#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – October 10, 2020 – Residents are clinging to the hope that announcements about cash and food assistance in the midst of the coronavirus crisis are still on their way.
It has been a month since the Premier and Finance Minister
unveiled a stimulus suite which included payouts to workers who had lost
earnings during the Covid-19 lockdown and public service licensees, like taxi
drivers who protested that they were not included in a first round of stimulus
monies.
The Premier’s Office revealed it would manage food
distribution to all 11,000 households across the Turks and Caicos and would
bring breakthrough policy change to enable payments from the National Insurance
Board (NIB) to its contributors who were unemployed or underemployed.
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While the NIB unemployment and underemployment benefits
require legislative change, Cabinet has already accepted the broadening of
benefits schedule and the House of Assembly must now deliberate and vote on the
measure.
Still, the silence since September 10 by Hon Sharlene
Robinson, the Premier is deafening and the stall is becoming increasingly
painful for households which have seen their individuals earnings plummet.
A press conference,
where an update was expected was first postponed and then never materialized.
On September 18, an update from the Office of the Premier reiterated the need for support to residents who are suffering dire financial straits due to the drastic down turn in travel and tourism.
“We have an obligation to our people and we must help our
people to survive during this period of great challenge experienced worldwide.
Though our revenues are down and our monthly obligations are growing due to
rising healthcare and COVID-19 related costs, as a Government, we are obligated
to do what we can,” explained the Premier.
Hon. Sharlene Robinson, TCI Premier & Minister of Finance on Sept 10
Laptops and electronic devices are duty-free to families and
the Customs Department has approved suitable applicants for the concession. It was one of the stimulus supports uncorked
on September 10.
“With schools switching to online learning as a result of
the pandemic, this measure is to assist students. TCIG has provided tablets for
many identified by educators and this initiative is to provide further support
to parents and students in addition to support given by many private sector
donors,” said Premier Robinson.
Previously, food help was coming from the Department of Social
Services. On September 10, Premier
Robinson had a major announcement which shifted who would provide groceries to
families.
“A National Food Assistance Programme for All: 11,000
households throughout the TCI will benefit from this programme, with the
exclusion of tourism properties. Those households will have an ability to opt
out should they wish to. This will be fully funded by TCI Government under the
Ministry of Finance but managed by the Office of the Premier, Local Government
and Community Affairs through the assistance of volunteers.”
The ‘National Food Assistance Programme for All’ initiative was
praised. To date, however, islanders
have learned nothing new and heard nothing more.
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#TurksandCaicos, March 27, 2023 – Following the announcement that several women had been robbed and assaulted in Blue Hills in the past weeks, Magnetic Media queried why the Police would wait until they had a man in custody to release an alert.
TCI’s newest addition to the top brass Detective Superintendent Dean Holden, Head of Crime, Safeguarding and Public Protection, told us that it initially appeared to be an isolated offence and not part of a series of incidents.
“The full circumstances needed to be investigated to ascertain the facts before a public alert could be considered. Misinformation in such a case would only cause unnecessary public concern and confusion and could adversely impact the investigation and the safeguarding of persons involved—” he said. “Even now there is no definitive information that these offences are linked, and investigators remain open-minded.”
Holden claimed an early alert with limited information could have hindered the investigation and they were trying to protect the women who may not have wanted to be identified based on where they lived.
As it turns out, the public concern was very much warranted, because there have been more violent sexual attacks, and more victims got hurt, forcing their hands.
“When further similar offences were committed, the overriding principle of sustained public protection was considered, hence the alert/release issued,” he said.
That alert was coupled with the news that a man had been arrested. Whether those further similar incidents could have been prevented if the public was informed earlier and taken extra precautions, is the underlying question. To date, we don’t know how many victims there are.
Police have increased patrols in the Blue Hills area and condemned the crimes as unacceptable. They have not indicated if anyone was charged for the offences yet.
#TurksandCaicos, March 27, 2023 – After a festive three days of competition, the TCISS Inter-High Track & Field Championships 2023 have concluded with the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School reigning as Champions. Featuring a great turnout, eleven schools from across the Turks and Caicos Islands met to compete at the National Stadium March 9-11, 2023.
The competition was stiff among athletes, who were all competing for top spots and by extension a spot-on Team TCI’s CARIFTA 2023 team. From high-spirited invitationals to entertainment by DJ Shakes, spectators enjoyed the best Nationals competition yet.
Overall results:
1st Place: A. Louise Garland Thomas High School
2nd Place: Clement Howell High School
3rd Place: Marjorie Basden High School
Twenty athletes have been selected for Turks and Caicos Islands National CARIFTA Team, some who would have competed in the TCISS Inter-High Track & Field Championships 2023 and some living abroad.
#TurksandCaicos, March 27, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos recently hosted the head of the British Army who has now been made a member of the local regiment.
Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff (CGS) spent a mid-March weekend in the country and it’s a visit Governor Nigel Dakin hopes will be rewarding for the TCI Regiment in the future. The Governor said as much in the Instagram post announcing the visit.
“He is now an Honorary Colonel of our Regiment. That’s an enormously important step for us because it gives our Regiment a champion working at the very top of UK Defence,” Dakin said.
The visit also included Lord Mark Lancaster, Former Minister for UK Armed Forces who Dakin acknowledged had championed the petition for OTs to even have their own military forces.
The men met cordially with the Regiment and then saw them in action officially. The Premier was also part of the meetings, so too the Maritime Police and Radar, the Tactical Firearms Unit and National Security Secretariat Dakin explained. The top man was impressed with the regiment as he told Dakin how proud he was to be associated with the troupe.
One stop in the tour was Dockyard, the Providenciales community where so much grief was felt and caused over the past year. Also a suspected have for illegal migrants and contraband.
“Very pleased to see this relationship established before leave. It says much about the distance already traveled and it bodes very well indeed for the Regiment’s future.” He said. Fitting that Dakin’s last guests should be Britain’s security experts considering his investment in Border security in the TCI during his tenure.
Dakin will bid the country farewell by the end of March.