Cannes Film Festival and Erwin Contreras

Cannes Film Festival And Belize Minister Contreras

Travolta and Contreras Partners??

Erwin Contreras, Lord Neil Gibson, Tammy Lier Gibson and Ralph Huang

Channel 5 Belize Attacks Lord Neil Gibson and the Election of Ralph Huang

Original Article

 Mar. 13, 2014 - BELMOPAN CITY, Belize -- The recent election of Ralph Huang to the position of Standard Bearer to the Cayo South District in Belize should not have made worldwide news.  The election to a small political position in a district in Belize that literally drew less than three thousand total votes should never have been thrust into the global media, but that is exactly what has happened as the opponents of Ralph Huang have taken to social media, Youtube and various blogs and Belizean news outlets in a widespread attempt to call the validity of the election into question through a loose connection to a Las Vegas based businessman named Lord Neil Gibson.

The campaign to elect Ralph Huang to the position of Standard Bearer to the tiny district in Belize was aided by support provided by Lord Neil Gibson in the form of monetary contributions and media support provided through Gibson's organizations and companies.  Gibson vocally announced and discussed his endorsement of Huang and his support of the campaign to get him elected.  After the election, Huang is quoted in several interviews as having had support provided by Gibson.  Complete transparency on the subject of campaign support was provided by all parties involved.  Additionally, several websites operated by Gibson or affiliates of Gibson's distributed news on a regular basis regarding the connection.

Lord Neil Gibson has never hidden the fact that he has business interests in Belize.  Several projects in various stages of development have been circulated through websites and press releases discussing the interests and impacts that would be felt by the Belizean community.  Through his business interests in Belize, he befriended several other Belizean businessmen, as would be the case in any scenario.  One of those businessmen decided to run for office, and Gibson supported his friend.

Upon the election of Huang, an organization called Channel 5 Belize began to circulate speculation and rumors of political corruption due to the connection between Lord Neil Gibson and Huang.  To date, they have run several stories and op-eds calling into question the validity of his election due to his connections to Gibson.  At the heart of all accusations of corruption has been a single blog post that exists on the website of the same organization, a blog post which is not credited to any author and cites no actual facts regarding any case against Gibson.  The blog author makes the case that Gibson is not good for Belize because he is a "fraud," yet supports his claim with no actual evidence.  There is sporadic citations involving a case where a Gibson run company was denied a license to operate, however no notation of the fact that the claims were actually against a business that had a name that only sounded like the one Gibson ran, and Gibson's company was cleared through letters from Belizean government officials which can be publicly viewed on any of Gibson's websites.  A case of mistaken identity caused a minor inconvenience, and is now being used by Channel 5 Belize to call an election into question.  A blog post by an anonymous author, written and posted through the same website that is currently bringing the corruption accusations, is being used as some sort of "evidence" even though it has no associated facts. The article in question can be viewed here: http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/88561/email

When a news organization begins to utilize the accusations of corruption as a tool to call elections into question, and cites no real evidence for these allegations except blog postings written by their own authors, then that news organization is suspect as to its motivations in running the stories.  Perhaps there is corruption in Belize, and perhaps it is coming from Channel 5.

Information about Lord Neil Gibson or any of his companies can be found athttp://www.lordneilbenjamingibson.com

RACE FOR THE BELIZE UDP PARTY LEADER IS ON FOR 2014

RACE FOR THE BELIZE UDP PARTY LEADER IS ON FOR 2014

 

The race for Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Party is soon to enter the home stretch leg with the finish line set for February 17th.  Two of the ruling UDP Ministers have entered their names contesting the seat of Deputy Party Leader, the second most powerful seat within the party’s hierarchy.  It is widely known that the one that holds the DPL’s seat is the chosen one to also be the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Belize.  Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Party Leader of the UDP Gaspar Vega has been challenged by Minister of Education Patrick Faber.

Both men have been canvasing the 31 constituencies and visiting with the delegates in efforts to garner support for their candidacy. Faber has publicly gone on record stating that he believes he can do a much better job at the post of Deputy Party Leader than the current holder.  Well, in what has been dubbed as the game changer, Prime Minister of Belize and Leader of the UDP went on record stating that he does not support Minister of Education Patrick Faber.  Barrow said and we quote, “I have said that while Minister Faber is, I think, an extremely well-qualified and able minister, while I think that he has a glorious leadership future in the United Democratic Party, at this time, and for this contest, I do not support him, end of story.” And that’s also the end of the quote.

Barrow went on to say that one of the major reasons for Faber not being his choice at this moment is because of Faber’s skin color and geographic location within Belize.  Barrow says that the hierarchy of the Party must be equally distributed to the districts along with a diverse composition of ethnicities.  Well, our editor here at CTV-3 news takes that to mean that the UDP Leader and Prime Minister of this country has decided to endorse looks over brains.  If the reasons for his decision are solely based on ethnicity and geographic location, Belize is in for some darker days ahead.  Leadership should not be about how one looks or where they are from, but rather, how they lead.  But that’s for another story on another day.

While Faber does not count on the support of UDP Leader Dean Barrow, he does count on the support of several big wig names within the party.  Former Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel, Dean Lindo and Mesopotamia Representative and Senior member of the party Michael Finnegan,  have all come out in full support of Patrick Faber’s bid for Deputy Party Leader.  Dean Barrow’s support for Vega struck through the political circuits of the UDP as hard hitting as a chess player saying Check.  It will be interesting to see if this move was not one of the flexing of the political muscle by Barrow who is sending a message to the rank and file of the Party; what that message is, we are sure to find out in the days ahead.

http://www.ctv3belizenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2451:race-for-udp-deputy-party-leader-is-on&catid=46:featured-news&Itemid=102

Also in the race for Cayo south which is predicted to be a good one, is Ralph Huang which will be determined on February 16th of 2014 at Roaring Creek.

Tammy Lier Gibson Reveals her Lady G Wear Fashion line...

Lord Gibson and Associates back Ralph Huang for the UDP and Belize Elections

The Following endorsement has been released by Lord Neil B Gibson and Associates.

January 3, 2014

To Whom This May Concern

Re: Mr. Ralph Huang for Stander Bearer Political Endorsement

Our business organizations would honorably like to declare our political and financial support of Mr. Ralph Huang’s candidacy for the position of Stander Bearer in Cayo South Constituency Area representative Slated Convention United Democratic Party in Belize.

 In these last five years, our organizations have worked closely with Ralph Huang in business and financial ventures. We have found Ralph to be an extremely strong professional with an extensive range of understanding of Belize, on economic impact values. 

Ralph Huang is trustworthy, honest and dedicated in investing precious hours required for this governmental position. Our organizations are confident that Ralph is the only deserving candidate for this office.

 Furthermore, our organizations have had ample opportunities in the last 5-years to analyze our future economic benefits and objectives of the various economic executions into the country of Belize. We have found Ralph's honest insight and practical approach for future country growth, with our country’s desire to invest into Belize. 

This distinction sets him apart from the other individual’s that we have dealt with in the past, to ensure our organizations future commitment to execute our organizations’ to invest into the country of Belize. Ralph Huang has shown great concern for the residents of the community and the willingness to listen to people's problems and challenges which is commendable.

 Again, we are writing today to show our allegiance and support of Ralph Huang and his campaign. It will also be an honor to spread the word of Ralph’s candidacy, abilities and competence with other global business networks to support Ralph.

We are confident that Ralph Huang will succeed and bring the Country of Belize the global

economic growth the country needs to strive forward.

Respectfully,

SFBBL TRUST AG www.sfbblag.com

VISION BANKCARD www.vbci.com

LNBG, LLC (USA) www.lnbgllc.com

CITYWIDE LENDING GROUP www.citywidelgi.com

HULET AND ASSOCIATES scott@hulet.net

FOR EVERY SEASON INSURANCE www.foreveryseason.biz

LORD NEIL B GIBSON www.lordgibson.co.uk

TAMMY LIER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP www.tammylier.com

More Confirmation of Activities in Belize by Lord Neil B Gibson

According to the following documentation we have received, it appears that Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson was pursing Legal Business Activities in the Country of Belize. He was working closely with the Government and was not committing and illegal or fraudulent activities as he has wrongly been accused of....

Belize Eco-Village Housing Project and Lord Neil B Gibson

Belize Eco-Village Housing Program

Overview Ecovillages are people-based initiatives to model sustainable, low-impact, human settlements. They are applicable to both rural and urban settings and accessible to all. Eco-villagers utilize green energy technology, ecological building techniques, and human-scale design to reduce exploitation of natural resources, facilitate community self-reliance, and improve quality of life. Medical clinics will be included in the development of each village. These medical clinics can assist in the care management of other local villages and expand the Belize Healthcare footprint. They are about the creation of new settlements as well as retrofitting existing villages and urban areas. An ecovillage is designed in harmony with its bioregion instead of the landscape being unduly engineered to fit construction plans. By thinking in terms of bioregions, sustainable settlements are planned considering water availability, the ability to grow food, and accessibility.  Many projects use the principles of permaculture for creating integrated, interactive and efficient systems for structural planning, food production and social needs in their community. Ecovillages are human scale, (somewhere where you can feel you know the others in your community), fully featured settlements, (comprising housing, businesses, agriculture, culture, etc. as appropriate to the local setting), in which human activity is integrated harmlessly into the natural world, supports human development and can be continued into the indefinite future. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of ecovillages around the world that have been living true to their values, even if it means not quite meeting the building codes or zoning laws according to their local government. Global Ecovillage Network defines ecovillages as “Alternative experimentation laboratories, with food production, ecological buildings, a resources center, a reception place, or artistic workshops. The aim is to create, together, a convivial and fair way of life, with a minimal ecological trace becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable.” There are examples of Ecovillage Zoning and Sustainable Development Testing Sites in Taos, NM, Portland, OR, Eugene, OR and British Columbia. There are many more with pending legislation across the globe.

Modular in design and scalability. There are a number of benefits in using ISBUs – inter-model steel building units – for home building or residential projects.  Otherwise known as shipping container houses, these sturdy, steel structures are a captivating idea.                                                Shipping containers are made from special steel in order to be strong enough to withstand rough conditions at seas and long exposure to outside elements while being able to protect the goods stored inside.  They are made to a standard set of measurements in order to be stackable the world over.  There are three sizes – 20 feet long or 40 & 53 feet long.  Each shipping container has a width of 8 feet and a height of 8 feet 6 inches or 9.6 in high cube versions.  Because of their uniform size, large number, and the fact that they were built to last, it became important to consider alternative uses for containers that began to stack up in back lots and shipping docks.  Years ago, the military explored their potential for portable operation centers.  It wasn’t too long, however, before their low cost and ready availability attracted the attention of architects and builders with a unique need – safe, fast, inexpensive construction for hospitals, office space, apartments, and homes. Besides the obvious quality of building material, there are several eco advantages to the use of this component.  Globally these containers are discarded after their service life is finished. They are then used for artificial reefs, thrown in landfills or melted for scrap.  The availability of these containers globally reduces our need to manufacture from virgin materials which are precious resources for the future of the world.

Handels Securities, Lord Neil Gibson and DayDra Holding Energy Project

Watch the video introducing the Newest Energy project in the Country of Belize.

DayDra Holdings and Handels Securities Belize Project

Latest interview with Phil Pritchard and Handels Securities Belize Energy Project

Lord Neil Gibson Updates

Lord Neil Gibson is a professional who has gained a reputation as a humanitarian. Through his service as an ambassador at large to West Africa, as well as his development efforts within the Kingdom of Lesotho, he has contributed positive change to many parts of the world. Most recently, Lord Neil Gibson has begun discussing the possibility of utilizing business ventures to contribute to the development of communities and infrastructure within the country of Belize.

By working closely with the members of the communities within Belize, Lord Neil Gibson will be able to create a development plan that accurately addresses the problems that the people of Belize face. Through his strategic approach, he will be able to rebuild roads and other important items.

In addition to physically rebuilding the landscape, Lord Neil Gibson hopes to help the economy of the country. He aims to help the government secure national debt, to finalize plans for the funding of a new international airport, and to create housing for homeless residents. This, he believes, can be achieved with the help of the financial entities with which he will work.

The vision that Lord Neil Gibson has for this project is one of positive change. By providing the necessary resources through his unique ability to combine his business skills with his humanitarian efforts, Lord Neil Gibson is working to improve the quality of life experienced by the people living in the country of Belize. With the support and encouragement of the residents of the country, he hopes to embark upon this new venture and provide the rebuilding services that Belize needs to thrive.

Exploits Around the Globe!

 

Obviously, when you have a title like Ambassador at Large and a reputation for bringing humanitarian relief to nations as divergent as Hong Kong and Iraq, to say nothing of ravaged areas like New Orleans, it should come as no big surprise to learn that you’re plenty busy, and that you have different projects going on in many different nations. Certainly, this is the case with Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson, a man whose ability to bring humanitarian aid to a needy nation is the result of his pragmatic approach, his many powerful alliances, and, more than anything, his refusal to give up or settle for a sub-par solution.
We have already addressed some of the global endeavors of Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson. We talked about the amazing work he did as Ambassador at Large to West Africa, about his relief work in New Orleans, about his financial rebuilding in Lesotho, even his hospital construction in Iraq. But of course, we could go on and on. Here are just a few more of the many areas in which Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson has been involved:

• Currently, Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson is hard at work in Central America—specifically, in the nation of Belize. He is working alongside the government of Belize to build a road, one leading from the port in Belize into the nation of Guatemala, something much-needed in that area.
• Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson is currently aligned with the government of South Africa to bring special events—like boxing matches—to that nation, and to promote them, something that will stimulate the local economy in many different ways.
• Additionally, Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson is in talks with a California film studio to launch a production company in Belize!
• Finally, we might mention that Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson is seeking to purchase a diamond mine in South Africa, one he would surely manage and promote in such a way as to be immensely beneficial to the local economy.

Clearly, Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson is a busy man, and he’s busy doing truly important work—helping those in need and bringing economic relief to areas in dire need.

Hurricane Leslie dawdles as Bermuda braces

Officials in Bermuda urged residents to "prepare for the worst" as Hurricane Leslie headed toward the British territory, bringing with it powerful winds and heavy rain.

Meanwhile, the storm's effects were already being felt as far away as the U.S. East Coast, where forecasters issued warnings for life-threatening rip currents spawned by the distant storm.

In Bermuda, schools prepared to close Friday as residents got ready for the approaching storm.

"Leslie could be a historic storm for Bermuda as it is very large and forecast to intensify rapidly as it approaches," Bermuda's Emergency Measures Organization said in a statement. "The island could experience hurricane force winds for a sustained period of time, possibly up to two days."

The storm seemed to stall Thursday, moving just 10 miles (16 kilometers) since earlier in the day, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was about 430 miles south-southeast of Bermuda, moving at 2 mph (3 kph), the center said.

It had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (121 kph), the hurricane center said.

The storm wasn't expected to move much or significantly strengthen until Friday, the center said. Forecasters say it could affect Bermuda this weekend.

The storm is already dishing out heavy swells and dangerous currents in coastal areas of Bermuda, the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New York, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

Forecasters warned of potentially deadly rip currents that can pull even the strongest of swimmers out to sea quickly. The agency warned beachgoers to stay out of the surf until the danger passes.

Warnings were up in Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York.

The U.S. Coast Guard also warned boaters to use "extreme caution" through the weekend along the East Coast.

Another hurricane, Michael, formed late Wednesday in the eastern Atlantic. By early Thursday, it had become the first major hurricane of the season as it strengthened to a Category 3, with winds of near 115 mph.

Michael is the seventh hurricane of the 2012 season but posed no immediate threat to land, the hurricane center said.

Diamond Jubilee: Pop royalty to play for Queen

Monday's A-list BBC concert starts at 19:30 BST

Continue reading the main story

The Diamond Jubilee

• Pomp and celebrations defy rain
• Guide to central weekend events
• Thousands cheer Queen in pageant
• Royal couple join street party

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will be marked with a star-studded BBC concert in front of Buckingham Palace later.

Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Sir Elton John are among the artists, and Madness will perform on the roof.

The audience will comprise of people who got tickets in a public ballot and those from charities with royal links.

At the end of the show, the Queen will light one of the last of around 4,500 beacons across the globe - in celebration of her 60-year reign.

On Monday afternoon, prior to the Jubilee concert, 10,000 ballot winners and VIPs will have a picnic in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

The concert follows Sunday's spectacular River Thames pageant which attracted more than tens of thousands of rain-soaked people to watch the flotilla of 1,000 boats.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis Peter Hunt News correspondent

---

After a pageant on the Thames - where the elements weren't kind but the enthusiasm of the spectators was undimmed - a change of scene and tempo.
At the end of the Golden Jubilee concert, Sir Paul McCartney asked the Queen, "Are we doing this next year?" "Not in my garden" came the regal reply.
Ten years on, she's had her way. The BBC concert will be staged outside the palace gates. The official guests will reflect the changes in a decade. Camilla Parker Bowles is now the Duchess of Cornwall and a future queen. Rupert Murdoch was invited last time. Will any newspaper proprietors be invited this time?
At the end of the concert, the Queen - who at 86, probably won't sit through all of the performances and who may well come armed with ear plugs as she did in 2002 - will light one of the last of more than 4,000 beacons around the world.

• Read more from Peter

The Queen travelled in a barge alongside senior members of the Royal Family as street parties were held around the country.

Buckingham Palace has told the BBC the Royal Family were "touched" at the turnout, despite the weather.

Monday's A-list concert, which starts at 19:30 BST (18:30 GMT), will also star Robbie Williams, Ed Sheeran, JLS, Kylie Minogue, Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Dame Shirley Bassey and Annie Lennox.

And it will feature a special song - sung by 200 people from around the Commonwealth - co-written for the occasion by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Motown legend Wonder has said: "It's an honour to celebrate The Queen. It's an honour to celebrate Great Britain. The time is overdue that I meet Her Majesty."

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will join the Queen at the concert.

An artist's impression of the stage, designed by architect Mark Fisher

Pop veterans Madness will play their hit Our House on the roof of Buckingham Palace - echoing Queen guitarist Brian May's performance of the National Anthem in 2002 for the Golden Jubilee.

After the musical tribute, the Queen will greet the crowds and set the national beacon ablaze.

At 22:30 BST (21:00 GMT), she is scheduled to place a crystal glass diamond into a special pod, triggering the lighting of the last beacon in The Mall.

Beacons will be lit throughout the evening in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, the Commonwealth and other overseas territories.

Bruno Peek, pageantmaster of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee beacons, said: "We set out to have 2,012 beacons, which would have been the most ever for this type of occasion.

"To have reached double that figure reflects the national and worldwide respect and affection for the Queen and the desire to celebrate her 60-year reign."

The network of beacons across the UK will be placed on historic landmarks, hill-top vantage points and famous mountains.

Continue reading the main story Diamond Jubilee beacons

• About 4,500 beacons will be lit in the UK, Commonwealth and overseas territories
• Beacons in the UK and British dependencies will be lit in stages between 22:00 and 22:30
• The Queen will light the National Beacon near Buckingham Palace at 22:30
• Overseas beacons will be lit at 22:00 local time in countries including Canada, Australia and Kenya
• Two types of Beacons are used: Bonfires and the church tower beacon fuelled by bottled gas
• Beacons were lit on Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in and for 1977's Silver Jubilee

• Diamond Jubilee beacons interactive Map

Beacons will also be placed on the battlements of the Tower of London, and at St James's Palace, Lambeth Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, Balmoral and Holyroodhouse.

Sixty will be lit in sequence on Hadrian's Wall - one for each year of the Monarch's reign.

And the highest peaks of the UK's four nations will be lit up by teams from four charities.

Help for Heroes will conquer Ben Nevis in Scotland, Walking With The Wounded will climb Snowdon in Wales, Cancer Research UK will scale England's Scafell Pike and in Northern Ireland, Field of Life will go up Slieve Donard in County Down.

The hotel in Kenya where the Queen was told in 1952 of her father George VI's death - which meant she would become the monarch - will also light a beacon.

Much like the conclusion of the Thames pageant, the evening will end with a firework display.

• The Diamond Jubilee Concert will be shown on BBC big screens in 22 towns and cities throughout the UK. Find your nearest screening here..

Queens and Lords on Jubilee

LONDON — Long known as the sport of kings, today horse racing is the Sport of the Queen, as the Diamond Jubilee got underway with a familiar annual ritual, the running of the Epsom Derby.

Horse-loving Queen Elizabeth II did not have a horse in the "dah-bee," as it's known here; instead it was the appropriately named Camelot, the favorite, that won the feature race today, in front of a crowd of 150,000 racing fans, with the No. 1 fan watching in the royal enclosure.

Along with her were members of her family, including her husband, Prince Philip; her two younger sons, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; and two of her grandchildren, Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The day was overcast, windy and cool but it was an especially colorful and cheerful derby, decorated with flags, flowers and jubilee bunting. It opened with military parachutists, bearing Union Jacks, floating down in their scarlet red jumpsuits, one of the reasons they're known as the Red Devils.

The crowds cheered and waved little flags (35,000 were handed out beforehand) as the queen and her husband arrived in a Rolls motorcade down the track. Smiling broadly, she exited the car and the Royal Marine Band struck up the familiar notes of the national anthem. Katherine Jenkins, the Welsh classical vocalist who finished second in Dancing With the Stars last month, sang God Save the Queen with gusto, although she looked slightly chilled in the cold while dressed in a creamy, strapless mermaid-tail gown, standing just a few feet away from the queen.

"This is definitely a day that I will never forget," she told the BBC later.

Unlike so many others, Jenkins was not wearing a hat for her performance but she didn't have to. By contrast, there's a strict dress code for those in the royal enclosure: Hats for women; top hats for men; and smart outfits for all. Elsewhere in the stands, fans are allowed to wear what they want and many of them apparently believe the wackier the better.

As per usual, the queen went down from the royal box to the paddock where she inspected some of the horses that competed in one of the races, the Coronation Cup, renamed the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup. She awarded the cup to the owner, trainer and jockey of winner St. Nicholas Abbey.

The big winner, Camelot, was trained and ridden by a father-son team, the first in derby history, adding to the historic character of this year's event.

Epsom is not just any horse-racing venue; the derby is way older than the Windsor dynasty, with the first was one in 1779. It's also one of the richest, at about $2 million. And it's free for fans.

The race also is the United Kingdom's only major one that the horsewoman-in-chief has not won. An expert in breeding, raising, training and racing horses, she has gone to the derby every year except one in her 60 years on the throne. She even attended just a few days after she was crowned in 1953, when her horse, Aureole, finished second, nearly giving the new queen a coronation victory.

Last year, her horse Carlton House, was the favorite but finished third, although it did win at another racetrack on Thursday.

Racing is one of the queen's real passions, so it's no coincidence that the derby opens the jubilee weekend. Brits are used to seeing her at the races, a standout in the royal box in her colorful hats and outfits, peering through binoculars, surrounded by family and friends. She typically visits the paddock and the winner's circle, loves talking to the trainers and jockeys, closely reads the daily racing press.

British commentators have repeatedly pointed out that no other event during jubilee weekend will be as much fun for the 86-year-old queen as the derby. Typically, she shows an enigmatic or neutral expression on her face during engagements, although lately she's been seen beaming for jubilee events. But it's at the races where she shows her excitement. One piece of video often shown features the queen at a race, grabbing her binoculars and rushing out of the royal box as one of her horses moved to the front of the pack.

Following the horses is the queen's hobby, one that provides a "relief from her daily duties," said her top-hatted (and rarely interviewed) racing manager, John Warren, interviewed by Sky News.

When the queen goes to the USA on rare private visits, she typically heads for Kentucky bluegrass country. There she visits Lane's End Farm, a top breeder owned by her friend William Farish, the former American ambassador to Britain.

And when she made her historic visit to Ireland last year, the first by a British monarch to its former colony, she made a point of spending hours at the Irish National Stud, talking horse bloodlines with people whose love of horses is as high as her own.

Is Lord Neil Benjamin Gibson Stepping in to save Las Vegas Project?

Fate of giant Las Vegas Ferris wheel still up in the air

The game of chicken to build a giant Ferris wheel on the Strip drew a little tighter Monday with a public sales pitch by the developer of one project.

While not breaking ground or even clearing a defunct 1950s' motel from his site, Skyvue developer Howard Bulloch unveiled a 23,000-pound bearing needed to make his big wheel go 'round. He timed the ceremony to coincide with the annual REcon convention staged by the International Council of Shopping Centers, hoping to create a sense of momentum that might persuade potential tenants at the show to sign leases.
Skyvue, across the Strip from Mandalay Bay, would have a 500-foot London Eye-style wheel as its centerpiece, with 200,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space at its base and 107,000 square feet of light-emitting diode signs in the middle of the wheel or along the building's side. Bulloch said he has yet to line up financing for the project, which he said would cost $175 million, but vowed to open by the end of 2012.
Skyvue would cover about 11 acres of a 38.7-acre parcel Bulloch and his partners purchased a decade ago.
Quick money for construction could be critical because Caesars Entertainment Corp. has mapped out a similar development, Project Linq, adjacent to the Flamingo and the Imperial Palace. Caesars says it has inked $450 million in loans for its wheel and to finish the Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace.
The company has not published many final details about Project Linq, beyond covering about 500,000 square feet with a wheel about 500 feet tall.
Dennis Speigel, president of the consulting firm International Theme Park Services, has said he doubts the Strip could support two giant wheels.
"The first one out will be the last one in," Speigel said.
Big wheel projects have been floated for Las Vegas in the past but none materialized. Now, Bulloch has various government approvals, but not the money, while Caesars has money without final approval from the county.
The popularity of the 443-foot tall London Eye, which has attracted more than 3 million riders a year since 2000, has attracted a slew of imitators from Singapore to New Jersey to Myrtle Beach, S.C. The latest generation of Ferris wheels come with enclosed gondolas -- 22 passengers each for Skyvue -- instead of open-air baskets.
"A giant wheel has become the icon du jour," Speigel said.
"The London Eye has been a tremendous success," said Bulloch, who will model ticket prices on London's. The basic ride would cost $20 to $25.
The Monday ceremony also highlighted that big wheels are not financially foolproof.
The bearing Bulloch displayed is a leftover from a Beijing wheel that was never built. According to a spokesman, Bulloch paid about $840,000 for the unused, secondhand bearing.
Bulloch said he has received letters of intent from potential tenants for 15 percent of the retail space. A letter of intent indicates a formal interest, but not a rental contract.
At least some of the early skirmishing between Skyvue and Caesars has revolved around location. By placing his wheel right on the Strip, at a slight angle to the street, riders will get a better view, Bulloch said.
"That is the real appeal, not being off the Strip," Bulloch said.
But Caesars senior vice president Jan Jones depicted Skyvue as relatively isolated.
"If I was going to argue location, I would rather have the center of the Strip than being on the end of the south end," she said.