TCI News
FortisTCI Celebrates Professional Growth & Development with Staff Promotions
#Providenciales, May 16, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Seventeen staff promotions and two senior transitions at FortisTCI, see employees throughout the company take on new responsibilities as of April 1 and May 1. These promotions also underscore the company’s people management and human resource development strategy, through which FortisTCI focuses on evaluating and rewarding performance and creating fulfilling and challenging career opportunities for its employees.
Within the Operations Division, Alvejes Desir has been promoted to Director of Energy Production. His move into this senior management role is a part of the company’s succession plans. Mr. Desir most recently served as Manager of Plant Control and Electrical Maintenance and in his new role leads the company’s plant operations, fuel procurement, and engineering services. He is also the Chairman of the company’s Hurricane Preparedness Committee.
Alden Smith, the former Director of Grand Turk Operations also transitions into a new role and will lead the development of the company’s Transmission and Distribution Standards. Mr. Smith will be based in Providenciales.
Eight other employees in the Operations Division were also promoted, including former Superintendent of North and Middle Caicos Operations Durell Landy. Mr. Landy is now the Manager of North & Middle Caicos Operations with responsibility for leading the operations, generation, and transmission and distribution systems in North and Middle Caicos. Former Collections and IT Specialist Delma Graham is now the Supervisor of Customer and IT Services. Mrs. Graham now has responsibility for directing Grand Turk customer service operations, including billing, metering, collections, and customer care.
Former Junior Energy Production Engineer TeAndra Thomas is now an Engineer I with responsibility for providing engineering support for energy production activities. Former Transmission and Distribution Engineering Assistant Caltricia Hamilton-Evans is now a Civil Engineer I with responsibility for delivering in-house civil and structural engineering oversight and other support services within the Operations Division.
Former Mechanical Technician I Glenroy Grant is now a Mechanical Technician II and will be responsible for carrying out preventative and corrective repairs to plant mechanical equipment and other company assets. Maxo St.Vill, having served as an Electrical Technician I, is promoted to an Electrical Technician II and is responsible for carrying out preventative and corrective repairs to plant electrical equipment. Tavardo Smith, who previously served as an Electrical Technician II is now an Electrical Technician III with responsibility for higher level maintenance and repairs, as well as installation of generating units and associated equipment in the generating stations. Former Environmental and Safety Specialist Eustace Musgrove, in his new role as Senior EHS Safety Coordinator, has responsibility for the maintenance of the company’s Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management System.
Three employees within the Innovation, Technology and Strategic Planning Division have been promoted to new roles. Former Jr. Business Analyst TeAnn Thomas was promoted to Resource Planning and Utility Analytics Officer. In her new role, Miss Thomas will supervise the enterprise-wide implementation of utility analytics and optimization of the analytics and big data technology. She will also play a leading role in the implementation of the company’s Resilient National Energy Transition Strategy (R-NETS), and continue to provide macro-economic analysis to the senior management team.
Garrett Jones previously served as Supervisor of Enterprise Technology Solutions. In his new role as Manager of Enterprise Technology Solutions, Mr. Jones will guide the implementation of enterprise technology (ET), including the enterprise resource planning system (ERP), customer information system (CIS), and the meter data management systems (MDMS). Former Information Technology Services Supervisor Jerry Clerveaux is now Manager of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Services. Mr. Clerveaux’ s new responsibilities include managing a team of five in achieving planned ICT projects, maintenance of assets such as network hardware, ICT software, telecommunication systems, as well as offering operational and technical support.
Five promotions within the Corporate Services Division see former Senior Accountant Richard Gibbs become the Supervisor of Financial Reporting. Mr. Gibbs is responsible for the preparation of annual financial statements, fiscal monitoring, implementation of budgetary controls, and interdepartmental analyses and assistance. Former Financial Accountant Leonardo Patrick will serve as a Senior Financial Accountant. Mr. Patrick’s new responsibilities include leading accounting research, enhancing internal processes on financial reporting, and assisting in the development and preparation of financial models and reports.
Stephanie Dean, who formerly served as Senior Customer Service Representative, now has responsibility for overseeing new service requests, account applications, and account terminations. As the new Customer Experience Specialist, Ms. Dean will also provide guidance and train staff on customer connection processes and procedures.
Former Corporate Communications Officer Dwyane Krzanowski is now Senior Corporate Communications Officer. In his new role, Mr. Krzanowski will be responsible for leading the company’s web maintenance and graphic design initiatives, including ad production and brand standards. Kayla Lightbourne, who previously served as Junior Corporate Communications Officer is now Corporate Communications Officer and Community Outreach Coordinator. In her new role, Miss Lightbourne will assist with managing the company’s social media platforms, and serve as chief liaison for the company’s corporate social responsibility program, including planning and execution of community and stakeholder activities.
Speaking about the promotions, FortisTCI President & CEO Eddinton Powell said, “The energy landscape has changed drastically over the past ten years, and continues to evolve at lightning speed. In this changing environment, it is essential to have the right talent in the right places in the organization. In an industry that remains mostly dominated by males, we are proud to be a part of the advancement of two female engineers – some of the few in the region.”
Mr. Powell continued, “As we sit on the edge of a new energy landscape in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and as we work to meet the needs of the nation today and into the future, the continued investment in, and focus on our people will be required. I extend well-deserved congratulations on behalf of the FortisTCI family to those who will serve in new roles.
Photo Captions: FortisTCI President & CEO Eddinton Powell (front left) and Senior VP of Corporate Services Ruth Forbes (front right) with staff promoted to new roles in April and May 2019.
Left to right (front): Eddinton Powell, Leonardo Patrick, Kayla Lightbourne, TeAnn Thomas, TeAndra Thomas, Dwyane Krzanowski, Stephanie Dean, and Ruth Forbes. Left to right (back): Garrett Jones, Eustace Musgrove, Tavardo Smith, Jerry Clerveaux, Richard Gibbs, Caltricia Hamilton, Maxo St.Vill, Glenroy Grant, Alvejes Desir. Not pictured: Delma Harvey and Durell Landy.
Release: FortisTCI
PRESS RELEASE
MINISTRY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 25 April 2024 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services is issuing a public advisory regarding a recent increase in chicken pox cases, particularly within school communities in the regions of Grand Turk and Providenciales. The Ministry is actively monitoring the situation and is working closely with affected schools to provide support and education aimed at preventing further spread of the virus.
Chicken pox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a highly contagious infection characterized by a distinctive rash of itchy red spots or blisters. Transmission occurs via droplets, aerosols, or direct contact with respiratory secretions, and almost always produces clinical disease in susceptible individuals. While mostly a mild disorder in childhood, varicella tends to be more severe in adults. It may be fatal, especially in neonates and in immunocompromised persons. The Ministry urges parents, teachers, and the general public to remain vigilant and familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of chicken pox, which may include:
- Rash: The primary symptom of chicken pox is a rash that typically begins as small red spots, which then develop into fluid-filled blisters over several days.
- Fever: Children with chicken pox may experience a mild to moderate fever, often preceding the appearance of the rash.
- Fatigue: Some individuals may feel generally unwell, tired, or lethargic.
- Loss of Appetite: A decreased desire to eat may accompany other symptoms of chicken pox.
Management aims to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of complications and may include:
- drinking plenty of fluid (try popsicles if your child is not drinking) to avoid dehydration.
- taking paracetamol to help with pain and discomfort.
- cut your child’s fingernails and put socks on their hands at night to stop them scratching.
- use cooling creams or gels e.g. Calamine lotion
- speak to your health care provider about using antihistamine medicine to help itching.
- bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry (do not rub)
- dress in loose clothes.
- do not use ibuprofen unless advised to do so by a doctor, as it may cause serious skin infections.
- do not give aspirin to children under 16.
- do not go near newborn babies, or anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, as chickenpox can be dangerous for them.
- do not scratch the spots, as scratching can cause scarring.
To mitigate the spread of chicken pox within schools and communities, the Ministry emphasizes the importance of practicing good hygiene habits, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.
In the event that a child exhibits symptoms of chicken pox, parents and caregivers are advised to keep them at home and seek medical attention promptly. A sick leave for a period of 14 days is usually given. After the 14 day sick leave period, the individual must return to the physician or the public health nurse at one of the primary care clinics to obtain a fit for work or school certificate allowing them re-entry back into school or work. Anyone returning earlier than this time or without this certificate should not be allowed in school so as to prevent spread to other children. Additionally, it is crucial to inform school authorities to prevent further transmission among classmates and staff.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of all citizens, and will continue to work diligently to address this current situation. For further information and guidance on chicken pox prevention and management, please visit Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, April 25, 2024 – He was busted at the Howard Hamilton Providenciales International Airport on Friday, April 16, 2024.
He allegedly had in his luggage four (4) rounds of 6.5mm ammunition on his departure to his homeland in Oklahoma in the United States of America (USA).
Ryan Watson and his wife were arrested and placed into police lock up. Both were later granted police bail, and upon return to police station the Monday after the couple’s arrest, the husband alone was charged by detective Police Constable Kimberlee Markland for
unlawful possession of the four rounds of ammunition.
Watson was escorted to court on Tuesday, April 23rd, placed before the learned Chief Magistrate Mr. Jolyon Hatmin and remanded to His Majesty’s Prison until his sufficiency hearing on June 7, this (2024) year.
His counsel, Mr. Oliver Smith KC and his junior assistant Mrs. Kimone Tennant immediately sought bail for him in the Supreme Court which was heard the following day (Wednesday April 24) before her Ladyship Ms. Tanya Lobban-Jackson and was granted bail, without hassle in the amount or $15,000.00 cash or surety.
The Crown, in the person of senior public prosecutor Ms. Tassja Mitchell did not oppose bail.
Magnetic Media can report that once again on the afternoon of the Tuesday April 24th, after the accused RYAN TYLER WATSON, 41 was remanded by the Magistrate’s court, the U.S. Embassy issued an warning to it’s citizens and travelers to carefully check their bags when traveling to Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) as TCI authorities are strictly enforcing firearm and ammunition laws and if found you could go to prison for 12 years.
A real question of great concern and public importance is: should the TCI courts sentence tourists to the full mandatory minimum of 12 years imprisonment for simple possession firearm and/or ammunition.
The succinct answer is: Yes!
The Court of Appeal, just last month said in its written judgment that “ALL PERSONS,” including tourist/visitors must go to prison if found guilty or pleas guilty to firearm and ammunition offences.
However, there remains the concern about how much time in prison a judge should give a visitor regardless of the existence of exceptional circumstances.
Should the judge imprison a visitor to the territory, who may have been wrongly informed, for example, the full mandatory minimum term or must a reduced prison term be imposed.
If TCI judges start to give less than the mandatory minimum to tourists/visitors, it is being strong and widely advocated by senior defense attorneys that the same must apply to local or residents of these Islands, who may also present exceptional circumstances.
Arguments about the equity in delivery of justice is what drove the question to the Court of Appeal late in 2023. The decision came this past February.
‘We cannot find ourselves sentencing tourists regardless of exceptional circumstances to lesser sentences, and when those same exceptional circumstances are found in local cases, it’s being ignored by our judges.’
Human Rights Attorney, Sheena Mair has on more than one occasion argued this point; including in firearm and ammunition bail applications. She would put the very same judges and prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution on the spot by reminding the judges and the prosecutors that precedent has been set.
‘You’ve just granted bail to a tourist for firearm and ammunition but now here’s a local person, same charge but because he’s a local he can’t get bail? He has to be remanded pending a trial that could take years before it’s heard?’
Mair has valiantly outlined the wrong in this and clearly stated this practice is “not fair” and it’s “not proper administration of justice in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Ms. Mair further complained that tourists would plea guilty to possession of firearm and ammunition and be released on bail pending sentencing but as for a local, he or she has to wait on remand at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation pending sentencing.
The attorney criticizes the optics of such decisions and is on record reminding the Judge that the Court of Appeal has already set out that the law applies to everyone; visitors and locals alike.
A police statement issued Wednesday April 24 informs: “Today (April 24th), Mr. Watson appeared in the Supreme Court and, following a bail application, was granted $15,000 bail with the following conditions:
1) Not travel out of TCI without the court’s permission.
2) Surrender his passport and all other travel documents to the court
3) Report to Grace Bay Police Station on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 8 am-4 pm,
4) Reside at the given address in Providenciales; any address change will be provided before the court.”
The American from Oklahoma whose story is trending in the US and has been carried by leading news networks was joined by a host of loved ones at the Courthouse.
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