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PDM on its Kick Off Campaign

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Providenciales, TCI, November 15, 2016 – The Caribbean as a tourist destination took centre stage at the World Travel Market, the largest gathering of global tourism stakeholders.  Highlighting the work of its Tourism and Health Programme, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), became the first regional health institution to be represented at this forum.

The PDM is excited about the reception of its message rolled out around the Turks and Caicos Islands in its Kick Off Rallies and other events.  Last week, we were more than pleased with the attendance, spirit and responses at and to our 3 major Kick Off Rallies on Providenciales, North Caicos and Grand Turk.

“Our people are ready for change and it is evident that they are committed to achieving that on December 15, 2016.  They have also welcomed the PDM’s effort to lift the campaign from the doldrums and to keep their content issues related and centered.  We promised the people of this country that we will share how we intend to uplift their spirits and to show them how we will improve their lives from day one.  We are excited about our Team and our Message and Plans and this excitement has been buzzing up and down the length and breadth of the Turks and Caics Islands.  There is more to come and our people are listening to the plans and listening to the agents for change because we are the superior team with superior plans.  We will continue to keep issues centered and will condemn any other actions,” says Party Leader, Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson.

Party Leader continued, “Tomorrow on November 16, 2016, a Press Statement will be delivered at our Party’s Headquarters in Providenciales at 11am. We will announce the remainder of our Campaign Schedule and will invite you the people of these Islands to follow us and listen to real change presented by real change agents. Once our candidates are officially nominated on Friday, November 18, 2016, we will continue on the delivery of our message around the Islands with our constituency rallies.”

photo-1-9She continued, “We are equally pleased with our first debate participant Hon Keno Forbes who last evening strongly articulated his and our Party’s platform and vision very well. We are excited that young people are coming forward to share in the leadership of their country and are standing shoulder to shoulder and even above those who are senior. We are pleased with the reviews and the unprecedented excitement around this Debate.

We must however chide the PNP Chairman on his Release following the debate on which he made an issue of the fact that Hon Forbes does not reside in South Caicos and that this should be a prominent thought for consideration. Our response is simply that this is a desperate attempt to deflect voters from his vision and ability to bring real change to South Caicos and to discount the fact that though persons are not resident on a particular Island that they are not aware of the issues nor feel the pain of the people they continue to keep connected to. There are many persons who for lack of opportunities had to leave their Island home be it South Caicos or any of the Islands outside of Providenciales and to discount their ability to contribute because of the failure of his Party’s Government in South Caicos over the past 40 years is nothing short of desperate. South Caicos has not fared off better for having representatives living on the Island and the record will reflect that. It is our Party’s collective vision  to reverse this so that there will be more persons who can remain at home be it in South Caicos, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, Grand Turk and yes even Salt Cay. ”
Deputy Party Leader, Hon Sean Astwood stated, “We promised the people a campaign that they have never before experienced and I am pleased that the responses are positive to our brand and our message. We will not disappoint you the people and while others will resort to lies and personal attacks, we will continue to focus on what matters to you. We will focus on those bread and butter, around the table issues that will impact your life.”

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Agriculture Ministry Providing Two Water Trucks to Serve St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine

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#Kingston, Jamaica, April 24, 2024 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is to unveil two more water trucks this week, which will be used to service communities in St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure during Wednesday’s (April 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

He also informed that of the $90 million earmarked to support farmers being impacted by the current drought, the Ministry will be providing additional support for storage and drip-irrigation systems.

“So, we have targeted about 600 water tanks and about 400 12-millimetre drip irrigation hoses, and that distribution has already started. Additionally, we have earmarked about $8 million to really help with our livestock farmers,” Mr. Green said.

“We know the difficulty that you’re facing now in this time; [it’s] very hard to get the right nutritional support for your animals. As such, we will be providing some hay, and we will [also] provide some trucking of water to you. Again, our livestock farmers, if you are in need, please contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and let us see how we can help in these times,” he further stated.

Mr. Green also encouraged farmers to download the RADA App, so that the Agency can “help guide you, not only in relation to what is happening on the rainfall side, but also in relation to your integrated pest management”.

“We do see some increases of certain types of pests during this time, and it’s important that our farmers are paying attention to that. It’s also important that you’re taking drought management seriously [by undertaking] soil mulching, looking at planting drought-tolerant crops, timely harvesting, implementing land husbandry treatments and contour ditches,” he stated.

Contact: Latonya Linton

Release: JIS

 

Photo Caption: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, speaking during Wednesday’s (April 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

 

Donald De La Haye Photo

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“Mad Max” Convicted of Murder

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MEDIA RELEASE

 

#TurksandCaicos, April 23, 2024 – Blue Hills resident KENDALL RONDRE DEAN has been convicted of murdering JOSHUA SWANN.

Mr. Dean, also called “Maddie”, “Mad Max”, and “Dre”, was found guilty by a nine-member jury yesterday (April 22nd) in the Grand Turk Supreme Court.

Following the verdict, Mr. Dean was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison, pending sentencing on 10th June 2024.

Based on the evidence presented, Mr. SWANN of Five Cays was shot multiple times about the body on Sunday, August 8th, 2021, while at North West Point, Providenciales.

Mr. Swann was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives of the Serious Crimes Unit received a report, and following intensive investigations and interviews, Mr. Dean was arrested and subsequently charged.

Shortly after the verdict, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams said, “This conviction demonstrates the RTCIPF’s commitment to bringing to justice those who cause the most harm throughout our communities using illegal firearms.

“This is an example of the effective coordination of the various units across the Force in supporting the lead detective in bringing about this conviction. The RTCIPF is grateful for the information provided by witnesses who came forward.

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Airports Authority aims for 24-hour airport and announces Scholarship programme

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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.

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