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Remarks by DPM Hon. Philip Brave Davis at the Straw Vendors Appreciation Day
Salutation….
It is said that, “yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision. But if today is well lived it makes every yesterday a reflection of satisfaction coupled with happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”
A very good afternoon to each of you as we celebrate the 2nd Annual Straw Vendors Appreciation Day!
As Minister with responsibility for the Straw Market Authority, I am proud of my association with such a powerful and influential group of proud Bahamians.
I do not know of any other single group of Bahamians who love their job so much. When addressing the concerns of the Straw Market Authority, I am reminded that our lives are filled with simple joys and blessings and one of the greatest joys in life is to have a job that you love. That would be the job of our vendors.
It is truly a splendid thing to create beautiful work that brings joy to others. People just love beautiful things!
Recently, I presented gifts to the president of New Zealand and his wife on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. These gifts were indigenous Bahamian items made in this Straw Market by a Bahamian straw vendor and a wood carver. I beamed with pride while presenting.
Vendors ought to be happy and know how privilege they are to be working in an environment that is always full of excitement… especially as so many countries are so unsettled and full of turmoil.
Honourees, the joy that you have given to others through your craft is coming back to you today. We love you, respect and appreciate you for all that you have done and continue to do.
Brotherly love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand. I admonish you to create a peaceful work environment, showing love to neighbouring vendors and visitors. If only we could learn to love like God… for God loves each of us as if there was only one of us.
I have charged the Straw Market Authority to work with straw vendors ensuring that 90% Bahamian made products be sold from the markets in the near future, with the ultimate goal of 100%. In achieving this feat, you will cause there to be an increase in the amount of straw practitioners and crafts people, the net result being more jobs created for Bahamians.
Joy come from simple and natural things: a clean environment together with honesty, integrity, respect and good manners should all be practiced to become normal and natural characteristics.
Today as we recognize some vendors for their stability and service to the straw and wood carving industry, it is truly our sincere way of showing gratitude and giving thanks for what you have done and continue to do; bringing them into clear focus.
When we celebrate the years behind us, they become strength and joy for the years ahead.
I challenge each of you to make the remainder of 2014, and all of 2015 a new beginning of something great in your life.
Continue to create a positive culture within the various straw markets that visitors are anxious to experience. All vendors are encouraged to get involved and strive to get all visitors to our shores to purchase goods from our straw markets. In doing so, please adhere to the rules of the Straw Authority.
Another realistic goal should be to raise your standard in the ensuing year. I guarantee you that it can easily be achieved. You must never be happy to settle for mediocrity.
You are encouraged to be vibrant, energized, visualize, improve your product, become motivated and invigorated.
To all vendors, I say that you are privileged to occupy a booth. You are renting space that others are appealing for daily. Therefore, create your own ideal space, with thoughtfulness and cleanliness being of paramount importance.
Having a well organized booth within your boundary gives you the freedom to decorate tastefully and present your products creatively.
“A space for everything and everything in its place.” Decorate with purpose, to keep your space beautiful and clean.
Vendors, even when you are complaining about business affairs, dress appropriately. Take personal pride and care in how you present yourself to the world. Your craft is your life insurance, control your destiny.
To the Board of Directors, Management and staff, I commend you for having had a very productive year. The Straw Market Authority’s new secret ingredient is self-sufficiency. By developing a cohesive team spirit you have become more spontaneous and flexible in your business relationship with vendors.
Once again I say congratulations to all honourees.
Good Morning…Enjoy your day!
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, April 19, 2024 – In an attempt to move to 24-hour-a-day operations Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is steadily recruiting Air Traffic Controllers to work at the Providenciales/Howard Hamilton International Airport, according to Godfrey Smith, TCIAA CEO, reporting to the Appropriations Committee.
Speaking on April 8th Smith said a cabinet paper would be sent soon requesting six more Air Traffic Controllers to make round the clock operation at the Provo International possible and to open the airport in Grand Turk till 12 a.m.
Currently, 17 posts are filled and seven are vacant.
Smith was candid with his responses to recent industrial action from ATCs which led to resignations and firings.
“What we have to do is find systems to mitigate such actions and that has to start with filling these jobs, putting people in that want to
work and doing right by people – and we always try to do right by our staff. Persons may not think that we are but we always do – we ain’t pick no fight,” he said in the meetings held at the NJS Francis building ahead of the National Budget Communication.
Smith indicated that recruitment was an issue across the board, ‘we need to find ways to recruit a little bit better’ he told the committee. Also in need of a push was capital spending or projects according to the CEO, who said the agency had ‘not been very good’ at meeting that mark but insisted they had recognized the issue and could do better.
A very important key performance indicator drawn up by the TCIAA is increasing passenger satisfaction at the Howard Hamilton International Airport. For the TCIAA part of this means a 30 percent increase in seating by Q2 of this year.
When queried on if they could even handle this increase the CEO said,
“The fact of the matter is we already have the capacity there. What we need is to make the service a bit better.”
Staff shortages have become such a frustrating issue that the TCIAA is instituting a scholarship program created by Authority Chairman, Selvyn Hawkins
“What the board wants to do is basically allocate $25,000 annually for a scholarship and they’ve approved it already.”
This process would cover tuition and all other costs for one student.
The student would return as a summer intern and other breaks to work at the TCIAA and upon graduation, assume a role at the company.
“We identify a particular skill we need, we go after it and we build capacity that is in a nutshell the nexus of the program,” Smith said.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is allocated $49 million this financial year; over $20 million goes to salaries.
Company delivers fastest speeds nationwide and boosts service reliability
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS, APRIL 19th, 2024 – More connections, faster speeds and greater support for customers. This is the promise from communications and entertainment provider, Flow TCI, as it embarks on an initiative to provide households with enhanced connections, greater overall reliability and now, for the first time, speeds up to one gigabit person second.
FLOW TCI Country Manager, Joanne Missick shared: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We listen to our customers and want to exceed their demands, so we are focused on delivering unmatched value with customer centric products and services that are future proof. Flow subscribers on our Fibre Extreme package can now access up to one gigabyte speeds and subscribers on our Fibre Plus and Fibre Max package, as of April 1st, are also now benefitting from up to 5x more speeds.”
This is third speed boost for Flow customers in the last two years. This comes under the umbrella of the the Company’s recently launched “Working for You” campaign, where technicians are going into the neighborhoods across the island to conduct repairs, decommission copper cables, and increase the brand’s visibility in local communities.
“To date several neighborhoods have been served by technicians and the company will continue to go across the islands to ensure each neighborhood receives personal attention. We recognize that over the past few months some customers have experienced issues with the quality and delivery of our services. This is not what we stand for. Flow remains committed to providing technology and innovation
that enables growth and positively impacts lives”, says, newly appointed Head of Technical Operations, Simeon Thomas.
Thomas adds, “We have been closely monitoring and reviewing every aspect of our network and there is room for improvement across each of the islands. Where we find shortcomings, we are taking concrete actions and assigning our technicians to rapidly make all necessary adjustments and improvements for our customers”.
Flow has made significant investments in expanding and modernizing its infrastructure and delivering a more robust and reliable network paving the way for the country’s digital transformation.
For more information on speed increases visit https://www2.discoverflow.co/turks-and-caicos/price-adjustment-speed-increase on our website.
Thank you for your usual assistance in sharing our stories.
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