TCI News
TCI: Press Statement from the Leader of the Opposition – “Ten Pillars of Short Change”
#Providenciales, December 15, 2018 – Turks and Caic0s – From the Fanciful to the Absurd: The PDM sleepwalks into the second half of its four-year mandate.
Real change is achieved by real leadership, and real leaders are authentic, possess self-knowledge and humility. These are the qualities of a true leader as reflected in the words of Douglas MacArthur: “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
The roof is on fire and the PDM is playing follow the leader. Ministers and other elected PDM representatives are going along uncritically with the imperial leadership style of the Premier and dancing to her beat. Leaders who exercise power and authority responsibly do not command; they help people identify what changes are required in their principles, behaviors, performances and priorities to accommodate changing conditions and embrace new demands. But, the Premier’s style of leadership is ineffective and dangerous. It portrays cowardice, insecurity and a lack of empathy. It hinders people’s ability to anticipate and react to changing circumstances.
But then again, the current state was predictable from the onset of the many absurd promises outlined in the PDM’s manifesto. These seem to have been based on astrology – the divination of outcomes rather than objective achievable output. This is obvious from the PDMs obsession with numerology reflected in the “Change Document”, which reads like a child’s wish list at Christmas time. The numerous repetitive “flights of fancy” are, broadly speaking, included under the four broad headings below:
- 20 Anchor projects for real change
- 10 Pillars for Change
- 12-Point law enforcement priorities
- 10 Institutions and Infrastructure For Real and Meaningful Change.
I encourage every thinking voter to find the Change Document on the internet and read it now having the benefit of 20:20 vision and discover the pile of ‘cockamamie’ it is. Understandably, in the heat of the moment and after a period of necessary austerity under the PNP to upright the economy, the rhetoric of the PDM must have sound like an utopian redemption. But what appeared to be an ushering in of utopia has turned out to be “fool’s gold”- a mirage in the desert. Alas, it was the PNP’s courageous decisions that laid the foundation upon which the PDM would attempt to overlay its faulty pillars that continues to power the economy. The four corners of that foundation are, annual economic growth of 4+%; dissolution of $170m debt in record time; BBB+ credit rating; and increased investor confidence which remains strong despite the machinations of the PDM against sound economic principles, and whimsical actions in contradiction to their campaign promises. It is useful to draw the public’s attention to their ten pillars as a measure of their performance. They are listed below and reflects some of the most egregious failures of any political manifesto. You be the judge.
- The promise of Citizen and Community Empowerment for Real Change.
Under which the promise of safe neighborhoods; stamp and import duty rebates to assist first time homeowners; bank mortgage forgiveness and moratorium on foreclosures; equal pay legislation; streamline Labour and Immigration for efficiency and partnership with the private sector for job creation and training; increase caregiving assistance to the sick and elderly; poverty eradication; after school support to single parents; and a pension fund for hospitality workers.
- Border Control, Security, Law and Order
A comprehensive national security strategy with major focus on border protection, immigration controls and crime prevention; 12-point crime plan; oversight of policing under a commission; develop a Chinese investment policy; will ensure that there is adequate funding to ensure that the persons serving custodial sentences receive the best care and rehabilitative opportunities.
- Jobs and Economy
Creation of a Jobs Policy; promote “shop locally” in support of the Agri Industry; encourage the development of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) through a designated desk; encourage and develop a maritime tourism plan that will facilitate the sailing and yachting community; conduct comprehensive fishing industry review; promote and sponsor local music production, marketing and distribution; review the reserved business categories and empower the Public Service to police it to ensure compliance with the Laws; pre-approve concessions designated Special Development Areas (SDAs); provide legislative and other support for greater participation and protection of TC Islanders in the construction and music industries; introduce a stimulus package that seeks to provide immediate jobs
- Progressive Youth Development
Youth – Better You Program that will have at its heart national volunteer service; encourage entrepreneurship in the schools’ curriculum; reintroduce the Sports Commission; reintroduce the TCI National Track & Field Championships between the Islands.
- Education Transformation and Training
Transform the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College into the leading National Institution for training, education and research; improve the administration of education by training nationals in educational management; ensure that all schools have proper sporting facilities; support the introduction of a Teacher Liaison Program in all schools throughout the Islands; introduce the teaching of Civics at all educational levels.
- Healthcare
Address the major challenge of access to healthcare and will recognize groups that currently already use the services, those who require special consideration and the apparent restrictive NHIP registration policy; redevelop and refocus healthcare in the TCI beginning with Primary Health Care and preventative measures.
- Environment, Land use and Planning
Return responsibility of land management to an elected official; introduce sustainable funding for protection of the environment; introduce a comprehensive national anti-litter campaign styled the “Spic and Span Program” and will assist in the management of the environment through alternative sentencing measures; commission and complete an environmental awareness audit; upgrade environmental legislation consistent with 21st century needs; develop and implement a sustainable National Physical Development Plan; complete the Crown Land Audit; develop and implement an environmental culture archive.
- Infrastructure, housing and Planning
A comprehensive national drainage plan; create Public Zones for free Wi-Fi; a comprehensive review of the Port Management and Ports area country wide; proper road safety database and management system; a Public Transportation Authority/Department which will oversee personal cabs and bus services for residents.
- Institutions for Real Change
Erect a purpose-built community college and vocational and hospitality training school; high performance sports complex and culture centre; The Heritage and Cultural Commission with a multiculturalism department to assist in the management of the many cultures living among us; a Sports Commission for the effective and efficient management of sports in these Islands.
- Governance
Stronger governmental systems through constitutional advancement and strong local government; a national symposium to create a national plan/vision; seek immediately to commission a review of the physical working condition of civil servants and will prepare an aggressive repairs plan to improve the physical working conditions of the civil service; a review of the compensation package offered to Civil Servants is a priority to a PDM administration; will implement policy to ensure that there is a structured performance appraisals program 
for promotion and training; hold structured periodic meetings with civil service; immediately commission a review of the physical working condition of civil servants and prepare an aggressive repairs plan to improve the physical working conditions of the civil service.
We make commitments to others all the time. However, sometimes circumstances over which we have no control prevent us from keeping some promises. What is unacceptable is knowingly making promises that cannot be kept or worse, that we have no intention of keeping. It really boils down to how many promises one knowingly breaks, and how one responds when one is unable to deliver on an achievable promise. Failure to keep our promises is a clear and unequivocal reflection of our view of the recipients of those broken promises. It is especially egregious for someone in public office to break promises made to followers. It speaks to the trustworthiness or lack thereof of the leader. “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” Matthew 12:37. The PDM administration has broken just about every promise in its 2016 manifesto, especially those it promised to deliver within the first 100 days in office. The PDM administration needs to show some respect for the electorate, admit its failure, explain why and apologise for those broken promises to date and for those promises which it knows by now is unrealistic and unachievable. An unachievable promise is a comfort to fool. The people of the Turks and Caicos deserve better.
Press Release: Leader of the Opposition
News
Sandals Foundation and Partners Install and Commission 750 Gallon Ultra-filtration Water Tank at Enid Capron Primary School
MEDIA RELEASE
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, April 17, 2024 – “Thousands have lived without love, but no one has ever lived without water,” according to poet, W. H. Auden. More than 500 students and teachers at the Enid Capron Primary School in Providenciales stand to benefit from a 750 gallons filtration water tank system valued at almost US$15,000 courtesy of the Sandals Foundation, Beaches Turks and Caicos and SIP Water, distributers of ICON LifeSaver®. The system that was recently installed will be able to use
harvested rain water along with its ultra-filtered system to provide potable water.
This project had SIP Water, which is the Caribbean Distributors for ICON LifeSaver®, install and commission the system which was handed over to the administrators of the Sandals Foundation adopted school. ICON LifeSaver® is a British company providing some of the safest, potable water purification solutions in the world through supporting organisations.
Paul Girling, Director of SIP Water says, “This system is able to change untreated, contaminated water into ultra-pure, micro-biologically clean drinking water. Its multi-filtration system removes all micro plastics, bacteria, protozoan cysts and viruses to a minimum level of 99.99% without the need for any electricity or chemicals”.
Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services and Member of Parliament for the Five Cays area, Hon. Rachel Taylor was present as the system was commissioned. “This is a landmark achievement for the school and the community of Five Cays. This location is an emergency shelter and with the Atlantic Hurricane season not far away, having this in place will serve our students well and by extension, the community. We are grateful for the continued partnership with Sandals Foundation and Beaches Turks and Caicos in giving back to the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Taylor shared.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Managing Director, James McAnally shared, “this project is a giant step towards ensuring the basic necessities in our community are safe and sustainable. We continue to grow and look at new ways to serve in the areas of education, the community and the environment. This tank will go a long way in helping to improve the quality of life of the children and faculty in
the Five Cays community especially during times of disaster.”
Principal at Enid Capron Primary School, Sophia Garland elatedly shared, “our students’ health will be improved as they consume more water daily. This system will provide for us a level of sustainability throughout the school and the community. As an educational institution, we continue to celebrate partnerships with corporate entities that seek to support key infrastructural needs of the students, staff and wider community.”
The ICON LifeSaver® product is environmentally friendly. As a leader in sustainability, this will help in the reduction of plastic bottles. The filters are reusable and typically have a 1-2 year span. This is a patented ultra-filtration technology which is independently tested to the highest portable water standards.
Captions:
Header: Paul Girling (left), director of SIP Water, Sophia Garland (2nd left), principal of the Enid Capron Primary school, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services, and Joe Lovegrove, Operations and Technical Director of LifeSaver gave thumbs up sign to the completion of the project.
1st insert: Joe Lovegrove, Operations and Technical Director for LifeSaver takes his time to insert one of the six filters that the filtration system that was recently installed and commissioned at the Enid Capron Primary School.
2nd insert: Enid Capron Primary School teachers share a moment with the ICON team following the successful completion of the installation of the water filtration system with Paul Girling (left) director of SIP Water and Joe Lovegrove Operations and Technical Director for LifeSaver.
Experience Turks and Caicos is fostering an environment where young talent can thrive and excel, and the recent additions to the organisation serve as a testament to that commitment.
Experience Turks and Caicos is pleased to welcome Miss Rothesia Williams and Miss Kristan Lightbourne to the Finance Department as well as Miss Oshin Whyte, who has been assigned a temporary role as Tourism Statistics Officer.
Miss Williams joined the team as an Accounts Clerk effective April 2nd, 2024 while Miss Lightbourne will take up the position of Finance Accountant effective April 15th, 2024.
In her role, Miss Williams will support the Finance Accountant in updating financial records, generating financial reports, reconciling bank statements and processing financial transactions. Miss Williams is a graduate of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and previously worked at the Waterloo Hotel Management Ltd, where she held the roles of Accounting Clerk and Senior Accounts Payable Clerk.
As Financial Accountant, Miss Lightbourne will prepare statements and reports and advise on financial strategy.
Miss Lightbourne previously worked as an accountant at The Shore Club where she oversaw and provided strategic guidance to various sectors within the finance department, including Cost Control, Audit, Accounts Payable, Cash Management, and Payroll and implemented and reviewed internal financial policies and controls to ensure compliance and efficiency among other duties. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management from the Turks and Caicos Community College and is currently pursuing her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certification in the United Kingdom.
Miss Whyte will be working temporarily with the team as Tourism Statistics Specialist effective April 3rd, 2024.She will be responsible for collecting and analysing data relevant to the tourism industry that would enable Experience Turks and Caicos to develop informed strategies to enhance the tourism sector.
Miss Whyte previously held the position of Interim Environmental Policy Coordinator with the Ministry of Tourism where she collaborated with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources to ensure the timely delivery of the key objectives of the Sustainable Livelihood Program. She is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences and the University of Kent with a Masters by Research (Hons) in Human Geography
In welcoming the young women to Experience Turks and Caicos, Co-Chair of Experience Turks and Caicos Mr. Alvin Hegner said the future of the tourism industry centres around the youth.
“As we forge ahead in fortifying and expanding our organisation, the stewardship of adept individuals becomes paramount. Given the Turks and Caicos Islands’ singular reliance on tourism, we must foster sustainability by nurturing our youth, empowering them to evolve into the torchbearers of tomorrow who will carry forward the legacy of our current endeavours. I am genuinely enthused to extend a warm welcome to these young women as they join our ranks, eagerly anticipating the remarkable contributions they will undoubtedly make,” he said.
Miss. Williams and Miss Lightbourne will report to the Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Ms. Rufina Augustin while Miss Whyte will report to the Chief Marketing Officer, Ms. Trina Adams.
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