Caribbean News
Editorially Speaking: PNP way off with comments from Haiti in handover of supplies to Turks and Caicos
#PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – November 7, 2017 – Certainly the Opposition PNP party has more real work to do on behalf of the voters and residents than to sit at a computer to conjure up a false and disturbing statement about what was said by the Haitian consul at the handover of his country’s donation to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Leader in the House of Assembly for the PNP Party used a comment from our #MagneticMedia news report, which is cropped to serve a selfish mission.
In their media release of Thursday Nov 2, 2017 the Member uses a portion of a statement which we quoted of the Haitian Consul to convey that the Haitian Government presented the generators, plywood, sheet rock and metal roofing with the expressed instruction that they are to go directly to the Haitian people living in the TCI.
No such directive was ever uttered by Haitian authorities to Magnetic Media and our news story never reported that message. Our report on Oct 30 shared, what we believe is a sincere attempt by Haiti to be a giver at a time when a badly battered TCI needs the help. The generous donation was given on behalf of the people of Haiti and not specifically or directly for the people of Haiti who live within the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The blatant mischaracterization or misrepresentation is designed to cause mischief; to feed or breed an antagonistic relationship with an important partner at a sensitive time.
Did Haiti need to give the donation to TCIG if its Government meant it strictly for its citizens resident here? No. They could have just received the shipment and dished out the goods to whomever they wanted from the Haitian community.
While people may question the items donated by Haiti; what kind of political and Parliamentary leader questions the act or goes on record with an invented motive for giving?
There was no such statement by the PNP about the gifts presented by the UK and other countries. So why is there this statement from the PNP about Haiti which plays a critical role in providing a vibrant unskilled labour force, which helps to keep this tourism ship we have in the TCI afloat? Now that’s what is suspicious.
There are many causes pre and post the hurricanes an Opposition party is expected to champion and be watchdog over. The actual transaction of the donation by Haiti could be one of them. It is easily dealt with through a phone call or meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs or Director of the #DDME to ensure no such request or demand was made by any country, if the PNP deems it wrong or inappropriate. The Opposition is expected to be that kind of watchdog. However, not everything which one does to safeguard the People need be exposed in such a manner.
The Turks and Caicos is not at war with Haiti, we are not in a hostile standoff with Haiti despite the challenges which rear up from time to time. Globally, our relationship with Haiti is viewed as amicable; we are all in the #CARICOM family. 
In my media experience, this was a bad call with poor timing which exposed a lack of tact which regrettably reflects badly on the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For your information, the PNP Opposition did contact the minister responsible on this matter with their concerns about the motive for the gift from Haiti. The Minister, Hon #DelroyWilliams shared with Magnetic Media that he conveyed to the Opposition party that no directives accompanied the donated supplies presented to TCIG by the #RepublicofHaiti.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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