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.
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, September 26, 2023 – On Monday 25th September 2023 in the Providenciales Supreme Court before her Ladyship Ms. Tanya Lobban Jackson and a seven member Jury to be empaneled, there are TWO sexual assault/rape cases are listed to commence.
TRIAL 1: NICHOLL PRUDHOMME allegation date is on January 17th, 2022. The defendant is represented by Ms. Sheena Mair, who is also on bail.
The reported virtual complainant in this case is an adult in her 20’s.
TRIAL 2: DARROL FORBES allegations totaling six counts linked to alleged sexual abuse of one of his underage daughters.
The incidents, for which Forbes is being tried, range in dates from June 1st to August 31st in 2020.
Forbes is represented by Keith James and is on bail.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 26, 2023 – E Jay Saunders, TCI Finance Minister, isn’t worried about an economic downturn following a quarter of negative growth in Q1 of 2023.
Speaking to Magnetic Media on Tuesday September 19th, the country’s Deputy Premier said: “Revenues don’t grow forever— you will have declines— but I am not nervous.”
During the recent Throne Speech, it was revealed that revenues were down and spending, too had decreased for the first quarter of TCIG’s fiscal year.
Saunders explained that with any country or even business, there were quarterly dips and spikes in economic performance but what mattered was the overall picture, which for the Turks and Caicos keeps climbing. 
He also explained what could have caused the dip.
Saunders said that over the past two years the sale of luxury condominiums from places like the Ritz Carlton and post pandemic traveling boom, had rocketed the country’s income pumping up the cash brought in from stamp duties and other related taxes.
With less travel predicted and the country in a sort of in-between stage of construction with major buildings in the process of being finished but not as much new inventory on the market, Saunders said a drop in profits was not far-fetched.
He stressed though that this was not a reflection on ‘Brand TCI,’ rather the expected rise and fall of the economy. With the introduction of new real estate and the prime tourism season, revenues are expected to rebound.
The dip does however highlight an issue in the Turks and Caicos, that is its heavy dependence on tourism to buoy the economy and how quickly that can turn, as evidenced by the recent pandemic.
The Government says it has clocked the issue and is working to diversify the economy to isolate residents from economic shocks. The question is whether those reported efforts to build other significant revenue streams for the TCI happening quickly enough.
#TurksandCaicos, September 26, 2023 –
GUN ARREST
A 30-year-old male suspect remains in police custody assisting detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force with investigations, after the seizure of an AR15 Assault Rifle and several rounds of ammunition.
Preliminary reports state, that around 1.37 a.m. today, information was obtained regarding a suspicious vehicle that was intercepted by Police Officers.
This led to the arrest of the suspect, who was in the vehicle when officers intercepted it in the vicinity of Rock Plaza, Millennium Highway. A search of the vehicle resulted in the assault rifle and ammunition being found.
DRUGS FOUND
In a separate incident today at 8.25 a.m., Marine Branch officers acting on information proceeded to an area off
Sapodilla Bay, South Dock, and noticed several packages floating in the sea. Eighteen packages were retrieved from the sea.
Upon inspection, the packages contained cocaine with an estimated street value of $250,000. Both incidents remain under active police investigations.
Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said today, “This arrest and drug find was a result of information obtained from members of the public and great teamwork between different sections of the Force on the land and at sea. We remain grateful for your assistance and trust in the Police Force as we continue our partnership to ensure the TCI remains a safe place to live work and visit.
“This is the second assault rifle seized within the last two weeks and these successes are the result of hard work and commitment by my officers to pushing back on criminals intent on causing harm to our communities.
“I wish to again thank and encourage the public to continue working alongside us, if you see something, say something, there are options available for sharing information with us”.
The public is being asked to contact 911, the closest police station, the RTCIPF Serious Crime Unit at 232-8752, or call TCI Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 and give any information on illegal activities.
Additionally, persons are encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade & Florida Keys Crime Stoppers at 1-305-471-8477 and give any information anonymously.
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