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Live Rifles after Training with Bermuda Regiment; more strides for TCI Regiment Members

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#TurksandCaicos, February 6, 2023 – Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment are getting their first taste of firing their newly acquired rifles live, thanks to a visit by Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment – set up in 2020 – is currently joined for almost three weeks by a Short-Term Training Team from the RBR.

Marines are receiving support on the firing range as the two British Overseas Territory units build on opportunities to work together.

Warrant Officer Class One Pete Ramm, the RBR’s Sergeant Major Instructor, travelled to the TCI with Colour Sergeant Shanté Arnold and Colour Sergeant Curtis Grant.

CSgt Grant said training included use of a Colt M5 rifle, which marines fired live for the first time.

He added: “It’s great to see the progression starting from novice shooters; they’ve progressed well in the time.

“I’m pretty happy about my part in that and I’m sure the rest of the team is as well.”

The training sees marines advance through shooting exercises in readiness for their Annual Personal Weapons Test, which now means they can carry the firearms on patrols.

Some of the TCI Regiment troops have now been qualified by the RBR team to take on roles in range safety and coaching.

CSgt Grant noted how the training in TCI resembled instruction for newly enlisted members of the RBR.

He said: “When we take our recruits on the range for the first time to fire live, it’s the same thing – they have the theoretical part of it and then apply the practical part.”

Lance Corporal Tim Browning said the weapons practice, which also included use of a Glock 19 handgun, made TCI Regiment troops the “envy” of their friends.

He said: “We’re very grateful having the Royal Bermuda Regiment guys here because if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to go on the ranges.”

The 42-year-old, who was among a group of marines that visited Bermuda for training last year, added: “The TCI Regiment is very much in its infancy, so everybody is still learning a lot.

“There is a world of difference between the TCI Regiment and the RBR, so the guys have brought training that is second to none, it couldn’t be any better.”

The Royal Bermuda Regiment has worked with partner nations for decades and the latest collaboration comes after a meeting of defence unit leaders in 2022.

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Beasley, the RBR’s Commanding Officer, said: “Last year in London, the Commanding Officers of the British Overseas Territories met for the first time to discuss opportunities for enhancing collective support.

“After consultation with our Governors, this is one of the initiatives which has been implemented, along with training courses we delivered last year in the US and Bermuda.”

Lt Col Beasley said: “As island nations we share many similarities, particularly with TCI.

“Our regiments are based primarily on reservists who are drawn from the communities we serve.

“Quite often, as is the case in many local industries, we will receive training at overseas establishments and then amend policies and procedures to fit the local environment.

“Although it is for their Commanding Officer to decide what is best for his unit, we can share with them our training practices that have been shaped and refined by years of experience.”

By training together, sharing methods and exchanging personnel, overseas territories can work more cohesively when called upon to support each other.

Lieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant Commanding Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment was very delighted that the TCI Regiment has accomplished this significant mild stone, which is very important aspect of fully operationalizing the Regiment. Lt. Colonel Grant commented:

“Training is the cornerstone of excellence and professionalism. The best militaries around the world are very good at what they do because they invest heavily in training. We have invested over Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) in training during the current fiscal period.

Its not only about the amount of monies we have invested but finding intuitions and organizations that can deliver the highest standard of training. The Royal Bermuda Regiment is certainly one of those organisations.

We are enormously grateful to the Commanding Officer of the Royal Bermuda Regiment, and the Government and people of Bermuda for supporting the development of the TCI Regiment. The Training Team are excellent ambassadors for Bermuda. They bring an enormous wealth of knowledge, which we are very privileged to benefit from.

Finally, thanks to our Marines for dedicating their time and demonstrating an unselfish commitment to serve the citizens and residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Caribbean News

CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Caribbean News

Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Caribbean News

Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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