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Overjoyed! Cecily Rigby-Ewing, another veteran Educator honoured at Oseta Jolly reopening

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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – December 18, 2020 – Clad in a golden gown for her golden moment, Cecily Rigby-Ewing was delighted to be honoured with an entire department of the Oseta Jolly Primary School being named to honour her years in the classroom.

Government dignitaries including the Karen Malcolm, the Minister of Education; Goldray Ewing, MP for Blue Hills and Sharlene Robinson, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islnds were among the officials on hand for the opening of the reconstructed school and the naming of the refurbished early childhood wing.

Ministry of Education reopens Oseta Jolly Primary School in Blue Hills on Monday December 14, with Early Childhood Development Centre being named in honour of retired educator, Cecily Rigby-Ewing. Mrs. Rigby-Ewing cuts the ribbon at the ceremony where Premier Sharlene Robinson was also in attendance

It is now called the Cecily Rigby-Ewing Early Childhood Development Centre.

“I am grateful to be granted the privilege to have my name placed on this institution.  As I stand here on the times I’ve spent in the classroom nurturing and imparting knowledge on students of the beautiful by nature country.  I am overjoyed to know that I will be remembered by both students and members of the community and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.  I would like the principal and teachers at this school – both present and future – to never forget that I am willing to share my love and knowledge of teaching with anyone that crosses my path.  I challenge the principal and teachers of this great institution to never allow any child that walks through these corridors to feel they are incapable of learning.  It takes a loving hear, passionate instructor and proud individual to encourage students to believe in themselves and remember with hard work and dedication, they (the students) can be anything in life.”

Principal Rachel Handfield cuts the ribbon to reopen Oseta Jolly primary school which had been displaced by the hurricanes of 2017; students and faculty will return to the campus for the first time in January 2021. Sharlene Robinson, TCI Premier and Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education were among dignitaries in attendance for the opening December 14.

The Oseta Jolly Primary school was the worst hit school in the back-to-back blow of hurricanes in 2017; on Monday December 14, the PDM Administration reopened the institution located in Blue Hills, Providenciales in a ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling ceremony.

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Bahamas News

Kamala Harris to meet with Caribbean leaders in The Bahamas

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

 

 

#USA, June 5, 2023 – Kamala Harris, United States Vice President will journey to Nassau Bahamas in June for a top level meeting with Caribbean  leaders, marking the first time she will visit the region since occupying office in 2021.

According to the White House in a statement, the meeting will bring attention to a range of regional issues.  Harris and the Caribbean leaders will continue talks on the shared efforts to address the climate crisis, such as promoting climate resilience and adaptation in the region and increasing energy security through clean energy.

Additionally, the statement informed that Harris’ trip “delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance cooperation with the Caribbean in pursuit of shared prosperity and security, and in recognition of the common bonds and interests between our nations.”

The June 8th meeting builds on and strengthens the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, which was launched by the Vice President and Caribbean leaders in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas as further mentioned by White House Statement.

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Caribbean News

Woman who lost foot is Alexandra Truwit, Yale Grad & All American Swimmer

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – A champion swimmer, marathon runner, Ivy League graduate and world traveler with a huge smile– that is Alexandra Truwit; at only 22 years old, she has a whole life ahead of her, one that may have now been made exponentially harder by the loss of her foot in an incident which continues to be unconfirmed, but reported as a shark attack off the coast of Providenciales.

Magnetic Media learned Truwit, who is a very experienced swimmer, was on a private charter captained by an employee of Big Blue Collective (not a Big Blue Charter).  She was bitten by what eyewitnesses think could have been a Caribbean Reef Shark and her foot below the ankle was completely severed.

It’s a heartbreaking incident exacerbated by the young woman’s obvious love for- and proficiency in- the water.

The Yale website describes Truwit as a Two-time USA Swimming Academic All-American.  Featured as a ‘Teen Titan’ in her high school, she was one of ten young people chosen for the school’s magazine. 

Truwit, who has a twin brother, cites nail art and baking as her life joys. Already having survived ‘mono’ as a teen, she volunteers as a Special Olympics “hugger” and started a Special Olympics club at her high school.

She was airlifted from the Turks and Caicos on the day of her accident and there have been no updates on her condition so far.  Residents in the TCI and the US have expressed via social media their best wishes for the young achiever and must now wait, hoping for the best possible outcome.

One resident said, “So sorry Alexandra you had to encounter such a traumatic experience while on vacation on our beautiful Island.  I am praying for a successful surgery and speedy recovery for you, hopefully, the surgeon can work their magic for you.”

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Government

Governor’s Appointed Member touts Civil Service Upgrade during Budget Debates

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – There are sweeping changes coming to the civil service this year after years of complaints about delays and understaffing.

“For the year 2023/24, the office of the Deputy Governor has a very ambitious public sector transformation centered around improving service delivery and the customer experience.”

This came from Governors Appointed Member Willin Belliard, as he rose in the budget debates on Thursday May 18 to detail the revamp.

Phase one of E-procurement which will allow for the virtual submission of tenders is to be implemented. Along with that will come E-Jobs, a similar system touted to make job applications virtual, swift and easy.

Implementation of the Human Capital Procurement Program is also on the list of deliverables. Human capital is sorely lacking in the Turks and Caicos across the public and private sectors with hundreds of vacancies sitting open and resignations continuing to pile up.

Public servants will also find it easier to enroll into the all new Public Sector Pension Plan with the advent of a portal to remove the need for paper based applications.

The previously announced pay grading exercise is on the table to be completed and a Contract management unit has now been created to manage the delivery of projects that taxpayers are funding.

Residents of the Turks and Caicos have complained bitterly about the state of the civil service in the country for years. From police records to the treasury, the service is characterized by low staffing, frustrating wait time and long lines.

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