Caribbean News
Jamaican PM Holness sworn in as Head of Government
#Kingston, Jamaica – JIS News – September 8, 2020 – Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, was on Monday (September 7), sworn in as head of the Government for the third time.
This follows the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) victory in the General Election held on Thursday (September 3) to form the Government for a second consecutive term.
Mr. Holness was sworn in by Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen during a ceremony at King’s House, where he took and subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office.
In his address, the newly appointed Prime Minister thanked the people of Jamaica, who, from 2016, have “entrusted your hopes and dreams to us”.
“With industry, enterprise and partnership, we set about fulfilling your dreams and keeping your hope alive,” he said, adding that there is still much more work to be done.
Mr. Holness said he is “humbled and honoured that the people of Jamaica have seen it fit to give me an opportunity to once more be the chief steward of their affairs”.
“Thank you for your vote and support, and I commit once again to use every fibre of my being and all the energy of my spirit for the advancement, fulfilment and prosperity of the people of Jamaica,” he said.
The Prime Minister contended that the Government has been given a mandate to move with speed and alacrity “in fulfilling the great destiny of this country”, vowing that “we will not squander it”.
“We will use it wisely to build public trust, continue the partnerships for prosperity, to be inclusive and caring for the poor and vulnerable, to be prospecting and enterprising in fulfilling the dreams and ambitions of the youth and make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families, do business and retire in paradise,” he pledged.
Mr. Holness also outlined several initiatives the newly formed Government will be undertaking to aid in building a stronger society and economy as the country combats the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In the meantime, the Governor-General noted that the ceremony signals “the start of a new phase in the life of our nation” and formally congratulated Mr. Holness, “whom his Parliamentary colleagues and the people of Jamaica have chosen once again for this high office”.
“It could be said of him that one good term deserves another. It could also be said that a higher authority than exists on the human plane has divinely ordained that he should be placed where he is today,” he said.
“Our country is in good hands and our democracy works for us,” the Governor-General said.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
-
Caribbean News7 days agoJAMAICA: 1.3 Million Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Administered in Region
-
Bahamas News6 days agoMinister Glover-Rolle Delivers CARICOM Statement at UN’s Commission on the Status of Women
-
Caribbean News5 days agoTurks & Caicos inspires and debuts Drake Fashion Line, NOCTA
-
Government6 days agoRight on Cue, Provo Dump burning again as CDB Consultants prepare for Community Meeting
-
Caribbean News6 days agoJAMAICA: Persons Encouraged to Purchase Coffee Festival Tickets Early
-
Caribbean News5 days agoUK Imposed Procurement Process Slowed TCI getting off EU Blacklist
-
Government1 week agoStaff of the Vector Control Unit attend the 89th American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Annual Conference
-
Caribbean News3 days agoDebrief on Haiti Caribbean heads visit