#TurksandCaicosIslands – August 13, 2020 — Cases of the novel coronavirus have nearly doubled in the Turks and Caicos in seven days and officials last week confirmed at least two work site outbreaks are largely responsible for the 86% leap in positives.
On
August 5, the TCI stood at 129 confirmed cases of COVID-19. On August 12, the country learned of 17 new
positive diagnoses which bring the national total to 241.
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The
report from Ministry of Health explained: Eleven cases are contacts of known
confirmed cases and six cases with no clear epidemiological link.
The Turks
and Caicos government has rolled back on some measures already; nightly curfews
are in effect for Providenciales, North Caicos and Parrot Cay and public
gatherings are yet again down-sized.
Residents
have been expressive about their apprehension and a litany of suggestions are
flowing freely through social media posts and shows and via letters to the
editor or opinion pieces.
The Ministry of Health has informed that in some interviews, individuals positive for the coronavirus are with-holding information in the contact tracing process and up to Friday, at least four children were among the new positive cases of COVID-19. Two 17-year olds and two six-year olds.
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The country learned that a baby, in the Turks and Caicos has also tested positive for the virus.
A week
ago, active cases were 87. Today there are
192 active cases.
A week
ago, quarantines were 210. Today, that
number has more than doubled at 464.
Nine
people remain in a non-medical quarantine facility.
Forty-seven
tests were completed in the latest report; 17 of which were positive.
A week
ago, the country had charted 1,252 tests; today testing has eclipsed 1,500.
The report states: “To date, the TCI has recorded a total of one thousand five hundred and sixty-seven test results,(1567) with one thousand three hundred and twenty-six (1326) confirmed to be negative…”
Heartening is information there are no new deaths, that only two hospitalisations have been necessary and the fact that recoveries a week ago were at 39; today, 46 individuals have been cleared as free of COVID-19.
Hospitalisations are up, however; a week ago one person was in hospital as a result of COVID-19.
A ‘Covid-Free’ diagnosis is given after a patient returns two negatives for the virus, said Dr. Nadia Astwood, TCI’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
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#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
#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.
#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.”