News
PDM Deputy Leader calls for public service reformations, Gov’t action & accountability
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, June 6, 2022 – Money to be paid out to the tune of over half a million dollars in at least two lawsuits could be better used to build the TCI, so why is no one talking about what went wrong. Among the observations and question expressed in a statement issued yesterday by the PDMs Deputy Party Leader, Robert Been.
“Turks and Caicos – I don’t know about you, but we the people need to know why over half a million dollars of public funds was awarded to persons who won their claims against the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. These claims were successful that they were poorly, inhumanely or criminally handled by our system. Why haven’t we heard what will be done to avoid any repeat of what went wrong in these matters,” he said in a May 27 statement.
Been said, “Our Leaders must find out what can be put in place to avoid constantly losing cases whether in the criminal or civil courts.”
The People’s Democratic Movement deputy party leader said the serious and far reaching consequences of not dotting Is and crossing Ts must be clearly understood by every worker in the public sector.
Been slammed the silence of the PNP government for it with: “this is an age which demands greater levels of transparency, consistent and intelligent communication…” he also said, “Maybe because it is not directly their money and if that is true, then it will make sense for Turks and Caicos Islanders to question whether we have the right
stewards over our money. I don’t know about you, but I found those payouts from the public purse to be jaw-dropping – and I know I am not alone.”
Been, who has run in the all island category in the past elections had suggestions.
“Most of us would have heard the new budget address, all we heard was the same surplus talks and millions going into the public purse, but we have yet to see Islanders economically empowered, and amongst other things, our islands continue to struggle with things like better infrastructural development that can transform our communities into areas its residents can be proud of. Why do we still have unpaved roads in TCI?
Why don’t we have more parks for families to take their children or for our people to walk, run and jog? Why don’t we have more pedestrian crossings, sidewalks and speed bumps in our communities? Why aren’t we investing in recreational centres or other family-friendly options that give our children more to do and to bring out the unique talents in them? Why isn’t more being done to better outfit our surrounding islands?
PNP, pay attention to your people, take a look at the audience you continue to address, they are not the same individuals you begged in the lower income areas for votes.”
He called the PNP poor stewards of the public purse.
Robert Been remembered Most Excellent JAGS as the country neared a national hero commemoration last week Monday; his comments highlighting that the PDMs founder and first chief minister wanted a better standard of living for all Turks and Caicos Islanders and that the PDM stood ready to set a new course of action for that better Turks and Caicos.
“This beautiful country is in need of radical leaders who will pave a way for generations to come. Leaders with real vision that is not there for a title or to sit on a panel with no insight with what’s really going on in our country. To the citizens of Turks and Caicos, The People’s Democratic Movement, will be ready to set that new course of action, we will continue to hold those accountable for you.”
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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