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MPs GET $126 MILLION FOR CHIKV CLEAN-UP

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KINGSTON, Oct. 15 (JIS): Members of Parliament have been allocated $126 million for clean-up activities with each constituency to receive $2 million.

The amount is part of $500 million earmarked by Government for the National Health Emergency Response to the Chikungunya Virus (CHIK V), including elimination of mosquito breeding sites.

Already, $150 million has been set aside for the Health Ministry to meet “some critical emergency needs”.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, who gave a breakdown of the allocation at a meeting with Parliamentarians at Jamaica House on Tuesday

(October 14), said that $70 million will go to Parish Councils, with each parish receiving $5 million; while the remaining $154 million will be utilized for additional clean-up activities and mosquito vector control.

She informed that $131 million was already provided from the Consolidated Fund to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to deal with the backlog in the collection of garbage.

The programme of emergency clean-up is being co-ordinated by a team involving the Ministry of Health, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) Secretariat, and the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

The Prime Minister said logistics co-ordination will be led by the JDF’s Colonel Daniel Pryce, while administrative arrangements, including project registration and payments, will be spearheaded by JEEP Project Director, Lucille Brodber.

She said that by virtue of the JEEP Secretariat being located in the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Housing, Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, will have line responsibility for the clean-up exercise.

Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Fenton Ferguson continues to lead the health response, with Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer to Chair the Monitoring Group and to report directly to the Prime Minister as well as to the country on a regular basis.

Pointing out that “all stakeholders have a vital role to play” in the initiative, the Prime Minister commended Parliamentarians, whom she said, have been active in engaging constituents, stressing that the “only sustainable way to control and reduce the epidemic…is to destroy and reduce mosquito breeding sites.”

This, she added, by starting with the “worst affected areas”, as indicated by the mapping that has been done by the Health Ministry.

Dr. Ferguson, in welcoming the Prime Minister’s leadership in the initiative, said execution of the project in each parish will be done in collaboration with public health field staff, to ensure that the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and their breeding sites are destroyed.

“The fact is…we (want to) contain it, especially in the parishes most impacted…while you prevent areas that have not been impacted, from having any real incident or expanded numbers. That is why the decision was taken to give some seed funding to the Parish Councils and to Members of Parliament, working with the health team, to ensure that we hit the breeding sites. As representatives of the people, I have absolutely no doubt that you would have a better grasp of what is happening on the ground,” he stated.

Dr. Ferguson encouraged them to ensure that value is received for the money spent.

“We will be depending on all of you to get out there (and ensure that) the question of value for money…(is) a top priority. It cannot be just a work programme…we must get value for money. I appeal to Members of Parliament, Mayors (and councillors), to take the lead in our parishes,” he urged.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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