TCI News
FortisTCI Honours Frontline Workers and Contractors with Green Ribbon Safety Awards
#TurksandCaicosIslands – December 10, 2020 – FortisTCI’s frontline workers from across several departments, and seven local construction companies that are regularly contracted by the company, were honoured with the Green Ribbon Awards for outstanding safety performance in 2020.
The presentations were made at the company’s Green Ribbon Safety Awards Ceremony, held at FortisTCI’s Providenciales headquarters on Friday, December 4. The event also recognized four employees with ‘Good Catch’ awards for their vigilance in identifying, reporting and offering solutions for potential hazards that could have a moderate to major impact on people and systems.
Receiving the Green Ribbon Safety Award were FortisTCI’s employees in the Transmission and Distribution (substation, planners, engineers), Production and Control Operations, Facilities Management, Materials Management and Security departments, as well as the Grand Turk and Sister Islands Operations teams.
Contractors who were awarded were J&A Welding, Rolle Construction, Kevin’s Quality Cleaning, EL Construction, Ferguson and Son, 4M Construction and Stanch Construction.
‘Good Catch’ awards were presented to Supervisor of Materials Management Ingrid Forbes, Senior T&D Planner Robert Smith and Linemen Kelorian Forbes and Atley Gray.
FortisTCI established the Green Ribbon Safety Awards Program in 2016. The initiative recognizes those working for the company who understand the importance of good safety practices and who are actively providing solutions to health and safety concerns in the workplace. Contractors were added to the roll of awardees for the first time in 2019.
This year’s awards were particularly significant, with the company achieving 655 days (and counting) without a lost time accident, despite employees and contractors having to work under several new EHS protocols in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As an essential service provider operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important for us to not only manage the usual risks associated with the utility industry, but also to safeguard the health and safety of our employees and contractors, while ensuring the company was always COVID-free. This approach was vital to keeping the lights on for our customers, and I am proud of the work that was done all across the company to achieve this goal. Many of our employees were sequestered at our various locations for extended periods, and many others were on the frontlines, as and when required. Everyone played their part in helping us to successfully manage the pandemic, effectively implement our Return to Office Plan, and welcome customers back to the office,” FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes stated.
In congratulating the awardees, she added, “Safety is a top priority at FortisTCI and it is due to the steadfast commitment of all employees and our contractors that we keep breaking new ground in our environmental, health and safety management systems. I commend all the winners on this special achievement.”
Mrs. Forbes also congratulated the EHS team for its “incredible safety leadership inside this company, and outside – to our contractors, to the TCI community and across the region to the CARILEC family.”
Under the direction of Senior Vice President of Operations Devon Cox, the team comprises Director of EHS and Line Operations Dave Laing, EHS Manager Marcus Francis, Senior EHS Coordinator Eustace Musgrove, Works Methods Specialist Walter Wilson, Senior EHS Officer Rikardia Pardo and Temporary EHS Officer Ariel Clare.
News
Department of Agriculture Enhances Pig Farming in the Turks and Caicos Islands Through Artificial Insemination Initiative
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 14th January 2025 – This week, the Department of Agriculture is undertaking a groundbreaking Artificial Insemination (AI) exercise on pig farms throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), including farms in North Caicos, Providenciales, and Grand Turk, as well as the farm at His Majesty’s Prison. This initiative aims to enhance pig production across the islands by improving the genetic quality of local pigs.
To achieve this, the Department sourced high-quality pig semen from Newport Genetics in Jamaica. The semen includes two of the most productive breeds in the world—Landrace and Large White. These breeds are renowned for their superior meat quality and high
productivity, making them ideal for strengthening the local pig farming industry.
The Department has secured the expertise of Dr. Bent, a reproductive specialist from Jamaica, to carry out the insemination. Dr. Bent is working alongside the Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Thomas, to ensure the success of this initiative. Preparations for this week’s activities began earlier, with female pigs (sows) receiving treatments to bring them into heat, thereby optimizing the conditions for successful insemination.
This initiative aligns with the Department’s ongoing commitment to bolstering the food security status of the Turks and Caicos Islands. By improving the genetics of pigs on local farms, the Department aims to increase productivity and contribute to the islands’ sustainable agricultural development.
The Department of Agriculture would like to express its gratitude to the farmers for their cooperation and support in making this initiative a success. Together, we are building a more resilient, productive agricultural sector and improving food security in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For further information email Agriculture@gov.tc or FB page Department of Agriculture TCI
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday 17 January, 2024: On Thursday 16 January 2025, debris from a failed SpaceX launch impacted the Turks and Caicos Islands. In the immediacy of the outfall, the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority diverted all flights in TCI airspace as well as grounded all flights until an all clear had been given.
There are no reported injuries and reports of only minimal damage to property at this time.
Today, Friday, 17 January, TCIG Officials convened a meeting with relevant partners in the United Kingdom including the UK Space Agency, who are supporting the post incident response, including technical expertise on the handling of debris, health and safety risks, protocols and procedures. The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch have been notified and discussions are ongoing with the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) who will liaise with SpaceX.
This is now an active investigation led by the US FAA in liaison with UK and TCI counterparts.
We are not at this time aware of any specific risks related to the re-entry of space debris on Thursday 16 January. However, space objects can sometimes contain hazardous materials which can cause serious harm to health. Members of the public who come across objects that they think might be space debris should take the following actions:
Do not touch the object
Make a note of the location (Island and exact coordinates) of the object and the time (including any maritime observations of debris)
If possible take a photograph of the object (without touching it) alongside another object for scale
Notify the authorities by sending the details to nationalsecurity@gov.tc with the subject title Space X Debris.
Space debris remains the property of the spacecraft owner
If you have already handled what you think might be space debris please put it in a safe place where others will not handle it and inform the authorities at nationalsecurity@gov.tc. Further advice will be provided for the collation of the debris.
The safety of our residents and visitors remains our highest priority. We appreciate the community’s vigilance and cooperation as we work alongside international partners to manage this incident.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 14 January 2025: On 12th January 2025, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force responded to an alert by the Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force regarding the interception of an illegal vessel. Onboard were 29 illegal migrants, comprising 23 males, including two minors, and six females, including one minor.
On 13th January, the Border Force responded to another incident involving the interception of an illegal vessel. Upon arrival, 121 illegal
migrants were apprehended near the vessel. This group included 103 males, one of whom was a minor, and 17 females.
These individuals are believed to be Haitian nationals and are currently being detained at the detention centre.
We extend our gratitude to the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force and the TCI Regiment for their invaluable assistance.
Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
The public is reminded that harbouring or facilitating the entry of illegal migrants is a serious criminal offence under the Immigration Ordinance, punishable by fines of up to $20,000 and up to four years of imprisonment.
Authorities are fully committed to prosecuting anyone found in violation of these laws to the fullest extent.
For any media inquiries, please contact crilightbourne@gov.tc
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