#Providenciales, August 17, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Governor’s Office is pleased to announce that Ms. Kayon Cox has been awarded a prestigious Chevening Scholarship for the 2019/20 academic year.
Ms. Cox will be
studying an MSc in Sustainability and Business at the University of Leeds in
the UK starting 16th September 2019.
The award was presented by His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin at a farewell reception in his office on the 16th August 2019. On hand to witness this momentous occasion were invited guests including Director of Education, Edgar Howell and Chevening Alumni Mrs. Kenisha Bacchus, Deputy Managing Director of the Financial Services Commission; Ms. Myrlchina Lewis, Deputy Director of Customs Department; and Mrs. Jasmine Thomas, National Youth Director.
Chevening Scholarships are awarded each year
to outstanding individuals with leadership potential who wish to contribute to
the development of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Kayon
was brought up in the beautiful island of South Caicos where she graduated from
both the Iris Stubbs Primary School and the Majorie Basden High School as
Valedictorian. She went on to further her education in the United States and
graduated from the Johnson and Wales University in North Miami Florida with her
Bachelors in Business Administration, achieving a 4.0 GPA. She is currently the
Registrar for the Ministry of Border Control, Citizenship and Employment
Services.
Expressing her
excitement about being selected, Kayon said:
“I am very ecstatic to be the Chevening Scholar for 2019/2020; really and truly I’m speechless, I have no words for this feeling. I’ve always wanted to be a Chevening Scholar, I contemplated applying for the last two years, but I felt as if I should’ve come home to Turks & Caicos to give back service to the government since I was a government scholar in 2015. So now that I have the opportunity, I’m so excited to go to Leeds and take up all the opportunity that I would have and to use that platform to develop my leadership skills. Scholarship applications are now open ‘til November 5th, make sure that you take up the opportunity and apply. Go and become a Chevening Scholar, like me.”
Governor Dakin commented:
“It was a pleasure to meet Kayon to congratulate her on the award of a Chevening Scholarship. Our intention with these scholarships is to help build Turks & Caicos future through the development of its most talented people. So Kayon follows in the footsteps of extraordinary Chevening Scholars from the Turks & Caicos whom have gone before her. As Governor, I encourage you to apply for these prestigious and valuable scholarships – applications are presently being accepted for next year’s competition. As they say: “you’ve got to be in it, to win it” so please don’t self-censor or limit your opportunities through lack of belief; you may just surprise yourself. I know that Kayon will continue to make her family and her country proud as she studies for her master’s degree at the University of Leeds. I wish her all the very best on her Chevening journey.”
The Application season for this year’s 2020/21
scholarship opens on the 5th August and closes on the 5th
November 2019 and we encourage all eligible persons to apply.
IN
ORDER TO SUMBIT AN ELIGIBLE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS MUST:
Be a Citizen of TCI, and return to TCI for a
minimum of two years after completing their scholarship.
Have completed an undergraduate degree
Have at least two years’ work experience
Be able to receive an unconditional offer from a
UK university
Chevening
Scholarship offers a monthly stipend, travel to and from TCI, a thesis or
dissertation grant and tuition fees.
Applicants
should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the
Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application. Further details
of closing dates and priority subject’s areas are available at
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.