The Turks and Caicos Islands government continues its efforts to address informal settlements across the territory. This action, while applauded by some for protecting public land, has ignited a fierce debate over the government’s approach and its impact on vulnerable citizens.
BY DELANA ISLES
Moin Alhashash – a Syrian national who was granted asylum in the TCI – has asked the Supreme Court to compel the government to produce confidential documents regarding his unsuccessful application for travel documents.
He is also seeking an order of mandamus from the court compelling the government to issue him travel documents. However, in response to his application, the government has stated that it does not have a system in place to issue travel documents to asylum grantees (also known as ‘Asylees’).
The applicant – who was smuggled into the TCI in January 2021 on board an illegal vessel from Haiti - was granted asylum status on October 1, 2022, following a lengthy battle with the immigration department.
He has been issued a residence permit and as such is free of immigration restrictions, thus free to leave the TCI and return.
His attorney throughout this process has been Tim Prudhoe, who along with Lemelko Missick filed for a judicial review regarding the lengthy time it is taking the government to issue Alhashash with travel documents to enable his freedom of movement prescribed under the Constitution.
Named in the application as
respondents are the Minister of Home Affairs and the Attorney General.
In his application, Alhashash complains to the court of the inordinate delay in obtaining a travel document.
The judicial review was granted, and arguments were heard on October 12, 2023, and on August 7, 2024, Judge Anthony Gruchot delivered a written judgment.
The judge outlined that upon receipt of the grant of asylum Alhashash sought travel document. However, by the date of the hearing of the judicial review, some 13 months had passed and there is no suggestion of any date by which a travel document will be made available.
In assessing the case, Judge Gruchot wrote: “It transpires that the situation has not previously arisen, the applicant being the first person ever to be granted asylum in the TCI and the matter of producing a travel document has had to be referred to the United Kingdom Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office and His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO).
He said it is not disputed that the applicant is entitled to be issued with a travel document by application of section 15 of the Constitution and by Article 28 of The United Nations
Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd.
Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Cord Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large)
Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@gmail.com
Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours)
Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com
Follow us on:
Facebook: facebook.com/tcweeklynews
Twitter: twitter.com/tcweeklynews1
Instagram: @tcweeklynews1
Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (‘the Convention’).
“The problem is that there is uncertainty of what document can be granted and by whom.”
In response to the application for judicial review, James Astwood, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs filed an affidavit with the court on September 11, 2023, in which he stated that while in previous years the TCI had the authority to issue travel documents, a directive issued by the UK stopped this, and now the processing and issuance of TCI travel documents are to be done through the United Kingdom. This is except for Islanders and Belongers.
As a result of this, Alhashash has applied to the court for an order for specific disclosure of several documents, which the respondents have resisted.
The documents Alhashash is seeking are the UK directive to which Astwood referred to; communications between the former Governor and the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO); communications to and from the UK Passport Office; communications between the TCI Government and the Cayman Islands Government and a copy of the travel document implemented by the Cayman Islands Government in similar circumstances; communications between the former Governor and the UK Home Office; communications between the Ministry and the UK Home Office; details of ‘a comprehensive assessment and planning process’ and details of how the TCI government is ‘actively working to address the challenges’.
However, the respondents have claimed that such documents are protected by confidentiality and/or legal privilege and are irrelevant to the relief sought in the substantive judicial review.
The judge outlined a second affidavit, submitted by James Astwood to the court, in which he writes: “The issuance of travel documents is a matter for the government (sic) and there is no obligation to consult with the public in respect of the implementation of a system in relation to this issue or in respect of the promulgation of legislative framework in giving effect to the same.”
Judge Gruchot said this statement by Astwood is in direct conflict to his first affidavit, in
which he stated that the processing of Turks and Caicos Islander Status passports has been removed from TCIG and vested in the HMPO.
Astwood had also submitted a response from HMPO to the court in which he wrote: “There is no document HMPO could produce to facilitate the ask from FCDO/ TCI to produce a document on their behalf. Whilst HMPO does produce products for the six forms of British nationals, none of these would apply in this case or any other case where a person has been granted asylum in an Overseas Territory as the person in the TCI does not hold any form of British nationality or BTOC status.”
The judge noted that notwithstanding the above which gives the impression no one can produce an appropriate travel document, attorney for the respondents – Clemar Hippolyte - maintains that any travel documents must come from the UK.
“She premises this with the unsupported submission that first a system has to be put in place in order to facilitate the issuing of such travel documents and for that to happen there needs to be legislation which it is proposed will be introduced by an amendment to the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 5.01), which will need to be passed by the House of Assembly and approved through Cabinet,” the judge wrote.
She further told the court that there will be a system put in place to deal with asylum seekers and to ensure that they are dealt with promptly.
This system will have a specific form and conditions for the application for travel documents for asylum grantees, which will differ from those used by persons applying for a British Overseas Territories passport.
“Ms Hippolyte is unable to say when this may come to fruition and Mr. Astwood is silent on any time scale,” Judge Gruchot stated.
The judge raised a point that if the government cannot issue such documents, what would be the purpose of an order compelling them to do so.
In response to the judge’s point, Hippolyte told the court that it is the government’s position that they cannot issue travel documents at this time and as such the court should decline to make the order.
Prudhoe submitted to the court that the documents sought in the application are necessary to enable the court to determine whether granting the order would be fruitless.
“He, in essence, challenges the veracity of Mr Astwood’s evidence on the grounds that no dates have been provided as to when the various communications have been made; that there is no roadmap to a solution; and no time scale in which a solution is going to be arrived at,” the judgement read.
Judge Gruchot said he agreed with the applicant that the documents sought may assist the Court on this issue.
He said: “What is clear is that TCIG is unable to say when it will be in a position to issue a travel document.”
Gruchot wrote that there is no dispute to the fundamental issue of whether Alhashash is entitled to a travel document and no declaration to that effect is sought.
Rather, he had to determine whether the sought-after documents are relevant and if so, protected by privilege.
In a final analysis of the case, after determining that the Respondents were unable to provide the court with proof as to the confidentiality of the documents sought, Judge Gruchot ordered that the documents should be turned over to the court.
He wrote: “I am of the view that these documents should be disclosed and without more than just a bald assertion they are confidential, then I am not persuaded that the circumstances in which these communications have come about are sufficient on their own to give rise to confidentiality in judicial review proceedings, but I shall proceed with caution.
“ I require the documents to be produced to the Court for inspection, but I am not agreeable to limiting the production to the Court. If I do not find that disclosure to counsel for the Applicant would be detrimental to TCIG and its relationship to the associated parties, the documents are to be disclosed.”
He said he is satisfied that the implied undertaking is sufficient to protect further disclosure of the documents, but if they are to be disclosed, he gives the Respondents the comfort that they are to be disclosed to the applicant and his counsel only.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
In a move that has drawn both support and condemnation, the Turks and Caicos Islands government continues its efforts to address informal settlements across the territory.
On July 31, a joint operation between several government agencies resulted in the reclamation of Crown Land and the removal of unauthorised structures in the Five Cays area.
This action, while applauded by some for protecting public land, has ignited a fierce debate over the government’s approach and its impact on vulnerable citizens.
Hon Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition/People’s Democratic Movement, didn’t
mince words in his response.
“I was completely shocked and disheartened by the disturbing case of government overreach and selective enforcement,” he stated, accusing the government of targeting a senior citizen who fell behind on her Crown land lease payments while ignoring “the multitude of illegal buildings” elsewhere.
He said: “The demolition of the senior citizen’s home also stands as a stark symbol of the government’s failure to prioritise the welfare of our citizens, particularly those who are most vulnerable and in need of assistance.
“Rather than addressing the root causes of illegal construction and squatting on government land, the Premier and his government have
opted to target individuals who may be least equipped to defend themselves, perpetuating a cycle of injustice and inequality that must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Astwood further criticised the government for “weaponizing government departments against its own citizens,” and for failing to address the root causes of informal settlements.
“In response to this blatant injustice and abuse of power, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Party strongly condemns the Premier and his government for their flagrant mistreatment of our citizens.
“The PDM Party stands in solidarity with our wonderful senior citizen whose home was needlessly demolished and
demands immediate accountability for this grave injustice.
He argued that the focus should be on providing support for vulnerable individuals facing housing crises, not on punitive measures.
Astwood said: “The PDM Party has put forward a series of solutions to assist citizens who may find themselves in similar distressing situations, particularly our most vulnerable citizens.”
He stressed that these solutions include the establishment of a dedicated support system for seniors and other vulnerable individuals facing housing crises, the implementation of fair and transparent processes for resolving land lease issues, and the creation of avenues for citizens to seek
assistance and redress without fear of retribution or marginalisation.
The government maintains that its actions are necessary to ensure the proper use of Crown Land and to prevent the proliferation of unauthorised developments. However, critics argue that the approach is heavy-handed and disproportionately affects those who are already struggling.
This latest operation marks the 13th such exercise to date, and it’s clear that the issue of informal settlements in the Turks and Caicos Islands is far from resolved.
As the debate rages on, the government faces mounting pressure to find a solution that balances the need for regulation with the rights and needs of its citizens.
A series of tragic events has left the Turks and Caicos Islands reeling, prompting urgent calls for unity and public cooperation from top officials.
In a heartfelt address to the community on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick acknowledged the widespread grief and the need for collective action against crime. He said: “The hopes of a nation are here with you,” Premier Misick stated, emphasizing the shared pain felt throughout the islands.
The spokesperson called for a collective effort to combat crime, urging citizens to break their silence and assist law enforcement: “If you see something, say something.”
HE Governor Dileeni DanielSelvaratnam met with the
Former Deputy Premier Erwin Jay Saunders warned about the potentially devastating impact of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ stringent tax regime on the local resort industry.
During a recent House of Assembly meeting, Saunders argued that high penalties and interest rates on unpaid taxes could push hotels into bankruptcy, leading to job losses and economic instability.
He emphasised that businesses often face genuine disputes over tax interpretations, resulting in crippling financial burdens when audits occur years later.
Saunders advocated for a more balanced approach that ensures tax collection while safeguarding businesses and employment.
Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick stressed the importance of timely tax payments for funding public services and infrastructure projects.
The debate was sparked by the controversial motion to write off $13m in penalties and interest owed by Club Med, highlighting the tension between fiscal responsibility and the potential economic fallout from harsh tax enforcement.
What are your thoughts?
Never have I heard such a ridiculous suggestion!
Penalties are just that – penalties levied for not complying with the prevailing legislation, even though the late payment penalties imposed here are at rates that can usually only be found on the New Jersey waterfront!
All government agencies involved in tax collection should have a combined enforcement department and a computer system that alerts them to any registered vendors whose payments are overdue a week after the tax payment deadline. A call from an enforcement officer should remind the vendor of his tardiness, and stress the importance of payment in full within the week. Otherwise, local businesses will continue to ignore their legitimate tax liabilities and just sit back and wait for the next ill-advised amnesty.
Let’s not forget that, with both sales and accommodation taxes, the customer has already paid the tax to the vendor, either upon finishing his meal or checking out from his hotel. The vendor has already collected the money on behalf of the government, and just chooses to spend it on something else. If there is indeed a legitimate tax dispute
taxing the loss onto the people. It is sickening to see in this day and time the enormous amounts that have not been collected as they should have been. He needs not have anything to do with the country’s finances. This is unacceptable.
There needs to be half-year audits without exceptions. This will pick up on discrepancies early on and then it should be dealt with as they are found. Not when it’s in an uncollectable state.
If these problems are widespread, then Saunders is correct. We don’t know the details of the Club Med account. But remember they are a vast global corporation. We all know that the TCIG administrators need a lot of training and help. That may apply here.
being resolved through the courts, the plaintiff should be required to pay 50% of the amount allegedly owed on a timely basis, notwithstanding the pending appeal. If the courts rule in favour of the plaintiff, that 50% should be returned without interest and, if the court’s decision is in favour of the Government, the remaining 50% should be payable immediately without penalty. Not really a tough decision, but it means abandoning the current government “non-policy” of following up promptly on overdue amounts!
Just like the US - he who pays (or not pay with write-offs) the piper - calls the tune; no different in TCI.
We are too lax. The government has failed to monitor and ensure that the taxes are being collected. When they are written off, the citizens end up footing the bill as this current Premier will find some way of
retrogressive. Anyone supporting such a policy of taking from the Turks & Caicos students to give to the rich and the business community does not care about people. Such a person is mean, backward and should not be allowed anywhere near policymaking. This is a slap in the face to the youth and the people of the TCI. The Hon Saunders would have been more effective in his remarks if he were to tackle issues of this nature in a more “direct and frontal” way. Even so young Saunders is sounding off in a pro-business way but he is missing the mark. He should be calling His government out and doing so more directly because $13,000,000 among other policy mishaps, is simply too much to just “give away”!
This is perhaps the closest any member of the ruling PNP government, albeit a jettisoned back-bencher, has come to mildly criticising the government. It is clear in his remarks, that the Hon EJ Saunders, is at odds with his PNP but he cannot seem to come out and “lash out” at them, or God forbid, “call the government to account”.
That would be anathema, out of the question and “beyond the pale of decency” with the ranks of the PNP, You can grumble, “hem and haw” but you cannot step “out of line and publicly attack, in a serious and decisive way, any of their policies no matter how “bad they are for the country or the people”.
Such political resolve, leadership and that dirty word “representation of the people” simply cannot happen, within the ranks of the PNP. He is free to “speak his mind” but he does not. One may wonder why he does not speak out and for so many reasons, being “free”!
It begs the question? The Hon Saunders is already in the ‘political wilderness’ and really has “nothing to lose” by calling the government and questioning their policies. It is not as if they could deselect him as a candidate in the next election, even though there are unconfirmed rumours that the “powers that be” or “would not be” in the PNP have tried and are trying to have him removed from the ticket. Removing EJ is something Washy cannot do. This ‘gift’ of over $13m to Club Med comes at a time when the government has reduced its scholarship allocation from 11 scholarships to eight. This cannot be a good policy but
Turks & Caicos Islanders and residents are already paying too much in the way of taxes. With the cost of shipping into the TCI so high, customs duties are already out of the roof. Giving Club Med $13m for any reason, cannot be justified and needs an investigation by the Integrity Commission and any active House of Assembly oversight committee. The people simply cannot afford this. It is beyond reason and common sense. During the most recent parliamentary debate, which “was sparked by the controversial motion to write off $13m in penalties and interest owed by Club Med, highlighting the tension between fiscal responsibility and the potential economic fallout from harsh tax enforcement” the Premier is caught out and found wanting. He cannot talk about efficient tax collection if he is literally giving the taxpayers’ monies away. There is little and no relief for the people and no real plans to help them.
Locals are treated in racist ways on the job and at private resorts and this government remains silent. The country is falling apart at the seams and they are giving monies, precious monies needed to help the country. It is a bad policy all around and the Backbench of the PNP are silent over this.
No one there is able to question the issue or they are too detached to realise that it is a serious problem facing the people. In previous years this Gift to Club Med of $13,000,000 would have sparked serious demonstrations in opposition.
This is a lot of hypocrisy and ‘double-speak’ in the remarks of the Premier when he advocates for the “timely payments” for funding public services and infrastructure projects.
As Premier, the Hon C Washington Misick and His 14+1 PNP Government are giving over $13m to Club Med and is arguing for what amounts to be a more efficient mode of tax collection from off the backs of the people!
If one is late in business license payments, i.e. the Turks & Caicos businessman, he and she, must pay a penalty to this government while they are giving Club Med a break. Saunders on the other hand is calling for a relaxation in the apparent “stringent tax regime on the local resort industry” which very few to little Turks & Caicos Islanders are a part of! There is, however, “no one” in this 14+1 PNP government calling for tax breaks for Native businesses such as a Tax holiday for native-born TCIslanders on business licenses, stamp duty on land purchases and a reduction of NHIP and NIS payments. None of them are calling for any break for the small man. No one in the PNP is attacking EJ Saunders for favouring the resort industry over his people.
In his remarks, on a local talk show, the Hon Saunders went on to advocate for the creation of entrepreneurs and the use of the MSME Small business programme. He speaks to over $750,000 being spent on one year, and one million in another year, The Hon Saunders as former Minister of Finance and Investtci was obliged to budget ‘real money’ for the small business program and the money is there, just not the vision.
In some cases, there are Small Business (MSME) grants of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000.
It means that in many cases, they could be giving grants and loans of $50,000, $300,000 or $3,000,000 to local businesses instead of Club Med getting that $13m. This is a grossly bad policy
To the extent that the Hon EJ Saunders is “making an ounce of sense”, we are reminded that as Minister of Finance and Development, he once held the ‘reins of policy’ for most of his Parliamentary term to effect real change in a positive way.
This he did not do. While serving as Minister for Finance, he was in a position to advance a new commercial policy to make ‘government easier’, change the rules so that they are clearer and make the government –“make sense”.
It is clear that he and the Premier differ in a substantial and dynamic way, but these differences are kept under wraps. There is a fundamental misunderstanding between business owners and tax collectors because the laws are written too widely and vaguely leaving too much room for interpretation.
Then of course the selfish civil servant will seek to interpret the law in the least favourable possible way. The tax collector in the Revenue Control Unit is trying to collect as much revenue as possible for the Government and seeking “hopefully” to spend on needful things such as scholarships and salary increases.
Hopefully not for Club Med. Well as Minister of Finance, the Hon Saunders could have moved changes to the laws and policies which are found wanting, in need of deeper interpretation to reduce issues of interpretation but he did not. He is now in the back bench, the ‘political wilderness’, opposed to his PNP government and speaking to what “he could have done’ as minister. This is much like his non-starter of an eGovernment project.
He will be remembered as the Minister who was able to implement e-government from the ‘driver’s seat’ but elected to talk about it after the car was parked and he could no longer ‘get back into the seat. It illustrates a government without drive, serious policy resolve and divided at the core.
It seems that EJ Saunders wanted to do something but the rest of them had different ideas.
BY DELANA ISLES
The brutal murders of two Grand Turk residents – Necal Pierre and Stavado Talbot – have rocked the close knit island of Grand Turk, filling residents with fear and sounding calls to the authorities to do more to protect the citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Thirty-seven-year-old Necal Pierre – mother of one - was found dead at about 3:15pm on Sunday (August 4) after police in the nation’s capital were summoned to a house in the Palm Grove district.
Although police have not stated how Piere died, reliable reports are that she was shot.
Shortly after this, at about 4:49pm police were once again summoned to another gruesome scene, having received several reports from residents of gunshots being heard near the Parade Ground in Back Salina.
When officers and medical personnel arrived on the scene, they found the motionless body of a man later identified as Stavado Talbot - with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
Reports reaching our newsroom indicated that Talbot was hanging out near Parade Ground when he was approached by a masked gunman who opened fire, hitting him with several rounds and killing him.
In a brief statement on the two murders, Commissioner of Police Edvin Martin called the incidents “callous, senseless, and heartwrenching”.
“I understand the fear caused by
these incidents and assure you that no stone will be left unturned in finding the perpetrators.”
Commissioner Martin said he along with a team of detectives attached to the Serious Crime Unit are investigating the crimes on the ground in Grand Turk.
“These officers will assist in augmenting the strength of their colleagues. Tactical officers have also been deployed. Officers are working tediously and are conducting several leads to solve each case and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I urge anyone with information on these incidents to contact us. Share whatever information you may have, including CCTV footage. Let us work together to make our communities safer,” the commissioner urged.
Elected representative for Grand Turk North, Honourable Minister Otis Morris has also weighed in on the tragedy in his hometown, addressing the climate of fear and insecurity that has gripped the island.
“These acts of violence are not only attacks on individuals but on the very fabric of our society.
“As we mourn these losses, we must also confront the reality that such incidents are becoming all too frequent. The fear and anxiety that these crimes instill in our communities are unacceptable. It is imperative that we, as a nation, come together to restore peace and safety to our streets.”
Morris extended condolences to the bereaved families: “We as a community share in your grief
and commit to supporting you in every possible way. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that justice is served for Necal and Stavado and that we take meaningful steps to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.”
Similar sentiments are expressed by Leader of the PDM and the Opposition, Hon. Edwin Astwood – who is also the elected representative for Grand Turk South.
“The senseless violence that has taken the lives of these individuals is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the escalating issue of gun violence among our young men and the disturbing trend of crimes against women in our society. We cannot stand idly by while such atrocities continue to plague our community.”
Astwood has condemned the acts of violence, urging immediate action to address the root causes that perpetuate such behaviours. He urged: “Let us stand united as a community in support of the victims, their families, and all those impacted by these senseless acts of violence.
“We must join hands in solidarity to demand accountability, justice, and change.”
Anyone with information about the two incidents is being urged by police to come forward.
Residents can provide information to the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or on the Crime Stoppers P3 app.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
A promised financial relief programme for seniors in the Turks and Caicos Islands has been delayed, potentially leaving many elderly residents in a state of uncertainty and financial hardship.
The announcement of the delay in the Financial Assistance Plan (FAP) has sparked frustration and concern among those who were relying on the promised support.
In a video address to the nation on Monday, August 5, 2024, Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick announced a snag in the disbursement of benefits under the FAP.
The FAP, a crucial initiative aimed at providing financial relief to the elderly, guarantees a minimum monthly income of $1,000 to qualifying seniors aged 70 and above. This is achieved through cash grants designed to supplement the income of those receiving less than $1,000 from all other sources.
“We apologise for the delay in getting these funds to you, but assure all that every qualifying person will receive their check as soon as possible,” Misick said.
The delay has particularly affected those registered in the National Insurance Board (NIB) database, who were initially
prioritised to receive the benefit this month.
However, the government now aims to disburse funds to this group in August, with instructions for non-registered individuals to be announced shortly.
“Instructions will be provided shortly through public announcements to persons who are not registered with the NIB system as to how to apply for the benefit,” assured the territory’s Premier.
“Notice of the disbursement of the benefit to this group will be made in September 2024.”
Despite the setback, the government assures that all benefits will be retroactive from
April 1, 2024.
To qualify, beneficiaries must be Turks and Caicos Islanders or British Overseas Territory Citizens, aged 70 or above, ordinarily resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and have a monthly income below $1,000.
The delay in the FAP’s implementation has raised concerns among seniors who are reliant on the promised financial
support.
One resident who said he was looking forward to the relief, in a brief social media post stressed the impact these delays would have on those who need it the most.
The government, while acknowledging the delay, is working to expedite the disbursement process and ensure that all qualifying seniors receive their benefits.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
The 3rd Annual Contractor’s Symposium, themed “Building the Future of the Turks and Caicos Islands through Sustainable Development,” recently concluded with a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired to embrace sustainable practices in the construction industry.
The symposium, held in Providenciales, served as a platform for industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to engage in critical discussions on the future of development in the TCI.
The event featured a range of activities, including keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities,
all centred around the theme of sustainable development.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning & Infrastructure Development, Hon Jamell Robinson, delivered a passionate keynote address, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices in shaping the future of the islands.
“We are shaping the very fabric of our community, the environment we inhabit, and the legacy we leave for our children and grandchildren,” stated Robinson. “It is our shared duty to ensure that the progress we make today is sustainable and respects the natural beauty that surrounds us.”
The Deputy Premier highlighted the government’s commitment to
sustainable development, outlining initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure while preserving the islands’ unique cultural heritage.
He stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders, urging contractors, experts, and residents to join forces in building a prosperous and resilient future.
“Our efforts in sustainable development are more than just about constructing buildings and roads; they are about building a community that is all-encompassing,” Robinson declared. “It is about creating spaces where our children can grow, learn, and thrive.”
The symposium also featured engaging panel discussions on a variety of topics, including
recurrent/maintenance projects, high-value/capital projects, the process of bidding and evaluation, setting up a successful business, and requirements for local community engagement. These discussions fostered the exchange of ideas and encouraged collaboration among participants.
The forum saw prominent industry leaders share their experiences and knowledge related to sustainable construction practices and responsible resource management, inspiring attendees to embrace sustainable initiatives.
Thought-provoking discussions covered a wide range of topics related to sustainable development, encouraging the exchange of ideas and collaboration among
stakeholders.
The symposium also provided a platform for professionals and stakeholders to establish valuable connections, exchange contacts, and form partnerships to further advance sustainable development initiatives in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
It also served as a catalyst for change, sparking a renewed commitment to sustainable development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
As the islands continue to grow and develop, the symposium’s message of responsible and environmentally conscious construction practices will undoubtedly resonate throughout the industry.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
In a move that has stirred both support and controversy, the Turks & Caicos Islands Government, in partnership with the Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) and Carnival Corporation, has announced stringent new guidelines for public access to the GTCC facilities.
Effective Thursday, August 15, these measures aim to enhance security at the popular cruise destination while ensuring that residents and visitors alike can still enjoy its amenities.
The revised policy comes in response to growing concerns about safety and security at the port. While the idyllic beaches and vibrant local businesses have long been a draw for cruise passengers, managing the influx of visitors while maintaining a secure environment has posed a challenge.
“We greatly appreciate the collaborative spirit of partnership
from government and cruise centre leaders to provide an added layer of security at the Grand Turk Cruise Center facilities, while also allowing residents all opportunities to enjoy the beach, shopping and restaurants,” said Juan Fernandez, vice president of Carnival Corporation’s destination operations in a government-issued statement.
According to the government, under the new guidelines, anyone wishing to access the GTCC during operating hours when a ship is in port must obtain a one-day identification (ID) badge.
This applies to all individuals, including residents and tourists. To receive a badge, visitors aged 18 and older must present a valid form of government ID, while those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult with proper identification.
The ID badge system aims to prevent unauthorised business activities within the port, as well as deter any illegal or disruptive
behaviour.
Coupled with this, a strict code of conduct has been established, prohibiting the sale or solicitation of goods and services, interference with port employees or tour operators, and any actions that could be deemed a public nuisance. Violations of the code of conduct will result in immediate removal from the premises and revocation of the ID badge, with repeat offenders facing a minimum three-month ban from obtaining future badges.
Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick emphasised the government’s commitment to
ensuring a positive experience for all who use the GTCC facilities.
“The government’s role is to ensure that those with access to the facilities at the Grand Turk Cruise Center – be they cruise passengers, tour operators, vendors, and visitors to the port – have an enjoyable experience,” he stated.
“The government is committed to working with Grand Turk Cruise Center to improve service delivery so that the destination remains competitive, whilst ensuring safety, and providing sustainable economic opportunities.”
The new measures have been met with mixed reactions. While
some residents applaud the increased security, others worry that the stricter access rules could negatively impact local businesses and deter visitors.
Nevertheless, government officials and cruise line representatives maintain that the changes are necessary to strike a balance between safety, economic growth, and the preservation of Grand Turk’s welcoming atmosphere.
The government underscored that the safety and well-being of all who visit and work at the Grand Turk Cruise Center are of paramount importance.
Twenty-four-year-old Tiana Renay Jones, of Atlanta Georgia (USA), has been granted $10,000 bail, days after appearing before Chief Magistrate Jolyon Hatmin charged with possession of two bullets.
Jones, who was on vacation with her spouse in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was at the time an outbound passenger when the scanner at the Howard Hamilton International Airport (HHIA) in Providenciales detected what appeared to be ammunition in her luggage.
Further examination revealed that Jones had two rounds of ammunition in her checked luggage. She was informed of same and arrested.
On Tuesday (August 6), the woman appeared in court with her
attorney Ashwood Forbes, charged with one count possession of ammunition.
She has been ordered to return to the Supreme Court for a sufficiency hearing on October 4.
Jones was initially remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison by the Chief Magistrate, but on Thursday, a successful application for bail by her attorney saw her being released with several conditions.
Jones is the third visitor in as many weeks that has been charged with possession of ammunition, but the eighth person for the year to be held at TCI Airports with unauthorised ammunition.
All except one of those persons are citizens of the United States. Five have since been fined, given suspended sentences and have
returned home.
Despite calls and warnings by the US State Department to their citizens about checking their luggage before travel, the problem persists.
Local opinion – which weighed heavily at the time the five were arrested and charged – for a fine to be imposed as a form of deterrence, has since been shifting more in favour of the local judiciary strictly imposing the law on tourists charged with such offences.
The mandatory minimum sentence under the Firearm Ordinance remains 12 years in prison and or a fine – with the only exception to the mandatory imprisonment being that exceptional circumstances exist.
(DELANA ISLES)
FortisTCI has launched ‘PROPEL: Empowered to Lead’, an innovative and custom-designed emerging leaders training programme.
The initiative is designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance the company’s mission in
the evolving energy sector.
In a statement on the launch this week, Fortis said in response to the ongoing energy transition
and the accompanying changes, challenges, and opportunities, they are proactively transforming their workforce to be future-ready, while cultivating purposeful talent.
Fifteen participants with varied backgrounds and capabilities were selected based on performance, quality of service, alignment with company values, to participate in the FortisTCI Career Development Plan programme.
Participants will undergo ten months of comprehensive training covering various topics, including business acumen specific to the energy industry, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and essential soft skills such as navigating courageous conversations and the disciplines of execution.
Unveiling the programme at company headquarters this week, President and CEO Ruth Forbes said PROPEL underscores the company’s commitment to human development.
“Our people are at the heart of delivering safe, reliable and leastcost energy to the Turks and Caicos Islands and will remain central throughout the energy transition.
“Preparing our team with adaptive leadership skills and a solutions-oriented mindset
is crucial for the Company’s and the country’s sustainable development.”
She said the goal is to power up the Turks and Caicos Islands for a sustainable future.
The programme is multidimensional and forwardthinking, as it enhances individual capabilities while supporting the company’s strategic goals and contributing to the broader community.
Participants will engage in a capstone project tasked with devising practical solutions to realworld challenges in the energy sector that align with FortisTCI’s strategic initiatives.
Additionally, the participants will develop a community project, which has the potential to be formally adopted into the Company’s portfolio of ongoing community initiatives. Each participant has also been assigned a mentor, selected from within the FortisTCI Management team, to support their journey.
The PROPEL programme is facilitated by Richard Solomon, a distinguished thought leader, researcher, best-selling author, and strategist known for his leadership development, organisational transformation, strategic planning, and change management expertise.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
In a display of dedication and commitment to national security, the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment successfully concluded its Annual Training Camp 24 (ATC 24) on August 3rd, 2024.
The event culminated with a passing out parade, attended by HE Governor Dileeni DanielSelvaratnam and Premier Hon C. Washington Misick, marking the official induction of a new cohort of marines into the regiment.
This year’s training camp was particularly rigorous, with four distinct courses running concurrently.
Sixteen recruits successfully completed the Marine Reservist Training Course 04 (MRTC 04), earning their place as marines in the regiment.
Additionally, 22 serving marines advanced their skills in the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Course (HADR), while nine others participated in an inaugural policing course. Four serving marines also underwent an Officer Selection Assessment process for the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
During the ceremony, Premier Misick congratulated the cohort, emphasising the significance of their achievement. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the participants for successfully completing this demanding training,” he stated.
“To the new recruits who have earned their status as Marines, your dedication and perseverance are commendable.”
The Premier further expressed his gratitude to the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment and its training team for their unwavering support in shaping the recruits into skilled and confident marines.
“The work you do is invaluable in strengthening our defence forces and ensuring the safety and resilience of our nation,” he
affirmed.
The ceremony also recognised outstanding performance throughout the training camp.
According to a statement from the Office of the Premier, recruit Lucan Saunders received the Best Endeavour award; recruit Yanique Haye-Smith was honoured as the Most Physically Fit, and Recruit Alex Bernadin was named the Most Outstanding Recruit overall.
The MRTC 04 was spearheaded by the Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCOs) of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment.
The comprehensive curriculum covered a wide array of essential skills, including battle casualty drills, map reading and navigation, weapons handling, patrolling, and basic life support.
The Governor also attended the passing out parade, underscoring the significance of the event for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Both the Governor and the Premier commended the recruits and Marines for their hard work and commitment to service.
They also extended their thanks to the Regiment Training team and the families and employers of Regiment members for their invaluable support.
The successful completion of ATC 24 and the passing out parade not only marks a significant milestone for the Turks and
Caicos Islands Regiment but also reinforces the nation’s commitment to building a strong and capable defence force.
the Premier aptly
“Strengthening our defence forces is essential for creating a safe and resilient Turks and
Throughout scripture, God calls His people to observe and praise His work (Praise Him for his mighty deeds – Psalm 150:2). Additionally, God calls His people to actively join in His work, to be his partners in the world, so to speak. This partnership is not only a privilege but also a responsibility that gives meaning to our lives and purpose to our actions.
From the very beginning, God invited humanity into a partnership. In Genesis 1:26-28, God granted mankind the privilege of dominion over the earth, instructing them to “fill and subdue it.” In Genesis 2:15 God placed man in the garden to work it. This mandate is a call to the stewardship of creation, signifying that humans are to work alongside God as cocreators, nurturing and developing the world’s potential.
As God’s fellow workers (1 Corinthians 3:9), our daily labor, when done in alignment with God’s purposes, is a continuation of His creative and redemptive work. Whether we are teachers, nurses, artists, or farmers, our work has intrinsic value when we do it with integrity, excellence, and
Kenyatta Lewis is the pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, a growing church committed to taking followers of Jesus deeper and going further in their faith. Besides loving, serving, and helping people he has watched the extended Director’s cut of the Lord of the Rings trilogy multiple times.
a heart to serve God and others. As someone said, all work, when it is done well, is sacred work. This idea underscores that there is no divide between sacred and secular work—all work can be an act of worship and a means of partnering with God.
Another crucial aspect of partnering with God is through the work of justice and mercy. Micah 6:8 summarizes this calling succinctly: “ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
By advocating for the oppressed, caring for the vulnerable, and promoting justice, we align ourselves with God’s heart and participate in His mission to restore a broken world. This is a powerful
expression of our partnership with God as we become agents of His peace and righteousness.
Additionally, we partner with God in the work of evangelism and discipleship. In the Great Commission, Jesus commands His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This is not just a directive to spread a message but an invitation to join in God’s ongoing work of redemption. By sharing the gospel and nurturing the spiritual growth of others, we contribute to God’s kingdom and help bring others into the same partnership with Him.
Prayer is another significant way we partner with God. Through prayer, we align our hearts with God’s will and intercede for His work in the world. Someone once
mentioned that “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” Prayer is a powerful tool that God uses to accomplish His purposes, and by engaging in it, we become colaborers in His plans.
God’s call to be His co-workers is an invitation to live with purpose and meaning. Whether through your vocation, or through discipleship or through prayer we have countless opportunities to partner with God in His work. This partnership is not just about doing tasks but about participating in God’s grand narrative of creation, redemption, and restoration. As coworkers with God, we are given the privilege of contributing to the flourishing of His world, bringing His love, justice, and peace to every corner. Work Well.
There are many qualities and characteristics an effective leader should possess such as being honest, being humble, being transparent, being held accountable, delegating tasks, having empathy toward others, communicating well, being decisive, and being knowledgeable in your area.
I have had several leadership positions and based on my personal experiences and what I observe leaders are facing today, leaders ought to be bold, brave and strong. It is okay to be soft and nice, but you can be taken advantage of and may end up being a weak leader. There are some decisions that
BY DREXWELL SEYMOUR
Drexwell Seymour is a certified public accountant and is the managing partner for HLB TCI. His favourite hobby, however, is writing. He has a personal website, www.drexwellseymour. com, where all of his writings are posted. He also has a YouTube channel where you can find inspirational videos. Drexwell has a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.
leaders must make that are very unpopular, but some leaders are hesitant because they do not want to appear as the “bad person”. You must be bold and brave. If you are soft and nice, it will be
a challenge to make unpopular decisions.
It is very unfortunate that many people attack leaders and say all sorts of evil about them. Rather than attacking the issues, people attack the individuals in the leadership roles and sometimes it is simply because they did not get what they want, or they don’t understand the process. Constructive criticism is very good, but don’t let the personal attacks distract you. You must focus and be strong to
withstand the attacks.
No matter how you as a leader went out of your way to accommodate others and made sacrifices for others, some will still characterise you as a non-caring leader and “paint” a negative picture about you. You must be strong.
To be bold, brave and strong, you need to stop being concerned about the criticism you will get. You cannot please everyone and remember no matter what you do, someone will have something negative to say. The thing is, if you are not bold enough, you can be replaced with a leader who will be bold and strong. Be confident. Don’t be afraid. Fear can make you a weak leader. If you know what you are doing is the right thing, then there is no need to be afraid.
Tell people the truth. Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t say one
thing and do something else. Also, practice being bold and brave until you can grasp it completely. Finally, if you believe that you are in the leadership position that you were destined to be in, then be committed to your position no matter what obstacles come your way. Stay focused.
I know some leaders must improve their leadership skills but there are some leaders that are really trying their best to make a difference.
Do you wonder sometimes why people shy away from assuming leadership positions? One of the reasons is that it is a huge responsibility, and you are always under scrutiny from the public. Furthermore, your private life may end up becoming a public life. I encourage leaders and those who want to be leaders, to make sure they are bold, brave, and strong.
The dress rehearsals of a biblical prophecy are unfolding before our eyes! It detailed a world descending into chaos and a demonic deception masquerading as peace. As people fall prey to his falsehoods the world leader will usher in lawlessness, culminating the final chapter of human history.
And while this may sound like a sermon, it’s not; rather, it’s a keen observation of world affairs, which seems to be threatening its existence.
First, there is Elon Musk’s brain chip experiment. In his quest to heal patients of severe paralysis, the Neuralink founder has implanted a microchip in a patient’s brain and now, a second patient is awaiting the procedure.
Similarly, Jowan Osterlund, the CEO of Biohax International, a company in Sweden that specialises in biochips, has also inserted a tiny microchip about the size of a grain of rice in more than 6000 Swedes over six years.
Mind you, these phenomena are not clips from a horror movie, a dystopian television show, or
BY D MARKIE SPRING
Force and was director of security at Beaches Turks and Caicos.
headlines from the nightly news –they’re actual situations happening in our world right now.
More so, they are not a mere technological breakthrough, as these innovations use radio frequency technology for a wide array of applications, such as opening and securing doors, logging into computers, linking banks to credit accounts, accessing funds and making cashless payments.
And as digital technology evolves, it becomes more relevant and plays an integral part in our daily lives. Beyond this; however, safety, convenience and ease of use seem to be the trend.
Today, many countries
worldwide are opting for digital driver’s licenses – a significant leap forward in this ever-digitizing world.
Florida has adopted a ‘smart ID’ and this is not simply a digital image of the physical version; it proves identity and use in lieu of the traditional driver’s license.
Furthermore, Australia is the first to roll out the digital license app and to date, more than 500k Australians have downloaded the software.
Meanwhile, Marsha Borak, a technology journalist reported that the European Union (EU) – which seems to be the centerpiece of the digitizing world – has proposed €108 million to augment tech
capacities.
And now, the UK’s new government has expressed openness to digital ID, touting digital identity, while harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to efficiently manage immigration.
And the most recent report indicates that South Asian banks are deploying biometrics and digital IDs for security and other services – connecting the private and public sectors.
While many proponents of digital IDs are heralding the efficiency of the technology, inadequate security can lead to data breaches and misuse of personal information by governments and individual hackers. We’ve already witnessed the impacts of the recent global IT crash.
But most menacing is the idea that despotic regimes and tech companies worldwide are privy to people’s personal data and could use it against them, especially political dissidents.
Since the individual’s identity is compromised, it can lead to extortion, fraud, theft and harassment.
In assessing the status quo, seemingly, these phenomena are the dress rehearsals for the imminent apocalyptic revelation called the “Mark of the Beast” – a chaotic world, where no one is allowed to trade without the ‘mark.’
And so, as digital technology evolves, the world, including TCI, is forced to adapt or be left behind. Either way, there is mayhem ahead!
In the realm of interpersonal interactions, we may occasionally encounter moments where asserting oneself or addressing someone’s misconduct demands a more direct approach, but doing this with grace and elegance just won’t cut it. It becomes necessary to speak frankly, yet without crossing the line into rudeness.
The ability to navigate these situations indeed is a form of art. While discretion is paramount, I bring you some inventive methods to gracefully assert boundaries and kindly request space when asking someone to leave you the heck alone.
With grace, the following will
BY DAVIDSON LOUIS
Rachel Wolchin once said: “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have had roots instead of feet.” On this quest to self-discovery, TC Islander Davidson Louis vowed to travel, write, paint, laugh and forgive. Subsequently, he hopes to find himself and or, leave behind a few pieces of himself. Contact him at hello. octopen@tcinews.tc
provide guidance on what are some classy(ish) ways to tell someone off and master the art of eloquent confrontation.
YOUR ABSENCE IS REQUIRED
With a straight face and firmness.
FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO EXIST
Better yet.. Say please in front of your request. After all, you still have manners. Girl. Bye. Especially to a male.
I WISH THERE WAS SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN US
Point blank.
THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY FURTHER CONVERSATION
Top this off by walking away, thereafter.
I NEVER FORGET A FACE. BUT IN YOUR CASE, I’LL MAKE AN EXCEPTION
Nothing else to say thereafter.
SPARE ME THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY
This is my all time fav.
CLEARLY, ONE OF US HAS MADE A MISTAKE AND WASTED THE OTHER’S VALUABLE TIME
Take the time to emphasize on both ONE, and OTHER’S.
Bonus SOMETIMES YOU JUST MEET SOMEONE, AND YOU INSTANTLY REALIZE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE WITHOUT THEM
You are one of those people.
Sorry, I do not speak English (In perfect English) Engage no further.
BY DELANA ISLES
Leader of the Opposition, Hon Edwin Astwood has weighed in on the unprecedented wave of crime that shook the Turks and Caicos Islands over the two weeks.
Two murders, local businesses targeted and robbed, vehicular robberies, unchecked shootings and woundings, are just a few of the incidents police have reported on this past week, all occurring in just days of each other.
These incidents, when added to the rising murder rate in the TCI – approximately 24 to date –whereby last year there were 23 murders for the entire year, are concerning for all residents.
In response to calls from the public to hear from their elected officials, the Premier hosted a brief press conference this week to address residents’ fears and concerns.
However, the PDM leader said with the rising homicide rate and a police force that is struggling to contain the escalating crisis and up its detection rate, not enough is being done.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Astwood said he is gravely concerned and deeply troubled at the targeted attacks on local businesses and ordinary citizens.
“We have never seen crime at
this level ever in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“The sense of fear and insecurity that now pervades our neighborhoods throughout the country is a stark reminder of the urgent need for resolute action and strong leadership, something that is very absent in the elected fairweather government of the day.”
The party leader has once again aimed his sharp sights on the government and their seeming lack
Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and the Hon. Premier Charles Washington Misick, co-chaired a meeting of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Security Council (NSC) on July 30, at the Office of the Governor in Providenciales.
Also in attendance, H.E the Deputy Governor, the Hon. Deputy Premier, the Hon. Attorney General Ag., the Commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), the Permanent Secretary Governor’s Office, the National Security Policy Officer and the NSS Threat Lead.
Apologies were received from the Hon. Minister for Immigration and Border Services.
Invited attendees included the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Minister of Education, The Director of Public Prosecutions, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs Ag., Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Ag., Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Ag., Director of Business Operations (ODPP), Director of the Education Department, Director of Social Development, and Director and Deputy Director, Department of Digitization & E-Government Technology and Innovation (DETI).
Members were briefed by:
• Representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Education, on safeguarding measures particularly to address the noted increase in safeguarding incidents. The safeguarding of vulnerable groups, particularly children, is a priority of the National Security Council and is being addressed with urgency. The Ministry is to deliver a comprehensive coordinated safeguarding plan that includes a decisive strategy for delivering justice outcomes, appropriate protections and addressing safeguarding governance across the wider stakeholder community. Safeguarding has been included as a standing agenda item for the NSC.
• The Director of Public Prosecutions on a proposal to implement a digital case management system aligned to the system implemented in the courts. The new case management system, which was approved by the Council, will improve the efficiency and security of case progression, supporting the effective and efficient administration of justice.
• Relevant leads regarding a maturity assessment of the national security governance structure and proposals to develop the operating model. The Council approved the
of action to stem the rising crime situation.
“It is with great discontent that I once again have to highlight the glaring lack of a coherent plan, innovative ideas, and effective action from the premier and his government in addressing these escalating crimes, and completely resourcing the police force with what they need to operate at optimal levels.
“Their abandonment of responsibility, their failure to lead effectively, and their inability to protect our people and our businesses have left our people very vulnerable and completely exposed.”
According to Astwood, he has continued to “give information” on crime freely to the government, as crime is everybody’s business.
Claiming: “However, this government has completely dropped the ball on addressing crime in our country and has grossly failed our people and our nation.”
He said he stands firm in the belief that both the opposition and the government must stand united to combat crime, not leaving it solely up to the United Kingdom
Government, through the Governor to address.
“You cannot forget that our people elected you the PNP into government, not the representatives from the UK, therefore it is your duty to serve and protect the people and their property,” the Opposition leader stated.
In addition to the profound impact on citizens, Astwood said the government needs to recognise the grave risks that crime poses to the image of the country and its crucial tourism industry.
He believes it is imperative that the root causes of crime be dealt with, “Island by Island” and “community by community”.
Issues such as illegal immigration, undocumented residents, social inequality, lack of opportunities and systemic injustices are, according to the party leader, just some of those root causes.
Astwood believes that if these issues are appropriately addressed, only then can the country make any significant steps towards deterring individuals from a life of crime and building a more equitable and inclusive society.
implementation of the proposal that will streamline various aspects of the national security function and develop threat assessment and reporting across agencies to build the necessary capacity and capability to deliver strategic national security objectives.
• The Commissioner of Police on the crime picture across each island, operational updates on investigations and various aspects of policing and national security initiatives, highlighting the expansion of TCI’s radar coverage. The National Security Council approved a proposal to fund the deployment of experienced officers to strengthen tactical operations, building resilience and capability within the force.
• The National Security Threat Lead on the National Cybersecurity Risk Assessment (NCRA) which provided a baseline understanding of TCI’s current cybersecurity vulnerabilities, intervention initiatives for critical national infrastructure and strategic direction for building TCI’s cyber resilience. The Director and Deputy Director, DETI outlined the cyber capacity gaps within TCIG and proposed solutions. A project implementation plan that supports business continuity is to be submitted for Cabinet approval.
Officers of the Serious Crimes Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Force are investigating three robberies that occurred last weekend in Providenciales.
Based on preliminary reports, at around 1:45am on Sunday (August 4), the Police Control Room received a report that a female Kew Town resident had arrived home and was approached by two masked, armed males demanding money.
The victim started screaming, which alerted relatives and scared the robbers.
They ran off, and the woman was taken to a medical facility for treatment, having been struck during the ordeal.
Shortly after 6pm on Saturday, August 3, an AllPoints Bulletin was aired following a report lodged by a female victim.
The woman told police that while leaving an establishment behind Courtyard Plaza, she was accosted by two armed males who proceeded to rob her.
The suspects ran off and escaped.
Also, on Saturday, the police
received another report of robbery involving a male and female minor.
Initial investigations state that at around 8:27pm, both minors were at the Kid’s Park in Lower Bight, when they were approached by two masked males who demanded money from them.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers combed the entire area and, based on information received, subsequently visited the residence of the female victim, who alleged that the armed suspects sexually assaulted her.
Detectives of the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit are continuing inquiries.
Police are asking the public to avoid venturing into lonely and poorly illuminated areas, stay alert, travel in groups, and report suspicious activities.
Police are urging anyone with information that may help in these investigations to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 2311842, Crime Stoppers at 1-8008477 or the Crime Stoppers P3 app to provide any information anonymously.
In the face of unprecedented educational challenges, a beacon of hope has emerged for the teachers of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Department of Education’s Learning Recovery and Enhancement Programme (LET’s REAP) is arming educators with the tools they need to combat learning loss and build a resilient education system.
This ambitious initiative, designed to address the educational gaps widened by hurricanes, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic, is a collaborative effort by CARICOM, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
To this end, several teachers from the Turks and Caicos Islands completed the second cohort of the Learning Recovery and Enhancement Programme (LET’s REAP) on August 2nd. This free training course, designed to equip educators with essential skills in assessment, differentiation, and leadership, is available to all public and private primary and secondary school teachers in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
LET’s REAP is a collaborative effort by CARICOM, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), that addresses the pressing need to bridge learning gaps exacerbated by the recent challenges. It aims to foster a resilient educational system capable of weathering future challenges.
“The Department of Education would like to congratulate all the teachers who have completed
the LET’s REAP course,” said Ms Elisann Delancy, Curriculum Developer and representative for the Turks and Caicos Islands on behalf of CARICOM.
“Your dedication to improving your skills and knowledge is commendable, and we are excited to see the positive impact this will have on our students and education system.”
The programme, facilitated by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, has seen a surge in participation. The first phase saw 42 teachers successfully complete the training, a number that has more than doubled to 101 in the second phase, with expectations of further growth in the coming weeks. The ambitious goal is to extend this vital training to all teachers across the Turks and Caicos Islands and the wider Caribbean region.
Minister of Education, Hon Rachel Taylor, expressed her pride in the programme, stating, “The ‘Let’s REAP Capacity Building Training’ programme is a testament to our commitment to providing quality education in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am immensely proud of the teachers who have completed the training and those who are currently participating.”
The success of LET’s REAP has garnered support from the local business community, with Beaches Turks and Caicos sponsoring day passes for teachers who excelled in the course.
This gesture of appreciation allows these dedicated educators and their families to enjoy a welldeserved break.
A number of teachers have completed the training course
As the Department of Education gear up for the third cohort of LET’s REAP, all eligible teachers are encouraged to participate.
An email detailing training and registration information will be sent to school principals. Teachers are urged to seize this opportunity
to enhance their professional skills and contribute to building a stronger, more resilient education system. (OLIVIA ROSE)
Twenty tickets were issued to motorists for various traffic infractions this week in a multi-agency operation by the Traffic Enforcement Unit and the Immigration Department.
The operation was conducted on Tuesday, August 6, in Five Cays and along Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
Three additional motorists received
a warning of intended prosecution, and 13 men were detained for immigration purposes, police reported this week.
The Royal TCI Police Force has in recent months undertaken a zerotolerance approach against traffic violators to ensure road safety for all. The latest operation saw 32 traffic checks being conducted.
Drivers are asked to comply with road traffic regulations to avoid being fined. Motorists are reminded that vehicle windows must have the following minimum levels of visible light transmittance: “front windscreen: no lower than 50 per cent; each front window; driver and passenger side windows: no, lower than 50 per cent; rear windows and windscreen: not lower
than 30 per cent.”
Tints on the front windscreen must be no more than six inches from the top down and have a 50% light transmission.
“Once your vehicle’s tint does not meet these requirements, you commit a traffic violation under the Road Traffic Ordinance and will be $250 per window,” police have reminded motorists.
FortisTCI has sent three power line workers to assist with electricity service restoration in Jamaica following severe damage to the neighbouring island’s energy infrastructure from Hurricane Beryl.
The Category 4 storm hit Jamaica on Wednesday, July 3, devastating parts of the island’s southern coast and causing loss of power to over 400,000 customers of energy provider Jamaica Public Service (JPS).
Lineman Foreman Kavin Ewing, Power Line Technician Corean Kelly, and Lineman Foreman Brenton Smith departed for Jamaica on Friday, August 2, and will return on August 13.
While in Jamaica, they will join several crews assisting from elsewhere around the Caribbean.
During their assignment, the FortisTCI team will work alongside JPS employees in the parish of Manchester, installing poles and transformers and making service connections.
In a statement this week, FortisTCI said they received the request for assistance through the company’s membership with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), an association of electric utilities and related services operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean region and elsewhere.
Similarly, following a CARILEC request in 2017, FortisTCI sent a five-member crew to Dominica to assist with electricity restoration after Hurricane Maria. Notably, Kavin Ewing was among the crew that went to Dominica and has again volunteered to be part of another hurricane restoration.
FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes stated: “Mutual assistance among utilities is critical to service restoration following disasters such as hurricanes. Through an ongoing mutual assistance arrangement with the Fortis group, over 200 utility workers were on the ground in TCI in 2017 to help
FortisTCI restore power, which was completed within 60 days of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“FortisTCI is pleased to support CARILEC’s efforts to assist utilities affected by Hurricane Beryl and speed up electricity restoration in Jamaica. We are incredibly proud to send three of our best, highly
A number of criminal activities this past week have left residents shaken and begging for relief from the crime spree engulfing the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In one incident, police reported that shortly after 9pm on Tuesday (August 6), 911 dispatch received
reports that five bandits had entered a business place in Snake Hill, Blue Hills and held the occupants hostage at gunpoint.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is appealing to any member of public who may have any information on any crimes. They can contact Chalk Sound Police Station on 338-5901 or make use of the confidential reporting system through Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477.
trained, experienced line workers. They have volunteered to go to Jamaica, and the Company applauds their team spirit and dedication.
“We know all three will do an exceptional job and help bring relief to electricity customers in Jamaica while learning from the experience.”
They then proceeded to rob them and the establishment of an undisclosed amount of cash, valuables and other personal items.
Reports are that a member of the family who owns and operates the business was beaten by the gunmen.
After divesting the patrons of their cash and valuables, the criminals picked up their loot and escaped on foot.
The terrified family and patrons called the police.
In another incident, this one at 9:37pm, same evening, officers responded to a report along the Five Cays Road and saw a man running.
When he was stopped, the 29-year-old man informed officers that he had been injured.
The victim was taken to a medical facility for treatment, where it was discovered that a bullet had grazed him.
Initial investigations state the victim was near the Five Cays beach when he heard loud explosions.
No further details about the bizarre incident were provided by police.
In a third incident, Officers of the Royal TCI Police Force responded to reports of gunshots being heard in Granny Hill, in the Five Cays community.
While investigating this report, officers received additional information and proceeded to Sandy Lane, where they observed a silver Suzuki Swift with bullet holes through the windshield and left passenger door glass.
Checks were made; however, no one was seen in the vehicle.
Police are asking anyone with information that may help in these investigations to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide any information anonymously. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information.
Two men were robbed of their valuables after being Good Samaritans to strangers by offering them rides to their destinations last Monday night (August 5).
In the first incident, police reported that at about 6pm on Monday, 911 dispatch received a report that a black Honda Fit had been stolen.
Investigations into the car theft revealed that while driving along the Long Bay Highway in Providenciales, the driver stopped and offered three males a lift.
The males – ages not disclosed – then reportedly begged the driver to buy them something to eat because they were hungry.
Police said the driver proceeded to the bank, parked the vehicle, and
told the occupants to wait. However, upon his return, his car was missing.
In the second incident, Police reported that at about 8:05pm officers from the Chalk Sound Police Station received a report of another robbery.
The victim told cops that while driving a Honda Fit car in the Five Cays community, he stopped and offered a male (age not disclosed) a ride to his destination.
The male entered his car, pulled out a gun, and robbed him.
Acting Superintendent (Serious Crime Unit) Kenville Charles has issued
a warning to drivers against giving rides to hitchhikers:
“We ask that you exercise caution and prioritise your safety.
“While being a good Samaritan is important, not everyone is genuine. Some individuals are keen to exploit your good nature.”
Anyone with information regarding these incidents or other information that may assist the police with enquiries to contact 911, the closest police station, the Serious Crime Unit at 2311842, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 and on the CrimeStoppers P3 app and share information.
Is seeking to employ
Wymara Resort + Villas is a contemporary luxury full-service boutique resort on Grace Bay Beach. We are looking for driven and energetic professionals with minimum Four to Five-Stars Forbes experience, who are committed to achieving excellence by ensuring five-star standards and services are continuously delivered.
Reporting directly to the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, the Asset Manager oversees all aspects of engineering operations, sustainability initiatives, capital projects, guestroom preventive maintenance, and equipment preventive maintenance programs. The Asset Manager will lead a team of professionals to deliver high-quality services and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for guests and staff.
MAIN DUTIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
• Ensure the efficient functioning of the property’s facilities and infrastructure while adhering to industry standards and regulations.
• Develop and implement maintenance and engineering standards and procedures, and strategies to enhance property value through asset maintenance and aesthetic improvements.
• Coordinate with department heads to prioritize maintenance tasks and allocate resources effectively.
• Conduct regular inspections to identify areas for improvement and address any maintenance issues promptly.
• Collaborate with senior management to develop long-term plans and budgets for property maintenance and upgrades.
Edwin Taveras, a 25-year-old man of North Back Salina, Grand Turk has been charged with possession and intent to supply cannabis (weed).
Taveras appeared in court on Friday, charged with one count possession of cannabis and one count possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply (Cannabis).
The charges against Taveras followed an incident on September 14, 2023.
• Work Experience: Not
EDUCATION: DIPLOMA IN ELECTRONICS schematics
Working
• Demonstrated ability to read and understand technical manuals and
• Proven ability to manage multiple troubleshooting tasks simultaneously while maintaining the quality of results
• Work schedule 6 days a week Salary payable based on qualifications and experience.
• Develop and implement energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
• Manage the budget for the engineering department, including equipment and supplies procurement and labor costs.
Salary range: $90-120K per annum.
Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, the Warehouse Assistant is responsible for assisting with the daily operations of the warehouse, the ideal candidate will be responsible for receiving, storing, and distributing products within the warehouse, as well as maintaining a safe, clean and organized work environment.
MAIN DUTIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
• Loading and unloading of trucks and containers.
• Ensure the safe receipt, storage and dispatch of warehouse goods, verifying for accuracy and quality.
• Organize and maintain inventory and storage areas.
• Operate warehouse equipment, including driving flatbed truck for deliveries (must be able to drive manual transmission vehicle).
• Perform general warehouse duties as needed.
• Follow workplace health and safety rules.
Compensation: $8 hourly.
Former British Virgin Islands (BVI) Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in federal prison by US District Judge Kathleen M. Williams after having been convicted at trial of cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracies for agreeing to facilitate the safe passage of tons of Colombian cocaine through BVI ports headed to Miami. In exchange for his assistance Fahie would make millions, which would be funneled through different businesses or smuggled back to the BVI to hide the money’s source.
According to evidence introduced at trial, during March and April 2022, Fahie, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Oleanvine Pickering Maynard (O. Maynard), and the Port Director’s son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard (K. Maynard) participated in a series of meetings with the purported Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker to broker the arrangement.
Fahie and O. Maynard agreed to secure licenses, shield the cocaine-filled boats while in BVI’s ports, and grease the palms of BVI government officials and employees. They discussed bringing 3,000 kilograms of
cocaine through a BVI port as a test run, followed by 3,000 kilograms once or twice a month for four months. Fahie and O. Maynard would get a percentage of the millions of dollars in cocaine sales.
In April 2022, Fahie and O. Maynard were arrested in Miami as they prepared to pick up a $700,000 cash advance on their
deal. K. Maynard was arrested in St. Thomas.
O. Maynard and K. Maynard previously pled guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and were sentenced by Judge Williams to 112 months and 57 months in prison, respectively.
(U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida)
The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president said he foresees “no real difficulty” with a four-day work week as employers generally gave mixed reactions to the idea.
Robert Sands told Tribune Business much work and negotiation was required before such an arrangement is implemented in The Bahamas so as not to unduly burden the private sector with further excessive cost increases, but he did not dismiss the proposal.
Pointing out that adopting a four-day work week would require employees to work four ten-hour days to meet 40 hours for the week, instead of five eighthour days, he said one required compromise would involve trade unions agreeing not to demand pay “in excess of the standard rate” for those two extra hours per day to minimise the employer cost burden.
“I think there are a number of things that have to be taken into consideration in a four-day
The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s president Robert Sands
work week,” Mr Sands told this newspaper. “In my opinion, it can work if persons work their 40-hours in ten hours per day. For quality of life issues for people with young families, having three days’ off makes a lot of sense in a world where family issues are not as strong as in the past.
Bahamas: $575k awarded to Haitian woman denied citizenship
The Supreme Court has awarded $575,000 in damages to a 29-yearold woman after the Department of Immigration took six years to address her application for Bahamian citizenship.
Dahene Nonord, whose parents are haitian citizens and legal residents of The Bahamas, was initially granted a Certificate of Identity on April 4, 2011, which expired in April 2016. She applied for Bahamian citizenship on September 16, 2013, under Article 7 of The Bahamas constitution.
Throughout the application process, she provided the requested documents, was interviewed, and was informed by an immigration officer that she would be contacted later about an oath of allegiance recital date.
Starting in 2014, Ms Nonord consistently followed up with the Immigration Department to confirm her recital date but never received answers. On October 10, 2017, she was informed that her file could not be found.
After six years, she was finally registered as a Bahamian citizen in 2019. Her citizenship was granted while she was pursuing legal action against the director of immigration and the board of immigration for refusing to consider, determine, or grant her citizenship application in a reasonable time.
Although she eventually gained citizenship, Ms Nonord endured significant trauma during the six years without registration.
“I see no real difficulty with a fourday work week. It has implications in terms of the understanding of trade unions and so forth. Where there are hours worked in excess of the standard hours, you are not paying in excess of the standard rate, for example. There’s a lot of negotiated situations.
In an affidavit, she described the abuse she suffered. On December 3, 2014, after being unable to show resident documents, immigration officers handcuffed, slapped, dragged, verbally abused, and detained her at the Carmichael Road Detention Center until her mother brought her Certificate of Identity documents for her release.
A female officer in charge of the detention centre claimed Ms Nonord bit her, an accusation Ms
Ms Nonord reported several instances of physical abuse by immigration officers at the detention centre. At one point, she was jailed and charged in the Magistrate’s Court after immigration officers claimed she had bitten their fingers, leading to charges of obstruction and assault. She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
Ms Nonord’s lawyers filed a writ in March 2015 for assault and battery, false imprisonment, and breach of her constitutional rights. They said she suffered mentally, living in constant fear of being deported to Haiti, a country she had never visited.
The turmoil the Immigration Department caused prevented Ms Nonord from working, travelling, having a bank account, or receiving a higher education.
Ms Nonord sought aggravated, punitive, and exemplary damages against the director of immigration and the board of immigration for assault and battery, false imprisonment, and breach of her constitutional rights. She sought $1m.
Ultimately, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bowe Darville declared that the director and the board breached the constitution in processing Ms Nonord’s application and acted recklessly in refusing to determine her application within a reasonable time.
Ms Nonord was awarded $125,000 for the constitutional breach of Article 17 (1), $125,000 for the breach of Article 26 (2), $150,000 for misfeasance, $100,000 in exemplary damages, and $75,000 in aggravated damages, totalling $575,000. (Tribune242)
The Grand Bahama Power Company’s (GBPC) proposal to increase electricity rates drew quick backlash from the Ministry of Grand Bahama this week.
The GBPC said it submitted a rate plan proposal to the Grand Bahama Port Authority for consideration on August 1. The plan is to increase the base rate for Grand Bahama customers by 6.3 percent in 2025.
The GBPC said its request would sustain operations and future investments and would help align its operations with the government’s target of 30 percent renewable energy by 2030. The GBPC said the requested 6.3 per cent base rate increase is below the country’s recent inflation rate of 7.3 percent.
“Balanced with the company’s effective fuel purchase strategy, which brings rate stability through 2027, the proposed rate change would result in a small all-in decrease for most electricity customers,” the GBPC said. “The all-in rate includes all elements of monthly electricity bills, including the fuel charge.”
GBPC Chief Operating Officer Nikita Mullings said the proposed rate change would not affect the fuel portion of monthly electricity bills, so 40 percent of the bill would remain unchanged.
“With the impact of our fuel hedging programme, residential, general service large, and large industrial customers are forecasted to receive a small reduction on
an all-in basis, while commercial customers will see a small, estimated increase of less than two per cent,” she said.
If approved, the base rate change would take effect on January 1, 2025.
“Since our last rate adjustment in April 2022, we have seen reduced sales from our GSL customer classes due to lower energy consumption, the loss of our largest customer, and significant inflationary pressures,” Ms Mullings said.
“We know there is no good time to propose a rate increase,
but the requested adjustment is essential to maintain and improve the efficiency and reliability of our services and to allow us to invest in critical infrastructure maintenance, as outlined in our system resource plan, to enable the integration of renewable energy sources in keeping with the government targets.”
The Ministry of Grand Bahama said the GBPC’s proposed base rate increase is “unacceptable.”
“Whilst this decision claims to be ‘in alignment with its operating protocol and regulatory framework’, it is wholly ill-conceived, badly-
Security forces provide ‘cover’ fire for Haitian leader after interview with CNN
Security forces protecting Haiti’s leader provided covering fire as he left a hospital in Port-au-Prince after an interview with CNN, in a stark illustration of the violence that continues to plague the gangravaged nation.
CNN had been interviewing interim Prime Minister Garry Conille at a hospital destroyed by gangs when repeated and long volleys of gunfire could be heard in a nearby neighbourhood. Conille initially proceeded with the interview and did not remark on the gunfire — which is not an unusual thing to hear in Port-au-Prince. After the interview, officials and the CNN team were driven away in cars, with a few more shots ringing out at they pulled onto the main road.
According to a statement from the Haitian National Police and
the Multinational Security Support (MSS), a Kenyan-led security force, those final shots were troops firing their weapons as the prime minister was leaving to “provide cover.”
Afterward, the national police and MSS Force “followed up where the shots had been fired from the neighborhood and pacified the area,” it said.
No one was injured and the prime minister was safely returned to his office.
Haiti is still roiling from deadly gang violence and political upheaval, which sharply escalated in February. The crisis saw critical infrastructure attacked by gangs and cease to function, including the capital’s international airport and seaport, breaking vital supply lines of food and aid.
The interview took place in the
city’s ruined General Hospital, once a major public health institution.
It was reclaimed from gang control in early summer by Haitian National Police, and then again from resurgent gang members by the joint HNP/MSS forces. Though still devastated, the hospital is seen as an early symbol of the re-establishment of state control in a city where gangs control an estimated 80% of the land. The area surrounding the hospital remains a dangerous contested area and is largely abandoned.
CNN travelled with Conille to the hospital in an official convoy of a dozen vehicles, with heavy security presence — including dozens of armed Haitian Police, Kenyan police, the Haitian police chief and Kenyan force commander, and a dedicated
further 6.3 percent increase. This is not acceptable,” the ministry said.
The ministry also called on GBPC to improve its process for investigating and assessing claims of damage to household appliances and equipment resulting from frequent outages.
The ministry said: “We do not support the base rate increase and urge reconsideration based on the hardship faced by Grand Bahamians and the unreliable performance of the GBPC since the last increase.”
Kwasi Thompson, the FNM MP for East Grand Bahama, also described the proposed rate hike as a blow to Grand Bahama residents and called for government intervention.
“It is absurd to even consider another rate increase at this time,” he said.
timed, and appears to prioritise profit over the well-being of the community,” it said.
The ministry empathised with Grand Bahama residents and businesses, highlighting the additional strain the proposed increase would impose.
“In 2020, GBPC implemented a one per cent increase as a ‘Storm Recovery and Stabilisation Charge’ (SRS). In early 2022, the GBPA approved a 3.4 percent increase to the base rate, which was implemented in April 2022. Now, in 2024, amidst numerous power outages, GBPC seeks to impose a
Mr Thompson said residents, particularly in East Grand Bahama, have faced rising business license fees, customs fees, water prices, national insurance, boat license fees, aviation fees, passenger taxes, electricity costs, VAT on breadbasket items and medication, and air freight costs.
“The fishermen and farmers of East Grand Bahama have been calling for relief,” he said. “Unemployment in East Grand Bahama remains high. The government cannot allow another blow to the people of Grand Bahama and must stop this immediately.” (Tribune242)
security force for the interim prime minister.
Haiti’s crisis had forced former Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign in March – pitching the country’s political establishment into weeks of negotiations as they sought to muster a transitional
government.
In May, Conille was appointed prime minister during the government’s transition period, with the aim to eventually lead Haiti to new elections.
Conille had previously briefly served as prime minister from 2011 to 2012 during the presidency of Michel Martelly.
Bermuda’s Premier David Burt has confirmed that two senior members of his cabinet, including the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Reform, Kathy-Lynn Simmons, have stepped down from their positions.
The other minister to step down is Vance Campbell, the Minister of the Cabinet Office.
“Both Vance and Kathy have been valued members of the Cabinet, bringing to bear their thoughtful advice and counsel to the complex issues that confront Bermuda and which we in government have a responsibility to address.
“Seven years after returning to Government and four years into this term, I fully understand and accept when individuals make decisions regarding their continued public service,” Burt said, adding “this journey is not easy and takes a toll on not just the individual but on families as well.”
Premier Burt says he respects Campbell and Simmons’ decisions at this time and” cannot thank them enough for offering themselves for service and wish them both the very best for the future”.
Burt said that he will make an announcement later in the week on other changes to ministerial responsibilities.
Opposition Leader, Jarion Richardson, said that the “sudden”
resignation of two Cabinet ministers added to a “growing anxiety in the community.
“We’ve already been told of multiple government Members of Parliament not returning to run in the next General Election, including the Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Works. The sudden loss of an attorney-general, even one mired in controversy, increases the concerns of instability.”
He said the position of AttorneyGeneral is key to combating the rise in violent crime and abysmal road behaviour.”
Richardson said that Campbell, appointed Minister of the Cabinet Office less than a year ago, had served “such a short period” in the role.
“That said, while we in the Opposition strongly disagreed with some of his policies, he was always professional, considered, and clear. His departure from Cabinet will further weaken the already unstable, outgoing Government.“
Simmons became the AttorneyGeneral, Minister of Legal Affairs and Senate Leader in 2017 following the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) decisive electoral victory in July 2017.
She held her seat in 2020 when she faced off against Marc Bean, a former PLP leader, who ran for Sandys North under the Free Democratic Movement.
She is credited with helping
A lightning strike on the Philipsburg Boardwalk in Sint Maarten has left five people injured, including tourists, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred during severe weather conditions at approximately 1:15 pm today.
The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) and ambulance services quickly responded to the emergency.
KPSM stated that “Upon arrival, first responders discovered that five persons including tourists had been struck by lightning during the severe weather conditions.”
Three of the victims were reported to have sustained serious injuries and were immediately transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for treatment. The other two individuals suffered minor injuries that did not require hospitalization.
“Medical attention was immediate provided at the scene,” the police confirmed, emphasizing the swift response of emergency services. (Loop News)
bring child protective services in line with the Lanzarote Convention, an international gold standard for protecting children against sex-based crimes.
She enacted the Child Safeguarding (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2019, which would see people who committed sex assaults against Bermudian children overseas face prosecution on the island.
She also extended the legal definition of a child to include anyone under the age of 18, removed a statute of limitations around sexual offences and allowed for child witnesses in court trials to pre-record evidence.
Simmons created the Cannabis Licensing Act 2022, which would have established a licensing authority to give people permission to grow, harvest and export the drug.
The legislation received considerable approval in the House of Assembly, but the Governor, Rena Lalgie, was instructed to refuse the Bill’s assent because it violated drug laws shared between Bermuda and the UK.
Simmons went on to
commission a US$50,000 report on Bermuda’s ability to selfgovern, which found that the island suffered a “democratic deficiency” and middling self-governance capabilities.
Campbell ran for the constituency of Smith’s West for the PLP in 2012, but lost to the One Bermuda Alliance’s (OBA) Trevor Moniz. He was appointed to the Senate in 2017 and became the MP for Smith’s West in 2020 after running against Vic Ball, of the OBA.
He was appointed Minister of Tourism in April 2022 and then took control of the Cabinet Office during a ministerial shake-up in October that year. Campbell assumed oversight of the Department of Planning during a shuffle of ministerial responsibilities last November but was no longer responsible for tourism.
The departure of the two government minister comes after the retirement of several ministers, including Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minster of Public Works, and Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier. (Loop News)
Former prime minister, Perry Christie, is recovering in hospital after successfully undergoing a corrective procedure after he was admitted to Doctors Hospital with symptoms of an acute heart condition.
A statement issued by the Director of Communications in the Office of The Prime Minister, Latrae Rahming, said Christie underwent the procedure last Saturday.
The statement said the procedure was performed by interventional cardiologist Dr Bimal Francis and his team, intensivist Dr Adrian
Dr Duane Sands.
“He is now convalescing remarkably well. He is awake, alert, and in excellent spirits,” Rahming said in the statement, adding that Christie is expected to remain in hospital for several days.
Christie is a member of the Eminent Persons Group, established by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that has initiated and oversees the Community’s provision of Good Offices support in designated priority areas, including security, governance, the electoral process, and long-term development planning and advocacy in Haiti.
Ukrainian forces are continuing to advance deeper into Russia’s Kursk region, expanding their area of control on the third day of their major incursion, with the situation worsening for Russian forces, according to a key pro-Kremlin Russian military blogger.
Rybar, a blog closely linked to Russia’s defense ministry, reported Thursday that Ukrainian armored units have reached the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe, roughly 18.5 miles inside Russia’s border.
Heavy fighting is now also reported only 9 miles from the town of Lgov, which straddles a crucial highway.
“Despite the attempts of the Russian joint forces group to stop the advance of Ukrainian mobile groups, the scale of the crisis is widening,” Rybar wrote on Telegram.
Rybar and other pro-Kremlin military bloggers are contradicting the claims of Russia’s defense ministry that the Ukrainian advance has been stopped.
Ukraine’s attack appeared to be a large-scale offensive operation, involving at least two Ukrainian brigades, rather than a less significant cross-border raid. As the scale of the attack was becoming clearer on Thursday, it appeared to be one of the most significant military developments in the war in months.
At least 66 people have been injured as a result of shelling in the Kursk region since Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Health reported Thursday.
The railway stations in three settlements in the Kursk region -Sudzha, Korenevo and Psel -- are closed amid the invasion, the press service of the Moscow Railway
A damaged house after shelling by the Ukrainian side in the city of Sudzha, Kursk region that borders Ukraine
reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for “courage” in the region.
“This requires you, and the current situation requires a certain amount of courage and concentration on ways to solve these complex, difficult, extraordinary tasks that are now facing all branches and all levels of government,” Putin said at a meeting with the acting governor of the region, Alexei Smirnov, on Thursday.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian adviser to the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, commented Thursday for the first time on the operation, saying one goal was to alter the Russian perception of the war, a shift that could potentially affect any eventual negotiations.
“This increases the cost of the
war for Russia quantitatively. More armored vehicles have been destroyed, the Russian Federation has lost territories, and there have been more casualties. Will this affect how they perceive this war? Undoubtedly,” Podolyak said in a live discussion on Ukrainian TV.
Zelenskyy praised the Ukrainian army on Thursday for its ability “to surprise” and achieve results, though made no direct reference to the situation in Kursk.
“Everyone can see that the Ukrainian army knows how to surprise. And knows how to achieve results,” Zelenskyy said at an event in Kyiv. “This is demonstrated by the battlefield, where our soldiers not only withstood the overwhelming force of the occupiers, but also are destroying it in the way necessary to protect Ukraine -- our state and
independence.”
The Ukrainian incursion began on Tuesday when a Ukrainian force numbering in at least the hundreds crossed over the border near the village of Sudzha, with tanks and heavy weapons, according to official and unofficial Russian public sources. Catching Russia off-guard, Ukrainian soldiers quickly seized a handful of villages, advancing up to 6 to 9 miles, according to the pro-Kremlin Russian military bloggers.
Since then, Ukraine has moved in significant reinforcements and its forces were continuing to try to press forward but were being held on Thursday at the village of Korenovo, according to multiple pro-Kremlin bloggers, who are close to Russia’s military. Heavy fighting was also focused on
Sudzha, which Ukrainian troops were reported to have largely surrounded.
Russia’s defense ministry on Thursday claimed to have halted the Ukrainian advance and to have inflicted hundreds of casualties on Ukrainian troops. But reports from the Russian military bloggers suggested a far more chaotic situation, with unconfirmed reports that Ukrainian forces had continued to reach deeper in some places into the Kursk region.
One of the best-known proKremlin military bloggers, Two Majors, reported that six or seven Ukrainian tanks were fighting in the village of Ivnitsa, roughly 18.5 miles from the border.
He also reported gunfire, likely from Ukrainian reconnaissance special forces units, in the village of Anastasevka, more than 18.5 miles from the border and about 28 miles from the Kursk nuclear power station.
Multiple military bloggers also reported gunfire, likely from Ukrainian reconnaissance special forces units, in the village of Anastasevka.
They also reported Ukraine engineering equipment to try and dig in and hold ground.
Ukrainian officials have been almost entirely silent on the operation, with speculation swirling around its possible goals. Ukraine may be seeking to pull Russian forces from elsewhere in Ukraine, as Ukrainian troops are under intense pressure in the Donbas region near the key city of Pokrovsk, although most analysts believe Russia likely has sufficient forces to continue its operations there unchanged.
Former President Donald Trump says he has agreed to an offer from ABC News to debate Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 10.
Trump said so during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago Club on Thursday.
Trump previously said he had been willing to go toe-to-toe with President Joe Biden and agreed
to ABC’s first invitation issued in May.
However, after Biden dropped out of the race last month and Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee, Trump had implied he would not debate Harris on ABC.
Harris has accused Trump of “running scared” and trying to back out of the debate. (ABC)
US gun manufacturers, for their part, have long argued Mexico cannot draw a line between the violence and their firms
A US judge has thrown out most of a $10bn (£7.8bn) lawsuit brought by Mexico against US gun manufacturers it says are fuelling rampant weapons trafficking that brings 500,000 guns south across the border every year.
Of the eight companies Mexico sued in 2021, six were dismissed by a judge who said that the country’s claims that US gun manufacturers are responsible for weapons trafficking to violent drug cartels are “gossamer-thin at best”.
The companies have long argued that Mexico cannot prove that violence is the fault of gun manufacturers.
Mexico’s foreign ministry told Reuters it would continue its legal action and considering filing an appeal.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal courthouse in Massachusettswhere several of the companies
are based - argued that the “flood” of illegal guns in Mexico “is the foreseeable result of the defendants’ deliberate actions and business practices”.
While the cases against many of the companies were dismissed, Smith & Wesson Brands and Witmer Public Safety Group remain defendants following the judge’s ruling.
“This decision does not affect the lawsuit against these two companies nor does it absolve the other six companies of responsibility,” Mexico’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Mexico is exploring various options, including a possible appeal or resorting to other federal courts in the US,” the statement added.
The BBC has contacted Mexico’s government for comment.
In his decision, US District Judge Dennis Saylor wrote that Mexico
7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes coast of Japan
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 has rocked the coast of southern Japan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The epicenter of the earthquake is just a dozen miles off the coast of the city of Miyazaki on the island of Kyushu in Japan but the Japan Meteorological Agency has now lifted tsunami advisories for all but Miyazaki Prefecture.
There were reports of people falling and sustaining non-life-
threatening injuries. One home in Kagoshima is said to have collapsed, but no injuries were reported. Regional nuclear plants are still reporting no abnormalities. Miyazaki Airport experienced delays, and while bullet train services have resumed for the region, local services may still be disrupted.
The people of southwestern Japan seem to have avoided major damage, though the shaking would have been terrifying.
Hunter Biden allegedly paid in Romanian ‘influence’ plot
US prosecutors in Hunter Biden’s tax evasion case have accused him of accepting money from a Romanian oligarch who sought to “influence US government agencies”.
did not adequately prove that any firearms sold in Massachusetts caused the country harm.
Mexico has for years argued that the country’s extremely restrictive laws on gun sales make legal purchases difficult, driving criminal organisations to look to the US to purchase thousands of weapons.
There is only one gun shop in Mexico, located in a Mexico City military complex. Buyers there are required to submit to exhaustive background checks that can often take months.
Given the restrictions, Mexican authorities believe that a large portion of southern-bound weapons are bought legally by ‘straw buyers’, who then unlawfully pass them to criminals.
US gun manufacturers, for their part, have long argued Mexico cannot draw a line between the violence and their firms.
The accusation is part of a larger case against the president’s son, who is charged with evading $1.4m (£1.1m) in taxes between 2016 and 2019 while spending millions on luxury cars, drugs and escorts.
Republicans have long accused Hunter Biden, 54, of “influence peddling”, although Congressional probes have yet to uncover any wrongdoing.
The tax case is scheduled to go to trial in California in September. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to a court filing made on Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court, the Romanian national hired Biden for legal work in 2015, at a time when his father was vice-president under thenPresident Barack Obama.
While the filing only identifies the Romanian businessman by his initials, GP, US media has identified him as Gabriel Popoviciu, who at the time was facing corruption charges in Romania.
In the filing, prosecutors said they plan to introduce evidence that Hunter Biden and an associate “received compensation from a foreign principal who was attempting to influence US policy and public opinion” and prompt the US “to investigate the Romanian investigation of GP”.
The document also says that Biden and his associate “were concerned that lobbying work might cause political ramifications for the defendant’s father” - Joe Biden - and wanted to conceal the “true nature” of the arrangement.
In total, prosecutors believe that Biden and two associates split $3m in payments from Popoviciu.
Popoviciu was sentenced to seven years in a Romanian prison on real estate fraud charges in 2017. He denied any wrongdoing.
Republicans in the House of Representatives - who last year opened an impeachment inquiry into the Biden family’s foreign business ties - had previously raised concerns about ties between Hunter Biden and Popoviciu.
“Told ya,” the House Judiciary Committee’s Republican wing wrote in a brief post on X, formerly Twitter.
Thousands of anti-racism protesters have taken to the streets across the United Kingdom to counter a spate of far-right rallies planned to target immigration centers, seeming to thwart what looked set to be another day of rioting.
After days of violence spurred by disinformation around a deadly stabbing attack, police had braced for another night of unrest on Wednesday. Far-right groups on social media had called for protests to target visa processing centers and immigration lawyers’ offices at more than 100 sites around the country at 8 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET).
But by the early evening, thousands of counter-protesters had gathered at more than a dozen cities to guard the immigration centers and prevent them being targeted by the far right.
“There are many, many more of us than you,” crowds chanted at the anti-racism demonstrations across the country, bolstered by a markedly stronger police presence than over the weekend, and with virtually no sign of any far-right supporters.
Whether Wednesday’s counterprotests represent a turning point is not yet clear, but fears of another night of unrest have abated for now. The fizzling out of the planned protests will come as a major relief for the new Labour government, and for communities that had prepared for the worst.
It may also be a sign that many have been deterred from taking
Counter-protesters demonstrate against farright riots in Walthamstow, east London
to the streets, after previous farright protests turned violent and hundreds of rioters were arrested over the weekend, with some already receiving prison sentences.
In Walthamstow, east London, the immigration center was entirely boarded up, protected by a heavy police presence and surrounded by around three or four thousand counter-protesters.
“We today have got such brilliant numbers in our community,” an organizer shouted through a megaphone to a hastily organized crowd. “We have shown them whose streets these really are. These are our streets.”
Ahmed Hussain, 31, said he had come out to support
the counter-protesters because “when you don’t, the fascists feel emboldened.”
“In London you would never see them rioting on the scale that they have outside London,” Hussain told CNN. “They’re nowhere to be seen… it shows that when everyone comes out to support, their numbers dwindle.”
The worst of the past week’s violence was concentrated in the north of England. In Rotherham on Sunday, far-right rioters set fire to a hotel used to house asylum seekers as more than 200 people cowered inside. Large crowds of people shouting “enough is enough” and “get ’em out” were also seen clashing with police in several
other cities.
In Sheffield, a city a few miles south of Rotherham, residents told CNN they had felt terrified by the outbreak of violence, which they said they felt had emboldened racist behavior.
“I normally walk through this city center all the time,” said Nadeem Akhtar, 18, who has lived in Sheffield his whole life. “But now, recently, even my mum’s been saying to me, don’t be going out so much, because you never know what could happen.”
Akhtar had gathered with friends midday Wednesday in the city center to demonstrate against a planned far-right protest. Unlike last week, where protests across the country were allowed to boil over into racist violence, the Sheffield demonstration was overseen by a huge police presence separating the protesters and counter-protesters.
At least three right-wing demonstrators were arrested during altercations between the two groups. As one man was escorted away by police, he called out: “I ain’t done nothing. Double standards.”
In Sheffield, a city a few miles south of Rotherham, residents told CNN they had felt terrified by the outbreak of violence, which they said they felt had emboldened racist behavior.
“I normally walk through this city center all the time,” said Nadeem Akhtar, 18, who has lived in Sheffield his whole life. “But now, recently, even my mum’s
been saying to me, don’t be going out so much, because you never know what could happen.”
Akhtar had gathered with friends midday Wednesday in the city center to demonstrate against a planned far-right protest. Unlike last week, where protests across the country were allowed to boil over into racist violence, the Sheffield demonstration was overseen by a huge police presence separating the protesters and counter-protesters.
At least three right-wing demonstrators were arrested during altercations between the two groups. As one man was escorted away by police, he called out: “I ain’t done nothing. Double standards.”
Anti-immigration protesters have often accused police of double standards in responding to their demonstrations, claiming that they are not treated fairly and giving Keir Starmer, the prime minister, the nickname “two-tier Keir.”
CNN heard this nickname repeatedly in Sheffield and Rotherham. It has even been echoed by Elon Musk in a post on X, the website he owns. Musk claimed that “civil war is inevitable” in response to a post blaming the violent demonstrations on the effects of “mass migration and open borders.”
At the counter-protest in Sheffield later Wednesday evening, one of the speakers criticized Musk’s comments. “The richest man in the world is stirring the pot for a race war,” he said. (CNN)
Israeli airstrikes on two Gaza shelters kill 17, says Gaza Civil Defense
Israeli airstrikes on two school buildings in the north of Gaza City killed 17 Palestinians, most of them children, and left at least 63 injured according to Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal on Saturday.
“The schools were targeted a second time with three missiles, resulting in 17 martyrs and dozens of injured individuals who were transported to the Baptist Hospital in the city,” Basal said.
According to Gaza Civil Defense, the schools were being used as shelters for people displaced by violence. Both Al-Huda School and Al-Hamama School, which are
adjacent to each other and share the same playground, were targeted, Basal said.
Asked for comment on the airstrikes by CNN, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck alleged terrorists operating within a Hamas command and control center.
“A short while ago, with the intelligence direction of the IDF and ISA, the IAF struck terrorists operating within a Hamas command and control center. In the past, the compound was known as the Hamama school in the northern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a written statement sent to CNN on
Police in Austria have questioned three teenagers suspected of plotting a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift show, sparking renewed concerns over the indoctrination of young people online.
Foreign intelligence agencies helped authorities uncover the alleged scheme, according to the country’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. A source familiar told CNN that the US issued a warning to authorities in Vienna.
Organisers cancelled three concerts, which were scheduled
to take place in the European capital from Thursday to Saturday. CNN has reached out to Swift’s representatives for comment.
The young man – who was arrested Wednesday morning in the eastern town of Ternitz – planned to kill himself and “a large number of people,” according to the head of the domestic intelligence agency, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner.
“He said he intended to carry out an attack using explosives and knives,” Haijawi-Pirchner told reporters in Vienna on Thursday.
“His aim was to kill himself and a large number of people during the concert, either today or tomorrow.”
Two other suspects were detained, aged 17 and 15. The 17-year-old worked for a facilities company that would have provided services at the concert venue. He was near the stadium when he was arrested and had recently broken up with his girlfriend, according to Haijwai-Pirchner.
Little has been revealed about the 15-year-old. Prosecutors will decide later if he was a witness or directly involved in the alleged plot.
The three are all Austrianborn with either Turkish, North Macedonian or Croatian backgrounds.
The trio were in contact with other individuals who knew about the plan, said the country’s director general for public security, Franz Ruf. No one else is being sought in direct connection with the plot, Ruf added.
The cancellations of the Swift concert triggered an outpouring of heartbreak, grief and relief
among Swifties hoping to attend the record-breaking Eras Tour in Vienna. Hailed as a cultural phenomenon, the scale, influence and intricacy of Swift’s musical voyage have made headlines for boosting the economies of the cities she visits.
The show-stopping tour began in Glendale, Arizona in March 2023, and has been extended several times. Vienna was scheduled to be the penultimate venue of the European leg, with Swift set to play five nights at London’s Wembley Stadium over the next two weeks, before moving on to Canada in November and December.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the city would “carry on” with the scheduled events, telling Sky News: “I’m sure Vienna has got its own reasons to cancel the Taylor Swift concerts, we’re going to carry on, working closely with police (and) ensuring that the Taylor Swift concerts can take place in London safely.”
Nelly attends the 65th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on February 05, 2023
Rapper Nelly arrested in St Louis for previous traffic charge, possession of ecstasy
Rapper Nelly was arrested early Wednesday morning at a St. Louis casino for a previous traffic charge and possession of ecstasy pills.
Nelly, whose birth name is Cornell Haynes II, was arrested at 4:45am in St. Louis by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, according to online records.
The rapper has been charged with possession of a controlled substance – four ecstasy pills – and no proof of insurance on an old traffic charge from in Maryland Heights. CNN has reached out to Nelly’s publicist for comment.
• Practitioner must speak and write English, Spanish, French and Creole
• Must have a medical degree from an accredited University
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in a Primary Health Care, Secondary Health Care institution
• Certificate in ER Medicine, Anesthesiology
• Minimum of 3 years as a fully registered Medical Practitioner on a register of a recognized Medical Board.
• Patient consultations, examinations, minor
• Diagnosis and treatment of illness/ ailments
• Manage and triage trauma patients, acute and chronic illnesses
• Order laboratory, diagnostic tests, x-ray
• Liaise with other healthcare professionals and hospitals
• Computer knowledge
MONTHLY SALARY $7000.00. Belongers only need to apply. This position is currently held by a work permit holder.
Is needed to work along with our maintenance team.
Duties include but are not limited to:
• Trouble shooting of electrical, mechanical and control system of a refrigerator
• Ensure the proper functioning of cooling systems in residential and commercial space
• Installing, maintaining and repairing appliance
• Set up/disassemble equipment as necessary
• Perform basic maintenance
• Must be willing to take instructions and work along with the team
• Must have a clean police record
• Compensation for this position is starting at $9.00 per hour
• Install, maintain and repair electrical systems, read blueprints, troubleshoot issues, ensure safety compliance, and test equipment for proper functioning.
• Requirements:
• Valid TC driver’s license and proof of safe driving record for
the last past five years.
• Has outstanding knowledge & experience in trouble shooting electrical issues to provide on time solutions.
• Excellent communication skills in English with the ability to write legibly; ability to do simple calculations to re-order and maintain stock levels.
The Turks and Caicos Islands oldest and leading publishing house is in need of additional staff to fill the following posts:
Candidates must have at least five (5) years’ experience working full-time for daily newspapers and/or news/features magazines, reporting on hard news, features and parliamentary/court proceedings. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.
This position requires someone with at least five (5) years’ experience working with Macintosh or PC computers. Must be skilled in the make-up of advertising and pagination. Proficiency using InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop software for print is essential. Some technical, networking and web design knowledge an asset. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.
College or high school graduate with at least five (5) years’ experience in community reporting. Ability to drive and use a camera a desirable asset. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.
Candidates must have had actual hands-on experience selling advertising space for newspapers and magazines. Ability to assist clients with the writing of copy for ads and gathering of collateral an asset. Salary is commission based.
Cleaning
Unload containers, help customer with heavy lifting and help transport goods. $8.00 p/h
• Must have 5 years’ experience
• Planning and managing logistics rentals, dispatching and customer services.
• Meeting, optimizing and coordinating with rental agents liase with managers and negotiating discount on rentals.
• Full knowledge rent centric,
• Ensure all rentals are properly cleaned in and out before they are sent to the airport.
• Ensure all vehicles are properly repaired mechanically and body repaired.
•
heavy construction projects and demotion sites.
• Able to work with little
or no supervision, be physically fit, dependable and hard working.
• Must be self-motivated and able to understand, write and speak English fluently.
• Salary: $9.50 per hour.
• To oversee facilities, staff, and operations, maintain the activity schedule, hire and train staff, and coordinate activities.
• Requirements:
• Degree in Tourism or related field
• 3 or more years of experience in managerial role.
• Great command of English both written and spoken.
• Willing to work irregular schedule
Salary $3,500.00 monthly
•
•
•
•
•
• Cleaning outside the property with sweeper, pick up yard waste and collect leaves, dispose of trash, clean windows, and doorframes.
Salary: $8.00 hourly.
• Cleaning the house, laundering sheets, towels and personal clothing and other housework.
Salary: $8.00 hourly.
•
404 LONG BAY ROAD PROVIDENCIALES TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS 649-941-8111 longbayexpress@gmail.com Is looking for a
to work 6 days per week, salary is $2,300.00 per month plus commission to do the following:
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Supervise staff to ensure efficient operations Schedule and assign duties to employees
• Oversee inventory control and ordering fuel, merchandise and supplies Monitor sales and expenses
• Resolve customer complaints and inquiries in a professional manner
• Schedule routine maintenance and repairs on fuel pumps, equipment and facilities Deliver fuel daily
REQUIREMENTS:
• Must have at least 5 years experience in a gas station
• Knowledge of safety procedures and regulations related to handling fuel and other hazardous materials Operate and drive a fuel delivery truck
• Ability to manage inventory, ordering and stocking of merchandise Customer service skills and the ability to resolve customer complaints Strong communication skills
• Ability to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays
POSITION CURRENTLY HELD BY A WORK PERMIT HOLDER, INTERESTED APPLICANTS PLEASE EMAIL/DELIVER RESUMES ALONG WITH A POLICE CERTIFICATE TO LONG BAY EXPRESS SERVICE LTD. AND ALSO DELIVER A COPY TO THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS LABOUR BOARD
Salary: $2,500.00
• service, identify and repair faults on electronically controlled vehicle systems such as electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, anti-lock braking, cruise control, automatic transmission, airbags and air conditioning
• install electrical equipment such as gauges, lighting, alternators and starter motors in vehicles
• install electrically operated accessories such as radios, heating or demisting equipment, air conditioners, driving lamps and anti-theft systems
• refer to circuit diagrams, and use meters and test instruments to find electrical faults
• adjust engine control systems and timing to ensure vehicles are running at peak performance
• test, recondition and replace faulty alternators, generators, starter motors and related items such as voltage regulators and batteries
• repair or replace faulty ignition, electrical wiring, fuses, lamps and switches
• use hand tools, specialized electrical tools, instruments and machines, including drills, grinders, presses and lathes
• solder or weld when repairing electrical parts
• install, repair and service air conditioning systems.
An Application, REGISTERED PR 17375, by PIER HOTELS (TURKS AND CAICOS) LIMITED for OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A STAFF ACCOMMODATION COMPLEX ON BLOCK & PARCEL 60718/1&2 WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2.19 ACRES OF LAND.
THE APPLICANT PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOUR (4) THREE STOREY BLOCKS USING A MODULAR SYSTEM TYPOLOGY CONTAINING EIGHTYSEVEN (87) UNITS; NINE (9) FOUR BEDROOM UNITS, TWENTY-FOUR (24) FIVE BEDROOM UNITS AND FIFTY- FOUR (54) EFFICIENCY UNITS, TRAINING ROOM, OFFICE, STORE, GYM, TV GAME ROOM, LAUNDRY AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES.
SUBSEQUENTLY, THE APPLICANT HAS MODIFIED THE APPLICATION TO REFLECT THE FOLLOWING: ONE (1) THREE STOREY CONTAINING FIFTYTWO (52) UNITS, SWIMMING POOL, GYM AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES.
This application has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Development Permission on BLOCK & PARCELS 60718/1&2 WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2.19 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT CHESHIRE HALL & RICHMOND HILL PROVIDENCIALES.
Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Emily House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, within twenty-eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. You may also make representation(s) via video conferencing at the sitting of the Physical Planning Board when this application would be considered. If you are desirous so to do via video conferencing, contact the Secretary of Physical Planning Board.
Dated
An Application, REGISTERED PR 17774, by PIER HOTELS (TURKS AND CAICOS) LIMITED for DETAILED DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR (4) BUILDINGS WHICH IS TO CONTAIN FIFTY-SEVEN (57) HOTEL ROOMS. THE DEVELOPMENT ALSO CONTEMPLATES A SWIMMING POOL AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES ON BLOCK & PARCEL 60813/13 WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1.14 ACRES OF LAND.
THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSES A NON-TRADITIONAL BUILDING TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS A MODULAR BUILDING SYSTEM.
This application has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Development Permission on BLOCK & PARCELS 60813/13 WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1.14 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT THE BIGHT, PROVIDENCIALES.
Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Emily House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, within twenty-eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. You may also make representation(s) via video conferencing at the sitting of the Physical Planning Board when this application would be considered. If you are desirous so to do via video conferencing, contact the Secretary of Physical Planning Board.
Dated
Experience Turks and Caicos is now accepting applications/resumes for the following positions: Only highly selfdriven and motivated personable and professional individuals whom have the desire to serve other need apply:
Hours: 40 Hours
Department: Marketing and Sales Department
Unit: Marketing and Sales
Classification: Employee
Annual Salary: Up to $60,000
Reporting Supervisor: Marketing and Sales Unit Manager
Probationary Period: 6 months
Positions Supervised
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB PURPOSE:
Plan, Develop and Execute cultural and entertainment events across the Turks and Caicos destination. Create distinctive signature events that are promoted by Experience Turks and Caicos n source markets and establish an annual event calendar for travel and leisure.
KEY RESULTS AREAS:
• Events Planning and Promotions.
• Annual calendar of events
• Budget management
• Lead in conjunction with the product development manager the execution and management of the Weekly Fish Fry. Including offerings and activities
• Define event requirements and standards for each occasion.
• Ensure all events align with Experience Turks and Caicos Branding Guidelines.
• Generate and implement innovative event concepts and themes.
• Responsible for sourcing and procurement of Experience Turks and Caicos collateral items.
• Develop event budgets and manage invoice processing
• Collaborate with the Destination Development Department to enhance the tourism value chain in relation to event organization
• Partner with the Finance and Operations Department to design and execute fundraising activities associated with events
• Coordinate and support service suppliers and other involved businesses in event organization.
• Manage logistics for events encompassing all necessary elements.
• Anticipate attendee needs and mitigate potential risks.
• Produce post-event reports evaluating event effectiveness.
• Fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned by the CEO and Chief Marketing Officer. Skills/Qualifications/Competencies
• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, public relations, management or related field.
• Passion for organizing and executing events in the tourism or cultural sector.
• Demonstrated budget management experience, adhering to procurement policies and vendor payment processing.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, thriving n highpressure multitasking environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Innovative, outside-the-box thinking
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Expertise in time management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Engage in a dynamic work environment.
• Interface with pertinent government ministries, departments, and private sector entities within the tourism industry.
• Achieve goals within a changing interdisciplinary and evolving setting
• Adapt to flexible working hours, often extending to evenings, weekends, and holidays, as dictated by even schedules.
Hours: 40 Hours
Department: Marketing Department Unit: Marketing Intelligence Unit
Classification: Employee
Annual Salary: Up to $48,000.00
Reporting Supervisor: Marketing Intelligence Manager
Probationary Period: 6 months
Positions Supervised
JOB PURPOSE:
As Tourism Statistics Specialist, your role is to collect, analyze, and report statistical data that enables Experience Turks and Caicos to understand and shape tourism demand and offerings in the TCI. The data you gather and analyze will play a pivotal role in crafting and implementing tourism development policies and strategies.
• Statistics Database Development and Management
• Marketing, including Market Research and Market Intelligence Essential Duties
• Collaborate with the Director of the Tourism Intelligence Unit to define and monitor or key performance indicators (KPIs) and other tourism metrics.
• Conduct comprehensive tourism analysis, including trend and impact assessments, surveys, data collection, and analysis.
• Manage Tourism information Management Systems.
• Identify data intelligence tools to support the CEO and CMO in developing marketing and promotional strategies to maximize ROI in pubic relations, marketing, and sales promotions.
• Input data into databases and software programs.
• Prepare and deliver statistical reports on the tourism performance of the destination and Experience Turks and Caicos.
• Identify all sources of tourism statistical data relevant to Experience Turks and Caicos.
• Assist the Tourism intelligence Unit in preparing the market research budget f or surveys and various statistical analyses.
• Verify the completeness and accuracy of source data.
• Assist in compiling reports, charts, or graphs that explain and interpret analysis findings. Collaborate with the Press and Communication Unit to publish statistical reports and news releases.
• Develop and maintain updated databases and archives related to the tourism products, services and demand in the TCI.
• Work with the Marketing and Sales Unit to identify marketing activities for various tourism markets and segments.
• Provide recommendations to the CEO and Chief Marketing Officer regarding tourism trends in international markets and segments relevant to TCI.
Follow
Must have extensive knowledge of boats and the local waterways. High level of luxury service. Experience in detailing and maintenance, yacht background a huge plus. Drivers licence and own car required. Working weekdays and weekends $20 hourly
CONTACT: J.LAWSON3@ME.COM PHONE NUMBER: +1 (649)
Experience Turks and Caicos is now accepting applications/resumes for the following positions: Only highly self-driven and motivated personable and professional individuals whom have the desire to serve other need apply:
• Create graphs and infographics to facilitate the interpretation of tourism statistics.
• Attend relevant training courses on tourism statistics.
• Participate in international symposiums, meetings, forums, and training courses related to tourism indicators and data programs.
• Fulfill any other duties assigned by the CEO, Chief Marketing Officer, and Marketing Intelligence Manager. Skills/Qualifications/Competencies:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in tourism statistics development and analysis.
• Proficiency in data analysis, problem-solving and statistical inference
• Excellent knowledge of statistical programs such as SPSS, SAS, Excel, and other database tools.
• Strong oral, written, communication, and presentation skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and teamwork skills for effective collaboration with staff, service provider government agencies, and officials.
• Proficiency in MS Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• A results-driven and dynamic work environment.
• Interface with various government ministries, private sector entities, nongovernmental organizations, and agencies.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Flexibility to work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed to achieve goal within a changing and evolving environment.
- GRAND TURK
Hours: 40 Hours
Department: Customer Support Department
Unit: Administration
Classification: Employee
Annual Salary: Up to $31,000
Reporting Supervisor: Chief Operations Officer
Probationary Period: 6 months
Positions Supervised
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Purpose:
Join Experience Turks and Caicos as a Customer Service Representative in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands. This role is your gateway to providing exceptional service to cruise ship guests and contributing to our mission of creating unforgettable tourism experiences.
• Warmly welcome and assist cruise ship visitors at the Cruise Center.
• Offer precise information on accommodations, attractions, activities, dining, and transportation.
• Disseminate tourism materials including brochures, magazines, and more.
• Address guest concerns promptly and provide recommendations for solutions.
• Build positive relationships with tourism partners, cruise ship personnel, immigration, customs officers, taxi drivers and car rental agents
• Continuously update your knowledge of tourism products, programs, activities, and events.
• Assist in resolving customer service situations and suggest enhancements for the cruise terminal’s customer experience.
• Adhere to company policies, procedures, and guidelines.
SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/COMPETENCIES
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of relevant customer service experience
• Thorough knowledge of the Turks and Caicos Islands tourism product.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrates initiative, adaptability, and leadership qualities.
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Good health and high energy level.
• Flexible work arrangement between the office and Cruise Center
• Engage with tourists, government agents, and tourism industry stakeholders.
• Ability to travel locally between office and Cruise Port, and regionally/ internationally as needed.
• Flexibility in working hours, including early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays.
Resumes with current contact information must be accompanied by a cover letter and two letters of reference (one preferably from a former employer) as well as copies of educational certificates and a copy of the passport photo page. Shortlisted candidates must submit a police certificate.
An Application, REGISTERED PR 17785 by VILLAGE ESTATES HOLDINGS LTD. for DETAILED DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION for THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WAREHOUSE BUILDING CONTAINING STORAGE SPACES, OFFICE SPACES, RESTROOMS, RESTAURANT AND SHOWROOMS has been submitted to the Department of Planning on Block & Parcel 60905/178 which comprises of 2.33 acres of land located in The Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales.
The proposed development is inconsistent with a plan which has been approved.
Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or the Department of Planning, Emily House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, within twenty-eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. You may also make representation(s) via in person or video conferencing at the sitting of the Physical Planning Board when this application would be considered. If you are desirous so to do via video conferencing or in person, contact the Secretary of Physical Planning Board.
Whereas, AARON FURMAN, has declared that the Land Certificate for the above-mentioned title number registered in the name of AARON FURMAN was inadvertently lost.
Take that I, Lasana Murray, Registrar of Lands, shall issue a new Land Certificate for the said title six weeks of the date of the first publication of this Notice in a Local Newspaper and the Gazette.
Dated this 12th day of July, 2024
Publicized by Order
Registrar of Lands.
Applications, REGISTERED GT 5304, GT 5305 AND GT 5306 by LUNA DEVELOPMENT for the PROPOSED PHASE ONE DEVELOPMENT WHICH CONSISTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO-FOUR (4) BEDROOM VILLAS AND ONE-THREE (3) BEDROOM VILLA ON BLOCK & PARCEL 10101/26 LOT 1, LOT 4 AND LOT 10 WHICH ARE RESPECTIVELY.
LUNA DEVELOPMENT HAS CONTEMPLATED A MASTER RESORT DEVELOPMENT, TO BE CONSTRUCTED USING A PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDING STRUCTURE MANUFACTURED BY SUNSINO SOLUTIONS, WHICH COMPRISES OF EIGHTEEN (18) VILLAS OVERALL AND ANCILLARY ON BLOCK AND PARCEL 10101/26 LOCATED AT NORTH EAST SUBURBS, GRAND TURK.
These applications have been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Development Permission on BLOCK & PARCEL 10101/26 LOT 1, LOT 4 AND LOT 10 RESPECTIVELY, WHICH IS 5.00 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT NORTH EAST SUBURBS, GRAND TURK.
Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Emily House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, within twenty-eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. You may also make representation(s) via video conferencing at the sitting of the Physical Planning Board when this application would be considered. If you are desirous so to do via video conferencing, contact the Secretary of Physical Planning Board. Dated
1) Promote all the products carried at our wholesale and retail operation.
2) Help customers make selections by building customer confident and offering suggestions and opinions.
3) Maintain a complete sales history and purchase pattern of our wholesale customers.
4) Establish customer sales objectives by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas.
5) Coordinate and assist in devising and implementing various sales and marketing strategies for The Wine Cellar retail and wholesale divisions, along with similar programs for all other affiliated business within the group.
6) Provide regular SWOT analysis reports to management on the progress or detriments of each account, in order to determine appropriate strategies for account success.
7) Assist Operations Manager in setting up proper inventory purchasing cycles in an effort to maximize the use of the business cash flow.
8) Maintain customer sales volumes, product mix, and selling price by keeping current with supply and demand changing trends, economic indicators and competitors.
9) A minimum of 5 years in Sales & Marketing in the Beverage Industry.
10) Assist the Operation Managers and co-workers in all other areas deemed necessary.
11) Business Development Sales Analysis.
Salary commensurate with experience.
Applications must be submitted to: DISCOUNT LIQUORS & WINE CELLAR E-MAIL: DISCOUNT@TCIWAY.TC (OR) FAX: 946-4871. NO TELEPHONE CALLS PLEASE
An Application, REGISTERED PR17762 FOR DETAILED PLANNING PERMISSION, by SHERLOCK WALKIN for PROPOSED ADDITION OF TWO (2) FUEL PUMPS, THE ADDITION OF A 10,000 GALLON FUEL STORAGE TANK AND BUND WALL ON BLOCK AND PARCEL 60602/307 has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration and determination.
Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the Director of Planning, South Base, Grand Turk or through the Department of Planning, Emily House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, within twenty-eight (28) days of publication of this Notice. You may also make representation(s) via video conferencing at the sitting of the Physical Planning Board when this application would be considered. If you are desirous so to do via video conferencing, contact the Secretary of Physical Planning Board.
BRUNO DIAMANT
The Bight 348-8053
LABOURER
$8.00
Cleaning the property, pick up waste and dispose waste and assist with ongoing construction o the property
N P CONSTRUCTION
Blue Hills 343-6204
LABOURER
$8.00
To carry out and assist with continuous maintenance work, painting apartment interior & exterior and assist with construction work site
REELZ PLUMBING Kew Town 342-2646
LABOURER
$9.00
To carry out and assist with continuous maintenance work, painting apartment interior & exterior and assist with construction work site
WILSON’S GROCERIE’S Five Cays Ti Remy 346-6872
LABOURER
$8.00
Unload containers, help customer with heavy lifting and help transport goods
L.O LIGHT ON Five Cays 344-3366
LABOURER
$9.00
Assist with installing Air Conditioner system, performing emergency repairs, maintaining tools, ordering supplies, making routine adjustments, and repairing refrigerator and freezer.
MICHEAL A. OXIL Long Bay 33-7970
BABYSITTER
$8.00
Caring for my children and take care of my home
ESTHER A. DUVEAU 341-8483
South Dock
DOMESTIC WORKER
$8.00
Caring for my children, bath, feed them, monitor them, clean the house, wash, cook and iron
ROLIN BRENORD 241-7745
South Dock
DOMESTIC WORKER
$8.00
Cleaning the house, wash dishes, clean rooms, make beds, wash, iron and cook
AUGUSTIN VARIETY STORE
Millennium Highway 232-4596
LABOURER
$8.00
stocking the refrigerator & freezer, stocking shelves, restock products inside the store, assist customers, clean counters, dust shelves and product, unload container and help transporting goods to customer vehicles
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Financial accounting and reporting
• Ensures that supporting information for all financial transactions is documented, accurately and properly filed.
• Ensure costs and revenue are recorded and reported accurately, timely, and completely in accordance with financial assertions.
• Ensure that costs and revenue are incurred and managed in accordance with the terms of the approved budget.
• Ensures the reconciliation of bank and investment accounts monthly, including monthly supplier reconciliations, review of overdue accounts receivables, updating the accrual and prepayment schedules and calculation and recording of depreciation expense.
• Budget Preparation
• Project Analysis
• Other Related Business
PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• University degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, or equivalent, 4 to 5 years in current role.
• Chartered Accountant, Certified General Accountant, or Certified Management Accountant designation is an asset.
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE:
1. Detailed knowledge of generally accepted accounting and internal control principles.
2. Strong analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills to evaluate alternatives and provide recommendations on business issues.
3. Minimum five years senior accounting experience in a public or private company environment.
4. Significant experience in conducting due diligence and financial analysis on development projects and in supporting entrepreneurs.
5. Proficiency in the use of various computer programs, including Accounting (QuickBooks),Word processing (MS Office), Spreadsheets MS Office)
Salary is $65000 per year or commensurate with experience.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
• General reception duties (answering incoming phone calls, transferring, message taking etc.)
• Receiving (via phone, email or other) orders, and accurately dispatching orders to delivery drivers.
• Ensuring good service and lines of communication with customers and vendors. Ordering of various goods from local Vendors.
• Supervision of the store, and responsibility to ensure the store is clean, organized, and well maintained. Assigning duties regarding the above to other staff members when necessary.
• Invoicing: Generating and sending invoices to customers for products purchased.
• Accounts Receivable: contact customers to follow up on overdue payments.
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in business • Proficient in QuickBooks.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills for coming up with ideas to increase demand for products
• Have strong interpersonal, leadership, and creative thinking skills.
• Proven work experience in Customer Services or a similar position.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• The ability to work under pressure.
Salary is $36,000 per year or commensurate with experience.
• Manage the spirit-making team
• Manage day-to-day operations of the Spirits Department
• Oversees every aspect of production including the sourcing of raw materials, malting, fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending, and bottling.
• Developing new products
• Designing a comprehensive sampling and recording program, improving the quality of the spirits produced by the department. Recording the quality of the product produced and working towards improving that quality.
• Develop a stock management plan, planning and continually sample maturing stock and make decisions on its use
• Develop new styles of spirits
• Development of new products, often in conjunction with marketing teams and tasters.
• Plan staff training and development
• Responsible for training staff to perform specific tasks including (but not limited to) milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, record keeping, and cleaning.
• Strong communication skills
• Sound Technical knowledge of brewing, winemaking, and distilling.
• Understanding of microbiology and aseptic lab technique
• Ability to maintain organized records of brew and quality control data.
• Efficient computer skills.
Salary $93,000 per year or commensurate with experience.
Kitchen manager provides a safe environment for employees and customers by maintaining brand standards, food safety requirements and training employees on proper food preparation practices. The Kitchen Manager leads back-of-house staff including Line Cooks, Prep Cooks and Dishwashers before, during and after meal service
• Ensuring food quality standards are implemented and maintained throughout each shift.
• Ensure that all products are ordered according to predetermined product specifications and received in correct unit count and condition and deliveries are performed in accordance with the restaurant’s receiving policies and procedures.
• Control food cost and usage by following proper requisition of products from storage areas, product storage procedures, standard recipes, and waste control procedures.
• Setting regular cleaning standards for the kitchen and verifying that staff is maintaining sanitation levels.
• Menu planning, costing and inventory control
• Any other duties assigned by the General Manager
Salary $62,400 per year or commensurate with experience.
• Responsible for the maintenance and reliability of all equipment, utilities, and the facilities
• Works collaboratively with other functional areas to ensure all maintenance related needs are met in a timely fashion.
• Provides support and/or develops programs related to maintenance including preventative maintenance, facility management, budgeting, engineering, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain the equipment, utilities, and facilities.
• Provide support for in house repair and maintenance projects.
• Develop and maintain proper preventative maintenance of systems and facilities.
• Ordering of supplies and consumable items related to utility and maintenance needs.
• Provide technical feedback, analysis, complete shift reports, and assist management with daily duties and reporting responsibilities in support of the maintenance department and operations.
• Staying up to date on maintenance programs and procedures.
• Evaluate existing brewery systems and facilities against current and projected needs.
• Handling of chemicals while wearing appropriate PPE.
Salary $52,000 per year or commensurate with experience.
• Operate, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain all the existing and forthcoming machines and ancillary equipment in the water plant
• Ensuring the daily, weekly, monthly, and other scheduled maintenance are being enforced and done correctly
• Provide input on how to improve the performance of production personnel and making sure they follow the good manufacturing procedures and safety standards
• Perform quality control on finished products
• Prepare reports and maintain accurate records of every service or preventive maintenance done on each machine or equipment
• Assist on the proper inventory of spare parts and coordinate with the manager for any items need to be purchased
• Whenever necessary, perform the role of a production staff
• Coordinates with the Water Production Manager on overseeing the dayto-day activities, supervision of production staff and maximizing resources to improve production yields
Salary 62,400 per year or commensurate with experience
• Booking & scheduling guided tours of the Brewery
• Providing guided tours of the Brewery
• Serving & preparing drinks to customers of the Tap Room
• Ensuring retail merchandise is appropriately displayed
• Physical counts of inventory in retail store
• Selling of merchandise in Tap Room
• Ensuring neatness and cleanliness of the Tap Room and other tour areas
• Cashiering duties
• Participation in various promotional events and activities
• Other related duties as assigned
Salary: $8.50 per hour
Provo Beverages is looking for Laborer
to work 6 days per week salary $9 per hour.
• Assisting with brewing and bottling and canning operations
• Keeping the facility and equipment clean and operational.
• Loading Delivery drivers’ trucks,
• Unloading containers and stocking warehouse with inventory
• Cleaning the yard, cleaning machines.
• Assist in delivering goods to customers.
is inviting applications for the following:
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday 08th September 2024
Applications not accompanied by all required supporting documents, and applications received after the deadline may not be processed. This is a contract position. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
The Financial Intelligence Agency of the Turks and Caicos Islands (FIATCI) is a key competent authority within the Turks and Caicos Islands AntiMoney Laundering, Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) regime. Its main functions are to receive, analyse, and disseminate financial intelligence, to aid in the identification, investigation and prosecution of persons involved in money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing, and associated predicate crimes.
LOCATION: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
SALARY: USD40,800 -45,900 per annum, plus allowance (subject to qualifications and experience).
JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will be responsible for effective and efficient office administrative functions of the FIA, the Board of Directors and maintenance of the Agency’s finances. The BOO will conduct his/her duties with high professional standards, integrity, and confidentiality. Honesty and transparency are key are key attributes of the BOO’s character. The BOO will conduct his/her functions in accordance with TCI laws, FIA policies and guidelines. The post holder may be required to carry out other duties as may be required within the scope of the administrative functions of the FIA.
REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Undergraduate degree in accounting, finance or related field; OR an associate degree in accounting, finance, management, or related field with at least 4 years’ experience in office administration.
• Prior experience as a senior administrative or business operations officer is a plus.
• Experience in the preparation, recording, presentation and explanation of budget, payroll, expense, and accounting reports.
• Experience preparing, accurately recording and timely processing of accounts payable and proper record keeping.
• Efficient preparation of papers and minutes for a Board of Directors, and logistical preparations for board meetings.
• Office management (includes reception and recording of visitor movements, notifying relevant persons of maintenance issues, ensuring adequate office supplies and inventories are procured, maintained and recorded).
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.
• Proficiency in the use of QuickBooks.
• Valid driver’s license.
TO APPLY PLEASE COMPLY AND SUBMIT:
1. Application cover letter stating how you meet the job and qualification requirements for the post;
2. Copy of updated Curriculum Vitae including your contact details;
3. Two recent reference letters with a date (no older than 6 months); one of which must be from a person who can speak to your competencies and professional capacity for the job;
4. Copies of relevant qualifications;
5. Copy of passport Bio page; and
6. A Police certificate of character no older than 6 months.
APPLICATIONS ALONG WITH COPIES OF YOUR CV AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY
The first therapy that uses gene-editing is to be offered on the NHS in a “revolutionary breakthrough” for patients.
It will be used as a potential cure for the blood disorder beta thalassaemia.
Stem cells which make blood will be extracted, reprogrammed to correct the condition and returned to the patient’s body.
It could spare them needing a blood transfusion, every three-to-five weeks, for life.
People with beta thalassaemia struggle to produce enough haemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
It is a genetic disease that is passed down through families and caused by defects in the body’s instructions for manufacturing haemoglobin.
It can leave people severely tired, weak, and short of breath and also cuts life expectancy.
Kirthana Balachandran, 21, was diagnosed when she was only three months old and gets muscle pain and back pain and can have palpitations when walking uphill.
“The idea of depending on transfusions for quite literally the rest of my life is daunting, I constantly worry
about the future,” she says. The idea of gene-editing is you only need to do it once.
HOW THE GENEEDITING WORKS
It relies on a tool called Crispr, which won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020. It is essentially a satnav connected to a pair of scissors – one part targets the right section of DNA and the other performs the edit.
You might think this technology is being used to repair the genetic defect, but it is actually cuter than that.
Instead it relies on the fact your body makes different types of haemoglobin before and after birth.
When we are still in the womb, our bodies use “fetal haemoglobin” to pull oxygen out of our mother’s bloodstream.
Once we are born, a genetic switch is flipped and we start making “adult haemoglobin”.
Crucially, it is only the adult form of haemoglobin that is affected by beta thalassaemia.
So the therapy disables the switch - named BCL11A – so the adult body starts making fetal haemoglobin once again.
In order to do this, the stem cells that manufacture red blood cells in our spongy bone marrow are harvested.
These cells are sent to the lab where the genetic switch is targeted.
The next stage is unpleasant. It takes a course of chemotherapy to kill off the old stem cells that were producing broken haemoglobin, before the new ones can be put in.
• Experience is essential. No less than a minimum of 5 years consecutive and verifiable experience in grooming and animal behavior will be accepted, references will be required
• Experience in Quickbooks
• Must be able to read write and speak the English language and start work at 6am
• Must be able to bath dogs in preparation for grooming, including comb-outs, brush outs, stripping,
detangling, de-matting and clipping
• Must be able to de-tick manually and use chemicals safely and responsibly.
• Cleaning of animals quarters outside and inside bathing and grooming areas, including feces pick up on an hourly basis
• HEAVY LIFTING REQUIRED
• Must have own transport and willing to transport animals in vehicle.
• Hourly rate is $8 and is based on experience.
SKILLS REQUIRED:
• 5 years work experience in maintaining, adjusting, tuning and repairing woodworking machinery. Such as 5 heads molder machine, hydraulic press, planner, shaper, thickness sander, etc.
• Trained to fit this position.
Salary at $11.00 per hour
SKILLS REQUIRED:
• 5 years work experience in finishing for woodworking, joinery and cabinet making.
• Trained to prepare, sand, spray on high end finishes to cabinets, doors, furniture.
Salary at $10.00 per hour
SKILLS REQUIRED:
• 5 years work experience in finishing for woodworking, joinery and cabinet making.
• Trained to prepare, sand, spray on high end finishes to cabinets, doors, furniture, all visible faces.
Salary at $10.00 per hour
SKILLS REQUIRED:
• 5 years work experience in manufacturing furniture, woodworking, joinery and cabinet making.
Salary at $11.00 per hour
SKILLS REQUIRED:
• 5 years work experience in woodworking, joinery and cabinet making.
• Trained to help cabinet maker, furniture carpenter
• Cleaning the shop, offload materials, stack materials
Salary at $10.00 per hour
SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ALL 6 POSITIONS ABOVE:
• Individual must have previous experience with manufacture, construction, and installation of high end cabinetry.
• Must be familiar with operation of all current woodworking machinery and tools with proper safety practices.
• Must be able to read Auto-Cad drawings.
• English speaking, bilingual preferred.
Duties:
Joinery, manufacturing, finishing and or re-finishing of furniture, cabinets and woodwork in general including installation. Assist other employees in general millshop operations and maintenance. Must be professional and courteous.
A growing outbreak of mpox in Africa may soon prompt the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency of international concern.
So far, the multinational outbreak has been concentrated mostly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has reported more than 14,000 cases of mpox this year, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference Wednesday (Aug. 7).
The outbreak in the DRC has been underway since 2023, when the country reported about 12,600 suspected cases and 580 deaths from mpox between January and early December. That represented a major increase over previous years, when a median of only 3,770 suspected cases had been reported annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Now, “the number of cases reported in the first six months of this year [2024] match the number reported in all of last year and the virus has spread to previously unaffected provinces,” Tedros said at the news conference. In addition, in the past month, 50
cases have been confirmed and more are suspected in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, which neighbour the DRC, he said.
“In light of the spread of Mpox outside DRC, and the potential for further international spread within and outside Africa, I have decided to convene an Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to advise me on whether the outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern,” Tedros said. That committee will meet “as
soon as possible,” he added.
Mpox viruses are divided into multiple “clades” that differ in their deadliness. The clade that fueled the global mpox outbreak in 2022 and 2023, known as clade 2, had a case-fatality rate of around 0.2% during that outbreak.
By comparison, the case-fatality rate for clade 1 mpox viruses runs up to 10%. Clade 1 viruses have never been detected in the U.S. or anywhere beyond countries where mpox regularly spreads, such as the DRC, but international travel
Newly discovered fossils shed light on the origins of curious ‘hobbit’ humans
A hobbit-size species of ancient human that lived on the Indonesian island of Flores until about 50,000 years ago baffles scientists in several ways.
First unearthed in a startling discovery nearly 21 years ago, Homo floresiensis, the scientific name for the extinct species, challenged the idea that human evolution unfolded in a neat line from primitive to complex.
Experts don’t know why Homo floresiensis — nicknamed the “hobbit” after J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional characters — evolved such a tiny body yet lived relatively recently, how it crossed deep ocean to reach the island of Flores, exactly where to place this diminutive oddball on the human family tree, or why it disappeared.
An analysis of newly described Homo floresiensis fossils published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications attempts to answer some of these questions
about the tiny human. The remains examined in the new study include a fragment of a humerus — the lower half of the upper arm bone — and two teeth discovered at a site known as Mata Menge, one of only two places on the island of Flores where fossils of the species have been found.
The study authors said their findings support an existing theory that the hobbits evolved their small size a long time ago and were most likely a dwarfed version of Homo erectus, the first ancient human to leave Africa around 1.9 million years ago, with a body size and upright gait similar to present-day humans. The remains of Homo erectus have been found on the Indonesian island of Java and elsewhere in Asia as well as Africa.
The researchers believe Homo erectus became isolated on the island around 1 million years ago and underwent a dramatic reduction in body size during a period of
around 300,000 years. Such a scaling down in size happens to other animals on remote islands in response to limited resources, the study noted.
“Perhaps, there was no need to be large-bodied, which requires more food and takes longer to grow and breed,” said lead study author Yousuke Kaifu, a professor at the University of Tokyo, via email.
“The isolated island of Flores had no mammalian predators and other hominin species, so small-body size was OK.”
Based on the estimated length of the bone, the team calculated the height of its owner to be 100 centimeters (about 3.3 feet) tall. Teeth found at the same site, while smaller in size, bore a “high degree of similarity” to Homo erectus teeth unearthed in Java.
Digital microscopy of the bone’s structure indicated it belonged to an adult, rather than a child. The complete humerus
could introduce the germs to new places.
The ongoing outbreak in Africa features a new branch of the clade 1 family tree, dubbed clade 1b. Genetic analyses suggest that this new branch emerged in September 2023 in the DRC. The virus has been spreading through households and within sexual networks, and its fatality rate has been estimated between 3% and 6%, according to CIDRAP News, which is published by the University of Minnesota.
“Clade 1b has been confirmed in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, while the clade in Burundi is still being analysed,” Tedros said.
Experts anticipated that clade 1b would spill beyond the DRC’s borders. “People are very mobile at the eastern part of the country with great connection with neighbouring countries,” Dr. Placide Mbala, an epidemiologist at the DRC’s National Institute of Biomedical Research, told Science. “It was just a matter of time to start seeing cases in those neighbour countries.”
The WHO has released funding to ramp up mpox response in affected countries and is working to improve access to the two
available mpox vaccines. In addition, Science reported that a clinical trial preparing to launch in Africa will test the vaccines as a treatment to use after an mpox exposure.
The CDC issued a health alert about the outbreak on Aug. 7, highlighting that, since January 2023, “the DRC has reported the largest number of yearly suspected clade I mpox cases on record.”
The agency recommends that U.S. clinicians look out for mpox in patients who are displaying potential symptoms and have recently been to the DRC or any of its neighbouring countries.
That said, the risk of clade 1 mpox viruses being imported to the U.S. is currently considered “very low.”
“No cases of clade I mpox have been reported outside central and eastern Africa at this time,” the health alert states.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., hundreds of cases of clade 2 mpox had been reported earlier in the year, between January and April. A trickle of new cases is still being reported now, but the latest CDC data suggest the rate has been tapering off throughout the summer. (Livescience)
Consuming a drink with erythritol — an artificial sweetener used to add bulk to stevia and monk fruit and to sweeten low-carb keto products — more than doubled the risk of blood clotting in 10 healthy people, according to a new pilot study.
Clots can break off blood vessels and travel to the heart, triggering a heart attack, or to the brain, triggering a stroke. Previous research has linked erythritol to a higher risk of stroke, heart attack and death.
“What is remarkable is that in every single subject, every measure of platelet responsiveness (clotting) went up following the erythritol ingestion,” said lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.
Consuming a drink with an equal amount of glucose, or sugar, did not affect blood platelet activity in another group of 10 people, said Hazen, who is also the Jan Bleeksma chair in vascular cell biology and atherosclerosis at the Cleveland Clinic.
“This is the first direct head-tohead comparison of the effects of ingesting glucose versus ingesting erythritol on multiple different measures of platelet function,” Hazen said. “Glucose doesn’t impact clotting, but erythritol does.”
While small, the study was “very intriguing and interesting,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver.
“I’m not saying we need to
cease using these sugar alcohols immediately, but this line of research certainly begs the question: Are they safe or not?” said Freeman, who was not involved in the research.
In response to the study, the Calorie Control Council, an industry association, told CNN that 30 years of science has shown erythritol to be a “proven safe and effective choice” for sugar and calorie reduction.
“Consumers should interpret the results of this pilot with extreme caution. The limited number of participants, a total of 10, were given an excessive amount of erythritol, nearly quadruple the maximum amount approved in any single beverage in the United States,” the council’s president, Carla Saunders, said in an email.
However, the amount of erythritol used in each drink in the study — 30 grams — was the equivalent of what is included in typical sugar-free sodas, ice creams or muffins, of which people often eat more than one, Hazen said.
“This research raises some concerns that a standard serving
of an erythritol-sweetened food or beverage may acutely stimulate a direct clot-forming effect,” said study coauthor Dr Wai Hong Wilson Tang, research director for heart failure and cardiac transplantation at the Cleveland Clinic, in a statement.
Like sorbitol and xylitol, erythritol is a sugar alcohol, a carb found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. The human body also makes erythritol as a byproduct of glucose metabolism but only in small quantities.
Artificially manufactured in massive quantities, erythritol has no lingering aftertaste, doesn’t spike blood sugar and has less of a laxative effect than some other sugar alcohols. It has about 70% of the sweetness of sugar and is considered zero calorie, according to experts.
Erythritol is the largest ingredient by weight in many “natural” stevia and monk fruit products, Hazen said. It looks and tastes like sugar and can be used for
baking. It is also a key ingredient in many keto-friendly products including ice cream, Hazen said.
“If you look at nutrition labels on many keto ice creams, you’ll see ‘reducing sugar’ or ‘sugar alcohol,’ which are terms for erythritol,” he told CNN in an earlier interview.
“You’ll find a typical pint has somewhere between 26 and 45 grams in it.”
Artificially created erythritol, along with its cousins, are considered “generally recognised as safe,” or GRAS, by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The new study, published Thursday in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, asked 20 participants to fast overnight in preparation for a morning blood draw. Next, they were given a drink with either 30 grams of erythritol or 30 grams of sugar. After 30 minutes, blood was drawn again.
Levels of erythritol in the blood rose by a thousandfold after the one drink with that substance, while blood sugars rose a small amount after the drink containing glucose. However, it was the change in platelet activity that was startling, Hazen said.
“We saw enhanced clotting, using measures of how quickly clots will occlude a vessel or stop blood flow, which is like a model of a heart attack or a stroke,” he said.
Similar results appeared in a 2023 study by Hazen and his colleagues in which eight healthy volunteers also consumed the same amount of erythritol and
saw a thousandfold spike of the substance in their blood.
“(Erythritol) remained elevated above the threshold necessary to trigger and heighten clotting risk for the following two to three days,” Hazen said at the time.
That study also analysed the blood of more than 4,000 people in the United States and Europe and found that those with the highest levels of erythritol were twice as likely to experience a heart attack or stroke.
“What we’re seeing with erythritol is the platelets become super responsive: A mere 10% stimulant produces 90% to 100% of a clot formation,” Hazen said. The studies were done in healthy people without chronic disease; however, the study’s findings still apply for the future, Hazen said.
“However, if you look at middle-aged America, the average person has two to three risk factors for heart disease, and 70% of us are going to develop heart disease in our lifetime, so maybe we should all be considering action,” he said. When it comes to the risk of cardiovascular disease, occasional sugar-sweetened treats in small amounts may be preferable to consuming drinks and foods sweetened with the sugar alcohols, he said. That’s especially true for anyone at highest risk for clotting, heart attack and stroke — such as those with existing cardiac disease or diabetes.
“Cardiovascular disease builds over time, and heart disease is the leading cause of death globally,” he said. “We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors.” (CNN)
to around 700,000 years ago.
This early hobbit was 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) shorter than the original Homo floresiensis specimen, an almost complete skeleton found in the Liang Bua cave — around 75 kilometers (46.6 miles) west of Mata Menge in 2003 — and dated to around 60,000 years ago. Liang Bua cave is the only other place where hobbit fossils have been found.
The disparity in size between the two could point to natural variation, as seen within modern human populations, the authors noted. Overall, the research suggested that the hobbit species’ small size remained remarkably constant over a long period.
The newly analysed finds, along with other teeth, a jawbone and skull fragment, unearthed at the same site and previously described, represent four hobbit individuals. Together with the more recent Liang Bua fossils, they suggest that the tiny humans were able to thrive on the island despite the presence of predators
such as 3-meter-long (9.4-feet) Komodo dragons and crocodiles.
“The early dramatic reduction and subsequent stability of body size indicated that having a smaller body size on this isolated island was of benefit to the survival of these archaic humans,” the study authors said in a statement.
The hobbit, along with the subsequent discovery of two other small-bodied and small-brained hominins who lived relatively recently — Homo naledi in South Africa and Homo luzonensis in the Philippines — and the much larger Denisovans, has led to a wider acceptance among
paleoanthropologists that there have been many diverse species of human, including several who coexisted with our own species, Homo sapiens.
Before the discovery of Homo floresiensis, many experts in human evolution thought essentially only one species of human had evolved through time, with regional variation.
Not all scientists agreed with the study’s interpretation that largebodied Homo erectus was the ancestor of Homo floresiensis
and that the hobbit represents a dwarfed version of Homo erectus, said coauthor Gerrit van den Bergh, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Archaeological Science at the University of Wollongong in Australia. With its tiny brain case and chimplike wristbones, the hobbit may be more closely related to small-bodied hominins such as Homo habilis, only known from Africa, others have argued.
Matt Tocheri, Canada research chair in human origins at Lakehead University in Ontario, said he wasn’t convinced that the hobbit was a scaled-down Homo erectus.
As Chinese scientists analysed the soil samples that their lunar probe brought back from the moon, they realized something groundbreaking: There was water found along with minerals in the soil.
Finding water on the moon is, on its own, nothing new. NASA and Indian spacecraft have spotted what they believe to be water on the moon’s surface, and Chinese scientists last year found water trapped in glass beads strewn across the moon.
But this latest discovery, scientists say, is the first time water in its molecular form, H2O, has been found in physical samples –and, importantly, it was retrieved from a part of the moon where they’d previously thought water in that form couldn’t exist.
Researchers closely inspected samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 probe, which landed on the lunar surface in 2020, and found a “prismatic, plate-like transparent crystal” – roughly the width of a human hair – that was in fact an “unknown lunar mineral” dubbed ULM-1, according to the study, which published July 16 in the journal Nature Astronomy.
The ULM-1 crystal (with the chemical formula (NH4) MgCl3·6H2O) are made up of roughly 41% water, with bits of ammonia that keep that H2O molecules stable despite wild temperature swings on the moon, according to the study.
This type of water could be a potential “resource for lunar habitation,” the scientists wrote in their study.
The discovery is the latest finding in China’s larger push to become a dominant space power – with sweeping ambitions such as building a research base on the moon. The study was hailed by excited Chinese social media users, who pointed to the space program as a source of national pride.
“The discovery of a hydrated mineral at the Chang’e-5 landing site is fascinating and will further enhance our understanding of rockvapor reactions in the lunar crust and on the lunar surface,” said David A. Kring, principal scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Texas, who was not involved in the study.
There are three types of water that can exist on the moon, according to Yuqi Qian, a planetary geologist at the University of Hong Kong, who
was not involved in the study.
There are water molecules, the compound we know as H2O; its frozen form, ice; and a molecular compound called hydroxyl, a close chemical relative.
Previous discoveries suggested that water had existed on the moon when volcanoes used to erupt in the ancient past – and that lunar water had come from those volcanoes, meaning it came from within the moon and has been present since the moon’s early existence.
But people didn’t always know there was water on the moon, though scientists theorized about its existence for hundreds of years. At times researchers had believed the moon was dry, particularly after not initially finding water in the samples collected by NASA’s Apollo missions and the Soviet Union’s Luna missions.
It was only in more recent years that scientists found water, ice and water molecules mostly located at the dark, cold lunar poles where the sun doesn’t reach. A recent study has also suggested that water or hydroxyl may be trapped in glass beads strewn across the lunar surface, and that solar winds could transform hydroxyl (chemical formula OH) to form water, or H2O.
But the lunar poles are difficult to navigate because of the rocky terrain, making them challenging locations for humans to extract water. And molecular water is
“not stable in other regions of the moon,” vaporizing at lower latitudes where temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit), said Qian.
This new study changes that.
The samples, retrieved by China’s Chang’e-5 probe, came from a middle-latitude part of the moon, at 43.1 degrees latitude – an area that’s normally “not stable for molecular water,” Qian said. Ammonium was found in the samples, which acted as a stabilizer for the water molecules, he explained.
This mechanism also corroborates NASA’s findings from 2020, when its SOFIA telescope detected the signature of water on the lunar surface –though scientists could not verify this finding with physical samples at the time, or explain exactly how the water was staying on the hot surface.
“I think it has lots of potential, this new finding that we can extract molecular water directly from lunar soils,” Qian said. “I think this is a new mechanism to make molecular water stable on the lunar surface.”
Kring, from the Lunar and Planetary Institute, caveated that though the sample was collected from a mid-latitude area, “it was not clear if it formed there. Impact processes can redistribute rock across the lunar surface.”
CHINA’S SPACE
A growing number of countries, including the United States, are eyeing the strategic and scientific benefits of expanded lunar exploration.
China has made rapid advancements in recent years, reflecting leader Xi Jinping’s “eternal dream” of building the country into a space power.
In 2013, China became the first country to achieve a robotic lunar landing in nearly four decades. Then in 2019, it became the first and only country to land on the moon’s far side. Three years later, China completed its latest orbital space station, the Tiangong.
And it has more planned, aiming to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 and building a research base at its south pole.
Understanding how water is stored on the moon is useful, experts have previously told CNN, because it could point future lunar astronauts toward potential resources that could one day be converted to drinking water or even rocket fuel.
After the latest study, many Weibo users raised the possibility of growing plants or crops on the moon using the molecular water found in soil. But, Qian said, it’s too early to draw those kinds of conclusions. Growing anything on the moon would depend on factors such as how abundant the water is – which requires more research to
confirm.
However, he added, “this new phenomenon, this new mechanism … will open the door to (finding) new water in this new form.”
Kring similarly cautioned that the findings so far have “no significant implications for exploration mission architectures, although it demonstrates that discoveries await those who are willing and able to explore the Moon.”
China’s rapid advancements have caught NASA’s attention. The space agency hasn’t been permitted to work with its Chinese counterparts since 2011, when Congress passed the Wolf Amendment citing concerns about espionage.
But last August, China did open up access to the Chang’e-5 samples to the international community.
“We are going through the process right now with our scientists and our lawyers to make sure that the instructions and guardrails that the Chinese are insisting on … are not a violation of the law, the Wolf Amendment,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson recently told CNN. “As of this moment, I don’t see a violation.”
But such issues have left China barred from the International Space Station (ISS), spurring its efforts to build the Tiangong – which has become a challenger to the US, especially as the ISS prepares to retire in 2031.
These limits on its international space collaboration, and China’s own ascent, have left some Chinese social media users feeling vindicated by the latest discovery – with online comments and state media coverage hailing the advancements of the national space program.
“This is a demonstration of our country’s scientific and technological strength!” one user posted on the Chinese social media site Weibo, where a hashtag about the discovery has been viewed 35 million times.
Another user thanked the country’s space program, writing: “We are at the global forefront in lunar scientific research.”
Others on Weibo urged greater cooperation for the benefit of mankind, pointing out that the study was published in an international journal reviewed by experts from various nations.
“We can’t work behind closed doors – it would be best to attract all of their scientists to China,” one wrote. (BBC)
Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz in thrilling fashion to secure a long-awaited Olympic title and complete the career ‘Golden Slam’.
Djokovic, who has won a men’s record 24 majors and swept up every title there is in tennis, finally clinched Olympic gold at his fifth Games.
The Serb, 37, put in his best performance of the year to beat French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in front of a packed crowd in Paris.
He sealed the title with a forehand winner, then turned towards his box - arms outstretched in disbelief - before throwing his racquet to the floor after a draining match which lasted just under three hours.
After hugging Spain’s Alcaraz, Djokovic immediately burst into tears and fell to his knees in the middle of the court.
He then unfurled a Serbian flag and clambered into the stands to celebrate with his family and support team.
Novak Djokovic, who has won a men’s record 24 majors and swept up every title there is in tennis, finally clinched Olympic gold at his fifth Games
Djokovic is just the fifth player to win the ‘Golden Slam’ in singles - all four majors and the Olympic title - after Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
“Everything I felt in that moment when I won surpassed
American Sydney McLaughlinLevrone smashed her own world record as she stormed to a sensational Olympic 400m hurdles gold in Paris.
The anticipated title showdown with Dutch star Femke Bol never seriously materialised as McLaughlin-Levrone left her rivals far behind to defend the title in 50.37 seconds.
Bol, the second-fastest woman of all-time in the event, faded to finish third in 52.15, behind US silver medallist Anna Cockrell, who ran a personal best 51.87.
McLaughlin-Levrone improved her world record to 50.65 in June, but she saved her best for the
sport’s biggest stage to claim her sixth global title.
Together, McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol have run 17 of the 20 fastest times in history.
As defending champion and world record holder, it was McLaughlin-Levrone who entered their latest meeting as favourite, hinting at this form by improving her best time two months ago.
However, Bol had shown progress of her own, setting an indoor 400m flat world record this year and a new European 400m hurdles record of 50.95 in July to become only the second woman to run under 51 seconds over the barriers.
have had.”
Alcaraz, 21, was also in tears after the match, but will leave with a silver medal on his Olympic debut.
Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti is the singles bronze medallist, having beaten Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on Friday.
This moment will mean as much to Djokovic, if not more, than all the Grand Slams, Masters 1,000 titles and ATP tournaments he has won.
He won singles bronze in Beijing in 2008, finished fourth at London 2012, suffered an emotional early loss in Rio in 2016 and lost the bronze-medal match in Tokyo three years ago.
However, Djokovic did not drop a set in Paris and was focused from the outset, determined to get his hands on the one prize that had eluded him for so long.
everything I thought or hoped that it would,” said Djokovic.
“Being on that court with the Serbian flag raising, singing the Serbian anthem, with the gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport.
“It definitely stands out as the biggest sporting achievement I
He left this same court at Roland Garros two months ago needing knee surgery, which put his Olympic dream at risk, and his reaction after Sunday’s win showed what it meant.
His family watched on from the stands, bearing Serbian flags, with daughter Tara carrying a sign that said “Dad is the best”.
Djokovic has spoken about seeing the Olympics as the pinnacle of sport, and the emotions of representing his country have affected him in his past four Games.
The final match itself was a test of his determination - he was on the back foot in the first set but did not give in, saving all eight break points he faced and taking advantage as Alcaraz faltered in both tie-breaks.
Asked if he had ‘completed’ tennis, Djokovic said: “Yes it’s complete because I completed all the achievements with this gold medal, but no because I love this sport. I don’t play only to win the tournaments.
“I don’t know about the future, I really want to be in the present moment to celebrate. It was a long journey, many, many years of dreaming to be holding the gold medal. So now it’s about happiness, joy and celebration.” (BBC)
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo claimed a surprise Olympic 200m gold medal as Noah Lyles was denied a sprint double at Paris 2024.
Tebogo, 21, stormed clear of his rivals to clock an African record of 19.46 seconds and finish ahead of American Kenneth Bednarek, who crossed the line in 19.62.
Lyles, crowned the world’s fastest man by five-thousandths of a second in a historically quick 100m final on Sunday night, was unable to compete at the head of the race and matched his Tokyo bronze in 19.70.
It emerged after the race that Lyles had tested positive for Covid and the 27-year-old had to be helped off the track in a wheelchair.
Having burst out on to the track to huge cheers before the race, Lyles was seeking to become the first man since Usain Bolt in 2016 to complete a 100m and 200m double at an Olympic Games.
But Tebogo had other ideas.
A world bronze medallist over the distance last year, Tebogo also took 100m silver in Budapest as Lyles completed a golden treble.
That was a dazzling return for
Tebogo at his first senior global championship, but it was nothing compared to his achievement at the Stade de France as he marked his first Olympics with a gold. Tebogo, sixth in the Paris 100m final, lined up with a 200m personal best of 19.50 – notably down on the favourite’s 19.31. Showman Lyles made his entrance to huge excitement, seemingly ready to seize his moment with the eyes of the world fixed upon him, but he remained third throughout following a slow start.
Morocco won bronze in the Olympic men’s football with a thumping victory over Egypt in Nantes.
Tarik Sektioui’s men responded brilliantly to their 2-1 semi-final loss to Spain by recording their biggest win of the tournament to claim an Olympic medal in football for the first time.
Goals from Abde Ezzalzouli and Soufiane Rahimi gave the Atlas Lions a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Bilal El Khannouss added a third in the 51st minute before Rahimi struck his second of the match and eighth at Paris 2024.
Akram Nakach gave Morocco a 5-0 lead in the 73rd minute and Achraf Hakimi rounded off the scoring with a fine free-kick three minutes from time.
Hosts France face Spain in the gold-medal match on Saturday (17:00 BST). (BBC)
Portugal defender Pepe has announced his retirement from football, ending one of the most highly decorated careers of recent times.
Pepe, 41, became the oldest player to appear at a European Championship finals this summer, and his last match was Portugal’s penalty shootout defeat by France in the quarter-finals.
The former Real Madrid centreback made 141 appearances for his country - only Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho have more Portugal caps - while he also played for Porto, Besiktas and Maritimo.
An emotional Pepe thanked those who have helped him throughout his career in a 33-minute video posted online, external on Thursday.
He won Euro 2016 with Portugal and also helped to secure three Champions League and three La
Liga titles during his 10-year spell in Madrid.
Pepe said: “I can’t help but thank all the presidents who bet and believed in me to be able to perform my work.
“To all the employees of all the clubs I’ve been to, who are the soul and essence of the clubs and the national team. And I want to thank everyone in the background. I want to leave a thank-you and a hug of gratitude for all of you.”
Pepe became the Champions League’s oldest goalscorer last year when he netted for Porto against Antwerp in the group stages. His career included making 334 appearances for Real Madrid at a time when they were Europe’s dominant side.
Pepe’s disciplinary record was also famously notable, with him receiving a high number of red cards across his career.
A star-studded United States side showed their quality when it mattered as they fought back from a 13-point deficit in the final quarter to beat Serbia in a thrilling Olympic men’s basketball semifinal.
The vast array of NBA superstars, led by LeBron James and Steph Curry, trailed 76-63 after three quarters.
But they turned up the heat and turned around the deficit to win 9591 at a noisy Bercy Arena.
“To come back the way we did... I’ve seen a lot of team USA basketball and that was a special,” said Curry, who finished with game-high 36 points.
The comeback maintained the Americans’ bid for a fifth successive gold in an Olympic event which they have dominated since it was introduced in 1936.
On Saturday, they will play hosts France in the gold-medal match.
Serbia, led by Nikola Jokic,
the NBA’s reigning most valuable player (MVP),
This Gen Z ensemble cast, featuring four NBA regular season
MVP winners - James, Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid11 NBA All-Stars and seven NBA champions, is not far behind.
Coach Steve Kerr - himself one of the greatest bosses in NBA history - wondered how he
would be to knit together five players from a 12-man squad where each could be a future Hall of Famer.
Against Serbia it took a while for the individuals to get going as a team with only Curry, finding space to land his trademark threepointers, keeping them within touching distance.
Jokic looked on course to upstage his American opponents, playing a key role as Serbia, who led by as many as 17 points, stifled them in a dominant first half.
But, as the US powered back into the game, Serbia faltered.
Three-pointers from Durant and Embiid started to turn the tide in the last quarter before James bustled through to put them level at 84-84.
Curry landed another from behind the arc as the Americans led with two minutes and 24 seconds left - the first time they had been ahead since 45 seconds after the game started.
Former England and Surrey batter Graham Thorpe has died aged 55, it has been announced.
Thorpe played 100 Tests for England between 1993 and 2005, as well as 82 one-day internationals.
A stylish left-handed batter, he scored 6,744 Test runs for England, including 16 centuries, at an average of 44.66.
Current England captain Ben Stokes was among those to pay tribute to Thorpe, along with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Surrey, while Michael Vaughan said his former team-mate was a “legend” who had “gone far too young”.
“There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham’s death,” the ECB said in a statement.
“More than one of England’s finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world.
“His skill was unquestioned, and his abilities and achievements across a 13-year international career brought so much happiness to his team-mates and England and Surrey CCC supporters alike.
“Later, as a coach, he guided the best England men’s talent to some incredible victories across all formats of the game.
“The cricket world is in mourning today. Our hearts go out to his wife Amanda, his children, father Geoff, and all of his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time.
“We will always remember Graham for his extraordinary
Sri Lanka clinched their first bilateral one-day international series win over India in 27 years with a 110-run victory in the third match in Colombo.
contributions to the sport.”
Thorpe spent his entire firstclass playing career at Surrey, whom he represented from 1988 to 2005.
Surrey chair Oli Slipper said Thorpe “is one of the great sons” of the county and “there is an overwhelming sadness that he will not walk through the gates of the Oval again”.
Surrey chief executive Steve Elworthy added: “He achieved remarkable feats for club and country and was a hero to so many cricket fans.”
Thorpe scored an unbeaten 114 in the second innings of his Test debut against Australia in 1993 and had a Test best of 200 not out, made against New Zealand in 2002.
He began coaching in Australia after retiring from playing in 2005, working with New South Wales before joining the England set-up from 2010 to 2022.
Thorpe was appointed head coach of Afghanistan in March 2022, but he was admitted to hospital with a serious illness before he could join the team.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said Thorpe was a “mainstay of England’s middle order throughout the 1990s” and called him “a gritty and unfussy left-hander”.
Agnew added that, after it had been announced that Thorpe had been admitted to hospital in 2022 in a serious condition, “no details were given and there have been no public updates until today”.
The cause of Thorpe’s death has not been announced. (BBC)
Opener Avishka Fernando hit 96 to help Sri Lanka post 248-7, before leftarm spinner Dunith Wellalage took 5-27 as India crumbled to 138 all out.
Sri Lanka won the series 2-0, having won the second ODI by 32 runs after the first match ended in a dramatic tie.
The hosts’ last bilateral ODI series victory over India was in August 1997, with India unbeaten
in the next 13 such series, with 11 wins and two drawn series.
India won last month’s Twenty20 series 3-0.
It is Sri Lanka’s first limitedovers series under new captain Charith Asalanka and interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, who took over after ex-England boss Chris Silverwood stepped down following their T20 World Cup group-stage exit.
“We are in a really good mood right now, especially our coach,” said Asalanka.
“He made a few changes in the team, and the boys really enjoyed
the team environment.”
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka reached 171-1 thanks to Fernando’s 102-ball knock, before his dismissal saw them lose five wickets for 28 runs.
But wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis’ 59 off 82 balls guided them to a challenging total on a turning pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium.
India captain Rohit Sharma, who hit 35, and star batter Virat Kohli, who made 20, both fell to Wellalage as the tourists lost regular wickets to be bowled out in only 26.1 overs. (BBC)
Aled Walters has left his role as England’s head of strength and conditioning to take up a position as head of athletic performance with Ireland.
Walters joined England from Leicester Tigers before the Rugby World Cup in 2023, having worked in rugby for 18 years including roles with Munster and South Africa.
The highly-rated Welshman, who was head of athletic performance for the 2019 Springboks’ Rugby World Cupwinning squad, replaces Jason Cowman in the role.
Walters began his association with Irish rugby when he was Munster’s head of athletic performance for almost six seasons and was Leicester’s head of physical performance between 2020 and 2023.
He has also held senior performance roles with the Brumbies and Taranaki Rugby Football Union.
“I am delighted to join the
Aled Walters joined England from Leicester Tigers ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2023
Ireland national team and am excited about the opportunity to work with such a talented group of coaches and players,” said Walters.
“The Ireland team has gone from strength to strength in recent years and it’s an exciting time to rejoin Irish rugby as the team looks to achieve more success in the years to come.
“I’ve made some great memories coaching England, and I want to thank Steve, the management team and the players for their friendship and support.”
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was fulsome in his praise for the new recruit to his backroom team.
Harvey II led Skyhawks with 12 points and 10 rebounds
The Skyhawks defeated the Guardian to top the standing of the Police Action League (PAL) 16U basketball division with a sevenpoint win against the Guardians when action continued over the weekend.
Samuel Harvey II, who is known as the “Big Man on Court” led the winners with a double-double 12 points and 10 rebounds in the 3326 points’ victory.
The Guardians were led by their leading scorer, Issack Missick, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
In the other 16U battle, the Commanders, led by Deshawn Lightbourne, defeated the Avengers 26-23.
Lightbourne dominated the lowscoring bout with 14 points, four rebounds and three steals.
The Avengers were led by Potensky Dumesle with eight points.
In another clash, Seaquest massacred the Badgers 33 to 10, with Malachi Missick leading the winners with nine points and three rebounds.
The third round of the 13U division started with an easy win for the Guardians against Seaquest.
The 32-13 points win was led by Yeniel Santana, who scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the winners.
Midjelyn Dorelus led Seaquest with seven points and three
rebounds.
On Saturday, Dorelus and his teammates Tyreke Fulford and Vashawn Francois all finished with seven points each to lead Seaquest to a 26-21 win against the Badgers, which has placed them in third
place thus far.
Jarod Magny finished with a game-high eight points for the Badgers.
In another clash, the Skyhawks defeated the Guardians by a healthy margin 50-26.
Bethenly Joseph showed his skills by securing 21 points and 11 rebounds, while his team-mate Kingston Losinke, added 13 points.
Delano Cox led the Guardians with 11 points and two rebounds. Games continue this Friday
from 5:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am onward at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex. Meanwhile, due to inclement weather, the softball game between the Guardians and Avengers was postponed.
Edna Jeanty is having a dream tournament as her scoring prowess has led the Turks and Caicos Islands girls’ team to two wins in three games so far in the CONCACAF Girls’ Under-15 Championship, currently underway in Aruba.
On Monday TCI defeated Bonaire 2-1, while on Thursday
afternoon, they whipped St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0. Jeanty was the star in both games.
In the opener, she scored in the 32nd and 35th minutes, while on Thursday she fired in a hat-trick in the first half, before she scored her fourth in the second period.
The 13-year-old, who currently plays
President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA), Sonia Fulford-Missick, who sits on the Executive Committee of the regional body, CONCACAF and serves as a member of the FIFA Council, met with the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino this
week in Paris, France.
According to information from her social media, she discussed “very important matters as it relates to football development in our region”. Fulford-Missick has been a FIFA Council member since 2015.
for Teachers FC in the Provo Women’s Premiere League (WPL), scored in the 19th, 20th, 27th and 70th minutes.
Thursday’s team also included Captain Shekinah Smith, Goalkeeper Achenie Desir, Thamara Louis, Brianyelis Mieses, Alecia Bobb, De’Aysia Seymour, Sendia Marcel, Amika Jackson,
Alice French and Jemima Osmond.
The subs were Winzaria, Jessica, Wandelis, Rhyanna, Gionaris, Gerry and Nethania.
The side’s lone defeat was 0-1 to Guadeloupe.
On Friday, the TCI girls were scheduled to play Aruba All Stars.
Team TCI is well represented
with Olivia Graveley travelling as Head of Delegation; Dane Ritchie as Technical Director; Omar Edwards as Head Coach; Marlon Asisten as Coach; Aaron Lawrence as Goalkeeping Coach; Delano Williams as Fitness Trainer; Julia Cousins as medical representative and Frit Evariste as Manager.
