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Turks & Caicos donates $100,000 to St Vincent and the Grenadines

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#TurksandCaicos, April 23, 2021 – Clean up is stymied by the windy conditions, the thousands displaced need food and basic essentials and farmers, with no earnings will be faced with a financial dilemma as the end of the month brings bills to pay. 

Help is coming for St. Vincent and the Grenadines from around the world, this includes the Turks and Caicos Islands whose government has just approved a donation of $100,000 USD.

It is the third week for an active La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the world is being asked to make a financial contribution to help in restoring the eastern Caribbean country. 

The United Nations has put the restoration cost at $29.2 million.

The Turks and Caicos Islands, an Associate Member of CARICOM has agreed to a sizeable donation.  From the Wednesday April 21 cabinet meeting:  “Approved a donation of $100,000 to the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to assist those affected by the recent volcanic eruption of La Soufriere.”

Vincentians residing in TCI are grateful.

“It is a great initiative and the people of St. Vincent thanks the government of the Turks and Caicos for their donation and continued support,” said Wilbert Mason, hotel manager at the Ocean Club resorts.

Mr. Mason, who originates from Rose Hall, North Leeward in SVG said “In addition to the government, people here in Turks and Caicos have expressed they are willing to support St Vincent in any way possible and for that we are grateful.”

Harvest Bible Church has supported the effort of the Association of Evangelical churches is

to distributing food and water; 500 cases of food and 500 cases of water are given to residents of Barrouallie.  Barrouallie, sits within nine miles of the volcano.

“Being part of the Caribbean and recognizing that St Vincent and the Grenadines is going through a crisis, it is good for Turks and Caicos to respond with assistance to one your neighbouring islands.  Turks and Caicos is in a position to help and so it is very thoughtful to give, and this gift is really good because it can go a long way in helping people to get back on their feet,” said Caldon Charles, Pastor at Harvest Bible in Turks and Caicos.

Pastor Charles is also a native of SVG, from the East St George constituency.

“Up to this week people still need food, there are some who are not getting any assistance and I think it is a matter of ensuring that the basic needs are taken care of and the farmers who have been displaced have to have some means of support.  Farmers have been severely affected,” added Mr. Mason.

Wilbert Mason adds communities have come together to clean-up but that has been disturbed by brisk winds and there have been no major health issues, of which he is aware, in the island nation which has been inundated with volcanic ash.

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PISLM and Grenada Sign Historic Host Country Agreement

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Hon. Lennox Andrews and Mr. Calvin James sign the Host Country Agreement 

ST. GEORGE’S GRENADA- JUNE 19, 2025- The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), has successfully signed a Head Quarters Agreement with the Government of Grenada. This historic signing cements the Spice Isle, as the hub for the operations of the InterGovernmental Organisation (IGO), which will lead coordinated action and implement projects that will improve sustainable land and soil management within Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS).

Minister Hon. Lennox Andrews and Hon. Adrian Forde

The agreement was signed at the PISLM’s High Level Ministerial Gala, on Tuesday 17th, June 2025, at the Radisson Resorts Grenada, by the outgoing Executive Director Mr. Calvin James and Grenada’s Minister responsible for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Minister of Economic Development and Planning, Agriculture and Lands, Forestry and Blue Economy- Hon. Lennox J. Andrews.                                                                                                                                                                                                       The signing was witnessed by Hon. Adrian Forde- Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy of Barbados (incoming Chair of the PISLM Ministerial Council), Hon Kerryne James- Minister for Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy and Hon. Vaughn P. Miller- Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources of the Bahamas; along with focal points for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and key stakeholders.

Delivering feature remarks at the Ministerial Gala, Andrews commended the organization for its work in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He described the signing as, “A demonstration of our commitment to sustainable land management.”

“It puts us in an obvious position where we can be recognized as a country that takes climate change and land degradation seriously,” he added.

Hon .Kerryne James, Hon. Vaughn Miller and Mr. Calvin James

The PISLM which officially became an Inter-Governmental Organization, one year ago, has been strengthening sustainable land and soil management across the Caribbean Small Island Developing States, through several projects including, Phase I of the CSIDS-SOILCARE Project and the Strengthening Resilience of Agricultural Lands and Forests in Dominica in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria.                                                                                                     Reflecting on the two decades spent developing the organization into the premier Inter Governmental Organization responsible for land and soil, with a mandate to help countries meet their obligations under the UNCCD and land and soil areas of the Barbados Programme of Action, outgoing Executive Director Mr. Calvin James,  expressed gratitude to the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, that served as host countries.

“Their contributions set the stage for what we call Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique phase and a new chapter for the PISLM. We hope that this phase will take us to where we ought to be in terms of positioning sustainable land and soil management in the environmental spectrum.”

Mr. Calvin James

The establishment of the PISLM Headquarters in Grenada will enhance coordination among Caribbean SIDS, provide a centralized platform for Small Island Developing Stations (SIDS) collaboration, and attract regional and international investment for sustainable land management solutions.                                                                                                                                                                       The office will become the hub for the implementation of several key projects such as the Caribbean LDN Transformative Project, which would be done in collaboration with the Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, the Caribbean Sand & Dust storm Initiative, launch of Phase II of the CSIDS SOILCARE Project and the Caribbean Drought Initiative in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean.

PISLM extends its appreciation to the Government of Grenada, for their unwavering support in making this historic achievement a reality.

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Power Play: Beaches TCI Supervisor Named Top Scorer in Caribbean Cricket Championship

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TCI Cricket team

Members of the BTC team who represented the TCI on its recent cricket tour

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC) is celebrating a proud moment after Maintenance and Engineering Supervisor, Jerome Daley, emerged as top scorer in the 10th Central American and Caribbean Cricket Championship, recently held in Panama. Daley represented the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket (TCIC) team in its debut appearance at the regional tournament, which featured teams from Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The TCIC team, composed of standout players from the recently concluded Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T20 League, brought together a dynamic mix of youth, experience and professionals from both the private and public sectors.

BTC’s Elite Butler and TCIC team Captain, Sidue Hunter, reflected on the experience, “being called on to lead this team was a challenge I felt prepared for. The unity and camaraderie made a big difference. This team sets a solid foundation for the future of TCI cricket.”

While the team did not take home the championship title, Daley’s individual performance stood out. He led the tournament in runs and credited his teammates for their support.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Playing in unfamiliar conditions is always tough,” Daley admitted. “The pitches weren’t quite like what we’re used to at home but I trusted my game. With encouragement from my teammates, I was able to adjust and stay consistent.”                                                                                                                                                                                        BTC Managing Director James McAnally praised the team’s contribution to both sports and national development, “we are proud to support our team members who represented not just the resort but the Turks and Caicos Islands on a regional stage. This is what true corporate citizenship looks like—empowering people through teamwork, sports and community spirit.”

TCI Cricket Team captain Sidue Hunter (left) and Jerome Daley

McAnally also acknowledged the impressive BTC representation within the team:

  • Jerome Daley – top scorer, maintenance and engineering supervisor
  • Sidue Hunter – captain, elite butler
  • Maxine Salmon – scorer, kids camp department
  • Earl Henry – evening duty manager
  • Anthony “Moses” McKnight – elite butler

Vice President of TCICA, Ancell Williams, described the championship as a pivotal learning experience and outlined the organization’s ambitious vision, “we aim to integrate more youth into our national teams over the next two seasons. Long-term, we hope to field U15 and U19 teams in the West Indies youth championships. It’s a bold dream, but youth development is our future.”

This inaugural appearance at the championship signals a promising future for cricket in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with a growing commitment to nurturing talent from the grassroots to the regional stage.

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Sandals Foundation and CDEMA Celebrate Success of 3-Year Leadership Development Programme

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MEDIA RELEASE

 

REGIONAL, JUNE 11, 2025 – Forty-five (45) Senior Officers from three cohorts at the National Disaster Organisations (NDOs) and National Emergency Sectors in seventeen (17) Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Participating States have benefited from a Strategic Leadership Development training programme that is in its third year, building their capacity and advancing disaster preparedness and response across the Caribbean.

As we enter the Atlantic Hurricane Season (June 1 – November 30), Senior Officers from Anguilla, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, , Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia , Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands have been equipped with strategic leadership skills to enhance their ability to develop and implement disaster preparedness plans, coordinate and manage emergency responses, and support recovery efforts to strengthen their coordination, communication, and leadership in times of emergency.

Taking a holistic approach to Disaster Risk Management, the intensive programme enhances leadership skills through six (6) courses over a six-month period with modules in Leadership, Strategic Management, Project Management, Financial Management, Proposal Writing, and Crisis Communication and Incident Management.

In partnership with Sandals Foundation and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business (ALJGSB) at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), the carefully curated curriculum successfully used interactive lectures, one-on-one coaching, and psychometric assessment to enhance officers’ approach to community wellbeing before, during and after a natural hazard.

Gayle Drakes, Education and Training Specialist at CDEMA, said, “The preventative approach to Disaster Risk Management at CDEMA is risk-reduction centred, emphasising an understanding of hazard exposure, vulnerabilities and capacities, and styling appropriate interventions for building more resilient communities.”

“By completing this three year programme with the Sandals Foundation, our region’s Senior Officers now have enhanced knowledge in advanced level competencies, all aimed at promoting our Comprehensive Disaster Management agenda [an integrated approach to risk management],” Drakes added.

“CDEMA is proud to have collaborated with the Sandals Foundation and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business on this initiative to strengthen the foundation of national and regional resilience. As we enter the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, we are confident that this cadre of professionals is better equipped to lead preparedness, response, and recovery efforts that result in safeguarding lives and livelihoods throughout the Caribbean.” said Executive Director of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley.

Sandals Foundation, for its part, provided necessary funding to implement the programme for its three-year duration, valued at some US $150,000. Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at Sandals Foundation, says she is optimistic about the future for both NDO Officers and the citizens of the Caribbean.

“Improved Disaster Risk Management starts with our leaders. A holistic approach starts with education and training. When we equip our leaders with the resources they need, we feel confident in their ability to guide us toward a culture of preparedness and awareness, especially in the face of natural hazards,” said Clarke.

The Sandals Foundation has routinely partnered with organisations that promote disaster preparedness and building resilience across the Caribbean – training NDO Officers and small business operators, and educating youth and community members in safety protocols and disaster mitigation and prevention. Some of its partners to date have included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica, and the Youth Emergency Action Committee (YEAC) in Grenada.

 

Header: In partnership with Sandals Foundation and the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, 45 Senior Officers in 17 Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Participating States have benefited from a Strategic Leadership Development training programme, building their capacity and advancing disaster preparedness and response across the Caribbean.

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