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TCI: Firefighters stand strong, happy with meeting with Premier & Governor

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#Providenciales, August 10, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Eighteen firefighters from the Providenciales International Airport were on Friday able to have a one-hour meeting with the Governor, Premier and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, TCIAA which brought an amicable end to a 26-hour strike.

Twenty of the airport fire crew walked off the job on Thursday around 1:30 pm demanding better hours, fair compensation and an improved work site.

“We came to an agreement and everything is sorted out.”

Earlier in the day, the same firefighter was far less contented with his role at the fire station at the aerodrome.  He explained to Magnetic Media that the hours were exhaustingly long, which inhibited his alertness at work.  The young man said the conditions at the fire station were deplorable.  Broken toilet, broken faucet, broken air conditioning, broken stove and broken microwave for men and women who sometimes spent well over 12-hours on the job at the country’s busiest airline gateway.

There was also a problem with payment and calculation of overtime.

A meeting was held at 2 pm on Friday, we are told at the Employment Services office on Airport Road and included the Premier, Sharlene Robinson; who is also the minister responsible for airports and Governor, Nigel Dakin. 

Conroy Smith, deputy chairman of the TCIAA board of directors represented the Authority.

It was said that following the session, shifts are back to normal, there was agreement for the firefighters to be paid overtime and yesterday; Friday August 9, 2019 the team of 23 men and two women were due to receive a proper stove, working microwave and the second bathroom is to be fixed. 

The problem, said the firefighter speaking to Magnetic Media on the assurance of anonymity was “a lack of communication; they didn’t even know what we were dealing with.”

On the day news of the strike reached Magnetic Media, we tried to get a comment from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, TCIAA.  A reply did come from its CEO, John Smith; in an email he said: “The airport is functioning.”

However, our news organization was given a report contrary to Mr. Smith’s assessment of the situation at the Providenciales International Airport, PLS.

Magnetic Media was informed that some 20 fire fighters decided take strike action and left the airport on Thursday.  A skeleton crew remained, but it is said that team which stayed on duty was insufficient to take on the titan-sized British Airways flight.  Yet British Airways landed and left the PLS, thankfully without incident, but allegedly without the proper number of fire fighters on the ground.

More than 24-hours after an industrial dispute was activated with a ‘walk out’ by the firefighters, there continued to be no official comment on the matter from the managers of the airport, the TCIAA.

The better news is that the issue, is resolved and immediately following the meeting with the Premier and the Governor, firefighters returned to work to be joined by others.

Yesterday, flights at the Providenciales International Airport recorded hour-long delays and some flights were reportedly cancelled.

Fortunately, news of a return to ‘normal’ was on-time for the private airports like Provo Air Center, which confirmed that arrivals were almost but ultimately not interrupted by the industrial dispute.

The firefighter speaking to Magnetic Media said the workers were very pleased with the outcome, proud that they stood up for better conditions on the job and were grateful to secure an audience with not one, but two country leaders.

#magneticmedianews

#firefightersbacktowork

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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT THREATS MADE AGAINST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AND SCHOOLS

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May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.

We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.

The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.

All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.

The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF  investigations.

We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.

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TCI News

Bomb Threat No 6. In TEN days

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

“Our daughter is on the plane and they took them off the plane and we don’t know where the people are—she called— and we haven’t been able to get a hold of her since” the words of a panicked parent and one example of the chaos that criminals making malicious bomb threats on the Turks and Caicos’ airports are causing.

That parent was one of many residents waiting anxiously outside the Providenciales International Airport on Sunday, May 5th after Bomb threats were yet again filed against it; simultaneously threats were also made against the JAGS McCartney Airport in Grand Turk.

The couple, speaking to Wilkie  Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent,  were sitting in their car, the mother in tears, watching as travelers were made to disembark and leave the airport for their own safety.

The TCIAA confirms that it quickly evacuated travellers who were on board the aircraft on the runway at the time, via gates in airport fencing.

Arthur spoke to pilots who were frustrated at the delay.

”From our perspective, this flight is canceled.“ One of them told Arthur.

They expressed the same concern that other residents had shared with Magnetic Media, that it was time for the police to find the culprits behind the repeated threats which have turned out in all cases so far to be hoaxes.

Magnetic Media observed dozens of resident travelers mowing about on the tarmac and outside of the airport just waiting for police to finish their bomb threat protocol for the sixth time in 10 days.

The other threats came on Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27, and Monday, April 29 (2) all via email.

Eventually, passengers were observed going back through security to reboard their  flights.

It’s the first time in six encounters that no word has come from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority about the bomb threat, and when Arthur tried to approach the airport to film, he was told not to.

Based on eyewitness reports, several flights were delayed, including at least one international flight to Texas.

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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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