Building the opportunities ...

CONTINUED FROM  10 classroom learning in academia.

In the 2021 PNP manifesto, under education, labour and employment, clearly states their commitment to the following:

“Create learning opportunities for students that caters to different interest, strengths and learning needs as well as provide the diverse skills that the country requires”.

Henceforth, it's my belief that government should make further provisions to subsidize apprenticeships for our young people, so it becomes more than just platitudes.

Let’s give credit where credit is due, the previous administration was on the right track when a proposal was made to launch a vocationaltechnical school. Unfortunately, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic may have hampered those efforts.

Nevertheless, the idea was brilliant! Let’s put politics aside, this current administration should continue to work extremely hard to embark on this initiative and see that it materialises. It is my belief the return on investment would be priceless.

So, how do we attract more foreign investors in this particular area?

It’s complicated because in most cases, foreign investors are looking for businesses that can generate the fastest return on their investments. With that in mind, it would be in the best interest of our country to offer huge incentives for initiatives such as this to make it more attractive to would-be investors.

For example: Annually, a foreign company is hired to come in to train and certify our boat captains on primarily international boating standards.

Depending on the location and whether it’s a new or recertification, the cost could range anywhere from $360-$650 per person, in addition to travel and hotel accommodations.

With tourism being the bread and butter for TCI, in addition to having some of the best and brightest boat captains, perhaps this could be a customised curriculum or certification offered at a local trade school.

This particular curriculum should include but not limited to, local regulations best practices and navigational charts for local waters to help mariners better understand the skills they are learning.

This could also be a joint is an offence to go ashore without prior clearance. Depending on the arrival time, occupants of the vessel may be required to remain on board overnight before being cleared the following day.

In case of an emergency, medical, mechanical or adverse weather conditions, a notification must be submitted immediately on arrival by a crew member, passenger or agent. This will help in expediting the clearance process.

If there is a notifiable illness on board, the Department of Environment Health must be contacted via email at thinds@gov. tc and occupants of the vessel must comply with any instructions given.

Departure

Meanwhile, for departure, customs clearance – which is available at every designated port - is required before a pleasure craft can leave.

The owner, master or agent must submit a notice in advance through SailClear to avoid unnecessary delay. It is an offence to depart without clearance.

outbound fee of US$50 to customs for departure. An overtime fee is charged if clearance is needed outside of working hours.

Overtime Fees

On weekdays, from 6am to 8am a fee of $10 is applied per hour and from 12:30pm to 2pm another $10 per hour.

On Monday to Thursday from 4:30pm to midnight there is another $10 fee per hour; from Friday 4pm to midnight the fee is $10 per hour; on weekdays from midnight to 6am the fee is $12 per hour, while on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays a $15 per hour is to be paid.

The Customs department is encouraging the use of credit or debit cards to pay fees as a swipe machine is available.

Failure To Report

effort between the school, DECR/Fisheries department and TCI Sailing Association, with qualifying personnel to assist with facilitating such training. Other courses of interest should be offered to include hospitality management, marine mechanics, welders, carpentry, AC technicians etc. Especially trade areas where it would give students an opportunity for apprenticeship on the islands.

Not only will we have a higher level of skilled workers and tradesmen, but it will help to alleviate the need for such high dependency on the foreign labour force, in addition to providing a readily available recruitment source.

In short, it is my opinion, alternative education should always trump building more prisons. Failure to see beyond the erection of hotels, motels and villas on these islands, will leave us with no alternative but to build more prisons. Wouldn’t that be a shame!

Let’s give our youth a fighting chance! As concerned citizens, we have a choice to make, stay silent or let our collective voices be heard.

This is what helps to drive governments to action.

In cases of an extended stay in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is the master, or agent’s responsibility to update the outbound notification in SailClear.

They are required to file a request with the Immigration Department to extend or change their leave to enter before the authorised stay expires.

Charges

The master of the vessel must pay an inbound fee of US$50 to customs on arrival and an

The Customs Department and its law enforcement partners are actively monitoring Turks and Caicos Islands waters, as such failure to submit an advance notice for arrival or departure to Customs may result in detention, seizure or forfeiture of vessels and or monetary penalties applied. Failure to report, even if the purpose is non-discretionary (nonoptional) such as to refuel, vessel owners may face severe penalties. Additionally, if carrying any goods for industrial or commercial purposes onboard, the vessel becomes a commercial vessel and is no longer a pleasure craft, for that entry. Different customs rules will apply.

Robbers attack again, leaves two wounded

Two men – ages 19 and 27 – are nursing gunshot wounds after a late-night shooting and robbery near a hangout spot.

Reports are that two armed men drove up to where one of the victims was hanging out at a location in Five Cays, opened gunfire hitting him about his body with bullets.

Police said the incident occurred at about 11:05pm on Tuesday, January 31. The 19-year-old was rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where he was treated for his injuries.

The shooters drove away in a grey Nissan March vehicle.

Police said they were then notified by the hospital at about 11:23pm, the same night, that another man had been shot and was receiving treatment at the medical facility.

They report that the 27-year-old man was approached by two armed men, robbed, and shot. He too was dropped off at the Emergency department.

The public is being advised to notify the closest police station or to contact Crime Stoppers and give any information on these shootings and illegal activity anonymously.

All Crime Stoppers calls are answered in Miami and in Houston by Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers which is a non-profit and not a police agency.