Connect with us

TCI News

TCI: Government back in charge of ‘unstable’ dumpsites; CDB to help and new company to be hired

Published

on

#Providenciales, November 30, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is temporarily managing the country’s two largest landfills which were once operated by Turks and Caicos Environmental Management, TCEM a private company and four weeks on there are problems including fires, security breaches and noxious odors.

Premier Sharlene Robinson confirmed that the contract was not renewed between TCEM and TCIG and that bids will go out to tender for a new company to come in and do the work.

“The Government is not going to be in a position to handle this job, the expertise and everything that is required is not within the Government. But the Government is maintaining the site and bringing it to a state of readiness and we are going out to tender,” she added, “Government is going to be maintaining the site for the new bidder; that should be out shortly if it hasn’t gone out already under the Ministry of Health.”

The prevailing concern is that all of this will take time and the natives are understandably restless.

Magnetic Media explained concerns to the Premier, who listened, attentively.  As the wife of a former Public Health Director of the Turks and Caicos, Mrs. Lorne Robinson admitted the handling of the dilemma is a delicate juggling act of giving the immediate relief residents deserve, even while her administration aims to solve the issues related to solid waste management across the country.

“We are doing a comprehensive study. Turks and Caicos cannot continue with a short term fix to dump sites especially after the storms, it should have become more important to the people of the country to understand that we have to have a comprehensive solid waste management system and these talks with CDB believe it or not started about 20 years ago.”

The Caribbean Development Bank consultation is in the early stages.  Still required is approval at the Cabinet level and passage of the loan from CDB for consultation through the House of Assembly.

“Following the storm we had the major challenge of large amounts of waste and different types of waste so we have to look at recycling, we have to look at certain bans which I am looking at.  So it is a holistic approach. Banning non bio-degradable waste; looking at the recycling of bottles which we really don’t need to be dumping at the site and causing explosions; looking at the large waste of fridge and stoves and cars. All of these things, so, it is a very comprehensive approach.”

Meanwhile, there are fires, reports of coal kilns re-activated, discarded tires continuing to mount and questionable security at both the premises.

Over the weekend in Providenciales, some residents of Belglade Parker Gardens also known as phase one subdivision were forced to move out for the day.  On Tuesday, Grand Turk’s dump was a raging inferno.  We asked the Premier what can be done about the potential risks to communities neighbouring these dump sites.

“I don’t understand, to be honest with you, the (problems with) security at the dumpsite because it is properly fenced, there is a guard house and it was always our concern when people were intentionally going in and lighting.  So with the Government back on, we have to up the security at the site because people are dumping and not dumping where they are supposed to and we don’t do slash and burn, but it is a situation where we have landfills and we cover.”  The Premier added that, “I am sure it is a matter of just managing… because if you have a stench, then eventually you are going to have flies.”

There was a promise by the Premier to follow up with the Minister of Health Edwin Astwood and there was a promise to improve dialogue with the people who live and work along the perimeter of these unstable landfills.

“It is important to have that dialogue and I know that the Minister (Delroy Williams) who is responsible as the elected member for that area has requested a meeting with the community and I am pretty sure that his colleague (Edwin Astwood) will honour that and so it will happen.”

Late on Tuesday night, TCEM issued a statement saying their contract for dump site management was not renewed; that it had been cancelled since October 28, 2018.

There was no official notice from TCIG that the TCEM dump management contract was not renewed.

 

Header: Smouldering Providenciales Dump, photo taken November 28, 2018

Insert: Hon. Sharlene Robinson

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

Published

on

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

 

 

Continue Reading

Government

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATION VISITS WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM, UK

Published

on

Providenciales, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 – A delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, recently undertook a pivotal visit to the West Midlands Ambulance Service in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The visit, which took place from April 21st to April 23rd, 2024, was held under the esteemed patronage of the Ambassador of Health of the British Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming.

Led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE, the delegation included Ms. Renessa Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services. This strategic meeting was an integral part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency services within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During the visit, representatives from the West Midlands Ambulance Service provided comprehensive insights into their operations, sharing valuable expertise and offering collaborative initiatives for the development of the TCIs emergency services. Discussions encompassed various aspects, including training and mentoring programs tailored to empower emergency personnel within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The visit marked a significant step forward in our strategy for the advancement of emergency services,” stated Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support extended by the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and we look forward to implementing the insights gained to further enhance emergency care within our country. Permanent Secretary Lewis also expressed the Ministry of Health’s gratitude to Professor Ian Cumming for his assistance by way of arranging the visit.”

Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands, underscored the importance of the discussions, emphasizing the poignant exchange of ideas and the potential for meaningful collaborations which signifies a commitment to improving emergency services and ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services expresses its sincere appreciation to the West Midlands Ambulance Service for their warm hospitality and invaluable contributions during the visit.

For additional information, please visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

TCI Court

Eight Months facing Police Accusations and Court, now Pedro Grant Exonerated

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

With no evidence to support their claim, the prosecution has dropped their case against Pedro Jose Alfredo Grant Gallon, the Dominican Republic citizen who was accused of impersonating an officer in September 2023.

The Police, who publicized the arrest and charge, have not yet commented on the matter despite Magnetic Media queries.

Grant, for his part, has always vehemently denied the accusations that he was impersonating an officer and described the circumstances surrounding his arrest as unfair.

He contends that on the evening of July 13, 2023, he was being followed by a strange driver, concerned, he waited until the man pulled off at a bar, then took his license plate number and called the police, but police never came to help Grant. He alleges that the next time he saw them, they came with handcuffs to arrest him. In a search, police found his IDs which included his documentation for humanitarian work with the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA) and police lights attached to his vehicle. In explaining the possession of those lights, Grant said he told officers that they had been in his car from his time in the Dominican Republic where he was involved in law enforcement.

Since that time, Grant has maintained several facts:

  • The Police did not have a warrant to search his home and car;
  • The Police took his documents including passports and IDs, one of which was issued by the IDA, and to date have not returned them despite being court-ordered to do so;
  • The Police intimidated his wife with threats of deportation;
  • He never showed any ID, flashing lights at the man following him, or claimed to be an officer.

Police have steadfastly refused to comment on the case despite numerous queries into the bizarre circumstances, even with serious allegations like intimidation against them. Grant was officially charged with Impersonating an Officer in September but IDA Head Jerrod Crockett told Magnetic Media despite seizing documents from Grant to support their case, no one even called the organization to see if they were real or fake.

Now, when called to provide evidence to the court as to why they arrested and charged the resident, the police and DPPs office drew a complete blank as Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, confirmed it was a lack of evidence that got the case dropped.

Despite this win serious damage has been done Grant claims, describing his life as a ‘living hell’ and ‘miserable’ since the accusations were publicized.

The IDA says it has been affected as well.

“That really put a hurt on us for the last six to eight months now because of accusations of fraudulent documents that everybody else has seen. We’re trying to prove our legitimacy now because you guys can’t verify any documents— before you put everything out there as public information,” Crockett said of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF)

The president also told our news team they had lost thousands of dollars in funding.

Following the closure of the case we reached out again to police to find out on what grounds Grant had been arrested and charged but no response was issued.

 

 

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING