Caribbean News
Youth Parliament Second Sitting
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – The second sitting of The Turks and Caicos national youth parliament took place on Thursday March 16th with a focus on Crown Land.
Deputy Premier Darron Hilaire Jnr moved the motion to pass the Crown Land Amendment Ordinance with the full support of his party. He maintained that it was time to turn TCI Islanders into homeowners and give the upcoming generation something to look forward to. Hilaire maintained that financial literacy in schools was a big part of creating a wealthier nation.
Ideas were tossed across the room including letting BOTCs in on the crown land benefits (Deputy Premier); Partnership with utility companies under a Utilities Association (Min Home Affairs) and making sure all residents – native or not – had access to affordable housing (Premier).
The opposition went against the proposal to include BOTCs maintaining that land is power and there was not enough to go around (Opp. Member Lewis) and there were other more important uses for Crown Land like for recreational development (Opposition Leader).
The country was represented by a full slate of youngsters during Thursday’s sitting including :
Speaker – Hon. Alex Taylor
Premier and Minister for Public Policy- Hon. Dixie Smith
Deputy Premier & Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade- Darron Hilaire Jr.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Border Control Services – Arean Louis
Minister for Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation – Shakia Lewis
Minister for Education, Youth, Culture, Library Services and Employment Services- Lee-Anna Sutton
Minister for Health and Human Services – Sasha Arthur
Minister for Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Culture and Maritime Jatavia Howell
Government Appointed Member – Adrian Parker
Attorney General – Brooklyn Williams
OPPOSITION MEMBERS
Leader of the Opposition- Manville Donnie Gardiner
Opposition Appointed Member – Andy Missick
Member of the Opposition – Ariel Neely
Member of the Opposition – Layton Lewis
GOVERNOR’S APPOINTED MEMBERS
Governors Appointed Member – Brandi Green
Governors Appointed Member -. Dismercy Nicole Lugo Bernabel
The debate was spirited and respectful with concrete and well thought out ideas presented by both the opposition
and the government as they debated land ownership; moving it from a paltry 11 percent to at least 30 percent in the coming years.
In the spectator’s gallery were: Washington Misick, TCI Premier; E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier; Jamell Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development; Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education and Labour, including Youth and Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood.
They were joined on the sidelines by several students of local high schools who were able to witness their countrymen conducting themselves with ease and poise in The House of Assembly. .
Bahamas News
Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin
“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.BIS Photos/Mark Ford
Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson; (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.
1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson
2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member
3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training
4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer
#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:
#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.
-
Caribbean News6 days agoTCI Moving to Catch Up in Clean Energy Race, attends CDB Conference
-
Health1 week agoChikV is back! The Americas see sharp increase and nearly 100 deaths
-
Uncategorized1 week agoBanks fail, causing ripple effects but what of the Turks & Caicos banking security
-
Uncategorized3 days agoLifting of COVID Vaccine Mandate is ‘Game Changer’ for Tourism & Real Estate says Christie’s
-
Uncategorized6 days agoUton Graham, Bars Manager at BTC masters his mix with training the next generation
-
Uncategorized5 days agoUnited States Works to Combat Gun Trafficking in the Caribbean Region
-
Uncategorized6 days agoBTC Celebrates International Women’s Day, Embrace Equity
-
Uncategorized4 days agoTen Bahamian-Owned Businesses Receive Awards for Energy Efficiency; Three Receive Grants