KINGSTON, April 24 (JIS):

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has declared Jamaica a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) island with a vision of fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and empowering citizens to thrive in the global knowledge economy. 

“Through our collaborative all-hands-on-deck approach, Government, private sector, academia and civil society, we will work towards this goal. Jamaica is now officially declared a STEM island,” he said.

Prime Minister Holness was addressing the Future Ready International Conference held at the University of Technology (UTech) in Kingston on April 24.

As a STEM island, he said that the Government will seek to implement comprehensive education reforms from the primary to the tertiary levels, with the objective of developing a skilled workforce, capable of competing in global markets. 

He said that ecosystems will be developed to encourage startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the STEM disciplines to drive industry and economic growth, as well as to address social issues.

“We will encourage the growth of STEM industries such as biotechnology, information technology and advanced manufacturing. We will also leverage STEM to grow and monetise the musical, artistic, cultural and other natural talents of our people. We will leverage STEM solutions to address environmental challenges including climate change, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture,” the Prime Minister said.

 “We will position Jamaica as a hub for STEM research, innovation, collaboration and other developments in the Caribbean and beyond,” he added. 

The Prime Minister said that by embracing STEM as a national priority, Jamaica will unlock its full potential driving prosperity, peace and productivity in a sustainable, equitable way for all our Jamaican citizens and, indeed, the world,” Holness said.

CONTACT: ROCHELLE WILLIAMS

GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 17 APRIL 2024 – The Ministry of Education would like all continuing and potential awardees to be aware of the following changes as it relates to the application process and the new bond enforcement measures. 

The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports & Social Services (MOEYSS) would like to share some insights of our new application process for the Scholarship Season.  Please note applications will NO LONGER be accepted at our scholarship secretariat email scholarshipsecretariat@tciedu.tc . Only queries as it relates application process or the management of your scholarship award will be accepted at the email address.

 Digitization of the scholarship application process became a key programme strategy for the 2023/24 FY. Therefore research was initiated to digitize the scholarship application process, from this research conducted by the Secretariat Unit Good Grants was determined the most efficient and convenient  option. As of March 11th 2024 the scholarship application season has been open through use of Good Grants . This initiative offers invaluable opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders to apply for scholarship opportunities within the Ministry’s priority areas.  To apply for a scholarship visit our website at https://gov.tc/scholarshipsecretariat and click ‘Scholarship Portal’.

 Endorsement Letter for persons applying in the area of Health and Education Studies

The applicant will be responsible for sharing their application with the necessary endorser. On the Good Grants platform there is  a feature in the portal where you can download your application and submit to the endorser. This can be found in the ‘apply‘ page at the bottom directly before where your application is listed.

 BOND SURETY/IES OBLIGATION

The bond enforcement for the scholarship program believes that awardees should be encouraged to pursue academic goals from these skills areas gaps identified by the Turks and Caicos Islands National Skills Gap Audit 2018, as a way of giving back to the country who afforded them the opportunity to student abroad. The new bond document now reflects the required GPA of 2.5.

• A surety is a person who takes responsibility of your academic performance to fulfil your bond agreement obligations.

• Each awardee must nominate 2 (two) sureties to sign their bond agreement along with you the awardee. 

• You and your sureties will be held jointly liable to pay Turks and Caicos Islands Government if you fail to fulfil your serve back to the TCIG with a period of service ranging from 3 to 5 years on completing of studies and return to Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Each awardee will now have to confirm their enrollment by submitting documentation at the close of each academic semester.

Your Sureties

1. Must be Turks and Caicos Islander, showing proof of residency by submitting the following documents:-

• Job Letter and bank letter OR
• Bank letter and Ad davit

1. Your sureties are now required to provide their physical address within the TCI.
2. Your sureties can be your parents /guardians.
3. Your sureties can be anyone willing to bear the legal responsibility in the event of having to repay the debt back to TCIG

CHANGE THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF BOND

• The probationary period of the bond agreement has changed from 60 days to 90 days as returning students seek permanent work either within the public or private sector of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

• The returning student must notify the Ministry of Education of return to TCI and is encouraged to seek employment either with the Internship and Apprenticeship programme or seek gainful employment either within the Public or Private sector.

Continuing and returning students job experience programme

Continuing and returning students are encouraged to participate in the National Internship and Apprenticeship program for at least a period of six weeks during summer and other breaks within your programme each year. The student can provide proof of secured paid internship either within the Turks and Caicos Islands or aboard.

Dana Malcolm 
Staff Writer 

Three boys were injured and visitation at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center in Providenciales was suspended for about 18 hours following a school brawl on Wednesday afternoon at the Clement Howell High.

“At Clement Howell High School, the safety and well-being of our students are of utmost priority. We are taking this incident very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the root cause and circumstances that led to this regrettable situation,” The Ministry of Education said in a press release Thursday Morning.

It followed reports of a large fight that began to come in early Wednesday morning with residents reporting not just the police but the presence of an ambulance on school grounds.

By 2 p.m. communication came from the TCI Hospital that they had suspended visitation; an action usually reserved for the aftermath of violent events.

The hospital did not say why it was closing its doors, only indicating that it was for the safety of its patients and staff as well as their families.

The Ministry cleared up some of what had happened in their statement indicating that the injured students, one 15 -year-old and two 16-year-olds, had been  taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment.

“Contrary to reports circulating on social media, there were no further incidents at the hospital, however, as a standard precautionary measure, the hospital went on lockdown mode,” it said.

When Magnetic Media contacted the police around 4 p.m. Wednesday to find out what caused the ruckus they told us they were still on scene. Speaking to media later on they revealed the cause of the fight was still unknown but that they were using video evidence and interviews to piece it together.

Videos, shot by students, were shared with the news team, showing the extent of the fighting.

In them a large knot of boys is seen in multiple videos, some throwing punches, some kicking and pushing and some others trying in vain to separate their schoolmates. A lone white clad individual, possibly a security guard, is dragged along in the melee of fighting teens.  Some are seen brandishing what appears to be rocks, which could have been used as weapons.

There were several mobs where fights broke out; mostly boys but also girls involved.

By news production time, no news had come from police of any arrests made but the hospital resumed regular operations on Thursday morning around 9:30 a.m.

The brawl comes just weeks before the Reaching the Streets initiative which is aimed at tackling violence and criminal activities in teens and young adults.