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Work of UK Digital Team will help speed up the process of getting Police Records

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Sherrica Thompson

Staff writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, November 24, 2022 – A Digital Government Team from the UK is now in Turks and Caicos and among the issues their support will un-kink for the islands, is the “embarrassing and appalling” length of time it takes to secure character certificates or police records.

The premier agreed with the scathing reviews for the pace at the Criminal Records Office of the Police Department as he called the process of applying and waiting, a  frustrating issue that many Turks and Caicos Islanders and residents face.

“I can tell you that every effort is being made and has been made in order to cure that ill specifically,” he said.

The long wait for police records was one of the many questions posed at the Public Meeting in Providenciales on Monday, November 21. It was no surprise the matter came up.  It has been a hot button subject for years now, and in recent times the system to get the document needed for everything from a job to travel to security clearance to work permits has been gruelling.

One resident even described the system as ‘backward’ as she recalled being able to get a police record in two weeks back in 1994. However, in recent times, it takes approximately four months to get a receipt for a police record and about six to seven months to get the document, which is only valid for six months.

In response to the resident’s query, Premier Misick said the government is making strides in rectifying the issue.

Adding that, “I can tell you today, as we speak, Digital Government UK landed here on the weekend. I was in a meeting for hours today, and I had meetings with a number of government ministries and departments to look at how we could start to deliver on some of these services that the public should be able to sit at home and procure for themselves.”

While pointing out that even two weeks is a “long time to wait for a police record,” Misick outlined two initiatives that he said the government had started that will see the issue fixed soon.

“Some practices have grown where you need a police record just for everything in this country, and that is the first thing that is being fixed,” he stated, noting that “you shouldn’t have to require a police record for every activity that you’re going to do.”

The Premier also revealed that a document is on its way to the cabinet.

“The Minister of Technology for Information can speak to this, but there is a paper on its way to cabinet for the 9th of December, by which time we hope to have feedback from the government of the UK to try to fix this problem,” Misick explained.

However, until this issue is rectified, residents and islanders will still have to continue to grapple with the long waiting period they currently face to get a police record in the TCI.

Bahamas News

Bahamas Golden Jubilee Events Announced, Celebrations Across 33 Islands & Cays

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#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National Independence Secretariat.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.

The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.

At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.

We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”

View the newly released calendar of events here:

https://celebrate-bahamas.com/calendar-of-events/…

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Caribbean News

JAMAICA: Seniors Registered Under New Social Pension Programme

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#Kingston, March 28, 2023 – There are currently 12,362 seniors registered under the Government’s new Social Pension Programme.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Karl Samuda, made the disclosure during the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee of the House on March 2, at Gordon House.

The initiative targets all Jamaican citizens 75 years and older who are not currently in receipt of a pension (overseas or local) or any other retirement, old-age or disability benefit or regular income, and are not living in a government institutionalised care facility.

“We are evaluating the manner in which we qualify persons to go on the programme. This is a discussion we will have to have, as some people fall through the cracks simply because they might have a refrigerator, or they might be lucky enough to have a television at home,” Mr. Samuda said.

“The direction in which we are heading, to have those things, does not move you from poverty to prosperity. So, the Government has an obligation to do everything possible to improve their quality of life, and so we will be looking at that,” the Minister added.

Mr. Samuda said between March 2022 and January 2023, the programme disbursed $446 million.

To register for the social pension programme, persons may visit any of the Ministry’s parish offices islandwide.

They will be required to complete a social pension application form, accompanied by their Tax Registration Number (TRN), National Insurance Scheme (NIS) card, and proof of age in the form of a birth certificate or a valid passport.

They should also take along a valid identification (ID), such as a driver’s licence, passport or voter’s ID, proof of bank account and any other document that may be required to process the application, for example, proof of citizenship.

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Caribbean News

TCI Police Detective Holden Speaks Up on Blue Hills Rapes

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Dana Malcolm  

Staff Writer  

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 27, 2023 – Following the announcement that several women had been robbed and assaulted in Blue Hills in the past weeks, Magnetic Media queried why the Police would wait until they had a man in custody to release an alert. 

TCI’s newest addition to the top brass Detective Superintendent Dean Holden, Head of Crime, Safeguarding and Public Protection, told us that it initially appeared to be an isolated offence and not part of a series of incidents. 

“The full circumstances needed to be investigated to ascertain the facts before a public alert could be considered. Misinformation in such a case would only cause unnecessary public concern and confusion and could adversely impact the investigation and the safeguarding of persons involved—” he said. “Even now there is no definitive information that these offences are linked, and investigators remain open-minded.”  

Holden claimed an early alert with limited information could have hindered the investigation and they were trying to protect the women who may not have wanted to be identified based on where they lived.  

As it turns out, the public concern was very much warranted, because there have been more violent sexual attacks, and more victims got hurt, forcing their hands.  

“When further similar offences were committed, the overriding principle of sustained public protection was considered, hence the alert/release issued,” he said. 

That alert was coupled with the news that a man had been arrested. Whether those further similar incidents could have been prevented if the public was informed earlier and taken extra precautions, is the underlying question. To date, we don’t know how many victims there are. 

Police have increased patrols in the Blue Hills area and condemned the crimes as unacceptable. They have not indicated if anyone was charged for the offences yet.  

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