News
Precious Treasures International Students impressive for TCI in CPEA Writing Competition
Jadon, Kavya & Malik of PTIS are now published authors
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, February 16, 2022 – As the ‘orange economy’ or the economy of creatives which includes all the sectors whose goods and services are based on intellectual property becomes more and more viable, countries are beginning to explore ways to foster young minds and interest them in the arts. The Turks and Caicos is brimming with natural talent as the country nabbed not one, not two, but three spots in the top 20 placements of the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) story writing competition.
The CPEA Short Story Competition was created by the Caribbean Examinations council and is only open to students partaking in the CPEA and calls for a 1000 word original story. The competition was created to provide students across the Caribbean an opportunity to write stories that would be read by a regional audience.
Three students in the Turks and Caicos school system placed in the top 20, getting their stories published and illustrated by the Caribbean Examinations Council.
Jadon Harvey with his story titled: ‘The Harvey’s Survival Against Hurricane Irma’; a robust portrayal penned about his experience in: “hurricane filled with thunderous skies, escaped chickens and flying barn doors…”; it claimed the No. 18 spot. (click the image to read the story)
On the other hand Kavya Mirwani penned ‘Hannahs Adventurous Christmas Holiday’. (click the image to read the story)
The charming tale of a family overcoming Covid-19 to break out enjoy a fabulous holiday in the Turks and Caicos
Islands, lapping up the natural beauty, all while being safe, netted Kavya the No. 12 spot in the best 20 list.
Malik Forsythe was the TCI’s biggest winner with ‘Chronicles of a Grenadian American Boy in Turks and Caicos Islands’. (click the image to read the story)
His culture rich story about his blended background as a Grenadian-American living and experiencing life in the Turks and Caicos, journeying to the islands of his heritage and being immersed in the variety of cultures painted a vibrant picture of life and lifestyles in the islands. The thrilling account thrust him to the No. 5 spot in the regional story-writing competition.
The top twenty stories were selected by a panel of judges from across the region. The judges made their selections with these criteria in mind. Did the story capture the imagination of the readers and did the original entry contain the rich and diverse cultures and lifestyles of the Caribbean?
All three students who attend Precious Treasures International School in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands demonstrated tremendous talent and an uncommon astuteness about the world in which they live, reflected in the
very nature of the topics they chose to reflect upon.
The stories could easily be used by any teacher to segue into topics including climate change, tourism, world health, migration or culture. This is especially relevant as the project is aimed at identifying short stories written by students that could be used as reading materials by other students
Through the competition the Caribbean Examinations council says they hope to inspire children to write; this creative outlet can open intriguing doors including providing them with an authentic audience far beyond their shores; provide a lucrative career; expands the understanding and appreciation of life within the region and the most obvious being it can unearth writing potentials in students.
Many of the goals are already accomplished in the CPEA Story Writing Competition.
Hearty congratulations to Jadon, Kavya and Malik; all 11-year-olds, in sixth grade at PTIS.
Caribbean News
Agriculture Ministry Providing Two Water Trucks to Serve St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine
#Kingston, Jamaica, April 24, 2024 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is to unveil two more water trucks this week, which will be used to service communities in St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine.
Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure during Wednesday’s (April 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
He also informed that of the $90 million earmarked to support farmers being impacted by the current drought, the Ministry will be
providing additional support for storage and drip-irrigation systems.
“So, we have targeted about 600 water tanks and about 400 12-millimetre drip irrigation hoses, and that distribution has already started. Additionally, we have earmarked about $8 million to really help with our livestock farmers,” Mr. Green said.
“We know the difficulty that you’re facing now in this time; [it’s] very hard to get the right nutritional support for your animals. As such, we will be providing some hay, and we will [also] provide some trucking of water to you. Again, our livestock farmers, if you are in need, please contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and let us see how we can help in these times,” he further stated.
Mr. Green also encouraged farmers to download the RADA App, so that the Agency can “help guide you, not only in relation to what is happening on the rainfall side, but also in relation to your integrated pest management”.
“We do see some increases of certain types of pests during this time, and it’s important that our farmers are paying attention to that. It’s also important that you’re taking drought management seriously [by undertaking] soil mulching, looking at planting drought-tolerant crops, timely harvesting, implementing land husbandry treatments and contour ditches,” he stated.
Contact: Latonya Linton
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, speaking during Wednesday’s (April 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Donald De La Haye Photo
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, April 19, 2024 – In an attempt to move to 24-hour-a-day operations Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is steadily recruiting Air Traffic Controllers to work at the Providenciales/Howard Hamilton International Airport, according to Godfrey Smith, TCIAA CEO, reporting to the Appropriations Committee.
Speaking on April 8th Smith said a cabinet paper would be sent soon requesting six more Air Traffic Controllers to make round the clock operation at the Provo International possible and to open the airport in Grand Turk till 12 a.m.
Currently, 17 posts are filled and seven are vacant.
Smith was candid with his responses to recent industrial action from ATCs which led to resignations and firings.
“What we have to do is find systems to mitigate such actions and that has to start with filling these jobs, putting people in that want to
work and doing right by people – and we always try to do right by our staff. Persons may not think that we are but we always do – we ain’t pick no fight,” he said in the meetings held at the NJS Francis building ahead of the National Budget Communication.
Smith indicated that recruitment was an issue across the board, ‘we need to find ways to recruit a little bit better’ he told the committee. Also in need of a push was capital spending or projects according to the CEO, who said the agency had ‘not been very good’ at meeting that mark but insisted they had recognized the issue and could do better.
A very important key performance indicator drawn up by the TCIAA is increasing passenger satisfaction at the Howard Hamilton International Airport. For the TCIAA part of this means a 30 percent increase in seating by Q2 of this year.
When queried on if they could even handle this increase the CEO said,
“The fact of the matter is we already have the capacity there. What we need is to make the service a bit better.”
Staff shortages have become such a frustrating issue that the TCIAA is instituting a scholarship program created by Authority Chairman, Selvyn Hawkins
“What the board wants to do is basically allocate $25,000 annually for a scholarship and they’ve approved it already.”
This process would cover tuition and all other costs for one student.
The student would return as a summer intern and other breaks to work at the TCIAA and upon graduation, assume a role at the company.
“We identify a particular skill we need, we go after it and we build capacity that is in a nutshell the nexus of the program,” Smith said.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is allocated $49 million this financial year; over $20 million goes to salaries.
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