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H. J. ROBINSON GRATEFUL FOR GENEROSITY FROM DIGICEL

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Thursday, June 29th – Providenciales – Almost $16,000 in materials and supplies has been donated by Digicel to the H.J. Robinson High School in order to assist with the school’s rebuilding efforts following a devastating fire at the start of the year. The donation was officially made on Friday 24th June at the school grounds.

The generous donation was the culmination of efforts initiated by several Digicel employees who are also H.J. Robinson High alumni. The employees were so distraught at the news of the fire that, while it was raging they immediately mobilised, requesting the company’s help in order to provide assistance for the school.

A “text to donate” campaign was launched on 29th January, the evening of the fire, allowing all Digicel customers to donate $1 by “HELP” to 5151.  Digicel’s Founder and Chairman, Denis O’Brien, was so moved by the employees’ compassion for their community that he personally contributed to the initiative. The school will receive a number of items like a wireless bell system, cameras, smart boards and PA speakers and lab equipment – as well as kitchen work tables and other items.

Roshaun Malcolm, Digicel Corporate Accounts Executive and H.J. Robinson High alumni, said: “As former students, the school has a really special place in our hearts and holds historical and educational significance for the TCI. The fire could have had a huge negative impact but, through the efforts of many in the community, especially our Chairman and our customers who have generously donated, and with Digicel’s help, we’ve turned a tragedy into a moment of triumph for community spirit.”

Digicel Marketing Communications Executive, Damian Wilson – also an alumnus – commented: “H.J. Robinson is a part of us, without it we could not have become the men and women that we are today. The rapid response by the community, in conjunction with Digicel, demonstrates that when we all work together, we can truly make a positive difference.”

H.J. Robinson’s principal, Reinwald Lewis, said: “We are excited and thankful for Digicel’s efforts to help us with our administrative block. After such a horrific fire, it is great to see that our alumni continue to value the contribution that the school has made to their lives and that they want to give back for the future of our children. Thank you to Digicel and Mr. O’ Brien for their generosity.”

Despite the challenges at the start of the new school year, the school has continued to dwell on the positives. “The teachers and students have been amazing,” Lewis said.  “We’ve really had to be innovative and find ways around the challenges. Resilience is an important thing. We’re in the process of rebuilding, and I want to keep the enthusiasm.”

Takara Bain (Head of Marketing), Roshaun Malcolm (Corporate Accounts Executive), and Denniser Forbes (Corporate Care Executive) were in Grand Turk to attend a cheque presentation to the students and faculty of H.J. Robinson High School, on behalf of Digicel Turks and Caicos.

About Digicel Group

Digicel Group is a total communications and entertainment provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. Digicel TCI is a majority owned TCI Company. After more than 15 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Caribbean Premier League. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of grassroots NRL programs, women’s business initiatives and the Amicale soccer team in Vanuatu.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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