TCI News

TCI: Statement from Oswald Skippings

Published

5 years ago

November 30, 2018

#Providenciales, November 30, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Rt. Hon. Theresa May, Prime Minister of Britain has reached agreement with the leaders of all 27 EU member states on a Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration marking the culmination of the UK’s exit negotiations with the European Union.

What is of extreme importance to us as a Turks and Caicos Overseas Territory, is what Uk Prime Minister considers as the achievements to be gained from this Brexit deal; I quote;

“We will control our own borders and end free movement once and for all”

Interestingly, Illegal immigration which relates to border control and is a direct constitutional responsibility of the British, is not a primary concern of theirs and they have been conspicuously negligent in carrying out that responsibility.

To add insult to injury, we are faced with court decisions that say that we are obligated to grant extended work permits to work permit holders. This is something that could be easily fixed by our immigration minister. As a former minister of immigration I was faced with the same problem 16 years ago. I fixed it but it was unfixed by the then incoming administration.

British Prime minister May’s second declared achievement in the Brexit deal is, and I quote;

“We will protect jobs with a deal that is good for our economy”

That again is strange when we consider the unregulated influx of Brits that has been placed in our Civil Service since the Interim Administration until presently, filling managerial and advisory positions with highly inflated salaries that are way above that of local counterparts. This needs to be fixed and is overdue. So it is indeed strange that the Brits are again fighting to stop something that they are imposing on us.

The third accomplishment referred to by the British prime minister and I quote;

“We will no longer send vast sums of money to the EU so we can spend more on our priorities, like investing in our long-term plan for the NHS”

This again is so interesting and considering the constitutional restraints and other legal impediments such as the Procurement Ordinance that is designed to secure and dump large sums of money into what was labeled the sinking fund and build large reserves while social services such as national health and education suffers and major government infrastructure such as the Parliament building and the Grand Turk airport terminal remain unattended.

Additionally, the public service is deprived of salary increases, gratuities, pensions and other benefits while the elected government is prohibited from usefully utilizing these funds to the benefit of its people and country. Strange indeed! What is good for the British goose is obviously not good for the Turks and Caicos gander.

Another such accomplishment mentioned and I quote;

“We will take back control of our laws, ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK”

We need to bear in mind that we have been subjected to the imposition of not only those European laws, but British laws that have been morally and otherwise alien and unacceptable to us as a people.

This is undoubtedly a wake up call for us as a people considering the double standards being displayed by the British. This is particularly important bearing in mind that both governments have been in pursuit of constitutional reform and the present administration is currently engaged in such efforts.

It’s becoming clearer by the day that if we are to overcome the myriad of overbearing colonial and domestic governmental challenges, then we have to be realistic and reconsider our traditional approaches to selecting a government. That old, traditional approach of blind addiction to a particular political party is no longer working in the best interest of our people and country.

It is now obvious that if we are to survive, overcome and achieve the progress, prosperity and the economic and industrial stability that so we desire, we are going to have to seek out the most committed, competent and suitable men and women to represent us as our government in the future.

Release: Oswald Skippings

News

Signage regarding Prohibition of Jet skis in Protected Areas

Published

18 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

South Side Jet-ski Buoy

Providenciales, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 – The Department of Environment and Coastsal Resources (DECR) would like to make all jetski operators, jetski owners, jetski users, watersports operators, tour guides, and the public aware of ‘No jetski’ buoys that have been installed within the Princess Alexandra Land and Sea National Park and Nature Reserve.

Additional buoys will continue to be deployed and are strategically positioned along the perimeter of protected areas, serving as a clear boundary beyond which jet skis are not permitted. All jet ski users are to heed that jet skis are strictly prohibited within all protected areas in the Turks and Caicos Islands, in accordance with the National Park Ordinance (11 of 1975):

Section 3(1) Prohibitions and permitted activities within all National Parks

(g) Jet skis and hovercraft

Section 3(2) Prohibitions and permitted activities within all Nature Reserves

(f) Water skiing, jet skis or hovercraft

Section 3(3) Prohibitions and permitted activities within all Sanctuaries

Water skiing, jet skis or hovercraft

Emerald Point Buoy

Section 3(4) Prohibitions and permitted activities within all Areas of Historical Interest

(g) Water skiing, jet skis or hovercraft

A person contravening these regulations commits an offense and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of between $5,000 and $50,000 or a term of imprisonment, or both, as per Section 13 of the National Park Ordinance.

The accompanying map delineates the protected areas (highlighted in red) and indicates the placement of the buoys. It should be emphasized that the regions shaded in red signify areas where jet skis are not prohibited.

Should you require further clarity, please contact the DECR at (649)338-4170 or email environment@gov.tc

Government

RECENT CHARGES AGAINST US NATIONALS FOR POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION OFFENCES

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2024

Shanieka

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government cannot comment on ongoing legal cases before the courts but confirms the following four (4) US nationals have been charged for possession of ammunition offences against the Firearms Ordinance (as amended).

MICHAEL LEE EVANS, 72, of Texas, pled guilty to possession of seven (7) 9mm rounds of ammunition. Appeared before the court on Wednesday, 24th April 2024, via video conference link. Currently on bail, with sentencing hearing adjourned to June 18th, 2024.
BRYAN HAGERICH, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to possession of twenty rounds of ammunition (rifle rounds). Currently on bail. Scheduled to reappear in court on May 3rd, 2024.
TYLER SCOTT WENRICH, 31, of Virginia, is currently remanded at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Grand Turk). He is charged with possession of two (2) 9mm rounds. He has not applied for bail.
RYAN TYLER WATSON, 40, of Oklahoma, currently on bail, charged with possession of four (4) rounds of ammunition. Appeared in court on April 24th, 2024. The matter was adjourned to June 7th, 2024

Persons in the Turks and Caicos Islands do not have a constitutional right to carry firearms. The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes all visitors but reminds travellers that the importation of firearms, ammunition (including stray bullets), and other weapons is strictly forbidden unless licence to do so has been issued by the Commissioner of Police.

The Turks and Caicos Islands have clear laws against the possession of firearms and or ammunition and strict penalties in order to serve and protect the community. Firearm and or ammunition offences carry a mandatory minimum custodial sentence of twelve years plus a fine. An Attorney General’s Reference to the Court of Appeal certified that where a court finds there are exceptional circumstances, the sentencing judge has discretion to impose a custodial sentence (less than the twelve years) and a fine that are fair and just in the circumstances of each case. The Turks and Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory with a common law legal system.

Travellers are strongly advised to search their luggage before they travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands to ensure they do not bring in forbidden items inadvertently. The Turks and Caicos Islands reserves the right to enforce its legislation and all visitors must follow its law enforcement procedures.

The Transportation Security Administration screening in the United States may not identify ammunition in a traveller’s baggage; it is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure their baggage is free of ammunition and/or firearms. Permission from an airline carrier does not constitute permission to bring firearms or ammunition into the Turks and Caicos Islands and will result in arrest.

Health

Increased cases of Chicken Pox Prompts Ministry of Health and Human Services Response

Published

5 days ago

April 27, 2024

Shanieka

PRESS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 25 April 2024 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services is issuing a public advisory regarding a recent increase in chicken pox cases, particularly within school communities in the regions of Grand Turk and Providenciales. The Ministry is actively monitoring the situation and is working closely with affected schools to provide support and education aimed at preventing further spread of the virus.

Chicken pox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a highly contagious infection characterized by a distinctive rash of itchy red spots or blisters. Transmission occurs via droplets, aerosols, or direct contact with respiratory secretions, and almost always produces clinical disease in susceptible individuals. While mostly a mild disorder in childhood, varicella tends to be more severe in adults. It may be fatal, especially in neonates and in immunocompromised persons. The Ministry urges parents, teachers, and the general public to remain vigilant and familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of chicken pox, which may include:

Rash: The primary symptom of chicken pox is a rash that typically begins as small red spots, which then develop into fluid-filled blisters over several days.
Fever: Children with chicken pox may experience a mild to moderate fever, often preceding the appearance of the rash.
Fatigue: Some individuals may feel generally unwell, tired, or lethargic.
Loss of Appetite: A decreased desire to eat may accompany other symptoms of chicken pox.

Management aims to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of complications and may include:

drinking plenty of fluid (try popsicles if your child is not drinking) to avoid dehydration.
taking paracetamol to help with pain and discomfort.
cut your child’s fingernails and put socks on their hands at night to stop them scratching.
use cooling creams or gels e.g. Calamine lotion
speak to your health care provider about using antihistamine medicine to help itching.
bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry (do not rub)
dress in loose clothes.

do not use ibuprofen unless advised to do so by a doctor, as it may cause serious skin infections.
do not give aspirin to children under 16.
do not go near newborn babies, or anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, as chickenpox can be dangerous for them.
do not scratch the spots, as scratching can cause scarring.

To mitigate the spread of chicken pox within schools and communities, the Ministry emphasizes the importance of practicing good hygiene habits, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.

In the event that a child exhibits symptoms of chicken pox, parents and caregivers are advised to keep them at home and seek medical attention promptly. A sick leave for a period of 14 days is usually given. After the 14 day sick leave period, the individual must return to the physician or the public health nurse at one of the primary care clinics to obtain a fit for work or school certificate allowing them re-entry back into school or work. Anyone returning earlier than this time or without this certificate should not be allowed in school so as to prevent spread to other children. Additionally, it is crucial to inform school authorities to prevent further transmission among classmates and staff.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all citizens, and will continue to work diligently to address this current situation. For further information and guidance on chicken pox prevention and management, please visit Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.