THE SUFFICIENCY hearing against the current leader of the PNP and five former cabinet members, two developers and five others began in the Providenciales Supreme Court this week.
Justice Margaret Ramsey-Hale presided over the hearings, which continued into its fourth day on Friday. (more)

Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause of a fire, which broke out at the Chalk Sound home of convicted fraudster David Smith sometime around 11am this morning.
The fire reportedly began in one of the children’s bedrooms on the third floor and quickly spread into a big fire causing a lot of interior damage, the Weekly News learnt. (more)

FORMER Premier Michael Misick has accused the interim government of a series of serious human rights violations.
The corruption accused ex-leader catalogued the alleged offences in a strongly worded letter to Pillay Navanethem, High Commissioner for Human Rights, this week. (more)

The Advisory Council and Consultative Forum have reviewed, debated and approved the Green Paper on Value Added Tax (VAT), which has since been made public for public consultation.
The public consultation process is expected to last for a month, ending on May 25th , after which a White Paper is expected to be formulated based on the feedback of stakeholders. (more)

Director of the Integrity Commission Eugene Qtuonye told the Weekly News that the turnout at the Commission’s public meetings in Grand Turk and Provo was not as expected.
As part of its public education programme, the Commission this week held sessions with persons in public in an effort to educate them on the vision, mission and constitutional and statutory mandate of the commission and, more importantly, on the compliance requirements of the Integrity Commission Ordinance. (more)

DR RUFUS Ewing made public his bid for leadership of the Progressive National Party (PNP) on Wednesday.
The former head of the Civil Service Association said that his vision for the country will ensure that Turks and Caicos Islanders are mentally, socially, economically and politically prepared for independence – his ultimate goal. (more)