Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (Wednesday, March 17, 2021) – FortisTCI is pleased to announce its latest scholarship recipient as one of the company’s own, Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist Todiriko Saunders. The company has awarded Todiriko full coverage of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geographic Information System Technology, studies he will complete online with the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
Todiriko started his
career at FortisTCI in 2011 as T&D Planner before working his way into his
current role as the company’s only GIS Specialist. The completion of the degree
program will enhance his real-world knowledge and skills, and improve his
ability to manage and maintain the company’s GIS – a study founded in the
science of geography that uses a framework to integrate and analyze various
types of data, including spatial location and geographical layering to manage
assets and create visual maps.
Having already
commenced his studies, upon successful completion of the program, Todiriko will
be better equipped to expand the FortisTCI GIS program and optimize new technologies
to improve T&D asset management, mapping, line design, engineering, outage
management, and customer response.
FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes said, “GIS is critical to our daily operations, and these technical skills are limited locally. We also know that the three Ds – decarbonization, decentralization and digitization – are transforming the energy sector at a rapid pace, and the use of GIS has become increasingly important to the management of our field assets. This is why as technology advances, we must stay ahead of the curve to leverage capabilities in the most efficient ways possible. As we look to the future of energy, GIS will play a major role in grid modernization and strategies to achieve operational efficiency. I am proud to see Todiriko’s commitment to his professional development and the growth of our sector. On behalf of the FortisTCI family, I wish him continued success during his studies and throughout his career.”
Over the last 10 years, FortisTCI has invested more than $3 million in training and development and awarded over $300,000.00 in scholarship funding. The company’s scholarship program is primarily geared toward science and engineering studies. All scholarship recipients must also fulfill a post-study bond requirement.
Release: FortisTCI
Photo Captions:
Header: FortisTCI GIS Specialist and scholarship recipient Todiriko Saunders records and maps assets in the field, an integral part of the company’s comprehensive asset management program.
Insert: FortisTCI’s newest scholarship recipient Todiriko Saunders stands with FortisTCI President & CEO Ruth Forbes.
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center.
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG