TCI News
TCI: Government back in charge of ‘unstable’ dumpsites; CDB to help and new company to be hired
#Providenciales, November 30, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is temporarily managing the country’s two largest landfills which were once operated by Turks and Caicos Environmental Management, TCEM a private company and four weeks on there are problems including fires, security breaches and noxious odors.
Premier Sharlene Robinson confirmed that the contract was not renewed between TCEM and TCIG and that bids will go out to tender for a new company to come in and do the work.
“The Government is not going to be in a position to handle this job, the expertise and everything that is required is not within the Government. But the Government is maintaining the site and bringing it to a state of readiness and we are going out to tender,” she added, “Government is going to be maintaining the site for the new bidder; that should be out shortly if it hasn’t gone out already under the Ministry of Health.”
The prevailing concern is that all of this will take time and the natives are understandably restless.
Magnetic Media explained concerns to the Premier, who listened, attentively. As the wife of a former Public Health Director of the Turks and Caicos, Mrs. Lorne Robinson admitted the handling of the dilemma is a delicate juggling act of giving the immediate relief residents deserve, even while her administration aims to solve the issues related to solid waste management across the country.
“We are doing a comprehensive study. Turks and Caicos cannot continue with a short term fix to dump sites especially after the storms, it should have become more important to the people of the country to understand that we have to have a comprehensive solid waste management system and these talks with CDB believe it or not started about 20 years ago.”
The Caribbean Development Bank consultation is in the early stages. Still required is approval at the Cabinet level and passage of the loan from CDB for consultation through the House of Assembly.
“Following the storm we had the major challenge of large amounts of waste and different types of waste so we have to look at recycling, we have to look at certain bans which I am looking at. So it is a holistic approach. Banning non bio-degradable waste; looking at the recycling of bottles which we really don’t need to be dumping at the site and causing explosions; looking at the large waste of fridge and stoves and cars. All of these things, so, it is a very comprehensive approach.”
Meanwhile, there are fires, reports of coal kilns re-activated, discarded tires continuing to mount and questionable security at both the premises.
Over the weekend in Providenciales, some residents of Belglade Parker Gardens also known as phase one subdivision were forced to move out for the day. On Tuesday, Grand Turk’s dump was a raging inferno. We asked the Premier what can be done about the potential risks to communities neighbouring these dump sites.
“I don’t understand, to be honest with you, the (problems with) security at the dumpsite because it is properly fenced, there is a guard house and it was always our concern when people were intentionally going in and lighting. So with the Government back on, we have to up the security at the site because people are dumping and 
not dumping where they are supposed to and we don’t do slash and burn, but it is a situation where we have landfills and we cover.” The Premier added that, “I am sure it is a matter of just managing… because if you have a stench, then eventually you are going to have flies.”
There was a promise by the Premier to follow up with the Minister of Health Edwin Astwood and there was a promise to improve dialogue with the people who live and work along the perimeter of these unstable landfills.
“It is important to have that dialogue and I know that the Minister (Delroy Williams) who is responsible as the elected member for that area has requested a meeting with the community and I am pretty sure that his colleague (Edwin Astwood) will honour that and so it will happen.”
Late on Tuesday night, TCEM issued a statement saying their contract for dump site management was not renewed; that it had been cancelled since October 28, 2018.
There was no official notice from TCIG that the TCEM dump management contract was not renewed.
Header: Smouldering Providenciales Dump, photo taken November 28, 2018
Insert: Hon. Sharlene Robinson
Her Excellency the Governor is pleased to announce that following an expressions of interest process, and in accordance with Section 5 of the Financial Services Commission Ordinance 2007, Mr Dimaggio Rigby, Mr Geoff Scott and Mr Dennis Swann, have been appointed to serve as Commissioners on the Financial Services Commission Board of directors.
Mr Rigby brings specialist experience in cyber, media, and technology risks. He is currently employed in the City of London as a Cyber Insurance Market Consultant.
Mr Scott is a financial services professional with over 30 years’ successful track record in banking. He currently leads the Bermuda Bankers Association and was, until August 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Cooperation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).
Mr Swann is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. He has expertise in Human Resources and worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia for 12 years. He has previously worked within the TCI FSC.
Commenting on the appointments, the Governor said:
“Following consultation with the Hon. Premier (in his capacity as th
e Minister of Finance) and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, I have appointed Mr Dennis Swann, Mr Dimaggio Rigby and Mr Geoff Scott respectively, to serve as Commissioners (non-executive directors) on the Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC). I am confident that the combined experience of these three new Commissioners will help ensure the FSC delivers our vision for a technologically advanced financial services sector that is competitive and supports growth, is well regulated while agile and internationally respected.
I would like to thank Mr Keno Forbes for his previous service as a Commissioner.”
The appointments are for a three-year period, beginning in April 2024. Further details on the work of the Financial Services Commission can be found at TCIFSC.
Wednesday, April 17th 2024 – On Monday the 15th April at 11 am, the Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) unveiled their new brand to their supporters, members, the media, government departments and partnering NGO’s. The TCAAF, which is now the Turks and Caicos Health and Wellness Foundation (TCHWF) welcomed everyone to their new office which is oblique to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre, Downtown, Providenciales.
The TCHWF was founded in 2003 and is a registered non-profit organization in the TCI and a registered 501 (c) non-profit in the United States as well. TCHWF will focus on addressing broader health and social issues driven by the intersectionality of health and social factors, and disparities in services in the TCI.
At the ceremony, Dr. Dawn O’Sullivan, who provides medical care to persons living with HIV (PLHIV) through the Foundation and will continue to be the doctor on staff for TCHWF, gave the audience an insight on how the Foundation began. Dr. O’ Sullivan praised the board members, staff and volunteers for the success of the Foundation, which includes building the Edward Gartland Youth Centre. She explained that the rebranding was necessary since HIV is a chronic disease where you can take medication and live a long and healthy life, but support is needed for all persons living with chronic diseases and for the population that feels excluded or stigmatized.
TCHWF will provide holistic care to these populations. The new TCHWF office is comprised of a doctor’s office where patients can have consultations and be treated, and other comfortable spaces where persons can relax and unwind.
Nurse Nora Tyndall briefed the attendees on the services that the Foundation currently offers, such as the donation of a CD4 machine to the government so that patients can know their CD4 count before seeing the doctor. Other services being offered are free medical consultations, improved access to treatment and care, convenient access to medications, food cards, grocery distribution and the provision of formulas to infected mothers who give birth and cannot breastfeed. Nurse Tyndall highlighted that there is an increase in the number of pregnant women living with HIV in the TCI.
The new mandate of TCHWF is “Linking Lives, Transforming Communities”, the Foundation’s mission is to expand its services to connect HIV and non-HIV persons to entities and experts that can address varying needs.
The Executive Director of TCHWF, Anansa Jervis, highlighted the Foundation’s “aim to promote access to quality health services, information and education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” Mrs. Jervis further explained that this would mean the need to “integrate HIV services and non-HIV services by increasing access to holistic and comprehensive health services needed for PLHIV and persons not living with HIV.” In this regard, the TCHWF intends to provide linkage to:
▪ The cultivation of youth empowerment and the development of life skills
▪ Health, hygiene, education and wellness strategies tailored to the needs of young women
▪ Care and support services for survivors of domestic violence
▪ Mental health, psychosocial services and recovery support services for persons with substance use disorders.
▪ Equitable access to HIV care and support services, addressing disparities.
To achieve these linkages, the Foundation has held discussions with various NGO’s and government organizations to provide the necessary services and support to persons with varying needs.
One of the Board Members of the Foundation, Giovanni Delancy, gave the closing address by expressing thanks to God, the members, staff, media and volunteers for attending the unveiling ceremony. He closed with “we will continue to bring awareness and education to those not only with HIV/AIDS but other STD’s and other diseases. Let us continue to make a difference wherever we go.”
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