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Historical signing of commitment statements by Caribbean countries to strengthen early warning systems

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Bridgetown, Barbados, February 6, 2019 (CDEMA) – Three (3) Caribbean countries; Cuba, Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia, signed commitment statements signaling their willingness to dedicate time and resources to implement and sustain effective multi-hazard early warning systems.  The signing took place during the “Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS): Achievements and Strategic Path Forward” high-level meeting, which was convened on Friday February 1, 2019 at the Bougainvillea Conference Centre, Bay Gardens Hotel, Saint Lucia.

The Honourable Allen Chastanet, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Quasi Cabinet Lead for Disaster Management, Climate Change and the Environment for CARICOM, signed the commitment statement on behalf of his Government.  Signing on behalf of Cuba was Mr William F. Cedeno Centeno, Director General of the National Defense Staff and for the Government of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Carlos Paulino Cardenas, Director of the Centre of Emergency Operations.

The contribution of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, signals the level of commitment for sustaining current efforts and moving towards the targets expressed in the regional and international frameworks for disaster risk reduction.  In his address at the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Chastanet focused his observations on the importance of early warning systems, lessons learnt from past events and on the subject of procuring funds for sustaining the MHEWS.

“We know the Hurricane Season will happen and at some point a country will be impacted. This should be our early warning.  We don’t continue to act like it is happening for the first time.  It’s going to continue to repeat itself over and over again.  The Caribbean possesses all the necessary skills and expertise required for the task of providing an effective and functional MHEWS for its people; it is left only to secure the necessary funding for implementing the best solution to the problem, which is resilience building”, said Prime Minister Chastanet.

The meeting also sought to chart a path for regional coordination on MHEWS with more than 50 participants from National Disaster Management Organisations, National Meteorological Services, National Red Cross Societies, Non-Governmental Organisations as well as regional, research, inter-governmental and United Nations organisations.

A high-level panel comprised of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet; Mr Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of CDEMA and Ms. Maritza Garcia, President of the Cuban Environmental Agency, looked at the policy implications emerging from the national gap analyses and roadmaps.  In May 2018, the CDEMA Council of Ministers endorsed the Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems Checklist as a tool to be used by the CDEMA System to capture EWS achievements and gaps.  They also endorsed the process of utilizing this information to develop a national MHEWS roadmap to provide direction.

The one-day event featured an official opening ceremony and a handover of key project results celebrating the progress made under the Project ‘Strengthen integrated early warning systems for more effective disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean through knowledge and tool transfer’ both as project achievements and progress towards achieving the outcomes of the regional and global frameworks for disaster risk reduction.  The event also included two other panels related to technical advancement of EWS and cooperation among Project partners of the 2019 European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO) Humanitarian Implementation Plan respectively; and one working group session on the validation and identification of additional coordination actions to be advanced by the Regional EWS Consortium (REWSC) which met on 31st January, 2019.

The efforts of the six beneficiary countries; Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, were also acknowledged as well as the support of Cuba to the five countries through south-south cooperation, celebrated and promoted as a good practice for knowledge and tool transfer.

The Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems initiative in the Caribbean is possible due to the continuous technical and financial support offered through the European Union, via the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO), which has been providing support to Caribbean communities for over the last 20 years.  Implementing partners of the initiative include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

 

Release: CDEMA

 

 

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Bahamas News

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

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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.

 

 

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Government

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

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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/.

 

 

 

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TCI Court

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

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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.

 

 

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