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BAHAMAS: Gambling is a Vice that Persons Secretly Indulge

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#Nassau, November 1, 2018 – Bahamas – Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Duane Sands said gambling has been a vice that persons have secretly indulged, and for that reason, unlike most of the public health challenges in The Bahamas, there is a lack of fundamental data that can be quantified and analysed to address the problem.

“I am very conscious that today’s workshop speaks to the need to increase our capacity as healthcare providers, social workers, law enforcement, educators, gaming industry professionals and as members of the general public to identify and address signs of problem gambling and gambling addiction,” Dr. Sands said at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre Gambling Addiction Symposium, held at the Church of God Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road, Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

He said the theme of this year’s symposium, “Overcoming Your Gambling Addiction: The Continuum of Care,” speaks to empowering persons at risk of problem gambling and providing care to those experiencing gambling addiction.

The Minister of Health said he would however be remiss if he did not call upon the mental health professionals, addiction care providers, social workers and others to conduct the kind of peer review research and documentation that would allow policymakers to arrive at decisions in the best interest of the nation.

He explained that the Pennsylvania Gaming Board notes that although gambling often goes unrecognized, it is a serious workplace issue with a negative impact on performance and productivity.

Dr. Sands said the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres, further notes that gambling not only gets in the way of work productivity but also harms a person’s mental and social health.

“In recognition of these challenges, beginning in January 2018, The Public Hospitals Authority and Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre set out to launch a program to achieve the overarching goal of integrating gambling addiction services into the present existing substance abuse program at Sandilands and at other healthcare services programs in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

He said, “It is my hope that this first Gambling Addiction Symposium hosted by the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, the Public Hospitals Authority, and the Bahamas Gaming Operators Association will begin a national dialogue that will continue to engage communities and families all across The Bahamas.”

Dr. Sands explained that the Gaming Act of 2014, which generally required that all Bahamians wager via the Internet, now permits the “numbers” game to be played in an over-the-counter, cash-based environment.

“The Act is a large and complex piece of legislation, but I believe that some change is warranted.  Notably, the Act should include the provision to prevent and minimize harm from gambling, including problem gambling.

“From a public health perspective, I hope that an assessment will be undertaken of the gaming environment.  This assessment should focus on better understanding the dynamics of the electronic numbers gaming sector, and the wider gambling environment as well, and what they mean for our current regulatory framework.

He said, “It is also clear to me that we need to restore greater public confidence in our gambling sector.  Public trust will only be built by a demonstrable commitment to player protection and basing the industry on responsible gambling, not on those gambling to excess.”

 

By Llonella Gilbert

Release: BIS

Photo Caption:  Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Duane Sands brings remarks at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre Gambling Addiction Symposium, held at the Church of God Auditorium, Joe Farrington Road, Wednesday, October 31, 2018.  

 

(BIS Photos/Raymond A. Bethel Sr.)

 

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RTCIPF Observes World Down Syndrome Day

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On March 21st, 2024, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force joined the international, regional and local communities in observing World Down Syndrome Day. 

Officers showed their support by wearing brightly coloured and mismatched socks to raise awareness. 

The head of the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Grantley Williams, Training Manager Mrs Odessa Forbes and Media Relations Officer Denyse Renne visited the SNAP Centre and interacted with the students.

In a message to the TCI community, the RTCIPF noted that stereotypes perpetuate stigma and hinder inclusion, preventing individuals from reaching their full potential. 

Instead, the RTCIPF calls for individuals to foster an environment of acceptance and support where everyone is valued for who they are. 

By breaking down barriers and challenging misconceptions, we can create a more inclusive society where individuals with Down Syndrome are empowered to live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities and, by extension, the TCI. 

As law enforcement officers, we must protect and serve all members of society, regardless of their abilities. 

Let’s work together to ensure that individuals with Down Syndrome are treated with dignity and respect and that their rights are upheld.

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CARICOM speaks out on Climate Change, looking to May meeting to amplify call for Climate Funding

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March 3, 2024

 

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains on the frontlines of global climate crisis, an issue the Region has been aggressively advocating on for the past thirty years. Despite the many commitments and promises of international partners, the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing.

Heads of Government are concerned that while COP 28 was widely regarded as a historic event, with the completion of the first global stocktake (GST), on progress in achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, the outcomes of GST show that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of Parties will not keep global temperatures below the 1.5 degree goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

Heads of Government also expressed concern to be heading to COP 29 where a New Finance Goal will be articulated to replace the 100bn goal, which has not yet been met, even as developing countries require trillions to deal with the escalating impacts of climate change. Developed country parties have not provided enough finance at scale, technology and capacity building support required to help developing countries tackle their pressing needs to build their resilience, especially in adapting to the adverse and increasingly catastrophic impacts of climate change. The clear absence of definitive timelines for action and quantitative commitments for scaling up of investments, and particularly adaptation finance emerging out of COP 28, cause great concern to our Region.

The Conference noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), recognized as the most vulnerable group of countries and a special case for sustainable development, have been facing strong push back against the recognition of their special circumstances especially in the context of climate finance. There is limited international support for special allocations for SIDS within financing arrangements and available climate finance from international and private sources is limited, expensive and too onerous to access.

In light of the preceding, Heads of Government called for CARICOM to take a strategic, unified and coordinated approach to ensure that the Region remains influential in the climate and development arena through engagements with key partners and advocacy groups.

They called for renewed focus by the Region to advocate for inclusion of forests, nature-based solutions and blue carbon into market mechanisms with the aim of articulating clear regional positions and strategies.

Heads of Government reiterated the call for improved readiness programmes, simplified approval procedures, a change to the criteria for determining access to low-cost finance, and for the adoption of programmatic approaches to address the bottlenecks in accessing finance.

The Region reiterates its support for the Bridgetown Initiative’s call to expand capital adequacy of international financial institutions.

Heads recognized that the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, 27 – 30 May 2024, will be an inflection point for many of these discussions to be articulated. As such, the Region remains committed to participating in the Conference at the highest level.

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South Caicos Development Plans shared with Washington-Misick led Administration

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On Monday, 12 February 2024, the Premier led a delegation to tour the island of South Caicos to view the ongoing public and private sector projects, involving the remodelling and rebranding of the airport terminals, historical districts, and the East Bay Hotel.

The tour of the various developments reinforced the Government’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to boost the island’s activity and economy.

Photos courtesy of the TCI Office of the Premier

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