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Projected Reserve Osmosis Desalination Plant Welcomed by Ragged Islanders

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#Bahamas, January 22, 2018 – Ragged Island – “This is great news for Ragged Island,” said Basil Francis of the Government’s plans to construct a Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant on the far-flung southern island.  Francis, a descendant of the quaint, serene island, said it’s been really rough surviving without a 0G7A6764constant flow of running water for nearly three months.

“We say the water is ‘on’ when it rains. People think this means the water man is coming, but it means to catch some rainwater while it’s raining. Thank God it’s been raining a lot lately,” he said.

Ragged Island was totally devastated in September 2017 following the passage of Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 storm.  The island’s water plant and housing were also damaged resulting in a temporary supply of water. An emergency reverse osmosis unit, which provides water for critical needs, is presently in operation.  The temporary plant provides a limited water supply of 700 gallons per day to the population, which has dropped to approximately 30 residents since Hurricane Irma. The previous supply was 5,000 gallons per day.

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Family Island Administrator Oscar Munroe was also present.   A native of Ragged Island, Administrator Munroe said Ragged Islanders are anxious to return the island that is rich in history, back to its glory days.   He said the exercise was an important step in restoration of the island, and he looked forward to partnering with 0G7A6767the other stakeholders.

In a recent statement, the Hon. Adrian Gibson, Member of Parliament for Long Island and Chairman of WSC, said as part of the corporation’s coordinated efforts with central government, the private sector, and other stakeholders, an invitation was recently extended for public tenders to construct a reverse osmosis plant on that island.

Mr. Gibson said the scope of work includes the provision of all designs, expertise, labour, material, equipment and other necessary services required to design, build, own and operate a 5,000-imperial-gallon-per day reverse osmosis desalination plant and distribution pumps in accordance with the Corporation’s technical and operational requirements.   Moreover, the Chairman advised that “all” options are being explored, especially the possibility for the incorporation of green technologies.

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0G7A6711The meeting also included an overview of the tenders document, the process, technical specifications and drawings and a question and answer period.  Eight companies, who submitted payment for tender documents, attended the pre-tenders meeting.  The team visited the existing site of the plant and another possible site in Duncan Town.

Charles Curling, another resident, said having little water makes life difficult for most people, especially those who do not have anywhere to store it.  “A new plant would be good. We need running water,” he said.

By: Kathryn Campbell (BIS)

 

PHOTO CAPTIONS

 

BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna

 

0G7A6711 – Cyprian Gibson, Assistant General Manager, Water and Sewerage Corporation, addresses a pre-tenders meeting for a reverse osmosis plant on the grounds of Duncan Town All-Age School, Ragged Island.

 

0G7A6764 – Oscar Munroe, Family Island Administrator, (left) and Cyprian Gibson, Assistant General Manager, Water and Sewerage Corporation, look at an old water supply well, Duncan Town, Ragged Island.

 

0G7A6753 – Representatives of various government agencies and private contractors view the existing water supply plant in Duncan Town and discuss plans for a new one.

 

0G7A6767 – Cyprian Gibson, Assistant General Manager, Water and Sewerage Corporation, discusses plans for a new water supply system for Ragged Island with residents.

 

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CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Conference Presents Dynamic Study Tours to Promote Sustainable Practices

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The Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC 2024), slated for April 22-24, 2024 in Grenada, will feature a series of exclusive study tours aligned with the conference theme, The 5 Ps – People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose and Partnership. These tours have been thoughtfully curated to offer participants an enriching and unique opportunity to delve into innovative sustainability practices and glean insights intended to catalyze transformative action for a more resilient and sustainable Caribbean.

STC 2024 is jointly hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in collaboration with the Government of Grenada, through the Grenada Tourism Authority, and will welcome a wide range of participants, including government officials, tourism professionals, environmentalists, members of the media and researchers.

This valuable addition to the conference will allow participants to visit various sites and interact with local communities, gaining firsthand knowledge of best practices in sustainable tourism management, conservation efforts, and community engagement. 

Study Tour Options:

  • The Underwater Sculpture Park/Grand Anse Artificial Reef Tour: Led by Aquanauts Grenada, guests dive into the intricate ecosystem of the Underwater Sculpture Park and Grand Anse Artificial Reef and learn about sustainable practices aimed at protecting and preserving these vital marine habitats.
  • Grand Etang Nature Tour: Dr. Guido Marcelle, an esteemed botanist, guides participants through the lush rainforests surrounding Grand Etang Lake to explore Grenada’s rich biodiversity and gain valuable insights into rainforest conservation efforts.
  • The Rasta Roots Expedition: Immersive Journey into Rastafari Culture and Lands: Led by Ras Ginga, an elder of the Nyahbinghi Tribe, guests experience the Rastafari culture firsthand, learning about organic living practices and farming practices of Grenada’s Rastafari community, complete with a taste of local culinary delights.
  • Mt. Parnassus Plantation and Cocoa Pod Botanicals: Experts Michael Jessamy and Tricia Simon guide participants through the cocoa and spice plantation, uncovering innovative applications of these crops in cosmetics and health products.

The conference’s diverse program, comprising presentations, panel discussions, workshops, study tours and networking opportunities, aims to foster collaboration and facilitate knowledge sharing to advance sustainable tourism in the Caribbean region.

Event sponsors and partners include interCaribbean Airways; Royal Caribbean International; Silversands Grenada; Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada’s newest resort; and LINK Strategic Partners, an international strategic communications and community engagement consulting firm with offices across the U.S. and in Manchester, England.

 Visit caribbeanstc.com for further information about the conference and registration details. To learn more about the Grenada Tourism Authority, visit puregrenada.com.

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RTCIPF Observes World Down Syndrome Day

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On March 21st, 2024, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force joined the international, regional and local communities in observing World Down Syndrome Day. 

Officers showed their support by wearing brightly coloured and mismatched socks to raise awareness. 

The head of the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Grantley Williams, Training Manager Mrs Odessa Forbes and Media Relations Officer Denyse Renne visited the SNAP Centre and interacted with the students.

In a message to the TCI community, the RTCIPF noted that stereotypes perpetuate stigma and hinder inclusion, preventing individuals from reaching their full potential. 

Instead, the RTCIPF calls for individuals to foster an environment of acceptance and support where everyone is valued for who they are. 

By breaking down barriers and challenging misconceptions, we can create a more inclusive society where individuals with Down Syndrome are empowered to live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities and, by extension, the TCI. 

As law enforcement officers, we must protect and serve all members of society, regardless of their abilities. 

Let’s work together to ensure that individuals with Down Syndrome are treated with dignity and respect and that their rights are upheld.

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CARICOM speaks out on Climate Change, looking to May meeting to amplify call for Climate Funding

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March 3, 2024

 

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains on the frontlines of global climate crisis, an issue the Region has been aggressively advocating on for the past thirty years. Despite the many commitments and promises of international partners, the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing.

Heads of Government are concerned that while COP 28 was widely regarded as a historic event, with the completion of the first global stocktake (GST), on progress in achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, the outcomes of GST show that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of Parties will not keep global temperatures below the 1.5 degree goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

Heads of Government also expressed concern to be heading to COP 29 where a New Finance Goal will be articulated to replace the 100bn goal, which has not yet been met, even as developing countries require trillions to deal with the escalating impacts of climate change. Developed country parties have not provided enough finance at scale, technology and capacity building support required to help developing countries tackle their pressing needs to build their resilience, especially in adapting to the adverse and increasingly catastrophic impacts of climate change. The clear absence of definitive timelines for action and quantitative commitments for scaling up of investments, and particularly adaptation finance emerging out of COP 28, cause great concern to our Region.

The Conference noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), recognized as the most vulnerable group of countries and a special case for sustainable development, have been facing strong push back against the recognition of their special circumstances especially in the context of climate finance. There is limited international support for special allocations for SIDS within financing arrangements and available climate finance from international and private sources is limited, expensive and too onerous to access.

In light of the preceding, Heads of Government called for CARICOM to take a strategic, unified and coordinated approach to ensure that the Region remains influential in the climate and development arena through engagements with key partners and advocacy groups.

They called for renewed focus by the Region to advocate for inclusion of forests, nature-based solutions and blue carbon into market mechanisms with the aim of articulating clear regional positions and strategies.

Heads of Government reiterated the call for improved readiness programmes, simplified approval procedures, a change to the criteria for determining access to low-cost finance, and for the adoption of programmatic approaches to address the bottlenecks in accessing finance.

The Region reiterates its support for the Bridgetown Initiative’s call to expand capital adequacy of international financial institutions.

Heads recognized that the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, 27 – 30 May 2024, will be an inflection point for many of these discussions to be articulated. As such, the Region remains committed to participating in the Conference at the highest level.

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