Latest news with #MMC
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Francisco Luis Gomes' ancestral house to be restored soon: Min
Margao: Minister for archives and archaeology, Subhash Phal Dessai, on Saturday said that his department would soon take steps towards the restoration of the ancient house of the Goan freedom fighter Francisco Luis Gomes, which now lies in a ramshackle condition. He also mentioned that he would personally inspect the house located at Colmorod, Navelim. 'I will ensure that the house is not only restored to its original glory but also becomes a symbol of inspiration for the younger generation to imbibe the values the great leader stood for and learn about all that he did for his motherland,' Phal Dessai said. He made these statements while addressing the gathering at a function held to commemorate Gomes's birth anniversary. Known as the 'prince of intellectuals', Gomes, who represented Goa in the Portuguese parliament, was also a historian, an economist, a doctor, and a writer. He died in 1869. Withstanding the ravages of time and vagaries of nature, Gomes's ancestral house, which is perhaps the last remaining vestige of his legacy, has served as a testimony to his life and works. After TOI first highlighted the condition of this dilapidated house in a report on May 31, 2009, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), in its council meeting held on Nov 5, 2009, passed a resolution to 'acquire the old house…and conserve the same for future generations.' While the resolution has been gathering dust ever since, the house has so far survived the eyes of the land sharks. Further, Phal Dessai said, 'Prior to Goa's liberation movement, it was Dr Francisco Luis Gomes who raised his voice in the Portuguese parliament for the liberation of Goa. He used to argue passionately for civil liberties, educational reforms, economic development, and justice. He was one of the earliest Indian leaders to talk about the rights of colonised people, not just in Goa but across India.' Former Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro, South Goa collector Egna Cleetus, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Malay Mail
Forest City hosts 6,000-strong half-marathon to showcase Johor as premier sports tourism destination
JOHOR BARU, May 31 — The MMC Friendship Half Marathon 2025 today drew a record 6,000 participants, making it the largest half-marathon ever held in Johor. Held in Forest City, the event featured 21.1km, 10km, and 5km categories, attracting runners from across Malaysia as well as neighbouring Singapore. 'The MMC Friendship Half Marathon is more than just a sporting event – it is a platform that brings people together, promotes healthy lifestyles, and showcases Johor as a premier sports tourism destination,' Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, and Cooperatives chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah as he flagged off the event. Participants enjoyed scenic views along the race route and took part in family-friendly activities such as inflatable playgrounds, wellness booths, and food stalls, reinforcing the event's community spirit theme. MMC Corporation Berhad Group Managing Director Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh thanked all partners and sponsors. 'This marathon truly embodies the spirit of friendship and community... we remain committed to fostering unity, wellness and regional cooperation through events like this,' he said. Other dignitaries present included Johor Unity, Culture and Heritage chairman Raven Kumar Krishnasamy; the state Unity, Culture and Heritage chairman, Datuk Pandak Ahmad who is also Kota Iskandar assemblyman; Iskandar Puteri deputy police chief Superintendent Mohd Azlan Abdul Kadir, Forest City regional vice-president Syarul Izam Sarifudin.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawaii tour boat operator allegedly faked credentials
A tour boat operator involved in a snorkeling accident that injured 10 people in June 2022 is facing federal charges after he allegedly stole personal identifying information to fake his credential for more than a decade, according to federal court records. Jeffrey Scott Worthen, 61, worked on tour boats in Alaska and Maui since the late 1990s and allegedly stole the identities of a boat captain, a business owner and an ex-girlfriend to create fake federal credentials that allowed him to get work. Worthen needed a 'Merchant Mariner Credential, ' a U.S. Coast Guard issued credential that serves as the mariner's 'qualification document, certificate of identification, and certificate of service ' and must be produced when requested to prove the ability to work on the water. The credential is not valid until signed by the applicant and an authorized Coast Guard official. Worthen is charged with fraud within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., aggravated identity theft and making false statements to federal investigators, according to a March 27 criminal complaint. He allegedly submitted fraudulent MMC cards to his employers in Alaska and Hawaii from 2012 to 2022, according to federal court documents. On June 9, 2022, the 26-foot rigid hull inflatable 'Great White ' owned and operated by Hawaii Ocean Rafting of Lahaina, was underway with 15 passengers and two crew members, including Worthen at the helm and a deckhand. At about 10 :22 a.m. that morning while en route to a second snorkel site, Worthen 'attempted to pass through a section of water between Sweetheart Rock and another rocky pinnacle near Lanai when the vessel struck a rock, ' according to an affidavit authored by special agent with the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. Five passengers were ejected overboard into the water, and nine passengers and a deckhand were injured. The damage to the vessel resulted in flooding. After recovering all passengers from the water, passengers and crew members donned life jackets and started waving down other boats because the radio didn't work. Two vessels responded and took the passengers back to Lahaina Harbor. As part of the Coast Guard's investigation of the crash, they asked for the company's personnel records, which included credential checks. Investigators identified 'several major discrepancies ' with the MMC Worthen shared with Hawaii Ocean Rafting's owners. They included a profile picture not within policy ; the MMC's document reference and serial number were assigned to a different person ; Worthen's personal information not in capitalized letters ; the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections name and signature were not the applicable person, and standard watermarks and holograms used on properly issued MMCs were faded, according to the affidavit. A check of the serial number revealed it belonged to a man in Maryland and the document number belonged to a boat captain in Alaska that Worthen worked with doing whale watching tours. During an interview with investigators on Sept. 14, 2022, Worthen allegedly said he 'renewed his MMC online ' through the Coast Guard's Portal and 'uploaded all information and his picture, which was taken by him in his bedroom.' 'He denied the MMC copies being false and signed the copies presented, as true copies of his MMC. Additionally, Worthen stated he lost his MMC overboard during the incident and that he had thrown away all prior MMC's. He had been working on commercial vessels in Maui and Alaska since the 1990s, ' according to the affidavit. Worthen is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court Thursday before Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Naka mura is prosecuting the case. Worthen is represented by the office of the Federal Public Defender.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawaii tour boat operator allegedly faked credentials
A tour boat operator involved in a snorkeling accident that injured 10 people in June 2022 is facing federal charges after he allegedly stole personal identifying information to fake his credential for more than a decade, according to federal court records. Jeffrey Scott Worthen, 61, worked on tour boats in Alaska and Maui since the late 1990s and allegedly stole the identities of a boat captain, a business owner and an ex-girlfriend to create fake federal credentials that allowed him to get work. Worthen needed a 'Merchant Mariner Credential, ' a U.S. Coast Guard issued credential that serves as the mariner's 'qualification document, certificate of identification, and certificate of service ' and must be produced when requested to prove the ability to work on the water. The credential is not valid until signed by the applicant and an authorized Coast Guard official. Worthen is charged with fraud within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., aggravated identity theft and making false statements to federal investigators, according to a March 27 criminal complaint. He allegedly submitted fraudulent MMC cards to his employers in Alaska and Hawaii from 2012 to 2022, according to federal court documents. On June 9, 2022, the 26-foot rigid hull inflatable 'Great White ' owned and operated by Hawaii Ocean Rafting of Lahaina, was underway with 15 passengers and two crew members, including Worthen at the helm and a deckhand. At about 10 :22 a.m. that morning while en route to a second snorkel site, Worthen 'attempted to pass through a section of water between Sweetheart Rock and another rocky pinnacle near Lanai when the vessel struck a rock, ' according to an affidavit authored by special agent with the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. Five passengers were ejected overboard into the water, and nine passengers and a deckhand were injured. The damage to the vessel resulted in flooding. After recovering all passengers from the water, passengers and crew members donned life jackets and started waving down other boats because the radio didn't work. Two vessels responded and took the passengers back to Lahaina Harbor. As part of the Coast Guard's investigation of the crash, they asked for the company's personnel records, which included credential checks. Investigators identified 'several major discrepancies ' with the MMC Worthen shared with Hawaii Ocean Rafting's owners. They included a profile picture not within policy ; the MMC's document reference and serial number were assigned to a different person ; Worthen's personal information not in capitalized letters ; the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections name and signature were not the applicable person, and standard watermarks and holograms used on properly issued MMCs were faded, according to the affidavit. A check of the serial number revealed it belonged to a man in Maryland and the document number belonged to a boat captain in Alaska that Worthen worked with doing whale watching tours. During an interview with investigators on Sept. 14, 2022, Worthen allegedly said he 'renewed his MMC online ' through the Coast Guard's Portal and 'uploaded all information and his picture, which was taken by him in his bedroom.' 'He denied the MMC copies being false and signed the copies presented, as true copies of his MMC. Additionally, Worthen stated he lost his MMC overboard during the incident and that he had thrown away all prior MMC's. He had been working on commercial vessels in Maui and Alaska since the 1990s, ' according to the affidavit. Worthen is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court Thursday before Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Naka mura is prosecuting the case. Worthen is represented by the office of the Federal Public Defender.
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
DA slams Joburg's R89.4bn budget as politically motivated
The capital budget of R8.7 billion (R26.2 billion over the medium term) intentionally targets regions that were affected by spatial planning during apartheid, according to the statement. This includes Alexandra, Diepsloot, Kaalfontein, Orange Farm and Lenasia South. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G) The 'It's a political budget and it is just to ensure that they are putting money in areas where they know they are going to get more votes [going] to the current ruling coalition at the moment,' said the DA's Johannesburg caucus leader, Belinda Echeozonjoku. On Wednesday, Johannesburg Finance MMC The capital budget of R8.7 billion (R26.2 billion over the medium term) intentionally targets regions that were affected by spatial planning during apartheid, according to the statement. This includes Alexandra, Diepsloot, Kaalfontein, Orange Farm and Lenasia South. Echeozonjoku said one of the concerns for the DA was that huge amounts were being allocated to Region E, under which Alexandra township falls, but not much improvement had taken place there. 'Massive money is spent in Alex, you go to Alex today, do you see any of that money making a difference? We do not see where the money is going,' she said. Speaking to journalists after the council seating, Arnolds said: 'The budget reflects our resolve to drive infrastructure led-growth, accelerated service delivery and restore long-term financial sustainability; with a projected operating surplus of R4.1 billion and a capital allocation of R8.7 billion for this year alone [and] growing to R26.2 billion over the next three years. 'We are focusing our capital investment where they are needed most: revitalising the inner city … but also in different regions where we are deployed as MMC.' The key revenue drivers for this year include electricity, for which R25.6 billion is allocated, R20 billion for water and wastewater, R18.1 billion for property rates, R3.3 billion for refuse removal and R4.57 billion for the national fuel levy, according to budget documents. Referring to the underdeveloped regions, Arnolds said: We've had lots of service backlogs, it's historical, and in the underserved areas. We know that Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Lenasia South and Kaalfontein are basically the step-children of the City of Johannesburg and we are going to fix that.' Echeozonjoku said the city is allocating money to townships or informal settlements without saying what their plan is to formalise those settlements. 'It means you are throwing money into an area that is not formalised. Are you able to see the stand number? Are you able to collect revenue for prepaid meters and things like that? 'How are you going to be able to collect from those areas? You are opening the city up to challenges of illegal connection once again if you are not formalising those informal settlements. 'We are not happy with the allocations that have been done without a proper plan on how to actually collect revenue.' She added that a lot of money has been taken from transport and the DA. 'We are not happy with that either. The tariffs increase; we felt that there's a lot of money that could have been redirected as well.' A sum of R400 million has been set aside for the Johannesburg Roads Agency to resurface roads.
