TCI News

COVID-19: Time for prudence, not panic.

Published

4 years ago

March 30, 2020

#LettertotheEditor – Turks and Caicos Islands – March 30, 2020 — The world’s focus remains on COVID-19 as the virus continues its international spread.

We see this every time. Every, single, time something mysterious happens. The worst-case scenario is assumed. People behave irrationally in a panic.

Then more knowledge we gained. Uncertainty is resolved. People calm down. The market recovers. With coronavirus news sweeping the world, it is easy to get caught up in the daily reports.

The result can be the exact opposite of what these measures are trying to achieve – protecting people rather than exposing them to risk and frightening. Instead, people dash to stores to over-stock up on items when they don’t need it. It is appropriate to be concerned and to make suitable preparations.

We need to be aware that even for those who catch the virus, the majority will be fine. What is important is to minimize the risk of spreading the virus to those who might not be fine if they catch it. Basic hygienic practice: wash your hands thoroughly, use sanitizers, keep your distance from people, avoid shaking hands, isolate yourself if you have symptoms or feel you might have been exposed to someone with the virus. These aren’t things that will change your world – but they can help to reduce the spread of germs and the virus, and that might stop it from reaching others.

As much as the coronavirus has medical consequences, so too it has become clear that it has economic consequences. For many, those consequences are immediate – and as pressing as the health concerns.

Among those to feel the sting are personnel in the hospitality industry, who were asked to take their earned vacation days or, ominously, to volunteer to take two weeks of unpaid leave.

We would hope that hoteliers remember living high on the income of tourism over many years as it makes decisions that affect the income of those who helped play a key part in making the most of those good days. We would hope the same for other businesses too – to look at the long game and consider what they can do to keep things going until those good days come again.

Although growth rates in the tourism sectors have already declined. Many hotels have experienced cancellations over the immediate period and well into the next winter season. With a reduction in the numbers of hotel guests and patrons of restaurants as well as the numbers renting vehicles, earnings in the sector have dropped; jobs are being lost and government revenues are declining.

But the spread of the virus will peak. Our economies will recover.

Until then, we must act together to slow the spread of the virus and look after each other.

Even though the situation has been classified as a pandemic, it is one we can control. We can slow down transmissions, prevent infections and save lives. But that will take the unprecedented personal and national engagement.

COVID-19 is our common enemy. We must declare war on this virus.

Submitted by Ranaldo A. Forbes

Related Topics:#coronavirus #lettertotheeditor #magneticmedianews

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Register of Interests of the Members of the House of Assembly

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.”