News
Africa Underrepresented; Needs Permanence on UN Security Council says Sec Gen
Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
September 5, 2024 – A call has been made by United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Guterres Security Council (UNSC) to reform its outdated structure and assign Africa a permanent seat at the table, stressing that the continent is underrepresented.
Making the call during an addressing to the Council on Monday August 13, he told the high-level debate that the composition of the UNSC has failed to keep pace with a changing world.
“We cannot accept that the world’s preeminent peace and security body lacks a permanent voice for a continent of well over a billion people, nor can we accept that Africa’s views are undervalued on questions of peace and security, both on the continent and around the world,” he said.
The 15-member UNSC consists of five permanent members with veto power – China, France, Russia, the United States and the United
Kingdom – while the remaining 10 nonpermanent seats are allocated regionally.
The 10 seats include three seats for African states; two each for Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and other states; and one for Eastern Europe.
In May, the UNSC called for the role of African countries to be strengthened in addressing global security and development challenges.
UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis said at the debate that the UN must reflect the world as it is. “The fact that Africa continues to be manifestly underrepresented on the Security Council is simply wrong, offending as it does both the principles of equity and inclusion,” he said.
“It runs counter to the principle of sovereign equality of states and calls for the urgency to reform this institution to reflect the world as it is now, rather than what it was nearly 80 years ago,” he stated.
The President further said the African Union will choose the African permanent members, and that Africa wants the veto abolished. However, if UN member states wish to retain the veto, it must be extended to all new permanent members as a matter of justice,” he said.
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the United Nations Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is for the Security Council to determine when and where a UN peace operation should be deployed.
In the more than seven decades since its creation, the United Nations has focused on new challenges, such as youth, gender equality, Climate Change, big data for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , and AIDS, in order to find solutions and encourage action.
News
Department of Housing and Community Renewal Provides Update on Home Improvement Projects Across Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos, October 6, 2024 – The Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) is pleased to update the public on the progress of its Home Improvement Programme, part of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing living conditions for residents.
The programme has been rolled out across several islands, with numerous projects underway aimed at improving housing standards. The Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Jamell R. Robinson, commented on the initiative:
“This programme represents our government’s dedication to ensuring that every resident has access to safe and comfortable housing. We are proud of the progress made so far, and we remain focused on completing these projects in a timely manner, while ensuring quality and accountability.”
Island Progress Updates:
Grand Turk:
- A total of 11 projectswere approved in batch one of the programme.
- 6 contractshave been awarded, and work is actively progressing on 4 of these projects:
- One project is 60% complete.
- Another is 50% complete.
- One is at 30% completion.
- The fourth is 25% complete.
Providenciales:
- 6 projectswere approved in batch one.
- 3 contractshave been awarded, with the following progress:
- Two projects are 25% complete.
- The third project has reached 10% completion.
South Caicos and Salt Cay:
- 9 projectshave been approved for South Caicos, and 3 projectsfor Salt Cay.
- In both islands, 2 contractshave been awarded, with mobilisation of works expected to begin shortly.
North Caicos and Middle Caicos:
- The Department is currently awaiting bids from contractors under the Framework Agreement.
- Once received, the bids will be reviewed, and contracts will be awarded as part of the government’s commitment to ensure the housing needs of these islands are met.
Programme Overview and Commitment
The Home Improvement Programme is a key part of the government’s broader efforts to address housing needs across the Turks and Caicos Islands. By targeting homes in need of repair, the initiative aims to improve the living standards of many families. With projects already underway and more set to begin shortly, the DHCR remains committed to the successful and timely completion of all works.
The Department will continue to provide updates on the progress of these critical projects as they move forward.
For further inquiries, residents can contact the Department at 649-338-2220.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The long-awaited Turks and Caicos School Sports (TCISS) season kicked off on Saturday, September 28th, with the expectation of an electrifying resurgence of school spirit.
The first school sport on schedule is the Inter-High School Football season for Boys and Girls. Last year’s Boys’ champions were the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School and the Marjorie Basden High School were back-to-back champions for the Girls.
The opening weekend will take place at the TCIFA stadium on Venetian Road starting at 10:00 am but all following games in the season will take place at the National Stadium.
Chosen by the coaches in a lottery draw, here are the groups each team will be playing in:
Boys Group A
British West Indies Collegiate – BWIC
Wesley Methodist High School – WMHS Maranatha Academy – MA
Clement Howell High School – CHHS
TCIPS Comprehensive High – TCIPS
Boys Group B
Raymond Gardiner High School – RGHS
HJ Robinson High School – HJRHS
- Louise Garland Thomas High School – ALGTHS Marjorie Basden High School – MBHS
Elite High School – EHS
Girls Group A
Clement Howell High School – CHHS
Wesley Methodist High School – WMHS
Raymond Gardiner High School – RGHS
- Louise Garland Thomas High School – ALGTHS
Girls Group B
British West Indies Collegiate – BWIC
Clement Howell High School – CHHS
HJ Robinson High School – HJRHS
Marjorie Basden High School – MBHS
On the launch of TCISS 2024-25, Hon. Rachel Taylor shares, “As Minister with responsibilities for Sports, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate all schools for making the assertive effort to ensure that their students are actively engaged in sporting initiatives in partnership with the Sports Commission. Such partnerships aid in the effective delivery of the Physical Education Curriculum. The various sporting disciplines provide an opportunity to develop the soft skills of our students in areas such as leadership, team building, and resilience, and promote physical fitness. We wish our schools all the best as we launch our school sports season.”.
How to Watch Games: 
For this year’s game schedules visit the TCISS page: https://www.gov.tc/sports/our-events/tci-school-sports. Tickets will be sold at the stadium booth: Adults $5, and Children $3.
Visit this link to review last year’s season’s fixtures and standings: https://www.schoolssports.com/CompetitionMicrosite/Competitionintro.asp?TID=TCISS-Football&S=20232024.
Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports 2024-25 Schedule
- TCISS Inter-High School Football Boys, TCISS Inter-High School Football Girls – September 28, 2024 – October 26, 2024 (Providenciales)
- TCISS Inter-High School Basketball – November 2024 – February 2025 (All-Island)
- TCISS Inter-High School Softball – November 2024 – February 2025
- Track and Field Development Meets – February & March 2025
- TCISS Inter-High School Track and Field – March 2025 (Providenciales)
- TCISS Inter-Primary School Track and Field – April 2025 (Providenciales)
KINGSTON, Jamaica, October 6, 2024 – A mural symbolising the theme ‘Tourism and Peace: Out of Many, One Love’ was unveiled by the Ministry of Tourism on Peters Lane in downtown Kingston on Friday (September 27).
The mural was created by lead artist, Sheldon Blake, and assistant artist, Rohan Cargill, for Tourism Awareness Week 2024.
It depicts various Jamaican music genres and fruits, highlights craft vendors and popular tourist spots, including Devon House and Rio Grande rafting.
Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Jennifer Griffith, said the mural will be a visual representation of how tourism brings people together – breaking down barriers, healing divides and celebrating the beauty of diversity.
“It speaks to the enduring strength of Jamaica’s tourism product and our role in promoting peace, both locally and globally. Sheldon’s work reminds us that our history, culture and people are the foundation upon which our thriving tourism industry is built,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Griffith said preliminary figures show that since the start of the year, Jamaica has welcomed some three million stopover and cruise visitors to the island, earning approximately US$3 billion.
“So despite various challenges relating to travel advisories, Hurricane Beryl and tightness in relation to airlift, we are marginally ahead of last year’s performance and remain on track to achieve our target of securing five million visitors and US$5 billion in earnings by 2025,” she shared.
Ms. Griffiths underscored that these remarkable achievements highlight the strength and sustained recovery of the tourism sector, demonstrating once again that Jamaica remains a premier global destination.
“Tourism is not just an economic driver; it is a bridge to peace, understanding and collaboration. Jamaica’s tourism agenda remains steadfast in ensuring that our industry grows, while protecting the natural and cultural treasures that make us truly unique,” Ms. Griffith said.
For her part, Deputy Director of Kingston Creative, Janet Crick, said the mural is a beautiful addition to the more than 100 in the downtown district.
“These streets have now become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Spaces which persons once shied away from have now become a viable attraction and a veritable outdoor gathering, offering beautiful and vibrant depictions of our rich Jamaican history, heritage and culture. It is, therefore, most fitting that tourism, one of the country’s largest income earners, should have a mural in this space – paying tribute to the industry and to its importance to our island,” she said.
CONTACT: JUDANA MURPHY
Release: JIS
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