#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.
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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.
FortisTCI Senior Vice President of Operations Devon Cox (center) presented the Green Ribbon Safety Award to representatives of seven local construction companies, in recognition of their commitment to safe work practices at FortisTCI’s premises during 2020
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.”
FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes presented the Green Ribbon Safety Award to representatives of the company’s frontline staff and congratulated them on an exceptional year of safe work practices and adherence to the company’s environmental, health and safety management systems, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured, from left are: Laborer Ivan Hall, Shift Leader – Security Guard Ladonna Bassett, Supervisor of Lines Gregory Thomas, and Electrical Technician Maurice Francis.
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.
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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 – It’s not even complete yet but one Providenciales condo is already making global travel headlines for its eye-popping price. The $20 million Sky Villa Penthouse will sit atop the Arc, a residential complex which will be housed in the South Bank Resort and Marina and is booked to be complete in 2025.
‘Described as “One of the most ambitious and expensive projects in all of the Caribbean” by Mansion Global, Sotheby’s says the 12,000 sq foot home comes with 14-foot ceilings; 5 bedrooms; and an indoor-outdoor plan with 7000 square feet of outdoor space complete with pools and private gardens.
The entire Arc will be managed by Grace Bay resorts, another feather in the cap of the resort chain which makes it a point to hire local Turks and Caicos Islanders in the highest and lowest positions.