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TCI: International Nurses Day Messages

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#TurksandCaicos, May 17, 2021 – “As Chief Nursing Officer for the Turks and Caicos Islands, I salute all nurses in their respective roles and place of work within the country. I do not have to remind you that we are living in unprecedented times; with the continued challenges of COVID-19, a disease that threatens our healthcare system, the health and wellbeing of our community and our local economy here in these islands and by extension the rest of the world.

Scientists, and medical professionals continue to grapple with strategies and research to determine best practices for fighting this global threat, to find a cure, or at least a preventative method which is effective in “freeing our smiles” from the daily restraints of the face masks, and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which have become necessary measures to protect and preserve life in your field of work and at home. Increased demands have been brought about by the need for: continued contact tracing, clinical management of hospitalized patients, the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and community testing for COVID-19 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In spite of these increased challenges, you, the nurses of the TCI, continue to persevere, with a heart of love, care, commitment and dedication; working collaboratively with your medical colleagues, to provide quality care to residents and visitors to these Islands. I am extremely proud of you, and express my profound thanks for your outstanding and continued service. Most certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the spotlight on our health care system and the need for nurses to become more involved in the critical role of planning for the future of healthcare in our country. May God continue to bless and protect you and your families, as you continue in your work for the future of our healthcare system, and may God continue to bless our beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands. Happy Nurses Day.”

Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. Jackurlyn Sutton

 “I congratulate the Nurses of the TCI on the sterling work they have been doing and most notably their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme chosen for this year is just as fitting as the theme for last year, “Nurses A Voice to Lead: A vision for Future Healthcare”.

You are without question the backbone of the healthcare system, and without you, we would not be able to offer Universal Health Care or Universal Access to health for our TCI population.  Nurses make up the largest cadre of health care personnel in the TCI, and I would like to reassure them that as their Minister of Health, I will make every effort to ensure that policies and strategies are implemented to strengthen nursing education in the TCI, thereby creating opportunities for our young people who wish to pursue their first degree in nursing and to be able to accomplish that success in the comfort of their home. I would also seek to advocate for continuous improvement in the working environments and remunerations for nursing professionals.

I empathize with those countries in the region and around the world who have lost members of the nursing workforce during this pandemic, but we are so grateful to God that none of you have been severely affected by this disease. I sincerely appreciate the commitment and dedication you have demonstrated particularly during the pandemic and wish you a blessed and meaningful Nurses Day.

 The Hon Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. E. Jay Saunders

 “It is with much gratitude that I salute nurses globally, regionally and especially those serving this great nation.  For many nurses in the TCI, it is our first pandemic and for others, it is certainly our longest.  In my address to nurses last December, I charged all of us to be thankful to God for his divine protection over the past months.  We have since completed a year and we are still under His cover; we have not lost any of our colleagues to this awful and selfish disease, we are all still here.  I thank each of you for your passion and drive, and I especially thank those of you who have suffered personal losses during this most difficult time, for staying the course.”

“Giving up was easy, but you didn’t. I am truly thankful for your resilience.  To my nurses in Primary Health Care, you know that my heart belongs to you. I love and appreciate you.  It is impossible for me to thank this small team for all that they do. You have been stretched beyond measures, but you have persevered.  Thank you for being Nightingales and Seacoles. I thank the families of these unsung heroes for giving them to this country to achieve what many great nations were unable to, with more resources.  We reflect on those that have gone on before, for allowing us to stand on their shoulders. I charge all of us to use this week to reflect on the past year; use the time to give thanks and to search ourselves to see how we can be better at doing what God has called us to do.  Happy International Nurses Day to you all!”

Alrisa Gardiner, Primary Health Care Manager  

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CARICOM speaks out on Climate Change, looking to May meeting to amplify call for Climate Funding

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March 3, 2024

 

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains on the frontlines of global climate crisis, an issue the Region has been aggressively advocating on for the past thirty years. Despite the many commitments and promises of international partners, the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing.

Heads of Government are concerned that while COP 28 was widely regarded as a historic event, with the completion of the first global stocktake (GST), on progress in achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, the outcomes of GST show that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of Parties will not keep global temperatures below the 1.5 degree goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

Heads of Government also expressed concern to be heading to COP 29 where a New Finance Goal will be articulated to replace the 100bn goal, which has not yet been met, even as developing countries require trillions to deal with the escalating impacts of climate change. Developed country parties have not provided enough finance at scale, technology and capacity building support required to help developing countries tackle their pressing needs to build their resilience, especially in adapting to the adverse and increasingly catastrophic impacts of climate change. The clear absence of definitive timelines for action and quantitative commitments for scaling up of investments, and particularly adaptation finance emerging out of COP 28, cause great concern to our Region.

The Conference noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), recognized as the most vulnerable group of countries and a special case for sustainable development, have been facing strong push back against the recognition of their special circumstances especially in the context of climate finance. There is limited international support for special allocations for SIDS within financing arrangements and available climate finance from international and private sources is limited, expensive and too onerous to access.

In light of the preceding, Heads of Government called for CARICOM to take a strategic, unified and coordinated approach to ensure that the Region remains influential in the climate and development arena through engagements with key partners and advocacy groups.

They called for renewed focus by the Region to advocate for inclusion of forests, nature-based solutions and blue carbon into market mechanisms with the aim of articulating clear regional positions and strategies.

Heads of Government reiterated the call for improved readiness programmes, simplified approval procedures, a change to the criteria for determining access to low-cost finance, and for the adoption of programmatic approaches to address the bottlenecks in accessing finance.

The Region reiterates its support for the Bridgetown Initiative’s call to expand capital adequacy of international financial institutions.

Heads recognized that the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, 27 – 30 May 2024, will be an inflection point for many of these discussions to be articulated. As such, the Region remains committed to participating in the Conference at the highest level.

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South Caicos Development Plans shared with Washington-Misick led Administration

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On Monday, 12 February 2024, the Premier led a delegation to tour the island of South Caicos to view the ongoing public and private sector projects, involving the remodelling and rebranding of the airport terminals, historical districts, and the East Bay Hotel.

The tour of the various developments reinforced the Government’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to boost the island’s activity and economy.

Photos courtesy of the TCI Office of the Premier

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Ministry of Tourism continues to get rid of dilapidated structures

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By LINDSAY THOMPSON

Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation is continuing to rid areas of derelict and dilapidated structures posing safety problems, and a threat to the overall tourism product.

In this vein the recent structure to be demolished was the Gaming Board building owned by the Hotel Corporation.  Located adjacent to Goodman’s Bay Beach on West Bay Street, it was formerly the Sir Harry Oakes property; the northern portion once housed Bahamas Information Services for several years.

 


On hand to witness the demolition were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper, and Senator Randy Rolle, Global Consultant, MOTIA.

The demolition started on Monday, February 5, 2024 by Virgo Construction headed by the contractor Terry Delancy.  

DPM Cooper explained that the government felt the Gaming Board building should no longer sit there in a derelict manner, and continue to be an eyesore and pose safety concerns.

“Goodman’s Bay will be enhanced as a result of getting rid of this building. It will be more aesthetically pleasing for residents who traverse this area. Women who walk in the mornings in particular through these areas will be pleased to see that this has become a green space, rather than a derelict structure,” he said.

DPM Cooper also noted that his ministry consulted broadly with the Antiquities, Monuments & Museums Corporation (AMMC), and other historians before proceeding with demolition.

“We are sure not to take any actions as it relates to buildings, without consultation. So they were very comfortable with the process and we continue to work closely with them on all of the buildings that we have demolished in the downtown area,” he said.

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