News
TCI: Women in Sports celebrates 8 Years
#TurksandCaicos, April 14, 2021 – In an effort to promote Gender Equality in sports, the former President of the Commonwealth Games Association and Sports Hall of Famer Mrs. Rita Gardiner partnered with the Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Carolyn Dickinson to organize an initiative for women and girls of the Turks and Caicos Islands. After much consultation with sporting bodies, the first women, sport and physical activity was established, named “TCI Women in Sport”.
The launch of this most needed body took place on the 13th April, 2013 in Providenciales and in Grand Turk on the 14th April, 2013 by the then Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hon. Akeirra Missick.
The organization is an independent group with a cross section of women throughout the communities of the TCI with interest in bringing about gender equality in all sectors of society as well as persons keen in sporting activities. This Association will help to identify and place women and girls in the various sporting disciplines; provide the required support to allow them to maximize their full potential; to award women’s achievements; to increase the number of women in decision-making roles. Wis is committed to changing attitudes to ensure girls and women have a life-long involvement in sport and physical activity and to cultivate relationships with international organizations.
To this end, the Women in Sports TCI signed a MOU with their Canadian Women in Sports partners and have also established great ties with the Women’s Commission in the Caribbean.
WIS Vision – Our shared aspirations tor TCI
Turks and Caicos Islands have a holistic and equitable sport and physical activity system where all girls and women can participate.
Mission – Our Core purpose and reason for being the Turks and Caicos Islands Women in Sports Association that is a catalyst to change the mindset of stakeholders, close the gender gap and create a revolution of women and girls involved in sports and physical activity through a multi-sectoral approach.
Our Values – We believe in being fair
Fair – We foster partnerships and engage in discussions
Audacious – We take risks and strive to achieve high standards
Inclusive – we encourage equal access to all programs and opportunities
We embrace diversity
Our Canadian partners assisted us immediately with an Intern, Kathleen Reeves who immediately set to work with the CGA President by developing Grassroots programs. WIS’ first program was ‘Learn to Swim” a program for young girls and women who needed to master the art of swimming or learn basic survival skills. That program runs every summer and is one of our most popular on WIS’ sporting calendar for the youths of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Due to the pandemic it was postponed in 2020, there are many other sporting activities for Adults and Children alike. Our most anticipated event is the Christmas Gala and Awards banquet.
Special recognition must be made of the Presidents, Mrs. Florence Jarrett-Dunkley, Sherry Ingham, Angela Brooks and currently Symadia Ingham-Wallace, all of whom did an outstanding job in the development of Sports and Gender equality for women and girls in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 29, 2023 – On April 1st, the second round of increases on contributions at the National Insurance Board will kick in for the Turks and Caicos workforce. Announced last year, the increases were instituted to keep the NIB from running out of money by 2027 as it services a population that is living longer with contributions that had not been increased in 30 years.
As the Government’s new financial year begins, increases at NIB will mean a higher cost for doing business and a higher cost for running the Government.
The private sector is expected to pay contributions at a rate of 11 percent on your taxable income. The hike is up from last year’s 10 per cent; six percent of which is to be paid by the Employer and five percent is to be paid by the
Employee. For wages of $2000, this will mean a $200 improvement in income per month to the NIB. As for the burn on residents’ pockets, based on a minimum wage of $1200 monthly salary, that’s at least $60 dollars a month and $720 per year.
Public sector rates will move to 10.15 percent up from 9.15 per cent with the worker paying 4.575 per cent and the Government paying 5.575 per cent; that’s $54 a month and $648 a year at minimum wage.
The NIB rate as of April 1, 2023, will jump to 9 percent for self-employed individuals; For self-employed individuals at minimum wage, that is $108 dollars a month or $1296 per year.
As taxable incomes increase so will the contribution.
The increases follow a 2019 Actuarial review, undertaken every three years, which unearthed that the NIB was facing a dismal future, possible collapse. Contribution rates were growing at a rate much slower than NIB expenses, which included beneficiary payouts. On that trajectory, the NIB’s earnings would be eclipsed by its income by 2027, forcing the worker protection plan to draw down on money saved for economic shocks like Covid-19.
Unsurprisingly, this was deemed untenable, and an immediate increase was recommended.
Despite this scramble to boost earnings, the NIB has simultaneously increased payouts. Payouts for pensions, funeral grants, maternity grants and more will all attract bigger sums.
These incremental increases on contributions and payouts were all consultant recommendations, informed statements from the Board.
Bahamas News
Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin
“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.BIS Photos/Mark Ford
Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson; (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.
1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson
2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member
3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training
4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National
Independence Secretariat.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.
The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.
At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.
We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”
View the newly released calendar of events here:
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