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DDME MINISTERIAL HANDOVER FROM MIBS TO NSS

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#TurksandCaicos, February 7, 2023 – On Thursday, January 19, 2023, as part of implementing the Ministerial Portfolio reassignments, the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services conducted a Ministerial Handover Meeting with The National Security Secretariat to officially Handover the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME).

Ministry of Immigration and Border Services, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emilio Seymour​, directly responsible for the DDME, chaired the handover meeting with National Security Secretariat (NSS), Permanent Secretary, Mr. Tito Lightbourne​, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr Virginia Clerveaux, Mrs. Allison Gordon, Director of DDME and other DDME staff members in attendance.

Reflecting on his experience overseeing the DDME, DPS Seymour stated that he now has a greater appreciation for Disaster Risk Management on a National level and the vast scope of work the Department aims to achieve. Following lessons learnt from the national response to Hurricane Fiona, DPS Seymour pledged to continue advocating for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in TCI by encouraging every department under the Ministry’s portfolio to allocate a dedicated budget line to invest in mitigation and preparedness to support emergency and disaster operations.

Permanent Secretary Lightbourne welcomed the team to the NSS and shared his expectation for the Department. This Department realignment will provide a more significant opportunity for NSS to support DDME as the lead institution designed to build and facilitate resilience throughout the Government to protect our Turks and Caicos Islands. In addition, the NSS will support the DDME in the coordination and strategic realization of risk reduction objectives on a national level. He stated, “NSS’s mission is to support DDME’s priorities for action and ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. Together we will help facilitate the mission of strengthening existing resources and established practices for more effective disaster risk reduction.”

Mrs. Gordon, Director of DDME, ended her presentation with many thanks to the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services for their support and guidance to DDME. She also stated, “the DDME is off to a great start with our new parent, The National Security Secretariat. We look forward to a very productive and rewarding tenure as we foster new partnerships and investments in Disaster Risks Reduction to build a resilient future for these Turks and Caicos Islands.”

 

Captions:

Header: (Left to Right) DDME, Hazards Mitigation Manager (Ag.) Kevern De Bellott, NSS, PS Tito Lightbourne, DDME Director Allison Gordon, MIBS DPS Emilio Seymour, DDME PIMM Joanna Wilson-Forbes, DDME Training Officer Patrina Pollard-Harris

insert: The National Security Secretariat, Permanent Secretary Tito Lightbourne, receives the DDME Ministerial Brief Report from the Ministry of Immigration and Boarder Services, Deputy Permanent Secretary Emilio Seymour (3rd from left), and Welcomes DDME Director, Mrs Allison Gordon and Team (2nd from Left).

Bahamas News

RBDF Operation Strengthens Maritime Security Amidst Regional Turmoil

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Defence Headquarters, 17 MAR. ’24: A joint operation between the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) led to the apprehension of 50 Haitian migrants approximately 5 nautical miles west of Bell Island on Saturday, March 16th.

The operation was initiated following the initial sighting of a sailing vessel, believed to be of Haitian origin, 8 miles southwest of Staniel Cay in the Exumas. RBDF swiftly deployed air and surface assets stationed at Matthew Town Inagua, supported by Police officials in Staniel Cay who verified the sighting. The migrants were intercepted by RBDF personnel stationed at the Land and Sea Park, Wardrick Wells Exuma, and subsequently handed over to the safe boat crew. They are currently under apprehension pending further investigation, with the imminent arrival of HMBS Rolly Gray.

In response to the ongoing instability in Haiti, Commodore Raymond King has announced the implementation of a strategic blockade in the southern Bahamas. This initiative includes the deployment of six surface vessels, one aircraft, and 120 highly skilled RBDF personnel. Patrol operations will be concentrated in critical areas such as the northern coast of Haiti, the Old Bahama Channel, and the Windward Passage, with the aim of deterring unauthorized entry attempts and preserving maritime security in the region.

The effectiveness of these decisive measures is evident, with recent apprehensions totaling 247 individuals by the RBDF. Commodore Raymond E. King emphasizes the commitment to bolstering maritime security through collaborative efforts with regional partners and local law enforcement agencies.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s borders and territorial integrity, working collaboratively with regional partners.

(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our website: www.rbdf.gov.bs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel)

-rbdf-

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Caribbean News

Wildfire Guyana, STAY ALERT

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

A wildfire in Guyana claimed the life of a 93 year old man on Tuesday March 12th and Guyanese people are now being urged to take precautions against these unpredictable phenomena.

The Guyana Fire Service reported that the fire seemingly started on an open farmland near the Parakies Village Community (the main road) located in the North West District, where the victim, Alexander Josephine, resided. 

Josephine was caught in the fire while working on his farm. Reports say he left home early at around 9 am to tend to his farm and later at about 1 pm, his family unfortunately received news he was injured during the fire and sadly died from his injuries.

Emergency officials arrived at the scene to find him lifeless and covered in burns. He was pronounced deceased after being transported to the Kumaka District Hospital.

A post-mortem examination will be performed on the deceased and an investigation into the causes of the fire is being conducted. 

The fire service, in providing tips to Guyanese on how to defend against forest fires, advised that they dig trenches around their homes to direct the fires elsewhere, specifically chosen areas where it can be burned out. And, people are told to not burn garbage or grass outdoors as this is a recipe for wildfires. 

They also recommend that people stay alert and  have evacuation plans in place in case they fall victim to these fires at home.

Additionally, the fire service informs that wildfires are common during the dry season and that they have been fighting wildfires and large grass fires over the past two months.

Wildfires have become a major issue globally.last year, 2023, Maui Hawaii suffered what was dubbed, one of the worst wildfires in the US since 1871. Many people lost their lives; loved ones, family and friends, and many were displaced as their homes were destroyed. 

The World Resources Institute in an August 2023 article says recent data reveals that wildfires are becoming more widespread, worsened by climate change, “burning nearly twice as much tree cover today as they did 20 years ago.”

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Caribbean News

GOV’T LOOKING TO EXPAND JAMAICAEYE

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KINGSTON, March 7 (JIS):

The National Security Ministry is looking to expand the national closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance programme ‘JamaicaEye’.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, made the disclosure at the Standing Finance Committee meeting at Gordon House on Thursday (March 7).

JamaicaEye falls under Plan Secure Jamaica, which is geared towards creating a safe, secure, cohesive and just society, thereby providing an environment for increased and sustained growth and prosperity.

“JamaicaEye… we are expanding, but it has some challenges with the private sector. The security issue is that most of our connection, especially in the residential areas, are what we call the variable internet protocol (IP), and it is difficult to connect variable IP to the central system,” he pointed out.

Dr. Chang said that while it a cheaper system to use “and companies have used that in all the residential communities, it is posing as a challenge”.

“We are having discussion to see how we can overcome that, and the technical teams involved are looking at how we can… get that part of the programme going. In the meantime, we are expanding across the country, and we also ensure that the legal side of it is clear to the residents,” he indicated.

Jamaicans interested in connecting to JamaicaEye can register online at https://jamaicaeye.gov.jm/.

To participate, persons should have camera systems that are outside the home or business and face a public space; that can be connected to the Internet; have an IP-based system, preferably, although persons with older cameras will not be excluded; and have a resolution of two megapixels or higher.

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