TCI News

TCI Article: Entitlement

Published

5 years ago

April 17, 2019

#Providenciales, April 17, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The word entitlement has somehow become a dirty word here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is used by some to disparage Turks and Caicos Islanders for things as simple as not wanting to do minimum wage jobs. So let’s explore the word. The definition of entitlement is “the fact of having a right to something.” That’s pretty straight forward and I will give some specific examples of things as Turks and Caicos Islanders that we have a right to and thus are entitled to as enshrined in the TCI Constitution in many cases.

What I believe however that the idea of entitlement is confused with the phrase: sense of entitlement, which is slightly different. If someone has a sense of entitlement, that means the person believes he deserves certain privileges — and he’s arrogant about it. That last part, the arrogance is what rubs people the wrong way in most cases. Nevertheless, the following are things that as Turks and Caicos Islands, we are entitled to:

1. Entitlement to the Right to Vote – Before a few months ago with the releasing of the FAC Report one could have said this was a no brainer. Let me make my views on this very clear. If you are not a Turks and Caicos Islander by Birth, by Heritage, by Marriage, or by Grant, you have absolutely no right to vote in our free and fair elections of representatives to our House of Assembly, period! No UK citizen or BOTC should be allowed to have an automatic right to vote here in the TCI.

2. Entitlement to Land – The Turks and Caicos Islands today has some 35-40,000 legal residents of which about half are Turks and Caicos Islanders. With such a small number why is it near impossible for each Turks and Caicos Islander to get at least one piece of residential and commercial property? With the hundreds of thousands of acres of crown land we still have left, there is more than enough for everyone to benefit plus have sufficient for generations to come. Excluding those that benefited previously of course. For those who say but land is a finite resource and we can’t do that, here’s a simple solution. The Crown essentially currently holds all crown land in trust, which it can continue to do until our independence, but once a Turks and Caicos Islander can demonstrate through financial statements that they have the ability to develop the land, issue it and give the time frame for which the development has to take place. If it has not been developed then it returns to the land bank. The difference being if said person at a later date has the financials to prove they can develop a plot of land, they won’t be penalized.

3. Entitlement to Business Opportunity – As a young country developing into a nation, there are so many business opportunities and new industries that Turks and Caicos Islands can pioneer but for the lack of Capital availability. Governments must create the conditions for TCI-Owned Businesses to thrive in this economy. If you can do it for strangers, you can do it for your own. While this might sound foreign or novel to some, know that every growing nation past and present gives its citizens preferences to get a leg up on the competition. How do you think Donald Trump got elected and will likely be re-elected? MAGA is his mantra. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his last crusade before being assassinated i.e. the Poor Man Campaign, advocated for Negro to be given a similar leg up as the European peasants that moved to the American Midwest where they were given land to farm, land grant colleges were set up, plus they got heavily subsidized farming equipment. To this day Agriculture is one of the biggest subsidized industries in the US economy. Get the picture?

4. Entitlement to Fail – The notion that as Turks and Caicos Islanders, if we fail once we will forever be labeled as failures is otter nonsense. But unfortunately it is what stops many of us from taking the leap into entrepreneurship in the first place. I have failed before and will likely fail again in my lifetime. It was those early failures that have made me what I am today from those lessons learnt. Those who knew me from High School and A –Levels knew I wanted to be a Doctor but clearly the only Doctor Robinson in my immediate family is Dr. Royelle Robinson. What if on returning home with a degree in Geography and Chemistry, TCIG didn’t take a chance on me because of my previous failure and not send me a year later to get a Masters in Disaster Management? My Life would be different; I wouldn’t have gotten a distinction as I was way more focused at that point, nor would I become the youngest National Disaster Coordinators in the history of the Region if not the World. The point is failures are simply lessons in disguise.

I am sure there are more things we’re entitled to but let’s start with those.

Jamell Robinson

Stay Blessed TCI

Bahamas News

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

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Shanieka

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.

Government

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

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Shanieka

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/.

TCI Court

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

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2024

Shanieka

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.