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Parents scammed; claim ‘they paid’ for placement at TCI Public Schools

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – A case of fraud is being alleged by some Turks and Caicos parents after they were reportedly bought into a payment scheme to get their children into public high schools.

Parents turned up at the Education Department in a state of distress, to complain about what they described as the loss of hundreds of dollars in some cases, to unscrupulous alleged employees at the Department. We are told the complainants are from the Haitian community.

Significant cash was allegedly paid over to individuals who promised their children’s names would be included on the list for public high schools. But parents say that after shopping for uniforms and other school items and turning up at said institutions on September morning, their children were turned away as they were not officially registered. 

The individuals who reportedly collected these sums were not named by the parents.

The Turks and Caicos has a recurring issue regarding space for high school students. Year after year parents struggle to get their children into school; some have to be shunted off to costly private schools on government subsidies to bridge the gap. The issue has birthed additional schools and expansions but even those measures have not completely erased the problem.

The breakdown in the placement system also facilitates desperate underhanded schemes, like the one allegedly taking place this year.

It raises the question of how the country plans to handle the anticipated ‘boom’ in the population, to come from new laws inviting third generation islanders into the country.

At the beginning of the school year, at least 26 students were waiting to hear where they would spend their high school tenure, according to Edgar Howel, Director of Education.

Upon receipt of the information Magnetic Media reached out to Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, to find out if the ministry was aware of the issue and how many students were still without proper placements.  We also wanted to know what the ministry planned to do to make the placement process more seamless, so residents would not feel pressure to resort to scams.

There has been no response.

The Royal TCI Police has also not replied to our queries on what appears to be a matter of corruption.

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New UN report warns of conflict-induced famine and catastrophic hunger in 5 major hotspots alongside the looming La Niña climate threat in others

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Acute food insecurity is set to increase in magnitude and severity in 22 countries and territories

 

Joint FAO-WFP News Release 

 

Rome – Acute food insecurity is set to increase in both magnitude and severity across 22 countries and territories, according to a new United Nations report. The report warns that the spread of conflict, particularly in the Middle East – coupled with climate and economic stressors – is pushing millions of people to the brink. The report spotlights the regional fallout from the crisis in Gaza which has seen Lebanon engulfed in conflict and warns that the La Niña weather pattern could impact climates through March 2025, threatening fragile food systems in already vulnerable regions.

The report draws attention to famine in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur and famine risk in other areas of Sudan, the enduring risk of famine in Palestine (Gaza Strip) and the catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity in Haiti, Mali and South Sudan. It warns that without immediate humanitarian action and concerted efforts to overcome severe access constraints and resolve ongoing conflicts, further starvation and death are likely.

The report – ‘Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity’ – issued today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) calls for urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent starvation and death in hotspots where acute hunger is at high risk of worsening between November 2024 and May 2025.

In total, 22 countries/territories are classified as “hunger hotspots”, where high levels of acute food insecurity are expected to further deteriorate due to the combination of conflict, economic instability, and climate shocks during the outlook period. Without immediate intervention, including increased funding for food and livelihoods assistance, hundreds of thousands more people are expected to face starvation in the coming months.

“The situation in the five hunger hotspots of highest concern is catastrophic. People are experiencing an extreme lack of food and face unprecedented enduring starvation fuelled by escalating conflicts, climate crises and economic shocks. If we are to save lives and prevent acute hunger and malnutrition, we urgently need a humanitarian ceasefire, and to restore access to and availability of highly nutritious food, including reactivating local food production. But this alone is not enough; we need longer-term stability and food security. Peace is a pre-requisite for food security. Without peace and stability, farmers cannot grow food, harvest or sustain their livelihoods. Access to nutritious food is not just a basic need – it is a fundamental human right,” said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General.

“Worldwide, conflicts are escalating, economic instability is rising, and climate disasters are becoming the new norm. With more effective political and financial support, humanitarians can and will continue to implement proven and scalable solutions to address hunger and reduce needs over the long term,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director.

“It’s time for world leaders to step up and work with us to reach the millions of people at risk of starvation – delivering diplomatic solutions to conflicts, using their influence to enable humanitarians to work safely, and mobilizing the resources and partnerships needed to halt global hunger in its tracks,” Director McCain added.

The effects of the La Niña weather pattern, anticipated to impact global climates from November 2024 through March 2025, are expected to further exacerbate some of the food crises. While some areas may benefit from improved agricultural conditions, La Niña is likely to cause devastating floods in countries such as Nigeria and South Sudan, while potentially contributing to dry conditions in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. These extreme weather events threaten already fragile food systems, putting millions at risk of hunger.

The report stresses that early, targeted action is essential to prevent the further deterioration of the crisis and avert mass hunger-related mortality. FAO and WFP are urging world leaders to prioritize conflict resolution, economic support, and climate adaptation measures to protect the most vulnerable populations from the brink of famine.

Key Findings

According to the report, Palestine, the Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali remain at the highest alert level and require the most urgent attention. Conflict is the primary driver of hunger in all these areas. All hotspots of the highest concern have communities already facing or at risk of famine or facing catastrophic conditions of acute food insecurity.

Chad, Lebanon, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen are hotspots of very high concern, with a large number of people facing critical acute food insecurity, coupled with worsening drivers that are expected to further intensify life-threatening conditions in the coming months.

Since the previous edition of the Hunger Hotspots report (June 2024), Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia and Niger have joined the list of hunger hotspots, alongside Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, where acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further during the outlook period.

 

CAPTION: Photo by Tanya Birkbeck/WFP

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Bahamas News

Jonquel Jones Parades announced for November 16 and 17, Bahamian Pride high for the WNBA Champion

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Rayan Ishan

Staff Writer

 

On Wednesday October 20, 2024 Jonquel “JJ” Jones, a Bahamian-born forward for the New York Liberty, led her team to their first WNBA championship title, marking a significant achievement in her career and a historic moment in New York’s basketball history.

The Liberty secured a 67-62 victory (in overtime) against the Minnesota Lynx, delivering the city its first professional basketball championship since 1973, the Liberty announced during the recent championship parade through Manhattan and Brooklyn.

JJ, who received the Finals MVP award, entered the WNBA in 2016 as the sixth overall draft pick.

At home in The Bahamas, it was announced by Mario Bowleg, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture that the Ministry will host a championship motorcade for Jonquel Jones on Grand Bahama and New Providence on November 16 and 18 respectively.

“And it’s expected she’ll be bringing a few friends over for the occasion.”

Before joining the Liberty, she quickly rose to prominence, earning the 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player award after setting a then-record for single-season rebounds.

In 2019, JJ helped lead the Connecticut Sun to the WNBA Finals, and her impressive all-around performance earned her the league MVP title in 2021. She continued to showcase her defensive strength, being named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

These achievements solidified her reputation as a dominant force before transitioning to Liberty. Her journey from the Bahamas to the WNBA is celebrated by both Bahamians and Liberty fans alike, according to a statement from the New York Liberty organization. The team noted that her skill and resilience throughout the season underscored her role as a vital player in the Liberty’s lineup.

Thousands of fans gathered along the parade route to celebrate the Liberty’s victory.

Fans in New York lined the Canyon of Heroes on Broadway to witness the historic occasion, with many describing it as a day to remember.

“We’re here to support and cheer on our champions,” said one fan. Families and young fans, inspired by JJ and the Liberty, filled the streets during the celebration, as reported by ‘GQ Magazine’.

For the Bahamas, JJ’s success is seen as a source of national pride, with many celebrating her accomplishments as an example of Bahamian excellence on an international stage. Her victory reflects the growing influence of Caribbean athletes in professional sports worldwide, a spokesperson for the Bahamian Ministry of Sports noted.

Jonquel Jones and her teammates expressed gratitude for the community’s support throughout the season and during the victory parade.

“This win isn’t just for us, it’s for everyone who believed in the Liberty,” said JJ, summing up her appreciation for fans, the Liberty organization, and her home country of The Bahamas.

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Bahamas News

NIB Needs Innovative Sustainable Strategies That Go Beyond Traditional Methods

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By LLONELLA GILBERT

Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, Bahamas – Minister of Immigration and National Insurance the Hon. Alfred Sears said the decision by the National Insurance Board (NIB) to raise the National Insurance Contribution was not easy or popular, but it was the Board’s statutory duty to prioritise its sustainability.

“At the same time, we recognize that increasing the contribution rate alone is not sufficient.  The sustainability depends on the innovative sustainable strategies that go beyond the traditional measures.  Therefore, our theme, ‘Promoting Financial Sustainability of Caribbean Social Security Systems’ is so timely,” the Immigration and National Insurance Minister said at the Opening of Ceremony of the 32nd Meeting of the Heads of CARICOM Social Security Organizations at Baha Mar Resort on Monday, October 28, 2024.

He noted that this was only the second time since its establishment, the Board had to raise the National Insurance contribution rate.

The Minister challenged the delegates attending the meeting to confront the very real factors shaping the region’s shared future.

He said, “Our regions are facing significant demographic shifts with ageing populations and declining birth rates, resulting in fewer people entering the workforce.  Additionally, migration and immigration trends create both opportunities and challenges calling for policies that encourage legal participation in the national insurance schemes.”

The Minister noted that these dynamics are reshaping the very foundation of the region’s social security frameworks, creating new pressures on the systems.

He said, “For The Bahamas, a unique geographic challenge also emerges.  Our nation, an archipelago, spread over thousands of square miles of ocean space, with citizens dispersed across islands and cays, separated by vast stretches of ocean.”

The Minister noted that this geographic spread amplifies the administrative and regulatory challenges of making decisions as well as redefines the skills needed by the NIB.

“This gathering offers an invaluable opportunity to share insights and ideas and to work together towards practical and innovative solutions. I encourage all of you to bring your expertise and unique perspectives and we explore strategies that will safeguard our social security systems.”

Secretary-General, Inter-American Conference of Social Security, Alvaro Velarca Hernandez explained that the discussion of the sustainability of the social security systems is crucial for all countries in the region.

“We are called to build a future in which our social security institutions can continue to provide protection and support to every person today and for generations to come.”

The Secretary-General said financial sustainability is probably the biggest challenge the region faces in addition to population ageing, finding new forms of work and the growing need for service coverage and quality.

He said this is why collaboration amongst countries and agencies in the region is essential.  “This space allows us the opportunity to work together, exchange experiences to learn from our strengths and jointly address our challenges.”

The Secretary-General said the Inter-American Conference of Social Security is committed to supporting its members in critical areas including business management innovations and governance practices.  (BIS Photo/Ulric Woodside)

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