TCI News

Ministry of Tourism Announces the Mobilization of Tidal Gauges in Grand Turk and Providenciales

Published

4 years ago

July 5, 2019

#Providenciales, July 5, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – One of the deliverables emanating from a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Department of Maritime and Shipping and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), the UKHO committed to assist the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) implement protocols to ensure that the TCI are complying with its obligations under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

As a result of this cooperation, two Tidal Gauges were recently mobilized in the Turks and Caicos Islands, one Tidal Gauge is installed at South Dock in Grand Turk and one Tidal Gauge is installed at Sapodilla Bay in Providenciales.

Each Tidal Gauge station consists of:

1 x Valeport Tidemaster Data Recorder and Valeport Pressure Gauge
1 x Valeport Tidemaster Data Recorder and Valeport Radar Level Sensor
1 x Sutron Satlink-3 Data Logger and Satellite Transmitter

For those who are not familiar with Tidal Gauges, one might ask,

What do the instruments do?

Valeport Tidemaster and Valeport Pressure Gauge
- This instrument uses pressure readings to record water height at 10-minute intervals

Valeport Tidemaster and Valeport Radar Level Sensor
- This uses pulsed K-band radar to record water height at 10-minute intervals; and

Sutron Satlink-3 Data Logger and Satellite Transmitter
- Compiles the pressure and radar data and transmits through a NOAA satellite to a NOAA land-based data system. The six 10-minute ensembles are transmitted every hour. Specifics: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) East Satellite to the NOAA Data Collection System (DCS) Administration and Data Distribution System (DADDS).

Why is the data recorded?

The data is recorded to obtain accurate tidal information
Logged tidal data could be used for historical purposes
Provision of near real-time tidal data
Recorded data can be processed using harmonic analysis to produce accurate tide table predictions

How will it benefit TCI?

Improved bathymetric mapping of TCI
Safer navigation and traffic for mariners
Engineers could use the data for coastal zone projects such as construction of bridges and docks
Habitat restoration projects require accurate tidal data
Tide data is critical to commercial fishing and recreational sports
Could be used to study tidal fluctuations associated with global warming and climate change
Ecologists could study tidal mixing of near-shore waters, where pollutants are removed and nutrients are recirculated

Will it provide information on upcoming inclement weather, including hurricanes and Tsunamis?

No, but can provide a historical database for storm surge. Storm surge is the abnormal rise in seawater level during a storm, measured of the water above the normal predicted astronomical tide. If a sufficiently long dataset is measured, estimates of extreme water levels would be possible, which would help with any future coastal development projects in TCI.

Minister Honorable Ralph Higgs commented, “This is another achievement of my Ministry as the Turks and Caicos Islands prepare for the pending audit of the International Maritime Organization in 2020. The first draft of the National Maritime Policy Document and the Action Plan has already been submitted and is currently being reviewed by the Steering Committee. Mapping of the Turks and Caicos Islands seabed is completed and once confirmation is forwarded to the UKHO that all Navigational Aids are functional, new charts would be produce in additional to Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) of the recently mapped seabed.”

Four Officers within the Department of Maritime and Shipping was recently trained by the Independent Contractor Fugro in Tidal Gauge management and maintenance. These Officers will be responsible to assist with data collection and to ensure that the UKHO and the TCI Maritime Department are kept up to date with monthly reports.

Release: Ministry of Tourism

News

Register of Interests of the Members of the House of Assembly

Published

5 days ago

September 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – The Integrity Commission advises that the Register of Interests for Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2022 has been completed.

Members of the House of Assembly are required by the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, Section 103(2), and the Integrity Commission Ordinance (the Ordinance), as amended, Section 52(1), to file with the Commission, Statements of Registrable Interests. The Commission would, therefore, like to inform members of the public that, it has compiled the information contained in these Statements of Registrable Interests and has produced The Register of Interests 2022 for the Members of the House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2022.

The Register of Interests 2022 is now available for public inspection at the following locations:

House of Assembly in Grand Turk
Office of the Premier – Grand Turk and Providenciales
Office of the Integrity Commission – Grand Turk and Providenciales (during the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm from Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays.)
Office of the District Commissioner – Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay and South Caicos.

The Register can be viewed at these locations during normal working hours or at a time that is convenient for the respective offices.

For further information or any assistance please contact the Integrity Commission:

By telephone at: 946-1941(Grand Turk Office) or 941-7847 (Providenciales Office) By e-mail at: secretary@integritycommission.tc or info@integritycommission.tc

News

Students not in school cite Fees as Roadblock

Published

5 days ago

September 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Dana Malcolm and Wilkie Arthur

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – Concerning reports are coming out of Providenciales regarding the placement of students as the new term got started.

Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, had the opportunity to speak with several young people who were supposed to be in school. Instead, they were hanging out close to home, as they said they couldn’t afford the fees of the private schools they had been placed in.

Edgar Howell, Director of Education, during an August 31st press conference, had indicated that at least 26 students were awaiting assistance with placement in private high schools and 35 students were awaiting placements in primary schools. Parents should have heard from the ministry within days.

Arthur fielded concerns from them and their families who wished to remain anonymous.

“The schools are full and they don’t have any more money to continue the [private] schools they were going to. So, this bright September morning these children are actually just idle,” he explained.

By law (Education Ordinance 2009), all children between four and 16 years old in the Turks and Caicos Islands are considered of ‘Compulsory School Age’ meaning, they must be enrolled in an institution.

It has long been the practice of the Ministry of Education to place students in private schools and subsidize the fees when space has run out in public schools. This year was no different.

“The Ministry continues to provide assistance to the parents through the private school subsidy program and 375 students are being assisted for the 2023/24 school year,” Howell explained.

It’s not clear if these students were a part of that number.

We have since reached out to representatives at the Turks and Caicos Ministry of Education for information on students who are not in school, how many remain unable to fit into public school classes and what provisions are in place for those students; there has been no update.

News

Grand Turk residents say they suffered lack attention from TCIAA

Published

5 days ago

September 29, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – Upgrades are underway at the JAGS McCartney International Airport but Grand Turk Residents say they were subject to subpar conditions for far too long; the comments came at a town hall meeting hosted by the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority in the capital on Thursday September 21, at Dillon Hall.

“I am speaking on behalf of Grand Turk residents. It is unacceptable for the Airports Authority to treat residents how they do,” one resident told TCIAA executives at a town hall meeting in Grand Turk.

The airport was hit during Hurricane Fiona in late 2022, resulting in a destroyed roof and serious damage to the terminals from extensive flooding plus damage to the domestic and international arrival areas, deeming the area unfit for use.

The hurricane damage last year only exacerbated the destruction wrought by previous storms including 2008’s Hurricane Ike and 2017’s Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The JAGS McCartney International was reopened for domestic arrivals just this past June after phase one of a restoration project. The international terminal was scheduled to open soon after but repairs are still ongoing. Residents told TCIAA executives, the work was simply not executed quickly enough.

“The lack of attention that they paid to the JAGS McCartney Airport after the hurricane, having the residents of this island come in like we’re from a third world country for months? It’s unacceptable for residents of this island for you all to leave us like that,” a resident maintained.

Ongoing updates include fixing the perimeter fence and parking lot as well as the fire station. Residents appeared grateful but cautiously optimistic.

“We see the plans that you have— which is good, and we hope that the next time we have a disaster we don’t have to be waiting for months [and] be treated like that.”