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SIPT Defendants may sue for ‘defamation’ and ‘framing’

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Providenciales, 03 Sept 2015 – During a recent one on one interview, Minister of Finance Washington Misick said he was unable to give the cumulative cost of the Special Investigation into alleged government corruption so far officially.

Figures have been put at $12 million per year and as high as $60 million over six years and while many in the TCI have sounded off on the expensive costs and ways of spending of the Helen Garlick led investigation, others say this process needs to happen and they blame the Michael Misick led administration for the expensive debacle.

Recently, the Governor explained that an additional $2.2 million dollars was needed for extra security of Garlick and her team after what he called ‘credible threats’ and compared the effects of these threats, if carried out, to terrorism.

The request for this money was rejected by the PNP Administration and never made it to the House of Assembly for debate in parliamentary. The Governor and CFO used their constitutional powers to go ahead anyway and add the funds as a line item in the Police budget in a financial supplementary that was sent off to London. It is likely the SIPT will get the money. That fact, coupled with other charges constitutional infractions has brought brutally frank comments from the defendants in the SIPT cases.

In a media statement they say: Governor Peter Beckingham should know better than trying to compare the Turks and Caicos Islands to places like Mumbai, Thailand and Bangkok where terrorism exists; that the Governor knows the defendants are not the ones responsible for the delays; they point out that appeals are a right of any defendant in any case and when it comes to Helen Garlick having been ready 18 months ago, as said by His Excellency in a statement, the defendants reminded, “it will not be lost on any resident that Helen Garlick and her SIPT have been here for more than six years.”

The investigation has been called a ‘white wash’ and these are calling for an inquiry into spending by the UK-hired SIPT.

The group calls this recent situation, another horrible injustice which demands independent scrutiny.

It has been pointed out by the group that there are still grave needs in country, citing the recent lack of police vehicles while Helen Garlick and her team had many and it was shared that the ten defendants are currently seeking legal advice for defamation and the attempt, they say, to frame them.

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TCI Census making strides; Provo progress slowed to crime

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

 

#TurksandCaicos, December 5, 2023 – For a second year, criminal activity has had a direct effect on the long-awaited Turks and Caicos Islands Census causing delays, particularly in densely populated communities of Providenciales.

“Providenciales, facing distinctive challenges due to its transient population, periodic serious crimes, and logistical difficulties, reports a completion rate slightly below fifty percent, explained Shirlen Forbes.  Chief Statistician in the Department in response to Magnetic Media.

Forbes went on to detail the issues in the November 27 update to our news organization.

“Multiple factors, including crime, contribute to the low completion rate on Providenciales. Enumerators face safety risks in certain areas with higher crime incidence, creating an atmosphere of insecurity and fear among residents. This has led to hesitations in visiting specific areas or households during periodic surges in violent crime, affecting the overall completion rate.”

The disheartening report emerges following a presentation at Cabinet.

Residents had suspected the unforgiving nature of the criminal element in the Turks and Caicos, known to shoot into crowds, recklessly and callously in an effort to hit their true target had created an unsafe environment.  This unchecked violence has stymied the collection of the much needed information.

In order to fix it the Department admits it needs more time, resources and new strategies.

“It’s essential to recognize that extension to the data collection period is not unique to the Turks and Caicos Islands, as other countries in the region, despite having richer census-taking histories and more resources, have faced similar challenges.”

As for the other islands the prognosis is much better.

Middle Caicos and Salt Cay with their significantly smaller populations and almost crime-free communities stand out with a 100 percent completion rate.  Still, the Department wants more refined data on these islands.

Grand Turk, South Caicos, and North Caicos all have completion rates exceeding 85 percent said Mr. Forbes.  The goal for these islands is to conclude the census by December 2023.

As for Parrot Cay, Pine Cay, Ambergris Cay and West Caicos, which are mainly resort islands, the completion is expected within the next two weeks,

Chief Statistician, Shirlen Forbes said while the progress on all islands outside of Providenciales is commendable, his office is also hoping to funnel quality data to the government

“While completion rates signify progress, the importance of data quality cannot be overstated. High completion rates don’t guarantee accurate data if the collection is rushed or incomplete. Ensuring data accuracy and quality is imperative for the overall success of the census.”

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Bahamas News

Bahamas went into COP28 with BIG GOALS in mind

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

#TheBahamas, December 5, 2023 – The Bahamas government highlighted its intentions for the upcoming Cop28 conference which includes taking part in the negotiation process, advancing investment programmes and the launching of major projects.

According to Dr. Rochell Newbold, Climate Advisor, for  negotiations, there are three potential outputs the country is looking to follow and they include loss and damage, the technical assistance that will be offered to countries within the loss and damage space and following up on the issues of global stocktake.

For the loss and damage fund, she speaks to the efforts of small island developing states since Cop27, to enhance matters relevant to the loss and damage fund.

This intention, that is to encourage dialogue around this issue, comes as there are geopolitical issues going on globally and global finances are going to those issues and not to global issues of climate change.

In fact, referring to actual statistics, she expressed that in as little as a few months, more than $200 billion dollars were raised and distributed to the issue of war and yet, for years there has been talks around $100 billion needed to address the climate agreement.

For issues of investment opportunities, opportunities which Newbold says would bring great success for The Bahamas, she referred to a current investment project in the country that is a financial grant to address energy and water needs on nine islands within the archipelago, which they are looking to expand.

Furthermore, at Cop28, The Bahamas will launch its BlueCo Caribbean project, driving the blue economy and investment strategy, Newbold said.

This program comes after a regional meeting last year where it was highlighted that the region needs a program to address the needs of island states as well as the fact that less than 0.1 percent of global investments go to the marine environment.

Regarding global stock take, it addresses everything related to the world’s position on climate action and support, identifying the gaps, and working to chart a better course forward to accelerate climate action, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Additionally, Newbold made another revelation that they will be unveiling The Bahamas Sustainable Investment programme, which has been worked on since Cop 27.

Described as a sleek and tactical delegation, the advisor said  less than 20 people will be attending Cop28 including the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister with Responsibility for Energy and Transportation.

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Sexual violence along migration routes, children included 

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

December 5, 2023 – Irregular rates of migration across the Latin America and Caribbean region continue and with it there is a growing rate of sexual violence.

This is according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)  in its Weekly Situation Update for November 20th, 2023 and it informs that Organizations indicate growing reports of sexual violence which is affecting women and children who take on what has been time and time again, described as a “treacherous journey across the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama.

The migrants, the report says, include nearly 460,000 people with almost 100,000 children.

Regarding the sexual violence affecting these migrants, the report refers to humanitarian medical care charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) which says it has treated 397 survivors of sexual violence which includes many children, that is after they successfully reach Panama.

In October 2023, MSF saw a decrease in the number of migrants crossing the Darien gap, 49,256 people compared to September which saw 75,268.

However, despite the drop in number, there was an increase in the number of survivors of sexual assault looking for assistance, the weekly update says.

In October, MSF helped 107 people. In one week, 59 people reach out for help from the charity which is equivalent to one event of sexual violence every three hours, the report pointed out. Speaking to child victims of sexual assault, it said three of the rape survivors were children aged 11, 12 and 16.

To help put a stop to this immoral behavior, the OCHA states that humanitarian organizations, the MSF included, UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group and Plan International and others, are calling on relevant governments to make it a priority to protect migrants and their human rights, as well as strengthen humanitarian capacities and improve comprehensive response strategies such as increasing legal and safe channels for migration and looking into the cause of movements, with the intention to remove them or help reduce their impact of the people’s decision regarding migration.

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