outweighed what was done in St. Maarten, as the island made use of all the available manpower and equipment. Before 10-10-10, the Customs Department had a staff of eight persons and was assisted by five technical assistance colleagues from The Netherlands. However, due to the 1½year contracts and after many failed requests for extensions, only an additional eight months was granted, resulting in the cessation of Dutch assistance in August 2011. The cost for the period from 10-10-10 to August 2011 exceeded NAf. 500,000, which was paid by St. Maarten to The Netherlands. Duncan explained that Customs Department staff had been augmented with 11 new “Bavpolers” since then, completing the department with 21 officers and hoping to add 16 more to its growing staff. Other comments made by members of the Dutch Parliament in the Second Chamber did not sit well with Duncan either. These included comments such as those by MP Lucassen who stated, “Even for Caribbean standards, Customs is a joke.” The MP failed to identify the “Caribbean standards” to which he was referring, which again reeks of unsubstantiated noises PHILIPSBURG--The Permanent Committee of Parliament on Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure will meet today, Thursday in a public session about Geographical Information System (GIS) called the “Currency of Modern Government.” GIS specialist Donald Webster requested the meeting with the Members of Parliament (MPs). He and his team will provide information on how GIS is designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse and manage spatial referenced data, and how government institutions have relied on using this technology to the benefit their development. The meeting, to be chaired by MP Romain Laville, starts at 10:00am in the General Assembly Chamber of Parliament House. Also members of the committee are MPs Roy Marlin, Patrick Illidge and William Marlin. The meeting will be live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 20 and Pearl Radio FM 98.1. The audio will be via internet on www. pearlfmradio.com. with bad faith intentions, Duncan said. Also, in response to the claim made by MP Lucassen that after a recent crime view analysis the United States (US) is “very worried” that a part of the smuggling goes via St. Maarten’s harbours, Duncan said this most recent crime view analysis had been conducted in 20092010 and therefore was not as recent as the MP had suggested. Furthermore, Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Liesbeth Spies stated in her address to the Second Chamber, “The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard was doing a good job in combating drug trafficking.” The Coast Guard functions under local authority, not independently, so the assumption that “the Customs Department is not functioning properly or unable to fulfil its tasks is nothing short of a bogus, outrageous claim and another attempt to cast a negative light on St. Maarten and its development as a new country,” Duncan also said in his press release. “St. Maarten is most certainly not a ‘true smuggling paradise’ and that the Dutch MP and a minister would spout such nonsense is regrettable, as they failed to provide any facts whatsoever to substantiate their wild allegations,” Duncan concluded. Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid Isle received three awards at the District 7020 Conference held in Haiti recently. The club received the platinum Distinguished Governor’s Award for its outstanding and dedicated service and promotion of Rotary Ideals and Services during the Rotary Year 2011-2012. The club also received Club of the Month Bronze Award from District 7020 for its participation in the programme, which includes monthly reports to the District about its activities. From Rotary International, Rotary Mid Isle also received a District Literacy Award for its efforts to promote literacy during 2011-2012, specifically through the Spelling Bee competition in October 2011. President Ramesh Manek thanked all members and their families and friends who supported Rotary Mid Isle during the past Rotary Year. St. Joseph Primary School concluded its final session of “Active Parenting Now 3” workshops last Monday, certifying 22 parents of the new four-year-olds who will make up its new Group One in the upcoming academic year 2012-2013. The three APN3 sessions were led by teacher Mary Bary who was assisted by fellow teachers Darleen Richards, Dorothee Illis-Laurence and Shanirah Illidge. 10 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 SCDF representatives Michael Granger and Lisette Carty accept the baskets of Neutrogena and Clean & Clear beauty products from Manrique Capriles team Kenty Lichtenberg and Stanley Baptist. PHILIPSBURG--Manrique Capriles and Sons, in collaboration with St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF), has sponsored the Teen and Senior Carnival contestants with self-pampering baskets. SCDF was pleasantly sur- prised and appreciative of the business community’s effort in supporting and promoting St. Maarten Carnival in any possible way. The baskets contain beauty products like body oils, facial cleansers and body creams of brands such as Neutrogena and Clean & Clear. It takes a lot of hard work, discipline and courage to represent an age group in any pageant. These contestants have made sacrifices and commitments to school and work to be a part of the annual Carnival festivities and represent St. Maarten’s culture. After such a busy period of preparation, stress and expectations, contestants are entitled to pamper themselves with these products, the donors said. ST. EUSTATIUS--Insurance company Nagico celebrated its 30th anniversary at the ARC complex in St. Eustatius on Friday afternoon. Arlene Cuvalay, who is not only ARC Agency’s managing director, but also Nagico agent in Statia, welcomed everyone present. Island Council members, Nagico’s Chief Executive Officer Imran McSood Amjad, and agents and staff members of the insurer were among the audience. Cuvalay said on December 1, 1988, she had walked into the Nagico office in St. Maarten and asked to speak to the manager. “At that time Nagico was still in its infancy, as it was only six years old. I introduced myself to Mr. McSood and told him I lived in Statia and would like to work as an insurance agent. I also informed him that I didn’t know anything about insurance, but was willing to learn. After I had answered several questions, he looked at me and said: “I do not know you, but you seem to look like a serious person.” So he promised to give me the opportunity to work as an agent, with all the necessary training and material. There and then he signed me on as an agent, and the rest is history,” Cuvalay said, “Today, that same unwavering confidence, that same strength of character, that same vigilance and customer-oriented attitude, that written in stone motto “We’ve got you covered” is Nagico staff and agents in St. Eustatius with ARC managing director Arlene Cuvalay (third left), and Nagico CEO Imran Mc Sood Amjan (fourth left). the platform on which Nagico serves its many valued customers and friends over the years, subsequently propelling Nagico as one of the leading insurance companies in the north-eastern Caribbean with over 35 trained and accomplished agents on 18 different islands,” she said. Cuvalay thanked St. Eustatius for the “tremendous support over the years,” in which she also included the local agents and staff. Mc Sood Amjad gave an overview of the company’s history, including its ups and downs. He then presented a US $1,500 cheque to NuStar Statia Way, which contributes to non-profit organisations on the islands. Cheques of the same amount were also awarded to Bethel Methodist School and EDU Partners in education. W I L L E M S TA D - -T h e Schotte-cabinet will soon introduce measures to improve the safety at Curaçao schools, said coalition partner and parliamentarian Helmin Wiels (PS), starting with public education. According to Wiels, initially the safety measures will be introduced at public schools. Teachers must be- come extraordinary police officers so that all pupils can be body-searched. The purpose of the measures is to increase the safety at schools. The main point is that teachers will have more authority. Wiels emphasised that the teachers will not become criminal investigators. Nevertheless, they will have special authority to frisk pupils and search schoolbags for weapons and drugs. According to the parliamentarian teachers currently are not to do so. Pueblo Soberano (PS) assumes that this measure will be introduced in any case for the new school year. This was already agreed with the Minister of Justice Elmer “Kade” Wilsoe and Education Minister Carlos Monk, according to Wiels. The teachers are to be trained as extraordinary police officers in the coming months. Metal detectors and cameras will also be installed at these schools, according to the PSleader. “These measures are necessary. We’re not dealing with naughty boys but with organised crime, which we have to tackle.” Consultation on hold Continued from page 1. different areas such as education, youth and youngsters, transport of goods and persons, and energy. St. Maarten has indicated to Chairman André Bosman (VVD) of the work group Energy that it wants to be involved in the alternative energy projects that the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation is arranging with St. Eustatius and Saba. It concerns geothermal and wind energy. St. Maarten has yet to respond to the work groups of Education and Youth and Youngsters. In September, the Parliaments will decide when to hold the Inter-parliamen- tary Consultation. But the consultation will, in any case, not take place in the second half year of 2012, because of the hectic times in The Hague surrounding the elections in September and the formation period after. Most probably the next Inter-parliamentary Consultation of the Kingdom will take place in January 2013, and because the meetings in the early part of the year are always held on the islands, it means that this year The Hague will not be hosting the event. The State of the Kingdom has also been postponed. Initiative taker Member of Parliament Wassila Hachchi of the democratic D66 party said that holding the State of the Kingdom after the Inter-parliamentary Consultation in June proved impossible for technical organisational reasons. Hachchi told The Daily Herald that the Chairpersons of the four Parliaments had discussed the State of the Kingdom. All Parliaments in principle were positive about her proposal. The Parliaments will continue the preparations to have the State of the Kingdom sometime next year. THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 11 12 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 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 Tyden Air 497 2719 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 Roy’s Restaurant 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Every Thursday. Soroptimist International Day Care Centre 4.30 p.m. 2nd Tuesday in each month Tel: 497 3509 Lions Club The Valley Primary School 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 5.30 p.m. Tel: 264 235 1280 National Council of Women Arts and Craft Centre 4.30 p.m. 1st Monday in month. Interact Club of Anguilla Meets every Friday at 3.15 p.m. at theAlbena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Alcoholic Anonymous meetings every Sunday at 8:30 am and Monday at 5:00 pm on Shoal Bay picnic area. Subscribe to PHONE 5425253 ST. EUSTATIUS--Quota International Club of St. Eustatius will be hosting the organisation’s 12th district conference April 27-29. Quota St. Eustatius started as a branch of the Curaçao club in 2005. On August 9, 2008, the branch extended its wings, and became a club by acquiring a minimum of 15 members. Statia’s Quotarians will be welcoming their first guest today, Thursday. The members of district 42 are of the Dutch Caribbean, including Suriname. Representatives of The Netherlands and the United States will also be participating. “This is a great opportunity for Quota Club Statia to promote this “Historical Gem” in the Dutch Caribbean,” stated Chief of the St. Eustatius Government Information Service Malvern Dijkshoorn-Lopes in a press release on Wednesday. The Quota Club will hold a meet-and-greet at the newly established harbour platform on Friday, where members will be welcomed with Caribbean music and performances by the youth group of “maestro” Dennis Amajan. Saturday and Sunday will be dedicated to the conference which will entail lectures by St. Maarten ombudsman Nilda Arduin, Aisheline Maduro and Paula Aymer. Statians will have the opportunity to mingle with the guests from abroad during a banquet on Saturday. The conference will end Sunday with a barbeque and music at Statia Oil Terminal playground. After the conference, many of the visiting Quotarians will spend additional days on the island for vacation. Quota Club Statia has organized a boat trip to Saba. Others will be leaving at the end of the conference to get a taste of the St. Maarten Carnival. ST. EUSTATIUS--Talks are underway to come to the establishment of a cadastre foundation (land registry) in St. Eustatius, Commissioner Glenville Schmidt said during Wednesday’s weekly press conference. Schmidt said the Executive Council had met with Marinus Sliedrecht and Martin Wubbe of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment regarding land registry services. Since October 10, 2010, these services are the responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment. Discussions were held about the establishment of a foundation for Saba and St. Eustatius. However, legal frameworks need to be put in place on the islands before they can take over the cadastral records, which are now kept at the Kadaster Office of St. Maarten. Commissioner Schmidt also talked about a proper location, which needs to have the right temperature or cooling system to secure old documentations. The Kadaster Office of St. Maarten still provides services to Statia. In the constellation of the Netherlands Antilles, St. Maarten put its cadastre into a foundation, which also renders services to Saba and Statia. 13 14 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 ST. MAARTEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 15 16 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 ARUBA--A consortium of the Dutch Technical Research Centre TNO and the University of Milan, Italy have jointly submitted an application with the European Union (EU) committee for a 4.7 million euro subsidy (over 11 million florins) to carry out the research project “The Green Aruba.” Prime Minister Mike Eman (AVP) announced this at the Caribbean TNO office in the Dr. Edward Cheung Innovation Centre. The project has a planned duration of three and a half years. During this period, if the plans are approved, studies will be done on sustainable development on Aruba and islands in the region, higher education, and employment and business opportunities for small entrepreneurs. “With this project, one actually asks for means to build-up a certain capacity and knowledge,” TNO Caribbean Director Jan Ebbing told the Amigoe newspaper. With the funds Islands from Europe it is possible to acquire and exchange knowledge on Aruba and in the region involving green energy. According to Ebbing, besides the existing faculties, students could then learn about renewable energy at the University of Aruba (UA). “With the EU funds, we can spread this knowledge by means of congresses and conferences in the Caribbean region. Generally speaking, this is very expensive for participants, but that isn’t necessarily the case with funds from 14a the EU.” The consortium expects to Prime Minister Mike Eman (centre) made the announcement at the Dr. Edward Cheung receive a reply on the applica- Innovation Centre. tion during the second half of Eman said that the exper- “because it shows one of the project is approved and that this year. “It is difficult to say tise of TNO is being used to advantages of our coopera- we’ll receive the necessary when exactly,” added Ebbing. substantiate the application, tion with TNO. Let’s hope the funds.” “We expect a reply in August at the earliest and in December at the latest.” For that matter, Ebbing denies that the Green Aruba Project also regards research on smart grids. He says in due course TNO also wants to study those. NIJMEGEN--A security official at Radboud University in Nijmegen has thrown away a 12-metre long drawing, which had been on display on the wall of a lecture theatre complex because he did not recognise it as art, reported news website Nu.nl on Wednesday. The official threw the drawing, part of a project by artist Peter Otto from the city of Arnhem, into a paper shredder, the website said. The university has not commented on the claim, other than to admit a work of art “has gone.” According to Nu.nl, Otto is known in The Netherlands and abroad for his drawings, which invite others to add to them. This project, named Fonzie, was due to hang in the university for six weeks prior to a guest lecture. 17 Ebbing confirmed that the chance of approval is higher due to the expertise of TNO. “We have considerable experience in these applications. The more experience, the higher the chance of approval.” Two experts from Eucarinet are on the island this week to give research institutions and the business community information on how to benefit from European possibilities for research and innovation. Eucarinet is a European platform that focuses on promoting European-Caribbean research and innovation networks. The platform can assist companies and institutions with submitting applications for European funds. 18 NEVIS--Students of the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School (JLPS) and the Gingerland Secondary School (GSS) in Nevis got the opportunity to be part of an Islands historic encounter with Commissioner in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force Celvin Walwyn on Tuesday. He urged them not to waste their educa- THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 tion and to stay away from bad company and crime. The highest ranking police officer in the federation was accompanied by officer in charge of the Nevis Division assistant Commissioner Robert Liburd and the new Head of the Gingerland Police Station Sergeant Paulette Bartlette. “Children, I would like to speak to you this morning about your future. You are at an age when now you can determine whether you go up or whether you go down. “We have a lot of bad influences in this society. We have a lot of guns, we have a lot of drugs [and] we have a lot of violence. You don’t have to become a part of this. You can become somebody special, somebody who can contribute to your society,” Walwyn said. The commissioner told the students that what he was asking of them would not be easy to achieve, but they had to do what was right. “One black blemish can stop you from achieving your goals. So the next time somebody comes to you and tells you to do something that you know is wrong, tell them: ‘I won’t do it.’ Even if they say, ‘you are not my friend anymore,’ it’s okay, find some other friends,” he said. Walwyn used the opportunity to explain a growing trend that had the potential to affect their future and pointed to situations in which youths of yesterday, now adults of today, were going through. “Let me tell you all something that is happening in the federation right now. A lot of people your age were committing crimes and they are now your parents’ age and they are trying to go to the United States to get a better life for their children, but they can’t go because they have criminal records. “You see, your parents told you a long time ago; watch what you do and watch the company that you keep. When you do bad things now, they follow you when you get older when you change your mind and want to do what is right and your parents or relatives in America, Canada or England are trying to get you over there and get your papers, so you can go and do better for yourself,” he said. The top cop explained that at the age of 13, he was brought to the US Virgin Islands by his mother but when he got to his early twenties he opted to move to the mainland and did something positive with his life and has a Doctorate to show for it. “Why am I telling you this? You are at an age when you can determine your future. If you do bad things now and you keep doing bad things, when it’s time for you to get a chance to do something positive and to leave here so you can come back to contribute, you won’t be able to go. “In the last two weeks I have had over 30 men who have had a chance to get a Green Card or to go to Canada to work and they couldn’t, because they have weed smoking, girlfriend beating, robbery, guns all that stuff on their record and those countries will not take them. So my point to you now is at this age I want you to think seriously about everything that you are doing because any hanging with the wrong crowd at this age, can affect you in the future,” he stated. The commissioner told the students they can be anything they want to be in the world, but it is up to them and they have to believe that. He added that there were many Kittitians and Nevisians who had left the federation and had made meaningful differences in other countries they went to because their parents had given them the right training the same as they were receiving. “Do not waste your education here in this school. Learn as much as you can, go out and become whatever you want to be and continue reaching for the stars,” he said. JLPS principal Marion Lescott and GSS deputy principal Shefton Liburd registered gratitude for the commissioner and his team’s visit to their school, deeming it a privilege. “I want to thank you for the words of encouragement that you have given to us as an institution, as a family here at Gingerland Secondary School reminding us especially our children that they are at the stage where the power is in their hands to direct their future. “I trust that our students were attentive, I trust that they have taken in the few words that you have shared with us. You have been very brief I would say in your discourse but it has been a very powerful discourse. Once again I want to say thanks to you for coming to be among us and for speaking with us,” Liburd said. At the end of the visit, both Commissioner Walwyn and assistant Commissioner Liburd were invited to sign the visitor’s book at the school ST. KITTS--Magistrates from across the Eastern Caribbean met in St. Kitts on Wednesday for their 2012 conference. St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas was invited to deliver the welcome remarks by Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Hugh Rawlins. The three-day conference is hosted by the Judicial Education Institute of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The April 25th to 27th conference is being held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino and magistrates are expected from Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Angie and King ST. KITTS--The Ministry of Culture and the Department of Culture are mourning the loss of two of the federation’s cultural icons. Culture Minister Marcella Liburd joined calypso fans in St. Kitts and Nevis mourning the loss of two popular calypsonians and expressed condolences to the families of the late Andrea “Singing Angie” Walters and Fred “King of the 29 Fellows” Doyling. “Singing Angie, one of the long standing female calypsonians had the distinction of being the first female to win the ‘Best of the Rest Calypso Competition’ and the Green Valley Calypso King Competition. A regular participant in the Legends Tent, she provided back-up vocal accompaniment to many other calypsonians,” the ministry said in a news release. A latecomer to the calypso arena, King of the Twenty Nine Fellows, while already in his 70’s, was able to win over the hearts of calypso fans through his unique style of presentation on-stage performance and musical lyrics, which always told a story about his life and love of women. “King of the Twenty Nine Fellows was well respected by his younger calypso compatriots and at the height of his career earned the reputation of always being the star of the calypso tent,” the ministry said. ANGUILLA--During the past week there were three burglaries reported, two in South Hill and one at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Campus A. The items stolen included a passport, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and cash. The six thefts occurred in South Hill, East End, The Valley, Island Harbour, Road Bay Customs and West End. BlackBerry phones, jewellery, awning shutters and cash were all stolen. During the week the police made six arrests. Two males were arrested for wounding, one on suspicion of theft, and others for immigration purposes, to prevent a breach of the peace, and on a warrant. Six minor traffic accidents occurred. 19 20 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Islands THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 ST. KITTS--St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has underscored the seriousness of a three-day Magistrates Conference which opened in Basseterre on Wednesday. In delivering welcoming remarks, he singled out the sessions on “A Family Court Approach: Working with Social Services” and “The Magistrate as Family Psychologist.” “These sessions underscore the seriousness with which this conference takes social and psychological implications of the onerous responsibilities that the region’s magistrates have assumed, in an attempt to help build a more stable, more just, and more productive society,” the prime minister told the legal fraternity. He noted that the impact of the Caribbean church, family, school and way of life has become ever more diluted. “This, among other reasons, helps to explain many of the vexing issues with which you have been grappling in recent years, and which, in an especially concentrated form, you will be grappling throughout this entire conference. For example, the social causes ST. KITTS--The federation of St. Kitts and Nevis remains off the French “black list” of countries deemed to be “uncooperative” in tax matters. The only Caribbean country named among the eight jurisdictions on the list recently updated by French Finance Minister François Baroin and Budget Minister Valérie Pécresse is Montserrat. The other seven are Brunei, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, the Philippines and Botswana. The revised list is retroactive to January 1, 2012, and is confirmed in a government decree dated April 4, published in the country’s official journal dated April 12. This year, the French government’s black list was reduced considerably. In accordance with the 2012 decree, 11 jurisdictions were removed from the Seated from left to right at the table are Justice Louise Blenman, Governor General Cuthbert Sebastian, Justice of Appeal Janice Pereira and Prime Minister Denzil Douglas. of sexual offences, the cultural causes of sexual offences and importantly, the gender dimensions of these offences,” said Douglas. He referred to the socially destabilising issue of family violence and its social, psychological and gender dimensions, which he said are all pressing issues where the administration of justice is concerned. “And all are, I was pleased to note, to be addressed over the next three days as you strive to improve the region’s judicial response to black list as of January 1, 2012, namely Anguilla, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Cook Islands, the Turk and Caicos Islands, Liberia, Oman, Panama and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Botswana was added to the list. St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia were removed from the French government’s list in May last year. France adopted its own ‘black list’ of countries deemed to be uncooperative in tax matters back in February 2010. At the time, the original list was signed by former Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and former Budget Minister Eric Woerth. Established in accordance with specific criteria, the list contains the names of those States failing to provide both fiscal transparency and administrative cooperation with France. As a result, operators located these pressing issues. Until a flaw is acknowledged, it cannot be corrected. “So this conference’s open acknowledgement -as reflected in your agenda- that gender stereotypes do, indeed, influence the administration of justice, access to justice, and the rule of law and it reflects a laudable commitment to selfassessment and self-correction. And this is indeed commendable,” Douglas said. He pointed out that in addition to serving as prime in, or realizing transactions with ETNC States, will see more restrictive measures applied than under regular law. If the subsidiaries of a parent company are based in a country appearing on the French government’s black list, they will, for example, no longer benefit from the parent-subsidiary regime, providing that dividends, paid by a subsidiary to its parent company, are granted up to 95 per cent exemption from corporate taxation. Dividends, interest, and royalties paid to entities located in non-cooperative jurisdictions are also taxed unfavourably at 55 per cent. In accordance with the provisions laid down under article 238-0 A of the general tax code, France’s black list is revised and updated annually. minister; he is also the federation’s minister with responsibility for national security. “In St. Kitts and Nevis, as is the case elsewhere in the Caribbean and, indeed, throughout the world, pockets of youth alienation and youth violence have been manifesting themselves in the form of gangs. And, quite troublingly, these gangs seem to have a single approach to resolving conflicts and settling scores. “Even as we, in the federation, continue to meet our own traditional responsibilities in the area of law enforcement, then, we are also keenly aware of the importance of intervening in the lives of misdirected youths before they become hardened criminals, indeed, even before they even commit their first serious offence,” said Douglas. He noted that 50 years ago, when he was a boy, or forty years ago when he was a teenager, a juvenile delinquent was, perhaps, someone who often ran away from school. “Or maybe that juvenile delinquent was someone who was often caught stealing mangoes from somebody’s tree. Not only is the term ‘juvenile delinquent’ hardly ever used any more, but even if it were, it would quite often refer to young people who, for one reason or another, manifest, in far more serious ways, their own alienation from society, and who, therefore, now present a far more complex challenge where the administration of justice is concerned,” he stated. The prime minister further noted that because of the changed reality that now faces magistrates everywhere, the solutions, the approaches, and even the custodial arrangements that may have been appropriate and effective forty years ago, may no longer be either appropriate or effective today. “What then, as this conference’s final session on Day Two asks, are the options open to magistrates when dealing with youth in conflict with society and with the law? This is a question which, increasingly, has to be asked by those concerned about the administration of justice - all around the world and not just here in the Eastern Caribbean,” he told the judges. Douglas said it is important that, as each country or region crafts its answer, they do so in the context of what for their own country or region would be effective - based on the cultural realities of that country. “What would be viable based on the human and material resources available to that particular country. And what would 21 be appropriate based on the dictates of domestic and international law and the standards that the society in question has set for itself,” said the prime minister. He expressed hope that the deliberations on these very important issues will yield insights and approaches that will help to advance the administration of justice in this region, for many, many years to come. “The role of the magistrate is a key to ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance humane, just, and democratic societies everywhere,” said Douglas. The three-day conference is hosted by the Judicial Education Institute of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and magistrates are attending from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. ANGUILLA--Forty-four civil society organizations representing seventeen countries across the English, Spanish, Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean participated in a meeting held at the Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, last week. The two-day meeting on population and development, with emphasis on reproductive rights and sexual reproductive health, aimed to get governments to ratify, implement and enforce the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. Anguilla was represented by Indah Leiba, a graduate teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and an active member and volunteer in several non-government organizations, among them the National Council of Women and the Optimist Club. The meeting also addressed the need to strengthen sexual and reproductive health services including family planning, programmes for the prevention of teen pregnancy and to ensure that teenage mothers continue their formal education. Participants also discussed the protection and rights of indigenous and marginalized people, the importance of full participation of women in decision-making at all levels, and the need to eliminate gender based violence, and all forms of trafficking in the Caribbean region. The meeting noted that gains have been made in key areas, including an increase in women’s participation in education, the enactment of some legislation and policies in areas of sexual and reproductive health, a reduction in maternal mortality and HIV, and an increase in life expectancy. The two-day conference was organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network with support of the United Nations Population Fund. The latter supplied funding for Leiba’s participation, with support also of the government of Anguilla. 22 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 THE HAGUE--Twenty months after Jan Peter Balkenende stood down as CDA leader following the party’s disastrous showing in the June 2010 general election, the party is still without a front man or woman. The CDA will be holding an internal ballot to choose its campaign head for the September general election, announced party chair Ruth Peetoom after a meeting of the CDA board on Wednesday. Candidates have until May 4, to step forward. Several days later they will be pre- sented to party members. The new party leader will be elected in two rounds of votes. In the first round the number of candidates will be reduced to two, after which a second and final runoff will follow. This is one reason why this party wants to delay the general election until September to give it time to find the right candidate to lead its election campaign. Favourite among voters is Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager, who is considered by 36 per cent as the most capable person to do the job. However, De Jager THE HAGUE--Around six in a hundred couples living in The Netherlands are made up of one Dutch national with a foreign partner, according to new figures from the Central Bureau for Statistics CBS. In total, The Netherlands has 3.1 million married couples and a further 800,000 couples who officially live together. Of them, 265,000 are of mixed nationality. Dutch-Indonesian, Dutch-German and Dutch-Surinamese are the most popular mixes, the CBS stated. In six out of 10 mixed couples, the man is Dutch. The CBS also highlighted a sharp increase in the number of Dutch men marrying women from Thailand or Eastern Europe. L I M A / A M S T E R DA M -Joran van der Sloot is to serve out his 28-year sentence in Peru, the country’s Justice Minister César San Martín told local press on Wednesday. He was re- sponding to reports that Van der Sloot might be extradited to the United States. Dutch citizen Van de Sloot was found guilty earlier this year of the murder THE HAGUE--The Netherlands will not vote in favour of a proposal to increase the European Union’s budget by almost seven per cent next year, Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager was quoted as saying Wednesday. “That is far too high. It is unthinkable,” De Jager told news agency ANP. Members of Parliament (MPs) also criticised the proposal announced by the European Commission on Wednesday morning. Brussels said the 6.8 per cent increase is “desperately needed” to revive growth, the BBC reported. “All layers of government [in The Netherlands ed.] have less to spend. It is notable that the EU wants more money, even though it also is a layer of government,” Labour PvdA’s financial spokesman Ronald Plasterk said. Christian Democrat CDA MP Elly Blanksma said Europe also needed a little budgetary discipline. The Dutch government collapsed Saturday after failing to agree to measures necessary to cut the budget deficit in line with euro zone rules to below three per cent. Last year, the European Commission proposed increasing the EU budget by 4.9 per cent, but this was eventually slashed to 1.9 per cent following protests from member states including The Netherlands. Islands/Dutch Kingdom has already made it clear he does not want the position, saying it should be up to politicians to decide. Second in the EenVandaag poll is Sybrand Haersma Buma, who leads the party’s fraction in the Second Chamber, with 19 per cent. State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation Henk Bleker, who hinted in January he would be interested in the role has a seven per cent backing. Bleker, who struggled in his role as state secretary, is a former party chairman. According to Wednesday’s NRC, Minister of Education, Culture and Science Marja van Bijsterveldt has thrown her hat into the ring. Since Labour PvdA membership voted for new leader Diederik Samsom in a similar campaign as the CDA is going to hold, support for this party has risen sharply in the polls. The CDA lost nearly half its seats in the June 2010 election and is currently losing even more support in opinion polls. 23 Hero Brinkman surrounded by Dutch media in the Second Chamber building in The Hague. (Reuters photo) THE HAGUE--Party for Freedom PVV renegade Hero Brinkman has announced he will be forming his own party to take part in the next election. Appearing on Pauw and Witteman television news show he announced it would be called the Independent Citizens’ Party OBP. He said this name should make clear what the party will stand for. He said he had “enough good people” to present a list of candidates for the parliamentary election, which will probably be held in September. Brinkman, generally conof 21-year-old Stephany sidered as the PVV’s secFlores Ramírez on May 30, ond after Geert Wilders, 2010 in a hotel room in the left the party a few weeks Peruvian capital Lima. ago over disagreements on The United States has requested his extradition to face charges of fraud and extortion committed on the mother of Natalee Holloway, a US teenager who disappeared while on holi- THE HAGUE--Three poday in Aruba in 2005. She litical parties have engaged was last seen with Van der in joint talks with Dutch FiSloot. Her body was never nance Minister Jan Kees de Jager on cutting government found. In the US case, Van der spending by up to 14 billion Sloot is accused of asking euros, various newspapers Natalee Holloway’s mother reported Wednesday afterfor 190,000 euros for in- noon. formation about what hap- The D66 Liberal democrats, pened to her daughter’s left-wing greens GroenLinks and small Christian party body. He is said to have reChristian Union have formed ceived the money from her. a united front to support rePeruvian Minister San forms and cuts in an effort to Martín explained that Van reduce the budget deficit to der Sloot might be able to below three per cent, in line attend his trial in the US, with euro zone rules, it was but that he would have to said. return to Peru after the verThe VVD-CDA coalition dict to serve the rest of his alliance collapsed Saturday 28-year sentence. If he were after anti-immigration party to receive a prison sentence PVV pulled out of the negoin the US, this would have tiations, but De Jager must to be served after his prison submit an economic plan to Brussels by the end of the term in Peru. a number of policies. Brinkman said he wants a smaller government apparatus. He is also tough on matters such as immigration and Islam, he also wants less European Union influence and wants to stand up for the elderly. Although these are all also PVV themes the difference is great, according to Brinkman. “Wilders’ party takes no responsibility when this is necessary and often shouts out things just to get attention,” he added. Brinkman wants politics to be “fair, realistic and achievable.” The PVV has had its chance in the government, according to Brinkman. “Everyone now knows that a vote for the PVV is a lost vote. They smashed everything they had in their hands into the ground.” Brinkman felt blocked in his efforts to bring more democracy within the PVV. He also found the PVV lacking nuance on Muslims and Eastern European immigrants. According to Brinkman, taxes must be lowered to stimulate consumer spending. “Economic growth is the only way out of the crisis,” he said. Brinkman is also known for his fierce criticism of the Dutch Caribbean islands. He claimed the group of islands would be “a largely corrupt nest of robbers,” which should be put up for sale on the Dutch equivalent of eBay. month. According to the Volkskrant newspaper, the three parties want a number of current pieces of legislation dropped including cuts in spending on the arts and culture, special needs education and personal care budgets. In return, they are prepared to back changes to the tax break on mortgages, an earlier rise in the state pension age and redundancy law reform. “I met these three parties for logical and practical reasons. I have not been negotiating,” De Jager told reporters after the meeting. De Jager met Labour PvdA leader Diederik Samsom later on Wednesday to sound out his views on the economy. Parliament is due to debate the government’s finan- cial plans today, Thursday. Prime Minister Mark Rutte made an urgent appeal to Parliament on Tuesday to work together to help The Netherlands through the economic crisis. Yet although a large number of the 10 parties in parliament said they were willing to try to put together a 2013 budget, there are a multitude of divisions between them. “I have heard a lot of good intentions but nothing concrete,” parliamentary leader of conservative VVD party Stef Blok said. In addition, Groenlinks, Socialist SP, PvdA and Geert Wilders’ PVV said they do not believe in the need to meet Brussels’ budget deficit targets next year. Together, they form a majority in parliament. 24 Regional THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Olint’s David Smith (left) operated the largest Ponzi scheme an, according to Delano Franklyn (right) Jamaica in danger of dehumanising itself. (Jamaica Observer photo) KINGSTON, Jamaica--Many reputable persons and institutions “who propagate the highest form of ethics and moral values” are among those on the run from Jamaicans who are demanding repayment for money lost in the Ponzi schemes they operated. Former junior minister of state for foreign affairs, Delano Franklyn said the Ponzi schemes, widely known as unregistered financial organisations, mushroomed in Jamaica because of the reputation of many of the people involved in collecting money. Franklyn was speaking recently at a public seminar on corporate governance hosted by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the state agency tasked with pursuing the Ponzi schemes, the biggest being David Smith’s Olint which operated out of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Smith is now in prison in the United States. To a large extent, the former senator suggested, it was the FSC which saved Jamaica from being “completely overrun by the myriad of Ponzi schemes which recently engulfed the country” and he gave three primary reasons for the fact that the schemes were able to mushroom. “First, known and reputable persons and institutions were involved. A list of the names of the institutions and persons published by the FSC indicates that even persons who propagate the highest form of ethics and moral values in the society were involved in the collection of funds, some of whom are now on the run from people who are demanding repayment. “Second, the high level of informality which exists in the Jamaica economy. Stud- ies have shown that the size of the informal economy in Jamaica is almost 50 per cent. This informal economy is characterised by a ‘hussle’ mentality. It operates above, around and under the regulated economy. Its culture is one of anti-regulation. It settles its own scores where there are differences. It is not class or social specific. All types are involved, the rich, the poor, the social, the anti-social and big and small businesses. “Third, the existence of selective morality and ethical values in the country. The owner of a business in Jamaica has no difficulty conspiring with another to extract electricity from the Jamaica Public Service, but rightly, calls in the police if an employee is caught stealing; a provider of professional services has no difficulty operating two books in order to avoid the payment of taxes, but complains bitterly about the irregularity with which his garbage is being collected; and there are persons among us who have no respect for planning or building laws. They build anything, anywhere.” Franklyn said those three features which allowed for the flourish of the Ponzi schemes, “are regrettable features of the Jamaican society which impact very negatively on corporate and public governance in Jamaica.” He prescribed two ways of combating those features: Implementation of a strong regulatory framework and provisions related to standards of conduct, which allows for strict and rigid penalties when breaches occur and the perpetuators are caught; and a consistent, persistent, and relentless national assault against the erosion of social and ethical values in the society. (Jamaica Observer) ST GEORGE’S, Grenada-An increasing number of members of Grenada’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is reported to be less optimistic about the chances of a reconciliation within the party. Party “elders” and officials of the National Secretariat have been making repeated calls for discussions, especially after the NDC leader’s recent statement on television, declaring that that there is division in the party between “the forces of good and evil.” However, sources say the efforts at reconciliation are being rebuffed in the pronouncements at what are known as “Solidarity Sunday Meetings.” The latest meeting, held last Sunday in St Patrick West, where just over a week ago the NDC constituency branch endorsed MP Joseph Gilbert as the party’s candidate for the area in the upcoming general elections. However, for Sunday’s meeting that was addressed by NDC leader and prime minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas, deputy political leader Nazim Burke, and former party chairman Glen Noel, neither the constituency branch chairman nor MP Gilbert, was invited to attend. According to reports, Sunday’s gathering followed the tone of previous meetings at which so-called “leftists” were attacked, and the issue of the selection of NDC candidates for the next general elections was again brought up. More than once in the past, Thomas has said that he has the “right” to decide who runs for the NDC at the next national poll, which is due by 2013. His statement, as well as the organizing of the “Solidarity Sunday Meetings,” has raised the eyebrows of many NDC members and supporters, who are concerned about the apparent sidelining of the National Executive and even party branches in the constituencies. Under the party’s constitution, candidates are usually chosen by their constituency branches and the nominee’s name is sent for ratification to a committee of the NDC executive that includes the leader and the general secretary. Thomas has said the aim of the “Solidarity Sunday Meetings” is to reinforce the “values” of the party such as “integrity in public life”, respect for institutions, honesty, accountability and the “good governance agenda.” “Those who deviate from this, we have to take action against them,” he told a local TV station recently. However, British-based Grenadian businessman, Winston Strachan, has taken issue with what he describes as the prime minister’s “leftist chants.” “His leftist chants are pure scaremongering of the electorate by a bitter man who has now become desperate and perhaps dangerous because deep down he has come to realise he is isolated (barring a few cronies) and divorced from his political party. No longer respected, he no longer speaks or acts in their best interest or shows any capability for dealing with the chronic economic situation that the country is in or the desperate plight of our people, especially those without work,” Strachan said in a letter published by Caribbean News Now. Strachan, who recently visited Grenada, added that “while the former PM Dr Keith Mitchell was unpopular and always seemed to be at loggerheads with the local press, Tillman Thomas seems to be glorified by them; he is like a king that can do no wrong.” PARAMARIBO--Suriname’s Government has a reshuffled cabinet. Shirley Sitaldien and Micheal Blokland were added as the two new ministers of Education and Health respectively. Health Minister Celsius Waterberg and Zoning Minister Simon Martosatiman were replaced; Sports Minister Paul Abena was also sacked, but no replacement has been announced for him yet. Raymond Sapoen, who now serves as Education Minister, will move to the Ministry of Trade and Industry; current Trade Minister Michael Miskin moves to Labour, Technological Development and Environment ATM. Minister Ginmadro Kromosoeto, who is now in charge of ATM, will take over at Zonal Planning, Land and Forest Management (RGB). Ministers Celcius Waterberg – Health, and Simon Martosatiman - Zonal Planning have thus been replaced. Coalition partners had earlier complained that Martosatiman had no grasp on land issuance, which resorts under Zonal Planning. Waterberg stumbled in the press several times with unpopular moves like bringing Cuban doctors to Suriname, and insisting that there was no dengue epidemic last January while the disease was claiming victims. The Bouterse Cabinet was appointed in June 2010, following a convincing win by President Desi Bouterse’s Mega Combination party. The last time ministers were replaced in this cabinet was last year June, when Finance Minister Adeline Wijnerman took over from Wonnie Boedhoe. It is the second time the minister of Zonal Planning is being replaced. The president fired his initial minister Martinus Sastroredjo in December 2010, over irregularities with land issuance. The new cabinet will be presented on May 5. KINGSTON, Jamaica--Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has questioned the size of a Government delegation, led by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, to the United States saying that it goes against the economic hardships the country is currently facing. Simpson Miller - who arrived in New York City Tuesday for a series of events, including last night’s prestigious Time 100 Most Influential Persons Award reception - is accompanied on the trip by three ministers in Sandrea Falconer (information), Wykeham McNeill (tourism and entertainment), and Phillip Paulwell (energy), in addition to special advisors Delano Franklyn, Carlton Davies, and Dr Vin Lawrence, chairman of Clarendon Alumina Partners. According to Holness, “travelling with such a large delegation, especially before what will be the tabling of a difficult budget, is a bad signal.” “The prime minister missed a grand opportunity to send a message to the Jamaican people that she, too, is willing to tighten her belt like most Jamaicans have been forced to do,” he said in a statement. (Jamaica Observer) Regional THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 25 ~ As proposed cuts loom ~ GEORGETOWN, Guyana-Despite two separate meetings, the government and the opposition Tuesday struggled to reach consensus on proposed budget measures, including lower taxes, and APNU and the AFC warned that they would proceed with planned cuts in the administration’s spending if there is no resolution. Together APNU and AFC have a one-seat majority in Parliament. A late night meeting at the Office of the President between President Donald Ramotar and members of APNU and the AFC yielded little on budget demands, save and except for a commitment on the part of the Government to set up the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). A source close to the meeting told Stabroek News that it is hoped that there are further commitments by the Government to address the many concerns of the Opposition prior to the commencement of the pivotal Parliament sitting at 2:00pm which will see the last round of estimates of expenditure for budget 2012 considered. The AFC and APNU have been calling for the setting up of the PPC, a constitutional body, to properly police the awarding of contracts and the execution of works. As a result of negotiations between the government and both APNU and the AFC – the first tripartite session since a flap last week over the exclusion of the latter - the National Assembly Tuesday shifted to yesterday the consideration of the estimates for the Office of the President (OP), the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, which had been targeted for whole cuts or reductions by the opposition. APNU and the AFC held a joint press conference Tuesday afternoon in the Committee Room of the Public Buildings, following a meeting at the OP, where their representatives argued that their actions were only intended to bring down cost of living and improve the lives of citizens. They also made arguments for the reform of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) and Government Information Agency (GINA). On the first meeting with the government, Leader of the Opposition David Granger said that the discussions were inconclusive and that government was not se- KINGSTON, Jamaica--A leading businessman from Haiti has downplayed the recent closure of the Haitian embassy in Jamaica and any adverse impact that may have on trade relations between the two countries. Haiti withdrew its diplomatic agents three weeks ago, leading to suspicion that a diplomatic row between the two countries, 161 kilometres away from each other in the Caribbean Sea, could be brewing. But Philippe Saint-Cyr, executive director of The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) of Haiti, does not believe the Haitian Government made the move with any serious malice towards Jamaica. It was just a routine change over of diplomats, he said, which came with the change in Haitian prime ministers Laurent Lamothe replaced Garry Conille earlier this month - despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti citing “non-reciprocity” as one of the reasons for its March 30 pull-out. “With the change in prime ministers, they changed all the consuls general in the US and changed a lot of the ambassadors recently,” said Saint-Cyr. “That is probably one of the changes they wanted to do in Jamaica as well, so I think it’s business as usual,” Saint-Cyr told the Jamaica Observer after an AMCHAM Jamaica luncheon at the Pegasus hotel for a Haitian trade delegation which visited the island on Monday. Despite the countries being so close to each other, trade between them is relatively weak. Saint-Cyr said business relations could be improved through the provision of more bilateral incentives, arguing that regional countries tend to concentrate more on trade arrangements outside the area than inside. “Everyone is focusing on having agreements with the US, Europe or Asia,” he said. “We have Caricom, but it hasn’t really pushed for positive increase in trade with the region.” Caricom trade ministers agreed in 2010 to allow Haiti to export goods within the single market on a nonreciprocal preferential basis for three years. Haiti asked for the concession at the thirtieth meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development after the catastrophic earth- quake in Janauary 2010. The private sector has also taken steps to form stronger links with Haiti. Jamaica Broilers launched a joint venture with a Haitian partner in 2010 to provide feed, chicks, pullets, equipment and technical advice to poultry farmers, with the initial investment reported to be between US$2 and US$3 million. Haitian-based Gilbert Bigio/ Reuven Bigio (GB) Group - the conglomerate that introduced Digicel to Haiti inked a deal last year to buy the fuels marketing and aviation businesses of Chevron in Jamaica, which trades under its Texaco brand here. Still, according to Saint-Cyr, there should be much more business between the nations, suggesting in particular that Haiti’s financial sector could do with Jamaican expertise. “The main benefit that Jamaica can give Haiti is a strong financial market,” he said. “The biggest thing we need right now is financing ... and an expertise in what you have done in building your infrastructure - highways and roads,” he said. (Jamaica Observer) From left, AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattanand Leader of the Opposition David Granger at a joint press conference on the 2012 budget Tuesday. (Stabroek News photo). riously considering changes. “APNU had advanced some points and the AFC had advanced some points. But it is quite clear to [both parties] that the government has not been examining, carefully, the points that we advanced and is not serious in making changes which we had asked for. And we are not going to be diverted by being put on route to discussions for things to be brought up without a deadline or timeline,” he said. “There are specific things which we feel could be achieved in the present budget and we are pressing to make sure those things could be achieved. The discussion goes on and we expect that some agreement could be reached once the government understands we are serious about development in this country,” he added. According to Granger, the two opposition parties had roughly the same objectives and in some cases some overlaps in what they wanted cut from the budget. “We were concerned with proper financial management, particularly with bringing certain financial assets under the purview of the National Assembly. We were concerned with the quality of life of the ordinary people and that is why we made advances in terms of old age pensions and public assistance. We were concerned about education and that’s why the University of Guyana is put on the agenda. We were concerned with jobs…there is a wide range of concerns. Strikingly both APNU and the AFC had similar objectives,” he explained. APNU’s proposed cuts include an G$18.394 billion provision for initiatives under the LCDS, a reduction by G$674.5 million of a G$918.7 million allocation for subsidies and contributions to local organisations, and the slashing of allocations meant for presidential advisors in the OP. Further, APNU seeks to reduce an allocation of G$6.7 billion for ICT to G$6.5 billion, cut totally an allocation of G$15 million to GINA and an allocation of G$65 million to state-un broadcasting entity NCN. APNU is also proposing a total removal of the G$6 billion subsidy to the GPL, under the Office of the Prime Minister. The AFC has proposed to cut G$500 million out of an allocation of G$902.8 million for the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom); G$1 billion out of the G$6 billion proposed for the Guyana Power and Light; and G$75 million out of another allocation of G$130.4 million under the OP for GINA. It also seeks to eliminate G$81.2 million set aside for the NCN and reduce by G$10 million the allocated amount of G$37.9 million for contract employees at the OP. Granger said that the parties were deliberate in their decision to earmark allocations to be cut. “This is not slash and burn. We have made recommendations. When we speak about GPL or GuySuCo, we have asked for information and we have made recommendations for reform and restructuring. We want to see a better Guyana. We are not out to destroy. We are out to create the basis for development to take place,” he said. “We have decided to take certain measures which will bring down the cost of living so people could play a more meaningful role in the economy, create employment and [it will] ensure a better quality of life for vulnerable people. Every step that we have taken so far has been on the principle so that those objectives could be realised. At the present time, we feel that those objectives could be jeopardised,” Granger said. “As the saying goes, serious diseases require serious remedies and we are now proposing serious remedies to ensure that the Guyanese public is not left with a budget which does not bring about significant change in their lives,” he added. (Stabroek News) NEW YORK, USA--The cruise sector in Martinique was bolstered recently with news that Royal Caribbean International has included Fort-de-France port calls in winter 2012-2013 itineraries aboard the MS Vision of the Seas, which carries a maximum passenger capacity in excess of 2,400 people. This marks a return to the Isle of Flowers for Royal Caribbean, which last sailed to Martinique in 2009. The Martinique Tourism Authority is hailing the development as a major step forward in its efforts to grow the island’s tourism receipts from the US market. “Royal Caribbean’s return to Fort-de-France is the latest testament to the fact that Martinique is well positioned for tourism growth and 100% open for cruise business,” said Karine Roy-Camille, commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority. “This is certainly good news for Martinique and a strong building block for further expansion in the cruise sector over the coming years.” Cruise lines call on Martinique in the heart of downtown Fort-de-France, the island’s capital city and the capital of the Caribbean when it comes to shopping. The best of Parisian fashion, jewelry, porcelain, perfumes and other fine goods are here, and for US travelers most of it is available at a 20% discount. Many stores offer the discount to visitors who make purchases using major US credit cards or travelers cheques. RCCL’s Vision of the Seas features two acres of glass walls, offering guests sweeping views of the Caribbean. On-board amenities include the 6,276 square-foot Casino Royale, complimentary Broadway-style entertainment, eight bars and restaurants, full-service Vitality Spa, Adventure Ocean youth program and rock-climbing wall where adventurous guests enjoy jaw-dropping views from the highest point of the ship. 26 US/World CHICAGO--More than a hundred University of Notre Dame professors have demanded that Illinois Bishop Daniel Jenky renounce comments he made criticizing President Barack Obama’s stance on religious liberty that compared him to dictators Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. “Jenky’s comments demonstrate ignorance of history, insensitivity to victims of genocide and absence of judgment,” said the letter addressed this week to the leadership of the renowned Catholic university in Indiana and signed by 131 professors from various fields. The letter urged the school to distance itself from Jenky’s “incendiary statement,” and called for Jenky, 65, a Notre Dame graduate who has led a Catholic diocese in Peoria, Illinois, since 2002, to “renounce loudly and publicly this destructive analogy”--or resign from the university’s Board of Fellows and board of trustees. Jenky, along with other U.S. Catholic bishops and social conservatives, condemned the Obama administration’s requirement that churchaffiliated institutions provide insurance that covers contraception. But his April 14 homily singled out Obama and the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, saying “The Church will survive ... the calculated disdain of the President of the United States ... and of the current (Democratic) majority of the federal Senate.” Even after the White House sought to calm the furor by announcing last month it would not require churchrun hospitals, universities and charities to pay for birth control coverage but instead shift the burden to insurers, the bishops continued to battle against the mandate. The bishops said the mandate was part of a broader attack on religion by state and federal authorities, a position echoed by Republican presidential candidates on the campaign trail who accused the Obama administration of waging war on religious freedom. In his homily, Jenky compared the administration’s stance to anti-religious figures in history such as Hitler and Stalin who “have tried to force Christians to huddle and hide within the confines of their churches.” “Hitler and Stalin, at their better moments, would just barely tolerate some churches remaining open, but would not tolerate any competition with the state in education, social services and health care,” Jenky said. “In clear violation of our First Amendment rights, Barack Obama--with his radical, pro-abortion and extreme secularist agenda, now seems intent on following a similar path,” he said. Jenky’s comments were quoted in newspapers, and his homily was reproduced on the website of the Catholic Post, the Peoria diocese’s newspaper. WASHINGTON--The top U.S. military officer ordered a review of training material after a course for officers was found to espouse the view that the United States is at war with Islam, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent a letter on Tuesday to leaders of the Army and other services, along with regional commanders and officials heading the National Guard, ordering a review of relevant training and education material across the military. “This review will ensure our professional education programs exhibit the cultural sensitivity, respect for religion and intellectual balance that we should expect in our academic insti- tutions,” Dempsey said in the letter, an excerpt from which were read to Reuters. The review, which was first reported by Wired. com, was prompted by a complaint by a soldier who had recently completed an elective course entitled “Perspectives on Islam and Islamite Radicalism” at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. One example of objectionable material, presented in a power point slide for students, was an assertion “that the United States is at war with Islam and we ought to ought to just recognize that we are war with Islam,” Captain John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. “That’s not at all what we believe to be the case. We’re at war against terrorism, specifi- THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 for the annual term, drew more than 100 reporters to the courtroom press seats and scores of people on the sidewalk outside the building. The immigration dispute is the second most important case of the term, following the healthcare dispute heard in March. Only eight of the nine Supreme Court justices heard the arguments. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, the former top Obama administration lawyer at the court, recused herself because she had worked on the matter previously. Her fellow liberal justices appeared to accept that the conservative majority would vote to uphold at least part of the Arizona law and focused their questions on how those provisions, which have been on hold during the litigation, would be applied on the ground. WAS H I N GT O N - - N e w t Gingrich is quitting the U.S. Republican presidential contest after a tumultuous campaign marked by flashes of brilliance in debates, staff desertions and offbeat ideas. Gingrich, a powerful figure in the 1990s as House of Representatives speaker, briefly reached the heights of Republican presidential front-runner this year, but stumbled badly under attack from rivals. The collapse of his campaign threatened to turn the proud intellectual into a punch line. The final blow for his campaign came on Tuesday night when rival Mitt Romney easily won primary victories in five Northeastern states that crowned him as the presumptive Republican nominee. Gingrich had campaigned heavily in Delaware as the conservative alternative to Romney, but lost by nearly 30 percentage points there. Gingrich’s idiosyncratic run turned ideas like establishing a U.S. moon colony and having schoolchildren work as janitors into frontpage fodder. His campaign descended into near farce last week when he was bitten in the hand by a penguin during a visit to a zoo in St. Louis. He will formally pull out of the race next week, a Gingrich campaign official said on Wednesday. His withdrawal further clears the way for Romney, who has now claimed the unofficial mantle of the Republican nominee in November’s election against Democratic President Barack Obama. INDIANAPOLIS--Police in a small Indiana town hauled a six-year-old from his elementary school and charged him with battery and intimidation after he kicked and threatened a principal, police said on Wednesday. The incident followed one earlier in April where police handcuffed a 6-year-old girl who was screaming and crying and had injured a principal and damaged property at an elementary school in Milledgeville, Georgia. She was not charged. The Indiana student, who had been suspended from school recently for biting and hitting a staff member, was arrested April 18 at Hendricks Elementary School in Shelbyville, which is about 30 miles southeast of Indianapolis. “This was not an isolated incident,” Shelbyville Police Lieutenant Michael Turner said. School officials called police, reporting that the student, who was not identified, had kicked Principal Patrick Lumbley and told him and Assistant Principal Jessica Poe that he was going to kill them, a Shelbyville police report said. The student was yelling and screaming and lying on the floor of Poe’s office when police arrived, the report said. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer speaks to the press outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on Wednesday, following arguments in the Arizona vs United States immigration enforcement law case. WASHINGTON--Conservative justices who hold a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court appeared to endorse Arizona’s immigration crackdown on Wednesday, rejecting the Obama administration stance that the federal government has sole power over those who illegally enter the United States. During 80 minutes of oral arguments, the justices suggested by their questions and comments that states have significant latitude to adopt laws that discourage illegal immigrants from moving to and staying in the country. Justice Anthony Kennedy, who often casts cally al Qaeda, who has a warped view of the Islamic faith.” Kirby said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also felt “deep concern” over the discovery, which follows a string of incidents that, more than 10 years after the Afghan war began, have exposed a persisting gap between people in the conservative Muslim nation and the Western soldiers fighting Islamist militants there. The incidents, embarrassing for the government of President Barack Obama as he seeks to mend U.S. ties with the Muslim world and shore up his campaign in Afghanistan, include bloody riots caused by U.S. soldiers’ burning of copies of the Koran and photos showing U.S. soldiers posing with corpses of Afghans. the deciding vote, referred to the “social and economic disruption” that states endure as a result of a flood of illegal immigrants and suggested that states such as Arizona have authority to act. Arizona two years ago became the first of half a dozen U.S. states to pass laws aimed at driving illegal immigrants out, including requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone detained and suspected of being in the country illegally. The battle over the law goes to the heart of a fierce national debate between Democrats and Republicans over what to do with the estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the country, a number that has held steady in recent years. Critics have said the Arizona law could lead to ethnic and racial profiling of the fast-growing Hispanic population, now equal to 16 percent of all Americans. The four conservatives-Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, and Samuel Alito--all asked tough questions of the administration’s lawyer. Fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas did not ask any questions but is expected to support the Arizona law, based on his past votes. The Supreme Court’s immigration ruling is likely to come by the end of June, as the political campaign season heats up. It is expected around the same time justices are likely to rule on President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare overhaul law. The case, heard on the last day of oral arguments THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 27 28 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday April 26, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday April 26, 2012 29 30 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 International THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 BRUSSELS--European governments reacted angrily on Wednesday to EU proposals for a 6.8 percent budget rise in 2013 despite calls for fiscal discipline across the bloc. The European Commission said the increase in spending next year to 138 billion euros ($182 billion) was needed to meet legal funding commitments approved by member states in previous years. But some of the biggest contributors to the EU’s budget accused the Commission of failing to heed its own advice to national governments on the need for fiscal restraint. “It is impossible, unjustifiable and unacceptable that the European Union asks each of its members to make efforts to reduce their deficits and spending, and at the same time it proposes a 7 percent increase in its own budget,” French government spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse told reporters. The Dutch government collapsed this week after it failed to agree budget cuts to bring its deficit within EU limits, and the country’s finance minister said he could not accept the proposed 9-billion-euro EU increase. “That is too high a rate, which is inconceivable,” Jan Kees de Jager said. Germany’s Finance Ministry said in a statement the proposed rise was inappropriate “given the extraordinary challenges of the sovereign debt crisis.” At the end of 2010, France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands called for a realterms freeze in all future EU spending and last year led efforts to cut the Commission’s proposed 5 percent budget in- LONDON--European Union nations are sending ambassadors back to Belarus, Britain said on Wednesday, as relations between Minsk and the 27-nation bloc improve following a diplomatic spat over the former Soviet republic’s treatment of political dissidents. EU states withdrew their envoys from Minsk in February in a solidarity gesture after Belarus told representatives from Brussels and Warsaw to pack their bags and get out. Earlier, the bloc had tightened trade sanctions against companies and business owners with links to President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994, in response to deteriorating conditions being endured by opposition politicians. “All EU ambassadors are returning to Minsk, including our own ambassador,” a spokesman for Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office told Reuters, without giving exact details of when all the diplomats would return. The bloc ordered their envoys home on Feb. 28 as Lukashenko’s government intensified its crackdown on the opposition following his re-election for a fourth term in December 2010. Last month, Belarus told EU ambassadors not to bother returning--marking its increasing isolation from Europe’s mainstream and a new low in ties with the West. The United States have not had an ambassador in Minsk since 2008. Lukashenko has tolerated little dissent since coming to power, cracking down on public protests and throwing political opponents behind bars. Mass street protests after the 2010 election, which Western observers said was fraudulent, resulted in the arrest of several opposition candidates. The EU has condemned Belarus, a landlocked nation of about 10 million people, as the last European country to use the death penalty and has also imposed a visa ban on Lukashenko. But earlier this month, Lukashenko pardoned a key political prisoner and his former rival in the race for presidency, Andrei Sannikov, a move long urged by the EU. Poland, Lithuania and Sweden also sent their representatives back to Minsk on Wednesday. “Other ambassadors will return over the next hours and days,” Poland’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin Bosacki said. The cooling of relations has pushed Minsk closer to Russia despite their longrunning row over natural gas supplies, and many in Moscow view Belarus as a buffer from NATO members. crease for 2012 to 2 percent, in line with inflation. Britain and Germany said they would work with other net contributors to the EU budget to cut the proposed 2013 figure. “It’s important to get an alliance of member states together to make sure that the Commission and the (European) Parliament see sense,” British junior finance minister Mark Hoban told reporters in Brussels. “There will be a lot of frustration across Europe that we’re seeing those tough decisions being made in domestic economies, but the Commission has proposed a 6.8 percent increase.” Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the proposal was responsible and sought to balance the need for fiscal consolidation with targeted investments to spur job creation and economic growth. “More often, when we discuss the budget we hear some governments louder than others,” Barroso told reporters. “I therefore call on member states to show responsibility in the discussion. This is not money for Brussels. It is money (which will go) back to the member states and it makes sense in many areas to spend it at European level, not for ideological reasons, but for efficiency reasons.” EU budget chief Janusz Lewandowski said it was legitimate for people to question why the Commission had proposed such an increase, but that the money was needed to finance projects already approved by the EU and its member states. “Bridges, railways, motorways have been built for the greater good of all. Now we must pay the bills,” he said. The Commission’s proposal must now be approved by EU governments and the European Parliament, whose president Martin Schulz told the EU’s 27 Commissioners their budget proposal appeared reasonable. PARIS--France’s Socialist presidential frontrunner Francois Hollande said on Wednesday that leaders across Europe were awaiting his election to back away from German-inspired austerity, and he welcomed a call by ECB President Mario Draghi for a growth pact. Hollande says a budget discipline treaty signed by 25 EU leaders in March would plunge Europe into a deep recession. At a presidential-style news conference, the self-confident favourite said that if he wins a May 6 runoff against President Nicolas Sarkozy he would set out his ideas for reforming the pact in a letter to European leaders the very next day. The conservative Sarkozy has been German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s main partner in managing the euro zone debt crisis that erupted in late 2009, jointly crafting the fiscal compact that Hollande has vowed to renegotiate. “On this front things are already moving forward. Before Sunday’s election, heads of state were already starting to say what I was proposing-the ambition for growth, the willingness to include more in the treaty than just fiscal discipline and sanctions,” Hollande said. “Today many heads of state and government are waiting for the French election to open these discussions,” he said, citing Spain and Italy among countries resisting excessive austerity. The Socialist leads the incumbent by around 10 points in opinion polls, but a record showing by the far-right National Front anti-immigration crusader Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s first round has forced both finalists to make a pitch for her voters. Sarkozy, who has veered sharply to the right with tougher talk on immigration and security, ruled out any election pact with the National Front on Wednesday. He sought to cast his challenger as a mortal danger to France’s economy. Insisting that he was not questioning the principle of balanced budgets, Hollande said he would have a “firm and friendly” discussion with Merkel on the pace of fiscal consolidation. In the first clear indication that he would not necessarily seek to BERLIN--German courts have the legal right to forbid “Hells Angels” members from wearing their motorcycle jackets with “death’s head” insignia during trials as these could intimidate those involved, Germany’s top court ruled on Wednesday. The Constitutional Court said wearing them was an “unacceptable showing of force that might intimidate and threaten the parties to the proceeding” and a ban was a “preventive condition for a safe and unimpaired trial.” The court overruled a complaint lodged by Hell Angels’ member Rayk F., convicted by a civil court in Potsdam to one year prison for complicity in extortion in 2010. He had forced the owner of a tattoo parlor to “cooperate” with Hells An- gels, threatening to snap off his head and intimidating him by placing a dead sheep on his doorstep. Rayk F. complained his trial was unfair since the presiding judge, in consultation with the police, prohibited him and his Hells Angels backers from wearing their motorcycle club’s jackets at the trial. 31 Francois Hollande, Socialist party candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, attends a news conference as he campaigns ahead of the second round vote in Paris on Wednesday. change the existing text, he said that whether a growth pact was added to the treaty or agreed in a separate document was a matter for negotiation, he said. Hollande said his letter to EU leaders would suggest four changes, including the creation of joint European bonds to finance infrastructure projects and greater investment by the European Investment Bank (EIB). He also backed a financial transaction tax levied by likeminded countries to help fund youth and education projects and a more efficient deployment of EU regional development resources. Hollande welcomed Draghi’s call for a “growth compact” in the European Parliament on Wednesday, although he recognised that the central bank chief did not necessarily envisage the same kinds of measures he was advocating. Draghi did not question the thrust of the fiscal compact--of which he was a leading advocate. He has long argued in favour of structural reforms to labour, goods and services markets, which would increase the flexibility of European economies and their growth potential. “This goes in the direction which I was talking about,” Hollande said. “He is not necessarily talking about the same measures as me to stimulate growth.” The fiscal pact, which would oblige countries to write a commitment to run a balanced budget into national laws, was a key condition of Germany’s support for bailouts of struggling euro zone economies such as Greece and Portugal. Three countries have already ratified the budget discipline treaty, which is due to take effect from the start of next year. 32 International LONDON--Rupert Murdoch rejected accusations on Wednesday that he used his media empire to play puppet master to a succession of British prime ministers, electrifying a media inquiry that has shaken the government and unnerved much of the establishment. The appearance before a judge by the world’s most powerful media mogul was a defining moment in a scan- dal that has laid bare collusion between ministers, police and Murdoch’s News Corp, reigniting long-held concerns over the close ties between big money, the media and power in Britain. Unlike an appearance before parliament last year when Murdoch appeared at times painfully slow to answer questions, the 81-yearold remained calm and considered throughout, saying he wished to use the hearing to put some myths straight. “I have never asked a prime minister for anything,” he said. He was also asked about his relationship with politics and British “toffs”, a reference to his regular attacks on Britain’s gilded establishment, which the Australianborn tycoon has lampooned as snobbish and inefficient. Cameron reluctantly or- THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 A combination picture of still images from broadcast footage shows News Corporation Chief Executive and Chairman, Rupert Murdoch, speaking at the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the media, at the High Court in London on Wednesday. dered the inquiry last July as a phone-hacking scandal at Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid spiralled out of control, forcing him to side against the media empire that helped propel him into power a year earlier. He is now suffering his worst period since he took power, with Murdoch’s Sun and Times papers particularly critical, and facing calls to sack a minister accused of colluding with News Corp. He told a raucous session of parliament on Wednesday that politicians from all parties had become too close to the magnate. “I think on all sides of the House there’s a bit of a need for a hand on heart,” he told a chamber of jeering opposition lawmakers. “We all did too much cosying up to Rupert Murdoch.” Cameron and at least two former Prime Ministers are expected to appear for questioning in the coming months. Under questioning, Murdoch appeared in control, at times drawing chuckles from some of the 70 lawyers, family members and journalists packed into the Victorian gothic courtroom when he cracked jokes about the destruction of unions. The man who has for years portrayed himself as an underdog, said he had simply tried to shine a light on the country on the behalf of the working classes. One member of the public who queued in the rain to see the man who had dominated British political life for forty years said he had entered the courtroom hostile and left quite impressed. “He’s an old man,” Ron, a 76-year-old retired banker, said. “I think he’s stood up to it quite well.” While Murdoch denied influencing the editorial stance of his Times papers, he did admit that anyone seeking to understand his opinion should “look at the Sun”. “I’m not good at holding my tongue,” he added. He also shed some light on recent British political history, saying that he had been a great admirer of Margaret Thatcher but less impressed by her successor John Major, whom he could not remember meeting. He reserved some of his strongest comments for former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and some of his funniest for Tony Blair. “If our flirtation is ever consummated Tony, I suspect we will end up making love like porcupines. Very, very carefully,” he admitted telling Blair who ruled from 1997 to 2007. International THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 PIRAEUS, Greece--In the port of Piraeus, dozens of young men with shaven heads and black t-shirts packed a small room one evening to hear Golden Dawn’s dream of a Greece purged of foreigners, its borders sealed with landmines. “We want all illegal immigrants out, we want to take their stench out of this place,” said Frangiscos Porihis, an election candidate for the ultra-nationalist and highly secretive party. “They shouldn’t be here and they will leave one way or the other--the good or the bad way,” he told the Piraeus meeting. With Greece deep in economic and social crisis, the party is promising voters in next month’s elections to start by expelling illegal immigrants--before moving on to the legal ones. Nevertheless, Golden Dawn denies it is neo-Nazi, although its leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos did give a Nazi salute at an Athens city council meeting last year. With its anti-foreigner message plus some welfare parcels for a few of Greece’s many needy, Golden Dawn has emerged from obscurity in the last few months and now seems certain to enter parliament comfortably when the nation votes on May 6. Flanked by bookshelves lined with books on Aryan supremacy and nationalism, the Piraeus audience listened in rapt attention. Leaflets declaring “Not a single unemployed Greek, not a single illegal immigrant in Greece” lay on tables, alongside manifestos proclaiming “Greece belongs to Greeks”. Outside, the group’s flag-with an ancient Greek symbol that resembles the swastika set against a red background--fluttered in Piraeus, 10 km (six miles) south of central Athens. Opinion polls suggest that Golden Dawn could win around 5 percent of the vote, comfortably above the 3 percent threshold for entering parliament. This would be a staggering feat for a party considered until now by many Greeks as little more than a rabblerousing fringe group which took 0.23 percent in the last general election three years ago. Linked to racist, antiimmigrant attacks, Golden Dawn is set to become the most extreme right-wing party to sit in parliament since Greece returned to democracy after the fall of a military dictatorship in 1974. 33 bags at her doorstep. “It’s the first time someone has brought us clothes and food. Only the church has helped us so far,” said Tassiou, an epilepsy sufferer whose family lives on her welfare benefits. “I’ll vote for Golden Dawn, maybe it’s time for something new.” Elsewhere, Golden Dawn escorts the elderly who are wary of immigrants to bank ATMs, said spokesman Elias Panagiotaros. Message To The System Golden Dawn’s rhetoric resonates with Greeks who blame rising crime on the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants flocking to the country’s porous borders. Nine out of 10 illegal immigrants entering the European Union in 2010 arrived in Greece, largely from Turkey by land or sea. Last year Italy took the top spot due to a jump in arrivals of people fleeing the Arab Spring upheaval. Nevertheless, Greece has more than one million immigrants, legal and illegal, in a country of 11 million people. West African hawkers are a common sight on the streets of Athens, playing a game of catand-mouse with the police. However, many are also from Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Africa, hoping to make their way to more prosperous EU countries to the north where work is available. The party’s communitybased efforts and anti-politician talk have also won fans among Greeks bristling with anger at an entire political class which they see as corrupt and self-serving, analysts say. With repeated waves of wage and pension cuts to save the country from bankruptcy, Greece has sunk into its deepest re- cession since World War II. “It’s not that Greeks became right-wing overnight,” said Thomas Gerakis, head of the Marc pollster group. “They just want to send a message to the political system as a whole.” Golden Dawn’s candidates are not career politicians; they include farmers, shepherds, workers and retired army officers. The party has no recognisable names apart from its leader Mihaloliakos, who served in the Greek special forces and was elected to the Athens city council in 2010--giving the Nazi salute on his first appearance there last year. “Golden Dawn has the advantage of being invisible,” said a political analyst, who declined to be named. “Apart from Mihaloliakos, even I don’t know any of the other faces in the party and I’m in the business. That works as a protective shield for them.” Polls show the party taking between 4.1 and 5.7 percent next month. Much of that has come at the expense of the nationalist LAOS party, whose ratings plummeted after it joined the outgoing coalition government last year. It later quit after refusing to accept the austerity conditions of Greece’s latest bailout. Pasta At Doorstep In working class neighbourhoods of Athens, Golden Dawn has been quietly building itself up as a friendly, reliable face among hard-hit Greeks that the state has failed to help. For over a year, party members have given needy families bags of rice and pasta, olive oil and clothes in cartons labelled: “I vote for Golden Dawn to clean up the place” and “For Athens to become Greek again”. Former Socialist voter Katerina Karousi, a 76-year old cancer patient, broke down in sobs when party members showed up at her doorstep with large bags of food on Friday morning. “I hear they are doing nice things for people. Why not vote for them?” said her husband, 79-year old Andreas Karoussis. On their way out, a Golden Dawn member bade the couple farewell with: “Call us if you need anything--I mean anything.” At another stop, 41-yearold Constantina Tassiou looked bewildered and overwhelmed as Golden Dawn members piled clothes and supermarket ATHENS--Greece has halted welfare or pension payments to 200,000 people either because they are unentitled to the money--or because they are dead, a Labour Ministry official said on Wednesday. The number of people involved in the abuse, dead or alive, is roughly equal to two percent of the Greek population. Benefit fraud is common in many welfare states but Greece has come under heavy pressure from the European Union and IMF to crack down in return for its latest 130 billion euro bailout. Scams often involve people lying to officials who are too disorganised, chaotic or even corrupt to prevent the abuse. Mismanagement has allowed some families to keep drawing pensions of relatives who have died. However, an unusually high number of 9,000 Greek centenarians drawing oldage benefits prompted the authorities to take a closer look last year. Simple data cross checks since September had revealed the abuse. “They were caught during the inquiry and the state is reclaiming the money they have illegally taken,” the senior Labour Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, adding that thousands of cases had been sent to court. Halting the payments will save the state up to 800 million euros ($1 billion) a year, the official said. A former senior official at the ministry, Athina Dretta, said a lack of communication between government bodies was a problem. “Registry offices didn’t even have an automatic system to notify deaths to social security funds,” said Dretta. Officials also became suspicious when they noticed unusual concentrations of blind or disabled people in certain cities and islands, where corrupt social security employees were at work. Some welfare recipients were found to be working as taxi or truck drivers. With nearly one-quarter of the 11 million Greeks retired, the once generous welfare state has been partly blamed for a debt crisis that has shaken the euro since it began in 2009. The pensions drew fire in countries which have funded Greece’s bailouts, notably Germany. Last year the head of a business lobby in Germany’s ruling CDU party, Kurt Lauk, said pension fraud was “proof of the need to examine every last inch of Greece’s finances, before even one cent (in aid) is provided.” Members of the Greek extreme right Golden Dawn party hold red flares outside the town hall of Perama town, near Athens, during an election campaign rally April 23, 2012. Racism Against Greeks Golden Dawn’s manifesto is less benevolent than the good-neighbour image its food drive has helped to cultivate. Illegal immigrants must be immediately arrested and deported, and legal immigrants eventually expelled as well, the group says. It wants crimes committed by immigrants to fall under a special category, with their sentences carried out in special detention centres where the immigrants are put to work. “There are people who have been living in a building for 4050 years and they suddenly realise that it’s only them and maybe another family and that the rest are thirdworld foreigners who live in groups of 30-40 in one apartment,” aid Panagiotaros. The group has little sympathy for the political class. Politicians behind Greece’s crisis must be hauled before a special court, jailed and their property seized, the group says, while any Greek refusing to join the conscript army will be stripped of their citizenship and exiled. Despite the comparisons with neo-Nazism, Golden Dawn has paradoxically tapped into anti-German sentiment by attacking the bailout package from the EU and International Monetary Fund and what it calls German domination of Europe. Set up in 1992 and relaunched in 2007, the party admires Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas, who refused to surrender to the Axis powers in 1940. It calls itself nationalist and insists its logo is the ancient Greek Meander symbolising bravery and endless struggle. The group remains enigmatic. Its leader Mihaloliakos declined to be interviewed and ruled out Continued on page 38 34 International LONDON--British police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the three-yearold who went missing in Portugal five years ago sparking a global hunt, still hope to find her alive, the officer leading the inquiry said on Wednesday. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood told reporters police have identified 195 “investigative opportunities” from existing evidence that have been handed to Portuguese police. Some, he said, included new information. “We genuinely believe there is a possibility that she is alive,” he said. “We would like the case to be reopened.” Madeleine disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, prompting a massive police probe and a search that gripped media across the world. She went missing while her parents Kate and Gerry were dining at a nearby restaurant with seven friends. Despite numerous re- ported sightings from Belgium and Spain to Morocco, France and Malta and investigations stretching as far as Australia, her whereabouts remain a mystery. The McCanns were named as official suspects by Portuguese police four months after their daughter’s disappearance but in 2008 they were cleared and Portugal’s public prosecutor later dropped the case citing a lack of any evidence. The McCanns had won 550,000 pounds ($888,000) in damages from two British newspapers who suggested they had killed Madeleine, while their friends--known as the “Tapas 7”--also won large payouts over claims they had lied about the abduction. Last year, the McCanns wrote to British Prime Minister David Cameron saying neither the British nor Portuguese officials were doing enough to find their daughter and that only private investigators they had hired were still following their case. Cam- THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Madeleine McCann is seen how she may look as her ninth birthday approaches in this computer-generated handout photograph released in London on Wednesday. eron subsequently ordered a new probe by London police who are working through 40,000 pieces of material and documents, and have issued a computer-generated photograph showing how Madeleine might look now as her ninth birthday approaches. Redwood, who has been to Portugal seven times on the case, declined to give details about any possible suspects, or sightings, although he said these form part of the new findings. He said he would not be drawn on any hypothesis of where Madeleine might be if alive and that police were giving equal weight in their review to the notion she was dead. Any formal decision to reopen the case would have to be taken by Portugal. CAIRO--The last prime minister to serve under deposed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been allowed to re-enter the race for the presidency, one day after electoral authorities disqualified him, the state news agency reported on Wednesday. Analysts said Ahmed Shafiq’s re-entry into the race will make him the favourite of the military and a very strong contender to win Egypt’s presidential elections set for May 23-24, with a run-off scheduled in June. “The presidential electoral committee headed by Farouk Soltan accepts the appeal of former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, allowing him to contest the presidential race,” MENA reported. Shafiq had been disqualified on Tuesday after the ruling military council approved a new law drawn up by the Islamist-dominated parliament denying political rights to anyone who served as president, vice president or prime minister in the decade prior to Mubarak’s fall in February of last year. The electoral committee gave no reasons for accepting Shafiq’s appeal, although some analysts said it had acted to avoid further appeals that might have de- layed the elections. An ex-air force commander, Shafiq’s success in the elections would extend military rule in a country that has been led by army officers since the overthrow of King Farouk in 1952. He is likely to take votes that otherwise would go to Amr Moussa, the former chief of the Arab League who is seen as an alternative for voters who do not want an Islamist head of state. “His entry back into the race will certainly appease remnants of Mubarak’s old order. It will also allow the army to breathe a sigh of relief because, of all the presidential candidates, Shafiq is the one who understands the military best,” political analyst Nabil Abdel Fattah said. In an interview with Reuters in February, Shafiq said he was running because he had the experience to maintain good ties with the generals and ensure a smooth handover to civilian rule. The 71-year-old, who was civil aviation minister for a decade, said he can bridge the divisions in Egypt. The other front-runners are the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi and Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, a former member of the group. The Sint Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation has the following Vacancy Full Time Regatta Assistant The Sint Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation is the organizer of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, the biggest sailing event in the Caribbean. The position provides an opportunity to a person to be involved in the dynamic organization in an exciting area of sports events. Key words are: Requirements are: !" # $% & ' ( ! ) $* Application letters with resume can be handed in at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. "' ' at 90 Welfare Road, Simpson Bay Bridge. Fax to: +1 721 544 2091 ) -/ International THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria-It was a homecoming. After boycotting all national elections for more than a decade, Algeria’s oldest opposition party was back on the campaign trail in its heartland. But the rally at a soccer stadium in this Berber town was a muted affair. About 1,500 people showed up, assembling around the half-way line. When a party leader led chants of “the authorities are assassins”, the sound echoed off empty seats. Algeria’s authorities say they have heeded calls for change after last year’s Arab uprisings in nearby countries and will ensure a May 10 parliamentary election is truly democratic. To back their argument that the vote will be different, they cite the decision of the opposition Front des Forces Socialistes (FFS) to end its boycott of polls it said were rigged. The party is headed by Hocine Ait Ahmed, 85, who helped lead the fight half a century ago for Algeria’s independence from colonial ruler France. He once organised a post office robbery to fund the insurrection. Soon after independence, he turned against Algeria’s new rulers, saying they were not democratic. He paid for his dissent with years of jail and exile, becoming a symbol Ali Laskri (C), Secretary General of the Socialist Forces Front (FFS) party, gives a speech during a parliamentary election campaign rally in Tizi Ouzou some 100 km ( 62 miles) east of the capital Algiers in this April 21, 2012 file photo. of uncompromising, principled opposition. Ait Ahmed and his lieutenants see the Arab revolts elsewhere as creating an opportunity for genuine change in Algeria, which shares the problems of youth unemployment and unaccountable rule that sparked revolutions in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. “We believe the internal, regional and international situation is very favourable for a peaceful change,” Mustafa Bouchachi, an FFS leader, told Reuters as he arrived for the party rally at Tizi-Ouzou’s soccer stadium on Saturday. “We are not taking part in these elections to support the authorities but to move towards a peace- ful change in Algeria, for a real democracy, not just a facade of democracy,” he said. “It (the election) is the first step.” Yet even some FFS loyalists seem unconvinced that Algeria’s militarybacked ruling elite will loosen its grip on power. Tizi-Ouzou, about 100 km (60 miles) east of the capital Algiers, is the bedrock of FFS support and the unofficial capital of Algeria’s significant Berber ethnic minority. Ait Ahmed was born near here, and after Algeria won independence in 1962 he briefly led an armed revolt against the new rulers from this region. Road signs in TiziOuzou are written in the Berber, or Amazigh, al- phabet, and the FFS uses the language to address its supporters. Yet people milling on a street corner near FFS headquarters in TiziOuzou had low expectations for the party as it contests an election for a parliament that anyway holds little power. “People don’t trust the politicians,” said one man, who gave his name as Hakim. “Nothing has changed.” Another man, 49-yearold Boubker, noted that Ait Ahmed lives in Switzerland and has not been back to Algeria for years. “What does that tell you? He should be in Algeria,” he said. The party’s own officials talk of the election as an opportunity to “re-mobilise” opposition supporters in Algeria and start a real debate about how the country should be run. But they also acknowledge the risk that the authorities will prove insincere about allowing more democracy, and will instead use FFS participation as a fig leaf for their real agenda. If the election was rigged like previous votes, “we will react,” Ali Laskri, the highest-ranked FFS official in Algeria, told Reuters, without spelling out how the party would respond. As in many other countries, Algerians are cynical about their politicians. Some speculate that the FFS has dropped its election boycott in a secret deal with the ruling establishment, although there is no firm evidence of this. “I think 35 it is something that we don’t know about,” said one FFS supporter in Tizi-Ouzou when asked why the party leadership had decided to run in the election. The party may view the vote as a dress rehearsal for a future contest for real power, perhaps two years down the road. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is 75 and is unlikely to seek re-election when his term ends in 2014. The elite, say analysts, will seek a managed handover of power, but if that fails there could be an opportunity for the opposition. “It is the presidential elections that will change the status quo,” said Youcef Sahli, a member of the FFS national secretariat. “We understand that it is the president who embodies the state.” 36 International GULIBAGH, Pakistan--Hazrat Gul spent two years in detention for allegedly aiding the Pakistani Taliban when they publicly flogged and beheaded people during a reign of terror in the scenic Swat Valley. Now he wiles away his time in pristine classrooms, a Pakistani flag pin on his crisp uniform, learning about word processing, carpentry and car repairs at the Mashal de-radicalisation centre run by the army. Part of a carrot and stick approach to battling militancy in the strategic U.S. ally, the aim is to cleanse minds of extremist thoughts through vocational training, and turn men like Gul into productive citizens who support the state. The success of the programme will ultimately hinge, however, on the the ability of the government, widely seen as incompetent and corrupt, to help the de-radicalisation graduates find jobs. “If a sincere leadership comes to this country, that will solve the problems,” said Gul, 42, one of the Mashal students. “Today the leadership is not sincere. The same problems will be there.” Pakistan’s military drove militants out of Swat in 2009. Mashal is in the building which used to be the headquarters of the militants from where they imposed there austere version of Islam. Eventually, the army realised it couldn’t secure long-term peace with bullets alone. So military officers, trainers, moderate clerics and psychologists were chosen to run three-month courses designed to erase “radical thoughts” of those accused of aiding the Taliban. Students like Mohammad Inam, 28, a former assistant engineer, give the school a good report card. “The environment is very good. Our teachers work very hard with us. They talk to us about peace, about terrorism and how that is not right,” said Inam, in the presence of a military officer. “God willing, we will go out and serve our country and our nation.” School officials say about 1,000 people have graduated since the initiative began two years ago, and that only 10 percent were not cleared for release. Officials concede that verge of collapse and is often described as a failed state unable to cope with power cuts, widespread poverty and violence. “The problem is the deprivation being faced by these individuals. There is no electricity. There are price hikes. There is no law and order or justice which prevails in the country,” said Major Khurram Bajwa, one of Mashal’s directors. He pointed out how easy it is for the Taliban to recruit peo- THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 United States put a $10 million bounty on an Islamist leader who Pakistani officials say has in fact been helping them turn militants away from a life as radicals. Hafiz Saeed, suspected of masterminding an attack by Pakistan-based gunmen on India’s financial capital, Mumbai, in 2008 that killed 166 people, met government officials and pledged his support for the de-radicalisation drive, the officials said. Saeed’s organ- Men learn how to fix a vehicle engine in a classroom at the Mashal de-radicalisation centre run by the Pakistani army in Gulibagh, Pakistan’s Swat Valley April 13, 2012. their “students” are not hardened militants who killed. Mostly, they provided the Taliban with water, food or shelter, or beat people. That was enough for a twoyear detention, and some say abuse, in a country where the Taliban stage suicide bombings at will and have launched brazen attacks, including one on the army headquarters near the capital. Even if the Mashal institute instills a new mindset and discipline in the students, graduates face an uncertain future. The South Asian nation always seems to be on the ple. “It takes about two years isation denied this. to train an army officer, and one month to train a suicide Public Beheadings bomber.” Pakistan’s military presents the Swat offensive and the Islamist Leader campaign to root out extremPakistan joined the U.S. ism as a showcase of its sucglobal war on militancy after cess against militancy. On the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the surface, the valley looks the United States, but crit- far more stable than it did ics accuse Islamabad of ac- in the Taliban days when Fatually fostering the security zlullah, known as FM Mullah nightmare in the Pakistan- for his fiery radio sermons, Afghanistan border region by was ordering his men to take supporting militant groups it to the streets and punish the values as strategic assets. Pak- “immoral”, or anyone who istan denies the allegations. disagreed with his violent phiThe confusion was high- losophy. lighted this month, when the Residents of Swat, 160 km (100 miles) from Islamabad, crowd street markets. Girls schools that were blown up by the Taliban have reopened. A ski resort burned down by the Taliban has re-opened. That is due in large part to a sense of security created by the thousands of Pakistani soldiers still stationed there. But the army’s successes have been tarnished by allegations of human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch says it has received credible reports of extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by soldiers or police in Swat. The army counters that it takes human rights seriously and has launched an investigation into the matter. Sitting beside an officer in a classroom at the Mashal school, Gul said he was subjected to torture at prisons run by the military or its intelligence agency merely because, out of fear, he had chanted pro-Taliban slogans. “Every time they were talking to us, (they were) beating us,” said Gul, who has a masters in political science. Asked to elaborate, he said: “From A to Z, all kinds of problems.” Minutes later, the officer, who sleeps in a room with a commanding view he said was once occupied by Fazlullah, leaned over to this reporter and said: “What do you expect in prison, massage girls?” The accounts of ill treatment were echoed by others. Rehman Shah, a former school teacher, says he was only detained because his son was accused of joining the Taliban. Nine weeks into the course, he praises the de-radicalisation concept but says the army made a big mistake by detaining innocent people. “When Pashtuns are treated unfairly, it never leaves their hearts and they take revenge,” Shah said of the dominant ethnic group in Swat and other parts of northwest Pakistan, where most of the military offensives against militants are mounted. “I urge the government and security not to do this and not increase resentment and anger in the people.” A senior Pakistani intelligence official denied abuses take place. “That’s not our strategy at all. They are our own people and we do not believe in these things,” he said. Life Outside The School Outside Mashal’s classroom, there are signs that not everyone is embracing the new approach. Soldiers led a hooded man into a truck while three others looked on through the barred windows of what appeared to be a cell at the compound. Conditions still seem ripe for Fazlulah and his lieutenants, who have vowed to make a comeback, to recruit people. Pakistani officials estimated after the army operation expelled the Taliban that over $1 billion would be needed to revive the local economy and rebuild infrastructure. Residents like Ajab Noor, 61, who sent two of his sons abroad to work, doubt the population of about 1.3 million will ever benefit from those funds. “People have no options. They either go outside the country to work, or they join militants who promise them many things,” he said at a street market in Swat’s capital, Mingora. A member of a state-backed anti-Taliban militia believes two boys in his village had graduated from a de-radicalisation centre and ran away to rejoin the Taliban. “I told the military, ‘you are nurturing the offspring of snakes’. But they did not listen,” he said. International THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 CAPE TOWN--Luring great white sharks with a smelly mixture of fish and oil in South Africa’s False Bay has triggered a wave of anger, with surfers and swimmers calling for a ban on the practice following a fatal shark attack a week ago. A growing attraction over the past several years in one of Africa’s biggest tourist destinations, Cape Town, has been underwater dives with sharks, with operators clouding waters with a bloody mixture called “chum” to attract the predators. Many marine experts doubt if chumming changes the behaviour of sharks in the region, which include great white sharks as long as mini-buses that weigh upwards of four tonnes. But the practice has rattled surfers, swimmers and kayakers, especially after a suspected great white shark ripped the leg off of David Lilienfeld, 20, last week, killing the champion bodyboarder. Data shows since 2000 there have been 10 shark attacks around Cape Town’s coast, five of them fatal, including Lilienfeld. “This is an animal that kills people when it comes into confrontation with people. So let’s not make them aggressive. Let’s not dangle bait in front of them and stuff like that,” Cas Collier, a former big wave world champion, said at Surfer’s Corner, Muizenberg beach in the bay. Sharks are drawn to the area to feed on the large number of seals at Seal Island, a rocky outcrop in the middle of False Bay. Once hunted for sport trophies, great whites have been a protected species in South African waters since 1991. “It goes without saying that chumming in False Bay must be banned until we have a better understanding of shark behaviour and the potential for habituation,” said surfer John Gasson in a published letter. But for many of those who work with or study these graceful creatures, the emotion evoked in attacks clouds judgement. “There is no link between chumming and shark attacks. Every time this happens you get paranoia,” Leonard Compagno, a shark expert who helped design the mechanical shark in the blockbuster movie “Jaws”, told Reuters. Research in Australia, however, suggests prolonged chumming can affect shark behaviour around people to associate humans with food. Every time an attack occurs, fingers are pointed at the small shark cage diving industry, centred in False JERUSALEM--Israel’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to build an atomic bomb and called its leaders “very rational”--comments that clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment. Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz’s remarks, in an interview published on Wednesday in the left-wing Haaretz newspaper, drew little attention in Israel on its annual remembrance day for fallen soldiers, when political discourse is suspended. But they will add fuel to an internal debate on the prospects of Iran weaponising its uranium enrichment programme and the wisdom and risks of any Israeli military strike to try to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. “Iran is moving step-bystep towards a point where it will be able to decide if it wants to make a nuclear bomb. It has not decided yet whether to go the extra mile,” Gantz said. But, he said, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could opt to produce nuclear weapons should be believe that Iran would not face reprisal. “In my opinion, he will be making a huge mistake if he does that and I don’t think he will want to go the extra mile,” Gantz said. “I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people. But I agree that such a capability in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, who at some moments may make different calculations, is a dangerous thing.” Israel, believed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, has not ruled out military action against Iran should economic sanctions fail to curb its nuclear programme, saying all options were on the table. Last week, in a speech during Israel’s Holocaust remembrance day, Netanyahu said: “Today, the regime in Iran openly calls and determinedly works for our destruction. And it is feverishly working to develop atomic weapons to achieve that goal.” Tehran denies seeking the bomb, saying it is enriching uranium only for peaceful energy purposes and that its nuclear programme is a threat to no one. Speaking on CNN on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he would not want to bet “the security of the world on Iran’s rational behaviour.” A “militant Islamic regime,” he said, “can put their ideology before their survival.” The portrayal of Iran as irrational--willing to attack Israel with a nuclear weapon even if it means the destruction of the Islamic Republic in retaliatory strikes--could bolster a case for pre-emptive bombing to take out its atomic facilities. Netanyahu had already been stung at home by his former spymaster, Meir Dagan, who said that such an Israeli strike on Iran would be a “ridiculous” idea. Shannon Kile, a nuclear proliferation expert at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Gantz’s description of 37 Luring great white sharks with a smelly mixture of fish and oil in South Africa’s False Bay has triggered a wave of anger, with surfers and swimmers calling for a ban on the practice following a fatal shark attack a week ago. Bay and Gansbaai, where the famous “shark alley” is found. “Shark attacks are a very emotional thing and people are looking to blame somebody, and as shark operators we are easy targets,” Iranian leaders as rational was “quite an interesting turnabout.” “Hopefully, it is going to reduce the incentives for any sort of pre-emptive or preventive military action, at least for the time being,” Kile said. The United States has also not ruled out military action as a last resort. But many allies of Washington, and even some senior U.S. officials, fear such an attack could ignite a broader war and only temporarily halt Iran’s nuclear advances. said Rob Lawrence, owner of African Shark Eco-Charters. He says there is already a natural chum line in False Bay because of sewer outlets and gutted fish tossed overboard by boats. Contributing about 30 million rand (4 million) to Cape Town’s coffers each year, the shark cage industry is highly regulated--only three permit holders are allowed to chum in a restricted area around Seal Island. “I think overfishing of small fish and rays has caused great whites to search wider for food and with increased people in the water, there are more chances of encounters,” said fellow permit holder, Chris Fallows, a wildlife photographer and conservationist. Fish Hoek beach, a popular family beach has become a reflection of the anxiety. The beach’s championship life-saving team does not swim in the water to practice and makes use of kayaks when venturing into the ocean, such is the fear of the great white menace. “At the moment because of the sharks people don’t come here and don’t swim and that’s a real shame,” said Mike Schilperaart, spokesman for Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club. The club, which spent more than 100,000 rand on shark shields that are placed in the water and emit an electronic pulse to deter sharks, is hoping the city would soon erect a shark exclusion net as an additional barrier. “People can see the net and they will feel much safer in the net,” Schilperaart added. 38 International BEIRUT--Syrian forces shot dead four civilians on a bus on Wednesday and fighting raged near Damascus, dissidents said, as international pressure mounted on President Bashar al-Assad to honour U.N.-backed ceasefire pledges to order his troops back to barracks. In the city of Hama, an anti-Assad hotbed, an explosion ripped through a building, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens more, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another activist group, the grassroots Local Coordination Committee, said the blast was caused by a rocket launched into the building and put the death toll much higher at 54, including several children. A third activist source said the explosion may have FAR RIGHT Continued from page 33. in a campaign speech on Monday any cooperation to forge a coalition government. “We will never, ever make a deal with the powers of the bailout. A war to the end! We will win our homeland back!” he told cheering supporters. Members say discipline and years of unwavering dedication are required to win acceptance. One said it can take up to three years to become a member--starting first as a supporter, then as trial-members before joining the “family”. “For the Communists we are Nazis, for the Socialists we are fascists and for the conservatives we are extreme right,” said Nas, a Golden Dawn member who declined to give his last name. “Let them call me what they want. I do what I do with honour.” come from inside the building. It was not immediately possible to reconcile the varying accounts. There was no comment from Syria’s government, which says it is committed to U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan’s April 12 ceasefire accord, but reserves the right to respond to what it says are continued attacks by “terrorist groups”. Hama has been hosting a small team of United Nations observers, who are preparing the way for a larger U.N. mission which will arrive to monitor the ceasefire pact. In defiance of the truce accord, shelling was relentless in Douma, east of the capital, residents said, giving further ammunition to Western states such as France that want broad United Nations sanctions to try to end more than a year of fighting in which 9,000 people have been killed. As well as urging faster deployment of U.N. monitors, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Paris would push for a so-called “Chapter 7” resolution, which would mean punitive sanctions, next month if Assad’s forces did not pull back. “This cannot continue indefinitely. We want to see observers in sufficient numbers, at least 300 deployed as quickly as possible,” Juppe said. “If that does not work, we cannot allow the regime to defy us. We would have to move to a new stage with a Chapter 7 resolution at the United Nations to take a new step to stop this tragedy.” The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four people were killed when security forces opened fire on a bus at a checkpoint on the main road from Aleppo to Damascus. THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Philippine and U.S. marine soldiers wade in shallow water in a bay during a amphibious raid as part of a Philippine-U.S. joint military exercise in Ulugan bay, western coast of Philippines on Wednesday. ULUGAN BAY, Philippines--U.S. and Philippine commandos waded ashore on Wednesday in a mock assault to retake a small island in energy-rich waters disputed with China, part of a drill involving thousands of troops Beijing had said would raise the risk of armed conflict. The exercises, part of annual U.S.-Philippine war games on the southwestern island of Palawan, coincide with another standoff between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal in a different part of the South China Sea. China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across the South China Sea, each searching for gas and oil while building up their navies and military alliances. China said last week the drill would raise the risk of confrontation. On Wednesday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said China was committed to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the dispute. “We are certainly worried about the South China Sea issue,” Cui told a news briefing in Beijing, saying “some people tried to mix two unrelated things, territorial sovereignty and freedom of navigation.” The comments come before high-level talks with the Obama administration. China, which claims the South China Sea based on historical records, has sought to resolve disputes bilaterally but its neighbours worry over what some see as growing Chinese assertiveness in its claims in the region. “Location (of the drill) is irrelevant,” Ensign Bryan Mitchell, spokesman for the U.S. Marines, told reporters. “These exercises take place on a regular basis. This year it happens to be in Palawan. The planning for this took place months ago prior to any events that are currently in the headlines.” U.S. President Barack Obama has sought to reassure regional allies that Washington would serve as a counterbalance to China in the South China Sea, part of his campaign to “pivot” U.S. foreign policy towards Asia after wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Philippine military officials sought to play down the exercise. Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban, military commander for the western Philippines, said the drill “simply means we want to work together, improve our skills.” Sabban’s area of command includes Reed Bank and the Spratlys, a group of 250 mostly uninhabitable islets spread over 427,350 sq km (165,000 sq miles) west of Palawan. The Spratlys are claimed entirely by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and in part by Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. JEDDAH--A girls’ school in Saudi Arabia has defied a religious ban on female sports by erecting basketball hoops and letting pupils play at break-time, the daily alWatan reported on Wednesday. Powerful clerics in the conservative Islamic kingdom have long spoken against allowing girls to play sports, with one senior figure saying in 2009 it might lead them to lose their virginity by tearing their hymens. Saudi Arabia’s austere interpretation of Islamic law prevents women from working, opening bank accounts or having some elective surgery without the permission of a male relative. They are not allowed to drive. King Abdullah has pushed for women to have better opportunities in education and employment and last year said they could vote and run for office in future municipal elections, the only official polls in the monarchy. The school in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province has now become the first staterun girls school openly to encourage sports, Watan reported, quoting a supervisor as saying it would expend pupils’ energy “in a positive way”. Private girls schools already offer sports classes. In recent months Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for having never fielded a woman athlete at the Olympics, with Human Rights Watch calling for it be barred from this year’s London games. Amid mounting international scrutiny of the issue, local media reported this month that the deputy education minister for female student affairs, the kingdom’s first woman minister, was looking into setting up “a comprehensive physical education programme” for both sexes. THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 39 40 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 41 42 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 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. For sale:Panasonic TV $60, TV stand $25, dining table $65, corner cabinet $35, empty gas bottle $70, various mirrors and garage sale items. Tel:542-1851 or 553-3061. (2)2008 Hyundai Getz, $7,500 and Sonata 2007, $8,000. The HP Designjet 500, 24” plotter, like vehicles are well maintained and new, $1,500 o.b.o. Call:586-2605 is in excellent condition. Prices are or 523-0835. negotiable. Only serious inquiries $150, please. Call:553-2349. hard 1 person, $300, (2)per2004 Kia Rio, automatic, $2,800. sons paddle boat $400. Hot And a 2006 Atos Prime, automatic, water tank(20 gallons)$280, $3,000, both are in good condition. 30 gallons $390, 2-piece oak Call:553-2614, 581-2362 or 0690- vanity $225. 52” ceiling fan/ light $75, chest freezer, 32-82-66. $315. Call:559-1880. 2008 white Suzuki Swift, 4 door, Terra-cotta roof tiles +/-1000 sq.ft automatic, inspected until February $750. Phone:526-0159 or email 2013. Excellent condition, alarm, Camelot@caribserve.net $12,000, price negotiable. Serious inquiries only. Call:522-5630. Brand new Dirt Bike, Scooter 2 wheel & 4 wheel. Price $1,000 or best offer. Call:550-7914. Interested in purchasing a car, SUV or truck in the USA? Get them at affordable prices. Call me today:581-8026. Ford Windstar Van 2003 XL, silver, low mileage, 7 seater, $5,000. 2003 Chrysler Sebring Convertible, low mileage, in good condition, $4,800. Call:522-5140 or byronsxm@yahoo.com Mitsubishi Nativa, red color, year 2000, brand new leather seats, inspected until December 2012, mint condition, need body work, leaving island, USD$4,900 o.b.o. Contact Mike 587-5073. Piaggio X9 Scooter 250cc, 2006, blue, well serviced, $2,500 o.b.o. Call:520-1846 or 0690-77-32-51. 1 container trailer 40’ insulate for sale. Price $2,000. Call:526-7223. All must go! Cheap prices, washing machine deluxe, porcelain stove, table tennis, complete new industrial fan(big), cherry wood desk, therapeutic single mattress, beautiful curtains & bath towels, bed sheets. Call:520-3488. prices on the island! European louvers window with handle operator system, sizes available 2’x2’ $130, 2’x3’ $190, 2’x4 $260, and. Supplies are limited! Call:581-8026. Ray 225 Weekender (2003), 24 feet, cuddy cabin, toilet, engine, 5.0L MPI, Mercruiser, V8, (260HP). Boat in excellent condition. Price $26,000. Phone:(00590)-690-37-4959. warehouse, houses, apartments 1-5 bedrooms. Commercial/Residential. Business with N.V. licenses (Corporation). Call:Euro Caribbean Linkup N.V. (E.C.L.) Leopold J. Gumbs O w n e r / D i r e c t o r Tel:1(721)522-6513/5501952/543-0536. Email: eclnv@car ibser ve.net, www.eclsxm.com Pricing Classifieds with photo: personal: $40 per week (max. 30 words with one picture) Commercial: $85 per week (max. 30 words with one picture) one bedroom, one bathroom fully furnished, private pool, 2 parking, No brokers please! $178,000. Appointments after 5:00pm, call:(1-721)587-2598 or 5544406. Now available at Blue Mountain resident lot #8 for sale. Comes with building permit and house plans, located at Upper Princess Quarter. Price $89,500. For more information contact:520-6894 or 550-4180. Pelican Key:Luxury 2 bedroom/2 bath condo, bright top floor unit with skylights, unobstructed ocean view, direct access to the beach, private outdoor parking, fully furnished, $595,000, negotiable. Call:5880441. Email:eleganzia4sale@yahoo.com Sale by owner, 1700 sq.m. land at Belair, on the top of the hill with great views of the ocean etc. Asking price $325,000 o.b.o. Please email:mjsgard-est@yahoo.com with offers inquiries. (1)2.5 bedroom and (1) 3 bedroom apartment, located in Virgin Gorda, Lower Princess Quarter. For information and details call:527-2436 or A condo/villa@Guana Bay, 2 00590690-87-32-14. bedroom, 2 bath with breathtaking water views, for sale/rent. Price 1 bedroom apartment fully fur$279,000 negotiable. Email nished, parking, security, in Cole carolrnct@aol.com or cell:001-203- Bay. $750 per month, utilities not included. Call:553-2611 or 586209-8195. 3727. Almond Grove, new villa 4 sale. Spectacular views, ocean, lagoon, 1 bedroom fully furnished Cole airport, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, large Bay next to Almond Grove Mounterrace, pool, large studio apartment. tain side, totally remolded, $690 per Land 1517m2, US$985,000. Tel:520- month. Bob 559-1880. 3054/520-6514 or 0690-77-61-71. 1 bedroom/1 bath apartment, very Belair:Perfect starter townhouse spacious, opposite Prime in Cole or solid investment:2 bedroom/ Bay. $500 per month, 1 month’s de1bath, with ocean views, in great posit. Tel:526-1292 or 581-3292. neighborhood, common pool, renovated, was $235,000 reduced to 2 bedroom apartment, large porch, ceiling fans, on the way to $210,000. Call:586-6896. Union Farm Estate. Available May Breathtaking Penthouse fully 1st, $650 per month. Call:523furnished condo including fin- 9384. ished penthouse rooftop Terrace U.S.$560,000. Financing available Almond Grove, Cole Bay, great 1 50% of purchase price, 10 years, bedroom, 1 bath furnished, big ter5.9% Rainbow Beach Club Hotel race, private electric gate garage, nice lagoon and sea views, 24/7 Resort. Contact:520-6979. security, $1,450 monthly. Call:581For sale:3 bedroom, 1 bath house 6418. on 975 sq. meters in Bottom Saba. bedroom, For serious inquiries only. Call:1- 2 bath fully furnished, A/C, 721-580-4088 or 1-721-554-9363. patio, garden, parking 24 hours security, safe very For sale:Beautiful property in Grand large, long term. Call:522or Case, family 3 bedroom house plus 2 5 1 4 0 small unit on the beach. Land for sale byronsxm@yahoo.com Cul-de-Sac (French side). For more Almond Grove:3 bedroom, 3 information call:520-1641. bath, Japanese pool, Balinese type Cupecoy house, very quiet and peaceful, area, very high level restau- USD$2,600. Call:587-2205. rant, price negotiable. Almond Grove:Great property Call:520-1414. with three independent houses, House for sale, 3 bedroom/2 bath- 3 bedroom/3 bath house, pool, room, Middle Region, close to Defi- unfurnished, garden, $2,600, furance, $285,000. Tel:581-0265. nished $2,850. (1)Loft 1 bedroom/1 bath, 24/7 security, garden, unfurLand for sale in various areas. nished $1,300 or furnished $1,450. Call:581-2687. Call:581-6418. Land for sale with building permit For sale:A nice Regular Sharp TV, 4 bedrooms or 2 bedrooms with with remote control, very nice pictwo apartments, start to build today. ture, $30. Call:587-3801. Royce 587-0151. For sale:BBQ charcoal, large Land for sale, corner lot along the bags. Call:580-7126. main road in St. John’s Estates. 800 square meters. Call:586-4377. For sale:Italian marble/concrete statues. Several to choose from Land for sale, great opportunity! including fountains, supplies are 758 sq.m on Diamond Hill. Spectaclimited. Call:559-1182. ulair view (lagoon, Almond Grove & sea). Only cash deal $135,000. Call owner:586-7647. Apartments for rent. Quiet area, close to Philipsburg. Ready to move in, fully furnished. 2 bedroom $1,650/month. 1 bedroom $1,000/ month. Free satellite TV, internet, private parking, gated, nice view! Tel:554-8979. one bedroom condo for rent, furnished, sunset views, romantic. Living big, generator, wifi, satellite, flat screen TV, washer, peaceful. “like living on a yacht but no sway”. Guard nightly. Call The Yacht:520-1150. Stmaarten2rent@yahoo.com Beacon Hill:1 & 2 bedroom condo fully furnished, quiet and conveniently located, private parking, nicely done. Available immediately, $1,200 per month. Please call:5544633 or 588-4777. Cole Bay:1 bedroom, 1 bath beautifully, furnished apartmeny in Fisherman’s Wharf. Recently renovated;modern furniture, flat screen TV and washer. Gated community, 24 hours security and parking, $850 monthly. Please call:586-6896. 1st month rent, monthly rent $775 negotiable. Available May 15, 2012. Call:526-2338/581-3835, from Monday-Friday 4pm-6pm. Dawn Beach Ocean View Terrace:2 bedroom, 2 bath and 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartments, furnished, A/C, generator, internet, common pool, gated community. $1,350-$950 p/m, excluding utilities. Available now. Call:527-0994. Diamond Hill, very nice and big 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, private pool, big terrace, garden, great sea and lagoon view, parking and semi furnished, $3,400 monthly. Call:5816418. Egret Building Cole Bay, furnished one bedroom apartment with partial lagoon view, A/C, TV, $900 excluding utilities, deposit required. Call:581-2740, www. egretbuilding.com Street Prime Retail Store Space (1000 sq.ft) available immediately. Wide entrance, large windows. Rent $3,300 per month. Call:580-0673 for more details. front:2 semi-furnished apartments, 2 bedroom/1 bath, airco’s, private parking. Security, dockage available. For rent from 1st and 15th May, long term $1,050 and $1,100 furnished possible. Information:544-2611. Oyster Pond, pool & marina views, furnished 2 bedroom/2 bath, $1,200. 1 bedroom/1 bath with porch & sleeping loft, $1,250$1,450. 1 bedroom, 1 bath $750, 1 month deposit required. Call:5566230. Pelican Key:Beautiful 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, fully furnished and equipped, terraces, parking, air condition, sea View, common pool and tropical garden, electric shutters, USD$2800 monthly. Please call:587-2205. Pelican Key, 1 bedroom apartment, fully furnished with ocean view and common pool. Good price! Call:526-5347 or 554-0423. Pelican Key:Large 2 bedroom/2 bath home in Rancho Cielo. Great ocean views and nice sun deck. Fully furnished, common pool, $2,000 p/m. Please call Simone for viewing:526-5080. For more information email:hellenedmondson@ maine.rr.com Pelican:One bedroom apartment, gated, yard, partially furnished, very private, no dogs. Includes cable TV, $1,250/monthly and two months security deposit. Call:522-6865 daytime. For rent:Koolbaai villas, Cole Bay, gated, secured with pool, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 storey. Furnished, cable, Wifi included, big parking area, $1,400 p/m excluding utilities. Point Pirouette, 2 bedroom/2 bath furnished, gated, security, on Available May 1st. Call:523-2379. the water, dock rights, great view, Warehouses jacuzzi, $1,400/monthly, 2 months 2400 sq.ft-2600 sq.ft. Big security. Call:522-6865. yard for parking and loading. Cole Bay, furnished, 2 bed house Located in Cole Bay, behind Pointe Blanche, great house with with pool and garden $2,000. Ace Megacenter, $2,600- 3 bedroom/3 bath, big pool, priCall:587-2205. $3,200 per month. Call:522- vate and safe, parking for 3 cars, 5555 for more information. semi furnished, $3,250 monthly. Cole Bay, nice 1 bedroom/1 bath Call:581-6418. fully furnished, parking, security by For rent:Simpson Bay, one bedcamera, $1,000 monthly include room apartment, short term, steps Pointe Blanche:4 bedroom house Gebe, free internet and cable. away from the beach. Tel:581-0726 partly furnished, amazing views, top or info@simpsonbeach.com Call:581-6418. of the mountain, $2,500 per month, utilities excluded. Phone:526-0159 Cole Bay, on the lagoon, 2 bed- For rent:Unfurnished 2 bedroom, or email Camelot@caribserve.net room/2 bath, parking with electric 1 bath apartment, $800 per month. gate, security with magnetic card, Well Road, Cole Bay. Call Tony Pointe Blanche:For young spirited unfurnished $1,300 or furnished 587-4880. people, very safe, colorful, friendly, $1,450. Call:581-6418. fully furnished, 1 bedroom/1 bath Fully furnished (wireless intergarden apartment, balcony, great Cole Bay, small secure community, net & cable included), 1 bedroom view, generator, nice neighbors, house, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, patio, apartment for rent in Madame nice dogs, $980 excluding utilities, Estate, US$750 per month. Call furnished $2,200. Call:587-2205. security deposit. Call:522-5131. Tony:587-4880. villa Cole Bay:Million dollar view! 2 bedroom, 1.5 penthouse, fully Gorgeous 145 sq.m Porto Cupe- for rent 3 bedroom, 3½ bath, furnished, air condition, washer & coy, huge terrace on the marina spacious parking, private, on the lagoon. New, designer fur- pool, ocean view with gardryer, USD$2,000. Call:520-1641. nished, all equipped, 2 bedroom/2.5 den, 1 bedroom apartment for $3,500. bath, 24 hours security, common included spaces in prime location pool, parking, USD$3,000 monthly. Call:542-5103 or Harbor View, opposite round- Call:587-2205. email:krebbers-sxm@carabout in Philipsburg, next to ibserve.net Xerox. Unit sizes 2000-4000 House for rent, leaving island! sq.feet, 120 car park, secu- Simpson Bay across from the Pointe Blanche:One bedroom rity, 3 elevators, standby beach, 2 large bedroom, 2.5 furnished apartment, panoramic generator. Call:554-6597/ bath, large kitchen & living room, views, $950 per month. Phone:526522-5555. $1,700/month, deposit negotiable. 0159 or email Camelot@caribserve.net Call:581-4828 or 527-8254. Rent or buy, villa style 2 bedroom/2 bath. Do Yoga by the dip pool overlooking the lagoon. Have serene quiet mystical feeling. Dock available, fully furnished, wifi, cable, washer/dryer, very private. Call:520-1150. stmaarten2rent@yahoo.com gorgeous view, 2 bedroom apartment, furnished, parking, 24/7 security with swimming pool, rent $3,500. Call:520-1414. Almond Grove:Very nice studio furnished with terrace, 24/7 security, 1 parking space $900 includes Gebe, no pets and no children. Call:581-6418. Cupecoy, Rainbow Beach Club, very nice 2 bedroom, 2 bath on the Apartment for rent/La Terrasse sea, fully furnished, 24/7 security, Maho Reef 2 bedroom/2 bath (3rd private and safe parking, common floor). 24/7 security, fully furnished pool, $2,350 monthly. Call:581with patio and ocean view, parking, 6418. use of all facilities. Utilites included. Available immediately, $2,500 per Dawn Beach Estate:1 small bedmonth. Call:581-0109 from 10:am- room apartment, semi furnished, 5:pm. 24 hours security, 1 month deposit, Mount William Hill:Magnificent (2)1 bedroom apartments, (1)2 bedroom and 3 bedroom penthouse. Middle Region: Unbelievable deal, 4 bedrooms duplex, Jacuzzi, private parking, close to school, 2 minutes to supermarkets. Call:553-2909/524-4096. apartment for rent in, 20 minute walk to Philipsburg. Great view, $75 a day, $225 a week or $850 a month. All utilities included. Call:5508173. and furnished apartments 2 bedroom/2 bath, AC, elevator, gated. Location Waterfront Road, next to Budget Marine, Cole Bay. $1,250-$1,450 p/m, utilities not included. Sale price USD$275,000. Call:5546597. bedroom/2 bath, $1,500 monthly. 50 steps to beachfront, furnished, airco’s clean, hot/cold water, generator, cable TV, wifi, washer/dryer, all included. 1 bedroom $750 and up. C a l l : 5 2 0 - 1 1 5 0 . Email:Stmaarten2rent@yaho o.com One last apartment studio fully furnished for rent, long term. Available last week of April, pool, parking, garden, bar/BBQ area, rooftop look out 1 block from Sunset Beach Bar. Call:545-2456. Simpson Bay, furnished studio, utilities, wifi, cable, hot/cold shower, washer/dryer, all included $750 per month. Also available short term units $350 per week. Call:5532706. Business THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 rent 1round floor apartment partly furnished, 24 hours security, common pools and tennis courts, available for $2,250. For more information cal:542-5103 or email:krebbers-sxm@caribserve.net Simpson Bay:Studio, furnished, utilities include & free wifi $695 p/m. Also furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bath house & yard $1,050 and furnished room include utilities $495 p/m. Call:559-0619. South Reward, 2 bedroom apartment located Reward Road. Nice view, private and parking, $725 per month. Call:554-2683. South Reward, furnished studio in quiet neighborhood $600 include electricity, water, A/C, cable and internet. Call:580-5087. athletic, attractive female bartender. Must have experience, have good customer friendly skills, Must be able to work with others, comprehend and speak the English language fluently, Dutch passport or valid working papers. Able to work flexible hours and have own transportation. Please call:545-3337 to make appointment for interview or email:resume@palapamarina. com with photo ID is looking for an Adverting Sales Representative with valid documents. Send resume to advertisingandmanagement@ gmail.com South Reward:Large studio with private yard & parking, unfurnished, $500, utilities not included. French resident retired engineer is seeking a woman, honest, senCall:526-0139. sual, decent income, open minded Spacious beautiful villa style for a better life. Email sxmretraites@ 1 bedroom apartment located in gmail.com Cole Bay with beautiful view. Conveniently situated near shopping Honest hard working lady is seek& restaurants, $850-$1,100 with ing a job as a household helper, satellite and free internet. Serious babysitter, kitchen helper, part time or full time, Please call:586-9235. inquiries only. Call:586-3011 Studio apartment available from May 1st, 2012 at Pumpkin Road, South Reward. $450 per month, water and electricity included with parking space in yard. For information call:523-1869. has a vacancy for a Heavy Equipment Operator/Driver, minimum 5 years experience with license B, C, D, E. Send resume to Labour Office and contact:522-4129. & casual outside dining restaurant is looking for servers, bussers, bartenders and kitchen staff. Must have minimum 3 years experience, Dutch passport or valid working papers. Call:554-6203. Center, St. Eustatius:1 position open for Dive Master, two years or more experience in dive base operations, boat handling, compressor maintenance. Email resume with photo, grdivers@gmail.com Gondola in Atlantis Casino, is looking for:1st Cook with diploma, experience in good restaurants and notions of Mediterranean cuisine, pasta and risotto, fast Kitchen Helper and Dining Staff, age 20-30 years old, with experience in good restaurant, not fast food. Submit resume with photo and references from 9:30am-13:00pm or 16:00pm-18:00pm. Merky’s Enterprises N.V. is looking for 3 masons and 1 plumber minimum 5 years experience. Please contact Mr. Merkman at 581-0995. small 2 door Jeep (Jimmy), automatic, in good condition. Please call:554-7506. commercial grade coolers & flat screen TV’s. Call:559-1182. for:Foutloos Nederlands Schrijven. Start May 2, 2012. Call for information and registration form. PCMI 5423088. BRUSSELS/CHICAGO-Major export markets for U.S. beef from Canada to Japan stayed open on Wednesday after the United States reported its case of mad cow disease in six years amid assurances that rigorous surveillance had safeguarded the food system. U.S. live cattle futures were higher on Wednesday, but only recovered about half of what they lost on Tuesday when the market posted its biggest drop in seven months. U.S. authorities quickly told consumers and importers around the world there was no danger that meat from the infected California dairy cow would enter the food chain. The cow tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly called mad cow disease. Mexico, Korea, Japan, Canada and the European Union said they would continue to import U.S. beef, although two major South Korean retailers halted sales. In 2011, Canada, Japan, Mexico and South Korea combined took 65 percent, or 1.82 billion lbs, of U.S. beef exports. “This finding will not affect trade between the U.S. and Canada,” the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a statement on Wednesday. “Both countries have implemented science-based measures to protect animal and human health.” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the new case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) reported on Tuesday should have no bearing on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks. Japan already only allows imports of U.S. and Canadian beef from cattle aged 20 months or less. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the positive response from trade partners was a sign of confidence in the preventative measures taken by the United States and that he was not concerned about potential a cut off in WASHINGTON--Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday said U.S. monetary policy was “more or less in the right place” even though the central bank would not hesitate to launch another round of bond purchases if the economy were to weaken. In a statement after a two-day meeting, the Fed’s policy-setting panel reiterated its expectation that interest rates would not rise until late 2014 at the earliest, and it took no action on monetary policy. The Fed also adjusted its economic forecasts to acknowledge an improving labour market and slightly higher inflation over the next few years. The revised forecast, along with a change of heart by the most dovish Fed officials on the timing of the first rate rise, suggested the central bank has grown somewhat less inclined to take more action to help the economic recovery. “We remain entirely prepared to take additional balance sheet actions as necessary to achieve our objectives,” Bernanke told reporters. “Those tools remained very much on the table and we would not hesitate to use them should the economy require that additional support.” But he added: “For the time being, it appears that we are more or less in the right place.” In response to the deepest recession in generations, the Fed cut overnight rates to near zero in December 2008 and more than imports. “I’m sending out a letter to 20 major trading partners today to reassure that the products they’re buying are safe,” Vilsack told Reuters Insider. Benchmark June live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were recovered about half of what they lost on Tuesday when the market fell the 3-cent daily trading limit. Shares were little changed on Wednesday in leading U.S. beef producers Tyson Foods Inc and JBS-USA. Samples from the infected cow have been sent to laboratories in Canada and Britain for final confirmation, Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said in a 43 statement, adding that the case was unlikely to affect the current USDA “controlled risk” categorisation for mad cow disease. “According to USDA statements, the steps taken so far are consistent with OIE standards,” it added. Russia’s health watchdog said it could consider restrictions on U.S. imports but that it was waiting for more information on the outbreak and the planned U.S. response before taking a decision. Korean retailer Lotte Mart, a unit of Lotte Shopping Co., said it had suspended sales due to what it said was “customer concerns”, as did Home Plus, a unit of Britain’s Tesco PLC. A dairy cow works peers out from behind a fence in Chino, California on Wednesday. here! Let your nails Jam n Style for Carnival. Refill $15 with design, 2 for $70 full set with design. Also pedicure available. Call me today for your appointment 522-9836. Container leaving St. Maarten to Kingston Clarendon & Manchester, packing starts from on April 23-May 2nd. Call:581-9179 or 581-5327, after 5pm. Chihuahuas, Pomeranian, Samoyed, Yorkshire terrier(tea cup), Maltese. We custom order all kinds of breeds. Grooming services, accessories/clothes. Airport Road #36A, Simpson Bay(next to Paradise Car Rental). Call:(1-721)5235145. tripled its balance sheet by purchasing $2.3 trillion in government and mortgage bonds in two rounds of socalled quantitative easing. Bernanke said the central bank could be spurred into doing more if the U.S. unemployment rate, which stood at 8.2 percent last month, failed to keep moving lower. Fresh projections released by the central bank showed the most dovish officials no longer want to put off a rate increase until 2016. The Fed said seven officials believe it would be appropriate to raise borrowing costs in 2014, up from five officials in January, while only four wanted to wait longer, down from six. Interest-rate futures showed traders now betting the first rate hike would come in March 2014, a month sooner than earlier thought. “It looks like the more positive data over the past few months has affected the people at the more dovish end of the spectrum,” said Sean Incremona, an economist at 4Cast in New York. Colin Lundgren, head of fixed income at Columbia Management in Minneapolis, said: “I wouldn’t call it hawkish. It’s more that they are less dovish.” A poll of 12 big Wall Street bond dealers put chances of a further easing of monetary policy at just 28 percent. Separately, economists at Nomura, which had previously expected the Fed to buy more bonds, said they now anticipated no action. 44 S I N GA P O R E - -W h i l e most attention in the gadget world is on the breakneck pace of innovation in mobile phones, tablets and computers, another device has resolutely refused to die: the camera. Despite the onslaught of camera phones--the iPhone 4 has this year become the most popular device for posting snaps to the photo-sharing website Flickr--cameras are still being sold. Japan, the world’s largest manufacturer, shipped nearly three times as many cameras in January as it did in the same month of 2003, when the camera phone was still in its infancy. “For several years, it has been predicted that smartphone adoption would cut into digital camera sales,” said Prashant Malaviya, Associate Professor of Marketing at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “In fact, the exact opposite has happened.” Driving this is a number of factors, analysts and enthusiasts say. And, while most point to a continuing role for cameras for both professional and personal users, the device’s future is far from assured. Firstly, photography is personal. We may be happy taking snaps with our cellphone or simple point-and-shoot camera, but it turns out that most of us won’t entrust key memories to such basic devices. Surveys by NPD Group last November show that while more than a quarter of all American photos were taken by a smartphone, more people were buying cameras with detachable lenses or cameras with optical zooms of 10x or more. This, says NPD Group senior digital imaging analyst Liz Cutting, is because those people taking important family photos don’t want to trust them to a device that isn’t up to the task. “Camera photography is certainly not dead,” said Cutting. “We’re just seeing a skewing towards what the smartphone can’t deliver. People are recognising that and are going for a higher end camera.” This in turn benefits the established players, because users are reluctant to entrust their photos to Business THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 A man looks at Canon Inc’s cameras at a Canon showroom in Tokyo on Wednesday. Canon Inc on Wednesday posted flat quarterly earnings but upped its full-year profit forecast, as burgeoning demand for higher-end digital cameras helped offset fewer sales of printers and office equipment. an untested brand. We may be ready to try out a new brand of cellphone, laptop or TV, but when it comes to family snaps we’re more conservative. “It’s part of who you are, showing the kind of brand of camera you have,” Cutting said. “But it’s also trusting the quality of that memory because that’s how you remember your life.” This has helped entrench several key players, some of whom have dominated the scene for a generation or more--Canon Inc, Nikon Corp, Sony Corp, Olympus Corp , Pentax, Fuji and Panasonic Corp. Canon Fodder Canon has been one of the main beneficiaries of this, maintaining a strong brand from the professional high end to the point-and-shoot bottom, says Christopher Chute, global imaging chief at International Data Corp. Canon has seen its camera business grow as the proportion of its overall sales to more than 25 percent in 2008 from below 11 percent in 1999. In a survey of more than a quarter of a million users of Ontario-based gadget website Sortable.com, Canon was the most popular brand, with a third of the vote. Not that its rivals are standing idle. Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax and Nikon have in the past few years launched a new kind of camera that matches the quality of lenses of a professional model with the sleek, light body of a pocket, point-and-shoot device. Although these mirrorless cameras aren’t a lot cheaper than the professional digital single lens reflex (DSLR) model, they are lighter and more compact. This has won them fans among both those trading up and those looking to replace or supplement their professional gear. Ong Hock Chuan, a hobbyist who runs a Jakarta public relations company, recently sold his heavier Canon EOS 50D for a mirrorless Sony NEX-7. Price wasn’t a factor. “I was tired of lugging around an SLR and getting a hernia for it,” he said. Canon has yet to announce a mirrorless model. Not only are camera manufacturers seeking an edge over each other: They’re battling the encroachment of camera phones on to their territory. At the bottom, Nokia and other mobile manufacturers have long partnered with lens makers like Carl Zeiss to improve the quality of photographs and phones, a trend which has meant many mobile phones now do a better job of a point-and-shoot camera. The appeal of the camera phone has also grown as social media services like Facebook make it possible to share a photo with friends and family as soon as it’s taken. This leaves the compact point-and-shoot camera segment of the market vulnerable. In markets such as the United States and Japan, says Japanbased IHS analyst Kun Soo Lee, there’s not many more people who want to buy one. On the one hand, this is eating into sales that Canon and others traditionally dominated. On the other, the ease with which photos can be taken on a phone is feeding an interest in taking better photos, expanding the middle of the market into a “pro-sumer” segment of devices which cost a bit more but offer the user options so far unavailable on the mobile phone: An optical, rather than digital, zoom, for example, better flash, and image stabilization. Cannibalisation This is driving manufacturers to push more and better technology from their upper end models into cheaper devices. Prices have fallen dramatically in the past decade, says Mark Walters of U.S.-based website TechBargains.com. Ten years ago a 3-megapixel DSLR camera would cost $3,000; now a better quality 18-megapixel DSLR can be found for less than $500. “The technology that has trickled down into the more consumer-targeted DSLRs is incredible,” he said. Lowering prices and raiding the technologies of formerly professional models is not without danger. “This pricing strategy has certainly caused some cannibalization of sales at the higher end for the likes of Canon and Nikon,” said Walters, “but they make up for it with volume at the low end by selling more critical accessories like lenses and flashes.” Manufacturers are also competing through innovation. Apart from mirrorless cameras, there have been improvements in sensors and a technology called high dynamic range (HDR) imaging, which layers images at different exposures. “There’s an amazing amount of innovation in digital photography equipment at the moment,” said Melbourne- based Sydney Low, a former Internet entrepreneur who now takes sports photos for a living. “More so in many ways than Apple, HP and other computer manufacturers.” While enthusiasts like Low believe that still cameras will eventually be replaced by video cameras-from which scenes can be grabbed--others believe that eventually mobile phone and camera will start to look and feel more like each other. A range of cameras launched in the past few months, said NPD In-Stat’s Cutting, have for the first time included WiFi chips, making it possible for users to share their photos much as a smartphone user might. “It has to be easy, and we haven’t hit that yet,” she said. Just as the camera gets smaller and more sociable, so will the mobile phone evolve to incorporate features presently only available on a camera. IHS’s Kun said the introduction of 12 megapixel cameras into smartphones, for example, is a “kicker to change the market.” Then, said J. Gerry Purdy of cellphone analysts MobileTrax, there’s Polaroid’s SC1630, announced in January and due to be launched this year: an Android device with an optical zoom. These and other innovations, Purdy said, may usher in a future where a smartphone camera “will perform as well as today’s digital cameras with large optical zoom and larger lenses.” California-based Pelican Imaging Corp, for example, promises a camera that will improve image and video quality while allowing for thinner smartphones. How traditional players react to these challenges is unclear. Canon, for example, has no obvious strategy to combat the rise of the smartphone, said IHS’s Kun, and so will have to keep on peddling digital cameras. In the meantime other technologies may arise either inside or outside the industry. Says IDC’s Chute: “Everything is up in the air.” Business THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 MEXICO CITY--An “indignant” Mexico said on Wednesday it has launched an investigation into allegations that the Mexican unit of Wal-Mart Stores Inc bribed officials to expand its business there, opening a new front to a widening probe of the world’s largest retailer. The Mexican federal comptroller’s office said it had begun checking the federal paperwork and permits that Wal-Mart de Mexico, known as Walmex, obtained to open and operate its stores in Mexico. Mexican President Felipe Calderon rounded on WalMart during a speech in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday. “This makes me very indignant,” he told a gathering of members of the Mexican community. “The company has certainly generated many jobs in Mexico and done good things, but what’s not right is doing business on the basis of bribes.” The comptroller’s office said it would ask U.S. authorities for information on the case in order to carry out its investigation and that the federal government would take action if wrongdoing by public officials was detected. A spokesman for Walmex said the company had not been informed of any investigation in Mexico. Wal-Mart already faces a criminal probe by the U.S. Department of Justice over potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a U.S. law that forbids bribing foreign officials. Mexican politicians had been calling for a probe into Wal-Mart, even though the economy ministry had initially said the allegations were not a federal matter. Guillermo Tamborrel, a senator from Calderon’s conservative National Action Party, said the scandal had tarnished Mexico’s reputation. “We cannot let an international company come and corrupt our authorities,” Tamborrel told Reuters. While some legal experts expected little bite from the comptroller probe, which will look at civil servants’ possible misdeeds rather than the company, others said the government will face pressure for results since Mexico now chairs the Group of 20 economic powers and cochairs its anti-corruption panel. “I think they will take this very seriously. They have a duty, in terms of global leadership, to show that they can get to the bottom of charges like these,” said Eduardo Bohorquez, director of anti-corruption watchdog Transparencia Mexicana, the Mexican arm of Transparency International. On Saturday, the New York Times reported that a senior Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner aircraft stands on the tarmac at Manchester Airport in Manchester, northern England in this April 24, 2012 file photo. Boeing Co posted higher quarterly profit, helped by increased commercial aircraft sales, and raised its earnings forecast for the year on Wednesday. Boeing’s stock shot up 5.3 percent to $77.11, giving the Dow its biggest lift. Wal-Mart lawyer received an email from a former executive at Walmex in September 2005 describing how the Mexican affiliate had paid bribes to obtain permits to build stores in Mexico. The newspaper said that senior Wal-Mart officials stymied an internal investigation into the alleged bribery, which involved suspect payments worth $24 million. Wal-Mart said on Wednesday that Tom Gean, a lawyer who has worked for the retailer for eight years, was placed in charge earlier this year of overseeing its compliance with FCPA. Gean is a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. Wal-Mart also outlined the high-profile lawyers and accountants aiding its internal investigation into the matter, as well as its worldwide review of compliance, and pushed back against suggestions that its lobbyists tried to scale back the FCPA. Bentonville, Arkansasbased Wal-Mart has long acknowledged the ramifications of the FCPA law. Back in 2007, then-Chief Executive Officer Lee Scott made the connection between FCPA and the risk that can come with expanding into other countries. At an ana- 45 lyst meeting, Scott was asked whether Wal-Mart would look at entering Russia. “We, as a company, are committed to ethical and responsible methods of running our business,” Scott said, according to a transcript of the meeting. “We will not position ourselves in a market in which we would jeopardize that. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is the only act that requires the incarceration of the CEO. And we are not going to do that.” Scott is one of the top executives whom the Times said stymied an investigation into alleged bribery in Mexico earlier in the decade. Also on Wednesday, a shareholder sued Wal-Mart’s board and several officers, seeking to recover damage to the company’s reputation as well as costs of investigating the claims. Wal-Mart shares ended down 0.7 percent on Wednesday at $57.36, their lowest close in five months and down more than 8 percent since the New York Times report. Walmex shares gained 3.7 percent to close at 37.55 pesos ($2.85) on Wednesday, but have fallen nearly 13 percent since the report. 46 Dear Editor, Please permit me some space in your newspaper to make some clarifications. My name is Marlon Brooks. I am the driver who was involved in the accident with the container on Monday. I am 28 years old and have been driving heavy trucks for about ten years. My father owns tourist busses and I Opinion learned to drive them. In my opinion, I am a well- experienced driver of various types of heavy equipment and vehicles. Many people are speculating based on what is said by the Police in the newspaper. Before the accident, I had already done some container deliveries around the island. In this case, this THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 would have been my second to last delivery for the day. When I was coming down the hill, I started braking (changed into low gear) from the area of Harold Jack to Dr. Winter’s home (middle of descent of the hill). This is customary. All was well with the brakes up to that point and onward. When I was nearing the last corner coming down the hill before the roundabout, I realized that the truck was accelerating, which means that the brake air pressure was not being functional. In lay mans’ terms this means that the regular brakes gave out. I then began to apply the container brakes and they too failed. I then started to think of what possible situations may occur. I then knew that there could be two possible scenarios. One scenario is that I can try to steer the truck around the roundabout and into the open area where the gentleman fixes radiators so that the wall will jam the wheel. The other scenario would be that the truck would topple over because of the speed as well as the weight of the container. The container contained approximately 25 to 35 tons of supermarket supplies, juices, food stuff, rice, floor, etc. I took the corner a little wide, so that if scenario one was possible, I would have enough space to steer the truck into the open area. When I realized that because of the weight, the container may overturn before I could steer it to the open area, I switched off the engine while it was being overturned. Because I was already coming down slowly before the brakes gave out, there were no cars in front me and also no oncoming traffic. I had already prepared myself mentally for this scenario. As the truck was overturning, I began to climb out to get to the passenger side. Because the seat is an air seat, while I was climbing out to get to the passenger side, I lost my grip with the impact as the truck overturned, and I slid back into the driver’s seat and that is the reason my left hip and foot were pinned between the door and the steering wheel. I did not panic after this because I was already mentally prepared and had myself in a position to incur the least possible injuries and I was comforted to know that no one else was involved in the accident. The first person on the scene was a fellow truck Dear Editor, My Cable TV service has been out for three days (and spotty, at best, since the conversion). This afternoon I managed to reach someone at St. Maarten Cable TV who seemed knowledgeable. He told me that I should not expect my service to be restored until May 14th. When asked, he said that I would receive a refund for the period of outage. I got the impression that there are serious problems associated with the changeover. It sounded to me that there is likely a story there. Marilyn Brown driver known as Hammer, who was driving at the back and saw what happened. He came and asked me if I was okay and if anywhere was hurting and began to clear out some of the debris, which was the back and front windshield which had blown out. Then a medical person, Mr. Raymond Antoine, who happened to be in the area, came and identified himself and proceeded to check my vitals and inquired if I was feeling pain anywhere. I explained to him what had happened. After that, I called my boss, Alex, to tell him what had happened and that I was okay. I told him he needs to bring the side loader (which is the equipment that lifts containers.) Then I heard the siren of the police, fire trucks, and ambulance. When the police arrived, an officer came and asked my name, date of birth, place of birth, and for the contact number of the owner of the truck. Two friends of mine, Shervin and Carlos, who are also fire fighters, realized that it was me in the truck. They began to ask me if everything was alright, where I had pain and told me that it looks like that they will have to cut me out and that they are setting up the “Jaws of Life” to cut me out. Then another friend, Ryan, who works at the EMS Service and some of his co-workers came and took my vitals as well as blood and then put an IV in my hand and asked me how was my breathing. I told them I am okay, but they suggested that I still put on the oxygen mask. I had no problem with them doing whatever they were doing, because I do not drink any alcohol or any beverage containing any amount of alcohol whatsoever. And neither do I smoke. Then Mr. Tony Gibbs of the Fire Department approached the truck and asked me if I was sure that everything was okay and proceeded to explain to me what was about to take place. Thereafter the fire fighters set up their equipment to cut the truck. After the truck was cut, they were able to angle the “Jaws of Life” to cut the steering wheel and I was able to be pulled out. I was then transported to the hospital for further treatment. Another thing I want to clarify is that up to that moment, other than asking me if I was okay, the Police had not asked me to see my drivers licence, nor even come to the hospital to interview me or even asked me how the accident happened, but had sort of speculated that I was driving at high speed. Driving at high speed would be a normal occurrence, if anyone is going downhill without brakes, but that is clearly different than speeding. I have left my numbers available with the Police for any questions necessary while investigating. Suggestions are being made about heavy equipment working from sunset to sunrise, but we have to take into consideration that St. Maarten has a very busy “night life”. People consume a lot of alcohol and especially at night. Being a night driver myself, I often witness people driving crazy or barely missing being in an accident. Imagine how it would be if heavy equipment is on the road with drunk drivers. Even during the day, drivers should be more cautious. As truck drivers, we have to be more focused than ever. Many drivers (especially busses) suddenly stop without taking into consideration what is driving behind of them or they suddenly pull out on the road taking a chance because they think they have correctly timed the oncoming truck. Drivers are to understand that heavy equipment is protected by a grill, and they will be the ones to get hurt. And then who will get blamed? Always the truck driver, whilst it was actually the other driver who was not cautious. As a requirement, we truck drivers have to check our trucks every day before we go out on the road. Still after all is said and done, I want to give thanks to God for having spared me and the situation from being worse and for giving me the vision to prepare myself mentally for the situation I found myself in. Then, I also want to thank the Police, Fire Department, Ambulance, EMS Personnel, my boss and family, my fellow truck drivers and the Port Staff. Special thanks also to Hammer and off-duty medical person Antoine. Lastly my family, friends, near and far, clients of the company and all well-wishers. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again. Marlon M. Brooks Opinion THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Dear Editor, What does the recently passed American Jobs Act, Crowdfunding and St. Maarten have to do with each other? And how can they improve the investment climate and generate jobs on St. Maarten? Before I answer those questions, let me first explain what the American Jobs Act and Crowdfunding are all about. The American Jobs Act is a recently passed bill pro- posed and signed into law on April 5th, by US President Barack Obama, and is designed to get Americans back to work. An important element of this bill is the loosening of regulations on small businesses that wish to raise capital, including through Crowdfunding, while retaining investor protections. Why is the key provision of this bill so important? Up until now, small businesses and entrepreneurs are only allowed to offer shares in their companies to investors, if they are raising less than one million dollars and the investors are people they know, like family and friends, who are considered ‘unaccredited’ investors, meaning they have a net worth less than one million dollars. The Jobs Act now offers the US Securities Exchange Commission, the SEC, a legal basis to adopt new regulations making it pos- Dear Editor, News headline Monday 23 April, 2012, “Gas Prices Rise Yet again in Anguilla”. As consumers we find ourselves at the mercy of the business sector in this country with no place to turn to for a reprieve. There seems to be no way out. The price of goods and services in this country continues to rise steadily with no relief in sight, while government continues to adopt a hands-off approach to the issue of prices, even though the situation warrants its intervention. Take the price of gasoline and diesel for instance; it tends only to increase. It is remarkable - when the price of oil increases globally, how quickly it is increased locally, but when the opposite happens and the price falls, it never seems to be reflected at the pump. Ironically, this last increase in the price of gasoline by almost EC $1.00 came at a time when the price of oil globally has started to decrease. It is also noteworthy that the price of gasoline rose even though the island had not at the time received a new shipment of gasoline, but of diesel oil instead. I would really appreciate it if someone who knows how the pricing mechanism works were to come to the public via the media and explain how the price of gasoline and diesel is arrived at; just explain the process line by line so anyone who wishes to understand can indeed understand. It would be welcome also if this were done for the price of foodstuff as well which continues to escalate even in the face of an almost steady overall price index. It seems the price of food in the supermarkets rises, whether or not a new stock has been received. I invite supermarket owners, I challenge them rather to publicly detail how prices are arrived at, pointing to every detail, and then I would appreciate a comparative analysis of prices to demonstrate why the prices of similar items differ sometimes very significantly from one outlet to another. And could someone explain and/or justify why the Chinese retail outlets are able to undersell our locally-owned outlets so significantly? I ask this question because it seems to me that there are some ‘profitmaking’ tricks espoused by business persons locally but which are unknown to the consumer. Meanwhile, the average consumer in Anguilla continues to struggle to keep pace with the escalating cost of living fuelled (pardon the pun) in part by the constantly rising cost of food and other basic items. I am more than convinced that despite our belief in the free market system that in the face of obvious price gouging tactics by an apparently colluding business sector, there is an urgent need for a watchdog consumer agency designed and mandated to protect the consumer from local unscrupulous providers of goods and services. We must become militant and seek legitimate but effective ways to protect ourselves from this capitalistic madness. Concerned Citizen sible for small businesses to raise capital from a wider pool without the aforementioned limitations, thereby giving Crowdfunding a legal basis as a community funding model, allowing entrepreneurs to reach out to their own communities for funding in an efficient and legally compliant way. So what exactly is Crowdfunding? Crowdfunding or crowd funding (alternately crowd financing, equity crowdfunding, or hyper funding) according to Wikipedia describes the collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool their money and other resources together, usually via the internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowdfunding occurs for any variety of purposes, from disaster relief to citizen journalism, to artists seeking support from fans, to political campaigns, to funding a start up company, movie or small business or creating free software. What does all of this have to do with St. Maarten? Well, as a relatively small community, St. Maarten is the perfect size for Crowdfunding. Most people are friends or related to each other. So it should be relatively easy for an entrepreneur or small business to raise funding using the Crowdfunding model. The news gets even better when we realize a legal framework already exists that allows entrepreneurs and small businesses the ability to raise up to a maximum of 500,000 guilders for their ventures. This can be done using the investment club model. Participants in an investment club, up to a maximum of 25 natural persons, can each invest a maximum of 20,000 guilders, thus a total of 500,000 guilders, in an investment opportunity without a license or supervision by the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS). In anticipation of legitimate and legally compliant crowdfunding platforms, I suggest St. Maarteners pool their resources and form investment clubs. Theoretically speaking, 20 investment clubs can effectively raise 10 million guilders to offer entrepreneurs and small businesses capital in exchange for equity. I am thinking big of course, but small investment clubs are also possible. Each participant can choose to put in 100 to 1,000 guilders and pool any 47 amount up to 25,000 guilders to invest in start-ups or provide micro-financing to small businesses. If banks are only offering one to two per cent interest on savings, pouring some of your savings into an investment club can do more than just raise capital for investments, but potentially offer you a significantly higher return on your investment than a savings account ever will. But most importantly, you will create jobs in the process as well. Research in the USA proves that more net job creation is generated by small businesses than any other sector of the economy. If President Obama believes in this, then you should too. Think about it! Terrance Rey Internet Entrepreneur 48 Comics THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 By Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (April 26) – Begin the year auspiciously by reviewing wellness practices like diet, exercise and meditation. Add a daily dose of outdoor walking to replenish your soul and feed your heart. Include friends. Stay young by keeping your mind busy with curiosity. Don’t be afraid to ask why. And have fun! 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 – The forseeable future is good for making changes at home. Set juicy goals for yourself. Pull together as a team. Whistle while you work, and feast after. Taurus (April 20-May 20) – Today is an 8 – All of a sudden, everything starts making sense. Old puzzles get solved. Consider your friends’ suggestions, but it’s okay to turn down an outrageous request. Gemini (May 21-June 21) – Today is an 8 – A new assignment brings in new revenue, and the temptation to spend it all could arise. Rake in the dough, but count it first. Save some for repairs. Check for changes. Cancer (June 22-July 22) – Today is an 8 – You’re stronger and more confident. Meditate on the value of compassion. Come up with a new future vision. Others encourage you to a challenge. Travel later. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) – Today is a 7 – Follow through on details for the next few days. Be sensitive to a loved one’s wishes. Invent a new story. It’s important to show you care. Call home if you’ll be late. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) – Today is a 9 – Things are getting fun. Friends want you to play almost all the time these days. The invitation says “dressy.” Invent your own style. New options surface. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) – Today is an 8 – Stay attentive, as new opportunities are worth listening to. Choose wisely. Tune out the static. You and a partner can win. Learn as you teach. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) – Today is a 9 – The day promises to bring you many surprises, for the good and for the bad. Accept a challenge and learn from your failures. A loved one teaches you. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) – Today is a 9 – Work on the chores that you’ve been avoiding but that you know you really ought to complete. You have a keen sense for finances now. Research the pros and cons before deciding. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) – Today is a 9 – Work out strategy with someone who’s opinion you value. Logic is only one side. Clarify things by listing the facts. Look at emotional factors, too. New ideas arise. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) – Today is a 9 – When it rains, it pours. Make the most out of publicity. Add efficiency to your work to withstand any storm. Don’t gamble or get distracted. Take advantage. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) – Today is a 9 – You’re entering a romantic phase. Find a quiet place to complete your projects where you’re less likely to be disturbed. Avoid risky propositions. Keep your promises. THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Community and the Dominican Republic who meet the criteria are eligible for the scholarships. This criteria is accessible at www.trinidadandtobago.embassy.gov.au/ptsp/study.html An outline of courses at varying universities are accessible at http://studyinaustralia.gov.au and http://cricos.deewr.gov.au The online application process ends on April 30, 2012. Visit caribbeanscholarships@ausaid.gov.au or telephone 1-868822-5482 for additional information. 49 Ladies Cricket A ladies’ cricket team is looking for new members. Please contact tel. 581-6610 or 523-1756. Badminton Club new members Orion Badminton Club is accepting new members at the Academy Gym Hall behind the former Sheik Supermarket, Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm. Swim Classes Caribbean Swim and Sports Academy has started swimming classes for children (age 3 and up), teenagers and adults. Beginners, intermediate, advanced or competitor level swimmers. Activities: Aqua-gym, Baby swimmers, Swim Team Competition Groups, Masters Training, etc. Information, Children’s Club Good News Baptist Kids Club invites children ages 3-12 to its Tests and Registration at Belair Health and Fitness Club evclub meetings at the Good News Recreation Hall, St. Peters ery Saturday morning, 11:00am to 12:00pm. Contact Coach Romain for more information 581-2625 or e-mail romain. Road #30, every Saturday, 4:00-6:00pm. cssa@gmail.com . Programme for Alcoholics Al-Anon is a non-profit 12-Step programme in partnership with Music School Alcoholics Anonymous available for persons, family and friends Andante Music School is now registering students for muof persons, who may have a problem with alcoholism. The sup- sic lessons at the school in Sucker Garden, Kings of the Sea port group meets every Monday and Friday at Red Cross on Road #17. Registration is possible Mondays to Fridays, 3:30-6:30pm. Classes begin in September. For more informaAirport Road 6:00-7:00pm. For information call 527-1343. tion contact B. van Veen (vanveen@sintmaarten.net or 5201030/542-0727). Plates Donation St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation is requesting person to donate 2011 licence plates to the Museum at Speetjens Alley Foster Parents Needed (Front Street 7). Opening hours are on weekdays, 10:00am to Foundation Judiciary Institutes Windward Islands (FJIWI)/ Stichting Justitiele Inrichtingen Bovenwinden (SJIB), is 4:00pm. looking for foster parents: permanent foster parents, weekend/vacation foster parents and emergency/crisis foster parPlates Donation St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation is requesting person ents. to donate 2011 licence plates to help raise funds to help ani- Volunteers (mentors and case-workers): to give assistance mals. Drop off at all the veterinary hospitals, Domino’s pizza, and guidance in the field of education and welfare to chilGood Cards in Simpson Bay. Island Pet Shop and our logo shop dren in foster care, their biological parents, guardians and located at Dock Maarten, close to Chesterfield’s restaurant. For foster parents. Interested persons can call the F.J.I.W.I. Foster Families Centre at 542-3449 for an appointment and ininformation call Inez at 553-3020. formation about the upcoming workshops for foster parents and foster carers. Email inquiries can be sent to sjib@sintJiu Jitsu Classes SXM BJJ will be closed for Carnival and the remainder of April maarten.net. and is accepting new students for children ages 4-13. Classes resume Wednesday May 2. Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-4:45pm HOPE Meetings ages 4-6; 4:45-5:30pm ages 7-9; 5:30-6:30pm ages 10-13; Adults The HIV/AIDS support group H.O.P.E is inviting all HIV and Teens Monday 6-7:30pm and Saturday 10-11:30am. (power positive persons to attend their monthly meetings. For yoga) Wednesday 6-6:45pm, Women’s only class 6:45-7:30pm. more information, please contact Dr. Gerard van Osch, tel. 544-5374, during office hours. For more info call 580 3894 or email info@sxmbjj.com School Registration Hillside Christian Schools (English/Dutch) are now registering student for 2012-2013 school year, until the end of April. For more information call 548-3747 or 587-3663. Dear Queenie, My cousin in the States recently sent out an e-mail to everyone she knows saying that she is very ill and requesting financial help to go to some medical retreat that has what is supposed to be a miracle cure for her disease. I checked out the place on the Internet, including some reliable medical Websites and the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce in the area where it is located and it is clear that it is just another scam. I would be pleased to help her pay for legitimate medical treatment, but not some quack. On the other hand, it is not my place to tell her she is being taken for a fool. Queenie, how can I refuse to make a donation without seeming unsympathetic and stingy?—Sceptical Dear Sceptical, Send your cousin all the information you have found on this place and tell her you think going there will only prevent her from getting proper medical care. Tell her you would be happy to help her pay for proper medical care, but not some quack. She may be angry, but what you say may save her life. Don’t you think it is worth the risk? In fact, your cousin’s e-mail may be the scam. Some stranger may have sent it out using her name and, if so, your response should alert her to what is going on in her name. 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. NOTICES Carnival Holidays Philipsburg Jubilee Library will be closed on Saturday April 28, Monday May 30 for the Carnival holidays and Tuesday May1 for Labour Day and will resume on Wednesday May 2 with the normal schedule. Learn to Clown IMBALI is registering adults for their Introduction to the Art of Clown, Master classes by International clown teacher Albina Matuzko at the Imbali School of Dance, John Larmony Center, Philipsburg. The workshop is planned for May, 5-6, 10:00am to 6:00pm. Registration and details: Albina Matuzko, mail: albinka_k@hotmail.com, facebook/Albina Matuzko, Tel.588-4439. www.klusha.blogspot.com. Dutch Classes Educon is registering person interested in Dutch private lessons for persons, who want to learn how to speak Dutch properly or persons who are preparing for the naturalization exams. Contact Educon for more information: 5870266. Junior Golf Junior Golf new season begins. Tuesdays - Time: 3:30 to 4:45pm. For beginning and experienced golfers age 8 to 16. There is no charge for children; Emilio Wilson Park. For information call Jim Rosen at 587-7682 or email jim-rosen@ hotmail.com Tennis Lessons Tennis Club Ile de Saint Martin (TCISM) offers group lessons with one qualified instructor for a maximum of five adults, acAbuse Help tive players or beginners, designed to improve your game. For Safe Haven Foundation announces that their caretakers more information contact the club at tcism@hotmail.com or will be stationed at the different community helpdesk to visit the Facebook page of Tennis Club de St. Martin. inform the general public. Wednesday: Cole Bay Community helpdesk1:00-5:00pm; Thursday: Dutch Quarter comCommunity Service Wanted munity helpdesk1:00-5:00pm; Friday: St Peters Community Caribbean International Academy students are looking for helpdesk1:00-5:00pm. community service hours with any non-profit organisations. Or visit website or facebook: safehavensxm to learn more Those interested call the office at 545-3870 and ask for the guidabout the foundation. ance counsellors. The 24/7 hotline is 9333 for emergency assistance. Opening Hours Scholarship St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation informs the genApplications are invited from interested individuals wishing to eral public that the museum opening hours are Monday-Fripursue Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Australia commencday, 10:00am to 4:00pm. ing January 2013. Nationals of Caricom member states, Cuba Volunteers Needed St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation is seeking volunteers during the morning hours for special activities. For more information call 520-8887. Volunteers Needed Les Quatre Pattes/PAWS animal association has several opportunities available for those seeking to help the animals on the island. Volunteers willing to help call 0690-34-04-07 or 552-0407. People 50 LONDON--British singer Conor Maynard is in his teens, has just broken into the UK charts with the catchy debut “Can’t Say No”, is a YouTube success story and has his own brand of screaming, die-hard fans. Just don’t call him the next Justin Bieber. Comparisons in the media are inevitable. While Canadian teen sensation Bieber has his millions of “Beliebers” the world over, Maynard is building up his own army of equally passionate “Mayniacs”. His boyish good looks, voice and dress sense are also reminiscent of the North American chart top- per, who happened to be in London this week to promote his latest album. “It’s very flattering to be compared to someone who is so massive in the music industry and I’m so early in my career--I’ve just released my first song,” Maynard told Reuters in an interview to discuss Can’t Say No. “At the same time, in terms of our music, it cuts through that comparison, it’s kind of a different sound, we’re both going for different things.” “Obviously I’m British as well so it’s kind of got a British influence in it, a British sound in some of THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 the tracks that I’ve done. I think the comparison only goes as far as the fact that we’re both young and came through YouTube. In terms of the music it’s two different things,” he added. Maynard is seen as a rising star in British pop, although he has a long way to go before matching Bieber’s global success and fame. On micro-blogging site Twitter, for example, he has nearly 200,000 followers to Bieber’s 20 million or so. Born in Brighton, southern England, Maynard first thought about a career in music when, aged 15, a girl heard him singing in the street and pestered him to perform British singer Conor Maynard is in his teens, has just broken into the UK charts with the catchy debut “Can’t Say No”, is a YouTube success story and has his own brand of screaming, die-hard fans. Just don’t call him the next Justin Bieber. in front of their classmates at school. “So they came up to me and I sang and they were like ‘Oh, OK, we get it’. And after that I started recording covers because I got a bit tired of singing TeleCuraçao Channel 30 St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 8 WTN-TV Thursday, April 26 6:30am Moru Bondia 9:30am Telsell 10:00am Tosti 11:00am Dun’e un Chens 12:00pm Boletin di Merdia 1:00pm Bo Tra’i Merdia 3:30pm Na Kaminda pa... 4:00pm Youth Experience 5:00pm Cartoons 6:00pm Bonochi Korsou 7:00pm Di Isolashon pa... 7:30pm Cash 8:00pm TeleNotisia 9:00pm Wega di Number Korsou 9:10pm Partisipashon di Morto 9:15pm Pagina Sosial 9:30pm Glamur 11:00pm TeleNotisia (r) PARIS--Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and French designer Jean Paul Gaultier will be on the nine-member jury at this year’s Cannes film festival, organisers said on Wednesday. The panel, led by Italian director/actor Nanni Moretti, will decide the awards handed out at a closing ceremony that brings the annual cinema showcase to a close. Among the prizes is the coveted Palme d’Or for best movie in the main competition, which this year comprises 22 entries. Moretti won the award in 2001 for “The Son’s Room”, and last year it went to veteran U.S. film maker Terrence Malick for “The Tree of Life”. Also on the jury will be Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, British director and screenwriter Andrea Arnold, French actress Emmanuelle Devos, German actress Diane Kruger, U.S. director Alexander Payne and Haitian director Raoul Peck. The world’s biggest film festival runs from May 1627 this year and opens with Wes Anderson’s 1960s drama “Moonrise Kingdom” starring Bruce Willis and Bill Murray. BVN (Dutch/Flemish) TV Channel 46 St. Maarten Cable TV Thursday, April 26 12:00pm 12:35pm 1:20pm 1:40pm 2:15pm 3:00pm 3:05pm 3:30pm 3:45pm 3:50pm 4:10pm 4:40pm 5:10pm 5:25pm 5:50pm 6:00pm 6:45pm 7:35pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 8:50pm 9:20pm 10:10pm 10:15pm 11:00pm 11:40pm VRT Journaal De klas van Frieda Oorlogsgeheimen Tatata Taal! Tijd voor MAX: Hartstichting NOS Journaal Sesamstraat Het Klokhuis NOS Jeugdjournaal SpangaS Blokken Thuis Dagelijkse kost EenVandaag NOS Sportjournaal VRT Journaal De Wereld Draait Door NOS Journaal Weerbericht De Pelgrimscode Koppen Nieuwsuur Weerbericht Amerika & Cariben Pauw & Witteman Terzake Man bijt hond TV 15 (local) St. Maarten Cable TV Thursday, April 26 8:00am Replay AVS News 8:30am Replay DCOMM Bulletin 9:00am Caribbean Newsline 9:30am Caribbean Workout 10:00am Aruba Week in Review 11:00am Ram & Jam 5:00pm Music Videos 5:30pm Caribbean Newsline 6:00pm DCOMM Productions 6:30pm Ram & Jam 7:00pm Music Videos 7:30pm AVS News 8:00pm Oral Gibbes Live 9:00pm Caribbean Passport 9:30pm Robbie’s Lottery/Law in Focus 10:00pm Caribbean Lottery/All Access 10:30pm Music Videos 11:00pm AVS News 11:30pm Caribbean Newsline to every single person in my year, every day because they wanted to hear it.” In 2008 he began posting videos of himself performing cover versions on YouTube, and his profile quickly grew. In January, he was named MTV’s Brand New For 2012 act, garnering 45 percent of votes in a public poll and beating the likes of Lana Del Rey. Can’t Say No entered the British singles chart at the weekend at No. 2, behind Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”, and he has been approached by artists including U.S. singerproducer Ne-Yo for pos- sible collaborations. Maynard and his record label Parlophone, part of the EMI Group being acquired by Universal Music Group, will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of other British acts who have recently made a splash in the key U.S. market. Last month boy band One Direction became the first UK group to see their debut album enter at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, and Maynard has confirmed in a newspaper interview that “America is definitely part of the plan.” He is currently working on his first album “Contrast”, set for release in July. Programmes Radio Netherlands Sint-Maarten: * Pearl FM (98.1 FM), Monday-Friday: 6.30am-7.25am Linea Recta (live), nieuws & actualiteiten ‘special’ voor de Nederlandse Antillen & Aruba in DUTCH (7.15 in Papiamentu) 1.00pm-1.30pm Newsline, news & current affairs in English * Radio Soualiga (99.9 FM) Dutch and English items from RNW (no fixed time) Sint-Eustatius: *Sint-Eustatius Broadcasting Corporation (91.5 FM) Monday-Friday: 7.45am-8.40am Linea Recta, nieuws & actualiteiten ‘special’ voor de Nederlandse Antillen & Aruba in DUTCH (from 8.30am in Papiamentu) 6.00pm-7.00pm Newsline, news & current affairs in English + Daily special 7.00pm-8.00pm Linea Recta (repeat) * Statia-Cable (Channel 2) Monday-Sunday (24 hours): - Dutch programme, including 6.30am-7.25am Linea Recta (MondaySaturday) Saba: * Voice of Saba/QFM 93.9 Monday-Friday: 6.30am-10.15am Dutch programme, including 6.30am-07.25am Linea Recta (live), nieuws & actualiteiten ‘special’ voor de Nederlandse Antillen & Aruba in DUTCH (7.15am in Papiamentu) Monday-Friday: 2.00pm-2.30pm Newsline, news & current affairs in English * Saba-Cable (Channel 2) Monday-Friday: 6.30am-10.15am Dutch programme, including Linea Recta (see Voice of Saba) Monday-Friday: 2.00pm-2:30pm Newsline (see Voice of Saba) See also: www.caribiana.nl People THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 LOS ANGELES-When dark, gothic thriller “The Raven” debuts in U.S. theaters on Friday, it will mark the return of actor John Cusack to more serious roles from recent forays into comedy with “Hot Tub Time Machine” and the sci-fi adventure in “2012”. Cusack portrays famed American writer Edgar Allan Poe (18091849), who is known for macabre tales such as “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and poems like “The Raven”. The fictional film tells the story of a serial killer who commits grisly murders based on Poe’s stories and then kidnaps Poe’s love, Emily (Alice Eve). With the murders piling up, Poe teams with a detective (Luke Evans) to capture the killer and get Emily back before she becomes a victim, too. Cusack said the movie is just one of several he has coming up that show the dark side of humanity. He spoke to Reuters about playing Poe, living in the underworld and, among lighter subjects, his fondness for Twitter. Q: How do prepare for playing someone as mysterious as Poe? A: “Mentally it was immersing yourself into his stuff--reading his poetry, his letters, biographies. I was reading his stories at night during the shoot so I had all that stuff working in my brain.” Q: What did you do to physically prepare for the role? A: “Since he was destitute and an alcoholic, I tried to get as gaunt as I could. I got down to a weight I was before high school, which Actor John Cusack signs autographs after his star was unveiled on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on Tuesday. is real thin. I felt kind of skeletal. I tried to do it the smart way but it still was a little bit of a bender. I just fasted and drank coffee.” Q: The story takes place in Baltimore, where Poe lived for a time, but you shot in Belgrade and Budapest. Why those cities? A: “It was perfect for Poe. It was winter. It was black. It was cold and intense. I didn’t sleep and felt like a vampire.” Q: You must have wanted to move to something light and funny after wrapping ‘Raven’. A: “Strangely, I stayed in the underworld all year. I shot ‘The Paperboy’ with Nicole Kidman. (Filmmaker) Lee Daniels made a sick movie (about the investigation of a death row inmate.) Then I shot ‘Frozen Ground’ about an Alaskan killer.” Q: Are you trying to exorcise some personal demons here, or are you just a glutton for punishment? DALLAS--Former football star Deion Sanders has been charged with simple assault in his altercation with his estranged wife that got her arrested and jailed earler in the week on a similar charge. Sanders, 44, had claimed Pilar Sanders, 38, and her friend Dianna Boswell attacked him on Monday afternoon in his bedroom at the suburban Dallas mansion the divorcing couple still share. After he tweeted about the incident, police in Prosper, Texas, arrested her and she spent the night in jail on a charge of misdemeanor family assault. Further investigation led to Deion Sanders and Boswell being charged with simple assault as well, a statement from Prosper police said. The crime is a misdemeanor that can result from “offensive touching” which carries a maximum $500 fine, Collin County, Texas, authorities said. Pilar Sanders emerged on Tuesday from a night in jail declaring her innocence. Her attorney said she was the only one injured in the altercation, having suffered a broken thumb, a split lip and a torn fingernail. Deion Sanders is a TV analyst for the NFL Network. He was a Hall of Fame cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and other football teams and a former Major League outfielder for several teams, including the A: “It’s weird, but I didn’t choose any of them. They chose me. I wasn’t going to turn down a chance to play Poe. Otherwise you should just retire as an actor because c’mon, that’s a great character. He’s so crazy and eccentric and out there. Usually roles like that go to the guy with the biggest box office.” Q: You’re not exactly new to the movie business. You don’t think you have box office clout? A: “It’s all about who is writing the checks and putting the movies together. It’s a weird thing. If people like this movie, I’m going to become a good idea again. It’s literally that simple. You come in and out of vogue. If you stay around the game, sometimes it comes your way. I got a good one (with ‘The Raven’). You have to ride the business, have thick skin and be grateful that you’re still around. The Irish, we’re pretty stubborn. We’re hard to kill. We New York Yankees. He was granted an order of protection against his estranged wife that bars her from their home and from harassing him, according to the Collin County Sheriff’s office. The couple married in 1999 and starred in a reality show, “Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love,” that aired on the Oxygen network. Deion Sanders filed for divorce in December. 51 don’t die easy. We keep going and we don’t quit.” Q: Along those lines, you’ve worked with just about everyone in Hollywood. What have you yet to accomplish? A: “Doing different kinds of art forms. I’m not a good painter, but I throw paint around. Maybe writing in different forms, but I’d have to be disciplined. When you write films, you never have to stop because you get it good enough for the day of shooting but you can still tweak it. And you’re still tweaking when you’re editing. So I’m always getting it just pregnant enough to happen, but it would be good discipline to try and finish a book and say: ‘Okay, this is it.’ I’m not there yet.” Q: You recently joined Twitter. Do you like social media? A: “I like having direct access to people who are interested in what I’m interested in without having to go through the filters of all these other people. If you like what I say about art and culture and politics, then you can follow me and I can introduce you to writers that I’ve read throughout my life that have impacted me. People want to know what I like in music because I did ‘High Fidelity’ so I can turn people on to Bob Dylan’s ‘Theme Time Radio Hour,’ which a lot of people don’t know about. I like sharing with people.” Q: You starred in the disaster flick “2012.” Now that we’re in the year 2012, should be preparing for the end of the world? Are we all going to die? A: “No, I think we’re going to be stuck with each other a little while longer.” 52 Sports THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 The St. Eustatius Male Volleyball Team is ready to compete in the 2012 World Championship Qualifications. ST. EUSTATIUS--The men’s volleyball team from St. Eustatius is headed to St. Lucia to participate in the 2012 World Championship Qualifications. The team is scheduled to leave this morning and play their first match Friday. Statia will open against host St. Lucia at 10:30am and later that evening face Grenada starting at 6:30pm. Saturday the team NAIROBI-- World marathon record holder Patrick Makau was left out of the Kenyan men’s team named on Wednesday for the London Olympics after he failed to finish last Sunday’s London marathon. Wilson Kiplagat, who won Sunday’s race, and twice world champion Abel Kirui, who finished sixth, will represent Kenya in WINDIES seventh test but it is clear he had been feeling a little pressure having not passed 50 since he scored 74 in Perth in January. “I try not to read too much of it but if you’re in the Australian cricket team and you’re not consistently getting big scores, of course you are going to be under pressure. You don’t need to be a genius to work that out,” he said. “The only disappointing aspect is I think guys here on the ground would appreciate how hard batting has been through the series will face St. Vincent starting at 9:00am. The competition is a round-robin consisting of four teams. All teams will advance to the semi-finals where number one seed will face four, and two will play three. Winners of the semi-finals will play to determine the champion and sub-champion. The losers will play one match for third place. London along with Moses Mosop who finished third in the Rotterdam marathon this month. Kipsang set the second fastest time ever when he clocked two hours three minutes 42 seconds in Frankfurt last October. Makau set his world record of 2:03:38 in Berlin in the previous month. The first three woman Continued from page 56. but people, because of the time zone, probably haven’t watched a lot of cricket but they click on a link to see the score in the morning and they go ‘28, oh, Ponting 30, these guys are struggling’. “Well, it’s bloody hard work and you need to see the ball spitting and turning the way it is to appreciate that. “And if you’re just judging people’s form by looking at the scorecard, then you’re not doing the game full justice.” The St. Eustatius delegation is comprised of 10 players, two team staff acting as delegation head and coach, and one International referee. The delegation will return home on April 30. The St. Eustatius Women’s team will also compete in the World Championship Qualifications. The team will compete in Grenada from June 21 to 25. home in Sunday’s race; defending champion Mary Keitany, world champion Edna Kiplagat and world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo were each selected for the Games. Geoffrey Mutai, winner of the New York and Boston marathons last year and Emmamuel Mutai, who won London last year but finished seventh on Sunday, were excluded from the men’s team although they had been included on a provisional list released this year. Samuel Wanjiru, who plunged to his death from the first floor balcony of his home last year after his wife found him in bed with another woman, won Kenya’s first men’s marathon gold in Beijing four years ago. Athletics Kenya will name the men’s 10,000 team for the Games on June 2 at the Prefontaine Diamond League Meeting in Oregon while the remainder of the team will be named on June 23 after the final trials. LONDON-- Crime and disorder similar to Britain’s 2011 summer riots are the most likely serious threats to the London Olympics although Islamist militants and al Qaeda offshoot groups pose a growing challenge, a British official said on Wednesday. Charles Farr, DirectorGeneral of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism at the Home Office (interior ministry), told a security conference that while al Qaeda’s south Asia-based core leadership had weakened following the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011, the clout of its offshoot groups was rising. In a speech surveying trends in global counterterrorism, Farr added that al Qaeda remained active in Britain, and the operating model of the group’s leadership was increasingly to encourage “self starter” terrorists in recognition of its own inability to exercise operational control. But in a passage on security for the Olympics, Farr added: “The most likely serious threat is crime and public disorder.” He said the variety of disorder he envisaged as a potential threat was the rioting that swept England’s cities last year. He did not elaborate. Up to 15,000 people took part in England’s worst disturbances for decades, which began in inner London when a protest against the fatal police shooting of a suspect turned violent. Unrest spread to other major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol, leaving a trail of torched buildings and looted shops in their wake. Five people died in the unrest. An independent investigative panel identified a series of problems facing inner cities, ranging from poor parenting and education to high joblessness that left many people with no stake in society and nothing to lose if they joined the riots. The security situation in London will be under international scrutiny in July and August this year when tourists and sports fans flood to the British capital for the Olympics. Home Secretary Theresa May said on Jan. 25 that along with terrorism and organised crime, disruption from protests was one of the biggest threats to the Olympics which begin on July 27. Britain’s National Olympic Security Coordinator Chris Allison told the Guardian newspaper in February that it would be “very challenging” if, during the Olympics, there were a repeat of the disorder that gripped London last summer. Allison was quoted as saying that while there did not appear to be anyone who wanted to protest against the Games, there might be those who want to use the Games as a way of getting their cause into the public domain. Police have insisted they had no intention of preventing any legal demonstrations outside Olympic venues. Farr said the Olympics would stretch the integration of the web of institutions and services involved in ensuring security and one “pinch point” was transport, particularly London’s, which he said was overloaded at the best of times. British officials say they have not as yet uncovered any information suggesting any groups are planning to target the Games. But Britain has been a target for Islamist militants for the last decade as an ally for U.S.-led military action in Afghanistan and Iraq and London suffered its worst peacetime attack in 2005 when four suicide bombers killed 52 commuters. PHILIPSBURG—Registration for American style Youth Football and Cheerleading camp age seven to 17 is set for Friday and Saturday. Coach Walter Dunston of the Toni James Group will be conducting two days of recruitment for coaches, athletes, and cheerleaders and measurement of training equipment for boys and girls at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex Friday from 5:00 to 7:00pm and Saturday from 8:00 to noon. “We are looking for about 250 athletes,” said Les Brown who is coordinating the registration. The elementary school children will learn game fundamentals playing flag football. High Schools students will fitted for helmets and pads and play full contact. The camp is scheduled for July. For more information, contact Les Brown at 587-9089. Elle-si –Belle Tours, fielding, blasted past The Daily Herald in age 12 and under Little League Baseball at the Stadium on Pond Island yesterday. Elle-si-Belle won 21-3. Youth baseball continues this afternoon as Windward Islands Bank takes on Fatum and Friday Scotiabank meets Sagicor. Both games are scheduled to start at 4:30pm. Sports THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe shoots past New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, April 25. NEW YORK --JR Smith scored 21 points, including a rally-stopping jumper with 31 seconds left, and the New York Knicksheld on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 99-93 on Wednesday night and close in on the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points for the Knicks, but he was on the bench in the final minutes as the Knicks blew nearly all of an 18-point lead against a Clippers team that was fighting desperately for home-court advantage in the first round. The Knicks will draw No. 2 seed Miami in the first round with one more win or a loss by Philadelphia. New York closes its regular season Thursday at Charlotte, which has one of the worst records in NBA history, while the 76ers visit Detroit. If New York loses and Philadelphia wins, the Knicks would fall to the No. 8 seed and open against Chicago. Blake Griffin had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and Randy Foye scored 28 points for the Clippers, who played without Chris Pauland fell a half-game behind Memphis for fourth place in the West.The Clippers need the Grizzlies to lose at home to Orlando on Thursday to have the home-court advantage for their first-round series. Paul sat out after mildly straining his left groin in Tuesday’s 109-102 loss at Atlanta. The Clippers dropped three of their final four games, costing themselves any chance to beat out the Lakers for the Pacific Division title and perhaps a chance to open the playoffs at home. But they wrapped up their first season with Paul at 40-26 and will make their first postseason appearance since 2006 and just their fifth since 1985. Bobcats Wizards Bulls Nuggets 76ers 95 96 92 106 90 Magic Cavs Pacers Thunder Bucks 102 85 87 101 85 LONDON-- Alex Ferguson has described it as the most important derby in his 26 years at Manchester United while Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini thinks his side are too far behind in the Premier League title race for it to be decisive. Differing views, but the reality is that whoever wins the game at the Etihad Stadium on Monday is likely to be crowned champions with United three points clear at the top and three matches of the season left. The battle for Champions League places involving Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea also becomes more intense after Chelsea reached next month’s Champions League final. Should Chelsea go on to win the Champions League, whoever finishes fourth will not qualify for the elite competition and go into the Europa League. Meanwhile, at the bottom, the fight to avoid joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in next season’s Championship (second tier), is just as frantic with Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Queens Park Rangers and faltering Aston Villa battling for their Premier League lives. Monday’s match at the Etihad (1900 GMT) begins with United top on 83 points and City second with 80. If City win they would move ahead of United on goal difference while a United victory would leave them six points clear with two matches to play. FORCED DRAW “It is probably the most important derby game in my time. We have to go there, make sure we perform in the right way and not give away silly goals,” Ferguson said. “There’s no reason why we can’t get a good result. There has been an expectancy from City that this could be their decider, but it’s our decider too. Either way, it’s the decider.” Mancini believes United are still favourites to win the Premier League title because they had a less difficult run-in. After playing on Monday, United face Swansea City at home and Sunderland away. City visit Newcastle before a home game against Queens Park Rangers. “They’re top, three points ahead,” Mancini said. “After the derby they have two easy games. We can talk about the title next Monday night but it’s impossible.” Mancini suggested United’s experience - the club have won 19 titles - would be a telling factor. “I don’t think they have pressure because they are used to it every year,” he added. “For us, it’s different because it’s the first time. We don’t have any pressure because we are not expected to win. But we want to finish well. It’s important for our season.” Monday’s match is the fourth time the two have met this season. In the Community Shield curtain-raiser United won 3-2 after City led 2-0 at halftime. City then became the first opponents to score six at Old Trafford since 1930 when they crushed United 6-1 on Oct. 23 before United ended City’s reign as FA Cup holders with a 3-2 win at the Etihad in a third-round match in January. Arsenal lie third on 65 points and are favourites to take the final automatic Champions League place, a position they will strengthen if they can win at mid-table Stoke City on Saturday. Newcastle, in a great run of form of six successive league wins, are fourth on 62 points with a match in hand on but might find matters tougher at rejuvenated Wigan. Spurs, whose form has nose-dived since manager Harry Redknapp was linked with the England job in February, are fourth on 59 53 points going into a home match against 19th-placed Blackburn. Chelsea, fresh from knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League, start the weekend in sixth place going into a home game against QPR. BERLIN-- World number two Maria Sharapova eased into the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart indoor tournament after France’s Alize Cornet retired with an injury at the start of the second set. Sharapova, hoping to complete her set of Grand Slams with victory at the French Open, had added the Stuttgart clay court event to her calendar to prepare for next month’s tournament at Roland Garros. Cornet, however, gave her a short start on the indoor clay courts retiring with a shoulder injury while trailing 6-3 1-0. “It was (qualifier) Alize’s fifth match in five days. Tennis is very tough on the body,” said Sharapova, who wants to get clay court practice ahead of Paris. “Practising helps but matches are always a bit different. You have to get used to the different match situations and opponents with different styles,” she told reporters. Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the second round by the same score after fellow Serbian Jelena Jankovic also retired injured. Germany’s Mona Barthel sent Ana Ivanovic packing 7-5 7-6 to confirm her fine form this year and set up a second round clash with seventh seed Marion Bartoli. “This was something special because Ana used to be a bit of a role model for me,” Barthel told reporters. “I was still in school when she won the French Open and I watched it on TV. That was at the time a long way for me.” Wild card entrant Barthel, who won her maiden WTA tournament in Hobart earlier this year, saved two set points against the former world number one in the first set and fired a total of 11 aces as she breezed past Serbian Ivanovic. Hungary’s Greta Arn initially troubled Agnieszka Radwanska with her powerful backhand with each player grabbing an early break before the Polish world number four broke her again with a fine crosscourt smash to move 4-2 up and hold serve to clinch the first set 6-3. Arn rescued a break point to hold serve with yet another sublime backhand and lead 3-2 but Radwanska got the necessary break a little later to win 6-3 6-4 and became the first quarter-finalist when the Hungarian sank a forehand return into the net. BMC team rider Martin Kohler of Switzerland cycles ahead of the pack during the first stage of the Tour de Romandie cycling race near La Chaux-de-Fonds April 25. Bradley Wiggins from Britain riding with Team Sky won the 184.5-km first stage in four hours 50 minutes 23 seconds. Lieuwe Westra of Netherlands from Vacansoleil was second and Paolo Tiralongo of Italy from Team Astana was third. 54 LONDON - English Premier League title contenders Manchester City will play a friendly match against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur in July, promoters of the event said on Wednesday. It will be City’s first fixture in Malaysia when they play at the 90,000 capacity Bukit Jalil Stadium on July 30. “We are very honoured to be hosting Manchester City, as we are the only Southeast Asian country given this opportunity,” Football Association of Malaysia deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said in a state- Sports ment. The big-spending side are the second English team to commit to a fixture in Malaysia after Arsenal announced plans earlier this month. A third Premier League team is widely expected to also play in Kuala Lumpur, where Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool drew 80,000 attendances for fixtures against a Malaysia XI last year. FA Cup holders Manchester City and Arsenal will also play against each other at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium on July 27, the same day as the Olympic Games THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 opening ceremony in London. The tour is the first in Asia by City, who played preseason fixtures in the United States last year, since Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought the club and ploughed in millions to transform their fortunes. While this season they have showed they are capable of challenging neighbours Manchester United on the field they will struggle to match the support their rivals command in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, where the Premier League champions and Liverpool dominate. Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kyle Drabek throws during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during their MLB American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland, April 25. Orioles won 3-0. BALTIMORE -- Jason Hammel pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis homered, and the Baltimore Orioles blanked the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 Wednesday night. After limiting Toronto to one run on Tuesday, Baltimore became the first team this season to shut out the Blue Jays. The Orioles are 4-1 against Toronto after going 6-12 last year. Hammel (3-0) struck out seven and walked one in lowering his ERA to 1.73 over four starts. The right-hander came to Baltimore in February with reliever Matt Lindstrom in the trade that sent Jeremy Guthrie to Colorado. Lindstrom worked a perfect eighth and Pedro Strop got three outs for his second save in two nights as the replacement for closer Jim Johnson, who has been hospitalized since Monday with flulike symptoms. Strop yielded two hits but effectively sealed Baltimore’s first shutout since Sept. 9, 2011, against Toronto. Hammel has given up only one run in two starts at Camden Yards and Lindstrom is unscored upon in his seven appearances this season. Blue Jays starter Kyle Drabek (2-1) allowed two runs, five hits and three walks in six innings. He was aided by three double plays. But Drabek got little support from the Toronto offense. Yunel Escobar struck out three times, Kelly Johnson went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and the Blue Jays placed only three runners in scoring position. Betemit committed an error at third base in each of the first innings, but made amends in the second by driving a 3-1 pitch over the center-field wall to put Baltimore up 1-0. MLB results Marlins 1 Mets Rockies 2 Pirates Rockies 1 Pirates Astros 7 Brewers Cards 5 Cubs White Sox 4 A’s Phillies 7 D’backs Nationals 7 Padres Royals 8 Indians 5 1 5 5 1 5 2 2 2 Juventus’ Mirko Vucinic (L) challenges Cesena’s Evangelos Moras during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the Manuzzi stadium in Cesena April 25. Juventus won 1-0. ROME-- Marco Borriello bagged his first goal for Juventus as they maintained their three-point lead at the top of Serie A on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over already-relegated Cesena. Borriello’s goal on 80 minutes saved Andrea Pirlo’s blushes, after he missed his second penalty in a week with nine minutes gone. Second-placed AC Milan also won 1-0 against lowly Genoa thanks to an 86thminute goal from KevinPrince Boateng. Borriello, who has been disappointing since joining on loan from Roma, came off the bench and five minutes later smashed home a Mirko Vucinic knock-down on the half-volley. It was a seventh win in a row for Juve, who are unbeaten after 34 games, and they moved closer to their first Serie A title since being relegated for their role in the Calciopoli matchfixing scandal. “He deserved that goal, because he came here really motivated but not in great physical condition,” said Juve boss Antonio Conte. “He had to work to get himself back into shape... and now he’s up with everyone else.” Conte added: “This season we have created a base for the future: we’re returned to being competitive, we’ve done extraordinary work and we hope that it become extra-extraordinary. “We’re sat at a table where we’ve not been used to sitting: now we want to eat as well.” Milan kept in touch with their rivals thanks to Boateng, who scored from close range to sink Genoa. Under-pressure Genoa will feel hard done by however, as they comfortably kept Milan at bay for much of the game, even creating chances for themselves. But the sending off of Bosko Jankovic for two bookable offences with 18 minutes to go left Genoa pegged back in their own area, and it was no surprise that Boateng smashed home the winner. The defeat leaves them fourth from bottom on 36 points, just a point off the relegation places. Inter Milan and Napoli piled the pressure on thirdplaced Lazio, who lost 2-1 at Novara, in the race for a Champions League spot by winning at Udinese and NFL and RG3 is Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M), who played wide receiver his first two years in college. Tannehill, who had only 19 starts at quarterback, has shown a strong arm and a natural aptitude for the position. “I learned a lot about the game and a lot about playing quarterback by playing receiver,” Tannehill told reporters. “In my 19 games I felt I proved myself and got a lot better each game. And I feel like I’m going to continue to get better.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who along with the prospective draftees was attending a charity event promoting physical education for school children, said he met with the 26 players who had come to New York for the draft. “I met with them in three separate groups,” Goodell said. “It was an open dis- Lecce respectively. Napoli are fourth, one point behind Lazio, who have 55, while Udinese and Inter are on 52. Lazio were beaten by a 35th-minute Mobido Diakite own goal and a stunning 79th-minute free kick from Giuseppe Mascara. A resurgent Inter, who have been much improved under Andrea Stramaccioni, beat Udinese 3-1 after two goals from Wesley Sneijder and a smart finish from Ricardo Alvarez cancelled out Danilo’s sixthminute opener. Goals early in each half from Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani earned Napoli a 2-0 win at Lecce. Continued from page 56. cussion. It was more about how to enjoy the next couple of days. You know, this is a dream of theirs.” Asked if there was any mention of the controversy over the New Orleans Saints’ bounty program that paid players for knocking opponents out of games, Goodell said he spoke to them in more general terms. “In my office I have an NFL shield up (on the wall). I pointed to that and I said, ‘Everything we do has to reflect well on the integrity of the league and that shield. “And everything that you do, everything that I do and everything our clubs and coaches do has to reflect well on that. It’s our responsibility to improve the integrity of the league and make it better than when we came into the league.’” Sports THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 APRIL 26 – SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG Form: W D L VALENCIA ESP 2-4 ATLETICO MADRID ESP Mestalla Stadium HEAD-TO-HEAD: Won 0 Drawn 2 Won 1 All-time record* W78 D43 L37 Best finish Winner 2004 Home in Europe this season: W5 D1 L0 COMPETITION STATISTICS Form 14 / 9 Goals for / against 29 / 10 11 Euro Club Index rank 15 FIRST LEG STATISTICS 10 4 Shots on target 3 5 Shots wide 8 4 Corners 13 18 Fouls All-time record W65 D18 L34 Best finish Winner 2010 Away in Europe this season: W4 D1 L1 EYE FOR GOAL: Shots on target per game Athletic Bibao Scored per game: 1.92 5.38 Atletico Madrid 2.23 5.31 Sporting 1.46 4.46 Valencia 2.00 4.43 Diego Capel Sporting TARGETED MEN Fouls suffered Capel Sporting Muniain Athletic Schaars Sporting Martinez Athletic Diego Atletico 37 32 27 26 25 ATHLETIC BILBAO ESP 1-2 SPORTING CLUB POR San Mamés Stadium HEAD-TO-HEAD: Won 1 Drawn 0 Won 2 All-time record W55 D19 L38 Best finish Runner-up 1977 Home in Europe this season: W4 D2 L0 COMPETITION STATISTICS Form 25 / 19 Goals for / against 19 / 12 24 Euro Club Index rank 36 FIRST LEG STATISTICS 3 3 Shots on target 10 5 Shots wide 4 4 Corners 11 16 Fouls All-time record W80 D37 L46 Best finish Runner-up 2005 Away in Europe this season: W1 D2 L3 Sources: UEFA, Infostrada Sports *Includes UEFA Cup Picture: Associated Press © GRAPHIC NEWS MADRID-- Jose Mourinho blamed fatigue from their ‘Clasico’ win and sheer bad luck for Real Madrid’s failure to reach the Champions League final on Wednesday. The nine-times European champions had been convinced they were going to reach the final, buoyed by their 2-1 La Liga win at Barcelona on Saturday, and by their arch-rivals’ shock defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday. With the league title all but in the bag, seven points clear with four left to play, Mourinho in only his second season at the helm looked like he had it within his grasp to also steal Barca’s European crown too. “There was no luck,” Mourinho said with a resigned smile. “It’s difficult to reach two semis in two years and not make the final. We deserved to win. “I remember a (Champions League) semi-final against Liverpool which was exactly the same where we had to play a game to compete in another championship before, and they didn’t have that pressure, and we lost. “It was the same here. We played with everyone on the weekend and our opponents didn’t. “Apart from freshness, the team played great though. These players aren’t supermen, that is just a film. The players went to their very limits,” he added after having knelt on the touchline as if he was praying while he watched his players take penalties. “Barca played a derby and two days later they were knocked out. It isn’t easy. That’s why you have to really value teams who win doubles or trebles.” Mourinho seemed to end the speculation that he might leave Madrid at the end of the campaign, when asked about his future, even though he still has two years left on his four-year deal at the Bernabeu. “If we continue with this empathy, this club and this team has margin to improve and grow,” the Portuguese said. “If the club and the players think I and they can keep bringing something to this. I will continue.” Deprived of a meeting with his former club Chelsea in Munich, he was clear about who he hoped would win. “John Terry is missing but Chelsea are there. I hope it is a good final. I want the Blues to win but I respect Reds,” Mourinho said, as he praised their battling display with ten men at the Nou Camp. And he ended with a dig at Pep Guardiola’s side. “Chelsea were heroes yesterday,” he added. “Some people think they are masters of the game, and look down on teams like them or Inter but they know nothing about things such as effort and character. “Chelsea deserve to be there in the final and so do Bayern.” BAYERN ond leg on Tuesday. “We lost, we are sad and they are happy but that’s football,” Mourinho told Spanish television. “Football is like that and whoever does not understand that can’t be part of it.” After a disastrous start, Bayern showed considerable nerve to get back into the match following Ronaldo’s double inside the first 14 minutes and Arjen Robben levelled to make the score 2-1 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate. Ironically, Ronaldo’s opener in the sixth minute was a confidently taken penalty, his 25th successive success from the spot. A pulsating first half with chances for both sides fell away after the break as with extra time and possibly penalties looming the two European heavyweights curbed their attacking instincts for fear of committing a fatal error. A well-drilled Bayern were more than a match for Real, both sides striking nine shots on target, and played some patient and controlled football that frustrated the home fans. “It was a magnificent game and great penalty shootout,” a beaming Heynckes told reporters. “We didn’t want the first 15 minutes, to concede one and then two goals especially here because everyone knows what it is like, but after that I think we dominated. Over the 120 minutes I think we deserved it.” With the clock ticking towards midnight local time and the Real faithful urging on their team, the two sides lined up for the shootout before Neuer stunned the stadium and the hundreds of millions watching around the world by leaping low to his right to deny former World Players of the Year Ronaldo and Kaka. Iker Casillas kept Real’s hopes alive by saving efforts from Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm but Sergio Ramos skied his penalty over the bar and Schweinsteiger rifled the Bavarians through before tearing off his shirt and racing to the corner, where he was swallowed up in a throng of his ecstatic team mates. “I have not witnessed something like that in 40 years of professional football,” said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “This tops everything we experienced in the 70s and 55 Continued from page 56. Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez (L) heads the ball with Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, April 25. Bayern won 3-1 on penalties. 80s. I am very happy and very proud. That was top quality football.” The home side had quickly cancelled out Bayern’s 2-1 first-leg victory when Ronaldo netted his penalty after a handball in the area and the Portuguese produced a smart finish from the edge of the box to put Real in the driving seat. However, Bayern pulled a goal back when Robben also netted from the spot after Mario Gomez had been bundled over by Pepe, although Casillas came desperately close to tipping the Dutchman’s effort away. Extra time was draining on Real, who had all but wrapped up La Liga with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Barca on Saturday, and that tiredness proved costly at the end. “I will lift my players appealing to their pride, I have nothing to reproach them for, they have given their all,” Mourinho said. Asked if he planned to stay on next season, the former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan manager added: “If the club and the players think I and they can keep bringing something to this. I will continue.” JOHANNESBURG-South Africa have turned down a request from Bangladesh to play a limited over series in May primarily because of a hectic schedule, the country’s cricket board said on Wednesday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board, after their brief Pakistan tour this month was postponed following a court order, had approached Cricket South Africa (CSA) with a proposal to play one-day and Twenty20 internationals in May. “Unfortunately there are too many practical obstacles that prevent us from accepting this commitment,” CSA acting chief executive Jacques Faul said in a statement. “At the moment most of our senior Proteas are spread around the world in England and India and those who are at home are undergoing rehabilitation from injuries picked up during the past season. “We also have to bear in mind that the Proteas have a hectic schedule ahead of it with very important tours to England and Australia with the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka sandwiched in between,” he added. 56 THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, April 26, 2012 Real Madrid’s Kaka (R) takes a penalty kick and fails to score against Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, April 25. Bayern fought back from 2-0 down and beat Real Madrid 3-1 on penalties. MADRID-- Bayern Munich summoned up all their famous resilience to oust Real Madrid in a nerve-jangling Champions League penalty shootout on Wednesday, denying Jose Mourinho’s expensively-assembled side a tilt at a 10th European crown ROSEAU, Dominica-When the post-mortem on the Australia tour of the Caribbean is concluded after the third test, one of the positives is sure to be the ability of the team’s topline batsmen to all make a key contribution at some stage. Left hander Ed Cowan joined the club, a little belatedly, in Wednesday’s second innings as he helped the team towards an imposing 310-run lead. While West Indies, whose opening pair have just one-half century performance between them, have struggled to find the batting displays to back up their improved bowling, Australia have shown they have a solid collective unit with the bat. There may not have been a single dominating figure in the top order, but each of the top seven have come up with at least one halfcentury during the tour. Left-hander Ed Cowan’s’ 55, was a timely one given the questions in some quarters about his inability on this tour to get beyond the twenties and thirties. “I’m satisfied to overcome that hurdle of mid 20s, a nothing score, to get a 50 on what is a bloody challenging wicket,” he told reporters. “Fifty for me feels like a really good contribution and I’m really happy that I feel like I’ve been improving certain aspects of my game and haven’t got the rewards and today I got some reward for a lot of hard work.” Cowan batted with an injured wrist, picked up when he was struck by the ball in a close catching position on Tuesday and faced a surface that was turning sharply and bouncing, particularly from the off-spin of Shane Shillingford. “50 on a wicket like that can be as good as 100. Sure the runs don’t show in the scorebook but over 300 to chase is a hell of a lot of runs and I think the contributions from guys haven’t been huge,” he said. Cowan, who made his debut against India last December, is only in his Continued on page 52 and setting up a final showdown against Chelsea next month. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stopped spot-kicks from Cristiano Ronaldo, who had given Real an early 2-0 lead in the semi-final second leg, and Kaka in the shootout before Bastian Schweinsteiger struck the decisive penalty to send the Germans through to the title match to be played at their own Allianz Arena on May 19. Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who won the Champions League with Real in 1998, revelled in the German club’s unexpected but deserved triumph at his former stomping ground in the Spanish capital, while Mourinho was left to ponder his side’s second consecutive elimination at the last-four stage. Real’s latest setback in Europe’s elite club competition is a huge blow for the combative Portuguese and club president Florentino Perez, who has spent hundreds of millions of euros chasing the elusive ‘decima’, or 10th continental title. It also left Spain in a state of shock after Chelsea survived the dismissal of captain John Terry and fought back from two goals down to send holders Barcelona crashing out 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final secContinued on page 55 NEW YORK-- The 2012 NFL draft will likely be remembered for its leading men, with quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III the certain top two picks as players who will always be measured against one another. But after the Indianapolis Colts name Stanford’s Luck with the first pick and the Washington Redskins follow by claiming Baylor’s Griffin (nicknamed RG3) as the second overall choice, the next 30 first-round selections are a guessing game. “One and two is a foregone conclusion but I think from there on there’s gonna be a lot of ‘Boy, that’s a shock,’” former longtime Dallas Cowboys player personnel chief and current NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt told Reuters on Wednesday. “This is a draft where there’s a lot of players that look a lot alike.” The annual draft of elite U.S. college football players is the lifeblood of the National Football League (NFL), where teams replenish their rosters and address weaknesses in a rite of spring that gives all clubs reason to hope for improvement. The first round of the draft takes place Thursday at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, with rounds two and three to be held Friday and the last four rounds coming on Saturday. Third choice in the opening round is held by the Minnesota Vikings, who are entertaining offers from other clubs keen to move up in order to ensure getting their preferred player. Following Minnesota are the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Cardinals. The Cleveland Browns (No. 4 and 22), Cincinnati Bengals (17, 21) and New England Patriots (27, 31), all possess two picks in the first round. Other highly regarded prospects pegged to go early include offensive tackle Matt Kalil (University of Southern California), run- ning back Trent Richard- mon (Oklahoma State Unison (Alabama), cornerback versity). Morris Claiborne (Louisi- The next quarterback likeana State University) and ly to be taken after Luck Continued on page 54 wide receiver Justin Black- Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns a ball to compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez during the Barcelona Open, April 25. Nadal swept into the third round with a 6-1 6-2 win. BARCELONA -- World number two Rafa Nadal swept into the third round of the Barcelona Open when he thrashed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-2 as he began his quest for a seventh Conde de Godo trophy in eight years on Wednesday. Fresh from a record eighth straight win at last week’s Monte Carlo Masters, Nadal dispatched his 78thranked Spanish compatriot in a little over one hour and 20 minutes and will play another Spaniard, Pablo Andujar, or Colombian Robert Farah for a place in Friday’s quarter-finals. Top seed Nadal, whose victory was his 30th in a row at the clay event in the Catalan capital, told reporters he had felt a slight twinge of pain in his left knee, an injury that forced his withdrawal from last month’s Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, but said it was nothing to worry about. “It went better than I thought, I played a good match,” the Mallorca native added. “I made few errors, I felt good on my backhand for virtually the whole time and I was solid across the board.” Third seed David Ferrer of Spain eased into the third round when he thumped Filip Krajinovic of Serbia 6-0 6-3 to set up a clash with compatriot Albert Montanes, a 6-0 5-7 7-5 victor over Australia’s Bernard Tomic. Britain’s Andy Murray, the second seed who went through on Tuesday, takes on Santiago Giraldo for a place in the last eight on Thursday after the Colombian beat Robin Haase of Netherlands 6-4 6-3.