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TCI’s Gabriel Saunders and Team Win University-Wide Social Entrepreneurship Competition

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#Providenciales, 24 December, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Gabriel Saunders, a 23-year-old Turks and Caicos Islander, recently won the University of Waterloo’s Hult Prize Finals, as part of Team “Decomp”. On Tuesday, December 3rd, the University of Waterloo Hult Prize Finals was hosted at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. Eight teams pitched their ventures that aligned with this year’s social challenge – “Building Start-ups That Have A Positive Impact On Our Planet With Every Dollar Earned.”

The judges heard pitches on ideas, such as leatherless “leather” created through using bacteria, artificial intelligence sorting bins, as well as re-useable and antimicrobial menstrual pads.

Decomp, which is comprised of four members who have specialized in different areas – Gabriel Saunders (Marketing), Alison Purdon (Global Development), Caleb Turpin-Quaye (Finance), and Samuel Abdelshahid (Engineering) – pitched their solution to combat global plastic pollution.

Since 1950, humans have produced 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic – of which most becomes waste. Plastic waste takes 400-1,000 years to degrade and while sitting in landfills, it emits harmful greenhouse gases.

Decomp identified microbes – both fungi and bacteria – that are able to consume different types of plastics in 6-8 weeks. The group will be utilizing bioreactor technology to control temperature, pH, and humidity levels to optimize the growing conditions of the microbes. Plastics will be sorted, shredded, and placed into the bioreactors to be degraded by the microbes.

Decomp was awarded the first place prize – winning $3,000 for research and development, as well as having their travel expenses to the regional round covered.

“We’re extremely proud to have won the Hult Prize at University of Waterloo Finals, but this is just the beginning,” said Saunders. “Teams from University of Waterloo have done extremely well at this competition. In the past three years, two teams from our university have made it to the finals. We want to be the first University of Waterloo team to win it all,” added Saunders.

As a result of winning their On-Campus Hult Prize Finals, Decomp has a guaranteed spot at the Regional Summit of their choice. The Top 50 teams from the Regional Summits will spend six weeks at the Hult Prize Accelerator in Boston to learn from a global ecosystem of business leaders, mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Following this, six teams will be chosen to pitch their social ventures at the Hult Prize Finals, which will be hosted at the United Nations’ Headquarters in New York City.

The Hult Prize is the largest student entrepreneurship competition in the world. Each September, Former President Bill Clinton announces a social challenge topic. Thousands of post-secondary students from universities around the world form teams and create social enterprises to tackle the challenge and compete for the grand prize of $1 million USD in start-up funding.

Gabriel Saunders is a Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) student at the University of Waterloo, as well as a Student Entrepreneurship Coach for Concept – the university’s pre-incubator program. Gabriel attended The Ashcroft School (now The International School of the Turks and Caicos Islands) and British West Indies Collegiate (BWIC) in Providenciales, and graduated from Trinity College School in Port Hope, Canada. He is the proud son of E. Jay and Drani Saunders.

You can watch Decomp’s pitch at the Hult Prize at University of Waterloo Finals at the following link – http://bit.do/UWHultFinals

Release: Gabriel Saunders

Photo Caption: Team Decomp (Left to Right) Samuel Abdelshahid, Alison Purdon, Caleb Turpin-Quaye, & Gabriel Saunders

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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.

We are told authorities cut a hole in airport fencing to quickly evacuate those who were on board aircraft on the runway at the time.

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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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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