By Darron Hilaire Jr. – Youth Advocate & Mentor

We’re beginning a new week with a record-breaking murder report.

Here are some of my latest thoughts on the matter at hand.

I don’t agree that things are “out of hand”, as I’ve heard it said in many instances.

I think we are still dealing with a fairly young (relatively 10-year-old) issue.

I do agree that things are VERY BAD, but I also believe that intervention is still very much within our reach as a country – this context is very important.

When we are dealing with something bigger than us or foreign to us, it always seems “out of hand”. TCI’s crime and gun violence rampage are foreign issues. Just over ten years ago, all of this was unheard of in our little paradisiacal island.

Let me put it in a different context.

Mothers, for instance, who are not accustomed to disciplining boys or raising boys might say a boy is “out of hand” because, well, she doesn’t understand the nature of boys.

She will call his father and say, “Come deal with this boy of yours”, and the father would walk in, and it seems almost automatic to him how he dismantles the situation.

And, it is not automatic by any means, however, because he understands his own boyish nature, he doesn’t deal with the issue from the same extreme vantage point as the mother.

In an ideal situation, a healthy situation, he deals with it from a place of understanding.

To make matters worse, he deals with it from a place of aggression and rage – and this too has its implications on how boys grow up to be angry and aggressive men.

Let this be a caution by itself, that if we take the position of operating out of understanding, we have a shot at intervention, but if we take the position of operation out of aggression and rage, we will only further exacerbate the situation.

And this is what I believe we are doing – operating from a place of extreme.

On another note, I think the notices calling for a voluntary turnover of guns, a “gun amnesty”, as we’ve put it, is rather absurd.

I, on the other hand, am more concerned about what made these young men pick up the guns in the first place, rather than pressuring them to turn over their source of protection.

I think there are some questions we have to ask here – although, hypothetically for now, until we can come face to face with some of the offenders.

1. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU FELT PROTECTED?
2. WHO OR WHAT ROBBED YOU OF YOUR SENSE OF SECURITY?

As simple as those questions sound, I think it humanizes the situation – which is something we have to start to do. These are human beings. These are boys or young men, rather. These are someone’s children, someone’s brother, someone’s friends.

These are not faceless, nameless, soul-less, and body-less people. These are boys/young men with bodies, faces, names, souls, human needs, and families.

And my hunch is that sometimes when we don’t feel protected, we feel tempted to take protection into our own hands.

That is easy for us to picture as a people, because the reason we are crying out for the powers that be to take an intervention if we’re honest, is not because we care so much about these young men and their lives and their families, we are concerned about our own protection.

It is our sense of helplessness that is driving us to apply pressure, not always our sense of compassion. That in itself says a lot.

Because, helplessness will drive us to make cowardice recommendations to have these young men eliminated from the society as if they never belonged here, as if their lives never mattered; but compassion will beckon us towards curiosity, care, and courage.

I think when we put it that way, that is a feeling that all of us can resonate with.

I think when we think about it that way, we can start to devise strategies for conscious intervention and stop reducing everything to tactical force.

YOU CAN NOT HEAL TRAUMA WITH MORE TRAUMA.

The tactical force will help with rounding up, YES, but it will not help with soul healing, transformation, and rehabilitation. It will not help with creating a place of refuge for the kind of amnesty to happen.

Amnesty doesn’t just happen.

In fact, AMNESTY WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN A COUNTRY WHERE VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE PROTECTED BY THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THEM.

We can call for it all we want.

We can even pray for it; it will not come.

If there is corruption in the systems that are designed for our protection, there will be no amnesty – there will only be more outrage and more young men externalizing their pain by taking it out on the society that never protected them.

When we learn how to create safe places for our children, our young men, to take our wounds to, only then can we create and encourage systems of amnesty.

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, September 18, 2022 – An app that does your hiring for you; it’s every hiring manager’s dream and it’s real. Even better? It’s home grown and born in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hiring app SheLEAD HR Solutions was created in a collaboration between Turks and Caicos Islanders: Sheba Wilson and Roger Harvey.

Harvey, who is the founder of Go to Web Solutions, a new startup software company, explained that they brainstormed the system when they realized how TCI islanders were applying for jobs.

“The whole idea came about when we noticed applications in the TCI typically applied for a job by email— and that’s been a very inconvenient process.”

It meant printing out applications for all the applicants which might then get lost and keeping meticulous track of email addresses, phone numbers etc. In an effort to make recruitment better for the organization and the candidates SheLead was created. It is a powerhouse of an app, what the system offers is a tailor made and user friendly interface specific to each company that employers can manipulate easily.

Sheba Wilson, expert HR Manager with over a decade of experience explained the process.

“The hiring system is basically an HR solution that is geared towards streamlining the hiring process as well facilitating onboarding.”

Wilson explained this made the a fully functioning electronic process with communication in real time.

“Candidates are able to receive updates as soon as they input information and as soon as the hiring manager uploads them–– it cuts down a lot of the time that human resource departments have to spend with regard to making telephone calls or sending emails with follow up questions— because all of that functionality is included in the software,” she explained

The actual process of using the app is extremely easy.

Applicants upload their application and documents to the app and receive an automated response after which the HR manager can see that application, determine whether there are documents missing and or whether the applicant should be shortlisted for an interview.

When the decision is made, the HR manager or hiring manager updates the app and the applicant receives a text and email advising them of the updates.

Wilson explained that not only would this system make communication more effective between companies and potential employees it would make that communication faster as well. She said poor communication was a repeated issue which potential employees had with companies.

“We know that it is a very rigorous process but this particular software helps to take away all of the heavy lifting and creates a very streamlined process for the candidate and the company.”

There are additional features like personality compatibility tests to see whether applicants are a right fit. Applicants can also upload videos, get reminders about documents and use countless other features.

The app takes the hiring process from start to finish with minimal input from the applicant and the HR manager. The applicant can even receive their offer letters through the app.

“The feedback has been phenomenal. We have tried it out in quite a few markets and The feedback has been positive so far,” said Harvey.

Employers who use the app get a branded portal and can add QR codes to advertisements for positions which when scanned send applicants directly to the portal where they can upload their applications.

The app is already getting recognized for its brilliance and is picking up customers left and right. Grace Bay Resorts is a bonafide client and the developers are currently courting the TCIG. International clients are knocking on the door as well.

The TCI grown app is an ingenious idea and seems poised for success. To her fellow Turks and Caicos islanders Wilson said, “Don’t downplay yourself. Don’t ever believe that you are less than.  You have the innate talents and abilities that God has given you. What you need is the confidence to step forward and do what you have to do. Sometimes we allow fear to stop us, we think ‘oh I am just a small town Island girl who is going to take me seriously?’ It starts with confidence and there’s power in collaboration. Don’t be afraid to partner with other Turks and Caicos islanders,” she urged.

The app is available on the App Store and Google play   and comes at no cost to applicants; only employers pay and employers are eligible for a free demo.

For small companies the two executives explained the starting price for the most basic package would be under $250 a month.

You can learn more here.

0400 PM EDT Sunday September 18, 2022 Valid until 1000 AM Monday September 19, 2022

#TurksandCaicos, September 18, 2022 – At 200 PM AST (1800 UTC), the center of Hurricane Fiona was located near latitude 17.8 North, longitude 66.9 West. Fiona is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h).  A northwestward motion is expected to begin later today and continue through Monday, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Fiona will continue to pass near or over southwestern and western Puerto Rico this afternoon and evening.  Fiona will then move near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic tonight and Monday, and near or to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts.  Additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours while Fiona moves near Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and over the southwestern Atlantic.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

• WINDS: Tropical storm conditions are possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands by late Monday or early Tuesday. High likelihood of tropical storm force winds for South Caicos, Grand Turk and Salt Cay.
• RAINFALL: 2 to 5 inches. Rainfall is expected to be heavier in the more eastern islands (South Caicos, Grand Turk and Salt Cay). These rains will cause localized flooding of roads, properties, and communities.
• SURF: Swells generated by Fiona will reach the Turks and Caicos Islands by Sunday night.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC

• Use this time to download the DDME Alert App for significant weather alerts and for useful information on how to prepare for various hazards. Click the link: http://onelink.to/qe7vn2
• Reduce hazards in and around your property, such as overhanging trees, clogged drains, and unsecured items that can become missiles during high winds.
• Review your Family Emergency Plan and your Business Continuity Plan.
• Discuss with family members what actions they should take if impacted by hazards arising from the adverse weather.
• Prepare your emergency supplies to last at least 3 – 7days.

• Assist neighbours and the elderly in prevention and preparedness activities.
• Continue to monitor the DDME website and Social media pages for official weather updates.

The TCIAA Meteorological Department and the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies will continue to monitor this system and advise the public accordingly.