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Robert Been Jr expresses interest in running ‘At Large’ again on the PDM ticket

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Robert Been Jr talks to Magnetic Media about interest in running in the next General Election of the Turks and Caicos Islands at his Been's Global office at Turquoise Point Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenenciales

NOVEMBER 15, 2020 – Turks and Caicos Islands – Make no mistake, Robert Been Jr is interested in running in the upcoming General Election and is hoping to secure the nod of approval for one of the At Large spots on the PDM ticket.

“I believe I owe it to the people who supported me in the last election to re-offer this time around; as you know I fell short by just 21 votes in 2016.  I want to continue to represent my main messages of anti-violence, a modernised government and empowerment of younger people of the Turks and Caicos.”

Been, a law degree holder, believes it is important for young professionals to be involved in the electoral process.

“We must have fresh, young faces and I believe I have a lot more to offer this time. The coronavirus pandemic has brought challenges for so many families, which includes younger islanders.  I found that my passion to help people has led to many people being drawn to me for assistance.  If I wasn’t helping the unemployed to improve on job letters and resumes, I was steering individuals toward job opportunities. I found myself ensuring that jobs left vacant by expat workers who had to leave the country, were filled not by more expats but by indigenous people who lost their jobs in this public health and economic crisis.  For me, serving is a labour of love.”

Robert Been is now 33-years old.  In the 2016 run-off, he was the sixth most popular candidate overall.

“I have submitted my application to the PDM to be a candidate in this election. Right now the candidates’ committee process is still ongoing.”

Since the 2016 polls, Been has expanded Been’s Global, a company he started in 2015.  Been’s Global is a property developer of vacation rentals.

“I have been reinvesting in the Turks and Caicos and demonstrating my confidence in our economy and our people.  I have created jobs, assisted others in their professional advancements and Been’s Global has sponsored a number of charities and people-building initiatives.”

The husband and father informs, that to some it may have appeared that he was quiet or disinterested in trying again for political office, but Robert Been says that is far from true.

“For those who thought my intention was not to run in this election, I wanted to take this opportunity to clear the air.  To be honest, I have never stopped working since the elections of 2016, I have always been in touch with people and people have always been in touch with me.  Social media is not really my thing, but I believe the activities which have seen my support have crossed party lines to prove that I am interested in seeing all people of the Turks and Caicos Islands succeed.”

The victorious 2016 campaign of the PDM Party was helped by a then under-30-year old Robert Been and the youth who followed him have an expectation, he says.

“I made a promise to ensure that the youth perspective is represented at the national level.  I do not take that commitment lightly.  Young professionals, who are educated and skilled, want to have a say and they also want access to opportunities to be high wage earners or entrepreneurs who are able to thrive in their home country.  When electors across the country cast their votes for me, it proved that they agree with the idea of younger generations of Turks and Caicos islanders having a place in parliament.  This time around, with the support of the youth and more seasoned voters, I believe I can get there.”

Robert Been was unable to confirm when the People’s Democratic Movement will make its candidate selection; instead there was a message for his early supporters.

“What I can say is thank you to those who have been reaching out to me and encouraging me to give it another try. I am grateful for the support and I am hoping I can count on that continued backing at the PDM party level and then again at the national level when the General Election is called.”

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

Caribbean News

TCI Police Detective Holden Speaks Up on Blue Hills Rapes

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Dana Malcolm  

Staff Writer  

 

 

#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.  

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Caribbean News

Louise Garland Thomas High School are TCISS Inter-High Track & Field 2023 Champions

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#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.

Here are the athletes:

  1. Roniesha Johnson U-17 Girls CHHS
  2. Branary Delancy U-17 Girls LGTHS
  3. Krysann Williams U-20 Girls LGTHS
  4. Anesha Varus U-20 Girls CHHS
  5. Lynn Antoine U-20 Girls Unattached
  6. Chyna Simmons U-20 Girls BWIC
  7. Rayvon Black U-17 Boys Denbigh/Jam
  8. Renaldo Registre U-17 Boys RGHS
  9. Jarmal Missick U-17 Boys HJRHS
  10. Melique Evans U-17 Boys CHHS
  11. Love Joseph U-17 Boys LGTHS
  12. Kaeson Garland U-17 Boys MBHS
  13. Shamar Garland U-17 Boys HJRHS
  14. Alieandio Durham U-20 Boys CHHS
  15. Bernard Hyde U-20 Boys CHHS
  16. Markey Zepherin U-20 Boys CHHS
  17. Rayvon Walkin U-20 Boys KC/Jam
  18. Anthon Walkin U-20 Boys KC/Jam
  19. Alidavidson Higgs U-20 Boys JC/Jam
  20. Darvioun Rigby U-20 Boys Keiser/USA

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Caribbean News

Head of British Army in TCI

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

 

#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. 

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