News
ZIKA Press Release
Providenciales, 05 Feb 2016 – The number of Zika cases continues to increases in the Caribbean and Latin America region and more countries are becoming affected, The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services is please to say that the Turks and Caicos Islands is currently Zika free.
The Premiere, Minister of Health, Agriculture and Human Services, the Hon., Dr. Rufus W Ewing advises that TCI Government in its commitment to ensure that the Turks and Caicos remains Zika Free, Cabinet yesterday approved emergency funds in the sum of $327,433.00 to procure additional resources, chemicals and step-up on manpower in the fight to ensure that TCI remain Zika Free.
The funding will be used to purchase mosquito nets for our vulnerable Populations such as pregnant women, the elderly. In addition, the Government also intend to bulk purchase mosquito repellents which would be distributed to the above mentioned vulnerable group’s households throughout the islands.
The Department of Environmental Health will also be purchasing additional fogging machines and several hand-held industrial fogging machines which would permit more effective fogging operations throughout the islands, particularly within communities and areas which are not easily accessible with vehicles.
Cabinet also granted approval for a reduction in the tariff for the purchasing of held fogging machines, as such the public and the commercial establishments on island are encouraged to import hand-held fogging machine, and individuals are also encouraged to purchase these items and as frequent as necessary engage in fogging of their premises.
However, the Government recognize that fogging alone will not be the solution. Part of the solution is to prevent the adult mosquito from finding suitable areas with settled water to lay their eggs. In an effort to address this, The Turks and Caicos Government in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and other civic groups will be conducting a National clean-up Campaign. Communities and resident are encouraged to clean their back yard, place the trash in front of their property and arrangement would be made to remove the trash.
All persons, community groups, church groups, schools, adult’s young and old asre encourage to come out and be part of the Nationwide clean up exercise in an effort to ensure that TCIG remain Zika Free. This is a matter of National urgency and all persons are encouraged to take part and do their part in keeping TCIG Zika free. Speaking on the Zika threat was TCHTA’s Executive Director Stacy Cox who noted, “Last week we attended a webinar with CHTA, CTO and our Caribbean counterparts where information on the virus and preventative measures were disseminated. We will be in constant communication with CHTA and will share any pertinent information with our local stakeholders including health protocols in dealing with mosquito-borne viral diseases found in our region.”
Cox added, “One takeaway from the meeting was the importance of educating our residents about ways to control the mosquito population. TCHTA as the largest tourism and hospitality body in the nation will therefore be increasing our public awareness and training among our employees and will be taking proactive measures to combat Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya.”
The Ministry further advises that protecting yourself from mosquito bites will help you to stay safe from contracting Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika and if travel is essential to areas experiencing these diseases, especially for pregnant women, remember to exercise extreme caution to avoid mosquito bites.
To Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites:
Apply insect repellents on exposed skin liberally
When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside
If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel, sleep under a mosquito net
Help reduce the number of mosquitoes inside and outside your home by:
Check around buildings for anything that could hold water, inspect your home and yard weekly
Turn containers over or cover them
Get rid of or cover old tires
Properly dispose of all garbage/refuse
Cover boats, children’s pools, water drums and rain barrels etc.
Clean rain gutters and make sure they are flowing properly
Check screens for holes
Empty standing water from containers such as flower pots or buckets
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – The Integrity Commission advises that the Register of Interests for Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2022 has been completed.
Members of the House of Assembly are required by the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, Section 103(2), and the Integrity Commission Ordinance (the Ordinance), as amended, Section 52(1), to file with the Commission, Statements of Registrable Interests. The Commission would, therefore, like to inform members of the public that, it
has compiled the information contained in these Statements of Registrable Interests and has produced The Register of Interests 2022 for the Members of the House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2022.
The Register of Interests 2022 is now available for public inspection at the following locations:
- House of Assembly in Grand Turk
- Office of the Premier – Grand Turk and Providenciales
- Office of the Integrity Commission – Grand Turk and Providenciales (during the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm from Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays.)
- Office of the District Commissioner – Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay and South Caicos.
The Register can be viewed at these locations during normal working hours or at a time that is convenient for the respective offices.
For further information or any assistance please contact the Integrity Commission:
By telephone at: 946-1941(Grand Turk Office) or 941-7847 (Providenciales Office) By e-mail at: secretary@integritycommission.tc or info@integritycommission.tc
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, September 29, 2023 – With moves to deepen ties, governments of The Bahamas and Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to solidify agreements in principle surrounding the development of aviation and other related services.
This is according to Chester Cooper, The Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation in a Facebook post.
This comes after The Bahamas Government in a press release on September 24th, revealed that Cooper, was set to meet with the head of Qatar Airways to have talks regarding “multiple mutually beneficial aviation opportunities for both countries.”
The release also said the deputy prime minister and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investment and Aviation are working on “forging strategic partnerships with several Middle Eastern countries to strengthen ties to The Bahamas and the Caribbean,” and this new signing is indicative of such efforts.
Following the September 25th signing, on September 27th, Kenneth Romer, Deputy Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas informed via Facebook some details of the agreement saying, “we have now established a framework for cooperation and formed strategic partnerships with Qatar Airways, Qatar’s Transport, Aviation and Investment Agencies and The Qatar Aeronautical Academy, that will benefit our country.”
Regarding further efforts for the improvement of The Bahamas, Cooper announced on Facebook again on Tuesday September 26th that both countries are working to make Nassau a passenger hub for Latin America and the Caribbean adding that talks are being held for Grand Bahama as a cargo hub.
Additionally, as the press release informed, Cooper is preparing for an on ground visit of Bahamasair domestic operations by Qatar Airways Technical team sometime in October.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#Guyana, September 29, 2023 – Guyana is making moves to become the primary food production center for the Caribbean, going ahead with plans to develop a USD$14 million regional food hub.
In fact, as reported by the Observer, the facility has already been identified on the country’s Soesdyke /Linden Highway.
Guyana seems to really want this to become a reality and Zulfikar Mustapha, Agriculture Minister, expressed this,
highlighting what Guyana has over its Caribbean sister Islands.
“We want Guyana to be the food hub, the primary production hub of the Caribbean so that we could supply the Caribbean. What we have, our colleagues in the Caribbean don’t have. We have arable flat land and abundant fresh water,” he said, adding that with the multi-million dollar US investment, the country can, “modernise the infrastructure, and start ramping up the productions.”
Also, the Agriculture Minister pointed out that the project is geared to make for a more competitive local Agriculture industry as well as developing high-yielding varieties, pest-resistant and climate-resilient varieties.
Additionally, in the facility’s development, Guyana, Mustapha said, will work with Belize.
In fact, with more on Belize’s involvement, Dr. Ashni Singh, Finance Minister, informed that the Government is in talks with the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley about sourcing inputs from northern Brazil and transporting them through Guyana to Barbados and vice versa.
Singh also reportedly revealed that the project will help develop the growing logistics industry in Guyana.
Considering regional food import cost, with this development, Guyana is the leading Caribbean Community country pushing ahead with plans to reduce the multi-billion dollar regional food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025, the Observer says.
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